Baked Banana Bread Oatmeal

I've been baking my steel-cut oats for years. Baking steel-cut oats takes a few hours of moderately attended time on the stove to 30 minutes of hands-off time in the oven, but I'd never thought much about applying the same approach to old-fashioned oats. After all, they cook fairly quickly on the stove top, even faster in the microwave, and can even be soaked for overnight oats instead. But with a little extra time for a leisurely breakfast on the 4th of July, the idea crept back into my mind, and since it was a holiday, I decided to make them extra luxurious.

Coconut oil has made the rounds as the latest super health food, but I eat it because it is delicious. I've always loved coconut-flavored foods and I'm happy it has gone from culinary villain to nutritional superstar (like another favorite, eggs) so I can eat it without guilt. And the glorious tablespoon in this recipe is really what takes it from good to exceptional. Banana, walnuts, and cinnamon call up all the familiar favorite flavors of banana bread, but coconut oil makes it as delicious as a piece slathered in butter. I like the complex sweetness of maple syrup here, but just as you may choose the lower calorie option of milk or banana, you may want to reduce or eliminate the amount of sweetener. (Like I said, this was a holiday breakfast for me.)

The recipe here is for an individual serving, but this is a great opportunity to scale up for a crowd of people or many breakfasts for one. With all the ingredients at the ready, it's easy to make several servings with individualized additions at once, which can either be baked in individual ramekins or a jumbo-sized muffin pan.

Baked Banana Bread Oatmeal
serves 1
adapted from Chocolate-Covered Katie

1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
Pinch of kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon, or to taste
2 tablespoons chopped toasted walnuts or pecans
2 tablespoon mashed banana
3 tablespoons milk of choice
1 tablespoon coconut oil, coconut butter, or melted butter (you can substitute extra milk or banana, but it will be much less rich)
1 tablespoon maple syrup, honey, or brown sugar, or to taste

1.Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a small baking pan, loaf pan, or 1-cup ramekin with cooking spray.

2. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together oats, salt, cinnamon, nuts, and brown sugar (if using). In a separate bowl, mix together banana, milk, coconut oil, and maple syrup/honey (if using). Add wet ingredients to try and mix to thoroughly combine.

3. Pour mixture into baking dish and cook for 15-20 minutes, or until firm. (Cooking time will vary based on the baking dish and whether or not you used oil). Raise the heat to broil and continue cooking for 3 to 5 more minutes or until the top has a nice crust. Turn oatmeal out onto a separate dish, if desired, and serve promptly.

Mini Pumpkin Pie with Whole Wheat Walnut Crust

You've done a lot of eating lately, and you're going to do a lot more. Moderation, in all things, is important, but I think it's okay to let loose the reins a bit this time of year and celebrate gastronomically with friends and family. You can always make resolutions on January 1st, right? I sampled everything on the Thanksgiving buffet (twice), but I will be trying to scale back from that Bacchanalia until Christmas feasting begins. Because it's the holiday season, I can't give up seasonal treats entirely, and this delightful little pie is perfect for indulging in modest portions without lots of leftovers. The whole wheat and walnuts make it a little more virtuous than your average crust, but it still holds the luscious filling that a pumpkin pie warrants. Cream cheese makes this pie especially rich and creamy, with sweet pumpkin eagerly soaking up vanilla, maple, and spices. A holiday tradition made miniature, this dessert is the perfect ending to an intimate holiday gathering.

Mini Pumpkin Pie with Whole Wheat Walnut Crust
adapted from Dessert for Two
serves 2 (generously) to 4 (scantily)

FOR THE CRUST:
1 ounce (1/4 cup) walnuts
1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 teaspoon sugar
2 1/2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, diced
1/4 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
2-3 tablespoons cold water

FOR THE FILLING:
3 ounces Neufchâtel or cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1 large egg
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons pure maple syrup, preferably Grade B
1/2 teaspoon homemade or purchased pumpkin pie spice
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. First, toast the walnuts in a 350° oven for about 10 minutes, or until fragrant.

2. In a small food processor, pulse walnuts, flour, and sugar together until nuts are finely chopped and ingredients are combined. Add the diced butter and oulse a coarse meal forms.

3. Add the vinegar and 2 tablespoons of the cold water and pulse just until a dough forms. Use the remaining tablespoon of water if dough is not coming together.

4. Wrap dough in plastic wrap, press into a disc, and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Once 30 minutes has elapsed, Preheat the oven to 375° and remove the dough from the fridge and lightly flour the counter.

5. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out into an 8” circle. Gently move the dough to a 6-7” pie (or tart) pan. Gently fit the dough into the pan without stretching the dough. Fold the excess dough over to form a double edge. Prick the bottom with a fork in several places, and then bake on a small sheet pan for 13-15 minutes.

6. While the crust is baking, beat together the cream cheese, pumpkin and egg with an electric mixer. Add the remaining ingredients and beat until very well blended. Pour this mixture into the crust gently. Bake the tart for 30 minutes, or until a knife inserted 1” from the crust comes out clean. Let cool and serve cold or at room temperature.

Applesauce Flax Oat Bars with Fruits and Seeds

When it comes to breakfast on-the-go, these bars are the ultimate in portable oatmeal. I was personally sold on this recipe from the first ingredient on the list, healthy and flavorful coconut oil. I first bought coconut oil specifically to make Oatcakes, one of my all-time favorite snacks, but because I don't have familiarity with is as I do other oils, it hasn't gotten nearly the use it should. The rest of ingredients on the list - from the peanut butter, now shown to reduce the risk of breast disease, to the nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and spices - are no slouch either. Raisins, cranberries, pepitas, and sunflower seeds are ingredients that I always have in the pantry, but dried blueberries, cherries, or apricots or any kind of kind of nuts, preferably toasted, would make great substitutions. The applesauce keeps these bars moist and adds a subtle sweetness, but my next experiment with this recipe is sure to be using pumpkin puree instead of part or all of the applesauce. Individual bars freeze well, especially if you bake them in an individual brownie pan, which gives you more brown and crispy edges and makes them more structurally sound. With all the goodness of a loaded bowl of oatmeal, these bars pack flavor and nutrition into a form that's easy to eat anytime, anywhere.

Applesauce Flax Oat Bars with Fruits and Seeds

adapted from The Kitchn

makes 12 bars

1/4 cup melted coconut oil
3 tablespoons smooth peanut or almond butter
3 tablespoons honey, maple syrup, or brown rice syrup
1/4 cup ground flax seeds
1 1/4 cups apple sauce
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups rolled oats (use certified gluten-free oats if necessary)
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
1/ 2 to 1 teaspoon cinnamon (to taste)

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
1/4 teaspoon salt

1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Line an 8"x8" baking pan with parchment paper.

2. In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the melted coconut oil, peanut butter, and brown rice syrup and stir until melted. Remove from heat. Add the ground flax seeds, apple sauce, and vanilla, and whisk to combine.

3. In a large bowl, combine the oats with the dried fruit, seeds, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Add the liquid mixture to the dry ingredients and stir until well combined.

4. Transfer the mixture to the baking pan, pressing with your hands to create an even surface.

5. Bake until golden, about 45 minutes. Cool completely in pan. Lift out and cut into 12 pieces.

6. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Wrap individual bars tightly for transporting.

Maple-Walnut-Chia Granola with Dried Cranberries

Until this year, in my world, chia was relegated to the cheesy terra cotta figurines. But like all stereotypically hippie health foods, it was only a matter of time before I tried it out for myself. And just like with nutritional yeast, it has stuck around far after its first appearance. At first I was mostly using chia seeds in my smoothies, but when the time came to replenish my granola supply, I saw the perfect time to incorporate it into something different. I always add a few tablespoons of tiny seeds to my granola for that extra bit of crunch and this new addition to my pantry was an obvious choice. The egg whites, another new addition for me, make this granola especially golden and crunchy, though it was the double dose of maple (syrup and extract) that really won my heart (and tastebuds). Perhaps more than any other granola I've made, this one can really do double-duty at breakfast with yogurt and dessert over ice cream.

This granola was part of my Labor Day kitchen marathon, during which I also turned out Zucchini, Banana, and Flaxseed Muffins, Zucchini Corn Muffins, Spicy Cold Tomatillo Soup, and Zucchini Rice Gratin. It may have been just one of a long list of culinary projects that day, but that makes it no less worthy of a chance in your kitchen or a repeat appearance in mine.

