Cinnamon Raisin Mini-loaves

Perfect for snacking!

After being sick for nearly two weeks and then getting very busy with work I have sadly been neglecting my kitchen lately. Since I don’t eat grains, you can imagine that this has led to some pretty boring ‘quick’ meals, especially at breakfast time. Once can only stomach scrambled eggs alternated with cheese omelettes for so long.

I have finally found some time this weekend to catch up on some bread baking and decided to add a little extra by making cinnamon, raisin mini loaves. These are perfect toasted with almond butter or just on their own.

I think I’ll make a double batch of these next time so that I can freeze some to have when life gets hectic again!

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Chocolate Fruit and Nut Cookies

Fruit and Nut - Chocolate Inspiration

These lower sugar, vegan, gluten free cookies are inspired by my obsession with fruit and nut chocolate bars. Something about the mix of sweet fruit with bittersweet chocolate and toasted nuts has always been pure joy for my taste buds. These cookies have all the flavour of my favourite chocolately treat with the additional of actual nutrients!

These cookies are great with coffee or tea, and I’ve been told they aren’t too shabby as dessert with ice cream. Even my mom asked for the recipe, which is saying a lot!

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Pumpkin Pie Bars

Spicy Pumpkin Pie Squares

Most traditional pumpkin pie recipes have nearly a cup of brown sugar in them. Though I can’t claim that this version is completely sugar free (uses fancy molasses), I am confident that the sugar content has been greatly reduced without sacrificing a traditional flavour. The use of coconut milk creates a smooth, creamy custard. Couple this with the crispy, gluten free crust and a delicious dessert or on the run snack is born!

Though I chose to make more portable bars, this recipe will also work for a smaller pie – a great way to end any festive meal.

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Banana Date Muffins (dairy free)

mmmmuffins

Since going grain-free, I’ve been craving a good, moist, healthy muffin. After a few failures, I think I am close with this one.

Coconut flour can be found in any good health food store. It may seem like an expensive investment, but take heart that most recipes only use about 1/4 to 1/3 of coconut flour vs. traditional gluten flours. One bag keeps going and going!

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Harvest Loaf

An Ode to Autumn Flavour

I am constantly striving to develop new and better grain free bread recipes. In honour of the season I tried using pumpkin puree in this most recent bread edition. I find that it acts as a good binder while adding moisture.  It also happens to taste pretty good!

I enjoyed this loaf on its own as well as toasted with some generous slatherings of apple butter… mmmm…

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Apple Crisp

Apple crisp for breakfast anyone?

Last night we made a fancy feast. While it was cooking, we realized that a lovely meal is made even lovelier when eaten with good friends. Thus, the texting began!

20 minutes later people were on their way when I realized that though we were well stocked with supper, wine, and even a baguette for our grain eating peers, this event was still missing a key ingredient… dessert!

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Bread

Flax bread with almond butter

This morning I woke up craving toast. Half an hour later, after baking bread I had some.

Baking bread used to be an all day affair during my grain eating days. Mixing, kneading, waiting around for the dough to rise, kneading again, rising again… you get the picture.

I now make quick, grain free breads and though they don’t have the same yeasty smell, taste or texture as their glutenous counterparts, they certainly do the trick! Let’s face it, for me bread has always just been an almond butter delivery system for me anyway..

My favourite bread recipe simply for it’s speed, ease and great taste can be found here.

Have fun and enjoy!

Grain Free Pancakes

Fall is just around the corner. I can tell because the sun is now shining in a weaker, wintery light, the sometimes oppressive humidity has been missing for weeks, and my body seems to have entered full-fledged ‘hibernation’ mode.

This doesn’t mean I’ve crawled into a cave to re-emerge in late April (though this can be a very tempting proposition by the time late January rolls around). What it does mean is that I’ve started to sleep in ever so slightly – a bit more each day. I’ve also started to crave complex carbs like crazy!

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Another One?

Yes – this is another gluten free blog.

Unlike many though, my recipes do not contain the traditional gluten free flour alternatives such as rice flour. This is because I live with a multitude of digestive health issues and feel best when I do not eat any grains at all. Instead I have opted to use almond meal, flax meal and coconut flour when a craving for baked goods or bread strikes. Personally, I think these options taste better than traditional gluten free flours anyway.

I also prefer to use very little sugar in my recipes. If I need a sweetener, I opt to use agave nectar and sometimes honey as alternatives to refined sugar.

I love the challenge of taking traditional grain laden recipes from my cookbooks and modifying them to be tasty, nutritious, grain free, low sugar treats. I hope you enjoy my creations as much as I do!