Broccoli-Carrot Casserole

So we are finally moved into our new home and getting unpacked. For a while there, we were living in two houses. All of our furniture and cook wear was in the new house and our food in the other. It seemed no matter where I went  I was denied a home cooked meal. That's okay because we are settled enough to resume our normal cooking regime.

Since we've started eating more home cooked meals with fewer ingredients and mostly vegetarian, I've noticed that I feel better and have more energy. While we were moving, I realized how easy it is to fall back into old habits. I found that I was eating more processed "on the go" meals and that my body was starting to feel out of wack. My husband was diagnosed with Gilbert's Syndrome and it was indicated that it would beneficial for him to adopt a more natural life style.

Though Gilbert's Syndrome is primarily asymptomatic, there is a small percentage, of the 5% (mostly males) of the population that have this genetic trait, that actually exhibit issues. Taking a second to back up, Gilbert's Syndrome is the body's inability to break down bilirubin, which is excreted by the liver as a biproduct of the liver after the body has metabolized hemoglobin. It is then passed through bile and urine.

In Gilbert's Sydrome, bilirubin is not expelled from the body and is reabsorbed into the blood stream. This can cause yellowing of the skin. However, in rare cases it can lead to lethargy, muscle pain, and inability to focus. As long as I have my husband (almost 5 years) he has been a space case and experienced varying degrees of pain. However, it sounds as though this could have been the underlying cause to his issues.

There is no cure to Gilbert's Syndrome and very little is done to treat it because it is not seen as a serious ailment. I do not know if that is really the case because many of the symptoms can be cross referenced with other ailments that the drug industry is shoveling pills. We actually thought that Dominic had chronic fatigue syndrome or some other nerve problem. It is actually a good thing that his doctor didn't just write him a script because this gives us motivation to move forward with a lifestyle change that is long overdue.

For those who do have symptoms, they can be relieved through diet. By eliminating processed foods, gluten and lactose, it can offset the severity of symptoms and that is exactly what we did. For the last month and a half, we have tried to limit these items and eat more raw foods and it has made all the difference. Though Dom still experiences pain and all of the issues with his stomach have not been resolved, he seems more alert and less sleepy all the time. I am hopeful that the longer we keep this up, the better we all will feel and that is why is important to fall victim to old habits. I am not saying that anyine should dwell on not being perfect, but it is important to see the big picture of the benefits that will come from making a this sort of change.

• 4 TB coconut oil
• 1 bunch broccoli, chopped
• 3 large carrots, chopped
• 1 medium onion, chopped 
• 1c veggie broth
• 3/4c parboiled rice
• 4 eggs
• 1 1/2c dairy free sour cream
• 1ts mustard powder
• 1TBhorseradish paste
• 1c non-dairy shredded cheese
• 1/4c gluten free bread crumbs

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Heat oil over medium heat and saute broccoli, carrots, and onions onions. Add broth and rice and set aside.
3. Mix the next 5 ingredients in a bowl and add to veggie mixture. Stir until mixed.
4. Sprinkle the top with crumbs.
5. Bake covered for 30 minutes, uncover,move to top rack and bake for an additional 15 minutes.

Tip: I used a saute pan that can be baked to reduce the number of dishes and making this a quick and easy weekday meal.