My Favourite Recipe

A few years ago Morgan signed us up for a cooking class with the city for my birthday. It was called An Evening With Chickpeas, and it was great! We learned about 5 recipes, and I use them all the time. My amazing hummus recipe... not really mine, it was from Rani our instructor. This spicy spinach chickpea dish is my favourite! I've adapted it a little bit, and it has become my go to dish for a potluck party. Then I was making it a couple days ago and couldn't believe I hadn't shared it with you yet!

As I've mentioned before, I love a cooking snack. I cubed a couple pieces of my gluten free bread, and mixed a bit of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, & oregano for dipping.

I wish I had a lighter coloured plate so you could see the oil & vinegar

This wine is my father in law's home brew. We got 12 bottles this past christmas, and that right there represents the second to last bottle :( 

1 can of chickpeas, drained & rinsed

1 pkg frozen spinach, defrosted & squeezed

1 med onion, chopped (I know I've been trying to cut down on the onion, but it's just so integral here)

2 cloves of garlic minced

1/2 a big can of crushed tomatoes (798 ml can, I usually eyeball this part, it was originally 1/4 cup, but it works out to just over 1 1/2 cups

1 tsp ground ginger

3/4 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp coriander, salt & garam masla*

1/4 tsp cayenne & tumeric

*You can find this in the import section of your grocery store OR make it yourself with a grinder.

3 tbsp coriander seeds

1 1/2 tbsp cumin seeds

1/2 tbsp whole black peppercorns 

1 whole black cardamom seeds or 4 green cardamom seeds

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon (1 inch stick)

1/4 tsp dried ginger powder

Warm all ingredients except ginger & cinnamon in microwave for about 30 seconds. Put all ingredients into a grinder & grind to a fine powder. Store in an airtight container. I'm not gunna lie... I use the store bought stuff

1. Heat a little bit of oil in a big pan over medium high heat and saute the onions, garlic and cumin until the onions are golden

 

2. Add the ginger, coriander, cayenne, tumeric, & salt, continue sauteing for about 2 mins, then add the crushed tomatoes and cook for 2 more mins

3. Add the spinach, cook 5 mins

4. Add the chickpeas, cook 7 more mins. Turn down to minimum and simmer for a few minutes to lock in the flavour.

I usually eat this on its own, or with some naan bread or pitas. The original recipe, with way less crush tomato, was meant to be served in a wrap with lettuce and tomato. Hope you enjoy my favourite dish!

I baked bread B@$%#%^!

Ok, I am no baker. The list of things I can bake is pretty short, and consists mostly of muffins. As of this past week, I have now added bread to that list! Gluten-Free Vegan bread!! But first things first. I have just discovered the wonders of my local bulk foods store, Scoop'n'Save. I'm always whining about the lack of good health food stores in my area, meanwhile this one as been under my nose all along. Check out my recent purchases.

Along with a great selection of bulk foods, they have tonnes of specialty & gluten-free foods.

 This was actually from Safeway, but it's the best honey I've ever tasted

Obviously this has nothing to do with baking, but this tree is in front of our house, on the boulevard

It's super pretty this week, but these blooms don't last long, hence the need for a picture :)

Alright, back to the bread. I got this recipe from my dietitian. She copied it out of a gluten-free cookbook, and showed me how to modify it to make it vegan and without a bread machine. 

Gluten-Free Flour Mix (used for all sorts of GF baking)

2 cups white or brown rice flour or any combination of
2/3 cup potato starch
5 1/2 tbsp tapioca starch
mix well, store in the refrigerator, and let warm up to room temp before using

Vegan Gluten-Free Bread

6 tbps ground flax + 4 tbsp warm water mixed well (or the equvilant of 2 egg replacers)
1 3/4 cups soy milk
1 tsp vinegar
2 tbsp honey
2 tbsp veg oil (or almost any oil of your choice)
1 1/2 cups gluten free flour mix (see above)
2 cups white or brown rice flour (or any combination)
1 tbsp xanthan gum
2 1/2 tsp dry active yeast

Mix dry ingredients in one bowl and wet in another. Once mixed slowly add the dry to the wet, & mix until doughy. You may need to knead it a bit. Place in a lightly greased loaf pan.

