Apple Sandwiches

It's apple season in New York State. We've been apple picking 3 times this Fall, and they are practically giving apples away at the grocery store. So, needless to say, we always have a good supply of apples. Which is good because they are Y's favorite fruit.

Apple Sandwiches

1 apple, sliced
1tbsp nut butter of your choice
1/2tbsp jelly




^ Slice the apple. It's especially cute if you cut it so the star is in the center. The jelly will squish through.


^Spread the nut butter and drop a dollop of jelly in the center


^ Place another apple slice on top to make a sandwich


^ Give to an adorable child so they can enjoy a healthy treat!

Green Tea Cupcakes from VCTOTW

Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World changed my life. The recipes in this book are so good, it makes me wonder why everyone isn't Vegan.

Green Tea Cupcakes
24 mini cupcakes + 1 mini loaf

1/2c. soy yogurt
2/3c. soy milk
1/4tsp. vanilla extract
1/2tsp. almond extract
1/3c. canola oil
1 1/4c. all purpose flour
1tsp. baking powder
1/4tsp. baking soda
3-4tsp. matcha tea powder
1/4tsp. salt
3/4c. granulated sugar


Preheat oven to 350 and line cupcake tin.

In a large bowl, mix yogurt, milk, extracts and oil. Sift in flour, baking soda, baking powder, matcha powder, salt and sugar.
Fill liners 2/3 way full and bake mini cupcakes 15 minutes and mini loaf cake about 20 minutes.




Green Tea Glaze

2tbsp. vegan margarine
1c. confectioners' sugar (i needed almost 1/2c. more)
1/8tsp. matcha podwer
1tbsp. soymilk
1/4tsp. almond extract
drop of vanilla extract

With a fork, beat margarine fluffy. Add sugar and matcha to form crumbly mixture. Slowly beat in soy milk and extracts.

Pasta and *Cheese* with Vegetables

Pasta and *Cheese*

1c. vegetable broth
2tbsp. flour
1/2tbsp. oil
1 clove garlic
1/2c. nutritional yeast
1/2tbsp. lemon juice
1/2tsp. yellow mustard
quick splash of soy sauce
pinch of salt
pinch of turmeric
1/3c. alphabet pasta, cooked
1/4c. frozen peas or any vegetable of your choice


Combine everything but lemon juice and mustard in small sauce pan, whisk continually for 3 minutes; mixture should be bubbling. Cook 2 minutes, mix in lemon juice and mustard. Mixture should be thick and cheesy. Remove from stove and mix with pasta, add peas (the heat from the pasta and *cheese* will cook them).

Maybe add some bread crumbs and bake at 350 for 10 minutes!

Granola

Granola is such an easy thing to make, I typically like to make ours. I can't conceive spending over $3 on something that can be made for less than $1. And, call me crazy, but I like to have control over the amounts of oil and sugar I give to my children.
So, obviously this recipe can be modified pretty easily. I change it up, depending on my mood, what we have in the house, or what I plan on doing with it.

Granola

1c. rolled oats
1/2c. coarsely chopped walnuts (or whatever nut you like)
1/4c. dried coconut, shredded, unsweetened
1/4c. sunflower seeds
2 tbsp. wheat germ
1/4c. agave nectar, honey or maple syrup
1tbsp. safflower oil (or any cooking oil)

Combine oats, nuts, coconut, seeds, and wheat germ. Stir together sweetener and oil; stir into oat mixture. Spread onto greased baking sheet. Bake at 300 for 30-35 minutes (stir after 20 minutes).

Spread onto foil to cool. Break into clumps. Store 1 week.
If you want to add fruit to your granola, add immediately upon removing from oven.

No-bake Apple Crisp

It was such a gorgeous Fall day, that we decided to be spontaneous and have our afternoon snack outside. I had just made home made granola during nap time, so I came up with this super simple, healthy treat for kids.

No-bake Apple Crisp
Serves 2

2 apples, peeled and sliced
1/8tsp. cinnamon
2tbsp. granola
1/4c. vanilla soy yogurt

In a small bowl stir cinnamon into fruit; divide between two serving dishes. Sprinkle with granola and top with yogurt. Sift a little more spice over yogurt, if desired.

Banana Bread Pancakes

Gosh, I can't say it enough, I love pancakes. They are quick and easy to make. I can always get Y to eat at least one, even during his pickiest moments. And, duh...they're practically cake. For the past few days, Y has turned almost everything down. He even turned down a pear this morning, which is a big deal, because I'm pretty sure if he could have only 1 wish granted, it would be that I only served him fruit. With this in mind, I knew I had to make something extra appealing to Y, to make up for missing breakfast. I also had 3 brown bananas that were a day away from attracting fruit flies. Anyway, a light turned on in my head and this was born. They taste just like Banana Bread. They're moist and fluffy. Just trust me, Try it. You'll like it.

Banana Bread Pancakes
makes 4 saucer sized pancakes

2 ripe bananas
3/4c. 50/50 flour
1 1/2tbsp. maple syrup (or whatever sweetener you like)
~ 1/8tsp. cinnamon
~ 1/8tsp. allspice
2/3c. Hempmilk (or whatever milk you like)
1tsp. baking powder

Mix dry ingredients together. Puree 1 banana and the Hempmilk. Add wet and dry together, don't over mix. Cook, and top with sliced bananas.

Get PERSONAL with your PIZZA

Pizza is the quickest, easiest, relatively healthy food you can make. On top of all that, it can be made while involving your children! I think this is such an important part of cooking. Letting your kids help, get them excited about the food they're going to eat. I think more people should have a relationship with what they put into their bodies. I'm a firm believer that you are what you eat. :) Although I try to use this logic with him (hahaha), I still have a difficult time getting Y to eat his vegetables. But for some wonderful reason, he happily eats them on his pizza. Phew! Today, while talking to some girls in the neighborhood, he proudly told them his favorite pizza topping was peppers. Sooooo cute.

Y's Favorite Personal Pizza

6" Pita Bread
Pizza Sauce
Spinach Puree
Vegan Rella Cheese, shredded
Green Pepper, diced
Red Onions, diced
Black olives, sliced
Gimme Lean Sausage, broken up into tiny pieces and browned.


Preheat oven to 400. Assemble Pizza's (spinach puree first) and cook 6-8 minutes.



^ Our friends Sara and Aayla came over today to help cook.



^ Y enjoys "seasoning" everything. I have an empty shaker that I let him "season" his food with.



^ Max is a wonderful eater. He'll at the very least, try everything once. :)