Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Muffins

Breakfast is a very important meal to us. Apart from what experts say, we believe eating breakfast is essential so that we don't get cranky before lunch. (No rumbling tummies around 11am!) But, it's really hard to get up in the morning and have to prepare something, and on the days that we don't want smoothies, but need to get rid of those overripe bananas, simple muffins are made (and eaten for the rest of the week).

Yes, breakfast muffins are the way of the future. 

This recipe is healthy, packed with protein, fiber, potassium and chocolate chips

Ingredients (yields 15-18): 

3 mashed bananas 

1 cup almond milk (or soy, but almond milk is delicious)

2 eggs

1 tbsp baking powder 

3 cups steel cut oats (or rolled oats. they work too)

1 tsp vanilla extract 

chocolate chips (at your own risk! we prefer to use plenty) 

Procedure: 

1. Preheat the oven to 370F
2. Mix bananas with almond milk, eggs and vanilla extract
3. Add the baking powder and oats to the mix and stir until even. 
4. Grease, or line the muffin tins. Either would do
5. Mix a million pounds  the chocolate chips until you think you have enough. (We normally use about 50-60g) 
6. Place batter in the muffin tins. Keep in mind these don't rise as much as regular muffins do.  
7. Bake for 18-25 minutes (until tops are golden brown) and cool for 10-15 minutes. To reheat just place in the microwave for 15-20 seconds. 

Muffins are the way of the breakfast future. 

Summer Cocktails: Kiwi Blueberry Mojitos

As previous service-industry workers, there are some drinks that are a little bit of a pain to make during a rush like cappuccinos, matcha lattes and mojitos. At the same time, we LOVE summer cocktails because they're really refreshing. The bonus bit about making your own cocktails is that you don't have to really scrimp   measure alcohol, or any of the ingredients for that matter, and it costs a lot less. The ingredients here are an estimate that has worked for us, but feel free to change to suit your palettes.

Here's a recipe that yields 4-6 tall glasses (1 pitcher) of the kiwi blueberry mojitos:

Ingredients:
200-250g blueberries (one medium pack at the grocery, or 2 cups frozen)
8 kiwis
mint (for garnish.. but very important in mojitos)
1/4 cup lime juice (that's about 3-4 limes)
1/2 cup sugar and a little more (1 tbsp) for the rims
1.5 cups sparkling water (tonic water)
ice cubes
rum (dark/light) - amount varies

Procedure:

1. Peel 5-6 kiwis, squeeze lime juice, add 1/2 cup sugar and puree in a blender. Add as much rum as required (to taste)
2. Set aside 2-3 sliced kiwis
3. Gently crush the blueberries and set aside
4. Prepare the glasses by moistening the rims with a slice of lime and running the moist rims against the 1tbsp of sugar on a plate
5. After the rims are moistened, place ice, 1-2 slices of kiwi and some blueberries in the glass. Add the puree from step (1) until about the halfway point, and use sparkling water the rest of the way. Add mint to the top for garnish. Stir and enjoy!

The final product - refreshing, fruity summer cocktails 

Mojitos are more often than not, worth the effort

And remember folks, hammer and potato do not support drinking and driving!