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October 2019

Paleo Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins – GF, DF, and refined sugar free

Paleo Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins – GF, DF, and refined sugar free

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I REALLY love baking with pumpkin. It has such a rich flavor, and while many think it’s overdone, I’ll be over here, ordering my pumpkin in bulk from amazon.

These muffins take a little planning as a few pieces are going on at the same time, but as long as you have a stand mixer or hand mixer, it’s pretty easy. If you don’t, I hope you work out.

The first time I made these muffins, I decided to hand beat my egg whites into stiff peaks. Let’s just say I was grabbing for the ice pack afterward. I thought I was in shape, but beating eggs for over 5 minutes proved me wrong. Hand beat at your discretion.

After adding all your dry ingredients together in a bowl and whisking together, you’ll add all of your wet ingredients minus the egg whites that are beating in your stand mixer in the background. Just set a timer for 4 minutes, so you don’t overbeat your eggs.

Your batter is going to be very dry initially. You may feel tempted to add more liquid elsewhere, but once those egg whites go in, it will soften up into the perfect muffin texture. Trust the process.

You could certainly sub the chocolate chips for something like raisins or blueberries, but I have not tried it, so if you do, leave me a comment and let me know how they turned out.

These pumpkin muffins go perfectly with a cup of coffee and a chilly morning. Just try not to eat them all in one sitting. They don’t last long at our house.

Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Paleo Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins - DF, GF

These paleo chocolate chip pumpkin muffins are everything you want to eat on a cool morning in October.
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time15 mins
Course: Appetizer, Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine: American, Paleo
Keyword: Breakfast, Healthy, Muffins, pumpkin
Servings: 12
Calories: 177kcal

Equipment

  • Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 Cup Almond Flour
  • 1/2 Cup Tapioca Flour
  • 3 Tbsp Coconut Flour
  • 2 scoops collagen peptides
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 4 Tbsp Coconut Sugar
  • 1 Tbsp Coconut Oil Melted
  • 3 Large Egg Yolks
  • 3 Large Egg Whites Whipped into stiff peaks
  • 2/3 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

  • Start by preheating your oven to 350 and lining a muffin tin or spraying with nonstick spray(I use avocado oil spray)
  • Sift together all of the dry ingredients
  • use a handheld beater or stand mixer to beat your egg whites into stiff peaks. This takes about 4-5 minutes on medium speed. Be patient
  • Add all wet ingredients to a separate mixing bowl and whisk together. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly. It will be a very dry dough-like batter
  • Slowly fold in the egg whites to the batter, being careful to not knock out the air
  • Add chocolate chips and fold in gently
  • Spoon your batter into your muffin tin and bake for 15 mins.
Loving the Special Needs Parent in your Life – Part 1 – Why

Loving the Special Needs Parent in your Life – Part 1 – Why

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Being a parent to a child that has special needs, whether those needs be social, emotional, or physical, is HARD.

Most parenting goes through phases of development. Eventually, you leave the diaper years, and your child can use the bathroom themselves. One day, you wean your child from a bottle or nursing, and then later, you no longer have to spoon-feed your child. At some point, your child is even capable of making their food. You dream of your child learning to drive, and getting a job, and married and having their children.

The special needs parent’s dreams look a little different. Depending on their needs, they may never stop changing their child’s diapers. They may never stop spoon-feeding their child. Driving and jobs and marriage may not even be in the equation. Instead of vacations, they trade them in for hospital stays.  Instead of date nights, they have tube feeds and medications. They have to fight for joy and choose peace in a tough situation.

These parents are weary, exhausted, and often isolated. It’s not as easy to go out with friends, or host parties, or do every day essential tasks.

I have had others ask me time and time again, how they can help, and honestly, I often don’t know what to say. Because there are a million and one ways, people can help. But where do I even begin? I mentally sort through all the skills that person has and how they could meet a need using their gifts, I weigh in the cost it takes them(time or money), I try to calculate if they are merely being kind or genuinely want to help. And in the end, feeling overwhelmed, I only say, “please pray for us.”

