Ok, as promised, here is the simply amazing recipe for Parsnip Apple Spice Muffins. I adpated it from a version on the Whole Foods website, so I like to think I made enough changes to make it my own 🙂
Ingredients:
- 1 cup wholewheat plain flour
- 1 cup plain flour (you could easily do 2 cups of either)
- 2 cups grated parsnip (peeled) – I worked out that if I chunked the parsnip, then added it to the blender, it had a peeled effect! WAY less time consuming than grating
- 3 small apples, peeled and grate(or 1 large, whatever you fancy. I say the more the merrier, cos it’s all moisture. Oh, and see the previous post for an easy peeling tip :))
- 3/4tsp baking soda
- 1.5 tsp baking powder
- 1.5tsp cinnamon
- 1tsp ginger
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 2 big eggs
- 1.5tsp vanilla
- 3/4 cup agave syrup
- 1/4cup oil
- 1/2 cup pitted dates, chopped up
- 1/2 cup milk
Method
Do all the crap peeling and grating of apples and parsnips, and add them together so you get a nice big bowlful:
Whisk together the eggs, milk, agave, oil and vanilla, and set aside.
Whisk the flours, spices, powders together (maybe do that BEFORE the liquid whisking, unless you have 2 whisks :P). Then, stir in the chopped dates.
Fold/stir/mix in the grated stuff and the liquid into the flours, and mix til just combined.
Spoon into 18 muffin cases which have been greased (I just used the low cal spray).
Bake at 160 degrees fan oven for about 25mins, or until the old knife stabbed in comes out JUST dry – cos then they’ll be nice and moist 🙂 Cool on a wire rack, and voila:
A plate of goodness!
They’re surprisingly healthy too, and very filling, spicy and delicious. Plus, if you didn’t know they were packed full of veg, you still wouldn’t after you ate them – if that makes sense!!??
Anyways, ENJOY!
Rest of the day:
I snacked on some Bear granola nibbles:
LOVE those things! And a big old hot chocolate:
For dinner, I was highly dull – four cheese tortellini 🙂 I was going to do something fancier (honest!) but after my slight downer of a day, I just wanted some comforty food 🙂
It was yum 🙂 (and covered in balsamic vinegar, fyi. And the veg was in agave, cinnamon, nutmeg and thyme…no surprises there!)
On the side, I had the rest of my cottage cheese/nutritional yeast mix:
Totally random but it needed to be eaten! Plus I never refuse a bowl of protein 😀
For dessert, I tried out some amazing new truffles:
My mum bought these for me instead of an easter egg 🙂 They have fabulous ingredients: organic dark chocolate, coconut oil, hazelnut/ginger stem/cognac/champagne/banana (depends on the flavour of the truffle), agave syrup, cacoa powder. How cool is that! All organic too 🙂 And I think possibly raw maybe? They have to be stored in the fridge, which says something. I had two:
One was hazelnut flavour, one banana; they are sooo unbelievably good. Very rich and deep tasting – quite bitter almost, but so tasty 🙂 I’m glad I’ve got a whole box left – who needs Easter eggs!?
(oh, I also had Greek yogurt and a hot chocolate :D)
On a random side note, I feel like I’ve had quite a few comments recently from people saying I seem to eat a lot/have massive portions. I’d just like to day that I am very active in my day (I do about 1hr of exercise a day), and I actually want to gain weight, so I do eat big portions and I do eat when I’m not hungry. But, for good reason! I was reading Chocolate Covered Katie today, and she makes some good points about eating lots to at least sustain weight when you do lots of exercise. It just has to be done!
Sorry about the randomness of that, I just felt it needed to be said 🙂 Off I go now though! But before I do….
…. it’s been a while since y’all saw some tiger-tiger photos 😛 ENJOY!
Parsnips in muffins?!? Wild! I love hiding veggies in unexpected places like that!
hun never feel u have to explain your portion sizes to us 🙂
mine are crazy big usualy but i find if i eat less it drops off me, everyones bodies are dffrent and maintain on alot or not alot at all, i kno a women that only eats dinner and gains alottt if she eats breakfast or lunch, i think we all know who has the best deal out of this 🙂 us!
xxx
Those muffins look good, intriguing recipe!
Have you tried the new Ben and Jerrys fairtrade flavour yet? I’m eating some at the moment…it’s delicious.
Take care, have a great Easter weekend.
Rachel (a fellow Brit, trying to be a runner!)
I haven’t no, but I very badly want to!! I almost bought some the other day (then saw the price and couldn’t justify it :p), but I’m hoping next time I hit the cinema I can nab a tub 😀
Thanks for commenting!
I would never say your portions are too big – the only thing you have lots of is veggies which can never be a bad thing! Emily did a good post on portion sizes: http://www.thefrontburnerblog.com/2010/03/portion-distortion.html I think she explains it really well, and seems to be in the same mindset as you. Hope you have a better day tomorrow 🙂
Thanks for that link, that was really interesting! I might be tempted to do a post like that soon – I agree with so much of what she said 🙂
whoa!! those muffins sounds SO interesting! i am so wanting to make them!!
