Do You Know the Muffin Mom?

This is the most AWESOME blog–my new site for sharing all of the fantastic muffin recipes I’ve been inventing over the years! Check it out at http://themuffinmom.wordpress.com/

Crockpot Meatless Sloppy Joes

We made these DELICIOUS sloppy joes yesterday and they were a hit! My kids even ate them! 
Rather than meat, this recipe calls for brown rice and beans. However, I think I would like to substitute wheat grains next time, because when they puff up, they resemble ground beef more than rice and beans do!
 
Ingredients:
1 tsp [...]

The Fast Food Demon

Vile Voice
A poem by La Donna Mobile
“What do you wish?”
Asked a voice from somewhere.
I said, “Please destroy me
Beyond all repair.”
 
“Ah yes,” it replied
“I can damage you so
You will get your money’s worth
And I think you should know
 
That the damage I cause
Will sorely deform you,
Grotesquely disfigure
And brutally transform you.”
 
So I paid it to hurt me,
To poison [...]

Meatless Mexican Crockpot Dinner

Wow–this tastes so good that even my kids will eat it!  (As long as I top it with grated cheese, that is.  Mine looks like the photo)  Here’s the recipe:
Meatless Mexican Meal
2 T. canola oil
1 small onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
Add oil to a skillet; saute the onion and garlic in the oil, then add:
2 [...]

The DISH on Fatty School Lunches

Wow–I only recently learned about the politics behind our childrens’ school lunches when I read a book called The Culprit and the Cure.  Here’s what I learned:

The nation’s school lunch programs are funded separately from the education programs.  They are governed by the USDA
The USDA’s mission is to promote the American cattle and dairy industries
This means [...]

More on the Wheat Shortage

Wow–ever since my posting about the Wheat Shortage last month, I have had a lot of mail and input from blog readers–thank you so much for keeping me informed!
I had assumed that we wouldn’t feel the pinch of rising wheat prices until next year, but check out these news reports:
http://www.newsday.com/features/food/ny-liwhea215585718feb21,0,2822608.story
http://cbs5.com/consumer/bread.price.wheat.2.655722.html
http://video.nbc5i.com/player/?id=221137
Thanks, again, for the input!

Whole Grain Heaven?

As you all know, I was somewhat concerned about a possible wheat shortage, so when some friends from church got together a bulk order for a good deal on wheat, I ordered 500 pounds!
My wheat arrived today, and has filled my pantry so full that I could barely step inside to take this picture:

But there is one teensy [...]

More Healthy Muffins

We just love this recipe; thank you Sparkpeople for your healthy recipe site!
Healthy Oatmeal Muffins
Ingredients

1 cup old fashioned oatmeal
1 cup skim milk (nonfat works well too)
1 cup whole-wheat flour
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 egg whites
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

1. Mix oats and milk and let sit for 1 hour.
2. [...]

How I Get My Children to Eat Squash

I hide squash in my bread!  Here’s the recipe:
2.5 tablespoons yeast
1/2 cup warm water
2 tablespoons sugar
2 and 1/2 cups cooked buttercup or butternut squash
2 cups milk
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
2/3 cup butter, softened
2 eggs
3 tsp salt
7 cups whole wheat flour
6 cups white or bread flour
In large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water.  Add sugar [...]

The Ten Worst Foods Ever!

Thank you, Sparkpeople, for alerting us to the dangerous Ten Worst Foods of 2007!
My husband and I haven’t eaten anything from a fast food restaurant since 1994 when we watched Super Size Me for the first time.  Before that, I enjoyed the occasional cheeseburger, but haven’t touched one since seeing that documentary!
I’m grateful to Sparkpeople and books like [...]