Butternut Chili - Spicy 'n Sweet

One of my favorite chili recipes- with

butternut squash. Sweet and spicy. 

New Year's Day is almost upon us. Rather than wax nostalgic and dreamy about the bumpy (and enlightening) year I've had, I'd rather post a simple recipe I know you'll love. Making a pot of bean soup or chili to welcome in a freshly minted year is a tradition as old as the hills. From Italian Pasta Fagioli to homestyle southern Hoppin' John, beans somehow acquired the favorable reputation of attracting good luck.

Why? I haven't a clue.

But I do know this. Beans paired with cubes of winter squash make for one sweet and tasty chili. That, Dear Reader, you can take to the bank.

Read more + get the recipe >>

Vegan Banana Bundt Cake

A tasty dairy-free gluten-free banana cake.

Vegan (egg-free) baking is a mega-challenge at high altitude. Throw gluten-free and dairy-free into the equation (not to mention, soy-free, Darling- I can't even rely on tofu yogurt!) and trust me, it can be a major pain in the proverbial butt. I've dumped two previous egg-free incarnations of this recipe lickety-split into the trash. Today, however, I tweaked again. And guess what? We have a winner.

So- this one's for all you lovely celiacs, gluten-free vegans, multi-allergic sweethearts and autism spectrum angels out there (neurodiversity rocks, after all).

Big banana kisses xoxo!

Read more + get the recipe >>

'Feed a cold' is good advice

No I'm not unfortunate to become sick just yet with a cold. But my niece, nephew, older brother, cousin became ill with it now. I had a fairly good sleep last night and slept 10 hours with just waking up once after about 4 hours. Sleeping is an excellent idea if you are run down with something. Otherwise I've been throwing down garlic to see if that helps. If it doesn't work to kill the virus or boost immune system, maybe it will keep people away for a short while because of the odor coming from my body haha :)

Here is another interesting article I found a while back. The advice that one should feed a cold seems quite valid according to this study.

Dutch scientists have conducted small-scale experiments which suggest that both approaches are the best way of priming the immune system to cope with different infections. The research, reported on the New Scientist website, found that the different approaches may activate different types of immune cell.

Viral Infections
After the liquid meal, levels of a body chemical called Gamma interferon had multiplied by four. This chemical indicates that the body is using a type of immune response designed to kill cells which have become infected, and tends to be directed at viral infections.

Bacterial Infections
The water-only diet, however, produced almost a fourfold increase in levels of a different chemical, called interleukin-4. This is a sign of an immune response which launches attacks on invaders lurking outside the cells. Most bacterial infections require this kind of response.


However one of the things you might get from this advice is more cold symptoms, if you think about it, increasing levels of interferon while fighting a viral infection might cause an increase in temperature, fatigue, tiredness etc... but you might get over it quicker? I don't know :p

Gluten-Free Cornbread with Green Chiles + Cinnamon

Tender moist gluten-free cornbread you can bake in a skillet or a cake pan.

One of the first recipe conversions I attempted in my brand spanking new gluten-free life (begun six short years ago, December 19th, 2001) was my tired-and-true favorite cornbread recipe. Lucky for me, it converted to gluten-free rather easily. As a tender, fragile newbie to life sans gluten it gave me hope. The will to live. After all, when your beloved world of cooking, baking- and eating- is flipped upside down, a modest success in the kitchen can perk up your day. Maybe even, your week.

So when I recently discovered I needed to give up dairy and eggs as well, I flipped through recipes once again and decided to reprise my skillet cornbread- this time as an egg-free vegan version. And wouldn't you know it?

It worked.

Read more + get the recipe >>

Back after the new year

I haven't been posting lately because I've been quite busy and generally away from the computer... but will post more often after the new year, and I hope everyone has a good time over the holiday's. Christmas in a couple days and I love this time of year, even though I'm an athiest, I still call it Christmas lol. This anti religious stuff is just dumb if you ask me, people should be allowed to celebrate and have freedom of expression in whatever they believe in. I just wish I was a kid again and believed in all this 'magical' stuff, got lots of presents and generally enjoyed 25th of December much more than I do now, but it is still a nice day.

A lot of people having miserable holidays around here though because everyone has got this cold or flu that is going around, you can never know because people say they got the flu and they haven't. Everyone has been ill with it in my house, I know at least 12 close family members with it, a few friends are ill... It's also a rarity that my father gets ill and last night he came down with the cold too! Maybe it is to do with the lack of Vitamin D this summer, because err, we had no summer in the UK! I am doing what I can to avoid the thing because of my tinnitus will just go insanely loud if I get it! I've been eating garlic regularly ( see BBC:Garlic prevents common cold

"Over a 90-day period during the winter when most colds occur, just 24 colds were recorded among those taking the supplement, compared to 65 amongst those taking the placebo."

That is a 'HUGE' reduction in the colds, and those that caught it also experienced fewer symptoms and the cold didn't last as long, and they were less likely to get re infected! Few chances of secondary bacterial sinusitis I assume too.

There are also other things I've been doing to help like regularly steam inhalation (twice a day), regular washing of hands for 30 seconds. 10 cups of green tea per day /with ginger. I've ran out of my Vitamin D3 but it lasts a long(ish) time in the body anyway so should be ok until I can afford to get some more. I was taking in around 5000-7000 IU of it over the last couple months, and 2000IU for over 2 years so I should be OK! Another good thing is that my sinusitis hasn't come back and my last cold was the week that got *cured* oddly by a cold virus itself! lol. I think I might have been catching colds regularly before because the lining of my nose was broken, bleeding and clogged up. Viruses would easily get pats the barrier and infect me. 7 months and not caught a viral infection yet, I hope this continues !


