Lotsa Stuff — Healthy Muffins

Combine in a large bowl:

1-1/2 ripe, mashed banana

1 lg. diced, unpeeled Envy apple

1c chopped pecans

1-1/4c dark brown sugar

3 lg. pasture raised eggs

1T pure Mexican vanilla

3/4c single source EVOO

3/4c plain Greek yogurt

zest of 2 oranges - juice of 1 or 2

In another large bowl, whisk together:

1-1/2c unbleached all-purpose flour

3/4c corn flour (not cornmeal)

3/4c organic rye flour

1+T ground flax seed

1+T chia seeds

1T pumpkin pie spice

1t each: salt, baking powder, baking soda

Preheat your oven to 350° When the wet and dry ingredients are well mixed in their bowls, add the fruit mixture to the dry bowl. Stir well to combined then spoon into paper-lined muffin pans. Bake 20 minutes or so until a toothpick inserted into one of the muffins comes out clean. Makes 36 muffins or 24 + a small loaf of quick bread. If making the second option, allow extra baking time for the batter in the loaf pan. . .Lin

Apple-Beet-Butternut Squash Soup

1 lg. red beet

1 sm.-med. butternut squash

1/2 purple onion - chopped

5 lg. garlic cloves - crushed-halved

3T butter

2 med. apples - - optional

1/2t pumpkin pie spice

1/2t ground black pepper

1-2t garlic sea salt

2-3T organic honey

3-4c water

Peel and chop the beet and squash, into a 5qt. pot.  Add the onion, garlic, butter and scrubbed-chopped apples if you're using them.  Simmer these ingredients over medium heat, stirring often, for approximately a half hour.  Stir in the seasonings and honey, add a little of the water, if needed, to keep everything from sticking.  

Simmer, covered, for another 20 minutes or so.  Cool, then puree in the blender, adding the rest of the water, a little at a time, as needed.  Return everything to the pot again, and bring to a low bubble.  Simmer for another 15 minutes or so.  At this point you could add a cup of sour cream, stirring just enough to blend with the other ingredients.  Heat carefully, to just steaming.  Serve with crusty bread.  If you didn't put sour cream into the soup, a little now would be nice on top of each bowl.  Sprinkle with slivered almonds or roasted pumpkin or sunflower seeds. . .Lin

Waldorf Tossed Salad

chopped mixed greens

1 chopped Golden Delicious apple

½c chopped walnuts or pecans

½ sliced sweet onion

crumbled bleu cheese

Raspberry Vinaigrette dressing

Combine all on plates or bowls. Makes 2 big salads. . .Lin