English Muffin Woman

Woohoo!! It has taken me a while to make peace with my gluten intolerance. It has been nearly 2 years since I made the connection that gluten was a cause of my poor health symptoms, and since I did pretty well sticking with a pretty gluten free way of life. I was happy and healthy, for a long while there and amazed at how quickly my symptoms cleared up. Most notable was my depression, poor memory, feeling of confusion, lack of menstrual cycle and blood sugar imbalance were lifted from my life. All within a matter of days.

I forget what it was like to have struggled so, and almost as an alcoholic who loses sight of the 12 steps, I recently forgot that food can potentially cause a severe lack of nutrition. I moved in with a roommate and as happy as I am to be living with someone, I really hate her food. I wish it would hide so I was not exposed to it! You would think it would be fine, but for some reason, 100 cal wheat buns and mini shortbread cookies were calling to me. I went a week without them and then decided I would be fine to have some. And more and more. And the past few days I have been unable to get out of the house due to anxiety and confusion. Many would disagree the food is the cause, but due to my history of breaking away from gluten and experiencing so much goodness, I get a sense that that is what this is about.

Dear reader,
I am not here to tell you that if you struggle with your relationship with food or have a high level of anxiety, that gluten is the culprit. If you have ever struggled with depression, going gluten free may not be the answer for you. But it has been for me. I have experienced a great healing from cutting gluten out of my diet. I have also been able to tolerate it at times, but not completely. It does leave remnants of symptoms, yet I normally will cut it out before we get in too deeply together. PLease know that I am not here to diagnose or confuse you, dear reader. You have the option to eat what you please, but also to become educated about the impact your choices are having on your body and mind. My intent is to share from my experience and knowledge base in hopes that perhaps you may take a bit of inspiration, or a recipe to increase your health and happiness, and find freedom from a food addiction or a lack thereof. Either way, food is meant to be injoyed, with love and appreciation. The act of cooking food inspires creativity and therein attracts you to a higher level of living than would eating out all of the time. Please cook with love, and love yourself no matter if you love to cook, love to eat, or simply love to learn about food.

On the morning of deciding to get back on the gluten free bandwagon, yet keep up with the dairy (and not give it all up at once!)
an english muffin with cheddar cheese sounded delightful. Can you believe you can order Gluten Free English Muffins on Amazon? For cheap, too? Amazing.

Breakfast of Champions

In honor of Music City Marathon day...








I decided to retire my running shoes...










and create a Breakfast of Champions...
What would I eat if I were running a marathon?

Teff Almond Carrot Pancakes. Or Almond Teff Carrot or Almond Carrot Teff Pancakes. Whichever way you look at them, they are gluten free, vegan and sweet enough to satisfy the runner in us all to have the best day ever. You may not be running a marathon today, but in celebration of the day, may we all honor ourselves and never give up on our dreams!

Carrot Almond Teff Pancakes
Serves 3 or 1-2 marathon runners
1 cup teff flour
1 cup shredded carrots
2/3 cup blanched almond
2 t baking soda
1 t cinammon
1/2 t sea salt
2+ T Maple Syrup
1 T olive oil
1/4 cup raisins (optional)

Combine flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon in a bowl. Add carrots, 1/2 cup crushed almonds, and 1 T maple syrup. Combine.
Heat pan with oil. Add batter and cook 3 minutes on each side.
Top with almonds, cinnamon and maple syrup.

Just in time for a marathon of a day!

Teff Pancakes

Pancakes--gluten free and vegan.
Make enough for 2 hefty appetites, or 4 small ones.
Can gluten-free cooking get any better?
These pancakes will leave you satiated and looking forward to a positive and productive day!

1 cup teff flour
1 t baking powder
1/2 t cinammon
1/4 t salt
1/4 cup flax meal
1/2+ cup water, soy, rice, or hemp milk
1/4 c agave or maple syrup
1/2 t vanilla
1 T oil

optional add in: banana or blueberries

Mix dry ingredients. Combine liquid with flax meal and stir to combine with dry ingredients.
Heat oil in skillet. Add batter. When pancakes bubble, flip and cook until golden brown.
Top with maple syrup or agave and ghee.

Simply Divine. You can make these as healthy or not as you like. I enjoyed this loadup of carbs after a morning jog. A healthy way to start the day with a sweet kick and hearty fiber-filled satisfaction of these grain-based, gluten-free vegan pancakes!