Oatmeal-Cranberry Muffins

These muffins are another holiday favorite to display for this holiday season. The taste will have you and you're guest coming back for more.

serves: 1 dozen

1 c. plus 2 Tbsp. all purpose flour* gluten free flour
6 oz. uncooked regular oats
2 Tbsp. sugar * Sugar substitute
1/2 tsp. course Himalayan Salt
1 c. milk * (Almond, Rice, Soy)
1 egg
1/4 c. vegetable oil
1 c.fresh cranberry
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground nutmeg
non-stick cooking spray

Directions:

1. Blend together flour, oats, baking powder, sugar, salt into a medium size glass bowl; build a well in the center of the mixture.

2. Blend together milk,egg, and oil; add to the dry mixture, stirring just until moistened. Gently fold in cranberry.

3. coat muffin pan with cooking spray, spoon batter into pan filling 2/3 full. Sprinkle cinnamon, nutmeg over muffins, and bake at 425 for 20 to 25 minutes or until lightly browned.

Note:
When using sugar substitute the measurement are different, then the actual measurements.

Cranberry-Raisin pudding cake

Adapted from: http://allrecipes.com/…/25…/ultimate-cranberry-pudding-cake/

This cake will WOW any guest on this holiday season.

Serves: 12

6 Tbsp. Margarine
2 c. Pure cane sugar
4 c. all-purpose flour
4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. course Himalayan salt
2 c.Evaporated milk
1 (12 oz.) pkg. cranberries
1 c. Margarine
2 c.Pure cane sugar
1 c. Heavy cream
1 tsp. Vanilla extract
1/3 c. raisins

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325. Grease and flour a 10 inch Bundt pan. combine together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

2. In a large glass bowl, cream together the 6 Tbsp. Margarine and 2 c. sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the evaporated milk. Stir in the cranberries, Raisins. Pour batter into prepared pan.

3. Bake in the oven for 50 to 60 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. allow to cool in pan for about 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.

4. Making the healthy Sauce: In a saucepan, combine 1 c. Margarine, 2 c sugar, and cream. Bring sauce to a boil over medium heat, reduce heat and let simmer for about 10 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat and stir in 1 tsp. vanilla.

Heart Healthy Sliders

Adapted from: http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/…/turkey-burger-sliders.html

Serves: 12 miniature burgers

1 1/2 lbs. extra lean ground turkey*
1 1/2 lbs. ground chicken
1/3 c. fresh parsley, minced
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. smoked paprika
1/2 tsp. lemon pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 shallots, minced
1 egg yolk
course Himalayan salt*
2 Tbsp. Vegetable oil*
12 mini burger buns or small soft dinner rolls, warmed in the oven
12 small lettuce leaves
12 slices tomato
1 c. thinly sliced red onions
Mayonnaise
Mustard
Ketchup

Directions:

1. Combine together the turkey, chicken, parsley, cumin, paprika, garlic, shallots and egg yolk in a large glass bowl. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and mix. Divide the turkey, chicken mixture into 12 equal portions and, using your hands, shape them into 12 small burgers about 3 1/2 inches wide.

2. Heat the oil in a skillet and cook the burgers until a thermometer inserted into the center registers at 165 degrees F, about 3 minutes per side.

Living Better Cafe Adapted this recipe from: Nadia G, from Bitchin Kitchen.

The ingredients that were changed were:
* ground turkey
* salt
* vegetable oil

Money Saving tip Tuesday....Ice Trays

* Picture from: www.canyoufreezethis.com

Welcome to another edition of Money Saving tips.
In this edition I will be sharing some cool tips that won't break your bank, and will keep you smiling from ear to ear all the time.

Once again thank you for sticking around, for this Third edition of Money saving tips for this November edition. I will be bring you different Money saving tip's daily on saving cash in your wallet, every Tuesday.
Do you have extra Ice trays laying around, and don't know what to do with them. I will give you some great money saving Idea's you thought was impossible.

