Cranberry Sauce

 Sweet and Tart! Nothing says Holidays like cranberry sauce. But forget the canned stuff. It's full of corn syrup. In order to keep my Crohn's in remission I avoid all gluten and corn as well as derivatives such as corn syrup.  Instead of canned, I make my own sauce using fresh cranberries. It literally takes five minutes to prepare and is so delicious. 

1 bag fresh cranberries (washed)

1/2 to 1 cup sugar (depending on how sweet/tart you want it)

 1 cup water (We used some orange juice as part of the cup. About half and half)

Put all ingredients into a pot and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer as berries start popping. Simmer about five minutes until desired consistency is achieved. 

#cornfreecranberrysauce #cornfree #glutenfree #crohns #beatcrohns #dietforcrohns #crohnsdiet

#foodasmedicine #nauralcurecrohns #cancrohnsbecured 

Product Alert: Enjoy Life Chewy Bars

These Enjoy Life Chewey Bars now contain xanthan gum. Xanthan gum is a corn derivative. It is not allowed on my diet as I avoid all gluten, corn and gluten and corn derivatives. Quite unfortunate because they are yummy. Always, always, always check ingredients even on products you buy all the time. Manufacturers change ingredients all the time.

#enjoylife #glutenfree #cornfree #beatcrohns #foodasmedicine

#naturalcurecrohns #crohnsdiet #dietforcrohns

 

Pacific Foods Red Pepper and Tomato Soup

 I ate this soup for breakfast. Delicious! I added chic peas and Aleia's stuffing cubes. They were super crunchy. All this together made soup into a meal. The container is good for about 4 servings.

I bought the stuffing cubes for Thanksgiving but didn't end up using them. Theses would also be great for croutons. I bought the plain, but these also come with savory seasoning.

Both of these items were found in my normal super mart.

#pacificfoods #glutenfree #cornfree #beatcrohns #crohnsflare #dietforcrohns #crohnsdiet

#foodasmedicine #Aleias 

Cream of Rice

Naturally gluten and corn free. The box was tucked in the back of my pantry and it was quite a find. Super quick to make. It contains 70 percent of daily iron needs.  Great when there is substantial bleeding.

I added maple syrup, blueberries, almonds and chocolate chips. Truth be told, I added a lot more after the picture was taken. Many additions are delicious such as raisins, fresh strawberries, shredded coconut... Be creative! 

Always use real maple syrup. Commercial brands are mostly corn syrup.

#creamofrice #crohns #cornfree #glutenfree #crohnsflare #dietforcrohns #crohnsdiet

#naturalcurecrohns #foodasmedicine #curecrohns 

Corn: Not even for gluten free diet

 Interesting article:

https://www.glutenfreesociety.org/corn-gluten-damages-celiac-patients/?fbclid=IwAR2YbREWu0YqfZ64H4i40NZWlfrgSGXo_dFHkPGsEAeqOlw5t6Y58gT-0I4

Best French Toast Ever!

 Love French toast? Me too! Here's a way to get extra yummy, extra delicious French toast. I started with my banana bread, but any gluten and corn free bread will do.

I stay in remission from Crohn's by eliminating all gluten, corn and corn derivatives from my diet.

Start by crushing up some cinnamon Chex cereal on a plate.  

Beat two eggs with a dash of milk and 1 tsp vanilla extract and a dash of cinnamon.

Place bread slices in egg mixture and let soak for a few minutes.

Heat skillet on medium heat with butter or corn free margarine. 

Carefully lift bread from egg mixture and coat both sides with crunched up Chex cereal..

Fry to golden brown on both sides.

Enjoy with real maple syrup.

#Crohns #glutenfree #cornfree #dietforcrohns #Crohnsdiet #foodasmedicine #naturalcureforcrohns

#beatcrohns #Crohnsflare

Foods and Drinks I can Have

 Following up with my previous post, here are foods and drinks I can have.

