muffins

Sweet Potato & Sage Corn Muffins

November 18, 2015 By Courtney West 6 Comments

November is fleeting, though I guess that’s the way time is. Always moving forward, never back. I’ve been trying to enjoy this time of the year while it is here instead of worrying about when it’s over. I’ll admit that living in the moment can be challenging for me but I’m making a real go of it. One way I’ve been doing this is to try to slow down and chew my food. I know that sounds funny, but I think most of us habitually shovel food down our mouths quickly in order to move on to the next thing. This ends up causing digestive upset and doesn’t really make eating the wonderful sensory experience that it should be. So, chew your food! Appreciate the flavors, textures, and origins of what you are eating. Imagine the hands that grew and nurtured it. Try this next time you eat and notice what changes for you.

Speaking of food, Thanksgiving is swiftly approaching! I thought it would be apropos to share some gluten free/vegan dishes perfect for your holiday table. They are all simple to follow without laborious ingredient lists. Each one has a little somethin’ somethin’ that sets it apart from the more traditional Thanksgiving dishes, in addition to being completely vegan and gluten free. All of these recipes will culminate in a little Thanksgiving menu guide at the beginning of next week to help you in your menu planning.

These muffins are my take on cornbread. They have sweet potato puree in them to add a little natural sweetness and some sage to make them fragrant and earthy. You can serve these up on their own or dry them out a bit and use them to make stuffing or croutons. I recommend serving them with coconut butter and cranberry sauce, but they are perfectly capable of standing on their own 🙂

…

Spiced Apple Pumpkin Muffins with Quinoa Pepita Streusel

September 14, 2015 By Courtney West 3 Comments

I thrive with structure. It’s comforting like a warm blanket on a chilly morning. Without it I seem to flounder. I waste hours on netflix or sleep too much. I feel listless and unproductive. Structure has taken on a different meaning lately. Instead of a 9 to 5 job providing the structure it’s become my daily yoga practice and this blog. It’s been a hard transition to be honest but it’s one that I’m trying to find comfort in. At a time when the future is uncertain, I focus on what grounds me.

We finally got just the smallest taste of fall weather down here in Houston. It was in the 60s this morning. I tried to hang on to the cooler weather as long as possible but mother nature swiftly took it away as the sun rose higher and warmed everything it touched. There’s definitely a noticeable change in the air though. It’s what I always look for to signify the real arrival of fall. The one that will soon turn the leaves into brilliant shades of orange, red, and yellow and smell of pine straw. Soon pumpkins will crop up everywhere and leaves will start to fall.

Speaking of pumpkins, here is your first taste of pumpkin goodness on the blog this year! I took an idea for a humble pumpkin muffin and elevated it with some warmly spiced sauteed apples and a seedy streusel topping. If the recipe components seem daunting, you can mix and match. As I said above I’ve been creating structure in my life through the blog and it definitely shows in the steps of this recipe. If you just want a simple muffin, leave out the sauteed apples and streusel, though I do highly recommend adding some warm spices to the muffins. These muffins are perfect for a slow and lazy morning when you have time to truly appreciate the steps and love that goes into making them.

…