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! 

Easy Hazelnut Almond Butter + Bonus

‎Hazelnut Almond Butter:

I roasted about 3/4 lb raw almonds and 1/4 lb raw hazelnuts ‎at like 350F for about 20 min, stirring (mixing) halfway through. Removed the "papery skin" from the hazelnuts, and stuck the almonds and hazelnuts in the freezer for about 20 min or until cold. (This makes it easier on the Vitamix. Since its motor is powerful enough to make soup, we don't want the nuts to heat up too much.) 

Once cooled, pour nuts and sea salt, if desired, into Vitamix container and switch ON and *immediately to 10, Then HIGH speed. While using the tamper (stick thingy), put some muscle into it and mix like crazy until desired consistency. About 2 minutes, tamping throughout! 

*If you don't switch it on and immediately turn it to 10 High and tamp, I've heard it won't mix correctly. Some people have experienced a flour-like substance, which would no doubt, be delicious, but not the outcome we've expected.

Pour/spoon nut butter into airtight container, and store in refrigerator.

‎BONUS:

Before you clean your Vitamix, add these few easy ingredients for a yummmmmmy treat!

Frozen blueberries 1/4c

Frozen Red seedless Grapes 1/4c

2-3 sprigs Parsley (really ties everything together, so fresh!)

Coconut milk 1/4c

Coconut oil 2tsp

Almond Hazelnut butter (leftover after scraping blender, or add more!)

Spinach a few handfuls 

Ice 3-4 cubes

Blend to desired smoothie consistency

Oh MY, deliciousness! 

Don't forget to wash your Vitamix afterwards! ;)

Pesto a la pasta

 I used to eat the shiz outta pesto. I put it on anything. Pasta, NAAN, chips, bread (toast), yogurt...(Just kidding). But, seriously I would put it on a lot of nommies.

Since the switch to gluten free, vegan, etc, lifestyle, I wanted to make my own safe version. I threw a bunch of stuff into the Vitamix (no measuring) and voila! Pesto. It was pretty yummy! I will definitely experiment with other ingredients and get back to you.

Chives

2 Garlic cloves
Spinach
Olive oil
Salt
Cashews
Spring mix

Can you guess what's in this "Honeyloupplum" sorbet?

H-dew - a few frozen balls
Canteloupe - 1/4 cup
Pineapple - 1/4
Plum - no pit
Chia gel

Not fast enough to snap pic. ;) Wayyyy toooo yummmmyyyy,

Happy Fourth of July!

What a deliciously, thick and creamy, dreamy way to wake up on this beautiful Fourth of July!

Here's to you!

Hemp milk
2 tsp Chia
6 Grapes
1 Carrot
1 Peach - no pit
3 chunks frozen Pineapple
1/2 frozen Banana
2-3 Kale leaves
Spring mix packed to top!
Ice if not using fruit that is frozen

'D' is for...

I don't have anything exciting to say about this post, except that this is Damn Delicious.

1/2 Banana

3 Strawberries

1T Sunflower/chia bitter

Greens

Hemp milk

Ice

Blueberrchata

1 Banana

1 Handful of Blueberries

2 tsp Flax

1 tsp Horchata powder mix (optional)

Coconut milk

Ice

I don't think the photo does this delicious concoction any justice! Mom even tried this and REALLY liked it! =)

Detox May

Detox May

1 Carrot Peeled

1 Gala Apple Peeled

1 Celery Stalk

4 Mint Leaves

2 Kale Leaves

2 Handfuls of Spinach

Handful Fro Pineapple

Handful Parsley

Ice

It's that time again. I've learned the hard way (by eating out yesterday), that I need to be gluten and dairy free. So here I am, beginning Detox May! I'm aiming for at least one über-green smoothie/juice per day and healthy meals with no dairy, no gluten, and, of course no meat!

I know that the most difficult part will ultimately be the cravings, while also attempting to maintain a high enough blood pressure due to the POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome). Peer pressure has all ready shown to be somewhat difficult. I get feelings of guilt when someone offers "delicious food that I must try". They can't seem to understand that I'm not just being picky, or fussy, or rude, I am simply trying to heal myself by eating what I can tolerate, and avoiding what I makes me ill. UGH!

Life is all about choices. Every choice that we make, either consciously, or subconsciously, or even unconsciously, impacts our lives in numerous ways. That's the beauty of life. These choices, all of them, are up to you to choose what to do. Whether small or large, (putting an apple in my mouth, or eating pizza; climbing a mountain, or going skydiving) we can choose to do what we feel is right for  us. Sometimes when we're overwhelmed or stressed, it seems we tend to shift toward the extremes, which can possibly lead to a dangerous downward spiral. Other times, we can choose to do nothing at all, which is often worse than doing something. YEAH CHOICES! 

 My choices are my own, and I shouldn't have to justify them to anyone else or feel guilty of hurting feelings by saying "No, thank you." Right?

There's WHAT hiding in there?!

Caption not worthy of what's inside.

1 Golden Beet, 1 Apple (Gala), 5 Cherries,
1 Handful Parsley, 2 Kale Leaves, 5 Honeydew Balls
4 Ice Cubes 4oz Water

I am at a loss of words to describe how tasty this is!!! I feel like my photos do no justice. You'll just have to take my word and give it a try, make it yourself! 

This was my first time dealing with Golden Beets and boy, they sure are beautiful! Though, I did miss the "bloody-hand" experience I usually have with regular beets. ;) As much as I love the all-consuming deep red, it's nice to sneak some beets into a green drink! =D

PS: A drink doesn't have to be green to be Green. ;)

PPS: How have I lived this long prior to owning/using a melon baller?! If you don't have one, please, please, please, do yourself and your hands a favor and go to the nearest dollar store and buy one! They're so much fun!!! (I love snacking on frozen honeydew and cantaloupe, and balls are so much easier then chunks.)

Naan Extravaganza!

Wow! A lot has happened since my last post.

Physically and mentally, I am in the best place possible to kickstart my plan, Operation: Road to Recovery! I *finally* have the supplies necessary to do this. VITAMIX!  Get ready for juice/smoothie action coming up in the next post! =D

I've created a new LIFESTYLE for myself consisting of healthy eating habits, exercise/fitness activities, and good sleep hygiene. WOOT! Let's do this!
<== Here are a few naans I made the =other week...semi-healthy, but not quite the drastic change that I need to cleanse my body of the toxins.

This is not just ANY naan! ^Chicken Tikka with Cilantro-Mint Chutney!^ This delectable authentic Indian naan came especially from my lovely friend in India! I was so excited to finally make it from scratch! (Except for the naan, and I didn't grow the chicken) ;) It was AMAZING! I ate it 3 days in a row!

Also, I LOVE HUMMUS. I can't wait to experiment and make my own!


*Note, some of the blogstamps are delayed because of merging blogs and moving.