The search for a Pasta Roni Replacement

So prior to starting the SCD, my favorite comfort food was one box of Herb and Butter flavored Pasta Roni mixed with a box of Parmesan Pasta Roni.  It had been my go to since I was a kid!  Obviously, after starting the SCD, almost everything in that meal (if you can call it that) was off limits.  Recently, though, my wonderful husband made me zucchini pasta with a herb cream sauce that could be an excellent replacement!  The recipe for the sauce came from my new favorite cookbook, Healing Foods: Cooking for Celiacs, Colitis, Crohn's and IBS. 

The first step is to make Creme Fresh:  Heat 2 1/2 cups of heavy cream to 180 degrees Fahrenheit (don't let it boil), then let it cool to room temperature.  Combine with 1/2 cup of natural yogurt.  If you have a yogurt maker, now is the time to use it.  If not, you can put it in a dark place on a heating pad.  Let it heat for 24 hours, then refrigerate for 8 hours before using. 

To make Herb Cream Sauce:

Melt 1/3 cup butter in a small skillet over medium heat.  Add 1 clove on minced garlic, 1 tablespoon of finely chopped basil, 1 tablespoon of finely chopped tarragon, 1 tablespoon of finely chopped fresh parseley, and 4 tablespoons of finely chopped sage leaves.  After sauteeing for one minute, add 1 cup of Creme Fresh, and 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese.    Stir and cook until paremsan has melted, and saute on low until all ingredients have combined into a creamy sauce.

Serve over zucchini pasta and enjoy!

Gadgets for the SCD Kitchen!

My Christmas list this year was quite different from those of years past- instead of the typical requests for clothing or jewelry, my wish list consisted of mostly small kitchen appliances.  I was thrilled to receive three large items and several small ones that will make my kitchen significantly more SCD friendly.  Pictures, descriptions and tips on where to find them are below:



The Yogourmet Yogurt Maker:

As anyone who has read anything about SCD already knows, making your own yogurt is an integral part of the diet!  I am ashamed to say this is only my second time making yogurt- the first time I made a phenomenal french cream (yogurt made from heavy whipping cream).  A post on that is soon to follow...  My first trip into yogurt making was done with a heating pad stashed in my closet to keep our cats from eating them- as you can imagine, this Yogourmet (from my incredible parents) will be a huge help!  We opted for three glass jars instead of the plastic container that comes with the Yogourmet.  Heating fatty yogurt in a plastic container seemed awfully dangerous.  I have a batch of goats milk yogurt brewing as I type.  The Yogourmet is available at Lucy's Kitchen.

Bass Pro Shops Food Dehydrator

This machine (from my wonderful brother and sister-in-law) is going to revolutionize my snacking!  I can't wait to make my own beef and salmon jerky and dehydrated fruits and veggies.  It is available at Bass Pro Shops.

Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer Ice Cream Attachment

 
So excited to whip up some coconut milk ice cream with this amazing attachment (again from my wonderful parents)!  I will probably start with a recipe like this one from Against All Grain.  The ice cream attachment can be purchased here.

And one stocking stuffer....

William Sonoma Kitchen Towels

These great Kitchen Towels have the perfect weave to double as cheese cloth.  Great for straining almond milk or drying out cooked carrots for Carrot French Toast.

Found: SCD Legal Hot Dogs and Chicken Broth

On a trip to Whole Foods today, I found a few items that might be helpful for convenience eating (or at least as convenient as it gets when you are on SCD).  

The first is Imagine Free Range Organic Chicken Broth.  Not only are all the ingredients SCD friendly, but it is also organic and free range, both of which have been suggested to help enhance the effects of the SCD (see this website for more details on that).  Chicken Broth is a mandatory part of the first few days of SCD, and a great base for soups as you move through the phases.

Additionally, I found a fun addition to my diet- Applegate Organic Uncured Beef Hot Dogs have all SCD legal ingredients and will be a great addition to my dinner rotation-  I almost can't wait for a nice warm fall day so I can grill a few up!  I will be making SCD legal ketchup to go along with them for sure, as well as using some French's Mustard (also SCD legal). 

