Baking

Chocolate Truffle Cookies Dusted with Cocoa Powder, Gluten Free and Decadent

Chocolate Truffle Cookies Dusted with Cocoa Powder, Gluten Free and Decadent

The smell of a rich chocolate cookie baking in the oven is delightful. Pull them out, and let them cool, then sprinkle them with more high fat cocoa powder like my favorite Droste Cocoa Powder. After they cool, and you have dusted them with more heavenly cocoa powder, curl up on the sofa with a hot steamy cup of strong coffee, a couple of these cookies and a good book, and indulge in these buttery, cookie treats. Make sure you have a napkin, because you will be licking cocoa powder off your lips, and it may get on your book without one! 😉 You are sure to get a surge of joy, because chocolate is known for positively impacting mood, specifically dark chocolate with high cocoa content. This is due to the flavonoids and theobromine, which can stimulate the release of endorphins (feel-good chemicals) in the brain. I don’t know if being female makes me love it even more, but I don’t understand how you couldn’t like chocolate. Don’t forget the cozy throw or quilt! I have my own built in water bottle in the form of my delightfully fluffy pug, Ming.

Ming Ming the Pug

I have made these cookies on repeat, because they are so good and lower in sugar, without sacrificing flavor. The butter to flour ratio is perfection, and they are reminiscent of a decadent, rich chocolate dark chocolate truffle.

Winter is here in breathtaking Northern Michigan. I am delighted to say that the ski hills have opened in November this year, which hasn’t happened in a while because of warmer winters. There is plenty of powder and ski resorts to choose from. I expect the lake to freeze this year, due to the more seasonal weather we are having so far. Last year was a very mild winter and also very dry. This is a photo of my morning walk around the lake. I like to get outside and walk year round as long as the weather permits.

First Snow of the Winter, Up North Michigan

I think I may get a set of snow shoes to try out too. They have come a long way since I’ve last went snow shoeing. They are much smaller and easy to manage. Any advice on how to choose a pair? Coming in after a snowy adventure is a good time for cookies and a warm beverage!

Here is the recipe for my cookies:

Chocolate Truffle Cookies Dusted with Cocoa Powder, Gluten Free and Decadent

2 Cups of Measure for Measure Gluten Free Flour Blend

2 Sticks of Unsalted Butter

1/4 Cup of good quality cocoa powder with higher fat content (I use this.)

1/4 Teaspoon of Salt

1/2 Cup of Maple Sugar

1 Teaspoon of Quality Vanilla Extract

Directions: In a stand mixer or using a hand mixer with a large bowl, beat your butter, sugar and salt together for two minutes until light and fluffy. Add in your vanilla extract, and then in a separate bowl whisk your flour and 1/4 cup of cocoa powder together before adding it to the butter mixture. Mix on low speed until incorporated to prevent a flour mess, and then turn to high just until completely blended. Lay out a parchment lined cookie sheet, and using a tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop the cookies into balls on the cookie sheet. Now, pick up each scoop of dough, and roll it into a nicely shaped ball. Place the cookie sheet in the refrigerator for half of an hour. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 325 degrees.

After the cookie dough has chilled, bake the cookies in your preheated oven two inches apart on two separate cookie sheets for 20 minutes. Remove the cookies from the oven, and cool completely. Then, dust them with more cocoa powder like shown below before eating.

Enjoy! This makes about 2 dozen cookies.

Delicious Gluten Free Cherry Cheesecake Recipe with Lactose Free Cream Cheese

Delicious Gluten Free Cherry Cheesecake with Lactose Free Cream Cheese

Cheesecake. It is a much loved dessert here in America. There are so many variations of cheesecake and toppings. My sister had a gorgeous display of cheesecakes at her wedding when she was married. Of all the kinds of cheesecakes, I think cherry is still the most classic! So, having said that, I have an absolutely delicious gluten free cheesecake recipe for you today using lactose free cream cheese and Greek yogurt with those sensitive to dairy in mind. I made this cheesecake for a Summer picnic recently, and it was a big hit. My mother used to make the most delicious cherry cheesecake when I was a child, and although this is a different recipe, it is light and creamy like the ones I remembered eating as a young girl. One of the reasons I like this recipe so much is it is light and not overly rich. It is super creamy with just the right amount of graham cracker crust. I used frozen sweet cherries to make the topping, and the consistency to spoon on top of the cheesecake was just right. I find that using frozen cherries versus canned gives a much better flavor and texture. I also like that the bake time is quick with very little chance of the top cracking.

