Carrot Cake Larabar

The possibilities for larabars are ENDLESS! It's really just a matter of what you have in your cabinets and how far you're willing to go to experiment. Plus, it's one of those recipes where the base stays the same, so you know it's pretty much gonna be delicious no matter what else you put in it. The carrot cake version has become another favorite. The carrots make them very moist, and the cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice just scream FAAAAAAAALLLLLLL! Yes, I realize it's still August, but fall is in the air as far as I'm concerned, and the fall flavors AND my knee high boots are about to be in full swing! As a matter of fact, next week will be a perfect time to make my friend Mindy's "Raw Pumpkin Pie"@biteoflifeblog.com. But, for now, carrot cake larabars;)

Makes about 20 small cookies
1c. raw almonds
1/2c. medjool dates, pitted
1tsp. cinnamon
1/2tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1tsp. vanilla
1/2 a large carrot
Combine all ingredients in food processor until fine.
Note: If you want to add raisins, or unsweetened coconut, that would be delicious I'm sure. And as for the amount of carrot, if you find it needs a little more, then add it. I only added half a carrot because I didn't want them to be too moist:)

Peppermint Patti Larabars

Well these are just my new favorite thing! I have ALWAYS been a fan of chocolate and mint. Mint chocolate chip ice cream reigns supreme over all other ice cream flavors...and as a child, my mother would've passed up just about any other dessert for one peppermint patti! They were her FAVORITE thing. Of course she no longer eats them, so hopefully, this recipe will make her peppermint patti lovin self happy:) Really, I don't know why it's taken me this looooooong to make a chocolate mint version of a larabar...DUH! I'm gonna need major concentration not to eat the whole batch myself....or I can just swim a few extra 100 yards tonight:) Oh good my children are up from their naps....problem solved:) :)

Makes about 20 small cookies
1c. raw almonds ( or almond meal if you want a smoother consistency)
1/2c. pitted medjool dates ( I get mine from Sams, they are $7 for 2 lbs!)
2tbls. cocoa powder
1/8-1/4tsp. mint extract ( start small as mint is very strong)
Combine all ingredients in food processor until fine
Note: if you're using another brand of dates that are drier in texture, you may need to add some coconut oil to the mix, or you can soak the dates in warm water for 10 minutes then drain before processing:)

Cauliflower Pizza Crust

I know, I know, I'm a little obsessed with pizza crusts, but they are so many different varieties and ways to make them great! I promise this will be the last one I blog, at least for a while:) This was just so surprisingly good that I wanted to share. I was completely unaware that cauliflower pizza crust even existed until a couple weeks ago, I was searching for one recipe and stumbled onto this one. This crust, to me, is an easy and figure friendly alternative to an everyday pizza crust. It does not have the same texture or feel as regular crust, but holds together well and is just something a little different....and sometimes you just need different:) My son actually eats this without noticing the difference....however,it is not husband approved. He liked it, but all in all would rather have my regular gf crust.I can't hold it against him, my regular one is very yummy! So let's just call this crust what it is and be done with it.....a girlie crust. Don't try to sneak this under your pizza loving husbands nose, cuz he will notice, but for us ladies, it's a winner! I think this would make a great appetizer or you may even be able to pass it off as a snack for the kiddos:) Try it, it can't hurt!

Makes 1 crust
2c. riced cauliflower (to do this simply pulse cauliflower in a food processor until it's crumbly and fine.)
1 egg
1c. almond meal
1/2tsp. sea salt

Steam the riced cauliflower for about 5 minutes until slightly tender. Then drain onto a dishtowel, and squeeze all the excess liquid out. This is the most important step, do not skip it!! The cauliflower must be dry!
Mix all ingredients together, once mixed, place on a parchment lined baking sheet and work crust into a 8-9 in. circle or square, whatever you want. It doesn't have to be perfect, just make sure it's not too super thin or super thick. Bake at 425 for 10-15 minutes or until slighty browned. Top with desired toppings and then place under a broiler just to melt any cheese. Voila! Please excuse the pic, this was a diving attempt to get a quick shot before the rest was devoured:) But you get the idea:)

