**Disclaimer**: These cookies are gluten free. They can also be made more or less Paleo, depending on how strict a person is with their idea of the paleo diet – as some people allow some dairy and others don’t allow any, some allow honey & maple syrup and others don’t, and etc. I have noted any necessary substitutions. When I first made them I used what I had in the house – thus the maple syrup (I was trying not to use sugar). As per Abby’s request via our twitter conversation (sorry again for the delay!), I tried making these cookies again and am posting the recipe here!
Also: personally, I love cooking with butter – maybe it’s the French in me, but it makes food taste delicious. I also prefer to bake with butter, it gives it a good texture, flavor and makes it a lovely crispy golden brown. Again, if you don’t like or use butter, just substitute Coconut oil.
And lastly… I am not responsible if you eat the entire batch in one night. From personal experience, Tim and I would not recommend this. They are VERY rich.
Back Story: The Cookie’s History
I’ve had this fabulous Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe FOREVER. My best friend since childhood gave it to me, and trust me, these cookies have become well known among my friends for years. They also won over my boyfriend’s niece and nephew when I first met them 2 years ago. I know, making children cookies is a cheap move, but hey, they’ve never forgotten me and they continue to love me. All’s fair in love and war, including subliminally bribing children with delicious cookies.
Now adays, Tim and I eat – for the most part – Paleo (I admit, not always – if I’m in France I’m having some croissants & baguettes!) so I thought I would try adapting this old favorite cookie recipe and make it gluten free and paleo friendly. And most importantly, still delicious! (because, why else does anyone eat cookies if they don’t taste good?).
I think I have succeeded.
I have illustrated each step, for the most part, with photos.
Gluten Free / Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies with Macadamia Nuts
What you need:
Ingredients:
1 cup Almond Meal/Flour *
1/2 cup Hazlenut Meal/Flour
1/2 cup Coconut flour
2 tablespoons Egg Protein Powder (Tim requested this, you could use any of the above “flours” for these 2 tablespoons)
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/2 to 1 teaspoon Baking Soda or Baking Powder
1 cup Maple Syrup (you can also add an etxtra 1/4 cup Brown Sugar, or any other sugar substitute)
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) Butter — or Coconut Oil (or use half of each)
2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
1 Egg , plus 1 Egg yolk
Semi-sweet/dark chocolate chips
Macadamia Nuts (optional, Tim requested that I add them)
*Note: the total amount of “flour” in the recipe should be 2 cups & 2 tablespoons. You can use whatever flours you have/like to meet that quota. This is just what I used. It was a delicious combination.
1. Heat oven to 325 degrees F.
2. Melt the butter (or coconut oil) and then let it cool:
3. Optional: Chop/crush the macadamia nuts:
4. Mix the dry ingredients together: in a bowl mix the flours (almond flour, hazelnut flour, coconut flour, and protein powder) salt, and baking soda. Set aside:
5. In a separate bowl, mix the butter (or coconut oil) and the maple syrup (if you want it more sweet, add a tiny bit more maple syrup or brown sugar or other sugar substitute):
6. Add and mix in the egg, egg yolk and vanilla:
7. Then add the dry ingredients, a little bit at a time.
And mix until just combined:
8. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts to taste.
9. Then put in the fridge or freezer to chill (at least 10-30 minutes). Because the cookie dough is so wet in comparison to the original recipe it makes it MUCH easier to put the cookies on the baking sheet if the dough is colder. Otherwise it sticks to your hands more:
10. Place cookies on baking sheet – These cookies seem to work better a little smaller in size. Also, if you have parchment paper, great idea to put this down on the pan first (not shown below, only because I ran out of it!):
11. Once the cookies are placed on the sheet, put in the oven and bake at 325˚ F - reversing the position of the pan halfway through baking. Outer edges should harden, centers should be softer, and they should be golden brown. 15 to 20 minutes. Frozen dough takes 1 to 2 minutes longer.
I recommend putting the cookies in for 9 minutes, then reversing the pan and putting them in again for another 9 minutes. You may need to cook them longer depending on your oven.
Then let them cool a bit.
And enjoy!!
A nice glass of cold goat milk accompanies these well 
If you try the recipe, let me know what you think! I’d love to hear your feedback. I’ve continued to experiment with this recipe and make little changes each time I make them just to see. I encourage you to do the same.
Happy Friday everyone! I think I might have to make some more of these this weekend…
I have come to accept the fact that I am incredibly pale.
