You matter. It’s easy in this buzzing world of omnipresence and instant gratification to forget how we as individuals fit into the big picture. But, we do fit in. We’re part of the whole and as such, how we participate and engage influences everything around us. The choices we make on a daily basis really do have an impact on the world and on the future. A couple of recent experiences have awakened me to the importance of compassionate, human to human relationships and thoughtful and tangible action. While reading this article the other day, this quote stuck out:
“A dedication to cultivating your social media brand is a fundamentally passive approach to professional advancement. It diverts your time and attention away from producing work that matters and toward convincing the world that you matter. “
As bloggers we spend lots of time on social media, and while I acknowledge the importance of building a following, I think it’s easy to become complacent and lose sight of our values and goals. Why do we do what we do? My guess is that most of us have some reason that has nothing to do with numbers of followers, engagement, page views or click throughs. For some of us it’s about creating art and sharing beauty with the world. For some of us it’s about family and community and building relationships around food. For some of us it’s about helping others find health and vitality. For some of us it’s about educating others about important issues in our food system. But for all of us it’s about much, much more than just creating content and getting likes. I hope you can all find ways to take your values and passions and translate them into concrete action in the coming weeks and months, because what we all need more than anything else right now is human engagement. Share your gifts every day through little acts of selflessness and compassion. Give a hug, call a friend, discuss an article, cook together, attend a rally, concert, lecture, exhibit, or party, host a fundraiser, collaborate, volunteer, help a stranger, and don’t forget to smile.
I’m working on some interesting projects that I’ll look forward to sharing with you soon. For now….waffles!
I’m so excited to share this recipe with you from Laura’s new cookbook! I had the pleasure of meeting Laura a few weeks ago at our blogger retreat after having admired her work for some time. She’s fun, vivacious, funny, and so talented as both a cook and photographer. This book epitomizes her love of vibrant, seasonal, plant based food. The recipes are precise and easy to follow and packed with plenty of whole grains, nuts, seeds, and fruits and veggies. Her photos are full of soft light and casual styling which creates a sense of comfort that invites you in and makes you feel at home. I’m especially excited to try the Savory Ginger Green Onion Crepes, Weeknight Root Vegetable Dal, Creamy and Spicy Corn and Millet Toss, Roasted Carrots with Ginger Maple Cream, and Fudgy Nut and Seed Butter Brownies. I’ve already made these Easy Gluten-Free Waffles a couple of times and love them. They really are quite easy and I love that they’re crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, just like a waffle should be. The shredded coconut adds a rich, nutty flavor and texture. I topped mine with the Maple-Spice Buckwheat Crispies from the book. You can win a copy of The First Mess Cookbook by entering the giveaway below. XO
(GIVEAWAY CLOSED) GIVEAWAY: To win a copy of Laura’s amazing book comment below with your favorite weekday breakfast. I’ll pick a winner randomly next week and get a copy to you in March. Open to US and Canadian residents only.
Easy Gluten Free Waffles
Reprinted from The First Mess Cookbook by arrangement with Avery Books, a member of Penguin Group (USA) LLC, A Penguin Random House Company. Copyright © 2017, Laura Wright
Photos copyright © 2017, Laura Wright
Makes 6 large waffles
INGREDIENTS
1 cup almond flour
1 1/4 cups certified gluten-free oat flour
1/2 cup finely shredded unsweetened coconut
2 teaspoons aluminum-free baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons arrowroot powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
2 tablespoons ground flax seed
1/2 cup mashed ripe banana (approximately 1 large banana)
1 1/4 cups unsweetened almond milk
2 tablespoons liquid virgin coconut oil
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
FOR SERVING
maple-spiced buckwheat crispies
sliced bananas
sliced peaches
pumpkin seeds
pure maple syrup
PROCEDURE
Preheat the oven to 275°F. Place a baking sheet in the oven.
In a large bowl, whisk together the almond flour, oat flour, shredded coconut, baking powder, arrowroot powder, cinnamon and sea salt.
In a blender or food processor, combine the ground flaxseed, mashed banana, almond milk, coconut oil, maple syrup and vanilla. Mix on high for a minute or so. You want to activate the gelling power of the flaxseeds. The mixture should appear foamy.
