Lauren’s Favorites

Season’s Greetings on Christmas Eve!

New Fantastic Food:

I found a fabulous new line of nut cheezes that are made from cashews and coconut oil! I was so delighted to find vegan cheeses that have healthy, familiar ingredients! I have tried the shredded Mozzarella, Cheddar and Pepper Jack and they have worked very well in my recipes including: Quiche, French Onion Soup, Enchiladas, Lasagna, Pizza, Grilled Cheeze on SRSLY Sourdough and much more. They have hard and soft cheeses in a variety of  fabulous flavors.

Parmela Cashew Cheeze-Our nut milk cheeses are made using traditional cheese making techniques.  Rich nut milks made from blending cashews and almonds with filtered water form the base.  These are much thicker than the nut milks you would drink, and amazingly have more flavor potential than dairy milks.

It took over 2 years and 2,000 iterations to get the cultures to grow properly in the thick cashew milks and unlock true cheese flavors for the Creamy Treenut Cheese.  In crafting our new aged cheeses we up over 4000 iterations of cultures grown.

The nutmilk cheeses can be found in Whole Foods, New Leaf Markets and other natural food stores or ordered directly  http://www.parmelacreamery.com 

 

SRSL Bread-Gluten-free, Dairy-free San Francisco Sourdough Bread and Rolls! 

http://www.breadsrsly.com

OMG, I thought I’d never be able to eat Sourdough again…until now! I did the happy dance when I found this amazing bread. I am a traditionalist so I like the classic best, but the seeded is very good and my husband loves the Kale(me too). The sandwich rolls are made out of just Sorghum flour so its great for people who have multiple grain sensitivities. She also makes a huge Pullman Loaf that you can special order!

WHY SOURDOUGH?

Bread SRSLY is committed to making nourishing bread. Each loaf is leavened with wild yeast, cultivated from the air and grain. Unlike commercial yeast, wild yeast helps to break down the grains, making them easier to digest, and adding a pleasant tang that we call sourdough.

WHY SERIOUSLY?

We created our bread only after months of research, applying traditional sourdough techniques to our gluten-free recipes. We learned that good bread takes its time to rise. Each Bread SRSLY loaf rises for more than 12 hours, making it SERIOUSLY good for you. In addition to being gluten-free, all Bread SRSLY products are free of dairy, egg, soy, nut, potato, tapioca, and garbanzo.

Available at Health Food Stores including New Leaf Market, Staff of Life, Bi-Rite Markets or Order at: http://bread-srsly.myshopify.com

 

Want to bake your own Bread?

Manini’s Bread Mix & Fresh Pasta

These pastas and breads are so nutritious and have great texture! I’ve enjoyed Manini’s Spaghetti, Lemon-Thyme Linguine and Lasagna Noodles(not the ravioli b/c they contain diary) and bread mixes which are easy and nutritious. Even my Italian friends are now loving this pasta!

At the heart of our commitment to quality is our dedication to making all of our fresh pastas, breads & bakery products and flours from naturally Gluten Free Ancient Grains. Our Ancient Grains include Amaranth, Teff, Sorghum, and Millet, plants that are essentially unchanged from hundreds of years ago. The result is a nutritious, fiber-rich, great-textured food that is delicious and superior in taste, texture and nutrition to the vast majority of typical rice and corn based Gluten Free foods.

http://www.maninis.com

Want less carbs and more protein in your pasta go for: Tolerant Red Lentil or Black Bean Pasta which have great texture and tons of protein and nutrition! Available at Health food Stores and online.

Sonoma Mushroom Pasta Sauce. I had to stop eating tomatoes due to arthritis and was so happy to find this tomato-free sauce! They have many flavors, but not all are dairy-free. I do still make my own with wild mushrooms and sherry, but nice to have a jar in the pantry in a pinch. Available at Health food Stores and online.

 

Cake Therapy  Paleo Cake Mix: offers gluten free and paleo baking mixes, made from quality natural ingredients, without preservatives or additives. Cake Therapy’s products are always free of gluten, dairy, soy and corn, with grain free options.

Paleo Chocolate Cake Mix Ingredients: Organic coconut flour, arrowroot, almond meal, organic coconut sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla powder, salt, baking soda, baking powder.

I’ve tried all three flavors: chocolate, vanilla and spice, and love them all! They make a moist and tasty cake or cupcakes. I used my Chocolate Ganache Frosting  with Lily’s Stevia Sweetened Chocolate Chips and Cashew Cream Frosting with them. They have recipes and adaptations on their website too! I used the Spice Cake Mix to make a Carrot Cake and it was so delicious.

