#MoveHappy 4: Fudgy Plantain Protein Muffins

July 21, 2014 By Laura

I’m high on my #MoveHappy this week!

I’m in Colorado… what were you thinking?

This week I get to do my #MoveHappy challenge with Heather in Colorado! In case you missed it, Heather and I are co-hosting a challenge to have FUN with fitness in July. You can read the details here. We have a lots of prizes and 5 chances to win some of our favorite fitness-related items. Last week’s prize was announced on Heather’s blog, and this week I have the goods again!

First let’s talk about how awesome is is to be here for Heather’s 2nd bikini competition! She decided to start competing almost a year ago this week when we were on vacation in Napa. I told her if she did, I’d come to Colorado and do a competition with her… this time she’s competing in a different organization and I’m taking a year off, so I came to spectate. Doesn’t she look great?

We celebrated a great show with lot of tasty food at Session Kitchen. The server was amazing – she even brought out a special dessert for Heather! Chocolate Chip Blondie S’mores with streusel sucre and White Russian gelato.

…

Spirulina Cherry TVP Oats

June 13, 2014 By Laura

Green is so easily considered strange.

So this recipe feels like a cop-out.

These green oats are legit strange though! It’s not the green you’re expecting, and it’s not really even oats. If you’ve been reading for a while, you know I have a thing for TVP oatmeal. TVP (Texturized Vegetable Protein) is like chicken. Or tofu. It tastes like whatever flavor you apply to it. A sweet bowl of TVP oats isn’t hard to make good!

Now for the green part. It’s spirulina. Heather repped Nutrex Hawaii at the Blend Retreat this year and generously shared a few samples with me. To be honest, I wasn’t quite sure what I’d do with it. I knew it’s healthy. Spirulina is a microalgae that grows naturally in healthy bodies of water. It’s good for energy, immunity, cellular health, and cardiovascular, eye and brain health. It’s also high in protein and Vitamins A, K1, K2, and B12.

Did I mention it’s super-green? It begs for #strangebutgood applications. You want a bite, I swear…

Also found at Blend was a shiny new bottle of Cherry-Vanilla NuNaturals Liquid Stevia. I’d had it before and loved it, so I was excited for the refill. Of course, I mixed in my Growing Naturals vanilla rice protein (don’t forget about the freebie code!). Gotta keep fueling the muscle growth!

Protein powder adds stay-power AND a fantastic creaminess to your morning bowl of deliciousness.

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Spirulina Cherry TVP Oats

1/3 C TVP
1/4 C oats
1/2 C water + 1/4 C
15 grams vanilla protein powder (I used 1/2 scoop of Growing Naturals)
1/4 C cherries, chopped
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp butter extract (optional – you can also use vanilla or almond)
4-5 drops Cherry Vanilla Liquid Stevia (or preferred sweetener)

Add the TVP, oats, and 1/2 C water to a small pot, stir, and bring to a boil (you can also microwave it like oats).

Reduce heat to a simmer and cook about 10 mins, until mix softens and thickens.

Stir in protein, cherries, extract, and stevia. Add more water as needed (~1/4 C). Allow to cook for 2-3 more mins. The mixture should be silky smooth.

Scoop into bowl and add your favorite toppings.

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How have you enjoyed making co-workers, friends, or family stare with strange but good creations this week? The link up rules can be found here or by clicking on “Strange But Good” in the menu bar above. In short, I want to see what concoctions have earned you weird looks from co-workers, family and friends! Post your Strange But Good creations, grab the logo below for your blog, and link up here.

If you’re not a blogger, you can still share your recipes on Instagram with the #strangebutgood hashtag.

Remember to use #strangebutgood in any Tweets and Instagrams of your creations. 🙂

An InLinkz Link-up

***

I’m back from my NYC adventures (check out Instagram if you’re curious) and SO ready to get back in the kitchen! More recipe are sure to come! 🙂

Have you ever had spirulina?

What is your favorite oats mix-in?

Growing Blend-ships

June 9, 2014 By Laura

What happens at Blend doesn’t stay at Blend.

Well, maybe SOME things do… shhhh…

What I love the most about Blend is the staying-power of the relationships we form and/or solidify in just 3 short days. I’ve read many of the attendees’ blogs before, but meeting these women in person makes the connection that much stronger. Life long Blend-ships! Maybe Corny Cotter is rubbing off on me?!

