Eggless Strawberry Scones

Strawberry perfection!!  These scones will make your whole house smell delicious.  And get this, they're eggless!!   Try this recipe next time you're craving home-baked goodness.  Or next time you have a bunch of berries to get rid of before they go bad. :)

Time: 1 hour

Ingredients: 

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup fresh strawberries, chopped (I froze mine overnight for easier handling)
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1.5 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 stick cold unsalted butter (8 tablespoons)
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup applesauce (unsweetened)

Recipe:

1. Preheat oven to 400.
2. In a medium bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. 
3. Cut the cold butter into small dices, add it to the flour mixture.  Then use your hands to incorporate the butter into the flour.  It will look grainy.  
4. Add the small pieces of frozen strawberries to the mixture.
5. In a small bowl, whisk the sour cream and applesauce until smooth.  Add this to your medium bowl, and stir until a large dough form. (Use your hands to form it into a ball.)
6. Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and shape it into a 7- to 8-inch circle (about 3/4-inch thick). 
7. Use a sharp knife to cut the scones into small triangles (or desired shape) and place them on a cookie sheet (spray with PAM first).
8. Sprinkle the scones with 1/2 teaspoon white sugar if you like (I did!)
9. Bake on 400 degrees until golden, about 15 minutes.
10. Let cool for 3-5 minutes and enjoy!

Roasted Chicken

This was my first time roasting a chicken!  I'm excited with the way it came out, recipe below! 

Time: 2 hrs 

Ingredients:  

• 1 young chicken - 4-5lbs
• 1/2 bulb fennel
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme  
• 2 tablespoons butter or Smart Balance  
• 1 handful fresh fennel leaves  
• 5 cloves of fresh garlic  
• Zest of 1 lemon  
• 3 slices of lemon  
• 1 tablespoon olive oil  

Recipe:  

1. Dice the fennel & smash 4 of the cloves of garlic. Slice the lemon. Set aside.
2. Mix 1 tablespoon of butter with the lemon zest, & add the remaining garlic clove, minced.
3. Rub outside the whole chicken with the lemon slices.
4. Stuff inside the cavity with the diced fennel, smashed garlic cloves & lemon slices.  Add the remaining tablespoon of butter inside. 
5. Use a piece of cooking string to tie the legs together, and the wings if needed.  
6. Place your fingers under the skin of the chicken, pull up gently so there's a gap between the skin & the flesh. Start adding chunks of the butter mixture & press it down so it's evenly coated under the skin.  
7. Turn the chicken over & do the same to the other side of skin.  
8. Sprinkle the salt & pepper on both sides, then the dry thyme & fresh fennel leaves.  
9. Coat with olive oil on the top. 
10. Roast on 400 degrees F for 1 hour, then turn it over & roast for another 30 mins.  
11. So that the skin on top of the chicken is crispy, turn the oven off & flip the chicken over, putting it back in the oven for 5 mins.  
12. Cut & serve!

I ate this with my homemade mustard sauce - it was delish! Just take 2 tablespoons of sour cream, add in 1 tablespoon of spicy mustard & 1 teaspoon honey. Mix & enjoy!  

Eggless Banana Bread

Don't throwout your brown bananas... make banana bread!!  I came up with this easy peesy banana bread recipe + it's eggless and it tastes like a milkshake.  YUM!

Time: 1.5 hours

Ingredients:

• 2-3 ripe bananas (overripe - even brown is best!)
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon apple sauce
• 1.5 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder

Recipe:

1. Peel the bananas and mush them in a medium bowl so there's some small chunks left. 
2. Add all other ingredients and stir until combined - you don't want to over-stir or it will make the bread hard.
3. Pour the mixture in a loaf-pan and sprinkle with more cinnamon if desired (I did!)
4. Bake on 350 for 1 hour or until a toothpick comes out clean. 
5. Serve slightly toasted or as-is! 

Optional: You can add chocolate chips or walnuts inside the batter for a crunchy surprise! 

Baked Cassava Fries

This recipe originated from me craving fish n chips!  I ended up having no potatoes to make fries, and I was on a "healthy" kick - in comes Baked Cassava Fries with Baked Flounder!

It's amazingly satisfying and very easy to create. 

Time: ~45 mins + time for water to boil

Ingredients:

• 1 cassava

• 1 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

• Salt & pepper to taste

Recipe:

1. Peel & cut cassava 
2. Boil until tender (~ 15 mins)
3. Spread cassava on cookie sheet
4. Drizzle with olive oil, salt & pepper 
5. Bake on 425 for 20 mins
6. Enjoy!

Serving suggestion: 

I made this with a Baked Flounder Fillet:

Time: 20 - 25 mins

Ingredients:

• Flounder fillet
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• Salt/Pepper
• Fresh dill (optional)

Recipe:

1. Sprinkle flounder fillet pieces with lemon juice
2. Drizzle the top with olive oil
3. Sprinkle with salt and black pepper
4. Bake on 350 for about 15 mins (or until golden brown)
5. Optional: garnish with some fresh dill!