Gluten and corn free products. There are many on the market. I start in the gluten free section. Then I make sure the product is also free of corn, corn meal, corn starch, maize, white distilled vinegar, xanthan gum and maltodextrin. Here are some good brands: Jovial pasta, Siete, Enjoy Life, 365

Cereal. I can eat some of the commercial brands such as cinnamon Chex. Also gluten free oatmeal

Bragg's Liquid Aminos or Gluten free soy sauce

Meat. All types are good plus fish. It is important to have gluten and corn free seasoning. Salt and pepper is usually enough for my tastes. No commercial ketchup. It contains corn syrup and vinegar. No batter. No lunchmeat unless you are sure of the ingredients.I usually do ok with salami.

Rice. All good. Rice itself is gluten free.

Eggs. No ketchup or salsa

Bacon. Speaking of eggs. just check that there is no corn syrup added.

Soda: Real sugar only

Alcohol: Wine and Brandy

Pasta: Many available. Check ingredients. Jovial is very good and has good texture.

Spaghetti sauce. Usually safe.

Vegetables: Literally any vegetable except corn

Fruit: All

Milk. Generally safe but does cause lots of gas due to intolerance. I use lactose free milk or milk substitutes.

Juice: Generally safe

Oil: Any oil is safe except corn oil.

Nuts and seeds. Great snack. Usually safe.

Frozen Waffles. Van's Brand.

Bread: Usually make my own. Also Against The Grain Brand found in the frozen section of Whole Foods.

Bagels. Against the Grain

Mints. Altoids are made with only sugar. Not the cinnamon however, which is made with corn starch.

Cottage cheesse. Daisy Brand. Other brands contain vinegar

Yogurt. Many. Oui, Chobani, Stoney Farms. Avoid the ones with corn syrup or corn starch

Cheese. Mostly ok. Look for starches and avoid pre-shredded.

Chocolate: Usually ok but some add barley malt. Avoid caramel and nougat. I can it pure chocolate and Heath Bars.

Dry Fruits. Generally ok

Other Grains. Quinoa, millet, Amaranth, Oat and Oat flour. All good

Beans and Lentils. Check canned beans. I avoid the ones with added dextrose, a corn derived sugar. Bonus: tons of fiber.

Vegenaise. Instead of Mayo. Mayo has corn syrup and vinegar.

Apple Cider vinegar, Balsamic Vinegar, wine vinegar and rice vinegar. All good. Avoid white distilled vinegar.

Warrior Brand protein powder. There are other safe ones. Check label carefully

Tea and coffee. Safe. watch the cream which can contain corn syrup.

This list is by no means exhaustive. The important thing is that I eat well.

#crohns #beatcrohns #naturalcurecrohns #foodasmedicine #curecrohns #glutenfree #cornfree

#crohnsdiet #dietforcrohns #cornderivatives 

Foods and Drinks I Avoid

 Here are the basic foods and drinks that I avoid in order to keep my Crohn's in complete remission. I stick to this 100 percent. There is no room for cheating.

Wheat: Found everywhere. This means no regular pasta, bread, muffins, bagels, cake, cookies, bread crumbs, couscous, pie, cereal, and canned soups. 

Gluten: Slightly different from wheat. Wheat contains gluten. But other sources of gluten are rye, regular oats, barley and regular soy sauce.

Corn: Found everywhere again. Not just corn in its natural state. I also cut out corn starch, corn syrup, regular baking powder, candy, many cereals, powdered sugar, corn oil, tortillas, corn flakes, diet soda and gum, and white vinegar. All of these are corn or derivatives.

White distilled vinegar: As mentioned before this is derived from corn and will flare me. Found in all good things: Salad dressing, ketchup, mayo, pickles, mustard, BBQ sauce. There are products, though a bit more expensive, made without white distilled vinegar. Usually apple cider vinegar is used instead.

