Soup's on!

With the cooler weather approaching I decided to buy this book, 500 Soups, and will make soup a part of almost every dinner on chilly nights. Whether I make it as a starter, side or "beef" it up as the main dish, this book will certainly provide many different options. It's small and handy and what's great is you can use the recipes as outlines and tweak them to your dietary needs/preferences. Yesterday I walked the dog up to the farmer's market and bought some zucchini, onions, fennel and fresh dill. While flipping through the book I found a recipe for Zucchini/dill soup. Perfect! I added in the fennel and instead of using cream, opted for light coconut milk and the end result was DELICIOUS.

My pantry is now stocked with soup making essentials: chicken, veggie and beef broths as well as light coconut milk (all from Trader Joe's - only $0.99 for the milks!) so all I need to do is add some fresh veggies, beans, chicken, shrimp - the choices are limitless - and we're all set for a warm and flavorful meal. 

Next on the menu, Butternut Squash Spicy Thai Soup!

The Earth was Happy

There once was a time the Earth was happy,

Vast mountains, blue oceans and tree after tree.

A bright shining sun, led to dark starry nights,

An abundance of nature and all of its sights.

Then one by one, the creatures came...

First man, then woman and everything changed.

Man's will was free, he made decisions and choices

Some for the good; some hushed nature's voices.

But man was creative, making wheels to jet planes.

Soon building after building covered our terrain.

Pollution filled skies, green grass began to fade,

People became obsessed with all that was man made.

And across this great globe war battles were fought.

“What happened to my beautiful home?” The Earth sat and thought.

Fighting over power, religious beliefs and greed,

Love for one another, no longer was a need.

The Earth began to weep, for it was rattled to the core.

It quaked and buckled with every sob, just couldn't take it anymore.

The oceans swelled and swallowed life, man made buildings crumbled.

Sadness had unleashed this rage, yet man did not seem humbled.

“What will it take for man to see we cannot go on this way?”

“Must I end this world right now? But how and when...today?”

-Me

Healthy soda alternative

I've never been a big soda drinker but every once in a while I'll get a strong craving for a cold Root Beer. While shopping at our local health food store, I saw a bunch of flavored Stevia drops and then I saw Root Beer and wondered if this would actually taste like the real thing. It was almost $12 a bottle (they are even more expensive online) so I was hesitant to spend the money if it was going to taste horrible. Using a 20% off coupon, I justified the purchase. I had some Trader Joe's Sparkling water and plopped in about 8 drops of the liquid Root Beer for 8 ounces of water, stirred it up then added a bunch of cubes and took a sip. It tasted just like the real thing, except it doesn't turn color - it's a clear beverage, really light and crisp, not thick and syrupy like traditional root beer but ohhhhh so refreshing. If you are trying to wean yourself away from soda, this may be a great alternative. They have Cola flavor too! And I think the Cinnamon and English Toffee would be delicious in coffee. Bottom's up!

Perfect Skin

Wow, 7 months to the day since I posted on here. Not surprising since during these last 7 months I've had some set backs with my health and well being (THANK YOU HOLIDAY SPLURGE EATING AND A COLD, DARK, WET WINTER AND SPRING!) Why do we always crave what's bad for us when it's so gloomy and cold? I tried really hard to be good about what I was eating/drinking the past 6 months but after a while it was my only comfort and I got a little carried away. That being said, I had some not so pleasant side effects, some more visible than others. Starting around November/December when I would eat something sugary, I would get a horrible face rash in a matter of moments. It started on the lower right side of my face, near the bottom of my mouth and spread down my chin. At first it was mainly on the right side, and I thought, Ok, as long as it doesn't spread anywhere else...and then a few weeks later, it was on the left side. It was like some sort of bizarro goatee. I went to our Natural Pharmacy, concerned that soon it would takeover my entire face. I was told that since it was related to my body not digesting the foods and allergens, which was the cause for inflammation in and outside of my body, it would mainly contain itself in the lower quadrant of my face. Here is more info on Chinese Face Mapping in case you are interested. I was relieved to hear that but also frustrated since aside from a monthly breakout on my chin every once in a while I have never had issues with blemishes before.

