Paleo banana spiced coconut cookies

These little gems are like mini banana nut breads in the shape of a cookie!!! Sooooo delish!!

 They may not be the prettiest cookie of all time but I promise you (and I have tried so many paleo recipes lately) these are so good and NEED to be on your Paleo baking list this holiday season! 

Ingredients:

• 1 ripe banana, mashed
• 1/3 cup pure pumpkin puree
• 1/3 cup coconut flour
• 1/3 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 2 Tbsp unsweetened almond butter
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1/8 tsp cloves
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• Pinch of sea salt
• 1 – 2 Tbsp water, coconut or almond milk (start w/ 1 Tbsp & add more if batter needs it, omit if batter is moist enough)
• 1 tsp coconut oil, melted
• 1 tsp raw honey, optional

(dont mind my old, nasty baking sheet... she gets wayyyyy to much use and it shows)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a non-slip baking mat.
2. Mix all ingredients together in a medium-sized bowl.
3. Drop by spoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through. (Note: mine took 23 minutes).
4. Remove pan from oven once done and let cookies sit on the baking sheet for a couple minutes. Then, carefully remove with a spatula and place on a cooling rack and enjoyyy!

Yields: 12-16 cookies

Paleo Pumpkin Pie Muffins

Oh my word!!! These are so amazing!! You wont even miss your regular full of crap pumpkin pie this year!!!

They are great for breakfast, Brunch, desert or whenever you feel you want a little treat!!! 

100% Paleo approved so snack away and enjoy them with out the all the guilt!!! Also, you really cant beat them at around 130 calories a muffin!!!!

Annnnnnd my kids LOVE them too!!!

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup coconut flour
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice (if you don't have pumpkin pie spice like myself, you can use 1/8 tsp of cloves, 1/2 tsp cinnamon and 1/2 tsp of nutmeg)
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
6 eggs
2 teaspoons organic vanilla
1/4 cup raw honey, melted
3 tablespoons walnuts, chopped

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Sift the coconut flour, pumpkin pie spice, and baking powder together.
2. In a separate bowl, mix all remaining ingredients, except for the walnuts, until well blended. Add the sifted flour mixture to the pumpkin puree mixture, and mix well until smooth.
3. Divide the batter between muffin pans, and sprinkle with walnuts.
4. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until done. (I used jumbo muffin tins so, I could make these almost like a meal in the morning. The cook time for the big ol' jumbo tins are 25 minutes.)

Fall... Is that you?

If you now anything about me then you know that I LOVE fall and winter!!! 

I woke up this morning looked out the window and saw grey!! Whaaaaaaaaat?! It totally felt like FALL!!! 

Now, I know its not fall yet. In fact, I know fall starts on September 22 this year (I have it highlighted on my calender)... and here in San Diego it doesn't really start to look like fall till mid November.  

So even though today I woke up to a grey sky and a freezing (ha) 60 degrees I knew by 11:00am the sky would be blue and the 80+ degrees would be knocking at my door. (boo)

I decided to ignore the truth and proceed with the warm fuzzy feeling of fall in the air and I decided to make it better by making my house smell as warm and fuzzy as I did. here is what I did...

What you will need....

2 cups of water

2 tbs of cinnamon

1 large peel of an orange

1 tsp of ground cloves 

Get a sauce pan and start bringing your water to a boil.... add all your ingredients. Once your yummy, fuzzy fall smelling pot comes to a boil turn down to simmer and enjoy! Keep an eye on your pot every hour our two and add water as needed. I usually let mine go all day and add water probably 2-3 times. Also, you can probably use this pot of awesomeness for 2-3 days before you should dump and start over! 

If my kids deiced they want a orange through out the day, I will just dump the peel into the pot as I go... or If I go down to my herb garden I will toss in some rosemary in the afternoon to change it up a bit! 

You really cant go wrong!!  

If you like this and want more home warming sent recipes please comment below or HERE on my Facebook page!!

Cheers to fake cold weather and a yummy house!!! 

I love you for reading!

-MDG

Coo Coo for Coconuts.

Oh Heyyyyy, So I kept hearing all kinds of things about coconut oil and how amazing it is. Everything from cooking, beauty, homemade soaps and much more. Up until a little while ago, I just enjoyed coconut as a sent in my car, maybe a body spay or two and occasional cookie.

So I did my research to see what all the hype was about. And I was pretty impressed on what I dug up! Where has this info been all my life?!  I think its safe to say that I'm totally Coo Coo for Coconuts!

I found the best of the best uses and put them all together to share with you guys. I hope you like it! Let me know if you have any un-listed uses for this amazing little guy we call the coconut.   -enjoy

