Babies and Nikki McClure

Cant get enuf of this one these days.  

She plays fetch

with herself a lot lately!!  

so cute.

And this one.  

My sweet little sidekick.

We're a team

I'm noticing how a good "reset" of conscious time spent together

reading a book, 

playing a puzzle...

anything

makes her so much calmer and happier.

this helps our team effort!

Here's a GREAT book:

 

Zucchini Cashew Alfredo

I only post Recipes that turn out super lovely.

The ones where each bite is "YUMMMM".  

and "i can't believe its isn't bad for me!"

and things like that!

I had some non vegan items in my fridge like cows milk and cheese, so I indulged. 

If you want vegan, thats great too (look in the parentheses!)

Zucchini Cashew Alfredo:

Sautee: 

1 cup grated Zucchini

1/2 med. onion  (chopped finely)

1 T Coconut oil

blend:

cooked Zucchini 

1 t  sea salt

1 cup raw cashews

1/2 cup milk  (I used cows milk, but any type will do)

1/2 cup soup stock  (i used [organic local] chicken stock, but veg will do)

1/4 cup cream cheese (optional)

2-4 cloves garlic  (depending on your love of it - or level of health at the moment!)

2 T coconut oil  

handful parsley

cook on medium heat for about 5 minutes.

boil pasta of choice (for 4 servings) add frozen peas 4 minutes before its done. Drain. Cover with sauce and blend.

add more milk if its too thick!

enjoy!

So  there are a lot of levels of veg/vegan/gluten free in this recipe which alter the flavor accordingly. 

Pick your preference. 

In other news, this little A is eating pears nowadays!

and this one is lovin the alfredo!

mmmmmm.

Happy (healthy) birthday cake!

Attie is 3! 

that's how she says it "happy birthday cake!"

and she is really into Strawberry shortcake too, who she calls "strawberry cake"

so what else could I make her for her birthday but a strawberry cake!!

I found a rather healthy carrot cake recipe which turned out SO so tasty!!

This recipe is from The Kitchen Guardian.  Its got Dates and Bananas for most of the sweetener.
I tweaked it just a bit (I can't seem to follow a recipe perfectly..)

It eats like a meal!!  And tastes great!  The kids liked it.


Carrot banana date cake:

2 cups flour of choice (I used 1 cup unbleached organic white and 1 cup ezekiel blend

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup brown sugar (or preferred sweetener..)

3 tbsp maple syrup

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp salt

1 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 cup coconut oil or butter, heated just to melt

5 medjool dates, chopped 

2 - 3 ripe bananas, mashed

2 1/2 cups grated carrots

1/2 cups yoghurt or buttermilk 

2  free range eggs, whisk lightly

Preheat the oven to 350, grease cake pan.

Sift together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. stir in the walnuts, set aside.

Stir the dates into the melted butter, add the sugar.

In a separate bowl, combine the bananas and carrots. stir in the date, sugar butter mixture. whisk in the buttermilk and eggs. add the flour mixture and mix. pour into cake pan, bake 50 -60 minutes. 

and the icing: I had no food colouring, so I used Beet and Kale juice!

 Beet and kale juiced provides ample color for the icing!

Cream cheese icing:

3/4 bar of cream cheese

2 tbsp coconut oil

1 cup icing sugar

1/4 cup honey

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp lemon juice

1/4 cup cocoa butter (optional)

mix well.  For color I added 1/3 tsp of juiced beet and kale juice... separately.  If you don't have a juicer, you can grate beets and somehow get the tiny bit of color from the bottom of the bowl! you don't need much.

STRAWBERRY CAKE!

I made her a new crown. Its is becoming a birthday tradition!

Happy Birthday my sweeet girl!!  
I love you more each day.

Party people in the house.

just having a little taste!   ;0)