coconut lemon bars...with a story...

Coconut Lemon Bars

Dairy free, Gluten Free, Nut free

I've been slowly adjusting to an anti inflammatory diet the past month.  After my rheumatologist basically told me I was a totally insane person for trusting in anything natural, I was even more determined to walk further down the natural path....take that rheumy! Lol.

Its funny, I began with psoriatic arthritis at 19, other auto immune problems at 14, and I've been told by so many well meaning people along the way, to change my diet, add coconut oil, loose the dairy and wheat...I think I'd been disillusioned so many times by wacky and expensive cures, I started ignoring...plus, what would I eat to comfort myself during pain and illness? And, I was really ill wasn't I, blood tests positive, worried doctors, serious medications, surely people this diet worked for weren't really sick like me....  I sure wish I'd listened earlier...so much of what we are told by doctors we take as truth huh.... Amazingly, I don't need the comfort food, I'm busier doing things, learning, and feeling empowered.  I feel more satisfied with food that is healing me instead of adding to my inflammatory immune response...

So, my synovial swelling has been intense, present and progressing and damaging joints for three years now since stopping the chemo cocktails. I will never go back to that way of life, they may have kept damage at bay, but made my life an all round hellish experience, and ironically, my entire pain levels more extreme, so, having accepted the lesser of two evils, sigh, willingly, I never said I'd lost my fight:-) Anti inflammatory diet....

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/21/inflammatory-foods-worst-inflammation_n_2838643.html

Within a month, my swelling has halved....I'm in tears of joy seeing creases in my fingers again, my stomach feels so good, its like I've unbloated and didn't know I was bloated, I'm not talking weight, even though I have lost weight, I'm talking inner slim, I can't help patting my stomach area it feels different, and like I'm standing taller or something too...my face is less puffy...

Energy, I have so much more!!!  Its incredible!  I have so much healing to do, a lot of years have gone in to the damage done, but I honestly didn't expect this sort of result...  Anyone who knows me, knows I'm about the full mind body spirit connection, its a lot of work, any of this sort of thing is, taking charge, responsibility for your own health, seems like a lot at first, but trust me, you feel so good, its worth every second, and you have more time to do more things, you aren't wasting time looking after yourself, its worth it, I realised I was worth it and you who are reading this, are worth it too :-)

So, after a month, I'm feeling a bit like something sweet!  I made this up today....its super yum!  I dare you to stop at a slice:-)

Ingredients for crust
2 1/2 TBS coconut oil
1 1/2 TBS rice malt syrup
1/2 cup gluten free flour, mine consists of maize, tapioca, and rice flours.
1 cup dessicated coconut
1 egg white
Pinch salt

Melt coconut oil over low heat in the stove.
Add rest of ingredients, except egg white, and mix well remove from heat.
Add egg white, stir well.
Press into a 9×9 inch baking pan lined with baking paper and give several stabs with a fork.
Bake at 180 C for 10 mins or until you see it browning a little, remove from oven.

Ingredients for filling
3 eggs plus 2 egg yolks
2 TBS rice malt syrup
2 TBS honey
2 TBS Stevia granules
1/3 cup lemon juice
1 1/2 TBS lemon zest
3 TBS dessicated coconut
1 TBS gluten free flour

Using an electric mixer, beat the eggs and yolks until frothy, add rest of ingredients and whisk for another 2 or more minutes, you will need to use a spatula to help mix the sticky sugars from the base of the bowl.
Pour over crust base.
Bake at 180C for 15-20 mins, you will see it firm up and the sides begin to brown, its done:-)  My middle raised and cracked a bit, but the rest was smooth and lovely.

Let it cool....you won't though, so make sure you have another piece when its cool:-)

I had high doubts when putting this together, I'm really pleasantly surprised :-)  its not overpoweringly sweet and since I'm a type 1 diabetic, it doesn't make my blood sugar rise drastically, so doesn't make me feel tired and gross like other sweets do. There is no dairy, or wheat, or gluten, and only complex sugars.  Wonderful!

Credit.....
These are the recipes I adjusted mine from :-) thank you ladies :-)

http://flaxandhoney.com/2013/02/25/lemon-bars-grain-gluten-dairy-sugar-free-paleo/

http://www.againstallgrain.com/2013/05/10/luscious-lemon-bars-nut-free/

Suddenly it's Spring...

I do love winter, but since moving to a cooler climate, winters are longer... I was actually beginning to miss the sun and warm days!  This year has been especially cold and gloomy, so I've been really happy to see spring here. It's funny how suddenly it appeared, our flowering cherry tree has come into bloom literally over the last few days, it's truly magical to see :-) 

Here are some of my beauties, I love being able to grow these cool climate bulbs down here, I can't wait to see the tulips!

Wherever you are, enjoy this season of change, remember to stop and take some time to notice and enjoy it.

Springtime blessings x S

Rheumatological rant...

Many of you know I have many auto immune conditions that keep my life interesting, to say the least ;-). I had my first rheumatologist appoint in 4 yrs yesterday. I had been going along steadily these last few years, joint progress and swelling but riding the roller coaster of bad and not so bad, generally feeling the best I have in a long time. After a severe flare these last three months with renewed activity in my large joints..I freaked out a little and decided to go see a new guy down here for an evaluation. Nearly two hours drive through the most beautiful scenery, it was like what I see on British shows like Escape to the Country, only I'm in Australia!  Much better than driving through city smog like we used to.  Yes, that was the positive energy I pulled from the day, and what a gift that was!

