I live in a black hole.

I go through. Each and every day. With no concept of what’s going on in the outside world.

(Case in point. Bill Clinton was here a few weeks ago. Having some work done on his heart. Security, apparently, was heightened. There were men in black suits. Everywhere. And. Well. I was totally oblivious. To think. That was happening across the street. So is it really a surprise to anyone that I have no idea what’s going on in Bolivia or Nigeria? Didn’t think so.)

Except for what I read on your blogs. Yes. You guys are my news source.

Scary, huh.

And so, really, I blame all of you for letting me find out about my newest television addiction. The show that has already proven to keep me up at night pondering the state of the world. And serves as a mighty fine distraction from learning the anatomy of the pelvis. (You would think that would be interesting. But there’s something very disturbing about going into anatomy lab at 10pm only to find that your cadaver’s genitalia have been cut. In. Half.)

Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution.

Any other show on any other topic. And I would have shrugged. Gone back to reading about the structures that pass through Alcock’s canal (pudendal nerve and internal pudendal vessels biotch). With fervor.

But a show. About nutrition. Featuring a cute chef with a British accent who is trying to save the world through food.

How could I resist.

I used to be one of those bloggers, you see. Who spewed information left and right about the virtues of kale. And quinoa.

I know a lot about quinoa.

And then we reached an impasse.

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I

Well. I chose the one with Bailey’s infused tiramisu. And cream cheese frosting.

It was a whole I’d rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints kind of deal.

But shows like Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution and the classes on nutrition that I’ve recently been forced to endure (which are reductionist and irritating. One professor the other day tried to tell me (a) that I would never change my metabolism. Even after losing 50 pounds, completely changing my lifestyle, and running a marathon. And (b) that you can’t lose weight while still eating carbs. I am living proof that both of those are lies.) make me want to get back out there and educate.

They rev. Me. Up.


So I’m going to be honest with you. Brutally honest.

Do I eat cake. And cookies. And ice cream. Yes. Yes. And yes. Times five.

Do I have to work hard to do that and not become morbidly obese. Also. Yes. Yes. And yes. Times five.

I go to the gym. Six days a week.

I eat vegetables. At every meal. (And I love it. Just as much as I love cake.)

I take the stairs.

So here’s the deal. You want to lose weight or maintain it or just be healthy in general? Awesome. I think you are awesome.

Do you need to cut out any major food group in order to do so? Or give up dessert for the rest of your life? Absolutely not.

Everything in moderation.

Especially when there are things like Healthy Bread In Five Minutes a Day out there. To really set you on the right track.

This week’s recipes were the Carrot Cake Muffins and the Olive Spelt Bread. Let’s start with the muffins. These were muffins in the sense that they looked like muffins. But they tasted like cinnamon raisin bread. Which is good. Really good. If you’re expecting cinnamon raisin bread. And not so good if you are expecting dessert. So that is my disclaimer. On. That. I ate them covered in peanut butter (no surprise there).

Then there was the olive spelt bread. Which. I. Loved. (You can find the non-whole wheat version here and just basically sub spelt and/or whole wheat and/or white whole wheat flour for the AP flour.) I halved the recipe and am pretty sure I added in an extra cup of flour. Because I can’t divide. By two. But I loved the resulting consistency, which was kind of like sandwich bread. Another secret to this bread – it replaces some of the water with Greek yogurt. Which made it incredibly moist.

I used kalamata olives in the bread instead green olives. And made sandwiches out of it. With mashed sweet potatoes and blue cheese. Strange. But good. Really good. (See what I mean about learning to crave vegetables?)

Check out the HBinFive round-up over at Big Black Dog on April 1st to see what everyone else did with their doughs!
Just a reminder. Giveaway. Here.

Regional Recipes: Ireland. You have until tomorrow at midnight. This is your final warning.

These breads have been yeastspotted.

You are reading this post on Eats Well With Others at https://joanne-eatswellwithothers.com. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author and or owner of Eats Well With Others. All rights reserved by Joanne Bruno.
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83 Responses to Carrot Cake Muffins and Sweet Potato and Blue Cheese on Olive Spelt Bread Sandwich

  1. Debbi Smith says:

    Didn’t it feel good to be able to prove that professor wrong? Even just to KNOW it inside that you are right?!

