On the sidewalk

Mini Guavas, it’s the end of their season

Passion Fruit before September? Gotta love California!

This recipe is very easy and quick. It takes a while to get used to the texture and flavor, but nothing that a little jam won’t fix.

I like St. Dalfour  Strawberry Spread. It is french, and it has no preservatives, no artificial flavors or colors. It is sweetened with concentrated grape juice. It is available in most grocery stores.

Ingredients

1 cup Almond Flour or Meal

1 cup milk, water, almond milk, or soy milk

3 eggs( at room temperature)

1 tbsp Baking Soda

1 tsp vanilla extract

Stevia, Agave or Honey to taste ( I used 2 tbsp, but taste the batter )

You can also add some Cinnamon, Lemon zest, orange zest to your liking

Method

1. Place all ingredients together in a bowl, and mix it with a whisk, or use an immersion blender. Make sure there are no lumps.

2. Heat up a griddle, or flat pan in medium high. Spray it with coconut oil, or any other oil you prefer.

3. Pour the batter in the griddle, in small amounts,an wait until small bubbles start to form in the edges.

4. It’s time to flip them with a spatula.

5. Serve with the topping of your preference and enjoy!

I recently started a Low Carb Diet, because my chiropractor believes it will help me heal faster from my still ongoing rib issues. Supposedly sugar is a villain, and a very bad one, the kind that worsens inflammation, troubles the pancreas (insulin resistance), and causes a myriad of other issues.

Since I am tired of being in pain, and not being able to fully function, I decided to follow his recommendation and stay away from all starches. That includes beans,lentil, squash, and sweet potatoes, it doesn’t matter if they have a low glycemic index, stay away from them! Only two portions of fruits a day (each portion is a hand full), and no grapes, raisins, bananas, or dried fruits with added sugars.

As a personal chef, I am used to cooking for clients on special diets such as Low Carb. But it is so different when you are the one being deprived of all that starchy goodness!
I am Brazilian. We eat rice and beans every day, and even though I don’t eat it every day, I could if I wanted to, since I always have beans in my fridge and freezer. I make a big pot of beans once a week. But even my pressure cooker was conspiring with this Low Carb Plan, since it exploded on me, as I was cooking my beans, and trying to resist the diet.

I didn’t even realize I was so addicted to sugar until I went trough withdrawal,  and let me tell you : it was bad. I was cranky, bloated, constipated,feeling weak, and had no energy.
I am on my second week of the diet, and I can say that the worst part is over. I have a lot more energy now, and my body is getting used to the new diet, so I don’t have cravings so often. I think the hardest part was the honey. I already used Stevia as a sugar substitute, but also enjoyed my daily honey. Well,honey, agave, and maple syrup are prohibited now.

Only three weeks ago, I was allowed to start exercising again. I have been going for walks and training with a personal trainer. I am so happy and grateful that after six months, I am getting back to almost having my life back again. I can now drive, carry grocery bags and sleep trough the night with almost no pain.

I feel that I am getting really close to full recovery. And I forget that at not such a distance past , it seemed like I would never feel whole again. After struggling with so much pain, my Western Medicine doctor could only offer me the options of narcotic painkillers, surgery or injections. I felt hopeless, and could not see the light at the end of the tunnel. I didn’t only want for my pain to go away, I wanted to heal.

That was when I found a Traditional Medicine natural doctor, in Brazil, who treated me with homeopathy,herbs, SAME, MSN, external clay applications, and rock salt.

When I returned to the U.S, I continued going to my Chinese Acupuncturist doctor, and being treated with him.
Then, I found a chiropractor that specializes in sports medicine, and he has been helping me heal through adjustments, applied kinesiology, supplements, and diet.

Wow, this healing journey has been taken six months, and enormous amounts of money and patience. But it is almost  over now,and I finally see that light at the end of the tunnel. I have learned so much from this experience…First and foremost that I wouldn’t be where I am without the love and support of my hubby, family and friends. And, of course,patience (again, and lots of it), resilience, faith, hope, trying really hard to think positive even when I was sad and down, asking for help, and letting people help me. I guess everything does happen for a reason.

*I am not a doctor, and is not my intention to give any medical advice here. These are supplements that were prescribed to me in the course of my treatment, by my doctors. Please consult your doctor before you take anything, since people have different reactions to supplements, and drug interactions.

This week’s photo challenge inspired me to take these photos with my phone last night.
The marine layer has been dense the last couple of nights an mornings in my neighborhood. Of course, it is annoying and dangerous when you have to drive in it. Nonetheless, so beautiful and mystical.

Here it is again… Torrey Pines State Reserve, couldn’t resist it!

They are so beautiful. And to me, just looking at them has a relaxing, calm effect …Flower Therapy, go figure

The Calm After the Storm

Today it was such a cold day. I guess it was cold for Southern California. It was sunny,and there were no clouds in the sky. Then, huge gray clouds brought the rain. And the sun came out again…and it was just another day in paradise.