Choco Chip Cookies, Paleo Style

Oh goodness friends, I have something AMAZING to share with you!

Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies
 

You heard me right!

After multiple tries at Paleo baking, I felt like I needed to give it another shot that would hopefully redeem myself. Sometimes I want to kick myself for starting to venture into paleo baking when I was just getting a handle on regular baking. Oh well, I guess I like changing things up! Gotta keep things exciting, right?

Now the funny part of paleo desserts is that they aren't totally paleo. It's not like our paleolithic ancestors were big into making cupcakes or anything. But I stand firm that if they had the technology and the supplies, they would be downing cupcakes faster than you can say "gimme some chocolate frosting!"

That being said, I have a sweet tooth. Actually, I think all my teeth are prone to sweets. It's something I have to battle on a daily basis. But sometimes you just need something yummy at the end of the day. And that's where my mind starts searching the web for someone out there who might feel the same way I do and have a recipe for me to try.

Enjoy a laugh at this picture of this dork, Goofy-Face McGee

I found my way to this blog, which gave me what looked like a delicious chocolate chip cookie recipe. I had been browsing around looking for a good cookie recipe but most of them mentioned the cookies not turning out exactly like their white flour, grain sugar counterparts. I had already acknowledged that they might not turn out like the choco cookies I've had in the past, but I didn't want to spent a lot of time and ingredients on cookies that wouldn't turn out well. They also used ingredients that I wasn't a big fan of (see coconut flour . . . maybe I just need to work with it more but from what I've done already, I'm not into it). Other blogs had recipes, but the writers either didn't sell it to me well enough, or they came off as pretentious jerks and I'm not into that either.

So when I finally came across this recipe, I was very hopeful. Positive thoughts. Positive thoughts.

That positive thinking worked out pretty well for me because the cookies are AMAZING!

Remember how I said that I was already sure they wouldn't taste like your average cookies? Well they tasted even BETTER! To quote Mitch, they are "Serious cookie goodness!" Grain free, dairy free cookies can actually be good?

More quotes from Mitch:

"I can't believe this is gluten and dairy free. It's really up there as one of the best chocolate chip cookies of any kind that I've ever had. It has a soft chewy texture, like the best type of cookies. The faintest mild nutty flavor which fits with the chocolate really well. The texture is just like a great chocolate chip cookie."

 Meet Mr. Goofy-Face McGee, enjoying a cookie.

Ok that's enough, Mitch. Quit hogging the blog.

One interesting tidbit about me and this recipe is that it uses Almond Flour, but my banana bread escapades wiped out my almond flour supply. So, at Mitch's suggestion, I got a whole bunch'a almonds and made some myself.
 

Of course, it didn't turn out as fine as the pre-ground stuff. I later found out that if you put the almonds in a blender first it gets the grain finer, but whatever. The cookies turned out amazing so that's all I care about right now!

So have I gotten you excited enough for this recipe? Have I piqued your interest? Well, if I haven't then too bad because the second these cookies came out of the oven and into my mouth I couldn't wait to write about it! So here it is . . .

Paleo Choco Chip Cookies, Gluten Free, Dairy Free!

Ingredients
3 cups Almond Flour
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Salt
2 Eggs
1/2 cup Maple Syrup (add Agave Nectar if you like)
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/2 cup Coconut Oil
2 cups Chocolate Chips


Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

1. Combine Almond Flour, Baking Soda and Salt in a large bowl.

2. In a small bowl, beat Eggs, Maple Syrup/Agave Nectar, and Vanilla Extract

3. Melt Coconut Oil and add to your liquid mix.

4. Combine liquid mix with dry mix. Blend until well combined.

5. Stir in Chocolate Chips.

6. On a baking sheet, drop balls of cookie dough (which tastes delicious) about a tablespoon in size. The dough spreads a little bit in the oven so leave enough room in between.

7. Look over and laugh at the awkward position your blogging buddy is sitting in.

8. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Cookies will be golden brown, depending on how long they're in the oven. They might look like they're burned at the edges but as long as you take them out in time they should be perfect!

Cookies mid-way through baking.

What you end up with is a chewy, delicious, chocolate-y treat! Like I said before, it's surprising how perfect these are. I never thought that paleo cookies could turn out to be just as good, if not better, than my best cookie recipe. True fact!

Cookies mid-way through eating.

Now if you don't mind, I have to eat another cookie right now.



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I Went On A Hike

Another achievement was made the other day!

I went on a hike. And made it to the destination without having to turn back around. Or dying.

