Spinach & Sweet Potato Pancakes (vegan, gf)

Growing up, one of my dad's many specialties in the kitchen was making pancakes. He has mastered the art of cooking them for a large group (5 kids, their spouses and 8 grandchildren) who can put away a lot of pancakes (my niece at 9 last time we were together. That's some math!). 

As I've gotten older, I've gained even more respect for the fact that he can keep his pancake so perfect and somehow manage to churn them out in mass quantities. It's no easy feat!

Since going gluten free a few years ago, I have experimented with a lot of varying pancake recipes. I love that you can make them really healthy and still manage to have them taste like pancakes. One of my favorite meal planning techniques is to make a big batch on Sunday and eat them all week with berries + nut butter on top.  (These Vegan Pancakes were my JAM for many years!)

This past weekend was our last slow Sunday in Atlanta until August (!) so we decided to make the most of it for breakfast. I tried out a new recipe and we couldn't have been more pleased with how they turned out. It's worth noting that they are not super sweet, but you could add more honey OR top them with it. 

Spinach & Sweet Potato Pancakes

Prep time:  15 minutes
Cook time:  30 minutes
Serves: 6 to 8 pancakes

INGREDIENTS

1 egg (sub flax egg if Vegan)
1 large sweet potato
2 c. spinach
1 c. almond milk
2 T. honey or, if vegan, agave nectar or maple syrup
3 cups of gf oats
½ c. almond flour
1 T. baking powder
1 t. cinnamon
½ t. sea salt
2 T. flax (optional)
2 T. chia seeds (optional)
2 T. collagen (optional & encouraged!)

INSTRUCTIONS

• *If Vegan, start by making a flax egg so it can rest. If not, skip to the next step
• Pour all ingredients into blender or food processor
• Blend until smooth
• Preheat  skillet, lightly grease with coconut oil
• Pour batter into skillet in desired size
• Flip as each side crisps up (mine did not bubble like normal pancakes, so be sure to watch them)
• Top with nut butter and berries & enjoy! 

Note: Optional step if you do not have a powerful blender - soften the sweet potato in microwave or oven. Mash and mix by hand.

it doesn't have to be perfect

Last Friday, I sat on a stool at my parents' counter in Indiana. My mom worked nearby at her computer while my niece, Lily, carefully crafted a Father's Day card. After I heard her crumple up two pieces of paper in a row, I looked up from my computer screen. 

What's going on, Lil? I asked her as she grabbed another sheet.
I messed it up, she told me while beginning to write h-a-p-p-y again.

Within a minute, she tore up another sheet. My mom peered up from over her screen, catching my eye with a smile. 

It doesn't have to be perfect, my mom told her while winking at me. Your dad will love it no matter what.

I was reminded of myself 20 years ago as I watched her color carefully. One of my very best friends in first grade, Megan, always colored so neatly, leaving me feeling like my pictures were too sloppy. I always tried to slow down and emulate her, outlining each picture first, then pressing the crayon extra hard.

But, mine never looked so perfect as hers. 

This week, I was reading blogs and admiring projects so many women my age have taken on. Amazing, talented girls are running full-blown businesses all around me. As I stumbled upon one amazing project and realized the girl in charge was only 28, I began to feel like I was watching Megan color again. Why doesn't my business look quite as amazing as hers? I wondered to myself. 

I wonder if I'd had a piece of paper representing my ideas, if, in that moment, I would have crumpled it up.

I reminded myself that I'm not called into competition with these other women, but, instead collaboration.

And, I remembered, in that moment, that everything we do doesn't have to be perfect.

Sometimes, we'll fail. Big ideas will end up with small results. Numbers will be lower than expected. Readership will be quieter than we had hoped. The card won't be as beautiful as we had planned. But, it's OK. It doesn't have to perfect. 

Oftentimes, the bravest thing we can do is try. 

Images via Natalie Puls

// when the wedding is over //

Words haven't come easily to me these last few weeks as Chris and I have settled into our new, married routine. This season has felt sacred, keeping me from wanting to share it because I know what I say won't do it justice.

It's like when people ask us about Greece and I instantly feel tired at the thought of trying to explain it. Was it amazing? YES. Was it beautiful? YES. It was pure happiness and joy and, just like our wedding, overwhelmingly magical to us. My words feel too small and simple to even begin to explain it. 

As we've returned to the real world from the whirlwind of moving + wedding + honeymoon, I've found myself surprised to see that the world kept going without us. The girl who runs on the same treadmill at the same time every day in the gym kept going while we were gone. The news kept cycling 24 hours each day. Atlantans kept commuting to work, sitting in the same traffic, drinking coffee and listening to podcasts.

Everyone's routines kept going round and round, but we broke ours. We hit a huge pause button and ours lives sort of stopped for a few weeks. 

We cultivated a slowness in Greece. We listened to one another more carefully. We consumed less media, barely texted and forgot about our emails. We ate more slowly, taking our time between bites. We laughed constantly. We asked each morning: what do you want to do today? And relaxed more deeply than we have in years. 

As we've reentered, we've tried to hold on to a little bit of this slowness. We've kept our schedules open, making room for impromptu date nights, breaking in our new grill and having an unexpected weeknight glass of wine. 

I know we can't hold onto slowness forever. But, for today, we're cherishing the last little bits of our honeymoon vibes. 

All photos via the amazing Natalie Puls :) 

...and we're back!

Hello, friends! We are back from our wedding and honeymoon and settling into the routine again. I am still unwinding (and wishing I could rewind to do it all again!). I'll be back soon with some big old wedding, Greece and life updates! 

In the meantime, I will leave you with a few recs!:

Reading: I read The Boys in the Boat in Greece. Holy cow! So good. The first 100 pages are a little slow, but if you can get through them, you will n.e.v.e.r. look back. I learned so much, too!

Watching: We finished The People v. OJ Simpson on the flight home and I strongly suggest watching it. I learned things I never knew about the trial (tons) and couldn't believe the empathy I felt for the lawyers, jurors, etc. Chris and I are counting down for the OJ 30 for 30. We can't get enough!

Wanting: Sam Smith originals. Girls in Greece were rocking OG Adidas and they looked so cute. They'd be a real compliment to my slides :) 

Eating: Grilled papaya (and anything we can possibly grill, grilled). We made a recipe from the Superfood Kitchen that called for papaya and had a ton left over. We weren't sure if it was grillable, but we threw it on anyway. I think I prefer it this way! 

Feeling: So happy to live with Chris and pretty happy to be back in the swing of things. But! Still wishing we could go back in time and pause the glorious moment when so many of our loved ones were in Atlanta. This city felt so full with all of you here!

Happy Tuesday!