Always be open to a new idea, it could not only change your life... it could change the world!
Quick Story
The thought of writing this book came to me while in training for a natural physique competition in 2013. While eating nothing but clean foods, I eliminated ten years of hypertension and high cholesterol levels in twelve weeks... twelve weeks! When I realized sugar was the main culprit, I knew something must be said about this...
The first week I made the decision to become gluten free I did everything perfectly, and thought the process was going to be easier than expected. Then this crazy thing called life showed up and the following weeks were a complete disaster. My work schedule became inconsistent, and due to my lack of planning I was not prepared. The inconsistency continued for several weeks and I quickly went back to my old habits.
However, this time was different.
I was living in a loft in downtown Denver, across the street was an Anthony's Pizzeria and just around the corner was a cupcake vendor. It was a blur.... all I remember the whole day was devoted to pizza, pasta, peanut M&M's, single malt scotch and one giant cupcake. OMG! It was sooo good! I was in food coma the entire day... so much I couldn't even speak... Oye!
I know it sounds bad, however it was exactly what I needed to buckle down and refocus on becoming gluten free. The very next day I prepared a list and went grocery shopping. Upon my return I began planning and preparing each week so that will never happen again. It worked, within two weeks I was completely organized and eating healthier than ever.
Fast forward two weeks:
I was almost finished with the recipe portion of the book when out of the blue my laptop shut down and stopped responding. Now, this falls under the 'my crazy life' category, I'm six months into writing and just ten recipes away from finishing. I panicked for a minute, however I wasn't too upset. Actually I was relieved, truth be told I didn't even keep my own promise to create recipes that will bring a fresh perspective of change. Instead, I was recreating old recipes with minor changes... I quickly realized Ezekiel was strongly suggesting the recipes I had were not the ones for this book.
The very next day I had taken my laptop in for repair and was left to think over the weekend. There has to be a method to this madness, I sat in silence the entire day, no music, no t.v. just silence and my thoughts were loud, very loud recreating the series of events that brought me here.
From the day I said out loud, "I want to write a cookbook and show people how to cook healthy" my life changed instantly and the life I knew was slipping away, my job, apartment, car, even my motorcycle.
It was on a Saturday about 1pm Michigan State was playing the Purdue Boilermakers I was apartment hunting, I wrote down four places to look at when you tell me, "Start the Book now!' In response I say, "I'm breaking up with my girlfriend and I'm sleeping on the couch, and you want me to write a book?" Oookay.
I go to the Tattered Cover book store every day all day for a week looking for recipes I can't find, because I don't know what I'm looking for. Then you place me here in this beautiful downtown apartment which, coincidently I acquired the cash for in one week, this only after I had written it down as one of the four places to apply for an apartment right before you tell me to start the book.... Hmm?
I do understand where I am being in this apartment number #515 (11) and I just coincidentally turned 47 (11) two master numbers colliding to write a cookbook and create a website about food I don't know how to create.
It's been a whirlwind over the last year, and the more I think I know is the more I really don't know. I was exhausted mentally, physically, and emotionally spent.
It felt like I was being pulled, not guided but literally taken by the hand and pulled towards something like destiny was pulling me to it. I knew I was on a train I could not slow down speed up or stop, and what made made matters worse was I had no control over anything that is my life... I felt like a drone and I wanted to quit.
My breaking point came when I was so upset I grabbed a knife on the counter and placed the tip to my neck thinking
"I could end this very quickly and no one would care."
I then felt a moment of calmness and put the knife down, I immediately burst into tears and started shouting at Ezekiel, and that's when things got worse. Ezekiel wasn't having it, not at all! We were arguing, well I was shouting and I went to grab my glass of soda on the counter and he knocked it out of my hand. I could only imagine the look on my face as the glass fell in slow motion to the floor and shattered into pieces.... I stood frozen and in shock, Ezekiel had quickly reminded me of his graciousness.
As I was picking up broken glass off the floor I said, "Okay brother I understand." "Thank you for this gift and the opportunity you're giving me, I know you will guide me through this and I promise I won't let you down." "Now help me figure this thing out." I was six months into writing recipes and now it was gone, this meant what needs to happen will happen in a short period of time, and even though in the back of my mind I knew I had time, I also knew I was running out of time.
I spent the rest of the day trying to come up with something... different, but to no avail. I was so frustrated nothing was coming to me... I know what I need is right in front me... I'm just not seeing it... yet. "Ezekiel my friend what am I missing?"
It was getting late, I had been through a gauntlet of emotions and stressing myself to exhaustion all day in this 'Day of Reckoning'. So I poured a glass of scotch and when I was finished I poured another glass, this time a double to clear my mind before going to bed.
