Pep in Your Step!

Life is meant to be lived, enjoyed, and experienced - not merely endured. So, today I bring you two things to  escalate the fulfillment and kick up the pep in your step!

First, Read THIS:

"My wife, Harriet, and I love riding our bicycles. It is wonderful to get out and enjoy the beauties of nature. We have certain routes we like to bike, but we don’t pay too much attention to how far we go or how fast we travel in comparison with other riders.

However, occasionally I think we should be a bit more competitive. I even think we could get a better time or ride at a higher speed if only we pushed ourselves a little more. And then sometimes I even make the big mistake of mentioning this idea to my wonderful wife.

Her typical reaction to my suggestions of this nature is always very kind, very clear, and very direct. She smiles and says, “Dieter, it’s not a race; it’s a journey. Enjoy the moment.”

How right she is!

Sometimes in life we become so focused on the finish line that we fail to find joy in the journey. I don’t go cycling with my wife because I’m excited about finishing. I go because the experience of being with her is sweet and enjoyable.

Doesn’t it seem foolish to spoil sweet and joyful experiences because we are constantly anticipating the moment when they will end?

Do we listen to beautiful music waiting for the final note to fade before we allow ourselves to truly enjoy it? No. We listen and connect to the variations of melody, rhythm, and harmony throughout the composition.

Do we say our prayers with only the “amen” or the end in mind? Of course not. We pray to be close to our Heavenly Father, to receive His Spirit and feel His love.

We shouldn’t wait to be happy until we reach some future point, only to discover that happiness was already available—all the time! Life is not meant to be appreciated only in retrospect. “This is the day which the Lord hath made … ,” the Psalmist wrote. “Rejoice and be glad in it.”⁶ 

  ^{[For full talk, go here.]}

^{Second, Make THESE:}

PB ‘Nana Cream Bites 

by Nom!Nom!Nom!

I hes­i­tate to even call this a recipe, as it’s so basic it’s really more of a guide­line. These cold morsels of nom­ness con­tain the tri­fecta of fla­vor– banana, peanut but­ter and choco­late, mak­ing for a lux­u­ri­ous ice cream-esque bite. You can always sub­sti­tute a dif­fer­ent nut butter.

2 large bananas
1/4 cup nat­ural peanut but­ter
1/2 cup choco­late chips
2 tbsp-1/4 cup milk of choice [I used coconut oil]

Line a cookie sheet with waxed paper or parch­ment. Slice bananas into coins about 1/2–3/4 inch thick. Spread a lit­tle dol­lop of peanut but­ter on top of each one. In a small bowl, com­bine the choco­late chips and milk (remem­ber, less is more). Microwave in 15 sec­ond incre­ments until you can whisk them together. You want it to be a dipable con­sis­tency, not spread­able. Add a splash more milk if nec­es­sary. Dip the banana chunks using a fork as a lit­tle chocolate-coating fork­lift, dip­ping them into the melted choco­late. Place choco­late coated bananas on the pre­pared sheet and place in freezer until com­pletely frozen (3–5 hours). Remove frozen banana chunks from the sheet and store in a freezer container.

Read, create, enjoy! Finding joy in the everyday moments is what makes this journey worth every step.

Baking for Buddies

I got to see my Sweet Hubby and one of his co-workers today in the middle of the work day! I love those surprises! The first thing I was asked is,"are there any snacks? or baking?" My Awesome Hubby takes goodies to work all the time, sharing them, and talking me up [its hard to live up to such hype ;)] to his buddies. The co-worker he was with today told me that he had asked his wife for banana muffins the day before, and when she didn't bake them for him he thought, Katie would have baked them for me. And so that's what I did as soon as he left! Darius and I created a new recipe in said co-workers honor, and my goodness is it amazing! If you love healthy snacks that are high in fibre, a good source of protein, contain no colours, preservatives, or refined sugar, then you're going to love these! Oh, and did I mention that they are drool worth-ily delicious and vegan? No word of a lie, these babies are perfect!

Banana [Coco]nut Muffins

an original recipe created by me!



3 very ripe bananas

1/4 c. coconut oil

3/4 c. honey

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

2/3 c. coconut milk

2 c. fresh milled whole wheat flour

1/2 c. coconut flakes

1/3 c. chia seeds

1 tsp sea salt

2 tsp baking soda

1 c. chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350*F.  Peel and mash bananas in a large bowl. Add the rest of the wet ingredients to the banana mixture, and blend well. Add all of the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, and blend thoroughly. Spray muffin tins with canola cooking spray, then fill each well 2/3 full.  Tap the muffin tins on the counter a few times to release the air bubbles, the place in preheated oven. Bake for 18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre of muffin comes out clean. Once baked, remove from oven and set on cooling racks before removing from muffin tins.

Enjoy these for breakfast, or as we have today, anytime!



Heaven on Earth

While getting creative in the kitchen I made a little discovery that I have now made a few times. No joke. It is a gluten free, dairy free, egg free little number that has my taste buds singing! I started out with the express purpose of creating a muffin that I could share with family and friends in the gluten free camp.  Reports have been coming back that this 'muffin' is the BEST gluten free treat on earth - and while I am not one to brag, I think they might be right! Without further ado, I give you a little piece of heaven on earth!

 Chocoholic Banana Dream Muffins


3/4 cup rice flour
1 cup black bean flour
1/2-2/3 cup cocoa powder
3 large ripe bananas
1 cored apple
1 tsp vanilla
3 tsp baking soda
3/4 c honey
1 cup peanut butter
plus dark chocolate chips for sprinkling on top (I used roughly 2/3 cup)




Preheat oven to 300F convection (or 325F if not on convection)


Place banana and apple in vitamix and blend together.


Once pureed, add the honey, vanilla, and peanut butter and mix.


When all wet ingredients are completely mixed together, start adding the dry ingredients, stopping to scrap down sides and pulse mixer often.


Scoop mixture into lightly sprayed muffin tins (I use a canola oil cooking spray, you can use what you like best!) and sprinkle with chocolate chips. Place the muffin tin into the oven, and bake for 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the muffin comes out clean.


Let muffins cool on wire rack for five minutes, then gently lift muffins out of tins and onto rack to cool completely. Enjoy warm, cool, or frozen - they're amazing just about every way we've tried!

Have you made any yummy discoveries lately? Have you begun your Canadian Thanksgiving recipe search? I know I have!