Pancake Tuesday...Last of the season!

Happy Pancake Tuesday!
I made carrot cake flapjacks this morning (gluten-free, vegan and organic of course), accented with a hint of cardamom, in celebration of my last pancake breakfast of the season. Our guests at The Desoto can enjoy them with a vanilla coconut cream cheese yogurt and a splash of real maple syrup. A delicious treat for a special day!
To complement the panca

kes, I made a simple dish: "Basil Pesto Scrambled Eggs". Light and delicious. Our granola today is our house blend: "Goji Berry Trail Mix",served with fresh-made almond milk, flavored with a hint of cinnamon and maple syrup. We had two juices to choose from today: fresh-squeezed grapefruit, or "Fresh Fruit Punch", made from twelve summer fruit favorites...yum!

A special blessing to everyone at The Desoto making this such a joyful summer for me. I have enjoyed this magical idyll by the sea so much. See you all next summer!

Namaste.

Vickie Kelson

Health Coach

specializing in Transformational Nutrition

Transform. Balance. Shine

.

Monday, September 17

Tofu & Veggie Scramble/Banana Almond Bread - Photo by Inbound Den

Happy Monday! It's a rainy Monday here by the beach. We chased the blues away here at The Desoto Ocean View Inn with an Indian Masala Tofu &Veggie Scramble, made with an organic sprouted tofu created from soy, quinoa and amaranth, blended with body-balancing Indian spices, and scrambled with green onions, sweet potatoes and a host of colorful veggies, along with a pinch of dulse to support e

asy digestion, and a hint of coconut. 

We also had a Raw Buckwheat & Nut Porridge with fresh-made almond milk, Banana Almond Bread, vegan &gluten-free of course, a flavorful Fresh Fruit Bowl, made with a host of summertime favorites like berries, melon and kiwi, and our Juice du Jour was "Sweet Apple Greens", made with organic apples, spinach, celery, lemon and basil. A light, refreshing breakfast tonic!

Namaste.

Vickie Kelson

Health Coach

specializing in Transformational Nutrition

Transform. Balance. Shine.

Sunday Brunch...last of the Season!

Sunday, September 16

Dandy Bowl & Rocky Road Muffins - Photo by Inbound Den

Beautiful dawn this morning... My last Sunday breakfast this season at The Desoto...

Inspired by this beautiful seaside retreat and its sweet energy, I made a variation on my signature Dandy Bowls. This one had a middle eastern flavor, with sliced figs and middle eastern spices (cumin, coriander, cinnamon, sea salt, pepper and cloves), blended in with the brown basmati rice, ga

rbanzo beans, and a colorful array of organic veggies.

For a sweet treat, I made vegan, gluten-free whole grain "rocky road"muffins, complete with vegan marshmallows and chocolate!

Our house granola today was an organic blend of flax & pumpkin seeds, served with a fresh-made organic almond/hemp nut milk blend, flavored with a hint of vanilla and cinnamon. 

Last but not least was our "Purple Passion" smoothies, with fresh coconut water, and organic Acai and guayana...a powerhouse of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and tongue-tickling flavors. 

Namaste!
Vickie Kelson
Health Coach
specializing in Transformational Nutrition
Transform. Balance. Shine.

Baked Omelets!

Saturday, September 15

Baked Omelet - Photo by Inbound Den

Today's breakfast celebrated the sun's return to our beach by The Desoto Inn in North Hollywood, Fl.

I made two "baked Omelets" a Desoto favorite, with layers of roasted baby potatoes, spinach and my own lentil sausage, baked with eggs and topped with a vegan cheese. For our vegan guests I made a tofu version.

Today's bread was a gluten-free vegan pumpkin pear bread, made with fava and other nutritious flours, coconut yogurt, coconut nectar and warming spices...a tasty treat that is light on your system!

In addition to our house granola and nut milk, today's juice was " good Morning Sunshine"...carrot, orange and ginger... Organic, of course! Enjoy! 

Namaste.
Vickie Kelson
Health Coach
specializing in Transformational Nutrition
Transform. Balance. Shine.

