The Autodidact

 Want to dive into mostly guilt-free chocolate goodness? Here you go: Melt 1/2 cup chocolate chips and set aside. I used sugar-free chips. Mix together 1/4 cup butter with 1/3 cup xylitol until well blended. Add 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla and a tablespoon of coconut oil, and melted chips. Add 1 1/4 cups Almond flour, 1/2 teaspoon each of baking soda, baking powder and salt. Add an additional handful or two of more chocolate chips. Blend, then transfer to a greased loaf pan. Bake at 350° for 40 minutes. Let sit in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a plate or cutting board. But wait, the chocolate goodness is NOT over. Melt about 1/2 cup chocolate chips and a tablespoon or so of butter. (I did use regular chips for this part because I just felt like it). Drizzle over the bread, and lick the bowl. Pour a cup of coffee and enjoy a (mostly) sugar- and gluten-free treat!

This is a nice combination of banana and chocolate in a yummy bread. It's good enough for dessert, but will work nicely for breakfast or a snack. Cream 2 cups of sugar (I used 1 cup sugar and 1 cup sucanat) and 2 sticks of butter.  Beat in 4 eggs. Add 8 Tablespoons of milk and 3 smashed or pureed very ripe bananas. Add 4 cups of flour (if using whole wheat or a combination of white and whole wheat add a tablespoon each of vital wheat gluten and dough enhancer), 1& 1/2 cups cocoa, 1& 1/2 cups chocolate chips, 1 Tablespoon each baking soda and baking powder, and 3/4 teaspoon of salt. Mix until just blended and scrape into 3 greased bread pans. The dough will be thick and sticky. My pans measure 8 1/2" by 4 3/4" by 2 1/2" (measured inside the pan), so if yours are much bigger, you may be able to use just 2 pans. Bake at 350 for 55 minutes or until a knife inserted into the middle of the loaf comes out clean. Let sit in the pans and cool for about 15...

What better way to keep warm on a cold winter day than to mix up a batch of scones and a pot of tea? This recipe was given to me by a dear friend, and whenever I make them, I fondly remember many happy times spent in her company. In a large bowl: Mix together 6 cups flour (if you are going heavy on the whole wheat, add 3 Tablespoons each of dough enhancer and vital wheat gluten) 4& 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 3/4 teaspoon salt 1 Tablespoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ginger 1& 1/2 teaspoons nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon cloves Add 1& 1/4 cups butter (or substitute 1/4 cup of the butter with some coconut oil; you won't regret it). Cut the butter into thin slices like this: Mix with a pastry knife or your hands until it looks like this: Add 1 cup canned pumpkin 1& 1/2 cups cream 1/2 cup yogurt 1 cup brown sugar or sucanat 3 Tablespoons vanilla Stir until everything is just mixed together: If you have some cast iron skillets, ...