Vegan Banana Bread Donuts (GF)

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I have been buying bananas in bulk thinking my kids are going to eat them all. Let’s be honest though most just get left sitting on our fruit shelf until they are brown and mushy. Well I have found the perfect use for those bananas your family didn’t eat. Make them into donuts because donuts will always be better than bananas. 


Banana Bread Donuts

Inspired by The Little Plantation 

Note: I used a scale to weigh my flour, sugar and chocolate chips based on the measurements from the original recipe. Pssst these doughnuts are also gluten free! 

Ingredients

FOR THE DONUTS

  • 185g gluten-free pastry flour (I used Jovial**)
  • ⅔ tsp baking powder
  • 75g coconut sugar
  • 35g vegan chocolate chips
  • 2 Tbsp coconut oil, melted (+ extra for greasing the doughnut tin)
  • 1.5 tablespoons ground flax seeds + 4.5 tablespoons water
  • 1.5 very ripe bananas, mashed
  • 1/3 cup vanilla vegan yogurt

FOR THE TOPPING

  • 1 bar of your favorite chocolate
  • Flaked Coconut 

Method

  • Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease the circles of your doughnut pan with coconut oil and set aside.
  • In a large bowl, mix together all the dry ingredients – the flour, baking powder and sugar until nicely combined. Add the chocolate chips and mix in well. Set aside.
  • combine the ground flax seeds with the water in a small bowl and let rest for 5 minutes.
  • Over a very low heat, melt the coconut oil.  
  • In a small bowl mix together the melted coconut oil, the mashed bananas, the yogurt and the water/flax seed mixture; stir to combine.
  • Add the wet ingredients to the bowl of dry ingredients and mix until just combined. 
  • Spoon the mixture into a piping bag and pipe circles of dough into the prepared doughnut pan. Spread evenly. Bake for 13 minutes or until golden brown.
  • Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
  • While the donuts are cooling, prepare the glaze by melting the chocolate in a double boiler or simply a bowl placed over a pan with water that’s been gently brought to the boil. Do not microwave the chocolate or it may burn.
  • Once the donuts have cooled down, dip them in the chocolate glaze and top with coconut chips.

I recommend eating these donuts right away or store them in the fridge. If you and/or your family is anything like me and mine these won’t last more than a day anyways.

 

2019 Amazon Plus-Size Swimsuit Haul + Straight Size Options

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Amazon has become one of the leading online retailers of just about everything. You can find me buying everything from books to food to clothes to… let’s be real basically everything. But what about swimsuits? Do those super low price swimsuits really hold up? Do they look like the photo? And how do they actually fit?

After spending far too many hours screening reviews of swimsuits I chose four to order. A retro inspired swimsuit, a popular off the shoulder style, a swim dress and a high waisted bikini. You can find an in depth review of these swimsuits in my ‘plus size swimsuit’ highlight. 

Each of these swimsuits were $30 or less and I received them within 2-5 days of ordering. What I love about this is that they are inexpensive and I don’t actually have to leave my house to go shopping; I’m a mom of three small children there is no time for clothes shopping.

This ruffle one piece came highly recommended by a number of readers and it rates high via Amazon reviews. The material and quality of the swimsuit was good and was exactly how reviews represented it. This swimsuit would be great paired with a pair of cutoff shorts or a skirt to go from the beach to lunch. My only concern is that the ruffle top while cute might cause a bit of a wardrobe malfunction in the pool; I just imagine it would end up getting pushed up and look like a giant ruffle ring around you. Also if you have a long torso you may find it to be a bit short for you and I would suggest trying the high waisted two piece option instead. Overall I think this swimsuit is a win and it comes in a variety of colors and prints to fit your personal style. Rating: 7/10

Plus Size Ruffle One Piece | Straight Size Ruffle One Piece | Plus Size Ruffle Two Piece | Straight Size Ruffle Two Piece

Retro swimsuits are always a favorite of mine because they never go out of style and they generally always flatter any figure. With this retro suit I loved the ruching and the neckline. My only issue was once again I ran into the problem of it being too short for my long torso. I ended up going up a size in hopes that it would provide me with some length but it was still too short and too big in the boobs for me. Once again if you also struggle with having a long torso this looks like a great two piece option. Overall rating: 7/10

Plus Size Vintage Swimsuit | Straight Size Vintage Swimsuit | Straight/Plus Size Vintage Two Piece

I saved my favorite swimsuit for last (and completely ignored the swim dress because it was not worth sharing). This high waisted two piece was by far the best fitting, most comfortable and functional of all the swimsuits I tried. It is fun and playful, a little sexy but also provides a good amount of coverage. I went up a size in it based on reviews but ended up finding it to be a bit big for me so I would say stick to your normal size. Quality, fit, color and price give this swimsuit an overall rating of 9/10. 

