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Showing posts from 2013

Jill's Delish Tangy Chick Pea Salad Recipe (Gluten-Free, Low Fat Vegan)

My friend Jill McKeever has a fantastic recipe for Tangy Chick Pea (Garbanzo Bean) Salad on her site at Simple Daily Recipes . My husband and I are eating Low Fat Vegan and trying to implement Dr. John McDougall's " Starch Solution " as well. I'm reading that book at present and am finding so many exciting facts that I didn't know-- such as you can eat tons of starches (potatoes, rice, corn, beans, quinoa, etc.) without gaining any weight IF you delete the fats and oils and too many processed foods from your recipe. Finding tasty recipes is key to keeping us "in" until we are over the period of fats withdrawal (whenever that happens!) A delicious tangy chick pea salad open sandwich, thanks to the salad recipe from Jill McKeever at Simple Daily Recipes Jill has made a great vid tutorial about the recipe that she gave me permission to use on here.  She will give you her recipe and I include my adapted recipe underneath it.  I have to say that this s

A Make-Ahead Charcoal Poultice

When I was a young girl I seem to remember my grandmother talking about "a poultice". To my ear it sounded like something to do with the "milk toast" that was part of Grandma's comfort food outlay when children were sick.  I have no idea where the association came from between 'poultice' (A soft, moist mass of material, typically of plant material or flour, applied to the body to relieve soreness and inflammation)and 'milk toast' (a soft, milky mass of white toast and warm milk, butter, and sugar applied to sick children to relieve them of hunger and boredom). But just recently I began to be interested in the idea of poultices again.  That is not to say that before this current interest I haven't read a little about poultices, seen some simple ones demonstrated, and even tried my hand a messy one or two myself. I have. The operative word has always been "messy".   My husband and I use activated charcoal for a number of sit

The Power of Flowers

Fragrant Flowers on our Morning Walk (**identified in bottom of post) In my more youthful days of gardening I was all about organic food plants.  As I get older I have begun to enjoy planting and caring for flowers and herbs more. That is not to say that I do not have organic food gardening as a priority!  This year my husband has stepped into the gap in a big way (the 'gap' being my spending less time in the garden).  He has a 5-gallon pail of compost tea burbling away at all times, another pail of comfrey tea brewing under the grape arbor, and is experimenting with strewing agricultural lime in any patch of ground my eyes have fallen upon.   We have just put in  Saskatoon berry bushes, a few Sea Buckthorns, and 3 Sour Cherry trees (or bushes or whatever they will be) as well as the usual assortment of greens (kale, chard, collards, cilantro, parsley, romaine, etc.) and beans and a vast forest of little tomato plants, many donated by kind friends and neighbors. 

Organic, Gluten-Free Banana-Coconut-Cranberry Oatmeal

Here is a recipe for a delicious and nutritious steel-cut oats recipe for those who like banana pudding more than porridge: INGREDIENTS: 1 C. Steel-cut Oats 2 C. filtered Water 1/2 C. unsweetened organic Coconut shreds 1/4 C. organic dry Cranberries (or raisins) ripe organic Banana cut into 1" chunks dash of Coriander METHOD :   Combine all above ingredients except Banana and Coriander and cook until boiling.   Add the Banana and the Coriander, and mix in.   Cover pot and reduce heat to Low.  Continue to cook for another 15-25 minutes (making sure it doesn't burn).  Stir with a wooden spoon when done. Dish up and pour on Coconut Milk.  Serve. ADDITIONAL DELICIOUS GOURMET VEGAN PORRIDGE RECIPES: Company Porridge (Baked) Blueberry-Carob Macaroon Porridge Cheery Pie Oatmeal Crazy Carrot Cake Oatmeal Deluxe Apple Pie Oatmeal Nut Jam Toppings on Oatmeal Pumpkin Pie Porridge Slow Cooker Porridge

Breathing in the Dentist Chair

The older I get, the more freaked I am about getting dental work done (also called  dentist phobia ).  I know, such high anxiety doesn't seem to make a lot of sense, but I figure it has to do with (1)blowing my adrenals in my past role as a social worker and (2)having too many frickin root canals along life's way.  In any case, today was the day where I had to go and get the prep work done for a new crown. A couple of days ago I called the dentist to let them know that I would like to have some Nitrous Oxide.  Two friends told me it was like "a twilight sleep" and that sounded good.  I checked out some of the forums online and was careful not to read the ones that complained about the Nitrous Oxide not working for them, or causing more anxiety or whatever.  I just knew that I needed something to handle all the tension in my shoulders, my racing heart, my rapid breathing, my dry mouth, etc. etc. etc. And of course I worried that it would also affect my new

