Energy-Boosting Breakfast Brownies

I love spending time with my family, and I can’t think of a better way to spend time than preparing a batch of brownies! These fiber and protein packed breakfast brownies have all the vitamins and minerals in fresh-milled whole grain, too.

I talk often about intentional eating only because I want more energy and a highly functioning body to do God’s work. I want that for you and your children too! Therefore, it’s worth taking 25 minutes out of my busy schedule to teach them how to live, prepare, and enjoy life a little more. It also helps them avoid future chronic disease.

Plus, handing them processed packaged doughnuts and cakes don’t give them the vitamins, minerals, fiber and protein they need to function in school, pay attention, and learn like these brownies will.

brownies

Brownies from the Garden? Yes, and All the Benefits too!

Now, I know you’re probably thinking brownies don’t come from the garden. However, cocoa beans come from one of the most plentiful and nutrient rich gardens in the world! They are packed with phytonutrients and minerals and according to a PubMed article they help muscle uptake of glucose for better use. The better our muscles use glucose the better we control our weight. Cocoa also helps neurons in the circulatory system improve thinking and helps boost the mood (1)

Like cocoa, dates also come from tropical areas. Although high in natural sugar and carbs, they contain a good amount of selenium, magnesium, copper, zinc, and complex B vitamins. Not only that, but they are a good source of fiber. Lord knows, we need more fiber to flush out all the toxins and chemicals we are exposed to daily.

You’ll get even more fiber, protein, B vitamins, and vitamin E in the whole grain and oats used in this brownie recipe. Plus the oats are rich in beta-glucan and known for helping to control diabetes and lower cholesterol. (2)

God’s always looking out for you and your family, my friend. Let’s give Him praise for His abundant goodness!

Devotion

Oh, how abundant is your goodness,

    which you have stored up for those who fear you

and worked for those who take refuge in you,

    in the sight of the children of mankind!

Psalm 31:18-20 ESV – Let the lying lips be mute, which speak – Bible Gateway

You and I can take comfort in knowing we have such a mighty Champion who stores up goodness for us! He is working for us, in us and through us to reach this lost and broken world. Physically and mentally, my friend! What greater peace than to take refuge in Him. Moreover, when we do, we teach our children to do the same.

They can maneuver through this life with the teachings of faithful parents and grandparents, or flounder aimlessly without purpose. Let’s take that added anxiety and frustration away by giving them the hope and confidence of God; while filling their bellies with good food.


Energy-Boosting Breakfast Brownies

  • 1 15 oz Can Black Beans
  • 2 Cups Fresh-Milled Soft Wheat
  • 1 tsp Baking Powder
  • 3 Tbsp. Cocoa Powder
  • 1/2 Tsp Salt
  • 2 Tbsp. Chia Seeds
  • 2 Eggs
  • 2 Tbsp. Ground Flax Seed
  • 1/3 Cup Pureed Dates
  • 1/2 Cup honey ((or sugar))
  • 1/4 Cup Olive Oil
  • 1 Cup Almond Milk
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

  2. Put 6 dates in a 1/4 cup of hot water and soak 5 minutes, then puree them in a blender

  3. Open the beans, rinse and drain them, then puree them in a blender (or mash with a fork)

  4. Fresh mill a cup of wheat berries and a cup of oat berries (or just use 1 cup store bought whole grain flour and 1 cup ground oats)

  5. In a large mixing bowl add the flour, ground flax and chia seed, salt, baking powder, cocoa, and mix well.

  6. Add the pureed beans, dates, eggs, oil, and milk and stir well.

  7. Place the batter in an oiled 9×13 pan and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the toothpick comes out clean.

  8. Let cool completely.

I left out my favorite walnuts in this recipe for kids at church who have nut allergies, but OH! how much better they would be with some walnuts added!


Thank you for stopping by today and checking out this brownie recipe! I look forward to serving you with any recipe ideas I come up with or come across, as well as encouragement from God’s mighty word. If you or your family need further coaching with health issues or chronic disease, contact me for affordable coaching, I am here for you.

