Cauliflower Fried Rice

I am continually (not continuously) reading about health -- how to optimize it, how to reduce risks of ill-health, how to be healthy, how to feel great -- and the roll food plays in our health. In a very real sense, food is our most powerful medicine, and we can do a lot to augment our quality of life by eating properly. To my chagrin,  the vast majority of information about food and health is woefully outdated, and based on economics rather than fact. And as for cutting edge information on food and health, you have to weave and duck to dodge the shovels full of horse-manure and abject quackery. There's a lot of bad science out there.

Unfortunately, I am rather lazy and have a terrible memory, so I cannot direct you to all the studies and articles and good science out there. However, I would advise you to do your own research as much as possible! Don't take anything anyone tells you (and that includes me) as 'truth' until you are able to satisfy yourself that the information makes sense based on what we are able to know. We don't always have the whole picture, and sometimes make conclusions based on what we think is a complete image, but is really just a fragment.

That being said, I have come to certain conclusions about health and food. I think a lot of what we eat leads to systemic inflammation throughout the body. I think  a lot of what we eat costs us more than it gives us. I think most of what we can buy in the supermarket is frightening and dangerous. I think it's time to throw away most of what we 'believe' about food and health, and start again from the basic building blocks of wholesome ingredients. As Michael Pollan puts it: Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.

You may have noticed that I eschew grains for other options. Not that I boycott them entirely, but I like to  use them with dedicated moderation. Most of my baked goods are largely, if not entirely, flour from nuts instead of from grains. My research has shown me that in general grains contribute to inflammation in the body, even whole grains. As does cane sugar. Sugar in general. In addition, sugars and carbs tend to be very easily stored as fat, while fat is more easily burned as fuel. Go figure. (She says whilst stuffing the freshly baked heel of a loaf of bread in her greedy mouth).

But many people, my boys included, seem to need some grain in their diet. I think it's a really good idea to figure out what foods you yourself do best on, and to respect that by eating in a way that your body is truly asking to be fed.

You'll notice that this recipe includes some short grain brown rice, but the mass of it is actually cauliflower. And it tastes great. And if it were just for me, I would have skipped the rice entirely and just used cauliflower chopped into rice sized pieces.

ingredients:

2 tbsp extra virgin coconut oil

1 medium carrot, sliced and diced

1/4 cup raw cashews

1/4 cup raw almonds

3 cups lightly cooked cauliflower (you can steam it or saute it in coconut oil), cut into bite sized florets

1 1/2 cups cooked short grain brown rice (or your fave)

2 tbsp organic tamari (or other soy sauce)

2 tbsp almond butter

1 tbsp maple syrup

5 drops sesame oil

5 drops lime juice

1/4 tsp ground ginger

3 eggs

directions:

1. saute the carrots and nuts in the coconut oil until nicely cooked

2. add the cauliflower and seasonings, and fully heat

3. add the rice, and fully heat

4. once the seasonings have been fully incorporated, and the cauliflower and rice are hot enough, add the  eggs, and stir gently, until the eggs are fully cooked

5. serve with a side of steamed broccoli (or our favourite, sauteed over low heat in coconut oil and tossed with a little sea salt and pepper)

This will probably serve 3 or 4 ... :)