Beyond the Bite

Get Beyond the Tick Bite and Eat Right For Your Life.

Recipe Index

Keto Low-Carb Vanilla Glazed Doughnuts (Nut & Seed-Free)

 No, doughnuts sure aren’t your traditional Thanksgiving dessert, unless of course you roll these bad boys in a mixture of cinnamon and sugar (do.it.)  However, about once a week my husband craves a sweet treat. While my typical go-to recipes include Paleo chocolate chip cookies (or) a smaller version of our keto wedding cake recipe, this past weekend he wanted me to surprise him. With so many possibilities as to what I could make him, I was a bit undecided.  “Cookies? Cake? Brownies? What do you want? Just tell me and I’ll make it!”  But the problem was, he wouldn’t tell me. Instead, I was forced to get my creative juices flowing.  I truly didn’t know what I was going to make him until I spotted some neglected limes in our kitchen’s fruit bowl. While cakes and cookies typically have lemon in them, I decided to go out on a limb and use lime as the citrus-of-choice.  The result? A surprisingly decadent doughnut that satisfied both sweet and sour cravings. Topped with a citrus glaze, both my husband and the kids absolutely devoured the doughnuts.  Outside of the fantastic taste and texture, another great thing about this recipe is its versatility.  While I first made the doughnuts with lime added, I’ve also baked them as plain, vanilla doughnuts (as seen in today’s photos).  Why vanilla?  For the same reason I always choose vanilla…It’s so versatile and you can doctor it up any which way you want!  I also made an AIP-friendly variation (see recipe notes below).  For the lime-citrus doughnuts mentioned above, simply replace the water with lime juice you’re all set! You can also make them sans coconut milk by replacing all fluids with water as well.  Either way, you’ll still end up with the same, awesome baked doughnuts ready to be topped with whatever it is your heart desires (citrus glaze, chocolate frosting, chocolate chunks, vanilla glaze, CINNAMON & SUGAR for a holiday edition?! or simply creamy coconut butter? You name it!).

Keto Vanilla Glazed Doughnuts

Print Recipe

Yields 6-8 
 Ingredients 

Process

  • In large bowl whisk together coconut flour, sweetner, baking soda, and sea salt.
  • Add in eggs, melted butter, coconut milk, vanilla, water, and zest, whisking until smooth.
  • Grease a doughnut pan and pour batter 3/4 up the way in each ring.
  • Bake doughnuts in a 350 degree oven for 25-30 minutes.

Notes
Baking time will vary on the size of your doughnuts.
To make icing, whisk together equal parts coconut cream and melted butter & Swerve, with additional flavors added to taste.
For a lime donut, use 1/3 cup lime juice in the batter, plus lime juice & zest in your desired icing.
AIP Variation: Use 1/2 cup pureed plantain in place of the eggs, use coconut oil in place of butter, and coconut or maple sugar in place of the Swerve – *Allow donuts to cool completely in molds before popping out (the AIP doughnuts are much more delicate, with less rise, but still very tasty)

Psalm 16:8 “I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”

My Guide to Keto with a Chronic Illness

The idea to create this guide came to me one morning that I was supposed to “sleep in” (aka 8AM). Instead, I was woken up very early and could never fall back asleep. I’ve found that whenever I’m supposed to (or wish) I was sleeping, that is the time that I come up with my greatest (or so I think) ideas. So here it is, my guide to keto. I’ve been at keto for over 4 years and have experimented with a lot of things. A part of me wishes I had the ketogenic diet before and after photos to show you. That being said, the ketogenic diet for one individual is going to be different for another, especially for the individual that has a chronic illness.

There are many more factors involved outside of losing weight or performing better in the gym. Outside of activity levels, keto is also different from male to females. Overall, everything you will read below is based off of my own experiences (aka I’ve been there, done that). That doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll have the same experience as me. In all honesty, the keto diet is not for everyone; for some, a more gradual and less restrictive weight loss program like Weight Watchers is a better option. The most important thing to do is weigh up the pros and cons, stated on the Weight Watchers vs Ketosis article on the Modern Fit website, and apply it to you as an individual.

I’ve hit those brick walls, I’ve been bored with my food, and dealt with GI and gallbladder issues. I’ve been dehydrated and not-motivated to continue. But above all else, I’ve pushed through, I’ve persevered, and I am here to share some of my main tips and tricks to balancing the keto diet with a chronic illness. Of course, there is the issue of the Keto Flu, but remember it affects different people in different ways. The best thing to do is read this guide to learn more about the Keto Flu if you want to discover more about how it can affect you.

Moreover, if you are just starting the keto diet, you might be interested to learn that cannabis can help. Regardless of whether you are consuming CBD, THC, or both, there are studies out there that suggest that cannabis could possibly enhance the benefits of keto and even help with some of the temporary negative effects of the keto diet, too. I was speaking to a friend of mine who lives in Missouri about this the other day. She has recently secured a medical marijuana card from her MO MMJ doctors and is now combining cannabis use with the keto diet as a way of managing her chronic illness.

So, how can cannabis and keto be combined? Well, during the initial stages of the keto diet, cravings can be intense, and your body might not have the same kind of physical stamina. This is all temporary, but it is possible to alleviate some of these symptoms by incorporating cannabis into your weight loss treatment. Cannabis-infused products can help with muscular aches and pains and can also potentially help with symptoms of keto flu. Above all, when combining cannabis with any type of diet be sure to do plenty of research and always consult with a medical professional before making any significant lifestyle changes.

My Guide to Keto with a Chronic Illness

If you’re dealing with indigestion/GI upset and bloating try:

  • Ox Bile supplement – helps your body break down the fat.
  • Diatomaceous earth – can be a great aid in digestion and detoxification.
  • Intermittent fasting – by eating in a 6-8 hr time frame and fasting the remaining time, your body is given a break from digestion.

