Wednesday, May 29, 2013

SCD Eggplant "Non-Parmesan!" GF, V, SCD & Paleo w/ BED option!

Hey Everyone!

Well it's finally starting to feel like summer! Woo! Bring on the heat!



As a gal on the Specific Carb Diet, pasta is something that I will always long for. I find myself craving pesto, or a good tomato sauce. Well friends, this dish took me there! It HIT THE SPOT!!



With zucchini noodles, you get that slupry texture, carb-y bulk, and aesthetic appearance of noodles! It's a ten in my book!

So what did I make, exactly? SCD Eggplant "Non-Parmesan!"



It's gluten free, SCD, Paleo and Vegan w/ a BED option!



Here's what you need: (serves 1)

1/2 red pepper (SCD use 1 roasted red pepper)
1 medium carrot
1/4 onion
1 garlic clove
1/2 cup grape tomatoes - about 15 (or 2 roma tomatoes) (BED omit - use whole red pepper instead)
splash of white wine (about 3 Tbsp) (BED sub veg stock)
1/4 tsp dried oregano
1/8 tsp dried basil
salt and pepper

3 slices eggplant, 1/4 inch thick
1/2 - 3/4 cup almond flour
salt and pepper and pinch oregano
1 egg white, beaten (Vegan option: plain almond milk)

1 zucchini, "noodlized"

4 olives, sliced
fresh basil, chopped

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Slice 1/4 inch rounds of your eggplant. Place your egg white, or almond milk, in a bowl. Place almond flour and seasoning in another bowl. Dip your eggplant slice in the egg white, and then coat it in the almond flour. Place on a tin-foil-lined, olive-oil-sprayed baking sheet. Spritz the slices with olive oil and then bake for 30 minutes, flipping once, halfway through.

When you flip the eggplant, add your "noodlized" zucchini to the tray, and bake it for the final 15 minutes, stirring once, halfway through.



Meanwhile, saute your carrots and onion in 1 tsp EVOO, salt, pepper, and spices. Let it soften for about 4 minutes. Then, add your peppers. Let those soften for about 3 minutes. Then, add your garlic and tomatoes. Let those cook for about 3 minutes. Then, deglaze with the white wine. Let it cook for about 2 minutes. Transfer to your food processor, and blitz until smooth.

Toss your "zoodles" with the sauce, top with the eggplant rounds, and garnish with the black olives.



Wow. Where to begin on this one?! First of all, this sauce was TERRIFIC. It's so simple, but it's just bursting flavor! It's made with all fresh, whole, ingredients. It literally tastes like a stroll through the garden! And the olives give it a wonderfully salty punch. Just fabulous.



And the "zoodles" are slurpy and chewy! And by baking them briefly, they become pliable and warm. It's definitely not the stereotypical "raw" meal. I've been to raw restaurants, and I'm always disappointed because the meal's always cold!! I always think, "this would taste so good if they just nuked it for about 30 seconds!" haha...I know that defeats the "raw" purpose, but I'm old fashioned: I like a warm plate of spaghetti.



And the eggplant....SO GOOD!! The almond coating gives it this nutty richness. The outside is crisp, and then you get to the chewy, and earthy eggplant center. I may have re-fallen in love with eggplant again:)



What a delightful meal. I hope you all are having a wonderful week!

Need a spiralizer or food processor? Here are the ones I use and love!

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Memorial Day Round Up!

Hey Happy Tummies!

I hope everyone is geared up for a fabulous long weekend! I know I am!! :)

I love Memorial Day. It's the official "kick off" of summer! Barbecues, sundresses, and swimming pools:) And in this case, The Bachelorette!!! (It starts on Monday!!!)
Haha...I'm a fan, and I'm not ashamed!

It's hard to believe how life has changed since last Memorial Day. Last year, I was immersed in an Ulcerative Colitis flare, barely able to get off the couch.

Yep. We were at our lake home in Wisconsin. Forty-five degrees. And we would bundle up in snowsuits to go out on the boat. No joke!



Now, thanks to the Specific Carb Diet, I'm back on my feet in NYC pursuing my dreams!

So I thought I'd "round up" some Cookout Recipes!

They are ALL gluten free. The majority are Vegan. SCD = Specific Carb Diet friendly. BED = Body
Ecology Diet friendly.

Fireworks Slaw! GF, V, SCD, BED!



Mexican Fiesta Salad! GF, V, BED!



Portobello Burgers! GF, V!



Vegan Pesto Potato Salad! GF, V, BED!



Coconut Cashew Sugar Free Vegan Ice Cream! (GF, V, BED & SCD (Sub honey!)



Enjoy your long weekend!! :D

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Italian Dinner Party!

I LOVE having a dinner party.

There's something about cooking a meal for someone that is just so much fun.

I love planning a menu and making the evening special for people I care about.

And that's just what I did on Sunday.



But wait....how did a GF Vegan gal on the Specific Carb Diet host a dinner party for people without dietary restrictions?

The answer? WITH EASE!

I'm not even joking! It was incredibly easy! And FUN!!

