Goals for the Year 2017

I've seen so many bloggers posting their goals for the year, so I figured I would share my own with you. Yes, I know I'm a little late, but at least I'm getting it up now. I mean, at least it's not goals for the month, because then we might have a problem. :P

So obviously, you don't know what my goals were for last year, since I didn't have a blog yet. Don't worry though, you didn't miss anything, because I didn't have any. But I did do some things last year that would have been goals... if I had thought of them at the beginning of the year and not the middle.

2016's Accomplishments

// I read 63 books. Yeah, so I set a goal for 100, but that wasn't until March. By then, I had only read 5 books. And you should probably know that reading that many books in a year was a very ambitious goal for me, because I was trying to go from reading maybe 25 books in a year to 100.

// I participated in NaNoWriMo. Oh, I didn't even think about doing this until October. I didn't even know what it was until I started following blogs (which wasn't until somewhere between March and April last year). So, I had been reading blog posts about NaNo and ways you could prepare for it. And then, a week and a half before it was supposed to start, I decided I wanted to participate. Yes, you read that correctly. I am happy to say that I was ready by the time NaNo started, and came out of it with a word count of 105K. :)

// I wrote the rough draft of two books and about half of another two. So if you put it together, I wrote the rough drafts of... three books? This may or may not be surprising, but that was the first time I actually wrote the whole rough draft of a book. Thank you, NaNo!

// I started a blog. Well, I created it and set it up last year, but I didn't post until this year. It took me a while to get here though. Ever since I began following blogs, I've been wanting to start a blog of my own. Although it took about 8 months to build up enough courage, as you can see, I finally did it. :)

That's basically it for last year. For not having any goals for 2016, I'm happy with what I was able to accomplish. Before I go on to my goals for this year, I will say that I've never done the whole new year's resolutions thing. And at first, it seemed like listing my goals for the year was a lot like making resolutions. But then, I realized that it's really more like a to-do list. Now that's something I can do. I've just never made one for the whole year before. Anyways, here they are.

2017's Goals

 1. Write the rough draft of 1 book. Yes, I know I wrote two last year, but that was last year. I'm expecting this year to be busier, so I'm trying not to make it to hard for myself. (At least for now anyway.) I may end up writing 2, who knows?

2. Edit 2 books. Well, I'm happy to say that this one is already off to a pretty good start. I really enjoy editing. Before I did NaNo, I would have said that I liked editing more than writing the rough draft, but now I don't really know. There are things about both that I really like. Maybe I'll come to a conclusion this year (hopefully).

3. Read 70 books. Look! I'm being more realistic this year! (I think?) Before I actually decided on that number, I had to do a little math. I should be able to reach this goal in only 10 out of 12 months. It's very likely that I won't get much reading done in November, due to NaNo. And since I'm a counselor at a summer camp, it's difficult to say how much reading I'll have time for while I'm there.

4. Journal more. I was doing a pretty good job last year. At least in March and April, and then it started going down hill. *shifts uncomfortably* But I'm going to try to do better this year. I'm even thinking about starting a spiritual journal.

5. Take 2 English classes. If you've read the page about me, then you know that I've graduated high school. I'm not going to college, but I am planning to take some classes that will help me with my writing career.

6. Beta read 1 book. I didn't even know there was such a thing as beta reading until I started following blogs! I think I would like to eventually send out one of my own books to beta readers, but I don't think that will happen this year. Maybe next year, though.

7. Study the Bible more and strengthen my relationship with God. As I get older, I realize more and more, how important my relationship with God is. Now that I'm 18, legally an adult, I find that I have more responsibility and I have to make a lot of life decisions. It can be overwhelming sometimes, and I find myself going to God more and more, because I know that I can't do this on my own. And in doing that, I have realized the importance of my relationship with Him.


So there you have it. My goals for this year. What did you accomplish last year? Have you made any goals for this year?

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Welcome to My Blog

Hello, friends, enemies, those of you who are on the fence. Welcome to my blog! This is my first blog ever, so I'm really excited and, at the same time, really nervous.

Why I'm Here

1) I love to write. This blog will allow me to write more, practice writing, and *gulp* share my writing. It will also help me to figure out, understand, and organize my own thoughts. (It's a confusing place, my head.)

2) Encouragement. I think that everyone needs encouragement, to a certain degree anyway. I want to encourage others, and this is one of the ways I can do that. As an aspiring author, I myself, will need a lot of encouragement. Those of you who are writers, know exactly why I say that. Writing is no walk in the park, people! On the contrary, writing is actually pretty much in between fun and torture. Okay, fine. It's usually a lot closer to torture.

