Tag Archives: Paleo

Banana Crunch Cookies

Banana Crunch Cookies - Grain Free

Make these crunchy cookies reminiscent of banana cream pie and pecan sandies.

They have a wonderful caramel banana flavor and the texture of a pecan sandie.

Banana Crunch Cookies Grain Free AIP Paleo

Using banana chips is they key to the crunch! I crushed the banana chips to resemble chopped nuts, and stirred them into the dough. Then I sprinkled some extra crushed banana chips on top.

You can use honey or maple syrup in this recipe.

plate of banana crunch cookies - AIP Paleo

Banana Crunch Cookies

Ingredients:

1/2 Cup of Banana Chips (I use these. The ingredients are just bananas and coconut oil)

1/2 Cup of Coconut Flour

1/4 Cup of Avocado Oil

3 Tablespoons of Coconut Butter (softened)

2 Tablespoons of Coconut Sugar

2 Tablespoons of Honey or Maple Syrup

1 Tablespoon of Grass Fed Gelatin (I used this kind)

1/4 Teaspoon of Vanilla Powder (Vanilla Extract if not strict AIP)

1/4 Teaspoon of Ground Cinnamon

1/4 Teaspoon of Ground Mace

1/4 Teaspoon of Sea Salt

1/4 Teaspoon of Baking Soda

1/4 Teaspoon of Cream of Tartar

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350° degrees F.

Lay out a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

Crush the banana chips using a small food processor (or you can put them in a ziplock back and pound them with a rolling pin until they resemble small chopped nuts).

In a medium mixing bowl, add the avocado oil. Then, sprinkle the oil with the grass fed gelatin, and beat with an electric hand-held mixer. Add the coconut sugar and honey, beat. Soften the coconut butter in the microwave for a few seconds, then add it to the bowl and beat until creamy and incorporated. Add the coconut flour, vanilla powder, cinnamon, mace, sea salt, baking soda and cream of tartar and mix until combined. Add 3 tablespoons of crushed banana chips to the cookie dough and mix. Reserve the remaining crushed banana for the tops. Using a tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop up the dough, then pack it firmly into the scoop before releasing it onto the prepared cookie sheet. You will have 9 cookies. Flatten each cookie with the palm of your hand. Sprinkle the remaining crushed banana chips evenly onto each cookie. Bake in your preheated oven for 9 minutes.

Cool completely on the cookie sheet.

Makes 9

Banana Crunch Cookies - Nut Free, Egg Free, Dairy Free, AIP Paleo

Beef Liver Pate

Is liver my favorite? No. But the benefits of grass fed liver cannot be ignored, and my favorite way to eat it is a pate, which is quite delicious. Those who try it unknowingly, for instance on a platter of cheese, crackers and dips, have been known to say “Mmmm! What is this?” Yes, it’s perfectly true!

I remember a similar experience with squash substituted for pumpkin in pie. When I was a child, we would play with our neighbors outdoors almost daily all Summer long. One of my friends swore up and down that he thought squash was disgusting and never to be touched with a ten foot pole! Until one day he tried My Mother’s “pumpkin” pie which she had made with winter squash from our garden. He said “Man, this is the best pumpkin pie I have ever had!” I couldn’t wait to tell him, with relish, that it was squash! Beef liver is a nutritional powerhouse packed with vitamins. It is a powerful superfood and has been included in traditional diets for thousands of years. Liver is the best source of B12. It is also high in active Vitamin A (retinol) that our bodies don’t have to convert like we do plant based Vitamin A (carotenoids). Liver is also high in Iron, B6, Folate, Biotin, and small amounts of copper, chromium and selenium.

I have flavored this pate with herbs, spices and aged balsamic. It is anything but plain. I used US Wellness Meats Grass Fed Beef Liver in this recipe. You can also find good grass fed beef liver locally at Farm Markets or from your local Farmer.

