healthy blender waffles

Waffles are a family favorite in my household. My dad is obsessed, and that love has rubbed off on my toddler son as well. We are fans of everything from toaster waffles from the freezer, to classic homemade buttermilk or old fashioned waffles, to belgian waffles at restaurants, to healthy homemade! We do not discriminate, and topped with a healthy serving of pure maple syrup, they are all welcome on our plate :) Lately I’ve been making a somewhat healthier, more nutrient dense version packed with flax seeds, bananas, and rolled oats that are so easy to whip up in a blender (or using a and blender!). Since my son will easily down three waffles at once for breakfast (or anytime of day truly), it gives me a bit of comfort knowing that these are packed with a good dose of protein, fat, and fiber! They freeze well too, so feel free to double the batch and make extra for an easy and delicious breakfast that’s ready in minute! Top with pure maple syrup, and enjoy!

Healthy Blender Waffles:

  • 1/2 cup old fashioned oats

  • 2 tbsp ground flax seeds

  • 1/4 tsp kosher salt

  • 1 tsp baking powder

  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon

  • 1 egg

  • 1-2 bananas

  • 1/2 cup almond milk

  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

  • coconut oil or butter, for iron

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until combined. Heat a waffle maker, and spray lightly with coconut oil spray or grease with butter. Add the appropriate amount of batter for your waffle iron (likely less than you think), and cook to your desired level of “crispy outside, fluffy inside”, or according to the waffler maker’s directions. Enjoy with butter and pure maple syrup. Makes about 7-8 mini waffles.

the canyon bakery

I love when I find a cute spot with tasty eats in my neighborhood. Perhaps because there aren’t all that many options here in Topanga? The Canyon Bakery is a local bakery churning out freshly milled whole grain baked goods, naturally leavened breads, pastries & pizzas here in the canyon! They take online orders for Friday pick ups, but currently are only “open” as a weekend pop up, aka Sunday Fundays! After stalking their Instagram for a while, we finally made it over to try out the goods. Their freshly milled Hundo whole grain Sonora cinnamon rolls had caught my eye, so that was a must order, and it did not disappoint! The giant spinach & cheese spelt croissant swirl was flakey and delicious as well. Talk about up my alley!

If you’re a fan of freshly baked breads, definitely grab a loaf or two to take home. The sprouted ancient grain and the chocolate cherry rye loaves were both big hits in our house, whether turned into a sandwich or eaten alone! There are plenty of gluten free things on the menu as well, including bagels, muffins and a millet bread, so don’t feel like you have to miss out if you happen to have a sensitivity to wheat or gluten. I’m also happy to see that on subsequent trips, The Canyon Bakery seems to be expanding their menu a bit, to include exciting things like whole grain focaccias studded with purple potatoes & castelvetrano olives, apricot jam brioche buns with creme fraiche & mint, and roasted shallot & gruyere buns! Next on my list to try are their Hundo spelt pizzas! Yum!

surfrider malibu

If you are planning a trip to Malibu, I definitely recommend checking out The Surfrider Malibu. This boutique hotel is the epitome of chic, oozing with California surf culture, and is situation right on the coast with expansive sea views. As if that’s not reason enough to book your stay, their rooftop restaurant churns out some truly fresh and delicious local-inspired cuisine. The menus are Coastal-Californian with a focus on locally sourced, sustainable and organic produce, and strike a wonderful balance between farmland and sea. The drinks are not to be missed either, and include natural and organic vineyards and distilleries, Ayurvedic tea houses, local coffee roasteries, and a cocktail menu featuring local produce. The vibe here is as if you’re hanging out on the deck of your own Malibu beach house (if only we could all be so lucky), so relax and enjoy a long, leisurely lunch al fresco- no shoes required!

