Category: Breakfast

Banana Nut Baked Oatmeal

Well friends, I jumped on the bandwagon. I had to give the single serving baked oatmeal a try, and boy, I was not disappointed! After looking through a few different recipes, I came up with my own take it. I don’t love chocolate in the morning (after lunch, totally different story), so I went with a banana nut baked oatmeal. Holy…yum. 

If you haven’t noticed or you’re new to my little cozy corner of the Internet (Welcome!), you know I am a fan of a couple things: food from scratch and cooking with what I have on hand. Generally speaking, you won’t find nichy ingredients here, and I think this recipe holds true. 

Rather than buy oat flour, I made my own using my food processor. It’s so simple my friends. Just put some old fashioned oats into your processor and hit blend until your texture is very coarse flour (I use my Kitchen Aid 7 Cup and it’s grand!). I poured a few cups of oats into my mixture, ground them up, and stored them in an air tight container. 

I have a few other recipes that call for ground oats like these simple energy balls or my banana bread, so having some on hand isn’t a bad idea. 

Anywho, banana nut baked oatmeal is quickly becoming my go to breakfast on the weekend when I have a touch more time. That doesn’t mean it isn’t a great weekday breakfast; I am just a fine oiled machine in the morning during the week, and overnight oats are my jam. 

Ready to get mixing and baking? I hope so! Let’s make some banana nut baked oatmeal!

Your Ingredients for Banana Nut Baked Oatmeal

  • ½ banana, mashed
  • ⅓ cup oat flour
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup 
  • 1 tablespoon flax seed
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
  • ⅓ cup unsweetened almond milk 
  • ⅛-¼ teaspoon vanilla extract, optional 

Your Steps to Banana Nut Baked Oatmeal 

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease a ramekin with non-stick cooking spray. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl, mixing until well combined. Pour into greased ramekin. Bake on the middle shelf for 15-20 minutes, depending on the texture you want your oatmeal to be. I like it to feel more like a bread than goo-ey, so I shoot for the 20 minute mark. Either way, it’s filling and delicious; something you can feel good about putting into your body. Yum!

  • First, banana.
  • Mash it up!
  • Add the remaining ingredients (I waited on the almond milk)
  • Mix it together and add the almond milk.
  • Pour into the ramekin and bake!
  • Dig in!

Banana Nut Baked Oatmeal

A wholesome, simple breakfast sure to fill your belly with good for you food and make your tastebuds do a little dance!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 1

Ingredients
  

  • ½ banana mashed
  • ⅓ cup oat flour
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon flax seed
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
  • ⅓ cup unsweetened almond milk
  • ⅛-¼ teaspoon vanilla extract optional

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease a ramekin with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Combine all ingredients in a small bowl, mixing until well combined.
  • Pour into greased ramekin.
  • Bake on the middle shelf for 15-20 minutes, depending on the texture you want your oatmeal to be.
Keyword baked oatmeal, Banana, banana nut, oatmeal
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

JessLeave a comment

Quick Peanut Butter Oat Energy Balls

I am an avid runner and overall fitness nut. As such, I am always looking for healthy ways to fuel my body quickly and easily. I also enjoy snacking….a lot. My sister and I were just talking about how there has to be a snack break between breakfast and lunch. We can’t make it otherwise–and these quick peanut butter oat energy balls are perfect for that!

When I am cooking and meal prepping, I can tell I have a winning clean eating recipe when my husband approves. With this recipe, he has been known to say, “You know what we are almost out of…thos yummy energy balls. You need to make more!”

Guys, that’s a big deal. He is generally the biggest critic of my “overly-healthy” recipes so when he said that, you can bet I got into the kitchen and made another batch! I hope you enjoy them as much as we do! (This version is inspired by Rachel from Clean Food Crush, but has been modified by me to meet our needs at home)

Here are your ingredients

  • 1/2 cup coconut flour ( It smells so delightful!)
  • 2 cups ground old-fashioned oatmeal (see details in the recipe)
  • 1/2 cup real maple syrup (honey would work too!)
  • 1/2 cup natural peanut butter
  • 1/4 t kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
  • 1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (I LOVE the flavor this brings in)

Your Steps to Quick Peanut Butter Oat Energy Balls

First, grind the oats to make a sort of oatmeal flour. To do this, place the old fashioned oats and coconut flour into a food processor and pulse them until you have a very coarse flour like texture.

Then, combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix them with a wooden spoon until well mixed. Form them into 1-2 inch balls (whatever suits your family. We like 1 inch energy balls around here so I used a tablespoon to measure out the the dough.). Place on a cookie sheet. Place the cookie in the fridge for approximately an hour to harden. Remove from the pan, place in an airtight container, and store them back in the fridge.

These are great to make a few batches up and store for later. Perhaps whip up a few batches and put them in the freezer for a grab and go snack that can thaw over a few hours. (I’m thinking they would be great packed in a lunch and used for that sweet treat at the end to finish up your meal. As for me, I like to pack a few for my morning and afternoon snacks at work (See, I love all the snacks. My husband calls me a squirrel because I always have some food on hand…). As for my kids, they eat them like an after dinner treat, so I think I am winning. I hope you enjoy! –Jess

Hit those oats and flour in the food processor.
Add honey
…peanut butter
…chocolate chips with a little salt and vanilla.
and some melted coconut oil.
Mix, mix, mix.
Form into balls using a tablespoon.
All done!

