Sunday, February 1, 2015

Rollup Blender Pancakes

1 cup lowfat cottage cheese
6 large eggs
1/2 cup all-purpose or whole wheat flour (about 2 1/2 ounces)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup oil (canola, vegetable or coconut oil)
1/4 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons sugar

Combine all the ingredients in a blender and process until smooth.

Heat a 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat until a drop of water sizzles on the surface. Lightly spray with nonstick cooking spray. Lift the skillet from the heat and ladle in about 1/4 cup batter, spinning the skillet in a circle to form a somewhat even circle about 6 or 8-inches across (it doesn't have to be perfect).

On the heat, cook the pancake until golden, about a minute, then use a wide, flat spatula to carefully flip the pancake and cook for 30 seconds or so on the other side.

Slide the pancake to a plate and repeat with the remaining batter, spraying with cooking spray every few pancakes or so and making sure the skillet is hot before adding a new scoop of batter (although make sure it isn't so hot that the pancakes burn - adjust the temperature as needed). Stack the pancakes on top of each other as they finish cooking.

Serve with butter, jam, powdered sugar, syrup, fruit and whipped cream - whatever your little heart desires! Spread the filling down the center and roll up to eat.

(Source: http://www.melskitchencafe.com/rollup-blender-pancakes/)

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

2 cups sugar
1 cup canola oil
3 eggs
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup baking cocoa
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups shredded peeled zucchini

In a large bowl, beat the sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla until well blended. Combine the flour, cocoa, salt, baking soda, cinnamon and baking powder; gradually beat into sugar mixture until blended. Stir in zucchini. Transfer to two 8-in. x 4-in. loaf pans coated with cooking spray.

Bake at 350° for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Yield: 2 loaves (12 slices each).

(Source: http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/chocolate-zucchini-bread)

Banana Nut Muffins

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 overripe bananas
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2 eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup pecans, chopped

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and lightly butter 2 muffin tins.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside. Mash 2 of the bananas with a fork in a small bowl so they still have a bit of texture. With an electric mixer fitted with a wire whisk, whip the remaining bananas and sugar together like you mean it, for a good 3 minutes. Add the melted butter, eggs, and vanilla and beat well, scraping down the sides of the bowl once or twice. Mix in the dry ingredients just until incorporated. Fold in the nuts and the mashed bananas with a rubber spatula. Spoon the batter into the muffin tins to fill them about halfway. Give them a rap on the counter to get any air bubbles out.

Bake until a toothpick stuck in the muffins comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes before turning the muffins out.

(Source: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/banana-nut-muffins-recipe.html)

Soft Oatmeal Cookies


1 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 cups quick cooking oats


In a medium bowl, cream together butter, white sugar, and brown sugar. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon; stir into the creamed mixture. Mix in oats. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets. Roll the dough into walnut sized balls, and place 2 inches apart on cookie sheets. Flatten each cookie with a large fork dipped in sugar.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

(Source: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/soft-oatmeal-cookies/)

Blueberry Coconut Cake

For the Cake:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries (unthawed)
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup flaked sweetened coconut

For the Sauce:

1/2 cup granulated sugar
4 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 cup water
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from about 1 lemon)


Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9X13-inch aluminum baking dish and set aside.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk and oil. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients with a rubber spatula just until moistened. Toss the fresh or frozen blueberries with the 2 tablespoons flour and fold them in very gently to the batter. Don't overmix or the batter will start take on a blue-ish tinge.

Scrape the batter into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the top of the cake with the coconut and bake for 18-25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool the cake in the pan on a wire rack.

For the sauce, in a small saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch and grated lemon zest. Gradually whisk in the water until blended. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, whisking often, and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes at a boil until the mixture is thickened. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the butter and lemon juice. The sauce can be used warm or at room temperature.

Cut the cake into squares and drizzle each piece with the lemon sauce. Serve.

(Source: http://www.melskitchencafe.com/blueberry-coconut-cake-with-lemon-sauce/)