Life Long Learners Take and Bake in Muffin Tin

The catalog said “Bring your own muffin tin to prepare meal components to take home and bake for dinner” and the class filled quickly. My intention is to give ideas for similar recipes or methods  to do at home.

I intended to keep everyone moving so that the food was not at room temperature for more than an hour. This kept the 20 experienced and attentive participants busy as my husband and I kept the assembly lines moving. 

The menu featured 6 recipes: Salmon Rice Bake, Farmers Market Vegetables,  Fruit Crumble, Polenta Marinara and Turkey Sausage. I prepared and baked the Spinach Ricotta Frittata to complete the tin as the raw egg mixture could not be transported.

My nutrition themes included Diversity of Plant Foods (prebiotic fibers) and Protein from Animal Foods. Those who consume 30 different plant foods a week have a more diverse microbiome; the one nutrient aging adults need more of is protein and it’s very difficult to get from plant foods.

Each attendee received a recipe booklet . The links are here: 

Easy Meals with Built in Portion Control https://cindyshealthymeals.blogspot.com/2024/06/easy-meals-with-built-in-portion-control.html

Polenta Marinara 

https://cindyshealthymeals.blogspot.com/2024/05/muffin-tin-polenta-pizza.html

Turkey Sausage and Spinach Ricotta Frittata 

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/163097590958514429/1598479345642417342

Each attendee completed a ticket listed the number of plant foods (grains, vegetables, fruits and nuts) eaten yesterday. The drawing prizes were local corn grits and whole wheat flour from The Vegetable Garden and Davis Brother, small measuring spoons and 1/8 cup measuring cup.  The average number of plant foods reported eaten in 1 day was 8.

The Best of Seasonal Produce

 

WVU has apples fresh picked from the Kearneysville Farm. The Honeycrisp Apples are delicious as is and scrumptious in this Strudel. 

Apple Strudel

(1 Strudel, 4-5 Servings)

Peel and slice apples. Mix with juice, sugar, wheat germ, cinnamon and salt.

2 large apples. Peeled and sliced thin.

2 Tablespoon turbinado sugar

2 Tablespoons wheat germ

2 Tablespoon apple juice

1/3 teaspoon cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon salt 

Mix butter and olive oil.

1 Tablespoon butter, melted 

1 Tablespoon olive oil

6 sheets phyllo dough

On cutting board place 1 sheet phyllo dough. Brush with butter, oil mix.

Layer 1 sheet at a time and brush with oil and butter. Top with apples, leaving 1 inch strip on short ends and 1/2 inch strip on the long ends. Fold in short ends and roll from long ends. Place seam side down on parchment lined baking sheet. Brush with remaining oil. Cut 4 slits in top. Bake at 435 F. For 10 minutes. Cool on wire rack.

Creamy Beet Soup

 

This week is so hot that most people aren’t in the mood for soup. Chilly weather is approaching and local farmers are bringing their root vegetables to the market. I made this soup one morning during a thunderstorm and enjoyed it for lunch (in my air conditioned home). You really don’t need a recipe, just cut the vegetables in small cubes, caramelize, season with salt and pepper, add water or broth to cover and simmer for 40 minutes. Blend and add canned milk. This was filling and delicious.

Creamy Beet Soup

(4 Servings)

Sauté vegetables in olive oil until lightly browned. Season with salt and pepper.

1 bunch beets, scrubbed and cubed

1 potato, peeled and cubed

2 Tablespoon onion, diced 

1 clove garlic, minced

1 small carrot, peeled and cubed

1 Tablespoon olive oil

Add water to cover and simmer for 40 minutes. Blend and return to pot. Add milk and serve .

1/2 cup evaporated skim milk

Muffin Tin Frittata and Turkey Sausage

 

Bake and freeze individual portions of breakfast type foods to save time and prevent waste. The sausage, made with 93% lean ground turkey and spices, is non greasy and flavorful. The frittata recipe can be baked in any size pan. Here are the recipes:

Turkey Sausage 

(5)

Mix all ingredients together.

6 ounce ground turkey

1 tablespoon flax meal

1 teaspoon brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon dried parsley

1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary

1/2 teaspoon dried sage

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

1/4 teaspoon onion powder 

1/8 teaspoon salt 

1/8 teaspoon pepper

Portion 2 ounce scoops into greased or lined muffin tins. Bake at 350F for 20 minutes.

Spinach Ricotta Frittata 

(Serves 9)

Sauté onion and garlic in oil until tender. Add spinach. Stir until wilted. Remove from heat. Cool and squeeze moisture from spinach.

1 teaspoon olive oil

2 tablespoon onion 

3 garlic cloves, minced

1-2 cups spinach

Beat eggs. Add cheeses and seasoning. Add sautéed vegetables.

8 eggs

1 1/2 cups Ricotta cheese, part-skim

1/4 cup Parmigiana cheese, grated 

1/2 teaspoon Mrs Dash

 

Pour into muffin tin greased with olive oil spray. (About 6 tablespoon each) Sprinkle with grated nutmeg. 

