Author: Kate Alexander

Banana Bread – An Updated Classic

The icy weather outside kept me indoors today, so I had some extra time on my hands to experiment in the kitchen.

I had two nearly black bananas staring at me — begging me to do something with them. So, I decided I’d try to make a gluten free banana bread — with no white sugar. I’ve never made such a thing before. When it comes to dessert, I generally go all in — white flour, white sugar, butter, oil. I don’t like to skimp on dessert since I hardly make them given my hectic schedule. However, today I thought I would try to alter a traditional banana bread recipe – a classic, if you will.

I knew there were certain items that I wanted to use — brown rice flour, almond meal and maple syrup, specifically — oh, and those two over-ripe bananas. So, I pulled together other traditional cake ingredients — eggs, a little vanilla extract, salt, cinnamon, and yogurt . . . . . and, voila, I had banana bread deliciousness baking in my oven!

I could hardly wait the 60 minutes it took for the bread to bake. To be honest, I wasn’t sure how the brown rice flour would work in this recipe so I was anxiously waiting for the timer on my oven to sound.

I’m happy to say, I was soooo pleased with the results! In fact, I was overjoyed. I can’t explain the excitement I feel when I make a healthy version of a generally not-too-healthy recipe — especially DESSERT! However, this recipes proves that you can lighten up your desserts and still retain the delicious flavor and texture you are used to – you just need to use some creativity.

Also, just a side note, banana bread is a completely acceptable breakfast — at least in my house!

So, here’s my Banana Bread recipe. I hope you try it — modify it — make it your own. Don’t be afraid to experiment in the kitchen — I’m so happy I wasn’t!

Banana Bread–An Updated Classic
Yields 1 loaf

1 ½ cups of brown rice flour
½ cup almond meal
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon cinnamon
2 eggs
½ cup of maple syrup
⅓ cup of coconut oil
⅓ cup of plain yogurt or sour cream
2 over-ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

optional — add ½ cup of chopped nuts or chocolate chips or shredded coconut — or whatever addition suits your fancy.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a loaf pan with an oil of your choice.

In a bowl, add your dry ingredients — brown rice flour, almond meal, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.

In a larger bowl add your wet ingredients — eggs, maple syrup, coconut oil (heat to liquid form), yogurt/sour cream, bananas, and vanilla extract. With a hand mixer, beat all wet ingredients until combined. Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and beat until incorporated.

Pour mixture into the prepared loaf pan and bake in the oven for approximately 1 hour, or until a cake tester comes out clean.

Let it cool. Slice and serve.

January 26, 2015
10 Wellness Tips for the New Year
The New Year seems to imply that we need to make a change, but we like to think of it as an opportunity to refocus on ourselves and concentrate on adopting some healthy habits.

We are firm believers that small steps and changes can make a very big difference. Starting small will help ease you into a new routine and work towards adopting a revitalized mindset. Once you start making some incremental changes, you will see, and feel, a difference.

So, in an attempt to inspire some healthy habits, we have jotted down ten that we think are worth considering. They are not only focused on yoga, fitness and nutrition — but overall wellness. We hope they become a part of your routine!

Here’s our list of top ten wellness tips for 2015:
1. Wake up early — start your day early enough that you can accomplish a few things before the day actually gets started. Generally mornings are rushed, making lunches, racing to get dressed and out of the house and off to work and school. Get up early, even if it’s only 15 minutes earlier than usual. Take a moment, have a cup of tea and ease into your day. These few moment of peace are all yours.
2. Set a daily intention — since you will be up early, take the time to set an intention for your day. Find a quiet place to sit and think — think about what you will conquer during the day and how you will achieve your goals.
3. Find time for exercise (morning, noon, or night – whenever it’s best for you). If carving out some time early in the morning or late at night doesn’t work for you, do something active during your lunch break, or while at your desk. Even taking a walk and stretching your legs counts!
4. Take care of your skin — suncreen, skincare, etc. Wash your face. Moisturize it and protect it with SPF. We are not beauty consultants, but we all need to take care and protect our skin.
5. Do something for you. Pencil some “me time” into your calendar. That may mean finding time for a pedicure, or having tea with a friend. Do something for you — maybe not every day — but as often as possible.
6. Cook more, take-out less. Eating healthy is so important, and we really do believe that cooking your own meals inspires healthy eating — a healthier lifestyle. Of course, you can find healthy food options at restaurants and in cafeterias, but your own kitchen is the best place to start. Take a few extra minutes to make something homemade versus buying a pre-made, likely preservative-laden, option. That doesn’t mean you can’t take short cuts — like buying pre-cut and washed veggies — but, focus on preparing your food versus choosing something from a freezer case.
7. Read — a newspaper, a magazine or a book. It doesn’t matter if it’s fiction or non-fiction. Reading sparks creativity, and it’s just different from being fed information from the television. You are an active participant in receiving knowledge!
8. Go outside, and do something active. Even in the dead of winter, a quick walk around the block can invigorate you. Take a moment and go outside — breathe in some fresh air. Even better, participate in an outdoor activity. Riding a bike, an outdoor yoga class, a run — whatever suits your fancy! Just get outside!
9. Put your phone down, or your laptop — whatever device you are attached to these days. Isn’t it the worst when you are trying to have a conversation with someone and they are glued to their phone? We are all guilty, so, put your phone down. Focus on what’s happening right in front of you — whether it’s a conversation with a loved one or a work colleague. Or, perhaps, just put your phone down in order to focus on yourself.
10. Make a daily to-do list. We love our lists. We like to make ours at night in order set ourselves up for the next day. Making a list will help you organize all of the moving parts of your life. And, there’s nothing like crossing something off your list to make you feel accomplished!
January 20, 2015
Best Recipes of 2014

