Cindalou's Kitchen Blues

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Tuna and Eggplant Burgers
2007-08-30 17:51:00
Ah, another recipe in the saga of using up leftovers... as you can see, I had a LOT of leftover grilled eggplant!2 cans tuna, drained1/2 medium eggplant, cooked and chopped*1 egg (or 2 T. ground flaxseed plus 1 T. water OR egg replacer)1 large jalapeño, chopped with seeds1 T. organic virgin coconut oil or nonstick spray, for frying.Seasonings**:rosemaryoreganosea salt and peppercrushed red peppercayenne pepperMelt oil in pan over medium high heat. Drain tuna and add to a large bowl with seasonings to taste. Add chopped eggplant, jalapeño with seeds, and egg and mix. When oil is melted, spoon tuna mixture into pan as little blobs and squish with the spoon or spatula to make patties. Cook over medium high heat for 3-4 minutes then flip. Cover and cook for another 5-7 minutes or until burgers hold their form. Serve hot with a garnish of salsa or fresh chopped mango (I just eat them with hot sauce in my lunch).* I used kitchen shears to cut up the grilled eggplant slices.** Feel f...
More About: Recipes , Fish , Lunch , Tuna , Burgers

Brown Rice and Eggplant Bake
2007-08-30 17:23:00
This recipe just came to me as I stared, frustrated, into my fridge at leftovers. My family is coming into town this weekend and I am uber-excited so I planned menu upon menu of gluten and dairy free bliss... this cooking bonanza of course hinges upon using up my leftovers since I refuse to waste food (or to feed my guests leftovers :) ). See my note below for variations on this and feel free to experiment. This is just what I had staring back at me from the depths of my overstuffed refrigerator...2 c. cooked brown rice (this would work well with cooked quinoa also I bet)6 eggs, scrambled1 medium eggplant, cooked and chopped**1 T. Bragg's liquid aminosSeasonings:sea salt and pepperdash cayenne pepper (optional)rosemarygarlic powderonion powderMix cooked rice, cooked eggplant pieces, Bragg's and seasonings in a large bowl. Bake at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes. I baked this all in a pie plate sprayed with nonstick spray, but you can use whatever you have handy. Feel free t...
More About: Vegetarian , Recipes , Lunch , Rice , Brown

Carrot and Coconut Soup
2007-08-29 20:32:00
5 organic carrots, washed1 can(15 oz) organic unsweetened coconut milk (or half coconut milk and half almond/rice/soy milk)1/2 c. low sodium organic gluten free vegetable broth (optional)Seasonings:1 T. graham masalafresh gingerfresh ground peppersea saltStir-In Options:natural raisinschopped and steamed (or microwaved) collards or kalesliced carrotsGarnish:cilantro, chopped (or parsley)coconutFlax CrispsWash and dry carrots. Break or chop in half and add to Vitamix (or your blender). Add the coconut milk, vegetable broth, and spices. Blend on HIGH for 6-7 minutes or until mixture is steaming. Serve immediately with cilantro (or parsley) and flax crisps.
More About: Vegetarian , Lunch , Coconut , Soup , Appetizer

Fruit Parfait
2007-08-29 15:00:00
1/2 organic apple, chopped1 banana, sliced2-3 spoonfuls unsweetened organic applesauceParfait Base:1/4 c. flaxseed1 T. cinnamon1/4 c. walnuts or mixed nutsOptional Toppings:sprinkle of raisinssunflower seeds (good source of Omega 6's)Spices:cinnamonnutmegCombine flax, nuts, and cinnamon in the Vitamix dry container and blend until smooth (about 1 minute). Spoon mixture into parfait bowls. Spoon over applesauce and sprinkle on cinnamon and nutmeg. Slice banana and chop apple, adding both to the top of the layers. If desired, throw on some sunflower seeds, raisins, and drizzle with agave nectar. You can add a spoonful or organic peanut or almond butter or top with yogurt if you want (I didn't use any dairy here).
More About: Vegetarian , Fruit , Lunch , Side Dish , Vegan

