Embracing the Change

“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.”

– Alan Watts

This September my world changed a little bit: I joined the gluten-free crowd. Funnily enough, it was on advice of a new dentist I visited while my usual doctor was away. There was a great deal of denial in the first few hours after her announcement but then everything kind of made perfect sense and I fully embraced the new way of eating. Amazing things started happening almost immediately – my energy levels went through the roof; everything felt somehow clearer and easier as if a fog has lifted from my mind; I found myself being in a super cheerful mood much more often. But the most surprising feeling that I experienced in the first few weeks of being off wheat was my desire to create constantly, as if my muse was just circling around me non-stop demanding some action.  So I have been photographing, writing, reading and making plans for future projects. Art supply shops draw me in like there is one big magnet in there. I did buy a new tube of paint – a lovely pastel coral –  and I am hoping to get my brushes out very soon. Ohhhh, never enough hours in one day!

This whole wellbeing exercise proved once again how all our systems are connected. How one small change in your diet can trigger the most unexpected beautiful new developments.

I also have been baking up a storm. Not that I had been a regular baker before, but I feel like I’ve been trying to prove to myself and everyone around that you can live very easily without many things that we are so used to. Plus the idea of not being able to have a wheat-bran muffin probably ever in my life again got me researching my options, and they are turned out to be absolutely unlimited. I am seriously blown away by the number of people who live gluten-free life all around the world, also super grateful to gorgeous bloggers who share their recipes with the world, and feeling blessed that I can have access to so many gluten-free alternatives in my local supermarket.

So here we go, one of my new favourites – my take on Raising Bran Muffins from The Baking Beauties blog. I might be addicted already.

So first of all, I want to say that this recipe calls for hemp seeds. That are illegal in Australia and New Zealand ONLY and are available everywhere else. Go figure. Was thinking of buying them online but then decided that I did not want to be a convicted smuggler, so I now add a couple of teaspoons of chia seeds instead. I also haven’t been able to get my hands on rice bran so I use quinoa flakes from the health food section at Coles. I also put less sugar – around a third of a cup only, and I use raw organic sugar. You can buy flax seed anywhere, just make sure you keep it in the fridge once the pack is opened.

Love my little kitchen helper – the iPad!

A sidenote: taking pictures with one hand using back button focusing and pouring seeds into a tiny grinder with another hand will result in some serious vacuuming. But I find the look of the seeds spilled all around the kitchen bench rather artyPlus they smell like an oil painting and bring back the sweet memories of my Art School days.

I also improvised and added some pecans together with the raisins – the more goodness the tastier the muffins.

Ta-daaa!!!

Mmmm, they are amazing when warm, and disappear fast. I also needed to have a few takes so you can imagine…

So here is to the exciting new recipes, the goodness of home-made muffins, and the limitless life!

Have a beautiful October everyone.