Banana Bread v2.0

Here is yet another delicious banana bread recipe (the recipe that inspired mine is found here). The first one banana bread recipe I posted a few years back is made with coconut flour. This one is equally as good and healthy, and gluten free of course. My kids go bananas for it (no pun intended!) and would eat all four mini loaves in one sitting if I let them (which I don't, to their utter dismay).

This recipe will make two standard 8x4 inch loaves or 4 mini loaves, which is how I make it. You can sub shredded zucchini for the bananas if you wish (I've made it both ways).

Banana Bread v2.0

Wet ingredients:

3 ripe bananas (or 1 1/2 cups shredded zucchini)
4 eggs
1/3 cup melted coconut oil
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla
20-30 drops liquid stevia

Dry ingredients:
1 cup sprouted brown rice flour
1 cup almond flour
1/2 cup sucanat or coconut palm sugar
1/4 cup shredded coconut
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
pinch salt

1/4 cup dark chocolate chips (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease two 8x4 inch loaf pans or 4 mini loaf pans with coconut oil.

In a large bowl, mash bananas with a fork until almost smooth. Add eggs and whisk. Add remaining wet ingredients and stir to combine.

In a separate bowl, mix all dry ingredients. Once mixed, add to wet ingredients and stir to combine. Add chocolate chips is using and stir once more to incorporate.

Pour batter into prepared loaf pans and bake for 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let rest in the pans for about 15 minutes before removing and slicing.

Raspberry Kombucha

We are loving our kombucha around here. My kids ask for their "juice" day and night. I love that they're getting a good dose of probiotics when they drink this, and I usually serve it up at mealtimes. I've been brewing now for about a year and am truly amazed at how easy it is to make and how cost effective! (If you've ever bought kombucha at the health food store, you know it is not cheap!) I've given several scobies out to friends and family and by now there is a hand written instruction sheet floating around somewhere... so it's high time this recipe made it to my blog.

If you are brewing for the first time, ask around for someone to share a scoby with you. If you can't find one locally, you can order one online here. Once you start brewing, you'll notice that your scoby will grow a pancake (an extra layer) with each 2-3 batches. You can simply peel this extra pancake off and then do your own sharing, also known as spreading the kombucha love.

Raspberry Kombucha

1 kombucha scoby + 1/2 cup reserved kombucha tea from previous batch (ask around and see if a friend or someone in your area will share with you if this is your first time brewing kombucha)

1 gallon water
1 cup organic sugar
6 organic tea bags (I use 3 green tea bags and 3 black tea bags)
1/2 cup frozen raspberries

Bring 4-6 cups of water to boil. Once boiling, add the tea bags, turn off the heat, and cover the pot. Set timer for 10-15 minutes. Once the timer goes off, remove tea bags, squeeze any remaining tea out of the bags, and discard tea bags.

Pour sugar into brewed tea and stir to completely dissolve.

Leave sweetened tea out at room temperature until the temperature drops to 80 degrees or lower. (This will take several hours if you leave the sweetened tea in the pot. I brew my tea up at night, then let it cool while I sleep and finish the process in the morning.)

Once the sweetened tea has cooled, pour into a gallon size, wide mouth glass jar. Add the kombucha scoby and 1/2 cup reserved kombucha tea. Fill the rest of the jar with water.

Cover jar with cheescloth or light towel and secure with a rubber band to keep it tight around the top. Let set undisturbed at room temperature for 7-10 days.

On day 7, check kombucha to see if it's ready to bottle. Stick a straw below the scoby and suck a little bit of kombucha out. If it's too sweet, let it hang out at room temperature for 1-3 more days (checking each day). If too vinegary, bottle right away and lessen the time the kombucha ferments on your next batch. If just right, the kombucha should be slightly fizzy- not too sweet- not too vinegary.

Now your kombucha is ready to drink as is or bottle. I like to bottle and get a second fermentation; this is where the kombucha will get nice and carbonated (and even a tad sweeter) from the raspberries.

If you decide not to second fermentation, simply remove the scoby and 1/2 cup of liquid and set aside for your next batch. Then pour into bottles or jars of choice and place in the refrigerator.

