Oatmeal Berry Muffins

I got this recipe somewhere, but I have no idea what blog I pulled it from. All I know is this was adapted from Joy the Baker and that Matt and his coworkers polished off a double batch in record time.

1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/4 cups oats
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 T canola oil
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp almond extract
1 cup frozen berries {I used raspberries, blackberries & blueberries}

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a muffin tin with paper liners or spray with Pam. {If you want to freeze these, use Pam instead of liners.}

In a large bowl, combine flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. In a medium bowl, combine applesauce, buttermilk, sugar, oil, egg and extracts. Make a well in dry ingredients and add applesauce mixture. Stir until just moist. Fold in berries. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake for 16-18 minutes. Cool on a rack.

{These freeze very well. I just let them cool on the rack, then put a dozen into a gallon freezer bag and froze laying flat. I just took a couple out of the freezer and put them in a ziploc the night before and put it with Matt's lunch in the fridge and they were thawed and ready to eat by breakfast time.}

Slow Berry Cobbler

This was SO good, and so easy because you just put it all in the crockpot. Great summertime treat because you're not heating up your house with the oven. Filling:
1 (10-ounce) bag frozen strawberries
1 (10-ounce) bag frozen blueberries
1 (10-ounce) bag frozen raspberries
1/3 to 2/3 cup sugar, depending on your level of preferred sweetness
1/2 cup baking mix

Topping:
2 1/4 cups baking mix
1/4 cup sugar, plus 1/4 cup
4 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 cup milk
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Spray the insert of a slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.

In a large mixing bowl, toss together all the frozen fruit, sugar and 1/2 cup baking mix. Transfer the fruit to the slow cooker. In another large mixing bowl, stir together 2 1/4 cups baking mix, 1/4 cup sugar, melted butter and milk with a wooden spoon. With your hands, drop bits of dough on top of the fruit in the slow cooker. In a small mixing bowl, stir together the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and ground cinnamon. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar on top of the dough and place the lid on the slow cooker. Turn the power onto high and slow cook for 3 to 4 hours until the topping has puffed and the fruit is bubbling.

Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.

Paula Deen

Pork Roast with Cumin/Mixed Berry Sauce

Heat oven to 400 degrees
2-3 lb. pork loin
salt and ground black pepper
1 cup chopped fresh strawberries
1/2 cup strawberry preserves
1/2 cup other berry preserves like boysen, black, or raspberry (can mix 2)
1 t. ground cumin
2 parsnips, peeled and cut in large cubes
Olive oil

Put pork in baking dish with a little olive oil on bottom. Season the pork with salt and pepper.

In a small bowl, combine the strawberries, preserves and cumin. Mix well and pour over the pork. Arrange the parsnips around the pork, rolling them in the olive oil. Roast 45 minutes in the oven. Remove and let the pork rest for 10 minutes (so doesn't lose juices) then slice and serve with sauce to pour over. Yes, the parsnips make a difference and they are very tasty, too.

Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins

I found this one in the diabetic-friendly section of a magazine recently. They're really, really good. For those of you who care, each muffin has 167 calories, 6 g fat, 1 g fiber, and 4 g protein.

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup quick-cooking oats
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 cup plain yogurt
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 cup fresh or frozen (do not thaw) blueberries

Combine flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, baking soda, and nutmeg. In another bowl, beat egg and butter together; add yogurt and blend thoroughly. Stir into dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Fold in blueberries.

Fill paper muffin cups 3/4 full with batter. Bake at 400*F for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Chocolate Pound Cake with Berries

2 sticks butter or margarine

1/2 c. shortening

1 T. vanilla

3 c. sugar

5 eggs

3 c. flour

1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt

1/4 c. cocoa

1 c. milk

Cream margarine and shortening. Add vanilla, sugar and eggs one at a time. Mix dry ingredients and add to above mixture alternating with milk. Bake in bundt (or is it just bunt?) pan at 325 for 1 hour and 15 minutes.

I top with fresh or thawed frozen strawberries and raspberries and whipped cream.

Blueberry Muffins with Lemon Glaze

These can also be made with fresh raspberries for a fun, fresh taste!

Muffins
1 1/2 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
1 cup fresh (or frozen, but fresh is best) blueberries
Muffin Topping
Muffin Glaze

Combine flour, sugars, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Stir until well blended. Make a well in center of dry mix. Place egg, butter & milk in center and stir until all dry ingredients are moistened. Fold in lemon zest & blueberries. Fill 12 muffin cups, sprinkle with muffing topping. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Top with lemon glaze while still warm.

Muffin Topping
1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon lemon zest
2 Tablespoons butter, melted

Combine and sprinkle over muffins,

Muffin Glaze
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Mix together, drizzle over muffins after baking.

Triple Berry Spinach Salad

Here's a really pretty salad that I think is pretty tasty!

1 package (6 oz) fresh baby spinach
Fresh Strawberries
Fresh Raspberries
Fresh Blueberries
Sliced Red Onion

Dressing:
1/4 cup oil (I used olive)
3 Tbsp Raspberry lemonade concentrate
2 Tbsp White Vinegar
1-2 Tbsp Dijon Mustard
1 Tbsp Sugar

Combine salad ingredients and drizzle dressing over the top! Tastes like summer!