-
Brown Butter Chewy Pumpkin Spice Cookies {gluten-free}
These Gluten-Free Brown Butter Chewy Pumpkin Spice Cookies are a delightful twist on the traditional pumpkin treat, offering a chewy, spiced experience that captures the essence of the season. They will fill your home with the enticing aroma of fall spices and bring smiles to the faces of your loved ones – gluten-free or not.
Today, I’m excited to share a delightful treat that marries the comforting flavors of fall with a touch of unique flavor. These Brown Butter Chewy Pumpkin Spice Cookies are the perfect fusion of warm spices and a chewy texture that sets them apart from the typical cakey pumpkin cookies.
Listen, these are a sweet cookie, but it’s offset so wonderfully with the warming spices and I ALWAYS go for a salted butter, personally, and I still add the salt to the recipe, too. In a recipe like this, that subtle saltiness really offsets the sweet, it brings almost a caramel-like flavor and it’s just perfectly delicious.
The Secret to Chewy Pumpkin Spice Cookies
Most pumpkin cookies tend to be cakey due to the high water content in pumpkin puree. However, the secret ingredient that transforms these cookies into irresistibly chewy delights: pumpkin butter. It’s easy to make your own (check out my recipe here) or use a store-bought version.
Elevating Flavor with Browned Butter and Brown Sugar
What truly elevates these cookies, besides their incredible chew, is the combination of browned butter and brown sugar. The browned butter adds a rich, nutty flavor to each bite, while the brown sugar contributes depth and chewiness. Together, they create a taste sensation that is almost caramel-like that will have you coming back for more.
-
Perfect Crispy Oven Fries – How to Make Homemade Baked French Fries
This simple recipe for Perfect Crispy Oven Fries get baked in a healthful oil until golden brown and crisped and they make for a super easy side dish. We especially love them served alongside out Sheet Pan Crispy Ranch Chicken. Use this recipe for an easy How to Make Homemade Baked French Fries
Everyone has their favorite type of French fry. Mine is a crispy on the outside and soft in the middle. I don’t like full crunch, just enough so you know there is great texture. I happened to be watching a video review on a commercial fry cutter and the main person said that soaking the potatoes in water before cooking helps oven baked fries get crispy. That sentence stuck with me for about 3 years. After I heard that of course I needed to try it. I soaked the fries for 6 hours and then dried them and let them sit out for about an hour so that as much of the moisture as possible was gone. Let me tell you those homemade fries were worth the effort and the wait. After remaking the recipe a few times, I realized that I could in fact reduce the soaking time if I were in a rush. An hour is enough time to get a lot of that starch pulled out and help achieve that crisp crunchy outside that I’m looking for.
-
Buffalo Style Avocado Toast {gluten-free}
I have said it before and I will say it again, you can take the girl out of Buffalo, but you can’t take the Buffalo out of the girl. The feelings of being homesick and missing my family back home in Buffalo, NY have hit new levels after over a year of being separated. Southern California is quite a far distance. This Buffalo Style Avocado Toast is quite possibly my favorite new way to blend together the flavors of my two homes and celebrate the heritages of these two great places.
We just had our 8 year anniversary of living in Southern California and there is so much to love about our home. The weather, the ocean, the people, the fresh, local produce year ‘round, just to name a few. But being so far away from family is definitely the trade-off. So of course, I am always looking for ways to bring the flavors of back home in Buffalo out here to California.
I learned pretty early on that Californians take their love of the avocado quite seriously and even more, a classic avocado toast seems to be a menu staple at restaurants everywhere out here. To ensure you’re enjoying locally grown avocados, be sure to check for California on the label from spring through summer! So let’s give it an update, shall we?
This recipe blends my two homes together in a delicious open-face sandwich that makes my heart so happy. There is a comfort with all of these flavors independently so together it just works for me. I know you will agree.
