Blender Waffles

 

Blender Waffles

1/4 cup dates, pitted

1/4 cup cashews

2 Tbsp. flax seeds

2 cups oats, gluten free if necessary

1 cup corn meal
1/2 cup Bob's Red Mill Gluten-free Mighty Tasty hot cereal
(you can substitute additional brown rice flour  for the Mighty Tasty cereal if desired)

1/2 cup brown rice flour

1 tsp. salt

5 cups water

Preheat waffle iron.  Be sure it is conditioned or brush with a teaspoon of olive oil so waffles wont' stick.

Add half the water to blender.  Then add dates, cashews, and flax seeds.  Blend on high until well mixed and nuts and seeds are ground.  Then, add oats, corn meal, Mighty Tasty cereal,  brown rice flour, and salt.  Add remainder of water and blend until very smooth.  If your blender is not large enough, mix in batches, then pour into a mixing bowl and stir batches together.

Fill waffle iron and close lid.  Bake about 6 minutes or until light goes off.  Be sure the waffle iron is preheated before every application so that waffles don't stick.

This makes a delicious, nutty waffle.  This is a variation of a waffle recipe that my friend, Barbara, from Wildflower Morning Recipes shared.  So, thank you Barbara for a great idea!  If you have any left-over waffles, they can be placed in a zip-lock bag and stored in the freezer until ready to use.  Place in toaster when ready to eat.  This recipe is vegan, gluten-free, and uses 100% whole foods.

Plants and Little Trees

 

Houseplants are beneficial to home and health.  Houseplants have the ability to remove toxins from the air.  Studies have shown that houseplants can remove 87% of toxins within a 24 hour period.  Plants also have a soothing and calming effect on the body, helping people live healthier lives.  Individuals who live in homes or who work in offices with plants have a 30% reduced chance of fatigue, coughs, sore throats, and other symptoms of colds.  Not only do houseplants have benefits for air quality and health, but they provide beauty to the home decor.

Assorted plants grace my home.  How about yours?  African violets, ferns, begonias, sweet potato vine, decorative pepper plants, scented geranium, ivy, and more fill home spaces and provide life to the decor.  I've also been tending little trees.  They are somewhat challenging at times, but well worth the extra attention.  Ficus and variegated ficus trees are fairly common, but I love their shiny leaves and airy branches.  They can grow to the ceiling and look great with little white lights added to their branches!  This past year I added several other trees to our home.  A camellia sinensis, commonly known as the source of tea leaves, is growing nicely in a pot, but it taking some tender loving care during the winter months.  It appears to love sunlight, of which we have very little on some weeks these days.  The coffee plant seems to thrive and is not particular as long as it receives water and natural light.  And the lovely bay laurel tree is thriving!  Winter hasn't seemed to slow it down and new leaves continue to be added to its splendor.  Bay laurel is known for its aromatic qualities and the leaves are commonly added to soups and stews to enhance flavor.  As January nears its end, I look forward to spring when the little trees can be set outside on the porch to grow in the sunshine again!

What are your favorite houseplants?  Do houseplants have a place in your home?

Quinoa Pancakes

It's pretty cold across most of the nation.  Cold weather and healthy carbs are a satisfying combination.  The desire to hibernate is present, so instead of tanking up on low-density carbohydrates, choose healthy, whole grains instead.  How about pancakes for breakfast?   

 

Quinoa Pancakes

1 1/2 cups quinoa flour
1/2 cup brown rice flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. vitamin C crystals
3 Tbsp. olive oil
2 cups water or fruit juice

Mix together flours, baking soda, salt, and vitamin C crystals. Combine the oil with water or juice and wire whisk them together. Create a well in the flour mixture. Add the liquid and stir together. Bake pancakes on hot griddle until dry on top and browned on the bottom. Turn and cook the second side.

Serve with pure maple syrup. Garnish with something colorful and pretty like an orange wedge, banana slices, or fresh strawberry. Enjoy!

Makes 2 dozen pancakes.

 

*If you can't find quinoa flour, try blending whole quinoa in your blender and making it freshly ground.  Make your own vit. C crystals by pulverizing a vitamin C tablet from your medicine cabinet.

Nutty Rice Salad

 

Nutty Rice Salad

This salad is one that never turns out the same, simply because I always use seasonal ingredients or what I have on hand.  It's tasty and wholesome and oh, so good!  Here's the basic recipe and you can adapt it to suit your needs.

3 cups cooked brown rice

Add chopped raw vegetables such as:

2 peeled and diced zucchini (small)

1 diced sweet onion

1 diced green pepper

3 stalks celery

Add nuts and seeds such as:

1/2 cup chopped almonds

1/3 cup coursely ground sunflower seeds

1/4 cup sesame seeds

Add herbs such as:

1/4 cup chopped Italian parsley

Add dressing such as:

2 - 3 Tbsp. olive oil

1 lemon, juiced

Add seasonings such as:

salt

Italian seasoning

Bill's Best Chicknish'

garlic powder

onion powder

Mix, chill, and enjoy!

Other things you can add or substitute are:  carrots, red peppers, corn, kidney beans, garbanzo beans, cilantrao, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, pecans, etc. and etc.  You are only limited by your imagination!  Have fun!

Primrose Perk

 

Have you noticed the seasonal blooming flowers that are showing up at the supermarket?  This week I found colorful primroses and miniature daffodil plants in bloom.  At first I was disappointed that the primrose plants were so small, but the blossoms were so cheerful, I bought some to bring home anyway.  They sat on my kitchen counter for a few days while I tried to figure out how I would display them. While watering my plants, I realized that my large terrarium was looking a bit scant and tired, so I decided that the primroses would perk it up considerably.  They fit in nicely and really sparked things up!  It's fun to have a little bit of spring in my living room on a January day.

If you haven't already checked in from the previous post, please do!

Thinking of You!

 

It has been fun sharing "afternoon tea" with you during National Hot Tea Month.  We have one more week to celebrate! As a thank you to Gracious Hospitality readers, I am offering this little teacup and pansy cross-stitched needlework.  I will be drawing a name from those who enter by posting a comment on this post.  Please leave a comment here, telling either (a) something you have learned about afternoon tea by reading my blog or (b) one of your favorite memories of sharing afternoon tea with someone you care for.  In order to qualify, please sign up to be a Gracious Hospitality "Follower" on Google Friend Connect (scroll down on the left side of this page to find the "Follow" button).  Comments will be closed at noon on Friday.  Thanks!  I look forward to hearing from you!

CONGRATULATIONS TO MARILYN FROM DELIGHTS OF THE HEART FOR WINNING THE DRAWING FOR THE LITTLE CROSS-STITCH PICTURE.  IT WILL BE IN THE MAIL SOON!