Making dinner healthier, one slow cooker at a time.
My friend Gail Davis from So Delicious reminded me that today is oatmeal day. I can’t believe it almost past me by!
Since we’re so close to Halloween I selected 13 of my favorites for you to warm up with. So stay toasty and dry, and eat your oatmeal! [Read more...]
One of the recipes I get asked for the most is a simple version of a pumpkin spice frozen coffee. It seems to have a cult following. But believe it or not the pumpkin spice syrup at your local coffee chain just may contain dairy and the one at you-know-who’s definitely does. So one reason to make this yourself is if you are vegan or have a dairy allergy. The other is this isn’t made with an artificially flavored syrup but real good-for-you sweet potato (or pumpkin). No pumpkin on hand? Use sweet potato instead for a spicy twist on your morning wake up drink! to recipe →
I originally made this as a Valentine cocoa, but romance shouldn’t be limited to just one day. Surprise your someone special with the yummy dessert cocoa. The lavender and rose flavors blend together to form its own taste that’s not as floral as you think.
I used lavender extract which I got at Savory Spice Shop, but if you can’t find any you could fill a muslin tea bag or tea ball with 1 to 2 teaspoons of culinary lavender and add this at the beginning of cooking. This will infuse the milk with a great lavender flavor too.
I do use real sugar in this recipe, because it helps to thicken it up. The longer you cook it the thicker it will be. You can substitute stevia or agave, but the hot chocolate will be thinner.
Slow Cooker Lavender Rose Cocoa
soy-free, gluten-free
Serves 2 to 3
**Uses a 1 1/2 to 2 quart slow cooker**
Add all the ingredients and cook on low for 2 to 3 hours or on high for 1 to 1 1/2 hour.
Stir once or twice during this time with a whisk to help the chocolate mix in well. Whisk a final time and serve.
I’ve been on a donut kick this weekend and this is the batch that got me started. I wanted a sweet treat with little or no white sugar and low-fat as well. Not always an easy feat. I’m not giving up white sugar altogether, but I would like to be able to use stevia instead whenever I want to.
The chocolate glaze is made with grain-sweetened chocolate chips with almond extract, coconut milk, and a touch of agave nectar. These chips may not be gluten-free, so feel free to substitute the ones you have on hand.
The base of the donut is whole wheat pastry flour and almond meal. It’s sweetened with a combination of stevia and agave. You can make them gluten-free by subbing your favorite gluten-free flour mix.
Don’t have a fancy shmancy donut pan? Use a mini muffin pan instead. Don’t want to make a glaze? These are great all by themselves too!
Baked Almond Donuts with Chocolate Glaze
soy-free
makes 12 mini donuts
wet ingredients:
dry ingredients:
Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix the wet ingredients in one bowl and the dry in another. Spray your mini donut pan with a little oil so they will be easier to get out.
Then add the dry ingredients into the wet and mix just until it’s mixed. Divide the batter between the 12 donut molds. Bake in pre-heated oven for 10 minutes.
Let them cool for 5 to 10 minutes, then carefully remove. If you don’t wait they will stick and break in half, so be warned!
glaze ingredients:
Melt the chocolate (on the stove or in the microwave). Add the other ingredients and mix thoroughly. Dip cooled donuts into the glaze.
I had The Market‘s Mint White Russian the other night. (It was one of two creamy vegan drinks on their menu!) They used homemade Kahlua and mint infused vodka. If you live in the triangle you must give them a try.
I was hesitant about the coffee mint combo but I was won over. It was so good that I wanted one again. I didn’t have any mint vodka ready to go, but I decided this warm minty drink would fill in just fine.
If you don’t have mint extract you can add a mint herbal tea bag in the beginning. You could also use semi-sweet chocolate instead unsweetened, just adjust the sweetener.
Hate coffee flavors? Try substituting Grand Mariner for an orange mint twist.
Slow Cooker Tipsy Mint-Coffee Cocoa
**Uses a 1 1/2 to 2 quart slow cooker**
Serves 2 to 3
Add the coconut milk, baking chocolate, and mint extract and cook on low for 2 to 3 hours. Whisk then add Kahlua and sweetener. Whisk again and serve.
Sometimes you need a treat. A soothing, winter treat that can warm you up. That would be me last night. It’s finally feeling like winter and it’s all too easy to get the blahs. I’m making a warm slow cooker drink or dessert every night to keep my spirits up. Feel free to use natural flavored extracts, zest, or juice in this recipe if you don’t imbibe.
This modified toddy has a Sugar Cookie tea base that has roasted barley and vanilla. The barley makes it not gluten-free. Almond Sunset would be my next choice, but they don’t make it anymore.
You could also use a vanilla or almond tea as your base instead. I like that Celestial Seasonings Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride Tea is caffeine free which is a requirement of mine for a night drink.
Just throw this together right before you serve dinner, and your “dessert” will be ready when you are. This is great to make for a dinner party, just tripe the recipe and use a 4 to 5 quart slow cooker.
Slow Cooker Sugar Cookie Hot Toddy for 2
**Uses a 1 1/2 to 2 quart slow cooker**
Serves 2 (double or triple as needed)
Place the teabags, water, and non-dairy milk in the slow cooker. Cook on high for about 1 to 2 hours or until hot. (You could also cook on low for about 3 hours.)
Just before serving add liquors and sweetener.
If you prefer a stronger drink you can double the amount of alcohol called for or add a shot of vanilla vodka.
