The Pancakes That Will Change Your Life

One of the things I struggle with when trying to avoid wheat, gluten, and rice, is how to have pancakes. Being in college, I don't exactly have the time (or desire to spend my time) experimenting with homemade dough for delicacies like pancakes, cupcakes, and cakes. After all, many of the pre-made gluten free mixes have rice in them. So what is a girl to do? I was quite lost, until I found this recipe via Pinterest. (Literally, what would we do without Pinterest?!) After a couple tries, I finally found what worked for me, and what tasted good. Without further ado, here is my recipe for The Pancakes That Will Change Your Life!

Ingredients

1 large banana

1 egg

approx. 1 tablespoon ground flax seed

approx. 1 tablespoon chia seeds

blueberries

agave syrup

How To

Crack the egg into a bowl. Peel the banana, and rip off banana chuncks into the bowl. (Honestly, I just used my fingers, because I found I was able to mush the banana as I went. Plus, I thought chopping them was kind of silly!) Add the flax & chia, and mix everything together. Don't worry too much about mushing the banana all the way--I found the pancakes were easier to flip when there were some small banana chunks. Now you're ready to make pancakes by pouring small amounts at a time into a greased pan over medium heat, adding several blueberries to each pancake in the pan. 

When done, serve with more blueberries and a drizzle of agave syrup.

The Result

Yummy pancakes that are free of flours & other allergens! Just 4 simple ingredients for a great pancake base, which you can add anything you'd normally put in pancakes to. I love these so much, I will certainly be making them again & again. 

Try them, and let me know what you think!

--Caroline

Summer Salad

After the cleanse my roommates and I did (more details in this post), I have been getting more creative with my salads. Quinoa, chickpeas, eggs... there are so many fun ways to add more flavor to your salad! Today, I'm sharing a fun summery salad creation, complete with eggs & berries! On a bed of arugula, I spread blue berries and sliced strawberries. I scrambled two eggs with a little parmesan cheese, and added that on top. To finish it off, I spread a little store-bought lemon vinaigrette on top. 

The result? A yummy, fresh, & summery salad!

How do you spruce up a basic salad?

--Caroline

Healthy Cookies

There is nothing like trying to be healthy and eat real, natural food but simultaneously fighting sweet cravings. 

Enter the healthy cookie, your new BFF. (I adapted the recipe from this blogger's version.)

Ingredients

1 apple (you could probably use a pear too!)

Almond Butter

Chocolate Chips (I used gluten free, semi-sweet chips)

Coconut Flakes

How To

Slice the apple (minus the part with the core) into round cookie-like slices. 

Spread almond butter, then top with chocolate chips and coconut flakes, to your liking. 

The Result

Easy. Quick. Gluten free. No measuring involved. 

These yummy cookies are the perfect solution to that sweets craving! They would also be great healthy appetizers, and are 

kid-friendly. (I'm assuming they are, since I don't actually have kids. If I was 6 I would love these!)

Enjoy!

--Caroline

Lately I'm Loving...

1. JOGGING. I've been trying to do a power walk/jog around my apartment complex and surrounding area either in the morning to make myself get going on days I don't have class, or at night before dinner to relax and sleep after having coffee. I'm loving it, and I want to keep this up! No schedule, just when I can. (photo credit). 2. THIS QUOTE. Just perfect. (photo credit). 3. BRALETTES. This is the perfect lounging/sleeping bra! The lace band underneath gives pretty decent support, and it's so soft... I already have two! 

4. LEOPARD DRESSES. So cute! Shop it here. 5. THIS WEDDING. I would love a picture like this, especially with Kyle being a firefighter! (And no, we aren't engaged, but I know he's the one :) ). 6. PREMIER DESIGNS JEWELRY. I am just loving my company right now! I had a wonderful talk recently with my Premier Mom, and I'm setting some awesome goals for myself... I just feel like the time is finally right for me to shine! (The picture is a throwback to meeting our founder Andy Horner at National Rally in 2012!) 

7. SQUAT LIKE... This tank makes me laugh, and it's so true! lol! Found on Etsy. 8. EATING RIGHT. Not that I was eating really bad before, but I'm trying to really keep up with my clean eating cleanse that I did with my roommates. I am feeling less bloated, more "fresh" (if that makes any sort of sense), and I have more energy. Eating more fresh foods has been the key, and more fruits that I was eating before. I've also been avoiding gluten better that I have in the past, as well as rice and wheat. (photo credit).

Happy Monday!

--Caroline

Salmon Perfection & A Clean Eating Cleanse

I bought a giant bag of individually-wrapped salon filets at Whole Foods recently, determined to learn how to cook it and cook it well. Salmon is my favorite fish, and I want become a short of salmon expert! 

