Easy & Quick Paleo Muffins

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cup of coconut flour
5 dates
1 banana
1/2 stick of butter
1/4 cup of olive oil
1/2 cup of tahini paste
1/2 tsp of salt
1/2 tsp of baking soda
1 Tbs of honey
1 tsp cinnamon
pinch of cumin
pinch of cayenne pepper
1 tsp of ginger powder


**As you can see...the flour to fat ratio is almost 1:1. This makes for a very crumbly muffin. It won't be as dense as traditional muffins are. This one is lighter.

Assembly:
Combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender. Grease the muffin pan with a little bit of butter and add batter into each pan 3/4 of the way up.
Bake at 375 degrees F until golden on top and toothpick comes out clean. About 10-12 minutes.

I love these muffins for breakfast in the morning with a little bit of butter and peanut/almond butter on top. This is a great grab-and-go breakfast!

Butter Coffee?

Hi friends-
I have been so consumed with school, work and life in general that I have not had time to post any recipes or dedicate any time to expanding my blog. I have DEFINITELY been cooking and making a mess in the kitchen though, that will never change :)

If you don't know already, I have Chron's Disease and have been trying to figure out a diet that suits my body and its needs in the best way possible; a diet that will make me strong, give me energy and boost my immune system so that my body can fight not only against Chron's but also against all other things life throws at us.

So I've been experimenting in the kitchen: going gluten-free, going vegan, trying pescatarian, trying a vegan-ish type of diet where I'm vegan with the exception of greek yogurt and honey etc. The point is, I'VE TRIED SO MANY FOODS AND DIETS. I feel good for a few days, then I loose energy and I get bored of the food (which is surprising because I have a lot of ideas on how to make food fun and yummy).

This is why I decided to go PALEO. Its not a diet fad, or a trend. 

Its simply eating REAL food. No processed crap. No refined sugar. No additives or preservative. No chemicals that are slowing killing our bodies. Its eating food that is biologically what OUR bodies, as homo sapiens, need most. 

Its basically eating mostly fats and proteins, with lots of veggies, fruits and very limited carbs.
Thats how I came across BUTTER COFFEE. 

You might think Im crazy but its putting butter in your coffee. I know. WHAT.... I thought the same thing when I first read and heard about it. Surprisingly, its actually delicious and its AWESOME to put into your body first thing in the morning.
WHY?
Because you get a good source of fat into your body and get your metabolism going right away. This gets your body going and allows your body to absorb that fat, keeping you full and giving you energy for the day. No this will not make you fat. The butter is from grass fed cows, which provide us with good Omega-3 fats that our bodies CRAVE AND NEED.
By providing our bodies with what they need, they flourish and function properly.

So, I have been drinking butter coffee every morning. I feel fantastic! I thought I had to give up coffee, and I did for a while because it upset my stomach, giving me flares. But ever since discovering butter coffee, no flares from coffee :) Here is how to make it:

1 Tbs grass-fed unsalted butter (I use Kerrygold Irish butter...it is the best brand) 
1 cup of freshly brewed coffee 

also,
you can add 1 Tbs of coconut oil (this is also good fat, and when combined with the butter provides you with even more yummy fatty goodness for your system)
1/2 Tbs or more of honey (this is a natural sugar and is okay for consumption. I would stay away from white granulated sugar. Its terrible for you anyway, you don't want to put that stuff in your body)

Put butter and coffee in a blender and blend for about 10-15 seconds. Pour to a mug and enjoy :)
No need for cream or milk unless you really want it. Ive been drinking it like this and its been delicious; I don't need the milk anymore at all. I also sprinkle some cinnamon on top :) tastes like a latte!

Please let me know if you have any questions! I will be posting more on my paleo lifestyle very soon!
- Claudia

Nutty Oat Snack

This quick, extremely easy and healthy snack you can make in 2 minutes and probably finish eating it all even faster :) Great for anytime of the day!

