A date with myself...

Being a Harry Potter buff has its advantages and disadvantages - Given that the final offering was PG-13, I could not with a right conscience take eager K2 for The Finale -- seeing the grimace of distaste on K1's face, I decided alone was the way to go...so with a kid's size popcorn and a massive dose of excitement, I went into the theater and the movie did not disappoint. Hey it was Stephen King who quoted - "Harry Potter is about confronting fears, finding inner strength and doing what is right in the face of adversity. Twilight is about how important it is to have a boyfriend." No wonder, I didn't watch Twilight beyond the first offering - it was too one-dimensional for me while Harry Potter took me to places I wanted to visit and it is a magical journey I will cherish and I hope I can pass on this affinity for Harry Potter to K2.

This week has been about "healthy substitutions" food wise. I made this easy Apple Spice Bread Muffin with ground Flax Seed Powder (the brand I used is Spectrum - I have posted a picture below). Flax Seed Powder has been a wonderful addition to our pantry. Wikipedia not I says - Flax Seeds are a rich source of protien - One hundred grams of ground flax seed supplies about 450 kilocalories, 41 grams of fat (the good kind) , 28 grams of fiber, and 20 grams of protein.Flax seeds contain high levels of dietary fiber as well as lignans, an abundance of micronutrients and omega-3 fatty acids. Flax seeds  lowers cholesterol levels and lessen the severity of diabetes by stabilizing blood-sugar levels.

• 2 Cups Apple Sauce
• 1 Teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 Cup all purpose unbleached flour
• 1 Cup whole wheat flour
• 1 Teaspoon baking powder
• ½ Teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ Teaspoon salt
• 1 Cup Spectrum  Organic Flaxseed Flour
• 2 Organic eggs
• 1 Cup organic sugar
• 2 tbspoon Spectrum Organic Toasted Walnut Oil
• 1/2 Cup coconut milk (or fat free milk)

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Measure the flours and cinnamon into a  bowl. Sift together with the salt and the baking powder/soda. Keep aside. Measure the eggs and the sugar into a large bowl. Using a hand mixer (or your hand), beat the eggs and sugar on medium speed for about 5 minutes, stopping two or three times to scrape the sides of the bowl using a rubber spatula until the mixture is pale yellow and creamy. Add the  Apple Sauce, walnut oil and the  milk. Beat with the hand mixer set on medium speed for about 5 minutes, stopping two or three times to scrape the sides of the bowl until the sugar is dissolved. Test this by rubbing the batter in between two fingers. It should feel smooth. Turn the sifted flour mixture into the beaten egg mixture and stir to combine, until the flour is completely mixed in, but don't beat it or the cake will be tough (now is a good time to add in raisins and nuts if you so please, I chose to make it a plain kind). Spoon heaping tablespoons of the batter into the muffin pan (or cake pan) , filling each close to the top. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-30 minutes until the mini cakes are deep golden in color and a cake tester (I used a tooth pick) inserted into the center comes out clean. Turn out onto a tray to cool to room temperature. Wrap with wax paper or plastic wrap to store for up to three days. This is a healthy, protien filled snack for K2, it is a great breakfast item, which has tonnes of healthy stuff (yes the sugar content is high but what's life without a little bit of sweet, you can definitely substitute the sugar with Stevia)...

This recipe goes out to Sobha @ Good Food who is hosting the event - Cook it Healthy - Protieneous. And when you think Muffins and Cakes - protien is the last word you think of -- but with my special muffins made with  Flax Seed Flour -- the protien level is high but you don't really lose out on any of the big flavors & moistness of a muffin ( K2 had 2 in one go - if that isn't a testament to taste I don't know what is !!!)

How is your week going? I am spending time in the evenings with a book K1 suggested to me - What Got You Here, Won't Get you There by Marshall Goldsmith. The book has been eye-opening in parts and insightful in others...as they say there is always room for improvement in oneself  :-)