Mexican Skillet Cakes! GF, V Option, BED, SCD!

Well here we are at the end of another week! How was it for everyone?

Things in NYC are going great – although I was sick yesterday and today, so I’m afraid it’s going to be a pretty slow weekend. That’s ok — we all need that sometimes.

So I hope you’ve been enjoying the recipes from the archives! Isn’t it fun look back and see where you’ve come from? Kinda like rereading your old diary…I love it:)

Anywho, tonight we’re back with a new recipe! And boy was it goooood:)

Mexican Skillet Cakes!!

Mexican flavored veggies packed into a flapjack, and smothered with creamy guacamole!

And it’s Gluten Free, Body Ecology Diet and Specific Carb Diet friendly with a Vegan Option!

Here’s what you need: (Serves 1)

1/2 cup almond flour
2 egg whites (Vegan Option: 2 flax/chia eggs)
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 red pepper, diced
1/2 zucchini, diced
1/2 red onion, diced
2 shiitake mushrooms, diced
3/4 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp oregano
5 grinds of pepper

Guacamole:
1 avocado
squeeze of lime
1 garlic clove, grated
1 tbsp red onion, grated
cilantro
salt

Start out by sauteing your onion in 1 tsp EVOO with the salt, pepper, and spices. Let them cook for about 3 minutes. Meanwhile, combine your other raw veggies in a separate bowl. After the onions have softened, pour them in the separate bowl with the other veggies and toss to coat everything with the spices. Once fully mixed, stir in the eggs/almond flour and salt.

Take a big skillet and spray it with olive oil. Heat it until it is super hot. Then, pour 1/3 cup dollops of batter onto the skillet. It will make 4 pancakes. Let them cook for about 4 minutes per side, until golden brown. When you go to flip, carefully do so using both a spatula and a silicone scraper — they can be a bit messy.

While they’re cooking, make your guacamole by combining everything in a bowl by smooshing it with the back of a fork.

To assemble, top your skillet cakes with a dollop of guacamole, and garnish with cilantro.

Wow, oh wow! Were these ever a treat! Before I even tasted them, I was salivating at the amazing aroma coming from the kitchen! I saw my neighbor after dinner when I was throwing away the garbage, and he said, “oh my Gawd, there’s always such good smells coming out of there! Are you opening a restaurant?” Haha, thanks buddy:)

But the flavors and textures were incredible….outstanding, in fact. I have never had Mexican flavors with almond flour, and let me tell you — it was outrageous! The Mexican spices were warm and sultry, and then there was this underlying slight sweetness from the almond flour, which had now toasted, and the red peppers, which had begun to caramelize.

And then the rich and luxurious guacamole brought it all together. It was cooling, counterbalancing the spicy-sweetness.

I cleaned. my. plate. It was just splendid:)

What’s your favorite Mexican dish? Tacos? Burritos? Tamales?

My sister-in-law and her family make AMAZING tamales around Christmas time — who needs fruitcake when you’ve got homemade tamales?! mmm mm mmm!

Until tomorrow!

Tools used in this recipe:

Mexican Cauliflower Explosion! GF, V, BED, SCD!

Big day today. We’re rolling down the highway back home to Cincinnati. I’ll be there for less than 12 hours though….

because…..

I LEAVE FOR NYC IN THE MORNING!!

“don’t leave me!” – Roxy

Clearly, I am beyond excited. In fact, the past 3 nights, I’ve had dreams about NYC – and I neverdream! I think my mind is on a Public Relations campaign for the city:)

so delicious!

So anyway, last night, I made one heck of a meal. We got off the water late — we wanted to eek out every last ounce of sunshine, so we didn’t get back until 6pm! I made dinner and ate it in 45 minutes! Talk about quick, easy, and delicious!

“i love the lakes! let’s stay here forever!” – Roxy

What was it? A delicious Mexican influenced dish of…you guessed it…cauliflower! :) Mexican Cauliflower Explosion!

Spicy roasted cauliflower, topped with crunchy veggies and cooling guacamole!

catching some late evening sun:)

And it’s Gluten Free, Vegan, and Specific Carb Diet friendly with a Body Ecology Diet option!

Here’s what you need: (serves 2)

1/2 head of cauliflower, broken into florets
chili powder
paprika
garlic powder
salt and pepper

1 red pepper, diced
1 tomato, diced (BED omit)
1/2 cup frozen green peas, thawed

Guacamole:
1 avocado
1 Tbsp minced red onion
1 garlic clove, grated
1-2 Tbsp cilantro, chopped
squeeze of lime
salt

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place your cauliflower florets on a tin-foil-lined, olive-oil-sprayed baking sheet. Spritz with olive oil, and sprinkle with your spices. (Only use a TINY bit of garlic powder – it is potent!!) Bake for 30 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Meanwhile, prep your veggies, and make your guacamole. Simply combine all the ingredients in a bowl. Mash your avocado with the back of a fork. Mix well to combine. Refrigerate until you serve.

To assemble, create a bed of cauliflower. Top with your tomato, red pepper, green peas, and guacamole. Garnish with some fresh cilantro. Enjoy!

amazing spicy roasted cauliflower!

This meal was faaaabulous! There’s nothing like crisp-tender, roasted cauliflower with smooth and creamy guacamole! The spices on the cauliflower filled the kitchen with an amazing aroma. My parents walked in and said, “it smells so good in here!” And it tasted even better:)

Roasted cauliflower takes on an almost nutty flavor – just perfect! And then the guacamole was a show stopper! Cool, creamy, rich, indulgent, but super healthy! It was fresh and bright from the lemon and cilantro – just wonderful with the slightly spicy cauliflower.

the green peas give a nice pop of color and flavor!

