Friday, October 26, 2012

Gluten free seitan style cutlets and creamy orange rise n' shine porridge




Creamy Orange Millet Rise n' Shine Porridge

If you would like to continue to follow my work......
My recipes and I can now be found @

I hope to see you there!    
 
Delicious, creamy millet flavored with orange, banana, vanilla and a hint of cinnamon!  This is the perfect hearty breakfast for a cold fall or winter morning.  It will brighten that cold morning with the sunny citrus orange flavor but will fill your tummy and keep you warm on those cold mornings.  

I found an amazing way to overcome the somewhat gritty undesirable texture of millet and this breakfast was so creamy and delicious.  My kids cleaned their bowls and they usually don't like porridge style breakfast, they like pancakes, muffins and other baked goods.


I couldn't resist posting a couple of my recent recipes!  I know, I know I said my blog would be retired and in a sense it is......no more recipes will be available but if you want to keep up with what I am creating you can always check back for the pics.


My recipes will now only be available through: 
BODYMADE 
www.bodymadepro.com  


The new android app is the only place to get my latest recipes.


Gluten Free Seitan Style Cutlets


Oh, my these little cutlets are DELICIOUS!  They will be served on Thanksgiving as part of my Peaceful Thanksgiving menu!

It is extremely difficult to get a gluten free style seitan to work out well but these were delicious.  My husband said they certainly made his top ten list!  They held together very well, had a great texture and tasted delicious with a dollop of creamy gravy!!

I served them with delicious quinoa pilaf for a delicious, complete meal!


I went through a short period of chef block where I just could not come up with recipes but it seems it is over and I am back in the kitchen creating.  It has been fun to create without stress as well as to take time off from creating when I'm just not feeling it.

Monday, October 15, 2012

A video of past recipes




If you would like to continue to follow my work......
My recipes and I can now be found @

I hope to see you there!   
I thought it would be fun to post a video that detailed some of my favorite recipes that I've created over the years.    I am still creating recipes and actually enjoying it.   My kids love whatever I make and that really makes it SO much more enjoyable!

The recipes I create from here on out will be created for Bodymade and the recipes won't be available however I may from time to time post updates and pictures so you might want to get my Brand New Android App:  Simple Chef

It should be in the android store next week!!  I'm so excited!

I taught a nutrition class on Saturday for Bodymade and it was fantastic!!  

I am now officially the Director of Nutrition & Research for Bodymade

I am excited to begin this new adventure and I have enjoyed teaching nutrition on a more personal level.  

Friday, October 5, 2012

The Peaceful Kitchen Retiring



If you would like to continue to follow my work......
My recipes and I can now be found @

I hope to see you there!   

My very candid goodbye letter to my blog

I have been contemplating whether to continue my blog or to stop blogging for a long time.  It has been a very difficult decision for me because I really love sharing my recipes.   I've spent many nights talking to my husband about how much I love creating recipes and sharing them with others but at the same time I feel a lot of pressure and stress to create perfect, amazing, recipes and you know, not every recipe turns out to be amazing!  It didn't used to bother me, it just made me more determined, but lately it is just causing me to lose the joy in the process.

I know I have indicated in many posts that I may stop posting recipes and just post health or nutrition information but then I continue creating recipes because I love it so much.   I have wrestled with this for the last six months but I finally realized that it just isn't bringing me the joy it once did.  The stress associated with creating recipes isn't coming from my readers of course, it really is from other sources, but I just feel a lot of stress none the less.  There have been many things that have happened over the last couple of months that have solidified my decision to lay my blog to rest and free myself from recipe creating.

When creating recipes sometimes they turn out truly amazing while other times they turn out to be total disasters!

I've been embarrassed on more than one occasion when cooking for family, friends, or others only to have the recipe not turn out that ONE time I am making it for other people!  This is very difficult for me because I feel so much joy in sharing recipes that people enjoy, but I also feel equal stress, frustration, and anger at myself when it doesn't turn out and people do not enjoy it the way I hoped they would because it didn't turn out right.

I have had my share of successes when it comes to creating recipes, but I have also had  my share of complete failures as well.  It used to be that these ups and downs of the process would just make me want to try that much harder.  My kitchen would literally EXPLODE as I would spend all day making gluten free muffins, bread, or something else until I got it right!   I ended up feeling so over full from testing all these recipes trying to make it just right.......... but the satisfaction of 'getting it right' was so worth it!  I felt such a sense of accomplishment.

I think the stress of always feeling like I have to come out with some amazing, perfect recipe has worn me out over the years.  It can be tough when you have grown up with professional critics, I think I am my own worst critic, but growing up with many critics in my life has caused me to be so cautious about everything I do and the stress has really drained the joy out of creating recipes for me.

I had planned to post nutrition information from my classes and from the latest research

I tested out a few nutrition articles that were filled with the latest research to see how I felt that might work into my blog, but I don't feel that it is the right thing for me.  I enjoy teaching people in a class setting where they can ask questions and we can have a dialog.   The anonymity of the internet unfortunately brings out the worst in people and nutrition is a VERY hot topic that can bring out very strong emotions.

