Sugar Free New Year Tips

I got a huge response both on my FB page and in my inbox about the New Years resolution of cutting out the sugar. Well guess what folks.....this is it. It's about that time! I, myself, am pretty excited! I know I need to get control of this sugar problem. And this sugar free new year will be sure to do the trick. SO, since so many of you are on board, I thought I would share some tips with you on how you can prepare for this month, so you will have some great success!! Here goes!

1. Get Rid of It
Clean out the cupboard and the fridge and get rid of the crap foods. Period.

2. Food Prep. Food Prep. Food Prep.
If I've said it once...I've said it a thousand times!! It is soooooo important to set aside a day or two a week for menu and food prep. But when it comes to this month of no sugar the most important thing to prep is your emergency snacks. Prepped veggies and pre-made dressing, nuts, kale chips, small banana, small apple, almond butter snack pack, beef jerky are all the types of things that can help to have on hand so you don't reach for the sugar.

3. Distraction
When the cravings come.....and they will....have a plan. My plan is exercise. I usually crave sugar when I am bored. SO when the cravings com and won't go away I will jump on the treadmill and jog or walk them off. Have an emergency contact person. A person you can call when you are about to give in. They will talk you off the ledge, or meet you somewhere for a talk and a coffee or to go on a walk with you. Writing or yoga is often a good thing to do to get your mind off of cravings as well.

4. Accountability
Have a supportive place to go where you can share your struggles and successes. Paleo Mommy facebook page will be that for me and I hope you as well. I will share my daily struggles and thoughts and I will also share my menu and daily eating. I sure do hope you guys will share those things with me as well.

5. Try to Keep Dining Out to a Minimum
You know as well as I that there is hidden crap in just about everything when it comes to eating out. It seems to be easier when trying to avoid sugar to just eat at home. Just stick to your pre-planned menu (see #2) and that way the dessert menu doesn't taunt you either!! :) 

That's all I have folks! If you have anything to add, please do! Check back here or on the FB page for updates and to share your experiences! Good Luck!! We've got this!!

5 Christmas Desserts that even NON-Paleo's will ADORE!

I know, I've been there. That Christmas party where everyone is gathered around the dessert table munching on gluten filled sugary baked goods. This year....why not have your own party....complete with your own dessert table?? You can do it, and all your non-paleo friends won't know what hit them. Here is my list of the top 5 Paleo Mommy desserts that even non-paleo's will adore!


Lets start simple with these Almond butter cups! To keep it even simpler they can also be made into balls, kind like a paleo version of the buck-eye.

#1 Almond Butter Cups

Ingredients

1/2 cup plus 1 and 1/2 cup of melted enjoy life chocolate chips

1/2 cup of almond butter (you could really use any nut butter except for peanut here) 

1/2 T of raw honey 

12 cupcake liners or silicon cupcake cups 

Now what?

-Line a cupcake tin with liners 

-Melt the 1/2 cup of chocolate 

-Spread just enough chocolate in each liner to just cover the bottom. It doesn't take much. 

-Place in the fridge to harden. Should take about a half an hour.
-Mix together almond butter and honey. Place 1/2 T of mixture on top of hardened cooled chocolate. -Press down to flatten it a bit, but not letting it reach the outside edges of chocolate. (see pic) 

-Place in the fridge again for about 5 mins




-Melt the remaining chocolate and fill the cups just until the almond butter is covered. I use a baggie and pipe in the chocolate. You could use a spoon just as easy. 

-Tap the pan to make sure all the air bubble release and everything settles properly. 

-Place in fridge for 2 hours and enjoy.







Who likes Cupcakes? Wait...Scratch that.....Who DOESN'T like cupcakes? Here is a delicious moist cupcake perfect for your table. Heck bake it in a cake pan and make it into a cake if ya want. The power is YOURS!!


#2 German Chocolate Cupcakes 

Ingredients for cake

3 medium size ripe bananas 

3 eggs 1/2 cup of coconut milk 

1/2 teaspoon of almond extract 

1/2 cup almond butter 

1/2 cup of unsweetened cocoa 

1/3 cup coconut flour 

1 teaspoon of baking soda 

1 teaspoon of baking powder

2 Tablespoons of maple syrup 

pinch of salt


Now what?

