Snacks

Italian Bacon Popovers

The air is starting to cool here in preparation for Fall, and that makes me crave popovers! According to James Beard, although they resemble Yorkshire Pudding, they are purely an American creation. I have a lot of English heritage, and grew up eating recipes my Grandmother made from what she called “the old country” (England). So here is a version of a popover that I find to be Fall Comfort Food in my humble opinion. It is a little American, with an Italian Flair and a bit of English whimsy, but mostly they are plain delish! I added some good quality parmigiano reggiano, which is SCD Legal, but if you don’t tolerate dairy, they are equally delicious without it. They are so, so good hot from the oven! They are fun to eat, and I used leftover popovers to pack sandwiches for my daughters lunches the next day. Just split them and fill them for a mini sandwich. So, enjoy a little Fall comfort food and make some popovers!

Italian Bacon Popovers

You can use a popover pan like this, but a muffin pan works just fine! It makes a dozen puffy popovers!

Oven Ready Popovers

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil or Ghee, Melted

1/2 Cup Cooked, Sugar Free is Bacon (4 slices) cooked and chopped

8 Large Pastured Eggs

1 Cup Full Fat Coconut Milk

1/2 Cup shredded Parmigiano Reggiano, optional Omit for Dairy Free

1/4 Cup Coconut Flour

1/4 Cup Scallions, green tops only, sliced

1 Teaspoon Italian Seasoning

1 Teaspoon Pink Himalayan Salt

1/2 Teaspoon Black Pepper

Preheat your oven 400º degrees. Place a half teaspoon of melted coconut oil or ghee in each popover or muffin pan cup and brush it up the sides. Crack eggs into a mixing bowl and whisk together with the coconut milk, whisk in the coconut flour and keep whisking briskly until no lumps, stir in the remaining ingredients, then fill each popover or muffin cup 2/3 full with batter. Don’t overfill, leave room for them to pop up! Your batter will look like this.

Italian Bacon Popover Batter

Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake 30 – 35 minutes keeping an eye on them until they are golden brown. Don’t be tempted to open the oven door. Think Souffle! When they are done, remove them from the oven and take them out of the pan while still hot and cool. Eat them warm, or they make a very nice mini-sandwich!

Italian Bacon Popover

Cinnamon Date Thumbprint Cookies

I hope you all had a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend! The kids are all back in school now, so our routines are changing. We made this delicious cookie this weekend that I wanted to share with you. Thumbprints are such a fun cookie to eat and make. I especially enjoy making them with my children because the process is very hands on and fun.

Here is a delicious version of a thumbprint cookie that has just the right amount of cinnamon and a date filled center.

Also, don’t forget to enter the giveaway! It is posted under Products I Love. The giveaway ends Monday, September 8th, and is a very modern Cooler that is eco-friendly, light and functions so much better than the cheap styrofoam ones. It is hosted by Rafflecopter, so just click on the link on the giveaway page, and it will take you there to enter.

So, here is the new cookie recipe! It makes 18 cookies.

Cinnamon Date Thumbprint Cookies

Preheat your oven 350º degrees F.

Ingredients:

For Cookie:

1 1/2 Cups Blanched Superfine Almond Flour

6 Tablespoons Coconut Flour

1 Tablespoon Grass Fed Gelatin

1/2 tsp. Baking Soda

1/4 Teaspoon Himalayan Pink Salt

1 Tablespoon Cinnamon

1/2 Cup Coconut Oil

1/4 Cup Clear Honey

1 Tablespoon SCD Legal Vanilla Extract

In a small bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl cream your coconut oil, honey and vanilla extract. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix until incorporated thoroughly. Scoop tablespoon sized cookies onto two parchment lined baking sheets two inches apart and make a thumbprint in the center. I used a tablespoon cookie scoop.

Filling:

4 Medjool Dates, Pits Removed

2 Tablespoons Hot Water

2 Tablespoon Finely Shredded Unsweetened Coconut

1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

1 tsp. Fresh Lemon Juice

Pinch of Himalayan Pink Salt

Puree the filling ingredients together until smooth. I used my small Ninja chopper for this, but anything that will puree fairly small amounts will work fine. Scoop a teaspoon of filling for each cookie and place it in the thumbprint.

