Recipe: Herby Boulangere Potatoes

Potatoes from Avignon by miladus

Delicious and entirely Candida diet-friendly potato recipe shared by The Cottage Smallholder (providing you use yeast/sugar-free stock powder). Great as a side-dish, or on its own. Economical, frugal, simple and very comforting.

OCM Update

Kirin recently asked how I was getting on with the Oil Cleansing Method. Well, at the moment, I'm not. You see, it was all going very well. I got a bit cocky. Bought myself some v expensive Bare Escentuals mineral make-up. Initially skin was wonderful, then two weeks in I broke out in whiteheads all over my neck, the sides of my face into my hairline and across my forehead. Being pretty certain (having consulted Mr. Google) that the make-up was to blame, but not 100%, I ditched both the minerals and OCM to allow my skin time to recover from whatever ailed it. Five or six weeks later I still have a lot of whiteheads and inflamed pimples, but since I all-but finished my PhD (yay!) my skin is much improved. I have been using a moisturiser by Green People (no acne-provoking ingredients - see here for what to avoid) and good ol' Corn Silk face powder (from Boots - used it for years, dunno why I stopped in the first place).

This is not to say that I have completely abandoned OCM. I liked the way it made my skin look and feel. And I just loved breaking my servitude to the cosmetics industry. Therefore, once my skin is feeling better I'm going to re-experiment, perhaps with lighter jojoba oil in place of olive (apparently coconut is a comeodonic nightmare, btw!).

Candida diet bloggers

Calling all candida diet bloggers!

Am I'm linking to you yet (see the right-hand sidebar)? If not, drop a note in the comments and let me know your URL. No commercial sites please.

Oil-cleansing Method (OCM)

I've recently been experimenting with the oil-cleansing method; I have pretty bad skin for a thirty-three year old. Regularly spotty, blemished, greasy combination skin. On my face, back and recently my chest. I have not been spot free since I was eleven. Rather depressing. I've tried every acne product on the market (most are too harsh), as well as topical antibiotics (which probably didn't help my candida much). The diet helped, especially cutting out sugar. But my skin has remained resolutely 'teenage'.

I had some recent positive results with Faith in Nature skincare products, Freederm and Mario Badescu buffering lotion. But not to my complete satisfaction; although these products are less packed with chemicals, they still contain way too many ingredients for my liking.

I came across a vintage beauty blog the other day. I discovered that Marilyn Monroe used little else than vaseline and olive oil on her skin. I avoid parabens, so that was out. By a process of following links here, and links there, I came across the OCM and decided to give it a go: 3 parts extra-virgin Olive Oil and 1 part castor oil, with a couple of drops of lavender essential oil. I massage it well into my skin. Steam with a hot flannel, remassage, steam, remassage, steam and then wipe. Splashing my face with cold water several times replaces toner. And an extra dab of (well massaged-in) OCM mixture to finish as a moisturiser.

To begin with I just used the mixture to cleanse at night. With brilliant results. Skin ungreasy in the morning, very soft. Pores began to de-congest within a couple of days, redness decreased, blemishes began to fade.

Have since started to use the oil/water method for the morning replacing my usual toner/moisturiser/eye-cream/spot-cream regime. It's wonderful under make-up, which sticks all day long! Even eye make-up! Still a few hormonal spots, but I guess my skin is purging.

I am soooooo impressed and wish I'd found out about it much sooner. Definitely worth experimenting with if you have problem-skin, candida and are wary of absorping too many potential allergens/chemicals.

Will keep you all posted on my progress...

New Blog: Rabbit Hole Wonderland

Just come across a great little candida (amongst other medical complaints) blog, Rabbit Hole Wonderland. Some delicious-sounding recipes with an East Asian twist. Really keen to try some of them out. Not sure where I'll get me some minced bison in Leicester though. ;)

Coconut Sugar...

