Kick those sniffles and colds!

I LOVE Fall.  It's my absolute favorite time of year, but with the change in seasons (and intro back to school and daycare) it is also the start of sniffles, runny noses, coughs and GERMS. Yuck!

So, why not get ahead of the curve and boost your immune system?  And if you have to say, 'STOP eating all the muffins or you won't have any for tomorrow!!' that's probably a good sign too, right?!

I present......
Orange Honey Cinnamon Muffins

Dry Ingredients

1 3/4 c oat flour (** helpful tip)

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp baking soda

pinch of salt1 tsp orange zest

Wet Ingredients

1 egg
1/2 c plain yogurt (non-fat if you wish, but not necessary)
1/4 c honey
1/4 c Orange Juice
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

2 tsp. Sugar or Stevia In the Raw


Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Mix all dry ingredients (except for orange zest) in a mixing bowl.
 
**What?!  You don't have oat flour?  Actually, you probably do!  It's just old-fashioned oats ground up in a blender, food processor, magic bullet etc.  You will need about 2 cups to make 1 3/4 c of oat flour.

In a separate bowl, combine all wet ingredients and blend together until well combined. 
Zest the outside of 1 orange and add to the dry ingredients.
Pour dry ingredients into wet and mix gently until just combined.  The key to not having a dense, hard as rock muffin is to NOT over mix the batter!

Lightly spray a non-stick muffin tin, fill cups about 2/3 full with batter.  (You should get about 9 regular size muffins.)
Sprinkle all with a little Sugar or Stevia in the Raw.  Bake for 15 -18 min or until a toothpick inserted, comes out clean.

Spread a little butter, Smart Balance or a little extra honey.  SERIOUSLY, delicious!

So this is it...Fall Orzo...YUM!

So, I guess this is it. It's official. I'm diving in to be a food blogger.
OMG! Seriously?!? Like I have any business telling anyone how to cook or what to eat.

But honestly, I LOVE cooking. I LOVE eating. I LOVE finding new combinations or updates on old or just stopping the same ole same ole from hitting the table night after night. Also, my super dark secret is.....

I eat like a toddler.

There, I said it. It's out. I have struggled my whole life eating fruits and vegetables. It certainly was not for lack of trying on my parents part. They did try...a lot. I just have this weird texture thing that makes it so difficult. I think crunchy things should be chewy and chewy things should be crunchy. I love the flavor of fruits and veggies, but I can't get past the bite. So, what's a girl to do? Well, I need to be creative, clever and find a way to get those veggies in! And I need to keep up the charade to my kids that Mommy actually eats well.

So if you struggle like I do or you just can't get your kids to eat well or you want to change it up...follow me here, 'Like' my Facebook Page and even tell me what you want to hear! I'll keep it interesting, fun and hopefully make you laugh a little too.

Here's my first published recipe. Monday was the first 'cold' day here in the Northeast and I got to thinking about pumpkins & sage & maple flavor & turkey and somehow the Fall Orzo was born. Hope you enjoy!

Fall Orzo

1 lb. ground turkey
1/2 small yellow onion (diced)
1 celery stalk (diced)
1 clove garlic
1 tsp poultry seasoning
dash salt & pepper
1 tblsp butter
1 tblsp flour
1 c chicken or veggie stock
2 tblsp maple syrup
1 c (about 1/2 a can) pumpkin
1 tsp grated nutmeg 1 c water (optional)
2 c orzo
Fresh grated parmesan
Fresh chopped parsley

Brown turkey in pan over medium heat. Break apart with wooden spoon and add in poultry seasoning and salt and pepper. When done, set aside in a bowl. Using drippings from turkey, brown onion, celery and garlic in pan until veggies are soft. Push aside veggies and melt butter in pan. Add flour to butter and allow it to cook for a minute. Turn up heat to medium high and slowly add in chicken or veggie stock whisking the entire time to make a roux. Incorporate veggies as sauce combines. Add in maple syrup, pumpkin and nutmeg, stir until combined and thick. At this point you may want to add another cup of water just to thin the sauce out a little. Add the ground turkey back in, combine, cover and let simmer while you are waiting for the orzo to cook.

Cook orzo as per package directions.
Drain orzo and then layer orzo and turkey/pumpkin sauce in a large bowl and stir gently until combined. Serve on plate on top with fresh parmesan and chopped parsley.

IT'S FALL!!!