Completed Tofu "Eggs Benedict", GF Muffins, Protein Powder, Xylitol and Scoops

Tofu "Eggs Benedict" with Tofu "Tarragon Hollandaise Sauce" with Tofu Smoked Tofu Slices in a Brown Rice and Lentil "crepe" (dosa)

Well I finished my Indian "crepes" or dosas. This recipe is from Bryanna Clark Grogan's Brown Rice and Lentil Adai (Indian Dosas or crepes). Once I got the pan up to the right temperature the "crepes" came out great.

Next I made Julie Hasson's Vegan Tarragon Hollandaise Sauce from her cookbook "Vegan Diner", pg. 162. It was easy and quick. I used my "Magic Bullet to make a half batch.

I then steamed the tofu "egg" and the Sunrise Smoked Tofu that I had fried till crisp and sliced. I used a silicon steamer.

I then plated my "Eggs Benedict". First the "crepe"(dosa), then piled on the sliced smoked tofu, folded over the "crepe", some Tarragon Hollandaise Sauce, the tofu "egg", then some more sauce, added some sliced tomatoes. Yummy!

For breakfast I'd had a Banana Walnut Muffin that I'd based on Rebecca Reilly's Muffin recipe on pg. 39 & 40 in her cookbook "Gluten Free Baking".

Here's the recipe:

Gluten Free Banana Walnut Muffins

Makes 12.

I used the vegan option for eggs from Bryanna Clark Grogan for flax eggs.

It is good to do this first- 1 TBSP of ground flax seed whisked with 1/4 cup water until frothy.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Prepare your muffin pan by oiling it and dusting with rice flour. Or use muffin tin liners.

DRY INGREDIENTS

In a bowl mix:

1 cup brown rice flour

1/2 cup cornmeal(I used corn flour), needs to be finely ground.

1/2 cup of tapioca starch or arrowroot

2 teaspoons gluten free baking powder

1 teaspoon Egg Replacer 

1/2 teaspoon of xanthum gum

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup xylitol(sugar or powdered sweetner of your choice)*

1/2 cup of vegan protein powder of your choice

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

WET INGREDIENTS

In another bowl mix together:

1/2 cup canola oil

3/4 cup non-dairy milk of your choice(I used soy milk)

Add the flax "egg" mixture 

1 cup of mashed very ripe bananas

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 tablespoon lemon juice

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Mix until blended and no flour is seen. Do not overmix. Spoon muffin batter into the prepared muffin tin.

Bake on the middle rack for 18-20 minutes. Cool in the muffin pan for 5 minutes, then put on a cooling rack to completely cool.

This muffin is great for breakfast with an orange and cup of tea or coffee.

* Xylitol - Benefits (I use it because I don't get a sugar high or rush  

               when I eat baked goods). Check this site out for more 

               information.

• Delicious sweet taste... with no unpleasant aftertaste
• Helps reduce the development of dental caries
• Reduces plaque formation
• Increases salivary flow to aid in the repair of damaged tooth enamel
• Provides one third fewer calories than sugar
• May be useful as a sugar alternative for people with diabetes (on the advice of their healthcare providers)

I add this Protein Powder to my breads, quick breads and muffins.

This protein powder is made in Canada with soy, Pea Protein, Brown Rice and Bromelian.

TIP:

When I'm baking or cooking I like to use scoops. I get even measures with each scoop. Very handy. I used then for my tofu "egg"(recipe still needs work). Also for the muffins. Look for them in grocery stores, big chain stores or speciality stores.

Play with your food. Experimenting is fun, not always successful. Each time you might fail, you learn something. Being Gluten Free and Vegan can be a challenge, but it sure is interesting.

Karen

P.S. Still working on my photography. Another thing that will get better with practice. 

Playing with my Food-Tofu "Eggs & Bacon"

My tofu "Egg" just out of the oven.

Recently I watched an episode of "Glutton For Punishment" with Bob Blumer on the Food Network.Bob goes head-to-head against Dim Sum Pros in a Dumpling Making Competition at the Night Market in Richmond, BC.
During the program they talked about how the stuffing was made with the gelatin and mixed with the stuffing. When you bit through the skin of the dumpling a warm broth fills your mouth.
I started thinking, why can't a similiar principle be applied to a tofu "egg".
So using agar flakes mixed with tofu and spices I came up with an approximation that appears just right and the tofu "egg yolk" is soft when cut into. 
The recipe still needs some fine tuning. 


The tofu "Bacon" was easy. I had some Sunrise Smoked tofu that I sliced thin and crisped in the fry pan. Smelled great while frying. Beautiful smoked aroma.

The sliced Smoke Bacon crisped up then cut into smaller pieces.

I'm going to make Vegan "Eggs Benedict", using my tofu Eggs & Bacon" and a vegan Hollandaise Sauce (pg. 162) from Julie Hasson's Vegan Diner over Bryanna Clark Grogan's BROWN RICE AND LENTIL ADAI (INDIAN DOSAS OR CREPES). 
Right now I'm soaking the lentils and rice to make the dosas for tomorrow. I'll update this when The Vegan "Eggs Benedict" is finished.

