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Brunch/ RECIPES

Amazingly Delicious Homemade English Muffins–As Good As Model Bakery’s!

Yesterday was a ‘snow day’ here in Nebraska. My 3 girls were thrilled that they didn’t have to go to school, as was I. I loved a chill day at home. There is something about being stuck in the house all day with big white flakes swirling outside that makes me want to bake.

I searched my Breads & Muffins Pinboard for something yeasty and comforting, and spied a recipe for English muffins.

When I saw the word English Muffin, instantly a memory popped in my mind. I have a dear friend whom I met through this blog who lives in California. Yes, I’m speaking of my friend Karen from I Choose Hope. She and her husband took me to Napa to a little bakery that is very well known for their amazing English muffins. It is called The Model Bakery. Their English muffins have been featured on Food Networks “Best Thing I Ever Ate” TV show, so I had very high expectations, and let me tell you, when I bit into that English muffin, I had never tasted anything like it. It was amazing. I fell in love…with an English muffin…in Napa.

Because of this love affair, I was doubtful I could recreate one that would even compare. Well, guess what? THESE DO! I brought Model Bakery English Muffins home with me from Cali, so my 3 little lovelies would know how amazing they were. When they tasted my homemade English muffins yesterday, they said “these are just as good as the Cali ones!” YES!!

These were surprisingly easy to make, and were the perfect comfort food for our snow day. You start by dissolving a packet of yeast in warm water.

Then heat milk, butter, honey & salt on warm in a saucepan until butter melts. I used almond milk and vegan butter. You can use what you prefer or what you have.

Add the yeast mixture to the milk mixture once it cools a bit.

Add flour, one cup at a time. This is after two cups.

This is after 3 cups.

This is 5 cups and kneaded for 5 minutes. I love kneading dough! There is something just so domestic about it. I love watching the dough go from lumpy to nice and smooth.

After dough rests for 5 minutes, roll dough out to about 1/2 inch, erring on the thicker side. This dough is really nice and rolls out easily.

I used a wine glass to cut my muffins out. Did you know that English muffins are made on a griddle like pancakes? I didn’t know that and was surprised. They are just as easy as pancakes, but take a lower heat and longer cooking time. This is key. Low & slow. If you have the heat too high, they will be too brown on the outside and too doughy on the inside. The original recipe said 325 degree griddle for 8 minutes per side. I did 300 degree griddle for 10 minutes per side. It will depend on each individual griddle. You can also use a heavy bottom pan, like rod iron skillet.

Can you tell she really, really, REALLY liked them. So good warm with butter and jam. Great with butter and honey, too! They are AWESOME toasted the next day.

Because these are made with white flour, I explained to my girls that they are more of a ‘treat’ than breakfast. White flour is refined and all the good stuff is taken out. It effects our system just like sugar does. If they were made with whole wheat flour, I would consider them healthy. The fiber in the whole wheat flour would make digestion slower and glucose levels would stay steady. I may try these someday with whole wheat flour…or not. We may just view them as a treat and not mess with a very, very good tasting thing!

Amazingly Delicious Homemade English Muffins
{adapted from My Fair Baking}

Makes about 12-16 muffins

Ingredients
1 cup milk (I used almond milk)
3 TBSP butter (can use non-dairy)
3 TBSP honey
1 cup warm water (105-110 degrees)
1 tsp salt
1 pkt yeast (1/4 oz)
2 TBSP cornmeal (optional..I didn’t use)
5 cups flout + extra for sprinkling

Directions
Sprinkle the yeast over the warm water, mix lightly and set aside for ten minutes to foam lightly.

In a large saucepan, heat the milk, butter, honey and salt until the butter is melted. Let cool slightly.

Combine the yeast mixture an milk mixtures.

Add flour, one cup at at time, stirring after each cup. Use your hands to knead after 5th cup.

Knead dough for 3 minutes. Let rest for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, lightly sprinkle cookie sheet (I used a cutting board) with cornmeal.

