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Chocolate Chunk Cookies (Kaufmann Diet Friendly)

My son and I headed to the beach for the day to relax and to make our favorite chocolate chunk cookies (Kaufmann diet Friendly of course!)  If you are not sure what the Kaufmann diet is, it’s a lower carb and low-sugar diet for the purpose of starving pathogens such as yeast and fungus which are responsible for many health problems.   This recipe would be considered fine as a Kaufmann Phase 2 dessert, also known as Kaufmann 2.

What You Will Need for Chocolate Chunk Cookies

  • 1 cup cashew or almond butter ( I used cashew butter)
  • 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
  • 1 bar of Lily’s Chocolate (it’s sweetened with Stevia) – I use the Milk chocolate Salted Caramel or the Milk Chocolate with Hazelnuts
  • 5 tbsp xylitol
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • 1 organic egg
  • pinch of chia and flax seeds

chocolate chunk cookies on a metal plate wrapped in string

Instructions

  • Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees
  • Follow Instructions in recipe video’

Recent Television

Last week I was back on Christian Television Network giving my testimony about overcoming chronic illness and a difficult childhood.  I was so blessed to have my mother by my side supporting me all the way!

Chocolate Chunk Cookies (Kaufmann Diet Friendly)

Erin Porter
Try our favorite super tasty Chocolate Chunk Cookie recipe (Kaufmann diet Friendly).
4 from 2 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course Desserts

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup Cashew or almond butter (I used cashew butter)
  • 1 cup Unsweetened coconut flakes
  • 1 Bar of Lily's Chocolate (it's sweetened with Stevia - I use Milk Chocolate with Hazelnuts)
  • 5 tbsp Xylitol
  • 1/2 tsp Vanilla
  • 1 Organic egg
  • pinch Chia and flax seeds

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Add coconut flakes, cashew butter, xylitol, egg, and vanilla into a bowl.
  • Chop up Lily's Chocolate bar into small chunks and add to mixture.
  • Sprinkle in some chia and flax seeds to the mixture.
  • Mix well for a dough like consistency.
  • Spoon portions of the dough onto a cookie sheet (15-20 cookies depending on size).
  • Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees
  • Let cool and serve!

Notes

Kaufmann 2 Diet (Kaufmann Phase II)

 

Creamy Cheesy Broccoli Soup Recipe…And Are you an Eagle or a Chicken?

Cheesy Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe

two bowls of broccoli cheese Soup

 

Have you ever heard the story about the eagle and the chicken?  A baby eagle somehow gets separated from his parents and a farmer takes him in to live with his chickens.  He grows up thinking he is a chicken so naturally he does what chickens do.  He squabbled and fought over seeds, he pecked at the ground for food, and he followed the crowd of other chickens never questioning where they may be heading.   Then one day he looks up and sees a beautiful eagle soaring through the sky and asks a chicken what it was.  The chicken told him “that is an eagle but you don’t need to concern yourself with that because you are chicken and you will never be able to fly like that”.  Sadly the eagle died believing he was a chicken.

I think God intended us to be like the eagle. The eagle is built to soar above all the nonsense and clacking of the chickens below.    Did you know eagles will fly directly into a violent storm and at just the right moment use the storm to fly higher and then ultimately ABOVE it?  They were built to withstand storms.  When adversity hits don’t cluck and make a lot of noise, see what you can learn from the storm and soar higher!

Are you an eagle and hang out with the chickens?  Be careful before you know it you will start to cluck and squabble just like a chicken.

If you are an eagle, hang out with other eagles!  They are the ones that you will learn from, that you will admire, that will cheer you on and be in your corner.  Take stock (no pun intended) of your friends, any chickens?  Before writing this, I did some research on eagles, did you know eagles mate in the air?  If you think about it, this would make it impossible for them to mate with a chicken!  Mother eagles will stir up their babies’ nests when they are strong enough to fly.  This makes things just a bit uncomfortable for the baby eagles. I think God does the same to us.  Sometimes when he sees us hanging out with chickens he may put the pressure on for us to leave the nest and fly elsewhere.  Don’t try to change the chicken, besides, the chickens can’t go where eagles go.

I will end with this quote I heard. “If someone rejected you- it was probably a chicken.”

