Seven Days and Still Counting….

Well ladies and gents, I made it.  It was  a small feat and I still have a few more weeks ahead of me but I have gone seven days without eating a one bite of refined or artificial sugar.  All I can say is “Go me!”  While I can’t say everyday had been peachy and there was one incident where I begged and pleaded for a piece of chocolate calmly asked for chocolate and Ty gently talked me out of eating some it has not been terrible.  The first two days went very smooth and there was nary a want or desire for something sweet.  Day three and four the urge struck but I reminded myself that sugar was not in my daily food repertoire  anymore and by day six and seven things have started to smooth out with only the minor need for something sweet.  Fruit has for the most part been sufficient enough.

There have been other changes and that most reflects my taste preferences.  Food just tastes better.  Once I removed the thick layer of sugar in my diet I am finally beginning to taste my food.  I bought a watermelon at the store to help squelch those times when I really need something sweet and the first bite was like eating candy.  Ty disagreed with me on this one because when he tasted the same watermelon he deemed it had no flavor.  That’s because he is still on the sugar train.  It’s not just fruit that tastes sweeter either.  It’s savory stuff as well.  I feel like when I eat foods that are meant to be salty or savory they actually taste more so.  I’m so interested to see the continued changes as I progress and mark days off on the calendar.

You know what else is in seven days and counting, well, counting down that is?  My impending move.  I can’t believe that in one week I can officially call myself a Portlandian.  I can’t wait to feel that west coast love.  I suppose at sometime I should tell my story about why I am moving back to the west coast but that will have to be another post.

Kicking the Sugar Habit To The Curve

“Sugar, ah honey honey

You are my candy-girl

And you’ve got me wanting you!“

Sugar, you have to go.  As much as I love your sweet taste and the yummy treats that make you even more resistible I must say goodbye.  And, while you are pleasing, I cannot be fooled.  You are one mean sucker.  For the better part of year now I have been on this roller coaster of sugar highs and lows.  At first, after years of shunning sugar it seemed innocuous.  It was just a taste here and there but soon the sugar monster in me took over.  The all-out need for a daily dose of sugar has become my life and you know what?  The amusement park that once brought me such joy and pleasure is not so fun anymore.  Honey, it’s time to step off this ride.

I hate to vilify foods and since I already have a list of no-no foods it’s hard to add one more but sugar is something I feel we all could eat a little less of.  Let’s face it, a lot of people in the country are spiraling toward obesity and the rates keep climbing higher and higher. While I can’t say it’s a particular food causing all these problems I can say that I feel sugar plays a large part in that.  Have you ever really tasted American food?  It’s sweet.  The few times I have done a sugar-detox and then ate something that was pretty standard American fare it was sweet!  It wasn’t eating cake, ice cream, cookies, or anything else that was supposed to be sweet either.  I’m talking roasted lunch meat and crackers.  Call me crazy but since when is lunch meat supposed to be sweet?  Although I don’t see a need for it I can understand why food companies do it.  Plain and simple, sugar is addictive.  Uh, hello, look at me.  Case in point.

Why do I want to be sugar-free?  Because it’s healthier.  I am so ashamed to admit it but this is the unhealthiest I have ever been.  I’m out of shape, my skin has been freaking out, I get headaches, my body aches, my pants don’t quite fit, my sleep patterns are all over the place, and my energy levels have sunk to a new low.  That sounds like a pretty good reason to snap out of my sugar haze.  In T-minus 14 days I will be boarding a plane to start my life as an acupuncture student.  There are going to be many days and nights spent in class, many hours of studying, homework assignments, and tests abound.  When my energy dips and I’m out of shape there is just no way I will be able to get through it so that is reason enough for me.

So, here it goes.  I’m starting my sugar-detox. Fifty-six days without processed, refined, or artificial sugars.  Why fifty-six?  That is how many days till my birthday and I figured why not give myself the gift of being sugar-free.  I mulled over twenty-one days but since it seemed silly to just go to twenty-one I thought I’d go for the gusto and make it all the way to my next big day.  Hopefully by then I’ll be jamming and comfortable in my new and improved sugar-free lifestyle.

As popular as it is I won’t be using my blog solely for the purpose of keeping myself honest.  I’m still going to highlight my life as an acupuncture student with some food in there but I just wanted to give everyone a heads up.  I also needed to put all this sugar stuff out there.  Sometimes it’s easier to follow through with something when its made public.  If I tell someone what I’m doing and why I’m much more likely to continue to do it.  It’s this whole “follow through with what you say” outlook I have.  So there, I said it.  Now all I have to do is follow through.

