Oh my, this is delicious. One of our favorite dinners! Here's the recipe:
Ingredients:
1 tsp olive oil
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 chiles, seeded and chopped
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp minced ginger
2 1/2 tsps curry powder
2 medium-size tomatoes, chopped
1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts cut into bite-size pieces
1 1/2 cups water
Heat the oilive oil in a pan and sauté the onion, garlic and chiles for 4 to 5 minutes. Add the salt, ginger and curry powder and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring to prevet sticking.
Add the tomatoes and mix well. Stir in the chicken, mixing it with the spices. Pour in the water to cover the mixture. Cook on medium-low heat for 20-30 minutes, or until chicken is done.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
Party in our Tummy
This Almond Cake Recipe came from here. It's our favorite recipe so far. I didn't add any fruit or use their icing though. I put about half a cup of honey, a splash of lemon juice and some water in a pot and let it simmer until it was a tad thicker than the honey was in the first place. Then I drizzled away.
Cake Ingredients:
4 Eggs and 2 Egg Whites2 tsp Baking Soda
½ cup Honey
¼ cup Nut or Seed Oil
½ cup fruit (Apple, Pumpkin, Ripe Banana? Pick one, or none)
½ tsp: Cinnamon, Ginger
¼ tsp: Nutmeg, ground Cloves
4 Cups Almond Flour
Frosting Ingredients:
1 cup Honey2 Egg Whites
Method:Combine all cake ingredients and bake in two 8” pans at 325 for approximately 40 minutes or until light brown and cooked through.
Once cake has cooled: “Boil honey approximately 10 minutes in heavy saucepan. Honey will turn dark. Beat egg whites until stiff. Pour honey in fine stream into egg whites while beating. Frost cake immediately.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Timing is Everything
Last night we really enjoyed ourselves. Making our own mayo for the tuna salad lettuce wraps... It was better than any store bought brand! Michael took it with him to have as lunch as well. Tonight, for dinner, I'll be trying the following recipe:
Baked Tilapia with Avocado & Tomato
Ingredients:
4 tilapia fish fillets (about 5 oz each)
2 Tbsp olive oil (preferably extra virgin)
1/4 tsp each pepper, garlic powder (will be substituting fresh garlic as garlic powder is illegal), dried basil and dried marjoram
1/2 tsp salt2 ripe medium tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 ripe avocado (preferably Haas), peeled and diced
Preparation:
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil (for easy cleanup).
2. Brush both sides of fish with 1 Tbsp oil; place on lined pan. Sprinkle fish with 1/8 tsp pepper, the garlic powder, basil and marjoram and 1/4 tsp salt.
3. Bake 7 to 10 minutes or until fish is just barely opaque at center.
4. Meanwhile put tomato and avocado into a medium bowl, add remaining 1 Tbsp olive oil, 1/4 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp pepper. Toss to mix and coat.5. Serve over the fish.
Sounds yummy! I'm really enjoying this. And there is just something so satisfying about making every single little thing from scratch. And it's not like I loved cooking before. It was just something I had to do.
Now the whole process is highly enjoyable to me. Choosing the recipe, preparing the ingredients, making the meal and then the actual eating, knowing with every bite that this ain't no McDonalds.
And his health. It's like night and day. I am teetering between joy and anger. How wonderful that we've finally found SOMETHING that can help him. But how awful that no one could tell us about this before.
I've been reading a bit about Elaine Gottschall. Her selflessness, her dedication. I want to help spread the word, continue with her work, somehow. There are so many people suffering without a clue as to how to heal themselves.
The steroids, the antibiotics, it's part of the vicious cycle as well. I know there is a time for western medicine. I just wish "they"- the Doctors, the people in charge - knew that the time isn't always now.
Baked Tilapia with Avocado & Tomato
Ingredients:
4 tilapia fish fillets (about 5 oz each)
2 Tbsp olive oil (preferably extra virgin)
1/4 tsp each pepper, garlic powder (will be substituting fresh garlic as garlic powder is illegal), dried basil and dried marjoram
1/2 tsp salt2 ripe medium tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 ripe avocado (preferably Haas), peeled and diced
Preparation:
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil (for easy cleanup).
2. Brush both sides of fish with 1 Tbsp oil; place on lined pan. Sprinkle fish with 1/8 tsp pepper, the garlic powder, basil and marjoram and 1/4 tsp salt.
3. Bake 7 to 10 minutes or until fish is just barely opaque at center.
4. Meanwhile put tomato and avocado into a medium bowl, add remaining 1 Tbsp olive oil, 1/4 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp pepper. Toss to mix and coat.5. Serve over the fish.
Sounds yummy! I'm really enjoying this. And there is just something so satisfying about making every single little thing from scratch. And it's not like I loved cooking before. It was just something I had to do.
