Spring Garden Giveaway!!

One of the blogs I follow is having an awesome giveaway! I was excited to see that 8-muddy boots is giving away $5 worth of Pinetree Garden seeds! Check it out if you are diggin' it!!! :)

Easy Chicken Pot Pie

I have to give my sister a shout out for this fabulous recipe! :) It is super simple and super yummy- as though you had worked on it all day! ;) Thanks sis!

You will need:

-1 box of 2 premade pie crusts

-1 chicken breast cooked and chopped

-1/2 bag of frozen mixed veggies

-1 jar of chicken gravy

-1 lg. potato cooked and diced

Place one of the pie crusts in the bottom of a greased pie plate. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add the veggies (I added my own potatoes that were cooked and diced) on top of the pie crust. Add the diced chicken and then pour over the whole jar of gravy. Top with the other pie crust, pinch the edges, and slit the top. Bake in oven for 45 minutes. Let sit for about 10 min. after baking. Enjoy!

Healthy Whole Wheat Soaked Pancakes

These pancakes are my family's favorite! Not to mention more healthy than your usual pancake recipe! (because of the amazing soaking benefits!)

3c. whole wheat pastry flour

1c. milk or buttermilk

1c. water

1/4c. apple cider vinegar

1/4c. melted coconut oil

1/4c. ground flax

Combine all of these ingredients and soak on the counter, covered, for 12-24 hours.

Just before cooking add:

4 lightly beaten eggs

3 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

2 Tbsp. honey

Combine well and spoon out desired sized pancakes onto a hot pan or griddle. Flip over after cooking a few minutes. Serve.

This recipe makes 2-3 dozen pancakes depending on size. They also freeze very well in air tight freezer bags.

Cinnamon Swirl Bread

This bread is as close to a cinnamon roll you can get with out actually making one!! SO delicious... especially warm!! :)

Into the bread machine place all the ingredients in order:

-1c. warm water

-1/2c. melted butter

-4 Tbsp. brown sugar

-1 tsp. salt

-2c. whole wheat flour

-1c. all purp. flour, unbleached

-1/4c. ground flax

-2 tsp. dry yeast

Set bread machine on dough setting. When dough is finished, take dough out and roll out into a rectangle. Sprinkle with 2 tsp. of cinnamon and drizzle 1 to 1 1/2 Tbsp. of honey. Optional to add raisens. Roll up dough and tuck ends under. Place in greased bread pan and cover. Rise for 45 min. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Health Benefits of Flax

I love to use flax! I add ground flax to everything I can because it is sooo good for you! That is why a lot of my recipes contain it! Here are just a few ways you can benefit from adding flax to your diet!

Flax fights against cancer ( especially colon and breast ).

It fights against diabetes :)

Improves bowel health :)

It is high in omega-3 fatty acids- which among many things can help people who suffer from inflammatory disorders including rheumatoid arthritis :)

Flax is the riches known plant source of phytoestrogens which aid in natural hormone therapy which can lesson the symptoms of menopause :)

It helps reduce clotting time and makes arteries more pliable, thereby reduces the chance for heart attacks and strokes :)

Eating flax daily significantly boosts your body's immunity against bacteria and viruses :)

Whole Wheat Buttermilk Biscuits

These are a simple, homemade, no preservatives biscuit. They are so easy to make and tasty too!

1/3c. butter

1c. whole wheat flour

3/4c. all purpose, unbleached flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1/4tsp. baking soda

3/4tsp. fine sea salt

3/4c. buttermilk

(Hint: If you don't have buttermilk, take 3/4c. regular milk and add 3/4 Tbsp. white vinegar)

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Cut butter into flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt until it resembles fine crumbs. Add milk and combine. If dough is sticky add a little more flour. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead about 10 times. Roll out 1/2 inch thick. Use a floured biscuit cutter or a cup and cut out biscuits. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Place them so they are touching if you like a softer biscuit and about 1 inch apart if you like them crusty. Bake 10-12 minutes. This recipe makes about 12 biscuits :)

Healthy Chocolate Everything Cookies :)

This is my own homemade cookie recipe! All of my favorite things combined into one cookie! :)

You will need:

2c. rolled oats

1/3c. shredded, unsweetened coconut

1/3c whole wheat flour

1/4c. sesame seeds

1/2c. crushed almonds

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

1/2c. unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. sea salt

2/3c. olive oil

1c. honey

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2c. peanut butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all the dry ingredients in one bowl. Then combine the last 4 ingredients in a seperate bowl. Then add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix. Form into balls and place on a greased baking sheet. Bake for 8 min. Enjoy!! :)

Crockpot Southwestern Chicken

This recipe is sooo simple and makes the most tender chicken!! Delicious!!