When little children ask you if you’re one of Edward Cullen’s sisters, there’s just no denying the fact that you’re as white as a vampire (and granted, horrible grocery store lighting doesn’t help nor do the long Minnesota winters). But suffice to say, when you’re very pale, it is ALL the more important to be very diligent when it comes to sun protection.
As this was our 3rd year back in San Diego, California for the RKC Kettlebell Certification, I already knew what the weekend – and it’s location – held in store: long days outside, under the intense San Diego sun, with no shade, while primarily taking photos of the event.
Here are the essentials I brought with me to keep cool, protected, pretty and not burned from the hot sun’s rays:
SUNGLASSES: “Jackie Ohh“ Ray-Ban Sunglasses
Sunglasses are an obvious necessity. But that doesn’t mean they can’t be classy! I got these in Paris a few years back, and they’ve become my favorite as they just fit my face so well. And we all know that Jackie O had style.
A GOOD HAT: Columbia Sportswear Women’s Sun Goddess Straw Hat
Besides the fact that it has “Goddess” in the name, this hat is amazing on many levels. It has a wide brim which means more protection for the face/chest, it has an adjustable cord so you won’t lose it on a windy day, and the coolest part: the material is Omni-Shade UPF 50 which means the fabric itself has SPF protection, and thus, it is also endorsed by the Skin Cancer Foundation.
I got this hat right before the first RKC workshop in San Diego back in 2009 and just happened to bring it with me (I love wide brim hats!). But honestly, it was a life-saver that weekend with the 110 degree temperature days and NO SHADE, and I didn’t get sunburned. Love.
LIPSTICK WITH SPF: YSL Rouge Volupté Silky Sensual Radiant Lipstick SPF 15
I love red lipstick… and when it has SPF in it, glides on smoothly and has lasting color, what more could you as for? Lips need sun protection too, so why not make them extra pretty at the same time.
SUNSCREEN: La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid
I never leave the house without at least putting sunscreen on my face and neck – even in the dead of Minnesota’s cold, snowy winters. I use a high SPF all year round to protect my skin to the fullest. I’m always baffled by people who worry about wrinkles and discoloration who don’t wear sunscreen every day. What?
Also, as you’re supposed to reapply sunscreen after so many hours, and as I usually have makeup already on (especially at events), you can’t really reapply liquid sunscreen over an already made-up face, so my favorite option is to apply sunscreen in powder form! Thus you get the protection as well as the mattifying benefits so you keep looking fresh and put together.
Here are two great options that I’ve used, one is a pressed powder and the other is loose powder, both are recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation:
Jane Iredale PurePressed Base SPF 20
Colorscience Sunforgettable Mineral Powder Brush SPF 30
That’s just the basics, but a little prevention goes a long way!
What do you do to stay sun proof and beautiful?
The current show I’m performing in – Outrageous Fortune – opened last Friday as part of the annual Minnesota Fringe Festival!
The reviews have started coming in on the Fringe’s website but we were most excited to find a great review featured in the Star Tribune newspaper! I was especially excited, as there was a special nod to myself in the review!
Here’s the review below (you can also read it here on the Star Tribune):
Outrageous Fortune
If you miss Amy Seham’s brilliant “Hamlet” retelling because you think modern Shakespeare plays are too trendy, you might have to question the meaning of your life. Holden Roy Jr. (think: Hamlet), susceptible to existential crises, finds the importance of life and family at question when his mother, Trudy (Gertrude), puts his brilliant but sick poet father Holden Roy Sr. in a nursing home for Alzheimer’s patients. The smart, postmodern script is matched by a few of its actors, too — particularly the young leads Christian DeMarais (Holden Jr./Hamlet) and Nicole Du Cane (Olivia/Ophelia).More show information.
- JESSICA BAKEMAN
Also, the Star Tribune reviewer, Jessica Bakeman, came up to Amy (the playwright) after the show Sunday night saying who much she loved the script…. so much in fact, that she came to see it a 2nd time!
Pretty cool.
She didn’t mention the crazy Danish gameshow aspect of the show – which is why I end up in a tub filled with water, worms, rubber duckies, flowers and “blood” (aka Kool-Aid – which by the way, WILL stain your body making you look like you have tan lines… but not really… cuz it’s purply-red). But I have to say, it has been SO much fun working with this amazing cast, they are all so talented. I was also so excited to work with the director, Evan Hilsabeck, again as well as the playwright Amy Seham. Phenomenal. It’s been a great experience and as much as I love film acting, there is always something special and exhilarating about doing live theatre.
We only have 3 more performances left, so if you’re in the Twin Cities come and see the show!
For more information and to get tickets click here.
