Pumpkin Spice Muffins

Pumpkin muffins are one of my favorite kind of muffins. These are no exception. They were moist and delicious. The flavor was fantastic. I loved adding the chia for extra protein. They were wonderful while I ate this Coconut Curried Butternut Soup. 

Ingredients

1C buttermilk or milk + 1T vinegar (let sit for 20 min)
1/2 C honey
2 T coconut oil
2 eggs
1/3 C chia
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 C canned pumpkin puree
3/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp salt
1 T baking powder
2 C spelt flour or whole grain flour

Directions   heat oven 375  makes 30 mini muffins

1. Beat in blender together milk, honey, oil and eggs. Then pulse in vanilla. Then pulse in pumpkin puree. Set aside.
2. In small bowl pour in pumpkin spice, salt, baking powder and flour. Stir together with wire whisk.
3. Fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients. Stir until all combined.
4. Grease muffin pans and scoop muffin mix into pans and place into heated oven.
5. Bake 10-12 min.
6. Take out of the oven and take out of the pan and cool on a cooling rack.

Caramel Apple Cake (Whole Grain)

I really love these delicious whole grain cakes. This is a great season to make it with the apples that are in season. It is low in sugar and whole grain. It is healthy enough to eat for breakfast. This would also be wonderful for a Fall gathering with friends or family. YUM!

Ingredients
2 C whole grain flour (I used spelt flour)
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 C coconut oil
1/2 C honey
2 eggs
3/4 C rice milk or milk of your choosing. 
1 apple, grated

Carmel topping
1 C coconut milk full fat
5 T honey
2 T coconut oil

Directions (serves 9) 
1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium sized bowl pour in flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt. Stir with a wire whisk until all combined.
2. In a separate bowl pour oil, honey,eggs, and milk. Blend with a wire whisk for a couple of minutes.  
3. Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour in the liquid mixture. Stir until just combined.
4. Fold in the grated apples until all combined.
5. Pour into greased squared pan. Place in heated oven. 
6. While the cake is baking make caramel sauce.
7. Pour milk, honey and oil into a small sauce pan on medium heat. Let it come to a boil while stirring. Turn down the heat to medium low and continue to thicken until reaches about 180 degrees. It should be a light tan color. It should be thick but still runny. Take off the heat.
8. Bake about 35 min. Depending when toothpick comes out clean and the cake pops back up when slightly touched with one finger. Cool on wire rack. 
9. Cut up cake and serve on plates pour sauce on to each piece of cake. Serve warm. 

*You could also pour the carmel on to the cake before cutting it up. 

Whole Grain Peanut Butter Texas Sheet Cake

Peanut Butter Sheet Cake

Today Is my daughters 20th Birthday. She is our 6th child. It is crazy to have your 6th child already be 20. She is a beautiful  young lady inside and out. The years are flying by. I remember 20 years ago when I had her. The years fly by don't they. She is accomplishing great things. I know this will be a great year for her. I feel lucky to be her Mom. :) Below is a recent picture of my sweet family. They are all growing up right before my eyes. Life is very good. I love being a wife and mother.

My Sweet Family

 Yesterday I made Peanut butter Texas sheet cake. I had seen this recipe and thought it would be fun to make it in a healthier version. So below is what I came up with. You can't lose when you make a dessert with peanut butter. It was delicious.

Ingredients
2 C Spelt flour or Whole grain  (or you could have 1 cup of the 2 Cups of flour be white flour.) 
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 C coconut oil or you could use butter
1 C honey
1 C water
1/4 C  natural peanut butter
2 eggs beaten
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 C buttermilk or 1/2 C regular milk & 1/2 T vinegar let it sit a few minutes

frosting
1/4 C coconut oil or butter
2 T natural peanut butter
1/4 C milk
2 C powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Directions  Heat oven to 350

1. Sift flour, salt, and soda together. Set aside in a bowl.
2. In a sauce pan on medium heat put in oil, honey, water and peanut butter. Stir and let it come to a boil and then take it off the heat.
3. In the sauce pan stir in the eggs, vanilla and milk. Then stir in the dry mixture until just combined.  
4. Grease a jelly roll pan or put on parchment paper and then grease it.
5. Pour mixture into pan and cook in heated oven for 15 to 20 min.
6. While the cake is cooking make the frosting.
7. In a medium saucepan on medium heat pour in oil, peanut butter and milk. Heat until it comes to a boil. Take it off the heat.
8. Stir in the sugar and vanilla. Until it is all blended and nice and creamy.
9. When the cake comes out of the oven spread on while it is warm. Enjoy!