Heavenly Vegan Pancakes

Happy Monday, friends!

I'm back today with yet another delicious, vegan recipe! 

For the last eight years or so, I have this quirky little thing where I have to make pancakes whenever it snows. This started when I was watching a few shows and movies that are set in prairie times and the characters always seem to make and eat pancakes a lot when it is snowy. That sounded so homey and cozy to me, so the tradition started and has continued ever since. I will admit that I always made pancakes mostly for the idea of it...making the batter, drizzling maple syrup over hot pancakes straight from the skillet, and cozying up in the warm house whilst snow fell beautifully and softly outside. The pancakes tasted pretty good, but I did it mostly for the little vision I had in my head and because it seemed so old-fashioned and simple to me. Like stepping into the prairie times, which I've always had an affection for.

Last week, we got a couple nice snowfalls, for our corner of the world, that is. In total, we probably got about 5 inches, which is a blizzard here. So, of course, that meant I had to make pancakes. I decided to try a vegan recipe, as I am trying to add more of that type recipe to my repertoire, and I found this one. I made a few tweaks to suit the tastes of my family and the result? The best pancakes we'd ever eaten! My whole opinion of pancakes changed with one bite...and now we have declared this recipe the only recipe for pancakes we'll make. 

Just look at how thick and fluffy these pancakes look. I noticed that the batter was very light and airy as I was making the pancakes, and it resulted in absolutely heavenly, divine pancakes. I hope you'll try these soon...you won't regret it! And perhaps, you'll adopt the snow-day-pancake-making tradition. It sure is a good one!

Heavenly Vegan Pancakes

2 cups organic, unbleached all-purpose flour

little less than 1/4 cup organic pure cane sugar

2 heaping tbsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

2 cups vanilla almond milk (a secret ingredient!)

2 tbsp. raw apple cider vinegar

2 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

In a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients together. Pour in the milk, vinegar, and vanilla, and gently stir together. Don't overmix, and if there are some lumps, that's perfect. You don't want a smooth batter. 

Allow the batter to rest on the counter for 10 minutes. This step is super important, as it allows the baking powder to do its thing and the batter becomes all light and airy and lovely.

Grease a skillet or griddle with a bit of coconut oil, and set the heat to medium-low. Once the skillet or griddle is hot, spoon the batter onto the surface wit ha 1/4 measuring cup. Let the pancake cook on the first side until bubbles begin to appear and then pop. The edges will begin to look set as well. Then, gently and easily flip it over, continuing to cook for another minute or two. 

Top with coconut oil or a vegan "buttery" spread and real, pure maple syrup. 

Enjoy!

Note: You could easily add vegan chocolate chips, bananas, peanut butter, blueberries, etc. to this batter to add a bit of fun to your plate. Next time, I'm going to make a variety for a little pancake party! 

I want to quickly mention that I have finally updated "the kitchen" page here on my blog. All recipes both past and present are easily accessible there, and I will continue to update it as new recipes are added. 

May your week be a marvelous one! ♥

Delighting in Wintertime

Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth,

for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk by the fire-

it is the time for home.

·Edith Sitwell·

Winter is the time for all things cozy, warm and toasty. This truly is one of my most favorite times of the year, as I love the cold weather, snow days, and all the coziness of the season. Today I thought I would share some of my ideas to truly enjoy and embrace the beauty of the season....

Loving the winter season and cold weather is quite uncommon, I believe. It is rare to find kindred spirits who share my same opinion about these two things. However, even for those who experience the winter blues, I think that all these ideas will be of help to you. 

Winter, a lingering season,

is a time to gather golden moments, 

embark on a sentimental journey,

enjoy every idle hour.

·John Boswell·

Find a hobby that you enjoy doing and then do it.

