RECIPE: AIP Banana Bread Pancakes

Posted in Main Dishes, Recipes by Be Sol-Ful Living

I have been trying to make a good AIP pancake now for months. I’m talking since way back in September. And when I say ‘good’ I mean so good that Willow doesn’t even miss the chocolate chips. When I presented this trial to her a couple of weeks ago, she hesitated to take a bite, but when she did, her face lit up. After three pancakes worth, she said, “these are my favorite! Can you keep making them??” YAY!! I finally did it! And the best part was that she didn’t even ask where the chocolate chips were, she just kept eating.

In past trials, I’ve thrown in chocolate chips to make up for the gummy or mushy center…or to cover up the strange aftertaste. Thus defeating the purpose of AIP! After adjusting a few key ingredients, there is no need for masking flavors and I actually prefer these without maple syrup to keep the sweetness level lower…but I totally add a TON of extra cinnamon on top!

Every time we make these, our house smells like freshly baked banana bread for the rest of the day. It’s wonderful!

****************************************************************************************************************

AIP BANANA BREAD PANCAKES

{grain-free, dairy-free, soy-free, gluten-free, refined sugar-free, vegan}

Makes 7-8 small pancakes

What you need:

1 cup tigernut flour
1/4 cup tapioca flour
1 Tablespoon coconut sugar (optional)
1/4 teaspoon baking soda*
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar*
1/2 teaspoon Ceylon cinnamon
pinch Himalayan salt
1/2 cup mashed banana
1/2 cup gum-free coconut milk
1 teaspoon apple cider

*The combination of baking soda + cream of tartar is to replicate baking powder. Being on an AIP diet means staying away from commercial baking powders as they tend to contain cornstarch. If you’re not following an AIP diet, use 1 teaspoon of baking powder instead of the baking soda + cream of tartar.

How to:

Start heating your pan over low-medium heat. I tend to keep it at notch 4 with my electric stove.
In a medium bowl, whisk together all of the dry ingredients; breaking apart any clumps of tigernut flour.
Next, stir in the mashed banana and coconut milk. Finally, add in the apple cider vinegar and stir until just combined. This batter will be very thick.
Add about a teaspoon of coconut oil to your hot pan and scoop small amounts of pancake batter into the pan and smooth it out into a circle with the back of a spoon. I personally like to use an ice cream scooper to make pancakes. With this specific recipe, I fill the scoop halfway because I find that they’re easier to flip when smaller.
Allow to cook for 3 minutes, flip, and cook for another 3 minutes. Unlike usual pancakes, these do not bubble up or get super dry edges to indicate when it’s time to flip. Depending on what pan you use, you might have to add more oil.
Enjoy with maple syrup, fresh fruit, and extra cinnamon!

*******************************************************************************************************************

Let me know if you give this recipe a try! Either come back and leave me some feedback or tag me on Instagram @be.sol.ful

Thanks for stopping by!

❤

7Apr2017

Grain-Free Chocolate Cookies

Posted in Desserts, Recipes by Be Sol-Ful Living

Over the last couple of months, I have become obsessed with this DIY paleo flour blend. Not only is it way cheaper to make your own blend, but it also took all of the guesswork out for me because when it comes to using coconut flour, I literally fail every. single. time. But with this blend I have created a birthday cake/cupcakes as well as some cookie recipes. They may, or may not, all make it on the blog! This recipe is a huge hit with my entire family (parents included). I was inspired to create these cookies after trying Simple Mills Double Chocolate Cookies – if you read my March Favorites blog post, you already know my love for this company. They use minimal ingredients…and ingredients I feel good about letting Willow eat – no gums, additives, “natural” flavors, or refined sugar.

RECIPE: Grain-Free Chocolate Cookies

Now, the texture isn’t as crispy as Simple Mills (I didn’t use or have konjac root) and they aren’t flat, but I’m really excited about how well they turned out! A slightly crispy exterior, soft center (I very much dislike the word moist, but I’ll say it), and they melt in your mouth. They’re like little buttery orbs of deliciousness! I made these with my little chocoholic in mind and she loves them so much…in fact, she’d be content with eating the dough! I plan to make them using carob instead of cacao and when i do, I’ll update this post with the outcome.

*UPDATE – the carob trial was fantastic! Instead of the two tablespoons of cacao powder, I used one tablespoon of carob. And I paired it with 2 TBSP tahini + 1 TBSP coconut oil. I gotta say, I think this is my new favorite way to make them!*

I have made these countless times and with different variations: using almond butter instead of coconut oil, leaving out the chocolate chips, adding flax egg, flattening them before baking, and a few other ways. The recipe, as it’s written below, is my family’s favorite version.

The trials I ran using a flax egg required an additional 2 tablespoons of paleo flour blend and the outcome was more of a brownie-like cookie and not at all crispy. I’ll have instructions below for this variation.