-
Gluten Free Chicken Parmesan {grain-free with options for paleo, keto + Whole30}
This Gluten Free Chicken Parmesan comes together quite easy with some quick shortcuts and super smart hacks. Plus, there are options for making paleo, Whole30 or keto compatible, if you’d like. This is the perfect romantic meal for two or a great family-friendly, option too.
Chicken parmesan is a classic comfort dish that we took and put our own spin on. It’s says ‘hey, look, I made something amazing for dinner for a fun special occasion like a Valentine’s day dinner at home, anniversary or just a weekend where you want to reminisce about going out to fancy dinners’ – remember going out? This Gluten Free Chicken Parmesan can be a romantic dinner for two, a special dinner for a family, or dinner for one with amazing leftovers for the week. This is recipe is so simple but full of flavor it is a family favorite. Another bonus to this recipe is that its about 30 minutes from start to finish… can you believe that? We have a couple of tips to streamline the cooking process so that you can get everything prepped, cooked, and plated within 30-40 minutes showing off your amazing chef skills.
We kept the ingredients to a minimum and you can easily make this Whole30 compatible, dairy free, paleo, or keto, too. There is a way to make everyone happy with this recipe. Here’s how to do it…
-
Wine Braised Short Ribs with Rustic Mashed Potatoes {gluten-free, grain-free, paleo + Whole30}
Braised short ribs are one of those dishes that I tend to lean towards ordering from restaurants. I never knew how they’d get that meat so tender and where the heck I could buy that meat to make at home. Well years ago, I finally did some investigating and realized that wow, pretty much every grocery store carries beef short ribs.
I’ve made variations of this recipe for years but decided I needed to clean up the quality of my ingredients. This recipe does say WINE BRAISED but don’t we have an adaptable version for those who do not want to use alcohol in this recipe, if you are following Whole30, etc.
We start off with 3-4 pounds of bone in beef short ribs. This dish is set to serve 4, but I would suggest that if you’d like to have leftovers, I’d double the recipe. This recipe takes a little bit of prep but it is totally worth your time!
-
Radicchio Salad with Bacon Lardons, Manchego & Six Minute Egg {gluten-free, keto}
This Radicchio Salad with Bacon Lardons, Manchego & Six Minute Egg is inspired by a delicious meal I had at Tasty n Alder early this year to Portland, Oregon. This salad straight up swept me off my feet and left a lasting impression on this self-proclaimed salad-a-holic!
Traveling is one of my very favorite things to do. I feel alive when I am exploring new places and I always return to the home I love so much, feeling inspired by the people, the cuisine, the history, traditions and stories.
This year has already been off to a really great start for my travels and as always, my cooking and my recipes that I create after I return to my kitchen, are absolutely inspired by the places I visit.
All that to say that I would LOVE to take credit for the brilliance of this incredible Radicchio Salad with Bacon Lardons, Manchego & Six Minute Egg. But alas, this one comes by way of an epic meal I had while traveling. Of course. This from a recent trip to Portland, Oregon, the mecca of amazing, inspired, seasonal, real food eats. This salad is my recreation of quite possibly one of THE best salads I have ever had in my entire life. Right? I know, that’s a pretty HUGE statement, especially for a self-professed salad lover such as myself.
-
What to Eat, See and Do on Maui
Heading to Maui? Wanna know what to eat? What you should do? Where to stay? I’ve got you covered on my Guide to Maui, including my most favorite gluten-free eats and the sights that you don’t want to miss!
What to See, Do and Eat on Maui + Where to Stay:
I felt that the perfect and fitting end to Maui Week here on TY would be just a quick roundup of some of my favorites from our time on the island. From favorite (gluten-free/paleo) eats, where to stay and what to do and see – this list is my Guide to Maui. Admittedly, we planned for our trip to Maui to be as relaxing as possible so we didn’t do ALL the things, which means that just leaves a list to do next time. We really wanted to stay at a resort that would have all the amenities and bring the classic island vibes, while giving us the opportunity to truly let go and relax, which is why we stayed at the Fairmont Kea Lani, rather than grabbing an Air BnB or the like. We did of course get out to explore the island a ton and planned many activities during our week, so I wanted to share all of the highlights of our trip to Maui.
