Patriotic Pancake Sunday

Looking for something to make for the Fourth of July? Here are some ideas to help you along:

Homemade Barbeque Sauce (to top all of your burgers, pulled pork, brisket, or vegetarian BBQ?)

Pick-a-Fruit Crisp (or make an Individual version)

Healthified Chicken Salad-not exactly red, white, and blue, but Fourth of July=picnics, right?

Really, anything with strawberries and blueberries can be made into a Fourth of July meal! I have plans to mix around and adapt THIS recipe for the Fourth this year 😛

Thought-provoking, mind-prodding question of the day:

What are your plans for the Fourth of July? To my international readers-do you have any fun plans for the weekend?

We are having a party at my house! Food, swimming, games, ping pong, and, of course, Fireworks!

No one guessed what yesterday’s food was!

There were a lot of close guesses, though. Monkey bread, bread pudding, french toast, and muffins were all guessed. Many people guessed there were walnuts in it, too, but nope! Pecans!

Grain-Free Pecan Sticky Buns

Yield: 10 buns

Grain-Free Pecan Sticky Buns

~These sticky buns are grain-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, and, of course, sugar-free!

Ingredients

"Dough" Ingredients:
1/2 cup almond butter
1/2 cup squash puree (you can't really taste the squash in the buns, but it keeps them moist. Pumpkin, butternut, or sweet potato will all work fine.)
2 eggs
1/4 cup chia gel (mix 1/4 cup water with 1 Tablespoon chia and let sit for 15 minutes.)
3 Tablespoons ground flax
1/4 tsp salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
Topping Ingredients:
5 dates, chopped (or substitute other dried fruit of choice)
1/2 cup pecans, chopped

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400*.
Mix together all the dough ingredients. Pour into a greased muffin pan 3/4 full. Evenly spread the topping onto each bun.
Bake for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool for 5 minutes and enjoy!

https://www.spoonfulofsugarfree.com/2011/06/24/pecan-sticky-buns/

Health Benefits

Almond Butter: Almonds are a major superfood, and they are full of monounsaturated, good-for-you fats. It contains many nutrients that benefit the brain, and regulate cholesterol. The monounsaturated fats and vitamin E reduce the risk of heart disease.
Dates: A laxative food with a high-fiber content, so it can help those suffering from constipation. They are digested quite easily and are great for when you need quick energy. Also, regular consumption of dates has been found to help the growth of friendly bacteria in the intestines.
Flax: Full of healthy Omega-3′s to help your heart stay strong. It is also a great source of both soluble and insoluble fiber to keep your gut healthy and help you stay full. Flax also contains lignans which have both plant estrogen and antioxidant qualities. These lignans help protect against cancer by blocking enzymes that are involved in hormone metabolism and interfering with the growth and spread of tumor cells.
Pecans: They help boost your immune system, reduce LDL cholesterol, and protect against Breast Cancer because of the high levels of oleic acid. It contains vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc and fiber, as well as antioxidants.
Cinnamon: Studies have shown that it can help lower LDL cholesterol, help regulate blood sugar levels, has anti-clotting effect on blood, and it can boost cognitive function and memory.

Thought-provoking, mind-prodding question of the day:

What is your favorite type of nut? Pecans, walnuts, almonds, pistachios??

I am really digging the pecans right now. One of the reasons I created this recipe!