Bread...Je t'aime!

Yes, I love bread! But bread has not been kind to me of late...the gluten, the carbs, the sugar, the lectins! Sadly, bread and I broke up. But all hope is not lost! Read on...

When pining for my long, lost love, bread, I'm often taken back to my time in Paris. You see,when visiting France, bread is a necessity! What would a trip to Paris be without those beautiful, crusty bagettes, paired with the freshest, ripe brie cheese? It would be... "Les Miserables!"

So, yes...I must have my bread when in Paris. The most lovely way to enjoy it, other than craming a huge, crusty hunk smothered in creamy cheese directy into my mouth, is to have a Tartine. This is the classic french open-faced sandwhich. The golden, toasty bread is the canvas for a mulitude of savory or sweet toppings. Tartines have evolved into colorful, culinary masterpeices over the years and can be topped with anything from meat to fish, combined with your imagination's desires of savory cheeses and sweet jams, along with fresh herbs and even nuts. The Eiffel Tower is the limit!

After a long morning of sightseeing, duck down a Parisian side street and find a quaint little bistro to try a few different Tartine. It's the perfect midday treat to enjoy with a glass of wine and plan your afternoon in Paris.

So, if you want to relax and imagine you are in a cozy bistro somewhere in France, but save the plane fare, I have a coconut flour bread that you can make and use to create your very own Tartine. C'est si bon!

This bread is "tre" easy. Wisk eggs, coconut milk and olive oil together until combined. Add the dry ingredients and mix just until there are no lumps. Spread into a loaf pan and bake until golden brown and cooked through.

You can lightly toast the bread and then top it with whatever you can think of. I topped mine with a thin smear of avocado mayonaise (the Parisians usually use butter, which is also quite wonderful), a thin slice of goat gouda cheese, a little pile of proscuitto, some fresh thyme and a grind of pepper. Feel free to sub in whatever cheese, meat, fish (salmon would be delicious), herbs or anything you fancy. Bon appetit!

Coconut Flour Bread

Yield: 1 loaf

Prep time: 15 minutes

Total time: 1 hour

Ingredients

Omega 3 Eggs | 6

Olive Oil | 1/3 cup

Coconut Milk | 1/3 cup

Coconut Flour| 1/2 cup

Flaxseed Meal | 1/2 cup

Aluminum Free Baking Powder | 1 tablespoon

Xanthan Gum | 1 teaspoon

Garlic Powder | ½ teaspoon

Kosher Salt | ¼ teaspoon

Onion Salt | ½ teaspoon

Trader Joe’s Everything but the Bagel Seasoning | 1 teaspoon

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Mix eggs, oil, and milk together until combined. Pour in the rest of the ingredients, except the Bagel Seasoning, and stir until fully incorporated, making sure there are no lumps. Do not overmix, or your bread will be tough.

Line a loaf pan with parchment paper, then pour bread batter in, smoothing the top. Sprinkle the Bagel Seasoning evenly over the top.

Bake for 40-45 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the loaf comes out clean and the top is golden brown. Cool the loaf for 20 minutes and then remove from the pan to a rack to cool completely. Slice and serve. Can hold for 2-3 days, otherwise freeze.

Special Diet Information

Lectin Free, Low Carb, Gluten Free