Here you can find all the healthy and delicious paleo diet recipes that your heart desires! Check out the featured categories, make some of the caveman / cavewoman inspired recipes and let me know what you think! Happy cooking!
My husband and I recently went to Maui for a week. We did a lot of research ahead of time, specifically on: what area to stay at, when to go, how long to go for, what to do, what to see, where to eat and what to bring with us. I can definitely get into those details later, sharing what we learned with you, but today I want to highlight WHERE we stayed. Because the place is worth highlighting.
THE HOTEL
After hours of research and comparison, we landed on Hotel Wailea, Relais & Chateaux. An adults-only boutique hotel located at one of the most peaceful, high-end and picturesque parts of the island: Wailea. If you’ve been to Wailea before, then you know how gorgeous and unique it is. If you haven’t been to Wailea in Maui before, then I highly suggest you add it to your bucket list and go as soon as you get a chance. The best way I can describe Wailea is: pure paradise. So on to the hotel…
We chose Hotel Wailea, Relais & Chateaux because:
It’s adults-only
It’s secluded and quiet
It’s a boutique hotel, not a large resort
It’s experiences and offerings are carefully curated
It’s suites have been remodeled
It’s suites are spacious and have wonderful amenities (your own kitchen!)
It’s service is attentive and willing
It’s rated the top hotel in Wailea
It’s rated in the top 40 most romantic hotels in the world
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Our flight landed in Maui at night, so we arrived to the hotel closer to midnight. We hopped on our rental car at the airport, plugged the address into Google Maps, and off we went to get our island adventure started. First stop: our hotel! The hotel was very easy to find, it was about a 25-30 minute drive from the airport. The property is private, there are large automated doors you have to go through at the entrance to access the property. No problems there, though, as the doors open themselves when a car approaches, making it was effortless and easy. Upon arrival, we were immediately greeted by a doorman who offered to help with our bags and to valet our car. We accepted all the wonderful and willing help, and walked through a gorgeous bridge towards the large front-desk area. Since it was late, the staff at the front-desk quickly got us checked-in, gave us our keys and gave us high-level information about the hotel. Soon after, we were escorted to an oversized golf-cart, which was going to be our ride to our suite. The night was balmy, the air was fresh and the moon lit our path. Tropical paradise perfection. Our spirits oozed with excitement for the adventures ahead. Our suite was located close to the hotel’s main building (where the lobby and restaurants are), which we loved because it was a quick walk to the gym, the pool, the restaurants and to the valet. Convenience is a big deal for us, so this was a nice plus. The suite was also on the lower floor, so our patio was connected to the gardens are it felt like we had a backyard all to ourselves to play in! The suites were gorgeous and were decorated with a modern island flare. They were much bigger than I imagined and had a lot more amenities than what was written on the website. Our suite came with pots, pans, knives, toaster, Nespresso machine, comfy slippers, bathrobes, two TVs…anything we could’ve ever needed. It felt like a mini apartment. We showered in the suite’s large shower and then got in bed for a good nights sleep. The bed was comfortable and the sheets felt so good on our skin. We slept like babies.
THE SUITES
Every suite in hotel Wailea is the same size, the only difference in price is the location on the property and views. No matter what you book, you’ll experience a wonderful stay. Ours was amazing, gorgeous inside and out; we were so grateful to call it home for a full week. The suite had 720 square feet of space, a separate bedroom and living area. The bedroom was cool and spacious, with large side tables on each side that contained big drawers that allowed for extra storage. The living room area had an inviting and comfortable couch to relax on, and a large office desk and chair to work on if need be. The suite came with luxury linens, a deep and modern soaking tub and a separate large shower, a fully stocked kitchenette (refrigerator, stove, toaster, pots, cutlery, dinnerware, silverware, etc.), wireless internet, two flat screen TVs, comfy bathrobes and slippers, and a private patio with chaise lounges and a table with chairs (where we had breakfast almost every morning; so peaceful).
As mentioned before, its design was modern-Hawaiian, with coral and limestone walls, white oak floors, sustainably-farmed Ohia wood from Hawaii’s Big Island and Sub Zero appliances. It felt very serene and upscale, giving us a sense of our own little beach home. Our suite faced the ocean and we were able to get expansive views of the property’s lavish gardens. They were very well manicured; we saw many employees taking care of the gardens and property at all times of day. Made us feel pampered and taken care of.
HOTEL AMENITIES
Where to start! Even though the hotel is a boutique hotel, it offers so much to its guests.
Pool
We spent a great amount of time chilling at the pool. We felt like we had the whole pool to ourselves because of the time of year we went, so it was extra nice! The people who worked at the bar in the pool were extremely sweet, they brought us ice-waters non-stop and were very attentive in case we needed a drink or food. The pool also offers Sun Bum full-size products, so if you happened to forget to bring your own sunscreen or oil, you’d be taken care of with their stuff. It’s the small details, isn’t it?
Gym
This is how we started our mornings, and we loved every second of it! The gym has no glass on the windows, so you’re accompanied by fresh breeze during your workouts. From the gym, you can see the ocean, the gorgeous Maui mountains, the hotel’s beautiful gardens and the pool…all while birds chirp non-stop all around you. With all this, who needs music or even TV for cardio distraction!? It’s glorious. The gym has cardio machines (treadmills, bikes), free weights, resistance machines, cable machines, TRX equipment, medicine balls, exercise balls and matts. It’s got everything you could ever need. Also, they have full size water bottles and towels available, and great sanitizing wipes to help you clean your equipment before and after your workouts.
Valet parking
We used this service every single day, maybe even twice or three times a day. It’s complementary with your stay, and its actually a very useful amenity, because you want to have a rental when you visit Maui and it’s nice that the hotel staff helps you park it and bring it back to you whenever you need to use it. No need for you to walk long distances to get to your car and back. All taken care of, so all you have to do is hop in and out!
Beach service
Okay, this was my favorite! So great that they offer this, considering the hotel is not beach front. They’ll drive you there with their Tesla, drop you off, and then you’re greeted there by a staff member who sets up your beach area for the day: umbrella, chase lounges, towels and cold water bottles. All you have to worry about is what fun water sport to do next! Their beach area is right next to the Four Seasons, so you can always hop on over to the hotel for lunch or a drink…or even for a massage or spa service. Its super convenient. And we loved this beach in Maui, because it’s right along the Wailea beach front, and you can get on the boardwalk and walk to all of the different beach front hotels if you’re feeling like a nice stroll or some shopping. We used the hotel’s beach service three times, it was lovely!
Tesla rides
Their Tesla doesn’t only get you to the hotel’s beach, but anywhere in Wailea as well! If you need to get to a restaurant and be picked up afterwards, they are there for you. You just approach the valet service area by the lobby when you need a ride, and then you simply call the hotel when you need a ride back. The staff is super fast, so you are not left waiting long; for us, it took them no more than 10 minutes to get us. Oh, and the drivers are so friendly! Made for super enjoyable rides. We used this service about 5 times.