They say rejection is one of the most painful emotions humans experience.  If you would like to read my post on rejection click here.

close up of broccoli cheese soup in orange bowl

broccoli cheese soup in orange bowls

broccoli chedder soup

Creamy Cheesy Broccoli Soup

Erin Porter
Try this quick and nutritious creamy cheesy broccoli soup!
Course Main Dishes

Ingredients
  

  • 13.5 oz Light coconut milk
  • 1 Head broccoli chopped
  • 1 bag Shredded cheddar cheese
  • 2 cloves Garlic
  • 2 tsp Salt
  • 1/4 tsp Thyme
  • 1/4 Onion chopped
  • 32 oz Chicken or bone broth
  • 1/4 tsp Black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp Parsley
  • 1/2 cup Gluten free flour I use Namaste flour
  • 1 tbs Grass fed butter
  • 1 tbs Olive oil

Instructions
 

  • In large frying pan melt the butter and olive oil. Add chopped onion and garlic and sautee until golden brown.
  • Place onion and garlice and all other ingredients in the crockpot and cook on hight for 4-5 hours or on low for 8-9 hours.
  • enjoy!

Notes

Kaufmann 2 Diet (Kaufmann Phase II)

 

 

For Kaufmann diet regarding dairy click here

 

Beef Fajitas… And Facing Your Fears

beef fajitas

“Why not go out on a limb, that’s where all the fruit is”

It was a week before I was to tape a segment for a national television show.  Yup me!  Someone who is terrified to speak in front of people.  I’m the person who in high school didn’t show up for an entire week to avoid giving an oral speech.  I really tried to confront my fears since then.   Twice I joined a group where you practice giving speeches in front of your peers.  Both times I quit the group when it was my time to deliver.  So back up, what am I doing going on national TV?  The opportunity presented itself and we all know in life most opportunities are passing and will never come around again.  I was asked to appear on Doug Kaufmann’s show “Know the Cause” and discuss my former health issues and talk about my blog Eat, Pray, Get Well.  Easy enough you’d think, nobody knows the topic of ourselves better than we do, but I was still petrified.  I had mastered the skill of avoiding situations much less scary than this, but this time there was no running and hiding.

There was no doubt I was thrilled and honored at the idea of being on this show, I not only attribute this show to being a major part of my healing, but my website EPGW was also inspired by this show! Still I felt as if I was being sent to the guillotine.  I was overcome with panic and fear.  My imagination was running wild with everything that could possibly go wrong.    I then decided I would not release the news of the appearance until after it was over (just in case I was a total flop)!  Then of course I could forget it ever happened and nobody had to know (except for the millions of strangers who may have caught it on TV).  If you have ever read the book “Feel the fear and do it anyway” the author says whenever we are afraid of something, whether it be divorce, illness, death, rejection, or public speaking, what we are really afraid of is not being able to handle these things when and if they do happen.   So what do we do to overcome this fear?  There is really only two choices for us.  We can remain in our safe cocoon and never take any risks, or we can push through the fear and take a step in the direction of making our dreams come true.  The funny thing is people who choose to stay in the safety of their cocoon KNOW they are not avoiding pain.  There is palpable pain in remaining stagnant.  There is pain in not growing and not taking chances.  There is pain in missing out on opportunities, and there is pain in not being everything you were put on this earth to be.  Is there anything you have been too afraid to do?  Switch careers? Ask someone out on a date?  Leave a bad relationship? Let me just give you one of my favorite quotes, “Don’t let the fear of what could happen, make nothing happen”.  Think about that.  NOTHING HAPPENING – now to me, THAT sounds scary!

