Two mixes

I have recently discovered the beauty of muffins for breakfast. The variations are endless, the kids love them, and they are quick. I have also recently discovered the beauty of getting up and taking a shower before my kids get up. Mornings go a little smoother, and I am more motivated to get to bed at a decent hour.

A friend gave me a homemade oatmeal muffin mix with a recipe recipe over a year ago, and I recently found the recipe again and tried it out on my kids. They love it, and I love that I can add things like raisins, blueberries, and banana. I want to try pumpkin, applesauce, cranberries, and nuts.

Oatmeal Muffins (makes 2 batches)
3 cups whole wheat flour
3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup sugar
3 cups oats (I used quick cooking oats)
1 cup brown sugar

To make 1 dozen muffins:
Mix 3 heaping cups of mix, 1 egg, 1 cup milk, and 1/2 cup oil until moistened and spoon into muffin tins. Bake at 400 degrees F. 15-20 minutes

**********

I recently needed a can of cream of mushroom soup for a recipe, and I don't usually use cream soups or keep them on hand, but I did have a recipe for making a mix from scratch, and I had all the ingredients. So now I have a mix in my pantry in the event that I make another casserole soon. Not likely, but now I know what's in my soup.

Condensed Cream of Soup Mix
2 cups nonfat dry milk powder
3/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup instant reduced sodium chicken or beef bouillon granules
1/2 teaspoon dried crushed thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried crushed basil
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper (I used black)

Combine all ingredients and mix well with wire whisk until blended. Store mix in an airtight container.

To prepare as a substitute for one can of condensed cream soup in recipes, stir together 1/3 cup dry mix and 1 1/4 cup water in a saucepan. cook and stir until thickened.

Mix makes a total of nine cans condensed soup substitute. Use instead of condensed canned cream soups in recipes. Just add the ingredient that forms the basis of the soup. Chop mushrooms, saute in a bit of olive oil and add for cream of mushroom soup. Add chicken for cream of chicken soup. You get the idea!