Oatmeal... is it the Real Deal!!!!

Well, we all know that oatmeal is good for you. Great source of vitamins, fiber and helps greatly in lowering cholesterol. But... How much oatmeal can one eat without going crazy. The taste alone is not so great and if you load lots of sugar in it it is not so good for you. On top of that try getting your kids to eat it and the challenge begins. So Quaker oats developed those fruit flavored oatmeals that are so sweet and fruity and kids eat it up. The only problem is if you look at what is in it to make it "taste" good you would be surprised that you use artificial this.. and corn starch that. etc. So how good is it for you if it has all that "non food" stuff in it. Well, Relax...because I have found yet another amazing product that you will love, your kids will love and your wallet will love. There is an all natural product called "oat Revolution" out there now and it has fruit (real fruit( oatmeal and maple and cinnamon ones, and ones for weight management and an indulgent one with chocolate, and even organic ones! Truly the best thing out there. Ralphs, Albertsons and other store are starting to carry it and you can sometimes find them on special for 4 boxes for $5.00. Five packets in each box which comes out to about .25 cents a packet. Crazy great deal. they even have a coupon on their facebook page that saves you .75 cents!!! There website is www.betteroats.com and really eating Oatmeal could never be better!!! Enjoy!!!!

Munch on This: Don't put of today what you can do TODAY!!!!!

Enjoy and eat Well, Rima

Toffee is the Best

Well everyone, I am back. So sorry that it has been so long since I wrote on this blog but life has been quite busy and I have been cooking and and cooking away. So this week my son went to the nutritionist and he is able to start incorporating oats back into his diet. Every 3 days we will eats something with oats in it and see if he has any reactions. In the meantime I had found these brittle covered almonds and decided to pull out my xmas toffee recipe and make almond toffee for him. It is so delicious, easy to make and stores easily. I put a small bit in a baggie and off we go. Better than any candy you can by and more satisfying. So now that the weather is changing make some toffee and enjoy!!!!

Munch on This: almond covered toffee

Toffee is very easy to make but acts quickly so please stand over your pan and use a candy thermometer if you can because unless you have seen toffee being made you may not know when it is ready and it can burn or worse it won't solidify. So break down and get a thermometer.

1 cup sugar
1 cup butter
1 1/2 cups almonds (raw are best)

Melt sugar and butter over medium heat and continue to stir. It will come to a slow boil and start to change color and consistency. Put in thermometer while you continue to stir and once it has reached 300 degrees turn off heat and quickly add almonds. The pour out toffee on flat foil lined cookie sheet and use back of spoon to lightly spread it out before it begins to harden and cool. Try to spread out as thin as you can Let cool for about 30 minutes , then break apart into little pieces and enjoy!!!! Make a hot cup of coffee or tea while you break apart because you will want to nibble!!!!

Munchie of the day: Keep things simple because you don't want to miss out on the blessings by being to busy!

A new way of Thinking.

