Strawberry Rhubarb Chia Jam

It’s spring. I know where has the time gone? It feels like yesterday I was talking about Pumpkin Pie smoothies. Mmmm pumpkin pie smoothies.

While there are so many things that I love about spring: strawberries and rhubarb are what make it delicious.

The other part of spring that I love, should be no surprise to anyone in the world that knows me: baseball. In particular the World Champion San Francisco Giants. strawberries, rhubarb, and San Francisco Giants make this continuing relationship with life really worth it. I tell ya.

Lookit.

Two championships in three years. Go Giants.

So this jam. It’s sweet from the strawberries, tart from the rhubarb, and the little bubbly texture from the chia makes it fun. I like to leave mine a little chunky so when people eat it they know what they are eating. Alright, I ate this whole batch by myself, but IN THE FUTURE if I choose to share, people will know what they are eating.

I enjoyed mine with my morning steel-cut oats, spread on some toast with butter, in greek yogurt, and by the spoonful. I would never eat standard jam or jelly by the spoonful because it is SO sweet, but this one tastes like what it really is: fruit. Which makes it heavenly and palatable by the spoonful. As with all of my recipes, let your imagination soar. Looking to the future where there may be a chance this ends up on ice cream.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention how incredibly easy this is to make. It might be more work than buying a jar of jam, but just barely. If you’ve never made a jam before, no worries! This won’t require canning, keep this in the fridge and use it within two weeks (mine didn’t last that long, no surprise) if you’d like to freeze the jam, let it cool completely and freeze in a Ziploc bag. Then defrost and store in glass.

Why you should eat this? 

Chia Seeds can be found in the bulk section of health food stores.

Chia seeds are a whole food that can easily be absorbed by the body. They are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, carbohydrates, protein, fiber, antioxidants, and calcium. And sometimes they are used to grow grass like hair on a rendition of Homer Simpson’s head. Don’t use those ones.

Quickly: strawberries are best when bought organic. They are such a delicate fruit that they really absorb a lot of the chemicals from standard growers. They are also MUCH much more flavorful when organic. Look for farmers markets this time of year to get great deals.

Darling little strawberries are significant in vitamin-C which is a powerful antioxidant. They also contain vitamin B-6, niacin, riboflavin, and folic acid. They are an anti-inflammatory food that has been shown to protect against cardiovascular disease, some types of cancer, and improve the regulation of blood sugar to decrease the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Strawberry Rhubarb and Chia Jam (Yield: 1 ¼ cups)

• 1 cup stemmed and diced strawberries, fresh or frozen
• ½ cup rhubarb, small dice
• ½ cup water
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds
• 2 tablespoons honey, to taste
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Dice strawberries and rhubarb to about the same size. Maybe a 1/4 inch each.

Add all ingredients except the lemon juice  in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Bring to a gentle boil, stirring frequently.

Continue to cook for 20 minutes. Add the lemon juice.  Stirring frequently and breaking up any larger pieces of fruit along the way with a spatula.

When the jam thickens significantly, a spatula will leave a clear path along the bottom of the pan. Like so.

Remove from heat. Allow to cool; jam will thicken as it cools. Spoon cooled jam into a jar. Enjoy as you will and go Giants.

Trust me, so good.

Nichole

Quinoa and Black Bean Veggie Burgers

Black bean and quinoa patty with avocado and cilantro.

I recently stabbed myself in the hand. Like, a good one. Needed a few stitches and an update on a few vaccinations. My left pinky still does not open all the way.

I won’t get into the story, just know that every day that I do not set myself on fire or slice off a finger is a good day in the kitchen for me. Why am I even telling you about this then? Because I had to delay my Bikram yoga practice. I wasn’t going to take an open wound into a room full of other peoples sweat (read: germ) particles floating thru the almost non-existent air. And no, I did not stab myself in the hand to get out of Bikram yoga (or did I)?

So I went after my run miles with gusto, because I don’t need hands for that.  I’m back to starving all of the time. How does one person cook all day and not find time to sit down for a meal? I am quit the specimen.

