Food for thought. Asparagus
I know I am skipping ahead of my self for the next coming up months. Asparagus will be ready in the months of Feb-April. I was reading and ran along a good article on Flora and how asparagus has parts in it we do not digest and they help build up good flora in our intestines, which gluten free and casein free people need. Along with Autism, the leaky – gut issue is always a thorn in our side and we need the healthy flora to maintain balance. http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=12
Health Benefits:
Food for Healthy Gut Flora
Asparagus contains a special kind of carbohydrate called inulin that we don’t digest, but the health-promoting friendly bacteria in our large intestine, such as Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli, do. When our diet contains good amounts of inulin, the growth and activity of these friendly bacteria increase. And when populations of health-promoting bacteria are large, it is much more difficult for unfriendly bacteria to gain a foothold in our intestinal tract.
A Birth Defect Fighter
Especially if you’re thinking about becoming pregnant or are in the early stages of pregnancy, make asparagus a frequent addition to your meals. A cup of asparagus supplies approximately 263 mcg of folate, a B-vitamin essential for proper cellular division because it is necessary in DNA synthesis. Without folate, the fetus’ nervous system cells do not divide properly. Inadequate folate during pregnancy has been linked to several birth defects, including neural tube defects like spina bifida. Despite folate’s wide availability in food (it’s name comes from the Latin word folium, meaning “foliage,” because it’s found in green leafy vegetables), folate deficiency is the most common vitamin deficiency in the world.
http://www.rachaelray.com/recipe.php?recipe_id=551&r=1266,551,283,290,353,1179,360,373,601,368,7
Roasted Asparagus Tips
Rachael Ray
- 2 pounds asparagus, trimmed to 4 to 5-inch tips
- 1 shallot, finely chopped
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, eyeball it
- 1 teaspoon freshly chopped tarragon leaves
- Salt and pepper
- 1/4 lemon, juiced
Preparation
Pile asparagus onto a baking sheet. Combine lemon, shallot, extra-virgin olive oil and tarragon. Pour the dressing over the asparagus and turn to coat spears in fat. Season the asparagus with salt and pepper and roast 15 to 17 minutes at 375 degrees F. Remove asparagus from oven and toss with a squirt of lemon.
TIP: Steamed or roasted asparagus is healthier than boiled because it does not loose the vitmans in the water. – Shread Lemon peel or orange peel ove the roasted asparagus for more flavor and I like to add a little garlic salt instead of regular salt or Sea Salt.
Sesame Milk – I heard it gets rid of the cravings for sweets.
Sesame seed Milk I heard is great for making you crave less sweets. Its very high in calcium. http://www.healthfree.com/raw_food_art_cravings.html
Nut and Seed Milks
Making milks from nuts and seeds has been documented from medieval times and surely earlier. One of the most well known Spanish nut drinks is made from tiger nuts and is called ‘horchata’ – a speciality of the Valencian region where I live but it is sometimes also made from almonds as they are grown in abundance here. In most of southern Europe, nut/seed milks are either made at home or commercially purchased.
These are delicious, nutritional non-dairy milks and can be used in baking and cooking as dairy milk and are excellent for those with lactose problems and those who simply prefer not to use cow milk. High in calcium, they are simple to make, requiring a blender or hand-held puree/blender and have an added benefit once they are strained, the by-product remaining is useful for many dishes – an ingredient in meat and non-meat dishes, puddings, cakes or ravioli. I never sweeten mine as they are delicious as is and are in this way more neutral for cooking purposes. However, I suggest honey, maple syrup, fruit syrups such as pear or apple. You can, of course, use soy milk in place of the water for a richer, high calcium product. (Caution: soy products are not a recommended for infants and children. Read my article on soy at www.epicureandigest.com .)
Nut/Seed Milk – basic recipe
a good handful of raw nuts, less for sesame seed (blanch almonds first*)
+- 500 ml. water (or less depending on how concentrated you prefer it)
Blend together until the mass appears smooth and creamy. Strain once through a sieve, then again in a sieve lined with a damp cheesecloth if you prefer it without any traces of nut/seed.
(Generally, the proportions are 1 part nut to 4-8 parts water by volume, not weight. Experiment to find your favourite ratio. When using cashews, start with 1 part to 4 parts water.)
Tip: use 250 to 300 ml. water or Soya for a thicker, cream like product (especially nice using almonds.). Milks do not keep much longer than a few days in the refrigerator, but can be frozen. When using nut/seed milks such as cashew for soups, there is no need to strain the pulp away. Almond milk pulp makes a lovely facial mask and scrub – warm slightly and apply for 20 minutes. Gently rub off. Use it also as a body scrub.
