Tasty Tuesday: Applesauce Donuts

This will probably sound crazy BUT one of things I miss about being gluten free is not having a donut.  My favorite was always the apple cinnamon ones from Delicious Orchards or Krispy Kreme’s Boston Cream.  I know, none of them are Weight Watcher friendly and definitely not gluten free.  I know there are some available but I just can’t bring myself to pay the price for them.  Of course, not being much of a baker, making them could be a real challenge.

I was excited when my daughter, Belinda, who has Celiac Disease f ound a few recipes and shared recipes one of them with me. It was originally posted by Andi Gleeson.

Glazed Applesauce Donuts

This Applesauce Donut Recipe is low in fat and big in flavor. Treat yourself to these easy doughnuts for breakfast!

Prep Time 10 minutes     Cook Time 15 minutes     Passive Time 10 minutes          Servings 12 donuts

Ingredients

Donuts

• 1 egg
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all purpose flour (I used spelt)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt

Cinnamon Applesauce Glaze

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons unsweetened applesauce
• 4 teaspoons water (added one at a time as detailed in instructions)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray donut pan(s) with cooking spray.

2. Whisk together egg, milk, applesauce, sugar, and vanilla. Add flour, baking powder, 1 tsp. cinnamon, and salt. Whisk until smooth.

3. Spoon batter into prepared baking pan. Each donut opening should be filled almost to the top. Bake in preheated oven for 12-15 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. (If you only have one donut pan, you will need to repeat this step when the first six are done.)

4. Allow donuts to cool in pan for a few minutes, and then transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment, wax paper, or a silicone mat. (This lining will help in the next step.)

5. When donuts have cooled completely, whisk together powdered sugar, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, applesauce, and ONE teaspoon water. If mixture is too dry to mix in all the sugar, continue adding water ONE teaspoon at a time just until a thick glaze forms. (If you make the glaze too thin, it will just soak into the donuts.)

6. Dip the top of each donut into the glaze, and twist back and forth a couple times to get a good coating. Lift the donut straight up and let the excess drip off, then place the donuts glaze-side up on the lined baking sheet. Allow to rest about 15 minutes to let the glaze set before serving. Best eaten within a few hours.

Recipe Notes

• Adapted from Ina Garten’s Cinnamon Baked Doughnuts.
• I know this recipe looks long, but it really is easy! I just wanted the instructions to be clear and detailed so they would be easy to follow.

Thank you for this recipe.

Belinda has a side gig of being a Wellness Advocate with doTERRA Essential Oils.

What Are Essential Oils?

If you have ever enjoyed the scent of a rose, you’ve experienced the aromatic qualities of essential oils. These naturally occurring, volatile aromatic compounds are found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other parts of plants. Essential oils provide plants with protection against environmental threats and play a role in plant pollination. In addition to their intrinsic benefits to plants and being beautifully fragrant to people, essential oils have long been used for food preparation, beauty treatment, and health-care practices.

Essential oils are both exciting and promising when it comes to taking care of your own and your family’s health. Whether you’re applying essential oils topically, enjoying the aromatic benefits through diffusing, or taking essential oils internally, the positive effects of essential oils are boundless.

That’s why you’ll want to ensure that the essential oils you are using are capable of delivering on their promise. You’ll want to make sure that you are choosing essential oils for their potency and their purity.

Be sure to check out her website for more great tips on staying healthy with essential oils.

Have a recipe you want to share, be sure to send it to me.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Last Minute Holiday Shopping

I am off enjoying the day with Belinda and family but that doesn’t mean I don’t have some words of wisdom to share with my readers….

This is for those ambitious people who can actually pull off a “crafty Christmas” in 36 hours.

As I reflect on the last year, my inner gremlins always want me to head to the “shoulda”, “coulda”, “woulda” kind of things.  You know what I mean, things like wanting to pay off debt but not getting very far, vowing not use credit cards and then you do or the big one this time of year is to not spend ALOT on Christmas gifts.  Everyone’s definition of “a lot” is different but a post on Dave Ramsey‘s site about Christmas on a Crafty Budget brought back so many memories….