Customized experiences
The hotel is great about getting you anything you would ever need, so if you have something specific in mind, they will try to help you get it! With that said, they also have a set of experiences they’ve already put together, ones they thought their guests would love during their vacation. You can find what those are here. We tried one of them, and we were so glad we did! On it, we got to meet a lot of cool couples and made friends immediately. Everyone was there to have a good time, excited to be a part of something new and open to meeting new people. We did the Sunset Sailing experience. It departed at around 5:15pm and returned at around 8pm. Everything was amazing, from the sail boat, to the crew, to the food, to the open bar, to the company, to the sunset, to the whale watching…I mean, just perfect.
Birdcage bar and lounge
We actually spent a lot of evenings here. This was recently remodeled and they did an amazing job at creating an inviting and upscale ambiance. The bar is right by the lobby and has some of the best views at the hotel, making it for a great place to catch happy hour and apps before heading out for the evening. The bartenders are extremely friendly and they craft delicious, refreshing cocktails. We ate here twice, loved their salads and grilled avocado app. A must try!
Hotel Wailea Restaurant
We booked this prior to our stay, because we wanted to make sure we got in on our first night in Maui. It was highly recommended online, and we didn’t want to risk not being able to get a reservation. The space was really pretty, and the staff that greeted us and sat us was inviting and kind. We got a table right on their balcony/patio area, with a gorgeous view of the ocean and gardens. Very romanic and calm. I gotta say, the staff was on top of their game, coming to us right away and attentive to our wants and needs. They were very helpful answering questions about wine and food, and brought our stuff fairly quickly. The ambiance and experience was wonderful, but I will say, being a foodie and a sucker for good flavor and textures, the dishes were underwhelming. My husband thought the same. I would not recommend dinner at this restaurant, especially considering its price point with a set menu, however, I would recommend getting breakfast or brunch here! My avocado toast and eggs were wonderful when we came in on our first day on the island.
IN SUMMARY
Hotel Wailea is the only adults-only 5-star hotel in Wailea and we would recommend it to ANYONE who is looking for a peaceful and upscale experience in paradise. We loved how tailored it was for couples, and how exclusive the entire experience felt. Every single square inch of the hotel was thought through and cared for, and it felt like we had literally travelled to a space suspended in time, where all was magical and good. The suites were outstanding, probably one of my favorite suite/room stays in general. You have everything you could ever need and more at your disposal, and the staff really goes above and beyond to make you feel like you are the guest of honor. Everything in our suite was carefully thought out and placed for an enhanced Maui experience. We really appreciate the attention to detail the designers put into making this space so special, and the help of the staff in all areas to make every second of our vacation count. The hotel’s amenities are plenty and well appointed, and I promise you, you will never go bored or be left wanting more. You’ll feel very taken care of. Hope this was helpful, let me know if you have any questions!
During our recent Maui trip, I fell in love with a banana bread loaf we got on the Road to Hana. We were told that Aunty Sandy’s Famous Banana Bread was a “must try” if we did the Road to Hana, so of course we followed suit! We made a quick pit stop and bought ourselves a loaf to try.
It was warm when they sold it to us and they gave us a little plastic knife with it; they knew that customers typically don’t wait to get home to dig in. We cut it and we each took a bite. OH MY! 😍🤤 It was dense but soft, sweet, packed with fresh banana flavor, and just completely irresistible. Our slices did not last long!
Also, look how cute it was:
Immediately, I knew I had to recreate it once back home in Idaho. I wanted it to be just like Aunty Sandy’s, but made Paleo.
The first reason for making it Paleo is that regular flour doesn’t agree with me, and the second reason being that Paleo-based breads are much MUCH more nutritious.
We got back home and on to baking I went.
And I’m stoked to report that it turned out AMAZING.
Tips on making great banana bread.
A big tip to make amazing banana bread is the bananas you use. You have to make sure that they are not overly ripe. You want bananas with a few brown spots, but not ones with many many spots or that are too brown. This avoids making a gummy loaf.
Another tip is to avoid adding extra sweeteners. These are not needed if you use enough bananas and if your bananas are just the right amount of ripe. Bananas are plenty sweet! Sweeteners (even natural ones like honey and pure maple syrup) can make your bread feel like a dessert vs a snack, and why would you spike your insulin levels for no reason?
Another tip is to use real vanilla, the seeds from vanilla pods. This will take your bread making game to a whole new level. Just trust me.
Last tip would be to make sure you keep an eye on your oven and baking times. Especially if you live at high elevations, as when the air pressure is lower, your goods take longer to bake. Keep your elevation and oven in mind when baking your banana bread. I like to check my bread at around the 30-minute mark to ensure its baking well and looking golden. In my oven and city (elevation: 2,730 feet), my bread is done at about 40 minutes.
What you’ll need.
You’ll need few simple ingredients to make my Road to Hana Banana Bread. The exact measurements are listed in the recipe section below, but here’s a quick overview:
Bananas: With a few brown spots, but not overly ripe. Well-mashed.
Eggs: I use large eggs, and I whisk them in a separate bowl first.
Vanilla: I love using the read thing, the seeds from vanilla pods. Makes for a much more all-natural taste.
Almond flour: For this recipe, I love using finely group almond flour. This is my go-to.
Ground cinnamon: This spice will add a wonderful, sweet flavor to the mix. Make sure it’s fresh, and that it hasn’t sat in your pantry for too long.
Salt: Only a bit will do. For my baked goods, I love a good fine sea salt.
Baking soda: Make sure its fresh. A little goes a long way.
How to make it.
So how do we make paleo banana bread? It’s easy. Scroll down to the recipe section below for detailed steps, but basically this is what you’ll need to do:
Turn oven on and prep your loaf pan (grease and line with parchment paper).
Get ingredients out and ready: “mise en place” (everything in its right place).
Place dry ingredients in a bowl and whisk until well combined.
Add wet ingredients to a separate bowl and mix well.
Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and fold to incorporate.
Transfer the batter to your prepped loaf pan.
Bakethe bread for around 40 minutes at 350°F. You know it’s done when you insert a toothpick in the middle and it comes out dry.
Allow your loaf to cool completelybefore slicing it. I know this is hard! But it’ll make for smoother cuts and better looking slices.
The bread is too soft when it comes out of the oven, which is why you wanna wait a bit. It’s texture will solidify as it cools, and I promise that waiting will make for a better banana bread eating experience. Plus, you don’t want to burn your tongue. 😉
Serving suggestions.
Personally, I love my banana bread by itself. Sometimes I’m feeling a bit “extra” and I drizzle drippy all-natural almond butter on top (YUM, so good).
My husband loves to enjoy it with a cold glass of unsweetened vanilla almond milk.
I’ve seen people enjoy it with soft butter or soft coconut oil on top.
YOU DO YOU!
Storing leftovers.
After enjoying your slices, you can store the rest and save it for the following days.
Cut a long sheet of plastic wrap and lay it on the counter. Place your remaining slices, one after another, on top of the plastic wrap. Fold the sides of the plastic wrap to encapsulate your bread. Simple and easy. Store away in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
You can also freeze the slices in freezer bags, just separate layers with wax paper.
ENJOY.
Road to Hana Banana Bread Recipe made Paleo. Simple, minimal ingredients, all-natural, packed with flavor. An amazing gluten-free and dairy-free snack!
