paleo souffle pancakes and pitfalls: a must read for this rainy day

So this morning we were chatting away on Facebook ( including voices from Sri Lanka, Canada, the US and The Netherlands...oh, internet what a thing of wonder.) The topic: Japanese cloud pancakes, or souffle pancakes.  People wondered what the  inner consistency was: pudding, souffle, cake. 

I, the queen of Google, asked the search engine to cough up some info. The images looked like normal IHOP but the cakes themselves were higher.  Hmmmm. I am a sucker for high light pancakes and sadly have not had any luck for over 25 years as a USA expat to find the perfect recipe that works in Europe and now I am following Paleo and ugh.

Now, most of the souffle pancake recipes are for normal diets with flour. Most of the recipes are with separated eggs and whipping and all that folding jazz.  So when I found an almond flour base with blender throw it all in instructions I was hooked. It is rainy and stormy out so a good day to experiment.

I was also excited because I am lazy today (blender recipe!) and I would use up more nut flour.  One of the reasons I rarely do fake paleo cake and bread is that nut flours are disgustingly stodgy and so calorie dense that you have to be insane to eat them more than once a month.  They taste odd and are hardly worth the investment. Besides cave men only eat angel food cake. My story and I am sticking to it.

And a sweet curious about souffle pancakes friend is under the weather today and I thought if I tested this for her it might help in some way.  Yup, good intentions and the road to hell,  got right on it.

I used this recipe as a starter:  https://thenourishinghome.com/2012/05/fluffy-little-almond-flour-pancakes/ and surely this author loves her recipe. Good job you.   But I did not want a whole batch. Let us do a half recipe said that fool who lives in my head.

I never have my laptop in the kitchen and rarely even the smartphone. I usually jot recipes down on paper so when the inevitable spill and greasy fingerprints begin my electronics are well away.  I cut open the almond flour bag and it exploded: 

well, dang.  The one time I put it in the kitchen.
Cleaned that up and started to measure half of everything, decided 2 eggs because half of 3 is too complicated,  put the liquids in the blender, dumped the dry on top as per instructions,  started the blend and looked down to find the melted butter looking back at me.   Dumped that in, turned to the right and dang, there was the coconut milk.  Dumped that in.  This does not bode well.

I melted butter and coconut oil in the big skillet and after blitzing the mix for quite a while, started to pour it into the skillet.  Boy Howdy she ain't kiddin' it is thick.   But the first batch were in the pan finally and from the outside they looked pretty nice:

That's one hump of  thick batter.

But they looked pretty.

Unfortunately, after leaving the pan, they were part stodgy pancake and part mucky scrambled egg on the inside.  I thought it might be needing a lower heat and longer cook, but that was even worse.

I ran em through the microwave to finish cooking the egg.  With butter and a little maple syrup, they were just edible but hardly a wowzer experience. Almond flour is not delicious. Ever.

Maybe a recipe with arrowroot?  maybe try a whole batch and see what the difference is? Maybe my baking soda is too old?  maybe the rainy day?  I did screw up a bunch of things.

But meh.

And then there are lunches and dinners

Sometimes one cannot be Paleo perfect in my universe.  Yesterday was a fine day but not without pitfalls.

A dear sister of the heart fetched me for  a lunch by the river to celebrate my upcoming birthday.  The menu was so tempting but I settled for a delicious and only mildly sinful platter of meats, shrimp and shredded raw veg.  The crispy coating on the butterfly shrimp was not starch free and I can bet the wasabi mayo was not Paleo...or the ginger beer I drank. But it was scrumptious and I felt I did the best I could.

But then I went home and ate some cookies.

Himself fetched me for a dinner at a Chinese post-doc's home to meet the new baby and the parents in from China.  Chinese people are the original groaning board feest folk.  Spare ribs, lamb, a whole fish, okra, some other veg that was yummy but unnamed, and scrambled egg, followed by two steaming platters of fresh dumplings ( my downfall), soup, and then some other carb heavy foods (which I shared with Himself just to taste) followed by watermelon.  If you don't fill your plate happy helping host hands will come along and do it for you.  Honestly this is one reason why we really try to avoid going out to dinner with hosts every night while in China...SO MUCH FOOD.  and there is no saying no. I try to get away with the minimum but oh, dumplings. I love most authentic Chinese cuisine and this was also flavored with love.. yumm.