    I pretty much keep up with the news via the blogs and internet too. I don’t have time for the news and there aren’t too many profound conversations with the daycare children.

    The carrot cake muffins especially look awesome. I’ll so have to try those! Thanks!

  2. Wooow!!! Joanne,,you are rocking dear,,,i like carrot cakes but here in another form of muffins,,,great to hear lost your weight and you are honest to you.i like kalamatta olives, sounds great with blue cheese…keep rocking yuh,,,take care

  3. Karine says:

    During my undergrads, I went to see a nutritionist to improve my relationship with food (at that time, it was very bad). The only problem is that it made it worse. She was so focused on me getting to eat the required quantities indicated in some Canadian Health Guide. No need to tell you, I stopped seeing her after a few appointments. I do think it is much better to eat what you feel like eating in moderation.

    That’s the second time I see a carrot cake recipe this recipe (after Faith’s) and that makes me want to make one 🙂

  4. Luigi says:

    I got so engrossed with what you were saying I almost read the next couple of posts too, before realzing they were different recipes. lol.

    Loving the sound of Sweet Potato and Blue Cheese on Olive Spelt Bread!

  5. Those carrot muffins look delicious!

  6. Jessie says:

    “Everything in moderation” – yes yes YES! You’ve got it down: having some of everything, enjoying it all, balancing your eats and your exercise and your relaxation (that’s watching a new TV show, not going into anatomy and find your cadaver’s … well, you know).

    Your professor who made the funky comments about metabolism and carbs is rather worrisome. Please tell me he wasn’t a nutrition professor. Or that people didn’t believe him. Anyway, you’ve found what works for you, and that’s what’s important 🙂 Have a nice one!

  7. so true about everything in moderation. words to live by!
    how do you find the time to blog? to workout? to be in medical school? you are a busy smart girl i assume! of course you don’t have time to know what is going on in the world!
    now what is my excuse?

  8. lazysmurf says:

    OMG I want olive bread so bad now, that is my favorite!

  9. Kim says:

    I’ve always had a crush on Jamie Oliver and now I am completely smitten with him. I love his show Food Revolution!

    I’m glad to hear that your carrot cake muffins got the royal peanut butter treatment! Pb makes everything better.

    Everyone seems to love the spelt bread. I bet the greek yogurt has something to do with it. It really seems to make some moist baked goods. Evidently I can’t divide either. I put 5 tablespoons of butter in something that called for 5 teaspoons the other day. Pretty big difference there. Glad to hear you bread survived the extra cup of flour.

    P.S. I think there should be a rule against looking at cadaver genitalia, especially if it is cut in half – yikes!

  10. carrot muffins looks yummy,i have done a carrot cake before but your version seems very delicious too…thanks for sharing joanne

  11. elra says:

    Lovely muffin Joanne, and your sandwich with blue cheese look delicious.

  12. Pam says:

    The muffins look amazing but the sandwich is calling my name – what a killer combination of flavors.

  13. SE says:

    I hardly watch the news on tv…they are all scary and depressing…everythings negative..

    but these muffins and sandwich is what i am loving …yummy

  14. I love blue cheese….looks so very colorful!

  15. Mimi says:

    Well it’s not surprising to me that your nutrition classes suck. My last doctor let me know that I needed to lose weight and he handed me an old diet flyer that I’m sure I had seen my Mom walking around with that recommended eating certain bland foods for a total of 800 calories per day.

    I went to WeightWatchers instead and ate normal food in small amounts and lost the weight.

    Your sandwich looks really delicious.

  16. Mari says:

    AMEN! EVERYTHING IN MODERATION!!!! hey when are you cooking for me???? lol

  17. Mary says:

    You’ve sold me on the muffins 🙂 They look awesome. Have a great day. Blessings…Mary

  18. sra says:

    Please send me some weight loss vibes!

  19. RV says:

    This is my first visit to your blog. You seem to inspire me Joanne. I have a target of losing at least 30 pounds before the end of this summer. Hope I could do that. btw, loved the sandwich and muffin.

