Four Ingredient Banana Bread Pancakes

This is probably one of the simplest breakfasts I make. While I do still love my other pancake recipe, this one is truly my favorite. Not only is it easy to make and incredibly delicious, it's gluten-free and totally healthy! The pancakes are soft and fluffy and taste remarkably like banana bread. Bananas are the sugar-free vegan's savior, because they're so sweet that you almost never need to use an additional sweetener (for example, banana ice cream - way better tasting than any non-dairy ice cream you can buy, and all naturally sweetened). I usually add chopped walnuts and occasionally chocolate chips, but feel free to add a spoonful of any nut butter, different types of nuts or candies, or really anything you can imagine - it's a good recipe to experiment with! Eating these pancakes is the perfect way to start the day! 

Four Ingredient Banana Bread Pancakes 

• 1 medium banana
• 1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• optional: 1 tablespoon each nuts, chocolate chips, carob chips, etc.

1) In a small bowl, mash the banana with the back of a fork until it's as smooth as you can possibly get it. Stir in flaxseed, vanilla, baking powder, and optional fillings until combined.

2) Lightly oil a non-stick frying pan and warm over medium heat. Pour batter into three pancakes (or you could try cooking one giant one, but it won't flip well) and cook for 5 to 6 minutes, until the underside is cooked. Flip and cook for several more minutes. 

Chocolate Mocha Cookies

What's that, you say? I essentially post nothing other than dessert recipes? Yeah, that's pretty true I guess. I promise, I do eat things other than cookies and cake! I don't know why it always works out this way. I will try to post some non-dessert recipes soon!

I'm not sure what to call these. They're almost like mini cakes, only more dense. I'm claiming they're cookies. Besides, the original recipe that I was working from was out of Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar, so I guess they really are cookies. However, these cookies are not only refined sugar-free, but also fat-free! And they still taste good too! The hint of coffee is perfect, but, if for some reason your digestive system doesn't like coffee, you could leave it out and throw in some chocolate chips instead (or peppermint extract, orange zest, etc. There's lots of flavor combinations you could try). If you want to add an icing, mix together 1 cup powdered sugar with 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1 tablespoon non-dairy milk until complete combined.

Chocolate Mocha Cookies

• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 1/2 cup maple syrup or agave nectar
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons instant coffee or 2 1/2 teaspoons coffee extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup white whole wheat flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons non-dairy milk, or more, as needed

1) Preheat oven to 350°. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

2) In a large bowl mix together applesauce and syrup for several minutes, until thick. Stir in extracts (or instant coffee). 

3) While stirring, sift in dry ingredients. Add non-dairy milk and continue to combine until a dough is formed. 

4) Roll dough into balls the size of walnuts and place on cookie sheets. Press down on the cookies until they are about 1 1/2" in diameter.

5) Bake for 10-12 minutes. Cool on cookie sheets for several minutes then transfer to wire rack and cool completely.

I don't know why I'm posting this, it doesn't even have a recipe

Is it really March 10th already? I think, if anything, running this blog has taught me that being a professional blogger is not a career that will ever be in my future. On that note, I have been spending a lot of time lately thinking about colleges... I honestly have no idea where to start in the process of looking at schools. My friends talk to their guidance counselors at high school, but since I'm homeschooled, I'm on my own. Unlike everyone else I know, I don't even have any idea what I'd like to do for a career.  I suppose something to do with food would be ideal, probably at a culinary arts school, but I don't think I'd be very comfortable working with (and eating...) non-vegan food.  It's scary and overwhelming to think about college, even though I know it shouldn't be such a big deal.  Thankfully, I'm only a junior, and I'm probably going to take a year off after school to get a job or volunteer or something, so I still have time.  


Anyway, my dad's birthday was this week, so this was my first chance to use my new Sticky Fingers Sweets cookbook, unadapted and with full sugar and fat.  Taking full advantage of that, I made the choco-raspberry dream (his choice), which is a decadent chocolate cake loaded with raspberry frosting and coated with a rich chocolate ganache. I'll admit, I had no idea what ganache is, and I still don't think I really understand. But what matters is that it tasted magnificent.  This cake was probably the most beautiful thing I've ever created. Really, really unhealthy, but beautiful. I'm not going to post the recipe, since it's not mine, but I'm sure a quick Google search would give it to you if you wanted - or you could just buy the book.

Hummus Crackers & Ginger Lemon Tart

I only have about 20 minutes of battery life left on my computer, so this has to be quick. I don't have any recipes of my own to post, but I wanted to post the links to some fantastic recipes I've made recently.

First is hummus crackers. Yes, crackers that are essentially hummus. I found the recipe for these delicious little pieces of heaven while perusing the hummus tag on Tumblr. I actually ate these with hummus, and it was like hummus-ception. These were pretty simple to make, and they tasted incredible. They're gluten-free too, if that's the sort of thing you like. The recipe is here.

Second is a lemon tart in a ginger cookie crumb crust. This is probably one of the most fantastic desserts I've eaten in a long time. It took essentially no effort to make, so I really would suggest you try it. The flavor is ridiculously good and the texture is perfect. Assuming you use gluten-free ginger snaps, it's gluten-free (there's a recipe link for the gf cookies with the tart recipe), plus it's refined sugar-free and SCD-friendly. Recipe here.