Heather Connell - Paleo Sweets and Treats: Seasonally Inspired Desserts that Let You Have Your Cake and Your Paleo Lifestyle, Too

Paleo Sweets and Treats is not only a gorgeous book, but a book that will talk any nonpaleo eater into being a believer. Heather uses creative cooking and baking techniques to bring desserts to your table in a whole new way. Her recipes are also simple and easy to create over and over. You will not be disappointed in this book!

Juli of PaleOMG.com and author of OMG thats Paleo?

If your family is struggling to get onto the grain-free whole foods bandwagon because traditional sweets are calling your name, then Paleo Sweets and Treats may be just the thing you need to get onboard.

Stacy, Paleo Parents, http://paleoparents.com

As a Paleo mom, I am so glad to have this book on my shelf. Although I love to cook, I am not much of a baker. Paleo Sweets and Treats will be my go-to guide for all birthday parties and special occasions. This book is filled with creative and delicious recipes that emphasize seasonal, whole ingredients. They will leave your guests loaded with nutrients and questioning if the desserts were really Paleo. If you enjoy sweets and also care about your health, this book is for you!

Arsy Vartanian, author of Paleo Slow Cooker (Race Point, 2013) and rubiesandradishes.com

2013 Fair Winds Press

Text 2013 Heather Connell

Photography Fair Winds Press

First published in the USA in 2013 by

Fair Winds Press, a member of

Quayside Publishing Group

100 Cummings Center

Suite 406-L

Beverly, MA 01915-6101

www.fairwindspress.com

Visit www.QuarrySPOON.com and help us celebrate food and culture one spoonful at a time!

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without prior permission in writing from the publisher.

17 16 15 14 13 1 2 3 4 5

Digital edition published in 2013

Digital Edition: 978-1-61058-913-0
Softcover Edition: 978-1-59233-556-5

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Connell, Heather.

Paleo sweets & treats : seasonally-inspired desserts that let you have your cake and your paleo lifestyle, too / Heather Connell.

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-59233-556-5 (alk. paper)

1. Desserts. 2. Cake. 3. Gluten-free diet--Recipes. I. Title. II. Title: Paleo sweets and treats. III. Title: Seasonally-inspired desserts that let you have your cake and your paleo lifestyle, too.

TX773.C63157 2013

641.86--dc23

2013012649

Cover and Book design by Duckie Designs

Photography by Heather Connell

The information in this book is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace the advice of a physician or medical practitioner. Please see your health care provider before beginning any new health program.

Heather Connell

Im Heathera wife, a mom, and a lover of grain-free Paleo baking and cooking. But this is not how Ive always cooked and baked. You see, I grew up in the South with two amazing ladies in my life, my mom and grandmother, who both loved to be in the kitchen. I remember as a child standing on a chair beside them helping them cook their latest savory meal and bake their latest delicious dessert. Our family was all about coming together around a table, sharing a meal for every holiday and celebration in our lives.

Although my grandmother and mom had a love for cooking, I never adopted this passion until I got married and realized I had to feed another person. As scary as that was, I dove in face first, which meant reading lots of cookbooks and watching many cooking shows. Along the way and after many disasters, I got better in the kitchen, and my love of cooking grew deeper. Instead of taking the route of the Southern fried foods I grew up with, however, I took a more healthy approach (or so I thought). But I still incorporated the grain- and sugar-based baking my mom and grandmother taught me. I thought this direction was the right one, but my world was about to suddenly change and I was going to be faced with an unfamiliar challenge.

A little more than a year after the birth of my twin daughters, I was experiencing stomach pains, fatigue, and many other health problems. After five or six months of monthly doctors visits to continually monitor suspicious findings that were going on in my body, I became frustrated and tired, even more than I already was. The doctor finally said it was either go on medication to hopefully help these things go away or undergo surgery. Becoming more frustrated and very scared, I decided to put an end to these feelings and research the whys. I soon found out that many of my health issues were coming from my very own kitchenall the foods I loved, the foods that I thought were right.

I began to remove culprits such as gluten, dairy, and soy from my diet and gradually started to feel better, but it wasnt until I stumbled across this new thing called Paleo that I started to feel fantastic. All those health problems that once ailed me disappeared within thirty to forty days, and it was almost like I could see more clearly. A beautiful thing when I had felt so foggy for so long! I was like a new person. And I had a second chance.

As much as I loved this new feeling I was having, my kitchen became foreign to me. The things I used to love to eat were now forbidden. In ways, it was like learning to cook all over again. Before Paleo, I loved to bake. Again, it was something my grandmother and mom taught me. It was something I planned to teach my beautiful daughters. But how do you bake in a Paleo kitchen when Paleo circles frown upon treats?

Ive always loved a challenge. After all, everyone deserves a little indulgence from time to timebut without the guilt or health-robbing effects. I got in the kitchen and embraced my new lifestyle. The beautiful thing was that my twin daughters were by my side for this journey. We soon found ourselves creating delicious treats while using only seasonal whole foods with sparing amounts of natural sweeteners. Not only was I teaching myself, but I was also teaching my daughters about whole real foods and taking care of our health. We visited the local markets and picked out seasonal produce to use in our kitchen. We learned how to cook in this new way together. Such an amazing and beautiful thing! Paleo hasnt changed just my lifeit has also changed my familys.

Throughout this journey, I shared everything with my readers on my blog, MultiplyDelicious.com, from the reasons behind my new lifestyle to recipes. Because of my readers and the questions I received behind the scenes in emails, I wanted to learn more so I could help others out there. I received my Holistic Nutritionist certification in hopes that I could share my knowledge and help others in their journey toward better health. I find it amazing that what we put into our bodies can really heal us. It did for me! And I promise, its not hard.

As Paleo eaters, we can still have the foods that make our hearts smile and our stomachs dance with delight. This is why I have written this book, to help you both embrace your Paleo kitchen and reward yourself with seasonal whole treats that you and your body can feel good about.