Beef Liver Pate

Beef Liver Pate

Ingredients: 1 lb. of Grass Fed Beef Liver, sliced

2 Cups of Chopped Red Onion

1/4 Cup of Aged Balsamic Vinegar

2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil

1 Tablespoon of Dried Rosemary

1 Tablespoon of Dried Marjoram

1 Tablespoon of Dried Thyme

1 Tablespoon of Turmeric Powder

1 Tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar

1/2 Teaspoon of Garlic Powder

1/2 Teaspoon of Sea Salt

1/2 Teaspoon of Dried Lemon Peel

Directions: In 1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil, Sautee the Beef Liver sprinkled with 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt over medium high heat. Cook on one side for five minutes, then flip the liver and cook on the other side until it is cooked through.

Remove the liver from the pan and set aside. Add the other tablespoon of olive oil to the pan and the chopped red onion. Cook until tender. Sprinkle the rosemary, marjoram, thyme, garlic powder, turmeric, and lemon peel over the onions. Then, cook, stirring until the herbs, spices and onions are fragrant. Add the apple cider vinegar to the pan and deglaze, scraping all the brown bits off the bottom. Add the 1/4 cup of aged balsamic and stir and cook for 30 seconds.

In a food processor, add the cooked liver and the onion mixture. Process until you have a smooth spread, being sure to scrape down the sides a few times. Put your pate in a pretty serving dish, and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled. Before serving, add a pretty spring of fresh herbs to the top like parsley or basil.

Nutrient Dense Superfood, Beef Liver Pate

“Cacao” Dusted Snickerdoodles

Paleo Snickerdoodles AIP sameatshernutrients

When a cookie has just the right amount of fat in it, it has a certain melty mouth feel. That’s the sweet spot! Snickerdoodles are a cookie I have loved since my twenties when I would order them at my favorite coffee shop. They were ginormous, so I would split them with Doug or my kids and savor my half.

Snickerdoodles Paleo AIP sameatshernutrients

What I love about Snickerdoodles is their simplicity. That vanilla cinnamon taste is comforting. They are a smooth cookie, straight up, with no chunks. Sometimes I’m in the mood for that! They take you buy surprise, because they look simple, but when you take a bite, and that melted feel begins in your mouth, and then the cinnamon vanilla warmth hits your taste buds, ahhhhhh heavenly!

Since I am a rebel at heart, my Snickerdoodles aren’t flat, but round and mounded, which makes them about a three bite sensation. That way I don’t have to split them in half to share. Plus, I dusted some Carob Powder on them before baking.

dusted snickerdoodle cookies ready to bake

“Cacao ” Dusted Snickerdoodles

Preheat your oven to 350º degrees F.

Ingredients:

1/2 Cup Coconut Flour

1/4 Cup Avocado Oil or Melted Coconut Oil

3 Tablespoons of softened Coconut Butter (I used this)

2 Tablespoons of Coconut Sugar

2 Tablespoons of Honey

1 Tablespoon of Grass fed Gelatin (Like This)

1/2 Teaspoon of Ground Cinnamon

1/4 Teaspoon of Sea Salt

1/4 Teaspoon of Baking Soda

1/4 Teaspoon of Cream of Tartar

1/4 Teaspoon of Vanilla Powder (or vanilla extract if not strict AIP)

Carob Powder for Dusting (I use this)

Directions:

Add the Avocado Oil or Melted Coconut Oil to a medium mixing bowl. Sprinkle with the gelatin, and with a hand held mixer, blend the olive oil and gelatin together. Add the softened Coconut Butter. I soften it by microwaving the glass jar ten to fifteen seconds. Add the coconut sugar and honey and blend until creamy. Now, add the coconut flour, baking soda, sea salt, cinnamon, cream of tartar, and vanilla powder. Blend with your hand held mixer.

Lay out a parchment lined cookie sheet, and with a tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop the cookies onto the parchment. Take 1 1/2 Tablespoons of Carob Powder and with a fine meshed strainer, dust the Carob Powder on top of the cookies. Bake in your preheated oven for ten minutes, or until the cookies are just golden brown on the edges.

Makes 10

Cacao Dusted Paleo AIP Snickerdoodles

Carrot Cake Mug Muffin with Blueberries and Coconut

AIP Carrot Cake Mug Muffin - Paleo

Quick and Easy is one of the things I love about mug muffins! Not to mention they are personal sized, can be eaten warm, and are fresh as fresh can be. This yummy Mug Muffin comes together fast and has a half cup of carrots in it.

