: : maybe you should write : :

In the summer of 2011, I was chosen to record my story of the pregnancy and birth of Twig. The following are links to the blog.

Twig was her first nickname...before she was named. This blog will be dedicated to her.

Chocolate chip cookies just got better.

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup butter
1 egg
2 tbs flax meal dissolved in 6 tbs water
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 cup oats
1 cup almond meal
2+ cups flour
chocolate chips to taste

Bake at 375 degrees.

Flax is by far my favorite egg substitute. It's quick, easy, and doesn't require anything that includes corn or starch. In comparison to bananas or other egg replacers, flax meal + water will yield a light, fluffy texture to most baked goods.

To implement:

Using a Vitamix, or other powerful blender, obliterate some flax seeds. If you already have flax meal, make sure it hasn't gone rancid. Fresh flax meal is best.

1 cup cornmeal
1 cup flour of your choice
2 tablespoons sugar or honey
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons butter or oil
1 1/2 to 2 cups almond milk, cow's milk, buttermilk, cream, or other liquid
2 tablespoons flax meal soaked in 5 tablespoons water (this is an egg substitute: read more on using flax)

Mix above ingredients in a bowl by hand. Use a waffle iron or likewise, make them into pancakes.

1 1/2 cups flour of your choice (I use whole wheat flour usually)

1/2 cup unsalted butter (if you use salted butter, omit dash of salt)

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg

dash of salt

Blend above ingredients in a food processor, or with your hands. Don't "cut" the butter into the flour using knives or forks as some books say. This won't work nearly as well as your fingers. Add cold water to desired texture, about 1/4 cup.

*adapted from Joy of Baking

2/3 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup mashed ripe banana
1 egg
2 tablespoons butter
2 cups bread flour
1 cup + 2 tablespoons whole wheat flour
1/3 cup rolled oats (toasted)
4 teaspoons honey
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon active dry yeast

Toast oats by putting them on a cookie sheet in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes. Although this is intended for a bread machine, it can be made by hand as well. Bake at 400 degrees...I think.

: : more bananas = more bananas

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup flaxseed meal (or seeds)
2 tablespoons sugar/molasses/honey
1 egg
3 tablespoons melted butter
1 cup buttermilk

2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup apple sauce
2 large eggs
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/3 cup soy milk
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Bake at 375 for 20 minutes or so

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder (some people use cream of tartar, but who has this really?)
• 1 organic egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups flour (whole wheat works fine)
• 4 Tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

Directions