Diet, Dessert and Dogs

What was the inspiration for Wild About Greens? How did the book come about?

For a long time I kept the two paths pretty separate, but I find that my skills as a food writer, designer, and visual artist are merging, and they intersect in a number of ways. I used my experience in writing recipes to create Secret Recipes for the Modern Wife , a faux-1950s cookbook in which the “recipes” and altered ads comment on contemporary relationships and issues still faced by women. I’ve also started a series of artworks under the umbrella title of “Meat Science,” all of which comment on the ethical dilemmas and environmental disasters caused by animal agriculture — which ties in neatly with my vegan ethics. In my artwork, I like to use humor and irony to explore difficult subject matter.

Newsy Tidbits:

• Are you craving spring the way I am? Check out these 6 spring salad recipes, over at Fitalicious.
• Are you a fan of tahini? (For me, it was an acquired taste). Now I love it–and here’s a whole post comparing types of tahini, with lots of recipes. Thanks to Dreena Burton for the post.
• Get the book for free! My friend Stephanie has written an ebook, Golden Angels, about her experience losing her beloved Golden Retriever Buddy Girl. The book contains 13 essays and 13 accompanying recipes. It’s a great book for anyone who’s lost a loved one, and she’s donating 10% of all sales to the SPCA until May 31st.  And tomorrow, Friday, March 22, she is giving it away for free on amazon.com! Be sure to check it out then.

Do you have a blog linky event or giveaway you’d like me to mention? I also will occasionally mention new courses that bloggers offer their readers. Send me an email with the details to dietdessertdogsATgmailDOTcom and I’ll include three or four each week. Please note that I cannot always accommodate all requests.

PLEASE DO NOT ADD YOUR GIVEAWAYS OR CONTESTS TO THE LINKYS BELOW–THEY ARE FOR RECIPES ONLY.

This Week’s Picks:

This week’s picks all focus on the theme, “sweet stuff”:

Maple Glazed Nuts from Bit of the Good Stuff. A perfectly healthy sweet snack! And nuts contain so many good-for-you fats.

Very Berry Rhubarb Pie from My Munchable Musings. I love rhubarb! Combined with berries, this gives you a perfect level of sweetness in a healthy dessert.

Raw Chilli-Cinnamon-Sea Salt Chocolates from Bite-Sized Thoughts. How incredible do these look? And CHOCOLATE! (need I say more)?

And This Week’s Readers’ Choices:

Readers’ Choice, Savory:

Gluten Free Vegan Whole Grain English Muffins from Tessa the Domestic Diva. If you’ve been missing English Muffins, try these babies from Tessa.

Readers’ Choice, Sweet:

Raw Banana Coconut Cream Pie from The Tasty Alternative. I do miss bananas! If you can have them, this pie sounds spectacular.

Thanks for joining in and sharing all your healthy, sugar-free and vegan recipes. I love seeing what you whip up each week! And I hope you’ll also share on twitter, Facebook and Pinterest, too!

Here’s How to Participate:

The event occurs once a week, starting Thursdays at 8:00 PM my time and running until the following Monday at midnight.

1. Simply link up a vegan recipe you made (and posted about) that contains health-supporting ingredients. This means any good-for-you whole foods, especially those with antioxidant properties or “functional foods” (ie, offering naturally medicinal or health-promoting qualities–such as garlic, coconut oil, all vegetables, fruits, herbs, etc.)–but any fresh, real food is welcome! No-no’s include white flour or sugar, highly processed foods, or animal products. Items like vegan protein powder, grain or bean flours, or coconut milk are fine even though they are technically “processed,” since they either contain a single ingredient, or could technically be made at home. Also, if you render a recipe vegan-friendly by adding a vegan option to your ingredients, your post will be good to go! Definite no-no’s include: cane sugar (evaporated or otherwise), sweeteners ending in -itol, margarines, or faux meat products.
2. This is a recipe event. Your blog post must contain a recipe.
3. You may link up older posts from your archives as long as they contain a link to this post. Please do not link up any posts you have previously shared at an earlier Wellness Weekend event.
4. Please link the post with your recipe, NOT your blog’s home page or another event page. The post must contain a recipe.
5. You may submit up to three recipes, but please follow the guidelines for each one individually. ONLY ONE THUMBNAIL FROM EACH BLOG POST, PLEASE.If your post contains two suitable recipes, link up once and people will still see all your fabulous recipes when they click on the linky.
6. Please mention this event and include a link back to this post so that others can find all the recipes posted!
7. Feel free to use the blog badge, above (or see the left sidebar of this page–if you need the html code, let me know and I’ll send it to you). Many thanks to Adrienne of Whole New Mom for setting up the badge code for me!

PLEASE NOTE: In order to promote your posts and the event, I like to occasionally tweet, mention on Facebook, or pin your blog post(s). On occasion, I will repost your photos in the following week’s Wellness Weekend as well. If you prefer that I NOT use your photos or links, please let me know in the comments below, or send an email to me at dietdessertdogsATgmailDOTcom. Thanks!

I will reluctantly remove any links that don’t comply. I apologize, but I will no longer be able to leave a comment telling you that I’ve removed a non-compliant link. I hate to have to remove links! PLEASE READ THE GUIDELINES BEFORE POSTING!

And now. . . what have you been cooking up lately? Please share!

Never miss a recipe–or a comment from The Girls! Click here to subscribe to Diet, Dessert and Dogs via email. (“We love subscribers, Mum. . . almost as much as we love treats!”).

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service after clicking on the affiliate link, your purchase will help to support this blog via the small compensation I receive.

Hello everyone! Are you tired of winter yet? (Or, if you live in the antipodes, are you tired of summer?–nah, didn’t think so!).

As I count the days until the end of winter, one of the things that always perks me up is checking out your recipes for Wellness Weekend. Thanks, again, for a fabulous array of delectable choices last week!