AIP Carrot Cake Microwave Mug Muffin

It also contains healthy fat, a touch of honey syrup and a gelatin egg. If you have a Ninja Express Food Chopper like this, the carrots shred finely in seconds, and it’s under $20. I use it a lot in the kitchen!

Here’s the recipe. You can make this muffin in about ten minutes start to finish!

Carrot Cake Mug Muffin with Blueberries and Coconut

Ingredients:

1/2 Cup of Finely Shredded Carrot (about 2 medium) It should look like rice in consistency

2 Tablespoons of Coconut Flour

2 Tablespoons of Coconut Oil (melted) or Avocado Oil

1 Tablespoon of Pure Honey

1/4 Teaspoon of Ground Cinnamon

1/8 Teaspoon of Ginger

1/8 Teaspoon of Cloves

1/8 Teaspoon of Mace

1/8 Teaspoon of Baking Soda

A Pinch of Salt

1 Gelatin Egg – Instructions in the directions -(You will need 3 Tablespoons of water and 1 Tablespoon of Gelatin like this)

2 Tablespoons of Dried Blueberries (like these) These do contain less than 1% Sunflower Oil, so if you want to avoid that substitute organic raisins.

1 Tablespoon of Shredded Unsweetened Coconut

Carrot Cake Batter

See the Batter in the photo above ready to microwave.

Directions:

Add the coconut flour, salt, baking soda, and spices to a bowl and sift with a whisk. Stir in the shredded carrot. Add the melted coconut oil or avocado oil and honey and whisk.

To make your gelatin egg, stir together one tablespoons of grass fed gelatin and one tablespoon of cold water in a bowl big enough to whisk in more hot water in a minute. Let it gel. Now, add two tablespoon of boiling or very hot water and whisk until the gelatin melts and is frothy. Put is back in the microwave for ten seconds if necessary. Whisk the gelatin quickly into the batter with a fork before it sets up. Then, fold in one tablespoon of dried blueberries. Put the muffin batter into a microwave safe mug. Sprinkle on the remaining tablespoon of dried blueberries and the shredded coconut. Microwave on high for 3 minutes. Done!

Quick and Easy Microwave Muffin for One. With all the flavor of classic carrot cake, a half cup of carrots are in this muffin along with delicious dried blueberries and shredded coconut!

Carrot Cake Quick Loaf – Grain Free

Moist and delicious Carrot Cake Quick Bread? Yes, please! This quick bread recipe is grain and dairy free and lower in carbs. It has chopped crystallized ginger sprinkled on the top, raisins in the batter, and is sweetened with pure maple syrup! There are plenty of carrots and the warm spices of classic carrot cake! I like to snuggle up with a piece of this and a good book or my favorite Netflix series!

Carrot Cake Quick Loaf

The batter blends up quickly in a food processor, so there is no need to grate the carrots, which can be tedious. Line your baking pan with parchment to lift the loaf right out of the pan and have an easy clean up!

Carrot Cake Quick Bread Loaf

sliced carrot cake loaf

Carrot Cake Loaf

Preheat your oven to 325º degrees. Grease a 5″ x 7″ Loaf Pan and line it with parchment. I like to cut a piece to fit the long sides of the pan with some extra over the edges so I can simply lift it out of the pan. See photo below.

Ingredients:

3 Cups of Chopped Raw Carrots

6 Eggs

1/2 Cup plus 2 Tablespoons of Coconut Flour, scooped and leveled (I use this brand )

1/4 Cup of Apple Butter

1/2 Cup of Raisins

1/3 Cup of Avocado or Coconut Oil

1/4 Cup of Pure Maple Syrup

1 Teaspoon of Pure Vanilla Extract

2 Teaspoons of Cinnamon

1/2 Teaspoon of Ground Ginger

1/4 Teaspoon of Mace or Nutmeg

1/4 Teaspoon of Sea Salt

1/2 Teaspoon of Baking Soda

1/4 Cup of Candied Ginger, Chopped (omit for very strict Paleo as there is a bit of sugar here)

Directions:

