Monday, October 31, 2011

31 for 21: Chocolate Chip Pancake Muffins


I know I already did a post for today, but I wanted to do 2 in one day because of the first day that I didn't post a recipe - so here's the 31st recipe!

Well, here is the last post for October. I hope you enjoyed all the recipes, and to end it here is another great recipe that my oldest sister made. I'll post the pictures I took, and you can skip over to her blog for the recipe - Chocolate Chip Pancake Muffins.

Here are the links to the blogs of those in my family who did the challenge -
Life on the Ranch - my mom
Got Down Syndrome - my oldest sister
Good Goats - another sister of mine

Also, to see everyone else's blogs who did the challenge, go to Unringing the Bell.



Thanks for following along as we live out life with our blessing!! I hope you had a sweet ending to the month!

Goodnight,
~ Hanunyah



Sunday, October 30, 2011

31 for 21: Brown Sugar Spice Granola



Since being gone all day @ soccer, and not being sure what to post, I whipped this up for a couple of my siblings (who wanted granola anyway). Why not post it here?

This is a quick, nice and crunchy granola with caramelized brown sugar and spices.

~ Maybe something a bit more exciting tomorrow ;).

Brown Sugar Spice Granola
Hanunyah Creation

3 cups oats*
2 cups dried fruits and nuts (optional)
1/4 cup brown sugar**
1/4 cup oil
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ginger
2/3 cup raisins (If we don't have any on hand I make it without)


Combine al
l ingredients except raisins; mix well. Cook in ungreased 11x7-inch baking dish (or any large glass bowl, etc.) in microwave oven at HIGH 8 to 10 minutes or until light golden brown, stirring between 1 minute intervals of cooking; stir in raisins.
Conventional Oven Directions:

Combine all ingredients except raisins in ungreased 13x9-inch baking pan; mix well. Bake in preheated moderate oven (350 F.) 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown, stirring occasionally; stir in raisins. Cool thoroughly; store in tightly covered container in cool dry place or in refrigerator.

Notes:
*Be sure to use gluten-free oats.
**You may find that 1/4 cup of brown sugar is too sweet. Cut back as desired.



~ Hanunyah


31 for 21: Red Velvet Cake



Red Velvet cake is a common cake that "is usually prepared as a layer cake with either a vanilla or chocolate flavor, topped with a creamy white icing or a cookie dough filling."


Usually when one thinks of a "Red Velvet Cake", it is common to think of the dark or bright red color. I did some research on red velvet cake history, and here is what I came up with - thanks to wikipedia.

"The reddish-brown color of the cake originally was from a reaction of the cocoa powder with an acidic ingredient such as buttermilk, however red food coloring is often added especially if the cake does not contain chocolate.
James Beard's 1972 reference American Cookery[2] describes three red velvet cakes varying in the amounts of shortening and butter. All use red food coloring, but the reaction of acidic vinegar and buttermilk tends to better reveal the red anthocyanin in the cocoa. Before more alkaline "Dutch Processed" cocoa was widely available, the red color would have been more pronounced. This natural tinting may have been the source for the name "Red Velvet" as well as "Devil's Food" and similar names for chocolate cakes.[3][1] While foods were rationed during World War II, bakers used boiled beets to enhance the color of their cakes. Boiled grated beets or beet baby food are found in some red velvet cake recipes, where they also serve to retain moisture."

So, red food color was originally not in red velvet cake. Here is my allergy-free, delicious version of this classic without the bottle artificial color.


Red Velvet Cake (Gluten, Dairy and Corn-free)
Adapted from Cake and Cookie Yahoo group

1 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon vinegar
1/2 cup lard shortening
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups rice or other gluten-free flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cocoa powder
1 cup buttermilk*
1 teaspoon vanilla
Frosting:
1 cup milk
1/4 cup rice or other gluten-free flour
1 1/4 cups sugar
3/4 cup lard or shortening
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 2 round 9 inch baking pans (I used one 11 inch round). Add vinegar to baking soda; set aside.