Tool of the Trade

Honestly, there is only one thing you really need for this recipe. A large food processor. Maybe you’re like me and think you don’t need it (Who needs ANOTHER kitchen gadget?!) But this guy gets a lot of use at our home and is perfect for fun sweet recipes like this one, but also is great in this cranberry jalapeño dip. I can’t recommend it enough, even if you do have to find a spot for it 😉

Quick Peanut Butter Oat Energy Balls

After school or between meals, we all can use a snack to satisfy our hunger cravings. These quick peanut butter oat energy balls fit the ticket! Bite size, easy to make, and tasty on all levels!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 19 minutes
Chill Time 1 hour
Course Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 3 dozen

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup coconut flour
  • 2 cups ground old-fashioned oatmeal see details in the recipe
  • 1/2 cup real maple syrup honey would work too!
  • 1/2 cup natural peanut butter
  • 1/4 t kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoons coconut oil melted
  • 1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Instructions
 

  • First, grind the oats to make a sort of oatmeal flour. To do this, place the old fashioned oats into a food processor and pulse them until you have a very coarse flour like texture.
  • Combine all remaining ingredients in a large bowl and mix them with a wooden spoon until well mixed.
  • Form them into 1 inch balls using a tablespoon to measure.
  • Place on a cookie sheet and then chill in the fridge for approximately an hour to harden.
  • Remove from the pan, place in an airtight container, and store them back in the fridge
Keyword chocolate and peanut butter, energy balls, oatmeal, peanut butter
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Looking for other delicious recipes?

Give some of these a try!

Jess1 Comment

For the Holidays Cranberry Apple Preserves

“Tis the season for cranberries, right? Now if you ask me, any season is cranberry season. But right now, fresh, whole cranberries are fully stocked at all the grocery stores, just yearning to create something delicious in your kitchen. I know Thanksgiving is over, but that doesn’t mean your time with cranberries needs to be. Give these cranberry apple preserves a try! 

One of my favorite things about living in Wisconsin is that all things cranberry are readily available. I thought that was standard in all states. I was telling a friend in Texas how much I adore cranberry wine (I am not a fancy wine girl, clearly). Her response was, “THEY MAKE CRANBERRY WINE?!” Yup, they do. And it’s delish. If you’re interested, check out Door Peninsula Winery (I love their Cranbernet) or Three Lakes Winery (I love…all their wine. All of it.) They even ship to lots of states! 

I will buy anything cranberry related. Add some citrus, and I am in heaven. So this cranberry apple preserve recipe is a great one. It has all the deliciousness of a well prepared cranberry sauce while being the consistency of jam. Can you go wrong?! Even if you aren’t a typical canner, you can do this recipe. 

Before we Start, The supplies

This cranberry apple preserves recipe will result in approximately seven 8 ounce jelly jars. You can use wide mouth or narrow mouth jars. Just be sure you have rings and lids for them and that they will all fit in your canner at once. 

You will need a water bath canner or large stock pot with a lid. The jars need to be off the bottom of the pot. A water bath canner will have a rack to use if you go that route. If you use a stock pot, I would invest in canning racks. You can also put a towel down in a pinch, but it is MESSY in terms of getting water everywhere.  

It is also helpful to have the tools in a canning kit like this, but it isn’t necessary. Canning would be crazy challenging without the jar funnel and jar tongs. The lid lifter is also very handy. 

New to canning? Check out the Ball’s Book of Canning or The National Center for Home Food Preservation for more detailed information. I will give you the low down, but it will be short and sweet. You will want to read up more, I promise  

Your Ingredients

  • 24 ounces whole cranberries, rinsed and picked through 
  • 3 apples, cored, peeled and diced
  • 1 clementine orange, chopped finely with peels
  • 2 ¾ cup sugar
  • 2 cups water 
  • ⅓ cup honey 

Your Steps to Cranberry Apple Preserves 

To begin, prepare your water bath canner. Fill the canner with enough water so that once the jars are in the canner, they will be covered by at least one inch of water. Too much water is better than not enough, but remember that some water will be displaced by the jars. Cover and begin to heat over a medium heat. 

You will also need to wash and prepare 8 ounce canning jars (approximately 7 jars will be produced with this recipe). I typically do this while my preserves are just starting to cook down. Wash rings, lids, and jars. Place jars in the rack in the canner, elevated above the water. This will keep them warm. Follow directions for your specific lids. I typically wash and place in simmering water on the stove. 

Now, begin to prepare the jam. Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over a high heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Continue to cook and stir over the high heat until the mixture reaches 219 degrees (However, for every 1000 feet of altitude you have, subtract 2 degrees). Once temperature is reached, remove from heat. (Note: It takes some time to reach this temperature. But it will go from 214 degrees to done quicker than you expect. Just watch the temperature closely)

Time to Can!

Ladle hot preserves into hot jars, leaving ¼ inch headspace. Wipe rims with a damp cloth, add lids and adjust band to fingertip tight. Place jars into water bath canner and process for 15 minutes. Turn off heat and remove cover. Allow jars to cool 5 minutes in the canner, then remove and allow to cool for 12-24 hours. Do not retighten bands. Check seal after cool to be sure they are self-stable. Label and store. Any jars that did not seal can be stored in the refrigerator. 

  • cranberries
    Ruby red cranberries. So fun!
  • apples and oranges
    Apples and oranges…that’s it!
  • sugar and cranberries
    Sugar and cranberries is simply beautiful, isn’t it?
  • cooking down
    Cooking down!
  • supplies
    Be prepared to ladle. I call it “go time!”
  • sourdough and jam
    Check the color. Isn’t it gorgeous?!