Teas to go with your dessert or just enjoy anytime:

Art of Tea: Chocolate Mint Tea which is so rich and tasty it does not need anything else. Great way to avoid sweets, drink this tea instead!  www.artoftea.com 

Numi Turmeric Teas are anti-inflammatory and very tasty especially when I add some local raw honey, ginger and homemade cashew milk! Available at health food stores or http://www.Numitea.com

Steven Smith Lord Bergamot Earl Grey Tea

A few other goodies I’ve fallen in love with this year:

Lily’s Fair Trade Stevia Sweetened Chocolate Chips

We love premium dark chocolate. We don’t like sugar. The addition of stevia to premium dark chocolate is a perfect fit. It makes our favorite food even better. Click to learn more about why we love stevia.http://lilyssweets.com

 

 

Vixen Kitchen Premium Vegan Gelato!  So creamy and delicious you will think you are in Italy!  The first time I tasted this luscious Gelato I was in San Francisco on a cold windy day, but had to have it as my teeth chattered! OMG, I was in Heaven and forgot about the cold the first lick! I love that they sweeten with real maple syrup and use cashews as the base! Again, nutritious and delicious and guilt-free! It is expensive b/c they use the highest quality ingredients and it is worth it! Available at health food stores, including Staff of Life. Flavors: Chocolate, Vanilla, Chai, Coffee, Mint,Blueberry.  http://vixenkitchen.co

Xyloburst Chewing Gum, stays soft, sweetened with xylitol which is great for teeth and tastes good! Available at health food stores,  iherb.com and Amazon.com

My new favorite website to buy all the aforementioned goodies and many more at a 25%-75% discount/usually 25% is at http://www.ThriveMarket.com

 

Kitchen Tools:

• Kitchen Aid 7 Quart Mixer is the largest capacity home mixer and I love my new one in Candy Apple Red! I also bought the:
• Spiralizer Attachment that also slices and peels fruit and vegetables!

Body Care Products: Many skincare products contain gluten and dairy which go into your bloodstream within 30 seconds! Yes, it will cause you just as much trouble as eating it!

• Nubian Heritage Soaps and Lotions
• Evoli Body Butter & Lip Balm, made from all organic healthy oils
• Zoya Nail Polish, free of formaldehyde and other bad chemicals available at Whole Foods
• DoTerra essential oils: I do not travel without the OnGuard and put it on my feet every night! DoTerra.com
• For the Bathroom: Poo Pourri toilet spray. This is so Brilliant! You spray your favorite essential oil based Poo Pourri into the toilet before you go and it acts as a barrier to help keep your bathroom smelling good! It really works, honest! I keep one in my purse and in our bathroom.

Healthcare/Natural Medicine:

• Alpha CF Homeopathic liquid is lactose free and is what I use at the first sign of a cold or flu and it usually gets rid of it right away or at least shortens the duration to a few days instead of a few weeks. Available at health food stores, you may have to special order the liquid form.
• Occiliccocinum homeopathic cold and flu, Walgreens, CVS and healthfood store. Pellets contain lactose so either dilute a dose in water and only take a teaspoon or find the Alpha CF liquid.
• Deep Lung is great for respiratory infections.
• Chestal Homeopathic Cough Medicine with honey, health food stores and CVS and Walgreens.
• Yin Chao Chinese Medicine for colds that start with a sore throat is great.
• High Dose Vitamin C Meyers Cocktail Infusion through an IV drip or push by a naturopathic doctor. http://www.naturopathic.org or wwwCalND.com in CA. This saves me every Christmas/Winter, including this week!

Books:

• Can’t go to Italy this year read, Dolce di Love By Lynch
• for Humor and belly laughs read Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris
• go to http://www.hayhouse.com for many inspirational and spiritual books, audio books and DVD’s for adults and children
• Listen to shows on:
• http://www.HayHouseRadio.com

Games:

• Kids and Adults: Simon, an electronic game that lights up and tests your memory. Can be played with 2-4 people
• Adults: Rummikub, a game with tiles and numbers. Good mental challenge and fun.