erintv

So how did the show turn out you ask?  It surprisingly turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life and I would do it again in a heartbeat!  The host of the show Doug Kaufmann was so warm and inviting, he made me feel like I was an old friend.  I know what you may be asking yourselves.  “But what if it didn’t turn out well and it WAS a disaster”?  I could live with that outcome before I could live with cowering to fear and never knowing what I was capable of.  You are never the same on the other side of a personal challenge, and with each push your self-esteem and zest for life is increased.  Don’t let fear steal your future!   When I began to analyze what was at the root of my fear, I realized it was the fear of being judged and caring what people would think of me.   I started to reflect on what I have always taught my son.  I tell him often that I think one of the most freeing things I ever heard was that 10% of people will not like me.  Or you!  And it doesn’t matter how nice you are, pretty you are, funny, smart, or giving.  It doesn’t matter, they will not like you!   Move on to the people that think you are fantastic.  There are about 90% of those! This always snaps me back to reality!  Something I learned from this experience is that if God puts an opportunity in front of you he will surely enable you to walk through it, he will also give you the peace that surpasses all understanding when we ask for it.  This experience also showed me that he’s not only interested in healing us from our physical ailments but our emotional ones as well.   I’m hoping some of you step out of your comfort zone today and start creating the life you really want!   To listen to my podcast interview on Know the Cause click here.  When the show airs with my interview I will provide the link to that as well.  Now go enjoy some fajitas!

beef fajitas-3

beef fajitas

Beef Fajitas

Erin Porter
Try this delicious and healthy beef fajita recipe.
Course Main Dishes

Ingredients
  

  • 3/4 lb Marinated Skirt or Flank Steak antibiotic/hormone free
  • Wraps wheat/yeast free
  • 1 Yellow Pepper
  • 1 Green Pepper
  • 1 Red Pepper
  • 1 Sweet Onion
  • Mozzarella Cheese
  • Fresh Cilantro
  • Salsa optional
  • Sour Cream optional

Instructions
 

  • I bought a flank steak already marinated. We cooked the meat and the vegetables on the grill.
  • Cut vegetables length wise and brush vegetables with olive oil and salt and pepper.
  • Place meat and vegetables separately on the grill and grill meat for about 5-7 minutes, then flip the meat and cook for an additional 2-5 minutes.
  • Remove from grill and slice against the grain about 1/4 inch thick.
  • Place wraps on grill for approximately 5 seconds, then remove from grill and add meat, vegetables and cheese to your wrap.
  • Top with cilantro, salsa, and sour cream if desired.

Notes

This can be Kaufmann 1 Diet (Kaufmann Phase I) or Kaufmann 2 Diet (Kaufmann Phase II) depending on what kind of wraps you use. Remember to make sure they are corn/wheat/yeast free.

 

Berry Cobbler… and 12 Things the First Year of Marriage Has Taught Me

two white bowls of berry cobbler

It’s a new year and that could explain why I’m finding myself in a very introspective kind of mood.  Bob and I have been married a little over a year and I think I grew by leaps and bounds in this first year of holy matrimony!  In all positive ways of course, but as we grow there is always pain involved because we are being stretched.  Sometimes beyond what we think we can handle.  But if we are not being stretched then we aren’t learning or growing which means we are stagnant, and as the saying goes “when you are through changing, you are through”.

