Coconut Butter

Coconut butter is an excellent alternative to butter for anyone sensitive or allergic to dairy. It's also just a great way to add more coconut into your life!  I'd heard about coconut butter while reading some blogs and after months and months of thinking about it I decided to give it a try and I'm sold.

Coconut Butter

2 cups dried unsweetened coconut flakes (I used Bob's Red Mill)

Process coconut flakes in a food processor for about 10 minutes. The coconut will break down into mushy little clumps of coconut and eventually turn into a thicker paste consistency. Scoop into a jar and your done. Seriously, its that simple! Store in the fridge and microwave a bit before using (or store it on the counter if you're lazy like me and hope you can finish it before it goes bad). 

Serve on toast, pancakes, vegetables, or anywhere else you would use butter.

Walnut Banana Bread

Everyone loves banana bread. amirite? Having a restricted diet is sometimes frustrating when you see all these comfort foods that you remember in a specific way and you think youll never be able to enjoy the same again.

Last year when went on a no sugar for one month challenge I found a recipe for banana bread which used dates in place of the sugar. It was amazing. But back then I was also still eating wheat and dairy. Then the other day I was thinking about banana bread and nut flours and realized that using walnut flour in a banana bread was the most incredible idea! So armed my ideas and a few recipes for reference I came up with this brilliant banana walnut bread. The recipe may seem like there is a lot to it, but if you prepare ahead of time it's so easy to mix up the batter!

Walnut Banana Bread

3/4c dates, pitted

1/2c boiling water

3 ripe bananas

6 eggs, separated

1/4c coconut oil, melted

1/4c almond (or coconut) milk

2t apple cider vinegar

1 1/2t vanilla

2/3c walnut flour

1/2c coconut flour

1t baking soda

1/2t baking powder

3/4t salt

1t cinnamon

Prepare your ingredients:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Oil a bread pan, set aside.

Pour boiling water over pitted dates in a bowl, set aside.

Mash bananas with a fork and set aside.

Grind up about 1/2c walnuts to make flour if you don't have it already made.

In a bowl combine flours baking powder and soda salt and cinnamon.

Process dates and water into a food processor until it forms a paste.

Whip egg whites in a medium bowl until bubbly. Whisk in bananas, milk, vinegar, vanilla, date paste and oil. Pour dry ingredients into the bowl and stir to combine. Pour batter into pan, cover with foil. Bake covered for 30 minutes, uncover bake another 20–25 minutes. Turn off the oven and let the pan sit in the oven for an additional 30 minutes to allow the center to finish cooking.