Chicken Schwarma + Coconut Basmati + Cucumber Salad + Cauliflower Chickpea Curry

Here's a meal that you cannot forget. You know the ones... they stick with you. The smells, the textures, the memories. It has all the qualities of warmth, love, nostalgia even. It may just for me because it does remind me of my time of living overseas in Israel. It also reminds me of friends I have eaten it with. It is the kind of meal that you make for a crowd and sit around the table for hours and laugh and tell stories. So I shared this meal with a group of lovely women I cooked for at the most recent Women's Wellness Retreat. I got to share a piece of my story and my heart with these beautiful brave women. And now, I am sharing this meal with you. I hope you give a try and recreate this same nourishing and loving meal for all of your people.  It is the kind of meal that offers space for CONNECTION, LOVE and a shared LIFE together. ENJOY!

Chicken Schwarma Recipe
{gluten, dairy, egg, soy, sugar and nut-free}

2-3 pounds of chicken thighs (I search down local, organic or all-natural meat for cooking)
2-3 TB of olive oil
2 fresh lemons-squeezed for 1/2 cup of fresh lemon juice
2-3 fresh garlic cloves finely minced
1-2 ts. of sea salt
1 ts. of ground black pepper
1 ts. of ground cumin
1 ts. of ground coriander
1 ts. of ground turmeric
1 ts. of ground paprika
1 ts. of ground cardamon
1/2 ts. of ground cloves
1/2 ts. of ground cinnamon
1/4 ts. of cayenne pepper

In a 9x13 Pyrex baking dish spread out the raw chicken thighs, drizzle some olive oil and lemon juice and sprinkle all the spices and salt and pepper over. Then use a fork or your hands to massage the spices into the meat. Then cover with foil and let it chill in the fridge over night or at least for an hour. Then bake in a 350 degree oven for 15-20 minutes covered and 15-20 minutes uncovered until it is fully cooked. Let cool for a minute and then you can either serve as is or slice each piece into a few pieces and make it more easy to serve on rice or pita.

The meat is super flavorful, juicy, tender and full of goodness. I like how it has it's own sauce and can be easily put over rice, lettuce, in pita or on a flat bread. A flawless chicken dish!

Cucumber Salad or Israeli Salad
{gluten, dairy, egg, soy, sugar and nut-free}
4 English cucumbers, sliced, quartered and halved again (1/8th of a circle piece)
2-4 small campari, cherry or Roma tomatoes (basically need 1/2 cup of tomatoes, diced)
1/3 cup of finely chopped onion, I used red onion for this recipe
1/2 cup of fresh finely chopped parsley
1/2 cup of fresh finely chopped mint
2 lemons squeezed for juice (1/2 cup)
1/4 cup of olive oil
big pinch of sea salt and cracked black pepper

Chop all of the above in a large bowl and drizzle in the lemon and olive oil and herbs and viola, it is that easy. You can add more or less of all of the ingredients depending on what you got on hand or growing fresh or your preferences. It is a simple, but absolutely perfect salad. Crisp and cooling- delicious!

I make this curry recipe as a meat-alternative to this meal, but also it is good all mixed in with the meat and over the rice because it not only has all of the same spices but add textures and flavors you can not plan more perfectly! The recipe is here- Cauliflower and Sweet Potato Chickpea Curry, but I will also put it below just to have them all in the same place :)


Cauliflower and Sweet Potato Chickpea Curry Recipe
{gluten, dairy, egg, soy, and sugar-free, vegan if you use vegetable stock}

2 TB of avocado oil for sauteing
1 large onion finely chopped
4-5 garlic cloves finely minced
1-2 TB of finely grated fresh ginger*
1-2 TB of finely grated fresh turmeric*

2 cups of raw washed, cut into bite sized pieces, cauliflower
2 cups of pealed and cut and cubed pieces of sweet potato

1 14 ounce can of diced organic tomatoes
1 can of full-fat coconut milk
2-3 cups of chicken or vegetable broth
1 14 ounce can of organic pre-cooked garbanzo beans
1 ts. of curry powder
1 ts. of ground paprika
1 ts. of ground cumin
1 ts. of ground coriander
1/2 ts. of ground cinnamon
pinch of cayenne
pinch of cloves
1 ts. of sea salt
hearty pinch of fresh ground black pepper
optional: 1-2 TB of tahini, or a nut butter like almond or peanut for extra thickness and flavor

2 cups of fresh finely chopped greens (spinach, kale or chard)
handful of fresh chopped cilantro
1/2 cup of raisins (I like a mix with golden raisins included ;)

for serving:
serve over prepared basmati or jasmine rice (or quinoa)
limes juice and wedges
sprinkle of fresh cilantro or parsley

In a large pot, saute the onion, garlic, turmeric, ginger with the oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper, when it cooks down, add in the bite-sized cauliflower, sweet potato and spices and cook for another 5 minutes, then add in the coconut milk, tomatoes, beans and broth. Let cook, bubbling and covered for 15- 20 minutes until the potatoes are soft and the broth reduced. Then add in the raisins, fresh greens and herbs and let those get soft. It is ready for serving now, or you can turn off the heat and let it sit and cool a bit and thicken up. Then serve with prepared basmati rice. With a slice of lime and a sprinkle of some fresh herbs too. 

