The Zenbelly Cookbook – a Review + a Sublime Recipe for Roasted Jerusalem Artichokes with Rosemary Salt

Tags

AIP, Autoimmune Protocol, Cookbook Review, Jerusalem Artichokes, Paleo, Roast Chicken, Simone Miller, Sunchokes, Zen Belly

(Image by TSL)

You know those crazy people who line up outside Apple stores to be one of the first to get their paws on the latest iPhone or iPad, even though they know if they wait 48 hours they’d be able to buy without the queues?

I’m the early adopter version of those people in cookbook world.

I have discovered a happy truth. If you preorder a cookbook through Amazon (and are prepared to pay for expedited delivery!), it arrives all the way down here in Sydney-town the day after it is released in the States. How cool is that?

I have long been a fan of Simone Miller of Zenbelly blog fame.

Her philosophy of eating ‘gluten free and mostly Paleo’ appeals to me – both because of the ‘mostly‘ bit (absolutes are so last year, don’t you know!) and because it coincides with how I’d like to be able to eat once I finish with this AIP-caper that I’m on. Here’s hoping!

One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating. (Luciano Pavarotti)

So, when Simone announced that she was creating a Zenbelly cookbook, I knew it was one that I really wanted on my cookbook shelf. I preordered through Amazon and a couple of weeks ago it landed on my doorstep. Yippee!

I’ve never actually met Simone, but her lovely cookbook reflects how I imagine her to be: organised with an irreverent yet pragmatic and accessible style and lots of clean, clever recipes that are achievable for the home cook. To say I like this cookbook is an understatement.

Some things I especially like about The Zenbelly Cookbook

‘How to: Cut Up a Whole Chicken’ Like a Pro Instructions in the Zenbelly Cookbook
(Image by TSL)

• There’s a handy-dandy section on basic techniques that show you ‘how to cook like a pro’. Inspired!
• Each recipe has a photograph of all the ingredients used. I’m a visual person. This really works for me.
• Every recipe has a photograph of the finished dish. Did I mention I’m a visual person? It always disappoints me when I can’t see what the recipe is supposed to look like in a cookbook.
• The oysters Rockefeller recipe makes me want to experiment with oysters. Badly… Ditto the Steak Tartare (after I have successfully reintroduced egg yolks, of course!)… And, then there’s the Spaghetti Squash Carbonara. SO many great looking recipes.
• Maple-bourbon bacon jam. Do I really need to say any more than that?
• There’s a section on crackers, wraps and breads. Even after all this time, I still miss bread. I’ve made Simone’s biscuits before. A W E S O M E !

I made Simone’s Perfect Roast Chicken last night. And it was crispy on the outside and juicy and succulent on the inside. AND – just about the easiest way to roast a chicken IN THE WORLD!

There were lots of lovely juices in the bottom of the pan for a good gravy, too (I’m a massive fan of roast chicken gravy!)

The Zenbelly Cookbook 2 Ingredient Perfect Roast Chook (Before)
(Image by TSL)

You could probably get through life without knowing how to roast a chicken, but the question is, would you want to? (Nigella Lawson)

The Zenbelly Cookbook 2 Ingredient Perfect Roast Chook (After)
(Image by TSL)

We all eat, and it would be a sad waste of opportunity to eat badly. (Anna Thomas)

But, my absolute favourit-ist recipe in the cookbook – so far, anyway! – is the Roasted Jerusalem Artichokes with Rosemary Salt. (Those in the U.S. may know these beauties as sunchokes?)

It was the weirdest thing. You might even say it was serendipity… The weekend before the book arrived, I had picked up a rather enormous bag of Jerusalem artichokes at the farmers market without having a clue what I was going to do with them. I had never cooked with them before but I was on one of my ‘time to try a new ingredient’ kicks.

And then, just like magic, when leafing through my new Zenbelly cookbook I spied this recipe. So I tried it. And, it was so good. ESPECIALLY when potatoes are off the menu.