  20. Andreas says:

    The muffins look great.
    I think you might be on to something with the sweet potato/blue cheese combination.

    I (think I) can divide by two. But mostly there is just one ingredient on which I forget to apply my superpowers. 😉

  21. Bridgett says:

    Your posts are always so fun to read. I’m totally loving the muffins!

  22. msmeanie says:

    Great post. Totally agree. I am a runner too and carbs make up about 70% of my diet. I love them, can’t have a meal without them. The muffins look delish too!

  23. ruchikacooks says:

    I made cupcakes too(muffins- coconut ones). I am so scared to come here without posting a Irish recipe that I am thinking of hiding from you, possibly run away to ireland 🙂 Forgive me this time if I dont post one.

    I dont cook meat Jo, still looking…

  24. I’ve not heard of this show, Joanne, but it sounds like something I’d love. 🙂 I really like your balanced approach to life, a full, rich, happy life. Great post. 🙂

  25. Chris says:

    Only six days a week? Wimp! (ha ha, kidding)

    One of my co-workers saw me eating my peas with pasta for lunch today and asked how I manage to stay so skinny. I told her instead of “work hard, play hard”, my motto was “work hard, eat whatever the *$%( I want”.

    I disciplined with my exercise so I don’t have to be with my diet. I know there are some fallacies in that, but it gets me through!

  26. Shannon says:

    definitely room on my plate for kale AND carrot cake 😉 you’re awesome joanne!!

  27. Karen says:

    If it has blue cheese on it, I’m in 😉

  28. Faith says:

    That olive bread looks amazing! I’m also a firm believer in everything in moderation…I could never give up things like olive bread or carrot cake. 😉

  29. teresa says:

    i can’t wait to make that bread, yours looks awesome, especially with that blue cheese! the carrot cake is awesome too, i love it!

  30. well said you will be such a good MD with a good sense of nutrition and balance proud of you

    Rebecca

  31. i love carrot cake flavors! i remmeber eating TONS of it from HOMETOWN BUFFET! LOL! =D

    hhehe. anyways, i know, mother nature LOVEs torturing us. epic horrible.
    i have no peanut butter. MUST REMEDY SAID SITUATION

    if you like the drawings i do..look closely.

  32. Joanne
    I think some of the med professors are pompous ….hmm know-it-all types!
    To get back to the topic at hand, sounds like you think that Oliver dude is cute, well, good for you he is a young brit, so it is a change from the New York fellows you have to contend with; maybe I will watch him for a few minutes some day just to satisfy my curiosity.
    Now your sandwich and muffin, now we’re talking girl! Yum!

  33. theUngourmet says:

    I haven’t seen Jamie’s show…yet. I agree with you about the ‘everything in moderation’. Fabulous muffins! 🙂

  34. Lynn says:

    Love your posts, Joanne, and your thoughts about enjoying your food yet not overdoing it. I’m finding I need to cut back on the baking as I get older and my metabolism seems to be slowing. But cut out sweets and breads completely? Never!

  35. Cristie says:

    Oh, isn’t that the truth about not expecting dessert with the carrot bread. I really liked it and so did one of my kids. I came home and found a loaf completely gone- taken. Love your olive bread.

  36. Kathleen says:

    Girlfriend I am so workin on not becoming obese! I’m also workin on moderation.

  37. sweetlife says:

    I eat cake too…!! I watched Jamie’s new show was upset when the kiddos did not know the name of the veggies…great bread–yummy for my tummy

    sweetlife

  38. Katerina says:

    Carrots are divine. The combination of kalamata olives and yogurt in a bread is definitely lethal.

  39. Debinhawaii says:

    Food Revolution is turning into a great show. Love both the muffins and the bread–great ingredients and flavors! 😉

  40. Where should I begin? This makes my stomach growl. Looks so good, both the muffin and bread!

  41. s says:

    these are wonderful…moderation..yup will keep that in mind.

  42. Nicole, RD says:

    Hallelujah! You preach it, girl! I hate all the bad heat carbs gets – they’re the most important macronutrient in the diet. And if people would just…get up and walk, they’d see those carbs are not what are keeping them from their weight loss goals 🙂

    kalamata olives in the bread instead green olives..brilliant. Kalamata are way better!

