Molasses Pear Muffins

I was bored, so I decided to do some baking. With the IC restrictions, I feel kind of limited on what I can make. I really have been wanting muffins lately, and I came up with this recipe. Veggie girl loves them, and I've already ate two! (They came out of the oven about 10 minutes ago.)

1 3/4 c all purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp poppy seeds
1/3 c molasses
2 tbs Smart Balance light
3/4 c brown sugar
3 tsps Ener-G Egg Replacer
4 tbsp warm water
1/4 c rice milk
2 cups pears, diced

Preheat oven to 375F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with baking cups.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and poppy seeds.
In a medium bowl, cream Smart Balance with brown sugar, and molasses. Mix egg replacer with 4 tbsp warm water, and add slowly to the sugar mixture, and then add the rice milk. Pour mixture into flour mixture, stirring until just combined. Mixture will be really thick. Add pears and stir until evenly distributed. Fill muffin cups evenly with the mixture. Each cup should be quite full. Bake at 375F for 17-20 minutes, until a tester comes out clean.
Cool on a wire rack. Serve warm or cold.
Makes 12 muffins

Well I don't have any recipes tonight. But I did have a delicious IC friendly dinner tonight. It consisted of roasted red potatoes, carrots, and black olives. Seasoned with olive oil, rosemary, and dill it was delicious. I also had a side of couscous, and a piece of fresh baked filone bread. A very simple, but filling dinner.

So much for that

I'm sad. I couldn't even make it a full week on the IC elmination diet without caving. I'm glad I wasn't doing this for weight loss, or I'd feel really pathetic right now. As is, I'm just aggravated with myself. I mean I'm doing this for my health so I'd have thought sticking to it would be a breeze. I do however refuse to quit being vegan to make this work. That would be easier, but I'm a vegan in rural Arkansas, its never been easy. I guess that is part of what I love about it. The challenge. Though if I hear why don't you just graze one more time I am going to scream!
So, I have decided to not do such a strict elimination diet. Instead I am going to try going with the Usually ok foods on this list from the IC-Network. That way I won't feel so deprived, and cheat.
I know I have to do this to get better, or at least as close to it as possible. I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired, so if this elimination diet will help, then I will do it! Or try.......... Yeah I'm pathetic.

IC Diet Day two

Well I just finished day two of the IC diet. I can't really say that I'm feeling any better yet. But I am hopeful that at the end of my 14 days I will. Yesterday was easier. I found I'm not really that hungry at all. I went to Wal-Mart and bought several different vegan breads so that I don't get bored with it. I also bought yukon gold potatoes, and red potatoes. I already had several varieties of rice, so I didn't need to get any more. I'm praying that the next 12 days are as easy as today as was.

Interstitial Cystitis

Well, I have been neglecting my blog horribly. I have been sick most of the year, and going from doctor to doctor to try and find what was wrong. I finally have a diagnosis of IC (interstitial cystitis.) This is good and bad in a way. I'm so relieved to know what has been causing me so much pain, and to start trying to treat it. On the other hand, I'm worried about how the changes I have to make in my diet will affect my vegan diet. I'm currently on an elimination diet. All I am eating is bread, rice, and potatoes. No sauces or seasonings. Its very bland. I have made the switch to only drinking water. Which I needed to do anyways. No more cokes for me, and the only teas I'll drink are herbal teas. But those will come in time. I am on day two of this diet. I will begin to add other foods into my diet in 12 days. I will add one food at a time in, so I can see what is bothering my bladder, and what isn't.
I originally made the switch to being a vegan for my health. All of my other health problems have improved so much that I can't see myself going back to the SAD (Standard American Diet) again. I'm going to have to go through my cookbooks and adapt recipes, but this should be fun. It will be a learning process for me.
If any of you are vegan and have IC leave me a comment. It would be great to talk to someone else who has gone through this process, and could give me some pointers on it.
Poor veggie girl is terrified this means I'm going to make her diet even more restrictive. But I won't. There is no reason she can't continue to eat the way she has been as long as it is healthy.

Roasted Veggies

Until today, I had never made roasted vegetables. I guess it just seemed to easy, so I figured what was the point. I can't believe I waited. These vegetables were one of the best things I've ever put into my mouth. I'm sure Omni man will take offense at that, but he'll live. I am going to make a soup tonight out of the leftovers.

2 red bell peppers, seeded, and diced
1 medium white onion, chopped
5 cloves of garlic, peeled and sliced
5 small round yukon gold potatoes, cut into 8 pieces each
3 0z olive oil
1 tbsp rosemary
1 tbsp thyme
1 tbsp kosher salt

Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large ziploc bag, combine everything but salt. Zip up, and shake well coating all vegetables with olive oil, and spices. Place vegetables on a baking sheet. Drizzle with the leftover olive oil mixture from the bag. Sprinkle vegetable with kosher salt. Bake for 25-40 minutes stirring once midway through baking.

Dilled Potato Salad

I made this tonight for a snack. I wasn't really in the mood for a meal. I wanted potato salad, but didn't want to cut up a pickle. So I thought I'd add dill instead. Delicious! If I do say so myself.

8 small yukon gold potatoes, diced (not peeled)
1 small white onion, diced
1/4 c veganaise
1/4 c dijon mustard
2 tsp dried dill weed
1 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp Bragg liquid aminos

Prepare steamer basket, and wrap the potatoes, and onion in heavy duty foil. Place in steamer basket, and steam until done about 15-20 minutes. Meanwhile mix the veganaise, dijon mustard, dill, salt, pepper, and aminos in a medium sized bowl. Carefully open the foil packet, and place the potatoes, and onion in the veganaise mixture. Mix until blended well.