Now the whole process is highly enjoyable to me. Choosing the recipe, preparing the ingredients, making the meal and then the actual eating, knowing with every bite that this ain't no McDonalds.
And his health. It's like night and day. I am teetering between joy and anger. How wonderful that we've finally found SOMETHING that can help him. But how awful that no one could tell us about this before.
I've been reading a bit about Elaine Gottschall. Her selflessness, her dedication. I want to help spread the word, continue with her work, somehow. There are so many people suffering without a clue as to how to heal themselves.
The steroids, the antibiotics, it's part of the vicious cycle as well. I know there is a time for western medicine. I just wish "they"- the Doctors, the people in charge - knew that the time isn't always now.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Easier than Sick
I'm less angry today. Ha!
His Crohn's is even better. He's moved to introducing some fruits and veggies. I warned him about eating raw fruits too soon but he was craving grapes yesterday. It seems that most people are on the SCD move ahead on a slower pace than this. I guess because he wasn't as far gone as he could have been this time, he's handling the raw stuff better. I hope this is okay. I guess I'm just going to let him follow his intincts and we'll make sure we keep track of how he's feeling.
Today I asked about his emotions with all this. I said, "I'm sorry if this is hard." And he smiled at me and said. "It isn't hard." And I knew he meant that just this little bounce back up makes it all worth it. He is climbing back up.
And the foods! We're both excited about the new recipes we're going to be trying. This is the best part of this experience. New tastes, new inventions.
The other night I made a steak rub and used some of my home-grown basil. It was the first clipping I've used. It was a better dinner, somehow. It was a wonderful feeling knowing we were eating something that I had planted and taken care of myself. And all I used was basil! Imagine my attitude when the tomato and cucumber start sprouting. I'll lose my mind.
Tonight we've decided on something light. Tuna salad in lettuce wraps. I'll be making my own mayo as per this SCD recipe:
Ingredients:
1 jumbo egg
2 tablespoons of fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 - 1 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1 - 1 1/4 cups oil
salt and pepper
1 tablespoon of honey
Directions: put lemon juice and mustard and egg in blender. While the machine is running pour the oilvery slowly. It should take at least a minute. As the mayonaise thickens, the sound of the machine will change.*** It is very important to add the oil very slowly in a fine stream.
I hope it works out the way it's meant to. Tomorrow I'm planning to make a baked Tilapia Avocado recipe I found. Yum.
His Crohn's is even better. He's moved to introducing some fruits and veggies. I warned him about eating raw fruits too soon but he was craving grapes yesterday. It seems that most people are on the SCD move ahead on a slower pace than this. I guess because he wasn't as far gone as he could have been this time, he's handling the raw stuff better. I hope this is okay. I guess I'm just going to let him follow his intincts and we'll make sure we keep track of how he's feeling.
Today I asked about his emotions with all this. I said, "I'm sorry if this is hard." And he smiled at me and said. "It isn't hard." And I knew he meant that just this little bounce back up makes it all worth it. He is climbing back up.
And the foods! We're both excited about the new recipes we're going to be trying. This is the best part of this experience. New tastes, new inventions.
The other night I made a steak rub and used some of my home-grown basil. It was the first clipping I've used. It was a better dinner, somehow. It was a wonderful feeling knowing we were eating something that I had planted and taken care of myself. And all I used was basil! Imagine my attitude when the tomato and cucumber start sprouting. I'll lose my mind.
Tonight we've decided on something light. Tuna salad in lettuce wraps. I'll be making my own mayo as per this SCD recipe:
Ingredients:
1 jumbo egg
2 tablespoons of fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 - 1 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1 - 1 1/4 cups oil
salt and pepper
1 tablespoon of honey
Directions: put lemon juice and mustard and egg in blender. While the machine is running pour the oilvery slowly. It should take at least a minute. As the mayonaise thickens, the sound of the machine will change.*** It is very important to add the oil very slowly in a fine stream.
I hope it works out the way it's meant to. Tomorrow I'm planning to make a baked Tilapia Avocado recipe I found. Yum.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Introduction Diet - Day 5
The night before we started the introductory diet Michael got up to go to the bathroom 7-8 times. The night of June the 12th he got up twice. Only twice.
I know it's only the first week. I know. But the fact that he's already seemingly better really pisses me off. Why isn't someone researching these things more? Why is the medical community so quick to offer drugs and surgery before trying holistic methods?
I find it amazing and disgusting that after only four days on this diet he is feeling better and yet most doctors don't even know about it. I find it awful and sad that the whole time we've been going through this I was met with confusion when discussing "nutrition" as an option.