LM and I devoured the first batch while watching this year’s first Bledisloe Cup test.

And then, because we loved them so much, I made them for the second test, too…

And now, I have made another batch so you can see what they look like (it had nothing to do with me wanting more of these scrummy wee beasties!)

The lovely Simone has kindly given me permission to reprint her recipe. If you’re in Australia or New Zealand and you hurry, you might be able to find some Jerusalem artichokes before the season ends.

Trust me. It’s worth it.

Zenbelly's Roasted Jerusalem Artichokes with Rosemary Salt

• Servings: 4
• Time: 35 minutes
• Difficulty: easy-peasey
• Print

Reprinted from the Zenbelly Belly Cookbook with the author’s permission

Ingredients:

500 g Jerusalem artichokes (sunchokes), cut into large dice, peel on
2 x Tablespoons unsalted butter, duck fat, or fat of choice, melted
1/4 x teaspoon finely ground sea salt
2 x teaspoons minced fresh rosemary
1/4 x teaspoon coarse sea salt
1/8 x teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (optional, leave out if on the autoimmune protocol)

Method

1. Preheat your oven to 250°C/475°F.

2. In a large bowl, toss the Jerusalem artichokes with the melted fat (I used happy duck fat) and finely ground sea salt.

3. Transfer to a rimmed baking tray and roast for 20 – 25 minutes, until soft and golden.

4. Meanwhile, combine the rosemary with the coarse sea salt and black pepper in a small bowl. (I gave them a quick bash with my mortar and pestle to release the rosemary oil).

5. Sprinkle the roasted artichokes with the rosemary salt and serve.

E N J O Y !

Sadly, down in this neck of the woods, it doesn’t look like Dymocks is stocking The Zenbelly Cookbook but Kinokuniya will order it in for you and, of course, Amazon will deliver it to your door.

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Fermentation 101 Workshop + a the Idea of Kindness

Tags

AIP, Autoimmune Protocol, Dieticians Association of Australia, Health, Kindness, Lacto-fermented food, Nutrition, Paleo, Sydney

If you look really carefully, you’ll even see Bella sneaking into the shot (top left!)

Ask yourself: Have you been kind today? Make kindness your daily modus operandi and change your world. (Annie Lennox)

Life here at Casa TSL has been very health-focused for some time now. You could say that I’m eating, breathing and even sleeping health. I’m reading about health. I’m watching health-oriented programmes on the goggle-box. I’m learning about the politics of the food pyramid (pretty damning stuff). I’m even studying it.

And, during the course of all this ‘health questing’, there are two things I now know to be true.

1. We are all individuals. What is healthy for me, may not be healthy for you.

2. What we eat is a hugely contentious subject. Everybody has an opinion, and, more often than not, these opinions conflict.

I currently choose to follow the Autoimmune Protocol, a very strict Paleo-esque regime which eliminates all potentially inflammatory foods, in an effort to heal my gut. This is a personal choice made after much searching for answers to my health questions. There is no doubt that it is helping me.

I won’t be on eating this way forever. While there may be foods that I find cannot be introduced back into my diet (wheat!), I’m looking forward to being able to enjoy many, many food, not to mention beverage options (pinot noir, anyone?) in the not-too-distant-future.

And, I am convinced that by consuming the standard diet offered to us here in Australia, as in much of the Western world – overly processed, carbohydrate-heavy, convenience-based – was a key reason I got sick. There is increasing evidence that what we eat affects our health in much more dramatic ways than we ever imagined.

But here’s the kicker: It’s my choice to do this.

If you choose to eat differently, that’s your choice. I won’t judge you. I promise.

Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind. (Henry James)

Here in Australia, there has been a recent war of words between certain higher profile members of the Dietitians Association of Australia and a certain celebrity Paleo proponent.  It’s an emotionally charged subject. Clearly, I have an opinion, and it’s not too difficult to work out which side of the fence I sit on, but – here’s the thing – It’s been getting kind of personal.

