Banana Upside-Down Cake

This treat was inspired by a banana tart from British restauranteur Simon Rimmer in his cookbook The Accidental Vegetarian. This version however is a little more cost-concious with fewer bananas and easier to make with a batter rather than a puff pastry base.

Mushroom Tartlets

Sophisticated mushrooms, aged parmesan cheese and fragrant rosemary will bring style to your next dinner party with these savoury little tartlets. Incorporating puff pastry shells also add a fanciful aesthetic to these appetizers. 

Gluten Intolerance

I've been having digestive problems most of my life, but especially so for the last two years. I originally started trying to eat more gluten free grains in order to have a more rounded diet that included a variety of grains, but I've noticed that my digestive system has been a lot better. I've tested it out a couple times - eating gluten after not eating it for several days - and I would very quickly start to have a lot of pain in my abdomen. This has pretty well confirmed that I have developed a gluten allergy. (My doctor has tested me to be sure its not Celiac.) So, I am going to be continuing my exploration and learning about how to successfully bake with gluten free grains (just more balanced with protein and vegetables than I have been lately) and will be posting the knowledge I gain through these experiments.

I am also in the process of developing some key resources for gluten free cooking and will be posting them and updating them as necessary.

Thanksgiving Roasted Cornish Game Hen

Since I live alone, and my family are spread across the globe (I have siblings in Alaska and France!), my Thanksgiving can be pretty lonely. Sometimes I spend it with friend's families, but not every year. This year is one of those years. So, an entire Turkey is kind of ridiculous for just one person! I'd be eating left over turkey for a month. Thus, I make myself a roasted game hen instead. Their only a few bucks and a decent size for one person, and with sides I even have some leftovers for the next day.

Barefeet in the Kitchen's GF Sandwich Bread

I just discovered this blog today, and am excited about it! Barefeet in the Kitchen is the food blog of Mary and her three boys, and is now a gluten free blog. I'm looking forward to trying out her recipes and learning from her experiences converting to gluten free. This recipe below is a wonderful staple for any gluten free home. Her Tender High Rise Gluten Free Sandwich Bread is the first real success I've had with baking anything gluten free that is supposed to rise. I've copied her recipe below (with my milk free substitute), for reference only, in a different colour font, and my notes. Please DO see her original post for detailed directions and photos for the steps as this recipe does have a few details that are important and she has had multiple questions about the recipe, which she answers in her comments.

Spicy Roasted Cauliflower (v)

I admit it. I don't like cauliflower. I never have. Yet with this recipe its actually pretty good. Have kids that absolutely will not eat it, like me when I was little, try this recipe: the spicy kick might just get them to like them. 

Spanish Almond Puffs

These spicy and sweet bites are great for any winter holiday get together. The spices are a wonderful combination with the frosty air outside as well as those toasty drinks inside. Super easy and quick to make using packaged puff pastry sheets, but feel free to make your own from scratch if you like. See the variation after the notes for making their classy sibling: Sweet & Spicy Party Twists. (Makes about 20 puffs, or 24 twists.)

Leek & Mushroom Soup (v, gf)

This is a delicious and bright soup that can be enjoyed year round and can fit various price points depending upon which mushrooms you choose to use.

Diversity of Diet Was Key to Our Survival

Scientists and archeologists have been able, with the assistance of modern genetic research and technology, to identify that the entire human race today derives from about 600 breeding individuals at the southern tip of Africa about 115,000-90,000 years ago. These humans prospered because of their diversity of diet, while all other forms of the humanoids became extinct, like the Neandertals whose diets were dependant upon a single food source.

Too Many Carbs...

I received in the mail today my new bamboo bathroom scale from Amazon.com and weighed myself and solidified the thoughts that have been going through my head recently: I'm too obsessed with carbs these days.

I've been very excited to learn all this great new information about baking gluten free that I've been whipping up pizza after pizza. It can be easy to forget: even though its gluten free it still has carbs in it. And all these carbs I've been experimenting with, well, it hasn't exactly been living life either spherically or moderately. Thus, I am going to be cutting out the carbs for a few weeks, to reset my metabolism - my body is clearly very much addicted to the carbs right now and I have to put it through carb rehab. I'm not going to start today; I need to go buy healthy carb-free groceries first. Plus I have just purchased the ingredients to make something I've been dying to try - Gluten Free Naan! But I have it marked on my calendar: 17 November, 2012. No more carbs, end of story. At least for two weeks - just long enough to get my body over the carb addiction. Then I'll start adding them back into my diet in healthier qualities and quantities; spherical and moderate carbs.

I'll be posting more about my understanding of carbs, metabolism, and health in the next month or so. Plus updates upon my success in getting back into my clothes from before I got really sick two years ago and started this decent into carb addiction (my body did literally need tons of them for a while, but not for a while now).

I have a recipe on my radar for a rutabaga and edamame dish, as well as leek and mushroom soup. I have some favourite carb free recipes to pull out for you as well. Start looking forward to more amazing veggie-based recipes!


Update:
Even though I had good intentions, this hasn't happened. That being said, I am trying to eat far less carbs and more protein and vegetables. I will hopefully be able to do this full metabolism reset come January 1st, I've realised that I just have too many other factors in my life right now to commit to something like this. (11/23/12)