Spaghetti & Meatballs

Yes, it is gluten-free spaghetti!!  And it's delicious!  I know what you're thinking... gluten-free pasta tastes nasty, right?  We've tried several different brands and I think this one will change your mind. It's called  Andean Dream Spaghetti.  It's a gluten & corn free product, made with quinoa and rice flour. Honestly, I thought it tasted just like regular pasta.  We also used a gluten-free Tomato Basil Sauce by OrganicVille.

Okay, so admittedly shopping was the extent of my participation in this delicious dinner. My wonderful husband was the actual Hashimoto Chef Marvel.  Here's his meatball recipe:

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef

1 pound ground pork

1 egg

2 tablespoons gelatin 

1 celery stalk, chopped

2 pearl onions, chopped

Italian Seasoning to taste

Directions:
Coat the sides of your mixing bowl with 2-3 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil; then thoroughly mix all of the ingredients by hand and roll it into meatballs.  Place the meatballs in a cast iron pan.  Cook in a preheated oven at 350* for 45 minutes or until fully cooked. When the meatballs are done, take them out and let them drain.  Then place them in a frying pan and pour the jar of Tomato Basil sauce over everything.  Let that simmer for at least 30 minutes.

Follow the cooking instructions on the pasta package; drain.  Pour 2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil over the pasta; shake until coated.  Top the pasta with the meatballs and sauce for an incredible gluten-free spaghetti dinner!

[Note:  the gelatin was added in place of bread to bind the ingredients together.  It's the same powder that we use for our protein shakes].

"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever."
Isaiah 40:8

Breakfast Idea #1: Cinnamon Oatmeal & Fruit

I've always been a big breakfast eater.  In fact, food has always been my first thought every morning!  But for a newly converted 'hashi,' it can be tough finding gluten and dairy-free breakfast options.  I'm thankful that oatmeal is on my 'good food' list. My previous breakfast was usually a potato and egg taco... well, two actually.  If you're from Texas, you know what I'm talking about:  a flour tortilla with scrambled eggs and delicious buttery potatoes. That was one of the most difficult meals for me to give up! When I first changed my diet though, sometimes oatmeal would upset my stomach. So I did a little investigating and here's what I learned:  

1. Pure oatmeal is gluten-free; however, processed oatmeal may be contaminated with wheat during storage, harvesting or processing.  Your best bet is to read the label. There are brands that specify a gluten-free product on the packaging.  Otherwise, check all the ingredients to see if there's anything other than oats.  Advertisers are tricky little devils... "all natural" or "organic" doesn't always mean pure.

2. Most restaurants are not serving pure oatmeal.  For instance, the ingredients in a notorious fast-food restaurant's Fruit & Maple Oatmeal  include sodium phosphate, datem, sodium stearoyl lactylate, sodium citrate, carrageenan and sulfur dioxide - 21 ingredients in all.  Does anyone even know what that stuff is?  Scary, right?!  I've just learned to eat at home or sneak in my own food.

Directions:  prepare the oatmeal with the instructions on the container. 

Flavor Ideas:  walnut pieces, raisins, strawberries, blueberries, bananas, apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, dates or shredded coconut.



"Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other."
Romans 12:10

Lunch Idea #1: Tuna Salad & Applesauce

One year ago this month, I began eliminating inflammatory foods from my diet in an effort to improve my autoimmune condition.  It sounds so easy when you see it in writing... just stop eating all the food that makes you feel bad, right?  Eat healthy food.  Wouldn't it be nice if that was as easy as it sounds?  My previous definition of meal planning meant deciding which restaurants were most convenient for my schedule.  Sad, but true.  So for me, changing my diet meant learning a whole new language, discovering different textures and flavors, letting go of old friends (comfort food), and redefining willpower.  Sound familiar?

So I thought maybe I could help new Hashimoto patients by presenting not only new recipe ideas -- but family tested meal plans.  I want to start by sharing some of my favorite meals with you using the recipes that I've already posted.  Funny -- I used to get so frustrated trying to make something that tasted good without including processed ingredients.  Now I would challenge anyone to make tuna salad as delicious as my avocado blend!  It's delicious.

So here's the first meal:

Lunch Idea #1:Tuna Salad & Applesauce
This meal includes avocado tuna salad, homemade applesauce and a delicious smoothie.  I ate my tuna without a lettuce wrap today but you can add some romaine lettuce for a little more bulk. I have learned to add lots of crunchy celery, pickles and onions to give my tuna salad more volume and much more texture.  It's really colorful, too -- isn't it?!

"For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”   2 Tim 1:7