Vanilla Glazed Carrot Cake

Heres a perfect snack or morning treat to start the day right! 

-Sarah 

Carrot Cake: 

• 1 cup sifted all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons oat bran
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Carrots!!! peeled and grated to make 2 cups

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a loaf pan. Mix dry ingredients. Beat together the eggs and sugar- add oil, vanilla, and cinnamon. Mix the two batters and add in your carrots! Pour into loaf pan for about an hour, or until golden brown. Cool cake before icing, or leave as is!

Icing:

• 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon milk (add slowly so it is not too liquidly) 

Mini Honey Apple Pies

I am not a huge pie person. Personally, if I am craving dessert it includes icing and chocolate! But a special guest has never known to be the chocolate type, so I made mini honey apple pies! 

- Sarah

Pastry:

• 2.5 cups of flour 
• 1 tablespoon sugar 
• 1 cup butter (unsalted and cut into cubes) 
• 1/2 cup ice water

To begin: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and sugar. Add the chilled, cubed butter and mix in with hands (or if your lucky a pastry blender). Blend butter and flour. Add 1/2 cup of ice water and mix. Form dough into 2 disks, wrap individually in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for an hour or so!

Filling:

• 6 apples ( I used a mix of granny smith and pink lady)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon 
• 1/4 cup of honey (or maple syrup or agave nectar)

To make the filling, toss everyone into a large mixing bowl. Preheat an oven to 400°F. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the dough and cut to the size of your pans ( i used a cupcake pan because i wanted individual serving size). Toss your filling into the pastry and cover with more pastry. Press the crust together to seal and knife an X into the top of dough. Bake for 20  minutes.  Let cool before eating (this maybe the hardest part!)... and if your lucky serve with some ice cream or like my gramps used to do, a slice of cheddar cheese!

Aggression Cookies

Makes one giant batch of delicious (although not specifically nutritious) cookies!

• 1 cup brown/raw sugar
• 2 cups (1 lb) butter (room temp)
• 4 cups large oatmeal flakes
• 2/3 Tbsp. baking soda
• 2 cups flour

To taste: Unsweetened coconut flakes, and chocolate chips. 

Put all ingredient in a large bowl and with your hands, mash, knead and mix together thoroughly. Form into small balls, place on cookie sheet. Mash ball flat with fork. 

Bake at 350 for 10-12 mins. 

Best served with milk. :)

- Benita

Super Simple Crepes

Ingredients:

• 1 cup flour
• 1 + 1/3-1/2 of milk
• 1 egg

Blend egg, add milk, slowly mix in flour. The batter should be fairly liquidy, not like pancake batter as these come out much thinner.

To cook:

Crepes cook best in a caste iron pan, as the heat is evenly distributed and holds much better than a non-stick frying pan does, however either will do.

On medium heat, add a dollop of butter, oil or some non-stick cooking spray. Evenly spread substance around pan so entire flat surface has a light coating.

Poor about an eighth of a cup of the batter into the centre of the pan, and turn slowly so the batter spreads and the crepe forms into a large circle.

Cook for about 45 seconds (although this cooking time will vary greatly depending upon the heat of the frying pan, and the density of the batter) and flip. Cook the other side under golden brown and serve hot!

I usually pile them on top of one another on a plate in the oven, so they all stay warm until serving time.

Toppings:

Be creative!! Anything you think would taste good… Yoghurt, fresh sliced fruit, jam, maple syrup, brie cheese and salmon, - I really like a fried egg with some melted cheese on top and asparagus, with lemon juice butter and brown sugar for dessert.. sky’s the limit with these guys! Sweet or savoury they are delicious. Enjoy!

- Benita