Paleo "goat cheese"

For Nut Cheese:

1/2 c. raw cashews, soaked for 2-3 hours, drained
juice of 1/2 lemon
1/3 c. water
1 Tb coconut oil
1 tsp raw apple cider vinegar
pinch of salt
In a food processor, combine all ingredients together.

For Basil Pesto:

1 c. basil leaves
2 garlic cloves
1/3 c. pine nuts
olive oil
1 tsp salt

1/2 c. sun-dried tomatoes
extra pine nuts to top with

Take a small glass ramekin and line with plastic wrap.
In a high-speed blender, blend all of the nut cheese ingredients until smooth. Place part of the mixture into lined ramekin.
Add pesto layer on top. Top with sun-dried tomatoes. Layer with remaining cheese.
Refrigerate for several hours until set. You can also freeze it.
Line a small appetizer plate with olive oil and dust with dried basil. Set 1 cheese block onto place, take off plastic wrap carefully, drizzle with oil and herbs, and top with pine nuts.
Pairs perfectly with rice crackers.

Coconut pancakes

Ingredients
6 dates, pitted
3 eggs
2 tablespoons coconut oil
1/3 cup coconut milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup coconut flour
pinch of baking soda
pinch of salt

Directions
Soak the dates in boiling water for about 5 minutes. Puree to make a smooth, slightly liquid paste. Add water as needed.
In a bowl, combine the coconut flour, baking soda, and salt.
Whisk the eggs.
Add in the coconut oil, date paste, and vanilla. Whisk well.
Whisk in the coconut milk.
Fold the dry ingredients into the liquid mixture. Mix well, but not so much that it’s over-blended.
Add coconut oil  to a hot skillet and portion out the pancake batter.

Snowball series #4

The 4th run in the Snowball Series was this morning round Creve Coeur lake.  I made pretty good time (maybe my fastest run yet) but it was nice and flat, so I should run faster.  I had to run on my own because Sam was working today.  The weather was cold, but still good for running.  I wore exactly the right amount of clothes.  Also ran in my new shoes.
I haven't ever been out there, seems like a great place to run, I need to go more often.  Drove back to take a picture of the frozen waterfall

First run of 2016

We ran the 5 mile Forest Park run in the Snowball Series yesterday morning.  It was pretty cold when we got started, but the sun was out and it turned out to be really nice.  Sam waited for me, so his time is much slower than would be normally.  I am now #17 out of 48 in the series ranking.  Not bad at all since I am so slow these days!!!!