Healthy Eats

   
 I've mentioned several times recently that I have been on an elimination diet.It has taught me a lot about how much food can affect our health. Not only does it affect our digestion but so many other things including inflammation, congestion and even our moods. I know that I feel like a different person since I started and I hope I find the trigger food soon. I have added most things back and still feel pretty good. Not as good as when I was being completely strict but still much better. Some of the things I haven't added back are dairy, yeast and gluten. Most people say they couldn't imagine a life without dairy or gluten but I am quite surprised to find it barely bothers me. In fact when I think about eating bread or cheese I only feel fear that all the pain will come back. Mainly because the pain I was feeling on a daily basis had restricted me to doing less and less. Stairs were a nightmare of shooting pain in my knees and fear that I would fall down them if my knees gave out. Arthritis raged all the time. Doing much work with my hands would cause me days of pain afterwards. Now my arthritis pain is almost completely gone and the same with my knees. My congestion has cleared up. My headaches are gone and my stomach is calm.

     I have to admit that I still have cravings though. Like this week when we went to the little organic store and bought a big bag full of heirloom tomatoes and I made a big batch of my salsa. Chips are required.
          I have to admit the salsa was so good I did eat some with no chips! But...I still wanted them, so I went on a search for a chip I could make. I finally found one that looked like what I wanted at the Fed and Fit blog. These came together quick and easy. Instead of making single round chips I simply rolled the dough out on a pan with parchment paper and cut it into squares. These are PERFECT for salsa.



      So if you too are on a quest for healthy eating but still need a decent chip I recommend this recipe. The only difference I might change is the added salt at the end. I found they really didn't need it.

      And now I am back to munching on chips and salsa...hope you all are having a great week.

                                           

3ff25b9576a9de27841a8cdb0bf3c0271382f01c377e4fc23f

Cold feet, warm belly ^_^

Today is another gloomy day, one that makes me want to curl up on the couch with my cashmere blanket and a hot cup of cocoa. One thing I really love at Christmas time is a good cup of hot peppermint cocoa. Well, I have to admit I dont think there are too many French people that drink peppermint cocoa. In fact I think there are a LOT of things we Americans eat that they think a little odd. D thinks I go nuts with cinnamon and I dont even think I use it that much. Anyway...back to the hot chocolate. I have been yearning for a cup for awhile now. Do they sell peppermint hot cocoa here? Hell no! Do they sell peppermint extract here? Not to my knowledge. BUT...I found a solution. They do sell a few different large size dark chocolate and mint candy bars ^___^


Problem solved. I had my cocoa. Now if I could just find a few nice, big cocoa mugs. It feels strange drinking cocoa out of a glass!


Last night I found the time to sit down and do some stitching. I finished the little black and white boot for my friend. I have to admit I still dont like it much. It's ok though. I think she will like it and that's what matters. After I finished it I found myself again wanting to make a fairy dress. This might be a future project if it keeps poking at my brain. I also thought these would make cute pincushions if I made them a little larger. The ones I have made so far are just barely over 2".


I also brought out my paisley project again and did a little more work on it. (very little) I find my hands are still quite sore and not wanting to hold this piece for some reason. I may leave it set again and work on my lil sis's christmas present. For some reason I keep putting off that project even though I thought it would be such a perfect gift for her. I usually enjoy working in stained glass paints. I think it might be the weather holding me up. Hard to get excited about stained glass when the sun isnt shining.

Grumpy bunny longs for sunny beaches....

This is my favorite photo I have ever taken. Its old, bent and worn but still chereished. I have taken many more photos that I'm sure other people would say were much better than this one. I love the expression in this one though. The carefree spirit and triumphant feeling it speaks to me. Ah to be so young and free again eh?


I am a bit grumpy today. Woke up with a scratchy throat and a sniffly nose. I have been working non-stop now for three days on my MIL's rug and last night I finally finished it! I wish I could say I woke up this morning rarinng to get to work on something else but truthfully I just wanted to crawl back under the covers and stay there.


I did make some nice homemade pita bread and hummus and I'm afraid that drained me of what little energy I had. I am snuggling down on the couch to moan and groan my afternoon away. Maybe after a bit of a rest I may get inspired again. I hope you all are feeling better than I. Take care....

down Moirax way....

I am off for a visit this weekend so all activities are on hold. I am packing my french books and papers to study for my test while I am there (if I can possibly find time to squeeze that in) Also my latest purse and a few threads to work on some embroidery. I will be surprised if either see the light of day while I am there though. I love D's Family and look forward to our visits. I am truly blessed. Going from a meek and scared creature on my first step onto this land to a loved and at peace woman who has found a home.
And with my departure I leave you this. White Sesame Candy....YUM!!!!

