I usually won't post something that is unhealthy but I almost had a heart attack when I thought I had lost this recipe. I substitute a lot of the ingredients for healthier one's even using my own bread recipe for the roll but I am posting this as is so I don't lose the original. It's going to be a surprise for Valentine's day for my husband! He's gonna love it!

Family's Favorite Cinnamon Rolls

Bread

1 cup warm milk

1/4 cup water

1/4 cup Butter, softened

1 egg

1 tsp salt

4 cups bread flour

1/4 instant pudding mix

1 tbs sugar

1 Tbs active dry yeast

Filling

1/4 cup butter, softened

1 cup brown sugar

2 tsp ground cinnamon

Frosting

4 oz cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1 1/2 tsp milk

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Mix bread ingredients in order of recipe. Let sit for 5 min. Roll onto a lightly floured surface in a 17X 10 inch rectangle. Spread with butter; sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon. Roll up, jelly-roll style, starting with the long side; pinch seam to seal. Cut into  21 slices. Place 12 slices, cut side down, in a greased 13X9 inch dish pan. Cover; let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes. Bake at 350 for 20-25 min or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack for 5 min. In a mixing bowl, beat frosting ingredients. Frost while warm. Makes 21 Rolls

Favorite press in dessert crust recipe

I do not love rolling out crusts, so I always use this press in one for desserts :)

2 cups flour
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup butter/coconut oil/olive oil melted
1/2 cup oats

Combine, set aside 1 cup for topping your pie and press in the remaining mixture into an ungreased 9 inch pie plate. We use this for fruit pies and for my chocolate pie recipe. :) I'll try to post the apple pie part of this recipe soon.

Honey Orange Rolls

Any roll recipe, though I used my pizza crust recipe (doubled) and it was awesome and FAST!

Here is the sauce:
3/4 cup honey (or 1 cup sucanat, raw cane sugar etc)
1/2 cup butter/coconut oil
1/4 cup frozen orange juice concentrate
1/4 cup water
2 TBS grated orange peel (either fresh or dehydrated)
8-10 drops orange essential oil (optional)

Preheat oven to 350. Prepare a bundt cake or fluted 10 inch tube pan. Melt together in a sauce pan on low heat. If you have used my pizza dough, that was about the same time to have it resting. Oil your hands and shape into balls, make one layer and pour some of the sauce over it. Add another layer and pour sauce over it until you have used the dough and sauce all up. Pour the extra sauce over the top.

My oven wasn't hot yet, so I let it rise over one of the warm burners for probably 10 minutes. Then I put it in.

Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes. Serving warm is best. My 8 year old said it's the best breakfast ever. It was our special General Conference breakfast this morning.

Chocolate pudding recipes!

These are chocolate pudding, but are not your typical recipes! So, please, don't turn your nose up, try it out, it's DELICIOUS!

Chocolate pudding #1
2 cups baby Thai meat or 2 small avacados
3/4 cup coconut water or just water (more if it needs to be thinned)
1/2 Cup maple syrup
1/3 cup agave nectar
1/2 cup cocoa powder or carob powder
2 TBS vanilla extract
1/4 tsp sea salt

Blend and enjoy!

Chocolate pudding #2 (less ingredients)
2 small avacados or 1 large
1-2 TBS cocoa
1 TBS honey (or to taste)

Use blender or food processor to mix. Use coconut milk or water to thin.

I usually make the second recipe because I really do have those ingredients on hand. I also sometimes decrease the amount of honey or sweetener and will use berry flavored stevia extract. SO YUMMY!

Vegan Chocolate Shake

I love chocolate shakes but I don’t love sugar and dairy. This reminds me of the shakes you get at a fast food restaurant but guilt free.

1 cup cashews

3 cups ice

3 Tbs unsweetened cocoa

2 dates, pits removed and chopped finely or try you luck in the blender

¼ cup water

¼ cup agave or pure maple syrup

¼ tsp sea salt

Add ingredients to a strong blender in the order listed and blend until smooth. Freezes great for a snack tomorrow.

