Swedish Meatballs:Redesigned and Inspired

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A year ago, when I was developing recipes for Dinnertime, I had a lot of fun developing paleo modifications for comfort classics. I have a husband that will eat almost anything that I put in front of him, he knows he’s lucky to get meals home cooked with love! He grew up with a mother that is a phenomenal cook and he has good taste. That said, he prefers meat and potato centered dishes. The higher the dairy and fat content, the better, in his eyes. So I really love taking a dish like Swedish Meatballs and making it healthier and free from dairy. I love it even more that he didn’t mind the changes at all. I know I’ve succeeded if he has seconds of a dish I have changed so much it actually deserves a whole new name.

When I first started eating dairy free, I struggled with the idea of everything tasting like coconuts or cashews. I have gotten over that fear and I am a little obsessed with coconuts, but I promise you this dish isn’t too coconutty… Traditionally, Swedish Meatballs are served with a ligonberry jam or sauce. Sure, I could drive to Ikea and get Ligonberries but I love replacing imported ingredients with locally abundant (i.e. cheaper) options. With fresh pomegranate seeds, you don’t need any sugar and they give the dish the perfect tart and sweet crunch it deserves.

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Swedish Meatballs over Cauliflower Mash 

800g or 1.7 lbs, Ground Beef (Grass Fed, organic if possible)

2 eggs

1 T parsley

1 t salt

1 t pepper

¼ t cinnamon

¼ t nutmeg

pinch of cloves

½ sweet onion, minced

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 ½ T coconut oil

Gravy

1/2 sweet onion, minced

1 garlic clove, mined

1 can coconut cream

2 cups beef broth or water

2 T oil or ghee

salt and pepper to taste

2 T arrowroot or tapioca flour

2t oil

1-3 garlic cloves, minced

1 medium head cauliflower, chopped in florets

1-2 T Coconut oil

salt and pepper to taste

1 pomegranate, seeded

  1. Mix beef, eggs, and seasoning in a bowl
  2. Heat ½ T of oil in a pan
  3. Sauté garlic and onion until soft and add to meatball mixture, combine with your hands
  4. Form into balls with 2 T of meat mixture and place on a plate
  5. Heat ½ T of oil at at time to fry meatballs in batches (about 10 at a time for 5-8 minutes)
  6. Drain meatballs on a strainer or on towels when finished cooking
  7. Make gravy by cooking onion and garlic in same skillet for one minute
  8. Add coconut milk, broth, ghee and salt and pepper
  9. Whisk and cook for 5 minutes
  10. Remove a ¼ cup of liquid and whisk in arrowroot, return to pan and simmer to thicken
  11. Add meatballs to pan and simmer gently while you make cauliflower rice
  12. Heat oil in a pan and add garlic, stir for one minute on medium heat, set aside
  13. Steam cauliflower until a fork easily pierces the florets (this step can be done ahead of time)
  14. Blend cauliflower, garlic, oil, salt, and pepper to taste and/or desired consistency
  15. Top cauliflower mash with meatballs and gravy
  16. Sprinkle with pomegranate seeds

Mindful Parenting

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At the end of January I got lucky and happened to see a text on my daughter’s preschool chat about a wellbeing event at LightHouse Arabia. I usually miss the good stuff so I was excited to see the event had not passed already.  The event cost only 75 dhs (20USD) and the fee was actually an optional donation to charity.

I am a mom of three and every day I wish I had done a bunch of things differently.  I want to be the calm mom and the strict mom. The mom that has polite well-behaved children, the ones that do chores without being asked. I want kids that are nice to each other and respect adults. I want them to do well in school and sports and to have nice friends. I wish they would eat more vegetables and enjoy my cooking, without complaints, every day. While I am making a wish list, I wish they would go on pinterest for inspiration and make their own goddamn lunches too.

