Simply Healthy Family's Favorite Fall Recipe Roundup {say that 10 timesfast!}

Here's what's happening right now. I decided to stop blogging because

a.)   I keep comparing myself to other bloggers even though I firmly believe in not comparing myself to anyone, ever and therefor am making myself depressed, crazy and then just plain pissed followed by a general annoyance for no good reason. (I do however believe in random, run-on-sentences) and

b.)   I've become overwhelmingly consumed by guilt from spending too much time on the computer editing, writing and researching for my blog and not enough time with my children. No matter how many times I tell myself that a little bit of "me time" is a good thing I still feel guilty every time I'm sitting here and the kids are running around the house like banshees.


Then,  I had a day off, the weather dropped  20+ degrees into down right awesome here in Phoenix, I had a nap, then a glass or two of wine and  got over myself.  Onward and upward,  all things in moderation et cetera, et cetera.......




Lastly and coincidently, my 3 younger children have been playing very nicely together for 4 hours straight. No one is under the influence of medication or bribery, no one has incidentally knocked out someones tooth and no one has cried, died or gotten on anyone's nerves for FOUR HOURS STRAIGHT.  I'm going to go with my positive self and not think about the calm before the storm that will hit full force right around bedtime. Happy thoughts.





So in an effort to remind myself why I do what I do in this silly blogging world I compiled my very favorite Fall Foods to share with you. I usually don't do 'round ups' but looking through my favorite recipes and flavors, Fall is always on the top of the list. Every time.

I hope you stick with me and more importantly have tried or at least saved a recipe or two from my humble little place here. Any thoughts or suggestions are always appreciated. What would you like to see more of here at Simply Healthy Family? What are your favorite Fall foods? Do you ever experience "Mom Guilt"? How do you cope?

Fall Favorites from Simply Healthy Family

for football parties, fall picnics and fire pit gatherings. 

Apple Cider and Pomegranate Popsicles

Cast Iron Skillet Green Chili, Buttermilk Corn Bread

Chipotle en Adobo Butternut Squash Lasagna

Chipotle and Cheddar Cheese Cauliflower Poppers

Baked Buffalo Cauliflower with Home Made Blu Cheese Dressing.

Vegetarian Stuffed Poblano Chilies with Ancho Guajillo Sauce

Pumpkin Egg Nog Custard {sugar free}

Pumpkin, Chick Pea and Red Lentil Stew 

South Western Style Spaghetti Squash with Chorizo and Peppers

Roasted, Buttered Spagetti Squash with Two Bean Croquettes

Sweet and Smokey Slow Cooked Garbanzo Beans on Home Made Flax Seed Crepes

Healthy Almond-Coconut Thumbprint Cookies with Melted Chocolate

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Ginger-Pear Popsicles

Have you ever heard of Seasonal Affective Disorder 'SAD'? According to the Mayo Clinic it is described as a very real condition which is a type of depression that occurs at the same time every year. Usually symptoms start in the fall and may continue into the winter months, sapping your energy and making you feel moody.

Usually people who are affected with this live in a part of the Country or World where there is less light during the day such as in Washington State or the East Coast here in the States. This being said, my husband is convinced he has SAD. He's not the type of guy to complain or even mention that he not feeling well and has 'jokingly' said he must have SAD when I ask him why he is so sullen lately. The fact that we live in Phoenix, Az., the Valley of the Sun makes it harder to wrap my head around the possibility that a native Zonie can have a condition that is primarily caused by a lack of light. (light therapy usually helps treat this condition).  Maybe a vacation to the Bahamas is in order! I've been feeling a bit moody or as I like to say "hormonally unstable" lately as well. Then again, I'm used to it. ;)

Maybe a V-K isn't possible right now but I'm pretty sure popsicles cheer up most everyone, right?

Who says popsicle season is over? IMHO it's the perfect time for a cold sweet treat especially when all of my favorite flavors are in season like pears, pumpkin and apples. Apple Pie popsicle anyone? Check back on Thursday for the recipe and a chance to win my new favorite toy, the Zoku Pop Maker. This cute little gadget is cord free and can freeze popsicles in about 5 minutes! Shazaaam!

Ginger Pear Popsicles

Simple ingredients: Fresh pears, ginger root, vanilla almond milk and honey.

Did you know that ginger is excellent for calming a sick tummy? If you or your kiddos have an upset tummy give them one of these popsicles, it will help with nausea. I wish I had thought of these

when I had morning sickness for months on end!

My favorite pear to snack on are Bosc's although they are slightly grainy and next time I won't use them in popsicles. As my 8 year old put it "It tastes like you put sand in these."

These are my other favorites:

Bartlett's  are the juiciest pears when eaten raw and, consequently, lose their shape when cooked, turning to pear-sauce quite easily with the briefest exposure to heat. They are perfect for making Pear Butter or any other recipe where you want the pears to fall apart when you cook them.

Anjou  pears have a mild flavor and a firm texture, while still being sweet and juicy.

Bosc  pears are crisp when raw and hold their shape beautifully when cooked. They have the best example of the soft, grainy texture associated with pears. They are easy to recognize by their brownish russet skin, classic pear shape, and heady pear aroma. Use them to make savaory dishes like Pork With Pears and Chiles and Bourbon-Glazed Pears, or in desserts like Upside-Down Pear Cake and Sparkling Pear Sorbet.

Asian  pears are super crunchy - more like crisp apples than other pears. They are great for eating raw, especially when sliced or diced into salads. They are so good raw, in fact, that people rarely cook Asian pears. If you have a glut of them, though, they work wonderfully in tarts and crisps, like this Asian Pear Crisp. 

