Sweet 16 Squared

My birthday weekend has started in the best way possible.

With SOCCA!!!

How beautiful is this thing? Seriously.

I used this recipe - I have NO idea where I got it. Back in April, I went searching on the internet after Michelle, Lori and Eimear posted about it. Whatever I found, I copied down in my recipe book without a link.

I did change it up a bit. Maybe we can call this a group effort? Either way - mad props to Michelle, Lori, and Eimear for posting!

Italian Socca

1 cup chickpea flour
1 cup warm water
3 tablespoons evoo
1/2 tablespoon parsley
1/2 tablespoon basil
1/2 tablespoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Sift dry ingredients. Whisk in 2 tablespoons of evoo and warm water. Let sit for thirty minutes.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Leave cast iron skillet in the oven while it preheats. When ready, drop 1 tablespoon of evoo into pan and shush it around. Pour in batter. Let cook for 15-20 minutes. If you want the top to brown, broil it for about a minute at the end.

It came out absolutely perfect. Happy birthday to me!

At my house, pizza is birthday food. Usually, I make vegan pizza and cake for my family. This year, I made socca pizza! Talk about Franco-Italiano! And it's just for me.



I tried a couple slices with Gena's cashew cheese and red pepper. Check out the close-up socca porn!


On Monday - FLAG DAY! - I turn 32. It sounds so anti-climactic doesn't it? I feel like I've finally reached that age where birthdays just don't matter.

It's business as usual. This weekend, I'm going to my college town to work on the Grow Indie plot. Then me and my pals are going to have a fun night out at one of my favorite watering holes.

Photo by Ripple Poppy

It's a bar underneath a fire company. There's a bowling alley. The Guinness tastes like root beer and the only wine is white zin. Dollar-twenty-five vodka and sodas, anyone?

Just a typical weekend in sleepy Pennsylvania country. And we wouldn't have it any other way!

True'dat!

Q & A's

Thank you so much for your answers to my questions over the past two weeks. I'm really enjoying the feedback! From looking at our common food issues, I'm hoping to establish a better understanding of general IBS "triggers". Here's what I learned so far.

What foods make us feel good?
Rice
Eggs
Avocado
Coconut
Peanut butter
Chocolate
Apples
Portobella mushrooms
Leafy greens
Quinoa
Fruit
Oysters
Liver
Bananas
Prunes
Wheatgrass shots


What foods make us feel not so good?
Nut butter
Dairy
Gluten
Sugar
Too much fiber
Eggs
Casein
Potatoes
Meat
Acidy foods
Bread
Wine
Tea
Coffee
Salt
Olive oil
Citrus
Raw onions
Anything with chemicals and preservatives


Favorite nutritious foods
Sweet potatoes
Artichokes
Sugar free oatmeal cookies
Peanut butter
Asparagus
Swiss Chard
Strawberries
Dates
Oysters
Broccoli
Edamame

It's interesting to me that our favorite foods are all comforting, soft foods. The foods that make us feel like shit are the tough, sharp, pungent foods. It's almost like reading the doctrine of signatures for IBS, but backwards!

Also interesting - Hormone and PMS-related issues were UNANIMOUS among everyone who commented. What's up with that? Any ideas? A strong majority of us have messed with our diet in the past due to weight or health issues too. There's a blog post - or two - in there.

Upcoming Recipes!

Pumpkin Seed Pesto

Cranberry Pumpkin Seed Bars

Raw Oatmeal Cacao Cookies

In the Half-Assed Whole Foods post, I asked what food looked good... here's what won. The recipes will be posted over the next couple weeks. Thanks for commenting! I'm excited to share!

Our favorite snacks!
Sweet potatoes
Carrots
Peanut Butter
Kale Chips
Cheez-its
Flax Crackers
Dried oranges
Dried berries
Banana and tahini
Pistachios
Carrots and hummus
Carrots and salsa

It sounds to me like we are a crunchy, savory bunch of foodies! There's a lot of sweet potato love happening in our kitchens. And I am right there with you.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS!!!



Now, Let's Reflect

At 12.15 am on Monday, I will be saying goodbye to 31. I will be standing on the mountain top of St. Fartsville and waving. If you listen closely, you may hear me screaming.

Goodbye farts!

Goodbye bloat!

Goodbye sleepless nights!

Goodbye hungover mornings!

Goodbye procrastination!


Goodbye anger and jealousy!

Goodbye insecurity!



I just don't give a fuck.

See - I've finally found my path. No diet, no nutritionist, no therapist could've found it for me. Because it was inside me.

What makes me feel good?
Morning exercise
Small meals
Working hard
Being outside
Learning something new
Art
Music
Friends
Sleep

I need to be quiet. I need to move slow. I need to breathe. When all three are in place, I am still. Then I can truly hear myself speaking to me, telling me what I need to do to feel good.

Some people call this God.

Others call it the inner teacher.

In the past, I called it the Force!

Today, I call it Mother Nature.