Are you hankering for something deliciously delightful? Perhaps you aren’t gluten-free but you have a friend or family member who is. Here’s just the recipe for you! It’s gloriously good if not better than the regular run of the mill banana nut bread recipes.
Of course, it’s my recipe so it’s made to my specs, but I urge you to give it a shot. All takers have been pleasantly surprised by it’s show up and deliver-ability. I feel confident this will tickle your taste buds and make baking– or eating a real adventure!
Roll up your sleeves. Turn on some groovy tunes, don your fancy bake wear (below is my sassy apron example) and preheat that oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x5x3 loaf pan with coconut oil.
List of ingredients
1 ¾ cup of Gluten Free Flour (I like Pamela’s brand)
2 eggs
1 tsp Baking Powder
½ tsp Baking Soda
1 cup mashed overripe bananas (approximately two)
½ cup chopped walnuts
Mix ½ cup of coconut oil
½ cup of coconut sugar
¼ cup chopped dates (optional)
1 tsp of vanilla (optional)
A pinch of salt
Directions
In a large mixing bowl, combine gluten-free flour, baking powder, baking soda, coconut sugar, pinch of salt. Add the dates, coconut oil, eggs, bananas, walnuts and vanilla.
Bake for 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. Cool the pan for 15 minutes, then remove from pan to cool completely.
Insider Notes to the Reader:
1) No one can tell you are serving gluten-free goodness.
2) This banana nut bread is so moist that at the request of my favorite person, I was asked if I could turn it into his birthday cake with cream cheese icing. Yes, it’s really that good. Besides, I did it for love.
3) Hide this gloriously good loaf from yourself and your family. Trust no nose, the smell is tantalizing! Tighten security around your neighbors and guests.
4) Wisely postpone cutting this loaf of cherub-like goodness until the last possible second.
5) Pictured below in not just a plain ordinary banana nut bread. Don’t let the looks fool you. Inside there’s immaculate goodness. This recipe was crafted with those in mind who want to take a healthier route without sacrificing taste. It’s not meant to become your only source of nutrition. Continue to eat your fresh fruits and veggies. 🙂 Here’s a scrumptious salad recipe I suggest pairing with your yummy loaf.
In the comments below, let’s us know– did you try it? What did you think? Or are you going to give it a whirl?
If it seems overboard to ask if clutter is wreaking havoc on your health, bear with me. I have my reasons.
Clutter? What is it? Good ‘ol Merrian-Webster describes it as a large amount of things that are not arranged in a neat or orderly way: a crowded or disordered collection of things; a confused mass or collection.
Continuing in my highly trained academic background, I quote the Urban Dictionary. “Clutter is useless trash that is lying around that takes up space.” I tend to disagree that all clutter is useless or is even trash, however, it does take up space– physically or in our thoughts and emotions.
I simply refer to clutter as stress.
Clutter is anything that robs our peace.
Clutter causes stress. Stress has been linked to all the leading causes of death, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, accidents and suicide. Almost 90 percent of all visits to primary health care providers are due to stress-related problems. Nearly 50 percent of all adults suffer adverse effects from stress.
Why do we magnificent Earthlings need to add to the stress?
Here’s my suggestion as a holistic business and health coach. Take inventory. Size up how you feel when you walk into your home. Does it feel like a refuge or that a cyclone hit? Do you regret or feel shame walking past certain areas? Are you holding onto something that you don’t love, use or need?
Is it time to de-clutter your physical space so you may regain some peace in your mind and heart?
I’m speaking from first-hand experience. I’m that girl who for years held onto things. I wouldn’t say I’d become a hoarder but possibly a boarder hoarder. I planned a personal intervention. I read multiple books and articles around de-cluttering. I planned to whip myself into submission and take action.
Then a fabulous opportunity arose. Squirrel!
My husband said let’s go to Cancun for 4 months during the winter. So we set out to conduct some business while also enjoying the warmth. I wasn’t going to turn down the opportunity to swim with whale shark, puffer fish, and dolphins. Can you really blame me?
Did I mention that prior to leaving for Cancun we began remodeling. Yes, remodeling. It can be stressful– banging and tearing stuff up.
