Mindful Chatter

Is Your Life Made Up of To Do Lists?

Recipes. Place cards. Exhale. Book edits. Emails. Inhale. Dry cleaning. Flowers. Exhale. Sleep. No time. This is what my head sounded like in yoga.

 

I, like many of you, raced to yoga to alleviate stress, only to spend the "mental quiet" making lists of everything I have to do. I entered a book I spent three years working on, into a contest and it is due this week. I also have three articles to write and in the midst of my crazy over achiever mode I decided to hold my annual girls brunch this Sunday. I always invite my close girlfriends over for a buffett style breakfast and I cook most of the food. I try to make it healthy and I spend days planning and cooking.

 

It hit me last week that for the first time in 5 years of having this get together, that I had no menu, and I wasn't even sure who was coming. Usually I am prepared weeks in advance. But this is what my life has been like; I am running on autopilot.

 

We are halfway through 2012 and my goal was to be present in everything I do. I never want things like a fun get together to feel like part of my "to do" list and I certaintly don't want my creative expression (my articles) to feel jumbled because I am racing through life.

After several late nights worrying and stressing, I forced myself to sit in silence for 15 minutes. Once I quieted my mind I was able to feel a sense of peace. Instead of stressing over all of the minutia I decided to look at the abundance I had created,and I made sure to express gratitude for each and every item. Then I decided to stop, take a breath and ask myself a few important questions. When have I ever not completed something on time? Never. How many times have I raced through something without even being present in the process? Usually. The good news is this time I realized it before the experience was over.

 

I vowed to change my approach to this week by embracing the process, recognizing the abundance, and taking one day at a time. What are you racing through just to "get it done?" When was the last time you were fully present? Are you ever aware that you are enjoying yourself, while the moment is still happening?

 

Take time today to breathe it all in and absorb each and every second. Life is too short to be made up of "to do" lists.

 

Have a wonderful week!

Nicole

 

A Dose of Perspective-How to Turn a Negative Into a Positive

Yesterday was one of those days when nothing worked. I broke my video frame, my blackberry battery kept popping out and the plumbers came to fix my water filter and caused a flood. I left for work three hours late, frustrated and cursing the day.

Then I saw it. A homeless man sleeping on a park bench covered in a trash bag, surrounded by pigeons. He was sound asleep and completely oblivious to the world around him. I was slapped, hard, by a dose of perspective and I immediately shifted my thoughts to one of gratitude. I have a beautiful apartment to sleep in, so what if I have to buy bottled water for a few days? I can tape my blackberry shut and I can order a new video frame. At least I have a place to rest my head at night and I am lucky that everything I just described is fixable, and replaceable.

Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our daily drama that we forget to recognize the true abundance in our lives. We focus on the things that have gone wrong and then ultimately we attract more negative than positive. I am grateful to that homeless man because he curbed my negative spiral and I was able to finish the day on a positive note. Today ask yourself what you are focusing on that is blocking your flow to abundance? Are you caught up in negative drama? What can you express gratitude for and what can you let go of? But most of all never forget-today is a gift.

Celebrate today.

Nicole

Follow Your Bliss

 

 

Breathe in. Deeper. Feel it in your lungs. Expand your heart. Clear your mind and listen to your own inner silence. Hold the pose and exhale. Let go of control and trust. Underneath it all is the bottom layer, your own inner bliss. Find it and hold onto it.These mantras are a core piece of my weekly yoga class and in truth a representation of life. But what is inner bliss really?

A few years ago I might have said inner bliss is a career, friends and family, a stable environment, a daily routine. I might have even told you I was happy, that my life was "normal" and I might have  pretended to know what bliss really meant. But I would have been lying. I would have left out the adjectives, the oomph, the zest for life when describing these elements, the real reasons you get up in the morning, because they were absent from my life.

I had spent three years working on a baked product that I had zero passion for, just because I had started it and wanted to see it through. I was juggling my health practice and the daily drama from this product and I had lost sight of my own happiness. I was constantly exhausted, perpetually stressed and frustrated that I couldn't make this project move forward. I was pushing to avoid "failure" and sacrificing the now so tomorrow could be a better day. If you had asked me what bliss was then, I might have said it is tentatively on my schedule I am just not sure when I can fit it in.

Eventually the Universe sent me enough signs to know that I had passions that ignited my fire and that "have to's" are an excuse to avoid your true purpose in life. I let go of the idea that I would fail by saying no to something that brought me misery and I opened my heart and my mind to the unknown, to the possiblity of bliss.I eliminated the struggle by recognizing there was a better plan for me and I trusted the Universe to guide me.