*If you do not have access to fresh ginger or turmeric root, then you can for sure used dried spices. I would start at 1 ts. each and add in more if you desire a little more punch...

And lastly I will give my instructions for the BEST coconut oil infused basmati rice and the steps to make it flawless each and every time!

Coconut Basmati Rice 
{gluten, dairy, egg, nut, seed and soy-free}

2 TB of coconut oil
3 cups of basmati rice
6 cups of pure water
hearty pinch of sea salt

So this recipe depends on how much rice you want to make I would suggest to make at least 6 cups of cooked rice for 4 people- so that would be about 3 cups of dry rice. You can make more or less of that amount. The key is to always have double the water for the amount of rice you have. 

So first step is to melt coconut oil in a medium to large pot. Once the oil is melted over the heat, add in the dry rice and let it toast and saute for a few minutes. It will start to give off an amazing aroma and you will look to see it has almost changed it color to look more toasted. Then add in all the water and the hearty pinch of sea salt and cover. Let the water come to a boil and then turn off the heat to a low simmer. You will have to watch this so that the water does not overflow. Once you start the simmer it will cook for about 10-15 minutes and will start to soak up all the water and you will see little poke holes formed. When you see this- turn off the heat and let it continue its cook in the pot, covered but no more flame. In about 10 minutes it will be ready to removed the cover and fluff up. It will be just about PERFECT- not too sticky or wet! and the subtle sweetness from the coconut oil and sea salt is just the perfect touch for any curry dish!

Layer all of the above recipes to create the most perfect of meals! I hope you recreate this lovely meal and share in CONNECTION, LOVE and LIFE.

Much love as always, xoxo

Happy Heart Citrus Cookies

What a spring we have had! Just this past weekend here in Michigan we had a ice storm, a snow day, and we are all scratching our heads thinking is this April or January?!? Personally, I kinda expect this kind of spring torture here in Michigan, but I have to admit this year has really got me going crazy with antsiness and low-grade depression! Let's get on with this weather and let's start to see the warmth, buds, flowers and green grass, already!!!

It efforts to bring a little more warmth and love into our homes this season I made some Happy Heart Cookies with the hint of lemon and orange to help uplift our spirits and perhaps remind our hearts of happiness, love, joy and the gifts of life all around us. These little cookies are a symbol of that. They are just a cookie, yes, but they also represent love and those citrus flavors have a reputation for uplifting the senses and heart to inspire. So we need all of the uplifting, and love and happiness we can get around these parts! So my friends, may you find love and peace in your day and carry on and spread it as best as you can! Sending love and whole-hearted living your way xoxo

Happy Heart Citrus Cookie Recipe

{gluten, dairy, egg, soy, nut, seed and refined-sugar free}

3/4 cup of certified gluten-free oat flour (+ 1 more cup for kneading and rolling out)
(I grind my own out of GF rolled oats)
3/4 cup of fresh ground buckwheat four
3/4 cup of rice flour
3/4 cup of tapioca flour
1/3 cup of coconut palm sugar
2 TB of potato starch
1 1/2 ts. of baking soda
1 ts. of sea salt
1 ts. baking powder
1 organic lemon for zest and juice
1 organic orange for 3-TB of fresh zest and 1/2 cup of fresh juice
1 TB of apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup of maple syrup
1/4 cup of pure honey
1 cup of oil: I use a mix of coconut oil and palm oil shortening
1/2 cup of date paste puree

plus 1/4-1/3 cup of sparkling sugar with 1/2 ts. of lemon flavoring oil or 1 ts. lemon juice

In a large bowl, mix together the flours and dry ingredients first, then add in the wet and oils, use a spatula to make sure the oils are evenly pressed through and the batter is soft.  You will need to add about ONE MORE CUP of GF oat flour for kneading, firming up and rolling out.

Let batter sit in the fridge to firm up just a bit, like 15 minutes. Then roll out and cut out the cookies with your favorite heart shaped cutters.  Sprinkle the lemon sparkling suagrs on top of the hearts before baking. You may need to press the suagrs into the cookies justa  bit.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes, until golden brown on the bottom. Let cool for at least 20 minutes from the oven before moving to help with less breakage.

There you have it- HAPPY HEART citrus cookies for the win! Hoping this recipe will share a little kindness your way, keep spreading it and let's keep going!

Strawberry Milk

"Momma, can you make me pink milk??...or maybe a strawberry smoothie, or wait, how about strawberry milk!" 

Hmmm, I barely EVER say NO when my kids ask me for good food...Yep, that's alway a YES for sure! 

I have to admit, strawberries and creamy milk sounded divine to me too, and with the last bag of frozen strawberries from last summer it was even more special. How many more weeks till strawberry picking?!? The special-ness of those last berries were not lost on us- we made sure to really savor them. And this was a sweet and fabulous way to enjoy summer goodness months after. And even now, enjoying them gives us that last push to make it to spring!

This recipe is super simple and basic, but I added a few things to make sure that it was nutritious and protein packed as well. So because we are a strict dairy-free house because of severe allergies this milk is most definitely not cow milk, instead we added full-fat coconut milk for the fats, nutrition and creaminess! Also, an added scoop or two of gelatin makes this milk still full of protein, a 12 grams per TB is what gelatin offers, also countless amounts of goodness. So whip this one up, impress your kids, or heck, bring back your inner-child for just a moment and sit and enjoy yourself some pink strawberry milk!

