Many people are on a gluten-free craze, but many of us absolutely must adhere to a gluten-free diet in order to remain healthy and/or pain-free, because our bodies can't process wheat/gluten protein. Now, honestly, a lot of gluten-free food is either tasteless or downright nasty!
Enter the Paleo diet... and guess what? It contains recipes that are gluten-free, and the following is my fave:
Paleo Pumpkin Muffins
Ingredients:
1 1/2 Cup Almond Flour
1/3 Cup Tapioca Starch
1 teaspoon non-aluminum baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 Cup raisins or chopped cranberries
3 Large eggs
1 Cup canned pumpkin (can use baked, mashed butternut squash)
1/4 to 1/3 Cup maple syrup (or honey, if your sweet tooth is as greedy as mine!)
1. Liberally grease muffin pans with virgin coconut oil
2. Combine dry ingredients and raisins or cranberries in a medium bowl. Whisk the eggs in another bowl (large). Add the pumpkin or squash and maple syrup or honey. Mix to combine. Add the dry ingredients and mix until thoroughly combined.
3. Pour the mix into muffin cups.
4. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 25 minutes until muffins pull away from the sides of the pan and a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffins comes out clean.
5. Allow muffins to cool in pan for 10 to 15 minutes, then run a knife around the sides and invert over cooling rack. When cooled, cover and store for 3 days at room temperature, or refrigerate for longer storage.
These muffins freeze well, and can be popped in the microwave for about 30 seconds or less to thaw and warm.
The original recipe makes jumbo muffins (8) at 187 calories each; but I use a regular sized muffin tin for 12 muffins at 125 calories each.
ENJOY!!
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Race in Politics, 2012
What is this new clamoring for photo IDs all about? And, why now?
What is it about the upcoming election that suddenly necessitates the dire need to ensure that those seeking to vote are who they say they are?
Some of us remember the days of the "poll tax," when people of color were required to jump through veritably impossible hoops as they sought to exercise their right to vote. The law gave them the right to vote, but those at the polls had their own ideas, and thus was born the so-called poll tax.
Could this sudden demand for a photo ID be a way to bring back the poll tax? When someone off-mike is heard to say that it's time to put the "white" back in White House, one can only wonder.
The historical election of a non-white man to the highest office in the land gave the false impression to the uber optimists that the United States of America had moved into a post-racial age. Nice thought, but even I didn't buy into that one, and my rose-colored glasses are the rosiest shade of rose. I am truly a glass half-full kind of gal, but I am capable of seeing that the ideal is not always what is real.
Our country has by no means become a colorblind society, nor should it become so, IMHO (in my humble opinion). In order to see me completely, you must note my skin color, eye and hair color, whether I'm tall, short, thin, or wide. It is totally unnecessary to try to negate a person's skin color, which is a part of an individual's identity in order for ours to become an equal society. But I digress...
I am always hesitant to say that a particular negative situation is racially motivated, but this voter ID thing kind of smacks me in the face and says..."Sarah Louise, call a thang a thang."
Granted, a lot of voters cast their vote for President Obama because he looks like them, but let's not try to turn the clock back due to a desire to try to unseat him. That can be the beginning of a very slippery slope and the traveling down a road that we as Americans don't want to tread. Many of our foremothers and forefathers have already trod down that road, and we don't need to repeat that particular part of the history of America.
I would also posit to you that the majority of people who voted for the President believed in his vision for the country. That he happened to be bi-racial was icing on the cake for many Americans, regardless of skin color or ethnicity.
Fair and square needs to be the rule of the day. Our democracy already has a question mark beside it because of the Bush v. Gore election; let's not put it further into question by demanding something for this election that was not a requirement for previous elections. Let's trust in our democratic process.
God bless America.
What is it about the upcoming election that suddenly necessitates the dire need to ensure that those seeking to vote are who they say they are?
Some of us remember the days of the "poll tax," when people of color were required to jump through veritably impossible hoops as they sought to exercise their right to vote. The law gave them the right to vote, but those at the polls had their own ideas, and thus was born the so-called poll tax.
Could this sudden demand for a photo ID be a way to bring back the poll tax? When someone off-mike is heard to say that it's time to put the "white" back in White House, one can only wonder.
The historical election of a non-white man to the highest office in the land gave the false impression to the uber optimists that the United States of America had moved into a post-racial age. Nice thought, but even I didn't buy into that one, and my rose-colored glasses are the rosiest shade of rose. I am truly a glass half-full kind of gal, but I am capable of seeing that the ideal is not always what is real.
Our country has by no means become a colorblind society, nor should it become so, IMHO (in my humble opinion). In order to see me completely, you must note my skin color, eye and hair color, whether I'm tall, short, thin, or wide. It is totally unnecessary to try to negate a person's skin color, which is a part of an individual's identity in order for ours to become an equal society. But I digress...
I am always hesitant to say that a particular negative situation is racially motivated, but this voter ID thing kind of smacks me in the face and says..."Sarah Louise, call a thang a thang."
Granted, a lot of voters cast their vote for President Obama because he looks like them, but let's not try to turn the clock back due to a desire to try to unseat him. That can be the beginning of a very slippery slope and the traveling down a road that we as Americans don't want to tread. Many of our foremothers and forefathers have already trod down that road, and we don't need to repeat that particular part of the history of America.
I would also posit to you that the majority of people who voted for the President believed in his vision for the country. That he happened to be bi-racial was icing on the cake for many Americans, regardless of skin color or ethnicity.
Fair and square needs to be the rule of the day. Our democracy already has a question mark beside it because of the Bush v. Gore election; let's not put it further into question by demanding something for this election that was not a requirement for previous elections. Let's trust in our democratic process.
God bless America.
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Bathroom or loo?
I watch a LOT of British television and films, and yes, I occasionally forget the American English (Am-E) translation, if you will, for a particular word; but I feel fairly certain in the moment that if I use the British word, I will not be understood so I have to wait a few moments for my gray matter to rearrange itself. After reading an article in the New York Times concerning the apparently huge numbers of people substituting "Briticisms" for Am-E, I was very glad to learn that I am not alone! No longer will I feel that tiny frisson of discomfort when the words of a typical Londoner rather than those of a typical American roll off my tongue.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to have a coffee and ring my mum. Cheers.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to have a coffee and ring my mum. Cheers.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)