Almond Chocolate Chip Cookies

Almond Chocolate Chip Cookies

This one's for Nova!  We are both chocolate chip cookie lovers, so it was necessary to find us a suitable recipe for times when afternoon treats are required.  Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 2 cups almond flour
• 1/2 cup coconut flour
• 1/4 cup granular xylitol
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• A pinch of sea salt
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup organic butter (or coconut oil), melted
• 1 tbsp. vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup sliced almonds, chopped are good too
• 1 cup 73%+ organic dark chocolate chips or cacao nibs

Method

• Combine all dry ingredients (except chocolate chips and almonds) in a bowl and form a well in the middle.
• In separate bowl, mix together wet ingredients.
• Pour wet ingredients into dry and mix well until combined, the mixture will be a bit crumbly. 
• Fold in chocolate chips and almonds.
• Form 1 inch balls of batter, place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and gently press down into small discs.  Keep in mind that the shape you form is the shape they will bake as.  These cookies don't puff up or melt down, so try to make them a little bit pretty!
• Bake at 375 for about 15 minutes until the edges are golden brown.
• Cool (they're very delicate when they are warm) and enjoy with a cold glass of almond milk. 

Cheesy Garlic Quick Bread

Cheesy Garlic Quick Bread

Ok, this is SO good.  Like SOOOO good.  Grain-free, gluten-free, sugar-free, guilt-free GOODNESS.

This is perfect for one of those nights where all you want to do is eat something bad (like me tonight), because it's so good that you almost think it's bad.  That didn't make tons of sense, but you get my point. :) Like the Lemon Pound Cake, this bread uses coconut flour, which doesn't rise as much as all-purpose wheat flour.  It may not make the best sandwhich bread, but it definitely makes a delicious cheesy treat to accompany any soup, salad, or stirfry.  Next time, I'm going to pour the batter into little muffin tins and make dinner rolls.

My only concern with this bread:  I could probably eat an entire loaf to myself.  There's 6 eggs in it.  Not a good idea, Stephanie, not a good idea.  


Ingredients

• 6 eggs
• 3/4 cup coconut flour
• 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
• 1/4 cup ground flax seeds (this is optional, you can definitely make the bread without)
• 11/2 tsp. baking powder
• 11/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 3/4 - 1 cup grated cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, monterey jack, whatever your heart desires)
• A small handful of chopped chives or green onion

Method

• Preheat oven to 350 and grease and flour a small bread pan.
• In a food processor, combine all ingredients except cheese and chives until combined (not too long!)  If you don't have a food processor, you can do this by hand with a whisk until there are no lumps in the mixture.
• Stir in cheese and chives.
• Pour the mixture into the bread pan and bake for about 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Supermom

Mumma J's Green Goddess Salad

So, my cute little Mumma (who is also an Advanced Plan eater and patient at our office), brought me dinner tonight at work.  A delicious Maximized salad creation!  So simple, but SO good. I told her I was going to blog about it and that she needed to give me the recipe, and this is what she told me (like mother, like daughter - exact measurements are not our strength):

Ingredients

• Napa cabbage
• 2 large handfuls arugula
• 2 large handfuls bean sprouts
• 2 large handfuls zucchini, chopped into matchsticks 
• 1 large granny smith apple, cored and thinly sliced
• Chopped cilantro, to your liking
• Chopped green onions, to your liking
• 1/2 cup peanut butter (organic and unsweetened)
• 1/4 cup tamari
• 1/2 olive oil
• A few tbsp. sesame oil
• Salt and pepper
• A handful of peanuts

Method

• Combine all green ingredients in large bowl.
• In a mason jar, combine all dressing ingredients, and shake until thoroughly mixed (very high tech)!
• Pour dressing over greens and top with peanuts.
• Tell your Mom you love her.

xo.

Coconut Flour Pancakes

Coconut Flour Pancakes

I made these on the weekend, and was reminded again how much I love them.  The recipe can be found in the Maximized Living Nutrition Plans Book.  They're SO good with blueberries in the batter, and with coconut butter (not oil - the butter is sweet and delicious) slathered all over them!  Serve with some grass-fed organic beef breakfast sausage, your favourite mug of tea, and you have the makings of a perfect rainy Sunday morning. 

Ingredients

• 3 eggs
• 3 tbsp. coconut oil, melted
• 3 tbsp. coconut milk or whole milk
• 1/2 tsp. stevia or xylitol
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla
• 3 tbsp. coconut flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder

Method

• Using a wire whisk, mix together eggs, coconut butter, coconut milk, stevia, sea salt, and vanilla.
• Continue to whisk, add baking powder and coconut flour until thoroughly mixed.
• Heat 1 tbsp. coconut oil in a skillet over medium heat and spoon 2-3 tbsp. batter onto skillet making pancakes about  4 inches in diameter.Sprinkle with blueberries if desired. 

Makes about 6 pancakes.

Ricotta & Herb Stuffed Zucchini

Ricotta & Herb Stuffed Zucchini

I discovered these scrumptious little treats while eating out at one of my favourite vegetarian restaurants, the Coup, and decided I must re-create them at home.  Makes a delish dinner with a grilled chicken breast.  I had mushrooms (cremini and button) that I needed to use up, so I sauteed those with coconut oil and garlic and added layered them on the zucchini before the ricotta - super yum.  Also, I didn't have any fresh herbs, so I did without - and they were just as good as the restaurant/recipe. 

