OK. Any time I post a recipe now, you can assume it's wheat/egg/sugar free/cow's milk free, made with all organic ingredients, from sustainable and healthy packages. Because that's how I roll now. Whether I want to, or not.
After much experimentation with The Muffin Formula, I have perfected one recipe. Muffins are easy for breakfasts or snacks, and that's why I've missed them.
This makes a moist and spicy muffin that is just sweet enough.
Dry stuff:
1 1/2 cups Bob's Red Mill All Purpose Gluten Free Baking Flour
1/2 cup buckwheat flour
2 t baking soda
1/2 cup coconut sap sugar
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 t ground ginger
1 t cinnamon
1 t nutmeg
Wet stuff:
3/4 cup soy milk
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup applesauce (to replace an egg)
1 cup pureed canned pumpkin
Pre-heat your oven to 400. Line a muffin tin with paper muffin cups. Mix the dry stuff together in a big bowl. Mix the wet stuff together in a separate bowl and then add it to the bowl with the dry stuff. Mix well and fill the muffin cups a little fuller than you normally would (because these don't rise as much as other muffins). Bake for 20 minutes, or until you can insert a fork in a muffin and have it come out clean.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
The muffin formula
Here is a formula for creating muffin recipes with no wheat, no eggs, no cow's milk, no sugar. Sounds fantastic, right? Welcome to the challenging world of food allergies. I'm trying to learn to enjoy the potential of trying new things and improving my health. But, sometimes, I just want to have a muffin, or some other simple thing everyone gets to have. So, after much searching for a suitable recipe, I remembered a formula for making muffins from The Tightwad Gazette II book by Amy Dacyczyn; Villard Books, New York, 1995. I adapted her formula to make it suitable for someone with my allergies.
To make muffins, combine dry ingredients, and then mix in wet ingredients until just combined; the batter should be lumpy. Grease muffin tin and fill cups two thirds full. Bake in a preheated oven at 400 degrees for 15-25 minutes.
The following ingredients are required:
Grain:
Use 2 to 2 1/2 cups of wheat-free flour. Or substitute oatmeal, cornmeal, buckwheat flour, rye flour, coconut flour, or flake cereal for 1 cup of the wheat free flour. Or substitute 1 cup leftover cooked oatmeal, brown rice, quinoa, or cornmeal for 1/2 cup of the flour and decrease liquid to 1/2 cup.
Milk:
1 cup soy, almond, goat or rice milk. You can reduce this amount by substituting 1/2 water.
Fat:
Use 1/4 cup vegetable oil or 4 tbsp. melted dairy-free margarine. Or substitute crunchy or regular peanut butter for part or all of the fat. The fat can be reduced or omitted with fair results if using a "wet addition." I've heard you can eliminate fat by using applesauce as well.
Egg:
Obviously, no eggs! Instead I use 1 heaping tbsp. of soy flour and 1 tbsp. of water. I'm looking into other egg substitutes and will post in the future.
Sweetener:
Use between 2 tbsp. and 1/2 cup coconut sap, honey or pure maple syrup. If using honey or syrup, decrease milk to 3/4 cup. I imagine stevia or xylitol could work here as well as dry sweeteners but experimentation would be required to get the amounts right since they are so much sweeter than sugar.
Baking Powder:
Use 2 tsp. If using whole or cooked grains or more than 1 cup of additions, increase to 3 tsp.
Salt:
Use 1/2 tsp., or omit if you have a salt-restricted diet.
****
The following ingredients are optional. Additions can be used in any combination, up to 1 1/2 cups total. If using more than 1 cup of wet additions, decrease the milk to 1/2 cup. I would also recommend lowering the sweetener to 1/4 cup if you are using sweet additions.
Dry Additions:
Nuts, sunflower seeds, raisins, coconut, and so on.
Moist Additions:
Blueberries, chopped apple, freshly shredded zucchini, shredded carrot, and so on.
Wet Additions:
Pumpkin puree; applesauce; mashed, cooked sweet potato (now on my to try list!); mashed banana; mashed, cooked carrot, and so on. If using 1/2 cup drained, canned fruit or thawed shredded zucchini, substitute the syrup or zucchini liquid for all or part of the milk.
