This has been my new favorite breakfast recently… and dessert… and… you get the idea. My recipe is based on this recipe, but with a few tweaks. I found her waffles too oily for my liking and didn’t quite fluff up as much as I like. Plus, I like to add a protein boost so I added some plant-based protein to the recipe (although you can easily use some coconut or even almond flour instead)
Plantain Waffles
Makes about 2-3 waffles (depending on how big you make them)
Ingredients:
1 large ripe plantain (yellow with some brown spots)
1 large unripe plantain (green)
1.5 tbs melted coconut oil
2 tbs. coconut flour OR plant-based protein
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2-1 tsp. baking soda (use 1/2 if at altitude, 1 if at sea level)
1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
1/2 tsp. sea salt
Plug in your waffle iron and let it heat up while you prepare the batter.
Peel your plantains and chop into quarters. Place plantain chunks in high speed blender or food processor and blend for about 30 seconds (until roughly pureed).
Add remaining ingredients and blend until smooth. You should have a thick batter that isn’t easily pourable (you’ll have to scoop it into your waffle iron).
Follow waffle iron instructions. You may need to cook these waffles slightly longer then a normal waffle, but they should be fluffy and perfectly browned when done.
Top with fresh fruit, fruit compote, almond butter, maple syrup, whatever your heart desires. And, Enjoy!
I never liked salt and vinegar chips… I thought they were disgusting, I hated vinegar. And the vinegar flavor in those chips was way too strong. I was always the odd ball out because my friends were obsessed with them. Actually, I still hate salt and vinegar chips. But for some reason these coconut chips taste awesome to me. Perhaps it is because I use apple cider vinegar rather then white vinegar. And you can adjust the amount of vinegar you use to your vinegar-loving likeness.
These are vegan and can easily be made raw vegan by using a dehydrator instead of the oven. Basically, they can fit every diet unless you are allergic to coconut. If you are, I’m so so sorry. These are also the simplest and easiest “chips” ever and now you have no excuse for eating the crap chips from the grocery store when these are 3 ingredients (yes, you read that right) and take 10 minutes total!
Salt & Vinegar Coconut Chips
Makes 3 cups
Ingredients
3 cups of coconut chips/flakes (not the finely shredded variety, the thicker cut version)
3-5 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (depending on how strong you want the flavor)
1/4 teaspoon salt
Preheat oven to 350 F.
Combine everything in bowl, making sure all coconut chips are thoroughly covered with ACV. Spread mixture out onto a baking sheet in one even layer.
Bake for about 7 minutes, until flakes are slightly browned and crunchy. Check on chips regularly to ensure they don’t burn (every oven is different and coconut can go from white to burnt black reallll quick) and stir mixture half way through.
Let cool and then get your snack on!
I’ve been really into smoothies for the past few months. I’m not a fan of super sweet, all fruit smoothies and if you have a chronic illness like Lyme disease you really shouldn’t be drinking those types of smoothies too often. The sugar content of an all fruit smoothie is both inflammatory and will feed the Lyme bugs so I’ve had to find ways to make my smoothies nutrient packed but still tasty.
Although this smoothie takes a little bit more effort then throwing 3 ingredients into the blender, it is totally worth it! It contains both ginger and turmeric for anti-inflammatory effects and cilantro, lemon and lime juice, and greens to help detoxify.
Detoxifying Anti-Inflammatory Smoothie
Serves 1
Ingredients:
1/4 cup full fat canned coconut milk
1/4 cup almond milk (or replace with more coconut milk or non-dairy milk of choice)
1/2 cup cold filtered water
1/4 tsp. ground turmeric
1 tsp. grated fresh ginger root (can replace this with 1/4 tsp. ground ginger)
1 tsp. maca powder (optional)
1 scoop protein powder of choice (optional)
1 small handful (1/4-1/2 cup depending on how strong you want the flavor) fresh cilantro
1 large handful spinach
Juice from 1/2 a lime
Juice from 1/2 a lemon
1/2 frozen banana
1/4 cup frozen mango
It is easiest to prep all your ingredients. THEN throw them all in a high speed blender. The best order is to place the liquid first, then all the powders/spices and lemon/lime juice, then the spinach and cilantro, and finally the fruit. This allows everything to blend evenly. Turn blender on and let it whirl until all ingredients are mixed in and it is nice and smooth.
I top mine with local bee pollen which contains an amazing amount of nutrients, has natural antibiotic effects, and provides the body with sustainable energy. I’ve added it into my diet to help aid in healing from Lyme disease. Using local bee pollen can also help with allergies. So, even if you aren’t sick but you suffer from seasonal allergies, bee pollen can be a great natural way to boost your immune system to local allergens without using drugs or chemical filled allergy meds.
The past few weeks I have been dealing with A LOT of nausea. My tummy has always been a mess but this extreme nausea is pretty new. Smoothies seem to be the calmest thing on my stomach and easy to digest so I’ve been making a lot of them. I have a favorite which I will share in a later post. For now, I want to share the smoothie I make when I’m nauseas but hungry and know I need to get some food in me. This smoothie includes fresh ginger which 1) is pretty much my favorite flavor ever, you all should know that by now and 2) is great for nausea and an upset stomach as it helps decrease in inflammation, relaxes the stomach muscles, and helps the neutralize stomach acid.
