Tomorrow, Saturday December 14th is the official day my book is released, and I’m so excited!! Super Paleo Snacks will be available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indie Bound, Indigo, or Bookish and in some retail stores. So crazy and surreal! We didn’t know for sure if it would launch in time for holiday gifts. (We thought Jan 1st all along, but hoped for this!) Now I’m in a mad scramble to do some speedy-quick marketing. So, if you wouldn’t spreading the news, I’d sure appreciate it. Fortunately, there is no easier and better way than to share the news via facebook, instagram or pinterest. I would be so so grateful!!!
Okay, enough with my shameless desperate plea. So, to celebrate the release, I wanted to share my favorite snack. It’s the Crunchy Omega-3 Flax Granola (I am realizing just how truly lame that name is, so please don’t judge this snack by it’s name). I eat it daily. I take this on every trip with me. It is always in my purse in case I need a snack, and it’s the first thing I eat every morning. This recipe is under the “Nut Free” section in my book (page 152) but I think this snack belongs in every chapter because it is so practical.
I love this snack for so many reasons. First, you can easily tinker with the recipe to include what YOU like. Mine ingredients are fairly simple. But, you can toss in more salt or coconut palm sugar, add some different nuts, shredded coconut, whatever…Second, I love it because it is super duper crunchy and that (crunchiness) is one thing I miss eating from Paleo foods. It’s very satisfying when I want something crunchy! And third, I love it because it has a purpose (multiple, actually). While many of us love our flax and chia (especially chia) seeds for their fiber and anti-inflammatory properties, some of us have a hard time getting those slimy things down (especially the chia seeds!). This is by far the easiest way I have found to get these seeds into my diet. And, because I cook this recipe on such a low temperature, it helps to preserve the nutrients in the seeds and protect against oxidation. Oh, and lastly, it’s super easy to prepare. It’s probably THE easiest snack I make, for what it’s worth. Please do note though that compared to the other snacks in the book, this one tends to be more suited for adult pallets.
Play with what combo works best for you. You can eat it on it’s own, add it to your Greek or grass-fed yogurt or however you would like….
½ cup dried fruit (I like tart cherries which are anti-inflammatory)
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 170°F
In a small bowl, mix the dry ingredients together.
Then add the water, combine well with your hands and let it sit for 10 minutes.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Spread the mixture as flat and evenly as possible on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake for 8 to 10 hours or until crispy. Allow to cool for 30 minutes. Break apart and enjoy. Store in an airtight container.
Notes
Lately I've been using 1 cup chia and 1/4 cup flax to get in the extra chia and that seems to be my favorite combination.
Also, I make this at night so around 7 or 8pm I'll get it ready and put it in the over. And then it's ready for me when I wake up in the morning. You can also flip the whole piece about two hours after it's cooked (but not necessary), and then let it cook the rest of the way until the next morning. It should be super crunchy when it's done cooking. If it's not, allow it to cook until it is completely dry and crunchy.
Also, I typically double this batch so if you eventually do, be sure to spread it out on the baking sheet flattening it out as much as possible. It tastes better when it's thinner.
I love this time of year! What a great time to celebrate with family and friends. And, yes, often these celebrations include yummy treats like candy canes, sugar cookies, hot chocolate, gingerbread men, and pumpkin pie. While it can be hard to do, I still try to maintain a little bit of a healthy balance with my family. Of course, sugar is super tasty and makes us feel good when we are eating it, but soon after look out for a loss of energy, grumpy moods and a lowered immune system. Not to mention, for us adults, too much sugar can trigger inflammation and stress to our bodies in an already stressful time of year. Who has time to be sick and worn down during the holidays? We’d miss out on too much fun!!
I like to balance our days with some healthy yet fun and tasty snacks and treats. One of our favorite treats are these Molten Lava Cakes. I have to be honest, in the year or so we’ve been eating these, I’ve never actually made them. Alice is the one who has always the baker of these delicious treats. It’s so great that she can make things all on her own now!
Anyway, this recipe is one of the treats in the “Sweet Treats” chapter of my new book Super Paleo Snacks. The chapter includes a few sweeter snacks like real chocolate chip cookie cake (crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside) and the most delicious cupcakes you will ever eat…you’ll swear they aren’t Paleo, but they are! You can find these recipes and more in the new Super Paleo Snacks available for pre-order now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indie Bound, Indigo, or Bookish available just in time for the perfect holiday gift!!
