Gluten Free Banana, Cinnamon and Oat Muffins

     I can't believe the back to school craze is already in full swing. Three more weeks and another routine will come about.  What's the biggest change? My beloved Child #4, my baby, is going to Kindergarten this year! Yup, all four children will be out of the house.  Finally!

   Before I get too emotional, I would like to share with you the kids' all time favorite Banana, Cinnamon and Oat Muffins.  This recipe has gone through several ingredient changes until we, as a family, decided on the best one. Don't be afraid of the multiple steps.  The extra dishes are totally worth it.

    These muffins are are moist, light and really healthy. The flax seed and milk are not only rich in protein but omega 3's as well.  Sorghum is not only gluten free, it is also an excellent source of fiber, thiamine, niacin, riboflavin and trace minerals like iron, phosphorus and potassium. Convinced already?

   Also, by keeping the sugar content as low as possible and relying on the sweetness of the bananas, I was able to make this a delicious breakfast treat.  It's portable and a nice addition to packed lunches and after school snacks.  Top it with some frosting, powdered sugar or melted chocolate and you'll have a better for you, food allergy safe cupcakes. Sounds good?

  The recipe yields about 18 standard sized muffins which stay good for 2-3 days at room temperature.  I'm sure you can easily freeze some for future snacks.  In my household though, a batch just lasts for a day.  That's how much they love it.

    Hope you'll get to enjoy this yummy and healthy muffins soon.  If you have any questions, just let me know through the comment section below or send me a message.  I'm more than happy to answer them.

     Enjoy the weekend.

- Roz      
    

Ingredients:

1 cup sorghum flour
1/2 cup oat flour (gluten free of course)
1/4 cup tapioca starch
1/3 cup potato starch
1 Tbs. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp. sea salt (fine)
1/2 cup organic cane juice (sugar)
1/4 cup avocado oil (you can also use canola or sunflower oil)
2 Tbs. ground flax seed
6 Tbs. lukewarm water
1 cup mashed bananas (over ripe ones are the best)
1/2 cup flax milk (or any dairy or non dairy milk of your choice)
1 tsp. apple cider vinegar

1. Preheat oven to 375.  Line muffin tins with paper cups or silicone muffin cups.
2. In a small bowl, combine the flax seed and water.  Let is sit for at least 5 minutes before using.
3. Except for the sugar, put all the dry ingredients in a medium sized bowl and whisk until thoroughly mixed.  Set aside.
4. Add the vinegar to the milk and let is stand for 3 minutes to make a non dairy buttermilk.
5. In a big bowl or the bowl of a mixer, cream the oil, sugar and flax goo.
6. With the mixer running on low, alternately add the dry ingredients and non dairy buttermilk.
7. Add the bananas and mix for about 1 minute.
8. Fill prepared muffin tips with batter. Make sure to leave about 1/2 inch space on top.
9. Bake for 10 minutes.  Then reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake for 8 to 10 minutes. It is ready when a toothpick inserted in the middle of the muffin comes out clean.
10. Remove from muffin tins and cool on a baking rack.
11. Enjoy!

Can't Get Enough Pumpkin Oat Muffins

      Ah, it's that time of the year again.  Orange is definitely the new black!  Okay people I'm not referring to the show.  In fact, I've never seen it at all even though we have a Netflix subscription.

       What I'm talking about here is the wonderful vegetable called pumpkin.  From coffee to soups to decorations, this fall must have is definitely all over the place. I don't know about your kids but in our home, pumpkin has taken over the top spot from chocolate.  Is that even possible? Looks like it.

   
      With so many asking for pumpkin recipes, I decided to share with you my secret Pumpkin Oat muffin recipe.  (I hope you all can keep a secret.) You will notice that it only requires one cup of pumpkin puree. I know what you're thinking.  What to do with the leftover puree?  Don't worry I assure you, one batch or even two will enough for everyone. My kids are devouring it like crazy.  I barely can keep up with the baking!

         Guess what?  Even my kids' friends who don't have food allergies love it. Give this gluten free, vegan treat a try this holiday season.  I'm sure your non food allergy friends and family will enjoy it too.