Strawberry Milk Recipe

{gluten, dairy, egg, soy, nut, seed and sugar-free}

2 cups of frozen or thawed strawberries [can be chopped or wholes]

1/2 cup of juice [or water] of choice

1-2 TB of fresh lime juice

sprinkle of quality sea salt

1/4 cup of maple syrup drizzled (more or less depending on tastes, can sub in dates too!]

1/2 cup of plant-based milk beverage (coconut, rice, ect...)

2 TB of pure gelatin

1 can of full-fat coconut milk

In a small pan, warm up the strawberries in the liquid and let it simmer and bubble and release it's colors and sweetness. Then turn off heat. In a small bowl whisk together milk and gelatin until bloomed. Then in your blender add the whole can of coconut milk, strawberries from pan, and the bloomed gelatin. Blend on high and then when its all creamy and frothy, pour into glasses and and instantly enjoy! It will be warm from the strawberries if you consume right away and...

...you can chill it too and also it will become a panna cotta type treat if you have in the fridge for more than 30-60 minutes. It will start to turn into a yogurt-like subsatnce as the gelitan cools down. So you may even enjoy it as it cools more. 

Top with thawed or fresh strawberrie pieces for extra goodness and texture :)

ENJOY and much love!!!

Chocolate Muffins

It's a Monday. Sometimes Monday's call for muffins, and even more so, some Mondays call for chocolate muffins. Yes!  These are the kind of muffins that will get you out of bed and on your way. They won't let you linger, or press snooze ONE.MORE.TIME. or even have you wish this day never came. It won't be just another manic Monday if you can start it with one of these babies. They will have you ready to face the hard stuff, one step at a time.

And not to mention with a serving of pumpkin, dates and banana hidden in there beneath the energizing cocoa these really are FULL of GOODNESS too. You can nourish yourself with the good stuff and also have fun doing it! Some days call for the big guys to come out and help you through, and if you got some of these sweet muffins on your side I know you can do this. You were born for this. Don't give up on being you and doing what you know best. We all need you and you are the best person for the job. Happy baking and happy Monday, friends!!!

Chocolate Muffin Recipe
{gluten, dairy, egg, nut, seed, soy and refined-sugars-free}

1 1/2 cup of freshly ground certified gluten-free oat flour
(or use buckwheat flour as a replacement)
3/4 cup of white rice flour
1/2 cup of tapioca flour
1/2 cup of cocoa powder
1/2 cup of coconut sugar
2 ts. of baking powder
1 ts. of baking soda
1 ts. of sea salt
optional: add in a drizzle of vanilla
1/2 cup of pumpkin puree
1/2 cup of date puree
heaping 1/2 cup of mashed banana
1/2 cup of coconut milk beverage
1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup of maple syrup
1/4 cup of avocado oil
1/4 cup of coconut oil

1/2 cup of dairy-free choclate chips to sprinkle on top before baking

In a large mixing bowl, mix in all the dry ingredients together first, then add in the wet and mix together well. Until you get a smooth and creamy chocolately mixture. Then use a 1/3 measuring cup already greased with avocado/coconut oil and measure out heaping 1/3 cup muffins into muffin parchments. This recipe should make about 12-16 muffins depending on your heaps. Top muffins with extra dairy-free chocolate chips to make it real special and then bake in a 350 degree oven for 22-25 minutes or until they are stiff and no gooey middles. Let cool for 15-20 minutes before you serve. 

Then grab your favorite cupa-hot-something and ENJOY your morning...your day... and all of it...because these will get you on the right step in all the right!

Much love, xoxo

Creamy Cauliflower Kale Curry Soup

It's been a doozey of a month. February always seems one of the hardest here in Michigan. It's when the depths of winter seem darker, colder, and never-ending. It's the dark depths before the turning over into spring. Today the wind blows and the winter blues seem like they need to be swept out and blown away. I can feel the spring new air trying to be ushered in, and I can feel our selves waiting so very patiently to get beyond this old and ready for the new.  And we still have a few more weeks yet...

We have never really planned a vacation away from the cold north before, but for some reason this year my hubs and I have been talking about next year at this time going away to a warm beach some where. This is big for us, in all our 13 years of marriage we have not had the ability to even dream this big. We are growing up I guess ;) and also knowing more and more what the rhythms of life bring and how to best love and take care of our selves. But in the meantime while we dream of beaches and sunshine, I made some soup to bring a little warmth and yellow rays into our life. This one's packed full of so much good stuff starting with the turmeric, garlic, ginger and then the cauliflower. So take deep breaths, and eat good warm soup- we can do hard things together!

Creamy Cauliflower Kale Curry Soup Recipe
{gluten, dairy, egg, nut, seed, sugar and soy-free}
2 TB of avocado or olive oil
1 large onion finely chopped
1 TB of fresh grated ginger
1 TB of fresh grated turmeric
4-5 garlic cloves grated or minced
1 cup of finely chopped red bell pepper
1 cup of finely chopped celery
1 cup of finely chopped carrots

4 cups of riced cauliflower (fresh or frozen)

1 head of cauliflower chopped into florets

4 cups of stock (vegetable, chicken, or bone broth)
2 cups of pure water (may need to add in 2 cups more if you want more brothy)
1 can of full-fat coconut milk
1 ts. of ground cumin
2 ts. of ground curry seasoning
1 ts. of sea salt
1/4-1/2 ts. of fresh ground black pepper

2 cups of fresh kale finely chopped
1/2 cup of finely chopped fresh cilantro

15 ounce can of pre-cooked garbanzo beans (add more or less depending on your preferences)

add in more sea salt or black pepper to your taste...