I have been the center of controversy, gossip, and mud flinging since I started my journey to improve my health over eight years ago.  I dealt with all  kinds of name calling, hurtful gossip, teasing, wrongful judgment and very hurtful things from people close to me and I spent many nights crying wondering why people would make such a big deal over my personal choice.  

I used to say to my husband, why do people care so much what is on MY plate?  If I want a big plate of cow manure what difference does that make to them?   After 8 years of dealing with social gatherings where I tried to ever so quietly eat my food in the corner so as to not cause any uproar only to have my dinner plate become the subject of discussion, ridicule, and bullying I just feel that I don't want to put myself out in the controversial arena of nutrition.  The truth is out there but food is SO emotional, political, financial etc..... it is worse than talking politics or religion!  Honestly it is.

I've experienced enough bullying, ridicule, and anger from the people that surround me and therefore I just don't feel up to dealing with it increased exponentially by the anonymity of the internet.


I would like to thank those who have enjoyed my recipes and who have been kind and gracious supporters

Thank you to those of you who have helped me, supported me, and enjoyed my recipes I truly appreciate your love and support!  I know there are a few of you who have followed my blog and who have enjoyed my recipes.  I will leave the blog up and the recipes will be available to those who have enjoyed them.  

Time to retire my blog and find some inner peace and joy in a new endeavor

I have begun working with a new company and have been asked to teach for them and I am excited about this new opportunity that I have to share with others in a more fulfilling way.  I may post some invitations on my blog to hear me speak or attend one of my cooking classes so there may be a few posts here and there but in general my blog will be officially retired.................................. 

It is hard for me to let go, but at the same time it feels strangely liberating as well..... 


Thursday, September 27, 2012

Four Week Optimal Nutrition Course








The Long Awaited Announcement.......

If you would like to continue to follow my work......
My recipes and I can now be found @

I hope to see you there!   
 
I have waited for a long time to share this information with you, I will be working with Bodymade and all of my nutrition consultations, classes, and seminars will now be offered through Bodymade. 

Please join me at the four week Optimal Nutrition class in Utah Beginning Saturday, October 13th from 10am to noon.

Lunch Served
RSVP appreciated



If you live in the Utah County area and would like to attend this Four Week nutrition class please RSVP Today!

Come join me and learn the most up to date, research based nutrition information and enjoy a light lunch!

RSVP at info@bodymadepro.com  or call us at
385-208-1342

Friday, September 21, 2012

Vegan Black Bean and Pineapple Enchilada Recipe

Delicious Vegan Black Bean and Pineapple Enchilada Recipe
If you would like to continue to follow my work......
My recipes and I can now be found @

I hope to see you there!   

Light and fresh combination of sweet, juicy pinapple, cilantro, and black beans in a delicious twist on traditional enchiladas.  I used fresh, homemade, whole grain gluten free tortillas in this recipe and it really gave it that extra something special!  You can certainly use your favorite tortilla whether whole wheat, corn or gluten free.

This recipe is featured in this weeks Wellness Weekend....check out the other delicious recipes by Clicking Here.

The inspiration for this recipe came from a recipe book my mom let me borrow.  It certainly is NOT a vegan recipe book but with my creative genius I have been able to convert the recipes into healthy, delicious vegan versions my family has LOVED!

Obviously this enchilada didn't take a lot of converting but I took quite a few liberties with this one to add more flavor.  Most non-vegan recipes do not rely on complex flavors, rather they rely on being smothered in greasy cheese.   You will notice that my famous cheese sauce is featured in this recipe but it is FAR from being greasy, it is based on a healthy combination of vegetables.

These enchiladas are PACKED with nutrient rich vegetables and black beans.  This is a nourishing meal that will delight your taste buds, not a nutrient poor meal that will leave you feeling heavy and your body lacking.

I know I promised this recipe yesterday, sometimes it is hard when I commit myself to a certain day.....

My Kids are often frustrated with my recipe creating.......


My kiddos K and C sitting below the falls in the canyon near our home!

We call my son Oscar the actor because he LOVES acting!



It isn't that they don't love the food.....my daughter always says to me...............

"I LOVE having a mom that is a famous chef!"

Okay, I know I am not famous by any means, but she thinks I am.  I asked her why and she said because then I get to eat amazing food all the time!  I'm really glad my kids enjoy the food I prepare.  That is what brings me so much joy in my life, I love creating HEALTHY recipes to share and to know that others enjoy them so much.  Kids can be hard to please and mine are no different.  My daughter would just as soon eat ice cream for breakfast, donuts and oreos for lunch and chocolate chip cookies for dinner.  Trust me she is picky, but she loves the healthy food I make and that says a lot.

Anyway, why do my kids get frustrated with my recipe creating?


Because I write all over their school notebooks or any paper I can find!!

My daughter was hollering at me yesterday for writing in her math notebook and it wasn't the first time.  When I get inspiration for a recipe anything that can be written on is fair game!  Sometimes it is just thoughts of ingredients that would be delicious combined and so I will write down the recipe name idea and a list of ingredients and unfortunately I often lose the paper and forget what I wanted to create.....that is the worst!