Here’s a photo of a batch using flax egg:

RECIPE: Grain-Free Chocolate Cookies

GRAIN-FREE CHOCOLATE COOKIES: {soy-free, gluten-free dairy-free, vegan, paleo, oil-free option}

Makes 8-10 small cookies

Brownie-like variation will make 12-14 small cookies

What you need:

1/4 cup + 2 TBSP paleo flour blend*
3 Tablespoons coconut sugar
2 Tablespoons tigernut flour
2 Tablespoons organic cacao powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
pinch Himalayan salt
3 Tablespoons softened (not melted) coconut oil or creamy almond butter*
1/2 teaspoon vanilla (optional)
1-2 Tablespoons organic, fair trade chocolate chips (optional)

* I know Bob’s Red Mill has a paleo flour blend, but I have not tried it – so cannot verify the outcome. Before measuring your flour, please shake it really well to mix up the flours and DO NOT scoop it out with a measuring cup, but rather spoon the flour into a measuring cup so that the flour doesn’t get overly packed in.

*Please DO NOT use melted coconut oil! Keep it in a softened, solid state. Use coconut oil for a crispier cookie and almond butter for a softer cookie. Both are equally delicious! I’ve even used a combo of both in a few batches…including the batch in these photos.

How to:

Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with unbleached parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flours, sugar, cacao powder, baking soda, and salt. Then, stir in the coconut oil (or almond butter), and vanilla (if using). Mix until creamed together and the dough sticks together. I use my hands to really incorporate the ingredients. You’ll be tempted to add in extra oil or butter – trust me, don’t do it 🙂 Next, stir in the chocolate chips, if using.
Roll the dough into small balls, leave about one inch of space between the cookies, do not overcrowd them and bake for 12-18 minutes. My oven requires longer baking times, which is why there is a wide baking time frame. Once they start cracking on the top, it is time to remove them. If you are looking for a crispier cookie, increase the baking time by 2-3 minutes.
Remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes on the baking sheet before carefully transferring them to a cooling rack. I recommend letting them cool completely before eating. If you try to eat them right as they’re done, you’ll have a crumbly mess!
Enjoy with a glass of nut milk, coffee, or tea.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container.

**VARIATION: for a brownie-like cookie add 2 extra tablespoons of the paleo flour blend (making a total of 1/4 cup + 4 TBSP) and when incorporating the wet ingredients, add in one flax egg (1 TBSP ground flax + 3 TBSP water…allow the flax egg to set for at least five minutes before adding the dough). These will spread out a bit while baking, unlike the original recipe – so spacing is important.

RECIPE: Grain-Free Chocolate Cookies

If you make these, please come back and let me know how they turned out! I’d love to hear from you!
Thanks for stopping by!

❤

2Apr2017

March 2017 Favorites

Posted in Favorites by Be Sol-Ful Living

Happy April, my sweet friends!! I first wanted to say a HUGE THANK YOU for all of the love concerning my previous post – I was blown away by the response. So many beautiful comments and messages – the feedback only proved that we are not alone and that it is so important to be authentically YOU. Thank you ❤

March brought about lots of new recipes and making old favorites – I was able to finally eat some nuts without extreme setbacks, so that was nice…well, that was until about a week ago – trying to get the inflammation back down. Fingers crossed I don’t have to go back to being nut-free.

Before I dive in, here are some of my favorite photos from March:

MARCH FAVORITES:

P R O D U C T S:

Love and Kindness {wild rose + motherwort} mist for the heart >> Plantfolk Apothecary >> My dear friend sent this to me and it was instant love. Words that come to mind when I spray it: beautiful, peaceful, magical, happiness, confidence, protection, love. I absolutely adore the scent of rose, which is the star of the show in this little bottle. It actually reminds me a little of my self-love (“I AM”) spray that I carried in my shop.

Tessemae’s Mild Buffalo Sauce >> My Mom picked this up from Whole Foods (on sale) and together we made some amazing cauliflower wings! Literally the best I’ve had! This sauce has a really clean list of ingredients and has such a great flavor! Perfectly spicy and tangy. Minus Willow (she didn’t even try them), the entire family went back for seconds. I’m going to brainstorm other ways to use this sauce and grab myself a bottle next shopping trip.

Kombucha >> Here are some new flavors we tried and loved!

Vanilla Oak >> Brew Dr. Kombucha

Hibiscus Ginger (GT’S)

Bilberry Blessing (GT’S)

Simple Mills Toasted Pecan Crunchy Cookies >> My Mom bought and shared these with us and they are amazing. Crispy little cookies that almost melt in your mouth. I seriously adore all things from Simple Mills! Found these on sale at Whole Foods.

Food Empowerment Project Chocolate List >> OK, so this isn’t technically a product, but I can’t recommend it enough. I have my friend, Kittee, to thank for this one and I’ve been using this app for the last month and a half – so helpful! If you care about where your money is going, how the cacao beans are sourced (a lot use child labor and slavery), then you NEED to download this app and get familiar with the companies…I was really bummed to see a couple favorites on the “Do not recommend” list (such as Enjoy Life and Hail Merry) but I have high hopes that they’ll change their sourcing. I don’t consume chocolate much these days anyway, but I’ll absolutely refer to this app when I do go to purchase something with chocolate. And in the meantime, I’ve stopped supporting Enjoy Life and the other companies that aren’t recommended…until they change sourcing/other issues. Please know that your choices matter and WE VOTE WITH OUR DOLLAR! While I obviously want to support vegan companies and applaud them for using animal-free ingredients, I also care about my fellow human beings – exploitation is wrong.