Same goes for the brands we’re introduced to. For example. I love Silk Pure Almond, but meeting the reps and learning more about the company and type of people they employ make me want to support them that much more. It’s just one more reason I was so excited to get to represent Growing Naturals again this year. I’m so passionate about this company, their products, and the people that work there… it makes me want to share it with everyone!

…

Blend Your [Growing Naturals] Protein

June 6, 2014 By Laura

My Blends are Strange.

But oh-so-good.

Today I am in Utah for the annual Blend Retreat! I look forward to this retreat all year… and I feel especially lucky because I get to represent Growing Naturals again this year. I wish I could share them with everyone (but scroll on down for a sweet freebie offer). You should all come to Blend next year! If you can’t be there this year, be sure to follow along on Twitter and Instagram for the live action.

Last year they were a huge hit with the other bloggin’ ladies, but here are a few reasons I personally love them:

Reasons I love Growing Naturals:

Not chalky
Great flavor (not fake-tasting)
Super-clean (vegan, soy-free, and gluten-free!)
Low in sodium, sugar, and carbs
Their staff rocks – they are passionate about their product and committed to health!

Growing Naturals truly is my favorite protein to use. I love to use it in all the things! It’s fantastic raw in smoothies like my favorite Mocha Beet Frapp and Carrot Cake Batter Shake, or baked into Plantain Ginger Bread.

Rather than one of my own #strangebutgood creations this week, I wanted to feature some favorites from my Blends who use Growing Naturals!

My “original” Blend, Sarah, is the first blogger I met in real life. We will miss her this year, but will celebrate her strangeness today with her Strawberry Pineapple Cilantro Smoothie:

Strange creation #2 comes from a Blend who I basically invited myself to visit… having never met her… in Switzerland!

Lucie is one amazing woman. I wish she could make it to Blend, but I guess coming from Europe would be a little pricey. Instead, we should all make her Green Protein Pancakes in her honor! 😉

Last (but certainly not least) is a Blend I will get to see tonight! My brother from another mother, Lindsay!

This lady knows more about fueling with food and gut health than anyone I know. I’m so glad she’s agree to share 3 strange but healthy recipes today!

Grain-Free Superfruit Bread

Orange Dream Machine Smoothie

Mexican Chocolate & Walnut Healthy Balls… errr… Bites

I have made these, only I subbed sunflower seeds for the walnuts. They rocked my balls off.

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If you’re not a blogger, you can still share your recipes on Instagram with the #strangebutgood hashtag.

Remember to use #strangebutgood in any Tweets and Instagrams of your creations. 🙂

An InLinkz Link-up

***

Want to try Growing Naturals for yourself? Sign up to be a Growing Groupie and enter discount code sprint2thetable at checkout for a free bottle of Simply Soapberry (their natural laundry detergent) and a free 1lb container of protein powder. Offer expires 09/06/2014.

What is your favorite protein powder recipe?

What was the last recipe you tried from a Blend? (Blend = Blogger + Friend)

A Day in Basel, Switzerland + WIAW

May 14, 2014 By Laura

When in Rome…

Or Basel. Whatever.

On my first full day in Basel, Lucie took me on adventures fit for a blogger! But first we began in a predictable way… taking pictures of yogurt bowls before breakfast!

My bowl was goat’s milk yogurt (which Lucie bought special for me!) with cinnamon, Growing Naturals Vanilla Rice Protein, oats, strawberries, cacao nibs, and more of Lucie’s bread. We took our beautiful bowls outside of a photo shoot in natural light. Priorities!

…

Cleaning Up My Act + WIAW

April 2, 2014 By Laura

It is time I clean up my act.

Let’s be real – it’s beyond time.

It’s generally pretty easy for me to keep my diet in check during the week. The weekends… it’s another story. Since I’m not competing this year I haven’t been following any real nutrition plan. ~~Of course~~, I took that to the extreme.

What I know about myself is that I love to indulge. I also know that when that starts happening too much, I feel like crap. It affects me physically and mentally. I’ve been struggling lately, and I know it’s time to reign it in.

For a few years now I’ve been doing my own version of a cleanse… it’s really more of a jump start though. Basically, it’s eating super clean and eliminating common allergens like eggs, dairy, nuts, and gluten. The first 10 days is meatless. The last 11 days include chicken and deep sea fish.

I’m only through Day 1, but here’s my first reactions:

Not taking pre-workout is hard
I’m going to need to buy a lot more veggies
Some of the dishes I made when doing this previously are really good – I’m excited to bring them back
Fruit can make a fun ice cream dessert
Good lord, I miss meat

This WIAW is my first on the 21 clean(se). I’m still working out the best foods to bring and when to time protein and carbs to get the energy I need.

