Gluten Free Pancakes

Happiness is a Pancake Breakfast... or dinner for that matter...

Ingredients

1 C. Arrowhead Mills Gluten Free Pancake & Biscuit Mix (or really any GF flour mix)

1 Egg, beaten, or Egg Substitute 

(For baking I always use 1/4 C. Applesauce + 1 tsp. Baking Powder for every egg as a sub)

1 Tbsp. Vegetable Oil

1 Tbsp. Honey

1/2 C. Milk of Choice (I use Cashew or Coconut)

Toppings or fillings of choice (chocolate chips, blueberries, maple syrup etc.)

Preheat a non-stick pan on medium heat. Combine all ingredients into a bowl being careful to mix until just combined, do not over mix. Let sit for 5-10 mins to create a thicker consistency. If you want the batter thicker, add less milk, if you want it thinner, add more milk. 

I use pour 1/4 cupfuls of batter onto the pan, add fruit or choco chips, and cook until bubbles appear on the surface. Flip with a spatula, and cook until browned on the other side. Serve with toppings! 

*makes about 6 pancakes

Extra Crispy Oven Baked Fries

For my fellow suckers for salty snacks

Ingredients

Idaho Potatoes

Olive Oil

Seasoning of Choice (below is one that was recommended on the website and I used)

Ketchup

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Wash and slice potatoes lengthwise into 1/4 inch fries. Soak in water for at least 30 mins and up to 24 hours. Soaking them helps get the starch out and the less starch = more crispiness. Take out of water and pat dry. I like to put the fries into a bowl and add enough olive oil to just coat all the fries and then sprinkled seasoning over to my liking. The bowl makes it easy to toss and coat the fries evenly. 

Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper which helps to keep the fries from sticking and makes them get crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Try to keep space between all the fries in order to help them cook better. The less fries, the better. Too many fries and they'll steam not bake. The last trick is to double bake the fries. Bake them for 30 mins at 400 then 20 mins at 425. 

I am pretty picky when it comes to the fries I eat, but these are so dangerously delicious! And they're baked so you don't have to feel as bad about eating the whole pan :P I normally use Lawry's seasoning salt on my fries, but the seasoning from the website is listed below. 

Recipe for Seasoning

2 Tbsp. Seasoned Salt

1 tsp. Dried Basil

1 tsp. Chili powder

1/8 tsp. Cumin

1/8 tsp. Black Pepper

and I added 1 tsp. Garlic Powder

*recipe adapted from layersofhappiness.com

Granola

Make Your Whole Kitchen Smell Good Granola

Ingredients 

5 C. Old-Fashioned Oats

1 C. Shredded Coconut

1/3 C. Sesame Seeds

1 C. Wheat Germ

1 C. Sunflower Seeds

3/4 C. Safflower Oil (or Coconut Oil)

3/4 C. Honey

1/4 C. Brown Sugar 

1/4 tsp. Salt

3 tsp. Vanilla

3 tsp. Cinnamon

3 C. Raw Mixed Nuts (sliced almonds, chopped walnuts, pecans etc.) 

2 C. Dried Fruit (raisins, dates, prunes, apples, cherries etc.)

Preheat oven to 350. Combine oats, coconut, sesame and sunflower seeds and wheat germ in a large heatproof bowl. 

Heat oil, honey, brown sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon in small saucepan until bubbly. Pour onto oat mixture and coat thoroughly. Add nuts. Spread over 2 cookie sheets. Bake for 20 mins, take out and stir up so it cooks evenly, return to oven and turn oven off. Let granola sit in warm oven for at least an hour. This gives the granola time to cook without burning it. Let cool and serve or store in airtight container. Enjoy!

Lettuce Tacos

Keep Calm & Eat Tacos... many tacos...

Ingredients

1 lb. Ground Turkey or Beef

Taco Seasoning

2 Tbsp. Olive Oil

Guacamole (I hope you know how to make guacamole, if this is not the case, look it up, because it is a very wonderful thing) :)

Salsa

Corn

Cheese

Radishes

Limes 

Head of Lettuce

Any other toppings you want on your awesome tacos

Heat a skillet on medium heat and add olive oil. Once heated, add ground meat and cook until no pink is showing. Take off heat and keep lid on skillet to keep meat warm. Prepare guacamole and other toppings. Take leaves off of head of lettuce, rinse and dry gently with a paper towel. Once everything is prepped you are ready to assemble! Now time to fill the lettuce shells with the works! This is pretty self explanatory and is left to your wildest imagination. Enjoy, and don't forget to take a picture of your wonderful creations before you eat :D 

Peanut Butter Chunk Oatmeal Bars

We all have that craving for PB & Chocolate...

