My idea of the Food Pyramid

Cream of Broccoli Soup (homemade chicken broth, steamed broccoli, & farmer's cheese blended. VOILA!)

Scrambled eggs cooked to perfection, if I do say so myself. :) YUM!  

Compliments of BTVC (Breaking the Vicious Cycle) lemon cheesecake. PERFECTO!  

Looking at these photos is making my stomach rumble. I would give anything just to CHEW right now. Today my food palette has been restricted to clear liquids only aka homemade chicken soup broth. Why would I go without, you ask? Colonoscopy tomorrow!!!!!!! YIKES!!!!!! :( For nearly two days I have to go without delicious grilled chicken, fluffy scrambled eggs, warm cream of broccoli soup, juicy ground beef, moist lemon cheesecake, cozy mashed cauliflower... the works!!! DARN!!! How long does a young woman on the SCD have to wait till she can sink her teeth into some hearty food?! My E.T.F. (estimated time of flush) is 3:15 p.m. tomorrow. Immediately afterwards, I have a date with my refrigerator. :D Until then, I shall cherish the liquid gold that I am allowed to enjoy. Thanks for helping me cook up a boatload of broth, mom!!!! :) 


Wish me luck, I'm a little nervous about the procedure. :/ The prep solution was nothing short of a nightmare disguised as a fluid. YUCK!!!! But then again, this colonoscopy is only a speed-bump. Once this is over with, I'll continue to do what I was doing before: eat healthily & feel phenomenal. Besides, I know what I ate that derailed me & caused this catastrophe in the first place... Oh wait, let me back up for a second. This is the end of my story, I left out the beginning & the middle. An over-abundance (oopsies, I thought it would be okay!!) of cheese sent me to the hospital with severe abdominal pain & chronic "d" (do the math) about a week ago. After a fickle IV injection, two gigantic cups of contrast, three painful hours of waiting, a life-sucking bright light in the hospital room, & a disappointing diagnosis from the CT scan, we were heading home at 2:30 a.m. with a large cloud lingering above our heads; was this a Crohn's flare-up? Does an inflamed small intestine mean Crohn's Disease? How will this change our lives? :( My mind was spinning, my heart quickly sinking. I didn't even know how to react. Honestly, I was scared beyond words. All I knew to do was cry. Given my history, I assumed it really was a Crohn's flare-up. Forgive me, I do not mean to sound pessimistic. I just know my body too well. Eager for answers, we contacted my endocrinologist for a GI recommendation. The spirits were on my side when we got through to the GI; an appointment was available the very next morning!!!!! He was convinced it's Crohn's Disease but scheduled a colonoscopy as verification. So here I am, anxiously waiting for the end of the tunnel to appear. 


Whether it brings light or darkness, I know I will be okay. I'm on the proper diet for Crohn's so as long as I remain a strong adherent of the SCD, nothing but great wellness should lie in my future. I must stay positive. :) Well I believe that's all for tonight. The tiredness of a liquid diet seems to be hitting me. Goodnight, foodies. Dream of the gourmet SCD lemon cheesecake. ;) <3        

Under Construction, but still Cookin'!

Extra-ripe organic bananas (1 banana) & organic eggs (2 jumbo). Cinnamon, too!  

The perfect breakfast, you ask? What on earth may that be? Might it be a stack of dainty, delicately browned, cinnamony banana pancakes with a tiny drizzle of honey? :) I think YES. Ladies & gents, I have figured out the secret to stellar banana pancakes!!! COOK THEM SLOWLY! All you need is low heat & lots of patience. Once you've got those two down, watch your pancakes brown evenly & take on the appearance of any typical gluten-y pancake!!!! It's magical!!!! Okay now go & put those ripe bananas in your kitchen to good use! :) 


Alright so now all of you have the secret to the best breakfast in town, i.e., banana pancakes. Now I must fill you in on the world's most delicious casserole recipe for a chilly, wintery/fall-ish day. It's the "Everything but the Kitchen Sink Casserole". :) 

Be quick about this because it doesn't last very long in the kitchen if a SCDer is present!!!! :)

"Everything but the Kitchen Sink Casserole"
*preheat oven to 350 & butter a 13.5 x 8.75 x 1.75 glass Pyrex dish*

