Launching a New Page!

Ramadan Mubarrak everyone! Wow, it's been a little while since I've posted to the blog. However I hope that some of you were able to come back and reap some benefits from my posts from last Ramadan. My reason for not posting is a good one however. I've been getting prepared to launch our upcoming business Noon Publications. We have designed a brand new facebook page for the promotion of our family owned publishing company.

I'm posting this news here because I'd like to invite you to the grand launch for our page. If you'd like to join our event you may click here to join our Noon Publications Event. Here we will post all info about the launch and you can keep up with how things are going. In order to actually join us on our page you can like us tomorrow, July 30th, 2012 from 6:00 am EST.-12:00 midnight at our new facebook page. Noon Publications We will have contests and book giveaways all day long! :)

Ma'shallah! In case you didn't know, we have published two books so far, Halal Healthy Meals

and The Muslim Family Guide To Successful Homeschooling.

Alhumdulillah, we have many more projects in the making, but we need your support. Please check out our Facebook page tomorrow and support us in our launch Inshallah.

Also check out our Youtube channel, where we've posted our videos about our company.



Inshallah, we hope to see you at the launch tomorrow.

Karemah Alhark and Jamila Alqarnain
Co-founders of Noon Publications

Lemon Curd and Fruit Parfait.

(Photo by Najla Amatur-Raheem)

You know I love to bake, and more than that I really enjoy eating what I bake. However, as I get older my metabolism is slowing down. My body isn't taking kindly to eating the baked goods and carbs at all. So I've recently done a serious cut back on baking and eating sweets. However I do treat myself to healthier, and less fatening desserts from a couple of times a week. Since I've began to limit my amout of gluten, sugar and dairy intake,I love finding recipes that are healthier and less expensive. This recipe that I made the other day had a wonderfully light flavor and was easy to make. It's great for the summer! No baking required so it keeps you from slaving over a hot oven during this summer heat.

Lemon Curd and Fruit Parfait

4 Tablespoons coconut oil, butter flavored palm oil, or butter
1/2 cup lemon juice, preferably fresh
1 teaspoon of pure white stevia powder
3 eggs
1 egg yolk
1 small pinch salt

Blend the ingredients, except for the butter, together. Heat slowly in small saucepan or double boiler. Whisk or stir frequently. When curd begins to thicken to the point where it coats the spoon remove from heat (don't let it get to boiling). Immediately whisk or stir in butter. Keep stirring until butter is melted and incorporated. Put in airtight container. Cool completely before using (it will thicken a bit more).

Once curd is cool or cold, layer in a large glass or bowl alternating with your fruit of choice. I used blackberries, sliced strawberries, and blueberries. And then top with homemade whipped cream.

Whipped Cream

1 cup of coconut cream or heavy cream
1 teaspoon of vanilla

Whip with a hand mixer until fluffy and has consistancy of whipped cream.
Do not over mix.

You may add a blueberry or whole strawberry for presentation

* Depending on the type of stevia you use, you may have to play around with the amount that you add in order to get the desired sweetness. Pure stevia (a natural herb)is sweeter than mixed stevia. Some of the stevia powders have a small amount of filler, like rice starch and aren't as sweet as pure stevia. Stevia is great for anyone who desires to lose weight, or control their sugar. Pure stevia powder has 0 calories and 0 carbs. Enjoy!

Spaghetti and Mock Meatballs

You know I'm really starting to get a kick out of seeing what I can create within the limitations of meatless, sugar free, gluten free and dairy free meals. On this one, I believe I've really hit the jackpot!

Once, many moons ago, my husband and I went to a local vegan restaurant called Kung Food, here in San Diego. I only went there once, but boy did that meal leave an impression on me. I remember it like it was yesterday. I ordered a dish called spaghetti with mock Italian sausage. It was abosolutely splendid to say the least. I was so impressed that afterwards I had to ask the waiter was was in that "sausage". I remember him mentioning mushrooms, and some other ingredients, but I don't think that he told me all of the ingredients.

Well recently, since I've embarked upon my quest for healthier cooking and baking recipes, something within longed to discover a recipe similar to the one that I had at that vegatarian restaurant so long ago. When I came across a recipe that I found similar to it, I decided to give it a try, while putting my own twist on it, ofcourse.

Below I share with you the recipe that I've come up with and boy was it tasty!


Mock Meatballs

Ingredients
4 eggs, slightly beaten
1 envelope of powdered soup mix or saute one onion along with a pinch of garlic powder
1 cups grated cheddar cheese (I used goat cheddar but for a vegan meal you may use soy, almond, rice or cashew cheese )
¾ cup chopped walnuts
1 cup dry breadcrumbs (from Ezekial bread if you want low gluten)
1 cup of grated mushrooms

Grate the cheddar into a food processor, then remove into a bowl. Add the walnuts and breadcrumbs to the food processor and chop finely. Now add the cheese back into the mix, along with the powdered onion soup,mushrooms, and the eggs, and mix thoroughly. Transfer the whole lot into the fridge for about half an hour.

Meanwhile, warm the oven up to 350F. Once the mix has chilled thoroughly, remove it from the fridge, and roll it into small balls, about ¾ of an inch across. Place each one on a greased baking sheet. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until browned.
At this point you can take the baking sheet out of the oven and freeze or refrigerate some of the balls for later use, or you can add them to a spaghetti sauce and cook for about 30 minutes. These can be served with a marinara dipping sauce, or a sour cream dill sauce, or however you like to eat meatballs.

For the spagetti sauce you may use the same recipe that I've provided for my Pizza recipe with the beets an carrots, or make your own sauce.