Also, if your church wants to do bread workshops or participate in classes, I am available for speaking engagements and retreats for your ladies’ group.

References:

Latif R. Health benefits of cocoa. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2013 Nov;16(6):669-74. doi: 10.1097/MCO.0b013e328365a235. PMID: 24100674.

Sang S, Chu Y. Whole grain oats, more than just a fiber: Role of unique phytochemicals. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2017 Jul;61(7). doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201600715. Epub 2017 Feb 22. PMID: 28067025.




Smoothies: Simple & Tasty Intentional Breakfast

Part of simplifying health God’s way is looking for easy ways to boost nutrition while on the go. A simple and intentional breakfast smoothie helps you and I stay on track and gives us the energy we need to get through our morning and stay on our intentional eating plan.

To make it even easier, we can pick a large package of organic spring greens from our local grocery store, that’s already been triple washed, to help us get started. Keeping some unsweetened almond milk on hand with some fresh fruit is helpful too. It also gives this smoothie a little sweetness and extra protein.

Combine this morning power drink with a fresh-milled slice of toast and peanut butter and you’ve got a well-rounded breakfast to start your day. It’s a great idea for kids too! The kiddos might really enjoy it with a Fresh Milled Oat and Wheat Poptart.

Benefits of a Power Green Smoothie

The kale and spinach provide vitamin K, C, and A, with potassium and calcium. Banana and Kiwi are going to provide more fiber, vitamin C, a well-rounded B complex (without B12) plus some magnesium. Serve this with a multi-grain English muffin, or toast, and a boiled egg and you have a complete and simple breakfast.

God’s always providing us with wonderful options in His garden!

Devotion

And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.

Genesis 1:29-31 ESV – And God said, “Behold, I have given – Bible Gateway

Everything that has the breath of life, God gives green plants for food. It is so comforting to me, every time I read His Word, to see how He plans for every single need. A good amount of minerals circulating in our blood through the whole food we consume helps decrease leg cramping, relaxes blood vessels, while also providing necessary B vitamins that help us stay calm.

What God puts in the garden is good!

smoothie starter

(1) Facebook has my microblog about different smoothie recipes I like.

Since a problem for many people, and maybe you too, is casein and whey in dairy, causing increased inflammation, we’re omitting regular milk. Pasteurization may remove pathogens, but it also removes the necessary enzymes needed to digest milk properly for adults. It Seems like there would be a set standard to create clean milk nationwide at the milking facility, rather than remove vital ingredients after the fact.

If you’re like me, it may take several years to realize just how stiff joints can be after consuming dairy. Since I’m sure God wants us to function at our highest potential physically and spiritually, we can rethink what we put in our mind and bodies to help us maintain health.

So now, when considering a cool summer treat, using unsweetened vanilla almond milk (USVAM) to make one, instead of ice cream makes more sense. It slows down the stiffness and pain. If you’re interested, some favorite smoothie combinations are listed here:

Blueberry, avocado Smoothie
1/2 cup frozen Blueberries, 1/2 of an avocado, 1 cup USVAM

Banana Strawberry
1 banana, 3 frozen strawberries, 1 cup USVAM

Orange, Banana
1 frozen orange, 1 banana, 1 cup USVAM

Plus, the recipe of the day.


Simple & Intentional Breakfast Smoothies

  • 1/2 Cup Spinach (Fresh)
  • 1/2 Cup Kale (Fresh)
  • 1/2 Cup Arugula (Fresh)
  • 1 Cup Unsweetened Almond Milk
  • 1 Kiwi
  • 1 Banana
  1. Add ingredients to a Nutribullet blender and blend for 30 seconds. Enjoy


I hope you enjoy this smoothie recipe and the others listed above. Be sure to let me know what your favorite combination is! I am here for you if you need guidance and encouragement fighting chronic disease and getting healthier. There are many free resources and recipes to help get you started, especially my 15 strategies for intentional eating. However, if you need more personal attention, I’d be happy to meet with you for a consultation here: Coaching Services.