As October is ready to begin and I start to pull out the Halloween decorations, I started thinking about what the holiday brings with it. Yes, that's right, when we think of Halloween, we think of candy!!! I immediately started thinking of the fact that all candy has corn and even wheat in it!!! So... since we have become a "candy-free" house because of all the stuff or should I say "junk" in it, I need to rethink what we can have in the house that will be good and of course yummy for my son to eat from now till the holidays. Well, a couple of great and tasty alternatives to the gummy bears, almond joy, SweetTarts etc, would be to go rich and chocolaty!! That's right, food in it's pure form is sweeter, better and more decadent than your store bought processed stuff. Just think, English Toffee, fudge, nut brittle, chocolate covered strawberries, chocolate fondue, frozen chocolate bananas, and even chocolate covered rice crackers. There are days when I feel as though I have run out of options because my brain is constantly searching for new ways to look at food. I hope that through my blog, I can not only share recipies that may help you try food in a new way, but help you eat better or motivate you to make some type of change in your life. It is not always about food. Sometimes just reading about new things can help motivate us to make other changes in life. How are you trating yourself lately. Are you eating because you are hungry. Are you eating because you are rushed. Are you making choices because they are better for you or because they are convinient. In learning to re-train myself to slow down a bit and take a second or two more before I put something in my mouth is key to how the rest of my day turns out. When I eat without thought I end up eatiing the wrong things and I pay for it later because I tank out before the day is over. In watching my son through these last few months with all the dietary changes we have made for him, I notice that he not only has energy, but has been able to fight off colds in half the time and his physique is more defined and he is more focused. I truly believe that eating healthy is not only for the body but key to a healthy mind and soul. I challenge you this week to stay away from Fast food. I dare you!!! You might say that it would be a breeze but I think for many of you it will be harder than your thought. We mindlessly drive through and pick up quick food all the time. Since our options have been limited I noticed how much I actually relied on fast food when I couldn't get it anymore. Just try it, as a test for yourself. Did you know that one fast food meal can run you up to 2000 calories!! along with the fact that you are eating the cheapest in ingredients and half is made up of fillers and preservatives. That's what you are feeding your brain. That's how you are suppose to energize your day! Wow!!!! I would love to hear how you did so please let me know or comment on my blog or facebook page and good luck!!!
Now: Today I will give you a great recipe for butter toffee almonds. Almonds are great for your body. Good oils that help the heart, your hair and your skin. Just pop these in your mouth and YUMMMMMMYYYY!!! Enjoy...
******Munchie of the day!!!!
Butter Toffee Almonds.
1 cup sugar
1 cup butter
3 tablespoons water
3 cups whole almonds (or use 3 cups peanuts)
Use a deep, heavy-bottomed saucepan to heat all of the ingredients, except the nuts. Stir the mixture constantly to prevent scorching. Using a candy thermometer and medium heat, bring the mixture to 300 degrees. Do not stir. The temperature will rise as the water is boiled off, and this can happen quickly, so be prepared to lower the heat or remove the candy from the heat as needed.
As soon as the mixture reaches the desired temperature, remove it from the stove and add the nuts. Mix until all nuts are coated. Pour the nut mixture onto a greased cookie sheet and separate the nuts.

Enjoy and Eat well.... Rima

Feels Like Fall

Okay...so i wake up this morning so happy because it finally feels like Fall!!! Crispy outside with the sun trying to peek through but no quite succeeding. The cinnamon scents have come of the drawer and are ready to perfume the air. The screen saver on the computer had changed to fall leaves, and the sweaters are getting a good shake out. Next on the list, a great Fall meal to warm up the soul and the body. What should I cook tonight that would be fast, easy, filling and have no mixes that are bought from the store to add to. I got it!!! CHILI!!! Nothing better than a pot of fresh, purely homemade (no seasoning mix with all the additives) Chili to make the house smell great and the tummy to feel good. So off to the stove I went. But wait!!! What about the cornbread. We can't eat corn anymore, so what now. So i have created a new twist to chili and cornbread. It is Chili with crispy brown rice tortilla wedges w/ chedder. I hope you will try this and find all the satisfaction in making it and serving it as I did. So needless to say, the night was great, dinner was perfect and everyone was happy. I really really love Fall!!!!!

***Munchie of the day*****
Chili w/ brown rice wedges and chedder

1 1/2 pounds ground meat
2 cans mexican style stewed tomatoes
1 can kidney beans
garlic, onions,cumin,chili powder, salt pepper
Tapioca flour (or regular flour)
Saute onions and garlic in olive oil or grapeseed oil. Add in 1 tbls cumin and 1 teaspoon chili powder. Then add meat and brown. Add kidney beans and tomatoes, juice and all. Add salt and pepper to taste, stir in 1 teaspoon or so of flour to act as thickener. Add more if you like you chili quite thick. Let simmer for 30 minutes.

Brown rice tortilla wedges.
Take brown rice tortillas and cut into triangular wedges. Brush lightly with oil and place on baking sheet. Place i oven at 350 and bake till crispy. Once starting to get crispy sprinkle chedder cheese on and bake a minute more. Then take out, separate and let cool for a minute or two. Serve with chili. YUM!!!!!!

Munch On This:::: Some days I don't feel like doing all this over and over, but once I get started and I think about those around me who will be blessed by it, it goes selfish to selfless!

Coffee Cake me Please!!!!

