A need for pancakes!

I eat a lot of bacon and eggs, however sometimes I just want pancakes. I've tried many different recipes but I always like the first one I tried from Mark's Daily Apple: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/the-many-uses-of-almond-meal/. You can change it around to suite your craving, I like it best with mixed berries poured over the top. I will take photo's next time and post them.

Something Sweet !!

My weakness has always been sweets, however since going Primal I can barely tolerate any sugar and I stick to my ounce of dark chocolate. One afternoon I had the uncontrollable urge to make some cookies and began searching for a recipe when I stumbled across one from "Mark's Daily Apple" .It was from a member named tabithatoes. Thank you Mark's Daily Apple an Tabithatoes. This is the recipe I used and modified.

Primal cookies:

1 1/4 cup Almond Flour/Meal
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1/4 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract (optional)
1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon (essential!)
1 large Egg
1/4 cup Honey*
1/4 cup chopped Pecans*

Stir ALL ingredients together until smooth.
Drop by heaping tablespoonfuls onto a really well buttered/greased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart from each other. They really like to stick to the pan, so use parchment paper if you have it. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until desired doneness. Allow to cool before removing from pan.

These are soft, fluffy, and chewy around the edges. Also great with chocolate chips!


* I used 2 tbs. of maple syrup in place of the honey
* I used walnuts in place of the pecans
   I also added 1/4 cup unsweetend coconut
   and 1/4 c of 60% dark chocolate chips

These were phenomenal and you can find the original recipe and nutritional facts on "Mark's Daily Apple".

Ke Keiki

Missing that crunch!

Sometimes you just need something you can dip, spread or top, that is crunchy. I tried this sesame cracker  and loved it. Thank you Elana's Pantry: Elana's Pantry Gluten Free Sesame Crackers
Here's Elana's original recipe.

Gluten Free Sesame Crackers

3 cups blanched almond flour
1½ teaspoons celtic sea salt
1 cup sesame seeds*         
2 eggs, whisked until frothy
2 tablespoons grapeseed oil *

1. In a large mixing bowl, stir together almond flour, salt, sesame seeds, eggs and oil until well blended
2. Separate dough into two halves
3. Line two large (12 x 16) stainless steel baking sheets with parchment paper
4. Place one half of the dough in the center of each lined sheet
5. Cut another piece of parchment paper and place it over one of the balls of dough
6. Roll dough out between the two pieces of parchment paper, until it is ⅛ inch thick and covers the entire baking sheet; remove top paper and repeat process with the other piece of dough
7. Cut the dough with a knife or pizza cutter into 2 inch squares
8. Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes, until golden brown
9. Cool and serve

Makes 96 crackers

* I used coconut oil.
* I also tried walnuts

This recipe goes well with sweet or savory accompaniments.

Check out Elana's site for other great recipes.

Ke Keiki

Pesach 2011

We spent Passover this year at Shaleah's place. She served a very Primal meal of Lamb, Charoses, roasted veggies, primal hummus and salad with tahini dressing. I baked some savory crackers as a replacement for the matzot, although we served traditional matzot for all the guest that were not primal. Here is the recipe I used:

 Herbed Almond Crackers 

            grain free, gluten free & paleo!

• 2 cups almond meal
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 2 tablespoons of za'atar* or your favorite blend of herbs or spices
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 egg white
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 
• Kosher salt for sprinkling, optional

1. Combine almond meal, salt, za'atar, and sesame seeds in a medium mixing bowl. In a small bowl, whisk together water, egg white, olive oil, and sesame oil. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir until a stiff dough forms and all dry ingredients are moistened.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place dough between 2 sheets of parchment paper and roll out to an even thickness of about 1/8 inch. Transfer parchment-covered dough to a sheet pan and remove the top piece of parchment. Use a pizza wheel or a pastry wheel to trim the uneven edges of the dough, then cut the sheet of dough into cracker-size squares.
3. If desired, sprinkle crackers with kosher salt and place in oven. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes. Turn off oven and let crackers sit inside oven for an additional 10 minutes, until golden. Remove baking sheet from oven and let crackers cool completely before storing in an airtight plastic container.

Recipe Notes

• You can purchase almond meal (also called almond flour) or make your own. To make it, just process blanched whole or slivered almonds in a food processor until finely ground. Do not overprocess or you'll end up with almond butter.
• Za'atar* is a wonderful Middle Eastern spice blend made up of roasted thyme, sesame seeds, sumac, and salt. I purchase mine loose, from a bulk jar, at the health food store. If you purchase it prepackaged, checked the ingredient list carefully ~ some brands may include wheat flour.

Feel free to experiment with other herbs and spices. Chili, curry, rosemary, herbes de

Provence, and cumin are all good choice.

This recipe is taken from : At the Baker's Bench, http://www.atthebakersbench.com/2011/01/herbed-almond-crackers-grain-free.html  
Visit this site for more great recipes