Breakfast

Apple Pie “Oatmeal” Cookies

These cookies are my latest obsession! They are grain free, but have the texture of a soft oatmeal cookie and the flavor of apple pie! They are also egg free, dairy free, have no added sugar, and are packed with nutrition from apples, walnuts, dates, currants and healthy fat! I also think these cookies rock because, if your child wakes up and asks, “Mom, can I have a cookie for breakfast?”, like mine have done, you can say “Yes” to these cookies. There is something about putting wholesome ingredients together in cookie form that makes kids really love to eat them………….me too!

Let’s bake some cookies!

Apple Pie “Oatmeal” Cookies

Ingredients:

3 Cups Diced Granny Smith Apples, cored peel left on

8 Medjool Dates, pitted

1/2 Cup Very Warm Water

1 Cup Raw Walnut Halves

1/2 Cup Shredded Coconut, Unsweetened like this

1/2 Cup Dried Currants

1/4 Cup Coconut Oil

1 1/2 Tablespoons Ground Cinnamon

1/4 Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg

1 Tablespoon Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice

1 Tablespoon Pure Vanilla Extract, no additives like this

1/2 Teaspoon Himalayan Pink Salt or Sea Salt

1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda

Directions:

Preheat your oven 350º degrees. Set out two cookie sheets covered in parchment paper.

Place your pitted dates in the 1/2 cup of very warm water and soak for ten minutes to soften. Meanwhile, in a food processor, place your chopped apples and lemon juice. Pulse until they are finely chopped. Drain your soaked dates, and add to the food processor along with the vanilla extract and coconut oil. Continue to pulse. When mostly smooth, add the remaining ingredients except the currants and walnuts. Puree until smooth, about one minute. Finally, add your currants and walnuts and pulse until the walnuts are coarsely chopped, about six pulses should do it.

Using a tablespoon cookie scoop, make rounded mounds of cookie dough on the parchment lined cookie sheets, twelve cookies per sheet. Using a fork, flatten cookie dough mounds to about 3/4″ inch thick.

Apple Pie “Oatmeal” Cookie Dough Ready to Flatten

Bake in your preheated oven for 28 to 30 minutes. They will be soft and golden brown when you remove them from the oven. They will firm up when they are completely cooled.

Makes 2 dozen nutritious, delicious cookies

Eat Your Nutrients!

Banana Walnut Muffins

Looking for an easy, no added sugar, healthy, grain free muffin? These Banana Walnut Muffins are sure to please! All you need is a food processor and a few ingredients. They are moist and have the perfect crumb. The sweetness comes from whole food – dates and banana. I like to make a double batch and freeze half for a quick and easy school day breakfast for the kids. Just thaw in the microwave.

Banana Walnut Muffins (Grain Free, Paleo)

Banana Walnut Muffins

To Begin:

Preheat your oven 350º degrees.

Ingredients:

2 Cups Cubed Zucchini (about 2 medium or 1 large)

1 Ripe Banana (with black spots)

1/2 Cup Coconut Flour

4 Medjool Dates, pitted

1/2 Cup Hot Water

2 Eggs

1 Teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract (no additives)

1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda

1/3 Cup Raw Walnuts

To Make The Muffins:

Line a 12 cup muffin pan with muffin liners.

Soak the pitted dates in the 1/2 cup of hot water for ten minutes. Meanwhile cube your zucchini and assemble the rest of the ingredients. Place the dates and soaking water in the food processor and puree together. Add the zucchini and banana and thoroughly puree. Add the eggs, coconut flour, vanilla and baking soda and puree until thoroughly blended and coconut flour has absorbed some of the liquid and it is the consistency of cake batter.

Using a muffin scoop or a 1/4 cup measuring cup, fill the muffin liners with the muffin batter. Top with walnuts, dispersing evenly. Bake in a 350º degree oven for 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool in the pan for ten minutes before placing on a wire cooling rack.

Enjoy these delicious muffins! They are less than 100 calories each and full of healthy ingredients you can feel good about.

Makes 10 Muffins

Eat Your Nutrients!

Island Get Away Immune Boosting Parfait

Island Getaway Immune Boosting Parfait

It is so important to keep our immune systems strong and feed ourselves nutrient dense foods during the winter months when we want to avoid colds and flu! For me, that means the treats I choose to put in my mouth need to be full of nutrients as well. I am not a perfectionist when it comes to food, but if you want to heal your digestion and keep your immune system strong, live long, and avoid downtime due to winter illness, there are ways to have your treats and not sacrifice nutrients. The Island Getaway Immune Boosting Parfait recipe consists of organic superfruits including raspberries, mango, pomegranate juice, currants, walnuts, almonds, lemon juice, banana, cinnamon, superfood matcha green tea, coconut, honey and a little vanilla. It tastes like a decadent dessert, but it is also a dense, nutrient rich food that will benefit your body’s cells, be part of a diet to keep your immune system strong, has flavonoids, phytonutrients, antioxidants, good fat, vitamins and minerals. All you need is a blender!

Some lifestyle choices that will help you meet your wellness goals this winter season are moving your body, getting enough sleep, getting outside in the sunshine and/or supplementing with Vitamin D3, and as mentioned, food choices. Most people are deficient in Vitamin D in the winter time. We get it naturally from the sun, but during the winter months and even the summer months, due to sunscreen, our bodies often do not absorb enough. Vitamin D is supportive to our immune systems. It is a hormone, not a vitamin, and is necessary for our immune systems to function properly. I started supplementing with Vitamin D3 this Autumn and within a week I was sleeping better. Here is an article for more information on the benefits of Vitamin D along with a short video. Also, Chris Kresser has written an informative article on Vitamin D entitled, “Vitamin D: the new super-nutrient?” You can read that article here.

So, pick your favorite exercise and commit to it regularly. For me that means weights and cardio three days a week in the mornings, yoga on the other days, and walking outdoors (weather permitting). Restorative yoga helps me wind down and sleep in the evening, especially when I have had a hectic day, (just 15 minutes will help). Lately I am really having fun with ball workouts. They make me feel like I am playing like a kid, not working out, but I am seeing results! Here’s one that I like. So, choose something that is fun! You will be getting the benefits of exercise and endorphins from doing something you enjoy, like jump roping or hula hooping. Here is a inspirational article on winter workouts from The Aloha Way, Source of Happiness entitled “Winter Workouts, Take it Inside“ by Eric Petri. And another on the benefits of stretching called “Stretch Your Way To Wellness” by Donna Flagg.

So here is the delicious, nutrient rich, parfait recipe:

Island Getaway Immune Boosting Parfait

Ingredients:

First Layer Mango:

1 Ripe Mango

1/4 Cup Raw Walnuts

1/4 Cup Organic Dried Currants

1 Tablespoon Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice

1/4 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon

Second Layer Raspberry Pomegranate:

2/3 Cup Organic Frozen Raspberries, Thawed

1 Tablespoon 100% POM Juice

1 Ripe Banana

1/4 Cup Finely Shredded Unsweetened Coconut

Third Layer Matcha Green Tea

4 Teaspoons Powdered Matcha Green Tea

1/4 Cup Raw Almonds (I used sprouted)

1/4 Cup Full Fat Coconut Milk, no additives

2 Tablespoons Finely Shredded Unsweetened Coconut

2 Tablespoons Pure Honey

Finish with pomegranate seeds on the top.

Directions: Starting with the first layer, blend all the ingredients until smooth and pudding consistency. Divide between three glasses or dishes evenly. Repeat with the Raspberry Pomegranate layer. Repeat with the Matcha Green Tea layer. Top with 1/2 teaspoon pomegranate seeds on each parfait. Chill two hours before serving.

Keeps in the refrigerator for 4 days.

I like these for breakfast. It is a serving of Matcha in each parfait. They are also good post workout! I hope you enjoy them. Imagine you are in a sunny island paradise on vacation while you are eating it for extra benefits!

Makes 3

Eat your nutrients! You deserve it!

Eat Your Nutrients!

*I contacted POM Juice directly to inquire about any additives or fillers in their 100% POM Juice and was told they put nothing in it. It is pure pomegranate juice. So, this item is SCD Legal.

Zucchini Tomato Quiche

Good Morning! Want a yummy, pretty quiche that is easy but looks like it isn’t? I made this last night for dinner, and it is really good! It comes together fast, and the parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme in the crust is delish! It makes great leftovers also, or served cold for lunches. I used a 12 inch tart pan to make it, but a pie pan would work as well.

Zucchini Tomato Quiche

Directions: Preheat your oven 350º degrees. Grease a tart or pie pan lightly with shortening and set aside.

(See In My Pantry Page for Brands I like and are SCD Safe)

Crust Ingredients:

2 1/4 Cups Superfine Almond Flour

2 Tablespoons Organic Palm Shortening

1 Egg

3/4 Teaspoon Himalayan Pink Salt or Sea Salt

1/2 Teaspoon Dried Parsley

1/2 Teaspoon Crushed Rosemary

1/4 Teaspoon Ground Sage

1/4 Teaspoon Ground Thyme

1/4 Teaspoon Black Pepper

For the Crust, in a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. Melt the palm shortening and whisk into the almond flour and then the egg. Stir with a fork until crumbly and then press into the bottom of your tart or pie pan. Bake in the oven for 8 minutes, then remove and set aside.

Ingredients for Filling:

4 Cups of Zucchini sliced into thin rounds with a mandolin slicer (about 2 medium zucchini)

9 Cherry Tomatoes

4 Eggs (divided)

1/2 Teaspoon Pink Himalayan or Sea Salt

1/2 Teaspoon Black Pepper

2 Tablespoons Garlic Olive Oil (for the top)

Nutmeg

Directions for filling:

Slice your cherry tomatoes in half. Whisk two eggs in a small bowl, and add 1/4 teaspoon of salt and pepper. Pour the egg mixture on the tart crust spreading evenly, then make concentric overlapping circles with half of the zucchini slices, making a spiral. (See photo) Whisk together the last two eggs with 1/4 teaspoon of salt and pepper. Pour the remaining 2 egg mixture over the zucchini and make sure it is evenly spread. Layer the rest of the zucchini in a spiral again. Brush the top layer of zucchini with 2 tablespoons of garlic olive oil, and top with the cherry tomatoes. Sprinkle with a little, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Bake in the oven for 40 minutes or until eggs are set. If you use a pie pan, it will take about ten minutes longer. Remove from the oven, cool slightly, then serve.

Zucchini Tomato Quiche

Eat Your Nutrients!

Real Pumpkin Spice Creamer Cups

Real Pumpkin Spice Beverage Flavor Drop-Ins

Real Pumpkin Spice Creamer Drop-In Cups

One of the best Fall traditions is pumpkins! There has been a lot in the media lately about some of the pumpkin spice beverages out there and the less than healthy ingredients they contain, even though the are deliciously addictive. I have a figure friendly, healthy, real food solution to a pumpkin spice beverage craving that will leave you feeling great with no sugar crashes or slumps.

These individual Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamers are only 65 calories, contain all natural ingredients, including real pumpkin, and are frozen individually for convenience and freshness. The recipe makes twelve. They have a true, delicious pumpkin spice flavor, are dairy free, and sweetened with just 1/2 teaspoon of honey per serving. If you like yours sweeter, you can add more. You also get 15% of your RDA of vitamin A from the real pumpkin each beverage contains along with beneficial spices. You can use these all-in-one flavor drop-ins creamers for coffee, lattes, tea or steamers.

