Recipe for Chocolate Chip Spiced Apple Pancakes

Some of my fondest morning memories are centered around making pancakes. Growing up, whenever I'd visit my grandfather's house in Maryland, he'd have a box of pancake mix waiting for me. My sister and I would whip up batches of sweet, fluffy, buttery pancakes that we'd slather in butter and honey and share with everyone. Those breakfasts, slow and languid, would make us forget about lunch.

Good pancakes are pure magic!

Some of the most comforting meals are the simplest.

It's been a long time since I've made pancakes out of a box. Pancakes are so easy to make from scratch, the box hardly seems necessary anymore. Besides, I love the thrill of creating something from scratch. Cooking so resembles alchemy.

Just like gold, this recipe for chocolate chip spiced apple pancakes is a beautiful autumnal twist on an old classic.

Here's what you'll need:

• 2 teaspoons nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 cups of sifted flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup apple butter
• 2 cups of buttermilk
• 2 tablespoons melted, unsalted butter
• 1/4 cups mini chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Here's what to do:

In a mixing bowl, stir the dry ingredients together (nutmeg, cinnamon, salt, baking powder, baking soda, flour and sugar).

In a separate bowl, mix the vanilla, eggs and buttermilk. Once blended, add the melted butter and then the apple butter. Blend thoroughly.

Add your wet ingredients to your dry ingredient bowl. Stir until almost completely combined.

Butter your griddle and place over medium heat. Spoon your batter onto the griddle by the mixing spoon full and cook until bubbles begin to form, flip and cook until golden brown.

If you have any extra batter, a mason jar is excellent storage. Now you can enjoy pancakes quickly later on in the week!

Gluten Free Lasagna with a Lactose Friendly Twist

My dear cousin Brielle who is gluten free and lactose intolerant inspired this recipe. Brielle, a practicing postpartum doula, came to stay with us for two weeks this summer after Jai was born. Not only was she an AMAZING help (If you are pregnant or know anyone who is currently pregnant- I highly recommend a postpartum doula- life changing I tell you!) but she was an illuminating nutritional presence as she introduced me to the wonders of sheep cheese, the various incarnations of goat’s cheese and the outright goodness of brown rice pasta.

Lasagna is a beloved dish in our household, but I’d avoided making it regularly because my husband is lactose intolerant (booh!).

I'm happy to say that holding the cheese when it comes to lasagna is no longer an issue!

Brielle, whose hubby is one of Washington’s most talented and innovative chefs, was able to give me the skinny on non-cow dairy.

It turns out, sheep cheese very closely resembles the taste and texture of cow’s milk cheeses and most lactose intolerant people are able to digest it without trouble. This was revolutionary news in my household since my hubby is a cheese lover who suffered (not so silently) through his difficulties rather than give up his beloved cheese.

Goat cheese, is also gentle on the digestive track for lactose intolerant individuals. Goat cheese is fabulous because it comes in so many different forms, such as ricotta.

Bring on the cheese!

Using goat ricotta, sheep mozzarella and parmesan, rice lasagna noodles and a pesto inspired sauce; I created this non-traditional lactose friendly, gluten free lasagna. But I don’t want to focus on what’s not in this lasagna; instead, let’s focus on what makes this lasagna delicious and unforgettable.

Pesto Sauce Ingredients:

1 cup olive oil

1 teaspoon sage

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon of ground chia

¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

2 tablespoons of basil

1 tablespoon of parsley

1 tablespoon of minced garlic

Combine all of your dry ingredients

Add the olive oil and blend.

Set aside for later use.

Lasagna Ingredients:

Rice lasagna noodles

1 heirloom tomato (sliced thinly)

Goat Ricotta cheese

Sheep parmesan cheese

Sheep mozzarella cheese

1 yellow onion (sliced and caramelized)

1 red pepper (thinly sliced)

4 cups arugula

1 package of ground turkey (thoroughly cooked in a skillet)

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Lay two rows of lasagna noodles onto the bottom of your baking dish.

*Note: Most rice noodles don't need to be pre-cooked. Check your box.

In a small bowl, combine your ground turkey crumbles and your ricotta cheese. Lay a layer of your turkey and ricotta, topped with caramelized onions, arugula, mozzerella and red peppers. Pour your pesto sauce on top and sprinkle a light layer of parmesan cheese.

Lay another layer of lasagna noodles and repeat the same process of layering turkey and ricotta, caramelized onions, arugula, red peppers and pesto sauce.

Lay your final layer of lasagna noodles and top with your tomato, pesto sauce and a generous layer of parmesan cheese.

Bake for 30 minutes, until the cheese has browned.

