Almond Apple Cinnamon Bread (Grain-Free, Gluten-Free, No Sugar Added)

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Hello, all! How have things been with you, dear readers?

Life around here has been wonderful and busy in a good way. I’m a month into my cosmetology program and I am LOVING it! I’m learning SO much already and I’ve only just begun: everything from manis and pedis to hair cuts, styling, curling, and most recently… perms! Which: whoa. Going back to school has been the best decision I’ve made yet, and I can’t wait to share more with you once I get some killer pics.

For now, here’s more delicious bread!

This has been a weekly favorite around here!

I prefer it toasted and plain; my honey likes it with butter. Either way, it’s great for breakfast or for a high-protein, no-grain, low-carb snack that will keep you satisfied for a long time. If only the loaf lasted a long time, too! Haha.

If you’re lucky enough to have a Trader Joe’s near you, see if they carry almond meal. I’ve been using one bag of it for this recipe, which is exactly 4 cups, and makes it really easy to buy.

If not, any health food store around you should carry it ~ it’s also called almond flour!

And if you make this with any changes, I’d LOVE to hear what you did! We’re always on the lookout for yummy, grain-free breads around here, so please share! Have a wonderful weekend!

Almond Apple Cinnamon Bread (Grain-Free, Gluten-Free, No Sugar Added)

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup granulted stevia or erythritol
• 4 cups almond meal / almond flour
• 1 cup applesauce
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 Tbsp. cinnamon
• 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder

Steps

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Mix all ingredients together in a medium-sized bowl until thoroughly incorporated.
3. Oil a 9×5 bread pan with coconut oil.
4. Bake for 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
5. Cool completely on a wire rack before slicing. Enjoy!

Adjust the recipe as necessary for your needs and tastes. You can determine the nutritional content of your final product using Recipe Calculator.

Do you have a favorite low-carb treat?

A Year of Natural Health & Beauty Tip #48: Make Your Own Dry Shampoo for Light, Dark, or Red Hair

To view all tips so far, click here or simply scroll to the top of the screen and click on 52 Tips.

Dry shampoo is a weekly hair savior: it de-greases, adds volume and texture, and can save a blowout for up to a week. If you have processed, curly, or dry hair — or if you’re a “no ‘poo” type and avoid shampooing entirely — you might still get greasy, limp roots and wonder whether you should subject your locks to a full wash or leave it be. Dry shampoo to the rescue! Also, if you exercise in the middle of the day and don’t have time for a complete re-do, dry shampoo saves the day!

As with most of the DIY options listed on this blog, you can find store-bought versions that work well. But they often contain ingredients you don’t need, and they can put an unnecessary dent in your wallet. We’re all about easy, frugal, and natural here, so keep reading if you share this mindset.

It’s very easy to make your own dry shampoo! In the past, I’ve used baby powder, but I didn’t like the white residue that sometimes got left on my dark parts. You can tailor this DIY ‘poo to light, dark, or red locks in a jiffy, and leave the white residue behind! You can also experiment with various additives to match your precise hair color, but be careful: I’ve heard cinnamon will bleach your hair!

You can either make a batch of this beforehand and store it in a sealed container, or make it as you go. I’ve seen some cute versions stored in shaker jars (like for herbs or parmesan cheese), which seems like a very clever solution: just sprinkle, brush, and go! I haven’t tried that yet because I don’t have an empty spice jar right now, so I just make it on the go, apply it with my fingertips, and brush through. Works just fine that way, natch The steps listed below are for a make-ahead batch.

Stuff to Know:

• Buy organic cornstarch if you can! Organic is free of GMOs and you will avoid soaking them into your system via your scalp.
• Spot test any products or ingredients before using any homemade products on your face, head, or body, especially if you have sensitive skin or are prone to irritation and/or allergies.
• You can store this in a sealed container in a cool, dark place for up to a month or longer. Check the expiration date on your ingredients!

