The Best Primal Chocolate Chip Cookies

So apparently, it is my day for posting recipes.  One of these days I might get around to actually writing about life, but for now, recipes will have to do!  Have been enjoying cooking and playing around with making some of our traditional favorites but without grains, beans/legumes, refined sugars and pretty much any and all processed food.  Chocolate chip cookies have always been one of my very favorite baked treats, and after trying and modifying quite a few recipes have finally stopped searching.  For now at least...

This recipe was adapted from Elana's Pantry Gluten Free / Dairy Free Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Primal Chocolate Chip Cookies (Vegan, Dairy Free & Gluten/Grain Free)

2 1/2 cups almond flour (from blanched almonds)*
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup melted coconut oil
1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup coconut nectar/sap
1 cup dark chocolate chips (Enjoy Life, Sunspire 65%, etc.)

Preheat oven to 350.  Combine almond flour, sea salt and baking soda in a large bowl.  Melt coconut oil and combine with vanilla, maple syrup and coconut nectar.  Stir wet ingredients into dry mixture.  Once well mixed, stir in chocolate chips.

Press Tablespoon sized balls onto parchment lined baking sheet (or lightly grease with coconut oil if parchment paper not available).  Bake for 10 - 12 minutes, then cool and serve!

* I use Bob's Red Mill almond flour even though Elana says it does not work properly and prefers a couple other brands.  It is the only one available here locally and sells at our Tacoma Food Co-op for $4.99 / lb.  I have found that it works better if not bought in bulk as it has settled into the package and measures more correctly in most recipes.  But if I lightly pack it into measuring cups then most of the time it works out just fine!  Too little "flour" (or too much coconut oil) and the cookies will spread out and be crispy.  I actually make them on purpose this way sometime, but they're not quite as pretty.  Too much "flour" and they won't spread out at all and the insides will stay gooey unless you overcook them.

Going Primal!

It's been an interesting week of eating with Paul and I experimenting with eating a "Primal" diet - or close to one at least.  After reading bits and pieces about the principles behind primal/Paleo/caveman nutrition over the last couple of years, it was when Paul became interested from his Crossfit circles that we both finally dove in head first and did some serious reading and research to see what it was all about.  And the principles behind it made enough sense that we decided we had to at least give it a try! For those not familiar with the recommended dietary guidelines, that means eating mostly a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables along with pastured, wild caught and/or naturally raised meat products.  Also eggs, nuts and seeds, and sometimes raw dairy (everyone has their own opinion on that one!) . Sounds good so far, right? The hard part is that the list of allowed foods pretty much stops there. Grains, beans, other legumes and sugars of all kinds are on the off limits list.

I can imagine what you might be thinking. What kind of crazy diet plan is that? Why in the world would someone want to avoid eating whole grains and legumes? Aren't they the healthiest foods out there? But the more I read, the more I think what they say makes sense. Genetically, our bodies have not adapted to eating grains. Most of us have probably heard about how common gluten intolerance is now and how much better these people feel on a gluten free diet. The truth is, all humans would feel and function better without gluten. But it doesn't stop there. Other grains, even beloved brown rice, also have anti-nutrients in them that make it very hard for us to digest. Traditionally when humans first started planting and eating grains, they were always soaked, sprouted and/or fermented to make them edible and easier for us to digest. Over time, most have stopped these practices, but continue to eat grains. The Paleo/primal diet advocates say this has contributed to a whole host of sicknesses and disease. Auto-immune disorders, diabetes, obesity, etc. 

So you'll likely hear more from me about this in future posts. I'm planning to figure things out over the next few weeks, then commit to 30 days of a 100% Paleo diet (dairy free too) in September. Anyone wanna join me??