Carrot Pumpkin Spice Muffins

This morning I wanted something small that I could eat before yoga.  I knew I wanted my apple between yoga and IMS, so I ended up just having coffee.  I had pinned this recipe, and bought the carrots yesterday.  While Avery was sleeping I got busy in the kitchen!

Pretty easy recipe.  Just a pain in the butt to peel all the carrots and shred them.  Granted I used my food processor to shred the carrots, but I hate cleaning the thing. lol.

The big question, how do the muffins taste?  I wasn't thrilled.  I didn't cook them long enough (although I cooked them much longer than the 35-45 min suggested), so they were still kind of wet/soggy in the middle.  I think they could use a little bit more coconut flour.  They could certainly use a lot more of the pumpkin spice too.  As usual, I complain about the eggy taste in lots of the paleo muffins/baked goods.  It is usually with coconut flour. I suppose you could try almond flour an just increase the amount of flour....

Ingredients

• 6 eggs, beaten
• 1/4 cup pumpkin puree (can be canned or fresh, if fresh, cook, cook and strain excess water from your pumpkin before using it in this recipe) I used canned pumpkin
• 1/2 cup butter, clarified butter/ghee, or coconut oil, melted I used coconut oil - i think you could use a little less than 1/2 a cup
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 mashed banana (use green-tipped/under ripe for the 21DSD) my banana was completely green
• 1/2 cup coconut flour
• pinch of sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 Tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
• 3 cups shredded carrots (approximately 4 large carrots)
• optional: 1/4 cup raisins or dried cranberries (not-safe for 21DSD!)

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350F.
• Whisk the eggs, pumpkin, butter or coconut oil, pure vanilla extract, and banana together in a large mixing bowl. I pureed my banana in my mini food processor
• Sift in the coconut flour, sea salt, baking soda, and pumpkin pie spice and stir until well combined. 
• Gently fold in the carrots and optional raisins or cranberries. (Remember, no dried fruit if you are making these for the 21DSD, sorry!) I obviously skipped this step
• In a muffin tin, scoop 1/4 cup of the batter into each lined muffin cup (natural parchment muffin papers work best for lining whereas standard papers may  easily stick!). I used regular muffin papers.  Mine did NOT stick at all.  If anything the papers dont stay on.
• Bake for 35-40 minutes. I baked mine (in a convection oven) for more than 40 minutes and they were still not cook through.

Like I said, I did not love these muffins.  I think they would be way better with raisins in them, and more spice mix.  Regardless, I will still eat them!! LOL

Original Recipe http://balancedbites.com/2012/10/easy-recipe-carrot-pumpkin-spice-muffins.html

Happy Baking,

JoJo! 

21DSD: Day 2 - officially

Well well well.... it's officially day 2 and I did not cave! WOO HOO!!! Yay me!!  Only 19 more days to go, I have this in the bag!

This is one of my goals, this is why I am doing the 21DSD.  I always feel the need to snack on muffins, fruit, and eat chocolate in the evening.  When it is around I eat it, when it isn't - I complain. LOL.  Not that muffins, chocolate, or fruit are bad, I just want to decrease the % it takes up of my diet.  Having gestational diabetes while pregnant with Avery also puts me at high risk for developing diabetes later in life (my Grandma has it so it is in the family).  If I can be proactive, and manage my health with my diet I would much prefer to do so.  (While pregnant I managed the gestational diabetes with diet and some walking.  I was able to do it successfully.)

How was my day?
Pretty good!  I started the morning out with a coffee (with unsweetened almond milk) and headed out to do some hot yoga at Moksha. I have forgotten how challenging hot yoga can be.  I have not practiced in 3 years.  I was soaking wet when I finished, and a little exhausted, but I got to eat the best thing ever when I was finished....

Ok, so maybe it wasn't the best thing ever, it was a little tart... BUT, it was crunchy, juicy and fruit!! I treated myself to a round of IMS then headed home.  I napped when Avery napped, cleaned house, made muffins (sugar free ones!!) and made dinner.  It was a great day!!

What did I eat?
Breakfast - coffee, followed later by a green apple
Lunch - veggie scramble with spicy ketchup (homemade and sugar free)
Dinner - Chipotle chicken with tomatoes, lime and garden fresh cilantro served on shredded veggies with homemade guacamole

Snacks - I taste tested a muffin (21DSD approved), 8oz of coconut water

Carrot Pumpkin Spice Muffins

How Do I Feel?
Hard to say really.  I feel good, but I had a good nap, and did some great yoga.  Took my last round of antibiotics this evening too.  I think by next week I should be able to provide a better judgement on how this is working out for me.  I am starting to feel a little more hydrated, that could be the omission of the wine....

Anyways, That's it for the night, I'm trying to get Avery to bed!!

Night Night!

JoJo!!

21DSD: Day 1 - Part 2

So here I am at the end of day 1-part two (yes, I had to repeat day 1).  Anyways, here I am back on the wagon and ready to succeed!!  I have a goal in mind, and I am pretty determined to reach that goal.  I am ready to make a change!!!

I am allowed a green apple, or a green-tipped banana every day, so today I stocked up.  It will be a great quick breakfast before and early morning workout.  

Speaking of working out, I really suck!!  OMG.  I have not had a good run in over 2 weeks.  So very frustrating.  I'm no longer sick, so I just don't get it.  I am still on antibiotics, so my body is still in fight mode I suppose.  I also need to get more sleep, but who has time for that?

So how did my food go today? GOOD!!  I stayed on track.  

