Flourless Double Chocolate spice cookies

These soft and chewy decedent cookies are gluten and dairy free! Using parchment paper to bake them on is a must for these cookies, as they are very very delicate and sticky after baking. Using a very good quality dark Dutch coco really makes a difference. These cookies do not last long.

Makes about 2 dozen 2 inch cookies

3 cups powdered sugar
¾ cup coco (good quality dark Dutch process)
4 egg whites2tsp vanilla
¼ tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp nutmeg
¼ cup chocolate chips.


Preheat oven to 350 degrees
1. Sift coco and sugar to remove any lumps

2. With a hand mixer, mix coco/sugar mix with eggs, vanilla and salt

3. Stir in chips. The batter will be running and sticky, like glue.

4. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a tablespoon, scoop batter in to little puddles on paper. Space cookies well as then can spread.

5. Bake at 350 for 8-12 minutes until the tops are shiny and cracked and just set in center. 

Remove pan from oven, and gently remove parchment paper( with cookies on it) from pan and lay on counter
to cool (do not remove cookies yet!)6. Once cookies are cool, peel gently from paper using a damp spatula to prevent sticking. Layer parchment paper between layers of cookies when storing.

Gluten free Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Walnut cookies

Stuffed with walnuts and chocolate chips, they are perfect with a glass of milk.
These cookies are so good, you would never know that they are gluten free!

Preheat oven to 350

Wisk together
1 3/4 cup gluten free flour blend
¾ tsp baking powder
¾ tsp baking soda
1 tsp xanthium gum

Cream together
1 cup coconut oil
¾ cup coconut sugar (or cane)
2 eggs (at room temp)
2tsp vanilla

Stir the flour mixture in to wet, add
1 cup chocolate chips
½ cup chopped walnuts
3 ½ cups gluten free oats

Shape dough in to 1-2 inch balls and flatten to ½ inch place on a greased or parchment covered baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes until lightly browned.

Lemon Raspberry Tofu Cheesecake

This vegan and wheat free tofu cheesecake is just amazing, this recipe is adapted from the green cuisine cookbook by Andy Cunningham, defiantly worth buying if you are in Victoria and have a chance to visit Green Cuisine in market square.   

 http://www.greencuisine.com/      

Using a really good quality blender makes the filling light, fluffy and creamy. 

Cake crust:
2 cups gluten free graham style cookies crumbs (or regular crumbs if wheat is not an issue)
¼ cup melted coconut oil
2tbs coconut sugar or brown sugar

Mix together in a bowl, and press in to a greased 9 inch 
spring form pan. Refrigerate for an hour before filling.

Filling:
Combine in a blender-
2/3 cups sugar
¼ cup coconut oil
¼ cup cashew butter
½ tsp salt
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
2tsp lemon zest



Combine in a small pot and bring to a boil-
2 cups medium tofu crumbled
1 cup vanilla soy milk
1 tsp Agar powder

Pour the tofu mixture in to the blender and blend until very smooth

Pour over crust and shake to settle bubbles, then refrigerate until partially set

  

Place whole raspberries in a decorative pattern on top of filling. 

Pour glaze over raspberries and allow to set for another 3-4 hours.

Glaze:
2/3 cup water
1/3 tsp agar powder
1tbs lemon juice.

Bring above ingredients to a boil. drizzle or brush over top of cake

Home Made Bath Soak

I have made these for my mom for mothers day a few times, she loves taking baths in her amazing bath tub. These salts are uplifting and refreshing, a blend of pink grapefruit, ylang ylang and Neroli blossom essential oils with rose hips and hibiscus petals to add color to the water. 

The salts and oils are available at your local health food or herb store. 

You will need

• Bath salts, I use a blend of dead sea salts and Epsom salts
• Essential oils (your favorite!)
• Baking soda
• Rose hips (or petals)
• Hibiscus petals
• Large bowl
• spoon
• Glass jar

1. Mix salts and baking soda
 2. Add essential oil, a few drops at a time, mixing in between to get your desired sent.
3. Crush rose hips and petals with a mortar and pestle until fine
4. Add rose and petals to salts, mix and pour in to a glass jar with tight fitting lid.

Melted Crayon Art

I was hanging out with my younger cousin for a weekend and was looking for a fun activity to keep us occupied. I had seen this melted crayon success (and fails) all over Pintrest and was looking for an excuse to try it. We decided to give it a go and it worked out great for us!

You will need:

• a large box of crayon
• canvas
• glue gun
• hairdryer

1. Protect your work surface
2. Remove any colors you do not want in your art (we pulled out all the blacks, grays and browns)
3. Remove all the wrappers off the crayons (this is time consuming but worth it, it stops the crayons from  escaping as they melt)
4. Hot glue the crayons to your canvas in what ever pattern you like,
5. With the hair dryer on low start melting while pointing DOWN, that should avoid any spray or splatter. Its important to take your time, its worth it!

Try making other shapes!

"Cute as a Button" Earrings

These earrings really are "cute as a button", they are a simple, fun and adorable project. I had way to much fun finding unique and vintage buttons, experiment with all different shapes and sizes!
Try threading colorful embroidery thread though the holes if you don't like the look of  the metal backing though the holes.

you will need

• various buttons
• stud backs (found at craft stores)
• super glue or permanent craft glue.

Making these is a simple as gluing the buttons to the backing and let dry.
Make a bunch, people will love them!

Shell Earrings

Making shell earring is cute and fun way to make 

wearable art from your favorite beach treasures. 

 I found these little ones in Tofino B.C. Shells, glass or interesting shapes of beach wood work great!

You will need

• shells or beach wood
• drill with small bit
• clear nail polish
• findings

1. coat the shells with several coats of polish until they are shiny enough, let dry.
2. drill a hole near the top of the shell
3. affix findings.