Two rooms were left completely remodeled. The only thing missing were pictures hanging on the wall and replacing some baseboards. Then there was the master bathroom. It was left in disarray. It was a long, arduous process because my husband literally wanted to raise the roof! Instead he settled for raising the ceilings to where the attic had been. Now we have the highest ceilings that any master bathroom has ever seen.
I made some poor decisions and decided to move some things and made things worse. Long story short, we were in over our heads. We bit off more than we could chew.
We moved into the guest room. More stuff ended up out of place. I felt as if I were sinking in confusion, disillusion and chaos.
I’ve never been a person who craves stuff. How did it all get here?
This trinket was given to me by one of my gypsy students when I taught in Moldova. It was so thoughtful of her to think of me. This plush sheep toy was given to me as a thank you gift for flying to New Zealand to give a business training. It was so kind for them to think of me. This scarf was given to me by a high school friend. I never wore it but I did use it as décor in a room before I repainted it. How could I not keep it?
Then I had an epiphany. The gift givers would be horrified if they knew I was stressing over what to do with these gifts? They wouldn’t want me in bondage to this thing. The gifts were tokens to show love or gratitude. Seriously what if I’d been given flowers? They’d already died. And chocolate? Well, I’m not going to tell you how long that would last.
So why obsess over keeping something so long? Why not enjoy it and take a picture of it and then release it to someone who will enjoy it? It’s what I read in those de-clutter books. It made sense and I’ve decided follow the advice.
It’s not about going Spartan or so Minimalist that there’s no warmth or color. De-cluttering is about feeling balanced and not all out of sorts when walking through the halls wondering what’s lurking or where to find it.
It’s about defining what we really, really need to live healthy, happy and peacefully. It’s deciding what you don’t need by deciding what you DO need.
If it’s taking up our time, emotional, spiritual or physical energy perhaps we can recycle or release it? If it hogs up space, and destroys our serenity a choice needs to be made to do something and do it quick!
This can come in the form of ill-fitting clothes, obsolete papers, broken gadgets, unused gifts, even unfulfilled relationships. We need to develop some consciousness around what bogs us down.
Recently, a client told me that she had realized the clutter in her pantry was keeping her from realizing her health goals. It was an amazing notice. She explained that her mother often brings lots of cans and boxed goods that she and her family simply won’t eat. Clutter was stacking up. Stress was mounting.
She decided to clean things out and donate all these goods to her church’s food pantry. She felt the load lighten. It was empowering. And, then there was the courageous talk she had with her mom. The honesty that says I appreciate your kindness and efforts, but please don’t continue giving us something we don’t use. Gulp. I’m sure you can empathize.
On a personal note, I began seeing clutter spill over into my vehicle. The desktop on my computer was (and sometimes still is) a hot mess! I wanted to run away as I felt I was making such few advancements.
And guess what? Another incredible opportunity arose! This time we could go live and work on the outskirts of Guadalajara. Would you say no to fresh avocados in the middle of winter? Lush garden? Fresh citrus? Tress that bloom like a full blown symphony? Would you bypass perpetual sunshine and plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy?
Is-clutter-wreaking-havoc-on-your-health
Who in there right mind would stay present in the “Neverending Story” of remodel and clutter? Dont’ we all need a break? And so, I fell for it– again. I embraced my sanctuary, a clean, uncluttered condo. I thrived living with only the basics in this refuge of simplistic living nestled inside of austere natural surroundings.
I only missed my fur babies even though I knew our friends back home were spoiling and enjoying them. All this was happening while our dirty little secret was locked up. The master bedroom and bathroom was in limbo lockdown, overflowing with clutter and unfinished construction.
What we resist, persist.
I once heard that phrase in a leadership development course. It stuck. And now it was showing me the err of my ways. The time to finish remodeling and de-cluttering was past due!
I could resist no more. I had to face it head on. I am choosing to persist! I will conquer clutter and continue the ongoing battle. I’ve learned it’s one we all face.
I’m leaving some tips in battling clutter– not as an expert, but rather an imperfect human being who is learning and applying the lessons. Utilize a de-cluttering system that works for you. I use the “three boxes de-clutter system” to guide me. I constantly defer to these valuable three questions as I hack away to relief and peace.
