Cake. Yes, it is possible to be on AIP and eat your cake too.
Being a lover of baking cakes, making the decision to try the Autoimmune Protocol left me feeling deprived and depressed. Was I ever going to eat cake again? Or more to the point, was I ever going to grease a pan, whip up a batter and bake a cake again?
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Bonjour mes amis!
If you’ve been following my adventures on Instagram, you’ll know I’ve been frolicking in France for the past month. Spending my days walking for miles and eating my body weight in French food.
Now I’m back.
Well, my physical body is anyway.
I set out on this latest holiday with an open mind (and heart), knowing that France does not lead the world in gluten, sugar and dairy free food options (baguettes, French butter and fromage…hello!). Surprisingly, they are definitely growing in this area, something I had never noticed on my past visits.
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I've recently discovered I have an obsession for tea towels.
I never knew I did until I started pulling out hundreds of tea towels from my storage boxes...wholly smoke....I don't even remember buying half of them.
I do, however remember buying these ones.
100 year old tea towels brought home all the way from Normandy, from a little village called the vallee de l'Eure. This village holds beautiful memories for me. Memories of riding bikes, drinking cider and shopping for brocante and of course staying in the most exquisite little cottage.
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I'm not normally one who runs around in circles or 'fluffs' around the edges of things. Being a Taurean, once my mind is made up it's full steam ahead, and watch out to anyone standing in the way.
So I'm at a loss as to why I'm fluffing around the edge of my health.
I've been told a million times from a million experts to run screaming away from gluten, but not wanting to be one of 'those people', I don't say anything and continue to munch away on food that's doing me harm.....and can I tell you.....I'm starting to suffer! What a wonderful thing our body's are when they tell you they need help. Now I just need to stop, breathe, listen AND act.
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Did you know that by adding bananas into your diet you can help combat depression, make yourself smarter, cure hangovers, help protect against type II diabetes AND cure the itch of a mosquito bite?
Nope..they're not just for monkeys!
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These are the biscuits I want with my tea.
Simple and plain. Dry and sweetless (I know, not a real word!)
They are not a celebratory biscuit and they're not award winning, but they're a round circle of pure comfort.
In fact, they're not sweet at all, which is perfect for my taste buds and my cup of tea, but for others upping the syrup content may be your answer, or perhaps a switch to raw honey or pure maple syrup would be your prerogative.
Whatever your decision - eat them on the day!
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2010 was the last time I was in New York.
Some days it feels like a lifetime ago, others, like yesterday.
Aromas and songs can transport me back to the moment we munched on ice-cream in Brooklyn, or to the cheese and olives we collected from the Garden of Eden Gourmet. However, the one memory that always springs to mind and that I didn't indulge in at that time....
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Perhaps chocolate is a more sexy choice for cupcakes and perhaps vanilla would be my normal, personal choice, but somehow the humble root vegetable known as carrot was all I could think about.
So on a glorious Saturday afternoon I grated, sifted, stirred and baked.
This recipe is gluten and refined-sugar free, but I didn't notice.
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Raspberries: Research has shown that these little red rubies can actually help with obesity, regulate your blood sugar levels, keep your digestive system nice and healthy AND help lower your risk of developing chronic disease. Geez....I simply ate them cause I loved the taste of them!
Did you know that just one cup of raspberries gives you a third of your daily intake of fibre, helping to keep you full for longer?
So with all of this information I’ve now put in your head, and the fact that I can tell you for a fact that they taste bloody good – the little recipe that I'm providing you with today is so worth trying.
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On Monday's you will more than likely find me hiding out at a little hole in the wall down one of Melbourne's busy lane ways. This is no exaggeration as it is literally a hole in the wall, but inside that hole are two of the sweetest ladies you're ever likely to meet. Also in that hole, you'll also find some of the yummiest food being whipped up.
A huge smile always appears on my face when Sally whips out the rolling pin and cookie dough, or when we end up playing "waitress" whilst sipping our own coffee. These lovely ladies have the biggest smiles and hearts in the business and whenever I find myself whipping out my own rolling pin, I always think of them.
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All of my adult life I've been obsessed with food. It's no secret. I'm constantly planning meals for the next day whilst eating my breakfast. I read cookbooks curled up in bed, and I find nothing better than roaming around food shops, reading labels...yep, I'm that sad!
That being said, the one thing I no longer obsess about is snacking. Having spent the last few months getting rid of sugar cravings....I feel free! What a brilliant feeling it is!
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Did you know that the Hazelnut is rich in unsaturated fats, you know the kind of fat that is actually good for the heart? Much of this fat is called oleic acid, which has been shown to lower "bad" cholesterol and raise the "good" kind.
They're also packed full of magnesium and vitamin E, which has been proven to protect your skin from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation, such as skin cancer and premature aging.
This is just the tip of the iceberg!
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I'm a little bit excited at the moment (in fact, excited enough to almost pee my pants), as I've just booked myself into the Slow Living Photographic Workshop.
I've fallen head over heels in love with a blog that I've recently discovered, having been drawn in by her beautiful photography, and when I saw she was coming to Melbourne to teach .... well....pee!
If you're not already familiar with Beth from Local Milk, do yourself a favour and click here.
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Did you know that the peanut is actually a legume and not an actual nut? I didn't, and only learnt this little fact recently.
What I did know, however was that they are packed full of nutrients, minerals, antioxidants and vitamins as well as mono-unsaturated fatty acids, which helps to lower "bad cholesterol" and increase "good cholesterol".
So basically (I believe), this little treat can be and should be enjoyed whole-heartily in the full knowledge of what an amazing and loving gift you're giving to yourself.
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I'd promised myself a little while ago, that while I was saving for my adventure back to France that I WOULD NOT buy any cookbooks.
Well that promise flew well and truly out the window, and in fact, I think it only lasted 2 weeks.
I'm so pleased it did as otherwise I may not have found this stunningly beautiful cookbook that I have fallen head over heals in love with.
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I thought I'd share with you the little tart I made recently for my sister-in-law.
I think you're going to like it.
It's just a simple little tart with a bottom made of flaky, buttery, sweet shortcrust pastry. A middle filled with soft fluffy almonds, and a crown of plump fresh raspberries.
Served with some thick double cream...do you really need anything more?
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You may be thinking that you've seen this recipe before - the little sweet potato truffles that I made and wrote to you about earlier this month (see here).
But, you'd be wrong.
I grew up loving coconut balls. Did you? You know the ones, filled with biscuit crumbs, sugar and cocoa. I'd get so excited whenever I was given the opportunity to eat one, and then when I got older and was able to make them for myself.....hello!
Yes, these ones don't contain biscuit crumbs, and yes, these don't contain cocoa, but as soon as I tasted them, that old excited feeling come rushing right back.
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