3)  Connecting. I want to connect with other aspiring authors and already published authors. I want to give and receive help, tips, and encouragement from people who love writing as much as I do. Besides, fellow writers are really the only ones who can understand and relate to the struggles all writers go through, in my opinion.

I will say that there are a few blogs that I've been following for, roughly, the past nine months. Obviously, that means I know exactly what I'm doing. Not really. Any advice or tips you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Because I'm new at this, I don't know how often I will be posting. Right now, I'm shooting for at least once a week. Who knows, maybe it will end up being more. :)

But I don't want to leave without giving a huge thank you to Liz @ Out of Coffee, Out of Mind for taking the time to help me set up this blog. She was also the one who came up with the title. Isn't she creative? Thank you so much, Liz!

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Spritz Cookies (AIP, Paleo, Gluten-free)

My Grandma Vein is a really fantastic baker. She makes wonderful treats for all holidays, but especially during the Christmas season. One of my favorite christmas cookies is her spritz cookies, a butter cookie dough pressed through a cookie press into different shapes. Some people flavor the cookie dough with vanilla and some with almond—Grandma’s spritz recipe uses vanilla. She would leaves some of the dough naturally colored and colors part of it red and green. She also would sprinkle the pressed cookie dough with various colored sanding sugars and sprinkles before baking.

My AIP variation might look and taste a little different, but the first test batch cookie I popped into my mouth was like tasting a memory of Christmases past. Despite using palm shortening in lieu of butter, they still have a "buttery" flavor; they also have some lovely notes of maple and just a hint of coconut.

Instead of pressing the dough through a cookie press, I chose to pipe it with a pastry bag fitted with a large start tip into rosettes and wreath shapes—I couldn’t justify buying (or storing) a new cookie press & I’m not sure if my vintage press has any gluten remnants.

I didn't have many ideas for natural ways to color the dough, but I did add matcha green tea powder to the dry ingredients of one batch & it worked really well, though it does make the cookies taste like green tea. I suspect a few drops of beet juice might work well to make a more red/pink dough; however, I have a sensitivity to beets so I have not tried it out. To make the wreaths look more like actual wreaths (and less like piped circles), I added some chopped dried cranberries (apple-juice-sweetened) and a tiny sprinkle of turbinado/raw sugar.

Because these cookies are so delicious, I’ve purposely made the batch really small—depending on how big they’re piped, you should be able to get around 16 cookies. If you’re one with lots of willpower, even around lots of delicious AIP cookies, make a double batch :)

Happy Baking! PS if you’d like to make the AIP gingersnaps pictured on the cookie platter, make sure you grab a copy of my e-book “Holiday Sweet Treats.”

Spritz Cookies (AIP, Paleo, Gluten Free) 
yields around 16 cookies

64 grams(1/4 cup) palm shortening
39 grams (2 tablespoons) Grade A dark maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
23 grams (3 tablespoons +1 teaspoon) coconut flour 
25 grams (3 tablespoons +1 teaspoon) tapioca starch
27 grams (3 tablespoons +1 teaspoon) arrowroot
3/4 teaspoon gelatin
1/8 teaspoon paleo baking powder (recipe follows) 
pinch of sea salt

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Fit a pastry bag with a large star tip (I used a Wilton bag fitted with an 824 Ateco tip). 
2. In a medium mixing bowl, cream together the palm shortening with the maple syrup and the vanilla extract with a silicone spatula until well combined. If the palm shortening is too solid to properly mix—mine typically is during the winter—allow the ingredients to warm up slightly on the preheating stove. A hand mixer may also be used. 
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the coconut flour, tapioca, arrowroot, gelatin, paleo baking powder, and sea salt. 
4. Add the dry ingredients to the shortening/maple/vanilla and mix until well combined. 
5. Transfer the dough to the prepared pastry bag. Pipe the dough into rosettes, starting from the center & swirling outward. Draw circles as guides on the bottom of the parchment paper, if needed. Leave a little space between the cookies to allow them to puff a little during the baking process. 
6. Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 6 minutes, then rotate the pan and bake for an additional 2 to 3 minutes, or until the cookies are just starting to turn golden on the edges. 
7. Allow the cookies to cool completely on the pan before serving. 
8. Store cookies in a single layer in an airtight container at room temperature or in the freezer. Leftover cookies may soften, so re-crisp in a warm oven, if needed, before serving. 

