Celery Root and Cauliflower Soup--so yummy and warm

Celery Root and Cauliflower Soup

This is such a wonderful soup and easy to make. It fits in perfectly with Phase II of the O2 Diet. I adapted it from a recipe I found on epicurious.com. You will see inserts for a Paleo version below:


1granny smith apple or 1 pear, cored and chopped (omit for paleo)
1 yellow onion, chopped
1 parsnip, sliced (triple for paleo)
1 head cauliflower, chopped

1 celery root, peeled and chopped
4 cups vegetable (o2) or chicken broth (paleo), preferably homemade but in carton ok: Imagine brand is good
1/2 tsp thyme

1/2 tsp dry mustard

 black pepper to taste

In large pot, cook celery root, cauliflower and parsnip in the vegetable or chicken broth until soft.  Meanwhile, sauté onion and pear or apple if using in butter until soft and lightly golden.

Transfer all to blender or food processor with thyme, mustard and black pepper. Puree.

Garnish with:

Chive oil
turkey bacon bits (o2) or bacon bits (paleo)

Chive oil:
1/2 c. chopped chives
1/2 c. olive oil
whirl in food processor until pretty smooth

 bacon bits: lay  bacon slices on several paper towels on plate. cover with more paper towels. microwave for about 3 minutes or until desired doneness achieved. remove paper towels and blot any oil with more paper towels. crumble when cooled enough to handle

Garnish 1 cup soup with 1 tsp chive oil and 1 tsp bacon bits

Superb served with sausages.

How I am fusing the 02 Diet with the Paleolithic Diet

Well, I got through the 4 day cleanse without too much trouble, thanks to the support of my GFs who are doing it with me! Thanks, Lori and Kathy! And I got on the scale the morning of day 5. I was none too happy to see the number 139 staring back at me. 22 months ago I started at 141 and got down to 129, working my way back up to 134-ish for a healthier more attractive weight for my frame. Clearly I had returned to my starting point or higher, since I did not weigh myself before starting the cleanse this time.  How did I do this? By failing to control portions and returning to my old habits of snacking mindlessly on healthy foods--sure--but still 3 ounces of raw pecans is a lot of food. Oh yeah, and then there was my old nemesis:  wine. Two glasses of that and all self control or conscious choice is LOST.

This is day 5 Phase 2 of the 02 Diet. For those of you who don't know about this super healthy eating and living lifestyle, you can read about it at www.nutritiouslife.com or get Keri Glassman's book: The 02 Diet.  This diet gets you to focus more on putting super healthy and anti-oxidant rich foods into your body than focusing on what you keep out of your body. It is divided into 3 phases. Phase 1 is a four day eating cleanse (not fasting) and Phase 2, which is 2 weeks long, allows more food and far more types of food. Phase 3 is when one gets to add conscious indulgences such as red wine and chocolate, etc. IN SMALL QUANTITIES.

Anyway, I am slightly modifying the 02 Diet to incorporate the principles of the Paleolithic Diet aka Primal Diet. What that means is that I am avoiding sugar, grains and legumes completely, eating only roots and tubers for starches. I am limiting my dairy and starting to eat pasture raised meat, poultry, eggs and dairy.

I have been an organic foods advocate for years, but moving to pasture raised means I get much higher Omega 3 and CLA from the grass fed and foraging animals. (Animals, be they raised organically or not, when not pastured are raised on soy and corn which radically increases omega 6 levels and that is very bad.)  What does NOT work for me about paleolithic diet is the high caloric intake allowed for by the high fat intake. So I am avoiding all bad fats (all vegetable fats, trans fats) and eating GOOD fats, i.e., avocados, nuts and olive oil and ALSO saturated fats like butter and non-hydrogenated coconut oil and beef fat, but I am keeping my portions in check--5 portions daily. In phase 3 I will go up to 6 portions daily of these fats. I am keeping my carbohydrate load to 50 grams daily (mostly sourced from fruit and a little dairy in my coffee), and I am jump starting my day with a high protein and fat breakfast, i.e. omelets and frittatas and an occasional whey protein smoothie. O2 diet often starts the day with grains and dairy and fruit--not nearly enough fat or protein and way too much carb for my taste. The grain and dairy and fruit breakfast--ie plain yogurt, berries and toast--leaves me bloated and drowsy for two hours at which point I am suddenly ravenous. Clearly not the best choice for me. Just saying'....If you want to know more about the Paleolithic Diet, go to www.Marksdailyapple.com


Mmm. Just finished my Tomatillo Chipotle Chicken soup complete with the garnishes of cilantro, avocado and raw shredded cabbage and radish. This is an adaptation of Green Posole, omitting the hominy (corn) and adding poblano and chipotle. Fabulous! Spicy, tangy, slightly smoky, warming, flavorful and chock full of Vitamin C immune enhancing goodness!


