THE easiest pancakes you will ever make!

Quick and Simple breakfast right here- Banana pancakes with only 2 ingredients.
And did I mention they are DELICIOUS! Your kids will LOVE them!!
Top with some good quality coconut cream and nuts and you have a delicious rounded meal to start your day.
Full of protein, good fats and carbohydrates to nourish and fuel your body.

Recipe:

1 Banana

2 eggs

1 egg white

Method:

Pop all ingredients in a blender and whizz until bubbly.

Over a low heat, melt a little coconut oil in a pan and drop in 3-4 tablespoons of mixture.

Flip once it starts to bubble.

This mix makes about 3 pancakes.

Remember not to have your pan too hot as the natural sugar in the banana will burn very easily.

Top with whatever you like- I have used coconut cream, organic maple syrup, walnuts and some bee pollen.

You could top with berries, coyo, more banana, or a raw chocolate avo mousse for a special occasion. 

Perfect gluten free, dairy free, paleo friendly meal.

AND I'm very excited for my lovely friend Jodie (you may remember her as a guest blog post here)

She launched her cookbook 'One Nourished Life' yesterday- I cannot recommend this book enough- it is full of delicious recipes and ideas on how to live a nourished, happy, healthy, vibrant life. It features easy to follow recipes, meal plans, exercise ideas, how to stock your pantry and notes on sustainable living and creating a vegetable patch your neighbours will envy!

Follow her on Instagram here and repost to win a copy of her book and some delicious Soma Bites. You can order her book online at www.onenourishedlife.com or pop into Anytime Fitness Horsham to pick up your copy!

Everybody love parfait...with home made, gluten free, sugar free granola... New recipe

I love parfait! Omnomnomnom. It's my favourite breakfast, it ticks all the boxes. Tangy fruit, smooth yoghurt, crunchy granola. Tick, tick tick.
This is the recipe for my yummy granola (toasted muesli) Full of protein, healthy fats and good carbohydrates to kick start your morning. Make it in bulk and store it in an air tight jar- sprinkle it on smoothies, yoghurt, icecream (my healthy version) or just eat it with a spoon straight from the jar!

Recipe
6 Hazelnuts
6 walnuts chopped
6 almonds chopped
6 cashews chopped
1 tablespoon pepita
1 tablespoon sunflower seeds
1 teaspoon sesame seeds
1/3 cup quinoa flakes or certified organic oats
1 teaspoon rice malt syrup

Method
Pre heat oven to 150 degrees C (less if fan forced).
Line oven tray with grease proof paper (I use silpat mats)
Toast hazelnuts for 5 min or until skin peels off. Rub off skins in tea towel.
Roughly chop.

Add all ingredients together in bowl and coat with rice malt syrup

Spread out on tray and toast in oven, stirring 2-3 time until every thing is golden.
Leave to cool and becomes deliciously crunchy.

Back into running and my chocolate protein smoothie

Today I went for my first run in nearly 9 months. It's been just over 5 weeks since Jimmy was born (naturally) and I've been busting to have a little jog each time I take the kids for a walk in the pram. Cue pelvic floor exercises!!
After I had Pippa I took up running, and completed my first half marathon when she was about 15 months old. I love running. It is my version of meditation, and I get such a high after a good jog.

I wasn't allowed to run throughout my 2nd pregnancy due to a possible incompetent cervix (I had surgery to remove about 1/3 of my cervix due to grade 3 precancerous cells just before falling pregnant- get your pap tests ladies- they save lives!!). I got the all clear to exercise at 25 weeks, but by then I was too big to consider taking up running again. I really didn't care, I was just happy to have made it to 25 weeks with no trouble!

Yesterday while on our walk I tried a couple of little jogs to see how it felt, and while pushing two kids in a pram was bloody tough (about 20+kgs to push) the jogging felt really good (if it was only for about 50m at a time). So today I decided to head off on my own. It was a beautiful, sunny winters day, perfect conditions for a light jog. I've just downloaded the Lorna Jane app, so I thought I'd trial it instead of my old run keeper.
After a little warm up, off I went. And surprised myself how far I went! I managed nearly 4km, at a nice leisurely pace and a couple of stops thanks to a pesky shoelace. I was puffing but surprisingly i didn't die in the ass at the 1km mark!
Hopefully I can get out of bed tomorrow!

