If you know you are going to crave something sweet, why not be prepared?  These are so easy* to make ahead and keep in the fridge for when the sweet tooth strikes.  
*You need a food processor. Its worth the investment..it will make every future baking experience more enjoyable!

Bottom Layer:
1.5 Cups Dates (I used pitted deglet)
1 Cup Nuts (I used almonds)
4 T Cocoa Powder
1 T Vanilla Extract
Pinch of Sea Salt

Top Layer:
1.5 Cups Shredded Coconut (unsweetened)
1/3 Cup Almond flour
1/4 Cup Coconut Oil (melted)
3 T Honey
Pinch of Sea Salt

Optional Top top layer: (I'd recommend because it holds everything together and looks fancy)
1/4 Cup Chocolate Chips

1. Double check that your dates don't have pits, even if they say pitted. It's a stupid, painful surprise when you bite into a date pit.
2. Food process all bottom layer ingredients.
3. Press bottom layer into parchment lined 8x8 pan
4. Mix all top layer ingredients (if its not sticking together use more honey)
5. Press top layer over bottom layer
6. Melt chocolate over stove or in microwave and drizzle over top layer.
7. Leave it alone!  Place in fridge for at least 30 min (or if desperate freezer ;) )

Protein Style: I have substituted vanilla protein powder for the almond flour in top layer and it was delicious

If you think crockpots are so 1992, you are mistaken and missing out!!  I often get home after 7:00pm and not having to make dinner at that time makes life much easier.  It takes just a few minutes in the morning to throw everything in and out the door you go!

Both of these recipes also work great as leftovers - over salads, in tacos with avocado, spinach, and tomatoes, or even nachos for the husband and kids. 


Fall-off-the-bone Spare Ribs (Easy)

2-3 lbs spare ribs
1/2 onion chopped
3 cloves garlic chopped
12 oz Tomato sauce
1/4 C water
2 Tbsp (gluten free) soy sauce or coconut aminos 
2 Tbsp (GF) Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
2-3 Tbsp honey 
Chili powder, paprika, pepper 

1. Mix wet ingredients. 
2. Pour half into crockpot, add ribs, onions, & garlic, pour remaining liquid over. 
3. Cook on low for 8ish hours. 

Enjoy with sweet potatoes and some green veggies!

Paleo Salsa Chicken (Super Easy)

4-6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 12oz package of FRESH salsa (your preferred heat level)

1. Pour a small amount of salsa into crock pot
2. Place chicken breasts in crock pot
3. Pour remaining salsa over chicken
4. Cook on low for 8-9 hours
5. Chicken should shred easily and taste delicious

Enjoy with black beans, rice, and sauteed onions, mushrooms & peppers.

Cookies, candy and cake taste great, but most of them don't have any nutritional benefits. They leave me wanting more and contribute to my sugar monster!  So, I've been throwing healthy & delicious recipes together and hoping for the best.  For the most part I've been successful. Let's call it skills rather than luck ;)

The measurements below are somewhat estimates. I'll make this again soon and edit if needed.  Btw, this recipe was inspired by Max Shank. Thanks for sharing your love for pumpkin!


Single Serve Paleo Pumpkin Pie
1/4 C Almond meal
1 Tbsp butter
3/4 C canned pumpkin (cold)
Handful frozen blueberries
Handful shredded unsweetened coconut
~10 pecan pieces
Sprinkle of cinnamon

1. Melt the butter
2. Add almond meal, mix, and press into bottom of a small bowl to form a crust
3. Scoop pumpkin into crust
4. Top with blueberries, coconut, pecans, and cinnamon
5. Enjoy!

Let me know if you like it, love it, hate it or completely changed the recipe.  Comments appreciated!

Craving something sweet, but don't want to ruin all that hard work you've been putting into eating well?!  

Welcome to my life. I developed my sweet tooth and love for baking at an early age. It was inevitable. I grew up in the house all my friends were excited to hangout at because of the unlimited supply of sodas, candy, crackers, cookies...I know what you are thinking, poor poor Holly ;)

BUT I am an adult now and I am responsible for choosing what I put in my body. While I do indulge in treats, I believe there are different tiers in the sweet world of deliciousness. My secret is to eat something somewhat nutritious, while satisfying my sweet tooth! Keep these ideas in mind when your sweet tooth strikes...