In a large soup pot (6-8 quart), saute your onions, garlic, tumeric, ginger first and then add in the rest of the veg. Saute and sprinkle salt and pepper to sweat them out and cook down and then add in the cauliflower, spices and the rest of the liquids. Let cook and boil and everything get soft and cooked for 30 minutes or so and then add in the greens last. Add the kale and cilantro and let them cook for 10 minutes before serving. Serve with a sprinkle of fresh herbs and a dollup of yoghurt of choice. 

This could be served well with some bread or just slurp and ENJOY!

Banana Bread Tea Cake

When it's February in Michigan, the snow isn't as magical as it once was. It tends to feel very cold and possibly an inconvenience with the unending shovelling and driving slow and careful. And, you start to hear more and more complaining ;) and more and more cases of seasonal sadness taking over lives, begging for sunshine and warm to come just a bit early this year. I think maybe our dreams were dashed when that silly groundhog saw his shadow... I guess saying we have 6 more weeks of winter??  I could have told you that ;) Or at least here in Michigan we have [at least] another 6-10 weeks of winter conditions!

Or is it because we are trying to rush through to the next thing...ALWAYS! It is hard to sit and be in the place where you are. Just being means you have to slow down and pay attention. Being. Mindful. Take it all in. The smells, tastes, feelings, and sounds... And it doesn't hurt to have a few winter activities to find cozy comfort and stay grounded in the present.

Like, have you gone out on a winter hike? Yes you have to get bundled up, but I swear to you that it will change your whole heart when it comes to winter. It is quiet...sacred...simple.. and magical. It will remind you of the present beauty that is all around you and begging you to see and be.

Or the winter sunrises and sunsets. They are what get me up each day and keep me going. The pinks, reds and orangey-peach that fills the sky is breathtaking! Like witnessing a miracle each day!

Baking bread is another one of those activities that brings me warmth and joy in the winter months. I don't care as much about getting warm next to the oven in the summer months. In fact I would likely LOVE to not put the oven on and stay outside in the sun at the beach! But in the winter months you can truly enjoy and savor the space to enjoy baking. And that's why this bread came into creation. One of those days sitting and taking in all the winter-goodness and sacred space. If you are looking to bring a little more warmth and joy to your life these last few weeks [months!] of winter I suggest finding a few activities that bring you life, hope, joy and soaking in them. Happy baking, friends xoxo

 Banana Bread Tea Cake Recipe

{gluten, dairy, egg, soy, seed, nut and refined-sugar-free}

3/4 cup of fresh ground buckwheat flour
3/4 cup of fresh ground GF oat flour
3/4 cup of rice flour
1/4 cup of tapioca flour
1/4 cup of potato starch
1/4 cup of coconut flour
2 ts. of baking powder
1 ts. of baking soda
1 ts. of sea salt

1/2 cup of oil [avocado, light olive, or softened coconut]
3 mashed bananas [1 cup]
2/3 cup of coconut milk beverage or other plant-milk
1/3 cup of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
1/4 cup of applesauce
3/4 cup of date puree paste

In a large mixing bowl, whisk all the dry ingredients together first. Then add in the wet and oil and mix together well.  Then oil a baking 9x13 pan or a cake pan or a bundt. Pour in the batter and bake in a 350 degree oven for 40-45 minutes for the bundt, or 30ish for the 9x13 sheet cake pan. Check with toothpick to see if middle is set and not gooey. Let cool and serve up with warm butter or jams of choice. 

I hope you find the sacred in the every day, everything is connected and spiritual and as it should be. Soak it in, enjoy it's season and the parts that are painful or challenging- hold onto them and move through them- they can be your teacher and make you who you need to be!

Sending much love and hope for you today, xoxo

LOVE Brownies

I had the joy and honor to cook for another Women's Wellness Retreat this past weekend. It was another group of fabulous women with such bravery to dig deeper into the inner self for healing, rest, nourishment and self-love. After these experiences, I again remember how I truly believe that women are the force of change and love in the world. They are the ones that are willing to go through the wounds, the pain, and the joys that make us who we are... and then somehow turn that power into superpowers to share with those around them. It's pure magic and amazement to see this beauty unfold!

