Category Archives: Vegetarian

Caramel Frosted Zucchini Bars

My grandma gave me a bunch of old recipe cards a few years ago. Most of them were blank but one I stumbled across was a zucchini bar. I did modify the recipe to incorporate more heart healthy options.I am always looking for zucchini recipes because the garden is always producing more zucchini then one person can make. This is a flavorful spice bar with a added bonus fiber from the whole wheat flour and zucchini.

I have made zucchini cake before but it’s always been chocolate zucchini cake. This one is more like zucchini bread with frosting!

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
1 1/2 cup AP Flour
2 cup shredded zucchini (no need to peel!) (not strained)
1/4 cup apple butter or unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup canola oil
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 cup raw sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup pecans chopped or walnuts
1/2 raisins
10 by 15 inch baking sheet pan (with 3/4 inch depth)

Frosting
1/2 cup butter unsalted
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup skim milk
1 to 1 1/2 cup powdered sugar

Directions: preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place parchment paper on baking sheet.

1. Mix well together in medium bowl flours, salt, soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, & cloves set aside.

2. In a large bowl mix oil, sugar, vanilla, apple butter together then one egg at a time mixing after each addition.

3. Add dry mix to wet.

4. Fold in zucchini then nuts, and raisins.

Mix until everything is well blended.

Pour batter into baking sheet and evenly spread with spatula.

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes. If your zucchini is very moist you may need to bake 20 to 25 minutes. I strained my zucchini and the bars didn’t come out as moist as I would have hoped. Next time I will not remove the excess water. Use tooth pick method to test cake prior to removing from oven. If tooth pick comes out clean remove from oven.

Let cool in wire rack.

Once cooled start caramel frosting. In 2 qt sauce pan melt butter and brown sugar.

Bring to a boil and stir continuous for 2 minutes.

Add milk and bring to a boil and simmer for 2 additional minutes.

Remove the frosting from the heat. Whisk in powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time.

Add 1-1/2 1 cups until you reach your desired constancy.

Frost the cake quickly with spatula. The frosting sets quickly.

Enjoy!

spicy kale chips

I love love love Kale! I’ve been growing it in my garden for several years now! One of my favorite things to do with Kale is bake it! This recipe is so simple and worth a try.

Ingredients:

8 medium large kale leaves ( washed and rinsed and patted dry) & remove large stems
Cooking spray
Garlic salt (I love penzeys)
Spicy Mrs Dash Blend

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees
2. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper
3. Spray one side of the Kale with Cooking spray
4. Sprinkle the garlic salt and Mrs. Dash to your taste preference. I’m light on the salt but generous with Mrs dash
5. Bake for 10 minutes
6. Flip the kale leaves

And bake for an additional 10 minutes.

Enjoy!

Whole Grain Oat Rhubarb Cookies

My husband and I have oodles of rhubarb this time of year. We were in the mood for some cookies. I adapted this recipe from the TOH website to cut down on the saturated fat.

Yields 32 cookies using a size 60 scoop. Preheat oven to 350 and bake for 13 minutes.

Ingredients :
3/4 cup raw sugar
1/2 canola oil
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 egg or 2 egg whites or 1/4 cup egg substitute
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup dried cranberries
3/4 cup fresh rhubarb (patted dry)
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp ground Vietnamese cinnamon
A pinch of nutmeg
1 1/4 cup 100% old fashioned oats
3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour

Directions:
Line half sheet pans with parchment paper and preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl mix canola oil, and sugar together well. Than add egg and vanilla together whisk to incorporate.

In a medium bowl whisk together flour, oats, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, and a pinch of nutmeg.

Whisk to incorporate all dry ingredients together well. Add the dry ingredients into the wet.

Mix with spatula to incorporate.

Add chopped rhubarb, cranberries and white chips fold into cookie batter.

Use a number 60 scoop to measure out into perfect size cookies. Please keep in mind they are very wet and may want to fall apart but will bake just fine.

Bake for 12 to 13 minutes. The rhubarb makes these pretty moist. I let them sit on the pan for about a minute before letting the cool off on wire rack.

Once the cookies are cooled if you wish drizzle them with some melted white chocolate for a special touch.

Place 2/3 cup white chocolate in microwave keep heating by 30 second sections until melted. Place in a squeeze bottle and make zig zag marking!

Enjoy!

Nutella Almond Meal Banana Mini Muffins

Tomorrow we are having one of our quarterly meetings at work. I always bake a sweet treat for the team. Yesterday I made my banana crunch muffins for a coworker’s birthday and I still had some leftover ripe bananas. I didn’t want to make the same recipe and wanted to add some chocolate to the party.

