HOMEMADE MICROWAVE BREAD (Gluten Free)

Thanks to everyone who continues to read my blog even though my posts have been boring, mostly WIAW-themed, and at best sporadic. I am going to try and change that though. And hopefully tomorrow I will have a new cake recipe for y'all because it's my BIRTHDAY! Yes, yes, I'm an April Fool's Baby.

Anyways, before I get started on this post, check out my last post if you haven't already, for a fabulous tasting nut butter that I dubbed Cinnamon Utopia Butter.

Utopia after all is a perfect society, and this nut butter is pretty close to perfect....
P.S. I also have some questions at the end of the post that I would love to be answered. Thanks!

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I love making food in the microwave! No, I'm not in college yet, but I will be soon, and I figured that the more microwave-recipes I had in my repertoire the better. My first recipe that I posted on here was called Strawberry Microwave Bake. Then I posted my Chocolate Microwave Bake. Both were successful, and everyone loved them because they are so easy and quick to make!

I personally love making things in the microwave because it cuts down on the waiting time, and I am not a patient person, especially when it comes to something sugary, delicious, and BAKED... Like this:

OR THIS:

For my next microwave recipe I decided to do something a little more useful for a college student. Like, what happens if one morning you wake up, and are out of bread? The nearest grocery store is 15 minutes away, the bread in the on-site grocery store is WAYYY too expensive, and it just so happens that you have to be in class like... NOW!

Enter this tasty, quick bread that you can make in the microwave. Including preparation and cooking time, you can have this bread ready to eat, slathered with your favorite nut butter in less than 5 minutes!

Homemade Microwave Bread

Adapted from my Buckwheat Waffles/Pancakes Recipe

Gluten-Free, Low in Calories, Low Fat, Vegetarian, High-Fiber, High-Protein, Sugar-Free

Calories: 85, Carbs: 15g, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 0g, Fat: 2g, Protein: 6g

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp buckwheat flour*
• 2 tsp coconut flour
• 1/8-1/4 tsp baking powder (I used sodium-free)
• 2 Tbsp egg beaters
• 1/4 cup water
• pinch of salt (optional, but I omitted)

Directions:

1. Combine dry ingredients in a small bowl.
2. Add wet ingredients all at once and stir. Let set for at least two minutes.
3. Transfer the batter to the container (with desired shape). The area should be about 10-12 inches.**
4. Cover and cook on high in the microwave for one minute.
5. Remove and slice in half immediately. Toast if desired.

*Another gluten-free flour, or regular all-purpose flour should work too.
** Use a smaller or bigger container as desired to make a thicker or thinner piece of bread.


Here's the bread that I made for breakfast today, toasted and topped with 3/4 tbsp of peanut butter along with a 3oz lean ground turkey patty:

Other uses for this bread:

• Homemade pizza
• Breakfast sandwiches
• PB&J's
• Sandwiches for other meals of the day
• French Toast (make the bread thicker if you are going to make this)

You could even add different spices to make this bread taste completely different! Cinnamon or pumpkin spice for a breakfast bread. Garlic powder, onion powder or Italian seasoning for the homemade pizza.... the possibilities are endless!

Did I mention that I play the clarinet? This reed case snuck in just for kicks...

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Interested in more recipes like this?

I also adapted my buckwheat waffles/pancake recipe to make:

Buckwheat Quesadillas! Find my alterations here in a WIAW post.


And... the original recipe that started it all:

Waffles

Pancakes

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Do you guys like recipes made in the microwave? I think they are so easy, convenient and FUN to make! I love my microwave...

Any requests for what microwave recipe I should create next? The sky is the limit.

CInnamon Utopia Butter

Guys, I may have just discovered made something better than peanut butter!

Wait... What? Okay, so that may be a slight exaggeration! This stuff is good, but not quite AS GOOD as peanut butter. Never fear, that will remain my one true love. Always and forever.

This stuff is way lower in calories and much sweeter though. And it contains some peanut butter, just so ya know: All is right with the world.

Normally I would try and make a little bit longer of an introduction, but I am currently not on my own computer, and my borrowed time is expiring quickly. So, I'll just jump in with a delicious recipe, some not-so-great photography, and leave you to it!

