cinnamon walnut scones!

Lately, my fight for health and faith has been difficult again. I am weary to the bone. I'm often tempted to throw in the tea towel and give up, but deep in my soul I just can't. I wouldn't feel any better for one thing, and for another, I do believe yeast will lose this battle here soon, not to mention that I also still believe God is making my womb hospitable for bambinos (yeast toxins don't really get hospitality). And by "soon" I mean God's perspective of time at this point. 2+ years is not "soon" to me, but then again, God is God and I am not, glory hallelujah.

I'm heeding Anne Lamott's advice from a chapter in Bird by Bird:

" . . . a story that I know I've told elsewhere but that over and over helps me to get a grip: thirty years ago my older brother, who was ten years old at the time, was trying to get a report on birds written that he'd had three months to write, which was due the next day. We were out at our family cabin in Bolinas, and he was at the kitchen table close to tears, surrounded by binder paper and pencils and unopened books on birds, immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead. Then my father sat down beside him, put his arm around my brother's shoulder, and said, 'Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.'"

Not only is this great writing advice, but I also find it comforting in regards to slow healing. "Do not be anxious about tomorrow." "Bird by bird." One day at a time, right? And all the while, God has this, as Johnny says. If I weren't a Calvinist, I might lose my ever living mind. Oh, and speaking of Calvinism, I insist that you read this beautiful meditation on the literary Calvinism of Marilynne Robinson by none other than Peter Leithart. Amazing.

So, our life is hard right now. Baffling. Exhausting. But sooo blessed. You know how I described the bounty of dietary simplicity in this Comment article? Well, it gets even better. Last night, my amazing husband marinated chicken in a tandoori masala paste (from a local Indo-Pak grocery store) and coconut milk. Then we feasted on that tandoori chicken, papadums (thank God for lentil flour), and mint chutney. Wow.

AND my Facebook friend Becki shared her almond flour scone recipe. I tweaked it just a little to obey doctor's orders, but I must say, yum! Scones! Baked goods ease the suffering a whole lot.

Cinnamon Walnut Scones

* Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Ingredients:
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce (or erythritol)
4 egg whites
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
1/2 teaspoon Celtic sea salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
A shake or two (or three) of allspice [I used pumpkin pie spice this time]
1/2 teaspoon cardamom [I used nutmeg . . . ]
2 3/4 cup Honeyville almond flour
1 cup walnuts, chopped

1. Beat applesauce, egg whites, and coconut oil.

2. Add sea salt, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice, and cardamom.

3. Stir in almond flour and walnuts to make a fairly stiff dough.

4. Drop by large spoonfuls on a baking stone or cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

5. Flatten scone a little with wet fingers or spatula.
[I didn't do this - I like them fluffy.]

6. Sprinkle extra cinnamon on top before baking.

7. Bake 20-30 minutes until nicely browned, firm when a toothpick is inserted, and hollow sounding when tapped.

8. Cool on a rack. Will keep at room temperature for a week.

9. Serve warm with French pressed coffee or a stiff cup of tea. Enjoy, y'all.

[This photograph is rife with imperfections - click to see larger. . . . Like the fingerprints on the jar since I can't keep my grubby paws outta the scones. I don't care; I'm just happy to be playing with the camera again. I keep meaning to learn more about photography, but my writing and the forthcoming Art House America project top my to-do list right now. Such work keeps me quite busy, but it's a very inspiring kind of busy. I cannot wait to share more about the Art House project in good time . . . ]

crossing off #26a

[iPhone]

Today I woke up with the need to bake something. Cookies, cupcakes, chocolate cake, Nutty Bread, whatever. This is due to five reasons that I can think of:

1. I have an intense sweet tooth.
2. I'm a baker at heart.
3. My friend, Robyn, hipped me to an amazing web site: Healthy Indulgences. Take a peek and drool with me.
4. I read Andi Ashworth's piece in the June 2009 issue of Comment magazine where she listed several of her mouthwatering recipes. For example, "Breakfast favourites include the Barefoot Contessa's Granola - I make pounds of it every year for our houseguests, along with Apple Cinnamon or Lemon Ginger muffins from Marion Cunningham's Breakfast Book." Her bio. for this piece reads, "Andi Ashworth with husband, Charlie Peacock, runs Art House America - a unique hospitality ministry for cultural creatives in Nashville, Tennessee." And, Art House is a renovated old Church. They are quite the all-around inspiring couple. Oh, and if you haven't read Andi's book, Real Love for Real Life: The Art and Work of Caring, you ought to do so ASAP. It's a must-read, one that I turn to again and again.
5. I recalled my poor, neglected to-do list, namely #26a: "Learn to make granola."