Pumpkin Pie Porridge (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

I love pumpkin pie and could eat it any day any time, but the fact is that pumpkin pie is generally pretty much off my dietary radar what with the custardy ingredients and pie crust.  So, how nice to know that there is a ' pumpkin pie "fix" that is healthy, vegan, gluten-free and a great breakfast item full of Vitamins A, B and fibre!  I have also included the recipe for Pumpkin Pie Spice, a mixture you can make it bulk and then just add a spoonful to your future pumpkin porridge pie recipes.  Make your own with organic spices.   The spices will help to keep your LDL and triglycerides at normal levels. Pumpkin Pie Spice Mix Ingredients: (for one pumpkin pie porridge recipe below)  1/2 teaspoon ground Cinnamon   1/4 teaspoons ground Ginger 1/8 teaspoon ground Nutmeg   1/8 teaspoon ground Allspice   1/2 teaspoon organic Stevia powder  Preparation: Combine all ingredients. If you make extra, store in an airtight container. Pumpkin Pie Porridge  

Blueberry-Carob Macaroon Oatmeal Porridge (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

When I asked my husband what he wanted for breakfast this morning, he said, "Well, seems like you're on a roll with those porridge recipes". Aha. So, a new recipe needed today. And thus, thanks to Google, here is my take on a carob-blueberry pudding porridge.  It's a little fussier in the making, but well-worth it (fussier in that it needs to be done in a couple of steps vs. just throwing everything together in a pot from the get-go). It smells soooo yummy as it cooks-- remember that chocolate was once known as "the poor man's carob".   This porridge will meet all your chocolate cravings, but with wonderful nutrients and none of the stimulants of  caffeine or theobromine found in chocolate.   Remember to use Gluten-Free Oats if you are sensitive to gluten and wheat. Ingredients: 1 C.     Steel Cut Oats 1/2 tsp. Salt  1/4 C.   Chia seed 1/2 C.  Coconut shreds 3 C.     Water 1/2 C.  Carob powder 1/4 C.  Fairtrade Raw Cane Sugar (I use Who

Deluxe Apple Pie Oatmeal Porridge (Vegan and Gluten-Free)

Deluxe Apple Pie Oatmeal Porridge-- and YES, that is a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream-- (optional) The Crazy Carrot Cake Oatmeal Porridge (Vegan and Gluten-Free) was such a hit that I thought I would add in some more tarted-up porridges.  Today you will find a recipe for Deluxe Apple Pie Oatmeal Porridge -- the "deluxe" reference alludes to the inclusion of more than 5 ingredients (I don't think any recipe should contain more than 5 ingredients in this stressful world we live in, but, sometimes, alas, more is tastier...)  This could be your company's-here breakfast.  This could also be adapted to the crockpot with very little hassle.  Be sure to use the best organic ingredients as much as you are able. Ingredients (Makes 2 very hearty helpings... could be 3-4 with less zesty eaters) 1 C. Steel Cut Oats (use a GF brand) 1 T. Chia Seed 3 Apples , cored and chopped (skin on) 1/2 tsp. Salt (or to taste) 2 T. Cinnamon 1 small nob fresh Gin

Crazy Carrot Cake Oatmeal Porridge (Vegan, Gluten-Free)

Another sort of gloomy, cool, and foggy morning here on Vancouver Island.  We know that Spring is on the way, but ... So, it calls for a bowl of porridge-- something that "sticks to your ribs" as my mother used to say (I think she said that, but it may have been someone else).   Here is a plug for healthy organic eating (and cooking)-- food actually TASTES better when it is organically-grown.  That is my observation, and apparently, it's true, according to food scientist Harold McGee (quoted from a blog over at The Kitchn.com ): " when plants are under attack, they begin to ramp up production of their chemical defenses. This can mean releasing an aroma that attracts counter-attacking bugs (wasps for caterpillars, for instance), manufacturing something toxic or distasteful to the insects themselves, or producing an anti-fungal compound. For us, these "defenses" translate directly into flavor and aroma. McGee says, "Because they're not prote