Crafxzen

Healthy Zucchini Bread

On July 2, 2021

My refrigerator is having issues, so I had to relocate all my food in the fridge and freezer. Luckily I had room for just about everything in the two little mini fridges and mini freezer we have. I had some frozen zucchini I couldn’t fit though, so I made this zucchini bread recipe. This one is supposed to be a little healthier than the zucchini bread recipe I previously posted. Taste wise, they are both really good. I’m kind of favoring this one though.

1 1/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/3 cup canola oil
1/3 cup water
3 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups all purpose unbleached flour
2 1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
3 small apples, peeled and diced
2 cups zucchini, diced

Preheat oven to 350.
Combine sugar, eggs, canola oil, water and vanilla. In a separate bowl combine whole wheat flour, all purpose unbleahed flour, cinnamon, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Add to bowl with egg mixture. Add apples and zucchini.
Pour into 2 greased loaf pans and bake at 350 for 45 – 55 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes.

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Zucchini Bread

By crafxzen

On July 2, 2021

In Bread

We have an ton of zucchini in the garden, one of my favorite summertime vegetables. Last weekend I made this zucchini bread recipe, adapted to be somewhat healthier from my mother’s original recipe. It makes 2 loaves, so cut everything in half if you just want one loaf. DELICIOUS!!!

1/2 cup canola oil
1/4 cup applesauce
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
3 eggs
3 tsp. vanilla
2 cups grated or small diced zucchini
1 1/2 cups plus 1 1/2 tbs all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups plus 1 1/2 tbs whole wheat flour
1/4 tsp salt, if desired
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
3 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350. Spray 2 bread pans with non sticking cooking spray.
Mix ingredients in order in a large bowl.
Bake at 350 for 50 – 60 minutes. Cool 10 minutes and remove from pan. Cool completely.

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Pumpkin Spice Cookie Bars

By crafxzen

On July 2, 2021

In Baking Recipes, Bars

I made these cookie bars for Thanksgiving. Quick, easy and delicious! Also contains lots of Vitamin A thanks to the pumpkin puree.

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp grated nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt, I didn’t add this
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 can pumpkin puree
1 cup chopped pecans, optional

Preheat oven to 350. Spray a 13x9x2 pan with nonstick cooking spray.
Whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, cream together butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, with an electric mixer on medium speed, about 3 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla. Add pumpkin, stir until well combined. Gradually add flour mixture, beating just until blended. Optionally, fold in pecans with a spatula.
Spread batter in a 13×9 pan and bake 15 – 20 minutes or until edges start to turn lightly golden.

Icing:
1 cup confectioner’s sugar
1 to 2 tbs half and half or milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
In a small bowl, combine confectioner’s sugar, 1 tbs of the cream or milk, and vanilla extract. With a small fork or whisk, blend until icing is smooth and thin enough to drizzle. Add more cream or milk as needed to achieve the right consistency. Drizzle over cooled cookie bars.

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Healthy Cupcake Recipe

By crafxzen

On July 2, 2021

In Baking Recipes, Cupcakes

I just made these and I can’t believe how good they are. I modified the Choc-ful Cupcakes recipe in The Sneaky Chef cookbook. DELICIOUS!!! and fairly healthy. Next time, I’m going to take out the sugar and substitute 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce to make this even healthier. Also, 1/4 cup of oatmeal or oat bran could probably be added for more fiber. This is a great recipe to trick kids into eating something good for them.

4 tbs. unsalted butter, melted
1 egg
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup sugar
1 banana, beaten with a fork
1/3 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup whole wheat flour
1/3 cup wheat germ
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 – 1/2 tsp cinnamon

In a large bowl, add butter, egg, vanilla, and sugar. Mix well. In a separate bowl, add all purpose flour, whole wheat flour, wheat germ, baking powder, cinnamon. Mix well and add to the large bowl containing the butter and sugar mixture. Mix well and spoon into cupcake pan.
Makes 12 cupcakes or 24 mini cupcakes.
You can frosten or glaze these with the recipe of your choice. They are so good, you probably don’t even really need to frosten them.

Health Benefits:

Eggs: are a great source of protein, choline, Vitamin D. They are good for the eyes as they lower the risk of developing cataracts.
Whole wheat flour: Whole grains are useful for lowering cholesterol and reducing the risk of cancer.
Wheat germ: is a great source of Vitamin E. It helps lower cholesterol and blood pressure and is a great source of fiber. Tip: I always add a scoopful when I make tuna fish.
Cinnamon: is a great spice to add in place of salt and sugar. It is thought to help lower blood sugar. It is a good source of manganese, fiber, iron, and calcium.
Bananas: are a superfood. I eat 1/4 banana everyday. They are full of sugar and high glycemic, so watch your portion size if you have blood sugar problems, as I do. Bananas are also full of potassium, good source of fiber, help with diarrhea and improve mood.

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Apple Harvest Bake

By crafxzen

On July 2, 2021

In Baking Recipes, Dessert

Here’s a delicious apple dessert recipe I made last night:

3/4 cup quick cooking oats
3/4 cup apple juice
2 tbs vegetable oil
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbs, butter melted
1 cup brown sugar, divided
2 apples peeled & thinly sliced, about 1 1/2 cups
1 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
t tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350. Combine oats, apple juice, oil. Let stand 10 minutes. Stir in eggs and vanilla. Pour butter in a 9 inch cake pan coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle 1/4 cup brown sugar. Arrange apple slices spoke like on top of brown sugar. Combine 3/4 cup brown sugar, flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg. Add oat mixture, stir just until moist. Pour into prepared pan. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes or until toothpick in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Place a plate upside down on top of cake; invert onto plate. Serve with cool whip or vanilla ice cream if desired. Makes 8 serverings.