Ann -Yummy! And, so excited…just received an email from Amazon…your book should arrive at the end of next week! Merry Christmas to me! Just in time for some paleo Christmas goodies. Thanks!ReplyCancel
landriav -Ha! Thank you Ann for your support and note!! 🙂 I really appreciate it so much!ReplyCancel
Kathryn -Hey Landria, making these right now… When do I put in the vanilla, cacao powder and sea salt?ReplyCancel
landriav -Ah sorry Kathryn! I clearly didn’t post my most recent version of the recipe. I just added that in in the post. Sorry about that! Hope yall like them!!ReplyCancel
I turned 40 at the end of last year. Ever since, my knees have ached, and I haven’t been able to bend them well. It’s actually been so bad that when Scott and I went to Utah last month and when we hiked down a mountain, I had to sometimes sit and scoot down bigger rocks because it hurt too bad to put all of my weight on one leg and bend. I had 80 year old people passing me. It was embarrassing and even more so…very depressing. All I could think was….”forty sucks.”.
While for the past year it was just my knees hurting, it more recently spread to my big toe. I could hardly bend it one way or another and had lost all flexibility in it it. Worse, when running, my toes would go from feeling tingly to numb to having this really sharp pain. Oh and then my heel began to hurt. All I could think “if this is 40, what is 50, or 60 or 70 going to be like”? I can’t clean up my diet, I mean, not really. I exercise, but at a moderate amount (but much less than in the past which apparently is a good thing for my adrenals). So am I just destined to have a really old body, at 40? After my MRI last year my orthopedist said I just had “really bad arthritis”, and I could get cortisone shots. After hiking in Utah, I thought, maybe a cortisone shot isn’t such a bad idea (you know I’m desperate if I am thinking that way). They also suggested I get a shot between my toes (ouch!!) for the tingling and numbness. And then I figured well, I might as well do it all because at this point I don’t know what else to do.
Fast forward to today, I feel amazing. Like REALLY amazing!!! My knees don’t hurt!! My big toe will bend! My little toes aren’t as numb! I still cannot get over it!!! It’s like I won the lottery. I ran all last week, the most I’ve run in a year (probably a little too much) but I felt incredible. I felt, for the first time, like my age! I felt like 40 and I was happy with it! I do still feel a little pain now and then in my big toe and a little in my knees but it’s NOTHING like it was before. Quick side note: while I felt so good, I may have pushed it a bit. While my arthritis is better still, I may have done something else to my knee….so, if you see me walking instead of jogging, know still that the arthritis is still better, but my knee is just a little jacked up. But, at least it’s not arthritis!
So…what changed?? I started a regimen of apple cider vinegar and baking soda three times a day.
Having an autoimmune disease, my gut/body has always been more acidic than the average person. But many people tend to become more acidic with age due to diet (refined sugars and carbs), stress, etc. When our bodies become too acidic, as was mine, we build up uric acid. I use to test myself to see how acidic my body was years ago by using these test strips. I somehow got out of the habit and, honestly, I wasn’t sure how much it was really helping me to try to stay more alkaline. Recently, I found some old strips and tested myself. I was a 4.5 on a scale of 4.5-9 (6.5-7.5 is ideal alkaline). After testing, I used my old remedy of baking soda powder and apple cider vinegar to get things back on track. Within 24 hours I noticed while in bed that the sheets didn’t hurt my toes. The next day, my knees felt much better during a workout. Then, I did some research on acidity and arthritis. Sure enough, the first thing I read about explained the link between uric acid and arthritis. I had no idea! So, it’s hard to say it was a placebo effect for me since I had no idea before drinking my concoction, but regardless, it worked for me! And I’m happy to say I’m back to 6.5. While I still have days where I feel a little tingling in my toes, my knees still feel 90 percent better than before and that makes me so happy!
My point to sharing all of this? If your knees are hurting or your joints are aching more, test your acidic/alkaline balance and if you’re acidic, you might want to try this drink. What do you have to lose? I’m just so happy that rather than taking care of the symptoms, I took care of the root of the problem. I couldn’t be happier!! I feel like I won the lottery. Bring on 40, or 50, or even 60!
This is a great drink too if you’re fighting a cold. Here are some other benefits of being more alkaline. Oh and last thing, if you do have arthritis and are looking to lower the inflammation tart cherries and turmeric can be great to take as well.
Add 2 tbsp of ACV to a large glass and 1/4 tsp baking soda. Let it fizzle like a volcano and then add your water. I said 1/4-1/2 so you can do it to your own taste preference and drink up!
Notes
Do this on an empty stomach 3 times a day until you start to feel better. I did it for about 3 weeks. Then just do it once or twice a day for maintenance. Be sure to test your urine Ph so you don't become to alkaline.