Tools of the Trade

Not a Canner (…yet)? 

You can 100% complete this recipe and store it in the refrigerator. Fill the jars with hot jam, wipe, adjust lid and ring. Allow to cool before storing in the refrigerator. Since you will likely get about 7 jars of jam, I would recommend cutting the recipe in half. 

Ready to can and preserve more?

Check out my pages for canning and preserving for other inspiration below:

Canning and Preserving
sourdough and jam

Cranberry Apple Preserves

As the weather gets cooler, cranberries become a tasty, tart treat. These preserves are sure to make your taste buds dance with the combination of cranberry, apple, and orange.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Waterbath 15 minutes
Servings 12

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 24 ounces whole cranberries rinsed and picked through
  • 3 apples cored, peeled and diced
  • 1 mandrin orange chopped finely with peels
  • 2 ¾ cup sugar
  • 2 cups water
  • ⅓ cup honey

Instructions
 

  • Prepare your water bath canner. Fill the canner with enough water so that once the jars are in the canner, they will be covered by at least one inch of water. Cover and begin to heat over a medium heat.
  • Wash and prepare 8 ounce canning jars (approximately 7 jars will be produced with this recipe).
  • Now, begin to prepare the jam. Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan.
  • Bring to a boil over a high heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
  • Continue to cook and stir over the high heat until the mixture reaches 219 degrees (However, for every 1000 feet of altitude you have, subtract 2 degrees).
  • Once temperature is reached, remove from heat.
  • Ladle hot preserves into hot jars, leaving ¼ inch headspace.
  • Wipe rims with a damp cloth, add lids and adjust band to fingertip tight.
  • Place jars into water bath canner and process for 15 minutes. Turn off heat and remove cover.
  • Allow jars to cool 5 minutes in the canner, then remove and allow to cool for 12-24 hours. Do not retighten bands. Check seal after cool to be sure they are self-stable. Label and store.

Notes

Any jars that did not seal can be stored in the refrigerator.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

JessLeave a comment

Oatmeal Pumpkin Muffins: Clean Eating Style

Recently, I put together some delightful sourdough pumpkin muffins. However, all my friends who aren’t sourdough bakers yet (You know you want to! Here’s a great link by King Arthur’s Flour on how to get started!) requested a non-sourdough pumpkin muffin, preferably of the healthy persuasion. After a little bit of testing and trying, here it is! Oatmeal Pumpkin Muffins (with chocolate chips!). 

This Oatmeal Pumpkin Muffin pairs well with a warm cup of coffee in the morning. I love that it isn’t overly sweet and that it’s a baked good I can feel good about putting into my body. While it pains me at times, I just can’t do too much sweet in the morning. It leaves me a feeling out of sorts and not fueled the right way to tackle all the big goals I have! 

One more note: This recipe was created using a home roasted pumpkin. If you haven’t tried roasting your own pumpkin yet, I highly recommend it and the time is still right. Pick up a pumpkin or two from the local market, roast them up using the directions you can find here. Then freeze some so you can have fresh pumpkin baked goods all year round!

Okay, enough talking, let’s get baking some Oatmeal Pumpkin muffins my friends! 

Your Ingredients (about 18 muffins)

  • 2 cups pumpkin puree 
  • 2 eggs, room temperature 
  • ⅓ cup real maple syrup (if you like things on the sweeter side, up this to ½ cup) 
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted 
  • 1 ½ cups whole wheat flour 
  • 1 cup old fashioned oats
  • ¾ teaspoon pumpkin spice (or a combination of cinnamon and nutmeg with a dash of clove)
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt 
  • ⅓ cup chopped walnuts 
  • ⅓ cup chocolate chips 

Your Steps to great Oatmeal Pumpkin Muffins

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare two muffin tins with muffin cups or by spraying with non-stick cooking spray. 

In a large bowl, combine puree, eggs, and maple syrup. Combine flour, oats, pumpkin spice, baking soda, and salt. Add to wet ingredients and stir until just combined. Fold in the walnuts, and chocolate chips. Add coconut oil and stir once more. 

Spoon into prepared muffin tins, filling approximately ¾ of the way. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until cooked all the way through. Marvel at the beautiful texture and promptly pop one in your mouth. Aren’t the melty chocolate chips just the best?!

  • It’s as simple as wet ingredients…
  • …dry ingredients…
  • …spoon into the tin..
  • …and marvel at their beauty!

Tools of the trade

If you’re baking, you need a great muffin tin. If you are fortunate enough to have a pumpkin to roast, I recommend a nice thick baking sheet lined in foil. Looking to get a new one? Check out the links below!

Oatmeal Pumpkin Muffins

Oatmeal Pumpkin Muffins: Good for you ingredients combine in these pumpkin muffins made from freshly roasted pumpkin!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 18 muffins

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups pumpkin puree
  • 2 eggs room temperature
  • ⅓ cup real maple syrup if you like things on the sweeter side, up this to ½ cup
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil melted
  • 1 ½ cups whole wheat flour
  • 1 cup old fashioned oats
  • ¾ teaspoon pumpkin spice or a combination of cinnamon and nutmeg with a dash of clove
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ⅓ cup chopped walnuts
  • ⅓ cup chocolate chips

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare two muffin tins with muffin cups or by spraying with non-stick cooking spray.
  • In a large bowl, combine puree, eggs, and maple syrup.
  • Combine flour, oats, pumpkin spice, baking soda, and salt. Add to wet ingredients and stir until just combined.
  • Fold in the walnuts, and chocolate chips.
  • Add coconut oil and stir once more.
  • Spoon into prepared muffin tins, filling approximately ¾ of the way.
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes, until cooked all the way through.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

JessLeave a comment

Oh So Good Banana Bread (Gluten Free!)