Flour surface and roll out dough until it is 1/2 inch think. Air on the side of too thick is ok. Cut out circles (don’t twirl your cutter, just cut). Gently place on the cornmeal sprinkled cookie sheet or board and sprinkle tops with cornmeal. Cover with a dry, light cloth. Let sit in a warm place for 45 minutes or until nearly doubled in size.

Heat a heavy bottomed skillet on medium low. I used a pancake griddle. Don’t grease it if using cornmeal…I greased it because I didn’t have cornmeal.

Gently place a muffin in your hand and shake lightly to remove some of the corn meal. Gentleness is key in all of the handling. Place into the pan and repeat until pan is full. Don’t let them touch each other.

Keep heat on low. Cook for 8 minutes per side or until browned well, flip and cook again. Let cool lightly on a wire rack. Split and top with butter and honey or jam.

Healthy Eating/ How-Tos/ RECIPES

6 Reasons To Replace Sugar With Coconut Palm Sugar

I am new to Coconut Palm Sugar, and have quickly become a big fan. I use it in my coffee, on my oatmeal and have even tried it in a Wholegrain Blueberry Coffee Cake recipe (which came out fantastic, I will post the recipe soon).

I was first introduced to coconut palm sugar when I visited my friend Karen in California. She is a sister survivor that I met through this blog (read more of our story here). We are both now very dedicated to health, and seeking out ways to improve our nutrient intake. Karen wrote a bit about coconut palm sugar on her blog, I Choose Hope. She uses it in her Choose Hope Chai Latte.

This pretty bag of organic coconut palm sugar caught my eye recently at our local health food store. I have wanted to try coconut palm sugar, and I’m a sucker for pretty packaging! The price was much higher than what I wanted to pay, $6.99 for 16oz! Next time I will order from Amazon, it is $2 bucks cheaper!

Despite the crazy price, I have really enjoyed using coconut palm sugar. It DOES NOT have a coconut taste. It is sweet, with just a slight hint of caramel-ly flavor. It is “pure coconut flower blossom nectar.” It does wonders for my bowl of oatmeal in the morning. Delicious!

What sold me on this product was that it is a sweetener that also has nutrient benefits for the body. It is naturally nutrient-rich. You use it just as you would normally use sugar, it is a perfect 1:1 ratio. It is unrefined, vegan & gluten free.

Here are 6 reasons to replace sugar with coconut palm sugar:

1. Magnesium & Nitrogen
Regulated blood sugar levels and blood pressure. Helps prevent and manage hypertension, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

2. Zinc
Called the “nutrient of intelligence” and is necessary for mental development.

3. Low Glycemic*
Slow absorption into the bloodstream, which means a happier and healthier body. No “sugar crash” like other sweeteners give you.

4. Potassium
Electrolytes help with muscular strength, cramps, diabetes maintenance and brain function.

5. Calcium
Builds strong bones, reduces high blood pressure and kidney stones, and aids in weight management.

6. Amino Acids
Coconut sugar contains 16 vital amino acids, the building blocks for all life.

*These statements have not been approved by the FDA. Those with sugar related illness and disease should consult with a doctor before consuming any sweetener.

GF, Vegan & Raw/ RECIPES/ Sides

Crockpot Refried Beans Without The Refry

I’ve been making this Crockpot Refried Beans recipe about once a week lately. It is great to have on hand, a jar in the refrigerator and a few in the freezer. My girls make themselves bean burritos as after school snacks with these beans. I love having a quick wrap for lunch made with these beans, salsa, tomatoes, and lettuce. They are great smeared on a tostada or to eat as a side to tacos with rice. Also great for chip dipping.

They have so much more flavor than canned beans, and I feel great staying away from cans due to their BPA lining. Another great thing about making these beans is that you can make them as chunky or as mashed as you like it. I like a bit of texture in my burritos, but for nachos, I mash them and thin them out a bit more.