************************************************************************************************************************************

R E C I P E S:

5 Ingredient Granola Cups >> The Fit Fork Feed >> I strayed away from Lindsay’s original recipe and made modifications so that I could eat them. I knew they were going to be good before they were baked because I kept sneaking bites of the batter. I used tigernut flour instead of oat flour, tahini instead of cashew (or nut butter), and maple syrup in place of rice syrup. These were so buttery and cookie-like and they made the perfect little vessel for yogurt and berries. I highly recommend checking out the recipe!!

And in case you don’t follow me on Instagram or missed it, here’s how we filled ours:

Pineapple Teriyaki Cauliflower Poppers >> Athletic Avocado >> I’m always brainstorming new ways to switch up our taco night and when I stumbled upon this recipe I knew we had to make it asap. The first night we put them into tacos and the second day I added the leftovers to a big salad. Simple recipe and the slightly sweet flavor paired so well with our other ingredients.

Paleo Dinner Rolls >> The Real Food Dieticians >> It had been ages since I made or ate a roll/biscuit so when I found this recipe while Pinterest browsing one night I added it to our menu! I already had all of the ingredients on hand AND I didn’t have to make any adjustments (huge bonus)…well, I did omit the baking powder, but that was super minor. One bite and Willow declared that we make them all the time! Buttery, fluffy, and so easy to make. I’m envisioning biscuits and gravy in the near future.

Vegan Almond Flour Banana Bread >> Detoxinista >> Willow requested banana bread one day so I did a quick Google search for ‘paleo vegan banana bread’ and this recipe popped up. And the best part was that it called for three ripe bananas…which is exactly what we had at the time! We’ve tried a few of Detoxinista’s recipes in the past and loved them, which is why I gravitated towards this recipe. And it absolutely did not disappoint.

Green Mac and Cheese >> Veggies Don’t Bite >> I was so excited to try this recipe because I have LOVED every sauce creation Sophia has come up with. And I also love how each one is so different and amazing in their own way…this particular sauce is borderline drinkable. It is insanely creamy, full of flavor, and it has a really great tangy zip to it. I cooked up regular gluten-free noodles and sweet potato noodles to go with this sauce and everyone gave it a big thumbs up! The next day, I used the leftover sauce to drizzle over some roasted veggies…the possibilities are endless! I had an idea come to mind, but I ran out of sauce…next time I’d like to make mashed potatoes with it…doesn’t that sound amazing??

Sweet Beet Sauce >> The Help Yourself Cookbook for Kids >> Willow, out of the blue, decided that she actually wanted to make a few things out of this cookbook – we got it for her 4th birthday. During our sit down meal planning session one week, she grabbed this book and told us which recipes she wanted. You see, she tends to just “read” through this like a regular book, and while we have made a few recipes out of here before, we typically wait until she brings it up. She’s beet obsessed…I honestly think it’s because of the color, but who knows, maybe she actually really enjoys the flavor, too. We whipped this up one day and used it in a layered nice cream dish. We made one slight modification and replaced the agave with pure maple syrup (almost all of her recipes call for agave and since we don’t use it, we sub it with maple). Willow was taking bites of this sauce with a spoon and loved how creamy it was. We originally started making it in the food processor, but switched to the VitaMix to get it ultra smooth.

MOONDROPS SESAME ALMOND COOKIES >> The Help Yourself Cookbook for Kids >> This was the other recipe Willow picked to make and I ended up prepping these solo…she was too caught up in painting to stop what she was doing. These were SO easy to throw together – one bowl, a handful of ingredients, and popped them in the oven to bake. They were the perfect balance of crispy and chewy…I love cookies like that. Willow really enjoyed them, too. The recipe doesn’t make a lot, which is good because sadly, they are not as tasty the next day. We threw a couple on top of our layered nice cream treat!

Raw Chocolate Beet Cheesecake >> Unconventional Baker >> Willow has been asking to make this ever since I showed her pics from Audrey’s blog…my beet and pink obsessed kid! I think it was worth the wait because she absolutely LOVED it! In fact, my entire family did (parents and Oma included). Willow is known for eating the ‘cheese’ part of the cake and leaving the crust behind, but she devoured it entirely. Josh said he loved the crust because it wasn’t date-y. I added a few Brazil nuts to the crust because I had them on hand and I loved the flavor that brought to it. The actual ‘cheese’ portion of the cake was one of the creamiest I’ve ever had. Super smooth, melt in your mouth delicious. I attempted to swirl in some leftover sweet beet sauce (from the recipe I mentioned above) and it ended up looking more layered, but it was seriously SO good. Willow has asked to make it again!

