Gettin’ Chia With It
Hey, everyone! I’ve been attached to my computer since late morning and feel a little bug-eyed! Still working on updating the Recipes Page. Since I’m technologically inept, it takes me an ice- age to figure out how to do stuff. Oh well, I do what I can do 
First things first: exercise! I’m trying to hit the gym hard for the new year. I most always get my exercise in, but I’m gonna bump up my intensity and see if it will help bump off some poundage!
I was scheduled for weights today, but I hit The Arc Trainer first for 30 minutes, the recumbent bike for 25 minutes, then a 20 minutes lower body circuit weights session. I huffed it on them all – GO BIG OR GO HOME as Joanna says! I had some swagger walkin’ out of that gym today 
Breakfast was Part 2 of The Chia Experiment. Last night, I couldn’t resist trying out another recipe using these interesting chia seeds. Chocolate is always on my mind , so I wanted to make a muffin top combining the two.
Chocolate Cranberry Chia Muffin Tops were born…
- 1 tbsp. chia seeds
- 8 tbsp. water
- 1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
- 1/2 cup oat bran
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
- 1/3 cup brown sugar, unpacked
- 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. espresso powder (optional)
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 tsp. vanilla
In a small bowl, combine chia seeds with water. Set aside to allow gel to form, about 10-15 minutes. (note: some water may remain)
In a large bowl, combine flour, bran, cocoa, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and espresso powder. Add cranberries.
In a smaller bowl, mix applesauce and vanilla. Add to flour mixture. Add in prepared chia gel and stir until fully incorporated.
Prepare a muffin top pan by coating with nonstick cooking spray…
Using a 1/3 measuring cup, scoop and fill top pan with batter…
Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack…
Nutrition facts: 189 calories, 2 grams fat, o grams cholesterol, 5 grams fiber, 43 grams carbohydrates and 4 grams protein. (calculated using www.calorieking.com)
Chocolatey, sweet and wholesome…
I really liked these. The combo of chocolate and cranberry was so good. They are nicely sweet with the addition of the brown sugar and I am so impressed with the light, fluffy texture that the chia seeds produce in baked goods!
That held me over for a good 3 hours while I worked on the blog and tried to figure out how the heck to use Wordpress :/
I got hungry for lunch all at one time. I had to eat and QUICK! The first thing I saw was some soup in the cabinet…
Holy water retention!
I nuked it up fast and took a spoonful. ICK. I did not love this. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t great either. But, even though I was starving, I decided life is too short to eat bad soup! So, don’t read this Mom I ditched it!
Plan B:
And a naan…
layered with turkey and hummus. Altogether now…
Snacktime came quick! Apples and cheese while computing…
I planned on crabcakes and salad for dinner and a little taste of summer. This Sicilian Orange, Onion and Olive Salad is one of the husband’s favorites…
- 3 large navel oranges, peeled and sliced
- 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
- 8 kalamata olives, sliced
- 2 tsp. olive oil
- 1 tsp. balsamic vinegar
- 2 tsp. fresh oregano or 1 tsp. dried
- salt and pepper to taste
To go with the crabcakes, I whipped up a sauce made of wasabi mustard and a little half and half. A great light dinner…
Okay, I’ve had enough computing for one day!
ONE GOOD THING: My flashcards are really helping me! If I feel the urge to stray, the appropriate statement seems to pop up in my head! I just might “learn” something after all!
A big thank you to those of you who have changed your blogroll from Trim the Fat to Loser for Life! I have noticed and really appreciate that!
Have a great night, everyone!
Questions? Email me! aloserforlife@gmail.com
19 comments
I have yet to try Chia Seeds! Need to get on that one!
Yay for flash cards!!!
Hey Wordpress Pro!
Awesome work in the gym!! Some very well-deserved swagger, I would say! And chocolate…hey, that’s on my mind a bit too much also!
Ooooh! I love your muffin tops!
And talk about going big or going home…you’re certainly applying that to your workouts AND your chia experiment! Impressive!
I have not found chia seeds yet, but from what I see they seem to preform similarly to flax seeds in cooking, but I believe the chia seeds may be higher in Omega 3’s. The orange salad looks delicious – I think my son would absolutely flip over this one !
I’ll be linking to your chia muffin top recipe. For more information about chia seeds, and some recipe ideas, check out my website: http://www.chiativity.org
Marisa Reply:
January 7th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
I will, as I am chia obsessed right now
Great workout! You go!
And I totally didn’t know that there are muffin top pans… I sometimes think I live under a rock… Your muffin tops sound great!
I chant ‘go big or go home’ sometimes. It helps!
Naan is sooooo good! Thanks for the recipe, I am scared to try chia seeds, but maybe I’ll have to
Yay! I love the “workout swagger”!
Flash cards are such a great idea. I’m glad they’re working so well for you.
i like your go big or go home additude! mine right now is 30 minutes is better than zero minutes LOL. i’m getting there, i swear!
i am having that soup with my lunch too! yummy tomato!!
Marisa Reply:
January 7th, 2010 at 12:26 pm
You crack me up! It is better than zero minutes
Those muffin tops look SO yummy!! Have you ever tried vitatops? They are super good…I want one right now!
Marisa Reply:
January 7th, 2010 at 12:25 pm
Yes! They are awesome! Can’t beat the 100 calories!
I’m definitely saving this recipe for chocolate cranberry chia muffin tops. I just need to get a muffin top pan! Love how low calorie, low fat, and high fiber they are. Great recipe
That Arc Trainer looks so futuristic! I wanna try.
The Chia muffins look scary-good. But hold up! I see a crabcake! Ahhh…..
i love those boxed tj’s soups. so convenient!
I have got to make those muffin tops. Thanks!
I love your blog and it just looks even better after being updated!
You’ve inspired me to take more photos of what i’m eating as well as set me on an endless mission to find a muffin top pan – i just can’t find one anywhere over here in England, which obviously leaves me even more jealous
But seriously – keep it up, i’ll follow your muffin top recipes one day!!
[...] I got to baking more Chocolate Cranberry Chia Muffin Tops since my stash was [...]