Day 28 - Perfect Paleo Breakfast

Like all good things, practice makes perfect.  We discovered a recipe similar to this one, early on in our paleo challenge. Over the last 28 days, we've evolved the recipe into what we think is far better than the original.  It's sweet, easy to make, and just the right amount of 'heavy' to keep you full until lunch.

What you need - 2 servings:

• 12 tbsp unsweetened apple sauce
• 4 tbsp almond hazlenut fruit & nut butter
• 2-3 tbsp coconut milk
• 1 tsp zen matcha premium chocolate
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• sliced fresh fruit to top

Directions: 

• mix all ingredients in small pot 
• turn stove-top on to medium heat
• stir continuously for 5-10 minutes, until it starts to bubble
• serve in your favourite cup/bowl with fresh fruit

For the longest time, we didn't know what to call this dish.  It has the consistency of oatmeal, looks like porridge, but tastes like a rich dessert.  You can call it what you want, but to us, it's simply the perfect paleo breakfast. 

Day 11 - Paleo Pumpkin Muffins

As we near the end of week two on this wondrous and beneficial challenge, we've learned that a full stomach is a happy stomach. We've also learned that there's a limit to the amount of almonds one can snack on. Enter the paleo pumpkin muffin, our morning saviour and belly-pleaser. This hearty, almond-flour-based muffin is the perfect thing to kick start your day, or tide you over when you hit that 3 o'clock wall.

1/4 cup coconut oil
6 eggs
1 inch ginger root, peeled and grated finely
3 tbsp coconut flour
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups almond flour
1-1/2 cups pumpkin puree
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 to 1/3 cup honey
Coconut oil for oiling muffin pan

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees
2. In a food processor or stand mixer, combine coconut oil, eggs, ginger, coconut flour and salt. Blend well, making sure the coconut flour is well mixed in.
3. Add remaining ingredients and mix well.
4. Grease muffin pan with coconut oil. Fill nearly full with batter and bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.

Et voila! Savour all that this delicious, crumbly muffin has to offer with your morning coffee or as an afternoon appeaser. And, if you add a pinch of nutmeg to the mix, and throw a decorative pecan atop the muffin before it goes in the oven, you basically have a handheld Thanksgiving fest. Just the best.