Last week, I did not feel very well. I had a headache every day, I was extremely tired and I just felt like crawling under a rock and sleeping. As the days passed, I could not figure out why I was feeling so badly. I had not eaten any gluten or cow's milk dairy that I was aware of, so I ruled those culprits out. Then James asked me about chocolate. For weeks, every day for a snack I'd have an apple and peanut butter with dark chocolate chips, one of my favorite things to eat. I became a bit tired of it, though, and stopped eating it for a few days. And what does chocolate have in it? Caffeine! I was addicted to caffeine even though I don't drink coffee, tea or soda -- the three major products that come to mind with caffeine. I couldn't believe it! But it was the only explanation and my symptoms fit the bill. After 5 or 6 days of suffering, my body snapped out of it. So much for having dark chocolate every day (in larger quantities, that is.... I still sneak a few chocolate chips here and there to get me through... everyone has a weakness, right?).
I've been on a total muffin kick lately. I know I've raved about almond flour before, but let me just say it again: I love almond flour! These muffins are a wonderful way to get your protein, fiber, omega-3's, and vitamin E -- all in a tasty baked good. It's a wonderful after-school snack or they even make a tasty breakfast. And they're made with agave nectar which doesn't spike blood sugar like refined sugars. So enjoy these healthy little bites!
Pumpkin Muffins
2 Cups blanched almond flour
1/ cup arrowroot powder
1/ cup ground flax seed/meal
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup agave nectar
1/4 cup grapeseed oil (or melted coconut oil)
2 tsp vanilla
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Oil or line a muffin tin with paper liners. For dark muffin pans, reduce temperature to 325 degrees.
In a large bowl, combine almond flour, arrowroot powder, flax seed, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. If the almond flour is clumpy, stir with a wire whisk to break up clumps.
In a medium bowl, whisk together egg, pumpkin puree, agave nectar, oil and vanilla. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir until well combined and all of the almond flour is incorporated.
Evenly spoon batter into muffin cups. Bake 28 to 33 minutes until toothpick comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Cool in the pan for 30 minutes, then move muffins to a wire rack to continue cooling. Serve.
Store in the refrigerator or freeze.
I've been on a total muffin kick lately. I know I've raved about almond flour before, but let me just say it again: I love almond flour! These muffins are a wonderful way to get your protein, fiber, omega-3's, and vitamin E -- all in a tasty baked good. It's a wonderful after-school snack or they even make a tasty breakfast. And they're made with agave nectar which doesn't spike blood sugar like refined sugars. So enjoy these healthy little bites!
Pumpkin Muffins
2 Cups blanched almond flour
1/ cup arrowroot powder
1/ cup ground flax seed/meal
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup agave nectar
1/4 cup grapeseed oil (or melted coconut oil)
2 tsp vanilla
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Oil or line a muffin tin with paper liners. For dark muffin pans, reduce temperature to 325 degrees.
In a large bowl, combine almond flour, arrowroot powder, flax seed, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. If the almond flour is clumpy, stir with a wire whisk to break up clumps.
In a medium bowl, whisk together egg, pumpkin puree, agave nectar, oil and vanilla. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir until well combined and all of the almond flour is incorporated.
Evenly spoon batter into muffin cups. Bake 28 to 33 minutes until toothpick comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Cool in the pan for 30 minutes, then move muffins to a wire rack to continue cooling. Serve.
Store in the refrigerator or freeze.