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Flourless Chocolate Walnut Cookies

December 3, 2019/0 Comments/in Boosting Energy, Boosting Immune System, Brain Functions, Digestive Health, Elevated Mood, Food Categories, Managing Illnesses, Managing Stress, Reduced Aches & Pains, Reduced Inflammation, Weight Management, Youthful Appearance cookies, dessert, chocolate grain free, gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian /by Stacey Isaacs

These Flourless Chocolate Walnut Cookies are so delicious… nobody will guess that they are grain-free and dairy-free!

I was never one of those people who had real true chocolate cravings. Honestly, I never understood it when people said they needed chocolate and they needed it fast. And then, last week, I had a chocolate craving… hmm. It wasn’t all-encompassing, but it was a definite strong desire for something chocolate. And nothing else would do. So, I looked through my recipes. What could I make that I had all of the ingredients on hand for? What could I make that was simple. I didn’t want to mess around with cake pans and pie tins.

I have a few cookies recipes on this site that I know will come out great every time I make them. My Flourless Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies are my usual go-tos when I’m in a cookie mood. And I know my Grain-Free Oatmeal Raisin Cookies are awesome too. And then there’s my Grain-Free Peanut Butter Cookies… yum.

But nothing was chocolatey enough.

So, these Flourless Chocolate Walnut Cookies were born. Out of a chocolate need.

You should know, baking does not come naturally to me. It’s not like I have it in my skillset to just start creating a cookie recipe. I am not equipped with enough baking knowledge to know the ratios of flours to sugars to everything else. So, I started perusing my favorite food blogs to get some ideas. I want to give thanks to Arman at The Big Mans World — I worked off of his ratios in his awesome recipe for Paleo Vegan Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies.

Maybe one day I’ll be able to experiment with cookie baking independently, but for now I’ll save the complete and total experimenting to my cooking and I’ll look to the experts for the baking… it certainly worked out well here in this recipe for Flourless Chocolate Walnut Cookies.

I learned long ago that my digestion runs so much better without any grains at all. If you think you are one of these people, I urge you to remove grains from your diet and see how you feel. Digestion is my baby — it’s what got me into this work. I wrote an ebook on it… you can download it below for free now.

Download my free ebook: Healthy Digestion Food Plan.

Here are some of the amazing healing ingredients in this recipe for Flourless Chocolate Walnut Cookies:

I used almond flour in this recipe. In Chinese medicine, nuts are known to be good for your brain, heart, skin and reproductive system. Almonds are particularly nutritious. They are a good source of protein and they give you energy. And, they are gluten free and make the best grain free flour! Almonds will help relieve a cough and asthma and are also good for constipation.

Raw cacao is a superfood. It is packed with magnesium, iron, zinc and other minerals. Not only is it packed with health benefits, but it actually has properties that help the body absorb nutrients better and it’s filled with antioxidants. Cacao can actually be translated as “food of the gods”… Raw cacao can help lower blood pressure, promote healthy heart function, improve digestion, and may even help increase the libido.

Sesame seeds have many great nutritional benefits. This recipe calls for tahini (sesame paste). These seeds are an anti-aging food. If you have backaches, hair thats graying way too fast, ringing in the ears, weak knees, blurry vision or general weakness, go for the sesame seeds; just sprinkle them on everything. Long ago in China, sesame seeds were ground into honey to form a paste and was taken as a medicine to counter old-age and weakness. Black sesame seeds are a Chinese herb (Hei Zhi Ma). Black foods, in Chinese medicine, are knows as longevity foods. This recipe uses tahini, which is a paste made from sesame seeds and oil (I buy this ready-made in a can or a jar).

Peanuts, contrary to what some believe, are actually good for many things in your body. I don’t often let myself eat them because they sometimes contain mold and it’s really hard to find reasonably priced organic healthy peanuts. But, these popular nuts are great for lessening edema; they act like a diuretic. They can also help you if you have insomnia or if you are breast feeding. An old-time remedy is to made peanut tea and drink it for bed to promote sleep. And, peanut shells used to be used to help with high blood pressure.

