Apple Cheddar Muffins

as seen on our sister site... 

2 apples

1/2 cup melted butter or oil

2 eggs

1 cup apple juice

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1 1/2 cups white flour (or you can do all whole wheat)

1/2 cup flax-seed

2/3 cup sugar (I do a combo of white and brown)

4 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

2 cups grated cheddar cheese  (the sharper the cheese the stronger the taste)

Preheat oven to 375f. Peel, core and finely chop apples. In a large mixing bowl combine flours, flax seed, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg; once mixed add cheese. In a medium bowl beat eggs, add apple juice, butter and apples. Transfer the wet ingredients to the dry and stir until just mixed. Transfer to muffin tins (makes 18) and bake for 20-25 minutes. Start toothpicking at 20.

Yummy!!

Morning Citrus Muffins

as seen on our sister site....

1 large orange (or 3-4 mandarin size)

1/2 cup plus a bit orange juice*

1 egg

1/4 oil

3/4 whole wheat flour

3/4 white flour (or you can do all whole wheat)

1/4 cup flax-seed

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 375f. Chop the orange (with the rind) into 1/8ths and add to a blender or food processor with the 1/2 cup orange juice, egg and oil. Blend until smooth but not frothy. In a large mixing bowl combine the remaining ingredients and make a well to add the orange mixture. Stir until just combined; if you find it a tich to thick this is where the "bit" more of orange juice comes in handy. Scoop into muffins tin (makes 12) and bake for 15-20 mins. Start checking at 15 with the toothpick.

Enjoy!

Granola

This recipe was inspired by my new favorite show "The Chew". Clinton shared his homemade granola and I decided to do my own. I always thought it would be something very difficult to make... not sure why. Anyhow, the basic concept to remember is 3 cups rolled oats and 1/2 cup portions of everything else.
3 Cups Rolled Oats
1/2 Cup Honey and Maple Syrup Combo
1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil
1/2  Cup Craisins
1/2 Cup Coconut
1/2 Mixed crushed nuts (You can always use seeds or dried fruit instead)
1/2 Flax seed
Preheat oven to 250F. In a large bowl combine dry ingredients and in a medium bowl combine wet. Mix both well and then add the wet to the dry. Place parchment paper on a large baking sheet and spread the mixture evenly across. Bake for 1 to 1 1/4 hour until golden, mixing every 15 to 20 minutes. 

I eat granola as a snack, on top of my greek yogurt or as my morning cereal. This recipe is BETTER than the store bought brands (if I do say so myself) and a fraction of the cost!!
I look forward to you sharing your granola recipes!
QUICK TIP: I always do oil portion first.... it helps the honey and syrup slide off the measuring spoons and out of the bowl.
Cheers!

As seen on our sister site.... 

Ultimate Brownies.

I am a huge fan of brownies and on my Fresh Ideas Blog I have a recipe for Simple Brownies, since then I have come up with a few more that I enjoy. Today, is all about rich chocolate and icing!!

What you will need

1/2 cup cocoa powder + 1/2 cup for icing

1/2 cup butter + 1/2 cup softened for icing

1 tsp vanilla + 1 tsp for icing

3/4 cup flour

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup icing sugar

2 eggs – light tossed and at room temp.

To prepare

Preheat oven to 350f. In a saucepan melt butter and add cocoa powder,brown sugar and vanilla. Stir until well blended. Add flour to a mixing bowl and make a well in the center. Pour cocoa mixture into the center and combine; stir in eggs and mix until well blended. Pour into a 8 x 8 greased pan and bake for 20-25 minutes. Toothpick test always!

Icing

Combine remaining ingredients (butter, icing sugar, vanilla and cocoa powder) in to a medium bowl and beat for 3-5 minutes on medium until smooth. The icing should dark and rich.

To finish

Once the cake is done, pull from the oven and let stand. Once the cake has cooled, ice with the chocolate icing and cut into 16 squares.

It has arrived!

Fresh ideas has a new home!
http://cupcakescornishhensandchildren.wordpress.com/2011/06/07/lunch-burritos/

MOVING ON UP!

Fresh Ideas is expanding to a new site with a new name! I will continue to post recipes over here HOWEVER; there will be much much more on the new site! Stay tuned... it launches JUNE 1!!!

xoxo Fresh Gal

Lemon Pound Cake with Cranberry Drizzle

Spring is in the air.... well, at least according to the calender it is. Spring makes me think of fresh things like tulips, lemons, sweet tea and sunshine. This recipe is the perfect match for the oncoming of spring. It blends the fresh tastes of spring with the warmth of what winter has left us. I serve this as a dessert or as a special treat when some is coming for coffee.

4 Large Eggs
1 tsp Vanilla
2 tsp Lemon Zest
1 Cup Butter - Soft
2 cups Sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 Cups Flour
2 Cups Cranberries *
1/4 Cup lemon Juice **
1/4 Orange Juice ***

Preheat oven to 325F. In a bowl, mix together egg, vanilla and zests. In a mixing bowl, beat butter until smooth; slowly add 1 1/4 cups of the sugar and the salt. Once mixed, add the egg mixture until even. Add flour slowly, reduce speed to low and beat for 3-5 minutes. Spray a 9x5 loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray (or grease with butter), pour mixture into the pan and bake for 60-70 minutes; start checking at 60 minutes with the "toothpick trick".

In a sauce pan over medium heat add lemon juice, orange juice, remaining sugar and cranberries. Simmer for 5 minutes until cranberries have burst. Place a strainer in a bowl and pour the sauce into the strainer allowing the liquid to empty in the bowl, press the cranberry mixture to get out all the "goodness". Pour sauce over each slice at serving time.

* I often have fresh cranberries in my freezer; however frozen cranberries work just as well.
**Use the juice of the lemon that was zested for the cake and top up with lemon juice if needed.
***Juice an orange, however pre-done o.j. is great too!