My First Pregnant Dessert: Fresh Peach Crisp

Something that has been truly hard for me is kicking out all the refined sugar from my house.  Anyone who has met me knows I am a complete sucker for sweets.  Embarrassing confession:  I once had a sweet tooth so badly I dumped some sugar into peanut butter and chowed down.  Today, I needed something sweet.  It has been three days since I cold turkey (funny expression for a pescetarian) did away with refined and processed sugar, which has meant that I simply stayed away from all things sweet.
However, this is not just Sayonara to processed sugar in all forms.  This is kicking out all white sugar and any other sugar that is specifically raw because these can gunk up your liver leaving it not so strong if HELLP syndrome settles in.  Some things my mind jumps to immediately are honey, agave, and raw cane sugar.  Whenever searching for recipes, I search by ingredients rather than trying to sort through a lot of recipes for one dish.  The ingredients I knew I had in the kitchen to workout a dessert with today were:

A basket of peaches (Thanks, Pop)
Agave
Arrowroot (In place of cornstarch because corn products are to avoided for a happy liver)

When I searched these ingredients I stumbled upon Elana's Pantry.  I am a little in love.  Here is her recipe for Peach Crisp:

Peach Crisp

6 large peaches, sliced
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons arrowroot powder
1 ½ cups blanched almond flour
½ teaspoon celtic sea salt
¼ cup grapeseed oil (I actually used coconut oil because I didn't have any grapeseed oil on hand.)
¼ cup agave nectar

1. Place peach slices in a large bowl, sprinkle with lemon juice, vanilla, and arrowroot; toss to incorporate all ingredients
2. In a smaller bowl, combine almond flour, salt, grapeseed oil and agave for topping
3. Place peach mixture in a 3 quart baking dish
4. Crumble topping over peaches
5. Bake covered at 350° for 45 minutes, until peach juice is bubbling
6. Remove cover and bake a few more minutes if topping is not yet browned
7. Serve

It was delicious and quite satiating.  I generally find myself a bottomless pit for dessert.. Maybe it was the almond flour, but this crisp was really filling.  While I am on the topic of almond flour, I will say that it is a bit pricey for me, but it is really worth it in recipes like this.  I try to use something as healthy and cost effective for more commonly made foods like bread or thickening sauce, but, wow, sometimes that almond flour make all the difference!

So, a big Thanks! to Elana's Pantry for providing our dessert menu while staying within our healthy liver, healthy pregnancy bounds!

How do you indulge your sweet tooth?

I got a fever... and the only prescription... is more cowbell.

Or more protein, as the case may be.  Yes, protein is even more essential than normal for a preggo diet, and even harder for me to come by since I'm a pescetarian who can only have seafood two days a week.

So what's a gal to do?  Well, for me, it omelets, omelets, and more omelets.  Not only does this help with protein, it gives me a chance to throw in some liver super foods like onions, garlic, and spinach and other vegetables.  They never get boring because I can always swap up the ingredients.  Some people warn against eating too many eggs because of the cholesterol, but when you are a vegetarian, barring any genetic contribution, cholesterol is not something you have to worry about much.  If cholesterol is something that you need to be concerned with, exclude the yolks and make egg white omelets!

Where do you get your protein??

This was my first omelet....I missed the shape a bit, and I forgot to shred the cheese before hand.  It made not be very pretty, but let me tell you, it really hit the spot.

 This is the same as the omelet above, but I made it prettier.  I sauteed garlic, onions, and red peppers in some Earth Balance Vegan Butter and add some thyme.  Then I add to a two egg omelet and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.  Yum!

This omelet has mushrooms swapped out for the red peppers.  So yummy, but I should have added some fresh diced tomatoes on top.  I think the more color the better, personally.

Anxiously Engaged in a Good Cause

Summer has been very busy.  It seems like I always feel that way, but our summer has been and will continue to be super jam packed.  This is probably my fault because I love having something to do.  I get antsy when there is something to pour myself into.  J and I joke about how if he leaves me alone for too long, he'll come home to new walls in our home and old walls torn down (when I say we joke about it, what I really mean is we laugh about the times that has actually happened).  In the Doctrine and Covenants  it tells us:

Verily I say, [you] should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, 

and do many things of [your] own free will, 

and bring to pass much righteousness.*

This is my favorite scripture and one that I hope to impress its importance to my progeny.  Believe in something enough to take action.  Be passionate an educated about your ideals.

For a while my good cause has been feminism and causes surrounding political equality for all.  I am truly excited with much of the happenings lately politically.  While there are a few causes that I feel particularly strong about (Ahem, cough, Planned Parenthood, cough), I think taking a break from high involvement in macro level politics is going to be good for me.  So.  Is it time to tear down some more walls?

I'm thinking not.  While we were visiting Utah a little while back, two happenings led me in a new direction. The first was reading a book called Living Green: a practical guide to simple sustainability by Greg Horn.  As you could probably take surmise from the title, it's a book about living our daily lives in a more Earth-friendly fashion.  Here's my mini-book-review:

If you can get past the fact that Horn has an issue with definitely presenting his argument and a total disregard for the oxford comma, it is a pretty handy resource.  The book is divided into three parts:  health, home, and future.  This is particularly convenient because you don't necessarily have to sit down and read the whole book.  A lot of times with my household crazy, I skim books like this rather than dedicate the three months it would actually take me to accumulate enough time to read it.  Within each chapter there are grey boxes that list WHAT YOU CAN DO, and then lists four to eight steps you can take to move in a greener direction.  The chapter goes on to describe in detail the steps, give examples, and also to suggest how to break these steps down into bite size pieces that you and your family can handle.  I know that, personally, changes in my life are more likely to stick around if I implement them if a slow and rational fashion (Think Cam's crash diet in Modern Family).

