Easy Weeknight (Dessert) Recipe: Pineapple Crumble

   I love a dessert that is easy to throw together with ingredients I already have on hand. Nothing pleases me more than transforming a few simple items into something extraordinarily delicious. The other night I found myself craving something sweet, but it being the day before grocery day, I was left with little options to choose from. So I grabbed a few ingredients from the pantry and fridge, mixed them up together and tossed it into the oven. The results were nothing short of amazing. ;)

   Simple Pineapple Crumble

 

You will need:

• Pineapple, sliced and diced (I used one whole pineapple but in a pinch you could use canned, just drain the liquid first. Also, feel free to substitute ANY fruit in place of the pineapple. :))
• 1-2 Teaspoons Cinnamon
• 1 Cup + 2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
• 1 Cup Flour 
• 1/4 Cup + 2-4 Teaspoons Butter, diced small

To Make:
 
   First you want to preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.  Next, "grease" your oven-safe dish or ramekins (I used two ramekins for single serving desserts) with butter. Toss your diced pineapple (or other fruit) with the 2 tbs brown sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon. Pour into the dish or separate equally  into each ramekin. For the topping, mix together equal parts brown sugar and flour. Then add the diced, cold butter and cinnamon. Using a fork or your hands, mash the butter into the dried mixture. You will want to do this until all of the topping has some butter and is crumbly. I used my hands and just "massaged" the butter into the dry ingredients until it was all incorporated. Spoon the topping over each ramekin or the entire baking dish. Top with a few teaspoons of sliced butter and bake for about 30-35 minutes, until topping is brown and the sides are bubbling. Let cool slightly and enjoy with vanilla ice cream!


   I hope you enjoy this weeks' recipe and let us know if you try it with any other fruit in the comments section below! Thank you and have a great week! Like always, keep it clean!

 

 

Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins

   I love when I stumble upon a recipe that is so completely satisfying I can't help but share it as soon as my tongue gets a taste. This recipe definitely meets those standards. I am also enamored with fall, everything about it. From the cooler breeze to the changing colors in the trees, I adore it all. My absolute favorite thing about fall? It's pumpkin season. :) 

   

   Upon purchasing a small, organic "sugar pie" pumpkin from Whole Foods, I had a hard time deciding what to actually do with it. I flirted with the idea of making cupcakes with a nice cream cheese frosting. Or should I, upon the boyfriend's request, go all out and make a delicious (albeit time consuming) pumpkin cheesecake? With these ideas in mind, I scoured the internet in hopes to find the perfect fall treat. And boy, did I find it! The perfect combination of the two, I present to you:

Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins

  

For the filling: 

• 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tsps cinnamon 
• 1 tsp almond extract (optional but delicious)

For the muffins: 

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 4 large eggs (or egg substitute - I used 4 chia/flaxseed "eggs")
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups pumpkin puree (you can purchase this pre-made or make your own - details below)
• 1¼ cups grapeseed oil (or any oil you have on hand. I used a combination of grapeseed and coconut.) 

For the topping: 

• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup flour
• 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cubed

   If you're like me and prefer to avoid pre-processed foods, you might consider making your own pumpkin puree for this recipe. It's very simple to do and a small "sugar pie" pumpkin provided me with the exact amount I needed for this recipe. To make pumpkin puree, there's a variety of different ways you can go about it. All ways begin with you cutting the pumpkin in half, de-seeding it (Save for a later date! Pumpkin seeds are very nutritious and spectacular toasted with some cumin and chili powder.), and then chopping small and removing the skin. I chose the quickest method which involves placing the diced pumpkin into a pot of boiling water and letting it cook for about half an hour. Alternatively, you could roast the pumpkin or steam it. Both take a bit longer to do, however, and I was very impatient last night. ;) After you cook the pumpkin using whichever method you choose, you simply place the bits in a food processor or blender and let 'er rip! In seconds, you have freshly cooked pumpkin puree! (This also freezes exceptionally well if you end up with more than the needed 2 cups!)