    P.S. Gym 6 days a week + med school? You’re a super star!

  43. Moderation x forever – that is absolutely the key and exercise. Sadly many of us are stuck in front of a computer monitor so often and that makes both even more important. Great words, Joanne!

    I love the idea of making muffins out of the carrot bread and your sammie looks great on that olive bread. The Kalamatas did it for me too.

  44. In half? I think I’d turn and run. Screaming. And then comfort myself with olive bread and carrot muffins. Totally delicious! And what a unique sammie.

  45. Mamatkamal says:

    I love carrots, anywhere in muffins, cakes, salads … Those muffins look great!
    Foor revolution is a great show,
    Cheers

  46. I’ll have the sandwich with blue cheese for lunch followed by the yummy carrot cake muffins, please!!

  47. katy says:

    man, everybody is watching that show! i have to check it out. that bread looks amazing, and i love it with blue cheese! (although, i love anything with blue cheese, so don’t listen to me…)

  48. Gulmohar says:

    I love carrots in cakes, cupcakes and muffins…These muffins look terrific Joanne..
    I’m on the other end when it comes to weight..uderweight throughout my life and my hubby is so jealous whenever he listens my doc saying, take more calories..lol..

  49. Pam says:

    I really like Jamie Oliver…such a cool guy!

    Could you pass me a sammie and a muffin for later, please!..he he!…..looks delish!

    xoxo

  50. Mmm… good stuff. I’m loving the look of that sandwich, and I adore the idea of those muffins covered in peanut butter.
    I am the same as you. I spend loads of time in the gym just so i can eat. It sucks being a girl sometimes.
    *kisses* HH

  51. Angie says:

    Love that muffin photo, looks like I could just grab it!

  52. doggybloggy says:

    this sandwich gave me hypoxia – what great flavors!

  53. Barbara says:

    Ah yes. Dieting. Nutrition. Carrot cake. My favorite subjects.
    I gym it 6 days a week too. But it’s still a battle. (Gets harder as you get older.) And why didn’t you tell professor he is wrong…as long as you eat good carbs, all is well.
    Oh well, perhaps he meant your metabolism will slow when you’re older. It does. Mine is practically nil.
    Anyway. I’m making that sammie and having a carrot cake muffin for dessert.

    As soon as I’m off this diet.

  54. Rettabug says:

    Every visit to your blog leaves me smiling…and HUNGRY!! At first I thought you had created this really weird meal out of CarrotCakeMuffinsand SweetPotatoandBlueCheeseonOliveSpeltBread..as in ONE type of bread!! LOL They sound really good served separately, though. 🙂

    I have many Weight Watcher friends who lost >100# & have kept it off for years doing just what you’re doing. Staying active, everything in moderation & lovin’ those veggies! Keep it up, Kiddo!

  55. Meena says:

    Joanne, you are singing my tune:))

    Loved to read about your beliefs in moderation when it comes to food…that is my motto…I lost 12 lbs of my post-pregnancy weight just recently, not by cutting out desserts or carbs…just thru more work-outs…while still enjoying all the food groups and the occasional desserts…cant live without chocolate!!!

  56. Cynthia says:

    People are always trying to force their own ideas about food onto others – stupid and ignorant but what can we do? Kudos to you on maintaining your weight loss! I lost 30 pounds 6 years ago and I’ve kept it off AND I eat dessert – copious amounts actually. So clearly nutrition 0, foodies 2! These muffins look & sound delicious! I love carrot muffins! The bread sounds amazing! I love breads with a ton of goodies mixed in. I’ve really gotta learn to overcome my fear of making bread after seeing all your delicious homemade breads!

  57. I know jus what u mean coz me to have had yo’yo’ng issues …balance is the key ….=binge on cookies one day and then on fruits and veggies for the next 3 days :-))))
    Amazingly super s’whches and Muffins u have here…..and am absolutely hungry now….and have jus had dinner(ok a bit back:-))) ]

  58. Ben says:

    A professor told you that? Really? Well, we’ve proven him wrong! I’ve lost about 15 pounds this year and still eat a lot of carbs from whole-wheat bread and pastas that I love. Jamie Oliver rocks, though. His philosophy is so simple that how can’t anybody be moved to change?