This one is such a seemingly easy one, but they say some things are easier said than done, and I think this is one of those things. Winter does call us inside more and we often find ourselves at home more than other times of the year. If you have something that you are genuinely interested in and truly love doing, it can make those extra hours at home and inside even more enjoyable. Winter is also the perfect time to begin new projects and find new hobbies and interests. Perhaps crafting is your thing, knitting, crocheting, embroidery or cross-stitch, or even sewing. (I'm hoping to teach myself how to hand embroider this winter using videos online.) Perhaps there is a book series you would like to dive into. (That's me!!) Or a new cooking of baking skill you want to learn. Maybe you want to learn more about that camera you've had for three years. (That's me, too!!) Is there a home renovation or redecorating project that's been on your list for too long? Just put your thinking caps on and set to work!

Get outside. Daily.

Yes, I know it's cold outside. The wind might be blowing and the air might bite you with it's frozen feeling. But I firmly believe that time outdoors every single day is of utmost importance for mental and physical and emotional health. Your whole person will benefit from getting a little fresh air. Even if it's raining, snowing, windy, freezing cold, if you dress appropriately, it won't be that bad. An old Norwegian Proverb says, "There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes." I grew up with a mom who bundled us up all warm and toasty and then sent us outdoors, even in the freezing temperatures and snow coming down. We would all, including her, get our warmest clothes and heaviest coats on, we piled on the scarves, gloves, and hats and got some old-fashioned fresh air and found ourselves invigorated from the cold air we breathed in. Because I grew up like that, and am still like that to this day, it totally amazes me how few people actually get fresh air in the wintertime. I would argue that this is, perhaps, one of the biggest causes of wintertime depression and blues. Also, keeping your curtains open to let natural light come in is also a great way to bring nature in.

Make your home a cozy haven.

This is a big one! Having a home that looks and feels (not temperature wise) cold at any time of year, but especially in the winter months, discourages enjoyment of and embracing the season. Again, my mom has always created a cozy atmosphere in our home. We have warm blankets draped over the sofa, sweetly scented candles all around, softly lit lamps on each table, and endless opportunities for some sort of fun and pleasure. Books, crafts, magazines, movies and favorite shows, music, games and more all in the nooks and crannies of our home. This is also the time of year when we are busily working in the kitchen. Cooking different comfort foods is one of the greatest joys this time of year. Soups, homemade breads, cookies and muffins, warm beverages, roasted chickens and pot pies and more are just a few of our favorites.

Seek to embrace the season and see the beauty in it.

Cook up a pot of hot chocolate and pull out the mini marshmallows. Have a tea party and try a new scone recipe or taste test different teas. Enjoy a movie night or a marathon of your favorite TV show. Go to the bookstore and peruse your favorite sections. Play some happy and fun music throughout the days. Relax in the evening with a hot bath or shower. Pull out those cozy and warm pajamas. Get outside and observe nature that surrounds you. Seek to discover the beauty of the winter season and appreciate the wonder that it holds. Nature journals are a great idea and winter is the perfect time to start.

Those are just a few of the ways that I enjoy and embrace this beautiful season of wintertime. I would love to hear your thoughts...how do you enjoy this season? Do you genuinely like it, or does it take some effort to find pleasure in these grey, damp and cold months? I'd love it if you'd share your thoughts and ideas in the comments below...

Cranberry Date Bars

Over the weekend, I made a batch of one of our favorite treats. Cranberry date bars, or balls, in this case, have been a lovely sweet treat around here for a couple years now. I don't make them often, simply because I have a TON of recipes that I like to cycle through, but when I do, they go fast! 

Several years ago, I began seeing dates used in many recipes for desserts and snacks. At first, I was a bit skeptical, but once my sister tried making vegan caramel with dates, I was quickly won over. In fact, now I much prefer date caramel to the real stuff! Over the last year or so, we have tried many different types of recipes that use healthier ingredients and have found them just as good, if not better, than the regular recipes. And this is one of them!

As I mentioned in the last recipe post I shared, we try to avoid dairy as much as possible. Experimenting with vegan cooking and baking has been fun and interesting. Fortunately, most of the recipes we've tried have been winners, and I've also enjoyed converting many old favorites to vegan.

I hope you will give these a try, as I'm sure they will become a hit in your home! Just one or maybe two, and your sweet tooth will be satisfied!

