About Us

My name is Cara and I am excited to bring to you some of my favorite creations. For several years, my friends and loved ones have been delighted to receive these treats and now I have found the perfect opportunity to present them to you so that you can delight your loved ones. Buying ingredients from local farmers or locally owned businesses is my commitment as well as creating healthy, Vegan & Gluten Free confections* that your whole family will enjoy- and you can feel good about eating them, too! For those of you who are not sure if Vegan is for you, these taste so good you will not even miss what isn’t there. These recipes are tested, tried and true and have also passed my 12-year-old’s quality control taste-test. I am dedicated to offering you the best ingredients available and to providing a beautifully packaged gift for you to present to anyone on your shopping list. I am a home-based food vendor and my production area has not been inspected by the State of Indiana.

*These items were not prepared in a licensed kitchen.

Ingredients We Use

I look for ingredients that are all natural, certified organic and fair trade in our locally owned health food stores and at my own booth, A Dedicated Life in the South Bend Farmer’s Market. All of my baked goods are Vegan and Gluten-Free and will be labeled with all ingredients so that sharing is easier.I have also expanded my line of Raw truffles and bars- there are now 21 different Raw Bars! Please email or call me if you are interested in other gluten-free items not listed or if you have a family favorite recipe you would like assistance with converting to gluten/dairy free. Some of the brands I use are: Navitas, One Lucky Duck, Now Foods, Enjoy Life, Manitoba Harvest, Bob’s Red Mill, Nielsen-Massey, Let’s Do… Organics!, Lundberg, Wholesome Sweetener, Arrowhead Mills… To name just a few.

Our Practices

My baking is strictly gluten free and all equipment is dedicated as well as storage.

In my “Raw” foods line, I make a practice of soaking all nuts prior to use which unlocks the full nutrient value of the proteins and “Good” fats.

At times, it may become necessary to substitute ingredients due to product availability. Be assured that each substitution will be made carefully and with consideration of the best outcome. For example: I may use blanched almond flour instead of almond meal, or ground chia seeds for ground flax seeds (both of which are high in omega’s).

If you have found an item on my page that you would like but have an allergy to an ingredient, please call me and I will keep a detailed list of your food preferences and allergies. That way, when you order, I can consult my list and prepare your order accordingly.

I am constantly researching and testing new ingredients and am pleased to share them with you!

My wrapping is made from sustainably managed forests and is recyclable. The ribbons are reusable. My food handling is with FDA approved gloves and all food packaging materials are FDA approved and are biodegradable and recyclable.

My body products inventory is kept to a minimum to preserve freshness. Therefore, your sugar scrubs are “Made to Order” and are as fresh as possible.

Highlights

Gift-giving is a year round event and not just limited to the holiday season. Surprise your friend with an impromptu gift of Chipotle Crunch Chocolates to warm up a cold winter’s day or your child’s teacher with a much needed Herbal Bath Tea- there are no limits to the ideas at Scarlet O Cara! Hand-made items that are not only practical but delightful in every way. Since this is the time of year when indulgence is a past-time- keep on track when you can with my raw bars which are loaded with protein, fiber and Omega’s! Or, instead of that cookie, try a fruit truffle like the Pineapple & Date- it will satisfy your sweet craving and keep you in your “Skinny” jeans!

The confections at Scarlet O Cara are for anyone who enjoys a healthy but decadent treat.

Misc.

Your suggestions and special order requests are important to me and I welcome any input you have. Please use either my email address: adedicatedlife@gmail.com or my cell phone: 574-485-6007. I try to incorporate new products on a weekly basis and will rotate my items periodically. If you have previously tried and/or ordered an item that you no longer see on the available products listing, please contact me and I will try to accommodate your special order. See my table weekly at The Purple Porch Co-Op for new items and samples.

View our products