Also with this I've used brown rice pasta that I buy at Trader Joes. You may also use spagetti squash, seaweed pasta, soba noodles or regular wheat pasta to make this dish a hit!

Inshallah you'll enjoy it! And don't forget to share your experiences with me. I need some feedback! :)

*The original recipe called for 2 cups of cheese, to economize I used one. You can try it either way.

The Wonderful Benefits of Watermelon!

Watermelon season is nearly here, and in some parts of the country we are already enjoying this juicy, delicious treat. Watermelon is not only a sweet thirst quenching treat, but it brags of many health benefits for us.

Firstly, watermelon has a high content of vitamin C and vitamin A (which contains beta carotene). These two nutrients are considered the strongest anit-oxidants that we can obtain from our food sources. This anti-oxidant duo is beneficial in warding off heart disease, strokes, colon and other cancers, asthma and can possibly eleviate the symptoms of osteo and rheumatoid arthritis.

Something else special that watermelon has to offer is high amounts of the powerful antioxidant known as lycopene. Extensive research has shown that lycopene is a formidable combatant of many forms of cancer. These cancers include prostate cancer, breast cancer, endometrial cancer, lung cancer and colorectal cancers. It is best to eat watermelon along with other foods that are high in lycopene, such as green tea, grapefruit, papaya, grapefruit, quava and mangoes.

The fact that watermelon is high in B vitamins means that it is great as an energy resource. The natural sugars present in watermelon also make it a great snack choice when you need a little pick me up to get you going.

Watermelon is also rich in potassium. Potassium helps to balance out the effects of salt by keeping the blood pressure balanced. Postassium also regulates that heart beat, can possibly help to prevent strokes, and prevent kidney stones and reduce bone loss in from aging.

Subhanallah! All of that benefit in such a tasty gift from Allah! So the next time that you have a big wedge of watermelon, prays Allah for the great benefits of this wonderful fruit.

Another Great Dairy Alternative! Almond Dream Ice Cream

In an attempt to drastically reduce my dairy intake, while continuing to occasionally satisfy my ice cream cravings, I found a pretty good substitute. It comes in a very small container, so for those of us who are trying to shed a few pounds, you wont have to worry about getting too carried away. ;-)

Almond Dream ice cream is put out by the same company that makes Almond Dream (the beverage), Rice Dream (the beverage) and the non dairy frozen dessert, and the Soy Dream line of products as well. I've tasted all of these frozen desserts and I have to say that between the three of these, Almond Dream wins hands down. The Almond Dream dessert comes in a few flavors such as chocolate,vanilla, praline crunch, and cappuccino swirl. By far my favorite flavor is praline crunch. It has the best flavor and reminds me of my favorite ice cream that I used to endulge in at Baskin&Robbins, pralines and cream.

So if you're going dairy free, but really miss your occasional ice cream, treat yourself to Almond Dream frozen desserts. I've tried many ice cream substitutes, such as Rice Dream ice cream and Soy Dream ice cream, however this one is the best one that I've tasted.

You may go to the Almond Dream website to learn more about their products.

Is This Meat Halal? A Bone to Pick with Halal Market and Restaurant Owners.

As everyone probably knows by now, I'm a big advocate of eating halal meat. According to the scholars that I follow all meat that is eaten must be slaughtered in the manner of zabiha. Thus halal meat is synonymous with zabiha meat, and they are one and the same. Having said that, I have to say that I have become all but disenchanted with some of the halal restaurants and meat markets in my area.

Firstly, let me say that I am not accusing any of the restaurant owners here or any where else of intentionally selling meat that is not halal. On the contrary, you should always give your Muslim brother the benefit of the doubt unless you have incriminating proof. However, I will say that I have had some unpleasant dining and shopping experiences that could have been easily avoided if the owners of these establishments had taken some very basic and simple precautions. Here is an actual scenario that has happened to me. Now this was years ago when I was pregnant with my youngest child. I rarely eat lunch meat; it's just not my thing. My husband likes it however, so after work he proceeded on to a well known halal meat market in our area. He called me from the market and asked did I want anything. This time I had a taste for some roast beef so I asked my hubby to bring a small amount back for me. I made myself a sandwich with it and I have to say that I killed it. Weeks later while having a conversation with some of the sisters in my community, I was talking to them about how great the roast beef sandwhich was that I had eaten a few weeks ago. "Roast beef?", my sister questioned me. "Where did you get roast beef from?" I named the market that we were all familiar with and shopped at. "That roast beef isn't halal," they said. I felt as if I would turn green with illness. "What?" "What do you mean it isn't halal." "All of the meat there is halal, isn't it?" I inquired. "No, you have to be careful, because not all of the meat there is halal", my friend and sister explained. "Wow, so how did you guys find out that the roast beef wasn't halal?", I asked. Both of them admitted that they had bought it once or twice themselves, and didn't find out until it was mentioned by someone else, or that they had over heard the butcher telling someone else that it wasn't halal. Ya Allah! There was no sign mentioning that the meat wasn't halal meat, and to add insult to injury the non-halal roast beef was sitting right next to the halal mortadella.

Immediately after having this conversation with the sisters, I called the meat market to speak to the owner. I was pretty upset. I asked him about the roast beef and he admitted that it wasn't halal. I asked him why didn't he have some kind of sign, so that people could distinguish the halal from the unhalal meat? He replied, "that's not necessary, every one knows that the roast beef isn't halal." "Obviously, not everyone knows this, or else my husband who only eats halal meat would not have bought it", I retorted angrily. "What if people come to your market from another city?" I asked. "How on earth are they going to know that your roast beef is not halal, when there is no sign saying otherwise, and it's sitting right next to halal cold cuts?", I argued. Now I know, I know, I probably shouldn't have been so upset, but I was pregnant and very unnerved at the fact that I had digested some unhalal meat at the hands of this person, especially while I was pregnant. So any way to make this long story shorter, I was unable to convince this man to put up a sign, for his meat. He did apologise, Ma'shallah and I've since forgiven the incident. However this sort of thing happens often. I've been in similar situations at other meat markets and restaurants as well.