Matcha Wreath Variation
Same ingredients as above with the addition of:
A heaping 1/4 teaspoon of matcha green tea powder
Apple juice sweetened dried cranberries, chopped
Turbinado/raw sugar

• Make the same recipe as above, adding a heaping 1/4 teaspoon of matcha green tea powder to the dry ingredients. Mix the green tea variation dough with a hand mixer too, just to ensure there are no tiny lumps of matcha. 
• Pipe the dough into rings & press chopped dried cranberries into the rings. Sprinkle a little turbinado sugar over the wreaths. 
• Bake as instructed above, though the wreaths may bake more quickly depending on how they thick they are piped, so watch them carefully. 

Paleo Baking Powder
81 grams (1/2 cup) cream of tartar 
55 grams (1/4 cup) baking soda
30 grams (1/4 cup) arrowroot or tapioca 

1. Sift together the cream of tartar, baking soda, and arrowroot/tapioca.
2. Store in an airtight jar. Use wherever baking powder is used. 

This post contains affiliate links, meaning Sweet Treats makes a small commission off items purchased 

after an Amazon link is clicked with no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support.

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Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce (AIP & Paleo)

Thanksgiving is only a couple days away, and I’m in full prep mode. But even if you’re waiting until the last minute to make the big Thanksgiving dinner, you can still have easy, delicious cranberry sauce, in a matter of minutes thanks to my favorite appliance, the Instant Pot.

Like the past two years, we are dry brining and butterflying a pastured turkey again, though because I can’t have dairy, we baste ours with a combination of bacon grease, sauvignon blanc wine & homemade turkey stock. I’ve actually chosen to do two birds this year because of the number of family members visiting and I wanted to make sure we’d have leftovers too! I find that cranberry sauce is not only a delicious condiment for the Thanksgiving table, but one that also can help mask the slight “gamey” flavor of a pastured turkey. It’s also delicious spread on sweet potato lefse, as well as on top of homemade 2-ingredient coconut yogurt.

In addition to the turkey, lefse, and this cranberry sauce, we’ll also be having my starch-free gravy, mashed white sweet potatoes, sweet potato casserole with tigernuts, roasted brussels sprouts with bacon/balsamic/dried cranberries (adapted from “The Healing Kitchen”), refrigerator pickles, a green bean casserole that I hope to share more about in a future post. And, of course, pie! Paleo pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and an AIP apple galette (adapted from the pear galette in my e-book “Holiday Sweet Treats”. In the name of stress reduction, since stress is one of my biggest autoimmune triggers, I’ll have made everything, except the turkey and gravy, in advance and will only need to re-heat things before we eat.

If you don’t already have an Instant Pot, this cranberry sauce can be made on the stove—just simmer all the ingredients until the cranberries pop & the sauce thickens slightly. And I highly recommend checking Amazon and other retailers to see if the Instant Pot goes on sale on Black Friday or Cyber Monday :)

Have a wonderful holiday. May you all enjoy spending time with friends and family. And may the leftovers be plentiful! :)

Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce (AIP & Paleo) 
yields just shy of one quart jar of sauce

20 ounces frozen cranberries
215 grams (approx 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons) honey (I prefer to use orange blossom honey)
1 tablespoon mandarin orange zest
3/4 cup mandarin orange juice
1/4 cup filtered water
1 cinnamon stick

1. Combine all the ingredients in the stainless steel insert of the Instant Pot. Close and lock the lid, ensuring the vent is set to sealing. 
2. Press {Manual} and reduce the time to 8 minutes.
3. Once the time is up, allow the pressure to release naturally. 
4. Remove the lid, stir, and allow to cool. Pour into a quart jar (or several small jars) and refrigerate until ready to eat. The sauce will thicken as it cools. The flavor continues to develop as it sits in the refrigerator, so plan to make this sauce a few days in advance, if possible. 

Notes:

• I’ve tested this recipe only with frozen cranberries, since I can find them at Whole Foods year-round. But you should be able to substitute fresh cranberries.  
• You may be tempted to reduce the amount of honey in the recipe, but I must warn you, even with 215 grams (over 1/2 a cup), the sauce is still a bit tart! 
• Regular orange zest/juice may be substituted for the mandarin orange zest/juice. 

This post contains affiliate links, meaning Sweet Treats makes a small commission off items purchased 

after an Amazon link is clicked with no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support.

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The Paleo AIP Instant Pot® Cookbook e-book + IP “Chocolate” Cake (AIP)

In addition to the the big move I announced in my last post, I’ve been working on a couple secret projects. I’m so thrilled to FINALLY share about them today!