Indian Masala Breakfast

Thursday, September 14

Curried Lentils & Sweet Potatoes - Photo by Inbound Den

Inspired by my trips to India (it looked like their monsoon weather here this morning!), it felt like we needed a warming and nurturing dish to balance and allow us to go inward. It's a great day to curl up with a good book here at The Desoto Inn and listen to the storm.

The entree today, Curried Lentils & Sweet Potatoes; seasoned lentils, sweet potatoes, celery, carrots, fennel, chard, dulce

 and a host of curry seasonings, made for an aromatic taste sensation. I also made Blue Corn Honey Cake, crumbly and sweet. The juice, Little Green Apple Tonic, included apple, cucumber, celery, lime and mint with a touch of agave and sea salt.

The Raw Milk today was Hemp & Almond with maple syrup & cardamom, which of course went well with our Goji Berry Trail Mix Granola!

Have a warming and sensuous day! 

Namaste,

Vickie

Health Coach

specializing in "Transformational Nutrition"

Transform. Balance. Shine.

Pancake Tuesday

buckwheat and brown rice pancakes...mmm!

 Well, today is Pancake Day here @ The Desoto Oceanview Inn, the second to the last one I will be doing here at the Inn this season. The summer has gone by fast, and it has been so lovely to experience it by the beach... this is a gem of a place!

 Today's pancakes are my favorite whole grain, gluten-free, dairy-free recipe, made with buckwheat and brown rice. I served these fluffy flapjacks with strawberries and blueberries in just enough vanilla coconut yogurt to coat the berries.  For extra sweetness, add some real maple syrup and mm....mmm! 

 The "Juice du Jour" was grapefruit and superfruit Acai juice blended together to make a tart and sweet powerful anti-oxidant drink that goes well with the pancakes this morning. 

Have a Super Day!

Namaste.
Vickie Kelson
Health Coach
specializing in Transformational Nutrition
Transform. Balance. Shine.

Muffin Monday

Almond Butter & Jam  Muffins - Photo by Inbound Den

Monday, September 10

Muffin Monday today, so I was up early preparing my Nut Butter Muffins and decided to make them with jam in the middle for a little something different! They are delicious, taste a little like an Almond Butter and Jam Sandwich, although these little morsels were jam-packed with omegas from 8 different seeds and nuts all whipped up to make a crunchy "melt in your mouth" tasty and nutritious treat! 

Along with our muffins the vegan entree today was a Tex Mex Dandy Bowl: quinoa, brown rice, pinto beans, green beans, carrots, celery and spicy spices all tossed all together.  A macrobiotic 'meal in a bowl' that is great for the digestion! 

The juice today included Orange, Carrot & Wheat Grass ...energizing and cleansing! 

Finally,  the guests at The Desoto Inn could also avail themselves of our in-house "Trail Mix" goji berry granola and our fresh-made nut milk - today's was almond milk, with a hint of cinnamon and maple syrup. 

As always, everything prepared was organic, gluten-free and dairy-free.

Namaste.

Vickie Kelson
Health Coach
specializing in Transformational Nutrition
Transform. Balance. Shine.

Blueberry Banana Muffins

I make all my recipes 100% organic, gluten-free and dairy-free. Organic ingredients are readily available these days at larger supermarkets and your local organic grocery...and sometimes even Costco! if it’s really exotic, I endeavor to  include a footnote for more information.  In a pinch, check my website, crystal mountain natural health under “kitchen essentials” or send me an email: vickiekelson@me.com

BLUEBERRY BANANA MUFFINS

© 2012 vickie kelson, all rights reserved 

Makes about 14 muffins (or 12 muffins + 6 mini-muffins)

1/2 cup tapioca flour
1/3 cup arrowroot powder
1/3 cup white rice flour
1/3 cup buckwheat flour, (or brown rice flour)
3 TBLS flax seed meal
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking soda, gluten free
1/2 tsp fine sea salt
2 tsp guar gum (available in larger supermarkets and organic markets)
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup coconut oil, (can also use Earth Balance™ margarine)
1/2 cup raw sugar (Turbanado™, Sucanat™ or coconut)
2  eggs (or vegan substitute 2 “flax eggs”: soak 2 T ground flax in 6 T warm water for 5 minutes)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup vanilla coconut yogurt
2 medium ripe bananas, mashed