I promised the Enchilada recipe would be posted yesterday!

Okay, the next hazard of being me is promising recipes and then not being able to post them when I say.  I really am reliable I promise!   I generally like things to be neat and tidy and I am always on time when I have an appointment or I am meeting someone, so WHY can't I do the same with recipes?

Like I said, with that creative brain there is NO planning when inspiration comes, it just comes!  So you grab a paper, a book, an envelope or whatever and you start writing.  The problem comes when you LOSE what you were writing on!!!!

You guessed it, I LOST the recipe for the black bean and pineapple enchiladas!

I swear if I had all those lost recipes and could make a dime off of each of them I would be a rich woman :-)  

Anyway, luckily after a lot of searching....thumbing through ALL my notebooks, flipping over papers, and opened envelopes etc....  I found the recipe on a shelf below my desk waiting to be typed out....ugh.  If only you could organize creativity!

So the much awaited recipe has been found and I am posting it now so that there is no risk of it ending up lost in my pile of creative mess!





Friday, September 14, 2012

Moving and posting Vegan, Gluten Free Minestrone Soup

Moving and Losing Things


If you would like to continue to follow my work......
My recipes and I can now be found @

I hope to see you there!   

We have moved so many times over the years, this is the picture of our truck before our 1 month cross country trip.   This may not be the picture of this past move two weeks ago but it is always the same, frantically trying to find your belongings in mountains of boxes.  You can see that even on my cross country trip I took my Blentec blender with me!

I have been creating recipes like crazy, of course my kitchen was the first thing unpacked and ready to go even though there are still a few things I can't find that are probably hiding in some random box, packed last minute, that is still sitting in the garage.

I wanted to post sooner but alas, my camera battery died and low and behold I could not find the charger.  Some recipes did not get photographed and so I just decided to pick up where I am and carry on.  Needless to say, I DID find my charger so it's all good now.  I will post those recipes another time, or save them for an e-book someday.

I think I am all set and ready to go as far as my blog is concerned, the kitchen is functional, I have my camera, and computer is all set up as well so I'm good to go!


One of my greatest joys is to create recipes and prepare food for those I love and watch them enjoy what I have created for them.

I also enjoy sharing my recipes with readers and I LOVE to hear feedback from those who have tried recipes and have enjoyed them.  It has been such a joy to be able to do that.   I keep going back and forth about how I want to go forward with my blog.

There are days I feel a lot of stress trying to create recipes fast enough to keep up on the blog.  There are times I am FILLED with recipe ideas and I end up spending all day creating them which ends up leading to me overeating because I am tasting all the yummy food.  

Sometimes all the obsession with creating delicious recipes to share ignites my past emotional eating issues and 5 pounds will show up out of nowhere.  It seems to be this battle between doing what I love, sharing it with others [which I also love] and loving myself.  

I am not a salesperson nor a business person or some savvy internet marketer- I just do what I love and that is helping others with health challenges and supporting them by sharing my recipes.   

Many of the recipes I share are foods I don't really eat all that often, especially the gourmet desserts.  I'd really rather share real life healthy eating than try to keep up the gourmet stuff.  

Well enough rambling......

Minestrone Soup Recipe


Minestrone soup seems to be such a simple classic, but honestly this soup was out of this world delicious and packed to the brim with vegetables!  My family really enjoyed this with some fresh homemade gluten free bread.


Thursday, September 6, 2012

Gluten-free bagels, and Rosemary Butternut Cream Sauce Recipe

Gluten-Free Chewy Bagel Recipe


If you would like to continue to follow my work......
My recipes and I can now be found @

I hope to see you there!   
The Rosemary Butternut Sauce recipe is featured in the Wellness Weekend please see the other featured recipes by clicking HERE! 
Gluten free bagels with a chewy inside and a lightly crispy crust.  I tested a couple of bagel techniques and this one turned out perfectly.  My son who is not gluten free kept begging for more bagels, my husband who is a bagel afficionado really enjoyed these bagels as well.  I was so happy to see that my whole family whether gluten free or not could enjoy a gluten free yeasted bread.  Normally the gluten free breads are exclusively eaten by the GF members of the family because they aren't very good.  

My goal in creating these recipes is to make gluten free delicious for everyone!  Celiacs and others who must eat gluten free should NOT have to sacrifice taste or texture.  I wanted to keep you updated on all the recipes that are being created for the Gluten Free Breads E-book coming up at the end of the month.


Okay....on to today's recipe......

Rosemary Butternut Cream Sauce over Pasta


If you are in need of a FAST, easy dinner, this is perfect.  You do have to bake a butternut squash but honestly, I pop it in the oven an hour before I need to make dinner and forget about it.  It is so easy, you don't really have to 'do' anything.  If you forget to do that you certainly could use canned squash if needed, or you can bake squash and freeze it to make it easier to use when needed.

The bottom picture is actually how we served it, with crumbled sunburgers you can get The Peaceful Kitchen Sunburger Recipe HERE.