Gluten-free Goodness: Chocolate Pear Tart

Chocolate Pear Tart at Jason & Hamad's apartment in Park Slope

I stopped over to see my lovely friends, Jason & Hamad, on Sunday morning. As always with these two, nothing within their home is anything less than amazing: the food, interior design, or the hospitality.

When Hamad offered me a slice of his freshly baked Chocolate Pear Tart, I immediately responded with, "No, thank you. I can't eat it." Jason quickly recalled the fact that it was gluten-free - yes, my lovelies, it is made with almond meal!

Cut to: Jenn + Chocolate Pear Tart + iPhone + Instagram + happy soul!

CHOCOLATE PEAR TART

Ingredients:

1 cup whole, blanched almonds (may use an almond meal substitute)
3/4 c. sugar
1 stick butter, softened to room temperature
3 large eggs
1/3 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. Kosher salt
1 Tbsp. brandy
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3 ripe Bartlett pears
1/2 lemon

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Prepare a 9-inch removable bottom tart pan with either non-stick cooking spray or brush with butter. Set aside.

Combine the almonds and sugar in a food processor and pulse until they are incorporated finely and evenly. Add the butter, eggs, cocoa, salt, brandy and vanilla; process until combined. Spread the mixture evenly in prepared pan.

Core the pears and slice into thin, even slices. Rub with lemon slices to help prevent discoloration. Arrange the pears atop the chocolate mixture, slightly overlapping, without pressing them in.

Place tart pan on a baking sheet for approximately 45-50 minutes, until the top is puffed and a toothpick comes out mostly clean with a few crumbs attached. Remove from oven and cool completely.

xx JN

Easter & Spring Craft Ideas!

Thanks to Pinterest, I have been finding some really sweet craft ideas for this weekend's festivities! Spring is certainly in the air, and I think these ideas are too much fun to resist.

Over at Roy Joy, check out the most adorable idea for upcycling egg cartons, shells, potting soil, etc:

Karin Lidbeck's fabulous creativity is evident in her simple (and easy) Easter egg decorating tutorial ... must admit, the speckled eggs are my favorite!

This Easter egg garland made out of paint chips is flawless ... 

How about this wreath made out of scrap fabric? I mean ... how fun!

And last but certainly not least, Martha Stewart Living breaks down how to make use of the infamous chocolate bunny!

Which one will you try first?!

xo JN

{ images are from their original authors as referred to above }

Sugar and Flour and Migraines ... oh, my!

{ image via Caitlin McGauley }

Choices.
Consequences.
Migraines?

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

Frustration.
Treximet.
Post-migraine hangover.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

Yeah, not so much, friends.

I knew it was time to make a different choice when my 7-1/2 year old said, "Momma, can you pleeeeeeeeeeease not get a migraine today?"

I saw doctors. I kept journals. I had CT-scans.

But I continued to ask, "Why. Is. My. Head. Still. Hurting?"

I must admit I am the type of person who strives to find a balance between holistic medicine and traditional medicine. From my own personal experience, I have truly seen the benefit of both. However, I tend to lean toward the side of holistic when I hear, "I'm not sure what's causing it, but let's try another medication."

This mama is all about identifying the root cause.

Once I began to realize we were starting to embark on a similar medicinal journey with my recurring migraines, I had to wonder if the "garbage in, garbage out" scenario was happening with my body. When the CT of my sinuses came back clean as a whistle, my ENT deemed my migraines were not sinus-triggered. And although I knew there were more avenues to explore, I started to take notice of what I was putting in my body every day. My daily cocktail of Allegra-D, Nexium and now what seemed to be one too many Treximet were on the menu. But what about vitamin intake? Fluids? Am I eating vegetables? Or more over, what am I eating religiously?

Chocolate.
No meat.
Too many refined carbs. (But the Trader Joe's pita chips are GOOD!)
Diet Pepsi.

Yeah, not so much, friends.

I have been down the "no sugar, no flour" path a few different times in my life - always as a holistic solution to a health issue. So I thought, alright ... let's try it again.

January 4th was the last day I consumed refined flour & refined sugar. And turned to leafy greens, tons of veggies, water, green tea, green drinks and good protein.

And not a migraine since.

Choices.
Changes.
Progress.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

xo JN