Let’s start with the fun stuff! I finished this book:
I know I said I don’t love Louise Penny, but I did enjoy this book. I think I’ll like the series better now that Gamache is living in Three Pines. BUT, there’s one thing about her writing that bugs me- her excessive use of fragmented sentences. I wouldn’t mind it every once in a while, but the entire book is written that way. It irks me so much, it distracts me from the story. Is it just me? Does this bother anyone else? Does anyone else even NOTICE this?
Next up- I’ve started this book, which I heard about on the Currently Reading Podcast.
I’m going to count it as my “long” book for May, even though it’s only 600 pages (well- I guess that is long). On the podcast, Meredith warned that it takes a long time to read this book because of the mixed media aspect. There are a lot of pages like this:
This book is a mystery, and Meredith warned that you DO have to read all the inserts, because there are clues to the puzzle and important plot points in there. She said reading this book is an immersive experience, and I was immediately intrigued.
So far, I’m loving it. I’ll write more about it when I’ve finished, because everyone knows you can’t really judge a mystery until you know how it ends.
Okay, let’s talk about food! In yesterday’s post I announced that I’ve started an anti-candida diet, which is unfortunately very restrictive. I’m following the plan in Rikki Heller’s Living Candida Free, which has a lot of recipes. She really does a good job of making the most of the ingredients you ARE allowed to have.
On Sunday I did some meal prep. As a snack, I made these “Cookie Dough Truffle Balls.” You blend up nuts, seeds, coconut flour, carob powder and stevia powder in a food processor, and add water to reach the right consistency. The recipe just said “salt” (which is one of my pet peeves- this is a RECIPE! Tell me how much!) so I added what I thought would be a good amount, not realizing how little the recipe actually made:
So… they came out a little salty, and it reminded me of “Chef’s Salty Balls” from South Park, hee hee. Luckily I don’t mind salt, so I’m eating them (and I’m calling them Chef’s Salty Balls from now on).
Here’s an amazingly appetizing photo of the “Grain Free Breakfast Porridge”:”
You grind up coconut flakes, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, flax seeds and cinnamon in a spice grinder, then add water and stevia. Now, at this point you’re probably asking, “Do these things actually taste good?”
Well… “good” is a strong word. My experience is, when I first taste them something seems a little off, but it’s just because I’m expecting it to taste different. Once I get used to it, I like it just fine.
For dinner the last two nights, I’ve had a salad:
You are allowed to eat only fermented soy products on this diet- so no tofu, but LUCKILY tempeh is allowed. I made a large batch of “Glazed Tempeh” (recipe from the book) and will use it throughout the week.
Another dinner was this Smoky Rutabaga Hash. This was actually NOT a Rikki Heller recipe- it’s from this website.
Starchy vegetables are limited on this diet, but rutabaga is an exception because it has anti-fungal properties. I served it with millet, which is one of the few grains allowed (actually, millet is a very starchy seed, but acts like a grain when cooked). I liked the rutabaga, but boy- is there any way to make millet taste good? I want to know!
For lunch, I’m luckily still able to drink my usual protein shake, because my protein powder has all approved ingredients (I just mix it with water and chug it at work). That, along with snacks of chickpeas and sunflower seeds has kept me going- I’m not starving.
So that’s enough to start with. More updates as time goes on!
What are you reading now?
Send me a great millet recipe if you have one!
25 Responses
Oh, that book looks immersive for sure! And the diet seems rough, but glad that at least the food isn’t horrible. You’re going to have to work hard to get enough calories, right? With all of your running and your very physical job, you need to stay strong. I’m glad you are finding ways to deal with this. I take long term antibiotics for my Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Candida is a real risk. I should probably limit my bread and such just to prevent getting it. I take probiotics, which does help. And I take the lowest dose of antibiotics I can get away with.
Anyway, hang in there. 🙂
Thank you Julie! Yes, I have to work hard to get enough calories, and also make sure I’m getting the amount of protein I need. It’s hard, but not impossible.
Ugh, restrictive diets suck. I did a fodmap elimination diet which was 8 weeks, and then 8 more for reintroduction and boy oh boy was it not fun. I think in the end, beans are one of my issues, which is crushing because I love beans. I still eat them a little bit, but I used to eat bean soup or chili a lot and now I don’t. ☹️ I hope this diet helps you figure things out.
Thank you Kyria! Yeah, beans would be a hard thing to give up! But… I’ll say it again- nothing tastes as good as feeling good feels. If beans are making you sick, it’s not worth it.