Gogi Berry Balls (superfood cookies)

This is truly one of favorite recipes. It will give you energy and it high in nutrients. I made a batch of these when I ran Ragnar and it kept me going. I also eat these when I am pregnant because they taste so good and keep me going throughout the day.

2/3 cup agave nectar

1/4 soaked goji berried

1/2 cup cacao nibs (I use chocolate chips)

1/4 cup walnuts or pecans

1/2 cup raisins

10 pitted dates

5 dried black mission figs

1/4 cup sesame seeds

1/4 cup sunflower seeds

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/4 cup cocoa or carob powder

1 cup unsweetened coconut

Add all ingredients, except coconut, in a food processor and process until it is as creamy as you can get it. You can add a little water if necessary but don't add too much or it won't roll into balls. Next roll in coconut and chill in fridge or freezer for 30 min before serving.

Energy Bar (Yummy Snack)!

A friend of mine, who is also my visiting teaching partner, shared this recipe with me. She competes in bike rides and use this bar instead of Goo or power bars from the store. We like it for a snack and after a good run. My husband said it was addicting because of the rice puff crunch!

Energy Bar

Slightly warm these ingredients in a pan until they become mixed and more liquid:

1 cup of peanut butter, almond butter or cashew butter

3/4 cup of honey or agave

2 tsp vanilla

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp almond extract (optional)

Mix in blender or food processor and add to above:

1 1/2 cups sunflower seeds, almonds, or walnuts

1 cup dried fruit (apples, apricots, dates, raisins, craisins, or strawberries for example)

4 cups brown puffed rice

Mix all ingredients together and press into a 13 x 9 inch pan. I put plastic wrap over it and use a a cup to make it really smooth and compact. Refrigerate until firm.

You can cut into squares and wrap it individually if you want energy bars on the go. My family eats it out of the pan but I plan on taking it to snack on during the Ragnar.

Sweet Easy Pie Crust :)

I also love this pie crust recipe. It is also a press it into the pan recipe!

2 cups flour (white or whole wheat)

1 cup brown sugar, packed (I have used successfully 2/3 cup honey and 2 TBS blackstrap molasses)

3/4 cup butter/coconut oil/olive oil etc

1/2 cup quick-cooking oat (I don't own quick-cooking oats, if you are really worried you can blend it in the blender for a few seconds)

You can use part of it as a topping or make more pie crusts. You just mix them together (I use a pastry cutter) and press it in!

Yum yum and easy peasy!

Easy Pie Crust

I do not like to roll things out, it's a mess and I am not great at it. So, I use this press in the pan recipe and love it!

1 stick butter (I have used coconut oil, but it doesn't work quite the same)
1 cup flour (white or whole wheat works great)
2 TBS sugar (honey, sucanut, agave and xylitol all work fantastically!)

Work with hands until dough almost holds together (I use a pastry cutter). Press into pie plate. Bake at 375 degrees about 15 minutes. I have added extra sweetner before, cocoa powder and spices at different times for different things with great success. I never change the butter/flour ratio though.

Honey Caramel Popcorn

This is so tasty! My kids don't think that conference weekend is actually here until they have their caramel popcorn! Here is ONE of the recipes we love. I will try and find some of the other ones we enjoy, but Ron likes this one too :)

8 TBS of butter...coconut oil works great too!
1 cup of honey
Salt to taste
1 1/4 cup of popcorn (unpopped)

Pop the popcorn. I liked to do this right before. I used to do it simultaneously, but found that I couldn't do it by myself very well.

Bring butter, honey and salt to a boil on high heat. Let boil for 3-4 minutes.

Drizzle over popcorn while stirring. You can use two big spoons to toss and coat, but I just continually stir it until I am done drizzling, which does make for a very tired arm, but YUM YUM! Enjoy!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

These are so tasty! My kids loved them. They are very easy too. I doubled it, so I will be posting the doubled recipe :)

1 1/2 cups honey (if you are used to really sweet, you might like to add just a little more)

1/2 cup olive oil

4 eggs

2 cups mashed pumpkin (I used canned this time)

1/2 cup water

3 cups whole wheat flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp of baking soda

3/4 tsp ground cloves

2 tsp cinnamon

3/4 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp salt (which I forgot--with not bad results)

1 1/4 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375. Prepare pans (either grease/flour or use paper muffin liners)

Mix honey, oil and eggs. Add the pumpkin and water. Then add ingredients in order listed mixing just before adding the flour. Add flour and mix until wet. Then add in chocolate chips.