Les Vacances

Sorry I have been a bit slack this week with posts. I have a week off from class and my MIL came in this weekend for a visit. As always we had a wonderful visit. We also took a trip up to Bordeaux-Lac. Now when I first came to France I thought they had no big stores. Everywhere I went there were tiny little shops dedicated to some of the most interesting merchandise. Shoelace shops...yes we have them and corset stores too. *hehe* Well yes, France does have big stores, they just hide them. They are usually built on the outskirts of the big towns and here it is a nice long drive. I live in the southwest suburb of Bordeaux called Talance. The stores are located in the far North suburb...Bordeaux-Lac. Since we dont own a car, D and I have never made a trip there. Upon arriving the first thing I saw was Ikea. Yes, we have an Ikea...not only that, We have a Toys R Us! Our destination was a little different though. We were going to Eurasie. A huge asian grocery store! Now I have to admit, it wasnt Uwajimaya's, but it was a sight for these poor eyes. I have been making do with the little asian lady's grocery store a bus ride from our house, who's store is as big as a closet. (here in the regular grocery stores you are lucky to find much beyond soy sauce, their foreign sections leave much to be desired) Eurasie was far from that, I was greeted with aisle after aisle of rice flour, black beans, palm sugar, etc. We loaded up on many sauces and various other sundries that I have needed to complete many a recipe. I think we will be eating Asian a lot this month *grin*
After leaving Eurasie we went in search of another place I have been wanting to visit. Alice. One thing I have been unable to find here is a lot of the things I need to complete my work. I had hoped this store would carry some of my missing items but unfortunately it didnt. It was still a great store and had many fun things in it. Some nice craft papers, beads, paints, even some DMC's (not the colors I needed though) So I left with only this...


but I was wanting to try my hand at this for awhile. I would like to make myself some buttons. Or possibly some beads. I spent yesterday watching a few tutorials on milliflori bead making with Fimo and it looks quite fun. I must aquire a razor knife first I think.
Also yesterday was my 1 year wedding anniversary. D had to work all day on a project for class but we were invited to go see a friend mix last night so he wrapped up early. It's the first time I've been out for quite awhile and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Good music and friends is a great combination! I was so happy I didnt have class this morning though!
I have also been working on completing the little purse I started. I dyed a piece of denim with the dark pink I have, and I completed the layer the will be under the front flap of the purse. It has several pockets fro credit cards and a nice clear pocket to hold an ID. I will try to finish this in the next day or so and show you all a pic. I had planned this one for a gift to a friend but I think it will be going on etsy instead. I have decided tis a little too pink for her. I think I have an idea of one I will mkae for her. Possibly a smaller coin purse or somesuch. Anyway...I am off to do more dying, sewing and such. Two more days of vacation so I must take advantage!

Of Winter Blues and Homesickness

It was my birthday this week, D was working HARD on finishing his project for Uni. It was due the day after my birthday...so he was hard at work till late the day before my birthday and on my birthday. I really let myself have a big pity party. My best friends ever both have birthdays right around mine. All I could think about was how we would be whooping it up big time in Seattle if I was there. I spent the day alone. No one back home remembered my birthday but one person. No emails. No phone calls. It was the worst birthday I've had in a LONG time. It made me realize something. I have no friends here. Not one. No one to talk to when D is busy. No one to go have coffee with...or a drink. Hell, I can't even speak french well enough to go by myself and order one. I REALLY need to get better at my French. Ah well, this is something I'm sure I'll get over in time.
In the meantime, I made myself another stain glass to go with the other one. I like it and so does D. He says I need to make a third now LOL!



I also made this awesome treat from some of the food blogs I read They all try out these recipes from Dorie Greenspan and this one looked too good to pass up. It was super rich and with a deep chocolate taste. I made mine with a dark chocolate orange bar and added a bit of orange extract to the batter. Yummi!



So I am working hard to get out of my slump. D hates to see me this way and really there isn't much he can do about it. I have been needing a coat, I have a heavy wool sweater that I wore this winter and a nice black wool cape, but nothing that is medium weight that I can just throw on to go to the store or a walk. I have a nice chunk of black fleece that I had bought to make D a coat with. His Mom gave him a nice one for Christmas though so I think I will make myself a coat this week. That will give me something to do to take my mind off all this dreary stuff.

Hope you are all well ^_^

Spring Fever

I'm seriously developing a bad case of Spring Fever! It was so nice in February that I expected it to just continue to keep getting nicer. Instead it's been cold, wet and blustery. I should have known better. It is March. Well I am finally starting to recouperate from my illness and trying to get back in the swing of things. I found this wonderful recipe for Tarte Bordaloue.
I first made it according to directions and it was DIVINE. So divine it disappeared. So I decided to make another but didnt have anymore pears. So I made one with strawberries and kiwis. D said it was just a good.
I also made a wonderful Carrot Cake

Carrot Cake

Wonderfully moist scrumptious carrot cake adapted from Tammy Elliots recipe

Recipe Details

Prep Time:	30 min
Cook Time:	1 hour
Servings:	18

Ingredients

• *4 eggs
  
• * 3/4 cups vegetable oil
• * 1/2 cup applesauce
• * 1 cup white sugar
• * 1 cup brown sugar
• * 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• * 1 8 oz can crushed pineapple drained
• * 2 cups all-purpose flour
• * 2 teaspoons baking soda
• * 2 teaspoons baking powder
• * 1/2 teaspoon salt
• * 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• * 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• * 3 cups grated carrots
• * 1 cup chopped pecans
• *
• * 1/2 cup butter, softened
• * 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• * 3 cups confectioners' sugar
• * 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• * 1 cup chopped pecans

Directions

1. 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan.
2. 2. In a large bowl, beat together eggs, oil, applesauce, white sugar, brown sugar, pineapple and vanilla. Mix in flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon. Stir in carrots. Fold in pecans. Pour into prepared pan.
3. 3. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.
4. 4. To Make Frosting: In a medium bowl, combine butter, cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Stir in chopped pecans. Frost the cooled cake.

All the guys love this one. They seemed quite surprised when I told them it had carrots in it. I guess they dont make carrot cake here in France, but then you should have seen D's face the first time I offered him a piece of cheesecake. He didnt know what to think of it. Now I have to make them often :)

*^_^* Have a great day everyone!

Adventures in food land

I have been quite ill these last two weeks. I was diagnosed with GERD and have had MANY terrible nights waking up feeling as if I was having a heart attack. The attacks are becoming more infrequent as the medicine takes affect and I'm finally starting to feel like myself again. I have still been quite busy in the kitchen, making lots of goodies for my honey.
I still face the weekly frustration of not finding what I need for a certain dish at the supermarket. I really am constantly surprised at what isnt available here. I'm not even sure why many of the things arent available.
Like what is the problem with finding baking soda and cream of tartar? I know they are here (I finally got some baking soda) but it's like people over here dont use them. Why not? Do they just not bake a lot of cookies and such as we do in the US?
And chocolate chips...only ones you can find are those little bitty ones in a package half the size of the one Im used to (if you are lucky) ...and the price!?! Coconut...shredded coconut?..nope they have something like, I dunno, grains? Its great, I like it, but why dont they have shredded coconut? Marinated Artichoke hearts...I guess that was really too much to ask wasn't it?
Black beans? It's not happening. Period. (Update: I FOUND THEM...in a weird little african hair salon/grocery store in Agen. We went there to meet D's mother and sister who was getting braids in her hair...and there on the shelf...A BIG BAG OF BLACK BEANS YAYAYAY!)
Brown sugar? well I found something thats sorta dirty white, that technically could maybe be called brown sugar, but its not.
A decent salsa? NO way. The only salsa they have here is the kind that you sometimes in the states desperately buy at that all night mini mart on the corner...that never really tastes as good as the stuff you normally buy. I CRAVE southwestern salsa from Safeway. CRAVE IT!
Cilantro? They have no idea what it is.
I find mself cringing now when I want to try out a new recipe that has an ingredient that I havent yet had to search for. Especially since D still almost always goes with me to the grocery store. I can just imagine how much patience he has to exert when I go one more time on that unending quest for ANOTHER elusive ingredient. Most of the time he jumps ahead of me. "They wont have it" he says. "I'm sure of it!" :(
So some of my 'much desired to try' recipes sit and linger on the shelf without much hope of ever getting tried out, amd that chicken chimichunga recipe sounds SOOOO good! I have become the queen of making up things to replace ingredients. A few weeks ago I spent the day trying to recreate chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. Nevermind that there is no way to GET chipotle peppers here. I used some dried peppers that D's mom had given me and toiled away to make the stuff...I guess it was ok. but I really wonder what those fish tacos would have tasted like if I had really used Chipotle mayonaise. LOL!
So the next time you pick up a brick of cheddar cheese at the grocery store...or a container of sour cream....Italian bread crumbs....herb and garlic feta...stewed tomatoes with italian seasoning..liptons onion soup mix...reeses peanut butter cups...mint extract...hot wing sauce...think of me.