Healthy food, healthy mind, healthy me

Deconstructed warm taco salad (free from gluten, grains, dairy and nightshades)

2012-01-05T12:00:00.001-05:00

Okay. This is a bit of a weird shot in the dark that worked out super well. Instead of the usual taco salad that is full of all kinds of things I'm not supposed to be eating (more to come on my elimination diet soon), I created this in a pinch and it was really tangy, creamy and good. The taco filling you would usually stuff into a corn tortilla was laid out on some beautiful sauteed kale, then

Healthier chocolate coconut macaroons (vegan, gluten free, refined sugar free)

2011-12-18T11:44:00.000-05:00

These are so yummy. Sticky, gooey, and even though I made mine with carob, surprisingly chocolatey. My mother can’t tolerate chocolate so I can’t wait until she has a taste of these! I served them at a party and they were gobbled up; time to make another batch. J Healthier chocolate coconut macaroons (vegan, gluten free, refined sugar free) Ingredients:1 cup unsweetened coconut (shredded) 3 cups

Herbed turkey & chicken meatloaf with gravy (gluten free, nightshade free)

2011-12-13T20:42:00.000-05:00

Wow. I wish I had the wherewithal to have taken a better picture before we packed up the leftovers, but here she is, in all her glory: Parents- she even contains hidden veggies!! Herbed turkey & chicken meatloaf with gravy (gluten and nightshade free) Okay. I promised I'd talk more about enzymes in part 2. Following part 1 where I broke down simple volume issues; namely, a large glass of OJ is like eating 3-4 oranges, but without the fiber and other nutrients to slow the release into the blood stream- as you would have if you simply ate the fruit). I'll get to the pasteurization/enzyme question shortly, but first I

PART 1 of 2: Is juice healthy, even if it's 100% fruit? Hypothesis: no.

2011-02-26T20:47:00.000-05:00

So occasionally the boy really likes to do science experiments. He understands the states of matter, the three things it takes to make fire (air, heat, combustible for those of you who forget) and it inspired me to do my own experiment. My friend Alyson at Proud to be a Fit Mom recently asked me if juice was bad, and why. I couldn't answer her so I did some research and an experiment.

Recipe: samosas and spicy mango chutney (gluten free, dairy free, refined sugar free)

2011-02-20T21:52:00.002-05:00

Update March 26, 2011- Hello! Are you visiting for the first time from Angela's blog at www.ohsheglows.com? Thanks for coming by!! Lovely to have you over. :) Hope you enjoy my blog. Sign up for updates if it looks like we're on the same journey. ps- I love comments...bring 'em on. :) Kirsten ___________________________________________________________________________ Sweet mother of mercy, if

Penne with spicy puttanesca and vegan parmesan (gluten free, vegan)

2011-02-18T14:20:00.003-05:00

Update April 6, 2011- Hello! Are you visiting for the first time from Angela's blog at www.ohsheglows.com? Thanks for coming by!! Lovely to have you over. :) Hope you enjoy my blog. Sign up for updates if it looks like we're on the same journey. ps- I love comments...bring 'em on. :) Kirsten _________________________________________________________________________ I'm such a nerd that I

Pumpkin pie smoothie- dessert in a glass

2011-02-15T09:27:00.001-05:00

SO YUM. I'd like to shout out to Angela over at Oh She Glows for this recipe and for Marisa- her faithful follower and my friend who introduced me to Angela's blog and to this recipe. AH-MA-ZING. I wish I had more to show you but I couldn't resist and sucked it back faster than you could say YUMMMYYYYY. In true Dropsie fashion, though I pledged otherwise, I ended up altering Angela's recipe just

Homemade chicken and vegetable soup (gluten free, dairy free, mostly organic and cheap to make!!)

