Apple Pecan Muffins

Apple Pecan Muffins

by | Oct 18, 2021 | BREAKFAST AND BRUNCH, QUICK BREADS, SNACKS | 0 comments

Apple Pecan Muffins

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Apple Pecan Muffins set in a row on a wooden serving dish with a background of green apples.

There is definitely a chill settling in, making it the best time to bake up warm Apple Pecan Muffins. These lovely, tender muffins are packed with apple and warm fall spices, making them perfect with your morning tea or coffee.

Apple Pecan Muffins scooped in tins and ready for baking.

It’s the grated apple in this recipe that makes them tender and delicious. Shredding the apple allows for even distribution throughout the batter better than chunks and creates a moist and tender muffin. These muffins are also nicely plumped and studded with pecans. There is enough batter to fill the muffin tins very full, so don’t be skimpy. You’ll want to add about a third of a cup of batter to each muffin tin. You can use paper liners or scoop the batter into a generously buttered pan. But know that if using paper liners, you must let the muffins cool completely before removing the liner or the muffin will stick to it. Buttered tins work just as well, and you’ll be able to eat them slightly warm out of the pan.

A close up of Apple Pecan Muffins served on a striped napkin with a background of green apples.

You’ll want to try these muffins with my Pumpkin Spice Honey Butter for a real treat. It’s a great combination and a blast of fall spice to help keep the chill away. Enjoy!

Want more muffins?

Whole Wheat Peach Streusel Muffins

Pumpkin Seed and Nut Muffins

Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

 

Author:  Compelled to Cook

A close up of Apple Pecan Muffins served on a striped napkin with a background of green apples.
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Apple Pecan Muffins

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 12 muffins

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp allspice
  • 4 ounces unsalted butter
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 2 medium granny smith apples, peeled and grated about 2 cups
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans Optional

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400°F and set oven rack to the middle position.
  • Generously butter 12 non-stick muffin tins or line with paper liners.
  • In a small bowl combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg and allspice. Set aside.
  • Melt butter and cream together with both sugars. Whisk in eggs one at a time until incorporated and light in texture. Stir in vanilla.
  • Add 1/3 of the milk and then 1/3 of the flour mixture whisking to combine. Repeat, alternating the milk and flour. Stir in grated apples and chopped pecans.
  • Scoop the batter evenly between the prepared muffin tins using approximately 1/3 cup of batter for each. The tins will be quite full.
  • Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes at 400°F and then reduce the temperature to 350°F for an additional 8-10 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Remove from oven and allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before removing to a cooling rack.

Notes

-muffins baked with paper liners need to cool completely before trying to peel off the paper and prevent them from sticking to the paper.
-the chopped pecans are optional.

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Spiced Honey Butter

Spiced Honey Butter

by | Sep 27, 2021 | BREAKFAST AND BRUNCH, CONDIMENTS AND SAUCES | 0 comments

Spiced Honey Butter

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My inspiration for today’s sweet and spicy honey butter comes from my recent 50th birthday celebration. Not only did I get to spend it with some very special people, but I also got to enjoy cake and a few gifts. As a food blogger, nothing says happy birthday more than a foodie gift, right? One of the birthday gifts received was a trio of flavoured gourmet honey. One of them being maple honey, which was fantastic mixed with butter and melted over steamed carrots. Another was pumpkin spice honey which I cheerfully mixed with butter and spread onto a toasted bagel. It was ohhhh so good!

Butter, honey and spices arranged on a wooden board in preparation for Pumpkin Spice Honey Butter.

So in the fashion of sharing, I mixed warm fall spices with honey and butter so you can enjoy Spiced Honey Butter without having to worry about finding and buying specialty honey. It’s super easy to make at home and wonderful on baked goods like zucchini bread, muffins, bagels/toast, pancakes and French toast. All I can say now is thank goodness for turning 50, thoughtful people and foodie gifts. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Spice Honey Butter spread on zucchini bread and arranged on a wooden board with extra butter.
Pumpkin Spice Honey Butter served in a small stainless steel dish and arranged with pine cones.

