I'm excited!

I am excited because several of my friends and family have become interested in Paleo and many of them are beginning to try it. Since it's something I've become passionate about and it's working so well for us, it really encourages me to see people around me trying it too!

I weigh what I did in High School... HIGH SCHOOL. And I have had 2 babies. Plus, I haven't begun working out yet. These results are simply from changing my diet. AND I'm still losing. 

Speaking of working out... I'm mentioning it here to give myself some accountability. It seems impossible to start working out when I have 2 high energy children and there are no guarantees of getting a moment of free time. I've made excuses and have not had the desire to start... but it's seriously time to lose the extra skin from my last baby (6 months old) and tone up! Not to mention, my hubby keeps challenging me to join him at CrossFit on Saturdays, and I don't want to be embarrassed or cry because I'm so out of shape. ;)

This morning I'm adapting a Better Homes and Garden pancake recipe to make Paleo pancakes. I'll post what I did if they turn out. ;)

Paleo Scones

Okay, so the cavemen probably would not have gone to the trouble of milling almond flour and they wouldn't have had an oven but this recipe contains mostly ingredients they would have been able to find. There is a lot of controversy amongst Paleo eaters and there is quite a large gray area. I'm not trying to rock the boat here. I just want to make Paleo more accessible to those of us who LOVE baked goods. :)

Paleo Scones

Makes approximately 6 scones

2 large eggs, beaten until frothy

1/4 C Agave Nectar or Honey (Sometimes I use even less)

1 tsp vanilla

1 C Almond Flour

*1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder 

1 pinch of sea salt

1-2 tsp of Cinnamon

Fresh ground Nutmeg

1/2 C Berries or other fruit (My favorite so far is a combo of peaches and raspberries)

*This isn't really Paleo so use your judgement here. Some consider substitutes like whipped egg whites or even the 2 parts cream of tartar to 1 part baking soda more acceptable. I choose to pick my battles and since this is a miniscule amount per serving and doesn't seem to affect my progress, I use baking powder

Preheat oven to 375 and line pan with parchment paper (or don't, it's just a little harder to get them off)

Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Pour in the eggs, honey, and vanilla. Stir until combined. Fold in berries/fruit, or leave plain! 

Using 2 tablespoons or a cookie scoop, drop batter on pan into about 6 even scones. Each scone is usually 1-2 heaping tablespoon(s).

Bake in the oven for 12 minutes. (You're looking for golden brown tops.) 

Now here is the most important part. I'm not kidding... You have to let these guys cool for at least 10 minutes before digging in. Please don't skip this step. The cooling process gives them that crispy, delicious outside that scones have. :)

Enjoy!

This recipe is super easy to change up so have fun with it! Just be sure you end up with a thick batter, because if you don't, you will end up with something that resembles muffin tops. Not that that's a bad thing, they're just not as good that way!

This recipe was adapted from George Stella. (stellastyle.com)

Gluten Free?

In the past when I heard the term "Gluten-Free," my initial reaction was "eeewwwww... I bet that has no flavor. It must not be good." I'm not sure where those thoughts came from, but I know I loved my homemade breads and pastries. How could one make a delicious anything without flours and sugars? 

Well, it took a little bit but I honestly feel like I've done a 180. Since switching our diet, I have learned that those foods that I LOVED before make me feel sick and sluggish. And that "gross" gluten-free food makes me have energy and feel good. Also? A lot of it tastes AMAZING! 

You do have to be careful though, because just because it is gluten-free, doesn't mean it's Paleo. A lot of g-f items have rice powder or soy which are not Paleo friendly. Is it the worst you could do? Probably not, but I actually prefer those items that don't have anything "extra" in them.

The easiest way to eat g-f treats? Make them! For example, I found an incredible scone recipe that is completely versatile and literally only takes maybe 5 minutes to put the ingredients together. I would say maybe 10 minutes total prep time, 10-15 minutes oven time, and then 10-15 minutes to cool before you enjoy them. So really? Under 10 minutes hands on time to make a delicious and healthy treat? I think it's worth it. There are also websites that offer Paleo snack items and I've even heard of catering companies that will make Paleo food. The times they are a changin'.

I have honestly not ventured into g-f bread making land, but my husband has been begging me to try. So supposing I have time between chasing kiddos and running errands, I'm hoping to try this week. I'll let you know how it goes.

Later this week... I'll share that delicious scone recipe! ;)