Soda: Regular soda contains high fructose corn syrup. Diet contains sweeteners derived from corn. I drink soda made with real sugar

Soy Sauce: Regular soy sauce is made from wheat and is full of gluten, I use gluten free soy sauce or Bragg's liquid Amminos 

Grain alcohol: derived from barley, rye corn and wheat. I can drink wine and brandy, derived from fruit

Pancake syrup: Made from corn syrup. I use 100 percent maple syrup

Regular rolled oats: Oats are rolled in order to make them flat. The rollers can be dusted with various flours. I only use certified gluten free oats.

Powdered sugar: Mixed with corn starch for a nice consistency. Not nice for my colon. Several brands on the market that use tapioca starch instead. Usually the organic brands

Marshmallows: Corn syrup is the main ingredient. Dandees brand does not contain corn syrup.

Cottage Cheese: Usually contains White distilled vinegar. Daisy brand does not

Yogurt: May contain both corn syrup and corn starch. Check labels carefully. 

Sour Cream: May contain white vinegar. I substitute plain yogurt for any recipe using sour cream.

Shredded Cheese: Convenient yes. But many brands use corn starch to keep shreds separate. I shredded my own if I can't find any without corn starch

Potato chips: Many use corn oil. they are also subject to change oils due to availability

Hot dogs: Contain starches. Hebrew National does not as well as some of the natural ones

Lunch Meats: Check labels and don't buy from deli. These can contain starches and gluten as well as corn syrup.

Ice cream. Almost always uses corn syrup. I have found Bryers Natural Vanilla which is made with real sugar. And also watch the chocolate syrup. I use Nutella melted.

Xanthan Gum: Found in many gluten free products. This is derived from corn

Maltodextrin: Malto means malt and that is derived from barley

This list is not exhaustive. Mostly I avoid wheat, corn, gluten and all derivatives. Theres no magic here but it works! The key is substitutions and not feeling deprived.

#glutenfree #cornfree #beatcrohns #crohns #curecrohns #cureforcrohns #foodasmedicine

#dietforcrohns #crohnsdiet #crohnssafefoods #crohnsflare

Siete Churro Strips

 Think cinnamon French toast. But really crunchy. These Churro strips were delicious. Interestingly, they use psyllium seed husk in the ingredients. This may lend to their crunchiness. After having the bag open for a few days they still had a nice texture with bite. These are a little hard to find. Maybe because they sell so quickly. I got mine at Whole Foods.

These are both gluten and corn free.

#glutenfree #cornfree #Crohns #foodasmedicine #Curecrohns #dietforcrohns #crohnsdiet

#beatcrohns #candietcurecrohns #howIbeatcrohns 

Siete Mexican wedding Cookies

 These cookies had a nice almond nutty flavor and very firm texture. And what is a Mexican Wedding Cookie without the powdered sugar? What impressed me the most was that Siete uses powdered sugar that is free from corn starch. Corn starch is in most powdered sugar. It I one thing that I must avoid and its everywhere. 

The cookies are small. About the same size as shown on the package. About equal to a half dollar. But flavorful to hold a punch.

Avoiding all gluten, corn and gluten and corn derivatives is what I do to keep my Crohn's in remission.

#glutenfree #cornfree #Crohns #foodasmedicine #naturalcureforcrohns #dietforcrohns

#crohnsdiet #beatcrohns #sietemexicanweddingcookies

Salmon salad

 MMMMMMmmmm Salmon salad. The only thing I use on my salad as dressing is olive oil with lemon juice or apple cider vinegar. I use gluten free soy sauce and brown sugar to bake the salmon. Simple. Delicious. Healthy.

Rice with lentils and mushrooms

 loving mushrooms? Me too! Sauteed mushrooms with my usual rice and lentils. I use Earth Balance which is corn free. Other margarines may contain corn oil. Butter is good too, as far as my colon is concerned. I prefer the Earth Balance for my cholesterol.

For the rice I boil lentils and split peas for at least 20 minutes. Mix the boiled legumes with steamed rice. I top it with olive oil, salt, pepper and turmeric. 

