Paleo Coconut Flour Bread Recipe

I made this paleo coconut flour bread the other day and I can't stop eating it. I put a little bit of butter or coconut oil on top after heating it up in the microwave -- so good! The original recipe called for 2 tablespoons of raw honey but I omitted it from my recipe. I didn't miss it one bit, but if you've got a bit of a sweet tooth, you can add that back in to yours.

What you'll need:
3/4 cup     coconut flour
1 tsp     baking powder
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 cup     coconut oil, softened
1 Tbsp     cinnamon
1 tsp     vanilla extract
2 Tbsp     raw apple cider vinegar
6 large eggs, separated

What to do:
1. Preheat oven to 350 F and grease a standard loaf pan. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper.
2. Mix together coconut flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon in a large bowl.
3. Add in softened coconut oil and stir till well blended and smooth.
4. Separate the eggs, beat egg whites till stiff and set aside. Add egg yolks, vanilla and apple cider vinegar to the coconut flour mixture.
5. Quickly fold in egg whites to the mixture.
6. Pour the batter into the greased loaf pan.
7. Bake for about 40 minutes.

I hope you enjoy this recipe! Let us know in the comments if you tried it out!

Easy and Healthy Salmon Burger Recipe

My mom recently told me about these salmon burgers she made and I couldn't get them off of my mind. I called her last night for the recipe and I'm so glad that I did -- they were phenomenal! I knew I had to share it with all of you on the blog today. Not only are these salmon burgers delicious, they are extremely healthy and packed with protein. 

What you'll need:

1 can wild Alaskan pink salmon (I purchased mine at Trader Joe's)

1 tablespoon coconut flour 

2 eggs

1 tablespoon coconut oil

What to do:

1. Open your can of salmon and drain all of the liquid out.

2. Using a fork, flake the salmon into small pieces making sure there are not any bones and put the contents in a medium sized bowl. 

3. Add the eggs and coconut flour and stir until contents are fully mixed 

4. Heat your tablespoon of coconut oil in a medium sized frying pan until it's fully melted. 

5. Form medium sized patties with your hands and place them in the heated pan. Make sure to lightly press down on them with a spatula so they brown evenly.

5. After 4-5 minutes, flip your burgers and cook for an additional 4-5 minutes, until golden brown. 

6. Enjoy! 

We enjoyed ours with some grilled zucchini - it was fantastic! 

Have you made salmon burgers before? What is your favorite thing to make in the summer?

Beauty: My Secret Beauty Weapon That I Found in My Kitchen

 

 

 

Yes, you read the title correctly, my biggest beauty secret was found in my kitchen. What is it you ask? Coconut oil! I know I've raved about the stuff before, but I'm telling you this stuff is liquid gold.

As you know, I have used it as a hair mask and have gotten amazing results. My favorite way to use it is as a moisturizer. For my body and FACE! Yes, I put oil on my face. Call me crazy, but I promise it won't make you break out. In fact, since using it on my face my skin has never been clearer. It has helped shrink the size of my pores and I've seen a decrease in the amount of blackheads on my nose and chin. It really helps moisturize my dry skin without leaving an oily mess.

 

I massage it into my skin before bed and love how silky smooth my skin is in the morning when I wake up. Another bonus is it smells amazing. Who wouldn't love smelling like a tropical vacation?

 

I told you, this stuff is awesome. Here are just a few more beauty uses of this magic in a jar:

1. As a natural makeup remover

2. Use it to clear up rashes and razor burn

3. It helps speed up recovery of scars (I've tested this theory on a burn I got from the stove and it worked wonders!)

4. Have super dry lips? Lather some of this stuff on and you'll be amazed how smooth your lips will feel.

5. Natural deodorant. I haven't tested this theory yet, but I've heard it's great as a deodorant too! Who would have known.

 

The possibilities are endless and there are a ton more ways to use this stuff! I can't rave about it enough. Run, don't walk to the store and pick yourself up a jar of this stuff. You won't be disappointed!

 

What are some ways you use coconut oil outside of the kitchen? You'll have to let us know if you give this a try for any of your beauty routines!

 

 

Nutrition: How to Pump up Your Oatmeal

I'm a huge believer that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. If I don't eat a huge protein packed meal in the morning I'm hungry within the hour. It keeps me moving and ready to tackle whatever challenges I have to face that day. 