2011-02-11T15:59:00.003-05:00

This recipe probably could have fed 6-8 people, and I would say it probably cost me somewhere between 10-15$ to make. Take note- not every organic meal HAS to be costly. It was looking like this outside: So I really craved this: Homemade chicken and vegetable soup (gluten free, dairy free, mostly organic and cheap to make!!) For the broth- put the following ingredients into a big pot, bring

Accidental gluten ingestion

2011-02-08T21:46:00.000-05:00

Well, it seems as though I've experienced my first accidental "glutening". I went to a restaurant (buffet style) and try as I might, I did not succeed in avoiding gluten. I may have been hooped by the salad dressing, or some eejit who put the pasta salad spoon on the greens, but in the end, it got me. The symptoms were very much like "the great cracker incident" where following my inconclusive

The Bitter Truth About Sugar- watch the video

2011-02-06T15:28:00.000-05:00

So, this weekend, I have done the amount of chopping, cooking and prepping that I usually do in a week. I'm kinda fried, to be honest. I have a lot of recipes in my noodle, but unfortunately, I am going to take a few more days to sort out exactly which worked, and which didn't! Hope everyone is well, and I'll leave you with this. I believe that this is a med school lecture given by Robert H.

Product review: MimicCreme Cream Substitute

2011-01-30T15:24:00.003-05:00

My impressions I've mentioned before that I have been unwilling to completely give up dairy because I could not find a suitable substitute for use in coffee (okay and maybe the odd slab of organic butter). Did I mention that I LOVE coffee? Love it. I would drink decaf if I had to, because I just love the taste. And I am unwilling to compromise on that taste. In my coffee, I have tried soy milk,

Vegetable soup (simple, gluten free, dairy free)

2011-01-29T08:45:00.000-05:00

Hello all! With a sick lil' boy, I stretched my imagination and came up with a quick soup. Here's the skinny on how I made soup in about 30 minutes (start to finish!): Quick vegetable soup Ingredients: 1 box Pacific natural foods organic chicken broth 1/2 cup Eden Organics pasta and pizza sauce 1/2 an onion, diced 1 Tb grapeseed oil 2 cups chopped veggies (mine included green beans, fresh peas,

My latest obsession: ZUMBA!!!

2011-01-27T19:36:00.000-05:00

My blog posts are typically not about exercise. I must admit that I am not one for sweating...seriously. I walk at least 20-30 minutes, at least 4 times a week, but on Fridays I do ZUMBA!!!! Remember when you were a kid and went to dance class and boogie'd your heart out? Then you were a teen/twenty-something and you were rockin out on the dance floor of whatever club you were frequenting? Then

What colour is YOUR dinner?

2011-01-18T21:17:00.000-05:00

Remember when you were choosing your dinnerware? What is the perfect colour? What would go with your kitchen? What is the most versatile? Well, it seems that for most people, the plate has become more important than what goes ON the plate... Have a look at this: And remember this poor woman from the Jamie Oliver specials who was suffering both physically and emotionally? Check out what her

RANT: Food intolerance is real, serious, painful, and scary

2011-01-15T09:15:00.001-05:00

Warning: rant ahead!!! For those of you who are totally blessed, and can eat whatever you please, GOOD ON YA. You are lucky, and in a way, I'm totally jealous. In another way, I see these past months (coming up on two years soon!) since I've eaten gluten as a real gift: because of feeling terrible, two things happened: a) I stopped eating the things that were making me sick and I don't get sick

Appetizer recipe: Salmon cakes (gluten & dairy free)

2011-01-09T10:32:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year everyone! I hope everyone is off to a great, healthy start in 2011. Over the holidays, I had two occasions to host gatherings at our house, and I came up with these little bite-sized jobbies to share with friends, and also to make sure I'd have something to munch on that would take the edge off before dinner. As much as I enjoy a veggie plate, it is kind of sad when that's your

What should I buy if I want to drink smoothies? Dropsie's basic smoothie kit

2010-12-31T13:59:00.001-05:00

In my last post, I mentioned that if changing the way you eat seems too daunting, you might instead try adding something healthy instead of thinking about all the things you should remove. Starting your day with a smoothie is a great way of giving you a boost of fiber, protein, calcium, vitamins and minerals. Plus, if you're like Mr. Pick-it-Up, you will embrace smoothies because they are made in

Top ten considerations when making a weight-related New Years resolution- Are you planning to lose weight in 2011?