So this afternoon, I did just that while listening to a Timothy Keller sermon on marriage. I didn't have every single ingredient that the recipe called for, so I used what I had on hand including raw pepitas, raw macadamia nuts, and so on. Any nut/seed combo will do; I plan to switch it up each time I make granola.

I can hardly wait for breakfast tomorrow - granola and blueberries swimming in So Delicious unsweetened coconut milk beverage. At times like these, it's hard for me to grumble and complain about a restricted diet. In fact, as I mixed up these ingredients, I smiled and thanked God for the bounty in our fridge and pantry, and for reuniting me with granola - truly, one of my very favorite foods.

Cinnamon-Peanut Butter Granola (Grain-Free)
[adapted from Lauren's Peanut Butter Granola recipe]

Makes two heaping cups.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup freshly ground peanut butter
1/4 cup coconut oil (or butter)
3 tablespoons Truvia (4 1/2 packets - I used this conversion chart)
1/4 teaspoon SweetLeaf clear liquid stevia
2-3 egg whites
A generous pinch of Celtic sea salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, or to taste
1 tablespoon flax meal
2 tablespoons almond flour
1 tablespoon sunflower seeds
1/4 cup raw pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
1/4 cup raw macadamia nuts, chopped
1/4 cup cashews, chopped
1/2 cup almonds, chopped
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut, shredded

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Melt coconut oil (or butter) with peanut butter in a small saucepan on the stove - low-medium heat - until liquefied. Pour into a bowl. Whisk Truvia, liquid stevia, egg whites, sea salt, and cinnamon into the peanut butter mixture. Mix the dry ingredients together and stir in the wet ingredients, using your hands to coat the nut and seed blend. Spread the mixture over a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet. Bake for 45-55 minutes, occasionally stirring the mixture. Remove from the oven and spread over a paper towel set on a baking rack. The granola will continue to dry out as the moisture evaporates. Store in an airtight container for up to a week, or freeze.

i fell in love with the drummer

After pancakes, bacon, and coffee, I Googled the lyrics to Wilco's "Heavy Metal Drummer," part of which are my current facebook status: "Jenni Simmons fell in love with the drummer, she fell in love with the drummer, she fell in love..." Pretty cute, right? I thought so.

I've always loved that song for obvious reasons, so we included it in our wedding reception music mix. And KISS (also in the lyrics) was the band that inspired 8-year-old Johnny to become a drummer.

During my search, I found the following video* with quite the cute beginning - Jeff Tweedy's son drumming a rhythm on his legs, asking his Dad to guess which Wilco song it is. It reminds me of a little game Johnny and I used to play: "Name that Polyrhythm." I did better than you think I would.



On the baking front, I tweaked Elana's Nutty Bread recipe to suit both my health and personal nut hankerings. I topped it with the strawberry "syrup" I use on pancakes. Five stars, folks.

Bread:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease a medium loaf pan with coconut oil.

1 1/2 cups Honeyville blanched almond flour
3/4 cup arrowroot powder/flour
1/4 cup flax seed meal
1/2 teaspoon Celtic sea salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
4 eggs
2 teaspoons erythritol
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup raw hazelnuts, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup raw pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup raw sunflower seeds

1. In a medium bowl, combine the almond flour, arrowroot powder, flax seed meal, sea salt, baking soda, and erythritol.
2. In a larger bowl, blend the eggs 3-5 minutes until frothy.
3. Stir the apple cider vinegar into the eggs.
4. Mix the dry ingredients into the wet, then add the nuts and seeds.
5. Pour the batter into the loaf pan.
6. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean.
7. Cool and serve.

Strawberry "Jam":

Place strawberries and 1-2 tablespoons of erythritol in a blender, then spoon onto the bread...**

All of this to say, I'm grateful for my drummer-husband, good music, and good food & drink.

* - This video is pretty good, too.

** - I might add a little coconut cream or coconut milk next time.

tuesday doings

I'm watching the sprinkler glitter diamonds over the backyard.

The wind chime is singing a hymn.

Cats do live here. They sometimes don't know what to make of my sock monkey slippers. And Milo woke us today by stomping over our covered, cozy bodies, playing with a plastic bottle cap.



After Church on Sunday, I carried home two palm fronds. We started the liturgy outside and walked indoors waving the palms, singing a hymn, and placed the greens near the steps to the altar. After Holy Week, I'll try to weave the palms into crosses. Wish me luck.

I moved up another Arrested Development disc and Slumdog Millionaire in our Netflix queue.

I trimmed my fingernails to finally practice guitar chords (again). By the way, I started writing my first song of all things. A bit of melody and lyrics came to me last week. Very odd. Johnny likes the melody, so we're gonna work on it together. He's the musician in the family, after all.

We're excited that Rescue Me airs again tonight, though we'll have to resume washing our ears out with soap.

Mornings are one of the hardest times for my healing body to get with the program. I know this is true for many of you, too, but yeast toxins don't help. Johnny very often whips up breakfast and today, God love him, he selected a dish from Indian Recipes Under 30 Minutes on a whim:

Akoori (Indian scrambled eggs)

6 eggs
3 tbsp. coconut oil (or ghee)
2 large onions chopped
1/2 tsp. cumin
3 green chillies, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
Sea salt to taste
1 large tomato, chopped
2 tbsp. green coriander (cilantro), chopped

1. Heat the coconut oil in a wok; add onions and sauté until golden brown. Add the cumin, green chillies, garlic, turmeric, and sea salt. Sauté for 1-2 minutes.
2. Add tomato and sauté for another minute.
3. Lightly beat the eggs and add to the above mixture. Mix thoroughly and cook for 2-3 minutes.
4. Garnish with green coriander and serve immediately on toast (no toast for me, but I didn't miss it).

I could kick myself for not taking a photo - our delicious meal was a lovely shade of spring-yellow. I brewed coffee beforehand, but next time we eat akoori, chai would be perfect. I received a fragrant bag of Vermont chai from a blog-friend, in fact. Would y'all please share your stovetop chai recipes? Do you think coconut or almond milk would work?

Now I'm happily on dishes duty + laundry (aided by Cat Stevens), proofreading, transcribing, reading, and walking in this surprisingly cool Houston weather. It's a busy, sun-filled day.

tea & book compulsions

[an oldie but a goodie on a coffee kind of day]

In addition to balancing research and writing with work on the homestead, I've had a really good week, especially Wednesday. We tried chipotle lime salmon for lunch and it is my kind of recipe - simple, healthy, aromatic, and tasty. It was so easy that I plan to make it often, perhaps with cedar papers. I adore salmon.

In the evening, we dined at P.F. Chang's with my brother to celebrate his belated birthday. Chang's is always good, but the Highland Park location has a particularly nice vibe. This China bistro is nestled in one of my favorite shopping centers within walking distance of Kiehl's, Anthropologie, and west elm. We watched the sun set from a table next to a big window. My two men enjoyed a cocktail; I ordered a cast iron teapot of Dragon Eye oolong with notes of safflower, peach, apricot, and pear. My sibling is a manager at Baker St. Pub & Grill and as I sipped cup after little white cup of the exotic tea, he told me that he's only allowed to order the basic teas - Earl Grey and the like. Basic is good, too, but I said, "If you ever need a tea shopper, I'm your girl." Right??

I also ordered a huge chopped chicken salad doused with fresh-squeezed lemon & lime juice. Delicious. I'm finding that simple concoctions are some of the very best. When I asked why restaurant salads must be so big, Johnny proceeded to quote the appropriate Seinfeld episode. My husband is a walking Seinfeld encyclopedia. Literally. I like the show, but he loves it. Elaine once discussed the semantics of big salads, just so you know.

Before dropping my brother off at home, he opened his gifts: a Flight of the Conchords DVD and Peace Like a River. I know you are absolutely shocked that I gave him that book. No? Well then, you won't be surprised by my Curator article today: "Peace Like a River: Make of It What You Will." I really cannot shut up about how great that book is.

After dinner, Johnny and I headed to a theater to see Watchmen. It had been way too long since we experienced cinema on the big screen. Johnny is a mega fan of that graphic novel and has been waiting for a film adaptation since the 80's. I don't have a good, solid opinion of the movie yet. Visually, it was stunning. The storyline was fascinating and raised some important questions. But the violence is over the top at times and there's a way-too-revealing/laughable sex scene utilizing Leonard Cohen's song, "Hallelujah." No siree - that is not allowed. Seeing as it's one of my all-time favorite songs, I better not think of that stupid scene whenever I hear Cohen from now on. Even so, there were some great things about Watchmen. Maybe I can pull my thoughts together soon. The soundtrack is fantastic, by the way.

....Further on the tea front, any time you place an order with Mighty Leaf, you can select two free tea pouches. Marrakesh Mint + a tea pouch of Rainforest Mate are on the way. Yes, of course I am tea-crazy, but I hopped online this time at a friend's request. She ordered a box, too, and we split the shipping. But I did start a wish list (note the teapot). And I added a 6-pack of Yogi Mayan Cocoa Spice tea ($15.71) to my Amazon wish list. Whole Foods never stocks that flavor and I've been pining for the sweet & spicy brew. Whoever sent me that tea bag, it's all your fault, but oh how I thank you.