I make many of my most favorite recipes...my Sweet Potato Lentil Chili, homemade bread, covered in honey butter and berry chia seed jam. And I had to share some of my newest favorite ways to start the day with the warm smoothie or immunity shots. And then there is cookies, and muffins, and so much more...(hot cocoa and marshmallows...) It is so fun...and exhausting in a good way. This time by the end of the retreat I wanted to use up some of the leftover ingredients and I whipped up a pan of brownies to send our guests home with. These brownies were born out of LOVE and leftovers :) And of course they were magic in a pan :)

Love 'Leftover' Brownie Recipe
{gluten, dairy, soy and nut-free}

1/2 cup of GF oat flour
or a mix of a GF flour blend (millet, buckwheat, quinoa, rice)
1/3 cup of cocoa powder (or hot cocoa mix)
1 TB of coconut flour
1 TB of potato starch
1 TB of tapioca flour
1 ts. of baking soda
1/4 ts. of baking powder
1/2 ts. of sea salt

1/4 cup of pumpkin puree
1/4 cup of date puree
2 whipped-up fresh eggs
(you can omit eggs and add in more pumpkin puree or use chia 'eggs')
3/4 cup of coconut palm sugar
1/4 cup of maple syrup
drizzle of pure vanilla

In a saucepan, melt the following together to add to the batter...
1 cup of chocolate chips
1/2 cup of melted coconut oil

optional: sprinkle more chocolate chips in and on top before baking (another 1/3-1/2 cup)
OR if you are nut/seed person you could add some walnut or pecans to the batter here too

In a large mixing bowl, mix together all the dry ingredients and then the wet, finally folding in the melted oil and chocolate chips. Fold all together and then you can add more chocolate chips to the batter or to the top before baking. Spread in a parchment papered  9x9 tin or glass pan to make it easier to pull the brownies out to cut. Spread evenly in the pan and then you can bake in a 350 degree oven for 22-25 minutes. Pull out and let cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting squares to help with less crumbles. 

This recipe will fit into a 9x9 baking pan, or double the recipe up and pour into a 12x15 baking sheet pan. I originally made this recipe doubled and then made it again halved for my own family.

After cutting out squares you can ENJOY just as they are with so much gratitude and LOVE for good deep rich brownies made with wholesome ingredients and ones that you can share :)

Much love as always xoxo

Warm Blueberry Ginger Smoothie A.K.A Divine Immunity Boost Shots

It's been a dark, cold, wet and gloomy day here. It seems like the sun didn't come up at all! I've also been feeling like my body has been struggling to resist the germs going around and it's fighting to stand it's ground from the sickness. Or maybe it's just because the sun has been missing too. Don't they call this seasonal sadness or something?!? If you live in an almost sub-Arctic climate in the winter months like I do then I think you probably understand :) So I brought a little TLC to my body [and my whole life!] with some fresh ginger as my little sunshine friend in the kitchen.

You cannot simmer, blend and drink this smoothie with a frown on your face. It just brings so much happiness and love. [Anther favorite warm smoothie from last fall...Cranberry Pear Ginger.... and a summer version of this smoothie...well a tonic really :)]

I know I'm a crazy lady that likes to think as foods as my friends and blueberries and ginger are some of my besties. We do not go through life alone people! :) But seriously- if you follow my recipes at all you know all about me and blueberries. I still have [I'm hoping!] about 40 pounds left so maybe it will get me to spring/summer to pick some more. I'm going to start having to ration them- especially after this divine goodness!

Warm Blueberry Ginger Smoothie Recipe
{gluten, dairy, egg, soy, nut, seed, and sugar-free}

2 cups of frozen blueberries
2 cups of 100% fruit juice or tea of choice [I used a combo of orange, pear and elderberry tea]
1/4-1/3 cup of grated or pealed and chopped fresh ginger chunks
1-2 slices of fresh organic lemon or orange and it's juices

optional: add 1 TB of pure honey after you simmer/before you blend so as to keep as many beneficial enzymes for your immunity- but also adds some extra sweetness if the ginger is too much!

Put all of the above in a saucepan and simmer until blueberries are bursting and the smells and colors are divine. Then let cool for a minute and slowly pour into your blender or Vitamix and blend slow and then on high for a minute and then pour into your shot glasses or mason jars and drink up!

This recipes makes about 2 pint- sized ball jars or 4 half-pint jars, so you may want to double it if you are making for a crowd or want to have extras to warm up and enjoy for a few days.

I hope you are finding ways to stay warm, full of light and love, and even add in an immunity boost to keep those germs at bay. Much love, friends xoxo

Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Rolls

Saturday morning sweetness. This time with cinnamon rolls incredibly without any sweetness except from fruit. I know! The cinnamon filling is made with a raisin paste and cinnamon and the dough is my easy no-yeast- no-rise bread recipe that I morph into dough for these sweet swirl rolls. I promise you that if you have been deprived from sweets, sugar, or anything decadent for a while because of health and digestive issues that you will have a shouted "hallelujah" with these sweeties :) They are such a gift of love and sweetness for any weary soul. And then I topped one with some only-fruit berry chia jam and that's when I heard the magic glitter sparkles snap.

I was recently told by a friend of another friend making something like these rolls from my recipe because of her own journey with leaving regular table sugar behind and even all of the other typical sweet alternatives. So of course I had to try it myself! Fruit is nature's best way to share sweetness in our lives. If you are one of my recipe followers, then you already know I only use sugar alternatives like honey, maple syrup, coconut palm sugar...but even still it is incredible how our bodies get addicted to even these sugars. It has been kinda of a reset for me over the past few weeks to try and eat only fruit for sweetness in my life. This is definitely a challenge for me.

