Berry healthy pancakes

These berry healthy (aren't I punny??) pancakes are direct from my Instagram feed to your plate. Easy to make, filling, and no pricey or hard to find ingredients... the perfect productive thing for your lazy weekend morning. Plus, they're pretty.

What you'll need: 

the basics

1 Banana

2 Eggs

Frozen/fresh berries

~1/2 cup flaxseed

Rolled Oats 

the extras

1 TBS Maca powder

Collagen powder

Chia Seeds

the sprinkles

Yogurt

Apples

Granola

Nuts

Coconut Chips

How to:

1. Add all of the basic & extra ingredients to a blender (or in a bowl with a strong armed whisk)
2. Blend until smooth & creamy (thick like a milkshake, add more flaxseed or oats to thicken)
3. Add ~1 TBS coconut oil to a large plan and add a big ol' dollop of batter
4. Heat is key- medium high, better to slow cook than to burn and cook unevenly!
5. Remove the cakes, top with your sprinkles
6. Take a pic, you know you want to. 

With love and sleeping in, 

Sarah Belle

Zucchini bread, health level: medium

Well hello, happy Sunday! How are you? It's been a while, and I've missed you. That's me talking to this zucchini bread, because it was just that good. Aren't I funny?? But seriously this bread was just the right sweetness, dense but still fluffy, and just enough health factor to justify eating an undisclosed amount while watching Riverdale alone.
I made some amendments to this recipe to fit with what I already had in my pantry, solidifying my belief that applesauce and bananas solve most life problems. Eat up!!

What you will need for my version:

• 2.5 cups old fashioned oats (and a blender/food processor)
• 2-3 large bananas 1 cup mashed (very easy if you throw in the blender post oats)
• 2 large eggs lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup apple sauce (or your choice of sweetener)
• 2.5 cups shredded zucchini peeled or unpeeled
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/3 cup chocolate chips (this is a non-negotiable)

Other fun ideas:

• Swap 1/2 cup oat flour for flaxseed because why not
• Toasted walnuts in addition to chocolate chips
• Add shredded carrot/apple for added texture & color

With love and sticky fingers,

Sarah Belle

Matcha steel cut oats

Cooking in New York is a mission and a half, so when I do it warrants documentation and celebration!! I have been trying to make my cooking and meal prep more efficient- combining all my food needs into one meal that is easy to transport, cheap, and healthy. Voila, matcha oats was born. This bad boy is packed with goodness and is photogenic to boot. MVP award goes to my rooftop and these beautiful flowers- everything tastes better when you eat it in the sunshine. 

Not trying to insult your intelligence, but here is a how to for the world's simplest recipe: 

1. Follow instructions on your choice of oatmeal (I like this one)
2. Mash banana in a separate bowl
3. About halfway through cooking time add banana and matcha powder (best if sifted beforehand) and whatever other goodies you want (collagen powder, chia seeds, coconut butter & cinnamon are some of my favorites)
4. Stir well and add water or almond milk if mixture is getting clumpy
5. Let the oats sit in the pan for a minute or so after cooking time to let it settle, then eat hot or cold for up to a week after making. 

There you have it- a breakfast that is naturally sweetened, vitamin rich, and a built in caffeine kick for your morning. Hope you like it! 

With love and fuel,

Sarah Belle

Lemon Bars: self care edition

There is a certain feeling of satisfaction I get from creating ~healthy~ versions of desserts that I am sure you can all relate to. You choose carrots over crackers- good job! You have water instead of wine with dinner- props to you!! You take the stairs, you push yourself, and you treat your body like the fragile little being that it is- aren't you balanced!! That's all well and good, but where is the damn butter?? 

Self care can take many forms. Many days mine is a long walk and a big mug of tea. Today mine was baking- full fat, no substitutes and no looking back. Lemon bars are a summer classic: bright, tangy, and a whole hell of a lot more work than I remembered. Nevertheless, Ina Garten would be proud. The Barefoot Contessa herself was my first and only stop for this Lemon Bar recipe, and it worked like a charm. 

Lemon bar pro tips: 

• Use a fork to squish up the pan border of your squares, it makes spreading the dough a lot easier and the lemon filling sinks right in. Plus, it's pretty. 
• Get at least 6 lemons for the cup of lemon juice, and roll them all before to make more juicy. Also do yourself a favor and get one of these juicers, you will feel very grown up and your wrists will thank you. 

Life pro tips:

• Find ways to incorporate self care in your day. 
• Drink more water.
• Eat more dark greens.
• Don't beat yourself up over the chocolate cake. 
• Buy yourself flowers just because. 
• Say 'yes, why not!' more.
• Say 'no, thanks though!' more. 

With love and butter,

Sarah Belle

Vegan Samoa bars: Galentines Day edition (Vegan, GF)

The way to a man's person's heart is through their stomach. P R E A C H.

I could wax on about food and fun recipes and tell the story of why I made this dessert but let's be real we all know the real culprit here- Valentine's Day. Equal parts of love and loathing happen on this day and people all over the place rush into stores last minute to pick up little tokens of love or appreciation. Inspired by this recipe by Rachel Conners and the adorable Girl Scouts who harass me on every street corner this time of year, this healthy~ish treat is a labor of love. These are totally animal product and gluten free plus made with natural almond butter- practically a vegetable.
Making food that I love with people that I love is my favorite thing any day of the year, Happy Galentines Day!

Find yourself a sous-chef who is handy in the kitchen and efficient with clean-up! 

*Spongebob voice* "A few hours later...."

A few pro tips:

• Try and get natural/freshly ground almond butter (less oil= happier you)
• This process over an hour with the hardening time required: cut down by doing a layer of chocolate in the middle instead of dipping in the squares like the recipe suggests
• Keep these little bites in the fridge or freezer, they get mushy and damaged easily 
• The more chocolate the better, honestly

With love and more love,

Sarah Belle