Despite lingering throat soreness and a tickly cough that keeps me up in the night, I am feeling a bit better each day. I’d say I am about 80% healed. The flu just seems to be leaving my body very. very. slowly.
My flu fighting plan includes:
- Juicing first thing every morning (ginger, lemon, grapefruit, carrots, cucumbers, beets- are my go to’s)
- Gargling with warm salt water 3 times a day (now I’m down to 1-2)
- Neti Pot (1-2 times a day, as needed)
- Oil of Oregano drops (few drops, 1x a day) + Echinacea drops (1ml, 2-3 times a day)
- Continue with usual Vitamins (what I normally take: Probiotic, vegan vitamin, B12, Calcium/magnesium, Vit D)
- Fresh lemon and ginger tea (Grate 1” piece ginger and steep with a tea steeper + juice half a lemon + hot water + maple syrup to taste)
- Japanese Sencha tea
- REST (This is the hardest part for me…I am not a ‘rester’)
Whether actual physical healers, or mental placebo healers, it’s probably a bit of both. I’m just happy to be feeling better.
I’m really ready to bid farewell to April though. It was not a stellar month for me. An injured sciatic nerve, a bad flu, and a record amount of rainfall all knocked me off my course.
I’ve been feeling pretty down lately because my exercise has been totally side-lined and I’m feeling really out of shape. I keep telling myself that this is just another pothole or obstacle along my journey and it will pass. I miss running. I miss Body Pump. I miss endorphins. I miss the Hot Yoga class that Ange and I planned to try out. But it will come…in time.
I think I’m going to call the month of May ‘getting my groove back’ month. :)
Despite a crummy April, this breakfast was a good way to end the gloom and doom! And we woke up to sunshine for the first time in 2 weeks.
My breakfast inspiration came from Tina’s hot off the press Carrots ‘N’ Cake book. I was sent this book as a review copy from the publisher last week.
Tina Haupert, who has been blogging at Carrots ‘N’ Cake for a few years, wrote this book to share her healthy living journey. The book contains over 50 of her go-to recipes (many of which are vegetarian and a few of them are vegan), as well as her workout and healthy eating tips.
I took it as a sign that the very first recipe in the book happened to be vegan. :)
And cookies.
And quite healthy cookies at that!
So I whipped them up this morning and made it into breakfast.
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Banana Oatmeal Chip Cookies
Lightly adapted from Carrots ‘N’ Cake book.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour (I used spelt and added 1 tbsp)
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tbsp chia seed
- 1 tbsp ground flax seed
- 1/4 cup non-dairy milk
- 1/4 cup maple syrup (or other liquid sweetener)
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp coconut oil (or canola or olive oil)
- 1/2 banana
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment or a non-stick mat.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the dry ingredients (flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, chia seed, ground flax). Now add in the liquid ingredients (milk, maple syrup, vanilla, oil) and stir well.
3. In a small bowl, mash the banana. Stir in the mashed banana, chocolate chips, and walnuts into cookie mixture.
4. Spoon onto prepared baking sheet, leaving 2 inches apart. I made 6 large cookies and baked them for 14-16 minutes at 350F. You will likely need to adjust the time based on the size of the cookie you make. Cool on rack for 10 minutes before serving.
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I adapted this recipe lightly based on what I had lurking in my pantry…
- I added a tbsp of chia seeds
- I used spelt instead of whole wheat
- I used maple syrup instead of agave or honey
- I used coconut oil instead of canola
- I used 1/2 a banana instead of 1
- I reduced the chocolate chips down to 1/4 cup
They turned out delicious- big, pillowy soft, fluffy, and lightly sweet. Like a bowl of oatmeal in cookie form. Thanks Tina!
For breakfast, I had a bowl of Nature’s Path Spelt Cereal, with almond milk, buckwheat groats, and a cookie crumbled over top. And some Japanese Sencha on the side.
Shortly after breakfast, the deck guys arrived to install the deck beams around 8am. Not having the experience or equipment to do it himself, Eric hired the pros to install the 22-24 deck beams.
The rest of the deck, Eric plans to do on his own, with the help of myself & friends here and there.
We were really worried when they dug by the well, but thankfully no pipes were broken!! Here’s hoping that everything goes smoothly today!
I hope the sun is shining where you are!
Giveaway!
If you’d like a chance to win a copy of the Carrots ‘N’ Cake book, leave a comment below and I will select 1 random winner on Monday. Goodluck :)
Glad to hear that you´re feeling better! I will definitely try the cookies soon!
Hey Angela, I am so happy you are finally feeling better!! I have been seening alot aboutTina’s book on a few of the blogs I read! I can’t wait to get a copy! A friend of mine and I are actually starting to make plans to write a recipe/healthy eat tips/healthy life book. Maybe someday we will start a blog too! I love your stuff, I have also been feeling in a bit of a slump, so I am going to make some goals, like you suggest in your later post. I need to get back on track again. I have two children and that is alway my excuse, but I still need to take care of myself. I know you will have no trouble getting back on track!
These cookies look great-I will definitely be trying them out soon!
I love reading your blog and hope you start feeling better soon! Can’t wait to buy some chia seeds and make overnight oats!
Ah I hope I win!
katherinedibello (at) gmail (dot) com
Glad you are feeling better. I would love to win a copy of the book. Thanks
Those cookies look delicious–I’ve been very much on an oatmeal cookie kick lately, so I’ll be making those soon, I’m sure! I’d love to check out Tina’s book as well :)
eeek I would LOVE to win this book! and these cookies look delectable (:
Carrots & Cake? Can’t get much better than that!
Hope you feel better soon!
Yum! Off to make those cookies now! Everything about Tina’s book looks delightful (and delicious!)
MMmm.. those cookies look good! And I have everything to make them! Woot! Excuse me while I bake.
Looking forward to seeing you get your groove back in May. I can’t wait to get my hands on Tina’s book. Enjoy the sunshine and feel better.
Sorry you’ve been so sick lately! I hope you feel better! :) Those cookies would sure make me feel better! :) I’d love a copy of Tina’s book! I’m a regular on both your blogs.
So glad to hear you’re feeling better. May is my get-back-into-it month too with getting back into raw food and doing the exercise thing, spinning classes with some P90x thrown in. I was glancing at some of your other comments and it’s gotta be something about the change in seasons that makes us want to get back on track. Best of luck :)
Oh I saw her book was out already! I hope I’m the lucky winner =) I’d love to have a copy!
I would love Tina’s book. I met her at Foodbuzz Fest in November, and I’ve made cookies like those from her blog.
Also, I know everyone tells you that you’re inspiring, but I love how you really look at yourself from the outside. Setting goals for May and recognizing problems is really great. I need to do more of that and write it down.
Nothing like a fabulous cookie-included breakfast to brighten the day! So glad you’re feeling better, Angie! :)
Cookies looked yummy, hope your May is good!
I hope you’re back to 100% soon! Being sick sucks…cheers to a healthy May :)
I would love to win the book!