1+1/2 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen(thawed), or any combination of berries will work

DIRECTIONS:

1. Whisk dry ingredients together and set aside.
2. Blend sugar and oil or margarine together. When fluffy and well combined add in remaining wet ingredients and blend well.
3. Blend dry ingredients slowly to wet ingredients and blend until well combined but not overly beat. 
4. Stir in berries last with spatula or spoon.
5. Spoon into muffin tins,( I usually fill closer to 3/4 full instead of the recommended 2/3 full with traditional muffins)
6. Bake 30-32 minutes or until lightly brown on top on the middle rack.
7. Cool for few minutes in tin and then remove and finish cooling on rack before they condensate in tin.
   

Since these will make a few extra then the usual 12 count I will use the rest of the dough to make a few mini muffins. Take the mini-muffins out after 20 minutes, while leaving the regular-size muffins in oven to bake.

Also, I will typically double this recipe if I am serving guests.

Namaste.

Vickie Kelson

Health Coach

specializing in Transformational Nutrition

Transform. Balance. Shine.

Sunday Brunch....Baked Broccoli & Spinach Omelet

Baked Broccoli & Spinach Omelet - Photo by Inbound Den

Sunday morning is quiet here @ The Desoto Oceanview Inn, and the air is luscious right now, with a slight tropical breeze......aaah! Time for breakfast I think.

Sunday Brunch came to mind and so what came to mind for a gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan organic menu was: Broccoli & Spinach Omelet, with lots of savory spices and topped off with a vegan pepper jack cheese. I had loads of berries so I tossed them together to make a yummy Coconut Yogurt Fruit Salad composed of blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, bananas and coconut. The juice today was my Cucumber Refresher, made with cucumber apple and lime over ice! Nice.....

Today's raw nut milk was almond, this time seasoned with a hint of cinnamon and maple syrup. I love this milk, alone or poured over our Trail Mix fresh-made goji berry almond granola.

Have a sweet day! 

Namaste.
Vickie Kelson
Health Coach
specializing in Transformational Nutrition
Transform. Balance. Shine.

Curried Sweet Potato Hash

Saturday, September 8

Curried Sweet Potato Hash - Photo by Inbound Den

 A lovely sunny day at the beach today, and the water was sweet!!!

But before I got there I filled in for Steve today @ The Desoto Oceanview Inn (he's the manager, weekend chef and all-around great guy) and made an organic, gluten-free, dairy-free Saturday menu for the guests.

My menu included "Curried Sweet Potato Hash", composed of white sweet potatoes, carrots, celery, asparagus,spinach, and some heavenly curry spices. A favorite family breakfast!

We also had gluten-free millet toast, Trail Mix Agave Sweetened Granola with fresh-made Raw Almond Hemp Milk sweetened with cardamom and real maple syrup.  This raw nut milk is fabulous alone or poured over our granola. The juice today was Orange-Carrot-Mango.  Delectable, if I do say so myself.


Have a Beach of a Day!

Namaste.
Vickie Kelson
Health Coach
specializing in Transformational Nutrition
Transform. Balance. Shine.

Radically Raw Friday...Avocado Chipotle Pie

Friday, September 7

Raw Avocado Chiipotle Pie - Photo by Inbound Den

It's "Radically Raw" Friday again at The Desoto Oceanview Inn, with only two more to go, until next summer!

We have had some interesting animal encounters this week, a raccoon, a squirrel, and blue crab. It's amazing to me how much wild life is in the midst of this nestled paradise...right by the beach!

Today my organic, gluten-free and dairy-free raw menu highlihgted an Avocado Chipotle Pie: hemp nut cheese layered on top of my Raw Confetti Bread and then loaded with large 
chunks of avocados with a raw Chipolte Salsa drizzled over the top then sprinkled liberally with chopped kale. 

Along with this savory dish, I made a Fruit Ambrosia Salad with Almond Chia Pudding.

Juice was Orange Apple, and the raw milk of the day was Almond, sweetened with maple syrup and a hint of cardamom! Mmmmm....enjoy!

Namaste.

