Healthier Banana Bread

Every time I buy bananas, they end up turning black before we finish all of them. Even if I buy less, we'll still end up with a few that are too ripe for my liking, so I end up freezing them for either smoothies or a yummy dessert. Another option is to make raw banana bread bars...recipe to come :)

This weekend, I decided to use up some of those bananas. I posted a recipe for banana muffins a while back, but this one was a little different since it wasn't as sweet. There is no added sugar in this recipe! It's hard to believe, but I promise it won't even taste "healthy."  I can't take the credit for this yummy snack since I found it at Keirsten's Kitchen. 

Banana Muffins 

(adapted from Keirsten's Kitchen)

Ingredients 

• 2 cups blanched almond flour 
• 2 T cinnamon
• 1 tsp nutmeg
• 3 medium ripe bananas (mashed) 
• 3 large eggs 
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 T melted coconut oil
• 1 T apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp baking soda.

Method

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. In a large bowl, mix almond flour, nutmeg, and cinnamon.  You may need to "sift" the almond flour to remove large clumps.
3. In a separate bowl, combine mashed bananas, eggs, and vanilla and mix well. Finally, mix in melted coconut oil. This is done last since coconut oil is hard, you don't want it to clump up when added to cold ingredients.
4. Combine dry ingredients with the wet ingredients. Stir until combined. 
5. Add the baking soda, do not mix. Add the apple cider vinegar. It will bubble up like a science experiement. Mix well.
6. Fill greased loaf pan with batter. 
7. Bake loaf for about 40 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.
8. Let cool  and enjoy with your morning coffee or a dallop of whip cream :)

I'm back!

Sometimes I feel like a broken record and really there is no excuse for taken so long to start blogging again. In all honestly, I haven't been cooking up a storm as much as I used to. I guess I realized we ended up with lots of leftovers and we liked rotating in a few many favorite recipes. So that explains my lack of recipes...I'll be sure to post something good in the next few days...

Besides cooking, I've finally been able to get back into working out. A few weeks ago, I sprained my ankle doing sprints, and I end up being out 2 weeks. It wasn't pretty, my ankle swelled up and looked pretty bad. Epson salt soaks and wrapping it up helped a lot. Important lesson learned, pay attention when running and make sure you wear proper shoes with good support. 

After the swelling went down, I was able to ease back into my workout by doing several bike rides. It was a lot of fun and reminded me of the times I used to wake up early and bike around the city. After my ankle was fully healed, I was able to start light "cardio" and pick up on my weight training. It was a nice break, and I was more motivated then ever to get back into some type of routine, which brings me to today's workout - "Train like Jane."

I've been looking for some variety in my "weight lifting" routine, and bought a voucher for CoreFitness Chicago. I finally made it out there and was super excited that I did. Today's class was Suicide Sunday, non-stop circuit of pulling weighted sleds, chin-ups, pushups, burpees, mountain climbers, plank, wall holds, flipping over tires, and running around.  It was really great, and I can't wait to go back again. I love intensity and this is exactly what I needed. It was challenging like any workout should be and still super fun.  After these classes are over, I might give CrossFit a try, who knows? We should all step out of our comfort zone and try something new. If you don't try, you'll never know....

Have a fun night and I'll be back tomorrow ;)