This recipe yields 27 mini muffins

Ingredients:
1/2 cup almond meal
1/2 cup AP Flour
1/4 cup Whole wheat pastry flour
1 TB canola oil
3 TB Nutella
1 TB Dutch Cocoa
1/2 tsp pure vanilla
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup 1/8 cup raw sugar
1/4 cup egg substitute (or two egg whites)
1 medium ripe banana mashed

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Line 27 mini muffin vessels with paper liners and spray with cooking spray.

Sift flour, almond flour, cocoa, salt, baking powder, baking soda in medium bowl. Set aside.

In a separate bowl mix buttermilk, egg substitute, oil, vanilla, sugar, banana, and Nutella.

Mix the liquid batter until thoroughly combined.

Now gently add dry ingredients to liquid batter.

Whisk until there is no dry residue present. This is why I like to use the clear bowl, to make sure all the dry ingredients have been well incorporated.

Portion out using a size 60 scoop into your pre-line and sprayed baking tins.

Bake for 10 to 11 minutes. Check using toothpick method. Place toothpick in the center of the muffin and remove quickly to see if toothpick comes out with no liquid residue. If toothpick comes out clean remove pan from oven. However if any wet residue still remains on toothpick let muffins bake another minute and check again.

Remove from pan immediately.

Allow to cool on wire racks.

Enjoy

Key-lime Cheesecake

My Mom’s birthday was yesterday and I’ve been baking 150 mini cupcakes for a shower all week . My sister asked me what are you going to bake for Mom’s birthday? I laughed and said mini cupcakes but no really what are you going to bake for mom…hmmm…Well let’s check the refrigerator? I made key-lime mini cups earlier in the week and noticed I have quite a few key-limes leftover. My mom loves key-lime and I have excess cream cheese I had an Aha moment cheesecake it is!

This recipe is supposed to taste similar to the Cheesecake Factory’s Key-lime Cheesecake. I did make some alterations to reduce the calories since one slice of the real version yields 870 calories and 34 grams of saturated fat! Yikes!

This recipe calls for a an 8 inch springform pan and yields 12 to 16 servings

Filling Ingredients:
1/2 cup fresh key lime juice
2 TB Keylime Zest
1 (8oz package) fat free cream cheese room temperature
1 (8 oz package) 1/3 fat reduced cream cheese room temperature
1 (8 oz package) cream cheese (you could get away with reduced fat here but I didn’t have another reduced fat in my refrigerator) room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup Splenda for baking (or sugar substitute of your choice or real sugar)
1 tsp Mexican pure vanilla
1/2 cup egg substitute or 4 egg whites
1 whole egg

Crust ingredients:
1 & 3/4 cup reduced fat graham cracker crumbs
5 TB reduced fat Margarine or unsalted butter
1 TB sugar

Coconut whip-cream
1 cup heavy cream
4 TB powdered sugar
1 tsp coconut extract

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350.

Spray springform pan with cooking spray. Set aside.

Place graham crackers in food processor and pulse until refined.

Add into a medium mixing bowl crumbs, melted butter, 1 TB sugar.

Mix until texture of the blend looks like wet sand.

Pour the crumbs into springform pan and press the crumbs into the pan with hands. Don’t go up the whole side only about half way.

Bake for 5 minutes in 350 degrees. Allow to cool while preparing the cream cheese filling.

Place softened cream cheese in electric mixer with spatula attachment.

Beat until consistency is creamy without signs of chunks.

Add sugar, Splenda, and vanilla beat to incorporate.

Add egg substitute and whole egg along with zest and key lime juice. Mix to incorporate.

Pour the batter into the slightly cooled springform pan.

Spread the batter with spatula evenly prior to placing the cake in the preheated oven. Place on bottom rack of oven a 8-9 inch cake pan filled with water in oven for steaming effect.

Bake for 60 to 65 minutes or until
slightly brown. I let mine go to 70 minutes which was too long as you can see below.

Only thing to do when that happens is make a pretty coconut whip cream to top it off and sprinkle with zest of some key-lime and shredded coconut!

Place the heavy cream in a cold metal bowl and beat until until soft peaks form.

Add powdered sugar and coconut extract. Beat until stiff peaks form and pipe with your favorite tip.

Happy Birthday Mom! I love you!

Enjoy!

Orange Creamsicle Mini Cupcakes

I saw a recipe on the May 2014 Food Network Magazine …orange cream cupcakes (they were pictured on the cover)!! I was so excited and wanted to try it right away.

I loved eating Creamsicle pops in the summer time when I was growing up.
Before I got all my ingredients out and preheated my oven I wanted to check the FN website. One thing I always do before starting a recipe or purchasing a product is read the reviews. The recipe from the May issue didn’t have very good reviews. So I opted not to make that recipe, now I was in the mood for Creamsicle, I I went to my trusty Taste of home website to find one to try. I was in luck they had one but no reviews…no reviews are better than poor reviews. I gave it a try and was pleasantly surprised.

