One of My Morning Smoothies - Mixed Berry, Chia Seeds, Ginger Rooibos Tea

This is when my sunny San Francisco mug comes to brighten up my morning even more!

Post-workout shaking just adds spice and fun to the process.

Ingredients for today: just added the following in the vertical mixer tall plastic cup - a blender works just fine as well - and mixed until all the ingredients were smoothly blended:

- 1 cup pureed apple

- 1 cup Ginger Lemon Rooibos tea (freshly made and chilled before used for the smoothie)

- 1 cup mixed berries (from frozen)

- 1 cup fresh spinach leaves

- 4 tbsp Chia seeds (ground and sprouted)

Now the only thing needed: a drinking straw in happy colors! (and by the way, National Drinking Straw Day is celebrated annually on January 3rd, in the US!)

Such a treat - ~ 280 calories, 9 g Total Fat, 1g Saturated Fat, 0 mg Cholesterol, 29 mg Sodium, 43 g Total Carb, 16.7 g Dietary Fiber, 23g Sugars, and 7g Protein.

Also 56% Vitamin A, 76% Vitamin C, 20% Calcium, 28% Iron (% DV)

Oatmeal Muffins with Chocolate Ganache

Rolled oats and vanilla, on one of those last days of winter, that Charles Dickens would say about that “it was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade”.

 

Yields 12 really quick. Filled with warm chocolate ganache for the last touch of the winter feeling.

 

Preheat oven at 350 F.
 

In a large bowl, combine:

- 2 cups rolled oats (old fashion)

- 1 cup plain yogurt (Balkan or Greek style)

Let sit for ~ 30 min then add the following, mixing well after each addition:

- 2 whole eggs

- 1/2 cup agave syrup

- pure vanilla extract

- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

- 1 cup whole wheat flour 

- 2 tsp baking powder.

Do not over mix. Spoon batter into two 6-muffin pans lined with parchment paper. Baked for ~ 30 minutes until tops are golden and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

For the ganache filling (optional):

Bring 1/4 cup heavy cream to a boil. Measure ~ 1/2 cup (unsweetened or semi-sweet, organic) chocolate chips into a medium bowl. Pour the hot heavy cream over the chocolate chips and let stand for a few seconds. Whisk until smooth and evenly combined. 

Fill the muffins with the chocolate ganache using a cupcake filling tip

Nutrients per 1 of the 12 muffins (without the filling):  Calories: 190, Total Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 1.5g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 38mg, Sodium: 21mg, Total Carb; 30g, Dietary Fiber: 3g, Sugars: 1g, Protein: 5.5g

Vitamin A: 2%, Vitamin C: 0%, Calcium: 4%, Iron: 6%