Bake 20 minutes, then cool. I hope you enjoy these cookies like we do! Also, remember the great giveaway! I use my cooler all the time!

Raw Blueberry Energy Bars

Raw Blueberry Energy Bars

It can be hard to find snack food that is prepackaged and clean. What I mean by clean is free of dairy, soy, gluten, added sugar, corn and other allergens. I miss the days when I was out and could just grab a bar of some kind that sounded good when I needed something quick. I don’t leave the house anymore without some kind of emergency snack. Here is my recipe for Blueberry Energy Bars that are really delicious! They are sweetened with dates. The ingredients are all nutritious and will give you energy. I make these in my food dehydrator.

Blueberry Energy Bars

You will need a food processor and a food dehydrator for this recipe.

Ingredients:

1 Cup Raw Walnuts

1 Cup Raw Almonds

6 Medjool Dates (pitted)

1/2 Cup Finely Shredded Unsweetened Coconut

1/3 Cup Dried Blueberries

1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract (Pure SCD Legal)

1/4 Teaspoon Himalayan Pink Salt

In a food processor, place the dates, walnuts and almonds and pulse until finely chopped. Add in the coconut, vanilla extract and salt. When it is all incorporated and starting to stick together (so you can form bars) add the blueberries and pulse a few times until they are incorporated. You want them to stay pretty much whole. On a teflon lined or parchment lined dehydrator tray, form the mixture into a dozen bars. Dehydrate for 22 hours at 105° degrees. Let cool, then individually wrap the bars.

You have a portable, delicious snack to take with you!

Raw Blueberry Energy Bars

Banana Almond Swirl Cookies

Here is a moist drop cookie, that I am so excited to share! It is egg free, sugar free and dairy free. They are soft and cake-like. I am an ex-cake addict. They are tasty and moist!

Banana Almond Swirl Cookies

There are two batters that you swirl together and then scoop and drop.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Ingredients:

Batter One:

1 Ripe Banana with Black Spots (this makes them sweet with no sugar and SCD Legal)

1 1/4 Cups Superfine Almond Flour

2 Tablespoons Cinnamon

2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil (softened but not melted. (If it is a warm day it will be soft of a few seconds in the microwave)

1 Teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract (just vanilla and alcohol)

1/4 Teaspoon Pink Himalayan Salt

1/4 Teaspoon Gluten Free Baking Soda

Puree the banana, then in a medium bowl with a hand mixer, mix in the remaining ingredients. Set aside.

Batter Two:

1 Ripe Banana with Black Spots (this makes them sweet with no sugar and SCD Legal)

1 1/4 Cups Superfine Almond Flour

2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil (softened but not melted. (If it is a warm day it will be soft of a few seconds in the microwave)

1/2 Teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract and 1/2 Teaspoon Pure Almond Extract (No additives, SCD Legal)

1/4 Teaspoon Himalayan Pink Salt

1/4 Teaspoon Baking Soda

Puree the banana. With a hand mixer in a medium bowl, mix the remaining ingredients.

Add the Cinnamon Batter to the top of the almond batter and swirl with a knife until you get a nice marbled effect. Scoop onto two parchment lined baking sheets with a cookie scoop. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes. If you have any left after the first day, store them in the refrigerator.

Cinnamon Vanilla Nut Bites

These little energy bites are perfect pop in size, or if you are a more delicate eater, two bites! They are perfect for a quick snack when your running low on fuel, but don’t have a lot of time. I like to use Brazil Nut Butter because it is high in selenium.

Cinnamon Vanilla Nut Bites

Ingredients:

1/2 Cup Toasted Pecans

Toast Pecans in a 350 degree oven for 5-7 minutes until just starting to brown. Set aside to cool then finely chop.