I have this great banana bread recipe. In fact, I had declared it THE best banana bread. It was clean and gluten free, which, let’s be honest, when combined can mean it doesn’t taste that great. But my friends and family will agree, it is darn good banana bread. You can get the recipe by clicking here. 

However, THE best banana bread requires the baker to create oat flour by putting all the dry ingredients in a food processor. I love my food processor, but the other evening, I was not interested in heading to the basement to grab it to make banana bread. Yes, I know this is slightly lazy. Okay, a lot lazy. But out of my refusal to grab an appliance, another great recipe was born. 

This recipe is STILL gluten free. While I am not gluten free myself, I dig being able to create for my friends who are. It still doesn’t have refined sugar. While I still love me some sugar, I enjoy finding good substitutes for my friends who try hard to cut extra sugar from their life. So if you are gluten free, watching your sugar, or you’re like me who really just loves a great banana bread recipe, I hope you give this a try. My husband (who doesn’t love banana bread) definitely went for seconds. And thirds. 

Ready? Let’s get baking!

Your Ingredients

  • 3 very ripe bananas, mashed
  • 2 eggs, room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted (olive oil would do fine too!)
  • ¼ cup real maple syrup
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ cups almond flour
  • ¾ cup old fashioned oats
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt 
  • ¼ cup chopped walnuts 
  • ¼ cup dark chocolate chips 

Your Steps for Great Banana Bread 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9×5 quick bread pan. In a large bowl, combine mashed bananas, eggs, maple syrup, and vanilla. Stir in oil. Combine flour, oats, baking soda, and salt. Stir into the wet mixture. Fold in walnuts and chocolate chips. If you want it to look extra beautiful, sprinkle a few extra chocolate chips on top. Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 45-60 minutes, until cooked through. 

  • Start with the best–a few overly ripe bananas
  • Mix up some wet ingredients
  • Add the dry.
  • Stir it up. It will be moist. That’s okay!
  • Baked to perfection. Freaking yum.

Looking to bake other delicious treats? Head on over to my baking page for more inspiration!

Baking

Tools of the Trade

There isn’t much you need for a quick bread, but I want to share out the tools I love when I am baking!

Oh So Good Banana Bread

Oh So Good Banana Bread (Gluten Free!): Clean eating doesn't have to be flavorless. This banana bread is to die for and is gluten free too!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 12

Ingredients
  

  • 3 very ripe bananas mashed
  • 2 eggs room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil melted (olive oil would do fine too!)
  • ¼ cup real maple syrup
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ cups almond flour
  • ¾ cup old fashioned oats
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup chopped walnuts
  • ¼ cup dark chocolate chips

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9×5 quick bread pan.
  • In a large bowl, combine mashed bananas, eggs, maple syrup, and vanilla.
  • Stir in oil. Combine flour, oats, baking soda, and salt. Stir into the wet mixture.
  • Fold in walnuts and chocolate chips. Sprinkle a few extra chocolate chips on top.
  • Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 45-60 minutes, until cooked through.
Keyword Banana Bread, bananas, Breakfast, Quick Bread
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

JessLeave a comment

Don’t Throw That Away Apple Scrap Jelly

Apple season brings everyone visiting the orchard, making fresh applesauce and maybe even a pie or two. With all the peeling and coring happening, you’ll be happy to know there is something to do with all those scraps that will result in a delicious outcome: Apple Scrap Jelly!

We bought our house about 11 years ago and promptly began to dig up the ground to put in gardens, bushes, and trees. Since then, we have planted a total of 16 fruit trees on our little slice of happiness. Developing trees takes time, and we are finally at the point where we are picking a few bushels of apples. Oh the joy! This means I am preserving the apples into apple pie filling, applesauce, and the like. A few years ago, I saw the piles of peels and cores knew there had to be something I could do with the “waste.” Enter Apple Scrap Jelly. With only four ingredients, you will likely have everything on hand to make it. It doesn’t even need commercial pectin! What a win! 

Do you have some apples you’re hoping to peel and core to make fall treats? Get another bowl, save the scraps, and be prepared to create another treat! 

Your Ingredients

  • a kettle full of apple peels and cores
  • water
  • sugar (½ cup for every cup of liquid after boiling down)
  • lemon juice (½ tablespoon for every cup of liquid after boiling down)

Begin The Boiling

After peeling and coring apples for another recipe, place all scraps into a large kettle. It doesn’t matter how much you have, although the more the better simply because it will result in more jelly. I generally keep two vessels going at the same time: one for my apples for sauce/pie/etc and one for the scraps. 

Cover the apple scraps with water, filling until the scraps begin to float. Heat over medium-high heat, bringing to a boil. Boil water and apple scraps until half of the liquid is remaining (this is an estimate, it doesn’t need to be perfect by any means). This will likely take an hour or so.

Now, if I’m being real, I generally let water/apple mixture cool overnight in the refrigerator. Not because you have to, but because I don’t want to finish that day. 

Time for Jelly!

Either way, your next step is to separate the water from the scraps. I generally place a finer colander over a bowl with a pour spout. Press into the apple to extract all the apple-goodness. From here, pour the water into a liquid measuring cup to determine the amount of sugar and lemon juice you should add. 