I hope for lots of things for my children but what happens, everyday, is I get so caught up in the immediacy of it all that I end up just being a mediocre version of myself. I yell, I say things I wish I hadn’t and I settle for the minimum. Sometimes I don’t care if anyone brushes their teeth. But because I am me, and because I strive for success, I’ll feel guilty about it all later. And in this cycle I read and I write and I try to learn as much as I can. I try to have fun with them and enjoy the little moments, because they go so fast. I heard an interview with an amazing mother recently and she said everyone should be the mom that comes naturally to them and if you do that, your kids will turn out fine. It’s true though, we spend so much energy trying to be a different, better kind of parent that we can lose our strengths in the struggle.

Anyway…I do not have much wisdom for you, except that I learned a lot from the workshop that I went to and I thought I would share some of it here, on the blog to help others. It was super nice to take a break from my family on a Saturday and listen to well-trained professionals. The event was relaxing, peaceful and so welcoming. My kids did a couple of workshops for kids (technology and baking) and they loved them. I even got a free chair massage and free juice!

The first workshop I attended was Positive Discipline Strategies for Parents. I try to apply positivity to every aspect of my life, but being positive with discipline is super hard for me. Why? Because I get tired and annoyed and it’s so difficult to be constructive in those moments! Almost every friend groaned when I told them I was going to this workshop. They said, “I know how to do this, but I just don’t do it!” Exactly…

I have to say, my discipline strategies have not improved overnight from this workshop but I have been able to apply some of the principles to my everyday. These are the things that stood out to me:

Only pay attention and praise the behavior that you want to see more of instead of focusing on the bad behavior. This makes sense and it does work but it’s still challenging for me! What did help me though, is that the presenter focused on effective praise being much simpler than we think it is. You don’t have to offer rewards or gifts. A simple “thank you”or “you did such a great job with that” is enough.

The workshop included much more but the biggest takeaway I got from it was about how to engage with your kids one on one. This is my struggle with three kids. They all want me and demand things from me and I sometimes end not giving anything to all of them because I am so busy fending them off while I try to help one etc.  Studies show that just ten minutes, alone with each child, doing an activity of their choice is the best way to spend quality time with them. This is not driving in the car or even reading to them. This is child directed time. Don’t interfere too much, don’t ask too many questions, only narrate what they are doing. Example, “you put all the blue blocks together and all the red ones over there.”

I started doing this each day and my kids love it. It’s given more structure to our evenings and helped with everyone’s expectations when they know their time is coming. With my youngest she wants to play mommies and daddies or Sylvanian bunnies. My middle one wants to play Go Fish or “Gold Fish” as she calls it. My oldest one usually wants to play a game of cards or a board game. The important thing is that they pick the activity and they lead the way.

Next I went to a workshop about the appropriate use sof technology for kids. I learned a lot here and this topic opens up a huge can of worms. The internet is big, guys, and we can limit their use of screens and devices and the content they access BUT it is so important to be involved with their education in technology. I also learned the hard way this year that I need to teach my children what to do if they come across something inappropriate or unsuitable for children. My instinct was just to shelter them completely and while I will NOT be giving my kids unlimited and uncontrolled access to devices or the internet, it is important to teach them how to use these things. Like everything else in life, it is so important that these lessons come from parents and that we just keep talking and communicating. They need to know they can come to us if they see something that makes them uncomfortable or curious.

Lastly, I want to tell you about the Smart Heart Board Game. My two oldest children came with me to play a life-size version of this at the workshop. They loved the game so much that I bought it from the creators. The game involves just enough competition to keep my oldest engaged and they actually like playing it together. The typical birth order issues do come out and there is some bickering but it all ends well! Even my three-year old can play, if I help her. We’ve only had the game two weeks and everyone has their own special game piece and we play everyday.  I love it because it encourages talking, sharing and empathy, all the things I try to teach, but it does it in a way that is not too obvious. I now follow LightHouse Arabia on instagram so I don’t miss anymore amazing community days. For more information see links below!

http://www.lighthousearabia.com

https://www.smartheartboardgame.com

 

 

 

 

 