• 6 organic eggs, beaten (3 whole eggs, 3 egg whites)
• 1 wild-caught salmon fillet (pre-cooked)
• 1 whole head of organic cauliflower, sauteed/steamed 
• 1 whole head of organic broccoli, sauteed/steamed 
• 4 roasted garlic cloves
• 2 tbsp. melted organic butter
• .5-1 cup homemade chicken soup broth
• 1 cup DCCC/Farmer's Cheese
• 2 packages of organic button mushrooms, chopped & sauteed 
• 4 medium organic zucchini, peeled & sliced into rounds
• .5 cup shredded organic sharp cheddar cheese (optional) 
• salt & pepper to taste 

First, lay your sliced zucchini rounds on the bottom of your greased glass Pyrex dish. They will act as the foundation for your casserole. Then you'll want to place the heads of broccoli & cauliflower in a pot on the stove to steam until softened. Pour in your chicken broth before turning on the heat. Once the veggies have softened, add in the 2 tbsp. melted butter with your 4 roasted garlic cloves. After that has cooked for a bit & the broccoli/cauliflower appears to be semi-steamed, cut the heads into smaller bits & pieces. This will make it easier to spread into your casserole dish. Let that sit on low heat until the butter & garlic is absorbed & the veggies are thoroughly steamed. In another pan on low-medium heat, place your 2 packages of mushrooms. Saute them until softened. While the mushrooms saute, add in your Farmer's cheese & pre-cooked salmon fillet. Don't let this mixture overcook!! The salmon should only be heated in the saute pan; you want to avoid turning the salmon into leather. With your cauliflower/broccoli mixture complete along with your salmon/Farmer's cheese/mushrooms mixture, you can begin filling your casserole dish. You can choose which food to layer in whichever order you'd like, but this is how I layered mine. :) Gently pour your cauliflower/broccoli mix in on top of the sliced zucchini rounds, spreading it evenly across the entire dish. Then carefully pour your salmon/cheese/mushrooms mix over the top. Take your 6 eggs, beaten, & pour them into the dish to finish it off. If you can tolerate cheddar cheese, sprinkle it on top as a flavorful garnish. If not, that's fine too!! Place it in your preheated oven & let it bake for 30 minutes so the eggs can fully cook. :) Then you have it!!!! The answer to your rumbly tumbly any day of the week. ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! p.s. I recommend slicing up the leftovers & freezing them as easy meals for later! 

Now before I go, I'd also like to add that my blog is currently under construction!!! :) If you go to my home page, you'll see a new tab labeled "My Recipes". Beneath it, I have a single link called "Scrumptious Dishes" with one recipe listed. My goal is to expand that list & eventually have ALL my recipes under one tab! Please, bear with me while my blog goes through this crazy, chaotic, exciting transformation!!! :) Okay, off to the drawing board! Have a lovely evening, foodies. <3 Cook up something divine!!!  

   

Yummy in my Tummy

I. LOVE. Food. Yes, yes I do. :) 


This has only been true since I started the SCD diet, mind you. I excitedly hop out of bed every morning, dart downstairs to the kitchen, & immediately toss some foods together to create a gourmet breakfast SCD-style. Several hours later (I try to wait about 5 hours before my next meal, if I can help it), I indulge in a scrumptiously delicious homemade lunch as well. Then I proceed to cook up an incredibly tasty dinner before the closing of the day. MMM, mmm, great!!! For the first time in my life, I have the freedom to enjoy 3 hefty meals 7 days a week. NO regrets! UNBELIEVABLE!! :) Anyway, enough of that! In lieu of a recipe today, I have decided to list off all the foods/spices I am currently eating with only minor speed-bumps. I figured it may spark a few recipe ideas for those struggling to create magic in the kitchen. Remember that I've been on the diet now for nearly 5 months so some of these foods might not be tolerable for you if you're a beginner.


Foods I currently indulge in on a regular basis 

• Chicken
• Beef
• Eggs
• Artichoke
• Broccoli
• Asparagus
• Cauliflower
• Farmer's Cheese (DCCC)
• Almond butter (sparingly or constipation will set in)
• Cheddar cheese/Swiss cheese aged AT LEAST 90 days to kill off all lactose (sparingly or constipation will set in)
• Zucchini
• Bananas (in moderation for low-carb followers)
• Pears (in moderation for low-carb followers) 
• Shrimp
• Pork Tenderloin 
• Salmon
• Sardines
• Tuna 
• Lemon juice
• Lime juice
• Garlic
• Cilantro
• Carrots (in moderation for low-carb followers)
• Butter
• Olive oil
• Honey 
• Himalayan Pink Salt
• Onions (used in soup for nutrients & flavor then discarded)
• Parsley (used in soup for nutrients & flavor then discarded) 
• Homemade Yogurt
• Mushrooms 
• Cinnamon 
• Ground pepper
• Yellow Mustard 

WOW!!!! That is a TON of foods!!!! I'm taking in a nice variety of foods now & I couldn't be happier!!!! :) Patience is key. Moderation, too!!! Not too many carbs or problems will occur. Not too much protein or kidney stones will come your way. YIKES!!!! Look out for more enticing recipes, foodies!! I'm off to read my psych & art books. :) 

Lots of love & healthy living, 

Allie 

        

School House Rock

Well, I did it!!! 


