Conor McGregor Muffins

(Scroll to the bottom for printable recipe)
The other day I just happened to come home from work earlier than usual.

I’ve been trying to readjust my work schedule to work more reasonable hours, or at least to get home at a reasonable time to go for a run in the early evening in order to prepare for the upcoming marathon.

I used to be a fairly consistent runner, but I also used to sacrifice sleep, a lot. Several experts, and publications, have reminded me just how important is sleep in regards to performance and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.

You’d think that as an athlete, I’d be most motivated by performance, but actually, I’m more motivated by prevention of Alzheimer’s dementia.

Having worked with many elderly dementia patients throughout my career, if it can be avoided, I’m going to try my very best.

But I digress, as usual.

When I arrived home on Saturday, the valets in my building said to me,
“Did you see all those big guys and the black SUV’s when you pulled in?”

“Yes,” I replied.

“They’re here for Conor McGregor,” added the valets.

With that, I went up the parking garage ramp and sat out front of my building to take pics of where he was staying. I did not expect to meet him.

But as I walked back towards the garage entrance, I spotted Conor out of the corner of my eye. He was walking out of his residence.

I asked in a coy, shy voice, “Can I get a picture?”

At first, one of his big bodyguards kind of shushed me back, but then Conor looked over and said, “Sure Love.”

I was so taken aback I barely remembered to ASK someone to take the picture. Every time I ask Arnold Schwarzenegger for a picture, I take a selfie, even though I could easily ASK someone to take the picture. So I always feel like I look like a dork.

I don’t love selfies.

This time I asked someone to take the picture, but I still wasn’t fully prepared.

I held my Erewhon box at my side. I stood awkwardly as Conor put his arm around me. I didn’t give him my Kitchen Vixen card, I didn’t even tell him my name, and WORST OF ALL, I did not make a bicep with my free arm!!!

But, anyway, I decided it would be nice to make some high protein muffins for him, in case I ran into him again.

Sadly, I’ve been working everyday. Not sadly though, I am able to pay my bills.

Because I’ve been working so much, I knew I would not have the luxury to hang out and wait to run into him again. So I created this high protein muffin recipe the next day. In fact, I woke up at 2AM and could not fall back to sleep.

Since I was done sleeping, I decided to whip up these muffins before running to the gym and before heading to work. I shot the video in the morning, drove to San Bernardino to work, and edited and posted the video before falling into bed that same day.

I love muffins. I love high protein muffins even more. I love sharing my recipes and creations with others. I love working out. So my muffins served their God given purpose, to refuel after exercise, and to be SHARED!

I’m not sure if Conor ever got my muffins.

I left them with a guy I spotted who was wearing all black and fit the description of a bodyguard. I believe he was from the night shift.

He asked if my muffins were vegan.

I told him, “No, but they’re gluten-free and made with all organic ingredients.”

I asked if he was vegan.
He said, “No, but my daughter is.”

I informed him that she needs to be aware of her Iron, B12 and Zinc, as these are more difficult to obtain in a vegan diet.
Roberto replied, “She takes supplements.”

“Good!” I added.

“Can you give these muffins to Conor if you see him. Of course you can have one too.”

The bodyguard said, “I don’t know if I’ll see him, but the next shift guys might like them.”

I said, “That’s fine. You guys enjoy them.”

And with that, I went back into my garage and drove off to San Bernardino.

Like everyone that day, I was saddened by the news of Kobe Bryant’s departure.

When I returned home that evening, I once again timed it just right. After I pulled into my parking garage, I went outside just in time to see Conor coming out of his residence. He smiled and waved at me as he was walking towards the passenger side of his SUV.

I started to approach him to ask for a biceps shot, but his big bodyguard said, “No, no, no!”

I felt like a dork for asking. I’m not a stalker. But it was certainly fun meeting him, and for him to wave at me.

Maybe I’ll have another opportunity to make some muffins for him and his family.

As it turned out, I was outside a lot yesterday. My cleaning lady was in my apartment all day. I didn’t want to be in her way. So after I worked out, went to yoga, got my nails done, and ate lunch at Urth cafe, I had to stay outside for just a few more hours.