Thai Style Sweet Potato Zoodles

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Recently, I discovered the most amazing recipe for sweet potato noodles: (http://kristineskitchenblog.com/sweet-potato-noodles-with-peanut-sauce/) and I binged on them, big time. I made them for ladies nights, my kids, and for visitors. I ate them hot, cold, for dinner and lunch. Then I did allergy testing and found out I am intolerant to just about everything (whole other blog post) so I decided to work with the recipe to find a way to keep eating them. These noodles are gluten, soy, and peanut free.  Thank you to Kristine’s Kitchen Blog for giving me an amazing template to work with! * Note I usually double this sauce so that I can have extra to add to more zoodles or other vegetables. That’s sort of a lie, I just like things really saucey 🙂

1/4 cup tahini

1/4 cup almond butter

1/4 cup coconut aminos (or tamari/soy sauce)

3 cloves garlic, pressed or minced

2 inch piece of ginger, grated (adjust to your own taste)

2 limes, juiced

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper or hot sauce

2-4 T coconut milk if desired to thin sauce and add more Thai flavor

Assorted Zoodles ( I usually use 2-3 Sweet potatoes and 1 zucchini, I have also used butternut zoodles and beetroot zoodles, I play around with what I have on hand) but use about 5-6 cups of veggies

1 T coconut oil

1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

Toppings: chopped cilantro, green onions, and toasted sliced almonds or toasted sesame seeds

  1. Mix sauce ingredients together, dilute with coconut milk or water if desired.
  2. Heat oil in a wok or a large sauté pan.
  3. Stir fry until soft and water is released from veggies.
  4. Add the sauce and chickpeas, cook for several minutes to warm everything and blend the flavors.
  5. Add toppings and eat!

Coconut Corn Chowder

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Winter in Dubai…it’s mild, and fleeting but these cloudy and windy days are a great excuse for a warm soup.

This soup is a vegan take on a classic comfort soup. Using coconut cream and
chili, this soup has hints of Thai flavors. Served with smashed chickpeas and
roasted garlic on toast (or as a salad).
Chowder 
1 T coconut or olive oil (ghee can be used as well)
1 Onion, chopped
1 Green Chili, chopped, to taste (use half or no seeds if you want it less spicy)
3 cloves Garlic, chopped
2 sticks Celery, diced
1 large sweet or white potato, peeled and cubed
2 tbsp Cooking Oil or Butter
1 pinch of chili powder, optional
2 tsp dried thyme
½-1 tsp. Salt
300-500 ml Water
1 can Coconut Cream
2 cans Sweet Corn (sub bell pepper or chopped leeks if paleo)
1 bunch Spring Onions, chopped
1 bunch Parsley, chopped
Smashed Chickpea and Garlic Toasts 
1 head of Garlic, cut in half
2 tbsps. Olive Oil
1 tbsp. Vinegar
1 can Chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 Red Bell Pepper, chopped
Salt and Black Pepper, to taste
Nice thick bread of choice (optional)
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius, cut the whole garlic in half, drizzle
with olive oil and wrap in foil
Place on a tray and bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes, while chopping
ingredients and preparing soup
Chop the onion, green chili and three cloves of garlic. Dice the celery. Peel and
dice the potato.
Heat the oil or ghee  in a large, heavy bottom saucepan
Sauté onion, garlic, celery, chili, chili powder, thyme and salt until they brown
Add potato and water, bring to boil and simmer until potatoes soften
Meanwhile, prepare the garlic and chickpea toasts;
Remove garlic from oven and squeeze out roasted garlic
Whisk garlic with oil and vinegar
Drain, rinse and partially mash the chickpeas with a fork
in a bowl.
Chop the red bell pepper.
Add the bell pepper, and mix with the roasted garlic dressing
Salt and pepper to taste
Slice and toast the bread
When the soup is done, blend or emulsify soup if desired, return to pot
Stir coconut milk and sweet corn into soup and gently simmer until warm and
thick
Add salt and pepper to taste
Garnish soup with chopped spring onions and fresh parsley
Smother toast with chickpea mixture or eat over lettuce if eating low carb, paleo, or grain free.

