Zoe’s Oatmeal, Whole-Wheat Buttermilk Pancakes Not surprisingly, my daughter Zoe loves pancakes and waffles just as much as I do. They’re the ultimate little kid breakfast food! I took my classic buttermilk pancake recipe, subbed in a little whole-wheat flour, and added some rolled oats for texture. The result is a healthier version that I don’t feel guilty serving to my growing little girl (or eating myself!). I regularly make a double batch and then freeze the cooled leftover pancakes in plastic freezer bags for weekday mornings. And while real maple syrup is always my go-to pancake topping, I [...]

Weekend Baking: Pumpkin Muffins (In the Spring!) Pumpkin isn't just a fall treat; pumpkin muffins, breads and cakes taste just as good in the winter, spring and summer! A whole grain version of pumpkin bread, these muffins are year-round staples for my kids' school lunches and after school snacks. I bake a double batch and freeze the extra so I almost always have them on hand. 2 tbsp sugar2 tbsp brown sugar, packed1/4 tsp ground cinnamonFor Muffins1/2 cup all-purpose flour1 cup whole wheat flour1/2 cup rolled oats1 tsp baking powder1/2 tsp baking soda1/2 tsp salt1/2 tsp cinnamon1/4 tsp ginger1/4 tsp [...]

Apple Fritters with Cider Glaze At the Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant in Tennessee, they serve fritters in your bread basket and proudly display the catch-phrase, “Life is short, eat fritters first!” Whether it’s Thanksgiving or any other meal, this slogan is worth revisiting every once in a while, and these fritters are perfect for the task. Stock up on apples and apple cider at our Thanksgiving Market, November 23rd & 24th, 8am to 6pm, and whip up these fritters to celebrate fall! Apple Fritters with Cider Glaze 1 cup flour3 tbsp sugar1 1/2 tsp 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder1/4 tsp baking soda1 [...]

Apple Pie Baking Instructions: Keep pie completely frozen until ready to bake. Preheat oven to 375°F, or 350°F for a convection oven. Spray a rimmed baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray or line with parchment paper. Bake frozen pie on prepared baking sheet for 1 hour and 15 minutes to 1 hour and 25 minutes, rotating pie halfway through baking. The top of the pie will be golden-brown and juices will be bubbling out of pie. You can check apple doneness with a small, sharp knife to see if the apples are softened. Let the pie cool for 4 hours [...]

  Vala’s Monster Cookie Recipe These cookies have it all—peanut butter, chocolate, oatmeal! They’re a Vala Family favorite—there’s usually a half-eaten one (or more often, leftover crumbs!) on our kitchen counter all season while the farm is open. You can make regular-sized cookies or monster-sized cookies, like we do at Vala’s Pumpkin Patch. eggssugarbrown sugarsaltvanilla extractsticks butter at room temperaturecreamy peanut butter not all naturalbaking sodaold fashioned rolled oatsM&M'schocolate chipsunsalted peanuts, chopped (optional) Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment paper.In a very large bowl, mix together the eggs and the sugars. Add the salt, vanilla [...]