Fall Recipe Favorite: Pumpkin Pecan Muffins

Yes, they are as good as they sound.

And as they look.  Drool-worthy, really.

Pumpkin Pecan Muffins

Recipe inspired by SkinnyTaste, makes 12 muffins

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 3/4 cups unbleached pastry flour
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1.5 cups canned pumpkin
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 large egg whites
• 1.5 tsp vanilla extract
• Baking spray
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Line a muffin tin with paper liners and lightly spray liners with baking spray.
3. In a medium bowl, combine flours, sugar, baking soda, pumpkin spice, nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt.  Set aside.
4. In a large bowl mix pumpkin purée, oil, egg whites and vanilla.  Beat at medium speed until thick.
5. Add flour mixture to the wet mixture, then blend at low-speed until combined.  Careful not to overmix.  Fold in chopped nuts.
6. Pour batter into prepared muffin tin and bake on the center rack for 24 – 26 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
7. Let them cool at least 15 minutes before serving.
8. Drool.

Why are pumpkin flavored things just so damn YUMMY!?

(Mom, this doesn’t mean to start your Christmas shopping now and give me all pumpkin related presents again).

Definitely a fall recipe must try!

 

Oh, and I’d be lying if I said these didn’t taste even better with a lil extra somethin somethin on top.

 

 

What’s your favorite pumpkin recipe for fall?  Would love to try even more ideas!

Let’s Get Sweaty: Three 3-2-1 Circuit Workouts

Morning!

Last night in Circuit class I taught a 3-2-1 style workout.  Each 3-2-1 round included three compound strength moves, two cardio/power/plyo moves, and one core move.  Just wanted to share the moves with you for some new workout ideas!

3-2-1 Circuit:  Round 1

• 20 touchdown lunges on each leg
• 10 total pushups with rows
• 10 calf raises (feet together) w/front raises, then 10 calf raises (heels together) with overhead presses
• 30 seconds toe taps + “climb the rope”
• 10 burpees
• 20 crunches + 10 crunch pulses

3-2-1 Circuit:  Round 2

• 10 plie squats with bicep curls, plus upright rows
• 10 inchworms
• 10 glute bridge raises + overhead triceps extensions
• 30 seconds t squat thrusters
• 30 seconds quick feet
• 30 seconds oblique twists

3-2-1 Circuit:  Round 3

• 10 curtsy lunges + lateral raises on each side
• 12 straight leg dumbbell deadlifts
• 10 standing glute raises + 10 pulsing + 10 with a 2 pulse then lift and lower tempo
• 30 seconds jumping jacks
• 30 seconds jump rope
• 1 minute plank

Couple different ways you can choose to incorporate these into your workouts:

Option 1 — Choose one round to do as your workout, and go through the circuit between 3-5 times (pick per your fitness level).  Choose a different round for another workout on a another day.  Example:  Round One 4x on Monday, Round Two 4x on Wednesday, Round Three 4x on Friday.

Option 2 — Do all exercises each round once, then move on to the next round.  Example:  Round 1, Round 2, Round 3.  As you advance, you could then repeat through again.  Example:  Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, Round 1, Round 2, Round 3.

Option 3 — Do all exercises in each round once, then repeat the entire round again before moving to the next.  Example:  Round 1, Round 1, Round 2, Round 2, Round 3, Round 3.  This is the style I taught last night.

Option 4 — Pick and choose!   Combine in any way you wish.  Example:  Round One 2x, Cardio Machine, Round Two 1x.  Get creative!

As usual if you have any questions about the exercises, let me know.  And if you try any of these, let me know how you like them!!

Anyone have any other really good 3-2-1 style circuits they’d like to share?