valentine's day samoas and grain-free pizza...

I found this awesome recipe from Elana's Pantry a couple weeks ago and had to make these for Valentine's Day...was not disappointed!   The only changes I made were adding salt to the cookie dough and then sprinkling the cookies with salt after the toppings were drizzled....oh and I had to add a couple tablespoons butter to the caramel sauce, so mine technically weren't 'Paleo'.  I used my own recipe for chocolate sauce as well since I forgot to buy some dark chocolate chunks.  That's one thing about having staples stocked in the pantry!   
  

 

Samoas...grain free

Cookie Dough:
2 Cups Almond Flour
1/2 Cup Unsweetened Shredded Coconut
1/2 tsp Baking Soda (aluminum-free)
1/2 tsp Himalayan Salt
1/4 Cup Raw Honey
1 Tbsp Vanilla Extract
1 Egg
3 Tbsp Coconut Oil (or Butter), melted

*Combine dry ingredients in a food processor.  Pulse in wet ingredients until dough forms.  Refrigerate for 30 min.
Roll dough between 2 sheets of parchment paper to 1/4 inch thick.  Cut with cookie cutter of your choice.  Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 min and cool.

Chocolate:
(or melt 1 Cup Dark Chocolate Chunks)
3/4 Cup Cacao Butter
3/4 Cup Cacao Powder
1/4 Cup Raw Honey
1 tsp Vanilla Extract

*Melt the cacao butter over low heat and then whisk in the honey and vanilla until combined.  Mix in cacao powder and blend well.

Caramel:
1 Cup Coconut Sugar
1/4 Cup Raw Honey
1/2 Cup Coconut Milk
2 Tbsp Organic Butter
1/2 Cup Unsweetened Shredded Coconut, lightly toasted

Add coconut sugar, honey, coconut milk and butter in a saucepan.  Bring to a boil, then turn to low and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring frequently.  Remove from heat and stir in toasted coconut, reserving some to sprinkle on top.  Dip bottom of each cookie into the chocolate and place on parchment paper.  Drizzle with caramel/coconut mixture and then with additional chocolate.  Sprinkle with remaining coconut.  Place in refrigerator to set.  (We love them frozen, too!)

 

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

We also made cauliflower crust grain-free pizzas for dinner...

Cauliflower Pizza Crust

4 Cups Raw Cauliflower, chopped finely
1 Cup Almond Flour
3 Cups Shredded Cheese (I use raw pepper jack)
2 Large Eggs
1 Tbsp Italian Seasoning
1 tsp Himalayan Salt

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.  Place all ingredients in food processor until pureed (may have to do this in batches).  Spoon onto baking sheet and spread to desired shape, pressing down as you go.  Bake for 15 minutes.  Remove and drizzle with olive oil and your favorite toppings and bake for an additional 10-12 minutes.

Kombucha Cheers to You!