Whole Wheat Sweet Potato Banana Muffins

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

I’m one of those people who don’t like things to go to waste. I keep all the weird shapes of leftover wrapping paper, I’ll write my grocery list and workout on the same sheet of paper, I use empty glass food/drink jars as flower vases or candle holders, and I try to use up leftover ingredients before they go to waste.

Case in point: (HA! See what I did there? my bloggggg name!) Brown Banana

I’ve made my fair share of banana muffins and breads and oatmeal bakes and you name it. So when I remembered the leftover sweet potato puree in the fridge, I got to brainstorming. Banana and sweet potato should go pretty well together, I thought. Heck, they’re both good-for-you foods. Let’s see what type of magic I can come up with. Dudes, I wanted to bake donuts with these…but I do not have a donut pan (it’s on the list, or you can just send me one now and we can cross it off). I DO have a muffin pan. Whole Wheat Sweet Potato Banana Muffins it is (or WWSPBM for short).

I wanted to also incorporate my coconut butter (way different than coconut oil) into the mix, but I knew that even after I melted it down to measure for the recipe, it would quickly harden again when combined with the other cooled ingredients. If you’re a coconut butter fan like me, you’d be totally ok with this. Pretend its like how a banana chunk would be in banana bread. Except coconut. You’re welcome for the elaboration.

If something like that freaks you out, or you don’t have it already in your pantry, use regular oil or applesauce. There, you’re saved.

ALSO- I ran out of pure maple syrup (what I originally WANTED for the recipe) when I made Homemade Granola Cereal last week, so I decided to use molasses instead. My suggestion: use the syrup. Unless you’re a huge molasses fan. Not that the molasses made them taste bad, but they are a bit more on the ~~bitter~~ less sweet side than if you were to stick with the syrup.

These suckers also freeze really well, and I have found the taste ‘settles’ after a day or two, making them even better. Eat them on their own, with nut butter or jam, or crumble them on top of yogurt with fruit.

I’m sorry, you probably wanted the recipe. Who am I with all this rambling? Must be the pink nails. Or the fact that my WEDDING INVITATIONS arrived today and I am anxious to get to addressing them.

WHOLE WHEAT SWEET POTATO BANANA MUFFINS (WWSPBM)

Here’s hat you’ll need (*substitutions mentioned above*):

2 1/2 c whole wheat flour
2 t baking powder
1/4 t baking soda
dash of salt
1/4 c brown sugar
2 T molasses*
3 T coconut butter (melted)*
1 egg
3/4 c sweet potato puree
1 banana, mashed
1 c milk (I used unsweetened almond milk)

Here’s what you do:

Preheat oven to 375. Grease muffin tin.
In a medium bowl, combine the first 4 ingredients.
In a large bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients. Use a whisk to fully incorporate.
Gradually pour the dry mixture into the wet mixture. Stir until just incorporated.
Pour into prepared pan. I used a regular sized muffin tin and filled each to the top. Bake for 20 minutes. Allow pan to cool for 10 minutes before removing muffins to a wire cooling rack.
Store in an airtight container and freeze if desired.

Question: Ever come up with a random combination of ingredients when you bake?

***DON’T FORGET!!!!! Tonight is the last day to submit you pics for this week’s installment of Winesday Wednesday. Click Here to see ways that you can submit your pics!

Monday Moves #1

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

So, I thought I’d start yet ANOTHER weekly post called Monday Moves. These posts will show new exercises that you can incorporate into your workout! I know I get into a rut once in a while and end up repeating a lot of similar moves time and time again. There are more things to do besides bicep burls and pushups and squats!

I have 4 exercises that I want to share with you this week. Some, you may have seen before (especially if you took my classes at the Oak Square Y) and some may be a brand new twist on an existing move you know. This week we have:

squat with upright row
side lunge with full circle
one armed side pushup/crunch
plank with kick and hold on stability ball

Let me just apologize in advance for the terrible pictures. I wanted to give you guys a bit of a visual (on the MOVE. not ME!) but these turned out pretty lame-o. Give me some time for improvement!

1. Squat with upright row. This move targets your legs, back, core and arms.

Start with your feet apart, a dumbbell in one hand.
Squat down, with the dumbbell reaching towards the ground.

