Black-eyed Pea Salad

I love to have salads ready to eat.

This one was tasty - but I needed to change out some of the ingredients due to our diet restrictions*:
-did not to use lemon to add a sparkle.
-traded the onions for some leeks slices
-used pinto beans in lieu of black-eyed peas

*http://www.amazon.com/Heal-Your-Headache-David-Buchholz/dp/0761125663/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1398452375&sr=1-1&keywords=heal+your+headache

Craving peanut butter?

I love peanut butter.  Unfortunately, our 4mos diet says no nuts and no peanut butter*.

Roasted sunflower seeds are the answer.
They have a similar taste to peanut butter when roasted.
They give your mouth that bit of crunch when you eat them.
It satisfies my stomach the same solid way peanut butter satisfies.

And so easy.
Put seeds in a medium hot pan with a couple of drops of oil (I used sesame oil).
Keep turning to even the roasting.
Enjoy the smell !
And enjoy the great snack.  Easy and clean to take along.

*http://www.amazon.com/Heal-Your-Headache-David-Buchholz/dp/0761125663/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1398452375&sr=1-1&keywords=heal+your+headache

Spiced Pork Tenderloin with Sauteed Apples

Spiced Pork Tenderloin with Sauteed Apples. Yum! So Tasty!
Perfect recipe.
Everything meets the 4mos diet ingredients.
Easy and quick.

Use this recipe for any pork product.

*http://www.amazon.com/Heal-Your-Headache-David-Buchholz/dp/0761125663/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1398452375&sr=1-1&keywords=heal+your+headache

Corn and Bean Salad

Corn and Bean Salad is pretty.
I love the dark beans and the red peppers and the bright yellow corn.

And easy.
You can make from canned corn and canned beans.
I did soak my dried black beans and then cook them - but only because I've been trying to get into the habit of cooking my beans. Canned beans taste the same to me. (Be careful they have not added anything to trigger a migraine*)

I used frozen corn. Easy.

Trade the wine vinegar to distilled vinegar.

Vinegar salads always taste better the 2nd day.

It has been 2 weeks on this diet.
I am resisting using the Imitrex on my headaches.
I've had headaches 7 of the 14 days. Some put me out for the day. Some are just a few hours
I think they are lessening in severity. At least I know they are not getting worse.
I'm counting my blessings. But I'm spending a ton of time on food.
Thinking about food. Researching recipes. Planning grocery lists.
Being hungry for some of my old favorites.
But trying not to focus on what I cannot have - trying to learn how to make what I can have really delicious.

Stovetop Vanilla Pudding has been a crutch. I love it. I greatly reduce the sugar so I don't think I'm doing my body too much harm. It is my comfort food.

*http://www.amazon.com/Heal-Your-Headache-David-Buchholz/dp/0761125663/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1398452375&sr=1-1&keywords=heal+your+headache

Making Vanilla Pudding? Have a plan for those egg whites!

If you are making that yummy Stovetop Vanilla Pudding, you are going to have a few egg whites leftover.

What can you do with them?  Keep in mind:  4-6 egg whites = 1/2 cup
If you have 2+ egg whites, you can make chewy Coconut Macaroons.
If you have 5 egg whites, you can make Berry Pavlova

If you have 12 egg whites, you can make Classic Angel Food Cake (reduce sugar to suit your taste)

These are all totally against the low carb portion of my diet.  So be it. I'm human :)

*http://www.amazon.com/Heal-Your-Headache-David-Buchholz/dp/0761125663/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1398452375&sr=1-1&keywords=heal+your+headache

Stovetop Vanilla Pudding

I'm working on the Stovetop Vanilla Pudding recipe.

The first couple times cooked, the pudding was too loose for me and way too sweet.
I've cut the sugar in half.
Added 1T cornstarch.

Looks like with those modifications, this might be the right recipe for me.
We like to add fresh fruit - blueberries, strawberries, etc. Perfect touch!

*http://www.amazon.com/Heal-Your-Headache-David-Buchholz/dp/0761125663/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1398452375&sr=1-1&keywords=heal+your+headache

Baked Sweet Potato Fries

I bought a Turning Slicer to make pasta shaped veggies.
I am trying to not eat carbs, so making pasta shaped and textured veggies makes sense to me.

I made some swirly squash and pan heated it up and put a white sauce over it...delicious.

Also made Baked Sweet Potato Fries that are superb! The sweet potato had a harder time going through the slicer so I'm not sure I'll put sweet potato through again..

*http://www.amazon.com/Heal-Your-Headache-David-Buchholz/dp/0761125663/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1398452375&sr=1-1&keywords=heal+your+headache