Posts Tagged ‘low’

Cauliflower pizza crust- super easy to make GF, Paleo and grain free

IMG_3213I recall the days of making cauliflower pizza crust for my son when he was on the ketogenic diet.  My family found it surprisingly delicious.  At that time the recipe we acquired was a bit more labor intensive.  Being the hunter that I am, I found a new-to-me recipe that cuts down the preparation to 10 minutes but  do allow 55 minutes for baking time (can’t seem to reduce the baking time yet).  Did I mention the total recipe only requires 3 main ingredients?

 

2 pounds cauliflower florets, riced
1 egg, beaten
1/3 cup soft goat cheese (chevre)
1 teaspoon dried oregano
pinch of salt

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 400F, then get to work on your crust.

Step 1: Begin by making your cauliflower “rice.”

Simply pulse batches of raw cauliflower florets in a food processor, until a rice-like texture is achieved.

Step 2: Cook & Strain the rice.

Fill a large pot with about an inch of water, and bring it to a boil. Add the “rice” and cover; let it cook for about 4-5 minutes. Drain into a fine-mesh strainer.

Now here comes the secret:

Once you’ve strained the rice, transfer it to a clean, thin dishtowel.

Wrap up the steamed rice in the dishtowel, twist it up, then SQUEEEEEEEZE all the excess moisture out! (Be careful not to burn your hands!)

It’s amazing how much liquid will be released, which will leave you with a nice and dry pizza crust.

IMG_3212

Step 3: Make & Shape the dough.

In a large bowl, mix up your strained rice, beaten egg, goat cheese, and spices.

Don’t be afraid to use your hands! You want it very well mixed.

It won’t be like any pizza dough you’ve ever worked with, but don’t worry– it’ll hold together!

Press the dough out onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. (It’s important that it’s lined with parchment paper, which is not to be confused with WAX paper– they’re very different!) ON a side note I used a silicone mat.  

Keep the dough about 1/3″ thick, and make the edges a little higher for a “crust” effect, if you like.

Step 4: Bake!

Bake for 35-40 minutes at 400F.

It’s that easy and absolutely delicious.

Be well,

Lynn

P.S.  I need to spread credit where credit is due: thanks to www.detoxinista.com for this updated recipe.

Are you low in this hormone that promotes peace and relaxation?

Progesterone is our hormone that’s made in the adrenals and in women, in the ovaries.  It helps us feel energetic, sleep well through the night, support our stress response, keeps our memory strong, skin elastic and promotes GABA, a built-in calming mechanism.  

Unfortunately through perimenopause and menopause, it leaves women quickly.  

How do you know if you are low in progesterone?

  • Do you wake between 2 and 4 am?
  • Do you experience heavy bleeding?
  • Erratic periods?
  • Anxiety? 
  • Low libido?
  • Fibrocystic breasts?

Even though many of these symptoms above are “common” they are NOT “normal”.  

There are certain supplements you can take to support the levels of progesterone, such as Vitamin C and selenium. Exercising “relaxation” and  identifying what other stressors can be reducing your progesterone levels can also support you.  And if attempting these supports on your own aren’t working, further testing may be warranted.  

Remember: you are entitled to feel great, not just “normal”.  

Be well,

Lynn

When low-carb is too low

Eat paleo!  Stay away from carbs! Go Vegan!  Which diet to choose can be confusing.  Plus, we are all individuals with individual biochemical needs so choosing one diet to “fit into” may not work.  

Yes, Paleo is popular right now.  Some Paleo followers will insist that a “true” Paleo diet doesn’t allow sugars, such as honey; others will tell you “their” Paleo diet does.   The key here is to understand that the best diet for you is the “YOU” diet; based on your needs.  I would agree that grains,breads and pastas do not provide “essential” nutrients like protein, that offers “essential” amino acids and fats that offer “essential” fatty acids.  But, some individuals can tolerate more grains in their diet than others.  

So, how to know if you should consider more carbs? Chris Kresser is an outstanding researcher; one I have utmost respect for.  His assistant recently wrote an article entitled “Is a low-carb diet ruining your life?”.  The author makes important distinctions as to when a low-carb diet may not be beneficial.  The supports are made for athletes, adrenal fatigue, thyroid imbalance, gut dysbiosis, pregnancy and more; times when the body is in a chronic state of stress.  

I think this information is important for those of you that are considering going “Paleo” or more importantly want to create a long-term diet that helps you feel amazing.

I’d like to hear from you.  Have you tried eating more fats and giving up carbohydrates in the form of grains, breads and pastas?  How have you felt?

Be well,

Lynn