Author: Mariel Lewis
Recipe type: Snacks
Cuisine: American
Serves: 10 slices
Ingredients
4 ripe bananas, pureed
3 eggs
½ vanilla bean, scrape for vanilla seeds
2 cups finely ground almond flour
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp sea salt
1 tsp baking soda
Coconut oil spray
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 F.
Grease a 1 lb bread pan with coconut oil spray. Line it with parchment paper strips, leaving an overhang on each side of the pan, and set aside.
Mix almond flour, cinnamon, salt and baking soda in a large bowl, and set aside.
Whisk eggs, pureed bananas and vanilla seeds in a separate bowl, and pour over dry ingredients. Mix until no lumps remain.
Pour batter in bread pan, gently tap on counter to distribute batter evenly, and bake for 40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted.
Let cool completely and refrigerate for 2+ hours, as this yields for better slicing.
Notes
* Make sure your bananas are not overly ripe. You want bananas with a few brown spots, not ones that are all brown. This avoids making a gummy loaf.
Let’s hear it for 35 easy low carb paleo dinners to make at home! Whooo! THIRTY FIVE. 🎉 I love to have a place to go to for easy, weeknight recipes. Recipes that are healthy, nutritious and not too heavy for night time. I have found that eating well, but light, is the key to a good night’s sleep. That, and not eating too late helps a bunch. So what do you say? Wanna take a peek at the list below and chose a few favs to cook from this week? Let’s do this! I have a few of these printed out myself already, which I’m stoked about. My hubby and I’s next few dinners are going to be epic. Dig in. 😋 And bon appetite!
If you haven’t tried making condiments at home before, I am here to tell you that you’ve been missing out…and that I see a fun DIY project in your future. 🎉 Homemade condiments is where it’s at. Especially if you’re into taste, saving cash and natural ingredients. Yep, that’s you. It’s really hard to find quality, simple-ingredient based condiments at grocery stores. Either they’re not available or they are really expensive (and rather small for what you pay). I’ve compiled some of my favorite go-to condiments in this 23 Paleo Condiments You Should be Making at Home blog post. Save it, print it, pin it, share it; have it handy for when you’re in the mood for flavor! Take a look below, check some of these recipes out and gather the needed ingredients so you can give them a try. Your meals will be epic this weekend, I already know it!
I’ve been meaning to share these 7 Healthy Daily Practices with you for while now, as I’ve found these to be life-changing and thought I’d pass them on to you in case you’re looking to incorporate new healthy habits. I’ve found that getting to most of these in the morning really helped me solidify them as a habit; also, adding some of these right before/after other hard-set habits helped me stick to them faster, too. Remember that consistency is key when trying to form a habit, so at the beginning, if you want these to stick long-term, try to work on ways to “force yourself” to practice them. Perhaps setting an alarm or adding them to your calendar could help. I personally recommend that you do these things at the same time every day, that way they become easy to remember to do. I also suggest that you find someone in your life to do these with if you can; have your hubby, mother, daughter, friend or neighbor practice some of these with you for accountability and enjoyment. I hope you find these 7 practices helpful.
1. Water Upon Waking
This right here is the best thing we can do to start our day. Water is essential for life, about 60% of our bodies are made of water. All organs and tissues depend on water. Water:
allows for blood circulation, transporting nutrients to our cells and removing waste
keeps our body temperature stable in cold and warm environments
lubricates our joints and aids our lubricant fluids (saliva, gastric/intestinal/respiratory/urinary mucous)
absorbs shock in our bodies, helping maintain our organs and tissue’s cellular shape
And after a good night’s sleep, we haven’t hydrated and we’ve perspired, so we must rehydrate as soon as possible. I use this 36 oz water bottle, fill it all the way up with room-temperature filtered water, and drink it in about 5-10 minutes upon waking. 36 oz of water upon waking makes me feel completely energized and refreshed.
2. Oil Pulling
This is one of my favorite daily practices! I’ve oil pulled for over 5 years now, and I practice this every morning after drinking my water. The only exception to doing this daily is when I travel, as it’s hard to bring my oil with me and to incorporate the practice when my schedule is not as solid as it is when I’m at home. I have a full blog post where I talk about oil pulling, its benefits, how I go about it and how doing it has helped me. Be sure to read about it here. Oil pulling has given me stronger gums, whiter teeth, improved oral hygiene and less cavities.
3. Meditation
This is a newer practice for me, I started it at the beginning of the year. And even though I’ve been doing it for a short amount of time, I can honestly say, it’s changed my life. I have made meditation a priority in my day, meaning, I make sure I incorporate it in my life every single day. No matter what. To do this, I have “bundled it up” with other practices that are pretty set in my routine: after drinking my 36 oz of water and after putting oil in my mouth for 20 minutes of oil pulling, I sit down in my meditation chair by my cozy fireplace along with my soft blanket, and start my 10-15 min meditation practice. That picture above is literally my meditation spot (be still my heart 🙏💛). To start, I recommend following guided meditations. These give you great frameworks as to the why and how to meditate. My favorites are the Calm app and the Glo app. Both amazing tools and resources. Meditation has helped me be more present, improved my focus and concentration, given me clarity, increased my self-awareness and lowered my anxiety levels.
4. Movement
For most healthy adults, the department of Health and Human Services recommends at least 150 mins of moderate-aerobic activity or 75 mins of vigorous-aerobic activity (or a combination fo both) per week. This means about 20 mins of moderate aerobic activity every single a day. With that being said, that is the very minimum that’s recommended to be healthy. So at the very least, we need to do 20 mins a day. Humans need movement. We are meant to move and be active. I try to move for at least 1 hour every day. The way I break my week down is 4-5 days of active workouts and 2-3 days of active rests. My workout days consist of weights + HIIT cardio, and my rest days consist of things like walks, sports or dance. My biggest advice to you is to move in the ways that you love. If you love to dance, dance more. If you love to feel connected with nature, walk more. If you love competition or body shaping, get more involved with sports or wight training. Whatever works for you, do that! There is no better way to stick to fitness than by doing the things that bring us joy. For me, I LOVE weight training + HIIT cardio for my active days, and outdoor walks and pilates on my active rest days. Take a peek at my 4-week weight lifting program (this is what I follow on my workout days). My favorite pilates classes in the Glo app lead by Jeni DelPozo. Movement has given me major flexibility and mobility, mental clarity, reduced stress, better sleep, clearer skin, and confidence.
5. Stretching
Stretching comes in perfect right before and/or after our movement sessions. That’s when I tend to do it, unless of course, I am feeling extra tight and in need of more stretching at other times of the day. I typically spend 5-10 minutes stretching, and do a combination of self-myofascial release, static stretching and dynamic stretching (in that order). I’ll get into specifics below. First, I warm up a bit; especially if I’m stretching in the morning when my body is cold and stiff. What I’ll do is get my heart pumping and my blood flowing with light cardio, like running in place or jumping jacks for about 2 minutes. Then, I get right into it….
Self-Myofascial Release (foam rolling): apply gentle pressure on a knot, so that the knots break down and muscle tension is released. I find a tender spot, add pressure with my a foam roller and sustain that pressure for a minimum of 30 seconds. Repeat this once on all tender spots.
