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