Muffins Are The Easiest To Make – Orange Oatmeal Muffins

Orange rind and walnuts make these orange oatmeal muffins yummy!

When participants make muffins in our cooking classes, it’s like they have learned a new language, they are amazed at their ability and their results. A puzzled look will often spread over their face when they sample their baked muffins that reads….oh! I did do this? 

Of the 20 some odd recipes we cook over many weeks it’s always the muffin recipe that people will try at home. Why? Because muffins are easy to make, they take little time, and there is relatively little clean-up.

Learn to Cook with Tomato Sauce!

Simple Tomato Sauce

You ask, 'how do you eat right?'

It's simple, 'Cook your own food!'

Just get in the kitchen, grab an apron (if you are a sloppy cook) and start cooking! All there is to lose is a small amount of time. You and your family are worth it.

Here's what I suggest you do. Pick a simple recipe and practice it. Let’s choose, tomato sauce.Try one tomato sauce recipe, then try another tomato sauce recipe, try three different tomato sauce recipes (not on the same day).

You will officially have mastered tomato sauce…..learning to cook is that simple. It's like piano lessons, you would not learn to play the piano after just one lesson. To learn to cook takes getting into the kitchen and…..just cook it!

Here are two recipes to get you started.

Simple Tomato Sauce 

Serves 4

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 can plum tomatoes 28 fl.oz
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
salt and pepper to taste

Heat oil over medium high heat in a heavy saucepan. Add onions and cook 4 minutes, add garlic and cook 30 seconds. Stir in tomatoes, tomato paste, water, basil, oregano, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Tomato Sauce With Sausage 

I love cooking with Italian sausage.  If you don't like spicy Italian, than by all means purchase mild sausages.  

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound spicy Italian sausage (squeeze meat out of casings)
1 cup chopped onions
1 large clove garlic, minced
2 teaspoon dried oregano
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
1 14 ½ oz can diced tomatoes
Salt and pepper to taste

Heat oil over medium high heat in a heavy saucepan. Add onions and sauté 2 minutes. Add sausage meat and garlic, and sauté until cooked through about 10 minutes. Add oregano, crushed red peppers, and both tins of tomatoes. Bring to a boil, lower and simmer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add salt and pepper to taste.

You Can Have A Gas While Eating Beans!

How To Avoid Gas From Eating Beans

Did you know that the average person will produce 1 litre of gas in a day?

Gas is often cited as the reason not to eat beans, yet beans are a great source of fibre, loaded with nutrients, and are low in fat and calories.

A solution is to always rinse your canned beans before using. This will eliminate the starch which is a contributor to the gas.

Another trick is to introduce beans slowly into your diet and in small quantities. Slowly increase your portions until they become a regular staple in your diet.

Here is a great Hummus recipe which is a great snack and a simple, tasty way of adding fibre to your diet.

Watch Video on how to make hummus

 

Hummus

1 can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed
1 large clove of garlic
5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoon tahini
2 tablespoons lemon juice
¾ teaspoon salt

Combine all ingredients into a food processor and process until smooth. If too thick add a little water. Serve with cut up vegetables or whole wheat pita bread.

Cranberry Cookies

I love Cranberries. They are tart, sassy and need a whole lot of sweetening. 

I always buy bags of them around Christmas time because, well…I don’t know, maybe because it's cranberry season. 

Now what does one do with bags of Cranberries? Well, bake with them of course!