And the juicy tomatoes chimed in, almost creating a sauce! Finally, the peas – they added a delicious pop of starchy goodness! Not the first ingredient you’d think of when you think of Mexican food, but they were delightful!

Do you remember your dreams? What was your weirdest one?

Until tomorrow!

Need an olive oil mister? Here's the one I use:

Cauliflower Tortilla Tacos! GF, V, BED, SCD!

This marvelous recipe for GF, V, BED & SCD Cauliflower Tortilla Tacos is available in my new e-book cookbook, The Best of GlutenFreeHappyTummy, available HERE ---> The Best of GlutenFreeHappyTummy  - Only $2.99!

Mexican Broccoli Soup! GF, V, BED, SCD!

I know what you’re thinking…another soup recipe? It’s summer! What’s going on here, Caralyn!?

delicious!

Well, Happy Tummies, it’s time to be straight with you. My tummy is not so happy right now.

Mexican Broccoli Soup!

As you may remember, about a month ago, I got a procedure done to see the severity of my Ulcerative Colitis, as this is the 8th month of my flare.

Well, even with all the healing foods, natural homeopathic meds, and Asacol I’ve been taking, it has not kicked my UC back into remission.

mmmmmm!

I have another doctor’s appointment later this week, but I’ve decided to begin the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. This is a diet that has been shown to be beneficial for Ulcerative-Colitis and Crohn’s Disease.

But many of you will be interested to hear that this diet is also beneficial for those of you suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), or those of you who’d like to lose a few pounds. It also has been shown to help autism and Aspergers.

Tomorrow, I’ll get into how it works – this post is long enough as is ;)

As you may know, I’ve been on the Body Ecology Diet to heal the Candida overgrowth I had. I have now completed Phase One of the BED (3 Months) and have gotten the Candida under control, and will now be transitioning to the SCD.

creamy and cool guacamole!

The SCD and the BED are similar, but just different enough to make a difference. The main difference is that the BED allows 4 grains (quinoa, buckwheat, amaranth, and millet), as well as Red Skinned Potatoes and Sweet Corn.The SCD is grain free, including corn and potatoes. The BED prohibits all fruit, since it is a NO SUGAR diet. The SCD allows fruit.

I’m still learning about the SCD – highlighting books like crazy, and taking notes like I am preparing for the MCATs.

so creamy!

I know that a lot of you frequent my blog for BED recipes, and I apologize for switching diets. However, I’ve created over 80 BED recipes that can all be found — clearly labeled — on myRecipe Page. Also, since the two diets are similar, there will be a lot of overlap, and I’ll clearly label the recipes that are also BED, or can be modified for the BED.

This switch is something I need to do for my health. It’s kind of the “last-ditch effort” before having to begin one of two MegaDrugs – a biologic or one that in essence, shuts off my immune system.

healthy never tasted so good!

So the reason for the soups, is that I’m giving my tummy a chance to heal, making it do as little work as possible. So my diet these past few days has consisted of green juice, pureed vegetables, and soup. Very exciting, I know. Back to normal tomorrow though:)

I’m still holding off on fruits until the three months on the BED are exactly up – 5 more days! Don’t worry, there will be a celebratory post on that day! :)

And just to be clear: yes I am still Gluten Free, and yes I am still a Vegan (that eats pastured farm-fresh eggs). :)

Now that the “housekeeping” is taken care of, onto dinner!

gluten-free, vegan, Body Ecology Diet, and SCD!

Tonight’s soup was a Mexican Broccoli Soup! It’s Gluten Free, Vegan, Body Ecology Diet friendly & SCD! And it was super delicious!

so dramatic :)

Complex mexican flavors, topped with a cool and creamy guacamole!

Here’s what you need:

2 stalks of broccoli, chopped
1 yellow onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 1/2 cups veg stock
juice of 1 lime
1 tsp cumin
1/4 – 1/2 tsp chili powder
1/4 – 1/2 tsp paprika
salt and pepper
1 green onion, sliced
cilantro, chopped

Guacamole:
1 avocado
1 garlic clove, grated
1-2 Tbsp red onion, finely minced
1-2 Tbsp cilantro, chopped
squeeze of lime
salt

In a large dutch oven, saute your onion in 1 tsp EVOO, salt, pepper, and the spices. Let that cook for about 4 minutes. Then add your broccoli and let it cook for about 6 minutes. Then, add your garlic and let it cook for about 3 minutes. Add your stock. Bring it to a boil, then reduce to a simmer, and cover for 15-20 minutes. Readjust salt to taste. Turn off the heat, and then, with a stick blender, puree your soup until it is smooth and creamy. You can also do this in a blender, just be sure to do it in small batches, since it’s a hot liquid! Finish by stirring in the juice of a lime. Serve garnished with green onions and guacamole.

To make your guacamole, Combine all your ingredients in a bowl, and smash your avocado with the back of a fork. Mmmm!

If corn is okay for you (read: not SCD), this would be great topped with tortilla chips!

Yum Yum Yum!

This soup was terrific. The flavors were spectacular! The warm spices with the broccoli paired perfectly with the cool, fresh guacamole. The cumin, chili powder, and paprika gave it such depth of flavor.

love the broccoli!

And something wonderful happened with the guacamole. You could take your spoon and swirl it into the soup, and that wonderfully bright flavor kissed each bite! And topped with the fresh cilantro, it was just delightful!

Happy Tummy Approved!

What’s your favorite type of soup?

Back to non-soup food tomorrow! :)

See ya then!

Need an immersion blender? Here's the one I use and LOVE: