What the heck is Stevia? And what's with all the coconut flour?
As a type one diabetic, I rarely (if ever) cook with refined sugar. Stevia is my sweetener of choice: unlike Splenda, Sweet 'N Low, and other artificial substitutes, it's derived from a natural herb. However, you can always switch it out for sugar, if you'd rather. Here's a basic conversion chart to get you started.
Similarly, I aim for relatively low-carb meals. The carbs I do incorporate are typically whole-grain, high-fiber, and low-glycemic. Coconut flour (compared to white flour) fits the bill. You can read more about its health benefits here.
But what does "low-glycemic" even mean?
The glycemic index reflects the impact of different carbohydrates on our blood sugar. High-glycemic foods spike blood sugar at a faster rate, while low-glycemic foods cause a slower rise. While non-diabetic bodies are better equipped to handle the spikes, low-glycemic foods are generally better for everyone: they keep you full for longer, help maintain stable energy levels, and reduce cravings. Bring on the coconut flour!
Do you really make all of these recipes up yourself?
I find inspiration in all sorts of places. You've seen Pinterest -- it's a wild, wild world out there. But yes, 90% of the time, I cook off the cuff, and I wait to write up (and draw out) each recipe once I've actually finished eating and deemed the concoction a success. If I ever directly use someone else's, I'll credit them in the post.
If you don't use recipes, how the heck do you know what you're doing?
Here's a recipe for you: mix together one teaspoon of creativity, one tablespoon of patience, and a heaping cup of fearless experimentation. Add a pinch of intuition and an extra few shakes of spice, and cook on high heat. In other words, all it takes is some practice and a lot of taste tests -- and Italian genes certainly help as well.
Can you teach me how to make a simpler, smaller version of [insert favorite restaurant dish here]? Can you do a drawing of my grandma's famous chocolate chip cookie recipe?
Probably. Leave a post comment or shoot me an email with any specific requests, and I'll see what I can do!
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