Plum Chicken
2007-08-29 14:11:00
2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts5 fresh plums, choppedsea salt and pepperlemon juiceSeasonings:oreganoSpray grill with nonstick olive oil spray. Add chicken and season; cook 3-5 minutes or until chicken juices run clear. While chicken is cooking chop plums. When chicken is finished, top with plums and a dash more of sea salt and fresh ground pepper. This goes well with salsa garnish, but it is not necessary. For an extra sweetness, you can add 1 T. unsweetened black cherry or plum jam on top of the chicken.This seasonal chicken goes great with fresh green beans with almonds, grilled squash, and brown rice. This is a new twist on basic grilled chicken I thought up since we had a bag of plums sitting in the fridge, unsuspecting :) Feel free to interchange any seasonal fruit- really anything goes well with grilled chicken.
More About: Recipes , Lunch , Chicken , Plum , Paleo

Flax Crisps
2007-08-29 01:41:00
1/2 c. fresh ground flax seed1 T. Bragg's liquid aminoslemon juicesea salt and pepperoregano3/4 c. water (or enough to make flax mixture into a thin paste)1 T. organic virgin coconut oilMelt oil in pan over medium high heat. Mix flax, Braggs, lemon juice, water, and seasonings into a runny paste. You may need to add more water to make it thinner- the flax absorbs water quickly. Once coconut oil is melted, spoon or pour the flax mixture into the pan. Fry over medium-high heat for 4 minutes per side or until golden brown; be careful to flip the crisps and not let them burn. Serve hot with soup (or salad). Get creative and try your hand at funny shapes!
More About: Vegetarian , Appetizer , Side Dish , Crisps , Vegan

Know Your Metabolic Type
2007-08-28 03:49:00
Even if you're gluten free, your diet may not be quite up to par for your individual body type. I discovered this the hard way as I spent my whole life devouring carbs, carbs, carbs, dairy, and more carbs. I was never obese, but I certainly aggravated my diabetes and I carried excess weight from bloating and food reactions. As it turns out, my body is geared more towards protein and high quality fat and a complete diet makeover became necessary if I didn't want a future of insulin injection, fatigue, and overall ill health. The following is a post I put on a Celiac.com forum awhile ago to address concerns of weight gain on a GF diet: Eating gluten free is certainly necessary for us all, but make sure you are also not missing any other allergies. I highly recommend metabolic typing- it has worked wonders for me and I realized I spent my entire life not only poisoning myself (favorite foods of mac and cheese, Alfredo pasta, Vienna sausages, etc) but also eating completely w...
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Grilled Squash and Collard Omelet
2007-08-28 03:40:00
I love putting leftovers in eggs and pretending I made a new dish :) This meal is delicious and a great use of our leftover grilled veggies.3 eggs, scrambledhandful fresh collards, chopped (or kale)3-4 stems fresh cilantro, chopped1/2 c. grilled eggplant and squash1 T. virgin coconut oil for frying1 T. extra virgin olive oilSeasonings:parsleycrushed red pepperoreganosea salt and pepperhot curry powderMelt oil in pan and add scrambled egg. Cover and cook on medium low for 3-5 minutes or until eggs are set. While eggs are cooking, warm up eggplant, collards, and squash (in microwave) until warm (about 1 1/2 minutes). You can use fresh collards and squash if you prefer, but I'd recommend against fresh eggplant- it is very bitter and is better digested when cooked. When eggs are finished move to plate and top with the warmed veggies; sprinkle cilantro over everything and serve. Garnish with salsa if desired (I love every excuse to eat salsa).
More About: Vegetarian , Recipes , Eggs , Lunch , Squash

Green Beans with Almonds
2007-08-28 03:02:00
1 lb fresh green beanssea salt and pepperlime juice to taste1/4 cup slivered almondsSteam green beans until tender, about 5-7 minutes. Promptly remove from heat and drain. Season green beans with sea salt, pepper, and lime juice. Sprinkle over slivered almonds before serving.
More About: Vegetarian , Recipes , Beans , Lunch , Green