It was about 5 miles round trip and steeper than I thought it would be. And for someone who hasn't been on a hike in a looooong time, and has pain in her knees and hip, that's a big ol' accomplishment!

At the end of the hike was fragrance lake. It was pretty.

It looks like my arm is a very long log and I'm pointing at the lake. Not the case.

It felt so good to be outdoors and get some serious exercise. It felt good to accomplish something like this. I never would have thought I'd be able to make this kind of a trip 8 months ago. It just shows me that I have the ability to change my body and get moving. I also have the ability to surprise myself.

You all know I'm big on celebrating the little accomplishments we make on a daily basis. I'm like the little cheerleader of the online communities. 

You walked around your neighborhood? Way to go!

You made it through the day in heels? Atta girl!

You got your husband to give you a massage after work? Spill the secret of how you convinced him to!

It's all good things! 

Pat yourself on the back every once in a while. You deserve it!

If You Get Credit For Trying . . .

I would have an A+.

Ok, so since I'm a crazy person, I made attempt #3 at Banana Bread. I know, I know, you're sitting there saying "Enough with the banana bread already! Move on!" The problem with that is that I can't move on! There is something in me that makes me crazy, as noted in my statement above.

I just can't move on to Paleo Cookies until I've figured out what could possibly be going wrong in my paleo baking department. That being said . . .

Baking is hard.

There. I said it.

On that note, banana bread try #3 was a new recipe, brought to me by blog reader Cathy who gave it to me after my latest banana adventure. And it actually turned out incredibly well, if it wasn't for the fact that the middle didn't cook all the way. I'm going to venture a guess that is because of user error. At this very moment I'm in my pjs, not awake for more than a few minutes and the banana bread is back in the oven, probably burning but I'm hoping the center will warm up just a bit more. It turned out so well otherwise that I'm at the point where I'm considering chopping it up and laying the pieces on a cookie sheet to firm up. If I was religious I'd be down on my knees praying that I could just get one recipe for banana bread to work! Instead I'm just on my knees, staring through the glass oven door and wishing I hadn't gotten down on my knees in the first place because now they hurt. Ok, end of tangent.

So because everything else about this recipe turned out AMAZING, and it used the ingredients I wanted it to, I'm going to share it. 

Again, I might lose some readers due to boredom from lack of topics, but hang in there. I'll move on . . . someday.

Banana Bread Part 3 (brought to us by Cathy! Thank you Cathy you are amazing!) using . . .

Almond Flour! *the crowd cheers!*

What I love about this recipe was that you can alter it to your tastes. Cathy wasn't sure where she got the recipe from, but I like that it gives you options. And truth be told, that could be where my baking went wrong, but it's still a fabulous recipe.

Ingredients
1/4 cup plain yogurt, whey or milk (Cathy uses coconut milk, I used almond milk.)
1-2 TBS. honey, optional (I used honey because, well, I have a sweet tooth to support.)
3 organic eggs, beaten
3 mashed extra-ripe bananas
3 cups ground almond flour
Pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice (Cathy said she uses a lot more than a pinch . . . so I did too.)
1 tsp baking soda
½ cup walnuts or pecans, chopped (No nuts were used in either of our breads)


Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Mix together yogurt, eggs, and bananas in large bowl and stir until well combined.

Mix almond flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, and walnuts into the wet ingredients.

Pour into 8x8 glass Pyrex dish and bake for 35-40 minutes. The top should be golden brown and the bread will have pulled away from the sides.

. . . . . . . .

Uh oh . . . .

. . . . . . . .

. . . I just realized where I went wrong.

The DISH!

This is LIVE entertainment people! I used a loaf pan. Whoops.

Don't you love it when I do stupid things that make everyone else seem much more intelligent? Because I sure do! That's what I'm here for, people!

Remember how I said the center didn't cook all the way? Yeah, I was right when I said it was my fault. It actually sunk when I took it out of the oven, like a cake when you check it and then slam the door to the oven. Aye.

But the flavor was SPOT ON! I got a good idea of the way it should turn out by eating the edges and OH BABY! It's good!

Mitch just tried a piece and I swear his eyes bugged out as he went "MMMMM!"

I hope that you give this recipe a shot. If it wasn't for my carelessness I would give it 10 out of 10. It was so necessary to share this recipe with you that I am putting off getting ready for work just to type this out. You should really thank me.

Let's give Cathy a round of applause!