Newsy Tidbits:

• Whoo hoo! I just found out that my ebook, Good Morning! Breakfasts, is nominated for Best Gluten Free Cookbook over at Triumph Dining’s “The Best of Gluten-Free” Awards. I’d love your vote for the book if you are so inclined! Just head over here and skip to “Stores and Reslources,” where you’ll find the category for cookbooks.
• I’m still working like mad on book edits, but you can find some of my new recipes on VegNews, where they’re featuring three sweet treats, all with a secret ingredient that you’d never expect. See the article here.
• For those of us on a special diet (and methinks that’s the majority these days!), here are Five Easy Ways to Serve Guests on a Special Diet from my friend Amy.
• Win a ticket to Canada’s largest Gluten-Free Expo! Gluten-Free Makeup Gal is giving one away, here. Ends March 16th.
• Bob’s Red Mill is giving away a four-package low-carb flour kit! Win four types of flours. Enter here, until March 19th.
• Another new recipe–one that will help chase away those winter blues–is this very green, very fresh Creamy Broccoli Salad with Garlic Crunch Topper over on the Attune Foods Blog. This is a salad that will remind you of spring even though it’s delicious all year round.

Do you have a blog linky event or giveaway you’d like me to mention? I also will occasionally mention new courses that bloggers offer their readers. Send me an email with the details to dietdessertdogsATgmailDOTcom and I’ll include three or four each week. Please note that I cannot always accommodate all requests.

PLEASE DO NOT ADD YOUR GIVEAWAYS OR CONTESTS TO THE LINKYS BELOW–THEY ARE FOR RECIPES ONLY.

This Week’s Picks:

I can’t wait for spring! As I mentioned this morning, I’ve been dreaming of green lately. So this week’s picks all focus on the theme, “Gimme some Green!”:

Santa Fe Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers from Practical-Stewardship. Love the mix of ingredients in the filling!

Roasted Acorn, Beet, and Satsuma Salad with Almond Sesame Dressing from Vegan Richa. Richa recommends baby kale for this salad–sounds perfect to me!

Suran (Yam) and Malabar Spinach Curry from Cooking with Siri. Such a great idea to include spinach in your curry–all in one flavor AND nutrition.

And This Week’s Readers’ Choices:

Readers’ Choice, Savory:

Five-Ingredient Sesame Nut Crackers from Food & Yoga for Life. Easy to make–and sound so good!

Readers’ Choice, Sweet:

Decadent Dark Chocolate Fudge from Healthy Life Lessons. I swooned a little when I read about this fudge. And it’s only got 4 ingredients.

Thanks for joining in and sharing all your healthy, sugar-free and vegan recipes. I love seeing what you whip up each week! And I hope you’ll also share on twitter, Facebook and Pinterest, too!

Here’s How to Participate:

The event occurs once a week, starting Thursdays at 8:00 PM my time and running until the following Monday at midnight.

1. Simply link up a vegan recipe you made (and posted about) that contains health-supporting ingredients. This means any good-for-you whole foods, especially those with antioxidant properties or “functional foods” (ie, offering naturally medicinal or health-promoting qualities–such as garlic, coconut oil, all vegetables, fruits, herbs, etc.)–but any fresh, real food is welcome! No-no’s include white flour or sugar, highly processed foods, or animal products. Items like vegan protein powder, grain or bean flours, or coconut milk are fine even though they are technically “processed,” since they either contain a single ingredient, or could technically be made at home. Also, if you render a recipe vegan-friendly by adding a vegan option to your ingredients, your post will be good to go! Definite no-no’s include: cane sugar (evaporated or otherwise), sweeteners ending in -itol, margarines, or faux meat products.
2. This is a recipe event. Your blog post must contain a recipe.
3. You may link up older posts from your archives as long as they contain a link to this post. Please do not link up any posts you have previously shared at an earlier Wellness Weekend event.
4. Please link the post with your recipe, NOT your blog’s home page or another event page. The post must contain a recipe.
5. You may submit up to three recipes, but please follow the guidelines for each one individually. ONLY ONE THUMBNAIL FROM EACH BLOG POST, PLEASE.If your post contains two suitable recipes, link up once and people will still see all your fabulous recipes when they click on the linky.
6. Please mention this event and include a link back to this post so that others can find all the recipes posted!
7. Feel free to use the blog badge, above (or see the left sidebar of this page–if you need the html code, let me know and I’ll send it to you). Many thanks to Adrienne of Whole New Mom for setting up the badge code for me!

PLEASE NOTE: In order to promote your posts and the event, I like to occasionally tweet, mention on Facebook, or pin your blog post(s). On occasion, I will repost your photos in the following week’s Wellness Weekend as well. If you prefer that I NOT use your photos or links, please let me know in the comments below, or send an email to me at dietdessertdogsATgmailDOTcom. Thanks!

I will reluctantly remove any links that don’t comply. I apologize, but I will no longer be able to leave a comment telling you that I’ve removed a non-compliant link. I hate to have to remove links! PLEASE READ THE GUIDELINES BEFORE POSTING!

And now. . . what have you been cooking up lately? Please share!

Never miss a recipe–or a comment from The Girls! Click here to subscribe to Diet, Dessert and Dogs via email. (“We love subscribers, Mum. . . almost as much as we love treats!”).

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service after clicking on the affiliate link, your purchase will help to support this blog via the small compensation I receive.

What if you could snack on raw cookie dough that was full of protein, lower on the glycemic index, gluten free. . . AND designed specifically as a snack rather than a baked good (though I bet this would bake up just fine–)? There’s also a filling, delicious breakfast tart and perfectly portable nutrient-dense muffins for your lunchbag or backpack.

That’s right: sweet treats. . . from chickpeas.  Yes, seriously!

With frantic book edits going on now, I haven’t created much in my kitchen in the past couple of weeks, but I had to share these sweet treats I created last month for VegNews, each made with chickpeas or chickpea flour.

To see the recipes for raw Oatmeal-Raisin Cookie Dough, Breakfast Socca with Cinnamon-Glazed Apples and Sweet Potato Spread or Applesauce Muffins–all three can be eaten on an anti-candida diet**–head over to VegNews.  And don’t forget to leave a comment and let me know what you think!