The view during my runs. No problem.

These here veggie burgers/patties are so stinking good. I think I ate an entire batch in less than 24 hours. The pain in my arm from all the shots makes the timeline fuzzy…

Anyhow, they are savory and delicious. They are incredible with a big dollop of guacamole, or a few slices of avocado and tomato. You can eat them on top of a salad, sandwiched between a bun like a burger, maybe wrapped in a leaf of romaine: protein style. Even straight out of the pan and over the sink. Did that. One handed.

They also happen to be highly portable. These patties make a great snack or lunch or dinner. You can make a big batch and freeze them, so that you have something  healthy in times of need. I’m totally going to toot my own horn here and say that these are better than any frozen veggie burger I have ever tried. I’ve tried a few.

Why you should eat this? 

Quinoa: learn it, love it. A seed that cooks like a grain, Quinoa is a true superfood (and I hate that term). Quinoa is highly regarded for its protein content, which is about 14% by weight. It is a complete protein making it ideal for those who eat a vegetable based diet (or people who should eat more Quinoa). Its full of fiber, high in magnesium, potassium, and calcium.  For Pete’s sake: whole South American civilizations subsisted off of Quinoa as their main source of nutrition for centuries!

Quinoa cooks at the same 1:2 ratio as rice, but this bionic seed cooks faster. That alone should get you to swap out your brown rice habit for a quinoa one.

Quinoa and Black Bean Veggie Burgers (Servings: 8-10 patties)

• 1 ½ cups cooked quinoa
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 6 oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and finely chopped
• 1 ½ cups cooked black beans, or 1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained, divided
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Preheat oven to 350°F

Diced onion and sun-dried tomato.

Saute onions and sun-dried tomatoes. (The oil from the tomatoes should be enough to saute the onion.) Cook 3 to 4 minutes, or until onion has softened. Stir in ¾ of the black beans, garlic, cumin, salt and pepper. Simmer for a few minutes. Make sure that the onions get a little brown on them. You want that depth of flavor. Believe it.

Transfer bean-onion mixture to food processor, add ¾ cup cooked quinoa, and process until smooth.

Transfer to bowl, and stir in remaining ¾ cup quinoa and remaining black beans. If the mix is dry, add a little water. If it is too watery add more Quinoa. The consistency should ‘hold up’ in the shape of a burger.

Season with salt and pepper, if needed and cool.

Beauties ready to go.

Shape bean mixture into 8-10 patties, depending on how big or small you’d like them. In order for there to be consistency you can use either a 1/4 or 1/2 cup dry measure to scoop the mix out of the bowl. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment.

Bake 20 minutes, or until patties are crisp on top. Flip patties, and bake 10 minutes more, or until both sides are nice and brown.

Serve how you’d like and enjoy!

I will get back to Bikram once my hand heals. I will finish out the package that I bought and get back to you guys about it. Promise.

Trust me. So good,

Nichole

Green Smoothie Goodness

No leaks in your smoothie please.

If you’ve made a New Year’s resolution raise your hand. Notice that mine are firmly planted to the keyboard. Wait a second, you can’t see me. THAT is the beauty of the interwebz. I might have my hands firmly planted to plate of cookies for all you know.

I am not much of a resolutions maker. I’m more of a immediate fix kinda gal. If I am not happy with something I getter’ done real quick. Call it a lack of patience or a pursuit of excellence, I enjoy being thorough. Want to play therapist for a second? I have a standing day on my calendar each month to clean out one drawer in my house. Whether its the sock drawer, top shelf of my pantry, or the cabinet under my bathroom sink: something is getting cleaned out and thrown away (or donated if possible). What is this mental health condition called?

Any how, this year, I have created a New Years Challenge for myself. Because my competitive spirit responds better to challenge then resolution. (send therapist recommendations to ChefNicholeMayer@gmail.com) My new years challenge: try one new thing a month. In my immediate view – new thing is new activity. As the year goes by maybe I will try a new food or try a new cocktail? That hardly seems adventurous enough.

