Pakistani dishes in Usa

These are my best healthy muffin recipes: all made in a blender with whole grain oats, no refined flour or sugar required! From banana to chocolate to carrot cake, there’s a flavor for everyone.

Most muffins are an excuse to eat a cupcake for breakfast. When I created my healthy banana muffins recipe years ago based on a reader request for a muffin that was actually nutritious, I never dreamed it would become such a hit!

Once I cracked the formula (oats + Greek yogurt or fruit + natural sweetener + blender = magic), the flavor variations started multiplying fast. Now I make a batch almost every week, my kids eat them for breakfast, lunchboxes, and after-school snacks, and I’ve heard from thousands of readers who have made them their staple, too. Here’s a list of my favorite flavors of healthy oatmeal blender muffins.

5 Star Reader Review

“Can’t give these enough stars! These. Are. AMAZING!!!!!! You will never want to use another recipe. They are so incredibly moist. Thank you for this incredible AND healthy recipe.” -Grace (on Healthy Banana Muffins)

My Top Healthy Muffin Recipes

Healthy Banana Muffins

This is the recipe that started it all! These healthy banana muffins with oatmeal are made in a blender with simple ingredients and no flour required. Perfect for using up ripe bananas as a healthy breakfast or snack that the whole family will love.

Healthy Oatmeal Muffins

These oatmeal muffins are the perfect easy and healthy snack, made without any refined flour or sugar! I created this recipe as my first blender muffin without banana, and it has gone on to be a reader favorite. They’re naturally sweetened and packed with whole grain goodness.

Healthy Carrot Cake Muffins

This might be my favorite healthy muffins recipe yet! These are made in a blender with rolled oats, apple, carrots, and maple syrup: no flour, just cozy wholesome flavor tha ttastes like the classic cake.

Healthy Chocolate Muffins

These healthy muffins are my kids favorites (of course!) because they taste chocolaty but are made with wholesome ingredients. All you need are oats, banana, and Greek yogurt: no flour, refined sugar, or mixer required! Just blend, bake, and enjoy a delicious treat that feels good to eat.

Healthy Apple Muffins

These healthy apple muffins get great reviews from readers! Again they use oatmeal and maple syrup to make a deliciously wholesome muffin! They’re made in a blender with no flour, and make a great breakfast or snack slathered with almond butter.

Healthy Blueberry Muffins

My original healthy banana muffins recipe got such great rave reviews, so I figured, why not try it with blueberries? This recipe is easy and wholesome, full of oats, berries, and bananas.

Pumpkin Oatmeal Muffins

These cozy pumpkin oatmeal muffins are made in a blender for an easy snack or breakfast! With pumpkin puree, Greek yogurt, and wholesome oats, they’re naturally sweet and packed with whole grains and protein.

The Secret to All of These: The Blender Method

Here are a few tips for the method that works with each one of these muffins recipes:

Use a standard-size, high-speed blender. A small personal blender can’t handle the volume (I learned this the messy way!). A high-powered blender is helpful for pureeing the oats into a smooth batter.
Let the batter rest 5 minutes before pouring. For most of these recipes, the batter will be looser than a typical muffin batter. If the recipe states to let it sit, it’s important for thickening up.
Use muffin liners. These muffins can stick to ungreased pans. Liners make cleanup a simple. .
Don’t over-bake. Oat-based muffins can dry out if they go even a couple of minutes too long.

Ways to Serve Healthy Muffins

With many of these healthy muffins, it’s important to let them cool before digging in: the flavor intensifies as they cool. Here are a few ways I like to use them:

With nut butter. Peanut butter, almond butter, or sunflower seed butter all add protein and makes them more filling.
With a drizzle of honey and a pinch of sea salt. Something about this feels special.
As a lunchbox treat. These muffins store well at room temperature in lunch boxes and the whole grain oats keep you satisfied.
As a post-workout snack. Paired with a smoothie, these make for a great recovery snack.

Storage Notes

Most of these muffins keep well refrigerated for about 10 days, though they do dry out over time. You can also store them at room temperature for about 5 days.

For longer storage, they freeze up to three months in a sealed freezer-safe bag or container.

More Healthy Snack Ideas

Here are a few more of my healthy snack ideas based on oats

from A Couple Cooks https://ift.tt/m4Y3x2J

This Peach Martini is fruity, smooth, and easy to shake up, with a secret ingredient that gives a pop of bold flavor!

Love the juicy flavor of peaches? Then you’ll love this fruity peach martini! Usually when I make a fruity martini, I use the fresh fruit. But here, you’ll use a specialty ingredient to bring in that signature flavor: peach schnapps!

