Blueberry Applesauce Loaf

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Ingredients:

1/4 cup butter, softened 3/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup apple sauce (natural, cinnamon or sweetened) 1/4 cup 100% Apple Juice 2 eggs 1/2 cup milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour 1/8 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries Topping: 2 teaspoons sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon Tip: Using 1/4 cup apple sauce adds 55% DV vitamin C and 1 gram of fiber. Directions: In a mixing bowl, cream together butter, sugar, apple sauce and apple juice. Beat in eggs, milk and vanilla. Combine flour, salt and baking powder; add to creamed mixture just until combined. Gently fold in blueberries. Pour into a 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan. Combine sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over top. Bake at 350°F for 45 to 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. FOR BEST RESULTS: Mix the apple sauce with the other "wet" ingredients, such as milk, water and eggs. Don't mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until you are ready to put the pan into the oven. Mix the wet and dry ingredients together gently and as little as possible to avoid a tough batter. Notes: I followed this recipe exactly and it turned out delicious. My kids LOVED it! Good way to get your blueberries in for the day!

Easy Homemade Pancakes

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For months I have been wanting to find a good homemade pancake recipe. Finally I found a yummy one we used this morning. It's definitely a keeper in our home now. No more buying bought mixes. It's much cheaper and healthier to use fresh ingredients!

Ingredients:

• 1 egg
• 1 cup flour (try whole wheat flour)
• 3/4 cup milk ( or desired consistency)
• 2 Tablespoons oil
• 1 Tablespoon sugar
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  

Directions:

Mix your dry ingredients together, then add in your wet ingredients. Mix until smooth and to desired consistency (add a bit more milk if batter is too thick), using beaters or blender. I used a 1/4 c. measuring for each pancake. Pour out onto semi-hot griddle or skillet; not too hot or the middle of your pancakes won’t cook through. When it’s bubbled up on one side, flip! Serve with your favorite syrup, fruit or sugar!

Half & Half Substitute

I ended up making the Chicken Florentine recipe and realized I had no half & half. I ended up finding out about this substitute, so I thought I'd share. So in the future, if you don't have half & half, feel free to use the substitute below:

1 tbsp. of butter
1 cup of milk

Melt the butter and then add milk to make one full cup. Mix well. Voila! Refrigerate leftovers. It's that easy!

I used this for the Florentine recipe tonight, and it turned out great! By the way, if you want to make a romantic Valentine's dinner for your honey... I sooooo recommend this Florentine chicken! My hub said to me tonight, "I feel like I'm eating at Macaroni Grill, it's that good!"