Coconut and lemon paired together in a fluffy perfect little cookie—need I say more? Here in Southern California, the Christmas season is a bit different than the rest of the country. On Christmas day we can enjoy the beach, a game of football in the sun, or a warm family walk after gift giving and dinner. These coconut lemon cookies pair perfectly with our warm sunshine and active Christmas day. They are light, fluffy, and just the perfect combination of coconut and lemon flavors. As a young girl, my Mother and I made a variation of these cookies every holiday season. As I’ve started my own family and our dietary ...Read More
Top 10 Healthy Living Gifts!
Each year Christmas sneaks up on me. How is it already the end of November when it seems like summer just ended? Yikes! I haven't gotten any Christmas shopping done yet. It's always a struggle for me to figure out what in the world to get my friends and family. This year, I've compiled 5 lists of fun, unique, fantastic Christmas gift ideas. I hope they help you on your quest for the perfect gift for each of your friends and family you buy for. First up is a list of 10 gifts for the health conscious individuals in your life. PS: The rest of the Christmas lists are coming this week! :) . 1. The Introduction to ...Read More
Foods 25 Days of Grain-Free Christmas Cookies: Reindeer Bombs
These grain-free Reindeer Bombs are so amazing—crispy on the outside, with a soft, gooey, marshmallow-y center. You'll want this cookie to be a part of your Christmas tradition every year! Snowmen, Christmas trees, a roaring fire...reindeer...they all remind me of Christmas time. I wanted to come up with a Christmas cookie that was cute, clever, and good enough to be a tradition in our home every year. Grain-Free Reindeer Bombs Cookies I love holiday baking. It's such a great nostalgic activity and it's even more fun making the cookies with my kids. Add playing some Christmas music and a fire in the fireplace and ...Read More
Is the Christmas Story Just a Myth? – Training Your Children to Be Critical Thinkers
I want my children to learn to be critical thinkers. I want them to be able to look at literature, including the Bible, through an analytical eye. Some read the Christmas story and see nothing more than a fairy tale, but we know that God has used these events (as crazy as they might sound) to bring about His good work. You might be surprised to learn that some of these things can even be verified by historical data! Below excerpt from a Christmas family devotional written by Scott and Sarah Nichols, More Than a Holiday. This section is designed for parents to gain a deeper understanding of the theological and historical ...Read More
25 Days of Grain-Free Christmas Cookies: Egg-Free & Dairy-Free Gingerbread Coconut Macaroons
These Gingerbread Coconut Macaroons will make your mouth water with the generous use of winter spices! I am currently unable to eat eggs or dairy. Therefore, I created an allergy-friendly version that is equally as yummy as the traditional counterpart. The texture is a bit different (more cake like and softer with a slight tendency towards crumbling) but the flavor is identical. The cool thing about this recipe is that you can make the macaroons into, well, macaroons or you can just dump the batter into a glass baking dish and make a little cake. So that’s a double win for the egg-free/dairy free gingerbread coconut ...Read More
25 Days of Grain-Free Christmas Cookies: Gingerbread Coconut Macaroons
I adore Autumn and Winter. While I appreciate the sunshine, warmth, and vibrant colors that Spring and Summer bring, I absolutely adore the flavors of Autumn and Winter. The warm, rich, comforting spices and herbs are soothing to my soul. One of my most frequently consumed and most loved foods is coconut. I seriously eat tons of it daily. Getting creative with coconut has been lots of fun for me over the years, especially during the holidays when the pairing of coconut with rich spices is a must for me! One of my absolute favorite coconut creations for the holidays is gingerbread coconut macaroons. Seriously, ...Read More
25 Days of Grain-Free Christmas Cookies: Christmas Cheer Cookies
These grain-free Christmas Cheer cookies are the perfect holiday treat. You simply take a traditional grain-free chocolate chip cookie recipe and make it even more special. Everyone will love these cookies, both at parties and as a homemade Christmas gift! To quote the movie Elf, The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear. I have to say that Buddy has a good point, but I’d like to add “…and baking cookies to share with those around you.” The Joy from Making Christmas Cheer Cookies... Christmas season is one of my favorite times of the year. Life always seems to speed up during the ...Read More
25 Days of Grain Free Christmas Cookies: Snickerdoodles
Snickerdoodles just happen to be my husbands favorite cookies. But getting him to like something that is dairy-free, grain-free, and sugar-free is another story. In reality, he does love most of what I make, but thus far, the snickerdoodles have not passed muster, at least not until these bad boys came around. When working on this series I tried with sugar and with out, with dairy and without, other grain-free flours, like Quinoa flour. Not one was good. In fact, one was so awful, I gagged and threw every last one of the cookies away. My children tried to like them but just couldn't do it. How sweet they are. Those ...Read More