If you are going to do the second fermentation, remove the scoby and 1/2 cup of liquid and set aside for your next batch. Then pour the remaining kombucha into bottles or jars of choice, leaving about 1/2 inch at the top of each bottle or jar. For 16 ounce jars, add about 4 raspberries. Use this ratio of ounce liquid to raspberries for whatever size your bottling jars happen to be. Screw bottles or jars tightly with caps and let kombucha ferment for an additional 2-3 days (or up to a whole week).

Soaked Oats Waffles

I have a hard time getting my children to eat oatmeal from a bowl, but they will eat their oats in waffle form any time. We've been making these waffles for a while now as they have become my family's favorite waffle recipe. They are ridiculously easy, which is why I love them. You just soak the oats overnight (which helps to reduce the phytic acid thereby making them much easier to digest), then add the rest of the ingredients in the morning, puree, and cook in the waffle maker. It's also all made in the blender so clean up is a cinch.

These come out of the waffle maker fairly firm, but once exposed to air, they will become slightly soft and a little soggy-like. My family doesn't mind this at all, but if you like a crispier waffle, you can put them in the oven for a few minutes on 350 degrees or pop in the toaster to firm them up. In fact, I usually make a double batch and toast the leftovers in the toaster for a super quick, easy, and nutritious breakfast the following day. (Or freeze leftovers and they'll last up to a month.)

Soaked Oats Waffles

1 3/4 cups gluten free rolled oats
1 1/2 cups water
1/4 cup kefir (water or milk)

1 egg
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
pinch salt

Soak oats in water and kefir in a high powered blender overnight.

In the morning, add egg through salt. Puree.

Pour into a preheated Belgium waffle maker and cook according to manufacturer's instructions.

Enjoy immediately with butter and pure maple syrup.

Makes about 5-6 waffles.

Egg Free, Gluten Free Pancakes

Well hello there, friends. It's been quite a while since I've posted something here. This past winter and spring (which was really just winter that lasted through the end of April... ugh!), I found myself completely immersed in the task of settling into life at home with my three young boys. Homeschooling, cleaning, preparing nutritious meals, reading, and staying sane (thank you God, Kay Arthur, and yogaglo.com) have been consuming most of my time.

BUT now the sticky notes of recipes are piling up in my kitchen! It's time to do something about them... get some of those recipes on this blog... finally.

A while back, I ran out of eggs, and wasn't picking up another dozen from my farmer for a few days... and we desperately wanted pancakes. So I created this egg free recipe and I'm so happy with it that it's become my go-to pancake recipe ever since. My boys love them. In fact, last night we ate them along with some organic chicken sausages for dinner (what kid doesn't love breakfast for dinner?). I like to smear mine with freshly ground peanut butter and my boys love drizzling them (or dousing them) with pure maple syrup.

The ingredient list seems long, but really they are easy to prepare. I find the buckwheat flour to be essential as it helps to hold the pancakes together nicely, which is especially important when you're cooking gluten free.

Egg Free, Gluten Free Pancakes

Egg replacer:
2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
6 tablespoons water

Dry ingredients:
1 cup sprouted brown rice flour
1/4 cup coconut flour
1/4 cup arrowroot powder
2 tablespoons buckwheat flour
2 tablespoons coconut palm sugar or sucanat
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
pinch salt

Wet ingredients:
2 tablespoons coconut oil
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup + water

Preheat a pancake griddle over med-low heat.

Mix flaxseed and water in a small bowl. Set aside.

Mix all dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add flaxseed mixture, coconut oil (melted), honey, and vanilla. Stir.

Begin adding water slowly, up to 1 cup, and stir. The batter will thicken upon standing, so you may want to add an additional 1/2 cup water if the batter sits a while before you pour onto the griddle.

Pour about 1/4 cup batter into round circles onto the griddle. Wait until bubbles form on the top of the pancakes (about 3-5 minutes) and flip. Cook another 2-3 minutes, until golden brown.

Serve with 100% pure Grade B maple syrup.

Makes about a dozen pancakes.

Cinnamon Kettle Corn

We love kettle corn at my house. My kids go bananas for this stuff whenever I make it. It's so easy and I love that it has some added protein from the nut/seed butter, making this a great, balanced snack.

