Siete Mini Buñuelos

  I will say that I was not familiar with bunuelos before this week. They are delicious round pieces of dough or flour tortillas fried and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. They are served around Christmas and New Years Eve. Popular among hispanic families.

Siete has taken these special treats and made them into a delicious chip that is also gluten and corn free! Siete grain free mini Bunuelos. These capture the spirit of the dessert without the work or the gluten.

First off, they are crunchy. Really crunchy. Sprinkled with cinnamon and coconut sugar is a great combination. They also add some vanilla for more flavor layering.

Calorie wise they are not bad at all, 130 calories for a one ounce serving. I was also happy to see that they use avocado oil. And a nice addition is the use of psyllium. Psyllium is great for getting things moving.

I ate these plain right out of the bag. But I can see using them with a cheese or fruit dip. Maybe even a  chocolate dip. 

Why these chips fit in perfectly with my diet to control Crohn's: Siete uses cassava flour instead of wheat. Cassava is gluten free but also lends to a firmer texture which is missing in some gluten free products. It is also free from corn and corn derivatives. The sugar comes from coconut and not corn syrup.

All in all a big hit with my family!

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Siete extra large burrito wraps and enchilada sauce

 Had the most delicious dinner yesterday. Huevos rancheros. Basically this is made from a tortilla topped with enchilada sauce, cheese and a sunny side egg. 

It’s been a while since I’ve been able to have these. I keep my Crohn’s under control by avoiding all gluten and corn. I also avoid all gluten and corn derivatives. One such corn derivative is white distilled vinegar. White vinegar will send me into a flare. 

Siete extra large burrito wraps use cassava and tapeoca flours. These fit in perfectly with my diet. I also purchased Siete enchilada sauce. This worked since they use apple cider vinegar. Not only does it fit in with my diet but it also adds a nice flavor to the sauce. 

Note the use of apple cider vinegar:

The extra large burritos were just that, extra large. Dinner plate size. I took advantage of the size to stuff them with leftover food for dinner. A few days later when I made the Huevos rancheros I stuffed them with sauteed peppers, mushrooms and red onions. One burrito was enough for a meal.  The burritos held up very well. No cracking. I simply threw them on a hot pan for about 20 seconds on each side with a bit of olive oil. 

The enchilada sauce had a wonderful chipotle or paprika flavor to it which we really enjoyed. Nice consistency to the sauce. Thick enough to stay on the burrito wrap.  It comes in a good size jar so there is a lot left for other experiments. 

All in all I found two great items that fit in with my diet.  They would be delicious even if I didn't need to be gluten free, as my husband, who is not gluten and corn free, can attest to. He had never had Huevos rancheros before but now it is one of his new favorite meals. 

Yesterday morning I used some of the enchilada sauce with my scrambled eggs. it was like a spicy ketchup. I can not use ketchup for two reasons. One is because it uses the white distilled vinegar. and second is because it is made with corn syrup. the enchilada sauce was wonderful.

The Good Bean

 Looking for a way to oomph up a meal or add super crunch to a salad? These little chic peas add a nice crunchy salty flavor. Add them to foods or eat a handful as a snack.

There are 6 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber in each serving. Also only 120 calories. They contain nice simple ingredients of chic peas, sunflower or safflower oil and sea salt.  Although they come in other flavors, I recommend sticking with the sea salt as they may contain corn derivatives.

Available at a whole range of stores including; Whole Foods, CVS, Krogers, 7-eleven, Costco, Walmart and online at Amazon.

The addition of these chic peas fits perfectly into my restrictive diet. My diet eliminates all gluten, corn, and gluten and corn derivatives. This keeps me in remission from Crohn's through diet alone. I am not on any medicine for Crohn's at all. One other nice thing about this snack is that it contains sunflower and safflower oils as opposed to corn oil, which is found in a lot of crunchy snacks. Corn even in the form of oil is a big no-no.

I added these to my salad as well as a vegetarian cauliflower dish I made. The contrasting textures were amazing! See pictures below.

Beanitos

 For those of you missing corn tortilla chips this was a wonderful find! Beanitos skips the corn and uses beans to make these delicious and healthy chips.