Spices:
Use spices that complement the additions, such as 1 tsp. cinnamon with 1/4 tsp nutmeg or cloves. Try 2 tsp. grated orange or lemon peel.
Jellies and Jam:
Fill cups half full with a plain batter. Add 1 tsp. jam or jelly and top with 2 more tbsp. batter.
Topping:
Sprinkle cinnamon sugar on the batter in the tins.
Non-sweet Combinations: Use only 2 tbsp. sugar and no fruit. Add combinations of the following: 1/2 cup shredded cheese, 3 strips fried and crumbled bacon, 2 tbsp. grated onion, 1/2 cup shredded zucchini, 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese. Spices could include a tsp. of parsley and a pinch of marjoram.
Once you learn the basic combinations, here is your recipe:
2 to 2 1/2 cups grain
1 cup "milk"
Up to 1/4 cup fat
1 "egg"
Up to 1/2 cup sweetener
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
Up to 1 1/2 cups additions
To make muffins, combine dry ingredients, and then mix in wet ingredients until just combined; the batter should be lumpy. Grease muffin tin and fill cups two thirds full. Bake in a preheated oven at 400 degrees for 15-25 minutes.
The following ingredients are required:
Grain:
Use 2 to 2 1/2 cups of wheat-free flour. Or substitute oatmeal, cornmeal, buckwheat flour, rye flour, coconut flour, or flake cereal for 1 cup of the wheat free flour. Or substitute 1 cup leftover cooked oatmeal, brown rice, quinoa, or cornmeal for 1/2 cup of the flour and decrease liquid to 1/2 cup.
Milk:
1 cup soy, almond, goat or rice milk. You can reduce this amount by substituting 1/2 water.
Fat:
Use 1/4 cup vegetable oil or 4 tbsp. melted dairy-free margarine. Or substitute crunchy or regular peanut butter for part or all of the fat. The fat can be reduced or omitted with fair results if using a "wet addition." I've heard you can eliminate fat by using applesauce as well.
Egg:
Obviously, no eggs! Instead I use 1 heaping tbsp. of soy flour and 1 tbsp. of water. I'm looking into other egg substitutes and will post in the future.
Sweetener:
Use between 2 tbsp. and 1/2 cup coconut sap, honey or pure maple syrup. If using honey or syrup, decrease milk to 3/4 cup. I imagine stevia or xylitol could work here as well as dry sweeteners but experimentation would be required to get the amounts right since they are so much sweeter than sugar.
Baking Powder:
Use 2 tsp. If using whole or cooked grains or more than 1 cup of additions, increase to 3 tsp.
Salt:
Use 1/2 tsp., or omit if you have a salt-restricted diet.
****
The following ingredients are optional. Additions can be used in any combination, up to 1 1/2 cups total. If using more than 1 cup of wet additions, decrease the milk to 1/2 cup. I would also recommend lowering the sweetener to 1/4 cup if you are using sweet additions.
Dry Additions:
Nuts, sunflower seeds, raisins, coconut, and so on.
Moist Additions:
Blueberries, chopped apple, freshly shredded zucchini, shredded carrot, and so on.
Wet Additions:
Pumpkin puree; applesauce; mashed, cooked sweet potato (now on my to try list!); mashed banana; mashed, cooked carrot, and so on. If using 1/2 cup drained, canned fruit or thawed shredded zucchini, substitute the syrup or zucchini liquid for all or part of the milk.
Spices:
Use spices that complement the additions, such as 1 tsp. cinnamon with 1/4 tsp nutmeg or cloves. Try 2 tsp. grated orange or lemon peel.
Jellies and Jam:
Fill cups half full with a plain batter. Add 1 tsp. jam or jelly and top with 2 more tbsp. batter.
Topping:
Sprinkle cinnamon sugar on the batter in the tins.
Non-sweet Combinations: Use only 2 tbsp. sugar and no fruit. Add combinations of the following: 1/2 cup shredded cheese, 3 strips fried and crumbled bacon, 2 tbsp. grated onion, 1/2 cup shredded zucchini, 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese. Spices could include a tsp. of parsley and a pinch of marjoram.
2 to 2 1/2 cups grain
1 cup "milk"
Up to 1/4 cup fat
1 "egg"
Up to 1/2 cup sweetener
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
Up to 1 1/2 cups additions
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Weekly Wonders
http://99faces.org/
I've been watching the occupy movement with great interest and curiosity. For those of us who have asked "what's the point?", 99 people share their answer.