Read on for my eats, and then check out Jenn’s blog for everyone else’s delicious creations!

Breakfast:

My morning cocktail had to be modified. The Aminos I usually use aren’t really clean, so I modified by using ACV and juice from half a lemon. It wasn’t too bad.

Cleanse meal #1 was chia pudding. It’s been a long time since I’ve made a chia pudding, but I used to eat them all the time. Today’s was a berry theme, with my favorite pea protein for added stay-power. I served myself in a martini glass… 2 cocktails in one morning! 😉

Berry Chia Pudding

Mashed berries, to taste
1 T chia seeds
1/3 C unsweetened coconut milk
1 scoop Growing Naturals vanilla pea protein
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground ginger

In a small bowl, mash berries until they are a chunky puree. Stir in remaining ingredients. Cover and refrigerate overnight (or at least 2-3 hours).

In the morning, uncover and stir. Add additional liquid or sweetener as needed.

Mid-Morning Snack:

This happened in two parts. My new pre-workout was dates stuffed with tahini. It was delicious, if not a little messy. It was slow to get going on my workout, but I felt better once I got into it.

Post-workout I made sure to get my protein and carbs in. Can’t lose my gains!

This is my Liquid Sweet Potato Pie made with a date instead of Stevia (Stevia is permitted, but I’m trying to limit it), no extract, and – knowing I have a lot of greens coming my way – I left out the spinach.

Lunch:

Salad of epic proportions and a creamy red pepper soup. See what I mean about the greens?

Afternoon Snack:

Roasted veggies from my trusty Tupperware. Brussels, shiitakes, broccoli, and eggplant with coconut oil, cumin, and cayenne. Coconut oil is a very, very good idea when roasting things. Why do I always forget to use it?

Dinner:

I was starving. Not gonna lie. I forgot my quinoa at home, so I missed my delicious, filling carbs. The better to fuel with when I got home!

Sautés are a quick and easy hanger cure. I tossed some red pepper in a pan to soften while I washed and chopped kale. Then, I added the kale and some pico de gallo to the pan, cooking until the leaves were just beginning to wilt. Lastly, I mixed in the pre-cooked quinoa and a bit of lime juice to warm. Toss it all in a bowl and top with avocado and freshly ground pepper.

Dessert:

Super clean, #strangebutgood dessert. I made protein ice cream by mashing together half a banana, some avocado, pea protein, cinnamon, and unsweetened coconut milk. I froze it for a couple of hours, then blended it in my Vitamix. Topped with cinnamon-honey coconut flour fluff and cacao nibs.

Color = questionable. Taste = good!

***

Day 1 done. 20 to go.

Have you ever needed to clean up your act?

What is your favorite pre-workout? Do you keep it clean?

Banana Chocolate Chip Protein Muffins

March 7, 2014 By Laura

Elvis had it right.

Except for the whole dying on the toilet thing…

The King was known for banana and peanut butter sandwiches. And music, of course. That classic combo has been one of my favorites for years. My mom used to make those sandwiches for us… with mayonnaise. #strangebutgood from an early age!

I left the mayo out of these muffins, but added chocolate. They also contain protein. Probably not strange to many of you, but my co-worker called me a “nut bag.”

(She calls me this In an affectionate way – she’s my tater tot-eating work wife. Sometimes I steal a tot, but she never steals my food. I win!)

Anyway, eat these. The bananas, Greek yogurt, and nut butter give these a rich but not-too-sweet taste and a velvet-like texture.

Once you pop, you can’t stop.

Banana Chocolate Chip Protein Muffins

Inspired by Ari’s muffins

1 large ripe banana, mashed
2 T Xylitol (or other sweetener)
1/4 C plain Greek yogurt
2 egg whites (6 T)
3 T unsweetened almond milk
1/4 C nut butter (I used Onnit Cashew Walnut Butter)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 T melted coconut oil
1/4 C flour (I used spelt)
2 scoops (62g) vanilla protein powder (I used Growing Naturals Rice Protein)
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 C chocolate (or carob) chips

In a large bowl, add banana, sugar, yogurt, egg whites, milk, nut butter, vanilla, and coconut oil in a bowl and whisk together until combined.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients in a separate bowl.

Add the dry to wet ingredients and stir together until just combined.

Fold in chocolate chips.

Pour batter into greased muffin tins. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes, or until toothpick come out clean.