Over the past year, we shared many of our “go-to” recipes with you — simple-to-prepare, seasonal recipes that we regularly make for our own families.

We also created new dishes by experimenting with old family recipes that tasted great but were in need of a healthy makeover. We replaced white sugar with maple syrup. We swapped white flour for brown rice flour. We relied on cooking methods that yield the most taste — for example, roasting our veggies for optimal flavor.

We tried to present traditional recipes in a new way. We made pesto out of broccoli rabe (vs. basil). We offered a baked oatmeal for a spin on your go-to bowl of oats. We created a delectable dairy and gluten-free banana walnut frozen dessert. We even brought you a light and healthy take on a classic French dessert with our Apple Raisin Clafoutis.

As we say goodbye to 2014, we want to take a moment to recognize those dishes that really stood out, for us, and, we think for you too. We hope all of our recipes make it into your kitchen in 2015, but if you only choose a few, here are the ones that we consider our “best in class.”

Best Drink:

Best Breakfast:

Best Appetizer:

Best Salad:

Best Soup:

Best Side Dish:

Best Main Course:

Best Dessert:

December 31, 2014
December Yoga Challenge Winner!

We are excited to announce the winner of our December Two Fit Moms yoga challenge on Instagram! Congratulations to @jinhee_1017 for successfully completing all ten days of the challenge.

Please contact kate@twofitmoms.com to claim your Gaiam Sol prize package that includes: a Gaiam Sol Travel Mat in Mulberry, a Black Everything Fits Gym Bag and a free download, from the Gaiam.com website, of our Yoga Rising series!

Thank you all for participating!

December 30, 2014
Entertaining 101: Best Dishes for Feeding a Crowd

Now that we’ve got our planning down, let’s figure out what types of dishes are best for entertaining. When you are expecting a large crowd, individual portions become difficult to manage. Family style (or buffet style), is the way to go. But, what will you serve that will feed a crowd? You need dishes that spread.

Here are my suggestions for the types of recipes (appetizers to desserts!) that work best when entertaining a group of people.

Simple dips and crudite platters
You can make them in advance, and they can generally work for vegetarians and meat-eating folks. And, if you don’t have time to make your own dip or vegetable platter, you can purchase the individual items and assemble. There’s no shame in picking up a store bought hummus or guacamole. Do what works for you.

Pasta
A big bowl of pasta is hearty and can feed many. Make a homemade pesto or marinara or any other sauce of choice and top it onto your favorite pasta. We do not have dietary restrictions in our house, but some of our guests do, so we make brown rice pasta and semolina pasta — two big bowls — both with the same sauce. You can also make a baked pasta — a lasagna or stuffed shells — or baked manicotti (which is what my family eats during the holidays). Generally, kids and adults are both happy with it!

Salads
They will go a mile and everyone enjoys them. My recommendation is to make a green salad and a grain salad. Not everyone at your party may be well versed on farro and quinoa, but everyone can relate to a nice green salad. Make both. Throw some seasonal ingredients into them to make them more festive — like pomegranate seeds, cranberries, toasted walnuts. You get the picture.

Veggies
A big platter of vegetables is always welcomed. You can grill them and serve them along with other appetizers, including breads and cheeses. Or, you can include them on your buffet along with your other dinner items. You can never go wrong with grilled vegetables and they taste even better room temperature.