If you need to add more dairy-free, low-inflammatory fat sources try:

  • Homemade mayo – I make mine low-histamine with egg yolks, avocado or MCT oil, and salt. Add citrus or vinegar if you like!
  • Avocados – if you’re ok with histamine and FODMAPs, avocados are the miracle child of keto.
  • Ghee – if full fat butter still gives you issue, try ghee! It contains zero milk proteins and is very friendly to those dealing with autoimmune disorders.
  • Fatty meats – don’t be afraid of them, the fat is chock full of nutrients, especially if the meat is organic and grass-fed. Skin- on chicken thighs, 80/20 ground beef, wings, ribeye steak, and duck breasts are great choices, to name a few!
  • Dressing – it doesn’t just have to go on salads! You can dress any cooked vegetable or protein with a sauce or homemade dressing. My favorites include pesto, Italian dressing, and chimichurri.

If you’re in need of some crunch try:

  • Pork rinds/chicharrones – order online through Bacons Heir, _____, or find them at your local grocery store. My favorites are those from the local Mexican market. They sure know how to make them!!!
  • Cucumbers – while not as “snappy” as chicharrones, cucumbers + salt can be a great fix for when you’re craving something salty and crunchy.
  • Fried chicken skin – yep, I said it. It may sound weird at first, but baking or frying chicken skin until crispy makes for an amazingly crunchy snack.
  • Roasted kale chips – or better yet, my roasted collard green chips.

If you’re feeling restrictive or bored with your meals try:

  • Adding in a new vegetable or protein to your rotation – Sometimes the answer to your boredom can be as simple as eating turkey instead of chicken, or roasting leeks instead of cauliflower. Afterall, variety is the spice of life!
  • Use a different cooking method – I get it, life is busy, and its super easy to get in a rut in the kitchen. If you’ve been faithfully roasting/baking your meals, try sauteeing, pan frying, or maybe even using the slow-cooker or Instapot!
  • Use a bowl and chopsticks – it sounds silly, but changing the vessel for your food and utensils used to eat it can completely change your dining experience. Don’t believe me? Try it!!!

If you’re in need of a carb up try:

  • Plantain chips – crunchy, salty, and perfectly satisfying for any carb-up without sending your body through the ringer. They can be eaten plain or incorporated into a full meal!
  • Fruit – if you tolerate sugars OK, try berries, melon, or other low-glycemic fruits.
  • Sweet potatoes – boiled, mashed, roasted, fried, or baked, who doesn’t love sweet potatoes?!
  • Coconut flour – bake up your favorite sweet treat using coconut flour and you may just get the carb-fix your body is needing without going overboard on the carbs.

When you feel like falling off the bandwagon try:

  • Re-create your favorite dish – sometimes all you need to keep you going is your favorite meal, dish, or cuisine. It can be just the moral booster you need to keep going’
  • Fall off the wagon – that’s right, I said it. Take a break! See how your body feels. If it feels worse, more than likely you’ll be happy to get back on the bandwagon. Overall, you’ll be reminded of why you started keto in the place.
  • Have a carb-up – sometimes a less daunting way to sway the scales can be by simply having a small to moderate carb-up. If you feel like giving up on keto, its usually because you’ve found yourself feeling restricted in eating. This is your cue to change things up!

When you’re feeling dehydrated try:

  • Himalayin pink salt – this stuff is chock full of minerals to help balance your electrolytes
  • E-lyte – a fancy version of Pedialyte without all the sugars. Many functional medical professionals sell it but you can get it on Amazon for cheaper.
  • Coconut water – while higher in sugars and carbs, sometimes sipping on coconut water can be just the thing you need.
  • Bone broth – add some salt and you’re set to go!

Want more tips and tricks on eating keto with a chronic illness? Follow me on Instagram at @beyondthebite4life (or) on Facebook at @beyondthebite – see ya around!

Job 37:5-6 “God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.'”

Tigernut Flour Cinnamon Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (AIP Paleo, Nut-free)

Today’s recipe is one that I have been dreaming for, well, years.  Many years ago when I was very, very sick, my mom made me a gluten-free version of my childhood favorite: Cinnamon Oatmeal Raisin Cookies.  I mean, who doesn’t love a chewy, cinnamon-infused cookie with bits of oatmeal and raisins mixed in?  I say this cookie is a childhood favorite because, growing up, my family and I would occasionally eat at Rein’s New York Style deli.  My brother and I’s meals typically consisted of scrambled eggs, sausage, and a NY style bagel, all of which was followed by an amazing cinnamon raisin oatmeal cookie that my mom split between the 5 of us.  While gluten-filled and certainly not healthy, the memories I have connected to those cookies are very sweet.  For that reason, I’ve always loved a good cinnamon oatmeal raisin cookie, even more-so than chocolate chip cookies (which believe me, is saying a lot).  Therefore, when I finally had the chance to purchase both tigernut flour AND tigernut flakes, I knew this was my chance to make the cookies I had always been dreaming of.  To my excitement they came out EXACTLY how I had hoped, with the perfect balance of flavors, and just the right texture that a good, cinnamon raisin oatmeal cookie should have.

Cinnamon Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Yields 12-14 cookies

Ingredients

Process

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • In a large bowl sift together tigernut flour, arrowroot flour, coconut flour, baking soda, sea salt, cinnamon, and tigernut flakes.
  • Melt shortening and mix together with vanilla extract, then pour it over the dry ingredients, mixing until smooth, then fold in raisins.
  • Roll cookie dough into 12-14 like-size balls, placing them on a parchment lined baking sheet, pressing down slightly with the back of your palm, then baking for 12 minutes.
  • Once cooked remove the baking sheet from the oven and allow the cookies to cool 5-10 minutes before removing and allowing to fully cool on a wire rack.

 

 

Psalm 51:12 “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.”