Cookies!!! Hazelnut Orange Chocolate Chip…

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img_0409I eat pretty clean and healthy, but I  still crave treats, and nothing beats a cookie warm out of the oven. This recipe is adapted slightly from the back of a bag of Bob’s Red Mill Hazelnut Flour. The original recipe calls for a flax seed and water mixture to replace an egg but I figured, if you’re already cutting out wheat and sugar, let’s keep the egg and live a little. This recipe is easily vegan by adding 2.5 T of water to the 1 T flax meal and letting it sit for a few minutes to thicken. I kept the flax in the recipe to make them extra healthy…

1 T flaxseed meal
1 cup Hazelnut flour
1/2 cup coconut sugar
1/2 t baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)
1/4 t salt
3/4 cup nut butter (I used a cashew, coconut, almond blend)
1/2 cup coconut oil (or veg oil)
1 egg
1 t vanilla
1/2 cup grated, organic, raw chocolate or dark chocolate chips, I used a block of pana raw, vegan, orange flavored chocolate

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F or 176 C
  2. Mix dry ingredients together
  3. In another bowl, mix nut butter, oil, egg and vanilla until it’s uniform
  4. Fold in your chocolate source
  5. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment baking paper
  6. Scoop 1.5 T of cookie batter onto sheet, leaving 1 inch between each cookie
  7. Bake 15-18 min

Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

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Sweet Potatoes Stuffed with Cashew Creamed Kale
This is a paleo version of a classic American comfort food that traditionally uses lots of
dairy and fat. This version has all of the flavour, without the empty ingredients.
200 g  or 1 cup Cashews
Coconut/Cooking Oil
Coarse Salt
Black Pepper
4 Sweet Potatoes, cut in half
2 bunches of Kale, center stalk removed, coarsely chopped
1-2 tsp  Nutmeg
3-4 T coconut oil, ghee, or butter
10 Shallots, peeled and sliced thinly
Soak cashews in enough water to completely cover them, 4 hours
to overnight (the longer the better. If  needed, soak in hot water for
30 mins).
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius.
Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper
Drizzle with oil and salt and pepper
Cut sweet potatoes in halves (or quarters if very big). Dredge and coat both sides of
sweet potatoes with oil and salt and pepper
Roast skin side up for 20 minutes or until soft
Bring a salted pot of water to boil and cook kale until tender (10-15 minutes)
Prepare cashew cream by draining cashews and rinsing well
Blend with 200-250 ml of water, or more until you have a toothpaste consistency
Season with nutmeg, salt and pepper
Drain kale and mix with cashew cream to warm and mix flavors
Saute shallots in 3-4 T of oil until they golden and crispy (can be done ahead of time and stored in an airtight container).  These totally make the dish so don’t skip this step!
Serve sweet potatoes with creamed kale on top and sprinkle them with the crispy shallots.
The creamed kale with crispy shallots is amazing as a Thanksgiving side too…just saying 🙂

A Beginners Guide To Meditation

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(The most zen like photo I could find of myself…)

If I told you I received a mantra from my grandmother for my ninth birthday, you would probably ask what cult I was raised in. No cult. Just your typical suburban upbringing. My grandmother, when she was living, had a lifelong relationship with Transcendental Meditation (TM) and she lived in an ashram during my childhood. I received my mantra from her friend, a TM teacher named Olga on a sunny day in September. I was young enough to accept all of it without questioning it or being worried what my friends would think if I told them. I tried to use it but, like most things a child is left alone to pursue, I couldn’t find my own motivation. I am still grateful for the introduction even though I never continued my education in TM.

Fast forward quite a few years. I used my child’s walking mantra when I thought of it or under times of stress but, like most people, I just didn’t “get” meditation. I loved yoga but, whenever the teacher invited the class to sit with our eyes closed and meditate, my inner dialogue would only accelerate its normal pace. All I could think was “I’m not good at it. It doesn’t work. I can’t clear my mind. I am not able to meditate. I am so uncomfortable. And my favorite: When will this be over!”

It has taken me almost 30 years to realize that this inner dialogue is the point of meditation. Over time, your mind learns to be in the moment for longer periods of time and, when thoughts do float in, you try to accept them and let them keep on walking.

In the last 9 months, I have been exploring the wide world of sound healing meditations in Dubai and I have become a little obsessed. I have gotten a few friends hooked too. We are all texting each other events and clearing our busy evenings when we can. As it turns out, relaxation is addictive.