Suggestions: drinks, such as hot cocoa, ‘cappucino’, healthy milk shakes – try adding a little banana for added potassium and a richer flavour. Create your own delicious versions by combining nuts/seeds, a date or two, carob or other liquids such as coconut milk. In short, anything you would normally make with milk. One of my favourites is almond milk made with 50% coconut milk (using the creamy sort), or sesame milk flavoured with cinnamon. This is especially delicious using about 1-2 t. toasted cardamon seeds added to the sesame before blending. If you have time, I feel that flavours are intensified if you let the blended nut/seed and water mixture sit for a few hours in the refrigerator or even over night before straining. It is not crucial, but it does make a noticeable difference to the end product.
Caution:
Nuts are a common allergen and often are the hidden – the milks at least – ingredient. Remember this when cooking/baking for guests or taking dishes to a party.
Vary this recipe using any nut, sunflower seed etc. Use raw and not roasted, salted nuts and seeds. Sesame seed should be raw and unhulled. Toasted sesame seed makes a superb milk!
almond milk – use two handfuls to 500 ml. water
sesame milk – start first with a small handful (+- 1/2 cup.)
*Blanching almonds is easy and for me, fun. Just drop almonds in a pan with a little water you have brought to a boil and removed from heat. Allow to blanch for 1 minute (or boil for 30 seconds or so). Pour into a strainer, rinse with cold water. You will find the skins will come off very easily. Just ‘pinch’ one between your fingers and it will almost jump out of its skin!
Health Benefit:
High in Calcium, and dairy free
Peppermint Snowballs
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Other Food Recipes – Have Cake and Eat it too.
Sometimes we don’t want to be left out of the cake and desert menu, and we want our cake and eat it too. These are home recipes for that flourless free lover in our life.
Interesting Chocolate Flourless Cake Recipe – Holiday treat Gluten Free.
Flourless Chocolate Cake Recipe from www.Allrecipes.com Print, right click your mouse and hit print.
INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 (19 ounce) can garbanzo beans (yes it asks for garbanzo beans) , rinsed and drained
4 eggs
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon confectioners’ sugar for dusting
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DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9 inch round cake pan.
Place the chocolate chips into a microwave-safe bowl. Cook in the microwave for about 2 minutes, stirring every 20 seconds after the first minute, until chocolate is melted and smooth. If you have a powerful microwave, reduce the power to 50 percent.
Combine the beans and eggs in the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth. Add the sugar and the baking powder, and pulse to blend. Pour in the melted chocolate and blend until smooth, scraping down the corners to make sure chocolate is completely mixed. Transfer the batter to the prepared cake pan.
Bake for 40 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 to 15 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate. Dust with confectioners’ sugar just before serving.
Gluten Free Yellow Cake Mix – Holiday treat Gluten Free.
Gluten Free Yellow Cake Mix from www.allrecipes.com Print, right click your mouse and hit print.
INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
1 1/2 cups white rice flour
3/4 cup tapioca flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon xanthan gum
4 eggs
1 1/4 cups white sugar
2/3 cup mayonnaise
1 cup milk
2 teaspoons gluten-free vanilla extract
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DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and rice flour two 8 or 9 inch round cake pans.
Mix the white rice flour, tapioca flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder and xanthan gum together and set aside.
Mix the eggs, sugar, and mayonnaise until fluffy. Add the flour mixture, milk and vanilla and mix well. Spread batter into the prepared pans.
Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 25 minutes. Cakes are done when they spring back when lightly touched or when a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Let cool completely then frost, if desired.
Holiday Pumpkin Marshmellow Treats
Before I give you the link to this great recipe. Its a marshmallow treat mix without the butter or margarine. Since we are on the casein free diet for my son who has autism, we have added real butter to his diet because of the vitamin K’ real butter has. Yes, butter is casein, but used sparingly we allow him this and it hasn’t really affected him negatively. That has nothing to do with the recipe, I just thought I would throw it in for good measure.
Health benefit: Why we need Vitiman K (From Real Butter):
Vitamin K is a nutrient found in the small intestine where it combines with protein to produce clotting of the blood. The vitamin is also necessary for the synthesis of proteins found in plasma, bone and the kidneys. A recent prospective study of vitamin K intake and hip fractures found that low intakes of the vitamin might increase the risk of hip fracture in women. There is a concern, however, for those who are on a specific blood thinning medication. Here is some insider information on vitamin K.