In Chinese medicine, we use coconut to strengthen the body, reduce swelling, and stop bleeding. Coconut kills viruses, bacteria, and parasites. It’s good for all types of infections and viruses in the body, including the flu, bronchitis, tapeworms, urinary tract infections, and herpes. And perhaps most importantly, it helps you keep your mind sharp and it makes it easier for you to focus. These cookies contain coconut flour, coconut oil, and coconut sugar.

Paleo Chocolate Walnut Cookies

Recipe type: cookies, dessert, chocolate

Cuisine: grain free, gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian

Author: Stacey@Kitchen Of Youth

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 15 mins

Total time: 25 mins

Serves: 13

These Flourless Chocolate Walnut Cookies are the perfect grain-free dessert. They are delicious and they are good for you.

Ingredients

1 cup almond flour
¼ cup coconut flour
½ cup coconut sugar
2 Tbsraw cacao powder
1 tsp baking soda
¼ cuptahini
¼ cup peanut butter
¼ cup coconut oil, melted
1 egg
5 Tbs non-dairy milk (I used oat milk, but be aware that oats are a grain so if you want to keep these cookies completely grain-free, use almond milk, or hemp milk.)
¼ cup roughly chopped walnuts
½ cup plus 2 Tbs dark chocolate chips

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, combine the almond flour, coconut flour, coconut sugar, cacao powder, and baking soda and whisk until well mixed.
In a small bowl, stir together the tahini, peanut butter (I melted mine a bit in the microwave to make it easier), coconut oil, egg, and oat milk.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
Fold in the nuts and chocolate chips.
Form the dough into golf-ball-size balls (I got 13 balls out of mine) and arrange them on the lined baking sheet, leaving as much space between them as possible. Gently press down to form cookies -- I used my fingers, but you can use the bottom of a glass or a fork.
Bake 15 mins or until the edges are starting to crisp up a bit. Remove the pan to a rack to cool for a bit. Then, when the cookies are mostly cooked, use a spatula to place the individual cookies on the rack to cool. Eat some now and store the rest in a container in the fridge for later. Enjoy!

5 Grain Free Flours You Will Love

August 2, 2018/0 Comments/in Blog Post /by Stacey Isaacs

Living a grain free life means reducing your inflammation and feeling better. Simple concept. Not so simple to do, unless you know about the 5 grain free flours you will love… they make for some awesome desserts!

I am of the belief that there is no reason for anyone to eat a lot of grains. Certainly, there is no reason to ever eat unhealthy, unsprouted flours and grains. Okay, I realize that maybe I’m going a little overboard here…

But, when you know that all grains (not just gluten) can create inflammation in your body, and that inflammation causes digestive problems, aches and pains, illness, and weight gain… the drama is appropriate!

With all of the awesome grain substitutes and grain free flours available today, why would you infuse your body — your temple — with food that’s likely to make you sick. Come on, you deserve better than that!

And, just so you know, I am not a proponent of feeling deprived. Nope. That’s why I research and test so many faux products and substitutes for things that I know our bodies don’t need and shouldn’t have. In this post, I want to share with you my list of 5 grain free flours you will love.

These flours can be made into breads, bagels, pastas, and desserts.

Scroll down for some awesome recipes.

Even if you don’t love your kitchen, you can reap the rewards of these grain free flours because there are great pastas, bagels, breads, and desserts — right there in your market — that make use of the 5 grain free flours you will love.

And, your body will love you for it.

Oh, and so will your mood.

And your skin.

And you will find it easier to manage your weight.

So, let’s get to it.

Download your free copy of my Radiant Skin Ebook now!

How Do I Know That A Grain Free Life Is A Healthy Life?

I had horrible digestive issues for the first 30 years of my life. Yes, 30 years! It wasn’t until I was introduced to the world of alternative medicine, that I was able to get my life and my health back under control. I used to have to know where every bathroom was at all times. I was on a ton of medication. I had zero energy and I didn’t sleep. Ugh… wow, do I sound like a big mess…

Well, I was. But all of that led me to where I am now. And I am forever grateful for where I am now!