Anyway enough rambling on from me, have a nice holiday everyone. See you in 2008!

Chicken Tropicale

Festive and flavorful chicken and pineapple.

Any night's a party when you cook up this Caribbean-inspired chicken recipe. Tip: Using your slow cooker frees you up in the kitchen- not to mention utilizing your Crock Pot makes energy efficient sense year round.

Steve's been doing all the cooking of late. I know you know why, Babycakes. You're probably sick to death of hearing about it.

But do you also know how ridiculous it is to wield a sharp knife and balance on crutches and pass the balsamic vinegar in a kitchen built (obviously) for one person who (also obviously) never cooked? All the bumping-bums while making sure your left foot is touching the floor at precisely (doctor's orders) no more than 25% of your total body weight- which, truth be told, Dear Reader, has blossomed by six- er- seven and a half pounds since you've been lounging in bed every morning past 10 o'clock, eating cinnamon-laced wedges of grilled cornbread and deep bowls of crunchy maple buckwheat flakes as you cruise your e-mail?

That's right. I'm talkin' ridiculous.

So we've been eating a lot of familiar recipes and not experimenting much. Experimentation needs elbow room. And stamina. Both seem to be in rather short supply here. Which led me to remember this terrific recipe from before my no-chicken, no coconut days. It disappeared from the blog for awhile (don't ask!). So I thought it might be time to bring it back.

Read more + get the recipe >>

Nirvana Bars- Chocolate & Coconut Bliss

This recipe is a family favorite- my chocolate-coconut cookie bar recipe. Simple to make. Sweet and gooey and bliss inducing. And most important? You can offer them at any gathering without a gluten-free apology. (Would that be, Don't ask, don't tell?) Bummed about the dairy in it? My son Alex has created his own casein-free version using condensed coconut milk. See his dairy-free recipe here.

Read more + get the recipe >>

Gluten-Free Maple Meatloaf

My gluten-free maple meatloaf is homespun comfort food.

I have some good news. I mean, besides this delicious gluten-free meatloaf recipe. After eight long weeks of no funny business, yours in gluten-and-casein-free bliss is humming to the Stereo MC's and shuffling around our one room casita with a walker. Yup. I was officially sprung from wheelchair status today! Progress with a long o.

High-fiiiive me.

I'm one happy crone tonight. So I'm keeping this short and sweet. Here it is. It snowed today. There's a crackling fire in the kiva. A glass of wine awaits- not to mention- one of our favorite comfort food suppers. A slice of my favorite meatloaf and a generous scoop of warm Champagne Vinegar Potato Salad.

Life is good.

Have a safe and tasty weekend!

And be good to your bones.

Read more + get the recipe >>

The Best Cheesy Uncheese Sauce

A dairy-free cheesy sauce you will love.

I've been playing around with this vegan cheesy sauce recipe for ages- trying to get it just right. And guess what? I think I got it.

Don't worry. This won't hurt a bit. Promise.

In fact, you might even thank me. Especially if you're cooking for a groovy dairy-free girlfriend. Or a hunky casein allergic BF. A cute as a button autistic angel. And let's not ignore the teeming hoards of the lactose intolerant. One just might show up for dinner one day. Hungry. You never know.

And how about those vegans? They're sprouting up everywhere, for goddess sake. What will you do? What will you feed them- besides chopped salad? Carrot sticks?

Kumquats?

Read more + get the recipe >>

Gluten-Free Latkes and Cinnamon Applesauce

A stack of crispy, lacy latkes

Have you made latkes lately? Latkes are fried potato pancakes made with fresh grated potatoes. Though latkes come in all shapes and sizes (via personal preference) I make my latkes thin and lacy, fried to a crispy golden brown. Oy, these are good! Maybe Mel Gibson wouldn't be such a nudnik, if he tasted these. Although if he did, he'd probably ask for ketchup.

Read more + get the recipe >>

New CR video

A video with mostly Liza May in, some conference video footage and Michael saying a few words too. Although Liza doesn't seem to weigh anything, so I'd be surprised if her calorie count is accurate. Though she says she's healthy and she looks quite healthy for her age and thats important.


FoxTV Calorie Restriction Video

Finally!

So after I printed out the report and gave it to my father he probably spoke to my mum and it seems she is now willing to eat properly! So she asked for some advice on what foods to eat and so I'll help her -- as I've always wanted to! Just really hope she can stick to it. I'll keep you updated :)

Pumpkin-Sweet Potato Soup

A gorgeous soup for the soul- gluten and dairy-free...

Sweet potatoes add body and a boost of color and to one of my seasonal favorites- pumpkin soup. But before I get to the recipe, Dear Reader, I just need to kvetch a little. This won't take long.

You see, I am cooking from the left side of my brain- and I don't like it one bit. Well, truth be told, I'm actually doing more consulting in the kitchen than chopping and stirring and getting my hands all nice and sticky.

Which is exactly the point.