I put off making my own beans for a long time. I kept reading how you have to sort them and soak them. It felt intimidating and like too much work. Boy, was I wrong! Sorting takes minutes, and with this Crockpot recipe, there is no soaking.

I measure out my beans (3 cups for this recipe) on my large cutting board. I then quickly sort them, the pile in the front are sorted beans, the pile in the back has yet to be sorted. This literally takes me maybe 2 minutes to sort 3 cups of beans.

You are looking for shriveled beans, halved beans, or just plain ugly looking beans. I also take the ones that look too small out. Pictured above are my rejects.

Put beans in a colander, and give them a quick rinse.

Dump them in the crockpot, along with 1 chopped onion, garlic, cumin, salt, and pepper. This recipe calls for a lot of salt, but it also makes a nice amount of beans. Use it, they need it.

Set the crockpot to high and in 5 hours (can let them cook longer if needed) you have wonderful beans. I love how these make the house smell. We are eating less meat around here (next to none) and it has been great, but I have missed throwing something in the crockpot and having it make the house smell good. Well, these beans solve that problem…they smell so good as they cook! Yum!

Crockpot Refried Beans (without the Refry)
(from Real Mom Kitchen)

3 cups of dry pinto beans (sorted and rinsed)
1 onion, diced
9 cups of water
3 1/2-4 tsp salt
1 3/4 tsp pepper
2 Tbsp minced garlic
1/8 tsp ground cumin

Put all the ingredients in a crockpot and cook on high for about 8 hours.
After they are done, drain all of the liquid out and SAVE THE LIQUID!!
Mash beans with a potato masher or whatever you mash with. Add liquid, a bit at a time, to desired consistency, but remember you want them a little runny because they thicken over time. (makes about 6 cups)
Note: I’ve read about people adding sliced jalapenos to this recipe, for a little kick. These beans are full of flavor without it, but if you are a jalapeno fan. Also, these freeze beautifully.

Drinks/ HEALTH/ Healthy Eating/ RECIPES

My Personal 31 Days Of Tea-LC Challenge + Another Tea Giveaway

I just chose a winner for my last Celestial Seasonings 31 Days of TeaLC giveaway, and there was so much excitement about it that I though we should do one more!

I talked last week about just how much I love hot beverages in the winter. I love chai, coffee and tea, but because I am a cancer survivor, health and immunity are super important to me. With this in mind, I have been wanting to drink less coffee and more tea, and joined in on Celestial Seasonings 31 Days of TeaLC Challenge. My personal challenge is to replace my typical 2nd cup of coffee, the one I usually drink in the afternoon, with tea!

My friends at Celestial Seasonings recently sent a bunch of their new wellness teas, just in time for my 31 Days of TeaLC Challenge. I have LOVED trying out their new products, and have been really impressed with the emphasis their teas have on health! This month is more than half way over and I have found that this 31 day challenge really isn’t much of a challenge for me because it has been a very delicious challenge!

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During my last giveaway, I asked you to comment on what your favorite Celestial Seasonings teas are. I loved the response I got from you! Here are the most popular flavors according to New Nostalgia readers!

~ Sleepytime teas were by far the most popular. Many of you commented on how they really do work and help you fall asleep. The Vanilla, Peach and Sinus Soother were the most popular flavors.

~Raspberry Zinger was also very popular, and came in second.

~Mandarine Orange Spice was a close 3rd.

~Honey Vanilla Camomille was 4th

~Peppermint was a favorite for a few of you!

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Ok, now on to a couple more of my favorite teas from Celestial Seasonings.

This tea is very timely for what I have seen and experienced here in the Midwest. It seems like EVERYONE is battling colds and flu. We have managed to stay fairly healthy. I do have one girl with some cold symptoms. When she told me she had a sore throat one evening, I was excited to experiment with Sleepytime Throat Tamer. I made her some, added some honey, and she said she really liked it and that it definitely helped. She drifted right off to sleep after her tea. She is 11 and is really starting to enjoy tea, especially herbal teas!