Great for serving appetizers:

1. fill your tray up with appetizers, and leave it out on display.
Homemade candy:

2. After melt your chocolate allow it to cool, and place into ice tray then place into freezer until harden.
Miniature drink shoots:

3. filling the trays up with you're beverage of choice. (if it's fruit juice, you have about 3-4 months if they are in cubes)
Miniature dessert:

4. whether you're having dessert for yourself, or having a guest over. miniature desserts to go. Ex: rice crispy treat's.
Soon to expired food:

5. Whether it be dairy, or leftover soup place inside of an ice tray and freeze.
Flavor saver:

6. No matter what you're cooking, whether it be veggies, meat.
don't toss away the flavor, you can create a both or use that grease to flavor up you're next dish. How: Just pour it into an ice tray and freeze. (will last up to a month)

Spice's:

7. Mince up 1 Tbsp. garlic or 1 Tbsp. ginger and pop into freezer. Garlic and Ginger freezes pretty well in the freezer (up to 10 -12 months in freezer).
Leafy herbs:

8. You have any herbs, place them into the freezer (fresh herbs do better then dried) How: Just by, giving them a rough chop the in a food processor; or rough chop by hand. (last up to a month) you can (hint, hint: if frozen in water about a week. If frozen in oil about a month)

Smoothie saver:

9. having a smoothie and don't know what to do with the left overs? Why place them into your ice tray. they will last up to a week in the freezer.If your smoothie has full-fat dairy in it, it's most likely good for a month or so. If it's mostly produce and a non-dairy milk (Almond, Soy, Rice- it might get a little icy or freezer burnt after a few weeks).

Hot out of the oven....Coffee part 2

Adapted from: http://articles.mercola.com/…/31/benefits-drinking-coffee.a…

* Picture from: www.innovativeos.com

*Note:Please continue to read this blog article.
Living Better Cafe is bring you Fresh out of the oven news, that you're going to love. That no other blog source will ever take you close into the story. I say more good reasons to love L.B.C, not only are you revising original recipes. Your saving money while eating the way you want in a healthier way.

Welcome to Hot Out Of The Oven food news, I have yet another edition of food news coming straight from no other source but, Living Better Cafe of course. As you have read through many editions of (H.O.T.O), since I have started this food news addition. You have became more wiser about what you buy,and place into your mouth. While I am very happy to continue to keep "Hot of the oven" going as much as you keep enjoy reading it every Monday.
In this edition I will be covering the Fact's, and Myths; plus more Benefit's of Coffee.
If last week edition Hot out of the oven wasn't enough, here is yet another coffee edition for you to read. Researcher have found that drinking coffee daily can help boots the survival rate in many people with advanced (stage III) colon cancer, drinking four or more cups of caffeinated coffee daily lowered the risk of cancer recurrence or death during the study by 52 percent compared to those who drank no coffee. Just by drinking two or three cups per day was also beneficial, lowering the risk of recurrence or death by 31 percent.
While researcher have also, found that coffee has been linked to lower the risk type 2 diabetes as well, a condition known to increase the risk of colon cancer. It’s likely that compounds in coffee may lower the risk of multiple chronic diseases via similar pathways.
Looking to drink coffee for health benefits, make a cup of black coffee, without sugar, non-dairy creamer or cream, or flavorings. If you are dousing your cup of coffee in creamer, non-dairy creamer, sugar, and other sweeteners and flavorings, you are missing out on the therapeutic benefits and potentially harming your health.
The natural blend of polyphenol antioxidants are part of what makes coffee so healthy. However, some research suggests that adding dairy to your coffee may interfere with your body's absorption of beneficial chlorogenic acids.27 Meanwhile, if you add sugar to your coffee you’ll spike your insulin levels, which contributes to insulin resistance.
Also, coffee beans are one of the most heavily pesticides-sprayed crops. So, you should select only coffee beans that are certified organic. Remember, you will obliterate any positive effects if you consume coffee that's been doused in pesticides or other chemicals. Whenever possible, purchase sustainable "shade-grown" coffee to help prevent the continued destruction of our tropical rain forests and the birds that inhabit them.
There are many who say shade-grown coffee tastes better as well. In addition, you'll want to purchase whole bean coffee that smells and tastes fresh, not stale; if your coffee does not have a pleasant aroma, it is likely rancid. Grind it yourself to prevent rancidity, as pre-ground coffee may be rancid by the time you get it home. If you use a "drip" coffee maker, be sure to use non-bleached filters. The bright white ones are chlorine-bleached, and some of this chlorine will leach from the filter during the brewing process. Bleached filters are also notoriously full of dangerous disinfection byproducts, such as dioxin.
Finally, while it appears coffee in moderation is beneficial, be careful not to overdo it, as some studies have found adverse effects when about 10 cups a day or more are consumed. When referring to a “cup” of coffee, most research considers it to be five to eight ounces with about 100 mg of caffeine. In contrast, a small cup at many coffee houses starts at 12 ounces while a large cup may hold 20 to 24 ounces. Simply be aware of how much you’re actually consuming.
While those are some good reasons to keep you're does of Joe going in the morning. Here are some every not good reason to strict away from you're morning cup of Joe.
You're coffee can be toxic, bad quality coffee can have a lot of impurities in it, which can cause sickness, headache or a general bad feeling. This can happen if your coffee is made from beans that have been over ripped or otherwise ruined. Even one ruined bean can make your cup toxic. If you invest and buy high quality, speciality coffee you don’t have to worry about this. This article will help you tell the difference between the two.
Death by coffee: Yes, if you drink 80-100 cups in a short session. This dose is lethal and will amount in 10-13 grams of caffeine within your body. Before you reach this point, however, you'll be vomiting most of it out since 23 litres of any liquid is a lot. Even drinking over 23 litres of water can kill you.
having cholesterol issues: Coffee beans contain cafestol and kahweol, two ingredients that appear to raise LDL cholesterol levels. Filtering the coffee traps most of the LDL, but cafestol and kahweol are found in espresso, turkish coffee, french press and scandinavian style “cooked coffee”.
Living Better Cafe Alert:
Please keep this in mind that whatever you choose to eat, or drink must be done in moderation because there is always a positive/ negative outcome to you're health. So I hope you all Think Better when Living Better! Continue to stick around every week for something new with a twist. Don't for get to "Share" among you're family/ friends/ coworkers, Help them Live Better Here at Living Better Cafe. smile emo