********************************************************************************************************************************
B O O K S:

Rising Strong by Brené Brown >> I had read this one before, but checked it out from the library again. For some reason, it resonated a lot more with me the second time around. An extremely empowering read – I highly recommend it – everything by Brené Brown is fantastic.

The Autoimmune Fix by Tom O’Bryan >> I’m nowhere near finishing this book, BUT it absolutely has my attention. He discusses the autoimmune spectrum, causes, how to pinpoint and heal. I’m really excited to finish this – only 100 pages in and I’m already learning a TON.

Bird Box by Josh Malerman >> Josh (my husband) checked this book out from the library because someone had recommended it to him and then he passed it on to me. I laughed at him because he said he couldn’t read it before bed because it was so creepy…then I started reading it and realized why!

***********************************************************************************************************************************

What were your favorites from March? Did you read anything share worthy? Try any new products or recipes? Or maybe you’re watching something on Netflix that I need to know about?! Leave me a comment below…

Thanks for stopping by!

❤

1Mar2017

February 2017 Favorites

Posted in Favorites by Be Sol-Ful Living

Happy March, my friends! We’re getting that much closer to SPRING and I’m ready for it. I feel like this has been the hardest winter I’ve had in a long time and I know there are quite a few of you feeling the same way. BUT on a major positive note…our snow has melted!!!! Do you know how amazing it feels to actually be able to see the ground again???

Highlights from the month:

– If you read my post from last month (or follow me on Instagram) you know that I held a weekend long promotion to raise money for ACLU (50% of my sales)….I was able to donate $100 thanks to YOU! And a HUGE thanks for all of the wonderful feedback – it warms my heart to hear that you’re enjoying everything!

– Going on a little Valentine’s Day tea date with Josh and pulling over like a tourist to stop and take in the gorgeous view. Those snow covered mountains never get old.

– Turning 38! I’m feeling really good about this year and I’m excited to see what’s in store.

– Chopping off a foot of my hair to donate to Children with Hair Loss (CWHL)! I’ve done hair donation quite a bit, but this is my first time to this organization. I learned the truth about Locks of Love and will never donate to them again. CWHL is a non-profit organization that provides wigs to children (with medically related hair loss) at NO COST. I highly recommend checking them out if you’re planning on cutting your long hair!

– Finishing two big puzzles with Willow (1,000 piece puzzles). This kid is addicted and REALLY good!

– Doing another big round of decluttering! I even asked Willow if she would be up for donating some of her things…she surprised me by overflowing TWO boxes! So now we’re looking into where to donate some gently used stuffed animals, clothes, books, and games. Willow is excited for another boy or girl to enjoy her things…proud mama over here!

******************************************************************************************************

F E B R U A R Y FAVORITES >>

P R O D U C T S:

TURMERIC CHAI>> Mountain Rose Herbs® >> I adore Mountain Rose Herbs for so many reasons and I even use quite a few of their products to make the items in my Etsy shop. I love that they offer high quality & organic ingredients…and it feels good to support another Oregon company. OK, but moving on to this tea! It’s no secret that I love chai and I LOVE turmeric, so it was a given that I’d eventually give this tea a try! It’s been so perfect for these chilly, windy, winter days. I love to heat up a bit of coconut milk to add to this, along with a small drizzle of maple syrup – it makes a creamy, slightly spicy drink that warms you to the core. Next time I’ll be sure to order a bigger box!

CASSAVA & CHIA AMAZING GRAIN-FREE TORTILLAS >> SIETE >> I’ve walked by these tortillas every Monday for the last few months, but never bothered to buy them because I was avoiding seeds. BUT I’m SO happy to report that I’ve been able to add in small amounts of nuts and seeds…small amounts, but I’ll take it! So a couple weeks ago I finally splurged and bought a pack to celebrate (they’re $8.99 for a pack of 8). THEY. ARE. AMAZING!!! Not only do they hold up really well, but I love the flavor and texture. I used them to make roasted veggie wraps and salad wraps. They won’t be a weekly buy as they are really pricey, but as an every now and again treat, I think they’re perfect. I love the “clean” ingredient list and they contain ZERO gums or citric acid. They offer an almond flour pack, but they do contain xanthan gum and steer clear of the coconut wraps as they contain pork lard. I buy them from Natural Grocers, but most Whole Foods carries them as well.

Oh! And their Sea Salt Grain Free Tortilla Chips are THE BEST! So light, airy, crispy and perfect for salsa or nachos. I’m the only grain-free person in my household, but we’ve really cut back on grains as a family, too – so these are a wonderful substitute (but pricier than your average bag of tortilla chips). We get them from Whole Foods for about $5.99/bag.

GREEN CHILE GUACAMOLE >> HOPE FOODS >> We have had THE worst luck with avocados these last few weeks…no matter where we purchased them from. I haven’t given up yet, but with the increasing price of avocados…some places charging $2.49 for ONE, I’ve made them a limited buy…or I make Josh pick them up from work because if do get a bunch of bad ones, we can return them. But I digress. I found this guacamole on sale at Natural Grocers one day and picked it up to go with our veggie wraps. Huge hit! When we used to buy store-bought hummus, we loved to get anything from Hope Foods, so I knew that their guacamole would be delicious. For being pre-made, it had a really nice fresh flavor with a bit of a kick to it. I’d definitely buy it again!