From Celestial Seasonings Website:

When the seasons change, minor throat irritations are all too common. Steep yourself in soothing goodness with Sleepytime Throat Tamer^™. This special blend features all of the calming and relaxing qualities of our beloved Sleepytime tea, including aromatic spearmint from the Pacific Northwest and soothing Egyptian chamomile. Sleepytime Throat Tamer adds licorice root and slippery elm bark to coat and soothe a sore throat, while the rejuvenating infusion of lemongrass and ginger provides a comforting aroma and flavor. You’ll feel soothing relief from the very first sip! ^*

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

The next tea that I have really been enjoying is the Metabo Balance Green Tea. I am on a medication for 5 years due to my cancer history. This particular medication makes you gain weight. It messes with hormone levels and because of this I have noticed a change in my body shape, and in my tendency to gain weight around the middle. I have been blessed to never have had to worry about weight gain, until now! I’m hoping this tea will help regulate my metabolism. This tea is delicious–it has hibiscus, orange peel and grapefruit flavor. It is a green tea which is great for everyone, but especially cancer survivors!

From Celestial Seasonings Website:

For many of us, maintaining a healthy weight can be a challenge. Support your metabolism by adding Metabo Balance™ wellness tea to your healthy diet and active lifestyle. This all-natural blend features authentic green tea leaves and potent green tea extract for sustained energy and metabolism support, plus garcinia cambogia and a delicious tropical grapefruit flavor for great taste with no calories!^*

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Hamilton Beach Stainless Steel Electric Kettle

Hamilton Beach 40870 Stainless Steel 10-Cup Electric Kettle

I own an electric tea kettle, and it is by far one of my most favorite kitchen appliances, especially in the winter. I fill it with water in the morning, then flip the button to “on.” In just a minute or 2, I have hot water for my tea. The kettle keeps the water hot for a long time, so I refill my mug often. If it has been a couple hours since my last cup of tea and I want more, I simply flip the switch to “on’ again. It is a great way to have hot water handy all throughout the day. I LOVE it.

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Would you like a chance to win a month supply of Celestial Seasonings tea?

If so, enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GF, Vegan & Raw/ Meals/ RECIPES

5 Minute Raw Nut Taco “Meat”

Once in a while, I make a recipe that I end up getting giddy excited to share with you. This 5-minute raw nut taco meat is one of those recipes! Can you imagine not having to deal with the greasy mess of browning hamburger meat for tacos, but still have the amazing flavor of taco meat? This recipe keeps your stove off and will please even the meat eaters in your life.

I served this to my kids last night and said, “I’m trying out a new recipe. It is chopped up nuts that are flavored with taco seasonings. Nuts are super good for you and will give you the protein and good fats that our bodies need. Try it and let me know if you like it.”

Okay, so I only told 2 of my daughters that. My youngest HATES nuts, so I did not tell her what was in her taco until she devoured it. Hee! Sneaky Mom! She looked at me with wide eyes and a dropped jaw when I told her. Then crossed her arms over her chest and said “Mom! Why didn’t you tell me?” I answered, “I thought just maybe you were getting old enough to start liking nuts, but I was not sure.” She was not sure if she liked that answer!

5 Minute Raw Nut Taco "Meat"

Prep Time

5 mins

Resting Time

10 mins

Total Time

5 mins

Such a great meat alternative for those Taco Tuesdays or Meatless Mondays! My family now prefers this over ground beef. Bonus: no heating up the oven or stove!

Recipe Type: Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: food processor, meatless, Mexican, raw, vegan

Servings: 5

Ingredients

1/2 cup cashews
1/2 cup almonds or walnuts
1/3 cup sun dried tomatoes packed in oil
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp cumin or to taste
pinch red pepper flakes or more for heat
1/4-1/2 tsp salt to taste, start with 1/4. If using salted nuts, you may not need salt!
2-4 tbsp olive oil (or hemp, or flax, etc)

Instructions

Put all ingredients into food processor. Pulse until you get desired consistency. Add more oil if it looks too dry. Do not over process or it will be a paste! The flavor is best once it sits a bit.

