{Everything-Free} Breakfast & Why?

Removing foods from your normal routine isn't easy.  In the last month I have had several people share with me their decision to try a new diet removing gluten, dairy, soy and many other smaller ingredients.  Our food culture here in the United States is not very welcoming to such a diet (though I must say it has greatly improved over the last 5 years). Yet, the health of my generation and those following has demonstrated a need for change.  People are experiencing dramatic health issues as early as their teens and twenties.  From my own personal journey, I have come to believe these issues are connected to our food.  Now, I do not pretend to be a professional physician or even a formally educated advisor.  All that I share is simply what I have learned over the years from professionals and my own battle for full health.  Feel free to read with a grain of salt and please do your own research as well! I could talk for hours about the alterations that have been made to food over the last several decades or the toxins that we put into our bodies on a daily basis, but I will refrain from all that today.  Instead, I encourage you to research the processes your food goes through before it reaches you.  You might be very surprised.

Since our bodies have gone through so much by the time we are in our twenties it makes sense that normal bodily functions begin to fail or malfunction.  A major part of our bodies that take the hit is our internal organs, specifically our stomach, intestines, colon, liver and gallbladder. These are the areas food is broken down, filtered and gathered for nutrients.  If so much of what we eat is harmful it doesn't take long for each of these parts to wear down and stop performing as your body needs.  Your body's balance is thrown off.  It becomes hard for your brain to function well without nutrients and so the messages to your body are not as they should be, causing issues like low blood sugar, lack of enzyme production, low or high acidity in the stomach, etc.  Eventually food allergies or intolerances begin to form.  Your organs begin to only be able to take certain foods as the years pass because they don't have the proper amount of enzymes, etc. to break down, filter and gather nutrients from all foods.  The longer you go without fixing the root issues of rebuilding your organs and eating clean, safe food the less you will be able to eat and the more upset and off balance your body will become.  The end result: autoimmune diseases. Take a gander at this link to see what many of us are headed toward.  As WomensHeath.gov states, "overall, autoimmune diseases are common, affecting more than 23.5 million Americans.  They are the leading cause of death and disability." Don't let yourself become a part of this statistic. 

I hope this sounds a bit scary to you, sometimes it takes a little kick in the rear to make or continue on with difficult changes. As I said in the beginning it's not an easy thing to reassess your health and restart your diet.  Generally, it's not accepted in our culture, but the effects of our daily food choices are so very real.  It's worth it.  Slow down and look at the food you eat.  Where does it come from? What's in it? How has it been cooked and stored? Start noticing your body's ups and downs and responses to food and stress.  Take small steps to support your organs.  Care about how you live and what you eat.  

As I said earlier, people have been approaching me asking for help with food options that are allergy or intolerant friendly.  I find that  breakfast seems to be the most difficult meal to keep interesting.  So as a little inspiration, I'm sharing a nutritious and easy {Everything- Free} option.  It's so yummy I had it this morning! 

{Coconut Yogurt with Fruit & Energy}

1- 1 1/2 cups Plain So Delicious Coconut Yogurt

1 tbsp Macca Powder

1 tbsp Raw Hulled Hemp Hearts (I get an 8oz bag from Costco)

Fresh or Frozen Fruit  (I love berries!)

I prefer the plain Yogurt because it's low in sugar and I can always sweeten it with Stevia or local Honey.  The Macca Powder and Hemp Hearts provide lots of natural energy, are filling and full of nutrients.  Click on the links to learn about the benefits of each and see the brands I favor! 

{Shared}

Gluten-Free Wednesdays

{Hearty GF Breakfast}

There are days when I am so bored with my breakfast.  Believe me, there are many options for delicious GF and Vegan breakfasts. Yet, somehow I can still get in a rut.  Are you with me or am I the only one running out of ideas at the break of dawn? Probably not, so today I am going to share some of my little breakfast ideas with you.  As I push myself to think outside the box and get creative in the days to come perhaps we can avoid that rut all together!