It wasn't easy but I am grateful, every day, that I let go of that project and I opted for a more heart centered path. But I wonder about others who were like me-the people who are being guided to follow their passion, but aren't listening. The recession was actually helpful to some who made career changes, and took risks that they may have avoided had the economy stabilized. But there are still those that know in their heart that they should be doing more, or feeling more from life.  Yet they are afraid or they don't know where to start. My advice to you is to live without regrets and know that YOU ARE WORTH IT. If you can not value your own happiness no one else can do this for you.

Today take some time to breathe in and out. Quiet your mind. Stretch yourself and trust. Allow the feeling of joy to reach your fingers and toes. What do you hear?  Today and every day, give your mind the permission to dream and give your life the incentive to really begin.

Nicole

Letting Go of Fear

There is a word that can be felt in every cell of your body. It can halt your progress and steal your thunder. It can make you doubt every word, every action and every decision you have ever made. It can render your powerless but only if you let it. This word is "fear." 

I can personally identify with the feeling of being paralyzed by fear. For the last two months I have taken unprecendented risks and allowed myself to be more vulnerable than ever before. At times I can literally feel my chest ache when I have opened myself up in a new way.

I am writing a non fiction book where I am revealing aspects of my life to "strangers" or readers in a way that is unfamiliar. I am usually more private with people I do not know!   In addition there is a new personal situation where I am being forced to be more open  and take risks that I have not taken for years.

The feeling of fear is one I battle with every day. At times it has challenged my self-esteem, my faith, my intuition and my entire being. I have felt it in my kidneys (where it is often rooted), and in my dreams. But I believe that recognizing it for what it is-a negative emotion created in your own cloud of self-doubt-removes its power. Yes it can make you question EVERYTHING-but only if you let it!

I refuse to let a negative emotion have this much power over me so this is how I take control: 

1-Create a quiet space for yourself where you can ask your inner guidance the following questions:Where does this fear originate? What evidence do I have that it is real? What does my gut actually tell me about this situation? When have I felt this before?

2-Create a list of truths-list what you do know about the situation and focus on the positive.

3-Now focus on why you deserve good in your life. Repeat the following: I only attract good into my life and I am worthy of happiness, joy and peace. (or whatever resonates with you). Make a list of positive affirmations related to the situation and even how you want it to turn out. But make sure you write it like you already have this in your life!

4-Buy a deck of Doreen Virtue angel cards. I really love these cards and I find comfort in their messages- especially when fear takes over!

5-LET GO. This is seriously THE HARDEST lesson. Sometimes when you hold onto an outcome so tightly you almost strangle it to death. Then the results don't seem to come as quickly as you would like. But if you lessen the grip and trust that you are on the right path, the outcome may evolve more gently.

Have faith that you are on the right path. There are times when I feel like I am in a dark room blind-folded and asked to walk forward. Take a deep breath and trust. When you are on your path "falling" is not an option.

 

New Years Resolutions Worth Keeping

I am sorry it has been so long since we have posted! Managing facebook and twitter along with regular work tasks takes a ton of time! But Happy New Year everyone!

 

I was wracking my brain trying to think of an interesting topic for this blog entry and nothing was coming to mind. I wanted to do something a little different and the only topic that kept popping up was related to New Year's resolutions. To be honest, that is the last thing I wanted to write about.

You would think that as a holistic nutritionist I want people to make a bunch of health related goals on January 1st. Of course when people do this my office is packed, and it isn't that I don't want people to care about their health, I do, but I want them to care about it for the right reason. January 1st shouldn't be the only day people self-reflect. They should make this a weekly if not daily habit. Health is so much more than what you put into your mouth or how much you exercise each week; it is about feeding your spirit and finding inspiration in daily actions. If we spend 364 days of the year moving through life like robots and 1 day out of the year evaluating our actions, we may have missed out on 364 opportunities to create positive change. What is health truly? It is about the relationships you cultivate, the passion you create in your daily life, the inspiration you receive on a daily basis and the ways in which you nurture your body and your spirit.If you eat perfectly and exercise daily but you hate your job, your homelife is a mess and you are bored with life your body will reflect those emotions and the food and exercise won't be enough.For this reason I have compiled a list of resolutions that go beyond the typical. This list can improve your health and  they are resolutions that you can keep!

