Autumn

Autumn

Friday, November 23, 2012

Thankful on Thanksgiving for Cake in a Mug!

I can't believe Thanksgiving has come and gone! Today is Black Friday and Christmas is just around the corner... along with ice, snow, and winter storms. Oh joy!

I am very thankful I was able to spend my Thanksgiving with a co-worker's family since I was unable to head home to my family a couple states away. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner, and unfortunately I have no photos to show for it. Do not fear though, I have some pictures of cake in a mug!

I first tried cake in a mug last week and loved it! It is super easy, tasty, and creates the perfect single-serving treat. I'd rather not bake an entire cake for myself... that's simply not a good idea.

Below are a few of the different types I made. I experimented with egg, without egg, with oil, with part oil/part applesauce, with stevia, with sugar, with white flour, with wheat flour, etc. You really can't go wrong. Some versions taste better, but all seemed pretty good to me.


Chocolate Oatmeal Cake in a Mug


Banana Cake in a Mug

Have any of you tried making cake in a mug? You should! There are lots of great recipes to try, such as this a chocolate cake recipe!


Friday, November 9, 2012

Shiloh Farms Review

Shiloh Farms recently sent me a lovely complimentary package of products to review. Shiloh Farms foods are "pure and wholesome, with no artificial ingredients, no preservatives and only natural flavor." You can check out a timeline for the interesting history of Shiloh Farms here. The Shiloh Farms Blog states that their mission is "to provide great tasting organic and natural foods for people who want a wholesome, healthy diet." I can certainly support a mission like that! Their blog also has lots of recipes you should check out.

I was very excited to receive my package, and my kitten loved the box!

The first product I tried was the organic sprouted corn bread and muffin mix. My kitten loved this product the most.


THIS IS MOI MIX! OM NOM NOM!



Sprouted corn bread and muffin mix: 9.5 of 10. These muffins are a great addition to any meal, especially during the fall season, and they turned out wonderfully. They were moist with a hearty corn flavor, and less "fake" than the yellow cornmeal muffin mixes I am used to.



Carob Powder: 10 of 10. I had never tried carob powder prior to receiving this sample, but I like the slightly bitter, slightly sweet flavor that is somewhat like cocoa powder with a milder chocolate flavor. It worked quiet well in the mini chocolate cake pictured above (with pomegranate seeds!) that I actually made in a mug in the microwave. I have also successfully used this powder in my green smoothies and oatmeal.




Soybean Flakes: 10 of 10. These are more hearty and a better source of protein than regular oats, yet they are just as easy to cook. I definitely enjoyed these thick, substantial flakes with a slightly nutty flavor and look forward to trying them in recipes other than just mixed with yogurt and chia seeds (pictured above).

I enjoyed trying the Shiloh Farms products listed above, and I hope you check them out for yourself! Have a great weekend everyone!