Delicious Gluten Free Cherry Cheesecake Recipe with Lactose Free Cream Cheese

In this recipe, I used an 8 inch springform pan, and it serves 8 to 10 people. Let’s make a cheesecake!

Gluten Free Cherry Cheesecake

For the Crust:

1 1/2 Cups of Gluten Free Graham Cracker Crumbs (I used Pamela’s Graham Crackers and made crumbs in my food processor. You could also use a zipper bag and a rolling pin to crush them.) Pre-made Gluten Free Graham Cracker Crumbs works as well.

1/4 Cup of Sugar

6 Tablespoons of Melted Butter

Filling:

2 – 8 ounce tubs of lactose free cream cheese (I used Green Valley from my local grocery store)

2 Large Eggs at room temperature

1/2 Cup of Sugar

1 Teaspoon of Pure Vanilla Extract

Greek Yogurt Topping:

1 Cup of Plain Greek Yogurt

1/4 Cup of Sugar

1 Teaspoon of Pure Vanilla Extract

Sweet Cherry Topping:

14 Ounces of Frozen Sweet Cherries

1/2 Cup of Sugar

2 Tablespoons of Cornstarch dissolved in 2 Tablespoons of Water

1 Tablespoon of Lemon Juice

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.

Mix your graham cracker crumb ingredients, and press it in the bottom and up the sides of the pan firmly. Set aside.

Now you’ll make the filling. Beat your cream cheese together with the sugar, eggs and vanilla in a medium bowl with electric beaters. Pour the filling into your graham cracker crust. Wrap the bottom of your springform pan with foil, and put it on a rimmed cookie sheet in case of any butter leakage. Bake for 20 minutes.

Remove the cheesecake from the oven, and let it rest for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, turn your oven up to 450 degrees F.

Now we will make the Greek yogurt topping while the cheesecake is cooling, this is the final baking step! While your cheesecake is cooling for 15 minutes, beat together the Greek yogurt topping ingredients, and spread it evenly over the top of the cheesecake. Bake at 450 degrees F. for just 10 minutes. Remove it from the oven, and cool at room temperature. Then, cover and chill in your refrigerator overnight or for 12 hours.

After it has chilled, you are ready for the last step, the cherry topping!

In a medium saucepan, cook the frozen cherries and sugar together until the sugar melts and the cherries thaw and start releasing their juices, stirring slowly and constantly over medium heat. Whisk the cornstarch and water together in a small bowl. Bring the cherry and sugar mixture to a boil and slowly whisk in the cornstarch. Cook until nicely thickened. Last of all, stir in the lemon juice and cook another 30 seconds or until it’s a nice, loose, jammy consistency. Remove from the heat, and cool for ten minutes, stirring occasionally. Spread the cherry topping evenly over the cheesecake with the back of a spoon, and chill for several hours until ready to serve. Remove the ring from the springform pan before serving and place it on a serving tray. This is really pretty on a fancy pedestal serving tray for company! I like to cut the cheesecake with a sharp knife run under hot water for clean slices, wiping the knife in between pieces. It’s so good! Also, if you like blueberries, frozen blueberries would work equally well in this recipe, so feel free to substitute. You could also use regular cream cheese if you are not sensitive to dairy.

I’d love to hear from you in the comments. Also, if you make this recipe, please leave me a review. Thank you! Sam

Coconut Flour Cherry Rhubarb Muffins

It’s rhubarb season! I grew up eating rhubarb pies made by my Mom. They were so delicious! My dad grew fresh rhubarb in his garden, and my mom froze it so we could have rhubarb pies all year. It wasn’t until I was grown that I ever tried a strawberry rhubarb pie or rhubarb any other way but straight up!

Coconut Flour Cherry Rhubarb Muffins – Gluten Free, Grain Free

I’ll admit that an unadulterated just rhubarb pie is my favorite, because it has a lot of sentimental meaning and brings back delightful childhood memories of the gorgeous Michigan summers. But, I have come to appreciate the fact that it compliments other fruit desserts, and that some people appreciate it when it is combined with other berries and stone fruits like this cherry rhubarb muffin recipe I am going to share, which is delicious!