 

Clothing:

• Nomads Organic Clothing, this Canadian company uses all organic fabrics made from hemp, soy, bamboo and cotton. It feels so good on and will not disrupt your hormones or endocrine system and it’s great for the environment. A win-win-win! Just wish they did not make them in China. Sometimes you have to compromise. These clothes feel really soft and warm; and look stylish.                                   Available at https://nomadshempwear.com
• Synergy Organic Clothing, mostly cotton, made in Nepal. Stores in Santa Cruz and San Francisco and available online http://synergyclothing.com
• Smart Wool Socks, wool that doesn’t itch and keeps your toes and feet warm in the coldest weather! They also make runners socks-breathable and cushiony! Available at The Sock Shop and online http://www.smartwool.com

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Healthy, Happy New Year filled with wonderful food, friends, family and goodies that improve your health and life! Love and Blessings to all! Please Comment and share with us your favorite  Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Vegan, Organic food, things & products.

Be Well and Thrive into your Dreams! 

Balancing Blood Sugar!

View it in your browser. Sugar Solutions & New Products I hope you all had a wonderful summer. I don’t know about you, but I ate too many sweets! Balancing Blood sugar is an art! Did you know that sugar is the new villain? Yep! The good news is that there are more alternatives and products available now to help us to satisfy our sweet tooth without getting cavities and many other health problems that come with sugar. This summer I taught Kids and Teens how to cook without using refined sugar. We discussed how sugar, both natural and processed, requires the body to produce insulin and how the pancreas has to work to keep the body in balance. They all felt much better during camp while eating sugar-free/sugar-low, gluten-free and dairy-free and they loved the food! I had one former students realized that sugar was causing warts. She reported that she got rid of warts by cutting sugar out of her diet except for fruit only. Now I say, WOW to a 10 year old having that much insight, dedication and will power! I’ve seen many of my students and my husbands patients that are children who had many physical problems that affected their ability to perform and concentrate in school to thriving in school after changing their diet! Most of them removed sugar and/or gluten and/or dairy. These are three big culprits in affecting health especially lack of concentration, brain fog, hyperactivity, fatigue, depression, social challenges, headaches, skin rashes, behavior problems and more. Most of you know by now that food sensitivities manifest in 4 areas: Physical Emotional Neurological Psychological I wanted the Kids to see just how much sugar was in a can of soda. So, we took a glass jar the size of a can of soda and poured 1/4 cup of white sugar into it as a way to see how much sugar a can of soda contains! They were all shocked! A Big Gulp is a 1/2 cup! So, we took naturally flavored stevia, a natural sweetener from a leaf, that has no sugar, but is naturally 300 times sweeter than sugar, and mixed it with sparkling water to make our own delicious soda! Guess what? The kids love it. I also had them do a tasting panel of the canned Zevia Sodas, and the Black Cherry and Strawberry were the most popular with Cherry Cola being the runner up and the least favorite were the Lemon Lime and Orange, which surprised me! On the last day of camp we had a movie day and watched Super Size Me and enjoyed healthy snacks, Zevia Soda and sugar free lollipops sweetened with Zylitol(natural and good for teeth!). For desserts we made a lot of things with chocolate chips sweetened with stevia. I love Lilly’s Stevia Chocolate Chips made in Santa Barbara, CA! I found them at the health food store. The favorite desserts of the summer were Soft Serve Ice Cream sweetened with Stevia and  Chocolate Cake Pops! The good news is that one little pop was just as satisfying as a huge piece of cake-AMAZING! I will be teaching you how to make the Soft Serve Ice Cream in the Sugar Solutions Series! Okay, as adults we know that Diabetes is an epidemic, and statistics report that approximately 1 in 4 people have Diabetes. I am sure even more have pre-diabetes and hypoglycemia. I use to