1-Experiment with a New Hobby

I don't know about you but every 6 months or so I get restless and want to do something new or change up my daily routine. So I have recently adopted a plan to try a new activity every 6 months. It brings me back to the days of college when classes would change each semester and I would have a whole new topic to focus on. I loved this! So recently I took cooking, then Italian, and now I am taking a break and I am going to volunteer with horses. What could you explore? Is there something you wish you could develop more? An activity? A talent? I find that this keeps things fresh and interesting and it exposes you to a new group of people and forces your brain to work in a new way. There are many studies that show that stimulating the brain leads to longer longevity and less incidence of dementia.

2-Create a Vision with Gratitude

Typically this is the time of the year where we ask yourselves what we want for next year and then after about a month or less we forget to focus on these goals. It is very important to make a list of the goals you would like to manifest this year. But even more importantly I have found that you need to monitor your progress with gratitude. I find that if I keep a daily gratitude journal or even if I make it a practice to acknowledge the good things that have happened each day, then I can see daily progress. When you do this I have found that you will actually create more things to be grateful for! Keeping your mind in a state of gratitude keeps you in a positive energy state-an amazing place to be for your health!

 

3-Evaluate the "Balance" in Your Life

How much of your week is "have to" and how much of it is "want to?" Ok so we all know that work is usually more "have to" than "want to." But where can you incorporate a little more time for you in each day? Can you take a walk at lunch? Can you finish the day with a good book or a bubble bath? Can you make 1 day per week a night to be with friends? I know for me I would come to the office and never leave during the day. I love my office environment so this didn't seem so bad but then I started feeling like I was missing all daylight and I was becoming a hermit! Even if you just get out for 30 minutes, those minutes can make a HUGE difference in your day! I just left today for 30 minutes and I honestly feel so much better! 

 

4-Exercise for HEALTH Not for Weight Loss

How many of you exercise so aggressively that you lose motivation a few days later? For example you run when you hate running but you know it burns calories or on the other end you go to yoga because you know it is good for you but the breathing and the Om's drive you crazy? Have you ever stopped to think about exercising in a way that not only feels good for your body but it also allows you to stick with it? Find an activity that you enjoy!

Try a dance class or pilates or walk or run if you enjoy it!
Find an activity that is a mental release for you. In truth a lot of weight gain is from stress and just having an outlet that you can stick with may be just what your body needs to see lasting results!

4-Reasses Your Relationships

Have you ever gotten off of the phone exhausted from a friend who completely drains you? Have you ever realized that you are in a one sided romantic relationship or friendship?  I have been there and I can tell you freeing yourself from the relationships that suck you dry is liberating! Ask yourself what type of partner, family member or friend you want to be for the people around you? Now ask yourself if you are getting the same in return. The people who take will never stop taking unless you ask for more for yourself. Trust me getting rid of the dead weight will only make space for the people who deserve to be your friend. Studies have shown people with close friends live longer lives.

 

5.How Do You Eat Your Meals?

You notice I didn't see what are you eating but how are you eating? Are you eating in a rush? Do you chew your food or do you inhale it? Are you eating in front of the tv? Are you eating the same boring food presented in the same way each day? Are you eating out of take out containers? In some cultures the way the food is presented is an art form and this is for a reason. Food that is pleasing to the eye is actually more satisfying to the stomach. Try eating your food in plates that are different colors or garnish your plate with fresh herbs.  You can even try to eat listening to music that relaxes you rather than eating unconsciously  while watching tv. When you are more aware of the food you are eating and the food looks more appetizing you will actually eat less.

 

These are just a few tips that I hope were helpful to get you on the right track in 2012. If you are interested in working one on one I do offer sessions that are specifically devoted to identifying and erasing the emotional blocks in your life. I find that the clients who do this in conjunction with nutrition and detoxification see more lasting results. Call us to schedule 212-245-3129. Happy New Year, may it be your year to transform!

 

A Natural Tan

Summer is quickly approaching and in its honor we are featuring natural options for sunscreen and self tanners. There was a study done by the Environmental Working Group which showed that many of the most popular sunscreens on the market are actually harmful to consumers, many of them contain ingredients that are considered unsafe such as dioxybenzone and oxybenzone. Check out this website to find out which ingredients to avoid:

http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/special/sunscreens2008/report_active.php#all_ais

 

True Natural

This sunscreen is water resistant and it goes on clear! A major plus! It contains zinc and natural minerals. It also won an award from the Environmental Working Group for being the best sunscreen. www.truenatural.com

 

 