After every run I always refuel my muscles and aid recovery with protein- today, in the form of a shake. I thought I'd mix it up- and because I'm breast feeding I'm burning extra calories, so I added in extra nutrients to fuel my milk supply (protein is great for milk production).

This smoothie would be perfect for breakfast (or any meal really!) It's sweet, chocolatly and packed with protein, healthy fats, fibre and lots of super foods.
 Recipe
1 scoop of protein powder (I use plain whey protein isolate)
1/4 avocado
1 cup almond milk (of fluid of choice)
1 table spoon raw cacao powder
1 teaspoon maca powder (optional)
1 teaspoon chia seeds
3 madjool dates (pitted)
4 walnuts
2 tablespoons of greek yoghurt (optional)
Whizz in blender top with cacao nibs and bees pollen for yummy crunch!

Green smoothie

A revolution is upon us! A green smoothie revolution!
If you haven't already caught on to the green smoothie craze, you best read on.

I don't know anyone who doesn't like a good smoothie. Fast to make, easy to eat (One handed eating essential for me at the moment as I breastfeed my 2nd child on demand) and so simple to pack in all the goodness you need for a perfect balanced meal.

I always made smoothies, mostly protein smoothies for breakfast, but it was only just recently that I was swayed into adding some big leafy greens to my smoothie for a nutrition hit. It took a while to get my head around adding spinach or kale into my recipe, and since I nearly always used frozen blueberries they always ended up looking like I was drinking brown sludge....
But... you can't taste the spinach... so close your eyes and forget it's there- just enjoy the health benefits that come with adding these super greens to you meal.
Spinach has so many goodies packed into it- it's extremely rich in antioxidants, a rich source of Vit A, Vit C, Vit E, Vit K, magnesium, manganese, folate, betaine, iron, Vit B2, calcium, potassium, Vit B6, folic acid, copper, high protein, phosphorus, zinc, niacin, selenium and omega-3 fatty acids. And breathe, that was a long list.
It has double the fibre of other greens, it's high in beta-carotene which supports heart health, fights cancer and keeps your eyes healthy

My daughter loves her green smoothie, and if I can get all that goodness into her in one meal I'm pretty happy!

So, what else do I pack into my smoothie on a daily basis?
Well, I start with the base recipe-
Almond milk (or whatever fluid you like- water, milk, soy- add as much or as little- eat-it-with-a-spoon consistency or drink it)
1 tblsp chia
1 tblspn flax meal
1 scoop of protein powder (I use unflavoured, but you could use vanilla, banana etc)
1 teaspoon maca powder (optional)
2 cups of spinach (fresh or frozen)

Add in any fruit you like
This recipe I have banana and frozen mango (thanks Coles for stocking it now!)
other favourites are frozen blueberries, raspberries, fresh kiwi, pear- anything your heart desires.
Top with some goji berries, pepitas, walnuts and bees pollen for a bit of crunch factor ;)

Chocolate walnut breakfast mousse

Another delicious breakfast by the Holistic Ingredient, so simple and full of awesome super foods- walnuts, cacao, chia seeds, avocado, macs powder and cinnamon.

You can make any flavour of mousse with chia seeds. Omit the cacao powder, and instead you could put in your favourite flavoured protein powder ( I have cookies and cream Whey protein isolate) although you probably would have to take out the sweetener if you did this. 

Or pop in some peppermint essence, or orange rind to make choc peppermint or jaffa mouse.

Apprx 1.5 cups almond milk (or milk of choice), add more if you prefer a runnier smoothie
1/3 cup of walnuts, or about 20 g
1/4 of an avocado
2 tblspns chia seeds
1 tblspn raw cacao (or to taste, I like my chocolate intense, I added an extra half tablespoon)
2 heaped tspns maple or rice malt syrup, or sweetener of choice, to taste
1 heaped tspn maca powder (optional)
1 heaped teaspoon raw cacao nibs
1/4 tspn cinnamon
Pinch of vanilla powder (or essence)
Pinch salt

Leave half the walnuts and cacao nibs aside. Throw the rest of your ingredients into the blender and blend until really smooth. Top with the cacao nibs and remaining walnuts. I would recommend making this the night before or at least half an hour before you eat it to allow the chia seeds to soften.