First up: Bikram yoga. Stay tuned for the results, they will not be pretty. I have two classes under my (very sweaty) belt and 18 more to go. The results so far is that I am now combining my morning green juice with my post workout smoothie: green smoothie. Boom.

I have had an on-again-off-again relationship with green smoothies in the past. Lately I have been hard into green juice and as always have loved my post workout smoothie, but the timing of my Bikram class and the importance of pre Bikram hydration (water, lots of water) have forced me to consolidate the two. So far the only good thing to come out of this experience.

Can you tell my review of Bikram will be glowing?

Potential smoothie goods

Why you should drink this?

Fresh green juice is loaded with enzymes, oxygen, minerals, and vitamins. Because blended fruits and vegetables are fresh, this makes them easier to absorb into the intestinal wall. Blending the fruits and vegetables, as opposed to juicing them also leaves you with all of the beautiful water soluble fiber. Everyone needs fiber. Think blending vegetables is weird? Invest in a really good blender that blends them very well. Also consider that the blender is ‘predigesting’ the vegetables for you – less work! OK, that sounds strange, I know.

This is not an exact kinda recipe. You can use pretty much any greens you would like. Substitute the apple for pears or cucumbers instead of celery. Add seasonal fruits during warmer months etc. Want your smoothie to be a little more rich? Add a few slices of avocado. Like fresh herbs? Add a handful of cilantro or parsley.

I always have frozen bananas ready to go for smoothies, but if you don’t have them frozen, use a few ice cubes. OR a few frozen cubes of coconut water. As with most of my recipes – let your imagination run wild here.

Green Smoothie Goodness (servings 1 -2) 

• 1 frozen banana
• 1 apple, peeled & cut – I like a tart one like Granny Smith or Honey Crisp
• 1 c. spinach leaves
• 2 stalks celery
• ½ head kale or romaine
• few splashes of coconut water, almond milk, juice, or water.

Blend all ingredients really well and enjoy.

Trust me. So good,

Nichole

p.s. Go 49ers!!

San Francisco City Hall lit up in Red and Gold.

Blueberry and Lemon Muffins. Paleo Style.

DO NOT BE ALARMED.

This blog and myself have not gone Paleo. Though, that would be a good excuse for my absence. Something like: ‘I hate everything and everyone. You can all just piss off. I am so miserable that I have to give up grains and beans that I might die and this blog is just not worth it anymore’! Now THAT would be an excuse.

Instead, same old – same old. Your girl is busy.

Don’t get me wrong here. I respect those who have made a commitment to a Paleo diet. I know someone who had terrible arthritis and has been Paleo for more than a year now, her symptoms are all but gone. There is no doubt that some people have allergies to food and have no idea that their health problems may be affected by what they are eating. It is certainly worth it to give an exclusion diet a shot if you feel like your health might be affected by an allergy.

With that in mind, I asked for this book for Christmas. See what the fuss was all about.

I had picked it up once before and thought that the basic nutrition principles were great, something that I would enjoy reading. Really concise and easy to follow. The recipes were also right along my lines of healthy and holistic eating. I do really enjoy the book and will have my way with adapting the recipes to my liking. Not that they need much, they are pretty great.

OK: the goods. These muffins caught my attention in that they would be a low-glycemic-protein-packed-snack-on-the-go type of treat. You know how I roll, this is my thing.

Why you should eat this? 

It’s cold/flu season! What you need now is antioxidants. Blueberries are full of antioxidants and these muffins are not shy of blueberry goodness. In fact, I feel as if the ingredients in this muffin that are not blueberries, are just there to showcase how much blueberry goodness there is in these muffins. Added bonus that the muffins are hearty in egg which makes them packed with protein and gluten-free which makes them low glycemic. Perfect snack to make you feel full until the next meal.

Rejoice in these muffins, guys. They are healthy and delicious.

Blueberry Lemon Muffins

Source: Diane Sanfillipo (Servings: 12)

• 6 eggs
• ½ cup butter or coconut oil, melted
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• ¼ cup grade B maple syrup
• 1 lemon, juice and zest
• ½ cup coconut flour (I feel like you can use Almond flour or Oat flour if your not going Paleo here)
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup fresh blueberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Whisk together the eggs, butter or coconut oil, vanilla, maple syrup, and lemon juice/zest.

