- In Search of the Perfect Muffin -
30 Sep 2011 2 Comments
in Cooking, Garden Fruits, Living Healthy Tags: Apricot and Date Muffins, dr. oz muffin, Low Fat muffin, morning muffin, san diego blog
Here is a diversion today from the garden into the kitchen. I have been in search of the perfect breakfast muffin and getting closer to finding one. I am posting this one today with a few diversions from the original Dr. Oz’s : Apricot Pecan Muffin. In a quest for a low-fat, low sugar, high fiber, good tasting muffin that borders closely as being a “plonk” or a “scone” this is the best I have come up with. Believe me, I have made some really bad scones and muffins lately. Now the trick will be to just eat one in the morning! This altered recipe came out great. Post a comment if you have some ideas to make it even better, or share a link of your favorite! Maybe my lovely blogger from Kate’s Short and Sweet can help me find a great Plonk/Muffin recipe…
THE CHANGES I MADE ARE IN RED BELOW NEXT TO THE ORIGINAL RECIPE….
Dr. Oz and Marjorie Johnson: Apricot Pecan Oatmeal Muffin Recipe
Ingredients:
1 cup quick cooking oats
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup all-purpose flour instead I used: * 1/2 Cup all-purpose flour & 1/2 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
1 tsp baking power
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup dried apricots, --instead: 1/4 Cup Chopped Dried Apricots and 1/4 Cup Dried Dates
1/2 cup chopped pecans — instead I used * UNSALTED CASHEW PIECES
1/3 cup canola oil (next time I will try using part apple sauce and part oil) stage #2 of revisions.
1 egg
1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed- instead I used a little less and topped the muffins before cooking them with Wheat Germ and Brown Sugar
Dr Oz & Marjorie Johnson Muffin Recipe
Directions:
1. Put the oats and buttermilk in a bowl. Stir well. Cover and let the bowl stand for 20-30 minutes to let the buttermilk soak into the oats completely.
2. In another large bowl, mix together the baking powder, baking soda, salt and flour.
3. Mix in the apricots and pecans. (any nut or dried fruit that you love)
4. Next, add the brown sugar, egg and oil into the oatmeal combination.
5. Add the oatmeal combination into the dry flour mixture.
6. Stir just to combine – do not over-stir! It is fine if it looks lumpy!
7. Pour the muffin batter into 12 well-greased muffin tins.
8. Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
9. Remove the muffins from their tray and let them cool on a rack.
- Apricot and Date Muffins
Apricot, Dates, Cashews and Whole Wheat Flour - seriously good! Did I mention the buttermilk?
YUMMY and HEALTHY! HAPPY GARDENING AND COOKING!
www.nadiaknows.com
…Baking Biscotti for the Holidays…
16 Dec 2010 Leave a Comment
in Cooking, Photography, Vegetable/ Herb Garden Tags: Biscotti, holiday gifts, nadia's san diego garden blog, Pimpinella anisum, Twice Baked Cookies
Anise and Eggs/ Biscotti
♥Biscotti cookies are also known as “twice baked cookies” or ‘Italian Fruit Cookies‘ in Italian cook books. This is the perfect not so sweet cookie to eat with coffee or tea. Each year I try new recipes by adding different nuts, dried fruits and flavoring to the batter. Printed below is a biscotti recipe I have used for years that I found in a 1972 Sunset Italian Cookbook purchased at a used bookstore. My favorite part about this specific recipe is that is contains the sweet and aromatic flavor of Anise. Anise, Pimpinella anisum from the Apiaceae family is a flowering annual herbaceous plant native to Eastern Mediterranean region with the flavor of liquorice or fennel.
Recipe: "Sunset Italian Cook Book 1972" Biscotti, Twice Baked, or Italian Fruit Cookies. Different names same cookie.
Biscotti Dough is thick and heavy which makes it easy to shape into logs for cooking.
Forming Biscotti into logs before baking
Remove Biscotti from oven after 30 minutes and cut diagonal slices about 1/2" thick. Re-Bake for 16-18 minutes.
