bethsblog

Turtle Soup SCD Cookbook "Endorsement"

2008-09-05T10:02:18-04:00

Happily, I have received to date, 19 donations to my Turtle Soup Cookbook project since offering it as a do-it-yourself Ebook. For those of you who donated, I will continue to send you bonus recipes as I plan to continue to add new recipes from time to time.

A few months ago I corresponded with Judy Herod, daughter of Elaine Gottschall, who authored the SCD bible, Breaking the Vicious Cycle. She gave me permission to publish her lovely email:

Hi Beth,
After all of this time since we spoke, I finally found the time to visit your site. It's a lot of fun, full of energy, optimism and good information. I looked at the recipes and saw no problems in terms of compliance. I do appreciate your easy links to the SCD site, Lucy's site, etc.

Thanks for letting me know about it.

All the best,
Judy Herod
Kirkton Press

Many thanks to Judy for taking time to read through my recipes, and for the two thumbs up.

"Keep it simple."

Rescued Volunteers

2008-09-03T15:56:46-04:00

This summer the squirrels, chipmunks and rabbits were particularly industrious. In May the rabbits gobbled all my border lily buds. The squirrels spent the month of June digging up two consecutive plantings of peas. In July the chipmunks excavated numerous tulip bulbs leaving the front garden looking like a putting green.

But now I'm beginning to think that a few of my rodent residents are in collusion.... The birds are in on it too. In June, baby sunflowers emerged in my potted plants and vegetable garden, from seeds that the birds dropped from the birdfeeders. At first I thought, "These guys aren't too swift, because if they're hiding the seeds the winter, they failed to note that seeds planted in summer tend to sprout." I yanked the sunflower shoots out of my potted plants, but thought it would be cute to leave a few of them in the vegetable garden.

Several lovely volunteer sunflowers bloomed over the weekend. I was eagerly anticipating shooting their portraits this morning, only to find to my horror, that they had all been severed cleanly at the ground, their juicy leaves amputated and undoubtedly eaten by a stealthy nibbler. I think the squirrels put the raccoon up to it, in exchange for a share in the booty. The rabbits made short work of the leaves.

And these guys aren't one bit stupid... they are an advanced species of agricultural rodents!

I rescued these blooms, rinsed off the slugs and mud and then pronounced them presentable enough to have their pictures taken.

"Keep it simple."

Adorables

2008-09-02T17:48:51-04:00

Sophia Lane, Cassidy May and friend at the Detroit Zoo

"Keep it simple."

Scoped

2008-08-28T08:51:48-04:00

Happily, my endoscopy yesterday revealed nothing unusual. The gastro doc took a few "standard procedure" biopsies in the stomach and duodenum, just to make double-extra-especially-sure that there's nothing abnormal going on at the cellular level. He suggested that I get one more test to check for splenic flexure syndrome...a weird kink I might have in my transverse large bowel, which can trap gas causing intermittent left-sided abdominal pain. He still thinks there's a good chance that's my problem. So I'll probably schedule a barium lower GI x-ray in a couple weeks.

It took me most of yesterday to recover from the knock-out-drops they gave me. But other than a minor sore throat, from swallowing that video camera, (as predicted, I don't remember a thing) I feel just ducky today. Looking forward to a family reunion in the Detroit area this weekend, and trying my best to:

"Keep it simple."

Soon to be Scoped

2008-08-27T08:18:14-04:00

No breakfast this morning. At 10 a.m. I'm scheduled for an upper GI endoscopy, to hopefully find out what is or is not causing the intermittent pain on my left side in the stomach area. Earlier CT scan and ultrasound tests have ruled out problems with liver, pancreas, gall bladder and spleen. So the only thing left to do is swallow that big black tube with the mini-video-camera have a look-see. Yummy.

"Keep it simple."

Cosmetic "Surgery" Part 2

2008-08-26T09:38:34-04:00

The next phase of my cosmetic overhaul began a couple weeks ago in the Whole Foods cosmetics department, while visiting my daughter in Ann Arbor. I had already replaced most of my "toxic" skin care products with Burt's Bees and Kiss My Face, and I was hunting for a "healthier" concealer and a lipstick. I purchased what I thought would fit the bill from the Dr. Hauschka Cosmetics line. Since I didn't have my computer in my hip pocket, I had to wait till I got back to my daughter's to check their safety stats on the Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database. And I was disappointed to find that the products I had purchased were not rated very well... all scored moderate risk... plus the color of the concealer was off and it left a chalky look that emphasized the tiny lines around my eyes. So back they went to Whole Foods, who, fortunately have a very generous return policy.