So yesterday was sort of a bust. Delicious but deadly.

This morning I bustled around the garden and brought in rhubarb which is in the crockpot with strawberries, orange zest and juice, and some raw honey.  It will be compote.  We ate the first  ripe strawberry from the garden last night. whoo-hoo.

I haven't  been satisfied with the last couple of batches of  20 second mayo...so I experimented:  to the large egg and cup of mild olive oil I added 2 teaspoons of Dijon, a tablespoon of apple vinegar, and a quarter teaspoon each of garlic and onion powder, plus grinds of sea salt and pepper.  MUCH better.  yummy even

I nuked an pack of bacon, and ran eggs through the egg cooker. If I don't do a bunch of  Paleo worthy prep I eat whatever comes to hand....not good.  I need to find my fresh no cilantro salsa recipe...

Since I have some wonderful soup already in the fridge I feel I am on track for fresh food ready to eat.

Tonight I am alone for dinner....but there is ham chunks and salad stuff so I will probably be all virtuous and eat that.

This weekend is full of barbecues and birthdays.     In a land where bread and potatoes is central to meals, Paleo safe meals are few.  The challenge is ON!

The Paleo Protocol and Me...redux 2018

The Paleo project that ended 3.5 years ago was rather a success I think. I stayed between 91 and 93 kilos even when traveling for weeks  in countries with starch based cuisines.  It was a plateau that I could live with even though I intended to lose more.

2017 was our 25th anniversary year.  We traveled ( among other places) to India, to Egypt, to China.  Mostly business except Egypt was my anniversary gift to Himself ...including a sail down the Nile.  It was fabulous.  And I did not gain but 1 kilo. Insert self congratulatory emoji here.

In 2017 my internist changed my medications, and now I take no diabetes medicine at all. I am pretty proud of myself. As long as I decline starches I seem to do fine. I gleefully accept all compliments.

Misfortune has been the theme so far for 2018. There has been enough trauma and tragedy that I completely sabotaged myself.  Candy, Cookies, bread,,,,sugar, starches, soft drink....it is amazing what grief requires to compensate for loss.

And I was sick, so incredibly sick. For three long months upper respiratory and sinus infections continuously. I am well now but it took its toll.

And insomnia. Great Scott. What do I do in the dark of night? I forage for feel good food.

Then I broke two toes.  Without repeating the sordid tale, it's been a month of enforced immobility.  I still am wearing a boot to protect the fragile bonding. It is irksome. Sitting is not my thing.

So here I am, end of May, at a weight which I never thought to see again.  Time to dig in and get sorted.  I'd like to lose 6 kilos rather quickly and then address the next 10 as responsibly as possible.

It is not my thing to record every mouthful, calories etc.  But I commit today to lay off the junk. and dairy.  I did look at Keto protocols but I think cheese is an enemy....for now I will cut out the dairy. And Paleo is comfortable for me.

I ate a leftover hamburger and coleslaw for breakfast with water.  Not very exciting.

In the crockpot is butternut squash, carrot, leek, onion and apple, with thyme, turmeric, garlic, ginger, coconut cream, chicken stock, ghee and salt.  I think we will have it for dinner and I will bottle some for lunches this week with salads. It is a really lovely color

A packaged salad and ham chunks for lunch....

The garden is in and we look forward to lots of fresh veg later this season.

Back in the saddle, again! Wish me luck.

Taking a pause

So this 30 day Paleo has come to an end. I like Paleo Restart...it was worth the fee for it.

At this date in 2014 I weighed 107 Kilos. Today I hover around 92 kilos.  That is a 15 Kilo loss, or 33 pounds in other scales.  Significant.

I am taking a pause from this blog to work on Traveler, me for the next two weeks as we travel to Bangalore India and it's environs, including a mini safari.  I have no clue what I will be able to eat in the Indian peninsula.     I may come home with a gain from so much rice....if they serve it without spices.

I am excited and terrified at the same time.  This really is an adventure.....and another kind of test.

Day 21 ALREADY??

January is zooming by and although I am keeping to the protocol generally,  I am falling short of my goals.  Today the scale was at 92.4 kilos, which is certainly FAR better than it was a year ago. There is solace in that.