Camping, Craft Fairs and Gluten Free "Bisquick"

We spent 5 days camping outside of Gananoque, Ontario.
This area is along the St. Lawrence River where the 1000 Islands are. This area was known by the First Nations people as "The Garden of the Great Spirit".
And they are right. Lush growth of both deciduous and evergreen trees, wet lands and wild life.

Wetlands along the St. Lawrence River

An osprey nest on a nest pole along the St. Lawrence River. 

One of the many islands that dot the 1000 Islands 

We stayed at Landon Bay Campground, which is part of a biosphere reserve. This biosphere reserve was designated by UNESCO for its amazing biodiversity. This biodiversity is greater in this area than any other area in Canada.
Landon Bay Campground also has Red Cross Swimming Lessons daily Monday through Friday. Also Parks Canada runs a 6 week nature course at the campground with weekly topics.

Yes, we had hydro. I took my trusted fan, kept me comfortable. Not the camping I used to do. But with the changes in my health, fans are a good thing even at camp.

My new favourite summer everywhere footwear. These are the swimming shoes I bought, I wore them all the time. They kept my feet cool and cushioned, especially when I got hot. 

The building on the hill was the showers and washrooms. The hill incline was enough to get a good hamstring stretch everytime you walked up it.

The campground has hiking trails one of which leads to an osprey nest that was built by students in 1996 and annually is occupied by these beautiful birds.
We saw them soaring above our campsite each night. At night the fireflies sparkled in the bushes around us. The night sky was so clear with stars. The air smelled clean.
It was hot and sunny. We had rain once overnight, but it dried up quickly the next day.
It was a 4 hour drive from our home to the campground along Highway 401, the major highway in Ontario.
On Saturday & Sunday we did the craft show in Gananoque. Lots of people through, many vendors and activities.

The climbing wall, one of the many activities they had for families at the  Gananoque Craft Fair.

Our Craft Booth

The Gananoque Craft Fair had many diverse crafters.

On Sunday there was church in the park. A youth gospel group sung with several ministers preaching.

Lots of people came to church in the park on Sunday.

The youth gospel group sang their hearts out.

Gananoque has a river running through it, they've built a large fountain in the middle of the river. I saw a pair of swans drifting back and forth.

The river in Gananoque

The swans cruising the river.

On Monday we went to another craft fair in Kingston, a short distance east of Gananoque.
Kingston was the original capital of Canada, but then Ottawa was chosen to be our capital.

The History of the City Hall Of Kingston

The cupola of the original parliament buildings. Reminiscent of the  White House.

A long view of this beautiful regal Victorian building.

The craft fair was held in the park across from the original Parliament Buildings on the water front.

Along the pier we saw the catamaran and paddlewheeler boats that are used for the 1000 Islands tours, some of which are dinner tours.

The tour boat.

Hopefully the next time we go there we are able to go on a tour.
Kingston has theatre, art shops, fine dining, beautiful river views. It is also home to a military base and military college. There is lots of new construction along the riverfront of modern condos that rise up across from Victorian homes and heritage buildings.

Kingston Victorian row house.

Modern condos along the waterfront in Kingston

A beautiful city.


We then traveled back along the 1000 Island Parkway to Brockville. A lovely town with a busy downtown stretch. Beautiful mansions and homes from the Loyalist area.

Downtown Brockville

A old mansion in Brockville

An old church in Brockville

Monday I made Bannock from the Gluten Free "Bisquick" or otherwise known as the Gluten Free Master Baking Mix recipe from Ginger Lemon Girl. Bannock, also known as frybread or Indian bread, is found throughout North American native cuisine. The dough is made to be thick enough that if you wanted you can wrap it around a twid to cook over an open fire. I used a lightly oiled frypan instead .
I don't have exact measurements yet. But it tasted good with some margarine and strawberry jam.

I was using a two burner hot plate to cook on. It did a great job.

The bannock with some Strawberry Jam from Niagara on  the Lake.

Tuesday morning I used the GF "Bisquick" again to make some fluffy great tasting pancakes. I added some stevia and cinnamon to the mix and used soy milk as my liquid. I made the batter extra thick, it fried up easily and cooked thoroughly in little time.

I added some Vegetarion Protein powder and used some agave with maple  flavouring. This idea I got from Babycakes.

A satisfying breakfast.

I plan on checking out the "Bisquick" website and see if I can use the GF "Bisquick" in their recipes.

A listing of Ontario's food groups all along the 401.

Getting closer to Toronto.

Modern Architecture of Toronto.

Every time I pass this building in Mississauga I'm reminded of a Batman movie.

More unique buildings in Mississauga

Last stretch to home.

On the way home, the traffic began to snarl east of Whitby, the smell of smog started to permeate the air.
The business of Toronto was soon pulsing the air. The Toronto area is becoming an area with unusual architecture, especially Mississauga.
Finally Highway 403 Hamilton, the last stretch home.