Hawaii’s state motto is: Ua mau ke ‘ea o ka ʻāina i ka pono, which translates to “the life of the land be perpetuated in righteousness” – this is beyond captured on magical Maui, every where you go, with every sight you see and every breath you take. I am certain the sacred, righteous vibes of this place will strike you, too, as it did us and I know you will fall in love with the aloha spirit of Maui. We are already counting the days until we visit again.
-
Spring Salad with Lemony Turmeric Yogurt Dressing {Paleo, Dairy-free, Whole30, Vegan}
This Spring Salad features a vibrant Lemony Turmeric Yogurt Dressing that is creamy, tangy, fragrant and bright! It’s aromatic and complimentary to so many dishes, from grilled or roasted veggies, potatoes, crudite, or even chicken or fish – but it’s especially perfect with a seasonal salad with bright, spring veggies.
This gorgeous Spring Salad with Lemony Turmeric Yogurt Dressing features Silk Almondmilk Yogurt Alternative. A great option for those that have to eat dairy-free. In addition to being dairy-free and plant-based, Silk’s Almondmilk Yogurts are free from high-fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, flavors or preservatives are verified by the Non-GMO Project, they are responsibly produced and are free of gluten, casein, peanuts, egg and MSG. Now available in NEW Almondmilk 24oz tubs (Plain & Vanilla), if you wanna give it a try, grab a coupon for Silk’s Almondmilk Yogurt Alternative here.
This beautiful, golden Lemony Turmeric Yogurt Dressing comes together in minutes using the blender. It’s rich, creamy, thick, tangy and vibrant and it can be used in so many other recipes, beyond your standard green salad. Try drizzling over roasted veggies like cauliflower, Brussels sprouts or bok choy or grilled eggplant or asparagus. It would also be lovely over chicken or fish or overtop your cauliflower rice.
-
Dark Chocolate Peppermint Vegan Cheesecake {Gluten-Free & Paleo}
This Dark Chocolate Peppermint Vegan Cheesecake is a holiday dream! Beside being naturally vegan, it’s gluten-free and grain-free, paleo-friendly, yet still epic enough to please the masses. Coated with a layer of peppermint-infused dark chocolate to bring the holiday vibes, this creamy, rich, decadent treat will be a show stopper at any holiday gathering.
Right, so I am not vegan and nor is this website, but as I prefer to limit / avoid cow’s milk dairy as much as I can, over these many years I have developed a plethora of naturally (read also: inadvertently) vegan recipes, in the process. Beyond that, I know that so many of you struggle with dairy allergies, lactose or casein intolerances or maybe like me, just prefer to avoid most dairy so as not to send your autoimmune disease or digestion into a massive tailspin.
One of my most favorite dairy alternative dessert recipes my No-Bake Vegan Cheesecake was created nearly 5 years ago now and there have been many, many varying iterations of it here on Tasty Yummies, since. From Pumpkin to a Mint Chocolate Chip to these little cereal crusted cuties, among others.
-
Grain-free Dark Chocolate Olive Oil Tart {Paleo, Gluten-free + Vegan} + Video
As if I could find a better pairing, two of my favorite foods come together in the perfect marriage, for this rich, silky, decadent treat that’s low carb, low in sugar, grain-free and vegan. The smooth fruity taste of Terra Delyssa’s organic extra virgin olive oil is the perfect compliment to super dark chocolate and in all it’s impressiveness this dessert comes together in no time.
Truth be told, I am not much of a baker. Mostly it comes from a lack of caring about most baked goods and sweets. I know you’ve heard this story before, in the nearly 8 years of Tasty Yummies. What I do love, admittedly daily, is a couple of squares of high quality super duper dark chocolate. It’s really just about all I need.