When Michael was in the hospital in New York I asked his doctor if we shouldn't maybe discuss things with a nutritionist. He looked as though he never thought of anything like that before in his life. "If you'd like to," he said matter-of-factly. They sent a nutritionist in to talk to me. She was a nice lady but her attitude confused me as well. "Basically he should eat anything he can get down, anything he wants right now."
"I understand why you're saying that right now. He's severely underweight. But in general, there has to be more to this. This disease is in the intestines. The intestines are part of a humans digestive system." Even at the beginning, I knew intuitively that something didn't make sense. I said this aloud to more than one doctor. She responded the way most of them did.
"Diet has nothing to do with Crohn's disease." She said.
It almost makes you want to rip your hair out.
I know it's only the first week. I know. But the fact that he's already seemingly better really pisses me off. Why isn't someone researching these things more? Why is the medical community so quick to offer drugs and surgery before trying holistic methods?
I find it amazing and disgusting that after only four days on this diet he is feeling better and yet most doctors don't even know about it. I find it awful and sad that the whole time we've been going through this I was met with confusion when discussing "nutrition" as an option.
When Michael was in the hospital in New York I asked his doctor if we shouldn't maybe discuss things with a nutritionist. He looked as though he never thought of anything like that before in his life. "If you'd like to," he said matter-of-factly. They sent a nutritionist in to talk to me. She was a nice lady but her attitude confused me as well. "Basically he should eat anything he can get down, anything he wants right now."
"I understand why you're saying that right now. He's severely underweight. But in general, there has to be more to this. This disease is in the intestines. The intestines are part of a humans digestive system." Even at the beginning, I knew intuitively that something didn't make sense. I said this aloud to more than one doctor. She responded the way most of them did.
"Diet has nothing to do with Crohn's disease." She said.
It almost makes you want to rip your hair out.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Hope on the Side
He woke up this morning and said, "I don't feel good." He didn't look good. His face was thinner. His eyes, withdrawn.
"Michael, I think we should start today."
We had planned on beginning the SCD on Sunday, his day off. To finish reading "Breaking the Vicious Cycle", make shopping lists, prepare...but it didn't make sense to delay this. He might not be able to have everything in the introduction diet. We weren't 100% ready. But I could at least make him some eggs in the morning, some broiled fish for lunch.
"You're right, I know." He said. He didn't complain but I knew he was a little disappointed. He had been looking forward to finishing off the last of his Sun Drop sodas, maybe a pizza or some other illegal favorite before we threw ourselves into it. But his health wasn't up to the wait.
I think I told him I was sorry. Because I am. I'm sorry there's such a horrendous thing as Crohn's. I'm sorry he has to deal with this flare-up mess. And just when he was doing so well.
I hard boiled some eggs for his breakfast, broiled some tilapia and off he went to work. Then I went shopping after I finished some of my own work and bought the things I needed to make the soup and some beef. When I got home I called him.
"So, how are you? Did you eat your lunch?"
"Yeah. And I threw it up."
"Why baby?!"
"I'm not sure. But don't worry. I went to the diner at lunch and asked them to broil me a plain piece of chicken. I ate that. I'm okay."
Interruption: He just called to ask me if we could afford his working two half days instead of full ones. Of course, I answered. "Because I don't think I can take another full today tomorrow." Ouch! My heart. He can't even last a full day at work anymore.
I hope, I wish, I hope, I wish. Please, let this thing work.
"Michael, I think we should start today."
We had planned on beginning the SCD on Sunday, his day off. To finish reading "Breaking the Vicious Cycle", make shopping lists, prepare...but it didn't make sense to delay this. He might not be able to have everything in the introduction diet. We weren't 100% ready. But I could at least make him some eggs in the morning, some broiled fish for lunch.
"You're right, I know." He said. He didn't complain but I knew he was a little disappointed. He had been looking forward to finishing off the last of his Sun Drop sodas, maybe a pizza or some other illegal favorite before we threw ourselves into it. But his health wasn't up to the wait.
I think I told him I was sorry. Because I am. I'm sorry there's such a horrendous thing as Crohn's. I'm sorry he has to deal with this flare-up mess. And just when he was doing so well.
I hard boiled some eggs for his breakfast, broiled some tilapia and off he went to work. Then I went shopping after I finished some of my own work and bought the things I needed to make the soup and some beef. When I got home I called him.
"So, how are you? Did you eat your lunch?"
"Yeah. And I threw it up."
"Why baby?!"
"I'm not sure. But don't worry. I went to the diner at lunch and asked them to broil me a plain piece of chicken. I ate that. I'm okay."
Interruption: He just called to ask me if we could afford his working two half days instead of full ones. Of course, I answered. "Because I don't think I can take another full today tomorrow." Ouch! My heart. He can't even last a full day at work anymore.
I hope, I wish, I hope, I wish. Please, let this thing work.
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