Blueberry Muffins

1/2 c. butter
1 c. sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. milk
2 c. fresh/frozen (partially thawed) blueberries

Beat butter until fluffy. Add sugar and mix well. Stir in eggs and vanilla. In separate bowl mix flour, baking powder and salt. Add half the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix well. Stir in half the milk, then the rest of the flour, and then the remaining milk, mixing just enough to combine. Gently fold in blueberries. Fill 12 greased or lined muffin cups with mixture and bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes (until golden).

Peanut Butter Treats

Tastes like Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

1/2 c. butter/hard margarine
1 c. smooth peanut butter
1 c. graham cracker crumbs
2 c. icing sugar
1 c. chocolate chips
3 tbsp. margarine

Heat (on low) butter and peanut butter in saucepan, stirring, until smooth. Add graham cracker crumbs and icing sugar; mix well. Press into ungreased 8x8 pan.

Heat and stir chocolate chips and butter in saucepan on low until smooth (or microwave, stirring every 30 seconds). Spread over top of peanut butter layer and let stand until set.

Quinoa Granola

Another Foodgawker find.

1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup dry quinoa, rinsed and spread out to dry slightly
1/3 cup chopped almonds
1/3 cup sunflower seeds
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
1/2 cup applesauce
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons honey
1/3 cup dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, cherries, or a mixture)

Preheat oven to 300. In a large bowl combine oats, quinoa, almonds, sunflower seeds, and sesame seeds. Set aside.

Stir together applesauce, cinnamon, vanilla, and honey. Taste and add more honey or cinnamon as needed. Pour over oat mixture and stir to moisten all of the ingredients. Spread the mixture onto a greased 9 x 13 inch pan. Bake for 40 – 50 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, until granola is golden and crunchy. Remove from oven and stir in dried fruit. Let cool before serving.

*Because of the quinoa, this granola is best for sprinkling on yogurt (or eaten some other way with a spoon) - it's just too fine and crumbly. I prefer to eat granola on it's own without a utensil, so I added close to half a cup of peanut butter and an egg white to the liquid ingredients. This held the dry ingredients together better, yielding more "clusters" vs. crumbs. Also, I discovered eating uncooked quinoa can give you a stomach ache if you don't drink any water with it. So be sure to drink up if you enjoy this granola!