Scenario goes like this, you've been going to your favorite halal spot ordering a gyro or chicken dinner, and then one time you go there and order what you've always ordered, only to over hear or have a friend tell you, "you know the gyro isn't halal anymore." You're practically in a state of shock! "Since when?", you ask. Then you may get any number of answers, "oh since last month when the owners changed hands, or "yeah they did that about two months ago, he said they were losing money so they had to change things up." "Ya Allah!", you think why couldn't they have at least let every body know this?

In conclusion, I believe as a business person it is your job to keep your customers as happy as possible. Keep things honest and keep your customers informed. I just really have a problem with halal store and restaurant owners flippantly changing up their halal meat products from halal to unhalal, or to be more specific zabiha to non-zabiha meat without informing their customers in a major way. I shouldn't have to hear it through the grapevine, that your meat is no longer halal. It's quite easy to make signs and post them. Then train your butchers to inform every one that there has been a change in the status of the meat. Make your customers happy and they will repay you with continued service, and word of mouth marketing.

My Vegan Birthday...

This past Saturday was my birthday, Ma'shallah. I thank Allah T'allah for allowing me to see another year. I visited the graveyard of my beloved father, and gave some charity on this day to show gratitude to my Lord. And yes I did a little something for myself. Ofcourse since I'm the food business, so to speak, I took great pleasure in going out to eat with the hubby. This is something I used to do alot when we were first married, however I have to admit with a large amount of children, (I have five) I dont make it out as often as I used to.

However, today I decided I definitely want to go out and try some different foods. I was feeling like something meatless today so we went to a local vegan restaurant called Sipz. The dishes there are all vegan. There are lots of mock meat dishes, and the cuisine is Asian, which made this restaurant an attractive choice for me. Also the prices are very reasonable, around $7.00-$9.00 for lunch. My husband and I ordered a variety of dishes as we usually do, in anticipation of trying out all of the dishes.

My husband started it off with a nice cold mixed berry smoothie.





I'd have to say that this was fair. Not great. We asked them not to put sugar in it as a sweetner. They used almond milk and just the fruit. I'd say I probably would have used pure fruit juice and honey sweeten it along with the fruit. It would have given it more of a citrusy kick, rather than the affect of an unsweetened milkshake. I wasn't too fond of the smoothie so I drank my water.


Then we took on an appetizer of mock chicken drumsticks.



These little vegan treats were very tasty! They had alot of crunch, and surprisingly enough they were able to pull off a great imitation of real chicken texture. It was really delicious especially with the sweat and sour sauce that it was served with.


For soup, I ordered the Vietnamese "Beef" Pho. I'd heard so much about Pho that I had to give it a try. I didn't know of any halal restaurants around here that served Pho, so I figured this is the closest I'm going to get to the real thing. I loved it! My husband and I both killed it. It was very flavorful yet the rice noodles made it very light. The little mock beef pieces in the soup tasted good as well. It kinda gave you the satisfaction of eating meat, without the heaviness of eating meat.




Next we got to the main dishes! My husband went with my suggestion of a dish called Thai Pad. It was a delicious and spicy noodle dish with mock chicken, onions, bean sprouts and crushed peanuts. I really loved it! The hubby loved it too!




Next was my dish, the Mongolian "Beef". I've had this dish before on a previous visit, so I kinda wish I'd ordered something different. It was tasty, it had to serve as my meal for the next day however, because I was comfortably full by this point and didnt want to over do it.



So, after lunch the hubby and I went for a nice talk and walk over by the beach, to let our lunch settle. Then over to my place where I ordered my first ever gluten free, vegan cake. It was a lemon coconut cake. Now I've ordered from Stephanies bakery before and her cakes back then were the bomb. I loved her cakes so this is why I chose to come here. However I've never gotten anything gluten free from her before. This cake was okay, not the best nor the worst gluten free dessert I've ever eaten. I shared my cake with family and friends and got mixed reviews on it. I got mostly thumbs down, with a few thumbs up. Eating this cake however, got me curious to see if I could come up with something better. I'll be trying to tweek some recipes, and keeping you posted on my progress.

Over all it was a lovely day. We enjoyed all of the new foods that we tried, with the cake being the least enjoyable, but I didn't mind that much. It has sparked my interest in making my own gluten free cakes and desserts!



Do you have a favorite vegan spot where you live? If so, post it here!

5 Halal Healthy Foods You Need During Pregnancy

So you're expecting a new addition to your family. Your bundle of joy is coming; the light of your eyes. Subhanallah! You want everything to be perfect for your baby, and second only to growing up to be a good Muslim, you want your baby to have good health. When I was planning to have my first baby, I did alot of reading and studying about what needs to be done in preparation. Exercising and eating well, helps to lend to our children having optimum health. Below are 5 of the most healthy halal foods that you can eat for the health of you and your baby.

1. Dates-

During pregnancy most women experience bloating and contipation due to the fact that the enlargement of the uterus causes the other organs to become cramped and smashed. This in turn causes digestion problems and constipation for the pregnant woman. Dates is an excellent remedy for these intestinal annoyances. Moreover, being rich in iron, dates prevent anemia in mother and child. It is also believed that dates impart good memory and intelligence to the developing fetus. As if these benefits weren't enough, it has been noted that dates facilitate child birth by strengthening the uterus. Eat these plain or with peanut butter, or even stuffed with cream cheese, or tahini.