Fill muffin tins 2/3 full and bake for 20-25 minutes. Mine took only 20 minutes, but my oven runs a little hot.

Enjoy! The house smelled divine and the kids each ate 3 each for breakfast!

Raw Apple Cake

This cake is a Thanksgiving tradition in the Harper home. We love it and here it is!

2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup oil
2 cups flour (whole wheat or whit)
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
4 cups chopped apples (raw, peeled and cored)
2 cups sugar (or 1 1/2 cups honey)
1 cup chopped nuts (opt)
1 cup raisins

Chop the apples in a bowl and pour sugar over apples and set aside for a couple of hours (I never do this step)

Mix in remaining dry ingredients in a separate bowl.

Beat eggs and add vanilla then add the dry mixtrue to the egg mixture. Add oil and mix well. Fold in apples and sugar mix and then add in the raisins and nuts.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a pan and pour cake mixture into it.

Bake about an hour, it varies with different pans. ENJOY!

Christmas Mincemeat Bars

1 1/2 cups brown sugar (or 1 1/4 cups honey with 2 TBS molasses)
2 TBS molasses
1 TBS butter (softened) or coconut oil
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups sifted flour (I NEVER sift)
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cloves
3 TBS HOT water
1/4 cup sliced almonds (I almost never have these, so I chop my almonds)
1 1/2 cups prepared mincemeat

In a mixing bowl combine first 5 ingredients and mix thoroughly. Sift together flour, salt, sinnamon, baking soda and cloves, then stir into the molasses mixture. Stir in hot water, then stir in almonds and mincemeat.

Divide mixture in half and spread evenly over the bottoms of 2 greased 9X13 inch baking pans. It is a little tricky, but as it bakes the dough will puff up and take care of any holes.

Bake at 400 degrees 12-15 minutes until when touched lightly no imprint remains. Immediately use icing.

ICING
1 1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar
About 3 TBS hot milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp almond flavoring

In a small mixing bowl, combine powdered sugar, milk, vanilla and almond flavoring. Mix until smooth and ice! It's more like a glaze.

Fluffy Cupcake Frosting

This is a great frosting and is the best for those fluffy frostings. It isn't healthy and it is a very flexible frosting.

3 TBS flour
1 cup milk

Shake in a jar until mixed, then put into a pan and cook over medium heat until thick. Place plastic wrap on it and chill really well.

After chilled whip up and add:

1/2 cup softened butter
1/2 cup crisco

While it is whipping add:

1 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp (to taste) vanilla/almond extract etc

Whip up some more!

I usually double this. I also cook it in my kitchenaide bowl so that I don't have to change bowls for whipping/chilling etc. Enjoy!

Moist Chocolate Cake

I love this cake recipe. It is so moist and always a winner for our guests.

3 cups flour (white or wheat, though remember with wheat a little more dense)
2 cups sugar (I have successfully used 1 3/4 cups honey)
1/2 cup cocoa
1 cup butter milk (I don't usually have this, so I use milk with lemon or vinegar in it)
1 cup and 1 TBS oil
2 eggs
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp almond extract (optional, I LOVE it, my hubby doesn't)
1 cup boiling water

Mix all ingredients together in order listed and then pour into a greased 9X13 pan and bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. It can take longer, just until a knife/toothpick comes out clean!

Cream Cheese Frosting

This is not really healthy, but it sure was tasty on the pineapple cake recipe!

2 8 oz. packages of cream cheese
3/4 cup butter
4 tsp vanilla
5 cups of powdered sugar

Mixed everything thoroughly. Chill a couple of hours and then re-whip and frost! This would also be great with Almond extract, though I haven't tried it yet. :)

Pineapple Cake Recipe

This recipe is nearly the recipe that my mother-in-law gave me. It's delicious and we enjoy it a lot. It doesn't really need the frosting in our house, but in some homes it might. I have made it with and without nuts, it is wonderful either way. It is vegan without the frosting as well.

