February 2012
4 posts
treowe-treow asked: Hi! I'm following your progress with Pitchford's method with interest -- my doctor told me I have IBS and said "drink more water and eat prunes," haha, not helpful. :x I too have tried cutting dairy (no change) and gluten (which has been terrible -- I miss the insoluble fiber and I'm not convinced grains are to blame, either) and your entry on being a "cold"-type...
7 tags
Green broad bean salad with mint and coriander
Here’s an easy salad that’s perfect for a take-to-work lunch. I’m slowly broadening my food combining limitations so this one includes two fats instead of one, and both beans and seeds. If you’re sticking to the strict rules, it’s simple to cut it back to one of each. Just take your pick! Or you can substitute in fresh peas for the broad beans and still keep the...
8 tags
Curried roast parsnip and sweetcorn soup
I’ve been reading about the warming and cooling properties of certain food groups recently. I am – and always have been – a chronically cold person. Just ask my boyfriend (who, lucky for me, happens to be a warm person…)! This winter in Amsterdam we’ve had a sudden cold snap which froze the canals enough to be walked on. This most definitely doesn’t happen every year. It’s madness and...
8 tags
Oat yoghurt
In Healing with Whole Foods, Paul Pitchford says:
‘Seed yoghurt is one of the finest predigested proteins and ferments. It is easily assimilated. The rancidity and oil of seed yoghurt are reduced by the fermentation. Use in spreads, sauces and dressings.’
His recipe is suitable for sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, almonds and oats. Naturally fermented foods are a cheap and easy way...
January 2012
4 posts
6 tags
Eggplant Caponata
While food combining I can’t mix tomatoes (acid fruit) with starches or proteins, so it’s been tricker than usual to come up with sauces for some dishes. Here’s my interpretation of eggplant caponata that replaces crushed tomatoes with roasted red peppers. It still has all those great Italian flavours… and it’s vegan-friendly.
Serves four
4 x large potatoes,...
6 tags
Veggie pasties
Pasties are usually fat-laden and greasy so here’s a makeover that’s neither, but still super tasty! The pastry can easily be used for different recipes such as samosas.
Makes 8 pasties
For the pastry:
110g x whole-wheat or spelt flour
120ml x water
Pinch of salt
Pinch of cumin
2 TBSP x olive oil
For the filling:
1/2 x eggplant, chopped into 2-cm squares
1/2 x red capsicum, ...
5 tags
Mexican potato bake
I absolutely love Mexican food. I’m used to making vegan versions without cheese, sour cream and all those added extras, but it was quite hard to get my head around making an optimal food combining meal. Usually there’s a mixture of starches (tortillas, potatoes) with starchy proteins (black beans) and acid (tomatoes). Here’s my as-Mexican-as-I-can meal to satisfy my cravings...
8 tags
Portabello mushroom burgers
As I mentioned in a recent post, I’ve started a food combining diet to try and help my IBS. I always use the first week of a new ‘diet’ to phase things in so I get the hang of doing it right. It’s taking a bit of adjusting, as I almost have to re-wire my brain to ignore most of the common, intuitive food pairings we’ve grown up with.
So far I’ve made carrot,...
December 2011
5 posts
5 tags
Potato and pea curry
As I mentioned in my last post, I’m trying out food combining for my IBS. Even for those with digestive tracts of steel, food combining can help you get more vitamins and minerals out of what you’re eating (and there are far less strict versions than the one I’m following). The first week is taking a bit of adjusting, but I’ve made carrot, ginger and coriander soup (starch meal) and this...
3 tags
Paul Pitchford's Food Combining Theory
Special thanks goes out to both my sisters for this post. My older one suggested reading Paul Pitchford’s Healing with Whole Foods and my younger one bought it for me for Christmas. In a recent post I thought I was onto a winning streak by following the advice in Eating for IBS. I was also clear I had my concerns about it. Pitchford’s book reinforced those concerns and steered me...