** to make the cookie dough ACD-friendly, omit the raisins and replace with unsweetened carob chips or cacao nibs.

Oh, and I couldn’t end this post without mentioning that my Girls have got their moment of fame (well, on a site other than this one, that is!).  Check out Elsie and Chaser as the “cover dogs” on Our Hen House’s “This Animal on This Day” feature today!! (“That’s great, Mum. . . but frankly, we’d rather eat some of that cookie dough!”).

Never miss a recipe–or a comment from The Girls! Click here to subscribe to Diet, Dessert and Dogs via email. (“We love subscribers, Mum. . . almost as much as we love treats!”)

Last Year at this Time:  Butterscotch Walco-Nut Butter (gluten free; ACD  All Stages)

Two Years Ago: Adzuki Spread (gluten free; ACD Stage 2 and beyond)

Three Years Ago: Cheese Filled Olive and Onion Bread (gluten free; ACD Stage 2 and beyond)

Five Years Ago: Cookbook Review: Nava Atlas’s Vegan Express

© Ricki Heller, Diet, Dessert and Dogs

Hi Everyone! Once again, I can hardly believe how quickly the time is flying!

Just a heads up: I may not be around the blog as much as usual over the next three weeks while final book edits are in full swing. Given the number of comments and requests for changes from my editor (let’s just say it looks like she wrote more than I did!), it may be hectic in the DDD household until April. (But did you see the sneak peek at the cookbook photos I posted yesterday?).

But that won’t stop WellnessWeekend! As always, you all rose to the challenge with panache and creativity last week. I loved the Sexy Raw Maca Chocolates, Gluten-Free Pear Spice Cake, Kabocha Chickpea Fries and all your other marvelous recipes! Do keep ‘em coming.

Newsy Tidbits:

• I participated in a fun Q & A called The Next Big Thing, in which I answered questions about my upcoming book, what’s in my fridge, and who I’d like to play me and the HH in a movie of my life. In case you missed it yesterday, check it out here (and see the list of other participating cookbook authors at the bottom of the post).
• There’s still time to make comforting casseroles before winter’s over! This post on Blisstree.com features ten of them. See the Blisstree post here.
• Wondering whether you should still use agave nectar? I examine the pros and cons in my recent post on Fitalicious, here.
• Does intentional eating help control obesity and maintain weight loss? This article by my friend Cheryl Harris examines the topic from a dietician’s perspective, but I found it infinitely useful, too. Read it here.
• And finally, an alternative to hummus! Here’s my recipe for Byesar (fava bean dip) that’s just as delicious–and maybe even easier. See it on The Balanced Platter, here. 

Do you have a blog linky event or giveaway you’d like me to mention? I also will occasionally mention new courses that bloggers offer their readers. Send me an email with the details to dietdessertdogsATgmailDOTcom and I’ll include three or four each week. Please note that I cannot always accommodate all requests.

PLEASE DO NOT ADD YOUR GIVEAWAYS OR CONTESTS TO THE LINKYS BELOW–THEY ARE FOR RECIPES ONLY.

This Week’s Picks:

Here are this week’s picks on the superfood ingredient theme, “recipes with seeds”:

Creamy Vanilla Bean Chia Custard from Triumph of the Lentil. Vanilla + custard = irresistible dessert!

Carrot Hemp Seed Crackers from Cats in the Kitchen. These sounds super-simple and yet so delicious–almost a sweet treat!

Watermelon Curry from Green Gourmet Giraffe. I love how Johanna used this familiar ingredient in such a different way here. Intriguing, indeed!

And This Week’s Readers’ Choices:

Readers’ Choice, Savory:

Five-Ingredient Salad Dressing from Whole New Mom. Gotta love the simplicity of this yummy dressing!

Readers’ Choice, Sweet:

Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies from Sift, Stir, & Savour. You won’t believe what’s in these!

Thanks for joining in and sharing all your healthy, sugar-free and vegan recipes. I love seeing what you whip up each week! And I hope you’ll also share on twitter, Facebook and Pinterest, too!

Here’s How to Participate:

The event occurs once a week, starting Thursdays at 8:00 PM my time and running until the following Monday at midnight.

1. Simply link up a vegan recipe you made (and posted about) that contains health-supporting ingredients. This means any good-for-you whole foods, especially those with antioxidant properties or “functional foods” (ie, offering naturally medicinal or health-promoting qualities–such as garlic, coconut oil, all vegetables, fruits, herbs, etc.)–but any fresh, real food is welcome! No-no’s include white flour or sugar, highly processed foods, or animal products. Items like vegan protein powder, grain or bean flours, or coconut milk are fine even though they are technically “processed,” since they either contain a single ingredient, or could technically be made at home. Also, if you render a recipe vegan-friendly by adding a vegan option to your ingredients, your post will be good to go! Definite no-no’s include: cane sugar (evaporated or otherwise), sweeteners ending in -itol, margarines, or faux meat products.
2. This is a recipe event. Your blog post must contain a recipe.
3. You may link up older posts from your archives as long as they contain a link to this post. Please do not link up any posts you have previously shared at an earlier Wellness Weekend event.
4. Please link the post with your recipe, NOT your blog’s home page or another event page. The post must contain a recipe.
5. You may submit up to three recipes, but please follow the guidelines for each one individually. ONLY ONE THUMBNAIL FROM EACH BLOG POST, PLEASE.If your post contains two suitable recipes, link up once and people will still see all your fabulous recipes when they click on the linky.
6. Please mention this event and include a link back to this post so that others can find all the recipes posted!
7. Feel free to use the blog badge, above (or see the left sidebar of this page–if you need the html code, let me know and I’ll send it to you). Many thanks to Adrienne of Whole New Mom for setting up the badge code for me!

