Banana Breakfast Bread

Good morning everyone!

TGIF!!! Don't you just love that feeling when the weekend is right around the corner? I do.

I start thinking about those fabulous lazy mornings that I don't have to wake up early. I love mornings when I don't have to rush around. You also have more time to make things like this...

A warm slice of banana bread is a great way to change up your breakfast routine. The same old thing day-in and day-out gets dreary after awhile. Sort of like the weather. I saw a glimpse of sunshine today, the first in a week and that was between the persistent snow squalls. If you're Canadian then you know what I'm talking about. One minute the sun is shining brightly and the next thing you know there's a blizzard outside your window. Yeesh! It doesn't make for a fun drive, but does make for some pretty sweet snowboarding conditions, which is what I really wish I could be doing this weekend.

I have to say as much as I love winter and being Canadian, I still love warm temperatures more. It's only January and I think I'm already in need of a break from this weather. So I'm glad to say that instead of letting it drive me to drink..eek!.. it drove me to the kitchen.

This is a reasonably healthy quick bread that I slightly adapted from the Eat Clean Diet Cookbook. It's got heart healthy flaxseed (nearly a whole cup), and only half a cup of sucanat, which is an unrefined dark brown sugar that retains it's molasses content and is basically pure dried sugar cane juice. It's also sourced from Costa Rica quite possibly one of my favourite places in the world right now. Le sigh.

It's also partly sweetend with the help of apple butter and is full of fibre.

Spread some pure Canadian maple butter on a slice for your breakfast, make a fresh pot of tea or coffee, sit back and watch the snow fly because it ain't going nowhere to soon.

Banana Breakfast Bread (makes 1 loaf)

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Ingredients:

• 1 cup mashed ripe banana (about 2 medium-sized bananas)
• 1/2 cup sucanat or other unrefined sugar
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup apple butter
• 3 egg whites
• 1 whole egg
• 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour or red fife flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 cup ground flaxseed
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp sea salt

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350*F.
2. Grease a loaf pan and if desired line with parchment paper so that it hangs over the two long sides.
3. In a large bowl, combine banana, sucanat, vanilla, and apple butter. Add eggs one at a time and beat together until smooth.
4. In a separate large bowl, whisk together flours, baking soda and powder, ground flaxseed, cinnamon, nutmeg, and sea salt.
5. Pour the wet ingredients into the flour mixture and fold together with a spatula until completely incorporated.
6. Pour batter into the loaf pan. Bake for 55 minutes or until a toothpick or knife inserted into middle of the bread comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack.

One thing is for sure: breakfast will not stand to be dull and dreary.

Peanut Butter Energy Bites

Who like's snacks?

I do! I do!

Snacks play an important roll in giving us a little energy boost when we need it.

If you've ever felt the afternoon blahs when you're lacking energy and contemplating a trip to the candy machine then this is for you. We all know the feeling right? Either you're at the office or going about your day, you're energy crashes and you're now looking for the nearest doughnut shop or what have you. The reason why you hit the afternoon wall is because you're blood glucose has taken a sharp dive. You're as "hangry" as a walrus and probably feel a bit like one too, ready to take it out on someone else.

You can avoid the dreaded afternoon crash by eating frequent mini meals throughout the day and making sure you get a good lunch that includes a combination veggies and/or whole grains and quality protein, so when 3 o'clock rolls around you're not falling asleep at your desk. Instead of reaching for that candy bar or doughnut, first reach for your water bottle and make sure you are well hydrated. Now it's time to make a healthy snacking choice. This part requires a bit of planning but it can be quite easy (and tasty)! It's also important to remember to pair your snack with some protein to keep you from getting hungry again too soon.

So what should you snack on that's healthy? Here are a few examples:

• A hand sized piece of fruit (like an apple or pear) with some nuts
• Veggies and hummus
• Ryvita crackers spread with nut butter
• Hard boiled eggs with some salsa and sliced bell peppers
• Low fat granola and yogurt

Then there are these little gems. I'm excited to share a great recipe with you today. Something else to throw into your snacking repertoire.

These are a great pick me up in the middle of the afternoon and a surprisingly energy packed pre-workout snack that can double as dessert.

A doughnut is tasty, but has no nutritional benefit. These power balls are just as tasty and will leave you feeling good about what you ate. Plus they look like little doughnuts! I swear these look just like the timbits we used to get from Tim Hortons when I was a kid.

Peanut Butter Energy Bites (makes 16 balls)

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Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
• 1/2 cup dried apricots
• 1/2 cup natural peanut butter
• 2 tbsp unpasturized honey or maple syrup 
• 1/4 cup vanilla sunwarrior protein powder
• 1/4 cup rolled oats
• 2 tbsp ground flaxseeds
• 2 tbsp coconut flakes

Method:

1. Place sunflower seeds and oats in a food processor and process until flour like. Now add the dried apricots and process again until crumbly.
2. Add remaining ingredients except for the coconut and process until everything is incorporated and the mixture is well combined. It should be slightly crumbly.
3. Scoop out tablespoons of the mixture with your hands and roll into balls.
4. Roll each ball in coconut to coat.
5. Store in an air tight container in the fridge for up to one week.

*You can also stash these in the freezer and they'll keep even longer.

(If you can keep your hands off them) ;)

This recipe has been shared at Amee's Fit and Fabulous Fridays.