This recipes yields 69 minis using a size 60 scoop

Cupcake Ingredients:
3 eggs
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 cup canola oil
1/2 low fat buttermilk
1/3 cup fresh orange juice
2 tsp fresh orange zest
1 tsp orange extract (Penzey’s)
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
3 cups AP flour
2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp kosher salt

Frosting recipe:
2 sticks unsalted butter (softened to room temperature
1 (8 oz block) cream cheese generally I would say use one third fat but I made these for a bridal shower and wanted them to turn out perfectly
1 tsp orange extract I used Penzey’s
1 TB Orange zest
Orange gel food coloring
69 Orange Mike and Ike’s & tooth
picks

Preheat one and paper-line mini cupcakes tins. Set aside

1. In a large electric mixing bowl combine first eight ingredients and beat with spatula attachment together until blended.

2. In a separate medium bowl combine flour baking powder baking soda and salt mixed together with whisk.

2. Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture.

3. Continue beating with spatula attachment until everything is fully incorporated.

4. Portion out into mini cupcake tins using a number 60 scoop.

5. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes. Test cupcakes using with toothpick method. If toothpick comes out clean they are done. These minis bake very quickly so if they’re not done at nine check every 30 seconds to a minute.

6. Remove from pan right away with no hesitation.

7. Please Let completely cool off on wire rack before frosting.

Directions for frosting:

1. In an electric mixer beat butter and cream cheese until smooth and creamy without any chunks.

2. Gradually add confectionery sugar 1 to 1 & 1/2 cups at a time. Maker sure if you don’t have a spatula attachment with rubber scraping sides that you use a hand spatula to scrap down sides occasionally.

3. Add orange zest and orange gel coloring until you reach the desired color for the frosting.

4. Place into large piping bag using an Ateco 808 piping tip and frost into magical swirls. Top with Mike and Ike’s lookalike creamsicles.

And enjoy

baked whole wheat chocolate hazelnut donuts

This recipe is for the love of chocolate hazelnut (aka Nutella ❤️). I asked my husband last night what do you want for breakfast and he smiled and asked for donuts. He loves Nutella and donuts (but the fried ones of course) that said I couldn’t allow myself to get his frier out. No I don’t own a fryer he does (a dietitian cannot own a frier, I’m pretty sure it’s in our own unwritten law).

I love that fact that these are made with 100% whole wheat pastry flour! I stocked up yesterday at the Mesopotamia bulk store.

If you can find a bulk store it’s worth the trip to purchase the special flour there. I was able to get 5.12 pounds of whole wheat pastry flour for 0.49 cent a pound for a whopping total of 2.51. If you ever priced it out before it can be three times as much at a speciality grocery store and even up to 2.83 per pound out of the King Arthur catalog. I wanted to point out that it is not expensive to add whole grain into ones lifestyle. If you know where to find the right resources. If you don’t live close to a bulk store I have found Bob’s Red Mill brand at Big Lots for a fair price (1$ per Pound) when they have their 20% members discount.

Directions:
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1/8 -1/4 tsp instant coffee granules
1/2 tsp baking soda
4 TB of chocolate hazelnut spread
1/2 cup skim milk or unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1/8 tsp kosher salt
1/2 raw sugar (turbinado)
1 TB plus 1 tsp canola oil
1 tsp Mexican vanilla extract
1/4 cup egg substitute (or two egg whites)

Glaze
2 TB hot strong coffee
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 TB Chocolate hazelnut spread
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Wilton donut pan
Cooking spray

Yields 8 donuts using the Wilton pan

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Cooking spray the donut pan well. Set aside.

Place flour, salt, baking soda, and coffee granules in medium bowl.

Whisk ingredients together to incorporate.

In a separate bowl add oil, hazelnut spread, sugar, milk, egg substitute, and vanilla.

Whisk together the liquid ingredients until smooth and no sign of chunks.

Pour the dry ingredients into the wet.

Mix together with a whisk to fully incorporate.

Spoon batter evenly into the cooking sprayed donut pans. I tried piping the batter but it was too wet to pipe into the donut rings.

Bake for 12to 15 minutes.

Let donuts cool for a few minutes in pan then remove from pan and allow to cool on wire rack.

In the meantime, start to prepare the glaze. Add powdered sugar,coffee, and
the hazelnut spread.

Whisk to incorporate all the glaze ingredients until no clumps are visible and glaze is smooth.

Now for the fun part. Dunk each donut into the glaze.

Place on wire rack that has parchment paper under it to prevent a sticky mess.

Lastly add sprinkles if you wish!