Cinnamon Utopia Butter

Servings: 20 Tablespoons (13 grams each- approximately)


Calories: 42 per serving

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup sunflower seeds (32 grams)
• 3 Tbsp cup peanuts (28 grams)
• 3 Tbsp almonds (28 grams)
• 1 1/2 Tbsp canola oil
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
• 1 large banana (120 grams)
• 1/4-1/2 tsp salt (optional)

Directions:

1. Blend sunflower seeds in a food processor until crumbly. Add the peanuts, then almonds and repeat.
2. Add 1 Tbsp of oil to the food processor and blend until it begins to come together. Add the remaining 1/2 Tbsp and any additional oil as needed to form a smooth nut butter. Scrape sides as needed.
3. Pour 1/2 cup of water into the food processor and blend for 30 seconds, scraping sides to ensure that the water is uniformly dispersed amongst the nut butter.
4. Add the cinnamon and blend. Add the banana in chunks and blend until smooth.
5. Pour into a glass jar and store in the refrigerator.

*Add salt to taste. I used unsalted nuts and 1/4 tsp of salt sense was enough for me. If you use salted nuts you may need none.

You can see it pictured in my last WIAW on an apple peel:

I have also eaten in on my oatmeal:

It tastes great with fresh fruit, carrots, on pancakes, baked bread, cookies, smoothies, pudding, etc. etc. It just tastes great! (Reminds me of that frosted flakes commercial- *Cue music and singing children- "Frosted Flakes- They're more thannnnn good! ...Duh nu duh.... They're great!" End music*

By the way, if you missed my last WIAW, check it out here.

Check with me tomorrow for another WIAW and new microwave recipe!
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Serious questions that need answering... NOW. No pressure :)

How do you come up with interesting names for your creations? I'm getting bored with plain ole- blueberry muffin, chocolate microwave cake... "I wonder what those recipes entail?" I tried to get more creative with this one. Utopia after all is a perfect society, and this nut butter is pretty close to perfect. Originally I tried to combine sunflower, peanuts and almonds into the name: Al-Peanut-Mon-Seed-The-Sun (All Peanut Men Need the Sun). Then it was: Almond-Peanut-Sun-Butter (Cinn-City). Tacky, I know. No need to say a thing!

Would you like more detailed nutrition facts for my recipes? I use myfitnesspal to input all of my recipes and figure out the calorie, carb, fat, protein counts, etc. This makes it easier to keep track and input into my diary. It would be super easy for me to input them on here, but are most readers just concerned with calories? Let me know!

Another WIAW (before the HUNGER GAMES)

For the longest time I gazed idly over WIAW breakfasts of gorgeous oatmeal concoctions. Topped with sugary granola, nut butters and plump fruit galore, they seemed more fit for dessert than breakfasts. Alas, I tried my hand at creating one for myself, with a little less added sugar and calories.

Disgusting does not quite describe how terrible this first trial was. Quitting at my attempts for the time being I went back to being merely a spectator to the ever-growing oatmeal  bowls (of which chocolate seemed to be not only reoccurring but mandatory).

Then one day I stumbled upon this blogger's Tribute to Oatmeal page and all of my prayers were answer. Here is my simple adaption, low in calories and sugar-free, but quite creamy and wonderful still.

Basic Banana-Chia Oatmeal

Serves 1

Ingredients/Directions: Put 2 Tbsp old-fashioned oatmeal, 1 tsp chia seeds and 1/2 cup of water/almond milk in a small pan over medium heat. Heat until boiling then add 1 Tbsp chopped banana. Let simmer and then whip in the banana until melted and smooth. (Add more liquid and adjust heat as necessary)

My favorite topping combination to date:

• Stir 1/2 tsp cinnamon into oatmeal.
• Top with utopia nut butter (recipe to come soon!), more cinnamon, and frozen raspberries.

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Now onto the other stuff that I have been munching on!


LUNCH
Chili Salad with pistachios and carrots.

SNACK
Apple peels topped with utopia nut butter

DINNER
Light General Tso's Chicken. Recipe adapted from HERE. I used date puree in place of the brown sugar, less oil, and I used powdered spices instead of fresh. It was delicious!

Served with peas, water chestnuts and red peppers.

SNACK
Pistachios... Green, right?

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I would have put more recipes and more pictures up, but this is not my computer and I have had zero-opportunity to blog. Hopefully that will change soon!

In the meantime, questions:

Do you prefer recipes to have nutrition facts?

ARE YOU EXCITED ABOUT THE HUNGER GAMES MIDNIGHT PREMIERE? I am.



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