Edible Things: Clean Eating Pumpkin Pancakes.

So - This last week, I decided to go all in on the clean-eating trend. I have a book that a dear friend gave me a couple years ago by Tosca Reno entitled, "The Clean-Eating Diet Recharged," and I have picked through it in the past, but never felt like I had the energy to do it full force (and you really can't half-ass this. It's not called "Kinda-Clean-Eating" for a reason). I bought the groupon for the clean-eating e-meals recipes and have been making super yummy and filling meals all week that include (to name a few) chicken parmesan, sage and pear pork chops with collard greens (I wasn't raised eating pork, y'all... This one was a surprise to me. DELISH), and today, I am making a stout beer pot roast with roasted veggies and brown rice. I am excited. AND I feel great. 

This morning, I awoke with a pumpkin pancake craving like no other. If you know me, this is a bit unusual because I don't tend to gravitate toward pancakes. Anywho, I think the craving consisted mainly of the need for pumpkin and dark chocolate. I went online and found a good basic, 4-ingredient clean eating pancake recipe (that also happens to be gluten-free) and tweaked it a bit. Check out Broke and Bougie's original post HERE.

Ingredients:

• 4 egg whites 
• 1 cup Old Fashioned Oats 
• 1 banana
• 2 teaspoons vanilla 
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 pinch of nutmeg
• 1 dash of pumpkin spice 
• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips 

(bold = my modifications)

Blend all the ingredients, minus the chips. Add the chips after blending. Use a coconut oil cooking spray on a hot skillet and make each pancake using 1/4 of the batter (In case you are math deficient like me, that makes 4 pancakes). Top with some maple syrup. Roger dodger, over and out.

Ive made gluten-free blender muffins before and was surprised at how delicious and perfect they were. I've also made the pumpkin/chocolate version of that muffin and loved it. That being said, I don't know why, but I was super nervous about adding the pumpkin into this recipe with the banana. Don't be dumb like me; it was perfect. Keep in mind, these are not your grandma's fluffy, light pancakes - these puppies are dense, but by golly, they are tasty. I only had one and was G O O D  T O  G O. Also, it paired rather nicely with my cinnamon-almond milk-coconut oil coffee. 

I like. You like? Tell me about your journey with clean eating.

Ponderings: It's Fall, Y'all.

Did you know Fall is finally here?

You didn't? Hmmm... perhaps that's because it's going to be 91 degrees fahrenheit in Houston today with 100% humidity. That's right, folks... 1 0 0 % H U M I D I T Y.  I can't make this ish up. I can't. But I wouldn't, though, if I could... that would be the most ridiculous thing to make up. Like, I could think of 50,001 things I would conjure up before I would make weather that mimics that of Hades.

Also, THIS.

Only I wear yoga shorts because 

it's 91 degrees with 100% humidi-DIE.

ANYWHO. Yes, it's Fall. If you're like me and you need a reminder of which season you are in, then have I got just the thing for you!

I finished crafting this lil lady yesterday after 3 days of detailed work. The colors had to be just right. All the necessary prep work had to be done to ensure the banner would last for many seasons to come. The leaves had to have just the right colors (and a little gold glitter... because GOLD GLITTER). My first lace purchase wasn't quite right, so I had to shell out a pretty penny for this lovely number. Anywho, I love it. If it doesn't sell, it'll have a happy home.

Head on over to my Four Hands Creations Etsy page, show some love, and pick up a banner. I love to do custom orders as well, so don't be shy.

Edible things: Ma'amoul.

Howdy from Houston! 

We recently made the trek back to California for a work trip for Davede, which turned into a quick visit with family and dear friends. My mom asked me if I had any requests for meals while we were out, and besides the classic and nostalgic pasta and meatballs, I asked her to make Ma'amoul, an Arabic cookie made with semolina flour dough, and stuffed with a mixture of dates and nuts. She had sent some in a care package a month prior, and were gone almost as soon as they arrived. I ate Ma'amoul every morning while visiting mom, and have craved it since stepping back onto Texan soil. Last night, mom sent me the recipe and I went right to work in an attempt to recreate the delicious, delectable delicacy. 

This recipe comes from the Najda Arabic Cookbook published in 1968 and was purchased by my Aunt Colleen at the International House on UC Berkeley's campus where she met my Uncle Fuad. After my mother married my father (brother of Fuad), Aunt Colleen gave a copy of this cookbook to our family. It has been well used since. Sadly, we lost our sweet Aunt Colleen a few months ago, but it's wonderful to feel her presence when we enjoy traditions and pass on family recipes.

A family secret my mom shared with me is that she combines the date and nut fillings for her cookies. Also, I purchased a special cookie press that is similar to my mom's from a local mediterranean market for $1.99. I am working on getting it to cure with coconut oil so the cookie doesn't stick to the mold. 

One last note: my batch produced 16 cookies, not 12, and I had about half of the filling left over when I finished off the dough (due to mixing both the date and nut fillings. Mental note: make twice the dough, since 16 cookies won't last long in this household).

Ma'amoul proves to still be my ideal breakfast and coffee cookie, as it is filling, slightly sweet, and a relatively healthy alternative to other cookies. My version didn't turn out quite as delicious as my mother's, but it still serves its purpose quite nicely. My baklava started out relatively disappointing as well, but ended up being one of my proudest productions (Baklava recipe is on it's way).

What do you think of Ma'amoul? What are some of your family delicacies and traditions?