Cranberry Date Bars

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1 tbsp. flaxseed

2 tbsp. sunflower kernels

3/4 cup almonds

3/4 cup pecans

3/4 cup raisins

1 cup pitted, dried dates

3 tbsp. oats

3 tbsp. peanut butter (or another nut butter)

2 tbsp. agave nectar

Combine all in a food processor until well mixed. Press into a parchment paper lined sheet tray and freeze until set, about 30 minutes to 1 hour. You could also roll the mixture into small balls and freeze until set. Cut into bars, and serve.

Dairy-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

Happy Thursday, friends! I thought today was the perfect day to share a delightful cookie recipe with you all!

Over the Christmas season, I baked a few different types of cookies. One of my goals over the last while has been to try and find dessert recipes that don't use dairy...but still taste good. As you can imagine, this has been a lot of trial and error, sometimes seeming like more error. But, alas, I finally found a recipe for chocolate chip cookies that are totally dairy free, and they also taste amazing! You really can't even tell there's no eggs, butter or milk in them, which is exactly what I wanted. 

I bake mine for the shortest time possible because I do love a soft cookie. And, of course, they do continue to bake for a bit once you remove them from the oven, as they are sitting on the still-hot cookie sheet. These went fast in our home, as I'm sure they will do in yours too, should you decide to make some! 

It is so satisfying discovering new recipes that are dairy-free! We still eat dairy, just not as much, so it's nice to have a variety of recipes in our collection. 

Dairy-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

2/3 cup melted coconut oil

2/3 cup organic pure cane sugar

2/3 cup organic brown sugar

1/2 cup vanilla almond milk

2 tsp. vanilla

2 1/2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 package dairy-free (vegan) chocolate chips

In a mixing bowl, beat together the coconut oil, sugars, almond milk, and vanilla. Gently stir in the flour, baking soda and powder, and salt. Make sure everything is thoroughly mixed together. Fold in the chocolate chips.

(Regular or mini sized chips will work. We used mini simply because they were on sale.)

Scoop out into balls onto a prepared cookie sheet (I greased mine with coconut oil), and bake at 350*F for 11-14 minutes. Allow to cool on the sheet pan for about 5 minutes or so, then transfer to a cooling rack or plate and cool completely. (Unless of course, you love a warm, straight-from-the-oven cookie!)

Enjoy!

What recipes have you tried recently?

Hope the remainder of your week is beautifully blessed ♥

P.S.- I will be updating "the kitchen" page on my blog over the weekend, so all the recipes on my blog will be in one place, all organized and tidy for easy searching.

For the Love of Gilmore

  Oy with the poodles already...

So, if you know me, it's a well-known fact that I absolutely adore Gilmore Girls! It is by far my favorite show of all, with a couple coming in close second. But they are, alas, second. I fell in love with this show a few years ago, well after it had aired on TV for the first time, yet it was a match made in heaven from the first episode I watched. 

The first thing to grab my heart was, without a doubt, the charming, quirky town of Stars Hollow. Oh, how I wish I could live there! Shortly after I got to know the characters, I fell in love with them as well. My heart gravitates towards Sookie, because, well I love to cook and I just get her. One of my goals is to cook as elegantly as she does. Lorelai also has my heart. I dream of having a mouth like hers! Oh to be that witty and sarcastically blunt! One can dream! And when she and Luke finally get together, be still my heart. 

As I was brainstorming for this post, I was originally planning on sharing my top five favorite episodes. That quickly became impossible when I began looking over all the 153 episodes and had a hard enough time narrowing it down to ten. I feel like there needs to be a confetti party since I actually accomplished that! The following episodes are my all-time favorites, the first ones I go to on any given evening of binge-watching. 

These episodes do not have any particular order in my heart, though to keep order to this post, I did order them according to how they appear in the series. I went searching Google for some photographs depicting different scenes from the episodes and will do my best to share why I love each episode. There may be some spoilers, but not to worry. I'm going to assume you already know the outcome of the series, because let's be honest, who hasn't seen Gilmore Girls? 

Let's get started, shall we?

Love & War & Snow || Season One, Episode Eight

This is the episode in which I learned that Lorelai and I are indeed kindred spirits for we share a love for snow. She says two of my favorite TV quotes in this episode, "I smell snow" and "Everything is magical when it snows." Yes, Lorelai, I agree! What's not to love with Stars Hollow all covered in snow?!?!?! 

That Damn Donna Reed || Season One, Episode Fourteen

I love this episode for the sole fact that it is full of comedy. From Rory dressing up like a 50's housewife and surprising shocking Dean (and everyone else, for that matter) with her getup, to Lorelai losing Rory's school assignment, Stella, and calling upon Luke for help, this one is just good for the soul.

The Bracebridge Dinner || Season Two, Episode Ten

This was my very first favorite episode....and it placed a dream within my heart.....to be one of the guests at the Bracebridge Dinner at the Independence Inn. Oh, it looked like such fun! Sookie and Lorelai put on one heck of a party, complete with horse-drawn sleigh rides in the snow.

A Deep Fried Korean Thanksgiving || Season Three, Episode Nine

Another early love of mine, everything about the episode just makes me smile. From Mrs. Kim's tofurkey, to Sookie cringing over Jackson deep-frying her organic turkey, to Luke secretly wanting the Gilmores to join him and Jess for Thanksgiving dinner. Add in a little Kirk drama and weirdness and you have a winning episode! (Whoever had the idea for the character of Kirk was a genius!)

Ted Koppel's Big Night Out || Season Four, Episode Nine

There isn't any particular reason why I love this episode, other than it is just delightful to watch. It's the Yale vs. Harvard game, and Richard and Emily join Lorelai and Rory to watch the rivalry game. In true Gilmore fashion, no event where Lorelai and her mother are together is without its drama. This is the episode where the relationship between Lorelai and Jason Stiles begins, and all the angels shout "hallelujah!", it is short-lived.

Last Week Fights, This Week Fights || Season Four, Episode Twenty-One

All the Gilmore Girls fans rejoice in this episode because Luke and Lorelai are just one step away from being official. She accompanies him to his sister, Liz's, shall we say unique, Renaissance wedding. It was a magical episode, and when Luke and Lorelai were dancing....so sweet. That's a moment I'd been waiting for since the first episode of season one. I think most, if not all GG fans would heartily agree.

You Jump, I Jump Jack || Season Five, Episode Seven

Again, there really isn't a special reason why I love this episode, other than the fact that it is so crazy. I would never jump off a tower holding an umbrella in a fancy dress. Heck, I wouldn't do it in yoga pants and a t-shirt. But Logan got Rory to do it...I got to live vicariously through her for a minute and realized that I would stick to my guns and keep my sanity by keeping my feet on the ground. But it made for a good episode, nonetheless. And just for the record, who's stupid enough to join a life and death brigade? Well, Logan Huntzberger, apparently.

A Vineyard Valentine || Season Six, Episode Fifteen

Valentine's Day on Martha's Vineyard. What's not to love?!?! Combine a mother and daughter and their significant others and you can bet you're going to get a bit of insanity. Insert Logan and Luke on the basketball court, and you've got it. Not to mention Lorelai and Rory in the gym getting a massage from two random guys. You go to the gym to work out, ladies! And just when I begin to think that I overpack for a trip, I shall think back to Lorelai Gilmore and her number of suitcases and bags for a weekend trip and I shan't feel bad ever again.

Santa's Secret Stuff || Season Seven, Episode Eleven

Christmas + Gilmore Girls + Stars Hollow + snow = perfection

Enough said.

Hay Bale Maze || Season Seven, Episode Eighteen

And we all rejoice once again because....LUKE & LORELAI MADE UP! I guess you kind of have to talk and work things out when you and the person you're having issues with run into each other in a hay bale maze and you can't run and hide. I was so glad that these two finally settled their issues and this began the hoping that they would once again end up together..this time for good.