Tomatillo Chipotle Chicken soup

dash of cumin, salt and pepper
1 lb organic chicken thighs
3 poblano chilis
1 carton organic chicken or vegetable broth
1 lb tomatillos
1 onion
1 large clove garlic, minced
1 tsp cumin
1 chipotle from the chipotle in adobo sauce can



Set oven to 400 roasting temp. Rub some salt, pepper and cumin into chicken thighs. Place whole poblano chills and chicken thighs on cookie sheet. Turn poblanos in 4 minutes. roast another 4 minutes then remove poblanos and place in paper bag. Turn chicken over at the 8 minute mark and continue to roast chicken for approximately 8 more minutes or until done. When chicken is done, take it out to cool.

While these are roasting, pour chicken broth into large pot and turn heat to medium. Chop onions and tomatillos. Add to pot of broth along with the garlic, cumin and the chipotle. bring to simmer or boil and cook until soft.

Take poblanos out of bag and remove stem and seeds. add to soup pot. Ladle soup mixture in small batches into blender and puree til smooth.

Shred chicken with forks or fingers and stir into soup.

Garnish and enjoy!

Garnishes for Tomatillo Chipotle Chicken soup

shredded cabbage, red or green
slivered radishes
cubed avocado
chopped cilantro

High Energy on the 4 Day Cleanse

Day 1 on The 02 Diet Phase I Cleanse completed successfully. Well, I didn't do an entire body scrub, but maybe I will do that today....

The big difference this time around is that I was not starving all day, basically keeping my HQ at the desired 4-6 level. I did that by re-arranging the meals, placing the big voluminous salad at lunch, having the pecans WITH the artichoke hearts as an afternoon snack (a little fat to stabilize my blood sugar til dinner time) and the salmon with steamed spinach and grilled asparagus for dinner. I also added spinach and a few bites of fresh tomato to my eggs--extra ORAC points and fiber/bulk without loading calories. This is a much tastier way of doing the eggs. Tomorrow I will do some artichoke hearts and mushshrooms in the eggs.

I think I may weigh in today. Scary. Or maybe I will wait until Friday morning after the 4 day cleanse, but then I won't know how effective the 4 day was....hmmmm. Really, I know that I should not give the numbers that much power, and focus on how I feel instead...which is pretty good! Had a 6.5 mile moderately difficult hike (lots of hills) this morning and felt good throughout. Furthermore, I am in a good mood.  This is a big shift from how I felt 2 days ago (Jan 1) at the NY day Open House where I ate way too much (can you say 6 cookies and 3 pieces of English toffee?) and felt super tired from 3 nights in a row of partying (aka wine and margaritas) and staying up late (for me that is past midnight).

Already looking forward to Phase II when I can have dairy in my milk and a bit more fat and some salt --which means I can add salsa to my eggs, more tasty marinades for my fish and chicken and meat.

My girlfriends, L and K, have just started the 4 day today. I don't think K liked her eggs without cheese. It is those little unmeasured additions that add 400-500-1000 calories per day to our diets and how we end up 10 lbs heavier in a year! So back to measuring and watching the 'little cheats"!

Back on The 02 Diet--with a Difference

After a pretty damn indulgent holiday season on the heels of recovering from a knee injury which got me off exercise for a month, I am back on Keri Glassman's 02 Diet, starting with the 4day cleanse. For those of you who are not familiar with The 02 Diet by Keri Glassman, you can read about it at her web site: www.nutritiouslife.com  The diet stresses anti-oxidant and omega 3 rich foods, asking you to increase ORAC points, rather than decrease calories. In other words, the idea is to focus on feeding yourself healthfully rather than depriving yourself.

I lived very successfully on this eating approach for 18 months, keeping my weight at my ideal and feeling quite healthy and energetic. Gradually, with the prodding, encouragement and blogging by Dr. Jack Kruse, I started to reduce my grain consumption to the point of elimination. Until November when I injured my knee. Gradually my exercise then my eating plan derailed. And when I started eating those grains, my gut protested with cramping, loose bowels alternating with constipation. Not fun stuff.