And, I just don’t think that’s cricket!

Call me naïve – it wouldn’t be the first time – but, why can’t we just be a little kinder to each other and remember that everyone is entitled to their own view? Is it really that hard to respect individual differences? Or, better yet – be open to differences in opinion?

We, every single one of us, owe it to ourselves to work out what works for us. Nobody will ever care about my health more than me – not the Dieticians Association, not any high-profile nutritionist, and not any celebrity chef, either. And, the same can be said of you.

Always try to be a little kinder than is necessary.(J.M. Barrie)

And, now that I have all of that off my chest, one thing that does seem to be universally accepted is the health benefits of eating lacto-fermented vegetables. Everyone agrees that they are seriously good for you and should be included in a healthy diet.

I’ve written before (here) about the benefits of including fermented foods in your diet, but in a nutshell, fermentation preserves nutrients and beneficial bacteria, and assists your body in digesting carbohydrates.

According to the incredibly knowledgeable Sally Fallon, “The proliferation of lactobacilli in fermented vegetables enhances their digestibility and increases vitamin levels. These beneficial organisms produce numerous helpful enzymes as well as antibiotic and anti-carcinogenic substances. Their main by-product, lactic acid, not only keeps vegetables and fruits in a state of perfect preservation but also promotes the growth of healthy flora throughout the intestine.” (from Nourishing Traditions, page 89)

I’ve been making my own fermented vegetables for some time now. I love them (and so does LM). I have a spoonful or two with most meals.

Making your own fermented vegetables is easy, quick (in terms of preparation) and much, much cheaper than buying them from your local health food store. And, you get to ensure your vegetables are organic.

Preparing for Fermentation 101 Workshop at Casa TSL
(Image by TSL)

For some reason though, people can be a little hesitant to just dive in and make their own. Something about the fact that this is a ‘live process’. There’s bacteria involved!

So this weekend, I held the inaugural Fermented Vegetables 101 workshop at Casa TSL. I had three lovely guinea pigs students and we spent a couple of hours learning the rudiments of fermentation. Everyone went away with their own 1.5 kilo jar of ‘TSL Special House Kraut’ just waiting to ferment along with notes on the process, and I reckon it was a success!

N & A prepping their veggies for massaging…
(Image by TSL)

Let the massaging commence!
(Image by TSL)

On the left – TSL’s Special House Kraut two days into the fermentation process. On the right – the finished kraut ready for eating!
(Image by TSL)

I may just look at holding more workshops in the future. Do let me know if you have any interest?

HELLISHLY GOOD Herbed Parsnip and Celeriac Mash with Caramelised Onions

Tags

AIP, Autoimmune Protocol, Celeriac, Celery Root, Dairy Free, Mash, Paleo, Parsnip, Root Vegetables, Side Dishes

(Image by TSL)

I’m currently on the Autoimmune Protocol, a nutrient-rich elimination diet that removes foods that irritate the gut, cause gut imbalance and activate the immune system. You can read more about the protocol and why I’m doing this here. And, if you want to know why I’m on the sugar-free version of the Autoimmune Protocol, you can read about that here.

As promised last week, today I’m sharing my Herbed Parsnip & Celeriac Mash with you. Truly, it is hellishly good. Even if I do say so myself. Actually – it must be said that I surprised even myself with how good it tastes!

After I made it, I literally stood at my kitchen bench spooning great gob-fulls into my mouth. It wasn’t at all lady like. Good thing I’m not that much of a lady… And, lucky I made so much, really…

I’m very good at smoothing the mash over to hide the evidence of my gluttony
(Image by TSL)

Listen, it’s too big a world to be in competition with everyone. The only person who I have to be better than is myself. And in your case, that’s enough. (Col. Potter in M*A*S*H)

But! – I’m getting ahead of myself.

My smashing mash came about because I had beef cheeks in the oven and I wanted some sort of root vegetable number to go with them.

