Creamy Cucumber and Radicchi Salad (plus more)

Mayo

Lemon juice

Honey

Apple Cider Vinegar

Sea salt

Mint optional

(Let sliced radicchi sit in dressing awhile to eliminate any bitterness)

Lettuce

Radicchi

Cucumber

Seriously! 80 half sausages for 5 euros and a bag of frozen spinach for 1 euro has turned into so many meals! With this you get what you see. Red onion, garlic, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, herbs/salt/pepper, in the the spinach.

Spinach Tomato Pizza [GF] with Vegetable Crust

 Did I actually eat it or just photograph it [I have since removed excess photos]? Oh, I ate it alright and quite gladly so. Was using up my remaining diary products before swearing them off until probiotic consumption increases and tolerance improves.

Mix together well and form into round or square shape and bake 230 C (450) for 10 minutes or less on an olive oil coated cooking sheet:
3/4 cup mixed cheeses (parmesan, mozzarella, etc...)
3/4 cup cauliflower, 1/4 cup broccoli with stems, 2 tbs carrot (precooked and shredded)
1 egg
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp oregano and basil
FS pepper
2 cloves garlic minced

Toppings:
Sautee on one side:
Red onion
1 garlic clove
Add last minute:
Cherry Tomatoes
Parsley
Sautee on the other side
Spinach

Lemon juice
Basil
Oregano
Add last minute:

Olive oil
Balsamic Vinegar
Red pepper flakes

Have for lunch or supper, it probably took 30 minutes including baking time. Alternately, eat only part of it and save some for breakfast with an egg.

Pizza is like pancakes, easy and quick to experiment with.

Experiment and enjoy!

Spicy Dijon Sausage Cabbage Rolls

Should have written down my "splash and mix" recipe immediately, but hey I'm not perfect.

1/4 - 1/3 cup mayo

1 - 2 tbs dijon mustard

1/2 tsp thyme [timo] (maybe and/or parsley?)

dash red pepper flakes

diced garlic?

lemon juice?

cholula hot sauce?

sea salt

plenty of four seasons pepper

Sautee in skillet:

1 tsp olive oil

2 seasoned (italian) sausages

1 medium red onion sliced

cholula hot sauce

Add last minute to just heat up:

Cabbage leaves from top of sauerkraut batch

Half a sausage with onions and tons of sauce to one cabbage leaf.

Optional, sprinkle with paprika and serve!

Sincere apologies I cannot provide an exact recipe, because it was SO GOOD!!

Raw Vegetable Pasta with Garlic Chicken

[Picture coming soon]

Toss:
1 carrot (peeled completely into strips)
1 zucchini (same as above)
4 button mushrooms sliced
optional sprinkle with lemon juice and sea salt

Cook covered in skillet:
1 small yellow onion sliced
sea salt and pepper
When onion is slightly tender, add:
1/4 cup pre-boiled chicken
1 clove garlic
1/4 tsp parsley
*don't over cook onion

Sprinkle with balsamic vinegar

I ate it cold as a packed lunch. Quite good and nutrition :).

Hope you like it.

Breakfast Sweet Fruit Salad

Prepare fresh fruits and toss together:
1 1/2 cup Deseeded grapes (quickly slice width-wise and swipe seeds out with finger)
1 Large Orange
Lemon (peel, break into eighths and slice in half to easily remove seeds and cut into bite sizes)

Eat! (Manage your bites, mix lemon with orange and grapes accordingly so you don't end up with only lemon) Yum yum and fits the Hallelujah diet guide for food combining - grapes (sub-acid) orange and lemon (acid).

Orange Chocolate Yoghurt Pancakes [Gluten-Free]

Another one of those experimental things, but hey that is what I am all about.

I'm working on going raw...ish. Alright two meals out of three a day and fresh juice will be raw. Still keeping my gluten-free creations [pancakes!], chocolate, fermented veggies (a form of raw right?), homemade broths and occasional meats (mineral, amino acid, etc source). Maybe I need to come up with a different name than raw food diet; maybe: GAPS diet with more fruits and veggies. Will come up with something soon.

Mix:
2 yolks
1 - 2 T honey
3 - 5 squares milk chocolate (from bar) melted
1/2 tsp lemon juice or better yet, orange juice, zest, or oil
2-3 tbs orange flavored yoghurt (I used half a single serving cup)
1/2 tsp vanilla (one packet dried)
1/4 - 1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
Stir in:
1/3 cup almond flour (+/-)
1/4 cup flaxseed meal (+/-)
1/4 tsp cinnamon
Whisk two egg whites until stiff and fold in.
Sauté in butter (coconut oil distracts)

I ate them plain, but you could serve it with blood oranges and Nutella

Need to make them again to confirm ingredient amounts and increase chocolate/orange flavor amounts (I adjusted the recipe above by guessing). The folded in egg whites really made a difference and could possibly make these as waffles instead.

Experiment and Enjoy!

