ArcaMax

When I think of the smell of Christmas I think cinnamon. Others think of the smell of pine and fresh Christmas trees, but for me, it’s cinnamon.

I was having a challenge this year getting into the Christmas spirit. The only snow Chicago has seen so far this season happened when I was out of town and was melted before I returned. I love a good snowstorm.

The temperature has been hovering almost 20 degrees above normal. I didn’t even need gloves to put up the outdoor decorations. I finally put up our indoor Christmas tree, about 2 weeks later than normal. I am leaving most of the Christmas decorations in storage. We are not doing any big parties this year so why do all that decorating for just the two of us? I’m calling my decorating this year “Essence of Christmas.” I’m not going all out.

Don’t worry. I’m not going all Grinch.

I think this is one of those years my mother talked about. It feels like I just did Christmas. It has come back around too fast for me this year. So I got out my sauce pan.

I knew I needed a Christmas jolt so I headed for my kitchen.

First thing I did was put two cups of water in the pan and three cinnamon sticks. Then I rooted around my cupboard for other things that evoke Christmas. I’m calling it “Holiday Aromatherapy.”

Heat the water with the cinnamon sticks and then toss in a few other things that remind you of the holidays. Things that smell, to you, like a fresh Christmas and come from your cupboard. Options include: A tsp of dried orange or lemon peel. Or use fresh peels. ½ tsp of ground cloves or a tsp of nutmeg. Maybe a bay leaf or a couple of pieces of star anise. Toss in whatever brings the smell of Christmas into your nose. Don’t overdo it. Just three or 4 of these elements will do it. Heat to a boil and then let it bubble for a while. Turn off and the smell of Christmas will fill your kitchen and beyond.

Worked for me!

Read the full column at PlanZDiet.com

Related Recipes at PlanZDiet.com:

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
Fluffy Whipped Cream Frosting

Cinnamon Cupcakes

This is a ZReboot recipe. Gluten free. Sugar free. And still a cupcake! You too can have dessert and not suffer the consequences. These cupcakes are so healthy you could have one for breakfast! You can treat them like an offering of tea bread or jazz them up and make them fancy with frosting. Put in the amount of cinnamon dictated by your taste. 1 tsp was enough for me, but others want a stronger cinnamon flavor.

Ingredients:

7 eggs, lightly beaten (put them in the bowl and run the mixer on medium for about 15 seconds)
1 cup unsweetened almond milk, coconut milk or the combo of coconut and almond
1 cup coconut flour
½ cup Swerve or ZSweet (look for it in stores or order online)
1 Tbl baking powder
½ tsp grated sea salt
½ cup butter, melted (let it cool down for a bit before you pour it in your bowl)
½ tsp liquid stevia extract or to taste. If you are baking for the “sweet crowd” you might want to put in a bit more but a little goes a long way!
1 – 2 tsp ground cinnamon

Instructions:

In your bowl you have mixed up the eggs to get them lightly beaten. Now add the rest of the ingredients and blend for two minutes. Stop it half way through to make sure you’ve scraped down the sides and don’t have batter stuck to the bottom of the bowl.

Get out your cupcake liners. You can make full-sized cupcakes or mini ones. I love the mini cuz people love to have two and their dessert is still smaller than a full-sized cupcake. Guilt-free.

Pour the batter two-thirds of the way up. The cupcakes will rise a little but not a lot. Bake at 350 degrees. Mini cupcakes will be done at 10 to 12 minutes. Large cupcakes will bake 18 to 22 minutes. Check with a toothpick to make sure no batter is sticking. When the toothpick comes out clean, they’re done.

Let cool and frost. I recommend the Fluffy Whipped Cream Frosting. BIG YUM.

Eat them the day you make them, or store them in the refrigerator. Because of the butter content in the batter you might want to take them out of the refrigerator 15 to 30 minutes before you eat one. This allows them to soften up. They are a good treat right out of the fridge, too.

Enjoy!
Cheers,
Zola