Makes 10 muffins.

Approximate Nutritionals (per muffin): 131 calories, 5.8g fat, 38.6g sodium, 12.2g carbohydrates, 2.2g fiber, 2.9g sugar, 8.6g protein

Remember to use #strangebutgood in any Tweets and Instagrams of your creations. 🙂

***

Now I have “Love Me Tender” stuck in my head.

Are you a banana and peanut butter fan?

What’s your favorite Elvis song?

Plantain Zucchini Muffins

October 10, 2013 By Laura

Who has TIME to post negative comments?

~~Not that I don’t speak them from time to time…~~

It takes a real effort to read a post and formulate a less-than-nice comment. Why would you go to all this trouble? Why do you care so much?

Anonymous posted this on my blog yesterday:

Normally I wouldn’t waste the energy to respond… but I’m feeling feisty this week.

I actually do use a lot of “real” dishes. Often I eat my breakfast from a coffee mug
I’m such an ~~old lady~~ ~~horder~~ responsible citizen of the world that I will use the same paper plate for every meal I eat a work in a day
You don’t have to read my blog. If you don’t like what I say/do/eat from, don’t read. I don’t agree with judgmental, funeral-protesting ass holes, so I steer clear of Westboro Baptist Church.
Anon… I’ve always been curious. Why go to the effort to comment but not even have the kahunas to use your name?

I feel better, Don’t you? You will after you taste my muffin. 😉

The plantain craze took me a while to get on board with. I was too busy with kabocha.

Now that I’ve gotten on the train, I’m putting them in all the things. I love to just caramelize them for eggs, pizza-creations, and salads. That Plantain Ginger Protein Bread rocked. The natural next step was a muffin.

I’m not exaggerating when I tell you this is one of the best muffins I’ve ever made. And it was easy. Half of the ingredients are just tossed into a blender!

After blending the plantain and the wet ingredients, pour it into the dry, give it a quick stir, and fold in the zucchini.

The result of this plantain and zucchini combo is a fantastically moist, satisfying sweet muffin. Depending on the ripeness of your plantain (it should almost be black) and your preferences, you may not even need that extra bit of sweetener!

Those of you who know me won’t be surprised that I amped up the protein in these. I used my favorite Growing Naturals Rice protein. With that addition, these muffins have more than 6 grams of protein!

The only sugar comes from the plantains, but the fact that these are on the healthy side doesn’t mean they don’t taste like the “real” deal. Don’t believe me? Ask my favorite concierge…

Testify!

If you find a Siamese plantain, you can make a double batch! Have you even seen this before?!

It has to be good luck or something…

Plantain Zucchini Muffins

1/4 C spelt flour
1 scoop (31g) Growing Naturals Vanilla Rice Protein Powder
1-2 T Xylitol (or other sweetener, adjust based on sweetness of plantain)
1 tsp no salt baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 large, ripe plantain (~160g)
1 egg (or flax egg)
1 tsp vanilla
1 C zucchini, grated (~120g)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease 6 regular-sized muffin tins with Pam/butter/Earth Balance.

In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients.

In blender (I used the Magic Bullet) bowl, puree plantain until smooth. Add egg and vanilla, blending again just to combine.

Add the wet mixture to the dry, stirring until just combined. Fold in grated zucchini. Pour into muffin tins and bake for 20-25 minutes.

Makes 6 muffins.

Approximate Nutrition Info: 102 calories, 1.2g fat, 18.8g carbohydrates, 20.6g sodium, 1.9g fiber, 4.8g sugar, 6.3g protein

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I’m pretty excited… this weekend I’m going to take a class to being getting my personal training certification! I’m baking these muffins for the class. 🙂

Why do you think people leave negative comments anonymously? Have you ever done it?

Have you gotten on the plantain train? Hee hee… that rhymes.

#MoveHappy 4: Fudgy Plantain Protein Muffins

Spirulina Cherry TVP Oats

Spirulina Cherry TVP Oats

Growing Blend-ships

Blend Your [Growing Naturals] Protein

Reasons I love Growing Naturals:

A Day in Basel, Switzerland + WIAW

Cleaning Up My Act + WIAW

Breakfast:

Berry Chia Pudding

Mid-Morning Snack:

Lunch:

Afternoon Snack:

Dinner:

Dessert:

Banana Chocolate Chip Protein Muffins

Banana Chocolate Chip Protein Muffins

Plantain Zucchini Muffins

Plantain Zucchini Muffins

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