Diet, is this one of the causes of Dementia?

Did you know that changes in your diet may well help to prevent the onset of dementia? Working in the care industry, even though I am office based, has massively opened my eyes to the despair endured by loving relatives of sufferers of dementia and Alzheimer's Disease. How many of you know someone whose mental capacity is declining in this way?

Gluten Free Christmas Cake GF

I've enjoyed Christmas Cake for as long as I can remember, I make one every year. Growing up, my mother used to create a very rich dark cake and my Grandma would make several in loaf tins to hand out to family members. It's better to make your cake in October or early November and feed with brandy every two weeks but as usual I'm late in making the cake this year!

Grain Free Ginger and Lemon Tart GF SCD

The buffets I've made for the family gatherings in the past have always included the lemon pie I first made at school when I was 14 years old. It's a family favourite. I decided to create a grain free version suitable for the SCD with dairy free and vegan options and unbelievably, this tastes just as delicious as the original. 

Grain Free Ginger Snaps GF SCD

For centuries ginger has been used to aid digestive healing but it's also known to help promote fast recovery of colds and flu. Probably the reason why ginger desserts are so popular in the Winter months is because ginger is extremely warming and helps promote good circulation.

How To Make Almond Milk GF SCD

Finding a healthy milk alternative on the supermarket shelves is virtually an impossible task. Have you ever picked up a carton of non-dairy milk and read down the list of ingredients? For me it was an instant put-off. Home made almond milk is an excellent, healthy alternative to cows milk and it's so simple and quick to make. I'm becoming quite fond of this silky, smooth and refreshing drink.

Grain Free Gingerbread Men GF SCD

I've made dozens of these gingerbread men in the effort to create the taste and soft, slightly chewy texture of the original parkin pigs and gingerbread men I enjoyed as a child. Bonfire night (or Plot Night) on November 5th is a huge event in the UK. It celebrates the failed attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament on November 5th 1605 and the capture of Guy Fawkes who was found in the cellar guarding the barrels of gunpowder.

Chunky Vegetable & Bean Stew GF SCD

This week my daughter made a wonderful bean stew that's perfect for the blustery, cold and wet weather we're experiencing at the moment. Made with a selection of nourishing, sweet, seasonal root vegetables, this stew is very delicately spiced and yet very warming.  There's nothing more satisfying than stews and soups in the Winter months.

Grain Free Orange & Sultana Cake GF SCD

I love fruit cakes and this cake is almost guilt free since it derives its sweetness from natural, unrefined sources. The almonds provide a nutritious boost to the cake making it ideal for breakfast, snacking and afternoon tea.

Courgettes or Zucchini - a round-up of recipes

Courgettes or zucchini to my friends across the pond, have only really become popular in the UK over the past ten years.  The first time I discovered them though was about twenty years ago when a French teenager came to stay for a few weeks one Summer, he sliced a couple and fried them in a pan, YUM!!!!

Courgette and Roasted Cherry Tomato Soup GF SCD

This soup is a taste of the sunny Mediterranean, created by combining the intense, concentrated flavour of roasted tomatoes with courgettes and Italian herbs.

Courgette and Carrot Muffins GF SCD

Carrots and Courgettes are packed with nutrients so you can feel really good about yourself when you eat these muffins! Courgettes are rich in vitamin C and Carrots are rich in Vitamin A and by combining the two together you also benefit from Vitamins B1, B2, B6, E and K as well as folic acid and the minerals potassium, manganese, phosphorous, magnesium and copper.

Eating Out at Raw Aura, Port Credit

A highlight of our Toronto holiday was our meal at Raw Aura in Port Credit, just down the road from where I was staying with my son, his lovely wife and my beautiful, sweet grandson. We don't have a raw food restaurant near where we live in Yorkshire. I think people prefer a more Northern Diet however Yorkshire born Alistair Brownlee did state that he thought his diet of puddings and pies helped him to win the Triathlon at the Olympic Games. Really! 

Roasted Butternut Squash & Carrot Soup GF SCD

As Autumn approaches I look forward to preparing brightly coloured, nutritious root vegetable soups. While most vegetables are available all year round, for foods which can be considered to be "in season" then I think Autumn is possibly my favourite season of the year. Root vegetables top my favourite vegetable list and they contain all the necessary vitamins and anti-oxidants to give a boost our immune system, protecting us in the cold months ahead.

