at home with ann

It's been almost two months.  I know.  Time seems to be flying by at an alarming rate these days, and I'm ashamed to say I've been opening up my blog more often to look up recipes than to write them.  But here I am with muffins! Whenever I start cooking (or doing dishes) in the kitchen, my little helper arrives dragging his stool with him to see what's going on and "help."  Things often end up in a sea of flour, but we have a good time.  After making these he reached for the spatula in the bowl, hoping for a lick of batter and said, "would like to be delicious."  Me too, buddy, me too. Cranberry Orange Muffins based on Joyful Healthy Eats 2 cups flour (I used both all-purpose and whole wheat pastry with success) 1/3 cup sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup cranberries (fresh or frozen) 1 egg 3/4-1 cup orange juice 1/4 cup melted coconut oil (or butter) 1 teaspoon grated orange zest (1 or...

The other night I was crawling around on the dining room floor cleaning up 90% of Colin's dinner when he dropped a handful of yogurt on my head.  Dining with toddlers can be a challenge.  I am always trying to switch up his meals and not get in a rut, because while some of us can eat the same thing for breakfast every day, others of us will take a half chewed piece and hurl it on the floor.  These pancakes went over well with all my taste testers.  For now, at least.  With no added sugar and healthy fat from coconut oil, they are healthier than a traditional pancake.  Colin thinks it's funny to take my griddle out of the cabinet, put it on the floor of the kitchen, and stand on it saying "wobbly, wobbly."  Apparently I need to upgrade that particular piece of cooking equipment to something not old and warped.  And always remember to wash it before using.  Applesauce Pancakes yield: 24 small (3 inch) pancakes 1 cup flour ( I used whol...

We go through a lot of hummus.  It's one of my go-to meals for Colin, and Jon and I will make a pretty serious dent in a container during a snack session.  While Trader Joe's Mediterranean is my all time favorite, it's always good to whip up a batch at home.  I had my usual kitchen helper at my side for this one, which meant a fair amount of lemon sucking, chickpea sampling, pressing buttons on the food processor and finally eating the finished product straight up with a spatula.  It's always a messy adventure in our kitchen these days. Roasted Garlic Hummus 2 cups chickpeas or 1 can, rinsed and drained 1 head garlic 2 tablespoons tahini 1 lemon, juiced Kosher or sea salt 1/4 cup olive oil, plus more for garlic Warm water Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Slice the very top off the head of garlic and place on a piece of tin foil. Drizzle with olive oil and wrap tightly. Roast garlic for 1 hour and allow to cool before handling. Once the garlic is cool,...

Part of our CSA share last week was picking hot peppers. Colin, who has made it quite clear that he doesn't like peppers, going so far as to fish them out of a salad, or his mouth,  would not listen to my suggestion to steer clear of the jalapenos.  Instead, he took a few bites out of one raw.  He has since told me several times that it was "picy." With a whole bag of jalapenos on hand, I considered my options.  Chopping and freezing to add to chili and cornbread is always good, but I also wanted to try my hand at poppers.  It's a safe bet that any attempts by me to deep fry would likely end up in a kitchen fire, so the oven baking method seemed like a good approach. Baked Jalapeno Poppers modified from SkinnyTaste 8-12 jalapeno peppers 4 oz. cream cheese, softened 4 oz. monterey jack or cheddar cheese, shredded 2 scallions, sliced 1/8 teaspoon paprika 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder 1/8 teaspoon chili powder salt and pepper 2 eggs, beaten 1/2 cup ...

Remember the giant bags of apples we picked last weekend?  Despite our best efforts, we still have quite a few.  They've graced our table as part of nearly every meal and snacks in between.  Some are destined to be made into applesauce, because these waffles are amazing.  And yet we still have more. Colin loved this Apple Pie Chia Jam.  I've been using it to top yogurt, and he also goes for it straight up.  It would be delicious on ice cream or oatmeal.  Just another way to eat apples at every meal. Apple Pie Chia Jam recipe from Oh She Glows 3 large apples, peeled and diced (~3 cups) 3/4 cup 100% pure apple juice 2 Tablespoons chia seeds 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract pinch of sea or kosher salt Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan and stir. Bring to a low boil, reduce to low and cook, covered, for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Store in the refrigerator.

Yesterday we had an unseasonably warm day, and I couldn't be happier about it.  Sure, during the summer I complain about the humidity during a heat wave, and turn on the air conditioning upstairs for sleeping (it's for the baby ); but I'd take heat over cold any day.  This salad is the perfect combination of all the wonderful late summer food; sweet corn, crisp green beans, juicy tomatoes and fragrant basil.  It makes an excellent side dish, we ate it last night alongside broccoli quiche and roasted potatoes, and it is also a perfect light lunch.  Especially if, like me, you're planning to use up some random marshmallows and make rice crispy treats later.  Or, just be healthy.  Whichever. Green Bean, Corn and Tomato Salad modified from Self Salad Ingredients: 3-4 ears fresh corn, removed from cob 1 lb. green beans, blanched in boiling water and cut into bite size pieces 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered 1/2 jalapeno, seeded and minced 1...

As if we didn't have enough apples and applesauce in our lives, we went apple picking this weekend.  It was Colin's first time out, and we went with my sister-in-law and some friends who also have a 20 month old.  The babies ate their weight in whole apples, and the parents wondered what they were going to do with pounds and pounds of fruit. I have plans for crisp and pancakes, and am planning to make several batches of these waffles to stick in the freezer. Aside from being awesome for anyone, these waffles are excellent for kids.  They are portable and easy to eat, as well as being relatively healthy.   Applesauce Waffles modified from Chocolate Covered Katie Yield: 4 waffles 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour (or all-purpose) 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 cup applesauce 1/4 cup maple syrup 2-4 Tablespoons milk 1 Tablespoon coconut oil (or other or butter) 2 teaspoons vanilla extr...