Solar Cranberry-Blueberry Muffins From a Mix
This was one of those days when there was alot to do and plenty of sunshine to get it done. Decided to do a commercial muffin mix that had been sitting on my shelf way too long. These are blueberry-cranberry muffins and, although they turned out tasty enough, I guess I've become spoiled by those wonderful LARGE muffin tins. The mix made exactly six of these little fellows. They're so...oh, I don't know...so...standard and so tiny. Guess I've adapted (too quickly, perhaps?) to those bigger than life muffins. Love my muffins with character and an in-your-face attitude. These wimps only took 35 minutes in the solar oven so, in between other chores, I decided to try a prepare-at-home personal pizza for lunch.Solar Personal Pizza Hits the Spot
I sprayed the bottom of the pizza dough with olive oil and let it bake in the solar oven for 10 minutes. Whilst that was baking, I doctored 2-1/2 teaspoons of pizza sauce by adding 1/2 teaspoon of tomato paste, 1/2 teaspoon of minced garlic, some oregano, sweet basil, marjoram, stevia, salt and pepper, and blended it thoroughly. Spread a teaspoon of olive oil over the top of the pizza dough before adding the pizza sauce, 1 Tablespoon chopped mushrooms, 1 chopped green onion bulb, slices of pepperoni, and shredded mozzarella cheese.
35 minutes later, I had a delicious personal pizza for lunch.
I would imagine that the larger 12" pizzas would take just a bit longer. Because I oiled and baked the bottom side of the pizza dough first, it was nice and crunchy under the toppings.
Dinner is going to be Chicken and Mussels in Garlic Sauce over Spaghetti Squash (LOVE these longer summer days!) and you'll just have to wait for that recipe...my tasting spoon says it's going to be delish.
I just started a diet today with basically just fruit and veggies, i.e. no muffins or pizza for me ;( but you go girl!!
ReplyDeleteLori - Please note my complaints -- tiny muffins and personal pizza...these are babies compared to what I can usually put away!...
ReplyDeleteThat personal pizza looks delicious! And I'm a sucker for mussels!!
ReplyDeleteI am reaching through the screen for a bite of that pizza!!!!
ReplyDeleteIt´s fantastic that everything can be done in a solar owen, and it doesn´t cost a thing!
ReplyDeleteI´m a bit puzzled now. Those You call muffins, isn´t that cup cakes? I thought muffins was a kind of bread over at Yours. The fun thing is that we call them muffins over here, Your cupcakes I mean :-) :-)
Have a great day now!
Christer.
Sarah - What's great about these mussels is that I used the frozen ones that just a minute to prepare...and no stinky shells in the kitchen...
ReplyDeleteChristina Lee - A pretty smile would have gotten you a slice...
Christer - Not costing anything is my favorite part (well, the deliciousness, too) of solar cooking! We use muffin tins for our cupcakes, as well. Cupcakes are little cakes make with a lighter cake recipe and tastes just like a standard cake, except it's all yours! Muffins are made from a heavier grain and can hold fruit pieces, as well as be sweet or not depending on how they are served with the meal...muffins are more often served with coffee or tea as a mini-meal, while our cupcakes are mostly for desserts... Nice to see you, today...was thinking about you and that beautiful homestead... 8-)
teddy got the suburban. mama got the batmobile!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous blog. I used to have an solar oven but it is long gone. I am now wondering if I still have my solar cookbook. I am going to have to go digging through your site a little more ;)
ReplyDeleteThese look sooo good! I too am on a diet and your blog RSS feed on my homepage is making me hungry! ( :
ReplyDeleteYum those look delicious!!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you added a little explanation on top about solar cooking and what it means. I read it to my husband and he told me me can't get solar panels in our kitchen because we're renting our apartment. I'll have to live vicariously through you on this one for now!
Thanks for visiting my blog! I'm repaying the visit! Everything looks so yummy! And it's great that it's green too!
ReplyDeleteWow, this is pretty interesting. And living in Alaska will give me plenty of time to cook in the summers! lol Thanks for stopping by my blogs earlier today. Now I need to go google this solar oven and learn more about it. How cool!
ReplyDeleteI have only recently learned about solar ovens, so glad I found your site with all of these recipes! The breads all look so tasty.
ReplyDeleteVisiting from Lady Bloggers social.
~Emily @ Random Recycling
jaz - Phew! I was so afraid Teddy would be forgotten in your bliss! Ha.Ha. I know better. Good for both of you!
ReplyDeleteTammy - Welcome, and by all means, find that book! And, if your old oven is gone, you can get a new one at a very reasonable price that will give you a lifetime of immediate savings!
JoJo - If you have access to an area with sun during the day and your apt rules allow you to set up a grill, you should be able to use a solar oven with no problems, and you'll LOVE the fuel savings! The oven is very portable and will cook anything you would cook in a conventional oven or slow cooker...as a beginning cook, I want you to get you started on fuel savings, too!
Cheryl - Thanks for stopping by...y'all come back, now, hear!
Jeannette - That's what's great about a solar oven, has nothing to do with outside temp, just the sun! Once you try it, you'll love it!
Emily - Thanks, LadyBlogger! Hope you join the crowd and spread the news...I'm determined to bring the message to the mainstream before I croak...
Ohhhh blueberry muffins and pizza are two of my favourite things!!! When can we come over for dinner ;-)
ReplyDelete