A great time saving tip for this recipe is to use day old popped popcorn. I will pop a big stockpot full of popcorn in coconut oil and my family enjoys it plain the first night, then I'll use the leftover popcorn to make this yummy cinnamon kettle corn the next day.

I should warn you though; this recipe has the potential to become an addiction, so it probably won't last very long! (At least it doesn't in my house!)

Cinnamon Kettle Corn

10-12 cups popped popcorn
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup nut or seed butter (peanut, almond, and sunflower seed butter all work well)
3 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon cinnamon
15 drops liquid stevia
pinch salt

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.

Place popped popcorn in a large bowl.

In a small saucepan, heat oil, nut butter, and honey over low heat and stir until combined. Remove from heat and add cinnamon, stevia, and salt. Stir again.

Pour mixture over popcorn and stir with a large spoon until evenly distributed on popped corn.

Spread popcorn evenly on two prepared cookie sheets.

Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and cool for 10 minutes.

Store covered or in a plastic bag for up to two days.

Cranberry Orange Smoothie

Ahh... the flavors of winter. Tart, warming, citrus... I created this smoothie recipe to embody all of these  wonderful flavor sensations. I've been making smoothies like crazy these days. I love them so much because they make a great gluten-and-grain-free snack, satisfy the sweet tooth, and nourish the body with whole foods all at the same time. If you're wondering what to do with those lingering cranberries from the holidays, this recipe is for you.

Cranberry and Orange Smoothie

2 cups fresh cranberries
1 orange, peeled and quartered
1/2 cup pumpkin or squash puree, or applesauce
1/2 cup plain kefir
2 tablespoons chia seeds
2 tablespoons liquified coconut oil
2 tablespoons hot water
1/2 teaspoon powdered stevia
20 drops liquid stevia

Place all ingredients in the order listed in a Vitamix or other high powered blender. Process on high for about 30 seconds until completely pureed. Enjoy!

Monster Cookies (gluten free)

These are hands down my favorite Christmas cookies. Every year, my best friend's mom would make these and save some just for me, as she knew I liked them so much.

Well, the last few years since I've gone gluten free, I have really missed these cookies making their appearance during the Christmas season. This year I decided to change that and create a gluten free, refined sugar free version (except for the M&M's of course) that tasted just like the ones I remember from my childhood.

I am so happy to report success in this venture. My kids love them, my friends love them, my hubby loves them, and I love them! The only complaint my eldest son had was that they didn't look like monsters (after all, isn't that what a monster cookie is anyway?)!

I took my cue from Lori's recipe (aren't her photographs wonderful?), changing several things to fit my dietary profile, and here are the results for your Christmas (or anytime) enjoyment.

Monster Cookies (gluten free)

3/4 cup almond butter
3/4 cup peanut butter
3/4 cup coconut palm sugar
3/4 cup xylitol
1/2 cup butter
1/2 teaspoon powdered stevia
3 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla
4 1/2 cups gluten free rolled oats
2 teaspoons baking soda
pinch cinnamon and salt
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
1/2 M&M's*

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line three large cookie sheets** with parchment paper.

Mix almond butter through stevia in a large bowl with an electric mixer. Once creamed, add eggs and vanilla and mix again to combine. Add oats, soda, cinnamon, and salt and mix with a large spoon to combine. Lastly add the chocolate chips and M&M's and stir once more to combine.

Drop in large rounds onto cookie sheet and press lightly with the palm of your hand to flatten. Bake for about 12 minutes, until the bottoms are just golden. Cool on wire racks for about 10-15 minutes** to "set" the cookies a bit before enjoying.

Makes approximately 3 dozen.

*If you are super sensitive to sugar, swap the M&M's for dark chocolate chips or chopped walnuts.

**If you'd rather make these into bars, you can press the batter into two 8x8 inch square baking pans or one 9x13 inch pan and bake for about 35 minutes until the sides start to get golden.

Pumpkin Pie Dessert Smoothie

I call this recipe a dessert smoothie because that's exactly what it tastes like to me... dessert. Though not overly sweet, it has that hit-just-the-right-spot quality that makes it seem more luscious than just your average snack.