Window Wonderland
http://www.wintermagic.ca/WindowWonderland
"Rekindle the tradition of strolling through the streets of downtown visiting holiday windows. Ryerson Retail Management students pair up with Downtown Yonge business members to create magical holiday window displays on a budget of $100! This year there are 33 participating locations in Downtown Yonge."
The Mascot
http://www.themascot.ca/home_temp.php
We actually stopped in at the Mascot back in July but have talked about heading back several times since. The Mascot is a cafe and gallery space with a big selection of interesting magazines that you don't find elsewhere. An art exhibition opens tonight, featuring paintings, prints and sculptures by Rocky & Junction Joe, both well known street artists.
I've been watching the occupy movement with great interest and curiosity. For those of us who have asked "what's the point?", 99 people share their answer.
Window Wonderland
http://www.wintermagic.ca/WindowWonderland
"Rekindle the tradition of strolling through the streets of downtown visiting holiday windows. Ryerson Retail Management students pair up with Downtown Yonge business members to create magical holiday window displays on a budget of $100! This year there are 33 participating locations in Downtown Yonge."
The Mascot
http://www.themascot.ca/home_temp.php
We actually stopped in at the Mascot back in July but have talked about heading back several times since. The Mascot is a cafe and gallery space with a big selection of interesting magazines that you don't find elsewhere. An art exhibition opens tonight, featuring paintings, prints and sculptures by Rocky & Junction Joe, both well known street artists.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
So very nice to meet you, Mr. Chagall
I haven't posted in ages. I've been up to all sorts, some of which I'll write about at some point.
I recently made the wise decision to visit the AGO for the Marc Chagall showing. I'd never even heard of Chagall, to be honest, and I absolutely love his work. His paintings have such a lush feeling about them. He uses colour incredibly well and they all seem to have originated in the dreams of the most imaginative dreamer.
In particular, I am enthralled with this painting, and I've gone to see it 4 times now:
This is called Double Portrait with Wine Glass. This image doesn't do it justice. Chagall painted this in 1918 as an homage to his marriage.
There are some interesting things to note about this painting:
- This is the first painting in which a Jewish husband is depicted on the shoulders of his wife. Critics consider this pose to be either a reference to the Jewish wedding custom of the bride and groom being carried, or it is a reference to how Chagall considered his wife to be his foundation.
- Bella Rosenfeld is apparently sporting purple stockings under her wedding dress, which is just plain cool.
- Above the couple, there is an angel, which is thought to be a reference to the couples' daughter.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
I am a reader by heart, but sometimes, something happens to me where I am unable to read more than a short article, here and there. It took me years to understand that there was actually a pattern: every time I'd read something stunning, my mind couldn't let it go. It was as if I could not read anything else for a time, out of respect for the book. I know, I know, it sounds crazy, especially when we're talking about fiction. But, sometimes, there is something about the subject matter, or the brilliance of the writing, that I simply can not let go. I used to be irritated by this, because I'd WANT to read, but couldn't. Later, I came to see this as blessing, because it meant I'd read something really fantastic. When I've been lucky, I've gone for a year, reading only a couple of books, meaning they were all incredible.
The last time this happened to me, I'd read Margaret Atwood's Year of the Flood over Christmas in 2009, and I haven't read much since. Last Tuesday, I walked into a bookstore I'd never been in before, and a store clerk took one look at me, ran up to me holding a book and said "oh my GOD, YOU HAVE to read this book!" He went on to give a summary of the story, and for some reason, it did not feel like a sales pitch. It turns out he was right: I did need to read this book. Having read this story, I can feel that it will occupy my thoughts for some time, and that it will be awhile before I'll step into another book store.
In 1951, a woman Henrietta Lacks was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Without her knowledge and consent, tissue was extracted from the tumor growing on her cervix. To the shock of the researchers in the hospital where she was treated, the cells from this tissue not only lived outside the body, but they thrived, and they reproduced themselves at an astounding rate, never seen before. Bought and sold over time, Henrietta Lacks cells continue to be the dominant cell strain used in all forms of tissue research around the world. Her cells helped develop the polio vaccine, went into space several times, and were instrumental in research which revealed how the HPV virus causes cervical cancer. In this manner, Mrs. Lacks lives on, probably in most of us, 60 years after her death.
