green curry

A huge help for anyone trying to avoid sugar is a) finding something that you won't get board of... and b) once you find that something, make a vat of it!!!

A few weeks back, I found exactly that- gree curry! It's a simple way to eat your veggies while not getting board of the normal veggie taste.
(and personally- I love it because it's spicy. Spicy to the point that my eyes water and my nose runs... soooo good!)

Green Curry (with Chicken)

• 4 chicken breasts
• Coconut oil  (some for cooking chicken, 1 Tbsp. for the onions etc). 

• 3 tsp. crushed garlic
• 1 onion chopped 
• 2 Tbsp. green curry paste (or more if you like it spicy like me!!- you can find it in Super Store)
• 1/2 tsp. ginger
• 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp. ground pepper
• 3 Tbsp. fish sauce (can omit if ya don't have!)
• 1 Tbsp. lime juice
• 1 tsp. stevia (or other sugar substitute) 
• 2 cans coconut milk (split)

• 1 bag of baby bok choy
• 4 cups stir fry vegetable mix (or whatever veggies you would want to have in there)

Directions:

1. Cook chicken (make sure there is no pink) and set aside. 
2. Mix together the ingredient until coconut milk (only put in one can). Cook onions through, adding spices, curry paste, and such. 
3. Add stir fry veggies, the extra can of milk, and veggies are almost soft through add the bok choy.
4. Add chicken back in, and enjoy! Place on a bed of rice, quinoa, or even in a cup by itself (SO GOOD!)

Notes: If it is tooooo spicy add more milk (even regular milk), and if it isn't spicy enough open up the spice cupboard and add away! 

black bean brownie

I needed a chocolate brownie fix fast the other day= so I desperatly searched the internet to find something that would subdue my sweet tooth. I've been wanting to try a black bean brownie for a while so I decided that now was the time.

Black Bean Brownies adapted from here

Pull from the cupboard...

• 1 19 oz (540 mL) can black beans, drained and rinsed 
• 1/2 cup sugar 
• 2 large eggs 
•  1/3 cup butter, melted 
• 1/4 cup cocoa 
• 2 tsp. vanilla 
• 1/4 tsp. salt 
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional... and Don't include if you aren't eating sugar!)
• 1/3 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional) 

What to do...

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Place the black beans, sugar, eggs, melted butter, cocoa, vanilla and salt in the bowl of a food processor and blend until smooth, pulsing and scraping down the sides of the bowl to ensure all the beans are completely pureed. 
2. Remove the blade and gently stir in the chocolate chips and walnuts. 
3. Pour into an 8″x8″ pan that has been sprayed with non-stick spray. 
4. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until slightly puffed and set. 
5. Cool before cutting into squares.

Things to think about:

1. In the end it was a great texture- kinda melt in your mouth but it tastes a little like black beans. I think I'd add more coco and maybe put a cream cheese icing or almond butter on top?
2. I don't know why but a lot of healthy recipes i'm finding have a lot of salt... I think I would cut down the ammount even on this recipe. 

Flax Crackers

I was experimenting in the kitchen again and needed a chip like substitute: Flax Crackers was the answer to that dilemma. 

They turned out great so I offered some to my roommate who is a meat and potatoes kind of girl *(not a make weird healthy kinda food)  and her response was...  

"They taste like they are store bought!". Translation= this recipe is a keeper!

They actually are a great substitute for pita chips!

Pull from the cupboard:

•  1 cup flaxsee meal
• 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 C water
• 1/3 C Parmsan Cheese greated

What to do:

1. Head oven to 400 deg. 
2. Mix all ingredients together. 
3. Cover pan with parchment paper.
4. Spread mixture on parchment paper. 
5. Place another piece of parchment on top of spread and roll out spread until about 1/8 inch thick. *Be sure spread is even other wise it won't bake properly.
6.  Remove top sheet of parchment paper. 
7. Bake for 15-18 min, or until centre is no longer soft. 
8. Let cool and break into pieces.