I made the jump. I hopped the fence. I cleared the wall. I passed the ultimate test. I WENT BACK TO SCHOOL TODAY!!!!! :) A constant flow of excitement was running through me from the moment I stepped onto campus to the second I leaped into my car at the end of the day. Hesitation didn't dare sweep over me today. I felt empowered to do the impossible. I was going back to school as the REAL me this time around: headstrong, dedicated, confident, healthy, well, proud, & enthusiastic about getting an education. My illnesses & struggles were invisible to the naked eye. I accepted every smile with pleasure. I even took it upon myself to sit in the front row of both my classes. Attending class today was my first test to see if the new & improved "me" was truly courageous enough to shine through. To wrap it up simply, it was a success. :) I can sit here & tell you with the utmost level of confidence that I will blossom this semester. There is no doubt in my mind!! I'm eager to learn & gain some general knowledge in the psychology & art appreciation fields. My brain is now being fed the proper nutrients it needs to keep me afloat these next couple of months! Thank you, SCD!!!! 


I must also tell you I brought my own lunch!! :) A juicy grass-fed hamburger, a hefty cauliflower floret, a chunk of cheddar cheese, & a dainty container of yellow mustard for dipping. Absolutely, positively, 100% DELICIOUS!!!!!!!! I took a seat on a solitary bench outside of the Humanities & Social Sciences building & dove right into my homemade meal. Awkward? Nope, not at all. I'm way past the "oh, don't mind me. I'm allergic to the SAD (Standard American Diet) so I bring my own healthy GMO-free, grass-fed, artificial flavor-free, SCD scrumptious food" stage. :D The eating begins naturally like it would for anyone else with their contaminated, super processed, artificially-colored 'food' (if that's still what you want to call it). I love every minute of it!! 


Okay, as much as I'd like to continue this post, I have to admit I'm dying to crack open my psych textbook. I had such a wonderful time with that class today that I want to start learning the material as soon as possible!! :) To end on a different note, I've decided to leave an inspirational quote for you all to take in & allow to float around in your heart & soul. This is one of my favorites, I think you'll enjoy it as well. Take care, foodies!!! I'll be talking with you all sometime very soon. <3 GO COOK SOMETHING!!!!!!! 
~Allie 


You control your destiny. Look into your heart, search your dreams, and be honest about what you really want; then do whatever it takes to get it. Live like you mean it. - Barbara Cage     

SCD the gourmet way!

Why hello there, darling foodies!!!!! :) 


It's been a few days since I last posted; I've been extremely preoccupied with feeling fabulous!!!!!!! Things are moving right along for me. I seem to have achieved the perfect balance of carbs & proteins, with a new hint of fats. In addition to that, my body has decided to run smoothly like a well-oiled machine! This past Friday I introduced swiss cheese with no problems!!!!!! YIPPEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!! I know, I'm cheering about cheese??? It can't be! Alas, I must tell you it's true. I loved it. Me, the all-time cheese hater. :) Funny how the SCD changes your taste buds, isn't it? To continue with the magic, I introduced almond butter on Sunday & so far have experienced NO problems!!!! DELISH!!!! The particular legal brand we bought delivers an intensely decadent nutty flavor; it's safe to say I treat it as a dessert!! Goodbye peanut butter. Almond butter is here to stay. :) Last night I took a leap of faith & introduced SHRIMP! Let's just pretend that I ate it like a lady & didn't inhale it like a loose animal in the kitchen... I mean, come on. Would you expect any different from a hopeful & hungry SCDer?? I think not. ;)