Fresh Milled Flour & Sourdough Bread

The best part of using fresh milled flour for baking and sourdough bread is knowing all the goodness God created in the wheat is present in the bread! Learning about the ancient grains and bread making is also a treat to understand and incorporate in my daily life. I’ll give you a little history, tell you what I learned about making sourdough bread these past few months, and provide you a link to the easiest sourdough bread recipe I found. I’ll also place a link to the best video that showed me how to do it.

History of Sourdough

Although, evolutionists and Scientists teach humans were hunter gatherers before farming practices came to be, evidence is now emerging to tell a different story. Fourteen-thousand-year-old breadcrumbs from an archeological dig of Natufians in the area of the Jordan river reveal the remains of einkorn wheat, tubers, barley and oats (1). The new discovery dates flour making much older than previously thought and one researcher states maybe even as far back as hunter gathering times. It is a story similar to what we learn from Scripture.

The bible teaches that humans began farming practices with our first parent, Adam. After the fall, God told him he would work the ground in pain to eat of it all the days of his life. Among the thorns and thistles, Adam would eat the plants of the field by the sweat of his face (Genesis 3 18-19).

His son, Cain, was also a farmer. A worker of the ground, he brought to the Lord an offering from the fruit of the ground. Noah was told by God to take every sort of food that is eaten and store it up for his family and the animals (Genesis 6:21). After the flood, Noah became a man of the soil and planted a vineyard (Gen. 9:20).

 The arduous task of separating the chaff and grinding the grain into a fine flour for bread must have been worth the effort. The first bread was a type of flatbread still eaten in the middle east, while the Egyptians are credited with allowing the bread to ferment. Sourdough bread found in Switzerland, is dated 3700 BCE. The bread developed gases to expand the loaf and a piece of the dough was removed and saved for adding to a fresh batch.

It is thought the dough picked up yeast from the air in a form of spontaneous fermentation. Later, yeasts were developed by bakers to make yeasted breads. However only wheat and rye varieties have enough gluten to form raised loaves.

I started using the fresh milled flour for all of my baking in September of 2021. Over the next few months, I began noticing a difference in my energy level and lack of sugar cravings. A few months later, I realized I did not get my usual sinus headache and drainage during our musty Ohio valley spring weather. I had watched Sue Brecker’s “Bread of Life” tutorial on the benefits of grain and found everything she said to be true.

Fresh Milled Flour & Sourdough Bread

Although I’m not an affiliated with this company, I found the resources at Bread Beckers very helpful! So, I bought Sue’s little red book and began making the Zojirushi versatile bread recipe. After months of fresh milling flour, making my tortillas, and experimenting I became interested in sourdough bread. If shortages continue in the food industry, I don’t want to depend on yeast to make a loaf of bread. However, living off tortillas and flatbread like Israel did for Passover is fine with me!

But since I’m a geek and love to learn new things, sourdough baking appealed to me.