The next day the Cavaliers vs. Warriors game was on my "must watch" list, and I needed to prep for the upcoming week. As I was walking to the kitchen, I remember saying out loud, "time to make the essentials," I stopped in my tracks...
Wait!... My approach was all wrong, the answer has been in front of me for some time. You see, I had been preparing a few of the essentials with meal prep for several weeks. I sat down for a few minutes giving it more thought, and the realization hit me. In the midst of trying so hard to become gluten free, I was not paying attention to the fact that I had been gluten free for a month!
I had an idea and started cooking right away! I made two sample dishes each with same main ingredients, but with different essentials as the base. I noticed with the addition and substitution of essentials as ingredients each dish developed its' own unique character and flavor.
It became clear I needed to create dishes made of Essentials. They're interchangeable and able to suit anyone's palate, easy to prepare, more importantly, it allows to create the most flavorful meals in minutes. I sat down and started my Essentials list:
On Monday I retrieved my laptop with the book and all the saved contents intact. Not a surprise. Without hesitation I quickly deleted every recipe and started over from scratch. I don't know where it came from, I began writing and creating the cleanest most flavorful gluten free recipes no one has ever seen... I was in a zone! Everything was clicking, I could do no wrong it was a feeling I had never felt before. The recipes had amazing flavors and were so easy to make within minutes of thinking of them right out of my refrigerator. For almost two weeks I ate like a King on less than two hours prep, time definitely well spent.
As I was preparing these meals, I was saying, "Wow!" with every bite. It was an experience I will never ever forget. I recall there was a time when recipes were coming so fast I couldn't keep up. I had to tell him to slow down... it was too much. I may have been by myself, but I was certainly not alone... "Ezekiel, thank you my friend I am truly blessed!"
In that short period of time I (we) created something different which had a fresh perspective that could bring about the change that will inspire. I was smiling and thinking I have found the recipes I've been looking for, the recipes for this unique book and within moments the name Fusion Gluten Free popped into my head.
The first week I made the decision to become gluten free I did everything perfectly, and thought the process was going to be easier than expected. Then this crazy thing called life showed up and the following weeks were a complete disaster. My work schedule became inconsistent, and due to my lack of planning I was not prepared. The inconsistency continued for several weeks and I quickly went back to my old habits.
However, this time was different.
I was living in a loft in downtown Denver, across the street was an Anthony's Pizzeria and just around the corner was a cupcake vendor. It was a blur.... all I remember the whole day was devoted to pizza, pasta, peanut M&M's, single malt scotch and one giant cupcake. OMG! It was sooo good! I was in food coma the entire day... so much I couldn't even speak... Oye!
I know it sounds bad, however it was exactly what I needed to buckle down and refocus on becoming gluten free. The very next day I prepared a list and went grocery shopping. Upon my return I began planning and preparing each week so that will never happen again. It worked, within two weeks I was completely organized and eating healthier than ever.
Fast forward two weeks:
I was almost finished with the recipe portion of the book when out of the blue my laptop shut down and stopped responding. Now, this falls under the 'my crazy life' category, I'm six months into writing and just ten recipes away from finishing. I panicked for a minute, however I wasn't too upset. Actually I was relieved, truth be told I didn't even keep my own promise to create recipes that will bring a fresh perspective of change. Instead, I was recreating old recipes with minor changes... I quickly realized Ezekiel was strongly suggesting the recipes I had were not the ones for this book.
The very next day I had taken my laptop in for repair and was left to think over the weekend. There has to be a method to this madness, I sat in silence the entire day, no music, no t.v. just silence and my thoughts were loud, very loud recreating the series of events that brought me here.
From the day I said out loud, "I want to write a cookbook and show people how to cook healthy" my life changed instantly and the life I knew was slipping away, my job, apartment, car, even my motorcycle.
It was on a Saturday about 1pm Michigan State was playing the Purdue Boilermakers I was apartment hunting, I wrote down four places to look at when you tell me, "Start the Book now!' In response I say, "I'm breaking up with my girlfriend and I'm sleeping on the couch, and you want me to write a book?" Oookay.
I go to the Tattered Cover book store every day all day for a week looking for recipes I can't find, because I don't know what I'm looking for. Then you place me here in this beautiful downtown apartment which, coincidently I acquired the cash for in one week, this only after I had written it down as one of the four places to apply for an apartment right before you tell me to start the book.... Hmm?
I do understand where I am being in this apartment number #515 (11) and I just coincidentally turned 47 (11) two master numbers colliding to write a cookbook and create a website about food I don't know how to create.
It's been a whirlwind over the last year, and the more I think I know is the more I really don't know. I was exhausted mentally, physically, and emotionally spent.
