creative baking

 Yesterday, around 3:00 in the afternoon, I decided I needed a peanut butter-cup blizzard from Dairy Queen.  I was obliged to take the children with with me.  Really, sometimes, a gal just needs some sugar.  But, with that said, I haven't given up on that quest I mentioned on Tuesday.  And, I've realized that I'm going to have to be a little creative to help my family change some of our more unhealthy eating habits.  Last week I was perusing (don't you just love that word?!)...anyway, yes, perusing the cookbook section at Barnes and Noble and discovered this...

Mr. Jerry Seinfeld's wife has whipped up this little cookbook using one basic premise... pureed veggies can be easily hidden in lots of recipes.  I was curious, and bought the book.  These are the veggies I started with ......my total prep time (to cook, steam, puree, and freeze) was 1 1/2 hours.

Click HERE for directions for each type of vegetable.

This will be an ongoing experiment for me.  

This is the first recipe I tried.

Applesauce Muffins 

(with Butternut Squash)

Toppings:

2/3 c. old-fashioned oats

1/4 c. firmly packed light or dark brown sugar

1 t. cinnamon

2 T. margarine ( I used butter), melted

Batter:

1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour

1 c. old-fashioned oats

1 t. baking powder

1/2 t. baking soda

1/2 t. cinnamon

1 c. unsweetened applesauce

1/2 c. skim milk ( I used 1 %)

1/2 c. butternut squash or carrot puree ( I used butternut)

1/2 c. firmly packed light or dark brown sugar

1/4 c. vegetable or canola ( I used light olive oil...better for you)

1 large egg

1). Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray or line with paper cups. 

( Note-this is a heavy, sticky batter, so if using cups, lightly spray interior of cups with cooking spray also.)

2). Make topping: stir together oats, sugar,  and cinnamon in bowl.  Then stir in margarine (or butter).

3). Batter: Combine flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl or zip-lock bag and stir or shake to mix. In a second bowl, mix the applesauce with the milk, vegetable puree, sugar, oil, and egg with wooden spoon.  Add the flour mixture slowly, stirring until just moistened.  Don't over mix.  Batter will be lumpy.

4). Divide batter evenly among cups, sprinkle with streusel topping.  Bake until the topping is lightly browned and muffin comes out clean with tooth pick.  About 18 minutes.

Sierra thought these muffins were, "good", Gentry actually ate half of her's, and I have loved them as a "quick grab" health snack when I'm on the go. 

More tasting testing to come.