I make it thinner like a smoothie rather than thicker like a pudding because I prefer it to be drinkable. However, it you would rather eat it with a spoon, simply omit the water in this recipe and serve it in mugs with dollops of freshly whipped cream and sprinkles of cinnamon on top. (Maybe, just maybe, this will become your new favorite Thanksgiving dessert! Say goodbye to sugar-laden, calorie-laden, grain-laden pies for this light, refreshing take on the good ole' pumpkin pie!)

Pumpkin Pie Dessert Smoothie

1 1/2 cups whole milk yogurt
1 cup pureed pumpkin or other winter squash
1 cup water
2 tablespoons almond butter
2 teaspoons honey
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon
pinch of nutmeg, cloves, and ginger

Place all ingredients in a Vitamix and blend until creamy consistency.

Pour into glasses and drink as is for a refreshing smoothie. Or for a thicker dessert option, omit the water from the recipe and pour into small mugs, then top with whipped cream and cinnamon.

Slow Cooker Chicken Meatballs and Curried Veggies

Busy mom, busy young kids, busy days mean I need quick, easy, nutritious meal plans in my back pocket, oh, just about... everyday. I've been making versions of this recipe for weeks now. I sure hope my kids don't tire of it as I plan on making it at least once a week through the cold months when we all want a hearty, warm dinner for those busy nights.

This recipe calls for several kinds of veggies, because I like variety, but use what you have on hand: think butternut squash, parsnips, broccoli, kale, or cabbage... use grass fed ground beef in place of the chicken... use cumin or cinnamon in place of the curry... you get the idea. Experiment!

Whatever the combo you choose, I think you'll fall in love with the ease of preparation and the deliciousness of the meal, busy or not!

Slow Cooker Chicken Meatballs and Curried Veggies

1 lb. ground chicken
salt, pepper

1 yellow onion
4 cloves garlic
2 inch stip of fresh ginger, peeled
4 carrots
6 small potatoes
2 cups cauliflower florets
2 stalks celery
1/2 cup dried fruit of choice (figs, dates, prunes, or raisins)

2 cups chicken stock
1 tablespoon curry powder

Cilantro and/or parsley

Place chicken in a bowl and add a generous amount of salt and pepper. Gently mix in the salt and pepper while forming the chicken into 1 inch size meatballs with your hands. Evenly distribute meatballs in the bottom of a 6 quart slow cooker.

Coarsely chop all vegetables and dried fruit and, in the order listed, place atop of the meatballs, spreading around the slow cooker so they are evenly distributed.

Whisk curry powder into chicken stock in a small bowl and pour over the meatballs and veggies.

Put the lid on the slow cooker and cook on high for 3- 3 1/2 hours, until chicken is cooked through and veggies are tender.

Serve with cilantro/parsley as a garnish.

Honey Mini Muffins (grain and sugar free)

My kids have been begging me for mini muffins lately. So this past weekend, I went out and bought a mini muffin pan, knowing full well that it would get lots of use. Bright and early Monday morning, we set out to make our first batch in our new muffin pan.

Since I've been sticking to mostly GAPS friendly ingredients lately, I decided to make these with honey. I also know that honey is the sweetener of choice for my kiddos (they ask for it at least once a day), so I knew they'd go bonkers for "honey" muffins. (They've also been reading a lot of Berenstain Bears books lately; maybe that has something to do with the honey fettish?)

These turned out so good, I knew I had to blog about them. To prove just how good these muffins are, I'll tell you that I've already made them a couple of times this week (they go that fast!). And I know they'll be requested yet again by the time the weekend rolls around.

I don't mind my kids noshing on these yummy muffins one bit; not only are they delicious, but they are also nutritious. Try them for breakfast, as a simple snack, or as a side with some soup or chili.

Honey Mini Muffins

Dry ingredients:
1/2 cup coconut flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Wet ingredients:
6 eggs
1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
1/3 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla
10 drops liquid stevia

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 24 cup mini muffin tray with paper liners.

In a bowl, mix together all dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk all liquid ingredients. Add wet ingredients to dry and stir until completely incorporated (batter will become thicker upon standing).

Pour batter into prepared mini muffin try, filling about 3/4 of the way to the top.