As I thought, there's nothing he can do since I've had such bad reactions to all the new wonder drugs. Methotrexate is it...which never helped, but harmed...mentally I still withdraw from even thinking of going back on that, the complete and utter sickness I felt ALL the time...14 years of that and liver damage was enough!  Yet, he disrespected my natural healing regime, which, not only is ALL I can do and the hope I cling to, BUT, has helped more than anything over this 18 yr nightmare..without nearly killing me!  I've had less pain and joint involvement over the last 3 years since abandoning modern rheumatology and the 14 years of hell that went with it, feeling I would die, bedridden, tears each day, heart doctors, lung doctors...I could go on... from SIDE EFFECTS, not the disease!  Proof enough my body was not tolerating any of it and I was being poisoned!

The reason I've had this huge flare recently was because I forgot to renew my herb and spice cocktail while I was sick with a bad virus! Anyway, I gave him a piece of my mind about not upsetting me and we got on fine after that LOL.  He even taught me a few things. But isn't it about quality of life, not scientific proof! These last 3 years have been like waking up again after living a nightmare.. like one of those movies where you wake up and you're in your mid thirties and the last thing you remember is being a teenager... I usually feel depressed after these appointments, he saw me as a great teaching subject for his student and as usual, I left him scratching his head over how complicated I am lol. After writing this though I feel quite calm and collected. I'm going to have xrays for keeping note of joint progress...and this hippy freak is staying natural baby ;-)

I am back on all my natural remedies again, and adding coconut oil to the concoction, plus I'm ditching all processed food, chicken (already four legged free) and dairy, gluten...  I do yoga, meditate, am conscious of unhealthy and healthy energy forces and the control I have over that, I practice mindfulness thinking, I walk at least three times a week (when I could not leave the house... 5 years ago the rare occasion I left was in a chair) I'm not wonder woman, I never compare myself to anyone, worse or better, I just do what I can do and try to live in the moment.  Chronic illness is not managed with drugs alone, we are so much more than that... body, mind and spirit...

Isn't it a shame we can't work in harmony to help these debilitating diseases, why does the modern world disregard what our ancestors did for centuries so easily... :-(

library love...

Today has to be the coldest I've experienced, 3.5 degrees Celsius at lunch time, that's really cold for an Aussie :-) I love it though, I love winter and feel so content listening to the sounds of rain, hail and thunder, whilst being cozy inside, lovely...

So, cuddled up with blankies, doggies, books, my Google tablet, and cup of tea... and chocolate, can't forget that... I started thinking about book love, which reminded me of library love!  I'm working through the mountain of books I borrowed last time I went to my wonderful library, I can't wait to finish so I can go and browse and borrow some more.  I totally love my kindle app, but there is something really comforting in a real book when you aren't feeling well.

I had to be about 3... my first memory of a library, my mum took me there, and taught me of its purpose, I still remember choosing my books and bringing them home, exciting! It really is one of my earliest happy memories, thanks mum xx

At the school library, I was 5 and doing the borrowing on my own, adults scared me, so it took a lot of courage to take my Meg and Mog book up to the counter to get the cards stamped, I really liked that book, so the story ends well, I did it lol.  I  bought a copy of Meg and Mog lately for sentimental reasons, plus it's still an awesome book! :-) 

Today our library has an adjoining café, making the experience even more perfect, it's one of my favourite places to go, and always makes me feel better.  Library love :-) 

Thanks for reading ... x S 

Simple joys...

I think I've always had it in me, the ability to see, appreciate, and enjoy the simple things in life... being still and just soaking in the glory of something like a dewdrop glistening in the sunlight, the beauty of a flower or even sitting and admiring the things in my home I've collected on my life's journey.  Not so simple I guess, really...

I call it a blessing, and draw on it every morning especially as I'm going through this psoriatic arthritis flare up...I go to bed each night and can't help but hope for a better tomorrow, when that doesn't happen, I remind myself that this is my normal for the day, to then live in the day and let the positive energies around me, the simple joys, help me feel content. 

Today, these beautiful anemone flowers made me feel glad, aren't they beautiful!  I feel that even though I sorely miss doing lots of things each day, I'm given the gift of time, to enjoy a flower for hours if need be...a nice counteraction to the negative effects of illness huh :-) 

Well, today was a little more exciting, we decided to begin watching the Harry Potter series again, days can feel really full if you use your imagination, and luckily, I have  copious amounts of that ;-)

Thanks for reading  x S 

Pippin's 6th birthday!!

It was Pippin's 6th birthday yesterday! I can't believe its been 6 years already, but I also feel like he's been with me forever.  He is such a character, he makes me laugh daily with his antics, and his cuddles and looks of pure adoration....what can top that. My life path is certainly different to what I expected, and at times I can miss what I can't have due to living with chronic illness, but having Pippin around, my constant companion and best friend at my worst times and best, its easy to keep focused on the blessings in life, those small treasures that bring inner peace and happiness..  He gives me all this without even trying.  Happy Birthday Pip!!!  Thank you for being my furry baby  x S

New Bears Looking for a home!

Jellybelly Bears introduces Shadow the Vampire Bear, and Finn the Fennec Fox.

We've both been adopted, thanks :-)

Please email me to adopt jellybellybears@yahoo.com.au