Clean Eating Applesauce Pancakes

I don't sleep much at night.  Our almost one year old is an epically horrible sleeper - most nights he wakes up every hour to hour and a half.  Ugh.  Praying this "phase" will end soon...does 6 months count as a "phase"?

You know what gets me up in the mornings?  I mean besides my whining baby : )?  Pancakes.  Pancakes are powerful motivators!  I start my mornings off like a zombie, but after my pancake fix I am good to go.  I usually rotate between this recipe and my paleo pumpkin pancakes recipe.  Let's just say, I spend waaay to much on maple syrup these days...someone plant me my own maple tree please! : )

What do you eat for breakfast?  I'm curious as to what other people eat!  I know I am a creature of habit and eat the same thing for breakfast for months, then switch to something else that I eat for months...and so it goes on and on!  Plus, I never get comments on my blog...haha - just comments in person or on facebook from people saying they tried something...let me know if my comments section still works by letting me know what you eat for breakfast!

Clean eating Applesauce Pancakes
adapted from Fit Foodie Finds website

4 eggs
2/3 cup unsweetened applesauce*
1/2 cup almond meal
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 TBS honey or maple syrup

Whisk eggs in bowl.  Add remaining ingredients and whisk until smooth and combined.

Heat a skillet pan or griddle.  Coat generously with coconut oil or butter.  Spoon batter onto pan, about 3-4 TBS worth.  At this point I sometimes sprinkle nuts or coconut onto the batter.  Cook 2-3 minutes until bubbles form and flip quickly.  Pancakes are fragile - so just be brave and flip!  Cook for additional 1-2 minutes on other side.  Remove from pan.

Serving ideas: Whipped coconut butter, chopped nuts, maple syrup or honey, applesauce.  Also, these taste great cold.  I like to use leftovers for snacks on the go during the week - high in protein!

*I have used homemade and store bought applesauce with good results for both!

Lava Cakes

Today is St.Valentine's day.  I am not a Valentine's day fanatic, and hate the over commercialization of the day...but...like most girls I still appreciate flowers and a nice card : )  My mom would make us watch the movie of St. Valentine every year on Valentine's day...some would think watching a movie about a martyr would suck the love out of the day, but really isn't that what love is all about?  Laying your life down for someone you love?  Real love is self-sacrificing!  Questioning whether you are loved or not today?  YOU ARE SO LOVED!  Jesus lay down his life for YOU!  Ultimate self sacrifice right there.


On to the food...which is why you are here : )

You know what is a funny word?  Ramekin!  My husband is so proud that he now knows what this word is!  I have quite the assortment of random ramekins in my kitchen.  I use them for everything.  Baby food bowls, small servings of granola, little sauce dishes, salsa, hummus - they are awesome!  The best thing I use them for is making LAVA CAKES!

Are you looking for something quick, easy, and delicious to make for your valentine today?  THIS IS THE RECIPE FOR YOU!

Andrew and I never need an excuse to make these...we make them every other week.  They are sort of fancy, but sort of comfort food level.  I have tried a few recipes for lava cakes out, but this one has been our favorite, and happens to be the easiest too!  Each recipe makes 4 lava cakes - so we eat 2, then eat 2 the next day cold or reheated.  I can't decide if I like them better hot or cold!  If you get invited to our home for dinner there is a good chance we will serve you these for dessert.

Lava Cakes
adapted from the Chef in Training Blog

4 oz. or 2/3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (You can also use milk or dark chips if that is what you have)
½ cup butter
1 cup powdered sugar

2 eggs
2 egg yolks
6 Tablespoons flour
Kosher salt

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
Spray 4 small (6-8 oz) ramekin dishes* with cooking spray and place on a baking sheet. Set aside.
In medium saucepan over medium heat combine butter and chocolate and heat until just melted. Whisk until smooth and combined.  Add powdered sugar and whisk in evenly.
Add eggs and egg yolks and whisk in until well combined.
Whisk in flour until well combined.
Pour and distribute batter evenly in the 4 prepared ramekin dishes.
Bake at 425 degrees F for 12-13 minutes until edges are firm and center is soft, but not super jiggly.
Let cool for 2 minutes. Using a knife, gently pull cake away from the edges then invert onto plate or serving dish.

*If you don't have ramekins you can use muffin tins, they are just a little bit harder to get out without falling apart...or if you have oven safe mugs you can use that too.