I have always preferred to start my day with a hearty meal, so cereal just doesn't cut it.  A simple, quick, nutritious and filling breakfast can provide the foundation for a marvelous day, full of energy and mental sharpness.  Consequently, it's worth it to dive in and get creative with your first meal of the day.   If you're new to GF or just wondering what all these options are let me share a few ideas with you:

1. GF Oatmeal - top with nuts, dried fruit or fresh fruit; sweeten with vanilla or regular stevia, agave, honey or pure maple syrup. Mix and match!

2. Coconut Yogurt or Kefir with GF Granola - I prefer plain with stevia and cinnamon granola. Add your favorite granola and/or toppings (see oatmeal).

3. GF Crepe with Vegan Daiya Cheddar Cheese and Caramelized Onion Filling - Yes, it's AMAZING. See BabyCakes new cookbook.

4. GF English Muffin topped with Vegan Daiya Cheese, Tomato and Avocado Slices.

5. GF Bread toasted and spread with Raw Almond Butter.  Topped with a dust of Cinnamon or Sea Salt and a drizzle of Honey.

6. Smoothies!

7. GF Muffins paired with a spoonful of Raw Almond Butter!

 *If these aren't enough check out my recipes under "breakfast".

Finally a very savory and protein filled breakfast -

{Fresh Beans with Wild Smoked Alaskan Salmon, slices of Ripe Avocado and Himalayan Sea Salt}

1 Cup Fresh Cooked Beans (warm or cool)
2-6 oz of Wild Smoked Alaskan Salmon
Fresh Lemon Slice
1/4 Organic Hass Avocado
Dash of Pink Himalayan Sea Salt
Any other Spices you might enjoy!

*For variety, reduce Beans to 1/2 Cup and use a slice of toasted GF and Vegan Bread for your base!

A very different breakfast than you are accustomed to I am sure, but wait till you try it! I use my fresh seasoned homemade Beans as the base.  I tear small pieces of the tasty Salmon and place them on top of the Beans.  A squeeze of fresh Lemon Juice over the Salmon is always a nice addition.   I am obsessed with Avocado, so I can be a bit picky about quality and texture.  Make sure you get a ripe organic Avocado for best flavor. Slice it and fan across the Salmon. Finally sprinkle with Sea Salt and other Spices.  Enjoy!

{Sharing}

Pennywise Platter Thursday

{2Good2B Bakery & Cafe}

Delicious food for all? For those of us in the gluten-free community options are growing, but for those with more than just gluten-free needs it's difficult to find food that is (what I like to call) everything-free.  How often have you wished for a bakery, deli or even coffee shop where you could completely relax, perhaps even eat and drink everything on the menu? Not possible, right?  Well, I am excited to announce that such a place has emerged.

2Good2B is the name and everything-free food is the game. Located in the heart of San Diego's own seaside town of Encinitas, 2Good2B is an appropriate name for the quality and variety provided by this lovely cafe and bakery.  All items listed on their menu are gluten-free, soy-free, corn-free, peanut-free and occasionally dairy-free and egg-free.  Started by self proclaimed foodies Mike Barbanti and Diana Mourato Benedek, this place brings deliciousness to another level.  Their standard is not limited to the gluten-free or allergy-friendly crowd, but to all.  Their breads and desserts rival and I would say even trump those filled with gluten, soy, corn and many other typical ingredients.  See their website for more about their personal health journeys and the creation of 2Good2B.

Options are wide and favorites have already been established.  With freshly baked choices like chocolate pecan cranberry oatmeal cookies and vanilla bean passion fruit muffins, how could anyone resist? Everything goes quickly, so early orders and pick-ups are recommended.  

I heard about 2Good2B last week and headed straight over! As my husband and I drove up I immediately noticed the beautiful "gluten-free" writing in the window and practically bounded out of the car with excitement.  Entering the cafe we were immediately engulfed by the mouth-watering aroma of freshly baked bread.  In cases near the door, rows and rows of beautiful cupcakes and brownies quickly drew my eye.  I glanced at the menu and my excitement heightened.  Quiches, pizzas, sandwiches, paninis, and salads?  All GF? Really? Then I saw it, the origin of the lovely smell: a case full of fresh breads and gorgeous baguettes.  As I stood staring at the case, a kind voice greeted me and asked if I needed anything.  I introduced myself and met the assistant manager, Jack, who turned out to be one of the most gracious individuals I have ever met.  He sent us home with many tasty treats to photograph and try.  His passion for helping others find safe food is obvious.  The atmosphere he provided clearly stemmed from the heart of 2Good2B's creators, Mike and Diana.

2Good2B focuses on high quality foods, drinks and desserts, using many local and organic ingredients.  You can enjoy a tasty, moist muffin with a steaming loose leaf tea with the knowledge that you're eating well while sustaining your local community! When picking their vendor for coffee and tea 2Good2B chose Virtuoso: a local, certified organic company that carries products known for being easier on the stomach.  Once again, a clear sign that Mike and Diana have thought carefully about every detail, creating the perfect environment for people with sensitive stomachs!

Our lunch that afternoon consisted of many personal recommendations from Jack.  We decided on a delicious panini with the artisan rosemary bread made fresh that morning (which he paired perfectly with vegetable chips) and two refreshing and invigorating drinks, the Moroccan Mint tea with honey over ice and the spicy Virtuoso Chai tea.  We followed the panini with Mike's famous baguette and lemon cupcake.  My favorites were the baguette and rosemary bread.  I felt transported to Paris with each moist and buttery slice.  Heaven on earth.  Needless to say, we savored each bite and devoured every last morsel!

My only hesitation with the breads lies in the teff and millet flours.  I have a sensitivity to these flours.  Even though I can't eat too much, the flavor of the breads is still amazing.  If I may, I would like to put in a request.  I would love to try artisan breads from Mike that incorporate other gluten-free flours. He may even be up for creating the treat I miss the most: the croissant!  He is quite an artist in the kitchen, so perhaps such options will come in the near future!

There are so many varieties and specialties available that I could expand on!  You will just have to discover them for yourself! The menu alone should get you out of your seat, but honestly the atmosphere was what made the entire experience golden.  I hope you all jaunt over to 2Good2B as soon as you can.  It's everything you dreamed it would be.
Enjoy!

{Heads Up}
The bakery and cafe will be undergoing a renovation from Jan 22nd to February 4th.  Menu options will be increasing to include such delights as pot pies, soups, mac and cheese dishes, meatball subs, calzones, cinnamon rolls and cinnamon breads.  Make sure to stop by before they close and then head over after Feb 4th for all the new treats! I'll be there! 

{All photos taken and provided by Sweet and Salty Life}

{October Love - Kauai}

Sooooo we are back! A wonderful and amazing wedding left us beyond grateful for life, love and the many many dear friends the Lord has blessed us with in this season.  We flew off to lovely Kauai for our honeymoon to relax.  We were surprised by a few little bugs that joined us right away.  They took up residence in my sweet Love and had him in bed for most of the trip.  We got to know the local medical community pretty quick, making stops at medical clinics and eventually the Urgent Care, but fortunately we were still able to savor our time there. 

An absolutely gorgeous island, Kauai was lush and green on the Northern end where we stayed. It blends rain forest with ocean so well.  The local people were laid back and easy to relate to in the small towns like Hanalei.  I was surprised by the numerous options for vegan, vegetarian and everything-free diets.  Health food stores covered the island and many restaurants catered specifically to this crowd.  I fell in love with a few spots.  My favorite restaurant by far was Postcards Cafe in Hanalei.  No matter your food preference you will find many delicious options here.  It is a home transformed into a cozy and quaint cafe.  The service is attentive and personal, as well as knowledgeable about food intolerances and allergies. 

I found a darling little GF shop in Kapaa called Sweet Marie's.  Marie gets up at ridiculously early times to guarantee fresh baked goods for all the locals and visitors that crowd her shop for treats.  Next time, I plan to stop there as soon as I land and stock up on goodies for the stay. 

The island's "whole foods" equivalent is called Papaya's Natural Foods.  It has everything you could need and more to live and eat well during your stay.  There are a few on the island, but one is conveniently located across the road from Sweet Marie's for a quick double trip. 

We also ate at a unique restaurant called Bar Acuda.  It was a Spanish inspired dining experience.  We were served small beautifully and artistically displayed dishes. It was a bit pricey, but worth it for the unique experience. 

As recently obsessed coconut eaters, we were excited to try a fresh Hawaiian coconut.  Sadly, it was not anywhere near tasty.  It was a fermented old coconut.  We should have known better.  We'll stick to our fresh young Thai coconuts from now on!

Overall, I was wonderfully surprised by how easily I could enjoy food and life on this island.  I encourage you to visit and try these places as well, you won't be disappointed. 

Aloha!

{The Everyday - Kelp Noodles}

Welcome to November! I cannot believe how fast this past month has gone and how quickly my life has changed.  We enjoyed our lovely trip to the Hawaiian Islands at the beginning of the month and spent the rest of it getting back into real life.  We were able to go to the beautiful and lush island of Kauai for our honeymoon and  I cannot wait to share all about the food culture and variety there. For now, just know that anyone with a common allergy could not only survive, but actually thrive.  There are wonderful options all over this beautiful island.  Honestly, it was so amazing, a move was and still is tempting....

As for today, I am back home in my lovely seaside home of Carlsbad and I am excited to share with you one of the most nutritious and unique foods in my refrigerator.  Kelp Noodles! Have you tried them? They are, at first glance, very odd looking and truly not that appealing, but believe me they are surprisingly fun. 

Full of fabulous fiber and rich in iodine, Kelp Noodles assist with digestion and boost your thyroid. Oh and did I mention they are practically calorieless... They can be found in most health food stores like Mother's, Jimbo's or even Sprouts on occasion. Kelp Noodles can be used to spice up a salad, add texture to stir fries or even to replace spaghetti if you're craving a hot dish with tasty marinara sauce.

To get started, I suggest washing and rinsing your noodles.  Then, using kitchen scissors, cut little 1-2 inches long pieces into a salad and see how you like the extra crunch.  Kelp Noodles can soak up flavor well, especially if they are allowed to marinate in a dressing or sauce. If you'd prefer a softer noodle I suggest you take this approach.  Next, try using longer cuts of the noodles in a stir fry with Coconut Secret's Coconut Aminos Seasoning Sauce. Add veggies and nuts and spices to your heart's delight! You really can't go wrong.  In the end it may remind you of a warm Thai noodle dish soaked in soy sauce, minus the calories and estrogen-filled soy.

If you really start to enjoy the flavor of this sea vegetable you should try other textures and flavors! Check out my recipe for Seaweed Rice Salad to get you started. 
Add this fun exotic food for some variety in your daily diet and let me know how it goes!Enjoy!

{October Love with an Every Day Post}

Happy Fall to you all! 

It's here and I can't believe it.  Three days until we marry! The time has flown.  Didn't we just get engaged? It seems like yesterday!

Well here in the sweet town of Carlsbad we are going full speed ahead.  The biggest event of my life is quite a bit of work! I must admit I'm just eager for the party to start.  For a quick update, I baked and frosted my wedding cake today! We chose a simple set up, a rich vanilla cake with blackberry preserve as the filling between the layers and finished it with a creamy, toasted coconut frosting.  It's a tiny, darling little cake with two 6" layers.  My Love is so sweet.  I popped in his room and asked him to come see it.  His reaction was just wonderful.  He loves it and shared how excited he was that we get to have a cake we made oursleves. Isn't that just what every baker bride wants to hear from her fiance? I'd say we're a good match. 

In five days we will be flying off to Kauai for our two week honeymoon! We couldn't be more excited.  I did some research and created a little list of places I want to stop by while there.  Kauai has a few GF and V restaurants, coffee shops and local eateries that sound intriguing and tasty.  My Love has already stated that we will be visiting farmers markets, which of course made me quite excited.  That sounds just perfect! Again, it's as if he knows me.....

I am still going to pack some essentials, just in case the local markets aren't as supplied as the ones here.  The first essential that came to mind was my instant GF oatmeal by Glutenfreeda.  It is perfect for traveling and is my go to for a filling and healthy breakfast.  I also love that it has a little flax in it...just in case traveling is causing a little back up.  Yes, I did just mention that.  Unfortunately it's not sold every where yet.  I have to pick it up at a smaller local GF bakery in Encinitas called Healthy Creations.  I encourage you to try it if it is sold in your local health food store and take it as a morning treat on your travels too!

Wish me luck this wedding week! I will give you a little summary of our Kauai adventures when I return. Enjoy your last week of September!

{October Love-Wedding Cake}

We are in the final count down! With less than a month to go, my Love and I are working on the fun details now.  Our little home is also coming together as bits and pieces are added.  I have been in a major nesting mood.  I'm just so eager to make our space a relaxing place that my Love can't wait to come home to every day.  

As the details emerge, one in particular has my attention and focus.  Unlike many brides, I cannot order a  standard wedding cake.  My guests, at least most of them, could eat it, but not me.  Fortunately, I have some things going for me.  First, I love simple small cakes 6-8" to be exact, second, I LOVE baking my own desserts and lastly, my Love LOVES to eat my desserts! How perfect is that! 

Soooo the great experiment and hunt has begun.  I have scoured my many...many...cookbooks and magazines, as well as my many past creations, in order to create a trial list of 6 cake varieties.  These include vanilla, chocolate, carrot and maple cakes with all sorts of coconut, buttercream, rich chocolate and vanilla frosting options. I'm in heaven!  The only slight negative is the amount of tasty batters and cakes I will continually have around me....  I will try to keep you all posted as I try and experiment with these fun recipes.  My plan is to bake mostly one or two layers just to try.  For the actual cake I would like to create a 3-layer 6 inch cake.  I love 6 inch cakes; they are the perfect little size!

Email me if you want recipes and I will direct you to the cook books I used so that you can give it a try too! Come bake with me!

My round 1 went very well.  It was picture worthy, as you can see.  I baked a rich chocolate cake with a sweet vanilla, butter cream frosting.  My Love enjoyed the flavor, found the texture a bit springy, but as we all know that is much better than dense (which was the result of round 2) and overall found it quite delicious.  I must admit the frosting paired well and I spread some blackberry preserve in the center, which really sealed the perfection. 

Rating: 7 out of the perfect 10

{The Everyday - Two Essential Spreads}

Whether for slathering on toast, apple slices, celery or carrots, these two spreads are full of omegas and protein.  I like to start my day out with food that will fill me up and provide energy for the day and raw Almonds and Sunflower Seeds are an easy go to for me.  

Almond Butter and Sunflower Butter are my two favorite spreads out of all the nut/seed options out there.  Raw Almond Butter, in my opinion, is the best whole and nutritional nut spread you take eat and Sunflower Butter just plain tastes delicious and is very similar to Peanut Butter.  I have a subtle allergy to peanuts, so this is my treat instead.  These spreads can be quite pricey at most health food stores, so if you are going to buy pre-made spreads I have to recommend buying from Trader Joe's.  They offer a much less expensive raw (that's the key), not roasted, Almond Butter with the options of crunchy or smooth and salted or unsalted.  As for the Sunflower Butter it's a similar story when it comes to price, so TJ's is still the way to go.  My only pause with the Sunflower Butter is the sugar content.  It, like Peanut Butter, has more sugar than I would like to advocate for others or just put in my own body on a regular basis, so I recently looked into creating my own. 

 If you are interested and own a food processor or VitaMix I would definitely recommend making your own butters.  It's actually quite simple.  Pour 1/2 to 1 cup of seeds/nuts in with a tablespoon of your preferential oil (I like to use Coconut or Grapeseed) and any other additions flavors for taste.  If you want a smoother more spreadable butter, just keep adding oil until it reaches the consistency you desire. 

In the batch I recently made I added 1 to 2 tbsp of Agave a dash of Cinnamon and a 1/2 tsp of delicious Vanilla.  After processing my spread I scooped it into a glass jar I recycled from another spread and put it in my fridge.  It's lasted me 2 weeks so far and seems like it will keep for a few more.  

An easy inexpensive and nutritious treat if you ask me! Give it a try and share what flavor you used to spice up and flavor your butter.  I'd love to hear about your experiments.

