It's a Date!

 Over the last couple of months,

I've been searching for a better way to eat.

Considering that I've been a fairly "clean" eater for decades,

it surprised me to find that I could tweak my diet even more.

With the recent elimination diet that my naturopath guided me through,

I found that giving up nuts, seeds, sugar and all things gluten was pretty tough.

Although I'm still avoiding gluten anything,

I have been able to add back a substantial list of items 

that came up negative on my sensitivity panel.

Gratitude prevails for being able to once again 

consume cocoa, coffee, nuts, seeds and certain grains (not wheat).

The book featured here has been a Godsend.

Dana Shultz is a master at what she does,

which is create gloriously simple recipes

for those of us who find ourselves wanting to eat better,

but still harboring cravings for traditional comfort foods.

If you are at all interested in improving your health

without having to sacrifice taste and ease of preparation,

please run, don't walk, to your nearest book source,

and pick up her fabulous cookbook.

You can also check out her amazing website:

Minimalist Baker.

Rest assured, her repertoire consists of savory dishes

as well as sweet treats. 

Most of my cookbooks were given away years ago,

but this is one I will be purchasing anew.

The recipes are simple, have few (real) ingredients,

and most take under 30 minutes from start to finish.

I look forward to exploring these recipes.

In fact, until recently, I've been absolutely burned out

with regard to cooking or baking.

This book and website have motivated and excited me

to try new ways to enjoy old favorites.

Medjool dates

I've watched my sugar intake for years,

allowing myself a handful of dark chocolate daily,

knowing that my consumption was far less than most folks.

I'm a label reader, and quite particular about what I buy.

Being able to scratch cook has always been my goal,

and it's the only way I can imagine feeding my family.

One fruit I had never tried before was dates.

Since creating some of the concoctions on Dana's website,

I've discovered what a fantastic sugar substitute they make!

Dates are a great source of fiber, rich in calcium and phosphorus,

and are more easily processed by the body than standard sugars.

Does this mean I'll never again eat sugar?

Nope, but it will no longer be a daily staple.

This is the latest sweet treat I've made using dates.

The recipe can be found here.

I actually used less dates than suggested when I made it,

and it was still mighty sweet.

It's not clear if it's because I've been sugar-free

for going on 7 weeks, or if the dates are just that sweet!

I hope you'll check out these resources.

Dana has found her calling.

And I'm so grateful she has.