Gluten-Free Comfort Bowl Recipe on a budget

A downsized food budget has forced me to get more creative with my meals. Being gluten free, soy free as well as allergic to cashews and peanuts adds to the challenge. I can no longer just run over to Chipotle when I don't feel like making dinner. I can't justify spending $10 on one meal when I could make multiple meals with that same $10.

After I get home from the grocery store, I tend to spend the first couple of days eating all the tastiest food. By the time I get to the last days there is very little in the cupboard or refrigerator that tempts me. After I consumed all the fresh vegetables and fruit this week; I was left with the canned and packaged. Taste meter: Blah

Tricolor Quinoa $4.99

Whole Kernel Corn $0.89

Organic Black Beans $.99

Crumbled Goat Cheese $2.99

Yes, the crumbled goat cheese was in the refrigerator and it falls under one of the items I eat in the first days. There was only about a spoonful left in the container. I love cheese. I would say that cheese is my favorite ingredient. For health reasons and budget reasons, I've stopped buying half and half and the five different kinds of cheese I adore. Goat cheese is my exception. I justify this tasty splurge because it has a higher nutritional value, its easier to digest and the goats are generally treated more humanely than cows.

Also from the fresh zone was a small amount of Whole Foods house made guacamole. Normally this is a luxury item but it was on sale ($2.60 for a small container) which is less then it would cost me to make it from scratch. 

I made one serving of quinoa with leftover Bone Broth for extra protein but water is all that is required to make it. I heated both the corn and black beans in separate glass containers mixing in yellow curry with the corn for more flavor. 

Bowl:

layer of quinoa

layer of beans

layer of corn & yellow curry

salt and pepper to taste

topped with a spoonful of goat cheese 

2 spoonfuls of guacamole or sliced avocado

There was enough of everything but the goat cheese to enjoy this dish 4 times this week. If I'd had a full container of goat cheese I could have made it stretch. There's still enough quinoa for multiple dishes. 

When I Stopped Using Soap & Shampoo

I stopped using soap a couple of years ago. Pause for reaction. 

I’ve always had dry skin. It got so bad in my 20s with eczema that I thought at times I was morphing into a crocodile. I slathered on lotions for temporary relief but the itching always came back moments later.

I was diagnosed with a gluten intolerance in my late 20s followed by a soy, peanut and cashew allergy by 30. When I eliminated these foods my skin improved, especially eczema, but it was still dry. My scalp was the worst. I didn’t use additional hair products or heating tools, so why was it so dry and the ends always split? It seemed like I tried everything. Salon hair care, specialty concoctions, name brand soaps and body washes, followed by natural and organic brands. 

How much money had I put into this quest only to have the same hair and dry skin I did 5 years ago!?!? What would happen if I didn’t use anything? 

I couldn’t imagine it being worse. 

I took daily showers and only rinsed my hair. It looked a little dirty at first. But after a few weeks, the natural oils balanced out, my skin was less itchy and my hair looked healthier.

I poured coconut milk on my skin in the shower as my “soap”. The difference between soap and coconut milk on your skin is phenomenal. Dryness is eliminated. The natural oils cleanse the skin. It smells divine and I started getting compliments on how soft my skin was. 

Coconut milk has antibacterial properties; it's a natural conditioner and has been known to help with hair growth. I use a cotton ball of coconut milk on my face to remove makeup and stopped using facial cleansers too. I sweep it across my eyes for thicker eyebrows, eyelashes and it softens the age lines.

Still thinking I needed to use something on my hair; about once a week I tried pouring coconut milk on it with fantastic results. Now, the thing about coconut milk on the hair and scalp is getting the right milk to added water ratio. There was a lot of trial and error at first. Too much milk and the oils will weigh your hair down, creating a flat or oily appearance. This ratio will be different for everyone depending on your hair texture and the shape it's in. My sister who now uses this as well leaves it a little on the oily side and her hair absorbs it after a day or two. Her hair is dark and a little curly. For my blonde fine dry hair and itchy scalp, I use the following. 

In the shower: 

I pour a few tablespoons in a big glass (16oz) and then fill the glass up to the top with water. I use this as a body rinse. When the cup is ¾ gone, I fill up the glass again and use this on my head. It's just enough to clean my scalp and condition my hair. Bonus, it smells really good.

After the shower: 

If it's wintertime, date night, I just shaved or all of the above, I also massage coconut milk directly on my skin.

