I may be the least consistent blogger out there, however I've been challenged to work my way, Julie & Julia style through 2 new cook books I recently purchased in my quest to live better and be healthier. What better way to keep myself accountable than to blog! So here goes nothing.

This past year I noticed that I was gaining weight (public admission!) and my favorite jeans no longer fit. I am not one of those girls who weigh herself constantly. I don’t know about you, but I only step on a scale once a year at my annual physical and even then I don’t really pay attention to the number the nurse reads off. However, when the jeans no longer fit you know you’ve got to dig deep and lose some weight.

For me losing weight is also going to involve a lifestyle and dietary shift. I am dating a wonderful, albeit, gluten averse fellow (hi Adam!) and don’t want to make him sick every time I bake or cook something! This means I need to experiment with various flours, of which there are so many! Also, gluten free pasta. Along with the gluten change I am cutting down on my dairy intake and have really taken to Almond Milk. And I am really curtailing meat in my diet.

After researching recipes and avidly reading foodie blogs across the internet I found two cookbooks, one more gluten-free than the other, Smitten Kitchen and La Tartine Gourmande. From these I will cook my weekly meals and write up my experiences and hopefully the positive physical changes I experience.

Last night I made a lovely (gluten free) tagliatelle with zucchini and lime. Delicious, and really pretty when made.  Check out the picture above. Who doesn’t love a beautiful meal on their plate? I highly recommend. I might pump up the spice and lime in the dish a bit. However, I tend to like those flavors and want more more more!

I should note that I’ve been slowly easing into this for the past 3 or 4 weeks and have already noticed a change in my body. Adios small belly. Was it the gluten or the milk? Or maybe both? I’m not sure, but I’ll take the results!

Will blog later with the results of tonight’s dinner:

Carrot Red Lentil Soup with Coconut Milk
Zucchini/Carrot Salad
Chocolate Cake with Plums

Bon Appetite!