Holistic Instincts

I really think that one cannot have too many pancake recipes.  They are easy to make, quick to cook, and super yummy served along side some crispy (nitrite/nitrate-free) bacon.  Right? I often make my Perfect Pancakes  on the weekend, since the texture is as close to 'real' pancakes as you'll ever get but sometimes I run low on cassava flour and need another option, and these pancakes are IT. To keep these dairy-free, I used Kite Hill's  Cream Cheese spread.  This almond milk spread greatly improves the texture of typically dry or flat almond flour pancakes.  Plus, this addition boosts the protein content and fluff factor, as well! This recipe calls for blanched almond flour - using almond meal will affect the final texture. Since the texture and melting properties between dairy cream cheese and Kite Hill cream cheese may be different, I would not recommend subbing the dairy stuff for the dairy-free cream cheese in this recipe. These almond flour pancakes

Before I post the recipe, please let me apologize for not have a picture for this yummy dish.  The finished meal was delicious, but it turns out, I cannot take a good picture of most meals...I just can't. These short ribs, however, are perfection! I made this dish in my beloved Instant Pot , but I have included directions for stovetop* cooking.  And I imagine that this recipe can easily be adapted to cook in a slow cooker, as well. This recipe calls for star anise , which gets its obvious name from its shape.  It is a spice that is heavily used in many cultures due to its lovely licorice taste and fragrance.  But star anise also has surprising medicinal uses, too!  Star anise is the main source of a chemical compound that is synthesized to make flu medications.   Not surprising that this spice is used in a lot of warming winter soups and stews, such as this one. These short ribs call for whole star anise, which can then be easily removed from the finished dish once cooking