Thursday's Savory Supper

Opted for the word "Supper" over "Dinner", but now I realize it doesn't matter whether I ate this for lunch or the "evening meal" could have even eaten it for breakfast. It's mealtime neutral.

Anyway this definitely departs from my transition into a raw[/gaps] diet, it was fatty and flavorful. Definitely prompted my new poor etiquette habit of licking my plate clean.

In 1 tbs olive oil, fry intact until halfway cooked:
Seasoned sausage (it was a guess-and-grab at the italian supermercato)
In same pan thaw frozen spinaci cubes.
Slice sausage into bite size pieces, turn to cook on both sides.
Remove spinach and mix in sea salt, pepper, basil, lemon juice, dijon mustard.
Push sausage to one side of pan to keep warm. Crack egg into oil/sausage grease, keep yolk runny but whites crisp; sprinkle with salt/pepper/parsley. Return spinach to pan to reheat for a few seconds.
Plate and eat! Took 10-15 minutes!

Not quite "healthy", but it was REALLY good! Drink a cup of probiotic homemade broth on the side and you have yourself a GAPS meal.

Enjoy!

Not Sure What To Call It Besides Scrumptious!!

Hello All e Ciao a Tutti,

This was spectacular, maybe because it filled my craving, or maybe because it was just delicious and flavorful!

Much to my surprise, brussel sprouts is not a favorite veggie amongst many people - well, I came up with solution to any bitter taste! Pre-boil brussel sprouts in water, apple cider vinegar, and sea salt. Or just add apple cider vinegar to brussel sprouts whatever way you are cooking them. Also be careful to not overcook them - vegetables in general are better not overly soft.

Cook brussel sprouts as described above, drain, slice in half and place cut side down into a frying pan of olive oil (okay not healthy, but umm...whatever). Sprinkle with sea salt, pepper, parsley. Melt 2 Tbs butter and add 2 cloves minced garlic. When garlic is done and brussel sprouts are slight crispy, set aside, covered.

1/4 -1/2 cup tomato sauce
1/2 can rinsed and drain kidney beans
2 tsp cholula hot sauce or as desired
Sprinkle, basil, parsley, (tiny bit oregano) lemon juice, sea salt, parsley
Add 1/2 cup homemade sauerkraut without juice, once sauce and beans are well heated (preserve probiotics). Optional, few cherry tomatoes quartered and tossed in.

Give or take on ingredient amounts based on personal preference.

Place brussel sprouts on plate and pour over. Quick and simple! Mm mm Good.

Experiment and Enjoy!

Share your alterations in the comments below.

Homemade French Dressing Salad

Been really inspired this week by Kristina at FullyRawKristina (youtube) ...Looking to switch my diet to more and more raw foods and detox my system and achieve abundant health and energy!

This still needs tweaked or additional toppings to pull it all together to make it uh-mazing:

Insalata:
Lettuce
Cauliflower
Carrot
Cauliflower
Optional:
Sunflower seeds
Chicken
Walnuts or Pecans
Broccoli
Cucumber
Bean sprouts
Red bell pepper
Sweet cherry tomatoes
celery or celery seed

French salad dressing:
1/4 cup tomato sauce
1 - 2 Tbs honey
1 Tbs lemon juice
1 -2 Tbs Apple Cider Vinegar
1/4 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp dried parsley
Sea salt
Four seasons pepper

Salads are the easiest thing to make - mix and match. The dressing are fun to experiment with also!

Be thankful and love what you eat.

Keep on experimenting!

Pizza with Cauliflower Crust

I got this receipt from TfDiaries

I don't have a measuring cup so it was approximately as follows:
Preheat oven to 450 F (230 C)
Mix well and form into a ball - (hands are a good tool for this):
1 cup cooked, riced cauliflower (simmer in water ten minute until soft, drain and squeeze out liquid)
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (I used fine crumbly quattro formaggio [four cheese] mix)
1 egg
1 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp crushed garlic (I just used two garlic cloves)
1/2 tsp garlic salt
Grease a baking sheet with olive oil,  flatten ball of "dough" on sheet to 1/4" or as desired, and optional brush dough with olive oil.
Bake for 10 to 15 minutes.
Add desired toppings (sauce, cooked vegetables - mushrooms and onions, prosciutto, more cheese) and place under broiler for a few minutes until cheese is melted on top. (I skipped that step because my sauce and veggies were hot from the stove top which melted the cheese)

Keep on experimenting!

Super Healthy Apple "Caramel" Dip

I'm eating this as we speak....mmm!

Ever have that carmel dip that kind of resembled wax or plastic and is ridiculously sweet? Well, I have and back in the day when I would have it, it was equal portions of apple to carmel. Yum...and yuck all the same time. Don't even want to know how bad that is for the body.

Here is a healthy alternative that is better!

2 T Honey
1/4 tsp Cinnamon
1 T Lemon Juice
*measurements estimated

You may or may not already know, but the health benefits of these three simple ingredients are numerous! So it is guilt free. Also guilt-free to lick to the dish clean.

