Alphabet Soup - F is for Festive

Thought I would sit down this afternoon and share with you some of the highlights of the festivities the past few days. This has been possibly the best Christmas ever :)

Christmas Eve Eve

• All the chores were done, there were fresh sheets on the bed, and there was a sense of calm readiness for the events of the next two days. (Which we had spaced out nicely). We were curled up together on the couch watching our childhood favourite Christmas specials. Claymation Christmas for me, and the original, narrated How the Grinch Stole Christmas for him. We were like giddy kids watching them again. This was probably one of my top three "it's all good" moments of 2010.

Christmas Eve

• I carried that calm into the next day. Dropped the mister off at work and sought out a mailbox to send off my (very first!) finished art trading cards. From there I was headed to the country market to get stocked up on lovely meats, and groceries for the holidays. I decided to take the extra long way along the water. It was super windy and the waves were throwing themselves against the shore and clawing at the breakwater. There was one spot where you would get hit with water, like the ill aimed sprinkler you have to dodge on the sidewalk in the summer. Except I thrilled in the sound of the water spraying the truck as I drove through. On the drive I was rewarded with beautiful views of snow capped mountains, quiet roads, and a deer meandering through a residential neighbourhood.
• Finished making my sweetie's hand made presents, and we had a secretive wrapping party when he got home. Speaking of secretive, found out that we're spending a couple of nights away this week. All I know is that the place has a hot tub, possible water views, and a kitchen of course.
• After dinner, had a lovely time visiting and exchanging presents with the mister's dad and step-mom, and then curled up and watched Christmas Carol when we got back home. Found an email of pictures of a freshly made snow angel beforing retiring to bed, very happy. (More please :)
  

Christmas Day

• Had trouble sleeping in... wonder why? ;P Enjoyed a lazy Christmas morning in pjs, just the two of us, mmm... Made the Best baked French toast I have ever made for brunch!!! The first time I had this was at a B&B in California many years ago. I've been fiddling with an allergy safe version this year, and I finally nailed it! (Recipe below).
• Shared Christmas cheer with my family back east, via phone.
• Went to the park and played tourist at home, photographing peacocks, squirrels and ducks
  
• Enjoyed a lovely Christmas dinner hosted by the mister's sister. If you're wondering how I did dinner, I brought a lidded casserole filled with roast chicken from the night before, steamed broccoli, and baked potatoes topped with carmelized onions. Warmed it in their oven and it was delicious. This way I still able to enjoy the company of family coming together for a meal.
  

Boxing Day

• Slow get up this morning :) Woke up thinking it was Monday. Wow, the realization that my sweetie is still on holidays for five more days was delicious. Had a wonderful chat with my bestie back east, and I'm feeling much more resolved about my plans for the New Year. Swapped out the Christmas cds with some weekend jazz, and made pancakes for breakfast, drool...
  
• Plans for the day hopefully include a walk at the lake, and a skate tonight on a refrigerated rink under a spectactular Christmas light display (it's on my list!) :)

reverb 24 - Everything's OK.
What was the best moment that could serve as proof
that everything is going to be alright?
And how will you incorporate that discovery into the year ahead?

reverb 26 - Soul food.
What did you eat this year that you will never forget?
What went into your mouth & touched your soul?

Baked French Toast
*gluten free, dairy free, soy free, corn free

In a 9x13 glass baking dish mix:

• 2tbsp grape seed oil,
• 4 tbsp pure maple syrup and
• 1 tsp cinnamon.

Arrange 6 slices of thawed Kinnikinnick Candadi bread in the dish.
Let sit for at least 15 minutes.

In a separate bowl:

• beat 3 eggs,
• add 6 tbsp of water and
• 2tbsp of pure maple syrup.

Pour over bread and poke a few holes with a fork in each slice.
Cover with foil and let stand for at least an hour in the fridge.

Bake at 350F for 30-40 minutes.

Alphabet Soup - E is for Edible

2010 has brought me much healing. I've spoken often about the work I've been doing since The Breakdown, the reawakening of my creativity, and the transformation happening as a result. The healing I want to talk about today though, happened much earlier in the year.

This was the year that I put the final pieces into the puzzle that is my hypersensitive digestive system. I stopped eating out, even when traveling, and realized that corn is hidden everywhere. Even in the Vitamin C added to the pure, unsweetened apple juice I would drink gallons of when my energy was low, because I had reacted to something I had eaten! Healing my digestive system made a huge difference. My energy and mood finally stabilized. And, I truly believe (along with the creation of a comfortable home) that this is what made the breakdown and the transformation possible.

In honour of this healing, I will now share some of the recipes I have come to love - because they create freedom and choice for me, and it would make me so happy if they brought the same to someone else :)

Pancakes!

(I made this recipe myself, adapting a milk free recipe and a gluten free recipe)

**gluten free, dairy free, corn free, soy free, nut free**

In a large bowl mix

2/3 cup rice flour

1/4 cup buckwheat flour

1/4 cup tapioca flour

3 tsp baking powder (allergy safe)

1/4 tsp salt

Add 3/4 cup water to the dry ingredients

In a separate bowl mix

2 eggs

2 tbsp PURE maple syrup

2 tbsp grape seed oil

Add to the other ingredients, and away you go!

*We usually heat up a cup of blueberries and add a tablespoon or two of maple syrup and top them with that, and a sprinkle of hemp seed too

Crepes!

Same as above, except I use 1/4 cup of each of the three flours and 2/3 cup of water.

We like to peel, slice and bake apples, with cinnamon, to fill ours with. You can use them with savoury stuffings too... goat cheese, salmon, spinach... mmm

Chicken Curry

(How long have I been promising this one now?!)

This recipe is adapted from a "Morrocan Chicken" recipe in More From The Gluten-Free Gourmet.

It is adapted by my sweetie, who patiently dictated it to me this morning, even though he usually just wings it and it's different every time :D

• Skin and rinse 9 chicken thighs. Brown in a heavy pan with grape seed oil. Set aside
• Add 1 1/2 cups of water to that pan adding 1/2 tsp of salt, 2 tsps of sage and 1 tsp of thyme. Bring it to a boil, making sure you get all the goodness off the bottom of the pan from the chicken :) Set aside.
• Brown a diced, medium yellow onion in that pan. (Make sure they are cooked right down to get rid of all the acid). Add 4 carrots, roughly chopped, and 2 celery stalks, thinly sliced. Cook for 10-15 minutes.
• In a heated large, deep pot warm 2 tsps cinnamon, 1/2 tsp cumin, 1/2 tsp coriander for about a minute. Add 1 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice and 2 tbsps maple syrup. Add in the broth, vegetables, and chicken. Top up with enough water to cover the chicken, if necessary.
• Add in a yellow pepper, julienned, 10 brown mushrooms, coarsely chopped, cilantro (stalks about the diameter of a nickel), finely chopped. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce to low heat. Simmer for an hour, stirring occasionally.
• Taste and flavour - more salt, sage, thyme, coriander, cumin? We usually know it's done when the chicken is almost falling off the bone.
• Serve over rice

Recipe can easily be doubled :)

reverb 19 – Healing

What healed you this year? Was it sudden, or a drip-by-drip evolution?

How would you like to be healed in 2011?