Tag Archives: Los Angeles

Coconut Chia Seed Banana Bread {Gluten Free, Dairy Free}

28 Apr

This weekend has been great, although I have to say, it would be even greater if I were hangin’ at Stagecoach right now with friends (SHOUT OUT!) – and probably most of the Los Angeles population!

I’m not sure about the entire musical line-up, but from what I’ve seen, Keith Urban & Rascal Flatts aren’t there anyway, so I’d really be in it for Brad Paisley and fun times with fun people in this AMAZING weather!  I suppose since I already missed Coachella this year, I might as well call it a wash and make sure I hit up both of them next year!  I can get into that. =)

Moving right along, I guess it’s time to talk about bread!  The perfect lazy, eat out on your patio with a cup of tea, weekend morning bread!  Packed with yummy banana, coconut-y goodness, chia seeds for omegas, and juuuust enough pop from the molasses & honey to keep it sweet.

Gluten free.

Dairy free.

And almosssssst vegan.

SOLD!

Gluten Free Dairy Free Coconut Chia Seed Banana Bread

This bread would be vegan if it weren’t for the honey, which I know some have issues with it in terms of the treatment of bees, etc.  As far as I’m concerned (not strictly free from ALL animal byproducts), this is vegan, but for those of you who want something “truly” vegan, you can simply add in maple syrup or some more molasses in its place – easy peasy!

Ingredients:

* 1 cup gluten free flour blend (I used Bob’s Red mill)
* 1/2 cup coconut flour
* 1/3 cup brown rice flour
* 1/4 cup oat flour
* 1/4 cup tapioca starch
* 3 Tbsp chia seeds
* 2 Tbsp ground flax seed
* 2 tsp xanthan gum
* 2 tsp baking powder
* 1 tsp baking soda
* 1/2 tsp salt
* 3 large bananas, mashed
* 1/2 cup coconut-flavored almond yogurt (any non-dairy yogurt would work)
* 2/3 cup honey
* 1/4 cup blackstrap molasses
* 1/4 cup coconut oil, warmed until liquid
* 1/4 cup rice milk (soy, almond, coconut, etc. would work)
* 1 tsp vanilla extract
* 1/4 cup coconut flakes for topping (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350* F.  Line a loaf pan with parchment paper, and grease with coconut oil on uncovered ends.

Sift together the flours, tapioca starch, xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl and set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the honey molasses, and coconut oil.  Add the bananas, yogurt, rice milk, and vanilla extract.  Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients slowly, mixing between additions.

Add in the ground flax and chia seeds.  Once well combined, pour into prepared pan and sprinkle top with coconut flakes.

Bake about 45-50 minutes, checking at the 25 minute mark and covering with aluminum foil if browning too quickly.  Bread is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.  Allow to cool in the pan for about 15 minutes before lifting out and allowing to finish cooling on a cooling rack.

Chopped walnuts, almonds or pecans would be PERFECT added to the batter before baking, as would dried cherries, blueberries, or even cranberries!  Next time, next time!

Super cute banana bread hearts topped with banana slices, toasted coconut & sprinkled with chia seeds anyone?

Next time I’m dusting these with cinnamon.

Enjoyed with a yummy organic  iced soy chai tea latte <3 Lovvvveeeeeeee

And the company of this little rascal  <3 <3 Looooveee loveeee…

All up in my GRILL! ha!

Keepin’ it short & sweet so I can get back to enjoying my day!

Happy Weekending, y’all!

Come back with a slew of Stagecoach pics….;)

Going, Going Back to LA

19 Mar

It’s no surprise to me that I’m a private person, it’s how I’ve always been. I don’t like to announce big things going on in my life, I don’t like to point out to just anyone who is close to me in my life, and outside of my family, I prefer to surround myself with a very few, select, close friends rather than sharing the details of my life with acquaintances. I realize that all of these qualities make it difficult to write a blog for the world to read, knowing that everyone is getting an almost-firsthand glimpse into my life. That being said, my life isn’t all that interesting, and I think part of my tendency to hold back revolves around the fact that I just can’t imagine my daily life being all that enthralling to read about!

I get it, though, no one really comes to a blog expecting to see or read something that’s totally bat-sh*t crazy out of the norm (I feel like that’s what tabloids and reality show are for…I hope?), and generally people, myself included, just like to read blogs for the sense of community and to be part of something meaningful and impactful (is that a word?). It’s nice to have a group of like-minded individuals to gush over the newest recipes, food, and fitness crazes with, to be exposed to ideas and thoughts that others can relate to, and maybe even adopt some new lifestyle habits that will better our lives as a whole.

I personally love to read blogs about everyday lives. I love all of the creative energy surrounding food and baking experiences, the new fitness programs I read about from personal trainers and fitness gurus, and the experiences that other people have that they consider to be plain old nothing out of the ordinary happenings, but are actually something that others have never been exposed to. I feel like I really get to know other bloggers reading their posts regularly, and it has come to my attention that maybe I am not allowing others to get to know me enough on here! Anyway, all of this is just to say, I do care, I am here in the blog world and would love to continue to contribute and to get to know all of you further! I’m especially thankful for all of you who have the ability to open up and allow others to see into your world, and for those who come back and visit me on Say It With Sprinkles and take interest in what I have to say; I will try my hardest to let you all in a little more, in addition to sharing my culinary creations.

Am I a self-proclaimed cheeseball? You bet! Am I the most honest, loving and sincere, tell-it-to-you straight kind of person out there? To a fault, at times. Do I love with all my heart, and would I do anything for the people I love? Without question. I’ll be the first to admit I’m a work in progress, though, and I’m learning how to be a better, more giving, and kind person every single day. Life is too short to hold grudges, and it’s infinitely too short to be without the ones you love. I like to surround myself with those I trust the most, and who trust and know me best!

With that in mind, the first thing I must tell you all is that I’m headed on a road-trip to LA this week, and I’m not looking back (at least until I come back home the following week, ha!) Los Angeles is my second home, and has been the love of my life since I packed it all up and moved down to beautiful Newport Beach, CA in 2004…only to return to Nor Cal several years later, where my family lives and I just finished school. The day I can move back to LA, I will…unfortunately that time hasn’t come just yet, so in the mean time, I’ll take the chance to visit whenever I can!

Talk with you all soon! XOXO