COCONUT + ALMOND FLOUR PANCAKES

I was skimming a goop article last week (I have a love hate with all things goop - I appreciate the health angle, but I don't like that the average advertised clothing article is $480. You had me at hormone balancing but I disconnected with the suggestion of using $50 bath salts). Anyway. I liked the interview in the article and I jotted down this line to remember:

"The goal is to gain greater awareness of yourself on every level: what makes you tick and what makes you sick, what your passion and purpose are, what you want to express in your lifetime, and what makes you most fulfilled" ... "When you wake up to the awareness of who and what you are, you can discover the confidence to live your way, the courage to make choices that serve you best, and the compassion to be kind to yourself along the way—a compassion that inevitably ripples outward to others." - Dr. Frank Lipman

Both Hugh and I are trying to be proactive about growing/changing our businesses this year, and it has begged the question to explore what I actually like doing. I need to make a living, but if I am going to steer my ship towards something, where are we going? I make money in a number of different ways, where can I focus and do better, or perhaps expand? Or do we reroute completely? I think lulls in workflow are good for recalibrating, though honestly, I am mostly just super anxious :)

I listened to a recent One Part Plant podcast with Candice Kumai, and Jessica Murnane, the host, remarked on how confident Candice was, and asked if she came by that naturally. She responded that she believes we all have that in us, that the disclaimers and insecurity are there as masks to cover it up. What are you really good at, and you know it, but you're not making the most of it? How can you pursue those strengths and be a better boss lady, mom, giver, artist, worker, whatever? These questions are tough! But I am asking them. I thought I may find one of you in a similar place, in the midst of a recalibration. 

On food. Maybe you already make your pancakes in a blender, but I swear it makes the thought of making them feel like much less of a project. No clumps, not even a dirty spoon, and I can pour into the pan straight from the blender. These flapjacks (they really are quite thin) below have a decent amount of protein and good fats from the almond meal so they keep me full longer. 

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ALMOND + COCONUT FLOUR PANCAKES

Makes 12 small pancakes

As it goes with gluten free things that don't have any gums in them, these are super tender and delicate. I love them for that, I don't like a heavy baked good first thing in the morning. The trick to getting them to not break on the flip, is letting them cook through more on one side than you would a traditional wheat pancake that goes about 50/50 each side. I cook these about 70% through on the first side, so when I flip, they are pretty strudy and mostly cooked through.  I do not have an egg replacement I can pass on confidently, though I have had decent luck with one medium overripe banana mashed with 2 Tbsp. flaxmeal in their place. However, VERY delicate.

• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup almond milk or whatever milk you use
• 2 Tbsp. maple syrup
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 Tbsp. avocado or melted coconut oil or ghee, plus more for cooking
• 1/4 cup coconut flour
• 1 cup almond flour
• 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• pinch of salt

Into a blender, combine all of the ingredients. Run it until combined, about 30 seconds. This can also be done by hand, mix all the wet ingredients first, then mix in the dry to combine. Let the mixture hydrate for a minute.  Warm a skillet over medium heat. Use ghee or coconut oil to grease the pan. Make small, 3" pancakes. Cook them most of the way on one side, about 2 minutes, flip, and cook for another minute. Transfer to your plate. I like mine with plain coconut yogurt, berries and maple. Garnish as you wish!

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CURRY CAULIFLOWER

This is likely not the first time, nor will it be the last, you'll hear praises for Melissa's cookbook, The Minimalist Kitchen, in the food blogsphere. Over the last few years, Melissa has pared down her kitchen and cooking to focus her work on a "less is more" approach to food. It is concise and reasonable. Delicious by way of straight forward techniques. This recipe for example. I usually roast our cauliflower straight from florets, but the pre-steam made such a difference in their texture, more tender and gentle. I like them both ways. It's little things like that. I believe there are a few kinds of cookbook consumers; this book is for the person looking for quick, weeknight, crowd-pleasers made from ingredients you likely have in your pantry, or will have no trouble finding - Chilaquiles, Thai Spiced Rice Bowls, Make-Ahead Yeast Rolls - timeless sorts of things. She has tips for staying organized and decluttering your equipment and make ahead tips or pairings for nearly every recipe. It's a meal planners dream tool, really, a book to solve weeknight dinner issues. I plan on gifting to a handful of mom friends who just want real food, without the fuss. Not to mention HER HOUSE, which I have envied for years now, but that is a personal problem.
Cheers, Melissa, you nailed it. Now, where's my label maker?

CURRY CAULIFLOWER // Serves 4
From The Minimalist Kitchen by Melissa Coleman
Harissa is sold usually as more of a spice paste, but you can also purchase it dried. It is sold online, Trader Joes, and most health food stores.

