Happily Stuck

Saturday's are supposed to be quiet, still, and happy. But they are even better when you wake up and there's snow coating them. In Kentucky people think the world might end in the event of three inches, but I know they are secretly dazzled by it just as I am. Why is it so exciting to be stuck somewhere when it snows? Like there is a community around you just waiting to band together as soon as snow tragedy strikes. This might be in my imagination. No matter, my band of brothers just happened to be eggs, and almond flour, and ginger this morning, and we weathered the storm together, coming out on the other side with biscuits, and jam. Because I have loved ones in the midst of the "Makers Diet" I made these grainless, dairyless, and sugarless. Surprise. 

Grape and Ginger Jam (adapted from lovefoodeat)

5 cups of cleaned grapes

1/2 cup raw honey

2 inch piece of fresh ginger

Clean and wash your grapes well. Combine the grapes, crushed ginger and sugar in a saucepan and slowly bring it to a boil till the sugar completely dissolves. Reduce the flame and let it simmer for 8 to 10 minutes til the fruits start to disintegrate. Turn off the flame and let the mixture cool down a little.
Sieve the mixture to get rid of all the seeds and the skin. Press as much of the pulp of the fruits as possible with the back of your spoon to get all the juices of of the fruit.
Place the thick fruit juice/pulp back on the stove and let it simmer slowly. I simmered mine for more than 30 minutes to get to the desired consistency. You can stop when you think your jam is thick enough. Remember it’ll thicken further as it cools.
Store it in an airtight bottle.

Simple Biscuits (grain free)- Adapted from realsustinance

2 packed cups Blanched Almond Flour
1/2 Cup Arrowroot starch
1/2 Tsp. Salt
1/2-3/4 Tsp Baking Soda 
1/2 Cup Coconut Butter 
2 Large Eggs
3/4 Tsp Lemon Juice. 

 Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a bowl combine the Almond Flour, Starch, Salt and Baking Soda.. Cut the coconut butter into the flour until it is about the size of a pea. In a separate small bowl whisk together the eggs and lemon juice. Pour mixture in with the flour and mix just briefly and gently until the dough comes together. It will feel a little wet. 

Dust a sheet of parchment, or your counter with additional starch. Gently pat the dough into a round and cut into 6-8 biscuits using a biscuit cutter or the top of a round glass. Use as much starch as needed to prevent sticking. Bake for 18 minutes.

P.S. These are especially lovely with coffee and frosted windows.

*Embarrassing disclaimer: due to the fact that I was on the phone with a friend when these came out of the oven I did something I'm not sure I'm proud of. I couldn't balance the knife and biscuit properly while holding the phone, so after pondering it for a very short second, I dove my hand into the jam and proceeded to spread it on my biscuit with my fingers like a small bear. or any other animal you would now like to insert here.

Cold Nights and Berry Shortbreads

Still on the detox. This is a little something I made up to satisfy my ever present sweet tooth on a cold and cozy night. I also drew in the frost on the window, lit a candle, and wrapped presents.

Berry Shortbreads

Crust:

-1 cup of almond flour

-1/4 cup of coconut flour

-1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut

-1/4 cup almond butter

-3 Tbs coconut oil 

Mix together everything but the oil briefly. Add the oil until the dough comes together. Shape into little cups and place on a greased cookie sheet. 

Filling: 

- 1/4 cup blueberries

-1/4 cup raspberries

-1/4 cup pitted dark cherries

-1 Tbs coconut milk

-1 tsp vanilla 

-1 tsp cinnamon

- 1/4 cup chopped or whole pecans

Simmer the fruit and coconut milk in a small saucepan until soft and saucy. Smash the fruit the rest of the way into a kind of chutney. It will boil down most of the way on it's own. Add the pecans, vanilla, and cinnamon. Spoon a little generously into each cup, and bake at 350 for 15 min. 

Keep in mind, these contain no sugar, so if you are ok with sweetening it up a bit in addition to natural sugars then throw in some honey to the fruit filling.