Yummy way to brew coffee

A friend once shared this creative way to make home - brewed coffee a little more, well, creative.  I don't do this everyday, but when I just want some delicious coffee. 

Before brewing your coffee, sprinkle about 2 tsp of Ground Cinnamon on the grounds and a pinch of salt.

Fill your coffee maker with water and get everything ready to go.  Then take your coffee pot and fill just the inner circle with Grade A Maple Syrup.  If you pot does not have the little indented circle then I am approximating 2-3 Tbles of Maple Syrup.  Brew as usual, making sure the cycle is complete before serving.  Cream however you like and enjoy a different, but delicious start to your day.  

I use just half and half or heavy whipping cream when done this way as the maple syrup does sweeten it some.

Great way to cut back on  sugar if you are on a diet as well.

Lemon-Butter Brussel Sprouts

Believe it or not, my 9 year old has been begging for brussel sprouts.  Apparently my sister in law made some really good ones for him a while back.  I finally decided to give in, it's healthy, what can in hurt.  Anyway, here is her recipe which is really good.

15-20 Brussel Sprouts, Steamed with the ends cut off and peeled to the nice part.
1 cube of butter, melted
1 fresh lemon, squeezed
salt and pepper
Mix the melted butter and lemon juice to make a sauce.

There are 2 different ways to serve this:
1. Serve the whole sprouts with the sauce to dip in.
2. Cut the sprouts in 1/2 and drizzle the sauce over them.  Sprinkle salt and pepper.

I like the 2nd way a lot better, the halves seems to soak up more of the sauce and had a better flavor.

I had to keep from picking in them, they were so good!

Yellow Cake Recipe

1 c. Butter
1 c. Agave
2 Eggs
3/4 c. Milk
1 1/2 tsp Vanilla
1 3/4 c. Flour (All purpose or wheat)
1/4 c. Cornstarch
2 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Salt
Preheat oven to 350*  Sift together dry ingredients.  Cream together butter and agave.  Beat in eggs, 1 at a time.  Stir in Vanilla.  Beat in flour mixure alternately with milk until smooth.  Bake 25-30 minutes.  Let cool completely before frosting.
This turned out quite moist and very delicious.  I topped it off with Sugar-free vanilla pudding and canned peaches.  Using sprouted wheat instead of regular will make this gluten free :)

Try this yummy dip!

Spicy Bean Dip

1 Can       Pinto Beans
1 Can       Great Northern Beans
1 Can       Corn
1 Can       Fiesta Nacho Cheese Soup
1 Can       Diced Tomatoes
1 Pkg       Taco Seasoning


Mix everything together in a saucepan.  Heat on medium heat until hot. You could also do this in a crockpot with equally as good results. Serve with any kind of tortilla chips.


*You may replace the Feista Nacho Cheese Soup with regular for a milder flavor.  

Healthy Caramel Recipe

2 c.         Evaporated Cane Juice
2 c.         Cream or Evaporated Milk
1 cube     Margarine (not butter)
3/4 c.      Agave
      Mix everything except 1 cup of milk or cream in your saucepan.  Bring to a boil and add the other cup of milk or cream.  Bring to a boil and boil until caramel colored.  Pour out into prepared pan and let cool for 3 hours.
* You can add nuts or anything else that sounds good.  I usually spray my dish and sprinkle nuts, etc., on the bottom, but you can sprinkle yours on the top.  The agave makes this a little softer than corn syrup. This starts out as a light tan color, it is done when it is thicker and a deep tan, almost brown.  (Because everyone has a different idea of caramel color, that is how I judged it to be the right color.)

Honey Almond Granola

This granola never lasts around our house.

1 c. Chopped Almonds (you can use whatever kind suits you)

4 c. Crisp Rice Cereal

4 c. Oats

2 c. Coconut (Health Food stores may have the unsweeten kind)

1/2 c. Flax seeds (optional)

1 tsp Salt

1 1/4 c. Honey (can be switched with Agave or Real Maple Syrup)

1 1/2 Tbs. Molasses

3/4 c. Butter

1 1/2 Tbs Vanilla

Almond Extract to desired taste

Preheat oven to 350*. Mix first 5 ingredients together in a large bowl and set aside. In a sauce pan mix salt, honey, molasses, and butter. Cook on med heat till boiling stage. Remove from heat and mix in flavorings. Pour into the oat mixture and stir together. Pour mixture onto greases cookie sheet and bake for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. *Note: You may need to turn your oven only to 325* to prevent overcooking.