Pumpkin coconut pancakes with coconut fluff

Don't let the name fool you- these pancakes are sweet and delicious!!
A lovely friend of mine posted these on her Instagram account the other week. Foodporn at it's best!
She was kind enough to share her recipe with me- and happy to spread the love to my lovely blog followers.
I have tried (and failed) numerous times to make pancakes that are gluten free. They were always a disaster- falling apart when flipping, tasting uncooked. Frustrating and disappointing!!
These babies were easy and lovely to make! You need to leave them to cook for a little longer than a normal pancake, allowing them to get a good crust on the outside before gently flipping. And don't try and make them too big- I found the best size to make them was around the size of a large coffee mug base.

Recipe
3/4 cup pumpkin puree
3 eggs
1/2 tin coconut milk,
3 tablespoons of coconut flour
1teaspoon of cinnamon (or whatever spices you like) I put a drop of vanilla stevia in mine.
1/4 teaspoon bicarbonate,
pinch of Himalayan salt.

Sift flour, bicarb and spices and then whisk together with wet ingredients until a smooth batter forms.
In a medium hot, nonstick pan, spray coconut oil and dollop in batter. Cook until golden crust is formed, gently flip.

Coconut fluff-
Pop coconut cream in fridge until it sets.
Scrape off top layer of cream and whizz with beaters until 'fluff' forms.
Top with walnuts and enjoy!

Thanks Kate for your wonderful recipe!

Avocado coconut and lemon cheesecake

Stuck for yummy, nutritious ideas for dessert....or breakfast?
The best thing about eating healthy foods is that it doesn't matter what time of day you have them.
This lovely recipe is from my favourite blog- The holistic Ingredient. www.theholisticingredient.com
I sprinkled mine with a new found goodie 'bee pollen' - a powerful antioxidant, and some cacao nibs.

Overnight avocado, coconut and lemon 'cheesecake'.
Serves 1 and is best made the night before or at least 30 minutes before eating.

For the crust into your blender throw:
1 heaped teaspoon cacao nibs
1 small handful walnuts
1 dessert spoon coconut flakes
1 fresh medjool date

Blend until you reach your desired consistency. Mine is quite fine in this photo, next time I'll leave it crunchy for optimum consistency. Pop this into the base of your glass or dish.

For the 'mousse'
1/3 large or 1/2 small avocado
1/3 cup coconut milk
1/3 banana
1 tablespoon 100% whey protein powder (optional)
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1 tablespoon greek or natural yoghurt
1.5-2 tablespoons lemon juice (or 5 teaspoons!)
1 teaspoon lemon rind, grated
1 teaspoon maca powder (optional)

Throw all of the ingredients into your blender and blend until smooth. Pour over your base and leave in the fridge overnight or on the bench for 30 minutes to allow the chia seeds to soften. Grab a teaspoon and go for your life!

Breakfast parfait

'Everybody loves parfait' 

Quote one of my favourite movies... Yes, Shrek! 

Sunday's are our family day in the McDonald household, and usually we would head out for breakfast, but since it's bitterly cold here we stayed in our cosy house and I cooked up what I would normally order at our fav cafe. 

Home made granola with blueberries, raspberries and Greek yoghurt. 

My granola is very simple- chuck together the following- 

Cashews and almonds (smashed up in a pestle and mortar), pepitias, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, coconut, oats, quinoa flakes and walnuts. 

Quantities are up to you depending on what you like most (I love walnuts so I put heaps in) it really doesn't matter.

1tbsp coconut oil, melted. 

Add coconut oil to nut mix, stir, coating as much as possible. Spread out on baking paper (I use silpat mats) and roast in oven on 150'C stirring frequently to make sure it doesn't burn. 

Take out of oven, let cool, then add in tblsp flax meal and tblsp chia seeds (if you like)

Alternate layers of granola with full fat Greek yoghurt and fruit. 

Lunch! Sweet cacao omelette by The Holistic Ingredient

Delicious sweet omelette, topped with Greek yoghurt and blueberries. Easy, fast lunch!
This lovely lady has a wonderful ebook I suggest you check out and buy!!! http://theholisticingredient.com/a-nourishing-kitchen-ebook/