Ginger juice

Ginger is such a gut healer, this is a way to have it on hand, ready to use. My Crohnie just adds water to taste and drinks it like ginger ale without the gassy bubbles. Or sugar.

Chop one or two whole "hands" of fresh ginger root into chunks small enough not to jam your blender. No need to peel the ginger. Put the ginger in the blender. Add water to cover plus about an inch. Liquefy. Strain. Bottle. Store in fridge. Keeps well, but I can't say how long, it gets used up fast. Good thing it only takes a few minutes to make a new batch.

Use in soups, sauces, vinaigrette or salad dressing, fruit smoothies (also throw a lot of coconut milk in your smoothies! and Kefir!), to make tea (just add hot water), cough syrup/decongestant (just add honey and lemon). Let me know other uses you may find!

Chicken broth a la Thai

This has everything to heal and to please.

Put 1 whole chicken in a crockpot and sprinkle lightly with salt, paprika, cumin and turmeric. Cook until the breasts are done, about 2 1/2 hours for my crockpot. Remove the breasts to serve separately. Add 5 cups of filtered water, salt to taste, a bay leaf, herbs and/or a branch of celery. Simmer for another 5 to 6 hours or overnight. The chicken will fall apart, but the broth will be very tasty and healthy. Take a potato masher and mash the chicken to let out more nutrients into the broth. Even the bones should mash somewhat. Then, strain the broth into a saucepan or process it in a blender for a thicker velouté. Add 1 cup of coconut milk (see my first post) and 1/2 cup ginger juice (recipe in next post) or to taste. Add salt to taste. For best results don't boil it again, just reheat gently. Freezes well.

This is the basic recipe. You can also cook carrots and onions in the broth (before adding the coconut milk and ginger) and liquefy them in the blender. Then add the coconut milk and ginger.

Sinless Silk Chocolate Melt-in-your-Mouth Mousse

The diet's going better and better as I learn to make larger batches that can serve 4 adults and 2 babies twice. Here's my latest recipe - when you're in the mood for a really rich chocolaty dessert.

I call it Sinless Silk Chocolate Mousse, and I'll outline below why it really is "sinless" (as in, not harmful to one's health - it still can make you succomb to the sin of gluttony!)

Directions:

Put in blender:

2 cups Coconut milk (freshly "milked" if you can, and if not, the kind in TetraPak is better than canned brands - no BPA)

1/4 cup cocoa (unsweetened cocoa powder) 

1/3 cup coconut oil (extra-virgin, unrefined)

12 to 15 dates to taste (buy pitted dates with no honey or other sweetener added)

1 1/4 cup avocado (2 Hass, or 1 Fuerte - just scoop out with a spoon; measurements don't have to be exact)

1 tsp vanilla 
1 tsp almond extract OR mint extract (try each - you'll like them!)

1 tsp nutmeg (best if grated on the spot)

Everything MUST be at warmish room temperature (76F or above).  

Blend on high until the mixture is silky smooth. Stop and mix with a chopstick if a bubble develops around the blades. 

Spoon into custard cups or parfait glasses. This is quite rich, so a little goes a long way - you can fill the cups a little more than half.

Refrigerate several hours. Serve cold. Top with strawberries or raspberries if desired. Or bananas. I wouldn't. But then I don't really like bananas.

Notes:

1. Coconut oil melts/solidifies at 76F, so your blender will have a harder time if any of the ingredients are cold. By the same token, the mousse will get nice and firm at refrigerator temperatures without the addition of gelatin. And, it will literally melt in your mouth!

2. HEALTH BENEFITS OF COCONUTS: There is widespread misconception that coconut oil is bad for you: it was said to raise blood cholesterol and cause heart disease. In fact, studies "proving" these assertions were flawed. In one study, there were no Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) provided in the diet; the absence of these EFAs alone would be expected to cause the results. Other studies (over 40 years ago) used hydrogenated coconut oil. It is now known that the process of hydrogenation creates “trans fatty acids” (TFAs), which are toxic entities that enter cell membranes, block utilization of essential fatty acids (EFAs) and impede cell functionality. TFAs also cause a rise in blood cholesterol. These substances are not present in natural (unrefined) coconut oil. In other words, a study based on hydrogenated coconut oil has no relevance to the non-hydrogenated coconut milk or unrefined coconut oil that you eat.

Nearly 50% of the fatty acid in natural coconut oil is lauric acid, which converts to the fatty acid monolaurin in the body. Monolaurin inhibits the growth of a variety of harmful microorganisms including bacteria, yeast, fungi, and enveloped viruses. It [monolaurin] destroys the lipid membrane of such enveloped viruses as HIV, measles, Herpes simplex virus (HSV-1), influenza and cytomegalovirus (CMV). The usefulness lauric acid/monolaurin in treating AIDS is currently under investigation. Lauric acid is the main lipid (fat) component of human breast milk.

Capric acid, which comprises another 7% of coconut oil fat content, also stimulates anti-microbial activity.

In other words: not only does coconut oil NOT cause heart problems, it is good for you. To quote Dr. Mary Enig: "The research over four decades concerning coconut oil in the diet and heart disease is quite clear: coconut oil has been shown to be beneficial."

Coconut oil is a "functional food," defined as a food that "provides a health benefit over and beyond the basic nutrients." It is an immune-system enhancer.