So I am going 02 without the grains! Think Paleo Diet with some dairy and limited fruit. Instead of the carb serving, I will occasionally have a root or tuber (sweet potato, parsnip, beet, carrot, or, in a similar vein, pumpkin).  And, here is the clincher, I am going to do this without sugar. So when I get to Phase III, my conscious indulgences will likely involve stevia or Truvia to sweeten chocolate for "paleo bark" or hot cocoa.

I know that my biggest challenge will be with wine. One glass, which is all that Keri Glassman recommends as a conscious indulgence, is VERY hard for me. I always want a second. And after that, my will power deteriorates considerably.

So today is Day 1 of the cleanse. I am doing just fine at lunch time.
eggs with oregano and spinach for breakfast
2 cups of green tea
16 oz of water
1 granny smith apple and cinnamon
big spinach salad with 4 oz organic chicken, tomato, cabbage, radish and 1/4 avocado, balsamic vinegar
HQ has stayed between 4-6 all day

planning for the holiday weekend: bring your fave 02 dish to the party!

I plan on attending some July 4 parties, so I am putting together a game plan to succeed in feeding my body right 02 style! I want to feel empowered about my food and drink choices AND have fun!

Here is my plan:
July 3 I am going to a party that some good friends are hosting. I plan to bring along jicama, cucumber and bell pepper slices and a mediterranean salsa for dipping so that I don't get caught up in less healthy appetizer choices like cheese and crackers and creamy dips. I am planning on choosing green salads and grilled vegies and grilled chicken or fish and avoiding carby dishes like corn, rice, and potatoes. Often, I just bring a large green salad or vegie side dish without being asked and no one ever complains!

Dessert and alcoholic beverages are always my downfall at parties, so I plan on making virgin versions of my fave cocktail and bringing that! I will plan on having one non-virgin version (cross my fingers) and stick with virgin for the rest of the party. I am also going to be proactive about dessert. Fruit is always a good thing to bring, especially in the summer, but to turn fruit into a dessert, I need to dress it up a bit. I think I will dip some big organic strawberries dipped in chocolate and bring those! I can confidently content myself noshing on strawberries in the face of chocolate cake and ice cream.

Let's just hope that there is some dance music at the party! That always keeps me away from the food and focused on FUN!

Happy Fourth!

Last night I indulged pretty well at a little dinner party. As usual, dinner went well with a controlled amount of flank steak, morel mushrooms in creme sauce(!!)) plenty of arugula salad, grilled asparagus, tomatoes and artichokes. The 2.5 glasses of cab lowered my inhibitions AS USUAL and so I had 1/2 oz of dark chocolate AND a half piece of ollaliberry pie and a few bites of ice cream. okie dokie. So it's Monday and I have gotten right back in the saddle on my 02 plan and I even drank plenty of water with an ounce of dark cherry juice (high ORACs with anti-arthritis properties)!

Today:

7 grain toast w 2 tsp almond butter, 1 tsp flaxseed and 1/4 tsp cinnamon

2 cup green tea 1/4 c 1%milk

2 cup half decaf coffee 14 c1%milk and 1/4 tsp cinnamon

1 cup berries

8 pecans

4 oz salmon w buerre blanc

1 c green beans w/ onions and tomatoes

1/2 oz dark chocolate

arugula salad with red onion, avocado, herbed balsamic vinaigrette, 3 oz flank steak

mango w 1/2 c plain nonfat greek yogurt, 1/4 tsp cinnamon and vanilla

Easily maintaining my weight loss and feeling GREAT!

Whew! I knew that I felt good in my body: lithe, light, plenty of energy, pain free, but I was not sure if I had gained back any weight after vacation. I weighed in today at 131.5 which is where I was before vacation and is what I consider to be my ideal weight. Somehow at 129 I just felt that I looked too deflated.  Funny how those 2.5 lbs makes a difference.  Maybe it is all in my head, but honestly I think I fill out my clothing just a little better.

It is so great to know that I can continue to feed and give to myself in such a full and satisfying way while maintainning my weight and improving my health with each bite I take! Food as a tool for better health! YAY!

Food Journal for 6/17/10

7 grain toast w 2 T almond butter and 1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 c low fat milk
2 c green tea

1 apricot
10 almonds
1/2 oz dark chocolate

mixed greens with 3.5 oz salmon, 1/4 mango, 1/4 avo, tomatoes, cukes, 1/2 c salsa
2 c half decaf coffee
1/2 c lowfat milk
1 tsp raw sugar 1/4 tsp cinnamon

10 almonds
mixed greens with 4 oz organic chicken, tomatoes, artihearts, 1/3 avocado, baby carrots

1/2 glass white wine with 1 c sparkly water
1/2 honeydew w 1 T lowfat sourcream