Ingredients

1/2 C. Packed Brown Sugar

1 C. Peanut Butter

2 tsps. Vanilla Extract

1 C. Whole Wheat Flour

1 C. Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats

1 tsp. Baking Soda

1/2 C. Milk of your choice (I used almond) 

1/2 C. Dark Chocolate Chips

1/2 C. Raisins (or whatever add-ins you want)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper or spray with nonstick spray. With an electric or stand mixer, mix the brown sugar and peanut butter on medium speed until light in color and fluffy. Mix in the vanilla, scraping down the sides as needed. On medium speed, add in the flour, oats, salt, and baking soda. The dough will be very thick, but will come together. Slowly add the milk in a steady stream, mixing until dough forms. Fold in choco chips and other add ins. 

Once dough is completely combined, press into the prepared baking dish. Bake for 17-20 minutes or until bars are lightly golden and set. Allow to cool completely and cut into squares. I drizzled mine with some melted dark choco chips just for fun, but totally optional! Try not to eat the whole dish ;) Keep refrigerated in a covered container. Bars will be good stored up to two weeks. 

*adapted from sallysbakingaddiction.com

Easy French Toast

French Toast EVERYday

Ingredients

1 Egg

1 Egg White

1/4 C. Almond Milk

Cinnamon

4 pieces of bread

Toppings of choice

Combine all ingredients into a bowl and heat pan over medium heat. Add 1 tsp. coconut oil to pan and let melt. Dip bread in mixture until thoroughly coated and set in pan. Cook for about 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Serve warm and add any toppings! 

Lemon Blueberry Baked Oatmeal

Never eat boring oatmeal again! 

Ingredients

1/4 C. Oats

2 Tbsp. Almond Milk

1 tsp. Coconut Oil

Juice from half a lemon

Handful of berries of your choice ( I normally do blueberries and raspberries)

1 tsp. Baking Powder

1/2 a smashed banana

Preheat oven to 400F. Combine everything and put into an oven safe container (I used a bread dish)

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden browned and top with brown sugar or whatever toppings you want. 

**I normally double the recipe, but if you do just one it's the perfect single serving

Vanilla Procheesecake

Protein cheesecake? um yes please! 

Ingredients

Crust

1 Package of organic graham crackers

2 Tbsp. melted vegan butter

1 Tbsp. Honey

Preheat oven to 350F. Crush the graham crackers into crumbs and melt the butter. Mix everything in a bowl and press into the bottom of a springform (or nonstick/oiled pan) then bake at for 10 minutes. Take out and let cool. Turn oven down to 250F

Filling:

2 8oz. packages of fat free cream cheese at room temperature

12 oz. nonfat plain Greek yogurt

2 eggs

2 egg whites

2 scoops vanilla whey protein powder

1 c. Stevia in the raw

1 Tbsp. Vanilla extract

2 tsp. cinnamon

A pinch of salt

Combine everything into a bowl and mix with an electric mixer until smooth. Pour over crust and bake at 250F for 30 minutes, then another 45 minutes at 300F. Allow to cool completely before cutting and topping with whatever your heart desires! (pb, ice cream, proyo, pb cups, chocolate, WF syrups, pretzels, brownies, etc.)

*filling creds to Ilyssa @ohilyssa and crust creds to Kara @lifting_for_change 

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Blondies

The Best of Both Worlds

Ingredients

*Yes it is important the brownie is first because the blondie mix is more liquidy

Brownies

1 Ripe Banana

1 Large Sweet Potato

1/2 C. Vanilla or Honey Greek Yogurt

2 Eggs

1 Tbsp. Honey

1 C. Oat Flour

3 Tbsp. Cocoa Powder

1 Scoop Chocolate Whey Protein Powder

1 Tbsp. Cinnamon

1/2 C. Dark Chocolate Chips (optional)

1/2 Walnuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Peel the sweet potato and place in a bowl in the microwave. Sprinkle a little water over top and let steam in microwave for 5 minutes or until able to mash up. Mix with mashed up banana, greek yogurt, eggs, and honey. Then add the rest! Lightly spray an 8x8 pan with coconut oil and pour in batter in an even layer. 

Chickpea Blondies

1 Can rinsed and drained chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans)

1 Scoop Vanilla Protein Powder

1/3 C. Almond or Peanut Butter

1/3 C. Maple syrup

2 Eggs

2 tsp. Vanilla Extract

1/4 tsp. Baking Powder

1/2 tsp. Salt

1 tsp. Stevia

1 Double Chocolate Chunk or Brownie Quest Bar

Mix all ingredients into a food processor and mix until combined. Cut up Quest bar into small pieces and fold in gently. Spread evenly over brownie mix. 

Cook for 25-30 minutes or unitl a tooth pick comes out clean. Not too long, you want it to be moist. Let cool and try not to devour! 

Glaze

1/2 Scoop Chocolate Protein Powder

Almond Milk

Mix together and drizzle over top

PB&J French Toast

PB&J AND French Toast?! Why not!