Static Stretching: take a muscle to the point of tension and hold that stretch so that the muscle relaxes and its elongation increases. I find a tight muscle, stretch it and hold the stretch for 30 seconds; I repeat this processed for that SAME muscle 1-3 times. Repeat this process on all tight muscles.
Dynamic Stretching: use the force of a muscle and take the joint through the full available range of motion. Good examples are hip swings, medicine ball rotations and walking lounges. For each dynamic stretch, I do 1 set of 10 reps.
Two other great muscle stretching approaches: a). using tools such as Theragun, and b). deep tissue massages (especially if you workout rigorously). Stretching daily has helped me release muscle pain and tension, become more flexible and in turn avoid injury, and increased my overall mobility.
6. Exfoliation
This is something I don’t do daily, but it is something I do twice a week. I like to do it for both my body and face. It’s a great practice to help your skin get rid of dead skin cells, which in turn helps uncover fresh new cells and prevents bacteria build-up. For the body: I have a major hack; I mix my favorite body wash with pure cane sugar to make my own homemade exfoliator (super affordable and super effective). I damp my skin very lightly with water in the shower, turn the shower off, and go to town with my sugar exfoliator. Oh-boy, does it leave you with baby skin. For my face: I do at-home microdermabrasion 2x a week right before my daily nighttime skin care routine (cleanser, toner, serum, moisturizer, eye cream). The exfoliating product I LOVE is Refining Microdermabrasion Facial Scrub by Cowshed, but they no longer sell it in the USA, so I bought Bioelements Pumice Peel for when I run out. Two other great exfoliating solutions: dry brushing (body), facial microderm/peels at spas. Exfoliating twice a week leaves my skin brighter and smoother, prevents clogged pores, and helps my skin absorb skin care products much much better.
7. Supplementation
I’m a firm believer of getting most of our vitamins and minerals through food, however, there are a few supplements that I do love taking on the daily. The way I went about figuring out my supplements was through a nutritionist; I love consulting with experts I trust and who know my background and history. My nutritionist takes into account my food sensitivities, medical history, lifestyle and nutrition, and then, based on my particular needs, she points me to supplements she believes to be beneficial. I suggest you consult with a nutritionist as well, but for the sake of an example, let me share what I’m currently taking:
I have also added Athletic Greens to this mix; I’ve been taking it as an insurance policy in case I don’t get enough veggies on certain days. I drink it after my daily movement practice, and I LOVE IT! Supplementation has helped me fill in all of my nutritional gaps. It has also given me peace of mind, and helped me stay healthy in the midst of a pandemic.
I’ve spent some solid time carefully curating this Whole40 breakfast recipe roundup, and I am so excited to finally be sharing it with you guys. Breakfast is what fuels us for the day and sets us up for success, what gives us strong energy, mental clarity, immune support and strength. We shouldn’t take breakfast lightly! And having a good recipe arsenal to go to when we feel like we’re in a bit of a rut can be very helpful. So here it is, take advantage of it! Save it, pin it, share it, print it…keep it handy for when you need a little creative help in the kitchen. Most of these are savory, but there are some yummy sweet ones. So what do you say? Wanna make some of these amazing breakfast recipes with me? Let’s experience breakfast magic at home this week! Ps: for those not familiar with Whole30, there’s a summary at the bottom of the post.
Whole30 is 30 days of whole foods. Think of it as an elimination way of eating that aids you in changing your eating habits; its main focus being nutrient dense, unprocessed, whole foods, and calling for a hard-stop on those foods that don’t serve our bodies (processed sugars, grains, alcohol, etc.). The idea behind Whole30 is that, by eliminating the foods that don’t serve us, we can experience how much better we can feel. After the 30 days, we can slowly reintroduce more ingredients, one at a time, observing how each makes us feel. This highlights any food sensitivities we might have, so that we can chose to avoid those ingredients in the future, or at least be aware of the impact they have on our bodies. There’s no calorie-tracking with Whole30. It is more about our relationship with food and how food makes us feel. 🥬🥒🍠🥑🫐
Do I follow Whole30?
I do not. But I know a lot of people do or are interested in it, so I wanted to provide some great recipes to help with breakfast ideas!
Last Thursday I baked one of my favorite healthy treats ever. A recipe that involves bananas, gluten-free oats, dark chocolate morsels and dates. Pretty much some of my favorite ingredients to bake with right there.
I gave you guys a sneak peak of this recipe on Instagram, letting you know what kind of ingredients you needed to get in case you wanted to bake these magical treats with me once I shared the full recipe on the blog.
And well, my friends, today is the day you can get those ingredients out. Because guess what? The recipe is here! Get those taste buds ready, because the recipe is goooo-oood!
My Chocolate Chip Banana Oat Mini Loaves recipe makes 3 mini bread loaves, which is perfect because you can either keep them all and eat them slowly as treats, or you can keep one of them and gift the other two as gifts.
These Chocolate Chip Banana Oat Mini Loaves would make for the perfect back-to-school teacher gift, or a “welcome to the neighborhood” neighbor gift, or as a “thank you” / “I love you” gift to any dear friend. Who doesn’t love a healthy, delicious free treat. No one. THEY ALL DO! So what do you say? Wanna bake this amazing recipe with me? Let’s do it!
You’ll need:
My favorite brand of dark chocolate morsels is Enjoy Foods, but you can use whatever dark chocolate chip/morsel you love.
You’ll also need three mini bread pans. The ones I have I bought a long time ago and I can’t find them online anymore, however these mini loaf pans are the same dimension of the ones I have and have great reviews (if you have Prime, shipping is free).
If you don’t have mini bread pans, then you can also use a regular sized bread pan. If you do, you’ll have to increase the baking time, so that it cooks through.
You’ll want to grease your mini bread pans and set them aside for when the bread mix is ready. At this point, it is also a good idea to pre-heat the oven and get that going. We want the oven at 350 F.
Let me guide you through my Chocolate Chip Banana Oat Mini Loaves mix making steps:
First – soak the medjool dates in warm water for about 10 minutes. This will help them get nice and soft, so that blending them becomes much easier.
Second – make your flax egg. Mix 1 tbsp of flaxseed meal with 2.5 tbsp filtered water in a small bowl; let it sit for about 3 minutes until it thickens.
Third – You blend all ingredients together (except for the dark chocolate morsels). There is actually a blending order I like to follow in order for the ingredients to mix easily: first blend the bananas for that nice liquidy base; then add the dates and blend until smooth; then add in the oats, baking soda, cinnamon and salt and blend; lastly, add in the flax egg and the egg and blend until mixed in.
Once you’ve got the mix ready, it’s then time to divide it evenly amongst the three mini bread pans and top them off with dark chocolate chip morsels. Like so:
In in the oven they go, for about 18-20 minutes.
Be sure to keep an eye on them at minute 18, they might be ready and you don’t want to leave them the extra 2 minutes in case the edges get a bit too brown.
Post baking, you’ll want them to look like this:
So pretty and cute looking, aren’t they? When you see these little beauts in person, you just cannot wait to dive in! They smell heavenly.
However, I keep my cravings under control when these are out of the oven, because believe it or not, these are so much better cold! At least in my opinion they are.
