False Security

Lulled into a sense of false security by last week's success, I thought it was all over and I could go back to living a normal life. That reasoning is so wrong for so many reasons.

I cheated. Two chopsticks full of peanut butter (yes, it took quite a bit of skill to do that) managed to get in my belly a couple days ago, and I've already seen some changes back to the dark side. The trend continued today with a sneaky bite of my husband's granola. *sigh* Immediately, a rash came back on my knees and I feel exhausted and cranky. Ok, the last bit might be from lack of sleep, but the rash is a sure sign that the allergy is still alive.

It's taking a bit of trouble to really really get into my head that this is not a "diet." That word connotes a short-term goal with usually superficial results. My yeast-free/sugar-free eating habits needs to be a lifestyle for me. The lust for sweets and bread will cease eventually, and if I can just keep telling myself that and keeping it one day at a time, my body will certainly be healthier for it.

Even if it turns out that I'm all wrong about my allergy, I will be making my life better by cutting out empty calories, eliminating scary sugar roller coasters of energy-bursts and depression, slimming my waistline, and cramming lots of veggies into my tummy.

I can do it. This is for me.

Coconut Cauliflower with Shrimp

(I not-so-secretly have always wanted a food blog.)

It's been a full week today and I'm starting to crave (CRAVE) sugar. Was even feeling depressed a bit this evening. Funny how food dictates our emotions so much.

Anyway, this recipe cured those blues straight away. It was inspired from others online, but is much less fussy.

1. Heat 2 tsp. cumin seeds in a butter/olive oil mixture in a large pot.
2. After they sizzle and smell ridiculously good, add a chopped onion and 1 tbs. minced ginger.
3. When the onions turn clear, add 2 tsp. turmeric and 1 tsp. cayenne pepper (or any red pepper). Add more spices if you like more.
4. After about 30 seconds it looks dangerously as if it's about to burn. Time to add a small can of coconut milk (no sugar added!). Make sure to stir it well because the cream separates.
5. Once it's mixed, add a full head of cauliflower, chopped. Feel free to add some curry powder here.
6. Cover and simmer, stirring frequently, until the cauliflower is cooked through.

Serve this with basmati rice (even though all we have is Japanese rice, of course) and limey turmeric shrimp!

1. De-shell and de-vein as many shrimp as you want.
2. Throw into a pan with butter/olive oil mixture (tastes like butter but is a bit healthier).
3. Add 1 tsp of turmeric and another of red pepper to the shrimp.
4. Cook until the shrimp changes color.
5. Remove from the pan and drizzle with fresh lime juice.

Needless to say, I feel pretty good right now and ready to take on another yeast-free and sugar-free day. It's so much easier when I think about it one day at a time.

More fish recipes!

Yogurt, Dill and Potato Salmon Bake in my usual no-measurements-fashion:

1. Place a salmon fillet on a piece of aluminum foil
2. Spread a thin layer of butter over fillet (don't need to cover the entire surface because it will melt and spread)
3. Cover with cream, thick yogurt, i.e. Greek, or drained yogurt (regular yogurt is way too watery)
4. Top with chopped dill
5. Sprinkle with salt and pepper
   
6. Place sliced garlic along the edges of salmon to remove fishy smell/taste
7. Top fish with slices of semi-cooked potatoes (previously boiled)
8. Drizzle with a bit of olive oil, salt and pepper
   
9. Top with more dill
10. Wrap the foil
    
11. Bake.
12. Eat.

Did this tonight, in my end-of-the-first-yeast-free-week meal. This dish, along with the mint, cucumber yogurt from the other day, and some steamed string beans was a perfect meal. I'm so full I can't even think of sweets!

Day 6

Went to the doctor today to get an allergy test done for yeast. In Japan (because that's where I live). Apparently, they don't test for yeast here, so they're testing my blood for a beer allergy instead because it's the closest thing. Luckily, with awesome Japanese health insurance, it doesn't cost that much so I won't be disappointed if it tells me nothing.

I read somewhere that eating plain yogurt is really good for people suffering with yeast allergies. In fact, in trying to find more information about the subject, several sites popped up with tips on turning freezing yogurt into popsicles to be inserted into the body (*ahem*) as a cure for yeast infections.

If you still have your appetite, here's a recipe for a Persian dish my god-mom used to make me all the time. It's very cool and refreshing and perfectly compliments hot food on hot days.

1 32 oz. container of plain yogurt
2 tbs. minced mint (or dill, but I like mint better)
1 large seedless cucumber, peeled and chopped
3 cloves of garlic, minced
salt and pepper to taste

Prepare mint, cucumber (removing seeds if necessary to get rid of wateriness) and garlic. Mix into yogurt. Add salt and peppers to taste. Let sit covered in fridge overnight.

Try eating it with warm Persian dill or saffron rice. Yum.

Day 4!

Some dewiness has come back to my skin, and my eyelids are no longer puffy and scaly.

I'm craving sugar pretty badly (mostly fruit juice actually) and wonder if I cheated by eating cherry tomatoes for breakfast and dinner... Does it help that they were sauteed or baked?

And what's the ruling on french fries?

I was previously told by an intuitive healer (who was amazingly accurate and life changing) that I was only restricted from eating yeast, cane sugar, coffee and chocolate (which is the hardest), and only for a year at that. She specifically said that honey was ok because it's treated like a protein in our bodies. She also said that green leafy things were my best friend. Still, for these first few weeks back on the diet I'm trying to be really careful and cut out all sugars (even trying to eliminate fruit sugars and simple sugars found in wheat products for now) so really really "kill" the yeasties, if that's in fact what's wrong with me.

Hopefully in three weeks I'll munch on a piece of bread and see if it all comes flooding back.

My energy is up too! I woke up before the hubbie and was wide awake.

Today's easy recipe for dinner was baked salmon with cherry tomatoes (goodness I hope that's not cheating):

Place salmon fillet in a sheet of aluminum foil.
Drizzle with olive oil.
Sprinkle salt and pepper on top.
Cover with thinly sliced cross sections of garlic (Chinese trick used to absorb fishy flavors and smells).
Cover with slices of cherry tomatoes.
Top with a fresh basil leaf.
Wrap the fish in foil and seal tightly so juices won't escape.
Bake for 10-20 minutes.

I know this recipe isn't exact, but exactness isn't exacltly my thing. Sorry the length of time and heat for baking is so obscure. My kitchen only has a tiny baking tray (so fat slices of fish don't fit, nor do fat now-illegal-slices of bread), no timer, and no indication of temperature other than a little line that gets fatter around the dial.

Day 1

This blog is mostly to help me keep up my motivation to really stick with a yeast-free diet. I tried it before a few years ago and it was wonderful until I started slipping.

Now I have chronic eczema, fatigue, swollen joints, dandruff, lalala, and it's time to really change.

I don't want this to be just my blog, but rather an open place for people to share yeast-free recipes, encouragement, scientific articles, stories and personal experiences. If you're reading this, you're probably affected by a yeast allergy in some way, and I'd love to know your thoughts.

Wish me luck! I'm starting today with scrambled eggs with avocado and tomatoes. Lol... I'm already craving bread and it's only been 10 hours!