Pancake Saturday

Happy weekend! I love Saturdays, especially when they start out this way:

so tasty :) gluten-free and vegan too! I saw this recipe on Averie's blog awhile back, and even though I'm normally not a pancake eater (with all the food allergies and stuff, unless *I* make them, I definitely won't eat them, but usually I don't eat breakfast - just a big green juice in the morning, mid-morning snack is fruit, salad for lunch... that sorta thing) - I was craving pancakes all this week. Into the blender went a banana, a verging-on-mealy-apple (you could also use applesauce), 1/4 cup of this milk:

on sale this week :) and a few tablespoons of ground flaxseed.

You could also use an egg if you roll with eggs. Or egg replacer. Just need something to bind it all together. Then I mixed in the oats, tapioca flour, cinnamon, a pinch of sea salt, baking powder & baking soda (I would have put in vanilla extract, too, but we're out - anyone know any cheap online places to order it from? I hate how expensive it is at the grocery, but love it!):


and threw in some extras:

it's blueberry season! love it! I bought blueberries, strawberries (even though they came all the way from California, they rock my world), and raspberries yesterday, among other things... I also threw in some vegan semi-sweet chocolate chips and dark chocolate chunks, for good measure :) When I was growing up, my mom made breakfast every morning. It was awesome. I loved that she stayed home with us (until I was in middle school, when she went back to school).... but she would make Mickey Mouse pancakes, with mini-chocolate chips (long before I knew gluten and I were destined to hate each other). I sprayed the griddle with this:

Here they are cooking up:


and my plate:

topped with smart balance light (vegan and gluten-free) and maple syrup and berries! Normally I'm not really into butter or buttery replacements, but sometimes... it's good stuff.

on the side I had this beauty:

all cut up:

and this tea that I had forgotten all about:

I topped it with some Vanilla Almond Milk:



Last night, I whipped up the raw classic, chocolate avocado mousse. I make mine in the food processor because I think it's easier to clean and get it out. I used 1 1/2 avocados, about 1/4 cup raw agave, about 2 tablespoons maple syrup (not technically raw but delicious and adds an amazing warmth and richness to this dessert)

and something else I don't usually do - I put in some of the vanilla Almond Breeze. It made the mousse really creamy:


and extra good. Or maybe it's just as good as it always is :) I like it though. Here's my bowl, topped with berries:


so freaking good! If you haven't ever made this, go make it. Now.

Here's some of my goodies from the farmer's market yesterday:




The farmer's market is amazing. The one I go to, Parkesdale Farms, is conveniently on my way home from work, and while it's not certified organic, their farming practices are (as I think is the case for many smaller operations since it is costly and timely to become certified). Markets are great because you are supporting local economy and you can't beat the price, freshness, or quality. While sometimes the selection isn't as varied as I'd like it to be (I can't get kale, spring mix, or other greens, for example), I save an enormous amount of money. For $20.62 here's what I bought:

4 pears

1 apple

4 plums

4 nectarines

5 apricots

1 pint blueberries

1 pint strawberries

2 heads romaine

2 packs celery

2 avocados

1 pint grape tomatoes

6 red peppers (3 for $1!!! I had stopped at the regular grocery store first and bought 1 for $2.49 - $3.90 / lb)

8 cucumbers (4 for $1 - I juice... and eat. a lot :)

10 lemons


and everything is always super fresh and delicious. Yesterday was a big errand day - I also ran by Publix (the regular grocery), Whole Foods (kale heaven!!) and Target. I made a spin on my Tahini Caesar dressing and added grape tomatoes and basil:

all mixed up:

and turned this bowl of green goodness

into this:


sooo yummy!

Well, I'm done icing this lovely leg:

:/ and done drinking my snack juice:

kale stems, romaine, celery, ginger, lemon, pear, green apple, pineapple core (great use for it!), cucumber and spoonful of spirulina stirred in... green goodness! Even though the leg brace is obviously less than aesthetically appealing, the healing is coming along. When I was at physical therapy yesterday, I used the stationary exercise bike - no resistance, but I could turn the peddles (this might not seem like much, but I've been hobbling around with one crutch, and it felt HUGE). This whole experience has reminded me of how much the human body is capable of, and how it can heal and what an opportunity I have to make my body something even *better* - stronger, faster, healthier. I am also very grateful that I am just recovering from surgery / injury and not permanently disabled.
anyway, time to finish up laundry, do some time on the bike, and make some lunch! Head over to Averie's blog and enter to win a kitchen scale so you can weigh out Medjool dates and make dessert. Or whatever :) Have a great Saturday and enjoy the sun!

Go to Katie's blog and enter to win some Artisana coconut butter , coconut oil & cocoa bliss, because it rocks!