Cook Without Book

Yield:  12 muffins (serving size: 1 muffin)                     Ingredients 1 1/2 cups   all-purpose flour (about 6 3/4 ounces) 1 cup   whole wheat pastry flour (about 5 1/8 ounces) 1/2 cup   sugar 1 teaspoon   baking powder 1 teaspoon   baking soda 1/2 teaspoon   salt 1 1/2 cups   low-fat buttermilk 1 1/4 cups   chopped dried figs 2 tablespoons   canola oil 1 teaspoon   vanilla extract 1  large egg Cooking spray 1/3 cup   packed brown sugar 1/4 cup   quick-cooking oats 1 tablespoon   butter, melted Preparation Preheat oven to 400°. Lightly spoon flours into measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flours and next 4 ingredients (through salt) in a large bowl; stir with a whisk. Make a well in center of mixture. Place buttermilk, figs, oil, vanilla, and egg in a food processor; process until well blended. Add fig mixture to flou...

Yield:  Makes 8 muffins (serving size: 1 muffin)                   Ingredients Cooking spray 1 cup   applesauce 1 teaspoon   canola oil 1/2 cup   turbinado sugar 1 teaspoon   vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon   almond extract 3/4 cup   oat flour 1/3 cup   unsweetened cocoa 2 teaspoons   baking powder 1/2 teaspoon   baking soda 1/2 teaspoon   salt 1/8 teaspoon   ground cinnamon 1/2 cup   semisweet dairy- and gluten-free chocolate chips (such as Sunspire) Powdered sugar (optional) Preparation 1. Preheat oven to 350°. Place 8 paper liners in muffin tin; coat with cooking spray. 2. Combine applesauce and next 4 ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together the next 6 ingredients. Add oat mixture to applesauce mixture; stir until blended. Stir in chocolate chips. 3. Spoon batter into muffin cups. Bake for 20–22 minutes, rotating the pan a half-turn after...

Yield:  38 servings (serving size: 1 cookie)                  Ingredients 1/2 cup   margarine, softened 1/3 cup   sugar 1/2 cup   "measures-like-sugar" brown sugar calorie-free sweetener (such as Brown Sugar Twin) 1/2 cup   egg substitute 1 teaspoon   vanilla extract 2 1/4 cups   all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon   baking powder 3/4 teaspoon   baking soda 1/4 teaspoon   salt 1/3 cup   unsweetened cocoa 2/3 cup   finely crushed sugar-free peppermint candies (about 30 candies) Cooking spray Preparation Preheat oven to 350°. Beat margarine with a mixer at medium speed until creamy; gradually add sugar and sweetener, beating well. Add egg substitute and vanilla; beat well. Combine flour and next 4 ingredients. Add to margarine mixture, stirring just until blended. Stir in crushed candy. Drop dough by level tablespoonfuls onto wax paper. Roll into balls; place ba...

Yield:  10 servings (serving size: 1 pancake)                 Ingredients 1 cup   all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon   baking soda 1/8 teaspoon   salt 2 tablespoons   toasted wheat germ 1 cup   nonfat buttermilk 1/4 cup   unsweetened applesauce 2 teaspoons   vegetable oil 1  large egg, lightly beaten Cooking spray Sugar-free maple syrup (optional) Fresh fruit slices (optional) Preparation Combine first 4 ingredients in a medium bowl; make a well in center of mixture. Combine buttermilk and next 3 ingredients. Add buttermilk mixture to dry ingredients, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. Heat a nonstick griddle or nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium heat. For each pancake, pour 1/4 cup batter onto hot griddle, spreading to a 5-inch circle. Cook pancakes until tops are covered with bubbles and edges look cooked; turn pancakes, and cook other side. ...

                Ingredients Cooking spray 1 cup   applesauce 1 teaspoon   canola oil 1/2 cup   turbinado sugar 1 teaspoon   vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon   almond extract 3/4 cup   oat flour 1/3 cup   unsweetened cocoa 2 teaspoons   baking powder 1/2 teaspoon   baking soda 1/2 teaspoon   salt 1/8 teaspoon   ground cinnamon 1/2 cup   semisweet dairy- and gluten-free chocolate chips (such as Sunspire) Powdered sugar (optional) Preparation 1. Preheat oven to 350°. Place 8 paper liners in muffin tin; coat with cooking spray. 2. Combine applesauce and next 4 ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together the next 6 ingredients. Add oat mixture to applesauce mixture; stir until blended. Stir in chocolate chips. 3. Spoon batter into muffin cups. Bake for 20–22 minutes, rotating the pan a half-turn after 10 minutes. Muffins are done when tops are firm to the touch. ...

