Healing Spiced Turmeric Tea

My dad told me today that it was just so awesome that Todd's inflammation levels are back to normal and how much better he's doing than half a year ago. He then told me, nonchalantly, that I am "some witch-doctor"...thanks...Dad... Well, Mr. Todd is sick today. He's got a stomach bug/flu or something. So, being my witch-doctor self, I recalled a kind of turmeric "tonic" or other, on the world wide web. I decided that this was exactly what my one true love needed...among Aleve.

Turmeric is quite the powerful little spice. It's a strong anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory little root that is a vibrant orange-yellowish color and will stain anything it touches. Head on over to Refinery 29 to read this short, informative article on Why Turmeric Might Just Be The Healthiest Spice Of All Time and then promptly go make this tea!

My Healing Spiced Turmeric Tea is...dare I say reminiscent of eggnog? Throw a bit a rum in and it really would! Among turmeric, it has nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamon, black pepper, and ginger. Wait, this seems to be venturing into Chai territory? Well, either way, it's base is silky coconut milk, and with the addition of xanthan gum it really makes this tea super creamy and dreamy. The vanilla and maple syrup add a comforting, sweet note.

Healing Spiced Turmeric Tea

Inspired by Simple Veda

Makes 2 cups

• 2 cups coconut milk (from carton, I like Silk)
• 1 Tbsp. ground turmeric
• 1 Tbsp. fresh ginger paste (or chopped ginger root)
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• a dash of freshly ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp. ground cardamom
• 1/4 tsp. xanthan gum powder (optional) 
• 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
• pinch of black pepper
• 1 Tbsp. maple syrup

In a small saucepan, combine all the ingredients except the maple syrup and whisk vigorously to combine over medium heat. Continue to whisk every so often, until the tea is almost boiling.

Remove from heat and whisk in the maple syrup. Strain through a fine mesh strainer and serve hot!

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Healthy Pumpkin Maple Pecan Oat Muffins

Did you know October is non-GMO month? Yep, it is! Sugar is one of those rampant GMO foods, so if you're trying to avoid genetically modified foods or just don't want your sugar manufactured by using the bones of cattle (yes, it's a thing...I talk about it briefly here), then get yourself some ethical sugar! You might be laughing at me, but I don't care. There's such a thing, and I like Zulka. Bet you didn't know that sugar could be such a big time downer, but guess what? I've got something to cheer you straight up! These Healthy Pumpkin Maple Pecan Oat Muffins! There's no flour, oil, eggs or butter in them! Doesn't that make you happy? However, if you're like me, anytime you see "no flour, oil, eggs, butter, etc..." you run far, far away from these type of recipes. However, I promise you that these are healthy as well as delectable! Try them out for yourself.

Healthy Pumpkin Maple Pecan Oat Muffins

Inspired by Examiner

Makes 12 muffins

• 2 Tbsp. ground flax seed
• 1/4 cup cold water
• 1/2 cup pecans, chopped small
• 2 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats, dry
• 1 cup pumpkin puree, canned
• 1/3 cup vegan sugar (I always use Zulka)
• 2 Tbsp. pure maple syrup
• 5 oz. plain vegan yogurt (I used Silk)
• 1 tsp. maple extract
• 1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. ground cloves

Preheat the oven to 350 F.

Flax is first. To make the two flax eggs, in small bowl add the ground flaxseed then add in the cold water and whisk to combine. Place in the fridge until ready to use.

Chop the pecans very small and scatter them evenly on a baking sheet. Toast at 350 F for about 10 minutes or until fragrant. Careful not to let them burn! When done, remove them from the oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet. Leave the oven on.

In a food processor, add the dry oats and pulse until very fine and a  flour-like texture is achieved.

Add in the remaining ingredients including the flax eggs, but not the pecans. Pulse until smooth and well combined. Now, fold in the pecans until incorporated evenly. 

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Coat a regular muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray and distribute the batter evenly. 

Bake at 350 F for about 15 minutes or until the tops of the muffins spring back when poked. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes in their pan. Then, gently remove them and place on a wire cooling rack to finish cooling. 

Serve for breakfast (like me!) or as a snack or even for dessert! Store in an airtight container.

Also, I thought I'd share this pretty little quote. So eat these nutritious muffins and be happy. It's good for your healthy after all!