To keep my Crohn's in remission I avoid all gluten and corn as well as all gluten and corn derivatives.

Siete tortilla with Nutella

 Simple dessert but delicious! Perfect for Holidays or a special breakfast treat. I took a Siete chic pea tortilla and fried it for a minute in a pan with butter flipping halfway. Then I spread it with Nutella. Rolled it up and put more Nutella on top. Then sprinkled with powdered sugar. You will not regret it!

Some of Siete's tortillas contain Xanthan gum and some do not. This gum is derived from corn and must be avoided. Always check labels. Ingredients can also change without warning.

Powdered sugar must not contain corn starch. I find that the organic sugar usually uses tapioca flour.

#crohns #glutenfree #cornfree #foodasmedicine #dietforcrohns #crohnsdiet #naturalcurecrohns

#Sietetortilla #xanthangum #cornfreepowderedsugar #awesomedessert 

Tuna salad

 This was a great breakfast! It's nice to get some protein in the morning. Two things to consider here. First off, the tuna must be packed in water. The oils are too iffy and may contain corn oil. Second, I only use Vegenaise brand mayonnaise. This is because Vegenaise uses apple cider vinegar and not white distilled vinegar. This is one of my most important rules for keeping me in remission. I mixed it straight with the tuna and veggies. No other ingredients. 

It was served on an Against the Grain brand roll. 

Avoiding all gluten and corn as well as derivatives of. gluten and corn has kept me pretty much in remission for 14 years.

#glutenfree #cornfree #crohns #beatcrohns #foodasmedicine #dietforcrohns #crohnsdiet

#Vegenaise #safefoodsforcrohns

Staple Gluten and Corn Free Bread

 Here again is my recipe for Gluten and Corn free bread. I recently used it to make French toast and it stood up remarkedly well with no crumbling. I always use pure maple syrup. Commercial brands are mostly corn syrup. I like to experiment with different flours. Only use a 1/2 cup of these flours to replace the rice flour. There are so many on the market such as quinoa, hemp, oat and amaranth just to name a few. This is my staple goto bread.

*3 whole eggs
*1 tbs apple cider vinegar (white vinegar is a corn derivative)
*3/4 cup milk or milk substitute
*2 tbs oil (olive)
*1 tsp honey
*1/4 tsp salt
*1/2 tsp baking powder (featherweight; other baking powders contain cornstarch)
*1 tbs ground flax
*1 and 1/2 cup rice flour
*1/2 cup gluten free oats
*1 and 1/2 tbs baker yeast
*2 tbs gluten free oats to sprinkle on top prior to baking

     DIRECTIONS:

      *in large bowl mix wet ingredients
      *in separate bowl mix dry ingredients and yeast
      *slowly incorporate the dry into the wet ingredients
      *grease 1 bread pan with canola oil
      *pour batter into pan (Note: it will not be doughy)
      *sprinkle top with gluten free oats

This makes one loaf.

Be sure to only use baking powder that is corn starch free. And only use apple cider vinegar. This is the key for how I stay in remission.

#glutenfree #cornfree #crohns #beatcrohns #dietforcrohns #crohnsdiet #glutenfreebread

#safefoodsforcrohns #naturalcurecrohns #foodasmedicine

Book: How I Beat Crohn's

 My book "How I Beat Crohn's" is now available through lulu.com as an E Book. Only $3.99 and no waiting. Contains 25 yummy recipes that I eat to keep my Crohn's in remission. Share with friends. Link:

https://www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/lynne-frankenbery/how-i-beat-crohns-through-diet-alone/ebook/product-1864p5ke.html?fbclid=IwAR386FrF9iFA5sQgJwRyLtqaS0VS7s2ElNCpjGHHvgzD0p7CtOpphZlW6KA&page=1&pageSize=4

#crohns #glutenfree #Cornfree #beatcrohns #safefoodsforcrohns #foodasmedicine

#dietforcrohns #crohnsdiet #bookoncrohns #cancrohnsbecured

Fried Tofu with Curry

 Not normally a huge fan of tofu but this was really good. The key is how it affected the texture of the tofu. It was crunchy.So good. First I pressed the tofu with paper towels to rid it of some moiture. I sliced it up and coated it with quinoa and rice flour. Then I fried it up in coconut oil. I kept stirring and flipping to heat all sides. It takes at least 15 minutes to reach golden brown crunchy.