Bake at 350F for 30 minutes until set.

This can be baked in a 9 inch pie dish for 40 minutes. Test doneness with a pick inserted in center. 

Easy Meals with Built-in Portion Control

 

My course proposal pitch for Life Long Learners begins with this:“Bring your own regular muffin tin to prepare meal components to take home and bake for dinner.” My challenges include items that could cook at the same temperature and time as well as items that did not spill easily on the way home. These recipes passed the tests:

Fruit Crumble

(Makes 4)

Fruit

Mix cornstarch into juice. Add it and sugar to fruit and stir.

2 cups cut fruit (I used blueberries and strawberries)

1 Tablespoon juice (I used apple juice)

1 Tablespoon cornstarch (non GMO)

2 Tablespoon sugar

Heat on stovetop until sauce begins to thicken.

Crumble Topping

Mix crumb topping, cutting in grated butter until crumbly.

3 Tablespoon rolled oats

2 Tablespoon flour (I used whole wheat)

2 Tablespoon brown sugar

2 Tablespoon butter, grated

Prepare muffin tin with liners. Portion 1/4 cup fruit into each liner, followed by 2 Tablespoon crumble. Bake at 350F for 20 minutes.

Farmers Market Veggie Cup

(Makes 9)

Mix all ingredients together.

1 cup corn (about 2 ears), cut off the cob.

1 cup squash, sliced thin and quartered 

1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved 

1Tablespoon olive oil

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1/8 teaspoon salt

Bake at 350 F for 20 minutes.

Prepare muffin tin with liners. Portion 1/4 cup into each liner. Bake at 350F with 20 minutes.

Salmon Rice Bake

(Makes 6)

Cook dry rice in 3/4 cup water. (I pressure cooked mine for 15 minutes, cooled for 15 minutes and drained)

3 Tablespoon brown rice

1 Tablespoon red wild rice

Drain and cool rice.

1 Tablespoon chia seeds

1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger 

2 1/2 teaspoon tamari sauce, 50% less sodium 

1/8 teaspoon onion powder

1/3 teaspoon rice vinegar

1 teaspoon sesame oil

1/3 cup shredded carrots

Mix cooked rice with seeds, ginger, sauce, vinegar, oil, spices and carrots. Portion 1/4 cup into each liner. 

 

Add drained salmon.

1-5 ounce pack wild salmon, skinless, boneless, drained

Portion 1/4 cup into each liner. Bake at 350F for 20 minutes.

 

Muffin Tins are perfect tools for preparing individual meals and portions. This recipe has grits, marinara, vegetables and cheese. 

Muffin Tin Polenta Pizza

7 Servings

Grits

1/2 cup grits

1 cup broth, water or milk

1/8 teaspoon salt

Combine grits, salt and liquid in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Add water to prevent sticking, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking

 

Oven Directions to cook grits: Combine ingredients in baking dish. Cook at 335 F for 40 minutes.

1/2 cup marinara sauce

1/2 cup diced vegetables (I used peppers, green garlic and onions)

1/2 cup shredded cheese 

Prepare regular size muffin tin cups with paper liners. Place in each cup:

2 Tablespoon cooked grits

1 Tablespoon marinara

1 Tablespoon vegetables 

1 Tablespoon cheese

Bake at 350F. For 20 minutes.

Crafting Meals with Precooked Grains

 

Dry grains expand when cooked-some as much as 4 fold. Plan to take what’s needed for the meal, then freeze or refrigerate the rest for a multitude of recipes. Here’s what I did with the excess sorghum grain from my whole grains event in March. Yes, even experienced menu planners can make too much!

Salads

This one has spring vegetables, olives, feta cheese and pistachios.

Dressing (1 serving)

1 Tablespoon olive oil

3/4 teaspoon red wine vinegar

1/3 teaspoon ground mustard 

1/3 teaspoon brown sugar

Dash salt

A small salad perfect for a tea or brunch fitted into a Parmesan cheese cup.

Grain Bowl

This one has sesame oil glazed salmon, vegetables and pimentos.

Asian Sauce (2 servings)

1 teaspoon sesame oil

1/4 cup orange juice

Juice from 1/2 lime

1 teaspoon soy sauce

1 teaspoon honey

Porridge

This one has amaranth but any cooked grain will do.

Per 1 cup serving, add 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice. I added 2 chopped dates and heated in microwave. Served with chopped walnuts.

Sorghum has high antioxidant levels and a mix of phytonutrients. It is an excellent source of manganese and a good source of fiber, phosphorus, Vitamin B3 and magnesium. Sorghum is a C4 plant, efficient in hot climates.

There is more than one way to cook whole grains. My favorite way is in the slow cooker. I added 4 parts of water to 1 part sorghum and cooked on high for 3- 4 hours.