Dr. Mercola Natural Sunscreen

This is 100% natural and the formula was actually used by Acalpulco natives. It is available in 3 strengths and it is full of wonderful ingredients such as Green tea, Vitamin E, Eucalpytus oil and Jojoba Oil. It has gotten rave reviews!

http://products.mercola.com/summer-survival-kit/

Kabana Green Screen Organic Sunscreen (SPF 20)

This sunscreen is a best seller in the organic sunscreen market and it is made from 8 edible grade organic, natural ingredients. It is fragrance free and eco friendly.

http://www.kabanaskincare.com/proddetail.php?prod=GS04FF&PARTNER=kitchenstew

 

 Self Tanners

 

Alba Botanica Sunless Tanner

This natural self tanner uses shea butter, calendula and green tea to moisturize and provide a healthy glow. This is a favorite of our clients who are looking for a natural healthy glow but they did say that if you want a darker looking tan this product isn't for you. It also takes about 24 hours to really notice the change.

http://www.albabotanica.com/?id=73&pid=143Kiss My Face Instant Sunless Tanner

 

 

 

Sircuit Self Tanner

This is a mineral self tanner made from natural ingredients such as vegetable glycerine and silicone. Many people say this tanner actually tans evenly and tones your skin! Who could ask for anything more?

http://www.sircuitskin.com/faux_sun

 

Lavera Glow and Go Self Tanner

This formula is organic and moisturizes with aloe and green tea and calendula and rose water. The gel smells amazing and it takes 3-4 hours to fully take effect.

http://www.lavera.com/products/Glow_Go_Gradual_Self_Tanning_Gel-907-0.html

 

 

Enjoy!

Nicole

Slow Down and Find Balance

Have you ever finished a day completely exhausted, and realized you had totally missed it? Maybe it was beautiful outside and you were at your desk all day. Maybe you had planned to eat outside but you opted to "multi-task," eating in seconds at your desk, eyes glued to the computer. Maybe you had planned to exercise but a friend or family member needed your attention. Maybe your digestion is a mess, your head hurts and by Friday you are so exhausted you don't know how you will even make it home. Does this sound familiar?

It seems that only in tragedy do we slow down, express gratitude, and appreciate life. But why do we wait for life's hard lessons to enjoy all of its moments? Why do we wait for a weekend to think about our own needs, and why do we allow 5 days of our life to move like lightening, sleeping the other two away?

This blog entry is dedicated to slowing down. Recognizing your body's own needs and giving yourself permission to truly live.

 

 

Ten Ways to Slow Down and Find Balance

 

 

1-Ask yourself: what do you enjoy that you are missing? Is it a hobby? Is it a place? It is a tv show or exercise class? Why are you missing it?

 

2-Do you enjoy your work? If not why not? What changes can you make? Make a list of all of the qualities that you want in a job and write it like you already have it. Expect positive change.

 

3-One day a week abolish the phrase "have to. "Tell yourself that on this day you can not do laundry, you can not run errands, you can only do something that you feel excited by. If you can't devote a whole day to this, make it an afternoon.

 

4-Eat your lunch away from your desk. Even if it is just for 20 minutes, put down the phone, turn off the computer and WALK AWAY. You will be amazed and how much better you feel.

5- Devote 30 minutes a day to silence. Turn off the tv, email, computer and noise. You can meditate, rest, journal-whatever feels right to you. Give your mind the chance to breathe. What do you hear when your body is quiet?

 

6-Exercise for health not for weight loss. I know this sounds strange coming from someone in my field, but for some exercise is actually another means of stress, or another obligation."I need to burn this many calories, I need to feel sore, I need to etc etc.... More obligations! More rules! Find an exercise that you actually enjoy. Even if it doesn't burn the maximum amount of calories, that is ok! Find something where you move your body and quiet your mind! Take a walk in the park, go to a yoga class, or run, or workout with a trainer-this about what you want to do not what you think you are supposed to do. Plus, when you do something you enjoy you might actually find time to do it!

  

7. Create a ritual to unwind from each day. Our body is overloaded and stressed from a long day at work or from obligations at home. The mind needs to know it is safe to slow down. Take a bath, or shower-wash away the day, read a book or magazine, light a candle, use essential oils, do some light yoga-whatever feels good to you. But shut off all connections to work and the stresses of the day.

    

8.Break your weekly routine. Is there something you can do during lunch or after work that is enjoyable? A class you can take? A show you can see? Dinner with a friend? This doesn't have to be every day but the monotony of the week is sometimes part of the stress of the work week. Creating a fun activity in the middle of it can be very helpful.