I left with a topical gel, that I used for about two months, with no change. After that, I got some high end skin cream that was supposed to produce miraculous results, and again, after about 2 months, still no difference. At this point I was pretty discouraged, not only was the rash unattractive, but it was also horribly itchy and uncomfortable. Wearing make up made it even worse so needless to say I was in a bit of a face funk. And then one day at the pharmacy a skin specialist recommended I try the Perfect Skin Vitamins. She said the feedback on these vitamins has been very positive, but she wasn't sure if they would work on skin issues related to allergies. I figured it can't hurt to try them so I bought a bottle. After about two weeks, my rash was gone. I've been taking them for almost 2 months and continue to be blemish free (even after indulging in the "bad foods" - which I am really going to try to stay away from now!) The bottle recommends two pills a day, morning and night, but I've only been taking one in the morning with food and am extremely pleased with the results.

One thing I wonder about is when you give up certain foods completely for an extended period of time, like sugars and sweets, and then re-introduce them, your body views them as toxic and becomes inflamed (both internally and externally). So what's best? Do you give up whatever it is completely, never eating it again, or do you just have it in controlled moderation? This is the part of the puzzle I'm still trying to figure out. 

It's amazing how just looking at a picture of bread causes little pangs of discomfort in my stomach. I searched for a bread picture online so I could write about my experience of simply smelling fresh bread at the grocery store (which caused immediate pains in my gut) and now as I sit here just looking at this image I'm starting to feel those same pains surface. Our mind is a powerful thing.

I haven't been great about keeping up on here, I can assure you it's not for lack of things to say, it's just that I've had some setbacks in my healing which have been frustrating. I've been so good about sticking to a Candida diet for the majority of the last 8 months but I thought with the holidays coming, I might just sneak in a few treats here and there. Well that was a big mistake. Since Thanksgiving I've had some not so pleasant side effects one of which is something I read about early on when I was researching candida and that is a skin rash. Some people have it all the time or there are others (like me) who develop this when they eat something that their body feels is toxic and within a matter of minutes produces surface inflammation on some part of their body. Well lucky for me this happens across the right side of my face. The good news is that it will go away within a day when I detox my body from all sugars (I only eat natural sugars) and carbs. But the downside is that I can't even eat brown rice or any type of carbohydrate, even if they contain 0 grams of sugar, unless I want to look like a before pic on a Pro Activ informercial. Needless to say this makes for a very dull holiday season.

I'm back on a very strict regimen of Candida fighting supplements and they come with their own slew of side effects but if I don't do this now it will only get worse. I long for the days when I used to indulge in holiday sweets, cakes, wine, nog, stuffing, peppermint tini's, you name it. Perhaps those days will return and when they do, eating will be such a privilege - one which I will never, ever take for granted.

Blessings to you and your loved ones this season.

Party Mix Fail

While on the east coast, my husband stumbled across this product in a hotel gift shop. When he saw that it was "vegan" and "gluten free" he decided to bring it home as a little snack for me. I was in disbelief when I saw it. A gluten free party mix? This is too good to be true!

And of course, it was. Check out the ingredients:

I contacted the company via phone and expressed my concern over the misrepresentation of a gluten free product. The gentleman I spoke with was understandably upset and explained that this was a printing error. I gave him the details of the product info so it could quickly be pulled off shelves nationwide. 

When you're in a hurry or if your eyesight is not the strongest for fine print, it's easy to overlook ingredients. Allow yourself extra time when shopping (especially for new products)and carry a magnifying glass if it helps to read the tiny print. While it doesn't sound like the most efficient way of shopping, if it saves you from tummy problems down the line, then you know it's totally worth it. 

Sweet Nostalgia

While shopping at this teeny tiny vegan grocery store, Side Car for Pig's Peace, a friendly saleswoman recommended these Rice Bran Crackers claiming they make a great substitute for graham crackers and are safe for my limited diet. 

Excited to try them, I popped one in my mouth as soon as I got in the car. They didn't exactly taste like a traditional graham cracker but had a familiar taste I couldn't quite recognize. After a few more bites, it hit me...

They tasted like those Salerno butter cookies from back in the day. Remember how you could stack them on your finger? Such a yummy after school treat with a cold glass of milk or lemonade. Even though they're not stackable, the rice bran crackers are a healthy trade off -  they're free of saturated and trans fats and they make a great snack paired with a cup of Huckleberry tea. (This is a black tea, so probably not a night time snack.)