Ingredients

4 Pieces of Cinnamon Raisin Ezekiel Bread

1/4 C. Almond Milk

1 egg

1 egg white

Cinnamon

Peanut Butter

Your Choice of Jelly 

(You can put bananas in the middle too if you want)

Whisk egg, egg white, almond milk, and cinnamon in a bowl until combined. Heat a skillet over low-medium heat and spray with coconut oil or nonstick spray. Assemble PB&J to your liking and dip in the egg mixture. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Voila! Get ready for the most delicious combo ever! 

Coffee Coconut Milk Ice Cream

Sun's out, Ice Cream's Out

Ingredients

2 13.5 oz. Cans of full fat Coconut Milk (I used extra thick)

1/2-3/4 C. Coconut Sugar

3/4 C. Strong, Brewed Coffee

1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

*Mini Chocolate Chips (optional add ins - cocoa nibs, chopped up Quest Bar, nuts, espresso powder, etc.) 

*You will need an ice cream maker 

Put ice cream bowl in freezer over night. Combine first four ingredients in a small pot over medium heat. Whisk until combined, about 5 minutes. Take off heat and transfer to a bowl and chill in the fridge overnight. 

The next day, take ice cream bowl out and immediately (will defrost quite quickly) follow directions to mix ice cream.  Half way through, pour your choice of add ins into the mixer. When finished, eat immediately or put in a freezer safe container and store for UP TO a week. If it lasts that long ;) 

*Note: to make just regular vanilla coconut milk ice cream don't at coffee. You can look up a bunch of recipes for different flavors. (Mint, strawberry, chocolate, etc.) Adapted from minimalistbaker

Berry Crisp

Summer Nights, Bonfires, and Berry Crisp

Ingredients

For the Filling

3-4 C. Mixed Berries (I used raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries)

1 tsp. Cinnamon

Zest of 1 Lemon

Juice of half of a lemon

3 tsp. Corn Starch

1/4 C. Honey or Agave

For the Topping

1 C. Raw Oats

1/2 C. Whole Wheat Flour

1/2 C. Brown Sugar

1 tsp. Cinnamon

1/4 C. Coconut oil, melted

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Combine all ingredients for the filling in a large boil and mix until thoroughly coated. Pour into an ungreased pie dish. Mix together all topping ingredients into a separate bowl, and sprinkle evenly on top of the fruit. Bake for about 30 minutes or until topping is golden brown. Let cool and set for about 20-30 minutes. (this way it's not just liquidy, but thickens slightly) Top with frozen yogurt, whip cream, or just go for it and do classic vanilla ice cream, because ice cream is life.

*adapted from Skinny Taste

Turkey Gorgonzola Burgers

What's Summer without a burger? 

Ingredients

1 lb. Lean Ground Turkey

3 oz. Gorgonzola Cheese, chopped

1/2 C. sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped

2 Tbsp. Ketchup or BBQ sauce 

1 Tbsp. Minced Garlic

2 tsp. cumin powder

Olive Oil for spreading on patties

6 Whole Wheat Buns

Condiments (lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese, ketchup, BBQ sauce) 

Directions

Preheat grill to medium. Combine first five ingredients plus salt and pepper to taste in a bowl. Lightly mix together and form into 6 patties. Brush them with olive oil. 

Grill burgers 4 to 5 minutes on each side. Internal temp 165 degrees F or nice char marks start to from. Toast buns for 2 minutes. Serve burgers on buns and garnish with condiments of choice. Enjoy! 

Chocolate Funfetti Doughnuts

You can't buy happiness, but you can buy doughnuts 

and that's kind of the same thing :)

Ingredients 

1 C. Oat Flour

2 Tbsp. Cocoa Powder

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp.baking soda

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1/3 C. Honey

1/4 C. Almond Milk

1/4 C. Greek Yogurt

2 Tbsp. melted coconut oil

1 Egg

1 1/2 tsp. Vanilla Extract

1/2 C. Rainbow Sprinkles (optional)

Glaze

1/4 C. Almond Milk

2 Cups Confectioner's Sugar 

1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

*Rainbow Sprinkles for decorating 

Preheat oven to 350F. Spray doughnut pan with nonstick spray. 

Doughnuts: Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa powder, and nutmeg in a bowl. 

In a separate bowl mix milk, yogurt, egg, and honey until combined. Add melted coconut oil and vanilla mixing until fully combined. Pour dry ingredients slowly into the wet ingredients and stir until just combined. The batter will be fairly thick. Gently fold in sprinkles (the colors might bleed and turn brown, that's okay) If you want vanilla, just don't add the cocoa powder and be careful about mixing in the sprinkles so they don't bleed. 

Pour batter into a ziploc bag, cut the tip off of the bag (pretty small, the batter is a little runny) and pipe batter into each doughnut mold about 3/4 full. Bake for 9-10 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned. Allow the doughnuts to cool before dipping them in the glaze.

