Updated Gram's Peanut Blossoms

It has been a few years since I made these cookies so it was time to introduce them again to my three little men!   I think I got the best response I have ever gotten from my boys..."Mommy these are the best cookies you have ever made!!!" ... that just made my day!

I've made a few changes to my recipe... coconut crystals instead of brown sugar and no stevia.  You'll want to carefully place the chocolate kisses once the cookies come out of the oven and then let them sit and cool before you move them off the cookie sheet, otherwise they will fall apart.

Pasties gone Gluten Free

When I asked my husband what he wanted me to make for Christmas dinner his first reply was..."whatever you want."  Darn I was hoping for a little more help and discussion but then about a minute later he said..."wait, when I was a kid my grandmother from Michigan used to make these amazing things called Pasties and we all loved them, basically they are just meat pies but there was not a thing that my grandma would make that anyone liked except her Pasties." We decided to give it a try this year and make a gluten free version.  Little individual meat pies sounds awesome and comforting to me.  It is so nice to live in a climate that inspires me to make comfort food again.  After 3 years in St Thomas we are all so happy to be in a colder climate where Christmas really feels like Christmas!!  So the planning began and the menu for Christmas dinner was set.  To my surprise these were amazing!!  The weren't as pretty as a non gluten free Pasty but OMG this was one of the best Christmas dinner I have ever made.  I even tried it with ketchup...one of the Irwin family stables.  Too funny but wow super good!

Paleo "Instant Oatmeal"

Taste much better than it looks!!

This has been on my to do list forever and I must say I'm sorry I haven't gotten this out to you all sooner.  Big Thank you goes out to RCFSTT member Crystal Oliphant for introducing this amazing recipe to our box and allowing me to share with everyone.  When you love cereal as much as I do and decide that Paleo is your way of life you grab on to these good ones and wow what a lifesaver it has been.  This is a quick throw together recipe that you can double or triple the batch to save time.  Once you make your batch you are ready to go each morning.  It is as simple as just adding hot water and waiting 5 minutes.  However if you do have a few more seconds in your morning routine you might want to add a few things on top to spruce it up a bit.  Get creative and enjoy!

"in the morning I'm making WAFFLES"

A favorite Sunday morning breakfast with the kids are these double thumbs up kid approved gluten free waffles.  I find that the Namaste flour mix has the cleanest ingredients if you are going to be choosing a gluten free all purpose type of flour mix.  These waffles taste like the real deal as if we just walked into iHOP or the local Waffle House, which seem to be on every street corner here in Atlanta…haha!  My next batch will be more nut flours and less Namaste flour to find out how little of the grain I can get away with while still achieving a delicious waffle.  Enjoy!

Paleo Chocolate Chip Nut Cookies

Just when you think you have perfected the best Chocolate Chip cookie ever something even better comes along.  The original recipe that this one is based off of is from Fast Paleo called "The Best Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies".  And because of this recipe and some high quality nut flours I seriously feel like it is mastered.  I had been making these with Bob's Red Mill Almond flour until I ran out just before I needed to make a batch for my CrossFit Kids class.  I had no time to go to the store so I grabbed the Organic Almonds that my sister sent me from her awesome new company "Our Community Pantry" out of Portland, OR…(thanks Sheilah!) and I quickly grounded the almonds in my Baby Bullet (thank you Julie for that lovely gadget!)  Holy cow this cookie came out "Fresh"!  What a difference… I don't think I will ever buy pre-packaged nut flours again.  

Mable's Paleo Cafe meets Reebok CrossFit St Thomas

Oh how I love a great big bowl of steaming hot oatmeal on a stormy morning but as you all know when you are on paleo that is one of those things that you choose to give up even if it is made with gluten free oats and when you live on this Rock, thunder and lighting rainstorms don't come around too often.  I know most of you locals and vacationers are probably thinking I'm crazy and want the sun back out but we have that all the time and to have a little cozy dark morning to enjoy a good cup of coffee and a bowl of Paleo "Oatmeal"...  I'm all over it!

Maple Glazed Paleo Mini Donuts

If you know me or ask anyone in my family they will all tell you that growing up I had a serious weakness for Donuts!!!  I could not pass up an opportunity to stop in a Dunkin Donuts or a Krispy Cream shop if I saw one.  So when I went 100% gluten free back in 2000 donuts and beer were the two most difficult things for me to give up and along my gluten free path I have come across some ok GF donuts but they were just ok so I thought what's the point in eating them, right?  If I'm going to cheat on a treat I want it to be amazing and a big bowl of GF Cinnamon Chex wins every time.  On to the next chapter of living my life 90 to 100% Paleo I have yet to even bother taking a bite into a donut until Cyrstal Oliphant brings these little mini gems into the gym last week.  OMG Paleo is right.  These little guys satisfied my longtime craving for donuts.  Shhhhh don't tell my boys because this momma didn't even share, bad mommy!  Maybe she will make another batch or two so you can pick them up at  your local Reebok CrossFit STT Box and my kids can partake this time.  Thank you Crystal for sharing your amazing recipe with us all.  

Paleo Smokin Hot Brisket

This meal has been my life saver when it is time to have guests over.  It is always a hit and super easy to make!! Everyone one that has had my brisket dinner has begged for the recipe so I thought what a better place to get it out to everyone than on my blog.  The number of people you are having over will determine the size of the brisket needed.  The smaller briskets actually come out a little more tender and tasty then the huge ones but they are all good.  I'm able to prep the meat while the kids are watching a short show and when I get it in the oven I'm ready to play with the boys for the next 2 hours plus while it cooks.

Where can you get a good Brisket???  The Fruit bowl in St Thomas just got them in and the meat is AMAZING!!  Thanks Dave you truly do have THE BEST meat selection on Island!  We had this last night and wow it was by far the best one I have ever had and I've been making this dish for years.  Enjoy!