Healthy Pumpkin Waffles

Happy October! Unfortunately, we don’t see much of a seasonal change out here in Hawaii but I gotta admit that I absolutely live for fall ( and especially winter ) in the islands. Temps start to drop a bit, white ginger is in full bloom and the surf starts to pick up big time. It’s magical.

As much as I love fall decor, it always seems a bit out of place in our lit’ tropical bungalow. So instead of spending money on ceramic pumpkins and fall-themed wreaths, I invest in my fall pantry. Squash, pears, apples, persimmons, pomegranates, dates, and sweet potatoes turn into my go-to ingredients. I tend to bake more, roast more, and overall eat more “cooked foods” during this time of the year as well. Because honestly, who wants to heat up the oven during a hot Hawaiian summer? Um, not me.

So here’s my first simple recipe of the season: Super healthy pumpkin waffles! I used oat flour here. You can buy oat flour in the grocery store but honestly, you can just make it yourself. I actually make a huge batch of it ahead of time and store it in my pantry. Just add quick oats to a highspeed blender and blend until you get a fine powder. So easy.

I purchased this cute little waffle maker at Target for like $10! However, if you are making several waffles at a time, I would purchase something larger. The waffles take about 5-6 minutes to bake so you don’t want them getting cold if you are making a larger batch.

Healthy Pumpkin Waffles - makes 3 mini waffles, feel free to double or triple recipe. Use 1/4 cup of batter per waffle.

• 1/2 cup plus 2 Tb oat flour

• 1/2 cup nut milk ( I used almond )

• 1/4 cup 100% pumpkin puree

• 1 Tb coconut sugar

• 1/2 tsp pumpkin spice

• 1/2 tsp baking powder

*Add all ingredients to a highspeed blender and then blend until well combined. To make a mini waffle, use 1/4 cup of the batter and cook according to the manufacturer’s instructions. A cooking spray might be needed. I used avocado oil. Cooking time is approximately 5-6 mins.

Sushi Burritos

Ya I know, it’s basically a massive sushi roll but that’s the whole point ( LOL ) The awesome thing about sushi burritos is that they are super easy to eat on the go ( no chopsticks needed! ) and super filling ( always very important! )

On this day, I made these rolls with basically all the leftover veggies I had in the fridge. However, feel free to add whatever types of fillings you like. I’ve added everything from steamed sweet potatoes, to beetroot hummus, to sriracha aioli, to Korean Gochujang paste. There’s really no rules except for the large size of the roll. The whole idea is that it’s very BIG so you can eat it like a burrito.

The trick is the extra sheet of nori in the rolling process. I included a picture below so you can see what I mean. The instructions are below.

How to Prepare Rice ( makes about 2 large sushi burritos or 3 medium sushi burritos )

• 1.5 cups short grain rice ( white or brown )

• 1/4 cup seasoned sushi vinegar

• prepping sushi rice - I made my rice in a rice cooker using 1.5 cups of short grain white rice. To flavor the rice, I used about 1/4 cup of Marukan’s Organic Seasoned Rice Vinegar Dressing. You don’t have to flavor your rice but it gives it that authentic sushi rice flavor we all know and love. If you can’t find a seasoned vinegar you can make your own using a mixture of rice wine vinegar, salt and sugar. If you need help, there are a ton of videos on how to make seasoned sushi rice on YouTube.

*To prepare, cook rice according to the instructions. When finished, spoon hot rice into a large shallow bowl and mix in flavored vinegar. Let rice cool to the touch before making your rolls. Next, Take about 3/4 cup to one cup of the cooked rice and spread evening over one sheet of nori. Add second sheet of nori to the very end of first sheet and seal with water.

*Next, add your fillings and roll up sushi roll.

*I like using a bamboo rolling mat because it helps in making a nice“tight” roll. Seal roll with a little bit of water at the end and then wrap finished roll in either parchment or wax paper. Slice in half for easy eating.

Here’s a list of the fillings I used today

• shredded purple cabbage

• shredded carrots

• avocado

• sliced cucumbers

• bell pepper

• cilantro

• Yuzu Furikake another good Furikake option HERE

Other awesome fillings you could use

• steamed and sliced sweet potatoes ( I love the purple variety here )

• sliced mango

• grilled tofu or tempeh

• grilled mushrooms

• sliced sushi ginger

• guacamole

• sunflower sprouts

• green onions or chives

ENJOY!

Vegan Banana Nut Muffins

Lightly sweet and filling, these are perfect for an on-the-go breakfast or a quick pre-surf snack. Feel free to indulge without any guilt because these delicious muffins are vegan, gluten-free, and free of processed sugar!

Vegan Banana Nut Muffins ( makes 12 medium size muffins )

*Pre-heat oven to 375F

Dry Ingredients

• 2 cups gluten-free rolled oats ( ground first in a high-speed blender to make flour )

• 1.5 cup almond flour

• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts ( optional )

• 1/4 cup coconut sugar

• 1.5 Tb baking powder

• 1.5 tsp cinnamon

• 1/2 tsp cardamon ( optional )

• 1/2 tsp sea salt

*Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl until well combined. Set aside.

Wet Ingredients

• 2 overripe bananas ( very mashed )

• 1 cup nut milk ( I used almond milk )

• 1/2 cup maple syrup

• 2 tsp vanilla extract

• coconut oil to grease muffin tins

*Mix wet ingredients until well combined and then mix into the dry mixture until a batter is formed.

*Grease muffin tins with coconut oil and then scoop about 1/4 cup of the batter into each tin.

*Bake for about 22-24 minutes at 375F until tops are slightly golden. Wait until muffins have cooled for about 30 minutes before removing from the pan. Keeps well in the fridge for a few days.

Enjoy!