Homemaker Gone Natural

…live life naturally!


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Banana Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Looking for a flour-less, egg-less, sugar-less dessert? Well, here it is!

     Banana Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

  • 3 ripe bananas, mashed
  • 1/3 c apple sauce
  • 2 c oats
  • 1/4 c almond milk
  • 1/2 c raisins
  • 1 t vanilla extract
  • 1 t cinnamon

Combine all ingredients.  Spoon onto greased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350º for 15-20 min.


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Homemade Whole Wheat Biscuits

For some recipes, I like to use a “Quick Mix Baking Mix“.  It is basically a natural eating alternative to those boxed biscuit mixes you find in the stores.

     Homemade Whole Wheat Biscuits

Stir together ingredients until dough forms together.  Place on floured surface and roll out.  Cut biscuits with cutter or cup.  Place on buttered cookie sheet and bake at 450º for 10-12 min.  Makes approx. 12 biscuits.

I did accidentally rolled mine a wee bit too thin lol 🙂


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Quick Mix Baking Mix

I have used Laura from Heavenly Homemaker’s idea for mixing up a “Quick Mix” for use in different things while baking.  This has saved me a lot of time.

     Quick Mix Baking Mix

  • 10 c whole wheat flour (I milled a mix of hard red, hard white and soft white)
  • 1/2  c baking powder
  • 1/4 c sucanat (whole cane sugar)
  • 2 t sea salt
  • 2 c butter (I use real, organic, butter from grass-fed beef)

In a large mixing bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, sucanat and salt. Cut in butter until the mix looks like fine crumbs.  Store in air tight container in freezer.

Some uses for the Quick Mix Baking Mix:

Mini Chicken Pot Pies

Whole Wheat Biscuits

Sausage & Egg Puff

Seasoned Sausage Balls


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Calico Beans

     Calico Beans

  • 1 lb ground beef (I use grass fed)
  • 12 oz BACON! (I love bacon)
  • 1 med chopped onion
  • 1/4 c sucanat (Whole Cane Sugar)
  • 1 T prepared mustard (I use Annie’s organic)
  • 2-15oz cans of baked beans (I use Walnut Acres Organic)
  • 1-15oz can of Kidney beans (I use Eden Organic)
  • 3/4 c my Barbecue Sauce
  • 1 t sea salt

Fry up the bacon, ground beef and onion in a large skillet.  Drain. Mix with the rest of ingredients.  Stir well.  Pour into a covered casserole dish and bake at 350º for 55-60 min.

 


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Strawberry-Banana Oatmeal Smoothie

So I have been seeing a lot of neat recipes floating around on facebook lately and you know me, I HAVE to try it at least once if it looks good and isn’t too dependent on processed foods.  So here is my:

     Strawberry-Banana Oatmeal Smoothie

  • 1/4 c uncooked old fashioned rolled oats
  • 1 1/2 t dried chia seeds
  • 3/4 c almond milk
  • 1/4 c orange juice (I used pineapple juice in this picture b/c SOMEBODY drank the oj)
  • 1/4 c yogurt (I use organic, hormone, anti-biotic free)
  • 1/2 c fresh sliced strawberries
  • 1/2 c fresh sliced bananas
  • 1/2 t vanilla extract
  • 2 t honey (I use local/raw)

In blender add your oats and chia seeds. Blend on high until texture of flour.  Add milk and juice to blender and blend well making sure to get the oats and chia up into the mixture with a spoon or spatula.  Add yogurt and blend.  Add strawberries and bananas, then blend.  Add vanilla and honey and blend on high until desired smoothness is obtained.  Transfer into jar and refrigerate overnight.  Will keep in fridge for 2-3 days. Shake before drinking.


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Applesauce Bread

I originally found the recipe for this bread here.  I made a few adjustments, but either recipe is really good!