1 large head of cauliflower, cut into small florets
2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp. sea salt
2 tsp. curry powder
1/2 tsp. harissa
1/8 tsp. cumin

plain yogurt, cilantro, toasted cashews (our personal additions for serving)

Preheat the oven to 450'. Line a baking sheet with parchment and set aside.

In a saucepan fitted with a steamer basket, add water to just below the bottom of the basket. Bring to a boil. Add the cauliflower, reduce the heat to medium, cover and steam for 5 minutes. This will begin the cooking process.
Transfer the cauliflower to the prepared baking sheet. In a small bowl, stir together the remaining ingredients. Drizzle over the cauliflower and toss to evenly coat. Bake for 15 minutes. Stir, and bake for another 15 minutes until the cauliflower begins to char on the edges. 
Taste and sprinkle with salt to finish. We served ours with plain yogurt, and garnished with toasted cashew pieces and cilantro. 

MEAL PREP SAUCES

MEAL PREP SAUCES

Thanks to those of you who commented and asked for the sauce ideas. I hear you! Let's make dinner better.
In this season of life, our meals are riffs on the same sort of thing, all made special by the rotation of a few sauces. As a girlfriend mentioned to me, "I can chop things for a salad or roast some vegetables, I just need to know how to make the sauces" - so hopefully this is helpful. The vinaigrette works on any sort of green salad, the mexi bowl sauce is what we put on tacos, stuffed peppers or burrito bowls, which happen weekly here. It is also great with scrambled eggs. The citrus tahini miso is the crowd favorite recipe from Bowl + Spoon. We use it over grain or noodle bowls, or any neutral seasoned roasted vegetable. They all are super easy, only one requires a blender, and they make meals come together so quick. Prep them on a Sunday, they store fine in the fridge for the week and use as needed. I also love this Vegan Caesar or this Green Harissa from the recipe index too.

I lean towards sauces being on the more acidic, zingy side. A few tips for "fixing" them when you wing it, or you misjudged the heat in your jalapeno, or perhaps my measurements here aren't to your taste:

too spicy? more sweetener
too salty? more of all the other ingredients, aside from the salty ones (soy, miso, parm, olives etc.)
too oily? more acid and herbs
flavorless? more acid and salt
too thick? water or citrus
too thin? blend in nuts, herbs, greek yogurt, avocado

// back pocket vinaigrette //

I put everything here in a jar with a lid and shake it up to mix. You could also whisk everything in a bowl or even whiz it in a blender, if preferred. I call for ACV here to use a pantry staple, but a squeeze of fresh lemon helps brighten everything here. I heart you forever, lemons.

2 Tbsp. minced shallot or red onion
2 tsp. dijon mustard
1 tsp. honey
1/2 tsp. sea salt
fresh ground pepper
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
1 Tbsp. grated parmesan
2 Tbsp. chopped parsley (1/2 tsp. dried oregano as a sub)
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

Into a jar with an available matching lid, combine the shallot, dijon, honey, salt, a few grinds of pepper, cider vinegar, parmesan, parsley and give it all a little swirl. Add the olive oil and shake it around to mix. Season to taste. 
Dressing will keep at room temperature for a day or two (the parm is fine), or in the fridge for a week. If the oil solidifies, just leave it at room temp for a few minutes before using. 

// mexi bowl sauce //

1 jalapeno, roasted over gas burners or broiled for 5 minutes
1 clove garlic
1/4 cup toasted pepitas
1 anchovy (optional but delicious, you wont even know its there)
3/4 tsp. sea salt
1 cup fresh cilantro
juice of one large lime
1 Tbsp. white or red wine vinegar
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup water
1 ripe avocado

Do a quicky roast to your jalapeno, I do this over the stovetop. Chop it up, avoiding some of the seeds in the center. Put the jalapeno in your blender, along with the garlic, pepitas, anchovy (if using), sea salt, cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, water and avocado. Blitz until smooth. Use citrus or vinegar to thin it if you prefer it thinner. It will firm up in the fridge. 
Best used within a few days. Will keep covered in the fridge for 5 days. 

// citrus tahini miso //
from Sprouted Kitchen Bowl + Spoon
I will say this yields enough for one meal? Depends how saucy you are. Double it if you'd like it on hand for more than one meal. 

1/2 cup tahini
2 Tbsp. yellow or white miso paste
1 Tbsp. honey or agave
2 tsp. sriracha
1 Tbsp. toasted sesame oil
1 Tbsp. rice vinegar
1 garlic clove, grated
1/4 cup citrus juice (orange or lime preferred)
2 Tbsp. water, more as needed
minced cilantro, optional
sea salt and pepper to taste

Into a bowl, combine the tahini, miso, honey, sriracha, sesame oil, rice vinegar, garlic, citrus juice, water and whisk everything until evenly combined. Taste and adjust as you wish. Whisk in fresh cilantro, if using. 
Keep the dressing stored in the fridge for a week.