PLEASE NOTE: In order to promote your posts and the event, I like to occasionally tweet, mention on Facebook, or pin your blog post(s). On occasion, I will repost your photos in the following week’s Wellness Weekend as well. If you prefer that I NOT use your photos or links, please let me know in the comments below, or send an email to me at dietdessertdogsATgmailDOTcom. Thanks!

I will reluctantly remove any links that don’t comply. I apologize, but I will no longer be able to leave a comment telling you that I’ve removed a non-compliant link. I hate to have to remove links! PLEASE READ THE GUIDELINES BEFORE POSTING!

And now. . . what have you been cooking up lately? Please share!

Never miss a recipe–or a comment from The Girls! Click here to subscribe to Diet, Dessert and Dogs via email. (“We love subscribers, Mum. . . almost as much as we love treats!”).

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service after clicking on the affiliate link, your purchase will help to support this blog via the small compensation I receive.

Hey Everyone! It’s that time again. . . . Wellness Weekend time! (Wait, does that sound like a beer commercial?!).

Well, no beer in last week’s event (that would not exactly count as a whole food, would it?), but there were 32 amazing creations, all filled with good-for-you ingredients and many suitable for the candida diet! Thanks so much to all of you who participate, and who visit/comment on all the entries, too. What an amazing virtual pot luck we create together each week!

Newsy Tidbits:

• I’m going to be a speaker at the Gluten Free Garage event in April! This is a popup event in Toronto that showcases all things gluten-free! And I’m very excited to know that my friend Maggie Savage is also on the roster! I’ll remind you all again, but if you’re looking to attend, here’s the basic info.
• The March-April issue of Simply Gluten-Free is out! It’s called Spring Fling and contains loads of the latest gluten-free news, information about kids, makeup and travel, and–of course–recipes! Here’s a peek at one of mine, a Savory Crepe with Caramelized Onion, Asparagus and Edamame and Cashew Cream Drizzle that I modeled after one I ate in New York City. Yum!

• My friend JL from JL Goes Vegan is giving away a copy of the new cookbook by Robin Robertson, Nut Butter Universe! That’s right: EVERY recipe contains nut butter!  Check out the details or enter the giveaway here. Until March 4th.
• Recipe Renovator is giving away a copy of The Artful Vegan as well as as well as a $50 gift certificate to Millenium Restaurant in San Francisco! Wish I lived there. . . . Details here. Runs until March 7th.
• Out to Lunch Creations is giving away the ebook Crash Course in Gluten Free Living by Kristin Rugg Dovbniak. The book is a primer for living gluten-free with lots of vegan recipes and info. To enter, go here. Ends March 9th.
• I had a little fun by posting this “teaser” pic on Facebook today of the amazing new snack I’ve been munching (the recipe will be up tomorrow on the blog). Well, I’m loving the guesses from everyone as to what these are made of! Want to add your opinion? “Like” DDD on Facebook and chime in here! (And don’t forget to come back tomorrow for the reveal!).

Do you have a blog linky event or giveaway you’d like me to mention? I also will occasionally mention new courses that bloggers offer their readers. Send me an email with the details to dietdessertdogsATgmailDOTcom and I’ll include three or four each week. Please note that I cannot always accommodate all requests.

PLEASE DO NOT ADD YOUR GIVEAWAYS OR CONTESTS TO THE LINKYS BELOW–THEY ARE FOR RECIPES ONLY.

This Week’s Picks:

Here are this week’s picks on the theme, “the sweet stuff”:

Raw Orange Creamsicle Swirl Cheesecake from Sweet & Healthy Living. I’ve been able to consume oranges again once in a great while–my next one is going to this!.

Oatmeal Raisin Muffins from Veggie V’s Vegan Adventure. Breakfast yum!

Date Paste from Gluten Free SCD and Veggie. I know lots of you use this in your sweet treats–SO versatile!

And This Week’s Readers’ Choices:

Readers’ Choice, Savory:

Bejeweled Brussels Sprouts from glutenfreehappytummy. I’m so glad you all loved this recipe as much as I did! Caralyn has a knack for making gorgeous, colorful veggie dishes–this one is no exception!

Readers’ Choice, Sweet:

Three-Ingredient Vegan Cinnamon Raisin Peanut Butter Cookies from Wayfaring Chocolate. How can you go wrong with “Three Ingredient”? And Peanut Butter? And COOKIES?!

Thanks for joining in and sharing all your healthy, sugar-free and vegan recipes. I love seeing what you whip up each week! And I hope you’ll also share on twitter, Facebook and Pinterest, too!

Here’s How to Participate:

The event occurs once a week, starting Thursdays at 8:00 PM my time and running until the following Monday at midnight.

1. Simply link up a vegan recipe you made (and posted about) that contains health-supporting ingredients. This means any good-for-you whole foods, especially those with antioxidant properties or “functional foods” (ie, offering naturally medicinal or health-promoting qualities–such as garlic, coconut oil, all vegetables, fruits, herbs, etc.)–but any fresh, real food is welcome! No-no’s include white flour or sugar, highly processed foods, or animal products. Items like vegan protein powder, grain or bean flours, or coconut milk are fine even though they are technically “processed,” since they either contain a single ingredient, or could technically be made at home. Also, if you render a recipe vegan-friendly by adding a vegan option to your ingredients, your post will be good to go! Definite no-no’s include: cane sugar (evaporated or otherwise), sweeteners ending in -itol, margarines, or faux meat products.
2. This is a recipe event. Your blog post must contain a recipe.
3. You may link up older posts from your archives as long as they contain a link to this post. Please do not link up any posts you have previously shared at an earlier Wellness Weekend event.
4. Please link the post with your recipe, NOT your blog’s home page or another event page. The post must contain a recipe.
5. You may submit up to three recipes, but please follow the guidelines for each one individually. ONLY ONE THUMBNAIL FROM EACH BLOG POST, PLEASE.If your post contains two suitable recipes, link up once and people will still see all your fabulous recipes when they click on the linky.
6. Please mention this event and include a link back to this post so that others can find all the recipes posted!
7. Feel free to use the blog badge, above (or see the left sidebar of this page–if you need the html code, let me know and I’ll send it to you). Many thanks to Adrienne of Whole New Mom for setting up the badge code for me!

