Banana Bread…Yum!

I am making banana bread using the recipe from this book…baking away in the oven as I write and the house smells so good.  I’m like Ann (see video)…I use the entire container of applesauce (I actually used a container of baby food prunes this morning) 🙂 .  I added a handful of dried blueberries and a small handful of extra dark chocolate chips.  I’ve learned over the past several months how much flavor a minimal amount of extra dark chocolate can add to plant based bread or muffins…and our daughters love the addition of a little extra dark chocolate (I like the Guittard brand).

This book has changed the course of my health for the better.  The recipes they offer make it easy to transition.

 

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Baked “Fried Rice”

Well, this was delicious!  I used red cabbage as I didn’t have any baby book choy in the fridge.  I didn’t have any cashews so I did not include those in the recipe as well but I bet it would be delicious.  The Jazzy Vegetarian’s recipes are all vegan and always turn out great!  You may find this recipe here.

Sunday Morning Treat

Well, these are certainly delicious and easy to make.

Here’s the recipe from Jazzy Vegetarian.

I used a combination of chopped pistachios, dried cranberries and vegan dark chocolate chips (2/3 cup combined total instead of 1/3 cup raisins and 1/3 cup vegan dark chocolate chips).

Enjoy!

Four-Ingredient Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Makes 16 to 18 Cookies

2 large, ripe bananas

1¼ cups rolled oats

1⁄3 cup raisins

1⁄3 cup vegan dark chocolate chips

Preheat the oven 375 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with unbleached parchment paper.

Put the bananas in a medium-sized bowl and mash with a potato masher or large fork until smooth. Add the oats, raisins and chocolate chips; stir to combine.

Using a cookie scoop or large spoon, drop a heaping tablespoonful of the cookie batter onto the lined baking sheet, gently flattening it with a rubber spatula or clean fingertips. Continue in this manner with the remaining cookie dough.

Bake for 13 to 17 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and cookies are almost set. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack and let cool for 10 minutes. Stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, cookies will keep for about 3 days.

 

 

If You Want to Treat Yourself…

If you want to treat yourself in 2019, here are a few of my favorite specialty food sources.

Rancho Gordo Beans

Simply, the best.  Their beans are always delicious and I love their vinegars, grains and spices as well.

Rancho Meladuco Dates

My husband gave me a box of these for Christmas.  By far the best dates ever…ever…ever.  Moist…delicious…superb!

BR Cohn Barrel Aged Vinegars

Another gift from my husband.  So tasty on greens or in a shrub (drinking vinegar…so refreshing in the summer).

Enjoy!

 

Thank You, CURESZ

A recent post about an article I wrote for CURESZ. Enjoy!

Out of a Great Need

I greatly appreciate CURESZ for giving me an opportunity to write an article from a caregiver’s point of view.  You may read the article here.

Our family proudly supports CURESZ.

Thank you, CURESZ, for making a difference in our lives.

Thank you, Bethany and Karen Yeiser, for your encouragement and inspiration.

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Word of the Year

My New Year’s post from my caregiving blog. Enjoy!

Out of a Great Need

Happy New Year 2019! Our daughters and I each choose a Word of the Year at the beginning of each New Year.  Our daughters made a mind map for their words for 2019.  I tend to make a mind map at the end of the year, reflecting on change and growth.

I tend to bring out the thesaurus and focus on the word’s different parts of speech and textual practices.  I tend to discover how much the word has impacted my life throughout the year when I do this.

I share my Word of the Year at the end of each year.  My word for 2018 was quiet.  I chose the word before I became so ill.  I must have sensed that my health was shifting.

Quiet had a lot to do with rest and shelter while stepping out and participating in each brand new day.

But it had quite a bit to do with listening, observing, and simply paying close…

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Right Now

Sharing this post from my caregiving blog. Happy New Year. ❤

Out of a Great Need

We can stand tall in our lives right now.  We don’t have to reach a specific milestone before we can appreciate what we have in our lives.  We don’t have to attain a particular goal to be worthy of love and acceptance.  We can participate in our lives just as we are…perhaps to a limited degree due to circumstances…but we can do it.  We can work toward our goals one small step at a time, all the while presently honoring ourselves and our loved ones along the way.

Today, this New Year’s Eve, we can take stock in what is right in our lives.

Wishing everyone health and happiness in the New Year.

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We Fall Down…But We Get Up

Today’s post from my caregiving blog. ❤

Out of a Great Need

We are just beginning to put our house back in order after Christmas.  I have been making an effort to organize and rest as well.  I am making peace with last year and my health continues to improve.

I went in for my final lab work early yesterday morning.  It wasn’t especially busy so Jerry, a phlebotomist who holds a very special place in our hearts, and I had time to talk.  Jerry has treated our younger daughter with such loving kindness since we made his acquaintance when her illness presented a decade ago.

We were talking about the holidays when he paused, looked at me…smiling with his eyes…and quietly said, “You’re still here.”

I’m still here.

We talked about pressing on…moving forward…climbing upward.

We are overcomers.

We don’t give up.

We may change course.

We may adjust our priorities…our goals…our approach…our boundaries.

But we don’t give up.

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Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!

Meditation on Gratitude

Take time to take a breath of gratitude during the holiday season.