Dip or spread melted chocolate on biscotti and allow to cool. Bag these up for a great holiday gift!
Thank you for visiting my blog today!
www.nadiaknows.com
♥ Merry Christmas ♥
“Not from the Garden”- Peanut Butter Cookies
12 Dec 2010 Leave a Comment
in Cooking Tags: baked gifts, nadia's san diego garden blog, peanut butter cookies
Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies
Peanut Butter cookies may not be from my garden, but these old-fashioned cookies are still my favorite. Pack them in a large jar, cellophane, or a cute holiday box…these cookies are simply the best. Below are cookies I just made and mailed off as a care package, the recipient LOVED them!
Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe (Better Homes and Gardens ‘Original’)
Peanut Butter Cookies with Fork Prints ) Possibly the best Christmas gift of the year!
INGREDIENTS
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1 egg
- 1 1/4 cup flour
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
METHOD
* Stir together flour, soda, salt. Mix and beat butter, add peanut butter and sugars; beat until fluffy. Add egg and vanilla, beat well. Add dry ingredients to beaten mixture, beat until well combined. Shape dough into 1 inch balls and roll in granulated sugar. Place 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet, use a fork to make the criss-cross pattern on top. Bake 375 for 10 minutes. Makes 48 cookies.
* For an extra fancy touch dip half the cookie in melted chocolate.
Thank you for visiting my garden blog: www.nadiaknows.com
*HOLIDAY GARDEN GIFT IDEAS *
03 Dec 2010 8 Comments
in Cooking, Flowers, Garden Design, Garden Projects, Living Healthy, Succulents, Vegetable/ Herb Garden Tags: holiday garden gifts, making garden gifts, nadia's san diego garden blog, potted succulent gifts
There is still plenty of time to make or arrange some easy garden gifts for the holidays. Get creative with supplies by finding containers at resale and antique shops, it will add a nostalgic touch without breaking the bank. Water wise plants make it easy on the ‘gift receiver’ who may not be a green thumb, water only once a week and place in a sun for 4-6 hours per day.
Creative container idea for planting succulents. Check out this Blog and Image from: www.faroutflora.com
Vintage Coffee Can Containers for succulents can be found on ebay at very reasonable prices.
Herb infused vinegar and oils.... Many recipes online. I made this one with Rosemary and Thyme in vinegar and olive oil. Make and Store in the refrigerator one week before gift giving.
Spray paint or hand paint wooden stakes, large rocks, bottles, cans, or pots for garden plant markers. Get creative!
Make magnets with glass rounds, glue, and garden photos from magazines or cards. Glue a magnet on the back when dry. I found these glass circles at 'Michael's' Craft store.
Garden Flower Magnet: I used printed card stock paper with a clear silicon glue from Home Depot.
*google image* painted rock garden markers. Too Cute!
For the kids in your life... how about some easy to grow seed packets with pots and small garden tools?
Tie up an assortment of seed packets and throw in a pair of gardening gloves and hand cream.
A whole basket of potted succulents and bamboo in small square containers with gift tags ready to give away.
Have you ever wanted to make a mosaic garden pot? I found a great “how to” video online that in just 2 minutes will show you all you need to create a piece of art. This would be a great project with kids. LINK: HOW TO MAKE A MOSAIC POT!
Google Image for "Mosaic Flower Pot" using glass rounds and small tile pieces.
Mosaic garden pot by: KadeeDesigns.com
WISHING YOU INSPIRATION TO MAKE SOME FUN GARDEN GIFTS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON (and hoping you can find some time too)
THANK YOU FOR VISITING MY GARDEN BLOG: WWW.NADIAKNOWS.COM
‘ALL I KNOW IS THAT CREATING AND GROWING KEEP ME INSPIRED”
Thyme
15 Oct 2010 Leave a Comment
in Cooking, Garden Design, Living Healthy, organic gardening, Vegetable/ Herb Garden Tags: landscaping with thyme, nadia's san diego garden blog, thyme in the garden, Thymus vulgaris
Growing Thyme: Thymus vulgaris
Thyme means ‘courage’ in Greek.