And, potatoes are off the menu. When you are on the autoimmune protocol, potatoes are verboten. They are a nightshade. Nightshades are potentially inflammatory. Ergo, no potatoes (which doesn’t mean I wouldn’t consider doing many, many things for a bowl of potatoes roasted in duck fat…)

When I went to the fridge, I had a celeriac root and two large organic parsnips looking up at me. So, necessity being the mother of invention and all that, I went to work.

A bit of this and a dash of that. A few herbs, and then a few more. And, doesn’t almost everything taste better with caramelised onions?

The thing about this crazy regime that I’m on is that because I am on SUCH low amounts of sugar – literally only the natural sugars in starchy vegetables, really – this wee number tasted almost dessert-like to me. The parsnips bring a sweetness that I hadn’t expected. Seriously good.

I will not carry a gun, Frank. When I got thrown into this war I had a clear understanding with the Pentagon: no guns. I’ll carry your books, I’ll carry a torch, I’ll carry a tune, I’ll carry on, carry over, carry forward, Cary Grant, cash and carry, carry me back to Old Virginia, I’ll even ‘hari-kari’ if you show me how, but I will not carry a gun! (Hawkeye Pierce in M*A*S*H)

• Servings: 4 - 6
• Time: 35 minutes
• Difficulty: easy-peasey
• Print

Ingredients:

2 x large parsnips, preferably organic
1 x celeriac bulb (aka celery root)
2 x medium red onions
2 x Tablespoons fat (I used coconut oil, lard would be better)
1 x clove garlic, minced
3 or 4 x sprigs fresh thyme
1 x sprig fresh rosemary
1/3 x bunch flat leaf parsley
1/2 x bunch chives
1/4 x cup bone broth (or stock)
zest from 1/2 a lemon, organic if possible
Himalayan sea salt to taste
1 x teaspoon freshly ground pepper (optional, leave out if on the autoimmune protocol)

Method

1. Peel and roughly chop your parsnips and celeriac bulb. Pop the peeled parsnips and celeriac into a large pot. Add enough water to cover. Bring to the boil over high heat and cook for 15 minutes or until knife tender. Drain in a colander.

2. While your root vegetables are cooking away, peel and chop your red onions. Melt your fat in a frying pan, and add the onions. At this point, I also added my chopped thyme and rosemary. Turn the heat right down and allow to melt down into a yummy unctuous mess of onion. It will smell AMAZING!

3. Using your food processor (or stick blender), blend your cooked celeriac and parsnip. Add the minced garlic, bone broth, chives and parsley, lemon zest and blitz. Add the caramelised onion and pulse a couple of times to mix into the mixture. Taste for seasoning.

4. Stand at your bench with a spoon and congratulate yourself on how delicious your mash tastes.

E N J O Y !

I served this mash with my Bloody BRILLIANT Braised Beef Cheeks. Yum!

This recipe features in the Phoenix Helix AIP Recipe Roundtable

Bloody BRILLIANT Braised Beef Cheeks

Tags

AIP, Autoimmune Protocol, Beef Cheeks, Braised Beef, Braising, Happy meat, Linga Longa Farm, Paleo, Secondary Cuts, Slow Cooked Beef

(Image by TSL)

I’m currently on the Autoimmune Protocol, a nutrient-rich elimination diet that removes foods that irritate the gut, cause gut imbalance and activate the immune system. You can read more about the protocol and why I’m doing this here. And, if you want to know why I’m on the sugar-free version of the Autoimmune Protocol, you can read about that here.

Unfamiliar with beef cheeks? They are literally the cheeks of the animal, usually a cow A very tough and lean cut of meat that is most often used for braising or slow cooking to produce a tender result. And when cooked properly, they are TO DIE FOR! Meltingly good.

Here at Casa TSL, we refer to beef cheeks as ‘chief beaks’. LM coined the term. And, he gets a little bit excited when he knows they’re on the menu. I haven’t actually seen him do a ‘beef cheek’ dance, but I’m pretty sure he’s doing one on the inside…

This week, I had some gorgeous beef cheeks from Lauren and Greg at Linga Longa Farm. We look forward to seeing them every week at the Eveleigh Farmers Market. I particularly love their happy bacon.

