To all the home bakers, and aspiring home bakers, here’s a line of mixes that keep things simple. That is—simple and nourishing ingredients are the only ones included in their delicious mixes. Founder Katlin Smith, whose health had become a challenge, began checking label of so-called “healthy” foods and noticed many were filled with additives, extra sugars, and fake “natural” flavors. After testing 90 recipes in her home kitchen, Simple Mills was born with three muffin mixes. The company prides itself on preparing their mixes with only ingredients that can be recognized: almond/coconut/cassava flours, apple cider vinegar, vanilla extract, arrowroot, chia/hemp/sunflower seeds, cocoa, coconut sugar, eggs, honey, and organic spices. That’s it. Each box is certified gluten-free and also free of soy, corn, dairy and emulsifiers—making them paleo-friendly and vegan.
We had fun testing the goods with a couple of veggie pizzas and muffins.
Pizza Dough Mix The texture is not what you would expect for pizza crusts, it’s more like a crust for a traditional pie or quiche. Delicious nonetheless, and the thickness of the crust allows you to really load the toppings. Seen here, left: mushrooms, mozzarella cheese, and yellow squash; right, on a bed of pesto rests mixed cherry tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. Just looking at these is making me hungry! Herbs that are mixed into the crust adds an additional flavor profile. Made with almond flour and ground flax seeds for extra nutrient value. The box makes two 8” pizzas. $7.99
Banana Muffin & Bread Mix Light and fluffy, this mix gets its authentic banana flavor from real bananas. Made with almond flour and coconut flour, and naturally sweetened with coconut sugar. Choose to do muffins or a banana loaf. $7.99
Chocolate Muffin & Cake Mix This decadent mix is made with only seven ingredients and unsweetened cocoa. Optional frosting gets its rich chocolate flavor from fair-trade cocoa powder, coconut oil and sustainable palm shortening. Sweetened with corn-free organic powdered sugar and monk fruit extract (a natural zero calorie sweetener) adds up to only 6g of sugar per serving. $7.99 simplemills.com
These boxes can inspire all sorts of “out of the box” recipes. Here’s a healthy party recipe that might become your go-to. A tangy dip accompanies broccoli tots.
Broccoli Tots with Horseradish Aioli
MAKES 15 TOTS
PREPARE THE AIOLI
1/4 CUP mayonnaise
2 TB lemon juice
2 TB grated horseradish
1 tsp grated garlic
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
—
Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl. Taste and adjust seasonings.
PREHEAT OVEN 400ºF… MAKE THE MIX
2 small heads broccoli
1 TB water
—
1/2 CUP mild cheddar cheese
2 eggs
1 CUP + 2 TB Simple Mills Artisan Bread Mix
1/4 CUP green onion
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp black pepper
—
Place broccoli in a microwave safe bowl with water. Cover with a wet paper towel. Steam in microwave for 2-3 min till broccoli is tender but still crunchy. Chop into very small pieces, (should be about 4 CUPS), and add to a bowl. Add rest of the ingredients, mix to combine.
To make the tots: The mixture is a little sticky, so coat your hands in olive oil before shaping. Scoop about 2 TB of the mix and roll it in your hands to form into an oval shape. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Spray with cooking spray. Bake for 15 min, flip, then cook an additional 10 min. Serve broccoli tots along with the horseradish aioli for dipping.