Coleen -That’s great, Landria! I’m going to get the test strips and check my pH, though my aches and pains are pretty good unless I eat gluten.ReplyCancel
landriav -Thanks Coleen! Hope it can help you some (as long as you stay away from that gluten, which I know you do! :)) !! Hope you’re well!!ReplyCancel
Patty -This sounds like something I will do. Couple of questions – how long after a full meal is your stomach empty?; how about after a snack?; and how long after you take this vinegar/baking soda mixture can you put something in your stomach? for example, if I take it upon rising in the morning how soon can I have coffee or smoothie or breakfast?ReplyCancel
landriav -Hey Patty! I take it on an empty stomach, usually just before a meal. The ACV helps with digestion, too! After a full meal…I would say 3 hours, but also, it’s more important to take it when you can, too. You know what I mean? I try to take it at certain times, but more so, I take it when I remember. Hope it helps you!! I’ve already heard back from many people that it’s helping, and in many different ways. It’s so cool to hear!!ReplyCancel
Diara -I have used ACV for a while now, but I have to say the addition of baking soda made a huge difference! I have only been using it for 3 days and I have already seen major changes. My inflammation is gone in my heads and ankles. I have seen my sugar cravings go way down and my digestion is def better! I also feel more energized after I drink it. Thanks Landria! I will def be making this a part of my daily routine.ReplyCancel
landriav -SOOO great to hear Diara!! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!ReplyCancel
courtney -Thank you! I tested myself and am at a 6 so I’d like to do this, I am trying to find out if there are any negatives to doing so while nursing. Do you know?ReplyCancel
landriav -Hey Courtney, I’m sorry but I don’t know. I wouldnt think so but do some of your own research first. My only thought is it could change the flavor of your milk?ReplyCancel
Many people have asked what we would be having for our Turkey Day meal so I wanted to share some of our family favorites…
2013 holiday meal post which includes the sweet potato casserole (it’s just so good it deserved a post by itself!) I’m posting here along with: Turkey, Broccoli Casserole (my favorite), and chocolate bark
2012 holiday post which includes: Bacon Wrapped Sweet Potatoes, Fried Okra, Almond Cranberry Green Beans, Cauliflower Mash, Roasted Brussels Sprout, Biscuits, Sugar Cookies (I actually prefer these Snickerdoodles) and Chocolate Pie (here is the filling recipe)
I hope this can help give some ideas for the upcoming holidays. Have a fun, safe, and relaxing Thanksgiving!! And please know how thankful for you. Now go eat and enjoy!!!
4 large sweet potatoes (or pre-cut bag from Trader Joe’s 2 lbs)
1/2 cup canned coconut milk
3 tbsp maple syrup
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup grass fed butter or ghee
1 organic egg
Topping
1 cup raw pecans, chopped
1/3 cup almond meal or flour
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tbsp maple syrup
1 tbsp butter, melted
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp celtic salt
1 tbsp coconut palm sugar (for the top)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350. Start with your sweet potatoes. Of course I bought pre-pealed pre-cut sweet potatoes from Trader Joe’s. You can get them in the freezer section at Whole Foods too. Or you can just use 4 large sweet potatoes, peel and chop them.
Then, boil the sweet potato in a large pot of water for about 10 or so minutes until they are fork tender.
Next put in a food processor with the rest of the “Filling” ingredients and blend until smooth.
Move the pureed sweet potato filling to a 9″ Pyrex glass pie or glass baking dish.
For the topping, mix in a medium bowl all of the ingredients except for the coconut palm sugar. Then spread the “Topping” over the “Filling”.
Dust 1 tbsp of coconut palm sugar evenly over your topping.
This past weekend my daughter, some friends and I had a fabulous trip to NYC. Shopping, shows, sightseeing, ice skating…it was amazing. And, the food was, of course, wonderful. I was really surprised, impressed and excited about the many great healthy options.
There was one restaurant in particular that I fell in love with called Hu Kitchen (Hu, it turns out, stand for “back to Human”). They had bison meatloaf, kale “Caesar” salad (even with paleo croutons!) coconut milk coffees/hot cocoas, almond flour chicken fingers, an amazing assortment of veggies, chicken salad…I could go on. As for sweets, they even had paleo blonde brownies, macaroons made with coconut palm sugar, cookies made with coconut nectar. I was in heaven!
Aside from the amazing menu, notice the signs on the bottom left hand corner of this pictures. I know they are cooking with the ingredients I would cook with, leaving out the oils and preservatives I don’t cook with, and using high quality ingredients that are so loving on our bodies. How great is that? Hu Kitchen, please come to Atlanta…
Everything they had was amazing! If this were in my backyard, I’m afraid I’d never cook again…
Banana almond milk smoothie?? Just like we make at home!
Think we could get a set up like this at the Race Track gas station around Atlanta or the Atlanta Airport? Can you imagine being able to get chia seed pudding, grass-fed meatballs, or almond crusted chicken fingers to go??
Another great place we found in NY just down the street from Hu is a place called Brodo (East Village) that sells bone broth (benefits here)! I mean, instead of getting coffee or tea, you could order one of three types of whole-body-nourishing bone broth (great article on Brodo here)!! It was warm, soothing, and, with so many amazing health benefits, broth just felt good to drink. I would love to see more of those type places around, and I believe were are trending that way. Things….are….changing. And it’s sooo refreshing and exciting to see.
