Make way for Spring

Since Springtime has arrived, I found myself looking for ways to use up the jams I no longer needed, now that I could get fresh fruit at the markets. I decided to swirl some delicious, leftover Mulberry jam into a simple cake recipe.

Mulberry Cake:

2 C almond meal
4 eggs
1/4 C coconut sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 C unsweetened, all-natural apple sauce
1/2 C maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
6 ounces of your favorite jam (I used a jar of Mulberry jam)

In a food processor, pulse the almond meal, coconut sugar, and baking soda. Once the dry ingredients are well combined, pulse in the eggs, applesauce, maple syrup and vanilla extract. After these are well combined, pour the batter into a greased tart dish. Take a spoon and swirl the jam into the batter until you get the desired look. Bake at 350 for 30-45 minutes (until a toothpick comes out smooth) - Enjoy!

Vintage Trunk

After years of hunting for the perfect vintage steamer trunk, without spending $25,000 on an Louis Vuitton one. I found this amazing piece that has warmed up my bedroom, while serving as a great storage space - oh how I love when items in my home serve double duty.

Mellow Yellow

In honor of the start of Spring, I went out and bought some yellow jeans. It was somewhat of an impulse buy, but they are quite the mood booster. Paired with this fun purple sweater, I am ready for spring!

Purple sweater, yellow jeans (Paige), silver flats (JCrew)

Purple sweater, yellow jeans (Paige), silver flats (JCrew)

Purple sweater, yellow jeans (Paige), silver flats (JCrew)

Key lime bright

I decided to welcome the warmer weather and signs of spring with some creamy key lime pie...with none of the cream.

 Recipe:

Crust -
1 C pitted dates
1 1/4 C raw almonds
1/2 walnuts
1 C shredded coconut
2 eggs

In a food processor, blend dates, almonds, walnuts and coconut. Once all the ingredients are blended, slowly pulse in the eggs until it creates a sticky dough. In a greased pie dish, push the dough evenly until it covers the pie dish. Bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes until the crust is cooked through and crispy.













Filling-
zest of 3 limes
juice of 3 limes (about 1/2 C of lime juice)
3 tablespoons maple syrup
2 tbsps coconut flour
3 eggs
1 C coconut milk

In a large bowl, whisk the coconut milk, lime zest, lime juice, eggs and maple syrup. Sift the coconut flour and then slowly whisk in the coconut flour until its well combined. Pour the filling into the baked pie crust and put the entire pie back into the oven at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Put in the fridge over night and then enjoy!

Cinnamon Swirl

While brainstorming which baked goods I should make this week, I came across many recipes for cinnamon swirl bread. While trying to making bread dough seemed a little daunting, I thought the idea might make a delicious muffin. So with a little of this and a little of that, I made some pretty delectable muffins that I can't wait to share with friends.

Recipe:
2 C almond meal
4 eggs
1/4 C coconut sugar
1 tsp baking soda
4 tbsp cinnamon
1 C unsweetened, all natural apple sauce
1/2 C maple syrup

In a small dish mix the cinnamon and 4 tablespoons of the coconut sugar. Keep this to the side while you mix the other ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a food processor, add the almond meal, baking soda, remaining coconut sugar (that you didn't put to the side with the cinnamon). Pulse the dry ingredients until they are well combined. Then, add in the eggs, apple sauce and maple syrup. Pulse until the mixture is smooth. Add in almost all of the cinnamon and coconut sugar mixture and with a spoon swirl the cinnamon into the batter, but don't fully combine. Spoon the mixture into your muffin tin and then sprinkle the remaining cinnamon sugar over the muffins. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Enjoy!

Boyish Charm

Most days I feel sexiest in a unique mens button down, leggings and boots. Sometimes I'll even grab one of my boyfriend's watches to complete the look. This is one of my go to comfort outfits that I can run errands in and still feel sexy.

men's button down (Barney's CO-OP),  watch (Brooklyn Watches),  leggings (Zara), Boots (Yves Saint Laurent)

men's button down (Barney's CO-OP),  watch (Brooklyn Watches),  leggings (Zara), Boots (Yves Saint Laurent)

men's button down (Barney's CO-OP),  watch (Brooklyn Watches)

leggings (Zara), Boots (Yves Saint Laurent)

Guilt-free Chocolate Muffins

Tonight I found myself in the mood for something chocolaty. So, with just a few ingredients from my fridge and pantry, I started up my food processor, warmed my oven and the result was quite delicious.

Recipe:

4 eggs
1 C almond meal
1/2 C + 2 tbsps unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 C coconut sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 C unsweetened, all natural apple sauce
1/2 C maple syrup

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a food processor, pulse the almond flour, cocoa powder, coconut sugar, baking soda,  and cinnamon until smooth. Then, add in the vanilla extract, eggs, apple sauce and maple syrup until everything is well combined. Pour into the muffin tin and then bake for 25-30 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool and enjoy!

This little baking adventure really boosted my night and I hope it boosts yours too! I would have taken more pictures...but to be honest, they've all been eaten.

All weather wear

The past few days have been pretty cold and rainy here and it got me digging through my closet for some sunshine under my raincoat and boots.

rain coat (Banana Republic), jeans (J Brand), rainboots (Hunter)

rain coat (Banana Republic), jeans (J Brand), rainboots (Hunter)
 

rain coat (Banana Republic), jeans (J Brand), rainboots (Hunter), sweater (Jeanne Pierre)

rain coat (Banana Republic), jeans (J Brand), sweater (Jeanne Pierre)

rain coat (Banana Republic), jeans (J Brand), rainboots (Hunter), sweater (Jeanne Pierre)

rain coat (Banana Republic), jeans (J Brand), rainboots (Hunter), sweater (Jeanne Pierre)

Sunday Biscuits

As a child from the south, I love biscuits. I remember as a kid, loving the smell buttermilk biscuits, as my mom baked them. After I stopped eating flour, I found making dough extremely difficult because the flour substitutes I used either made the dough too dry and the dough would break apart, or the dough would be too wet and never come together. Below is a success story that I was happy to have mastered just in time to enjoy on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Good crust on the outside and moist, crumbly biscuit inside.


Recipe:

2 C almond meal
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 C all natural butter (at room temperature)
pinch of sea salt
2 eggs

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a food processor pulse the almond meal, baking soda and sea salt until evenly blended. Add in the 1/4 C of all natural butter cut into small pieces and the eggs. Pulse the mixture slowly until the dough comes together. Roll out the dough and cut out biscuits. When you are handling the dough you need to work quickly because you don't want the butter to melt. Pop onto a cookie sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes. In no time, your kitchen will begin to smell like a holiday morning.