Adapted from http://www.thaifoodandtravel.com/features/cocgood.html

3. HEALTH BENEFITS OF AVOCADOS:

Weight-watchers often stay away from avocados specifically because of the fat content of the fruit. But that's a mistake. Monounsaturated fats enhance the basal metabolic rate, and help reduce overeating. After the olive, the avocado has the highest content of monounsaturated fatty acids among fruits (20%).
The potassium content of an avocado is three times that of a banana. Other essential minerals are iron and copper, phosphorus and magnesium.
The low sodium content in avocados and its low sugar content and absence of starch make it an ideal fruit for diabetics and hypoglycemics.
It is also one of the richest source of fiber among all fruits and vegetables.
Avocado is packed with vitamins A, several B-complex, especially B3 (folic acid), powerful anti-oxidants like vitamins C and E, and calcium.Bad breath: The avocado is one of the best natural mouthwashs and a remedy for bad breath. It is effective in removing intestinal putrefactions or decomposition which are the real cause of a coated tongue and halitosis (bad breath).
Blood pressure: The high potassium and folate content in avocado helps to regulate blood pressure, protecting your body against circulatory diseases, heart problems and stroke.
Cholesterol: An avocado contains oleic and linoleic acids that are effective in lowering the LDL cholesterol and increasing the healthy HDL cholesterol.
Duodenal ulcer: The blandness of this fruit is comforting and soothing to the hypersensitive surfaces of the stomach and duodenum. Its abundant nutrients and enzymes are an effective remedy to treat these ulcerations.
Eyesight: The potent antioxidant content in avocado helps neutralize free radicals, which is important for improving eyesight and prevent eye problems like astigmatism, cataracts and glaucoma.Immune system: Avocodos contain Vitamin A, which is essential for stimulating the immune system, improving vision and proper growth of bones and teeth.Increases absorption of phytonutrients: Studies have proven that when even a small amount of avocado is consumed together with other fruits and vegetables, the absorption of phytonutrients is several times higher than when consumed on their own.
Morning sickness: The vitamin B6 helps relieve nausea and queasiness associated with pregnancy.
Muscle and nerve: The high potassium content helps balance our body's electrolytes, aids muscle activity, nerve function and energy metabolism.
Prostate cancer: Studies have shown that certain unique phytonutrient substances in avocados have been known to help prevent the growth of prostate cancer cells and may even help repair the damaged cells.
Psoriasis: The avocado oil is beneficial in the treatment of psoriasis. Apply regularly on affected parts to remove the scales. (OK, so the mousse doesn't really help here.)

Adapted from http://www.juicing-for-health.com/avocado.html

4. HEALTH BENEFITS OF NUTMEG:

Nutmeg has strong antibacterial properties. It is effective in killing a number of cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth. Again, an ingredient for better breath.

Like cloves, nutmeg contains Eugenol, a compound thought to benefit the heart.

Nutmeg is used to improve memory. It contains Myristicin, which has been shown to inhibit an enzyme in the brain that contributes to Alzheimer's disease.

It is carminative, meaning it reduces flatulence. It aids digestion and improves appetite.

Like ginger, it reduces nausea, the symptoms of gastroenteritis, chronic diarrhea and indigestion.

It is used in Chinese medicine to treat anxiety and depression.

Nutmeg is powerful stuff, not to be abused. It is not recommended for pregnant women, and high doses can produce hallucinations.

Adapted from http://completewellbeing.com/article/a-nutty-affair/

5. HEALTH BENEFITS OF DATES

Fresh dates have soft, easily digestible flesh with simple sugars like fructose, glucose and sucrose. Because of the sucrose, they should not be indulged in large quantity by those following the SCDiet.

(Check out http://www.sugar.ca/english/consumers/sugarfromfield.cfm for an interesting chart showing the Glucose/Fructose/Sucrose content of some fruits)

They are a good source of Vitamin A, and rich in antioxidant flavonoids such as beta-carotine, lutein, and zeaxanthin. Also an excellent source of iron and Vitamin K, selenium and calcium.

Dates are one of the best natural sources of potassium, which helps to keep blood pressure down, helps muscles contract (for example, your heart), is needed to maintain a healthy nervous system and to balance the body's metabolism. Potassium is also beneficial for controlling diarrhea. Dates' digestibility helps to cope with diarrhea.

Daily intake of dates helps maintain a check on the growth of pathological organisms and helps in the rise of friendly bacteria in the intestines.

Dates also contain a variety of B-complex vitamins – thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6 and pantothenic acid. These vitamins have a variety of functions that help maintain a healthy body – to metabolize carbohydrates and maintain blood glucose levels, fatty acids for energy, and to help make hemoglobin, the red and white blood cells.

Dates also contain Magnesium which is essential for healthy bone development and for energy metabolism and Iron which is essential to red blood cell production. Red blood cells carry all the nutrients to cells throughout the body.

Adapted from several sources including http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/dates.html.

Why I haven't posted for over a month

Because my laptop's been with the Best Buy Geeks all this time. "One to two weeks," they said. (Hope they don't read this... they wouldn't load a virus on it for revenge, would they?) On the positive side, they are replacing my screen, which had stopped showing anything, and my hard drive, which they discovered had problems after they fixed the screen, for no extra charge.

On the other hand, I've had more time to smooth out some of the wrinkles of starting the SCDiet and I'll be able to cut to the successes rather than blog about my "Eat It Anyway" crunchings...!