I inherited four of my father’s rhubarb plants from our family homestead, and they are thriving after the second year with big juicy stalks and huge rhubarb leaves. (The leaves are poisonous, so you must discard those). I make sure to amend the plants in the spring with a nice amount of manure and compost blend. Rhubarb is a beautiful plant, and I think it makes a pretty and useful addition to a yardscape.

Fresh Picked Rhubarb

This recipe is grain free and gluten free. It makes eight delicious, moist muffins with a balance of equal amounts chopped rhubarb and cherries. I hope you enjoy them!

Coconut Flour Cherry Rhubarb Muffins

Ingredients:

Dry Ingredients:

1/3 Cup of Coconut Flour

1/2 teaspoon of Baking Soda

1/2 teaspoon of Cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon of salt

a pinch of Nutmeg

Wet Ingredients:

3 Eggs, Whisked

1/4 Cup of Butter, Melted

1/4 Cup of Honey, runny or melted if not runny

2 teaspoons of lemon juice

1 teaspoon of Vanilla Extract

Fruit Ingredients:

1/2 Cup of Fresh Rhubarb, chopped into 1/2 inch pieces

1/2 Cup of Frozen or Fresh Cherries, sliced in half (this can be dark cherries or tart or a combination)

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Put 8 muffin liners in a muffin tin.

In a bowl, mix together the eggs, melted butter, honey and vanilla extract with a hand held mixer. Don’t mix in the lemon juice yet.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and blend with the hand held mixer. The coconut flour will be runny at first and then thicken as it absorbs the wet ingredients.

Now beat in two teaspoons of lemon juice. This adds a nice tartness and activates the baking soda.

Fold in the chopped rhubarb and sliced cherries. Scoop the batter into eight muffin cups.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes or until the centers spring back when touched.

Coconut Flour Cherry Rhubarb Muffin Batter

These muffins are a healthy way to enjoy rhubarb this summer!

Gluten Free Cherry Macadamia Nut Cookies, The Benefits of Kindness and Connection, Sunshine and a Safer Swap Tip For The Dryer

Hi Friends!

How are you doing so far in the new year? I was personally thankful to get a good solid three days of full sunshine here in Northern Michigan in January! I have a picture below of me at the lake where the ice was just beginning to freeze over it. I have found since moving back to my childhood state of Northern Michigan from Maryland, after living on the East Coast for 32 plus years, I did not know or even realize that there is less sunshine in the winter here by 25%. The plus side of that is we have more sunshine and daylight hours here in the Summer, and the weather is gorgeous, plus the air is so fresh all the time. I wanted to share a new grain and gluten free cookie recipe with you today that is tasty and has no refined sugar (sweetened with Maple Syrup).

Gluten Free Cherry Macadamia Nut Cookies (Grain Free and Dairy Free Also)

These cookies come together easily with a hand mixer.

Ingredients:

1 Cup of Macadamia Nuts (ground in the food processor to a nut flour)

1/2 Cup of Cashew Butter

1/4 Cup of Coconut Oil

1/4 Cup of Dried Cherries

1/4 Cup of Pecans (coarsely chopped)

1 Egg

2 Tablespoons of Maple Syrup

1 Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract

1/2 Teaspoon of Baking Soda

1/4 Teaspoon of Salt

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

In a food processor, grind the macadamia nuts until they are fine like almond flour. Add the remaining ingredients except the dried cherries and pecans. Blend until completely combined, scraping the sides of the bowl half way through. Remove the blade from the food processor and stir in the cherries and pecans.

Scoop onto parchment lined cookies sheets with a tablespoon cookie scoop. Press down until they are an even height with your fingertips, and then bake in the preheated oven for 14 minutes.

Let cool, and enjoy.

Gluten Free Cherry Macadamia Nut Cookies Recipe

Here’s the photo of me at the lake in the sunshine. It’s very cool to skip stones across the thinly frozen ice. It makes a type of musical sound. The benefits of sunshine are numerous including better sleep, increasing vitamin D levels for immunity, brain and bone health. Exposure to sunshine also helps with Seasonal Affective Disorder and low mood.