Here’s is What I learned About Sourdough Baking with Fresh Milled Flour

  1. You need a good starter. A good starter is key to making a delicious loaf of bread. Don’t get me wrong, you can begin by making your own, but it will taste very sour when you do, and it won’t rise as well. I tried to make my own starter several times and it made a low rising bread with a beer-like taste. I’d almost give up until I met a very nice girl at a lady’s summit, and we started talking about food fermentation. She was kind enough to bring me some of her sourdough starter from Italy. She’s had this starter ten years! All I can say is…IT IS THE BEST! So, thanks Chaeney!
  2. You need patience. This is not a quick process. In fact, it is going to take 12 to 24 hours to make a loaf of bread. So be patient. On the other hand, it is very easy and requires minimal ingredients. For instance, you need fresh-milled grain, water, salt and starter. That’s it! I pick one day a week to make bread and plan my day accordingly. Mornings work better for my schedule and the first thing I do is get it out of the fridge and feed the starter. It will sit on the counter for about 6-8 hours (depending on room temperature) and when it peaks (doubles in size and is still foamy) it is ready to go into my fresh milled flour. I do all my other chores but keep an eye on the starter. When I notice it has doubled, I begin to mill my grain.
  3. Be prepared. I watched plenty of YouTube videos to get the process down. I suggest you do the same. It helps to see what to expect as people gather their supplies and show you how to knead the dough. Here is my favorite video that showed me how to do it, Easy Everyday Sourdough Bread: Full Method and Parchment Paper Baking Trick – YouTube. Find one that works best for you. My favorite recipe to use for this sourdough bread is at Savorthebest.com, it gives you step by step instructions also and alternatives to using a Dutch oven. I’ve done a Dutch oven, an iron skillet, and my loaf pans covered with aluminum foil…it tastes the same.

The fresh-milled wheat is very nice in the recipe above, but I use 4 cups instead of 4 and 1/4 cups. Most of the bakers I watched said to use a scale and measure in grams for best results. I have not done that, but I’m still experimenting. In applying the flour, water, and folding method, I look at the moisture of the dough and keep it sticky. I have not used the fridge to raise the dough overnight either.

Once you get comfortable making the bread with fresh milled flour, you can experiment with spices and making rolls. My bread is never perfect, but it tastes good. I was able to use the Easy Sourdough Bread Recipe to make cinnamon rolls this morning, and they were delicious. They were chewy on the inside and crusty on the outside, with a honey and cinnamon center.

I know God will bless you as you learn to master this process too! Have fun and remember, what God puts in the garden is good!

If you’re looking to learn more about fresh milled flour and baking with it let me know! You can attend a bread workshop in person or on zoom to get started. Also, if you need help getting healthy, I can help! Sign up here.

fresh-milled grain workshop
Bread Workshop

Below is a free download of my favorite grains and their nutritional value, it is available here and when you subscribe to my site! You’ll receive a weekly newsletter of tips, encouragement, and recipes! God bless you and enjoy your baking days.




Sweet Potato & Asparagus Frittata

I had left over asparagus sauteed in garlic from dinner last night and thoughts of adding it to a sweet potato frittata was born! It’s a simple, delicious, dairy free and gluten free dish for a brunch my friends and I are enjoying today.

Since I love making easy main dishes, this is a no-brainer!

And the best part of making a sweet potato & asparagus frittata is the flavors blend well for breakfast or brunch. My keto friendly family and friends will also be happy with the lower carb and calorie calculations. The combined nutritional benefits of sweet potatoes & asparagus are impressive also.

Benefits of Sweet Potato & Asparagus

Sweet potatoes are rich in beta carotene, an antioxidant thought to help fight cancer and improve vision. It is a good source of fiber (about 3 grams per 3 ounces) Vitamin A, B6, and C, while also providing a portion of every amino acid needed to build protein except hydroxyproline.

What’s good to know about vitamin B6 is it is responsible for over 100 enzyme actions responsible for metabolizing protein. It is helpful for the heart because it balances homocysteine levels in the blood. Not only that, but it builds the immune system by forming lymphocytes and builds blood by helping produce hemoglobin (the molecule that carries oxygen through the blood) (1) B6 is important for cognitive function and neurotransmitter function too!

One cup of chickpeas contains the highest amount of B6 at 1.1mg/serving followed by beef liver, tuna (0.9mg/serving), and salmon (0.6mg/serving).

Asparagus is rich in vitamin K and folate. Folate is vital for preventing neural tube defects in a growing fetus and is important for DNA reproduction. The natural form is called folate, while the synthetic form is called folic acid. Asparagus has good amounts of flavonoids that help fight cancer, lower blood pressure, and help fight bacteria and viruses (2)

God’s Plan in The Garden

I read about the benefits of garden plants and see precision in how God cares for His prize creation.

