Getting started and few helpful hints...

If you have decided to feel better and start to take control, I hope you started with:
*Finding a doctor that listens and is proactive in finding out what is wrong with you.
*Exercise.
*Diet.
*Reading up on what Crohn's is. What you can do. The more you know the better equipped you are to be an advocate for yourself.

If you have taken a look at Breaking the Vicious Cycle ( book in my recommended books section) and decided it might work for you, GOOD FOR YOU! Like I said, I started with making yogurt. I found it amazing how much better I felt with taking action. No it did not cure me, it made me feel less helpless. Yogurt is good for anyone. I recommend that it be the one thing you make at home and not purchase. I discussed why in my previous post. There are a few tricks:
*BUY a thermometer.
*Use fresh milk.
*Use a very clean pot and spoon.
*Clean and dry your yogurt maker well.
*Store your yogurt in a sealed container.

Yogurt I found to be the best substitute for almost everything. You can use it instead of sour cream, because it is less fattening you can use a lot! You can add it to hot dishes to make them creamy without using milk or cream(which is not allowed in the diet). You can strain the yogurt in a cheese cloth or simple tea towel to make cream cheese or a thicker dip.

A few recipes I found useful and helped spice up my diet.


Dill Yogurt sauce:

1 cup yogurt
½ tablespoon garlic
½ tablespoon dill
¼ cup green onions (scallions)
Salt & pepper (to taste)

Mix and refrigerate. Let it sit at least one hour. Great on fish or chicken.
Add olive oil or flaxseed oil for a great salad dressing.







Cucumber Yogurt Sauce:

1 cucumber
2 cups yogurt
Lemon
¼ tablespoon dill
½ tablespoon garlic
Salt & pepper to taste

Cut and seed English cucumber. Lie on paper towel or dishrag and sprinkle with salt. Let sit for 3-5 minutes. Ring out cucumbers of all moisture. Add all ingredients and refrigerate for at least on hour.

Great with chicken. Add olive oil or flaxseed oil to make a great salad dressing.

Yogurt Salad dressing:

Mix yogurt & olive oil (or other oil of choice) with the following:

Mustard & Honey

Whole grain mustard

Sun ripened tomatoes

Balsamic vinegar & Dill


To go with my yogurt:


Cranberry sauce:

1 bag whole fresh or frozen cranberries
1 cup water
¼ to ½ cup honey (Depends on how sweet you prefer your cranberry sauce.)
Cook one bag of whole cranberries with 1 cup water and ¼ to ½ cup honey in pot. Bring to boil and continue to boil until berries pop open. Usually takes about 5 minutes. You can blend the sauce or leave it whole.

Add to yogurt.
Add to yogurt with nuts.

Great addition to turkey.

Applesauce:

5 apples pealed
Water (1/2 cup to 1 cup depending on thickness desired)
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Additions by choice:
Cinnamon
Raisins
Honey for sweetness

Cut and peel apples. Put apples and water in pot with a sprinkle of lemon juice ( 1 tablespoon at most) Heat apples slowly at low to medium low heat.