My Favorite Morning Glory Muffins

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When I was younger my mom would make some of these muffins and I remember barely tolerating them…. Instead I opted for the chocolate chip or banana, which are still tasty, but now I find that the more I can pack into a muffin, the more I like it. I love Morning Glory Muffins for grabbing before I hit the gym in the morning. If I haven’t had at least a little something to eat right when I wake up I feel nauseous and light headed. Rather than opting for straight sweetness these have some sticking power – fiber in the carrots and pineapples, some protein in the yogurt and nuts, and also the health fats from walnuts. Another power packed go-to that doesn’t break the calorie bank.

Remember that these are baked at high altitude, so down as sea level the flour level may need to be adjusted slightly to get the consistency you want.  

Morning Glory Muffins

Makes about 12-15 muffins

Ingredients

  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (add more if batter is too runny)
  • 3/4 cup packed brown sugar (can use 1/2 cup to cut back on sugar)
  • 1/2 cup oats
  • 1 T ground cinnamon
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp ginger
  • 2 cups grated carrots – about 4 large carrots
  • 1 grated apple (no core)
  • 3/4 cup crushed pineapple, drained
  • 1/2 cup plain fat-free yogurt
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/3 cup oil
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1/2 cup raisins

Directions

  1. Preheat over to 350F. Line the muffle tin with liners and spray with non stick cooking spray. This is important or your muffins will stick to the paper.
  2. In a small bowl, cover raising with hot water and set aside to soak.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, soda, spices, and salt.
  4. Stir in carrots, Apple, pineapple, nuts, and oats.
  5. In a separate bowl, beat eggs, oil, and yogurt. Add to flour/fruit & vegetable mixture.
  6. Drain raisins and add to the rest of ingredients.
  7. Spoon batter into muffin liners about 2/3 full.
  8. Bake at 350F for 25-28 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean and the tops are springy to the touch.
  9. remove from oven and let cool at least 5 minutes.

These freeze incredibly well, so I like to keep them in the freezer and just pull one out at a time in the morning. 🙂

 

 Now go make these for the weekend!

Enjoy!!

Easiest Greek Kale Salad

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I’m almost embarrassed to share this it’s so easy! And embarrassed to say that this post has been waiting n my queue for final edit almost a month. I ended up making this salad again last night which kind of kicked my but to get things done.

Lately I’ve been obsessed with kale – a little late to the band wagon, probably, but that’s totally fine with me, I do nothing in fashionable time anyway. I was craving Greek flavors after a date night’s dinner at Mykonos and needed something healthy and would hold up to take for lunch over the week. If you don’t dress chopped kale salads they can hold up for up to 5 days (depending on the kale) in the refrigerator.

I ate a lot of salads during college and grad school – and kind of got burnt out by most of them (my go to was spinach, edamame, and cottage cheese). Does that ever happen to you? Eat too much of something and suddenly it becomes something you can’t even choke down? Maybe I go through ruts, but it happens all too often.  In any case, I’m back to where I can have a few salads a week and thoroughly enjoy them. The real sticking point is that they have to be well balanced and hearty with lots of chunky vegetables or fruit with nuts. I think this Greek version fit into that hearty vegetable category.


Chopped Kale Greek Salad

Serves 4 large salads easily

Ingredients

  • 1 bunch kale, chopped into bit size pieces
  • 1 can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 6oz can sliced black olives or other kalamata preference
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
  • 1 large cucumber, quartered and sliced
  • 4 oz crumbled feta cheese
  • 1/2 red onion, sliced (optional)
  • Your choice of dressing, I like Newman’s Own Greek Vinaigrette for this

Directions

  1. Toss together all ingredients, except dressing.
  2. Serve and dress as you prefer
  3. Enjoy!

I told you it was embarrassingly easy. But not that it can taste that good with minimal effort.

Yum, yum, yum.