Monday, March 5, 2012

A Personal Note, Creamy Vegan Broccoli Soup (SCD Friendly) , and a funny for your Monday.


Ingredients
-1 medium yellow onion, small chop
-1/2 teaspoon salt
-4 cups cooked broccoli (I used baby broccoli)
-1/2 cup chopped zucchini 
-2 cups cashew milk* (see below notes for water-cashew ratio)
-2 cups filtered water or homemade stock (I used water) 
-1/2 teaspoons garlic granules
-Lemon and pepper for garnish/to taste 
-Preferred oil (enough to coat pot)

How To
1. Steam broccoli until just tender, set aside 
2. Add oil, onions, zucchini and salt to pot and saute for 3-5 minutes 
3. Add broccoli and garlic granules, saute for a few minutes
4. Add cashew milk and water (or broth)
5. Bring to a gentle simmer
6. Simmer until mixture starts to thicken, about 5 minutes
7. Remove from heat and carefully ladle into blender (I use a Vitamix) and blend until incorporated (or your desired consistency)
8. Serve warm with pepper, and fresh lemon juice is a must! 

Notes
* For cashew milk: soak 1 cup of cashews in filtered water 4 to 8 hours. Drain, rinse, and blend with 3 cups filtered water (I use a Vitamix). Poor into glass jar and store in fridge up to 4 days.

I must confess friends, I’ve not been well.  As you might know I started taking medication for Crohn’s disease 5 months ago (first time on medication in 8 years).   And last week I experienced my first flare on medication.  Gasp!  I was so sad when it hit, as I’ve been enjoying and cherishing these pain free/symptom free days, and to my delight, put on nearly 20 pounds (I know, how often do you hear a 34 year old woman say that with excitement!).  

Before I started this medication I was very sick.  I weaned my son (of 2 years) over the summer and shortly after that my body went a little nutso.  I was experiencing some new (and scary) symptoms and losing weight.  So in August I had another colonoscopy and sure enough my entire colon was inflamed.  During my first colonoscopy most of my small intestine was inflamed and some of my colon, interesting how the inflammation changed location.  

So I started the medication in October.  Within days I was symptom free.  Medication is a wonderful reprieve, but here’s the dealit doesn’t always work.  And really, who wants to be on medication for their entire life.  Oh, and the medication I’m on (Lialda) costs a dreadful $500 per month – ouch So obviously, several legitimate reasons to find alternative sources of healing.  All these years I thought I was doing it all right with my diet, but I was wrong.

About a month after starting medication I learned about the Specific Carbohydrate Diet.  I immediately bought “the book” and started researching recipes.  My goal is to try this diet (100%) and get off medication.  The SCD is pretty restrictive, it takes careful planning and research.  Success comes from strict adherence.  Over these few months I’ve been creating recipes and found some amazing SCD blogs and a network of support that was missing in my life.  None of my friends have a chronic disease and my family, well, they all have superior immune systems/digestions (and I joke, could probably digest a cinder block).  I’m grateful for my cyberspace blog friends for their stories and SCD information that offer up some much needed inspiration and recipes.  This diet requires preparation.  If you’re interested in the legal and illegal foods, see here.  

I’ll be sharing more about my healing journey with Crohn’s disease, and I believe a post is in order sharing WHAT to eat during a flare. This is a difficult time for IBD sufferers – what you put in your body can either heal or exacerbate symptoms.  So I’m putting together what I call, “The Flare Diet.”  Some easy to prepare SCD legal dishes to eat during a flare (something that really helped me this time around).  So stayed tuned for that.  I would love to hear from the IBD community (if you’re out there).  How are you?  Where are you at in your healing journey?  Do you care for someone with IBD?  If so, how do you find support? 

I wish you well and thanks for listening!

*
Okay, after all this serious talk, I think we need a little laugh.  Here’s another funny video from Genevieve.  I love her! 


Just Another Meatless MondayMelt in your Mouth Mondays, Monday Mania, Ruth’s Real Food 101 (Mondays), Slightly Indulgent Tuesdays, Fat Tuesdays Real Food WednesdaysGluten-Free WednesdaysWhole Food Wednesdays, Pennywise Platter Thursdays, Wellness Weekend Freaky Friday, Fresh Bites Fridays, Lunch Box Love Fridays , Fight Back Friday, Friday Food, Sunday Night Soup
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Labels: dairy free, SCD, soups, vegan.

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