Low Fodmap Spanish Meatloaf via Dr Sue Shepherds book The Low Fodmap Diet Cookbook

I wasnt sure about this recipe, but made it & fed it to the grandies as well. They ate it All, I couldnt believe it! So here's to hidden veges & lean meat.

I used a premium minced beef, as I'm intolerant of fats, but you could use whatever grade you like.

I also tweaked the recipe to suit my body's needs & the kiddies tastes.


I'll upload the pic as soon as I can find it, my Mac is eating pics somehow & I cant find them...weird!
Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 pounds (700g) extra lean ground beef
• 1/2 cup (125ml) tomato paste
• 3/4 cup (90g) dried gluten free soy free bread crumbs
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 tsp garlic or chilli infused oil
• 2 tsp olive oil
• small handful of chopped parsley leaves
• 3/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp ground chilli powder (I left this out)
• 1 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (I left this out)
• 1 1/2 tsp sweet paprika (I used smoked)
• salt & freshly ground black pepper (I will use 1/2-1 tsp salt next time)

1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF (180ºC) Line an 8 1/2" x 4 1/2" (21.5 x 11.5cm) loaf pan with foil & spray with cooking spray.
2. Combine the beef, tomato paste, bread crumbs, eggs, chili infused oil, olive oil, parsley, ginger & smoked paprika, salt & pepper in a large bowl.I added a few leaves of chopped silverbeet & a grated carrot as well.
3. Mix well & then press evenly into the loaf pan. I run wet hands across the top to smooth it.
4. Bake 40-45 mins until cooked through & juices run clear when cut. It also shrinks away from the sides when cooked.
5. Rest for 5 mins before cutting. Serve with garlic mashed potatoes. (I made mashed potatoes with coconut & olive oil to mash)

That Sugar Film & Fructose

Who's been to see That Sugar Film?

I went a few weeks ago, & was astounded at the impact sugar has on our health.
Its all  backed up medically, if you didnt see it.

Its been a journey for me, along with visiting a dietician for ongoing gut issues. I have lost a few kilos, & my system is much happier these days. And oh boy do I notice the sweetness of foods, since cutting down on my sugar!

I actually had to cut down my fat, as I'm sensitive to it, but needed the carbs for energy, while I was catching buses for the last six months. This increase included adding a little more sugar, which I wasnt thrilled about, but had to do. e.g. Buying lower cocoa butter content sugar meant increasing the sugar content...gag!

There is a cute little car parked in my driveway now, so I will need to rethink the carb intake as well I guess. Who wants to walk in the freezing wind & rain that we get in New Zealand in Winter? Not me thats for sure!

Hope you've all been doing well, drop in & share your journey sometime.

No recipes to share lately, as my food is quite simple at the moment. I'm on a Low Fodmap diet, & finding it is great for me. The reintroduction phase begins this week, so its going to be interesting to see how High Fodmap foods affect me.

The thing about being on this diet, as prescribed by a dietician is, the amount of fructose in foods you'd never suspect. Like honey, apricots, dates, & other  'healthy' foods.

If you're going 'natural' like I have been prior to this, watch out for those. They are still interpreted by the brain as sugar, & have the same effect on the body.

Enough for now, go out & do some research. I'll post a list when I have more time.

Losing Weight

This subject has consumed my thoughts for the better part of last year. For the first time in my life, I've had to deal with carrying extra weight! I"m a small person, so I notice if I get too heavy.


Now I get how it can consume your thoughts, diet choices, shopping, feelings...

There is hope! Throughout last year, I started researching this subject, walked more, & faster, cut back on things like dessert, (which I LOVE), bread & baked goods. Now I'm not saying I cut them out completely (mustn't overdo these things), I just cut back so far as to make them treats.

I read blogs & articles from people who know more than me, & there are plenty of those...Dr Libby has an excellent article on weight loss,Read Here as well as some dieticians, nutritionists who I follow & trust. Dr Beth is one of those people. You can search her free articles Here. Also a lovely lady I trained with at university, Marcelle Bolweg is a Very qualified dietician amongst other things. Check out her blog here

Not all though! I had a book on nutrition that I had started reading & found it full of controversial 'facts'.

My journey also includes the processing of foods, added hormones, preservatives, high levels of salt etc.

The pattern I'm seeing is the mighty dollar sign. Eg; if we pump the meat with colour & water, it looks fresh & juicy & people will still buy it...sad face goes here. And yes, supermarkets do this! Not all thankfully.