I am missing my husband, off playing drums in Arizona, but he'll be home tomorrow night. I believe yet more chocolate chip bread, another Tim Keller sermon, Amelie, and reading in bed are in order. If you're a musician's wife, you better know how to entertain yourself.

chocolate chip brownies

[image courtesy of Channel4.com. Houston weather is too overcast for my limited photography skills.]

It's a blah Saturday. Not wretched, just blah. This meant dark chocolate was in order, don't you agree? I was craving....

Chocolate Chip Brownies
[adapted from Elana's recipe]

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
Grease a 9 x 13 Pyrex baking dish with coconut oil.*

Ingredients:

16 oz. smooth roasted almond butter
2 eggs
1 1/4 cups + 1 tablespoon erythritol**
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon Celtic sea salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup Ghirardelli unsweetened cacao chips, mashed.

1. In a large bowl, blend the almond butter until smooth with a hand blender.
2. Blend in the eggs, then blend in the erythritol and vanilla.
3. Blend in the cocoa powder, sea salt, and baking soda; then fold in the cacao chips.
4. Pour batter into the Pyrex dish.
5. Bake for 35-40 minutes.

Makes about 24 brownies.

* - I believe my cobalt blue Pyrex dish is 9 x 9, but it just made for bigger brownies. You know, Texas style. I did bake for 5 extra minutes, though.

** - The batter might blend easier with a combination of erythritol, liquid stevia, and a little coconut oil, so I'll work on that. As for the verdict today, you ask? Johnny and I both say, YUM. Truly - they taste like real brownies. I post these "odd" recipes mainly because during my health adventure, I've discovered that you don't always need sugar or standard flours for a recipe to be scrumptious. I encourage those of you with similar health issues to be creative in the kitchen and grateful for all that we can eat - like chocolate, a very important food group.

Next up in my cooking queue is Chipotle Lime Salmon. Salmon is one of my very favorite things.

five senses wednesday

Hope y'all don't mind that I'm extra-attuned to my five senses lately....

See.
-A trailer for As We Forgive, a film that Johnny and I want to see (along with The Wrestler and Watchmen).
-Elana's "Nutella" recipe. I only need to sub erythritol or liquid stevia for the agave nectar. Oh, yum.
-I recently bumped up her brownies in my recipe queue as well (subbing with erythritol and unsweetened cacao chips).*
-The TOAST spring/summer 2009 collection. Sure hope my catalog arrives soon.
-Persepolis. I liked it OK, but it's not near as good as the graphic novels.

[image courtesy of TOAST]

Hear.
-Milo playing soccer with a plastic bottle cap during an ungodly hour of the night. I thought I placed all of those in recycling....
-My cell phone ringing when I'm nowhere near it. This always happens to me. It's usually my friend Amy - thank goodness she's patient.
-These Four Walls by Shawn Colvin. What a voice. What a songwriter. She's a longtime favorite.
-No Line on the Horizon by U2 - the best thing they've done in a long time. Amazing.
-IAM's podcast with Nicholas Wolterstorff, then Makoto Fujimura. Made for a good walk around the 'hood.

Taste.
-Johnny's "rockamole" (guacamole) never gets old.
-Nor does Margie Haack's hummus which I eat by the spoonful.
-I also eat organic unsweetened peanut butter in this lazy manner; very tasty.
-Honeycrisp apple slices topped with coconut cream & cinnamon.
-Echinacea elder tea.

Smell.
-Tea tree oil shampoo & conditioner.
-Golden Pavilion incense.
-Vanilla bean body lotion.
-Cookies baking in the oven. Again. It was a necessity.
-Olbas inhaler.

Feel.
-Sinus pressure.
-Thus, the neti pot.
-Happy that U2 was only $3.99 via Amazon mp3.
-Perfection is drinking a mug of hot tea after a chilly walk....
-Then an Epsom salt bath. Ah, the warmth.

* - Such recipes have made me a big fan of Whole Foods's almond butter machine in the bulk aisle. Perhaps I'll grind my own at home one of these days.

five senses sunday + monday

See.
-The Sunday morning ambiance of Antidote as we placed coffee orders to-go.
-What looked like cherry blossom trees in our Church's neighborhood. Is this even possible in Houston, TX?
-The [overpriced] visual feast that is Anthropologie. Johnny agreed to five minutes. I only purchased a small, white ceramic container with a cork top. $4.00.
-New art on my desktop - "It's Teatime" by seasprayblue (also on my Etsy wish list).
-Our bottle brush tree is blooming.

Hear.
-A little bit of Aradhna and The Welcome Wagon en route to Antidote.
-All bias aside, our Church's musicians are something else (I often catch my toes tapping together as I kneel at the Communion rail).
-Harley "talking" - he wanted to play with the nasty old shoestring. In the meantime, I heard Milo rummaging around the pantry where he ought not to have been.
-A really wretched Oscar montage - a supposed tribute to the Hollywood musical. Among the participants were Beyonce and two of the High School Musical kids. No.
-Flipping on the radio to pretty classical music. But I opted for silence while folding laundry, to ponder how the heck to begin my next Curator article....