I love them cold because they turn a bit more dense and each bite is extra satisfying. Also, it’s currently summer, so cold is where it’s at for me.
I also like to let them cool completely, and refrigerate them in their pans, before I remove the breads from the pan. Them being cool allows for easier bread removal, and it actually makes the slicing easier since the breads are a bit denser.
You can of course eat your Chocolate Chip Banana Oat Mini Loaves warm if that’s how you like eating sweet baked goods! There is no wrong way to go about this. You do you, friend.
These can also be frozen for later use. Wrap them in plastic wrap real tight, and then add them to a large Ziploc bag for extra freshness. Then, when you want to use them again, let them thaw at room temperature and go at them!
If you chose to not freeze them, I’d say they last fresh for about 7-10 days. I am currently on day 7 of these mini loaves, and they are as good as ever. Love to enjoy a slice with a cold glass of nut milk or with some coffee; it’s my go-to treat during these last days of summer. SO YUM.
I hope you LOVE my Chocolate Chip Banana Oat Mini Loaves recipe! They’re:
Moist
Dense
Naturally sweet
Healthy
Nutritious
& Delicious!
Like I said above, a slice of it is perfect as an afternoon snack with a glass of nut milk. I also think they would be delicious with brunch or when wanting a less-sweet dessert.
These Chocolate Chip Banana Oat Mini Loaves are moist, naturally sweet, satisfying and healthy. Made with simple, whole food ingredients and prepared in under 30 mins. A must try!
Grease mini bread pans with coconut oil and set aside.
Preheat oven to 350 F.
Soak the dates in warm water for 10 minutes (this will soften them and help them blend easier).
Prepare the flax seed egg: add flaxseed meal and water to a dish and stir. Let rest for 5 minutes to thicken.
Let's get the blending started! First blend your bananas to have a nice liquidy base to help the rest of the ingredients break down. Add in the pitted dates and blend until smooth. Add in the oats, baking soda, cinnamon and salt and blend until broken down. Lastly, add in the flax egg and the egg and blend until incorporated.
Divide batter into the three mini bread pans pan and top each with dark chocolate morsels.
I have a hot and spicy treat for you today. One that is perfect for an easy weekend; one of good food, vibey music, relaxation and full of chill — my kind of weekend.👏👏
If you’ve been following me for a while, or if you know me personally, you know I am a true lover of salsa. I love me a good salsa.
A good salsa is everything, it’s the queen of the party, the guest of honor to any gathering and event. Homemade salsa paired with tortilla chips and accompanied by a drink…man, you’re set for the night!
I could literally live off of chips and salsa. I love the combo so, so much. Because of this salsa obsession, I’ve already shared two solid salsa recipes with you before: 5 Minute Paleo Salsa and Tomatillo Salsa.
However, two is not enough. Salsa variety is crucial. 🙌 As humans we love to switch it up here and there, our cravings are often changing, therefore we need plenty of options.
So here it is…my THIRD solid salsa recipe! Friends, say helllllllo to my Fire Roasted Chipotle Salsa. 🌶 It’s spicy, full of flavor, fresh, tangy, citrusy…all the good things.
For it, you’ll need: Fire Roasted Tomatoes, Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce, Onions, Cilantro, Limes, Garlic, Salt and Pepper. Uncomplicated and unpretentious ingredients.
The tomatoes and chipotle peppers I like to get are all linked in the recipe section below, but you can obvi use whichever you prefer or the ones that are readily available to you.
Isn’t this little salsa lineup pretty, though? 😍 #swoon
I know you’ll adore this one as much as the other two! It has a bit more bite than my 5 Minute Paleo Salsa, and uses completely different tomatoes than my Tomatillo Salsa, so you’ll definitely have a pool of options to chose from for your next Taco Night or Summer BBQ. Go with whatever suits your fancy at the moment!
Also, if you’re shopping for a new favorite chip, lemme recommend Late July’s Organic Sea Salt Dippers. They are perfectly salted, perfectly crunchy, perfect for dipping…and best part? They use simple ingredients!
Note: these tortilla chips are made of corn, so if you’re fully Paleo and do not eat corn, these are not for you; for my Paleo peeps I highly recommend Siete’s Lime Tortilla Chips. The lime ones are by far my favorite from Siete.
You can get these from Whole Foods or from your favorite natural/organic grocery store. I love the simplicity of ordering them online from Whole Foods via Amazon for delivery or pickup. They almost always have them in stock. They are both a staple in our home.
So get yourself these staples if you don’t have them handy already (onion, garlic, lime, cilantro, jalapeño pepper) and a few cans of fire roasted tomatoes and chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. You’ll want to make this until Summer is over, and maybe even the rest of the year!
This recipe doesn’t require fresh tomatoes, so you can make a consistently delicious salsa all year long! Amazing results no matter the time of year.
Just remember to pair your salsa with your favorite tortilla chip and spirited bevvie, and you’ll have a fun and delicious night…one that is best shared with family and friends!
I hope you LOVE this Fire Roasted Chipotle Salsa! It is:
Well balanced
Spicy
Citrusy
Tangy
Satisfying
& Delicious!
It’s perfect along with chips, on top of my Mexican Sweet Potato Rounds, Sweet Potato Mexican Salad Bowls, Plant Based Mexican Bowls or on your preferred grilled protein. YUM!
This delicious Fire Roasted Chipotle Salsa is a crowd pleaser; eat it with your favorite tortilla chips or on top of your go-to grilled proteins. A healthy homemade salsa that is guaranteed to become a new staple!
Add all ingredients to a high-speed blender or food processor and process until ingredients have broken down and until desired consistency is reached. For chunkier salsa, blend less. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve with favorite chips and enjoy!
There is this one salsa I make that my friends and family love: 5 Minute Paleo Salsa. It’s incredibly delicious, fresh tasting and super easy to make.
I make it at least once a month, doesn’t matter if it’s Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter. We eat Mexican food often here at the Lewis’.
I have been making my 5 Minute Paleo Salsa for over 6 years (was making it even before I shared it on the blog), so it goes without saying that I’ve truly perfected the recipe. I love it, however, I felt like I needed to add a strong green salsa recipe to the mix. Because, let’s be real, a solid Mexican meal requires at least two types of salsas. A girl’s gotta have dipping options! 😉
And guys, I’ve done it again. I’ve created the most delicious green salsa recipe!
Let me introduce you to my new obsession: Roasted Tomatillo Salsa 😍
I have made this Roasted Tomatillo Salsa over and over again since beginning of Spring, each time modifying it ever so slightly to get it *just* right.
And now, I feel like the recipe is finally ready to be shared with you! You can now make and taste this deliciousness at home with loved ones, too. YAY.
Prepare your taste buds for a “wow” experience.
Its tangy, good, addicting, alllll the things!
Here are the basic steps for Tomatillo Salsa making:
You start by husking and slicing tomatillos in half, arranging them cut side down on a parchment lined baking sheet and roasting them for 20 mins. You’ll end with slightly charred, juicy and delicious roasted tomatillos!
Once your roasted tomatillos have cooled completely, you then add them to a high-speed blender along with the rest of the ingredients and blend on high until desired salsa texture has been reached.