6 tags
Homemade Chai
Sometimes I miss coffee. My boyfriend still has his daily fix and often waves the jar of freshly ground beans under my nose, just so I can get a whiff of the good stuff. But it’s just no darn good for my digestive system so alas, coffee and I…we are no more.
I’ve found a pretty darn good substitute with chai, though (and a good use for our milk frother!). Here’s a...
Gingerbread makeover
This time last year, when I didn’t know as much about what triggers my IBS, I posted a Christmas recipe for gingerbread with blue cheese and roasted pear. For me, the flavours of gingerbread – cinnamon, cloves and, of course, ginger – really evoke the festive season.
Now that I’ve ruled out dairy and avoid refined sugars, I decided to adapt this delicious treat to suit. Instead of serving...
6 tags
Leek and potato soup
It’s hardly a new combination; leek and potato soup has been satisfying the bellies of many a warmth craver since long before my time. But this week it was all I felt like cooking because it’s cheap, tasty and quick. Here’s a vegan recipe that, when blended, is deliciously creamy.
Serves four to six
1 TBSP x extra-virgin olive oil
2 leeks, well washed and thinly sliced
2 x...
November 2011
6 posts
4 tags
Brussel sprouts with spiced pecans
We’re a mixed bag at Thanksgiving here in Amsterdam. Hosted by an American with a sprinkling of Brits, a few Dutchies and a handful of Kiwis, the Thanksgiving tradition only began for me once I moved to the Netherlands. This year I abandoned my carrot souffle, a staple of the past few years, and created winter-spiced brussel sprouts. It’s a perfect side dish for Christmas, too! The...
10 tags
Fresh pea dip
I’m back from a holiday in Switzerland where they’re apparently not so fond of veges. Arriving home late on a Sunday night I knew I needed to whip up something quick and healthy for the next day’s lunch. The result? A fresh pea dip/hummus that I spooned into iceberg lettuce cups with avocado and cucumber. Green equals goodness! You could also dip in some carrot/celery sticks or...
6 tags
Pad thai
I love a good pad thai but I’ve never attempted to make it myself. Here’s a healthy version that can be bulked up with extra veges if you like. Use tofu and omit the eggs and honey if you want to make it vegan.
Serves 4
300g x rice noodles
300g x firm tofu or organic chicken breast/thigh
2 TBSP x arrowroot powder
¼ tsp x white pepper
¼ tsp x sea salt
¼ tsp x cayenne pepper
4...
5 tags
Raw banana and bee pollen slice
Bee pollen, one of nature’s super foods, is known to aid digestion and circulation – two things I definitely need help with! I’ve wanted to make Jess@Wellness Warrior’s slice ever since I saw her post this recipe and after finding some bee pollen at the local organic markets, I put a slightly different version to the test. The recipe would be just as delicious without the pollen, too!
1 x...
5 tags
Spiced roast vege, chickpea and herb salad
Avoiding using a microwave (see why you should, too, here) is much easier during summer than winter. Rather than a fresh salad, all I want is a steaming bowl of soup for lunch each day, but I haven’t yet invested in a good-quality thermos to keep my meals nice and warm. In the meantime, I’ve been making wintry-feeling salads that are still tasty to eat at room temperature....
5 tags
Savoury vegetable loaf
Here’s a meatloaf makeover that should even satisfy the carnivores out there.
2 cups x cooked kidney beans
1 cup x rolled oats
1 onion, finely chopped
2 x garlic cloves, crushed
½ cup x chopped fresh parsley
2 cups x grated vegetables (choose from carrot, sweet potato, pumpkin, courgette etc.)
2 x eggs (or egg replacement for vegans)
1 tsp x curry powder
1 tsp x thyme leaves
1...
October 2011
7 posts
5 tags
Vegan coconut choc-chip ice-cream
A.k.a Bounty bar ice-cream! After giving my first batch of ice-cream a whirl earlier this month, I decided to re-create another of my favourite combos in dairy-free glory. This vegan recipe uses just four ingredients and won’t be left chilling in the freezer for long…
a 400ml can x coconut milk
between 3-6 x medjool dates, pitted (depending on how sweet you like it)
1 tsp x...