Taste.
-Sliced taro root cooked in coconut oil and sprinkled with Celtic sea salt.
-Seriously, Johnny knows how to cook a steak.
-A big bowl of salad greens topped with black olives, raw pumpkin seeds, crushed flax crackers, extra virgin olive oil, and apple cider vinegar.
-Blueberries & coconut milk.
-Citrus spice green tea for an afternoon treat.

Smell.
-A coconut milk-mango soy candle. I might have to revisit Anthropologie sans Johnny.
-Roll-on coriander essential oil at the Kiehl's store (across the parking lot). Loved it, but I picked up the necessary eye makeup remover and splurged on my favorite deodorant instead. Tough choice.
-I'm thinking anything cooked in coconut oil smells good.
-Almost out of almond Dishmate. Say it ain't so.
-A new bar of vanilla spice shea butter soap by my sink in the bathroom.

Feel.
-Burt's Bees lip gloss in "zesty red."
-Amazingly energetic after two mugs of Enfusia yerba mate (look for my review here soon).
-Pleased with domestic accomplishments: two rounds of laundry, loaded the dishwasher, and dusted our book-laden bedside tables.
-Determined to meet this week's deadline a day early vs. a day late.
-Excited to see my parents, our friend Jenny (maybe Christine), and the Nasher in Dallas this weekend. I get to hear Johnny play drums for Donna Stuart, too. A quick, fun trip.

a saturday morning tradition

Today is one of those picturesque days which remind me to never again take for granted a peaceful domestic rhythm, a roof over our heads, and good food to eat. Since health as I once knew it was taken from me, I've come to be grateful for the art of homemaking - to the point where my gratitude might nauseate some women. But I can't help it. As God heals my body, I'm elated on the days when I feel well enough to bake, clean up the kitchen afterward, do a few loads of laundry, read, write, then take a long walk in our neighborhood. Our house is rarely spotless - we are some lint-y/dusty people and cats, apparently - but I do find joy in a peaceful home; a comfortable haven. I like to have the sink cleared of dishes, at least.

We set our alarm this Saturday for two reasons. One, Johnny's drum student was scheduled to arrive at 10:30 am; and two, I had a particular breakfast menu in mind:

-Almond flour pancakes.
-Blueberries.
-Shelton's turkey sausage.
-Texas piñon coffee.

Johnny and I made this feast together just for the fun of married life, and well, because he's better at flipping pancakes than me. However, I flipped 1-2 pancakes successfully! There's hope for me yet. Our pancakes were beauties, if I do say so myself. As Johnny took his first bite he said, "Honey, these taste like real pancakes." And so they did.

Jenni & Johnny's Yeast-Free Pancakes
[adapted from Elana's Pancakes]

3 cups Honeyville blanched almond flour
1/2 cup unsweetened full-fat coconut milk
8 eggs
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/4 teaspoon liquid stevia (or to taste)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 pinch Celtic sea salt
Coconut oil for frying (or butter)

1. In a blender, combine the almond flour, coconut milk, eggs, butter, stevia, vanilla, baking soda, and sea salt and blend on high until smooth.
2. Melt 1 tablespoon of coconut oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
3. When the coconut oil is hot, ladle pancake batter onto the skillet.
4. The pancakes will bubble - when the bubbles open, flip the pancakes over and cook on the other side.
5. When the pancakes are done, remove from heat and transfer to a plate.
6. Ladle more batter onto the skillet and make additional batches, adding more coconut oil to grease the skillet as needed.
7. Johnny poured Aunt Jemima syrup on his pancakes; I sprinkled Korintje cinnamon and fresh blueberries on mine. Amazing.

Makes 24 pancakes (I'm a fan of leftovers).

Hence, making breakfast together on Saturday mornings is now a Simmons tradition. We'll have to get up about 30 minutes earlier, though. Today, Johnny was only able to eat half of his breakfast before sprinting out to the garage studio (his coffee in hand) to greet his student. I lingered at the table with the March 2009 issue of The Sun. I read "Why I Am Not Going to Buy a Computer" by Wendell Berry. He is one of my favorite writers and I revere him quite a bit, but I don't always agree with his conclusions. This essay was excellent in that it makes clear the benefit of closing my MacBook for longer stretches at a time, picking up a pen, a notebook with paper pages, and writing during natural daylight. Or stepping outside to be underneath that sunshine. But I disagreed with this sentence of Berry's, "I do not see that computers are bringing us one step nearer to anything that does matter to me: peace, economic justice, ecological health, political honesty, family and community stability, good work."