Place the liquid in a large kettle. For every cup of liquid, stir in ½ cup sugar and a ½ tablespoon lemon juice. Begin to heat over medium-high heat, stirring often. Your end goal is to reach the gelling point. There are lots of tests for this, but I prefer the temperature test. If you are at sea level, the gelling point is at 220 degrees. For every 1000 feet of elevation, you subtract 2 degrees. For me, the gelling point is 218 degrees. Don’t have a decent food thermometer? Check out the National Center for Home Preservation website for other ways of testing for the gelling point. 

It takes longer to reach the gelling point than I think it should. It also goes from needing 3 degrees to reaching the gelling point fast. You can get complacent while you are waiting and suddenly hit the temperature, so I am trying to warn you 🙂 

While the jelly is boiling, begin to prepare your water bath canner and jars if you plan on processing them. (If you want to simply place the jelly in the fridge after it hits the gelling point, that’s 100% okay. You don’t need to process it. However, if you want it self-stable, you should process in a waterbath canner.)

Canning Time!

Wash and sanitize jars, rings, and lids. Keep warm. Fill the canner with enough water to cover the jars by at least 2 inches of water. Cover and heat on high. Watch the temperature, you want a simmer but not a boil when you place the jars in the water. 

Once the apple jelly has reached the gelling point, remove from heat. Ladle into prepared jars, leaving ½ inch head space. Wipe rims of the jars with a damp cloth, add lids and rings, tightening to fingertip tight. Place in the canner, increasing the heat to high. Once the canner reaches a boil, process for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow jars to cool in the canner over 5 minutes. Remove from canner, placing on the counter. Listen for the ping of the lids over the next 12 hours. Sealed jars are self stable. If any jar doesn’t seal, simply place it right in the refrigerator. 

PS…To be especially awesome, have some fresh baked bread on hand to spread the left over warm apple scrap jelly in the kettle on a slice. Enjoy while the rest of the jelly is in the water bath. I promise, you’ll thank me.

Apples for sauce.
Scraps for jelly!
Boil away!
Strain the liquid from the scraps.
Press out the apple goodness!
Almost complete!
The color of that jelly is divine. Yum.

Tools of the Trade

A nice strainer is a must in a stocked kitchen!

I love my waterbath canner.

The shallowness of this stock pot makes boiling down go so much quicker. My go to kettle for jelly.

Apple Scrap Jelly

Don't throw away the apple peels and cores. Create a delicious apple scrap jelly with just a handful of pantry ingredients!
4.80 from 5 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Course Breakfast
Cuisine Canning
Servings 12 per jar

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • a kettle full of apple peels and cores
  • water
  • sugar ½ cup for every cup of liquid after boiling down
  • lemon juice ½ tablespoon for every cup of liquid after boiling down

Instructions
 

  • After peeling and coring apples for another recipe, place all scraps into a large kettle. It doesn’t matter how much you have, although the more the better simply because it will result in more jelly.
  • Cover the apple scraps with water, filling until the scraps begin to float. Heat over medium-high heat, bringing to a boil. Boil water and apple scraps until half of the liquid is remaining.
  • Separate the water from the scraps. I generally place a finer colander over a bowl with a pour spout. Press into the apple to extract all the apple-goodness. From here, pour the water into a liquid measuring cup to determine the amount of sugar and lemon juice you should add.
  • Place the liquid in a large kettle. For every cup of liquid, stir in ½ cup sugar and a ½ tablespoon lemon juice. Begin to heat over medium-high heat, stirring often. Heat to 8 degrees above the boiling point of water. If you are at sea level, the gelling point is at 220 degrees. For every 1000 feet of elevation, you subtract 2 degrees.
  • While the jelly is boiling, begin to prepare your water bath canner and jars if you plan on processing them rather than storing in the refrigerator.
  • Wash and sanitize jars, rings, and lids. Keep warm. Fill the canner with enough water to cover the jars by at least 2 inches of water. Cover and heat on high. Watch the temperature, you want a simmer but not a boil when you place the jars in the water.
  • Once the apple jelly has reached the gelling point, remove from heat. Ladle into prepared jars, leaving ½ inch head space. Wipe rims of the jars with a damp cloth, add lids and rings, tightening to fingertip tight. Place in the canner, increasing the heat to high. Once the canner reaches a boil, process for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow jars to cool in the canner over 5 minutes. Remove from canner and allow to rest for 12 hours before storing.
Keyword apple jelly, apple recipe, apples, Canning, Jelly, Waterbath Canning
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Looking for other canning recipes? Check out my canning and preserving page below!

Canning and Preserving

Jess37 Comments

Happy Mistake Sourdough Pumpkin Muffins

Isn’t it grand when a “happy little mistake” turns out to be a delight? While I have recently adopted the mentality of “what’s the worst that can happen?” when I am cooking and experimenting (by the way the worst that can happen is I learn what DOESN’T work and I throw away a little food), it is always exciting when the experiment turns out to be the best case scenario. That happened for me a week or so ago when I set out to make pumpkin scones. Scones were not the result, but the sourdough pumpkin muffins I created were a hit! 

Let me backtrack A little bit…

I have a great standard scone recipe that I adapt for all sorts of flavors of scones. You can check out one of my sourdough scone recipes here. I generally modify the spices and maybe add some diced fruit or lemon zest. This time, I had freshly roasted pumpkin that I was excited to use and figured it would mix well into the scone recipe. Needless to say, it became a little more damp than I am accustomed to, and I knew scones would be a no go. 

A few minutes of thinking and a few additional ingredients resulted in a batter the perfect consistency for muffins. I allowed it to rest (like a good sourdough bread should do), and lo and behold, a light, full of spice sourdough pumpkin muffins were born. I was so excited to share it with all of you! 

