~Fudgy Bites~

If your looking for something to sooth your chocolate sweet tooth, but are trying to stay away from processed sugars, wheat, eggs, and anything non-paleo....this recipe is for you! My family has made this multiple times and we LOVE them!

Fudgy Bites

1/2 cup medjool dates, pits removed
1 cup walnuts
3 tablespoons cacao powder
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp sea salt

1) place dates, walnuts, cacao power, vanilla and salt in food processor
2) pulse on high speed until smooth
3) Remove mixture from food processor and roll into little balls
4) Serve!

* if extra liquid is needed to make balls stick, dribble water and pulse mixture until balls form.

//Paleo// Cherry Walnut Almond Flour Cookies

   Having extra time on my hands this week, I decided to pull out some new paleo recipes and try experimenting. The cookies I am going to share with you today are a unique cross between a cookie and a biscuit in texture. I over baked mine just a tad, but they still came out delicious. Also, I made quite a few substitutions as well as decreased the amount of sweetener I used in them (it called for white sugar, BOO, and as that's all we had on hand, I used it. Ergo the reason for decreasing the amount.) As far as substitutions go, because I didn't have any dried cherries on hand, I rehydrated some dehydrated coconut instead and used that as well as  I used almond extract instead of vanilla extract (made them soooo yummy and nutty flavored). I would definitely make them again....just hopefully next time I have some kind of dried fruit (cherry, apricot, raisin) to put in them.

Recipe

1 1/2 cups almond flour

1/4 cup butter softened

1/4 cup sugar (for a less sweet cookie, only fill the quarter cup measurer 3/4 of the way full. Also, a good sugar substitute would be coconut sugar)

1 egg

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp almond extract

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/3 cup shredded coconut(rehydrated) or dried fruit of choice

1/3 cup chopped walnuts 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients together in a medium bowl. Spoon onto greased cookie sheet making medium sized balls. Bake for 8-10 minutes.

~Blessings~

    Laura

P.F. Changs //Paleo// Chicken Lettuce Wraps

   Crispy lettuce, savory chicken (or turkey), and healthy to boot! These lettuce wraps are by far one of my most favorite meals....and I think their flavor alone rivals the original from P.F. Changs. Once eaten, you'll crave more! 

Recipe*

16 Butter lettuce leaves
1 lb. ground chicken (I've used ground turkey and it works great!)
5 oz. shiitake mushrooms, finely diced (Regular mushrooms work fine)
1/3 cup scallions, chopped
4-5 cloves of garlic, minced
1T fresh ginger, minced
1T sesame oil
1/4 cup slivered almonds
3T Tamari
1T white wine vinegar
1 tsp Dijon mustard (More to taste if needed. I think I've used up to 1 1/2 TBS. before. It adds a wonderful flavor)
1T Sriracha (or any hot sauce works)
1T raw honey
1/4 tsp sea salt


In a skillet, heat sesame oil on medium heat.  Add ground chicken.  Cook until almost done.
Add mushrooms, scallions, ginger and Tamari.  Cook until onions and mushrooms are limp.  Stir in garlic, almonds, white wine vinegar, mustard, Sriracha, honey and salt.
Serve the chicken mixture in a bowl with the lettuce cups on the plate.  Let your guests spoon the mixture in the center of the leaves and then hold like a soft taco to eat.
Enjoy!


*P.F. Changs Paleo Chicken Lettuce Wraps (original recipe found here)

{Paleo} Almond Flour Biscuits

       This has quickly become a favorite recipe of mine. These biscuits are good for breakfast, lunch and dinner! They are guaranteed to tantalize your taste buds and are great paired with honey, butter, or jam. It is definitely a recipe worth a try and you will love them! Unlike normal white wheat biscuits, these are much more dense and packed with flavor. Don't expect a fluffy biscuit that flakes apart, these definitely won't fit into that category. I do believe though that these are a spot on substitute for the read deal. Enjoy!

//Almond//Flour//Biscuits*//

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups blanched almond flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1/8 tsp baking powder
• 3 tbsp melted coconut oil (or butter)
• 1 tbsp pure honey (I also have used real maple syrup)
• 3 tbsp milk
• 2 large eggs

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine almond flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together melted butter and honey, until smooth. Add the buttermilk and eggs, whisking together until well combined. Using a spoon, stir the wet mixture into the dry mixture until thoroughly combined.
3. For quick and easy drop biscuits: Drop biscuit dough by large spoonfuls onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, placing the biscuits approximately two-inches apart.
4. For classic-style rolled-looking biscuits: Scoop a large spoonful of batter into your hands and roll into a ball about the size of an apricot. Then place the dough balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet and gently flatten using the palm of your hand.
5. Bake about 15 minutes, until golden brown on top and a toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean. Serve warm with butter, raw honey or homemade jam.

    * I found this recipe at The Nourishing Home.