AIP Lamb Empanadas (Coconut, Egg, & Nut-free)

Today I decided to get back to my creative, AIP roots and share an autoimmune-friendly empanada recipe.  The inspiration from this recipe originally stemmed from doing the weekly grocery haul and seeing white sweet potatoes in the produce section.  Sweet potatoes are great, but WHITE sweet potatoes, those are what some of my most creative recipes have stemmed from (see here).  I wasn’t entirely sure what I was going to make with them, but I knew it was going to be something good.  I made a list, which include some sweet treats, including vanilla spice cookies and such.  However, I decided I wanted to go the savory route this time around.  As I sat on the couch brainstorming what I should put in the filling of the empanadas, my husband happened to ask me what I was working on.  Coming from a long line of amazing Mexican cooks, this recipe was right up his wheel house.   He made the genius suggestion of adding green olives and raisins to the filling, both of which bring a unique tangy, salty, yet sweet taste to the filling, one of which I would certainly never thought of on my own. Ginger is used as the “spice” factor, while the dried herbs add an overall earthiness to the meat.  Though the filling and dough were super tasty to me, I knew that the real test would be from my husband.  I was a bit hesitant to let him try them, but after just a couple bites the reviews were excellent.  SCORE! AIP friendly empanadas approved by a Mexican?  I knew I had hit the jack pot.  But hey, don’t take my word for it, give them a try yourself!

AIP Lamb Empanadas

Yields 6-8 

Dough Ingredients 

  • 2 cups pureed white sweet potato
  • 1.5 cups arrowroot flour
  • 2 tbsp lard

Filling Ingredients

  • 12 oz ground lamb
  • 1/2 cup diced carrots
  • 1/2 cup minced celery
  • 1/2 yellow onion, minced
  • 2 tbsp raisins, minced
  • 1/4 cup green olives, minced
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
  • 2 tsp sea salt
  • 2 tbsp avocado oil

Process

  • Make sweet potato puree by peeling, dicing, and boiling sweet potato until fork tender, then place it in a food processor and puree until smooth.
  • To the food processor add arrowroot flour 1/2 cup at a time, pulsing until combined.
  • Pulse in lard until a smooth dough has formed.
  • Form 6-8 like-size balls out of the dough and place them on a parchment lined baking sheet.
  • Press each ball out to 1/8th inch thick, creating 6-8 inch circles, then place the baking sheet in the fridge to chill while preparing the filling.
  • In a medium size skillet, heat avocado oil on medium-high heat, then add onion, celery, and carrot, sauteing until soft.
  • Once soft, add in raisins and olives, then pour the mixture into a bowl and set aside.
  • Back in the skillet, cook beef with rosemary, salt, oregano, and thyme until browned and cooked through.
  • Add vegetable mixture to the skillet and stir until combined.
  • Allow the filling mixture to cool then place 2-3 tbsp in each circle of dough.
  • Fold each circle in half, creating a half moon shape, then pinch the edges together with a fork.
  • Place the baking sheet in a 350 degree preheated oven and allow the empanadas to bake for 45 minutes, until golden around the edges.

 

Notes:  A tortilla press lined with parchment paper is ideal for this recipe.  It allows you to form uniform tortillas without the hassle of rolling them out!

 

 

 

 

Proverbs 19:20-21 “Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

How to Balance Chronic Lyme and Exercise

I’ve written quite a few posts on fitness during the different times of my illness.  Whether it be pilates, functional fitness, or my overall journey with fitness, I’ve talked about it. However, today I wanted to dive a little deeper into my experience with movement and exercise by making a video.  If you’re looking to learn more about my past and how I go to where I am today, be sure to go read those articles I linked above!  In the meantime, let’s dive a little deeper into how exactly, I am able to maintain weekly workouts without doing what everyone with a chronic illness is afraid of doing: sending my body in a downward spiral. Of course, like any worthwhile endeavor in life, learning what type of exercise suits my body best has come with its many setbacks and lessons.  You truly can’t know something until you try it, and this definitely applies to fitness as well.  So, how do you avoid the terrible downward spiral that we all do everything to avoid?  First and foremost, I talk about intuition. Secondly in this video I talk about recovery, including the supplements that I currently use to help support my body, it’s healing, as well as the important role of sleep, epsom salt baths, and mobilization/rolling out.  I also talk a lot about what happens when we start to workout outside of our homes and begin to fall into the comparison trap.  This is a trap that can be easy for anyone to fall into, especially if they are a fitness guru like myself.  However, as Theodore Roosevelt once said “comparison is the thief of joy.”  True that Roosevelt, true that….Of course, I couldn’t end the video without hitting on the topic of diet, how we all differ when it comes to macros, the importance of adequate calories, and overall what I have found suits my body best. It is important to note that not every day is a good day.  Sometimes I struggle to get through a workout, and sometimes I simply do not workout at all.  Again, exercising with a chronic illness is ALL about intuition.  I’ll say it again.  Intuition.  Don’t want to be in tune with your body?  Well, then, exercising with a chronic illness may just not work.  The choice is up to you! But I swear by it.  Not only will you benefit from being more in tune with your body, but so will your health and overall wellbeing.

Be sure to like & subscribe and thank you all for the continued support!!!

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John 3:20-21 “Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.”

Chewy Keto Vanilla Coconut Collagen Creamer Macaroons

Today’s recipe was inspired by the great folks at Vital Proteins.  After sending me some samples of their creamer, collagen bone broth (featured recipe coming soon), and beauty collagen for a giveaway, I decided to create a collagen-filled treat much like my Chewy Vanilla Cookie Bars.  If there is one thing I hate about macaroons, it is when they are like munching on air.  Does that make sense? Maybe not.  Let me explain…I’ve had many macaroons that have nothing to them.  Does that make sense? Probably not.  I’m not entirely sure how to explain myself.  All I know is there is nothing worse (in my mind atleast) than biting into a macaroon, hoping to taste a chewy, sweet cookie, only to bite into coconut-flavored air.  If I am still not making sense, well, atleast I tried. The point of saying all of this was that these macaroons are NOT tasteless puffs of air.  They’re rich in coconut, with a chewy texture that lasts longer than .02 seconds after biting into them.  They have a great vanilla flavor and are sweet (but not too sweet).  I personally love them with a cup of iced cold coffee (if my IC is allowing it), otherwise an herbal tea will do.  The best part of all of this? They are full of the good stuff (aka collagen).  If there were ever a treat you could feel good about eating, it is this one!