One of the biggest things that helped me was going grain free. I cannot stress enough how much this helped my digestive issues. My health improved so much. Then, I started removing other offenders from my diet and I added in superfoods, etc.

I want to help you feel as good as I do. I remember so clearly what my life was like before I had this information.

My passion is helping you heal yourself with food and herbs. It’s truly my calling. When I was studying for my Masters Degree in Oriental Medicine, I knew that all of these amazing tenets of Eastern Medicine could be applied to food and used as everyday healing agents for so many people. I knew that if I combined what I was learning about the properties of food, herbs, supplements with what I already knew from my chef’s training, it would be life-changing.

And it is. My training in both Eastern and Western medicine, combined with my obsession with food and cooking, has given me a unique skillset that has helped so many people. And I want to help you. Nothing aggravates me more than knowing that these tools exist but that so many of you have not been taught them.

Everyone should know how to heal themselves with food, supplements, and herbs. This should not be a secret.

If you eat the right foods and take the right supplements for your unique body and circumstances, you can heal yourself. All you need is the correct information. And I’m here to give it to you.

If you eat the right foods and herbs for your unique body and circumstances, you can heal yourself. All you need is the correct information. And I’m here to give it to you. So, read on and learn more ways you can easily start to heal yourself with nuts. And, if you want to learn more about healing whatever your specific concerns are, I’d love to help you create a healthy lifestyle plan specifically for your unique needs, so sign up for a free phone consultation and we can chat about it.

Here Are 5 Grain Free Flours You Will Love

1. Tapioca/Cassava Flour

Tapioca is a starch that comes from the cassava plant. It’s not really a flour in the traditional sense; it’s grain and gluten free. It’s good for your circulation and your digestion. Oftentimes I will make recipes with tapioca flour — it seems to crisp things up well and it works as a great thickener too.

I use tapioca flour in desserts.

I use it as a coating for chicken fingers and fish fillets, and eggplant.

It’s a great thickener for sauces and stews too.

2. Almond Flour

In Chinese medicine, nuts are known to be good for your brain, heart, skin and reproductive system. Almonds are particularly nutritious. They are a good source of protein and they give you energy. And, they are gluten free and make the best grain free flour! Almonds will help relieve a cough and asthma and are also good for constipation.

I use almond flour in desserts.

I use it to make eggplant parmesan — and it’s awesome…

It’s even included in my favorite slow cooker enchiladas recipe.

3. Buckwheat Flour

Buckwheat is great to eat if you have diarrhea. It also helps lower blood pressure, stops some types of sweating, and has a good amount of vitamin E. It also contains antioxidants that can help fight cancer and heart disease. Buckwheat is a seed, not a grain, so no inflammation here!

And, what’s better than buckwheat pancakes for breakfast?

4. Coconut Flour

Coconut strengthens the body, reduces swelling, and stops bleeding. It kills viruses, bacteria, and parasites. It’s good for all types of infections and viruses in the body, including the flu, bronchitis, tapeworms, urinary tract infections, and herpes.

I use coconut flour for desserts, like this deliciously light and sweet Paleo Lemon Cake.

5. Chickpea/Garbanzo Flour

Chickpeas actually help calm the spirit. They relieve anxiety and soothe irritability… it kind of makes you realize why hummus is so popular…

I use Garbanzo flour to coat fish and chicken and vegetables. I also love chickpea crumbs. These grain free crumbs replace regular breadcrumbs deliciously in so many recipes.

Try these Green Bean Fries… yum!

And, if you haven’t tried chickpea pasta yet, you MUST!

Try my recipe for Chickpea Penne With Arugula Pesto.

Grain Free Flours Really Do Make Foods Delicious

If you make these awesome grain free recipes, please be sure to let me know in the comments below. I love hearing how you like a recipe, and I love to answer your questions! If you make it, be sure to take a photo and tag me and post it on Instagram.

