RECIPE: Blueberry-Red Currant Oatmeal Muffins

Have you ever had red currants? They’re tiny jewel-like berries, tart with a hint of sweetness. They’re used throughout Europe for jams and jellies, but they also pair fantastically with blueberries in baked goods, like these muffins.

1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup orange juice (other juices would probably work fine as well)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup white sugar
1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup melted butter or vegetable oil
1 egg, beaten
1 1/2 cup berries or diced fruit in whatever combination you like, fresh preferred, but frozen works too

Optional cinnamon-sugar topping:
2 teaspoons white sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Optional almond streusel topping:
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup almonds, chopped
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon butter, melted
Large pinches each of cinnamon and nutmeg

1. Preheat your oven to 375. Lightly grease a 12-muffin tin (I love the silicone ones, since they cool quickly and make it easy to pop the muffins out), or line with cupcake liners.

2. In a small bowl, combine oats and orange juice, and let soak. In a different bowl, mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Then incorporate the oil and egg, then the oat-juice mixture. Fold in the fruit last.

3. Spoon the batter into the prepared tin, and top muffins with cinnamon-sugar or mixed streusel ingredients, if desired. Bake 18-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffins comes out clean.

Super Easy Kale Salad

Super Easy Kale Salad

1 bunch of kale

1 lemon

1 tbsp honey

1-2 tsp olive oil (optional)

One type of nut of your choice (pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pecans, etc)

One type of berry of your choice (blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, etc.) 

Remove spine of kale and break into bite size pieces. Squeeze lemon over kale. Add honey (I add honey until there is a good balance of sweet and sour but I start with 1 tbsp.). Massage kale with your hands, making sure each leaf has softened and is covered with lemon and honey. Add nuts and berries—in the amount that works for you--at the end.