Whole Wheat Blueberry and Quinoa Muffins

Yes yes, I know..... My muffin recipes just keep getting weirder and more extravagant! Don't judge... I spend way too much time in my kitchen.

I got the idea last night to include quinoa in my muffins when I was looking over at my grain cabinet, and my quinoa jar looked abandoned. I am also an avid athelete, so I was trying to brainstorm more ideas on how to get more plant based protein into my diet!

Quinoa is soooo incredily good for you! It is gluten free (in case you care), packed with protein and fiber. It also has iron, and riboflavin (to help energize your metabolism)!

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Recipe:

Dry ingredients

• 2 cups cooked quinoa
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp nutmeg
• 1 tbs cinnamon
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 cup sugar (only if you aren't using agave or honey!!)
• A generous amount of frozen or fresh blueberries
• A generous amount of shredded coconut (sweetened or unsweetend)

Wet ingredients

• 2 bananas
• 1 cup non dairy yogurt
• 1/4 cup coconut oil or olive oil
• 1/2 cup agave or honey (if you aren't using regular sugar!!)

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Cooking Quinoa

1. In a pot, comine one cup uncooked quinoa with two cups water, and bring to a boil.
2. When water is boiling, turn down the heat to lowest setting, and let quinoa sit for aout 15 minutes. Check back often to make sure that it isn't burning.
3. After quinoa is done, scoop out two cups, and set aside for the muffins. You should have about a cup left to use for which you please.

Muffin Time

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Combine all dry ingredients (except for baking powder, and blueberries), and mix well. The flour should stick to the quinoa, to look like little granuels.
3. Comine all wet ingredients in a blender, and blend briefly to make the consistency smooth.
4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredient bowl, and mix well.
5. If the consistency is too wet, add more whole wheat flour. If it is too dry, you can add yogurt, or more agave/honey.
6. Now add the blueberries and baking powder, and stir. Baking powder is added at the end to make sure muffins are fluffy.
7. Grease a muffin pan, and fill the cups with batter. You can top the muffins with anything!
8. Let bake for at least 20 minutes (or longer if needed).
9. Let cool on a cooling rack.
10. Devour.

I hope that you love these muffins! I sure do. :)

Isabella

Baked Garlic Sweet Potato "Fries"

Hey guys!

Here is a quick, healthy, and delicious snack/meal/sidedish that I just invented tonight!

I have loooooved garlic fries all of my life-- I remember going to a drive-in restaurant in California with my mom when I was a little girl, and it had the BEST garlic fries in town.

Any unhealthy dish can be made into a healthy one! This recipe is the perfect example!

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Fun Facts:

• Sweet potatoes are high in beta-carotene which helps your eye sight, and helps you grow strong nails and hair!
• The allicin in garlic is also a powerful antibiotic, which fights infection and bacteria. British researchers gave 146 people either a placebo or a garlic extract for 12 weeks. The garlic takers were two-thirds less likely to catch a cold.
• Sweet potatoes are high in vitamin C, to help ward off colds.
• Other studies suggest that garlic lovers who chow more than six cloves a week have a 30 percent lower rate of colorectal cancer and a 50 percent lower rate of stomach cancer.
• Sweet potatoes contain vitamin D. They also contain iron, so if you are a vegetarian, then they are a good way to help keep that balanced.
•  Garlic helps to open clogged sinuses.

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Instead of frying the sweet potato slices, we will be baking them (no oil necessary)! And instead of eating white potatoes, we will be substituting beta-carotene filled, nutritious sweet potatoes instead!

Recipe:

• One sweet potato (or yam)
• 1 Tbs chopped fresh thyme
• Salt to your liking
• Pepper to your liking
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• 2 Tbs chopped garlic

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Slice your sweet potatoes thinly, and place on a baking sheet.
3. Sprinkle spices and herbs over the slices, and mix the slices together to spread seasonings evenly.
4. Place the slices in your oven, and let bake for 7 to 10 minutes.
5. Puncture a slice with a knife to see if they are all evenly cooked through.
6. When done, place slices in an appropriately sized bowl, and sprinkle your garlic over the "fries". Maybe even drizzling a modest amount of olive oil to help the garlic stick (and aslo to add flavor).
7. EAT!

 They are incredibly satisfying, and I hope that you thouroughly enjoy them!

Love,

Isabella!