Paleo Blueberry Cobbler

This Paleo Blueberry Cobbler is one of my most popular recipes, and it’s made with only grain free flours. Make it and you’ll see why it’s a winner.

Spicy Crispy Chicken

This Spicy Crispy Chicken gets it’s crispiness from grain free flours!

Paleo Beefaroni

Remember beefaroni from a can? Well, this Paleo Beefaroni is soooo much better and I use chickpea penne!

Paleo Lemon Cookies

February 10, 2017/0 Comments/in Boosting Energy, Boosting Immune System, Brain Functions, Digestive Health, Managing Stress, Reduced Inflammation, Youthful Appearance dessert, cookies, paleo recipe adapted from: [url href="http://www.texanerin.com/paleo-lemon-cookies/" target="_blank"]Texanerin Baking[/url] /by Stacey Isaacs

Lemon peels help detoxify your body and boost your immune system!

These cookies are what I call a “pantry dessert”. That means that I can whip it up without having to go to the store for anything. These paleo lemon cookies are made with a bunch of ingredients found in many healthy pantries and with some fresh lemons.

Everyone who knows me knows that desserts are not my forte. I oftentimes get an A for effort, but a C for taste. I was the mom who used to burn the chocolate chip cookies that you just had to slice and bake. I attribute this lack of baking ability to the fact that I like to taste as I go and I hate to measure. My daughter is constantly slapping her hand to her forehead in frustration when she watches me bake — she’s a great baker and understands the value of the science behind it.

So, believe me when I tell you, that these paleo lemon cookies are easy. I made them and they came out great the first time. I took the original impressive recipe from a great blog, Texanerin Baking and it’s a winner — even with my not-so-standard adjustments.

These cookies taste like deliciously sweet sugar cookies with a hint of lemon. The first night, we ate a bunch of them because they were so good. The second day, the taste was the same, but the texture changed to be like moist soft macarons. The taste was still just as amazing, but we crumbled them on top of smoothie bowls and yogurt parfaits. I highly recommend that you try this too!

For another great simple cookie, try my Paleo Peanut Butter Cookies.

Here are some of the healing ingredients in these paleo lemon cookies:

Lemon peels contain calcium, potassium and vitamin C. Lemons are good for your stomach, they help detoxify your body, they balance your pH and they act as an antibacterial. If you have a sore throat or a cough, go for lemons to make things better. Lemons are great for quenching your thirst, and, in China, many years ago, hypertension was treated by drinking tea made from lemon peels. This recipe uses zested lemon peel and lemon juice.

Hemp seeds are a superfood. They are high in protein, easily digestible, and contain a full complement of amino acids. They contain disease-fighting phytonutrients that are good for your blood, immune system, tissues and skin. Hemp contains a specific fatty acid that acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory. It also helps balance hormones, making it a great choice to fight the symptoms of PMS. This super seed is also good for your liver and your brain.

Pure maple syrup contains antioxidants that help reduce inflammation in the body (think inflammatory bowel syndrome or heart disease). It also contains zinc, calcium, and magnesium. It’s much lower on the glycemic scale than traditional sugar. Whenever possible, use a darker (grade B) syrup because the nutritional composition is better than that of lighter syrups.

In eastern medicine, we use coconut to strengthen the body, reduce swelling, and stop bleeding. Coconut kills viruses, bacteria, and parasites. It’s good for all types of infections and viruses in the body, including the flu, bronchitis, tapeworms, urinary tract infections, and herpes. And perhaps most importantly, it helps you keep your mind sharp and it makes it easier for you to focus. These cookies contain coconut oil and coconut flour.

In eastern medicine, nuts are known to be good for your brain, heart, skin and reproductive system. Almonds are particularly nutritious. They are a good source of protein and they give you energy. And, they are gluten-free. Almonds will help relieve a cough and asthma and are also good for constipation. This recipe uses almond flour.