GARLIC DILL PICKLE GUT SHOTS >> FARMHOUSE CULTURE >> Who loves dill pickles?? If you don’t, then keep scrolling. But if you do, then definitely give this a try! We are a garlic obsessed house and we love pickles, so Josh and I decided to pick this up one day. Not going to lie, it really does taste like you’re drinking pickle juice, BUT it’s super smooth and really flavorful. We’ve been on a pretty heavy sauerkraut kick – something about that tangy zip – so this has been a wonderful addition. We’ve been doing two shots a day. We found this at Natural Grocers for $4.99/bottle.

*************************************************************************************************************

R E C I P E S:

I know that last month I said that I was hoping to share more recipes for this post, but I only have two to share! We’ve really simplified our eating and tend to stick to raw or roasted veggies of some sort, salads, and soups…and LOTS of potatoes. Eating this way has helped stick to our grocery budget and we work more with things we have on hand, as opposed to buying a bunch of things for just one recipe. Hopefully in the future I’ll have more favorites to share here, but for now, with my restricted diet, we stick to our simple, go-to meals.

RAW VEGAN CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE >> EATING VIBRANTLY >> I made this for my birthday and not only did I love it, but my entire family raved about it! Super easy to throw together, short ingredient list, and free from things I’m avoiding…so no fussing over substitutes. We described it as more of a mousse cake as opposed to an actual cheesecake, but it was amazing nonetheless. The directions said to let it sit in the fridge, but I found that allowing it to set in the freezer worked better as it firmed up a bit more. It was super rich, decadent, and not overly sweet, which was nice. It used raw cacao butter and coconut milk instead of the usual cashews, so it was easier on my tummy.

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE DOUGH BITS >> FEASTING ON FRUIT >> When I got the email for this recipe and saw that it takes just a few minutes to make, I jumped into the kitchen and whipped it up! Natalie’s recipe calls for oat flour, but I used tigernut flour instead to keep it grain-free. Willow and I have been enjoying it straight out of the container and sprinkled on top of a smoothie bowl or banana ice cream. Little chewy, sweet bits of deliciousness and without the guilt! I’m planning on making the oatmeal that Natalie posted (HERE) for Willow once I get or make some cashew butter.

*******************************************************************************************************

B O O K S:

The Inner Voice of Love by Henri J.M. Nouwen

The Dark Side of the Light Chasers by Debbie Ford

********************************************************************************************************

So tell me…what were some of your favorite things from February?! Did you try any new products? Make any new recipes? Read any share-worthy books?? I’d love to hear! Or have you been (binge)watching any shows on Netflix?? I finally finished The Office a couple of weeks ago and cried. Such a great show and a wonderful distraction from all the depressing news in the world.

Thanks for stopping by!

❤

1Feb2017

REVIEW: January 2017 Favorites

Posted in Favorites by Be Sol-Ful Living

Happy February, my friends! It’s been a minute since I’ve shared anything here and since I missed posting my December Favorites, I’m going to include them here. How’s everyone doing?? It’s been quite the winter between the record amount of snow we had and then the obvious state of the world. I know I’m not alone in my sadness and discouragement, but I think we really need to come together, stand united, and make our voices heard. I promise to not make this post about politics, but for those looking for a way to work towards change PLEASE visit 5 Calls – and the best part is that they provide scripts…for those (like me) who lose their words and freeze up when it’s time to speak! All you do is type in your zip code and the phone numbers for your area will be provided. I urge you to call!

**ALSO, my shop has been on vacation, but I’m going to reopen it this Friday AND for this weekend only, I will be donating 50% of my sales to ACLU. I’ll make the announcement on my Instagram page (@be.sol.ful), so if you’re interested, please check there on Friday to get the full details!**

*********************************************************************************************************

FAVORITE PHOTOS FROM DECEMBER & JANUARY:

December was a month for LOTS OF SNOW here in Bend…which meant some quality time outside playing and adventuring AND shoveling. We had somewhere between 15″-18″ fall in a 24 hour span and I was just happy that I had nowhere to be. Poor Josh, on the other hand, still had to make the trek to work – I’m just grateful that we have a vehicle that can handle the weather conditions.

When you have a dinosaur obsessed kiddo, you make a triceratops instead of a snowman! She had a little help from her Dad…

A breathtakingly beautiful snowshoe hike with family…

With all the snow, more birds crowded our feeders, which we just love. Several months ago, Willow named three of the doves that frequent our yard…Sally, Lucy, and Charlie Brown. I managed to finally snap a photo of them together!

dscn3083-2

And then January brought EVEN MORE snow – check out my parents front yard:

Which is why we had to brave the snowy mountain pass a couple weeks ago and get out of town! The weather was perfect at the coast and it was just what the three of us needed!