Gettin' To Know Ya

Since I started this website, my favorite thing has been connecting with people from around the world who also have Rheumatoid Arthritis. I went from knowing maybe two other people who went through what I was going through, to a network of people all over the globe. I have never felt so at home, so comfortable, so able to open up with my new community of friends.

A year ago, I was uncomfortable discussing my health with anyone outside my circle of trusted friends and family. Once I started writing regularly and getting over my fear of opening up to strangers, I realized how great this whole idea was.

When you talk about it, you aren't alone. Oh and that's such a nice thing, isn't it?

So what am I rambling on about?

Well I decided that I want to open this up to more than just me.

I love writing and it's becoming something I'm more and more passionate about. But I also want other people to feel the benefits. So what I decided to do is to begin a new series on this website dedicated to other people with RA.

The interview process will be all through networking online. I'll either provide a Q&A option, or a more detailed biography, or even autobiography if the interviewee is interested.

This will be a regular series, so if you are interested in contributing with your own story, email me at lydaclark.blog@gmail.com


Alright RA Friends, who's with me?

Daredevil Niki

Since this week's articles have been a little on the serious side, I decided to leave you with this for the weekend . . . .

Last night, as I was getting myself ready to go out to dinner, there was a clanking sound, and then scratching on wood. I turned around to find little Niki like this . . .

He attempted to jump from the towel stand to the top of the door. He didn't quite make it as far as he wanted, so his little back legs were quickly searching for a steady surface. His front legs must be pretty strong as that is the only way he was holding himself up there.

I shouted to have Mitch come help me because unfortunately, I was too short to reach the little sucker. (Note: In the last two pictures Mitch had his arm behind the door, holding Niki's little butt up.

I begged Mitch to get him down, but he felt Niki had put so much effort into getting up there that he couldn't just end his fun so quickly. So he helped him up to the top.

Have you ever seen anyone more proud of himself?

Between gasps for air due to uncontrollable laughter, I watched as Niki took in the world from this new point of view.

Now it's no mystery to those of you who have spent much time with the little darling that Niki is not the brightest in the world. He's constantly falling off of perches and making terrible decisions. He never seems to learn from his mistakes. He seems completely oblivious to Tesla's annoyance and therefore always surprised when she beats the crap out of him.

But perhaps there is more to this cat than meets the eye. He managed to figure out how to jump from the floor to the clothes hamper, the clothes hamper to the towel rack, and finally the towel rack to the door frame. Oh if he could only talk.

Eventually I convinced Mitch to get him down (again, the curse of being too short). I am constantly reminded to appreciate the little things in life. We don't look at things from different perspectives. We don't see the possibilities. We don't take many risks. Maybe there is something to being a little more of a daredevil like Nick.

There are risks worth taking in this world.


I dare you to try something new this weekend! And then let me know about it!

Sunshine

When I was living in Utah and on Remicade, having to have my infusions in the cancer center was hard on me. Yes, most of the time the rooms I was placed in were filled with other patients on remicade, but that waiting room was hard core, man.


Have I ever told you the story about the woman I met with breast cancer? No? Well sit yourself down and get comfy because you're in for a real treat!


Ok so here's the picture: I walk into the waiting room at the infusion center and sit down, waiting for the nurse to come get me. I have my book and my laptop and I pretty much keep to myself because . . .well, it's the cancer center. It's not exactly Children's Hospital.
 

In walks this woman who seems to light up the room. She's been here a lot. She greets the women at the front desk by name and they know who she is without looking her up on their computers. She breezes by and takes a seat close to me.


She's chatting with the women behind the desk, another person waiting, pretty much talking to the walls. She has a lot of interesting things to say and she wants to tell! Something about her is just beautiful.


She tells me she has breast cancer. Not that I asked. I was shocked when she brought it up. But she seemed to be in the mood to share so I didn't stop her. I was mesmerized by her energy, her spunk. She was so light-hearted, so positive. She had cancer and yet if it wasn't for the scarf on her head (or the fact that she might tell you up front) you might never guess it.


Then, because she was such a joy to be around, I continued to converse with her and she asked me if I had cancer/why I was there. It sounds like such an intrusive question to ask, but for some reason with her it didn't seem odd. I told her that I had Rheumatoid Arthritis and that I was there to have an infusion of medicine.


The shock on her face was chilling.


"How awful! You poor thing! How old are you?" 


I told her.


"How old were you when you were diagnosed?"


I told her.


