cooking ala mel

healthy recipes and the occasional craft

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Buckwheat Banana Nut Muffins (Gluten Free, Refined Sugar Free)

Over the weekend, I fell into the rabbit-hole that is Elementary, another modern day Sherlock series with a female Watson played by Lucy Liu.  I’m a huge fan of Sherlock, so I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about another Sherlock series, but I like it just as much, if not more.  The dynamic between a male Sherlock and a female Watson is such a neat change.  I’m really enjoying it, so much so that I am now up to date in the second season.  But now that I’m up to date, I can go back to normal and get back in the kitchen… but before we move onto these delicious muffins I made, does anybody else watch and love Elementary?!  I’d love to hear how you think of it.

Buckwheat Banana Nut Muffins (Gluten Free) | cooking ala mel
I got a shipment of buckwheat flour in the mail today, so of course I had to immediately whip up a bunch of goodies.  With a bunch of overripe bananas sitting on the counter, I immediately had to try a gluten free banana nut muffin.  I’m so pleased with how these turned out – perfectly moist and subtly sweet, without any extra sugar!  I used only mashed bananas and a little bit of liquid stevia.  So good!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Green Smoothie

Well!  We’ve successfully made it through the Polar Vortex here in Buffalo.  I loved having an excuse to curl up with a big mug of tea and watching the crazy white-out blizzard outside.  So thankful that I didn’t have to go anywhere; I took the trash out before it got overly cold (it was still in the single digits), and I was frozen to the core even after bundling up like crazy.  Here’s to some warmer temperatures coming our way!

With how cold it’s been, I really haven’t wanted a single thing that was cold, but I have of course, been having my usual ice cream cravings.  No ice cream to be found in this apartment, so I had to whip up something that was a close second!  And healthier. [Read more…]

Aplets (Apple Walnut Turkish Delight)

One of my all time favorite fantasy series is The Chronicles of Narnia.  I try to read them at least once a year, and it feels like coming home each time.  You can’t mention Turkish Delight without me thinking about Edmund and his Turkish Delight from the White Witch.  When I was younger, I never quite understood what the Turkish Delight was, even though my family got Aplets & Cotlets all the time, which are really just Turkish Delight with different fruits.  This year, I decided to make my own!

I was extremely pleased with how these turned out.  Just as good as I remember the Aplets & Cotlets being, but even fruitier!  So tasty.  You do need a candy thermometer for this one, but I promise it’s actually pretty easy!  There’s a lot less chance of burning it like you easily can with caramel.

[Read more…]