2. Yogurt-

Yogurt is a nutritional power house. It provides both your body and your baby with much needed folic acid, calcium, protein, and probiotics which aid in cleaning the intestinal tract and facilitating food digestion. Eat plain yogurt along side your meals, make in a salad dressing, or eat with fresh fruit, and granola for a healthy snack.


3. Lean Halal Protein Sources-

Firstly if you are going to eat meat, you should make sure your meat is halal. Start your pregnacy off right by eating what is halal, tahir and tayyib. Make sure the meat is zabihah/halal. Protein is a necessary nutrient for your body and your babies body. You don't want yours or your baby's muscle development and maintanance compromised. Also small bits of meat protein will help to keep nausea at bay. Try making or purchasing halal beef, chicken or fish jerky and keeping it stored away for those times when you're feeling less than top notch. This way you wont have to worry about getting up and cooking for yourself. Also great for when you're out and about and need a good boost of protein.
If you're vegetarian no worries; beans, nuts and soy products (especially tempeh) can get you by. However I'd advise at the very least an egg or two or maybe some fish occasionally if you are having severe nausea during pregnancy. Lentils are so nutritious; they're packed with folic acid, protein, and vitamin B6. All key nutrients needed during pregnancy. Nuts will provide vitamin E which is needed for healthy brain development.

4. Broccoli-

Broccoli is nutrient dense with vitamin A, vitamin C and folic acid. Broccoli is great raw with a homemade veggie dip, or chopped up in a tossed salad. Broccoli is also excellent in stir fry dishes, broccoli soup and broccoli casseroles. Broccoli is great for both mommy and baby.

5.Oatmeal-

Oats contain lots of vitamin B, iron and many important minerals. Not to mention that oats help to lower the blood pressure and blood sugar. Many women suffer from high blood pressure or high blood sugar during pregnancy causing toximia or gestational diabetes. Oats can help to reduce the chances of women encountering these health problems. Oats can be made into a delicious hot cereal like porridge, topped with pure maple syrup, fresh fruits, dried fruits, nuts and/or coconut milk to add more nutritional value to it. Also oats can be made into tasty granola, (there's a great recipe for it here on my blog), granola bars, or even a nice gluten free bread.

So, rejoice in your pregnancy! Thikr and read Quran often, to develop you and your babies spiritual well being. And endulge in the good foods that Allah has provided for you so that you both can benefit by having healthy bodies and minds.

Karemah Alhark

The Health Benefits Of Garlic

By Ameera Rahim

For as long as I have been cooking I've enjoyed the taste of garlic. The smell when cooking it, brings such a delight to me and it enhances my meals. Not only does it make foods taste better, it's good for you! I have read to get the most from garlic before cooking it “To maximize the health benefits, you should crush the garlic at room temperature and allow it to sit for about 15 minutes. That triggers an enzyme reaction that boosts the healthy compounds in garlic. “
In the winter time especially, my family uses garlic for it's medicinal purposes. If you didn't know garlic has many benefits.
Studies have shown that a garlic enriched diet may in fact protect people against different cancers, such as breast, prostate and colon cancer. SubhanAllah! Allah has given us many foods and herbs, and we can either treat our foods like medicine and make good use of it, for the sake of our lives and out family's lives. Food, however can also act as a poison and we are often heedless of what we eat and how we eat.

As a breastfeeding mom I have read that babies who taste garlic in the milk, tend to nurse for a longer period of time. When my recent son was born a couple weeks ago, I wanted to make sure that our breastfeeding experience from the beginning would be nutritionally packed and done properly. Wanting to know different foods that would help increase milk, I ran into an article mentioning garlic and talked to people who have tried it. My husband made me a drink that was infused with garlic and yes I can say it is tried and true. Longer nursing helps with the increase in milk supply.

If you happen to have a newborn baby or a slightly older child that you are breastfeeding and they get sick with cold , you would want to intake more immune boosting foods like garlic. With older children, blending garlic and adding it in foods helps. With my older children I make, what I like to call an “Immune Boosting Spaghetti” especially in the winter. We add blended garlic, vegetables and flax seed/ wheat germ and put it in the sauce. The children enjoy it and do not notice they are eating a very immune boosting dish, Alhamdulilah.

Besides garlic being a means to possibly prevent cancer and helps to boost the immune system, it also has anti-fungal properties which studies have shown helps to prevent or eliminate yeast infection.
Also studies have shown it helps with the well being of the heart and promotes healthy blood circulation. Alhamdulilah for the blessings in having a healthy halal and delicious food.

I love to make garlic bread with fresh garlic. Here is a recipe for cheese garlic bread:

Garlic and Cheese Bread In Under an Hour:
Ingredients
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup cheese
2tbs sugar
3 teaspoons of garlic powder or your choice of how many cloves
¾ cup milk
2 tbs vegetable oil
1 egg

1. Mix together the flour, sugar, garlic powder and cheese in a large mixing bowl.
2. Whisk together the vegetable oil with the milk and egg.
3. Stir the wet mix into the dry ingredients.
4. Pour the mix into a greased 1lb loaf pan.
5. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 350°F for 50-60 minutes or until a sharp knife inserted near the middle comes out clean

Alhamdulilah garlic bread is good with spaghetti, lasagna, and as a snack. The children love to eat it for lunch, I have to stop them before its all gone! Garlic is something every family should have in their home. I really prefer the garlic cloves instead of the powder, Alhamdulilah I think you can taste it more in your foods. Plus its fresh!