The kittens are still so cute, i hope you don’t mind me mentioning this but on the photos of little Kavoc, his right eye looks a bit more dilated than the left – is the little fella ok?
You’re spot on! I wondered if anyone would notice that lol – he has had an eye infection thing since before we got him. He’s having drops/goo things put in his eye 3 x a day (poor guy!!) and he went to the vet again yesterday cos it’s still not better – she reckons he should get over it in about 2 or 3 weeks, still keeping going with the drops though..Well spotted 😀
Aw i’m glad he is on the mend – they really are adorable.
It is sad to say but i am probably nearly 10 years older than you and am so in admiration of your maturity towards food. When i was at university i had no clue about food (portions, what was good for me etc) and i really admire your sensible approach to food and the nutritional food that you eat.
It is a shame that people have to comment about how much you eat – it is none of their buisness but just to play devils’ advocate, i would say more people than not are trying to lose weight so are probably only eat measly amounts. You have said from the start on your blog that you are trying to gain weight, you have chosen to do it the sensible way (you could eat junk all day every day if you wanted to put weight on). So Freya, you stay as you are, don’t worry about what anyone says, as long as you know what feels right and you listen to your body – you can’t go wrong. I am sure any comments about your portion sizes were not meant to be offensive.
I love your blog girlie!
I just love how your kitties cuddle! My cats don’t like each other at all! Beatrice gets mad if Irvin simply jumps on her favorite chair!
I’ve never had a parsnip, but I want to try them very badly.
Your muffins look good. I love a good muffin!
I’ve seen those comments and to be honest they made me *really* angry. I don’t think it’s anyone else’s place to suggest that someone’s portions are too large, or that it’s any of their business to comment in that pejorative way on what you’re eating. Just looking at your photos, it’s obvious that you’re not eating too much!
I think women in general have a totally distorted view of what healthy eating even is. You eat very well and just because a few idiots who probably think that it’s okay to live on 1200 calories like the diet propeganda…I mean magazines like to tell us, doesn’t mean that they’re right.
NEVER feel the need to explain yourself or defend your food choices. I’d like to see any of them rock a half marathon the way you do, and they’re probably just jealous.
❤
~Jess~
Thankyou so much for that, that was just what I needed to hear 🙂 I know deep down that I don’t eat too much (otherwise I’d be overweight, and I’m far from it), but with an ED history, when people question how much I do eat, it makes me worried cos I know that portion sizes can be skewed in my head sometimes!
So thankyou for making me see sense again – big help!! 🙂 xx
I really hope I wasn’t one of the commenters who prompted you to write that. When I mentioned about you lunch out and then eating again in the evening I was marvelling at how good you were going for something healthy and having room for a healthy dinner too. I’m sorry if I annoyed you. I do know that you want to put on weight and you do workout loads. Also your plates are stacked full of veggies which is always good. You don’t have to justify yourself so sorry if it came across that way. I love how you eat!
Awh that’s OK, there were others too – but thankyou for saying your reasoning, I appreciate it (gosh that sounds formal :p). Thanks for the comment 🙂 xx
Pretty kitties 🙂 I think you should totally listen to your body! If you’re hungry eat! If you’re very hungry, eat a lot!! 🙂 I always eat until I’m comfortably full. Your body knows best what it needs and obviously if you are still hungry after eating then you still need more! Big portions is my specialty too haha 😉
1. I ABSOLUTELY ADOREEE your blog ❤
it makes me happy when I can wake up, turn on my email, and have a notification ready waiting for me to read 🙂
2. I lovee seeing the food that you eat because it's all generally healthy and nourishing. Its not like you're eating a crapload of potato chips and candy bars and fast food or anything.
3. What you said is right… You know what you have to do and how much you have to eat in order to do it.
4. It's not fair for others to be judging others. I had/am still having an ED, trying to get out of it by exercisiing (but due to undue stress coz of school.. sadly lacking) and will rise above this ED. So those comments can really be a trigger for other people.
5. I dont know you, but i think you're awesome! 🙂
Oh thankyou so much 🙂 That’s such a lovely comment! Thankyou ever so 🙂
Sorry to hear that you had a downer day!!! Those suck. But you are awesome and I love you dear!! As for the commenters, I really don’t get that. I don’t think your portions are big at all. You eat tons and tons of veggies and things that are good for you. Don’t pay attention to those people. You know what your body needs more than anyone else and I think you are doing an awesome job! I would actually like you to come be my personal chef, would be totally awesome… 🙂
Those chocolates look AMAZING!!!!
As do the muffins! You’re such a smart girl!!!
Love you!
Haha, personal chef – that’d be like my dream job! Ideally for Brad Pitt or something…..imagine that 😀
xxxx
If you become Brad Pitt’s personal chef, I will be your assistant!!!! Talk about a dream job huh…
i’ve seen those booja booja chocolates when i was looking for dairy free chocolate! they sound yuuuuuuuymmy! 😀
you’re on the natural balance food newsletter!!!! muffins look yummy btw 🙂
I’m famous!!!
Runners like us need the nutrients! I would never say that your portions are too big, look at all that great food your eating, can’t get enough veggies and fruits! 🙂