Gluten Free Coconutty Pecan Pie Muffins

 

Over the weekend I decided to play around with coconut flour, but in typical Nicole fashion I couldn't decide on one recipe so I mixed a couple together, crossed my fingers and hoped for the best. What came out was actually amazing. And even more amazing it's completely grain, gluten and dairy free. In fact the only non-vegan part of it is the 3 eggs! So here is a moderately healthy take on morning muffins...

 

Makes 10-12 Muffins (depending on what size you want!)

INGREDIENTS

3 eggs

3 Tbsp. Ground Flaxseed

9 Tbsp. Water
¼ Cup Coconut Oil or Applesauce
½ Cup Lite Coconut Milk
½ Cup Coconut Flour

¼ Cup Agave Syrup

½ Cup Chopped Pecans

½ Tsp. Vanilla Extract

½ Tsp. Almond Extract

1 Tsp. Cinnamon

¼ Tsp. Baking Powder
¼ Tsp. salt

INSTRUCTIONS:

-         Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

-         In a small mixing bowl, mix together 9 tbsp. water and 3 tbsp. flaxseed. Let it sit for about 5 min, it should get a thick consistency.

-        Whisk eggs, flaxseed mixture, coconut milk, vanilla extract, almond extract, agave syrup and melted coconut oil or applesauce together.

-        In separate bowl mix together all dry ingredients (except for pecans): coconut flour, cinnamon, baking powder & salt until blended. Once blended slowly mix into the wet mixture. Coconut flour has a tendency to clump so make sure it’s completely smooth.

-        Once smooth add in the chopped pecans.

-        Fill muffin tins about halfway. Coconut flour will stick onto paper muffin cups so I recommend using silicone ones- the muffin will pop out very easily!

-        Optional topping onto the muffins- sprinkle just a bit of brown sugar & additional chopped pecans on the top.

-        Bake for approximately 30 minutes or until you can stick a toothpick into it without batter coming out on it.

NUTRITIONAL FACTS:

Per Muffin- If Using Coconut Oil:

Fat: 15.3 (13%), Calories: 183 (9%), Protein: 3.6 (7%), Carbs: 10.1 (3%)

Per Muffin- If Using Applesauce:

Fat: 7 (7%), Calories: 110 (6%), Protein 3.3 (6%), Carbs: 10 (3%)

 

 

Healthy-ish Gluten Free Buffalo Chicken Bites with amazingly unhealthy 3 Cheese Fondue

I made these for our Super Bowl "Party"- and by party I mean it was just Dan and I stuffing ourselves on amazingly fattening foods we usually don't indulge in. But among the indulgent foods these bites and fondue really stood out. The hardest part of this recipe is to not eat that entire fondue in one sitting!!!

 

INGREDIENTS

For the Chicken:

2-3 Chicken Breasts- cut into small cubes

1 Jar of Buffalo Sauce

3 Eggs, beaten

2 cups Flour

3 cups Almond Meal (or Gluten Free Bread Crumbs)

Spray Olive Oil

 

For the 3 Cheese Fondue:

2 cloves Garlic, pressed

1 cup Heavy Cream

½ cup Blue Cheese, crumbled

2 cups Gruyere Cheese, shredded

1 cup Mozzarella Cheese shredded

1 tbsp. Butter

1 tbsp. Gluten Free Flour

 

INSTRUCTIONS

To Prep & Cook the Chicken:

-          Preheat Oven to 400 degrees

-          Set up 3 bowls for breading the chicken- 1 for flour, 1 for eggs and then 1 for Almond Meal (in that order). Individually dip each cube of chicken into each bowl, coating them completely. After they have been coated in the almond meal, place them on a baking sheet lightly lined with spray olive oil.

-          Once they have all been place on the baking sheet, lightly spray the top of each one with the spray olive oil.

-          Cook for 15 min, flipping halfway through. If they look a bit dry once you flip then you can add another light layer of spray oil.

-          Once the chicken is finished cooking, dip each piece into the buffalo sauce, completely coating them.

While the chicken is cooking, start the fondue:

-          Heat garlic and cream in a small saucepan.

-          Slowly add the 3 cheese to your saucepan.

-          In a small bowl mix together melted butter and flour. Once the flour has completely blended with the butter add to the cheese mixture.

-          If it is too liquid for you, you can either add more cheese or more of the flour/butter mix. But it will thicken up quite a bit as it cools.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sometimes good news is harder to hear than bad...

“Hope is beginning to see that there is a light after all the darkness”

 

After 5 months of blood tests, ultra sounds and horrible doctors’ visits I finally got to hear what we have been waiting for- I was finally told that I was back to normal. The HCG levels had finally reached zero, the little tiny blog clots remaining from the miscarriage were somehow passed naturally so I will not have to get a D&C after all. Everything can go back to normal, and more importantly everything looked healthy and I was given the ok to start to try again for another baby… and for that day I was unbelievable excited. After feeling broken for the last 3 months I finally felt whole again… and then the fear set in. After going through everything the last few months I know that I’m physically and emotionally ready for a new baby, but what I’d pushed to the back of my mind the last few months was what I’m not ready for- I’m not ready to lose another baby. And I know statistically that after just one miscarriage I’m not any more likely than the next woman to have another one, in fact many doctors believe that for about 6 months after your miscarriage you may have a greater chance of carrying your next baby to full term. But there are so many factors we don’t know, so many things that can go wrong. And that fear is sometimes over powering… Besides just fear, I wasn’t prepared for second wave of grief to hit. I should have been. But after finally starting to feel better and finally thinking I was healed I was a bit blind sighted by it. Instead of being over joyed at everything being behind me, all I have felt is empty. What should have left me feeling hopeful has instead left me feeling sad. It’s a reminder that I really am no longer pregnant, that instead of being in my 6 month of Pregnancy I am back to square one. Back to counting dates, and taking temperatures and peeing on sticks. Back to watching my caffeine and alcohol… The only good thing of starting over, is we get a fresh start… and hopefully this time a different outcome!