Fold in the blueberries.

Add mix to lined muffin pan and bake for 30-35 minutes.

They won’t rise very much, so keep an eye on how brown they get.

Eat warm with a slather of butter or just as they are.

Trust me. So good.

Nichole

Garnet Yam Gnocchi in Brown Butter & Sage with Pink Lady Apples

Alright lets get the awkward part out of the way. Where have I been?

I KNOW.

I won’t get into a lot of details, but I’m going to blame Apple for my absence. My Macbook has been pressing me to upgrade my iPhoto (where pics get stored) for a while. I finally did and now I hate iPhoto. Hate it.

IT TAKES FOREVER.

Well played Steve Jobs (or whoever is in charge  these days). I know how much you guys count on my incredible photo skills, so I wasn’t going to do a post sans my stunning photography. Good enough?

Great, lets get to the food.

This recipe was inspired by left over garnet yams and a recent trip that I made to my new favorite restaurant in San Francisco – Rich Table. The recipe is seasonal, rich, simple, but decadent all in the spirit of Fall. I love gnocchi, but I never make it with russet potatoes, always garnet yams (the orange ones) because I prefer the flavor. The dish at Rich Table was a pork tagliatelle with apples and almonds. I loved the apples so much that in the spirit of culinary inspiration, I came straight home and added thinly sliced apples to my gnocchi. See how that works, inspiration is everywhere! Or anywhere there are incredible cooks behind  the stove, like at Rich Table.

Pork Tagliatelle with Apples and Almonds from Rich Table. Beautiful, right?

Why you should eat this?

Garnet Yams are full of fiber, anti oxidants, and anti inflammatory goodness. Beta carotenes, vitamin A & C, and magnesium. Of course with the added butter and cheese in this recipe the benefits will be compromised, just don’t eat this every day. Or try your best… because it’s really stinking good. The flavors are right on for Fall, sweetness from the cinnamon in the gnocchi paired with the tartness of the raw apples, and the richness of REAL butter (use it) and sage. This dish will warm up the cold nights ahead, for sure.

Sweet Potato Gnocchi in Brown Butter & Sage with Pink Lady Apples 

(Servings: 6-8)

For the Gnocchi

• 2 lbs. sweet potatoes
• ⅔ cup whole milk ricotta cheese
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus 1/3 cup for the work surface

For the Sage Brown Butter:

• ½ cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
• 20 fresh sage leaves
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 small Pink Lady apple, sliced paper thin

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

Pierce the sweet potato with a fork. Bake the yams on a parchment lined sheet tray until tender and fully cooked, between 40 to 55 minutes depending on size.

Cool slightly.

Cut in half and scoop the flesh into a large bowl or peel the skins off with your fingers, depending on how much hot your hands can take. I don’t really have any feeling left in my fingers, so I went with the peel technique.

Using a potato ricer or a masher, mash the yams and transfer to a large measuring cup to make sure the yams measure about 2 cups.

Transfer the mashed yams back to the large bowl. Add the ricotta cheese, salt, cinnamon, and pepper and mix well.

Add the flour, 1/2 cup at a time until a soft dough forms.

Lightly flour a work surface and place the dough in a ball on the work surface. Divide the dough into 6 equal balls.

Roll out each ball into a 1-inch wide rope.

Cut each rope into 1-inch pieces.

Roll the gnocchi over the tines of a fork to form each piece.

Transfer the formed gnocchi to a large parchment lined baking sheet. Continue with the remaining gnocchi. You have some work to do here.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.

Add the gnocchi in 3 batches and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 5 to 6 minutes.

Drain the gnocchi using a slotted spoon onto a baking sheet. Tent with foil to keep warm and continue with the remaining gnocchi.

For the brown butter and sage sauce: While the gnocchi are cooking melt the butter in a large saute pan over medium heat.