This week DragonDoorTV aired its 50th episode! Amanda Salas and Spencer O’Hara have done such an incredible job with this show and they are amazing to work with! I love them. They rock. So creative, smart and wickedly talented. Not to mention, Amanda deserves some serious props for all her different wardrobe/hair/makeup looks (she rivals Cat Deeley) especially as she does it all herself. Take a look back:
And the Deal of the Week is perfect for women wanting to get started with kettlebells! You can save $10.00 on an 18lb (8kg) kettlebell through midnight August 9th!
Well, it’s a new year – 2011 is here – and I’m excited for what’s ahead!
Before jumping into all the goals I’m determined to slay this year, I wanted to look back over my 10 favorite discoveries and happenings from 2010.
A year in review:
1. Probably the biggest change in my life last year was becoming a homeowner and moving into my house a year ago January. My take-aways from this experience:
- Owning your own place is absolutely wonderful, even with all the added responsibilities.
- I am a very lucky woman to be with a man (who is from California) who helped me move into my house in January. In Minnesota. On one of the coldest weekends of the year.
- Recommendation: DON’T move into a new house or apartment in January, in Minnesota, on the coldest weekend of the year. Or at least hire professional movers. No seriously. Our bodies were utterly destroyed and wiped-out for weeks!
- It is fabulous though and I love it. Plus, we finally just finished putting down flooring in the workout room! Check it out (can you spot all the toys?):
We finally put rubber gym flooring down in the workout room to protect the wood floors, now the room feels complete! Tim and our friend Jason did such an awesome job!
2. There have been some very exciting developments for Dragon Door over the past year and in 2011 we are poised for explosion. Very exciting! And as the Marketing VP I’ve been getting to do a lot more creative projects, which I’m loving and certainly plays to my strengths. I also did a ton of traveling for work last year – with RKCs, workshops, seminars, conferences – and as exhausting as it can be, it’s always so much fun and I get to meet so many amazing individuals.
Representing Dragon Door at the NSCA Conference in July 2010.
By the way! In February of 2011, stay tuned for Dragon Door to unleash it’s entirely new and redesigned website!
3. I got to direct the new hot selling DVD by my mother, Master RKC Andrea Du Cane, The Kettlebell Boomer. Tim and I also just finished editing the accompanying book last week, which I’m so excited to be released!
On set filming of the Kettlebell Boomer. Me giving notes to my mum between takes.
4. The short martial arts film I acted in – The Final Weapon – with Taiji Master Ren Guang-Yi and Lou Reed finally debuted. And even with my perfectionist tendencies, I was overall pleased with my performance.
Movie poster for Final Weapon
5. I have continued to realize what amazing friends I have! I feel so fortunate to have all of these people in my life. This past year I made many new friendships and deepened old ones.
With my good friend and DragonDoorTV host Amanda Salas (left) in Philly working at a Dragon Door event. We've become such a good friends over the past year, even while living in different states.
6. Speaking of new friends, here’s something I’d never done before: I did the bride’s makeup for her wedding! It was a very close friend of Tim’s getting married (Tim was in the wedding as well) and the bride-to-be and I have become very good friends, and when I realized she didn’t have anyone to do her makeup, I was more than happy to step up to the plate. I did definitely called my mother (professional makeup artist) for some advice and recommendations. She looked absolutely beautiful, if I do say so myself:
My friend Kelly, the Beautiful Bride. They haven't received the professional photos yet, but I'm planning to do a post covering how I did her makeup with some closeups of her lovely face.
7. I discovered a phenomenal new company called Birchbox and not only signed up for it myself but gave a years subscription to my mum as a Christmas gift (big hit!). We are both makeup and skincare product junkies, so it’s no wonder we are in love with the fact that once a month we get a box filled with delux high-end beauty samples. Plus she and I both travel so much that they are perfect for flying! Honestly, check them out! I can’t wait for January’s box to arrive. Here’s a pic of my December box:
My December Birchbox containing: awesome Stila lip gloss, french perfume, tinted moisturizer, and volumizing hair product.
8. Finally started really training with kettlebells again. In October, Tim and I both decided it was time to get serious about our training again and that it was time to get our bodies back to where they should be. Geoff Neupert had a program for each us, and the results have been amazing! I started doing Kettlebell Burn and Tim started Kettlebell Muscle. I have one month left, but just wait until I write my review of it!!
If you've been training with kettlebells and want to lose fat, I highly recommend you check out this program! Stay tuned for my full review of it...
