Homemade Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream

Tonight Kevin mentioned I should make pumpkin pie ice cream for dessert.  A few days ago I baked a long-necked pumpkin-type squash.  I'm not sure of it's technical name.  I bought it at the Tuesday Food Bank Farmers Market.  I put the huge squash on a cookie tray and put it in the oven on 350 for an hour.  (Actually an hour and 20 minutes because I forgot about it.)  It came our perfect.  After cooling, I pureed it in the VitaMix and put it in baggies to freeze.

Here's what I did tonight in the VitaMix:
*2-3 cups pureed frozen pumpkin/squash
*3 cups milk or milk alternative
*1/4 cup Lakanto (sugar substitute)

It literally took 5 seconds until creamy goodness was ready to consume.  Then we put cinnamon and pecan meal in it.  It was AMAZING!!  Kevin is still talking about it.  He said he would never need dessert (you know, the sweet bad-for-you kind)  if we can make food taste this good.  SCORE!  That is my goal.  To feed my family healthy alternatives so they feel full and satisfied without the sweets. 

Commercial Blenders/ Homemade Icecream

All week I have been borrowing my friend's VitaMix Super 5200 blender.  I have been experimenting in the kitchen more than usual this week.  I can see how owning a commercial blender will really benefit my cooking in the kitchen.  I posted a question to a yahoo group I belong to about which commercial blender people recommend.  The VitaMix, Blendtec, Kitchen Aid, and Bosch were mentioned.  Most people preferred the Vitamix, however, one lady mentioned they all work well and do primarily the same thing.  You can't go wrong with any of them.

This week I have made soups, smoothies, ice cream, chopped veggies, pureed squash, ground rice for bread.....you name it, I've done it.  Last night I made strawberry jam.  I was very impressed with how the jam turned out.  It was so quick and easy to blend the strawberries.  The consistency was very even and it took half the time it normally does.  I got the recipe off the box of SureJell.

Being sugar and dairy free means I have given up ice cream.  However, I discovered how to make ice cream this week. It came out soo creamy and full of flavor.  The difference between the VitaMix and my Magic Bullet is that the VitaMix can blend the seeds  releasing their nutrition for my body's consumption.  When making smoothies in my Magic Bullet, the seeds would sink to the bottom and I always dreaded the last swig because the texture bothered me.  In the VitaMix, there is no such thing.  Every bite is so silky and creamy.  Friday night I had friends over for dinner and they were amazed also with the ice cream's texture.

I made peach ice cream, strawberry ice cream, and triple berry (raspberry, blueberry, marionberry) ice cream.  Today I cooked and pureed a long neck pumpkin/squash  so I am going to make pumpkin ice cream tonight!

Here's how you make ice cream in the VitaMix:
Put in 3 cups of  frozen fruit (if it isn't frozen add ice)
Put in a cup of yogurt or milk/milk substitute (I used almond milk)
1T of agave nectar or honey ( I used stevia)
(My experience is that this recipe works in any blender but the final product may have a different texture.)

Turn the blender on high and enjoy!  Only takes seconds and it is ready.  Plus I get a kick out of telling my son to eat his dinner so he can eat ice cream, knowing that it is actually healthy for him.

New to eating differently?

When making any lifestyle change, it is a process. Since developing food issues in 2002 I have slowly been making changes. It feels like I take two steps forward and one step back. The one lesson I've learned over the years that I want others to know is: You are not alone. Just like with anything in life, there is someone out there experiencing similar struggles. For a long time I thought I was alone and I was embarrassed to eat differently. But now I've learned everyone has their struggle in life, mine happens to be with food.

As humans, I think it is so important in our quest for better health to connect with each other. I didn't realize how socially connected we were to food until I began eating differently. It is normal to want to be part of family traditions and social events. I remember feeling so isolated when I realized I could not eat what I used to. During social events, I would eat my forbidden foods to feel included and suffer the consequences later. I finally decided to be upfront about it and discovered many with similar issues.

Here are some of the on-line listserves I've found helpful:

* GlutenFreeRecipesGroup

*FoodAllergyKitchen

Out of my struggle with food I have developed new hobbies and passions. One is gardening/ urban farming. I also have enjoyed beginning to eat more fresh local fruits and veggies and support local farmers by buying at farmers' markets. Another is cooking and experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen. Fortunately I have a VERY supportive husband who likes to try new dishes. And that is exactly why I started this blog. To share my journey in gardening and eating fresh. Glad you decided to come along with me.

My Story

In July 2002, I went to Mexico City for one month. Three days into the trip I fainted twice, eliminating in my pants, and became ill. My body has never been the same since.

Before my trip to Mexico I could eat anything with no symptoms, for the most part. I had been on birth control for years and antibiotics for sinus infections (which I now realize is one of the reason for my health issues). In Mexico, my new symptoms were diarrhea, nausea, food intolerances, and itchy hives. The doctor in Mexico gave me antibiotics for parasites, and put me on a plain fruit/veggie diet for a month. The culprit was that I tried too many new- spicy foods too fast and temporarily became allergic to all food. He said upon returning to the U.S. my symptoms would vanish.

Well....they didn't.

The next year (2002-2003) I could only work part time upon returning to the USA because of how sick I was.  3 rounds of heavy antibiotics and various diet that did not work made me WORSE.  My mom sent me a small box from Renew Life that was to kill parasites.  I took those sups because I was desperate and thought I was dying.  I honestly thought my life was over.  After that month, I noticed I felt a bit better.  I only ate meat and veggies.  Nothing else.  I missed cereal and milk so much.  But I noticed a difference.  Due to financial limitations, I did not continue that diet or supplements.  I went back to my old ways.  Things got worse.  But I knew there was hope and that I was not dying.  

Over the years I developed new symptoms such as depression, anxiety/panic attacks, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, hives, hypoglycemia, fatigue, digestive problems, itchiness all over my body, and yeast infections.  Divorce in 2004 sent me spiraling into a terrible depression.  My entire world turned upside down.  I was 25.  The stress was unbelievable.  I bought a house to help me feel grounded again.  Fixing up this house became my creative outlet and rock as I slowly rebuilt my life.

 After countless visits with doctors, I was told they could not figure out what was wrong. Over the years, I have been diagnosed with Depression/Anxiety, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Hypoglycemia, Leaky Gut, Gut Dysbiosis, PMDD,and Systemic Yeast Infection. All these diagnoses came slowly year after year from 2002 until present day, 2012. Since the conventional method has failed me, I decided to go the natural way. After years of experimentation with food and vitamin supplements, I've discovered it best to eat without gluten, sugar, dairy, and yeast.

Having issues with food has impacted me physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It has sent me to my lowest lows and my highest highs. It has opened doors to new opportunities. It has moved me away from the Standard American Diet (SAD) and brought me to appreciate the diversity of seasonal, local, and organic whole foods. It has renewed my desire to cook fresh, healthy foods for my family. It has given me a spirit of appreciation for how food is grown and for the farmers who grow it. It has opened my eyes into the way the government controls our food supply and how food consumption makes Americans sick. Food is my passion. And I hope to inspire others to find new health, new energy, and creativity in the kitchen.

After giving birth (Oct. 2007 and Nov. 2009) my body changed.  I experienced PPD/Intrusive Thoughts.  My food allergies increased and I could no longer figure out my trigger foods.  Foods that normally didn't bother me began to bother me.  I did the Candida Wellness Program (candida diet) in Provo, Utah for 3 months (2008) and felt so much better. But I did not continue the Probiotics and turned back to my old ways of eating which lead me right back to how I was feeling prior to the diet change.  PPD did not let up so I went back to work thinking that would help (Aug. 2008).  Next baby came and I no longer had PPD. :)  I have stayed on my meds to prevent any relapses.

On February 24, 2012, I woke up at 4:21 a.m. to severe constant pain radiating from my abdomen, right side, and right shoulder.  It was the intensity of giving birth but without the contractions.  I could do nothing but lay in a ball and moan.  I could not move.  I called to Kevin who began researching on the internet about my symptoms. Our kids were sleeping and I couldn't move so I decided not to go to the ER.  I began doing labor breathing to get through the pain.  We thought perhaps it was gall bladder attack.  There is a family history and the symptoms seemed to fit the description.  Kevin gave me baking soda in water and that began to relieve the symptoms immediately.  I then thought it was just bloating so I was no longer worried.  I wasn't even going to see my doctor but Kevin insisted that I do.

At the appointment all signs led to gall stones.  I went that afternoon of an ultrasound and blood work.  Everything cleared.  I was healthy and normal.  The ultrasound technician even joked, "Your gallbladder is beautiful and free of stones!"

This has been the story of my life.  For 10 years now I have been told that I am healthy and normal.  But I am not healthy or normal.  Something is very wrong with my body and it progressively gets worse and the medical field has failed me....... again.

The following day I went for an abdominal massage because I was so achy.  I told my massage therapist about what happened and gave her my health history over the past 10 years.  She recommended I see a NMD in town that she has heard great things about.  I called Dr. June Stevens right away and got an appointment for that week.

At the appointment I had all the documentation I've collected about myself over all the years.  She took notes for 2 hours while I told her everything. Seeing her has changed my life.  She did am IGg food allergy test.  29 food allergies showed up.  I began taking Mycostat for 3 months to kill the yeast, ate very strict, and began logging everything.  I was introduced to GAPS and love it!  There is a huge community of believes that GAPS has saved them.  I am now a believer because I have been reaping the benefits of the GAPS diet also.  GAPS stands for Gut and Psychology Syndrome.  Created my a mom (Of course!) trying to cure her daughter of autism.  Natasha Campbell- McBride is a neurosurgeon and nutritionist.  She has helped thousands all over the world. My constipation got better, I lost 25 pounds, itchies became less, brain fog, cramps, bloating all became better.  Mood swings continued so I was diagnosed with PMDD (Premenstrual Disphoric Disorder), severe PMS.  I am currently charting my body temperatures to determine hormone levels/organ function.  I also had a blood test done for my thyroid and hormones.  Of course, it came back normal. (Only thing low was Vitamin D) But I've been reading how I could have a sub-clinical issue that would not show up in a blood test.  So the journey continues.....