Bad Blogger and Changes

It’s come to my attention that I am a terrible blogger.  I don’t post nearly enough and since I am particularly bad at following a recipe I never have one to post.  I should seriously think about changing that.  I can guarantee that recipe thing won’t get better but I can try to make the content a little bit more interesting and come a little more often.  Change is definitely a good thing.

Speaking of change…..I’ve got big changes coming up in my life.

Change #1, I’m on the move again!  In two weeks I will be Portland, Oregon bound and I’m staying there for good.  After much thought, deliberation, agonizing nights of fret and worry I have decided to accept an offer to attend a school for Oriental  medicine in Portland.  I am beyond excited for this adventure.  Portland is going to be much more my style.  Boston is cool but I’m a west coast girl through and through.

Change #2, the blog.  I am thinking of changing the blog into more of a “this is how an acupuncture student lives” rather than” here is a food blog where the recipes I post may or may not work out and the content is spotty.”  I want to share the world of acupuncture with everyone and want to bring it into mainstream instead of it hanging out in the back with all the weird hippy-dippy, voodoo crowds.  It’s good stuff and everyone can benefit from a treatment.  Seriously, it’s not all that strange and when you think about it, it’s actually pretty cool.  I mean seriously, how many people do you know that can look at your tongue, take your pulse, and know so much about you just by that?  I am willing to bet not many.  So be on the lookout for more content and more insight into the world of acupuncture.

Change #3, Beer!!!  It’s back in my life.  My sweet and loving boyfriend brewed me some gluten-free beer.  It’s delicious and it is really nice to be able to enjoy a brew with all my friends.

Isn’t it pretty?  Thank you love for making bringing beer back into my life!!!

Expect some stories to come about my journey as an acupuncture student. 

Whoa….Where Have I Been?

Blog, I have not abandoned thee.  I’ve just been busy.  I suppose I do owe a recap of the last couple of months and  little insight as to why I just disappeared.  There have been good times, bad times, and a little bit of everything in between.

I might as well start off with a bang and tell everyone the great news and hence why I have fallen off the Earth.  I was accepted to acupuncture school!!!!!   And, not just one school but two schools.  It’s been quite exciting and a dream of mine to one day earn a degree in acupuncture and look at me now, I’m on my way.

School has not been without drama, however.  As I said, I got into two schools.  Exciting but I am one of those that over thinks EVERYTHING and deciding where I want to study has been a struggle for me.

What if I don’t make the right decision?

What if I don’t like one school and wish I had gone to another school?

What if I don’t like the curriculum?

I’ve even gone so far as buying a plane ticket on a whim, traveling across the country for a day to see a school, and coming home with no clearer picture of where I shall end up.  I know, this is a luxury problem.   I do know that I will be starting this journey this fall and I do know it will be unlike anything I have experienced in my life.  Anyway, the point is not to complain about school but to rejoin in the fact that I got in and you know what?

I’m so proud of myself.

I’m entering into a chapter in my life that is going to be full of knowledge, amazing life changes, the addition of new friends, a time for me to embrace personal growth, and a time for me to flourish. Of course, this means changes around the blog but I think they will be good changes.  I want to use this space as a place for me to show what it’s like to be an acupuncture student, post a few recipes, and share my insights in the world of alternative medicine.

Stay tuned….more stories and fun to come.

Grain-Free Crackers

There’s a thing about being gluten-free that ceases to fade.

Cravings.

If I had a dollar for every gluten-free person I have talked to that says they miss something they ate in their gluten days I would be rich.

I’ve heard it all.

Pizza,

Bread,

Decent hamburger buns,

English muffins,

Cookies, cakes, and pies.

Cinnamon rolls,

and crackers.

Yes, I know.  There are lots of great products out there that do a decent job of duplicating wheat filled goodies but really, has anyone ever chomped down on a piece of rice bread and said, “yum, give me more.”  No, not really.  It’s dense, chewy, and nothing like the real thing.

Crackers?  Yeah, those hardtack rice crackers are hardly going to squash this girl’s carb craving.  I need something I can spread butter over and say, “Oh, yes.  That’s the stuff.”

I love these crackers because they come together in a snap and they really do make me think I am eating a real cracker.  I like that the ingredient list is simple and doesn’t take me more than five minutes to put together so when a crazy cracker craving strikes I won’t be left with crappy, con-artist crumbs.

Grain-Free Crackers

1 c almond flour

1 tbsp coconut flour

1 egg

1 tbsp olive oil, butter, or fat of choice

seasonings to delight (I used a variety of Italian seasonings but you can use whatever you like.  I am willing to bet that if you added some honey they could stand in for graham crackers too.)

