Chocolate Banana Muffins with Avocado

This is a simple way to make use of overripe bananas and avocados. Feel free to add chocolate chips (1/2-1 cup) for even more chocolate flavor. If chocolate isn't your thing, you can also omit the cocoa and add an additional 1/4 cup of flour (I'd also add 1 tsp cinnamon).

Ingredients

3/4 c overripe banana (2 medium)
1/4 c very ripe avocado (1/2 small)
2 eggs
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 c vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp salt
3-1/2 tsp baking powder
1 - 3/4 c flour
1/4 c cocoa

12 banana chips (optional)

Instructions

1. Spray 12 muffins tins with nonstick spray.
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees (if using nonstick or dark colored pan reduce heat to 375 degrees.)
3. In large bowl, whisk together eggs, oil, sugar and vanilla.
4. Stir in banana and avocado.
5. In medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, salt and baking powder.
6. Add flour mixture to liquid ingredients. Stir very gently until just combined.
7. Place approximately 1/4 cup of batter into each tin.
8. If using, place one banana chip on each muffin.
9. Bake for 20-25 minutes.
10. Cool five minutes and remove from tins onto cooling rack.

Broccoli Farro Salad

This salad is easy to make. I make it for dinner and take lefts overs for lunch. I've only recently started adding farro to our shopping list but I love it! It makes the dish more substantial and adding whole grains is always a plus to any meal. There are many different kinds of farro and some are quicker to cook than others. I use Trader Joe's 10 minute farro but what ever you use just follow the package's directions. You can even make it ahead or make more than you will use so you have left overs!

If you can't find farro, you can substitute something else - rice, barley, bulgar wheat, quinoa etc.

Here's another farro recipe that I like: Farro & Vegetable Salad

Serves 6-8 as a side dish.

Ingredients

2 cups cooked farro, cooled
2 large heads broccoli, chopped into small florets
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup diced red onion
1 cup reduced fat mayo
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp chipotle sauce
1/2 tsp smoked paprika powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp white vinegar
1/4 cup crumbled bacon (optional)
1 tsp diced red jalapeno pepper (optional)

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl, combine mayo, sugar, spices, and vinegar.
2. In a large bowl add broccoli, farro, onion, and sunflower seeds.
3. Add dressing and combine.
4. Sprinkle with bacon and jalapeno, if using.

Serve.


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