It felt like I was being pulled, not guided but literally taken by the hand and pulled towards something like destiny was pulling me to it. I knew I was on a train I could not slow down speed up or stop, and what made made matters worse was I had no control over anything that is my life... I felt like a drone and I wanted to quit.
My breaking point came when I was so upset I grabbed a knife on the counter and placed the tip to my neck thinking
"I could end this very quickly and no one would care."
I then felt a moment of calmness and put the knife down, I immediately burst into tears and started shouting at Ezekiel, and that's when things got worse. Ezekiel wasn't having it, not at all! We were arguing, well I was shouting and I went to grab my glass of soda on the counter and he knocked it out of my hand. I could only imagine the look on my face as the glass fell in slow motion to the floor and shattered into pieces.... I stood frozen and in shock, Ezekiel had quickly reminded me of his graciousness.
As I was picking up broken glass off the floor I said, "Okay brother I understand." "Thank you for this gift and the opportunity you're giving me, I know you will guide me through this and I promise I won't let you down." "Now help me figure this thing out." I was six months into writing recipes and now it was gone, this meant what needs to happen will happen in a short period of time, and even though in the back of my mind I knew I had time, I also knew I was running out of time.
I spent the rest of the day trying to come up with something... different, but to no avail. I was so frustrated nothing was coming to me... I know what I need is right in front me... I'm just not seeing it... yet. "Ezekiel my friend what am I missing?"
It was getting late, I had been through a gauntlet of emotions and stressing myself to exhaustion all day in this 'Day of Reckoning'. So I poured a glass of scotch and when I was finished I poured another glass, this time a double to clear my mind before going to bed.
The next day the Cavaliers vs. Warriors game was on my "must watch" list, and I needed to prep for the upcoming week. As I was walking to the kitchen, I remember saying out loud, "time to make the essentials," I stopped in my tracks...
Wait!... My approach was all wrong, the answer has been in front of me for some time. You see, I had been preparing a few of the essentials with meal prep for several weeks. I sat down for a few minutes giving it more thought, and the realization hit me. In the midst of trying so hard to become gluten free, I was not paying attention to the fact that I had been gluten free for a month!
I had an idea and started cooking right away! I made two sample dishes each with same main ingredients, but with different essentials as the base. I noticed with the addition and substitution of essentials as ingredients each dish developed its' own unique character and flavor.
It became clear I needed to create dishes made of Essentials. They're interchangeable and able to suit anyone's palate, easy to prepare, more importantly, it allows to create the most flavorful meals in minutes. I sat down and started my Essentials list:
- Avocado Butter
- Chili Spice Rub
- Caramelized Onions
- Roasted Ginger
- Oven Dried Tomatoes
- Roasted Garlic
- Toasted Coconut Flakes
- Roasted Corn
- BBQ House Rub
- Roasted Chiles
- Pesto
On Monday I retrieved my laptop with the book and all the saved contents intact. Not a surprise. Without hesitation I quickly deleted every recipe and started over from scratch. I don't know where it came from, I began writing and creating the cleanest most flavorful gluten free recipes no one has ever seen... I was in a zone! Everything was clicking, I could do no wrong it was a feeling I had never felt before. The recipes had amazing flavors and were so easy to make within minutes of thinking of them right out of my refrigerator. For almost two weeks I ate like a King on less than two hours prep, time definitely well spent.
As I was preparing these meals, I was saying, "Wow!" with every bite. It was an experience I will never ever forget. I recall there was a time when recipes were coming so fast I couldn't keep up. I had to tell him to slow down... it was too much. I may have been by myself, but I was certainly not alone... "Ezekiel, thank you my friend I am truly blessed!"
In that short period of time I (we) created something different which had a fresh perspective that could bring about the change that will inspire. I was smiling and thinking I have found the recipes I've been looking for, the recipes for this unique book and within moments the name Fusion Gluten Free popped into my head.
How it Works
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You must first purchase the book on how to prepare the Essentials. Browse through a number of recipes you wish to create. Each recipe will have several essentials which are the core ingredients will add texture, flavor and creativity to each dish.
I recommend to start with 4 to 5 Essentials and in time you can expand. Keep in mind, more Essentials equals more options and more meals, my personal preference is 8-10. The Essentials are very easy to make and do not require much time. Once you have prepared everything you need, you will be able to create amazing dishes that will be healthier and tastier than anything you've ever had. |
Lifestyle Cuisine recipes are designed to help with decreasing weight, and lowering cholesterol and blood sugar levels while boosting your metabolism.
Please visit Meal Plans for men and women. It's a blueprint on how to lose weight, and set yourself on a path of healthy eating for a lifetime. My promise is to provide you the tools to create the healthiest, tastiest, easiest meals for you and your family, cook like a chef and look good doing it. Enjoy the recipes! Lyndon |