JANUARY FAVORITES >>

I first wanted to do a little shout out to my dear friend, Karina and her friend, Alyssa – their Honest Mothers blog is just incredible! There’s a real sense of community and connection thanks to sharing real life thoughts and struggles. The sad part about social media is that we’re trained to share perfect moments – clean house, well prepared meals, happy kids, put together moms. In reality, we ALL struggle. We ALL have bad days, weeks. NO ONE is perfect. Their blog helps to normalize this and show us that it is OK and normal to struggle…to feel guilt, to feel shame. In sharing about our struggles we actually help one another to not feel so isolated and alone. I had the honor of meeting Karina when I was in Southern CA back in September and I can with 100% certainty tell you that she is one of the most genuine, real mamas I know! Please give their blog a look. Here’s a link to their latest post → Distracted Motherhood

PRODUCTS:

“Heart Beet” >> GT’s Kombucha >> When I saw a new flavor from GT’s make an appearance at Natural Grocers this month, I didn’t have to think twice, I just added it to our shopping cart. Besides the fact that I LOVE beets, it also has fresh ginger and rosemary in it as well. Obviously it was amazing!!!

I also fell in love with GTs Mojito flavor! I switched back to GTs due to their lower sugar content – my favorite local brand (Humm) was just too sweet for my healing gut.

COYO Coconut Yogurt >> It’s been ages since I’ve purchased or consumed store bought yogurt, but when I saw this brand at Natural Grocers, I had to give them a shot! I chose to stick with Natural and Chocolate, so I cannot attest to how the other flavors are. Their yogurts are:

Vegan
Gluten-free
Paleo certified
Preservative free
Carrageenan free
Gum free
Soy free
No added sugar

I’d say that’s REALLY impressive! The downfall is the price as they were $2.79/ea…so these are more of a treat (an occasional purchase). I have also seen them at Whole Foods and Market of Choice, but there they are $3.99/ea. I really enjoyed the thick, creamy texture and how it wasn’t sweet. Willow, on the other hand, tried to like them, but said they weren’t sweet enough for her! I plan to try using some of the plain/natural one as a sour cream substitute for tacos!

**************************************************************************************************************
RECIPES:

Candy Cane Nice Cream >> Feasting on Fruit >> Despite the cold and snow, we whipped this up one afternoon as a little treat. Willow has a slight obsession with beets and when she saw the video for this recipe (remember, she’s a HUGE fan of Natalie and her YouTube channel…but who isn’t?), she insisted we make this! I was a little lazy and kept the beets raw – I just made sure to dice them up small enough so that the blender wouldn’t leave behind any chunks of beet. I also skipped the pomegranate seeds because we didn’t have any on hand and I’m 99.9% sure Willow would have picked them out anyway 😉 Because it was so cold out when we made this and our house wasn’t super warm, the nice cream was really hard and rather than having a jar filled with pretty, creamy layers, I kinda plopped the nice cream in the jar. Haha!! But it didn’t matter because it tasted REALLY REALLY good!!! Not overly minty, slightly sweet, and a perfect treat. Willow topped hers with some mini chocolate chips…are you surprised? I just loved how there wasn’t any added sweetener, which didn’t make my tummy upset. Can’t wait to make this again!

RICE CRISPY CRUNCH TRUFFLES >> FEASTING ON FRUIT >> I gave Willow options and showed her photos/videos of treats to give her the chance to choose what we should make for our family Christmas Day gathering…and I’m not surprised that she picked these truffles! Our kitchen and Willow was a chocolate covered mess by the end of prepping these babies, but it was definitely worth it since they were a huge hit! While I can’t give you my personal feedback (I’m still grain-free) as to how they tasted, I will say that the super simple ingredient list won me over! Family and friends described them as rich, decadent, and amazing….it was so much fun for me to sit back and watch everyone take their first bite and listen to the ‘oooohhhing’ and ‘mmmmmmms’ – I’m sure these will make another appearance in the near future.

Raw Vegan Maple Donut Holes >> Lee Tilghman >> Grain-free, gluten-free, and full of maple-y goodness! Josh and Willow loooooooved these! I enjoyed one, but my tummy just couldn’t handle the sweetness level. I glazed most of them and set aside a couple without and those were more up my alley. So simple to make and no baking required. I think that when I make these again, I will omit the maple syrup in the actual “donut” and lessen the amount in the glaze…but if you ask Josh, he’ll say that they’re perfect the way they are!

Coconut Curry Soup with Sweet Potato Noodles >> Veggie Inspired >> I’m a sucker for all things curry and coconut AND simple, so this was a must-try recipe for our family. I made some adjustments to make it easier on my gut (left out the peas and added in chopped carrots instead – I sauteed those with the other veggies). I LOVED this soup! So full of flavor and it had a decent amount of heat to it which made for perfect comfort food. Sadly, there isn’t a photo to accompany this review because (1) the lighting was awful…darn winter and darkness and (2) we used a low sodium broth with tomato which created a very dark soup…nothing nearly as pretty as Jenn’s! So please head over to her blog and drool over her pics and give the recipe a try!