2010-12-26T22:12:00.002-05:00

So Christmas has come and gone, and I hope you had a tremendous time with your most beloved friends and families. The new year brings (for many) renewed vigour and hope for change in 2011. You may be like so many who will decide that enough is enough- this is the year they will FINALLY diet successfully. They will vow that they will suffer, cut, avoid, and otherwise deprive themselves in an

Christmas appetizer (raw, vegan, gluten free, dairy free): Endive boats

2010-12-19T16:03:00.002-05:00

I often find myself trying to come up with big convoluted recipe ideas. Then occasionally I put something really simple together and remind myself that it doesn't need to be such a big deal! This is one of those occasions. Meet endive boats...otherwise known in our house as Pirate Boats (because I was trying to get the kids to eat them). Incidentally, each kid ate one, but there is a bitterness

Gluten free, dairy free, vegan quesadillas, with raw sour cream and raw vegan "cheesy" nacho dip

2010-12-17T08:42:00.001-05:00

Often Sometimes I try to put dinner together and fail miserably. Here's the thing: if I know it's super healthy, I eat it. While I'm pleased if it turns out to be yummy, I will still eat it if it's not. My children on the other hand, require much more coaxing. Here is a peek at our recent Quesadilla night, which I was sure would bomb, but ended up being delicious! Here's the recipe: Gluten and

Healthy, homemade Christmas gift ideas

2010-12-12T09:13:00.010-05:00

For a handful of healthy, homemade gift ideas, read on. Would you like some ideas on how to avoid overindulging during the holidays? Read my post on how not to fall off the wagon this holiday season. Click these links for more information on how you can make small concessions that lead to better health, and more ideas on how to maintain a healthy weight through optimal nutrition. _______________

Recipes: Tropical banana mint madness smoothie, and scalloped potatoes (gluten and easily dairy free)

2010-12-05T09:15:00.000-05:00

So, I've decided to try and cram in as many smoothies as I can during the Fri-Sun time period. I had one friday, yesterday I had a green smoothie and a banana chocolate smoothie, and today I had one for breakfast. Here's today's breakfast smoothie: Tropical banana mint madness Into your blender, throw the following- 1 zucchini 1 handful each fresh parsley and coriander 8-10 leaves fresh mint 1

Chunky spaghetti sauce- from scratch!

2010-11-28T07:36:00.000-05:00

In the past, I usually made spaghetti sauce using a bottled sauce as a base. This time I went without anything pre-flavoured and it turned out GREAT! I use ground organic chicken, but you can skip the meat altogether or you can use ground organic beef in its place. I will admit that using chicken results in much less fat than if you use beef, so there is a bit of a lack of viscosity. So, I

Holiday season- how NOT to fall off the wagon

2010-11-26T20:14:00.000-05:00

So...the holidays are coming. Every place you go, from the desks at the office, to every house you visit for the next month will be bursting with stuff we all really shouldn't be eating en masse. So once you've chosen a way to eat healthy, how do you look into the face of temptation and decide you're not gonna bite (literally AND figuratively)? How do you eat healthy during the holidays? Here

Sugar and artificial sweeteners make you fat, ugly and depressed

2010-11-21T09:47:00.000-05:00

I was recently chatting with a good friend of mine who asked me "So what's the big deal about sugar, why do you not want to eat it?" I was kind of caught off guard. Truly. I wanted to provide an intelligent answer on the evil effects of sugar, but the only fact which sprang to mind, was that the cane or beet sugar that runs rampant throughout processed food (particularly ones marketed TO

Restaurant owners: train your staff in safe food preparation!!!

2010-11-19T22:03:00.001-05:00

So there's this salad place near work that I really like, and on the odd occasion I get take-out for lunch, that's my old stand-by. However, I decided to go and give Sushi Go a try and see what I could eat (incidentally, it seems Sushi Go is a chain restaurant of, obviously sushi, soups and loose leaf teas). First of all, the place was JAMMED. I had to wait in a line that snaked around the room