MMMMM.... I can smell it already. I will be making me another batch this coming week for sure!

Delicious Peach Smoothie

Ready for a very refreshing smoothie? Although my children call them shakes, I think they are probably more of a smoothie. This is just an idea of what to go off, I really don't usually measure, I just add till it tastes good to me.

1 c. Frozen Peaches

1 tsp Vanilla

1 Tble Agave (you can use honey or maple syrup)

1 1/2 c. Milk (more if it is too thick)

Mix all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and creamy. Very delicious and healthy. You can use this same basic recipe for any frozen fruit you would like to make into a smoothie.

Yummy Peanut Butter Cookies..Healthy Too!

Healthy Peanut Butter Cookies

1 c. Shortening

1 c. Peanut Butter

1 c. Evaporated Cane Juice

1 c. Sucanat

2 Eggs

1/4 c. Milk

2 tsp Vanilla

3 1/2-4 c. Flour

2 tsp Baking Soda

1 tsp Salt

In a mixing bowl, cream shortening, peanut butter, cane juice and sucanat. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in milk and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda and salt. Gradually add to the creamed mixture. Roll into 1-inch balls. Place 2 in, apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375* for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire racks. Approx. 5 dozen

I used the sprouted wheat in place of regular white flour to make them gluten free again. Turned out really well, although with sprouted wheat (or regular whole wheat), there is always a different texture.

Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

My Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies were a Success! They were not chewy, a little more cakelike, due to the agave is my guess. But they were absolutely delicious. The only refined sugar at all was the coconut and the chocolate chips. The is a great gift idea for Celiacs and those who are wheat intolerant as they have sprouted wheat. My sister in law is Celiac so I experiment with alot of recipes to help her enjoy yummy treats.

Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 c. Butter, Softened

1 1/2 c. Agave

1 tsp. Vanilla

Cream together:

2 Eggs

Beat eggs in one at a time.

1 tsp. Salt

1 tsp. Baking Soda

2 1/2 - 3 c. Flour (you can use white, wheat, or sprouted wheat)

Mix in with the rest. Add

2 c. Chocolate Chips

1 - 2 c. Nuts (optional, but make it way better)

1 c. Coconut

Spoon out onto sheets and bake at 375* for 9-11 minutes. I did 9 and they turned out perfect. Should make about 5 dozen.

If you need directions on how to sprout wheat please let me know. Quite a process but worth it for those who cannot tolerate wheat.

Sucanat Popcorn Puffs

Here is a delicious snack. It is a bit different than the original caramel popcorn, but just plain ol' yummy!

1 bag Corn Puffs

1 box Corn or Rice Chex

Mix together in a large bowl

3 c. sucanat

3 cubes butter

1/3 c. half half

1/4 c. honey

Bring to a boil and boil 4 minutes. Remove from heat and add:

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp soda

This will foam and become very fluffy. Pour onto puffs and chex and mix until evenly coated. Let dry for about 30 minutes. *If you let the mixure boil for 6 minutes instead of 4, the candy coating with dry out to be crispy instead of chewy.

Go ahead and give it a try today....and try not to eat it all in one sitting :)

Sugar Free Vanilla Pudding

3/4 c. Agave
3 Tbps Cornstarch
3 c. Milk
4 Egg yolks or 2 beaten eggs
1 Tbps Butter
1 1/2 tsp Vanilla
In heavy saucepan combine first three ingredients. Cook and stir over medium heat till bubbly. Cook and stir for 2 more minutes. Remove from heat. Add 1 cup of milk mixture to the beaten egg yolks slowly. Add egg mixture to milk mixture in saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil, reduce heat and cook and stire for 2 minutes more. (If using whole eggs, do not boil, cook till nearly bubbly, reduce heat and cook for 2 minutes more.) Remove from heat. Stir in Vanilla and Butter. Pour Pudding into a bowl, cover with plastic wrap making sure the plastic lays on the pudding to prevent a thick layer of film on the pudding. Enjoy!