Chocolate Flax and Whey Protein Smoothie
2007-08-28 02:34:00
2 scoops whey protein isolate * 2-3 T. unsweetened cocoa powder (not processed with alkali)about 8 ice cubes1/2 c. water (add slowly- you only need enough to get the ice grinding)cinnamon, to taste2 T. ground flax2 T. almond butterAdd everything to the Vitamix (or your blender) and blend on high for 1-3 minutes until smooth. You can add more water or blend longer to get a more liquid consistency- I like it thicker where I can eat it with a spoon. This is great as a dessert or as a meal. I add extra almond butter and top the smoothie with extra flax and cinnamon since I am an almond and flax addict.* I only use very high quality whey protein isolate from NOW Foods (or Greens and Whey from Biochem). They are both gluten free and the whey isolate is lactose free- if you are dairy sensitive, do not use whey concentrate or whey blends since they do have lactose.
More About: Vegetarian , Lunch , Desserts , Chocolate , Protein

Salmon: Wild Versus Farmed
2007-08-28 02:20:00
Laura Dolson from About.com hit this topic right on the head. I've talked a little about the importance of ensuring that your fish is low mercury and wild caught, but her article summarizes it up well:Farmed vs. Wild Salmon There is somewhat of a controversy about eating wild vs. farmed salmon. The issues fall into three main categories:Contamination: Most of the salmon available for human consumption today is farmed, but several independent studies have found concentrations of PCBs and other contaminants at levels of up to 10 times higher in farmed salmon. In Europe, there have even been situations where farmed fished tested at high levels of heavy metals such as lead and cadmium. These contaminants seem to be getting to the fish through the feed, which become concentrated in the oil of the salmon. Farmed salmon in the U.S. are regulated through the USDA and FDA, which allows much higher levels of these contaminants than are allowed than with wild salmon, which is regulated by the...
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Chopped Veggie [Chicken] Salad
2007-08-28 02:16:00
You can omit the chicken for a vegetarian/vegan option.1 cooked chicken breast (or 2 chicken tenders), sliced1/2 organic carrot, sliced1 red bell pepper, choppedhandful chopped fresh red cabbagehandful each: fresh chopped collards & green cabbage1 slice onion, chopped1 jalapeno, sliced3 stalks organic celery, choppedSeasonings:sea salt and pepperoreganoitalian seasoningcilantroDressing:2 T Braggs liquid aminos1 T. San-J Low Sodium Wheat Free TamariWash and pat-dry fresh veggies. Slice and/or chop veggies with the saladmaster or by hand. Add everything to a large bowl and season with sea salt and pepper and spices. Slice chicken and add on top of salad if desired. Garnish with cilantro. Serve cold with or without dressing.
More About: Vegetarian , Recipes , Lunch , Salad , Chicken

Sweet Potato Blintz
2007-08-27 02:41:00
4 corn tortillas1 medium sweet potato, cooked*2 slices onion, diced2-3 T. virgin coconut oil1 T. cinnamon4 eggs, scrambledsea saltOptional: Goat CheeseOptional: 1 T. coconut milkOptional: 1 T. applesauceMelt oil in pan and add diced onions. Saute onions for 2 minutes or until soft then remove them from the pan. Cover tortillas with a moist paper towel and warm tortillas in the microwave for ~ 40 seconds to soften the tortillas (otherwise they tear).Soak the warmed tortillas in the scrambled egg like you would French toast. In a separate container, mash the cooked sweet potato with the sauteed onions, coconut milk and cinnamon until smooth.Layer a tiny amount of goat cheese (or your choice of cheese or no cheese at all!) down the center of the egged tortilla. Spoon in sweet potato mixture on top of cheese but do not overfill. Fold a second tortilla the opposite way over the seam of the first tortilla (as seen in picture).Fry the blintzes seam side down in coconut oil at medium h...
More About: Vegetarian , Recipes , Eggs , Lunch , Desserts