PLEASE NOTE: In order to promote your posts and the event, I like to occasionally tweet, mention on Facebook, or pin your blog post(s). On occasion, I will repost your photos in the following week’s Wellness Weekend as well. If you prefer that I NOT use your photos or links, please let me know in the comments below, or send an email to me at dietdessertdogsATgmailDOTcom. Thanks!

I will reluctantly remove any links that don’t comply. I apologize, but I will no longer be able to leave a comment telling you that I’ve removed a non-compliant link. I hate to have to remove links! PLEASE READ THE GUIDELINES BEFORE POSTING!

And now. . . what have you been cooking up lately? Please share!

Never miss a recipe–or a comment from The Girls! Click here to subscribe to Diet, Dessert and Dogs via email. (“We love subscribers, Mum. . . almost as much as we love treats!”).

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service after clicking on the affiliate link, your purchase will help to support this blog via the small compensation I receive.

[No, you're not in a time warp or losing your mind. . . this is, indeed, a repeat of an earlier post from January of this year, that was lost when my blog was hacked. Luckily for me, two intrepid readers, Jayme and Cristina, printed it out and were able to send it to me (thank you so much to both of you!). So here it is, re-transcribed in full, for your reading pleasure. Sadly, they weren't able to save all your wonderful comments from the original. So please do comment again--or if you missed it the first time!]

[Yes, you can eat all of these things on Stage 1 of the diet! Clockwise from upper left: Kale Salad, Fully Loaded; Black Bean Fudge; Grain and Veggie Bowl; Grain-Free Coconut Flour Biscuit; Sweet Potato Wedges with Sweet Almond Sauce; High Protein Snackin' Orbs. ]

While I’m not big on “year in review” posts on the blog and I don’t believe in new year’s resolutions (though I do set goals every year), I thought it was time for another anti-candida diet update for those of you who’ve been following along this journey with me since March, 2009–and for those of you who are newer to the blog, here’s why I eat the way I do. (Oh, and if you’re here just for the recipe, feel free to skip on down to the bottom of the post and enjoy some anti-candida friendly Nachos Supreme).

FIRST, AN ANTI-CANDIDA UPDATE:

I haven’t shared much about the ACD lately. For many of us, just embarking on the diet is a Herculean task, the first three or so months so challenging that you want to vent and share and question and gain some sort of catharsis just by putting all your frustrations, fears and fury out there. For me, the beginning of the diet was like hearing from an old nemesis who’d moved away for a while and then suddenly thunders back into town, harassing you with phone calls every day and asking for all kinds of favors. You dread hearing from that “friend” again. No wonder I’ve avoided the topic.

Still, now that I’m heading into four years on the diet, I feel as if I’ve established a certain level of stability and imagine that this is the way I will live for the rest of my life. This kind of balance is, in most ways, reassuring and allows me to go about my daily business without having to pay attention to every morsel that passes my lips, and without having to worry too much that I’ll have a reaction to something I eat (though that still does happen, too–see below).

I’ve developed a strategy to deal with outbreaks and, for the most part, can anticipate them. But there are still ongoing challenges for me, in any case, that continue to this day. For those of you who’ve just started and feel as if there’s no end in sight, for those of you who may also be maintaining, or for those of you who are just curious, here’s an update, and what I’ve learned after almost 13 total years of experience with this diet.

[Faux Chocolate for when you can't have the real thing. . . or even when you can.]

1. Hold Steady on NO sugar, fungus, vinegar (except ACV), active yeast.

Over time, it gets easier to allow some formerly taboo ingredients back into your diet. I will never (NEVER) eat refined sugar again; however, my repertoire of natural sweeteners has grown from stevia and yacon syrup in Stage 1 to stevia, yacon, coconut sugar, coconut nectar, lucuma, and the (very occasional) agave. I still don’t consume maple syrup (sob) or any kind of cane sugar (take note, those of you on “sugar-free” diets: evaporated cane juice is just a fancy name for “sugar.”)

Also still prohibited from my culinary repertoire are mushrooms of all kinds (though I did take a tincture for sinus issues that contained some mushroom extracts, with no ill effects); any alcohol (double sob, especially at this time of year–Oh, Segura, how I missed thee on New Year’s Eve! Dear Glenlivet, how I wish you could warm my heart this winter; and take note, G&Ts, summers will never be the same without you), or regular vinegar (I do use apple cider vinegar, often referred to as ACV, since it’s known to have anti-fungal properties, among other myriad health benefits.)

I did re-introduce some previously banned foods once I entered Stage 3 and maintenance, a couple of years ago. These include whole-grain gluten-free flours (though I’ve come to realize that too much flour or too many flour-based foods don’t work for me), plus some lower glycemic fruits that I missed terribly and eat only on occasion (to wit, pomegranate, or goji berries in place of raisins and prunes in place of dates, plus a few others).

2. Address Slip-Ups as Quickly as Possible.

Just because I don’t eat sugar doesn’t mean I’ve beaten my sugar addiction. When I make desserts and consume them too often (which for me means once a day), I find that I crave them, begin to eat more, and eventually succumb to a “binge” (my definition of a binge these days is 3 or 4 cookies, say, nothing like the entire tubs of Betty Crocker Cream Cheese Frosting I used to eat, straight from the can, with a butter knife).

I still subscribe to Stacy Halprin’s philosophy, mentioned earlier on this blog: if you do slip up, do not berate yourself. Simply move to the next meal, or next snack, and start over as if it never happened. Repeat until the behavior sticks. Apparently it takes 6-8 tries for a smokers to permanently quit smoking; when I learned to drive (at the ripe old age of 33!), it took me more than a year–driving every day–before that habit became natural to me and I no longer had to think actively about it. I don’t see why overriding poor eating habits and conquering sweets cravings should be any different. In other words, I’m willing to keep trying 50 times, or 500 times, to prevail with healthy eating that sticks permanently. Nine-five percent of the time, I’m successful.