Wow, the weather seems like it finally might start to take a turn for Fall and I can't wait. Fall is what I look forward too. I love the colors, the smells of vanilla and pumpkin in the kitchen and mostly I love coffee cake and a great big cafe latte. Seriously what could be better. Well maybe some chocolate. Speaking of chocolate. Ghiradelli hot cocoa has no corn or wheat or nothing that my son is allergic to and we are in cocoa heaven. I also took pure chocolate chips the other day and melted them in a bowl with a tab bit of milk to make a quick and easy chocolate sauce to pour over my son's vanilla frozen yogurt (by Alden's) and yum!!! I topped it off with some fresh bananas and he wasn't missing a eat. Alden's frozen yogurt has no corn or eggs, but watch out because their ice-cream has eggs and some cornstarch. Best to stick with the vanilla bean frozen yogurt. It is light and fluffy and has the same texture as ice-cream. You can get it at most whole foods, but I also food it at my Costco store. I also bought an ice-cream maker and I make killer homemade vanilla ice-cream so you can go that route too. Whatever you choose to make just Remember that a little time in the kitchen making it fresh goes a long way all day!!!!!!

***Munchie of The Day***
Sour cream coffee cake. Remember that you can use whatever flours you like (if you are gluten free or not), also I substitute eggs for boiled flaxseed. Seriously your guests will never know that they are eating something so good for them!!!

Cake batter:
2 cups flour ( I use Pamela's baking mix)
1 cup sugar (I use organic cane sugar)
1 tsp pure vanilla
2/3 cup butter (softened)
2 tbls flaxseed to 1/2 cup water, boil and whisk to make eggy consistency or 2 eggs
1 cup sour cream

(mix together and set aside)

Filling: 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar (I use organic w/ no corn)
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup raisins (optional). I usually leave out but it gives it a moist touch
( Mix all together)

Place 1/2 batter in pre-greased cake pan.. I use a spring-form pan for easy release, you can also use a bundt pan. Then sprinkle 1/2 mixture over batter and then spread the last part of the batter over that and sprinle again with left over topping. Bake at 350 for 45-50 minutes.

Take out and let cool. The make a glaze from 1 cup organic powdered sugar (no cornstarch)
2-3 tbls water 3/4 tsp vanilla. Mix together till creamy and drizzle all over the top of the cake. YUM!!!! Enjoy...

Munch on this:: thank you can go a long way and truly make someone's day.

Enjoy and Eat well, Rima

The Pizza Rocked

Well I did it, I called BJ's and ordered our favorite pizza toppings on their thin crust gluten-free pizza dough. Oh My goodness, it was soooooo good. It was infused with herbs and olive oil and it have a beautiful texture that held together perfectly. As a matter of fact, I purposely left some for the next day so I could test it in the microwave and it was perfect. It is a bit more pricey but well worth it. Even if you don't have allergies, why not get something that taste great and also is so good for you. I will probably never order the regular flour pizza at BJ's again because this was so good.
This week has been a week of experiments in the kitchen and I found out that if you truly want your spelt bread to rise properly you really shouldn't use a bread machine. I kept going bac to the machine with different mixes hoping that they would perform for me. The tasted great but we definately on the denser more compact side. I know it takes time to make bread but you can definately multi-task while the bread is rising.
One last note: I have ordered a pizza crust fro Canada from a company called Canbrands. It is called PaneRiso. Their pizza dough is vacuum sealed and suppose to have a thin light texture, not gritty like some rice flours can be. I will get the crust, infused it with herbs and oil and let you all know if I have found a timesaver. If it rocks than we can all order it and keep a couple in the freezer. I am all about time management and even though I spend 3 hours so you don't have to, I would love to find ways to spend less, which means you also will shorten your time.

*****Munchie of the day: I will be posting my sour cream coffee cake recipe later (It's to die for)

Munch on this:: The minute you see yourself as useless some needs you!

Eat well and Enjoy, Rima

Soda New Flash

I just found an actual fruit soda that comes in a can. Remember how I said if you take soda water and fruit juice you could make a soda. Well there is a company out there called The Switch and they do just that. I just ordered a case of all different flavors. Now my son can have a can of soda that is actually good for him and also fun!!! Thank you Switch. Check them out at www.switchbev.com

Measurements and Substitutions.

