Chestnut Goji Muffins - Gluten Free and Vegan!

 Sometimes when you have allergies you just crave, well, normal.  You know, not something that taste just  ok . You want something that taste like "real" food taste. Well  I'm so happy because I made a muffin that actually looks like a muffin and has... taste! They were a hit here, and I sure wish I had double the batch - but then again, I don't think I have much luck when I double things so its probably best I didn't.  So to celebrate the fact that these things looked real, I took their picture. Aren't they cute. AND you can actually see them over the edge of the muffin paper instead of sitting under the edge like a small hockey puck. Ain't life grand!

Chestnut Goji Muffins

1 cup orange juice

1 cup sugar

2 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup grape seed oil

2 flax eggs (1 tablespoon ground flax mixed with 3 tablespoons hot water per egg)

2 cups Bobs Red Mill Gluten Free Flour Blend

1 cup chestnut flour

3/4 teaspoon xanthan gum

4 teaspoons baking powder (I make my own)

1/2 tsp salt

ground ginger to taste

freeze dried goji berries to taste

Preheat oven to 350. Combine flax eggs ( those should sit until they thicken some by the way) with sugar and mix a bit. Now add the liquids (oj, oil, vanilla) and mix those up as well. Now in another bowl combine all the dry ingredients(you can put the berries at this point too if you want), add to the wet and stir just until combined. The wonderful thing about vegan baking is you can give it a taste and see if you want to add anything else. Gotta love that. We're all ready for the muffin tins now. Once its in, sprinkle it with a mix of sugar, cinnamon, and a bit of cardamon. Put those puppies in the oven and cook them for about 30 - 35 minutes  and Voila you now have a yummy muffin! Oh La La Mon Ami il magnifique! ( that means boy thats tastier than warm tater tots in December when the sun don't shine -  in French. In case you didn't know.)

Are you eating for Spring?

Winter is beginning to dissipate and springs beauty is beginning to burst forth.  Its time to put aside those heavy winter dishes for some lighter fare! According to Ayurveda (the ancient form of medicine in India) spring is the time of year when the toxins we have accumulated in our bodies begin to be released. These toxins are eliminated through our channels, which in modern medicine can be compared to  your different systems: digestive, circulatory, and respiratory. If these things are blocked the toxins can't escape So be sure your bowels are moving at the very least once a day to get those toxins out!

According to Todd Caldecott, author of the book Food as Medicine  a spring diet should include  leaner proteins, cereals, grains, legumes, and especially foods with bitter, pungent, and astringent flavors. These flavors help move toxins out of your body in ways such as stimulating blood flow to the digestive tract and opening up the channels. So grab some turmeric and sprinkle it on your chicken with some rosemary, thyme and oregano, have a side of dandelion greens and maybe some lentils  and you'll be on the road to helping your body detox!

 

Please note I am not a doctor and I don't play one on TV. (heck I don't even have TV) Post such as this are written for the sole purpose of reminding myself of things I have discovered that I feel are important and noteworthy. Follow any advice at your own risk.

Changes

Boy how time flies! The winter was a trying one at times, between our oldest setting off on her own, a flu that seemed to last forever, and the decision to buy our first house.  Its funny that we have been married 19 years and have never owned our own house! Well thats about to change.  Mr. Bouncer has made the decision that its time to retire from the army.  Its a little stressful, but I think the right thing to do.  With just about a year left we felt it was time to buy a house so all these little ones would have a place to live....so here it is! Nothing in this family goes off without a hitch of course, so this was not the first choice house. The first one had some issues at the inspection and we felt it best to pull out of that one. Of course we would eventually like something more in the country but with the uncertainty of the future job situation we felt a more traditional type home was best. If worst comes to worst, hopefully this house will be easier to sell or rent. So although not exactly our dream home this house is quite nice and will be quite a cozy place I'm sure. For me the fun will be the freedom to do what I want with it. The worst thing about renting and living in military housing is ever time you move you think "if this were my house I would...." Now I can do all those I woulds, well, all the "I woulds" that the budget will allow anyway!