DIY Wednesday: Dairy-Free Ranch Dressing

November 18, 2015 / ktbuchs87

I have lived in Illinois my entire life, so I am a Midwest girl through and through. I think a big stretch of farmland is beautiful, I can drive in most snowy conditions, and I know malls are the best way to shop for everything. The other thing that my Midwestern upbringing has taught me?

Ranch dressing belongs on everything.

Raw vegetables? Instantly better doused in ranch. That boring old salad? Drench it in the white stuff. Chicken fingers and nuggets were made for dunking into the nectar of the Midwest gods. I’ve even dipped french fries, meatloaf, and sausage into ranch. Don’t judge until you try it.

Unfortunately, the combination of ranch dressing on all the food and frying everything possible has made the people of this part of the country just a little less healthy. When I changed the way I ate, I begrudgingly quit my ranch habit. After a short (read: longer than I thought) adjustment period, I actually started to enjoy the flavor of my food without the aid of ranch dressing.

But there was still that fat Midwestern kid inside that wanted to swim in a vat of ranch. I decided to fix it.

I made this dressing with full-fat coconut milk and my DIY ranch seasoning and was shocked with how much it tasted like traditional ranch. It was a little runny at first, but after a few hours in the fridge it thickened up nicely. I tend to like a more watery ranch, so I let it sit out a few minutes before I use it.

The fact that it’s so easy to make this dressing and the fact that I love it on everything have made it a weekly staple. Try it on roasted sweet potatoes or mixed into mashed potatoes. It is amazing with carrots and celery sticks and is wonderful whisked into a frittata. I even made a topping with mashed potatoes and this ranch and spread it on top of my lentil loaf.

So if you have been missing ranch dressing in your healthier lifestyle, try this dairy-free version. I promise you won’t be disappointed!

Dairy-Free Ranch Dressing

1 cup full-fat coconut milk, unsweetened
2-3 tsp ranch dressing seasoning, add more or less to your taste
1/2 tsp celery salt (sea salt will also work)
1 tsp roasted garlic (you could also use garlic powder)

Put all the ingredients into a blender and blend for a few minutes until everything is combined.
Pour into an airtight container (like a mason jar) and put in the fridge to thicken. Keep it stored in the fridge for up to a week.

That’s it. Easy Peasy, time to put ranch on all the things and not feel like the fat Midwestern kid you might just be at heart!

Have a great day everyone!

Gluten-Free Apple Ring Pancakes

November 13, 2015November 13, 2015 / ktbuchs87

Sundays are meant for a slightly fancier breakfast. You aren’t rushing off to work or school and you can take the time to put a little extra effort into your morning meal. I usually make Adam a huge plate of hash browns, eggs, and then pancakes or waffles depending on what I have on hand.

Lately, I have been craving his pancakes. I usually make his with whole wheat flour and that is a no go for me. So I decided to combine a few ideas and came up with this pancake.

I had seen apple ring pancakes online and always thought they looked delicious, so I thought that these pancakes would be good with a little taste of apple in them. The actual pancake part is gluten free and dairy free, plus they can be made vegan if you use a flax or chia egg instead of regular eggs.

I also left the pancake a little less sweet than normal because the apple adds enough sweetness for me. Other than that, these pancakes are a fun breakfast to make and serve, plus they look extra fancy without being that difficult to put together. So if you want to serve up a tasty twist on pancakes, try these ones out! Oh and if you need an idea of what to top it with, try my peanut-apple butter sauce.

Gluten-Free Apple Ring Pancakes

1 large yellow plantain
2 eggs or 2 tbsp ground flax seeds mixed with 6 tbsp water
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
2 tbsp pureed pumpkin
2 tbsp maple syrup
2 tbsp peanut or coconut flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 medium granny smith apple
chopped pecans, optional

Wash and dry the apple. Cut out the core and cut the apple into thin rings. Make sure you keep them thin or the pancake won’t cook right.
Place the plantain, eggs, almond milk, pumpkin, and maple syrup into a blender. Blend until you have a smooth mixture.
Add all the dry ingredients (not the pecans) into the blender and blend until combined.
Heat a little coconut oil in a skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, place one apple ring into the skillet and then pour a little batter over the ring making sure it is completely covered. If you’re using the pecans, sprinkle a little onto the pancake.
Cook for about 3 minutes and then carefully flip the pancake. It’s ok if the pancake breaks a little, it took me a few tries to get the pancake to flip perfectly.
Keep cooking until all the apple rings and batter is gone, keeping the finished pancakes on a plate in a warm oven.
Top with maple syrup, your favorite nut butter, or the peanut apple butter sauce below!