I've recently been adding a ton of protein and healthy fats to my oatmeal and it's made a huge difference. I'm full for way longer and feel more energized and complete. There are so many flavor combinations you can try to keep it interesting. I have been sticking to my normal mixture lately, but it's fun to mix it up every once in a while. 

What you'll need:

1/2 cup oats (I used the gluten-free kind from Trader Joe's)

1/2 cup water 

1/2 cup milk of your choice (I used almond milk)

1 heaping tablespoon of peanut butter or any nut butter of your choice

1 teaspoon flax seeds 

1 teaspoon chia seeds 

1 scoop protein powder (I used vanilla egg white protein)

Any other mix ins you'd like such as bananas, nuts, berries, raisins, etc. 

What to do:

Combine the 1/2 cup oats, 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup milk in a microwave safe bowl and microwave on high for 2-2 1/2 minutes 

Stir mixture to combine and let sit for a minute 

Add your peanut butter, flax seeds, chia seeds, protein powder and any other fruits or nuts and stir to combine 

Enjoy!

This breakfast has been such a staple for me over these chilly winter months. I look forward to it every morning and love how great I feel after! 

Do you have any breakfast meals you love to eat that keep you full throughout the morning? Share in the comments below!

Nutrition: Natural Healthier Homemade PB Cups Recipe

If I could pick one thing that I could eat forever and never get sick of it would be peanut butter. Seriously I'm obsessed. I put it in my oatmeal every morning and even eat spoonfuls of it as a snack. I buy the natural kind at Trader Joe's so I don't feel THAT bad about my obsession -- it's a good source of healthy fats and protein.

I recently experimented making my own homemade healthier version of a PB cup and I nailed it. I can't eat added sugars so I omitted it from the ones that I made but it can easily be incorporated into this recipe to make it a little sweeter. If you love peanut butter you're going to love this treat. It's full of good fats and oils and is 100% natural. Can't beat that.

What you'll need (makes 1 large personal PB cup):

1-2 tablespoons peanut butter (or any nut butter of your choice) Since I love peanut butter so much I like my radio to be more PB and less coconut oil/coco powder but if you like them equally the same you can change the measurement ratios.

1 tablespoon coconut oil

1/2-1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder 

1 teaspoon sweetener of choice (I omitted this step) 

1 cupcake liner 

What to do:

1. Take your cupcake liner and put your peanut butter layer on the bottom. 

2. Melt the coconut oil in the microwave for 15-30 seconds until it liquifies 

3. Stir in the cocoa powder (and sweetener if you choose) and it will form a liquid chocolate sauce 

4. Poor on top of your PB base 

5. Freeze for a minimum of 2 hours 

6. Enjoy! 

Note: These will melt if kept outside of the freezer so if you make more than one or don't eat the entire thing remember to store the extras back in the freezer.

These couldn't be easier to make and only require a few simple ingredients. I have been eating these for the past few nights and it's safe to say I've found a new guilty pleasure. 

What do you think of this recipe? Do you have other natural healthy desserts you'd like to share?

Coconut Oil Hydrating Hair Mask

It's no surprise that the winter is so harsh on our hair. My skin and hair have been so dry this season! I love using coconut oil for so many things: baking, cooking and even as an amazing beauty product. I decided to give myself a coconut oil hair mask treatment the other night and my hair has been so soft, silky, hydrated and frizz free ever since. I'm in love. It's so inexpensive and easy -- you've got to try this out! 

What you'll need:

Depending on how long your hair is you'll need 2-3 heaping spoonfuls of coconut oil

Hair brush

Hair clip

Patience 

What to do:

1. Heat up your coconut oil in the microwave for 30-45 seconds until it turns into liquid

2. Using your hands or a brush coat your entire head with the coconut oil. I like to massage my scalp to get rid of dry flakes and to really moisturize my hair from root to tip. 

3. Use a hair clip or tie to keep your hair up off of your face and neck

4. The longer you can keep it in the better. The oil should be left in a minimum of 2 hours and ideally should be left in overnight. 

5. Shampoo your hair a few times to make sure all of the oil is out.

6. Style your hair as normal and enjoy your soft, shiny, beautiful hair! 

You'll have to let us know if you try this treatment! We know you're going to love it!