Go Nuts for Bronuts: Easiest Cinnamon Maple Bacon Pull Apart Donuts

This recipe idea came to me one evening while watching a television show, that I admittedly skipped while flipping channels at one time, but grew to love once I gave it a shot, Two Broke Girls. Once the idea hit, I set out with my trusty assistant and youngest, Bronwyn and we hit the lab!
This is a quick and easy recipe with major gratitude and flavor points.  The kids and I loved them and they are sure to be a requested favorite with your brood too.  These are donuts you can make and eat with your homies...Bronuts!
My favorite part about these puppies is that we used jumbo refrigerator biscuits and other on hand ingredients to achieve what's pictured above. There are several steps that can be spread amongst your help, so everyone can feel included, thus making this treat extra special and even more delicious!
I make slits to the center around the circumference of each biscuit, creating a pull apart donut effect, which was another perk to this simply fantastic sweet and savory treat!
I used a donut machine to bake these donuts, but you can make a hole and deep fry or bake them, the choice is yours.

Recipe:
1 can Jumbo Butter Biscuits, 8
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
2 tbsp. milk
1 tbsp. Cinnamon infused Maple Syrup
1 tsp. brown sugar
2 oz. cooked bacon crumbles
Directions:
Cook/Bake donuts according to desired cooking medium.  I used my fingers to make a small hole to fit onto donut machine. If you fry them, be sure to drain well on paper towels before attempting to glaze.
Meanwhile, combine cream cheese, milk, brown sugar and Maple syrup in a small bowl, until the cream cheese is the consistency of a nice thick, but spreadable glaze.
Dip donuts into glaze and garnish each donut with bacon crumbles, optional.
Makes 8 delicious biscuit donuts!

"BETTERTHANEVERIANS" Whole Roasted Cauliflower

 Bettertarians Movement 

A CONSCIOUS DECISION TO CHOOSE, EAT AND LIVE BETTER, FOR A BETTER LIFE

AND ULTIMATELY BETTER HEALTH, BY MAKING MICRO ADJUSTMENTS IN ALL AREAS THAT APPLY.  GOOD CHOICES LEAD TO BETTER LIVING, SO WE CAN ACHIEVE OUR BEST HEALTH:  PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY AND SPIRITUALLY.

Finally a 'label' that truly fits more of us than not; a chance to get the credit you deserve for the little things, that over time, can have big and lasting benefits.  Some examples include sometimes choosing wheat over white, organic over gmo, nut milks over animal milks, baked over fried, reading the labels instead of ignoring them, choosing an ingredient with no added sugars, being aware of sodium content, water over regular soda, a petite cut of steak over a monstrosity, a blended burger instead of a full meat burger, green tea instead of coffee...the list goes on and on.  

Other times it can be as simple as adding a "superfood" like matcha powder, maca powder, spirulina, acai, acacia, turmeric, flax and chia seeds, tree nuts, ancient grains, raw honey, quinoa, mushrooms, flax meal etc...in with your dishes to give it an extra burst of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants our body human needs.  

Further still, bettertarianism includes taking time to meditate or silently reflect, stretching, incorporating weights into workouts, choosing red wine over beer, one less alcohol drink at a social gathering, drinking more water, one less slice of pizza, researching alternatives to smoking, getting a little more needed rest at night.  All of these are examples of being a Bettertarian.  Singularly, they may seem miniscule, but baby steps are steps, nonetheless! You can be proud. I see you!

Educating ourselves about the foods we consume is partly our responsibility as consumers, to look beyond what we are told about products to reach our own legitimate conclusions.

We all have the capacity to improve ourselves, but no two methods are the same.

Once we have decided to "do better", we have taken the biggest step.

Believe in yourself.  Believe in Better. 

Good Choices, Better Living, Best Health.

Bettertarians become "Betterthaneverians"!

Recipe:

1 whole head cauliflower, excess leaves removed

Tuscan Herb Seasoning

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Seasoned Rice Vinegar, Optional

Shaved Parmesan Cheese

SPST(Salt and Pepper to Suit Taste)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400*F.

Par Boil whole cauliflower in salted water for 15 minutes.

Remove from water and Drain.

Place in oven safe cooking vessel and drizzle liberally with Olive Oil.

Add herb blend as desired and SPST.

Open Roast for about 30 minutes or until tender throughout.

Add Shaved Parmesan during the last 5 minutes of roasting.