-
Gluten-free and Paleo Super Bowl Recipes
Gluten-free and Paleo Super Bowl Recipes
Whether you care about the teams in this year’s Super Bowl or not, this list of over 75+ Gluten-free and Paleo Super Bowl Recipes is sure to make your party a touchdown! Every single recipe here is gluten-free and grain-free, most are Paleo and lots are Whole3o compliant! This round-up of Super Bowl Recipes will ensure that you have a tasty kick-off to your Super Bowl feast! Promise.
Appetizers and Small Bites
- Smoky Shoestring Sweet Potato Fries from Tasty Yummies
- Grain-free Crispy Chicken Skewers with Mustard Aioli from Tasty Yummies
- Spicy Orange Sriracha Chicken Wings from Tasty Yummies
- Spicy Orange Sriracha Cauliflower Wings from Tasty Yummies
- Grain-free Salmon Cakes with Old Bay Aioli from Tasty Yummies
- Buffalo Style Loaded Sweet Potato Fries from Tasty Yummies
- Buffalo Chicken Sweet Potato Sliders from Tasty Yummies
- Salt and Vinegar Kale Chips from Tasty Yummies
- Italian Style Chicken Sliders from Tasty Yummies
- Greek Lamb Meatballs from Tasty Yummies
- Baked Plantain Fries with Garlic Avocado Dipping Sauce from Tasty Yummies
- Perfect Baked French Fries from Tasty Yummies
- Grain-free Stuffed Mushrooms from Tasty Yummies
- Curry Kale Chips from Tasty Yummies
- Sticky BBQ Korean Chicken Wings from So Let’s Hang Out
- Oven Fries from Balanced Bites
- Shrimp Stuffed Mushrooms from Nom Nom Paleo
- Chile Lime Chicken Wings from Nom Nom Paleo
- Baked Saucy Garlic Wings from Lexi’s Clean Kitchen
- Spinach & Artichoke Stuffed Mushrooms from Balanced Bites
- Carne Asada Fries from Downshiftology
- Taco Stuffed Zucchini Boats from Downshiftology
- Herbed Cassava Flour Tortilla Chips from Downshiftology
- Rosemary and Vanilla Bourbon Spiked Nuts from The Feisty Kitchen
- Bacon Deviled Eggs from The Feisty Kitchen
- Shrimp and Avocado Stuffed Mushrooms from The Feisty Kitchen
- Crispy Paleo Plantain Chips from The Feisty Kitchen
- Paleo Chicken Pineapple Meatballs from Stupid Easy Paleo
Dips and Salsas
- Creamy Dairy Free Spinach Dip from Tasty Yummies
- Chipotle Almond Dip / Spread from Tasty Yummies
- Green Tahini Sauce from Tasty Yummies
- Restaurant Style Salsa from Tasty Yummies
- Roasted Garlic Kale Hummus from Tasty Yummies
- Eggplant and Roasted Red Pepper Dip from Tasty Yummies
- Roasted Red Pepper and Feta Dip from Tasty Yummies
- Mango Avocado Salsa with Fried Green Plantains from Nom Nom Paleo
- Basic 4 Guacamole from Balanced Bites
- Creamy Cauliflower Hummus from Balanced Bites
- Quick and Easy Homemade Guacamole from So Let’s Hang Out
- Kale, Spinach and Artichoke Dip with Greek Yogurt from So Let’s Hang Out
- Bacon and Beef Liver Pate from So Let’s Hang Out
- Jalapeno Crab Dip from Stupid Easy Paleo
Soups, Stews & Chilis
- Crock Pot Chicken Chili with Squash and Kale from Tasty Yummies
- Grass-fed Beef Chili from Tasty Yummies
- Instant Pot Beef Stew from Tasty Yummies
- Slow Cooker Chicken Chili Verde from Tasty Yummies
- Game Day White Chicken Chili from Lexi’s Clean Kitchen
- Fiesta Chicken Soup from So Let’s Hang Out
- Sweet and Smokey Bacon Chili from The Feisty Kitchen
- Paleo Clam Chowder from Stupid Easy Paleo
- Buffalo Chicken Soup from Predominantly Paleo
Mains
- Greek Lamb Gyro Bowls with Tzatziki from Tasty Yummies
- Cauliflower Sloppy Joes from Tasty Yummies
- Greek Lamb Burgers from Tasty Yummies
- Lettuce Wrapped Grain-free Sweet Potato and Broccoli Veggie Burgers from Tasty Yummies
- Grain-free Baja Fish Taco Bowls from Tasty Yummies
- Chipotle Barbacoa Burrito Bowls with Cilantro Lime Cauli-Rice from Tasty Yummies