As an aside, it may not be traditional to share the mishaps turned to beauty in the kitchen. I believe in being real in life and on social media, and man, cooking isn’t always pretty. We make mistakes. Burn things, forget the salt, add one too many eggs, or forget just how many cups of flour you put in (Seriously, I use the least amount of measuring cups possible so if that means I have to use the ½ cup 5 times, I am down for it. Sometimes I lose track though. What can I say?) Bottom line, being in the kitchen should be an adventure. Take chances, embrace the mishaps and love the learning. It’s the only way to get better. 

Now let’s get cooking!

Your Ingredients for Sourdough Pumpkin muffins

  • 2 ½ cups all purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup white sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice (or 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, and ¼ teaspoon ground cloves)
  • ⅓ cup cold butter
  • 1 ½ cups fresh, active sourdough starter
  • 1 cup fresh or thawed pumpkin puree
  • ¼-½ chocolate chips (optional)

Your Steps for Sourdough Pumpkin Muffins

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Prepare muffin tins by greasing or lining with muffin tin liners. Combine all dry ingredients. Cut cold butter into small pieces and add to the flour mixture. Mix by hand, pinching the butter in your fingers until it’s mixed together-ish. To that mixture, add starter, pumpkin, and chocolate chips. Mix by hand until just combined, making sure to reach the bottom of the bowl. Cover. Allow to rest 20-30 minutes. Scoop by ¼ cup full and fill muffin tins. Bake for 20 minutes, or until they pass the toothpick test (a toothpick inserted in the center will come out clean). 

Round out the fall flavor sensation by pairing your freshly baked muffins with some warm apple cider or maybe even a pumpkin spice latte. 

  • Dry ingredients..easy to measure!
  • Wet ingredients, starter and pumpkin, a great pair!
  • Mix by hand and let it rest 20 minutes!
  • Scoop into the muffin tin…
  • ..and perfection!

Tools of the Trade

If you’re baking, you need a great muffin tin. If you are fortunate enough to have a pumpkin to roast, I recommend a nice thick baking sheet lined in foil. Looking to get a new one? Check out the links below!

Roasted Pumpkin Recipe

Looking to roast your own pie pumpkin? Click here to get the recipe!

Sourdough Pumpkin Muffins

Sourdough discard mixed with fresh roasted pumpkin puree make for a delightful sourdough pumpkin muffin.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Servings 16 muffins

Ingredients
  

  • 2 ½ cups all purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup white sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice or 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, and ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ⅓ cup cold butter
  • 1 ½ cups fresh active sourdough starter
  • 1 cup fresh or thawed pumpkin puree
  • ¼-½ chocolate chips optional

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
  • Prepare muffin tins by greasing or lining with muffin tin liners.
  • Combine all dry ingredients. Cut cold butter into small pieces and add to the flour mixture.
  • Mix by hand, pinching the butter in your fingers until it’s mixed together-ish.
  • To that mixture, add starter, pumpkin, and chocolate chips.
  • Mix by hand until just combined, making sure to reach the bottom of the bowl.
  • Cover. Allow to rest 20-30 minutes.
  • Scoop by ¼ cup full and fill muffin tins. Bake for 20 minutes, or until they pass the toothpick test (a toothpick inserted in the center will come out clean).
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

JessLeave a comment

Pineapple Zucchini

Everyone who plants zucchini over plants zucchini. And because of this, pineapple zucchini is a recipe everyone needs in their back pocket as they harvest their bounty from the garden. 

Recently, I was visiting my mom and dad. I was out in the garden, helping my mother harvest her blueberries, beans, and other various vegetables. It’s funny, growing up I thought a few things: 

  1. Gardening was awful. I dreaded planting and harvesting. In particular, I hated cleaning the spinach and lettuce. However, it was always what my mom asked us to do for Mother’s Day: simply help her plant the garden. 
  2. My mom’s garden was HUGE! I couldn’t believe she would have such a big garden. 

As an adult, I adore gardening. It is one of my favorite things and as the snow melts, I just itch to get in the soil and get dirt under my nails. I also have a garden that is approximately seven times the size of my mom’s. The way perspective changes as you grow older and wiser makes me giggle. 

Now, why am I sharing this?

Well, I do love my mom and this is a fun little memory. I also share because she has this small little garden. Because of this, she chooses not to grow zucchini. However, she will tell you it’s because if you have any sort of friend who grows zucchini, you will be gifted with zucchini after zucchini after zucchini. I mean, the plants are prolific, aren’t they? 

Prolific zucchini plants are what lead me to pineapple zucchini. One particular year, we had a bumper crop of zucchini that often had “hidden zucchini.” You know, those zucchini (and cucumbers!) that you just don’t see under the leaves of the plant until they have grown past twice the size of ideal harvesting. I needed to do something with them. Fortunately, women in my canning group turned me on to the idea of pineapple zucchini.

What is it, you ask? 

Well, it’s a water bath canned diced zucchini that takes on the flavor of pineapple with the texture of a pear. I have relatives on both sides of the family that special request the recipe. It makes for a fun addition to the breakfast table and can be used anywhere pineapple pieces are used recipe wise. If you have a lot of zucchini on your hands, I highly recommend you give it a try! 