Peanut-Apple Butter Sauce

2 tbsp apple butter or apple sauce
1 tbsp peanut flour or peanut butter (could sub almond butter too)
1 tsp maple syrup
1/4 tsp salt

Mix everything together until you have a smooth sauce and spread onto your pancakes!

Other than making these pancakes, what other plans do you have for this weekend? Adam and I are going to see Elf the musical to celebrate our anniversary and I’m very excited! Elf is one of my absolute favorite movies and I can’t wait to see the musical version.

Happy weekend everyone!

Birthday Recap and Some Thoughts

November 9, 2015November 9, 2015 / ktbuchs87 / 3 Comments

Happy Monday everyone! I hope that you had an awesome weekend and are enjoying your fall thus far!

I thought I would do a little recap of my birthday last weekend because it was actually really awesome and I could not have asked for a better day. The one thing I told Adam that I wanted was for him to plan the day. I didn’t want to make any decisions or schedule anything, I wanted it done for me. It’s nice every once in awhile to have someone do all the decision making for you.

So Halloween morning after we both woke up and did a quick Fitness Blender workout, we headed out to breakfast. I had been wanting to try a place called Yolk for awhile so that’s where we went. It was delicious! They had amazing coffee that tasted almost like chocolate and the food was great. Adam decided to try a little bit of everything and I had an awesome California omelet complete with avocado.

After breakfast, we headed to the farmers market because it was the last day that it was going to be outdoors. It was kind of pouring rain right when we got there, so we only did a quick lap through, got Adam a donut, and then moved on. From there, Adam took me downtown and told me that we were going to go clothes shopping for me. I have been needing new fall/winter clothes for a long time, so this was a really nice surprise. Plus, how many husbands take their wife out on a shopping spree?!

Birthday Recap and Some Thoughts | Life Healthfully Lived

Almond Milk Latte of my dreams…

We hit up a few stores on State Street where I bought all the flannel and found some awesome new boots. You can never have too many boots, right? After a few hours of shopping both our energies were dropping so we decided to take a break and get some coffee. We found a Peet’s Coffee around the corner and I decided to try an almond milk latte because my sister is always raving about them. Good choice because it was awesome. After we were caffeinated we shopped for a little longer and then decided to head home and chill for the rest of the day.

These tacos were amazing… still working on that tortilla recipe, so look for that soon!

Once we took the world’s longest bus ride home (rain and Halloween apparently make for lots of traffic) we hung out, watched some movies, and ate homemade tacos. It was pretty much the best way to end my birthday. Oh, and I decided to be “crazy” and dyed my hair a reddish-brownish-slightly purplish color. It’s awesome and I love it.

During…

After!

As I was looking back over my birthday extravaganza, I realized I was really happy. Not because I had an awesome day or got cool clothes and shoes or ate delicious food but because I was really and truly happy. I am content with where I am in life and confident in the things I am doing to go the places I want in the future. I want for nothing, I have an amazing support system in my family and my husband, and I am blessed beyond belief.

Birthday kisses from Dot

Maybe it was turning 28 or maybe it was knowing that things change and I don’t have to feel stuck or down in whatever situation I face. Either way, I’m in a very good place both physically and mentally and I am going to enjoy it!

Things That Are Making Me Happy Right Now

October 19, 2015October 19, 2015 / ktbuchs87 / 2 Comments

I don’t know about you, but I had a pretty great weekend. It was filled with family, laughs, and covered bridges. Adam and I spent the weekend in Brazil, Indiana and I got to experience the covered bridge festival for the first time.

Yes, there was a covered bridge. There was also a ton of food, crafty things, and pretty much anything else you could think of. I had a good time and was glad for the time to relax.

So while covered bridges have made me happy, I thought I would share a few other things that are making me happy right now.

Changing Leaves

It felt like fall would never really come this year. For most of October, our neighborhood has been surrounded by green leaves and summertime vibes. Just in the past week or so we have finally had leaves falling and changing color. I love how pretty this city gets in the fall!

Fall Running Pace

I love the beginning of fall and the cooler temps because it means I run even faster than normal. I can’t seem to slow down for the first few weeks of fall running and that’s just fine with me. I love feeling like I’m flying down the Lake Shore Trail.