Author:  Compelled to Cook

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Spiced Honey Butter

Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/8 tsp allspice
  • 1/8 tsp ground clove
  • 1/8 tsp salt

Instructions

  • Add all ingredients to a medium bowl and mix until smooth.

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Spinach and Feta Shakshuka

Spinach and Feta Shakshuka

by | Jun 6, 2021 | BREAKFAST AND BRUNCH, EGGS, VEGETARIAN | 0 comments

Spinach and Feta Shakshuka

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Spinach and Feta Shakshuka ready to serve from a shallow braiser.

Meatless meals can be so darn good! Spinach and Feta Shakshuka is a quick and easy vegetarian meal that has a crazy amount of nutrition packed into it. Eggs on their own are very nutritious, add in spinach, leeks and legumes and you’ve got a healthy dose of vitamins A, C, K and D, not to mention loads of protein and fibre. This lovely dish packs a lot of flavour too, plus it’s prime for serving for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

The preparation of ingredients for Spinach and Feta Shakshuka.
Spinach and Feta Shakshuka in a shallow braiser ready to cook the eggs.

There are plenty of green shakshuka variations out there, but I love the classic feta and dill combination of this one. It’s bursting with fresh flavours of dill and lemon, and the spinach is a great pairing with the eggs. I’ve opted to use cannellini beans, however, other legumes such as chickpeas would be great as well. I find the beans round out the dish and make it rustic and very satisfying. I also suggest serving this dish with crusty, toasted bread. You’ll need it to dunk into the perfectly soft eggs and scoop up the saucy greens. Enjoy!

Spinach and Feta Shakshuka ready to serve from a shallow braiser.

Author:  Compelled to Cook

Spinach and Feta Shakshuka ready to serve from a shallow braiser.
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Spinach and Feta Shakshuka

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Servings 3 people

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 medium leeks, well cleaned
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup vegetable broth
  • 1/2 tsp ground coriander
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 7 ounces fresh baby spinach
  • 3/4 cup cooked cannellini beans, see note
  • 2 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
  • 1/2 each lemon
  • 6 large eggs
  • 3 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
  • 2 each green onions

Instructions

  • Thinly slice the leeks and green onions. Heat oil in a large shallow skillet or braiser. Add leeks and garlic. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until starting to soften. Stir in broth, cumin, coriander, salt and pepper. Simmer for 4-5 until leels are tender and most of the broth has cooked out.
  • Add spinach and toss gently with leeks until wilted. Stir in beans, dill and squeeze in the juice of half a lemon. Make 6 large indentations and crack an egg into each. Sprinkle evenly with feta cheese. Cover and cook on medium heat until egg whites are just set and the centers still jiggle, about 4-5 minutes.
  • Sprinkle with sliced green onions and the remaining tbsp of fresh dill. Serve with toasted bread.

Notes

-I used cannellini beans for this recipe and enjoyed them in the dish.   Chickpeas would be another great choice.

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Nut Butter Granola Bars

Nut Butter Granola Bars

by | Sep 10, 2020 | BREAKFAST AND BRUNCH, GLUTEN FREE, SNACKS, VEGETARIAN | 0 comments

NUT BUTTER GRANOLA BARS

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Baked Nut Butter Granola Bars cut and wrapped with a ribbon.

These slightly chewy, a little bit crunchy Nut Butter Granola Bars are the perfect snack or grab and go breakfast. As the name implies, they are made with nut butter, and my personal preference is natural chunky peanut butter. I’ve also made them with almond butter, which is tasty too, however the peanut flavour really comes through when using peanut butter and it’s a great flavour that marries up nicely with the honey. So tasty!

Nut Butter Granola Bars pressed into a 9x13 pan and ready for baking.

From this recipe, you get 16 nicely sized bars that wrap and freeze well for those of you who like to get a little meal prep done. If it’s likely that your hungry family will hoover through these is a short time, they’ll last for several days in a sealed container at room temperature.

Nut Butter Granola Bars are gluten-free, packed full of protein from the goodness of nuts and egg whites. The fat from the peanut butter and ground-up nuts helps to keep you feeling full and dried fruit and honey give a little chewiness and natural sweetness. There’s no excuse not to have a batch of these ready for snacking, enjoy!

Need more snacking options?

