Oatmeal Gingerbread

I have had an extended craving for gingerbread through the holiday season. I was dying to put together a recipe that married the crunchy texture of oatmeal with the wonderful spiciness of gingerbread.


I used a base recipe for a quick bread that is now my FAVORITE go-to recipe to make a sweet treat. The recipe is adapted from allrecipes.com, providing both sugar and non-dairy modifications.


I don't encourage people to use my recipes but really if you have 20 minutes, you have to try this one!!!

Oatmeal Gingerbread


Ingredients:


1 cup white whole wheat flour
1/2 cup old-fashioned oatmeal (not instant)
3/4 cup sugar or 4 packets of Splenda + 2 packet Stevia
1/6 cup barley malt or molasses
1/2 package of instant  sugar free vanilla pudding mix (powder)
1/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup egg white
1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1/2 cup vanilla soy milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup vegetable oil
11/4 tbsp ground ginger
1 dash of ground cinnamon
1 dash of ground clove


Recipe:
(1) Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease one 9x5 inch baking pans or a mini-loaf pan.
(2) In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, oatmeal, sugar substitutes, pudding mix, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and spices.
(3) In a separate medium sized mixing bowl, whisk together the milk, oil, barley malt (or molasses), egg whites, and vanilla. Stir the milk mixture into the flour mixture until smooth. Do not over mix.
(4) Bake 1 hour in the oven, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out (mostly) clean.
(5) Remove the bread from the oven and cool for 10 minutes before cutting.
Note: since this is a pudding-based recipe, the bread will not fully set until after the 10 minutes of cooling time.

This is wholesome goodness, that I feel, not only can but rather should be enjoyed year round. I might have to bake it again tomorrow.

Toasted Crab-stuffed Mushrooms

The crab cake is a well celebrated appetizer (or entreé) in the southeast. I have made crab cakes with a recipe that was very easy and healthful. Having guests over recently, I came up with the idea of using a crab cake-like filling to stuff delicious white button mushrooms. It turned out to be a delicious and quick appetizer, especially since the filling can be made when you have time, then stuffed and baked shortly before guests arrive. Let me know what you think.

Toasted Crab-stuffed Mushrooms

Ingredients:


- Large white button mushrooms
- Lump crabmeat, 1 small can
- Lite mayo, 1-2 tbsps
- Onions, finely chopped (best in food processor)
- Celery, finely chopped (best in food processor)
- Canola oil spray
- cayenne pepper, 1 tsp
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Parmesan cheese (optional)


Recipe:


(1) Preheat a medium sauté pan and spay with canola oil.
(2) Mix the lumpcrab meat with mayo, onions, celery, cayenne, salt and pepper, according to your taste.
(3) Form the crab mixture into small patties.
(4) When the pan is very hot, place patties in pan, flipping over after browning.
(5) Allow crab patties to cool completely on a saucer after cooking.
(6) Meanwhile, clean the mushrooms with a damp cloth.
(7) Using a spoon, scoop out the center of the button mushrooms, chopping these pieces for later. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
(8) Mix the chopped mushroom stems and centers with cooled crab patties, browned on both sides.
(9) Stuff the mushrooms with a tbsp (a spoonful) of the mixture. If desire, dust parmesan cheese over the tops of the mushrooms.
(10) Place the mushrooms in the oven to bake for 8-10 minutes before guests arrive.


Enjoy the savory bites and enjoy the omega-3s....