I must sit apart from all the action and fun, perched as I now am in my wheelchair, offering verbal guidance (the generous of spirit might even say, wisdom) to my willing-but-never-cooked-much husband while he does all the culinary work. Our tiny kitchen really has no room for me (and my new wheels) to wedge myself close enough to be of any substantial help. This cocina ain't big enough for the two of us. So the gimp has to sit this one out. Off to the side.

Which leads us back to the whole left brain-right brain verbal vs. visual mystique.

You see, I cook without recipes, for the most part. I use what I have on hand, what's in season. I improvise. And my baking recipes I adhere to with, maybe, 80 to 90% fidelity. I'm always seduced by, What if... I'm intuitive. Spontaneous. And messy (just ask my husband). I never toss the same ingredients together twice in exactly the same way. It's called being a right brained visual thinker. I am unable (even if I wanted to) to follow instructions in a linear fashion. I'm genetically resistant to the concept of: this is tried and true so don't mess with it.

So when my lovely, patient, helpful husband asks me, How much balsamic vinegar do I add? I stare blankly (I'm pondering). I visualize (which sparks the neural pathways in the right side of my brain where I see pictures). Then I start to conjure a verbal response (scurrying back to the left brain) and I approximate my intuition, pictures and kinesthetic antics into speech.

I wave my arm and twist my hands in the air like a lunatic.

And it's never quite right. It's an approximation. Subtle shades of taste lost in translation. To be fair, we've had plenty of good meals based on this left brain verbal analysis. Steve has made a killer meatloaf and a damn fine shrimp stir-fry among many, tasty dishes. I am more than well fed (um, I've gained five pounds).

It's just that, well, I miss the whole hands-on thing. The whole stirring, humming, chopping, seasoning, splashing, tasting, guessing, adjusting, making a mess thing. When I cook my whole body gets involved. Much more so than my imperfect brain. So I miss that.

I've tried using the walker to stand on one foot next to the counter (I can do that for three minutes or so before I get wobbly and loopy and gratefully sit back down in the wheelchair). I've placed a cutting board on my lap and sliced green peppers and onions. But instead of feeling helpful, I start to feel like I'm simply in the way, interrupting Dear Husband's flow, blocking the door to the fridge or the cupboard that inevitably holds the thing he is reaching for. I spend my time in the kitchen wheeling backward and forward, forward and backward, trying (in a goddess-like manner, of course) not to be an obstacle.

So that is where I'm at. Six weeks down, two more to go- before we x-ray this old celiac hip again and check our progress. In the meantime, there will still be no funny business. I'll behave. And sit safely in my wheelchair. Tossing my opinions out like so many chocolate sprinkles. 

Here's a soup we made.

Read more + get the recipe >>

Gluten-Free Vegan Pumpkin Berry Muffins

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Berry Muffins

You're gonna love the taste of these winter berry studded pumpkin muffins. They taste tart and sweet and grainy-tender all at once.

Yesterday we woke up to a surprise. The mesa and distant hills were powdered in white. The first snow of the season (am I ready for this?). The Kokopelli thermometer read twenty-two degrees. Extra thick toasty socks were needed. Steve made a morning fire in the kiva to warm us. Lucky for me, we had baked some pumpkin muffins this week. Tender, comfy break apart soul food for this bone-shivery goddess to nibble with her tea.

Read more + get the recipe >>

A Trio of Tasty Turkey Recipes- Gluten-Free

Here are three delicious ways to use up leftover gluten-free turkey. One retro classic, Tetrazzini style, with brown rice noodles. One fabulous southwestern style enchilada recipe that has leftover turkey flirting with sweet potatoes. And last but always fabulous, our easy family favorite- turkey nachos with jalapenos and blue corn chips.

Gluten-free turkey tetrazzini- a retro classic, updated.

Jazzed Up Gluten-Free Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe

Here's my unconventional dairy-free version of a retro sixties classic. Gluten-free spaghetti makes fabulous tetrazzini.

Ingredients:

For the filling:

A dash of olive oil, as needed
1 medium sweet onion, diced
4 cloves of garlic, chopped
2 medium carrots, cut into julienne strips (thin sticks)
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 lb. sliced mushrooms (I used baby Bella)
12 oz. gluten-free linguini or spaghetti cooked to al dente (still firm), rinsed, drained
3 cups hand-torn cooked free-range organic turkey pieces
A squeeze of fresh lemon juice
Sea salt and ground pepper, to taste

For the sauce:

4 tablespoons olive oil
4 tablespoons sweet rice flour
2 cups creamy, unsweetened non-dairy milk (or milk)
1 1/2 cups gluten-free chicken broth
1/4 cup dry sherry or white wine (may omit)
1 teaspoon tarragon or parsley
Sea salt and ground pepper or paprika, to taste

Option- If you are a fan of nutritional yeast, add 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast to the sauce.


For the crumb topping:

2 cups Crunchy Gluten-Free Bread Crumbs (tossed in olive oil or melted vegan margarine)

1 teaspoon French herbs- or parsley

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Lightly grease or spray a 10x13-inch baking dish or deep casserole.

Heat a dash of olive oil in a large skillet and lightly saute the onion, garlic, carrots, celery, and mushrooms till tender; set aside.

Arrange the cooked spaghetti in the baking dish.

Toss the turkey pieces in a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and season with a little sea salt and pepper.

Add the skillet veggies to the noodles in the baking dish.