Gluten Free Snack Bites

Seed and Almond Coconut Clusters

Maple Date and Nut Snack Bites

Baked Nut Butter Granola Bars cut and wrapped with a ribbon.

Author:  Compelled to Cook, adapted slightly from Bon Appétit

Nut Butter Granola Bars
Print Recipe
    Servings Prep Time
    16 bars 30 minutes
    Cook Time Passive Time
    30-35 minutes 5 minutes
    Servings Prep Time
    16 bars 30 minutes
    Cook Time Passive Time
    30-35 minutes 5 minutes
    Nut Butter Granola Bars
    Print Recipe
      Servings Prep Time
      16 bars 30 minutes
      Cook Time Passive Time
      30-35 minutes 5 minutes
      Servings Prep Time
      16 bars 30 minutes
      Cook Time Passive Time
      30-35 minutes 5 minutes
      Ingredients
      Servings: bars
      Instructions
      1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Arrange nuts and pumpkin seeds on a rimmed baking sheet and toast for 10-12 minutes until golden, stirring once. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
      2. Meanwhile, reduce the oven to 300°F. Spray a 13x9" pan with non-stick spray and line with parchment paper, overhanging the long sides.
      3. Using a food processor, pulse cooled nuts and 1 cup of oats until a sandy consistency and no large pieces of oats remain. Transfer to a large bowl, along with the remaining cup of whole oats. To the same bowl stir in dried fruit and oil (chop any dried fruit bigger than a raisin).
      4. In a medium saucepan whisk together honey, salt and vanilla over medium heat until at a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for about 3 minutes until bubbling vigorously and smells like caramel.
      5. Add peanut butter to oat mixture along with the hot honey and stir to fully combine. By adding together, the hot honey will help melt the peanut butter. Whisk egg white in a small bowl and stir into oat mixture until fully incorporated.
      6. Scoop into prepared pan and pack down firmly and evenly. Using the bottom of a measuring cup helps to compact the mixture and get it flat.
      7. Bake until golden and no longer sticky 30-35 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes before scoring into 16 pieces (2x8). Let cool completely in the pan before lifting out using the parchment overhang. Cut along score marks into bars.
      Recipe Notes

      -don't skimp on the amount of listed salt.

      -I used a combination of almonds, pecans and cashews.

      -cut bars can be wrapped and frozen, kept in a sealed container for up to 1 month.

      -cut bars will last for about 5 days stored in an airtight container at room temperature.

      -other nut butter such as almond butter work well too.

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      I may receive compensation for purchases made through this site, at no cost to the purchaser. Compelled to Cook is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
      Tomato and Roasted Garlic Pie

      Tomato and Roasted Garlic Pie

      by | Aug 28, 2020 | BREAKFAST AND BRUNCH, LUNCH, VEGETARIAN | 3 comments

      Tomato and Roasted Garlic Pie

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      A slice of Tomato and Roasted Garlic Pie on a serving plate garnished with fresh thyme leaves.

      Here is yet another recipe from my favourite magazine Bon Appétit. This gorgeous recipe for Tomato and Roasted Garlic Pie is from the August 2020 issue and just in time for your bounty of tomatoes. The magazine barely hit my coffee table before I knew I had to make it.

      A sheet pan of roasted tomatoes in preparation for Tomato and Roasted Garlic Pie.

      Truthfully, I found the recipe slightly fussy with its multitude of steps, but my goodness it is delicious. So worth the steps to roast the tomatoes and make toasty garlic butter. It’s plenty cheesy and laced with flavour-packed roasted tomatoes and topped off with roasted garlic butter. The crust is made from crushed Stoned Wheat Thin crackers and makes for a nice crunchy texture to an otherwise soft pie. It is like making a graham cracker crust for a sweet pie, except this one is made from crackers and garlic butter, it’s simply genius. If you are like me, you’re already thinking of all the ways to incorporate this crust into other savoury pies.