Ultimately, prayer is what we need. Only God can bring peace amidst the chaos of my heart. Hope amidst a bleak diagnosis. And true joy when there is so much suffering. So my answer will always be “pray for us.” But it can and should be more than that. People want to help, and I should be able to let them.

In reflecting on how we could use encouragement and help, and in talking with other special needs parents, I thought it would be helpful to list the ways that others can love those of us who are suffering. I hope to be able to give you practical “boots on the ground” advice because chances are you know a parent of a child with special needs, and chances are they could use your love through this treacherous journey.

With that said, this series will be filled with ways you can encourage, serve, and love that weary parent in your life. I may even get crazy and do a follow-up series concerning siblings of those with special needs.

I hope you follow along on this journey. Stay tuned for part 2!

 

Paleo Cardamom Pear Crumble – Gluten Free, Vegan, Refined Sugar Free

Paleo Cardamom Pear Crumble – Gluten Free, Vegan, Refined Sugar Free

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I love a good crumble. I love it even more when it’s healthy and I can eat it for breakfast and not feel bad about it. Insert Paleo Pear Crumble. It’s so warming and inviting. The perfect dish for a carry-in, or over a cup of tea with friends.

 

Adelaide LOVES helping me bake and test out recipes. It’s such fun for her and I love teaching her skills that she will be able to teach to her children someday. I was talking with a friend (who so happens to be 80 years old) this week about the art of baking. My friend was sharing how her mother never used a recipe, she just knew what things were needed, by looking at them and tasting them. She understood the science of baking and in order to learn, she would watch her mom and grandma bake and try to memorize what they used and the amounts.

I would love nothing more than to cultivate these skills in myself, and in turn, pass them on to Addie. What a gift it is to be able to cook and bake nourishing and delicious food.

This recipe is one of my favorites. It’s super easy to make, and even easier to eat. Yup. I did have two bowls in one afternoon. No shame. It’s just so good.

Despite a little one who wanted to be held…things turned out beautifully!

This paleo pear crumble would be so delicious topped with some ice cream, but we are dairy-free in this house, and I just haven’t perfected the non-dairy ice cream yet. All in due time. I miss ice cream terribly, so I’ll keep working at it.

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! If you try it, let me know in the comments below and tag me on instagram!

Print Recipe

Paleo Cardamom Pear Crumble -Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Vegan

Prep Time8 mins
Cook Time25 mins
Bake Time Covered10 mins
Course: Appetizer, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American, Paleo, Vegan

Ingredients

Pear Filling

  • 4 Bartlett Pears peeled and sliced
  • 1 tsp Cardamom
  • 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp Cloves
  • 1 tsp Tapioca Starch can sub arrowroot
  • 1 tsp Lemon Juice
  • 1 tbsp Raw Honey

Crumble

  • 1 cup Almond Flour
  • 1 scoop Vanilla Collagen Powder
  • 2 tbsp Hemp Seeds
  • 2 tbsp Shredded Coconut
  • 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
  • 2 tbsp Raw Honey
  • 3 tbsp Coconut Oil melted
  • 1/4 tsp Cardamom
  • 1/4 tsp Cinnamon
  • 1/8 tsp Cloves
  • 1/8 tsp Ginger

Instructions

  • Start by preheating your oven to 350 and spraying a glass pie plate with coconut oil or avocado oil
  • Peel and slice your pears
  • Add pears, spices, honey, tapioca starch and lemon juice to a medium-sized bowl and mix well
  • Add pears to your pie plate
  • Use the same bowl to now mix all of the crumble ingredients. It should be slightly crumbly but not too dry that it doesn't stick together
  • Sprinkle the crumble over the top of your pears
  • Bake in oven for 25 minutes
  • After 25 minutes, cover your crumble with foil and bake for a remaining 5-10 minutes until your pears start to get juicy and bubbly.

Chewy Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies – GF, DF, Egg-Free, Refined Sugar-free

Chewy Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies – GF, DF, Egg-Free, Refined Sugar-free

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I LOVE baking cookies. I think it’s my love language. And I have been working and toying with my cookie recipe to get just the right texture and taste. Before I went paleo, there was nothing more satisfying than a good, chewy, gooey chocolate chip cookie. But recreating this in the paleo world is not as simple.

