VALENTINES!

 I kinda went crazy and painted a bunch of valentines.   It started off with the one I made Raf (not pictured) and I just got obsessed.  I made a few others that aren't pictured, but these ones were my faves.  I am particularly fond of the phonograph :)  I am making a version of that one into a linoleum cut so I can make prints with it.  Yay for bursts of unexpected creativity!

PORT COSTA AND AN EXCITING PHOTO SHOOT!

Oh my...the mysterious and quirky Port Costa.  The place is so intriguing and it instantly makes you feel like you are stepping back in time.  My friend Racheal recently introduced me (and a couple of awesome and creative ladies) to this crazy, tiny, historic town a couple of weeks ago to scout out the location for an upcoming vintage photo shoot (with super sweet and talented photographer Angela DeCenzo, yay!).     

We walked around, checked out the sights, and had a drink at the craziest bar/saloon (while sitting next to a gigantic taxidermy polar bear, no less).  This place is weird and beautiful and full of untold (and seemingly rowdy) stories. It has a history of debauchery (an old and supposedly haunted hotel, the Burlington, which some think was a brothel back in the day) and a budding foodie scene with the Bull Valley Restaurant gaining a reputation as a hot spot.  Not to mention the fact that the surrounding area is beautiful and perfect for a hike and a picnic.  I can't wait to go back!

A cool alley between the Burlington and Bull Valley.

The Burlington.  The rooms have the women's names rather than numbers...hmmmm....

On our walk.

So pretty.

GLUTEN FREE PANCAKE EXPERIMENT.

Raf and I are making an attempt at trying to eat fewer wheat products and to eliminate (or majorly reduce) added and refined sugars from our diet.  He has some sinus and headache troubles, and we're trying to see if a change in diet will help.  I tend to be a sugar addict, and find that my diet, in general, really affects my energy levels.  Also, when I don't feel well, it is usually an upset stomach.

I've been trying different flours (coconut, chickpea, brown rice blends, and almond) and have been having a lot of fun experimenting with them!  I've made socca (chickpea flour delicacy that we ate and loved when we were in Nice, France), cauliflower crust pizza, spelt crust pizza (I know it still has gluten, but is easier to digest and seems to work for us), brown rice pasta (I've found Tinkyada brand has the best texture and is pretty much really delicious) and various baked goods using fruit for the sweetener (or small amounts of honey, maple syrup, or coconut sugar and really dark (less sugar) chocolate) and almond flour and coconut flour.  Also, we've found that we feel better after eating sprouted wheat breads (also easier to digest) and Trader Joe's carries a few really good ones, or I get Alvarado Street Bakery bread or Ezekiel.

I've had success with an amazing blueberry muffin recipe (seriously, one of the best I've ever had, gluten or not), a sweet potato brownie (OMG!), an oatmeal cookie (equally OMG!), and just this morning, coconut flour pancakes.  They were really, really good and very high in protein.  I felt sustained for the most part until dinner time, although I had a bit of a smoothie, a handful of almonds and cashews, and half of a navel orange between brunch and dinner.  This is the recipe here.  I used honey in place of the coconut nectar.  And we added Greek yogurt, ground walnuts, sliced banana, and a bit of maple syrup to them. The batch made a lot, and we still have 4 left for tomorrow.  Highly recommended!

We're planning to continue with this diet as it has been feeling really good, but not totally eliminate wheat--just scale back and make better choices in general.  I definitely don't want to miss out on special treats when we travel or when friends and family cook meals for us!

Anyway, back to the point...these amazing, fluffy and delicious pancakes: