Happy New Year to those of the world who are already into 2013 and an early one to the people who are still in expectation of the arrival of 2013.
I've never made a New Year's Resolution that I've kept for more than a week but am going for another try for the soon-to-be-here 2013 - a change in diet and how I provide for my family's meals. Right now, I am doing pretty well on that score as eating out is a treat and my children actually prefer eating at home. I watch the fats and every dinner plate sports a protein, carb, and fresh vegetable.
As I posted last week, I recently picked up and had to purchase Wheat Belly Cookbook by William Davis, MD. I was not so much fascinated with the idea of giving up wheat but the fact that this book provided recipes that were not 'weird' or overly healthy and 'green'. I was treated to a plate of 'health' cookies when people started making changes in their diet and they were not tasty and didn't look like anything a person should voluntarily eat. Needless to say, I opened this book with some apprehension. Much to my surprise, the recipes were appealing with the only thing missing from them being wheat products.
The book begins with a history of wheat and the 'whys' of omitting them from our diet. Many of the problems listed, were happening in my family to one degree or another. My husband has always had digestive issues and a lot of what I was reading hit home. We decided to slowly start replacing wheat in our diets with thoughts of eventually going totally no wheat and see how things go.
Needless to say, I already have some of the suggested 'flours' on order and was delighted to discover that they weren't overly expensive. I did my research and according to my finds, Nuts.com seems to fit the bill for us. Just Google it on-line if you want to check it out. I was impressed with both their inventory and the fact that an e-mailed question was responded to within half a day.
The food item that gets eaten the most in households is bread. I decided to start there and incorporate that into our meals first of all. It was a win/win for me as I enjoy baking and love trying out new challenges. This is the recipe from the book.
Basic Bread
1 1/4 cups blanched almond flour
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons garbanzo bean aka chickpea flour
1/4 cup ground golden flax seeds
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
5 eggs, separated
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 tablespoon buttermilk
1 tablespoon xylitol or 4 drops liquid stevia or to desired sweetness
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8 1/2" x 4 1/2" loaf pan.
In a food processor, combine the almond flour, garbanzo bean flour, ground flax seeds, baking soda, cinnamon (if using), and salt. Pulse until well blended. Add the egg yolks, butter, buttermilk, and sweetener and pulse until just blended.
In a large bowl and using an electric mixer on high, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Pour into the flour mixture and pulse until the egg whites are evenly distributed but do not run the machine at a constant speed. Spread into the prepared pan and bake for 40 minutes, or until a wooded pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Remove and cool completely on a rack.
Per slice: 158 calories, 7 grams protein, 7 grams carbohydrates, 12 grams total fat, 2 grams saturated fat, 3 grams fiber, 200 mg sodium.
Recipe from Wheat Belly Cookbook by William Davis, MD., page 225