Cherry Chocolate Cookies GF

I've adapted my Raisin Cookies Recipe to make these delicious cherry chocolate cookies.

Gluten Free Treats at Niagara on the Lake

The last time I visited Niagara on the Lake was four years ago when we decided to make a detour on our trip back to Toronto after visiting Niagara Falls. It was late evening and I thought it was one of the prettiest places I had ever seen. So on this trip to Canada we were over the moon when we were treated to an over-night stay there.

Black Bean Salad GF SCD

This is such a simple salad yet it's one of our favourites! I've been meaning to post this for some time now but just not managed to get around to it! Easy to make, colourful and fresh, it's over-flowing with plant based goodness.

My Visit to Bunner's Bakery in Toronto August 27 2012

Some of you may have gathered that I've been away for a few weeks. My son and his wife live in Toronto and earlier this year we had the most fantastic news - they were expecting their first baby, our first grandchild. We had already decided to visit them this year since 2012 is the year of my husband's 60th birthday and our 35th Wedding Anniversary but this news was the icing on top of the cake! 

Grain Free Raspberry Ripple Cake GF SCD

Did you know that the raspberries come in four different colours, red, purple, black and gold? The most fragile of all berries, raspberries are members of the Rose family. Tart yet sweet, raspberries are rich in antioxidants, in fact they provide us with one of the best sources of cancer protecting ellagic acid. Abundant in vitamins and minerals, the humble raspberry is also an excellent source of the anti-tumour agent, Vitamin B17 or laetrile. So many great reasons to include them in your diet!

Golden Courgette Pasta GF SCD

Though very similar to the last zucchini noodle recipe I posted, this was much quicker to put together and surprisingly tasty and the warm golden colour looked lovely on the plate! I do think though that courgette noodles resemble bean sprouts more than they do pasta and could quite nicely be added to any stir fry to make it SCD legal.

Herbs Around the Home - Part 2

My previous post discussing the benefits of using herbs around the home was all about Lavender. Its antibacterial, antibiotic, anti-fungal, antiseptic and anti-viral properties definitely make it superior for use in the home to most other herbs. However, some or all of these properties are present in other common herbs so I thought I'd share some more ideas for using them around the home.

Kale Chips GF SCD

When I visited a store in Leeds, I was blown away by the choice of kale. It's not normally easy to find and not particularly a popular vegetable.

Sunny Tomato Salad GF SCD

The fruit and vegetables in our local stores are very ordinary so it was a lovely surprise to visit a store a bit further afield and discover a huge selection. I bought a few items I wouldn't normally see when I'm out shopping. I believe that this store is quite special for its range.

The Sunshine Award

Walking in the sunshine with the geese and their family in York

I feel so honoured to have been nominated for The Sunshine Award by my new friend Lauren of Empowered Sustenance. This is how Lauren describes herself

"I am a Real Food advocate. I am a dancer. I am a Pinterest addict. I am eager to heal myself and others through holistic nutrition."

We definitely have a few things in common Lauren! Lauren has only recently started her blog but already it's proving to be a great resource for followers of gluten-free, Specific Carbohydrate and GAPS diets and anyone who is interested in wholesome food and holistic nutrition. Thank you so much for the award Lauren, so very, very sweet of you!

"The Sunshine Award is an award given by bloggers to other bloggers. The recipients of the Sunshine Award are: “Bloggers who positively and creatively inspire others in the blogosphere.”  The way the award works is this: Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them. Answer 10 questions about yourself. Select 10 of your favorite bloggers, link their blogs to your post and let them know they have been awarded the Sunshine Award!"

Here are the questions attached to the Sunshine Award and my answers:

1. Favourite Colour: blue..but people may think it's black...
2. Favourite Animal: all, except perhaps crocodiles, but I love my cat Tilly the most.
3. Favourite Number: it used to be 7 but I haven't thought about it much recently.
4. Favourite Drink: at the moment it's raspberry and apple juice though I still enjoy a coffee.
5. Facebook or Twitter: Facebook, without a doubt...
6. Good Movie or Good Book: movie, there's nothing we like better than to curl up on the sofa and watch a good movie. My favourite is "Notting Hill".
7. My passion: this is simple - my family but they may say it's my blog now!
8. Giving or Getting presents: giving...
9. Favourite Day of the Year: Christmas Day especially when we're all together.
10. Favourite Flower: daffodils, they symbolise the beginning of Spring and warmer weather to come and they're so pretty!