She looked as if she was about to cry. I was surprised by how much pain she felt for me. She asked a lot of questions and I willingly gave her answers. She listened intently, shaking her head, gasping at moments. Whenever she would offer words of "that's terrible" and "you're so young" and "I'm so sorry" I couldn't help but say "no no no, it's fine! really!"


At that moment I felt as if none of it matters. It reminded me of all those times at Children's Hospital when I would see these young children, much younger than me, with these horrible ailments. A young girl, blind and deaf, making dolls in the waiting room before her surgery. A baby boy, just learning to walk, with a large lump on his forehead, waiting to get an xray. (Thinking about it now, it wasn't much better than the cancer center . . . it was just more colorful and all the different wings were named after fun things like Airplane, Whale, Giraffe.) I would sit in the waiting room and sulk, my moody self pissed off at the bad hand I was dealt. And then I would look over at the other kids, playing with blocks, toys and Nintendo.


Days when I feel my worst I think about that woman. Even with cancer she was refreshingly upbeat. Even if she felt it, she wasn't giving off that vibe that says "poor me". I also think about those kids at Children's. No matter what health issues they were dealing with, they always played.


I think we all have moments where we think we are in the worst situation. Things couldn't get worse. But you are so lucky to be in your shoes. So we deal with swelling and aching and chronic pain! At least we are living to enjoy the sunshine!

Bad Things, Good Things

Ok, so the other day I was talking about sticking to your diet and how important it is to respect each others' food choices. Yadda yadda yadda.

Oh, I believe everything I said, but in the case of those who say "but . . .  but! I love bad things for me!", don't worry, I feel ya. I've got a sweet tooth like no other. Which is why you'll see me attempting paleo dessert recipes quite often. But every once in a while, you just gotta splurge.

Now I'm not talking about "cheat days" or "taking breaks" or all the other nice little phrases given by people who want to diet but don't want to put the work into it. I'm talking about only living once and never completely depriving yourself. It's true that once you cut out things like sugar and grains your body will quickly learn to live without it and you won't have those cravings anymore, but for diehards like me, you can always daydream.

I say, if you're going to cheat, you better make it worth it. I don't mean taking a donut from the tray at the office or succumbing to the ice cream cone that everyone else is walking around town with. I mean making a choice that you aren't going to look at five minutes from now and wish you hadn't.

My biggest achievement lately has been gaining some willpower. I've been working hard to look at that piece of dessert being offered to me. Thinking about how it really looks.  

Is it devastatingly mouthwatering, or is it just mildly enticing? 

Am I going to feel good about myself after I eat it, or will I regret it and wish I hadn't? 

The answer is almost always "DON'T EAT IT." But sometimes it's not. Sometimes it's refreshing and sometimes I've put the effort, the hard work into making said dessert so having a sliver of a slice just makes me proud. And happy. Belly smiles, people. Belly smiles.

In the end, the decision is yours. You have to be the one to decide what will make you happy in the long run. For me, it has to be really worth it to endure the joint and belly aches that will follow.

What would be your worth it dessert? 

Would it be . . . 

Balsamic Chocolate Truffles?

Beautifully decorated Blackberry Sorbet?

Or, if you're going for decoration (which I firmly believe your food should be as appealing to the eye as to the stomach), Carrot Ginger Layer Cake a la my nemesis Martha Stewart?

Or a little simpler with a little Key Lime Pie?

Or the simplest of delicious desserts, White Chocolate Dipped Strawberries!

This time of the year, I'm all about the fruit. So give me some Strawberry Crepes (A definite favorite of mine. Go to Magdalena's Creperie for the most amazing strawberry, cream cheese and white chocolate crepe you will ever have! Or if you are in the Salt Lake area, head over to Eggs In The City for their delicious breakfast/dessert fruit filled crepes. To die for.)

Whatever the choice, in my mind, it better be good. No, scratch that. It better be AMAZING.

This gal isn't going to settle for just any ol' dessert!

What would you break your strict diet for?

Stick To It Like Glue

Sometimes it's hard to explain. I have certain lifestyle choices that limit what food I can and can not eat. Those of you who have ever gone through any sort of diet or lifestyle change know what I'm talking about. It can be difficult to stick to your choices around other people. If it's people who already have their own opinions or just don't understand why, you feel like you always have to explain yourself.

And, well, you kind of have to. But how do you explain your lifestyle choices to other people? How do you explain your diet? Your reasons for doin' whatcha do?