I spent too many exhausting hours in the car and standing in line these last days;  breakfasts? lunches? went out the window depending on when we rushed off.  Not enough water.  When I did have time to prepare meals the recipes from  the Paleo Restart were easy and tasty.  But the downside to Paleo Protocol is the preparation, planning and access to a kitchen.  Next month in India we will be at the mercy of hosts and hotels.  That is why a good loss before we left would have been a benefit.

One new wrinkle: we have been grocery shopping by internet and having it delivered.  This means no extra temptations in the store and no exhausting lines, or dragging around tons of stuff.  If we are careful we are not breaking the budget.   I still go to the cheap store for most meats and common veg.  It's working for us. Himself LOVES the convenience.

Eleven days to liftoff. Let's see if I can get at least a kilo gone before we fly.

Pushing on

Today the scale registered 92.2; it is a loss, but nothing like previous weeks.

Two things are happening. One:  I still am not eating clean. Snacking after dinner.  Movies with jelly beans.  "Paleo" baking with nut flours might be on protocol but way to dangerous for me.  If it is there, I will eat it.  not enough water. Not enough movement.  January will not make history.

The second event: Doc L., our GP, has reduced the levothyroxine dosage. I knew it would change metabolic reactions. I wonder if I will have to struggle a bit more.  I wanted to get to 90 K by the time we left for India because I have NO idea what kinds of food will be available or even when because I will be living in hotels for ten days. I might not reach that goal.

I will be more active though.  We've cleared some storage areas in preparation for reorganizing the project bins and sorting fabrics back into categories.  This opens up the annex so it isn't so depressingly cluttered.  I have been pretty consistent keeping my work room tidy, so after the laundry is done this week, I can rip through sewing projects. Losing weight has a big downside. NOTHING FITS.  I have a few things from China-in-summer trips that I can alter or recycle,  but slacks are a real problem.  I have a series of leggings for here at home where it's cold and damp, but hot and humid climates call for clothes I just don't have.  and then I won't be doing laundry there so, ack. This is not a chuck a couple of things in a backpack trip.

So, even though the weight loss was not remarkable this week, the recipes from Paleo Leap are very good.  I am looking forward to the next week. :)

Paleo Leap

Week One

Weigh in this morning 92.6 K. Loss in 8 days 1.3K

I am surprised at the scales today.  I have not been eating clean this week. Ice cream. Sauce on veg. Skipped meals. Candy at the movies. Cheese and crackers. Not much movement and exercise.  Not yet back into the swing of things after the holidays. I still came in at more than a kilo loss. Miracles exist.

The Paleo Leap program has proven to be worth the fee so far.  The recipes are tasty, not complicated.  Since there is no packaged food, nearly everything is readily available in Dutch groceries.  I did have to source smoked paprika, but a little research taught me the Dutch word for it, and viola, pimenton is not a needle in a haystack.  The actual Paleo Leap website is fussier than I personally care for. Some people need to journal and examine all the minutiae of their food journey.   I don't care enough to record the temperature of my emotional state every day.  It is helpful to have those features built in for those that do.  There is a cheerleading segment in the daily email; exercise tips, stress reducing info, support.  It is, I think, well written.  Worth scanning.  I am really bad about reading self-help stuff unless I am totally invested in research. Right now, the recipes and menus are my great need. Paleo Leap ticks all the boxes in that respect.

I suddenly realized this week that I am rekindling my joy in food.  The fresh herbs and spices, the colors, interesting variety and my husband's delighted reaction to meals spurs me on.  Yes, I do spend more time in the kitchen, but it means less time sitting online, or sitting period.  I have had to readjust my schedule. I am forced to think ahead and plan ahead.  It takes getting used to now, but I used to plan out meals and menus before eating became so fraught.  Paleo leap support encourages eating, supports good vegetable fats and oils, and actually is not overly lettuce heavy. One does get sick of lettuce.  I have no idea how many calories I eat.  And it matter not one whit.  It's more important that I EAT.

There is still the challenge of the right kind of fibre to keep elimination regular.  Not enough water makes a big and unpleasant difference.  That is still an ongoing thing.

This week the doctor reduced my thyroid medication. What impact that will have will be interesting.