When the butter has melted add the sage leaves. Continue to cook, swirling the butter occasionally, until the foam subsides and the milk solids begin to brown. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the salt, and pepper. Careful, the mixture will get bubbly. Gently stir the sauce.

When the bubbles subside, quickly toss the cooked gnocchi in the brown butter and sage.

Slice the apple super thin.

Transfer the gnocchi to a serving dish, add apple slices raw,  and serve immediately.

Trust me.

So good,

Nichole

Pumpkin Spice Protein Smoothie

The seasons are changing right?

If I never went outside or didn’t look at a calendar, I would know that it is Fall from the posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram about a certain pumpkin spice flavored latte from that one coffee place. People really love that super sweet, cinnamon-y, slightly pumpkin flavored drink.

I’m no fan. Coffee is coffee. Let it be coffee.

What am I a fan of? Well, Fall. And I LOVE me some pumpkin pie. The rich creamy, spicy flavors of a pumpkin pie = pure love. In fact when I make a pumpkin pie (near future), I will post a picture of it and proclaim my love across all social media outlets. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, all of them. Because that is how you show something you really love it.

** Fall in San Francisco is apparently prime surf season. I literally learn something new about this city every day. These guys look like they can use a smoothie.

Recently I read about a pumpkin spice milkshake (by read, I mean I saw it on the menu at a burger joint) and I immediately thought about this as a smoothie. Frankly, these days, the line is really blurry between milkshake and protein smoothie. I have come to really look forward to my smoothies as a treat. I believe that I actually run at a better (faster) pace because I SO look forward to my reward at the end of the run. It’s this kind of rich and creamy deliciousness that has made me a better runner. Quote me on it.

Oh and in case you guys are keeping track – I did really well at the Giant Race. Now I am training for the Nike Women’s marathon on October 14th.

I know, I can’t believe it either.

Why you should eat this?

It’s better than that latte.

Ok, ok, ok. PUMPKIN!! Get it off your porch and into your smoothie.

Pumpkin is rich in vitamin A, C, and E. Vitamin A is a powerful anti-oxidant and is required by the body for maintaining healthy, glowing skin! So you can go ahead and use the remaining pumpkin puree on your face. This smoothie is so good, you might want to just rub it all over your face too.

No? Just me?

Rich in B-complex vitamins like folates, niacin, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), thiamin and pantothenic acid. This smoothie is great source of B vitamins for those who eat little to no animal proteins.

What are we waiting for?

Pumpkin Spice Protein Smoothie (Servings: 1 pretty big smoothie)

• ½ cup canned pumpkin
• 1/2 cup almond milk (if using vanilla flavored – skip the vanilla extract)
• 1 frozen banana
• 1 tablespoon honey (can also use agave)
• 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder (your choice – I like hemp protein)
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger

Blend it all together and enjoy! Add more almond milk if you want to loosen the consistency, more spices if you want an extra kick. Get some adventure in your life.

Trust me, so good.

Nichole

Roasted Tomato Soup

This is my favorite time of year – end of summer beginning of fall: tomato season.

You say tomato, I say tomato soup. In a bittersweet twist, gone are the days when I dip a grilled cheese sandwich in a steaming bowl of this sweet and tangy goodness. Gone. Way gone. So gone.

Thanks a lot, dairy-induced-chin-breakouts.

These days, my skin seems to prefer a chunkier version of the broth-y classic. I like to load up on various toppings, mix them in and enjoy a hearty bowl of soup. This roasted version is just that – small chunks of roasted veggies – topped with MORE roasted tomatoes, goat cheese (troublesome skin friendly cheese option), scallions, nutritional yeast (remember that), and a spoonful of sirachup. You heard me, sriarcha + ketchup = srirachup. A spoonful to finish off this soup is just the right amount of spice to kick things up a bit.

My good friends at Sosu ketchup knew exactly what they were doing (magic) when they came up with the winning combination. They were also the very generous souls who gave me the tomatoes that I used to make this soup. Picked them up fresh from their kitchen – urban farming!

You can find their all-natural artisan ketchups here: www.sosuketchup.com  or very soon at a farmers market near me (San Francisco).