In that time, Conor came out on his bike. Then he came back for a bit and went back out for a ride. On his second ride, he saw me standing there and turned back to look at me, smiled, and waved, and said, “Hi hon.” I guess he knows me now.

When I told my mom I’d met him she said, “Is he your new BFF?” My mom thinks everyone I meet is my BFF, like every time I tell her I saw Arnold. My mom asks, “Is he single?” It cracks me up. She loves Conor, and Arnold.

Conor came back outside after his second bike ride and brought his little boy. I keep “Kitchen Vixen” stickers in my phone case to give to kids, or friends, or whomever likes my brand, or stickers.

As Conor walked right in front of me to go onto the beach, I asked his son if he wanted some stickers. He said, In the cutest little Irish accent, “No, Thank You.”

I said, “Oh. OK. My feelings aren’t hurt too much.”

Conor said, “We’ll take them.”

So, that was sweet, and cool.

Now, back to reality…

Conor McGregor is, without a doubt, one THE NICEST celebrities I’ve ever met, and I’ve met pretty many.

The Rock is super nice too. I used to train with his dad, Rocky JOHNSON, and his wrestling uncles, The Wild Samoans.

I met The Rock at the gym were I worked and trained from 1987-1989 (Living Well Fitness Center).

He was about 17 at the time. He seemed shy. He was standing against the wall and his dad pointed to him and said, “That’s my son over there, Dwayne.” I think Dwayne nodded at me, I’m pretty sure he flashed his iconic smile as well.

In 2006, after moving to Santa Monica from Las Vegas, I saw The Rock at Equinox. I approached him and told him how I knew his dad and uncles, The Samoans.

A year or two later I was training at Gold’s and saw him again. I hesitantly approached him, because it seemed as if everyone was interrupting his workout.

I said, “Hi, I don’t know if you remember me…”

He said, “You’re Elizabeth from Living Well .”

He added, “I told my dad I saw you. He says “Hi.””

I think one of the main reasons I never give up on my dream, which began when I was 19 years old (1988), is because I meet soooo many people along the way who are encouraging and give me HOPE!!!

Conor McGregor, and The Rock, are two of those truly great people!! ❤️

And everyday I do something to work towards my dream, such as sharing recipes, nutrition advice, my story, my workouts, and encouraging, and being nice to others.

Maybe someday someone will tell their story of how they met
“The Kitchen Vixen!”

McGregor Muffins

Dry ingredients:
Gluten-Free flour mixture
1 cup oat flour
1 cup coconut 🥥 flour
1/2 cup corn 🌽 starch
1/4 cup tapioca starch (flour)
1 teaspoon xanthan gum
OR
2 3/4 cups any flour of your choice
PLUS
1 1/2 cups protein powder, I used chocolate whey
1/2 cup turbinado or organic brown sugar
1/4 cup ground flax, chia, or hemp seeds
2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon sea salt 🧂

Wet ingredients:
4 eggs, preferably from pasture raised hens, whisked
1 cup Greek yogurt
1 cup soy milk

3 cups frozen, or fresh, blueberries

Preheat oven to 350F/ 177C
Mix dry ingredients in one bowl
Mix wet ingredients in another bowl.
Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients.
Combine with a fork.
Add more liquid as needed (milk or water) until all ingredients are equally moistened.
Add blueberries.
Oil your muffin tins.
Disperse batter amongst 24 muffin tins.
I used 1/3 cup measuring cup which yields about 20 muffins.
Use 1/4 cup measuring cup to yield ~24 muffins.

NUTRITION:
Serving size: 2 muffins
…
264 cals • 19g PRO • 37g Carbs •
3g fiber • 4g Fat • 6% Vit A •
60% Thiamine • 54% Riboflavin •
27% Niacin • 44% B6 • 19% B12 • 8% Vit C • 5% Vit E • 10% Folate • 12% Pantothenic Acid • 10% Calcium • 3% Copper • 7% Iron • 5% Magnesium • 11% Manganese • 7% Phosphorus • 5% Potassium • 11% Selenium • 3% Zinc
Omega-3 fats: 400 mg
Omega-6 : Omega-3 fats = 1 : 1
Ideal is < or = 4:1
COST $1.30