Preheat oven to 350 degrees


-In a food processor combine all of the ingredients together until incorporated.
-Divide evenly into 10 silicon cupcake molds or lined cupcake tin
-Bake at 350 degrees for approx 25 minutes. inserted toothpick should come out clean.


Ingredients for topping

12 dates, pitted

1/4 cup of coconut milk 

1/2 teaspoon of almond extract 

1/4 cup plus another 

1/4 cup of slivered almonds 

1/4 cup of unsweetened shredded coconut 

1/4 cup of chopped pecans

Directions for topping

-For the topping soak the dates in hot water for 30 minutes.
-Drain and toss into food processor
-Add in coconut milk, almond extract and 1/4 cup of slivered almonds and 

-process for about 2 minutes. mixture should be thick and somewhat smooth. 

-Scrape contents of food processor into a medium bowl 

-Add remaining 1/4 cup of almonds, coconut, and pecans

-Mix all together

-Divide mixture among the top of each cooled cupcake 

Oh we can't forget cookies....Santa needs some cookies, right? How about my Double Choco-nutty Cookie recipe? 

#3 Double Choco-nutty Cookies


Makes about 2 dozen cookies


Dry Ingredients

-3 cups of almond flour

-1 teaspoon of baking soda

-1/3 cup of cocoa powder

-1 pinch of salt



Wet Ingredients

-2 eggs

-1/2 cup of maple syrup

-1/2 cup of melted coconut oil

-1/2 teaspoon of instant coffee dissolved in 1/2 teaspoon of water

-1 teaspoon of almond extract



Add In's

-1/2 cup of chopped walnuts or nut of your choice, or no nuts at all

-1 1/2 cups of enjoy life chocolate chips


Directions

1. preheat oven to 350

2. combine all of the dry ingredients in a large bowl

3. combine all of the wet ingredients in a bowl

4. add the wet to the dry and mix well

5. add in nuts and chocolate chips and mix

6. scoop out cookies on a parchment lined cookie sheet

7. bake for 15 minutes, cookies should be soft but easy to move to a wire rack to cool.










Nothing says Christmas like TRUFFLES!!! Take this recipe and make it your own with different flavorings. This recipe uses rum extract but experiment with different ones like.....vanilla, peppermint, orange....go crazy people!! You can also roll the truffles in coconut flakes, espresso powder, or nuts if you would like.


#4 Rum Truffles

Ingredients

Makes about 16. You can easily double it.

1/4 cup canned coconut milk

1/2 Tb of coconut oil

8 oz. enjoy life chocolate chips

1/2 tsp of rum extract

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa for dusting


Now What?

1. In a double boiler melt the chocolate chips.

2. When they are completely melted take off heat

3. Add in oil, milk, and extract.

4. Make sure it is thoroughly mixed

5. Cover with plastic wrap and let set at least 6 hours at room temp

6. Scoop out in 1/2 Tb scoops and roll into balls ( messy)

7. Place on parchment lined tray and place in fridge for 30 mins

8. Place cocoa in a bowl and roll each ball in cocoa to cover.

I had an awesome picture of these but for some reason I can't find it. This makes me angry. Maybe if I eat some of these I'll calm down! :)




#5 Frozen Chocolate Covered Bananas


And last but not least....A fun one for the kiddies.....Chocolate dipped frozen bananas. I have fond memories of my mom bringing me one of these home from the county fair every year when I was a kid. You don't really need a recipe for these so here is how to make them.


Peel 6 or so bananas and skewer them with a long lollipop stick or a chopstick

Place on a parchment lined sheet, cover with plastic wrap and place in the freezer for a few hours

Melt a bag of enjoy life chocolate chips and dip the frozen bananas in the chocolate until all covered

Roll dipped banana in seeds, nuts, or coconut and place back into the freezer for an hour

Enjoy


Or you can do the whole process with sliced bananas for a quick "grab and toss in yo mouth" treat. Here is a pic of those....







I want to thank you all for reading and I'm hoping for bigger and better things to come in 2015. But for now I just want to with each and every one of you a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a GLORIOUS NEW YEAR!! Keep it healthy, ya'll!