Using a food processor with a blade, chop the carrots, processing until they are a crumble consistency. Add the eggs and blend until pureed with the carrots. Add the Coconut Flour and remaining ingredients, except the crystallized ginger for the top, and process for about two minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl a couple times with a rubber spatula. The coconut flour will start absorbing the liquid and be a nice cake-like batter. With a rubber spatula, scrape all the batter into your prepared loaf pan, and rap the pan on your counter a couple times to level the batter somewhat. Take your crystallized ginger and sprinkle it on the top of the batter. Bake in the oven for 1 hour 30 minutes keeping a close eye on the bread at the end. It is done when the loaf springs back in the center when touched with your finger.

Remove from the oven, and cool for ten minutes in the pan. Then, remove the loaf from the pan and cool completely on a wire rack before slicing.

Enjoy!

Grain Free Carrot Cake Loaf - Grain Free with Raisins, Maple Syrup and Crystalized Ginger! Paleo, Gluten and Dairy Free

Cashew Lemon Cookies

Cashew Lemon Gluten Free Cookies

Light Lemon Cookies made with Raw Cashews and Flaked Coconut are perfectly delicious! The best part is they have good for you ingredients and no dairy or grains in them. In fact, I am liking all these ingredients so much, I am having a hard time not giving the green light to eat these for breakfast!

Cashew Lemon Cookies Dairy Free Grain Free

Cashew Lemon Cookies

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

Ingredients:

1 Cup of Raw Cashews

1/4 Cup of Coconut Flour (I used this)

1/4 Cup of Olive Oil

3 Tablespoons of Pure Maple Syrup (substitute honey for SCD Legal)

1 Pastured Egg

1/2 Teaspoon of Sea Salt

1/2 Teaspoon of Baking Soda

1 Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract

Zest of one Lemon

1/4 Cup of No Sugar added Finely Shredded Coconut (like this)

Directions:

In a food processor with a blade attachment, add the Raw Cashews and pulse until you have fine crumbs. Add the coconut flour. Pulse again until you have a flour consistency. Add in the Maple Syrup, Olive Oil, Egg, Vanilla, Lemon Zest, Salt and Baking Soda. Blend until you get a creamy dough that starts to form a ball in the processor.

Using a tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop the dough into balls. Roll the balls in shredded coconut, pressing the coconut into the balls of dough. Flatten each ball onto your cookie sheet until they are approximately 1/2 inch thick. Bake in the oven for 11 minutes or until the edges are turning golden brown.

Cool on a wire rack.

Yummy. I love Lemon!!!

Cashew Lemon Cookies - Light Delicious Grain, Gluten and Dairy Free Cookies Rolled in Coconut. So delicious with ingredients nourishing enough for breakfast!!!

Grain Free Skillet Monster Cookie!

Grain Free Skillet Monster Cookie - Party Fun!

Fun Food is great for entertaining, and what is more fun that a giant monster cookie made in a cast iron skillet? Make it for your kids and their friends, but don’t forget the adults! They like to have fun too!

Skillet Monster Cookie (Paleo) - Fun Crowd Pleaser

Grain Free Skillet Monster Cookie

Preheat Oven 350º degrees F.

Ingredients:

2 Pastured Eggs

1/2 Cup of Coconut Flour (I Use This)

1/4 Cup of Pure Maple Syrup

1/2 Cup of Ghee, Butter (softened) or Olive Oil, plus 1 Tablespoon for Greasing the Pan

1 Teaspoon of Pure Vanilla Extract (Like This Gluten Free Brand)

1/2 Teaspoon of Sea Salt

1/2 Teaspoon of Baking Soda

1/3 Cup of Dried Cranberries

1/3 Cup of Dried Raisins

1/3 Cup of Raw Pecans

1/3 Cup of Dark Chocolate Chips (I use Enjoy Life)

Party Skillet Monster Cookie - Grain Free Delicious and Fun!

Directions:

In an 8″ Cast Iron Skillet, melt the Ghee or Butter and brush up the sides of the pan. If using olive oil just brush around the bottom and sides of the pan.