Recipe: Green elbows

2010-11-17T20:01:00.001-05:00

This is one of my favourite go-to recipes when the rest of the family is eating something I can't. Here it goes: Ingredients: Cooked pasta of your choice (today I made a few handfuls of brown rice elbow noodles) 2 big swiss chard leaves 1/4 lemon handful of grape tomatoes 1/2 cup spaghetti sauce (I chose this one, but in the spicy variety) 4 TB hemp seeds 3 handfuls of mixed organic salad greens

What are the alternatives to dairy? (saying bye bye to Bessie)

2010-11-13T23:28:00.000-05:00

According to our friends over at Wikipedia and many other sources, as many as 75% of adults worldwide show a decrease in their ability to break down cow's milk. This process typically begins around age four and corresponds with weaning. Weaning is the point where for all mammals -except humans- milk is no longer consumed. For those of you affected by dairy intolerance, allergy, or the simple

Recipe: Open-faced avocado sammy

2010-11-11T21:55:00.001-05:00

I need to credit my friend Dayna for this recipe. She and I have just started trading, and after this one, I need to ask that she keep 'em coming. When she first told me about it, I thought "Well, not much of a recipe, is it?" but I was so wrong. There is something about these flavours that just works. Open-faced avocado sammyIngredients:2 slices of gluten free bread1 ripe avocado1 TB Dijon

No more gluten or wheat again!

2010-11-07T16:08:00.002-05:00

The decision to give my old pal "wheat" a try (maybe you know him?!) was, at best, ill advised. After suffering waves of nausea, massive gastrointestinal upset (in new and spectacular severities) and a big fat eye-pulsing headache in the 48hrs following my little reunion with my long-lost buddy, I think it is safe to say that we are parting ways permanently now. So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen

Green smoothies...and an update. :)

2010-11-05T13:45:00.001-04:00

Lately, I have been obsessed with green smoothies. They are a great way to make breakfast to go, which is fabulous on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays when I'm with the kids. Here is one recipe I've been loving lately. To your blender, add the following: 1/2 lemon (just peel and plop the whole thing in) 2 green apples (cored but certainly not peeled!) 2 TB ground chia and/or hemp seeds grated

What does the scale mean to YOU?

2010-10-31T08:41:00.003-04:00

Some of us, particularly those who suffer from "disordered eating" - which can be anorexia, bulimia, or compulsive eaters, etc - are chained to it, slaves to it. We weigh ourselves daily, sometimes more than once a day. But what does that little number MEAN anyway? First, watch this video. See? See what that number means? As Shan says, it means "JACK!" Nothing. Stop being a slave to the number

Not a great choice: Mentos...made with wheat?!

2010-10-25T20:34:00.000-04:00

It's not very often that I would buy honest-to-goodness candy for myself. In fact, I can honestly say that I haven't bought myself candy in over a year. But that tube of Mentos at the cash CALLED me...in a way I cannot describe. It called for a vestige of my old life. So I bought them. I had a few...they were okay. That was a while ago. I can't say I remember anything crazy, to be honest, so

Surprise! An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and biopsy!

2010-10-21T13:57:00.000-04:00

Got a call two days ago to take the spot of a cancellation at the gastroenterologist for a small bowel biopsy via an Upper Gastrointestinal (GI) Endoscopy. I've mentioned this before, but let's recap: this is where the doc sticks a long tube down your throat that has a camera, a tissue clipper thing, and an air hose all in it (I think). He or she goes down the esophagus, through the stomach and

Recipe and recipe book review: Smart School Time Recipes

2010-10-17T15:40:00.002-04:00

As I mentioned previously, I contributed to a free downloadable recipe book written and coordinated by Alisa Flemming of Go Dairy Free (http://www.godairyfree.org/). I've finally acquired the ingredients to make some of the recipes so I went on a little bit of a blitz and made three this week. Here are some details... Breakfast Bars from Elena's Pantry (http://www.elanaspantry.com)/Elana- these

Leftover turkey recipe: gluten free, dairy free enchiladas!

