San Diego recipe developer and photographer Rachel Conners started her baking blog, Bakerita, while still in high school. When her sister was diagnosed with Lyme disease and adopted a diet free of gluten, dairy products and refined sugar, Rachel began developing recipes that her sister could still enjoy. Then she adopted a gluten-free diet herself and discovered that her headaches disappeared and her mood improved.
When she shared her new baking recipes on her blog, she found there was huge interest from people struggling with autoimmune disorders.
Now, more than 100 of her recipes are collected in her first cookbook, "Bakerita." There are all kinds of healthy treats, from breakfast baked goods to chocolate chip cookies, an Apple Crumble Pie and even homemade gummy bears.
She says this recipe for vegan pancakes is a good starting point that can easily be customized: "The applesauce can be swapped out for banana or pumpkin puree to create your own flavor variations _ banana-walnut or pumpkin-chocolate chip pancakes, anyone?"