Bloody BRILLIANT Braised Beef Cheek mis en place (and that is an enormous garlic clove, not an onion in case you’re confused after reading the recipe!)
(Image by TSL)

You are what what you eat eats. (Michael Pollan, In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto)

I know you already know how much I love a slow braise. It’s one of my favourite ways to cook (and eat!). Convenient really, since we’re in the middle of a cold snap here in Syders.

Generally, braising or slow cooking calls for a secondary cut of meat. That means it’s cheaper than the steaks and cutlets that make up the primary cuts that are so fashionable – and fast – to cook. So it’s definitely a way to make your food budget stretch a little further.

And, when you braise, the cuts you use are generally tougher. This means that they require a long, slow cook to break down some of the fibre in the meat BUT also that the flavour profile and meltingly tender texture is something that is worth waiting for.

Without such a thing as fast food, there would be no need for slow food. (Michael Pollan, The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals)

Braising is another way to get more gut-healing bone into your tummy, too. And, it’s really easy to up the vegetable quotient in a braise – you get all the flavour of the protein, but you can stretch your meals further again – both in terms of nutritional value and bang for your buck. Win~win!

Winter-warming Braised Beef Cheeks and Mash. YUM!
(Image by TSL)

We are pretty careful about buying happy meat here. And, while the environment the animal grows up in is important to me, here in Australia (and New Zealand), we don’t have the same concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) that you find in the States. I do like to make sure that the beef I eat comes from pasture raised animals.*

Beef contains the conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) compound, which has been shown by numerous studies to have health benefits. CLA levels in grass-fed cattle are 30-40% higher than in grain fed animals! So, if you want maximum health benefits you really should choose grass-fed beef!

So – here we are. My recipe for beef cheeks. It’s really tasty and autoimmune protocol friendly!

• Servings: 6 - 8
• Time: about 5 hours
• Difficulty: easy-peasey
• Print

Ingredients:

2 x Tablespoons fat of choice (I used coconut oil)
2 x kilos of happy beef cheeks (approximately)
1 x rashers of bacon
1 x large leek
3 x large carrots
3 x celery stalks
4 x cloves of garlic
150 mls verjuice
200 mls filtered water
550 mls bone broth (or stock if you have no bone broth available)
3 x anchovy fillets
2 x bay leaves
4 x sprigs of fresh thyme
3 x sprigs of fresh rosemary
1 x teaspoon Himalayan sea salt
1/2 x teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 x teaspoon freshly ground pepper (optional, leave out if on the autoimmune protocol)

Method

1. Heat your oven to 150°C/300°F. Wash, peel, slice and/or chop your leeks, carrots and celery. Roughly chop your bacon. Peel your garlic.

2. Heat the fat in a large casserole (I use my le Creuset). Brown the beef cheeks in batches on a medium heat. I usually sear the cheeks for 3 – 4 minutes per side. Take the time to get a really nice crust on your meat. Remove the meat to a dish.

3. Cook the chopped vegetables and bacon for five minutes, stirring frequently.Add the verjuice and simmer for a couple of minutes before adding the water and bone broth. Add the anchovies, bay leaves, thyme, rosemary, salt, cinnamon and pepper.

4. Carefully place the beef cheeks on top of the vegetables and allow the liquid to come to the boil.

5. Pop the lid on your casserole and transfer the dish to the oven for 4 1/2 – 5 hours, by which time the meat should be lovely and tender.

6. When the cheeks are ready, remove the herbs and discard. Pop the cheeks into a heat proof dish to keep warm. (At this point, I like to shred the meat with two forks, but that’s entirely up to you.) Strain about half the liquid into a pot and bring to the boil, reducing slightly. Serve your beef cheeks on a bed of mash and spoon the sauce over the top.

