Quinoa breakfast cakes ( or quinoa pancakes)

So as usual before we attempt anything in the kitchen we must "occupy the baby". Here we have Olivia enjoying my homemade granola. She could not get enough of it!

 These pancakes taste like quinoa cakes (perhaps since that is what they are made of). So if you like the taste of quinoa you will like these. They pack a great morning protein punch. I love them. The accountant is not so sure what he thinks of them. Original recipe was found in a flyer from the PCC.

Ingredients:
2 cups of quinoa flour (you can blend your own flour by simply placing the whole quinoa in a blender and blending)
2 Tablespoons of baking powder
1/4 teaspoon of baking soda ( I buy mine in bulk at Costco)
1/2 cup of raw organic cashews
1/8 a cup of organic extra virgin coconut oil, melted
2 cups of warm water
1 teaspoon of organic vanilla extract
1 teaspoon of lemon juice
1 teaspoon of organic maple syrup

 In blender grind cashews until fine like flour, then add oil, water, vanilla extract, lemon juice and maple syrup. Blend for 4 minutes.

 In a separate bowl place quinoa flour, baking soda and baking powder. Mix together.

 Next pour liquid mixture into flour mixture. Whisk together. If batter seems to thick add more water.

 Place a 1/4 of a cup of the batter on your non-stick, oiled (hopefully cast iron) griddle. Cook until done. Tastes great with applesauce. Serve!

 I ate these for lunch yesterday! Yummy.

Homemade Granola Recipe

This granola is so good! Basic simple ingredients. Yummy goodness. I made mine in less than an hour today after wedding shopping all morning yet again with my mom for decorations. Let me know what you think.

First occupy the baby...her new favorite thing to do. Push chairs around.

 She pulls all her toys out within minutes...spreading them everywhere.

 Okay. Baby is busy. Let's start.
Makes about five cups
Ingredients:
4 cups of regular or thick rolled organic oats
1/2 cup of organic raw nut of your choice. I used almonds
1/2 teaspoon of organic nutmeg
1 teaspoon of organic cinnamon
pinch of sea salt
1/2 cup of organic maple syrup
4 Tablespoons of organic extra virgin coconut oil, melted
1 teaspoon of organic almond extract
1/2 cup of organic Thompson raisins

Preheat oven to 325 degrees
Place all the dry ingredients in a large bowl except raisins

 In a small container place maple syrup, coconut oil (melted) and almond extract. Mix together.

 Mix wet ingredients together using hands.

 I caught baby just about to empty out my sugar bag.

 Place parchment paper on 2 or 3 cookie sheets. Spread a thin layer of the mix on the paper. Bake for 10-15 minutes, remove from oven, stir mix around. Place back in oven for another 10-15 minutes until light and toasty brown. Do not over toast.

 Place the hot cereal in a bowl. Add raisins. Toss together. Let cool completely.

 When cooled. Store in closed jar or container.

Enjoy with milk, yogurt and a drizzle of maple syrup and apples. Thanks PCC for the original recipe!Part of the tasty tuesday parade.

Homemade Energy/ Breakfast Bars

Today Olivia and I went on an outing with my mom to "do" some wedding stuff for my sister. We ended our journey in Redmond at the PCC to eat a late lunch and check out the organic cakes. While there I picked up a flyer that had these bars in them. They are great for an on-the-run breakfast or quick snack. You can mix up the ingredients in the recipe to suit your tastes. Here is what I did:

Makes 18 bars
Ingredients:
2 cups of quick cooking organic oats
1.5 cups of mixed almonds and peanuts and 1/2 a cup of organic raisins (you can use any combination of nuts, trail mix, chocolate chips, raisins, dried cranberries, walnuts, figs, and so forth as long as it equals a total of 2 cups.)
1/2 a teaspoon of salt (omit if you use salted nuts or trail mix)
1/2 cup of organic brown rice syrup
1/4 cup of honey
2 Tablespoons of oil (I used organic extra-virgin coconut oil)
1 cup of almond butter or any other nut butter ( I used organic peanut butter, it was all I had)

First in a bowl combine the oats, trail mix and salt. Mix together.

 Meanwhile on the cook top melt the brown rice syrup and honey together. Let simmer for 2-3 minutes, once it has melted.

 Then add the nut butter and oil of your choice. Stir together well.

 When the cook top mixture is all melted together pour into the dry mixture and stir until thoroughly combined.

 When evenly mixed press into an oiled 7 x 11 baking pan. Let cool.

 I put mine in the fridge to help it cool quicker.

 When cooled flip out onto a cutting board

 Cut into bars.

 Wrap in waxed paper or plastic to keep the bars from drying out.

These are great tasting moist little bars. They remind me of larabars in their texture. Thanks PCC for a great recipe!