The second happening was a text message that read:  Do you want to do a triathlon with me?

What does it all mean?  It means I found found my next cause.  It may sound extreme- it does to me anyway-but I have really been thinking about preparation.  When I think about the commandments and wise suggestions from the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles I realize that every advice and direction given is in preparation for something more.  A few examples, you ask?

1. Do not steal:  Preparing a person to be honorable for others to trust.  When you trust those with whom you work, more is accomplished to a higher standard.  Everyone benefits.
2. Don't cheat on your spouse:  Preparation to have strong family unit for protection and happiness.  Preparation of loyalty so one doesn't have to choose in the moment to who she should be loyal.  
3. Take care of your body (or the Word of Wisdom):  Preparation for your body to be healthy enough and strong enough to take on whatever the Lord requires of you as we go through out our journey.  

My new cause is... drum roll, please...  taking care of our environment and our bodies.  I am really worried that by the time my kiddo has babies, the world is going to be a grim place by how previous generations have taken care of it.  We have started recycling and trying to make all of our household products all natural if not organic.  It can make a difference not only for the environment but in how the members of the household feel.  As far as caring for my personal body, I am really paying attention to what I put in it.  I am never (read: NEVER) in favor of dieting plans**, but if I were, I think I would like Weight Watchers because from what I have heard, it teaches not how to starve yourself, but rather how to make sensible choices.  And that, my friends, is what health is about:  Making choices for your body both nutritionally and physically.  My personal goals for health are to finish two triathlons before October.  I'll be sure to tell ya'll how I do.  

What is your cause today?

*Please note that I am consciously ignoring President Dalton's ideas on this particular topic.  I think she was a wonderful Young Women's president, but that her thoughts on action for rights were a little skewed towards the end.

**This is not because I am adverse to watching your weight, but I think any plan, no matter how efficient or healthy or reliable it is, that places its focus first on weight-loss and second on real health is a terrible idea.  And a terrible plan.  And yes, my idea of real health is demanding and stringent.  

Simple Pleasure: Breakfast

In a world full of so much turmoil (like the world becoming a modern day book of Ether), sometimes I find it best to focus on simple pleasures.

For example, a delicious tomato sandwich, complete with big, beautiful tomatoes, homegrown lettuce, mayo, and wheat bread topped with sea salt and cracked pepper.  What a an awesome breakfast.

What are your simple pleasures?

More Juicing

Beautiful Produce

It's now time for the second round of the Produce Co-op, and I am really excited!  Last time I worried about what I would use all the produce for, but it's actually been really cool.  I look up recipes that include a particular ingredient and then adjust the recipe for our eating needs (simple things like meatless crumble, brown rice flour, and vegetable broth substitutes).  It's been fun finding new ones to add to our repertoire.   

Homemade Apple Juice

 I have been trying to break my addiction to processed sugar, so  instead I have been allowing myself to have as much freshly made juice as my body wants.  It helps to curb  my craving for, oh, I don't know, an entire canister of frosting.  It's also nice to be able to have fresh juice for the baby.  When I think of the good things being done for both our bodies (with no added sugar), it's truly rewarding.    Baby and I have been juicing all kinds of things, some as simple as apple juice, some as complicated as the Mean Green.

On to some recipes....

Hidden Veggie
1 large apple
3 large Carrots (green cut off)
Half a skinned pineapple
1/4 inch ginger

Ice Cream Juice (Because that's what Hubby says it tastes like)
1/4 Cantaloupe
6 Strawberries


OCC

1/4 Cantaloupe

1 orange 

Dash of Cinnamon

This is a great way to start the day with a burst of vitamin C.  It's great even if you're not that into citrus (like me and Baby) because the cinnamon cuts the citrus so much.  I had no idea it would do that!

"Hey, Mom, I'm out of juice!"

Juice Recipe (a new direction for the moment)

I have become tired lately of political posts.  I am getting my fill of understanding from The Book of Mormon Girl by Joanna Brooks that I strongly recommend everyone checking out, particularly if you've ever experienced a faith crisis.  Anywho, more on that later.

My sister came into town a while back.  With her she brought a tornado of healthy cooking and crazy good food.  To check out her cookbook (lots of gluten-free and super healthy recipes) click here.

I have been inspired.  I've decided to post some of my recipes for various things on this blog as well (I hope you weren't just here for my feminist blogging!).  I'm not a stickler for gluten free, but thanks to Sister's influence, I will have some gluten free items here.  Mostly I will be focusing on a pescatarian eating because I am a pescatarian.   Interesting enough, if you ask my husband what worried him most about marrying me he will tell you it was my lack of eating ground animals.  He will also very fervently tell you it has been no problem at all.  We have a very upfront and honest conversation about new meals before deciding whether to add them to our repertoire-  I think that's super important.

This week was the first week of a produce co-op I joined.  We had lots of produce, so I pulled out the juicer and started looking for recipes.  This has been one of the best thus far:

The Mean Green (serves 3-4)

14 Strawberries
1 inch of ginger
1 cucumber
4 handfuls of spinach
3 apples (without cores)
1/2 lime

The ginger gives it a good kick, so if you're not much for spice, adjust that accordingly.  This will be prettier when it hasn't been mixed up:  red with green.  However, it is yummier mixed all together, but beware, it will be an interesting color of green.  Enjoy!