Gluten-Free Jamaican Patties!

Hello! It's been what...two years since I've last posted on here? A lot has happened since I've last posted on here but I'll save that for another post. Today let's focus on a recipe! I have been making these Jamaican inspired patties whenever we get ground beef from our meat subscription. They're packed with flavor,  and because I'm kind of a weenie with super spicy things they're just the right amount of spiciness for me. However, if you dare you can swap the jalapenos for habaneros or if you can get a hold of them try scotch bonnet peppers which are more traditional in Jamaican cuisine. 

Jamaican patties hold a special place in my heart and belly. When I was a little girl living in Queens, there was a pizza shop around the corner that sold Jamaican patties and I would always order that over a slice of pizza. This is saying a lot for a girl who cannot resist a New York/New Jersey slice! The recipe for my Jamaican patties are not only delicious, they are gluten and dairy-free making them the perfect option for those with allergies or intolerant. The dough recipe is adapted from this paleo empanada recipe. The coconut flavor from the dough pairs rather beautifully with the curried beef. I hope you guys enjoy them as much as we do!

Gluten-Free Jamaican Patties

Makes 12 patties

 

Gluten-free dough:

·        1 cup almond flour

·        1 cup tapioca starch

·        ½ teaspoon sea salt

·        1-13.5 can full-fat coconut milk

Beef Filling:

·        2 tablespoons olive or avocado oil

·        1 small red onion, small dice

·        2 jalapenos, minced

·        3 garlic cloves, minced

·        1 ½ lbs. ground beef

·        Salt and pepper to taste

·        1 ½ tablespoon tamari

·        2 teaspoons curry powder

·        1 teaspoon garlic powder

·        1/8-1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

·        2 teaspoons smoked paprika

·        ¼ cup bone broth or stock

·        ¼ cup gluten-free flour

·        1 egg beaten

 

Instructions:

For the patty dough:

1.   Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. In a large bowl, mix almond flour, tapioca starch, sea salt, curry powder and coconut milk. Consistency should be thick and silky.

2.   Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Once heated, place a quarter cup of the batter into the pan. Allow it to cook until bottom of the disc is firm enough to move.

3.   Using a spatula, flip over and cook a few seconds longer. Remove from pan and set onto wire rack. Repeat with the rest of the discs. There should be 12 discs in total.

For the beef filling:

1.   In a large skillet over medium heat, add the oil. Sauté the onions and jalapenos until softened about 3 minutes. Add in the garlic and cook until garlic is fragrant. Increase temperature to medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, season with salt and pepper. Season with tamari and al the seasonings. Using a wooden spoon, chop up the beef finely as it cooks. Once meat is cooked through, drain some of the liquid from the meat, leaving a couple tablespoons of fat in the skillet. Return the skillet onto the stove and add in the broth, allowing it come to a simmer. Add in gluten free flour and mix to incorporate. Beef should be nice and moist at this point, turn off heat and allow the beef filling to cool about 30 minutes.

2.   Add about a ¼ cup of beef filling to center of the patty disc, leaving enough room free around the edges. Fold over and pinch the disc into a half-moon. Repeat until you are finished with all the patties. Add patties onto a baking sheet with a reusable silicone baking mat or parchment paper, flatten them slightly and brush each patty with beaten egg and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the crusts are nice and golden. 

Pregnancy Update: Week 29

It’s been 10 weeks since I've done one of these pregnancy questionnaire thingy’s, and my oh my has lots happened since then!

How far along: 29 Weeks and 1 day!

Gender: A baby girl :)

Total weight gain: 20+ lbs. Heh, surprisingly I’m not complaining because I’m a little curvier! The first thing to expand was my entire lower body and chest… My only concern is that I don’t know if I’ll be able to fit in my pre-pregnancy jeans again.

Maternity Clothes:  Yep! I have been rotating a couple of maternity jeans with several non-maternity leggings. A couple of weeks ago I ordered a nice variety of maternity basics from target and also been able to wear longer pre-pregnancy shirts.

Sleep: Lately I've been having a bit of insomnia…I’m not at the point where I’m struggling to find a comfortable spot, I've just been having a hard time turning off my thoughts!

Miss Anything: The ease of waking up and being able to throw together a nice outfit without a ton of effort; nowadays I’m forced to sort out what still fits/looks appropriate the night before. I also miss being able to exercise the way I used to.

Cravings: Runny eggs, popcorn, toast with avocado and cranberry juice.

Symptoms: Feeling tired again, getting cramps in my thighs and aches in my hips.

Belly Button in or out: It’s trying to come out. Right now it’s looking like a cinnamon bun.

Mood: Mostly excited!

Best Moment this week: Hmm... I made really good chex mix and also red quinoa with spicy peanut tofu stir fry. (I feel like I put something food related for the last post...) 

Looking forward to: We just entered a new year! I’m looking forward to seeing my family next weekend, the upcoming hospital tour, childbirth classes and my baby shower in February. And obviously March! The arrival of Lydia seems to be on my mind quite a lot and I can’t imagine how I’ll feel when she’s finally here in my arms… Ah, I’m going to be a mom!!

