Homemade Coconut Yoghurt (with recipe)

A couple of days ago I decided to try making my own refined sugar free coconut yoghurt. There is a great store bought variety in the marketplace, but it is prohibitively expensive for many people, including myself. I also like to eat organic foods when I can. So, the idea that if I made my own yoghurt I could choose to use organic ingredients was also appealing.

I started by finding a couple of recipes online and then combined them, using a little bit of creativity, to make my own. The end result is delicious! Creamy, and just the right amount of sweetness, with a slight tang. It was also extremely cheap to make at less than $4 for around one litre of yoghurt. To buy a litre of refined sugar free coconut yoghurt off the shelf would normally cost in excess of $25.

I posted a photo of the end product on Instagram and Facebook and almost immediately had a number of people asking me how I made it. So, here is the recipe. I used a Thermomix to make mine, but I've also provided stovetop instructions. If you do not have a Thermie, you will also need a cooking thermometer.

Coconut Yoghurt

Ingredients

800-900ml coconut cream (full fat)

2.5 tbsp arrowroot or tapioca starch

1.5 tbsp coconut oil

1.5 tbsp gelatine or agar agar powder

1 tbsp maple syrup

Live yoghurt culture or 3-4 probiotic capsules

Patience (It takes a couple of days to be ready to eat!)

Method (Thermomix)

1. Combine coconut cream, arrowroot, coconut oil and gelatine or agar agar in the Thermomix bowl.

2. Cook at 90c for 9 minutes, speed 3. 

3. Allow the mixture to cool to 37c (this can take 1-2hrs)

4. Add the maple syrup and stir for 4 secs, speed 3.

5. Pour about half a cup of the mixture into a sterilised jug or bowl and add the culture. If using probiotic capsules (as I did), pull them apart and pour the contents into the milk). Gently stir the culture into the milk and pour the mix back into the Thermomix bowl.

6. Cook for 3 mins, speed 2, 37c.

7. Fill a thermos with boiling hot water and place the lid on (this helps to both sterilise and warm the thermos). Then, empty the water from the thermos, and pour in the yoghurt.

8. Place the lid on the thermos, wrap with 3 or 4 tea towels and place it in an esky. We do not have an esky, so I improvised. I place the wrapped thermos into a box, only slightly bigger than the thermos. Then, I placed that box inside a bigger box and completely filled the empty space with scrunched up newspaper, to act as insulation, before closing up the lid of the box.

9. Leave the thermos in the esky (or box) for up to 30hrs. If you can't wait, you can take it out after 12hrs, but I recommend leaving it for at least 24hrs.

10. Pour the yoghurt into a sterilised glass jar or container. At this stage the yoghurt will still be very thin. 

11. Refrigerate for 12-24 hours before eating. In this time the yoghurt will set and thicken. If you have the willpower, you can save a few spoonfuls of your yoghurt to act as your starter culture next time.

Method (Stove top)
1. Combine coconut cream, arrowroot, coconut oil and gelatine or agar agar in a saucepan.
2. Cook on gentle heat for about 9 mins, stirring continuously, so that the starch thickens. 
3. Turn off the stove and allow the mixture to cool to 43c.
4. Once cooled to 43c, stir in the maple syrup.
5. Pour about half a cup of the mixture into a sterilised jug or bowl and add the culture. If using probiotic capsules (as I did), pull them apart and pour the contents into the milk. Gently stir the culture into the milk and pour the mix back into the saucepan.
6. Reheat, and stir until the mixture is back to 43-45c. Then turn the stove off.
7. Fill a thermos with boiling hot water and place the lid on (this helps to both sterilise and warm the thermos). Then, empty the water from the thermos, and pour in the yoghurt.
8. Place the lid on the thermos, wrap with 3 or 4 tea towels and place it in an esky. We do not have an esky, so I improvised. I place the wrapped thermos into a box, only slightly bigger than the thermos. Then, I placed that box inside a bigger box and completely filled the empty space with scrunched up newspaper, to act as insulation, before closing up the lid of the box.
9. Leave the thermos in the esky (or box) for up to 30hrs. If you can't wait, you can take it out after 12hrs, but I recommend leaving it for at least 24hrs.
10. Pour the yoghurt into a sterilised glass jar or container. At this stage the yoghurt will still be very thin. 
11. Refrigerate for 12-24 hours before eating. In this time the yoghurt will set and thicken. If you have the willpower, you can save a few spoonfuls of your yoghurt to act as your starter culture next time.

