Golden Turmeric Granola | SCD, Paleo, Gluten-Free

Eight Months of silence on this blog and, for the most part, on social media as well. Considering my website primarily focuses on food, I had a bit of a forced break due to a long overdue kitchen renovation. I can't even begin to share how excited I am about our new space and I am even more thrilled to actually get back in the kitchen and get back to cooking up healthy meals for my family. This long break, and of course a new kitchen helps too, have motivated me to get creative and think outside of the box a bit more. I found myself stuck, trapped in time, and in a constant rotation of the same old recipes week after week. One thing I have found, with kids who follow the SCD diet you really need to switch it up and constantly offer new flavors to sample. Don't get me wrong, I still have my giant go-to binder with our favorite recipes, but I am hoping to expand that index. 

SCD friendly granola is always a go-to for an easy breakfast option, after school snack, or even dessert. This recipe is adapted from my Crunchy Vanilla Granola recipe, but I switched it up a bit and added a spicy turmeric flavor paired with a touch of black pepper to help the body better absorb this super food. Turmeric is a staple in our diet and we incorporate it into our daily meals. In fact, my husband and I have a turmeric latte (golden milk) every single night. I'll make sure to share that recipe next because it is also kid approved! 

Benefits of turmeric:

+ May slow or prevent blood clots

+ Fights inflammation 

+ Improves brain health

+ Lowers your risk of heart disease 

+ May prevent cancer 

+ May reduce depression 

GOLDEN TURMERIC GRANOLA

SCD, Paleo, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free 

yield: about 5 cups 

INGREDIENTS 
1 egg white
1 cup cashews
1 cup almonds
1 cup walnuts
2 cups shredded coconut 
1/2 cup golden raisins
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 tsp. cinnamon

1 Tbs turmeric

2 tsp ginger

1 tsp cardamon

1/2 tsp black pepper

pinch of salt 
1/3 cup honey
2 Tbs coconut oil 

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees. 
2. In a food processor, combine all the nuts and coconut. Pulse until desired texture. 
3. Transfer to a large bowl and add the spices, honey, and coconut oil. Mix and then stir in the egg white. Add the raisins, stir to combine. 
4. The dough will be slightly sticky. Press evenly into a pan lined with parchment paper. 
5. Bake 30-40 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool completely, at least for a 1/2 hour. 
6. I like to break mine apart into large chunks, but the kids like it broken into smaller pieces. Store in an airtight container for up to one week. 

Instant Pot White Chicken Chili | SCD, Gluten-Free, Paleo, Dairy-Free Option

Like the rest of the country, Ohio has witnessed a cold, bitter winter that has brought us a couple snow days, several frigid mornings, and lots of cozy warm fires. Nothing pairs better with wintery weather than a hot bowl of nourishing soup. With all the ups and downs of this past year, comfort food seems to fill our tummies and energize our minds. 

As most of you know, we have been following the SCD (Specific Carbohydrate Diet) for almost six years! It's hard to believe it' been so long. While we have always lived a healthy life; this clean, healthy lifestyle diet has become second nature in our home. Most days, I don't even think twice. I just prep, cook, bake, clean, repeat. And, thankfully, my son has remained healthy and remission. 

Butternut Squash Soup with Ginger | SCD, Paleo, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free

"The greatest dishes are very simple. " Auguste Escoffier

During these busy days I always turn to simple recipes for dinner, and soup is always a great option! This soup is extremely easy to make and is packed with healthy nutrients for a healing gut. I recently signed up for a weekly produce box, Misfits Market*, and have been very pleased. I love the challenge of creating recipes with the items I receive. It has forced me to think outside of the box and our family has expanded our palette. When following a strict lifestyle of eating, like the SCD diet, it's easy to get in a rut and recycle the same recipes. The kids eagerly remind me when they are tired of a dish. By receiving a weekly box of produce I am forced to create new dishes and I happily embrace the challenge. 

Almost all of these ingredients came in our box and they are the perfect flavors of fall. We tend to eat A LOT of ginger in our house because of its health benefits. 