- Salsa Verde Chicken from Balanced Bites
- Slow Cooker Margarita Beef from So Let’s Hang Out
- Slow Cooker Cuban Brisket Taco Bowls from So Let’s Hang Out
- Soy and Ginger Crock Pot Pork Ribs from So Let’s Hang Out
- Slow Cooker Beef Brisket with Bourbon BBQ Sauce from So Let’s Hang Out
- Slow Cooker Kalua Pork from So Let’s Hang Out
- Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas from The Feisty Kitchen
- Shredded Beef and Onions from Stupid Easy Paleo
Sweets
- Dark Chocolate Nut Butter Cups from Tasty Yummies
- Chocolate Covered Stuffed Dates from Tasty Yummies
- Dark Chocolate Bark Bites from Tasty Yummies
- Perfect Grain-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies from Tasty Yummies
- Grain-free Churro Cupcakes from Tasty Yummies
- Salted Caramel Panna Cotta from Tasty Yummies
- Salted S’mores Bites from Downshiftology
- Espresso Candied Pecans from Lexi’s Clean Kitchen
- Chocolate Truffles from Nom Nom Paleo
- Dark Chocolate Bark from Stupid Easy Paleo
-
Gluten-free Thanksgiving for Two
We are a little more than a week out from Thanksgiving and I am, of course, so excited for the big day. Each year since we have moved out to California, our Thanksgiving celebration has been a bit different. We haven’t exactly created new solid traditions, yet. Often this was even the case back home in NY, too. Most of the time we are surrounded with friends and/or family, but there have been years, due to schedules, travel or other situations, where Thanksgiving dinner was just the two of us. This year we are headed just over the border to Mexico to celebrate the holiday with our friends and their families, where we’ll be together with tons of incredible people, fully submerged in the good vibes of the holiday.
As much as the holidays are about gathering with family and friends, we have all found ourselves on those less than busy holidays. Just two of us. Your spouse or your partner, a parent, your best friend, a loved one or neighbor you are caring for. I find while not as abundant in people, these more low-key holidays are really nice in their own right, quiet and simple – where brand new memories and traditions are created. I thought creating a feast of a meal, focused on this idea of less, might be useful to many of you.
Additionally, some of you may be joining a larger feast, as someone gluten-free, or serving a feast with one or two gluten-free guests. It can be scary being that person (and even the person serving them), when you aren’t sure of the food being made, if it’s safe for you, how it was prepared and so on. These smaller-serving sizes free from gluten, would be the perfect way for you to make and bring along a small dish just for you or as an option to serve to your guest.
I am so excited to share with you a simple, classic menu featuring gluten-free recipes meant for two. Smaller portions, simple preparations and less fuss!
-
Grain-free Apple Berry Crumb Pie (Paleo with Vegan and AIP options)
While this fall has been one of the busiest I can recall, I have also been fortunate to be traveling a ton, living life to it’s fullest and doing my best to enjoy each and every moment. While visiting San Diego county a few weeks ago, in the adorable town of Julian, my husband, Mark, and I were walking the Main Street of this quaint old gold mining town. Julian is an enigma of Southern California, experiencing all 4 seasons, even including snow in the winter. It’s unlike any other place I have been out here. It was an instant love-connection for this east coast girl.
