Chocolate-Walnut Cupcakes

From My Martha Stewart Cupcake book.

These are an amazing gluten free/grain free muffin. They are also pretty low in sugar so they make a great snack.

6 large eggs separated
1/2 C sugar
1 3/4 C finely ground toasted walnuts (or pecans or any other tree nut)
3 oz bitter sweet chocolate finely chopped1/4 tsp salt
1 TBSP orange zest

The directions are IMPORTANT!!! I screwed this up on the first round. Read carefully.

1. whisk yolks and 1/4 c sugar until pale and thick.
2. in separate bowl toss together nuts, chocolate, zest, and salt. sprinkle over yolks but do not stir in.
3. place egg whites in heat-proof bowl over simmering water, whisk until room temperature (not hot!!!). Remove from heat, whisk on high until soft peaks form (it's meringue)
4. then add remaining sugar and whisk until peaks are stiff and glossy.
5. fold egg whites 1/3 at a time into the yolk mixture...do not over stir!!!

put batter into muffin cups and cook at 300 for 30 min.

Peanut Butter Banana Cookie

These are awesome! And almost not terrible for you. They are modified from a Sesame Street Cookie Cook book my mom picked up at the dollar store. The book was surprisingly not full of sugary terrible recipes. They have one for a carrot cake cookies (yes, with lots of carrots) and another for granola cookies. I am right now looking for things to send the kids for snack and lunch treats that will be yummy and nutritious. I figure these have a lot of good protein to help their little minds function and not so much sugar that they will crash later (approx 2g per cookie added not counting the sugar from the banana).

1 C flour (I used wheat with no probs)
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

1/4 C butter (I used coconut oil since I am out of butter)
1/2 C /1 banana
1/2 C peanut butter (unsalted, no sugar added)
1/4 C unsweetened apple juice concentrate (I had a pear juice one that I used)
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla


Beat wet ingredients, mix dry then add to wet. Scoop on to baking sheet and cook at 375 for about 8 min.

Mine were a little soft so I would probably add about another 1/4 C flour and maybe a little less concentrate since they were plenty sweet.

Day 17 and Day 18: Remodeling is getting in the way

With all the projects, we have been less than interesting. On Thurs a wonderful friend make us dinner. It was lovely for us to sit and have dinner while the kids ran around like crazy people.

Friday was of course...chicken on the bone. We grilled chicken legs and had tomatoes and mozz cheese to celebrate the 70+ degree weather we are having. I love Feb in Georgia.

Back to remodeling.

Day 16: Not a meatless dinner

We had sausages from a local butcher. They don't use local meats, but they at least make the sausage them selves. Mac and Cheese, Broccoli, Corn, roasted peppers, onions and mushrooms...and my kids eat like horses.

Day 15: The Middle East

One of the things I love best about my husband is that he loves food, really good food. He lets me experiment. But he also loves to eat food from other cultures. He loved being in the middle east, especially when he was a company commander and he got out into the cities. He still dreams of the lamb roasted on a spit in some guys back yard.

While I have not perfected lamb (but will happily keep trying), I have a pretty good falafel recipe. Falafel is basically a chickpea 'meatball'. We like ours with naan (also called lavash). The key to the naan is to either grill it or pan cook it so it is nice and hot and sears the outside. I usually make a chutney to go with it, but Rob doesn't like that.

Tonight I am adding bacon wrapped dates...mmmm....bacon.

To answer your question: Yes, my kids eat this stuff and yours will too. Maybe not the first time, but after a few tries.

As an update...Rob worked late, and we didn't do the date :-(

Day 14: Half Way

Heading into the home stretch. Trying to get a post a day is a challenge to say the least.

Tonight is pork chops Parmesan

Lightly fried chops, topped with some parm cheese and sauce.

Spinach fettuccine

Veggies (salad, beans, corn)

I really wanted to make Mayan Chocolate Truffles but didn't make it to the store due to a dr appt for the kids running 1.5 hours behind. Oh well, will make for another day...maybe tomorrow :-)

Day 13: Pizza

That's all!