Water Kefir & Gastritis

Do you know what water kefir is? It's a fizzy, probiotic drink. Very yummy, very beneficial.

I woke up Tuesday morning with my stomach in pain. It got so bad that I went to the Emergency Department that night. They diagnosed me with gastritis, which is an inflammation of the stomach lining. It's extremely painful, more so than transition contractions. I'd happily go through labor several times over to having the pain of the last few days. It seems my gut is not as healthy as I'd hope, and I am going to start working to remedy that. Back to whole foods eating! I've been letting some not so great stuff slip in, and I paid for it. It's hard to stick to something sometimes, when you don't have results, such as pain. I will do my best to remember the pain I've endured the last few days, as I go on and try to eat what I know is good for me and baby. The baby is fine, btw. :)

Back to the post. Water kefir, in effort to supply my guts with more beneficial flora, I'm going to work on getting more probiotics in there. That is something I have been forgetting lately, and it's extremely important as part of a healthy body. I'll also try making some fermented foods like sauerkraut, etc.

This is a great post on making water kefir, even using coconut water to make it! Check it out and let me know if you try it and what you think!

Favorite Products

Azure Standard:
Sorghum Flour
Millet Flour
Coconut Flour
Tapioca Starch (also can be gotten cheaply at Asian markets)
Almond Meal Flour Bob's Red Mill
Coconut Secret Coconut Aminos (replaces Soy Sauce)
Liquid Vanilla Creme Stevia
Guar Gum (instead of Xanthan Gum, for thickening)
Cashews
Sesame Seeds
Almonds
Spry Gum (for chewing)
Organic Apples
BioKleen BacOut (for killing bacteria in cloth diapers)


Amazon  Subscribe & Save:
Coombs' Maple Syrup, Organic, Grade B $17.85/32 oz
Let's Do Organic! Coconut Flour $5.28/lb with S&S option
Let's Do Organic! Shredded Coconut
Let's Do Organic! Flaked Coconut
Bob's Red Mill Flour Mix
Coconut Sugar
Cacao Powder (use like cocoa powder, but has lots of healthy  properties where Hershey's cocoa has none)
Cacao Nibs (use like chocolate chips)

Bountiful Baskets for great fresh produce for only $15

Costco:
Maranatha Roasted Almond Butter
Organic Frozen Green Beans
Organic Frozen Corn
Frozen Stir Fry Mix
Frozen Strawberries
Frozen Berry Mix
Organic Spring Mix Salad
Mushrooms
Organic Baby Carrots 5# bag
Sea Salt
Cinnamon
Chia Seeds (not sure if they're still available)
Organic Eggs (best price for best eggs, if I can't get them from a local farmer)
Organic Quinoa (again, not sure if it's still available)
Marinara Sauce

Trader Joe's:
Brown Rice Pasta
Pasta Sauce aka Marinara
Coconut Milk
Almond Milk

Whole Foods:
Peanut Butter, 365 brand
Jelly
Rice Cakes (not a whole food, but something I'm ok with my kids having when we're out of my gluten free bread.)

I get Almond Milk or Coconut Milk at walmart, target, whole foods, baker's, HyVee, etc. Wherever I am that has it for a reasonable price. Baker's(aka Kroger for some of you) also will have coupons for Almond Breze, and I'll stand there for awhile and get a bunch to use and stock up.

Blogs I like:
The Spunky Coconut
Gluten Free Easily
Intolerant Offspring
Also, check my sidebar on the right for more links!

Those are the ones I use the most. I recommend looking at the links they have to other blogs on their sidebars. Search specific recipes, post here if you need help, etc. I love searching the internet, and as long as I'm feeling well and have time, I'll do my best to help you find what you need.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough? Don't mind if I do!

I was a little leery of this recipe, I mean, it involves chickpeas. But hey, I've eaten weirder things before. Thanks to my friend, J, for the recipe and link!

Chocolate-Covered Katie made this post called "Want to eat a BIG bowl of cookie dough?" 
Well, yeah! As if it's even a question to ponder.

I used honey and I also added chia seeds. I cut up some Dark Chocolate Truffle chocolate bar my naughty friend, N, gave me. Bad N, bad. Do NOT add chia seeds. They gave it a weird texture. Just don't do it. I am planning on adding some coconut flour next time, I think that'll be superty duperty yummy. You could also use Enjoy Life Chocolate chips for an allergen free chocolate choice. (Available at your local health food store or HyVee).

I have a picture, but I don't know where my camera cord is, so you'll just have to click through and be awed by Katie's pictures. Hers are way better anyway. I'm looking forward to perusing her blog for more yummy, healthy recipes!

Best. Pancakes. Ever.

I'm not even joking. They taste like cake. Dude. Super yummy!!

I used coconut oil, because I didn't have ghee. I guess I had yogurt, but I really like how they turned out with coconut oil.
You probably don't need the stevia, if that's the only thing stopping you from making these, don't let it!

Without further ado - The Spunky Coconut Quinoa & Coconut Pancakes.

Picture to come...

Chicken Tortilla Soup

After I took my daughter to Vacation Bible School, the other two and I ran a couple errands, then came home as I tried to clear up the mess I made taking out my cabinet of homsechooling books/supplies to paint Saturday.
While I was doing that, I thought, hmm, I should make supper and soup has been sounding good. I had some chicken broth I'd made after roasting a chicken in the crockpot last week and leftover chicken and carrots, so I threw this together.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

1/2 gallon chicken broth (homemade from free range chickens is best)
leftover chicken and carrots
1 1/2 cups cooked kidney beans (it's important to cook red/kidney beans, as they contain a toxin that has to be cooked out)
1 1/2 cups garbanzo beans
1 can diced green chiles
1 quart diced tomatoes and juice
chopped garlic
optional onions

corn tortillas

Put in crockpot and cook on low all day.
About 15 minutes before serving, thinly cut the tortillas into short strips and put in with soup.

I got the idea for the tomatoes, chiles and tortillas from the $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook, which I highly recommend

Almond Joy Mounds Candies - done healthy!

I thought I had blogged this a long time ago. I took a picture, but apparently, forgot to put it in a post, lol.
So here ya go. As soon as my coconut oil comes in (backordered, darn!), I plan on making some. I should probably get some almonds. I think I will use almond slivers when I make these again.

If you're corn free, make sure you have a corn free Vanilla, I used Flavorganics from Azure Standard. I skipped the almond extract, because I don't have any, and I didn't miss it. Of course, I wouldn't know what I'm missing, since I haven't meade them with it...
I got the recipe from the The Nourishing Gourmet, and she has so many wonderful recipes, do check the site out and see what you can find!

See? Obviously delicious :D

Frittata again

I <3 Frittatas!!
I make one every day. Only 20 minutes to delicious, nutritious breakfast.
You can put whatever you want in them. Lately, I've been putting gluten free toast and crushed garlic in, with salt and pepper. This morning, I added a little bacon grease. Delicious!
The other day, I had an avocado and some tomatoes, so I topped my piece(s) with that, and OH BOY, was it yummy!!