The texture is very similar to corn, firm yet crunchy. Just the right amount of sea salt. Perfect size for dipping. I brought a bag of these chips with me while visiting my brother. While I was there my friends and family tried them and loved them. They do not need to eat gluten and corn free but still enjoyed them immensely. 

They contain 5 grams of protein per serving, not surprising since the main ingredient is beans. There is also a nice 4 grams of fiber per serving as well. The ingredients are beans, rice flour, tapioca flour, sunflower oil and sea salt. Pure and simple.

I recommend sticking with the black bean with sea salt, restaurant style with white beans,  Pinto bean with sea salt, as well as the Beanitos Dippers made with white beans and sea salt.

The most important thing is that these chips fit in with my restrictive diet. I must avoid all gluten and corn as well as corn derivatives. There is no corn in these chips. I would avoid the flavored chips as they can contain some corn derivatives. 

These chips can be found at Whole Foods and other natural retailers as well as on line at Amazon. Great with your favorite salsa. I used Whole Foods mango salsa.

What I Eat: Ful mudamas

 

This dish is a mainstay in the Middle East. Usually eaten for breakfast.  I prefer it for a healthy vegetarian dinner. 

Start with a cup of plain yogurt in a bowl. To the yogurt add 1 tablespoon tahini and one minced garlic clove. Stir. Add half a can drained chic peas. Top with chopped tomatoes and parsley. Add a nice drizzle of olive oil and at least two tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice. Finish by sprinkling it with paprika. I like a lot. 

It tastes best when heated in the microwave for a minute. Gently stir all the goodness together. 

Why this fits in with my diet: I can eat any fruit or vegetable except corn. There is no gluten in this recipe. Also no corn or corn derivatives. Everything is fresh. 

I do try to avoid milk products for the most part but I can tolerate yogurt. Though it will occasionally cause gas.

If you like babagunash and tabouli you will appreciate this recipe. 

Oat Start Cookies

 Great find! Oat Start cookies. These come in three varieties; chocolate chip, cinnamon raisin and cran-blueberry. 

Right out of the box I knew they would be good. They came in a resealable plastic container where they can stay fresh for quite a while.  

These little cookies are 50 calories each with 3 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber per serving. They hold a lot of nutrients with the oats, flaxseeds, fiber and dried fruits. 

The texture was very moist with no crumbling. Sweet but not too sweet. Nice consistency. 

These are available on their website   https://oatstart.com for 5.99 per package of one dozen   These cookies are little but nutrient dense. Very portable. They would make a good quick breakfast.

I brought these cookies with me when I went visit my brother this weekend. I had my brother and friends try them. Friends and family agreed they were really tasty even if you don’t need gluten free. 

I keep a very strict diet of no gluten or corn. I also avoid all gluten and corn derivatives, such as soy sauce and white distilled vinegar. Being on this diet, of my own making I have been in remission from Crohn's disease. This is through diet alone. These cookies fit in perfectly with my restrictive diet.

Bobo's protein bars

 

This was part of my healthy breakfast this morning along with fresh peaches and fried tofu. And I am pleasantly full! These bars pack a whallop of nutrients. They have 260 calories per bar, 10 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber. Nicely portable for the gym or a hike. I like keeping bars with me in my purse for times when I can't find any "safe" foods.

These fit nicely into my diet since I am both gluten free and corn free in order to control my Crohn's and keep it in remission. 

The texture of these bars is both firm and chewy. Really nice with no crumbling. The right amount of sweetness from the date paste. Contains lots of sesame seeds which really enhanced the flavor layering.

These protein bars are currently available in four flavors; chocolate chip peanut butter, almond butter, cherry almond butter and banana peanut butter.

I got this at Whole Foods but they are also available at Walgreens and online through the company's website. 

Soozy's Grain Free Bagels

 

This was a real treat this morning. These bagels by Soozy's made my morning special. They come frozen. One package holds 5 bagels. I'm writing this 4 hours after eating it and I am still full. These are satisfying to say the least. 

Another plus is that they come pre-cut. I wrapped them in a paper towel and heated it in the microwave for 45 seconds. The texture was pleasantly chewy and held together great! 

I had mine with Earth Balance Margarine and honey comb.

These bagels are made with a combination of cassava flour, almond flour, tapioca flour and flaxseed flour. All nice gluten free flours that offer lots of texture.