Why you should eat this? 

Tomatoes, guys: they’re like really good for you. Such a pretty fruit.

Loaded with so many good things – let us (and my limited attention span) focus on just one. Antioxidants. Vitamin C, E, and beta- carotene. Antioxidant super stars.

Why are antioxidants so important? Let’s get science-y.

Oxidation from our everyday environments can produce free radicals. The free radicals (bad guys) can cause chain reactions in your cells that will harm or kill them. Antioxidants (good guys) step in by terminating the chain reactions and helping to prevent damage to your cells. This is a very basic explanation, but just know that tomatoes are not the ‘fountain of youth’ – maybe like a ‘slow leak to a more youthful you’.

Eat tomatoes, guys. Right now while they are at their taste/nutrition peak!

Roasted Tomato Soup (Servings: 4)

• 5-8 tomatoes (medium sized), cored if the seeds are large- otherwise OK, quartered
• 1 large red bell pepper, seeded and quartered
• 3 medium yellow onions, peeled and quartered
• 1 large carrot, peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces
• extra-virgin olive oil
• 5 large cloves of garlic, unpeeled
• fine-grain sea salt
• 2 – 3 cups vegetable stock or water
• Srirachup to taste

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or if you’d like – rub pans down with olive oil.

Arrange the tomatoes, skin side down, on a baking sheet.

Coat the bell pepper and onions with olive oil and put them on the other baking sheet along with the garlic (UNPEELED), place the pepper skin side down as well.

Give both baking sheets a sprinkle of salt.

Bake until onions get a bit of brown (you can turn them if you feel like they are getting too brown)….

and the tomatoes start to collapse a bit, about 45 minutes to an hour.

Be careful to check on the garlic here, if they are getting brown and a super soft by now, pull them from the oven.

Peel the garlic, dump all of the roasted vegetables (set aside some of the tomatoes to top the soup with. Do it! They are like candy at this point) into a big pot, and puree with a hand blender.

You can also use a conventional blender or food processor and work in batches. Blend in a cup of the stock, and keep adding the rest 1/2 cup at a time until the soup is the desired consistency.I like a chunk and texture to this soup, but smooth or chunky is your call. If the soup is not in a pot, add to a big pot and heat it back to a boil.

Serve in big bowls. Add the nutritional yeast (if you like) and  srirachup or your favorite hot sauce – adjusting it to your taste.

Top with goat cheese, reserved roasted tomatoes, and scallions. Maybe a big green salad on the side.

Slurp away.

Trust me, so good.

Nichole

Gluten Free Banana Protein Pancakes

Well, I’m still hungry.

Here is what I came up with last night in a moment of desperation. That moment was about 11-ish. In case you missed my last post (ahem, how dare you) I am training for a half marathon and my metabolism is off the charts.

I know what it feels like to be Michael Phelps. Minus all the gold. Ok, perhaps I just know a little about what it is like to have Michael Phelps’ metabolism. And his long wing span, my arms are really long.

Anyhow, these pancakes are good. They were especially good as a guilt free midnight snack. Don’t limit your pancake consumption to weekend brunches, folks. Live a little. These pancakes are a dense and gooey version of the classic. Banana filled, with a nutty texture, sweet and cinnamon-y. Good. AND good for you. Full of protein, omega 3′s, potassium, fiber, and gluten free.

Golf claps.

I like my pancakes with fruit preserves (jams, jelly, marmalade, you get the idea) and fresh fruit. By all means you can put butter and maple syrup on these … and if the mood stikes you – NUTELLA (food of the gods).

 

Here I had them with guava jelly and almond butter…mmmmm.

Why you should eat these? 

Bananas are one of our best sources of potassium, an essential mineral for maintaining normal blood pressure and heart function. Since the average banana contains 467 mg of potassium and only 1 mg of sodium, a banana a day may help to prevent or reduce high blood pressure.

Potassium is also one of the most important electrolytes, which helps to regulate heart function and fluid balance. Very important for athletes (yes, I’m an athlete).