4 tags
Salmon macaroni and 'cheese'
I’ve kept the cravings at bay after giving up dairy – mainly because I know exactly how crap I’ll feel after eating it. That doesn’t, however, curb the cravings for specific dishes. Macaroni cheese was one of the first things my mum taught me to make, and I quickly became quite the MC whizz, testing out different variations on the theme.
Last weekend my boyfriend was away, it’s getting cold and...
4 tags
Warm soba and mushroom salad
Things have been pretty crazy around Casa de Cooking with Nothing lately. With very little time on my hands, I’ve been whipping up quick dishes like steamed fish and veges with a delicious, healthy sauce, or throwing together an easy stirfry in a matter of minutes. Here’s a mushroom salad-meets-stirfry that (hopefully) takes less than 20 minutes to make! You can also add in any other...
3 tags
Change it up!
It sounds like an oxymoron: reduce your food reactions by eating a wider range. Granted, I was helped along this journey by following the Hypoallergenic Diet, during which I had to restrict my food intake quite substantially. Well, so I thought, at least. The diet also opened my eyes to a plethora of nutritious grains and alternative foods that had remained under my radar (probably because...
5 tags
Spicy roasted chickpeas
I’ve most definitely overdone hummus, so I searched for a different way to use chickpeas as more of a snacky thing (which I have limited options for). I’ve already tested paprika and chilli on the hypoallergenic diet, but those who haven’t can easily substitute in some diet-friendly options, like coriander powder.
Here’s a great chickpea-as-a-snack option from...
4 tags
Mushroom and spinach millet risotto
I must admit some things got in the way of my eating regime last month – a lot of things, actually. With exciting events like travel, visitors and birthdays at the forefront, I don’t regret the moments of indulgence, even if my tummy does. But October is a new month and I’m starting it out by revisiting the Hypoallergenic Diet. I know that while I was following this plan, my stomach...
6 tags
Peppermint choc-chip ice-cream
Since giving up dairy, ice-cream has obviously been off the cards. I used to enjoy the occasional treat of creamy goodness – my absolute fave being peppermint choc-chip flavour. On my last visit to Cheddar in the UK, my sister and I devoured a scoop of the stuff – it’s her favourite too – and her impending visit spurred me to find an alternative recipe that ticks all the right tummy-friendly...
September 2011
8 posts
4 tags
Pan-roasted salmon with anchovy-rosemary sauce
Here’s a delicious recipe from the hand of Jamie Oliver. It’s quick and easy; in fact, my boyfriend whipped this one up for dinner and gave me the night off!
Serves four
For the anchovy-rosemary sauce:
a sprig of fresh rosemary, leaves picked and very finely chopped
10 x MSC-certified anchovy fillets in oil, drained and roughly chopped
1 x lemon, juiced
extra virgin...
5 tags
Banana chocolate cupcakes
My diet has changed dramatically in the last year. I’ve radically reduced my intake of refined products such as sugar, wheat and other processed foods. This couldn’t be more apparent when I flick through earlier posts on this blog, where I freely used sugar in my baking (now I use honey, maple syrup or brown rice syrup). Using dark chocolate in this recipe means it still obviously contains some...
6 tags
Sprout salad with oil-free red pepper dressing
I’ve really been embracing the awesomeness of sprouts lately. They’re literally alive, so imagine what happens when we eat them! Sprouts are also much easier to digest than regular seeds and legumes - a real bonus for those with digestive issues, like yours truly! I substituted basil for coriander in the dressing as I’ve got a huge plant that needs clipping; coriander would...
4 tags
Lentil stew with fresh greens
I’m transitioning into food combining at the moment, which requires a complete mental shift. Luckily I’m well and truly used to major mental shifts after undertaking years of elimination diets to try and rid myself of digestive issues. Everything we (or at least, I) ever became accustomed to while growing up is out the window. Eggs on toast? Wrong combo. Roast chicken and spuds?...