3-4 chicken breast
2 Tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
1 can of black beans (the original recipe used pinto bean, so what ever you prefer)
1 Lg. can of crushed tomatoes
1 packet of taco seasoning (i use low sodium)
1 cup of colby jack cheese

In a skillet on med/high heat with olive oil, cook the chicken breasts for a few minutes on each side. Season with salt and pepper. Meanwhile dump a can of beans in the bottom of the crockpot. Place the chicken on top of the beans. The chicken will not be fully cooked thru. Then combine the crushed tomatoes and taco seasoning. Pour over the chicken. Cook on high for 3-4 hrs. the last 10-15 min. add the cheese to the top of the tomatoes. Serve with sour cream!

Crunchy Honey Granola Cereal

I tried this new granola recipe because I didn't have some of the ingredients that my favorite recipe called for so here is a new one that I did really like! Of course I did tweak the recipe a bit to fit me!! I can't help it!! You can add or take away any of the nuts, seeds, or coconut from this recipe. When you are making granola it is super flexible so you can add or take away any ingredients and it will still turn out great! Enjoy!! :)

3 c. rolled oats
1/2 c. wheat germ
1/2 c. ground flax
1c. sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, or nuts. Or a combination of all.
1c. shredded, unsweetened coconut
1/4c. olive oil
1c. honey
1 tsp. vanilla

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Spread on a lightly oiled baking sheet. Bake a 250 degrees for 30-45 minutes. Stir occasionally.

Homemade Laundry Soap :)

I love making my own laundry soap :) I mean, I love the money it saves me from making it!! I only costs me about $2 to make a 5 gallon bucket! You just can't beat that, plus I do love the smell of it! :) So fresh!

You will need:

-4c. hot water

-1 bar of Fels-Naptha (grated)

-1c. Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda

-1/2 c. Borax

-5 gallon bucket

In a sauce pan, combine grated Fels-Naptha and 4c. hot water. Place on stove Med./Low heat. Stir often. This will take about a half hr. Then fill your 5 gallon bucket half full with hot water. Add your melted Fels-Naptha, washing soda and borax. Stir until dissolved. Then fill the rest of the bucket with hot water and mix well. Let it cool and it will thicken up. I use a measuring cup to scoop out of the bucket when I'm ready to use it. You only need about 1/2c. to 3/4c. of laundry soap per load of laundry depending on the size of the load. This recipe will usually last me a few months!

Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls

These are my very favorite thing!! I love, love, love chocolate and I love, love, love peanut butter!! My sister gave me this recipe and I tweeked it just a bit but, I will be forever greatful to her for it!! :)

1/4c. rolled oats

1/2c. peanut butter

1 Tbsp. honey

1/4 c. dark chocolate chips

Line a baking sheet with wax paper.

Stir together oats, peanut butter, and honey.

Form into balls and place on wax paper. Place them in the freezer during next step.

Melt chocolate chips over low heat, stirring constantly. Once completly melted, take the balls out of the freezer and dip into the chocolate and return to the cookie sheet. Return to the freezer for 1 hour. Store in a ziploc bag in the fridge. :)

Sweet Potato Casserole

I made this dish last year and since the price of sweet potatoes are getting cheaper this time of year, I decided to make it again!! It is very delicious and it is even good as leftovers, warm or cold!

-2 lbs. sweet potatoes

-1/2c. honey

-1/2tsp. salt

-1/2c. milk

-2 eggs

-1/2tsp. vanilla

-4 Tbsp. melted butter

Topping:

-1/2c. brown sugar

-1/2c. flour

-4 Tbsp. melted butter

-1/2c. chopped pecans

Scrub potatoes and cut in half. Boil in their skin until tender. Cool; then peel off skin and mash well. Stir in salt and honey. Whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla, and 4 tbsp. of butter. Stir into the mashed potatoes until smooth and well blended. Spoon mixture into a lightly buttered 2 quart baking dish. Combine the ingredients for the top of the casserole and sprinkle over the sweet potato mixture. Bake at 35o degrees for 35-45 minutes.

Crochet

I recently made these hats for my son and I also made one just like the bear one for my nephew! It was a fun project and it really didn't take long! I used alpaca yarn and it is suprisingly soft! Not itchy for little heads! :) I haven't ventured to try something on a little more difficult level yet! Maybe someday!!

Vanilla Orange Granola

3c. rolled oats

1/4c. wheat germ

1/4c. ground flax

1/2c. almonds

1/2c. honey

1/2 tsp. orange peel

1/3c. fresh squeezed orange juice

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Combing orange juice, honey, cinnamon, vanilla, orange peel in a sauce pan and heat over medium heat stirring occasionally until honey is melted. Set aside. In a large bowl mix together oats, wheat germ, flax, and nuts. Pour honey over oats and mix until coated. Spread on a baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes, stirring half way thru.

Homemade Sugarless Applesauce

This is a super easy and really delicious recipe!

4c. apples, chopped and peeled

1 Tbsp. lemon juice

1/2c. water

1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt

Put all ingredients into a sauce pan. Mix until apples are well coated. Cook on high heat until it boils. Reduce heat to medium. Simmer for 20-30 minutes. Mash with a potato masher until it's to your desired testure. Serve :) You can freeze the apple sauce for up to a year in an airtight container.