If it’s too cold to bust out your grill, try a roasted vegetable platter instead — beets, butternut squash, throw some nuts and maybe cheese on top. Yum!

Meat or Fish
This is a little more complicated because cooking meat and fish requires timing it, carving it, etc. That being said, if you don’t mind stealing away from your guests to do so, there are definitely some options. You can roast a whole fish or salmon fillets and arrange on a platter. You can also bake a ham or roast a whole filet mignon and serve it room temperature. I tend to include meat on my holiday table because the older crowd look for it, but I’m seriously considering skipping it this season — just to give myself a break and offer myself a chance to not cook while my guests are around.

Dessert
Well, dessert is easy. Make a big fruit crisp. You can make it in advance, and just pop it in the oven to warm it before serving (with ice cream, or whipped cream or nothing because it’s so delicious on it’s own!). You can make cookies or cupcakes or a cake or pie or two. Just don’t make too much. I prefer quality over quantity.

In addition to the sweets, put out some fruit and nuts as well. Not everyone will be up for a heavy dessert after a big meal.

I hope these tips help make your holiday entertaining a bit easier and a lot less stressful.

December 21, 2014
Entertaining 101: Planning Makes Perfect (well, almost)

I love entertaining, but it’s a lot of work. Creating the menu, buying the food, cleaning the house, setting the table, slaving over a stove . . . . all while managing kids and work and possibly wrapping and decorating too! This doesn’t sound like fun at all. In fact, entertaining can be really stressful.

So as the holidays get closer, consider these tips that are sure to make entertaining more manageable this year, especially if you are planning for a crowd.

1. Plan Your Menu in Advance. In fact, write down your menu. While you are at it, make your grocery list too! We love lists, and this is definitely time to pull one or two together. Try to avoid any guessing. Even with a list, you may forget an item or two, but not having a list will be a disaster.

2.Keep it Simple. There’s no need for 10 appetizers and 12 desserts. Limit your menu to a few really good, quality dishes. And, while you are at it, don’t use the holidays to test a new recipe. Stick to familiar favorites — and ones that are easy to prepare.

3. Start Cooking Ahead of Time. Make as much of your meal, as far in advance as possible. Soups, sauces, appetizers are all things you can generally prepare ahead of time. I make my Marinara Sauce a day or two in advance of serving it — the same with my Roasted Butternut Squash Soup. We like to make our White Bean Dip in advance (in fact, it tastes better once it’s flavors have had a chance to meld.) You can also wash and cut veggies a day in advance of cooking them. Don’t forget that prepping a recipe in advance saves time too!

I always make my pies the day before I serve them. Our Maple Sweet Potato Pie is the perfect example of a make-ahead dessert. Crisps and cakes can also, usually, be made a day ahead of time too. This is true for our Blueberry Crisp (try it with apples this season) and our Apple Raisin Clafoutis.

Ultimately, the key is to get as much cooking and prepping done before the actual event to avoid slaving over a stove while your guests have already arrived.

4. Set Your Table the Night Before. Iron your table linens, pull out your dinnerware and cups and cutlery and decorative accents ahead of time. If you can set your table a few days in advance all the better — if not, the night before is perfect. No one needs to worry about ironing a tablecloth the day of the event.

5. Make a Buffet. A sit down dinner is all nice and good, but it’s much harder to pull off! Create a more casual vibe by arranging your food family style. If you have a counter or island in your dining area, arrange the dishes on it so that people can get up and help themselves. You can use chafing dishes to keep things warm. Crock pots are also great. They not only keep food hot, but you can serve from them too.

A buffet offers a much more relaxed environment — and it works out well for families (especially those with young children) and in homes where seating is an issue.

As you can see, all of these tips largely center around planning in some way, shape or form. We guarantee that if you plan in advance, and spread the work over a few days, you will successfully entertain this season. In fact, you may even enjoy yourself!

Now, if you need some ideas on the types of dishes that work best when entertaining large groups, check out our next article . . .

December 18, 2014
November Yoga Challenge Winner!

We are excited to announce the winner of our November Two Fit Moms yoga challenge on Instagram!

Congratulations to @frenchie63 for successfully completing all ten days of the challenge. Please contact kate@twofitmoms.com to claim your Gaiam Sol prize package that includes: a DryGrip Mat, two blocks, a yoga strap and a free download, from the Gaiam.com website, of our Yoga Rising series!

Thank you all for participating, and for a sneak peak of the December challenge poses, click HERE.