Sound meditations are like a private concert for your mind and body. If you like feeling a sense of calm, music and lying down with your eyes closed, you might like them too. There are a variety of styles of sound meditations going on in Dubai. Gong, singing bowls and hand pans are the ones I have experienced. The idea is that your body and mind relax so you are able to receive the sound vibrations and bring your body into a state of balance.

It’s not all perfect, like everything in life, it has many ups and downs. Last Spring, I dragged my reluctant husband to a sound healing meditation and he snored so loud I couldn’t get out of my state of distraction and annoyance to find my bliss. Another morning, I arranged a private singing bowl meditation on Stand-Up Paddle (SUP) boards at Surf House Dubai for myself and friends. It was beautiful, but I realized morning meditations might not be the easiest for a frazzled mom after the school drop off. I love being in the ocean on a SUP board and I love singing bowl meditations, but maybe not together. Luckily, there is no shortage of choices in Dubai for timings and venues. My best advice is to try different ones. Don’t judge only on your first impressions. Try to keep an open mind. Lastly, be easy on yourself. Learning mindfulness is a journey, not a race.

To help you ease into the idea of meditation I have created a beginner’s guide of why and how to enjoy meditation, even if you think you will hate it!

1)It’s much cheaper than a massage (costs vary from approximately 50-150 dhs per session) and many meditations are even free, a super huge bonus in Dubai!

2)You don’t have to know how to do it, there are no breathing techniques or methodologies, you just have to sit or lay down, listen and relax.

3)You might fall asleep which indicates a deep sense of relaxation where healing can occur but don’t fret, if you don’t fall asleep, your body is still getting benefits and it may help you sleep better that night.

4)It forces you to switch off. There are no mobile phone noises You are not checking emails or texts and nobody is trying to get your attention. As a mom of three, this is my favorite part. Surprisingly, meditations are one of the few places that people actually adhere to the “no mobile” rule.

5)You are doing something great for yourself. There are immediate effects on your body and mind but the results can also have a larger effect, such as reducing stress, PTSD, depression, anxiety and pain.

6)You may be having a positive effect on the world around you. Studies have shown that large group meditations have a positive effect on the community around them. If you take a large group of people and they are all thinking about peace and love, the positive energy is bound to trickle down to others.

7)You can meet great people. There is no judgement, no exclusivity or rudeness. You will be greeted by kind people who are glad you came.

8)It gives you a new insight into Dubai. Many meditation venues are devoid of the typical glitz and glamour of Dubai. I have developed a deeper appreciation for the special culture and spirituality present in our vibrant city.

9)Meditation, even if you don’t feel like it’s working, changes the way you think and feel over time, and change is an important thing for us as humans. As many people say, change is the only constant in life.

10)There really aren’t any rules. You will hear people around you shifting or coughing, you might even hear some snoring. My advice is to arrive early, find a comfortable spot, leave your phone at home or in the car and relax!

Some Meditation Venues in Dubai

http://illuminations.ae/apps/mindbody/list-schedule
http://lifenone.com/schedules/
https://www.facebook.com/TaijituHouseOfOM/?fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/groups/zarinegongmeditations/

Lastly, if the sound of a group meditation is too overwhelming for you, I can’t stress the amazing side effects of developing a short daily meditation practice at home enough. Think you don’t have time?
Do you have time to sit for five- ten minutes a day with your phone on silent and breath deeply?
If you don’t, you might need to reassess your lifestyle 🙂 I keep headphones in my purse and use windows of time to meditate using guided apps instead of wasting time doing other things that I thought were relaxing (news, anyone?!). I have noticed that I feel more rested, relaxed and calm since incorporating these moments of mindfulness into my life.

These are my favorite apps, they are so easy to use and help me make time for meditation, everyday. Buddhify is the first one I downloaded, and it’s great for beginners, the meditations are short and categorized by specific purposes.

http://buddhify.com

http://www.meditationstudioapp.com

https://www.headspace.com

Beef and Broccoli or Chickpeas and Broccoli (15 min dinner)

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I’m trying to be better about only buying what I need and using what I have…In an effort to do something unique with some frozen organic beef cubes I threw this together after school on Thursday. I served it with rice for my kiddos. For us, I briefly sautéed carrot and zucchini noodles in sesame oil with crushed red pepper. I tossed tons of green onion and toasted sesame seeds on top and  called it dinner. For myself, because I am trying to eat more plant based I skipped the beef cubes and added chickpeas, there was enough sauce in the pan to season my beans.