We also, even though peanut butter is gluten free, we do not use it because of the natural fungus content.
Health Benefit:
Why peanut butter can cause cancer:
Unfortunately a mold commonly winds up growing on peanut butter. This fungus Aspergillus flavus releases a cancer causing metabolic product (mycotoxin) called aflatoxin B1, which is a officially recognized carcinogen (cancer causing compound). Workers around peanuts even have to wear protection because of the health hazard. It is common knowledge that farmers and animals around peanuts have increased liver cancer
Instead we use almond butter (found at health food stores and WINCO) So my suggestion is omit the peanut butter for an alternative. http://kidscooking.about.com/od/halloweenrecipes/r/ricecrispytreat.htm
Almond Butter Rcipe:
Almond Butter
Ingredients (use vegan versions):
whole raw almonds
salt, optional
Directions: Using no oil, toast the almonds in the oven, stirring every few minutes, until beginning to change color. Cool.
Place in a food processor and grind until very fine. Continue to process until the almonds begin to release their oil, resting the motor from time to time. Process until oily and smooth. Store in an airtight jar. * Dont be tempted to think the oil will not release. I assure you it WILL happen. (Mental note to self – Remember adding oil to the almond butter doesnt release its natural oils like in other online recipes)
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Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats Recipe
These Halloween rice crispy treats make a festive addition to a kids’ Halloween party. Use a metal pumpkin cookie cutter to shape these Halloween treats. It makes cutting through the rice crispy treats so much easier than plastic cookie cutters. I did find out recently that marshmellows do contain gluten stabalizers. So use with caution. My son is fine with this small amount of gluten if any.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
- 11 oz. semisweet chocolate chips
- 2/3 cup smooth peanut butter (Or almond butter)
- 6 cups crispy rice cereal (such as Rice Krispies)
- 3 cups miniature marshmallows
- orange frosting
- green icing
- black gel icing
Preparation:
- Spray a 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray.
- In a large (3- to 5-quart) saucepan, heat chocolate chips and peanut butter over low heat, stirring occasionally, until chips are melted.
- Remove from heat. Stir in cereal and marshmallows.
- Pour into prepared pan, pressing down with the back of a spatula, coated with cooking spray, to smooth.
- Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
- Use a pumpkin cookie cutter to cut out pumpkin shapes in the rice crispy treats.
- Frost the round part of the pumpkin with the orange icing. Frost the stem with the green icing.
- Draw a face on the pumpkin with the black gel icing.
Also just for good measure, how to substitute ingredients for allergies and other foods you need to omit or find alternatives. http://foodallergies.about.com/od/livingwithfoodallergies/ht/substitute.htm
Interesting Tidbit: In the notes of the almond butter blog I found someone made Pistachio Butter, and I thought ohh that is interesting, so I am also linking the benefit of pistachio nuts: http://www.pistachiohealth.com/pdf/PistachioFastFacts.pdf
Hot Dog soup – with Veggies
http://video.about.com/kidscooking/Kid-Approved-Hot-Dog-Soup.htm Is a fun holiday treat. How many kids like hot dogs? UUUUmmm, all of them. This recipe includes a video and instructions. Health benefit: Veggies, lots of them. Beans, potatoes, tomatoes. Now, not all hot dogs are gluten free. You need to read your labels for 100% BEEF, and look for the hot dogs with no nitrates in them. Nitrates are the reason why you shouldn’t eat the hot dogs. Look for NO Whey (Which is casein) and no wheat starch (which they like to put in everything now days.) No nitrates means, they ae excluding hormones and such for celery juice which is natural some what. Look a this website on nitrate free hot dogs, then decide for yourself. http://www.seriouseats.com/2008/01/cooking-with-kids-nitratefree-hot-dogs.html
Frozen Grapes almost like minature Sorbet
http://kidscooking.about.com/od/snacksdipsappetizers/r/frozen_grapes.htm is a recipe for a summer treat for kids who can’t have regular ice cream. Frozen grapes make a refreshing and healthy snack you will find absolutely surprising and delightful. You’ll still get that familiar grape flavor. But when frozen, grapes take on a texture that is almost like a sorbet. Indeed, this frozen grapes recipe is almost like little sorbet nibbles!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 large bunch of seedless grapes (preferably red, though green grapes work well, too)
Preparation:
- Wash grapes and pat dry with a paper towel.
