Mama's Banana Cakes

The summer before last, I spent some time on the Perhentian Islands in the South China Sea. Every morning, Peter and I would walk to an outdoor restaurant on the beach called Mama's (run by an ancient Malay woman) and I would order banana cake for breakfast. The following recipe is my  healthy take on banana cake (muffin style). Scroll below the recipe for a few pics from my stay on the Perhentian Islands--the most beautiful and relaxing place on earth that I have encountered so far (aside from being stung by a jelly fish!) ...

Mama's Banana Cakes

1 1/4 cup whole grain spelt flour

1/2 cup large flake oats

1/2 cup ground flax

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 egg

3 large mashed ripe bananas

1/2 cup milk

1 tsp lemon juice

3/4 cup chocolate chips

Combine dry ingredients. In separate bowl, beat oil, sugar and add egg. Mix in bananas, milk and lemon juice. Add wet to dry with chocolate chips and stir until just mixed. Pour into muffin tin and bake for 15 minutes at 375 oF.

Apple and Cinnamon Spelt Muffins

Another muffin recipe I made up. I'm not very domestic. I hate cleaning and I don't like making meals. But I am creative so I enjoy making up new recipes and I am super health conscious so I like to make super healthy food.
I make muffins for my kids, hoping to stop prepackaged food consumption, especially during school lunches.
 I always sample one of my muffins and they are delicious!
Unfortunately, no matter what recipe I try, I hear these responses:
"I hate banana chocolate chip," "Where are the chocolate chips?" "I hate apples," "I hate oats," "I hate nuts," "I hate dried fruit!"
But every mother knows that one must tune out the little food critics or never cook again...

Apple Cinnamon Spelt Muffins

2 c grated apples

1/3 cup maple syrup

1 tsp honey

1/3 c canola oil

1 c milk

1 egg lightly beaten

1 tbsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 c light spelt flour

1 c whole grain spelt flour

1 tbsp chia seeds

1/4 c crushed flax seeds

Blend wet ingredients and fold in apples. Sift together dry ingredients and fold into wet. Stir until just mixed. Pour into greased muffin tin and bake at 400 o for 18 min. Once slightly cooled, dip each muffin top in melted butter and a cinnamon sugar combination. Enjoy!

***Only 4 more days to vote for me! This has been the longest internet voting contest ever. I think everyone will be relieved when they no longer have to hit VOTE! Thank-you kind friends for your diligence and support :)

Pumpkin Spiced Spelt Muffins

Pumpkin Spiced Spelt Muffins

1 c whole grain spelt flour

3/4 cup light spelt flour

1/4 cup crushed flax seeds

1/4 cup chia seeds

1 tsp baking soda

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 tbsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 c pureed pumpkin

1 egg beaten

1/4 c canola oil

1/4 c molasses

1/2 c maple syrup

1 tsp honey

3/4 cup walnuts (optional)* my picky eaters insist I don't add these!

1/2 cup raisins (optional)*or these!

-sift together dry ingredients

-in  another bowl mix wet ingredients

-fold wet into dry and stir until just combined

-bake at 375 o for 18 minutes :)

- A personal note that made the making of these muffins extra special for me. I went on a tour of a natural spice plantation near Penang, Malaysia last year and purchased fresh nutmeg in the shell.  It was fun cracking open the nut to extract the little meat inside and grating it for these muffins. I was pleasantly reminded of my South Asian adventures.

Busy day today. Must get going. Here is my very dull list of my day plan this Sunday. Can I do it all? Wish me much luck:

-go for run up the mountain with my dog Fernando right now!

-bath dog with special soap to help his hair loss problem.

-finish formatting my thesis and send it to my supervisor for the very last time! :D

-plant all ten shrubs that need to go into my back yard sloped garden (this requires the digging of sizable holes through cement like clay :P)

-plan and reserve all flights/hotel for Portland USA on Dec. 8-10 *Dance training with Gina Grant!

-take Pip on promised date out for "coffee" She gets hot cocoa :)

-grocery shop.

-do 2 loads of laundry.

-bath dog second time with special shampoo.

-if still awake after supper, go to movie with hubby: Johnny English.

-Oh yes, email UBC to let them know the key to the ball room still doesn't work and they must get a work order to have the chairs and tables put away each Thursday night before I teach Zumba. (I pulled a muscle in my shoulder/neck and pinched a neck nerve stacking and moving chairs last week) 

***Thank-you all of my dear readers and friends for your generous support :D

 I am in second place! 

btw, if you haven't voted for me today yet, please press the 'Top 25 Circle of Moms' button up and to your left. Then scroll down until you seeModernista Mama and vote. Thank-you so very much my friends :)

Peanut Butter, Chocolate Chip & Spelt Mmm...muffins

 Peanut Butter, Chocolate Chip and Spelt Muffins by Mix Hart

* I made these muffins this morning for my girls. They are very picky eaters and this combination of ingredients seemed to suit all of their taste buds. I made up the recipe as I don't eat common wheat (modern modified wheat causes too much of an insulin spike). Spelt is an ancient relative of modern common wheat. It has a covered grain much like barley and is easier to digest. They are delicious. Enjoy!

1/2 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup old fashion oats

2/3 cup whole spelt flour

1/2 cup light spelt flour

1 tbsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1 cup milk

1/4 cup canola oil

1/2 cup natural peanut butter (smooth)

2 eggs

2/3 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 400 o

-Mix dry ingredients together. Add chocolate chips.

-In separate bowl combine wet ingredients and peanut butter. Mix well.

-Add wet bowl to dry bowl and stir until just combined.

-Place batter in greased muffin tin and bake at 400 o  for   15 minutes.

***btw, if you haven't voted for me today yet, please press the 'Top 25 Circle of Moms' button up and to your left. Then scroll down until you seeModernista Mama and vote. Thank-you so very much my friends :)