New to canning? Check out the Ball’s Book of Canning or The National Center for Home Food Preservation for more detailed information. I will give you the low down, but it will be short and sweet. You will want to read up more, I promise 🙂

Your Ingredients

  • 16 cups cubed zucchini (be sure to peel and seed beforehand) 
  • 46 ounces canned unsweetened pineapple juice
  • 2 cups sugar 
  • 1 ½ cups bottled lemon juice 

Your Utensils 

  • Water bath canner with rack and lid
  • Eight pint jars with lids and rings (wide or narrow mouth)
  • Large, non reactive kettle to cook the zucchini in the liquids and sugar

steps To Pineapple Zucchini

If you have not done so already, prepare the zucchini. To do so, peel skin. Cut the zucchini in half and scrap out any seeds (this is especially important if you are using some of those “larger than life” zucchini that get away from you). Dice into ½ inch pieces and measure out 16 cups worth. 

Prepare jars, lids, and rings by washing and keeping warm. I generally set the jars in the rack of canner and have it rest above the water.  Begin heating the water bath canner (make sure water will be at least one inch above jars once submerged). It is better to have too much water than too little. 

Meanwhile, combine the diced zucchini, sugar, lemon juice, and pineapple juice. Heat to a boil, stirring periodically. Lower to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes. Stir periodically to prevent sticking. 

Ladle zucchini and juice into hot jars, leaving ½ inch headspace. Wipe jar rim with a damp, clean cloth. Put lids and rings on, tightening to finger tip tight. Lower into canner, raising heat and bringing to a rolling boil. Process for 15 min, adjusting for altitude (if over 1000 feet). Remove the canner from heat, and allow jars to rest 5 min. Remove from canner and allow to cool at least 12 hours before storing jars. 

There is no need to tighten rings. In fact, it is recommended they are removed entirely while storing. Enjoy the unique flavor of pineapple zucchini.

Halve and remove seeds.
Dice it up!
Add the sugar and liquids.
Nothing special at first.
But they cook down so nicely!
Get in the jars!
Serve that “pineapple” up!

A few notes

  • It’s okay if you are short on zucchini. Prepare as indicated, but know that you will fill less jars. It takes approximately 2 cups of zucchini to fill a jar.
  • Don’t toss out that left over liquid! My kiddos love to drink it.

Tools of the Trade

While you can truly can with any deep kettle and rack to keep the jars off the bottom of the canner, it is definitely easier if you invest in a few of the tools listed below!

Looking for more ways to savor summer in a jar? Check out the page below:

Canning and Perserving

Pineapple Zucchini

An abundance of zucchini paired with pineapple juice result in a delicious home canned treat that tastes like pineapple but has the texture of a pear.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 16 cups cubed zucchini be sure to peel and seed beforehand
  • 46 ounces canned unsweetened pineapple juice
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 ½ cups bottled lemon juice

Instructions
 

  • Prepare the zucchini. To do so, peel skin. Cut the zucchini in half and scrap out any seeds.
  • Dice into ½ inch pieces and measure out 16 cups worth.
  • Prepare jars, lids, and rings by washing and keeping warm. Begin heating the water bath canner over medium heat.
  • Meanwhile, combine the diced zucchini, sugar, lemon juice, and pineapple juice. Heat to a boil, stirring periodically. Lower to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes. Stir periodically to prevent sticking.
  • Ladle zucchini and juice into hot jars, leaving ½ inch headspace.
  • Wipe jar rim with a damp, clean cloth.
  • Put lids and rings on, tightening to finger tip tight. Lower into canner, raising heat and bringing to a rolling boil. Process for 15 min, adjusting for altitude (if over 1000 feet).
  • Remove the canner from heat, and allow jars to rest 5 min. Remove from canner and allow to cool at least 12 hours before storing jars.

Notes

If you are short on zucchini, that’s okay. Prepare as directed but prep for less jars. It will take approximately 2 cups of zucchini to fill a jar. 
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Looking for other Zucchini Treats?

Try some of my favorites below!

Jess3 Comments

Applesauce and Cinnamon Bread

I love an apple bread (or really, any apple baked good, let’s be honest), but peeling and coring apples is a tedious process I don’t love. Enter an applesauce and cinnamon bread. When I saw a version of this recipe on the back of a bran flakes box, I had to give it a try. I have modified it quite a lot to add more wholesome ingredients and cut down on some sugar. Believe me, the final result is equally delicious. The husband even gave it two thumbs up and was excited to eat it for breakfast this week. I always call that a big win! 

As an aside, I love adding oats to all of my recipes, but I know that some don’t love them. I even have a friend who is allergic, which I didn’t even know was possible until recently. If you don’t want to add oats, you can certainly modify this simple applesauce and cinnamon bread to have 1 ½ cups of flour and 1 ½ cups bran flakes.

Your Ingredients

  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 cup old fashioned oats
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 cup bran flakes cereal 
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon 
  • ¼ teaspoon salt 
  • 1 egg 
  • 1 cup unsweetened applesauce 
  • ½ cup maple syrup or honey 
  • ½ cup milk 
  • ¼ cup chopped nuts (optional)

Your Steps

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a 9×5 inch loaf pan with cooking spray. 

In a large bowl, combine egg, applesauce, maple syrup, and milk. Whisk until well combined. Add flour, oats, bran flakes, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Stir until just moistened throughout. Fold in chopped nuts if adding. 

Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool before removing from the pan. Enjoy!

  • Get those wet ingredients together.
  • Add the dry and mix.
  • All together now!
  • Yum!
  • Texture and flavor. What a delicious bread!

Interested in other baked goods? Go ahead, check out my baking page!