Easy Paleo Pizza Crust Using Coconut Flour

Today is Monday, and that means my refrigerator and cabinets are looking pretty bare. So it's always fun and exciting to see what I can scrounge up to feed the kiddos. No really, I find it a little thrilling,....nothing in the house, and still able to make something delicious out of the limited ingredients presented.....sheer excitement! So I was looking in the fridge and spotted some leftover spinach pesto, coconut flour, and sure enough, just enough almond cheese. Pizza it is! This crust is so ridiculously easy, you might not believe it. Coconut flour has a unique taste and texture, but does not taste like coconut! In fact, my dad, who despises coconut, likes this crust:) It bakes very well and holds up, even when topped with sauce, cheese and veggies.This definitely does not take the place of my "Friday night pizza" crust recipe, but for a quick and easy lunch, or dinner, it's a winner! If you are paleo or just wanting something grain free for the moment, coconut flour is a wonderful solution. Not to mention it's high fiber and protein content! It's happiness all around:)

1/4c. coconut flour
1/4tsp. sea salt
1/2tsp. baking powder
3tbls. flax meal
1/4c. + 3tbls. water
olive oil for coating hands and dough

Combine flax meal and 3tbls. water and stir until slightly thickened. Add coconut flour, salt, baking powder, and remaining 1/4c. water. Stir until mixture is wet, then pour out onto counter. Coat the dough and your hands with olive oil. Shape into a circle and place on desired pizza pan. Roll out or press with hands into the pan to form about an 8 inch circle. Top with whatever you like and bake at 450 for 10-15 minutes:)

Note: Most almond cheese, unless it's homemade, contains some brown rice flour, so if you are completely paleo, then you'll have to adjust the toppings to be friendly. We are not paleo, therefore, I used almond cheese:) You could easily top with some homemade pesto and tomatoes, which I have done, and it's just as fabulous, but this one was for my kids, thus the cheese:)
This crust is so versatile, feel free to add a tsp. of italian herbs or garlic powder to the mix, or to completely change it up for a sweet tooth, top with cinnamon and honey for a cinnamon toast pizza:)

Delectable Gluten Free,Dairy Free, Chocolate Chip Cookies

I've done enough experimenting to know that not just any gf flour will yield a perfectly awesome cccookie.I've tried many, and it's been disappointing making batch after batch, and everybody always says..."yeah, they're good". But they were never GREAT! Not like store-bought, lard filled, sugar filled GREAT. Which of course seems virtually impossible if you're not willing to use any of that in your cookie! My husband is the toughest and most helpful critic at our house. That's not saying he turns his nose up at healthy desserts and treats, because he tries and likes/loves most everything I make. But he is very aware of my goal, which is to create healthy meals, snacks, desserts, etc...without the "health food taste". This recipe looked and sounded good, so I tweaked it a little, of course, and boy did it surprise this girl! And my hubby??? He was shocked and amazed at the deliciousness of this cookie. His exact words were "OMGah!! I could eat that every night!!" which of course, we won't, but that was his way of saying that I had nailed this recipe.:) Thank Goodness!!!!

 They are crispy on the bottom, chewy in the center, and just so scrumptious!

Makes 25 cookies
Preheat oven to 375
2c. blanched almond flour or almond meal will work as well ( you can also use 1/2 oat flour 1/2 almond flour but you may need to add a little more butter as it's more dry)
1tbls. flax meal
1/4tsp. baking soda
1/4tsp. sea salt
1/2c. coconut crystals
3 packs or dropperfulls of stevia
1/4c. water
1/3c. coconut oil, or REAL butter (melted) if you can tolerate dairy...(no fake stuff!!!)
2tbls. vanilla
1/2c. chocolate chips

• Combine dry ingredients. Mix in butter, vanilla, and water and stir until it forms a soft dough. Roll cookies into small balls and flatten with your hand. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes.

The One....The Only....Gluten Free, Yeast Free Pizza!

Well honestly, I can't believe I've waited this long to post my pizza recipe, but I just HAD to have pictures before I could post, and it's been a while since we've last eaten this delectable delight:) I have been making homemade pizza for about 7 years, and when I first started, I was using home ground winter wheat, which made the pizza taste similar to grainy circles of cardboard at best! Then I switched to rye and wheat which made a small difference, but not enough to jump for joy.Then, about 4 years ago, I started exploring the gluten free realm. In short, our son was having some allergy issues, and it made tons of difference when we switched. That was all the motivation I needed! At first, I probably made pizza every weekend, trying out new flour blends, store-bought bags, anything that claimed to be delicious. I really enjoy the thrill of trying something new, and especially enjoy using my family as guinea pigs! I think they enjoy it too! The fact is, there are LOTS of pizza recipes out there....yeast, no yeast...gluten free, dairy free...ones that endlessly knead the dough, let the dough rise...prebake...I mean, it can be flat out confusing....I just wanted to make pizza every couple of friday nights! And I didn't want to be in the kitchen for 5 hours kneading and rolling and baking and topping....so after many, many experiments...and a couple of crumbly failures later, I finally developed a recipe that my family loves, and is super easy and delicious. Grant it, it's not as convenient as dialing a number and having it delivered to your door, but it is much healthier, and HOMEMADE! And homemade, is best! So pizza lovers rejoice!  It is possible to have yummy gluten free pizza:)