6 tags
Mushroom soup
Leaves are falling, winter jackets are coming out of the wardrobe – all signs that autumn is well and truly here. The upside to the onset of coldness is that I just love soup. I also just love mushrooms. Here’s a dairy- and gluten-free, vegan version of mushroom soup that should warm you up from the inside out.
Serves four to six
40g x dried shiitake mushrooms
550g x mixed mushrooms, roughly...
4 tags
Chickpea 'hash' with Asian slaw and zucchini...
With plenty of tasty components to tuck into, this delicious, gluten-free, vegan treat surely can’t also be high in fibre and low in fat? Why yes it can…
Feel free to just cook one of the elements if you like; you could serve the hash in cups of crispy lettuce. It may look like a daunting list of ingredients but most of them are double-ups between the different parts of the meal! Be prepared…...
4 tags
Lentils with grilled aubergines
I dipped into Yotam Ottolenghi’s Plenty book again for tonight’s dairy-free dish: Lentils with grilled aubergines. Only a few amendments were necessary to make it sugar-free and eliminate problematic vinegar.
Yotam recommends serving the dish warm or at room temperature and to taste before serving, as lentils tend to ‘swallow’ flavours.
Serves four
2 x medium aubergines
Salt and black...
3 tags
Food combining
I apologised to my tummy before taking it on a one-week trip to Italy, where food intolerances are most definitely not catered for! Although I indulged in a few naughties while away, the break gave me time to reflect on the confusion I’ve been feeling over finding the right cure for my tummy ills. Luckily, I had more than a few revelations… I also apologise to readers for my somewhat...
August 2011
15 posts
2 tags
The missing puzzle piece?
I was tossing up just having a giant question mark opening this post, as that’s kinda how I’m feeling right now! As many of you know, I’ve been following the hypoallergenic diet to put my chronic IBS to rest, with much success. But – yes, there’s definitely a but – the good days are still somewhat sporadic. Being the perfectionist that I am, that’s just not gonna cut it with me. I need...
7 tags
Buckwheat grits with toasted spices
This recipe combines two ideas: cooking with seasonal vege of the week, green beans, and using up the buckwheat grits that have hung out in the pantry since I started the hypoallergenic diet. I bought a lot of grains I’d never really used – such as amaranth and buckwheat – and wasn’t initially sure what to do with them.
I tried buckwheat grits as a breakfast cereal but switched to making...
3 tags
Fibre and IBS
As I mentioned a few posts ago, my IBS symptoms have been cropping up again recently. While a quick switch back to the hypoallergenic diet put most things in check, I’ve still been struggling with a few issues. This got me thinking a lot about what order I should be eating things in. Through the diet I learnt to eat fruit on an empty stomach as it digests much faster and can interrupt things...
7 tags
Hypoallergenic cauliflower with chickpeas, sweet...
It may look like I’m on a cauliflower and turmeric buzz at the moment but that’s just because I landed a huge head of it at the markets and can’t go past teaming it with curry flavours. Here’s another quick and tasty hypoallergenic number, inspired by this recipe.
Serves four
1 TBSP x coconut oil
2 tsp x cumin seeds
4 x garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
1 x 5-cm piece of fresh ginger,...
5 tags
Hypoallergenic lentil and cauliflower pilaf
My tummy has been a bit iffy this week. A lot iffy, actually. The good news is that I know I can jump back on the hypoallergenic diet until it settles itself down. Perhaps I was a bit hasty in thinking I’d discovered all my allergies, perhaps it was something else, but either way, I’m out to create some more hypoallergenic delights. Here’s one inspired by this recipe.
Serves...
7 tags
Hypoallergenic blackberry and plum crumble
Here’s this week’s seasonal recipe using blackberries and local plums. I used avocado - yes, that’s right - instead of butter in the crumble topping and there’s no refined sugar, just a bit of honey to offset the tartness of the fruit.
Serves 4-6
150g x blackberries
8-10 x plums, depending on size
1 cup x rolled oats, plus a bit extra
1/4 cup x sunflower seeds
2...