Things I'd do next time:

• DON'T add the salt!
• Try different seasonings!
• Pre-cut the spread so they are shaped more like crackers when you break them.

enjoy!
[k]

Fill up with Flax bread:

Over the past few days I've been surviving off of some lovely Green Curry Broccoli  (green curry with coconut milk, with onions, cooked through with broccoli- soooo good! SO SPICY! I love spice!)
But to add to this wonderful creation I added a side dish of bread! Don't get too excited there is NO flour in this bread... only ground flax!

Focaccia Bread:
   Pull from the cupboard...

• 2 C  ground Flax
• 1 tsp  baking soda
• 1/2 tsp  cream of tartar (I didn't have any so i dubbled the ammount with lemmon juice!)
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp xylitol
• 5 eggs, whisked
• 1/2 C  water
• 1/3 C   olive oil

  What to do...

1.  Mix together ground flax, baking soda, and cream of tartar or lemon juice, and salt
2. In a small bowl add eggs, xylitol, water and oil
3. Mix wet and dry together - then let stand for 2-3 minutes till batter thickens
4. Pour batter into a 9x9 baking dish
5. Bake at 350 for 20 min until knife comes out clean
6. Remove from the oven and cool

then... ENJOY - but beware flax is a good thing but in small quantities.

[k]

Week one- and it's DONE!

Well- it's official! I made it past one week! One week of no sugar, no wheat, nothing that could turn into instant sugar... and to be honest... it hasn't been to bad. Once ya get past the sugar with drawl for the first few days, things turn around.
One of my saving graces was a Cinnamon Bun Muffins (that I turned into a loaf)

Cinnamon Topping:
1/2 tbsp xylitol
1 tbsp cinnamon
1 tbsp grapeseed oil

1. To make cinnamon topping, combine all ingredients in a small bowl (if you feel the need to increase the amount xylitol- DO IT!!!)
   
2. Set aside. 

Muffin/ loaf mix:
1 Cup blanched almond flour
2 tbsp coconut flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp celtic sea salt
1/4 cup grapeseed oil
1/4 cup xylitol
3 eggs
1tbsp vanilla

1. Combine first four ingredients in a medium bowl. 
2. In a larger bowl mix the remaining ingredience. 
3. Blend dry ingredients into wet and scoop 1/4 cup into a lined muffin cup, or pour into a parchment lined loaf pan. 
4. Spoon topping onto muffins/ or on top of loaf.
5. Bake muffins for 8-12 min at 350 degrees. 

Now that the week is up and the loaf is gone... it's time to make another batch!!! REMEMBER: Preparation is the key in beating the 30 days! 

Survivor!

Today was my first dreaded experience of EATING OUT! Only SIX days in and I faced my fears... I mean when you can't eat sugar, or carbs etc. it sometimes sends a person into panic, distress concern when they are in the position of not being able to plan what they eat.
I was out for a lovely lunch with my folks- and I REFUSE to make it a big deal that I'm doing a 30 day challenge (I can't handle being someone who can't live life because of the food choices they are making).  The choice of restaurant- Ellice Cafe - picked by my parents. I figured I would go there, scour over the menu and try to see what could work. Low and behold I was in luck and they had a 1/2 lb of roasted veggies!!!! (Funny thing was I had been to Ellice Cafe before and had never noticed they had that on the menu till today- ha!)
Let me tell you not only was it roasted veggies, but all the types of veggies that were in there were things I could eat (ie. no corn, or sweet potatoes, or carrots).
I know I didn't have protein in this mean, but my previous snack AND my following snack both had a portion of protein in them so I wasn't too worried... that and I'm sure if i asked for grilled chicken they would be able to do it.
Day 6 DONE! Already 1/5th finished!
Hope you are all doing well.
[k]

Flax Bread

So this is  the stuff that is currently keeping me alive! I figure i should share it with you guys so that you can make your own!!

