Protein&spinach muffins

Recently I've ordered few products from bulkpowders.co.uk
 

psyllium husk&spinach powder, proteins plus coconut oil from bulkpowders

I still look for my healthy food supplier and checking English companies out. Bulkpowders was one of them, recommended by my friend. Despite the name, they don't have only products for those who are on bulk ;) 


They don't have fancy packing, just simple, minimalistic ones. Together with no big adds. But the variety of products is really big. I got few protein powders from them (simple whey and mixed), gainer for my beloved, psyllium husk, hmb and spinach powder from them. For now whey protein chocolate orange is my unquestionable favourite, especially with my mornings oats. 

my recent baking

Having some day off I decided to use ordered spinach powder. I used it for muffins and they came really tasty.

For 8 muffins you will need:
* 1 scoop of vanilla protein
* 2 tbsp of sesame/quinoa/regular flour
* 0.5 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder 
* 0.5 tbsp spinach powder
* 1 egg
* 1dl of almond/regular milk
* sweetener (Sukrin or other)

Mix all dry ingredietns first, then add egg and milk for dough, watery consistency. Mix together and put into muffins forms. Bake for 30 minutes in 200 degrees.

ready to eat muffin with glaze and dried raspberries on top

Glaze:
* 2 tbsp of Philadelphia Light (or other soft cheese)
* powdered sweetener (Sukrin Melis)
* dried raspberries on top 

Enjoy gluten free, sugar free, protein&spinach muffins! :)

isn't that true? ;)

Did somebody say Quest bars?

I've just got some small delivery from Predator Nutrition (British official re-seller of Quest Nutrition products) with lots of protein Quest bars. 

It was my first experience with Internet shopping in UK and I was a little shock that Predator Nutrition asked me to prove my identity and show my previous invoices I had on my debit card. I was also a little disappointed by the shipping, because all that formal stuff took some time and I didn't get my pack on the other day, but actually after a few one. But at least customer service was nice and politely ;)

What are these treats? 

For first, as I already mentioned, these are treats - even though they contains protein I perceive them more like a candy, something sweet rather than a food from daily diet. However, there are places where I don't have chance to eat my 'real food' or have a sweet tooth and taking a bar like that is convenient. 

Any why Quest bars? 

Because as far as I know these are the healthiest options within protein bars. They contain little carbs, lots of fibre, no strange additives (just to mention: no, I am not sponsored by Quest hehe, but I would really like to be though!) and 20g of protein. And what is more, they have wonderful taste and can be find in very different flavors.

good macros: 170 kcal, 6g fat, 24g carbs (17g fiber), 20g protein

I've got mine Quest bars in flavors:
* cinnamon roll
* chocolate cookie dough
* strawberry cheescake
* apple pie 
* banana muffin
* berry
* almond

I've already tried one - Cinnamon Roll and it tastes like cinnamon cakes I found in Norway, yay! :)

Breakfast cookies

breakfast cookie for those who are in constant morning run

After one week in London I had a chance to check all assortment in local shops and check English preferences. Ready to eat and fast foods are definitely on the top of English favorites list ;) No surprise. 

But breakfast oat cookies are also very popular these days. That is why I decided to make my own!

I used traditional Scottish porridge oats

I used:
* 4 measure of traditional oats
* 1 measure of raisins
* 2 table spoons of Sukrin Gold (or black sugar)
* 1 table spoon of vanilla sugar
* handful of nuts (can be salted)
* half package of buttwer
* 2 eggs
* pinch of salt
* 1 table spoon of baking powder

Sukrin Gold - my treasure brought from Norway

Preparation:
Mix first all dry ingredients. Melt butter and add it together with 2 eggs. Adding water wasn't necessary due to dough was already good to form. 

Form dough in cookies shape and bake it in the oven for 30 minutes in 200 degrees.

Enjoy cookie for your breakfast :) This is not an low carb tread, but still way more healthier than the one you can find in shops. 

Coconut scones

For a rainy day like this, the smell of coconut brings me somewhere away from dark Norway... 
I tried coconut flout from Funksjonell Mat for the first time and made coconut scones. This flour consisted of melted and fat reduce coconut. It smells wonderful even in a package! 

Scones I made are rich in protein and fiber, as their main component is coconut fat-reduced flour. With more milk, you could do pancakes instead of scones.
 

For 7 scones you will need:

* 100g fat reduced coconut flour
* 2dl of low fat milk
* 3dl of water
* 1 tblsp of baking powder
* 1 egg white (or whole egg if you want more calories)
* 10 drops of Coconut Stevia Sweat Leaf 

Preparation:
Mix all ingredients until you will get a dough which is easy to form in hands. Roll round shape scones and bake them in 220 degrees 20 minutes on each side. 

Served with chocolate souse from Walden Farms or other syrup of choice.

