Blueberry Muffins

Typically my second meal each day is a whole wheat bread.  I have found that eating a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast followed by a whole wheat muffin or slice of bread 2-3 hours later will help curve my appetite and sustain my energy level during the day.  I like to bake muffins or a loaf of bread over the weekend to eat throughout the week.  I have several recipes that I enjoy, but this blueberry muffin recipe is one of my favorites. 

Ingredients:

1 ¾ cups of whole wheat pastry flour

¼ cup of ground flaxseed

½ cup sucanat

1 tsp ground cinnamon

¼ tsp ground nutmeg

½ tsp sea salt

2 tsp baking powder

½ tsp baking soda

2 cups of fresh blueberries washed and dried thoroughly

½ cup of chopped pecans

1 large egg

1 cup low-fat buttermilk

3 tbsp virgin coconut oil

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375°

In a large bowl mix the flour, sucanat, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, baking powder, and baking soda

Gently fold blueberries and pecans into the dry mixture

Bring buttermilk to room temperature in a medium bowl

Whisk egg and coconut oil into the buttermilk

Gently fold the wet mixture into the dry ingredients being careful not to over work the batter

Fill each muffin cup with ¾ cup of batter

Bake for 16-18 minutes or until lightly browned and a toothpick, inserted in the center, comes out clean

Remove from oven and let cool before gently removing muffins from tin

Granola Goodness

 I enjoy a salty sweet snack in the afternoons.  This is my favorite granola recipe in its basic form.  I found this recipe from the Clean Eating Magazine and then adjusted it a little over time.  The great thing about this recipe is you can add your favorite nuts, seeds, dried fruit or vegan cacao chips to personalize it to your taste. 

Ingredients:
1/2 cup unsalted sunflower seeds
1 1/2 cups oatmeal
1/4 cup ground flaxseed
1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
1/2 tsp sea salt

1/4 cup almond butter or peanut butter
1/3 cup raw honey
1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Pick and Choose your Favorite Add-ins:
1/4 cup unsalted pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup dried raisins
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup vegan cacao chips
1/2 cup chopped almonds
1/2 cups chopped walnuts

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F
Combine all dry ingredients together in a large bowl
Mix the almond butter, honey and vanilla in a small bowl then add to the dry ingredients mixing well until evenly blended.
Spray a baking pan with olive oil
Press mixture into pan
Bake for 30 minutes
Slice granola into bars and store in snack size baggies for a delicious healthy treat!