I served it with rice, asparagus and homemade curry sauce. My sauce:

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 fresh tomato, chopped

2 tablespoons peanut butter

2 tablespoons coconut oil

1 teaspoon Siete hot sauce

1 small shallot

2 tablespoons Braggs Aminos or gluten free soysauce

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1/2 cup water

3 tablespoons curry powder

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon tumeric

combine all ingredients and simmer till fragrant and blended

turn off heat and add 1/4 cup plain yogurt

It is important to only use Braggs or guten free soysauce.

Siete is a brand that uses apple cider vinegar which is compliant with my gluten and corn free diet. White distilled vinegar is derived from corn.

#glutenfree #cornfree #crohns #beatcrohns #dietforcrohns #safefoodsforcrohns #foodasmedicine #tofurecipe

Chilean Celery Salad

 This simple salad was introduced to me by a Chilean friend of mine. One of the delicious foods common in Chili. Simple in ingredients, though perfect in taste. Nice way to use up leftover celery. 

1 celery stalk, chopped (use the yummy green leaf part too!)

2 avocados, diced

lemon juice from one lemon

olive oil, drizzled on top, to taste

salt and pepper, to taste

#chileancelerysalad #cornfree #glutenfree #foodasmedicine #dietforcrohns #crohnsdiet

#ethnicfood #celerysalad #chileanrecipe #crohns #crohnsflare  #naturalcurecrohns 

Toilet Paper

 Ok let's talk toilet paper. Did you know that almost all toilet paper is dusted with corn starch? Normally this would be a nice additional feature. However, many people are sensitive to corn, as I am. You may notice annoying itching after using the bathroom. This is a clue to corn sensitivity. Also noting that people with Crohn's may need to visit the bathroom several times. 

The only toilet paper free from corn starch is Scott. However, the quality of their product is poor. Super thin texture. Now Scott has come out with a new toilet paper, called Comfort Plus. This does contain corn starch too. The regular may be difficult to find.

Solution: Take shower immediately after. If this is not feasible, There are Bidets and hand bidet sprayers available on Amazon.

There are also wipes available. But even the "flushable" ones should not be flushed. I was told this by a plumber. 

#toiletpaperforcrohns #cornintoiletpaper #crohns #glutenfree #cornfree #cornstarch #Scotttoiletpaper

Tofu stir fry with zucchini

 Had a great vegetarian dinner last night. I started with a tofu stir fry, broccoli, asparagus and mushroom. seasoned with Braggs Aminos, brown sugar, wine vinegar and sesame oil. its important to NOT use regular soy sauce, which is full of gluten.

On the side I had sliced zucchini from our garden. I dipped the slices in rice flour, egg and the quinoa flour. Fried in olive oil. I do not use vegetable oil that may contain corn.

Avoiding gluten and corn and gluten and corn derivatives is how I beat Crohn's. Have a great and productive day!

#Crohns #cornfree #foodasmedicine #glutenfree #dietforcrohns#Crohnsdiet #crohnsflare

Salad Dressing

 Missing salad? Does salad bother your colon? Could it actually be the dressing that goes on the salad that is bothersome. Most salad dressings are made with vinegar. Distilled white vinegar is derived from corn. To keep myself in remission I avoid all gluten, corn and gluten and corn derivatives.  This will immediately flare me. However, balsamic vinegar, derived from grapes, and apple cider vinegar derived from apples, do not bother my colon. It's a simple substitution. There are some dressings available that use these alternative vinegars. Check the label carefully. I just use my own oil and vinegar.

