Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Sweet Potato Pancakes!

Another Holiday Favorite!

     Ok, so I didn't mean to do 2 sweet recipes in a row, but it is the holidays! Remember, if you live by the 80/20 rule, you can eat these without any guilt whatsoever. If you are new to my blog or haven't known me very long, I am a HUGE advocate of the 80/20 rule: 80% of the time, make the good choices for you life - in nutrition, fitness, and any thing else in your life, really. 20% of the time, let your hair down, indulge, enjoy, relax, etc. Take time for pleasure. Obviously, this recipe is still part of the 20%, even though it is adapted and a little healthier than the alternatives, there is still a good amount of sugar in the pancakes themselves, and in the honey butter that I love to put on top of them! Ok, enough of me rambling, how do we make these delicious treats??

     I found a recipe on the Food Network that is quite delicious, but I modified it to have a few more health benefits, so here is my adapted recipe:

1 cup of ground Flaxseed (or Flaxseed flour)
1 cup of ground Almond (or Almond meal)
4 teaspoons of Baking Powder
2 tablespoons of Brown Sugar
1 teaspoon of Cinnamon
a pinch of Nutmeg
2 cups of Unsweetened Almond Milk
4 teaspoons Unsalted Butter
2 whole Eggs
1 Sweet Potato (cooked until tender, peeled, and pureed)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Combine all ingredients into a large mixing bowl and whisk until smooth. Pour batter onto a buttered skillet on medium high heat. Cook until bubbles form on the top, then flip and cook until cakes appear a dark, golden brown. Serve warm with Honey Butter. Enjoy with loved ones!
~~~~~


     In case you haven't had any before, Honey Butter is exactly what it sounds like - honey mixed with butter. The honey to butter ratio is up to your preference, I prefer the Honey Butter to have a smooth, creamy texture. As with any of my recipes, it is best to use as much organic and all natural ingredients as possible to reduce the amount of preservatives, fillers, and artificial hormones, etc. And of course, everything tastes better when you share it with someone you love! 

Even though this is a sweet treat, there are some major nutritional benefits!

-Sweet Potatoes: are high in vitamins B6, C, and D, which means that they can reduce the risk of heart attack, improve the appearance of skin, enhance energy levels and mood, can help build healthy heart and nerves, and supports the thyroid which plays a large role in metabolism. They also contain Iron, which can help reduce stress and boost immunity. Another benefit is that they have magnesium, which can also lower stress levels. Generally, when you are craving that chocolate bar, you need magnesium, so sweet potatoes are a great healthy way to boost your mood that will last longer than the chocolate will!
-Flaxseed: contains Omega-3 fatty acids which is a great healthy fat that improves the look of hair, skin, and nails, improves joint mobility, and aids in digestion. It also contains a good amount of protein, fiber, and healthy carbs, as well as many vitamins and minerals! Power seeds!
-Almonds: can reduce the risk of heart attack, lower "bad" cholesterol, protect artery walls, and help build strong bones and teeth! 
-Cinnamon: aids in blood sugar control, can soothe the stomach flu, relieve IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), and prevent cancer and arthritis.
-Nutmeg: aids sleep, keeps the brain sharp, relieve muscular and joint pain, and when combined with cinnamon can be an antiseptic!

Eggs and butter are more common items, and I hope you know the benefits of those and eat them regularly! If you do have any questions about health concerns or benefits of any of the items in the recipe, please feel free to comment on this post or leave me a message! 

     I hope that you enjoy this wonderful recipe during the holidays this year. If so, please let me know what you think!! I would LOVE to hear some feedback on the recipes that I provide and see if there are any that you would like to see. Until then, enjoy your healthy choices!!



No comments:

Post a Comment