As you come back up, lift the dumbbell to chin height, leading with your elbow.

2. Side Lunge with full circle.

Start with weight in both hands

Step out with one foot (pictured: right foot). At the same time, keeping arms extended, complete a full circle, rotating the shoulders, hips facing forward. (Pictured: circling swooping to the right)

As you complete the circle, bring your foot back to the starting position.

3. One armed side pushup/crunch. (Warning: this one is super unflattering)

Lay on one side with legs extended and feet stacked.
Take the bottom arm and bring it around your chest, like you are hugging yourself.
Place the palm of you top hand on the ground, about shoulder height.

Engage your obliques and ‘pushing’ arm and push up by extending your arm.

4. Plank with kick and hold on stability ball.

Start in the pushup position, with your shins resting on the ball.

Lift one leg and hold.

Return your leg on the ball. Switch to the other leg.

Hope these help inspire future workouts!

******Don’t forget, only one more day to submit photos for Winesday Wednesday! Click here to find out how you can be a part of my new weekly segment!

Exercise and Eats: Week of 4/8

Posted on April 7, 2013 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

Hey guys. Before I got to my workout for the day (was supposed to be yesterday and today was supposed to be a rest day, but I flip flopped them) I wanted to check in quick with some random stuff. My brain is mushy today so this post will probably lack proper grammar (per usual), cohesiveness (again, per usual) or sense (need I repeat myself?).

Last week, I mentioned that I decided to start planing my meals for the week. I found that it really helped. Here’s what my dinners looked like:

Monday: Turkey Taco Chili Soup (made a HUGE batch, and most of it is currently in the freezer)

Tuesday: Chicken Salad Sandwiches. So tasty.

Wednesday: Turkey Burgers. I put lotsa sriracha on mine and ended up using the same sourdough bread as the night before instead of buns.

Thursday: Chicken Fajitas. This picture just makes it look pathetic, but it was super tasty.

Friday: Won Ton Stirfry. Served over brown rice.

I just sat down to write out the meals for this week, and this is what I have come up with:

Monday: Southwestern Quinoa Bowls
Tuesday: All beef hot dogs
Wednesday: Loaded potatoes (regular tater for him, sweet tater for me)
Thursday: Penne Rosa (sans the shrimp) Recipe from thedancingrunner
Friday: Paninis (not sure what he wants, but I plan on having turkey, cheddar and granny smith apple on cinnamon raisin bread)

And on to the workouts. Here is what I had PLANNED and what actually happened:

Sun, 3/31: 60 minute hike with Layla; 1.5 mile run (OUTDOORS!) DONE

Mon, 4/1: First day of Best Body Bootcamp!!!! Strength Workout A and 5k outdoor run DONE

Tues, 4/2: 40 minutes spin, 20 minutes of ab tabatas DONE

Wed, 4/3: BBB Strength Workout B, ~~5k outdoor run~~ 20 minute treadmill run DONE

Thursday, 4/4: 40 minutes treadmill intervals, ~~20 minutes ab tabatas~~ DONE

Friday, 4/5: BBB Strength Workout C, ~~30 min spin, 10 minute row~~ 10 min run, 5 min row, foam roll like crazy DONE

Sat, 4/6: ~~Deck of Cards workout x2, possible hike~~ OFF

Now, to this week:

Sun, 4/7: No Weight Workout (2x through)

Mon, 4/8: Strength Workout A from Best Body Bootcamp, 20 minute spin, 10 min run

Tues, 4/9: 40 min run, 5 min row, ab tabatas

Wed, 4/10: Strength Workout B, 35 min treadmill intervals

Thurs, 4/11: 40 min spin

Fri, 4/12: Strength Workout C, 20 minute run, 10 min row

Sat, 4/13: Hike or home workout TBA

Wow, that post kinda turned out ok.

*****Don’t forget to submit your Winesday Wednesday pics to me by Tuesday night! Click here to see how you can send them in!!!!!

Lemon Chia Cake with Brown Butter Glaze

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

OMG you guys, I can’t believe I came up with something in the kitchen and it actually WORKED. Usually when I modify recipes or try to get a little creative, the world goes BOOM and it comes out pretty fugly. But this…this came out P-E-R-F-E-C-T. And the most shocking part of all? THERE IS NO CHOCOLATE IN IT. Whaaaaa? Me make something delicious that is not chocolate?! (or pizza?!) Guuurl, you crazy!

