Really LOW calorie Banana Muffins

 

I love this recipe I found online, then I played around with it and lowered the calories and fat even more!  Now if you are looking for something really sweet and fluffy and full of calories this isn’t it. If you appreciate a healthy, low calorie food, you will probably like this!

This time I used self rising flour instead of the baking soda and powder, next time I plan to use all purpose flour and use the baking powder and soda.

I also ground up some flax seed to make it into flour, then blended it in the blender with some water to use in place of the egg. Works great!

The original recipe called for just white flour I used have white and half whole wheat.

So here it is….

LOW Calorie Banana Muffins

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup all purpose flour

2 Tbsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

2 cups mashed bananas

1/2 cup sugar (I used brown sugar)

4 Tbsp Flax seed flour (mix in blender for 45 seconds with 2 Tbsp water, it will turn it into a nice paste)

or you can use 2 eggs.

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup applesauce

Preheat oven to 350. Grease your muffin pans or use paper muffin liners.

In medium bowl mix flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt together.

In separate bowl, combine banana, sugar, flax seed paste (or egg), and vanilla extract. Blend until well mixed. Add applesauce. Then slowly add to dry mixture and stir until well blended.

Scoop batter into prepared muffin cups. Bake at 350 for 15-20 min or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Let cook on wire racks.

Makes 24 servings.

 

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size – 1 muffin

Amount Per Serving

Calories   63                  Calories from Fat   1

                                          % Daily Value^*

Total Fat   0.1g                                       0%

Cholesterol   0mg                                    0%

Sodium  25mg                                         1%

Total Carbohydrates   14.4g                    5%

     Dietary Fiber  0.7g                              3%

     Sugars  5.0g

Protein  1.2g

Vitamin A 0%               •           Vitamin C 2%

Calcium 0%                  •                   Iron 3%

* Based on a 2000 calorie diet

Spicy Fried Tofu

Ok, so I found this recipe while googling around the internet for some sort of yummy tofu I could make for Sabbath. And here I found it. It is REALLY good!

 

1 lb tofu (preferably frozen and then thawed first)

1/2 tsp turmeric

1/2 tsp sweet basil

1 tsp thyme

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp curry powder ( I DID NOT use this, since I do not like curry)

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 Tbsp soy sauce

 

I always like to freeze my tofu before using it in stir-fries and such. It gives it a much better texture and stays together better. I usually like to freeze mine for at least 48 hrs, then thaw just before ready to use it in a recipe.

First drain the tofu and pat dry with a paper towel, then cut into 1/2-in cubes.

Heat oil and sauté tofu over high heat for 5 minutes.

If there is any excess water, pour it out. Reduce heat, and add turmeric, stir until tofu is uniformly yellow and then add basil thyme, cumin, and curry powder (if you choose to use it).  And garlic (and a little more oil to prevent from sticking, if needed). Increase heat;then add soy sauce. Sauté until golden brown.

Serve over rice, in pita bread or in rollup up tortillas with shredded lettuce and cheddar cheese. Use any of your favorite toppings.This tastes just as good the next day. 

Divine French Pasty Pie Crust

Ok so here is the crust recipe that I used in the Apple-Berry Pie recipe that I also have listed on the blog. It is another that is not my own but too good not to share! It is a sweet dough that is great for fruit pies!

Divine French Pastry Pie Crust

(Makes enough for two pies, or a top and bottom of a single pie)

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 tbsp white sugar
1 cup shortening
1 egg
1 tsp distilled white vinegar
5 tbsp water

In a bowl, combine the flour, salt, and sugar. Mix well and then cup in the shortening until mixture is like course meal.

In another smaller bowl combine egg, vinegar, and 4 tbsp water. Whisk together, then slowly add to flour mixture, stirring with a fork. Mix until dough forms a ball. Add one more tbsp of water if needed.

Allow dough to rest in refrigerator 10 minutes before rolling out

Awesomely good apple-blackberry pie!

Ok, so I found this recipe on Allrecipes, so this is not my own! But it is really good! And I loved making it so I wanted to share it!

Apple-Berry Pie

20 min -prep time
50 min - cook time

1 pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie
1 cup white sugar
4 tsp tapioca
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 cups fresh blackberries
2 cups apples-pealed, cored, and sliced
2 tbsp butter, cut into small peices

Preheat oven to 375. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one crust and place in a 9 inch pie plate. Roll out top crust, and set aside.

