Baked Brie

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Tropical Traditions

I often get asked "where did you get that big bag of coconut flour". Tropical Traditions is one of the best quality sources of coconut oil and coconut flour I have found. There is also some variability in coconut flours as some brands don't soak up as much moisture as others (some people had problems with my cinnamon rolls because of this). This is the brand I use so you won't have any issues like that with any of my recipes if you use this brand. Also if you purchase from the links below and are a new customer I get a little gift certificate which helps me pay for ingredients for all my experimentation (it took me over 10 pounds of almond flour to get my subs bread right!).

They also have a deal going on where new customers will receive a free copy of their Virgin Coconut Oil book (a $25 value). Thanks for your support!

Coconut Oil click HERE

Coconut Flour click HERE

Pepperidge Farm Frozen Pastry

Do you use Pepperidge Farm Frozen Pastry? They contain trans-fats and high fructose corn syrup...They use so much trans-fat they list it twice!


INGREDIENTS: UNBLEACHED ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR [FLOUR, MALTED BARLEY FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMIN MONONITRATE (VITAMIN B1), RIBOFLAVIN (VITAMIN B2), FOLIC ACID], WATER, PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE SHORTENING (SOYBEAN AND COTTONSEED OILS COLORED WITH BETA CAROTENE), CONTAINS 2 PERCENT OR LESS OF: SALT, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, WHEAT GLUTEN, DISTILLED MONOGLYCERIDES (FROM HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN OIL) AND SOY LECITHIN.

One reason why trans-fats are so bad is that they interfere with our cell's ability to metabolize OMEGA 3 fats. Our brain = 60% fat. Trans-fats damage cell membranes of vital structures of our brain and nerve cells.
Imagine this: We have “parking spots” that are specifically designed to receive certain molecules. When OMEGA 3’s “park”, it fills assigned parking spot and contributes to the health of the membrane. However, if trans fatty acid "cars" come along, they try to squeeze into a space that doesn't fit. A biochemical traffic jam occurs and the right cars can’t get to where they need to be.

2 problems occur:
1. The molecular misfit “car” is left to wander throughout the body, causing damage in other places.
2. These misfit “cars” keep pushing their way in, damaging them and the “cars” around them. This also changes the cellular membrane and the right “cars”, the healthy nutrients, no longer fit.

Hydrogenated fats can weaken cell membranes, keeping out needed nutrients and also allowing harmful ones to leak in. Causing inflammation (which will increase cholesterol)...cholesterol isn't the bad guy. Think of cholesterol as the firefighters that are trying to put out the fire (inflammation). We need to heal inflammation, NOT take a prescription drug that kills the firefighters. That is isn't going to help...put out the fire! To read more on this, check out: Secrets to Controlling Your Weight, Cravings and Mood.





"HEALTHIFIED" BRIE
PASTRY:
1 1/4 cup blanched almond flour (or 1/2 cup coconut flour)

5 TBS psyllium husk powder (no substitutes) 
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp Celtic sea salt
2 eggs (4 if using coconut flour)
1 cup BOILING water (or MARINARA - for extra flavor)
FILLING and TOPPING:
1 (8 ounce) wheel Brie cheese
3 TBS Nature's Hollow Xylitol honey (no substitutes)
2 TBS pecans

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. In a medium sized bowl, stir together the almond or coconut flour, psyllium husks, baking powder and salt. Add the eggs. Stir continuously as you add the hot marinara or water. Combine until very smooth. Place the dough onto a piece of greased parchment paper (I used THIS coconut oil spray). Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out in a circle shape with even thickness throughout. Place brie in center, and fold pastry around it, sealing seams. Transfer to baking sheet, seam side down. Bake brie until pastry is golden, 23-35 minutes.

Drizzle with Nature's Hollow Honey. Sprinkle with pecans. Serve with "healthified" cheez it crackers. Makes 8 servings.

NUTRITIONAL COMPARISON (per serving)
Traditional Baked Brie = 401 calories, 30g fat, 9g protein, 27g carbs, 1.2g fiber (25.8 effective carbs)
"Healthified" Baked Brie = 239 calories, 18g fat, 11.2g protein, 7.9g carbs, 4.9g fiber (3 effective carbs)

This recipe along with many others are in the cookbook: The Art of Eating Healthy SAVORY

Thank you all so much for your support!