Real Pumpkin Spice Matcha Latte

Real Pumpkin Spice Individual Portion Creamer

Recipe Ingredients:

Real Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer Cups

1 1/2 Cups Canned Pumpkin (this one is organic and SCD Diet legal)

1 1/2 Cups of Full Fat Coconut Milk, room temperature (this is my favorite and SCD Diet Legal)

3 Tablespoons of Pure Vanilla Extract

2 Tablespoons Clear Honey, warmed in the microwave more or less to taste (you can substitute Maple Syrup)

1 Tablespoon Ground Cinnamon

1 1/2 Teaspoons Ground Ginger

1/2 Teaspoon Ground Allspice

1/4 Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg

1/8 Teaspoon Ground Cloves

Line a muffin pan with good quality natural unbleached muffin papers. They have a non-stick coating on the inside for easy removal. Add your pumpkin to a medium mixing bowl. Whisk the warmed honey into the pumpkin. I like mine just slightly sweetened. You can add more or less honey depending on your taste. Whisk in the room temperature coconut milk and vanilla extract. Finally, whisk in all your spices. Using a level Muffin size scoop or a 1/4 cup measuring cup, scoop 1/4 cup of the pumpkin beverage drop-ins mixture into each muffin cup. Level by tapping the bottom of the pan on the counter top to flatten and place the pan in the freezer until they are frozen solid. After they are frozen, remove them from the muffin pan and store in a gallon zip bag in the freezer. When you need a pumpkin spice beverage, take one serving from the freezer and add it to your coffee, latte, tea or steamer. It is good to have the beverage slightly hotter than normal because the pumpkin spice drop-in is frozen. I like to put everything in a shaker and shake it up then pour it into a mug, but you could also use a whisk in your mug. This is the shaker I use (It is Awesome to get a frothy beverage!)

I hope you are enjoying Fall and pumpkin season!!! I look forward to having one of these every day!

Eat Your Nutrients!

Red, White and Blueberry Snack Bread

SCD, Paleo Red, White & Blueberry Loaf

SCD Paleo Red White and Blueberry Bread

Memorial Day weekend is almost here! I always get excited when Summer is just around the corner. I start thinking about fun summery food. I love the 4th of July, hanging out with family and friends, picnics, the kids twirling around with sparklers waiting for the fireworks to start, parades, barbecues, happy laughter, and lots of outdoor time. This bread is not only yummy, it is fun and just right for a picnic in the Summer. I am serving this at a cookout over Memorial Day. It keeps well in the refrigerator, so it can be made in advance leaving you more time to play outside! It would also be very delicious and pretty topped with some fresh berries and coconut milk whipped cream if you want to dress it up more. But it is pretty just by itself, and it is soft and yummy.

Ingredients:

2 Cups Super Fine Almond Flour

2 Tablespoons Coconut Flour

1 teaspoon Baking Soda

1/2 teaspoon Himalayan Pink Salt

pinch of nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon of Pure Stevia Leaf (optional, I use one that contains just Stevia Leaf here.)

4 eggs

1/4 Cup Organic Palm Shortening (I like Spectrum) or Coconut Oil

2 Tablespoons Clear Honey

1 1/2 teaspoon SCD Legal Vanilla Extract (just vanilla and alcohol in the ingredients)

1/4 teaspoon SCD Legal Lemon Extract (optional)

1/2 Cup Diced Fresh or Frozen Strawberries

1/2 Cup Fresh or Frozen Blueberries

Red, White & Blueberry Bread Batter

Directions:

Preheat Oven 350 degrees. Lightly grease a medium loaf pan, then line it with parchment paper.

Mix together Almond Flour, Coconut Flour, Baking Soda and Salt and a pinch of nutmeg and the cinnamon.

In a separate bowl whisk eggs, then add the clear honey, melted palm shortening and the rest of ingredients up to the fresh berries. Add the wet ingredients to your dry ingredients and mix until just blended. Gently fold in the berries so you don’t start getting swirls of the berry in your batter (Red, White and Blue).

Pour batter into the loaf pan, smooth the top, and bake for approximately 50 to 60 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Cool on a wire rack for ten minutes, then remove loaf from the pan and cool completely. Serve warm or wrap tightly and refrigerate. It is good warm from the oven, (but give it an hour to cool before cutting) and also cold from the fridge is delightful on a warm day. Store in the refrigerator. You can eat this bread anytime of day. My daughters love it for breakfast!