2010-10-13T09:53:00.001-04:00

I SO wish I had a picture to share with you. To be honest, I thought this dinner would be a gigantic BOMB- especially with the kids- but it actually got "two thumbs up" from Mr. Pick-it-up, so I'd say that was a success! Anyways, I never took a picture because I didn't figure it'd work out, but you'll just have to use your imagination. I'm afraid I don't have a clear idea of the amount of

Eating disorder freedom

2010-10-10T09:06:00.001-04:00

Once upon a time, I was not very kind to my body. I starved it, binged and purged, created strange binding rituals around when, where and how often I could eat, and totally beat myself up if I failed to adhere to them. I was lifeless, controlled by food, and could think of nothing else but how I was literally starving and desperate for real nutrition. When I finally vocalized my silent cry for

The next phase

2010-10-05T20:25:00.000-04:00

So I had my follow up with the gastroenterologist (after a positively miserable weekend) and he would like to do a small-intestine biopsy. Truth be told, the chances of it coming back showing damage are slim to none, but hey, I'm up for giving it a whirl. Apparently I get some good drugs and the day off work while I recover from a very quick, but kind of yucky test, and for what it may answer, I

"Poor me" day

2010-10-03T06:16:00.001-04:00

I had a big, fat, ugly "poor me" day yesterday. I was again feeling ill—gut cramps, nausea and "other symptoms"; truth is, I haven't felt quite "right" since my ambulance ride on Tuesday (my last post has some more info about that). Here are the thoughts I've been having: 1) I'm so tired of being and feeling sick. 2) I'm so tired of not knowing what made me sick, and of spending hours trying to

I have the genetic marker for Celiac Disease

2010-10-01T14:46:00.000-04:00

I received a call a few days ago, and my gastroenterologist shared some information with me that I was both expecting and fearing: I have the DQ2 genetic marker that is associated with 95% of people with Celiac disease. I now know, with 99% certainty, that I have Celiac. You see, I have the genes that predispose me to having Celiac disease, but we don't know at this point if the genes are "on"-

Perfect fall-weather hearty lentil soup

2010-09-26T13:26:00.001-04:00

On a cold day, particularly when my little girl has the sniffles, I really crave a warm hearty soup. Here's what I concocted and with two bowls of it still warm in my belly, I wanted to share the recipe: Dropsie's hearty lentil soup Ingredients: 1/2 large sweet onion1/2 TB grape seed oil (or whatever oil you have on hand- coconut oil, olive oil, etc)1 large or 2 small cloves of garlic 1/2 TB

Don't underestimate your server

2010-09-25T07:52:00.001-04:00

I had two INCREDIBLY positive restaurant experiences lately. Seriously. Mind blowing. Most times if I go out to a restaurant, I have to choose between a very "north American" type chain, in which I will have almost nothing to eat (because of the crazy amounts of wheat in everything) but they will likely have a chart listing all the allergens- including dairy and gluten. This is helpful, but meh-

The Fruit Fly Solution

2010-09-18T12:44:00.000-04:00

With all the lovely fresh fruit coming into our house, it seems there is no end to the fruit flies. I am not an outdoorsy girl, that's for sure, so having a way to rid our house of what I call "the infestation" is a welcome relief. Our friends Pierre and Ashley gave is the ultimate solution to the Fruit Fly Problem. Here's how it works: Ingredients: 1 bowl 1 sheet plastic wrap 1 splash of apple

Review: Redbridge gluten free beer (and Spunky peach cobbler) ;-)

2010-09-15T20:33:00.001-04:00

Oh sheer, unadulterated delight. I have once again benefited from the sheer generosity of my mom and her husband who travelled south of the border and returned with an entire case of Redbridge gluten free beer. I cannot begin to describe to you how fantastic it is. It is really, REALLY good. I've previously reviewed a number of beers including La Messagère (terrible), New Grist (beyond terrible),

Free cookbook is HERE!

2010-09-02T22:32:00.000-04:00

After all of Alisa's hard work, the cookbook is ready and waiting for you and yours. Pass it on- anyone can download it! http://www.onefrugalfoodie.com/2010/09/01/free-school-time-recipes/ Great job Alisa! Kirsten

Blog post mash-up: genetic tests, vacations and cookbooks.