2. Cream together the lard and sugar. Add eggs and beat. Add remaining ingredients. Mix well.

3. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until set and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

4. Frosting: Combine milk and flour in a saucepan. Stirring constantly, cook at medium-high heat until very thick (like a white bechamel sauce). Set aside. Cream sugar and lard until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and cream sauce. Beat until icing becomes thick and fluffy. Frost cake.

Notes:
*To make buttermilk - put 1 tablespoon vinegar in a 1 cup measuring cup. Fill the cup with goat or non-dairy milk. Set aside for a few minutes before using.
You may add red food color, if a darker red color is desired.



I quickly went outside to take a picture, as the sun was leaving fast.
I saw this straw bale and took pictures. 


~ Hanunyah


Linked to Gluten-Free Wednesdays (by The Gluten-Free Homemaker)



Saturday, October 29, 2011

31 for 21: Pumpkin Carrot Spice Muffins with Orange Glaze

In the midst of the dew . . . 

These muffins, made with pumpkin, carrots and orange juice, have a tint of orange color. Tender, moist, fluffy spice muffins hide below a crunchy topping and fresh orange-brown sugar glaze - these were a first-time success of my creations the other night.

Carefully look - you can see the just-milked goats and my sister who just told me these muffins were yummy.

Looking for a great breakfast treat? ~ 



Pumpkin Carrot Spice Muffins with Orange Glaze (Gluten, Dairy, Corn-free)
Hanunyah Creation

1 cup carrots, boiled and pureed
1 cup pumpkin, boiled and pureed
1/2 cup oil
2 eggs
1 cup brown sugar*
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 1/2 teaspoons each: baking soda, cream of tartar
1 tablespoon flaxseed meal
1/2 cup rice flour
2 cups oat flour

Crunchy Brown Sugar Topping:
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon flaxseed meal
1 tablespoon oats
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Orange Glaze (optional):
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
1/2 teaspoon orange extract (optional)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease muffin pans**. Combine all topping ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside.

2. Beat the carrot, pumpkin, oil, eggs and sugar. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well.

3. Spoon into prepared muffin pans about 1/2 to 3/4 full. Sprinkle topping over the muffin batter in the pan. Bake in preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the topping is crunchy and medium-brown.

4. Combine all glaze ingredients in a jar. Shake well and drizzle a little on the cooled muffins.

Notes:
*I may cut back on the sugar in the muffins next time because of the topping and glaze that are both sweet.
**This recipe makes about 18 muffins.

Orange-brown sugar glaze



~ Hanunyah


Linked to Gluten-Free Wednesdays (by The Gluten-Free Homemaker) and Home and Family Friday by Home is Where My Story Begins



Friday, October 28, 2011

31 for 21: Disguised {Carrot} Fudge Brownies

Gooey carrot brownies standing in the morning sunshine in front of the sheep awaiting breakfast.

It's pretty common to use apple sauce instead of oil, but who would think to use carrots in brownies?

I boiled and pureed carrots and used them for most of the oil in brownies. Although most of the pan is gone the morning after I made them, most of my siblings still don't know that the brownies were made with carrots. They didn't even question it. So..........I guess they just taste like brownies! They're pretty fudge-y, too, although crumbly because made with oat flour and no gums.


~ Another great way to hide veggies ;).

Disguised {Carrot} Fudge Brownies (Gluten, Dairy, Corn-free)
Hanunyah Creation (Adapted from my brain)


3/4 cup carrots, boiled and pureed
1/4 cup oil
3 eggs
1/2 cup cocoa, dark*
1 1/2 cups sugar**
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/3 cup gluten-free flour***
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x13 inch pan.

2. Beat the carrots, oil, eggs, cocoa, sugar and vanilla. Add the flour and soda. Mix well.

3. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until when a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.

