Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Thanksgiving Dinner

This is one of my favorite meals of the year. Every year, I like to try new things and this year is no exception. This year presents a fun challenge because my son is following a Paleo diet while I am eating gluten free. We've decided on some of the following dishes.

Trader Joe's Cranberry Sauce (in the jar, just twist and serve)
Dairy Free Scalloped Potatoes
Paleo Pumpkin Pie Pudding
Athena's Favorite Green Beans

All Natural Turkey from Sprout's, brined following this Emeril brining recipe:

Brine:

  • 1 cup salt
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2 oranges, quartered
  • 2 lemons, quartered
  • 6 sprigs thyme
  • 4 sprigs rosemary

To make the brining solution, dissolve the salt and sugar in 2 gallons of cold water in a non-reactive container (such as a clean bucket or large stockpot, or a clean, heavy-duty, plastic garbage bag.) Add the oranges, lemons, thyme, and rosemary.

These Best Ever Scalloped Potatoes with No Dairy

Ingredients

12 potatoes sliced thin
1            bunch greenonions, finely chopped or sliced thin if you prefer
1/3 c Olive oil
3 c boiling chicken broth
1/3 c Gluten free flour
salt, pepper and paprika to taste

Directions

In 2 shallow, well greased 2 Qt. Casserole dishes layer, Potatoes and Onions sprinkling with salt and pepper between each layer.            
In a medium sauce pan warm oil over medium heat. Stir in flour until well blended. Wisk in chicken stock; cook stirring constantly until it boils and thickens.            
Pour sauce over potatoe casserole and sprinkle with paprika to taste.            
Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for about 50 minutes or until potatoes and tender and golden brown.
 
Paleo Pumpkin Pie Pudding from this blog
 
Ingredients
Instructions
    For the puddings:
  1. Add the grass fed gelatin to a small jug or bowl. Add the water and then stir with a fork until you have a paste.
  2. To a small saucepan, add the coconut milk. Gently warm the coconut milk over a low heat - do not simmer or boil. Whisk in the grass fed gelatin paste and keep whisking until combined. Remove from the heat.
  3. Add the pumpkin puree, maple syrup and cinnamon to a blender.
  4. Puree until smooth.
  5. Add the grass fed gelatin and coconut milk mixture to the blender; process to combine.
  6. Use a wide mouth canning funnel to divide the mixture evenly between 8 4 oz mason jars or ramekins. Chill for at least 1 hour.
  7. For the candied pecan topping:
  8. Add all the ingredients to a small saute pan. Cook over medium high heat - the right temperature will be when the maple syrup is bubbling. Keep stirring constantly until the syrup reduces and the pecans are coated, about 5 minutes.
  9. Remove to a parchment paper lined plate. Chill until the puddings are ready, then top the puddings with the candied pecans
Athena's Favorite Green Beans
I asked my students for their favorite Thanksgiving food and most of them said turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, or pie. This student said her mom's green beans are the best so this is mom's recipe:
 
Long green beans
Red onion slices
Minced garlic
Kosher salt
Black pepper
Olive oil
Mix together the olive oil, black pepper, minced garlic, and salt. Cook the green bean and onions with the olive oil mixture and bake for 15 minutes in the oven at 375 - 400 degrees.
 
Ruth Chris' Sweet Potato Casserole

Ingredients:
CRUST
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup flour...
1 cup chopped nuts (pecans preferred)
1/4 cup butter (melted)

SWEET POTATO MIXTURE
3 cups mashed sweet potatoes (can use canned to save time, just drain)
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs (well beaten)
1/2 cup butter, melted (1/2 cup)

Directions:

1. Combine brown sugar, flour, nuts and butter in mixing bowl. Set aside.

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

3. Combine sweet potatoes, sugar, salt, vanilla, eggs and butter in a mixing bowl in the order listed. Mix thoroughly.

4. Pour mixture into buttered baking dish.

5. Sprinkle the surface of the sweet potato mixture evenly with the crust mixture.

6. Bake for 30 minutes. Allow to set at least 30 minutes before serving.


We'll have a few standards such as mashed potatoes, gravy, and stuffing too. I'm getting hungry just writing about this.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Relief - I've finally found a cleansing regimen that is working!

About eight months ago, I found out that my prescription cleanser (Prascion) was discontinued. I figured that if I continued to use the Finacea gel and an over the counter cleanser, things should be fine. As you may have already read, I have tried several different products which seem to work for a while, but generally I have had no luck clearing the redness and papules/pustules. This summer, I began to review my treatment plans from the past and realized that my skin was at its best when I was treating the papules/pustules as adult acne. I was desperate and begged my Dermatologist to prescribe Retin A Micro, which I had used successfully about nine years ago. The insurance company approved and I began using it, but it made me break out horribly, especially on my neck and jaw. Of course, everything I read said that this was just the purging phase and to hang in there. Hang in I did for three months. During this ordeal, my mom was battling a horrific case of stage IV melanoma, and the stress of seeing her suffering compounded my breakouts. Finally, at the end of August, after days of research, I decided to try Dermadoctor's Ain't Misbehavin' Cleanser twice a day. It went against everything I have read about Rosacea but it went totally with what I knew would help adult acne. Within a few days, the inflammation in my skin calmed down and the papules and pustules began to clear. I would, however, for a couple weeks afterward, get one or two large pustules on my cheek that would head, burst, begin to clear, then reform. I then decided to add Dermadoctor's Ain't Misbehavin' serum every morning while continuing the Finacea nightly. My skin has not been this clear since my last pregnancy eighteen years ago. It isn't dry or oily either. I've been on this treatment regimen now for ten weeks with great success. I am still on my original tube of cleanser and serum, so even though it is pricey, it lasts a while and in my opinion is well worth the price.