Do I love this?
Do I use this?
Would I buy it or want to receive it again?
If the answer is no, it’s time to release it where it will be loved or utilized.
And sorry, but I cannot resist. Let’s not be those people. You know, the ones who donate to a charity all their broken-down, or stained crap. Let’s give good stuff and throw away or recycle junk that no one would want. It cost charities time and money to sift through crap. So let’s be better than that (and dismount from soapbox).
The “three box de-clutter system”
Avoid overwhelm. Take my friend, Kristi’s advice. Take one room at a time. Break it down. Take on a drawer, a cabinet or one bookshelf. Remain steadfast. You’ll get there.
Pat yourself on the back. By choosing to take on clutter, you’re doing something great for your health in every aspect. Deal with every item once. Here’s how you do it using the ‘ol boxing method.
Box 1- I’ll put you in your place, Darling.
I suppose you’ve never found a pair of swimming goggles in the laundry basket, have you?
Box 2- I bless and release you.
It’s the notion of blessing and releasing stuff to its highest potential. Box it as give away or sell.
Box 3- Hit the road Jack!
This box is about dealing with things that feel entitled yet haven’t earned the right to even be recycled yet high hopes remain that it will find its way to a plasma-burning trash incinerator that creates clean gasoline.
There you have it friend. It’s the simple, effective way to de-clutter. Embrace it! Don’t follow my all-around-the-mulberry-bush bad example. Take action now before you travel the world only to come back to piles of stuff that still stresses you out.
Oh! And if you are the clean freak that has no idea what this article is addressing, I salute you. I yearn to be like you. You are all that and a bag o’ chips. Please remember, however, you still have some sort of weakness and you need me as much as I need you, but perhaps not stashed away in some well-organized cupboard. 😉
Dear reader, tell us what you’re thinking in the comments below. We want to know your clutter or de-cluttering story. Is it even fair to correlate clutter and stress?
Poor December. It seems to be the month that gets a bad wrap. Somehow it’s become notorious for rushing, Falalalalaling (yes, that’s a word), the onslaught of cold and flu season, overindulgence in every sense of the word- not to mention the year drawing to a close.
You friend, may not 100% immune to overwhelm. However, I’ve got ten tips to help you insulate yourself from demanding schedules and the seasonal fuss.
1- Eat and drink for healthy merriment.
I refuse to play “food Nazi” role. I believe celebrations call for special foods and drink. This being established, let me level with you. If you are invited to a White Elephant gift exchange party, it’s highly likely there’s going to be a lot of sugar and processed foods (think melted cheese dip). And, seriously, since you’re so likable, you won’t just attend one party, you’ll attend four or more and probably host one of your own.
So here’s my point– enjoy a little party food; just go in prepared like a paratrooper not a party pooper. Go in having nourished your incredible machine with lots of servings of fiber and Vitamin C. Give your body a little digestion vacay by drinking some delicious protein shakes before joining your tribe. And by all means– don’t forget the water. Push the water to flush out toxins. If you really want to be on top of the game, why not savor some love tea?
2- Communicate freely, listen deeply.
Often we’ll find ourselves in overwhelm because we aren’t sharing our intentions clearly with those we love. Take time to communicate what’s going on with you. Especially share where you feel you are having to skate around circumstances that are a bit tricky. Then say “ah” or “a-ah”.
Take some time to listen intently to those around you. What stories are they sharing? What is it they are overcoming? Are they stressed out? Peaceful? What can you learn? How can you affirm them? The process of listening is empowering. Make it something that helps you become more centered– simply by staying present.
3- Make time each day for a “fill up”.
How do you get a “fill up?” Do you take a prayer walk? Do you snuggle with your favorite person or critter? Do you read something inspiring while sipping your favorite beverage?
During the hustle and bustle, take that special time for you. Running on fumes is no fun. Keep a full tank so you can continue humming along with joy and intention.
4- Ditch perfection and have a laugh instead.
This past Thanksgiving I tenderly handcrafted a scrumptious gluten free pumpkin pie with an irresistible ginger snap crust. It was the mother of all pumpkin pies!