 

Except it was actually quite simple. By eliminating a lot of my usual ingredients like eggs, and baking soda, I finally got that chewy texture (rather than cakey), that I was looking for!

These are husband approved, toddler approved and stressed out/tired momma approved. In fact, Nathan and I ate the entire first batch in a day. Don’t do the math. But they are that good.

They are also super easy to make! You’ll add all the dry ingredients first, and then, add your liquid. Just make sure to melt your coconut oil, honey, and almond butter first. I do this over a stovetop which gives me good control over the temperature, but you could use a microwave. We don’t own a microwave so I haven’t tested this, but I would just be careful to go in slow increments to not overheat the mixture. I suggest a few seconds at a time. Overheating honey and coconut oil kills a lot of the good antibacterial properties they hold.

This is a recipe I’m really proud to share with you. I worked really hard to get this cookie and once you taste it, you’ll agree that it was worth the effort to achieve.

 

 

Let me know in the comments if you made it and what you think!! 

Print Recipe

Paleo Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies - GF, Egg-free, DF

This chewy chocolate chip cookie is everything you've been dreaming of. They are SO delicious you wouldn't even know they are healthy for you!
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time12 mins
Course: Appetizer, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American, Paleo
Keyword: Cookies, glutenfree, grainfree, Paleo
Servings: 15 cookies
Calories: 163kcal

Ingredients

  • 1.5 cup Almond Flour
  • 1/3 cup + 1 tbsp Tapioca Starch Can sub arrowroot
  • 1 tsp gelatin Grass-fed
  • 1 scoop collagen powder Vital Proteins
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp Cinnamon
  • 2 1/2 Tbsp Coconut Oil melted
  • 1 Tbsp Almond Butter
  • 3 Tbsp Honey
  • 1/4 cup Coconut Milk Full fat without any additives
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 1/2 cup Chocolate Chips I use Enjoy Life brand

Instructions

  • Begin by preheating your oven to 350 and lining a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking liner
  • Next, add all of the dry ingredients to a medium-sized bowl and mix
  • Melt your almond butter, honey, and coconut oil together. I do this over my stove in a small saucepan, because we don't own a microwave, but you could use a microwave. Just warm a few seconds at a time to not overheat the mixture.
  • Add the melted mixture and other wet ingredients to the dry and mix until a dough forms
  • Fold in chocolate chips
  • Roll into 3 inch balls and place on a baking sheet. If the dough is too sticky, wet your hands slightly with water. This will keep it from sticking to you.
  • Bake for 10-12 minutes watching for the tops to become lightly browned
  • Enjoy your delightfully chewy, healthy, gluten-free, grain-free, egg-free chocolate chip cookies!
Learning Contentment

Learning Contentment

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Why is it so hard to be content? Why does my heart constantly want what it does not have?

St. Augustine of Hippo, whom our son was named after, wrote in his Confessions, “Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee”.

Restless. It is often a close companion of discontent. The two of them run together, causing turmoil and strife. They pull at my attention, my wallet, and my heart. They ultimately whisper the same lie that Adan and Eve chose to believe in the garden so many, many years ago causing the fall of creation.

“God isn’t enough.”

Even just typing that out brought a wince to my face. Because I know in my heart that it’s false. God IS enough. He is all I need. But when the rubber meets the road, is that how I live? When my child dies, but hers lives. When my child is disabled, while hers thrives. While my home is disorganized and old fashioned, but theirs is stylish and beautiful. While my hair is falling out, hers is luscious. While they get to have a date night, I’m forcing anti-epileptic drugs down my infant’s throat praying it’ll stop her seizures and not cause her any other harm. I could go on and on…but the bottom line is this; comparison doesn’t just breed discontent. A heart not fully set on Christ, not fully engrossed and satisfied in Him, is only going to keep searching for something, anything to make it feel complete, or happy, even at peace.

