Veggie Staples

dairy free, gluten free, refined sugar free, plant based recipes

Easy Gluten Free Banana Pumpkin Muffins

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Well fall has finally rolled into town. Temps down in the 40’s at night, high 60’s & low 70’s during the day. I am in the mood to bake again. 90 degree temps until the 3rd week in September + being back at school +  marathon training = not really wanting to be in the kitchen (and no time). So sorry for the lack of blog posts. Now that things have settled into a routine, and marathon training is tapering, I’m hoping to get back into the blogging routine. I miss it, and I hope you’ve missed me too! Summer was hectic (lots of traveling) so I decided to take a little break from Veggie Staples, although I feel like I need a vacation from all of my vacation traveling! Do you ever feel like that sometimes?

Well along with fall, pumpkin season is also back in full swing (and anyone that knows me knows I love my pumpkin). I had some mushy bananas in the bowl on the counter so I decided to whip up some pumpkin banana muffins - Zoey was into them! I love that she eats ‘regular’ food now, and I can make food or other treats like these muffins that she can eat! I made these for a baby shower - also a big hit! I know you will love them too!

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Easy Gluten Free Banana Pumpkin Muffins
Author: 
Recipe type: Muffin
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 8 muffins
 
Ingredients
  • 1 very ripe banana
  • ¾ cup pureed pumpkin
  • ¾ cup almond flour
  • 2 eggs
  • 2-3 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice (depending on how big of a pumpkin fanatic you are!!)
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil, melted
  • 3 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • optional: 2-4 tablespoons stevia, or enjoy life chocolate chips!
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees
  2. Mix all ingredients together in a whole (that easy!!)
  3. Grease or line muffin tin
  4. Fill cups (this batch will make ⅞ muffins)
  5. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean

 

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21 DSD Cocoa Banana Nut Muffins

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I’m still doing the whole 21 Sugar Detox thing! I actually cheated a little bit yesterday after my race. I completed a marathon relay with 4 other great woman on my team, and nine groups of Mom’s Run This Town. SO much fun & I had a blast. Here’s a photo of me & Zoey when I got home. She liked playing with the medal, of course!

So the day was outstanding, except for the fact that I ate some candied walnuts, a slice of cheese pizza and a donut. And then I proceeded to have a pounding headache until I went to bed despite guzzling about 20 million gallons of water. So while I normally feel crappy after eating a dairy product, this one really hit home for me. This whole not eating any sugar thing is working. And clearly making me feel a lot better - and I have lost 4 pounds. So thank you 21 Day Sugar Detox Books & Diane Sanfilippo!

These cocoa banana nut muffins are 21 DSD friendly, so I need to let you know in advance that they are not sweet! repeat: not sweet! I put this recipe together specifically to have something muffin and bread like, because that is a no-no, and going into week 3 I needed something. They definitely satisfy the bread like quality I was going for, but with no sugar involved. The banana and almond butter provide a hint of that, but that’s it, for the most part. Anyways, you’ve been warned! Do not expect otherwise - and happy detoxing!!

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21 DSD Cocoa Banana Nut Muffins
Author: 
Recipe type: Muffin
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 12 muffins
 
Ingredients
  • 1 cup almond flour
  • ¾ cup almond or coconut milk
  • 2 green tipped bananas
  • ¼ cup almond butter
  • ⅔ cup slivered almonds
  • ⅓ cup raw cocao nibs
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
  2. Line or grease muffin tins (with coconut oil or muffin liners)
  3. Put all ingredients except almonds and cocao nibs in the blender or food processor, buzz until smooth
  4. Pour blender contents in a bowl, gently fold in almonds & nibs
  5. Distribute equally among 12 muffin tins
  6. Bake 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean
  7. Remove from oven & allow to cool before eating

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Almond Butter Banana Yogurt Parfaits

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So on Monday May 4th, I started the 21 Day Sugar Detox (level one). Great book by a great author, Diane Sanfilippo. I don’t eat a lot of sugar to begin with (a little stevia in my coffee & some dark chocolate, usually after dinner) but I am 13 pounds away from my goal weight (pre Zoey) and I have not lost but a mere few pounds in the past month. I’m hoping this helps jump start whatever is making me plateau despite HIIT workouts, lifting weights, and macro/calorie counting.

I’m starting with Level 1 this go around (there is also level 2 & 3). Level one includes plain yogurt, green bananas & green apples in moderation. These are my go to fruits anyways, so score! This almond butter banana yogurt parfait is a really great snack that is incredibly filling. It’s really easy and I made them in small 8 ounce mason jars I picked up at Target (find the same ones here) so I had go to snacks for the week! You can layer with more bananas or almonds (cashews and peanuts are no-no’s, walnuts, pecans & seeds are all okay). What is your favorite low sugar/no sugar snack?

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Almond Butter Banana Yogurt Parfaits
Author: 
Recipe type: snack
Prep time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 1 jar
 
Ingredients
  • 5 ounces plain non dairy yogurt (lowest sugar content possible)
  • 2 ounces banana, sliced
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
  • 2 tablespoons slivered almonds
  • 1 tablespoon almond butter
Instructions
  1. Place half container (2.5 ounces) into the bottom of the mason jar
  2. Add 1 ounce banana, 1 tablespoon slivered almonds, almond butter & ½ tablespoon cinnamon on top of the yogurt
  3. Add the rest of the yogurt on top of ingredients
  4. Top with one tablespoon cinnamon & 1 tablespoon slivered almonds
  5. Place top on mason jar & store in the fridge up to 5 days or enjoy immediately!