While it’s so nice to see healthier options become more widespread, there still aren’t enough—especially outside of forward-thinking food cities like like NY or LA or Boulder. And when it comes to healthy snacks, options are even more limited.
I cook a decent amount, and, honestly, it’s not for my love of cooking. I cook because I love yummy and healthy treats, snack, and meals that help me and my family feel good. Rarely can you purchase snacks that have been made with healthy ingredients much less snacks that use sweeteners like coconut palm sugar or coconut nectar. But the times you can, you are REALLY going to pay for it!! $4.50 for 3 bite sized macaroons or 1 brownie for $5 ain’t cheap. I can make a pan of brownies for $7, but maybe that’s not such a good thing with my sweet tooth. My thought behind cooking/baking is, if we can’t buy it (see, by nature, I’m a lazy cook), then we can make it!
And guess what…yep, you see it coming don’t you? There just happens to be a fabulous new book called Super Paleo Snacks that has many great recipes that are paleo but they are also great yummy snacks even for non-paleo eating families that just want to eat cleaner. It wasn’t just my taste buds that approved these recipes but it was the taste buds of my kids, my friend’s kids, neighbors, and anyone else I could find so these will satisfy even the finickiest of pallets. And, what’s so fun about many the recipes like Peanut Butter Cookies in the book, you will learn that they don’t have to be just for desserts or weekend or special occasions. They CAN be a great snack, low in sugar and glycemic load, high in healthy fats and protein and SUPER TASTY!
Here is the first recipe from the book I get to share. It is super simple with only 4 ingredients and super delicious!!! We first had these during the big Atlanta snow storm last year. And fter playing in the snow, really these cookies along with some hot cocoa really hit the spot! Remember, if you do decide to pre-order my book, be sure to enter the giveawaybefore this Sunday by letting me know in the comments here which prize you would like to win.
I hope you love them! They really are mouthwatering!!
This was kind of how the past 6 months went with photographing snacks for a book…
Peanut Butter Cookies (nut-free) from Super Paleo Snacks Cookbook
In a medium bowl, mix together all of the ingredients and stir until well combined.
Then, on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet place about 12 golf ball sized pieces of dough (you can use two cookie sheets or cook two batches) on the paper.
Make sure the cookies have about an inch or between them.
Press the dough down to make them a little flat and then use a fork to press the criss cross pattern into them.
Eileen -Landria, you KNOW I am on board with getting places like Brodo and Hu Kitchen to Atlanta! Going to work on my bone broth recipes this winter…maybe the time is closer than we think!ReplyCancel
landriav -Ha, I know you are Eileen! And…I hope you’re right!!ReplyCancel
Drennen -Thank you Landria for your wealth of healthy info and food!! I can not wait to start making yummy treats from your book! Happy Thanksgiving! These cookies are delicious!ReplyCancel
landriav -Sorry I just saw this Drennen. Thanks so much for your sweet post! And they are good, aren’t they? 🙂 Thank you for sampling them (and so much more!). Hard to believe that was last year!!ReplyCancel
landriav -HA Angela!! I dont know about starting it but sure would love to take advantage of it here!! You’re so lucky with all of your fabulous resource in the big city!! I’m jealous!ReplyCancel
.jpg "Celebrating my offical book release TOMORROW with my snack that I eat every. single. day!")
.jpg "Celebrating my offical book release TOMORROW with my snack that I eat every. single. day!")
.jpg "Alice’s Molten Lava Cakes…")
.jpg "Alice’s Molten Lava Cakes…")
.jpg "Alice’s Molten Lava Cakes…")
.jpg "Alice’s Molten Lava Cakes…")
.jpg "My body feels 10 years younger!")
.jpg "Sweet Potato Casserole")
.jpg "Mouthwatering Pea(no)nut Butter Cookies (w/ only 4 ingredients!)…")
.jpg "Mouthwatering Pea(no)nut Butter Cookies (w/ only 4 ingredients!)…")
.jpg "Mouthwatering Pea(no)nut Butter Cookies (w/ only 4 ingredients!)…")
.jpg "Mouthwatering Pea(no)nut Butter Cookies (w/ only 4 ingredients!)…")
.jpg "Mouthwatering Pea(no)nut Butter Cookies (w/ only 4 ingredients!)…")
.jpg "Mouthwatering Pea(no)nut Butter Cookies (w/ only 4 ingredients!)…")
.jpg "Mouthwatering Pea(no)nut Butter Cookies (w/ only 4 ingredients!)…")
.jpg "Mouthwatering Pea(no)nut Butter Cookies (w/ only 4 ingredients!)…")
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Ann - Excited for you! Just after I read your post, received an Amazon text. Book has shipped and will arrive on Monday!
landriav - Thanks so much Ann!! 🙂