The other night, I tried a recipe I found via Pinterest (which you can find here, along with many other recipes), 

and decided to dive in. Pun 100% intended. 

My Adapted Recipe: 

-- Put the salmon on a foil-covered baking sheet.

-- Drizzle with olive oil (I used a knife to spread it around a little bit) and sprinkle freshly ground lemon pepper on the fillet. 

-- Place fish in a cold oven and turn on oven to 400 degrees. My fillet took about 20 minutes to cook, but the oven was also slightly warm from my roommate using it prior. Anywhere from 20-25 minutes should be a good amount of time.

-- Serve with sides of your choosing! I paired it with steamed asparagus. 

The end result was a delicious and flavorful salmon that melted in my mouth! 

It was literally some of the best salmon I've had, and I've been to Alaska... 

Keeping with the food note, my two roommates and I have decided to try this clean eating cleanse that we found on Buzzfeed, of all places! But it looks great, and as opposed to some of the juice cleanses you actually eat food. In fact, they given you full shopping lists and recipes for 2 full weeks, 3 meals & 2 snacks every day. Overall it's low carb, gluten free, and has you eliminating all processed foods. We started Sunday at breakfast, and as I right this we are about to make dinner. So far, we are happy with the recipes! Nothing too weird, and everything has been plenty filling. I will certainly keep you updated as it progresses!

--Caroline

Mahi Burger + Vegetable Quinoa

This fabulous wheat-free, gluten-feee, and rice-free meal is courtesy of Trader Joes! Since we got this grocer here in Tallahassee, I have quickly become a TJ's convert! They have amazing & healthy products, at great prices. 

To Start: Gather materials!

Then, I just followed the directions on the packages. I cooked the mahi in the oven, but there are a variety of options listed on the package. The whole process took under 20 minutes to cook. 

Taste verdict? Yummy! Way to go Trader Joes! I only used part of the quinoa mix bag, and one mahi patty, so I have enough for a couple more lunches or dinners. 

In fact, several days later I made the same thing for lunch, but this time I was really hungry and just cooked it all in the same fry pan on the stovetop. I actually liked the taste better this way, because the flavors mix together nicely when cooking.

So there you go; a quick, easy, and yummy meal for one (multiple times) or a small group! Yay for Trader Joes!

--Caroline

Salmon Burger

Happy Monday, everyone! 

Today I'd like to share with you one of my staple lunches... Salmon Burgers!

I love salmon, and this is a quick way to get some of those delish omega 3's into my diet. 

Ingredients:

Glutino Bread-- Harvest Corn (gluten, wheat, and rice free)

Trident Seafoods Alaskan Salmon Burgers

Sabra Roasted Pine Nut Hummus

Havarti Cheese from Publix

Spinach

Just put it all together into a delicious sandwich and you are good to go! (I put the cheese on the salmon just before I took it our of the oven, so it melted a bit. I also toasted the bread). I paired mine with Food Should Taste Good Sweet Potato Chips and blueberries & blackberries. What would you pair with it? Have you tried hummus on sandwiches? 

(If salmon isn't your thing, try substituting a veggie burger or regular burger!)

Quinoa & Roasted Brussels Sprouts

For those of you who are wheat-free or gluten-free, you know that quinoa is a wonder substitution. Taking inspiration from Gluten Free Goddess's version, my boyfriend and I paired this quinoa and roasted brussels sprout side dish with steak and beans 

(beans were his idea! lol men...) .

You'll Need:

1 cup Quinoa

2 cups water

Garlic salt, to taste

1 leek, washed, trimmed, sliced

1 lb. brussels sprouts, washed, trimmed, halved (or quartered, if large)

1/4 cup slivered blanched almonds

1/4 cup plump golden raisins, packed

4 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons golden balsamic vinegar 

1-2 garlic cloves, minced

How-To:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees

Cook the quinoa (plus 2 cups water) in a pot, and season with salt. Cover and bring to a boil, and cook until the quinoa has absorbed the water and can be stirred easily. 

In a bowl, combine all other ingredients and stir together. Spread evenly over a pan lined with aluminum foil (easy clean-up!) and roast for about 20 minutes, stirring at least once to get even roasting!

By now, the qunioa should be done and you can add it to the bowl, along with the roasted mix, to mix and combine easily. Add more garlic salt to taste, and you are ready to serve!

It was delicious, man tested and approved, and we had leftovers for the next night that re-heated well in the microwave. (So overall the recipe makes enough for about 4).