Spoonful of Sugar Free

Registered Dietitian

Alex@Spoonful of Sugar Free

Maitake Miso

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Thanks for all of your get-well wishes! They really made me smile 😀

I am feeling a lot better today, too. Not 100%, but definitely better than yesterday. Maybe it was because of the healing soups and beverages I drank!

Fresh Celery-Cucumber-Lemon juice and Spicy Tomato Tea Cure.

The Spicy Tomato Tea cure is a recipe found HERE. It really does wonders. I would make this any time you are congested or have a sore throat. In fact, I would make it even if you didn’t have a sore throat because it tastes so good! I’ll write more about it tomorrow.

The best way to eat soup is in a mug!

 Recognize these mushrooms? I decided to make a maitake miso soup with them. Thanks to Caysee for giving me the idea and telling me that the maitake are great immune boosters!

Miso soup is extremely easy to make. It only takes a few minutes, which is perfect for when you are sick and don’t want to be on your feet for more than that!

Maitake Miso Soup

~You can add whatever vegetables and ingredients you like. Traditional miso soup also has tofu in it, so feel free to add cubes if you wish. 

Ingredients

  • 5 cups water (or vegetable/chicken stock)
  • 3.5 oz. Maitake mushrooms (the whole package of this)
  • 2 scallions, thinly sliced (or 1 small white/yellow onion)
  • 3 Tablespoons Miso paste (any kind will do. I used brown rice miso)
  • Optional: sliced carrots, tofu cubes, brown rice, watercress, ginger
In a large saucepan, heat water/stock to a boil and add mushrooms, scallions, and any other vegetable (if using). Simmer for 15 minutes or until vegetables are soft. Take a fourth cup of the stock out of saucepan and mix miso paste in until well-combined. Add back into soup and stir.
It tastes great with a dash of liquid aminos! (or soy sauce)
Health Benefits
  • Miso: Contains all essential amino acids, making it a complete protein, has healthy probiotics and helps with digestion, good source of vitamin B, strengthens immune system, lowers LDL cholesterol, and is high in antioxidants which protects against free radicals.
  • Maitake: This mushroom contains beta-glucan, which helps boost the immune system. It also helps lower blood pressure and fight harmful diseases. It also can help regulate blood sugar levels.

Thought-provoking, mind-prodding question of the day:

What do you eat or drink to make you feel better when you are sick?

Ugga Ugga

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Thank you everyone for the wonderful recipe ideas on my mushroom haul! There are so many recipes I want to try now…I might need more mushrooms!

However, that is going to have to wait because I have come down with a horrible cold/flu. My head hurts, my throat is soar, my body aches, and I keep blowing my nose every two minutes! Ugga Ugga…

While the sun is shining on this beautiful Saturday, I’m stuck in bed. I can’t do too much work on the computer, either, because my head hurts too much. So my day is looking like this:

Lots of sleep.

Hot tea.

Miso Soup (Hey! Maybe I’ll make some mushroom miso soup!)

And even some strawberry ice cream. (It has no added sugar and it is full of vitamin C, so why not?)

Thought-provoking, mind-prodding question of the day:

 

Any good movie suggestions?

Fungus Experts Needed

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I received these three packages of organic mushrooms from my Organic Co-Op this week. The problem is, I have never heard of these mushrooms before. I don’t know what they taste like, and I don’t know how to cook them. Frankly, I am a bit intimidated by them.

I’ve got some…

Maitake (Hen of the Woods)

Bunapi (White Beech Mushroom)

Eryngii (King Oyster Mushrooms)

I’m in the mood for mushroom soup, but I don’t know if these mushrooms will taste good in the creamy soup. My second thought would be to simply stir fry them, but again, I have no idea what these babies can do.

Does anybody have any experience cooking these mushrooms? Any good recipes to try?

Grain-Free Pumpkin Pancakes

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The mystery pancakes were Pumpkin Pancakes! So Val and the Flourishing Foodie were right!

I know Pumpkin is not a summer flavor, but it is full of vitamin A, fiber, and it is delicious! I saw a huge can of it at the store, so I had to buy it.

Grain-Free Pumpkin Pancakes 

~The almond extract really makes these pancakes. It is at almost every grocery store, and I highly suggest buying a bottle. Grain-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, and, of course, sugar-free! 

Ingredients

  • 1 cup pumpkin
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 teaspoon almond extract, 1/4 teaspoon vanilla, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 Tablespoon garbanzo bean flour (or flour of choice. I have also tried millet and coconut flour. Both work fine.)
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Mix all ingredients together until smooth. Heat skillet to medium heat and grease with oil of choice (I used coconut oil). Drop batter by spoonfuls on skillet.
Flip after about a minute or until the pancakes hold together and are slightly browned. Take of skillet and serve with toppings like shaved coconut or chopped almonds.
Serves one. Each serving makes about 15 small pancakes. Feel free to double or triple recipe as needed.
Leftovers make great snacks for later!
I topped mine with Homemade Coconut Butter. The coconut really compliments the pumpkin well.
Health Benefits of Pumpkin:
One cup of pumpkin has 7 grams fiber, 2650 IU Vitamin A, 564 mg potassium. It also boasts a truckload of antioxidants like Alpha-carotene and Beta-carotene.

Thought-provoking, mind-prodding question of the day:

Favorite Pancake Flavor?

Blueberry, chocolate, banana, cinnamon, pumpkin?

Banyan

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My Saturday is over. For now.

This is one amazing tree I was privileged to see over my extended weekend: the Banyan Tree located on Thomas Edison’s Fort Myers home.

Its roots shoot down from the tree, and it keeps growing and expanding.

He also grew vegetables in his garden.

Chiles

Baby Eggplant.

Thought-provoking, mind-prodding question of the day:

Do you grow a vegetable garden?

I would love to have one, but I just haven’t gotten around to it yet. I have a couple of potted herbs and a Tangelo tree, though!

Stay tuned for a new pancake recipe tomorrow. Can you guess what flavor it is?

Extended Saturday

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I was out of town this weekend, and the trip was longer than expected. Apparently it is still Saturday in my world.

I don’t have my camera cord with me right now, but I will show you all of my Banyan Tree pictures when I get back home. I will also give you a new grain-free pancake recipe!

For now, make these:

Grain-Free Bitter Chocolate Pancakes

 

And contemplate this:

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
Thomas A. Edison