Unicorn Sushi, Poop and Other Tween News

Being the mother of tween girls is its own reward.  From a family with 8 females, me being the 7th, I may know a thing or two about being a girl! Anywho, my girls have pretty firm likes and dislikes, from clothing to foods, colors to animals, dances to hobbies, which I try to appease, within reason of course.  My youngest told me at the beginning of the school year that her theme was "Unicorns and Doughnuts". I figured,Well heck, I like those things too, plus I had already purchased items for her and myself along those lines anyway; stickers, throw blankets and pillows (we all love them), notebooks, shirts, pajamas, you name it!
Being a fan of the whole Unicorn movement, I set out to create something with the same theme and quite by accident.
 I was showing a friend of the family how to make homemade ice cream, whipped cream and butter, (some of the things you can create with a carton of heavy cream) partly to share what I know with another and partly because her young daughter was getting a bit restless.  I wanted to take her mind away from her malaise at hand and also give her something that she could physically do/enjoy then and there, but also later with her mom at their home.  They may in turn share it with others they know and so on... the circle of knowledge being completed.
I showed the pair how to make homemade vanilla ice-cream  using a zip type bag, the ingredients and some ice/ ice cream salt.  They were amazed and eager to engage.  Together they made enough for a hearty sample, and some remained in the bag, which I pushed to the bottom and across to make a sort of log.  I placed it in the freezer.  A couple days later, it hit me, when I was folding down a bag of Fruity Pebbles,  and just like that, the idea began to grow.
Recipe:
Vanilla Ice cream,
 Frozen into about 1 1/2 inch diameter logs, approx. the length of a qt. sized zip type bag
Fruity Pebbles
Frozen Mango,
cut into small cubes
Directions:
Lightly moisten rolls w/ a few drops of liquid, preferably milk.
Roll in Fruity Pebbles , pressing lightly, but firmly.
Wrap logs in plastic wrap and place back in freezer for at least 1 hour.
Slice 'Sushi' roll into pieces with a moistened knife and press a piece of mango on each side or the sides facing up, it looks like Salmon!
Serve on chilled plates with chopsticks, if desired.
The dipping 'Poo' may be made with whipped cream, folded with softened cream cheese and confectionery sugar to taste. Add food coloring for more dramatic effect.
Garnish with colored sugars.
SERVE IMMEDIATELY or place on plastic wrap covered sheet pan and return to freezer immediately.

Hearts and Crafts: DIY Serving Boards

I recently purchased some bamboo cutting boards for the kitchen.  I wanted to 'trick it out' a bit to give it more personality and eye appeal.  I thought it would be cool to add some stencil work, but couldn't find anything suitable in the particular store I was in at the time.
When I arrived home, I decided to test out my idea by flipping the board over and practicing my design and testing the furniture markers I had purchased for the project.  I started with some freehand diamond shapes, because the tape I purchased to create the design, wasn't the proper tape and would not even remotely stay in place!  It was putting a damper on my creativity, but I kept on going.

My assistant, Aaron,  also aware of my current endeavor, came in with a brilliant idea, using a six pack ring as a stencil, with the positive and negative spaces seeming ideal for a contemporary and unique style. To my pleasant surprise, the design came out well.  I used coconut oil to finish the serving board after allowing it to sit. I have since set out on a search for even more "stencils" to adorn the flip sides of  my cutting boards.

I allowed the design to set for over 24 hours.  I also wiped the board with hot soapy water on a cloth and wiped dry.  I plan to do more serving and displays from this side more than anything.  I was concerned about possible transfer of substances, but after a bit of research, I decided it was safe enough considering the wood is actually stained and there was no further bleeding or wipe off.  Besides, I wouldn't want to damage the artwork.  I'm sure my next one will be even better. The imperfections of my first finished board add to its custom, hands-on flare.  These make wonderful personalized gifts too!

With Mother's Day coming up, this idea is a sure bet.  My sister Linda wants one and I can't wait to come up with her something that she will love.  I have 6 more sisters, so I may just opt for a series of smaller ones, that all fit the same motif, almost like a puzzle, with each one of them having a piece. Fitting, because all of my sisters and my two remaining brothers have a piece of my heart, and we are all a part of the big picture, created by 2 masterful artists; Mom and Dad, Douglas and Laura. My Dad is now my Guardian Angel and my Mom is my angel in this world, almost 80 years strong, my muse and my friend...an integral part of my heart and the reason it beats.

My personally customized boards shown with the Earlywood ™ Trifecta. I gifted these to myself for Xmas.