Add the flax and banana mixture to the dry ingredients and gently stir until just combined. Let the batter sit for 12 to 15 minutes.
Heat your waffle iron to a setting in the higher range. I find a slightly hotter setting works best for these. Once the machine is ready, grease the irons with a bit of coconut oil using either a pastry brush or a wad of paper towel. Drop 1/2 cup of the batter onto the center of the bottom iron and close the lid. Remove the waffle when the timer goes off or the waffle appears golden brown all across the top.
Keep the cooked waffles warm on the baking sheet in the oven while you repeat the cooking process with the remaining batter.
Serve waffles with nut or seed butter, fresh fruit, maple syrup, or any other accompaniments you enjoy.
My favorite breakfast is Steel cut oats which I make the night before. I toast the oats for a little to get a nice nutty flavor. I then add water and boil them for about 3 minutes, out the lid on and go to bed. The next morning, they are ready to heat up. I top it with some good quality maple syrup, toasted walnuts and blueberries. My fave!!
Looks delicious
I very much identified with the passage at the beginning of your post. I have been getting caught up in the Instagram world as I worry about being left behind in terms of trends, events, etc. The passage was a wake-up call for me. Thank you. Oh, and I just received the First Mess Cookbook last week and started reading it this evening- obviously, I’ll be trying the waffles!
Oh yay! I’m so glad you felt moved by the post. It’s a tricky balance for sure. Enjoy Laura’s book and the waffles!
I love to roast a big batch of butternut squash or sweet potatoes dusted in cinnamon for the week, then use them in breakfast bowls with coconut milk yogurt, hemp seeds, nut butter and unsweetened coconut flakes! Quick to put together and totally portable!
My favorite week day breakfast is avocado toast w/ smoked salmon but some mornings I’ve just gotta have some sweet and that’s when I reach for granola, yogurt and whatever fruit I can scrounge up. This cookbook sounds absolutely delicious. Thanks for the giveaway
As a busy college student, my favorite weekday breakfast of late is chia pudding. I generally blend a banana or some nectarines with some almond or pecan milk, stir in a couple tablespoons of chia seeds, and leave it in the fridge, knowing I have a delicious breakfast to look forward to the next morning!
Sounds perfect! And congrats! You won! Emailing you now.
My favorite breakfast is a mixture of hemp hearts, chia seeds, fresh fruit, almond butter and coconut milk. Yum!
A smoothie or a root vegetable soup seem to be my go to lately for breakfast. This cookbook sounds terrific, love Laura’s blog and the waffle recipe sounds delicious. Thanks for sharing and enjoy the journey. – Melanie
I’ve been in an oatmeal/porridge phase for going on five years. And I can’t wait for Laura’s book; have been anticipating it for months!!
Love your words here Sasha – and love these waffles! Xo
so excited by this book
I am on an oatmeal kick right now, but also love pancakes or waffles on the weekends. 🙂 Love that these are gluten-free!
I loved your opening thoughts and that article you shared. I mostly use social media for inspiration, but it can also be draining if I allow it to be. I used to feel guilty if I didn’t get on IG everyday, but lately I’ve been able to let go and it’s been so helpful. Laura’s book looks and sounds phenomenal- I’m looking forward to seeing it myself. I think breakfast is my fave and love all things morning, but I think a good overnight oats is probably my go-to for weekdays.
A kale/spinach Smoothie with whatever fruit is laying around is my go to quick breakfast. Thanks for the chance to win this cookbook!
Yogurt w/ granola and fresh fruit starts most of my mornings!
I’m terrible about breakfast…I normally just have toast with some nut butter.
That’s always delicious!
Either a rolled omelet with herbs inside, or a sunny-side-up egg with an extra white to smear the yolk all over!
Haha! So clever. That runny yolk is the best isn’t it?
I love to eat granola with Kefir!! I also tend to have a banana and some assortment of berries depending on the season 🙂
This is so ridiculously gorgeous girlfriend. I’ve been stalking all of your recent posts for the last 10 minutes and it’s like eye candy. GAH!
Awww thank you so much!