Vickie Kelson
Health Coach
specializing in Transformational Nutrition
Transform. Balance. Shine.

Ginger Beans & Greens

Photo by Inbound Den

Breakfast @ The Desoto Ocean View Inn this morning was a nutrient-dense meal full of flavor and colors. It happens to be a favorite of mine, pairing baby roasted potatoes with plenty of greens!

So we started off with Roasted Rosemary & Thyme Baby Potatoes: red, yellow & purple baked with herbs, dulse, sea salt and lightly tossed with olive oil. I introduced a new dish called Beans & Greens:

 sprouted adzuki and mung beans, shredded carrots and yellow squash sautéed with olive oil, turmeric, and ginger and then tossed with a generous serving of micro greens. Nutritious and yet flavorful and light!

With our Agave Goji Berry Trail Mix Granola I served the Raw Almond Milk that I make every morning for the guests here. And just in case you didn't get enough yesterday, my Apple Fig Quinoa Crisp made a second appearance and was even better the second day, or so I hear!

Namaste.

Vickie Kelson

Health Coach

specializing in Transformational Nutrition

Transform. Balance. Shine.

Gluten-Free, Vegan Cinnamon Sticky Buns!

Happy Labor Day Monday

Photo by Inbound Den

Well it's Labor Day, marking the end of a great weekend holiday, and even the summer for most of us, getting back to yet another rhythm of school, work or shuttling children to and fro.

I made an extra-special treat for our guests this morning @ The Desoto Ocean View Inn:  Almond Cinnamon Sticky Buns! Gluten free, vegan & sweetened with maple syrup and coconut palm sugar. Sweet drippy confection

, a finger-licking treat for the kid in all of us.

Along with our center attraction, I thought I'd best throw in something to balance out all that sugar, so I made a version of my signature "Dandy Bowl" with plenty of veggies, brown rice, quinoa and red lentils, adding lots of balancing herbs like cilantro, cumin, coriander and dulse, to assist absorbing and processing all that sugary sweetness with grace and ease.

Enjoy!

Namaste,
Vickie
Vickie Kelson
Health Coach
specializing in "Transformational Nutrition"
Transform. Balance. Shine.

Radically Raw Breakfast...Pizzas & Strawberry Banana Chia Parfaits

 I love "Radically Raw Fridays"! 

Raw Breakfast Pizza ...your tastebuds and tummy will love it

 It's the last day of my weekly Breakfast Menus here at The Desoto Ocean View Inn, the culmination of building momentum, since the creation of this day begins at least a few days before if not on Monday, and I get to make all the parts come together at the last moment ...it's a bit like alchemy or art, or both!

Strawberry-Banana-Chia Seed Parfaits

Our guests woke this morning to a Breakfast Pizza Party! And ALL Raw!
Marinated carrots, kale, kalamata olives, heirloom tomatoes adorned my Confetti Sunflower Seed Pizza Crust. To add to the party, I made Strawberry Banana Chia Pudding Parfaits, made with a slightly sweetened almond milk. The juice today was Orange Carrot Zinger, a little ginger and a just a smidgen of cayenne to make the Zing!

Have a beautiful weekend everyone!

Namaste,
Vickie Kelson
Health Coach
specializing in Transformational Nutrition
Transform. Balance. Shine.

Thursday's Breakfast...pancakes!

Thursday, August 30

Photo by Inbound Den

Well, it may not be Tuesday here @ The Desoto Oceanview Inn, yet I decided we still needed a Pancake day since Sir Isaac messed with our line up for this week. 

Along with the organic, gluten-free and dairy-free Cinnamon & Nutmeg Pancakes, I added pineapple and figs to vanilla coconut yogurt to top the delectable cakes ...unless of course you cannot resist the thick maple syrup instead! 

Add to this a tall glass of fresh-made Raw Almond Hemp Milk sweetened with a touch of maple syrup,  & a glass of my Plum Green Smoothie (plums, grapes, pears, spinach & parsley), and you have a filling and satisfyingly great breakfast your body will love and thank you for!

All Organic, Gluten Free Dairy-Free & Vegan no less!