I will be honest with you. I hate restrictions and rules. I basically see a rule and think how on earth can I avoid that one. I used to think that I don't intentionally try to break rules, but really I see myself now as being one of those people that just HATES having restricted boundaries...mostly because I feel trapped. Trapped by feelings that make me feel like I am stuck in a certain way of living or thinking or fill-in-the-blank... This is why I started this blog and baking GF and sharing my recipes. Because I wanted to say that if you have to eat a certain way that sometimes feels small, deprived and trapped that there are people like me out there trying to make things that can give you life, nourish you inside and out, AND will break through the boundaries of what it looks like to have to eat a certain way. Thinking bigger and outside-of-the-lines inspires me and keeps me going. So that was a little of a rant, but basically these little rolls remind me that having restrictions for the diet [for a small or forever time] doesn't have to be a sentence of misery. It can actually bring hope, joy and so much love. Happy baking friends and may you find doses of sweetness in your life that don't involve addicting qualities ;)

Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Rolls Recipe

{gluten, dairy, egg, yeast, soy, nut, seed and SUGAR-free}

3 TB of psyllium husk powder

1 cup of coconut milk beverage (I use So Delicious unsweetened)

1 cup of water

1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup of unsweetened applesauce

2 TB of olive oil

Whisk all the above ingredients together very well in a large mixing bowl. It will turn into a pudding-like substance. Then you can add the dry ingredients...

1 1/2 cups of certified GF oat flour *I grind my own from GF rolled oats*

1 1/4 cup of rice flour

1/2 cup of tapioca flour

1/4 cup of potato starch

1 TB of corn-free baking powder

1 ts of baking soda

1 ts. of sea salt

*1/2 cup of extra flour (oat or rice/tapioca or a mix) for rolling out and kneading if need be

After you add in all the dry ingredients you will roll together, knead together and start to form a log or bad and you may need to extra flour (oat, rice, tapioca) in the kneading or rolling out process if your dough is extra sticky. So form a lump or log and start to roll out a flat dough piece on parchment paper. You want to roll out a 12-15 x 15x18 inch dough rectangle. Let it sit while you mix up the filling...

Raisin Cinnamon Paste Filling

1 cup of soft organic raisins

2 TB of ground cinnamon

1-2 TB of coconut oil

1-2 TB of hot water

In a food processor or blender put all of the above ingredients in and blend until a creamy cinnamon paste. Then spread all over the 12x18 inch rolled out piece of dough. You can leave 1-2 inches without the filling at the end closest to your body. Then, at the end farthest from your body start to pinch the first few inches of the dough pieces into a roll. You want to evenly roll the whole 18 inches of dough into a roll towards you. There is a lot of technique here, but basically you want to stretch-then roll-stretch-then roll, and you will eventually get a TIGHT roll of dough swirled with cinnamon filling. Pinch the endings of dough on each side and at the end of the dough roll. This will help the dough stick together. Then take a bread knife and cut 1 inch cuts along the roll and separate each inched roll and place it on a parchment papered baking sheet. A 15x18 baking sheet works best, or 2 12x9 baking sheets would work too. Spread out 1/2 inch apart so they bake together but they will expand a little. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 25-30 minutes until bubbling and golden brown. Let the rolls sit and cool for 15 minutes and they are ready to eat!

This recipe can make 24 mini rolls or about 18 larger rolls. It just depends on how long you roll out your cinnamon log and how large you slice off the rolls from the log. If you have ever made homemade cinnamon rolls before you can use all the same techniques here with this recipe, but this dough is free of  sugar, yeast, so no rising time, and free of the pesky allergens. They turn out fabulous though!

These could be wonderfully topped with the jam I mentioned, or you could top with ghee, nut/seed apple or any other "butters", bananas, seeds, nuts, or whatever to add more flavor. You could toast them or dunk them, or even un-swirl them and eat them like a spaghetti noodle (that is done by one of my littles LOL). The options are endless ;) Or at least it is fun to think that way and imagine all the possibilites out there in the world to ENJOY food and life that you CAN enjoy!

Hope you find hope and peace today, friends! Much love xoxo

Banana Cream Panna Cotta

After eating no sweet treats for the last week, I was getting desperate for a little something and my kids were begging for banana pudding. So then this little treat was created. I wasn't sure what to call it but here it is... A thick creamy custard-type gelatin treat, BUT no sugar and sweetened only with fruit. So my friends, this is ONE special dessert ;)

 

I just love a thick, have to use your spoon, kinda dessert. It's one you might want to lick the jar clean but won't, so you pretend your spoon is your tongue and you try and get every last bit. The cute jars help with savoring each lovely bite too, and you can't help but wish there was another secret compartment on the bottom somewhere. 

But what makes this dessert sweet and worth every bite, is the date puree and the fresh vanilla bean- both with such rich deep flavor- oh and the banana. Which I have found is one of those foods and flavors that people either LOVE or HATE- there is no middle ground on it. I happen to love banana, but some can only imagine baby food. So maybe this recipe is not for you, but if you are a banana pudding or everything LOVER- then this is a must try! Hope you ENJOY!

Banana Cream Panna Cotta Recipe
{gluten, dairy, egg, nut, seed, soy and sugar-free}

2 ripe bananas smashed and pureed
1/2 cup of date paste puree 
1 can of full-fat coconut milk
1/2 vanilla bean scraped for the beans (or use 1 TB of vanilla extract)
1/2 lime squeezed or 1 TB of juice
a pinch of finely grated fresh ginger
pinch of sea salt
pinch of ground turmeric

Put all of the above ingredients in a small saucepan to get warm on low heat. Warm till it is steaming but not boiling or bubbling. Then, in a separate small bowl, mix up the following to let the gelatin bloom...