Baking

Applesauce and Cinnamon Bread

The classic combination of apple and cinnamon combine with bran flake cereal and oatmeal in this quick bread.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 12

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 cup old fashioned oats
  • 1 cup bran flakes cereal
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • ½ cup maple syrup or honey
  • ½ cup milk
  • ¼ cup chopped nuts optional

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a 9×5 inch loaf pan with cooking spray.
  • In a large bowl, combine egg, applesauce, maple syrup, and milk.
  • Whisk until well combined.
  • Add flour, oats, bran flakes, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
  • Stir until just moistened throughout. Fold in chopped nuts if adding.
  • Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Allow to cool before removing from the pan. Enjoy!

Notes

If you don’t want to add oats, you can modify to have 1 ½ cups of flour and 1 ½ cups bran flakes.
Keyword apple and cinnamon, applesauce, Breakfast Bread, cinnamon, Quick Bread
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

JessLeave a comment

Whole Wheat Gooseberry Muffins

A number of years ago, I tried a berry at a farmer’s market. There must have been samples, but the memory is vague. I loved the berry I tried, and told my husband we had to grow them. The following year, we purchased two gooseberry plants. I was so excited! A year later, we had berries. I tried them, and they weren’t at all what I remembered. (In hindsight, I think I had currants at the farmer’s market.) That’s life, right? Maybe it’s just my life. But luckily, I really loved the flavor that gooseberries had. Needless to say, I was grateful for my mishap. Recently, a friend stopped by, asked, what the plant was, and subsequently, what I use them for. Previously, I had only just snacked on them. Once I made a gooseberry gin jam (YUM!). Now I can say with confidence that they make slightly tart and sweet whole wheat gooseberry muffins that are delish! 

They are kind of cute, aren’t they?

But what does a gooseberry taste like?

Never had a gooseberry? They are about the size of a large blueberry, but look like a miniature watermelon with the texture of a grape. Typing that just makes me smile. It almost sounds like a description from a Dr. Seuss book, but I think it’s a great description. They can tart like a green grape or sweeter like a red grape. They grow on bushes with some gnarly thorns. I see that as part of the adventure of having them…can I get away without getting pricked? 

Anywho…we had a bumper crop this year, and I wanted to do more than freeze them. I wanted to bake. I love the way this recipe turned out. They have texture and beautiful color. The flavor is reminiscent of rhubarb with the sweet tart combination. Don’t have gooseberries on hand? I am certain that blueberries would be a great alternative and can’t wait to give that a try too! 

Your Ingredients for Gooseberry Muffins

  • 1 cup old fashioned oats
  • 1 cup wheat flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder 
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 egg 
  • ½ cup Greek yogurt
  • ⅓ cup milk 
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil 
  • 1 ½ cups gooseberries, cleaned (1 ½ cups if you dig the tart flavor. 1 cup if you want it a little sweeter) 

Your steps 

If you haven’t yet, nip off the ends on the gooseberries. You only want the berry portion in the muffin. Then, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Grease or line a muffin tin. This recipe will result in approximately 12 muffins. 

In a large bowl, combine the oats, flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Set aside. 

In a small bowl, whisk egg. Add the yogurt, milk, vanilla, and olive oil. Whisk well. After the wet ingredients have combined, pour into the dry ingredients. Stir until just combined. Fold in cleaned gooseberries. Again, you can use one to one and a half cups, depending on your preference of flavor. My family loves tart (think, rhubarb bread and pie), so I add more berries. 

Divide the batter among the 12 muffin cups. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until cooked through. Allow to cool in the tin a few minutes before removing. I think these gooseberry muffins are best served warm with a cup of coffee. 🙂 

Dry ingredients mixed together.
Whisk the wet ingredients. I like to use a fork.
Combine together.
Fold in berries.
Fill 3/4 of the way full.
Rest a little sweet muffins.
Just check out that texture. Yum!

Gooseberry Muffins

Sweet and tart combine for a muffin reminiscent of a rhubarb bread in these gooseberry muffins. You'll love the tart surprise you get as you bite into one.
1 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 12 muffins

Ingredients
  

  • 1 – 1 ½ cups gooseberries cleaned (1 ½ cups if you dig the tart flavor. 1 cup if you want it a little sweeter)
  • 1 cup old fashioned oats
  • 1 cup wheat flour
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 egg
  • ½ cup Greek yogurt
  • ⅓ cup milk
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions
 

  • If you haven’t yet, nip off the ends on the gooseberries. You only want the berry portion in the muffin.
  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Grease or line a muffin tin. This recipe will result in approximately 12 muffins.
  • In a large bowl, combine the oats, flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Set aside.
  • In a small bowl, whisk egg. Add the yogurt, milk, vanilla, and olive oil. Whisk well.
  • Pour into the dry ingredients, stirring until just combined. Fold in cleaned gooseberries.
  • Again, you can use one to one and a half cups, depending on your preference of flavor.
  • Divide the batter among the 12 muffin cups. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until cooked through.
  • Allow to cool in the tin a few minutes before removing.
Keyword Breakfast, gooseberry, muffin, muffins
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Hints and Tips

If you opt for all purpose flour rather than whole wheat, you may want to decrease the milk by a ½ tablespoon or so. Whole wheat flour absorbs more liquid than all purpose flour does. If you don’t decrease it, you may have a wetter batter. 

Fun fact! Upon further research, I learned that gooseberries were made illegal in the United States in the early 1900’s. They are also in the currant family! No wonder I confused the two 🙂 If you’re interested in the history, check it out here!

Looking for more recipes? Click the links below:

Baking
Canning and Perserving

Jess7 Comments