2010-08-31T21:07:00.000-04:00

Hey all, Thanks for hangin' in there through this month. We had a big two week road/cottage trip, and since then it's been just as crazy. We really had fun, saw family and friends and just generally were together. I'm not sure we did much in the way of relaxing, but we did enjoy our time away. There are a zillion things I could tell you about (including the all-gluten-free bakery and cafe we

Product review: Mary's crackers... no...scratch that— Mary's Love COOKIES!

2010-08-05T21:20:00.003-04:00

In short, these rock. No, Mary unfortunately did NOT send me my own free box (though if she did, I would happily accept!) but I was happy to pay. Do you see the ingredients here? Palm sugar- not processed white sugar- that one is my favourite! Plus no hydrogenated crap, no preservatives, lovely healthy chia and quinoa thrown in, all organic...seriously- it doesn't get better than this! No, this

Quinoa Salad (gluten free, easily vegan)

2010-08-01T09:34:00.001-04:00

We've had a really busy social calendar this summer (as evidenced by my lack of frequent postings!) and often that involves going somewhere for a pot-luck dinner. Knowing in advance what's on the menu certainly helps, but either way I bring a lot of a dish I can eat, and preferably one that can serve as a full meal in case there is literally nothing else I trust to eat. Quinoa salad works every

Gluten free, casein free, lactose free pizza!

2010-07-28T14:02:00.000-04:00

Daiya does it again. We had pizzas for dinner—real, scrumptious pizza. It was divine. The husband brought home some Kinnickinick pizza crusts and a huge bag of Daiya cheese. The crusts were okay- I found them a little soggy and sweet. I don't think pizza crust should be sugary. However, on the whole, this was a TOTAL treat. It had been forever since I'd had pizza! For every success I have, there

Vegan cheese: drippy, sloppy, gooey, melted and soy free!

2010-07-22T13:15:00.000-04:00

No, it's not an oxymoron. Bust out the old griddle, pizza or lasagna pan, because cheese is back, baby! Daiya deliciously dairy free vegan cheese is free from all of the following allergens: Soy, Dairy (Casein or Lactose) Gluten, Egg, Wheat, Barley, Whey, and Nuts. I'm not going to say that it is overly high in nutrient value (I'd call it nurtrient-neutral) but as a treat, it is WELL worth it.

Vegan, gluten free banana muffins

2010-07-16T11:24:00.001-04:00

I have a love-hate relationship with muffins. I love to eat them, but I am crushed when I waste expensive ingredients and fail at making them. So I'd like to present- ta daaaaa- banana muffins!!! I had a whole bunch of bananas that were on their way out so I busted out an old recipe (funny how I used to cook and eat) and changed it up. Here's what you'll need: Dropsie's gluten free, vegan banana

School lunches and sugar- from a Canadian's perspective

2010-07-10T09:05:00.000-04:00

There is much going on these days to combat the problem of school lunches in the US and Britain. From Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, that got so much attention, to some lesser-known but still important cogs in that big wheel, it really has me as a Canadian, scratching my head a bit. For my American visitors, let me give you a bit of a primer from my perspective as a Canadian living in Ontario.

Feelin' alright

2010-07-07T14:04:00.000-04:00

Funny thing happened recently. A very nice friend of mine gave me a beautiful pair of jeans that no longer fit her (her "fat clothes"- ha!). I had my doubts that even her fat clothes would fit me but she insisted I try them. Turns out they are probably still a size too small. I can zip them up, but honestly wouldn't be seen in public wearing them. A small part of me thought "if only I could fit

The Whole Life Nutrition Kitchen

2010-07-01T11:59:00.000-04:00

I have a blogroll of folks I try to scan fairly regularly. I just found these folks today and really am loving this blog. Everything whole foods, everything gluten free. :) Enjoy!! http://www.nourishingmeals.com/

Italian-style organic chicken sausages in VEGAN casing (egg free, gluten free, casein free)

2010-06-26T16:56:00.000-04:00

Sweet mother of mercy- do you know what this IS???? This, my friends, is a sausage. Now, to most of you, you might be thinking, "yeah, so what?" Do you have any idea what kind of world has just opened up to me with this discovery??? Let me explain. When you don't eat pork, you cannot eat sausages. All but a VERY limited few are made in "natural hog casing"...for the more literal, that means "pig