Tummy Calming Banana-Berry Ginger Smoothie
Serves 1
Ingredients:
1 frozen banana
1/3 cup frozen raspberries
1 inch piece of peeled and grated ginger
1/4 cup full fat coconut milk
1/2 cup almond milk (you can use all coconut milk, I just prefer mixing the two)
1 handful spinach (optional but I like to add some greens to get my veggies in. Green veggies can also help detox out any toxins that may be contributing to nausea)
Throw everything in your blender and blend until smooth. Drink up and feel your nausea slowly dissipate.
If you are looking for a different, new, simple summer grilled dish then this is it!
This past weekend my parents and I went down to our river house and celebrated a belated Father’s Day. We made a delicious dinner Saturday night on the grill that included Hawaiian Pork Skewers (a guest post from Canada Girl Eats Paleo from a while back!) and grilled kale and romaine.
Ingredients:
1 bunch of Dino Kale
1 head of Romaine
Olive oil
Balsamic Vinegar
Get your grill ready! I used a charcoal grill on this occasion.
Kale first: Wash and dry your kale. Toss the kale lightly with some olive oil (about 1-2 tbs., you don’t need much). Next, lay the leaves of kale in an even layer over the grill and generously drizzle Balsamic over the kale leaves (trust me, Balsamic is your best friend tonight, you want to use way more then you think). Let the leaves cook for about 1-2 minutes then use tongs to flip them. Generously drizzle the Balsamic on this side of the leaves and again cook for 1-2 minutes or until the leaves start to char on the edges and the leaves look crisp. Place on a serving dish.
Romaine next: If you are using hearts of Romaine, cut them in half. If you are using a full head of Romaine, cut into quarters. Wash and dry the Romaine. You DO NOT need to coat the Romaine with olive oil. Place your Romaine on the grill and generously drizzle with Balsamic (like you did the kale). Let the Romaine cook for about 3 minutes before flipping and repeating the process. Again, pull the Romaine once it begins to crisp up and char on the parts that were touching the grill.
Serve along some grilled meat and you’ve got a new play on boring lettuce.
I’m sorry I haven’t posted in a while. My life has been VERY busy this past month. I had to finish off school, get through finals, I graduated, and then I was traveling for a week. I’m finally back in my apartment with NO HOMEWORK! WOOHOO! 🙂
I haven’t had much time to cook and I’ve been stress eating or celebrating eating which means lots of junk food (gluten-free) has been going down. I’m so happy to finally be able to relax a little and focus solely on treatment and eating right. I was originally planning to do a very strict elimination diet to try and figure out my tummy troubles but honestly I don’t have the willpower right now and I’ll be traveling around this summer so I won’t be able to stick to it. PLUS, I want to enjoy my last summer in Colorado so I want to be able to indulge every so often. BUT, I will be doing the Autoimmune Paleo protocol. I started today! You can read more about AIP here (Mickey Trescott) and here (The Paleo Mom).
I’m going to try my very best to stick to it but I know I may not be 100% until I reach my final home destination in August. I will also be keeping my diet very simple for the first few weeks as I adjust. This means I probably won’t have many recipes to share but I will share what boring meals I am consuming with you all. Although, lucky you guys, I already have a yummy, easy recipe for you: A basic roasted chicken. I had to share this because the skin came out so crispy and delicious! Too good not to share. I usually roast my chicken in a crock pot but my crock pot was occupied with bone broth so I oven-roasted my chicken and it is to die for.
OMG look at that delicious skin and that bite that I already took out of the leg… 🙂
Ingredients:
1 whole roaster chicken (mine was about 3 lbs)
2 tbs. coconut oil
5 cloves of garlic, peeled
Sage and basil (or any italian seasoning blend you like)
SALT (the good kind, trust me, you’ll want to use that pink himalayan)
Preheat oven to 450 F.
First, rinse of your chicken and pat COMPLETELY dry. Place your chicken in the baking dish and rub the coconut oil under the skin and inside the cavity of the bird. Rub a little on top. Next, take your italian spices and rub them ALL over that bird! Cover it to your liking. Now, immerse your bird in salt. I’m being serious here, you want to salt that baby up. Rub salt all over the outside and the inside. If you think you have used to much, you haven’t, that’s perfect. Lastly, place your peeled garlic cloves inside the cavity.
Place your bird in the preheated oven and bake for 50-60 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 F. Take your chicken out and let sit for 10 minutes. Now, place the bird on a cutting board to rest for another 10 minutes. DO NOT TOUCH during the resting phase except to move the bird to the cutting board.
While your bird is resting, you will be making a gravy. Take all the drippings from your baking dish and place them in a skillet or sauce pan (it doesn’t matter what you use). Bring to a simmer and add 1 tsp. of coconut flour. Stir occasionally until the gravy thickens some. Take the garlic out of the bird, chop it up and mix it in with the gravy. If you would like your gravy to be smoother, feel free to run it through a blender quickly.
Now you are ready to slice up your bird, skin and all, drizzle it in gravy, and devour it. Enjoy!
Lunch time meal of roasted chicken and carrots. What could be better?
