EggNog Cookies

I wish I could have gotten this post up before the holidays had ended, things around here became quite busy once all our kids got into town, then my desktop died. . . Don't know what happened, but it won't turn on, it's like the button itself is broke. My super nice mommy took me out to get a laptop, I am eternally grateful!

Hopefully you still have some leftover eggnog, if not, I am sure the stores still have some. These cookies are a must try. We all really enjoyed them!!!

EggNog Cookies 

Ingredients

• 2 cups of your favorite gf flour blend. I used 1 cup sorghum flour and 1 cup brown rice flour
• 1/2 cup tapioca flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. sea salt
• 1/4 tsp. xanthum gum
• 1/2 cup coconut sugar
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
• 1/4 cup applesauce
• 1/2 cup coconut butter 
• 1/3 cup oil
• 3/4 eggnog (we used ricenog to keep it dairy free, I am sure coconut nog would be just as good too)

Directions

Mix dry ingredients together, while continuing to mix add in applesauce, then add in oil, last add in eggnog, slowly, until desired consistency is reached. Drop by teaspoon onto cookie sheet and bake 350 degrees 10-12 minutes until lightly browned. Be careful, it is very easy to over cook these, they still taste yummy, but crumble very easily!

Enjoy! We did!! :) 

Spiced Maple Banana Bread

It has been an awesome weekend of baking in our home.We've made Pumpkin Muffins, Everything Cookies and my personal favorite Spiced Maple Banana Bread.

I got some fantastic organic black bananas from our local grocery store for a great price, and I set out to make an amazing, allergy friendly, spiced banana bread. After a little trial and error I believe I have succeed in making the perfect loaf of gluten free, dairy free, sugar free, egg free, soy free banana bread!!

I have a some mini loaves, and muffins in the oven now. The muffins I added carob chips to, you could easily use chocolate chips if you prefer, just make sure they are Fair Trade Certified. Also, if using carob or chocolate chips, make sure to read the label as a lot of carob and chocolate use both dairy and soy.

Spiced Maple Banana Bread

 

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups Pecan Meal*
• 1.5 cups Almond Meal*
• 3 tsp Baking Powder
• 1/2 tsp Xanthum Gum or 1 tsp Guar Gum
• 1/2 tsp Sea Salt
• 2 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice 
• 1/4 cup Maple Agave or Pure Maple Syrup
• 3 very ripe, mashed organic bananas
• 1/2 cup almond milk*

Directions 

Mix together dry ingredients in a big bowl or mixer, add in wet ingredients one at a time adding the milk last to achieve the best consistency.
Pour batter into a oiled loaf pan, or muffin cups. Bake 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool before eating or the center will be a bit mushy.

The crust will be a bit of a darker brown than you might be used to, it's from the pecans, don't worry it isn't burnt. :) 

Enjoy!!!




* Side note, if your nut free you may substitute 3 cups of your favorite gf flour, You might have to add more or less milk depending on your flour. Rice milk and Hemp milk would be a great substitute for the almond milk. 

Pumpkin Stuffed Meatloaf

This year Autumn has been absolutely beautiful in Colorado, we got to enjoy a full show of colors followed by the crunching of leaves and now in blows our snow. Winter in the Denver area is usually pretty nice, we'll get a big snowstorm that will leave us with 6-20 inches of beautiful white, sparkly powder all over creating a magical wonderland, only to have the next few days be sunny and warm enough to melt most of the snow, then the process will start all over again. Snowy days are beautiful, and one of my very favorite things along with pumpkins, and pumpkins are in abundance right now, they are great for snuggling with a hot pumpkin latte, baking pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, or our newest venture. . .Pumpkin stuffed meatloaf.

This was really quite easy and quick to throw together, it made the whole house smell so yummy!

Ingredients:
1 two to three pound organic pie pumpkin
2 pounds of grassfed ground beef  (or meat of your choice)
1 cup shredded organic carrots
1/2 cup shredded organic zucchini
1 chopped organic yellow beet*
Season to taste

Directions:
Cut your pumpkin in half, lengthwise, scoop out the seeds and the strings. You can save your seeds to roast.
In a separate bowl mix together the meat, veggies and seasoning with about 1/4 of water (depending on your altitude and the weather). Stuff the pumpkin with the mix, rub the top with a bit of olive oil. Cover with foil and bake 350 degrees for about an hour.

The grease softens the pumpkin and it scoops right out of the rind when you serve up your meatloaf. Not only makes for a yummy addition to normal meatloaf, but it also saves you a pan. My husband and kids LOVED this meal, even my picky boy ate (most of) his pumpkin!

Serve with a side of quinoa.

*Side note, Sam found organic yellow beets 
at the store and couldn't wait to bring them home to try. They tasted almost the same as a normal, red beet, but a little more mild. You could use a red beet in this and it would be just as good, and add in some fun color as well.

Pocket Book VS Your Health. . . Is This Really A Question?

So I'm sitting here sipping on my coffee and eating a zucchini muffin. One of my friends linked me to this website and I wanted to share and discuss.


I'm having a really hard time understanding why it is that so many people don't value their health. I have had dear friends tell me that if people are educated, they will be able to understand and make educated choices that are best for them. I know that I can be a pretty pushy person when I feel strongly about something, I don't try to push people, it's just that I want to see those closest to me and even those I don't know living as happily and healthy as God and Mother Earth intended us to live.
Genetically Modified food is NOT what anyone other than large companies looking to turn a profit, intended us to eat, nor is it good for anyone. When pesticides are injected into our food, yes they kill the weeds, but they don't just disappear when foods are harvested, cleaned or even cooked, and they continue to grow inside of you causing illness and even are responsible for a LOT of cancers!
If we, as consumers, would put our foot down and stop buying GM foods then eventually they would stop making them, and our health, water supply and the future of the world would be a much more secure place!
So, please, spend the extra money on NON-GMO and Organic foods and spend LESS money on health companies and hospital visits. You'll be saving money, and your life in the end.