Uses for Coconut Oil

1. In cooking as a great oil with a high smoke point. Great for baking, stir-frys or as a dairy free replacement to butter.
2. Taken supplementally for daily energy.
3. As a coffee creamer when emulsified into coffee (The only way I’ll drink coffee these days)
4. On the skin as a basic lotion
5. In homemade lotion bars for soft, smooth skin
6. In homemade deodorant or deodorant bars
7. As an eye-makeup remover
8. As a cloth diaper safe diaper cream (just rub on baby’s bottom)
9. In making your own Remineralizing Toothpaste
10. To lighten age spots when rubbed directly on the skin
11. To prevent stretch marks during pregnancy
12. To support healthy thyroid function
13. In homemade Mayo without the high PUFA vegetable oils
14. To help increase sun tolerance and avoid burning
15. As a naturally SPF 4 sunscreen
16. In homemade lotion recipes
17. To get rid of cradle cap on baby- just massage in to head, leave on for a few minutes and gently rinse with a warm wash cloth
18. Topically to kill yeast or yeast infections
19. As a delicious tropical massage oil
20. It’s high Lauric acid and MCFA content helps boost metaboism
21. A tiny dab rubbed on your hands and then through hair will help get rid of friz
22. As an intensive nighttime facial moisturizer
23. Mixed with equal parts sugar for a smoothing body scrub (use in the shower)
24. Rubbed on lips as a natural chap stick
25. Topically, can help skin heal faster after injury or infection
26. Directly on the perineum to help heal after birth
27. As an incredibly intensive natural conditioner- Rub into dry hair, put a shower cap on and leave for several hours.
28. On feet to fight athlete’s foot or tor fungus
29. In place of Lanolin cream on nursing nipples to sooth irritation (also great for baby!)
30. Can help sooth psoriasis or eczema
31. There is some evidence that regular ingestion of coconut oil can help prevent or reverse Alzheimers
32.  With apple cider vinegar as a natural treatment for lice that actually works
33. In natural Homemade Sunscreen
34. In healthy brain boosting snack for kids like Coconut Clusters
35. In a filling and energy boosting Brain Powder Smoothie
36. Rub coconut oil on the inside of your nose to help alleviate allergy symptoms
37. Nursing moms can take 3-4 tablespoons a day (and Vitamin D) to increase milk supply and nutrients
38. There is some evidence that coconut oil helps digestion and may even kill intestinal parasites or yeast
39. Mix a tablespoon with a tablespoon of chia seeds for an all-day energy boost (do NOT take this at night!)
40. Can help improve insulin levels
41. Oil pulling with coconut oil and a drop of oregano oil helps improve gum health
42. Can help improve cholesterol ratios
43. Blend a tablespoon into hot tea to help speed recovery from cold or flu
44. In Homemade Natural Bug-Off Lotion Bars
45. As a replacement for vegetable oils in any recipe
46. Better for high-temperature cooking than olive or vegetable oils
47. Can help reduce appearance of varicose veins
48. After initial heat is gone, can help speed healing of sunburn
49. Is an immediate source of energy when eaten and isn’t stored as fat
50. As a natural personal lubricant that won’t disturb vaginal flora
51. As a naturally antibacterial skin cream
52. In natural homemade diaper cream
53. As a natural shave cream and after shave lotion
54. When used consistently on skin it can help get rid of cellulite
55. To season cast iron skillets
56. It’s anti-inflammatory properties can help lessen arthritis
57. Can reduce the itch of mosquito bites
58. Can help resolve acne when used regularly
59. Can be rubbed into scalp daily to stimulate hair growth
60. I’ve used in kids ears to help speed ear infection healing
61. On split ends to de-frizz
62. A small amount can be rubbed into real leather to soften and condition (shiny leather only… test a small area first)
63. By itself as a great tanning oil
64. Mixed with salt to remove dry skin on feet
65. Can help speed weight loss when consumed daily
66. Can help improve sleep when taken daily
67. Can be used to speed healing of fungal infections when taken internally and used externally
68. A tablespoon melted into a cup of warm tea can help sooth a sore throat
69. To help sooth the itch of chicken pox or poison ivy
70. It has been shown to increase absorption of calcium and magnesium
71. Internally as part of the protocol to help remineralize teeth
72.  Some evidence shows that the beneficial fats in coconut oil can help with depression and anxiety
73. By itself as a natural deodorant
74. By itself or with baking soda as a naturally whitening toothpaste
75. For pets struggling with skin issues when used externally
76. Some evidence suggests that the beneficial fats in coconut oil are helpful for those with Autism
77. In homemade vapor rub
78. As a safe cooking oil for deep frying
79. A tablespoon taken before each meal can help improve digestion
80. Can be taken in warm ginger tea to sooth heartburn or nausea
81. As a completely natural baby lotion
82. On hands after doing dishes to avoid dry skin
83. Mixed with catnip, rosemary or mint essential oils as a natural bug repellent
84. Can be used on mom’s nipple and baby’s mouth to help treat thrush
85. Many use it as an anti-aging facial moisturizer
86. Use to make coconut cream concentrate for a brain boosting snack
87. Can be used internally and externally to speed recovery from UTIs
88. When taken regularly, it can help fight candida
89. When taken regularly, it can boost hormone production
90. Can relieve the pain of hemorrhoids when used topically
91. Can boost circulation and help those who often feel cold
92. On cuticles to help nails grow
93. Rub into elbows daily to help alleviate dry, flaky elbows
94. Add to smoothies to give them a nutritional boost
95. Internally during pregnancy to help provide baby necessary fats for development (especially when taken with Fermented Cod Liver Oil)
96. In any recipes where vegetable oils are used
97. Whipped with shea butter for a soothing body balm
98.  One reader swears by using coconut oil to treat yeast infection. She suggests soaking a tampon in it and inserting the tampon for a few hours.
99. Naturally clears up cold sores
100. Ingesting coconut oil daily can help with allergy symptoms
101. Ingesting coconut oil daily can increase mental alertness

 What Kind of Coconut Oil?

For external uses, expeller pressed or other types of refined coconut oil will work, but for internal use, an unrefined virgin coconut oil is best. Coconut oil can be pricey and Here in San Diego I have found that so far Costco ans Sprouts have the best prices on the product!

Love you for reading!