Naturally Sweet and Gluten-free: Review and Giveaway and a Cookie Recipe! GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED.

See below how to win your own copy!

I can remember the early days of living within our new food-allergy-impacted diet so well. It was overwhelming! What could we eat? What could we serve to guests? What could we bring to potlucks?

Almost 10 years ago, there weren't the bevvy of resources available that there are today. We came across help website by website, cookbook by cookbook.

These writers and recipe developers became our teachers, helpers and sometimes our friends. Ricki Heller is one of those people who showed my family (along with thousands of others) that living within a restricted diet is a challenge that can be met with abundance and sweetness.

On her website, rickiheller.com, Ricki weaves entertaining stories and essays around her food journey while providing nourishing and delicious recipes. Her vegan, gluten-free recipes are also safe for people who need to follow an Anti-Candida Diet (ACD). One aspect of the ACD is a need for low-sugar cooking. 

Ricki is a master at creating desserts that are luscious and decadent tasting, without refined sugars or flours. She relies instead on whole-food, plant-based ingredients that nourish your body right along with your spirit. (And if you ask me, what could be more spirit nourishing than a cookie?)

In her new book, Naturally Sweet and Gluten-Free, Ricki has created a resource that's as beautiful to look at, as it is to cook from. The pictures jump off the page. The cookies I baked from this book jumped off the plate (and into our bellies!).

You should still buy a copy of this great book, even if you win! You will be glad to be able to share it with a friend.

Just to get you started, Ricki is sharing her recipe for Chocolate Flecked Pumpkin Seed Cookies with us. (I used mini chocolate chips in mine. Delicious!!!)

Chocolate-Flecked Pumpkin Seed Cookies
from Naturally Sweet and Gluten-free by Ricki Heller
Makes 12

Ingredients:
1/3 cup (55 g) coconut sugar
20 to 30 drops pure plain or vanilla stevia liquid
¼ cup (60 ml) water
1 tsp (5 ml) pure vanilla extract
½ cup (120 ml) natural smooth pumpkinseed butter, at room temperature
¼ cup (25 g) finely ground flax seeds (from about 2 Tbsp whole seeds)
½ cup (75 g) brown rice flour
1/8 tsp (.5 ml) fine sea salt
¼ cup (50 g) unsweetened carob chips or dairy-free chocolate chips, coarsely chopped 
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper, or spray with nonstick spray.

In a small bowl, whisk together the coconut sugar,stevia, water, and vanilla until the sugar dissolves.

Add the pumpkin seed butter, flax, flour, and salt and mix well to form a very thick and sticky dough. Stir in the chips.

Using a heaping teaspoon (5 ml), scoop the dough and roll it into small balls, placing them about one inch (2.5cm) apart on the cookie sheet. Flatten slightly with your palm (or use a silicone spatula).

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, rotating the sheet about halfway through, until the cookies are light golden brown (the dough will lighten as the cookies bake).

Allow the cookies to cool completely before removing
from the cookie sheet.

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. May be frozen.

Happy Cooking!
Kim 

My new book Super Seeds, is available now! You can also find tasty recipes in Welcoming Kitchen: 200 Delicious Allergen & Gluten-Free Vegan Recipes.