Enjoy!

Spicy Pineapple Tomato Soup

Although it seems a little silly to include a photo for tomato soup, I'll put one in here anyway. Why not?

This is a very simple version of what I think could be a more complex and textural soup.

1 can tomatoes is sauce
1/2 cup pineapple juice

Mash tomatoes once softened and strain through a metal screen.

Then add:
sea salt
four seasons pepper
dash red pepper flakes

And you are done. Experiment, Eat, and Enjoy!

Great soup to take in a thermos.

Hope to Remember Recipes [HRR]

Since I have homework beckoning me, there will only be pictures and partial ingredient lists with a half-promise to update later. Good luck.

Salmon Salad with Strawberry Cranberry Vinaigrette

Creamy Garlic Chicken Salad

 Chicken Tortilla Soup

Tomato Parmesan with "Squash Fettucine" 

Less-Fattening Eggs Benedict 

Pumpkin Brussel Sprout Chicken Stir-fry

Honey glazed Walnut Salad

Amazing Vegetarian Burrito 

olive oil

red onion

garlic

cholula hot sauce

4 seasons pepper

sea salt

pinto beans

oregano and parsley or basil?

spicy prosciutto

red leaf lettuce

olive oil wrap

Get back to you soon!

Breakfast Steak Arugula Salad

Breakfast? Steak? Leafy greens? Eggs? Did I just use all of those words in the title to describe an actual, edible meal? No, I didn't include eggs (surprises keep things interesting). But yes, it was more than edible it was delicious!

Didn't want you guys, whoever you are, thinking I eat only pancakes and soup. ...Here's the problem lately, if I don't write down my recipe right after making it, its little details and ingredients are forgotten. I end up scrolling through iPhoto drooling and upset because I don't know how to remake it!! 

Since I have homework beckoning me, there will only be pictures and partial ingredient lists with a half-promise to update later. Good luck.

Dressing:

Dijon

Mayo

Lemon

parsley

salt and pepper

...

young Arugula

leftover steak with green pepper sauce

leftover seasoned spinach

2 over easy eggs

If you can't solve the dilemma, at least you can share in the frustration. mwahaha 

Coconut Almond Flaxseed Pancakes

Would you believe it? I actually followed a recipe. Well, at least for the first few pancakes before diverting. My adaptation is an adaptation of elena's pantry recipe, see link here.

Mix:
3 eggs
1/4 cup honey
1 tbs vanilla extract (or one packet vanillina in Italia)
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp baking soda (bicarbonato di sodio)
Stir until smooth:
1 cup blanched almond flour
[optional] 1/4 cup milled flaxseed
They recommend letting it sit for a 10 minutes to thicken, but I didn't have patience for that.

On medium heat, not too hot and not too low, heat oil and pour out a couple tablespoons worth of batter and spread into round shape. The temperature has to be right otherwise it will burn the surface without cooking through enough to be able to flip. Once the bubbles have formed from the outer edges to the center, take a good spatula and shimmy it to the center and flip very gently. Take care to avoid splattering, tearing, and folding.

Serve with honey butter (miele burro), cinnamon (cannella), and a banana.

Another thing to believe it or not, butter does NOT make everything better! What!?! My world has done a flip flop. Over-dramatization aside, the coconut oil adds a lot of flavor. When I used butter it dulled the almond and flaxseed flavors and made me want to drown it in maple syrup. Without it, I was in [healthy] pancake heaven.

Enjoy!

Pumpkin Soup and Seasoned Spinach

I should change this blog description because I no longer have a fully stocked sanitary kitchen at my fingertips. Currently I am an art student in Florence that has to eat for 12 euros a day or less. My cooking utensils are extremely limited as is my fridge and freezer space. Not to mention, the cleanliness of an aged kitchen shared by four people is questionable. Someday soon I will deep clean (including removing the sticky dust layer on everything five feet up). Making kefir and sauerkraut should be interesting...finding ingredients and space.

Back to what I was saying, my recipes are incredibly simple and affordable to make. Serving size for one person generally. For some recipes I'll put in suggestions of what could be needed for an extra kick of flavor. Cayenne for instance; haven't found it yet at the Coop.

Zucca Zuppa:
Cook until very soft and then blend:
1/4 pumpkin peeled and cubed
1 - 2 cups chicken broth
sea salt
Return to heat and drop in desired amount of tasty extra virgin olive oil.

I am loving these simple recipes because the flavor of the vegetables really comes through. You may have a personal preference to and something else, but for me it was perfetto!

The spinach side was lacking because my salt is not salty for some reason and i spinaci was frozen. Nevertheless...
Spinach
small red onion
1 - 2 cloves garlic
basil
butter
sea salt and pepper

For desert a chocolate bar [which I ate half of on the walk home].

Take care and keep experimenting!

Lesson for today: 100 g of chocolate is too much for one night. Despite my chinese roommate telling me in italian that "mangia poco" I'm feeling very full.