7 tags
'Carrot cake' porridge
I love carrot cake. It’s my absolute favourite. The combination of spices, fruit and nuts is just perfect. One day I decided it’d be great to bring the flavours of carrot cake into my morning porridge, the bonus being I also add another vege into my day! Make it with buckwheat flakes if you’re on the hypoallergenic diet.
Serves one
3/4 cup x rolled oats
1 cup x oat or rice...
6 tags
Pumpkin gnocchi with rocket pesto
This is the perfect in-between season meal. It combines the warming goodness of wintry pumpkin with the freshness of a punchy pesto. Use flour from allowed grains and approved spices to make it hypoallergenic.
Serves four
1 kilo x pumpkin, cooked and mashed
4 cups x flour
1 tsp x allspice
2 tsp x cinnamon
1 x tsp x nutmeg
4 x garlic cloves, crushed
1/2 tsp x cayenne pepper...
6 tags
Almond, date and goji truffles
Here’s a recipe for a healthy truffle alternative. The dates provide the sweetness and bind it all together, while the goji berries add a super food into the mix. Use organic, unsweetened dried cranberries if you’re on the hypoallergenic diet. Enjoy!
Makes about 10 truffles
100g x almonds (preferably skinless)
1/4 cup x goji berries
10 x dates, pitted
A sprinkling of dried...
6 tags
Beetroot hummus
Another seasonal vege put to great use! Beetroot hummus is such a fantastic colour, nice and healthy, and super tasty. I served mine on some toasted spelt bread with rocket and a drizzling of sesame oil. Bonus: the recipe is also hypoallergenic!
2 x beetroot, peeled and cooked until tender
1 cup x chickpeas, soaked overnight and cooked until tender. Reserve the of the cooking liquid to add...
4 tags
Dal Kofta
This recipe is totally scrummy. I borrowed it from Jess@Wellness Warrior, who borrowed it from Trudy@Veggie Num Num. I’ve since passed it onto some of my colleagues and now to you all; it’s certainly doing the rounds! I’d save it for when you have a bit of time on your hands because although the recipe itself isn’t labour-intensive, there are a few points where you have to wait and a watched oven...
6 tags
Aubergine and soba noodles with nectarine dressing
Here’s this week’s seasonal meal using aubergine/eggplant. The recipe is inspired by Yotam Ottolenghi’s soba noodles with aubergine and mango, but I decided to replace the mango with in-season nectarines and turn them into a dressing base since I can’t have the vinegar called for in the original. I also grilled instead of shallow fried the aubergines to cut down fat...
8 tags
Green smoothies
In a bid to add more greens into my daily diet, I’ve joined the green smoothie bandwagon. Since I can’t have dairy, my concoctions are fruit and vege based, blitzed up with a bit of water, ice cubes or a dash of fresh juice. It’s best to get a higher veg to fruit ratio, especially if you snack on fruit later in the day. Otherwise, you’re starting off with a big hit of...
4 tags
Working nine-to-five? How to still eat healthy!
Life can get pretty hectic these days. Working eight hours per day, sleeping eight hours per night (or trying to!), commuting to and from the office, shopping for food, cooking meals, staying fit, seeing friends and family… and that’s not even the half of it. With so much going on, it can be hard to stay balanced and when I get too busy it’s often the food and fitness that start to slip.
While on...
6 tags
The soaking story
When I set out to cure myself of IBS, I had no clue just how much I’d end up learning about food. I thought it’d be a case of ‘Aha! I should avoid (enter random food group here)’ but it’s been a rollercoaster journey of trial, error and realisation.
The human body is a complex thing. I’ve always been a relatively healthy person (who does enjoy the occasional treat) but some of us are just not...
July 2011
11 posts
8 tags
Hypoallergenic artichokes with garlic and parsley
I wrote a recent post about trying to eat seasonally and this week, I decided to tackle a vege I’ve been avoiding cooking with: the artichoke. Maybe it’s the spiky, hedgehog-like appearance that makes me feel like the artichoke is protecting itself from prey (i.e. me). In fact, I only tried my first whole one a few months ago, with a friend coaching me through the whole ‘eat it...