Blueberry Super Pancakes

• 1 cup of whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (or more whole wheat)
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 cups non-dairy milk (I used unsweetened coconut)
• 2 tbsp ground flaxseeds
• 3 tbsp hemp (or sunflower) seeds
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 tsp almond extract
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 2 tbsp oil (canola, coconut, etc.- your choice)
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup blueberries (if using frozen, defrost them in a strainer under warm water)

1. Preheat your griddle over medium heat. Combine the flours and baking powder in a medium bowl. Set aside.
2. Place all remaining ingredients, except for the blueberries in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour the wet ingredients over the flour mixture and stir to combine. Some small lumps are ok- you don't want to over-mix the batter or the pancakes will be tough. Fold in the blueberries.
3. Cook on a heated griddle, flipping when the edges are bubbly.

To serve, spread margarine (I use Earth Balance) on top of warm pancakes, dust with powdered sugar, and squeeze a bit of lemon juice over the top.

Crockpot Oatmeal
Makes about 4 servings

• 1 cup oats of choice (I like oat groats)
• 3 cups of water (or recommended ratio of water +1 cup)
• Optional mix-ins: chopped apples, raisins, dried, cranberries, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, etc.

1. Put oats, water, and mix-ins in crockpot and turn on low overnight*.
2. To serve, I stir in 2 tablespoons of raw almond butter and top with a bit of unsweetened vanilla almond milk.

*Tip: If you find that your oats are sticking to the crockpot, try adding a bit more water the next time or use a holiday light timer to turn your crockpot off for you while you're still getting your beauty sleep!

Leftovers can be refrigerated and re-heated in the microwave with a little non-dairy milk. Feel free to get creative with the optional mix-ins!

Here are a few of my recent favorite Costco finds:

• Organic spinach
• Organic apples
• truRoots organic products- beans, lentils, rice, quinoa
  
• Hannah organic hummus, single serving packs
• Hadley pitted dates
• Farro (a hearty Italian grain)
• Garofalo organic whole wheat spaghetti
• Organic Sunmaid raisins
• Organic applesauce
• Organic soymilk
• Nature's Path organic Ancient Grains cereal
• Ecover automatic dishwasher tablets
• Kirkland enviromentally friendly liquid dish soap
• Real maple syrup
• Veggie Patch falafel chickpea balls (for quick lunches)
• Marcona almonds- yummy salty/crunchy snack!

Do you shop in bulk or at a warehouse store? If so, what's on your shopping list?

Makes 1 serving

1/2 cup water
4-5 ice cubes
1 large handful of raw spinach
1 ripe banana, peeled
1 orange, peeled
2 tablespoons raw pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
2 heaping teaspoons of Vega Tropical Shake and Go Smoothie mix
1 inch piece of vanilla bean (optional)

Dissolve the yeast in the warm (not hot!) water then add 1/2 teaspoon of sugar. Set aside to "proof" for 10 minutes. It should foam up if the yeast is active. If it does not, your yeast may not be active or the water may have been too hot.

Combine the olive oil, cool water, 1 tbsp sugar, and salt.

Put the flour in the bowl of a mixer or food processor. With the mixer/processor running, add the oil mixture then the yeast mixture.

When the dough forms a ball, remove from the mixer/processor and place on a lightly floured surface. Knead until smooth.

Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl and cover. Let rise for about 1 hour.

These were easy to make using a food processor and they tasted perfect!

I started with this recipe from Oh She Glows and it worked really well. I used the same ingredients and measurements.

Here are the steps that I followed:

1. Place the chopped dates in the food processor and process until they start to stick together and ball up. Remove them from the food processor and place them in a bowl. Set aside.
2. Place the cashews, chocolate chips, cinnamon, and vanilla in the food processor and process until the nuts are finely chopped.
3. Add the nut mixture to the dates and mix together as best you can.
4. Place a piece of plastic wrap on the counter and pour/plop the mixture onto the plastic. Fold the plastic over the mixture to keep it from sticking to your hands and knead it until it all sticks together and you can form it into bars. Divide the mixture into two or three pieces and form into bars (using the plastic wrap to shape them to keep them from sticking to your hands). Wrap the bars in plastic and refrigerate.