It's probably easiest when you have some sort of health issue. I have to do this because of my health. Because of arthritis. A little tip is to tell people you're allergic. Silly, I know, but it works best at restaurants. Though after the Elimination Diet I can easily say I have reactions to dairy, I can also say from study that all humans have reactions to a number of other foods. So there you go, one excuse. That's on the house.

Beyond allergies, it's a little tricky, and it depends on who you're talking to. For example, most of my close relatives and friends know I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. They also are people I feel comfortable getting into the details of my life, therefore it's easier to explain the "whys" of my food choices.

I can get into more detail beyond "it's my health". I can talk about the fancy, interesting things I've learned, such as how the digestive system works and how grains react when your body attempts to digest them. I can talk about omega3/6 and how certain foods cause inflammation. I can talk about how important it is for me to stick to my diet plan so that I can avoid extra pain and swelling.

And I can hope that those I talk to respect my decisions to do so.

Other than that, I have to hope that the people outside that trusted circle can give the same respect.

What is it with people not respecting others' personal choices? Can I continue an entirely separate blog on that topic? Well I could, but I'll just stick to this one.

But seriously, some people have a very hard time understanding why others make the food choices they do. It's beyond just, if you like it, eat it. Hell, there are a lot of foods I like. . . . I LOVE . . . but I know what they do to me and I know that I don't want to deal with the end result. It's more than I don't want to eat that because it'll make me fat. What it's about is . . . I don't eat that because I want to be as healthy as I can possibly be. And that's the truth.

So here's my advice to all of the"healthy" enough people who don't give a hoot what food they put in their bodies . . . let it go. If someone tells you that they don't eat something, or they don't want something, respect their decision and work with 'em. If you want to get into the conversation of why, ask them why. Most of them will be more than happy to explain it to you. I know I would be.

And those of us who follow our self-imposed guidelines . . . try to not be pushy with your views, and help other people along. If you're meeting someone for lunch, choose a restaurant that will have something for you to eat. If you're headed to a dinner party, offer to bring a dish that you know will work for you. Don't expect others to completely understand your new views, but also don't put up with people disrespecting them.

Oh yeah, and if you need a break, stay tuned for some non-paleo, non-diet cream pie coming your way soon.

Much Needed Rest

I have a good excuse for not writing as early as I normally like to this morning.

I was tired.

So I slept in.

Kind of.

Last night we got in town late after a couple of fast-paced days in our hometown. We had just enough time for me to cook up some last-minute dinner, watch our new favorite show Game of Thrones, and pass out. Mitch had to wake up at the crack of dawn this morning to head off on another adventurous business trip and I stupidly woke up with him.

Well, I sort of woke up. I was half-asleep, noticed we forgot to pack his bags the night before, and proceeded to dump out all of our dirty clothes from this weekend's suitcase and start folding shirts for Mitch while slowly falling back asleep.

I always wonder what must be going through Mitch's head when he leaves on these business trips. The last moment he sees me I'm groggy, hair all tangled, mascara smeared on my face because I forgot to wash my makeup off, bad morning breath, and mumbling something about not to forget his passport before I fall asleep again. Then groggily attempt a goodbye kiss and stumble around the apartment until he leaves. Eventually, a couple of hours after he left, I plopped down on the couch and the second my head hit the cushion I was out like a light.

Oh yeah, that's something he's gonna want to rush back home to.

Every time I have a busy weekend like the most recent, I am determined to have as much relaxed time following. I've been reading in my ever-so-smart book about the paleo solution how necessary sleep and rest are to our health, and what happens to our insides when we don't get enough rest.

But nonetheless, it was a good weekend, spent with family. I got to see my dad for father's day and make him his own large batch of fruit nut bars.

Then a day of golfing with my mother who has been taking lessons and is pretty dang good. I haven't played in over a year and was more than a little rusty.

I got better as the day went on though . . .

If you're lucky I might post the video Mitch took of me, where I took a horrible swing and then proceeded to give my best "tough guy" look to keep from Mitch poking fun at me. If you're lucky.

Also, I had a small achievement when going on a morning walk, and finishing a trek up a hill with a sprint. Never thought these knees had it in 'em.

We also took the long way home, by rout of Ellensburg, to visit Mitch's grandmother. If you are as easily entertained as I am, ask this woman to tell you a story of her family history. Keeps you occupied for hours. 

All in all, I'm glad my energy levels have been better than usual, mostly due to the increase in exercise I've been busting my butt doing lately. It's all worth it.

By the way, is there anything more beautiful than a man holding a baby?

That's a handsome man, right there.

How was everyone's weekend? Tell me all about it, I want to hear!