For those of you not familiar with Southern food this is my (vegan) version of Shrimp and Grits. Traditionally it’s base is a spicy tomato based sauce with bell peppers. I’ve used chickpeas because they don’t break down as much as pinto beans or the like.
Of course there’s bacon in the original version, and doubly of course I have liquid smoke in my version. Big shock, right?
The spiciness often comes from Tabasco, but I like to add chipotle for its smoky notes as well as its heat. You can use either or both depending on your favorite taste.
I serve this over a big portion of grits. It’s a very filling dish and perfect for cold, winter nights. Feel free to add a heaping serving of veggies on the side to make it a well-rounded meal.
Originally I used Muir Glen diced tomatoes with chipotles already added in. Since then, it looks like they have been discontinued. But if you have a can or two of them in your pantry this is a great way to use them up.
Make sure to check out the Wellness Weekend over at Diet, Dessert and Dogs. This recipe is linked there and many more.
Slow Cooker Spicy Southern Chickpeas and Grits
soy-free, gluten-free (make sure the grits are labeled gluten-free!)
Makes 3 to 4 servings (when served over a pile of grits)
**This recipe uses a smaller slow cooker 1 1/2 to 2 quarts – you can double the recipe and use a 3 1/2 to 4 quart slow cooker
The night before: Chop bell pepper, minced garlic and store in fridge.
In the morning: Add all ingredients, except for the salt and pepper, to the slow cooker and cook on low for 6 to 9 hours.
Before serving: Taste, add salt and pepper, then re-season to your liking. You may need to add more liquid smoke or chipotle.
Serve over slow cooker grits – recipe below:
I make a double batch of grits in a larger slow cooker. The first time I made this I had more beans than grits and that didn’t work as well. Also this way you can add in a few people if someone happens to drop by around dinner time.
Slow Cooker Grits
Use a 3 1/2 to 4 quart slow cooker for the grits.
I love orange flower water and once I got my hands on a bottle I was hooked. It has a very delicate, sweet, floral fragrance and a delicious taste when used sparingly. If you use too much you’ll feel like you’re eating perfume.
If you can get to a Middle Eastern Store it’s surprisingly cheap, so get yours there if you can. You can always order it online if you don’t live in the city. You can make your own if you have orange trees that aren’t sprayed. I live in North Carolina, so no orange trees for me.
** Make sure to check out my other oatmeal recipes. I have over 50 different flavors!
Slow Cooker Orange Fig Pecan Oatmeal
soy-free and gluten-free
2 to 3 servings
**This recipe uses a smaller slow cooker 1 1/2 to 2 quarts
The night before: Spray your crock with some oil to help with clean up later. Add the oats, milk, figs, and orange extract. Cook on low over night (7 to 9 hours).
In the morning: Stir your oatmeal well and add orange flower water and sweetener. It may seem watery at the top but if stirred it should be a more uniform consistency. Top with the chopped pecans.
This is a Monday that I’m just not prepared for. I’ve been taking things out of cabinets, cleaning and re-organizing the kitchen all weekend. That sounds great right? I’m probably just tired but should think of that feeling of accomplishment. Except – I’m still not done and my kitchen is a little wreaked.
I hate not completing things. I hope I will get back to it this weekend, but during the week I have too many deadlines to meet.
So, I declare this oatmeal the one that will make me forget about that. The one that will soothe my soul with sweet pears and lure my senses away from my obsessiveness with the fragrances of rosewater and cardamom. The slight almond flavor will ground me so that I can start my week off just right.
Have an amazing Monday everyone!
** Make sure to check out my other oatmeal recipes. I have over 50 different flavors!
Slow Cooker Pear Rose Cardamom Cake Oatmeal
soy-free and gluten-free
2 to 3 servings
**This recipe uses a smaller slow cooker 1 1/2 to 2 quarts
The night before: Spray your crock with some oil to help with clean up later. Add all the ingredients except the sweetener. Cook on low over night (7 to 9 hours).
In the morning: Stir your oatmeal well and add sweetener. It may seem watery at the top but if stirred it should be a more uniform consistency.
I think there’s something about the cooler, rainy weather, as well as the orange and red leaves that makes me crave the butterscotch-y flavor of blondies.
There’s nothing wrong with brownies, but there’s so much more you can do with blondies. They are the blank check of the dessert world in my opinion. You can go with fruits, nuts, chocolate chips and even add in oatmeal.
Of course, oatmeal that tastes like blondies is just as good in my book. The maple extract with the pecans gives it the unexpected flavor combination that allows you to fool your brain into thinking you’re having a blondie for breakfast. Yum!
Please vote for me in the Aetna Healthy Food Fight, so I can go to Atlanta and make my vegan jambalaya for the preliminary contest. It would be great to have a vegan showing there!
** Make sure to check out my other oatmeal recipes. I have over 40 different flavors!
Slow Cooker Apple Pecan Blondie Oatmeal
soy-free and gluten-free
2 to 3 servings
**This recipe uses a smaller slow cooker 1 1/2 to 2 quarts
The night before: Spray your crock with some oil to help with clean up later. Add all the ingredients except the sweetener and nuts. Cook on low over night (7 to 9 hours).
In the morning: Stir your oatmeal well and add sweetener. It may seem watery at the top but if stirred it should be a more uniform consistency. Top with chopped pecans.
Giveaway ends May 31, 2013.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
