peanut butter smash cookies

These cookie are so so so so so simple!  Pretty amazing.  Just three ingredient, yes, three!  And they take just 10-12 minutes to bake.  Yesterday, I made these for a friend.  I chose them because 1.) they are simple and quick and 2.) since I’m transitioning to paleo, I am attempting to get rid of my huge jar of peanut butter.

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gingerbread brownie bars

Nothing says the holiday season to me, quite like some good ol’ baking.  Okay.  You got me.  I bake for every occasion, holiday, celebration, gift, etc.  Baking just makes me happy and those receiving my baked treats happy as well.  This bake session happened to be for my nutrition club’s holiday secret santa recipe exchange!  My secret santa recipient was gluten free, loved gingerbread and anything gooey and chocolatey-hence, the Gluten Free Gingerbread Brownie Bar.

skinny lemon cookies

I made these cookies a while back for my momma’s birthday.  She loves lemon and prefers a healthier treat if she has the option.  Since I love to bake and enjoy the challenge of making healthy goodies, I whipped up these Skinny Lemon Cookies.  They were so simple to make, tasty and easy to transport to my momma all the way in Texas.  Both my dad and mom raved about them!  Nothing makes me happier than a successful recipe!

cheat days don’t make you fat

Yes.  I see you glorious plate of homemade Mary’s Mountain Cookies… Yes.  You did overcome my will power tonight.  Yes.  I am talking to cookies.  So I had an off day today–a “cheat day” if you please.  I am human after all.  A human living in a society filled with yummy goodies and sweets that seem to be at the center of every social event.  Even if that event is a Saturday night at home with the roommates and a friend brings over famously good treats.  This cheat day of mine involved a bite of each type of treat (plus a brownie and cookie quarter), 2 processed protein bars, and milk chocolate (with almonds if that makes it better?)  My cheat day won’t make me “fat,” however unhealthy these items are.  I won’t wake up tomorrow with my 7 pounds of fat back on my body.  It will make me stronger, though.  

fruit cake swirl cookies

Say what you must about fruit cake.  To be honest, I have never actually eaten fruit cake, so I cannot be one to judge.  I just know that it has a bad reputation.  That is why when the time came for my nutrition club’s secret santa recipe exchange, I decided to challenge myself and turn the not-so-beloved holiday cake into a “semi-healthy” holiday cookie that could restore the good name of both “fruit” and “cake” around the holidays.

rum truffle macaróns

My favorite thing in the world to make?  French/Italian Macaróns.  I am definitely not talking about the coconut macaroons most Americans think of.  These delicate confections are made with a light almond flour (making them gluten-free), fluffy egg whites, and some kind of cream or filling between.  I first fell in love with this dessert when I went to France in 2009.  My first bite of a macarón was pure heaven–chocolatey, crisp, yet gooey on the inside, and filled with all different textures and flavors that just seemed to kiss my palette.  Every since then, I have been receiving macaróns for birthdays and holidays, but a a few years ago, I embarked on a journey to make these splendidly tricky desserts.

paleo snickerdoodles

So, I have been on a “cookie craze” recently.  For some reason, I have been craving cookies, and I am the type of person that believes in satisfying your cravings—in moderation of course.  I find that if I do not allow myself what I really crave, like cookies or a cupcake every now and then, then I will eat a whole bunch more trying to fulfill my craving, only to give in to it later after all of the other food I stuffed into my mouth.  The gluten-free dark chocolate chip cookies shown above are the result of my friday night cookie craving.  Once I have perfected the recipe, I will definitely post it! The cooking craze did not stop there though.  Over the weekend, I made Paleo Snickerdoodles for my gluten-free-eating dad when he came home from his work trip.