You’re done! Transfer your salsa to a bowl and enjoy along with chips, or store it in a mason jar with a tight lid and refrigerate for later consumption. It’s that easy.
Anyone can do this. And everyone can enjoy. Don’t you love these kinds of recipes?
Me, me, me…I DO! 🙋🏻♀️ 🤩
When you go get tomatillos, make sure these are around the size of a tennis ball. A bit smaller is okay, too.
Just don’t buy the tiny tomatillos that are the size of a golf ball or smaller, as if you do, the ingredient ratio for this recipe will be off and you’ll end up with hardly any salsa at all (and one that is pungent, too).
I recommend going to a local farmer’s market first and getting some there, as you’re not only going to get juicy and plump tomatillos, but you’ll also support your local economy.
If you don’t have a farmer’s market close-by, or you don’t have one available to you where you live, then perhaps try a grocery store that sells organic and fresh produce, like a Whole Foods Market or a Co-Op. Having the right tomatillos will make this recipe extra stellar.
You can use this salsa as a condiment to drizzle on top of all your favorite Mexican dishes, think enchiladas, burritos, quesadillas, etc.
But a super easy and simple way to enjoy this salsa is as a dip to go along with your go-to tortilla chips. We all have a favorite brand, don’t we? If you are currently looking for a new favorite. Lemme recommend two:
For non-Paleo tortillas (made out of corn and are therefore not Paleo): I am OBSESSED with these Late July Cantina Dippers.
Fortunately corn does not affect my tummy and I can enjoy corn no problem. If you are like me, then I highly recommend trying the corn tortilla chips I mentioned above. They are thin and crispy and just overall amazing tortilla chips.
I hope you’ll love this salsa! It’s:
Fresh
Flavorful
Tangy
Spicy
Quick + Easy
& Delicious
This is the perfect salsa for dipping corn tortilla chips, Paleo-approved tortilla chips or even kale chips! You and your loved ones will finish the whole jar in one sitting, I can almost guarantee.
It would also make a delicious addition to things like my Sweet Potato Mexican Salad Bowls, Plant Based Mexican Bowls, Mexican Sweet Potato Rounds, or Patacones/Tostones.
If you try this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #amazingpaleo on Instagram. Disfruten, amigos!
This Tomatillo Salsa is tangy, citrusy, refreshing and flavorful, everything you'd wish for in a summer salsa. Made in less than 25 minutes and extremely versatile. A MUST TRY!
Author: Mariel Lewis
Recipe type: Condiment
Cuisine: Mexican
Serves: 16 oz jar
Ingredients
1 lb. tomatillos, husked and halved
½ white onion
1 jalapeño pepper
3 garlic cloves
½ cup cilantro (stems removed)
2 limes, juiced
1 tbsp. coarse kosher salt
½ tsp. freshly cracked black pepper
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425 F. Place tomatillos cut side down on a parchment lined baking sheet, and roast for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.
Once cool, transfer tomatillos to a high-speed blender, add in the rest of the ingredients, and process until desired consistency is reached. For chunkier salsa, blend less. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve with favorite chips and enjoy!
BEST EVER SUMMER SALAD. No joke.
I shared a photo of this yummy salad on my Instagram two days ago, letting you all know that the recipe is coming to the blog (YAY, it’s finally here!), and with that photo, I also encouraged you to guess the ingredients!
You guys did an awesome job at naming them, and for the most part, all the ingredients used were called out. Except for one. Y’all had a hard time figuring out one of them. This one ingredient was thought to be a pair, an apple, a plum…but nope, it wasn’t any of those! Wanna know what it was?
Here we go.
Ready for it?
That ingredient was a fresh, crisp, sweet, delicious…
WHITE PEACH!
Ahhh. White peaches are so good right now 🙌 , and easier to find compared to any other time of year. They are nice and plump, with reddish skin and with a white juicy inside. Oh man, it’s making me want one so bad. #drool
Most of the ingredients for this salad are just a step away from you; find them at your nearest farmer’s market or grocery store: corn, peaches, strawberries, kale.
The avocado and the pistachios might be a bit tucked away, and probably not at farmer’s market, but they are staples…so you really shouldn’t have a problem getting your hands on some! You can order pistachios and avocados online via Instacart and keep them in your fridge (yep, I highly recommend keeping nuts and avocados in your fridge for freshness) until you’re ready to make the salad. Easy peasy.
The salad is SUPER EASY to prepare.
The most time consuming parts are:
1.) prepping ingredients (washing, chopping, etc.)
2.) making the *corn on the cob, and
3.) massaging the kale
But those steps are a walk in the park, too, so you have nothing to worry about.
Plus, I’ll guide you every step of the way; my methods are all listed below in the recipe section. Oh, and lemme just say, you’ll definitely want to follow my corn on the cob cooking technique! Because, here’s a secret: I make the best corn in the world! I know am tooting my own horn here, but I’m just being honest, y’all. It’s gooooood.
*If you are 100% Paleo and don’t eat corn, just sub the corn with roasted sweet potatoes…it’ll be just as tasty and satisfying!
So first step is to make the corn on the cob.
While the corn is cooking, the second step is to prep the rest of the ingredients (wash, dry, chop) and massage the kale on a large salad bowl along with lemon, salt and olive oil.
The third step is to cut off the corn kernels with a knife, after it’s cooled off, and use them to assemble the salad by tossing all the ingredients together.
Fourth step, drizzle olive oil and balsamic vinegar on top of the salad, add salt and pepper to taste, sprinkle pistachios on top and…YOU’RE DONE!
Four step, simple process. You guys got this!
I hope you LOVE this recipe! It’s:
Colorful
Light
Fresh
Crisp
Healthy
Satisfying
SUPER flavorful
& Delicious!
Now off you go to make this summer salad, and remember to pair it with some yummy grilled protein. Pick your fav there, the salad goes with everything.
Here are a couple of my personal pairing suggestions:
This is the best summer salad EVER. It is easy to put together, uses fresh ingredients, comes together really quick, goes with everything and satisfies every single time. Try it!
Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil. Once it boils, mix in 2 tbsp white sugar and squeeze in the juice of half a lemon. Turn heat off, add in the corn, close with a lid and allow corn to cook for 10 mins. Drain and set corn aside to cool completely, and once cool, cut kernels off cob.
For the salad:
Massage kale with 2 tbsp olive oil, juice of half a lemon and a pinch of sea salt. This will soften the kale. Top it off with the rest of the ingredients. Drizzle remaining olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and salt and pepper. Sprinkle pistachios, toss and serve.
Notes
*If you are 100% Paleo and don't eat corn, just sub the corn with roasted sweet potatoes...it'll be just as tasty and satisfying!
Muffins > bread loaf.
Why? Well, because muffins bake way faster than a full bread loaf, and they are perfectly portioned, so there’s no need to slice and dirty more utensils once the baking is done. Muffins are a genius creation, my friends. I am a BIG fan of the muffin.
This particular muffin recipe came to be because the hubs and I wanted a naturally sweet baked good earlier this week, something *like* banana bread, but something more bite sized and easier to eat. So, we began muffin baking!
And the result was ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS.
These Banana Date Muffins came out perfectly moist, perfectly balanced, perfectly bouncey and perfectly adorable.