Black Bean Hummus and Vinaigrette Tuna Salad Tower
2007-08-27 02:40:00
2 corn tortillasblack bean hummus or garlic hummuslarge handful fresh collards or kale, chopped2-3 slices onionvinaigrette tuna saladsea salt and pepper, to tasteOptional Sides:salsalime wedgecilantro (garnish)Layer hummus on top of corn tortillas. Top with collards, onions, and tuna salad. Garnish with salsa and lime if desired. This is a great to-go lunch; I just add one extra corn tortilla on top before packing it as a lunch so nothing sticks to the container lid. Vegan or Vegetarian Option:Skip the tuna, add more beans or tofu. I just left off the tuna here and it is still delicious!
More About: Recipes , Fish , Lunch , Black

Vinaigrette Tuna Salad
2007-08-27 02:40:00
2 cans tuna*1 T. sunflower seeds1 t. red wine vinegar**1 T. extra virgin olive oil**Seasonings:sea salt and peppergarlic powderonion powderchopped garlicoreganoGarnish:CilantroMix all ingredients in bowl. Serve chilled. This goes excellent on top of Black Bean Hummus.* Be sure not to overdo it on tuna if you're on a low carb diet- most canned tuna is high in salt and mercury. Look for low mercury varieties or choose chunk light tuna rather than solid white albacore if you can (my mom hates the chunk light). The solid white albacore tuna is from older fish which offer better quality meat, but have significantly higher levels of mercury. Try to limit your tuna consumption to 1 can per 50 lbs body weight per week or so- there are no "rules," just don't eat 8 cans a week :)**I use a red wine and olive oil vinaigrette instead of mayonnaise since conventional mayonnaise is made with soybean and/or canola oils, both of which we avoid. You can make your own healthy mayonnaise with e...
More About: Vegetarian , Fish , Lunch , Salad , Appetizer

Black Bean Hummus
2007-08-27 01:43:00
1 15 oz. can organic black beans beans1 T sesame seeds4 cloves garlic1-2 T olive oil1 T water1 t. sea salt and pepperSeasonings:OreganoTurmeric or Curry Powder (optional)Open and drain beans; add all ingredients to Vitamix or other blender and process until creamy (1-2 minutes). Serve cold with fresh raw veggies, salad, or a sandwich- see our Black Bean Hummus and Vinaigrette Tuna Salad lunch! Or if you're Vegan or Vegetarian , just skip the tuna and try the Black Bean Hummus with Collards Vegan/Vegetarian Option .
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Over the Top Hummus
2007-08-26 03:53:00
2 corn tortillaGarlic Hummus1/2 organic carrot, sliced1/2 jalepeno, sliced1/2 c. Apple and Raisin Salad3-4 slices onionLayer hummus, carrots and onions, and apple and raisin salad on top of corn tortillas (reference photo). Mini versions, such as rolls, would serve well as appetizers.Serves 2.
More About: Vegetarian , Lunch , Appetizer , Vegan , Paleo

Celestial Seasonings Teatime!
2007-08-26 03:52:00
I am a complete Celestial Seas oning s herbal tea addict, especially the cinnamon apple and lemon zinger flavors. When these babies go on sale I use the 55 cent off coupons that come in every new box and go NUTS. Seriously, I buy the different varieties by the $20! That's my limit per shopping trip until Jon vetoes any more tea in the buggy... but there's always tomorrow ;)Celestial Seasonings herbal tea tastes fantastic and is gluten (and of course dairy) free. Only certain varieties contain gluten, but all clearly label it on the bottom of the box.I'll be putting up some recipes using this tea- you can make hot tea, iced tea, sparkling tea (tea and sparkling water or carbonated water instead of soda), desserts, in soups, and for marinades....mmmm. I need another sale!