Breakfast - Veggie scramble with spicy ketchup (homemade and sugar free)

Lunch - salad with left over turkey burger and a balsamic vinegar dressing (homemade from the 21DSD recipe section)

Snack - macadamia nuts

Dinner - chicken and leftovers from yesterday's dinner

The Big Question: How am I feeling??
Terrible - well at least when I am running.  It's hard to say if I feel any better or worse.  So many factors to think about.  I do think that I need to increase my protein intake to compensate for the decrease in the carbohydrates.  I also think i need to start eating dinner for lunch (at least on run days).

OH!!  I also had 1/2 a stick of gum today.  I know it has sugar or some fake sugar, but it is only 1/2 a stick, and only when I am running.  I really hope that is not a rule breaker!!

I must go to bed, yoga and IMS in the morning!!

JoJo!!

21DSD: Day One - part 1

Well it is day one of my sugar detox, and I did pretty good... until there was a lonely glass of wine left in the refrigerator.  I couldn't leave it there to go bad.  After much though and consideration, and some discussion with my husband, I decided to drink it.  It was a HOT HOT HOT day, and nothing seemed to soothe the palate like a iced glass of wine.  Its really not a good excuse, but its the only one I have.  

Now the wine is out of the house, I think I am much more likely to succeed.  It really doesn't seem all that bad, Ive been looking at the dessert options and they look wonderful!!  I'm already ahead of the game because I do not have to cut out wheat, grains etc.  I don't eat sugar, but I do enjoy dark chocolate, honey and fruit!!  I love the food I eat.  I love experimenting with food.  I just love food!!

Today I was proactive to ensure my success (although I failed miserably today).  I had sweet potatoes and didnt know what to do with them.  I know I can only eat 1/2 cup at a time, so what do you do with the rest of the potato?  Well I peeled my giant (seriously giant) sweet potato and tossed it in the food processor.  I made up bags of 1/2 cups of sweet potato.  I also made up bags of shredded zucchini and carrots just for convenience (meaning I only have to clean the food processor once)  Today I also discovered that you can freeze raw sweet potatoes.  I was going to do this with my shredded potato anyways, so I don't know why I didn't connect the dots myself. LOL. Anyways, I tossed the whole sweet potatoes I had left over in the freezer!!  Genius!

So the big questions is.... WHAT DID I EAT TODAY??

Breakfast - carrot and zucchini scrambled eggs topped with homemade guacamole

Lunch - Green Salad with tomatoes, homemade turkey burger bites, homemade guacamole, chopped macadamia nuts, and balsamic vinegarette

Dinner - Zuchinni, Carrot, Spaghetti Squash (what I call chow mein) with sundried tomatoes, portobello mushroom, and homemade turkey burger bites, homemade (sugarfree) spicy ketchup shrimp, homemade guacamole 

Basically all different variations of the same ingredients, but they were all delicious.  I was just using left overs creatively.

So what was once a 21 Day Sugar Detox, has not turned into 22.  Everytime I fail, I start over and add a day.... my own sort of punishment I suppose.

Wish me better luck for tomorrow!!

JoJo!!

21 Day Sugar Detox

I kept seeing the posts on my FB via Just Eat Real Food for the 21 day sugar detox, and I was intrigued. I checked out their FB page, and it took me to somewhere else.  Then it asked me several questions (my answers in red)... DO YOU HAVE??

1. Sugar cravings or carb cravings YES! I always want chocolate and sweets!
2. Energy spikes and dips throughout the day YES! I dont often give into the dips, but I sure feel them.
3. fatigue, lethargy, depression or anxiety YES! I feel fatigue, (not really lethargy or depression) but I do have a lot of anxiety
4. brain fog, cloudy thinking, trouble concentrating YES! I have way too much brain fog and I often have difficulty concentrating
5. hunger that goes from mild to intense very quickly I'm not sure I really allow myself to be hungry very often, but when I'm hungry, I'm starving!

Since I answered YES! to most of the questions, I figure it may be a good thing for me to try.  Its only 21 days, and I can do anything for 21 days right?!?!  (sounds like what I said when I started by eat by design 30 day challenge)

I got suckered in and bought the book/ebook for $24. (I thought I would be able to share it, but they have made sure that you cannot) It was a quick read, I really just skimmed the information.  Most of what they were talking about I already knew from all the Paleo books I have read, and wheat belly.  Lots of similar information/facts.  What I really wanted were the yes/no food lists, recipes, and a list of benefits.

So why am I doing this?  
1.  I want to curb those cravings for chocolate and paleo treats and muffins
2.  I want to improve my absorption of nutrients and protein (especially with my exercise plans)
3.  I want to LOSE (never to be found again) the last 10 vanity pounds
4.  I want to challenge myself
5.  I want more energy
6.  I want to feel better
7.  I dont want my legs to feel like dead weights when I am running, I want to improve my runs

What can I eat?
Basically everything I usually eat.... chicken, fish, eggs, assortment of veggies etc. I can still enjoy small amounts of coconut water, and a green apple or green tipped banana every once in a while.  If I exercise intensely I can have 1/2 cup of sweet potato

What can I NOT eat?
Sugar.  Sugar. Sugar.  Yep. that's it.  Sugar in all forms, natural or processed. For me the biggest issues will be no wine, fruit, dried fruit, honey, and limited sweet potatoes.  

What will be my biggest challenge?
Quite honestly, I think limited sweet potatoes.  I love them and eat them 1-3x/day, and I eat as much as I want.  I think the fruit will be a challenge too.  I love helping Avery with her snacks. LOL.  The wine, yep, that will be hard, but not as bad as the fruit and sweet potatoes.

  

I know this will be challenging, but that is part of the reason I am doing it.  My husband is on board to help me stay strong, and push me through.  I will share my success and struggles via the madhouse, and hopefully convince some readers to join me on my journey!!

Wish me Luck!!

JoJo!!

PS: All pictures from the 21 day detox are from google. i did not print.scan.share.etc.