The Best Muffins

When it comes to muffins, I tend to think that I can't possibly screw them up! But, I'm going for perfection, here. This is batch #3? Within the last week and by far the best! The others were good, but were just not up to my muffin standards. (I ate them anyway, obviously!)

So, I went back to the muffin board, and got my creative juices flowing...I was hungry, and needed sustenance. And fast! I threw a bunch of stuff in the bowls and into the oven, and this is roughly what I came up with! Anyone care to trial these for me?

FYI:

T=Tablespoon

t=teaspoon 

*Table is bigger than tea ;)

Preheat oven to 350°F, make sure your rack is in the middle of the oven- it's easier to move when cool.

In 1 medium-large mixing bowl, combine and mash with fork: (no mixers/blenders, etc are used in the making of muffins!)

2 bananas frozen/thawed mushed

2 cups? Cooked Pumpkin (Thawed)- I have a bunch already cut and cooked in the freezer from my Halloween pumpkin massacre.

**4oz? Unsweetened, all natural Applesauce (1 tiny tub)

**2t Chia gel (I usually have a jar in the fridge of pre-soaked chias gelling for future culinary use)

1/2t Vanilla extract (I've tried it without, but it's better with.)

**1 1/2T Vinegar (*big T!) (add to bowl last)

In 2nd medium sized bowl, combine:

1 3/4c all purpose Gluten Free baking flour. (I used Bob's Red Mill-and boy, I didn't realize how pricey this stuff was! I used to bake a lot, gluten-style. But GF baking is semi-new to me.)

1/4 - 1/2c Brown sugar (Can absolutely sub for your fav sugar/sweetener. I've been meaning to buy maple, but I just don't know which kind to buy, and I don't bake or use sweeteners (sugar) very often.)

1T Raw sugar -Turbinado (Same as above, your preference- it's what I had on hand.)

1T Baking Soda

1t Baking Powder

1/8t Salt

2t Cinnamon

Dump dry ingredients into wet ingredient bowl, and lightly combine with fork just until moist. Too much stirring can cause TMF. (Total Muffin Failure.)

Fork into muffin pans, (batter should be forkably thick- do not want runny muffins!) I don't use paper muffin liners‎, because they seem to come out of the pan just fine without. GO GREEN!

Makes 18 small/med sized muffins.

Bake at 350°F on middle preheated oven rack for 15-20 min until browned on top. Middle may still be a bit moist-That's OK because we didn't use any eggs! 

Best when cooled! You may not think they're cooked all the way, but once they're cooled, they are! 

**Secret ingredients. These are pretty much necessary to substitute for the Almighty Egg. They're a secret because people will not believe ‎they're inside! You can't even taste them. =D But, you'll know, and you can giggle when your friends/relatives exclaim with delight how fantastic these VEGAN GLUTEN FREE BANANA PUMPKIN SPICE MUFFINS are!


P.S. The stumps are just as delicious as the muffin tops! 

One of my Favorites.

1 Gala Apple

2-3 Inches of Cucumber

3 Carrots

A Shiz-Load of Spinach

2 tsb Chia

7 Red Seedless Grapes (frozen at the peak of perfection.)

6-8 Ice Cubes

I will admit, this looks disgusting, but
it tastes pretty damn delicious. =)

This one might cure me.

There is not one overpowering flavor in it. That doesn't usually happen. The chia adds a great, almost nutty flavor that complements the grapes quite well. The apple and cucumber blends with the carrots producing an exquisite taste that masks the nearly half pound of spinach I shoved in here. =D

I'm getting full so fast and I have only drank half (10oz) of it! More for later! WOOT!

Faux Kiwi Boost

1 Gala Apple

2 Tsp Chia

1 Golden Beet

7 Grapes

7 Strawberries

3 Handfuls Spinach

Ice

Believe it or not, this is the first time I've shared one of my beverages with someone else. My mom got to be my guinea pig! Of course, I went into it having no clue whether it would be good or not, but like always I knew I would drink it because it's all good for me! Since this turned out to be one of my more fruity drinks; if she liked it, I figured it would give her the confidence to try some more of my creations! ;) It turned out to be really yummy!

Some of her comments:
"It tastes like kiwi!"
"I don't taste the spinach at all." (The only reason she knew there was spinach in it was because she saw it on the counter, and she knows I'm a spinach fanatic.)
"Thanks for asking me to share that." "You're quite good at mixing flavors."
"I feel energized by it!" (As she flexes her muscles.)

Hehe, so I guess it worked out quite well! ;) Would your mom drink this?

Kale Beast!

2 Tsp Chia

1 Beet

6 Cherries

3 Kale Leaves

1 Plum

1/4 Cucumber

Water

4 Ice Cubes

Blend on Variable 1-10, Then High until Desired consistency.