Well, there you have it. I hope you enjoyed looking back over my favorite episodes of my favorite show with me. And if you haven't watched Gilmore Girls, or if for some crazy reason you don't know what I'm talking about, crawl out from that rock you're hiding under, and get to know the Gilmore Girls. You'll be laughing the whole time, as you fall in love with some delightful characters who live in the most charming and quirky small town.

Have a lovely day, friends! And do come back soon, as I'll be sharing my favorite episodes of another show. It will be loads of fun!

Farewell, October

Well, friends, it is time to bid October farewell for this year!  

Tomorrow, we say hello to November and begin preparations for Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas. You can be sure that there will be plenty of posts celebrating those seasons, holidays and holy days in the days and weeks to come. But for today, we are still celebrating October...

I must say that I am quite pleased to have completed a full month of blogging, every day for 31 days. I have thoroughly loved sharing some of my family's favorite recipes, seasonal thoughts, and other celebrations. October was a beautiful month full of Autumn bliss.

My book list was quite empty for this month, though I did manage to reach my reading goal for the year earlier this month. My goal was to read 20 books, and 20 books I read. Even though I completed my list and reached my goal for the year, that doesn't mean that I have stopped reading. In fact, I have several books to share about in an upcoming "Book Talk", and am beginning several books very soon.

I have quite a few ideas and lots of inspiration for upcoming posts...both for the coming month, and next year. So, there are lots of fun things to look forward to. Writing is my passion and I love sharing it with others!

Today is Halloween, so for us, that means a special dinner and watching Halloween episodes of our favorite shows. We will also be enjoying some of that yummy bread I talked about yesterday...and yes, the recipes are coming soon. While I do miss the days of dressing up and trick-or-treating around the neighborhood, this is a fun season of spending Halloween at home, with quiet celebrations. But you can bet that I look forward to the future with great excitement, joy, anticipation, and giddiness when I can dress up my own wee ones and see the magic of the night through the eyes of kiddos. What fun that will be!

I do hope that this has been a wonderful month for you, and I wish you all a very Happy Halloween!

There is only one way I can think of to end this post:

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers."

Anne girl, I agree, wholeheartedly!

Blessings to you this day, dear friends!

The Tradition of Bread Baking

It's the perfect day to share a beautiful post with you all...

Today I'm sharing all about one of my favorite family traditions that we have enjoyed for the past several years. I hope you enjoy and are inspired in some autumn goodness! 

The tradition of bread baking began probably eight years ago or so. Before that, however, my mom would always make mini loaves during this time of year. Eight years ago is when I got involved and now take the reins with this tradition. And it's so much fun!

Every year since we started this tradition, we set aside one or two days, or more if needed, to make a bunch of loaves of bread. We choose to make mini loaves for several reasons, as opposed to regular sized loaves. The reasons for this are simple: we love sharing with friends and baking smaller loaves allows us to do that; we also prefer smaller loaves because they keep fresh longer; they freeze lovely; and we love pulling out a loaf here and there, throughout the year, and a mini loaf is the perfect size for our family. We pull it out, enjoy it for a day or two, and then it's gone. 

Over the years, our variety of bread has grown and changed. It started out with just banana nut bread. Then, I got a hold of some new and fun recipes and the tradition changed forever!

Here are some of the breads that we have made over the past several years...

~Banana Nut Bread

~Pumpkin Bread

~Pumpkin Apple Cider Bread

~Sweet Potato Cranberry Bread

~Vanilla and Chocolate Swirl

~Orange Cranberry Walnut Bread

~Apple Fritter Bread

~Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread (recipe shared yesterday)

Each year, we will choose about three or four to bake. This year our breads were: apple fritter (not pictured), pumpkin, banana nut, and orange cranberry walnut. I will hopefully be sharing recipes for each of these breads next month, so do keep your eyes open for that.

I hope you enjoyed this post and a little peek inside our yearly tradition of bread baking. We also always make Halloween Barmbrack (recipe shared last week), which we will be making today. 

Happy bread baking!