Heading to the Kitchen...

Oct 07, 2011

I am feeling mar-vel-ous!  I got my swimming done early, did a couple errands, then finished writing my reports, so it's ME time.  One of the things about trying to deal with ones obesity is that you have to deal with food.  I am not too pre-occupied with food, but will admit to having unexplained cravings.  What I try to do is, instead of giving in & having what it is I was craving, work on something healthy & so appealing, the fast food or whatever pales in comparison!

Have you ever had the pleasure of eating Aussie Bites?  They are these amazing little mini muffins chock full of good stuff, well, here is my version of Healthy Non-Aussie Bites...

• 2 cups rolled oats (not quick oats - go look at the bulk food isle, these are CHEAP)
• 2 cups whole wheat flour - I have even used spelt flour - so if you are gluten free, you know what to use!
• 1/2 cup UNSWEETENED coconut - again, I LOVE the bulk food isle for this one, too!
• 1/2 cup sunflower kernels- unsalted are best
• 3/4 cup Flax Seed - this stuff is amazing!!! Trust me, it tastes great in the muffin, and has added bennies!
• 1 cup dried fruit - go crazy with this! Cranberry, fig, apricot, golden raisin, cherry - I got blueberries the other day
• 1/4 cup honey - it does make the flavor, so try not to substitute this one
• 2/3 cup brown sugar - or brown sugar Splenda - I haven't tried with Agave yet...
• 1/2 cup of apple sauce & stick of butter - this is lower fat than other recipes I found, and really works!
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 tablespoon water

You want to use MINI muffin tins - so this isn't a calorie rich bite - trust me, these puppies are dense & will satisfy ANY craving!  Pre heat oven to 350, then start getting your creative mode!  I like to toast my coconut on a cookie sheet - it does change the flavor, but not a necessary thing to do.  Before you put all the dry ingredients together, set aside the baking powder - we will add it last.  Then after the dry ingredients are happily mixed, in a separate bowl add the honey, brown sugar, apple sauce, and butter - nuke it a LITTLE to get it all warm & happy -- easier to mix.  Don't ask me why, but if you then add the water to the baking soda, you can then mix it into the wet ingredients.  I am sure there is a good reason, but I do not know what it is.  Now comes the hard labor - mix the wet & dry ingredients, and TRY not to taste it!  Spoon into the mini muffin tins - about half full - and bake for ten minutes.  this recipe yields between 45 - 50 muffin bites.  I grease my pans, and they pop right out.  This is a good fiber filled muffin, and I may try adding some unflavored protein powder to it.  I'll let you know if it works!

The last thing I will be making is my pressure cooked beef stew...  Who says you cannot enjoy beef after surgery?  Pressure cooker, baby!!!  My secret is that I have a bay tree in my yard, and (shhhhh), I use Low Sodium V8 in my base!  Oh, and RED onions, it makes a HUGE difference, believe it or not.  If you are REALLY nice, I may share the complete recipe, but damn it, I get so many complements, this one is hard to share!  I work with REALLY lean meat, which is supposed to be a no-no, but if you don't have experience with a pressure cooker - TRY IT!  

If you try the Non-Aussie Bites, let me know how you & your peeps like them!  I love playing in the kitchen, partly because I am cheap (Aussie Bites are expensive in my book), and I can control portion size & ingredients! 

Brenda : )~

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