Pages

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Comfort food that's kind to you.


Like most of us, I start searching the cupboards when I'm under stress.  In my life BGI (before gluten intolerance), I would head for the Mac 'n Cheese, or a Big Mac, or anything that included an unhealthy amount of fat, salt, cheese, and carbs.  It may not have eased the stress, but MAN oh MAN, it was tasty!  Now that I am trying to be kinder to myself - not to mention trying to maintain my weight loss - it's a little more frustrating to come up with something that will soothe my soul and tickle my tastebuds.  Good gawd.  That sounds like sappy advertising drivel. 

I have found two such sources of comfort+food.  I had found a great cookbook used online - Cooking Free by Carol Fenster - that contains gluten free recipes that are good.  I mean, really, really good!  One of those recipes is for chocolate muffins.  These muffins were easy to throw together, contained limited sugar (brown sugar) and were ultra-chocolaty (a full cup of cocoa powder).  I had originally made them for the barn crew, then tried one to make sure I wasn't going to poison them.  OMG.  I took half of the muffins off their plate and put them in the freezer.  I am glad I did.  I have needed the comfort.

The other wonderful comfort+food I found was through a great cooking blog - The Kitchn .  I have made many of their featured recipes.  This one, however, has become one of my favorites - the 3 ingredient energy bars.  It is so simple even I can do it.  One cup pitted dates + One cup dried fruit + One cup nuts.  The bar you see in the photo was dates+dried cranberries+almonds.  Everything goes in the food processor, where it is processed until it clumps into a ball(ish).  Then it's spread on waxed paper or plastic wrap, patted into a square, wrapped and refrigerated 2 hours or overnight.  Take it out, cut into bars and refrigerate or freeze.  Wonderfully comforting.  The trick is not to get TOO comfortable, if you know what I mean....

13 comments:

Carolyn said...

Ok, even though I can eat wheat without causing myself too much pain (other than the weight gain, of course) I think I HAVE to find the recipe for those chocolate cupcakes.

Susan said...

Carolyn - I will email the recipe to you tomorrow. It is almost black with cocoa. OMG. And, of course, you can find even more comfort when you add some dark chocolate chips....

Michelle said...

Send it to me, too, please!!! And more (((hugs))) for comfort soul food....

Susan said...

Michelle - Of course! (and thanks... :)

small farm girl said...

I say you post the recipe for all of us who are trying to go gluten free!!!! lol

Susan said...

SFG - Excellent idea!

Candy C. said...

I like The Kitchn and have used several of her recipes too. Can't wait for the chocolate muffin recipe! :)

Mama Pea said...

Who wouldn't want the muffin recipe after that fantastic description!

I know what it's like to be on a restricted diet, so I'm truly happy for you that you're finding things you can eat that taste good (!) . . . and provide comfort. We all need that now and then.

Akannie said...

And I really like the look of those energy bars...that's what I'm gonna try first. I do love chocolate though.... ;)

Susan said...

Candy - I like that they have easy to make recipes that are useful for special diets. And the photographs are great!

Susan said...

Mama Pea - Recipe coming tomorrow! Yes, the worst part about this GF diet is that any baked goods are just 'meh'. It's nice to find something more than edible.

Susan said...

Akannie - I LOVE these energy bars - they are so easy! And I don't know why you couldn't put a handful of dark chocolate chips in there...

Unknown said...

Looks good!