      I’m including the recipe as written in the magazine, however, there were a few things that I opted to adapt.  The first being the type of cheese used.  I could not find Taleggio cheese, therefore, I substituted with Fontina cheese with a wonderful result.  Secondly, I found that I needed to add several more tablespoons of garlic butter to get the cracker crumbs to stick together properly.  This was not a big issue as there is plenty of garlic butter to go around and probably not all that necessary brushed on the top of the pie.  I also found that there was a bit too much crumb mixture for a 9″ pan.  Next time I will cut down on the original amount of crumbs by 2 ounces which will make the original amount of butter appropriate. It’s also important to press the crumbs firmly into the pan.  The tomatoes could be cut a little thicker as they are very soft and fussy to move from the baking tray to the pie, however, they don’t have to be perfect as long as they are arranged in a layer.

      Tomato and Roasted Garlic Pie served whole on a scalloped silver platter, garnished with fresh thyme.

      You’ll find that this pie takes a little extra effort and time to both cook and cool to serving temperature, however, many steps can be done in advance. I roasted the tomatoes the day before, and you could make the crust and garlic butter in advance as well. I found that I enjoyed the pie served warm and the slices rewarm nicely in the microwave using about 75% power for 40 seconds or so. This delicious pie is worth the extra effort and is great for brunch, lunch or dinner served with a crisp green salad. Enjoy!

      Want more??

      Roasted Tomato Galette

      Rustic Tomato Spinach Bake

      Author:  Compelled to Cook, recipe from Bon Appétit Tomato and Roasted Garlic Pie

      Tomato and Roasted Garlic Pie served whole on a scalloped silver platter, garnished with fresh thyme.
      Tomato and Roasted Garlic Pie
      Print Recipe
        Servings
        1 9" diameter pie
        Servings
        1 9" diameter pie
        Tomato and Roasted Garlic Pie served whole on a scalloped silver platter, garnished with fresh thyme.
        Tomato and Roasted Garlic Pie
        Print Recipe
          Servings
          1 9" diameter pie
          Servings
          1 9" diameter pie
          Ingredients
          Servings: 9" diameter pie
          Instructions
          1. Place a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 475°F. Arrange tomatoes on a rimmed baking sheet, covering entire surface (it's okay if they overlap). Drizzle with oil; season with salt and pepper. Roast until tomatoes begin to look dry on top, 25-30 minutes. Let cool.
          2. Meanwhile, cook garlic and butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, swirling often, until butter foams and milk solids turn golden, 5-7 minutes. Strain garlic butter through a fine-mesh sieve into a heatproof measuring cup; transfer garlic and toasty bits to a cutting board. Finely chop and set aside.
          3. Reduce oven temperature to 375°F. Pulse crackers and 1/4 tsp salt in a food processor until fine crumbs form (you should have about 2 cups). Add eggs and 6 tbsp garlic butter and pulse until mixture is the consistency of wet sand; set remaining garlic butter aside. Transfer to a springform pan. Using a flat-bottomed measuring cup, press crumbs firmly onto bottom and 1 1/2" up sides of pan. Bake crust until edge is just starting to take on colour, 8-10 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let crust cool.
          4. Mix Taleggio, Parmesan, mayonnaise, chopped thyme, remaining 1/2 tsp salt, remaining 1/4 tsp pepper, and reserved chopped garlic and bits in a medium bowl. Gently dollop half of cheese mixture over bottom of crust, then spread into an even layer with an offset spatula (don't press too hard or you will break the crust). Layer half of tomato slices over and press down to even out layers. Repeat with remaining cheese mixture and tomatoes. Brush remaining garlic butter over tomatoes. Top with shallot and thyme leaves.
          5. Set pan on a rimmed baking sheet and bake pie until filling is bubbling vigorously and crust is browned, 60-70 minutes. Transfer to rack and let cool 1 hour before serving.Do ahead: Pie can be made 1 day ahead. Cover loosely and chill.Special Equipment: A 9" diameter springform pan.
          Recipe Notes

          -You can substitute the Taleggio cheese for Fontina cheese.

          -I found it took more than 6 tbsp of garlic butter to moisten the crumbs enough to stick together, however, there was still plenty of garlic butter left to brush on the top. So use what you need to get the crumbs right.