Bake in preheated oven for 18-20 minutes, until tops are golden and toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Chocolate Chip (or Raisin) Cookies- Grain Free/GAPS Option

We've been in GAPS mode for a few weeks now, after having completed the GAPS intro diet for 7 days. I'm loving this diet! It's completely free of grains and sugar, with the exception of honey, and the food on the diet is just so nourishing. My skin is loving it too. I don't think my face has ever been so soft as it was after the intro diet.

We began it as a way to jumpstart the renewing of our bodies through nutrition, to clean out our guts, and to hopefully just feel better overall. I can say that both my husband and I do feel better, lighter. For a few years now, I've been in and out of a grain-free phase and I seem to keep coming back to it time and time again. Using my body as my guide, it tells me that I do better on a meat-and-veggies-diet more than anything else, so for now, that is what I am going with.

The GAPS community is growing too. Any google search will prove that. I think more and more people are realizing the connection of nutrition and health and it is exciting to read about the amazing results people are having when they truly commit to healing their bodies through nutrition!

While the bulk of the GAPS program is bone broth-based meals, including meat and veggies, there are GAPS "legal" ways of getting to enjoy the occasional treat, such as these cookies. They are so good, it's hard to believe they are so good for you. My husband actual words were "so phenomenal" (a high praise for a no-holds-barred critic of my cooking!). So whether you are following a GAPS, grain free, paleo, primal, etc. diet or lifestyle or just want a tasty, healthy, high protein treat, these cookies are for you!

Chocolate Chip (or Raisin) Cookies- Grain Free/GAPS Option

Dry Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups blanched almond flour
2 tablespoons coconut flour
2 tablespoons shredded coconut
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
pinch salt

Wet Ingredients:
1/3 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla
10 drops liquid stevia

1/4 cup mini chocolate chips or raisins for GAPS option

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line one extra large or two small cookie sheets with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, mix together all dry ingredients. In a separate, smaller bowl, melt coconut oil and add honey. Stir. Add vanilla and stevia and stir again. Add wet ingredients to dry and stir until just combined. Add in chocolate chips (or raisins for GAPS option) and stir until fully incorporated.

Using you hands, shape dough into small rounds about an inch in diameter, place on prepared cookie sheets and flatten slightly with your palm. Repeat with remaining dough. You should have approximately 14 cookies.

Bake in preheated oven for 10-12 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for about 10 minutes before eating.

Chocolate Cupcakes (with Beets)

I have young ones, and don't all young ones love cupcakes? Well, mine do at least. They've been asking me to make cupcakes for a while now, and happily, I obliged them with this healthful version of the iconic kids dessert.

This recipe brings me back to the Deceptively Delicious days, when I was putting pureed veggies into nearly everything I cooked. I'm out of that phase now, mostly because I currently don't have any babies eating pureed foods. My focus now is on getting my children to eat veggies- whole- and this proud mama must say that they are really good veggie eaters. (Of course some days they still refuse, but I keep trying!)

But with these cupcakes, there's no need to coerce anyone to eat their veggies, as you can't even tell they're in here. The beet puree lends these cakes to their nice moist consistency (and added nutritional value). As noted, you can also use a squash or pumpkin puree in its place, or a combination of any of the three, without notice to the overall taste.

Cupcakes they may be, but indulge my friends, completely guilt-free, as these babies are so good for you!

Chocolate Cupcakes (with Beets)

Wet ingredients:
1 1/4 cups beet, squash, or pumpkin puree (or a combination of these)
1 cup dates, pitted
1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
4 eggs
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla


Dry ingredients:
1/2 cup coconut flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon stevia powder
pinch salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 12 cup muffin tin with paper or silicone liners.

Add all wet ingredients in the order listed in a Vitamix or other high powered blender. Blend until completely smooth.

In a bowl, combine all dry ingredients. Add blended wet ingredients and stir to combine.

Pour mixture prepared muffin tin. Bake for 30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into a cupcake comes out clean. Let set for 15-30 minutes before eating.

Taco Pie

This recipe is an ode to my Minnesota heritage and our famous hot dish.

A simple, delicious one-pot meal that will leave you filled and satisfied.

I have served this dish to several friends and family and always have requests to make it again, from kids and adults alike. Gotta have those go-to, no-fail, crowd-pleasing recipes on hand, and this will hopefully become one of those for you like it has for me.