When the timer chimed I asked my husband to take it out of the oven because I was busy prepping other food. Before he even opened the oven, he asked, “Why are you baking this at 450 degrees?” And then I knew. It was burned. Yep, 100 degrees over what it should have been. Lesson learned. Always double-check the temperature. Always. 🙂
I had a decision to make. Cry or laugh. I seized the opportunity to realize my humanness, yet again. My husband took pity on me and I got a big bear hug and we laughed together. Our “perfect“ Thanksgiving dinner could not be ruined by imperfection.
I’m telling on myself because I found that majoring on a minor thing can be overwhelming. It’s much healthier to have a good laugh and move on.
5- Play the Gratitude Sandwich Game
Think of the problem and solution being like two pieces of bread. Then sneak in some gratitude and there you have it. A sandwich to sustain your perspective. Time spent in developing countries with opportunities to volunteer or work has gifted beyond measure. I call this gift the “gratitude sandwich”.
Here’s how we play it. Slow Internet? No worries. I’m grateful to own a computer which means I’m literate. Life is good.
Bland dinner? Thank you God I have food to eat. I am not the statistic of being one in every eight people on Earth going to bed hungry each night.
Forgot to brush your teeth as you bolted out the door this morning? No worries. I give thanks. Your bad breath is better than no breath at all.
See, isn’t that better? Gratitude sandwiches seem to solve a lot of “problems.”
Having priorities is like having an oxygen tank when deep sea diving. It’s a life necessity. Think about your priorities. Are you giving your top five priorities the time and attention needed to avoid feeling incongruent?
We’ve all seen or heard it. A public announcement is made during a wedding ceremony. For better or worse. And somehow within a few years something is unraveled and poof the relationship is dissolved.
Let’s not be the ones for example who say, “my priorities are God, family, work” and then be the one who turns into a workaholic forgetting to stand, sit and snuggle alongside our favorite human. Instead when we sense overwhelm coming on, let’s remember what matters most and stick to our guns (and no, that was not a subliminal push for the NRA, duct tape or crazy glue).
Talk to me in the comments below. Any tips you want to share in how you handle overwhelm. We want to know! Or, are you planning on using one of these six tips this December? If so, tell me about it.
Detoxification (detox) has become a hot topic. Even if you are a quasi-health-seeker, I’m sure you’ve stumbled across musings about cleansing and alkalizing the body.
Detox promotes wellness by ridding the body of poisons that can lead to a myriad of health problems ranging from fatigue and depression to cancer, autoimmune issues and diabetes. More so now, then ever, detox is gaining further nods of approval coming from the mainstream. Let me explain.
Perhaps you’ve interacted with someone who’s shared about their journey to vibrant health? It may go something like this. They highlight how choosing detox helped remove excess mucus, yeasts, parasites, fats, food allergies, chemicals, metals, and even thoughts or emotions.Their stories of before and after lead up to gradual improvements, breakthrough or complete transformation. They smile and inspire.
Oddly, many of us who stumble upon such detox stories aren’t in the “looking zone.” We don’t feel a need for it. We don’t feel sick or haven’t heard enough about it to motivate us into action. I want to plant a seed. You’ve heard it. Expect the best, but prepare for the worst. Detox matters and it should not be fear-based. Rather it should be based in wholeness and happiness.
And then, there’s a rising interest in detox due to the encroaching and intensifying cold and flu season. Perhaps it’s health scares like the Ebola outbreak, or campaigns such as breast cancer awareness month that are popularizing the topic.
Maybe all the buzz is fueled by frustrated patients whose medical and pharmaceutical treatments lack effectiveness. Whatever the reason, I’m grateful that the attention around detoxifying the body is climbing.
My desire is to see everyone catch the vision of detox. Our incredible bodies deserve prevention, house cleaning, maintenance and vitality.
Like many, I too have a personal story around detox. Being slapped with autoimmune diagnoses wasn’t in my plans. Learning how to detox my body has brought me tremendous hope. It’s a hope I’m not willing to keep quietly to myself.
I’m grateful to have learned about detox and even more grateful to teach it. It’s been revolutionary for me and to those I serve.
I hope this information will plant seeds of motivation for a healthier body. Consider loving yourself and those who matter most in your life by taking up seasonal and daily detox practices. Life’s really good when you feel it!