   Now for the ACTUAL recipe. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine your ingredients for the filling. Simply whisk together until nice and creamy, and then store in the fridge until ready to use. You'll want to make the topping next. To do so combine the dry ingredients and then add your cubes of butter. Then you'll want to use a fork to mash the butter into the dry mixture until it is crumbly. Also set this in the fridge until you're ready to assemble. Now you can make the muffin batter. Simply add all ingredients and mix until incorporated. (I used an electric hand mixer but with a little man power you can easily do this by hand.) You want to line a cupcake pan (or two if you have them!) and then fill the paper 3/4 of the way full with the muffin batter. Then you will add a dollop (about 1 tbs) of the cream cheese filling on top. Finally, sprinkle generously with the topping. Bake for about 20 minutes and then remove when a toothpick (or other sharp kitchen device) comes out clean. Let cool for as long as you can manage. I don't recommend eating directly out of the oven - the cream cheese filling is molten, trust me! 

   These muffins are the perfect fall treat and taste even better the next day for breakfast. I hope you enjoy this recipe and the beginning of your fall/holiday season! Until next time, stay hungry delicious clean!!!

Easy Appetizer: Southwestern Eggrolls

   I love a quick appetizer for dinner when I'm not hungry enough nor have the stamina to cook a full meal. I'm also a sucker for super simple recipes with few ingredients that come out tasting fantastic! These Southwestern Eggrolls are exactly that! Easy, filling, and so delicious! The best part is, you can mix up the ingredients to your liking and they will still come out perfectly delectable.

   I used to love the Southwestern Eggrolls at chain restaurants like Chili's and Applebee's. When I became a vegetarian I had to give them up, however, because at the restaurant they contain shredded chicken. This recipe excludes any type of meat product, but feel free to add chicken, ground beef or turkey, crumbled seitan or tempeh, or anything else you desire. The recipe also calls for black beans but I'm sure it would be great with pinto or even red kidney beans. Veggies and cheeses are also adaptable to your palate's liking. Not a fan of cheddar or Mexican Chihuahua cheese? Try it with Monterrey Jack, Havarti, or Muenster. The options really are limitless here! I just can't believe it took me 6 years to figure out I could make these on my own sans the meat..! :)

   Here's what you'll need:

• Ready made eggroll wrappers (you can usually find them near the tofu in the produce section)
• 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/4 cup chopped green onions
• 1 can mixed tomatoes and chiles (like Rotel), drained
• 1 cup shredded Chihuahua/cheddar cheeses
•  3/4 cup frozen corn
• cumin, chili powder, paprika, salt, cayenne pepper, garlic powder
• grapeseed oil for frying (or whatever you have on hand) 
• mixing bowl, frying pan, metal tongs or spatula, and a spoon
• glass with water and a pastry brush if you have one (if not you can use your fingers)

   *Side note: I love onions, so I normally add some chopped red onion in addition to the green. If you have any avocados on hand, including a few slices will make these heavenly. Trust me. I also find this dish an excellent way to sneak greens like collards and kale (finely shredded) into a "green-haters" belly. No complaints so far. ;)

   What to do:

• First mix all ingredients (minus oil and wrapper) in a large bowl.
• Lay out your eggroll wrapper so that it looks like a diamond facing towards you.
• Spoon about 1-2 tablespoons of the mixture onto the wrapper and wet the top two sides of the diamond with either your fingers or pastry brush dipped in water.
• Fold the bottom up, wrap a little ways, tuck the sides in, and then finish rolling. (There will be directions on the back of the package on how to fold the wrappers as well.)
• Continue until you run out of the bean/veggie mixture. (or just make a few and save the rest!)
• In a preheated frying pan with oil, place the eggrolls and fry until lightly brown and cripsy on all sides. If you have a deep fryer, feel free to bust it out! They will be worth it! 
• Once they are cooked, drain the oil by placing them on a few paper towels or a wire rack. 
• Allow to cool, serve with hot sauce or buttermilk dressing, and ENJOY! 

   This is one of my current favorite recipes and I hope you try it out soon! Until next time, stay clean Azuma readers! :)