[Grain-Free Butterscotch Pudding.  Good for all stages of the diet, plus a bonus vegetable serving!]

3. My Weight Will Fluctuate.

Right now, my weight is “up” again. I tend to fluctuate up to 20 pounds in one direction or another (kids, do not try this at home). If I am consistent in my healthy eating and exercise, it eventually balances out again (though my naturopath is now suspecting adrenal fatigue–for which I’m currently being treated–and hidden, uncovered allergies in this case, for which I’ll follow an elimination diet eventually).

For me personally, certain carbs (mostly grains) seem to be the culprit. However, my diet also relies on fat-laden foods like nuts and seeds for much of my protein (and sweet cravings), so I am sure that my weight is connected to how much of those I consume as well; not to mention that I’m not heading into the stage of “mature woman” (though not getting those senior discounts just yet–darn!), which can cause weight gain. And, as many of you have helpfully pointed out in the comments, addressing long-standing emotional issues is essential to permanently banish excess weight. Despite many years of therapy (and continued visits), those emotional issues still hang on. But I’m working on it! If I go up a few pounds (or ten), I try not to freak out too much, which only causes stress (and then stress eating. . . a vicious cycle).

4. Pick Your Battles, in Food as in Life.

Even though I know that some foods might trigger cravings, I am not willing to forfeit all aspects of a “normal” life at this point being on the diet. My hubby and I still eat in restaurants on occasion (and that “occasion” has decreased dramatically from 3-4 times a week in our first year together, down to maybe once a month at present).

Similarly, when we’re on vacation, I do my best to ensure that the meals are ACD-compliant, but if I have some vinegar in a salad dressing, or even (gasp!) dates in a raw dessert, I do not worry about it. I find those aren’t he events that trigger overeating in any case; when I’m on holiday, I don’t have access to my own kitchen, so I won’t go bake up a brownie and scarf down three pieces of it one afternoon. For me, the triggers are much more here at home.

[Still a favorite snack and an absolute must for me when I want a "safe" sweet.]

5. When Necessary, Return to Square One.

Unlike weight-loss diets, the ACD is kind of a diet for life, and you don’t get to reincorporate most of the foods you gave up once you’ve attained your “goal.” It does afford the opportunity, on maintenance, to enjoy so many of the delicious, even decadent, desserts that I love so much; but with the ACD, I find that (for me, at least), it’s a good idea to return occasionally to the first stage of the diet, sort of like a detox or the way you can “revert to default settings” on your computer. I revisit Stage One when I feel I’ve veered too far from the strictures of anti-candida living (say, like when I’ve been baking 4 or 5 times a day over several months when testing for a new cookbook). At those times, I try to par down the diet and consume only the foods that helped to reverse the symptoms in the first place: clean veggies; fresh fruits, sparingly; nuts and seeds; less starchy legumes and beans; some grains.

When I’m attempting to reset my metabolism this way, I forfeit any baked goods and most flours as well, going grain-free as much as possible (I don’t worry about the occasional bowl of steel-cut oats or rice with Indian food, for instance, but I don’t’ mix up muffins or cakes or pancakes for breakfast during those times). After a couple of weeks on this regimen, I usually feel recharged and revitalized, ready to resume my regular ACD activities.

My goal this winter is to incorporate more fresh juices and raw foods into my winter diet. I love fresh juice–even 100% vegetable varieties–and raw foods have always been a favorite. The challenge, I think, will be to steer clear of sweeter desserts, even as I bake them up daily for the next month to complete a manuscript. [Edit, February 2013: manuscript completed--baking done for a while!]

[Cranberry, Pomegranate and Kale Healthy Cocktail]

So how will that affect what I post here on the blog? Expect to see more savory dishes and more grain-free fare (including desserts). I was delighted with your response to my detox juice post a while back and hope to post more juice recipes as well. And, of course, I want to hear from you and what you’d like to see more of: Stage One foods? Later foods? Stevia-based desserts? More main dishes? Let me know and I’ll go for it–I am always up for a recipe challenge!

If you’re on an anti-candida diet, or, like me, have been on it for a while, I’d love to hear how this compares to your experience. What are the greatest challenges for you on the diet? What has helped you to stay the course? Please share your experiences, tips and tricks, or anything else candida-related that you’d like in the comments! (Even if you’re not following an anti-candida diet, feel free to share your experiences around consuming sugar and how it has affected you as well).

And now–today’s recipe (congratulations if you’ve made it this far!).  This is a dish The HH and I have whenever I’m stumped for what to make for dinner, or if we simply feel like eating something that tastes a little bit “naughty.”   These are nachos fully loaded with all the toppers that we love and that make for totally indulgent “junk food.” This dish hits all the key spots for gustatory variety and satisfaction: crunchy (corn chips), salty (ditto), smooth and creamy (cheese sauce), briney (olives), hot and fiery (jalapenos), saucy (salsa), meaty (meat crumbles).  Feel free to substitute your own favorite cheese sauce or even grated Daiya if it means speeding up the prep time.

Never miss a recipe–or a comment from The Girls! Click here to subscribe to Diet, Dessert and Dogs via email. (“We love subscribers, Mum. . . almost as much as we love treats!”)

Last Year at this Time: Byesar (Fava Bean Hummus) (gluten free; ACD  All Stages)

Two Years Ago: Pâté Campagne (Country Pâté) (gluten free; ACD All Stages)

Three Years Ago: Flash in the Pan: Spicy Roasted Seeds (gluten free; ACD  All Stages)

Five Years Ago: Roasted Potatoes with Sweet and Sour Cippolini Onions (gluten free; ACD  Maintenance)

© Ricki Heller, Diet, Dessert and Dogs

Welcome to this week’s Wellness Weekend! I’m always so excited to see the incredible edibles you cook up each week. Last week was filled with creative yumminess, and I’m sure this week will be no different! 