Enjoy!

If you do give this recipe a try, I would love to hear how you went with it. Perhaps even tag me in a photo on Instagram @hereistash.

Grain, Dairy, Egg and Refined Sugar Free Pancakes

I was extremely tired when I got up today. However, despite my sleepiness and exhaustion,  I decided to have another go at making some grain, dairy, egg and refined sugar free pancakes from a batter that I had worked on yesterday. I thought that they might work better if I made them smaller (so they didn't break apart when being flipped), and having had time for the batter to sit in the fridge overnight.

I preheated the pan, got the container of batter out of the fridge and put the first spoonful into the pan. To my delight, the pikelet sized pancakes turned out perfectly!

After I had finished cooking up breakfast for myself and one of my housemates, Emily​, we topped our pancakes with homemade raspberry sauce and maple syrup, and tucked in. A few mouthfuls in, I commented that something just didn't taste right. They didn't taste as sweet as the batter had yesterday, in fact they tasted really rather savoury. 

Emily finished hers up as I continued to eat mine. I stopped for a few moments to make myself a cup of tea. When I came back in, she remarked "I think I know why they taste savoury...", "You know how you had the cheesy sauce..." I took another bite and, realising she was right, I suddenly couldn't eat it anymore. I ran to the bin and spat it out.

Yes, that's right. I had cooked up the leftover garlicky cashew cheese sauce from dinner last night, instead of the remaining pancake batter! I had put them in identical containers in the fridge and mistaken one for the other.

Oops!

Many important discoveries happened by mistake, and this is no exception. Ok, so it may not be penicillin, but a pancake batter that cooks well, tastes great and suits my dietary requirements is pretty darn good!

Knowing how well the cashew cheese sauce cooked up as pancakes, I figured it would only take a few small changes to develop a delicious grain, dairy, egg and refined sugar free pancake recipe.

Unfortuately, it wasn't that easy. 

I excitedly prepared a new batch of pancake batter, using the cashew cheese recipe as a guide. I put the first pancake into the pan aaaaand... no good. They didn't taste very good, fell apart easily and  took forever to cook through. 

Oh well, maybe next time.

The good news is, I was able to add extra almond meal and create an edible (and actually rather delicious) pizza base dough. So, the ingredients were not wasted! Yay!

Please Don't Ask Me That Question.

Conversations with Tash: A Guide for Friends, Family and Acquaintances.

For better conversation, unless you're really interested, and have the time to hear about the details of my daily struggles & triumphs (& even then, I'd rather not talk about this all the time), instead of asking me how I am or what's been going on in my life (which generally results in me answering somewhat awkwardly "yeah, ok..." & "not much"), please chat with me about TV shows, politics, world events, social justice issues, sport (particularly AFL or cricket), Theology, issues of ethics or morality, and/or The Arts. 
I also, quite honestly, would love to hear about you and your life. 

Cheers!

___________________________


As with many others living every day with chronic illness, it is very difficult to answer a question about what's going on in my life without talking about illness. 

I do have close friends and trusted people in my life with whom I can be vulnerable and talk about my struggles & griefs, as well as the triumphs; people who I know really know me, and care. It's important to have those people. However, in general, when it comes to casual conversation, or bumping into someone at an event or at the shops (on those occasions when I actually leave the house for something other than a medical appointment!), the questions "how are you?", "what are you doing now?" or "what's going on in your life at the moment?" make me internally cringe, and feel like hiding. I don't blame people for asking those questions, heck I've asked people those questions countless times myself. But at this point in my life, I feel awkward answering, and my answer has the potential to kill the conversation. 

Somehow answering the question of "what's been going on?" honestly with something along the lines of "oh you know, feeling like crap constantly, trying to get through each day, taking lots of tablets, feeding myself when I can, dragging myself to doctor's appointments, pulling up syringes and giving myself injections, making detox juice, wanting to throw up, and laying in bed in pain feeling completely exhausted to the point of barely being able to move" just doesn't seem like a fun and socially acceptable way to start a conversation. So instead, I generally shrug, and with some embarrassment and awkwardness, answer with something along the lines of, "not much really".

