Wednesday, February 25, 2009

headaches

I used to have headaches all the time. Just your basic run of the mill headache. Migraine types were rarer, but it wasn't even uncommon for me to wake up with a headache, especially when I was overtired and run down.

Since we have changed the way we are trying to eat by following much of the information in Nourishing Traditions, my headaches have really disappeared. I'm not sure if it was white sugar that was bringing them on, or really what it was, but they have been gone. Even as I have gone back to work a couple of weeks ago (4 nights/week), I have been tired but no headaches. I have virtually given up my beloved diet Coke even and really not had any headaches. (I have been drinking black iced tea, so I am still getting some caffeine.)

Last night we went to dinner with some friends. It was really fun. It was an upscale place that was participating in restaurant week. Nice night out, and still in bed by 9:30.

But this morning I woke up with a headache. My head is killing me...not sure where the connection lies since I don't know all the ingredients in what we ate but I can't help but think it has something to do with it.

Our dinner:
appetizer of fried calamari
salad with vinaigrette, few tomatoes and gorgonzola cheese
small slice of sourdough bread with butter
citrus glazed baked salmon
parmesan truffle fries
dessert of ice cream with a little chocolate fudge sauce and mini biscotti

Maybe fried food? Maybe refined sugar in dessert? I dunno but I feel like CRAP today. And I didn't even have any of the wine...just water all night.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

I've got a SCOBY!

My last infrequent post was about my new favorite drink kombucha. It's a fermented sweet black tea drink. The first sip has a bit of a vinegary taste, but it is really yummy. To ferment the tea you need a SCOBY, or a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast. That goes into the tea and ferments it to the desired tartness. But it's not tart like sour. It's pleasingly tart, like lemonade, but most of the sugar is consumed during the fermentation.

It's hard to explain. I've got my SCOBY now and I'll be brewing the tea to make my own 'booch tomorrow!

Monday, February 09, 2009

kombucha

Where has this stuff been all my life? Seriously...I have a little hiding in a jar in the cupboard right now trying to grow a SCOBY so I can make more. LOTS more!