Paleo Banana Carrot Lemon Muffins

Let's make that title a little longer, shall we?

I finally paid attention to what I was making and have an actual recipe for these muffins - I guess I'm growing up. I bought lemon curd at Trader Joe's last weekend and needed something to eat it with, so I decided to try to make muffins. I found a recipe using coconut flour and adjusted it a bit, because I wanted to add carrots like my mom does. We love hiding healthy things in baked goods. But actually, the only sugar in these muffins comes from the banana and the lemon curd. So you can totally eat them for breakfast. And a snack. And dessert.

Not the best picture, but it's better than the one of the half-eaten muffin I could have posted...

Preheat your oven to 400. Using a food processor, mix the following:

2 big carrots, shredded
1 ripe banana
1/4 cup coconut oil (melted)
5 eggs
1/3 cup coconut flour
1/2 cup almond meal (or use only 1/2 cup coconut flour like the original recipe intended)
1 tablespoon lemon curd
big squeeze of lemon juice (I used a quarter of a big lemon)
1 teaspoon baking soda


I used the shredding attachment on my food processor to do the carrots, then threw everything else in there and mixed it with the normal blade. I suppose you could add vanilla extract, but I didn't have any so I skipped it.

Grease muffin tins with cooking spray or coconut oil (depending on how lazy you're feeling) and fill halfway with batter. Bake for 12-14 minutes or until cooked through and a tiny bit golden on the top. I got 15 muffins out of this recipe, but you could fill the tins more and get 12 bigger ones. They don't rise a ton, so mine are small, but that means I get to eat two at a time, so I'll take it.

Bonus points if you spread lemon curd on the muffins like frosting.

thursday reading

Beauty from the inside out (GOOP)

59 Free things to do (The Freedom Experiment)

12 Things that show you who you really are (Thought Catalog)

Also - 35 Quotes for Introverts (Thought Catalog)

Why do toddlers freak out so often? (Jason Good)

How to: thrive in your twenties (Darling Magazine)

The Happiness To-Do List  (Thought Catalog)

More reasons to be Paleo (Buzzfeed)

What does your soul need today? (Gypsy Ink)


xoxo

Banana Bread in a Mug

Well, this was a pleasant surprise. I got tired of my usual pumpkin muffin-in-a-mug (I can't really call it "cake" anymore), so I played with my "recipe" a bit and accidentally came out with banana bread. Of course I never measure anything, but I know what it looks like when I make it...so there's that.

Yes, I have a Paris bowl. Surprised?

Ingredients*
1/2 ripe banana
1 big spoonful (maybe a little less than 1/4 cup) pumpkin puree
1 tablespoon coconut oil - melted
1 tablespoon almond butter
1 egg
1 tiny splash vanilla extract
1-2 shakes of cinnamon
1 pinch of baking soda
1 tablespoon coconut flour

I usually start by melting the coconut oil in a 2-cup Pyrex glass measuring cup, then I add the banana, pumpkin, and almond butter. Mix, mix, mix. Be careful not to splash on yourself - I speak from experience. Or wear an apron if you like making a mess. Then add the egg and vanilla and keep mixing. Now the cinnamon, baking soda, and coconut flour. Mix some more! It should look like thick cake batter. Scrape the sides and let it sit for a minute or two to let the coconut flour absorb a bit, then microwave for 2:30-2:45. At this point, I like to dump it out upside-down on a plate and if the bottom looks too soft/wet still, I microwave it for 30 more seconds.

*Keep in mind, this is just an estimate. I usually just use a couple big spoons and eyeball everything. I sprinkle a little baking soda in my palm and break up the clumps, then just toss it in, so I really have no idea how much I use.

Mug Cake #2 + Links

Let's just say, it's been a week.

I had a lovely package arrive a few days ago from my best friend--Paleo Trail Mix! Isn't she thoughtful? I've been carrying the jar around with me all week. It's walnuts, cashews, almonds, pepitas (I think), various dried fruits, big shreds of coconut, and little chunks of chocolate.

cheers, bonjour, howdy

I made a new mug cake last night. I adjusted my mom's original mug brownie recipe (which is excellent already). I just added an egg and some coconut flour--I don't know why, I was just in that sort of mood.

1 ripe banana
2 eggs
1-2 tablespoons almond butter
1 heaping tablespoon cocoa
1 (small) tablespoon coconut flour (I didn't actually measure this, so I'm estimating here; start with a little sprinkle, add more if you want)
Few dashes of cinnamon

Mush the banana, then mix in the eggs, then the almond butter. Slowly stir in the cocoa (it might end up all over the counter), the coconut flour, and the cinnamon. If this isn't already in a microwave-safe dish, put it in one and microwave for about 3 minutes, or until cooked in the middle. It will rise a bit, so make sure the bowl/dish isn't too shallow. It could probably serve 2-3 people, but it's okay if you eat the whole thing yourself.

I didn't take a picture but it looked like a brownie in a bowl--take my word for it. I also topped my piece with some chocolate chips.

Now, eat your brownie and read these articles. Happy Friday!

The Science of Being a Sports Fan (Smithsonian)

33 Most Beautiful Abandoned Places in the World (BuzzFeed via Rachel Held Evans) 

Who doesn't love Maggie Smith? (via Sarah Bessey)

There's a new trailer for Great Gatsby. I. Can't. Wait. (via Sarah Bessey)

100 Rules of Dinner. Fascinating. (Dinner, A Love Story via Cup of Jo)

How to Catch a Star (The Freedom Experiment)

Continue with the willingness to accept that it might not happen when you want it, and it might not happen the way you want it to be. But if you learn to think different – I promise you that dreams come true.