I’m usually 50-50 between oatmeal and a thick smoothie bowl (heavier on the oatmeal in the winter, smoothies in the summer), but this week I’ve been doing a tempeh veggie scramble and it’s been amazing!
Waffles are definitely a go-to weekender for me, and I am psyched to try out this recipe! I love Laura’s work, so I’m sure her book is phenomenal!
I love Laura and her blog. She got me into vegan cooking. My favourite breakfast is overnight chia oats!
She’s amazing! So full of life.
Those buckwheat crispier look amazing! Love Laura’s site! My favorite breakfast is good old fashioned oatmeal. Toppings vary depending on the season. 😊
Mmm, almond flour waffles? This sounds divine, Sasha! Thanks for this giveaway, I don’t live in US/Canada, but I so lucky to have friends there to pick up this beauty in case I win 🙂
Thanks for these wise words about blogging(it’s been a while I wrote my last post, but this still dreaming of coming back), it’s so nice to hear we all share same passion. So curious to hear about your new projects, Sasha!
Thanks so much for following and for all your support.
Great to hear your reflections on blogging, purpose, connection and compassion. It’s so important to pause and remember that “you matter!” My go-to weekday breakfast is a one egg omelette with goat cheese on a brown rice cracker (yes, with a little jam). It’s just so satisfying to me; tasty and nutritious. Looking forward to the waffles, and like the others, on a weekend! xox
Yay for you and your fig jam and egg combo! XO
My favorite weekday breakfast…it’s a classic…brown rice cakes, peanut butter with cinnamon stirred into it, topped with slices of ripe banana. Quick and delicious, with protein and grains for staying power.
not a big breakfast lover – I guess my favorite would be something simple like pb on toast.
My favorite weekday breakfast is Liberte Sweet Cream yogurt with my homemade granola. I am impatiently waiting for berry season to get here so I can make my breakfast even more exciting. If I am cold I might switch it up and have a hot breakfast burrito. I usually make a bunch and freeze them. I throw it in the oven and by the time coffee and getting dressed is done, it is too. Thanks for the chance to win this awesome book!
Oooh breakfast burritos! Now I’m hungry!
Thank you for those meaningful and deep words, Sasha -they’re very much needed, especially right now as I continue to struggle/ journey through this life of mine and try to figure out who I am, who I want to be, who I can be, what I want to do, what I want to stand for, and so forth <3
Now, on a different note, I'm curious to hear more about your projects soon, and, as far as breakfast goes, my go-to is good ol' oatmeal with a little bit of oat milk, flaxseeds and an apple (tea on the side, of course!) xx
I’m so glad to offer some thoughts to help you figure it all out. We all need others to help us figure life out. Embrace the struggle. Big hugs!
love eggs..so either a quick scramble or fry with mushrooms spinach and tomatoes
Great post! Thanks for sharing <3 I'd have to say that an omelette stuffed with oodles of veggies and a fresh tomato on the side is my favourite, for breakfast, lunch or dinner! 🙂 –Sam
Those waffles look delicious!!!!
My daughter & I have enjoyed a variety of fruit & almond milk smoothies and toast with avocado, lime, Cajun seasoning, cucumber & tomato.
Love your blog Sasha!
Thank you so much! And that about toast combo sounds perfect!
I love love love waffles. Of course I don’t have time to make them during the weekdays, but I always make an extra batch to freeze when I make them on the weekend. Then throughout the week, I toast them one by one and eat with almond butter and banana, accompanied always by a cup of black coffee. Makes those rough mornings so much more enjoyable! I’ve adapted one of Laura’s recipes a while ago (very similar to this one), and haven’t found a better waffle recipe yet. Everyone who tries them gets hooked, I’m so glad I found Laura’s blog! I’m sure her book is full of such recipes.
They’re so good! I’m curious about the version you use. And freezing them to toast is so brilliant!
I love my homemade muesli which I cover in almond milk and greek yogurt the night before, then heat it up a little in the morning with berries. Yum. The waffles sound amazing 🙂
Yum! Hope you’re well. XO
I’m curious about your projects ^_^
Btw, I usually keep my breakfast really simple but mostly due of my lazyness. My dreamy one is a bowl of goat or cashew yogurt with some fresh berries and a crunchy granola, plus a little topping of bee pollen.