Healthy Spinach Chocolate Chip Muffins

makes approx. 12 Muffins

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups whole wheat pastry flour, white whole wheat flour or spelt flour (or use 2 cups of King Arthur Multi-purpose Gluten-free Flour + 1 teaspoon xanthan gum)

2 teaspoons aluminum-free baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon fine ground sea salt

1 large egg

¾ cup pure maple syrup (Grade A or Grade B)

¾ cup dairy or non-dairy milk (almond or coconut milk)

¼ cup unrefined coconut oil, melted

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 5- or 6-ounce bag of fresh baby spinach leaves

2 medium ripe bananas, mashed

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  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a standard 12-cup muffin tin with unbleached parchment liners.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
  3. In a blender add egg, maple syrup, milk, oil, vanilla and spinach.  Process until pureed.
  4. Add spinach mixture to the flour mixture and stir until just combined.  Fold in the mashed banana.
  5. Scoop batter into prepared muffin tin, filling cups about ¾ full.  I like to do this with a large ice cream scoop. Bake about 25 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  6. Store at room temperature up to 3 days.  These freeze nicely!

Healthy_spinach_chocolate_chip_muffins

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Spring Break BOGO at Medieval Times!

SPRING BREAK BOGO AT MEDIEVAL TIMES – VALID AT ALL LOCATIONS!
Must mention or enter code BOGORB at time of purchase. Buy one full-priced admission and receive the second admission of equal or lesser value FREE. Not valid with other discounts, offers or group rates. Not valid for the Sat shows at the Buena Park location. Restrictions may apply. Valid thru 5/3/15. Make your reservations by call 1-888-935-6878 or visit medievaltimes.com
Purchase tickets: http://www.medievaltimes.com/purchasetickets.aspx

Bloggers BOGO

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CopyCat Starbucks Double Chocolate Chip Frappuccino

Most of you know that I’ve developed somewhat of a coffee addiction over the past year. Iced coffees and frappuccino’s are some of my favorites. So I wanted to share this GREAT recipe for a copycat(when I say copycat, I don’t mean a cat that wears a collar) Starbucks double chocolate chip frappe for those days you can’t make it to Starbucks.

Ingredients:

Frappe Ingredients

1 cup of milk (Whole, reduced fat or Skim)

2 tablespoons of sugar

1/3 cup of chocolate chips

3 tablespoons chocolate syrup

2 cups of ice

1/8-teaspoon vanilla extract

 

Directions:

Starbucks_Frappe

Blend all ingredients together until smooth.  Top with whipped cream and chocolate syrup (optional)

Copy_cat_starbucks_frappe

Enjoy!

 

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What Your Check Engine Light is Trying to Tell You

If you are anything like me, you can feel a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach when you see the check engine light come on in your vehicle. That light usually means something major is wrong – and it’s going to cost you.

The check engine light is a signal from the car’s computer to let you know that something is wrong. The dealer service department can usually diagnose the problem for you, but there are a few things you can look for to give you an idea exactly what that problem might be…read more here.

Check_engine

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Yogurt Fruit Bark

Honey flavored Greek Yogurt (1 cup)
Dried Fruits, chopped (I used 1/2 cup of my favorite ones)
Nuts, chopped (also, 1/2 cup of my favorites)
You can also use fresh blueberries.
Cover a cookie sheet (or a dish) with wax paper and spread the yogurt evenly. Between half an inch and a quarter of an inch thick. You don’t want it too thin, cause it will break when you cut it.
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Spread your toppings and pop it in the freezer for a couple of hours or over night. Once you break it into barks, eat it right away or store in an air tight container in the freezer. They melt fast!
Yogurt_fruit_bark
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