Preheat the over to 350*.  In a medium bowl whisk together all the ingredients and form into a ball.  Heavily grease a baking sheet or cover with parchment paper.  Roll the dough out on the pan to about 1/8″ thickness.  Using a pizza cutter or knife score the dough so that when the crackers are done they will break apart easily.  Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake till the crackers are slightly golden brown.  Remove from the oven and allow to cool before devouring.

 

Writer’s Block = Bad Blogger

I have it bad.

I have writer’s block.

It’s so bad I can’t even write in my journal.  I get two sentences in and I am d.o.n.e.

See, I still have application essays to write and oh yeah, this little thing called a blog so this whole writer’s block things needs to go away.

Being distracted by cookbook like these doesn’t help either….

Not only have suffered from writer’s block I’ve also been suffering from recipe block and I felt there was no one better suited to help me out than Giada.  Just a little fact here, I love Giada De Laurentiis.  I watch her show all the time.  I love her recipes and I love that she reminds me of so many of the women in my family.  (It’s totally the Italian family thing.)

As I flipped and turned each page of her book I knew I had to get into the kitchen, ’cause man….that girl can cook. I chose to make her Nonna Luna’s Shrimp and Rice but I definitely made some changes.  The recipe itself is a pretty spicy recipe and Ty can’t handle spice and when I say that I mean NO spice.  On two separate occasions I thought he was going to choke to death because of a little spice.  (I laughed when it was all said and done.  He did not think it was funny.)

Nonna Luna’s Shrimp and Rice

*adapted from Giada de Laurentiis Giada At Home

Serves Two

1/2 shrimp, peeled and de-veined

2/3 c brown rice

1 bullion cube

3 tbsp butter

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/4 c basil, chiffonade

1/4 c heavy cream

1/4 c milk

Juice of half a lemon

salt/pepper to taste

Heat a skillet over medium and melt 1 tbsp butter in pan.  Add the rice and toast till the grains are golden brown.  This will take about 5-7 minutes.  In a medium pot boil enough water to cook rice according to package directions and add one bullion cube. When the rice has been toasted add the rice to the pot of boiling water. (Be careful when adding the hot rice.  This will cause the temperature of the water to rise and possibly boil over.)

Once the rice has cooked heat the same skillet used to toast the rice over medium heat and add the remaining butter.  Add the garlic and cook till just fragrant and softened.  Salt and pepper the shrimp and add them to the pan cooking till just pink.  When the shrimp have turned pink add the milk and heavy cream cooking till heated through and thickened slightly.   The sauce will not be thick like an alfredo sauce but have no fear.  That rice will soak up the goodness just fine.  Add the lemon juice and season to taste.

Spoon the rice into a bowl, top with half the shrimp and sauce, sprinkle with basil, open a bottle of white wine, and say yum!

Cold, Gray Skies

It’s been cold in New England.  It’s the type of cold that makes your bones ache and moving from the couch a chore.  It’s the kind of cold where I wonder why I live here and long to be back in sunny Nevada where even if the winters do usher in the winter chill the sun shining makes the day bearable.

Yeah, it’s been bleak.

Through all the bleakness I’m trying to see a silver lining.  I know that the harsh winters will yield to spring and with spring new growth and green will emerge.  The sun will break through the gray lining of clouds and the blue skies will eventually span the horizon. I’m hopeful and holding out that Phil will be right and spring will come early.

While I can’t control the treacherous and snow-covered winter wonderland I am in I can feed the soul with comforting bowls of greatness.

Carrot-Ginger Soup

*adapted from Cooking Light

1 lb peeled, chopped carrots

1 tbsp olive oil

1 small onion, diced

2 stalked celery, diced

1 clove garlic, minced

2 tsp ginger

2 c chicken stock

1 c coconut milk

1 tsp honey

1 pinch nutmeg or clove

salt/pepper to taste

1 bay leaf

Heat a medium pot on medium heat.  Add the olive oil, onions, and celery.  Sweat the onion and celery and add a bit of salt and pepper to season.  Once onions have sweat add the garlic and ginger.  Stir and cook for about a minute to toast the ginger.  Next add the carrots, chicken stock, coconut milk, honey,  nutmeg (or clove), and bay leaf.  Bring to a simmer and heat till the carrots are tender.  Using a blender* or immersion blender puree the soup till desired consistency is reached.  Season to taste. Serve with a chunk of artisan bread and eat by a warm fire.

* if blending the soup in a blender add half the soup to start and blend then add the second half.  Warm liquids expand when they are blended.

Taking A Break

I have decided that I need to take a wee blogging break.  I hope that I am not gone long and that my time away will give me the much needed rest I am searching for.  I hope to come back with recipes to share and the vigor to write about the wonderful tastes that have delighted my tongue.

See you soon.

Hello 2011, Goodbye 2010

“Should old acquaintance be forgot,

and never brought to mind.

