Pumpkin Muffins (Gluten + Dairy + Refined Sugar Free + Vegan Option)

I seriously looooovvvvveeee pumpkin. Anything pumpkin, especially once the weather changes, is the best. thing. ever. Hot cup of coffee & a pumpkin muffin? Yes please!
These totally hit the spot & have become my families favorite treat. My husband loves his packed with chocolate chips. They're gluten + dairy free and have refined sugar free + vegan options, so they please everyone in my house! Enjoy!

PUMPKIN MUFFINS (Gluten & Dairy free with Refined sugar free and Vegan options)

• 1 Cup Gluten Free Flour Blend (I use and love Sarah's G/F flour blend recipe) 
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 3 eggs* (vegan notes below)
• 1 cup pumpkin
• 1 cup coconut sugar (substitute up to half with honey or maple syrup)
• 1/3 cup applesauce or apple butter
• 1/4 cup + 1 Tablespoon coconut oil, melted
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2-3/4 cup chocolate chips or carob chips (optional) 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a small bowl mix the gluten free flour blend, baking soda & salt. Set aside.

In a medium size bowl combine eggs, pumpkin, sugars, applesauce, coconut oil & cinnamon. Mix together until well combined.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet & stir until combined. Don't over mix.

Place 12 paper liners into a standard size muffin tin. Use an ice cream scoop to fill each cup & then bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes. Muffins are done when the center is pushed on and is firm and doesn't sink but springs back.

*To make vegan, replace eggs with 4 1/2 teaspoons of ener-g egg replacer blended with 6 Tbs water until frothy. I also added 1 tsp baking powder to the dry ingredients to give the muffins a little more rise.

Ginger Cookies (Gluten free/Vegan/Refined sugar free)

So I'm on my iphone right now doing about 10 things at once, but one of those 10 things is making cookies, and I just had to post the recipe ASAP. I recently discovered I can't have chocolate (I know. Don't even get me started.) so I've been doing a lot of self discovery through finding non-chocolate recipes I like. First thing I've discovered along my journey? Everything needs chocolate. BUT these ginger cookies are pretty darn good, they're SUPER simple, and they make me feel like the holidays are coming, even if it is 86 degrees out.

Hope you enjoy!

Ginger Cookies (Gluten Free, Vegan, Refined Sugar Free)

1 Cup Honeyville almond flour
1/2 Cup oat flour (or 1/2 cup old fashioned oats) *you can use all almond flour if you want. Cookies will be much softer and chewier instead of crisp and chewy.
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup Spectrum shortening
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup coconut sugar
1/4 tsp ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 Tablespoon molasses
Dash of salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

• Put everything in the bowl of your food processor and process until the dough comes together. If you're using oats instead of oat flour put your oats in first and pulse a few times until they're ground up, then continue adding everything else.
• Roll into Tablespoon size balls and press down with a fork, or if you want a thicker cookie just leave them.
• Bake at 350 for 7-9 minutes. Let cool on pan for a few minutes before transferring to baking rack.

These would taste really yummy frosted. Just saying.

Fancy Food Thoughts Presents - Eating to Health - Week Two

Last week was my first meal plan and Week One to my "Eating to Health"  post. You can always message me or comment below to let me know what types of meals you would like to see or what has looked good to you! 

Menu - Week 2

Day One

BREAKFAST - Easy Bacon + Eggs 

LUNCH - Peanut Butter + Jelly on Gluten Free Bread (I love Canyon Bakehouse! If you can't do eggs, Trader Joe's makes a brown rice bread that is gluten free & vegan.) 

SNACK - Frozen Grapes

DINNER - Homemade Chicken Soup 


Day Two

BREAKFAST - Oatmeal with "Fried" Honey Bananas 

LUNCH - Leftovers

SNACK - Endurance Crackers

DINNER - Protein Style Hamburgers, sweet potato wedges and grilled onions + mushrooms


Day Three

BREAKFAST - Strawberry Coconut Smoothie or any of These Shakes or Smoothies (just make sure if you pick a different smoothie to adjust your shopping list by adding the ingredients!) 

LUNCH - Leftovers

SNACK - Mixed nuts or your favorite trail mix

DINNER -  Lasagna 


Day Four

BREAKFAST -Silver Dollar Pancakes 

LUNCH - Leftovers

SNACK - Coconut Cranberry Bars  or buy Organic Green Food Bars

DINNER - Chicken + Veggie Skewers, with Classic Green Salad + Amazing House Dressing