Up North Michigan in the Sunshine

On another note, the world today seems a little more serious and impatient than is was five years ago, and I want to encourage you to make sure to find time to enjoy your life, have some fun, and find things that make you laugh.

Inspirational Quote

Kindness circles back to you. The more you send it out into the world, by the words you speak, the better the world will become.
Here’s an example. Have you ever made someone’s day just by speaking kind words to a check out clerk at the store? They noticeably perk up, and then as you leave, you hear them greet the next person in line with a happier more animated tone? I have. That’s what kind words do. They start this whole effect of paying it forward. Kindness increases people’s faith in humans in general and creates a ripple effect. It’s like a tiny seed you plant every time you speak. It grows, creates new plants and then more seeds you may never see, but they are happening and making the world a better place.


The added benefit of these small connections is you feel happier, healthier and more positive as you feel a little more connected to other humans. Those casual connections are important. The next time you are in line at a store and get to the cashier, ask them how their day is going.

Swap out Dryer Sheet for Wool Dryer Balls

Now I have a healthy living tip to share. Swap out dryer sheets and fabric softener for wool dryer balls.

Wool dryer balls can be used over and over and over and don’t release toxic chemicals onto your clothing that you then put on your skin! They are eco friendly and great for fluffing up your clothes and preventing wrinkles too.

Dryer sheets are from synthetic polyester, with toxic chemicals which release to target the electrostatic charges. Dryer sheet manufacturers typically list only some of the ingredients on the dryer sheet box, but others don’t list any ingredients at all. Dryer sheets are a sneaky single-use plastic, designed to be used once then tossed out, where they will persist in the environment forever. Instead try 100% Wool Dryer Balls, which not only reduce static – but reduce drying time, too! If you want an added scent, add a few drops of your favorite Essential Oil. Here’s the wool dryer balls I use.

I hope you love the new recipe, tips, encouragement and inspiration. I love to hear from you. Drop me a comment anytime.

Sandra Shields, Health Coach

Gluten Free Apple Bread with Streusel Topping

Apple bread is obviously good all year round, but it is especially enticing during the fall when apples are available locally and the leaves are changing color and crunchy beneath our feet, and we start thinking about bringing out the buffalo plaid, flannel and light scarves and vests when we go outside

I am particularly fond of seasonal food. It gives us a reason to celebrate every season as it comes and goes. This apple cake uses grated apple, so there is apple throughout without the big chunks, and there is a scrumptious streusel topping. I’m telling you the wonderful aroma in the kitchen whilst it is baking will make your family happy with anticipation.

Here’s the recipe:

Gluten Free Apple Bread with Streusel Topping

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan well.

Ingredients:

1 3/4 Cup of Gluten Free Flour Blend with Xanthan Gum (I use King Arthur Measure for Measure)

1/2 Cup of Apple Butter

1/2 Cup of Plain Greek Yogurt

3 Large Eggs

1 Cup of Peeled and Grated Apple (about 1 large apple)

1/3 Cup of Cane Sugar

1/4 Cup of Olive Oil

1 1/2 Teaspoons of Baking Powder

1 Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract

1 Teaspoon of Cinnamon

1/8 Teaspoon of Nutmeg

1/2 Teaspoon of Salt

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For Streusel Topping:

2 Tablespoons of Butter, melted

3 Tablespoons of Gluten Free Flour Blend

1 Tablespoon of Light Brown Sugar

1/8 Teaspoon of Salt

1/2 Teaspoon of Cinnamon

a pinch of Nutmeg

Directions:

Grate your apple and set aside.

Mix together the crumb topping ingredients in a bowl with a fork, and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl beat the eggs, yogurt, apple butter, vanilla, sugar and olive oil.

In a medium bowl, sift together the dry ingredients. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients you just blended. Fold in the grated apple, and then add the batter to your prepared loaf pan. Smooth the batter evenly with a spatula. Sprinkle the top with your streusel mixture. Bake in your preheated oven for 60 to 70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Then, run a knife around the pan before removing the loaf to cool completely on a cooling rack.

Homemade Maple Pecan Scones, Gluten Free Pastry!

