Terrarium

     My daughter is moving out for college this fall and she wanted a plant that doesn't require a lot of care. I have a lot of succulents around the garden and thought it was perfect for this project. She loves the beach, so we made a beach inspired terrarium.
    Terrarium's are great because it adds a little green to an indoor space, and is an oxygen booster. They are a perfect gift for your nature-loving friends! It can also be a perfect centerpiece for summer outdoor parties.

Materials:
- Fishbowl
- Succulents
- Sand
- Soil
- Pebbles
- Moss
- Decorative pieces (butterflies, starfish, shells)

Fluffy Chocolate Chip Pancakes

     I'm lactose intolerant, so I've been researching the internet on how to eat dairy free. I'm not vegan, but I saw this recipe on a vegan website called Crunchy Living. My daughters love chocolate pancakes, and they always ask me to make it. This recipe tastes great, and is easy to make. I also did some tweaking to create my own version.

Ingredients: 

Pancakes: 

1-1/2 cup rice flour

1 tbsp. sugar

2 tbsp. baking powder

1/8 tsp. salt

1 cup almond milk

1 ripe banana

1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips 

Sauce:  

1 banana

1/2 package of cream cheese

1/2 cup vanilla greek yogurt

1/4 cup agave nectar or sugar

Topping: (optional)

sliced strawberries 

chocolate shavings

Directions:

1.) Put all the pancake ingredients in a mixing bowl and use an electric mixer to blend. 

2.) Use a non-stick cooking spray on the griddle or pan, and cook each pancake until it's golden brown on both sides. 

3.) For the sauce, put all the ingredients in a food processor or blender. Blend until creamy. 

4.) To assemble the pancake, start with putting a little of the sauce on middle of the plate. Place one pancake on top, and put more sauce and sliced strawberries. Continue to stack the pancakes, with the sauce and strawberries until you have a stack of four. Finally, top it off with chocolate shavings and one whole strawberry for garnish. 

The original recipe:
http://crunchyliving.net/ws/banana-cream-pie-pancakes-vegan-gluten-free/

Sago At Gulaman (Tapioca Pearl and Gelatin Drink)

     Last summer my daughter introduced me to bubble tea, which reminded me of when I was growing up back home in the Philippines. This is one of the most popular refreshments that was sold on the streets. Fruit shake stands are very common to cope with the summer heat.
     Sago't gulaman is a shave iced drink with tapioca pearls and sliced gelatin. You can use any fruit juice mixed with milk, brown sugar flavored with pandan, or tea.

Strawberry Salad Dressing

     It's good to buy produce from the farmer's market because it's locally grown and supports farmers. We recently went there to buy fresh strawberries to use as a dressing.  I just posted a vegetable salad recipe, and this is a unique way to serve this fantastic fruit. Pureed strawberry can be a colorful dressing with creamy consistency. It also has nutritional benefits: fiber and Vitamin C. So what is your favorite salad dressing?

Ingredients:

1 cup strawberries, (6 large berries), rinsed, hulled and sliced

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

3/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1/2 teaspoon sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons almond oil, or canola oil

Directions:

Place strawberries, vinegar, pepper, sugar and salt in a blender or food processor; process until pureed, stopping once or twice to scrape down the sides. Add oil and process until smooth.

Picnic Recipes

These are the recipes of the food we ate at the picnic.

Vegetable Salad with Chia Seeds:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups arugula/lettuce mix
• 1 tbsp. chia seeds
• 1 avocado
• 2 medium tomatoes
• 1 cucumber
• 1/4 cup blueberries
• 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• pinch of salt
• pinch of pepper
• 2 tbsp. red wine vinegar 

Directions:
Mix all ingredients. For the dressing, drizzle the salad with red wine vinegar and olive oil. Add a pinch of salt and pepper to taste.

Turkey Wrap:

Ingredients:

• whole grain tortilla 
• deli turkey 
• laughing cow cheese or cream cheese
• lettuce 

Directions:
Spread the cheese on the tortilla. Place the lettuce and the turkey on top, and then wrap. Cut in half and put toothpick to secure.

Mango Parfait:

Ingredients:

• 1 mango diced 
• 1/4 cup granola
• 1/2 cup vanilla cultured coconut milk* or greek yogurt 
• 1 tbsp. chia seeds

* Found at Trader's Joe

Directions:
Place the yogurt in a glass. Add mango, granola, and top with chia seeds.

Picnic by the Lake

     It's summertime again and the weather was gorgeous yesterday, so we had a picnic in Vancouver Lake Park. It was a perfect day; clear blue skies, and crisp fresh air ideal for being out in the sun to relax.
     Who would go to a picnic without food? So I prepared this simple meal packed with nutrients, which was quick and easy to make. For the appetizer, I made a vegetable salad. Our main dish was a whole wheat turkey wrap, and our dessert was a coconut mango parfait.
     I included chia seeds in our meal because it is the richest plant-based source of dietary fiber, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids. You can also put them in a salad, yogurt, smoothie, and baked goods. Enjoy the summer!
     The next post will be the recipes of the food from the picnic.

Green Smoothie

 



Strawberry Banana Green Smoothie:

Ingredients:
- 1 cup spinach
- 1 banana
- 1 cup strawberries
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tbsp. agave nectar
- 2 tbsp. flax seed
- 3/4 cup almond milk
- 1 cup ice

Directions:
Add ingredients to blender in order listed. Blend until smooth.