Thyme in the Herb Garden
* Thyme is an aromatic low growing woody plant that creates a carpet of green color with shades of purple, white and pink flowers.
* A member of the mint family with over one hundred varieties.
* An easy to grow perennial that needs well-drained soil. * A versatile fresh or dried herb.
* This herb grows very well in containers and also makes a wonderful landscaping plant.
Elfin Thyme used in landscaping between flagstone pavers.
* A native to western Mediterranean water wise and sun-loving.
* Harvest Thyme in the morning hours and before the plant starts to flower.
* Thyme is best dried by hang-drying upside down (this allows the oils to drain into the leaves).
* Use fresh sprigs of thyme for infusing vinegar and/or olive oil.
Thymus vulgaris used for landscaping my front walkway mixed with Elfin Thyme
Thank you for visiting my garden blog: www.nadiaknows.com
grow – create – be inspired
Garden Cupcakes
08 Oct 2010 4 Comments
in Cooking, Flowers, Photography Tags: chocolate cupcakes, cupcakes, nadia's san diego garden blog, Plumerias
Is there nothing more beautiful than homemade cupcakes surrounded by flowers?
Chocolate Ganache Cupcakes and Banana Coconut Cupcakes with Plumeria Flowers
October Vegetable Planting Guide- Southern California :)
02 Oct 2010 Leave a Comment
in Cooking, Garden Projects, Living Healthy, organic gardening, vegetable garden, Vegetable/ Herb Garden Tags: nadia's san diego garden blog, October planting Guide, organic gardening
It’s time to plant a Fall Garden!
I’ve planted several tomato plants that are supposed to produce in the early winter months, several heirloom carrots, radishes and peas together in my raised planter bed. I was excited to find a tomato hybrid called “San Francisco Fog’ which grows well in the morning fog and cloudy conditions.
San Francisco Fog Hybrid Tomato
Radishes are always very rewarding because they grow so quickly. I especially like these “Rainbow Radishes” from Renee’s Seeds for the beautiful color variety.
Rainbow Radish after one week.
Rainbow Radish Harvested
Carrots are always a winner in the garden with so many types to choose from. Pouring very hot water over the seeds and covering them with seed starter soil will help them to germinate and grow faster.
Heirloom Carrots grow year round in my garden
Here is a list of some easy to grow vegetables to plant this month in ground, raised or planter style gardens. Fall can be a favorite time to garden with the temperatures still warm enough to grow a variety of vegetables, but not too hot to enjoy tending a garden.
OCTOBER PLANTING GUIDE:
BEETS- Home grown are always best when it comes to flavor. The leaves from beets are an excellent source of calcium, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, sodium and have higher iron than spinach.
BROCCOLI- Check out this recipe for Cream of Broccoli soup!
CABBAGE- Try these open pollinated heirloom seeds from Victory Seeds.
CARROTS- Seed Tape is a great way to plant carrots… easy and simple. Carrots come in many shapes and colors, try them all.
COLLARDS- A must if you are from the south.
LETTUCE- Lettuce can be grown all year long, but grows the best in the cooler weather.
FAVAS – KALE – LEEKS – PARSLEY
RADISH- Try out Rainbow Radishes from Renee’s Seeds.
Spinach in the garden from Renee's Seeds
SPINACH- SWISS CHARD -WINTER ZUCCHINI
Growing Lettuce
San Marzano “Fresh Off the Vine” Tomato Sauce
29 Aug 2010 4 Comments
in Cooking, Garden Fruits, Garden Projects, Living Healthy, Vegetable/ Herb Garden Tags: nadia's san diego garden blog, organic cooking, organic tomatoes, san marzano sauce, summer garden cooking
♥ → ♥ SUMMER GARDEN COOKING ♥ ← ♥
Determinate tomatoes on the vine ripen all at one time which makes them ideal for a big batch harvest and cooking up some pasta sauce. I found several online recipes for San Marzano Pasta Sauce and combined them to create a custom sauce with lots of garlic and fresh basil. A photo journal below on how to make a simple tomato sauce and I admit this is my first time making pasta sauce completely from scratch.
