Breakfast of Champions

In honor of Music City Marathon day...








I decided to retire my running shoes...










and create a Breakfast of Champions...
What would I eat if I were running a marathon?

Teff Almond Carrot Pancakes. Or Almond Teff Carrot or Almond Carrot Teff Pancakes. Whichever way you look at them, they are gluten free, vegan and sweet enough to satisfy the runner in us all to have the best day ever. You may not be running a marathon today, but in celebration of the day, may we all honor ourselves and never give up on our dreams!

Carrot Almond Teff Pancakes
Serves 3 or 1-2 marathon runners
1 cup teff flour
1 cup shredded carrots
2/3 cup blanched almond
2 t baking soda
1 t cinammon
1/2 t sea salt
2+ T Maple Syrup
1 T olive oil
1/4 cup raisins (optional)

Combine flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon in a bowl. Add carrots, 1/2 cup crushed almonds, and 1 T maple syrup. Combine.
Heat pan with oil. Add batter and cook 3 minutes on each side.
Top with almonds, cinnamon and maple syrup.

Just in time for a marathon of a day!

Some Like it Green

Today I was set to go out for lunch. After a morning of writing, I was looking forward to getting out of the house. When it came time, I considered that I have no real reason to get out except for go visit a friend today, and I need to be working on finishing this book before the end of the month. I was convinced there was nothing in the house, but found some edamame in the freezer and decided to go for it.

Edamame, leftover brown rice, with Hemp-Spirulina dressing
I water sauteed the collard greens and shallots:

• Boil 1/2 inch of water in a pot.
• Add diced shallots and simmer for 2 minutes.
• Add slivered collard greens and simmer for 3 minutes.
• Add 1 pinch of sea salt and cook for 1 more minute.
• Remove with a slotted spoon.

Add edamame to water and simmer 3-5 minutes until defrosted.

Add edamame and veggies to a bowl of brown rice topped with dressing:

Hemp-Spirulina Vinagrette:
2 t hemp seed oil
1 t apple cider vinegar
1 garlic clove
1/4 t rosemary
1/4 t spirulina

Whisk and enjoy on veggies or as a sauce for a sandwich or salad.

This is a great liver detox meal in that it is green and includes sea veggies and essential fatty acids, phytonutrients and chlorophyll.

Avo Carrot Saucy Soup

Simply delicious avocado. How else can you satisfy your brain and your belly, your hair, skin and nails and enjoy such a succulent superfood at any age? (avos are great for babies and old people since they are soothing to the digestive system).
Avocado can be added to nearly any dish--from soup to sauces and dressings to desserts. Without further ado, here is a dish from lunch a few days ago that can be as saucy or soupy as you prefer. Laura and I enjoyed it as a dip with celery, in addition to collard wraps filled with extra salty almond pate--it would have been a nice colorful sauce to the wraps as well. Or a soup to begin with. She liked the coconut water, so I decided to add it in to make the soup a bit more saucy! Spring water works nice also. ( :

Avo Carrot Soup
1 avocado
1 carrot
1/4 cup blanched almonds (I removed the skins, but not necessary)
1 T ginger
1 T agave
pinch of cayenne

Blend. Add coconut water or spring water for a thinner consistency.
Enjoy as a starter soup, side sauce, succulent saucy section of your plate to enjoy with sorted veggies or just plain as a saucy soup!

More simply yum way to enjoy an avocado:
*mashed into a grain
*mashed onto a slice of bread
*cut in half and enjoyed with sea salt/lemon on a spoon
*sprinkled with nutritional yeast and enjoyed out on the beach in the sunshine as a protein, healthy fat filled pick-me-up
*however you like it, savoring the taste and chewing well (-:

Eat more avocados. Be at peace. Sleep well and breathe in new life every day in every way.
Trust the process and whenever life gets stressful, be sure to eat well so you can stay centered.

Edamame Guacamole

1 cup edamame
1/2 cup avocado
1/4 cup carrots
1-2 T umeboshi vinegar
1 T lemon juice
1/4 cup cilantro

Place all ingredients in a blender or cuisinart. Blend until creamy.

You may like to add a chipotle pepper and ground black pepper, if you like spice.

This dip can be enjoyed on a raw collard green or kale piece as a wrap, on carrots or celery or spread on crackers.