E N J O Y !

We served our cheeks on a bed of herbed parsnip and celeriac mash with caramelised onion (recipe coming next week!)

 *If you’re visiting Eveleigh Markets, do check out the Linga Longa stand. Greg – the farmer, himself! – is always there and happy to answer any questions.

This recipe features in the Phoenix Helix Recipe Roundtable

Heal Your Gut – Random Thoughts and an Update!

Tags

Autoimmune Protocol, Autoimmunity, Detox, Diet, food, Frank Lipman, Lifestyle, the Detox Summit, Toxic Thoughts

(Image by TSL)

I’m currently on the Autoimmune Protocol, a nutrient-rich elimination diet that removes foods that irritate the gut, cause gut imbalance and activate the immune system. You can read more about the protocol and why I’m doing this here. And, if you want to know why I’m on the sugar-free version of the Autoimmune Protocol, you can read about that here.

In case you hadn’t been paying attention, I’m currently a little bit obsessed with health. Specifically, my health and how my diet and lifestyle choices can improve it.

It’s hardly surprising, really. Up to about 18 months ago, LM and I were considered the ‘foodies’ amongst our friends. We were the go-to people for advice on what was new and good in the Sydney eating scene. We’d dine out 2 or 3 times a week. We connected through our food experiences. And, it was fun!

And then, we started joining the dots around some growing health issues. Our dining out stopped. Abruptly.

I haven’t been out to dinner at a restaurant since 2013.

I can’t safely dine out on the severely restricted diet I have been on since the beginning of this year.

What I have been doing is an awful lot of reading on what it is to be healthy in today’s world. And, what I’m learning is both scary and enlightening.

I’m learning that the rate of autoimmune disease is rising at an alarming rate in the western world. I’m learning researchers have identified between 80-100 different autoimmune diseases and they suspect at least 40 additional diseases of having an autoimmune basis. These diseases are chronic and can be life-threatening. I’m learning that autoimmune disease is now one of the top 10 leading causes of death in female children and women in all age groups up to 64 years of age. And, I’m learning that there is a close genetic relationship that exists among autoimmune disease sufferers which explains the clustering found in individuals and families.

So, there’s a genetic component, which you can’t control. It’s a lottery. And, then there’s a lifestyle component. This, you can – to some extent at least – control. And, if you don’t, there’s a good chance that at some stage it may come and bite you. You just don’t know when.

This week, I’ve been dipping into the Detox Summit, an online event bringing 30 experts together to discuss all aspects of detoxification with the goal of helping you return to a healthy state of wellness.

(Image from here)

The problem is we are not eating food anymore, we are eating food like products. (Alejandro Junger)

I haven’t had time to listen to all the interviews, but I was particularly interested in hearing from Dr Frank Lipman. I wasn’t disappointed.

Dr Lipman is a New York-based medical practitioner who marries Eastern and Western medicine to facilitate wellness. During an earlier lecture from him, he painted a wonderful picture that resonated for me about how Western medical practices tend to treat the body like a machine – if a part breaks down, we put a patch on it or replace it. Eastern practices, on the other hand, treat the whole body like a garden. Every part of the garden requires attention for the garden to truly thrive.

(Karl Maugham Image from here)

Even though you may have been given a diagnosis, always ask these two questions with any chronic problem:
1) What is harming you and needs to be removed to permit the body to heal?
2) What is lacking or what does your body need to promote healing? (Dr Frank Lipman)

This time, Dr Lipman was speaking about detoxing and the effects of toxicity on our general wellbeing. Some of the wee pearls that really jumped out for me during his detox session were:

• There is growing understanding that toxic thoughts – anger, resentment and worry – can have devastating effects on health.  As you fix mental and emotional issues, you become more resilient and this has a snowball effect on health.
• As a practitioner, if he doesn’t have the answers, he will always treat the gut. Generally, when you treat the gut, you can see improvement relatively quickly and, because of the high levels of serotonin found in a healthy gut, this will have a direct impact on mood.
• Dr Lipman finds gut dysbiosis in at least 75% of his patients. This is caused by a number of factors – GMO foods, antibiotics (including those in meat), an unfavourable gut environment from illness and/or stress.
• More and more people are becoming sensitive to – not only gluten, but – all grains. There is a general growth in insulin resistance.

