. . . You Need to Try
Before joining the Summer Sweat Series (it’s over now, but I highly recommend it and am so glad I tried it), Ambitious Kitchen was not even on my radar. And that’s just a cryin’ shame, because Monique’s recipes are just so darn good.
SSS may be over, but I’m still exploring the recipes I didn’t get to while it was on. Unfortunately apparently I’ve been falling down in the photo department– I thought I had photos of at least some of the treats, but no, nothing got photographed. Too eager t eat, I guess. Take my word for it — they’re worth it.
I had my last blueberry muffin for a snack yesterday, so I did get in a photo of that.
You’ll notice that most of the recipes I tried are baked goods. You know how I love to bake, and I have to keep Mr. Judy in breakfasts, too. You’ll also know that a lot of the recipes use ingredients you may not have on hand — almond flour, coconut flour, coconut sugar. Because I like to bake and I like to experiment, I didn’t have to go out and buy any special ingredients. You can make your own almond flour (I don’t, but you can), but if you decide to try a coconut flour recipe, you’ll need to buy it.
I’ve gone on to explore more of Monique’s recipes, as well (would love to see a cookbook from her!). My latest one was the Double Chocolate Paleo Banana Bread, which, believe it or not, has no added sugar.
So today I’m sharing some of my favorite recipes with Friday Five from Cynthia from You Signed Up for What?, Courtney from Eat Pray Run DC, and Mar from Mar on the Run. And no, the pancakes pictured below are not the Fluffy Coconut Pancakes I mentioned previously, but I’ve made them a few times, too.
Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
One of the nice thing about the SSS was that there was a nice mix of recipes, with a fair amount of vegetarian options. I’m not vegetarian — I actually eat everything — but I fall more pescetarian (mostly vegetarian + fish).
There were a lot of vegetarian recipes I meant to try, and still mean to try, but this is one of the ones I did try.
I was a little disappointed in at first, but it grew on me. I’m not sure that I’ll make it again (maybe) – still quite a few other recipes I need to try.
Nutrition Rich Blueberry Breakfast Cookies
Mr. Judy likes easily portable breakfasts, and who doesn’t want cookies for breakfast anyway? I didn’t hear any complaints when I sent him into work with these, and two cookies have almost 10 gm of protein.
Coconut Flour Banana Bread
No added sugar, folks — and it tastes great! I’ve made it a couple of times already. For SSS they had you leave out the chocolate chips and add in a cup of blueberries. And yes, I did that. And yes, like I said, it was great.
I eat plenty of chocolate, but I know it’s not in my best interest to always eat chocolate.
Peanut Butter Granola Bars
Almost no bake: you do toast the oats and quinoa, but otherwise you just throw in a bunch of ingredients, mix it up, and boy do you come away with a treat. These served as my post workout treat quite a few times.
Healthy Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins
I thought these were so good, I wanted to hoard them all for myself. Oddly Mr. Judy didn’t share my enthusiasm, but maybe that’s because he didn’t have them hot out of the oven with just a wee bit of butter on them.
I enjoyed them as a snack on their own, or sometimes I paired them with some eggs for breakfast.
Talk to me. Leave a comment or answer a question:
Do you have a favorite type of quick bread or muffin?
If I peeked in your pantry, would there be coconut flour in it?
Sweet or savory for breakfast (or both)?
I do love all the baked goods. I try not to bake too much because I don’t have much control when it comes to homemade goodies. Those muffins do look scrumptious. And the pancakes ….
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Well, like I said, that was just a stock image of pancakes but the coconut pancakes are great. I’ve made them twice & doubled the recipe the second time. And I’ll be making the muffins again!
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Thanks so much for making my recipes! 🙂
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Believe me, Monique, it’s my pleasure! 🙂
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Coconut flour? Nope, just the regular stuff that never get used.
My hubby doesn’t eat breakfast (which does annoy me) but I like both sweet and savory. It’s always oatmeal unless I’m in a restaurant and then it’s french toast.
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I made French toast with trader joes cinnamon roll bread yesterday. It was really yummy. I think I might do it again tomorrow if I think I’m going to run Sunday.
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I didn’t even know coconut flour was a thing! Unfortunately I bake very little anymore. I’d like to try the peanut butter granola bars!
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Oh, coconut flour has been around a while now! I love to bake, and do it all the time, but it has to be pretty healthy stuff because weight maintenance is still an issue for me.
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Yum! I’m more of a savory breakfast person usually.
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They’re better for you. I actually do eat savory breakfasts a few times a week.
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I like banana bread but I always throw in some chocolate chips. What can I say?
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Wendy, if weight wasn’t an issue for me, I’d always throw in chocolate chips, too. But trust me, this bread was really good with the blueberries subbed for chocolate chps!
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We do love blueberry banana muffins around here too. Dangerous for me to have around though 🙂 I love making my own protein oatmeal bars. Those recipes look great thanks for sharing I will check them out
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I’m actually okay with muffins. One and done, either with some eggs or as a snack (these have a fair amount of protein due to the almond and coconut flours, so I find them to be fairly filling).
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If I’m looking for a breakfast treat, I’d have to say sweet, like blueberry muffins or maybe chocolate chip banana muffins.
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Yeah, I do love my sweets. 🙂
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Yum! Yum! YUM!!!
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I have to have solid protein for breakfast, but I sure could stand to have that blueberry muffin for dessert after breakfast, lol! Looks fabulous! And no, you know me, absolutely no coconut flour in the pantry. However, I did buy my first container of coconut oil! I don’t know what to do with it, but I’ve got it! It goes on the elbows, right? ;D
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I tend to pair the blueberry muffin with some eggs. But I eat it as a snack, too.
You can use coconut oil in place of butter. And yes, you can also use it on your elbows and your hair.
Here’s hoping you’re having a marvelous time today!
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haha, if you peaked in my pantry you wouldn’t find any flour at all lol I have not had a muffin in a long time. I do love protein cookies and oatmeal raisin cookies but I rarely make them.
It is nice you cook. My hubby has to fend for himself until I retire lol
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I’m the retired one. Actually this week Mr. Judy mostly had to fend for himself!
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Sorry to read you are not feeling great. Did the race happen ?
You have had a tough summer. Hang in there, I admire your tenacity !
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The race happened – the one Darlene won her AG-without me though. It was a really horribly humid day, anyway.
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The title “Ambitious Kitchen” intimidates me a bit, but the recipes sound yummy! I baked an apple pie as tribute to Matt’s Nana this weekend. It was ugly but yummy!
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I think if it tastes good, that’s all that matters! So you made the crust?
I almost never make pies anymore. Just too much temptation laying around.
The recipes are really good — I wouldn’t lie about a thing like that!
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