#saladdressingforcrohns #glutenfree #cornfree #dietforcrohns #crohnsdiet #foodasmedicine

#crohnsflare 

Smoothie bowel

 My attempt at smoothie bowl. It was delicious. Frozen blueberries and raspberries, fresh spinach and soy milk blended with ground flax. Topped with fresh fruit, oats, chia seeds and drizzled with honey. Feeling healthy!

Chiobani Complete yogurt

 This yogurt promises a lot, high protein, low sugar and a few grams of fiber was well. Actually 15 grams of protein. 3 grams of fiber, which is always nice. It also cuts way down on the lactose, so gas should not be a problem. This is also sweetened with stevia, a natural plant leaf. All good things.

However, the taste was not great. The texture was way too thick. Not creamy at all. In my opinion, not sweet enough. There was no actual fruit, just flavor. I will just use my other container in a smoothie. Sorry Chiobani, you can do better.

#Chiobanicomplete #crohns #glutenfree #cornfree #foodasmedicine #beatcrohns

#dietforcrohns #crohnsdiet 

Almond Breeze Yogurt

 Found this new product yesterday. Fruit on the bottom. Very nice smooth texture. Today I tried the blueberry. They also come in strawberry, peach and vanilla. They do not skimp on the fruit layer. Made with cane sugar, not corn syrup. I like that this is non-dairy so it won't cause gas. All in all a good find.

Yogurt in general is great for Crohn's. But it must be free from gluten and corn in order not to flare me. The cane sugar is nice. Also no added corn starch.

#almondbreezeyogurt #crohns #glutenfree #cornfree #beatcrohns #foodasmedicine

#dietforcrohns #crohnsdiet #bestyogurtforcrohns 

Quinoa Black bean Salad

 This salad contains literally everything that is good in this world. All my faves wrapped up into one delicious vegan salad. One thing to note is that I used Goya brand black beans. Other brands are good as long as they are free from added corn syrup.

Ingredients:

1 can black beans, mixed

1 and 1/2 cups cooked quinoa

1 red pepper, diced

1 mango, diced

1/2 jalapeño pepper diced small

1/4 cup cilantro, rough chopped

1/4 to 1/2 red onion, diced

Dressing:

juice from 1 lime

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 tablespoons olive oil 

turmeric, cumin and chili powders, to taste

dash salt

#quinoa #glutenfree #cornfree #crohns #beatcrohns #foodasmedicine

#dietforcrohns #crohnsdiet #howibeatcrohns 

Breyers Natural Vanilla Ice Cream

 Today was National Ice Cream day. I wasn't going to miss this one. Safest ice cream I could find was Breyers Natural Vanilla Ice cream. Real sugar instead of the corn syrup. Since it's hard to find a safe chocolate sauce I used Nutella, warmed for 20 seconds in the microwave.

#Breyers #Crohns #crohnsdiet #dietforcrohns #foodasmedicine #Crohnsflare #Glutenfree #Cornfrree

#natualcurecrohns #nutella #glutenfreeicecream 

Making safe Lasagna

 Lasagna. so satisfying. Here is how I make it compliant with my diet.

1. Start with a good gluten free lasagna pasta. Must also be free from corn. I have found these Jovial noodles made with rice flour. Bonus: they don't need pre-boiled. Use straight from the box.

2. Mozzarella cheese needs to be free from corn starch. Often this is added to pre-shredded cheese to prevent clumping. I use a mozzarella cheese block and shred it myself. 8 ounces is the same as one bag. Also cheaper this way.

3. Ricotta cheese is a no no. It usually contains white vinegar. I use Daisey brand cottage cheese instead. Daisey does not contain vinegar. White vinegar will flare me.