Breakfast Sushi

Adapted from: https://www.thrillist.com/…/breakfast-sushi-thrillist-recip…

* Substitution

Serves: Varies

Pancake Crepes:

1/2 c. all purpose flour* gluten free flour
1-2 egg* egg substitute -(depends on the size of the eggs)
2 1/4 tsp. sugar
1/4 c. water
1/4 c. Milk* (Soy, Rice, Almond)
1/8 tsp. Course Himalayan salt
1 Tbsp. Margarine, melted
Vegetable oil

Directions:

1. In a glass mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and the eggs. Gradually add in the milk and water, stirring to combine. Add the salt and Margarine; beat until smooth.

2. Heat a lightly oiled griddle over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each crepe. Tilt the pan with a circular motion so that the batter coats the surface evenly.

3. Cook the crepe for about 2 minutes, until the bottom is light brown. Loosen with a spatula, turn and cook the other side. Serve hot.

Sushi filling:

Serves: Varies

1/2 yellow onion, finely chopped
3/4 c. corned beef, finely diced
1 1/2 c. cooked potatoes, diced

Directions:

1. Melt the Margarine in a large cast Iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add in onion and cook until soft, for about 5 minutes. Add in corned beef and potato and stir to combine. Pressing the mixture down with a spatula to create a compact layer, lower heat to medium and cook until crispy, for about another 15 minutes or so. Meanwhile, make the crêpes.

2. Heat an Cast Iron skillet over low heat. Crumble a paper towel into a ball and dip one end into some vegetable oil. Lightly grease the skillet with the paper towel.

3. Pour in half the batter into the skillet and quickly swirl it around in all directions until it coats the bottom of the skillet evenly. When the edges are dry and the middle is just set, turn the crêpe over with a spatula and let the other side cook for 10 seconds. Transfer the crêpe onto a plate to cool. Re-grease the skillet and cook the remaining crêpe.

4. Using a sushi mat: roll the sushi, place an pancake crêpe on the bamboo mat. Place 1/4 cup of corned beef hash in a line on the lower third of the crêpe. Pull the bottom of the mat up to help roll the crêpe over the filling. Pull it taught toward you to make a tight roll then keep rolling to the end. Cut into six pieces. Repeat with the remaining Pancake crêpe and breakfast hash.

Tangerine Mango Smoothie

Adapted from: http://ohsheglows.com/…/the-blender-girls-mystical-mango-s…/

Serves: 2 (makes 4 cups)

1.5 c. Orange juice, Freshly squeezed
1.5 c. Tangerine Juice, Freshly squeezed
1/2 c. water, or more if needed
1/4 c. avocado
1/2 tsp. finely grated lime zest
2 c. frozen mango
1 tsp. Chia seeds
1/2 tsp. Wheat germ
1 tsp. Pure maple syrup, to taste (optional )

Directions:

1. Add in all of the ingredients in a blender and blend on high for about 30-60 seconds, until smooth and creamy.