- Line a baking sheet with paper towels. Place grapes on paper towels, trying to leave some space between them. Freeze until firm.
Eat frozen. Don’t let the grapes thaw — they may become mushy.
Important: Grapes of any kind can pose a choking hazard for children ages 3 and under.
Why Grapes? The Health Benefit:
Substance in Grapes Inhibits Cancer Growth
On New Year’s Day, 1997, The Boston Globe reprinted a Reuters dispatch that raises high hopes about grapes. Red grape skins, it turns out, contain a substance called resveratrol. According to a well-known researcher, Dr. John Pezzuto of the University of Illinois at Chicago, this naturally occurring phenol “has multiple modes of action, inhibiting cancer growth at a lot of different stages, which is unusual.” These stages are initiation of DNA damage, transformation of the cell into cancer, and growth and spread of the tumor.
Resveratrol Protects against Coronary Heart Disease
Although resveratrol was first isolated from a Peruvian legume called Cassia quinquangulata, it was later found in grapes, particularly red grapes, mulberries and other plants. It may also be one of the compounds responsible for wine’s proven ability to protect against atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease, according to other reports from the University of Toronto (Clin Chim Acta, 235: 2, 1995 Mar 31, 207-19). Great – (If you do so, try to make it an organic red, since grapes are very heavily sprayed with pesticides.)
So in learning: clean your grapes very well before you eat them, and I do not suggest peanuts as the article says (Credit: http://www.healthrecipes.com/grapes_health.htm ) because peanuts have a natural fungus in them and we do not want that in our bodies.
Easy Blender Chocolate Pudding, with an avocado
http://goneraw.com/recipes/1141-Easy-Chocolate-Pudding This is the link to a fun recipe kids will love with a avocado in the chocolate. They’ll never taste it. And the health benefit is:
Avocado also contains vitamin E (excellent for the skin), antioxidant carotenoids and the master antioxidant glutathione that is exceptionally powerful and has anti-carcinogenic potential. High levels of glutathione are found in the liver where the elimination of toxic materials takes place.
Dates Health Benefit:
Dates are valuable as medicine for their tonic effect. Being easily digested, they are very useful for supplying energy and repairing waste. Milk in which clean and fresh dates have been boiled is a very nourishing and restorative drink to children and adults alike, especially during convalescence.
The nicotinic content in dates is an excellent remedy for intestinal disturbances. Liberal use of dates keeps in check the growth of pathological organisms and helps to establish a colony of friendly bacteria in the intestines.
The date is a laxative food. It is highly beneficial in the treatment of constipation as the roughage provided by it stimulates sluggish bowels. They should be immersed in water at night and taken after making them into a fine syrup the next morning to secure
The link to this is also found on the website on Autism.
Easy Chocolate Pudding
Serves 1-2
This is SOOOO Amazing! It makes an incredible pudding by itself. Or put it in a nut date crust for a quick, easy & Delicious chocolate pie – like in the picture.
Ingredients
· 1 Avocado
· 2 tablespoons Cacao Powder (or finely ground cacao nibs)
· 6 Medjool Dates, Pitted – use up to 12 depending on how sweet you want it.
· Water, Just enough to keep everything moving in the blender
Preparation
Put about 1/4 cup water in vitamix or other high power blender. Put in Avacado & blend slowly until nice & creamy. Blend in Cacao Powder & Dates (adding extra water as needed to keep things moving) Add more dates if needed to adjust sweetness. Blend until smooth & creamy! ENJOY!
Gluten Free Casein Free Recipes for Kids with Autism
My son, who is now 13, has had the Gluten free and Casein Free diet from hell since he was 5 years old. The younger you start on your journey of ridding the body with these items the easier it will be. Your life will be much more changeling without this special diet. The diet affects his brain and outbursts for the better or it can elimiate them all together. It makes my life simpler and knowing he is healthier and happier, makes me calmer also. You can check out more on Autism with my intensive list on information of why Autism kids need this diet. Here: http://nailedtotheweb.com/nic/autism.htm . Once you get use to the diets do’s and don’t you will love to find new recipes that spark creativity and healthy nutritious foods to your child. I have gathered together this blog of fun recipes I have encountered on the web and like to share them with you. If you have other fun recipes or comments please feel free to share them and I can post them as we go. It can take valuable time and energy from you when you are not on this diet and it can take up to 3-6 months to rid the body of ways the gluten and casien affect his brain. Be patient, be consistent, be loving and be dilligent.