Sure, if we spend too much time on the computer, the virtuous life will be lost and the internet is not the source of such values. But my own home life has greatly benefited from too many blogs and web sites to mention (though I link to many on the sidebar). Likewise, so has my understanding of peace, justice, health, politics, and even service to my husband, family, friends, and community. Just yesterday I savored Mav's and Stephanie's latest post on 3191 Miles Apart. Mav's thoughts caught my eye since Johnny and I will soon institute Sabbath evening meals in our dining room. I loved Mav's elegant, eclectic, and relaxed take on table settings; her brilliant, thoughtful hospitality. I also loved Stephanie's focus - caring for her sick daughter by making homemade ginger ale.

Or take Kate's post on the horrors of human sex trafficking and modern day slavery - this time not across the globe, but in her home state of Florida. In the United States. I fear in Texas, too. She mentioned David Batstone's book, Not for Sale: the Return of the Global Slave Trade - and How We Can Fight It. I quickly took advantage of Christian Audio's free download for this month - that very book. I had trouble finishing my lunch yesterday while I listened to part 1 - eye-opening information indeed - but we do need to be aware of such crimes. If not for audio technology, I would've listened to this important piece of journalism much farther down the line, not praying soon enough. OK, so I could've checked it out at the library, but hearing a book read aloud is also a virtue (in my opinion).

Enough disagreement for now. Wendell Berry is still a sage to me, and I loved this sentence, "....when somebody has used a computer to write work that is demonstrably better than Dante's, and when this better is demonstrably attributable to the use of a computer, then I will speak of computers with a more respectful tone of voice, though I still will not buy one." It made me laugh, and I respect his tenacity.

My take on the matter is: you don't have to own a computer to be happy or successful. Wendell Berry is proof of that - he writes everything by pencil or pen and a piece of paper. His wife types and edits his work on a 1956 Royal standard typewriter. And he has produced a cornucopia of books: fiction, essays, short stories, and poetry. I adore that man's way with words and 95% of his philosophy.

But technology - like everything else we enjoy - is a blessing from God. All good things come from Him. And like my friend/teacher, Kemper, taught me (and others) a few years ago, the good life is all about balance. Too much of anything is harmful and gluttonous; too little of the important things isn't so great, either. I'm actually working toward lessening my computer-time to get more reading, writing, and housework done; and to listen to my fascinating husband much more often. He has great things to teach me. Yet my MacBook is a necessary tool, I do believe - for the glorious application that is iCal, writing research, healthy recipes; and even just for pleasure and play. I'm ever-inspired by beautiful blogs as I mentioned in a Curator article of mine. We sure do need beauty in our lives, and should even cultivate it online.

Time to get off my soapbox and computer for a bit. I have in mind a late lunch, taking the duvet cover out of the dryer, writing upstairs, a walk when the rain lets up, and an earlier bedtime since Church comes early. And because we're gonna swing by Antidote on the way (totally my idea).

chocolate mint truffle rooibos: a review

[dessert tea for one, please]

When Johnny and I were dating, we ate a lot of ice cream. We'd often split a pint of Ben & Jerry's New York Super Fudge Chunk, or Blue Bell's (a true Texan's favorite) mint chocolate chip. Along with more important issues, we bonded over a mutual love for ice cream, chocolate, and more specifically, chocolate mint - we both ranked it in our top five favorite flavors.

As I heal from a systemic candida overgrowth, I can't partake of ice cream. Major drag. When I'm not scarfing down permissible recipes such as chocolate chip bread or nutty-coconut cookies, I find dietary solace by window-shopping (or just shopping) on Mighty Leaf's site. I recently stumbled upon chocolate mint truffle rooibos tea and I was stoked. Y'all know I will try almost any kind of tea - how could I pass up that description?

Of all the teas in the world, I particularly love rooibos (pronounced "roy-bos") hailing from South Africa. I even use it on my face. The beverage version has a deep, rich flavor yet it's caffeine-free. As much as I love a good cup of non-jolting chamomile or something, I prefer the heartiness of rooibos. It's über-healthy, too:

* Contains an unusually high amount of antioxidants similar to green tea.
* Anti-mutagenic, anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-viral.
* Rich in vitamin C.
* Lessens the body's reaction to allergies and calms an upset stomach.
* Helps to relieve stomach ulcers, nausea, constipation, and heartburn.
* Relieves insomnia, disturbed sleeping patterns, and headaches.
* Gives a relaxing effect to the central nervous system.
* Makes for strong bones and teeth due to its calcium, manganese, and fluoride content.
* Soothes infants with colic, stomach cramps, and sleeping troubles. Simply mix some rooibos tea with expressed breast milk or formula.
* Etc....