I buy the canned coconut milk that is ONLY coconut milk and water without preservatives or anything else added. Some of the preservatives cause an allergic reaction on the skin. Trader Joes Organic Reduced Fat Coconut Milk is the best! I open a can and immediately transfer it to a glass jar. It will need to be refrigerated after you open it. One can will last me 7-10 days on average but I also put it in my coffee in the morning. This eliminated my daily half and half indulgence, which saved enough money to pay for the coconut milk.

-->

The only additional product I love and use is rose water. I'm infatuated with the smell of Rose water. It also softens the skin and hair. Instead of buying a spray bottle of it at the beauty counter or health store for $$$, I buy the beverage from the international market for a few dollars, put it in a spray bottle and it lasts for over a month. I spray it on my face, body and hair. I use it to set my makeup or just when I want to smell like roses. I also keep a small spray bottle of it in my purse to refresh my skin throughout the day. 

My skin and hair now look better in my 30s than it did in my 20s. And I've simplified by using one product that does the work of 5 products. I hope it can also work for you. 

California Reveals Her Coastline - Road Trip Day 8

Road Trip Day 8

Miles Driven today: 800

Total Miles: 2820

I packed the car before sunrise to be out of the city before rush hour. Jenna had started coffee for me so all I had to do was hit the start button and fill up my thermos. I’d be Driving through a desert landscape until I reached the ocean then I’d drive North towards San Francisco.

The rest stop right after sunrise boasted a bit of danger. Arizona was one upping Texas with the risks of peeing ...with scorpions. There were two working stalls. The rest being held hostage behind a steel gate which was open about two feet at the bottom. Irritated by this, I walked over to the gate and limboed under it. One of the other women in line attempted to open it further and with in a few minutes we now had access to 5 working stalls which eliminated the line. Women helping women. 

Despite the signs saying to stop for car checks at the border of California, I was waived right in. 

The next sign welcoming me to California. 

Its been awhile since I’ve driven through Palm Springs and was unaware of the wind farm addition. 

It was as if alien aircraft had landed and taken over the Coachella Valley.

I swear I saw them dancing in the background on Instagram in fedoras, feathers and Boho ponchos. The windmills tower above nature and just when I thought I saw the last one, another row appeared. Consulting Google revealed a shocking number, over 4,000, enough to provide electricity to power all of Palm Springs and the valley. Impressive. 

But was it impressive enough to pay for a tour?  http://www.windmilltours.com/

“They go inside the fences where no other tour can go, to get you up close.”

 Ya know, like in Jurassic Park 3. They also boast to have the most delicious date shake in the Valley. 90 minute bus ride tour with a date shake, that’s a brave combination.

Traffic got a little nuts around LA and I was intent on driving past the crazy. But I was forced off the interstate when my car tank approached empty and my personal tank was full. It was not a convenient store kind of area and after getting stuck in traffic followed by super lost, I literally ended up inside Warner Brothers studios. I begged a parking attendant to let me through a gate to turn around even though I saw the signs stating otherwise and then continued to look for a main street. 

The vast majority of that thermos of coffee along with a large bottle of Kombucha could no longer live together in harmony and I was in dire need of a bathroom. After paying $4 a gallon for gas ($1.89 in Texas) I made the inquiry. The Californian punk millennial replied, “well we do.. but its under construction…but I guess if you really need to go, you can use it...its around the side” as she waived her hand in the general direction. 

Having seen Walking Dead, I was prepared for this bathroom. There wasn’t a door knob, just a hole, but that was okay because there wasn’t a light. I left the door cracked and stayed in a protective stance that could also be used to launch my body at anyone that came in.  Surprisingly enough, there was toilet paper. I may have been safer with the Scorpions. 

California was playing hard to get but was about to reveal to me her coastline. As soon as I saw the pacific I squealed. I rolled the windows down, opened the sunroof and all was forgiven. 

I pulled over at the first beach access exit, Emma Wood state beach. Patrick and I ran to the water. 2500 Miles and the breezy beach air, sand and salt water properly welcomed us to California.

Driving up the 101 is iconic. You pass through different movies in your head. 

I'm infatuated with tunnels. I love the idea of driving through a mountain. That something wasn't completely destroyed, and instead we adapted to the landscape. 

Looking for another beach before the sunset, I stumbled upon Avila beach. Two large beaches separated by rock formations and a very long pier bridge. One beach is covered with frolicking dogs and the other with tourists. 

Dogs were not allowed on the people beach so we mainly stayed where we were both welcome. Everyone was happier and having more fun on the dog beach anyway.

The road along the people beach was pedestrian only and opposite local shops and restaurants.

