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!

Creamy Avocado Smoothie

Hey stratosphere!

Do you ever have a craving for an ice cold, creamy, and delicious milkshake? Well do I have the recipe for you! ;)

Here is my own creamy avocado smoothie recipe.

But don't let the word "avocado" put you off-- this smoothie is suuuper sweet, tastes just like ice cream, and has the consistency of a fast food milkshake.

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Recipe:

• 1 avocado
• 1 banana (preferably ripe, and brown/spotty since it will be sweeter)
• 2 cubes of ice (or more as you like)
• 1 cup of almond milk (or regular milk if fake milk isn't available)
• Honey (if the smoothie isn't sweet enough alone, then add as needed)

1. Cut the avocado in half, and scoop the fruit out of both sides, and into the blender.
2. Plop in your banana, milk of choice, and ice cubes.
3. Blend.
4. Taste, and add honey, more ice, or more liquid if needed.
5. Enjoy your beauty food! :)

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Isabella

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