  1. I learned to let my spouse be right.  When I knew I was right, I wasn’t happy until my husband acquiesced and I also usually had to have the last word. Pride has no place in a marriage and so we can be right while making our spouse unhappy or learn to be flexible and live in harmony with our best friend.  So once I came to this conclusion, 2015 was full of swallowing my pride, but being happy is much more satisfying to me now than being right.
  2. I learned to be the first to say “I’m sorry”.   My husband would usually be the first to hand out the apologies even if I was in the wrong.  It didn’t matter to him who was wrong, what mattered to him was that we recognized that this was just the “small stuff” and in the grand scheme of things none of it really mattered. So now I keep the bigger picture in the forefront, and that is on having a happy, long lasting partnership and if that means I have to be the first to apologize, I am happy to do it.
  3. I learned love believes the best.  I no longer rush to judgement by trying to fill in the blanks with negative assumptions.  Instead, I listen carefully to what my spouse is saying and focus on the positive.
  4. I learned to give my spouse room to be human. We tend to look at our spouse with a much harsher lens than which we view ourselves. It’s human nature, but if we can practice taking our spouse off the potters wheel and accept who they are not only will they be happier but we will find ourselves happier as well.
  5. I learned patience (okay truth be told I’m STILL learning patience).  Nothing teaches us patients like being in a marriage with another flawed human being.  There is also nothing that restores harmony quicker to your home than displaying patients. Patience is walking out love.  Anyone can get upset and fly off the handle but it’s a gift you bring to the table when you can extend patience to your loved one.
  6. I learned if you are best friends first, everything else falls into place. Want to become invaluable to your spouse?  Focus on being their best friend first.  Cheer them on, pay attention when they are speaking to you, find out their needs and fulfill them, these are the ingredients for a happy marriage but too many of us want to see our spouse displaying these traits before we will start to display them ourselves.
  7. I learned to have a servants spirt.  My husband was born with this trait,  I was not.  I can’t remember a day that has gone by where he hasn’t asked me the question “what can I do for you today?”  I realized this kind of attitude only makes   the other person want to serve you in return which breeds more positive feelings.  So now I find out what my spouse needs done and get busy.
  8. I learned to be transparent.  Nothing should ever be hidden from each other.  Nothing.  Not money, not passwords, not feelings.  If you don’t have trust you won’t have a good marriage.  Period. So nothing is worth jeopardizing that trust. I am blessed to have a  partner that is 100% transparent!
  9. I learned to be vulnerable. Marriage is no place for walls, or for competition, or for perfectionism.  I think what makes us more beautiful to one another is exposing our flaws and our fears to each other. It makes us more human.
  10. I learned rudeness has no place in a marriage.  Sarcasm, snide remarks, and any tone resembling disrespect.  When you steer clear of these love destroyers the tone of your house  becomes one of respect and honor.
  11. I learned to fight fair – a month or so into our marriage during an argument I told my husband to stop “acting like a jerk”.  He in turn calmly asked me if that was the sort of marriage I wanted.  One that included calling your best friend names. It kind of shocked me as I thought that was pretty tame considering what I really wanted to call him.  But in the end I realized he was right. Disagreements are inevitable but we should bend over backwards to fight fair and not hurt one another.
  12. I learned about the power of laughter.  Laugher heals, it bonds, it naturally pulls you together like a magnet and it eases the pains of reality.  I learned that having a play mate is just as important as having a soul mate.

Final thought,  as sure as being your spouses biggest fan will cultivate an atmosphere of love and respect, being rude, spewing harsh comments, and selfishness I would imagine creates the perfect conditions for falling out of love.  I have my husband to thank for most of these lessons and I know I am a better person for having him in my life. He makes me look forward to each and every day with him and I can’t wait to see what lessons year two brings!

Now enjoy this amazing berry cobbler.  More proof sugar free doesn’t have to mean deprivation!

Berry Cobbler & 12 things the first year of marriage has taught me

Erin Porter
Enjoy this amazing sugar free berry cobbler.  More proof sugar free doesn’t have to mean deprivation!
Course Desserts

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup Blackberries
  • 1 cup Blueberries
  • 1 cup Raspberries
  • 1/4 cup Coconut flour I used Bob's Red Mill for all flour
  • 1/4 cup Tapioca flour
  • 1/2 cup Almond flour To substitute a nut flour you can use 1/2 cup Namaste Muffin Mix (no sugar added)
  • 1 tbsp Arrowroot flour
  • 2 tbsp Melted butter
  • 1 tbsp Coconut oil
  • 2 1/2 tbsp Xylitol and a little extra for the top
  • 1/2 tsp baking solda
  • pinch Salt
  • 1/3 cup Coconut milk
  • 1 tsp Lemon juice
  • Dash of cinnamon

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Mix all dry ingredients (except for the arrowroot flour- and only 1 1/2 tbsp of xylitol) in a medium bowl.
  • Add butter and coconut oil to dry ingredients using a fork.
  • Add the milk a little at a time until it forms into a dough.
  • Roll the dough into a ball shape and set aside.
  • Toss the berries with and one additional tbsp of xylitol, lemon juice and arrowroot flour.
  • Grease baking dish or cast iron skillet with butter. I place a bit of butter in the dish and set in the oven for 1 minute.
  • Take the dish out and add berry mixture.
  • Tear dough into pieces and toss around and on top of the berries.
  • Sprinkle additional xylitol on top and some cinnamon if desired.
  • Bake for approximately 10-12 minutes until topping is slightly golden brown.
  • Top with homemade whipped cream if desired.

Notes

Kaufmann 1 Diet (Kaufmann Phase I)