In a large bowl mix together the sugar, tapioca, and cinnamon. Add blackberries and apple slices. Toss gently to coat without mashing the berries. You could add the berries after coating the apples in sugar mixute, I did that the second time I made this and liked it much better since the berries didn't get as mashed ( I was using thawed frozen berries). Let stand for 2o minutes.

Spoon filling into pastry lined pan. Place small cut peices of butter on top. Moisten the edge of the pastry with water. Cover with top crust or make a latice top; trim and crimp edge. Cut a few slits in the top to allow to steam steam to escape (if using a full top). Cover edge with foil to prevent over-browning.

Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil, and continue baking for 20-25 minutes, or until crust is golden brown. Cool on wire rack.

This is one very good pie!! I doubt you will be dissappointed!

Mom's awesome Multi-Grain Bread

I love this recipe of my mom's Multi-grain bread! I like to make it using my breadmakers dough cycle and then take it out and cook it in the oven. I like the texture and the shape better that way. But it can also all be done in the breadmaker if you prefer.

Mom's Multi-Grain Bread

1 1/4 cup Warm water
2 Tbsp Oil
1 tsp Salt
2 Tbsp Honey or 3 Tbsp brown suger (I use brown sugar)
1 1/2 tbsp Powdered milk (optional, I usually use it though)
1 1/8 cup Bread flour
1 1/8 cup Whole wheat flour
2 tbsp Gluton flour
2 tbsp Wheat germ
2 tbsp Barley or soy flour (I use soy)
1 cup Old-fashioned oats
2 tsp Instant yeast

Put in breadmaker in order above. Set on dough cycle. Watch it about half way through, if it still too sticky and 1-2 Tbsp of flour. After dough cycle is complete take out of pan and place in a bread pan. Place in a pre-heated oven at 200 degrees for 20 minutes to allow to rise. After the 20 min is finished raise temp to 350 and set timer for 35 minutes. A
After you remove bread from oven take out of pan and let cook on a cooling rack. Enjoy!

Mom's Stroganoff

This is another Very good recipe! I would give it absolutely 5 stars! It is very simple and easy to make. I was able to make it start to finish in less than 15 minutes. That included monitoring a 4 yr old boy who was wanting to "help" wash dishes, and a little girl who was bouncing all over the house! I'm quite suprised the recipe turned out at all as distracted as I was. lol
Ok so here it is..

Mom's Stroganoff

1 cup TVP (or vegetarian style meat crumbles)
Dash of ketchup (I used about 1 tsp)
1 onion, chopped
1 cup sour cream
1 Tbsp oil (I used extra virgin olive oil)
1 can mushroom soup
1 mushroom can full of water
1 can mushrooms, drained
1/4 tsp Garlic powder (I used 1/2)
1/4 tsp salt




Take 1 cup boiling water, and pour in 3/4 TVP. Let sit for about 4-5 minutes.


Saute onions in oil for about 3-4 minutes


Add drained mushrooms

and TVP.

Mix and continue to saute for about 3-4 minutes.

Then add can of mushroom soup, can of water, sour cream, ketchup, garlic powder and salt.

Mix together and reduce heat to med low, let heat for about 3-4 minutes.

And voila!

Use over top your favorite pasta and enjoy! (I used bowtie)

Very tasty Tofu and Vegi Quesadilla

Ok, so this is a really yummy and simple recipe that I made for the first time yesterday and we loved it!!!
You will need the following.....

A package of flour tortilla's.


A bag of Colby & Monterey Jack Cheese


1 lb of Tofu cut into thinly sliced peices.


1 med onion, sliced and carmalized.

1 large tomato thinly sliced

Ok, in the following pictures I show putting them together in the pan, but after having done it I suggest you lay your tortilla shell out beside the pan and put the toppings on it, then move it over to the frying pan and fold it in half there. So that way the whole thing is not starting to cook while you are still putting toppings on.

So start with sprinkling a small amout of chees on one side *only* of the tortilla shell.

Then place a few pieces of carmalized onions on.....

Then a few slices of tomato....

Then top with Tofu pieces and if you would like you can sprinkle your choice of seasoning on. I put All Purpose Seasoning on this one.

Then top with a little more cheese...

Then place on frying pan and fold the unused side over.

Fry for 1-2 minute on each side over med heat.

Remove from heat and cut into three pieces.

Here is a view from the inside.

I didn't have any on hand but you can garnish with salsa, sour cream or guacamole.

(Makes 5-6 Quesadillas)

Enjoy!