 

9-Sleep. This is one of the most important ways to find balance in life. But the number of hours you sleep is only one component. The most restful hours of sleep happen between 10pm-6 am. The body needs to repair itself-especially the liver, and if you fall asleep at midnight or later your body misses time to regenerate the cells of the liver and gallbladder.

 

10-Sunlight. So we have all been told to avoid sunlight because of skin cancer. This is true to a degree. But we can benefit greatly from having 15 minutes of sun per day. The natural Vitamin D helps the immune system, mood, sleep, depression, anxiety and more. Get outside-but in moderation!

 

Now get some rest! :)

Enjoy!

Nicole

 

Struggling with Healthy Snacks for Kids?

Are you trying to keep your kids off of sugar and having a hard time?

Does your child suffer from allergies to dairy or wheat and you feel like there is nothing you can feed him or her?

This is one of the most common complaints I hear from parents. "My child is so picky and I just want to make sure they get enough food," or " I need something quick because I don't have that much time to prepare snacks or meals." I understand. Here are a few quick ideas.

 

 

 

1. Almond Butter on Celery or an Apple with Almond Butter is much healthier than peanut butter because peanuts contain mold, so if you can get your child to eat that over peanut butter it will help them in the long run. 

 

2-Roasted Walnuts or Pumpkin Seeds: I put them on broil and add a little sea salt. Yum!

 

3-Terra Sweet Potato Chips with Daiya cheese: Sweet Potato has a ton of Vitamin A -great for the immune system and it won't spike their blood sugar like white potato chips. Daiya cheese is a wonderful dairy alternative that does not contain casein or soy and it is actually made from green peas! Strange but delicious!

 

4. Hummus with brown rice crackers or gluten free pita: Or If your child isn't a fan of hummus you can do a white bean dip instead. Just blend white beans, olive oil, garlic, lemon and sea salt in a blender or food processor-very easy!

 
 

5-Smoothie:You can try to either blend greek yogurt with frozen berries and a little bit of frozen banana or for a dairy free version try blending vanilla rice milk or almond milk with 1 tsp of cocoa powder, frozen berries, and banana. If it isn't sweet enough for them you can add 1 tsp of agave.

 

6. Ezekiel bread with almond or cashew butter.

 

7. Homemade Quesadilla:Try Brown Rice Tortilla's with daiya cheese and guacamole -if they like it- and salsa. Or for variety you can add turkey and daiya cheese with salsa.

 

8. Homemade Popsicles: I just found a great one on Sur La Table's website: http://www.surlatable.com/product/PRO-179833/Zoku-Quick-Pop-Maker

You can even blend yogurt with fruit and use that for your popsicles.

 

9. Organic Mozzarella sticks:If your child is not sensitive to dairy this is a great snack-quick and easy!

 

10. Mini Pizzas: You can use brown rice crackers or a gluten free pizza crust, add mozzarella or daiya cheese and tomato sauce and bake until either the crust is done or the cheese has melted on the crackers.

 

Enjoy!

Nicole 

 

 

 

Are You Thinking About a Keratin Treatment?

Summer is approaching and more and more people are signing up for poison. Yes poison.  They say that they only do this a few times a year, they can't live without it... etc etc.  But a few times per year is too much, and that is really all it takes to inhale the toxins and suffer the consequences. What am I referring to? Keratin straightening treatments sometimes referred to as Japanese or Brazilian straightening treatments.

Each year I am shocked when some of my most health conscious clients tell me they are going for their hair straightening appointments. They say their hair is unmanageable in the summer and that they know it is bad but they need to do it.

Why is Keratin so bad?

Let me first start by saying that I have not personally had my hair chemically straightened. But at one time my hair dresser was trying to convince me to do it for the summer. So I began to research it. What I found is that formaldehyde is one of the dangerous ingredients in the product and many manufacturers are disguising this ingredient by using different names for it such as aldehyde, and more. Not only is formaldehyde and its derivatives dangerous to the sinuses, lungs and skin but it can also damage the eyes. People should actually wear masks during the process, customers and hair dressers alike. Many people have reported that they feel nauseous during the treatment, that their eyes burned and that their hair fell out in clumps afterwards. Yes their hair actually FELL OUT! In addition two of my family members had it done and they are still dealing with their hair breaking two years later. If you think about it your skin is one of your largest detox organs. It is actually referred to as your second liver. So would you pour a substance on your liver that needs to be used in a ventilated area and with such caution? I think not. Instead people are pouring it on their scalps.