Once kneaded it should be easy to pick up as one big piece, and then form into the pan

Place in the oven with just the light on, and two cups of hot water, and let sit for 1 1/2 hours

After which time it should have raised a bit

Preheat the oven to 350F and bake for 45-55 mins

To avoid an overly crunchy crust, spread a little bit of vegan margarine on top and let cool

Seriously I baked bread! So proud

I only baked it for 45 and it was pretty moist & dense, next time I may leave it in a few minutes longer

I sliced and froze 1/2 the loaf to keep it fresh and not waste any

The fresh half was gone in about two days

Yum yum!

The Plan

With IBS there is only a certain percentage of it that you can gain control over. Careful planning, food selection, exercise, and relaxation practice (stress reduction) can reduce symptoms and flair ups, and put more control in your hands. During this past week that I've been on my 'health vacation', I put together a binder to help with this organization and planning.

I decorated it just for fun ;)

I clipped this out of a photography magazine years ago, wicked parody ad.

In case you can't read the caption it reads "Second hand smoke kills"

Smoking is for losers!

It's divided into categories such as a food log, menu planning, exercise log, symptoms & observations, nutritional info, IBS info, psychology & pharmacology, recipes, and resources

Here's an example of a week's menu plan

Colour coded because I'm a dork... also it just looks more interesting that way don't you think?

It starts with a Monday, so that on Sunday (a day I always have off) I can do my grocery shopping for the week

 

Even with all this planning you will still have some bad days that you may not be able to explain. For instance, this past Thursday evening I threw up after dinner for the first time in months... not a clue why. The important thing to remember is this: If you are working at it, you will have more good days than bad. And having a plan for the bad days can help you get through them. 

 

 For example, on my bad days I get to knit & watch Friends, a show my husband does not like and I can just zone out to. Plus it's funny and light. For my knitting I choose a funky looking yarn to do a very easy garter stitch scarf. That way I don't have to focus on it at all, I can just knit, knit, knit.

For me knitting can be very relaxing, and help take my mind off feeling like poop. Plus, I have something to show for those lousy days when I really can't do anything. I will call them my bad bowel scarves! Since this yarn is a bit orange I think it may go to a redhead, hint hint ;) I'd love to hear what helps you relax?

A Breakfast & a Snack

I was browsing through my favourite food blog and was inspired by a decadent breakfast she had posted. It was a apple pie oatmeal maple thingy... I toned it down a little, made my own version, not quite as sweet, but totally delicious.

I started with some quick oats...emphasis on the quick...and an ambrosia apple

1/2 cup quick oats

1 cup soy milk

1/2 an apple chopped with peel

Did you ever cut apple vertically to get the star shape & paint it to use as a stamp??? Just me?

a teaspoon of cinnamon & nuke for 3-4 mins

Maybe you should throw a paper towel over it

Super yummy and filling. The apples get nicely cooked in the mic
You could add syrup if you wanted but I found it plenty sweet with just the apples and cinnamon

I know I introduced the suave Falkor before; this is his mistress Ms. Espy (short for Esperenza)
She has kitty IBS, I'm pretty sure. Look at the bloated belly.

Since I had 1/2 and apple left from this breakfast, I decided to make a trail mix to munch on throughout the day

I took one handful each:
Soynuts
Pumpkin seeds
Sunflower seeds
dried cranberries
raisins
4 prunes, chopped
And the leftover apple choppped

 

Since my sunflower seeds were not toasted, I baked them with the apple at 300F for 20mins

Tossed it all together (after letting the apple cool) and you have a high energy healthy snack for the day
on the go or at home

*In retrospect I would not have used the soynuts, the moisture from the fruit made them get a bit soft after a few hours...ick*

Colonics & Tea

WARNING: The following blog is not suitable for all readers. Contains poo talk & other gross topics. Reader discretion advised.