Maple-Walnut-Chia Granola with Dried Cranberries

adapted from Bon Appétit

makes about 3 cups

Nonstick vegetable oil spray
1/4 cup (packed) dark brown sugar, divided
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
2 tablespoons egg whites (about 1 large egg white)
1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon maple extract
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoonground allspice
1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2 tablespoons chia, flax or sesame seeds
1/2 cup dried cranberries

1. Position rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 325°F. Generously coat heavy large rimmed baking sheet with nonstick spray. Stir sugar and syrup in heavy small saucepan over low heat until sugar dissolves, occasionally brushing down sides with wet pastry brush. Pour into large bowl; cool to lukewarm. Whisk in egg whites, extracts, and spices. Add oats, nuts, and seeds; toss well.

2. Spread mixture in even layer on prepared baking sheet. Bake 35 minutes. Using metal spatula, turn granola over (bottom will be brown). Bake 10 minutes. Sprinkle cranberries over; bake until dry, about 10 minutes longer. Cool granola completely in pan.

Whole Wheat Zucchini Muffins

My zucchini consumption is no longer keeping up with my zucchini crop. I currently have eight zucchini in the fridge and at least a half dozen on the vine that are sure to join them shortly. But no shortage of ingredients means no shortage of recipes to share! I'll be honest, I've been putting off making zucchini bread/muffins because that's the first recipe that people typically go for, but it was time to take on this classic. I find that there's far too little distinction between cupcakes and muffins these days, so when I bake my own, I make the lightly sweetened, whole grain variety. The problem with a lot of whole grain baking is that the end product is too dense, but using whole wheat pastry flour remedies that problem entirely. Baked goods turn out light and tender while maintaining the nutty flavor of the whole wheat flour, so there're little reason to use anything else for baking most of the time. Applesauce, banana, and honey create a subtle, nuanced sweetness, keeping the muffins especially moist along with milk and heart-healthy olive oil. I used this recipe to make six jumbo muffins instead of the original ten to twelve (I have what you might describe delicately as a hearty appetite), but with no unvirtuous ingredients and great flavor, I see no reason not to eat with aplomb. I've included the original baking instructions, but if you choose to make the larger variety as well, begin checking for doneness starting at five to ten minutes after the baking time specified (ovens will vary). With luxury of a long holiday weekend, it's the perfect opportunity to take the time to bake up a hearty breakfast to linger over, enjoying each delicious, nutritious bite and savoring your well-earned break.

Whole Wheat Zucchini Muffins

adapted from Greatist

makes 10 to 12 regular-size muffins or 6 jumbo muffins

2 cups whole wheat pastry flour (or regular whole-wheat flour)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
1/2 cup apple sauce
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup milk (of your choice)
1 banana, mashed
1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
1 cup grated zucchini (about 1 large zucchini)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a large mixing bowl combine all the dry ingredients. In a separate medium-sized bowl, whisk together the apple sauce, olive oil, milk, banana, and honey.

3. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir to combine. Fold in the zucchini.

4. Fill lightly greased or lined muffin cups, and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the tops have browned. The insides will be exceptionally moist!

5. Let the muffins cool to firm up, or eat them while they are ultra-tender and warm!

Whole Wheat Zucchini Oatmeal Cookies

Zucchini, zucchini, zucchini. The reality of zucchini season is even more true this week than it was last week, and as a result I've got many a recipe to share. This time I'm going for sweet instead of savory, because when you've got as much zucchini as I do, you've got to make a real effort to mix it up and avoid zucchini burnout.

When it comes to sweet treats, zucchini bread or zucchini cake is probably the first thought for most people, but I wanted to bake some healthy work week treats I could keep the freezer, opting instead for healthy cookies. Whole wheat pastry flour makes the best baked goods in my opinion, its light texture and subtle flavor the perfect partner for the hearty, tender oats used here. Rich and crunchy walnuts and sweet and chewy raisins each bring their own contrasting flavor and texture, the whole magical mixture kissed with lovely flecks of green zucchini. The only less-than-wholesome elements come in the form of maple syrup and butter, two ingredients that nearly guarantee happiness whenever they appear. Honey could be substituted for the maple syrup for a more economical option and applesauce used for part of the melted butter, but I love the complex sweetness and richness these ingredients add and wouldn't dream of swapping them out.

The temperatures and humidity of summer don't often lend themselves to baking, but storms darkened the skies the day I decided to bake, the fierce winds carrying the irresistible aroma of these cookies throughout the house. Our current reprieve from the dog days of summer is the ideal time to play Betty Crocker, so take the opportunity to get creative with the bounty of zucchini, be it the one you grew yourself or picked up at the farmers' market or roadside stand.