Vanilla Coconut Collagen Creamer Macaroons

Print Recipe

Yields 12

Ingredients

Process

  • In a food processor, pulse coconut flakes until shredded.
  • Add in swerve, vanilla, melted butter, and eggs, pulsing until combined.
  • Add in collagen creamer and puree until a sticky dough has formed.
  • Using your hands, roll dough into 12 like-size balls, placing each on a parchment lined baking sheet.
  • Bake the macaroons for 14 minutes at 350 degrees until just browned on the top and around the edges.
  • Allow to cool 5-10 minutes before serving.

 

Notes: Coconut oil (or) coconut butter can be used in place of the butter.  Coconut or maple sugar can be used in place of the Swerve. I have not tried making these with regular, plain collagen by Vital Proteins, so take note.

 

 

 

 

 

John 6:29 “Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.””

Chronic Lyme, Mast Cells, & Allergies + a Video

Today’s video is all about mast cells.  Mast cells, mast cells, mast cells.  They’re essential to our body but, when overactive, can cause serious health issues.  While I cover mast cells in the video, you can also learn more about another key factor in allergies called histamine.

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While I have been treating my overactive mast cells for many years now, things have not resolved 100%.  This is due to underlying, recurrent infections (yeast, epstein barr virus, and bartonella).  Of course, getting rid of these infections is not a piece of cake and they keep my immune system very inflamed.  In turn, my mast cells are always on edge.  While I have done many different therapies in the past, I currently am only taking chromolyn sodium (oral), d-hist (supplement), and doing urine injections once a week.  I’ve found that the longer I am on my bartonella treatment, the less often I react.  However, if the infection ramps up for any reason (full moon, treatment, sluggish detox pathways, etc…), things get much worse and I experience my throat closing much more often (a tell tale symptom of both bartonella and active mast cells).  To learn more, be sure to watch the video!

 

 

 

1 John 4:16 “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.”

2-Ingredient AIP “Flour” Tortillas (Coconut-Free)

HO-LY smokes guys! I am so so SO excited to share today’s recipe with you.  After creating my AIP-friendly empanadas (recipe coming soon), I decided to play around with my sweet potato dough and try out something I have been longing to try for awhile now: Tortillas.  As someone whose husband is Mexican, tortillas in the house is a pretty common appearance (mind you, they are corn tortillas).  However, since my husband starting eating primarily paleo/primal, the amount of tortillas eaten has lowered an incredible amount.  However, he sure does still love them.  Therefore, when I went to the store to buy more white sweet potato, I decided it was time to play around with a tortillas recipe.  At first, I wasn’t entirely sure how this recipe would work.  However, after making the dough, rolling it into little balls, flattening it with a rolling pin (a tortillas press would have worked FANTASTIC!), and slapping the dough onto a screaming hot pan, I knew I had hit the jack pot.  Not only do the tortillas get the burnt marks like normal tortillas, they actually puff up when you are heating them up.  If you have any experience with heating corn tortillas, you know that the air pockets that form are what tell you it is time to flip the tortilla on to its other side. Much to my joy and convenience, my husband happened to be home from work for a couple hours to try the tortillas.  While I was a bit nervous at first (he’s probably my biggest food critic – ever.), I was so happy when he came back with an empty plate for more.  Overall, the texture, taste, and consistency of these tortillas is unlike any paleo “tortilla” either of us have ever tried or seen.  Who knew you could make such a killer recipe out of two simple ingredients?!

AIP “Flour” Tortillas

Print Recipe

Yields 12-14 tortillas

Ingredients

  • 2.5 cups white sweet potato puree
  • 2 cups arrowroot flour
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • More arrowroot flour for rolling and shaping

Process

  • Roll dough into golf ball size balls
  • On a piece of parchment paper, press dough into a 6 inch, circle, similar to that of regular corn tortilla *Be sure to use plenty or arrowroot while doing this so it does not stick to the parchment.
  • Heat a dry skillet on medium-high until smoking hot.
  • Slap a tortillas on the hot skillet and allow to sit 20 seconds until firm enough to flip, then flip over and allow to sit on the skillet for 30-40 minute seconds until the tortillas puffs up.
  • Remove from heat and serve!

Notes: If you do not allow the tortillas to sit long enough for the first 20+ seconds, it will not puff up properly once turned onto the second side.

 

 

 

 

Isaiah 46:4 “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”

A Day in the Life of Beyond the Bite + a VIDEO

Hey ya’ll!  It’s Wednesday and I decided it was time to share the video I made for everyone last Thursday – A Day in the Life of Beyond the Bite.  There isn’t much to say about this video except for I hope it satisfies all your cravings of seeing what my real life is like (aka NOT that interesting).  A few notes I wanted to make about the video….My daily schedule is not always like this.  On Thursdays I am at school from 6:30am until 2:30pm and then home for the rest of the evening.  I mention eating a couple eggs with butter before working out and mention that it wasn’t enough.  For those curious what my eating schedule looks like, it is as the following:  Fast until the afternoon then eat eggs + butter – If I have already worked out, this snack is soon followed by dinner (the biggest meal of the day if I have been fasting).  If I have not worked out, this snack MAY be followed by a few more “snack” (i.e real food) items, then followed by a pause in my eating to work out.  If it sounds like I’m restricting calories – I’m not.  This is simply the nature of intermittent fasting.  While I technically have 6-8 hours to eat, I tend to end up eating my meals in a 4 hour time period.  This is mainly due to my schedule during the day and the fact that I don’t necessarily like eating RIGHT before bed.  I get all of the calories/macronutrients/micronutrients I need, just in a small time period.  I typically tend to feel best this way.  Of course, if I find myself hungrier than usual, I do change things up.  A note on my supplements…What I take typically varies month to month.  Not pictured is my low-histamine probiotic I take everyday, as well as my bartonella homeopathic treatment and diatomaceous earth.  Overall, that’s about it guys.  I don’t have too much else to say except for no judging please and don’t mind my semi-crappy videography skills (they’ll get better, I promise)

