Tuesday Tastiness #19 - Easy Fruit-Sweetened Berry Crisp

This is my adaptation of a recipe a friend of mine gave me when she was on the Daniel Fast at the beginning of this year. I am not sure if this recipe is on a Daniel Fast website or not, but I think it is. The reason it is a Daniel Fast recipe is that it has no added sugar (only sugar from the fruits) and uses dairy-free margarine or butter. Of course, you know I will only suggest real butter. :o)

I thought it would be a great recipe to share this week since I gave my recipe for granola last week. What timing!

And it tastes wonderful!

Easy Fruit-Sweetened Berry Crisp

2 1/2 cups fresh or frozen berries

1/2 cup apricot preserves (fruit-only type like Smuckers Simply Fruit, etc.) (I am thinking any type of preserves would work if you don't want to use apricot)

1 1/2 cups granola

Butter

Preheat oven to 350. In a bowl, mix berries and preserves. Place berry mixture in a greased 8 x 8 or 9 x 9 dish.

Sprinkle granola evenly over the top of the berries and scatter dots of butter on top of granola (or melt the butter and pour it over).

Bake for about 25 minutes or until granola is a little browned and berries are bubbly. Serves 4-6.

Enjoy!!

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Be sure and stop by A Good Laugh Friday here.

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This post linked to:


The Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap
 

Food on Fridays at Ann Kroeker
 

Ultimate Recipe Swap at Life As Mom
 

Real Food Wednesday at Kelly the Kitchen Kop
 

Works For Me Wednesday at We Are THAT Family
 

Tuesday Twister

Tuesday Tastiness #18 - Granola

It had been a while since I made granola and this week I decided it had just been too long. I made up a batch and am thoroughly enjoying it! I love this recipe because the only sweetener used is a natural one - honey.


As I have started my health food journey along the lines of Sally Fallon's Nourishing Traditions, this recipe is one of those controversial ones that she would not approve of. She believes in soaking grains to neutralize the effects of the phytic acids in grains and, although it seems to make sense to me, I have also read opposing arguments and, honestly, I AM JUST SO CONFUSED. So for now, I do my best. Maybe someday I'll soak. For soaked granola recipes, go here, or here. For more information on soaking grains, go here or here. And for all the information you ever wanted to know about the pros AND cons of soaking, go here.

Now that I have you thoroughly confused along with me, here's the recipe:

Granola

4 cups rolled oats (I DO use the rolled oats rather than the quick ones. I DO believe the less the processing, the more nutrition)

1/2 cup butter (I DO use real butter) (I have also used a combination of butter and coconut oil)

1/2 cup honey (I have a local supplier and love it!)

1 T cinnamon

1/2 cup coconut ( I buy from the HFS or food coop, not the kind with added sugar on the grocery store shelves)

1/2 cup pecans, almonds or other nuts

Also: Raisins, sunflower seeds, any dried fruit, anything else that sounds good - just throw it in

Melt honey and butter together and pour over all ingredients. (Some say to add the dried fruit after baking. I just add it all in together at the beginning.) Bake on a cookie sheet (I cover with parchment paper) at 350 for about 10 minutes stirring occasionally. Continue to bake until golden brown and crispy. (Do not overbake! Tastes burnt and icky! Not good!) Cool on cookie sheet. Store in an airtight container.

Enjoy!!

I attribute this recipe to an old friend, Tina, at Taste of Health. I could not find her website this morning, so if any of my friends who also know her can direct me to it again, I will be happy to post it here to give her credit. She credits Breadbeckers as her original source, but she modified it to suit her tastes. But I think since she posted this a few years ago, she has gone vegan and raw, so I don't know if she cares whether she gets credit for it or not at this point. lol

This post linked to:


Food on Fridays
 

Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap
 

Real Food Wednesday at Kelly the Kitchen Kop
 

Works For Me Wednesday at We Are THAT Family

Tuesday Tastiness #17 - Mexican Skillet

This week's recipe is one that I consider a healthy, made-from-scratch "hamburger helper". Delicious and easy!

Since I wasn't on top of things this evening, here is the "after" picture. See how much we love it?!

Mexican Skillet

1 lb. hamburger (I use grass-fed/finished when possible)

Onion, diced small, to taste (1/2 cup or so)*

1 16 oz. can tomatoes (I use fresh or frozen from the garden when I have them)*

1 can Rotel (I use mild)*

1 8 oz. can tomato sauce

6 cups cooked rice (I use long-grain brown rice, organic when possible) (Cook 2 cups dry rice in 4 cups water for approximately 6 cups cooked rice)

1 or 2 T salt (I use Real Salt)

1 T cumin

1 T garlic powder

1 T chili powder

1/2 lb. grated cheese (or less if you don't like a lot. We like a lot!)

Brown hamburger with onion in 10-inch cast iron skillet. Add all other ingredients except cheese and simmer 10 minutes or so. Sprinkle cheese over top, cover, and simmer for an additional 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.

*If you don't like "chunky", you can put tomatoes, Rotel, and onion in a blender and blend until smooth. This works well for kids!

This post linked to:


The Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap
 

Real Food Wednesday at Kelly the Kitchen Kop
 

Works For Me Wednesday at We Are THAT Family

Tuesday Tastiness #16 - Simple Winter Salad

Today's recipe is a simple one. When making salads in the summer, I love using fresh summer veggies - tomatoes, cucumbers and green peppers from the garden or farmers market. But in the winter, I love to use vegetables that are more hardy and associated with the colder months.

Simple Winter Salad

Romaine Lettuce

Fresh baby spinach leaves

Carrots (I buy regular carrots, not baby carrots, since they are cheaper and I can buy organic for only pennies more than non-organic at Walmart)

Red cabbage

See how simple that is! I just tear the lettuce and spinach into bite-size pieces, slice a carrot (I don't even peel it when I buy organic carrots), and chop up part of a head of red cabbage. Toss it all together and top with my homemade ranch dressing. I usually fill a large serving bowl and have the salad available for two or three days that way. Since there are no veggies in it that break down quickly (like tomatoes in the summer) it will last very well for a few days in the fridge. These particular vegetables are reasonably-priced during the winter months, too, so it is a very cost-effective AND healthy way to eat salad during the winter.

Enjoy!!

This post linked to:


The Grocery Cart Challenge
 

Real Food Wednesday at Kelly The Kitchen Kop
 

Works For Me Wednesday at Rocks in my Dryer

Tuesday Tastiness #15 - A Word from God

Today will be an unusual Tuesday Tastiness. We are going to Taste and See that the Lord is GOOD!

I want to encourage you today with an entry from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. It is a wonderful devotional that I love to read and gain beautiful encouragement from. It is written as if God is speaking directly to the reader. Although I got to spend an enjoyable hour and a half or so today in the car with a good friend, my nerves have been on edge and feel a bit frayed this evening. As I was reading through the devotional to catch up on a few entries to help calm those frayed nerves, I came across the February 27 entry that says:

Keep your eyes on Me! Waves of adversity are washing over you, and you feel tempted to give up. As your circumstances consume more and more of your attention, you are losing sight of Me. Yet I am with you always, holding you by your right hand. I am fully aware of your situation, and I will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able to bear.
Your gravest danger is worrying about tomorrow. If you try to carry tomorrow's burdens today, you will stagger under the load and eventually fall flat. You must discipline yourself to live within the boundaries of today. It is in the present moment that I walk close to you, helping you carry your burdens. Keep your focus on My Presence in the present.

Isn't that just awesome!!!! It has really helped me put circumstances back into proper focus and place my attention on the Source tonight. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you.

This post linked to:


Works For Me Wednesday at Rocks in My Dryer