April 21, 2010

Yes, there is good food to be had if you have colitis!

My friend Angie Breidenbach has written a cookbook for those who suffer from colitis. Please comment on this post for a chance to win it! Here's a sample recipe that looks delish!

Spanish Tortilla
          
A tasty, mild egg and potato omelet some might call a frittata. There’s no flour. This is not bread like Mexican tortillas. I learned this traditional Spanish tapas recipe from Maite’ Pressler when I lived in Spain. Tapas are small snacks served in pubs. It’s modified for simplicity and easy digestion. Bonus: add ingredients as you build your food list. The trick is two eggs for every potato in case you want to expand the recipe size. Important: Standard potato—the size of a light bulb for two eggs.

Serves 8 as tapas, 4 as the main entrée.

2 large potatoes, washed, peeled, & bite-size
4 eggs or the equivalent in egg substitute
1 tsp. water
½ tsp. salt
2 Tablespoons Olive oil
1 teaspoon chopped Garlic
¼ Cup chopped onion
2 Tablespoons Sun-dried tomatoes, julienne
4-5 large mushrooms, sliced
Chives to taste
4 thinly cut slices of ham
1 thinly sliced fresh tomato
1 cup grated medium cheddar*
Additional sharp cheddar, grated for garnish

In heavy frying pan coated with olive oil, sauté potatoes over medium heat for 2-3 minutes. If you are able to tolerate onion, cook with potatoes. Lower heat to low and cover. Allow to cook, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes until soft. Test for doneness. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 325 degrees and begin eggs.
          
Whisk all eggs, salt, and water. (The water fluffs the eggs when cooking.) Oil or spray a round pie glass-baking dish. I prefer not to use non-stick or dark pans to avoid overdone edges and tough bottom. The traditional round shape doesn’t matter as much as the depth. This recipe will puff. I make this for large family gatherings of 10-12. Then I use my largest glass-baking pan and multiply by three.
          
Add the mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, and garlic to the potatoes and sauté for one minute. Pour vegetable mixture into the glass-baking dish. Pour the whisked eggs over the vegetables. Bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes. The goal is to set the eggs hard without turning them overly brown. If the eggs set well on the bottom, but still too much liquid on top, turn on broiler 5 min. to finish.
          
Top tortilla with cheese. Spread ham to cover the round tortilla, and place sliced tomatoes around the top. Return to oven. Broil for 2-3 minutes to heat the toppers and melt the cheese. Sprinkle with chives for garnish.
          
Serve warm or cold. We eat it fresh out of the oven for a dinner and then eat it cold the next day for lunch or breakfast.

Insider Tip: Medium cheddar is important for flavor and melting ability. Sharp is fantastic, but doesn’t melt well. Mild cheddar is too bland when paired with potato and egg. So put the sharp on last for decorative visual appeal as an option for more flavor. Optional additions as you add foods to your diet. Each addition makes this dish more complex and more nutritional. But the colors make it beautiful and a highly sought after meal.

Time Saver Tip: Microwaved potatoes speed up this recipe by almost half the preparation time. Microwave washed potatoes the night before. Then it’s easy to slip off the skin and chunk into bite-sized cubes. Saves at least 20-30 minutes of prep time, possibly more. Still sauté in the olive oil for a few minutes for the flavor and the oil is an important part of the recipe.


Please let me know what your favorite recipes are and your impression of the cookbook. There are recipes for celiac and weight loss noted as well by the + and * signs on the recipes. If you share a recipe, please only share the Spanish Tortilla. The reason is so that it will leave the other recipes in the book and people will then want to buy the whole book.

It's available for purchase at: http://www.mygemofwisdom.com/products-page/books/creative-cooking-for-colitis-e-cookbook/  or off the accompanying blog at: http://ColitisCooking.blogspot.com


$1 of each cookbook sale goes to the Jadyn Fred Foundation to help support children in need of financial assistance for medical costs outside insurance coverage.

Beautiful cook book with simple to simply elaborate recipes sure to thrill you and your family. 25 Tips and Recipes on how to start living and eating confidently again! Full color photos for every recipe. Insider tips on cooking, eating with families, colitis diet, and shopping. Lovely recipes for elegant parties and holiday treats. Available in e-format or CD format.

About the cookbook author:

Angela Breidenbach is Mrs. Montana International 2009, author of Creative Cooking for Colitis, works with Hope’s Promise Orphan Ministries, the American Heart Association, and the Jadyn Fred Foundation. Angela also teaches online classes and coaches one-on-one in courageous confidence, personal growth, and powerful living. She’s certified in mentor/peer counseling as a Stephen Minister and Assisting Minister. She serves as the American Christian Fiction Writer's Publicity Officer and is a multi-award winning inspirational speaker and author. Not only did she walk the hard line of deciding to donate her mom's brain, but she is also on the brain donation list at the Brain Bank-Harvard McLean Hospital. She is married, has a combined family of six grown children, one grandson.
Find Angela Breidenbach


http://www.MyGemofWisdom.com
http://www.AngelaBreidenbach.com
http://GodUsesBrokenVessels.blogspot.com
http://ColitisCooking.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/AngBreidenbach
http://www.facebook.com/AngelaBreidenbach
http://WritingByFaith.blogspot.com on Wednesdays each week

3 comments:

Unknown said...

My sweet coworker suffers from colitis. I would give this to her if I won!

(My word verification is swakerve ... funny!)

Anonymous said...

Thanks, Mary and Angie, for posting this. Sounds scrumptious, and so versatile. I appreciate this blog stretching our typical dies!

Blessings,
Mary Kay

AngBreidenbach said...

I'm so glad you ladies stopped in to comment. Cathy, I'd love to give your co-worker a book. If you will send me your email, I'll send you the winning copy. But I hope you realize all these dishes are great for everyone. So she'll have to invite you to dinner for the win :-)

Here's my email (broken up to avoid spammers, of course)
angela @ mygemofwisdom . com

Angie