...aka Jaggery. Does anyone know if it's Candida diet a-okay? I've read conflicting reports online. I ask because Innocent, best known for their smoothies, have recently launched a range of delicious looking and sounding 'veg pots', some of which contain a little of the afore-mentioned coconut sugar.

Leave a comment if you have an answer!

A wonderful thing

Whole Earth produce a cola drink* sweetened with agave syrup.  

Oh happy day!  

I purchased my can in Holland & Barrett and, as far as I can remember (it's been at least four years since I last had the 'real thing'), its taste was comparable with Coca-Cola and Pepsi.  I enjoyed every slurp.  

It is very calorifc though (and quite expensive).  So, its just for treats in the future.

*A note about the Whole Earth website.  The ingredients listed are not those of the version I purchased.  Let's hope they are phasing the agave in, rather than out.

Recipe: Potato Mamoosa

Made this recipe for dinner tonight.  Sounds a little odd, but is really very tasty.  And, as far as I can tell, perfectly anti-Candida diet A-OK (you could always leave out the chilli).

Cook-in Sauce

You lucky, lucky people.  Two posts in as many days.  ;)  Anyway, I thought I should blog an outstanding find this lunchtime, Co-op 'truly irresistible' Karahi cook in sauce.  I read the ingredients once.  I read the ingredients twice.  My eyes did not deceive me.  There was no sugar!  Just onion, tomatoes, yoghurt and a host of authentic spices.  Sounds absolutely delicious.  Bought some fancy-pants 'Elmwood' chicken too.  Shall have a lovely curry tonight!

Candida diet friendly sweets

Just taking a quick break from the thesis-writing to link to Joi's recent experiments in sweet (candy) making.  The Lemon Ginger Chews sound lovely.  Does anyone know from where one can purchase erythritol in the UK?  

I'm working - bleurgh

Just a quick post to explain my continued absence.  I'm writing up my thesis at the moment (when I'm not wallowing in the depths of hell wondering why I ever bothered - chapter just got a mauling from my supervisor), which leaves little time for anything else.  I will probably only blog intermittently over the next couple of months, but don't let that stop you from commenting.  I read all my mail.  :)

Lactofree?

A question for you, dear readers.  Have you tried Lactofree products?  Presumably, if the lactose has been removed, they should be Candida diet a-ok, eh?

Recipe: Djinn's AMAZING Instant Whip Fairy Cakes

This evening I've been doing a spot of experimental bakery. (I'd run out of butter and milk!)  I came up with a cake batter that tastes exactly like Chocolate Instant Whip!!!!  

I used this basic recipe as my guide.

These cakes have a very light texture, not too sweet, just chocolatey enough.  Enjoy!

Djinn's AMAZING Instant Whip Fairy Cakes

Makes six small cakes

25g gluten-free self-raising flour

25g cocoa power (I like Cadbury's Bournville)

50g corn oil

50g xylitol

1 egg, lightly beaten

1/2 tsp vanilla essence

2 tsps plain yoghurt

Preheat oven to 190 degrees C.  Line a muffin tin with bun cases.  In a mixing bowl beat the oil and  xylitol until pale and fluffy.  Add the beaten egg, a little at a time.  Whisk to incorporate with oil and xylitol mixture.  Beat in vanilla essence.  Sift flour into bowl and fold into mixture.  Add the yoghurt.  Sift in cocoa powder and fold until well combined.  Spoon into bun cases and cook for 12 minutes in the centre of the oven.  Remove and place on a cooling rack for a few mins. Tuck in!

It's been a long time...

...so. to cut a long story short I shall declare just these following missives.

I got through Christmas well.  I allowed myself some treats, but didn't get carried away.

Since then I have come to the conclusion that yeast is not a big problem for me.  I mean eating it. So, I've started to eat slow-risen breads like ciabatta, which have no added sugar (which remains the devil).   

The BBC Good Food website is an enormously useful resource of simple and easy to adapt recipes.

Oh, and I have a few new recipes to write about.