I have to thank Zego Foods for sending me some new goodies this week! They released some new products, and they arrived just in time for the deep freeze we are currently experiencing in MI! Yesterday morning I tried their new products, and created a completely gluten free oatmeal cookie sans all the bad stuff!

You all know that I eat paleo nearly most of the time. One of my guilty pleasures, though, is a warm bowl of gluten free organic oatmeal topped with berries and grassfed butter - which I usually eat once a week for a "special" breakfast. It's good to spice things up from time to time. But, there's always that little whisper in the back of my mind that would say "are these really gluten free"? There's a fine line, but when I saw oats in my box from Zego, I immediately felt at ease. Why? Their oats are grown using the Purity Protocol - a superior gluten free growing process that removes cross contact potential right in the field. Every batch is tested for allergen + gluten cross contact and every harvest is tested for over 400 chemicals, pesticides, and glyphosate. Insert deep breath here. Finally, completely safe oats.

I received Zego's new exceptional oats, apple cranberry muesli, cinnamon twist muesli, and their pure protein  made from sacha inchi seeds! Muesli is basically raw oatmeal topped with dried fruits. You can use these muesli mixes for a simple breakfast topped with almond milk, or you can make overnight oats, OR you can bake with them. I did just that! With their protein, too! The sacha inchi protein tastes very nutty, and tastes great in the cookies I made. Sacha inchi is high in plant based omega-3s. 3 tablespoons of the sacha inchi is nearly 20 grams of protein. 

I wanted to create something that complimented all of these wonderful products. What better way than with a batch of cookies? I made apple cranberry muesli cookies with Zego's Pure Protein! Oh so good! Light! Crunchy! Chewy! Buttery! 

Oats technically aren't paleo, so I can't call these paleo cookies, but I can proudly call them gluten free without all the scary stuff that can be found in other gluten free oats - even organic. These are the cleanest oats out there, I promise. This is why I love this company. They go above and beyond, and I know I can trust their products. They simply give you peace of mind. These lovely oat products will be available starting on February 4, 2019!

Check out my recipe below, and if you haven't already, I suggest you browse Zego's site, and check out all of their products. They have so many safe, clean snacks waiting to be consumed by you!

There are just some recipes from my childhood that I still crave. You know? They will always be classics, but sadly, they aren't around anymore because... not paleo. This childhood favorite of mine was full of cheese, dairy, and corn. I've put together a very similar recipe to one of my childhood faves. I will be honest, this isn't the prettiest dish, but I promise it'll make your taste buds happy.

I've replaced corn chips with Siete grain free tortilla chips. You can find them online or at Whole Foods. I used my grass fed and finished beef from Greener Grass Farms and seasoned it with my taco seasoning. I added in fresh salsa, onions, olives, and my mayo for creaminess. Before you turn your nose to the mayo, trust me! IT'S SO GOOD. You simply layer the meat mixture and the tortilla chips. You then bake the casserole and top with whatever floats your boat... fresh guac, lettuce, spicy pickled veg, more salsa, Danielle Walker's queso, and fresh jalapenos. Serve with a side of cauli rice!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 bag of Siete chips (I love the lime flavor for a little hint of citrus)
• 1 pound of grass fed beef
• 16 ounces fresh salsa
• 1/2 onion, diced
• 1/2 cup mayo
• 2 tablespoons taco seasoning (to taste)
• 1 small can of olives (you can easily omit if olives aren't your thing)
• Danielle Walker's queso
• Lettuce, jalapeno, salsa, more queso, and guac to top it all off

METHOD

• Make the queso. I always have this on hand because it's simply amazing.
• Preheat oven to 350.
• Brown the ground beef, and add the homemade taco seasoning. Once browned and seasoned, mix in salsa and mayo. Add olives and onions and combine.
• Grab a baking dish and crush a good handful of chips to cover the bottom. Add a layer of meat mixture and drizzle with queso. Top with more crushed chips, and layer more meat, and another layer of chips.  If you like extra crunch, reserve a handful of crushed on the side for after baking.
• Cover dish with foil, and bake for 15-30 minutes, until fully heated through. Remove foil the last five minutes of baking to crisp the top.
• Top with guac, lettuce, jalapeno, more salsa and queso! Enjoy!