Paleo Lemon Cookies

Recipe type: dessert, cookies, paleo

Cuisine: recipe adapted from: Texanerin Baking

Author: Stacey @There's A Cook In My Kitchen

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 23 mins

Total time: 33 mins

Serves: 13

These cookies taste like deliciously sweet sugar cookies with a hint of lemon. They are completely grain-free and dairy-free and contain healing ingredients!

Ingredients

¼ cup coconut oil (I used this great coconut oil)
⅓ cup pure maple syrup (here's an organic jug)
zest of one large lemon
juice of ½ of a large lemon
2 Tbs coconut flour (here's a great one)
1-1/3 cups almond flour (I like this one)
½ tsp baking soda
⅛ tsp salt
3 Tbs hemp seeds (optional) (this is the bag I keep in my fridge)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F.
In a large bowl, whisk the coconut oil, maple syrup, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
In another bowl, combine the coconut flour, almond flour, baking soda, salt, and hemp seeds.
Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.
Roll the dough into golf-ball size balls and place them on a parchment-lined baking tray, spacing them at least a few inches apart.
Press down on the cookies with a fork or your hand. (I used a fork, but found it much easier when the fork was wet.)
I got 13 cookies out of my dough, but whatever you get, is fine.
Bake until the cookies are slightly brown on the edges and a bit on the tops too; mine took 23 minutes, but the original recipe says to check them after 12 minutes...
Remove from oven and let cool completely before removing them from the tray.
I stored my leftovers in a sealed container and they were awesome the next day, just a lot softer. (I highly recommend crumbling them up the next day and topping your yogurt or smoothie bowl with the crumbles...yum!)
Enjoy!

Paleo Blueberry Cobbler

July 27, 2016/10 Comments/in Boosting Energy, Brain Functions, Digestive Health, Managing Stress dessert, paleo American, fruit /by Stacey Isaacs

This paleo blueberry cobbler is an incredibly delicious dessert!

You know when you go to the market looking for organic berries and you have to to a double-take when you see the price? Sometimes I can’t believe what I’m seeing… it’s like I’m being punked or something. But, finally, it’s that time of the year when the price of berries drops down to a reasonable level. Last week, there were blueberries everywhere! And when I checked the price, not only were these gorgeous blueberries affordable, but they were packaged in huge containers. So, I bought 2 containers. I didn’t need to, but I did. Did I tell you these containers were HUGE…

I’m sure it’s happened to you: you get home from the market, and you’re all kinds of smug because you got some great deals, and then you look at what you bought and you have no idea how you are going to use it all up…

Sooooooo, I put some of these gorgeous blueberries in the freezer. And I ate a lot of them right out of the container. And I made coconut yogurt parfaits. And a smoothie bowl. And then, I made this paleo blueberry cobbler. It’s just awesome. I made more than we could eat, so we ate half, and I froze the other half. Yesterday, I defrosted the frozen cobbler and when I ate it today, it’s just as awesome. And surprisingly, it tastes just as good cold as it did warm.

I’m on a big customized-recipe-creation kick right now (okay… always…), so let me customize a recipe for you that will work for whatever’s going on in your body now… I’m such a geek that I really do get excited about doing this. I’ve got a dessert recipe with your name on it… So CLICK HEREto be taken directly into my calendar to sign up for your free phone consultation.

Here’s my recipe for Berry Fig Yogurt Parfait, that you can make with your extra berries.

This cobbler is so good for you:

Blueberries are filled with antioxidants and have been shown to help fight cancer, diabetes, heart attacks and strokes. In some circles, they are known as “longevity berries.”

Coconut strengthens the body, reduces swelling, and stops bleeding. It kills viruses, bacteria, and parasites. It’s good for all types of infections and viruses in the body, including the flu, bronchitis, tapeworms, urinary tract infections, and herpes. There’s coconut flour, coconut oil, and coconut sugar in this recipe.

Cashews are really a multi-tasking nut. I use them all the time so I say it all the time: Cashews have a lower fat content than most other nuts. Most of the fat in cashews is unsaturated and is made up of oleic acid; this is the same acid that is found in olive oil, making these nuts a heart-healty choice. I used cashew milk in this cobbler, but you can substitute whatever non-dairy milk you like.

