Tofu, it's what's for Dinner

Actually Tofu itself is not my favorite food.  But I have become quite the fan of Pad Thai with Tofu.  My husband has always been a huge fan of Pad Thai, and I have made it for him in the past for special occasions and have always bought the sauce, well being Gluten Free that has posed an issue as most Pad Thai sauces adn recipes contain Soy or Tamari, which often contain wheat.

After much searching and a little bit of playing around I found the perfect fit for us, sweet, but spicy. We love the heat!

This recipe has been adapted from The Gluten Free Vegan (Thanks Christa).  

As a side note, I always go for Organic so it is not typed in the recipes as it is just understood, when you can, opt for Organic.

1 TBSP Olive Oil
1 large Onion Chopped
6 Carrots Diced
2 cups of spinach chopped (or baby)
12 Oz extra firm Tofu Cubed
1/4 Cup GF Apple Cider Vinegar (Bragg's)
1/4 cup Braggs Aminos (or Wheat Free Tamari)
2 TBSP Agave nectar
1- 1 1/2 Tablespoons red curry paste (this is alot, and makes it pretty hot)
2 Tablespoons organic natural peanut butter
1 package washed and drained bean sprouts
10-12 ounces Rice noodles prepared according to directions
4 green onions, chopped
Juice of 1 lime

In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat and add onions and carrots. Saute until the onions become soft, about 4-5 minutes.  Add tofu and continue to cooks another 4-5 minutes.

 

Add vinegar, Aminos (tamari), agave nectar, red curry paste, peanut butter, spinach and sprouts to coat and heat through.

Pour tofu mixture over the noodles and garnish with green onions and lime juice.

And Enjoy!!!

Namaste,
Pam

Breakfast, my new favorite

In the winter I often make Oatmeal for my almost 4 year old almost every morning. It is a nutritious and wholesome breakfast that starts her day off right.  Growing up we didn't eat oatmeal, maybe its becasue we were too busy eating chocolate chip muffins from teh bakery at the food store or Sullivan's Donuts on Sunday morings to realizes it's deliciousness, but I didn't have oatmeal for the first time until college.

As a child I had huge texture issues with food and never would have eaten anything, that at the time I would have considered mush in a bowl.  The interesting thing is that now both of my parents eat oatmeal and actually enjoy it. (They came to this on their own I had nothing to do with it.)  Over the past year, being Gluten Free I have let go of Oatmeal as something I can't have anymore. Then about two months ago, a friend told me she was eating GF oatmeal that she bought at Trader Joe's and it was great.  I was skeptical.  The biggest barrier was that my oatmeal eating had all been done through Quaker and his sugar laden packets of oatmeal. 

Then about 3 weeks ago, I came home from teaching Yoga and was hungry and realized we had NO food in the house. I was in desperate need of going food shopping and we live 30 Minutes to the closest food store and it was snowing, not my idea of a good time. So I climbed into the pantry and began searching.  Now I make GF cupcakes and cookies and cook from scratch often so I have many kinds of flour and other essentials. I also happened to have gluten free Oatmeal, in mason jars in the pantry. I have no recollection what baking project I bought it for but it was there and it was ready for me.  So I decided to give it a try. 5 Minutes later, I had a warm bowl of deliciousness.

Gluten Free Banana Cinnamon Oatmeal
1/2 cup GF oatmeal
1 Cup water
1 banana
Cinnamon
A sweetener of sorts (maple syrup, organic brown sugar etc)
Nuts (optional)
Dried Fruit (optional)

Bring water to a boil, add oatmeal and stir often until cooked. Add sweetener, cinnamon and mash a banana into the pot, and mix. Let stand 1-2 minutes, top with nuts or whatever you like.

This is now my go to breakfast and I look forward to it everyday. So yummy. Enjoy!

Peace, love and Namaste.
Pam 

Gluten is the Devil...and so are Oreos

It pains me too that Oreo Cookies are so full of Chemical and Nasty stuff. Why oh why do they taste so good then?? Okay, so not good exactly, but like childhood. (Even though I'm pretty sure we never actually had them when I was a kid).

Last week my husband asked me to buy some Oreo's because he was having a craving. (And yes Oreo's are Vegan-ish.  i.e. There is no dairy, meat or egg, but the sugar could be processed with anything, but definitely not GF.)

So I gave in, Marley told me Oreo Cookies are her favorite and since I am not sure who told her about Oreo Cookies, since she has has maybe had them 2 times in her almost 4 years, I am guessing Jeffrey put her up to it.  Wouldn't you know they were on sale $2.50 a package. Kale is $2.99 a bunch, never on sale, so don't get me started.  I brought them home and Jeffrey and Marley began having a cookie or two after dinner 

On Thursday I decided, I wanted to have an Oreo, so I did, actually I have 3 or them.  That was all it took. I went to teach a class and about 20 Minutes into it (3 hours after eating the cookies) I was nauseous and thought I was going to puke.  Then the pain began, between my shoulder blades, up my spine, down to my low back and up into my head. Like someone had beat me or I had a major accident and had whiplash.

Oh the rare Occasion that I eat gluten, I can usually handle a little bit. A small piece of bread and few cracks, not the end of the world and in order for my back to be affected by the gluten consumption if usually takes a pretty good amount.

I was utterly shocked, 3 little, not so good, Oreo cookies and I have in so much pain I was considering a trick to the Chiropractor again. (which I don't usually need now that I'm GF).  SUgar and the crap in them also makes me cranky and I always feel run down and lethargic when I eat junk, especially cookies. After four days of yoga classes the discomfort has begun to ease, but I am still not back to normal. 

Good Lord, thanks but no thanks Nabisco, Oreos are Satan's Cookies and I will NOT be buying those again for anyone in my house. So I hope they enjoy them now.....

Stay Clear my friends, be healthy and Namaste.