Jenny, that mystery sounds super intriguing! I will admit though that my first reaction was disappointment: it doesn’t seem like it would translate to audiobook! But I am putting it on my list nonetheless and will give the hard copy a go.
Lol – Chef’s salty balls. Sounds like a much better name for your snack!
Yesterday I mentioned that sometimes the restrictiveness is “fun” in a “this is a challenge” kind of way. If I can turn something into a game, rather than into a restriction, I tend to stick with it longer. If I were doing your anti-candida diet, I think the biggest challenges would be caloric intake and flavor. Hopefully with some tinkering you will find great recipes that help you stick with it as long as you need it!
Like anything else, you get better at it the more you do it. And, it is a challenge! But as you said, challenges can be fun.
Just FYI- I don’t think the book would work on audio, but Meredith does recommend the kindle version. She said the inserts are all in color and it’s easier to read!
I think the food looks delicious, Jenny. I’m sorry the millet doesn’t taste as appetizing as it appears. Keep up the good work, though.
That book looks very unique and unusual! I hope you end up loving it. I also spy a golden bookmark <3
Thank you Elisabeth! And yes… there is the special bookmark in there : )
I have read neither of those books – I’m not a mystery gal – and I have no millet recipes for you, alas. I have also never eaten rutabaga! Your salad looked really great, something I would enjoy for sure.
I’m not sure if I’ve ever had rutabaga before- you would think I had it last time I did this diet, but I don’t remember. It was good!
The diet sounded intense, but all your food looks great, Jenny.
Love the multi-media look of that book! Going to check it out…
I’m really enjoying the book! Even the mixed media aspects- at first when I get to one of those I kind of groan, but then they’re really interesting to read.
The salad looks really good! I’m not sure if you have this in stores near you, but there’s a tofu made of pumpkin seeds called Pumfu — I’m assuming you could have that since it’s just made of seeds? It’s actually pretty decent and has a similar texture to tofu!
Oh wow!!! No, I’ve never seen or heard of that! But I’ll be on the lookout for it. It sounds pretty weird, but all my food is weird right now so I’m sure I would enjoy it!
I have tried so hard to get into the Louise Penny books and they just aren’t for me. I really want to want to read them, though. I am trying to pick between Magpie Murders which I think I found through you talking about a different Anthony Horowitz book and the second book in Deanna Rayburn’s Killers of a Certain age series which I think I’m reading because I like it just enough to continue….
I LOVE Magpie Murders!!! The third book of that series is out and I’m impatiently waiting for my library hold to come through.
well, I love millet muffins but they are def not compliant! I think you will have to eat a LOT of nuts 🙂 Can you have avocado or no? Also what other beans are allowed – just chick peas, or others too?
Yes to avocado, and yes to beans but in limited amounts. And, that’s a problem I usually encounter- I’ll se a recipe that sounds good, like millet muffins- and then I realize the rest of the ingredients are no good. But… that’s okay! It’s kind of like a treasure hunt- when I do find a recipe that works it’s very exciting.
Yikes. the restrictive diet sounds so unpleasant. I hope you find ways to make millet taste decent. When I read about your diet, I thought – is that something I should be trying? But I have to avoid things like chickpeas, so clearly not a good fit for me.
A book with so many fragmented sentences would drive me crazy. I would also not be interested in a book with so much mixed media. 600 pages is a long book as far as I’m concerned. I’m currently reading Crow Mary, and I’m really enjoying it.
Crow Mary DEFINITELY has to go on my TBR- everyone has liked it. And… I wouldn’t exactly say the diet is “unpleasant” overall. Challenging, yes. A little time consuming, yes (sigh). But while I’m eating I’m pretty happy. There are just a FEW things I’m sad about… like my Earl Grey tea (sniff, sniff).
The salad looks really good! I would be eating a lot of salads! But it can be hard to get enough calories if you are only eating salads. I have never had millet even though it is GF! It does not look super appetizing, though!! This diet looks HARD!
I am not a mystery person so I usually gloss over most of Meredith’s recommendations. I actually don’t get a ton of recommendations from their podcast but I still listen and am a patreon member but I might drop that since I haven’t been listening to their bonus content lately!
Yes, salads are great, but I have to make sure I add things like chickpeas and tempeh. And- yes millet is gluten free but I wouldn’t rush to try it- it’s not really worth it! Stick to the things you already know and like.
I ordered Night Film from the library ASAP. It looks like something I will love.
The salad looks great! I haven’t had millet in a really long time, but I don’t remember it being awful. Maybe it was just bland?
How long does the diet last?
No offense. Too much work and doesn’t look appetizing. I hope it works.
I’m reading Dream Count. It’s pretty good.