The last time I attempted to bake a gluten-free, dairy-free birthday cake was 6 years ago. I decided to try again. I wanted to make a chocolate layer cake to celebrate my birthday—as well as my sister’s recent significant birthday. One of the most effective ways that I manage my Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune thyroid […]
Banana Mint-Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Back when I enjoyed frozen dairy treats, one of my favorite summer indulgences was homemade gelato. I especially loved pistachio gelato or an authentic Italian olive oil gelato—finished with a generous drizzle of robustly flavored olive oil. I have hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid), and, these days, my body is unable to tolerate dairy. Several years […]
Beat the Heat: Homemade-Mango Ginger Popsicles
I often see clients who have autoimmune conditions, like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, or multiple food sensitivities (myself, included). Often, they are highly reactive or intolerant to sugar and dairy foods. Happily, this homemade mango-ginger popsicle will make your store-bought dairy cravings yesterday’s news. And, if you have an autoimmune condition—and are not sensitive to any of […]
Sweet Potato Brownies
Who doesn’t love brownies? This dairy-free, gluten-free version combines two superfoods: dark chocolate and sweet potatoes. The result? Delectable, nutrient-dense brownies that you can eat breakfast! It’s also a man-friendly recipe that involves mostly mixing and stirring—with a little chopping (the chocolate). Dark Chocolate and Heart Health Eating a small amount of dark chocolate on […]
Show Me the Love! Ultra-Dark Chocolate Sweet Potato Brownies
Want to show your love? Give me chocolate—the darker, the better (I like 85% cocoa content or higher). Or…you could make these brownies! Why does chocolate = love? We have to credit the Mayans for creating this symbolic connection. In the 7th century, the Mayans migrated from Guatemala to the Yucatan peninsula, where they established […]
Sweet Taste of Summer: Watermelon
Watermelon is a delicious and detoxifying warm weather food that deserves recognition for its many health-promoting properties. A welcome finale at the end of any summer meal, it’s also the easiest, fuss-free dessert you’ll ever serve! Naturally sweet-tasting, yet crisp and refreshing, watermelon is an extremely hydrating “wet” food, about 92% water. Like other high […]
Baked Pumpkin-Ginger Custard
I love pie. A few years ago, I even won a red ribbon at a local, upstate apple pie baking contest for both my filling and my pie crust. That was then. Since being diagnosed with low thyroid in 2013, I have followed a strict wheat-free, gluten-free Paleo diet. This has been a good thing […]
Blackberry Hill
This August has been glorious in our slice of Hudson Valley paradise. Dewy mornings give way to warm, sunny days, perfumed by honeysuckle. Evenings turn cool as the sun sets, leaving a pink dusk in its wake. And, as the light fades, settling into a pitch-black country sky speckled with stars, we often take to […]
Gluten-Free Vanilla Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting
Making healthy shifts—especially when it comes to sweet treats that give you pleasure—is key to making healthy eating deliciously sustainable. I know it was for me… Take these delicious Paleo vanilla cupcakes with chocolate frosting, for example. (By the way, this classic “yellow cake-chocolate frosting” combo was a winner with everyone who sampled them!) Before […]