Apples with Quinoa

 This recipe is so good and almost tastes like apple pie! I love to have this as a sweet and healthy breakfast. The high protein quinoa lends a nice nutty, whole grain taste without the gluten. It's been a while since I posted it. Here it is again with a few tweaks. Makes 2 servings.

Ingredients:

-  3 apples cubed (peeling is optional. The skin is very tender after simmering it)

-  1/2 cup uncooked quinoa
-  1 1/2 cups water
-  dash salt
-  cinnamon to taste (I use about a Tablespoon while cooking and then add additional sprinkles right before serving)
-  1 tsp brown sugar (optional - the apples sometimes make it sweet enough)

-  1 Tablespoon slivered or sliced almonds

-  Honey to taste


    Directions:

1. Combine quinoa, water and salt
2. Bring the mixture to a boil.
3. Lower heat and simmer 10 minutes
4. Add apples, cinnamon and brown sugar
5.  Cover, and simmer until all water is absorbed (about 15-20 minutes)
6. Check and stir occasionally 
7. Sprinkle with almonds
8. Drizzle with honey if desired
9. Serve warm and enjoy!

Other possible toppings may include shredded coconut, raisins or chopped walnuts.

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.

Found this beauty at Whole Foods. Just like the Ramen noodles eaten by college students everywhere, except healthier. It did come in other varieties as well. The nice thing about these noodles, other than being gluten free and corn free, is that they only take a few minutes to cook. I added vegetables and dry sea weed to make it more of a meal. Nice texture as well.

No flare after surgery

 
     Two weeks ago I had preventative surgery. I had a total hysterectomy. Not that anything was wrong. I had tested positive for the BRCA2 gene mutation. This is the one that causes breast, ovarian and other cancers.

     The surgeon had told me that this operation would definitely flare my colon. He prescribed me prednisone for post surgery, just in case. Well it didn't flare! Very thankful. No flare!

     Now the question is why. For one thing, I was 100% careful about what I ate. I didn't take any chances. I even packed a snack bag for my hospital stay. Turns out that I had very little appetite anyhow. So I'm just glad that I did not flare.

     Anyone who is interested may check out my other blog, BRCA2 Warrior. On this blog I detail what I have gone through with testing and preventative measures to combat this deadly gene mutation. I feel that even though I have this gene mutation there is still a lot that I can control.

www.beatingbrca2.blogspot.com