9. Went horseback riding this fall with my mum and Timothy thanks to the generosity of a fellow RKC, Julia Patek. I hadn’t done that since I was little and it was Tim’s first time. We rode all day, going through trails in the woods and fields of Minneosta…it was so much fun!
Preparing for our horseback riding adventure in October 2010. Beautiful fall day spent with my mum and Tim.
10. Saved the best for last: Timothy moved out to Minnesota! In semi-celebration of our 1st year together (as we met at the San Diego RKC in August 2009), at the beginning of September we drove from Santa Barbara, California across the country to St. Paul, Minnesota with all his stuff packed up with us!
The trip itself was incredible and so much fun. Driving through Utah and Colorado was breathtakingly beautiful! We stopped in Colorado Springs where I got to meet his Aunt and Uncle and then in Kansas where I met more of Tim’s family (his Grandmother and another Aunt and Uncle). It was wonderful to meet more of and spend time with his family. And now we live together! Which makes life so much easier, not to mention happier (long distance is really no fun at all).
Besides, when we’re together we can both curse Geoff Neupert’s name as we do his kettlebell workouts; or we can geek out over episodes of Star Trek TNG; watch rugby matches my grandpa sends from England and do fun adventures like going to the Renaissance Festival on a beautiful day and eating Turkey Legs:
Timothy and I at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival in September 2010. Excited to eat our Turkey Legs in hand.
I’m still in awe that a man actually to moved from California to Minnesota – and not long before winter was soon to start! Haha all I can say is that I’m just so grateful! Plus, at least we have somewhere warm to escape to when the winter wonderland of snowy cold Minnesota is in full effect!
Well 2010 was quite a year to say the least (and there were hundreds of things I know I didn’t mention that happened) but 2011 is going to out do it. This year has excitement and success written all over it.
I can’t wait to see what’s in store…
Have a great weekend everyone!
It’s finally here! The new Kettlebell Boomer DVD by Master RKC Andrea Du Cane (aka my mother)
I am so excited for this product to finally be available! My mum has done an incredible job and this is going to help SO many people who really need it. I had so much fun directing this DVD and I can’t wait for the accompanying book to be published (which I’m currently finishing up a final edit before it’s sent on to design).
Watch the trailer here:
Check out this incredible review from Master RKC Geoff Neupert – posted on his blog ChasingStrength.com – honestly, I couldn’t have said it better myself:
This dvd, could quite possibly, in my ever-so-humble opinion, be the most important dvd made since Enter the Kettlebell. It really could be the proverbial “game-changer.”
Here’s why… click here to continue reading…
Check it out:
My family was featured in a local St. Paul newspaper this week! Spreading the news about kettlebells and Dragon Door just in time for the all those New Year’s Resolutions:
The Du Cane Dynasty: just holding some kettlebells with my mum and dad (Andrea and John Du Cane)
My father – John Du Cane, CEO of Dragon Door Publications – is undoubtedly one of the most impossible people to shop for.
Not only does he already buy whatever he wants whenever he wants (packages from Amazon are delivered to the Dragon Door office on a weekly, almost daily, basis) but he has incredibly picky and specific tastes.
But this year I think I have found something absolutely perfect…
A handheld espresso maker!
Check it out: mypressi TWIST Handheld Espresso Maker
My dad and I are both admittedly espresso addicts. And last year for Christmas he gave me a really nice espresso machine (which I absolutely love!). So I think it’s only fitting that I return the favor!
It’s actually an incredibly practical gift; especially for a business executive who travels all the time and all over the world. And let’s face it, you can’t always find a good cup of espresso everywhere, particularly when you need it. He and I have both been to conferences and seminars where the hotel has had NO espresso anywhere to be found. It’s quite devastating.
I’m really excited for him to open this gift, I think he’ll really like it and definitely use it. And if anything else, hopefully it gets a good laugh come Christmas morning. I just hope he hasn’t already bought one for himself!
Well, fingers crossed and I’ll let you know how it turns out!
Happy Monday!
Well, I’m finally getting this blog started. And it’s about time! To find out more about who am I and what I’m about, check out some of the tabs above.
Stayed tuned for posts on kettlebells, health and fitness, beauty, skincare and makeup (my mother is a professional makeup artist and I’ve been dancing and acting since the age of 4, so suffice to say, we are both product junkies!) as well as books, movies, recipes, and traveling adventures.
Along with plenty of musings from my own life as an actress, and RKC Instructor and the VP of Marketing at Dragon Door Publications.
For now, I hope you stay warm and have a great weekend!
Me getting ready to unload a pallet of kettlebells at the Dragon Door office.
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