I did find this helpful factoid in the Dr. Hauschka, brochure:
"If we treat dry skin with rich, heavy creams or oils we effectively trick our skin into believing it's been producing too much of its own oil. In response it will decrease production, perpetuating the dry skin cycle."

When I returned home, I did more research on Skin Deep. I found quite a few moisturizers, body lotions, facial cleansers, shampoos, conditioners, lipsticks, and yes, concealers with zero risk. Problem is you can't just run to Rite Aid to buy them and I resist purchasing things sight-unseen. Especially shoes. In any case, I decided to take a chance and try products from three online companies, Garden of Eve, Nurture My Body, and Coastal Classic Creations.

I placed a phone order with Eve, for an array of sample size products... cleansing cream, toner, cleansing powder, mud mask, eye cream, and 3 different body creams. So far I love them all... even the patchouli body cream, which, I discovered, makes a dandy underarm deodorant! I always thought I hated patchouli, until now. Eve also formulated a custom batch of facial moisturizer for me, sans chamomile... a substance that is contraindicated for ragweed allergy sufferers like me. After using Eve's samples for a week my skin from head to toe looks and feels wonderful. But just a note here: these creams and lotions take a bit of getting used to. They are extremely light, almost like you didn't put anything on at all... they disappear quickly into the skin and leave no oily residue, just soft, firm skin that can breathe and function as it should.

From Nurture my Body I ordered shampoo, conditioner, shave cream and a sample set of body washes. These lovely products are beautifully presented. The shipping box was lined with gold tissue paper decorated with a sprig of lavender, which when unwrapped, revealed elegant blue bottles with attractive gold labeling. Essential oils subtly perfume each product. Makes each shower feel like a spa experience. Each bottle had a slip of parchment paper with a lovely quote... the sort of quote that makes my day:

"People are like stained glass windows: they sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is light from within." -Elisabeth Kubler Ross

Then I went in search of lipstick. The Coastal Classic Creations "lipstick" is a small tin of pigment in a light, non-greasy base. I also ordered a jazzy retractable lipstick brush that won't gook up my purse. I can't say as I'm all that crazy about the "lipstick". I prefer to have a little more gloss... and they are totally matte. So I might just stick with my Burt's Bees Lipshimmer, even though it's listed as a moderate risk on Skin Deep. Life involves risk. Right?

So now I'm all set. I have whole new array of natural lotions and potions and my skin feels like... well... skin. Gone are the greasy layers of paraben-laden creams and cleansers, the sodium laurel-laced shampoos and body washes. At the moment it feels like I've spent a small fortune, but in the long run I think I'll come out even, because these lighter, more body-friendly products actually aren't any more expensive than the Origins and Clinique items I was using before.

I gave up trying to find a concealer. Maybe I can get used to the way I look without it. Come to think of it I've never met a guy who was obsessed with covering that natural shadowing in the hollow of the eye socket... When it comes right down to it, I guess there's really nothing I need to conceal!

"Keep it simple."

SCD Carrot Muffins

2008-08-21T12:11:08-04:00

These gems are absolutely delicious, and completely Specific Carbohydrate Diet™ legal:

Carrot Muffins makes 12 muffins

1/2 c. honey
3 eggs
1/4 c. melted butter or oil
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla*
2 1/2 c. almond flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 c. grated carrot (squeeze out as moisture as possible between paper towels)
1/2 c. white raisins
1/2 c. chopped walnuts

Mix ingredients in a large bowl in the order given.
Spoon batter into a muffin tin lined with cupcake liners, 3/4 to
nearly full.
Flatten batter a bit with wet fingers before baking.
Bake at 325 for 20-25 min until lightly browned, springy to the touch and a toothpick comes out clean.
Cool 10 minutes in pan, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Muffins will keep in an airtight container at room temp for a week. They freeze well too.

*no added sugars or grain alcohol.

Click here for information on how you can get a copy of my beautiful Turtle Soup Cookbook Cover and a complete set of printer-friendly Turtle Soup Recipes, created especially for the Specific Carbohydrate Diet™

"Keep it simple."

Gut Reaction

2008-08-19T10:47:08-04:00

Yesterday I had a perfect stomach day. I only ate foods that I know agree with me. I had eggs and fresh strawberries topped with homemade lactose-free yogurt for breakfast; chicken, baby carrots, celery and a fresh peach for lunch; and Blue B Monster Odwalla with cheddar cheese cubes for my mid-afternoon snack.