Yes, you and I are part of His prize creation. We are made in His image and likeness. Therefore, respecting and being good stewards of our bodes involves filling them with gifts from His designed garden. We can honor His gift of resilient bodies He gave us by sustaining and nourishing them with foods like these. Just as God prepared His Word to nourish our souls. Teaching our children and their children the same principles help them know God, and His goodness, while giving their cells the ability to fight disease as they age.

 “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children

Deuteronomy 4:8-10 ESV – And what great nation is there, that – Bible Gateway


Sweet Potato & Asparagus Frittata

  • 1 1/2 Cups Sweet Potato (Grated)
  • 1 Cloves Garlic
  • 1 Cup Asparagus
  • 1 Cup Spinach
  • 2 Tsp Avocado Oil
  • 10 Eggs
  • 1/4 Cup Romano Cheese (Grated)
  • 1 TSp Onion Powder
  • 1/2 Tsp Paprika
  • Pinch Cinnamon
  • 1/2 Tsp Pepper
  • 1/4 Cup Almond Milk (Unsweetened)
  • 1 Tbsp. Oregano (chopped)
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

  2. In an iron skillet (or other oven compatibale skillet) sautee 1 cloves of minced garlic in 2 tsp avocado oil for about a minute. Add the chopped asparagus and cook until just tender about a minute. Salt to taste then remove asparagus to a bowl and set aside.

  3. In the same oiled skilled add the shredded sweet potato, paprika, cinnamon, and pepper. Mix spices and oil into the potato slightly and spread it over the bottom of the skillet and up the sides. Bake in the oven 15 minutes.

  4. Meanwhile prepare the eggs in a large bowl by adding salt, onion powder, a dash of pepper and 1 tbsp. chopped oregain. Then add the milk and whisk well.

  5. Once the potatoes have cooked 15 minutes remove them from the oven and pour the egg mixture over the potatoes. Spread the chopped spinach and chopped asparagus evenly over the eggs. Top with the shredded Romano cheese and bake for 15-20 minutes or until eggs are done.


I hope you enjoy your sweet potato & asparagus frittata! It pairs nicely with some quinoa & walnut bread if you have the patience and desire to benefit from fresh milled bread making. It is a time-honored skill children can learn alongside you. Maybe even, one they will treasure forever.

Please do me favor, if you’ve tasted this recipe from my kitchen or are making if for yourself leave me a rating! I am always in need of improvement, Ya know! Many blessings to you and God bless!

References:

  1. Greenberg, J. A., Bell, S. J., Guan, Y., & Yu, Y. H. (2011). Folic Acid supplementation and pregnancy: more than just neural tube defect prevention. Reviews in obstetrics & gynecology4(2), 52–59.

2. Li, Y., Yao, J., Han, C., Yang, J., Chaudhry, M. T., Wang, S., Liu, H., & Yin, Y. (2016). Quercetin, Inflammation and Immunity. Nutrients8(3), 167. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu8030167




Gluten Free Apple Tarts

I made forty-eight miniature apple tarts this week for some little, and not so little, munchkins at church. And because I like to include everyone, I changed my fresh-milled wheat recipe to ground oats and added tapioca flour for my gluten-sensitive friends. This combination for gluten free apple tarts is a result of many trial and error efforts to make a gluten free pie crust.

Rice flour is too gritty, and my bible study group tasted and rejected quinoa flour years ago! Although, I like almond flour and arrowroot flour as substitutes for many recipes, I had fresh old-fashioned oats on hand. To my surprise, it made a decent pie crust.

I’ve been trying various gluten free recipes over the years because several friends and family members have become gluten sensitive or have celiac disease. Celiac disease is an inherited autoimmune disorder and when wheat or other grains with the gluten protein are present it attacks the lining of the intestine. (1)

Although people may experience bloating, diarrhea, and abdominal pain with this disorder, more insidious damage is taking place. Bone loss, malnutrition, anemia, liver damage, joint pain, hair loss, and fatigue are a few other findings associated with celiac disorder. A person may have a positive antibody test indicating the possibility of this disorder; however, a definitive diagnosis is done with an intestinal biopsy.