Make your sauce:

In a saucepan, heat the olive oil and add the flour; stir to make a paste; briefly stir over heat for about three minutes- to cook out the "flour" flavor. Slowly add a cup of the rice milk and continue stirring until it starts to thicken; add the second cup of rice milk, heat and stir till thickened. I like to use a whisk at this point.

If you are using the nutritional yeast, you can add it in and whisk to combine. Add the broth. Continue to heat gently for another five to seven minutes, stirring often. Add the sherry, tarragon and a dash of sea salt and pepper, to taste. In fact- taste test. If it needs a flavor boost, add a pinch more salt, a dash of herbs or sherry. You can also add a dash of nutmeg or mustard if you like.

Pour the sauce over the veggies and noodles and use a fork to shimmy the goodies so that the sauce seeps in and around- this keeps everything moist and happy.

Top with the Crunchy Golden GF Bread Crumbs. (I like to place a few of the mushroom slices on the top, too- I think it looks pretty.)

Bake in the center of a preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes, until piping hot and bubbling.

To be totally retro, serve with green beans sprinkled with slivered almonds.

Serves 4 to 6.

Recipe Source: glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com

These turkey enchiladas are tasty and gluten-free.

Holiday Turkey Enchiladas Recipe- Gluten-Free

You will love these super easy enchiladas featuring torn pieces of tender free-range chicken, lime juice, chunks of sweet pineapple, and spicy salsa. Espeically after Thanksgiving, when all the traditional Pilgrim-inspired foods have shared their hand-holding moment in the fast fading sun.

Ingredients:

3 cups of your favorite salsa- spicy or mild

4-5 cups of cooked free-range organic turkey, hand torn or shredded

Juice from one fresh lime

2-4 tablespoons sour cream- light or regular or vegan for dairy-free

Sea salt and ground pepper

Pinch of cumin

Light olive oil, as needed

12 corn tortillas

1 cup diced pineapple

2 4-oz. cans chopped green chiles, drained

2 cups shredded Jalapeño Jack cheese- or vegan Jack for non-dairy

Hot red pepper flakes, to taste

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350ºF.

Pour about a half cup of salsa into the bottom a large lightly oiled 10x13" baking dish- or use two smaller pans, for six enchiladas each.

Place the torn turkey pieces into a bowl and squeeze lime juice all over the cooked turkey; add enough sour cream to moisten; stir; season with sea salt and pepper, and cumin; toss well to coat.

Heat a dash of olive oil in a skillet, and heat one corn tortilla until softened, turning it over once to coat with oil. Place the tortilla into the sauced baking dish; fill with 1/12 of the turkey pieces, and roll up seam side down, placing it at the far end of the dish. Repeat for the remaining tortillas, adding more oil, if needed.

Pour the remaining salsa over the rolled tortillas. Top with the diced pineapple, then the green chiles. Sprinkle with cheese and red pepper flakes.

Bake in a 350 degree F. oven until the enchiladas are bubbling and heated through, about 30 minutes.

Check out my tasty homemade green chile sauce recipe here.

Serves 6

Recipe Source: glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com

Gluten-free nachos, Baby.

Gluten-Free Turkey Nachos

Here's a non-conventional way to use up cruelty-free turkey leftovers Santa Fe style. Use a combo of organic blue and yellow corn chips and scatter on lots of sliced pickled jalapeños. It's an unbeatable combination.

Ingredients:

3 heaping cups organic blue corn tortilla chips

3 heaping cups organic yellow corn tortilla chips

Extra virgin olive oil

2 cups hand torn cooked free-range organic turkey pieces

4 oz. Cheddar or Jack cheese, shredded- use vegan cheese for dairy-free

A big handful of organic sweet grape tomatoes, halved

3-4 tablespoons chopped pickled jalapenos- or use chopped mild green chiles

A sprinkle of good chili powder or chipotle powder, to taste

Chopped fresh cilantro, if desired

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 425ºF. Line a large roasting pan with foil or parchment paper.

Layer the blue and yellow corn tortilla chips in the bottom of the lined pan; drizzle with some extra virgin olive oil and hand toss to coat evenly.

Scatter the turkey pieces on top of the corn chips. Sprinkle with half of the shredded cheese. Layer the tomatoes, jalapeños, and the remaining shredded cheese. Believe it or not, drizzle a little more olive oil all over the the nachos. Add a dusting of spices, to taste, and chopped cilantro, if desired.

Bake in a hot oven for about seven to ten minutes, or so, until the cheese has melted and the nachos are happy and sizzling. You can even be post-holiday decadent and serve these nachos right from the roasting pan. Okay, I admit it. We're casual here.

We eat nachos right out of the pan- with our fingers.

Serves 4.

Recipe Source: glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com

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What we still don't know

This is a brilliant 3 part series that I missed most of a few years ago and wasn't able to find it on the internet back then. I watched the one "are we real' and it was so fascinating, it really makes you think. This is probably one of the best documentaries I've seen on these topics. Here are the three videos... The philosophical questions in these are brilliant.

The kind of questions in this videos are the ones I hope to see answered at some point in the future, and is part of the reason why I do calorie restriction and why I want to live forever. It is just so fascinating to me and provides me with a strong purpose to do CR, and is reason for my success in sticking to it. Rather than just to 'lose weight' which for most people is a short term goal. If you have a very good purpose in why you want to do CR, you will stick to it. For me, living to see the emergence of post humans, detection of other civilizations and colonization of the galaxies, to see how the world and technology evolves are good reasons to stick around. These reasons among others are why eating unhealthy will NEVER happen ever again until we have a good control over human health using advanced biotech and nanotech. Also the fact that being dead for eternity, non existence, doesn't really comfort me... even though I didn't exist for around 14 billion years anyway... Stay alive for as long as possible.

