{"id":32,"date":"2013-11-19T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2013-11-19T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/?p=32"},"modified":"2017-02-12T20:06:57","modified_gmt":"2017-02-12T20:06:57","slug":"grain-free-feta-thyme-muffins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/11\/grain-free-feta-thyme-muffins\/","title":{"rendered":"Grain Free Feta Thyme Muffins"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"\"Good news from the marathon training front: firstly, my groin and hamstring niggles are gone. Secondly, the weather in Dubai has finally cooled down so much that running outside is pure pleasure. Thirdly, because of 1 and 2, I feel highly motivated to train for the Dubai marathon on 24 January and tackle that 3:10:00 finish time that I didn’t manage in Berlin in September.<\/div>\n

Now in a bit more detail: my groin injury is still niggling a bit, but it does not affect my running and it is really minor. It recovers within 24 hours after a run. My hamstrings get less and less tight during and after runs. I am not sure why this is. A funny thing happened though: A week ago, I went to a TRX class in the gym that was very heavy on the quads. I regretted doing it when I realized how tired my legs would be later in the day, as I had a marathon-specific interval training scheduled for the evening. The heavy quad session though balanced out the tight hamstring, e.g. when your hamstrings are sore, make the quads even sorer, and the hamstrings will be fine. I managed my intervals that evening absolutely fine, and haven’t had serious hamstring problems since. Go figure.<\/p>\n

It’s the third week of the marathon training. I was able to ramp up my weekly mileage 43k in week 1 to 64k in week 2. For this week 76k are planned and I am right on track.<\/p>\n

I do double sessions almost every weekday: my regular training runs plus core strengthening workout in the gym, which is either Pilates, TRX, circuit training or just some light weight lifting.
\nI can feel that my core strength is improving. My back, glutes and abs are often in that slight pain when you have used muscles in a different way or on a new level. Especially the abs leave me with some sort of pain that is very similar to hunger feeling.<\/p>\n

I have had a good appetite in recent weeks. Good enough to be noticed on the scales. Nothing to worry about, as the marathon training and recovery need to be fueled properly. Harder weeks with more mileage or races are still to come. A little fluctuation of my weight during marathon training is normal.<\/p>\n

The slight weight gain may even be caused by more lean muscle mass due to my strengthening program. After 2 months of strength training I do see more toning in the muscles of my arms, shoulders and abs. My overall weight is rather on the light side. Because I don’t have much body fat on me, the improvements may be visible sooner. I have no clue as to how much this new muscle mass could add up. Do I care? Not so much. I am feeling great. I enjoy my running. I enjoy complementing it by core training and a good diet.<\/p>\n

More savory dishes are being produced in my kitchen these days. I guess it’s due to the increased loss of minerals through sweating while on my runs that my body needs to replace.
\nThese muffins are the result of some fresh thyme that needed to be used up, an appetite for something savory and bread-like that’s grain-free at the same time. I ate them all by myself.\u00a0 I was entitled to because I am the only one marathon training in this house. You understand this logic, don’t you?
\n———————————————————— <\/b>
\nGRAIN FREE FETA THYME MUFFINS<\/b><\/p>\n

Print Recipe<\/a><\/p>\n

2 cups almond meal
\n2 teaspoon baking powder
\n1\/2 teaspoon sea salt<\/p>\n

4 large eggs
\n1\/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
\n4 tablespoons olive oil<\/p>\n

2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves<\/p>\n

Yields 8
\n————————————————————
\nPreheat oven to 180C\/350F. Grease or line muffin tin.<\/p>\n

In a bowl, combine almond meal, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
\nIn another bowl, lightly beat the eggs. Whisk in olive oil and feta cheese. Combine wet and dry ingredients. Gently fold in the thyme leaves.<\/p>\n