This was a very difficult task and took a while to think about. Of the long list of people I might have chosen, some have recently received the award so that made my choices a little easier. I'd like to pass on the Sunshine Award to all the bloggers I've come across, they are all terrific but I've narrowed it down to these 10 (in no particular order!) :

1. Laura of Gluten Free Pantry - Laura is such a sweetheart! A wonderful gluten-free cook, Laura has studied nutrition and holistic medicine for many years and we both have an interest in the huge benefits to be gained from cooking and healing with herbs and spices. Her creative cooking skills make this site a fantastic resource for anyone following a gluten free diet.
2. Ella of Lifeologia -  what can I say about this very special person...an inspiration to all of us and her beautiful spirit shines through in her amazing photographs and her love for life. Please visit her site, you won't regret it!
3. Richa of Hobby and More - Richa is such an inspiration, her creative and tasty vegan food is to die for and she often posts recipes which are also gluten free. She regularly posts new recipes and never seems to run out of ideas and since I am a huge fan of Indian food, I adore her food blog. Richa is also passionate about animals, raises awareness of animal cruelty and supports animal sanctuaries and rescues. Keep up the great work Richa!
4. Alea of Premeditated Leftovers - Alea has been such an amazing support for me since I started my blog and her website is full to the brim with recipes and amazing tips. Alea has a keen sense of humour and quite often her facebook posts have me rolling on the floor in stitches! 
5. Valerie of City Life Eats - Valerie's blog was also one of the first I discovered about the time she was writing her fascinating lunchbox posts. Valerie has found time in her very busy schedule to share the most amazing recipes and articles about her other passions in life. Thank you for inspiring me Valerie!
6. April of The 21st Century Housewife - April has also been a huge support over the past year and she's such a sweet natured person. I'm fascinated by the cakes she creates and she has a huge love for fashion. April also writes tips and advice on travel. Thank you for spreading the love April!
7. Raj and Sonia of Flip Cook Book - Raj and Sonia are authors of one of the first SCD websites I discovered and I have fallen in love with their creative vegetarian and gluten-free food. I feel I have known both of them for years now, and I love their Sunday recipe carnival, Sugar Free Sunday, you must visit it!
8. Kalinda of Wheat Free Meat Free - Kalinda (and Mike) shares a selection of gluten-free, vegetarian recipes each week and she is particularly special because she isn't a vegetarian nor does she have to follow a gluten-free diet she does all of this for Mike who has Celiac Disease. This is another site which I found when I first started my blog and one which I've loved to regularly visit. Thank you for your dedication Kalinda!
9. Jadah of Relish SCD - Jadah posts recipes suitable for the SCD and gluten free diets and she also updates about her progress and writes reviews on SCD legal food and related topics. I am so pleased that she has made progress on the diet this most definitely will inspire others to continue, good luck for the future Jadah!
10. and finally last but certainly not least, Shirley of GFE Gluten Free Easily - Shirley has probably received hundreds of these awards but I'm nominating her today because she fits the description of the award 100 per cent and I adore her informative blog and the incredibly interesting articles she writes, not forgetting the awesome recipes there! Shirley works tirelessly for the gluten free community both at home and on-line and her Virtual Gluten-Free Support Group is an amazing resource for all!

I hope you will go and visit at least some of these blogs! 

Garden Minestrone Soup (without the pasta) GF SCD

This is such an easy quick soup to make and to be honest I don't miss the pasta. Full of plant based goodness, a warming bowl of this chunky Minestrone Soup is just what's needed on a rainy day like today.

Grain Free Lemon and Blueberry Cake GF SCD

Tangy lemons and juicy, sweet blueberries are perfectly paired in this zingy, almondy cake sweetened with fragrant, golden honey. This cake could even quite happily be the star of the breakfast table since every one of its ingredients offers something nutritionally beneficial.

Herbs Around the Home - Lavender

Photo with kind permission from Cotswold Lavender

The many species of lavender are woody shrubs with narrow, sweet fragrant foliage coloured bright green to silver, displaying spikes of tiny tubular flowers in multiple shades of purple, pink and white.