These bagels are 170 calories each with 4 grams protein. They have psyllium seed which brings the fiber content up to provide 25 percent of daily fiber needs. 

These can be found at Whole Foods

Sugars derived from corn

There are several sugar substitutes out there, all of which can be derived from corn. Why is this bad? Well for me, it is wheat, gluten and corn that flares my Crohn's. I made a decision early on to eliminate these from my diet. I am in complete remission because of it.

HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP: This is everywhere, especially in sweetened drinks. Farm substitutes are paying farmers to grow lots of corn. This drives up the price of sugar. As a result, many companies are using the cheaper sweetener. Good for them, bad for me.

MALTOSE: Almost always derived from corn.

DEXTROSE: Chemically this is the same as glucoses, or blood sugar. However it is usually derived from corn. I might be able to tolerate it but better to be safe than sorry.

FRUCTOSE: Sugar that comes from fruits and vegetables, including corn.

BARLEY MALT: This is sugar that is derived from barley. Barley, however, is glutinous so this is a big no no.

XYLITOL: There are actually two sources for this sugar, corn and Birch wood. Unless I am sure of the source I avoid this.

SORBITOL: Usually derived from corn.

POWDERED SUGAR: Usually mixed with corn starch. There are some organic brands that do not use corn starch.

HONEY: Usually ok. However some farmers will feed High Fructose Corn syrup to their bees. I buy from my local farmer.

SUCROSE: Also known as table sugar. Sucrose is a combination of glucose and fructose. Though sugar is not good for you in general and not in large doses, this is well tolerated by my colon.

In conclusion, it is of utmost importance for me to avoid gluten and corn, even in what seems like minuscule amounts. I almost alway opt for table sugar or honey.

Special Note: If you are diabetic you must use sugar substitutes and follow doctor's orders!!

Black eyed peas with basmati rice

Fabulous dinner last night. A slight variation of typical beans and rice. I started with basmati rice and steamed it with turmeric and a bit of margarine. I like the texture of basmati. It separates nicely and doesn’t have that sticky texture. Then I simmered the black eye peas with fresh kale, tomatoes, curry powder, margarine, salt and pepper. Topped it all with fresh diced sweet onion and avocado.

All of these ingredients are in compliance with my diet that controls my Crohn's and keeps it in remission. All of the spices are pure, meaning no corn starch.

Any rice is good, I just prefer the texture of basmati.

I bought the beans precooked and frozen. Some canned beans may contain dextrose. Dextrose is a sugar that can be derived from corn. I avoid corn in every form. It seems like a small amount but it makes a difference. Always check the label on canned beans.

Juicing

When you're watching what you are eating because of Crohn's, it's easy to miss out on fresh fruits and vegetables. Diarrhea makes it undesirable and uncomfortable to eat fruits and vegetables. Too much roughage can be irritating. One possible solution is juicing.

I like to juice once in a while. Though I don't do it as often as I would like to.

Nothing is more delicious than fresh homemade juice. Easy to digest. Full of vitamins and minerals. It can be high in sugar so use care if you are diabetic. This juice was made with carrot, cucumber, celery, parsley, apple, strawberry and beet.

One thing that I do to encourage more juicing, is to leave my juicer on the counter to be a reminder. When it is put away in a closet it can be easily forgotten.

Any fruit or vegetable is fair game except of course corn. I have even tried sweet potato and fresh green beans which lent a nice earthy taste.

Citrus fruits should always be peeled first before juicing.

Never use more than 1/4 of a beet per glass of juice. It can be a strain on the liver.

Try to use organic fruits vegetables when possible. If conventional fruits and vegetables are used they should be peeled before juicing to minimize the pesticides.

What I Eat: Apple "Donuts"

These are quite easy to make, delicious and full of nutrients. I chose oats for my topping. There can be an endless variation of toppings such as ground flaxseed, raisins, chocolate chips, granola, chia seeds and coconut flakes. You can also use any nut butter. I used peanut butter. I also used gluten free oats. I am corn and gluten free to control my Crohn's.

*Wash apples well, skin will stay on
*slice apples through center
*core the inside
*Pat dry with paper towel
*spread peanut butter or other nut butters
*add toppings. It's easier to turn the apples upside down and dip in the topping than to sprinkle them