Birthdays, graduations, weddings, anniversaries, Wednesdays... there are so many good reasons to eat chocolate cake. In fact, this recipe came to be this week as we were celebrating my birthday. Earlier this week I had hastily jotted down a recipe for chocolate cake to bring for me and my sister's double birthday party happening later that evening. I love it when it turns out alright on the first try, but love it even more that my family is so patient with my cooking experiments. It still needed a little tweaking.

Honey caramel hard candies remind me of simpler days: horse drawn carriages, petticoats, and books that were only read on paper - never on a screen. You may decide to go a little Down Town Abby with your Halloween costume after making a batch. Whatever they remind you of they'll take care of your sweet tooth without any refined sugars, preservatives, fool coloring, or other complicated, unpronounceable ingredients.Speaking of sweets, the holidays are always adorned, sprinkled, and caked in sugar aren't they? It can certainly make it hard to stay true to any kind of healthy, clean diet. This old-school candy is made of good old honey, or for a vegan version you could use pure maple syrup."Well, it's still technically sugar isn't it?" you may be thinking.Yes, chemically honey and cane sugar are both glucose, but honey is also fructose. Fructose is the form of sugar found in fruit and honey in a natural unprocessed state. Besides, you won't find vitamins and minerals in table sugar like you will in the former. The same is true for pure maple syrup as well (not the corn syrup imitation stuff). I figure, if I'm going to have some "sugar" I'd rather have it be as natural as possible.

Remember those delicious Orange Creamsicles I made a while ago? I shared them with my friends on Good Things Utah. Well, when Miah asked me for a "Frozen" cake for her birthday those creamsicles sounded like they might, with a little tweaking, make an easy and yummy (and literal) frozen cake. It would need a crust on the bottom, so I guess it's more of a frozen tart than a cake.

  Valentines was one of my favorite holidays as a kid. I loved making secret gifts for everyone, getting love notes from mom, flowers from dad, and little special things from my friends. Inevitably, as you get older some valentines celebrations won't be as sweet- not every valentines, but at least one just to chalk up to experience. Not as a kid though! As a kid valentines is about sweets, heart shaped construction paper cut-outs, kindergarten crushes, and love notes. Here's a little something sweet to send to school in their lunch box along with that love note or to enjoy with whomever you love.

I have to say I find it funny when people say things like, "oh, I'm not a good cook", not because I don't believe them, but because I used to say the exact same thing. 

Fall is on it's way, apples are coming into season, and everyone is craving some warm comfort food that reminds them of home. At least I am. It can be frustrating though, attempting to indulge in some reminiscent baked goods when more recent food allergies have kind of put a halt on "bread". Well this bread is gluten free with no refined sugar. Instead I made my own bean flour blend and used coconut sugar, no sugar added apple sauce, and real maple syrup to make this delicious treat. Yummy!

  I made these last night in celebration of the last week before the kids go back to school! Maybe it's a little more of a celebration for me and just sympathy sweets for the kids. Either way, they are chewy and yummy and so easy to make. Years ago Alex's grandma showed me how to take a couple eggs, a cup of peanut butter and a cup of sugar and make it into simple little peanut butter cookies. They are so good, but you have to make them really little so they don't fall apart and there's a lot of sugar. So I decided to take her classic recipe and alter it just enough to make it healthier, yet just as simple and good. The trick is replacing the whole eggs with whipped egg whites and the refined white sugar with a less refined sweetener like coconut sugar or honey.   * Okay, so actually there are 4 ingredients if you count the chocolate chips, but you get the idea. 

  "Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must...undergo the fatigue of supporting it."    - Thomas Paine

  Fresh peaches are showing up at farmers' markets and grocery stores everywhere now that summer is well underway. I love the smell and taste of a perfectly ripe peach. Mmmm, there is just something about them that requires you to relax.  I love to sink my teeth in and let the juice run down my chin, but there are lots of other delicious ways to serve and enjoy all those summer peaches too....Peach Meringue and Maple Vinegar Glazed Nectarines (or peaches) are some of my favorites for a quick dessert. Making it Paleo (gluten free, grain free, sugar free) eliminates the worry about whether you'll be able to shimmy into your swimsuit after eating it.

Hello summer! Time for something cold and sweet! Let's skip the sugar-laden, artificially colored, ingredients-I-can't-pronounce kind of treats and eat something that makes you feel as good as it tastes. Gluten free, dairy free, refined sugar free, delicious Orange Creamsicles!  The best thing about these yummy treats isn't just that they taste amazing...well, yes it is...okay, one of the best things is that this recipe is versatile! You can pour it into Popsicle molds or if you have an ice cream maker you can turn it into Dairy Free Orange Sherbet Ice Cream!

  Okay I have to admit this "bread" may be more closely related to a brownie, but it's a gluten free, dairy free, grain free, refined sugar free, delicious bread/brownie something!

    These peanut butter cookies are simple, healthy, gluten free, dairy free, refined sugar free, and packed with protein! 

That's kind of a mouthful to say, but that's okay since you'll probably kind of have a mouthful of these clean eating, gluten free, healthy, homemade treats! These are perfect for a cinco de Mayo party, a simple dessert at a barbecue, or just as a healthy alternative to the sugar and food coloring Popsicle for the kids this summer. 

  Mother's day is coming! If it was me (hint hint) I'd love to get spoiled on mother's day by just being able to relax! Maybe in a lawn chair out in the sun, a glass of lemon water (with a straw), a big floppy sun hat, a good book, and a yummy treat just for me. Just saying.

  You knew it was coming...I mentioned an upcoming birthday and I made homemade Greek yogurt. What else is there to do but make some gluten free carrot cupcakes with homemade Greek yogurt frosting?! These little guys are going to be perfect for a certain little girl's birthday tea party and would also be a great Easter dessert - you know, cause the Easter bunny loves carrots ;)