DIY Dry Shampoo for Light, Dark, or Red Hair

Ingredients for light hair:

• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 4-5 drops of your favorite essential oil

Ingredients for dark hair:

• 2 Tbsp. cornstarch
• 2 Tbsp. pure cocoa powder (unsweetened)
• 4-5 drops of your favorite essential oil

Ingredients for red hair:

• 2 Tbsp. cornstarch
• 2 Tbsp. paprika
• 4-5 drops of your favorite essential oil

Steps

1. Mix together your ingredients.
2. Apply to your roots and hairline using your fingertips or an old makeup brush, or sprinkle on using a shaker jar.
3. Brush through and style your hair as usual.

Do you use dry shampoo?

How often do you shampoo your hair? Are you on the “no ‘poo” train?

Chocolate Breakfast Bread (Vegan, Gluten-Free, No Sugar Added)

Chocolate Breakfast Bread (Vegan, Gluten-Free, No Sugar Added)

To see all recipes, scroll to the top and click on Recipes or just click here!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in the US (and celebrating outside of the US, too)!

We are in the heart of the holiday season now, and of course that can mean a lot of tasty treats. This “breakfast” bread, of course, has nothing explicitly to do with breakfast, but it is delicious in the morning, anyway. Tastes festive! And goes great with a steaming mug of your favorite hot bevvie. (Sorry for the blurry pic below!)

It’s sweet but not overly so and wonderful toasted. It doesn’t need any toppings, but I imagine some butter (or Earth Balance) or cream cheese would be delish on it.

Chocolate Breakfast Bread (Vegan, Gluten-Free, No Sugar Added)

Since it’s made with almond meal (aka almond flour), the carb-protein ratio is not overbalanced on the carb side. Also, both almonds and stevia are alkalizing, which helps to balance the acidifying effects of chocolate. Making this a perfectly balanced breakfast

Plus, it’s loaded with antioxidants and healthy coconut oil fat, making it the perfect start to a holiday weekend morning — or a great jump start to the Monday morning after a holiday weekend.

As we head on into “the most wonderful time of the year,” I hope you all have a very happy and healthy holiday season!

Chocolate Breakfast Bread (Vegan, Gluten-Free, No Sugar Added)

Chocolate Breakfast Bread (Vegan, Gluten-Free, No Sugar Added)

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup stevia
• 2 cups almond meal / almond flour
• 3 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/8 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 2 Tbsp. coconut oil
• 2 egg substitutes (or 2 eggs if not making it vegan)
• 1/2 ripe banana, mashed
• 4 Tbsp. soy half & half (or dairy half & half if not making it vegan)

Steps

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Mix all ingredients together in a medium-sized bowl until thoroughly incorporated.
3. Oil a 9×5 bread pan with coconut oil.
4. Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
5. Cool completely on a wire rack before slicing. Enjoy!

Adjust the recipe as necessary for your needs and tastes. You can determine the nutritional content of your final product using Recipe Calculator.

Do you have a favorite morning treat?

A Year of Natural Health & Beauty Tip #46: Sweat It Out with a Ginger Bath

Photo by heymrleej via Flickr

To view all tips so far, click here or simply scroll to the top of the screen and click on 52 Tips.

Ginger is an amazing root that has been used since ancient times for its medicinal — and tasty — qualities. Cooking it, pickling it, and using it in teas and tinctures are just a few ways to take advantage of its many healthy properties. But it’s also a great ingredient in skin and body care, because it is both soothing and stimulating.

One time-tested way to use ginger is in a bath — or if you don’t have time (or a tub), in a foot bath. This was recommended to me by my acupuncturist when I was having some muscle pain a while ago. He said that soaking my feet in a bath with fresh ginger every night would help my body to reduce inflammation and to stimulate circulation for healing. Later, I learned that soaking in a ginger bath is an ancient ritual, a great way to sweat a LOT and restore balance to body, mind, and spirit.

Whether your body can actually “sweat out toxins” is debatable, but there is no doubt that it feels fantastic! In my personal experience, deep sweats have been a great way to stave off colds, to recharge during cold and rainy winters, and sleep soundly through the night.

Adding ginger to your bath is an easy way to take advantage of ginger’s potent effects. Some benefits of ginger include:

• Reduces inflammation throughout the body
• Reduces arthritis pain, and other joint and muscle pain
• Encourages healthy blood circulation
• Relieves gas and bloating
• Calms nausea and halts diarrhea
• Relieves menstrual cramps

It’s even said that King Henry VIII of England took ginger as protection against the plague! 