Glaze: Combine all glaze ingredients in a small saucepan over low heat. Whisk until smooth and remove from heat and immediately begin coating the cooled doughnuts one by one. I dropped the doughnuts in the glaze and flipped them to coat them evenly. Transfer doughnuts to a wire rack over a cookie sheet layered with parchment paper to catch the glaze drippings and pour on sprinkles. Let sit for half an hour (if you can) :) Taste heaven in your mouth! Made about 24 mini doughnuts. They are better if you let the glaze harden a bit. 

Garbanzo Bean Flour Pizza

Who said pizza can't be healthy?

Ingredients for Crust

2/3 C. Garbanzo Bean Flour

1/4 tsp Salt

1/2 C. Water

1/4 tsp Rosemary

1/4 tsp Thyme

1/4 tsp. Oregano 

1/4 tsp. Basil

or

Herbs de Provence

or

Italian Seasoning 

(It's personal preference on the spices)

Ingredients for Topping

Red Sauce (I am in love with Trader Joe's marinara sauce)

Mozzarella

Red Peppers

Broccoli

Mushrooms

Red Onion Slices

Black Olives

Shredded Chicken

Any toppings you prefer

Combine all crust ingredients in a bowl and let sit for 15 minutes at room temperature. Heat a nonstick pan on medium heat or spray with nonstick spray. Pour batter in and cook for about 2 minutes on each side. Yes, you are basically making a crepe. Bubbles will form when it's ready to flip. When fully cooked through take heat and put on an oven safe plate. Put in oven on broil and cook curst for about 3-5 minutes or until it starts to get a little crispy. Spread sauce on and add any other toppings. Return to oven for another 5-8 minutes or until cheese is melted. Keep a close eye on it. Take out and let cool. Enjoy!

Vegan Buckwheat Pancakes

Who says you can't have too many pancakes?

Ingredients

1 C. Buckwheat Flour

1 tsp. Baking Powder

1 C. Almond Milk

1/4 C. Applesauce

1-2 Tbsp. Honey

Cinnamon

1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

Berries (optional)

Greek Yogurt (optional)

Sift together dry ingredients. Whisk in wet ingredients until combined. Don't over mix. Heat an oiled pan over low-medium heat and pour in about 1/3 C. batter. Cook pancakes for 1-2 minutes on each side or until bubbles start to form. Top with fresh berries and Greek Yogurt or whatever toppings you want! 

Protein Mocha Frappuccino

Perfect for when you're craving Starbucks on a hot sunny day! 

Frappuccino 

1/2 scoop chocolate protein powder

1 tsp. instant espresso (coffee grounds)

1/2 C. unsweetened chocolate or vanilla almond milk

1 tsp. unsweetened baking cocoa 

1/2 C. ice 

1-2 Tbsp. home made chocolate fudge sauce 

(optional though it's not very sweet without it) 

Blend everything together and top with whip cream or other toppings! :) 

3 Ingredient Chocolate Fudge Sauce 

1/3 C. pitted dates 

1/3 C. almond milk

1 1/2 tbsp. cocoa powder 

Blend dates and almond milk until smooth. All the chunks don't have to be perfectly mixed. Pour into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, continue to cook whilst stirring over a low flame for 5-10 minutes, until thickened. Remove from heat, stir in cocoa powder until melted and incorporated. Transfer to a glass jar. Cool, serve warm or refrigerate and eat cold, or re-warm. It tastes so good! And is perfect for milkshakes or frappuccinos! 

Just a Girl from Seattle

Hi there! 

My name is Rachel and I fell in love with living a healthy lifestyle. I've always been passionate about cooking and about two years ago started to tryout healthier options and ever since it's been a part of me. I believe being healthy is a result of taking care of your body and treating it like a temple. With the occasional indulgence of course, because life is too short not to eat chocolate! :) I'm going to be using this blog to post recipes and try and give advice on what works for me. However, this is just me so other things might help you better. I was never overweight or anorexic, but I was depressed. Changing my whole lifestyle helped save me from completely giving up taking care of myself. I found it a way to escape from feeling like I had no control in other parts of my life, but I did have control on what I ate and how I exercised. I hope to inspire people when I grow up and help people change their point of views on life. Starving yourself is never an option, but instead making healthier yet still delicious choices and getting all the nutrients your body needs. I love to smile and make people laugh as you can see by the picture below :P A little about me is I'm a Seattle girl and I want to grow up and be a chef or world traveler of some sort. When I'm not cooking or eating, ;) you'll find me playing volleyball, hanging out with friends, at the gym, journaling, singing, taking pictures, or playing by the water. Friends and family are a priority to me and I love collecting quotes. Welcome to my blog, and I hope it inspires you on your healthier and happier journey!