Let an ingredient be your inspiration (Summer salad recipe)

2010-06-20T21:24:00.000-04:00

We were at the cottage this weekend, and on the way back we stopped...yes...for french fries... :) OH HOW I LOVE POTATOES. Yes, I know...I'm working on it... I digress. We stopped and adjacent to the chip truck was a flea market type of thing. It was quite a smattering of people's junk, with some strange fruit and veg selections (not even local- imported- in the middle of the country) and then a

Oh what a difference a year makes

2010-06-18T08:16:00.000-04:00

It's been roughly a year since I began with an elimination diet that led to figuring out some of what is bothering my poor guts. I'm getting close now. And it's amazing the changes that have happened to me in the last year- really. I made mention in my "cupcakes" post that a palate can be trained. We all know this instinctively. Have you ever tried baby food? It tastes like...well...nothing

Cream in my coffee- regular v. organic

2010-06-12T10:35:00.000-04:00

I have purchased organic cream before. The only one I could find here was 10% fat, and at that time, I was really used to 18% fat cream (coffee cream). So I wasn't crazy about it. Plus, here's the thing: we only drink coffee at home on the weekends, so we've been pleased with the shelf life of non-organic cream: it lasts for weeks in the fridge through our sparse use of it on the weekends. Either

Cupcakes with coloured icing

2010-06-04T09:26:00.005-04:00

Looking for a way to make non-toxic icing dye? Then read on! Would you prefer a rich, dark chocolate recipe that did not use any refined sugars? Then look at my post on refined-sugar free chocolate avocado icing. Want more info on my food philosophy for eating well and staying slim? Come and see my post on maintaining a healthy weight. ___________________________________________________________

Is God stupid?

2010-06-01T20:57:00.000-04:00

This is an amazing video that my friend Alyson sent me. I'm afraid my time to post is limited, so all I can say is watch and learn. This guy is amazing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EP1wiS1Pamw Kirsten

Miss Dropsie's food principles for maintaining a healthy weight

2010-05-21T08:35:00.002-04:00

I was chatting with a friend this week, who from what she tells me, is a slave to calorie counting. I told her that since I changed the way I eat, I don't ever worry about calories and fat. Ever. She seemed surprised. Instead of counting calories, I eat a certain way, and until I'm full. I monitor how my clothes are fitting and if I've had a bad patch of "cheating" I move more, and eat more

Running...for dummies...and lazy butts like me

2010-05-19T21:49:00.000-04:00

My friend Alyson, one of the most accomplished multi-taskers the world has ever known, has now added "running teacher" to her repertoire. Her qualifications stem from a degree in kinesiology, her accreditation as an army medic and paramedic, then of course the fact that she is a life-long runner (kind of hate her for that...given that I tend toward sloth-like myself). I asked if she would put

Grocery store gross-out

2010-05-15T13:21:00.000-04:00

When I go shopping for groceries, I go to a local chain of grocery stores that has very little of what you'd find in the "centre section" of the supermarket. It's got fruit, veg, meat, dairy, fish, deli, bread, baked goods, coffee and some staples like a few "healthier" cereals, hand made pasta sauces and noodles, etc. There is also a small dried goods section where you can get rice, lentils, etc

Great blog post on "Weighty Matters"

2010-05-10T21:45:00.000-04:00

Oh how I love Yoni Friedhoff from Weighty Matters and his no-nonsense take on nutrition, or lack thereof, in processed foods and the way he grumbles aloud about things I silently choke on. Like this...for instance. Yet another example of why you can't just trust advertising and why you have to keep reading those labels!!! My favourite quote from his post: "...Of course making an argument that

"Man Slop"- a recipe the whole family will love (EF, GF, CF)

2010-05-09T07:52:00.000-04:00

Alright, so- you're always searching for just the right thing that your children will actually eat and not complain about. Yes. I totally understand. Here's what I put together last night, and the troops DEVOURED it. I don't eat red meat, so I can't attest to how yummy it is, but the babysitter for whom I made the meal raved about it, and said that every bite the kids stuffed down was met with

Gut inflammation and its connection to intestinal flora

2010-05-08T14:04:00.001-04:00

Just wanted to share a fantastic article. Thought you might enjoy this....http://www.marksdailyapple.com/gut-flora-inflammation/ Here are a few snippits: "...Everything is connected to everything else. Chronic stress begets chronic inflammation, which chronically elevates cortisol, which induces insulin resistance and belly fat accumulation. Celiacs are usually intolerant of casein, too.