2 C flour (whole wheat or white)
2 c Sugar (or 1 1/2 cups honey)
2 eggs (or liquid lecithin)
2 tsp soda
2 tsp vanilla
1 20 oz. can crushed pineapple (no need to drain, dump it all in)
1/2 tsp salt
Pecans or other nuts (optional)

Combine above and beat on high 3 minutes.
Pour into prepared a 9 X 13" cake pan.
Bake at 350 for 30 - 35 min.

Cream Cheese Frosting: (or use whipped cream)
8 oz. cream cheese
1/2 cube butter or coconut oil
2 C powdered sugar

Beat & spread.

Amazing Chocolate Muffins

Many of you have asked for this recipe...it is an adaption that my friend came up with and they are truly wonderful! Even my husband adores them!

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This is the recipe with my alterations. I have increased this by up to 8 times and not had any problems. If you follow this exactly, these will be wheat free, dairy free, and sugar free! Enjoy!

Inspired by Joyful Heart Muffins: approx. 12
Nonstick spray or cupcake liners
1 cp applesauce
½ cp honey
2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp canola oil
¾ cp oat flour
1/3 cp unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tsps baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
Dash of cinnamon
½ cp vegan chocolate chips

Mix wet ingredients in one bowl, dry in a bigger bowl. Make a well in dry and pour in wet. Mix well. Use an icecream scoop to divide into muffin tin and get nice even muffins. Bake at 375* for 20 mins. Cool completely and Enjoy!

Yummy Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

Hey all! Today we are making super tasty banana muffins. These can be made in a variety of ways and the recipe is very forgiving, which I will list for you to decide for yourself. :)

Wet ingredients
1/2 cup butter/coconut oil/olive oil (I have used all with great success)
3/4 cup sugar/xylitol or 1/2 cup honey (I usually use honey)
2 large eggs (I often add an extra)
1 cup ripe bananas--I add them whole to my kitchenaide
1 tsp vanilla


Dry Ingredients
1/2-3/4 cups wheat germ
2 cups (I use whole wheat, if I use white I use more wheat germ)
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup chocolate/carob chips

I don't follow the directions to the original recipe I was given because I am not using all of the same ingredients AND I am all about getting done fast and not dirtying a lot of dishes. So..the way I do this is I put the oil I put the first 3 ingredients in until well mixed, then I add the eggs one at a time. If I am using honey and olive oil then I add the oil first and then add the honey with the same mesuring cup, then it doesn't stick. I then add the vanilla and mix.

After mixing all the wet ingredients, I then add the dry ingredients alternating and then mix them in. This mixture should be smooth and creamy with a few lumps, if you are finding it to be too dry you can add any kind of milk (almond/rice/hemp/cow)

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes checking to see when the toothpick comes out clean.

Note: I often double or triple this recipe and share them. Also, they freeze fabulously so for those of you who want to cook and freeze ahead this is a great one to do this with. Enjoy!

Oatmeal cookies

I like this recipe because it has lots of oats in it. I have another one I love that is gluten free, but this isn't that one. I also don't know where this recipe came from (has been passed around the family) but we sure enjoy it! I will just post what I use as opposed to what the original recipe uses, because I haven't ever made the original recipe

1 cup butter/coconut oil (both are great!)
1 1/2 cups honey
4 eggs (I have been known to use up to 6)
2 TBS molasses
4 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp vanilla
1-2 tsp cinnamon (optional)
5 cups oatmeal
raisins/nuts/chocolate or carob chips (optional)

Cream butter/coconut oil and honey together and add the eggs. Then add all the ingredients up to and including the molasses. Then add the vanilla and cinnamon. Add the oatmeal and then other additions you choose. I use up to 2 cups combination of any of them. We love chopped almonds and carob/chocolate chips. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes on a lightly oiled cookie sheet. You don't need to oil it if you use non-stick pans.

Enjoy! Miss Melanie