So what was on the menu? ITALIAN, that's what! Everyone loves Italian food, and it's super simple to modify for various diets.

I made............

Antipasti Platter



Pesto w/ Whole Wheat Linguini (and zucchini noodles for me)



Apple Pie Bites



and of course, White Wine!

For the Antipasti Platter, I had:

Roasted Red Peppers
Roasted Eggplant
Roasted Zucchini
Roasted Tomatoes
Mixed Olives
Dried Figs
Monterrey Jack Cheese cubes (or soy cheese)

To roast the veggies, I cut up my veggies into 1 inch bites, and placed them on a tin-foil-lined, olive-oil sprayed baking sheet. I tossed them with a touch of olive oil, and sprinkled them with salt, pepper, and 1 tsp oregano. I baked for about 30 minutes at 375, flipping once half-way through. (I added the tomatoes at the 15 minute mark). I then drizzled the plate with a good organic balsamic vinegar, and sprinkled everything with a touch of sea salt.

For dinner, I made whole wheat spaghetti, and zucchini noodles with my Pesto! It's GF, Vegan, SCD, BED, and Paleo! It uses lemon juice and extra pine nuts instead of parmesan cheese! You can find the recipe HERE. (Just a note on the recipe...I used more like 2-3 Tbsp of olive oil this time, not 1 tsp like in the recipe).



This was a great main dish because it could be tailored to everyone's needs. I just split up the pesto between the "zoodles" and the spaghetti, and tossed them accordingly!



Finally, for dessert, I made my APPLE PIE BITES! They're GF, V, SCD, and Paleo! And they're TERRIFIC! We gobbled them up:) You can find that recipe HERE.

This meal was fabulous (if I do say so myself:)) Everyone, regardless of diet, enjoyed their meal. Pesto is one of those things that is SO easy to make, and tastes 100x better than store-bought. Nothing beats fresh basil!



And the antipasti platter was just stunning. I had it ready when they walked in the door, and kept it on the table as our "side dish" to go with the pasta!

A repeat meal for sure!

Missing this little girl tonight:)


So I've had some questions about my e-cookbook! When you download the free Bakespace iPad app, you can get The Best of GlutenFreeHappyTummy without having to create a profile on Bakespace. Again, it's less than a cuppa coffee...only $3.99!

Want to know how to make zucchini noodles? I used a SPIRALIZER!! It's a life-changing gadget for a GF/Vegan/SCD gal! Here's the one I use and love:

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Blueberry Muffin Bites! GF, V, SCD, Paleo!

Hey Happy Tummies!

Thanks everyone for sharing in my excitement about my new E-COOKBOOK!! :) Just a friendly reminder.... The Best of GlutenFreeHappyTummy for only $2.99!

OK...Shameless Plug is finished! Time to celebrate this milestone....with COOKIES!!



Yep! Blueberry Muffin Bites!!



These little nuggets are just faaabulous! They're "poppable" little treats that are actually GOOD FOR YOU!



They're Gluten Free, Vegan, Specific Carb Diet friendly, Raw and Paleo!



Here's what you need: (Makes 12 cookies)

1/8 cup almonds
1/2 cup cashews
1/4 cup reserved almonds, halved
1/4 cup dried blueberries
4 dates
1 "dropper-full" of alcohol free vanilla stevia
5 drops alcohol free lemon stevia

Couldn't be simpler: Throw everything except the reserved 1/4 cup almond halves into the food processor. Process for about 2 minutes, until it starts to clump together. You may need to scrape the sides a couple times. Then, carefully take the blade out, and mix in your almond halves. Form into 1 Tbsp balls. Chill for at least 30 minutes. Makes 12 balls.

Where to begin! These little sweet treats are outrageously good! They're chewy and sticky, slightly crunchy, and 100% fantastic!



The dried blueberries are sweet with a hint of tang that is complimented beautifully by the intensely sweet dates! And the vanilla makes them seriously taste like blueberry muffins! You can allllllmost taste the streusel topping! haha They are SO GOOD!!



And they're healthy too!! They're full of fiber and protein to keep you full! Dates are packed with antioxidants, Vitamin A, and Iron, Potassium and Calcium. The nuts are full of Vitamin E, Manganese, Zinc, and Copper! They're practically a health food! ;)



Just try not to eat them all in one sitting! ;)

Need a food processor? Here's the one I use and love!

This recipe is featured on Wellness Weekend and Healthy Vegan Friday!

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Big Announcement!! -- COOKBOOK!!

Time for my big announcement!

Drumroll Please...............

.........................................


I made a COOKBOOK!!


THE BEST OF GLUTENFREEHAPPYTUMMY!



Yes Ma'am! It's an e-book Cookbook that is available to download through BakeSpace for iPad (they have a free app) or for your computer! 

You can find it HERE for only $3.99!

It's a collection of fan favorites complete with photos and videos! 

So there you have it! I hope you check it out! :)

I've got another exciting recipe to share coming up later this week! PS...it's DESSERT! :D

Monday, May 13, 2013

Florida Vacation!


Hey Happy Tummies!

What an amazing weekend! I hope you all had a beautiful spring weekend! I know I did! I spent a long weekend with my mom and two sisters-in-law in Florida!!