Cauliflower Pizza Crust

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Everyone is talking about making pizza without the tradition flour. Plus I keep seeing all these pins on Pinterest for cauliflower pizza. The other day my neighbors next door mentioned they’d like to bake a cauliflower pizza as well. I couldn’t resist any longer . I thought tonight I’d give it a whirl. The original recipe I found on weight watches site but made several changes to add some flavor.

Yields 8 slices of pizza pie.

Ingredients:
3 cups of cauliflower chopped
Four cloves of garlic
1/4 cup egg substitute
1/4 cup shredded parm cheese (not kraft)
1/4 cup shredded Fat free mozzarella
1/2 tsp pasta sprinkle
1/4 tsp dried Basil
1/3 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp of mrs dash spicy blend or red pepper flake

Directions:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees
1. Wash and rinse cauliflower. Dry to remove excess water.

Please cauliflower and garlic in food processor. Food processed until texture looks like snow

Place cauliflower and garlic in food processor and pulse until resembles snow like texture.

Place in glass bowl and microwave for 4 minutes. Let cool and ring out in clean towel to remove the moisture. Trust me you will want to do this step or you will have a soft crust. I tried the first time just blotting with paper towels and it didn’t remove enough of the moisture.

Place the dry ingredients and cauliflower in the same glass bowl (really why waste another).

Mix to fully incorporate.

Add egg substitute and cheese mix.

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Spray with cooking spray parchment lined pizza piel.

Place dough on parchment paper . Spread out the dough with spatula into a circular shape.

Place the dough in oven on the pizza stone. The best thing to do is pull out the wire rack with the pizza stone on and slide the dough onto the stone and push rack bake into oven. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes

Add your favorite toppings. We added sautéed Swiss chard, mushrooms, garlic, roasted red pepper, hot pepper rings, and onions. My husband added more cheese, but I refrained.

Bake for an addition 5 to 10 minutes or until your cheese has melted to your liking.

Enjoy!

Blackberry pie !

My husband’s favorite pie is black raspberry. If you like black raspberries you know it is nearly impossible to find these gems unless you yourself grow them and protect from the birds with netting. We went to the strip district last weekend and picked up 4 cups of blackberries next best thing. They were such a good deal! Only a dollar per 8 ounces. I promised him I would bake him a pie with the vibrant berries.

Ingredients for dough for crust:

2/3 cup crisco
2 cup ap flour
1 tsp kosher salt
4 to 6 TB ice cold water
Skim Milk to brush the top of the top

Ingredients for filling (Grammy Ulam’s recipe)
4 cups of Blackberries (or black raspberries)
3/4 cup but up 1 cup of sugar if very tart
3-4 TB corn starch

Directions:

To start the dough for the crust. Mix flour and salt.

Cut shortening into flour with your hands (the key here is to get the flour mixture to look like pea size particles resembling wet sand.

Sprinkle the water slowly and not all at one time. Contine mixing with bare hands

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Mix until all moisture has been incorporated into the dough and pastry cleans side of bowl.

Divide the dough into two balls, place in plastic wrap and refrigerator for 30 minutes.

While the dough colds off start the fruit filling.

Place first three ingredients for the filling in a sauce pan on medium low heat.

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Rhubarb Spice Coffee Cake

I am starting to have oodles of rhubarb in the garden but nothing like my grandpa’s garden. He has 50 plants this year and I only have two.

This morning I was contemplating what can I make that I haven’t made yet with this beautiful vegetable? …Coffee cake…I love baking with rhubarb! There are just so many endless possibilities.

I’m not really sure where the concept of coffee cake originated. Honestly I think it must of initiated from someone who wanted to eat cake for breakfast with their coffee. Those of you that have ate it before know there is no coffee in the cake. I wanted to make a healthier version of this classic cake. I decreased the butter content and used only whole wheat flour to add additional fiber.

I can remember my mom making coffee cake for our family growing up on the weekends. It was always a special treat!

Yields 6 servings

Batter Ingredients:
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 tsp Chinese 5 spice
2 TB canola oil
2 TB egg substitute
1/2 cup raw sugar
1.5 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1 & 3/4 cup fresh rhubarb chopped ( if using frozen measure frozen not thawed)
1/2 cup skim milk or vanilla almond milk
1 tsp Mexican vanilla extract

Topping ingredients:
1/8 & 1/4 cup of raw sugar
2 TB Unsalted butter
1/2 tsp Chinese 5 spice

Preheat oven to 350

1. Chop up your rhubarb (it will take 4-5 stalks depending on the size)

Set aside.

In a large bowl beat canola oil and sugar.

Whisk until combined.

Add vanilla and egg substitute, whisk until incorporated.

Set aside.

In a separate bowl mix flour, baking powder, salt, and Chinese 5 spice until all ingredients mixed thoroughly.

Add 1/3 of the dry ingredient blend to the wet batter and 1/3 of milk. Alternate between both (milk & dry ingredients whisk after every addition) and mix until combined.