Walnut Brownies

Made these yesterday for dessert. They were moist and really good. I think I might add 1-2 cups of shredded zuccchini next time and even make them into muffins.

Carob/Cocoa Brownies

2 eggs


2/3 c honey (i used 1/2 apple sauce 1/2 honey)


1 tsp vanilla


1/2 c melted butter (not hot)


1 mashed banana


1/2 tsp salt


1 tsp soda


3/4 c water


1/3 c sifted carob (I used cocoa powder)


1 c whole wheat flour (I used 1/2 white flour to apease my lighter crowd)


1 c chopped walnuts





Beat eggs, add all other wet ingredients. In a separate bowl, mix together the dry ingredients. Cobine together and mix well. Stir in nuts. Pour into a greased 9" x 13" glass baking dish. Bake exactly 23 minutes at 350* I made a double batch and cooked it for 25 minutes. If you over cook it, it will be dry.

BQ Dinner Fixings

There is nothing more fun than a Sunday BQ (well it could be more fun if we got to eat outside in the cool air...116* is not too cool )

BQ your favorite meat-we are having hamburgers today- If you make your own add some cooked quinoa to the raw meat...maybe some shredded zucchini...Jim's cooking today so we will not be having healthy additions to the meat :)

Don't forget the BQ Sauce

1 1/2 c. catsup (organic no high fructose corn syrup!)

1/2 c. vinegar

1/4 c sorghum

1 onion, chopped

1 tsp salt

1 c water, optional

Combine & simmer until cooked. Store sauce in covered container in the refrigerator.

Copy Cat- Coleslaw-Thanks Aunt Christe for this delightful recipe

2c finely shredded cabbage

1/4 c shredded carrot

(or use the prepackaged coleslaw mix)

1/4 c sugar- I used 1 TBSP stevia (2 TBSP Sevia powder is equal to 1 c Sugar) *The peanut gang said it needs to be sweeter next time...I will try adding honey next time : )

1/2 tsp salt

1/8 tap pepper

1/4 c milk

1/2 c mayonnaise (My Friend Kara has a great recipe for homemade mayonnaise)

1/4 c buttermilk

1 1/2 TBSP white vinegar (I use apple cider)

2 1/2 TBSP lemon juice

Combine all ingredients. Beat until smooth. Add cabbage and carrots; mix well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. (This is critical flavor-enhancement period, do not shimp on time).

Baked Beans

3 c. Navy, Great Northern, or Black Beans (or a mixture of all)

* I cook up 3-6 cup in my pressure cooker using natural release so the beans are soft. You could use canned beans too. Do not drain off the liquid.

1 chopped onion

1/4 c molasses (start with less and add to your desired taste...strong flavor)

1 TBSP Mustard

1-2 TBSP Soy Sauce

Combine all ingredients. Add bean liquid until you get your desired consistency. Bake for 45-60 minutes or cook in crock pot (my prefered method). If your beans are too thin- thicken wwith a little water ans cornstarch.

Walnut Brownies

1/2 c Butter

1/2 c Carob Powder

1/2 c oil

1 c honey (I use 1/2 c honey, 1/2 c apple sauce)

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 c nuts

1 1/4 c wheat flour

1/2 tsp soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

Melt butter, add carob powder and oil. Add honey. Stir. Beat eggsand vanilla; add to butter mixture. Stir in flour. Cover and put in refrigerator to let the flour hydrate-aprox 30 minutes. Remove and add apple sauce if too thick. Add baking powder and baking soda and nuts. Bake at 350* for 20 minutes. Do not over cook or they will be dried out. It is better to under cook whole wheat baked goods.

Sounds Good Let's Eat!

Carrot Cake & Lemon Sauce

Carrot cake has always been a favorite on my Dad's side of the family. My Grandma was queen bee of making carrot cake and lemon sauce. She would spoil us and make it with out raisins (we all know raisins cause cancer, relax...not really). I do not make grandma's recipe because it is not healthy at all (I guess the carrots are , but...). Here is my version. Quite tasty. Although you may have to adjust the lemon in the sauce to your desired "lemoniness" : ) I know this is just carrots, but once again I did not take a picture. Maybe next time I make it.

Carrot cake

2 c whole wheat flour (I use hard white wheat...still light enough for me)

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp soda

1 tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 c chopped nuts (I used slivered almonds, but I usually use walnut)

3/4 c oil (You can use half apple sauce or use coconut oil)

3/4 c honey

4 eggs

2 c shredded carrots (can use dehyderated carrots, hydrate first)

1 c. crushed pineapple (i did not drain the juice)

I also add shredded coconut sometimes.

You can add raisins if you do not tell me :)

Mix dry ingredients well. Add oil, honey & eggs. Mix well: stir in remaining ingredients. Pour into 2 or 3 greased and floured 9" layer pans or a 9" x 13" pan. Bake a t 350* for 35 minutes. TIP: when cooking with whole wheat-Do not over cook. It is better to be a little under cooked than over cooked. Cool and rop with lemon sauce or cream cheese frosting.

Cream Cheese frosting (Try it I was skeptical at first too.)

8 oz cream cheese

6 TBSP softened butter

2-4 TBSP honey

1 tsp vanilla

Cream butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add, honey and vanilla. Beat well. Spread on cake.

Lemon Sauce

2 c whole milk

4 egg whites

2 whole egg

2-4 TBSP stevia (powdered) Do not use too much or it will taste bitter

1 tsp vanilla

1 TBSP cornstarch

1/2 c cream

Juice and rind from one lemon.

My grandma uses 1 TBSP butter in her sauce (I did not use butter) and does not use cream-

In a bowl, beat egg and egg whites together with stevia and cornstarch. Mix well. In a small sauce pan bring milk and cream to a boil. Stir contantly. Remove from heat and add in lemon & rind if you want to add rind). Slowly add some of the milk mixture to the egg mixture stirring the egg mixture constantly (you do not want to cook your eggs). After you have 1/3 to 1/2 of the milk mixture into the egg mixture add it back into the rest of the milk mixture, whisking constantly. Continue to cook until it is a saucy consistency.

One of My Favorite Cook Books

Here is one of my favorite cookbooks. It is called Wholesome Sugarfree Cooking. It is an Amish Cook book. You can purchase a copy here. Some of the recipes call for alot of honey. Too much honey is not good either. I substitute apple sauce for up to half of the honey. I was having a problem with some of the dessert recipes being dry.

TIP: My friend Kara told me to undercook the recipie...over cooking it dried it out. Also, she said to refrigerate the batter before adding the baking powder/soda, for an hour to hydrate the wheat. Then you can add more liguids if it still looks too thick. Works great!