Taco Pie 

1 tablespoon coconut oil or grass feed butter
1 yellow onion
2 garlic cloves
1 pound grass fed ground beef
1 tablespoon cumin
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon paprika
salt, pepper
1 14 oz. can fire roasted tomatoes
1/2 cup green olives, sliced

1/2 package Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Cornbread Mix 
1 egg
1/3 cup coconut oil
3/4 cup almond milk or raw cow's milk
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 8x8 inch baking dish with coconut oil.

Melt coconut oil in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Chop onion and add to pan. Cook for about 3-5 minutes, until translucent. Mince garlic and add to onions. Cook about a minute, stirring once or twice. Add beef and, using a wooden spoon, break the beef up as it cooks. While the beef is browning, add spices (cumin through salt and pepper), stirring occasionally. Once the beef is completely browned, add tomatoes and olives and stir to combine.

Pour contents of half a bag of Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Cornbread Mix into a bowl. In a separate, smaller bowl, whisk eggs with coconut oil and milk. Add to dry cornbread mix and stir to combine.

Pour beef mixture into prepared baking dish. Add cornbread mixture to the top, spreading out to evenly coat. Sprinkle cheese over the top of the cornbread mixture.

Cover hot dish with foil and bake in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, until the cornbread mixture is set and cheese is melted. Remove foil, let stand about five minutes before serving.

Raw Corn and Avocado Chowder

I've been waiting for over a year to make a raw corn chowder. I only eat corn in the summer, and it has to be locally and organically grown. My CSA (community supported agriculture) has had corn in our boxes the last few weeks and it is good. My son loves to eat it lightly cooked right off the cob with butter and salt (it is his favorite food of all, he says), but I love to eat it raw. The idea of a raw corn soup came from my raw, vegan days when raw food was all I ate for 6 months.

This soup is so great to eat in the summer, when produce is at its peak of freshness and the warm weather calls for some cooling foods. It's creamy and satisfying. I can eat a bowl of this all by myself in one sitting (and often times do), but if I leave a bit leftover I think it tastes even better the next day.

Raw Corn and Avocado Chowder

2 ears organic corn, husked, washed, and kernels removed
1/2 avocado
1 cup water, almond milk, or raw grass-fed milk
1/2 lemon, peeled
Drizzle of extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup coarsely chopped cilantro
Salt, pepper

Place corn kernels and remaining ingredients into a Vitamix or other high powered blender in the order listed. Turn on lowest setting (Vitamix- 1), then gradually increase speed to low-medium (Vitamix 3-4) and run at this speed for about 30 or so seconds until all but the corn kernels are fairly blended (the corn kernels should still be somewhat in tact). Either pour and serve in this chunky consistency or continue blending until desired consistency is achieved.

Serves 1-2.

Slow Cooker Marinara from Fresh Tomatoes

If you're wondering what to do with all those tomatoes that are rapidly coming into season, this recipe is for you. I am thrilled at how easy and delicious it is. Very little effort is required and the result is a tantalizing marinara that is unbelievable rich.

The uses for this marinara are plentiful. Serve it over brown rice pasta for a traditional take, or do as I do and serve it over grated zucchini for a take on "raw" pasta. It's also great for topping over chicken, spicy chicken sausage, or fresh white fish. It even makes a great dip for vegetables.

Slow Cooker Marinara from Fresh Tomatoes

18-20 roma tomatoes, washed and quartered
1 medium yellow onion
3-4 garlic cloves
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon agave nectar
1 teaspoon dried basil
salt, pepper

Place roma tomatoes in a large slow cooker. Chop onion and mince garlic and add to tomatoes. Drizzle oil, vinegar, and agave over tomatoes. Add seasonings and stir.

Turn on lowest setting and cook for about 4 hours. About halfway through cooking time, mash mixture with a potato masher to break up the tomatoes, then stir before putting the lid back on.

This marinara really cooks down, so if you're feeding a crowd, double the recipe. You can always freeze leftovers.