[going for a second cup....]

Since a mug of sweet tea is a favorite nightcap of mine, I'm happy to report that chocolate mint truffle rooibos is amazing. My favorite preparation involves a few drops of stevia and a splash of almond milk. As my tea brews for 5-7 minutes, I can literally smell cacao and spearmint from across the kitchen. And the taste? 5/5 stars from me: a smooth, sweet, bright, honey-toned brew. I even had Johnny give it a try. He's not a tea fanatic like his wife, but he said, "Damn. That's good."

Mighty Leaf tea pouches also suit me aesthetically which is of equal importance to taste. I'd even go so far as to say they make tea into art: hand-stitched silken bags with purty loose leaves inside. The pouches are even 100% biodegradable. Jenni likes.

Seeing as chocolate mint truffle is a big winner, next up is Mighty Leaf's whole line of chocolate teas. Chocolate chip truffle black tea sounds great on the caffeinated side of things - to sip while taking in morning light. As a writer, I think "truffle" is a brilliant word to include in a tea's name. It's working on my psyche, at least.

chocolate chip bread

I really ought to start baking during daylight so I can snap a few photos of my concoctions. I've got a lot to learn about photography, especially in the P.M.. I promise to work on my baking hours, but I whipped up a loaf of yeast-free chocolate chip bread tonight that turned out very well. Please bear with the odd amounts of erythritol and liquid vanilla stevia. I wanted to incorporate both in order to balance the sweetness and rich, dark chocolate. Anyway, this is a big yum:

Jenni's Chocolate Chip Bread
[adapted from Elana's Simple Bread]

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups Honeyville blanched almond flour
1/2 teaspoon Celtic sea salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 cup + 2 tablespoons erythritol
1/4 cup Ghirardelli unsweetened cacao chips, mashed
3 eggs
1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
10 drops vanilla stevia (to equal about 1 tablespoon of sugar)

1. In a large bowl, combine almond flour, sea salt, baking soda, cinnamon, erythritol, and cacao chips.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, then stir in the apple cider vinegar and vanilla stevia.
3. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry.
4. Scoop batter into a small (approx. 6 x 3 inch) well-greased loaf pan (I used coconut oil).
5. Bake for 45-55 minutes on the bottom rack of your oven - until a knife comes out clean.
6. Cool and serve.

Makes 12 slices.


P.S. ~ I don't know that the two go together, but I cannot get enough of Harney & Sons' coconut-ginger-vanilla green tea. I could not resist the pretty lime green tin at Bookstop, nor a copy of The New Yorker, so I purchased both. And, after Greek food with my drummer on Valentine's night, I drank a little pot of Starry Night tea at Antidote (I packed a few ZSweet packets for the sweetening). That's just how I am.

five senses tuesday

["Lovebirds" by Geninne]

See.
-Milo sitting behind the Indian tapestry curtain in our bathroom, in the morning light.
-Gray clouds.
-Incense smoke curling every which way.
-A great new issue of Comment magazine.
-Tall pine trees swaying in the wind.

Hear.
-The dryer tumbling our towels.
-The dishwasher running.
-Bon Iver's Blood Bank EP.
-Rain on the rooftop.
-Johnny bidding his young British drum student, Harry, goodbye.

Taste.
-My first organic Honeycrisp apple. Whoa.
-Enfusia yerba mate + rooibos almond tea.
-Then a cup of Assam tea with safflowers.
-Simple bread (I subbed erythritol for agave).
-Raw macadamia nuts.

Smell.
-Cherry blossom incense lingering in the living room long after it turned to ashes.
-Scrambled eggs in coconut oil.
-Blue eucalyptus & lavender laundry liquid.
-Water lily + aloe dryer sheets.
-Cinnamon bar soap.

Feel.
-Shea butter under my eyes.
-An Epsom salt bath or two.
-Harley purring on my lap.
-Stuffing a handful of tea bags into a manila envelope bound for Brooklyn, NY.
-Grateful for Johnny and a lil' Valentine's date this weekend. We're thinking Yia Yia Mary's and Antidote. Maybe the Menil and a good movie, too.

chocolate chip cookies

I am utterly addicted to these cookies! For one thing, they contain very dark chocolate which is a requirement in my life. And they taste like "real cookies" - not yeast-free, I promise (I'm a horrible liar):

Chocolate Chip Cookies
[adapted from Christine's Nutty Coconut Cookies which she adapted from a Tropical Traditions recipe]

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine in a large bowl:

1/2 cup raw walnuts, mashed
1/2 cup Ghirardelli unsweetened cacao chips, mashed
3/4 cup erythritol
1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/3 cup flax seed meal
Dash of Celtic sea salt

Stir all of that, then add:

1/2 cup roasted almond butter
3 heaping flatware tablespoons coconut oil

Mix everything together, then mix in 1/2 cup coconut flour.