Tapioca is a starch that comes from the cassava plant. It’s not really a flour in the traditional sense; it’s grain and gluten free. It’s good for your circulation and your digestion. Oftentimes I will make recipes (like this one) with tapioca flour — it crisps things up well and it works as a great thickener too.

If you make this Paleo Blueberry Cobbler recipe, please be sure to let me know in the comments below. I love hearing how you like a recipe, and I love to answer your questions! If you make it, be sure to take a photo and tag me and post it on Instagram.

Paleo Blueberry Cobbler

5.0 from 1 reviews

Recipe type: dessert, paleo

Cuisine: American, fruit

Author: Stacey @There's A Cook In My Kitchen

Prep time: 5 mins

Cook time: 65 mins

Total time: 1 hour 10 mins

Serves: 6

This paleo blueberry cobbler is so refreshing. It also freezes well... and the ingredients are so healing... this one's a keeper... it's summer on a plate!

Ingredients

3 Tbs coconut oil
1 cup coconut flour
1-1/2 cups cashew milk (substitute almond milk or another non-dairy milk if you prefer)
⅓ cup coconut sugar, plus extra for sprinkling on the top
½ tsp baking soda
¼ cup hemp seeds
1-1/4 cups tapioca flour
juice of ½ a lemon
¼ tsp pure vanilla extract
¼ tsp sea salt
2-1/4 cups fresh blueberries

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F.
Put the coconut oil in a baking pan (mine was 9x9-in.), and put the pan in the oven to melt the oil while the oven is heating.
In a large bowl, combine the coconut flour, cashew milk, coconut sugar, baking soda, hemp seeds, tapioca flour, lemon juice, vanilla, and salt. Stir until combined.
Spread this batter into the baking dish with the melted coconut oil.
Pour the blueberries over the batter and press them into the batter.
Sprinkle the top with coconut sugar.
Bake until golden and a bit crisp. (Mine took 1 hour and 5 minutes.)
Remove from oven and let the pan cool a bit on a rack.
Enjoy!

Grain-Free Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

January 29, 2016/4 Comments/in Boosting Energy, Boosting Immune System, Digestive Health, Managing Illnesses, Reduced Aches & Pains dessert, grain-free, paleo Recipe adapted from: Against All Grain /by Stacey Isaacs

You’ll swear there’s oatmeal in these grain-free oatmeal raisin cookies, but nope… totally grain-free!

These grain-free oatmeal raisin cookies are magical. I say that because there is no way you can tell that they are grain-free. You can’t tell by the texture — they have the exact texture of traditional oatmeal cookies. You can’t tell by the taste –nthey taste better than most oatmeal raisin cookies!

Full disclosure: I am not the magician here. The original recipe is from Danielle Walker’s Against All Grain, cookbook, so kudos to Danielle! I took some liberties with the recipe when I made it (because I am pretty sure I am incapable of not changing a recipe…), and I (not being the best baker in the world) was so impressed with the end result that I ended up making a ton of these cookies and putting bags of them in my freezer! Another disclosure: they are so good that sometimes we eat them frozen instead of waiting for them to defrost…

A few weeks ago I had some old friends over for dinner. It was the first dinner party I had in our new apartment. But more importantly, the women who were coming are amazing women who I re-connected with after many years and I really wanted the serve special food. I knew some of my guests would bring dessert (at least those that were not bringing wine) so I just wanted to have something here that was healthy to nibble on so I wouldn’t go crazy eating all of the decadent desserts I expected would be on the table. Well, my friends did not disappoint. Yes, we had lots and lots of wine. But, between the Italian pastries and the cheesecake and the prettiest boxes of cookies I ever saw, I set a basket of these grain-free oatmeal raisin cookies. And, they were able to withstand the competition! They really are that good!

If you like chocolate chip cookies, but don’t want the grains, try my Flourless Chocolate Walnut Cookie recipe.

