Cauliflower crust pizza with hemp alfredo sauce

Gimme, gimme more!

I feel like licking my dish too, just like Nika, when eating my Cauliflower Crust Pizza with Hemp Alfredo Sauce. Yes, it is possible to have a delicious meal, full of flavor, when following the strict anti-candida diet (phase 1).

Cauliflower crust pizza with hemp alfredo sauce

I have been visited again by some unwelcome guests, called candida. Actually, the little beasties never leave you but it's your job to keep them under control by eating a low-glycemic diet and taking probiotics to put healthy bacteria back in your gut.

I strayed too far (for me) from the low-glycemic rule. It had been two years since my last bout with candida. No wonder, I thought I was cleared for eating more carbohydrates. In fact, after two years, I had to review the ACD-phase 1 rules for eating as I started this new round with candida.

The strictest version of the diet (Phase 1) would eliminate:

• Anything containing sugar;

• Simple carbohydrates, such as flour, cakes, cookies, breads, etc.;

• Foods that contain mold or fungus, such as yeast, mushrooms, peanuts, cashews, cheese;

• The most common food allergens, such as dairy, eggs, wheat, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts;

• Foods that are fermented (alcohol, all condiments including ketchup, mustard, soy sauce);

• Anything artificial, processed, containing chemicals or additives, imitation or artificial seasonings flavorings and colorings;

• Soda pop, fruit juice, pre-sweetened drinks, coffee, tea (except herbal teas).

What's left to eat, you are probably wondering?

• All vegetables except starchy ones (winter squash, and heaven forbid, no corn. It's not really a vegetable anyhow);

• Some nuts and most seeds;

• Water;

• Natural, cold-pressed oils, such as olive oil;

• Lemon and lime juice;

• Stevia (a natural herbal sweetener that does not affect blood sugar levels as long as it's alcohol-free);

• Unsweetened alternative dairy beverages, such as soy milk

There are some exceptions to these rules depending on what program you are following. Some allow a bit of chocolate or carob; one serving of low-glycemic fruit: small amounts of sweet potatoes, carrots, beets; organic apple cider vinegar; legumes and whole grains (amaranth, quinoa, buckwheat, flaxseed) in restricted portions.

I discovered the return of the candida beasties at the same time my chronic pain was flaring. Candida is a common thread among people with fibromyalgia, as I discovered I had had all through my many bouts with yeast overgrowth. In my initial week taking antifungal meds, I have found my pain actually increasing. It's a common occurrence to have your symptoms increase as the candida beasties die off.

I also am working on improving the quality of my sleep which is a critical component of healing from fibromyalgia or anything for that matter. Without deep sleep, your body cannot repair itself. I am taking magnesium and a herbal sleeping potion to help me stay asleep rather than waking because of pain. So far, I am noting an improvement in my sleep.

It's time to get on to the good stuff: Cauliflower Crust Pizza with Hemp Alfredo Sauce.

You will need to serve 1:

Crust:
1/3 head of cauliflower, riced
2-3 chia eggs (mix 2-3 T. of chia with 3-4 T. of warm water and allow to gel)
1/4 cup raw or toasted sunflower seeds ground into flour using a coffee grinder
1/4 tsp. salt

Hemp Alfredo Sauce: (makes extra to use to make kale chips)
1 cup hemp seeds
1/2 cup hemp milk (unsweetened)
2 T. lemon juice
dash of stevia
salt/pepper to taste
dash of nutmeg

Toppings:
6 steamed asparugus stalks, cut into 1-2 inch pieces
6 artichoke hearts, halved
alfredo sauce kale chips

Hemp Alfredo Sauce Kale Chips
Leaves from one bunch of kale
3-4 T. hemp alfredo sauce

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Put the raw cauliflower florets into a food processor and pulse until it resembles rice. Add the chia eggs, salt and sunflower seed flour and pulse until blended.
Put the dough onto a pan-sprayed baking sheet. Cover the dough with a large piece of wax paper and smoosh it with your hands until it's about 9-12 inches in diameter. Place the dough in the oven and bake for 30-40 minutes or until dry but pliable.

You'll need to make the hemp alfredo sauce before you can make the kale chips. It's almost too easy. Simply put everything in your food processor and blend until smooth and creamy. Set aside.

Next, make the hemp alfredo sauce kale chips. Remove the leaves from the stems. Place in a bowl and drizzle with alfredo sauce. Toss with your hands. Spread the kale on a large baking sheet. Place on the top shelf of your oven. Normally, kale chips are baked at 350 degrees but if you keep your eye on them, you can bake them along with the cauliflower crust. Remove when crispy, about 15-20 minutes.

Prepare your toppings. Once everything is ready, spread alfredo sauce on the prepared crust. Add your veggies and kale chips. Place in the oven for 5-10 minutes to heat through. Remove your pizza from the oven and get ready to enjoy a taste sensation, almost too good to be ACD-phase 1.

 I am wanting more, more, more of this pizza!

"I'll have some more food, please."

Contributed to: http://www.dietdessertndogs.com/2012/11/29/wellness-weekend-november-26-december-3-2012/