Mashed Cauliflower

Mashed cauliflower is something that probably doesn't quite make it to the table that often in most homes. Mainly because, I believe, cauliflower isn't the most popular of vegetables. It's a little misunderstood. Poor cauliflower:( But recently, it's earned it's place at the dinner table, by being a pleasant alternative to mashed potatoes. It is super creamy, rich, and definitely a great alternative. Try this healthy sidedish on your family, you may never go back to potatoes:) Or at least you'll have another super yummy side to add to the weekly menu:)

serves 4

1 head cauliflower

chicken broth

sea salt

2tbls. butter

Pour enough broth to come up about halfway on the cauliflower and bring to a boil. Cook until very tender.

Place cooked cauliflower in a food processor with a small amount of boiling liquid. Just enough to get a creamy consistency. Add butter and sea salt to taste. You could also add garlic if you like.

Sara's "Fried" Chicken

This chicken is amazing! If you're from the south, or just southern at heart, you will love this recipe! It's lightly coated with almond flour, then pan fried in coconut oil,which doesn't make it taste coconutty, so no worries for you coconut haters out there:) So yummy! Try this on your toughest food critic, and just see if they can resist!

2lbs. chicken, breasts, thighs and drums(or whatever part you like best)
2 eggs
1c. almond flour
1tsp. paprika
1tsp. garlic powder
1tsp. sea salt
1/2tsp. black pepper
1/2tsp. dried thyme
1c. coconut oil
Preheat oven to 400
Heat oil in a large frying pan at medium-high heat
Mix together dry ingredients
Whisk the eggs, dip the chicken in the egg, then in the dry ingredients. Coat well
Place the chicken in the pan and cook about 2-5 minutes on each side, until brown.
Place chicken on a drying rack on a sheet pan. Make sure chicken is spaced. Place in oven for 15-20 minutes until cooked through. Serve with some veggies and mashed cauliflower! Recipe to come!:)

Heavenly Strawberry Scones

My mom probably didn't think of herself as the "happy baker mom" while we were small, but nevertheless, I remember being greeted many a morning by delicious homemade muffins, pancakes, or breads. Most of them came from a box, but were still technically worthy of the title "homemade",because it was "made at home". She did great for the information and resources she had then, and I'm just grateful I wasn't forced to eat cereal or poptarts every morning lol!:) My favorite of all these, was the strawberry muffin. They're just pretty hard to beat in my book. I did, however,change the muffin status to a scone because they cook faster than a muffin. This recipe is made with wonderful coconut flour. It is low in calories, and high in fiber. Oh how I like coconut flour! I have made these before using blueberries, but when I went to make them the other day, I was saddened to find no blueberries in my fridge, but spotted the last of some lonely strawberries just waiting for the spotlight! They were moist, sweet, and the strawberries just took them to a whole nother' level! I made these the night before a trip, and took them as a "waiting in the terminal" snack.....well, I probably ate 4 waiting to get on the plane, but considering it was my lunch AND dinner for that day, I didn't feel too bad about it:)  Go make some now! That way you can have some for a snack, then again for breakfast!

Greenie Bites

I love greens+ products! Their green powder is amazingly nutrient dense. Although it doesn't always go down easy. It has a very strong flavor making it almost impossible to give to a child! So, I decided to do what the greens+ people did.....put the powder in the form of a bar and actually make it taste good! I made a small batch of these little bites and my son devoured them! And yes, he gets very picky pants sometimes. These are definitely cheaper to make than buying the bars themselves. The powder is around $30, and an entire container makes roughly 35 bars!! Greens+ charges $30 for 12 bars in a box So it's quite a better deal to DIY!)
The original bars do not contain chocolate, I did them both ways and they both were amazing, but obviously, the chocolate LOOKS more appetizing, so I would start with that one if your little ones are freaked by green:)