1/4 Cup Brazil Nut Butter (or Sunflower, Almond, Peanut, Walnut butter)

1/4 Cup Dried Currants

1 Tablespoon Pure Vanilla Extract

1 1/4 Cup Superfine Blanched Almond Flour

2 Tablespoon Coconut Flour

2 Tablespoons Clear Honey

1/4 Teaspoon Pink Himalayan Salt

1/4 Cup Coconut Oil

2 Teaspoon Cinnamon

1 Teaspoon SCD Legal Pure Vanilla Extract

Place Currants and first tablespoon of Vanilla Extract in a small bowl and macerate for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, add the other ingredients except the toasted pecans to a medium mixing bowl. Blend all the ingredients, then add the soaked currants. Form into 1 1/2 inch balls and roll in the finely chopped, toasted pecans. Freeze on a cookie sheet for 30 minutes, then store in an airtight container in the freezer or refrigerator depending on the firmness you desire.

Cinnamon Vanilla Nut Bites

Matcha Green Tea Cookies

After travelling to China my first time, I fell in love with Matcha. When I went into the little corner markets there, in the snack isle, they had a variety of little Matcha Green Tea cookies to choose from. They were delicious with a delicate sweet green tea flavor! I get excited about new food ideas and combinations. 🙂 They were so good and mildly sweet, as Chinese desserts tend to be. Here I have recreated the little green tea matcha cookie using my favorite unsweetened matcha powder.

Matcha Powder

Matcha has amazing health benefits as well. It is cancer fighting, high in antioxidants, boosts memory and concentration, increases metabolism, combats inflammation, oxidation and aging and contains potassium, vitamins A and C, Iron, Protein and Calcium. I use 1/4 cup in this recipe, which comes out to 1/4 teaspoon of matcha per cookie. I hope you enjoy them as much as my girls and I do. They are made with almond flour and good fat.

Matcha Cookie Dough Scoops

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees.

Ingredients:

2 Cups Superfine Almond Flour

1/4 Cup Unsweetened Matcha Green Tea Powder

1/4 Cup sliced Almonds

1/4 teaspoon Himalayan Pink Salt

1/4 Cup Clear Honey

1/2 Cup Coconut Oil

1 Egg White

1/4 teaspoon ground Cardamom

1/2 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract (no additives beside vanilla & alcohol)

Add coconut oil, honey, egg white, cardamom & vanilla extract to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and whip on medium high for 3 minutes until light and creamy. Meanwhile, in a separate bowl, combine almond flour, matcha powder and salt. Add to the wet ingredients just until blended. Alternatively you can use a hand mixer, it will just take longer to get the coconut oil mixture light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Scoop with a tablespoon cookie scoop onto two parchment lined cookie sheets. Take a pinch of the sliced almonds and press into the top of each cookie. Bake at 325 degrees for 11 to 12 minutes. Cool completely.

Makes 24 cookies

Matcha Green Tea Cookies - Grain Free

Eat Your Nutrients!

Toasted Hazelnut Vanilla-Orange Ice Cream

It is that time of year when cold treats taste so good! I adore the flavor of toasted hazelnuts. There are flecks of real vanilla beans in this ice cream and a creamy orange flavor which melds beautifully with the toasted hazelnuts. The vanilla, hazelnut and orange go so well together. This ice cream is dairy free and egg free. It is gorgeous and gourmet! Wow people with this easy and amazing ice cream!

Toasted Hazelnut Vanilla-Orange Ice Cream

Toasted Hazelnut Vanilla-Orange Ice Cream

Ingredients:

2 Cups Canned Coconut Milk (Full Fat No Additives)

1/2 Cup Raw Hazelnuts

1/3 Cup Clear Honey

1 Vanilla Bean

1 Teaspoon Pure Vanilla (SCD Legal, no fillers, just vanilla and alcohol)

1 tsp. Great Lakes Gelatin (orange container)

1 Cup Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice

1 tsp. Orange Zest

Preheat oven 350 degrees. Place whole hazelnuts on a cookie sheet and toast for ten to fifteen minutes until the hazelnuts skins start blistering and the nuts start to brown. Remove from oven and place in a lint free clean dish towel and wrap and let sit for one minute to steam. This helps release the skins. Now roll the towl around with the hazelnuts inside to remove most of the skins. Cool and then finely chop the hazelnuts. I like my mini Ninja for this or you can do it by hand.

Heat the coconut milk on the stove top until it comes to a simmer. Split your vanilla bean length-wise and scrape out the seeds with a spoon. Add the seeds and pod to the heated coconut milk and turn off the burner and steep for ten minutes.