Gluten Free Maple Pecan Scone Recipe
Gluten Free Scones – Baking Love
Maple Pecan Gluten Free Homemade Scones

Changing leaves, cooler weather, cozy sweaters, and this time of year makes me start baking things like these maple pecan scones. They are the perfect bit of sweet with a biscuit texture and buttery maple pecan flavor. It’s just the bit of comfort and homey cheer that says relax and put up your feet for a bit and savor the moment. I personally can’t think of scones without also thinking of a cup of tea to go with it. But that’s entirely up to you and maybe your jam is coffee or just eating it over the kitchen sink. We have family members known to do that….never me. 😉 What is your favorite tea to drink with something like a scone?

In this recipe, I used maple sugar, real butter, some natural maple flavor extract instead of vanilla and toasted pecans. They are a delicious way to treat yourself. A wonderful thing about scones is you can prep them all the way up to the point they are ready to pop into the oven and freeze some for later so you have fresh scones at your fingertips. This has come in very handy for me over the years. This recipe makes 24 scones, so you can bake them all at once, or freeze some for later. Just increase your baking time by about ten minutes from frozen.

Let’s make scones together, shall we?

Maple Pecan Scones, Gluten Free

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. and lay out two parchment lined baking sheets.

Ingredients:

3 Cups of Gluten Free Flour Blend with Xanthun Gum (I use Measure for Measure) Scooped and Leveled

2 Sticks of Cold Butter

1 Cup of Coconut Milk or Heavy Cream

4 Large Eggs

1 Cup of Toasted Pecans (toast in the oven for approximately 7 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool and chop)

1/4 Cup of Maple Sugar

1 1/2 Tablespoons of Baking Powder

1 1/2 Teaspoons of Salt

1 Teaspoon of Natural Maple Flavor (it’s gluten free!)

Egg wash (1 egg beaten with 1 Tablespoon of water for brushing the tops)

Directions:

Toast the pecans first at 350 degrees F. for seven minutes. Remove them from the oven and set aside to cool. Now, reset your oven to 400 degrees F. for the scones.

In a food processor with a blade, add your flour, maple sugar, baking powder, and salt. Pulse until combined. Cut the cold butter into chunks and add it to your food processor. Pulse the processor until you have fine pea size crumbs. Whisk together in a separate bowl the coconut milk or heavy cream, eggs, and maple extract. Add the beaten egg mixture to the flour mixture and pulse until combined evenly. You will need to remove the top a couple of times to scrape the sides. Dump the mixture into a mixing bowl and fold in the pecans evenly. Dump the scone dough onto a floured surface, and roll out until it is a 12 inch by 8 inch rectangle and the scones are 1 1/2 inches thick. Cut the dough into 12 squares with a sharp knife. Wipe the knife as you go if you get dough stuck to it for a cleaner cut. Now cut your twelve squares into triangles by cutting them in half on an angle. Place the scones on two baking trays spaced evenly about two inches apart. Brush the scones with egg wash and sprinkle with some additional maple sugar or cane sugar.

Bake in your preheated 400 degree F. oven for 16 minutes until golden brown on the edges. Cool.

These are delightful, and I hope you love the recipe! Happy baking!!

Gluten Free Black and White Cookies!

Gluten Free Black and White Cookies

The first day of Fall makes me want to bake. I think it is a case of the cozies along with all the things that go with Autumn like cozy sweaters, crisp leaves, hot drinks with warm comforting spices like chai and pumpkin spice. So naturally my mind goes to cookies to go with these other enticing things. What better cookie than the black and white that is a little elegant, and you get two sides of frosting, so you don’t have to choose.

This cookie has a soft yet slightly firm and lovely buttery taste and texture. It goes perfectly with a cup of something warm and cozy and a good book or a fun gathering and will satisfy your cookie yearning and certainly fulfilled a baking obsession for the day. Other bakers will understand. If you don’t, it’s okay, you can still bake and enjoy these cookies. They do not require rolling to get the round shape, which is a plus for me, because….why am I so busy? Life is busy, isn’t it? Let’s get on to this cookie recipe. The maple sugar is a nod to fall and does add rich flavor, but you can and should substitute cane sugar if you do not have maple sugar on hand. It will work the same and be lovely!

Gluten Free Black and White Cookies

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

Lay out two cookie sheets. I covered mine in parchment.