You shouldn’t need more reasons to eat these. Sugar free, gluten free, full of goodness, and so easy.

All you’ll need.

Gluten Free Banana Protein Pancakes (Servings: 6)

• 2 small bananas
• 2 eggs
• 3-4 tablespoons oat flour (Can use ANY flour)
• 3 tablespoons of protein powder (I like Hemp, can use any or none at all)
• 1 tablespoon (or more) Coconut Milk (Can use water, milk, or almond milk)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 

 

Add all ingredients to a food processor and blend. Check consistency, depending on the flour you use, you may need a little more liquid. Add in a tablespoon at a time.

 

Heat a pan with oil or butter. I used coconut oil, it is a high heat oil and it imparts a sweet nutty flavor that I like.

Let the pan get hot, then add your batter. Turn down the heat to medium to medium low. The key here is slow and low. Cook on this side for about 7-10 minutes.

 

The pancake will get brown around the edges, then like a normal pancake, they will form small bubbles. Flip.

 

This side will take another 7-10 minutes to cook. Guys, they’re worth the wait.

Serve hot.

Eat happily, brush your teeth, and go to bed. I know I will.

Trust me, so good.

Nichole

 

 

 

Raw Zucchini Hummus & Veggie Chips

 

I’ve stepped up my training for an upcoming race.

I’m running about 25 miles per week. In my mind I can do more, my body on the other hand? Beat up. Considering I stand all day for work, my conditioning is pretty good and I supplement my runs with yoga to help keep my muscles limber and avoid them from seizing up in agony…. I don’t want to be THAT photo during the race: the red-faced runner grabbing their calf after it cramps up and  they fall over in pain. Fellow racers jumping over the felled runner to avoid trampling her. Chaos all around.

PLEASE don’t let that be me. PUH-LEEEZE.

This is my normal run route. Not too shabby, huh?

With the increase in miles, my calorie burning is at a frantic pace. I am constantly hungry. So it is important to have easy, quick, healthy things to eat before my blood sugar totally crashes and I threaten to cause harm to puppies if I don’t get a pizza delivery.

This is something I have been into lately. Its easy to tote around with some cleverly cut veggies. Deceptively creamy and satisfying.  This is a really basic recipe. Try it once and then get creative. If you have fresh herbs throw them in, basil or cilantro come to mind. If you are not sticking to the idea of this being a raw recipe, then sun-dried tomatoes or roasted red peppers work wonders.

Being that this is the end of summer, you should be able to find a lot of zucchini (at really good prices) this is something that you can make a lot of and freeze in serving sizes, then thaw out over night in the fridge. Take it to work the next day and boom – delicious. You can also thin this out with some really good extra virgin olive oil and use it as a salad dressing. If you are tired of your old vinaigrette routine, this is a creamy treat.

Why you should eat this?

Zucchini is a vegetable that is low in calories, it’s high in potassium, vitamin A, and folate. Which are great for athletes recovery, but the star here is the nutritional yeast.

People, meet nutritional yeast. Nutritional yeast, meet people.

Nutritional yeast is grown on mineral-enriched molasses and is pasteurized at the end of the growth period. The yeast is then inactive, so it is safe for those with candida, but if your case is bad, I’d just avoid it. Nutritional yeast is wheat and gluten-free, which makes it different then the baking yeasts that most of us think of when we hear the word “yeast”. Nutritional yeast contains 18 amino acids and is rich in 15 different minerals and the B complex vitamins. Because of its amino acid and mineral content, nutritional yeast is an important part of a vegetarian or vegan diet.

I buy it in the bulk isle at Real Foods here in SF, you can certainly get it at Whole Foods too. It stores nicely in a jar with a tight lid in the cupboard.

The flakes will impart a cheesy flavor. So it is great in dips, dressings, soups, and pasta dishes.

I like this dip as opposed to a garbanzo bean hummus before runs because beans are heavy and can make you gassy or bloated. Both feelings that you don’t want to have while on a long run. OR while you are sitting in your cubicle.