Newsy Tidbits:

• Did you know it was Dr. Seuss’s birthday yesterday? To celebrate, Babble.com posted my Green “Eggs” and Ham recipe! Check it out here (it’s soy-free, too!).
• I love this video from Daily Bites. Three simple steps to kick your sugar cravings! This method sounds incredibly simple, but according to Hallie it really works. (You know what I’ll be doing this weekend. . . .). Check out Hallie’s tips here.
  
• Have you enjoyed raw foods lately? The ongoing Raw Food Thursdays event from Heather at Gluten-Free Cat continues each week! Check out this week’s entries (or link up your own) here.
• Nicole at A Dash of Compassion reviews the Wellness Reboot program and has a special offer for the March reboot, here.
• Go Dairy Free is supporting the GMO OMG project initiative (a new film about GMOs, genetically modified organisms).  If you’re interested in food, you’ve likely heard about the controversy surrounding GMOs. Personally, I’d rather not end up as an involuntary subject in a massive science experiment.  Check out the links and suppor the film if you are opposed to GMOs.

Do you have a blog linky event or giveaway you’d like me to mention? I also will occasionally mention new courses that bloggers offer their readers. Send me an email with the details to dietdessertdogsATgmailDOTcom and I’ll include three or four each week. Please note that I cannot always accommodate all requests.

PLEASE DO NOT ADD YOUR GIVEAWAYS OR CONTESTS TO THE LINKYS BELOW–THEY ARE FOR RECIPES ONLY.

This Week’s Picks:

We’ve got beautiful beans and legumes for you this week! The photos alone will make you drool. So, here are this week’s picks on the theme, “legumes”:

Black-Eyed Pea and Stewed Tomato Salad from Cooking with Siri. I don’t use black-eyed peas enough in my cooking! Here’s a delicious way to incorporate them more.

Rainbow Chickpea Salad from The Rebel Grrrl Kitchen. A colorful composition with chickpeas and lots of veggies!

Cinnamon Spiked Black-Eyed Peas Curry from Lisa’s Kitchen. Yep, black-eyed peas once again, with this spicy dish with an Indian flair.

And This Week’s Readers’ Choices:

Readers’ Choice, Savory:

Sweet Potato Crepes Stuffed with Smoky Millet from Vegan Richa. I had an entire twitter conversation about this yummy dish last week. Totally intriguing!

Readers’ Choice, Sweet:

Raw Black Forest Brownies from Out to Lunch Creations. How can you go wrong with a mix of chocolate and cherries?

Thanks for joining in and sharing all your healthy, sugar-free and vegan recipes. I love seeing what you whip up each week! And I hope you’ll also share on twitter, Facebook and Pinterest, too!

Here’s How to Participate:

The event occurs once a week, starting Thursdays at 8:00 PM my time and running until the following Monday at midnight.

1. Simply link up a vegan recipe you made (and posted about) that contains health-supporting ingredients. This means any good-for-you whole foods, especially those with antioxidant properties or “functional foods” (ie, offering naturally medicinal or health-promoting qualities–such as garlic, coconut oil, all vegetables, fruits, herbs, etc.)–but any fresh, real food is welcome! No-no’s include white flour or sugar, highly processed foods, or animal products. Items like vegan protein powder, grain or bean flours, or coconut milk are fine even though they are technically “processed,” since they either contain a single ingredient, or could technically be made at home. Also, if you render a recipe vegan-friendly by adding a vegan option to your ingredients, your post will be good to go! Definite no-no’s include: cane sugar (evaporated or otherwise), sweeteners ending in -itol, margarines, or faux meat products.
2. This is a recipe event. Your blog post must contain a recipe.
3. You may link up older posts from your archives as long as they contain a link to this post. Please do not link up any posts you have previously shared at an earlier Wellness Weekend event.
4. Please link the post with your recipe, NOT your blog’s home page or another event page. The post must contain a recipe.
5. You may submit up to three recipes, but please follow the guidelines for each one individually. ONLY ONE THUMBNAIL FROM EACH BLOG POST, PLEASE.If your post contains two suitable recipes, link up once and people will still see all your fabulous recipes when they click on the linky.
6. Please mention this event and include a link back to this post so that others can find all the recipes posted!
7. Feel free to use the blog badge, above (or see the left sidebar of this page–if you need the html code, let me know and I’ll send it to you). Many thanks to Adrienne of Whole New Mom for setting up the badge code for me!

PLEASE NOTE: In order to promote your posts and the event, I like to occasionally tweet, mention on Facebook, or pin your blog post(s). On occasion, I will repost your photos in the following week’s Wellness Weekend as well. If you prefer that I NOT use your photos or links, please let me know in the comments below, or send an email to me at dietdessertdogsATgmailDOTcom. Thanks!

I will reluctantly remove any links that don’t comply. I apologize, but I will no longer be able to leave a comment telling you that I’ve removed a non-compliant link. I hate to have to remove links! PLEASE READ THE GUIDELINES BEFORE POSTING!

And now. . . what have you been cooking up lately? Please share!

Never miss a recipe–or a comment from The Girls! Click here to subscribe to Diet, Dessert and Dogs via email. (“We love subscribers, Mum. . . almost as much as we love treats!”).

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service after clicking on the affiliate link, your purchase will help to support this blog via the small compensation I receive.

Happy Wellness Weekend–Valentine’s Day Edition!

Yes, I am a total sucker when it comes to V-Day. Even when I didn’t have someone (human) with whom to share the day, I still celebrated, either by buying myself flowers (amazing how that will perk up your spirits!), or cooking a special meal, or just taking time to appreciate the people and animals I love in my life.  Whether you’re spending a romantic evening with a sweetheart or treating yourself to “me” time, I hope you all are having a wonderful day!