Should old acquaintance be forgot,

and old lang syne.”

Yeah, I’m a little late but that is just because I like to be fashionable late.

Oh, 2010, it’s been an interesting year and suffice to say not the most joyful year either.  Needless, I am not sad the year is gone.  No, I don’t wish to make time go faster but some years are better than others and 2010 falls on the “this was not the best year ever” list.  Sure, I started my blog, I traveled more than I ever have before,

I watched my sister get married, I spent some very quality time with much-loved family and friends,

I saw some beautiful things,

and I moved across the country, but I also lost my best friend

and I moved very far way from my family and yes, sometimes even with lots of adventures there are just some years that I am happy to say, “good riddance” to.

I have some really high hopes for 2011.  (Hmmm….I said that about 2010.)  Regardless of how I felt about 2010 rolling in I am still optimistic about 2011.  I’m not much for resolutions but I do like to reflect on the year past and make some decisions for the year to come.  Of course there are the usual things like making sure I try to lead the healthiest lifestyle I can, putting a positive spin on life’s little troubles, and always trying to put my best foot forward but what about the other things?  For me, I’m going to try to read more, not worry so much about life, money, and controlling every minute thing, and also to do a few more things for myself.

I have gotten off to a great start with the reading.  I know, the year has yet to begin but I figured it never hurts to get a little jump on things.  I’m reading a Jodi Picoult book.  She is one of my favorite authors by far.  All of her books are great reads and believable stories.  I kinda like that kind of stuff.  It’s funny.  Sometimes I find myself thinking about a book I’m reading and I have to remind myself that the story is fictional.  Weird, I know.

The worry part is going to be a slow go.  I am a chronic worrier.  It’s not healthy and I know it.  I can see it in my face.  I look tired, worn down, and just plain, well, worried all the time.  It’s aging me and not in a graceful way.

Doing a few more things for myself may also be a bit of a slow go but I am certainly going to give it a good ol’ college try.  I have some big plans for myself in the coming year and it all starts with me going  back to school.  At least trying to go back to school.  I’ve already applied to one school and I will be adding more to the list as the year goes on.  I am not going to go into great detail at this time but in time I hope I can reveal good news.

So, that’ it.  That’s my 2010 and I welcome 2011 with very open arms with and an optimistic view for the future.

In Search

Of something to remove the olive oil stain from my sweatshirt.

Of a little more snow.

A song to replace the Charlie Brown Christmas song in my head.

Oh, and perhaps a plane ticket home.  If anyone finds one, please.  Toss it my way.  It would be much appreciated right now.

While my search for a cheap flight home may be a never-ending pursuit I do think I may have stopped searching for a good slice of bread.

Yes, bread.

It’s the one bit of food us gluten intolerant folks never stop searching for. Heck, even some gluten eating people never stop searching.  It’s the food that when you realize you must stop eating it you mourn and I’m talking mourn.  I admit it.  I’ve cried over bread.  Sure, there are bricks of  impostors hanging out in the freezer but they are just that….bricks.  I swear, if I dropped one on my toe I might break it.

And, of course there are the numerous mixes on the shelves.   Such pretty mixes but most of them have dairy lurking in them or they taste terrible.  Let’s face it.  It’s not easy being gluten-free.  And never mind the fact that plain ol’ bread is hard enough.  What about all those other tasty breads.  You know, loaves like rye, pumpernickel, sour dough and cinnamon-raisin bread.

Remember the red bag of cinnamon-raisin bread with the California raisin girl on it?  Her and I, we go way back.  However, recently, and by recently I mean for more than three years we have not spoken.  Honey, it’s been far too long.

Cinnamon-Raisin Bread

*adapted from Elana’s Pantry’s Nutty Bread recipe

1 1/2 c almond meal

2/3 corn starch

4 eggs

2 tbsp honey

2/3 c raisins

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 package fast acting yeast

1/4 c warmed almond, soy, or rice milk

Set oven to warm.  In a medium bowl measure out almond flour and corn starch.  Whisk to evenly mix the two.  Place a 1/4 of the flour mixture in a small bowl and add the raisins to coat each raisin with the flour.  Next, with a hand mixer or a food processor beat the eggs and honey till the eggs are light and frothy.  While the eggs are processed heat the almond milk to 110* and proof the yeast.  When the eggs are frothy add them to the dry ingredients along with the cinnamon.  Whisk again till all ingredients are incorporated and add the yeast.  Mix and add the salt and raisin mixture.  When the raisins have been mixed into the dough place the dough in a greased loaf pan.  Cover with a clean towel and place on the oven to rise for one hour.  After rising for one hour turn the oven up to 350*.  Place the loaf into the oven and bake till the top is golden brown and a toothpick or knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.