So on my continual quest to find delicious and somewhat healthy desserts, I unintentionally re-created the ice-cream cake roll experience. How many of you remember these old fashioned cakes while growing up? Depending on your generation the cakes might have looked like this:

Or this:

 This was the closest image I could find to the kind we had when I was a kid, but I think it was called Rainbow cake, or it had a 70's looking rainbow on the box:

And if you lived across the pond, you might be more familiar with the Arctic Roll:

Here's what I used to make the modern day (somewhat healthy) version of the ice-cream cake roll: 

Amy's GF/DF Organic Chocolate Cake

+

Vanilla Maple Arctic Zero

Just cut a small slice of the Chocolate cake and spread some Vanilla Maple ice cream on top. (Let the ice cream soften a bit before attempting to spread it, otherwise it will mash up the cake.) Depending on your appetite (and tolerance for sugar) you could slice another small piece of cake and make an ice-cream sandwich. Either way this chocolaty, creamy treat will satisfy your sweet tooth and may bring back some pleasant memories.

While on the subject of sweet past times, here's something else that might tickle your memory bone. Remember Pine Brothers Cough Drops?

These were soooo good, it was hard not to eat them like candy. After a few moments in your mouth, they would turn soft and gooey and the flavors would come alive. These are back on the market and I just picked some up at Bartell's drug store. They are also available at CVS stores. The honey tasted slightly different, not as honey like as I remember, but the cherry flavor was spot on. Of course, there's a BIG downside here...they are made with corn syrup. Probably shouldn't even post something like this on here but when you're battling a sore throat/cough a drop or two won't send you over the edge...

...as long as you don't end up shoving them into your mouth by the fistfuls. Did I mention black licorice flavor is coming soon??? Dangerous.

All we need now is a healthy version of the Carnation Breakfast Bar and all will be right in this world.

Chicken sausage pepperoni

The other day I had an intense craving for pepperoni. Instead of caving, I decided to do a litte experiment with some chicken sausage. 

I sliced the sausage into small slivers...

And then baked them on a cookie sheet for about 15 minutes at 400. (Apologies for the nasty looking baking sheet. It was brand spanking new but due to a small oven fire, got charred in the process.)

These "pepperoni chips" were just what I had a taste for. They are delicious for snacking or tossing on top of a home made pizza. 

Look for Gluten and Nitrate free chicken or turkey sausage. There are many brands to choose from, Trader Joe's makes quite a few different varieties (I opt for the dairy free versions) as well as most grocery store chains. 

Enjoy!

Banana Spice Waffles

This is a quick, easy breakfast or snack that kids and adults will LOVE! Van's makes an entire line of GF waffles (they also have a wheat free french toast) and when I saw them at the grocery store, I was skeptical at first. I purchased a box of their mini waffles, popped some in the toaster oven (using the oven setting, not the toaster) and they came out crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside, just like a regular waffle. DELICIOUS.

They are great with just a little Earth Balance spread smeared on top but this past weekend I thought I'd try a little something more to "spice" 'em up. And again, here's where that Trader Joe's Pumpkin Pie spice mix comes in so handy!

Mash about 1/3 to 1/2 of a banana in a small bowl with a fork. Microwave for about 10 seconds and then mix in about 1/4 teaspoon of the Pumpkin Pie Spice mix, stirring it in well.

Spread on top of the mini waffles and what you have is a delicious and filling anytime snack!

Mashed bananas are a great alternative for frosting or icing cakes/cupcakes (provided you like the taste of them) but since they do have a high sugar content, indulge in moderation. Pair the waffles with a cup of decaf brewed with pumpkin pie spice or a cold glass of Unsweetened Vanilla Almond milk. A quick and easy combo that doesn't disappoint!

*side note - when it comes to purchasing non dairy milks, opt for the "unsweetened"versions because the sweetened milks are loaded with sugar (stating the obvious here!) Read the nutritional labels before you buy. Here's a look at Blue Diamond's unsweetened vs. sweetened milks just to compare:

(click images to enlarge)

Mega Watt Salad

I eat a lot of salad and the one key requirement I have when it comes to making the perfect salad is that all ingredients must be CHOPPED. This makes a huge difference in taste because every bite is filled with all the flavors of the salad and...you don't look like a hog trying to choke down that over-sized piece of lettuce hanging off your lips. When I order salad at a restaurant, I always ask for a sharp knife and will spend the next 5 minutes chopping my salad into tiny bits. It's worth the wait.