The next time you go grocery shopping dont forget the fresh garlic. Your body will thank you for it!

Goats Milk Anyone!

A couple of weeks ago, I featured almond milk products as an alternative for cow dairy products. Today I'd like to present goat dairy products as a nutritious alternative for those who find cow's dairy to be difficult to digest. I became familiar with goat dairy, approximately twelve years ago when my son Musa began having seizures. That period of time was very interesting for me, as it lead me on a quest for healing foods and improved eating habits. A homeopath told me to give my son lots of "good" fats as it would help to repair the brain trauma that seizures caused. Musa at that time was not only having problems with seizures, but he was very susceptible to respiratory infections as he had experienced a very frightening case pneumonia. All of this and he wasn't even 5 years of age. He was a pretty sickly little kid. However after my visit with the homeopath, and reading a few books, (The Ketogenic Diet, and Nutrition and Physical Degeneration) Musa was on the way to improved health. One of the first things I discovered that I had someone who lived very close to me that was willing to sell their extra milk and I rapidly became her regular customer.

The fat molecules in goats milk are said to be a lot smaller than those of cow's milk, which in turn makes it a lot easier to digest. Many people who are intolerant of lactose, or milk protein find goats milk to be easier to consume.
Some rationalize that a goat is closer to the size (weight) of human beings than cows, so it makes sense to drink from goats and sheep, rather than bovine animals. All theory and speculation aside, for me and my family we saw a huge difference when we laid off of the pastuerized cow dairy and switched to raw goat's milk. We experienced a drastic decline in colds and illness. We were considerably healthier over all. Less colds and illness meant a happier more energetic household. Ofcourse this was not due adding goat's milk exclusively. We changed our diet in other ways as well. But this, I believe was definitely one of the most important changes that we made; right up there with drastically reducing our gluten intake.

Once I tasted goats milk I was in love it, and it quickly became a household staple. Quite honestly I prefer the flavor of good goat's milk to many of the other cow dairy alternatives, however it's just so hard to find a local raw milk supplier these days. Most of the farms that I used to purchase from have given up all but enough goats to supply milk for their own families. Many have said the cost to keep the goats is just too high.

I have recently rediscovered my love for goat's milk, however I've been drinking the pastuerized milk products from a local health food chain. Inshallah I intend to give a call again to see if I can find another raw milk source, soon. I just prefer it because the raw milk still has the active enzymes intact, which allows the dairy to be even more digestible. However the main brand of goat's milk that I have presented in this blog is Redwood Hill Farm. As I mentioned, previously I only drank raw goats milk and I would recommend you to purchase this if you can find a reliable and trustworthy source. You don't just buy raw goat's milk from anybody however. It needs to be purchased from a reputable, clean and healthy farm. But if you can not fnd a good source of raw milk or if it is illegal to purchase and sell raw milk in your state then this company is good. The milk has a wonderful taste and it's not "goaty" tasting. Redwood Hill sells goat's milk, keifer and yogurt. The yogurt I found to be pretty pricy at $2.19 per 8oz. cup, so I only purchase that as an occasional treat. The yogurt is very flavorful and not bland at all. I also enjoy the keifer in smoothies or plain.

I have several companies that I purchase my goat cheese from and there are many types to choose from. I find Trader Joe's to be one of the best suppliers of goat cheese and they have many varieties. Their prices are very reasonable compared to some of the other stores in my area.

Goat dairy still may not be an alternative for those who are severely lactose intolerant. However for those who are only slightly dairy sensitive, goat's milk can be a wonderful alternative which neither sacrifices nutrition, variety, nor flavor.

Sugar Free, Gluten Free Berry Crisp!

Everyone who knows me, knows that I love to bake. I dont care what diet I'm on, I have to have some kind of outlet for baking. Even if it's just occasionally. So when I decided to get on the Eat Right for Your Type Diet, I decided to try some gluten free, sugar free recipes. This one I actually just made up out of my head and it turned out very tasty. I went through my little list of beneficial foods for my "type" and then went to work in the kitchen.. I decided to make a berry crisp and this is how the recipe goes.

Ingredients
1 8 oz package of mixed berries (fresh or frozen)
1 1/2 cups all natural cran-apple juice
1/3-1/2 cup of honey
2 tsp of Cornstarch
2 Tbsp Ghee or palm oil
1 cup rolled oats
1/3 cup of buckwheat flour.
pinch of cinnamon

Directions
Sit berries out to thaw if using frozen fruit. Preheat oven to 350 degrees farenheit.
Pour most of the cran-apple juice out into a medium sized mixing bowl. With the remaining juice add and dissolve the cornstarch. Stir this up and add it to the juice. Now add your honey and cinnamon, stir, and pour into a small-med sized pyrex baking dish.

Now in a small bowl mix (with a fork) the buckwheat, oats and shortening of choice until crumbly. Then sprinkle crumbs over the top of the berry filling. Place pan into the heated oven and bake for 45 mins or until berry filling has thickened and crumb topping is baked well. Serve alone or with rice or other non-dairy ice cream.

Gluten, Dairy and Tomato Free Pizza!

So I came up with the thought to make this pizza after I went to the iridologist, and he told me that I needed to follow the Eat Right for Your Type diet. Now with me, when I'm gung ho about something I have to jump in with both feet. That Sunday however, my sister was having everyone over for homemade pizza. (Gasp) one of my all time favorites. So I rushed to the internet to check to see if I could find some good Type A recipes. After of few minutes of research I found a few recipes that would enable me to make a complete pizza. Type A's do not digest tomatoes, cow dairy, or wheat very well. This is going to be some interesting pizza, I thought. I was excited to make it because trying new concoctions motivates me to get in the kitchen and work out. Following is the recipe for the gluten free crust, and the no tomato tomato sauce that made this pizza a one of a kind hit!

