Healthy Blueberry Muffins

These muffins are to die for. Greek yogurt adds a delicious texture and the honey eliminates the need for a lot of sugar. July is the best month for blueberry picking up here in Connecticut, so stop by an orchard, pick your fill and get baking! Ingredients: 1 cup unbleached white flour 1 cup whole wheat flour 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp salt 1/2 cup plain, vanilla or blueberry Greek yogurt 1/4 cup honey 1/4 cup sugar 1 tsp vanilla 2 eggs 2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries Here's What You Do: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 12-cup muffin tin or fill with liners (you might want to grease the liners, too). Combine the first 5 ingredients in a bowl and set aside. Combine the next 5 ingredients and add them to the dry ingredients. Add the blueberries. Generously spoon the mixture into each cup. Bake for 15-17 minutes or until tops are light brown.

Quick Dinner Idea: Potato, Zucchini, Spinach Bake

My mom went on vacation last week and left me a bag of potatoes. I don't know why -- the potatoes would still be fine when she returned, but these days I just take whatever food she gives me. So I took the potatoes. So now what?

I opened my fridge. I had a couple of zucchinis, some mushrooms and baby spinach. It was time to get creative. And, I have to admit, what I came up with turned out so good that I had to share (and I plan to repeat with modifications suggested by all of you).

This "bake" almost seems like a "buckle" -- you know, the fruit-filled, casserole-like desserts that you just throw together when you've got too many blueberries or peaches. Except this one is savory and the potatoes really make it hearty. It's quick, easy and healthy! Cut it into squares for a party or use as a side dish.

Ingredients
3 medium-sized potatoes, peeled and sliced into rounds
2 zucchinis, sliced into rounds
2 cups baby spinach, chopped
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
1/2 cup shredded cheese (something that melts well and has good flavor)
2 cups white, unbleached flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
3 eggs
2 cups milk
3 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil

Here's what you do:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Combine all of the vegetables in a bowl and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of salt. Set aside.

Mix all dry ingredients in one bowl and the eggs, milk, cheese and oil in another. Combine the two bowls to make a batter. It should be thick, but runny (if it's too thick add a little more milk or water). Pour 1/3 of the batter into the bottom of a greased and floured rectangular Pyrex (lasagna-sized). Pour all of the vegetables on top of the bottom layer of batter, making sure the potatoes and zucchini are laying flat. Pour the rest of the batter on top of the vegetables, making sure the batter covers most of it. Bake for 25 minutes or until the top is golden brown.

This is one of those completely modifiable dishes. Add your own blend of vegetables and seasonings and tell me how it turns out.

Healthy, Hearty Granola Bars

Ok, so this is one of those "make it the way you want" recipes. You can add whatever kind of nuts, dried fruit or chocolate you want. Have fun with it and I promise it'll be GOOD.

2 cups oatmeal (not the quick cooking kind)

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1/4 cup pumpkin seeds

**other nut alternatives include almonds, sunflower seeds, hazelnuts or whatever's in your pantry

1/3 cup chopped dried apricots (or any other dried fruit like cranberries, cherries, mangoes, etc. -- just make the pieces morsel-sized)

1/3 cup chocolate chips

3/4 cup brown rice syrup (you can buy this at most natural foods stores)

1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a rectangular baking dish, mix the oatmeal and nuts. Toast in oven for 15 minutes, stirring halfway through for even toasting. Place in large bowl and let cool. Add dried fruit.

Spray empty baking dish with non-stick spray.

Pour brown rice syrup and vanilla into small pot and heat up on medium-high heat until the consistency thins out (about 2-4 minutes). Pour over oatmeal mixture and mix well until blended. Pour into baking dish and sprinkle chocolate chips on top (you can also add it to the mixture, but the chocolate chips will melt and the bars will be more chocolaty).

Bake for 20 minutes. Cool for 20 minutes before cutting. Yum!