Day Five

BREAKFAST - Granola

LUNCH - Leftovers

SNACK - Baked Kale Chips

DINNER - Pot Roast + Garlic Roasted Potatoes


Day Six

BREAKFAST - Loaded Paleo Breakfast Hash

LUNCH - Leftovers

SNACK - Almond or Peanut Butter + Green Apple Slices

DINNER - Green Bean Chicken + Rice


Day Seven 

BREAKFAST - Banana Flax Scones

LUNCH - Leftovers

SNACK - Carrot, cucumber and bell pepper spears

DINNER -  Roasted Pork Loin + Spicy Green Beans + Baked Sweet Potatoes


SHOPPING LIST

Produce

Grapes
2 green apples
2 lb fresh green beans
Carrots
Celery
2 bunches kale
4 packs of mushrooms (white or crimini)
1 bag yellow or brown onions
5 zucchini squash
1 bunch ripe bananas
2-3 heads of garlic
Head of lettuce
1 bag of sweet potatoes
1 package strawberries
2 red bell peppers
1 orange or yellow bell pepper
1 bag of baby spinach
Fresh basil
Fresh parley 
Bag of lemons
Bg of lettuce (baby spring mix or dark greens are great!) 
Fresh thyme
Fresh rosemary 
3 pounds small red or white potatoes
1 shallot
Persian cucumbers or 1 english cucumber

Meat/Eggs

1 pack of bacon
2 dozen Eggs 
1 lb ground beef
1 Whole chicken, cut up (or your choice of chicken for soup)
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 whole 4-5 pound chuck roast
1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs
2 pounds boneless pork loin roast

Pantry Items

Gluten free bread (Canyon Bakehouse is my favorite!)
Peanut butter
Jelly 
Dried oregano
Coconut oil
Dried basil
Salt
Pepper
Bay leaf
Oatmeal
Chia seeds
Sunflower seeds
Pumpkin seeds/pepitas
Sesame seeds
Vanilla
Coconut milk (canned, light or full fat)
Unsweetened shredded coconut
Mixed nuts or trail mix
Gluten free lasagna noodles
1 lb jar of marinara or your favorite pasta sauce (watch for added sugar!)
1 28 oz can tomato sauce
Bag of raw cashews
Bag of almonds
1 cup macadamia nuts
Olive oil
Dijon Mustard
Honey
Almond flour
Baking soda
Dates
Dried cranberries
White wine
Red pepper flakes
Red wine vinegar
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Raisins
Cinnamon
Beef stock
Red wine (optional, you can use beef stock)
Dried dillweed 
Basamati rice (if you want brown rice, try Trader Joe's quick cook brown basamati!)
Chicken stock
Oat flour
Brown rice flour
Arrowroot/tapioca or non GMO cornstarch
Golden flax meal
Spectrum organic shortening
Liquid stevia
Dried rosemary

Fancy Food Thoughts contains some contextual affiliate links which advertisers have agreed to pay a commission if a purchase is made from that click-through. Everything I recommend are products I use & love! 

Banana Flax Scones

I absolutely adore scones. For as long as I can remember they've been one of my favorite indulgences. We have always been big tea drinkers in my family, and I cannot think of a more complimentary treat to eat with a cup of tea than a nice warm scone with lemon curd or jam. I lived in England for a few months for school during my college years, and there were eight girls living in my flat! I made scones once a week EVERY week we lived there. It was our special tradition and I will treasure those memories always. I haven't had scones for so very long, and I figured it was high time I figured out a way I could still enjoy this delightfully delicious treat.

Banana Flax Scones

• 1/2 cup oat flour
• 1/4 cup brown rice flour
• 1/4 cup arrowroot/tapioca/cornstarch (non GMO)
• 2 Tablespoons golden flax meal 
• 1/4 teaspoon pink salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 cup Spectrum Organic Shortening
• 1/4 cup almond or coconut milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 rip banana, mashed
• 1/2-1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
• 1 Tablespoon honey
• 20 drops liquid stevia

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. In a medium bowl, mix oat flour, brown rice flour, starch of choice, golden flax meal, salt & baking soda. When flours are completely combined, cut in shortening and work it in with a fork until flour mix is coarse and crumbly. 

3. In another medium sized bowl mash your banana. Add the non dairy milk, cinnamon, vanilla, honey & stevia, mixing well. 

4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet, stirring well to combine. 

5. Using an ice cream scoop, scoop onto a cookie sheet lined with a silpat liner or parchment paper. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 17-20 minutes.



Fancy Food Thoughts contains some contextual affiliate links which advertisers have agreed to pay a commission if a purchase is made from that click-through. Everything I recommend are products I use & love!

Nursing A Baby With Food Allergies Guest Post

A while back an amazing friend of mine asked me to write a guest post for her blog. Such a great opportunity to share about the very important topic of  babies with food allergies. My second daughter is the one who set our journey to nutrition and healing with food in motion! You can read my guest post at This House of Joy! You'll love Sherry's site and her awesome recipes and information, so make sure to check out her other posts!

Fancy Food Thoughts contains some contextual affiliate links which advertisers have agreed to pay a commission if a purchase is made from that click-through. Everything I recommend are products I use & love!