I have written before (here) that I am a worrier of epic proportions. And, that I’m pretty masterful at hiding my amazing ability to worry. For me, this idea that our thoughts can make us physically ill is a difficult pill to swallow (bad pun – sorry!). So, as I enter week 3 of my gut-healing protocol, it is with a firm focus on watching my thoughts and working at being more present. I’ve a couple of wee experiments on the go – I’ll tell you about them a little down the track.

My new mantra is ‘be kind to yourself’! Maybe it should become yours, too?

 

HEARTY Cauliflower and Leek Soup with Crispy Bacon Bits

Tags

AIP, Autoimmune Protocol, Cauliflower Soup, Dairy Free, Hearty Soup, Paleo, vegetarian, Winter soup, Winter warmers

(Image by TSL)

I’m currently on the Autoimmune Protocol, a nutrient-rich elimination diet that removes foods that irritate the gut, cause gut imbalance and activate the immune system. You can read more about the protocol and why I’m doing this here. And, if you want to know why I’m on the sugar-free version of the Autoimmune Protocol, you can read about that here.

When you have a good stock, you can make a good soup.(Martin Yan)

Well into week two of this sugar-free AIP caper and I’m starting to get into the swing of things. It must be said that not reaching for the fruit bowl when I feel like a snack has taken a bit of getting used to. And, there has certainly been a sense of withdrawal, which is interesting given my sugar consumption wasn’t that high before – but I’m definitely not going hungry and – once you wean yourself of the sugar-fixes, I’m living proof that it can be done.

You already know that I’m the queen of the breakfast hash from my photo montage post earlier in the week. With such a nutrient dense and filling breakfast, I find that I feel like more of a snack at lunch time. And, soup is fitting the bill perfectly – especially as we’ve been having a cold snap here in Sydney.

Cauliflower and Leek Soup With Crispy Bacon Bits
(Image by TSL)

Soup is a great way to get both more nourishing and gut healing bone broth and more nutrient-dense fresh vegetables into your body. And it’s so easy to make – about half an hour and you have enough for 3 or 4 days. It’s pretty cost efficient, too.

Good manners: The noise you don’t make when you’re eating soup.(Bennett Cerf)

It would be so easy to make a vegetarian version of this soup – just sub in vegetable stock (or even water) for the chicken stock. Instead of the bacon bits, garnish with freshly chopped parsley or chives.

• Servings: 3 - 4
• Time: about 30 minutes
• Difficulty: easy-peasey
• Print

Ingredients:

1 x large leek
1 x eschalot (or a small onion)
1 x medium head of cauliflower
salt (I use pink Himalayan salt) & freshly ground pepper
1 x Tablespoon coconut oil (or fat of choice)
800mls chicken bone broth (or vegetable stock)

Optional extra:

1 x rasher bacon, chopped and fried until crisp in a teaspoon of coconut oil

Method

1.Peel and roughly chop your eschalot. Wash and roughly slice your leek. Wash, core and roughly chop your cauliflower.

2. In a large pot, heat your fat of choice. Throw in your eschalot and leek. Saute for about five minutes over a medium heat (until soft).

3. Add your cauliflower and bone broth. Bring to  the boil and then reduce to a low simmer for about 8 minutes until the cauliflower is ready. Season to your taste.

4. Puree your vegetables and stock in your blender. Check for seasoning.

5. Serve immediately and garnish with optional bacon bits (or fresh herbs).

E N J O Y !

 

A Week of AIP-Friendly Breakfasts (a Photo Montage!)