We went at the start of the fall season and autumn was already in the air. Crisp cool breezes, chilly nights, the leaves of many of the trees already changing color and the sweet scent of apple pie in the air. This town doesn’t mess around when it comes to apples. After the gold rush was over, the pioneers remained in Julian, as they began farming the rich land. While many crops were planted and animals raised, apples seemed to be their new “gold”. To this day, during apple season, you will find fruit stands filled with fresh organic apples, locally pressed real apple cider and pies galore. Oh the pies! Quite literally, Main Street in Julian is filled with the aroma of this spiced comfort food.
As we strolled the tiny Main Street, Mark was seeking out what he deemed to be “the perfect slice”. I am pretty sure we walked into every single bakery and he looked on as if he was making a major investment purchase. Only a few city blocks long, Main Street had near 10 bakeries, all specializing in their version of this American classic. I was convinced, being gluten-free, I would only be experiencing this as an observer, enjoying the smells and the smile on my husband’s pie-loving face. But alas, I found one amazing bakery, tucked away a bit off the beaten path, Apple Alley Bakery. The only bakery in ALL of Julian offering gluten-free pies. I opted for the Apple Boysenberry Crumb Pie and as soon as my slice was gone, I wanted more.
-
Spicy Butternut Squash and Kale “Cheezy” Mac
Let’s just get this out of the way right now, yes I ironically used a z in the word cheese and yes, I also put quotes around it. That’s happening and I am totally into it. OK onto the show.
My hubby is like most, a meat and potatoes man. He’s a no-frills, gimme what’s easiest, fastest and tastiest – kinda guy. Of course, being that I make most of the meals around here, I can keep his poor decision making and junk-food loving ways in check. Over the years I have proudly gotten him off soda, I have proven that a piece of good quality dark chocolate after dinner can be just as satisfying at 4 Oreos, I have convinced him that it’s possible to eat more than just meat and still eat well and my latest feat, showing him that we don’t necessary HAVE to have a starch or grain at every single meal.
Football season however, this is a tough time around here, it can be a hard sell on the plant-based, less processed foods. Mark LOVES football and he LOVES eating the worst foods while watching it. If he had it his way, he’d be munching on fried chicken, eating a pile of nachos, diving face first into pizza and Buffalo wings and I don’t even want to think about what sweet he’d finish it all off with. He’s always asking me to come up with fun football snacks for him and of course, I try to always deliver him a much more mindful, yet still comforting treat. He never asks me to make him something “healthier”, per se, but I am smart enough to read between the lines. He could easily go to the store and get the junk for himself, he certainly knows how to pick up the phone and order a pizza. I think deep down, though he may never admit it, he wants me to take care of him and make these better choices for him. No complaints here!
-
Grain-free Veggie Enchiladas with Roasted Hatch Chile Cashew Cream
Is there anyone out there that doesn’t like Mexican food? I mean really! I feel like there’s a reason that every Taco Tuesday is celebrated with such enthusiasm and why Cinco de Mayo has turned into a way bigger deal here in the US than it is even in Mexico.
But, I digress, I think it’s just a given that everyone loves the food. Though oftentimes most Mexican food is naturally gluten-free, if you prefer to avoid grains, if you like to limit your corn and dairy, if you tend to avoid beans, or if you are mindful of where your meat comes from and how it is raised – it can leave very few options when dining out at traditional Mexican joints. A lettuce wrapped taco is good, but it’s just not the same. I pack my own plantain chips if we are going out for Mexican, but ya know – they are no tortilla chips. So, of course, I am always looking for other ways to enjoy delicious, healthy Mexican food, grain-free and dairy-free, at home.
I was craving enchiladas recently and I thought it was time I created some, with my spin on it. You may remember I created and shared a tutorial on How-to Make Plantain Tortillas a while back and while I absolutely love them, I just wasn’t sure they would hold up in this recipe. So instead I turned to the Urban Poser’s amazing Cassava Flour Tortillas. These tortillas (made with cassava flour), they are serious business, chewy and flexy, they hold up incredible well and they aren’t too much work to make – once you get into the rhythm. They held up fantastically well in this recipe. No breaks and no splits. Clearly you can opt for any tortillas you’d like here, I just love that these allow for grain-free enchiladas. Read the rest of this entry »
-
Dairy-free Mini Cheesecakes
As someone that has maintained a gluten-free lifestyle for over 10 years now, I have sampled my fair share of products, both for my own curiosity and for the purpose of sharing here with you guys, the best and healthiest options in the market place. In my home, I have more than simplified my life and the meals I create, but like anyone else I both have cravings and I also believe in balance.