As a side note, I left my marinara really chunky, the way it gets from mashing with the potato masher. If you like a smoother marinara, by all means take an immersion blender to it or blend in a high powered blender for a bit until it reaches the desired consistency. My husband does not like chunky tomatoes, so if he would have been home for this dinner, I would have pureed it a bit before pouring over zucchini.

Zucchini Banana Bread (grain and sugar free)

I am on zucchini overload right now, as it is just flowing in from my CSA like the land of milk and honey. I love the stuff; I've been sautéing it in grass-fed butter, roasting it, grilling it, and of course, using it in zucchini bread. I've made this bread several times now, each time changing up a thing or two to get to the "perfect" consistency. And this is it!

The key to this bread is in wringing out the excess water from the shredded zucchini before adding it to the batter. Otherwise the bread becomes too soggy (although still very good) and harder to cut without it falling apart.

I'm getting back on my high protein/fiber kick, and that is where this recipe really shines. Made exclusively from blanched almond flour, it is a sure fire way of getting the muscle-building protein and digestion-pleasing fiber in, while ditching the grains altogether. And the truly amazing thing about baking with blanched almond flour is that there is no need to add xanthan gum to bind things together. For some reason, it just works without it (something very rare in gluten free baking). Some people have sensitivities to xanthan gum; I personally don't, but if you do, it's just another reason that you will love this recipe.

Zucchini Banana Bread (grain and sugar free)

Dry ingredients:

3 cups blanched almond flour
1/2 cup xylitol
2 heaping teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon powdered stevia
pinch salt

Wet ingredients:

4 eggs
1/4 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 ripe banana, mashed
2 heaping cups shredded zucchini

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray 4 mini loaf pans with coconut oil cooking spray (I use Pampered Chefs stoneware mini loaf pan).

Mix all dry ingredients in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, then add milk, vanilla, and banana and stir. Add wet ingredients to dry and stir to combine.

With a paper towel, wring out the excess water from the shredded zucchini, then add to the batter and lightly stir a few more times to fully incorporate the zucchini.

Pour the batter into prepared loaf pans, lightly spreading the tops of the loafs with the back of a spoon to even out.

Bake for about 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the loafs come out clean. Cool in pans for at least 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.

The bread can be left out on the counter for the better part of a day, but thereafter wrap the loaves in a paper towel, seal in a ziplock bag, and store in the fridge.

Chocolate (Raw Milk) Milkshake

It's been hot, hot, hot here. So we've needed lots of foods that cool our bodies. My Vitamix has been getting a ton of use these days, as I've been whipping up milkshakes in the afternoon for our snacks. This is one of my favorites. It's creamy, smooth, filling, and super refreshing on a hot day. And, as with all of my snacks, contains a hefty dose of protein to keep those little bodies (and Mama's too) satisfied until dinnertime.


Chocolate (Raw Milk) Milkshake

2 cups ice
4 cups raw milk
1/4 cup almond or peanut butter
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
3 tablespoons xylitol (or sweetener of choice)
2 tablespoons chia seeds
1/2 banana

Place all ingredients in the order listed in a Vitamix or other high powered blender. Turn on high for 10-15 seconds, until completely blended. Serve immediately or store in the fridge and add more ice as desired.

Favorite Creamy Dressing (for Coleslaw, Potato Salad, Chicken Salad, etc.)

I'm finally getting around to posting my favorite dressing. This is the dressing I use whenever I need a creamy dressing for salad: potato salad, coleslaw, chicken salad, caesar salad, etc. You can play it up very easily too by adding fresh, chopped or dried herbs for a fresh take, or add curry or garlic powder for a more savory dressing. Sometimes I want it a little sweeter, so I just up the agave or honey by another tablespoon (or add a few drops of liquid stevia). It is so versatile!

The secret here is the milk. It is a secret my grandma shared with me about her famous potato salad. She says you need the milk to thin it out and make it really smooth. I agree with her, and have been making it this way (with the milk) ever since. If you don't have regular cow's milk on hand (we are now so thankful to have a supply of fresh raw cow's milk every week!), you can use almond milk in its place.

I hope you like this dressing as much as I (and my family) do.

Favorite Creamy Dressing

1/4 cup mayonaise
1/4 cup plain yogurt
2 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon agave or honey
salt, pepper

Whisk all ingredients in the order listed in a small bowl until creamy consistency is reached. Makes about 3/4 cup of dressing. Pour over your salad of choice (see above for ideas).