So, it was a great but long weekend and we as a family had to make some decisions with our lives that would play a big role in our activities for the future. Basically, we need to substitute one thing for another. I know that they outcome will be just what we need but sometimes giving up what we are so accustomed to is hard. While I was thinking about our schedules of life, I also thought about the fact that all I do all day is find good or great substitutes for cooking so that my son can eat with many different and fabulous options. I realize that some of you reading my blog like looking at my fun finds, others of you like the recipes, some of you are wanting to make healthy life changes in your eating and our trying out some of these foods and some of you have one or more of the food allergies my son has. I thought that maybe I could help all of you enjoy this blog more by defining what substitutes you can make and also letting you know that if you have no allergies you can make these recipes with regular flour (though it is not as nutritious for you) and also with egg, corn etc.
So.
For eggs: I use 2 tbls flaxseed and boil with 1/2 cup water. I then whisk it quickly as it comes to a boil and it develops an eggy consistency.
For Flour: I replace with Spelt flour or use a mix like Pamela's Baking mix or King Arthurs flour
For cornstarch: I use tapioca flour as a thickener
For Oats: I use nothing ( i just stay away from Oats
For nuts: I use Almond Butter instead of peanut butter and any other nuts are good to eat or bake with. (just no peanuts)
For tortillas: i buy spelt tortillas at Sprouts, also brown rice tortillas at trader Joes but the Spelt one's are much softer and better for quesidillas.
Hopefully this will help you all in the future. You can take any of my recipes and replace my items with what you can eat. But I encourage you to try some of these recipes if you have time. you will feel better.

Munch on This: Change is better when you least expect it!

BJ's Rocks!!!!

So it has been beautiful Fall cool weather here in Burbank, and I have been baking bread, making my special banana choc chip cookies (without all the foods that we can't have) and making soups. last night a wonderful lentil soup, and tonight cream of zucchini with garlic and cheese melted in it!!! YUM!!! But, as I was watching the morning news today I say a blurp on BJ's Restaurant and I am here to share so great news for those who can't eat the gluten and eggs and corn etc... They have a gluten free pizza made from rice & tapioca flour. Nothing bad in it. It is a thin cruxt pizza. And better yet you can ask for it anyway you want it. There fries are also cooked in Canola oil!! Once again, all these places are finally getting in the loop with our needs and coming to realize that more and more people are trying to live longer and eat better. YAY BJ's!!!!

****Munchie of the Day****
Killer Cream of Zucchini (or whatever veggie suits your fancy) soup.

Boil your veggie in water till tender
Saute in another pan butter, onions and garlic
Drain veggies and add chicken broth and sauted garlic and onions.
Place in blender and purify
Return to pot and ad whipping cream (or half and half)
Add salt and pepper and tapioca flour to thicken..
When ready to serve add grated chedder cheese and serve hot with a side of spelt bread and butter. YUM!!!!

MUNCH ON THIS::: A good day becomes a better day when you choose to see something positive in it.

Do I have to Change?

So when we found out that my son had to change his diet I decided to eat exactly what he ate so that I would be motivated to cook better things for him, because as we all know it is easy to cook anything but if we actually have to eat it then it better taste good. So I was so motivated to do this that I didn’t realize that everyone else in my home might not want to join in. There was no way I could actually cook 2 different meals because it would mean that I would be in the kitchen for more than 3 hours and seriously I do have a life too! So I decided not to tell them what we were eating. That night I made pasta with meat sauce, garlic bread and salad. They all said it was a great dinner and then I said, “Glad you liked it because you just ate brown rice pasta with homemade sauce, spelt bread with garlic and butter and fresh parmesan cheese and organic ranch dressing with no corn starch or eggs. Seriously they said if it could taste like this and be good for you why not eat like this all the time. I know that it might seem like it takes a long time but it doesn’t. So, below I have left you info on my meal and hope that you try it and enjoy it also.


*******MUNCHIE OF THE DAY*******
Brown rice pasta (you can get at Trader Joes)
I can organic diced tomatoes
1 pound ground beef
cane sugar
olive oil
Spelt bread you can also use White or Brown Rice bread (can purchase at Whole Foods. I made my own and will give you the recipe to make your own on the next blog)
Butter
Garlic
Fresh parmesan cheese
Ranch dressing ( by Follow Your Heart) I picked it up in the fridg section at Henry’s market.


Boil pasta as directed (it takes longer to boil than flour pasta and more water. Rinse well.