Benefits of Gluten Free Apple Tarts

Now, the fun part of making something different is looking for and reporting the benefits. The top advantage for gluten free apple tarts is there is no bloating or abdominal discomfort for wheat sensitive people. You’re welcome. And those who don’t react to gluten can enjoy them too! Oat flour is a good source of protein and fiber, which is always helpful to feel full and satisfied as well as move toxins out of the body. It also is a good source of minerals like selenium, magnesium, manganese, and zinc.

Gluten Free Apple Tarts

I’m not sure why certain people develop gluten sensitivities. We live in a fallen world that is prone to decay. Our bodies included. I do know manufacturing and mass production is polluting our food supply with toxic chemicals. The general population is feeding on highly processed, bleached wheat with nearly all the nutrients removed, while synthetic vitamins are added. Not only that, but there are preservatives listed on the label that are skin irritants on a material safety data sheet.

The more information I find, the more passionate I am about helping all of us eliminate what we can. It is why I truly believe in increasing awareness of how wonderful God’s garden is for combatting disease. He loves us and cares for us in so many ways. All we have to do is turn to Him for complete healing, body and soul. We get nourishment for our cells to function each day and we are filled with hope for the day we won’t’ have to strive to keep these bodies going.


Gluten Free Apple Tarts

  • 1 1/2 Cups Gluten Free Old-Fashioned Oats (ground into flour)
  • 1/2 Cup Tapioca Flour (Plus 1 tbsp for the filling)
  • 1 Tsp Xanthan gum
  • 1/4 Tsp Salt
  • 1 Tsp Sugar (optional)
  • 2 Apples (Peeled and Chopped)
  • 1/4 Cup Sugar
  • 1 Tsp Cinnamon
  • 1 Stick Butter
  • 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
  • 6 Tbsp Cold Water
  1. Preheat oven to 375 Degrees.

  2. In a large mixing bowl combine the ground oats, tapioca flour, salt, sugar, and xanthan gum.

  3. Cut the butter into small pieces and use a pastry cutter or fork to combine the butter and flour until it makes a course crumble. Mine was too dry, so I added the tablespoon of olive oil.

  4. Add the cold water and knead on a lightly floured surface until a firm dough forms. Roll out as thin as you can and cut circles for the tart shells with a biscuit cutter.

  5. Place the cut-out dough into the muffin pan.

Filling

  1. In the bowl combine the chopped apples, cinnamon, sugar, and 1 tbsp of tapioca flour together until well combined.

  2. Fill each tart shell with the apple filling and bake at 375 for about 20-25 minutes or until the tart shells are light brown and the filling bubbly.


Keep in mind, this is a treat designed for sharing with others and not to be used in place of a nutritious meal.

In any case, I hope you try the recipe and enjoy your gluten free apple tarts with friends. It’s delicious with a wonderful cup of Teecino herbal coffee substitute. No acid or caffeine, just wonderful bold flavor and enjoyment!

References:

Comparison of Gluten-Related Disorders – UCLA Digestive Diseases Celiac Disease Program – Los Angeles, CA (uclahealth.org)




Sweet Potato & Pecan Pancakes for 2

Sweet Potato & Pecan Pancakes for 2 are not on my mind often.

Although eating intentionally for optimum health becomes second nature when it’s incorporated into my daily routine, things happen to throw a wrench into my plans.

Like, waking up and not wanting what I made for dinner the night before as a breakfast option in the morning.

Do you ever wake up wanting bread instead of an omelet? I do!

But I didn’t have bread made. Ick…not in the mood to cook either.

Bread-making day is Thursday or Friday. However, I did have some fresh milled grain left over from Thursday in the fridge. Just enough to make 5 small pancakes. Easy and quick, is always a plus.

