Tasty Tuesday

These carrot cake muffins were a big hit with everyone.  It satisfies a carrot cake craving without being so bad for you.

Cream Cheese Carrot Cake Muffins

Filling
8 oz cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar

Muffins
2 1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp ginger
3/4 tsp salt
2 eggs
1/3 cup oil
3/4 cup water
1 cup grated carrots


This is more of a method than a recipe.  The boys aren't crazy for baked sweet potatoes, but they liked these.  These potatoes were super with our pork kabobs.  We will totally be making these more often.

Grilled Sweet Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes
Olive Oil
Salt

Wash and peel sweet potatoes.
Slice into 1/4 inch thick slices.
Toss with olive oil, salt, and any other desired seasonings.  We used arbol chili powder (it was a great contrast to the sweetness of the potato).
Grill over medium heat 3-6 minutes each side.

Wordless Wednesday

Tasty Tuesday

These pork burgers were great on pretzel buns and topped with grilled pineapple.  The boys loved them and even had seconds (which is rare for burgers!).

Sesame Hoisin Pork Burgers

1 1/2 pounds ground pork
3 green onions (white and light green parts), finely chopped
2 tsp minced garlic
2 tsp toasted sesame oil
1 tsp Sriracha sauce
1 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper

Combine the burger ingredients and form into patties.
Grill over medium direct heat for 10 to 15 minutes, until cooked through.

This Asian Coleslaw was a great side with the pork burgers.  I added bell pepper to the mix.

Asian Coleslaw

1 TB creamy peanut butter
6 TB vegetable oil
1/2 tsp toasted sesame oil
4 TB seasoned rice vinegar
4 cups thinly sliced cabbage
1/2 cup grated carrots
1/4 cup sunflower seeds


1. Whisk peanut butter, oils and vinegar together.
2.  Toss the cabbage and carrots together.
3.  Right before serving mix in the dressing and top with sunflower seeds.

Funny Friday

Hudson loves hot sauce.  On our trip to the West Side Market, he was excited to find Trinidad Moruga Scorpion sauce, supposedly the hottest pepper around.  Can he handle the heat?  You will have to watch the video and find out.

Tasty Tuesday

Alright, I've got a few recipes to share with you today.  The first is a whole grain version of our favorite Honey Wheat Oatmeal Bread.  I usually make the dough in the bread machine and finish it in the oven.  I buy vital wheat gluten at our health food store.

Honey Wheat Oatmeal Bread

10 ounces warm water
1 TB olive oil
1/3 cup honey
1 tsp salt
1 cup rolled oats
3 cups whole wheat flour
2 TB vital wheat gluten
2 tsp instant yeast

1. Place the ingredients into bread pan in the order suggested by your bread machine.
2. Run the whole wheat cycle.

This Poppy Seed dressing tastes great and doesn't have the funky ingredients that store bought dressing contains.  I made a yummy salad with romaine, grilled chicken, craisins, apples, walnuts, feta cheese, and topped it with this dressing.

Poppy Seed Dressing

1/4 cup sugar **I used half of this**
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp dry mustard
1/3 cup rice vinegar
1 cup olive oil
1 tsp poppy seeds

1. Mix first 4 ingredients with blender.
2. Slowly add in the oil to emulsify.
3. Stir in the poppy seeds.

Indoor Mountain Biking?

Yes, it exisits.  Brooks and Ryan went to Ray's Mountain Bike Park while we were in Cleveland last weekend.  It was their first visit and they had a fun time.  It sounds like they will go back, next time with Hudson too. 

Wordless Wednesday