They have quickly become our favorite. They are naturally sweet, gluten-free, nice and soft, nutritious, and oh-so gooooood.
The base requires 6 ingredients and then you can chose to top them off with whatever seeds, nuts or dried fruits you want.
I highly recommend topping them off with dried baby banana slices and pumpkin seeds, which is what we did, but you can obvs go with whatever your favs are and/or whatever you have on hand. Go cray!
A month ago, I didn’t know dried baby bananas existed. Not until I caught a little obsession about all-things-bananas and started looking into all the *pure* banana products available out there. I stumbled upon these on a lucky run.
I live two blocks away from Trader Joe’s and I hopped over there recently to shop their nut/seed/dried fruit isle.
Among many kinds of banana chips and freeze dried bananas, I came across these gems. Dried baby bananas. WHAT!?
I had no idea what to expect when opening the bag, especially because there was no viewing window or anything on the packaging, and I have never even heard of “baby bananas” before in the US.
After hours of research and comparison, we landed on Hotel Wailea, Relais & Chateaux. An adults-only boutique hotel located at one of the most peaceful, high-end and picturesque parts of the island: Wailea. If you’ve been to Wailea before, then you know how gorgeous and unique it is. If you haven’t been to Wailea in Maui before, then I highly suggest you add it to your bucket list and go as soon as you get a chance. The best way I can describe Wailea is: pure paradise. So on to the hotel… 
The suites were gorgeous and were decorated with a modern island flare. They were much bigger than I imagined and had a lot more amenities than what was written on the website. Our suite came with pots, pans, knives, toaster, Nespresso machine, comfy slippers, bathrobes, two TVs…anything we could’ve ever needed. It felt like a mini apartment. We showered in the suite’s large shower and then got in bed for a good nights sleep. The bed was comfortable and the sheets felt so good on our skin. We slept like babies. 
The people who worked at the bar in the pool were extremely sweet, they brought us ice-waters non-stop and were very attentive in case we needed a drink or food. The pool also offers Sun Bum full-size products, so if you happened to forget to bring your own sunscreen or oil, you’d be taken care of with their stuff. It’s the small details, isn’t it? 
Gym
It’s complementary with your stay, and its actually a very useful amenity, because you want to have a rental when you visit Maui and it’s nice that the hotel staff helps you park it and bring it back to you whenever you need to use it. No need for you to walk long distances to get to your car and back. All taken care of, so all you have to do is hop in and out! 
Their beach area is right next to the Four Seasons, so you can always hop on over to the hotel for lunch or a drink…or even for a massage or spa service. Its super convenient. And we loved this beach in Maui, because it’s right along the Wailea beach front, and you can get on the boardwalk and walk to all of the different beach front hotels if you’re feeling like a nice stroll or some shopping. We used the hotel’s beach service three times, it was lovely! 
You just approach the valet service area by the lobby when you need a ride, and then you simply call the hotel when you need a ride back. The staff is super fast, so you are not left waiting long; for us, it took them no more than 10 minutes to get us. Oh, and the drivers are so friendly! Made for super enjoyable rides. We used this service about 5 times. 
We did the Sunset Sailing experience. It departed at around 5:15pm and returned at around 8pm. Everything was amazing, from the sail boat, to the crew, to the food, to the open bar, to the company, to the sunset, to the whale watching…I mean, just perfect. 
The bar is right by the lobby and has some of the best views at the hotel, making it for a great place to catch happy hour and apps before heading out for the evening. The bartenders are extremely friendly and they craft delicious, refreshing cocktails. We ate here twice, loved their salads and grilled avocado app. A must try! 
The space was really pretty, and the staff that greeted us and sat us was inviting and kind. We got a table right on their balcony/patio area, with a gorgeous view of the ocean and gardens. Very romanic and calm. 
I gotta say, the staff was on top of their game, coming to us right away and attentive to our wants and needs. They were very helpful answering questions about wine and food, and brought our stuff fairly quickly. The ambiance and experience was wonderful, but I will say, being a foodie and a sucker for good flavor and textures, the dishes were underwhelming. My husband thought the same. I would not recommend dinner at this restaurant, especially considering its price point with a set menu, however, I would recommend getting breakfast or brunch here! My avocado toast and eggs were wonderful when we came in on our first day on the island. 
The suites were outstanding, probably one of my favorite suite/room stays in general. You have everything you could ever need and more at your disposal, and the staff really goes above and beyond to make you feel like you are the guest of honor. Everything in our suite was carefully thought out and placed for an enhanced Maui experience. We really appreciate the attention to detail the designers put into making this space so special, and the help of the staff in all areas to make every second of our vacation count. 
The hotel’s amenities are plenty and well appointed, and I promise you, you will never go bored or be left wanting more. You’ll feel very taken care of. Hope this was helpful, let me know if you have any questions! 
Immediately, I knew I had to recreate it once back home in Idaho. I wanted it to be just like Aunty Sandy’s, but made Paleo.
The first reason for making it Paleo is that regular flour doesn’t agree with me, and the second reason being that Paleo-based breads are much MUCH more nutritious.
We got back home and on to baking I went.
And I’m stoked to report that it turned out AMAZING.
Allow your loaf to cool completely before slicing it. I know this is hard! But it’ll make for smoother cuts and better looking slices.
The bread is too soft when it comes out of the oven, which is why you wanna wait a bit. It’s texture will solidify as it cools, and I promise that waiting will make for a better banana bread eating experience. Plus, you don’t want to burn your tongue. 😉
Storing leftovers.
My favorite brand of 
You’ll also need three mini bread pans. The ones I have I bought a long time ago and I can’t find them online anymore, however 
Let me guide you through my Chocolate Chip Banana Oat Mini Loaves mix making steps:
First – soak the medjool dates in warm water for about 10 minutes. This will help them get nice and soft, so that blending them becomes much easier.
Second – make your flax egg. Mix 1 tbsp of flaxseed meal with 2.5 tbsp filtered water in a small bowl; let it sit for about 3 minutes until it thickens.
Third – You blend all ingredients together (except for the dark chocolate morsels). There is actually a blending order I like to follow in order for the ingredients to mix easily: first blend the bananas for that nice liquidy base; then add the dates and blend until smooth; then add in the oats, baking soda, cinnamon and salt and blend; lastly, add in the flax egg and the egg and blend until mixed in.
Once you’ve got the mix ready, it’s then time to divide it evenly amongst the three mini bread pans and top them off with dark chocolate chip morsels. Like so:
In in the oven they go, for about 18-20 minutes.
Be sure to keep an eye on them at minute 18, they might be ready and you don’t want to leave them the extra 2 minutes in case the edges get a bit too brown.
Post baking, you’ll want them to look like this:
So pretty and cute looking, aren’t they? When you see these little beauts in person, you just cannot wait to dive in! They smell heavenly.
However, I keep my cravings under control when these are out of the oven, because believe it or not, these are so much better cold! At least in my opinion they are.
I love them cold because they turn a bit more dense and each bite is extra satisfying. Also, it’s currently summer, so cold is where it’s at for me.