Gluten Free Oat Crust.


Ingredients

2 cups oat flour
1 cup warm water
1 packet yeast
1 teaspoon honey
1 Tablespoon olive oil
salt to taste
Ground flax seeds (optional)
(can add herbs too)

Preheat oven to 450 Fahrenheit
Dissolve honey and yeast in warm water in a large mixing bowl.
When yeast begins to activate (about 10 minutes later), add oil and salt and slowly add oat flour and mix well.
When a ball forms knead for about 10 minutes until its no longer sticky (adding flour if needed).
This next part I use the big board with the handle that you use to remove pizza from the oven.
Lightly sprinkle ground flaxseed over the board to prevent the dough from sticking, and gently roll out dough into a thin shape that accomodates your baking pan, shaking the board every few rolls to make sure dough isn't sticking.

After you've rolled out the dough, place it and shape it in your backing pan. Place it in the oven and bake it for five minutes.

In the meantime, you can start making the sauce.

No Tomato Tomato Sauce

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups steamed carrots
1/3 cup steamed beets
1/2 cup water
3 Tablespoons lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 Tablespoon Basil
1/2 teaspoon Onion Powder
1/8 teaspoon Oregano
3/4 cup chopped cooked onions (I use dried flakes but not this much)
1 clove minced garlic


Steam carrots and beets until tender.
Brown onion & garlic together.
Measure all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.
Add more water if sauce is too thick, until your sauce has the desired consistancy. Spoon sauce over pizza crust once it's out of the oven. You will have more sauce than you need, so freeze in a freezer bag

Now add your toppings:

Almond cheese, mushrooms, onions, spinach, peppers etc., and bake at 450 degrees for 10-15 minute or until both the crust is cooked and the cheese is melted well. Allow to properly cool and enjoy!

Dairy Alternatives: Almond Cheese (Lisanatti Foods)

To wrap up my reports on almond "dairy", I'd like to do a review on almond cheese. This is actually the first time that I've ever eaten almond cheese. I figured however, that since I've blogged about almond yogurt and almond milk a post on almond cheese would make the series complete. Surprisingly enough, I found the almond cheese to be "not too bad." Since it was in the mozzarella style, which is fairly bland anyway, the almond mozzarella wasn't far off from the real thing. Almond mozzarella cheese was close to passing my taste test as being a satisfactory alternative to cow dairy cheese.

The real test however would come later on in the evening when I would make my all natural, gluten free, tomato free, meat free and dairy free pizza. Yes I went into the kitchen to make my ultimate pizza, and I wanted to see how this almond "cheese" would fair with the melting test. Once I made my pizza I discovered that the almond cheese did melt. However, dont expect the ozzey gooey type of melting that you'd expect from regular mozzarella cheese. This cheese is far less melty than that. I believe however that this cheese will serve as a decent alternative for mozzarella made from cow dairy. Almond cheese does pass the test!

If you are interested in trying almond cheese stay tuned to my blog, and I'll post a nice pizza recipe later on this week!

Almond Milk; A Great Dairy Alternative!

This week I'm introducing varying products that serve as substitutes for dairy. Yesterday I wrote about Amande almond yogurt. Today's post features Silk almond milk. I've tried many different foods and diets over time, always with the intention of improving my health. I gave up drinking cow's milk almost 18 years ago, however I continued to eat cultured milk products such as yogurt, keifer, and yes I still had a weakness for cheese and an occasional ice cream. Oh and did I forget to mention my intermittant flings with cheesecakes? Now I'm really making a concerted effort to eliminate cow dairy from my diet and I know that I'm not alone if making this effort. There are many people out there who are lactose intolerant or vegan who are eliminating cow dairy from their diet.

As I mentioned previously, I stopped drinking cow's milk many years ago. This led me to seek out alternatives to cow's milk. The first and worst that I tried was powdered soy milk. I don't even remember the bland. I mean brand. ;-) It was awful though. I
only used it to bake my cornbread. My aunt introduced it to me when I first moved to California,and since I lived with her, that was pretty much my main option. Once I moved out on my own, I switched to soy milk in the carton. For some reason though, I
could never bring myself to enjoy soy milk. I'd bake with it, but wouldn't be caught dead dunking a chocolate chip cookie in it. That taste was just off to me. Further on in my quest for a suitable milk, I found rice milk. Specifically, I used Rice Dream brand. I liked it much better than soy milk, and I'd even dunk (an all natural)cookie in it. It was definitely an improvement from the soy milk for me.

Finally, when I was becoming more conscious about my carb intake, I discovered the joys of almond milk. It had less carbs, more protein and more calcium than rice milk. I was sold and have been driking almond milk ever since. I mostly use it for baking, and making smoothies. I rarely drink it alone, (except with cookies). However, whenever I do need to go cookie dunking, I can rest assured that Silk Almond Milk has a delicious and refreshing tast.

Dairy Alternatives

You know, recently I've been out and about trying new foods to help me along with my new diet. I went to visit the iridologist last week and he gave me an interesting overview of my health based on viewing my blood and looking into my eyes. If you can get up some money to visit an iridologist, I'd highly recommend it. So interestingly enough, he referred me to the Eat Right for Your Type diet, by D'adamo, which I was highly familiar with already. That was one of the first diets that I've ever really tried to follow, and I do remember liking the results that I got from that diet, however for some reason I didn't stick with it beyond a year. Probably because of the expense. I followed a few more diets later on in life to include Atkins, which and initially got good weight loss results with, but never felt quite natural eating so much meat.

Now I'm returning to my roots. For my blood type (A) I'm encouraged to follow a much more vegetarian type diet, which is cool because I felt that I was headed in that direction any way. I had already implemented my live food only Fridays and vegetarian night on Thursday. My body felt as though it was calling for less meat.

For those of you who are also suffering from allergens or have special diets, I will be trying some interesting new products and recipes and I'm sure that many of you will be able to put my reviews and article to good use.

This weeks feature is dairy alternative. Yes dairy is something that I have to greatly reduce in my diet. As an African American woman and a person who has type A blood, I have to limit my dairy. Now quite honestly that's a bit of a switch because I love yogurt and cheese. Milk I don't really drink anyway, as I switched over to almond milk years ago.

The product being featured here is almond milk yogurt. The almond milk has been cultured to provide you an alternative to dairy milk yogurt. The price wasn't too bad at $1.49 here in a San Diego health food chain called Sprouts. (Formerly known as Henry's) The flavor is a little different than what most are used to for yogurt. I'd say that it is an acquired taste and may take some getting used to. However, I could get used to it as it is not a "bad" taste. Almond yogurt is healthy for you not only because of the high calcium content of almonds, but also because you get the benefits of the probiotics that are present in yogurt, without the allergic reactions that cow's milk tends to cause.

Overall I'd say that the Amande (cultured yogurt) was worth the try. The flavor was a bit bland, but a substitute that is worth trying if you are highly allergic to dairy but desire to eat yogurt. Try the raspberry flavor, I like that one the best.

The debate of what constitutes halal (allowed) and haram (forbidden) meat goes on. Some Islamic ulama (scholars) claim it is fine to eat meat from your neighborhood market, as long as it's not pork and if before it is eaten the name of Allah is pronounced over it. Other scholars say that meat from the "People of the Book" is halal for Muslims to eat and nothing special needs to be said. Finally, there are scholars who qualify the difference between the terms halal and zabiha (a specific method of slaughter). They say that, according to the Qur'an and the Hadith, Muslims should only eat zabiha meat. They explain that a type of meat (poultry, beef, etc.) can be halal if it is taken from animals that we are allowed to eat, but that, unless these animals are killed in accordance with Shariah law, their meat is not zabiha and therefore not to be eaten. In other words, all zabiha meat is halal, but not all halal meat is zabiha. In order to prove which of the above three viewpoints is correct, it must be determined which one is in agreement with the Qur'an.

The belief that meat can come from local stores as long as "Bismillah" is said over it runs counter to the following Qur'anic ayyat: "He hath forbidden you only carrion, and blood, and swine flesh, and that over which has been invoked (the name of) any other than Allah. But he who is driven by necessity, neither craving nor transgressing, it is no sin for him. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful" (2:173).
Here Allah is telling us that no name other than His should be invoked over the meat we eat. This is obvious, and all Muslims agree. The question is: When must "Bismillah" be said -- before eating or at the time of slaughter? For those who argue that it is meant to be said before eating, I ask: Why do we need a special ayaat to tell us this when Muslims must say "Bismillah" over all our food, not just meat? Furthermore, the following ahadith clarify that it is while slaughtering the animal that "Bismillah" must be pronounced and that there is a consequence for not doing so:

The Messenger (SAW) said to the Companion Sa'd: "O Sa'd! Purify your food and your supplication will be accepted. By the one in whose hand lies the life of Muhammad, verily a servant places a morsel of haram in his stomach (and as a result) forty days of worship will not be accepted from him" [Imam Tabrani]. Reading these verses of the Qur'an and the above ahadith it makes it clear that we are not allowed to eat just any brand of supermarket meat; this is not halal for us. Halal meat has to be killed in the Zabiha manner.

There is also the view that animals from the "People of the Book" is halal meat for Muslims to eat, meaning meat slaughtered by Jews or Christians. However, this view can be disproven as well. Neither Jews nor Christians invoke the name of Allah Subhana T'Allah over the animal before killing it, as Muslims do. If they were calling on Allah, they would be Muslims, right? Some sheikhs, scholars, and Imams argue that the Qur'an states that we can eat the meat of Jews and Christians based on this ayyat: "This day are (all) good things made lawful for you. The food of those who have received the Scripture is lawful for you, and your food is lawful for them" (5:5, Surah Al-Maidah). However, the Arabic word used in this ayaat, ta'am, does not necessarily refer to meat. Those scholars that argue strictly in favor of zabiha say that this word ta'am is referring to grains and produce, not meat, as the edict for meat has been made clear elsewhere. When Allah speaks about meat in the Qur'an it is usually referred to with the word for meat or flesh, which is lahm.

As if the above ayaats weren't enough to make you wonder, in 6:119 Allah says: "And what hath happened to you that ye eat not (meat) of that over which hath been mentioned the name of Allah, what ye were compelled to; and many would lead people astray by their vain desires without knowledge; Verily, thy Lord knoweth best the transgressors." This should definitely make one stop and ponder the validity of the first two arguments.

The third view that is taken by many scholars in Islam is that the only meat that is halal for Muslims to eat is that which has been slaughtered according to the shariah law. In short, only zabiha meat is halal. It is zabiha to slaughter, kill, or sacrifice an animal by cutting his throat, according to the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad. There is no doubting the fact that zabiha meat is halal. No one can refute this statement. Zabiha meat is lawful, and it is the best option of all. The ayaat and ahadith that I have provided are sufficient to prove that zabiha meat is not only halal (good) but also wajib (obligatory).