Ingredients for the Cookie:

1 1/2 Cup of All Purpose Gluten Free Flour Blend that contains Xanthum Gum (I used King Arthur Measure for Measure in this recipe)

1/2 Cup of Butter

1/3 Cup of Maple Sugar or Cane Sugar

1/4 Cup of Plain Greek Yogurt

1 Egg

1 Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract

1/2 Teaspoon of Baking Soda

1/2 Teaspoon of Salt

Directions: Cream together the softened butter and sugar for one minute. Add the egg and continue to bear until it is incorporated. Then add the yogurt and vanilla extract. Sift together the other dry ingredients (flour, baking soda and salt). Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and beat slowly until incorporated and then turn to medium to fully incorporate the flour.

With a tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop out balls of dough onto two cookie sheets flat side down. Space them two inches apart and with damp fingers press the balls flat. This is about three finger widths or 1/2 inch thick. Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 14 minutes. The edges will be slightly golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool completely.

Now the frosting! I used Enjoy Life Dark Chocolate Chips for my chocolate side.

In a double broiler, melt 1/2 cup of chocolate chips (use what you like) Set aside and make the vanilla frosting.

Vanilla Frosting:

1/2 Cup of Powdered Sugar

1 Teaspoon of Honey

1/2 Teaspoon of Vanilla

2 Teaspoons of water ( add a teaspoon at a time after the rest of the ingredients until it is spreading consistency.

Frost the vanilla side of each cookie with a butter knife. Then frost the opposite half of the cookie with chocolate. Set the cookies aside so the frosting dries and hardens. This takes a couple hours. Enjoy!

Easy Homemade Grain Free Sandwich Bread (Dairy Free, Nut Free, Yeast Free)

Homemade Grain Free Sandwich Bread – Easy, Yeast Free, Gluten Free, Nut Free

Anyone who loves bread and is looking for healthy bread recipes, or has missed bread because their tummy can’t handle it, I have a recipe for you that is a very delicious, healthy and easy. There is no rising required, so it is fast, and the texture and flavor are really good! I have been tweaking this formula to get it just the right flavor and texture and have had my taste testers giving me feedback with their high standards. 😉 The ingredients are healthy, and it is a pleasure to make. Actually, it is just a pleasure to bite into a piece of bread with the texture of grain bread. I like to toast it and put an egg on top, make a sandwich, or crostini for dinner, or put a spread on it and eat it with a salad at lunch. My daughter made French Toast with it last Saturday, and proclaimed it delicious that way. I do hope you give it a try, Pin it for later too and let me know what you think!

Homemade Grain Free Sandwich Bread, Sliced – Yeast Free, Nut Free, Gluten Free

Easy Grain Free Sandwich Bread

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

Ingredients:

4 Egg Whites

1/2 Cup of Olive Oil

27 grams of psyllium husk (this gives the bread it’s perfect texture. I like this pure brand with no additives just pure Psyllium Husk)

1/2 Cup of runny Tahini (Sesame Seed Butter – this is the one I love, it’s roasted and tastes amazing with no sugar)

3/4 Cup of Warm Water

70 grams of Coconut Flour

1 Tablespoon of Runny Honey

1 Teaspoon of Salt

1 Teaspoon of Baking Soda

3/4 Teaspoon of Baking Powder

2 Extra Tablespoons of Olive Oil for brushing the loaf while it bakes.

Directions:

Grease a bread loaf pan.

In a large bowl with a hand mixer, whisk together the egg whites until they are frothy.

Add the olive oil and tahini to the egg whites, and beat until they are fully incorporated.

Put the 3/4 cup of warm water in a separate bowl, and add the psyllium husk. Whisk and set aside. The mixture will gel quickly, that’s good!

In a separate bowl whisk together the coconut flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. When your psyllium and water is jelled, add it to the egg, tahini and olive oil mixture, Beat until it incorporates and is nice and smooth. This takes about 3 minutes. Now, add in the dry ingredients and continue beating until it is smooth and incorporated. Next, grease your hands with some olive oil, and using a bowl scraper or a rubber spatula, scoop up the dough into a loaf shape and using your hands form a loaf making it nice and smooth.

Forming the loaf with olive oil greased hands before placing in the bread pan

Place the formed loaf into your loaf pan. I don’t make the loaf the full length of the pan, it fills up as it bakes. Now brush the top of the loaf with a tablespoon of olive oil. Bake the bread in your oven for 30 minutes. After the first 30 minutes are up, remove the loaf from the oven, it will have started rising and browning, and brush it again with the second tablespoon of olive oil.