Episode 1: Are we alone?
Sir Martin explores the possibility that life exists on planets beyond our own.
He unveils an unsettling scientific debate that has startling consequences for
us Earthlings. Do you believe in aliens? If not, a quick glance through these pages might change your mind!


Episode 2: Why are we here?
Everything you thought you knew about the universe is wrong. It’s made of atoms, right? Wrong. Atoms only account for a measly 15% of everything that exists. The mass of the universe consists of something so mysterious and elusive that it has been dubbed ‘dark matter’.

Episode 3: Are we real?
There is a fundamental chasm in our understanding of ourselves, the universe, and everything. To solve this, Sir Martin takes us on a mind-boggling journey through multiple universes to post-biological life. On the way we learn of the disturbing possibility that we could be the product of someone else’s experiment.

See the website here

Looks whos back... Willie

An old blogger is back posting again, for now it seems. Some of the earlier CR bloggers probably read this blog often. Every now and then I check there to see if there is anything new. He has posted twice recently.

CRONing for a future...

Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Holiday Tips

Getting through the holidays gluten and dairy free can be tough. Let me tell ya. But then, the holidays were always a challenge for me because I was mostly vegetarian for decades (meaning ovo-lacto vegetarian and sometimes vegan). In truth, Gentle Reader, my holiday foods have often tended, shall we say, to be a tad different from mainstream holiday fare.

Being the wild and free goddess-in-training I was back in those golden zen-kissed crunchy pre-celiac days, I learned early on how to tweak traditional recipes and reinvent old favorites- like using coconut milk as a vegan (non-dairy) sub in whipped sweet potatoes (everyone loved this!) and subbing butter and cream with vegetable broth and crushed roasted garlic in fluffy smashed potatoes. No one missed the animal fat (unless they were just being polite).

My stuffing back then (baked as a casserole) was naturally gluten-free. I used cubes of toasted cornbread tossed with a skillet of softened onions, celery, chopped apple and cranberries seasoned with a touch of curry- then moistened with broth and baked till golden- sometimes with pine nuts or pecans on top.

Instead of serving green beans swimming in canned mushroom soup (because I never- and I mean, never- got the appeal of that goopy combination) I roasted fresh green beans in sea salt and balsamic vinegar- just until tender-crisp. Or did this simple but elegant recipe with pomegranate glaze.

Lucky for me, I enjoyed thinking "outside the box". And in my vegan years- not once- did I make a turkey out of tofu.

Who needs tofurky when you have Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchiladas?

Read more + get the recipe >>

Acorn Squash with Green Chiles and Equal Love

My kinda squash. Kicked up with green chiles.

I deeply (if not profoundly) doubt the ever expanding food blog galaxy needs yet another squash recipe, but.

I can't help myself.

Right before the Charlie Brown style tile floor smack down (aka hip incident), I threw together a flavor combo I am crazy about. Nutty for. Head over heals smack your lips and toss aside your chaste maple syrup Pilgrim traditions for. That's right. I got radical.

I added chopped roasted New Mexican green chiles to my roasted acorn squash. And a sexy pinch of cumin. A golden drizzle of fruity olive oil. Impudent changes to the way we do things around here that would have sent a certain lanky, curly-haired ex-boyfriend of mine scurrying for his cream of mushroom soup casserole. In other words, Gentle Reader, home to Mommy.

Note to Goddesses-in-Training:

Darlings. If your boyfriend thinks your cooking is, let's say the word used is, Weird! Or even, Goddess forbid, Too spicy!

Find another boyfriend. Or girlfriend. That's right. I'm taking all shades of rainbow love. Whatever makes your heart race and your soul bloom.

Because love is too large for labels. Too fierce and sweet and fragile for small mindedness. And let's face it. True love is too heartbreakingly scarce in this world to twist your authentic self into a one-size-fits-all paper thin cut-out of who you should be, whom you should love, whom you should worship.

I'm here to tell you two things- from intimate, personal life experience- my recent brush with mortality has stoked my desire to speak freely.

Karina's Rules To Live By

1. Life is too damn short so lighten up.

2. Love is the best thing there is. And that means all love, Babycakes.

Not just one particular legal sanctioned religion supported super-hetero kind of love. I mean all the rainbow love shades in between from red to blue, from indigo to pink and even purple. So if you're feeling snagged in a cartoon cut-out of your life for your family's sake, or your church's sake, or your Aunt Vilma's sake, listen up, Doll.

Scrape off the Pilgrim tradition and the pressure to conform and the urge to please, fit in and be nice. Nice is overrated. And tradition is really overrated. As is the enduring myth that perfection is attainable. So shake things up. Be bold.

Love whom you love.

{As H.L. Mencken quipped, Puritanism was the haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy.}

And for those of you genetically blessed with enjoying your legally sanctioned mainstream love, open your tender hearts and vote. Vote for equal freedom and equal rights and equal marriage opportunity for all.

Be generous of spirit.

Stretch your spiritual muscle.

Expand your compassion.

