Supernatural Muffins!

Hey guys!

Sorry-- I've totally had "blogger's block" lately... Although, one thing I have been doing (almost excessively) is making muffins!

Yes, these babies are to die for. And they are extremely fibrous, nutritious, and filling! If they don't get you running out of bed in the morning, then I don't know what will!

I found the idea of healthy muffins while flipping through the book Supernatural Cooking by Heidi Swanson. After making the original recipe, I have been experimenting and adding whatever appropriate ingredients that my fridge may have.

Here is the original recipe:

**Makes 12 muffins

• 2 cups white whole-wheat flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup natural cane sugar
• 1/4 dup chia gel
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup non dairy yogurt
• 1- 1 1/2 cups mashed overripe bananas (2-3 bananas)

- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl and stir well (don't forget any ingredients from the recipes below).
- Combine all wet ingredients in a medium sized bowl and stir well (don't forget any ingredients from the recipes below).
- Pour the wet mixture into the bowl of dry ingredients and mix (avoid over mixing, because it will make tough muffins).
- Grease muffin pan, and scoop batter into all 12 cups.
- Let bake for 25 minutes.
- Dump the cooked muffins on a cooling rack after they are done!

Here are my Variations:

**Add the ingredients below to the original recipe above.

Banana Nut Zuccini Carrot Muffins

• 1/2 cup zuccini
• 1/2 cup carrot
• 2 handfuls of any chopped nuts (optional if you have allergies)
• 1 cup (or more) berries (optional). Frozen raspberries are particularly good!

- Chop the zuccini and carrots into pieces.
- Blend the chopped zuccini and carrot together in a blender or cuisinart until there are no chunks left (cuisinart works best).
- Add the blended mixture to the "wet" ingredient bowl (as shown in original recipe above).
- Add nuts and berries to the "dry" ingredient bowl.

Banana Nut Espresso Blueberry Muffins

• 1-1/2 Tbs ground coffee beans (powder texture)
• 2 handfuls of any chopped nut (optional if you have allergies)
• 1 cup (or more) blueberries.

- Add the ground coffee powder, nuts, and blueberries to the "dry" ingredient bowl.

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I hope that you take the time to make these recipes! They are aaaaamazing, and you won't regret it!

Isabella

Banana Chocolate Peanut-Butter Smoothie

I'm sure the title said all that you need to know, besides the "healthy part". ;)

Yes, indeed, this recipe IS healthy!! *Rejoice rejoice*

I stole this recipe from yoga aficionado, and youtuber, Tara Stiles. I have also made it two days in a row after intense and strenuous days of exercise, so it is full of protein, healthy fats, potassium, and electrolytes to help rebuild those stressed out muscles. Or just act as a delicious snack.

 

 

Stay healthy!

Isabella

Pineapple and Mint Green Smoothie

I invented this delicious creation this morning while mindlessly throwing the contents of my fridge into a blender.

It is so amazing and refreshing! You must try it!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup pineapple
• 1-1/2 cup kale (or any other leafy green)
• 3/4 cup frozen or fresh strawberries
• 1/2 cup lettuce (romaine or other)
• 2 tablespoons chopped mint
• water as needed to make smooth (but not too much)!

Happy blending!

Isabella

Yoga Inspiration

Lately, I have had yoga on the brain.

No-- not bikram yoga... Although it is a good form of exercise, it lacks in the diverse and spiritual side of yoga, which are equally as important as the physical aspects of it.

I remember my junior year of high school, I did bikram yoga four times a week the entire year. As I memorized and mastered all of the 26 poses, I gained flexibility and a false sense of pride. When I finally branched out and went to one of the more traditonal classes, I was a complete beginner, and realized how little I could actually do physically with hundreds of different poses that have been accumulated over thousands of years.

After months of skipping yoga and focusing on rock climbing, I am back! I am getting my PE credits outside of school with my yoga membership. I need 68 hours by mid June (i'm sweating just thinking about it)...

Here is a little inspiration for you to branch out into wherever you are in your yoga practice-- even if it is nonexistent. :)

 

Love, Isabella

Power Protein Shake!

Here is the recipe!

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbs Chia seeds
• 1/4 cup hemp protein (or any other plant based protein)
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup almond milk (or any other nut or soy milk)
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 packet of frozen acai purée (not necessary, but adds flavor)
• 2 tbsp honey

Steps:

• Put 2 tbsp chia seeds in a medium sized bowl and pour the water over them. Let sit for 15 minutes, while stirring thoroughly ever 5 minutes. Chia seeds will form a nutritious gel that will thicken your smoothie!
• Get your blender ready, and add in all ingredients including your chia mixture.
• Blend, and voilà!

Cheers!

Isabella

Sprouting!

Supplies:

- 1 Mason Jar (as shown above with a mesh lid cover)
- seedlings (alfalfa)

Steps:

- Put 2 and a 1/2 Tbs of alfalfa seeds into the jar, and fill the jar 3/4 of the way full with water.
- Let sit for the next 6-8 hours (overnight is the easiest)
- Drain and rinse the seeds (while not removing lid) to make sure that the enzyme-inhibitors are washed off.
- Roll jar so that seeds stick to the side as shown above.
- For the next 3-5 days rinse the seeds twice a day to make sure that the seeds stay hydrated (seedling tails will grow to about 1-2 inches in length).

They should end up looking like this:

And voila! I am a proud sprouter! : ,- )

- When you are ready to store them, put them into a large bowl and fill it with water.

- The brown seed shells should come floating up.

- Drain the shells while keeping the sprouts secure in the bowl.

- Repeat as needed.

Enjoy! :)

Isabella



Healthy Cookies!

These cookies are a MUST for me.

They are amazing pre or post workout, and even as a substitute for regular unhealthy cookies!

All that they include are:

Ingredients:

- 2 cups oats (blended or copped finely)
- 2 bananas
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 Tbs honey

Steps:

- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.
- Mash together with your hand until it creates a nice paste (wash your nasty hands first).
- Lightly grease a baking pan and spoon in paste (cookies can be whatever size that you like).
- You may form cookies into whatever shape or size that you like!
- Top cookies with something pretty (I like the taste of chopped nuts on top, or chocolate chips)!
- Bake cookies for 15-20 minutes, depending on the thickness and width.
- Let the cookies cool for a while before storing in a fridge (steam will make them soggy).
- Voila!

Some to-die-for variations on this recipe include replacing one of the bananas with a half cup of pumpkin puree (cheap at any grocery store). Also, adding a teaspoon of nutmeg with the cinnamon is yummy!

Next, I will be experimenting with peanut butter "cookies"! :)

More to come!

Isabella