Spinach Quinoa Muffins

Whoa!

...Is anyone else surprised to find these ingredients in a sweet (not savory) muffin?

I was, and maybe a little bit apprehensive, too.

Friends, fear not.

Here's a recipe for a surprisingly delicious muffin; packed with nutrients, good texture, and nice flavor.

Spinach Quinoa Muffins

(Makes 32 mini muffins; adapted from Dandy Sugar & The Chic Life)

Ingredients:

3/4 c all purpose flour

3/4 c whole wheat pastry flour

1/2 tsp fresh grated nutmeg

1/4 tsp table salt

1/4 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

Enough fresh baby spinach to yield 1 c. pureed (I used around 3-5 cups)

3-4 tbsp water

1 medium overripe banana, thawed if frozen

1 egg

1/2 cup or less of honey

2 tbsp canola oil

1 tsp vanilla extract

zest of 1 lemon or 1/2 tsp lemon extract

1 tbsp ground flaxseed

1/2 tsp of Spirulina (optional)

1/2 cup cooked quinoa (any color, I used a mix here)

chopped walnuts or almonds (optional)

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease & flour muffin tin.

In a large bowl, whisk flours, nutmeg, salt, baking powder and baking soda, set aside.

In a food processor, blender, or mini blender, start processing your spinach, adding a little bit of water at a time as needed to get the puree going.  When you get one cup pureed, return the puree to the blender, add banana, sugar, oil, extracts & flaxseed, and blend some more until everything is uniform.  

Add the wet mix to the dry mix in batches, stirring gently just until evenly distributed.  Fold in the quinoa.  Spoon into muffin tin, sprinkle tops with nuts, if using.  Bake 10-13 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out dry.

 

Before packing  these yummies up for a picnic snack at the park, one playschool child looked at them with concern. After a few moments..."I don't like those...", and slunk away. 

 

 ...here he is about 30 minutes later shoving the last bite into his mouth:)

Yes, the verdict is in; they tasted surprisingly good!

There were just crumbs left at every child's spot at the table.

Thank you for all of your well wishes for my new job! I am loving it thus far:)

We are off to a Waldorf School (the video at this link is fantastic...a real tear jerker, I think!) about an hour West of us tomorrow for a story hour. Fitting in observation hours at our local school has been difficult now that I am working every weekday. I am excited for this opportunity tomorrow; mostly because I get to share it with W, too!

Happy Weekending:)