I used unsalted nuts. The original recipe I found on Pinterest. It is from Raw Veggies & Yoga. It called for an entire teaspoon of salt, which just about ruined my batch. It was WAY too salty. Fortunately, I had enough ingredients to double my batch and I ended up saving it.

I went for years without a food processor, and now I don’t know how I lived without it. I use mine all the time. I have a 7 cup Kitchen Aid Food Processor. I love using it for chopping onions and veggies for soups, for making nut butter and date pastes, and my yummy healthy chocolate mudballs.

I am new to the world of sun-dried tomatoes but bought them for a pasta recipe that I will be sharing with you soon. I am now a HUGE fan. The flavor they add to this recipe is key. I had no idea how much flavor these packed! I now keep a jar in my refrigerator at all times.

I used these Chia Seed Flour Tortillas that I just found at Trader Joes this week. They are my new favorite. Boy, do they fill you up with all that extra fiber from the Chia. New to Chia? Read all about this mega superfood here.

This is the finished Raw Nut Taco Meat. Oh. My. Yum!

I make a large batch of brown rice each week in my rice maker, and keep it in small mason jars. I love to freeze it, too, so I always have it on hand. Using brown rice instead of white keeps your blood sugar level and gives an extra punch of fiber.

Notice we only use a VERY light sprinkling of cheese on our tacos. We eat very little dairy around here, really just shredded cheese, but small portions.

I just put the tortilla on a plate, added some rice and cheese. I microwaved it for 30 seconds until the cheese melted and the tortilla was soft. I put the Raw Nut Taco Meat right on top.

We topped it with lettuce and wrapped it up. My husband had his with some salsa, and loved it. I can’t wait to sprinkle it on top of my salad today for lunch. I will add some black beans and crunch with tortilla chips. Taco Salad! Mmmm.

Would you consider having a meat-free meal once a week? Do you think you could get your family to try this recipe?

RECIPES/ Sweets

Football Funky Fritos And Rubbermaid From Target

I know, I know. This is not the usual type of recipe I post here at New Nostalgia. There is nothing real or healthy about these Football Funky Fritos–AT ALL! But, sometimes you gotta break the healthy rules and make something junky–especially when it is football season and time for a party!

I started making this recipe about 4 years ago. It is one of my most favorite snacks to take to a football party & with the Super Bowl game coming up I thought it was a good time to share it again with you. Everyone seems a bit skeptical of this snack at first, it does look a bit funky after all, but I always leave with an empty container.

Speaking of containers, you all know I love my mason jars, but they just are not practical for taking along to parties. Enter Rubbermaid Take Alongs. I love having a few of these Rubbermaid Take Alongs on hand. They come in all shapes and sizes, but I tend to stick with the large bowls. I love them for taking along my favorite chili, my famous cranberry spinach salad, or when nothing but a sweet will do, these Funky Fritos.

I bought my Rubbermaid Take Alongs at Target. Target is offering coupons for these Rubbermaid products. (You can print the coupons HERE).

When I put the lid on, I can hear a “click” when sealed. Such a reassuring sound! The lids also stack nicely, is always good. The measuring marks I’m sure will come in handy sometime. What I like most of all, though, is that I can be forgetful. If I happen to leave my dish at a party, that is ok! Then the hostess can wash and reuse it and take it along to another party.

rubbermaid take alongs and football funky fritos

The Rubbermaid Take Alongs that I used costs less than $5.00, and came with 2 large bowls and 2 lids. My Target coupon brought the price even lower.

A fun idea for game day is getting the M&M’s in custom colors. Choose your team color and make a statement with you snack!

Remember to print your Rubbermaid coupons at Target’s website before you shop. There is one coupon for the Easy Find Lids containers and one for the Take-Alongs.

Rubbermaid is hosting a Game Day Party Sweepstakes. They are offering the chance to win an Easy Find Lids Party Pack, a 48Qt Cooler and $100 VISA gift card! Awesome!