Sauce:
Saute garlic in olive oil, then add meat, add tomatoes, salt, pepper, 1 tabls sugar and simmer.

Bread: Spread butter and garlic on bread, sprinkle with cheese and broil for a few minutes till slightly brown.

Salad: Use whatever you like in the salad and add the Ranch. You won’t believe you are eating something good for you cuz it tastes so “ bad” which actually means good. LOL


MUNCH ON THIS::: They say it takes 21 days to break a habit so after one month I tasted a cheeto. It still tasted great but about a half an hour later I was feeling so funky in my stomach. Man, I am glad I broke that habit because have you looked on the back of the label lately. There is like no Real food in there. I may have well eaten Styrofoam because there was nothing in there to make my body good. Think twice before you put something in your body. You only have one shot in life so make it count.


Enjoy and Eat Well, Rima

What A Day

WHAT A DAY:

So it was one of those nights where we had to run around everywhere and then of-course my son says those words that cut to the bone, “I’m hungry, can we stop and grab something.” STOP … and GRAB something. Are you kidding me. Truly I would have loved to stop at the nearest fast food restaurant and say “order a way”. That was our old normal, but not today. I looked around and saw bid RED X’s on everyplace I drove by. It’s like they were all laughing at me and it was so insane because there had to be somewhere I could drive through and get my kids a decent fast-food meal. Then, like a beacon in the night, there it was. IN-N-OUT. Yep that’s right. So my anxiety dropped and I said, Thank You Lord” because truly there was nothing else around that didn’t have corn starch, eggs, corn oil etc… in their food.
So the scoop is: IN-N-Out’s protein burger with cheese, grilled onion, tomatoes, and mustard.. (no special sauce or ketchup because of corn starch) and an order of cheese fries with grilled onions!! Their fries are fried in cottonseed oil and are made fresh. Thank you In-N-Out, you saved the day.


*****MUNCHIE OF THE DAY*********
To get that IN_N_OUT burger taste when you make your own burgers:
Make your hamburger patty, lightly salt and then rub both sides with yellow mustard before cooking. That’s the trick to make it taste like theirs.


MUNCH ON THIS: Check out what our in your fries because there are some places that use cornstarch in their potatoes, especially if they are frozen.



Enjoy and Eat well, Rima

Amazing

Just a small note to tell you that my Baked Apples were off the hook!!! Seriously better than pie. The melted in your mouth, no mess to clean up. Ice-cream right beside them and my son said he could eat these instead of pie anyday!!! If you want another great dessert....

*****MUNCHIE OF THE DAY*****
Take a banana, slice it in half, place on foil and put on baking tray. Put a tab of butter on both sides, squeeze a bit of lemon juice on it, sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon and bake at 350 for about 20 minutes (or you can broil on low but watch out cuz they will burn. I recommend baking. Take out and add a dolop of sour cream and eat!!! Simply the best!!!!!

Munch on This::: Sometimes the simplest foods can be the most decadent. Why complicate life.

Enjoy and Eat well, Rima

Apples Apples, Fall is on it's way!

I know that here where we live it was about 104 today. Way to hot for a Sept. labor day weekend...But none the less...it is the perfect time to pick apples and that's just what we did. Drove up to Oak Glen (which by the way is the most charming country town in the mountains you'll ever see) and we were ready to pick apples. We got up there and though it was still warm the air smelled fresh and the tress were so beautiful in all there color. Really nothing like being out of the city!!! So we grabbed our baskets and bags and went to the fields were we spent about 30 minutes picking raspberries and another 30 minutes pulling all kinds of apples from the trees. You know when you pick fruit it truly become a personal thing. I have total respect for the apple tress and raspberries because I picked them and kinda have ownership over them. While I was up there I thought "wouldn't life be some much easier for me if all my food was grown fresh like this"..No don't worry I am not going to become farmer Jane on you, but my mind was racing about all the wonderful things I could make my son with all this great fresh fruit. So as we pulled into the country store there, they were selling amazing apple pies and cobblers (all of which have oats and flour) DANG!!! Really a bummer until I realized that i could make something just as good and easier than making a pie. SO.... the old classic Baked Apple popped in my head and I was so happy. When was the last time you had an amazing Baked apple that melted in your mouth and was full of all the flavors of an apple pie but without all the guilt and flour! So as I am typing my apples are baking and when they are done I am going to put a nice big scoop of homemade ice-cream( without eggs) on top and sprinkle with a touch of cinnamon and Oh la la.. Heaven. I will also try a spelt crumb topping soon for a tasty apple crisp. In the meantime. Get you family around, core some apples, get all kinds of great topping to stuff them with and let them make there own apple treat. You family will be eating healthy, and guilt free and you will have minimual work to do and clean up is a breeze.