Enjoy!

{Wild Salmon, Lemon Cucumber and Avocado Salad}

To heal the 20 plus years of gut destruction by means of gluten, soy, dairy and much more, I have begun a cleanse.  I will only be eating foods that are soothing and avoiding any foods that would insight inflammation in my overly sensitive gut.  Day one was yesterday and, may I just say, I really wasn’t the happiest camper.  I have been slowly eliminating all sorts of food groups from my diet for a few years now and this cleansing diet is officially the most limiting I have ever experienced.  Now don’t get me wrong, I am in full support of the philosophy behind it and am eager for the end result it might bring, but boy is it going to be a test of my perseverance and self control.  I am already trying to find ways to create little desserts with the foods I have available to me.  I truly am a dessert girl through and through….

To summarize the diet for you and well, to get a little pity from you all, let me tell you what I can and cannot eat for at least 30 days. 

{Soothing List}

1. Most Veggies (except tomatoes, potatoes and mushrooms)

2. Fermented Food (like sauerkraut and pickles)

3.Any Meat (I’m only going to be incorporating Salmon for now)

4.Low Glycemic Fruits (This ones tricky.  Some fruit I thought was LG is not!)

5. Anything and Everything Coconut and Olive based (One of the most soothing foods you can put in your body!)

6. Herbal Teas (a favorite already, fortunately)

{Inflammatory List}

1. SUGAR/Chocolate (including Low Glycemic like agave and brown rice syrup)

2. Grains (Any and all, even GF)

3. All Dairy

4. All Soy

5. All Alcohol

6. High Glycemic Fruit (melons, mango, pineapple, raisins)

7. Lectins (this one was the hardest for me to give up! Includes nuts and beans)

Well there you have it! Sooo if any of you have fun recipes to spice up my diet, please feel free to share! I had fun creating a nice light dinner this evening that you can even enjoy.  It incorporates all soothing foods and just happens to taste delicious.

{Wild Salmon, Lemon Cucumber and Avocado Salad}

A perfect pairing, the lemon brings out the saltiness of the salmon and the avocado brings a rich buttery flavor to compliment the tangy lemon. 

{Serves 1}

1 cup   Diced Organic English Cucumber

1 tbsp  Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Half a Ripe Organic Hass Avocado

Torn Pieces of Wild Alaskan Smoked Sockeye Salmon

Sliver of Fresh Lemon

Dash of Pink Himalayan Sea Salt

Mix your Cucumber and Olive Oil in a small bowl.  Slice your Avocado and mix in, adding your Salmon to follow.  Sprinkle the dish with fresh Lemon juice from your Lemon sliver and Salt it to your taste.   Mix well and enjoy!

{The Everyday-Trader Joe's GF Oats & Coconut Milk}

Today’s every day post is very exciting! I just LOVE making fun new discoveries in our local stores, especially ones that include inexpensive, quick and easy foods.  Trader Joe's is my hero this Saturday.  After enjoying a wonderful afternoon with Freddi Pakier preparing food for her Sunday cooking class, I stopped by TJ’s and found two wonderful treats.  I truly wish you all could have been there.  I was actually giggling in the aisle.  Definitely got a few confused looks, but I did not care in the least! Trader Joe's now carries GF Rolled Oats! Not a puny little bag, but a whole 2 pounds worth, all for $3.99.  WHAT!?

K, at this point I know some of you are saying….what is she so jazzed about and what are GF Oats?  Let me provide some context.  GF (gluten-free) Oats are Oats that  are not grown or harvested near Wheat, preventing the all too common cross-pollination issue.  If you are new to GF take note, Oats are not safe unless they are labeled GF.  Now to bring it home with TJ’s, when looking in other markets you will discover that the same amount (2lbs) of GF Oats will range between $8-$20 dollars.  Outrageous right? Hence, my excitement for the $3.99 Trader Joe's version.  Are you with me now?

