Apple Cranberry Flax Muffins

This muffins are packed with delicious whole fruit and healthy flax seed. They make great mini muffins or regular sized one too.

Mix plain yogurt, apple sauce, egg, egg whites and brown sugar in a medium bowl.

 Add ground flax, baking soda, baking powder and whole wheat flour, mix well.

Chop apples.

Add chopped apples and cranberries.

Spoon into sprayed mini muffin or regular size muffin tin.

Bake at 400C for 15 -20 minutes. Enjoy!

Apple Cranberry Flax Muffins

1/2 cup plain yogurt

2/3 cup unsweetened applesauce

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 egg 

2 egg whites

3/4 cup ground flax

1 3/4 cup whole wheat flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 frozen cranberries

2-3 apples

*Variation*

Chocolate Orange Apple Cranberry Muffins

Add:

1/4 cup orange juice

2 tbsp orange zest

1/3 cup chocolate chips

Watch a video on how to make the muffins at:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpekUKN8vJg&list=UUabpoRgDeqV5JkYX45bRxag&index=27&feature=plcp

Walnut Date Oatmeal Cookies

It's hard to believe that these cookies have only a tablespoon of added sugar because they are just so sweet, soft and delicious! You can get creative with you mix ins too!

Mix bananas, milk, brown sugar, egg whites, applesauce and cinnamon in a food processor. Alternatively, you can mash it by hand.

Transfer to a medium bowl and at oats. Mix well. Let stand for at least 15 minutes.

Add dates and walnuts. Mix well.

Drop onto cookie sheet. Bakes at 350C for 15- 20 minutes. Cookies will still be somewhat soft and moist when done.

Enjoy!

Walnut Date Oatmeal Cookies

3 bananas

1/3 cup sweetened almond/soy milk

1/3 cup applesauce

1 tbsp brown sugar
1/4 cup egg whites

1-2 tsp cinnamon

2 cups oats

1/3 cup chopped walnuts

1/3 cup chopped dates

iPhone Case

This is a super easy way the get a custom iPhone case for under two dollars!

You will need:

- Clear iPhone case

- Picture or scrapbook paper

- Hole punch

- Pen

- Scissors

I bought my iPhone case online for 1 dollar including shipping. You may also be able to find them at the dollar store.

Trace iPhone case onto picture/paper and cut out.

 

Place picture in case and trace around camera lens opening.

 

 Using a hole punch, punch out the opening

Place you phone in the case. Tada! So simple!

I Love You Because...

This is a really wonderful thing to make and display for you and your loved ones to write special notes. I made mine into a magnet but you can definitely just leave it as a regular picture frame and put it on a table or shelf.

You'll Need

- A picture* or paper with the words " I love you because..." 

- Picture frame

- Strong magnets

- Glue or glue gun

- Tape

* To print words on a picture, simply go into the Paint program on your PC and add the words. Make sure to "Save As" under a different name or else you could wreck your original. Then print picture via a regular print or photo printer.

Remove backing from frame. Place picture in desired place and tape if needed. Because this is going on the fridge, I removed the cardboard stand from the back as well.

The back of my frame was inset a bit so I cut the cardboard stand and attached it to my magnets to give them some height.

 

Glue magnets on back of frame. Make sure you find strong magnets. I found this a bit challenging and ended up testing a whole bunch in the store.

 

Attach to fridge. With a dry erase marker, write your message. 

 

Organize Your Pantry

Yikes! This is my pantry cupboard, filled with miscellaneous bulk store bags. Don't judge because I have a feeling I'm not alone! With a quick trip to the dollar store though I managed to tame the beast. You will have to find basket/jar combinations that work best for your needs.

You'll need 

- Several large jars with lids

- A few small jars for smaller items

- Low profile baskets or trays

- Dry erase maker

- Small scoops

- Self adhesive whiteboard paper, chalkboard paper or high gloss labels (optional) 

- Large punch

* Whiteboard paper is optional because you can write directly on the jars*

First soak all the jars in hot soapy water to clean and remove and price tags or labels. Air dry completely.

Punch out shape from whiteboard paper.

Affix label to top or front of jar.

Place canning funnel in jar and fill.

Add a scooper is desired.

Label jar. Repeat.

Small jar for smaller items. 

Once labelled and filled, place jar in baskets. Put basket in cupboard.

Tada! Pantry heaven!

Jars with lids = $15
Small jars = $4.74
Whiteboard paper = $8
White board makers = $1
Baskets = $4.50
Scoops = $5

Total = $38.24

Organization and finding what you need while you bake:
PRICELESS!

Cutting Fruit

 I just thought I'd share a few simple tricks for cutting some common fruits. Some you may already know and some may be brand new tips.

Mango

Find which way the pit runs. The pit is flat and wide. Cut it on the flat side on either sides.

Then cut around the other sides until you have something that looks like this.

Make horizontal and vertical cuts, but do not cut the skin.

Flip it "inside out" and cut or remove each square by hand.

Cantaloupe 

 Cut in half and scrape out the middles with a spoon.

Set one half aside. Flip other half downward onto cutting board and cut into three segments; two ends and one middle. Cut the two ends into three. Cut the middle in two. Repeat with other half.

 

Stand up one segment on end. With a sharp knife, cut off the skin. Use your other hand on the back of the skin to hold the fruit steady. Repeat for each segment and cut into smaller pieces if desired.

 

Pineapple 

This may not be the quickest way to slice a pineapple but it definitely wastes the least amount of fruit.

Twist off green top. Cut the skin off the top and bottom.

Slice the skin off as thinly as possible around the whole pineapple.

 

You'll be left with this sort of polka dotted pineapple. Find the natural diagonal direction of the "polka dots".

Cut wedges around each line of "dots"

I learned this in Thailand, they do a much better job!

 

Cut in four. You can remove the core if you like. Cuts into smaller pieces if desired.

 

Kiwi

I think most of us know this trick but thought I'd throw it in.

 

 Cut each end off of the kiwi and cut in half.

Wedge a small spoon between the flesh and the fruit being careful not to break the skin. Using counter pressure with your other hand, slide the spoon around the whole kiwi until the skin comes off.