• Ginger root has one of the highest levels of antioxidants compared to other foods. Antioxidants prevent oxidative stress, a process that is associated with diseases like cancer, diabetes, and stroke. 

• Ginger also acts as an anti-inflammatory thanks to its antioxidant properties.

• Ginger’s active ingredient, gingerol, can be helpful in fighting infections.

• Ginger is used to treat nausea. 

• Ginger might be helpful in reducing muscle pain and soreness from exercise.

• Some studies show that bioactive molecules in ginger may slow down the growth of some cancers like colorectal, gastric, ovarian, liver, skin, breast, and prostate cancer.

Apple Cinnamon Muffins | SCD, Gluten-Free, Paleo

As the days become cooler, we are slowly transitioning into autumn, and with this new season comes a plethora of seasonal fruits and vegetables. I enjoy cooking with apples all year long, but I especially love to incorporate them into cuisine when they are in their prime season. Nothing beats a crisp, Ohio apple. 

Now that my oldest is a freshman in hight school, our schedule for the morning leaves little time for breakfast. We all know how important this first meal of the day is, so that's why we prep the night before so breakfast can be made in minutes, but yet it is packed with nutrients. These Apple Cinnamon Muffins are easy to whip up and can easily be paired with a smoothie or scrambled eggs for a complete meal. 

Apples are rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals, all of which benefit health. They also provide an array of antioxidants. Consuming antioxidant-rich foods may help prevent the oxidative stress that causes cell damage and may lead to the development of certain cancers. Apples are a good source of antioxidants.

Creamy White Bean Soup | SCD, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free

It's hard to believe it has been over six months since my last post! I'm sure everyone can relate when I say  these past few months have been quite a journey. We watched our schools close as we transitioned to learning from home. In our case, we watched our business shutdown, only to reopen with significant change. We are still learning how to function as small business owners during these times of uncertainty and COVID, yet we managed to launch a new business that kept us going through quarantine. Canton Provisions Company has been something we've been working on for awhile, but when covid hit our community and the doors of our restaurant closed,  it was time to kick this online specialty grocery store into high gear. Between everything going on over these past months, I have had little time for writing and photography. But don't worry, I have been documenting all my recipes and have some new ones to share! Quarantine definitely fueled my creativity to think outside the box. 

Monte Cristo Sandwich | SCD, Gluten-Free

A Monte Cristo sandwich is a fried ham and cheese sandwich, a variation of the French croque-monsieur. The Monte Cristo is sometimes covered in powdered sugar and served with maple syrup or preserves. Growing up, this was one of my favorite dishes my dad would make and I would literally jump up and down with excitement when he announced he was making Monte Cristo sandwiches for dinner, just as I did when he made crepes for breakfast. While I still have yet to master the SCD crepe (thankfully my dad has!) my kids do love this healthy, SCD version of the Monte Cristo sandwich.

Crab Meat Stuffed Grey Sole | SCD + Paleo

Our family eats seafood several times a week, but sometimes it's hard to find a fish that everyone enjoys. My oldest doesn't like "fatty" fish, although fatty fish like King Ōra Salmon contain some of the highest levels per serving of healthy long-chain Omega-3 oils. Grey sole, along with Dover sole, has a mild and delicate flavor that takes little preparation and seasoning. In fact, you can lightly sauté the fillets in butter and simply add salt and pepper and you have a delicious healthy dish. Sole fish is low in calories and fat but high in protein and select micronutrients like selenium and vitamin B12.

Crab Meat Stuffed Grey Sole
SCD, Paleo, Gluten-Free

Ingredients
4 (4-oz) grey sole fillets
1 cup crab meat
1 small celery stalk, finely chopped
1 Tbs parsley, chopped
2 Tbs mayonnaise, I use this SCD compliant one
salt + pepper
1 tsp paprika

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2. In a small mixing bowl, combine the crab meat, celery, parsley, mayonnaise, salt and pepper. Stir to combine.
3. Lay sole fillets flat with darker side up on a baking sheet lined with parchment or use a silicon baking mat and season with salt and pepper. Divide stuffing among fillets, placing it in mounds on the thicker half. Fold thinner half of fillet over stuffing, tucking the end under.
4. Sprinkle with paprika and bake for 2o minutes.
5. Serve with a steamed vegetable and lemon butter sauce.