On a recent morning I found myself really craving a bowl of cereal, a hankering that happens but once or twice a year. I realized I didn’t exactly have a go-to gluten-free cereal that I not only loved but one I could feel OK about eating. With my husband being the only regular cereal eater in our home, everything in the pantry contained gluten. I went on about my business and reached for a smoothie instead.
-
GATHER // Women’s Empowerment Retreat // Southern California
This Spring, Wild Spirit Retreats hosted RISE, our first women’s retreat of it’s kind. We were blessed with an incredible group of women who came together to cultivate a magical weekend of healing and deep connection. We moved together, we created, we feasted, we laughed those incredible heart-warming belly laughs that can fuel you for months and there were many tears shed as we dove deep into our souls, hand-in-hand with each other. I am honored to have been able to share my passions, to have nourished and shared space with those 23 beautiful souls. As a teacher, I found myself learning from my students, so much about myself and this journey we are all on together and I am still swelling with gratitude for the lifelong friendships that were formed during our gathering.
I am so excited to announce our next Women’s Empowerment Retreat, GATHER, a sacred, women’s-only gathering in Southern California, October 2-5, 2015.
G A T H E R is a harvest for the soul.
A journey into the abundance of the Earth.A place to forage for light,
to explore the field of the spirit,
to discover the wonders around and within us.This is an exploration of your wild heart.
An offering to your highest self.
A place to find your tribe.This is a celebration of the Earth goddess within.
What is GATHER?
GATHER is a 4-day Women’s Empowerment Retreat combining yoga, meditation, ceremony, cooking and connection. GATHER will take place in Southern California, being held at the Akashas Vedanta Ashram in Ramona, CA, in San Diego County, October 2-5, 2015. The entire retreat is 100% gluten-free.
We will be offering multiple daily yoga classes, guided meditation and ceremony sessions, various cooking workshops and demos, creative workshops and more. You can see the sample schedule here.
-
The Perfect Green Smoothie Formula
In an effort to simplify and demystify the ever-popular Green Smoothie, today I am sharing my simple formula to The Perfect Green Smoothie! This simple approach works every time. I promise. The nice thing about this formula is the long list of possible flavor combinations and the ability to completely customize your green smoothie to what you have on hand and what you like best.
I like to think of my green smoothies as a chance to add some extra nourishing goodies into my day. Nutrients, vitamins and minerals, fiber, healthy fats or protein – the Green Smoothie is a great vehicle. The wonderful thing about any smoothie is, depending on the ingredients you choose, you can create a quick and simple on-the-go snack or if you choose to add more protein and healthy fats, you can create a more complete meal.
-
Paleo Chocolate Cake with Dark Chocolate Ganache Frosting {gluten-free, dairy-free}
This Paleo Chocolate Cake with Dark Chocolate Ganache Frosting requires no strange or hard to find flours or starches, its simple to make, rich, decadent and most people would never believe it’s totally gluten-free and grain-free!
I feel like it’s alarming and shocking whenever I share a dessert recipe here on Tasty Yummies. I do it so infrequently. In the nearly 5 years I have had this blog, you have probably heard me say more than a dozen times, that I have never really cared much about baking and I don’t get super excited about sweets. But, this month (January 2017) marks the 10 year anniversary of me going gluten-free, so this is certainly something to celebrate and what better way than a super epic Grain-free Chocolate Cake with Dark Chocolate Ganache Frosting. With nearly 5 years of gluten-free recipes here on Tasty Yummies, it’s time we have a good special occasion cake up in here!
