Chocolate Spice Veggie Muffins

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Muffins usually don't come to mind when considering a nutrient-dense breakfast, but these pack in many minerals and vitamins, thanks to the spinach, carrots, and spices. The rich cocoa, filled with antioxidants, covers the vegetables' flavor, so what kiddos (and adults) have are warm, decadent, flavorful chocolate bites perfectly sweetened by maple syrup. We love these for morning or an afternoon snack, covered in ghee. 

This recipe yields 12 servings

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 cup overripe bananas
  • 1 cup grated carrots
  • 1 cup spinach
  • 2 eggs
  • ¼ cup maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ cup cocoa powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup almond flour
  • 2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • ¼ cup coconut oil
  • ½ cup chocolate chips (optional)
  • 130 grams overripe bananas
  • 130 grams grated carrots
  • 60 grams spinach
  • 2 eggs
  • 82 grams maple syrup
  • 4 grams baking powder
  • 4 grams baking soda
  • 3 grams ground cinnamon
  • 100 grams cocoa powder
  • 1.6 grams salt
  • 5 mL vanilla extract
  • 125 grams almond flour
  • 10 mL apple cider vinegar
  • 55 grams coconut oil
  • 85 grams chocolate chips (optional)
  • Flakey salt for topping (optional)

Directions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (176°C). Line a 12-hole muffin tin with liners. Set aside.

  2. Combine eggs, banana, carrots, spinach, maple syrup, coconut oil, vinegar, and vanilla in a blender. Blend until smooth. Add the almond flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cocoa powder, and cinnamon. Pulse a few times until combined. Lastly, fold in chocolate chips (if using).

  3. Portion batter into prepared muffin tins. Top with extra chocolate chips, if desired. Bake for 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Be careful to not over bake. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. Enjoy!

Tips

*Allow the muffins to cool completely before storing in an air-tight container in the fridge or freezer.

 

Honey Carrots

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There’s an almost magical quality to carrots in that they complement endless spices and proteins. Here we sauté them in olive oil and honey to bring out notes of caramel-y goodness.

This recipe yields 4 servings

INGREDIENTS

  • 4-5 medium rainbow carrots
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt & black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 800 grams of rainbow carrots
  • 50 grams of Honey
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt & black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

Directions

  1. Cut carrots into quarters, lengthwise.

  2. In a sauté pan heat up olive oil to sauté the carrots, seasoning with salt and fresh ground pepper. 

  3. Add honey and caramelize for about 4 minutes, then add red wine vinegar and set aside until ready to serve.


 

Rosemary Rhubarb Chicken Thighs

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We think of this as an abbreviated version of a full roast chicken (which is a PrimaFoodie favorite). Because this recipe calls for just thighs rather than the entire chicken, cooking time is reduced, as is clean-up. The result is juicy, sweet, and savory. (And your house will smell amazing.)

This recipe yields 4 servings

INGREDIENTS

  • 4 chicken thighs
  • 4 tablespoons ghee, melted
  • 1 onion, roughly chopped
  • 5 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 2 cups rhubarb, roughly chopped
  • 2 carrots, roughly chopped
  • 1/4 teaspoon cardamom
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 1/4 cup chicken broth
  • 4 chicken thighs
  • 4 tablespoons ghee, melted
  • 1 onion, roughly chopped
  • 5 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 256 grams rhubarb, roughly chopped
  • 2 carrots, roughly chopped
  • 1/4 teaspoon cardamom
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 60 ml chicken broth

Directions

1. Place chicken thighs in a baking dish. Salt and pepper both sides of the thighs. 

2. Mix together ghee, onion, garlic, bone broth, rosemary, thyme, and fennel. Spread over the chicken. 

3. Bake at 425 degrees Fahrenheit/218 celsius for 25 minutes. 

4. Remove from the oven and add the rhubarb, carrots, and honey to the baking dish. Mix to coat the chicken.

5. Bake for another 20 minutes at 425 degrees Fahrenheit/218 celsius.  

 

Sumac and Pomegranate Roasted Carrots

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I love cooking with the Middle Eastern spice sumac for its bright, lemony flavor and vibrant red hue. Pairing it with cilantro, pomegranate seeds, and tahini dressing enlivens roasted carrots in the most beautiful way. 

This recipe yields 6 servings

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 pound carrots
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon duck fat or coconut oil
  • 1 tablespoon sumac
  • PrimaFoodie Tahini Dressing
  • 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
  • ⅛ cup pomegranate seeds
  • 450 g carrots
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon duck fat or coconut oil
  • 1 tablespoon sumac
  • PrimaFoodie Tahini Dressing
  • 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
  • 2 tablespoons pomegranate seeds

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit / 220 degrees Celsius.

2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Put carrots on the sheet and drizzle with olive oil, duck fat (or coconut oil), and sumac. Toss evenly and distribute carrots across the sheet, making sure they have plenty of room.
 
3. Bake for 20-30 minutes until tender.

4. Whip up PrimaFoodie tahini dressing.

5. When carrots are finished, remove from oven and transfer to a serving plate.

6. Drizzle with tahini dressing, chopped cilantro, and pomegranate seeds and chopped cilantro. 

7. Serve.  

Tips

**If you are not on a SIBO protocol, adding garlic to this roasted carrot dish is delicious. De-shell whole cloves and place them on the baking sheet with the carrots during the last 10-15 minutes of cook time. 

**If you are not a fan of cilantro, you can also top these carrots with fresh thyme or parsley.

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California Sushi Rolls

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My daughter loves the idea of sushi and I never squander an opportunity to expand her palate, so we make these simple vegetarian rolls together. On Sunday’s, my husband and I prep our veggies for the week so that they are easily available for grab and go lunches and snacks. Also, anytime I have rice on the dinner menu, I make extra to use for sushi the next day. This takes out all of the prep work and leaves only the assembly.

This recipe yields 2 hand rolls or 12 sliced rounds

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 cup white rice
  • 1/2 avocado, cut into small chunks
  • 1/2 cucumber, cut into small sticks
  • 1/4 carrot, grated
  • 2 large seaweed sheets (nori)
  • Tamari or coconut aminos to taste
  • 128 g white rice
  • 1/2 avocado, cut into small chunks
  • 1/2 cucumber, cut into small sticks
  • 1/4 carrot, grated
  • 2 large seaweed sheets (nori)
  • Tamari or coconut aminos to taste

Directions

  1. Make the rice in a rice cooker. 

  2. Place cooked rice, avocado chunks, cucumber sticks, and grated carrot in a seaweed sheet and roll. Can be cut into rounds maki-style or eaten like a hand roll. 

  3. Add tamari or coconut aminos to a small dipping bowl. Can also be packed to go in leakproof pods like these, as well.  

Tips

**I use large pre-packaged squares of seaweed (nori) to make these sushi rolls 
**Sushi sticks together better if the rice is slightly warm or if you lightly dab the seaweed sheets with water.
**Feel free to add cooked shrimp, spicy tuna or any of your favorite proteins or other vegetables.

 
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