Ingredients:
1/4 cup of oats
1/2 of a banana, sliced
2 tsp sunflower seeds
2 tsp dried cranberries
1 Tbs. peanut butter (or any nutty butter of your choice)
1/2 tsp. coconut oil
1 1/2 Tbs. almond milk

Assembly:
In a small bowl, combine nutty butter and coconut oil and microwave for 30 seconds. Add in oats and almond milk, mix until combined and microwave for another 30 seconds. Add in the rest of the ingredients, mix and eat up!

You can also add other super fruit or super foods of your choice, such as chia seeds, flaxseed, goji berries or acai!

Green Papaya Super Smoothie!

This smoothie is PACKED with natural vitamins that will fill you up and satisfy you at the same time! If you're worried about the spinach, please don't! You can't taste it at all! It only adds more nutrients and a pretty green color :) Start off only adding a few leaves at a time until you get used to the idea, then pack in the spinach leaves into those smoothies!
Perfect for breakfast, lunch and even dinner. For breakfast, I like to add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of cooked oats to fill me up in the morning :) A little tangy and sassy, this smoothie is awesome! Feel free to add some honey or agave if its a little too zesty for you!

Ingredients:

1 cup of cubed Papaya
1/2 of a banana
1/2 cup of spinach
3 fresh mint leaves
1 Tbs of chia seeds
1 orange
1 apple

Assembly:

Juice the apple and orange. Add the papaya, spinach, banana and orange/apple juice into to blender. If you do not have a juicer, simply squeeze an orange into the blender, and add the apple, peeled and cubed. Blend until smooth and creamy. Pour into glass and sprinkle in chia seeds. Enjoy!

Polish Strawberry- Rhubarb Cake

This is a recipe I followed and baked for a family bbq this weekend! It turned out absolutely wonderful and fully Polish-grandma/ family approved :) It is very simple to make, so simple I was shocked! And this is a crowed pleaser; everyone loves the strawberry-rhubarb combination, especially if its in a cake. 

If you're looking for traditional Polish-style cake, this is definitely one for you. More traditional cakes are sharlotka: apple cake, makowiec: poppy seed cake, mazurek: nut cake or adwokat: chocolate cake made with Adwokat Liquor, which range from very simple to a little bit more difficult. 

Mazurek especially is a nut cake eaten during Christmas and winter time. If not done correctly and paid close attention to during baking, it will turn out extremely dry (its happened to me :/ ). 

If you have any questions about Polish baking or recipes, please email me at claudiamgrabowski@gmail.com 

I will be posting more of my grandmothers recipes this summer, since I'll be in Poland with my family from July until August! 

This is not my recipe- it is a Polish recipe that I am translating into English.

Ingredients:

Cake batter:
3 stalks of cleaned and washed rhubarb, chopped
1/2 cup of sliced strawberries
2 eggs
2 1/3 cups of all purpose flour
1 cup of sugar
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp of vanilla extract
1 stick of butter ( I used Polish butter for baking called "KASIA": You can get it in all Polish stores)

Streusel:
1/5 stick of room temperature butter (Polish  butter "KASIA")
2 Tbs sugar
2/3 cup of flour

Assembly:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees

For the streusel--
1.  In a mixer, combine butter, sugar and flour until becomes a nice crumble. Make into a ball, wrap it in plastic wrap and put in the freezer.

Cake Batter--
2. Melt 1 stick of butter and set aside to cool.
3. Mix chopped rhubarb and sliced strawberries in a bowl with a pinch of salt and sugar.
3. Mix flour with baking soda. Then, in a separate bowl beat eggs, add sugar and vanilla until becomes fluffy.
4. Add flour to egg mixture in thirds. Combine until fluffy.
5. Butter a pan dust it with flour (I used a 9x13 pan) and pour batter into the pan. Add fruits on top of the batter.
6. Take streusel out of freeze. Grate streusel ball into small shreds. Sprinkle those shreds on top of the fruit.
7. Bake for 40 minutes to an hour depending on how much your cake rises and the size of your pan (my cake spilled over a little bit).