The social aspect of food intolerances (feelin' kind of low)

2010-05-05T19:57:00.000-04:00

When you live with food intolerances, you can easily (albeit begrudgingly) control your kitchen at home. You can choose not to have things that upset your body's balance, and you can choose not to eat out unless you know it's safe. Yeah, it's not perfect, but it's okay. However, when you enter into a social setting and you're "that guy"- the one who can't eat anything- it's a real downer. Case

A typical Dropsie day

2010-05-02T08:48:00.003-04:00

It's funny how a typical day has changed so much for me. When your bread costs $8/loaf, you don't use much. When you can't eat out, you cook at home. So I rarely buy my lunch at work because the salad I can buy for 10$ at the local salad place is as good as the one I make from home, and I can't really get anything else. So here's what I eat on a typical workday. 6:30am Seven + PRO supplement (

Organic roasted chicken recipe

2010-04-23T10:23:00.001-04:00

I give full credit for this recipe to my pals at Allrecipes.com - where I go whenever I need a good recipe. I really like the site because it not only gives you a recipe, it gives you a rating (out of five stars) and all kinds of comments from folks who changed the temperature, tweaked this, or added that. It's great to look through how everyone did with it, and pick what you want to change.

Ready to bake gluten-free foods? Get your lab coat.

2010-04-18T08:08:00.000-04:00

Before you start baking "gluten free", you use one flour- wheat flour. Maybe you spice it up and have "whole wheat" flour also. Well, when you bake gluten free, it is a virtual science experiment each time. In the place of one ingredient "wheat flour", there could be any myriad of flours, starches, and of course, a binder like xanthan gum, guar gum, chia seeds, etc. It is for that reason that as

Just like mom used to make- Gluten free crêpes!

2010-04-16T08:23:00.000-04:00

You know I'm not gonna lie to ya...if I try a recipe and it kinda stinks, I'm not going to tout it on here. But let me tell you- I have desperately missed crepes since I stopped eating gluten, and I don't have to miss them anymore. Crepe lovers—listen up!! To begin my crepe investigation, I started with two recipes- one using millet flour and one using sorghum. I don't know what's up with millet

I'm drinking BEER!!!!! (a review of Bard's gluten-free beer)

2010-04-14T20:34:00.003-04:00

So, I recently posted about two very dissappointing gluten-free beers I had tried: New Grist and La Messagère. Both SO not drinkable. Then a little angel (also known as "Brian from Bard's") told me that his beer was better. Sure. Yeah. I've heard that line before. I also have swamp land for sale in Florida to sell you... Well, I stand (sit) here a changed woman. I am drinking beer. Okay, I'm

Lookin' for feedback

2010-04-13T22:25:00.000-04:00

Hey folks, So, I'm honoured that you're here. I really am. I'm honoured that you'd take the time to visit, see what I think and even sometimes comment. I want to pay it back by tailoring content to what it is you'd like to see. Do you want more recipes? Want to see what's on the menu at Chez Dropsie? Want to hear more about my favourite foods? Want to see what's in the news and how it relates to

Update on gastroenterologist

2010-04-11T14:38:00.000-04:00

Got a second call from the gastroenterologist. For those of you who actually pay for your healthcare (my American visitors) it might seem strange (or not at all, I have no idea) that a doctor who does tests on you would not take five seconds to call you back. In my experience, most tell you that you will not hear from them unless there is a problem. Like, taking the 1 minute needed to leave a

Still in the dark.

2010-04-10T07:48:00.000-04:00

Got a call from the gastroenterologist. He called me at home during the day (despite having left a message with my new work number) and he told me that it does not appear as though I have any signs of celiac disease. Of course I have questions: are you basing this only on the IgA test? Because I kind of expected that (haven't eaten gluten in about a year- except through crumbs or other