White Chocolate Carrot Cake Cupcakes

Spring has sprung and what better way to welcome its sunshine and blooms than with a delicious and Bettertarian version of this classic.  There are a few exchanges in this recipe that brighten and lighten without going skinny on taste.  The family received the recipe well and that makes it worthy to share with you.
 Organic coconut flour, flax meal and hulled hemp seeds really add depth, texture, flavor and wholesome goodness to a fantastically balanced treat. These cupcakes can be enjoyed with or without frosting, making it even more versatile and suitable for just about all dietary types.

Recipe:
2 1/3 c. AP flour
1/2 c. organic coconut flour
1/3 c. flax meal
2 tbsp. hulled hemp seeds
2 c. pure cane sugar
2 tsp.pumpkin pie spice
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt or to taste
1 1/3 c. canola oil
2/3 c. buttermilk
2 large eggs
1 1/2 c. freshly grated carrot
20 oz. crushed pineapple, well drained
1 c. chopped white baking chocolate
1/4 c. chopped pecans
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. cacao extract, optional

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350*F.
Combine dry ingredients, mixing well in a medium bowl.
In another large bowl, cream sugar, oil, buttermilk and eggs until evenly blended and smooth.
Slowly add dry ingredients to creamed mixture, careful not to over mix, but stirring to incorporate ingredients well.
Once all dry ingredients are incorporated, fold and stir in carrot, pineapple, white chocolate and pecans.
Line cupcake pans with cups and fill 2/3 full.
Bake for 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Cool for several minutes then transfer to cooling rack to cool completely and clear up space for baking remaining cupcakes if needed.
Makes 3 dozen.

Frosting:
1 lb. confectioner's sugar
4 oz. Neufchatel
2 tbsp. butter
pinch of salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. cacao extract

Blend cream cheese and butter.
Add salt.
Gradually add sugar and beat until light and fluffy.
Add extracts and continue until cohesive.
If too thick, you may add a teaspoon or so of buttermilk to make desired spreading consistency.

No Bake, Walking Cheesecakes

Cheesecake is one of those desserts you just can't go wrong with when looking to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Sometimes, we shy away from treats like this, thwarting the urge to overindulge.  With this quick and easy recipe, portion control is literally in the palm of your hand.  There are a couple of ways I made this recipe, the one below is the quickest, but also very gratifying.
An added plus of this recipe is a dramatic cut of fat and calories, by using a cake cup, instead of a traditional graham cracker and butter crust and the amount of filling that goes into the cup.  This is a part of a movement I refer to as "Bettertarian Cuisine".  We'll go further into detail on what Bettertarian Cuisine is in future posts, so let's get back to this gem of a dessert.  This was quite popular with my tween age girls. Kids respond more positively to food that they've had a part in preparing!
You can have a Walking Cheesecake Bar by offering a variety of toppings like strawberry, blueberry, caramel, fresh berries , candied walnuts,etc... and let each person customize their cheesecake to fit their needs. More cherries? no problem, no cherries? piece of cake, the possibilities are many fold and guaranteed to be just right. Creamy, light, crunchy and satisfying all at once.  Easy, Elevated and Delish!

Instructions:
Boxed no bake cheesecake mix
Pie filling of choice, chilled
Cake cups
Pastry bag, or resealable bag with corner snipped

Prepare the cheesecake mix according to directions on box and place in piping vessel of choice.
Chill for 2 hours.
When ready, pour graham cracker crust crumbs into a small bowl.
Dip cone rim into a small bowl of milk, water or melted butter, then dip into graham cracker crumbs.
Pipe the filling into cone to desired height and garnish with topping of choice.
These treats are made to order, so there's no waste and less waist! ;)
Enjoy.

French Onion Bread Bowl w/ Fresh Dill and Cheddar

A fast and simple way I like to dress up the normal menu is by using a loaf of herbed bread as a bowl.  In just a few simple steps, your friends and family will be impressed and you can be the 'Belle' or 'Ben' of the ball(game that is!) or your next gathering.  This recipe shows a french onion dip, but you may fill it with whatever your heart desires. Add some fresh herbs and a sprinkle of cheese/cheeses or even toasted bread crumbs from the center of the loaf, for added flavor and texture. Cater the size bread needed, to the amount of filling you will have or use smaller bread vessels to spread around the table. Day old or more bread would be easier to cut and manipulate.  Easy, Elevated and Delish. 
Instructions:
A loaf of French Bread of choice
A small paring knife
Your favorite dip, store bought or homemade
Fresh Herbs
Cheese, optional

Using the paring knife, cut out center of bread to about 1 inch from the edge, lengthwise, about 1/2 inch the other way.
Hollow out bread roughly 1 inch to 1 1/2 inches into the loaf.
Fill with dip of choice.
Garnish as desired.
Serve with crudites, assorted chips,(bagel, pita) etc.