Sweet Potato & Pecan Pancakes

When I make pancakes, I always think of Abigail in the bible making preparations for the sheering of the flocks. Her husband Nabal refused to give David and his men some of the flock they’d protected from predators, and David was about to descend on Nabal’s family with some vengeance. Quick thinking Abigail, grabbed 200 fig cakes, bread, and 5 prepared sheep and set out to meet David. She fell at his feet and offered him the food. But her speech reminded him who he was, who his provider is, who his protector is, as well as his purpose:

 Please forgive the trespass of your servant. For the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord is fighting the battles of the Lord, and evil shall not be found in you so long as you live. And when the Lord has done to my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning you and has appointed you prince over Israel my lord shall have no cause of grief or pangs of conscience for having shed blood without cause or for my lord working salvation himself.

1 Samuel 25:28, 30-31a

1 Samuel 25 ESV – The Death of Samuel – Now Samuel died. – Bible Gateway

I am amazed when I think of all the people, she had a hand in keeping alive that day. Yep, a quick-thinking and resourceful woman can keep many men out of trouble and benefit entire families. Speaking of benefits, there are some nice benefits for our energy levels with these pancakes.

Benefits of Sweet Potato & Pecan Pancakes for 2

The fresh-milled grain I’m using is a hard red wheat that provides a great source of protein and fiber. It also retains the original B vitamins and Vitamin E the way God intended it to be eaten (The faulty nutrition label below does not take these vitamins in account but, I assure you they are there). Manufacturing this product and separating the bran and germ to leave the white starchy protein is the bread filling store shelves.

Small growing bellies are consuming the nutrient poor bread every day and are instead filled with “enriched” synthetic vitamins. They deserve better than bleached flour enriched with synthetic vitamins and harmful preservatives.

It does more harm to kid’s cells than good, but it’s better than nothing. I served it and ate if for years before I knew better. I wish someone had shown me how to do it right the first time.

Oh, well enough lamenting… It just wasn’t in God’s timing. Like everything, He has a plan and a purpose.

Here is the simple and delicious recipe for these pancakes,


Sweet Potato & Pecan Pancakes for 2

  • 1 Cup Hard Red Wheat (milled)
  • 1 Egg
  • 2 Tbsp Sweet Potato ((Precooked and mashed))
  • 1/4 Tsp Salt
  • 1/2 Tsp Baking Powder
  • 2/3 Cup Vanilla Almond Milk (Unsweetened)
  • 1/2 Tsp Cinnamon
  • 6 Pecans (Chopped )
  1. Preheat skillet on low while mixing ingredients

  2. Combine the flour, salt, baking powder, cinnamon in a bowl and whisk well.

  3. In a large measuring cup place the milk, egg, and sweet potato. Blend well with a fork. Then pour into the flour mixture and add pecans. Mix well.

  4. Melt a small tsp of butter or oil of your choice in the skillet. Pour the batter into three small rounds in the skillet and let cook on low-medium heat until bubbles appear, and the edges of the pancake look done. Flip it over and cook another minute or two.

  5. Serve with maple syrup.


I hope you enjoy these pancakes! Check out my ideas for extra sourdough starter too, if you want another pancake recipe. I look forward to helping you and your family get on track fighting chronic disease so leave me a message to get started with health coaching!




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Avocado & Watercress English Muffin

A sourdough, fresh-milled English muffin filled with watercress, egg, and avocado is an extra special treat for a cool winter morning…well really, any morning. However, these muffins do take a little tender loving care, so I do them on my preparation day.

The flavor and texture of these whole grain English Muffins is so good, it is worth the additional work. To get ready ahead of time, I use my Betty Crocker cookbook to find a sourdough starter. I used 2 cups of fresh-milled hard wheat flour, 2 1/2 cups warm water, 2 teaspoons yeast, and 1 tablespoon of sugar. I mixed this well in a 2-quart mason jar then covered it with a paper towel and screwed on the rim. The next day, there was some thick alcohol smelling liquid on the top, I learned this is called “hooch”.