I created this recipe with leftover peach schnapps from making a Fuzzy Navel. Turns out, it’s just the right way to infuse peachy flavor into a drink!

5 Star Reader Reviews

“This was a winner! I was trying to use up Peach Schnapps but this recipe made me want to always have it on hand. Delicious balance of orange and lime really let the peach shine through.” -Darma

Fabulous! You WON’T be disappointed!” -John

What’s in a Peach Martini?

The Peach Martini is a spin on the flavored vodka martini. The classic martini is ultra dry and uses only two ingredients: gin and dry vermouth. But vodka martinis are the exact opposite: fruity, sweet, and brightly colored. These developed as a spin off on the dry martini and become very popular in the 1990’s.

Two vodka martinis that are so well-known, they made the list of the International Bartender’s Association IBA official cocktails: the lemon drop martini and espresso martini. Most other vodka martinis are up to the bartender to make their own spin. Here’s what you’ll need for my Peach Martini:

Peach schnapps
Vodka
Orange juice
Triple sec
Lime juice

The Case for Peach Schnapps

Why not use fresh peaches in a Peach Martini? You can, but peach schnapps has an incredibly strong peach flavor that’s even more powerful than the real thing.

Peach schnapps is a type of schnapps made by adding peach flavoring to a clear grain spirit. It was introduced in 1984 by DeKuyper, and quickly became the top selling schnapps in America. The flavor is intensely fruity and peachy. A little goes a long way!

I tried this drink with fresh peaches, and it didn’t have the right flavor. Peach schnapps is the way to go! You can also use it in other peach schnapps cocktails like the Fuzzy Navel, Peach Bourbon Cocktail, or Georgia Peach. You can even add it to enhance the flavor in fresh peach cocktails like the Bellini or Peach Sangria.

Why Orange Juice? (The Secret Ingredient)

There’s another secret ingredient in this Peach Martini…orange juice! Yes, no peach juice needed. Why use orange juice here? Well, some peach martini recipes use peach nectar, but that’s even more of a specialty ingredient.

The orange juice brings a beautiful peach hue to the drink without adding an orange flavor. Don’t worry: it doesn’t taste like oranges! It’s a genius move that keeps the drink accessible and delicious (thanks Alex!).

How to Make a Peach Martini

Once you’ve collected the ingredients for this Peach Martini, it’s a breeze to make! It’s a simple matter of shake and strain. Here’s what to do:

Shake: Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Add 2 handfuls ice and shake until cold. Don’t have a cocktail shaker? Use a mason jar with top.
Strain: Strain into a martini glass. It’s nice to have a fresh peach to use as a garnish, if you have access to the fresh variety!

Tip For Adding Fresh Peaches

You can make this using fresh peaches you like! If it’s peach season and you happen to have very ripe, juicy peaches on hand, you can add them to this drink. Use the peach slices in place of the orange juice. Here’s what to do:

Slice the peach into slices. Place 5 to 6 slices in a cocktail shaker.
Muddle the peach slices with a cocktail muddler or wooden spoon. This releases their juices.
Add all ingredients and shake. Continue with the remainder of the cocktail recipe!

When to Serve a Peach Martini

The peach martini recipe is fun and fruity, and great for entertaining! It’s great in summer, but it works in any season. Serve it as a:

Summer drink
Happy hour drink
Signature drink
Girls or guys night drink
Cocktail hour drink

Perfect Peach Martini

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 3 reviews

This Peach Martini is fruity, smooth, and easy to shake up, with a secret ingredient that gives a pop of bold flavor!

Author: Sonja Overhiser
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Yield: 1 drink 1x
Category: Drink
Method: Shaken
Cuisine: Cocktails
Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

1 ounce* peach schnapps
1 ounces vodka
1 ounce orange juice or 6 peach slices**
½ ounce triple sec
½ ounce lime juice
For the garnish: fresh peach slice (optional)

Instructions

Place the peach schnapps, vodka, orange juice, triple sec, and lime juice in a cocktail shaker. Add 2 handfuls of ice and shake until cold.
Strain the drink into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a peach slice if desired.

Notes

*To convert to tablespoons, 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons.

**Have fresh ripe peaches on hand and want to use them instead of orange juice? Slice them and muddle 5 to 6 slices in a cocktail shaker. They must be ripe, in season peaches for this to work!

More Vodka Martinis to Try

Try a dessert martini! Go for Coffee Martini, Chocolate Martini or Key Lime Martini.
Love citrus? Try a Lemon Drop Martini, Limoncello Martini, or Blood Orange Martini.
Go fruity with a Raspberry Martini, Watermelon Martini, Pomegranate Martini or French Martini.
Opt for a unique Ginger Martini or Cucumber Martini

from A Couple Cooks https://ift.tt/9b2aIZY

This easy sautéed shiitake mushrooms recipe is ready in under 10 minutes and has incredible umami flavor, with a simple sauce of soy, lime, and sesame!