I’ve gotten the opportunity to dine here midday for a post-beach brunch, as well as for a nice dinner out with friends, and each time the food was thoroughly enjoyed, having us planning our return trip soon. I mean, seriously, how picture perfect are these dishes? The Gjusta bakery sourdough with burrata is never a bad way to start the meal, along with the fresh ceviche. I highly suggest ordering any of the fresh fish on the menu- in our case this was a wild caught, local catch of the day served in a balinese curry that was just to die for! And that flat iron steak (from local Santa Carota Ranch) was cooked perfectly and plated beautifully as well. My toddler and I were huge fans of the (gigantic) seasonal cobbler, which featured local blackberries, heirloom apples, coconut crisp & vanilla gelato, and was the perfect ending to our meal :) I’m getting hungry again just writing this, so looks like we need to plan a return trip soon!

endless color topanga

I love a local, neighborhood spot. Even better if it serves vibrant, deli and flavorful food! Endless Color Topanga is just that and more, serving up wood-fired pizzas and organic market plates, along with a nice selection of biodynamic wines and beer & hard kombucha on tap! They have a lovely outdoor patio where you can enjoy your eats, and hang with friends over a drink. What’s even more fun is the ambiance inside the joint- they have a stellar selection of records for sale. So feel free to peruse the albums while you wait for you pie.

The fresh, organic, market-driven plates vary by the season, and are on display when you order, so pick a few that look good to nosh on while your pizza is cooking. The brussels sprous with citrus and the roasted rainbow carrots are always a good move. When it comes to pizza, I’m a fan of the Super Greens, which comes loaded with spinach, leeks, mozzarella, goat & cheep cheese, or the Zucchini, which is a tasty combo of zucchini, confit tomatoes, goat cheese, fennel fronds, mint & arugula. Yum! They also serve classics like pepperoni and margherita for the purists out there. At Endless Color, all the pizza dough is made in-house using 100% Dark Northern Spring Wheat (grown in the deep volcanic soil of the Pacific Northwest), and is fermented for 72 hours to give it that perfectly crisp, yet chewy texture. And if you’re gluten-free, fret not- they also offer a gluten free dough using heirloom rice and millet flours, which is fermented for 24 hours! Don’t skip the homemade (gluten free!) cookies either! I’m partial to the double chocolate with cashew, or oatmeal with golden raisins & walnuts :)

For the longest time, Endless Color was only open in the late afternoon/evenings, which I thought was somewhat of a missed opportunity given the lack of decent food options in Topanga (but also understandable given the state of the world…). I’m happy to report that they’re now open all day, and plan to launch a full on breakfast and lunch menu soon! For now, I love stopping in for a coffee and pastry on my morning commute. Yay for delicious local spots!


nectarine grove

If you’re looking for fresh, flavorful, and healthy eats in the Encinitas or San Diego area, I definitely recommend checking out Nectarine Grove. Everything here happens to be gluten-free, in case that’s of interest to you. But after dining al fresco recently with my family, we found delish eats to meet please everyone’s palates. Nectarine Grove churns out food created with intent, love & your health in mind. Whether you’re paleo, vegan, keto, a health food enthusiast, or you just like good food, I bet you’ll find something up your alley. From grass-fed burgers to falafel tacos to roasted veggie bowls with butternut noodles, there were tasty eats for the whole fam to enjoy. I love that they use fresh, organic, local, and sustainable ingredients- that quality is really evident in each prepared dish. Everything was so tasty and flavorful! Nectarine Grove also has an impressive amount of beverages on tap- take your pick from nitro coffee and kombucha to biodynamic wines and gluten free beers! Yum! I can’t wait to go back and try some of their smoothies and baked goods soon- that cinnamon roll is calling my name!

pondicheri

Whenever I go home to Houston, Texas, there are a few spots that I simply must pop into for tasty eats. Pondicheri, an industrial-chic spot for unique Indian dishes inspired by the streets of Mumbai, is always at the top of that list. Come by for breakfast and enjoy some pumpkin chai oats or masala eggs, or stop in for lunch for one of their classic Mumbai street wraps (aka Frankies). The curries and thalis are not to be missed either- I’m partial to the vishnu thali which offers a flavorful mix of veggie options like green masala cauliflower, beet soup, smoked eggplant, endive slaw, and a saag sesame cutlet. Plus that carrot roti is to die for!

Beyond the delicious savory eats, a visit to the upstairs Bake Lab & Shop is absolutely necessary as well. From honey mesquite cake to cumin cheese buns to chai pie to various flavors of mithai (chickpea fudge), there’s endless options for something sweet to end your meal. Or stop by for a coffee and pastry in the morning! Either way, you won’t be disappointed. I love their use of traditional Indian spices alongside more Texan-inspired flavors- it makes for some truly unique baked goods! There are several vegan and gluten free options as well if that’s your jam. Grab a crack ball or two for the ride home!