Friendly Food Snobs

breakfast

blueberry lemon zest baked oatmeal

/ breakfast, sweets / 1 Comment

It’s July and summer is in full swing. After a so many months of having the kids home, I find we are now rushing to get out the door! What a shift. I started making this blueberry lemon zest baked oatmeal once a week for a quick weekday breakfast, or an afternoon snack (for me with a hot cup of tea) and it’s delicious, filling and gluten free. I also love that this is one bowl, because who needs another bowl to clean?

The blueberry lemon zest combination is a classic for a reason. This baked oatmeal leaves me feeling full and the ingredients are good – I use gluten free large oats and only sweeten with a little maple syrup.

You can have fun with the combinations. I did fresh raspberries (instead of blueberries) with sliced almonds on top. Later this summer I want to try zucchini with walnuts (if I can get any zucchinis from my garden before the squirrels!) and maybe peanut butter, mashed banana with chocolate chips for upcoming road trips.

Recipe makes 9 large squares or 12 small ones. Be sure to let the baked oatmeal cool completely before you cut it.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups large oats
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tbsp cinnamon
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup almond milk (dairy works too)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup (1/3 cup if you want sweeter)
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil
  • 1/4 cup apple sauce
  • zest of one large lemon (equal to 1 tsp)
  • 3/4 cup fresh blueberries

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 8×8 or 9×9 pan with non stick spray, butter or coconut oil. Combine eggs, milk, vanilla, syrup, oil and apples sauce. Sprinkled over the dry ingredients, adding the zest and blueberries last. Pour into the greased pan and bake for 35 minutes, checking to make sure the center is set and not wobbly. Let cool for one hour and dive in. Stores well in the fridge for up to one week. Hope you love it!

gluten free sweet potato muffins

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Hi friends. Toronto is in our third lockdown as I type and baking healthy treats is bringing me a lot of joy at the moment.

Enter these gluten free muffins made with sweet potato. Perfect for chilly spring mornings with a mug of something hot.  The texture is fluffy and you can’t even tell they’re gluten free.

I make these two ways by varying the add ins. The first version is stirring in pepita seeds and dark chocolate chips which my kids love. And the other version is with just chopped walnuts – my fave.

Recipe makes 12 muffins.

Ingredients:
1 cup baked sweet potato
1 cup all purpose flour or gluten-free flour (I love Bob’s Red Mill cup for cup)
3/4 cup oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 and 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup maple syrup or brown sugar
1/4 cup canola oil
1 egg

Optional Add ins:

  • 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pepita seeds

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Wash the sweet potato and poke a few holes in it with a fork. Wrap in foil and bake for 45-55 minutes until soft. Let cool and slice in half and scoop out one cup. [Note: I often bake the sweet potato the day before I plan the make the muffins.]

Combine the oil, egg, milk and vanilla with the syrup or brown sugar. Combine remaining dry ingredients in a separate large bowl. Pour wet mixture over dry and stir until just combined. Spoon into lined or greased muffin tins. (I grease mine with coconut oil or non-stick spray.) Bake at 375 degrees for 18 minutes.

Delicious with butter or nut butter for breakfast. Or drizzled with honey for dessert. 

If you like baking these healthy muffins you may like these no-sugar banana muffins or this protein-packed super seedy banana bread.

the best gluten free waffles

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My ideal waffle has to be crispy on the outside and fluffy inside, and these hit the mark. Early in the quarantine, in those dark months of working and parenting at home, I bought a waffle maker online. It was about $60 and my kids went crazy for fresh waffles. It’s the little joys right? This recipe is simple and the almond flour gives the waffles more protein and a yummy crispy texture. It’s a great way to break through the weekday haze and start the weekend with waffles for breakfast.

Gay Lea recently sent me some of their new Farmhouse premium butter and we’ve been topping our waffles with this incredible butter, blueberries and maple syrup. The butter has a creamy sweet taste, and is a wonderful treat on homemade baked goods. I cannot think of a better way to start the weekend. Recipes makes 4-5 waffles

The best gluten free waffles

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup all purpose gluten free flour (I love Bob’s Red Mill)
  • 1/4 cup packed almond flour
  • 1 cup milk (dairy or nut milk work)
  • 1/2 TSP cinnamon
  • 1/2 TSP salt
  • 1 TSP baking powder
  • 3 TBSP canola oil
  • 1 TSP vanilla extract
  • 1 egg

Combine dry ingredients and mix well. Pour over the wet ingredients, stir and let batter sit for a few minutes while waffle maker heats up. Spoon in approximately 1/4 of the batter and close lid. My waffle maker has 5 settings and I like a crispy waffle so cook mine on setting #4 or #5.