 

 

 

 

2 Timothy 1:13-14 “What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.”

Keto Iced Bulletproof Butter Coffee

Is it too late in the summer to post an iced coffee recipe? Personally, I think it’s never too late. While I have been eating ketogenic for many years now, I had taken a break with my Bulletproof coffee due to Interstitial Symptoms from bartonella. However, my love for bulletproof coffee was spiked yet again on my honeymoon back in June when we visited the Bulletproof cafe in Santa Monica. I seriously have never gotten so excited about a Paleo/Keto-friendly restaurant. Not just because they were serving food I could actually eat and feel good about, but the food was actually quite phenomenal. Outside of the yummy food, my husband enjoyed a typical bulletproof coffee, while I sipped on the “No-Coffee Latte” (my version of this coming soon). Because it was so hot outside, my husband asked if they’d be able to make his Bulletproof coffee iced. Of course, they told him no, because the butter would not emulsify properly into the coffee. However, as a chef, I knew that there was a way around this as there are so many Different ways to brew your perfect coffee. The answer? Only heat a portion of the coffee, and only heat it very slightly. This small addition of heat allows the butter to mix in properly without clumping, while the remaining coffee, plus the addition of ice, make for an amazing iced coffee. Overall, this iced butter coffee reminds me a lot of an iced coffee frappuccino (without all the added junk). What’s not to love?!

Iced Bulletproof Butter Coffee

Print Recipe

Ingredients

  • 12 oz cold-brew coffee
  • 6-8 oz ice
  • 2 tbsp grass-fed butter

Process

  • Pour 4 oz of coffee into a sauce pot, place on the stove, and heat on medium heat until just warmed through.
  • Once warm, removed coffee from heat and place in a blender cup with butter, blending until frothy.
  • Once frothy, add in remaining coffee and blend until smooth.
  • Pour coffee over a mason jar filled with ice and enjoy!

 

 

Psalm 95:6-7 “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if only you would hear his voice…”

Lyme Life Unfiltered: Dealing with Die-off

The past 5 days have been exceptionally difficult for me.  After being on a new round of bartonella treatment for over a couple months now, this week was the first time I experienced significant die-off symptoms.  My symptoms began to flare at the end of last week, which made me realize that it was time for a treatment dose.  Of course, as anyone with lyme-related infections knows, treating the infection to get rid of symptoms is a catch22.  Instead of feeling relief from your symptoms, you inevitably feel a whole lot worse. On top of this, it was the full moon over the weekend (this is probably why the infection became active in the first place).   If you’re wondering what the fool moon and lyme have to do with one another, read this post here. All of this to say, the pat few days have been difficult.  While last week I felt very accomplished and on top of the world with everything I was getting done, by the time Sunday came I felt like a MAC truck had run over me.  I felt slow, sluggish, with delayed reaction time and an ache that radiated from my head to my toe.  I had to stamina, my head and eyes hurt constantly, I could never catch my breath, and the bottoms of my feet hurt tremendously.  What’s all this? Die-off. Bartonella die-off to be exact, and it something I deal with on a monthly basis, when exactly just depends on my treatment doses.

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Everytime I deal with die-off I feel like I’m going backwards.  It’s frustrating, to say the least.  However, over the years I’ve come to realize that I am not (usually) going backwards at all.  I am reminded that sometimes, in order to move forward, we first must take a step in the opposite directions.  Sounds silly, I know.  During times like these not only do the symptoms haunt me, so do the “what-ifs” and the unknown.  I don’t know if I’ll feel better in a day, a week, or a month.  There have been countless times where my symptoms just keep going, and going, and going, with no sight of relief in the near future.  It’s hard to not let myself get trapped by the pain, however, I must remember to keep my mindset in the right place.  Instead of remembering all of the times it took FOREVER to feel better, I do my best to remain optimistic that tomorrow WILL be a better day.  Of course, this is all easier said that done.  All of this brings me to today’s video, an unfiltered, “real life” look into my life dealing with Lyme.  It’s not glamorous or anything special, but I thought it needed to be shared as I know there are others going through similar things.

 

 

Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

AIP Paleo Beef Cheek Tacos

We eat a lot of tacos in my house.  Beef tacos, egg tacos, chicken tacos, and so on and so forth.  If you can put it in a tortilla (or lettuce wrap), we’re eating it.  Today’s recipe is one that features a dish my family and I have been eating on a regular basis for some time now.  Before I dive into the specifics of the recipe, let’s just get one thing straight, beef cheek is amazing.  Never tried it?  You’re missing out.  Not only does it contain a TON of collagen and yummy fat, when cooked right, it becomes tender and succulent.  If you’re craving a fatty steak but don’t want to break the budget, go for cheek.  Beef cheek is about a quarter of the price than my all-time-favorite cut of beef: ribeye.  While my husband cooks a KILLER ribeye, eating them all the time isn’t really realistic at this point in life. Therefore, I decided to start experimenting with beef cheek.  I’ve made it a variety of different ways, however, this recipe is definitely the household favorite.  It’s simple, earthy, succulent, and just plain satisfying.  Not only that, but it is a meal that is perfect for when you are in a time crunch.  I can’t tell you how many times I have made beef cheek on nights where I am either too exhausted to cook, or simply don’t want to spend all my time in the kitchen.  Just set it, forget it, and once cooked, serve over my homemade AIP-friendly tortillas (coming soon) or, my personal favorite, on iceberg lettuce cups.  Enjoy!

