Cooking Lessons for Dad

Cooking Lessons for Beginners

Pumpkin Raisin Oatmeal Cookies

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Try these yummy, healthy Pumpkin Raisin Oatmeal Cookies! In this video Karen Breyer will show you step-by-step how to make this Pumpkin Raisin Oatmeal Cookies recipe. These cookies are so easy to make even a beginner can make them!

Looking for healthy recipes you can make with your ripe bananas? If so, this is the perfect recipe for you. You can also turn these cookies into healthy chocolate chip pumpkin cookies by adding some chocolate chips. There are also many other tasty variations, like nuts, raisins, and dried fruit, for this cookie recipe.

I think this Pumpkin Oatmeal Raisin Cookie recipe will become one of your favorite healthy dessert or snack recipes. Your kids will love these cookies in their lunch! This cookie recipe is even healthy enough you can eat them for breakfast! Try these delicious, easy Pumpkin Raisin Oatmeal Cookies today!

Yield: About 36 cookies

Pumpkin Raisin Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients

  • 1/2 - 3/4 cup raisins, soaked in hot water
  • 3 large or 4 small bananas, ripe
  • 3/4 cup pumpkin, canned
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 egg (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/2 - 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3 cups old fashioned oats
  • Cooking spray

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°. Spray the 2 cookie sheets with a cooking spray.
  2. Pour hot water over the raisins to cover them. Soak them for a few minutes, then drain off the water.
  3. In a separate large bowl, mash the bananas with a fork and mix together with the pumpkin, oil and egg.
  4. Add the vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon and salt. Mix well.
  5. Stir in the oats and drained raisins.
  6. Drop mixture by a heaping tablespoonful on a greased cookie sheet.
  7. Bake at 350° for 25– 30 minutes or until they start to become golden on the top and bottom.

Notes

You could also add dried cranberries and/or chopped nuts in place of, or in addition to the raisins. You could also experiment with other ingredients.

These cookies are best eaten within 24 hours.

I prefer the taste of Kosher salt.

Do not over bake these Pumpkin Raisin Oatmeal Cookies or they will be dry.

See a cooking demonstration of this Pumpkin Raisin Oatmeal Cookies recipe on the Cooking Lessons for Dad YouTube channel.

© Karen Breyer

 

Quinoa

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Learn how to cook Quinoa! In this video Karen Breyer will show you step-by-step how to make Quinoa. Quinoa is very easy to make and takes half the time of regular rice. Quinoa can be used in place of rice in most recipes. It can be part of a main dish, side dish or in soups, salads and even puddings.

Quinoa is a tiny, bead-shaped grain that cooks like rice. It is actually a grain-like seed that contains more protein than any other grain. It is a complete protein (contains all eight essential amino acids). Quinoa has a light flavor similar to couscous. Watch this cooking video and try this easy Quinoa recipe today!

Yield: About 4 cups

Quinoa

Ingredients

  • 1 cup quinoa
  • 2 cups water

Instructions

  1. Rinse and drain quinoa in cold water.
  2. Add quinoa and water to medium sauce pan.
  3. Bring to a boil.
  4. Reduce to a simmer.
  5. Cover and cook until all water is absorbed, about 15 minutes.

Notes

When the quinoa is done it will appear soft and translucent. The germ ring will be visible along the outside edge of the grain.

Season quinoa as desired or use in another recipe.

You can cook quinoa in the rice cooker. Add 2 parts water to 1 part quinoa. I sometimes make half brown rice and half quinoa (or any ratio).

See a cooking demonstration of this Quinoa recipe on the Cooking Lessons for Dad YouTube channel.

© Karen Breyer

 

Crockpot Maple Almond Sweet Potatoes

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Make this Crockpot Maple Almond Sweet Potatoes recipe for dinner tonight! In this cooking video Karen Breyer will show you step-by-step how to make these tasty, healthy Maple Almond Sweet Potatoes. This is a easy, healthy side dish recipe that you and your family are going to love! These tasty sweet potatoes are simple to make in your crockpot or slow cooker. For more variety you can use yams instead of sweet potatoes.

