Cookbook Giveaway #3: Sweet Freedom and No Waste: Orange-Oat Muffin Recipe
Posted by alisa on November 18, 2009 | 166 Comments
Ricki Heller is simply one of my favorite people in the blogosphere. Her writing style is entertaining and humorous, she has such a friendly and helpful demeanor, and how can we forget about the recipes? As a nutritionist, she always has health in mind, but as a lover of food, it has to taste good. Thus, I can always count on Ricki for recipes that I want to make and that I should make.
Since I had enjoyed several of Ricki’s wholesome recipes before the release of her new cookbook, Sweet Freedom, there was no doubt that I was going to love it. It was just a matter of what to make first!
Since I already had a penchant for the Carob and Date Pancakes in Sweet Freedom (they were the inspiration for the Pillowy Whole-Grain Pancakes in my book, Go Dairy Free), I went with familiarity, and made the Fluffy-Fruited Spelt Pancakes. So, so marvelous – Ricki seriously knows her way around whole-grain pancakes …
Though there are three more pancake recipes in Sweet Freedom that I have yet to trial, I had to jump to the muffin section. I had my eye on the Orange Oat Muffins. This was the first recipe I had ever made where you use the entire orange, peel and all, and it was so wonderfully simple. I also loved that these hearty little babies used a combo of dates, maple syrup, and molasses for a deep and rich sweetness.
I have had a lot of cookbooks to trial as of late, but I just couldn’t keep away from the Banana-Oat Bar recipe before doing this post. Upon seeing the title of another recipe in Sweet Freedom for Sweet Potato and Cranberry Muffins, I knew I had to combine the two for this holiday season to create these yummy Sweet Potato and Cranberry Oat Bars. I simply subbed 3/4 cup sweet potato puree (you could of course use pumpkin puree) for the bananas and added 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon. As you can tell by the broken off piece (before it had cooled of course) with the sloppy, melting frosting, I didn’t care very much about taking pictures, I was hungry!
Keep in mind, all of the dessert and snack recipes in Sweet Freedom are free from refined sugars, and they are vegan (dairy-free and egg-free) and wheat-free. They are also whole grain and wonderfully all-natural. However, while there are many wonderful gluten-free recipes within, some of the recipes do utilize spelt flour or barley flour. I loved how many soy-free recipes there were too, since Ricki doesn’t rely on margarine in her recipes, bonus!
Also, as you can see, I’ve barely made it past the first chapter. There are cakes, cookies, candies, pies, puddings and more in this fabulous “tackle that sweets craving with nutrition” cookbook. So now that I have captured your appetites, here is your opportunity to enter to win a copy of your very own (Open to the U.S. AND Canada!).
- To enter to win this fabulous cookbook, leave a comment on this post telling me why you want to win Sweet Freedom.
- To receive a bonus entry, spread the word about this giveaway … tweet it, share it with your friends on facebook, mention it on your blog, or email some colleagues … whatever works for you. Just make sure you come back here and leave a second comment letting me know you did.
Entries will close at midnight TODAY, so get your entry in now! All of this week’s cookbook winners will be announced at the end of the week.
Note: The comments will remain open, since there is a review and recipe on this giveaway post, but only comments made by midnight will be eligible to win!
Now back to those Marvelous Muffins …
No Waste: Orange-Oat Muffins
This recipe is from Sweet Freedom by Ricki Heller.
“Unlike many low-fat muffins, these taste great: they are moist and flavorful, with an intense orange presence. There’s also substantial fiber from the fruits and whole spelt. Using a food processor means these are incredibly easy to prepare!” – or blender in my case as you shall see. And yes, Ricki includes metric measurements for all of the recipes in Sweet Freedom, just like this one. This recipe is Vegan, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, Soy-Free, and Free from Regined Sugars.
- 1 Whole Medium Organic Seedless Orange, washed, whole and with skin [This is one time when you want to spring on that organic orange, since you will be using the peel too]
- 1 Tablespoon (15 ml) Finely Ground Flax Seeds
- 3 Tablespoons (45 ml) Water
- 1/2 Cup (60 g) Chopped Dried Pitted Dates (they should be soft)
- 3 Tablespoons (45 ml) Sunflower or Other Light-Tasting Oil [I used grapeseed]
- 1/4 Cup (60 ml) Pure Maple Syrup
- 2 Tablespoons (30 ml) Blackstrap Molasses
- 1/2 Cup (120 ml) Plain or Vanilla Soy or Almond Milk
- 1 Cup (140 g) Whole Spelt Flour
- 1 Tablespoon (15 ml) Baking Powder
- 1 Teaspoon (5 ml) Baking Soda
- 1/4 Teaspoon (1 ml) Sea Salt
- 1 Cup (100 g) Old-Fashioned, Whole Rolled Oats (not instant)
Preheat your oven to 375F (190C). Line a muffin tin with 12 paper liners for small muffins or 9 liners for large muffins, or spray with nonstick coating.
In the bowl of a food processor, process the orange segments until almost smooth. Add the flax seeds, water, dates. oil, maple syrup, molasses, and milk alternative and process almost to a smooth puree (you can leave a few small flecks of date and/or orange, but none should be larger than sunflower seeds). Set aside for a few minutes to rest, while you prepare the dry ingredients.