Nutritional value in 1 scone:
57 kcal, 
4,5g protein, 
1,6g fats, 
1,7g carbs

Diet savers

I've just got a pack from Gymgrossisten.no with Walden Farm's product:
* peanut butter spread
* chocolate syrup
* bluberry syrup
* creamy itialian salad dressing

This products are calories, carbs, fat free. 
I have to be honest - these are artificial products which can't replace healthy, balance eating. BUT if you're on diet, counting and sparing your calories a little amount of these can make your life more tastier ;) My diet is 90% clean and this 10% lefgt is dedicated to products like these or Cola Zero ;)

I have already tried Whipped Peanut Spread since I am a big fan of peanut butter itself. It is not as tasty ans Powdered Peanut Butter (check my post about it here), but it is ok on a wasa sandwich ;)

Cinnamon cake

cinnamon cake topped with apples

Previous weekend was rich in desserts! ;) Beside french fruit cake, I made cinnamon one, perfect treat for coffee.

For 8 portions of cake I used:
* half cup of almound flour
* half cup of whole grain flour
* half a cup of Sukrin/sugar
* 3 eggs
* cup of milk
* 2 spoons of baking powder
* 1 dl of liquid butter/margarine
* gingerbread spices, cinnamon and vanilla 
* apple and Sukrin Melis for decoration

Preparation:
* Preheat oven to 220 degrees. Mix dry ingredients all together.  Add eggs, butter and milk. Use kitchen robot to have a smooth dough. 
* Spread liquid butter/margarine in a baking pan. 
* Put dough into pan and put it into oven for 10 minutes. In a meantime chop apple. You can put it on the top of the cake after 10 minutes of pre-baking it (then you're sure that apple won't fall into dough). 
*Bake cake for next 20 minutes.
* After that time, let the cake cool down in room temperature. 
* Spread a little Sukrin Melis/ sugar powder on top.

3 minutes cake

We had a guest this weekend and I wanted to prepare some quick and tasty dessert. I made french fruit cake, which was not necessarily light, but very tasty and almost effort less.

It takes only 3 minutes to prepare it! (and another 3 to eat it!;) )

You will need:
* a pack of french dough (if you can buy light one use it, unfortunately in Norway we have only regular one)
* fruits of choice: I used plums and apple
* 1 egg
* brown sugar/ Sukrin Gold
* regular sugar/ Sukrin

it is just that simple: put a dough on a baking pan, and then fruit on it

then spread sugar/Sukrin on fruits, and brush egg on the edges of dough

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 220 degrees. On a baking pan, put a baking paper and squares or rectangles from french dough. 
Wash fruits and halve them. Put them on dough and lightly press them into dough. Spread 1 spoon of sugar and 1 spoon of brown sugar on top. You can also spread cinnamon and vanilla.
Break the egg and brush it on the edges of dough.
Bake cake for approximately 20 minutes. 

For all peanut butter lovers

If you, same as me, struggling with unconditional love for peanut butter, this product is made for you - PB2. It is powdered, fat reduced, peanut butter. 

If you add a little water, you will get calories reduced peanut butter pasta. 
If you add a spoon to your protein shake, it will be thicken and with amazing peanut taste. 
It is also perfect for pancakes (use it together with flour), cookies and other pastry baking. 

I am totally in love with this products. OF course, it is not calorie free, but at least I can allow myself to eat that instead of normal peanut butter which is a total calorie bomb and I am never enough with only 1 spoon of it! ;)

You can order PB2 at MyRevolution's shop.

Hardangervidda/Flåm/Jotunheimen trip

As I promised, I am coming back with little update about my recent weekend trip.

As 17th of May is Norwegian national day and it is free, as well as 20th of May, we had all 4 days for ourselves! :)

the beginning of Hardangervidda - national tourist road

We started our trip from passing Hardangervidda - mountain plateau, which - on this time of the year - is still covered in snow and ice. 

Hardangervidda in the mid of may ;)

 Hardangervidda is an extraordinary place, which will be ever more special for me now <3

Stalheim hotel and mountains around it. Photo from visitnorway.com

Stalheim hotel was another destination on our trip. The view from hotels terrace is amazing, as well as the route down (Stelheimskleiva) - the steepest route in Europe!

view from Stalheim's hotel

grill on our way to next trip destination

 

marinated chicken was on the menu ;)

grilled chicken sandwich

Next 2 days we spend in wonderful small city Flåm, which is a Norway in a nutshell for me. 

 

Flåm in the evening

It has fiord, beautiful and high mountains around, little wooden houses and many mountain pathways for hiking, cycling and skiing. 

Up in the mountains with the view on Nærfiord

 We managed to take a proper mountain trip which took us few hours and was approximately 10km long. And found local brewery very welcoming the same evening :) 
We felt so good in Flåm and the weather was so amazing that we had to force ourselves to leave this hospitable place... :)

beautiful view from Stegastein

 Aurland's viewpoint (Stegastein) was the next on our tour. The weather was perfect for climbing up in the hills (with car this time) and admire Nærfiord from above.

grilled salmon - yummy!

grilled salmon menu :)

mighty Jotunheimen Mountains

Last, but not least, we crossed Jotunheimen - the highest mountain range in Norway. This was spectacular! But, I have to admit, very scary at the same time! We were there almost alone and the scope of mountains was even overwhelming! On passing mountain shelters, we met professional Alpinists who were discovering Jotunheimen Mountains by foot (and skies).

waterfall in Jotunheimen mountains

Despite it were only 4 days, I totally relaxed, charged my batteries and had a wonderful, and very emotional :), time. It was all about relax, chill, love, celebration and splurging! Like a proper vacations should be :)

first ice creams this year ;)

"Nordic's kitchen" ;)