Let cool for ten minutes, before cutting and serving.

"Once" Broadway Cast brings the Brilliant Sounds of Dublin to the New York Stage

Behind the thick velvet curtain, the stage swirled with lively dance and song. I was confused, we were ten minutes early and people weren't in their seats, yet there were violins and drums and there was infectious merriment. "Pre-show," my friend Fred explained.

Pre-show???? Genius!

The moment we stepped into the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre we were drawn into the world of the play.

It was as if we'd stepped into a pub in Dublin, only with auditorium seating.

We couldn't resist purchasing some wine (I know beer would have been more fitting, but I just don't like it) before taking our seats.

Served in a keepsake sippy cup the alcohol at "Once" was free flowing. We were able to sip from our seats and enjoy the pre-show entertainment, which blended seamlessly into the actual entertainment as the "Once" Broadway cast, brought the brilliant sounds of Dublin to the New York stage.

At its heart, this is a love story, expressed in melodic song and rousing dance. It's the story of an Irish musician and his Czech muse. As the piece progresses, we're reminded how complicated, uplifting and bittersweet love can be.

A combination of foot stomping ensemble pieces and acoustic solos and duets, "Once," is entrancing. You can't help but tap your feet. You'll want to get up and dance. I don't remember having this much fun at a show since I saw "Fela" a few years back.

On Broadway at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre until January 4th, "Once" is a night well spent on the "Great White Way!"

Writing Gigs: Not a Bad Idea Really

If writers had gigs like musicians, oh what a wonderful world this would be! Yesterday, I had the honor of participating in the Writers Work Fiction Reading in Midtown Manhattan.

It was a small and empowering event. I thrive off of the community that is built when people come together over a shared love for words.

Oh the power of a series of well placed words.

With writing being such a solitary art, it's a wonderful thing when a writer's words get a live audience.

It's powerful to hear the collective sighs, chuckles and silences. The faces in the audience reflecting the tone you've set with your series of carefully chosen words.

Words are so mighty.

Listening to your own as they escape your lips and travel around a crowded room. Taking in the words of others, carefully crafted expressions of their deepest selves.

Writers should be able to book gigs like musicians, they should have microphones and a corner chair at every bar, club or restaurant around the city.

Why not? A beer and a story.

Hear a tale, share a tale.

If writers booked gigs like musicians, imagine the walls that would come down, the hope and beauty that would thrive. Our darkest parts and our lightest parts connected in universal unity, over the age old condition of being human; a collection of people from here and there, bonded over the might of words.

Homemade Exfoliating Facewash with Lavender Flowers and Orange Peel

A few posts back, I extolled the many virtues of unrefined coconut oil as face wash. I seriously can’t get enough! My skin has been soft, my pores almost non-existent and I’ve been completely blemish free since I’ve been using this delicate, moisturizing treatment.

I love my coconut oil face wash dearly, but I must admit I miss textured exfoliation. Sure, by nature coconut oil facilitates gentle exfoliation as the coconut oil acts like a magnet to pull oil and dirt out of my pores, but the instant gratification of a textured scrub I miss.

A few days ago I began fiddling around in my herb cabinet and came up with this coconut oil based face wash recipe using lavender flowers and orange peel. It's pretty awesome!

If you’re a lover of gentle textured exfoliation, this recipe is for you.

I use orange peel, lavender flowers, bentonite clay and celtic sea salt to slough away dead skin cells. These ingredients are effective, yet not at all harsh. After a quick wash, you're left with glowing, soft, radiant skin.

Who doesn't want glowing, soft, radiant skin?

Homemade Exfoliating Facewash with Lavender Flowers and Orange Peel

Homemade Exfoliating Face Wash

Here’s the formula:

1 cup melted unrefined coconut oil

2 teaspoons lavender flowers

1 teaspoon orange peel

1 teaspoon bentonite clay (don’t use metal to scoop or store)

1 teaspoon celtic sea salt

IMG_1494.JPG

In a grinder, I ground my lavender and orange peel to a fine consistency. The smell is so amazing!

I added the orange peel and lavender along with the bentonite clay and sea salt directly into my melted coconut oil. I used a plastic container to avoid deactivating my bentonite with metal. I shook the oil with the exfoliants and set my container in the refrigerator for 30 minutes so that it would set.

IMG_1499.JPG

And that’s all folks!

IMG_1501.JPG

The face wash, I keep right next to my sink. You don’t have to worry about the mixture going bad, as it will last for a very long time.

Happy Exfoliating!

For more DIY natural skin care ideas, check out my latest book Natural Beauty from the Outside In, where you’ll find 70 Ayurveda inspired hair and skin care recipes.