Remove the vanilla bean pod and discard then whisk in the remaining ingredients except the hazelnuts. Chill completely at least 6 hours. You can do this step a day ahead of freezing the ice cream too. Put the ice cream in your ice cream maker and add the hazelnuts and freeze the ice cream. Serve! Yum!

Toasted Hazelnut Vanilla-Orange Ice Cream

This ice cream is spectacular with my Summer Strawberry Pie. (recipe coming soon!) The flavors complement each other in a delicious way!

I love to hear your thoughts!

Eat Your Nutrients!

Roasted Eggplant and Red Pepper Tapenade

Roasted Eggplant & Red Pepper Tapenade

Don’t you love dips and spreads? I do, and it is so nice to know you can make them yourself with great ingredients that feed your body and not only taste awesome, but have nothing but good ingredients. I am also looking for easy and fast! I served this tapenade recently with almond flour crackers. It is good with vegees also, like cucumber rounds, or on top of a salad. The eggplant is peeled before roasting, which makes it easy to digest and pretty when pureed.

Ingredients:

1 Medium Eggplant, peeled and cubed

2 Red Bell Peppers, seeded and diced

3 Green Scallions (green parts only, sliced)

3 Tablespoons Garlic Infused Olive Oil

1/4 Cup Fresh Parsley

2 Tablespoons Fresh Basil

1 teaspoon Himalayan Pink Salt

1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper

1 Tablespoon – 18 year old aged Balsamic Vinegar

Preheat Oven 400 degrees. Placed cubed eggplant and peppers on a parchment lined baking sheet and drizzle the olive oil over them and add salt and pepper, then toss until coated. Place them in them in the oven and roast for 40 to 45 minutes tossing a few times during cooking until they are starting to brown and very soft. The last 20 minutes of the cooking time, add the chopped green scallions, toss and continue roasting.

Roasted Eggplant and Red Pepper Tapenade

Remove from the oven. Cool for five minutes. Then, place the roasted vegetables in a food processor with a steel blade and pulse a few times. Add the balsamic, parsley and basil and continue pulsing until blended to your liking. I like just a few bits of vegetables showing and not completely blended. Add additional salt and pepper to taste if needed.

Serve! This keeps in the refrigerator about a week and can be re-warmed or served cold.

Here is the tapenade served as a shrimp canape.

Roasted Eggplant & Red Pepper Tapenade Shrimp Canope

…..and served with crudites! There are so many options for this!

Roasted Eggplant & Red Pepper Tapenade

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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!

SCD, Paleo, Red, White & Blueberry Snack Loaf

I love to hear your thoughts!

Eat Your Nutrients!

Honey Mustard Chicken Wings

If you are craving some tangy, succulent wings that are easy and everyone will love, this recipe is a great choice! The sauce is quick to mix together. They smelled so good when they were baking in the oven, I could hardly wait to dig into them! They would be great the next day in a lunchbox, but we didn’t have any left, so next time, I will need a double batch. They are baked and then finished off under the broiler to get them nice and crispy.

Ingredients:

2 lbs. Chicken Wings

2 TBS. Garlic Infused Olive Oil

1 Tablespoon Clear Honey

1 Tablespoon Garlic Free Yellow Mustard

1 Tablespoon Djon Mustard

1 teaspoon Ground Cumin

1 teaspoon Chipotle Chili Powder

1 teaspoon Himalayan Pink Salt

1/8 teaspoon White Pepper

two dashes of Habanero Pepper Sauce

2 Tablespoons Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice

Preheat oven 375 degrees. Lay wings on a parchment lined rimmed baking sheet, sprinkle with a little extra Himalayan Pink Salt and Black Pepper (pre-season your meat to build flavor) and bake ten minutes. Meanwhile whisk up the rest of the ingredients for the sauce. After ten minutes of baking, remove wings and brush with some of the sauce…coat them well. Bake another ten minutes, remove from the oven and turn the wings over and brush again and return to the oven ten more minutes. Repeat once more for ten minutes. Keep an eye on your wings. (Depending on the size of them the time will vary. My wings were medium sized and took 40 minutes.) Turn on broiler and broil the wings until they are at your desired crispiness, coating again and turning once. This will only take a minute or two. Serve!