Wow, I’m still excited; now onto my second find.  As many of you may have seen, our lovely TJ’s has begun to carry my favorite, Almond milk.  This has been one of my staples for a while and once again TJ’s version is a dollar or two cheaper than any other market.  While parousing this area I noticed a new addition, Coconut milk! Trader Joe's has finally caught up to the Coconut trend (a favorite trend of mine by the way)! I purchased a little vanilla flavored carton for $1.99 and walked away with a large smile on my face. 

My first action, once out the door, was to call my fiancé.  Not surprisingly the conversation consisted of me  talking about food and how TJ’s has risen back to the top of my favorites markets (Yes, I have a list of favorites and yes, I do visit them all frequently…kinda just live for it).  Needless to say, he is a very gracious and patient man.  I’m truly blessed.  Now, though, I am sharing the fun news with you! These are truly some fun and budget-friendly finds.  Hope you find these tips helpful in your weekly shopping.  Till next time…  Enjoy!

{The Everyday - My Morning Necessity}

It's  morning and my first thought goes to a my favorite, wake up tradition, a steaming mug of peppermint tea.  A few sips and I feel my very soul relax and settle.  It's the most soothing and comforting drink I have ever experienced.  It also calms my stomach and helps prepare my digestive system for the day.

I began drinking it a year or so ago, when a cup with 2 tbsp of coconut oil mixed in was recommended, to soothe my extreme intestinal pains. This remedy relieved the stubborn pain within 30 minutes, making me an instant fan.

I began with Traditional Medicine's version, but moved on to Yogi's tea when TM stopped making their version.  I highly recommend Yogi's peppermint tea for anyone.

My day begins well when I have my tea, so those little tea bags travel with me.  Like today, I am vacationing in Mammoth Lake and my trusty mug is sitting right beside me as I type!

So whether you experience intestinal pain or would just like to feel relaxed and fresh for your day, I definitely recommend giving peppermint tea a try. You may find that it's the perfect start to your day as well.

Happy sipping!

{The Everyday - Snacks}

Welcome to my new {The Everyday} posts! I've decided to take the time to share some of the foods I eat on a more regular basis.  I a finding that many of you have questions about the day to day diet.  Questions like, what do I eat for snacks or breakfast or how do I eat enough protein from a Vegan, Raw and GF menu?  I have my staples and the occasional new treats I find and try, so I thought I would begin to share these with you all.  There are so many options out there.  Let's explore them together!

This week I gave a new brand of tasty-looking granola a try.  I've been bored with my breakfast and wanted to spice it up with something! Typically GF granola is loaded with flaxseed, which I'm not  huge fan of, but this granola had all the ingredients I like to use instead! I was so excited! They had a few flavors and though tempted to try all of them, as is my nature, I limited myself to two.  I'm not going to lie, the price for these little goody bags was not easy to swallow, but such is the game with Raw,Vegan and GF food.  The Cherry Ginger and Cranberry Orange were the flavors that made the final cut and came home with me that day.   Needless to say I did not have the patience to wait until morning to give each a  try.  I popped the bags open on the way home and took a nibble a bit of each.  Wow.  I was even more excited.  Each kind had a perfect blend of spice, nutty oatiness and that tart, yet still sweet, dried fruit! I loved both flavors!

When I got home I sat and read a bit about the company.  A wonderful part about the Vegan, GF and Raw community is the stories behind the process of the food.  Real people, small operations and a passion for the health of others.  Typically you can find out about it all on the packaging, but their websites are always fun to visit as well.  Laughing Giraffe Organics is one such company.  They are the creative geniuses behind these new finds.  A family run business, this company makes all of their products by hand. It's aspects like this that make me ok with paying a greater amount for my food.  Quality over quantity, so the opposite of the rest of our commercialized and processed food.  You get what you pay for!  I also love their vision.  They say it well. Yay for pure and whole nutritious food! 

"Laughing Giraffe Organics provides healthy snack foods that are made from the finest organic ingredients. Because our products are made from real unprocessed foods, they are extremely rich in nutritional value. Small amounts will satisfy your snack needs more than “empty calorie” snack foods. Real foods have real calories that are needed to stay healthy and they taste great!"