Lemon Butter Sauce
4 Tbs unsalted butter
1 Tbs lemon juice
salt & pepper

Place the butter in a saucepan or small skillet over medium heat. Melt the butter, whisking occasionally, until it turns golden brown, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and immediately pour into small bowl. Add lemon juice and a pinch of salt and pepper. Whisk and adjust seasonings as necessary.

Honeybell Shrimp Scampi | SCD + Paleo

Did you know the Honeybell Orange is actually a cross between a tangerine and a grapefruit? The Honeybell is grown mostly in Florida and is only available during the month of January, perfect for an extra boost of Vitamin C during the prime flu and cold season. Honeybells, like oranges, are packed with Vitamin C and other vitamins and minerals like Folic Acid and Potassium. They can also help lower your cholesterol and can reduce your risk of heart disease. Eating Honeybells is helpful for people who are trying to manage Diabetes. They are a low Glycemic Index food, meaning that the natural sugar in Honeybells is easily broken down by the body and used for fuel instead of being stored in the body and converted into fat.

Lemon Raspberry Whoopie Pies | SCD + Paleo

This cookie recipe is very versatile and can essentially be tweaked to any flavor to fit any season. If you search though my recipe index you'll notice I have used it a couple times. To make this special Valentine's Day treat I added a touch of lemon, which always pairs well with raspberry. For the pop of color, I rolled the assembled whoopie pies in ground freeze dried raspberries.

Almond Tartlet with Dragon Fruit Yogurt Filling | SCD

This recipe was originally created for Babiekins Magazine Print Issue Eleven.

As with any holiday, Valentine's Day brings the pressure and stress of scrambling around to create something unique, tasty, satisfying and, of course, meets our dietary needs. While I have always loved the classroom parties, any parent with a child who has dietary restrictions knows how stressful these times are for us as parents and for our children. I try so hard to make sure my son is not "different" then his peers, but at the end of the day, we are different. We have an autoimmune disease and that makes us different, we have a different outlook on life and we eat different. For so long I have tried to make sure his foods "fit in" with everyone else's. I have even gone as far as making his own pizza and putting it inside a carryout pizza box.

Chicken Piccata | SCD, Paleo, Gluten-Free

While adapting to a new lifestyle of clean eating can be overwhelming at first, you do eventually take over the reins. There are so many classic recipes that can easily be adapted to the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) or a Paleo lifestyle. Some of our favorites include Béarnaise sauce, Hollandaise sauce, Chicken Marsala, Demi-glace, Nicoise salad, French onion soup and more. These are regularly on a rotation in our home and we have discovered ways to take these classic cuisines and turn them into healthy dishes that meet our families needs.

Creamy Feta Dip | Advanced SCD, Gluten-Free

With the holidays right around the corner, I am starting to plan our meals and appetizers. This year, I am looking for simple and easy dishes that are packed with flavor and quality ingredients. Since this recipe includes feta, I do not recommend this for anyone who is experiencing symptoms of irritable bowel disease. Feta is an advanced food and should only be consumed after six strict months of following the SCD diet and it should only be consumed in small amounts and in moderation.

Health Benefits of Feta Cheese
+ Feta cheese is a good source of calcium, phosphorus and protein, all of which have been proven to promote bone health.
+ Feta cheese contains friendly bacteria that have been shown to promote immune and intestinal health, in addition to their anti-inflammatory effects.
+ Feta cheese contains good amounts of CLA (Conjugated linoleic acid ), which may improve body composition and help prevent diabetes and cancer.

CREAMY FETA DIP
Advanced SCD, Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Sugar-Free
yield: about 2 cups