This cake has some healthy and some not-so-healthy ingredients, so I suggest eating it everyday.

That picture looks totally normal until you rotate it a bit, and then you get a Pac-man cake.

Ahhhhh, yummy Pac-man cake.

Think I sound crazy? Probably because I’m experiencing a sugar high. So what if I ate cake at 10am?! Pff, don’t judge. I work out and eat lettuce at other times of the day.

Let’s get cracking on that recipe, shall we?

Lemon Chia Cake with Brown Butter Glaze

Here’s what you’ll need:

For the Cake

1 1/2 c whole wheat flour
1 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
dash of salt
1/4 c butter
1/4 c coconut butter (if you don’t have this, just use 1/2 butter total. But MAN, does this give it a more unique taste and consistency!)
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c brown sugar
2 eggs
3 T lemon juice
1 c plain greek yogurt
2 T chia seeds

For the Glaze

1/2 c butter
1 1/2 c powdered sugar
2 T milk (I used unsweetened almond milk)

Here’s what you do:

Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease an 8′ round pan and line bottom with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
In a large bowl (I used my standing mixer) cream the butter(s) and sugars. Add eggs one at a time. Then add the lemon juice.
Add 1/2 of the dry mixture to the butter mixture and blend.
Add the yogurt and chia seeds.
Add the remainder of the flour mixture and blend until incorporated.
Bake for 35 minutes, until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean and the cake springs to the touch.
Allow to cool in pan for 15 minutes. Remove from pan, peeling parchment paper from the bottom of the cake, and place on dish/cooling rack to allow to completely cool.
For the glaze: On medium heat, melt the butter in a saucepan. Stir occasionally. Allow for the butter to brown (a few minutes). Pour in a dish, mix the powdered sugar, then add the milk.

I can’t believe how much I loved this cake- especially since I tend to always go for things that are chocolatey or fudgy or peanut buttery.

Question: What’s your favorite type of cake? (Mom, I still love your Wacky Cake best!)

A-Z of Me

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

(I am totally posting this now as reading material while you wait for me to finish up another post on the MOST.AMAZING.CAKE.EVER. Don’t forget to check back in later for the pics and the recipe!)

I recently saw this post on Sara’s blog, so I thought I’d steal the idea and fill it in with my answers! (probably totally boring to read. sorry)

A. Age: 26

B. Bed Size: KING!

C. Chore that you hate: Cleaning the crock pot, making the bed

D. Dogs: Layla!

E. Essential start to your day: check my phone, snuggle with pup, COFFEE!!!

F. Favorite Color: Pink

G. Gold or silver: Both!

H. Height: 5’10.5″

I. Instruments you play: Clarinet and piano

J. Job title: Unemployed. Professional Relaxer.

K. Kids: In a few years

L. Live: Calgary

M. Mother’s name: Mom. Or Jane.

N. Nicknames: JT, Tougs, Tougalougs

O. Overnight hospital stays: NONE.

P. Pet peeves: Hearing people chew, crumbs or food residue on the kitchen counters, slow/stupid drivers, when people in line behind me at the self check-out start to unload their items at the same stall I’m not yet fully finished with.

Q. Quote from a movie:

Ron Burgundy: Everyone just relax, all right? Believe me, if there’s one thing Ron Burgundy knows, it’s women.

Brian Fantana: I don’t know, Ron.

Ron Burgundy: Guess what, I do. I know that one day Veronica and I are gonna to get married on top of a mountain, and there’s going to be flutes playing and trombones and flowers and garlands of fresh herbs. And we will dance till the sun rises. And then our children will form a family band. And we will tour the countryside and you won’t be invited.

R. Right or left handed: Left

S. Siblings: NONE!

T. Time you wake up: 6:30ish

U. Underwear: Ok.

V. Vegetable you hate: Cauliflower. Yuck!

W. What makes you run late: Cold winter mornings when I’m in my warm bed.

X. X-rays you’ve had: Right foot (2x), Thumb, Left foot, Chest (for the medical exam for permanent residency. Weird.

Y: Yummy food that you make: Pancakes! Cookies! Cakes! Pizza!

Z. Zoo animal: Red Panda!