Because, judging? Not attractive. Leave the wrath to someone else.

Hate is not sexy.

Smugness? Top turn-off.

Sugar, the bottom line is this. Let your neighbor live in peace (not to mention your cousin or brother or sister still stuck in some dusty closet with all your other family detritus that no one likes to talk about). Get over it. 

It's time.

And put spicy chiles in your holiday squash if you feel like it. No matter what Miss Goodier Than Thou thinks.

Let your soul fly.

Read more + get the recipe >>

Gluten-Free Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips

Gluten-free banana chocolate chip bread. Yum.

Score one for banana bread lovers. After more than a few banana-induced mishaps (who knew baking egg-free gluten-free casein-free banana breads would prove so harrowing and unappealingly gummy and well, just plain spirit crushing?) Steve and I produced a sweet and tender banana loaf worthy of a mention.

A shout of big thanks goes out to my buddy Clare from Massachusetts (you remember Clare- she generously shared her brownie recipe with me back in the day). Clare posted her banana bread recipe on the Celiac Listserv last week. I veganized Clare's ingredients to make this recipe egg-free and dairy-free. And then, well, I simply had to add chocolate chips. After all, chocolate is goddess food.

And what's a banana without a little chocolate?

Just another naked banana.

And when you have a partner/husband like Steve (who, by the way, as you would expect, has been a champ through my hip healing process- hefting laundry, dusting (yes, that's right, dusting), bringing me mugs of hot apple cider (with a cinnamon stick!) and just plain cooking up a storm on my famished behalf)- who sweetly asks, Would you like me to grill your slice of Banana Chocolate Chip Bread?--- you blush, Dear Reader, and realize (once again) you've married the right man.

The man who knows you like your chocolate dark and melty and warm on your tongue. For breakfast.

Read more + get the recipe >>

Gluten-Free Grains: Quinoa, Rice + Side Dishes

Sorry! This recipe idex has moved to:

Quinoa, Rice and Side Dishes

Error

Woke up this morning and found my Digital kitchen scales have died, well not quite, but is consistently showing an error message upon trying to weigh anything. I had no idea that such a simple device could screw up in such a short space of time of two years. So today it looks like I'll be guessing all my food portions and maybe I'll do OK because I've been weighing the stuff every day for almost 3 years. Plus I can check my morning weight to see if it's changed. I'll be trying to see if I can borrow some scales of people today anyway... I think I know a few people who might have one to lend me for a little while until I get new scales sometime end of next week when I get paid.

If not, then I'll just have to guess everything for a week... shouldn't be too much of a problem!

Sunny :)

Just quick post, it is really nice today as it feels warm and blue skies. I hope this lasts a few days because I need more sun and light! It makes me feel happy :) It's strange weather for November I must say :p

SAD

Many people know the feeling this time of year, and as expected it is starting unusually early because of the crappy summer we had this year. I don't know what it is, it's like a sudden shift in my mood. The clocks have just gone back and now it's getting dark extremely early, I think around 5pm -- it's annoying. Leave the clocks alone dammit! Doing a little exercise always help lift mood quite quickly so I did some running today and felt a bit more energetic and better. However I know this is going to feel like a long winter unless I get occupied with something. I haven't taken my Vitamin D3 in two weeks either because I ran out and have to order some more from AOR... maybe that got something to do with it, or it could just be the lack of light. Maybe I need to more in the winter and come back in the summer :) I managed rather well in keep SAD symptoms away last year because I was studying hard and working, so no time to feel bad reflect on how I felt really. It's not depression, not anxiety, just a feeling of 'blah' lol. Weird stuff. I think it might also have something to do with the very little amount of sleep I've had this week, need to sleep more I think.

GIVE ME LIGHT !



Here is some info on SAD
http://www.sada.org.uk/symptoms.htm

Tests for CRONies in Leeds, UK

I've been in contact with a researcher in Leeds who who studies athletes, energy restriction, anorexia etc... She is interested in the differences between these and how Calorie restriction with optimal nutrition differs, if at all! She wants a bunch of CRONies to undergo some tests... I haven't yet replied back to her last email, but spoke to Bob via email and hes going to draft out an email and send it to the list.

This was at the end of her email.
Cathy "All-in-all it’s a complex area. I am sure we could arrange some measurements of BMD, hormone status and bone health (etc.) in a group of CRs if you and your friends are interested to travel to Leeds for these?"

I believe she also mentioned looking at immune function too. Although I'll have to check back on my emails about this. So anyone in the UK interested, please respond to Bob's email!

Edit: From another email

"I would be interested to conduct some research in this field, especially on bone health and immune function. As far as I’m aware, there is no research of this nature occurring in the UK."

Doctor Cathy Zanker
http://www.leedsmet.ac.uk/carnegie/czanker.htm

Beef Stew

A gluten-free beef stew recipe to warm your bones.

This recipe is a surprise- even to me. Beef stew? You wouldn't expect a Vegetarian Goddess to create and fall in love with a beef stew recipe, but that is precisely what happened this weekend. Shocking? 

Tell me about it.

Just when you think you've got your life all figured out, and your tastes and preferences arranged in a tidy packet of self-identification and veggie piety- all Hades breaks loose. Celiac. Food allergies. Broken hip.

Suddenly, your food-world view is quite literally flipped on its leafy little head.