Here's the recipe I used:

Ingredients:

1 box Jovial Lasagna noodles

1 or 1 and 1/2 pound ground meat

1 jar spaghetti sauce

2 eggs

8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese

16 ounce Daisey cottage cheese

1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese (make sure no corn starch)

1 zucchini sliced (or other vegetables as desired such as spinach and broccoli)

1/2 cup sliced mushroom

Directions:

1. brown ground meat in pan

2. mix meat with most of the spaghetti sauce

3. pour rest of sauce in baking pan

4. combine cheeses and egg in separate bowl

5. layer noodles, meat, cheese mixture and vegetables

6. bake 50 minutes at 375 degrees

#glutenfreelasagna #glutenfree #cornfree #Crohns #dietforcrohns #crohnsdiet #Jovial

#foodasmedicine #crohnsflare #naturalcurecrohns #howIbeatcrohns 

Making Simple Swaps

 There are several things that I have learned to swap over the years to keep myself in remission from Crohn's. Avoiding gluten and corn is very hard. But I have found ways to make food very delicious without flaring myself. Here are some swaps I use all the time:

Instead of croutons on salad, I use salted nuts. Pistachios are particularly good. The salad pictured below is using pine nuts. I also leave off the dressing and use olive oil and lemon juice or apple cider vinegar.

Instead of sour cream, I use plain yogurt. Sour cream often contains white vinegar, which is a derivative of corn. Tastes almost the same. Added benefit of probiotics.

Instead of commercial mayonnaise, I use Vegenaise or smashed avocado. Mayonnaise contains white vinegar as well as corn syrup.

Instead of soy sauce, I use gluten free soy sauce or Bragg's aminos. Regular soy sauce is full of gluten.

Instead of White vinegar, I use apple cider, or balsamic vinegar

Instead of regular or sugar free soda, I use real sugar soda or seltzer water. Regular soda is sweetened with high fructose  corn syrup. Diet sodas use sweeteners that are derived from corn. 

#glutenfree #cornfree #crohns #dietforcrohns #crohnsdiet #crohnsflare #foodforcrohns

#foodasmedicine #cornderivatives #gluten #glutenderivatives #naturalcurecrohns #howIbeatcrohns

Borsht, super easy

 This is a recipe I tweaked myself. The flavor goes beyond the simple jar stuff. With the addition of the meat, this is a meal. Traditionally borsht is served with sour cream. I use plain yogurt as a substitute since sour cream often contains white vinegar. White vinegar is a derivative of corn, and of course I avoid all corn derivatives.

One take away: This may make your pooh look like you're bleeding. Remember this so you don't have a panic attack!

Ingredients:

12 cups water

1 pound stew meat

1 potato, peeled and sliced

1 carrot, sliced

1 tomato, chopped

1 large cabbage wedge, chopped

1 medium shallot, chopped

2 cloves garlic, sliced or minced

4 medium beets, peeled and diced

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

2 tablespoons gluten free soy sauce, or Bragg's Aminos

1 and 1/2 tablespoon brown sugar

3 bay leaves

plain yogurt, to garnish finished borsht

Directions:

1. Add water and meat to large pot

2. bring to boil

3. reduce heat and simmer on low for 30 minutes 

4. skim off foam that forms on top

5. Add the rest of the ingredients

6. simmer for 2 to 3 hours on very low

7. add more water as needed

8. Server warm, garnished with yogurt

#borsht #glutenfree #cornfree #beatcrohns #howibeatcrohns #foodasmedicine #crohnsflare

#borshtrecipe #healthyborshtrecipe #dietforcrohns #crohnsdiet 

How I Survive Cookouts

 Going to someone's house for a cookout can be a blessing! However it can also be dangerous for those of us with food sensitivities. Remember, the most important thing about cookouts is not the food, but the company we keep. Here are some things I do when attending a cookout:

1. hamburgers without the bun are generally safe when pure. I always ask the host if they added any fillers or seasonings to the meat. Lookout for soy sauce, ketchup and bread crumbs

2. Safe hot dogs are Hebrew National Brand. Not the low-fat however since they add starch. Of course, no bun.

3. If a hamburger bun is needed, I use Against the Grain brand. It does contain cheese so it may lead to some gas.

4. Condiments in general are unsafe. They contain corn syrup and white distilled vinegar. Both are big no no's for me. I have found some safe alternatives made with real sugar and apple cider vinegar. Read labels carefully. You can bring your own condiments or eat them plain.