AIP Beef Cheek Tacos

Print Recipe

Serves 4

Ingredients

  • 2-2.5 lb beef cheek
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 oz Bragg’s apple cider vinegar
  • 3 cups homemade bone broth
  • 2 tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • 1.5 tbsp Mexican oregano flakes
  • 1.5 tsp ground garlic
  • 1.5 tsp granulated onion
  • Sliced red onion, for serving
  • Sliced pink radish, for serving
  • Avocado, for serving
  • Fresh cilantro, for serving
  • Fresh lime, for serving

Process

  • Cut beef cheek into like-size pieces
  • Place in the bowl of an Instapot and cover with olive oil, sea salt, ginger, oregano, garlic, and onion.
  • Pour in apple cider vinegar and bone broth, cover, and cook on meat/stew setting for 20 minutes.
  • Remove the Instapot bowl from the heat, chop into bite-size pieces and serve with red onion, radish, avocado, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime!

 

 

Psalm 119:165 “Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.”

 

 

My Chronic Lyme Experience with a MediPort

In today’s video I decided I wanted to talk about the little round thing underneath my skin on the right side of my chest. Aka my port.  Otherwise known as a “MediPort,” this device is in the shape of a circle, with a catheter connecting to one of my main arteries.  It sits right below the surface of my skin, with a septum (I like to think of it as a cork) that you then stick the IV needle into.  I have had my port since August 25th of 2014.  I know this because I post this recipe for Paleo Egg Mcmuffins, a recipe I made for my dad since we had to drive early to NY to get my port implanted (please excuse the poor image quality for this recipe!).  Overall, my experience with a port has been pretty smooth.  The most difficulties I had with it were when it was first put in, as my right arm decided it didn’t want to move or function properly.  I’ve never had an infection, and the majority of discomfort I experienced with it occurred around surgery.  Aside from this, I experience(d) very few “phantom” pains, and quite honestly, forget it is even there most days.  When I first got my port I averaged about 100 lbs.  I weigh much more than that now, and have gained quite a bit of muscle in my upper body.  For this reason, my port has become less obvious to the eye, and typically is pretty hidden from view.  That being said, when I first got the port it was a site for sore eyes.  Many individuals would stare at me like I had an alien attached to my body.  However, in the end, it was so so worth it.  IV’s became a lot easier and I stopped dreading the once painful search to find a vein in my arm that wanted to cooperate for the day.  It is for these reasons I say that getting a port was “the best thing that happened to me” while dealing with Lyme.  To hear more about my experiences with a MediPort, be sure to check out my Youtube video below!

 

Psalm 119:14 “I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.”

Workout of the Week: Bodyweight Leg Burner + VIDEO

 

What’s up guys! I finally got my Youtube channel up and working again (well sorta, still some kinks to work out, and some videos to re-do, but we’ll get there), and decided it was time for another quick workout video. Today’s is all about the legs.  Because, well who doesn’t love strong legs?  All of the movements are pretty basic, and do not require any equipment (just omit the resistance band for regular jump squats and you’re set).  It’s a perfect little burner that will get your heart rate up without completely demolishing the rest of your body.  Depending on where you are in your health, you can always increase the work load to 5 rounds instead of 3.  That being said, my goal with these workouts was to make working out for those with a chronic illness LESS daunting.  I was planning on posting a video all about my experience + tips on exercising with Lyme, however, we are still having some technical issues with that one.  I’ll get behind the camera soon to answer all your questions, but in the meantime, enjoy your Saturday workout!

Be sure to like and subscribe for future content!

 

 

 

2 Corinthians 10:17-18 “But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.”

Autoimmune Paleo Protocol Pizza Crust, No-mato Sauce, & Mozzarella Cheese

 

 

 

Hola folks! I’m excited to finally launch Beyond the Bite’s Member Club with ya’ll.  After a complete blog re-design, and a few new additions, I figured there was no better time than now to start! In the near future.  If you haven’t learned already, being a member will open up a variety of exclusive content for your viewing.  Also included will be extra special giveaways, video tutorials, and more!

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Today’s recipe was inspired by all of my faithful followers over on Instagram.  While I have not necessarily been sharing 100% AIP compliant recipes, I figured I owed ya’ll one.  So here it is! The no-mato sauce is derived from my Sloppy Joe’s recipe, while the mozzarella is a variation on the beloved zucchini cheese.  I have to be honest, I was first a bit skeptical about how all of these alternative recipes would come together to make something that even somewhat resembled a pizza (especially as someone who isn’t a big fan of beets).  However, I am here to tell you today that after baking in the oven the pizza turned out smelling and tasting similar to that of a “real” pizza.  The cheese and sauce lend a nice tang like a typical tomato sauce would, while the crust has a good garlic-y after taste.  Overall, as someone who cannot eat pizza and has not in years, I was not disappointed. I don’t believe you will be either!  Please enjoy the video tutorials posted below, and as always, stay tuned for some new great content!

 

Psalm 149:4 “For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.”

My Journey with the Autoimmune Protocol + a Video

I get asked a lot if I still follow the Autoimmune Protocol.  Therefore, I decided it was perfecting timing to make a video capturing some of my journey on the AIP. While I currently eat a modified AIP + Keto diet, this was not always the case.  Many years ago when I was introduced to Paleo/Primal eating, I realized that not all of the “Paleo approved” foods settled well with my body.  The most obvious contenders were nuts, seeds, and nightshades.  It was from there that I found AIP, of which I stuck to for many years.  On top of eliminating foods, I also get quite a few questions regarding pain management on the AIP, as NSAIDS and other pain killers are prohibited.  I will be talking about this is very soon in a future video, but for now, here is a just a snippet into my life on the Autoimmune Protocol.  If you have any questions, please feel free to email me or direct message me on Instagram (More likely I will respond here as I am very active on IG).  Thanks for watching and be sure to subscribe to my youtube channel for more content!

 

 

 

Psalm 119:114 “You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.”

My Major Treatments for Chronic Lyme + Video

It’s been a long time coming.  Honestly the amount of treatments I have done, whether medicines, herbs, injections, IV’s, etc….is such a great list I cannot remember all of them.  I truly wish I did so I could share it with anyone on a similar journey as myself!  However, the major ones that I do remember I will cover in the video below.