And though it may seem obvious, circumstances, places, things, and people cannot bring us true peace. So if I keep waiting for the perfectly curated home or the warm fuzzy feelings from my relationship with my husband, or Shirley to be magically healed(which is possible with God, but very unlikely), I will only be left wanting. I will be left dissatisfied and discontent.

Before the fall, Adam and Eve had perfect communion with God. They walked and talked with him in the garden. They had no shame. They had literally all they could possibly need and more. They wanted for nothing. But as soon as they doubted God, as soon as they started placing up idols in their heart, wanting what they flesh desired more than desiring God, it all fell apart.

Shame. Anger. Fear. Misery. Discontent.

We were made to be in communion with God. Our hearts were made to only be fully satisfied in Him. It should come as no shock then when we aren’t satisfied with the temporal things of this world.

So when you feel those fleshly urges to hit the shelves at Target or scroll through your Instagram feed, or feel discontent in your relationships, turn and run to Jesus. Run to the only one who can set your restless heart at ease. The only one who can satisfy you fully.

Fall Spiced Paleo Granola – Gluten free, grain free, refined sugar free

Fall Spiced Paleo Granola – Gluten free, grain free, refined sugar free

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I love granola. Like I REALLY love it. There’s something about the crunch and sweetness…and oh a good granola is just oh so delicious to me. I think it’s because I secretly have this intense love of cereal with milk. Basic I know. I just love it. But as my diet has changed, my milk of choice has changed, and so has my cereal. I now prefer to make my own granola so I can control exactly what goes into it.

This granola is LOADED with nuts and seeds and packed full of protein and healthy fats to keep you fuller for longer. As we studied the ketogenic diet to understand if it could help our daughters epilepsy, we discovered that while it is nearly impossible to overeat carbs, which mess with your insulin and blood sugar, causing weight gain or retention, brain fog, overall sluggishness, your body has built-in signals to stop you from eating too much protein or fat. Think of it like this….you go to the movies and buy a large bucket of popcorn. You down the whole thing without thinking twice. But if that same bucket was filled with cheese, just cheese, you wouldn’t be able to! And if you did, you would be one sick individual. So the moral of the story is, fill up on protein and healthy fats rather than empty carbs.

And lucky for you, this granola while it does have some carbs, has way more fat and protein. It also has just the right consistency to create these most beautiful granola clusters. I don’t know about you, but I really dislike crumbly granola. It needs to be easy to pick up and snack on.

I hope you enjoy making this as much as I do! It’s so simple, even the tiniest of bakers can help.

Print Recipe

Fall Spiced Paleo Granola - Grain free, Refined Sugar free, Gluten Free

This fall spied paleo granola is the perfect on the go snack, topping for yogurt, or eaten like cereal with some coconut milk.
Prep Time5 mins
Course: Appetizer, Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Breakfast, Dairyfree, fall, glutenfree, grainfree, granola, Healthy, Paleo, sheetpan, snacks
Servings: 8
Calories: 455kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup almonds roughly chopped
  • 1/4 cup hemp seeds
  • 3 tbsp chia seeds
  • 3 tbsp ground flax seeds
  • 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
  • 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
  • 3 tbsp sesame seeds
  • 1/2 cup raisins
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 4 tbsp coconut oil melted
  • 1/4 cup raw honey
  • 3/4 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp cloves
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp ginger
  • 1/8 tsp cardamom

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350
  • Mix all of the dry ingredients together in a large bowl
  • Melt the coconut oil
  • Add wet ingredients to dry and mix well to endure everything is covered
  • Place mix on a parchment-covered baking sheet and bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes.You will want to start checking it around 13 mins to prevent any burning.
  • Remove from oven once it is a nice golden brown color - not burnt- and let sit until it cools entirely. This will help create the nice crunchy clusters. It will still be soft as you bring it out. That's okay! Be patient.
  • Enjoy your fall inspired granola!

Notes

You could totally sub out almonds for pecans, or walnuts, or any of the seeds for something different as well. You cannot however sub or lower the amount of honey more than a smidge and get the same result. The honey is what binds it together and creates these delicious granola clusters I love so much. 

If you try this recipe, and like it, please comment below and tell me about it!!