Hi, Everyone!
Everyone knows that quarantine can be a little exhausting and definitely boring. So, for this month’s “Scribbling” article, we’ve decided to give you all some ideas to keep your days busy!
Snacks:
Trail mix. Always choose the one with the least amount of sugar (no m&m’s). You can always make your own by mixing all the nuts you like, along with adding pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate chips, if you need the extra kick.
1. Cashews
2. Walnuts
3. Almonds
4. Pumpkin seeds
5. Chopped dark chocolate if needed
Apples and/or celery with your preferred nut butter.
1. Apples/Celery
2. Almond butter, peanut butter, cashew butter
Veggies with hummus or tzatziki. If you keep some cut in the fridge, it will be easier to grab and go.
1. Hummus/Tzatziki
2. Carrots
3. Red Peppers
4. Cucumbers
5. Celery
Nuts. Make sure they are not salted. You can always add a bit of salt yourself, better than the large quantity that is added to the roasted and salted packaged ones.
1. Cashews
2. Walnuts
3. Almonds
Yogurt with berries. Preferably natural yogurt without the sugary fruit flavoring than most have. You can always sweeten with a bit of raw unfiltered honey.
1. Natural yogurt-greek yogurt if you prefer
2. Berries
3. Raw and unfiltered honey
Banana Oatmeal Muffins Ingredients
Ingredients
3 cups rolled oats or old fashioned oats
1⁄2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1⁄8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking powder
1⁄4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1⁄4 cup pure maple syrup
1 cup mashed banana, 2 bananas
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup 1% milk
1⁄4 cup melted coconut oil
1 cup mini chocolate chips or 1/2 cup of cacao nibs for super healthy option
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350.
In a medium bowl combine the rolled oats, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
Crack the 2 eggs into another medium bowl. Whisk together with the maple syrup, mashed banana, and vanilla extract until the ingredients are combined and smooth.
Slowly whisk in the milk and coconut oil.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir until all the oats are covered and moistened.
Slowly stir in the chocolate chips.
Grease a muffin pan then divide the oatmeal mixture among the 12 muffins tins. Press the mixture down with a spoon so that all the oats are covered in liquid.
Bake for 30 minutes or until the tops are slightly brown.
Let cool for 5 minutes.
You can freeze and take as needed.
Fudgy, Healthy Brownies
Ingredients
4 1/2 oz (125 g) 80%+ dark chocolate, chopped
1/4 cup coconut oil, softened at room temperature (but not melted)
3 medium eggs, room temperature
3/4 - 1 1/4 cups (100 - 175 g) coconut sugar 1 cup (90 g) almond flour
1/4 cup (30 g) cocoa powder
pinch of salt
1/2 - 1 cup dark chocolate chunks and chips (optional)
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 355°F and line an 8x8 inch (20x20 cm) baking pan with greaseproof/baking paper.
In a heat-proof bowl above a pot of simmering water, melt the dark chocolate and coconut oil together. Set aside.
Using a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, or a hand mixer with the double beater attachments, whisk the eggs and coconut sugar until pale, fluffy and tripled in volume. This will take about 5-7 minutes.
Slowly drizzle in the melted chocolate while whisking on low speed. Whisk until the chocolate is fully incorporated.
Sift the almond flour, cocoa powder and salt into the egg-chocolate mixture, and gently fold in the dry ingredients (using a spatula) until no clumps remain.
Stir most of the chocolate chunks and chips into the brownie batter, and then transfer the batter into the prepared baking pan. Smooth out the top, and sprinkle over the rest of the chocolate chunks and chips.
Bake in the pre-heated oven at 355 °F for 18 -20 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out with moist crumbs attached (for fudgy brownies) or even with some half- baked batter attached (for gooey brownies).
Serve the brownies either still warm or once cooled.
The healthy brownies keep well in a cool dry place in a closed container for 3-4 days
Banana Oat Chocolate Cookies
Ingredients
1 cup quick oats
¾ cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon salt
1 large ripe banana mashed
2 tablespoons of coconut oil at room temp
1 large egg at room temp
¼ cup and 2 tablespoons of light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¾ dark chocolate chips
Instructions
Set oven to 350
Mix ingredients into bowl
Bake for 10-13 minutes
Apple Nachos
1 Apple sliced up
Any nut butter
Honey (optional)
Chocolate
Coconut shreds
Chia seeds
Chia Seed Pudding
Ingredients
2 tablespoons of chia seeds
½ cup almond milk
Dash of vanilla
1 teaspoon honey (or pure maple syrup)
Instructions
Mix ingredients together into container
Place into fridge overnight
Top with fruits and enjoy!
Six ideas for when you reach that new level of boredom that only weeks of quarantine can achieve:
Start painting
All you need are some basic colors and a piece of paper (or get really creative and start painting shoes or anything around the house)! Look on Pinterest for ideas, and bring out your inner Leonardo Da Vinci. It’s very relaxing, and then you have pretty pictures!
Learn how to knit
It’s something to help pass the time, and, in the end, you’ll have Christmas gifts for your family and friends! YouTube has some great videos for inspiration.
Make a photo album
Print out your pictures, bust out the glue, and start creating a photo book! They are a great way to have photos in one place, and they’re super cute.
Start running
It can be hard to motivate yourself, but running really fast after a day of sitting down is great for your brain and physical health. Put on that playlist, and try to embody Usain Bolt.
Do a puzzle/read a book
Doing a puzzle is great for your mind, and it is definitely a satisfying task. Also reading is a great way to unwind from the strangeness of our days!
Learn how to make masks!
These will have a great impact on the community, and you can learn a new skill.
We hope you try some of these new ideas and find ways to make the best out of quarantine!
Love,
Fiona and Serena