protein type

A few mornings ago I took a nutritional typing test on Mercola's website. I was very surprised to find that I am a "protein type" according to his test results. How can I be protein? I love veggies, I love salads and fruit. I don't like the texture of red meat in my mouth. How  am I going to shift my world back over to meat after being a raw vegan and then vegan for years?

I have a lot of experience with a low carb diet, and ate meat for years and years with little plant foods. I was following Dr Bernstein's Diabetes Solution diet and used that to control my blood sugars very well.

After completing my training at Bauman College of Nutrition I went vegan and felt SO good about my decision to do so. I enjoyed eating huge volumes of veggies and feeling "nourished" by them. I still love the philosophy behind eating a vegan diet, however, change is part of life and I will embrace eating some more animal protein if that helps my overall health.

After all, health is my goal. I want to live to be old.

So, this blog post will highlight a salmon dish I like. It's a simple poached/pan fried salmon and egg dish.

I do enjoy salmon and eggs, and if it's good for my body? all the better.

Salmon and Eggs

Ingredients

• Salmon, poached in advance
• Eggs
• butter
• Salt
• Pepper

Directions

• Cook salmon the night before .
• I poached mine in broth for a few minutes until the liquid cooked off ( about 1 inch) and then finished it by adding organic butter to the pan and frying it.
• Scramble 2 eggs on medium heat with butter.
• Add crumbled salmon to eggs and mix in.
• Plate and season with salt and pepper to taste

     ***top with creme fraiche and chives if you want to get fancy

Preparation Time: 5 minutes

vegas

vegas is a dream. it could be a bad dream, or a good one depending on your mood or perspective.

if it's a bad dream you see the dry desert, the lack of fresh produce at the grocery store- Von's, and you notice the 50 something addict out in front grappling with the demons plaguing her and keeping her from feeling loved.

if it's a good dream you see the padded pool chairs made up for you with pleasure with extra soft towels, evian spritzes and bamboo skewered frozen pineapple balls passed out on the hour.

is it a place for vegans? absolutely. anything is possible here with a good attitude and the willingness to walk miles in covered and windowless shopping strips that connect the casinos along the strip.

what's the strip?

some may never know anymore. it used to be the way to get from casino to casino but now!

now they are all connected in air conditioned passages lined with aquamassages and oxygen bars. I hear the massages are truly something.

so what's a veggie girl to do with a place that has restaurants like craftsteak and emeril's at your doorstep?
so far I order sides of veggies, hit the veggies at the buffet ( sometimes soaked in butter, sometimes not...) and order the roasted veggie sandwich at the Hard Rock Cafe. Marinated portobello, red bell pepper, zucchini and onion. Your basic veggie stack-up but not so bad.

in case you are wondering about the results of my celiac test- I'm negative. not a surprise considering I don't eat gluten anyway. I am planning on testing myself out by doing a self-check after eating oats, or a wheat based item. do I have a tummy ache? did I have a "loose" movement later?  that's a better test for me.

back in a few days and then I'm gonna get that kitchen humming!

till then,

when I'm not cooking or eating..

When I am not cooking, assembling or writing about it, I make art.

I made these  recently. They are inspired by a woman named Lucille. She lives in France. We have the same birthday. She paints her recipes, smells she loves, and her favorite foods.

I sell the prints on etsy. 

bye bye gluten?

I am waiting to hear back from the lab to see if I have Celiac's. It will by my third autoimmune disease thus far behind type 1 diabetes and Hashimoto's (thyroid). 

Celiac involves the inflammation of the upper intestine. Eating a gluten free diet dramatically improves this.

Considering this new possible lifelong requirement of being gluten-free I am welcoming more cooked food into my diet.  I have been eating raw vegan for a long time, and I am welcoming the idea of some roasted and steamed veggies again.

This recipe is for (gasp) something candy-ish. But it is delicious. And gluten free.

 Caramel Corn

 

 Ingredients:

3-4 quarts popped corn

1 c brown sugar

1/2 c vegan margarine

1/4 c agave or corn syrup

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking soda

1 brown paper grocery bag 

I made my first batch by halving the recipe and using a paper lunch sack. I wouldn't recommend this because the thickness of the grocery bag is much more absorbent. I was left with a runny mess in my microwave.

 

Combine sugar, margarine,corn syrup and salt in a glass bowl. Bring to a boil (about 1-2 minutes in microwave) and then cook an additional 2 minutes more. The longer boiling time will ensure a crunchy topping later.

Remove bowl and stir in baking soda.

Put popped corn in grocery bag and pour mixture on top. Close bag tightly and shake to evenly coat the popcorn with the caramel. Microwave the bag for 1 minute. Shake again and microwave one more time for 1 minute. 

Pour onto a cookie sheet and let the caramel corn dry and harden. If there is any left over store it in an air tight container. However, you may want to eat the entire batch standing over it in your kitchen.