Whole Wheat Zucchini Oatmeal Cookies
adapted from Hilltop Hanover Farm
makes about 20 cookies

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon sea salt
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup chopped toasted walnuts, optional
1/4 cup raisins
1 cup shredded zucchini
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Oil a cookie sheet.

2. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and oats. Stir in the nuts, raisins, and zucchini.

3. In a bowl, whip together the maple syrup, oil or butter, and vanilla.

4. Stir liquid ingredients into the flour mixture until well blended.

5. Using a two tablespoon ice cream scoop (or rounded tablespoons), drop onto the prepared cookie sheet, flattening slightly.

6. Bake until golden brown, 11-13 minutes. Cool 2 minutes on the cookie sheet, and then transfer to a rack to cool completely. Makes about 20 cookies.

Coconut-Quinoa Olive Oil Granola with Dried Mangoes

Yogurt and granola is my breakfast of champions. Although it's a pretty healthy combination of whole grains, nuts, and dried fruit, it somehow feels like I'm eating something vaguely dessert-like for breakfast. I'm definitely not saying that yogurt and granola is going to replace an ice cream sundae, but it's certainly nice to start the day with a treat. That being said, I'm still always trying to sneak in a little extra nutrition. With my last batch of granola I added quinoa for extra protein and this time I used extra-virgin olive oil for even more healthy fats. The olive oil flavor isn't prominent in the granola, taking a back seat to the sweeter elements of maple syrup, dark brown sugar and cinnamon. Coconut, cashews, and dried mangoes gives this granola a somewhat tropical feel, making it a particularly wonderful choice for a spring or summer breakfast. If you're not a breakfast person (something I personally can't understand), this granola also makes a superb topping for ice cream, a mere scoop turning a plain bowl of ice cream into a complex and nuanced dessert.

Coconut-Quinoa Olive Oil Granola with Dried Mangoes
makes about 3 cups

1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

1/4 cup quinoa

1/2 cup unsweetened coconut chips
1/2 cup coarsely chopped raw cashews
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 cup chopped dried mangoes
Coarse salt

1. Heat oven to 300 degrees.

2. Place oats, quinoa, coconut, cashews, maple syrup and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large bowl and mix until well combined and set aside. 

3. In a small saucepan combine maple syrup, olive oil, brown sugar, and cinnamon and heat over low heat just until sugar is melted and ingredients are well combined. Pour hot mixture over oats mixture and stir to coat thoroughly.

4. Spread granola mixture in an even layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Transfer to oven and bake, stirring every 10-15 minutes at the beginning and more frequently towards the end, until granola is toasted, about 45 minutes.

5. Remove granola from oven and season with more salt to taste. Let cool completely and stir in dried mangoes. Serve at room temperature or store in an airtight container for up to 1 month.

Coconut, Oat, and Quinoa Granola

There are infinite combinations for delicious homemade granola. I'm constantly mixing up the fruits and nuts that I throw in to my granola, but the one element I do neglect to change up enough is the grains. Granted, granola is pretty much defined by rolled oats, but there's certainly room for adding other grains, especially protein-rich quinoa, which adds a lovely nutritious crunch. Millet would also be a welcome addition, but it doesn't come with quite the nutritional bonus of quinoa. The remaining ingredients are a particularly delightful melange of nuts, seeds, coconut, and dried fruit that become wonderfully crunchy and subtly sweet when slowly baked in a light glaze. I typically eat granola for breakfast, but this also makes a wonderful topping for frozen yogurt or ice cream and is special enough to give as a gift. So much of my eating follows the seasons, but granola always has a place in my diet, from spring to winter, breakfast to dessert.

Coconut, Oat, and Quinoa Granola
adapted from Aida Mollenkamp
makes about 3 cups

2 tablespoons unsalted butter or virgin coconut oil
2 tablespoons honey, maple syrup, or brown rice or agave syrup
1.5 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
1 teaspoons vanilla bean paste or extract
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1.5 cups old-fashioned oats (not instant)
1/2 cup chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds
1/2 cup packed unsweetened flaked coconut
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons cup uncooked quinoa, flaxseed, or hemp seed
1/2 cup shelled pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
1/4 cup raisins, currants, or dried cranberries

1. Heat the oven to 350°F and arrange a rack in the middle. Combine butter or coconut oil, honey, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt in a small pan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Pour mixture into a bowl, add the oats and nuts and toss until evenly coated.