Gluten Free, Paleo (beef version), Dairy Free, Grain Free, Vegan if you make the chickpea version 

1 lb beef cubes

1 big bunch of broccoli florets

1 bell pepper, thinly sliced

5 cloves, garlic, minced

1 large chunk garlic, grated in microplane

3 T coconut oil

1 T sesame oil

Whisk together following ingredients:

1/4 cup Tamari or coconut aminos (still haven’t found these in Dubai and am still wondering wtf they are )

2 T cider vinegar

1 T arrowroot

1/2 lime, juiced

Toppings 

Green onions, diced

Sesame seeds, toasted in a dry pan

  1. Heat oil in a non-coated pan
  2. Brown beef cubes
  3. Add broccoli, garlic and peppers to pan and sauté for a few minutes to soften
  4. Add liquid and arrowroot mixture
  5. Cook to desired temperature, sauce will thicken
  6. Top with green onions and sesame seeds

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I only got a photo of this while I was cooking so you’ll have to take my word for it, it looked pretty before I ate it.

 

 

 

Healthy Peach Cobbler

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This recipe was developed for a cooking demo at Cycle Hub Cafe in Motor City for Dinnertime and it’s one I am proud of. Quick, cheap (at the right time of year), easy, and healthy…and at least one of my kids liked it.

Ingredients:

1 can coconut cream, refrigerated to thicken cream, set aside
7 cups peaches, sliced  (about 10 peaches)
2 limes, zested and juiced (set aside zest)
1 tbsp. Arrowroot, mixed with the juice of two limes
2-4 tbsps. Honey, Maple Syrup, or Coconut Syrup (optional)
1/4 cup Coconut Oil +extra for greasing

1 cup Almond Flour
2 tsps. Vanilla Extract or scrapings from one pod
1/2 cup Shredded Unsweetened Coconut (desiccated coconut in Dubai)
1/4 cup Pistachios, chopped
1 Lime, juiced
Honey (optional), if desired
Preheat oven to 190 degrees C/375 F 
1)Slice peaches and set aside in a bowl.
2)Zest and juice the limes.
3)Whisk arrowroot and lime juice from 1 1/2 limes together.
4)Add honey and whisk again.
5)Pour over peach mixture.
6)Grease a baking pan with coconut oil, and pour mixture in the pan.
7)Mix oil, almond flour, vanilla, shredded coconut and pistachios in a bowl.
8)Top peaches with crumble mixture and place in the oven to bake for 40 minutes.
While it’s baking:
Juice the third lime and whisk the lime juice, zest and honey (optional) into the
the coconut cream.
Top peach cobbler with coconut cream. What I love about this dessert is you could change the fruits and nut combos for infinite possibilities.

Welcome!

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Two years ago I started writing again after becoming a mom of three. As a mom of one, I would occasionally belt out a description of life with a baby, or jot down a poetic line or two but I found myself needing a glass of wine more than pen and paper each night. Oh, how easy it all was, looking back.

As a mom of two toddlers, I was excited to get a Kindle and a smartphone, to feel connected to other peoples words, more than my own.

And then as a mom of three I started to think about who I was again and what I wanted out of life beyond caring for my children. I had lots of half-baked ideas for business ventures and humanitarian endeavors but in the end, I ended right back where I started, writing and cooking, sometimes for money. Over the past two years I have led cooking demos, written recipes for Dinnertime UAE, The National, and Gems Magazine while and continuing to write fiction, submitting my work for occasional contests and classes. But mostly, I write for my bi-monthly writers group meetings and I get feedback, and I start over, each week on a goal that is hard to see and impossible to touch. I decided to start this blog as a place to show some of the projects I have been working on, as well as give myself another creative outlet beyond my desktop folder of unfinished chapters.

I hope you enjoy reading!