When I had to change my eating in my late 20s to help heal my numerous health conditions, I mourned food. No really, I legit cried about food for three months! You see, I am half Sicilian. The other half is Norwegian, however, there was never really any of that culture brought into our lives. Instead, the Sicilian culture and food was our main influence. So, when I gave up things like bread, pasta and pizza, not only did I miss those foods, I also felt like I was losing part of my identity.
It wasn't until I was more comfortable with a low-carb Paleo type of diet that I began experimenting with alternatives to the foods I grew up loving...and let me tell you, I am glad I did!
From the ages of 18 - 20, I worked at an awesome Italian restaurant - shout out to Gourmet Italia in Temecula, California! It is still there and the owner, Alex, is a hoot! Alex, and the chef, Filippo, opened my eyes to even more delicious Italian dishes. It was there that my love of bruschetta was born.
I lived in Milan for nearly a year in my early 20s -- and bruschetta was a favourite! It was always something I would order when we went out to eat.
Unfortunately, when I gave up bread, I thought this was no longer a food that I could enjoy. Wrong! I just needed to make a different bread! The one I created for this recipe is super easy to put together and tastes delicious, especially when toasted and slathered with olive oil and garlic.
This bread skips out on the gut, hormone and mood disruptor, gluten. If you didn't know, gluten tears up the gut. That means it is harder for us to digest and absorb key nutrients to help us function optimally both physically and mentally. In addition, bread is a refined carbohydrate. Not only does that negatively impact our blood sugar, it can deplete our feel good neurotransmitters, like serotonin. Gluten is also inflammatory, which we know is linked to numerous health conditions. But, did you know that depression and anxiety are, in part, inflammatory conditions? Yep. Ditching conventional bread and other gluten containing products is a must in my opinion.
Instead of conventional flour, this bread is made of almond flour. That means it is jam packed with healthy fats that support our hormone and mental health, help to keep us full and satiated and doesn't cause crazy blood sugar spikes and drops.
It also has eggs in it, which means you are getting some protein. Protein is also is also great at regulating blood sugar -- and we need the amino acids in protein foods to make our neurotransmitters.
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do!
Ingredients:
Bread:
- 1 1/2 cups Almond Flour
- 2 tsp Aluminum Free Baking Powder
- 1/4 tsp Celtic Sea Salt
- 4 Free Range Eggs
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1-2 Cloves Garlic
- Celtic Sea Salt and Black Pepper to taste
Topping:
- 2 Large Truss Tomatoes
- 2 Large Handfuls Fresh Basil
- 2 Cloves Garlic
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Celtic Sea Salt and Black Pepper to taste
Directions:
Bread:
- Mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl.
- Add the eggs. Mix well.
- Place into a small bread tin
- Bake 180° Celsius for 22 minutes
- Take it out and let it partially cool.
- Slice and drizzle with olive oil
- Place back in the oven, under the grill until golden brown.
- Rub with garlic
- Add salt and pepper to taste
Topping:
- Chop tomatoes and basil and add to a bowl
- Grate the garlic, using the "zesting" side of the grater. Add to bowl.
- Drizzle with olive oil
- Add salt and pepper to taste
- Mix well
- Place on top of bread
Enjoy!
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