Raw Zuchini Hummus  (Servings: 6-8)

• 2 Italian Zuchinis, Chopped
• ¾ c. Raw Tahini
• 3 Garlic Cloves , Chopped
• 2 tbsp Nutritional Yeast
• 2 ½ tsp salt

 

Add all ingredients to a food processor and blend. Doh. This picture kills me… sorry about the blurry.

Easy, right?

 

While that is going, you can cut up some veggies like this. Makes for a nice dipping “chip”. I do this with cucumbers and carrots. You can also eat it with baby carrots, celery, or pita chips, anything that you’d eat with normal hummus.

Then, eat up!

SO good. Trust me,

Nichole

P.S. Guys, I am running the SF Giants race and raising money for Project Open Hand. Donate tomorrows coffee money here or meet me at the finish line with a sandwich. Either one works for me.

Donate here: http://www.race-sfgiants.com/TheGiantRace2012/GetThisGirlaSandwich

 

Chunky Mango Guacamole

Hear me out on this one.

I inherited a box of mangos recently. They were given to me and they were ripe and ready to go. They were not organic, not local, but they were free. And gorgeous. I couldn’t let these go and I couldn’t throw them away. As much as I believe in organic, local, and sustainable, I am also a firm believer in not wasting food. I mean forget the old adage that there are starving children in Africa (still true), there are starving children down the street from me here in San Francisco. Don’t throw away good food.

So here I was, with a few pounds of pungent, juicy, sweet mangos ripe, and waiting to meet their destiny. My initial urge was to cut them up and toss them in lime juice and chili powder, pretend like I was on the beach in Mexico. Unfortunately, the weather here in San Francisco is NOTHING like being on the beach in Mexico, dream dashed. Tired of hearing me whine, yet?

Sure, I ate one right away. Cut it up and ate it off of the skin. The stringy bits stuck in my teeth, not my favorite part. So I came up with a few ways to make the most of these sweet treats without having to grab dental floss.

Here’s one. Chunky mango guacamole. Aye ye ye.

Why you should eat this?

Guys, AVOCADOS! They’re so good and SO good for you. Avocados are especially high ranging in anti-inflammatory benefits. So much so, that research suggests that these green beauties can help to prevent and ease symptoms of arthritis, both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Avocados are also very high in omega 3 fatty acids which promote heart health. The good fats in avocados also make them a really easy way to get fat into your healthy diet. Fat is what makes us feel full while eating. So if you are dieting or training for a 1/2 marathon (ahem, moi) and find yourself super hungry – a healthy way to ease the hunger pains – fill up on good fats, like those in avocados.

Mango Guacamole (Servings: 4)

• 2 Hass Avocados , Diced
• 1 Mango , Diced
• ½ Red Onion , small dice
• 1 Jalepeno, small dice **If you like really spicy – try a fresh habanero (orange guy)
• ½ c. Cilantro , chopped
• 2 Limes
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper

I like my guacamole to be chunky, so that you get a good bite when you dip a chip or a good dollop in a taco. SO dice your mangos as so.

Then with a large spoon scoop out the good stuff like this.

Same story with the avocado.

When it comes to the onions and jalepenos. Try to get them as small of a dice as you can. If your afraid of their strong flavors. Add them in gradually, until you get the desired amount of spiciness that you can handle. Be brave.

Add in the juice of 1 lime. Save the other for the end when you are adjusting flavors, some limes have more juice than others, so you’ll want to be able to adjust the seasoning to your liking.

Add in cilantro, salt and pepper.

Mash with a fork. Yes, this is a proper culinary technique. We are making our guacamole CHUNKY people. The fork is our chunky facilitator.

Give it a taste. Does it need more salt, more pepper, more lime juice, more jalepeno? Maybe a splash of tequila? Maybe you need a splash of tequila? Go ahead and test the flavor by dipping a chip in it. Since chips are normally salty, you can tell whether or not you’ll need the extra salt.

Then, boom. Done. My personal preference/torture method? I like to let this chill for an hour or so before I serve. Gives it time to develop the flavors and something about chilled avocado is just pleasing to the palette.

But, really. Good luck keeping this around.

So good! Trust me,

Nichole