In a large mixing bowl, beat your eggs and Ghee, Butter or Olive Oil until creamy with a mixer. Add the maple syrup and vanilla and mix thoroughly. Sift together the coconut flour, salt and baking soda. Put the cookie dough into the greased skillet, and spread it evenly to the edges. Now, sprinkle the cranberries, raisins, pecans and chocolate chips on the top and press into the dough evenly.

Place the skillet into the preheated oven, and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown. Remove from the oven and what fun!….A beautiful, decadent skillet cookie! Great for a party or cookout!!!

For extra decadence, top the skillet cookie while still warm with coconut milk ice cream, like this recipe!

Crowd Pleasing Giant Cookie in a Skillet! Grain Free, Paleo with a Dairy Free Option!

Blueberry Pumpkin Seed Biscotti

Blueberry Pumpkin Seed Biscotti - Paleo, Gluten Free

Here’s a brand new delectable cookie recipe using dried blueberries and crunchy sprouted pumpkin seeds! The result is a vanilla blueberry crunchy cookie you will love! They are crumbly and delicate, so handle with care. Bonus! They are starch free!

Blueberry Pumpkin Seed Biscotti Grain, Dairy and Nut Free

Blueberry Pumpkin Seed Biscotti

Ingredients:

2 Eggs

1/2 Cup of Coconut Flour

1/4 Cup of Olive Oil

1/4 Cup of Maple Syrup

1 Teaspoon of Pure Vanilla Extract

1/4 Teaspoon of Baking Soda

1/4 Teaspoon of Fine Sea Salt

1/3 Cup of Dried Blueberries (I used these)

1/3 Cup of Sprouted Pumpkin Seeds (like these) Regular pumpkin seeds will give you different results than sprouted.

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350º degrees F.

In a medium bowl, beat the eggs with a hand held mixer. Then add the olive oil, maple syrup and vanilla extract to incorporate. Sift together the Coconut Flour, Baking Soda and Salt. Add it to the liquid ingredients, and blend until incorporated. Finally, beat in the dried blueberries and pumpkin seeds.

Scoop the cookie batter onto a parchment lined cookie sheet, and using the sides of the parchment. Shape it into a rectangle measuring approximately 12″ x 4″ x 1″ high. Alternatively, you can shape it with slightly damp hands. This keeps the dough from sticking to your hands.

Blueberry Pumpkin Seed Biscotti - Grain, Dairy, Nut Free

Bake in your preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the edges are starting to brown.

Remove from the oven and cool on the sheet for one hour. Reduce your oven’s heat to 325° degrees. Place the cooled cookie log onto a cutting board, and with a serrated knife, carefully slice the log on a diagonal, cutting the cookies into long rectangles about 1 inch thick each.

Place the cut side down back onto the parchment paper, and bake 5 minutes per side. After the first 5 minutes, take the cookies out of the oven and flip them over to the other cut side. Take care not to over brown, as all ovens are slightly different. Remove the biscotti from the oven and cool completely.

Store in an airtight container after cooling. Enjoy!

Makes 12

Blueberry Biscotti - Nut Free

Blueberry Coconut Balls – Nut Free, Paleo, SCD

Dried Blueberry Coconut Balls - Paleo

I love healthy snack balls! They are fun to pop in when you have a craving, or need something small to tide you over before a meal, or are having a snack attack and want it to be good for you, and taste like it isn’t. 🙂

Coconut Blueberry Balls - Healthy Snacking - Grain Free

Blueberry Coconut Balls for Healthy Snack Attacks

Here’s a recipe for Blueberry Coconut Snack Balls that fits the bill perfectly!

Blueberry Coconut Snack Balls

Ingredients:

1/3 Cup of Coconut Flour

1/3 Cup of Dried Blueberries (I used these)

1/4 Cup of Avocado Oil or Coconut Oil

2 Tablespoons of Honey

1 Tablespoon of Ground Flax

1 Teaspoon of Lemon Juice

1/4 Teaspoon of Sea Salt

1/4 Teaspoon of Ground Cinnamon

1 Cup of Toasted Coconut, Pulverized (I used Dang Coconut Chips that are already toasted, but you can toast your own.)

Directions:

In a medium bowl, add the coconut flour, flax, and salt. Mix with a whisk. In a separate bowl whisk together the honey, oil, vanilla and lemon juice. If using coconut oil, melt it just until runny. Add the liquid ingredients to the dry, and blend with a hand held mixer. Fold in the dried blueberries.