However, there IS a lot of fun and interesting stuff to talk about. I would much prefer to talk about something that I'm passionate about or that I find entertaining, rather than always talking about health stuff or other difficulties. I live with that stuff 24/7 so it's nice to have a break from thinking about it! Plus, I'd like people to understand that there is so much more to me than how I am currently spending my time. 

There are friends, family and acquaintances, particularly those who I haven't seen for a few years, who may not realise that 'what I do' right now is simply focussing on looking after myself and trying to get better, taking each day as it comes & doing what I need to do to help care for my mum (who is also extremely unwell and for whom I am guardian). It doesn't involve paid work, or even much by the way of leisure activity. 

So, here's a helpful tip for how to have a more interesting, fun, life giving conversation with me, rather than one that may falls a bit flat. Talk with me about TV shows, politics, world events, social justice issues, sport, Theology, issues of ethics or morality, and/or The Arts. These are things that I can get excited and passionate about, things that are fun and interesting to me, things that enable me to express something of who I am apart from a person living with chronic illness. 

And as for asking "so, what are you doing with yourself nowadays?" 
Please, don't ask me that question.




Are you a person living with disabling chronic illness? Do you struggle answering these sorts of questions?

Do you know someone, a friend or family member, living with a debilitating chronic illness and struggle to know how to have a conversation with them?

It would be great to hear your (respectful) feedback, and get some conversation going around this topic.

Tash's Brain Fade Moments: Episode 4

As some of you may know, one of the symptoms of my illnesses is that, at times, my brain doesn't quite function at it's best, and I do and say some rather silly things.

It has been a while since I've posted one of my 'brain fade' moments, so thought I'd gift you with a new little moment of entertainment. 


Tash's Brain Fade Moments: Episode 4

I was rinsing out a plastic container before placing it in the recycling tub. So far, so good. 

I knew that I had to pour out the water from the container into the sink before placing it in the recycling. Brain was doing well up until this point.

However, my grey matter was a bit slow in sending this message to my body. 

As a result, turning away from the sink on route to the recycling tub, I proceeded to pour the water all over the kitchen floor.


Well done Tash. Well done.

Lyme Disease: Weighing Up Options and Costs, and Fearing Others' Judgement.

I wrote this on Thursday March 20. I was freaking out, having spent a large amount of money on a fancy juicer, in order to get the greatest nutrients (with the least amount of energy expenditure) from the juice which my doctor has instructed me to drink every day as part of my treatment protocol.


Ok, so, here's the thing: we all struggle. That's not to say that life doesn't and can't hold much joy too (cos it totally does!) but that we all, at times, struggle with fears, insecurities, frustrations, anxieties, anger, grief...

Tonight I'm struggling with spending huge (at least for me) amounts of money on things to do with my medical treatment, and fearing the judgement of others in this - that they may think spending money on things that I'm choosing to spend money on isn't worth it. But I know that I need to trust myself, know that I have put thought into these things, & sought the guidance of others in my decisions. Plus, I just want to do the best that I can to get better, even if, in the end, it takes every dollar I've got. Though, I admit, I do also fear running out of money before I am well enough to return to part time work, and going back to that place I've been before where there is not enough money for both bills and food.

Treatment for Lyme disease & co-infections can cost tens of thousands of dollars and there are so many recommendations out there as to things (many very expensive) that can aid treatment, alongside the prescription medication I am taking (some of which is also very expensive!) I'm not going to go out there and buy all the products recommended to sufferers of Lyme Disease. I couldn't afford it even if I wanted to! I will take my doctors advice and do some research to find out which products and procedures are likely to be of most benefit to me. Hopefully in time, the combination of pharmaceutical and other supporting treatments will help me get to the point where I feel somewhat healthy again.

...and just as I am finishing writing this post, a reminder pops up on my phone saying "Where is God in this?" Immediately I feel more at ease, knowing that God is with me, and loves me no matter what 

Lyme Disease: Diagnosis + Antibody Issues.

On Wednesday March 5, 2014 at 4pm, I had a doctor's appointment. Due to the doctor I've been seeing for the past couple years reducing his patient load, this was my first appointment with the other doctor in the practice, the other doctor in the team that work together to help so many with chronic illness.