I've noticed the tomatoes, peas, strawberries, greens I grow, go limp Very quickly in the heat. Whereas, the store bought ones take 3-4 times as long to deteriorate!
That concerns me!

My typical lunch of garden greens, tomato, seeds etc

One of the things that is important to do, is check out your source of information before blindly following them.
There is So much information on the internet & some of it is right. The rest is wrong.

Eat single ingredient foods where you can & lose weight like me. I"ve lost 4 kg so far, sleeping better, drinking more water, exercising & remaining as stress free as possible. My hormones are balanced more in the mature years too. The bottom line is losing weight isnt all about eating, its about a combination of factors.

Here's to being healthier this year!

Getting Fresh

Happy New Year everyone! Today is the day we traditionally take down the Christmas tree. This last year has been full of surprises! Some good, some not my favourites. Here's to a New Year, full of good things, good relationships, new beginnings & new recipes of course.
If you overly partook of the good foods of Christmas, like I did, now's the time to jump back on that wagon & eat single ingredient foods.

 

I went to the doctor yesterday & was told my last cholesterol test came back great! That's a testimony to my eating choices over the last year! The only things I buy processed are coconut milk/cream, organic tomatoes in cans, hulled seeds, cocoa, dried beans or canned, tea bags, coconut oil, olive oil, tamari, and shampoo.
This year I plan to change over to cacao & buy more organic brands of those things.
Being financially challenged, that's difficult to achieve each week, but if I buy one product each week, I can do it...and so can you :0)

Here's to better food choices! Let's Show the traditional medical profession & other eaters the way to better health!

My daily breakfast all year. Wholegrain soaked cooked oats, nuts, seeds &

 fruit

 


Summer has well & truly arrived in New Zealand, yay!
Christmas has been, the holidays are upon us. Sitting in the sun listening to cicadas sing, jet skis on the water & children playing. Life is good! How are things with you right now?

Have a chocolate on me

Is anyone else having weird crazy weather? A beautiful blue sky very hot day today! And about time I have to say!



So what about this Summer we're not having...

This is the view from my flat at 3pm...sea fog & drizzly rain.
On the upside, its been a great day or few days for getting all the Christmas sewing & baking done. How are you doing with your prep?


Sorry about the lack of warning for changing the blog. Its been on my mind for sometime, to modernise it the way other blogs that appeal to me are. And the clean fresh feel of white, who can go past it!

Do you like it?

Makes the food pics pop, dont you think?

My fave easy dessert, a baked apple, stuffed with dates, coconut sugar & currants

Flour Substitutions

Hi again, I found this today. Its a keeper!

http://www.superhealthykids.com/blog-posts/the-essential-food-allergy-substitution-guide.php

More User Friendly?

Hi there, how frustrating it can be when you want to cook something from someones blog, & the font is too small to follow easily. 
I've just increased the size so its easier for you.

Let me know how that works for you please?

Are you eating your colours?

And please remember to go like the Facebook page, thanks.

Im getting pickled

Its that time again, time to make some more delicious fermented cabbage...aka sauerkraut.

I made a small jar expecting not to like it. Just the thought of soggy salty cabbage is enough to make me gag! But I persevered thinking about the free probiotics I would get with it. Thats always a win!

Boy was I wrong! The cabbage, carrot & ginger I made up was only slightly salty...I used the right amount of salt this time, & Crunchy! So I've just made a new batch, dare I say a huge batch! So easy to make too!

So you want to know how to make it? Ok here's the recipe:

Ingredients:

• Enough cabbage, carrot, fresh ginger or any other veges you like, to fit into your jar, leaving enough room for liquid to cover it.
• Water
• 1 Tbs salt

Instructions:

1. Cut up the cabbage, carrot & ginger as rough or finely as you like
2. Put them in a bowl & bash them to release the juices
3. Layer them into the jar, sprinkling a little salt on each layer.
4. Fill the jar with water & use some kind of weight to hold the vegetables down under the water.
5. Leave on the kitchen bench or counter for 24-48 hours until the liquid starts to taste fizzy. You will see bubbles coming up & popping.
6. If you like the taste, push the veges back down, close the lid & put in the fridge. Job done!
7. Drink 1 Tbs of the liquid before meals for the probiotics & eat the vegetables with meals or by itself. I'm hooked! Such a great way to use the other half of the cabbage before it spoils too!

It keeps for months by the way, win! Not that it'll last that long!