I know to some of you, celebrating the complete removal of some of your favorite foods from your diet, forever – wouldn’t likely be something you would get excited enough to bake a cake for, but for me it is! Before my diagnosis, I spent so many years with silly health issues, an unhappy gut, unexplained migraines and many sicknesses. Discovering my gluten intolerance is something I am forever grateful for and I never regret seeking out the answers that led me to such a huge lifestyle change, nor do I ever wish that it hadn’t happened to me. It truly has been a blessing disguised as a curse. It has made me a stronger person and has led me to look at things in a much different way. Without that discovery and that huge life change, I wouldn’t be who I am today, this site wouldn’t exist and I don’t think my love for cooking would have evolved in the way that it has.
Without knowing where my severe gluten intolerance stemmed from, I simply ate 100% gluten-free upon discovering how gravely it affected me after that month-long cleanse, at the end of January, 10 years ago this week. By the time a doctor finally tested me for celiac disease, I had already been gluten-free for 5 years and it of course came up negative. So for me, an exact reason or diagnosis was never as important as simply knowing my body couldn’t tolerate it and therefore avoiding it at all costs and never looking back, for 10 whole years (and counting)! {You can read more about my journey to living 100% gluten-free, here. Written Aug. 2013}
The irony of this big anniversary for me is that I am currently in the middle of a whole new health exploration, if you can call it that. This past summer I was diagnosed with IgA Nephropathy, a kidney disease. This kidney disease was presenting, what I thought, were little to no symptoms and I only discovered that I had it, by a routine life insurance physical in the spring of 2013. After being declined life insurance due to high levels of protein in my urine, as well as blood, I had to get myself health insurance so I could begin the journey to discovering what was causing it. After over a year, many tests and several doctors, finally a kidney biopsy this past summer confirmed that I had an autoimmune kidney disease called IgA Nephropathy.
In speaking with several doctors and doing some research, I have learned that it is very common for there to be a crossover with celiac patients and IgA patients. So, I suppose it is even more possible than I once thought, that I do actually have celiac disease.
After finding a nephrologist and getting a second opinion from another, I started by protecting my kidneys in the short term and I began taking several pharmaceutical drugs as prescribed. These drugs immediately set off a slew of new symptoms and seemed to tip the scales of balance in my body in epic ways. Two weeks ago I had my first appointment with my new naturopath, to not only treat my kidney disease but to also help me heal some other health related issues I’ve been dealing with over the past few months. Unhappy digestion, strange skin rashes and acne, low B12, allergies & sinus issues, etc. At our first appointment we discussed the probability that I am likely dealing with leaky gut and candida and we started with a small amount of supplements and herbs to start healing my gut and balancing things out a bit, so we can begin to get to the root of what might be causing all of these issues.
-
99 More Gluten-free Thanksgiving Recipes
After the popularity of last year’s 99 Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Recipes post and hearing from so many of you how much it helped to have a long list of recipes to choose from for your holiday feasts, I knew I had to follow it up with another post this year. So without further ado, here are 99 MORE gluten-free thanksgiving recipes!
99 MORE Gluten-free Thanksgiving Recipes
-
Apple, Tahini Toast with Honey and Thyme
I realize that this is less a recipe and more simply, instructions. It is after all – just toast. So let’s just consider this a how-to on making some of the tastiest, most kick-ass toast you will ever eat. Trust me.
I know we are all aware and obsessed with avocado toast, but let’s branch out a bit, shall we? As someone that doesn’t care much for simple toast and jam, I say we all need to put more things on our toast.
These days it is rare I eat toast or really, have any bread in the house, even. I tend to avoid grains much of the time, but on a rare occasion I want a little something of comfort and something easy – Hello there toast! Toast is another one of those things that I have a weird emotional tie to, it always reminds me on my grandmother, my Yia Yia. Her kitchen would always smell of slightly burnt toast and tea. I can’t ever help but think of her whenever the smell of toast is wafting through the air, so there is always a sense of comfort around that crispy, browned, morning goodness!