Grain Free Peach Pudding Cakes & Peach Muffins GF SCD

Peaches, who can resist these velvety, orange, red, plump, juicy and sweet fruit. An excellent source of Vitamin C and moderate source of Vitamin A and β-Carotene, peaches also provide the diet with potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and copper as well as the flavonoid poly-phenolic antioxidants - lutein, β-cryptoxanthin, and zeaxanthin. These compounds help scavenge harmful oxygen-derived free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) from the body that play a role in ageing and various disease process.

Red Slaw GF SCD

Coleslaw has to be one of our favourite salads and this simple, raw coleslaw is packed full of nutrients and is suitable for vegans. 

Egg-Free Mayonnaise GF SCD

Since making my Coleslaw a few weeks ago, I developed the mayonnaise recipe further and I used this one for my Waldorf Salad. We have been making it regularly since we think it works wonderfully as a real mayonnaise alternative.

Grain Free Ginger and Vanilla Plum Crumble GF SCD

I've rarely cooked plums before, no sooner bought than eaten in our house.  So, I thought I would take advantage of these early season plums being on offer and try to develop a dessert we would all enjoy.

Summer Turnips and Sweet Carrots GF SCD

At this time of year turnips are in season. Sweet and ever so slightly peppery, turnips are rich in Vitamin C and provide a good source of fibre. If you are following the SCD, turnips are an advanced food. In the Eleventh Printing of the book, dated April 2004 it states "..turnips (may be tried after considerable improvement).."

Waldorf Salad GF SCD - An Anti-Prostate Cancer Dish

I've always loved Waldorf Salad but my usual take on it is nothing like the one prepared today at The Waldorf Astoria. This video shows the chef preparing the salad using candied walnuts - I've never used candied walnuts! My Waldorf Salad has always been very basic - chopped apple, chopped celery, walnuts, a few raisins and yogurt or mayonnaise.

Vanilla - Vanilla Ice Cream GF SCD

Vanilla is the world's most labour intensive agricultural crop and because of this, it is the second most expensive spice next to saffron. It is the only edible fruit of the orchid family, the largest family of flowering plants on earth. The vanilla orchid, vanilla planifolia, grows wild on the edges of tropical forests and can grow over 100 feet.

Quinoa Salad GF

I made this salad at the same time as the Green Bean, Pea and Haricot Bean Salad when we had very little food to choose from in the cupboard and fridge. It's a very simple and quick to prepare salad and full of plant protein. You can choose any vegetables which are suitable for roasting in this salad.

Coleslaw GF SCD

Coleslaw is nutritious, delicious, easy to make and doesn't break the bank. Lovely with other salads, in wraps, sandwiches and just on its own, this wonderful and colourful  dish is a family favourite and popular all over the world.

Green Bean, Pea and Haricot Bean Salad GF SCD

Beans and peas are an excellent source of plant based protein and we always try to incorporate some into our diet every day. Green peas are one of my favourite vegetables and I can't resist eating them straight from the pod when they're in season, they're the sweet, highlight of the Summer months. Not only are they protein rich, containing about 5 grams of protein per 100 grams, they're also a great source of Folic Acid,Vitamins C and K And best of all, green peas are nutritiously delicious whether they're cooked or eaten raw.

Grain Free Sultana Scones GF SCD

I've always loved making and eating scones and I can make some wonderful gluten-free scones but this is the first time I've tried to make them grain free.   My freezer is bursting with scones at the moment from the trials last week and since I'm the only one at home who is able to eat dairy and eggs, I've been enjoying them on my own!  

Coffee Ice Cream with Hazelnuts & Chocolate GF SCD

Fresh coffee frozen yogurt cream is a favourite of ours. It's mild coffee flavour and creamy texture is mouth-wateringly delicious! The addition of roasted hazelnuts and homemade chocolate chips gives this simple flavour some extra pezaz!

White Chocolate SCD

Followers of the Specific Carbohydrate Diet are sadly not able to eat chocolate nor are they able to eat cacao powder.  BUT happily they are allowed to eat cacao (or cocoa) butter which is the pure fat extracted from the cacao bean. White chocolate is surprisingly easy to make. I'm not going to say that this recipe is perfect by any means but it works for sprinkles. 