Sweet snacks:  
Plain greek yogurt with fruit, nuts, cinnamon & honey (any combo works)
           my pick: 2% plain greek yogurt, walnuts, 1/2 banana, & cinnamon
Pumpkin puree with nuts, fruit (fresh, frozen or dried) 
           my pick: 1/2 pumpkin, 1/2 yogurt, shredded coconut, walnuts, and dried cranberries
Fruit (check out what's in season...berries, mango, pineapple, so many choices...)
           my pick: banana with almond butter. Find a store where you can grind your own almond butter. AMAZING
Trail mix - pick one without much added sugar (ie M&M's, "yogurt" raisins, etc) or make it yourself
           my pick: Made it up myself! Roasted almonds, shredded unsweetened coconut, and dark choc chips  

Sweet drinks:
Shake it up!  Protein shakes are multitaskers
          my pick: 1 scoop MRM vanilla protein powder, spoonful PB, spoonful cocoa powder, 1/2 C milk, water 
Fruit/Veggie smoothie
          my pick: 1 scoop MRM vanilla protein powder, water, handful spinach and/or kale, 1/2 banana, frozen berries, ginger root, flax seeds, and spoonful of greek yogurt (optional, depending on your texture preference)

If one of those won't do the trick I try a homemade treat...

Homemade goodies:
Making something yourself is always better than buying from the store because you know what you put into it!

Dark chocolate covered...(insert your favorite fruit, nut, or nut butter)
          my pick: melt dark choc chips (at least 60%) with 1/2t coconut oil in microwave (30-60sec). Dip or cover your chosen treat in chocolate, set on foil/parchment paper & let cool in freezer until solid
My favorite Coconut Chocolate chip cookie recipe
No bake Coconut balls recipe
...and many more on my pinterest page


Bottom Line - if you are going to eat something, do it and don't feel bad about it. Ain't nobody got time for that!

Enjoy and feel free to share your thoughts. Comments encouraged!  

No need to spend $5 on those miniature bags of kale chips at the health food stores. You can buy a large amount of kale for about $2. This recipe is easy, quick, and can be flavored according to your taste buds. Always make more than you think you need...at our house we always finish every last piece!

Remove stems and tear kale into large chip size pieces 
(any kale will do, but my favorite is curly green)
Toss in olive oil
Sprinkle with salt, pepper, garlic powder (or get creative w/ your spice combo)
Spread on greased cookie sheet
Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes

Try sprinkling with cinnamon & sugar for a sweet kale treat!

Easy and delicious!  Let me know what spice combinations you come up with.

These is my favorite paleo cookie recipe yet! Becoming a keeper in my recipe box demands three things: simplicity, speed, and deliciousness.  For now this recipe is #1.

Most of these ingredients can be purchased in one visit at Trader Joes (minus the unsweetened coconut and coconut flour, so pick those up elsewhere). 

I would also suggest having people to share them with because you may be tempted to eat the whole batch.  Unless you are unlike me and have some self control....pshh

4 eggs
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup coconut cream concentrate
1/4 cup melted coconut oil
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
1/2 cup coconut flour
1 cup almond flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup chocolate chips

Heat oven to 375. Place a sheet of parchment paper on a baking sheet. Drop cookies on and bake for 15 minutes. Enjoy!

Sometimes I like to hear myself talk....and this morning has been one of those times.  I'm pretty sure I said "yum" or some variation of "mmmm" in the double digits while eating these pancakes and giggling like a child.

Moving on to why you are reading this blog.  Delicious pancakes that taste like pumpkin pie without being full of sugar and flour.  

Paleo Pumpkin Pie Pancakes!!
1/2 C  Almond Flour
2 T     Coconut flour
2 T     Vanilla protein powder
1/2 T  Cinammon
1 t      Pumpkin pie spice or allspice
1/8 t   Salt (pinch)
1/2 C  Pumpkin puree
3        Eggs
2 T     Honey
1/2 t   Vanilla
Coconut oil for cooking
Coconut milk (optional-add if batter seems too thick)
Maple syrup

1. Heat griddle to medium, grease with coconut oil
2. Whisk together dry ingredients
3. Whisk together wet ingredients and then mix into dry
3. Add splash of milk if needed
4. Pour batter onto griddle and shape into pancake
5. Cook approx 4 minutes, flip and cook 2 minutes or until golden brown

Variations: I have mixed bananas and walnuts into the batter as well as using them as topping.  Both are amazing!  And if you are a coconut lover, go ahead and sprinkle some on top or in the batter.  You really can't go wrong with coconut!