2. Spread the oat mixture in a thin, even layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, then stir in the coconut, quinoa or seeds, and pumpkin seeds, and spread out into a thin layer. Continue baking until the granola is very golden brown and smells toasted, about 10 to 15 minutes more. (Note : Granola should be golden and slightly crisp -- remember that it will crisp even more as it cools. Keep an eye on the granola at this point because, depending on the thickness of your baking sheet, it will cook faster or slower than mine did.)

3. Place the baking sheet on a wire rack and cool the granola to room temperature, at least 15 minutes.
When the granola is cool, add the dried fruit and toss to combine.

Carrot Date Muffins

Although I do indulge in culinary trends from time to time, I haven't jumped on the gluten-free bandwagon. There are plenty of people out there without a gluten intolerance that think going gluten-free is somehow healthier, but I'm certainly not one of them. That being said, if I come across something delicious that also happens to be gluten-free, I won't pass it up. Thanks to Good to the Grain, I have a deep appreciation (and large store) of less-than-mainstream flours. When I woke up New Year's Day in the mood to bake up some breakfast, I had everything I needed already in the pantry to make these coincidentally gluten-free muffins. Although they are a bit denser than ones I would typically make using whole wheat pastry flour, the lovely flavor of the almond flour makes up for the difference in texture. Carrots, dates, and maple syrup create a complex sweetness, combining beautifully with the rich nuts, aromatic spices, and tropical hint of the coconut oil. Naturally most delicious fresh from the oven, extras can be frozen so a quick breakfast is always at the ready. Whether you're going gluten-free or not, these muffins will get your day started right.

Carrot Date Muffins
adapted from Whole Foods Market
makes 12 muffins

2 medium carrots, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 cup chopped pitted dates
1/2 cup chopped toasted walnuts or pecans
1/4 cup melted virgin coconut, high-heat sunflower oil, or canola oil
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
3/4 cup amaranth flour or millet flour
3/4 cup ground almond flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1. Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners or oil with natural cooking spray and set aside. Preheat oven to 375°F. Place carrots and dates in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse and then blend until finely chopped. Add walnuts and pulse to finely chop. Transfer to a bowl; add oil, eggs and maple syrup, stir to combine completely.

2. In a separate bowl, combine all remaining dry ingredients. Pour liquid ingredients over dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Spoon batter into prepared muffin tins and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.

Tuscan Kale with Maple, Ginger, and Pancetta

Kale is sneakily becoming one of my favorite vegetables. I love it prepared almost any way, from crispy roasted kale chips to tender sauteed kale, but my husband isn't quite the enthusiast that I am. Because I want him to love it as much as I do, I turned to one of my favorite cookbooks, Fast, Fresh, and Green by Susie Middleton, for help. I've never eaten a single thing from her cookbook I haven't adored, and she scores another home run with this recipe. It doesn't take a culinary mastermind to figure out that adding bacon or pancetta makes almost anything more delicious, but her deft hand with flavors expertly balances the fatty, salty pancetta with fresh ginger and sweet maple syrup without burying the flavor of the kale. The true sign of success was my husband saying that this is his favorite way he's ever had kale, so I know this recipe will remained bookmarked for a return visit. If you're trying to introduce yourself or someone else to hearty greens, start with this simple, flavorful recipe - if you don't like kale prepared this way, you probably never will.


Tuscan Kale with Maple, Ginger, and Pancetta
adapted from Fast, Fresh, and Green by Susie Middleton
serves 2

Kosher salt
1 bunch (8 to 9 oz) Tuscan Kale (a.k.a. cavalo nero or black kale)
1 oz very thinly sliced pancetta (3 or 4 slices) or bacon
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh ginger
1 teaspoon pure maple syrup
2 small lemon wedges

1. Fill a wine 4- to 5-qt pot 2/3 full of water. Add 2 teaspoons salt and bring to a boil. Remove the ribs from the kale. Grab the rib with one hand and rip the two leafy sides away from it with the other. Cut or rip the leaves into two or three smaller pieces. You'll have about 4 oz of greens. Add the greens to the boiling water and start timing immediately. Taste a leaf after 4 minutes. It shouldn't be tough or rubbery. If it is, cook for 1 to 2 minutes more. Drain the kale very thoroughly in a strainer in the sink. Press down on the kale to squeeze out some excess liquid.

