Muffin Jacks

On our travels we found a day that was too hot to run the oven; but we had a major hankering for some muffins.  I mixed -up my muffin batter extra thick and using a 1/4 measure cooked them in a kitchen sprayed skillet. Since they are a cross between Muffins & Flap Jacks thats how the name was started.

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Ingredients:
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1-cup jiffy mix
1/2 cup splenda
1/2 cup apple sauce
1-egg
1/2 cup oat cereal bran
1/3 cup sugar free maple flavord syrup
1-cup dried fruit (your choice)
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Proceedure:
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Mix all ingredients together (I didn't need additional liquid) in med. mixing bowl.  This batter should be just barely thinner than cookie dough.  Add 1/4 cup scoops to a kitchen sprayed large skillet that has been heated to a low med heat and brown on both sides, Kinda like making pancakes about 3-5 minutes on each side since the batter is thicker, it takes a little longer to get the middle done.  This should yeild 8 Jacks at 1/2 the calories of regular muffins

My Kitchen

I am sure some of you are curious about whats in my kitchen?  Well here is the skinny. I operate out of an RV which limits the space available for storage and (essential gadgets) but for those that have the space my recipes sometimes reflect this.  I have for years operated in the kitchen on the principle of the "Kiss":theory  which means ( keep it simple stupid). first off I keep nothing that is high in sugars,salt or fats in my limited pantry being in the modern era I have on hand and use many items that are relatively cost effective and simple to use.

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You would find such items such as :
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Jiffy mixes that are cheap and effective when I enhance these with other items.

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Splenda instead of sugar, this works for us but maybe not for others.

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Butter flavor kitchen spray (Crisco brand works for us)

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Frozen fruits and vegetables, as these are always frozen at peak quality

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A wide variety of spices we like.


.Extra virgin olive oil

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I read recipes alot and change them to reflect a healthier value.  So if you have questions on a favorite recipe that needs changing and don't mind me posting it on the blog e-mail me and we'll see what can be worked out.  I visit many different food supply stores and can generally find items that I need even(Wal*Mart sometimes).  So join my follower section and enjoy this blog (Ask Questions)

HEALTHY FRIED POTATOES

Fried Potatoes have for years been associated with UN-healthy fatty foods.  This is for good reason, cooks for years have used a lot of oil mostly (BACON GREASE) in their skillets to fry potatoes looking for that brown crispiness.  Well my version browns the potatoes and leaves them crispy plus healthy.  A medium sized potato is roughly 75 calories. I use extra virgin olive oil (sparingly) in this case about 3o calories. this recipe uses two potatoes and a 1/4 tsp olive oil


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The way I do it is:
I dice two potatoes with peeling left on. place the diced potatoes in a qt zip lock bag add the 1/4 tsp Extra-virgin olive oil, close the bag up, mix up the potatoes and oil make sure that all potatoes are covered.  Now empty the potatoes covered in oil,add salt and pepper into your skillet and cook with medium heat making sure all sides are brown by turning them over frequently .  Now you have a good healthy fried potatoes.


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This same method can be used for hash browns as well. You can add chopped onion and green pepper in the same manner and have potatoes "O'Brien".

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Try this and you will find that fried potatoes are just fine to have as an alternate side dish.

OMG Naked Fried Chicken

This recipe came to me by pure fluke. Many years ago.  I was working late and my oldest daughter at the age of around 10 years old decided to have the evening meal ready when I got home from work. For dinner she decided on Fried Chicken.  She had never done this before, so she fried the chicken without any coating.  I had never fried chicken without a coating,  so naturally I was sceptical as to what this would be like.  Being a lover of new ideas I was delighted as to the outcome. so over the years I have enhanced her idea a little.  The following recipe is my version of "Naked" fried chicken.


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Ingredients:

1- cut-up chicken or any chicken pieces (skin removed)

Extra virgin olive oil

1/4 cup citrus soda

your favorite spices that you normally would use for fried chicken.

A non-stick or well seasoned skillet.

Procedure:

Lightly brush all sides of the chicken pieces with the olive oil and season all sides of the chicken pieces with your spices.  I primarily use garlic and onion powder, salt lightly and place all the pieces of chicken in your skillet and brown these pieces well on all sides. then turn the heat down to simmer and pour in the citrus soda cover the skillet with a lid and cook 15-20 minutes.
The soda will help tenderize the chicken

After you remove the chicken for serving there will be a lot of sauce in the pan this can be used for the base for gravy or held for a great added seasoning for vegetables or soups or just about anything you can imagine except maybe brownies

This is a good way to have fried chicken that low in fats and very different.

"Green Eggs and Ham"

This recipe has been widely publicized as a fantasy, but is is as real as you want it to be.
The following is my version of a fun way of adding vegetables to a normally simple affair.

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Ingredients:
 4-Eggs
1-small green pepper (any kind) as long as it's green
4- 3oz pieces of lean ham

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Directions:
Chop the pepper into very small pieces and add to the eggs and stir together, salt the way you like it.
Pan grill the ham pieces and set aside.
Season the same pan the ham was grilled in with extra virgin olive oil, add the now green egg mixture now stir while cooking to create scrambled eggs.

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You now have "Green eggs and ham" instead of the pepper you can use chopped spinach instead.

.Kids really like this story book breakfast.

The "New Improved" Lite Brownie Recipe

The Brownie recipe in The Start part of this blog has been recalled in favor of this new improved version.

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Ingredients:

1 cup commercial brownie mix (any kind)
1 cup Jiffy mix
1 cup splenda
1/4 cup Special Dark Cocoa powder
1/2 cup apple sauce
1 Tbs vanilla extract
1/2 cup oat fiber
1/2 cup walnuts (Optional)
1/3 cup fat free milk

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Mix all ingredients together and pour into greased (not bacon greased) pan and bake at 375-400 degrees until brownies are firm to touch.

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This recipe should produce 18 small brownies at less than 50 calories each.

Enjoy

Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding

There are literally dozens of recipes for bread pudding. But this one has a slightly different "Twist".

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I use "left over" cinnamon rolls or just flat out creat some left overs.

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.Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding

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Ingredients:

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2 rolls of reduce fat cinnamon rolls (Whampum type)

2 eggs

2 cups non-fat milk

1 tbs Alspice

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup Dried cranberries

1/2 cup diced walnuts

1 cup sugar or splenda

Cook off the cinnamon rolls per package instructions. When the rolls are done, cut them up in quarters and place them in a baking dish that has been sprayed with non stick spray. Sprinkle the walnuts and cranberries over the chopped rolls .

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Now take the remaining ingedients, eggs, spices,vanilla,milk and sugar and mix well (not with mixer) and pour over the rolls in the baking dish, gently stir just enough to make sure that rolls are covered and bake at 350-400 degrees testing frequently to make sure egg mixter ( Custard) is done.

.Testing

I use a knife to test, when a knife blade is inserted and removed briefly if it comes out clean your custard is done.