churro waffles

My eating habits range from supermodel yoga enthusiast -
Hello raw green veggie juices.

To hungry unsupervised child in a candy store -
Hello cookies for breakfast and M&M's for dinner.

My baking skills (and subsequently, my pantry contents) enable me to have a thought like
"I feel like waffles"
And then be back in bed eating waffles 20 minutes later,
Without the need to leave the house,
Or (perhaps more importantly) put any pants on.

These waffles are a winner,
Because I don't drink milk at home,
And this recipe (unlike many others) is milk-free.
So once again - A celebration of not having to leave the house or put on pants for a trip to the supermarket.

Sometimes in life, you have to celebrate the little things.

I recommend you do it with these waffles.

C H U R R O   W A F F L E S

1 cup plain flour

4 tbsp butter

2 tbsp sugar

½ tsp salt

1 cup water

1.5 tbsp cinnamon

4 tbsp sugar

Turn on the waffle iron to pre-heat.

Combine cinnamon and sugar in a bowl and set aside.

In a saucepan, over low heat, combined water, sugar, salt, and butter.

Stir until butter has melted and sugar dissolved -make sure the mixture doesn't boil.

Remove pan from heat and whisk in flour until dough forms.

Return mix to low heat and use spatula to fold dough and cook dough until it leaves a film of flour on sides of pan.

Remove dough from pan and divide into equal portions.

Spray waffle iron with cooking spray and cook portions for 5-6 minutes, or until golden brown.

Coat hot waffles in cinnamon/sugar mixture while hot.

Serve.
Eat.
Die of happiness.


xx

queen of hearts

In a recent post, I mentioned I had adopted a vegetarian diet this week, which has prompted me to write a little more about what I am eating lately, especially since I launched my Paleo Lifestyle last year.

Here's the scoop - 

There are many reasons why a paleo diet is beneficial to some individuals. Infact, I fully support limiting grains, refined sugar and dairy as I believe my digestive health is more effective when I am eating a cleaner diet.

On the other hand - I like cupcakes.

Or, more accurately - I like to bake.

And, whilst you can make some frickin amazing things to satisfy your sweet tooth without breaking the paleo rules (see below), I did infact fall off the strict paleo bandwagon.

So rather than define my eating habits, I am now learning to eat what I want, when I want, without putting a label on it.

Example A - this week, I am eating gorgeous fresh fruits and vegetables.

Does this make me a vegetarian? Well, that's up to you to decide.

But consider this - next week I might feel like steak everyday.. who knows?!

What I do know, is that my food is not sourced from a box or a jar. Or through the car window!

More and more, I am trying to tune into what my body needs and feed it accordingly.

And while it would be both amazing and disastrous for my body to tell me I need chocolate, I know that sweets and treats are usually requested from a place of want (and/or boredom!).

So back to paleo - Last year, I made my favourite grain-free waffles and didn't share them with the world.

Here they are - Give them a try.

Grain Free Waffles

2 cups almond meal

4 eggs

1/2 cup sparkling water 

4 TBSP melted coconut oil

1-2 TBSP  maple syrup

2 tsp vanilla

2 tsp cinnamon 

1/2 tsp sea salt

1 tsp baking soda

Preheat your waffle iron. 

In a medium mixing bowl combine all of the dry ingredients and mix well.  

Then add the all the remaining wet ingredients and mix to combine.   

Next using a hand mixer beat the batter ingredients for 1 minute, this will help make a fluffier batter and better waffles.   

Lightly grease your waffle iron and place about 3/4 cup of batter (or the amount per the directions for your particular model of waffle iron).  

I cook my waffles for 3 minutes and they turn out perfect every time, but you will need to experiment with your waffle iron to find the amount of time that works best for yours.  

Remove from waffle iron and serve with your desired garnishes.

xx

Waffles for One

Remember how I told you I've quit sugar?

Remember how you thought "Pfft... Good luck with that" ??

C'mon, I know you did and it's OK.

Allow me to introduce you to my Paleo 'Chocolate' Waffles. 

Paleo 'Chocolate' Waffles

Yes - The did taste as good as they look. 

Let's come back to those in a moment...

I went Op Shopping on the weekend. And despite my own resistance, I think I'm a convert.

Call me a snob, but there's just something about Op Shops that I never understood.

And garage sales?? I don't get garage sales. 

Wait.. No, I like to sell things at garage sales; but I don't go to them and find enjoyment in sifting through other people's unwanted stuff.

I think this is where my recent Gumtree addiction came from. I like that I can sit in the comfort of my own home and scroll through pages of second hand furniture looking for things I could buy and paint and give a new lease on life. Do I need said furniture? No. But I like to look anyway.

And so, I suppose it was only time before I slowly accepted the art of Op Shopping.

(Not for clothes though.. that still creeps  me out a little).

I spent a good portion of my Saturday scouring various Op Shops for a project that will be revealed at a later date. But I hit the jackpot when I found a waffle maker for $7.

Yup - SEVEN bucks.

Can you say bargain?!

And the best part ??  IT WORKS!

And so that's how I came to make myself this delicious breakfast.

Here's how - 

Whisk 2 eggs in a bowl; 

Add 1/3 cup coconut milk; Mix;

Mix in 1 tablespoon of agave nectar; Mix;

Add 1.5 cups almond meal; Mix;

Add 2 tablespoons cacao powder; Mix;

Add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract + sprinkle of cinnamon; Mix.

Cook in waffle iron.

[Recipe adapted from PaleOMG]

Served with a squirt of agave nectar and fresh strawberries.

DELICIOUS.

xx