This is not one of my favorites. It's a little bitter. I think I put too much kale for my liking. Of course, I'm drinking it anyway!

Two of my friends actually asked me recently if I'd ever made anything gross. As in, if any of my creations had turned out horribly wrong. Immediately, I said no. And followed up with this explanation:

When I am juicing or making smoothies I typically go to my fridge and dig out the first things that I come across, prepare them, and throw them into my VM. I aim for more vegetables than fruit, and overpowering, taste-masking fruits. If it turns out good, then great! If not, then I won't lie about it, but I will drink it happily- knowing that it is indeed good for me and can learn what to do to improve for next time!

Do you dare to try this Kale Beast and submit any suggestions on what could improve it? =)

I didn't even get to sit down to enjoy this one!

2 Tbsp chia

1 Apple Peeled/Cored

1 Beet Peeled

1/4 Cucumber

1 Handful Parsley

3 Cantaloupe chunks

3 Honeydew chunks

Spinach

Ice

3 Oz water

This was sooooo good, I couldn't even snap a pic before gulping the whole thing down! =)

Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Afternoon Delight.

1/4 cup Greek Yogurt
2 Tbsp Chia Seeds
3 Handfuls Spinach
1/2 Cucumber
5 Pineapple Chunks (Fresh-frozen)*
5 Cherries (Fresh-frozen)*
Ice

Blend Variable 1-10 then High until desired consistency

Serve in your favorite mug or glass. Enjoy this beautiful day in this precious moment, as it is all we are guaranteed.


*I say Fresh-frozen because I use all fresh fruit, then freeze it. You may use whatever is available to you!

Super fresh!!

1/4 Cup Greek Yogurt, 2 Tbsp Chia Seeds, 1 Handful Parsley,
1 Peach, 3 Pineapple Chunks, 1 Mustard Green, 3 Handfuls Spinach,
Ice
Variable 1-10 High til Juice
Serve over Ice

Enjoy on this hot beautiful day!

Faux Berry Smoothie

2 tsp White Chia Seeds, 1 Beet, 1 Carrot 1 Celery
1 Handful Fresh Parsley, 5 Chunks Canteloupe
6 Ice Cubes 1/4 cup water
Variable 1-10 Then High Til Juice
Serve Over Ice! =)

This beautiful deep red drink looks like a sugary triple berry drink, but is indeed chock full of goodness! So you can feel like one of the "cool" kids while actually being one of the cooler kids. ;)

*I say smoothie, but of course since I got my Vitamix I have been juicing like CRAZY! Any of my recipes can be made into smoothies by blending for less time and adding more ice.

Cheers!

Good Morning Super Boost!

1 Beet, 2 Tbsp Chia Seeds, 1 Carrot, 5 Cherries,
3 Strawberries, 3-4 handfuls Spinach, Ice
Variable 1-10 Then High Until Juice
Serve Over Ice! 

2-Recipes-In-1! Mmm A Real Treat!

Don't let the cup fool you. It's my cold tumbler.

• 1/2 Kale Leaf
• 2 Carrots Peeled 
• 2 Chunks candied sweet potato (*from dinner last night YUMMM!) 
• 3 Cherries 
• 2 tsp Chia Seeds
• Ice

Variable 1-10 High Juice!
Over ice

Candied Sweet Potato
*Peel sweet potato, 1-2 inch cubes, boil then when "forkable" strain, and transfer to foil lined pan with a little coconut oil and brown sugar, and broil, turning every couple minutes. YUMMMM! (If you have leftovers that is.)

Fact: Bears eat beets. Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica.

1 Beet, 1/2 inch Lemon Slice, Parsely, 1/2 Kale Leaf
1 Celery Stalk, Cilantro, 1-2 Tbsp Chia Seeds, Ice

Refreshingly healthy, and boldly beautiful.

It's true. I do love NY. Also, why wouldn't bears eat beets. ;) & I love The Office. I've been hiding out from the desert heat having an Office marathon for the past two months in the spare time. (Probably the time I should be blogging.) We reach temps of up to 120+ in the summer here. I've been doing pretty good at staying hydrated and keeping active as well as dousing myself with SPF 3000. ;) Most of my exercise happens in the pool, as I have temperature regulation issues relating to my POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome). So, obviously doing much of any strenuous exercising in the hot, hot, heat will inevitably result in a slew of symptoms. I have been getting out a bit and trying to explore and do some walking and of course snapping photos of everything in sight, while also trying to meet some people around town, but it's just too hot right now. I'm sure once it cools down a bit things will be a bit easier. =) 

Cheerio!