Here are some of the reasons these cookies are awesome for you:

In Asian medicine, nuts are known to be good for your brain, heart, skin and reproductive system. Almonds are particularly nutritious. They are a good source of protein and they give you energy. And, they are gluten-free. Almonds will help relieve a cough and asthma and are also good for constipation. Even if you are not on a dairy-free diet, almond milk is the way to go. This recipe uses almond meal instead of a grain-based flour.

Coconut strengthens the body, reduces swelling, and stops bleeding. It kills viruses, bacteria, and parasites. It’s good for all types of infections and viruses in the body, including the flu, bronchitis, tapeworms, urinary tract infections, and herpes. It’s the coconut flakes that mimic the texture of oatmeal in these cookies, and there is also some coconut flour included.

Raisins help relieve constipation, can help bring down a fever, and can be good for you if you have anemia. Research has also shown them to be effective in helping to ward of cancer because they increase antioxidant levels in your body.

Cinnamon is one of the best herbs to warm the body. It’s great if you have a cold. If you are nauseous or have diarrhea, go for the cinnamon. It also gives you energy and helps with menstrual pain. Cinnamon is used in different forms in Chinese medicine: “gui zhi” is the cinnamon twig and “rou gui” is the cinnamon bark. Both are warming and are used for a variety of ailments. In the winter I add cinnamon to all sorts of foods. It helps with the common cold, swelling, various menstrual issues and some aches and pains. Be careful with it if you have a fever because it is so warming.

Goji berries are a Chinese herb (Gou Qi Zi). They are great for your blood. I prescribe them to some people with chronic pain in the legs and lower back. They are also good for men experiencing impotence and can be used to treat some eye problems. Women who are pregnant and people with intestinal issues should be careful not to eat too many gojis, but the amount in these cookies shoud be fine for anyone.

Honey is an amazing food. It is also a Chinese herb (Feng Mi). Raw honey is honey in its purest form; it has not been filtered, strained or heated above 115 degrees. This means when you eat it, the enzymes, anti-oxidants and nutrients haven’t been disturbed. I use raw honey in my tea, smoothies and in any recipe that calls for honey. Raw honey is solid and may need to be melted before you use it, but this is easy and only takes a minute or two. Honey helps with constipation, some coughs, and some stomach ulcers.

Grain-Free Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Recipe type: dessert, grain-free, paleo

Cuisine: Recipe adapted from: Against All Grain

Author: Stacey @There's A Cook In My Kitchen

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 26 mins

Total time: 36 mins

Serves: 2 dozen

These are oatmeal cookies with no oatmeal... but no one will ever know!

Ingredients

½ cup palm shortening (you can buy it here)
2 large eggs
⅔ cup raw honey (I have this one)
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 Tbs cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
2 cups almond flour (here's one)
¼ cup coconut flour (try this kind)
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp sea salt
1 Tbs flaxseed meal (I like this one)
1-1/2 cups shredded, unsweetened coconut (I use this one)
1 cup raisins
¼ cup goji berries (these were not in the original recipe, so don't feel obligated... but they are good!) (here's a bag)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F.
In a mixer bowl, place the shortening and egg and mix until well combined.
Add the honey and vanilla and mix until creamy.
In a separate small bowl, combine the cinnamon, nutmeg, almond meal, coconut flour, baking soda, salt, and flax meal.
Add these dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix for about one minute, scraping down the sides as necessary.
Add the coconut, raisins, and goji berries and mix again until combined, about one minute.
Using a tablespoon, place balls of dough onto 2 parchment-lined baking sheets. You should end up with about 2 dozen balls.
Wet your palm and gently flatten each ball. I like my cookies kind of thick, so I didn't flatten mine too much.
Bake for 6 minutes, then swap the tray positions so they will evenly cook. Then cook for 4 minutes and then swap again and cook for another 4 minutes. Then repeat for 3 minutes in each position.
*This is how long my cookies took to bake; be aware and check the cookies often -- if they are thinner than mine were (see how thick mine are in the photos), they will cook faster. The original recipe calls for 12 minutes total cooking time.