               Ingredients Brownie layer: 5 tablespoons   unsalted butter 1/4 cup   semisweet chocolate chips 1 cup   all-purpose flour 1/3 cup   unsweetened cocoa 1/4 teaspoon   baking soda 1/4 teaspoon   salt 2  large eggs, lightly beaten 1 1/4 cups   sugar 1 teaspoon   instant espresso granules dissolved in 1 tablespoon water 1/2 teaspoon   vanilla extract Cheesecake swirl: 1  (8-ounce) package 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, at room temperature 1/2 cup   sugar 1  large egg white, lightly beaten Preparation 1. Preheat oven to 350°. Coat a 9- x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. 2. For brownie layer, combine butter and chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl; microwave until nearly melted. Stir. 3. Combine next 4 ingredients (through salt) in a bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk eggs, sugar, espresso mixture, and vanilla. Add chocolate mixture; stir unti...

                             "I made this as a birthday cake using a low-fat lemon cream-cheese frosting. It was quite a hit." --CL Reader Yield:  9 servings (serving size: 1 square) Ingredients 1/2 cup   all-purpose flour 1/2 cup   whole wheat flour 1 teaspoon   baking powder 1/2 teaspoon   ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon   baking soda 1/4 teaspoon   salt 1  large egg 1  large egg white 1/2 cup   packed brown sugar 1/2 cup   canned pumpkin 2 tablespoons   vegetable oil 2 tablespoons   butter, melted 1 tablespoon   grated orange rind 3/4 cup   raisins 1/2 cup   grated carrot 1/3 cup   dried cranberries Cooking spray 2 tablespoons   coarsely chopped walnuts Preparation Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly spoon flours into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flours and next 4 ingred...

                          Prep: 10 minutes; Cook: 15–20 minutes. Yield:  Makes 6 servings (serving size: 2 waffles, plus syrup) Ingredients 1 cup   all-purpose flour 1/2 cup   cornstarch 3/4 teaspoon   baking soda 1/2 teaspoon   salt 1 teaspoon   cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon   ground ginger Pinch ground cloves 1  large egg 1  large egg white 1 1/2 cups   low-fat buttermilk, well-shaken 3/4 cup   canned pumpkin 1/4 cup   dark brown sugar 2 tablespoons   canola oil 1/2 teaspoon   unsalted butter, melted 1/3 cup   chopped walnuts 2/3 cup   pure maple syrup Powdered sugar, for garnish Preparation 1. Preheat oven to 400°. Combine first 7 ingredients (through cloves) in a large bowl. Whisk together next 6 ingredients (through oil) in a medium bowl. Make a well in center of dry ingredients; add wet mixture. Stir just unti...

       Peanut Butter-and-Jelly Sandwich Cookies           Peanut butter cookies make the perfect base for a layer of sweet strawberry spread. Serve these sweet-and-salty  cookies  for an afternoon snack or a sweet lunchbox surprise. Yield:  20 servings (serving size: 1 sandwich cookie) Ingredients 1/4 cup   margarine, softened 1/4 cup   no-sugar-added creamy peanut butter 1/2 cup   "measures-like-sugar" calorie-free sweetener 1/4 cup   sugar 2  large egg whites 1 teaspoon   vanilla extract 1 3/4 cups   all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon   baking soda 1/8 teaspoon   salt Cooking spray 3/4 cup   low-sugar strawberry spread Preparation Preheat oven to 350°. Beat margarine and peanut butter with a mixer at medium speed until creamy. Gradually add sweetener and sugar, beating well. Add egg whites and vanilla; beat well. Combine flour, soda, and salt in a sm...

                          Inside this classic cake is a sweet streak of brown sugar and warm cinnamon with the nutty crunch of walnuts. Chop the walnuts to the size of small peas to ensure they are evenly distributed in the cake. Substitute pecans for walnuts, if desired. Yield:  16 servings (serving size: 1 slice) Ingredients 3/4 cup   packed dark brown sugar 1/3 cup   chopped walnuts 1 teaspoon   ground cinnamon 3 1/4 cups   all-purpose flour (about 14 1/2 ounces) 2 teaspoons   baking soda 1 teaspoon   baking powder 1/4 teaspoon   salt 1 1/2 cups   granulated sugar 10 tablespoon   butter, softened 3/4 cup   egg substitute 1 teaspoon   vanilla extract 1 1/2 cups   nonfat buttermilk Cooking spray Preparation Preheat oven to 350°. Combine brown sugar, walnuts, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Set aside. Lightly spoon flour into d...