I also like to let them cool completely, and refrigerate them in their pans, before I remove the breads from the pan. Them being cool allows for easier bread removal, and it actually makes the slicing easier since the breads are a bit denser.
You can of course eat your Chocolate Chip Banana Oat Mini Loaves warm if that’s how you like eating sweet baked goods! There is no wrong way to go about this. You do you, friend.
These can also be frozen for later use. Wrap them in plastic wrap real tight, and then add them to a large Ziploc bag for extra freshness. Then, when you want to use them again, let them thaw at room temperature and go at them!
If you chose to not freeze them, I’d say they last fresh for about 7-10 days. I am currently on day 7 of these mini loaves, and they are as good as ever. Love to enjoy a slice with a cold glass of nut milk or with some coffee; it’s my go-to treat during these last days of summer. SO YUM.
I hope you LOVE my Chocolate Chip Banana Oat Mini Loaves recipe! They’re:
Moist
Dense
Naturally sweet
Healthy
Nutritious
& Delicious!
Like I said above, a slice of it is perfect as an afternoon snack with a glass of 
I could literally live off of chips and salsa. I love the combo so, so much. Because of this salsa obsession, I’ve already shared two solid salsa recipes with you before: 
The tomatoes and chipotle peppers I like to get are all linked in the recipe section below, but you can obvi use whichever you prefer or the ones that are readily available to you.
Isn’t this little salsa lineup pretty, though? 😍 #swoon
I know you’ll adore this one as much as the other two! It has a bit more bite than my 
Note: these tortilla chips are made of corn, so if you’re fully Paleo and do not eat corn, these are not for you; for my Paleo peeps I highly recommend 
So get yourself these staples if you don’t have them handy already (onion, garlic, lime, cilantro, jalapeño pepper) and a few cans of fire roasted tomatoes and chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. You’ll want to make this until Summer is over, and maybe even the rest of the year!
This recipe doesn’t require fresh tomatoes, so you can make a consistently delicious salsa all year long! Amazing results no matter the time of year.
Just remember to pair your salsa with your favorite tortilla chip and spirited bevvie, and you’ll have a fun and delicious night…one that is best shared with family and friends!
I hope you LOVE this Fire Roasted Chipotle Salsa! It is:
Well balanced
Spicy
Citrusy
Tangy
Satisfying
& Delicious!
It’s perfect along with chips, on top of my 
Let me introduce you to my new obsession: Roasted Tomatillo Salsa 😍
I have made this Roasted Tomatillo Salsa over and over again since beginning of Spring, each time modifying it ever so slightly to get it *just* right.
And now, I feel like the recipe is finally ready to be shared with you! You can now make and taste this deliciousness at home with loved ones, too. YAY.
Prepare your taste buds for a “wow” experience.
Its tangy, good, addicting, alllll the things!
Here are the basic steps for Tomatillo Salsa making:
When you go get tomatillos, make sure these are around the size of a tennis ball. A bit smaller is okay, too.
Just don’t buy the tiny tomatillos that are the size of a golf ball or smaller, as if you do, the ingredient ratio for this recipe will be off and you’ll end up with hardly any salsa at all (and one that is pungent, too).
I recommend going to a local farmer’s market first and getting some there, as you’re not only going to get juicy and plump tomatillos, but you’ll also support your local economy.
If you don’t have a farmer’s market close-by, or you don’t have one available to you where you live, then perhaps try a grocery store that sells organic and fresh produce, like a 
You can use this salsa as a condiment to drizzle on top of all your favorite Mexican dishes, think enchiladas, burritos, quesadillas, etc.
But a super easy and simple way to enjoy this salsa is as a dip to go along with your go-to tortilla chips. We all have a favorite brand, don’t we? If you are currently looking for a new favorite. Lemme recommend two:
I hope you’ll love this salsa! It’s:
Fresh
Flavorful
Tangy
Spicy
Quick + Easy
& Delicious
This is the perfect salsa for dipping 
Here we go.
Ready for it?
That ingredient was a fresh, crisp, sweet, delicious…
WHITE PEACH!
Ahhh. White peaches are so good right now 🙌 , and easier to find compared to any other time of year. They are nice and plump, with reddish skin and with a white juicy inside. Oh man, it’s making me want one so bad. #drool
Most of the ingredients for this salad are just a step away from you; find them at your nearest farmer’s market or grocery store: corn, peaches, strawberries, kale.
The avocado and the pistachios might be a bit tucked away, and probably not at farmer’s market, but they are staples…so you really shouldn’t have a problem getting your hands on some! You can order pistachios and avocados online via Instacart and keep them in your fridge (yep, I highly recommend keeping nuts and avocados in your fridge for freshness) until you’re ready to make the salad. Easy peasy.
The salad is SUPER EASY to prepare.
The most time consuming parts are:
1.) prepping ingredients (washing, chopping, etc.)
2.) making the *corn on the cob, and
3.) massaging the kale
But those steps are a walk in the park, too, so you have nothing to worry about.
Plus, I’ll guide you every step of the way; my methods are all listed below in the recipe section. Oh, and lemme just say, you’ll definitely want to follow my corn on the cob cooking technique! Because, here’s a secret: I make the best corn in the world! I know am tooting my own horn here, but I’m just being honest, y’all. It’s gooooood.
*If you are 100% Paleo and don’t eat corn, just sub the corn with 
So first step is to make the corn on the cob.
While the corn is cooking, the second step is to prep the rest of the ingredients (wash, dry, chop) and massage the kale on a large salad bowl along with lemon, salt and olive oil.
The third step is to cut off the corn kernels with a knife, after it’s cooled off, and use them to assemble the salad by tossing all the ingredients together.
Fourth step, drizzle olive oil and balsamic vinegar on top of the salad, add salt and pepper to taste, sprinkle pistachios on top and…YOU’RE DONE!
Four step, simple process. You guys got this!
I hope you LOVE this recipe! It’s:
Colorful
Light
Fresh
Crisp
Healthy
Satisfying
SUPER flavorful
& Delicious!
Now off you go to make this summer salad, and remember to pair it with some yummy grilled protein. Pick your fav there, the salad goes with everything.
Here are a couple of my personal pairing suggestions:
And the result was ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS.
These Banana Date Muffins came out perfectly moist, perfectly balanced, perfectly bouncey and perfectly adorable.
They have quickly become our favorite. They are naturally sweet, gluten-free, nice and soft, nutritious, and oh-so gooooood.
The base requires 6 ingredients and then you can chose to top them off with whatever seeds, nuts or dried fruits you want.
I highly recommend topping them off with dried baby banana slices and pumpkin seeds, which is what we did, but you can obvs go with whatever your favs are and/or whatever you have on hand. Go cray!
A month ago, I didn’t know dried baby bananas existed. Not until I caught a little obsession about all-things-bananas and started looking into all the *pure* banana products available out there. I stumbled upon these on a lucky run.
I live two blocks away from Trader Joe’s and I hopped over there recently to shop their nut/seed/dried fruit isle.
Among many kinds of banana chips and freeze dried bananas, I came across these gems. Dried baby bananas. WHAT!?
I had no idea what to expect when opening the bag, especially because there was no viewing window or anything on the packaging, and I have never even heard of “baby bananas” before in the US.