Thank you for visiting my garden blog today: www.nadiaknows.com
Create – Enjoy – Have Fun!
Fresh off the vine San Marzano Tomatoes
After chopping up the tomatoes I added them to a low heat mixture of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and chopped Garlic.
Medium heat cooking for 10 minutes and then mash the semi- cooked tomatoes with a potato masher.
Sea Salt/Kosher Salt with Herb Blend added with Basil and Crushed Pepper to taste.
Blending with a hand blender right in the pot after 10 minutes of cooking.
All Done... Ready for eating or freezing. The final sauce has a nice bright orange-red color. Home-made sauce has a flavor that just cannot be replicated with store-bought... do you agree? I was amazed at the difference.
The Tomato Taste Test
23 Aug 2010 Leave a Comment
in Cooking, Garden Fruits, Garden Projects, Living Healthy, Vegetable/ Herb Garden Tags: nadia's san diego garden blog, organic tomatoes, tomato plants
This summer my garden is abundant with tomato variety and the dinner menu is in full test mode. Tonight we had the Italian Costoluto Genovese tomato served Caprese style with EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil), Balsamic Vinegar, Sea Salt, Basil and crushed Pepper. A perfect summer salad or appetizer.
photo credit: http://www.learninghowtocook.com
Looking for the perfect tomato plant? My pick is the Sungold Cherry (Hybrid) tomato which continues to produce thru the season, tastes super sweet and is very easy to grow in a pot, raised planter bed or ground level garden. This rewarding cherry tomato is beyond measure and one single plant can produce up to 1,000 tomatoes. A great tomato for salads and snacking.
Seeds started indoors this year under a grow light.
The Early Girl is everyone’s early season favorite with the first tomato to usually ripen before all others in the garden.
The San Marzano - Lycopersicon esculentum a 3-5″ tomato is the Italian Favorite for making pasta sauces and cooking. The San Marzano bears heavily and is a determinate tomato which means that the plant fruits and ripens about the same time creating a window of harvesting to be done all at once, hence the perfect tomato plant for making a lot of pasta sauce.
I also grew Rutgers Open-Pollinated/Determinate tomato. These are about 7 oz. and loaded with delicious flavor… we eat these in our salads. Pictured below.
There is a tomato for every desire and dish in the kitchen. I over planted this summer because I didn’t want to miss out on anything and decided on the jungle style of gardening design. Neighbors always benefit from an abundant garden and nothing has gone un-eaten.
Red and Yellow Pear Tomato
Each year I grow Yellow-Pear Tomatoes and that runs a close second to the Sungold Cherry. Next in line for ripening are my Snow White Cherry Tomatoes- this is a new one for my garden and I look forward to that taste testing in a few weeks.
Enjoy these last few months of summer gardening and I hope you will try a new plant before the summer heat dissipates!
Thank you for visiting my garden blog: www.nadiaknows.com
Create – Grow – Enjoy!
Left Basket: San Marzano --- Right Basket: Rutgers, Italian Costoluto Genovese with deep red-lobes and hidden underneath is "Crimson Carmello".
Clockwise from TOP: San Marzano, Sungold Cherry, Bottom = Fat Cherry Tomato, Top Left = Rutgers, Middle: Early Girl
Nothing From The Garden Brownies
05 Jul 2010 2 Comments
in Cooking Tags: 4th of july brownies, nadiaknows gardens, star brownies
Yummy 4th of July brownies did not have hidden grated zucchini or carrots in them so I could not call them “Garden Brownies” yesterday on our 4th of July BBQ. No flower toppings to decorate the tops either, but were frosted and decorated with a blue star and red sprinkles.
Sometimes deviation from the garden happens…
4th of July Brownies