I diced the apples using the Vidalia Chop Wizard rather than thinly slicing them to save time and served it with cool whip. My 3 year old loved it.

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Kid’s Banana Dessert

By crafxzen

On July 2, 2021

In Dessert

Here’s a simple kid friendly dessert:

Take 1 banana and slice it lengthwise and then cut it into pieces.
Spread caramel topping over it. I use Smucker’s suagar free, fat free caramel topping in the squeeze bottle. It squirts out very smoothly & easily, even after being refrigerated. Then add a dollop of cool whip, if desired, and enjoy.

BTW, bananas are a superfood. Full of potassium, Vitamin C, folate, magnesium and fiber.

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Stacy Haiduk’s Grandmother’s Ginger Snaps

By crafxzen

On July 2, 2021

In Baking Recipes, Cookies

I was hungry for ginger cookies and came across this recipe in the 12/22/09 issue of Soap Opera Digest, so I gave it a try. They were delicious!!!! I couldn’t stop eating them.

4TBS butter
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup molasses – I substituted 1/4 cup maple syrup and 1/2 cup water
1 egg
2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt – I did not use any salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cloves
1 tsp ginger
sugar for topping – I used cinnamon sugar

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Mix all of the dry ingredients together, then add the molasses(or maple syrup and water) and egg. Mix thoroughly until it forms a dough.
Roll the dough into small balls. Dip the top of each into a little sugar (or cinnamon sugar). Place on a baking sheet, making sure there’s enough room between the cookies for them to expand. Flatten out with a fork.
Put in the oven and bake for 8 – 10 minutes.
Enjoy with a cold glass of milk.

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Blueberry Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

By crafxzen

On July 2, 2021

In Baking Recipes, Bars

These are my favorite cookies. Delicious!!!!

2 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup quick cooking oatmeal
1 cup(2 sticks) country crock, or unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups semi-sweet, or Hersheys dark, chocolate chips
1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

Preheat oven to 375F. Spray a 9 x 13 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray.
Combine flour, baking soda, oatmeal & cinnamon in a small bowl. Beat country crock or butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar & vanilla extract in a large bowl until creamy. Add eggs, beating after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in chocolate chips and blueberries.
Spread batter in prepared pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool.
These are great served with a cold glass of milk.

Health Benefits
Even though these are cookies, they do have a few healthful ingredients.
Cinnamon is great for helping lower cholesterol and blood sugar and reduce arthritis pain.
Oatmeal provides fiber.
I use the Country Crock which contains calcium plus Vitamin D.
Dark chocolate is full of antioxidants and helps lower blood pressure.
Blueberries are also full of antioxidants and help improve memory, protect against aging, cancer, heart disease, urinary tract infections, constipation and improve mood.

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Free Woven Loop Potholder Pattern 05-08-2021

By crafxzen

On May 8, 2021

In patterns, powder blue, spice

This woven potholder can be made with Spice and Powder Blue colors. To make it, use the following colors for the columns:

Spice, Spice, Powder Blue, Spice, Powder Blue, Powder Blue, Spice, Powder Blue, Powder Blue, Powder Blue, Powder Blue, Spice, Powder Blue, Powder Blue, Spice, Powder Blue, Spice, Spice

Next weave in the following colors for the rows:

Spice, Spice, Powder Blue, Spice, Powder Blue, Powder Blue, Spice, Powder Blue, Powder Blue, Powder Blue, Powder Blue, Spice, Powder Blue, Powder Blue, Spice, Powder Blue, Spice, Spice

Start off by laying down the column colors.
Next, weave the first row color of Spice underneath, then over, underneath, over, etc., the column loops.
Weave the second row color of Spice over, then underneath, over, underneath, etc., the column loops.
Continue on with the rest of the row colors.

To make this using different colors, substitute your first color wherever Spice appears and substitute your second color wherever Powder Blue appears.
Finally, finish off the ends, starting at the top left corner. The hanging loop will end up being the 2nd loop at the top left corner.
See my Loom Potholder Tutorial for further details on weaving the ends together.

Crafxzen Potholder Gallery

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Free Woven Loop Potholder Pattern 04-24-2021

By crafxzen

On April 24, 2021

In carnation, flax, patterns, tiger lily

This woven potholder can be made with Carnation, Flax and Tiger Lily colors. To make it, use the following colors for the columns:

Carnation, Carnation, Carnation, Carnation, Flax, Tiger Lily, Flax, Carnation, Flax, Carnation, Tiger Lily, Flax, Carnation, Tiger Lily, Flax, Carnation, Carnation, Flax

Next weave in the following colors for the rows:

Carnation, Carnation, Carnation, Carnation, Flax, Tiger Lily, Flax, Carnation, Flax, Carnation, Tiger Lily, Flax, Carnation, Tiger Lily, Flax, Carnation, Carnation, Flax

Start off by laying down the column colors.
Next, weave the first row color of Carnation underneath, then over, underneath, over, etc., the column loops.
Weave the second row color of Carnation over, then underneath, over, underneath, etc., the column loops.
Continue on with the rest of the row colors.

To make this using different colors, substitute your first color wherever Carnation appears, substitute your second color wherever Flax appears and substitute your third color wherever Tiger Lily appears.
Finally, finish off the ends, starting at the top left corner. The hanging loop will end up being the 2nd loop at the top left corner.
See my Loom Potholder Tutorial for further details on weaving the ends together.

Crafxzen Potholder Gallery

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