The marvel of this story comes to an abrupt end when we consider that no one ever asked Henrietta, or her family, following her death, if they wanted her cells to live on and be utilized in countless experiments. They weren't even TOLD that this was happening, and they found out 20 years later, purely by accident. And certainly no one ever asked if they felt entitled to remuneration resulting from the commercialization of her cells. In fact, the Lacks family continues to face financial challenges in their lives, and can not even afford health insurance. This is but one of many indicators that the modern world was built on the backs of those considered inferior in some way.
Following decades of watching personal details of their mother's life and illness parade across the media, and of being preyed upon by various journalists, and in one case, a con artist, the Lacks family entrusted their story to journalist Rebecca Skloot. Ten years in the making, Skloot's obviously careful and extensive research, as well as the relationships she built with the Lacks family form the foundation of a book that reads like a novel you can't put down, all the while recounting the facts of this incredible story, interwoven with Skloot's reimagining of pivotal points in Henrietta's life which were recounted to her by the family.
You might think a story like this couldn't take place today, because we have laws to protect patient's rights. You would be wrong, as I was. There is no law requiring consent for storing tissues for the purposes of research and/or commercialization. Read that again. This means that whenever you have your tonsils out, get a mole removed or just give blood during your annual physical, it doesn't belong to you anymore. Time and again, the courts have ruled that your tissues can be reserved for any medical purpose, and should your tissues have any commercial value for any purpose, you are not entitled to remuneration. This is at least the case in the United States, and I will research the matter in Canada.
And the reason there is no law? Well, it's not exactly clear, but the biggest arguments of the scientific community seem to be that it might cost them too much, and it might be tough to keep everything organized. The origin of tissue samples is irrelevant to science, and at this time, science is at liberty to do what they will.
I'm glad I learned about Henrietta Lacks. It never once crossed my mind to consider where cell cultures come from, and I never imagined it was basically one person who enabled this whole arm of medical research.
Here's a weird thought: maybe Henrietta Lacks connects us all at the most basic level of our cells...
Learn more about Henrietta Lacks
Visit the fan page for the book on Facebook
Support the Henrietta Lacks Foundation
The last time this happened to me, I'd read Margaret Atwood's Year of the Flood over Christmas in 2009, and I haven't read much since. Last Tuesday, I walked into a bookstore I'd never been in before, and a store clerk took one look at me, ran up to me holding a book and said "oh my GOD, YOU HAVE to read this book!" He went on to give a summary of the story, and for some reason, it did not feel like a sales pitch. It turns out he was right: I did need to read this book. Having read this story, I can feel that it will occupy my thoughts for some time, and that it will be awhile before I'll step into another book store.
In 1951, a woman Henrietta Lacks was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Without her knowledge and consent, tissue was extracted from the tumor growing on her cervix. To the shock of the researchers in the hospital where she was treated, the cells from this tissue not only lived outside the body, but they thrived, and they reproduced themselves at an astounding rate, never seen before. Bought and sold over time, Henrietta Lacks cells continue to be the dominant cell strain used in all forms of tissue research around the world. Her cells helped develop the polio vaccine, went into space several times, and were instrumental in research which revealed how the HPV virus causes cervical cancer. In this manner, Mrs. Lacks lives on, probably in most of us, 60 years after her death.
The marvel of this story comes to an abrupt end when we consider that no one ever asked Henrietta, or her family, following her death, if they wanted her cells to live on and be utilized in countless experiments. They weren't even TOLD that this was happening, and they found out 20 years later, purely by accident. And certainly no one ever asked if they felt entitled to remuneration resulting from the commercialization of her cells. In fact, the Lacks family continues to face financial challenges in their lives, and can not even afford health insurance. This is but one of many indicators that the modern world was built on the backs of those considered inferior in some way.
Following decades of watching personal details of their mother's life and illness parade across the media, and of being preyed upon by various journalists, and in one case, a con artist, the Lacks family entrusted their story to journalist Rebecca Skloot. Ten years in the making, Skloot's obviously careful and extensive research, as well as the relationships she built with the Lacks family form the foundation of a book that reads like a novel you can't put down, all the while recounting the facts of this incredible story, interwoven with Skloot's reimagining of pivotal points in Henrietta's life which were recounted to her by the family.
