Basic Overnight Oatmeal

This is probably the recipe that most people ask me to share with them. There are so many different variations on it that I could easily have it every single morning. The chia seeds and the extra liquid make it really thick and add a nutritional boost as well with the extra protein and fiber. It's so nice waking up and already having a delicious bowl of oatmeal waiting for you in the fridge, and it can be served either chilled or heated back up in the microwave. (Make sure you are using a large bowl - the chia adds lots of extra volume and you don't want it to overflow!)

Gluten-free Vegan Apple Pie

A few days ago we stopped by the apple orchard (a fall tradition) and I found myself gazing longingly at the boxes and boxes of apple pies at the register. So we found some Cortland apples, which are perfect for pies, and I attempted to make a gluten free vegan apple pie that would taste as authentic as possible. Normally the crust is filled with butter and the filling is held together with white and brown sugar. With all the substitutions I made, it still tasted authentic enough to fool my father, who said the crust tasted just like shortbread! The four of us polished off the entire pie in minutes.

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog, The Baking Ballerina! This is a place for me to keep track of all my favorite recipes, and also a place to share my favorite dishes.

Let me introduce myself - My name is Sasha, and I live in the Boston area. I've been dancing since I was 3 years old and I am a pre-professional ballet student. I've loved baking and cooking since I was little - I was always in the kitchen making a batch of cookies or some other tasty treat for my family. As a dancer, however, I've become accustomed to making adjustments to not-so-healthy recipes. When you're an athlete, it's important to adequately nourish your body, which includes cutting out the unhealthy fats and refined sugars that is found in so many recipes.

I am also a gluten free vegan. Due to constant health problems last year, my doctor recommended that I avoid gluten and dairy products completely, and I have never gone back - I feel more energized and happy, and rarely get sick any more. Later this year, I did some of my own research on the benefits of a plant-based diet from a health perspective and an environmental perspective, and decided to go fully vegan.

I'm just going to come out and say it. Eating gluten-free is really hard. And eating vegan on top of it is even harder. So my goal is to post easy-to-follow recipes that are good for your body but won't leave you feeling deprived.

Please enjoy and stay tuned for recipes!