Second Brushing of Olive Oil then Back in the Oven – Grain Free, Gluten Free Bread Baking

Bake in the oven an additional 45 minutes, tenting it with foil the last 15 minutes if it is browned nicely to prevent it from overbrowning. Check it after 30 minutes (one hour after initial start of baking). If it is brown, tent it for the final 15 minutes. The bread needs the full 45 minutes to make sure it is completely baked. The total baking time is one hour and fifteen minutes.

Remove the bread from the oven after the baking time, and set it on a wire rack. After 5 minutes of cooling in the pan, remove it from the pan and cool completely on the wire rack before slicing.

If you enjoy this recipe, don’t forget to share it! I hope you Enjoy! 🙂

Cooled Grain Free Homemade Bread Loaf, Ready to Slice (Gluten Free, Nut Free, Dairy Free)

Pin it! Thank you!

sameatshernutrients

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies

Shortbread cookies that melt in your mouth are one of my favorites! My other favorite is, like many people, chocolate chip! This cookie recipe combines the best of both to bring you a Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookie!

This cookie uses just superfine rice flour for the delicate texture and flavor that you want in a shortbread cookie without using the traditional wheat flour. AND it is more heart healthy but with all the flavor because I used half ghee and half olive oil for the fat. It works beautifully in this cookie! This recipe also uses pure organic cane sugar, and there is only a half a teaspoon in each cookie. This batch makes two dozen delicious shortbread cookies that are perfectly sweetened with sugar and the sweetness of the rice flour.

Let’s bake these beauties!

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Lay out two parchment lined cookie sheets.

Ingredients:

1/4 Cup of Ghee

1/4 Cup of Olive Oil

2 Eggs

1 Teaspoon of Vanilla

1/4 Cup of Cane Sugar

1 1/4 Cups of Superfine Rice Flour (I use Authentic Foods brand, regular rice flour is coarser and will give a different result)

1 1/2 Teaspoons of Baking Soda

1/4 Teaspoon of Salt

1 Teaspoon of Apple Cider Vinegar

1/2 Cup of Chocolate Chips (I used Enjoy Life)

Directions:

In a stand mixer, or you can use a bowl with electric beaters, mix your ghee, olive oil and sugar until creamy and light in color like an egg yolk. This will take one to three minutes, longer if you are using a hand mixer. Add the eggs one at a time beating until incorporated. Add the vanilla extract and blend. In a small bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients, the rice flour, baking soda and salt. Add the dry ingredients to your wet and mix until incorporated completely. Add the teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and mix. Finally, stir in the chocolate chips.

Scoop the cookie dough by the tablespoon onto two cookie sheets evenly spaced. I like to use a cookie scoop for this. Flatten by half with your fingertips. Bake in your preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes. The cookies will be set, but they will not brown. They will be the pale color of shortbread.

Remove from the oven and cool for 5 minutes on the cookie sheet.

Enjoy! These also freeze beautifully!

Speculaas, SCD Legal, Grain, Dairy, Egg and Gluten Free – Gift Ideas, Winter Self Care and Clean Beauty Lip Swaps!

Are you ready to bake Christmas cookies? These are Grain, Gluten, Egg and Dairy Free and SCD Legal.

Speculaas have been baked as far back as the 15th century in the Netherlands and Germany, but over the years their popularity has spread to many other countries. They are definitely associated with Christmas and were embossed with images of Saint Nicholas and were delicious cookie treats gifted to children.

This recipe for Speculaas is Grain, Dairy, Gluten and Egg Free to accommodate many, and they are SCD Legal. The cookie is absolutely delicious, and the warming spices make this a holiday cookie to be loved and made over and over. They are a perfect treat with a cup of tea! I can’t wait until cookie time to have these lately.

If you don’t have a Speculaas and Springerle roller, you can still make these cookies with an embossed cookie cutter, or just roll them out and cut them into pretty shapes like you would a sugar cookie. But these can be made the traditional way with a roller like I did. This is where I got my Speculaas Rolling Pin. There are also some really pretty ones here.