You might think a story like this couldn't take place today, because we have laws to protect patient's rights. You would be wrong, as I was. There is no law requiring consent for storing tissues for the purposes of research and/or commercialization. Read that again. This means that whenever you have your tonsils out, get a mole removed or just give blood during your annual physical, it doesn't belong to you anymore. Time and again, the courts have ruled that your tissues can be reserved for any medical purpose, and should your tissues have any commercial value for any purpose, you are not entitled to remuneration. This is at least the case in the United States, and I will research the matter in Canada.
And the reason there is no law? Well, it's not exactly clear, but the biggest arguments of the scientific community seem to be that it might cost them too much, and it might be tough to keep everything organized. The origin of tissue samples is irrelevant to science, and at this time, science is at liberty to do what they will.
I'm glad I learned about Henrietta Lacks. It never once crossed my mind to consider where cell cultures come from, and I never imagined it was basically one person who enabled this whole arm of medical research.
Here's a weird thought: maybe Henrietta Lacks connects us all at the most basic level of our cells...
Learn more about Henrietta Lacks
Visit the fan page for the book on Facebook
Support the Henrietta Lacks Foundation
Friday, June 3, 2011
Oprahfication - 16 things I'm going to stop doing
- I will not magnify negative details, pull them out of context, or filter out the positive aspects of a situation.
- I will not perceive everything in extremes.
- I will not to come to general conclusions about people or situations based on one or few pieces of evidence.
- I will not imagine to know how others feel about me or whatever is happening.
- I will not expect disaster or focus on the "what ifs" of a situation.
- I will not question my own worth by assuming that things people do and say are a reaction to me, and I will not compare myself to others.
- I will not assume responsibility for the pain and happiness of everyone around me
- I will not imagine that everyone has the concept of "fairness" as I do.
- I will not blame myself for every problem around me or think that I can change it.
- I will not think that I do not have a right to assert my needs, say no, or go elsewhere for what I want.
- I will not keep a list of rules about how myself and others should act all the time.
- I will not believe that whatever negative thing I feel about myself is true.
- I will not depend on others for my hopes and happiness.
- I will not label myself.
- I will not assume that being correct is more important than being caring.
- I will not expect that whatever self-sacrifices and self-denials that I choose to make will pay off.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Wash those fruits and veggies
We've probably all heard about the food poisoning scare with vegetables in parts of Europe, and since the source has not actually been determined, this got me wondering about precautions we can take. Summer is upon us here in Canada, and so, hopefully, we're all eating more raw fruits and vegetables, but I wonder how many of us are being mindful of proper cleaning and handling? We all get educated somewhere along the line about food safety in handling meats, but when is the last time you heard anything about food-borne illness in produce, or something about proper cleaning of fruits and vegetables.
After doing a bit of reading, it seems that raw fruits and vegetables are in fact a serious potential source of food poisoning, especially in countries like Canada where much of our produce is imported from far off places, for much of the year. It also seems that washing them does not necessarily prevent food poisoning because some bacteria can make their way through the skins and leaves. That being said, there is evidence to suggest that washing does reduce the incidence, and this article on About.com makes the icky point that by the time your produce gets to you, it's been handled by many pairs of hands.
So, wash those fruits and veggies, and then wash them again. I am a firm believer in soaking, actually. I have a very big stainless steel bowl that I use for this purpose only. I fill the bowl with cold water and a few drops of vinegar, and then I add the produce. I especially love using this method for spinach, lettuce and all kinds of greens, because while the leaves float, the dirt and grime sinks to the bottom. I soak some things like berries for up to an hour, but most things are soaked for a 5-10 minutes, rinsed in my colander under cold water, and either left in the colander to dry, or dried with paper towel. If you do this with your lettuce, wrap it in paper towel (or keep a dish towel for this purpose only which you wash in hot water and bleach after each use), your lettuce will stay fresh and crisp for over a week. I learned this from Nik Manojlovich on Savoir Faire years ago.
By the way, enjoy local produce while we've got it. Buy lots, buy often, and if you need some inspiration, Foodland Ontario has a wonderful of selection of recipes.
Happy summer!
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