Being the big pancake lover that I am, I obviously couldn't let National Pancake Day pass me by without whipping up a new flapjack recipe! Before talking about my yummy creation, I want to share a picture of the newest addition to my family -- a baby boy name Daniel Richard! I became an aunt for the third time this morning when my younger brother Danny and his girlfriend welcomed him into the world. How precious of a little face right? Being across the country from my loved ones is hard when things happen with my family. I would love to hold him while he's so tiny, but I'll have to wait a few months for my next trip to the East coast to meet him. Moving onto other happy things, pancakes... When I picked up some buckwheat flour at my local health food store yesterday, I immediately had ... [Read More]
healthy recipes
Mediterranean Pasta with Lemon Ricotta [Gluten Free]
Happy March! Doesn't it feel like February just flew by? Since I began trying out a gluten free diet (a discussion on my experience with going gluten free to come soon!), I've tried a bunch of different GF pastas. I know that some people feel ehh about pasta and can take it or leave it, but I am not one of those people. Two of the GF pasta brands that I've liked thus far are Tinkyada and TruRoots. I don't care for that overly corn-y taste to some of the gluten free pastas, and these two brands are on-point with offering a similar tasting pasta alternative to the real, gluten-filled kind. My carb-loving self enjoys whipping up healthy, yummy pasta dishes, and I didn't want to be completely missing my pasta fill just because I'm experimenting with a gluten free diet. For this dinner, ... [Read More]
Sweet Potato, Kale & Pasta Soup {vegan}
This fall and winter more than any others in the past, I've been a soup eating machine. When eating out, I keep going for the soup on the menu. At home, there have been countless lentil, tomato & spinach soup dinners, and then there have been some soup experimentations, like zucchini puree and tonight's recipe: sweet potato, kale and pasta soup. This soup has so much goodness in it - including antioxidants, iron, fiber, Vitamin K, B6, A, C and D, calcium, magnesium, potassium... and the list goes on. Let's just say that it's nutritious! This recipe came about because I had a bag of tuscan kale about to be past its prime in my fridge. I decided that it would pair well with sweet potato and pasta in a soup. Celery, onion and basil came into the picture because they're soup staples to ... [Read More]
Breakfast for Dinner & Oatmeal Almond Protein Pancakes
Hi there! I'm a day late in posting this, but in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day being yesterday, here are a couple of my favorite of his quotes: Ever have days that you feel like are just off? Today was definitely one of those days. I was having an issue with my Mac where 2 of the keys weren't working right, so I had to drop my computer off at the Apple store for a repair yesterday. Because of this, I had to work on my iPad and hubby's PC today, neither of which I know how to use that well, without any of my files or previous emails on hand. It was a pain in the butt but I worked through it without getting too frustrated, and luckily my computer was ready to pick up later on today. My off work day rubbed off on me when coming up with what to make for dinner. I had just come home ... [Read More]
Zucchini Puree with Oregano Cream
Happy weekend everyone! My Saturday so far has been lovely. I put my juicer to work for breakfast, finished up this week's IIN lecture, took Harley for a long walk, and visited the Morgan Hill farmers' market and health food store. Today was the first time I'd been to my town's farmers' market in awhile, and I forgot how much I love just walking around markets picking up local food. There's a certain energy at a market filled with locally grown food and the happy farmers and workers who sell it. My market picks: All of the apples I've been getting at food stores have been browning quickly and aren't as crisp. It's amazing how much crisper and fresh the apple is that I'm eating at the moment, along with some strawberries (Strawberries in January? Sure why not!) while sitting on my ... [Read More]
Blueberry Lemon Oatmeal Flaxseed Pancakes
Hi there! Before I get to my awesome pancake recipe today, I have a few random things to share with you: 1.) This week I officially started school at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition! I'm really excited about the class and connecting with other students. I just feel like everything I've read, seen, and heard so far at IIN resonates with me so much and makes me feel so motivated. I'll definitely be sharing some concepts and ideas of the course that I find interesting throughout the year, so stay tuned! 2.) I'm in love with ordering canvas prints of neat photos I've taken. The above canvas is my latest order, which I got for $20 via a Groupon deal. The picture is from my trip to Livermore Valley last year during harvest season, and I'm pretty much in love with it. 3.) My giveaway ... [Read More]