Form the dough into one-inch balls. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 14-16 minutes (depending on your oven) until the tops are golden brown.

* Since these cookies are so wonderfully rich, I recommend a glass of Blue Diamond unsweetened almond milk + a few drops of vanilla stevia to wash 'em down. Or regular ole milk - whatever your body can handle. Thank God for creating nuts, cacao, coconut, and so on.

coconut flour chai cookies

For all of my health woes, I'm thankful to have somehow acquired too much yeast in my system. Why in God's name, you ask? Well, I'm grateful for the introduction to so many yummy coconut products because as Johnny says, I am "coconutty." While progressing slowly health-wise, I've truly enjoyed coconut cream, coconut milk, dried coconut, coconut oil, and coconut flour. And God knows I love tea. So I'm happy to share my favorite yeast-free dessert thus far:

Coconut Flour Chai Cookies

1 cup coconut flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (in my opinion, you should always use extra cinnamon)
1/2 cup Sweet-n-Natural
3/4 cup coconut oil
2 black chai tea bags steeped in 1/2 cup boiling water, cooled (today, I used Tazo organic chai)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon liquid stevia

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix dry ingredients together and set aside. In a separate bowl mix coconut oil, chai tea, eggs, vanilla, and stevia. Blend in the dry ingredients. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper (or greased with coconut oil).

Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes before transferring to a plate. Best kept in the fridge.

* I recommend serving these alongside a cup of tea such as Yogi chai redbush or a nice Assam. Really any good tea will do. Now I'm off to do some menu-planning via Super Natural Cooking. I'm thinking Muhammara-Slathered Kabobs, Crema de Guacamole, or Chunky Lentil Soup....

P.S. ~ If you like these chai cookies, take a peek at Christine's Nutty Coconut Cookie recipe. I need to bake those ASAP, too.

guiltless peanut butter bars

On Christmas Eve and Day, I enjoyed the aforementioned fun treats and a few others:

-yellow squash casserole,
-Cajun baked potato casserole,
-my Mom's sweet potato-brown sugar-pecan concoction,
-a sip of sangria,
-spirited eggnog sprinkled with nutmeg,
-and Aunt Pat's carrot cake.

But I also made this yummy yeast-free recipe to balance things out:

Guiltless Peanut Butter Bars

1 1/4 cups whole oats
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup coconut oil
1 1/4 cup Sweet-n-Natural
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon butter extract
16 oz. jar of natural peanut butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, mix oats, salt, and baking soda and set aside. In a large bowl, cream the peanut butter, coconut oil, and Sweet-n-Natural. Beat in the eggs, vanilla, and butter extract. Stir in the oat mixture. Spread into a thin baking pan. Bake for 15-17 minutes. Once the pan has cooled, cut into squares and serve.

* Now I'm back to yeast-free dieting for a bit, so this snack washed down with unsweetened chocolate almond milk + vanilla stevia is helping a great deal. And the chili cooking on the stove, thanks to Johnny. Yum.

almond flour pound cake

Dear God in heaven, this is amazing:

Almond Flour Pound Cake

1 cup organic butter, softened
5 eggs
1 cup erythritol
2 cups Honeyville blanched almond flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon lemon extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

* Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

1. Cream butter and erythritol well.
2. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each.
3. Mix almond flour with baking powder and add to wet mixture gradually while beating.
4. Add lemon and vanilla extracts and mix well.
5. Pour into a 9-inch loaf pan (greased with coconut oil) and bake for 45-50 minutes. Makes 12 servings.

* I highly recommend eating a piece while it's still warm. This would be perfect with a cup of coffee. Oh, and even Johnny loves this recipe.

coconut cream hot chocolate

I'm doing a last round of antifungal medication, but never fear, there are very good yeast-free things in the world:

Coconut Cream Hot Chocolate

2 teaspoons coconut cream
2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
A pinch or two of nutmeg
Cinnamon to taste
Dash of sea salt
1 tablespoon erythritol + 4 drops liquid stevia
Raw cream to taste − optional*
12 oz. boiling water

Put all of the ingredients except the water into a 12 oz. mug. Add the boiling water last and stir. Add a cinnamon stick to your mug. Let it cool a bit and enjoy!

* - I'm waking up early tomorrow to pick up raw cream from local dairy farmers. I can have raw cream in this phase of yeast-free eating, hallelujah. More hot chocolate. Blueberries & cream! And yes, more "normal food" for Christmas; probably before then. In the meantime, I'll be baking pound cake with almond flour and butter. I'll get back to you with a full review.