Fill batter into prepared muffin molds. Bake for about 20 minutes until muffin tops are golden brown.
\nBest eaten warm.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Good news from the marathon training front: firstly, my groin and hamstring niggles are gone. Secondly, the weather in Dubai has finally cooled down so much that running outside is pure pleasure. Thirdly,Read More<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":583,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4,2,15,20,8],"tags":[],"class_list":["entry","author-Anja","post-32","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-gluten-free","category-grain-free","category-muffins","category-snack","category-vegetarian"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8TjFz-w","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":39,"url":"https:\/\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/09\/coconut-cashew-cookies\/","url_meta":{"origin":32,"position":0},"title":"Coconut Cashew Cookies","author":"Anja","date":"September 4, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"The higher you climb the harder you fall. It's been sometime since my last post. Not only was I on holidays and traveling abroad, as this has never kept me from posting here, but I was deeply demotivated to cook, photograph and write. The reason? My marathon training came to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "cookies"","block_context":{"text":"cookies","link":"https:\/\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/category\/cookies\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/CashewCoconutCookies3-s.jpg?fit=680%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/CashewCoconutCookies3-s.jpg?fit=680%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/CashewCoconutCookies3-s.jpg?fit=680%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":90,"url":"https:\/\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/10\/vanilla-pumpkin-almond-bread\/","url_meta":{"origin":32,"position":1},"title":"Vanilla Pumpkin Almond Bread","author":"Anja","date":"October 28, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Halloween is around the corner. I will have to go Trick or Treating with my kids again. My son wants to dress up as a devil. My daughter doesn't like scary creatures and therefore wants to be a fairy. Both my kids want me to dress up as witch again.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "dairy-free"","block_context":{"text":"dairy-free","link":"https:\/\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/category\/dairy-free\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/VanillaPumpkinBread.jpg?fit=632%2C973&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/VanillaPumpkinBread.jpg?fit=632%2C973&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/VanillaPumpkinBread.jpg?fit=632%2C973&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":30,"url":"https:\/\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/12\/grain-free-sweet-potato-brownies\/","url_meta":{"origin":32,"position":2},"title":"Grain Free Sweet Potato Brownies","author":"Anja","date":"December 20, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"The year is coming to a close. Everybody seems to be wrapped up in the Christmas frenzy. Although I have been living in Dubai for 10 years, and have spent 9 Christmasses (is that the right plural form?) in warm weather, I still find it hard getting into the festive\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "dairy-free"","block_context":{"text":"dairy-free","link":"https:\/\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/category\/dairy-free\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/SweetPotatoBrownies3-s.jpg?fit=667%2C1021&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/SweetPotatoBrownies3-s.jpg?fit=667%2C1021&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/SweetPotatoBrownies3-s.jpg?fit=667%2C1021&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":122,"url":"https:\/\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/05\/grain-free-chocolate-banana-muffins\/","url_meta":{"origin":32,"position":3},"title":"Grain Free Chocolate Banana Muffins","author":"Anja","date":"May 27, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Muffins have moved up on our priority list in the last few weeks. Summer is arriving in Dubai. The heat and humidity have an impact on our appetites. Meals are getting lighter and fresher. And probably even smaller. There is exceptions, of course. When I come home from a long\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "dairy-free"","block_context":{"text":"dairy-free","link":"https:\/\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/category\/dairy-free\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/GFChocoBananaMuffins.jpg?fit=725%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/GFChocoBananaMuffins.jpg?fit=725%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/GFChocoBananaMuffins.jpg?fit=725%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/GFChocoBananaMuffins.jpg?fit=725%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":174,"url":"https:\/\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/11\/chestnut-honey-muffins\/","url_meta":{"origin":32,"position":4},"title":"Chestnut Honey Muffins","author":"Anja","date":"November 3, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Dessert recipes are usually the most popular on my site. So has anyone noticed that I haven't posted any cake or muffin recipes lately? Blame my husband, he is still addicted to the Apple Lemon Honey Cake, the only cake that I have been baking since I posted the recipe\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "gluten-free"","block_context":{"text":"gluten-free","link":"https:\/\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/category\/gluten-free\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/ChestnutHoneyMuffins5b.jpg?fit=1024%2C680&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/ChestnutHoneyMuffins5b.jpg?fit=1024%2C680&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/ChestnutHoneyMuffins5b.jpg?fit=1024%2C680&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/ChestnutHoneyMuffins5b.jpg?fit=1024%2C680&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":47,"url":"https:\/\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/06\/chocolate-avocado-cake-with-chocolate-ganache-drizzle\/","url_meta":{"origin":32,"position":5},"title":"Chocolate Avocado Cake with Chocolate Ganache Drizzle","author":"Anja","date":"June 28, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Did I tell you that I am running the Berlin marathon in September this year? Well, training starts next week. And I can't wait. The marathon is on 29 September. And apart from running it, I will be away from my family, on my own, for four full days, for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "dessert"","block_context":{"text":"dessert","link":"https:\/\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/category\/dessert\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/ChocolateAvocadoCakes4-s.jpg?fit=606%2C965&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/ChocolateAvocadoCakes4-s.jpg?fit=606%2C965&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/ChocolateAvocadoCakes4-s.jpg?fit=606%2C965&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/FetaThymeMuffins5-s.jpg?fit=680%2C1024&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2393,"href":"https:\/\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32\/revisions\/2393"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/583"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anjaschwerin.com\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}