Eating {Food} Can Glorify God - You Are What You Eat

**So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.** ~ 1 Cor. 10:31

   As I was getting ready for my day today after a hard workout, my mind wandered across what I would eat for breakfast (not unusual, but today it was more reflective) and I suddenly had a craving for something I couldn't eat ( it was so brief, I can hardly remember what it was now!). I then was instantly reminded of what God has done in my life in this area and that rather think of the things I couldn't eat, I should be grateful for the abundance of food still available to me. I realized that I needed to be glorifying God for what He HAS given me rather than dwell on the negative. 

Image from theresurgence.com

    If your like me, coming to the realization that you can't eat like the rest of society can be a difficult thing to accept and at some level, blame God for. Over the last four years of my life - after I started realizing my health was suffering, I felt sick and tired many days, my skin was red and irritated and that doctors had no real solution to any of my problems - did I come to the conclusion that a diet change was the answer.

   Knowing since I was young that dairy effected my stomach, that was obviously the first thing to go. I remember thinking then, "oh, this is no biggy, I'm not even a huge dairy product fan as it is...I can do this!" Oh what I had coming for me! Within the next two years, I decided to go on a six week missions trip to Albania where much of the food I ate had some component of carbohydrates/wheat products. I came home sick as a dog, exhausted, and ready for things to change....however that might be.

    I quickly started eating a super strict diet, slept hours on end, and drank lots of water over the course of the rest of the summer - because of this, I lost 20 pounds and at some level felt more like a "normal" (whoever can definite that for me, props to you!) person. Right after that summer, I left for 3.5 months to live and study abroad in Israel where again, though I ate healthier than when Albania, I still didn't know exactly what bothered me and would eat hummus and pita almost every day (two carbs and one made out of wheat). Coming home from Israel, through the encouragement of my mom, I started researching different eating lifestyles (yes, eating is a lifestyle, not just dieting off and on). With the encouragement of a close friend who was herself having some health issues, we both cut completely out of our diet such things as peanut butter, all wheat products, all sugars (even fruit), dairy products, and legumes (beans). Withing a week I was feeling immensely better , had more energy, was losing weight, and no longer felt in a fog. 

I sometimes feel like this guy -  just had to share as it made me laugh
Image from NPR.com

      For the next year I bounced back and forth from eating carbs and products with wheat in them only to realize that every time I did, I felt sick and my skin would look like garbage. (You really are what you eat :P ). Finally, last summer I decided I was fed up with this yo-yoing in  how I ate and started researching what was called the paleo lifestyle (some call it diet, I view it as a lifestyle change now). Broken down, basically what I have selection from is ANY vegetables, meat, seeds and nuts, fruits, and occasionally (like once a day) I'll sneak in a dairy product (super strict paleo eaters don't even allow this). I know I had mentioned that dairy bothered me, but I've found that in all actuality I'm bothered by other foods more and that if I eat dairy in a very limited moderation, I can handle it just fine. If your wondering if I can still eat baked goods and yummy food, YES, I can! Many nuts and seeds can be made into flour and used as substitutes....and very yummy one.

    So, this morning as I thought over all God has brought me through, I was once again reminded that my relationship with Him is far greater and better than any foods I may or may not be able to eat. He has given me the body and the inside workings of it to me in order to glorify Him, and if that means eating different from the norm, than I need to praise Him in it all and encourage others who may be struggling in their health and eating choices. Ultimately, God created me in His infinite wisdom, so who am I reject what God's best is for me? I could sit and pout about it, but God has greater plans in store and I am excited to see what He has in my future.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.

Psalm 139:14

**Just wanted to clarify...by no means do I believe you are any less a person (morally, spiritually, or whatever) because you don't eat the way I do. I think it's great God has allowed some peoples bodies to be fine eating the normal American diet! I just know for myself, I feel healthier and happier when I eat different.

Paleo Lemon Bars - Delicious

   I've decided to take a different route today and share with you a new favorite recipe I made this last week-end...paleo lemon bars! Before I started to change the way I eat, this was one of my most favorite desserts, so therefore, when I found a good substitute recipe, I was excited! I found the recipe on Pinterest and it linked me to this site Frugal By Choice, Cheap by Necessity. Unlike what I was used to in a lemon bar, this one has a really delicious custard like top. The lime juice kicks it up a notch and adds perfection to something already yummy! Next time I make this, I'm going to try and cut out some of the honey, make it a bit tarter, and see if it's still good. No use eating extra sugar if it's not needed!

   Though I haven't explained yet why I eat paleo,  I'm hoping to take some time in the near future and explain why I took this plunge and how it's affected me. No matter where you're at with your eating lifestyle, I encourage you to make healthy changes that will affect you positively for the rest of your life, you won't regret it!

   ~Grace and Peace~

1 Corinthians 10:31 ~ "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."