I'm listening to The Features – How It Starts

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Coconutty Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

I tried kickboxing today. I'm still not sure how I avoided paralyzing myself. It was pretty tough, and it really made me realize how impossibly uncoordinated I am. Kickboxing is surprisingly very satisfying...especially if you're having a bad day. I knew if anyone saw me doing this activity they would think I was suffering from a seizure or transforming into a zombie or something, so I definitely did it on my lunch hour...in my office...in my scrubs. I have no dignity. I am sure it was a sight to behold. I have to say I was exceedingly delighted and terribly grateful to have somehow had the entire hour of flailing limbs to myself, without any interruptions...obviously.  I wanted to tell you all, one of my most beloved things about having this blog are all the emails I get from readers. I don't might actually keep them all stashed away like a super creep or some obsessed teenage girl. Yes, every single one of them. I treasure them! On average, I get about two or three per day. Readers email me with questions regarding different food items or to tell me that they love the blog and the recipes or just to plain chit chat.

I love them all. So keep them coming my friends! I'd love to post some of these emails because some of them are so incredibly lovely and sweet, however, since they were emailed to me personally, obviously, I couldn't do that. So I will just have to hoard them instead. My preciousesss. Oh and please, please, please for the love of god, use the voicemail feature! It's my favorite! 

Okay, enough sappiness! Onto the greatest recipe that has ever graced my lips! Coconutty Cinnamon Roll Pancakes. Unrefined coconut oil and coconut milk flavor these pancakes with a creamy, rich coconutty flavor in addition to all the gooey deliciousness of a fresh, hot cinnamon roll and drizzled with a sweet, coconut flavored icing. 

LORD ON HIGH. Alright, I don't know what that means really (I am not a religious person) but a friend used it in an email to me and it somehow seemed incredibly appropriate here. This is one mind-numbingly delicious breakfast.

Ehhhh...let's be real here. At this point it's pretty much just a cake. If you thought Todd and I had this for dessert though, you'd be wrong. Oh, for breakfast right? That makes sense. Pancakes = Breakfast. No, still wrong. We had these delicious mofos for dinner cus that's how we roll, yo! It's like having dessert and breakfast for dinner and seriously, what is better than that? Nothing. It's heaven on earth. Now let us thank the food gods for this unbelievably delicious meal. 

Prepare yo self!

Coconutty Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

Inspired by Recipe Girl and McCormick

Serves 2-3

• --The Egg--
• 1 Tbsp. ground flaxseed
• 2 Tbsp. cold water
• --The Cinnamon Filling--
• 4 Tbsp. vegan butter, room temperature
• 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp. packed brown sugar
• 1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon 
• --The Icing--
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 Tbsp. unrefined coconut oil, melted
• 2 Tbsp. coconut milk (carton, I like Silk)
• 1/2 tsp. Kahlua or vanilla extract
• --The Pancakes--
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. xanthan gum (optional)
• 1 cup carton coconut milk (I like Silk)
• 1 Tbsp. unrefined coconut oil, melted

Flax is first. To make the flax egg combine the ground flaxseed and water in a small bowl and whisk very well. Place in the fridge until ready to use.

To make the cinnamon filling, add all of the ingredients to a small zip-lock bag and squeeze/knead until well mixed. Careful not to let it burst out the top! Once it is well mixed, cut a very small hole in one of the corners and place in the fridge until ready to use. 

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To make the icing, add all the ingredients to a small bowl and whisk until very smooth. Add additional milk if needed. Set aside until ready to use. 

To make the pancakes, whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt together in a large mixing bowl. Then add in the milk, the flaxseed egg, and the oil. Mix until just combined.

Over medium-high, heat a large frying pan and coat with a nonstick cooking spray. Add 1/4 cup of pancake batter to the pan. Allow the pancake to cook until the edges start to form bubbles, about two minutes, then "pipe" a swirl of the cinnamon filling onto the pancake, as such. Careful not to let it get too close to the edges of the pancake.

Then, flip the pancake over and allow the other side to cook for about 30 seconds. You don't want to leave it flipped for too long or else the filling may begin to burn. Some of the melted filling will seep out from beneath the pancake and that's okay. Remove the pancake from the pan once cooked through and place on a plate.

Before making a new pancake, take a paper towel and whip the pan, taking care not to burn yourself! This will help get some of the remaining filling off the pan so it doesn't burn. Continue with the rest of the batter.

Serve the pancakes stacked high, hot and drizzled with the coconut icing. No need for maple syrup or butter!

What am I listening to? Kate Nash – Mariella

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