Zucchini Pizza Boats

Tonight, we tried out a recipe from a blogger named Jo called "Stuffed Zucchini."  I actually found the recipe on Pinterest through a friend's board.  If you're accustomed to a light dinner, this is a perfect meal -- and it's quick and easy.  In fact, we can't wait to throw them on the grill when it warms up outside!  The flavor reminds me a little of a healthy pizza snack.  I modified Jo's recipe a bit to keep it Hashi friendly (note that Jo's picture includes cheese; my recipe is dairy-free).

Ingredients:
3 large zucchini, sliced in half lengthwise
1/4 - 1/2 pound ground beef
1/4 cup spaghetti sauce
2 small tomatoes, chopped
Italian seasoning
sea salt
pepper



Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 375* (or grill).
2. In a skillet, cook the meat until it's no longer pink.  Blend in the seasonings and spaghetti sauce; cook for 5 more minutes over medium heat.
3. Wash and cut the zucchini lengthwise.  Using a spoon, scoop out the flesh.
4. Fill each zucchini half with the meat mixture.  Top with tomatoes.  Mushrooms and/or onions might be delicious additional toppings if you like them.
5. Bake for 15-20 minutes. 

Jo's blog is called:  Blog Her/Life Well Said.  It's filled with information -- check it out!

"How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity!"
Psalms 133:1

Pork Chops & Carrots

My husband is an awesome cook -- and my greatest advocate!  He's become a pro at cooking tasty, delicious meals without inflammatory ingredients.  Tonight, he cooked the most tender pork chops I've ever had.  Here's his recipe:

Ingredients
4-6 pork chops, thick
1/4 cup sea salt
1-2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
broth (chicken)
6 ounce can of tomato paste
6 pearl onions
4-5 carrots, chopped

Night Before Dinner Preparation

Brine the Chops
4-6 pork chops, thick
1/4 cup of sea salt
4 cups of water

Brine the pork chops overnight by placing them in a bowl with sea salt and water; keep them refrigerated.

Dinner Preparation

Searing the Chops
My husband loves his cast iron skillet!  He seared the chops in the skillet on the stove for about 3 minutes on each side.  [Searing is 100% about building flavor; when meat hits a scorching hot pan, it immediately begins caramelizing].

Crock Pot
After the chops are seared, put them in a large crock pot.  Pour enough broth over them to cover completely; stir in Italian seasoning.  Add a 6 ounce can of tomato paste to the liquid. Add carrots and pearl onions (he seared the vegetables in the skillet also). Cook on low for about 6 hours or until done.  The research that he's done on cooking moist, tender meals in the crock pot has shown that lifting the lid during the cooking process decreases moistness... so don't peek!

"Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God.  They were filled with awe and said, "We have seen remarkable things today."
Luke 5:26

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

Blonde Brownies

Yes, they really are gluten and dairy free treats!  My niece made these for Thanksgiving and they were delicious!  I should know because I ate three or four... yummy!  She said she found the recipe on a blog called Chocolate Covered Katie.  Don't you love that name?!  It's a healthy dessert blog.  I tweaked the ingredients a bit to make it a little more hashimoto's friendly.  Here's the website: http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com. 

Ingredients

2 cans chickpeas, drained
1 cup quick oats (or certified-gf quick oats)
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
3 tbsp coconut oil
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 1/2 cups coconut sugar (may substitute organic honey)
1 cup dark chocolate chips

Instructions:

"Blend everything (except the chips) very well in a good food processor (not a blender). Mix in chips, and pour into an oiled pan (I used a 10-inch springform pan, but you can use a smaller pan if you want a really deep-dish pie.) Cook at 350F for around 35-40 minutes. Let stand at least 10 minutes before removing from the pan. (Some commenters have had success with a blender, but I did not. Try that at your own risk, and know the results will be better in a high-quality food processor such as a Cuisinart.)"  ~ Katie

I know you will appreciate something new and tasty -- and chocolate!  I did.  Enjoy!