I nibbled on a small handful of cashews and sipped a nice glass of red wine before dinner, which was: a grilled pork chop, sautéed spinach, sliced tomato, and butternut squash. Since it had been an excellent gut day, I thought it might be a good time to throw a monkey wrench in the works and do a trial.

So I picked a favorite food. CHOCOLATE. I ate 4 small squares of expensive organic dark at about 8 p.m. Within the hour my gut began to gurgle and churn. I'll spare you the rest of the details. Suffice to say, I was up until 12:30, partly on account of the Olympics, and partly because I was SO BUZZED!

Now I know that I have problems with caffeine... gave up coffee years ago. Even decaf will stay with me for hours making me jittery and unable to sleep. But I was in denial about the caffeine in chocolate... Most every day for the past several months, I've been having a few pieces of Dove dark chocolate after lunch, and wondered why, within a half an hour, I'd have a major gut reaction. Blaming caffeine is actually a mistake, since the stimulant in chocolate is theobromine, but wow, what a clear response... and I'm so glad that I started with a clean slate... having eaten only those things that I know sit well, then hitting myself with a potential "problem food".

My gut is still reverberating today. The elimination diet folks say I should give myself a few days to recover.

So another favorite bites the dust. Some days I feel so like a lab rat.

"Keep it simple."

Marvelous!

2008-08-18T12:01:18-04:00

After a Marvelous weekend, today I feel absolutely Marvelous!

We had an outstanding visit with Gary's sister and her husband, who drove in on Friday night and hung out with us all day Saturday. We ate lots of yummy food, and enjoyed the made to order beach weather.

I tried not to OD on the Olympics, which is difficult because I'm a total addict when it comes to Olympics. When we weren't watching Michael Phelps and Co. win gold medals and break world records, we were wondering whether or not that's a rug on Bob Costas' head.

Yesterday, Gary and I took a 2 1/2 hour ride on an absolutely beautiful lakeside bike trail. We've been working up to it all summer with increasingly longer rides. The only thing we needed was the perfect day... and yesterday was it... sunny, cool, breezy, and no festivals going on downtown where the trail goes through, which forces it's closure through a major stretch.

I only ate what agrees with me and had a terrific gut weekend and my sample set of cosmetics from Garden of Eve arrived.

Today I am full of energy and enthusiasm... Haven't felt this good in a long time. Think it has to do with what I'm not putting in and on my body.

Anyway, it's time for lunch. A couple of delicious chicken legs await.

"Keep it simple."

Diet Backfire!

2008-08-15T17:58:36-04:00

Just when I thought I had it all figured out, I found out I don't. My excursion into the world of gluten-free eating came to a crashing halt yesterday, when I finally came to grips with the fact that I've been gradually feeling worse and worse over the past few weeks... every day lately, painful intestinal gas attacks me at mid-day and makes me miserable all afternoon and evening. I admit, I've been in denial... not wanting to face the facts, but the facts are, just as Elaine Gottschall says in Breaking the Vicious Cycle, even gluten-free grains, for susceptible individuals, can wreak havoc on intestinal peace.

Back in January, when I made the detour away from the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, and ventured into the world of gluten-free grains, I was so not ready to strip down my diet to the things I know make my tummy feel happy and content. That, paired with the huge disappointment of realizing that the delicious SCD almond flour baked goods disagree with me, was tempered by finding delicious ways to bake with gluten-free oat flour, which I learned to successfully substitute for wheat flour in "normal" recipes. It was fun while it lasted, but I'm pretty sure the party's over.

Yesterday, I sat down to journal about my decision. My journal has quotes from Rumi scattered every few pages... when I opened it, here was the quote I read:

To change
a person must face
the dragon of his appetites
with another dragon,
the life-energy
of the soul.

And here's what I wrote:

"Today I face the dragon of my appetites, in the form of grain-based carbohydrates. I am going to do a trial elimination of all grains and subsist on a diet of meat, SCD yogurt, eggs, SCD legal cheeses, nuts, fruits and veggies. I am trying to let my inner wisdom lead. The sadness and loss in this is overwhelmed by the prospect of a quiet gut."

Today things seem a bit brighter. I have had a very quiet tummy today. I had eggs, SCD yogurt and fresh fruit for breakfast, canned tuna with celery and chopped olives for lunch with a side of grapes and baby carrots, and a banana smeared with natural peanut butter for a mid-afternoon snack. For dinner I am baking a batch of my Chicken Paprika from my Turtle Soup Cookbook. That, with a tossed salad and steamed green beans should be delicious. The goal for today was to eat only those foods that I know agree with me, drink plenty of water, not let myself get too hungry and:

"Keep it simple."