- Roz

Ingredients:

1 cup oat flour (I make my own using Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Oats)
1/2 cup rice flour
1/3 cup potato starch
1/4 cup tapioca starch
1 Tbs. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. sea salt (finely ground)
1 tsp. cinnamon powder
1/4 cup oil (I used Organic Virgin Coconut Oil )
2 Tbs. flax meal
6 Tbs. lukewarm water
1 cup sugar (I used Organic Coconut Sugar )
1 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup non dairy milk (I used flax milk.  You can also use coconut or rice milk)
1/2 tsp. apple cider vinegar

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.  Line standard muffin tins with paper liners or grease with oil.
2. Prepare flax goo by combining the flax meal and water.  Set it aside for at least 5 minutes before using.
3. In a small bowl, make "buttermilk" by adding the vinegar to the non dairy milk. Mix and set aside.
4. Except for the sugar, whisk all the dry ingredients. 
5. With the mixer running, cream the oil and sugar.
6. Add the flax good and pumpkin puree.  Mix well.
7. In 3 batches, alternately add the dry ingredients and non dairy "buttermilk" to the pumpkin mix.
8. Scoop into prepared muffin pan.  Make sure each cavity is only 2/3 full.
9. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Use the toothpick test --- the toothpick comes out clean.
10. Let it cool in the muffin tins for 3 minutes before transferring to a cooling wire rack.
11. Top with powdered sugar for a festive look.

Makes about 18 standard sized muffins.

Andouille Sausage and Potato Hash Breakfast

         School is in full swing.  Though it is only the first week, I can already feel the pinch of having bigger kids.  Homework, that are more challenging, starts to come in.  The after school activities are now written in the calendar.  Pretty soon, the fast paced routine will kick in.   

 

         As the days become more hectic and crazier, I often rely on the help of a well stocked fridge and pantry for quick and healthy meals.  Breakfast in particular, can be the most daunting.  With a little planning though, I'm sure we all can provide something delicious that can make everyone actually eat and start the day right.

 

         One of my go to recipes for breakfast is this sausage and potato hash.  Loaded with veggies and protein, this is a complete meal that is very easy to prepare. You might notice that the recipe has a big yield.  Don't worry because it is also prefect for a packed lunch.  

 

          If you are like me, I would chop everything the night before and keep it on a big plate in the fridge.  That way, all I need to do in the morning is sautéing. Isn't that neat? 

        

- Roz

Ingredients:

1 package (4 pcs) Cajun Andouille Sausage chopped (I used Chef Bruce Aidells)
4 cups potatoes diced
1 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil
1 cup chopped onions
2 Tbs. minced garlic
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
1 tsp. sea salt
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
2 Tbs. chopped fresh parsley

1. In a medium heated sauté pan, brown the sausage bits in olive oil.
2. Once the sausage pieces are browned to your liking, transfer it on a plate.  We like ours cooked a little crunchy.
3. Using the same pan and oil, fry the potatoes for about 7 minutes.
4. Add the garlic, onions and bell peppers to the potatoes. 
5. Season with salt and pepper.
6. Return the sausage in the pan with the vegetables. 
7. Let it cook until the potatoes are soft but firm enough to hold its shape.  Depending on the size of the potatoes it may take at least 5 minutes.
8. Turn off heat and sprinkle with parsley.
9. Enjoy hot or at room temperature.

Super Easy Double Chocolate Pancakes

        I believe moms will agree that breakfast is the most challenging meal of the day.  Not only are we rushing to get something done, we also think about whether the kids will actually eat and finish their food just in time for the bus.  Sad to say but most of the time, most skip this important meal. 

        Before my children were diagnosed with food allergies, I confess I often rely on ready made waffles and pancakes.  You know, the ones that you just microwave or pop in a toaster.  Though they lack in flavor and loaded with "what are those ingredients?", I still admit that they are affordable morning life savers. 

         Fast forward to gluten, dairy, egg, nut and soy free diet, breakfast is still chaotic. Since this time, most packaged food is a big no-no, I have learned to do some shortcuts especially for breakfast.

       

    

        This Double Chocolate Pancakes were actually made with our favorite allergy friendly mix -  Cherrybrook Kitchen Waffle and Pancakes mix.  Instead of adding plain milk, water or milk substitute, I replaced the amount required with Chocolate flavored almond milk.  Yes, my children can take almond milk (Thank God!). Then added a few Enjoy Life Mini Chocolate Chips on top of the pancakes while cooking in the griddle.  Flip and wala easy and delicious breakfast!

          If you can't tolerate Almond Milk, don't worry, you can use any milk alternative --- flax, soy, coconut or even regular milk (if you are not dairy free) and dilute 1/2 tsp cocoa powder for every 1 cup of milk. The chocolate chips add a hint of sweetness which lessens the need for any syrup.  Thus lower sugar consumption for the little ones. 

       Here's an extra tip too.  Make a big batch of these pancakes when you have extra time in the weekends.  Instead of regular sized pancakes, I make it about 2-3 inches in diameter.  I found out that the consistency of mini pancakes reheats better than the bigger version .  Once the flapjacks cool, stack it up and transfer to either a ziplock bag or reusable covered container.  These pancakes store well in the fridge for 7 days.  When someone wants a quick snack or breakfast, place preferred number of pancakes on microwavable plate (single layer) and nuke on high for 10-15 seconds.  

