Readapting and Alice Unraveled

Well, I am back to college, still getting used to it.

This year is different because I have to cook all my meals for myself in my dorm room. 

My micro-fridge and blender are my best friend. I spend a lot of time preparing food so that I have lunches ready during the week because I don't have much time between classes. I don't mind though, I love to cook and It's definitely pushing me to be creative with the food I have in my fridge.

Today was a clean up day. I had some leftover beans that needed to get eaten.

Here's what I made:

Tahini Beany Tacos!

Tahini Beany Spread:

Ingredients:

-1/2 c Great Northern Beans 

-2 tsp Tahini

-2 T gluten free oats

-1 T water

-spices: chipotle powder, cumin, cinnamon, salt, pepper

Directions:

Pulse the oats in a blender until they form a powder. Add in the beans, tahini, water and spices (to taste). Pulse until all the beans are ground up into a paste. (You may need to stop in between pulses to stir occasionally.)

Spread over two gluten free corn tortillas and top with some cooked spinach and homemade salsa!

It was really delicious! Beats school food that's for sure!

I've also been busy writing lots of music. When I'm at school I feel like my mind doesn't stop. I am constantly running to a sheet of paper to scribble down a lyric or phrase. My classes are really inspiring, especially my master class. I really like my professor and the other students in the class, they are all very talented.

This Thursday in master class I brought in the title song from the musical I wrote called "Alice Unraveled". The show is loosely based on Lewis Carrol's "Alice in Wonderland" but it is not a children's story. It depicts one young girls struggle to regain control in her life after a sexual assault. Through the course of the play she is thrust into a chaotic, disturbing world, much like a nightmare. It's a story about growing older, and moving forward through difficult times.

I am trying to arrange the music from the show now and wanted some ideas on instrumentation. The people in my master class gave me some really interesting advice that I can not wait to test out in the studios!

Here's a video of me singing the song "Alice Unraveled" with a few pictures from the show. 

I've fallen in love with writing for stage. There's a second musical in the works!!

Happy Birthday Mama!

Happy Birthday Mama!

Today is my Mom's birthday, so in honor of this special occasion we baked a sour cherry and blueberry pie. 

This was our first time making a gluten free, soy free, vegan pie so I was a little worried about how it would turn out.
It ended up tasting great! The buckwheat crust had a more rustic flavor that complimented the sweet and tangy berry filling.

Here's the recipe:

Gluten Free, Vegan, Soy free Buckwheat Crust 
* We made a double crust, if you don't want a top crust on your pie halve the recipe.

Ingredients:
* 3 cups gluten free buckwheat flour
* 1 tsp salt
* 1 cup vegetable shortening (we used spectrum naturals non-hydrogenated palm oil shortening)
* 1/4 c plus 2 T (or so) cold water

Directions:
* Mix flour and salt in a bowl
* Cut in shortening until mixture resembles course, mealy crumbs
* Add water and mix until it forms a dough (Add more water as necessary but be careful not to thin it out too much)

Sour Cherry, Blueberry Pie Filling


Ingredients:
*  4 cups sour cherries
* 1 1/2 cups blueberries
* 1/4 cup tapioca pearls (or 3-3 1/2 T cornstarch)
* 1 T lemon juice
* 1 1/4 cup sugar (we used about 1 c of white sugar and 1/4 c of light brown sugar)

Directions:
* Position a rack in the lower third of the oven. Preheat the oven to 425* F
* Combine the all ingredients in a large bowl and let stand for about 15 mins
* Place half the dough in between two layers of plastic wrap (so it doesn't fall apart) and roll it out into a 13-inch round, lay it into a 9 inch pie pan, and trim off the overhanging dough to 3/4 inch all around.
* Roll out the other half of the dough (in between plastic wrap) into a 12-inch round for the top crust and set aside.
* Pour Pie filling into the bottom crust
* Brush the overhanging edge of the bottom crust with cold water. Cover with top crust, then seal the edge, and trim.
* Cut a few steam vents into the top crust
* Bake the pie at 425* for 30 mins.
* When 3o mins have passed slip a baking sheet beneath the pie and reduce the oven temperature to 350* F. Bake until thick juices bubble through the vents on top of the pie. About 25-30 mins.
* Let cool completely on a rack before serving. Store at room temperature for up to 1 day.

Serves 8

Nutrition Facts: Calories- about 610 (per slice), not exactly diet food but I'm trying to gain weight and everyone deserves a treat now and then! Besides there are a lot of good nutrients in this pie.
Buckwheat is very healthy grain substitute. (I say "grain substitute" because it is actually not a grain it's a fruit seed that is related to rhubarb and sorrel.) It is high in omega 3's, potassium, B vitamins and phosphorus and is higher in fiber and protein than wheat flour.
The palm oil shortening is better for you than regular vegetable shortening as well. It has no trans fat because it is non-hydrogenated and is a good source of healthy monounsaturated fat. It is also naturally cholesterol free!
Of course the blueberries and cherries add many valuable anti-oxidants, as well as vitamins A, C, E and beta-carotene, magnesium, iron, potassium and folate.
Of course there is a lot of sugar in this pie but it is a dessert and sugar is good for your soul.
So eat up and feel good about what you're eating! :)

We're Going on a Trip!

Tomorrow my family and I are venturing south for our annual family vacation.
This is my first time traveling with my new diet so we are bringing a lot of food for me in the car. Marinated chicken tenders, quinoa salad, cut veggies, granola bars and best of all MUFFINS! :)

I just baked up some delicious looking Maple Berry Muffins.

Here's the recipe:
(From The Flying Apron's Gluten Free Vegan Baking Book)

Maple Berry Muffins
Makes 12

-1 1/2 c brown rice flour
- 3/4 c garbanzo bean flour (sifted)
- 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 3/4 c sea salt
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 c extra virgin olive oil
- 1 c water
- 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 c maple syrup
- 1/2 c raspberries
-1/2 c blueberries

1. Preheat the oven to 375* F
2. Combine brown rice flour, garbanzo bean flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in a large bowl.
3. In a different large bowl combine olive oil, apple cider vinegar, vanilla extract and maple syrup. Whisk to incorporate.
4. Continue to whisk and slowly add the flour mixture to the oil mixture until smooth. (The original recipe says to do this in the bowl of a standing mixer but since I do not own a standing mixer I whisked it by hand. It seems to have turned out fine.)
5. Divide the batter among 12 muffin tin cups lined with paper liners. Drop the berries on top and bake until the muffin tops are golden brown and slightly firm to touch, 20-25 minutes.

They just came out of the oven a few minutes ago and they smell amazing! I can not wait to try one out.

The Flying Apron's Gluten Free and Vegan Baking Book has definitely been a great purchase. All of the recipes are Gluten, Dairy, Egg and Soy free. There are a number of savory recipes in it in addition to all the sweet cookies, cakes, muffins and breakfast treats. Every recipe looks mouthwatering and so far every one we've made has been a big hit!