Enter to win HERE. (Entries are limited to one entry per person / per email address / per day. Sweepstakes starts December 19, 2012 and ends January 21, 2013.)

Connect with Rubbermaid: Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest

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Salty Sweet Peanut Butter Caramel Funky Fritos

1 cup white corn syrup

1 cup white sugar

1 cup peanut butter

1 10.5 ounce bag Fritos

M&M Candies

Pour out the Fritos on a large shallow pan lined with parchment…might want to grease the parchment paper as some had trouble with sticking. Combine the corn syrup and sugar and bring to a boil. Turn down heat and simmer until sugar is dissolved, just a few minutes. Stir in the PB til smooth. Pour the mixture over the chips, sprinkle with candies, and chill for about 30-60 minutes. Break apart and enjoy!

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What about YOU? What is your favorite recipe to take to a party?

“This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™, but all my opinions are my own. http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO

Drinks/ Healthy Eating/ RECIPES

My Personal 31 Days of Tea-LC Challenge + A Tea Giveaway

I am a HUGE fan of warm, comforting drinks in the winter months. There is just something I love about having my hands wrapped around a big, warm mug of a hot beverage. I love chai, coffee and tea, but because I am a cancer survivor, health and immunity are super important to me! With this in mind, I have been wanting to drink less coffee and more tea, and have decided to join in on Celestial Seasonings 31 Days of TeaLC Challenge. My personal challenge is to replace my typical 2nd cup of coffee, the one I usually drink in the afternoon, with tea!

My friends at Celestial Seasonings recently sent me a bunch of their new wellness teas, just in time for my 31 Days of TeaLC Challenge. I have LOVED trying out their new products, and have been really impressed with the emphasis their teas have on health! I have so enjoyed experiencing their different teas that I find myself drinking much more tea than I anticipated. This 31 day challenge really isn’t much of a challenge for me because it has been so much fun!

There are 2 teas from Celestial Seasonings that I must talk about. I will start with my most favorite–Natural Detox Wellness Tea. I was super excited to see a Celestial Seasoning tea containing Milk Thistle. I have taken Milk Thistle in supplement form ever since I finished chemo & radiation. Milk Thistle is known for its detoxing properties, and is great great for the liver. Chemo wreaks havoc on the liver, which is the bodies main detoxing organ, so restoring my liver to its full working condition was really important to me. I was hoping I would like this tea, especially if it meant eliminating an expensive supplement that I would usually take in pill form. This tea did not disappoint. The creamy vanilla flavor is really comforting. It is interesting for something to taste “creamy” when it is not, but it does! I love it, have drank a ton of it already, and I’m not even close to being tired of it.

Antioxidant Max Green Tea Blackberry Pomegranate

My second favorite tea that they sent is their Antioxidant Max Green Tea Blueberry Pomegranate. Green tea is another really important ingredient in a healthy diet. Green teas provide powerful flavonoid antioxidants that can help reduce the cell-damaging effects of free radicals. This is not only good for cancer patients whose treatment is so harsh and damaging, but also for healthy people who want to stay that way. Cancer is simply cells misbehaving that are damaged, so it makes sense that reducing free radicals that damage cells is cancer preventative.

This tea would taste great in the warm months, too. It would be really refreshing to serve it iced.

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RECIPES

Amazingly Delicious Homemade English Muffins–As Good As Model Bakery’s!

6 Reasons To Replace Sugar With Coconut Palm Sugar

Crockpot Refried Beans Without The Refry

Crockpot Refried Beans (without the Refry) (from Real Mom Kitchen)

My Personal 31 Days Of Tea-LC Challenge + Another Tea Giveaway

5 Minute Raw Nut Taco “Meat”

5 Minute Raw Nut Taco “Meat”

Football Funky Fritos And Rubbermaid From Target

My Personal 31 Days of Tea-LC Challenge + A Tea Giveaway

Crockpot Refried Beans (without the Refry)
(from Real Mom Kitchen)