Ingredients 

3 fresh pears (any kind should work)1 small piece of fresh ginger root (about the size of your thumb)1 cup vanilla almond milk1tablespoon local Organic honey1/2 teaspoon cinnamon1/4 teaspoon nutmeg1/8 teaspoon cardamom

Blend all ingredients in blender until smooth, NO ice! I used my Vitamix so I even included the seeds and skins on the pears. Pour the mixture into the Zoku Pop Maker. Set timer for 7 minutes and watch while your kids peer over the top and watch the Popsicles freeze before their eyes!

The Results?

Jack ~ 8 1/2 years old "They taste kind of like nothing"  He's my cynic  

Nolan ~ 7 years old   "They're delicious! They kind of taste like chocolate but not really. Next time can we have chocolate popsicles?" He's my little sweet tooth.  

Mona ~  4 years old   "Mmmmmmm, these are sooooooo goooooooood! They taste just like a popsicle!"  She's my baby. ;}

Bottom line? I loved them! They were very refreshing with just a hint of zing from the ginger and a touch of sweetness from the honey.  Next time I might add a bit more honey to appease the kids. Perfect for sitting out on the back patio during the fall months with a cool breeze. 

Don't forget to stop by on Thursday for my Apple Pie popsicle recipe and a chance to win a Zoku Pop Maker!

happy snacking!

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Over Night Tart Cherry and Pear Crisp Breakfast

I am not a morning person. Everyone who knows me knows that it's best not to ask me anything serious, important or annoying in any way shape or form before I've had a cup of coffee. You would think that I would be used to being up and at em' at the crack of dawn since I've been doing it pretty much my entire life. I have to be up around 5 a.m. for work with my head screwed on tightly by 6:30 and ready to focus in surgery. Also, after having 4 kids, my first one at age 19 I've known many a early mornings in my day.

Not happening. I've tried, honestly. I've gotten up early to go hiking which I l.o.v.e. I've committed to boxing classes that started at 5:00 a.m. and actually felt totally amazing and pumped for the day afterwards but dragging my zombie butt out of bed was shear torture. 

So making a decent breakfast for myself and the kiddos while trying to get ready for the day is out of the question. I have however committed to not buying any more  boxed cereal  whatsoever so I've been forced to come up with some other healthy and most importantly simple options.

Over night breakfast to the rescue!

You simply throw all the ingredients, which are minimal into your slow cooker and walk away. 

I love non-committal recipes like that.

Unless your lucky enough to have a slow cooker with an automatic shut of button (most newer ones do) than you might have to make this during the day and reheat in the morning. Unless you stay up late like me and start it around 10p.m. and are up super early like me  *sigh  to shut it off than it may burn a bit.  I'm actually o.k. with that, tastes like a cookie!

So I have an automatic shut off option on my slow cooker but I have made thrown this together before making dinner, around 4p.m. on the 6 hour option instead of the 10 hours and turned it off before going to bed making sure not to lift the lid for a peak and a sniff. It was just as good the next morning.

Just a few options for ya.

You will need: 

1 1/2 cups steel cut oats
1 cup water
1 1/2 cups almond milk or milk of your choice
2 pears of the firmer variety
1/2 cup dried tart cherries
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon real vanilla (optional)
2 tablespoons local Organic honey
1/2 teaspoon salt


Throw all ingredients into your slow cooker. Turn on the lowest setting if making before you go to bed or follow instructions above for other options. Wake up in the morning to the smell of cinnamon, honey pear crisp and enjoy a fuss free morning.

Now that's the way to start your day!

What do you usually have for breakfast?

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Pear-Gingerbread Cake

Short and sweet is my middle name tonight. Take that as you will....

I don't make dessert very often, much to my children's dismay. Bad mommy. Truth be told I'm to freaking exhausted at the end of the day to even think about dessert. Not to mention the calories, dishes and most importantly, the expectations it creates for every. single. other. night of the week. Who wants to deal with all of that? Not me.

I saw this cake on one of my favorite 'Go to' sites,  Ask Georgie.  She's pretty awesome. Georgie is a registered dietician who lives in Colorado {jealous} and has some wonderfully creative and healthy recipes that are still fantastically delicious like this one....


'Pear-Gingerbread Cake'


* The only things I really changed was using Raw sugar for Splenda because I personally don't believe in Splenda. Man made/artificial = not good in my book. Also, I used coconut oil instead of canola oil.
The cake was just wonderful. Not to sweet at all, so some might pause to call it a dessert which is just fine with me. I am all about flavor versus sugar.

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{Healthy Mamma}

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Pear Gingerbread Cake

TIME  10 MINUTES PREP, 35 MINUTES BAKE     YEILDS 1- 9" round cake (I doubled)
Ingredients:

2 pears (not overripe)

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

 1/2 tsp ginger (ground)

1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cloves
1/8 tsp allspice
1/8 tsp salt
1 tsp fresh grated ginger root
2 Tablespoons milled flaxseed
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup Raw sugar
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/3 cup unsulfered molasses
1/4 cup egg whites
2/3 cup skim milk (or Almond milk)


 
 
Putting it all together:
 
Preheat oven to 350. Cut a circle of parchment to fit the bottom of a round cake or springform pan. Slice the pears into thin slices and arrangle in the bottom of the pan in a circular pattern.
 
In a large bowl, mix all the dry ingredients well (flour through sugar). In a separate bowl, mix the oil, molasses, egg whites, and milk. Add a small amount of the dry ingredients to the wet ones, and stir to combine. Add the remaining dry ingredients, and stir just until the batter is uniform and no lumps remain.
Do not overbeat. Pour batter gently over slices pears and smooth.
 
Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack. Invert onto serving platter and gently remove parchment.

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