My good friend Eileen from Phoenix Helix had the brilliant idea to compile a community e-book of Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) Instant Pot® recipes called The Paleo AIP Instant Pot® Cookbook. I was thrilled to contribute recipes for applesauce, low FODMAP beef stew, pomegranate poached pears, and coconut yogurt to the e-book.

I also had the privilege to photograph a few of the recipes & design the interior pages (the amazing Chelsey Luther designed the gorgeous cover). Having early access to the recipes (because I was working on the interior design) means that I’ve been making many of the recipes for months already. I’ve even teased a few of them in Instagram posts (#sorrynotsorry). This e-book is a total game changer. Everything I’ve made is not only incredibly delicious, but it’s all crazy easy and very diverse! The BBQ Pulled Chicken alone might be worth the purchase of the book. I loved my Instant Pot® before, but I love it even more now.

top: BBQ Pulled Chicken, Smothered Okra, Caribbean Plantain Lamb Stew

middle: Pomegranate Poached Pears, Coconut Yogurt, Applesauce

bottom: Kalua Pig, Peach Cobbler, Cranberry Apple Chicken with Cabbage

Download your copy for $17.95! 

The book features recipes ranging from broths to sauces & condiments to vegetables to poultry to meat to seafood to offal to desserts and more! No major food group is left behind. 137 of the 140 recipes (excluding three recipes in the “Extras” section) are compliant with the elimination phase of the Autoimmune Protocol. And, there are charts in the back of the book for ways to modify recipes to fit additional special diet modifications, like low-FODMAP, GAPS/SCD and Coconut-free.

As if The Paleo AIP Instant Pot® Cookbook isn’t a big enough project, I also have created a 4-recipe mini e-book of additional AIP Instant Pot® dessert recipes called AIP Instant Pot® Sweet Treats. It includes AIP-friendly dessert recipes for blueberry cobbler cakes, pumpkin tapioca pudding, “roasted” pineapple, and zucchini cakes with lemon cream. I’ll be sending AIP Instant Pot® Sweet Treats as a FREE gift to everyone who purchases The Paleo AIP Instant Pot® Cookbook through me. (NOTE: Because I’m literally in the middle of moving across the United States right now, my e-book won’t be emailed until mid-October 2016). This giveaway is open to international entries.

But wait! There’s more! (insert informercial-speak, haha!) Purchasing The Paleo AIP Instant Pot® Cookbook through me during the month of October 2016 also enters you in a giveaway to win some sweet Instant Pot® accessories: 1) a stainless steel inner pot (having a second insert comes in *really* handy when making back-to-back recipes), 2) a silicone lid/cover for the stainless steel insert (to easily store cooled leftovers in the refrigerator), and 3) an extra sealing ring (always a good thing to have on hand in case your old ring breaks, or in case it smells too “savory” for making desserts). I’ll randomly choose a winner at the beginning of November 2016. Sorry, due to postage constraints, the accessory giveaway is open only to those in the United States.

If you’re *still* on the fence about purchasing this amazing e-book, head over to Eileen’s site to enter a giveaway to win a copy. Simply answer the rafflecopter question & 10 winners will be chosen October 8, 2016.

One recipe from The Paleo AIP Instant Pot® Cookbook that I’m excited to try once we get settled in our new home is this “Chocolate” Cake from my friend Samantha at Sweet Potatoes and Social Change. It might seem unusual to make cake in the Instant Pot®, but the Instant Pot® is a great way to “steam” a cake. And you don't even have to heat up the oven!

“Chocolate" Cake (AIP) 
from Samantha at Sweet Potatoes and Social Change
Yields 3 servings

1 green plantain
½ ripe banana
¼ cup mashed avocado
2 tablespoons melted coconut oil, plus additional for greasing pans
2 tablespoons honey
5 tablespoons carob powder
½ teaspoon apple cider vinegar
¾ teaspoon baking soda
⅛ teaspoon cream of tartar
1 cup water
Optional garnishes: coconut cream, coconut flakes or fruit

1. Add the plantain, banana, avocado, coconut oil, honey, carob, vinegar, baking soda, and cream of tartar to a food processor and blend until smooth. 
2. Lightly grease three mini fluted pans or ramekins with additional coconut oil. Pour the batter into prepared pans until they are about ¾ of the way full. 
3. Pour the water into the Instant Pot® and add the steaming rack. Place the pans onto the steaming rack. 
4. Close and lock the lid. Press “Manual” for high pressure. Set cooking time to 18 minutes. Once time is up, quick release the pressure (there are further instructions for pressure release on page 7 of the e-book. 
5. Garnish with coconut cream, coconut flakes, or fruit and serve warm. 