What if you could help prevent chronic disease? Guess what? You can! In detox, you’ve got a friend. By taking measures now, you can decrease and prevent damage to your health.
Chronic Disease as described by the Centers for Disease Control is the leading cause of death and disability in the United States. It accounts for 70% of all deaths in the U.S. Let’s be the other 30%, shall we?
I’m for helping my body do what it’s already doing naturally but may have become sluggish due to toxins. I want happy kidneys, a happy gut, a happy liver and the like.
Premature Aging, Fuggetaboutit!
And guess what? I’m all for aging, just not in an accelerated fashion. So I’m all in on kicking premature aging to the curb with detox. Are you? One way to do this is to increase absorption of good nutrition.
Let’s take for example an avocado. Ever cut one in half and leave it sitting out for a while? It turns brown due to the oxidation. Now consider making some delicious guacamole. Lime or lemon is squeezed in it and whalah! The vitamin C of that citrus juice increases the “longevity” of the avocado’s greenness provided it’s not too quickly wolfed down with corn chips.
The point is when we take preventative measures through detox our body is more capable at absorbing vital nutrition for combating the onset of rapid aging. This friends, is downright excellent.
Balancing out the Body’s Systems
Before learning about detoxing, my hormones, digestive system, and nervous system took an unnecessary pounding throwing off my body’s balance. I can’t promise any overnight success because there’s a process in detox, but what I can tell you is the more I practice it, the better I feel and the more addicted I become to feeling great. I’m a fan of homeostasis! Balanced, internal equilibrium plays a domino effect for positive productivity and simply enjoying life more.
2- House Cleaning & Maintenance
Oh, we take time to clean our homes or cars. Why not take time to clean our bodies? The same ideals apply. The gutters on our home may get filled up with leaves, our chimney needs sweeping, the trash needs to be taken out or recycled. It’s what we do to keep things running smoothly at home. Then we change the oil on our cars, add more windshield fluid for clear vision and change out spark plugs and filters. It’s what we do.
Here’s the begging question, are we keeping our physical home clean? Are we making sure we can transport ourselves around successfully in our old age by proper maintenance?
Being a horse lover, I’ve often seen fellow horse owners spend more money taking care of their horse’s health than their own. Friends, it’s time. It’s time to take care of the one who pays the mortgage or rent. It’s time to take care of the one who pays for the vehicle or upkeep on the animals. You matter!
So get your detox on! Remove toxins. Take care of your physical body, whatever year model you are, you are spectacular! Take out the trash regarding emotional garbage or mental stress. You deserve to live lighter and healthier.
3- Exemplify vitality
Become a big chief by embracing detox. What I mean by this is set the example. Be the C.E.O. (Chief Example Officer). Sometimes the key evidence will be folks slimming down as they release toxins.
Other times detox will take on a whole ‘nother level of increased energy. You see, after detoxing many claim to sleep more deeply and who can complain about quality beauty rest? It’s cool to see how one can move from 3-toed sloth to Looney Tunes Road Runner. Beep, Beep!
Then, there’s “the detox glow.” You’ve seen it on Susie Sunshine, the exemplary fitness warrior, green juice-toting gal. She’s not even wearing makeup and epitomizes beauty. And, she’s not 21 either. She’s 56. It’s the real deal. You’ve overheard the rumors. She’s a detoxer. Perhaps it’s time to mount that horse and ride off into the healthy sunset.
Now is the time to get your detox on. Don’t wait. Start today. If you want some baby-steps, I’ve got a humorous guide for you. You can download it here for free: www.paigehunter.com/free-resources/
And for those of you wanting to go deeper, I’ve got a program for you launching in the next couple of weeks. Get on the list at www.getyourdetoxon.com. You’ll be informed on the dates of the next online course, cost and other importing information.
I want you healthy, happy and wondrous. Year-round. Understanding the WHY is just as important as the HOW when it comes to detox. By outlining three motivating reasons to get your detox on, my hope is to see you embrace the how.
In the comments below, let me know your thoughts. Ever done a detox before? Revelations? Or are you up for a detox now? Tell me about it.