Notes:
*Dark cocoa worked well for me, but you may use other cocoa. If you use regular cocoa, you may need to use 3/4 to 1 cup instead of 1/2 cup.
**I used 1/2 cup brown, 1 cup white sugar.
***I used oat flour, but you may use your favorite gluten-free flour or flour blend.


~ Hanunyah


Thursday, October 27, 2011

31 for 21: Pumpkin Marshmallows

I thought the mossy pile of wood just fit the jars of these rustic marshmallows . . . .



Pumpkin everything!

This recipe, too, was in my "to try" pile for too long, when I made it today. You may think marshmallows are complicated and hard to make, but no. Once you make them once, you realize it's not hard and you get the hang of it.


Here is what is good about these marshmallows:

  • They are free of corn syrup, cream of tartar (because we are out, and I thought "how could marshmallows crystallize?"), eggs (no beating egg whites!), gums, dairy, nuts, and of course, gluten.
  • Easy to make.
  • Taste great! Light and fluffy.


Pumpkin Marshmallows (Gluten, Dairy, Corn, Egg-free)
Adapted from AllRecipes.com

1/2 cup water, cold
3 (.25 ounce) unflavored gelatin

2 1/2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup water

1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon allspice
orange food coloring (optional)

1/4 cup cocoa powder*
1/4 cup arrowroot powder
1/4 cup corn-free powdered sugar*



1. Uniformly grease a 9x13 inch pan. Combine the pumpkin puree, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice. Set aside.

2. Pour the 1/2 cup cold water into the bowl of a stand mixer and sprinkle the gelatin on top; set aside for 8 to 10 minutes. Meanwhile, combine the sugar and water in a saucepan. Stirring constantly, bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Continue to cook, without stirring, until mixture reaches 250 degrees F on a candy thermometer, or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms a rigid ball.

3. Attach the mixing bowl to the stand mixer with the wire whip attachment and start the mixer on low speed. Carefully and slowly pour the boiling sugar syrup in a steady stream over the gelatin mixture. Increase the mixer to medium-high speed and mix until stiff, shiny, and white in color, about 5 to 12 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl occasionally using a rubber spatula.

4. With the mixture on low speed, fold in the pumpkin mixture until combined. Add food coloring, if desired. Turn up the speed to medium-high and beat about 3 minutes longer. When done, the mixture should form a more-or-less continuous ribbon off the spatula into the bowl.

4. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan in an even depth. Let the mixture set at room temperature for at least 8 hours or overnight.

5. Sift the cocoa powder, cornstarch, and confectioners' sugar into a pie plate. When the marshmallows have set, turn them onto a work surface and cut them into squares or shapes as desired. Roll each marshmallow in the cocoa mixture to coat all sides (reserve the cocoa mixture for re-dredging if needed). Marshmallows are best served fresh, but they can be stored in an airtight container (unrefrigerated) for about a week or in the freezer for a month. If you store the marshmallows, re-roll them in the cocoa mixture before serving.


Notes:
*The cocoa is optional if you use the powdered sugar. I did half of mine in the cocoa, sugar and starch mixture, and half in the starch/sugar mixture. They both turned out great, it just depends on what you like - some people like the little extra flavor touch the cocoa gives, while others don't like the darkness of the cocoa.







~ Hanunyah


Linked to Gluten-Free Wednesdays (by The Gluten-Free Homemaker) and Tasty Tuesdays (by Beauty and Bedlam)


Wednesday, October 26, 2011

31 for 21: Ginger Anise Cake


Spicy, interesting. My mom and one of my sisters told me it was really good.

Just something to do with fresh anise . . . Oh, and it doesn't have rice flour, since the 150 pounds (what?) we had are almost gone....... :-o

I made an Anise Vanilla syrup to go over it, but I used lard in it - ruined it. Well, not really ruined but it made small chunks of lard once it got cold. I've included the recipe with out the lard below.