A ginger bath can be a deeply relaxing introduction to the icy chills of late fall and winter. It can also be the perfect getaway from the stressful rush and hustle of the holiday season. Keep this one in mind as we move into the holidaze and your body, mind, and spirit will thank you!

Stuff to Know:

• This bath is best taken at night or at a time when you can go to sleep right afterward.
• Do not take a ginger bath if you have a fever, high blood pressure, a heart condition, are pregnant, or are prone to seizures or strokes.
• Be sure to hydrate well before, during, and after your bath.
• This post is not intended as medical advice. If you’re feeling ill, please consult a medical professional.

Ginger Bath to Sweat It Out

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup fresh, grated ginger OR
• 1 Tbsp. powdered ginger

To use:

1. Add the ginger to a bathtub full of warm water and stir to distribute.
2. Soak for 20–40 minutes.
3. Allow yourself to relax deeply.
4. When you get out of the tub, be sure to drink water. Dry yourself completely and wrap yourself up in a towel or robe. Go to sleep. Sweet (sweat?) dreams!

Do you use ginger in your beauty or bath treatments?

Do you ever use ginger in your cooking or baking?

A Year of Natural Health & Beauty Tip #45: Make Your Own Microdermabrasion Scrub

Photo by o5com via Flickr

To view all tips so far, click here or simply scroll to the top of the screen and click on 52 Tips.

If you’ve been following along (and participating! ), you already know how easy it is to make your own face and body scrubs just by raiding your kitchen cabinets.

You’ve already discovered how cheap it is, too!

But what about “fancier” skin treatments, like the ones you get at spas or packaged in lovely glass jars from Sephora? I’m talking about everyone’s favorite youthification (yes, it’s a word, haha) treatment: microdermabrasion! In the past, I have spent a silly amount of money on nicely packaged microderm treatments from Sephora and they worked well, revealing glowing, spot-free fresh skin and fewer fine lines.

That is, until I discovered truly the easiest, cheapest alternative that WORKS JUST AS WELL! And I am NOT kidding that it works just as well; in fact, it works BETTER than one particular treatment that cost me around $35 per jar. The secret? Baking soda! Yep, baking soda. Mix it with a little bit of water until it turns into a paste, gently exfoliate for 2 minutes, then rinse off and pat dry. In my personal experience, I have had the EXACT SAME RESULTS as treatments that cost $70 or more. Do you know how much baking soda costs? About 50 cents (USD) at my local store, for a box that lasts practically forever.

I have normal to combination skin, so I simply mix the baking soda with water. It should work just as well for oilier skin. If you have dry skin, try adding a bit of coconut oil. If you are prone to breakouts, I have heard neem oil is fantastic; you could try mixing a bit of neem oil with the baking soda for your at-home microderm treatment.

Microdermabrasion works by exfoliating away the topmost layer of dead skin cells, which, if untouched, simply hang around and make your skin look dull, dry, splotchy, spotty, and wrinkled. It’s painless and you can do it at home by scrubbing gently on clean skin. The treatment was originally created using very fine crystals of salt, aluminum oxide, or … you guessed it … sodium bicarbonate, a.k.a. baking soda. But when it started becoming mass-marketed and treatments were sold in stores for the first time, other ingredients were added, all of which you don’t need! Get back to basics, friends. Baking soda is the microderm master!

Stuff to Know:

• Spot test any products or ingredients before using any homemade products on your face, head, or body, especially if you have sensitive skin or are prone to irritation and/or allergies.
• There’s no need to pre-mix this treatment. Simply keep some baking soda nearby and mix with water as needed.

DIY Microdermabrasion Scrub

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp. baking soda
• Warm water

To use:

1. In the palm of your hand, add a bit of water to the baking soda.
2. Stir until it becomes a paste.
3. Apply to skin that has been cleaned of makeup.
4. Place a dollop on your forehead, each cheek, nose, and chin.
5. Using small, circular movements, very gently exfoliate for 2 minutes. Avoid the eye area.
6. Rinse well with temperate water.
7. Pat your face dry. Do not rub. Tone and moisturize as needed.

Do you get microdermabrasion treatments at a spa or salon?

Have you ever used baking soda in your beauty treatments?