Health & Wellness Thursdays || All About Gluten-Free Baking ||11.20.14

/

For those of you inviting guests over for the holidays that may have Celiac's Disease or be gluten intolerant or just not into eating gluten, here is a run-down of really really really helpful gluten-free baking basics.

|| The Low-Down on Ingredients ||

there's no need to be intimidated, just take it one step at a time -- contact me if you have any questions or need tips (I've been gluten-free for three years now and am on my way to being a Certified Holistic Health Coach)

  • Xantham Gum

    • Acts as a replacement for the gluten in gluten-free flour
    • Provides structure by interacting with the gluten-free flour, giving it that 'lift & puff'

  • Gluten Free Flour

    • Tends to be a combination of a bunch of different flours (and also some starches)
      • Typically there is combination of rice flours, maybe bean flours, possibly some whole grains such as millet or amaranth, and starches such as potato or tapioca starch
    • In this video, her favorite is Bob's Red Mill
      • Bob's Red Mill has a great mix that was recently recreated to have less of a 'bean' flavor in the raw dough stage -- because we all know we eat cookie dough by the spoonful before baking : - )

  • Flax Seed Meal

    • Ground up flax seed
    • Replaces that 'viscous, gooey, binding' texture that eggs provide
    • Also has a delicious flavor -- slightly nutty, a little sweet

  • Kuzu Powder

    • Great replacement for gelatin
      • Put the powder in a little water until it breaks down
      • Add to whatever you want to stiffen or thicken -- so easy

  • Soy Flour

    • Ground up soybeans
    • Helps achieve a creamy texture for creations like vegan butter-cream (!)

  • Coconut Oil

    • No butter in vegan dishes, but looking for a delicious flavor? Best bet.
    • Doesn't taste 'coconutey' just very rich and comforting (plus so good for you!)
    • High burn temperature -- holds up well no matter how you use it
    • Solid in room temperature -- just takes a little heat to melt

  • Nutritional Yeast

    • Adds a cheesy flavor to dishes
    • Delicious and Savory
    • Texture: flaky and light


[Video by The Kitchy Kitchen -- watch more on her YouTube Channel]

A Stepping Stone to all that is Good || 11.19.14

/

trynottostresslove

This was originally posted to There's Beauty in Recovery last week... jump through to the site at the end of the excerpt to read more...

... Because it’s okay if something doesn’t work the first time. It is okay when goals are met with a little obstacle. Our heart blossoms each time we shout to the full moon of our worthiness, of our desire to be alive, of our beating chests ready to take on whatever is next. So I went back to the drawing boards, more like my place of meditation, and sat long and hard about what I needed to feel larger than life and in love with myself. I’ve created a little manifesto of self-love. Something a little easier this time – a stepping stone to all that is good ... [keep reading]

Have you ever failed at something? How did you handle and react to the situation?

xx

[look! those are my words placed beautifully by Liza Rae from There's Beauty in Recovery -- green link on the sidebar]

Quick Week & Few Links|| Friday Finds || 11.14.14

/

 WEEKEND ||

My first favorite f word is ... fun! Haha can't fool you! What is new and good with all of you? I've gotten to play around with my essential oils as I conquer a cold, pack my mind full of information for my two tests today, and sneak in a dinner with a friend. I graduated with my kula last week! Wow. I had professional photos done, and they look amazing. I can't wait to save them, and put them up all over the place. This weekend I'll be working on an art project -- replicating a Van Gogh for class... yeah it's an adventure; binge watching tv thanks to this cold weather, my own cold, and a cozy bed; and I'm thinking this weekend needs to be restorative. Not much else to say today -- this week has been a lot of studying and very little anything else. I'm sure we all have those weeks.

Until Monday.. enjoy the quick links, loves.

How are you spending the weekend?

LINKS & FINDS ||

A riveting and compelling article written by Theo Padnos, an American journalist tortured and released in Syria. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.

Oh the woes of modern love... the NY Times has a column all about the ups and downs of romance.

A DIY fit for greeting guests at the door: Hello Beautiful!

It's never too late to add a little something extra to the table-- is there such a thing as too many sides during Thanksgiving?

Have a cozy, warm, and happy weekend. Explore, love, hope, and be yourself. Always.

xxoo