Raw oreos

These are so addicting. But that's not necessarily a bad thing, since there are only seven ingredients and I can pronounce all of them. They're so delicious and so easy to make, the cookie batter can just get a little sticky to make sure you have parchment paper on hand! 

Ingredients: 
Cookies: 
3/4 cup oats
1 cup pitted dates (soak in water for about an hour or more)
2 tablespoons of raw cacao powder

Filling:
1/2 cup cashews
2 1/2 to 3 tablespoons liquid sweetener (I use maple syrup for this recipe)
2.5 tablespoons coconut oil (melted)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

Method: First, combine the filling ingredients in a food processor, put the mixture in a bowl with plastic wrap covering it, and put it in the fridge for about 3 hours. This will allow the filling to harden. Make your cookies but putting the ingredients in a food processor, then move the batter over to parchment paper (the batter will be sticky!). Using a cookie cutter or if you're artistic enough to make it circular on your own,  form the cookies, then place them in the freezer for about 15 minutes, allowing them to harden. Take them out, spread the filling on a cookie, and top it with another cookie.  If you want a softer cookie, keep them in the fridge. If you want a harder cookie, keep them in the freezer. I kept mine in the freezer for about three hours and they had a perfect texture, almost like an ice cream sandwich. Enjoy!

Note: I got this recipe from bakeanddestroy.net, I just made little adjustments :)

Gingerbread pancakes and 5 ways that you can #getyoursparkback

I don't know how it is where you are, but it's definitely getting cold in London! When the weather changes, my recipes change to fit the season, but before I share with you all the recipe for these delicious gingerbread pancakes, I wanted to share with you some tips that I live by, especially in the winter months! The team at Beechams wanted to know what I try to focus on in the winter to make sure I stay my best self, so here are some ways you can #getyoursparkback: 

1. Get enough sleep. Try shutting off all your electronic devices an hour before bed (I struggle a lot with this), read a good book and sip on some warm tea (caffeine free!) You’ll be telling your mind that you’re reading for bed, and your body will listen!

2. Stay hydrated (at least 8 glasses a day). I know this may seem difficult at first, but once you get used to it, you won’t go back! Carry your water bottle with you at all times, and drink even more right before and right after your meals. A quick tip is to mark goals on your water bottle using tape or a market (ex: 8oz by 10am)

3. Try to make time to exercise in the mornings. It’s getting darker earlier, so try to squeeze in a quick run or cycle when it’s light outside. After a long day at work or school, you’ll find that motivation will quickly fade as the days get shorter!

4. Eat healthy, warm meals (like mine!) instead of forcing cold salads on yourself. Cold meals when we're craving warm ones will leave us less satisfied, most likely resulting in overeating later in the day. Find healthier alternatives to comforting dishes, like my pumpkin gnocchi!

5. Try sneaking veggies into your meals, like adding spinach or kale to your berry smoothies or adding zucchini to your oats! Vegetables don’t have to be boring; you just have to get creative!

Now onto the recipe! Christmas is only two weeks away, pretty hard to believe. These pancakes are perfect for the holiday season, whether they're for your friends/family or all for you ;)

Ingredients: 

1/2 cup buckwheat flour

1 tsp baking powder

¼ tsp baking soda

½ tbsp ginger

1 heaping tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp lucuma powder** (optional but recommended)

1 banana (mashed)

½ cup almond milk

2 flax eggs* (2 tbsp of flax + 6 tbsp of water)

Coconut oil (for cooking)

*To make your flax eggs, combine the flax and water, and let sit in the fridge for at least thirty minutes, but preferably overnight.

**I recommend using this because it helps take away the flavor of the buckwheat flour. You could also use maca powder!

Method: First combine all your dry ingredients. Combine your banana, almond milk, and flax eggs in a separate bowl. Add the dry to the wet and stir well. Heat a nonstick pan over medium heat with a little bit of coconut oil, and pour about ¼ cup of batter onto the pan, allowing to cook for a minute or two, until it begins to bubble. Flip, and let the other side cook for the same amount of time. Top with your favorite fruit, nut butter, or maple syrup! 

Pumpkin spice gnocchi

Happy December!! I’m gonna be honest with you, I was shocked that this recipe worked. This pasta is so delicious and can take you ten minutes to make. I tossed it in a light basil pesto sauce, but you can use whatever you want!

Serves 1-2 people

Ingredients:

•   1/2 cup buckwheat flour

•   1/2 can pumpkin puree 

•   ½ tsp cinnamon

•   1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup (completely optional, depends on how sweet you want it)

Method: Simply combine all the ingredients into a bowl. Depending on the consistency of your pumpkin puree, your dough may or may not be too sticky to roll. f you're able to roll it, do so into pieces about the size of a tube of chapstick. If you're not able to roll it because it sticks to your hands, take a small spoonful of dough, and use a spoon or fork to pat down the sides of the spoonful until it has a cylinder-like shape. Bring a large bowl of water to a boil, and add your pieces. Don't worry if they lose their shape a little bit upon entering the water! Then, reduce the heat to medium and allow the gnocchi to cook for about 5 minutes, or until the pieces rise to the top of the bowl. Toss in your favorite sauce and enjoy!