Lacto Fermented Salsa

Three years ago I had never heard of lacto fermented foods but when we started researching the GAPS diet for Kevin it was a huge part of it and I figured I better learn how to do it.  It turns out that it is pretty easy to do and yields some very delicious foods that are very beneficial for your gut health.

I tried this fermented salsa with some of my garden tomatoes and was blown away by the taste.  It was hard not to stop eating.  The salsa keeps for about 6 months but will continue to ferment as it sits in the fridge.

Lacto-Fermented Salsa

2-3 lbs tomatoes, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
1 yellow pepper, chopped
3-4 garlic cloves
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
2 lemons juiced
2 tbsp. Himalayan salt

Add all the ingredients together and put it in a large jar. Leave on the counter for two days and then refrigerate.

No More Allergies

7 months ago we started doing food challenges with Rylan after the recommendation of our OT and doctor.  Now that his SPD was getting under control they believed that perhaps the reactions he had to food were actually the sensory disorder.  I have to say I was scared to trial the foods, terrified to go back to where we used to be and how tough life was. As each trial came and went successfully we began to truly believe that perhaps the allergy life we had been living with Ry was over.

We are happy to say that after these 7 months Ry has successfully passed 65 different foods and seems to have no hint of allergy in him.  There really are no words to describe what it feels like to not have to watch every bit of food that goes into Rylan's mouth, to carry around a large tote every where we went and spend countless hours making sure he could participate in class activities.  For his 5th birthday we ordered pizza and he devoured it.  He was so happy to eat like the rest of us and so happy that Mommy got a break from cooking.

Not having to worry about the food side of things now allows us to focus on the rest of Ry.  In January he heads to the Glenrose Hospital in Edmonton for 2 days of assessments to walk away with all his issues diagnosed.  We do not want to rush time but for sure want to know what path we need to be on.

Brown Sugar Walnut Cookies

I love cookies and I make a lot of them in a week.  I am always looking for new recipes so that we do not get bored.  I have always wanted to try and make brown sugar icing and I needed something to put it on so I decided to make a cookie that would pair with the icing perfectly. 

This cookies were amazing and it was pretty hard to only sit down and eat one, in fact I tended to sit down and eat 3-4 at a time.  I promise you will not be disappointed with these ones.

Brown Sugar Cookies with Brown Sugar Cookies

1 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup cane sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts

Mix together wet ingredients and then add the dry ingredients and mix well.  Roll the cookies into 1" balls and place onto a cookie sheet and slightly press down.  Bake at 350 F for 10-15 minutes.  Let the cookies cool completely before icing.

Brown Sugar Icing

1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup milk
1 tbsp. butter
1 cup icing sugar

Mix all the ingredients together.

Cookie Bark

Rylan and I are both chocolate lovers and any treat that has chocolate on it always goes over well.  This cookie bark is simple to make, you can change all the toppings to whatever you want and it makes your sweet tooth happy.

Cookie Bark

1 1/4 cup butter
1 1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
3 cups flour
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts

Mix together all the ingredients except for the chocolate and the nuts.  Press into a parchment lined pan or cookie sheet and bake at 325 F for 35 minutes.  Remove from the over and pour the chocolate over top.  Once melted spread out the chocolate and add the nuts.  Let cool and cut up.

Gut Healing Bone Broth

Two years ago my husband started the GAPS diet in a quest to try and get healthy.  He has been sick since he was 5 years old and with each passing year his health has gotten worse. There has been numerous doctor visits and medical procedures and we kept coming back with nothing.  This led us to the GAPS diet and the power of the bone broth.

Bone broth is nourishing and has made a world of difference for Kevin.  It is also super easy to make.  Simply fill the slow cooker with soup or marrow bones, add 2 tbsp. coconut vinegar, 1 tsp sea salt and then fill with water.  Cook on slow for 36 hours.  Ladle into jars and let cool completely before freezing. 

You can eat it by itself or add to your favourite dishes.

Oven Fajitas

These oven fajitas are a quick and easy dinner that will sure be a winner in your house.  You can adjust the level of seasoning to be as spicy or not as spicy as you want.  Paired with homemade tortillas and this dinner will be amazing.

Oven Fajitas

1 lbs of beef strips
3 peppers sliced
1 onion sliced
2 tbsp. homemade fajita seasoning
2 tbsp. coconut oil

Mix all the ingredients and place in a casserole dish and bake at 375 F for 25 minutes.  Serve with shredded cheese and homemade tortillas.

The Perfect Chocolate Cake

This chocolate cake recipe is my go to recipe for when people are coming over.  It is the perfect amount of chocolate and not to sweet.  This one will quickly become your favourite too.  I top the cake with my buttercream frosting recipe and my homemade sprinkles.

The Perfect Chocolate Cake

1 cup sugar
1 cup flour
1/2 cup raw cacao powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 rgg
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup coconut oil
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup boiling water

Mix together all the ingredients except for the boiling water.  Mix well and then stir in the boiling water.  Pour into a greased and floured pan.  Bake at 350 F for 30 minutes.