Tags

AIP, Autoimmune Protocol, Breakfast, Breakfast Hash, Easy Breakfasts, Elimination Diet, Paleo

(Original image from here)

“When you wake up in the morning, Pooh,” said Piglet at last, “what’s the first thing you say to yourself?”

“What’s for breakfast?” said Pooh. “What do you say, Piglet?”

“I say, I wonder what’s going to happen exciting today?” said Piglet.

Pooh nodded thoughtfully. “It’s the same thing,” he said.” (A.A. Milne)

I’m currently on the Autoimmune Protocol, a nutrient-rich elimination diet that removes foods that irritate the gut, cause gut imbalance and activate the immune system. You can read more about the protocol and why I’m doing this here. And, if you want to know why I’m on the sugar-free version of the Autoimmune Protocol, you can read about that here.

I think my Dad and Pooh have a lot in common when it comes to breakfast. I suspect Dad wakes up thinking about what he’s going to have for breakfast most mornings. I can’t blame him one bit – breakfast is probably my favourite meal of the day. And, when you’re following the autoimmune protocol like me, the question you get asked most often is “What do you eat for breakfast?”.

Way back in March of this year, I wrote about the magic that is the No Recipe Breakfast Hash. And, I’m here to tell you, nothing has changed. If anything, my love of the breakfast hash has grown. Once you get over the fact that you can longer eating cereal or toast, that the carbs you know and used to love are off the table, the advantages of the hash are many.

Here are a few:

• Hash is an awesome way to get more vegetables into your system. Your Mum was right about eating your greens (most of us still don’t get enough)
• Hash is a great way to use up all those leftovers in the fridge. Less waste has gotta’ be a good thing – for your wallet and for the planet!
• Hash tastes seriously good. Especially when it’s made from last night’s leftover slow cooked meal. Our current favourite is the Jamie Oliver Inspired Four Hour Lamb. I’ve worked out I can fit two shoulders of lamb into my le Creuset and this gives us extra meat for days!
• Hash is a great way to get more healing bone broth into your tummy
• Hash is quick. It takes me less than 10 minutes to whip up my basic hash with leftovers and a few wilted greens. You could even do enough for the week, portion everything up and then zap it in the microwave when you get to work.
• Hash tastes even better with a side of fermented vegetables. A great way to get even more nutrient-dense goodness into yourself.

Today, I thought I would show you just how much I love my breakfast hash. A picture paints a thousand words and all that!

So, without any further ado, here are my last five days of AIP-friendly breakfasts…

Day 1
A medley of shredded sprouts sautéed in coconut oil and a little bone broth, smoked mackerel and diced avocado, served with leftover salsa verde
(Image by TSL)

Day 2
Bacon and leek sautéed in bacon fat and a little bone broth, and served with half a diced avocado (market day tomorrow – the fridge is looking a wee bit bare)
(Image by TSL)

Day 3 (Brunch with LM)
Meatloaf Hash – LM’s world-famous AIP-friendly meatloaf sautéed with bacon, red onion, leek, and shredded sprouts in coconut bacon fat and bone broth
(Image by TSL)

Day 4 (another brunch with LM)
Leftover 4 hour lamb and minted gravy with last nights leftover roasted veggies, cavalo nero and leek
(Image by TSL)

Day 5
The last of LM’s world-famous AIP-Friendly meatloaf and the last of the minted gravy hashed with leek and shredded sprouts sautéed in coconut oil
(Image by TSL)

Instead of telling the world what you’re eating for breakfast, you can use social networking to do something that’s meaningful. (Edward Norton)

I’m choosing to believe that Ed Norton may just be wrong on this occasion. The autoimmune protocol can be a daunting exercise to kick off – especially at the beginning. And, I think breakfast choices require the biggest mind shift. It is fair to say that I still miss having eggs and I’m certainly looking forward to the day that I can reintroduce them. But, for now the AIP-friendly breakfast hash is a winner here at Casa TSL.

If you’re on the autoimmune protocol and have any alternative breakfasts to share, please feel free to comment!