Exercise: Since I started getting cramps in my pelvis from doing plyometrics (sometime last month), so I decided to take a step back and do lower impact cardio interval training and have been able to do that 2-3x a week. On other days I mix it up by doing strength training at the gym or home, barre/Pilates and making sure I stretch every day.

On My Mind: Right now I feel blessed! A couple weeks ago we learned that I had the antibody Kell in my blood from recent blood work. Not knowing what that meant I did what any American would do and googled it. (My explanation might be a bit choppy so please bear with me!) I learned that if I have the antibody and if Michael carried the antigen then Lydia might be at risk. I also learned it’s possible that I got the antibody from a previous blood transfusion. A nurse from the department of fetal medicine called and scheduled us an urgent ultrasound and a consultation with high risk doctors to learn more about Kell. I immediately prayed to myself, and then I told my mom and she asked people from her church to pray and we told people from our church to pray for us too. Surprisingly I didn't feel worried but mostly at peace because I knew God was in control and that our questions would be answered that upcoming Tuesday. I thoroughly believe that God prepared our hearts for this.

At the appointment we got to see Lydia via ultrasound and learned that she is healthy, active and has no signs of anemia. After the ultrasound we met with the doctors and learned more about antigen Kell. We learned that if Michael had the antigen that it could mix with the antibody in my blood and cause the blood in my placenta to attack Lydia’s red blood cells. My pregnancy would require monitoring and if she showed signs of severe anemia they would have to give her a blood transfusion while in utero. I found that fascinating. Fortunately the doctors reassured us that because in her previous ultrasounds showed no signs of anemia meant that she could be in the clear and not need future transfusions. But in order for them to know they needed to test Michael’s blood to see if he even has the antigen. 

After the appointment we both felt at peace with the situation and prayed that his tests would prove him Kell negative. On Christmas Eve while printing out pictures at Walgreens, I got a call from the nurse and learned that Michael was Kell negative! Prayers were answered and we were so happy knowing that Lydia wouldn't need any further testing or blood transfusions. It really was that simple. Praise the Lord! And now I’m back to thinking about seeing her again..

xo, Jessica

Dealing with a bad day with ulcerative colitis...

Hey,

A little over two years ago I was diagnosed with an irritable bowel disease called, Ulcerative Colitis. Since I’ve had this disease I’ve had to adjust my lifestyle, and need to take medication twice a day. I am currently in remission, meaning I haven’t had any serious flare ups since I was first diagnosed. To make a long story short, I spent two weeks in the hospital waiting for the doctors to give me a diagnosis and during that time my intestines were completely inflamed and I could barely make it to the bathroom. On that note, the whole experience was very humbling and even though I was suffering I couldn’t help but laugh at my situation. I just feel really blessed that my mom was able to stay with me throughout my stay, and how kind the nurses were to us both. God transformed a traumatic experience into an opportunity to bring my family closer together, and I soon gained such a passion for cooking health supportive foods. 

I titled this entry as “dealing with a bad day with UC” because I’m not feeling too hot right now. How I’m feeling is kind of hard to explain but I will try my best for you. I feel weak, spacey and today there has been a bit of “bubblies” swaying through my stomach back and forth. I’m not entirely sure if it’s something I’ve eaten or if I’m just having an off day. It could very well be a mixture of both! These days I don’t usually have an appetite and settle for the gentler options like soups, tuna, avocado, toast, rice, sweet potatoes and bananas. It sounds boring but nothing compares to the days when I was first diagnosed with UC, I couldn’t even eat beans, nuts or vegetables. All things fiber was a negative the first month out of the hospital and those were some hard times for a health-seeking person. 

One thing I can say is that irritable bowel diseases are no joke! They are not only uncomfortable but are frustrating and can be emotionally draining. I remember all the times I had to back out of plans because I wasn’t feeling well and I used to worry about offending people by refusing to eat their food. And I’m not even sure if it was the medication or the disease that has caused me to become allergic to eggs and cow dairy. I know you’re probably thinking “quit your whining” and fortunately I’ve learned to deal with the small but annoying inconveniences I have to live with on a daily basis.  It took me a few months but I accept my illness and know that there’s no reason to fear what people will think of it. Through time I’ve learned how much my faith in Christ, the support from people, eating healthy and just getting enough sleep have made this disease more manageable. 

I could give anyone who suffers from this disease (or any auto-immune disease for that matter) advice it would be to make sure you’re getting enough sleep, be open to new foods and educate people about your disease. You’d be surprised by how many people would be willing to accommodate you if you just told them about it. So be outspoken about your needs and let people know what you’re feeling, but most importantly appreciate the body that God has given you!

UPDATE: Good news! I started writing this entry in the morning and am now feeling a lot better after resting and eating carefully throughout the day. That’s what I’m talking about ;)

-Jessica