I can personally say that I have treated many hair dressers and oftentimes they have more issues than the average person. Why? They are inhaling chemicals from color treatments, straightening treatments and relaxers-even if they are not applying them themselves, they are still surrounded by the odor. They often have thyroid and liver issues because of these toxins. So please spare yourself the future agony of either chemical exposure or hair damage and nurture your hair in a more natural way.

 

Natural Fixes for Frizzy Hair

 

I know we have talked about natural remedies for hair before. Many times frizzy hair is a product of dryness.

1-Some of our favorite fixes for dry hair are : jojoba oil, avocado oil, emu oil and or coconut oil. You can apply them to the scalp and leave one of them in for an extended period of time or rinse it out 20-30 minutes later.

2-A regular trim can help with frizziness because the breakage is usually part of the hair's frizzy appearance.

3-Vitamins and minerals that are best for the hair are B vitamins, Iron, Zinc and Silica.

4-Of course diet plays a role as well. Hair will thrive with a balanced diet that includes fruits and vegetables and healthy fats. Oftentimes people who are afraid of eating fat suffer from damage to their hair.

 

5-We also found this remedy from Natural Health Magazine:

Mix 2 egg yolks  with 100 ml warm water (not hot, as this sets the eggs). Stir in a few teaspoons of clear honey (an excellent moisturizer), 3 drops sandalwood and 2 drops rosemary oil. Bend over the sink and apply the mixture to your hair, working it through to the ends. Wrap your hair in a towel or shower cap and leave for an hour. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and towel-dry. Use the pack twice a week after shampooing. If pregnant, avoid rosemary oil.

 

 Enjoy!

 Nicole

Gluten-Free Apple Pie Recipe

 

 

Last week, completely out of the blue, my 4-year old requested that I make a cherry pie for her upcoming "pie party".    I had no idea what "pie party" she was talking about, I've never been much of a baker, and our entire family just recently joined the fast-growing Gluten-Free club.  Needless to say, I was pretty intimidated...

First, there's the crust.  I started out with high hopes, but after searching online for "how to make the best gluten-free pie crust" (and there are some good ones out there!), the non-baker in me kicked in.  I switched my search to "the best ready-made gluten-free pie crusts" and found the following:

• Gillian’s makes a crust which is sold at Whole Foods and many health food stores around the country.
•  Gluten-Free Bakehouse, a Whole Foods brand (only sold at Whole Foods), also makes a gluten-free pie crust. Like most ready-made gluten pie crusts, the ready-made gluten-free crusts 
  are stocked in the freezer case at the store.
•  The next best thing to baking from scratch-  gluten-free baking mixes. Favorites include Pamela’s Pancake and Baking Mix, Gluten-Free Pantry and Breads by Anna.

That settled, I looked for an apple pie recipe that would bring me back to the good old days- the times before I had to be concerned about gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, pesticide-free, and the like.  So I adapted a recipe to fit my dietary needs, and voila! 

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 recipe Gluten Free Pie Dough - Enough for a 2- crust pie
• 7 cups, peeled Grannie Smith apples, sliced 1/4" thick- about 2 1/2 pounds
• 3/4  cup Agave nectar (if using a tart variety of apple, use more agave)
• 2 tablespoons sweet rice flour OR tapioca flour
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons cubed butter

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 400°

1. Roll out half of dough according to recipe instructions and place in a 9-inch pie plate.
2. Combine agave, amaranth, arrowroot OR cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in a large bowl and use a whisk to thoroughly blend ingredients.
3. Add sliced apples and gently coat apples with agave mixture.
4. Pour apples into dough-lined pie plate and distribute them evenly.
5. Dot the top of the apples with cubed butter.
6. Place top crust over the apples. Press edges to seal dough and use your favorite method to flute the edges (pressed with fork tines, etc.). Cut or poke several small vents in the top of the pie crust.
7. Bake for 50-60 minutes, until top is golden brown and apples are tender.
8. Check frequently. If edges brown too quickly, place a strip of foil around the edge to prevent burning.
9. Allow pie to cool for several minutes before cutting.

 

New ingredients:  $50

Hours in the Kitchen: 2 (I had an hour's worth of kitchen-cleaning procrastination before I actually started)

Having a pie party that didn't leave my toddler irritable and gassy:   Priceless.

 

I hope you enjoy as much as we did!

Lindsay

 

 

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http://celiac-disease.com/where-can-i-find-a-gluten-free-pie-crust/