****Munchie of the Day*****

Take your apples and cut out the core. Take a baking dish and line with foil, place a small amount of apple juice or water in the bottom of the pan. Create a mixture of brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Put a dollop of butter in the cennter of the apple and then stuff mixture in the hole. Set oven to 350 and bake for 30 to 45 minutes or until apples are soft. you can also add pecans, raisins etc to the center. Take the apples out when done and spoon juices over the apple. Placeon a dish and serve with ice-cream. you'll need a spoon to scoop out all the amazing apple pie filling that the apple creates. Let me know how you make yours and how you enjoy them.

Munch on this::: When life gives you apples....BAKE!!!


Enjoy and Eat Well, Rima

What to drink!!!!!

So the big dilemma was to tell my son that he could only have water and fresh fruit juices, and that his Gatorade days were over. Really??? Wow that can change a kids life going without juice boxes or Capri Sun’s or cokes or slurpees or sports drinks. The list goes on and on. BUT>>>There is Hope. I found a great new product that will save our lives. The product is called “HINT” and they sell it at Sprout’s, Henry’s and other select stores. It is water with the pure essence of flavor but without the stuff in Propel or Gatorade. Just water!!! Awesome!!! I have attached their website so you can check it out. Now my son can pack something good to drink in his lunch or take it on the sports field instead of plain water. Thank you “HINT”!!!!!!! www.drinkhint.com

++++MUNCHIE OF THE DAY++++
Take Perrier or Pelligrino or any sparkling waterand add ice and a bit of your favorite fruit juice. Place a straw in it and instant grape, apple or whatever soda you want. It's healthy, easy, non caloric and fun!!!

Munch on This::: If you can think one positive thought a day you are well on your way to a positive life!

Enjoy and Eat well, Rima

Let there be breakfast!!!

LET THERE BE BREAKFAST


3 hours in the kitchen is an awfully long time to spend each day to prepare meals. I know…I have heard people say” Wow…I could never do that” or “That’s great but I am not like that and I would rather just find stuff they can eat that’s already prepared”. Well, that’s great but not a lot of variety out there that doesn’t taste like sawdust. ( I’m just saying ). It’s funny cause the other day I went to Bea Bea’s café in Burbank and they have some amazingly yummy breakfasts but nothing for the “I can’t eat this stuff” person. I had jumped on their website and noticed that they have been experimenting with gluten free recipes but nothing they liked yet. I think I need to go give them a sample of my banana spelt pancakes w/ fresh maple syrup. I realized that I need to take some time and figure out an amazing pumpkin pancake recipe. So I think I will start cooking. Anyone have an amazing pancake recipe to share that is gluten ,corn, oat and egg free? I know that there are things out there but I want all my food to really imitate the food out in the world. I might be crazy but if I had this allergy I would sure want someone to come along and help me with cooking and tips on where to eat. My thought: Breakfast is the hardest meal to make and the most important meal to eat so here’s to breakfast!!! Let’s get those skillets ready and crank out some amazing pancakes!

******MUNCHIE OF THE DAY:*******
This recipe is to replace 2 eggs: If you can’t have eggs but you need to bake, take 2 tablespoons flax seed and place in a small pot with ½ cup water. Bring to boil and then while boiling whisk the mixture. Turn off heat after about I minute of boiling and continue to whisk. It will take on a kind of eggy consistency. Let cool for about I minute and then add to your favorite recipe instead of eggs. Flaxseed has no taste but may add speckles of brown color to some cookies.


MUNCH ON THIS::: Focus on what you have and not what you long for: you will be much happy living in the moment than living in the future.


As always: Enjoy and Eat well, Rima

I Love Bread!!!