Somewhere in the midst of the hustle and bustle of Christmas  and the desire to make sure Belinda had everything she wanted (but maybe did not need), I lost some of the meaning of Christmas.  Yes, I was one of those crazy moms who didn’t care that I went into debt.  I was a single mom and never wanted Belinda to feel like she was missing out on things.  Don’t get me wrong when she was younger, I used to make her clothes for special occassions including Halloween costumes.  The sewing machine was my friend.  It took up space in my dining room and when we moved to the trailer, I had an office.   A corner of the office for my consulting business and one for my sewing.  I miss those days.  Those were the days of the crafty Christmas….

Ever heard the expression “It’s the thought that counts”? I always felt like that was the polite way to say, “This gift stinks, but I don’t want to hurt your feelings.”  That was always my fear just before the person receiving the handmade gift opened their present.  Only to find out, the best gifts you can give are sentimental or have some thought attached to them, not a price tag.  Some of these were: table runners that are still used by family or the recipe file that contained all of recipes we loved that Grams made.

When I buy gifts now (non-Thirty One gifts that is) they are usually from a fellow crafter.  I love being able to share the amazing things that others create.  Add to my bucket list  – get back to sewing or at least making some things.

So, are you fretting about money or the lack of it and worried that you don’t have something for everyone on your list?  Are you getting sucked into the shopping frenzy, tempted to just “charge a little” this holiday season?  Why not try some of these ideas…

• The gift of time is a great gift for that mom that never gets a break from the kids.  Or how about a set of new parents that could use a date night.  What about spending the day with YOUR mom or dad?  Special time of just hanging out together, enjoying each other’s company.
• Homemade goodies are always well received especially by those who have little time to bake.  Why not bake a batch of cookies and drop them off to a friend, a neighbor or even that family member that you don’t know what to give them.

I was blessed this year to have a CASH Christmas as a result of my Thirty One business.  Of course, fewer gifts were bought since Belinda and Ashley just got married in August.  The best gift is that the girls are back in NJ for Christmas.  Gathering with family and extended family over the holidays will be the best gift of all.

Maybe you have already finished your shopping and are having buyers remorse.  Bless and release!!!! Now is never too late to start planning for next year.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today I am feeling blessed for so many thing. As always it is a day filled with lots of mixed emotions…as usual, I am crying tears of joy and gratitude mixed with tears of sadness.

I am blessed that yesterday I got to spend a fun-filled day with my mom.  We spent the day Christmas shopping, talking and making memories that will last a lifetime.

I am blessed to snuggled in front of the TV to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade remembering the fun we had last year when Belinda, Ashley, Ashleigh (yes, two of them) and Amber were here.  I got to cross seeing the parade in person off my bucket list!

I am blessed to be spending Thanksgiving with my dad, my step-mom and my extended family.  I am excited to be having not only traditional foods but my niece will be making a vegan meal for me to try!

I am sad because today our family is apart.  Something that I need to get used to since Belinda is married and living in North Carolina.  Holidays are now split between New Jersey and North Carolina.

Memories of years gone are filled with high school football games, homecoming floats, dinner at Grams with the entire family. As in years past, lives changed and so did family dynamics. Along came Belinda and the splitting of holidays between family. The family has gotten smaller as our family of angels in heaven has grown.

I am blessed in so many ways. I am grateful that my family is healthy. The year has been filled with trials which have all been blessings in disguise.

Thirty One has blessed my life too. Who would have thought that 4 years ago, a $99 kit would make such a difference in my life. I have a growing business with a team of women who continue to amaze me with their strength and friendship. It has given me an income that allows me not to work full-time. I also have met women who are now customers, hostesses as well as my friends. I have been blessed to be able to share my blessings from Thirty One with those who are less fortunate giving back to our community.

Words can’t express how grateful I am today and every day. My wish is that each of you have a blessed Thanksgiving – enjoying the time with your friends and family. Cherish the moments for all the years to come.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful Thanksgiving!