Did you know they're renaming cuts of meat? Does this mean I'll know what a Denver steak is? Nope. (Chicago Tribune)

Runners Aren't Crazy! (Hello Giggles)

xo

What Would Hil Eat: Dinner + Mug Cake

After a weekend of not-much-cooking, I had a cooking marathon yesterday. I made Paleo Mayo, roasted some sweet potatoes, browned ground pork, made pumpkin bars, then made dinner. Sauteed kale, roasted Brussels sprouts and carrots, and chicken with leeks.

Starting with kale, wash the leaves and cut off the big stems, then roughly chop the leaves (not your fingers...I've learned the hard way).

In a large skillet on medium high, melt some coconut oil, then pile in your kale. It might look like it won't fit, but trust me, it will cook way down.

Here is where you can get creative: add some garlic, seasonings, a little balsamic (if that floats your boat), maybe a little chicken broth or water to help the kale soften. Don't add too much liquid or it will get soggy. My favorite lately has been a little garlic, some chicken broth and a splash of balsamic, salt and pepper, then some honey (good idea, Mel!) toward the end to make a bit of a glaze. Let it simmer for a while, using tongs to flip and stir occasionally. At this point, I usually test a piece of kale to see if it's cooked--I like it a little crunchy. Turn the heat off.

My mom has recently recommended leeks (who knew?) sauteed with chicken, so I decided to try it. I used chicken tenders (aka chicken breasts cut into smaller pieces, thank you Sprouts).

Leeks can be misleading. They're huge when you buy them, but you only end up using maybe half of the whole stalk. But fear not, there are so many layers in a leek, you'll still end up with plenty. I only used one medium/large leek for this and it was enough.

Cut off the root and the top (the thick green leaves won't be good to eat), leaving the white/lighter green part. Cut it in half lengthwise and slice pretty thin. It's easiest to wash them now because there are so many layers...rinse in a colander and let dry a bit.

We'll pretend I remembered to wash them...

In a large skillet over medium high, melt coconut oil, then toss in the leeks. I think I added a little bit of water here to help them cook. Let them simmer and soften for a while, then add your chicken. As the chicken is cooking, season the pieces, then flip and repeat. The leeks will keep cooking with the chicken, and the whole pan will brown, so have some oil/broth ready to keep it from burning or drying out. Cook time will depend on the size of your chicken, so use your best judgement and don't overcook it!

Peel and chop some whole carrots. Rinse and chop Brussels sprouts (halves or quarters depending on the size).  Toss in olive oil and salt/pepper/whatever you want.  Put in the oven at 425 for approximately 15-20 minutes, but keep an eye on it, they might cook faster, or might take longer than that.

The way I cook, nothing is ready at the same time, so I just plate it then microwave the whole thing.

MUG. CAKE.
2 eggs
1/2 ripe banana
1 tbsp warmed coconut oil
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp coconut flour
1 tbsp cocoa
dash of cinnamon
dash of salt
Get creative, add what you want!

Either in a bowl or the food processor, mix eggs and banana until combined, add coconut oil, then the dry ingredients and keep mixing. Pour into a mug and microwave for 2.5 to 3 minutes or until cooked through. I only ate half, topped with chocolate chips and a little almond butter.

Easy Paleo

I've been eating Paleo (aka the Caveman Diet) since I got back from France last July. Talk about a diet change...France is all about the bread and cheese. There is so much information about Paleo out there, everyone has a story about how it worked (or didn't work) for them, but the bottom line for me is this: I feel better. I've read a lot of information about the diet itself and the health benefits that come from eating this way, but I realize it might not work the same for others. My blood-sugar issues have disappeared completely, my hormones have mellowed a bit, and I find that I stay fuller longer when I eat this way. I've also incorporated more strength-training into my workouts and have eased up on the cardio, so I feel stronger and better overall.

It's easy to toot my Paleo horn but I have to remind myself that it may not be for everyone, so it takes some graceful navigating when explaining my lifestyle to others.  ("You don't eat bread?!? What do you eat then?" "I eat REAL FOOD, what do you eat?!?" ...not exactly helpful)

I recommend reading as much as you can (or can handle) about Paleo and going from there. It's easier to commit when you know a bit of the science behind it. Plus it helps to have something to say when people ask about it...because they will.

from The Clothes Make the Girl (source unknown)

                             

Here are my favorite Paleo blogs:

For new cavepeople:

• The Paleo Mom: Start Here
• CaveGirlEats: What is Paleo?
• NomNomPaleo: Paleo 101
• MELT: Let's Try This

 Favorite recipe/paleo lifestyle blogs:

• PaleOMG
• NomNomPaleo
• The Clothes Make The Girl
• The Paleo Mom
• MELT
• GreeneFood

Each of those sites has links to other Paleo resources, so click around for a while and soak in all the information! Just remember that what works for some people might not work as well for others, so experimenting with Paleo is important; figure out what works for you. Whole30 is a good place to start--I recommend it.

things to read on a saturday

Leo Babauta: Advice to My Kids (via Cup of Jo)

Weekly portrait project: You Are My Wild

Do something for your mental health (Gypsy Ink)

Easy Paleo dinners (MELT)

Eat red meat (via NomNomPaleo)

Hi big dreamer and Wanderlust (The Freedom Experiment)