Banana Chocolate Chip Bread

It's been a while since my last note to you all and for that I must apologize.  Life has taken me on a journey this year and these last few weeks have been no exception.  I wish I had a career in the culinary arts, but for now that dream is at bay.  Instead, I have two normal jobs which have lovely and difficult parts to them.  Hopefully after this week life will slow down a bit and I will be able to spend more time in my little neglected kitchen. 

Ironically, it's been raining cook/nutritional books of late and I am just antsy to break into them and put their recipes/nutritional theories to the test.  As you may have gathered from reading my notes, I am slightly obsessed with books, especially any that share nutritional/food information.  I love to learn new or even old ideas, just the thought of it gets me excited!  Today I am sharing with you the result of a delicious bread.  The recipe comes from one of my old favorites, NYC Babycakes, and surprisingly I actually followed it almost to a tee! I exchanged the rice milk with almond, but that's it.  It really was quite out of the ordinary for me!  

{Banana Chocolate Chip Bread}

Since I did create the bread straight from Erin's cookbook and I believe in supporting chefs that create the seemingly "impossible" recipes {in other words the delicious treats that are free of dairy, gluten, soy, eggs, etc.} I will not be posting the recipe for you here.  I want you to find her cookbook and find it yourself.  It's designed beautifully and the bakery is promoted by many of its celebrity fans.  Believe me the book is so worth the expense and there are many more wonderfully yummy recipes for you to try too. Erin, you make a perfectly fluffy, sweet and satisfying Banana Chocolate Chip Bread.  Thank you for your many labored hours in that little New York kitchen of yours! 

Linked to Slightly Indulgent Tuesday

A Local Review....

Pizza...the glorious American food that unfortunately has been off limits for me since October 2008, when I discovered my food intolerances/allergies.  Like most gluten-free individuals I see pizzas in grocery stores such as Mother's Kitchen, Foster Farms and Whole Foods and get excited, unitl I read the list of ingredients.... I am not just gluten-free so these pizzas never quite met up to my "standards".   After a bit of giving in and trying gluten-free, but not dairy-free or soy-free and finding myself felling...well let's just say, rather nauseaus,  I began experimenting with my own recipes.  A few months ago I found the recipe I posted  on this blog in January and, oh goodness, I was pretty excited.  There is always room for improvement, so I am sure I will alter the recipe next time I use it, but for now it  gaurentees deliciousness.

Despite my wonderful recipe, I missed the convenience of pick-up or delivery pizza. So I was intrigued when I my Dad emailed me last week about a  local pizzaria that claimed to offer vegan and gluten-free pizza.  We decided to check it out.

Friday night I pulled into the parking lot eager to find Paridise Pizza.  There it was, tucked away in the corner of a small, business complex.  In a rather hidden location, I would not have found it if I had not had the address handy.  I walked in and was greeted by the friendly staff.  I grabbed a menu and began parusing the options.  The prices were reasonable, there were many combinations to choose from and they all sounded even more wonderful when I saw the option of a gulten-free crust at the bottom...oh joy! I asked about the rest of the ingredients within the crust and the staf was more than willing to list them off.  Good to go! There was no soy, egg, dairy or gluten, only an extra charge of $2.  I ordered and walked out of there in 15-20 minutes with one 12" regular Zen pizza, for my family, and two 8" gluten-free pizzas (one Zen as well and one Royal Hawaiian).

The owner, Mychal Dourson was present when I arrived and eager to answer any questions I had.  His nephew, I believe...sorry Mychal if I remember incorrectly...is celiac and Mychal wanted to offer him the chance to order a pizza like everyone else.  He bought a smal package of pre-made crusts and on a whim included them on his the menu.  He shared how surprised he was when he opened to find that his first ten customers asked for the gluten-free crust! Since then, he has been ordering more crusts and trying different brands.  He asked me to get back to him about the crust he used for the pizzas I ordered...so Mychal here are my thoughts:

The toppings were delicious, but the crust was unfortunately very dry and crumbly.   It did not have much flavor and had a stiff texture. 
I would encourage you Mychal to continue searching!

My two requests, Mychal... goat cheese and a thicker, softer crust! I look forward to trying your pizzas again!