I was about 200 miles south of San Francisco when it started getting dark. I wanted to spend day 9 pretending I lived in San Francisco. I contemplated saving money and sleeping in the car.  But after driving for 800 miles I also wanted a hot shower and a warm bed where I could stretch out. Every mile made the bed scenario sound better and better. I found a Motel 6 about an hour outside the city that was reasonable and all Motel 6 are dog friendly. It was surprisingly modern with Ikea-esque furniture and an unusually large and oddly shaped corner shower.  

The whole room was thick with steam. As I took the longest shower any woman has ever taken. I needed every muscle to relax. I turned on the BBC and watched a show on how caviar is made which was more interesting than it sounds and utterly disgusting at the same time. 

I laid out the clothes I’d wear tomorrow and my core necessities, which mainly involve coffee.

My road trip coffee essentials:

Electric Kettle

Stainless Steel French Press

Perc Coffee  (Ethiopia/Columbia)  

Wood Spoon

Stainless steel Tablespoon scoop with bag clip

8 hour stay hot Thermos

Patrick and I curled up in bed. I laid there thankful I wasn’t freezing in the backseat of my car. The excitement of San Francisco would have kept me awake had I not been so throughly exhausted from the day. 

Tomorrow ... San Francisco

Phoenix Regenerating - Road Trip Day 4-7

Road Trip Days 4-7

Phoenix Arizona 

I’ve been driving 3 days now and Phoenix would be one of 3 longer rests on this journey. I'm staying with my friend Jenna and her family. This is my third visit to Phoenix; the first time was Jenna’s wedding in 2013, and the second after the birth of her second child last February.

Jenna’s Stats

Friends since: 2008

Who introduced us: My parents

Together in: Hawaii

Then I moved: Tennessee

Then she moved: Arizona

What Makes us alike: environmentalists, natural medicine 

What Makes us different: hmmm, nothing important

Fun Fact: Jenna moved to Hawaii after medical school for a Naturopath position. My parents met her at the clinic and took her surfing. Then they introduced me to my soul mate. I later worked in that same clinic with her before I moved to Nashville. 

I don’t have children of my own and its been a long time since I’ve played. Here I got throughly caught up on twirling, chalk drawing and legos. Strong regrets that I didn’t photograph our masterpieces. I bought her older daughter a leotard with tutu and we danced in the grass. 

Patrick also played…with their dog Penelope, who was just not that into him.

This is what mid life crisis looks like. Baby sling turned dog carrier. 
Sometimes Penelope needed a break from his strong affections.

The desert trails near the botanical gardens. The soft beauty of rose hued sand against blue skies combined with the impending danger of scorpions, snakes, and dehydration. 

Patrick resting in his shoulder bag. His favorite place to be when we are 

making dinner, and I loved the cuteness looking up at me. 

Road to Echo Canyon view.

One of our favorite lunch places in Phoenix is Flower Child. A healthy eatery found in Arizona, California and Texas. Everything is fresh and fantastic with lots of options for vegan, vegetarians and gluten free.  Flower Child  

                         

Above: Mother Earth - ancient grains, sweet potato, portobello mushroom, avocado, cucumber, broccoli pesto, leafy green, red pepper miso vinaigrette with hemp seeds. 

Above: The Flying Avocado on Gluten free pita - smoked turkey, Gouda, romaine, tomato, and avocado hummus.  The gluten free mac & cheese is a must add to any order. 

  

I love this woman to pieces. Our visits are never long enough. I'm always scheming to get us closer without it involving me moving to Phoenix. 

My parting gift from Jenna's woodworker hubby. A gorgeous cherry cutting board/road trip protective weapon.  BT3 Custom Woodworks

The blazing sunset view from the neighborhood while we Trick or Treated. 

Good Bye Phoenix! 

Next stop California

Sarah & Patrick Do Scottsdale

Road trip Day 4
Miles today: 50

While staying in Phoenix I spent the first afternoon wandering around Downtown and Old Town Scottsdale. Patrick and I decided to start the day by indulging at Morning Squeeze, a breakfast place with not only a dog friendly patio but a dog menu.

Morning Squeeze

Patrick had the Chow Hound Special. 

I ordered a My Way omelet, my way being avocado, havarti cheese and bacon with hash browns. It arrived just as Princess Leia walked in. At first this seemed a little odd until I remembered it was Halloween. 

I was infatuated with the Bob Parks bronze Arabian horse fountain on 5th Avenue. The intoxicating turquoise, the sheer size of each one with detail so real that I thought they’d jump right out of the fountain.

We walked the gardens of the Scottsdale civic center park. Modern art and pop colors in every direction. They also have a Robert Indiana LOVE sculpture. 

Old Town Scottsdale 

Trees filled with hanging baskets of flowers and bromeliads is such a cool idea.