Rosemary - Rosemary & Garlic Bread Rolls GF SCD

"As for Rosemarine, I lett it runne all over my garden walls, not onlie because my bees love it but because it is the herb sacred to remembrance, and, therefore to friendship; whence a sprig of it hath a dumb language that maketh it the chosen emblem of our funeral wakes and in our burial grounds." Sir Thomas More (1478-1535)

Rosemary or Rosemarinus officinalis is deemed to be a symbol of friendship and remembrance all over the world. The tradition of laying sprigs of rosemary over a coffin or tombstone dates back to ancient Egypt and was continued well into the Middle Ages. Sprigs of Rosemary have been found in the wrappings of Egyptian mummies and the Ancient Greeks used to burn branches of the herb on the altars of their Gods, considering it to be a sacred herb. Rosemarinus means "dew of the sea" and the herb grows wild in Mediterranean coastal areas. An evergreen shrub with strongly aromatic needle-like leaves, Rosemary is a member of the mint family and related to basil and thyme.

Mediterranean Kidney Bean Burgers GF SCD

Kidney beans originated in Peru and were introduced to Southern and Central America by migrating Indian traders. They were brought back to Europe in the late 15th Century by explorers on their return from The New World. I love their deep red colour, so attractive in bean salads and hot dishes.

Sun Dried Tomato and Roasted Pepper Courgetti GF SCD

I love anything with a Mediterranean flavour and this recipe is grain free and suitable for the SCD.

Grain Free Banana & Almond Butter Cookies SCD GF DF

When I first caught sight of this cookie recipe on Shirley Braden's blog, Gluten Free Easily, I knew I had to attempt to make them SCD legal because the ingredients are simple and the method is so quick AND I LOVE almond butter with banana. Just mixed together in a bowl and the taste is heavenly! Shirley has been gluten free since 2003 and her blog is a wonderful place to be if you need gluten-free advice and recipes and it's a great resource for those newly diagnosed. In addition, Shirley runs the GFE Virtual Gluten-Free Support Group on her site. This is a monthly event aiming to share information from the actual support group meetings which she holds along with details of the presentations made there. If you are on a gluten-free diet, make your way over and join in!

Baked Bananas in Fresh Orange Juice GF SCD

The word banana derives from the Arab word Banan which means finger and a bunch of bananas is actually a hand. The old scientific name is musa sapientum which means fruit of the wise men and this fruit has been grown for thousands of years evidenced by the Egyptian hieroglyphics which depict people with bananas.

Grain Free Plain Sponge Cake SCD GF DF

I've never cooked a plain grain free cake for the SCD before and I've always loved Victoria Sponge cake with some strawberry jam sandwiched in between the layers. So I set out to try and recreate the texture and taste.  The cake made with this recipe is not exactly the same BUT it comes pretty close, I think, if my memory serves me well.

Another Liebster Blog Award

This week I was honoured (again) to receive the Liebster Award from Amber whose blog, The Tasty Alternative, is one of my favourite places to be on a night in! Thank you Amber! Not only does Amber post extremely tasty recipes suitable for the SCD and gluten-free diets, she also delves into holistic healing and eco-friendly advice and ideas. 

Liebster is a German word meaning "Dearest" thus the award means "Dearest Blog". It is given to people whose blogs have less than 200 followers and are waiting in the sidelines to be discovered and is recognition for the author's creative writing and dedication.  It also helps to bring blog owners together and consequently, the sharing of ideas.

I started my blog to create a place for my own family to find the recipes we have enjoyed at home since they're no longer at home! I also hoped that it might be found by other SCDers so they could also enjoy the recipes! But the greatest outcome is that I have met so many awesome people and their ideas and creativity have greatly enriched my life.

To accept the award you have to thank the person who nominated you on your blog then :

• Link back to the person who awarded you
• Nominate 5 other blogs for the award
• Inform the 5 other bloggers by leaving them a comment on their blog
• Post the award on your blog.

These are my 5 blog choices, ones which I think definitely deserve this award (although I could nominate many more!)

1. Lifeologia 
2. Women in Real Life 
3. Fox in the Kitchen
4. Stuff I feed Brian
5. Sunday Morning Banana Pancakes

Please visit these sites and enjoy!

Cauliflower and Lentil Soup GF SCD

Lentil Soup is amazingly warming on a cool evening! Some nights we just don't feel like cooking a large meal and soup is one of those dishes that is really quick to make and filling.

Grain Free Chocolate Chip and Hazelnut Cookies GF

Before embarking on my present day gluten-free diet, my favourite cookies were Maryland Cookies especially the Chocolate Chip and Hazelnut ones. Armed with the knowledge I have today, I understand why I could munch my way through almost a whole packet in one sitting, sugar is addictive.