Black Bean Pineapple Salsa

I'm super excited to be back blogging again. I have been out of blogging commission lately. We've had some ups and downs with our most recent home remodeling projects, and a few vacations in the mix over the last few months, all of this contributing to a schedule that has been anything but predictable. I guess with all of that going on, I sort of lost the momentum to record my recipe happenings.

Oh, but I have been busy in the kitchen! I've had a lot of inspiration as of late, with the bounty of fresh produce at my fingertips due to this amazing summer weather. My new CSA is showing a very promising harvest this year. My anticipation takes flight on Thursday afternoons when I get to pick up the week's share. The last few weeks we've had a wonderful supply of green onions, and I've been using them in darn near everything, from salads to burgers to kabobs to salsas (see below).

I had been ruminating about this black bean pineapple salsa idea for over a week, thoughtfully organizing its contents in my mind. I finally decided to put it all together the other night, and the results were even better than I expected. I mean, this is good stuff. Perfect for those summertime BBQs.


Black Bean Pineapple Salsa

Salsa:
1 15 oz. can or 2 cups cooked black beans, rinsed
1 cup pineapple
1/2 of a red pepper
1 whole green onion (both white and green parts)
1/2 cup cilantro

Dressing:
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 tablespoon raw honey or agave
salt, pepper (a couple of good cranks on the grinder)
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

Place black beans in a medium bowl. Chop pineapple and red pepper into bite sized pieces and add to bean bowl. Chop white bulb of onion and thinly slice green tops of onion and also add to bean bowl. Mince cilantro and sprinkle on top.

In a separate, smaller bowl, combine mustard, lime juice, honey, and salt and pepper, and whisk to combine. Slowly add EVOO in a steady stream, whisking constantly until emulsified.

Pour dressing over black bean mixture and stir to combine.

Cinnamon Bread Mini Loaves (gluten free, sugar free)

These mini loaves are so good and baking them makes your house smell amazing. I love anything with cinnamon in it (and in fact use it on a daily basis, multiple times). There is something so grounding, so warming about this spice. It makes for the ultimate comfort food (I even put it in my chili). And it provides the main attraction for these wonderful bread loaves.

My son wanted to bake something special for his Awana teachers, Miss Jill and Miss Bonnie, so I suggested these. He thought it sounded like a great idea. So we'll be wrapping up one of these for each of his teachers and we'll enjoy one for snack time. I've made this recipe several times, the original inspiration coming from the blogsphere somewhere, I really wish I could remember where so I could give proper credit to its source, but alas it was quite some time ago and my recipe revisions are all that remain. I did, in fact, change many things from the original version, but nonetheless it always good to site back. So please forgive me this one time. :)

I bake my mini loaves in the Pampered Chef stoneware with the four mini loaf dividers. I've had this stoneware for years, getting it as a gift from my father in law back when my husband and I were newlyweds (almost 10 years ago now!), and I only started using it in the last few months since we moved. I had always been intimidated about baking in stone (don't ask me why), but now that I've baked in stone several times, I love it. It makes the best baked goods. I highly recommend stoneware for baking. In fact, I aim to add more stoneware pieces to my collection in the years ahead.

Either way you bake this, be it in stoneware or glass, you will be super impressed with this delicious, gluten and sugar free cinnamon bread.


Cinnamon Bread Mini Loaves (gluten free, sugar free)

Dry ingredients:
1 cup white rice flour
1/2 cup brown rice flour
1/2 cup buckwheat flour
1/4 cup almond flour
3/4 cup xylitol
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon xanthan gum
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon powdered stevia
pinch salt

Wet ingredients:
1 egg
1 1/4 cups almond milk or raw cow's milk
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease three mini bread loaf pans with coconut oil (I use the stoneware from Pampered Chef).

Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl and stir to combine. In a separate bowl, whisk egg with milk, coconut oil, and vanilla. Add wet ingredients to dry and stir again to fully incorporate.

Pour batter into prepared bread loaf pans, spreading out the tops evenly.

Bake in preheated oven for approximately 45 minutes. Remove from oven and let set about 10 minutes before slicing.