I use the same backbone ingredients to all my salads which are:

-Leafy greens - either red/green leaf lettuce, romaine, spinach, arugula, herb mix or a combo of any of these

-Green, Red, Orange or Yellow Peppers (usually whatever is on sale at the time)

-Cucumber

-Celery

-Grape tomatoes (not too many)

Then I spice it up with some fun stuff. In this salad I added:

-Sticks & Twigs

-Almond Mozzarella Cheese

-Bella Sun Luci Sun Dried Tomatoes

-Avocado

-Hard Boiled Egg

And everything gets chopped and tossed into the bowl. If you eat a lot of salad and don't have a Salad Spinner, I strongly recommend one. Saves a lot of drying time and the greens stay crisp, not wilty like they can be from dabbing with a paper towel. After spinning the greens, I empty out the excess water from the salad spinner bowl and then use that as the mixing bowl.

 I add some dressing - here are some great ones by OrganicVille Dressings...

(The Sesame Goddess and Caesar are my favorite.)

I also love Bragg's Ginger Sesame Dressing. No refrigeration is required so for those with restricted diets, it's easy to carry with you when dining out or at friends' houses. I put some into a single serving bottle inside a little plastic sandwich bag for those on the go meals. LOVE all Bragg's products! (And their Liquid Aminos are a healthy, gluten free alternative to soy sauce. If you haven't tried it, add it to your grocery list. And here are some reviews if you're skeptical on taste.)

Once the salad is tossed with some dressing, I add a little fresh ground pepper and it's all ready to be devoured!

Depending on your preference here are a few other healthy toppings to add to your salad:

-Grilled chicken or fish

-Sesame Seeds

-Sunflower Seeds

-Pumpkin Seeds

-Chia Seeds

-Pepitos

-Diced Green Apples

*One last thing: For those with Systemic Candida, Bragg's makes a Candida friendly Apple Cider Vinegar. Since we have to steer clear of regular vinegars this is a fabulous find. And it's great because you can make your own pickles! Here's an excerpt from Feast without Yeast by Dr. Bruce Semon on how standard vinegars promote the growth of intestinal yeast...

"Anything which has been subjected to yeast or fungus during processing potentially has anti-bacterial chemicals. One obvious source are alcoholic beverages but there are many other such foods in the diet. The first such food is vinegar. For example, vinegar, literally spoiled wine, contains many chemicals, one of which, present in large quantity, is ethyl acetate (footnote 2). Ethyl acetate is used in industrial food processing such as bread making to keep the bacteria down without touching the yeast. This chemical kills bacteria (footnote 3) at the same time that it leaves yeast alone (3). In addition, vinegar also contains a number of toxic alcohols as well as methanol (2). These alcohols will also kill bacteria, besides being toxic to the brain. In other words, vinegar contains chemicals which are used to promote yeast growth by killing bacteria. But vinegar is present in many foods, from ketchup and mustard to salad dressing to bread. To stop intestinal yeast, one must stop eating vinegar."

**Ok one more last thing... I titled this post "Mega Watt Salad" because it's the first thing that came to my mind after I took a picture of the salad for this post. It just looked (and tasted!) mega-watted! 

Coffee Talk

When you think about a healthy lifestyle, usually caffeine in any form, does not enter the picture. But, let's be realistic...there are some things that are just too hard to go without. I'm not talking about caffeinated soft drinks, also filled with sugar or even worse, harmful chemicals. This post solely applies to coffee. 

Coffee is what gets us going in the morning, bonds friendships as we gather in our favorite shop, and compliments a savory dessert at the end of the day. It's more than just a hot burst of energy, coffee has become a staple of comfort in our lives. Watch any movie and count how many scenes involve characters sipping coffee or casually asking, "How about a cup of coffee?" 

Extreme health gurus will rebuff any notion that includes coffee as part of a healthy lifestyle. But again, we're being real. So many of us need/want/desire/would kill for that morning cup before getting thrown into our daily stressors. We shouldn't be deprived of this ritual so here are some tips for getting the most out of your cup (or two) of the good stuff.

If you can't give up the caffeine...

...choose shade grown, organic coffee beans. Coffee grown in the shade preserves nutrients in the soil by reducing sun exposure which negatively alters the top soil. This results in a bean that is high in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. The flavor is more intense since it takes longer for the beans to mature which many coffee lovers prefer. And there's an environmental benefit since forests and trees don't need to be cleared, allowing animal and bird populations to remain in their natural habitat. And organic coffee is of course free of chemical pesticides and fertilizers. If you can, try not to drink it late into the afternoon (a cut off after 12 or 1pm would be best) or switch to decaf for your afternoon/evening cups.

If you can do it, decaf is the way to go...

...but not just any decaf coffee will do. When buying decaf, look for beans that are organic but it is also important to make sure the process to decaffeinate the beans is done naturally, without harmful chemicals, through a technique called water processing. Swiss water processing is an industry standard and if you see this seal displayed on the window of your local coffee shop, then tell them "Thank you!" and frequent them often.