2. Put a medium (9- to 10inch) nonstick skillet over medium-low heat and arrange the pancetta slices in the pan. Cook the pancetta until crisp and lightly browned, 6 to 8 minutes, flipping once or twice. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Add the butter to the pan, and as soon as it melts, add the ginger and stir to soften in slightly in the butter, about 30 seconds. Remove the pan from the heat and add the maple syrup. Stir well.

3. Life the kale from the strainer, squeezing one more time to release excess moisture, and add to the pan with the maple-ginger butter. Put the pan back over medium-low heat and toss the greens until well-coated and slightly warmed, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Remove the pan from the heat, taste, and season very lightly with salt. Crumble the pancetta over the greens. Toss briefly to mix and transfer to a serving platter. Alternatively, transfer the greens to individual plates and crumble the pancetta over the top. Serve with the lemon wedges.

Oatcakes

I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say these are my favorite healthy cookie/granola bar/morning snack treat I've ever made. This recipe has been bookmarked ever since I bought Super Natural Every Day (along with a couple dozen other recipes) and I'm ashamed it took me so long to make it, especially since it's a common coffee shop snack in San Francisco, a city I love beyond words. Although it nearly completely composed of my go-to ingredients for these kind of snacks, I did get to try out something new-extra-virgin coconut oil. Until recently, coconut oil was made out to be a nutritional villain and I'd thus avoided it, but the tide appears to be turning on expert and public opinion so I was willing to try it out. Although it's still an ingredient to be used in moderation, I will most certainly not shy away from the quickly growing library of recipes using coconut oil in the future. Coconut oil adds a tremendous amount of flavor, not just fat, the coconut flavor playing beautifully with maple syrup and nutty whole wheat flour and oats. These are special enough for a dessert, but healthy enough for breakfast or a snack, sure to delight no matter what time of day you enjoy them. They are rugged enough to hold up all day in your purse or backpack, a delightful crusty exterior concealing a moist and flavorful center. Much more delicious than the proverbial carrot-on-a-stick, these provided motivation to make it through the early hours of my work day, and the energy to keep going until lunch. While I've made many recipes that I would be happy to return to when baking up a batch of something delicious for my work week morning snack, this is the only one I've been 100% sure that I will return to many times over.

Oatcakes
from Super Natural Every Day by Heidi Swanson
makes 12 oatcakes

3 cups rolled oats
2 cups spelt flour or whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 teaspoon aluminum-free baking powder
2 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
1/4 cup flax seeds
3/4 cup chopped walnuts, lightly toasted
1/3 cup extra-virgin coconut oil
1/3 cup unsalted butter
3/4 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup natural cane sugar
2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F/160 degrees C with a rack in the top third of the oven. Butter a standard 12-cup muffin pan.

2. Combine the oats, flour, baking powder, salt, flax seeds, and walnuts in a large mixing bowl.

3. In a medium saucepan over low heat, combine the coconut oil, butter, maple syrup, and sugar and slowly melt together. Stir just until the butter melts and sugar has dissolved, but don't let the mixture get too hot. You don't want it to cook the eggs on contact in the next step.

4. Pour the coconut oil mixture over the oat mixture. Stir a bit with a fork, add the eggs, and stir again until everything comes together into a wet dough. Spoon the dough into the muffin cups, nearly filling them.

5. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the edges of each oatcake are deeply golden. Remove the pan from the oven and let it cool for a couple minutes. Then, run a knife around the edges of the cakes and tip them out onto a cooling rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Maple-Roasted Pork Spareribs

Ribs are one of my favorite foods in the world, but I've never attempted them at home, primarily because of the amount of time they take to cook, making them impossible for dinner on a weeknight. I've had a beautiful rack of Berkshire pork spareribs from Willow Creek Farm in my freezer for quite some time, and when I saw the evening Packer game on the schedule (allowing ample time for the ribs to cook), I knew it was time to finally tackle this long-postponed project. Willow Creek pork is some of the highest quality you can buy, so I knew I wouldn't do them justice with just a basting of grocery store barbecue sauce. When I found this recipe from one of my favorite recipe sources, Food and Wine, that included maple syrup (one my favorite flavors), I knew I had found a sauce worthy of this exemplary pork. While this pork would be delectable even on its own, the glaze hits all the elements of good sauce-smoky, sweet, acidic, and spicy, blending beautifully with the savory, juicy pork. The irresistable aroma will taunt you from the oven for hours, but the wait is all worth it when you sink your teeth into these sticky, delicious, fall-off-the-bone-tender ribs. If you've got the time and want to do game-day food right, honor your team by whipping up a batch of these spare ribs, grab a roll of paper towels, and dig in!