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It is also important to take note that on top of all the treatments, ruling out food allergies, histamine intolerance, and finding the best way to heal my gut from SIBO and other infections has also been incredibly important.  I certainly would not be where I am today if it were not for the innumerable elimination diets and specific protocols (Paleo, AIP, strict SIBO diet, etc…) that I did throughout the years of being ill.  While my illness is not as “severe” as it used to be, I am still receiving treatments, taking supplements, and eating according to a combo of AIP & Keto.

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Most all of the discoveries in my health were done through a variety of functional medicine doctors.  Some were endocrinologists, some were neurologists, and some were just straight up FMD.  I also saw a variety of holistic doctors.  All had an important role in my journey and all had a special impact in where I am today.  Some of the treatments I mention had a substantial gap in between then.  This is due to the fact that, as in many other cases, healing from Lyme is not necessarily a time-effective endeavor.  For awhile, a specific treatment would work, however, after X amount of days (or) months, it would randomly stop working.  It was then our job to find the “next best thing” specifically for my body, and take it head on.  There were also many months were I found myself at a standpoint in healing.  However, there was one major treatment that helped me break through that wall. Stay tuned to learn more! Note: While there are a few others, many of the treatments mentioned were to fight Lyme and co-infections.  I included a few exceptions simply because they were vital in my healing.

 

Click the description to see topics discussed and be sure to like and subscribe!

 

 

Psalm 112:5 “Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice.”

2018 Blog Update & News

Hey everyone, I wanted to drop in real quick and post about some changes that will be coming to Beyond the Bite.  I just recently got married and have found myself to be in a big transition period in many areas of my life.  Since the blog has always been a place for me to share my journey with Lyme and connect with others, I decided it needed to come along with me on during this time of transition. Come August I will be back at school to complete my degree and apply for PA school.  You may have seen me mention it in the past, but it is my dream to have and (or) work in a facility that uses both food and medicine to help treat individuals and their health complications.  During the years that I was sick in bed, sitting on the couch, or staring at hospital ceilings, I made lists of all the things I was using to heal and thus have at the future facility.  I’ve been set on achieving this goal ever since and began my journey towards it with the completion of culinary school.  From there I began my personal chef business, A Clean Slate.  While I helped many people heal through the power of food, it is now time for me to continue towards this ultimate healing facility through becoming a PA.  Though my husband has an amazing and flourishing functional fitness gym, Fit Force USA, I am going to be honest and say that without a second source of income, the continuing of treatment for my Lyme is a bit difficult. Therefore, because I will not be cooking as much for A Clean Slate, I have decided to move forward with Beyond the Bite as more than simply a blog, but a business. Of course, having the funds to pay for treatment and school is one reason I am doing so, however, it has always been on my heart to really pursue the growth of Beyond the Bite’s community, so that is what I am going to do.  Soon, the blog will be updated and it will have a whole new fresh look and feel to it (note: if you are having trouble accessing certain pages, this is why).  Along with this change will come the launch of my new Beyond the Bite Membership Club.  Becoming a member will mean you have access to exclusive content, recipes, video tutorials, behind the scenes, and even consults and personalized meal plans.  It will be a place of great fun, support, and inspiration. I cannot wait to start growing this community bigger and bigger to connect more and more individuals like yourself!

 

 

 

 

 

Psalm 33:12 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.”

My Paleo Ketogenic Vanilla Wedding Cake with Vanilla Buttercream

The recipe that I am sharing with you today is a great example of where I am currently in my healing journey. No, it is not 100% AIP compliant, and no, it is not “coconut free.” However, on June 2nd I had the joy of marrying the love of my life, and when the wedding venue said they’d accommodate my dietary needs, I knew exactly what I had to do: create a new recipe. Now, if you’re like myself, the all-time chef/baker of the household, rarely, if EVER, will anyone bake something for you. Most days, I’m the one in the kitchen taking dessert requests, not the other way around. While baking is completely therapeutic for me, I find that being around all of the ingredients and having to taste test things before they are finished, somewhat dampens any excitement to eat the final product. This may just be me, who knows. Needless to say, when I found out I would be served a cake that fit all my dietary needs, I was ecstatic! While most all allergen friendly desserts make my stomach a little, well let’s just say, bloated, I decided that YES, I was going to eat cake on my wedding. Heck yeah. It’s my wedding, and it only happens once. Hence, today’s recipe was born. Nonetheless, I don’t wanna look bloated in my wedding dress! After all, I spent a whole weekend looking at Wedding Dresses in Atlanta. I needed to look my best! Though I was a bit nervous eating a baked good that I didn’t actually bake, the cake actually turned out quite well. Was it because it was my wedding night and I was on cloud 9? Possibly. However, I can definitely say I ate my fare share of it when we got back to our hotel room that night. Sadly, it had to stay there, as we were flying out to California the next morning. However, this may have been a good thing, as I would have certainly finished it off on the plane ride over.

Vanilla Wedding Cake

Print Recipe

Yields: 1, 2 tiered mini cake

Cake Ingredients:

Buttercream Ingredients:

Process

  • For the cake, preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Whisk together dry ingredients in a bowl, then slowly whisk in wet ingredients.
  • Grease and line 2, 6 inch cake pans with parchment paper.
  • Pour batter in prepared cake pans and place in preheated oven, allowing to bake for 35 minutes.
  • Once baked, remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before placing in fridge to cool completely.
  • For the frosting, cream butter until completely smooth.
  • Beat in salt, coconut oil, coconut cream, and vanilla until combined.
  • Slowly add in powdered Swerve and beat until smooth and fluffy.
  • Once the cake is cool, remove from cake pans and frost accordingly.

 

 

Psalm 119:7 “I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.”