New Quilted Sheet Set

This is how I know that I’m an adult. I am super excited about a brand sheet set. This was a covered bridge find and an early birthday present (12 days and counting). I have been wanting to change up our bedspread for awhile now to something more bright and cheery. I love the grey and yellow together and I think that Dot approves as well.

All The Baking

Now that it isn’t torture to turn on the oven, baking all the things can commence. I am not a strong baker, so I am always trying to improve. I gave you some carrot cake cookies last week and I’m working on a fall banana bread for you guys this week. You can also check out my cranberry coffee cake over on Girlish. Yay baked goods!

Kuri Squash

I am all about fall/winter squash and I’m always excited to try new to me varieties. I found this one at Whole Foods the other day and figured I would give it a go. Whelp, now I’m obsessed with it. I love that you don’t have to peel it, just scoop out the seeds, cut into chunks, and roast it at 425 with a little oil and your favorite seasonings. It’s creamy and a little sweet like butternut squash. I bet it would be great in soup or my gnocchi.

The Cubs

I was born a Cubs fan and have always hoped that maybe next year would be their year. It’s looking like 2015 could be it… I will be cautiously optimistic and just keep rooting for my Cubbies.

I don’t know why but turning 28 is sounding pretty good to me. I think there are some good things in store for my 28th year on this big blue marble we call Earth. Can’t wait to see what they are…

Health Feature: Jamika Edwards

September 21, 2015September 21, 2015 / ktbuchs87 / 2 Comments

It’s that time of the month on my blog! Time to feature someone who has totally turned their health around. I love these posts because the people in them are real people have done simple things to make themselves better. They have put in the work and deserve to be recognized for the transformation they have undergone. You can read about Jim and Alexander here.
This month it’s all about Jamika. Jamika and I lived in the same dorm back at NIU, good old Neptune North. While we didn’t hang out much, I always remember her with a smile on her face and usually singing! She was just a person who exuded happiness and it usually was contagious. Over the years, we obviously went out separate ways but Facebook meant that I could see what she was up to and boy was she up to a lot!

She really turned her health around and all her hard work was showing. I love that she didn’t do anything crazy, just started to move in ways that she enjoyed and eat food that was better for her health. And her results speak for themselves!

Name and Age:

Jamika Edwards 26

What did you weigh before and how much weight have you lost?

I started at 333 lbs and have lost 125 1lbs

What made you want to turn your health around?

Honestly, it was a spiritual thing. I wanted to strive to be more more like God and I felt that becoming more disciplined in my health was a good start.

What did a typical day look like before you changed?

My days were pretty standard just with a lack of intentionally working out. I also made a lot more unhealthy food choices. I ate chips usually every day.

What was your goal when you first started?

My initial goal was to just get below 300lbs.

What did you do to change your diet and lifestyle?

In college, one of my friends became my personal trainer and accountability for my eating changes. I initially cut all processed sugars and bread out of my diet and I just grew from there.

What does a typical day look like now?

At night, I usually pack/plan my 3 meals for the coming day. I tend to take stairs more than elevators and I work out/dance for about 2hrs 4 times a week.

Who has been your biggest support?

My mom and my friends have been my biggest support.

What was the hardest thing to change?
The hardest thing to change is planning all of my meals and not being able to eat what everyone else does.

Who or what is your motivation?

God is my first motivator and my second is the thought of my family to come: husband (She got engaged over Labor Day weekend!) and children.

How do you stay motivated every day?

Sometimes it is hard to stay motivated but I always go back to my original inspiration, God, and I keep pushing.

What is your biggest struggle now?

My biggest struggle now is not becoming complacent in my progress and not eating sweets lol (cookies are my nemesis)

What are your goals now?
My goals now are to tone up and gain more definition

What is your advice to those who are just starting to lose weight?

My advice is to embrace your personal journey and not base your success off of someone else. I also encourage individuals to have a goal and inspiration that goes beyond outside affirmations. Having at least one person that you can be 100% transparent with is essential because there will be many times of feeling defeated but that person should remind you that you are not.

I love that she told someone her goals and had them keep her accountable. It can be so easy to fall off the wagon if you try to do this alone. I also like that meal prep is a big part of her routine. If you just take a few minutes to plan out your day before hand you have a better chance of succeeding. See? Simple things that lead to big results. Thank you Jamika for sharing your story and keep up the awesome work!

Have you or someone you know turned their health around? Send me an email at lifehealthfullylived@gmail.com and they could be in my next health feature!

Have a great Monday everyone!