So, after my orthopedic surgeon's instructions to "eat lots of animal protein" to support the healing of my hip fracture, my husband and I decided to try our collective hands at making our very first beef stew together.

The first beef stew of our marriage.

And what did I do as I spooned the first taste into my hesitant, quivering lips? Gentle Reader, I swooned like a virgin in a bodice ripper. I sighed. I grew faint with pleasure. I slurped. Oh my! I murmured through one spoonful after another. Wow, said my partner in crime. This is mighty damn tasty.

You could have knocked us over with a feather.

Read more + get the recipe >>

Chocolate Chip Cookies and Vanilla Blondies

Vanilla blondie? Or chocolate chip cookie Bar? You decide.

First- thank you all for your kind and compassionate wishes for a speedy recovery from emergency hip surgery. Such fabulous readers you are- every one of you. As our Italian friend, Sandra, once said to us- in her dead gorgeous Tuscan accent-  

I love you too much!

I feel human again. Yesterday (day nine post-surgery) this sticky, prickly goddess got to sit inside the shower (they make these nifty portable shower seats now) and- Aphrodite-blessed relief!- indulge in twenty sexy minutes of hot steamy bliss. Hawaiian shampoo. Rainbath lather. Leg shaving!

One lesson a broken hip teaches you? It's the little things in life that count. The simple luxury of taking a shower shoots to gold star status- the genuine, beyond spectacular highlight of the day. Pulling on a soft clean shirt? Heaven. Sitting upright, freshly shampooed and moisturized with Eternity lotion? Divine. Twirling pasta in olive oil and garlic- in bed- next to your husband? It doesn't get any better than this.

And then there are chocolate chip cookies (that are egg-free and dairy-free- earning them treasured vegan status). They also happen to be gluten-free, wheat-free, bean-free, soy-free and nut-free. Perfect for all those cute-as-a-button multi-allergic tykes out there. Not to mention, gluten-free vegan goddesses.

Last night Steve helped me make these as cookie bars, in the style of my old tried and true favorite chocolate chip cookie bar recipe- and, Babycakes, they were a damn good match. I named them Vanilla Brownies. My trick was a small cheat. A dab of butter flavor extract. I don't usually turn to artificial flavors (in fact, this is a first for me), but when you are allergic to most natural flavors and buckets of other foods and your taste buds crave a buttery sweet treat, this decidedly un-foodie goddess figures--- Why the Hades not? But if it horrifies you to use it, Darling Reader- and just the very thought of it keeps you up at night worrying about the integrity of the cookie universe- leave it out. It's one quarter of a teaspoon. Sub it with vanilla. Do your thing. 

It's all good.

Read more + get the recipe >>

Screwed! But Sparky and Esteban Save the Day

Meet Sparky.

He's my new bed and blanket companion. Looking at him makes me smile. After the fall- there's an awful lot of imagery, sensation and emotion refracting inside this more-than-slightly addled post hip surgery brain of mine (this is a thinly veiled mea culpa for any bad writing that follows) but I wanted to send out a heartfelt thanks- lickity split!- to all of you, for your kind notes and sweet messages. I cherish every one.

My world has been whittled down to a queen size bed and some 800 square feet of floor space. I must keep- totally- off my left leg for a minimum of eight weeks to give my fractured femoral neck (screwed back together with three titanium screws) a fighting chance.

If you're a betting soul, here are the odds of me keeping my own hip: 50/50.

Read more + get the recipe >>

Want to be happy?... Stop being unhappy

I thought this little video was good. There are many more by him on his profile.

Yoga of Happiness

Protect your hearing

I would like to post this because I think it's important for those rocking out hard with your guitar up loud, or drums, or going to loud concerts all the time. Tinnitus affects 50 million people in the U.S and around 10 million in the UK. For some reason about three months ago I developed tinnitus... it came out of the blue and no idea what caused it. My ENT doctor said my hearing is excellent in the right ear and slightly lower than it should be in the left, but still normal. Also an ear pressure test was abnormal in the left ear (can suggest ear fluid). Then he said that he did see fluid in both ears and can take many months to clear... and that it might be from a viral or that sinus problems I had. he think this is what is causing the mild tinnitus. It almost sounds like a high pitched noise coming from an old CRT monitor. I'm a fairly optimistic person, and tinnitus hasn't really increased anxiety levels or anything because I've just learned to get used to it! Until there is a cure there is no point in worrying about it because there is nothing anyone can really do says my doctor and ent doc.

Watch this video and see what I hear 24/7! -- This noise can be caused by excessive noise levels, bacterial or viral ear infections, allergies, antibiotics, chemotherapy, tumors and anxiety or stress can make it much louder. Anemia is also another cause of this problem. Tinnitus is not a disease, but a symptom of a problem which is usually benign. New research suggests that the brain is involved in picking up this noise that is supposed to be filtered out. In fact, if you stick anyone in a sound proof room for 5 minutes they will also begin to hear these high pitched noises. However this leaves them as soon as they are exposed to the natural environment again. 30% of those coming home from iraq also are suffering from tinnitus... and with all the kids now playing their music players up loud, there will be many more.

Protect your ears :)

I've almost got some people to join my new rock band. I'll definitely be wearing proper protection this time!