Plus Size High Waisted Bikini | Straight Size Option | Straight/Plus Size One Piece Option 

While inexpensive, hassle free shopping is great you honestly get what you pay for. These swimsuits had a few flaws when it came to fit, the sizing is a little hard to determine but overall I was happy with my purchases (except the swim dress that was a disaster.)

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This post is NOT sponsored however it does contains affiliate links. Purchases you make through these links will help fund the work I do here at no extra cost to you. Thank you sincerely for your constant support.

Broadway in Portland | Aladdin

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Moms’ night out in Portland! These nights don’t come around very often but when they do we embrace them. We started our night out with Happy Hour at Luc Lac a great Vietnamese spot in downtown Portland. It’s a busy spot so plan to wait a bit for a seat but it’s worth the wait. It’s also the perfect spot for a pre-theater drink or meal because it’s just a few blocks from Keller Auditorium, our second stop for moms’ night out. 

You may not know it but I am a huge musical theater fan. I spent most of my middle school and high school days memorizing the songs from my favorite musicals, RENT, Aida, The Music Man, so when an opportunity to see Aladdin came I couldn’t pass it up. Aladdin was a favorite of mine growing up and it see it preformed live on stage was a dream come true. 

I’ll be honest I expected the show to be a bit closer to the Disney movie of my youth but there were a number of changes and tons of new songs. However, it all worked and the show was wonderful. It was interactive, comical, and magical. While there were new songs I didn’t recognize they still had some of my favorites including Friend Like Me which was my favorite performance of the night. 

I couldn’t end this review without talking about the set. I have been to a number of broadway shows and off-broadway and the set for Aladdin was one of the most incredible I have seen. It felt like we were there in Agrabah with everyone and when Aladdin went to retrieve the lamp from the cave; it perfectly catered to the child in me.

So if you are looking for something to do this weekend in Portland find yourself a pair of tickets and head to Keller. Not in Portland? Check out the Aladdin website to see it in a city near you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TICKET AND PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

Aladdin will be at Portland’s Keller Auditorium for sixteen performances. The full schedule for the Portland engagement is:

Thursday, April 4    7:30pm – ASL Interpreted Performance

Friday, April 5      7:30pm

Saturday, April 6  2:00pm – ASL Interpreted Performance & 7:30pm

Sunday, April 7   1:00pm and 6:30pm

Tickets can be purchased:

www.BroadwayInPortland.com
or at Portland’5 Box Office: 800-273-1530

Accessible seating for patrons using wheelchairs and their companion(s) is available at all performances.  You can purchase wheelchair seating by phone, in person, and online.  Ample seating chairs are available upon request. Assisted listening devices are available at all performances.

For additional information on ADA seating and services, personal assistance selecting accessible seats or for more information about accessibility, please contact the Broadway in Portland Box Office by phone at 503-417-0573 (M-F, 10am-5pm) or email Broadway@PortlandOpera.org

 

*Broadway In Portland generously provided me with 2 tickets to the show in exchange for my honest review. As always all opinions are my own.*

[Recipe] Creamy Kale Salad featuring Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts

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I basically have an eating bread for every meal for the last 10 days because I’m so exhausted I can’t be bothered to put a real meal together. But today I was feeling really hungry and I knew that I needed to eat something and something a tad bit nutrient dense. I ended up cutting up two small bunches of kale and I made this incredible kale salad. 

I know, I know kale salad is so last season  but I am still loving it.  This version has 2 small bunches of lacinato kale massaged with a sauce of tahini, lemon juice, coconut aminos, olive oil, garlic granules, salt and pepper and tossed with a handful of hemp seeds for added plant-based protein and omega 3’s and 6’s. I had not planned on eating the entire bowl – but I did with the help of my 20 month old and I have zero regrets doing so. Seriously savory, creamy and delicious. Give it a try and share with me on Instagram #bowlsbylindsay

Creamy Kale Salad

Serves 2-4 or one super hungry mama

  • 2 small bunches lacinato kale, rinsed and finely chopped
  • 2 heaping tablespoons of tahini
  • juice of one lemon
  • 3 teaspoons coconut aminos
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon garlic granules
  • 2-4 tablespoons hemp seeds
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Wash your hands well and toss everything in a big bowl; massage until thekale has softened. Enjoy!

Q/ Are you into kale salad? What is your favorite recipe? 

 

I am a proud Ambassador for Manitoba Harvest.

This post contains affiliate links. Purchases you make through these links will help fund the work I do here at no extra cost to you. Thank you sincerely for your constant support.

[Recipe] Tofu Fresh Rolls with Creamy Peanut Sauce

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Just around the corner from our house is this great Vietnamese restaurant that has my favorite tofu fresh rolls. They are inexpensive, delicious, filling and served with a creamy peanut dipping sauce. The thing is while it is right around the corner it just isn’t a spot we go to often since we have shifted our focus back to eating more meals at home.

Well today my craving for these fresh rolls hit me hard and lucky for me I had picked up a package of rice paper wrappers at the Asian market a few weeks ago and I had filling ingredients as well. The one thing I didn’t have was peanut butter to make my dipping sauce but I did have a bag of roasted peanuts in my pantry – so homemade peanut butter to the rescue! 

Tofu Fresh Rolls with Creamy Peanut Sauce

Peanut Sauce:

  • 2 cups roasted and unsalted peanuts
  • 2 tablespoons tamari
  • 2 tablespoons coconut aminos
  • 1 teaspoon coconut nectar or sweetener of your choice
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 1/3-2/3 cup water
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 tsp – 1tbsp sambal olek (optional)

Rolls:

  • Rice Paper Wrappers
  • Rice Vermicelli Noodles, cooked and rinsed with cold water
  • Smoked or Baked Tofu, julienned
  • Bell Pepper, julienned
  • Purple Cabbage, shredded
  • Carrots, julienned
  • Baby Spinach
  • Other great add-ins:
  • Cilantro
  • Mint
  • Basil
  • Scallions
  • Bean Sprouts

Instructions

Sauce:

  • Start by blending the peanuts in a high speed blender or food processor until smooth; this will take a few minutes and you will want to scrape down the sides as you go.
  • Add remaining sauce ingredients and blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste. You may decide to add more water depending on how thick you would like your sauce.

Assemble:

  • Soften your rice paper wrapper based on package directions. Place on a clean kitchen towel and then add your favorite filling ingredients. Tip: make sure not to over fill your wrapper or it will split when you roll. Once filled roll up by folding the sides over first and then fold over the top and gently roll up.
  • Serve with peanut sauce for dipping

Who knew it was so easy to make your own peanut butter? It made a super creamy and incredible sauce. I omitted the sambal olek for my kids but added a big dollop to my sauce before devouring.

// What is a dish that you love to order out and could easily make at home? 

 

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This post contains affiliate links. Purchases you make through these links will help fund the work I do here at no extra cost to you. Thank you sincerely for your constant support.

7 Ways to Reduce Waste

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I am still working on setting intentions/goals for 2019 but one I know for sure is that I want to reduce our waste. The amount of waste that we make as a family is astonishing and I wonder what am I teaching my children? How can I better prepare them to take care of the world around us, create less of an impact and to really be intentional about how we live. So here are a few things I will be doing to help reduce our waste. 

  1. Make a list of things you throw out every week/regularly. Are there items on this list that you could replace with reusable items or reduce packaging by buying in bulk?
  2. Shop with intention. Create a list and stick to it. When grocery shopping shop produce and the bulk section first. Also bring your reusable grocery, bulk and produce bags. 
  3. Compost. If you live in a city that offers composting take advantage of it. If not consider options for renters or homeowners. 
  4. Take advantage of Buy Nothing Groups. Tip: remember that you don’t need to take everything the intention is to offer up working items to others.
  5. Shop second hand stores and fix things rather than toss. 
  6. Create a reusable travel pack. Include items such as cloth napkins, bamboo cutlery, water bottle, coffee mug and  reusable straw.
  7. Go Paperless. Have receipts emailed to you and sign up for online bills. 

What steps have you taken to reduce your waste? 

This post contains affiliate links. Purchases you make through these links will help fund the work I do here at no extra cost to you. Thank you sincerely for your constant support.

New Year, New Blog

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Over the past year I have slowly been transitioning away from Running With Tongs. While Running With Tongs was a good fit for me for many years over the past few years I have been feeling disconnected from my blog and from what it once was. As many of you who are parents know life can often be busy and overwhelming so it has taken me nearly a year to fully transition over but from here on out this space and my social media are officially Naturally Lindsay/Naturally Family. 

When I started Running With Tongs I was transitioning from a vegan food based blog to more of a wellness food blog. Overtime my life evolved from training for races, attempting to make fitness a main part of my life and writing lots of recipes to motherhood with fitness, food and adventure being secondary. From this my blog and Instagram evolved into Naturally Lindsay – a space to talk about all things motherhood/postpartum, along with good eats, adventures and centered around conversation and connection. 

I want this to be a space where I can be open and honest about my life, what I am struggling with, what I am learning and also about the things I love like adventures, food and fitness and how I manage those things while also mothering. I also want this space to be where you can come and share, find connection and feel a little less alone. 

So I welcome you here to this new space and if anyone has a great logo designer send them along because mama needs a new logo. 

 

// I’d love for you to share in the comments topics that interest you, questions you have or anything you would like to see here on the blog and/or my Instagram.