1/2 cup of coconut milk beverage
1 1/2 TB of pure gelatin 

When the gelatin stiffens, scrap into the saucepan with the rest of the ingredients and turn off heat completely. Then whisk in the gelatin so it is one mixture and pour into a blender and blend until frothy and mixed well and then slowly pour into 1/2 pint glass jars, or even in the smaller size meant for small jams (the 1/2 cup size... called 1/4 pint maybe?). Then put on lids and slide into the fridge for 3-4 hours and then you are ready to eat and ENJOY!

If you are not a banana fan you can add in 1 cup of pumpkin puree in it's place or just leave it as vanilla coconut. I will save those recipes for another post ;)

I hope you give this ONLY fruit sweetened dessert a try! It totally hits the spot when you haven't been enjoying many deserts ;) It is a new favorite around my house and I know Ill be making many more varieties as the month goes on...

Much love and light! xoxo

Raisin Bread with Berry-Chia Jam

January is for snuggling, hygge-ing, and bread making :) It is for me at least. I told you I have challenged myself to a plant-based diet for a few weeks and no sweets except those in fruit. Well for breakfast I have been enjoying Buckwheat-Date Porridge or some GF quick cooking oatmeal topped with blueberries, pumpkin seeds, coconut flakes and chia seeds...BUT when it comes to breakfast, I still love a piece of whole grain toast smothered in a seed butter and jam ;)

This bread recipe is a combination of [this oat and this buckwheat-quinoa-millet] beloved bread favorites and my favorite homemade jam [from all those frozen blueberries] that I make weekly, but this time I threw in a few new twists so as to avoid sweeteners other than fruit and add in a few other parts to get the most I could out a having bread and jam for breakfast. The raisins were added in to help bring out some natural sweetness and honestly I LOVE a breakfast bread with a little dried fruit. I am already thinking up some future bread recipes... ones with cranberry, orange and seeds, or a molasses and raisin one. I cracked open a multitude of ideas... some of those have been tucked back there for a while. But for now- it is raisins, lightly sweetened with applesauce and cinnamon, and the love is ever great and nourishing.

Raisin Bread Recipe
{gluten, dairy, egg, yeast, nut, seed, and sugar-free}

3 TB of psyllium husk powder (must be powder, not seed or husk)

2 cups of pure water or non-dairy milk (or a combination of both)

3 TB of apple cider vinegar

3 TB of unsweetened apple sauce

2 TB of olive oil
1/2-1 cup of organic raisins

1 TB of cinnamon

1 cup of finely ground fresh GF oat flour

(grind 1 cup GF rolled oats in high powered blender)
1/2 cup of quinoa flour
1/2 cup of buckwheat flour
1/2 cup of millet flour
1/2 cup of rice flour

1 ts. of sea salt

2 ts. aluminum free baking powder

1 ts. of baking soda

sprinkle up to 1/2 cup extra oat flour for kneading 

In a large mixing bowl, whisk the psyllium husk powder, water, milk and apple cider vinegar together. It will turn into a thickened blob in a few minutes, then whisk in the oil and applesauce in together. Lastly mix in the raisins and let them get wet before mixing in the dry...

Then, add all of the dry ingredients, flours, cinnamon and salts, and mix with a spatula or wooden spoon until all of the flour is blended, but be careful to not over mix and make it too sticky. Then use your hands with a sprinkle of extra flour if needed to knead and roll our the dough until it starts to get a skin and no longer sticky. Once you got a nice skin on the dough and have rolled around you will have less cracks and stickiness. This is where I roll out to a long oval-shaped loaf and tuck all the spots under the loaf that have cracks or whatever. It doesn't have to look perfect because the skin will turn into a thick crunchy crust after baking. 

No need to proof or prove or whatever you normally do with bread because there is NO YEAST!! So just after rolling out a loaf, put on a parchment papered baking sheet and bake in a 350 degree oven for 1 hour. Let cool for 20-30 minutes before cutting into. Serve warm, which is my favorite! But also let it cool and slice out the loaf and save in a bread container for the rest of the week. It does a great job at keep at room temperature but you may find that you still like to toast it to warm it up a bit. 

Berry Chia Jam Recipe
2 cups of frozen blueberries or a mix of whatever berries you have
1/2 cup of juice (I used Antioxidant Force by Smart Juice) but you could use pomegranate or other no sugar fruit juice like cherry, berry mix, or grape
1/2 cup of pear or apple juices for sweetness too
also, you can use elderberry tea as in sub from the juice (as in my other chia-jam recipe)
1 TB of grated fresh ginger
1 organic orange grated for zest and squeezed for juice
pinch of sea salt

1/4 cup of whole chia seeds

In a medium saucepan, pour in the 2 cups of frozen berries with the tea and the juice and let cook to defrost and get soft. Then add in the ginger and orange juice and zest and bring to a soft boil and bubble and cook from any where to 10-15 minutes until the berries are very hot, juicy and mushy. You can use an immersion blender to blend in half of the mixture to be more smooth and have less chunky fruit if you want a smoother jam. After this it looks like a fruit soup. Turn off the heat and then add in the chia seeds. Stir in well so not to be clumpy and then let it sit in the pan and cool and let the chia seeds soak up the moisture and turn into a thick jammy substance. When it cools for 10-15 minutes you can pour into a pint jar to continue to cool and thicken in the fridge. It will be best after at least 4 hours in the fridge. This recipe makes 1 pint jar and will keep up to 2 weeks. 

