It is November, and the holidays are around the corner. For many families, it is time to start planning that holiday menu.

For anyone with food sensitivities during the holiday season (or anyone new to cooking for people with food sensitivities), I feel your pain. In 2008, right before Thanksgiving, I started my gluten-free journey!

I am going to be real with you right now. At first, I really grieved the loss of so many recipes that I had used over the years that could no longer be a part of our holiday meal. My smoked oyster stuffing, an amazing pie crust recipe I had perfected, the delicious gravy that my husband loved to make…the list goes on. You get it, right?

Well, it took me years, but slowly, our family has produced new gluten-free favorites, that we could not live without now. Seriously!

So, let me share with you one of my secrets. One ingredient that must be in my kitchen, especially around the holidays, is almond flour! 

Here are a few fun facts about almond flour:

• Baking with almond flour is extremely easy. There is no yeast or rising time which means instant gratification ;-).
• It is 3x higher in protein and has about 60 grams less of carbs per serving than wheat flour.
• It is full of antioxidants and is only found to be an allergen in 1% of the population.
• It has a very nutrient dense profile. For example, compared to wheat flour, it has 500 more mg of Potassium, 250 more mg of Magnesium, and 200 more mg of Calcium.
• You can find it easily in many natural food stores and at Costco.
• Storage tip: Keep it in the fridge to prevent those heart healthy oils from going rancid.

So, in sum, almond flour is low carb, high protein, anti-inflammatory and nutrient dense!

And, the American Heart Association has further determined that the healthy fats in almonds lower cholesterol, making almonds a star ingredient for those with heart disease.

Warning! Once you make these amazing biscuits, you will be expected to bring them to every Thanksgiving dinner. I have family friends who joke that they will not let me in the door if I am not holding these biscuits in my hands. 

And now, my “secret recipe” that you must include as part of your Thanksgiving meal.

Classic Drop Biscuits:

21/2 cups of almond flour

1/2 tsp. sea salt

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/4 cup coconut oil melted

1/4 cup of honey

2 large eggs

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Whisk the eggs, melt the oil, and mix the dry ingredients together. Then add the honey and coconut oil and combine well. 

Add the whisked eggs last and combine. 

Drop about 1/8 to 1/4 cup of batter onto a greased baking sheet 2 inches apart. 

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until brown and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. 

Serve warm. Just a bit of butter and you are ready to roll!

So, cheers to all! From my kitchen to yours, I wish you an amazing Thanksgiving holiday full of warmth, cheer, and delicious food.

Cheers,

Ellen

PS If you decide to make these biscuits, send me a comment at the bottom of this blog and let me know if you loved them as much as I do! Or feel free to share your favorite gluten-free recipes with me.