November 21, 2014
#YogaWithTFM December Challenge!

Our December yoga challenge has not yet been announced on Instagram, but you know we like to give our @TwoFitMoms followers a sneak peak of what’s to come next month. Here are the 10 poses we will be covering starting on December 1.

Welcome to our #YogaWithTFM December Challenge, sponsored by Gaiam! This month’s focus will be on balance. As always, this challenge will be open to all levels, and modifications will be given each day on our website.

Be sure to follow @TwoFitMoms, @laurasykora, @masumi_g and @gaiam on Instagram, and remember to always use the #YogaWithTFM hashtag when posting challenge photos.

Need help preparing for this challenge? Check out our Balance practice available for purchase here.

November 21, 2014
Thanksgiving Starters, Sides & Desserts

Thanksgiving is one week away. Is your Thanksgiving dinner menu planned? If you are still searching for starters, sides and desserts, we have some great recipes for you. In fact, they are not only delicious dishes, but they are healthy alternatives to traditional Thanksgiving favorites.

Check out some of our favorite recipes below:

A wonderful, light and delicious appetizer is our White Bean Dip with Seasoned Pita Chips.

And, what better way to start your dinner than with a savory Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Sage Croutons?

Looking for a festive salad? Try our Harvest Salad with Arugula, Roasted Butternut Squash and Quinoa.

We have some great sides to accompany your turkey or veggie loaf, including our Balsamic Brussel Sprouts.

Roasted Sweet Potatoes.

And, our Smashed Potatoes.

For dessert, we try our Apple Raisin Clafoutis.

And, our Maple Sweet Potato Pie!

We hope some of our delicious starters, sides and desserts make it onto your table this holiday season!

November 20, 2014
Maple Sweet Potato Pie

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because the focus isn’t on gifts, but on family — and food! And, not just any food — familiar and traditional food.

In fact, I bet your family is expecting a decadent pecan pie, sugared yams and your famous stuffing. I think the one thing to keep in mind is that it’s a special day — a day to splurge — a day to delight in familiar traditions and recipes, but you might want to consider adding a new recipe or two! This particular recipe is a great alternative to heavier pies made with white sugar and cream. Everyone will love this version of sweet potato pie that lightens up the ingredients but does not compromise flavor.

I used a traditional recipe, but swapped out the white sugar for grade B maple syrup. I generally substitute maple syrup for white sugar — 1:1. However, I used half the amount of maple syrup this time, and it was perfect. You would never know the recipe was altered. I promise!

The key to this recipe is roasting your sweet potatoes. DO NOT use canned sweet potato puree. As a busy mom, I tried a short cut. It didn’t work. Take the time to roast your own sweet potatoes . . . it will set up perfectly and have a delicious, dense texture.

You can use any pie crust that works for you. I tend to use pre-made pie crust. There are some really good ones on the market — I like Trader Joe’s frozen pie crust. It saves time, which is important, especially around the holidays.

You can make one 9-inch deep dish pie with this recipe — or two shallow 9 inch pies.

If you are considering a new Thanksgiving dessert, I hope you try our Maple Sweet Potato Pie. It’s so good, you may even consider it a replacement for your traditional pumpkin pie!

Maple Sweet Potato Pie
Yields 8 slices

2 cups of roasted sweet potato puree (I roasted 3 medium sized sweet potatoes in their skin, in foil, at 400 degrees, until they were fork tender. I peeled them and mashed them in a bowl)
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup of milk (I used 2% milk, but feel free to substitute)
3/4 cup of grade B maple syrup
1 teaspoon, vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon of ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon of salt
1, 9-inch prepared deep dish pie crust or 2, 9-inch prepared shallow pie crusts (like the ones you find in the freezer case of your supermarket!)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a large bowl, add the mashed sweet potatoes, eggs, milk, maple syrup, cinnamon, ground ginger, salt and vanilla extract to a large bowl and beat with a hand mixer until combined.

Pour sweet potato mixture into a prepared pie shell (or two depending on whether you use one deep dish or two shallow pie crusts). Bake for 10 minutes at 400 degrees and then lower the temperature to 350 degrees and bake for an additional 30-40 minutes for the two shallow pies and an additional 40-50 minutes for the deep dish pie. The pie will be done when the center is set and not jiggly.

Let the pie cool and serve at room temperature — or cold — and top with whipped cream — or nothing — it’s delicious either way!!

Helpful Hint: If your sweet potatoes are too stringy, you can press them through a potato ricer.

November 10, 2014