((I’ve been sticking to pretty much the same few things for meals, so nothing new to share there…just LOTS of potatoes, broccoli, kale, avocado and plenty of nutritional yeast! Haha! Pretty simple and boring! Hoping to report back next month with more exciting meals! I’m just grateful to be able to eat curry and most nightshades again! Such a blessing.))

*****************************************************************************************************

BOOKS:

Before I dive into the world of fiction and self-help/self-love books, I NEED to mention and give some love to my sweet friend, Brandi, and her eBook! Back in December she released this beautiful 8 Ingredient Vegan Desserts ECookbook and I bought it straight away…and while I cannot attest to the deliciousness of the recipes included in this book, I will say that there hasn’t been a dessert recipe of Brandi’s that I tried and didn’t fall in love with. She has a real gift when it comes to creating AND capturing the essence in her photos. I’ve drooled over all the recipes and when my gut can tolerate nuts and grains again, you better believe I’ll be running to the kitchen to make everything! You can grab a copy for $6.99

What I read and enjoyed:

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch >> A few years ago, my best friend recommended this book to me and it stayed on my to-read list for so long. Then last month, someone else brought up the title in conversation so I decided to check it out from the library. I knew from the description that it was going to be a heartbreaking read, but the lessons that you take away are life-changing. It is so easy to get dragged down into a pool of negativity – I’ve been guilty of that, but through these pages we learn about a man who chose to live life in such an inspiring way, despite a terminal cancer diagnosis. This was a very short book, but very powerful.

The Night Bird by Brian Freeman >> This was my pick from the Kindle First options in January and I plowed through it fast! It’s a mystery/suspense (fiction) and a real page turner. I gave it 4 stars on Goodreads.

Fellside by M.R. Carey >> Talk about a crazy book! Fiction/thriller/suspense. I really enjoyed this one, but the end had me screaming “why?!!?” – I ended up giving it 4 stars on Goodreads.

The Heart of Aromatherapy by Andrea Butje >> My mom gifted me this book as an early birthday present and I will cherish it as a wonderful resource. While I’ve been using essential oils for over ten years and have created my own recipes, I feel like I’m in a constant state of learning and growing when it comes to oils. I love how the author keeps things very basic – covers 40 different oils and their healing properties along with sharing her own recipes. I am very inspired by her combinations and knowledge. I highly recommend this book to anyone new to essential oils, but really I think it’s a great guide for everyone.

Daring Greatly by Brené Brown >> I love Brené Brown. Her words always bring so much hope, encouragement, and love to my heart. This book is all about vulnerability and how we cannot live wholeheartedly without it…we learn, grow, and succeed by showing up, taking risks, and stepping outside of our comfort zones. I have A LOT of the pages folded and highlighted because this book is FILLED with inspiring words. She has a way of calling you out in a gentle manner – I found myself nodding in agreement and shaking my head in disbelief (like as if she knew me and what I was thinking). I will be holding onto this book for Willow to read when she gets older. For anyone tired of living in fear and sitting on the sidelines, grab yourself a copy!

*****************************************************************************************************

Tell me…

What are you reading? Have you tried anything new? Recipes? Are you watching anything?? I’d love to hear from you!

Thanks for stopping by!

❤

20Dec2016

Grain-Free Peppermint Brownies

Posted in Desserts, Recipes by Be Sol-Ful Living

This time last year I shared a recipe for Triple Chocolate Peppermint Brownies and since they were a big hit, I wanted to challenge myself to see if I could recreate them to be closer to my current “diet.” I was going to try and make them AIP compliant, but since Willow isn’t the biggest fan of carob, I thought I better stick to good old cacao.

So what adjustments did I make?

Instead of gluten-free all purpose flour, I used cassava flour.

I used coconut butter in place of raw tahini (oh, how I miss tahini!).

Instead of aquafaba, I subbed in pumpkin puree.

My first trial was too heavy on the cassava flour which not only left you with a somewhat overpowering taste in your mouth, but they were also on the dry side. Second trial got a little closer, but not up to my perfectionist standards 😉 Third time’s a charm and I knew that I finally nailed it when Willow took a bite and already asked for a second one…and said, “Mom, can we make these for Christmas?”

YAY! On that note, when we asked Willow what she wanted us to make for dinner on Christmas Eve, she replied: “Cookies.” I swear she does eat more than baked goods!

These brownies are NOT for the faint of heart as they’re super….