My Journey With Lyme & Fitness + New Weekly Workout Videos

Two or three workouts a day? Yep, I was that girl. I didn’t workout to burn calories or lose weight. Who cared about those things? All I was interested in was how different methods of training could improve my performance in tennis, lacrosse, and anywhere else for that matter. I loved the way it made me feel, and truly, I just loved being strong. Some of this is because ever since I can remember (quite literally), my mom has always been one to workout. Whether it was getting up at 5 AM to go attend a spin or Pilates class before my dad went to work, or doing the Nordic track and step aerobics in the living room, she was always on the move. Simply put, movement is in my blood.

That being said, I was not exactly the most athletic pre-teen. I was tall for my age, what some would consider “full,” but not necessarily “fat,” and just overall not entirely comfortable in my skin. Though I had been skiing since I was five, had dabbled in gymnastics (no bueno for a tall chick), and rode horseback quite often, it wasn’t until I reunited with my love for tennis that things started to change. I began having St Louis Tennis Lessons regularly and wow, I felt the difference! My coach, in a nutshell, was a beast. She was one of those women who have multiple children, works full time, is involved in pretty much everything you can think of, teaches tennis all day, oh yeah, and runs marathons “on the side.” I mean, who does that? Not many. While some may find it a bit crazy, I found it inspiring. I started reading tennis blogs and following online workouts, like the workouts on r racquets, and I got so involved. Doing something tennis related was the highlight of my day. From there, my love for fitness only grew. My goal of becoming the best at what I did was quickly turning into a reality, until one day it all came to a screeching halt.

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In 2011, after a week off at summer camp, I decided it was time to get back on track with my workouts. Taking it easy, I went for a mere two-mile run. Yet as I neared the driveway to the beach house, I started seeing black spots in the corners of my eyes. By the time I made it to the shower those spots were closing in on me, and by the time I made it to my bed, my world had turned completely black. Along with the blackness came full-fledged bodily pain, extreme exhaustion, brain fog, and the inability to see straight or talk clearly. Though I was certain it would all pass in a matter of days, it only got worse. Fast forward a few months and the verdict was clear, Lyme Disease had unknowingly taken over my body. One of the first major conditions that presented itself was autonomic neuropathy, causing me to have zero blood pressure. From there, I spent my days in bed, crawling to and from the bathroom, unable to see what was in front of me. If I wasn’t in bed, it was because one of my parents had carried me downstairs to the couch. I went from being the girl who did three workouts a day, to the girl who had to be assisted in attempting to walk across the hallway. With both arms gripped around my mom’s waist, it was a good day if I was still conscious by the time we got to the end of the hallway.

The months proceeding were extremely trying times, as I found a great deal of my identity in fitness. Yet after having no blood pressure and a compressed celiac artery that left me a mere 83 lbs at 5’8, it felt as though everything I had come to know and love had been stripped from me. Eventually, a long while later, after a variety of medications and treatments, I was able to reunite with fitness. With daily stretching sessions, rebounding on a mini trampoline, short walks, and the use of two yoga DVD’s that my aunt gifted me, I was able to start my new “workouts.” This is where the learning process between exercise and my Lyme-struck body began, something I am still perfecting to this day.

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So here I am today, with a wealth of knowledge about exercise and my body that only could have been learned through dealing with the Lyme. All of that to say, I now believe that exercising with a chronic illness should be done in a fashion as to not be a burden to the body, rather to be a form of support and an avenue of healing. I believe exercise in and of itself is one of the most powerful tools that can be used to do so. You may ask why I was (and am) so persistent on doing some sort of physical activity every day. The answer is simple: it is a form of therapy. Doing those yoga videos and walking on that treadmill was not simply to burn calories. No, they were a form of pain management. Finally, I had found something that, for just a small portion of my day, was able to distract my mind from the chronic pain. I know some people who find relief from their medical marijuana and that some of you reading might benefit from the information that can be found at this link, but I’m not sure that this is the option for me. It turns out that, for me, exercise was not only (and still is) mentally healing, but also emotionally. While not everyone may be a workout “freaks” like I used to be, it is for this reason I find physical activity to be essential for anyone to healing from a chronic illness.

Now in days, I am blessed to say I can make it to my husband’s functional fitness gym every week. Some days I am one of the strongest females in the class, yet others I decide I am simply there for movement therapy and thus take easy and do not push my limits. Because it is my nature to want to be the best at what I do, I have to remind myself that it is OK to miss a day, not to be the strongest, fittest, or fastest. Cutting myself some slack is something that I am still mastering. Overall, balancing exercise and chronic illness can be extremely tricky. However, it forces you to be more in tune with your body, and for that reason, is something that will benefit not only the present but also the future.

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The fitness videos I will be posting will be quick, simple, and able to be modified for varying strength levels. I remember being so sick and so weak, that even the “beginner” workout videos I found online were simply too hard for my body. I have kept this in mind when planning the workouts, and aim to start with the easiest movement variations possible, while then including those that require more skill and strength. You will notice that many of the videos also focus on core strength. I believe this is an essential component of overall bodily strength and stature. When dealing with chronic pain day in and day out, it is very easy to let our shoulders slump, our posture diminishes, and our spine is out of alignment. Focusing on our core in a variety of different exercises helps minimize these issues. In the end, I hope that sharing these videos will both help, encourage, and inspire everyone that they reach. While it may seem like a daunting thing at first to tackle, just remember to never be afraid to push your body’s limits here and there. It may take some time to figure it out, however, this is truly the only way we learn and grow as individuals.

Be sure to like and subscribe for future videos!

Philippians 2:9-11 “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”

Chronic Lyme Disease & Keto + a VIDEO

 

 

 

I get a great deal of questions regarding my journey with the ketogenic diet, which is why I decided it was time to start doing some videos to catch everyone up on my life with Lyme. Though I have tried a variety of different diets and treatments for Lyme, the ketogenic diet is something that has stayed.  Overall, it has truly been essential in my healing.  In today’s video I cover three of the most frequently asked questions regarding keto, so be sure to tune in and check it out!  While you are there, make sure to like and subscribe for future content, and if you have any other questions, leave a comment! I’d love to hear from you.

For more info, see my keto recipes & resources

 

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Psalm 18:30 “As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.”