Honey Banana Muffins

Honey Banana Muffins

The natural sweetness of the bananas combines with the honey to create a healthy back to school breakfast muffin or after school snack!



Ingredients:
• ½ cup honey
• 1 1/4 cup mashed and ripe bananas
• ½ cup of butter or coconut oil for vegan option
• 2 tablespoons soy, rice, almond or cow milk
• 1-teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 organic eggs
• 2 cups whole-wheat flour, spelt flour or
whole kamut flour ( If celiac use a GF flour blend)
• ¾ cup chopped favorite nuts ( I like walnuts)
• 1-teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• 2 teaspoons of cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• ¾ cup golden raisins
• 2 Tablespoons of liquid honey ( or agave nectar for vegan option)
• 1 teaspoon of butter ( or coconut oil for vegan option)


Directions:
• Heat oven to 325. Grease muffins tins with butter or coconut oil
• In a large bowl, blend the first 6 ingredients and for beat 1 minute at medium speed with a hand mixer.
• Blend together the remaining dry ingredients and then add dry ingredients to the blended wet ingredients in three stages, blending well after each addition until the dry ingredients are thoroughly blended.
• Bake muffins for 12-14 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
• Melt together the honey and butter to create a glaze to drizzle on top of muffins while cooling.


Recipe Accolades:

Easy to Make
No Added Refined Sugars
High in Fiber
Low in Saturated Fat
Low Glycemic
Vegetarian/Vegan (if using coconut oil)
Kid Tested!

Flourless Apple Cinnamon Muffins

“Flourless” Apple Cinnamon Muffins
Adapted from the SMARTKitchen

SERVES: 12 muffins

Comment: This apple cinnamon muffin recipe uses no flour, making it a high protein snack or breakfast for anyone reducing their grains or intolerant to gluten!

Ingredients:

3 cups of ground almonds
1 teaspoons of baking soda
1 teaspoon of baking powder
¼ teaspoon of sea salt salt
2 teaspoons of cinnamon
1 cup of peeled and chopped apples ( I like them chopped small)
½ cup of golden raisins
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
½ cup pure maple syrup
3 whole eggs, slightly beaten
1 teaspoon of lemon zest (grated lemon peel)

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 160'C or 325'F.
2. Line a muffin tin with large baking cups
3. Combine the almond flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt & cinnamon in a medium bowl
4. Combine the apples, raisins, vanilla, maple syrup, eggs and lemon in a large bowl

5. Add the dry ingredients cup by cup into the wet ingredients, stirring to mix thoroughly each time
6. Evenly fill each baking cup with the batter (fill to top of cup, muffin only rises about 1 to 1 1/2 centimetres beyond cup)
7. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes.

Chef Tip

To all you cinnamon fans out there.....

I like to sprinkle cinnamon on the tops of muffins before putting them in the oven just to give that extra little hint of cinnamon ...

Recipe Accolades

Dairy Free
Easy to Make
Gluten and Wheat free
Low in saturated fat
Low Glycemic
No Added Refined Sugars
Vegetarian

Meetintg Tosca Reno!

For those of you who haven't heard of Tosca Reno, she is the amazing story of a woman who decided to change her life, lose weight and now at 51 years of age, poses for fitness magazines, writes Eat Clean nutrition books and gives motivational talks all around the world!
I had the honour of meeting with her in Toronto at the Canadian Fitness Professionals Conference and wanted to share my great experience!
Tosca spoke on making positive changes in our lives. Small positive steps to create great change!
To everyone out there that just dosen't know where to start with nutrition, start with small , positive steps...and watch your life change!

Honey Baked Curry Chicken

Honey Baked Curry Chicken
Serves One
This recipe is so simple and has been a childhood favorite of mine! There is just a hint of curry that is complimented nicely with the honey glaze! Enjoy!

4 ounce boneless, skinless chicken breast
2 teaspoons of butter
2 Tablespoons of liquid honey
¼ teaspoon of curry powder
pinch of sea salt


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Combine all of the above ingredients, excluding the chicken in a small saucepan and heat on low heat until butter has melted.
Place chicken breast in a lightly greased casserole dish. Pour the sauce over the chicken and cook covered for 35 – 45 minutes.

What is a curry powder?
Curry powder is a mixture of many herbs and spices, the combination of spices used in making curry powder is varies in different countries and regions, but the one ingredient that is present to all mixture is "tumeric" Curcumin is the substance that gives the spice turmeric its yellow color and is responsible for many of the health benefits of curried dishes.
Health Benefits of Curry:
• Curry powder can help reduce inflammation of the joints; this is due to the curcumin which acts as a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent.

Filming in the Byward Market

Yesterday was a beautiful, sunny day and I was filming with Answermen ltd. in the Ottawa, Ontario Byward Marke for my online cooking show coming on gluten free cooking.
I am developing recipes for celiacs and gluten intolerant individuals using gluten free whole grains and whole sweeteners.
Happy Cooking!!

Dark Chocolate Coconut Banana Cookies

Makes 36 bite size vegetarian and gluten free cookies

How can you NOT love chocolate, banana and coconut!

Ingredients:

3 large, ripe bananas, well mashed (about 1 1/2 cups)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup coconut oil, olive oil or butter

2 cups quick cooking rolled oats- use gluten free Lara’s ots

2/3 cup ground almonds

1/3 cup shredded coconut

2 teaspoons of cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking powder

6 - 7 ounces or dark chocolate chips or dark chocolate bar chopped

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl combine the bananas, vanilla extract, butter/ oil. Set aside.

In another bowl stir together the oats, ground almonds, shredded coconut, cinnamon, salt, and baking powder.

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

Fold in the chocolate chunks/chips.

Drop dollops of the dough, each about 2 teaspoons in size, an inch apart, onto a pre greased cookie sheet.

Bake for 12 - 14 minutes


Nutrition Facts

Serving size: 1/36 of a recipe (1 ounce).

Percent daily values based on the Reference Daily Intake (RDI) for a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition information calculated from recipe ingredients.
Amount Per Serving

Calories 98.2

Saturated Fat 2.44g

Cholesterol 0 mg

Sodium

16.16mg <1% Fibre 1.81g

Sugar 1.78