During this appointment, twelve months after my doctor first suggested the possibility of Lyme disease, I received confirmation:

I have Lyme Borreliosis, along with Babesiosis (Babesia). There are other co-infections and complicating factors which cannot yet be ruled out.

I went through a mix of emotions over the next few hours. Disbelief, shock, and then excitement and joy at the thought that with treatment there is actually a very real possibility that I could get significantly better.

A couple more medications were added to my treatment protocol: Firstly, rivotril, and secondly, I have been put back onto the dreaded azithromycin. The drug that made me terribly depressed on just 1/4 tablet last time. My doctor is certain that having been on minomycin for a couple of months now, and with the assistance of the rivotril and a detoxing juice that she has instructed me to drink every day, I will not have such horrible herxing this time around. I have been taking 1/4 tab of azithromycin, 3 days per week for the past couple of weeks. Apart from it causing me to have weird and, at time, unpleasant dreams every night, as it also did last time, it seems to be so far so good. This next week I'll increase to 1/4 tab 5 days per week which I'll do for a fortnight before the big jump to one whole tablet per day, 5 days per week. I've been instructed to call my doctor in the next week or so to give her an update on how I'm doing. Or, at least, speak to the nurse, who'll then pass on the message to my doctor. At the end of this appointment, I had some blood taken, just to check up on a few things.

About a week later, I received a call asking me to come back in to have a chat about my test results. I thought this strange, but wasn't really concerned as it was just basic blood tests that had been done. More intrigued.

As it turns out, I was right about it not being anything worth worrying about. My doctor just wanted to talk to me about my ANA levels (Anti-nuclear Antibody). The accepted range for ANA is <160. Mine reads as >1280. It's been at this super high level since it was first tested in 2012. That's not ideal but at the same time I'm not freaking out about it. Strong positive ANA is associated with significant autoimmune disease, including Scleroderma, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus. It is also not necessarily associated with either Lyme Disease, it's co-infections or my other diagnosis of a genetic connective tissue disorder, similar to Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, so it's worth noting.

My doctor thinks that we might be able to lower my ANA level by completely eliminating dairy and eggs from my diet. For the past couple of years I've been off of cows milk products (apart from a very occasional treat, I admit!) and also haven't been eating eggs, apart from in small amounts occasionally such as in a cake that I didn't bake myself. I have, however, been eating goat's and sheep's milk products. My doctor says that these things now have to go. So, for the next 3 months not a speck of dairy or egg is to pass my lips. I will then have my ANA levels retested, and if they are still through the roof then I'm off to see a rheumatologist. She also increased my dose of plaquenil to 2 per day, 7 days a week (up from 1 per day, 5 days per week), to try to help with my aches and pains and the cramping and stiffness that I get in my hands (though the cramping is definitely better since starting daily magnesium injections in December), and also increased my dose of minomycin from 2 tablets a day, to 3 tablets a day, 5 days per week.

My next doctors appointment is in early June. I've already got the pathology request to have my ANA levels retested, along with checking a few other things, so I'll get that done a week beforehand so we can discuss the results at my appointment. And then? Who knows what the next step in this adventure will hold!

Caribbean Pink Information Session: We Did It!

A few weeks ago we managed to pull off Caribbean Pink's very first volunteer information session. Thank you so very much for all who attended, it was wonderful to have a good group in attendance.

There are still a few bits and pieces that need to be organised before we can refresh our first room - but we are slowly but surely moving in that direction!

For those of you who have put your name down as a potential Caribbean Pink volunteer - thank you! I do apologise for the delay in getting in contact with you. I promise we will be in contact, hopefully within the next couple of weeks.

I currently have a lot going on, with a new health diagnosis, ramping up medical treatment, and a difficult family situation. However, I am determined not to give up on the Caribbean Pink dream, and, with the help of people like yourselves, it will happen. We will see this service bring some joy to the lives of people who are bedridden or housebound with chronic or terminal illness.

Thank you once again for your ongoing support, encouragement and assistance.

If you have any questions, any suggestions, or would like to offer to help with something specific as we work towards getting Caribbean Pink up and running, please do let me know by emailing me at caribbeanpink.natasha@gmail.com.

With gratitude,
Natasha