Are you up for the challenge?

We have all heard about how BAD the microwave is for us, right?  The whole 'making your food radioactive' thing is not what I call the healthiest idea in the world.  In our environment, radiation is all around us.  Because of this, the more we expose ourselves to microwaved food, airport body scanners, cell phones, etc., the more in-danger we become.  It's the cumulative effect of all of these devices that get us into trouble (trouble meaning the hospital bed...)

That said, I challenge you to give up your microwave for a week and see how you do.  I bet you can do it, especially when you see how easy it really is.  

I'll admit it- I used the microwave once every day or so, up through Saturday of this past week.  But now, I've been getting along fine without it!  It takes me no more time to boil water in my tea kettle or heat my chili on the stove than it did to do it in the microwave.  WHAT DID WE DO BEFORE MICROWAVES?  (actually...we did a whole lot.)  

Take my challenge.  I bet you can do it, too!

Vegan Zucchini Muffins

Good early morning, everyone!  I don't know why- for some reason I haven't been sleeping well.  At all.  Saturday night I woke up at 3am, last night I woke up at 1am.... BAH I'm ready to stop this cycle!!


Aaaaany way....


I made some FANTASTIC vegan muffins this week.  Check out my recipe, inspired by this message board post!! 


1 3/4 C Finely Chopped Zucchini, water squeezed out
2 1/2 C Flour (I used 1 1/2 C Whole Wheat and 1 C ground down Rolled Oats)
3 T Ground Flax Meal (or use flax seeds that have been processed)
1 Ripe Banana
1/3 C Sugar, Honey or Maple Syrup
1/3 C Oil (I used olive oil)
1 T Cinnamon
1 T Apple or Pumpkin Pie Spice
1/4 t Ground Ginger
1 T Baking Powder
1/2 C Raisins
1 C Water

(makes 12 muffins)

Preheat oven to 375

In a food processor, process together all of the wet ingredients, plus the banana and flax meal, until foamy (about a minute).

In a large bowl, mix together all of the remaining dry ingredients (including the raisins).

Pour the wet ingredients and zucchini into the dry ingredients bowl and mix well with a spoon. If the mixture is too dry, add a little bit more water.

Grease your muffin pan, and pour the mixture evenly into the cups. Bake 18-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Once baked, remove from the oven and transfer muffins to a cooling rack to cool, using a butter knife to help you get them out of the pan.



Here are the pictures!!

Like my broiler pan  cooling rack??

SOOOOooooooo gooooooood.  


OH!  I almost forgot... look at my new baybee...

Lovely.  Just lovely.  


Have a great day everybody!

Freezing CSA Produce

Good moooorrrrrrning everyone!  It's Tuesday, and in central Ohio it feels like FALL!  (which makes me smile a little bit, I'm not gonna to lie)

I have run into the issue of having too much CSA produce than I can down in one week, so I have decided to start freezing what I can.  This week:  GREEN BEANS!  Oye... I had 3 whole bags of green beans sitting in my fridge and I surely didn't want to waste them!

After doing some internet research, I figured out how to properly freeze them.  Here's the scoop:

Wash and trim the beans
Boil or steam them for 3-5 minutes (until the color is BRIGHT green)
Run the boiled or steamed beans under cool water
Place on a baking sheet or in a ziplock bag to freeze
Will last 6 months

SO, here it is in pictures!!

Fresh (massive amounts of) green beans!!

Getting my pot ready to go.  Water is almost boiling.  Like the book in the background HAHA!

Washed and trimmed green beans, getting lightly steamed.

After steamed and cooled, into the baggies they go!  It's freezer time.

I was glad that I found out how to do this!!  Hurray for saving fresh summer produce for winter!  I might have to find a vegan green bean casserole to make!  Happy Tuesday!

Another Trader Joe's Grocery Haul!!

Hi everyone! This is a little bit late... sorry about that!! Much love to you all.

Trader Joe's Grocery Haul

You asked for it....