Coconut Garlic Chicken

Original Recipe HERE

I was really skeptical about this recipe - how could coconut, garlic, and vinegar come together and yield anything but nastiness?  But the original poster promised it was good, so I was game to try.

The taste was interesting but better than expected.  Everyone in the family liked the sauce; kids asked for several helpings of it over the rice.  I should've cooked and shredded the chicken ahead of time and just added it to the sauce as it thickened up; leaving it in pieces meant the kids could easily pick them out.

I will cut the vinegar amount by half next time (original amounts of everything are listed below).  Also, I'd probably add some sliced green onions for garnish and taste.  My sauce never thickened, so expect it to look watery.  Precooking and shredding the chicken would make throwing this dish together super quick and give the sauce a bit more substance.

 

Ingredients
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breasts, diced small
1 Tablespoon coconut oil
1 can (14-15oz) light coconut milk
6 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup fresh cilantro [optional; I did not use]
salt & pepper to taste
rice or other grain for serving

 

Directions
(1) Heat coconut oil over medium heat in a non-stick skillet.
(2) Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper.  Add to skillet; saute about 2 minutes.
(3) Add vinegar and garlic to pan.  Cook until most liquid has cooked off.
(4) Add coconut milk.
(5) Turn heat ot medium.  Cook, stirring occasionally, 8-10 minutes or until liquid thickens and chicken is cooked through.
(6) Season with additional salt and pepper.  Top with cilantro and serve over rice or grains.

Kid Participation: None.

Yogurt Banana Oat Muffins

Original Recipe HERE

I've made these twice and find them a filling snack.  The consistency is different than a usual muffin, probably due to the yogurt and oat flour.  I like to split them in half and spread peanut butter or Nutella on them.

Ingredients

1-1/4 cup oats [I used old fashioned]

1/2 cup yogurt [I used low fat vanilla]

1/2 cup milk

2 large, very ripe bananas, mashed [I used 3]

1/3 cup oil or applesauce [I used coconut oil]

1 egg

1/2 cup brown sugar

1-1/2 cup oat flour [about 2 cups oats]

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup raisins or walnuts [optional; I did not use]

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips [optional]

 

Directions

(1) Make oat flour by grinding approximately 2 cups of oats in a food processor until they reach a flour-like consistency.

(2) In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, combine oats, yogurt, and milk.  Let stand at least 10 minutes (mine was more like 45).

(3) Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  Grease or line a 12-cup muffin tin.

(4) In a separate bowl, sift together sugar, oat flour, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, salt, and cinnamon.

(5) Add bananas, oil or applesauce, and egg to yogurt mixture.  Combine thoroughly.

(6) Add flour mixture to yogurt mixture.  Mix completely.

(7) Add raisins, walnuts, or chocolate chips if desired.

(8) Fill muffin cups 2/3 full.  Bake 16-20 minutes (mine were done at 18).  Allow to cool several minutes in tin before removing to cooling rack.

Kid Participation:

* Push buttons on food processor

* Add all ingredients to mixing bowls

* Demolish bananas

Coconut Zucchini Banana Bread

Original Recipe HERE

I had two bananas that Husband wanted to throw out because he can't stand the smell of bananas that are even slightly past ripe...it's some sort of sixth sense he has.  I also had grabbed several zucchinis last time I was at the grocery store, but I wasn't feeling inspired.  I decided to combine them into muffins that were healthier than what I'd normally gravitate toward.  The Weight Watchers Points Tracker says they are 5 points each, though.  Eh, still healthier.  Especially since I patted myself on the back for leaving out the chocolate.

I made 12 muffins and one small (aka, flat-ish) loaf of bread, so I estimate this would make 20 muffins.  The kids really liked them.  Next time I'll cut down on the coconut (I used one cup).  They were a little too sweet to be the breakfast-y muffins I was aiming for, but eliminating the coconut entirely might make them too bland.  Oh dear, Husband is going to have to suffer through another round of stinky browning bananas for the sake of tweaking this recipe...

Ingredients

3 eggs

1/4 cup vegetable oil [I used coconut oil]

2 medium bananas, well mashed

2 teaspoons vanilla

3 to 4 cups grated zucchini [I used 3 medium]

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup honey

2 Tablespoons brown sugar

3 cups whole wheat flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 to 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 to 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg

1/2 to 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut

Directions

(1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease muffin tin or bread pan.

(2) If using coconut oil, melt to liquid form using a double boiler.

(3) In large mixing bowl, whisk eggs. Add oil, banana, vanilla, zucchini, and sugars. Let set several minutes until sugar is partially dissolved.

(4) In separate mixing bowl, sift together flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and coconut.

(5) Add dry ingredients to wet mixture. Stir until just combined.

(6) Transfer batter to baking tins. Bake 20-25 minutes for 12 muffins and approximately an hour for a full loaf. Test for doneness by inserting a knife in center; bread is done when it comes out clean.

(7) Remove from oven. Run knife along edges to loosen. Leave in tins 10 minutes; remove to rack to cool completely.

Kid Participation:
* Mash bananas by hand
* Whisk wet ingredients
* Whisk dry ingredients
* Stir all ingredients together

 

Pumpkin Spice Baked Oatmeal

Original Recipe HERE

 

We had this as dinner because it was super easy to throw all the ingredients in the stand mixer's bowl, dump the batter in the dish, and toss it in the oven and forget about it until the timer went off.  Notice the verbs used; it was That Kind of Night.  Thank goodness for recipes like this that everyone liked, so at least we ended the day on a positive note.

 

The original recipe called for half a cup of oil, which seemed nasty to me.  Normally I'd substitute apple sauce for the oil, but there already was some.  So I broke out my first ever jar of coconut oil and gave it a whirl.  I was in a rush, so I didn't take the time to fully liquify it, double-boiler style.  I kind of softened it up via the microwave, and as soon as I added it to the cold batter, it solidified again.  So halfway through the baking, I stirred the batter as best I could in the hopes that would distribute it.  Next time I'll have a better technique, but I'll definitely use it again because it gave a slight hint of coconut that added to the final product rather than detracted.

 

The level of sweetness was good, though the amount of brown sugar made me pause a little just because I was serving this as dinner.  Substituting half with honey, or maybe even molasses, could work.  I made bacon and served the oatmeal as-is, but next time I'll made it a more complete meal with yogurt or something.  Or not.  Yeah, probably not.

 

Ingredients

2 eggs

1/2 cup applesauce

1/4 cup butter (1/2 stick), melted

1/4 cup coconut oil, liquified

3/4 cup canned pumpkin

2-1/4 cups milk [I used skim]

1/4 cup maple syrup

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1 Tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt [I forgot this]

1/2 cup wheat flour

4 cups quick cooking oats

 

Directions

(1) Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease a 9×13" baking dish.

(2) In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs, applesauce, butter, oil,  pumpkin, milk, syrup and brown sugar until smooth.

(3) Add spice, baking powder, salt, flour and oats. Beat on low until incorporated.

(4) Pour batter into dish.  Bake for 30-35 minutes or until cooked through in the center of the dish.

(5) Let cool slightly before serving. Serve with milk, yogurt, Greek yogurt, or as is.

 

Kid Participation:

* Dump ingredients into mixing bowl

* Run mixer