Sometimes I get these overwhelming impulses to pitch and purge. And sometimes that means replacing a perfectly fine couch. I have to quickly say thank you to my husband who never seems to put up a fight about any of my ideas pertaining to this house. He just does... but I'm pretty sure he thinks my ideas are usually good (lol). 

It was the Saturday before New Years Eve. The Christmas tree was still up, and I became disgusted with my then couch. There was no where to walk between the couch, Christmas tree, and coffee table. The girls climbed over the coffee table to get to the couch. I was overall annoyed and couldn't bare the thought of another Christmas with the couch. Matt simply said, "well, just sell it." OK, don't twist my arm. The couch sold in less than a minute to a good home (you know who you are, and I'm glad it's with you guys!). We were then couchless. That's never enjoyable.  There we were that evening. All four of us on the floor because of my impulsiveness. I immediately started looking for smaller couches online, and even started to miss my old couch. Finding the right piece of furniture online is nearly impossible.

On Sunday, we spontaneously went to Jackson to stock up on basics at Sam's. When Matt and I walked in, I saw this gorgeous off white couch. I walked right up to it and sat down. I wanted it right then and there. Part of me thought it was too big for the space, and I wanted to downsize to a more practical couch... (ha!). I took a photo of the measurements and we went about our day. As soon as we got home, I thought about that silly couch ALL EVENING AND ALL NIGHT LONG. We even moved everything out of the room to measure and "lay it out" with paint tape.

We woke up on New Years Eve, and I couldn't make up my mind. I knew they were going to be out of stock. The price was too good. I called Sam's twice. Actually three times. "Do you have this in stock? If it doesn't fit, can I return it?" I was the psycho lady. I decided to take the plunge and venture to Sam's Club on New Years Eve in the pouring rain. Again, thanks Matt <3

It was strange that the universe heard my cry when I told Matt that I was interested in wearing a watch again. I’m a SAHM who barely changes out of leggings and t-shirts. BUT, for those times when I do leave the house, a watch can be a truly beautiful accessory – especially a unique wooden watch.

Two days later after expressing interest in a watch, JORD Watches, contacted me and sent me a unique wood watch of my choice. The universe is a powerful thing! I was surprisingly drawn to the olive and Aegean blue watch from the Cassia collection. The deep blue face, light and bright wood, and rose gold details reminded me of being on the lake during Michigan summers. I had never seen anything like it.

There’s so much good with these watches, but I am thrilled that JORD is based here in the United States in St. Louis, MO. They are kind, respond quickly, and are here to help find your perfect timepiece. JORD uses 100% real, natural wood from ethically sustainable sources. The crystal glass on the domed watch face is made from sapphire, and is scratch resistant. All hardware on the watch is made from trusty stainless steel. The watch is comfortable, and I love that it catches my eye, even as I write this blog post. I had never considered a wood watch for myself, but really, it’s beautiful. Not only do I have wood nearly everywhere in my home, I now get to wear it on my wrist. I love its natural features, with the pop of subtle color. Either for yourself, or gifting to a loved one, you can’t go wrong. Customizable engraving is also available.

I am excited to announce that one of you will win $100 off your own JORD timepiece! All you have to do is click the link below or in my Instagram bio and answer a few questions! The good news is that even if you don’t win, you do get 10% off your order with JORD! Good luck, and I can’t wait to find out which one of you is getting $100 towards your new favorite timepiece! This giveaway runs through Sunday, February 10 at 11:59 PM EST. Good luck!

Contest link: https://www.jordwatches.com/g/stephgordonblog

This is a sponsored post that contains affiliate links.
All photos courtesy of Luna Dulce Photography.