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.