Namaste,
Vickie Kelson
Health Coach
specializing in Transformational Nutrition
Transform. Balance. Shine.

Wednesday's Breakfast...Rosemary Roasted Potatoes

Photo by Inbound Den

Wednesday, August 29

Well back to sunny fun-filled days @ The Desoto Ocean View Inn here by the beach in North Hollywood, Florida. Isaac barely let things skip a beat around here! 

This morning I started things off with some Rosemary Roasted Baby Potatoes and paired it with some fabulous sautéed wilted greens with toasted pine nuts tossed in.  Light, filling, and scrumptious!

To go with our Agave Goji Berry Trail Mix Granola, this morning I made Raw Almond Milk. The Juice Du Jour was a refreshing smoothie blended drink made with organic Orange, Strawberry & Bananas! 

 A nutritionally dense yet wonderfully light and tasty breakfast. 

Namaste!

Vickie Kelson
Health Coach
specializing in Transformational Nutrition
Transform. Balance. Shine.

After The Storm...A Little Bit of Comfort

Photo by Inbound Den

Post Isaac...

Well we have averted a hurricane here @ The Desoto Oceanview Inn in North Hollywood Beach so....the tropical storm we have going on doesn't seem quite as bad. Still, breakfast must go on, at least for the brave souls who stayed to weather the storm with us!

Hunkering down with a good book and a great breakfast, that's the best way to spend a day of gusty winds and turbulent skies.  

Fabulous comforting breakfast food: My famous Dandy Bowl, a macrobiotic medley of brown rice, chickpeas & a host of veggies, mmmm, it is just dandy, truly! 

I paired it up with another warm yet sweet, comforting food: Berry, Berry, Berry Cobbler, a tasty sugar-free, gluten-free, dairy-free as well as vegan, delicious breakfast treat.

Add a little Raw Almond Milk and what tasty and delectable memories will arise!

Namaste,
Vickie
Health Coach
specializing in Transformational Nutrition
Transform. Balance. Shine. 

Radically Raw Friday...Berry Berry Cheesecake

Friday August 24

Raw Vegan Cheesecake & Breakfast Tortes.  Photo by Inbound Den

Friday is "Radically Raw" day here at The Desoto Oceanview Inn by the beach in North Hollywood, Florida.  

Today's selection included Berry Berry CheeseCake & two Mediterranean Tortes with Sundried Tomato Hummus  & Pinenut Herb Cheese.

A "Radically Raw"  all organic, gluten-free and dairy-free Friday favorite combo that guests enjoyed in the lush gardens at the Inn. 

Fresh-made juice, raw nut milk and granolas filled out the menu.

Blessings!

Namaste.
Vickie
Health Coach
specializing in "Transformational Nutrition"
Transform. Balance. Shine.

Afternoon Tea @ The Desoto Oceanview Inn

Melt in your mouth gluten-free dairy-free cookies

Thursday, August 23

We had afternoon tea today...Desoto style!

Delicious, nutritious gluten-free and dairy-free chocolate chip cookies and a delightful Yerba Mate iced tea.  Sweet, chocolate-y and easy on the system.  Perfect for a late afternoon snack after a day at the beach!

Namaste.

Vickie Kelson
Health Coach
specializing in Transformational Nutrition
Transform. Balance. Shine.

Black Bean Breakfast Patties & Basil Pesto Root Veggie Bake

Black Bean Breakfast Patties

Thursday, Aug 23's Breakfast

Mercury went direct and out of the shadows this morning, which must have been the impetus for me be up @ 4am crafting up something new for the Desoto guests! 

I was inspired and by the absence of the leftovers, it seems to have been a successful endeavor! 

Today's menu: Basil Pesto Root Veggie Bake with wilted Rainbow Chard was the main entree, along with Black Bean Breakfast Patties. I however didn't stop there as I ventured into opening coconuts this morning for the Tropical Smoothies. Fresh coconut meat and its water blended together with mangos and bananas and fresh orange juice... Cool and refreshing! 

I just love feeding people food made with love and as much healthy nutrition as I can muster for them and the planet! ...All One.

Namaste.

Vickie
Health Coach
specializing in "Transformational Nutrition"
Transform. Balance. Shine.