Great…some sites said it’s harmless and just stir it in, while others said, pour it off. The first ten days I stirred it in and did not see a good rise in my rolls or my first batch of English muffins. So, on the second round, I began a new starter and poured off the hooch each day. The Betty Crocker recipe did not say to feed it daily, so I did not add flour or water the first seven days, I just stirred it two-three times each day.

Mind you this process takes seven to ten days, so if you don’t have that kind of patience, find a good quality English muffin at your local grocery store…preferably one without “enriched bleached flour, Calcium Propionate, Calcium Sulfate, Ammonium Chloride, Fumaric Acid, or Soybean Oil…..oh, and good luck with that while you’re searching!

You see now, why I value making my own!

Dave’s Killer Bread-organic English Muffins will pass the additive test and cost around $5.50. Also, there is Simple Truth Organic English Muffins for $3.99.

However, if you’re up for the challenge and you are having a bread making day, go for this recipe from Breadbecker’s , because it’s delicious! However, I use water in my starter, not milk. When they are done, I store all ten of them in the fridge and eat one every day!

Avocado & Watercress English Muffin

Today, I’m frying up one egg, applying half of an avocado, and a 1/2 cup of fresh watercress to make this delightful breakfast. That’s all there is to it, getting the dough down is the fun part.

If you are cutting calories or fat, you can omit the olive oil and use just a smidge of oil on a hot cast-iron surface, this will save you about 100 calories. I use a very small amount of olive oil to fry my eggs and I’m careful not to let the temperature get above 350 degrees, so it doesn’t become a trans-fat, as some researchers claim.

Benefits

This power-packed breakfast will provide around 474 calories (with the oil), 14 grams of heart-healthy fat, 5 grams of fiber, and 6 grams of protein. Not only that, but you’ll have a decent start to your B vitamins, C, E, and trace minerals calcium, magnesium, zinc, and selenium.

Sign me up for some intentional eating! I know what God puts in the garden is good! He is faithful to provide exactly what we need when we need it. Doesn’t that make you have a better start to your day alongside a Avocado & Watercress English Muffin?


Avocado & Watercress English Muffin

  • 1 Whole Grain English Muffin
  • 1/2 or 1 cup Fresh Watercress (or dark leafy greens)
  • 1 Tbsp. Plain Greek Yogurt
  • 1 large Egg (Poached/fried or however you like it)
  • 1/2 tsp Onion Powder
  • 1/2 Fresh Cut Avocado, diced
  1. Heat your skillet and prepare your egg

  2. Toast your Whole Grain English Muffin and set aside.

  3. Wash and dry your watercress. Place on your English muffin and sprinkle with yogurt and onion powder, add the egg and the diced avocado and enjoy!


Devotion

When I think about how important dough was to ancient people, I have a new respect for the saying, “bread of life”. During the famine of Jacob’s day he prepared gifts of almonds, a little balm and a little honey, gum, myrrh, and pistachio nuts (Gen 43:11).  They had food, and they still had their flocks and herds. It was grain they lacked. Jacob heard about Egypt having grain and sent his sons to get it. When they ran out, it was a matter of life and death.

The seven years of plenty that occurred in the land of Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. There was famine in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 55 When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph. What he says to you, do.”

56 So when the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. 57 Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.

Genesis 41:53-57

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Dough is offered in the sacrifice to God as well. The grain offering is mentioned 131 times in the Old Testament. “

Numbers 15:20 says “Of the first of your dough you shall present a loaf as a contribution; like a contribution from the threshing floor, so shall you present it.

We can appreciate the importance of this nourishing substance as a gift from God and to God as we partake each day. Even as a special place deep in our hearts remembers the spiritual bread of sacrifice in the presence of Jesus, our Lord.

I pray you have wonderful day partaking of both!

References:

Avocado Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits (verywellfit.com)

English muffins, whole-wheat Nutrition Facts & Calories (self.com)

Watercress Benefits Nutrition Facts and Recipes – Dr. Axe (draxe.com)