Want a change from your regular potato recipes? Prepare this Crockpot Maple Almond Sweet Potatoes recipe as a tasty, colorful, side dish for any meal. Impress your company with this easy to put together recipe. Fix this sweet potato dish ahead of time in your crockpot and let it cook while doing other things. After it is finished you can leave it warming in the crockpot while you finish preparing dinner. Why eat the same old thing everyday? Dress up your dinner tonight with this delicious, easy, healthy Crockpot Maple Almond Sweet Potato recipe!

Yield: 8 servings

Crockpot Maple Almond Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients

  • 8 cups sweet potatoes (or yams)
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1/2 cup crushed pineapple with the juice (canned, unsweetened)
  • 3 - 4 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • 1/3 cup almonds, toasted (chopped or sliced)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla

Instructions

  1. Cut cleaned sweet potatoes into 1 inch cubes.
  2. Add the sweet potatoes, water, pineapple, maple syrup and salt to the crockpot and stir together.
  3. Cook the potato mixture for 4 - 5 hours on low or 2 - 3 hours on high until the sweet potatoes are soft.
  4. Mash the sweet potato mixture with a potato masher.
  5. Mix in the almonds and vanilla. Serve.

Notes

It is fine to use raw almonds instead of toasted.

I like to sprinkle some additional almonds on top of the finished Maple Almond Sweet Potatoes.

I prefer Kosher salt but you can use any type of salt.

Feel free to peel the sweet potatoes. I prefer to leave the skins on.

For a variation add 1/2 cup dried cranberries to the potato mixture before cooking.

You can cut this recipe in half and cut the cooking time by 15 to 30 minutes.

See a cooking demonstration of this Crockpot Maple Almond Sweet Potatoes recipe on the Cooking Lessons for Dad YouTube channel.

© Karen Breyer

 

Indian Spiced Lentils

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Make this easy, healthy, Indian Spiced Lentil recipe! In this cooking video Karen Breyer will show you how to make these Indian Spiced Lentils. If you enjoy Indian spices and are looking for healthy recipes, you are going to love this Indian Spiced Lentils recipe!

Lentils are a fast cooking legume that are easy to make. No need to soak these lentils like other legumes and beans. Because they are smaller, red lentils cook even more quickly than regular lentils.

Lentils are inexpensive and a great source of protein and fiber. Lentils digest slowly so may be beneficial for diabetics. They also may help those trying to lose weight because lentils help you stay full longer.

If you are trying to make more healthy meals for your family, this delicious Indian Spiced Lentils recipe will be perfect! I think it will be one of your best healthy recipes. Watch this cooking video and try this Indian Spiced Lentils recipe today!

Yield: 4 servings

Indian Spiced Lentils

Ingredients

  • 2-3 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 1/2 - 2 cups onion, thinly sliced
  • 3 - 4 teaspoons fresh ginger, peeled and grated
  • 3 - 4 teaspoons garlic, minced
  • 3 teaspoons vegetable seasoning and broth, dried
  • 3 cups water
  • 1 - 14.5 ounce can tomatoes, diced
  • 1 cup red lentils, dried
  • 4 teaspoons garam marsala
  • 2 teaspoons cumin, ground
  • 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. Heat oil in medium to large saucepan over medium heat. Sauté onion until it is soft, about 5 minutes.
  2. Add garlic and ginger and cook another minute.
  3. Remove half the onion mixture and set it aside.
  4. Add the vegetable seasoning, water, tomatoes, lentils,
  5. garam masala and cumin to the pan with the onion mixture. Bring to a boil.
  6. Cover the pan, reduce the heat and simmer until the liquid is absorbed and the lentils are tender, about 15 minutes.
  7. Stir in salt to taste. Top with reserved onion mixture.
  8. Serve plain or over rice, quinoa or couscous.

Notes

Before using the lentils, pick them over, remove any debris and rinse them.

Instead of the dried vegetable seasoning and broth and water you can use 3 cups of prepared liquid vegetable broth.

You can use 1 teaspoon ground ginger in place of the fresh ginger.

These lentils are typically served over rice but they are also delicious over quinoa and couscous.

See a cooking demonstration of this Indian Spiced Lentils recipe on the Cooking Lessons for Dad YouTube channel.

© Karen Breyer

 

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