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 [...]

Butternut Squash Recipes For Thanksgiving and beyond, fresh squash grown right here at Vala’s Pumpkin Patch is one of the most iconic flavors of fall. We can not get enough of it! And this year, with a bumper crop, we’re selling it for pick-up November 25th, the day before Thanksgiving. This is a treat! There are a million ways to cook squash, but here is a roundup of some recipes across the web and one recipe from The Vala’s Pumpkin Patch Cookbook, just to get you started. Butternut Squash Risotto — This is a one of my favorite ways to eat [...]

  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 [...]