Mother’s Day is right around the corner. For years it’s been a usual time of grieving for me. Now it seems to have brought deeper personal growth. I invite you into a journey that’s turned into joy and more purpose.
A few months ago, I was asked to speak to a group of entrepreneurs on growing a solid business. After speaking, I opened the floor to questions. I chose not to hold anything back that could create value. Just as the first question hit, I thought perhaps I should run. Instead, my heart urged me to share. Deeply. Perhaps uncomfortably for some. It was cathartic just as much as the process of grieving had been.
I’ve always been an overcomer.
I’ve overcome being broke and weighing more than most high school football players. I’ve overcome university politics and autoimmune disease. Truth is, I’d overcome most everything but giving birth.
Through unsuccessful IVF treatments, I considered myself privileged to have had the option. Through several adoption fly-bys that went awry, the gnawing, unsatisfying, raw emotions plagued me; especially in May. On Mother’s Day I’d skip church so not to cry as beautiful, brave mothers would stand and be honored. On Mother’s Day I’d ask my supportive husband to wisk me away so I could cry unnoticed by my own mother, friends and family. You see, grief for a normally joyous person is like hell on earth.
This past January a gift came to my house.
She’s AnaKarla, the daughter of our friend, Jorge. She asked me to play a game. I agreed. I was supposed to think of a famous person and the computer would offer a range of yes or no questions to discover what famous person was on my mind. Albert Einstein. Check! First woman in Space, Sally Ride. Check! Latino Crooner, Luis Miguel. Check! Martin Luther King, Jr. Check! And then, there was Mother Theresa. What?! NO CHECK! She was deemed irrelevant because I refused to acknowledge her as childless. For indeed she was a great mother amongst children! This infuriated me! The computer game could not recognize her. #@!*&^:<@(*)`!!! How could a game revoke the “motherhood” of Mother Theresa? And there it was. Truth. The truth I had hungered for, and the first time I realized that the grief I had been holding onto truly needed to go! I was allowing it to stay when there was no further reason to grieve.
If I could allow Mother Theresa to be a mother, why could I not be a “mother”? It was time to reframe how I perceived myself.
About that time my husband, Daniel, and I were leaving on a 3 month sabbatical from the norm. We’d be living in Mexico. My plan was to expand the way I conduct business and work on becoming more “motherly”. I didn’t know how exactly it would all show up. I simply took steps, baby steps. I called up my trusted friend at Children’s Hunger Fund. I asked if we could get involved in their work in Mexico. Turns out there was no coverage in that area for orphanages or foster homes. The need became clear. Over the next 3 months I searched out, and worked with beautiful volunteers and organizations to address the needs of the children. It was life altering.
When I returned home, I received a greeting card.
I thought it to be an Anniversary card. It wasn’t. This card was different. It profoundly touched me. It was a Mother’s Day card. When I saw it, I began to sob uncontrollably. The remainder of the grief escaped as I began to understand how deeply my being as a person matters. To my parents. To children. And yes, the world! I finally agreed that I matter with or without bearing children. Breathe in. Breathe out. I matter and my work is life changing. The card simply read, “Happy Mother’s Day! It’s also for those special women who love with a mother’s heart. For the love, caring and kindness you bring to everyone blessed enough to be part of your life. (More tears, but tears of joy and relief, tears of being deeply loved and accepted.) It was signed, “We are so blessed by your life. We love you. Janny (my mom’s nickname) & Daddy” (because he’s still daddy to me). A day later, I received a text from my friend Sherry, “Happy Mother’s Day friend! You have the heart of a mother”. The wave of heavy grief lifted. I was ready to take on the world again!
Purpose.
Grief brings growth and a deeper sense of purpose. If we allow it. My work is more meaningful. I dare to dream big again, I dare to stay connected with the causes I know will “mother” children in need. And, I dare to be a working mother.
Goodbye tears- cuz ain’t nobody got time for that! Hello purpose! Deep soul-moving purpose. Purpose that surpasses sorrow. Purpose that lives to better tomorrow.
Here’s a picture of what moved me forward. These are some of the precious kids whose life journey pulled me from a pit of grief.
How about you? Ever left behind a deep grief into greater purpose? What moved you forward?
