2-Ingredient Pancakes

One of my favorite things to have for breakfast are pancakes. There is just something about a pancake that feels absolutely right in the morning. However, since I am a mom of an infant I need simple, quick and easy. Plus I am always looking for meals to be as clean and natural as possible.

These are definitely the easiest pancakes to make and oh so tasty!!  The only two ingredients you need are a banana and an egg.

Begin by mashing up the banana in a bowl until thoroughly mashed. 

Add only the egg white to the banana. If you add the yolk it will be too runny and will be more like a crepe instead of fluffy!

Now is the fun part! You can add anything to these pancakes that you want! I was in the mood for Fall this morning so i added 1tsp Vanilla, 1/4 tsp Cinnamon and 1/2 tsp Nutmeg. Yummmmmmm! 

Put your pancakes on a griddle. Don't make them too big or they will be hard to flip over. I made mine about 3-4 inches wide. 

Flip the pancakes when you begin to notice the edges changing consistency and lightly brown on the botton.  If you flip them too early they may fall apart.  

I topped my pancakes with honey from my local farmer's market! Perfetto! 

These pancakes were even approved by my 11 month old! She was devouring them right along with me.  These will make one serving of pancakes. So if you want to make them for more people you just need to double/triple/whatever the recipe. 

Let me know how you enjoy your pancakes! I am always looking for new ways to make them yummy!

Peanut Butter, Date Granola Bar

I am always looking for new clean recipes for things that I enjoy looking for at the store.  This morning I was beginning to make these yummy raw "brownies" that I love to make and instead I decided to change it up and create a granola bar instead.  I wanted to add foods that I love together and make a healthy and clean substitute for a daily staple.  I've never made homemade granola bars before, so this was definitely a much needed venture!

Ingredients:
3/4 C Dates
1/2 C Cashews
1/4 C All natural or Organic Peanut Butter (Look for the least amount of ingredients possible)
1/4 C Honey or Agave  (I used locally collected honey)
1 Tbs Raw Organic Cacao Nibs (Optional)
1 1/2 C Organic Oats





Step 1: Put the Dates and Cashews in a food processor. I used my baby bullet for this. Process them until they form a sticky "dough". They can still have a few chunks if you want.



































Step 2: Put the Date/Cashew mixture, oats, and Cacao Nibs together in a bowl.

Step 3: Heat the Peanut Butter and Honey on the stove just until thoroughly combined.

Step 4: Add Peanut Butter/Honey to the bowl. Mix everything together until combined.

Step 5: Line an 8x8 pan with Parchment Paper and put the mixture into the pan. Press down firmly and spread evenly over the pan. This may take some convincing if it's a little sticky.

Step 6: Place in the fridge until set and no longer sticky (about 20 minutes). Once set, cut up and enjoy! I stored mine a tupperware in the fridge.  I layered them with parchment paper so that they are easy to separate later.





























Enjoy!

These are seriously better than the ones I get from the store. I definitely prefer these to what I typically buy. There is just something about knowing what they are made of and just the taste of completely fresh!

My Journey to Clean Eating

So I mentioned briefly in my last post about my decision to cut out gluten and dairy from my diet, but if you didn't read that post, I will recap it here.  At the beginning of the year, I made a decision to cut my diet significantly. This was only supposed to last a few days, but as I began getting further into it, I realized that this is an emotional issue not just a weight issue.  So I chose to stick with it.  I have previously read "Made to Crave" and I was reminded that I am craving food, not God like I am meant to do.

So I kept eating really clean.  I had basically just fruits, veggies, and nuts.  I would have some almond milk to get my calcium (and it tastes good!) and I would often add some pre-made fruit smoothies for breakfast.  I began to realize that by eating cleaner foods, I was really giving my body the things it needed! Not only do I feel so much better physically, but I have also lost over 10 pounds in just a few weeks.  I definitely did not expect that much of a change!

So why eat clean? Before I was eating clean, I was fine. I didn't notice that I was more tired than I should be or that my skin was breaking out because of my food choices.  I just thought it was a result of having a baby.  I also didn't have reactions to processed foods, because my body was so used to processed foods, that it didn't know any differently.
                                            
                                                                                    Ignorance is bliss, right?
                                                                                                               WRONG! 

Just because I didn't notice those things, didn't mean that they weren't there.  Since cleaning up my eating, I have seen such a change in my life.  I think more clearly, my skin has nearly completely cleared up, I have lost weight, I feel generally better, and I enjoy the things I eat more than I ever have! So, yes, all those processed foods are pretty tasty, but I have really learned to look at how they affect my body and have decided it's just not worth it!

What does eating clean mean? By choosing to eat clean, I am saying that I value the food the Lord has provided and therefore I am going to eat foods that are natural.  I eat fruits, vegetables, nuts, fish, and some lean meats (I choose to eat this minimally).  You can also have dairy and grains in there, but I keep those out of my personal diet. Eating clean is simply eating foods that are pesticide, preservative free and therefore giving your body the most nutrients you can give it!

Why gluten free? The biggest reason that I have chosen to take out gluten from my diet is because I am a carboholic! I absolutely love my breads and anything related to breads. So I felt it was important to simply take away the temptation.  I have added in a few gluten free carbs, however I eat those in moderation and try to be careful of how much of that I consume.  I also have felt that I get a little gassy when I have gluten (i.e. beer on new years eve).  So I have just chosen to avoid it.

Why dairy free? I think this one is even more important than the gluten.  I have read in several places that many people have a dairy intolerance to some level, but most people don't even realize it.  I have also read that taking out dairy can really help clear up your skin.  The largest reason I chose to keep it away it is because of simply how my body feels without it.  Adding dairy back in would result in me becoming really gassy, bloated, and feeling generally sluggish.  I could choose to have these on occasion if I wanted to, but I feel that it's simply easier to just not mess with it at all.

So what now? Now I begin to find new ways to eat that are incredibly tasty.  A typical day for me looks like this:
Breakfast- Green Goodness Fruit Smoothie or 2 egg whites with veggies and some almond milk
Lunch-leftovers typically or a salad or a cup of fruit smoothie
Dinner- a sweet/white potato and sauteed veggies or vegan, gluten free chili/soup
Snacks- snack bars, fruit and veggies, or a big glass of juice.

I don't count calories or feel as though my life is limited because of my diet.  In fact, I feel more free than I ever have been.  I no longer feel bloated after I have a meal or that I am missing out. Instead I know that by choosing to eat the food God has given me, I am becoming a better steward of my body and therefore enjoying my life even more!