have terrible hypoglycemia! If I did not eat every 4 hours I would want to eat my arm off and it was a National catastrophic emergency until I ate! I would feel very weak, shaky and voraciously hungry. Oh, and the worst headache. Fortunately, after cutting out processed sugar and using alternative sweeteners, eating a diet filled with whole foods and lots of veggies, nuts and healthy fats I am pleased to report that I feel much better. And, I don’t scare everyone away when I get hungry! I do still keep a snack in my purse though!! A once a year fast and detox has really helped me balance my blood sugar too. My husband specializes in running fasting groups in the fall and spring. You can find more info atwww.drbradwest.com In addition to diabetes, the latest cutting-edge medical findings are being reported that sugar is correlated to most diseases! Sugar is the new villain! I am teaching a Sugar Solutions 6 week course all about how to cook delicious, nutritious whole foods that will help balance blood sugar and end sugar cravings. Many people have a candida overgrowth and do not even realize it, and the course menu will be Anti-Candida too. This is diabetic friendly. So sorry, but I do not recommend this course to anyone who is vegan this time around. I will try to offer a vegan course in the future. I only have space for 8 people in this course which is at New Leaf in Santa Cruz from September 13-October 18th on Saturday’s from 11am-1:30pm and it includes Lunch! Sign up fast before it fills up at link below or www.NewLeaf.com and go to Events at the Westside Store http://www.eventbrite.com/e/sugar-solutions-meal-planning-for-a-sugar-free-diet-tickets-12517930467 For an incredible lecture by Dr. Lustig, The Bittersweet Truth about Sugar, go to the video page on my blogwww.NoWheatNoDairyNoProblem.com BTW, my Biscotti are sweetened with low glycemic Coconut Palm Sugar and are only 18-28 Glycemic Load! I also use high protein Oat Flour! Try a bag of Cinnamon Raisin,  Double Chocolate Chip or Cardamom! Purchase on my blog. Monthly Featured Recipe Make your own sugar free soda or buy a Zevia! Stevia Soda 16 oz. sparkling water, chilled 6-8 drops SweetLeaf flavored Stevia(cola, raspberry, orange etc…) available at Health food stores in the nutrition department I recommend SweetLeaf brand(wwwSweetLeaf.com). Do not use dry, powdered stevia b/c it has other ingredients which are not healthful. Serve over ice and enjoy without any blood sugar problems or fear of cavities. Monthly Upcoming Classes Cooking Class Schedule COOKING CLASSES ALL INCLUDE EATING WHAT WE MAKE! GLUTEN-FREE(you’ll be surprised at how good is) DAIRY-FREE(you won’t miss it) REFINED SUGAR FREE! (Will still satisfy you) No Xanthan Gum or Guar Gum added! HIGH PROTEIN & FIBER, LOW CARB & affordable Sugar Solution 6 Week Series, New Leaf Westside September 13-October 18 Saturdays 11am-1:30pm w/Lunch Limited to 8 people. If you cannot make all 6 classes you may sign up for individual classes during the 6 weeks. www.NewLeaf.com and go to Events at the Westside Store http://www.eventbrite.com/e/sugar-solutions-meal-planning-for-a-sugar-free-diet-tickets-12517930467 Find full class schedule here on Facebook  on Twitter Forward to a Friend Private Chef Service ALL FOOD IS FARM FRESH, ORGANIC,  SEASONAL AND LOCAL WHEN POSSIBLE Specialties: Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Low Glycemic, Paleo, Vegan, Vegetarian, Raw. My service is completely customized to your desires and dietary needs. A la Carte Services Skype consultation Shopping trip Pantry Make-Over Deluxe Package Find out more and sign up here.  PRODUCTS No Wheat No Dairy No Problem Delicious recipes for people with food allergies/sensitivity and everyone who is looking for healthy alternatives. The cookbook I wish I had! Available in ebook or softcover. Find out more and purchase here. BISCOTTI (Skinny Dunkers)  HIGH PROTEIN HIGH FIBER GLUTEN-FREE, DAIRY-FREE, NUT-FREE, only a tiny bit of soy lecithin in the chocolate chips ALL ORGANIC INGREDIENTS-just not certified yet LOW GLYCEMIC INDEX/LOAD MADE IN A GLUTEN-FREE FACILITY MADE FOR DIPPING INTO YOUR FAVORITE BEVERAGE Copyright © 2014 Lauren’s Kitchen, All rights reserved. New Leaf Market Classes Our mailing address is: Lauren’s Kitchen P.O. Box 1665 Los Gatos, CA 95031 Add us to your address book  unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences

Glycemic Index

Everywhere I go lately, I am hearing people talking about and asking me about glycemic index. I hope this will help you to understand it more. Come back next week for additional information on this subject.

Glycemic Index: is a scale of 0-100 illustrating how carbohydrates raise blood sugar after eating High GI foods are absorbed fast and cause high blood sugar levels-spikes. Kids going crazy and bouncing off the walls after sugar is an example of the effect of high GI. Low GI foods are absorbed more slowly and cause the a much slower rise in blood sugar levels which has proven health benefits. Low GI diets have benefits for weight control because they help control appetite and are also beneficial for improving glucose and lipid(fat) levels in people with diabetes(Type 1 and 2).

Glycemic Index(GI) indicates the level of glucose in a food.

I love agave nectar(GI 32) and palm/coconut palm sugar(GI 35) to sweeten compared to Honey that is (GI58) and refined white sugar(GI64-80).. See my previous articles on both of them for more benefits/details.

Some of the sweeteners such as Agave are sweeter than sugar, so you can use less! I spent 7 years developing recipes with the right amount of alternative natural sweeteners in my cookbook, No Wheat No Dairy No Problem which you can order on this site and I will personally autograph it just for you!

See the Recipe of the Week tab above for a low calorie, high fiber, healthy Pureed Vegetable Soup! Be Well, Lauren

Natural Alternatives to Refined Sugar

Are you looking for an alternative to refined white sugar? Are you confused about all the natural alternatives or just want to learn more about them? Don’t want your children or yourself to be bouncing off the walls and having a meltdown after eating sugar? If you answered yes, read on and learn more! There are answers/alternatives and I use many of them in my new cookbook, No Wheat No Dairy No Problem-see Orders page!

Many of us have made the choice to eliminate refined white sugar and high fructose corn syrup(HFCS) from our diets and replace them with an array of more natural sweeteners. There are many alternatives for sweetening, but what are they and how do they differ?  Many of these alternatives have a lower glycemic index which will eliminate the highs and lows associated with refined white sugar and high fructose corn syrup.

The research on high fructose corn syrup is mixed. However, it does suggest that consuming it can promote diabetes, obesity and  heart disease. Studies have shown a correlation between HFCS and the increased incidence of obesity and diabetes. Anyone who has eaten white sugar knows that it causes spikes in blood sugar followed by the sugar lows.

Agave nectar and palm sugar are suitable for diabetics because they are very low glycemic index. However, if you are a diabetic please consult your physician and try them in small quantities to begin. I hope they work well for you and you can have dessert again without suffering!

Many of us also experience inflammation in our bodies and get hives or feel “spacey” when we eat white sugar. Since refined sugar can be associated with inflammation, it can aggravate any pre-existing inflammation such as arthritis. I personally, cut it out of my diet many years ago and feel so much better. If I do eat some refined sugar, I break out in hives! It is very difficult to avoid it when eating out, but it is something we have complete control and choice in our own homes/kitchens. Read labels and make your own choice. It is hidden in all kinds of food, even salad dressing!

White sugar is highly processed and can be very toxic due to the chemical solutions,  bleaching and filtering with bone charcoal(not vegan). Yes, bone is used to filter sugar. This processing is not only unhealthy for our bodies, but is doing harm to the environment.

The sugar cane itself is not the  problem, but how it is processed and refined is a problem. There are less refined/processed sweeteners made from the sugar cane such as sucanat and molasses-see below.

Healthy Alternatives to refined white sugar(GI80): Available at Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods Market, health food stores, some ethnic grocery stores and online

Agave nectar: (GI 32)Tastes sweet and neutral. Extracted from the Blue Agave Cactus. Raw agave syrup has a low glycemic index and is absorbed into the body much slower than sugar. It eliminates the highs and lows experienced with eating refined sugar. Dissolves in cold liquid. Available in light and dark, use light unless recipe indicates dark.

Palm Sugar/Coconut Sugar:(GI35) One comes from the palmyra or sugar palm and the other from coconut palm, but both are produced from the sweet, watery sap that drips from cut flower buds.  The sap is boiled down to concentrate it and evaporate the moisture. Low glycemic index!

Date Sugar: (dates are about GI44, but sugar GI is not available) finely ground dried date crystals. Can be used in place of sugar. Very expensive.

Maple Syrup: (GI 54)syrup/sap from the Sugar Maple Tree that is boiled and evaporated. A flavorful sweetener.  Also dried and made into crystals, known as Maple Sugar.

Honey: (GI58)derived from the nectar of flowers gathered by bees. Available in liquid and crystal form. Sweeter than sugar. Anti-bacterial and anti-microbial. Do not feed to infants under 2 years of age.

Molasses:(GI54) use unsulfured. Cane sugar syrup, unrefined/unprocessed. Great in gingerbread/snaps.

Sucanat: (GI55)dehydrated, unprocessed sugar cane juice. Fine ground golden brown crystals. An affordable, raw sweetener with a light molasses flavor. Interchangeable with maple/date sugar.

Give these alternatives a try and find your favorite. Please post a comment on this blog and share your experience or thoughts about alternative natural sweeteners.  See Recipe of the Week to get a homemade ice “cream” recipe made with agave or honey-fabulous on top of the Summer Fruit Crisp made with agave and one of the natural sugars above!

Enjoy and Be Well, Lauren Hoover