Seriously I love bread, Any kind of bread. Just make it warm with butter and cheese and I am good to go. Well if you need to eat like we eat here, the commercial breads won’t do and the other breads that we can have are a bit dense and dry. So, I found a great way to make a fresh loaf of Spelt Bread in the breadmaker that gets golden brown, has a hard crust on the outside and is light and softer on the inside. Now, when I say light..I don’t mean like white bread because these flours are naturally denser when baked but serve warm or toasted it is really good, and you can keep in Ziploc and slice thin for sandwiches. I will slice, toast and slather with butter and cheese and now, white breads don’t stand a chance because this bread is so versatile that you can eat well and not miss out on anything. Make it and let me know what you think! You can make this bread without the breadmaker but it will take longer because you have to knead the bread for 10 minutes and then let it rise for 45 to 1 hour before baking. I hope this will help you enjoy those times when you crave bread like I do. This bread has saved my son’s life because he can take his sandwich to school now!!!!!!


*******MUNCHIE OF THE DAY**********

Spelt bread recipe: Put in bread machine in this order and set on medium white) Make 2 lb loaf:
1 cup warm water (105° to 110° F)
1 1/2 tablespoons honey
1 1/2 tablespoons melted butter
1 teaspoons sea salt
3 cups spelt flour
1/2 tablespoon active dry yeast


MUNCH ON THIS::::: It’s the smell of the kitchen that invites people in, and the warmth of your soul that makes them stay.


Enjoy and Eat Well, Rima



*** A reader asked me what spelt was and where is can be purchased: Spelt flour is a flour not made of wheat. It has a bit of a nuttier taste like a good oat bread when toasted but in pancakes etc. is is a bit denser than traditional flour but has more rich flavor. You can buy it at Henry's , Whole foods, Sprouts.

Food Network TV

So today I was watching the Food Network and I was feeling very sorry for myself because of all the wonderful foods on there that I could not eat. HMMM>>> I am not one to stay negative for too long so I decided to try and put a spin on it. I truly wish that they would have a food channel dedicated to alternative ways to cook for those of us who have food allergies in the family, but... that's not happening right now. So as I was watching the Barefoot Contessa (who I love to watch) I decided to take one of her simple meals and turn it into something I could make. Viola!!! Why is it that we can't thing out of the box.. I make a beautiful California BLT for my son and his friend after school and his friend kept asking me. Are you sure this is on Raymond's eating plan. Right then I knew I did it right. I think sometimes we get into a funk where we can only manage cooking the "same ole, same ole" but as we know that gets old very fast. So with a little life left in me and a risk I made an amazing great snack for after school and it was filling, fresh and a piece of cake to do. This truly would make a great school sandwich or picnic sandwich too!!!


****MUNCHIE OF THE DAY****
2 pieces of spelt,brown rice or whatever your approved bread is) and toast
1 Avacado
4-5 slices back ( I purchase the precooked so all I have to do is microwave for a minute)
Bib lettuce (great flavor but any lettuce will do)
Big ripe tomatoes
Veagansse (Mayo without the eggs). You can use mayo if you have no food allergies to it

After bread is toasted assemble with mayo,bacon,tomato avacado and lettuce and sprinkle some salt and pepper on the tomatoes to give a boast of flavor. Slice and enjoy

Munch on This:::: Only you place limitations on what you can acheive so ste your standards high and go for it!!!!

Enjoy and Eat Well, Rima

An Experiment

So today was a very long day. Soccer started for my son ( an us) at 5am and after the long day yesterday moving in my daughter I am wiped out. SO.... a little experiment tonight. Usually before all the food changes in our life, I would take regular white or wheat bread and make either a turkey and cheese sandwich or PB&J for my sons lunch. The trick here was that I would make a bunch of them and freeze them. This was a total time saver in the kitchen as well as the sandwiches would thaw out during school and by lunch they would be cool, soft and ready to eat. I am pretty "A" type about things and hot sandwiches with mayo freak me out a bit. Anyway. I bought some new bread from Sprouts market yesterday called Rudi's Organic Ancient Spelt and it is so soft and great. So.. tonight I took Almond butter (cuz we no longer use peanut butter) and spread on the bread with organic Jelly. It is in a bag in the freezer and my hope is that by lunchtime tomorrow my son will pull out a cool, soft sandwich. My fear is that is my thaw but be hard, dry or even soggy. I will let you all know what happens because if it works I jsut bought my self some more free time!!!
*****MUNCHIE OF THE DAY****
Arnold Palmer's in most restaurants are made with powdered lemonade which contain artificial everything. Instead squeeze a bunch of lemons and freeze the juice in ice cube trays. When you want an Arnold Palmer just pour some ice tea, add your favorite sweetener and drop in an ice cube or two and in no time you have a cold, healthy Arnold Palmer.