This post contains affiliate links, meaning Sweet Treats makes a small commission off items purchased

after a link is clicked, at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support.

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Moving!

Exciting news! My husband and I are moving to the New England area very soon! We are thrilled with this new development & can’t wait to experience life in this new location.

Because moving is really stressful, I’ve decided to take a break from blogging, for a bit. I’ve also decided to scale back my social media posting. In the midst of all the packing and preparations, I need to make sure I take care of myself, especially in the midst of all the packing & moving preparations—the last thing I want is to end up with a flare! So, if I’m around a little less, that’ll be why.

Thanks for understanding and I’ll be back in a few weeks!

In the mean time, if you want to make the spiced pumpkin tea latte (AIP, Paleo, Low FODMAP, Vegan) seen in these pictures, check out this post from last fall.

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Paloma Cocktail & Mocktail (Paleo & AIP)

I’ve reached a point in my healing journey that I can have a *little* bit of alcohol from time-to-time. However, I still have to be rather choosy about what sort of alcohol I do consume. It’s a bit ironic, but even before going AIP, I have always done better with spirits than with wine (exception would be sparkling wine). However, my previous go-to spirits are often distilled from ingredients that I still choose not to consume. I decided instead to teach myself to like tequila, a more “Paleo-friendly” spirit, using these delicious grapefruit & lime “paloma" cocktails.

I do hold myself to 4 rules when it comes to personal alcohol consumption:

First, I only consume alcohol in conjunction with food, never on an empty stomach. Since I don’t have alcohol very often, I’m very much a “light-weight” and food helps slow down the effects of the alcohol. Also, alcohol and the things mixed into alcohol can affect a person’s blood sugar. Eating a meal—I personally prefer one containing protein and carbs—with the drink can moderate blood sugar spikes.

Secondly, I stick to one not-so-strong beverage per night only a couple of nights a month. I’ve been known to water down sparkling wine with bubbly water or to add some kombucha. Even with these paloma cocktails, I’ll often add extra LaCroix.

Third, I make any cocktails myself, where I can control the ingredients and ratios, instead of ordering them from a bartender in a restaurant. Many palomas, especially those ordered in Mexican restaurants, are made with grapefruit soda that almost assuredly contains non-AIP/Paleo ingredients.

Fourth, I consume beverages with alcohol in celebration, not as a way to combat stress or escape life. In fact, if life is extra stressful, it’s probably best for my health that I don’t consume any alcohol at all! If I’m having a bad day or feeling stressed, I lean on other coping mechanisms & ways to take care of myself rather than alcohol.

Finally, If you’re someone who is abstaining from alcohol, whether you’re following the elimination stage of AIP, or you don’t like the flavor of any alcohol, or you’re abstaining for other reasons, don’t despair! This paloma recipe makes a really great “mocktail” too. Simply omit the tequila & add a little extra LaCroix. Even though the mocktail version does not contain alcohol, it still is high in natural sugars, so still limit consumption & make it a beverage for a special occasion.

A few resources about AIP/Paleo and alcohol, for those who want further reading:

1. The WHYs behind the Autoimmune Protocol: Alcohol from “The Paleo Mom” 
2. How to Drink Alcohol without Ruining Your Paleo Diet or Getting a Hangover – 10 Simple Tips from “Paleo Flourish Magazine” 
3. Top 10 Paleo Party Rules from “Mark’s Daily Apple” 

Paloma Cocktail (Paleo) or Mocktail (AIP) 

yields 2 to 4 servings 

Simply omit the tequila to turn this cocktail into an equally delicious mocktail! 

Juice from 2 grapefruits (approximately 3/4 cup) 

Juice from 1 large lime (approximately 3 tablespoons)

2 fl oz blanco/white tequila (omit for AIP; replace with extra LaCroix)

8 fl oz pamplemousse/grapefruit LaCroix sparkling water, or more, if desired

Ice, as needed 

Grapefruit & lime slices for garnish, optional 

1. Juice the grapefruits, straining out any seeds. Juice the lime. Combine the juices together.  Stir in the tequila, if using.
2. Divide between 2 large or 4 small ice-filled glasses. Top off with the grapefruit LaCroix. Gently stir to combine. Garnish with grapefruit & lime slices, if desired. 

This post contains affiliate links, meaning Sweet Treats makes a small commission off items purchased 

after an Amazon link is clicked with no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support.

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