Apple and Raisin Salad
2007-08-26 03:49:00
1 medium organic apple, chopped1/4 c. raisins2 T. coconut flakes1 c. raw red cabbage, sliced or choppedDressing (Optional):2 T. organic peanut or almond butter2 T. Balsamic vinegarChop all ingredients and add coconut flakes. Stir in peanut butter and vinegar and mix well. This is a great side dish or topper to hummus- the sweet and spicy flavors contrast well.
More About: Apple , Raisin , Lunch , Desserts , Salad

Herbed Vegetable Quinoa
2007-08-26 03:48:00
1 c. washed and rinsed organic quinoa2 c. waterhandful walnuts1 c. fresh kale1 medium organic carrot, sliced1/4 head red cabbage, sliced1 small jalapeno, sliced1 small organic apple, choppedsea salt and pepper1 T. extra virgin olive oil (optional)Seasonings:oreganoparsleyrosema rythymegarlic powderfresh lavender (optional-great for fragrance)Thoroughly wash and rinse quinoa and cook according to package directions (I brought it to a boil in the water then turned it down to simmer for about 12 minutes). Once quinoa is finished, add olive oil, seasonings and fresh veggies. Toss everything together and serve either warm or cold (I think this is best warm). If you have leftover quinoa just add it to soups, stews, or make some quinoa burgers (I will put up a recipe for this soon!) Or, if you have a sweet tooth try the quinoa carrot cake- one of my first creations!Interesting useless facts about quinoa: it is an ancient staple of the native Americans and is actually a fruit (I didn't ...
More About: Vegetarian , Recipes , Lunch , Vegetable , Side Dish

So I've been Meme-ed
2007-08-26 03:16:00
You can thank Karina for roping me into this wonderful meme...thing. The glorious part is now you get to be bored with ...8 Random Facts About Me:I was a teenage hooligan and I worshipped Che Guevara and Rage Against the Machine. I walked around with a big, black squeaky dog toy police bat to protest police brutality, I knew every word to F**k the Police, and I made trouble and stirred up political arguments at every opportunity (I was a helluva memeber of the debate team). I carried around an old copy of the CCP Manifesto (that's the Chinese communist party) and was very concerned with social injustice- typical angry overly-dramatic teen :) I am now a vocal supporter of Ron Paul- there's real social justice!I can't do mental math but I won my college annual mathematics Clark Medal award and our physics annual department outstanding student award (split with my fiance Jon). I pretend to be immensely proud that I can do abstract math, topology, nuclear and astrophysics but I ...
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Turkey Tacos and Spicy Turkey Salad
2007-08-26 02:24:00
lb. 97% fat free ground turkey1/2 medium onion, chopped5-6 cloves garlic, mincedginger, mincedfresh horseradish, minced2 T. extra virgin olive oil4 corn tortillas2-3 slices fresh onion1/2 avocadoa few spoonfuls of your favorite salsa1 small fresh tomato, sliced (we used our first ripened garden tomato!)sea salt and pepper1/2 bag organic salad mix1 organic carrot, sliced1/2 red bell pepper, sliced or chunkedSeasonings:garlic powdercayenne pepperchili powderred pepper flakescuminonion powderoreganoSides (Optional):ear of fresh corn, cooked1/2 fresh lime, slicedChop onions and add onions, garlic, ginger and horseradish to a large frying pan with olive oil. Saute for a few minutes (2-3 minutes) until onions are soft; add raw turkey meat, season well, and cook on medium until the meat is no longer pink at all.While the turkey and spices are cooking, prep corn tortillas with an ear of corn (optional- black beans would be nice here instead of corn), salsa, tomato slices, red pepper, avoc...
More About: Recipes , Turkey , Vegetables , Mexican , Lunch

Buckwheat Apple crepes
2007-08-26 01:59:00
2/3 c. organic buckwheat flour2/3 c. water2 T unsweetened original almond milk2 eggs1 t sea saltdash cinnamon2 T. organic virgin coconut oil for fryingFilling:1 medium organic apple1 T. organic virgin coconut oil for frying1 T. cinnamondash cayenne pepper1 T. sunflower seedsGarnish or Toppings (Optional):sprinkle of coconutdrizzle of agave nectar or honeyfresh ground flaxCover and cook crepe on medium low heat (about 3 on an electric stove) for 2-3 minutes. In a separate pan, saute filling ingredients over medium-low heat 4-5 minutes until apples are soft. When crepe is finished, remove from pan and add apple filling ingredients. You may wish to garnish it with a sprinkle of coconut flakes or a drizzle of agave nectar (or honey). I sprinkled some freshly ground flax over the top right before serving for extra protein and fiber. Fresh ground flax has a delicious, nutty taste which goes well sprinkled on top of practically any dish.Nutrition Note:This recipe is a nice low glycemi...
More About: Vegetarian , Apple , Eggs , Desserts , Crepes