Maple-Roasted Pork Spareribs
from Food and Wine
serves 4 to 6

1/2 cup pure maple syrup 
1/4 cup tomato sauce 
1/4 cup red wine vinegar 
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice 
2 tablespoons light brown sugar 
1 tablespoon minced garlic 
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 
Salt and freshly ground pepper 
Two 3-pound racks pork spareribs

1. Preheat the oven to 350°. In a saucepan, combine the maple syrup, tomato sauce, vinegar, lemon juice, brown sugar, garlic, ginger and 1 teaspoon each of salt and pepper; bring to a boil. Simmer over low heat for 15 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, set each rack of ribs on a large rimmed baking sheet, meaty side up, and season all over with salt and pepper. Roast the ribs for 30 minutes, shifting the pans from top to bottom halfway through cooking.

3. Brush the ribs with some of the sauce and roast for about 1 1/2 hours longer, brushing with the sauce every 15 minutes and shifting the pans occasionally. If the pan juices begin to burn, add a few tablespoons of water to the pans and scrape up any caramelized drippings; baste the ribs with the drippings. Remove from the oven.

4. Preheat the broiler and position a rack 8 inches from the heat source. Put both racks of ribs on 1 baking sheet, meaty side down, and brush with the sauce. Broil the ribs for 2 to 3 minutes, until glazed and lightly crusty. Turn the ribs, brush with any remaining sauce and broil for about 3 minutes, or until glazed and crusty; transfer to a work surface. Cut in between the bones, mound the ribs on a platter and serve.

 

Breakfast Burger

With Fourth of July weekend fast approaching, having a large arsenal of recipes for grilling is a must. While even the plainest burger is delicious cooked on the grill, a Fourth of July cookout is also a great chance to try out some creative recipes and impress your guests, so I offer up to you this recipe for your holiday grilling. This supremely savory burger is wonderfully decadent, with smoky bacon, pungent cheddar cheese, and decadent egg yolk melding together in an incredible collection of rich flavors. If you want to take it completely over the top, use a combination of ground pork and pork sausage instead of ground beef to make this burger maximally indulgent. Runny egg yolk melding all the ingredients together is one of the best parts of this burger, but if you're not a fan of runny egg yolks, this burger will still be fantastic if you cook the yolk through. I've put together many burger creations this summer, but my husband cites this as probably his favorite creation so far, so I know this is a recipe worth sharing. Go forth and fire up the grill this holiday weekend, enjoying some quality time and good eats with friends and family.

Breakfast Burger
serves 2

2-4 slices bacon (depending on size)
8-12 ounces ground beef (local, grass-fed organic is the best if you find/afford it)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
1 teaspoon maple syrup (preferably Grade B)
2 whole grain buns or English muffins
2 oz. sliced sharp cheddar cheese

1. Preheat a pan over medium heat. Cook bacon to desired level of crispness, remove from pan, drain, and break each slice into two pieces, if large. Reserve bacon grease in the pan. While the bacon is cooking, mix mayonnaise and maple syrup together in a small bowl. Spread evenly over the top halves of the two buns.

2. Meanwhile, preheat a grill pan or gas grill over medium to medium-high heat or prepare a charcoal grill (my personal preference). Divide ground beef into two even patties and season each side with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Cook burgers to just shy of desired level of doneness (I like my burgers medium-rare). Preheat the pan containing the bacon grease over medium heat towards the end of the burger cooking time.

3. Placed sliced bacon and cheese on top of burgers and continue cooking until cheese is melted. While the cheese is melting, cook the eggs until the whites are set, but the yolks are still runny, flipping halfway through. Place the burgers with the bacon and cheese on top of the bottom halves of the buns, top with the fried egg, and the other half of the bun.

Carrot-Oat Cake

I love dessert, and any day that includes some sort of indulgence is all the better for it in my opinion. Like the cookies I made last week, this cake is a way to indulge my sweet tooth but still sneak in some quality nutrition along the way. This cake is flavorful, moist, and everything I want in a snack during my morning break at work, but also healthy enough for breakfast or sweet enough for dessert.  If you're concerned about the amount of sugar in this recipe from the 1 cup of maple syrup (or simply don't want to use so much an expensive ingredient), substitute half of the maple syrup with unsweetened applesauce; honey could also be used in lieu of the maple syrup, also in combination with applesauce, if desired. Personally, I'm a sucker for anything with (real) maple syrup so I wouldn't want to subtract any of that wonderful maple flavor and aroma from this cake. Taking a few minutes to savor a cup of tea, this delicious cake, and a bit of calm goes a long way to breaking up the work day and keeping my sanity when things get hectic.