Place your toasted coconut in a mini food processor or use a mortise and pestle to pulverize the coconut flakes.

Now, scoop the dough into seven tablespoon sized balls, and roll in the pulverized toasted coconut.

Refrigerate and enjoy!

These Delicious Healthy Snack Balls Are Gluten, Nut and Dairy Free! Paleo and SCD

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Best Grain Free Graham Cracker’s Ever!

The Best Graham Crackers Paleo Egg Free

Oh my goodness, do I love a good, crunchy graham cracker! Since going gluten free and mostly grain free, a good graham with clean ingredients has been hard to find, and the other recipes I have tried either fall apart, don’t taste amazing or are too soft and wouldn’t hold up to toppings or s’mores.

The Best Grain Free Grahams Ever!

These I literally had to put out of my sight in order to keep myself from munching on them every time I came into the kitchen. If you are a fan of the Sandlot Movie, like I am, (It’s an all time family favorite), you know Smalls would never settle for a whimpy gram to stuff his face. Watch the scene here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlddDZkkxCc

These grahams are delicious in every way……texture, flavor, sturdiness….. and you can make them any size you want. They also happen to be egg free. I have been testing them for several months, and never was completely satisfied until this week when I was in a hurry and whipped together some while making dinner on a busy night, because we needed some Grahams in the house. They turned out great! Since I wasn’t actually in “testing” mode, I didn’t write it down until after they were done, and turned out so well. So, the next day, I retested them with honey instead of maple syrup. They turned out tasty with the honey, but you have to watch them carefully so they don’t burn. I again tested them using maple syrup, and they were s’more worthy! The maple syrup version is my favorite. It gives the grahams a true graham flavor and doesn’t over brown. These graham crackers can be enjoyed year-round. They are great for packing in lunches sandwiched with some nut butter and good quality fruit spread, and they are so, so s’more worthy! So campfire season, watch out, because Everyone should have good grahams!

Everyone Deserves a Good Graham

The Best Grain Free Graham Crackers Ever!

Preheat your oven to 350° degrees F.

Ingredients:

1 Cup of Coconut Flour (I used this brand) scooped and leveled

2 Teaspoons of Ground Cinnamon

2 Tablespoons of Ground Flax Seed

2 Tablespoons of Grass Fed Gelatin (I used Vital Proteins)

1/2 Teaspoon of Baking Soda

1/4 Teaspoon of Sea Salt

1/2 Cup of Avocado Oil (it is heart healthy and has high smoke point)

1/4 Cup of Pure Maple Syrup (You can substitute honey for SCD compliant, but watch carefully to prevent over browning)

4 Teaspoons of Pure Vanilla Extract

1/2 Teaspoon of Lemon Juice

Directions:

In a medium bowl, whisk together the coconut flour, cinnamon, flax and baking soda. Then, in another bowl, whisk together the liquid ingredients which are vanilla, avocado oil, maple syrup and lemon juice. Add the liquid to the dry ingredients, and beat with a hand held mixer for one minute. Sprinkle the gelatin over the top, and beat again until it is completely incorporated.

Form the dough into a ball, and place between two sheets of parchment paper. Flatten the ball with your hands, starting to form a rectangle. With a rolling pin, roll the dough out into a rectangle to fit a cookie sheet pan. The parchment paper should still be sandwiching the dough. This prevents your rolling pin from sticking. The dough should be about 1/4″ thick. Remove the top piece of parchment. With a fork’s tines, poke holes all over the dough, then use a pizza wheel to score vertical and horizontal lines making the graham crackers the size you like. Place the parchment with the rolled out grahams onto a cookie sheet. Bake in the oven for 8 to 10 minutes. They don’t take long. I recommend checking at eight minutes. When the edges are starting to turn golden brown, they are done. Remove them from the oven and cool completely on the cookie sheet before breaking them apart at the score marks.

How do you like to eat your grahams?

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