     Applesauce Bread

  • 3 1/2 c fresh milled flour (I used hard red)
  • 2 1/2 t cinnamon
  • 1 t baking powder
  • 1 t baking soda (I use aluminum free)
  • 1/2 t sea salt
  • 1/2 t nutmeg
  • 2/3 c honey (I use raw/local)
  • 1 1/3 c applesauce (organic)
  • 4 eggs (free range)
  • 1 stick butter, melted (grass fed)

Mix dry ingredients in a mixing bowl, make a pit in center, add rest of ingredients, mix well, pour into a buttered bread pan. Bake at 350º for 45-55 min. or until toothpick comes out clean.

OR you can make this version, which is more applesauce(y) and has more cinnamon and no nutmeg:

  • 3 1/2 c fresh milled flour (I used hard red)
  • 1 T cinnamon
  • 1 t baking powder
  • 1 t baking soda (I use aluminum free)
  • 1/2 t sea salt
  • 2/3 c honey (I use raw/local)
  • 2 2/3 c applesauce (organic)
  • 2 eggs (free range)
  • 1 stick butter, melted (grass fed)

This yields an even more moist loaf 😉


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Blackberry-Sage Antioxidant Water

I have seen all these really cool drink ideas and I was like…. I … want….to …..go…. to…. there….!!!!  Sorry, television program reference.  Anyway, this is my take on making these drinks; since they are super healthy and I want them to be available to my kids whenever they are thirsty for ‘more than water’ I bought a 3 gallon drink dispenser to sit on the counter.  This way they can have one of these super healthy ‘waters’ whenever they want and it’s super convenient for them.   I put the jug in the fridge at night and out on the counter during the day.  There is a nifty little core in the middle that you keep filled with ice to keep your drink cold.  Our first one:

     Blackberry-Sage Antioxidant Water

  • 10 cups water
  • 1 cup blackberries, lightly crushed
  • 3-4 sage leaves

Combine ingredients.  Sit in fridge over night, can keep adding water as it gets low and drink out of it for the next 48 hours.  Then discard fruit and leaves and start over.  I made this recipe x3 for my family.

PS-That handsome fellow in the background is my youngest cutting up our zucchini for dinner.


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Parmesan Crusted Zucchini

Parmesan Crusted Zucchini

  • 2 med sized zucchini
  • 2 T extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 t salt
  • 1/4 c panko (I know, I know, but I had it and waste not.. right?)
  • 1/4 c parmesan (I used grated)
  • pepper to taste

 

 

Cut zucchini into 1/4 inch slices.  Toss with oil.  In separate bowl combine pepper, salt, panko and parmesan.  Pat each side of zucchini into panko mixture.  Lay zucchini slices out flat on a greased cookie sheet and bake at 400º for 25 min.

 


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Breakfast Cake Muffins

I hade been making this recipe for Breakfast Cake quite some time now, so I was very excited to try this recipe for Breakfast Cake Muffins when she came out with it. I usually use the ENTIRE bag of chocolate chips though not the 1/2 cup she calls for 🙂

Breakfast Cake Muffins

  • 2 c whole wheat flour (I milled hard white)
  • 2 c whole rolled oats
  • 1 t sea salt
  • 1 t baking soda
  • 1 c butter, melted
  • 3/4 c milk or buttermilk (me: almond milk)
  • 3/4 c honey (me: raw, local)
  • 2 eggs (me: free range)
  • 1 t vanilla
  • 1 bag of Chocolate Chips (I usually use enjoy life)

Stir together flour, oats, salt and baking soda. Add butter, milk, honey, eggs and vanilla. Fold in chocolate chips. Spoon batter into 12 buttered muffin tins. Bake at 350 in the oven for 20-25 min.


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Pulled Pork

Pulled Pork w/ Homemade BBQ Sauce

  • Pork Shoulder or Large Roast (whichever your prefer)
  • My Homemade BBQ Sauce x3
  • Seasonings to your taste preference: Onion powder, Garlic powder, Chili powder, Black Pepper, Salt, Turmeric, Cumin
  • 1 1/2 c water

 

Cook your pork in a crock pot with the seasonings.  Add water and cook on high for 2 hours and low for 3, or until pork is tender and falls apart easy.  Remove pork and sit aside, dump out the juices from cooking the pork.  Pull the pork apart and return to crock pot.  Add Homemade BBQ Recipe x3.  Stir and cook on low in crock pot for 30 min.