Have your cake and eat it too! oh I mean brownies...

The words "and you can eat all you want" have not left me and are pretty close to the truth when you eat a Paleo diet. Well I guess if I ate a true Paleo diet they would be true. But seriously folks dairy (which I did cut out for a month NOT EASY) is like a HUGE part of my diet and I am blessed to say that it made no difference health wise for me as far as food allergies or sensitivities. So, no I do not eat a true Paleo diet. 

I do however eat a MOSTLY Paleo diet. Which left me pacing the kitchen and standing in front of the refrigerator when I wanted a treat or sweet. Like a crazy cat prowling around ready to pounce. My aunt made an awesome carrot cake, like better than the regular carrot cakes I've had, totally paleo. I asked her about it and she said "Just google Paleo cake or whatever Paleo food you want." Well DUH I told myself. But this opened up a whole new world for me and I have been baking ever since. Problem is, as I was just telling my friend Misty, I cannot follow the recipes (because I can't follow rules-hence eating dairy). Usually this caused my baking to be terrible when I ate wheat flour and sugar. However I have come to discover that my Paleo baking rule breaking rocks. YEP! I am like naturally gifted at making awesome Paleo treats (HA! believe that? you shouldn't) Not at all I just keep tweaking a few recipes making them better each time. This time I took a cookie recipe and tweaked it into a brownie recipe. It was really good, so good, my 4 year old who wouldn't eat the cookies, licked the bowl and ate 4 right away. I know what you're thinking... who lets a 4 year old eat 4 brownies? Well, there's no sugar in them. They are high in protein. So... ME. I do. The 1 yr old after her first bite literally said "nom nom nom nom" to get some more. She had 2. 

In my google searches I came across a Paleo baking blogger who suggested using this almond flour because the Bobs just didn't bake up well she said. I tried the Bobs because I had the Bobs and they did not bake well. Sorry Bob. So I ordered a 5 lb bag of Honeyville. I am now on my 2nd 5lb bag of this flour. Great stuff. So if you're going to use my recipe, you've been warned: you need the Honeyville Almond flour. Just order it, spend the money, get it in the mail and eat well. NO I get nothing from that company for sending you there. There stuff is just good. I ate 2 of these myself tonight. They always taste best warm out of the oven and I like it with milk. But I will be tackling an ice cream recipe soon and I am sure that will pair well too!

Joy's Paleo Brownies:

2  cups honeyville almond flour

1/2 cocoa powder (non alkalized) I use this

1 heaping tsp salt 

1 heaping tsp baking soda (I use aluminum free)

1/2 cup olive oil (1st cold pressed EVOO)

1/2 cup RAW agave 

1 tablespoon Vanilla extract (I use frontier organic) 

1 egg

Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl mix together all DRY ingredients. In a separate bowl add all wet and mix. Add wet to dry and mix well. GREASE the pan well. I like making individual servings so I used a muffin pan. 10 -12 minutes.  You can try a 9" and tell me how that works out. Use the olive oil to grease the pan. 

Enjoy

A simple testimony of faith

So, here’s my testimony. I love Jesus. I did not however grow up with church, God or Jesus. So, I had a very misspent youth. I partied, drank, experimented, dated LOTS of guys and was never able to fill that void inside. I ached. I tried other means of fulfillment. I was very successful in my college career, establishing outreach programs to inner city kids, productions of concerts, plays, and other events, state-wide executive board. I got my dream degree and worked in my dream field- still empty inside. One night I ended up on my knees in my closet LITERALLY crying out to God. I had started to seek truth and follow my heart. It led me to cry out to God (and I had denied Him a few months earlier). I asked Him to take control of my life. I told God, I have done everything I can. I have tried my best and I just can’t get this life. I can’t get it right, I can’t figured it out, I can’t do this life anymore. I begged Him to do it for me, to lead me, to guide me. Just take over control. SO he picked me up and put me to bed. I woke up refreshed and happy with a joy I had not felt in years, like YEARS. I started playing the Christian radio station I was singing along too. Then three lovely ladies from the church I visited the weekend prior just happen to stop by… but it was like I almost expected them, I HAD no idea they would be coming over. These wonderful ladies, that I met once prior, read through a track and led me to Christ (basically helped explain what I went through the night before- this is bringing me to tears and this was 2002 because THAT is God’s timing perfect!) That church was Anastasia Baptist and is still my church home. They’re my family. Life still isn’t easy and I have a whole new set of challenges but God is with me, He never leaves me (not even when I walk far from Him). That hole inside me, that ache, that void is now overflowing with the Love of Jesus. If you are feeling that tug inside right now, a longing to know more about God and Jesus please let one of know. Please PM me or the person you feel most comfortable talking with. We love you, Jesus loves you!  

A journey begins with a single step

A journey begins with a single step...

I took my first step into my oil journey in January 2014. I would love to tell you about how blessed I am and about how great these oils have been for me. But that is not really the story. The story is that the blessings come when other peoples lives are changed, when other peoples lives are blessed, when other people that you share them with have a greater sense of well-being, have improved how they feel, mine is not the story, there's is the story.

It started out gentle for me, my reasons aside:

Helping alleviate minor aches and pains associated with daily life...
occasional irregularity...
weightloss...
digestive aid...
encourages proper nasal function...
refreshing the mind and uplifting the spirit...
antispasmodics...
promotes restful sleep...
alleviate the occasional blue feeling...
wellness and health...
help maintain a healthy blood sugar level...
help alleviate nausea...
provides nervous system support during times of stress (this is personally amazing)...
mild mood changes, cramps, and edema associated with the menstrual cycle (life changing for so many including me)...
hot flashes...
hair loss associated with aging...

Then it got super real:

supporting the immune system...
slowing signs of aging on the skin, such as liver spots, spider veins...
wrinkles associated with aging...
support heart muscle function...
support digestive function, especially of the gallbladder...
support kidney health and function...

There is more, so much more and I would love to talk to you about it and share the stories both mine and those I have shared the oils with.

It is most important to note that these effects and that these results come from only genuine essential oils. Young Living has genuine essential oils. You can view this web-page to see what I mean and know they are the ONLY essential oil company that has this and guarantees this "Seed to Seal"

My journey began by becoming a wholesale member, kind of like a Costco or Sams club, but I was super happy to know that my membership also included a LOT of product and I don't have to buy membership each year. Way better deal! OH and don't have to buy bulk and don't have to buy every month like some companies rope you into. Just pure honest to goodness genuine essential oils that have blessed so many lives. I would like to share with you in hopes to bless your life as well. The membership starts with a "kit". No, you don't have to have a membership ever at all. I share my discount with everyone. When something truly blesses your life as much as these oils have blessed mine and hundreds of thousands of others how can I not share that with you? So, I order every month. You can find me on facebook and friend request me, however if you don't PM me "because I want to know more about oils" and we've never met I won't accept so please make sure you let me know about you! Find me "here"

There's no reason you shouldn't be as blessed as the rest of us!