Alisa’s Note: No Food Processor? I don’t have one either. I simply added the orange sections through the milk alternative to my little old blender, and let ‘er rip until it was well blended, with a few tiny date and orange bits left for interest.
In a large bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and sea salt. Add the oats and stir to mix.
Pour the wet mixture over the dry mixture in the bowl and stir just until combined (it’s okay if a few dry spots remain, you just don’t want to overmix!). Spoon the batter into your prepared muffin cups or tins – they will be quite full.
Bake for 15-20 minutes, rotating the pan about half-way through [I skipped the rotation], until a tester inserted into one of the muffins comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes in pans before removing to a rack to cool completely. These taste even better the next day, as flavors meld [I can vouch for that!]. These muffins freeze beautifully [I can't vouch for this, since we devoured them all while fresh].
Yields 9 to 12 scrumptious muffins
Filed Under: Alisa's Recipes, Cookbook Trials, Giveaways
Comments (166)
vegan GF sugar free baked goods recipes? hello that’s my middle name!
tweeeted!
I just found out my 6 yo has a dairy allergy…this book sounds great for our new lifestyle!
I’d love to win this cookbook so I can make some gluten free sweets for my family!
Ricki Heller is one of my faves too! I would love to win her book!!!!
Guiltfree dessert? I’m in! Thanks for the opportunity.
Tweeted!
@cravinveggies
I’d love to win this! Ricki makes some excellent desserts. Those Sweet Potato & Cranberry Bars look fantastic!
Oh boy!! So excited…will keep my fingers crossed.
I love your food and would love to have this as my go-to dessert book. actually i don’t have a vegan dessert book at all, so it would my one and only! most fabulous and delicious! i would use this book as a way to possibly win my mother over to vegan-ness, at least part time…
Here’s my tweet:
http://twitter.com/ky2here/status/5841991649
this sounds wonderful thanks
Omg! Those all look so delicious! I’d love to bake/cook everything in that book!
wow great recipe… would love this book to check out the rest of the yummy recipes.
I love this! I work in a health food store and this recipe alone would be fantastic for our customers! Yay!
oh my! looks soo good!
http://twitter.com/Silveramberz/statuses/5842772846
There’s my tweet
This cookbook is amazing! It never hurts to have more than 1 either!
I love the book…and I’d love to have a copy at work to show other people, so fingers crossed!
Oh, yum! If those are any indication of the other recipes in this book, it’s a definite must-have! =P
I would love love love to win this book! I have been looking at it and hoping to use some money saved for the holidays to get myself a copy.
Because my mouth is salivating just looking at those pictures!
I’ve been disappointed that I can’t find this cookbook in bookstores-would love to win it!
Everything looks yummy!
I’d love to win this book because the recipes look delicious and I love to cook.
Tweet
http://twitter.com/happeegirl/status/5844773483
All those photos look mouth-watering! I would love to receive the Sweet Freedom cookbook, because I’m in need of a new vegan cookbook with great recipes, especially to bake goodies!
just started a dairy-free diet after hearing of the rbgh hormones in milk, etc. but i loooove desserts! i won’t make it long without a good cookbook, and this one looks great!
I want to win this book because the recipes look delicious!
I would love to win this book so I can make some yummy gifts for my family and friends for the holidays!
I would adore a copy of this book. I love backing, and especially with the holidays coming up it would be great to make people healthy treats as a break from the normal bad-for-you-but-taste-oh-so-good ones.
I would love to win this cookbook!! Ricki’s recipes have always been winners in my kitchen!!
Sham
I live gluten and dairy-free and am trying to go egg-free as well. Both of my kids have benefitted tremendously from these dietary changes! I am a cookbook-a-holic! These eats look great from the few I’ve seen posted here but would love to have a copy of Sweet Freedom for my own library! Thanks for your consideration!
i’d like this because it has wheat free recipes
I would love to win this book because I am an avid baker and I love reading cookbooks! I’m always on the lookout for new recipes to try.
This looks so good! I have a lot of food allergies, so any recipes like this I love to see
Since I can’t do wheat, dairy or corn I would love to win this book.
Thank you–I love this site! I can’t wait to try some of the recipes! This is so exciting to have all of this information on these wonderful alternatives!
Lisa Bowden
I would love a copy of the book! Ricki’s blog is one of my favorite places on the web, and her recipes are just plain mouthwatering…
Have got to try this recipe! Sounds delicious and so nutritious!
I’d love to try this cookbook out. I like the idea of gluten free desserts, even though I am extra gluten-tolerant
I would love to win. Ricki’s blog is one of my favorites. I have been dying for her book but as a grad student have zero spare funds for things like cookbooks right now.
I also love Ricki’s site and recipes. I have been ogling her book ever since it came out, so I would love to win it so I can finally get it into my hot little hands!
All the recipes I have seen look amazing too, so I definitely want to try ‘em out!
-K
I posted a comment earlier but forgot to mention I also posted a comment on FB too. Thanks!
I’m embarrassed to admit that my imagination isn’t always up to par with my vegan ingredients. Ricki’s recipes are perfect when I want to eat something healthy with delicious results.
Thanks for the yummy recipe! Please enter me for the book
I would love a copy of this book. I am constantly trying to find whole food recipes, especially sugar free.
the book looks wonderful!
I would love to win Sweet Freedom to make these great recipes for my family.
wanting to get away from so much sugar in the diet..I’d be delighted to win a book like this. thanks for the opportunity.