banana almond crunch "ice cream"

I completed a Whole30 about a month ago. Doing so taught me a lot about skipping dairy and going vegan. I quickly came to realize that I wasn't going to be able to live with out a sweet treat once in awhile, and I had to figure out ways to satisfy the craving in a vegan, no added sugar kind of way. Following a restricted diet, it's important to concentrate on what you can eat and finding ways for those foods to satisfy your needs. I happen to consider ice cream on a hot summer day a need, and so this vegan banana ice cream was born. Not only is it dairy-free, but it also has the added benefit of some nutrient blasting maca powder as well.

Ingredients (serves 1):

2 Bananas

1/2 Cup Almonds

1 Tbsp. Maca Powder

1 Tsp. Vanilla Extract

Pinch of Sea Salt

Directions:

1. Slice banana and lay pieces out on a piece of wax paper

2. Roll the piece of wax paper up, making sure a layer of wax paper is in between slices. Stick in the freezer for at least 1 hour to freeze bananas.

3. Chop almonds in a food processor and set aside in a small dish. Add bananas to the food processor and blend until an ice cream texture is reached.

4. Add maca powder, almonds, and vanilla. Blend a bit more until all is evenly mixed in.

5. Garnish with sea salt and eat right away, or store in freezer.

4th of july adventures

Fourth of July was Adam's and my first whole day together since New Years Day. We made the most of it, waking up early to bike to our favorite brunch spot. Afterward we made our way out toward Reading, PA and explored French Creek State Park. The long hike worked up our appetite, and we ended up at an adorable ice cream parlor in the middle of nowhere for dinner. The adventure kept rolling into the next as we explored the rural area full of beautiful farms, old homes, and expansive spaces. God bless America, it was a day well spent. :)

a day in the life

Above are some shots from around the office lately. I had a little project that gave me an excuse to snap away and capture a few of the things I see at work. Daily life moves so quickly, and I don't often get the chance to do so, but it's nice to be able to put some of these things into concrete photos like this. Seeing them reminds me to appreciate the beauty in my surroundings, and to open my eyes a little more, taking in those fleeting moments that otherwise occur so mindlessly.