And the recipes from last week’s event were a great starting point for some fabulous Valentine’s Day dinners, to be sure. See below for highlights! But first, some news:

Newsy tidbits:

• If your V-Day celebration is just beginning (or even if it’s not), check out the Black Forest Cookie Dough Truffles I created for Attune Foods today! These no-cook, fudgy and chocolatey treats are a perfect “I love you” indulgence. Start now and you’ll be biting into one in less than 30 minutes. Recipe can be found here.
• Manifest Vegan is giving away a copy of Martha Stewart’s latest, Meatless.  Like all of Martha’s books, this one boasts gorgeous photography and beautiful layout. And many vegan recipes (yay!). Head over to Allyson’s blog to enter--ENDS TODAY!!
• Do you love to cook with herbs? Stephanie from Recipe Renovator is giving away a great-looking Herb Swag Bag with a cookbook, prepared herbs, dried herbs, a microplane grater, reusable bag from Trader Joe’s and more.  Check it out here. Ends February 21st.
• Check out the monthly giveaways on Simply Gluten-Free’s blog! This month includes a KitchenAid stand mixer, Apple iPad mini, magazine subscriptions, acacia wood salad bowls and lots of fabulous gluten-free foods! Details here. Most end February 28th.

Do you have a blog linky event or giveaway you’d like me to mention? I also will occasionally mention new courses that bloggers offer their readers. Send me an email with the details to dietdessertdogsATgmailDOTcom and I’ll include three or four each week. Please note that I cannot always accommodate all requests.

PLEASE DO NOT ADD YOUR GIVEAWAYS OR CONTESTS TO THE LINKYS BELOW–THEY ARE FOR RECIPES ONLY.

This Week’s Picks:

Here are this week’s picks for links on the theme, “light lunches”:

Vegan Zesty Carrot & Sweet Potato Coconut Soup from Fuss Free Flavors. The colors alone would brighten a meal!

Detox Salad with Orange Avocado Dressing from A Harmony Healing. I love the sound of this salad and would enjoy it any time, detox or not!

Carrot, Ginger, and Pumpkin Soup from Mamacook. Another brilliant soup that is perfect for these colder months.

And This Week’s Readers’ Choices:

Readers’ Choice, Savory:

Quinoa Quick Bread from Part-Time Health Nut. Luckily, Marya says you can leave out the yeast in this one–which means I can try it pronto!

Readers’ Choice, Sweet:

Chewy Oatmeal Crunch Bars from Sweetly Raw. Another winner from Heather. How good do these look?!

Thanks for joining in and sharing all your healthy, sugar-free and vegan recipes. I love seeing what you whip up each week! And I hope you’ll also share on twitter, Facebook and Pinterest, too!

Here’s How to Participate:

The event occurs once a week, starting Thursdays at 8:00 PM my time and running until the following Monday at midnight.

1. Simply link up a vegan recipe you made (and posted about) that contains health-supporting ingredients. This means any good-for-you whole foods, especially those with antioxidant properties or “functional foods” (ie, offering naturally medicinal or health-promoting qualities–such as garlic, coconut oil, all vegetables, fruits, herbs, etc.)–but any fresh, real food is welcome! No-no’s include white flour or sugar, highly processed foods, or animal products. Items like vegan protein powder, grain or bean flours, or coconut milk are fine even though they are technically “processed,” since they either contain a single ingredient, or could technically be made at home. Also, if you render a recipe vegan-friendly by adding a vegan option to your ingredients, your post will be good to go! Definite no-no’s include: cane sugar (evaporated or otherwise), sweeteners ending in -itol, margarines, or faux meat products.
2. This is a recipe event. Your blog post must contain a recipe.
3. You may link up older posts from your archives as long as they contain a link to this post. Please do not link up any posts you have previously shared at an earlier Wellness Weekend event.
4. Please link the post with your recipe, NOT your blog’s home page or another event page. The post must contain a recipe.
5. You may submit up to three recipes, but please follow the guidelines for each one individually. ONLY ONE THUMBNAIL FROM EACH BLOG POST, PLEASE.If your post contains two suitable recipes, link up once and people will still see all your fabulous recipes when they click on the linky.
6. Please mention this event and include a link back to this post so that others can find all the recipes posted!
7. Feel free to use the blog badge, above (or see the left sidebar of this page–if you need the html code, let me know and I’ll send it to you). Many thanks to Adrienne of Whole New Mom for setting up the badge code for me!

PLEASE NOTE: In order to promote your posts and the event, I like to occasionally tweet, mention on Facebook, or pin your blog post(s). On occasion, I will repost your photos in the following week’s Wellness Weekend as well. If you prefer that I NOT use your photos or links, please let me know in the comments below, or send an email to me at dietdessertdogsATgmailDOTcom. Thanks!

I will reluctantly remove any links that don’t comply. I apologize, but I will no longer be able to leave a comment telling you that I’ve removed a non-compliant link. I hate to have to remove links! PLEASE READ THE GUIDELINES BEFORE POSTING!

And now. . . what have you been cooking up lately? Please share!

Never miss a recipe–or a comment from The Girls! Click here to subscribe to Diet, Dessert and Dogs via email. (“We love subscribers, Mum. . . almost as much as we love treats!”).

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service after clicking on the affiliate link, your purchase will help to support this blog via the small compensation I receive.

As promised, today’s recipe is number three in this week’s list of sweet Valentine’s Day treats! Be sure to check out the healthy Butterscotch Pudding and Granola-Topped Blueberry Pie Bars, too!

When you think of Valentine’s Day, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Is it:

A) Flowers? Or perhaps
B) Chocolate? No? Then maybe
C) A sugar-free recipe? Or how about
D) A healthy dessert recipe? If not, is it
E) A cookie dough recipe?

Well, if you guessed “All of the above,” you’d be correct about these Black Forest Cookie Dough Truffles I’m sharing with you all today over at Attune foods (except for the “flowers” part, that is). And, true to form, they’re refined sugar-free and have a lower glycemic index than “regular” desserts, too.

When it comes to Valentine’s Day, I’m a chocolate gal, all the way. And if you serve up chocolate in the form of raw cookie dough—ideally, dipped in even more chocolate—well, then I’m truly in heaven.

To share in the chocolate love, just head over to the Attune Foods blog to see today’s recipe.  Happy Valentine’s Day!