  59. Julie says:

    ugh i just wrote you an entire comment and it wouldn’t let me publish it. now i’m angry.

    i can’t retype it. i’m sorry.

  60. Debbie says:

    Love those muffins and I fully agree with your thinking of everything in moderation…without a doubt!

  61. Jen says:

    you are totally killing it with these very unique and interesting recipes!! yummy muffins! and yes, everything in moderation! :0) hope school and life is great!

  62. Little Inbox says:

    Everything in moderation is the best practice. The carrot cake muffin looks good.

  63. Kerstin says:

    I’m so with you on this – everything in moderation so you don’t feel deprived! And it helps if you know how to cook veggies properly so they are delicious 🙂 I haven’t seen Jamie’s show yet, but I’d like to check it out.

    Love the carrot muffins -YUM!

  64. I think we might go to the same school, not sure, but weird? I am terrified of making my own bread because I always screw up the yeast part. It’s my little psychological cooking issue, I guess. For now, I’m content with farmer’s market bread. But one day I will get over my fear, just for you. One day.

  65. Michelle says:

    The sweet potato and blue cheese sandwich on the Olive Bread sounds really good to me!

    Love the idea of the peanut butter on the Carrot Muffin…LOL!

    I take the stairs too!

  66. Raelyn says:

    I love Jamie too but that show makes me cringe to think that we are doing that to our kids. I’ve started quizzing my 4 year old on all the veggie names. Great job on the bread too and I agree about the moderation thing.

  67. Bonnie says:

    I love the carrot cupcakes. And I also liked that the spelt bread was so moist. I also wished that I used Kalamata olives instead of green. My bread was a bit bland.

  68. grace says:

    ‘everything in moderation’ is my credo. incidentally, i also live in a black hole, in a cave, under a rock–somewhere completely devoid of any awareness of what’s going on in the world. i think i like it that way. if it were devoid of carrot cake anything, though, i’d be miserable. 🙂

  69. Aparna says:

    Everything in moderation is right but sooooooo difficult sometimes. 🙁
    Your carrot cake muffins are good. Yet to make mine.

  70. Petra says:

    Love your post and Jamie Oliver. I think I have soemthing else to look forward to when we return to the states. Can’t get his show here.

  71. Zoe says:

    omgosh, that sandwich looks to die for!

  72. Great post! I loved the spelt bread for sandwich bread as well. I like your carrot muffin idea.

  73. gaga says:

    Oooh, what great flavors. I love carrot cake, sweet potatoes AND blue cheese.

  74. Daphne says:

    What a great post! I made my carrot bread into muffins, also. They were yummy! As for Food Revolution, I was so disturbed after that show. I couldn’t believe that the kids didn’t know what a potato was AND had never eaten with a fork at school. WHAT! are we doing to our kids? AND the disgusting patties that they were going to eat….could go on and on!

  75. Elwood says:

    What a great looking sandwich and good looking muffins. I love Jamie’s show too.

  76. Teresa Bjork says:

    I love your blog posts! It’s the most entertaining blog about bread I’ve ever read. I haven’t seen Jamie’s show, but I’ll Tivo it tonight. I’m a nutrition nut, too.

  77. Richard says:

    Love this sandwich and muffins, can’t wait to try!

  78. Shirley says:

    Thats a lot of great ingredients packed in one recipe!

  79. As you might recall from some of my posts, I totally agree about eating everything (well edible and not carcinogenic of course) in moderation. I am the same in many ways except that I was lucky enough to have a fairly fast metabolism that allows me to remain not skinny but slim while eating more sweets and exercising less than I should. But I’m gonna go check out Jamie’s show now and hopefully get as healthy as I want to be by the time I “grow up” to become a dietitian hehe.

  80. Old Pop says:

    As always, a great post. Have you read Food Rules by Michael Pollan? I think you might find it interesting.

  81. I am thinking of making peanut butter cookies for Tuesday. If I do, you are invited or I will save some and send them to you online.

    Peanut butter, sweet potatoes….wait….What don’t you like?

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