Here’s the recipe:

Speculaas

Ingredients:

1 1/2 Cups of Raw Cashews

1/2 Cup of Tahini

1/4 Cup of Runny Honey

1 Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract

1/4 Teaspoon of Baking Soda

1/4 Teaspoon of Salt

and the following warm spices that make the traditional Speculaas flavor:

1/2 Teaspoon of Cinnamon

1/4 Teaspoon of Nutmeg

1/4 Teaspoon of Cloves

1/8 Teaspoon of Ginger

1/8 Teaspoon of Ground Anise

1/8 Teaspoon of Cardamom

Directions:

In a food processor, grind the cashews until finely ground. Add the spices, baking soda and salt and pulse until thoroughly combined. Now add the tahini, honey and vanilla extract and process until thoroughly blended stopping to scrape down the sides as needed.

Gather up your dough and pat it out on a piece of plastic wrap into a 4 x 6 rectangle. Wrap it tightly and refrigerate for one hour.

After one hour, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. and lay out a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

Take our your refrigerated cookie dough and place it between two sheets of parchment. With a regular rolling pin, roll the dough between the parchment out to a little less than 1/2 inch thick. Remove the top sheet of parchment, and straighten up your sides with your hands to make a rectangle. Now, take your Speculaas rolling pin and roll with medium pressure across the dough. I did this in two rows. You will get the feel for how much you need to press. This will spread your dough a little more as you roll and also emboss the cookie dough. It doesn’t need to be perfect. With a pizza cutter or a sharp knife, score the cookie dough also trimming the outer sides, but not moving the cookies.

Bake in your preheated oven for 14 minutes or until deeply golden brown, but not burned. I like to start checking after 12 minutes.

Take the baked cookies out of the oven and while still warm, run your pizza cutter or sharp knife down the scored lines again to separate the cookies. Let them cool completely on the cookie sheet. Store in an airtight container after cooled.

If you need some holiday shopping ideas and winter self care, here is a list of some of the things my family loves!

Some of our favorite things!

The cutest comfy nightgowns The sheep are adorbs!

A beautiful Matcha Tea Gift Set

Elderberry Syrup for Immunity

Magnesium Body Lotion for Better Sleep, More Magnesium, Aches and Pains (scent free)

For the little children:

Super Cool Train Set

Unicorn Chair for the Little Princesses

Rainbocorns are very popular in the elementary age crowd right now.

Beautiful Dog Collars for the Pups. Ming has the red one.

Also, giving the gift of clean beauty is always a wonderful way to show your love and appreciation for someone and switch to safer products. Do you have a lip wear preference? I like to wear something on my lips to protect them, give me a color pop, shimmer or shine and take good care of my lips. If you’ve ever had chapped lips, you know how uncomfortable that is. Beautycounter lip products are all GLUTEN-FREE, nut-free, soy-free & vegan AND are tested 3 times for safety from hormone disrupting chemicals and heavy metals. BC lips are my favorite of all time, not just safer – they’re so hydrating and not sticky! Here’s some more helpful info when choosing a lip product:

Clean Lip Products that are Gluten Free!

The Jellies shimmer and shine and fit right into your pocket. They are a cushy, non-sticky gloss. They come in duos of Sorbet & Peppermint, Orange Cream & Honey, or Raspberry & Cocoa.

Beyond Gloss delivers shimmer (if you pick a shimmer shade) and shine with sheer clean color. I LOVE that is has Responsibly sourced vanilla: ECOCERT-certified organic vanilla from Madagascar is responsible for this gloss’ signature sweet scent. Our supplier is committed not only to sourcing the highest quality of vanilla, but also to improving the quality of life for their community of farmers.

Sheer Genius Conditioning Lipstick is creamy and buildable with the conditioning benefits of a balm, so it gives you color with the benefits of a balm. Again with that Responsibly sourced vanilla that smells so darn good!

Color Intense Lipstick is a long wearing lipstick with a satin finish with natural peppermint oil. My current favorite is 9 to 5, but I can’t wait to try some other shades too. A definite Date night or Dress Up lipstick, or if you like a matte look.

You can shop Beautycounter with me here: https://www.beautycounter.com/sandrashields

I’d love to help you switch to safer, and every time I can be of service helping someone switch to safer, I do a little jazzy hands, happy dance!

As always, I love to hear from you! Drop me a comment below and touch base. Have a wonderful holiday season!

xoxo

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