Pumpkin Loaves

I cook with whole wheat every day. Here is a favorite of my family. I often make this for breakfast as it is easy to whip together and is healthy!

3 1/2 to 4 cups whole wheat flour
2 1/4 cups honey
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1 can (15 ounce) pumpkin
1 cup Extra Light Olive Oil
4 eggs, slightly beaten
2/3 cup water

In a bowl, combine the first six ingredients. Comine the pumpking, oil, eggs and water; mix well. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir until combined. Divide evenly between two loaf pans that have been buttered. Place in a pre-heated oven of 350 for 45 minutes. Cover with foil and drop the temp to 325 for another 25 minutes or until knife stuck in the center comes out clean. Cool for about ten minutes before removing from loaf pan.

ENJOY!

Cheese Sauce for Brocolli

You may divide this recipe if you would like. I have a large family and this makes enough sauce to cover six large florets of broccoli. We love fresh vegetables and a healthy sauce to dress them up, makes for a great side dish!

Cheese Sauce for Broccoli

1/2 Stick of butter
1/2 cup of fresh ground flour
1 1/2 cup whipping cream or fresh cream from your cow
4 to 5 cups grated cheddar cheese

In a medium sauce pan, melt butter over a medium high heat. Slowly add the flour to create a thick paste. While still on the heat, slowly add cream...whisking the whole time. Once the sauces is smooth, add all of the cheese. Whisk until smooth. Taste to make sure you have enough cheese, if not, add more. Feel free to add Worcestershire sauce for added flavoring!

Add to broccoli or cauliflower or even mashed potatoes...and then let me know how you enjoyed this recipe.

Happy Cooking with Fresh Flour!

Homemade Granola!

Making homemade granola is so EASY and you will save a ton of money if you buy granola on a regular basis. And with today's economy, saving money is important! So how do you go about making your own granola? Use the following recipe and a little creativity and you are set!

Homemade Granola

If you are going to 'roll' your oats, go ahead and roll about 15 cups worth. If not, then make sure you have 15 cups of your favorite rolled oats.

1. Change your racks so you can do two or three trays at one time.

2. Preheat your oven to 300 degrees

3. Combine the following in a pot and warm until the oils and honey blend:

1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup Extra Light Olive Oil (EVOO) will impart too strong of a flavor for most people
1 1/4 cup honey, try and use raw if possible
2 tsp cinnomon, add extra if you really like this spice

4. Remove from heat and add 4 teaspoons vanilla, Pampered Chef Brand is best...whisk together

5. Add the following ingredients to a LARGE bowl

15 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup millet
1/2 flax seed

If you don't have millet or flax seed, no worries! Just add an extra cup of rolled oats.

6. Pour liquids over oats and blend well.

7. Divide evenly between two or three pans. I like 11 x 15, but you can use 9 x 13 if you would like, but make sure you don't use a cookie sheet as you will likely end up with a mess.

8. Bake for 15 minutes, then stir. Bake for another 10 to 15 minutes and cool. Add raisins or dried blueberries or anything else you like to make your granola extra special.

I store my granola in 1/2 gallon mason jars after it is completely cooled.

Enjoy and let me know how your granola turned out!