I have used yogurt for marinating various meats and it suddenly occurred to me that kombucha would make a good marinade. It did, the meat was so soft, it just melted in our mouths. This recipe is fantastic. The rosemary comes gently through the meat–it is just amazing how well rosemary goes with lamb.

Serves 2

• 2 lamb shanks (grass-fed is best!)
• 1/2 c kombucha (or thereabouts)
• 2 sprigs of rosemary, chopped
• 3 toes garlic, minced
• 2 onions, sliced
• 3 c meat stock
• 4 carrots, medium dice
• 1/2 lb green beans, cut into pieces

Method: Place the lamb shanks into a dish and cover them with the kombucha, add the rosemary and garlic and roll the shanks around. Place in fridge overnight.

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I picked up a bag of shelled hazelnuts and soon found they are very easy to shell using a morter and pestle. After soaking the nut meat overnight I roasted them in a very low oven. The following recipe is what resulted next:

• 1 1/2 c hazelnuts (ground)
• 1/2 c almonds (ground)
• 1 T anise (ground)
• 3 T butter, softened (or coconut, lard, duck fat)
• 6 eggs (separated)
• 1″ slice date paste or 2 handfuls of seeded dates
• 1/2 c boiling water (approximate)

Method: Boil water and soak the dates in boiling water to soften. Mix the nuts, anise and butter. Add egg yolks to the nut mixture. Mash the dates to a pulp and add to mixture. Mix well. Beat egg whites to stiff peaks (add a pinch of salt). Fold the egg whites into the nut mixture in 2 to 3 stages. Do not over mix. The egg whites will bring air into the mixture to lighten the cake.

Place mixture into a round cake tin that has been buttered and floured. Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

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My copy of Gut and Psychology Syndrome by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride arrived last week and over the weekend I had leftover spaghetti squash. On page 149 I found a recipe for egg-free bread/cake/muffins which called for mashed squash. Spaghetti squash is a little watery so it comes out quite dense, but very healthy and tasty.

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I recently had a wonderful interaction with a Burmese food lover over a photo I had posted on facebook of the famous Burmese Mont Lin Ma Yar. These delicious street corner snacks are a real treat, I wish I could get them on the corner downtown Vancouver, BC! She kindly translated the recipe for me from her favorite Burmese recipe site and so I am posting it here for future reference:

From the Myanmar Cupid Cookbook by Pyo Pyo May Translated by Naomi Aung. Amounts are variable, test it out to see how thick you need the mixture.

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This recipe is adapted from D. Mary’s recipe for Cucumbers in Jars on page 75 in the book Preserving Food without Freezing or Canning

• 1 1/2 T sea salt per quart (litre) of water
• unchlorinated water
• small handful fennel seeds
• 6-10 black peppercorns
• 1 T mustard seeds
• 5-7 cloves
• 5-6 cloves of garlic, sliced
• 8-10 small to medium sized cucumbers, washed
• dill flower heads and leaves
• small handful of coriander seeds
• clean jars with canning tops
• 1 horseradish root, sliced (to keep cucumbers firm)

Method: Add the salt to a bottle of transmogrified water and shake it until it dissolves. Give your cucumbers a good wash and put the spices and garlic into the jar. Pierce the cucumbers with a fork a few times so the brine will penetrate into them. Squeeze the cucumbers upright into the jar (with the horseradish) and place the dill on top.

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Now here is a great alternative for cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving, especially if you like the flavors of Asia this is modeled on Sally Fallon’s raisin chutney recipe in Nourishing Traditions.

• 1 lb (500g) fresh dates (pitted)
• 1 lb (500g) fresh cranberries
• 1 t red chili flakes
• 1/2 head garlic, crushed
• 2 T coriander seeds
• 1 T cumin seeds
• 1 T anise seeds
• 1 T fenugreek seeds
• 5 black peppercorns
• 2 inches ginger, grated
• 2 t sea salt
• 1/4 c whey
• 1/2 c water

Method: Cook cranberries with water until soft. Add dates and mash. Peel and pound ginger and garlic in a morter and pestle. Place the spices in a pan and dry roast until the aroma rises from the pan. Process until well ground.

Mix the date and cranberries with the spices, ginger and garlic, add the salt and whey. Place in jars, pour in enough whey to cover the top of the chutney. Let stand about 2 days in a warm spot in your kitchen. Transfer to fridge and eat within 2 months.

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One of my favorite places to get this cake in Yangon is at at little hole-in-the-wall fresh coffee shop on Sule Pagoda Road. In Burmese this cake is called San Win Ma Kin.

