Let your inner light shine.

I can't stop thinking about a story my lovely yoga teacher told the class on Sunday afternoon.

She always has an inspirational theme for class and this particular day it was bringing out our inner light.

The story went something like this..

"A grandfather told his grandson a story of the white wolf and black wolf. The white wolf was filled with kindness, compassion, and good, whereas the black wolf was filled with judgement, hate, and evil. He told his grandson that everyone has these two wolfs battling inside of them. So the grandson asked 'well which one of them wins?' The grandfather replies 'the one that you choose to feed.'

This really hit me and made me think 'wow, that is so true.' Nobody is perfect and can be 100% positive all the time but it's about recognizing that negativity and refusing to feed it.

Bringing out our inner light takes practice. Feeding emotions like kindness, compassion, gratitude, and happiness (not just to ourselves but with others as well) will help keep the 'white wolf' alive.

Make it a conscious effort to keep a positive mind and outlook on life. Bad days are created by negativity, you can rid your life of them by simply adjusting your attitude. "You can't live a positive life with a negative attitude."

Radiate your inner light and watch the world around you become a brighter place :)

Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar

I'm making a goal of mine this week to drink ACV every morning when I wake up this week because of it's detoxing qualities. I've been taking a shot of it or mixing it in with some hot water, lemon, and honey. I use Bragg's Organic ACV with the 'mother' (it's important to drink an organic brand with 'the mother') which contains natural healing qualities.

Guilt Free Chocolate Molten Lava Cake

Last night was Valentines Day, what a great success. It's a day about celebrating love and I'll tell you what I love: wine, sushi, chocolate, and of course.. my best friend who spent this night with me. 

This cake was our decadent dessert and was gone before you could say chocolate molten lava cake. I'm drooling just thinking about it again... it was exactly what a molten cake should be, warm, delicious, and so chocolatey. 

Recipe inspired by CCK's One Minute Chocolate Cake

Guilt Free Chocolate Molten Lava Cake

(Yields 2 small cakes)

Chocolate Center/Drizzle

1/4 cup of virgin coconut oil
1/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup of agave

Melt the coconut oil (in the microwave or oven). When melted, add agave and stir. Next, add the cocoa powder and stir until combined. 

Place half the chocolate into two ice cube tray slots (or any type of chocolate mold) and place in the fridge (or freezer, depending on time) until hard. Save the remainder of the chocolate for topping.

Cake

3 Tbsp plus 1 tsp of unsweetened cocoa powder

6 Tbsp of spelt flour (a bit over 1/3 cup)

1/4 tsp of salt

1/2 tsp of baking soda

2 Tbsp plus 2 tsp of cane sugar (or I used Xylitol)

2 Tbsp of virgin coconut oil

2 Tbsp of coffee

1/4 cup of almond milk (or milk of choice)

1 tsp of vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees & grease ramekins or small cake pans with coconut oil.

Combine dry ingredients and whisk together until very well combined. Then add wet ingredients and mix well again. Pour batter into ramekins. Take your chocolate cubes from fridge (or freezer) and push inside the center of the batter (they will melt and create your 'lava'). Place in the oven for 10-15 mins until they begin to rise and knife comes out clean. 

Make sure to serve warm. I topped mine with some banana ice cream (frozen bananas blended with a tsp of vanilla extract) and drizzled with the remaining chocolate (just re-melt it by placing in the microwave). 

This will satisfy your chocolate craving and there's no guilt about it.

Whole Wheat Blueberry Scones

What better way to spend a snow storm than doing some nutritimentation with blueberry scones? I wanted to come up with a lighter version of scones so I did some research, came up with a recipe, and lucky enough these came out great!  

My version of blueberry scones are filled with healthy fats, whole grains, and some extra nutrition with flax meal. Have one of these in the morning regret free!

Blueberry Scones

(Yields 5 scones)

¾ cups of whole wheat pastry flour

¼ cup of spelt flour

½ Tbsp of baking powder

¼ tsp of salt

2 ½ Tbsp of organic sugar (I used Xylitol)

¼ tsp cinnamon

¼ tsp of baking soda

¼ cup plain low fat Greek yogurt

2 ½ Tbsp of coconut oil

½ tsp of vanilla extract

¼ cup almond milk

½ Tbsp of flax meal

½ Tbsp of grated lemon zest

About 1/2 cup blueberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

First, combine yogurt and baking soda in a bowl and set aside. (This will create a light/airy mixture like meringue.)

Combine flours, baking powder, salt, sugar, and cinnamon in a large bowl and mix well.

Drop in coconut oil and fold in using hands. (You want to break up the oil into pieces leaving chunks of it in the dough just as if you were using butter.)

Next, fold in yogurt mixture, milk, and vanilla. Then mix in flax, lemon zest, and blueberries.

Using a 1/4 cup measuring cup (or spoon), scoop dough onto a greased or parchment paper covered cookie sheet. 

Using fingers (or brush) lightly coat the top of scones with some milk and then sprinkle with sugar.

Place in the oven for about 20 mins or until golden brown. Test by sticking knife or cake stick into the middle - it should come out clean.


To reheat place in a 350 degree oven for 5-10 min. To get a crispy crust place on broil for 1-2 mins. Then enjoy with some Earth Balance spread and perhaps a cup of tea.

Love blueberry? Also try...

Blueberry Baked Oatmeal

Warm Blueberry Granola

Mini Blueberry Pie

Layered Maple Walnut & Banana Baked Oatmeal

I decided to try something a little different with my baked oatmeal this morning. I thought, why not layer it? This was a delicious idea. Layers of banana, crunchy Kind Maple Walnut Clusters, and oatmeal...yummm!

Layered Maple Walnut & Banana Baked Oatmeal 

Oatmeal

1/2 cup quick oats

1 cup water (or milk)

1/4 tsp of vanilla extract

1 Tbsp of organic maple syrup

1 tsp of cinnamon

To Layer

1 Banana (sliced)

Kind Maple Walnut Clusters

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Prepare quick oats by combining with water and heating in the microwave for 1 minute. Then add vanilla, maple syrup, & cinnamon, mix well. 

In a greased ramekin or small baking pan (I coat mine with coconut oil),  layer slices of banana, oatmeal, and Kind clusters until you reach the top. Place in the oven for about 10 min (until granola begins to brown and oatmeal firms.) 

This is a nutrient packed, quick, delicious breakfast...enjoy!