Enjoy topped with whatever you love. Almond butter, peanut butter, yogurt, banana and honey or chocolate chips are all kid approved toppings around here. These reheat well the next day in the toaster too. Hope you enjoy!

zucchini spelt muffins

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It’s near the end of summer and local fruit and veg is abundant. I love to hit the farmer’s market on Saturday mornings this time of year. Grab some zucchini next time you go and make these muffins. They are moist, easy to make and the spelt flour gives them a fluffy texture and nutty flavour that I love.

No spelt flour? Just use regular white flour or gluten free cup for cup flour. The recipe below calls for one cup + 3/4 cup spelt flour. Feel free to substitute flour for the one cup, and oats or almond flour for the 3/4 cup. I have done this before and it works well.

I started baking with spelt flour recently and I am officially a convert. Why? Spelt flour is easier to digest than regular flour, it’s less processed, has more protein and fibre and gives a nutty flavour and fluffy texture.

I also am a HUGE fan of one bowl cookie and muffin recipes like this one. If you sprinkle the baking powder, soda and spices over the flour it works every time! And one less bowl to wash.

Ok back to the recipe. These zucchini muffins have a walnut and raw sugar crunchy topping that is divine. And I also list a couple different additions below, think raisins, chopped dates or chocolate chips. Not gonna lie the dark chocolate chip version is pretty incredible and my family gobbled them in less than two days. Recipe makes 12 muffins or one loaf. Hope you love it!

Ingredients:

  • 2 eggs
  • 1/3 cup melted coconut oil
  • 1 1/2 cups grated zucchini
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 TBSP vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup or honey
  • 1 TSP cinnamon
  • 1/4 TSP nutmeg
  • 1 and 3/4 cups spelt flour (I love Bobs Red Mill)
  • 1 TSP baking soda
  • 1 TSP baking powder
  • crunchy topping = 2 TBSP chopped walnuts + 1 TBSP raw sugar for sprinkling on top before baking
  • Note: I have made this same muffin recipe with a few variations. You can add 1/2 cup of any of the following: walnuts, coconut flakes, raisins, chocolate chips or chopped dates.

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Combine coconut oil, eggs, milk and maple syrup in bowl along with the grated zucchini. (By the way, I never squeeze out the moisture in the zucchini, I know some recommend it, but why squeeze out all that goodness that will make your muffins moist!?) Mix all these wet ingredients well.

Sprinkle over top all the dry ingredients, doing the spelt flour first and then sprinkling the spices and baking soda and powder evenly as best you can.

Stir until just combined. Then add any nuts or add ins.

Grease your muffin tin with non stick spray or liners. Use a tablespoon to scoop the batter into the muffin cups and sprinkle the chopped walnuts and raw sugar over each muffin.

Bake 375 degree oven for 15 minutes until puffed up and golden brown.

Recipe also makes one loaf. Just bake at a lower temp, 350 degrees for 55-60 minutes. Check by inserting a knife in the middle. It should come out clean when done. Let bread cool in loaf pan for for an hour.

Enjoy the last weeks of summer friends!

blackberry almond cake

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It’s early June and the summer lays out full of possibilities. I love this time of year. I have been playing around with the idea of this cake for a few weeks. I finally wrangled all the ingredients including some gorgeous organic blackberries (I ate the extra pint while I baked). Is there anything better than baking with summer fruit?

The blackberries get sort of jammy and even sweeter as they are baked right into this cake. This cake is moist and lower in carbs thanks to the almond flour. It’s perfect all on its own. If you want to dress it up for dessert sift some icing sugar over each slice or add a dollop of whipped cream. I love it with a strong cup of tea in the morning as a treat. Raspberries or blueberries would be lovely too if you don’t have blackberries.

You’ll see in the recipe I used salted butter, and didn’t add any extra salt. Probably a baking purist would critique me for this one – but I always have salted butter in my fridge as my kids love it on good bread as a weekend treat. So if I can do a shortcut – I will. If you do have unsalted butter and prefer to bake with it, I would add 1/2 tsp salt to the recipe. Oh and don’t over mix this batter, stir until just combined. Hope you love it!

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup superfine almond flour (I like Bob’s Red Mill)
  • 1/2 all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 cup butter (salted) at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup milk (I used 2% dairy)
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1 tbsp butter to grease the pan
  • approx. 15 blackberries (rinsed)
  • small handful slivered almonds

Heat your oven to 350 degrees. Grease your baking pan generously with the 1 tbsp butter. I used a 9-inch glass pie plate, however you can also use a round metal cake pan.

Mix the dry ingredients and stir well. Cream the sugar and room temperature butter. Then add in the milk, eggs and vanilla. Combine the wet and dry ingredients and pour into the greased pan. Use a spatula to spread the batter into the pan. Sprinkled the almonds over the top. Nestle the berries in between the almonds. Be generous with the berries, really cannot have too many. Push them down a tiny bit into the batter. Bake for 30 minutes. Let cool completely (at least an hour or two) before cutting in with a sharp knife. Enjoy!

If you like this recipe you might also enjoy blueberry buckle.

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