Ginger Anise Cake (Gluten, Dairy, Corn-free)
Hanunyah Creation


1 cup oat flour
1/2 cup buckwheat flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon each: baking soda and cream of tartar
3/4 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
1/4 cup oil
3/4 cup water (I used the water that boiled the anise)
1/2 cup anise, boiled and pureed


Glaze (optional):
1/4 cup anise
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla


1. Combine all cake ingredients in a large bowl. Pour into a greased square or round 8 inch baking pan.

2. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

3. For the frosting: combine all ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil. Boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat, cool and pour on cake.


~ Hanunyah


Tuesday, October 25, 2011

31 for 21: Baked Oatmeal


Something we've made for years, baked oatmeal is a quick, delicious treat that is often made around here. It is great for breakfast or snack (or dinner!).


Baked Oatmeal (Gluten, Cow Dairy and Corn-free)



3 cups oats

1 teaspoon each: baking soda, cream of tartar*
1 cup brown or white sugar
1 cup goat milk
1/2 cup oil
1 egg

Mix all together and bake in a 8x8 inch pan at 350 degrees F for 35 minutes to 1 hour, or until golden brown on top. (baking time depends on size and shape of pan used).

Notes:
*Or 2 teaspoons baking powder for the baking soda and cream of tartar.
If gluten-free, be sure to use gluten-free oats.
We usually double or quadruple this recipe.




~ Hanunyah

Link Parties:
Gluten-Free Wednesdays @ The Gluten-Free Homemaker
Home and Family Friday @ Home is Where My Story Begins
Food on Friday @ Carole's Chatter




Monday, October 24, 2011

31 for 21: Citrus Fruit Bread


This is a favorite of my family - it is very moist, tender and flavorful.

Citrus Fruit Bread (Gluten and Dairy)
Adapted from AllRecipes.com


2 cups rice flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder*
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon grated orange zest, (optional)
1 1/2 cups fresh fruit (hint: cranberries)
1/4 cup lard or oil
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
3/4 cup citrus juice (hint: orange)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan. Whisk together flour, baking powder and baking soda. Stir in orange zest and fruit. Set aside.

2. In a large bowl, cream together lard, sugar, and egg until smooth. Stir in orange juice. Beat in flour mixture until just moistened. (DO NOT over-beat). Pour into prepared pan.

3. Bake for about 45 minutes in the preheated oven, or until when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.



Notes:
*With baking soda and cream of tartar this fell, but with baking powder it didn't as much. You may use that substitute (1/2 baking soda, 1/2 cream of tartar) to make it corn-free - it may fall, but it still tastes the same ;).
This could use some gums or some kind of binder because it's quite crumbly.
To make orange cranberry bread, use orange juice for the juice and cranberries for the fruit.




I think I made this one with peaches and grapefruit or lime juice




~ Hanunyah



Sunday, October 23, 2011

31 for 21: Apple Cobbler


When one of my brothers tasted some apple cobbler somebody else made a few days ago, he said I should make some. So I got a recipe, changed it A LOT, and . . . . .




Apple Cobbler
Adapted from Land O'Lakes


4 apples, peeled, cored, thinly sliced
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon


1/2 cup oat flour
1/2 cup oats
1/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon each: baking soda, cream of tartar
1/3 cup oil


1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Place sliced apples in a 8x8-inch baking pan. Stir together 1/3 cup sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon in small bowl; sprinkle over apples. 

2. Combine remaining cinnamon, flour, sugar, eggs, soda, cream of tartar and oil in large bowl. Drop over apples. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until lightly browned and apples are tender.



Notes:
This is a small recipe because we only had a few apples, but I'd probably double it if I make it again.




~ Hanunyah


new design + name

As of 1-3-12: I've re-named my blog name (which used to be "Hanunyah's Sweet Creations") to "Ranch Girl's Sweets 'N' Treats". "Sweet Creations" is a pretty common name, so I figured I'd change it to something a little different ;). My URL is still the same, though.

Also, a big thanks goes to my older sister (@ CountryGirlWebDesign.com) who has re-designed my blog and fixed-up all of the HTML. So, I hope you enjoy the new layout!