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  Phil 4:13

Crock Pot Sweet Potatoes & Apples

I've been eating healthy for 10 months now.  I no longer crave gluten or dairy but I do crave new textures and flavors.  I made a happy discovery recently when I realized that I could transfer a vegetable from my "bad food" list to my "good food" list -- sweet potatoes!  I just can't smother them with butter and brown sugar any more :-)  

Sweet potatoes are a great source of fiber which helps the body maintain a healthy digestive tract and regulates digestion.  It's also an antioxidant powerhouse -- rich in Vitamin A. And for my celiac friends, it's a gluten-free food option. Keep in mind however that if this vegetable produces an inflammatory response in your diet, then you should avoid it. To learn more about which foods you should eliminate in your diet, go to http://www.thyroidpharmacist.com.

Ingredients: 

3 sweet potatoes, peeled and diced

4 sweet apples, peeled and diced

3-4 tablespoons coconut butter

1-2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/8 cup pure maple syrup

Clean, peel and chop the sweet potatoes and apples; place them in the crock pot. Combine the cinnamon and nutmeg with melted coconut butter and blend into the apples and sweet potatoes until they are all covered.  Drizzle the maple syrup over the top of it.  Cook on high for 3 hours.  

Tip:  Chose a sweet apple like Pink Lady, Fuji or Honeycrisp for the best flavor.  

"His mouth is most sweet, and he is altogether desirable.  This is my beloved and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem."  Song of Solomon 5:16

Butternut Cranberry Bake

Wow --- this is delicious!  And it has "holiday dish" written all over it... it smells great, tastes great and it's easy to make.  Seriously, you should bake this for your next holiday meal.  I made it exactly like the original recipe that I found on Pinterest; no modifications necessary. And I used the pure maple syrup like I mentioned in my last blog post.  My husband is not much of a cranberry fan and even he agreed that it tastes awesome! 

From "The Gracious Pantry" Blog by Tiffany McCauley
1 lb. (454 g) chopped/cubed, peeled butternut squash
1 large apple, peeled and cored
1/2 lb. (227 g) bag fresh cranberries
1 tbsp. olive oil (or coconut oil in liquid state)
1/4 cup maple syrup
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 scant tsp. ground clove

Directions:
1. Place all ingredients in a 1 gallon-sized ziploc bag or a large container with a tight-fitting lid.
2. Shake well to coat everything in spices and maple syrup.
3. Pour out into baking dish (Mine was 9×13) and bake at 350 F. for about 1 hour to 1 hour and 20 minutes.
4. Note that if you have a smaller, deeper baking dish that this will take longer in the oven. The bigger and more shallow the dish is, the quicker this will cook. (I do not recommend a cookie sheet due to the cranberries)
5. Add salt to taste after cooking if needed.

Here's the link to the recipe on Tiffany's blog:  
http://www.thegraciouspantry.com/clean-eating-holiday-butternut-cranberry-bake/

I used a bag of prepared butternut squash chunks from the whole foods store, honeycrisp apples, fresh cranberries and pure maple syrup along with the other ingredients.  My husband cooked it on the outdoor grill in an uncovered baking dish. We served it with a pork roast and the kids loved it!  It's so nice to find something with so much flavor that is Hashimoto's friendly :-)

"Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!"
Psalm 34:8

Pure Maple Syrup

I've found a lot of healthy recipes lately that called for maple syrup as a sweetener.  So I checked out the nutritional label on the most commonly stocked brands.  You know what I found... lots of consonant & vowel combinations that no one can recognize or pronounce (a.k.a. chemicals).  Did you know that most name brand syrups don't even contain maple syrup?  How ironic is that?! They're "maple flavored." Joke's on us, right? Here are the ingredients listed on one of those common pancake syrups: high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, water, salt, cellulose gum, molasses, natural and artificial flavors, potassium sorbate (preservative), sodium hexametaphosphate, citric acid, caramel color, polysorbate 60.   

Well today we went to the Farmer's Market and they were selling "pure" maple syrup; a single ingredient on the label -- maple syrup.   I'm going to try some new recipes this week with my Maple Syrup Lady pure syrup. I'll let you know how they turn out. Hopefully they will not cause an inflammatory response and I'll be sharing something tasty and delicious with you!   Here's the link to their website:

http://www.themaplesyruplady.com







By the way, your local whole food store will probably have pure maple syrup in stock. 

"Food gained by fraud tastes sweet, but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel."  
Proverbs 20:17