Update...from Alex

Hello everyone --

Late Wednesday night my mother- Karina- fell and broke her hip, fracturing the neck of the femur above the proximal line. Since then, she has been through surgery to repair the damage and is recovering well. With any luck, she and Steve will be making the transition back to the casita to continue her recovery in the comforts of home, and will be back to posting on her blog in a few days. I know she is looking forward to getting in touch with all of her friends, fans and fellow bloggers.

-- Alex

You're the hemp in my...

Just so you know? It's two in the afternoon.

And I spent the day- so far- in bed. Snuggled beneath a Pendleton blanket, cruising the information highway on Steve's laptop. Nibbling pieces of smoked salmon. Approving Spicy Comments. Paying bills. Ordering lavender pillows stuffed with rice or buckwheat [not to eat, Darling, to heat- in the microwave- till toasty and warm and soothing; therapy for this sleep-deprived blogger's crooked neck and quirky tummy still not right from her sojourn into public dining in Los Angeles].

In light of a certain individual's recent ranting (and her pondering whether to throw in the towel and head for the nearest smoke shop- conveniently located next to Saints and Sinners) this post will be a simple thank you to Certain Readers- you know who you are- for the suggestion of hemp.

Hemp, as in milk.

Hemp, as in, You're the hemp in my mate... (that's MAH-tay for those of you not familiar with Viggo's preferred caffeine source).

Read more + get the recipe >>

My Humble Petition

(Parental warning- this post is rated PG 13)

Dear Wise and Merciful Goddess,

There have been so many gruesome failures (or quasi-semi-successes not worth sharing) in my tiny blue tiled cocina of late that I am perilously close to throwing in the towel and crying, WTF? I am spending days (yes, days!) feeling hollow from hunger because I can't find anything in the cruel pantry to eat. Especially for breakfast. And brunch. And snacks.

I can usually rustle up a tasty dinner built around potatoes or rice with a piece of fish or the one sausage I can eat. But truth be told- as you may already know in your omniscient all-knowingness- I am missing eggs and cheese like crazy this week. Dear Divine One, what I wouldn't give for one of my pasta frittatas. Or a sizzling tray of nachos. Or- Oy!- a hot and cozy slice of my roasted vegetable kugel.

With limited sources of protein to pick from- beef, pork and some fish- I am stymied at breakfast. Not to mention mid-day. And late afternoon snacks! I mean, seriously. Who wants to eat fish three times a day as my brisk and steely Nurse Practitioner (transplanted from coastal Maine, duh) advised?

And if might gently and sweetly ask, is it really wise to eat beef every day- even if it's grass fed and organic and roaming the range with Tommy Lee Jones and all that good stuff? I kinda doubt it. Not at my overheated pesky age.

As you well know, I'm no spring chicken.

Which I'm also allergic to. Here's the thing. Without my brown rice and beans, my peanut butter on rice cakes, my grabs of almonds and cashews, protein powder smoothies, and hummus? And those fast and fabulous grilled quesadillas? I am, quite frankly, more than slightly askew. Not to mention, cranky. And some days- like today, for instance? Yours in devotion is frustrated and gloomy and frankly, wicked pissed and hungry.

And I'm not going to lie about it.

Read more + get the recipe >>

I thought so, I am programmed to love chocolate

Two of the findings in this study was that those who love chocolate, eat it daily, have a different metabolic profile. Those who really like chocolate have marginally high levels of albumin (yes so do I), they also have really low LDL cholesterol (I have that too). If I could I'd eat many bars of chocolate a day, but sadly I have to limit my intake of dark chocolate. However when I do eat it, it's always Lindt Dark chocolate! Yum :D

People 'programmed to love chocolate'
Friday, 12 Oct 2007 08:18

Story can be found here

Being a chocolate lover is down to a chemical signature in the brain, scientists have found. Their discovery, the first to link chocolate preference to a chemical process, explains why some people love the food while others are indifferent to it. Swiss and British researchers behind the finding argue it could be used to help design healthier diets customised to an individual's needs.

They studied 22 volunteer men, half of whom are indifferent to chocolate and half who love it. The men ate chocolate or a placebo over a five-day period while their blood and urine samples were tested. Chocolate lovers were found to have lower levels of 'bad' cholesterol and marginally elevated levels of albumin, a beneficial protein. They expressed this protein even when they ate no chocolate and activity of the gut microbes in the chocolate lovers was also found to be distinctly different from the other participants.

"Our study shows that food preferences, including chocolate, might be programmed or imprinted into our metabolic system in such a way that the body becomes attuned to a particular diet," said researcher Sunil Kochhar, a scientist with Nestle Research Centre in Switzerland. "We know that some people can eat a diet that is high in steak and carbs and generally remain healthy, while the same food in others is unhealthy.

"Knowing one's metabolic profile could open-the-door to dietary or nutritional interventions that are customised to your type so that your metabolism can be nudged to a healthier status."

The findings are published in the Journal of Proteome Research.

Some try extreme calorie restriction for long life

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20746251/


The link above is to the article on Paul and Meredith who have been doing CR for quite a long time now. It also contains two new videos which you can view on that page.

As I type this, 42% say they would try calorie restriction if it meant they could live a longer healthier life. There are have been 1794 votes in so far on the MSNBC story. So it looks good... but saying I would do it is an entirely different thing from being able to do calorie restriction for the long term ;)

I would also encourage you all to do something that wont take more than a few seconds. Go to this linkand share your CR experiences.

Also you can go over to this blog to comment back at some of the people who don't understand cr that well.