Anyway, onto the tasty things in life!! I've somehow forgotten to post these pictures you see below & for that, I do apologize!! :) The first dish is what I like to call my "Mock Potatoes, Anyone?" mashed cauliflower mounds. To the naked tongue, you couldn't distinguish between mashed potatoes & my mashed cauliflower mounds!! A beautiful compilation of carbs, protein, & fat: cauliflower, DCCC, butter. I steamed the cauliflower until it reached the maximum level of mush, then mixed in the cheese & a little butter to kick it up a few notches. I then scooped out mounds of the mixture onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet to freeze as ready-to-cook snacks in the future!!! Thanks for the genius idea, mom! <3 Anything to eat on the go is a nice treat for a SCDer. The second dish is known as my "Too Delicious" chicken burgers with broccoli, DCCC, fresh lemon juice, & ground pepper. Another delightful combination of protein & carbs. I cooked these up & found them to be too good to stop at one. I think I ate 3 in one sitting! :) I simply emptied the ground chicken thighs into a baking bowl along with a hefty amount of DCCC, a boatload of lemon juice, several stalks of steamed broccoli, & a nice pinch of ground pepper. Then using a large spoon, I mixed it all together & dropped the burgers onto my greased skillet to be cooked. PERFECTO!!!!! :) Pop these in the fridge & save them for later OR inhale several of them right off the skillet. Whichever you prefer!!!! 


Well, I'm off to create a SCD bumper sticker!!! :) Look out for a sneak preview in the upcoming future. I sincerely hope you guys try out my goodies!! Their flavors come through in EVERY BITE!!!!! Love you all. <3 

Absolutely, positively, 100% delicious :) 

Addicting, irresistible, juicy burgers the RIGHT way :D

    


     

Celebrating my 4-month anniversary!!!

Evening, darling foodies!
Tonight I am celebrating my anniversary. No, not my wedding. Not my birthday. Not my high school graduation. Not my college graduation. My FOUR successful & 100% committed months on the SCD diet!!!!!! :) I'm giddy to report that I'm feeling souper douper. YAY ALLIE!! To those of you struggling, don't give up on the SCD! Keep up the good work! We're all in this together. <3 
Love, Allie 

Who says you need flour for a cupcake? 

Moving Forward!!

Howdy, foodies!!! :) It's been a while since I've posted but I'm back & full of excitement!!! 

My fruit setback & kidney stones (ouch!!) are things of the past!!! I've moved on & am currently feeling better than ever!! Next Monday will mark my 4 months as an SCDer & I couldn't be happier. The changes I've experienced since April 15th have been both scary & absolutely magical. My mind is back!! My brain is clear!! My body is what it should be!!! I feel like MYSELF!!!!! :) What a phenomenal concept! I may have some kinks here & there but I don't feel sick anymore. WOO!! And the best part is... I'm going BACK TO SCHOOL!!!!!! College is calling & I'm ready to respond! Slowly but surely, I will earn a college degree. Two classes to start next semester, another two the following semester. I feel comfortable with that. Then if everything goes smoothly & I continue to succeed on the SCD diet (I'm 100% positive I will), I shall return to the university I first attended as a freshman in '09. FROSTBURG STATE, LOOK OUT!!!!! :) Once a bobcat, always a bobcat. <3 

Along with those positive highlights, my cooking has escalated from tasty to GOURMET!!! :) I've kicked ground chicken up several notches! Not only do I make easy-peezy chicken nuggets, I also make delicious chicken burgers!!! The explosion of flavor is out of this world!!! Carrots have become somewhat of a dessert for me as well. I chop them into little bits, sprinkle some cinnamon, pop them in the microwave for about 45 seconds, then BAM! Microwaved cinnamony carrots! DELISH!! Not a bad substitute for any other standard dessert item. If you have a problem with carbs though, I recommend pairing this with a protein side dish like a hard-boiled egg. :) 

Here are the scrumptious chicken dishes I was referring to. The omelette has salmon but it was too tasty not to mention!! ;) I hope you give one of them or all of them a try, I'm sure you will absolutely love everything!!! :) Happy cooking, healthy living, constant SCDing!! <3 

B.O.C. (breakfast of champions) omelette with org. eggs, wild-caught Alaskan salmon, DCCC, & org. zucchini chunks cooked on the skillet with a dash of cold-pressed org. olive oil. DELISH! :)  

Chow-down chicken burgers with ground chicken, org. spinach, & DCCC cooked on the skillet greased with a little org. butter. YUM! :)   

Cooked & ready to enjoy!! :) 

A juicy sneak peek of the tasty burger.  :) MMMM!!!! 

Chicken nuggets!!! JUST ground chicken thighs! A little love, too. :)