I am a seeker and keeper of
Truth; let the magic of the
Mystery flow in and through
me, now and always.

~Chandra Alexandre

Fasting updates...Plus Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

The brown rice fast is done. It lasted 60 hours. I was craving fresh veggies big time! I took that as my cue to b e done. I had a fresh green salad for lunch on Tuesday and then the rest of my brown rice for dinner, I then had brown rice veggie sushi for lunch on Wednesday and a giant salad for dinner and then a fresh green salad everyday for lunch since then. I may have not lasted for as long as I would have liked but it is about my body and not my head. : )

Here is the recipe for the Gluten-free Chocolate Chip Cookies that I had mentioned earlier. Lillie was the inspiration for creating the recipe and she loved them and so did my family. Give them a try and see what you think. : )




Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies (small batch)

1/2 cup plus 2 T buckwheat flour
1/2 cup brown rice flour
3/4 cup brown sugar *
1/2 t baking soda
1/4 t salt
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1 T flax meal mixed with all wet ingredients in small bowl
1/4 cup oil
5 T soy creamer or rich non-dairy milk*
1 1/2 t vanilla

preheat 325 f
spray cookie sheet with a bit of oil

Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add wet to dry and mix to combine. Using 1/4 measuring cup (don't fill completely), scoop cookie dough and place on large cookie sheet. Place pretty far apart because they spread.

Cook for 19 to 21 minutes depending on if you like them softer or crisper. Let cool for about a minute on the pan and then remove to wire rack to cool.

Makes 9 very big cookies.



* if you don't like the richness of all brown sugar you can use 1/2 white and 1/2 brown.

not sure what to think...

So the fasting has gone relatively well. Headaches stink but are to be expected. This morning I woke up and felt not very hungry so I just had my lemon water and a cup of kukicha tea. I practices yoga for about an hour and meditated briefly, 5 or 10 minutes perhaps. I am still not really hungry but sort of craving a fresh vegetable salad. It is what my mind keeps returning to. I am packing a bowl of brown rice for my work lunch today but I am not ruling out a fresh green salad if the cravings stick with me. I will not judge myself if the fast only lasts 60 hours. I would love to go longer and maybe I will, but if not- I WILL NOT JUDGE. It must be what my body needs/wants at this point. After all it is not like craving fresh green vegetables is ever a bad thing!



On another note, Sunday night while having a particularly strong sugar craving I decided to test a new recipe I had created for gluten-free chocolate chip cookies. I have a friend at work that is gf and every weekend we serve fresh baked cookies baked by the pastry chef there. I think the smell of them is getting to her and making her miss real chocolate chip cookies so much..that the temptation is hard to resist. Although she has been steadfast in her determination to not even taste one! That was my inspiration for creating the recipe. They came out fabulous according to my testing guinea pigs, aka my family. I will be posting the recipe for them either tonight or tomorrow. That way Lillie can have fresh baked, delicious cookies whenever she wants!

Brown Rice Fast...

I haven't been feeling my best lately. My joints and even the bones themselves hurt most of the time... although definitely worse when I eat a lot of wheat products. (probably time to eliminate wheat or maybe all gluten products permanently...we shall see) I have been tired, cranky and just out of sorts. I have decided it is time for another fast. I am attempting a brown rice fast and not putting a time frame other than I will not go longer than 10 days. If I last only 1 or 2 then I am taking that as a sign, that is what my body needed right now. I am going to incorporate my daily meditation and yoga practices to aid in the fast. I will get as much sleep and fresh air as possible and try to listen to my body and what it is requesting of me. And also very important -chew, chew, chew!

I cooked my rice in a pressure cooker this morning and made enough to last me for quite a few meals. Later I will heat it on the stove if I feel I want it hot or eat it directly from the fridge if I want it cold.

4 cups organic short grain brown rice (washed)
8 cups water
1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Place everything in your pressure cooker and bring up to pressure on med-high heat. Lower temperature to low and cook (my jiggler rocks slowly and steadily) for about 40 minutes for a porridge like consistency. Less time if you would like it firmer.






Sunday -


Upon rising - 1 glass warm water with the juice of one organic lemon

10 minute meditation and 45 minute yoga practice

Breakfast - 1 bowl of brown rice porridge and 1 cup kukicha tea.

Lunch - 1 bowl brown rice porridge

Dinner - will be the same.

Hopefully another meditation tonight.

I have been drinking lots of water throughout the day and plan on going for a walk later tonight. Right now I have a headache so I am drinking more water and may go lie down for a bit. Whenever I do a fast of any kind I end up with a headache in the beginning. Usually because I am eliminating sugar, caffeine or something else that my body has become dependent on. I will get through it and feel better afterwards.