Easy Salad Dressing

*brushes dust off blog*

Hello, how has everyone been? It's been quite a while since we've last posted in here.:D

My family and I love salads. It's a staple part of our lunchtime meals. Since I've recently been put in charge of the kitchen, I've had much more time to experiment, discover, and play a bit with new flavors.

A few days back, while I was experimenting with the condiments in the kitchen while getting ready for lunch, I mixed and matched them and discovered a new salad dressing that I'm more than happy to share with all of you. With dashes of Italian flavors and a hint of tangy Asian goodness, I hope that you will enjoy it just as much as I do!

What you'll need are:

• 2 tbsps. soy sauce
• 3 tbsps. balsamic vinegar
• 2 tbsps. olive oil
• 4 calamansi (I used a "mini-lime" that is found in the Philippines, but you can use 1/4 or 1/3 of a lemon. You know what? Put as much as you want, make it your own recipe too ;) )
• 3 pressed garlic cloves (it's best if you use a garlic crusher for this one; we need as much of the oil and essence of it)

All you need to do is:

1. Put the 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 3 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar, and 2 tablespoons of olive oil together. 
2. Whisk it until the oil emulsifies. 
3. Then, put the garlic cloves and squeeze the lemon/calamansi into the mixture. Leave the garlic bits and seeds inside for 5 minutes. That way, the flavors have enough time to infuse.
4. Finally, take out the garlic pieces and seeds from the dressing. It leaves a smoother texture.
5. Mix it all once more, then you are ready to enjoy it.

Have fun~!

-Jana

P.S: Hopefully, I'll be able to post some pictures the next time :D

5-Minute Banana and Oatmeal Sugar-free American Pancakes

Hello, everyone!
Welcome back to our blog! Today, we would like to share with you an ultimate morning favourite: our banana and oat American-style pancakes!

If you are a busy person, one of the most important things to remember is to not skip breakfast. In rushed mornings, this breakfast recipe can be  life saver.
These pancakes take less than 10 minutes to make, only need a few ingredients, are very nutritious, healthy and sugar-free!
And most importantly, they are absolutely delicious!
Happy cooking!

Serves: 1 big batch for one, or 2 smaller batches for 2. For more servings, double or triple portion.
Ingredients

• 2 eggs (substitute eggs with almond / rice milk for a vegan version)
• 2 handfuls of gluten-free oats
• 2 bananas
• 1-2 table spoons coconut oil or butter for non-vegans
• Cinnamon (optional addition)

Optional toppings ideas:

• Sliced bananas
• Coconut yogurt
• Cinnamon to sprinkle
• Berries to top
• Chocolate shavings 
• Honey to drizzle 

1. Put the oats in a food processor until they are finely ground like flour (a few seconds). 
2. Briefly slice your bananas and pop them to a bowl. Mash them with a fork. 
3. Add the eggs to the mashed bananas. Mix. Then, add the the ground oats. If you need a vegan pancakes version, mix the bananas and oats first, and then stir some almond milk. Use about 5 tablespoons and mix until you achieve your desired pancake batter consistency. 
4. Sprinkle in some cinnamon for a taste twist. 
5. Melt the coconut butter on a pan and scoop out servings of pancakes. If you make them smaller, they will be much easier to flip and are more likely to hold their shape while frying. 
6. Flip each pancake and serve on a plate when ready. Top with your favourite toppings, or the ones listed above. 

Have the best day ever!

--Les Sofias