Ingredients

• 2 large zucchini
• 8 tbsp. ricotta cheese
• 6 garlic cloves, roasted OR 1 tsp. fresh garlic, minced
• 1 tsp. chili flakes
• 1 tsp. dried oregano
• 1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
• 1 tsp. good olive oil
• 4 sundried tomatoes (in oil)
• 1/2 tsp. cumin
• pinch nutmeg
• 1/2 cup parmesan or manchego cheese, grated
• 1/2 cup herb mix, finely chopped (oregano, basil, parsley, or your favourites)
• salt and pepper

Method

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Cut zucchini in half, lengthwise, and scoop out the middle.  Steam zucchini for about five minutes - careful not to over-steam 'em.
• In a food processor, blend ricotta, chili flakes, garlic, dried oregano, pine nuts, olive oil, tomatoes, cumin, nutmeg, s&p.
• Stuff zucchinis with mixture and lay on baking sheet.  Top them with cheese and bake for about 15 minutes or until cheese turns golden brown.
• Remove from oven and top with fresh herbs.
• Enjoy!

http://www.thecoup.ca/

Simple Spiced Spaghetti Squash

Simple Spiced Spaghetti Squash

My last post was a little agressive and I feel the need to calm my nerves with a lovely little recipe.  :)  This is a simple and easy Fall side dish.  And one of my most adored snacks.  Change the spice measurements to your liking.

Ingredients

• 1 (3 1/2- to 4-pound) spaghetti squash
• 4 tbsp. coconut oil or butter
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp. ground coriander
• 1/8 tsp. cayenne
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro or flat-leaf parsley

Method

• Cut the squash in half lengthwise, scoop out the seeds and roast the halves face-down in a coconut-oiled baking pan for about 40 minutes in a 375°F oven.
• Meanwhile, melt the coconut oil/butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until it is barely golden. Stir in spices and salt and remove from heat.
• Working over a bowl, scrape squash flesh with a fork, loosening and separating strands as you remove it from skin.
• Toss with the spiced butter and cilantro.

GET REAL

Just a brief rant for this Tuesday night.

If you were never going to commit to the Core Plan, attempt the Advanced Plan or even flip through the pages of the Maximized Living Nutrition Plans Book, at least do ONE thing, make ONE change to your diet, that could potentially save your life: EAT REAL FOOD.

I don't mean the low-fat, low-calorie, trans fat free, zero cal, heart smart, added fiber, fortified, enriched, diet foods that we are force fed through glamourized advertisements and media.  I mean REAL food. 

The definition of real is something that is true, sincere, absolute, genuine, and authentic and the definition of fake is deception and deceit - pretending to be something it's not. 

Here's a shocking example of FAKE - The ingredient list for a Burger King Strawberry Milkshake:

Amyl acetate, amyl butyrate, amyl valerate, anethol, anisyl formate, benzyl acetate, benzyl isobutyrate, butyric acid, cinnamyl isobutyrate, cinnamyl valerate, cognac essential oil, diacetyl, dipropyl ketone,  ethyl acetate, ethyl amylketone, ethyl butyrate, ethyl cinnamate, ethyl heptanoate, ethyl heptylate, ethyl lactate, ethyl methylphenylglycidate, ethyl nitrate, ethyl propionate ethyl valerate, heliotropin, hydroxyphrenyl-2-butanone (10% solution in alcohol), ionone, isobuyly anthranilate, isobutyl butyrate, lemon essential oil, maltol, 4-methylacetophenone, methyl anthranilate, methyl benzoate, methyl cinnamate, methyl heptine carbonate, methyl naphthyl ketone, methyl salicylate, mint essential oil, neroli essential oil, nerolin, neryl isobutyrate, orris butter, phenothyl alcohol, rose, rum ether, undecalactone, vanillin, and solvent.

Did you notice something??  There's no STRAWBERRIES listed!!!
There is ZERO food in this milkshake.  It's pretending to be something it's not.
(If you want to read something even grosser, Google the ingredient list for Chicken McNuggets.) 

In this era of dazzling food science, supersize portions and widespread dietary confusion, choosing real food can be tough.  Every trip to the supermarket requires precise navigation through a treacherous and deadly food landscape.  But it's manageable if you just focus on the REAL food. 
A few tips:

• Don't buy things with 75 unpronounceable ingredients, and even better, don't buy things with more than ONE ingredient.  How many ingredients would you find listed on an apple?  
• Don't read labels - DO read ingredients.  Dubious health claims and labelling schemes mean NOTHING.  And the amount of calories in a cracker are far less important than the deceptive ingredients used to make it. 
• Don't buy food pretending to be something it's not.  Texturized vegetable protein ot veggie burgers (pretending to be meat), margarine (pretending to be butter), a pink toxic beverage (pretending to be a strawberry milkshake), chocolate "flavoured" sauce that contains no actual chocolate, Splenda (pretending to be sugar), and sorry, but what exactly is soda other than chemicals, colorings, dyes and toxins that ruin your health and destroy your body?  Yeah, that ain't real.