Yep, we went on a girl's "babymoon!" My sister-in-law is expecting a little girl in July, and so we had one last "hurrah" trip just us girls to celebrate her! 

I am seriously so lucky. I have 2 of the best sisters-in-law ever. They're 2 of my best friends...Like the sisters I always wanted:)

We had such a fun trip relaxing on the beach, riding around the island in golf carts, and....having one of the best GF dinner experiences EVER!



We ate at this gorgeous hotel one night, and when we made reservations, THEY asked if there were any food allergies! I didn't even have to bring it up! So we were able to tell the chef about both my sister-in-law's and my allergies. How accommodating!


SO, when we got there the next night, the first thing they said to us was that they remembered our food allergies and that the chef would be able to modify any item on the menu for us!

If that wasn't amazing enough, they had special GF rolls waiting and ready for us that came out warm with the regular bread basket!



They also served a veggie crudites plate with the bread! How incredible!



SO, what did I order? I started with a mixed greens salad with balsamic vinaigrette...


and a pan seared grouper filet with lump crab and sauteed veggies with a coconut cream sauce! Talk about amazing! 



And for dessert, I had a bowl of fresh berries!



Some of the other dishes were a wedge salad,



steak with mashed potatoes and asparagus; 



and my other sister-in-law had seared scallops with a pea risotto. 



They all shared a chocolate torte for dessert.



It was truly a meal that I will remember for a longggg time. 

I felt so cared for :) haha 

The other night we went out to dinner, I had broiled grouper over greens. Basic yet delicious. 



Now, when you're on a special diet like the Specific Carb Diet, going to a restaurant can be a daunting and even scary idea. But Happy Tummies, here are some tips for going out to eat. It can be done!! You CAN still have a social life! You just need to take control

  • BEFRIEND YOUR SERVER — they are your link to the kitchen — if they are on your side, your meal will be safe and done correctly.
  • CALL AHEAD IF YOU CAN — call ahead and let them know about your dietary restrictions. If the chef knows ahead of time, they will have time to think about alternative dishes for you!
  • COMMUNICATE — you are your own advocate — I know it can be embarrassing, and you can feel like you’re being a bother. But at the end of the day, you’ve got to stick up for your delicate tummy. Be clear, polite, and appreciative.
  • LOOK FOR FOODS YOU CAN EAT— skim all the options on the menu — is there a protein you can eat? A side dish on another entrée that is legal? Do you notice that they have asparagus in their salad, or roasted potatoes with the steak? Ask your server to “pick and choose” what’s on your plate from what they offer on the menu.
  • SHOW APPRECIATION — not only should you thank your server, and let them know you will be back, but also, tip your server well! They went above and beyond to make your dining experience safe and healthy — show ‘em some love!
What I usually do is say, "I have some severe food allergies. Can I just tell you what I want?" And then I'll say, "Can I please have a piece of plain broiled fish and vegetables with olive oil?" The server usually is appreciative that they don't have to figure out what/how to cook you something. If you're confident about it, they will be too! :)

OK, time to go unpack from an incredible trip! I hope your Monday's off to a great start!

Big announcement coming up this week!

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Mother's Day Eats!

Hey Happy Tummies!


And an extra special welcome to all the mothers!!





Can you believe that Sunday is Mother's Day?!


My health has come a long way since last Mother's Day...it's hard to believe that was only one year ago!




It's no secret...I love my mom tremendously. She's my best friend, role model, and partner in silliness:)...She's known for pulling extravagant pranks--think life size cutouts and photoshop.




So I'd like to dedicate this post to her. Over the past year, we've been through some pretty drastic ups and downs with my ulcerative colitis. And she was right by my side the entire time. It's funny, but a silver lining of my illness was that I got to spend some precious time at home with my parents. Granted, I didn't always see the time as precious, between the various gag-reflex-inducing medicines, inflammation-caused night sweats and 104 degree fevers, debilitating swollen joints and knobs the size of grapefruits on my legs from erythema nodosom, and other painful UC episodes, my mom was with me through it all. And did I mention that she moved out to NYC with me for a month in the very beginning to help me finish the run of my show while in the throws of a flare? Yep, that's my mom.  A rockstar. She is the most loving, genuine, and others-centered person I've ever met, and I am so blessed to have her in my life. 



And now she's my biggest cheerleader as I'm back in NYC chasing my dreams. So from the bottom of my heart, mom, thank you. I love you so much.

So I thought I'd round up some of my favorite 'mom inspired' dishes and desserts for you to use to spoil your mom this weekend.

Sweet Carrot Pie! (GF, V, SCD, BED & Paleo) Don't knock it 'til you try it!





GF Chocolate Chip Banana Bread!




Lasagna Rollups! (w/ or w/o goat cheese) GF, V, Maker's Diet


Nectarine Pancakes w/ Blackberry Syrup! (GF, SCD)



City Lights Salad! GF, V, SCD, BED!



Happy Mother's Day! I'm off to go spend some quality time with my mom and my 2 sisters-in-law in Florida!

Big news coming up!!