Shiitake mushrooms are one of the most savory, meaty flavored mushrooms around. It’s one of my favorite mushroom varieties (and I’m actually a former hater!). You can sauté them up as a side dish, or add them to stir fries, noodles, ramen, or even make them into bacon!

This mushroom is great holding its own in a risotto, or acting as a supporting character for a mix of fungi on a pizza. I created this simple shiitake mushrooms recipe to use simple pantry ingredients as a quick go-to way to cook this variety. Turns out, it’s now the one I turn to every time!

5 Star Reader Review

“This is my absolute favorite recipe for shiitakes now! So incredibly simple and so delicious every time. Also a crowd pleaser when serving to friends!!” -Elizabeth

What Are Shiitake Mushrooms?

Shiitake mushrooms are some of the most well-known in the mushroom family here in the US, right behind button, cremini and portobello. Here’s what to know about this type of mushroom:

Shiitake mushrooms are one of the most popular edible mushrooms in the world, native to East Asia. They are slender and light brown, with a tough, inedible stem. This variety, scientific name Lentinus edodes, has been cultivated in Japan and China for centuries. Shiitake means
Where to find it? You can find shiitakes at most mainstream grocery stores, and they’re available both fresh and dried. The focus of this article is fresh shiitakes.
What do shiitake mushrooms taste like? Shiitake mushrooms taste rich, meaty, and buttery when cooked. While you can eat shiitakes raw, their flavor is much more pronounced and developed when they’re cooked.

Can You Eat the Stems?

The stems of fresh shiitake mushrooms are very tough: most recipes call for removing and discarding them before cooking. I’ve accidentally left them in before and been disappointed in the texture.

That said, some cooks (including a registered dietitian in the comment section!) trim the woody ends and cook the stems separately for a bit longer until they soften, then add the caps.

How to Store and Clean Shiitake Mushrooms

Shiitake mushrooms grow on trees: rotting wooden logs, in fact! They usually don’t come packaged with too much dirt, but you can give them a quick rinse before using them. Here are the best practices for storing and cleaning shiitake mushrooms:

Store the mushrooms in a paper bag in the refrigerator. You can leave them in the package they come in, but the best way to store shiitake mushrooms is in a paper bag because it allows them to breathe. Leave them in the main part of the refrigerator to get good airflow, not the produce drawer.
Clean them with a quick rinse. Give the mushrooms a quick rinse to get off any dirt. Contrary to what you might think, it’s ok to rinse your mushrooms! Here’s the best way to clean mushrooms.

How to Cook Shiitake Mushrooms: The Method

There are a few ways to cook shiitake mushrooms, but the best way I’ve found is to sauté them. These amazing sautéed shiitakes take about 10 minutes and results in an crazy amount of savory flavor! Here are the main steps (or jump to the recipe below):

Remove the stems before slicing! I’ve said it a few times because I don’t want you to miss this! The stems are very tough and virtually inedible.
Cook in a skillet on medium heat for 5 minutes. I use sesame oil for cooking them (standard, not toasted). You could also use olive oil.
Add seasonings and cook 1 minute. I like adding soy sauce, lime juice, Sriracha, and a hint of toasted sesame oil for a pop of bold flavor.

Ways To Use This Shiitake Recipe

The sauteed shiitake mushrooms recipe below is a fantastic basic way to cook them! You can use them on their own as a side dish, or add them to various dishes. Here are some favorite recipes where you can use shiitake mushrooms:

Stir fry: They’re great in stir fries, like Tofu Stir Fry
Ramen: Try them in Mushroom Ramen
Bacon substitute: Make them into Shiitake Bacon
Soup: Try them in a Mushroom & Kale Soup or Wild Rice Mushroom Soup
Pasta: Use it in a mix of mushrooms in this Mushroom Pasta with Goat Cheese or Mushroom Pasta
Grains: Add them to Farro with Mushrooms
Pizza: Another place for a mix of mushrooms: pizza! Try it in Mushroom Pizza
Risotto: Shiitake mushrooms are perfect in Mushroom Risotto (made with homemade mushroom broth!)
Gravy: Add meaty flavor to Vegan Mushroom Gravy

Storage Instructions

Store leftover cooked shiitake mushrooms in an airtight container for up to 3 days. To reheat, warm in a skillet over medium heat for 1–2 minutes. I do not recommend freezing leftovers; the texture doesn’t hold up after thawing.

Dietary Notes

This shiitake mushrooms recipe is vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free (using olive oil).