Although Hamilton is mostly known for the steel mills and steel processing plants, highway 403 passes by Cootes Paradise on the approach to downtown Hamilton. A beautiful natural habitat that is easily accessible. 

Cootes Paradise

Christ the King Church greets the traveler as you enter Hamilton.

Home.

Most of my pictures were taken while we were driving. I set my Canon Rebel on the Sports setting.

INFLAMMATION & SUGAR

I've had several good weeks of relatively reduced pain with some improved mobility until this past Monday evening. The old familiar burning joint pain and stiffness returned. The exhaustion was immediate undoing the wellness I had been feeling.
Wednesday, as I rested in frustration and fatigue I reviewed if I had added different foods to my diet.
I had made some gluten free shortbread and shortbread cookies that required added white sugar. I had eaten corn for two days straight along with white potatoes. These foods I don't usually eat. Also I was having my banana each morning. 
Wednesday evening I started to investigate white sugar and high gylcemic foods. Voila!!
White sugar is a major culprit in the inflammatory process, along with high gylcemic foods such as the white potatoes, corn and banana I was eating.
Last night's supper was mashed sweet potatoe(which is Ok)with tofu sour cream and fresh cut vegetables. Thursday morning, no burning in my joints with less pain, some stiffness to my hips and shoulders and less fatigue.
Here's one of the many articles I researched.


Sugar and Inflammation

By Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.

One of the reasons inflammation occurs is from a rapid rise in blood sugar, which causes biochemical changes in the cell. Staying away from sugar and high-glycemic (simple) carbohydrates, which the body rapidly converts to sugar, is one of the best ways to decrease inflammation. C-reactive protein (CPR) is a key factor of inflammation. In a major study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, people with elevated CRP levels were four and one-half times more likely to have a heart attack. Not only is elevated CRP more accurate than cholesterol in predicting heart attack risk, but high CRP levels have turned up in people with diabetes and pre-diabetes and in people who are overweight. [58, 59,61]

When blood sugar goes up rapidly, sugar can attach itself to collagen in a process called "glycosylation," or the Browning Reaction, increasing inflexible and inflammation. CRP is not found in foods. However, its levels in the body are strongly influenced by diet.

A recent study by Simin Liu, M.D., Ph.D., of the Harvard Medical School found that women who ate large amounts of high-glycemic (or diabetes promoting) carbohydrates, including potatoes, breakfast cereals, white bread, muffins, and white rice, had very high CRP levels. Women who ate a lot of these foods and were also overweight had the highest and most dangerous CRP levels. [62].

The body makes CRP from interleukin-6 (IL-6), a powerful inflammatory chemical. IL-6 is a key cell communication molecule, and it tells the body's immune system to go into asperity, releasing CRP and many other inflammation-causing substances. Being overweight increases inflammation because adipose cells, particularly those around the midsection, make large amounts of IL-6 and CRP. As blood sugar levels increase, so do IL-6 and CRP. Both overweight and high blood sugar levels increase the risk of heart disease, very likely because of the undercurrent of inflammation. [61].

The best way to deal with cravings is to very carefully control blood sugar and insulin by staying away from the simple carbohydrates and eating more protein. In a few days, blood sugar will stabilize and cravings will go away. Good (complexed) carbohydrates, which are low on the glycemic index include: apples, asparagus, beans, broccoli, blackberries, blueberries, cabbage, cantaloupe, citrus fruits, green beans, honeydew melon, kiwi, leafy greens, peaches, pears, plums, raspberries, spinach, strawberries.

Bad (simple) carbohydrates, which are high on the glycemic index include: bananas, breads, carrots, cereals processed with added sugar, corn, French fries, French toast, fruit juices, mangoes, pancakes, papaya, pasta, peas, popcorn, white potatoes, white rice, sugar, waffles.

Dietary fats also influence inflammation. Most omega-6 fats, found in margarine and corn and safflower oils, are the basic building blocks of arachidonic acid and prostaglandin E2, two of several key inflammation-causing substances in the body. In contrast, omega-3 fats, found in fish, fish oils, and vegetables, have an inflammation-suppressing effect. [63]

Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) is an omega-6 fat that enhances the anti- inflammatory effect of omega-3 fats. Both GLA and omega-3 fish oils have been found helpful in arthritis and other inflammatory disorders. [64,65] GLA is found in leafy green vegetables and dietary supplements. Similarly, oleic acid, an omega-9 fat found in olive oil, walnut oil, sunflower oil, soybean oil, canola oil, avocados, nut butters and macadamia nuts have anti-inflammatory properties.

Good sources of protein include: Fish such as sardines, salmon, cod, haddock, halibut, snapper and tuna. Meat and poultry include: turkey, chicken with no skin, occasional lean beef, lean pork and lean ham. Soy products are also a great source of protein. Also included are egg whites, low fat cottage cheese, milk and yogurt.
Copyright 2006 Andrew Pacholyk