• 1/2 c semolina (substitute cream of wheat)
• 1/2 c sugar
• 1 c coconut cream
• 1 c warm water
• 3 eggs (beaten)
• 1/4 t salt
• 2 T clarified butter (ghee)
• 2 T raisins
• 2 T poppy seeds

Method: Toast semolina until golden, mix in sugar and water. Let stand 30 minutes. Beat eggs and add to mixture.

Heat clarified butter in a large pan add semolina mixture and cook stirring constantly until thick. Add the raisins, coconut cream and salt and 1 T poppy seeds, keep stirring for about 5 minutes and the mixture leaves the sides of the pan.

Put into cake pan smooth and brush with butter and sprinkle with remaining poppy seeds. Bake at 180 degrees F for 15 minutes until top is golden. Add caramelized coconut as a topping.

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Lacto-fermentation is actually safer than canning for the inexperienced beginner as there is less chance of contamination with unwanted bacteria and asparagus are high in inulin which lactobacilli love to eat.

• 1 kg asparagus
• 4 dried chili peppers (optional)
• 6 cloves garlic, sliced
• 10 black peppercorns, crushed
• 1/2 cup Himalayan crystal salt or kosher salt
• 2 liters water

Method Wash and trim asparagus, if the asparagus is fat and tough, peel the skin. Layer asparagus spears, chili peppers, garlic, peppercorns in a large glass jar. Dissolve the salt in the water. Pour the brine over, being sure the asparagus is submerged. Add more water if necessary. Weigh everything down with a plate, stone or a zip-lock bag filled with water. Put in a cool place out of direct sunlight. I usually put a plate or muslin cloth over the top to keep out dust and other unwanted additions.

In a couple days you will see tiny bubbles rising. Skim off any scum that forms on top of the brine. The pickles will be ready in 10-14 days depending on the temperature. The bubbling will stop and the beans will taste sour. Remove the weight skim again, put the lid on and refrigerate or put into a cool cellar for storage.

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This is a multi-purpose soaked-nut dough recipe, with variations for making delicious:

• muffins
• pancakes
• crackers

Basic Nut Dough:

• 2 cups soaked almonds or other nut (soak for 7 or more hours in water with a tsp or two of salt)
• 3 eggs
• 1/3 cup fat (like butter, coconut oil, lard, tallow, -these last better for savory breads in my experience)
• 1 tsp baking soda (optional)
• pinch unrefined salt (I use celtic sea salt)

For a savory option add 2 tsp. finely minced fresh or dried rosemary.

Method Blend very well in food processor. Spread in a well greased pan and bake 20-25 min at 350 degrees F  until slightly browned. This dough does not keep long in the fridge, maybe a day or two, but it can be used to make many things.

For pancakes, add 2-3 more eggs and fry in lots of good butter or coconut oil.

For muffins add any or all of the following:

• 1/2 cup roasted squash/pumpkin or other mushy fruit or veggie (for moisture)
• pureed dried fruit or honey for sweetness
• whole dried fruit
• cinnamon
• almond flavor or vanilla
• raw grated ginger
• allspice, nutmeg or cloves
• a little more fat than the bread…
• other crispy nuts or seeds

For crackers use the basic dough and spread on a well greased pan. Bake at 300 for 45 min, or until browned and crispy.

This recipe is good for the GAPS or SCD diet, or anyone who wants to stay away from gluten and likes a healthy and tasty snack!  Also, a food processor is the best kitchen tool ever for making nut recipes, I wouldn’t last a day without it.

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This was a lucky discovery. Tasty and amazingly good for you as well. Fenugreek greens can sometimes be found in an Indian food market and are often used in Ayurvedic cooking.

Serves 4

• 1 large avocado
• 2c quinoa (cooked)
• 1/2 c green olives stuffed with garlic
• 1/2 bunch fenugreek greens
• 1/2 bunch mint
• 1/2 lime’s juice
• 1-2T e.v. olive oil
• pinch of salt and pepper

Method This is great for using up leftover quinoa but other grains like rice, buckwheat, or bulgar could also be used. Dice the avocado, slice the olives, rough chop the fenugreek and mint. Toss together and add the lime juice, olive oil and season to taste.

Fenugreek has a very uniquely light maple syrup aroma/flavor which really brings out the mint and goes well with the quinoa and avocado. It also gets into your skin and you may notice that you are smelling like maple syrup for a few days after eating it. A nice bonus for your workmates if you have terrible B.O

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