Busse was catching a sniff! 

My dad already stole a slice (or two) ;) 

Healthy Snacks!

Vanilla Peanut Butter Spread
1 Tbs Peanut Butter
1/2 cup of Vanilla Yogurt (or 1 cup of Vanilla yogurt, depending on how peanutty you would like your spread to be)

Stir both ingredients together until they make a smooth consistency.
This spread is great on apples, bananas, with strawberries, on toast, waffles,  in crepes, or just by itself!

Crunchy Lettuce Wraps
4 romaine lettuce leaves (washed and dried with the crisp white ends cut off)
2 small plum tomatoes (sliced)
1/4 cup of sliced almonds
Dressing:
2 Tbs olive oil
1 Tbs balsamic vinegar
1 tsp dijon mustard
1/2 tsp parley
pinch of salt and pepper

Lay the lettuce leaves up and place 3 slices tomatoes down the lettuce leaves. Sprinkle about 1 Tbs of almonds on top. For the dressing, combine balsamic, mustard, salt, pepper and parsley in a bowl. Drizzle in olive oil and stir. Pour a little of of the dressing over the tomatoes and almonds. From the top of the lettuce leaf, and roll it tucking in the sides. Use a toothpick to keep them together.

Mother's Day Breakfast

MOTHER'S DAY BREAKFAST

Mother's Day is one of the most important celebrations; mothers are most people's number one supporters, heroes, fans and they're our best friends. I love this day because I love to spoil my mom with my food and spend all day with her :) 

Below is what I made my mom this year for her special day. Coffee was of course served with the meal! She enjoyed it very much; my dad was very jealous that it wasn't Fathers Day! 

Breakfast Muffins
2 medium potatoes, shredded
1 ball of fresh mozzarella
1 can of sundried tomatoes
1 dozen eggs
1/2 cup of kale, chopped
salt and pepper
1/2 Tbs dried oregano
a couple of leaves of fresh basil

Makes about 10-12 muffins!

Assembly:
1.) Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and oil muffin pan.
2.) Place shredded potatoes on a couple of sheets of paper towels and pat down with another paper towel. This is to take some water out of the potatoes, it will help them crisp up in the oven (very important step!)
3.) Place potatoes in a bowl and toss with 1/2 tsp of salt, pepper and dried oregano. Then press mixture onto sides and bottom into muffin cups.
4.) Layer the muffins with a few pieces of kale on top of potatoes, followed by a piece of sundried tomato, a slice of mozzarella cheese.
5.) Break an egg on top of all the layers. Lightly sprinkle with a pinch of salt and pepper. Place in oven for 20-30 minutes (or until egg on top is cooked the way you like it to be).
6.) Take out of oven and let rest about 5 minutes. Lightly remove each muffin and serve immediately!

Perfect Breakfast Parfaits
1 jar of any flavor jam (I used Polish jam made from Chokeberries...my favorite :) )
1/2 cup of fresh chopped strawberries, blackberries or blueberries (you can also use one or more types of berries and they can also be frozen ones that have been thawed)
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
1 Tbs sour cream
1/2 tsp lemon juice
1 Tbs honey
1/4 cup of cooked oatmeal
1/2 sliced banana

Makes 1 big parfait or 2 smaller ones.
I made 1 big one for my mamma :)

Assembly:
1.) Mix yogurt, sour cream, lemon juice and honey together in a bowl. I know sour cream sounds weird in this mixture, but it adds creamy-ness and flavor to the dish! Its also not that much, so don't worry about breaking your diet if you're on one.
2.) In a pretty, tall glass (you want to be able to see the layers of the parfait), begin layering with a tsp of jam, followed by a few berries. Then pour about 1/3 of the yogurt. Follow by another layer of jam and a few berries. Add 1/2 of the oatmeal to this layer. Pour over another 1/3 of yogurt. Add one last layer of jam, berries, the rest of the oatmeal and yogurt. Top with banana slices. You may add a sprig of mint for decoration!

ENJOY!