Cranberry Relish Mug Cake

Got cranberry relish left over from Thanksgiving? Or maybe you're planning to make some for Christmas? (I'm talking about the ground up fruit stuff, not that gelatinous stuff that comes from a can--though it might work if you blended it. I don't know. I haven't tried.) Then make this delicious mug cake! With minimal ingredients, its comes together in a flash, cooks in the microwave, and is all yours!

Ingredients:

2 T applesauce
2 T milk
2 T cranberry relish
1 t vanilla
1/4 c whole wheat flour
1/2 t baking powder

Directions:

1. In a microwave safe mug, whisk together the wet ingredients.

2. Whisk together the flour and baking powder and add into the mug.

3. Stir to combine.

4. Cook for 1-1.5 minutes in the microwave. (This mug took 1.5 minutes in my microwave.)

Loosely adapted from this cranberry mug cake from Jim's Kitsch Kitchen

30 Days of Oatmeal: Wassail Oats

Are you familiar with the classic Christmas quaff, wassail? It's a mulled cider drink filled with all kinds of warming spices including cinnamon and cloves. Today, I've recreated it in oatmeal form.

Maybe not the prettiest bowl of oats ever, but yummy for sure!

Ingredients:

1/2 c quick oats
1/2 c cranberry grape juice*
1/2 water
1/2 t cinnamon
1/4 t cloves
1 T (or more!) natural peanut butter for topping.

Directions:

1. Bring the oats, juice, and water to a boil and reduce heat to medium.
2. When oats reach the desired consistency, stir in the cinnamon and cloves.
3. Pour the porridge into a bowl and top with the peanut butter.


*Substitute apple cider, apple juice, or straight cranberry juice for a slightly different take on this recipe.