Here we go...
Grab:
1 1/2 C  Blanched Almond Flour
3/4 C     Arrowroot powder
1/4 C     Flax Seed Meal
1/2 tsp   Sea Salt
1/2 tsp   Baking Soda
4            Eggs
1/2 tsp   Xylitol
1 tsp      Apple Cider Vinigar


What to do:

1. Mix first five ingredients together in a bowl.
2. In another bowl blend eggs until frothy (about 3-5 min).
3. Stir Xylitol and vinigar into eggs.
4. Mix dry and wet together
5. Pour into 7.5"x3.5" loaf pan lined with parchment paper (or well greased)
6. Bake at 350 for 30-35 min, or until a toothpick inserted into center of loaf comes out clean.
7. Cool, slice and serve *(or store for emergency... like when you forget to plan a meal in advance!)

Day 5* still ALIVE!

GOOOOOD MORNING!
Welcome to day 5 of the little challenge- I had an ok day 4... my stomach was doing some cartwheels, which wasn't fun. But I think it had to do with a mix of my lack of eating the veggies and eating WAY too much of the flax seed- WOOPS!

But- after chugging about 3L ish of water by the end of the day I was doin much better. *** DRINK YOUR WATER!!!! As much as you can and as often as you can!

This morning we started the day with a GOOOD MORNING and had:

• 1 Egg with added egg white
• 1 cup spinach wilted
• 1 piece of flax bread
• 1 LARGE cup of coffee with milk and Xylitol (saving grace when you need something sweet)

Here's to the rest of the day!

[k]

weekend delight-

So... this weekend was spent doing homework- and by that I mean... BAKING!
If there is one thing I learned from the first few days of the this crazy challenge is that you need to be prepared. So I grabbed my new best friend (a 30 day approved cookbook) and went to town.
First on the list- SHOPPING!
I stopped by Costco and grabbed Grape Seed oil (On Sale!!!), almond butter (ALSO on sale!!!), Balsamic Vinegar and berries.
Then we moved onto Bulk Barn to grab Arrow Root flower, some Walnuts, and Almond flower (WAY to expensive, so next time I'm making my own.)
Last stop was Super Store for Coconut Cream, Stevia,  and veggies.

After a long day in the kitchen I had created:
**Flax Bread
Coconut Coco Macaroons
**Cinnamon "Bread"
**Eggplant Bake
Double Chocolate Walnut Brownie

It all turned out good- but the ** were AMAZING and recipes will be coming soon.

Now that I have things ready for the week I feel like I'll be alright and be able to not starve, or go over to the dark side and start eating sugar...
3 Days down... only 27 to go!!!
[k]

Welcome to breakfast- Day 1. Looks delish eh? You are probably questioning what it is, and if I've lost it. Well... for breakfast I was in a little bit of a rush *(note: they aren't joking when they suggest you should plan things!) So I grabbed some stuff out of my fridge and mixted it up!

I call it...

Chocolate Berry Moose

• One handful of mixed frozen berries
• 1/2 C of greek yogurt (got from Costco)
• Coco powder - READ the label; I had two types, one with potentially wheat added, the other without- ironically it was the No Name brand that didn't have the added illegal ingredient.
  
  Mix it all together, and enjoy. It tasted SOOOOO good! (Maybe because I was hungry, maybe because I was eating berries and chocolate which I love... either way. I'll make it again)

 
 
 

Initiation

Yesterday was the official kick off to the 30 day program, or should I say challenge. I sat in a room full of eager  people wanting to give up sugar (or life) as they know it! Who would have thought over a hundred people would ever sign up for such a thing?!

We got information about the next few weeks of our lives, how to succeed, and how not to fall off the bandwagon within the first few days (which I hear are supposed to be lovely much like coming off of a drug addition.
We got check lists of food to eat, not to eat, and where to get the "goods". 
We were told to prepare ourselves (and loved ones) to be patient and wait for the headaches, mood swings, and cravings to pass. (ie. if I sound crabby for the first few days, I appologise in advance :s)


Good luck to all those who are joining me on this lovely journey- I question our sanity!
[k]