5. No Corn. Grilled corn is delicious but not worth the pain.

6. Soy sauce is full of gluten. Use Bragg's Aminos or a gluten free soy sauce instead.

7. Most side salads are dangerous since they usually contain mayo or white vinegar. No coleslaw, egg salad or potato salad. I stick to raw veggies and fruit salad.

8. Soda pop contains either high fructose corn syrup or sugar substitutes which are derived from corn. I stick with the natural sodas made with real sugar, seltzer or water.

9. I make s'mores using Dandies marshmallow and Kinnikinnick graham crackers. Just as delicious.

10. For those who drink alcohol, wine and brandy are safe for me. No beer or grain alcohols.

11. Usually no dessert is safe unless it is specifically gluten and corn free. Safest to bring your own. Jello is generally safe before the add ins.

12. Sometimes I bring my own snacks or a protein bar just in case there is literally nothing to eat. I also eat something before I go so hunger won't drive me to eat something I shouldn't eat.

Safe Cookouts! Enjoy the company, the fresh air and the fireworks!

#crohns #beatcrohns #naturalcurecrohns #foodasmedicine #crohnsflare #eatingforcrohns #dietforcrohns

#crohnsdiet #glutenfree #cornfree #kinnikinnick 

Pumpkin bread

Making this in the summer. Why not? pumpkin bread is good all year round with the convenience of the canned pumpkin. High in fiber and simply delicious.

For the baking powder I always use Featherweight brand. Most commercial brands use corn starch. Featherweight does not. They use tapioca starch instead.

The psyllium is good for gluten free recipes and helps to hold things together.

Ingredients:

3 eggs

1/2 cup milk or milk substitute

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 stick butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 and 1/2 cup sugar (white or brown)

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

2 tablespoons molasses

1/2 cup gluten free oats

1/2 cup quinoa, amaranth or almond flour (for hearty flavor)

1 cup rice flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

3 teaspoons ground flaxseed

3 teaspoons psyllium powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1  15 ounce can of pumpkin

Directions:

1. In large bowl beat eggs

2. Add milk, sugar, molasses, and vanilla. mix well

3. Melt peanut butter and butter in microwave to melt. Add

4. Add cinnamon, nutmeg and ground cloves

5. Add oats, flours, flaxseed, salt, baking powder and psyllium 

6. Mix well

7. Fold in canned pumpkin

8. Pour into two bread pans

9. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes

#pumpkinbread #glutenfreepumpkinbread #glutenfree #cornfree #Crohns #beatCrohns

#curecrohnsnaturally #foodasmedicine #crohnsflare #crohnsdiet #dietforcrohns 

Things I avoid: Xanthan Gum

 Xanthan Gum is used to thicken products. It adds a chewy texture to foods. This is especially so with gluten free items, such as bread, cookies and pizza. Xanthan Gum is widely used in gluten free production.

This would be fine, except that Xanthan Gum is derived, usually, from corn. Sometimes it is derived from wheat, but that's no good either. I have had to eliminate all corn and corn derivatives as well as gluten to keep myself in remission from Crohn's. 

A good substitute for Xanthan Gum in recipes is psyllium powder.

There is one product on the market that I found. It is called "Not xanthan not guar" by the brand Pamela's. This is made of a combination of psyllium and potato starch. Here is a link to their site:

https://www.pamelasproducts.com/recipes/not_xanthan_not_guar

#xanthan #xanthangum #Crohns #glutenfree #cornfree #foodasmedicine #crohnsdiet #dietforcrohns

#crohnsflare #beatcrohns #naturalcurecrohns