Carrot-Oat Cake
from Whole Foods
makes one 9x9-inch cake

Natural cooking spray
1 cup rolled or quick cooking oats
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups grated carrots
1 cup pure maple syrup
1 cup dried currants
1/2 cup unsweetened finely shredded coconut
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Lightly oil a (9-inch) square baking pan with cooking spray and set it aside.

2. Pulse oats and walnuts in a food processor until coarsely ground. Transfer to a large bowl. Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger and salt and mix well. In a second large bowl, combine carrots, maple syrup, currants, coconut and vanilla. Add carrot mixture to flour mixture and stir until completely incorporated. Transfer to prepared pan and bake until cooked through and deep golden brown, about 1 hour. Set aside to let cool before cutting into squares.

Maple-Pear Baked Steel Cut Oats

I just couldn't get enough Baked Apple and Peanut Butter Steel Cut Oats last weekend and even as I was enjoying them for breakfast last Saturday and Sunday, my mind was already racing with ideas for other baked steel cut oat recipes. While I loved the apple and peanut butter combination, I think I like the maple syrup and pear combination even more. I'm a fool for anything with maple syrup and I've rarely been disappointed by adding it to a dish, so it's no wonder I adore this recipe. This definitely isn't the end of experimenting with this recipe and I look forward to putting together some more creative combinations in the future.

Maple-Pear Baked Steel Cut Oats

serves 1

1/2 whole pear, diced
1/4 cups steel cut oats
1/2 cup milk
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
1 tablespoon chopped toasted walnuts


1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place diced pears in the bottom of an individual-sized oven proof dish.

2. Pour steel cut oats over the pear, then add milk and bake for 30 minutes.

3. Remove from the oven and top with maple syrup and toasted walnuts. Enjoy!

Maple Oatmeal Muffins

Come rain or sleet or 6 inches of snow, the dog still has to get out for a walk each morning. After trudging through the deep snow in brisk winter wind this morning, I was in desperate need of a warm and satisfying breakfast. I've had this recipe bookmarked for a couple months and decided this was the perfect morning to whip up a batch. These muffins are moist, tender, and although mild in overall taste, have a pleasant maple flavor. Next time I plan on substituting part of the brown sugar for maple syrup to amp up the maple flavor even more. One of these healthy and satisfying muffins with a sliced apple and a homemade maple latte made for a comforting and filling breakfast on a brisk winter morning.

Maple Oatmeal Muffins
adapted from Bon Appetit, via Epicurious

2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1 cup quick-cooking oats
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup low-fat buttermilk
3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
1/2 cup packed golden brown sugar
1/4 cup canola oil
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Line twelve 1/3-cup muffin cups with paper liners. Combine first 6 ingredients in large bowl and stir to blend. Whisk buttermilk, applesauce, maple syrup, brown sugar, vegetable oil, egg and vanilla in medium bowl until well blended. Add to dry ingredients and stir just to incorporate (do not overmix).

2. Divide batter equally among muffin cups (batter will reach top of cups). Bake until muffin tops are golden brown and tester inserted into center of muffins comes out clean, about 28 minutes. Transfer to rack and cool. 

Maple and Walnut Applesauce Cake

As with last week, this was my effort to make a quick and satisfying dessert a bit more on the healthy side of things. Most importantly, it is filled with flavors I love (maple in particular), especially in fall. A subtle maple sweetness flavors every bite of this cake, paired perfectly with walnuts and nutty whole wheat flour. It is sweet enough for a light dessert or snack, but substantial enough for breakfast alongside fruit, eggs, yogurt, bacon, or sausage. If it isn't quite decadent enough for you, a smear of butter or almond butter will make it even more rich and satisfying.

Maple and Walnut Applesauce Cake
adapted from Whole Foods
serves 12

2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup canola oil
2 large eggs
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly oil a 9-inch square cake pan.

2. In a medium bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together syrup and oil. Whisk in eggs until combined. Whisk in applesauce and vanilla then add reserved flour mixture and whisk, beating well for 3 minutes. Stir in walnuts.

3. Spoon batter into prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Set aide to let cake cool in pan, then cut into squares and serve.