Good Food Away From Home

As a “mompreneur” and a homeschooling mother of 5, I keep pretty busy. This, however, doesn’t temper my zeal for finding delicious and exciting meals to cook for my family. I’ve always loved cooking and baking almost as much as I love eating the finished products. I enjoy making sure my family has home cooked meals nearly every day. However, even the most enthusiastic cooks, myself included, enjoy dining out from time to time. In order for my family and me to have the best experience, it is vital that both halal and healthy options are available on the menu. Since I know there are many Muslims who strive to eat only the best foods as well, following are a few pointers on what you can do to insure that you have the best possible meal at a Muslim establishment.

Is this meat zabihah?

I am very strict when it comes to eating halal. Nothing can ruin my dining experience more than finding out that the restaurant owner misunderstands what it means to serve halal meat. I am a big consumer rights advocate, and believe that there should be truth in advertising. What you pay your hard earned money for is what you should get. To make sure the restaurant and you are on the same page vis a vis the definition of halal, look for a Halal Certification posted inside. The form should be easily visible in the window, or somewhere else in the restaurant. This certification says that the meat served has been Islamically slaughtered. To further insure you’re getting truly halal meat, ask if ALL the meat sold is zabihah. More than a couple of times I have experienced a restaurant that claims to be halal, yet also serves non-zabihah meat. Adding insult to injury, they do not inform the customers which meat is zabihah and which is not! In order to save time and gas, I recommend calling and finding out beforehand. Remember, halal simply means that the meat comes from an animal that is permissible to eat (unlike pork). Zabihah means that a halal animal was killed by Islamic standards. I recognize that there are many Muslims who believe that it is good enough if the meat is not pork and/or is not cooked with alcohol. They consider it halal and legal to eat. If this is not your belief, make sure the meat is zabihah.

Hold the MSG, Please!

Monosodium Glutamate, more commonly known as MSG, is used in many restaurants as a flavor enhancer. Chinese restaurants use it most often but it can be found in other types of food establishments as well. Some people experience “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome” when eating foods with MSG. The symptoms include: numbness, a burning sensation, tingling, facial pressure or tightness, chest pain, headache, nausea, rapid heartbeat, drowsiness, weakness, and for asthmatics, difficulty breathing. People who are allergic to MSG may have more serious reactions, such as a drop in heart rate or an extreme rise or fall in blood pressure, swelling, nausea/vomiting, stomach cramps, joint pain, depression, tightness of the chest, and more. Ask if a restaurant seasons their food with MSG. You can request your food not be.

Pass the Veggies!

Without a doubt, the best part of going to a halal restaurant is getting to “the murder,” as brothers Sameer and Aman Ali stated in one episode of “Sameer’s Eats.” However, don’t forget your earth food! There are many tasty vegetable dishes that can accompany the meat portion. In fact, combining protein and veggies is one of the healthiest ways to eat. Our Pakistani, Afghani, Lebanese, Malaysian, Indonesian, African and African American, etc. brothers and sisters know how to work those spices to make normally bland plants zing with flavor. But that’s not all: Vegetables are full of antioxidants that help fight harmful free radicals that can damage cells and cause cancer. Vegetables also add fiber to the diet, which is beneficial to the heart. They help us with the elimination process, and aid in weight loss and maintenance. Adding raw vegetables, fresh yogurt dressing and dip, chutney, mint, parsley and fruits with or after dinner helps digest the food, and prevents gas, heartburn, indigestion and upset stomach.

Easy on the Carbs

By now, most Americans have heard of the bevy of low carbohydrate diets that have swept the nation. Is there any truth to the healthful benefits these strict carb reduction diets claim? I believe there definitely are. Unless you are a very active, athletic person, you need to eat carbohydrates in moderation, especially the highly processed ‘white‘ breads and rice. Carbohydrates are mainly responsible for fueling us with the energy that we need to move. If we eat too little we feel too tired to make it through the day. Too much, and the excess of that energy turns into fat. Also, eating too many carbohydrates can put a strain on the pancreas causing it to secrete more insulin in an effort to rid the body of the excess sugar (carbs are broken down to sugar). If the pancreas is stressed for too long one can develop insulin resistance and diabetes. Unfortunately, diabetes is at epidemic levels and is a serious, life shortening illness. You can prevent diabetes solely by what and how much you choose to eat. You don’t have to subscribe to any of the low-carb diets in order to cut back. Just do it. Eat half the rice, only one slice of bread. If you know you’re going to eat dessert, pass up the bread. If you’re going to have potatoes, take the baklava home for a snack the next day. Even better, eat a variety of vegetables instead of rice, bread and potatoes. Allah says: “O ye who believe! Eat of the good things wherewith We have provided you, and render thanks to Allah if it is (indeed) He whom ye worship” (2:172). Eating the good things--halal and healthy food--is easy to do both at home and outside of the home. It’s all about making conscientious choices. This article originally appeared at Sameer's Eats

Best Brown Rice

Brown Rice is a staple in my family's diet. I it a nourishing food rich in fiber, manganese, magnesium, and selenium. Brown rice is said to be good for the heart, it lowers cholesterol and also said to help you lose weight. There are many other benefits as well. So replace the white rice with a healthier alternative. (And a tastier one two)

Basic Brown Rice
2 Tbsp butter, beef fat, or olive oil
3 cups brown rice
6 cups water
1. Sauté the brown rice in the fat for a couple of minutes. Add the water and bring to a high boil. Continue to boil the water until it is level with the rice.
2. After the water has boiled down to the top of the rice, put the lid on the pot and turn the heat to low. Let the rice cook on low for 1 ½-2 hours. Serves 6-8