RICH

CHOCOLATEY

SWEET

CHEWY

FUDGY

Grain-Free Peppermint Brownies

GRAIN-FREE PEPPERMINT BROWNIES

{gluten-free, soy-free, nut-free, seed-free, oil-free, vegan}

Makes 8 large brownies or 16 smaller ones

WHAT YOU NEED:

1/3 cup Otto’s Naturals Cassava Flour
1/4 cup cacao powder
1/4 cup coconut sugar*
1/4 teaspoon Himalayan salt
1/2 cup coconut butter
1/2 cup pumpkin puree*
1 Tablespoon NuStevia Cocoa Mint Syrup*
1 cup Enjoy Life mini chocolate chips, divided
4 Tablespoons gum-free, unsweetened coconut milk*

*If you’d prefer to skip the stevia syrup, add an additional 1/4 cup coconut sugar and use 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of peppermint extract. You can use sweet potato puree instead of pumpkin (I recommend using white sweet potato) or you can do a combo of both. For the coconut milk I recommend either Trader Joe’s canned or Native Forest’s Organic Simple Coconut Milk.

HOW TO:

Preheat oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 8×8 baking dish.
Whisk together the flour, cacao, coconut sugar, and salt. Set aside.
Using a double boiler, gently melt together the chocolate chips and coconut butter; stirring frequently. Once smooth, remove from the stove and add it to your dry ingredients…along with the pumpkin puree, coconut milk, and stevia syrup.
Once everything is combined, fold in the remaining 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips.
Transfer the mix to your baking dish and either using your fingers or a spatula, flatten it out into an even layer. This batter will be very thick due to the cassava flour and you’ll be tempted to add in more liquid, but please don’t!
Bake for 20-25 minutes. Allow to cool for 20 minutes before cutting.
Enjoy!

If you have leftovers, I recommend warming them slightly before eating to allow the chocolate + coconut butter to soften a bit!

Grain-Free Peppermint Brownies

Merry (almost) Christmas, my friends! Wishing all of you a wonderful holiday!

Thanks for stopping by!

❤

12Dec2016

One-Bowl AIP Sugar Cookies

Posted in Desserts, Recipes by Be Sol-Ful Living

One-Bowl AIP Sugar Cookies

Ah, the glorious world of grain-free, nut-free, vegan baking. Have you tried it? It’s definitely NOT easy and I bow to those who are seasoned pros because after just a few trials I was ready to pull my hair out and throw in the towel. But I’m glad I didn’t because otherwise I wouldn’t be sharing our new favorite cookie recipe with you!

What’s your cookie type?

Are you a crunchy or soft cookie kind of person?? For me, it depends on the cookie. I love a pillow-y, melt-in-your-mouth, soft snickerdoodle or peanut butter cookie, but when it comes to sugar cookies or chocolate chip cookies, I’m a sucker for the crispy ones. It brings me back to my childhood and my Mom’s fabulous chocolate chip cookies.

I tried experimenting with coconut flour, cassava flour, arrowroot, tapioca flour, but hit fail after fail. It wasn’t until my friend, Rebecca shared her recipe for snickerdoodles that I was hit with the realization that I hadn’t tried using tigernut flour! I’ve used it to make pancakes (which Willow didn’t like, but Josh & I did), so I decided to give it a try in cookies.

Obviously the tigernut flour worked, otherwise we wouldn’t be here today with this recipe (it only took three trials)! And the best part is….only SIX ingredients and ONE bowl! Super simple. Thank you for the inspiration, Rebecca!!! xo

Josh thought I should title these: So Good You’ll Want to Go AIP Sugar Cookies…kind of a long title, don’t you think? 😉

One-Bowl AIP Sugar Cookies

These have a wonderful crispy exterior with a soft center and they absolutely melt in your mouth with a buttery deliciousness! I gave myself a tummy ache testing these out since I still can’t tolerate sweet too well, but with the holidays fast approaching, cookies are a must! I’m happy to report that they got a thumbs up from all who tried them!

I realize that there are chocolate chips here when they’re supposed to be sugar cookies, but that’s what happens when you have a four-year-old chocoholic helping you. So you have the option to make just sugar cookies OR chocolate chip cookies…both are equally delicious.

One-Bowl AIP Sugar Cookies

Makes 10-14 depending on size of cookie scoop

What You Need:

1 cup TigerNut flour
1/4 teaspoon Himalayan salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
3 Tablespoons coconut oil (solid)
2 Tablespoons Enjoy Life mini chocolate chips (optional or for AIP use carob chips)

How To:

Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with unbleached parchment paper.
Using a stand up mixer with the paddle attachment, combine all of the ingredients (except the chocolate chips). Once everything is well incorporated and there aren’t any signs of coconut oil, you can fold in the chocolate chips. If you don’t have a stand up mixer, you can use a fork and spatula to mix the dough.
Roll into balls or use a small cookie scoop and place onto the baking sheet. These cookies will spread out some, so be sure to space them out.
Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown. Allow to cool completely on the baking sheet. ENJOY!
Best stored in cookie tins or a cookie jar to maintain the crispiness.

One-Bowl AIP Sugar Cookies

Thanks for stopping by!

❤

Be Sol-Ful Living

A compassionate, mindful way of life.

Tag Archives: grain-free

RECIPE: AIP Banana Bread Pancakes

Grain-Free Chocolate Cookies

March 2017 Favorites

February 2017 Favorites

REVIEW: January 2017 Favorites

Grain-Free Peppermint Brownies

One-Bowl AIP Sugar Cookies

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this: