Little daylight, sloppy roads, no more fun holidays in the near future… the February Dolldrums are here. This time of year always makes me crave carbohydrates. Carbs release seratonin, which is one of the brain chemicals that help us feel relaxed and happy. We can get in trouble with our carbs- the non-nutritious ones can mess with our blood sugar and our energy levels, and make us feel even more sluggish. They can be hard to digest, too, which saps our energy even further. But OH, there is something to be said for a decadent baked good, just coming out of the oven. Comforting, melty, decadent…. so where’s the balance?

Well, here’s a recipe that I just took out of my own oven. My kids love it, and we all feel better for it. Give it a try, and enjoy!

OMG Gluten Free Banana Bread

1 and 1/2 cups of gluten free flour mix (available at the better whole foods grocery stores, these blends usually contain rice, potato and sorghum flours)

1 and 1/2 cups gluten free oat bran (Processed in a gluten free facility, the bran provides the fibre you need to help metabolize carbs in a healthy way)

1 and 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 cup best quality dark chocolate chips

pinch sea salt

1 cup (or less) of Sucanat, a natural, better for you sweetener

2 over ripe bananas, mashed

1/4 cup coconut or grapeseed oil, organic, extra virgin, cold pressed

2 large free range eggs. beaten

dash of almond mylk or organic milk to moisten

Method:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Lightly coat a glass or ceramic loaf pan in organic butter or coconut oil. Set aside.

Mix dry ingredients together and set aside.

Mix wet ingredients together in a larger bowl, and then mix in dry ingredients. Stir gently until combined, pour into loaf pan.

Pop into oven for about 65-80 minutes. Cook until lightly browned, and until a toothpick comes out clean.

Let cool…. a bit…. and enjoy!!!

A while ago, my heart broke.

Shortly after that, my big toe turned an eerie shade of purply black. It scared me so much that I actually went to a medical doctor. “My toe is black”, I said to him.

“I know the cure,” he said, “Keep your feet warm”.

That’s it? Really? My blood is not pumping and all he could say was “Keep your feet warm”? Hmph. I don’t know what I was expecting him to say, but I guess the lack of drama had me a little mystified. So I went and did what any one would do in this harrowing, numb toed situation. I went and bought socks. Not that I didn’t have socks, of course, but clearly they were not doing their job. So I bought warmer socks- diabetic socks, to be exact, and four pairs of big workin-man wool socks, too. For the next few days (I promise this engaging sock story is going somewhere) I took very good care of my feet. I soaked them and wrapped them in fuzzy things, and suffered through a few very hot nights in wool socks and flannel jammies, just to keep the blood, from that broken heart of mine, pumping and heading down towards my toes. And the blackness went away. And the socks- the big, blue wooly ones, have become part of a very important ritual for me now. They act as a symbol, and a reminder. They represent me, taking the time to take care of myself. Every morning, I warm up my feet, and put on my socks. And every night, after hard, busy days, I do the same. And every time I do, my socks remind me that the simple act of wrapping myself- my feet or my heart- in warmth and comfort and love- is important. That putting myself first, and not neglecting the importance of my basic needs like circulation and comfort and love, matters. So much. My feet are warm now, most days. And when they are not, I know I have lost sight of what is important. So I stop, put on my socks, and take better care to take care of me. The blood flows, and the heart heals. And I do, too.

So, you want to try your hand at eating more locally and understanding how it benefits you and the land you live on? Well, there is absolutely no better time than Saturday, March 13th. The best local eating event of the year is back! Check out the information below and start your journey towards eating with a local conscience!

Here is a clip from founder and organizer,Wade Sirois’ website. You can click here to go directly to his page, www.foragefoods.com. This is a truly innovative and important event for any Albertan who wants to keep eating carrots that aren’t washed in bleach or tomatoes that don’t come from the other side of the world. I know I won’t miss it. See you there!