Organic Virgin Coconut Oil is Healthy!
2007-08-25 05:46:00
As long as I can remember I was told and taught in school that fat makes you fat and the worst possible thing you can do is eat saturated fat... not only is this an incomplete truth, but it is dangerously misleading. This low fat commandment spawned a decade long craze of low fat high carb diets which continue exert significant influence in modern health care.A great reference website for the health benefits of organic virgin coconut oil is available from Dr. Joseph Mercola and in Udo's book. Both describe in detail the history and benefits of coconut oil.Excerpts from Mercola on Virgin Coconut oil: Heal th Benefits:Promotes heart health and protects the heartPromotes weight loss when and if you need itSupportes your immune system healthSupports a healthy metabolism - short chain sat fats and the EFA's in hemp and flax actually boost your metabolism!Provides an immediate energy source for you (your body preferentially burns short chain MCFA's (coconut oil) instead of storing...
More About: Organic , Healthy

Recommended Fish Oil (Free Samples)
2007-08-25 05:35:00
Fish oil is an excellent source of the Omega 3 and 6 essential fatty acids (EFA) which are vital for human health; any deficiency in these acids eventually leads to deterioration and death since the body cannot synthesize them on its own- they must be consumed in the diet. Udo's book is an excellent reference for the gory details behind fats and their importance, I highly recommend it.EFA Information:Omega-3 and Omega-6 (n-6) fatty acids constitute the two families of Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs). EFAs are considered "essential" because they are needed throughout the human life cycle, cannot be produced in the human body, and therefore must be provided through the diet. EFAs aid in the maintenance of cell membrane fluidity and stability, development and function of brain and nerve tissue, oxygen transfer and energy production, immune functions, and conversion into compounds involved in all body functions including loc...
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Ginger Pear n' Hemp Smoothie
2007-08-25 05:23:00
2 heaping T. Manitoba Harvest Hemp Powder5 ice cubes1/2 c. water1 T. rice bran1/2" chunk fresh ginger2 slices frozen peach (optional)Spices:ginger powdercinnamondash nutmegCombine hemp, pear, peach (optional), ice, water and fresh ginger in Vitamix and blend until smooth, about 1-2 minutes. Garnish with slices of fresh pear (with skin) sprinkled with rice bran, ginger powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg. This is a great quick, healthy breakfast with supplies the ideal balance of Omega 3:6 fats, it is very high fiber and low carb, and gives good quality protein.
More About: Vegetarian , Lunch , Desserts , Pear , Ginger

Homemade Chocolate
2007-08-25 05:23:00
I'm tired of trying to search out gluten and dairy free parve chocolate all the time. As I was wondering the kitchen aimlessly, I threw some unsweetened cocoa powder together with a little bit of water and voila! Instant chocolate- immediately a gazillion recipes came to mind: choclate paste, chocolate fondue, chocolate frosting, chocolate broccoli... just kidding :) This is good on its own and will serve as a great base for future desserts, but I decided to add some agave nectar for a little extra punch. Try it out, I'm sure you'll like it!Homemade Chocolate Homemade Chocolate with Agave Nectar3 T. unsweetened cocoa powder (not processed with alkali)1 T. waterdrizzle agave nectar (optional)Mix cocoa powder and water and stir into paste; add water to adjust consistency to your liking.Drizzle with agave nectar and hide in a dark closet and eat greedily where no one else will find you... especially those jealous people who are eyeing your dairy free, gluten free chocolate but coul...
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