Yes I, Jennifer Cooper, had a colonic this week. I had been meaning to try this form of cleansing for some time, thinking how great could this be for a backed up bowel? I had originally planned on going to my naturopath's clinic, since I was familiar with the place, however they no longer offer the service (the technician left). I did a Google search and started calling around. The first place I called, did not offer much information (there was definitely a language barrier) and after looking at the office on Google street view (sketchy :S) I called another place on my list Organic Therapy. Jasmine (the owner) suggested coming in for a consultation first. Not gunna lie... I found the first meeting a bit off putting. She was burning intensely for our full hour consultation about all the changes I was going to have to make to my habits and supplements, teas, etc. EESH I only wanted my bum cleaned out! LOL. Anyways, in the end I realized she's just looking at my overall total health and how we can repair my body, which is a great thing. In the time between the consultation and the appointment for the colon irrigation. I tried working some of her suggestions in. Cutting down my gluten (well she said completely cut it out) trying some new tummy teas like marshmallow root, veggie juices (specifically something with beet, cucumber &/or celery in it) and switching from tap to filtered water.

Tuesday the 24th, the big day. I'll try to spare you some of the details... I watched as she laid down fresh disposable sheets on the bed and unpacked a fresh disposable tube thingy (the part that goes up) Jasmine was very professional and made me feel at ease. She did several "flushes" (filling the large intestine with water and releasing) She uses warm filtered water, and it all comes out through a tube connected to a drain, so no smelling of anything nasty. As someone who has never had anything inserted into her rectum, it was not as bad as I was anticipating. Not exactly pleasant, but tolerable. When it was all done I felt light, refreshed, and relieved. In three weeks she wants me back in to see how I'm progressing and for another cleanse.

 Marshmallow tea... I'm getting used to the taste & enjoying the pleasant feeling in my gut

My fancy new filter water bottle, $9.99 at Superstore. 

Fill up wherever you are and it filters it as you drink. Isn't that neat?!

I hope you enjoyed today's blog and consider getting your guts cleaned out too!

the long weekend

This weekend my very good friend Brooke flew in from Edmonton for a fun girls long weekend. We went for very relaxing facials & cocktails Saturday afternoon…

 My new vintage hat Brooke brought for me :)

 Brookie-Doll in my favourite (non-vintage, but sort of looks like it) hat

...followed by a light pre-dancing dinner at home…

 Baby bok choy, daikon, carrots, orange pepper, & leeks stir-fried in a tiny bit of sesame oil

 

with brown & wild rice

& sauce from a bottle

Sunday we went to the zoo…

 Big cat!

 Isn't this a great shot by Brooke?

 I fed this dude popcorn and then he touched my toes! Hehe

 These are simply amazing creatures, amazing

 LOL Does anyone watch Archer?

…and then hosted a bbq. I made the edamame dip served with rice crackers, whole-wheat pitas & seasoned multigrain chips. Guests brought their choice of burgers, and I made some bean & veggie burgers I found on Oh She Glows. I didn't use chia seeds because I've yet to source them. I also switched the spelt flour for brown rice flour. For sides we had bbq corn on the cob & asparagus.

 

  

I pre-baked these for 15mins, then bbq'd them for another 10

  

Kmo & I preparing the corn

A lil Manitoban brew for the Albertan

Our grill master (& my hubby) Morgan on the far right

The crew on my front steps:)

 

 

Monday morning Brooke and I had a fancy brunch with vegan french toast and mimosas!

 

French Toast :

1 1/2 cup rice milk or soy milk

4 tbsp tahini (or any seed butter)

3 tbsp maple syrup

1 tsp vanilla

4 tbsp flour

dash nutmeg

bread (this recipe makes enough for 6-8 slices)

oil or margarine for frying

Whisk all ingredients together (add the flour last and slowly)

Spray a little oil on a non stick pan and heat to about medium

Coat one piece of bread at a time and fry on each side until golden and crispy

Top with fruit and syrup, yum yum!

 

Mimosas:

2oz champagne

2oz orange juice 

pour into a champagne flute and gently mix

Or make a big pitcher (equal parts juice and champagne) with ice

All & all a great weekend!

Thanks for the visit B

 

Ps Sorry this took so long to get up...had some technical difficulties :(