        Take note, I didn't say freeze for later use.  After some trial and error, I realized that freezing these previously prepared gluten free, allergy friendly pancakes do not produce nice results once reheated.  I am not sure if it's the brand or ingredients in the mix but if you like to try, let me know okay. 

        Have a great week Frugalista Moms!

-Roz       
 

Ham & Cheese Breakfast Roll Ups

       Breakfast is always big in our house.  Since it is the first meal of the day, I want to make sure that everyone gets to have their fill of carbs, protein and even vitamins. After that, they can eat crappy right? (Yeah right!)

        Anyway, while I was making some pancakes the other day, I was inspired to use the left over ham and Daiya shreds in the fridge.  What could possible go wrong?  After all, when I was still in school, I remember having those Waffles filled with salty ham and gooey cheese at the cafeteria. Ah!  I know what you're thinking when I said the C word.  Well, I confess I am one of those lucky ones whose food were made from scratch by the Sisters everyday and these nuns are such great cooks.  Having said that, this simple recipe brings great childhood memories.  Plus, it's so easy to prepare and can be made ahead of time. 

 

 

Ingredients:
Your favorite Pancake Batter  (I used the Cherrybrook Kitchen Pancake Mix)
Organic Deli Ham Slices
Daiya Cheddar Style Shreds or regular shredded cheese (your fave)


1. Prepare the batter.  Since I used a mix, I followed the directions to make 7 pancakes.
2. Pour the batter on a hot skillet or griddle. Pancakes should be at least 4 inches in diameter. 
3. Once the surface looks like it's ready (about 2-3 minutes), place a slice of ham and flip. You will hear some sizzle.
4. Cook for another 2 minutes.
5. Transfer to a plate with a ham side up. 
6. Sprinkle with shredded cheese and roll.
7. Enjoy!


-Roz

Return of the Pancakes

      It has been a week since my first attempt to cook GEDS (gluten, egg, dairy, soy) free.  Looking back, I can't help but smile and laugh about my early Saturday morning Pancake meltdown. Thank God my Facebook friends were blessed with so much patience. Last time, I've checked, no one has removed me from their friend list yet. So without further intro, here's the story.

 

      Saturday is always about having pancakes for breakfast.  Just like any mom who would like to keep the transition as smooth as possible, I stayed up all night looking for a pancake recipe that is GEDS free.  When I finally found "the one" that looked very basic and easy to follow, I bookmarked it and got ready for an early trip to the store.  At 7:30 am, my kitchen was husling. 

 

      After carefully following the instructions, I was so surprised that my first 2 batches of supposedly pancakes turned out to something else. It was so gummy, sticky and inedible. Most would just throw the whole thing right away. The Frugalista in me however kicked in. Come on, that's a big batch of expensive ingredients --- all purpose gluten free flour, almond milk, xantham gum!  I may not be a professional chef but I totally know my way around the kitchen.

 

      Trying not to give up, I turned on my laptop and started browsing maybe 3or 4 blogs including the one where I found the recipe, looking for remedies.  After making the batter somewhat edible, I started working on the texture without any success. At 10:00 am, my family is no longer happy so I decided to prepare my homemade sausage and rice instead.

 

      While the new dish was cooking, I once again read the post trying to figure out what went wrong.  Finally, I raised my hands in defeat! After scrolling through the list of comments, the writer said that "a particular type of  FLOUR was used in the recipe and when tried other types of flour, the result is a gummy mess".  My goodness!  That was the first rule when going Gluten Free. There is no exact substitute for wheat flour. The success relies on the combination of the different types of flour and its reaction to the other ingredients in the recipe.

 

      Finally, after some trial and error, I was able to have an affordable and  decent GEDS free pancake. Okay, it's not from scratch but this pancake and waffle mix from Cherrybrook Kitchen is a real lifesaver.  All my four children love it.  

 

      At $4.49 for an 18 oz box, (I got mine from the local Wegman's) I say, this is worth every penny.  It is so easy to prepare and is error-proof.  I just added almond milk and canola oil (even tried it with olive oil) in the specified amount printed on the box and the batter is good to go.  Though the uncooked batter may feel a little grainy, it will not be noticeable once cooked.  The manufacturers even specified that there will be no bubbles to indicate when the pancake is ready to be flipped.  Once the sides of the pancakes look firm and set, it's time to flip.         

      

      

 

 

 

 

        Aside from having the right texture and good taste, I found out that I can make these pancakes ahead of time and will stay fresh quite well.   It can be refrigerated and later microwaved without problems.  My children brought it to school yesterday and it stayed moist and fluffy until lunch time. 

 

        Isn't it great to find something that will make our lives easier?  This brand is now part of our pantry staples.  How about you? Do you have a Go-To Pancake helper?  Love to hear from you.

 

 

 - Roz