To find coffee shops in your area that use on SWP beans click here:

Find Swiss Water shops near you

It's important for those with candida to avoid caffeine as it can kill off necessary beneficial bacteria inside the colon. And for those with type 2 diabetes, caffeine can raise blood sugar, so sticking with decaf is critical for these folks. It's also best (though not always easy) to find coffee that is low in acid. Luckily, Seattle is drizzled with coffee shops on every corner with shop owners who know coffee inside and out - from bean to brew. But if you have a hard time finding low acidic coffee in your neighborhood shop or store, here is a method you can use on how to brew it yourself. 

As for the coffee, I found this Trader Joe's brand that I love and hopefully, you'll be able to find it there too. It's their Organic French Roast Decaf and it is delicious. I buy the whole bean can and grind them at the store, refilling the can. You really can't beat the flavor and quality of coffee for $9.99 a can.

On the side bar to the right I listed a few other local coffee shops that sell organic, swiss water decaf coffee that you can order online or call them directly. And here are some of the best non dairy creamers I've found on the market:

So Delicious Creamer  - this is made from Coconuts but does not have a coconut flavor. I stay away from any flavored or sweetened creamers because they contain a lot of sugar. Go with plain or original when you find it. (found in the refrigerated section of natural grocers, either in a non dairy area or mixed in with the regular creams.)

Soymilk Creamer - I use Soy (organic only) in moderation. This brand tastes like regular cream and just like the Coconut creamer, blends very well in coffee. (found in the refrigerated section of natural grocers, either in a non dairy area or mixed in with the regular creams.)

Almond & Cashew Mimiccreme - If you've ever tried to add almond milk or any type of nut milk to hot coffee, you know what happens. The milk separates and does not blend well at all. This thick cream is made from almonds and cashews and dissolves beautifully into coffee. Only downside? It's difficult to find. One local grocer used to carry it but now I can't find it anymore so I'll be sending a product request to the store manager. (this was kept with unrefrigerated non dairy milks in the store aisles - will require refrigeration after opening.)


Ok one last tidbit before I end this post. Flavored coffee drinks are such a special treat, especially this time of year, but as you know they are loaded with excess sugar or artificial ingredients if you opt for a sugar free drink. Remember the Pumpkin Pie Spice I added to tea?

Well I tried a little experiment and added about a half a teaspoon to ground coffee in the coffee maker and what came out was an exceptionally flavored spiced coffee! Flavors like cinnamon, clove, and ginger were a perfect compliment to my cup of morning decaf. Not only did it taste great but smelled like  gingerbread. I had some left over so I made an iced coffee later in the day by mixing in a little Almond Milk (almond milk blends better when the coffee is cooled) and about half a pack of Stevia. Make your own iced gingerbread latte and see what you think!

All this coffee talk is making me crave one last cup before the day is done. Yet another reason decaf rocks!

All Things Pumpkin

Arctic Zero Pumpkin Ice cream

+

 

Pamela's Ginger Cookies

=

AN INCREDIBLY DELICIOUS SEASONAL DESSERT!

(Mash the cookie into the ice cream for even better cookie to cream distribution.)

This combo, is ridiculously good.

Arctic Zero ice cream (also on the side bar) is one of the best finds yet. And while it's not technically "dairy free" because it contains high quality whey which is easily digestible, it is safe for those who have an intolerance to lactose. Don't expect the consistency to be just like ice cream, it's more like a frozen yogurt. It's better if you let it sit out for a few minutes to get soft and mushy and it's also delicious blended into a smoothie or shake. Mix it with a little almond milk for a refreshing pumpkin treat...

You could also sprinkle some Pumpkin Pie Spice (from Trader Joe's) into the shake for an even more festive feel. The ingredients in the mix are cinnamon, ginger, lemon peel, nutmeg, cloves and cardamom. This would be amazing sprinkled on top of Egg nog too. Will be fun to experiment with that in a month or so!

How about adding some spice to your favorite tea (vanilla, cinnamon or a nutty tea is perfect) or stir some into steamed Almond milk for a healthy pumpkin spiced latte. Top off with your favorite natural sweetener and enjoy!

If you love the tastes of fall, you'll probably love the scents too (note the pumpkin cream pie candle above.) Trader Joe's Mulling Spices are out on the shelves now and just a little on the stove will fill your entire house with the familiar scents of the season we all love so much.