Munch On This::: Eating may relieve stress today but it creates more stress tomorrow.

Enjoy and Eat Well, Rima

A Bread Breakthrough!!!!!

So today I moved my daughter back to college. Her senior year and I can't believe the time has gone by so fast. So it was time to go to lunch and we decided to go to Chipotle. My son was with my husband at a soccer tournament so we could eat anywhere my daughter wanted to go. She picked Chipotle cuz she eats so healthy. Anyway I found out that my son could have a burrito bowl from Chipotle with no problems with his allergies!! So of-course you know where I was gonna get dinner from tonight!! I know, I know, I did not spend time in the kitchen today but seriously I needed to help my daughter move in and I was wiped out after that. Anyway, while shopping with her for stuff for her dorm, we went to a market called Sprouts and I am telling you there was an amazing light that shined over the bread isle. Like angels calling me over to it. I found an amazing spelt bread that is soft, light and looks and feels like sandwich bread!!!!!!I almost cried because there are days when I think I can't bake another loaf. So I bought two loafs. They only have a shelf life of about 4 to 5 days so if your not going to use right away place it in the freezer. The fridg will dry it out. The brand is called Rudy's organics and the spelt bread does not contain, wheat, peanuts, corn, eggs or oats!!! Yay!!!!
Now you are probably thinking that there isn't a Sprouts market near you. You can go to Rudis organics website and order the bread in quantity online to put in your freezer and have on hand anytime!!! So as a soccer mom would say "SCORE!!!!!"

******MUNCHIE OF THE DAY*********
Take a basic gluten and corn free cake mix, add pumpkin and white chocolate chips to it and you have a beautiful pumpkin oaf that is to die for.

Munch on This:::: Sometimes you need to let go of something in order to have time to think about how that something was really nothing.

Just do it!!!!

So today is the first day of the beginning of my blog life.  My name ( for those of you who want to make this a more personal journey) is Rima and I would love to get to know all of you better too. So let me start by telling you why I am blogging. About 2 years ago my son started having some pretty weird stomach issues.  If you know my son he is so not a complainer. I watched and basically assumed he was nervous or tired or had the stomach flu and ate something wrong.... BINGO>>> Ate is the key word here to my life changing situation. After about one and half years of  stomach justification I took him to the gastrologist.  Long story short.. My 14 year old son (after biopsies and endoscopy and blood work... has developed an allergic reaction to... get this know...CORN<EGGS<WHEAT<OATS and PEANUTS!!!   That is everything under the sun for a teenage boys consumption. In working with an amazing nutritionist by the name of Haylie Pomeroy, we started a regimen that will hopefully reverse this situation.  In the meantime though, my life has changed and I have gone from buy what tasted good to reading every label, checking out every fast-food and restaurant and reloading my entire kitchen.  I spend about 3 hours a day in the kitchen trying to simulate regular food for my son so that he doesn't have to eat strange and weird imitations of brownies, cookies, sandwiches etc..  My hope is that my 3 hours a day will save you 3 hours and that I can share my recipes, lessons, restaurant picks, good eats, munchies and best buys so that if you have a situation like this in one form or another, you can feel comforted that there is someone here who can make your life a little easier..  I hope that even if you are not allergic to everything or anything under the sun that maybe you will learn to eat better, healthier or at last share my blog with someone who needs it.  Grab a cup of coffee, tea or whatever and lets do this!!!!!!

********MUNCHIE OF THE DAY**************
For a quick otter pop without all the cornsyrup and refined sugar,
Take watermelon (which in know in season) puree it, and add pure organic or regular cane sugar and water. Mix well and pour about 1/2 cup in a small ziploc snack baggie.  It will freeze flat like an otter pop and they can cut off the top and eat it like one. 
Enjoy and eat well!

MUNCH ON THIS::::: Did you know that brown sugar contains corn... Who knew! You can buy organic brown sugar in it's place.