           

          -

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          Broccoli Cheddar Frittata

          Broccoli Cheddar Frittata

          by | May 8, 2020 | BREAKFAST AND BRUNCH, EGGS, LUNCH, VEGETARIAN | 0 comments

          Broccoli Cheddar Frittata

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          Broccoli Cheddar Frittata cooked in a cream coloured cast iron skillet and resting on a wicker trivet.

          Simple is delicious, and this lovely Broccoli Cheddar Frittata is an excellent example! Easy to prepare and cook, and it’s made with ingredients you likely have on hand. Ready in about 45 minutes and makes a great brunch or breakfast dish. But I think it makes an equally delicious light lunch served with a salad or a heartier dinner served with pan-fried potatoes. It’s one of those dishes that is multi-serving and perfect for any meal.

          Cooked broccoli in a cast iron skillet with a bowl of whisked eggs and milk in the background in preparation for Broccoli Cheddar Frittata.

          This dish is one of the reasons I love eggs so much. They pack plenty of nutrition and cook quickly, allowing you to get a healthy and satisfying meal on the table without too much fuss. Lots of melty cheese means the kids just might like it too. Enjoy!

          Tips:

          -Don’t overcook! The frittata is done when the centre is just starting to set and still jiggles a little. It will continue to firm up as it rests.

          -Use good quality eggs.

          -Be sure to let the frittata rest as it allows the eggs to firm up and makes for easy cutting.

          -Don’t be shy with your favourite ingredients. If you don’t like onions, add a little red pepper or spice it up with a few chill flakes or different herbs.

          -Use full fat cheddar cheese as it melts nicer than light or reduced fat cheese.

          -A lower fat sour cream can be used but the full fat adds to the frittata’s creaminess and overall texture.

          Want more?

          Spanish Chorizo Frittata

          Corn and Bacon Quiche

           

          A slice of Broccoli Chedddar Frittata served with a garden salad on a white plate and resting on a green and white checkered kitchen towel.

          Author: Compelled to Cook

          A slice of Broccoli Chedddar Frittata served with a garden salad on a white plate and resting on a green and white checkered kitchen towel.
          Broccoli Cheddar Frittata
          Print Recipe
            Servings Prep Time
            6-8 servings 20 minutes
            Cook Time Passive Time
            15-18 minutes 5-10 minutes
            Servings Prep Time
            6-8 servings 20 minutes
            Cook Time Passive Time
            15-18 minutes 5-10 minutes
            A slice of Broccoli Chedddar Frittata served with a garden salad on a white plate and resting on a green and white checkered kitchen towel.
            Broccoli Cheddar Frittata
            Print Recipe
              Servings Prep Time
              6-8 servings 20 minutes
              Cook Time Passive Time
              15-18 minutes 5-10 minutes
              Servings Prep Time
              6-8 servings 20 minutes
              Cook Time Passive Time
              15-18 minutes 5-10 minutes
              Ingredients
              Servings: servings
              Instructions
              1. Preheat oven to 350°F and set a rack in the middle position.
              2. In a large bowl whisk together eggs and sour cream. Add milk, mustard powder, oregano, salt and pepper and whisk to fully combine. Stir in half of the cheese. Set aside.
              3. Add oil to a 10" cast-iron skillet over medium heat. When hot add the onion and garlic and sauté until starting to soften about 3 minutes.
              4. Add broccoli and water to the pan and cover to steam the broccoli until just tender about 3 minutes. Remove lid and stir in green onions and whisked egg mixture. Allow to cook over medium-low on the stove for 3-5 until the edge is just starting to set. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and place in the oven. Bake for 12-15 minutes until just starting to set in the centre (it should jiggle a little in the centre). Remove from oven and allow to rest for 5-10 minutes.
              5. Cut into desired wedges and serve immediately.
              Recipe Notes

              -Use frozen broccoli if that's what you have, just be sure to thaw completely and pat dry before using.  Add to skillet after cooking the onion and cook just to warm (don't add water) before continuing with the recipe.

              -Gruyére cheese would also be a nice substitute for the cheddar.

              -The cooked frittata will keep for several days well wrapped in the fridge and can be rewarmed gently in the microwave.  It does not freeze well.

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              Affiliate Disclosure

              I may receive compensation for purchases made through this site, at no cost to the purchaser. Compelled to Cook is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com