There you have it, my most favorite recipes adapted to have NO sweetener but fruit. I hope you give them a try regardless and ENJOY! It is a great way to start off the new year trying to love and nourish the body with ways that it cannot hide behind sugar, caffeine and crappy processed foods to feel numb and yucky. Feed your body LOVE, friends!

Much love as always, xoxo

Cauliflower and Sweet Potato Chickpea Curry

HAPPY NEW YEAR, friends! I hope you had only positive affirmations, dreams and goals as you process the past and look forward to the next year. I am challenging myself to a "January reset" after a few months of feasting and indulging throughout the holidays. This reset includes two things... to eat a plant based diet and to only eat fruit for sweetness, so no honey, maple syrup, or coconut sugar... just fruit and veggies to get sweetness in my life. So this is my way of showing myself some self-love this month. It isn't about restrictions or rules, just a way to say to my body, "I love you and you are worth it!" I want to help my body clean out whatever needs to go and reduce inflammation, anxiety and imbalances. It is about nourishing, loving and bringing more goodness and simplicity to my diet. I am NO fan of January juice, raw, or rules diets- these to me can cause so much confusion and stress on the body when all it wants this time of year is to be WARM, nourished and replenished.

Another great thing about this recipe is how cost effective it is. I bought all of the above at my local health grocery store for around 10 dollars and add in the extra rice it is a huge meal for around $12 dollars. This recipe will be my lunches for the whole week, but it could easily feed a family of four twice! So is it nourishing...AND cheap! And did I say it's packed with fresh ginger and turmeric too?!? This means that is is perfect for warming the bones too...our temperature here this week is in the single and negative digits as is many part of the country, so I know we are all looking for a meal to warm us from the inside out!

Cauliflower and Sweet Potato Chickpea Curry Recipe
{gluten, dairy, egg, soy, and sugar-free, vegan if you use vegetable stock}

2 TB of avocado oil for sauteing
1 large onion finely chopped
4-5 garlic cloves finely minced
1-2 TB of finely grated fresh ginger*
1-2 TB of finely grated fresh turmeric*

2 cups of raw washed, cut into bite sized pieces, cauliflower
2 cups of pealed and cut and cubed pieces of sweet potato

1 14 ounce can of diced organic tomatoes
1 can of full-fat coconut milk
2-3 cups of chicken or vegetable broth
1 14 ounce can of organic pre-cooked garbanzo beans
1 ts. of curry powder
1 ts. of ground paprika
1 ts. of ground cumin
1 ts. of ground coriander
1/2 ts. of ground cinnamon
pinch of cayenne
pinch of cloves
1 ts. of sea salt
hearty pinch of fresh ground black pepper
optional: 1-2 TB of tahini, or a nut butter like almond or peanut for extra thickness and flavor

2 cups of fresh finely chopped greens (spinach, kale or chard)
handful of fresh chopped cilantro
1/2 cup of raisins (I like a mix with golden raisins included ;)

for serving:
serve over prepared basmati or jasmine rice (or quinoa)
limes juice and wedges
sprinkle of fresh cilantro or parsley

In a large pot, saute the onion, garlic, tumeric, ginger with the oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper, when it cooks down, add in the bite-sized cauliflower, sweet potato and spices and cook for another 5 minutes, then add in the coconut milk, tomatoes, beans and broth. Let cook, bubbling and covered for 15- 20 minutes until the potatoes are soft and the broth reduced. Then add in the raisins, fresh greens and herbs and let those get soft. It is ready for serving now, or you can turn off the heat and let it sit and cool a bit and thicken up. Then serve with prepared basmati or jasmine rice. With a slice of lime and a sprinkle of some fresh herbs too. 

*If you do not have access to fresh ginger or turmeric root, then you can for sure used dried spices. I would start at 1 ts. each and add in more if you desire a little more punch...

This curry recipe is an easy base recipe for a vegan curry. You could easily swap out the sweet potatoes for carrots or add in other favorite blend of veggies. I love the sweet potatoes for a little extra sweet in my life while fasting from sugar and also the cauliflower holds up so nicely and pairs so well with the spices. The raisins add just the right touch of sweetness to the spice and then get soft and plump up on the sauce so they are a must of you ask me. BUT if for some reason you don't have raisins on hand or dislike them then they can easily be nixed. This is thick, creamy, hearty, nourishing bowl of goodness that I hope you find yourself making again and again before it gets warm. Maybe a weekly occurrence until we get above the freezing point.

What new ways are you showing yourself some love and nourishment this new year? What hopes to you have to learn and challenge yourself in 2018? I know my little way of showing some love this January will come with it's ups and downs, and I hope to share a few more of my no-sugar-no meat experiments with you :) Stay warm and cozy friends!

Much love and HOPE xoxo