Sweet potato pumpkin Hotcakes with healthy berry compote

What makes a Hotcakes different than a pancake? Southern roots. While my roots may not be Southern half of my heart is in Virginia and I just spent the weekend there so Hotcakes just sounded appropriate. 

These beauties are just how I like them: thick, hot and savory with a sweet optional sauce for the top. Most of all though they're ridiculously healthy and filling. Who doesn't want to start their day right that way? 

What you'll need for Hotcakes:

1 c oatmeal

1/2 sweet potato (peeled if possible)

1/4 c gf all purpose flour

3/4 c pumpkin purée 

3/4 c soy milk

2 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

1/2 tsp baking soda

2 tbsp melted butter (earth balance) or coconut oil

1 tsp agave syrup or maple

2 tsp pumpkin pie spice 

1 tbsp coconut

1 tbsp chia seed 

Method

1. In food processor combine sweet potato and oats

2. Add to mixing bowl with other dry ingredients (soda, flour, spice, coconut, chia) 

3. Mix well

4. Then add all other ingredients 

5. Use 1/4 measuring cup to pour batter onto hot griddle. 

6. Use cup to create round pancake at the size you want. 

7. Brown both sides & enjoy! 

What you'll need for Berry compote:

1 c mixed berries

2 tbsp agave or honey 

3 tbsp soy milk

 

Method:

Mix in a food processor or blender and add to pancakes. It tastes better cool then at room temp so I recommend keeping it in fridge or using frozen berries 

After this recipe you'll be wanting to run down to Virginia too. I mean who can resist this view? 

Veggie turkey meatballs

I've been trying to find fast, creative ways to eat as many veggies as possible. Let's just say that this week I was mostly unsuccessful. I ate a lot of unclean trader joes food. It was so good! I didn't feel too well after millions of gf Oreos and chocolate coconut ice cream though. 

After running from meeting to meeting all week and wanting to get myself back on the healthy train, I decided on ground turkey for dinner. I saw a recipe on Martha Stewart's blog from Jessica Alba. It included celery, carrots, onions and garlic inside turkey meatballs. It sounded really delicious. So I adapted it and made my own. My roommate was working so I enjoyed eating my dinner by myself before another meeting. 

What you'll need: 

1 pkg ground turkey

2 tbsp chopped onion

2 tbsp chopped celery 

2 tbsp chopped carrots 

1 egg

1/4 cup oats

1 c marinara sauce 

3 tbsp BBQ sauce 

1 tsp black pepper 

1/2 tsp salt

Method: 

Combine egg, ground turkey, oats, chopped veggies, salt and pepper into a bowl. Once mixed well form into small balls and place in oiled pan skillet. Brown all sides until well cooked (no pink inside obviously) so about 15 mins. 

Add marinara and BBQ to skillet and stir. Once sauce is heated pour into bowl and enjoy. I ate mine with sweet potatoe chips and an avocado & kale salad. 

Move over illness-- homemade cranberry juice

Friends! It's been a bit of time. I've been fighting a very tough illness for the past week so last week/weekend I was out of commission. I'm feeling much better and wanted to give you all a few of my illness remedy recipes. 

First up is homemade cranberry juice. With an illness they're always talking about vitamin c but finding a pure juice is hard so natural juicing is best. I don't have a juicer so here was my natural juice method. Hope you all enjoy! 

What you'll need

2 c cranberries

4 c water

1/2 c agave nectar or honey 

2 packets or about 1/2 tbsp of stevia

Strainer, saucepan & ice cubes 

Method

1. Boil cranberrys in saucepan with water until the cranberries start popping. Then turn down the stove a big. 

2. Add all natural sugars to cranberry mixture on stove and stir.

3. Once all cranberrys have popped and sugars have mixed test the juice to see if it's to your liking. 

4. Strain cranberries from juice, add ice cubes and enjoy!

For straining process I did it the old fashioned way with a ladle, scooping out all the cranberries. It's not full proof so sometimes a few will get mixed into your drink but hey you're wanting natural right? 

6 ingredient protein packed pancakes

I have something I need to confess...I'm not a pancake person. It's shocking, I know. As an American I'm supposed to love them right? My team last year tried so hard to get to the bottom of the problem. What did I not like about pancakes? Their bread like plain batter, their flat like style (no I'm not joking) or their texture? 

I'm not exactly sure what it is but I've been trying to diagnose the problem by coming up with pancakes I do like. Mainly the only way I can swallow them is if chocolate chips, bananas, or strawberries fill them. Today I finally made one that's easy, doesn't require a lot of ingredients and *gasp no toppings or fillings. 

I hope you're as shocked as I am. 

Inspired by: our best bites blog

What you'll need: 

2 eggs

1 banana

1tsp baking soda 

1/3 C plain yogurt

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tbsp natural peanut butter 

Syrup to your liking or if you're like me trader joes strawberry preserves and a bit of honey 

Method:

Combine all ingredients 

Pour 2 tbsp at a time onto hot, Pam sprayed skillet

Flip pancakes like normal (when they seem ready on bottom and are easy to move with spatula. You will not have the bubbles to help clue you in this time)

Brown both sides

Serve and enjoy