Buffalo wings with carrot cheese dip- SCD Phase 1 Friendly

Ingredients:
Wings:
1 lb chicken wings
1 Tbsp cayenne pepper
1 tspn crushed red pepper flakes
1 Tbsp salt
1/2 cup louisiana hot sauce
1 Tbsp butter

Dipping Sauce:
1 cup SCD legal melting cheese (Gruyere, Swiss, etc)
1 Tbsp lemon juice or vinegar (add more if the melting cheese looks clumpy)
1 cup cooked and pureed carrots
1/2 tspn nutmeg
Salt to taste

Instructions:
Wings:  In a half a pot of water, combine wings, cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper and salt.  Bring to a boil, then boil for 15 minutes.  Drain wings, and place in an oven safe container coated in butter.  Broil for 20 minutes per side (this will make crispy wings).  Meanwhile, combine hot sauce and butter, microwave until butter melts, and stir.  When wings are done, toss with hot sauce mixture.


Dipping sauce:  Combine cooked carrot puree and cheese. Melt over medium/low heat, stirring occasionally.  Do not over stir, or it will clump.  Add vinegar, nutmeg and salt when cheese is mostly melted (or when you observe clumping that should be treated).


Other notes:   This is a phase 1 advanced recipe.  I didn't try it until my system had mostly normalized... I was concerned that the cheese or hot sauce could upset my digestion. 
Enjoy!

Banana "Ice Cream"- SCD Phase 1 Friendly

Ingredients
1 ripe banana
1/8 tspn vanilla extract (optional)
1/4 tspn honey (optional)
Dash of Cinnamon


Instructions:  Mash up the banana with a fork, or puree for a smoother taste.  Add the vanilla and honey, stir.  Place in the freezer for at least 2 hours.  Remove, sprinkle with cinnamon, and enjoy!

Other tips: This is a great alternative to ice cream (believe me, I am a fiend)!  Other spices could be added to shift the flavor (try almond extract, nutmeg, allspice or cloves). 

Squash Fries- SCD Phase 1 Friendly

Ingredients
SCD Phase 1 legal squash (Buttercup tastes the most like sweet potato fries, acorn tastes like traditional potato fries)
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper

Instructions:
Cut the squash into about 1 inch cubes.  Toss with olive oil (just enough to coat each piece lightly), salt and pepper (to taste).  Spread evenly on a baking sheet covered in tin foil.  Bake at 425 for about 40 minutes.

Other tips:  This is a great way to feel like you aren't deprived during Phase 1!  They are absolutely delicious and are probably the new "fries" in my life.  You can also make some great SCD friendly dipping sauces.  I like to use just plain honey, and my husband prefers Farmers Cheese with just enough olive oil (or SCD friendly yogurt) to make it more liquid-y, and a few drops of hot sauce (ok, maybe not fully SCD legal).

Carrot French Toast- SCD Phase 1 Friendly

This recipe is a modified version of the Carrot Pancake Recipe that can be found on TheSCDGirl blog. 

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups cooked, drained carrots
4 eggs
4 tspn honey
1 tspn vanilla
1/2 tspn nutmeg
1 tspn cinnamon
1/4 tsp sea salt

makes about 8 "french toast" pieces
Instructions:
Boil the carrots until they are soft enough to be cut with a butter knife while still floating in the water; drain.  Try to remove as much water from the carrots as possible, then puree.  Add remaining ingredients and mix.  Take a spoonful of the mixture and spread it to about 4 inches in diameter and 1/4 inch thick on a piece of parchment paper.  Microwave for 2 minutes, or until the carrot french toast sticks together in a patty.  Let cool for 1-2 minutes, drizzle with honey and cinnamon if desired, and enjoy!

Other tips:  Process the carrots in bulk and freeze 1 1/2 cup quantities.  Then, at the beginning of the week, make the batter.  Keep the batter refrigerated, and make yourself 2-3 pieces each morning.  This is a great "on the go" meal that contains a lot of protein and a serving of vegetables.  Not to mention it tastes just like french toast!