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Almond Butter Banana Blender Muffins

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Almond Butter Banana Blender Muffins - say that five times fast! I have just been going to town on the almond butter (or cashew butter) lately and when I was searching for some banana recipes on pinterest, and a blender muffin recipe came up. Easy to do, had all the ingredients. Yes. I cannot take all of the credit for this one. I found this inspiration for this over at Thirty Hand Made Days. Really good stuff over there, check Mique and all of her crafting projects out, they are great! I hope you enjoy these muffins, only a few ingredients, and did I repeat, you make them in the blender? Double Awesome Sauce!

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Almond Butter Banana Blender Muffins
Author: 
Recipe type: Muffin
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 12 muffins
 
Ingredients
  • 1 cup raw nut butter
  • ½ cup enjoy life chocolate chips (optional)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 very ripe bananas, the browner they are, the better
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • Coconut oil for greasing pan (or muffin liners)
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
  2. Place all ingredients (minus the chocolate chips) in the blender
  3. Pulse until smooth
  4. Fold in chocolate chips
  5. Grease muffin pan or place liners in cups
  6. Distribute batter evenly
  7. Bake for 9-11 minutes or until the edges are brown
  8. Remove from oven & wait 10 minutes to cool before serving
Nutrition Information
Serving size: 1 muffin Calories: 224 Fat: 13 Saturated fat: 4 Carbohydrates: 17 Sugar: 10 Sodium: 94 Fiber: 3 Protein: 8 Cholesterol: 35

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Morning Frothy Monkey Smoothie

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The month of smoothies continues. I love this smoothie on the weekends because it gives me a little pick me up in the afternoon (and perfect for weekday mornings), and it’s got a few of my favorite ingredients, almond butter & coffee! Can’t really go wrong with that. It’s a nice treat, something a little indulgent that you don’t have to feel too guilty about. I’ve been taking polls on facebook about what your favorite ingredients for smoothies are, so I’m going to try to include them all (I don’t think that will be too much of a problem)! I hope that you’ve started off your new year right and that you are sticking to those resolutions related to your health!

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Morning Frothy Monkey Smoothie
Author: 
Recipe type: Smoothie
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 1
 
Ingredients
  • 1 banana (I like mine frozen)
  • 1 cup of almond milk
  • 1 cup of cold brew coffee
  • 1 tablespoon almond butter
  • 1 tablespoon unsweetened cacao powder
  • ice to taste
Instructions
  1. Blend
  2. Serve Immediately

 

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Green Monster Smoothie

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There is a place in Manchester, New Hampshire called the Bridge Street Cafe. They are gluten free and dairy free friendly, and it’s one of the few places that I can get a great late breakfast or lunch after yoga class, or my new favorite, this awesome smoothie they have called the Green Monster. The only qualm I have about is that it’s a little too sweet (I think there’s just a little too much almond butter in there for my taste). I wanted to be able to recreate this awesome beverage at home because if I’m not over at yoga class, it’s kind of a trek to get over there for anything. When I blended this up, I cut back on the almond butter (I used only one tablespoon, and I also used walnut butter instead) and added more kale. This makes for a great smoothie anytime, and is packed with lots of greens and fiber (in case you have a hard time getting it in with your meals during the day)!

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Green Monster Smoothie

Ingredients

  • 1 banana
  • 1 cup almond milk (or other non dairy milk)
  • 1 - 2 cups kale
  • 1 tablespoon walnut butter (or almond butter)
  • 1 tablespoon flax seed
  • ice to taste

Instructions

  1. Add all ingredients to a blender and buzz until smooth
http://veggiestaples.com/green-monster-smoothie/

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3 Ingredient Chocolate Banana Dessert

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I don’t know about you, but I love those Banana Babies ice cream bars that you can get in the frozen section at the grocery store. They aren’t too bad for you (the ingredients list is actually natural!) but toppings are limited. Bananas are a natural antacid, are said to help with depression, muscle cramps, constipation, the list goes on and on. And besides, fruit is nature’s candy, yum!

It’s super easy to throw these banana delights together and the best part is you can choose whatever toppings you want. Maybe you love hemp seeds, or graham crackers (gluten free, of course) or just almonds (like me)! Either way, I’m going to guarantee you will love them - and so will your kids and anyone else you make them for (just ask my co-workers)! Best of all they are vegan, gluten free and paleo!

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3 Ingredient Chocolate Banana Dessert

1 frozen banana

Calories per serving: 150 calories

Ingredients

  • 1 banana
  • 1/2 cup Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips (soy, nut & dairy free)
  • 1/4 cup chopped almond (or anything else you might want to roll your banana in)!

Instructions

  1. Smash or chop desired topping for the banana (I put my almonds in the food processor)
  2. Heat chocolate chips on low/medium heat in a large saucepan and stir well so they do not burn.
  3. Peel banana and dip one side into the melted chocolate, then flipping to cover the other side (tongs may work well here, but I just used my fingers)
  4. Immediately roll the banana in toppings while the chocolate is still warm
  5. Place the banana(s) on parchment paper or a plate and freeze for 15-20 minutes or until you are ready to eat them!
http://veggiestaples.com/3-ingredient-chocolate-banana-dessert/