Been Busy

Yes, I haven't written in such a long time. It has been busy with Lia's 1st birthday party and Christmas with my brother and his family visiting from CA.

Lia's birthday was great - but I cheated and ate cake and ice cream. I regretted it the next day. After not eating anything with gluten in it - eating the cake tasted different to me...a different taste - so weird.

Oh Christmas and those cookies and other sweets. My first Christmas eating gluten free. Besides the cookies, it wasn't as difficult as I thought it would have been. My mom even made an egg dish that I could enjoy and it was delicious.

A friend from college was visiting back in MN from CA with his family and he had a friendly get together.  I met 2 other people who are gluten free and even dairy free. It has become more common...I worry about Lia and if she had inherited any digestion problems from me. I haven't noticed...but it is hard to tell. I do feed her some gluten free items. I don't want her to go what I have experienced my whole life.

More Gluten Free Finds

I found gluten free Fish Sticks from Target. Blue Horizon Wild. They were pretty good. I never really eat fish sticks, but just wanted to try them.

At Costco besides the meatballs, I found Gluten Free Chicken Patties - Sabatino's flame broiled Spinach with Aged White Cheddar Chicken Patties. I ate one for lunch today. They are really good. I haven't bought or eaten lunch meat in a very long time.These patties are a good alternative for lunch. They have 21g of protein, but 9 g of fat...I am surprised to find so many gluten free items at Costco.

Chicken Meatballs

I bought some premade chicken meatballs from Costco "Chef Bruce Aidells". They are fully cooked, gluten free and pork free. There are two different kinds...caramelized onion and spicy mango & jalapeno. Both very yummy! I brought them to my BSF fellowship get together that I tonight. They were a big hit.

Bunless Burger

Tonight I did not feel like making dinner so we got food from Bennigans. On Wednesday's, they have $5.50 burgers. I asked them if they did a gluten free option, but they did not...so I ordered a burger without the bun. It tasted so good. It was the first time not eating a burger without the bun. It is very doable.

Un Sandwich

Today, I took Owen and Landen to my friend's daughter, Violet's birthday party. For food, they had Jimmy John sandwiches. My friend, Tona - her sister-in-law has been gluten free for years now and she said that you can order an "Un Sandwich" from Jimmy Johns. They make a normal sandwich but instead of using their yummy bread, they wrap it up using lettuce - like a lettuce wrap. She also told me that at Red Robin, they will do the same thing with their burgers.

I continue to learn something new everyday.

Beef & Lentil Soup

Tonight for dinner I made a very yummy and healthy soup. Lia ate a whole bowl of it.

Beef and Lentil Soup

2 tbsp olive oil
1 lb beef chuck, cut into 1 inch pieces
salt and pepper to taste
2 stalks celery chopped
2 carrots chopped
1 large onion chopped
6 cloves garlic chopped
1 1/2 tsp dried cilantro or handful chopped fresh
1 tsp dried oregano
2 (32 oz) cartons beef stock
1 can diced tomatoes
2 cups dried lentils
1/4 c parsley chopped (optional)
1/2 c grated parmesan cheese (optional)

Heat oil in large pan. Season meat and brown on all sides - remove from pan set aside
Add onion, celery, carrots, garlic, cilantro and oregano and cook until onion is translucent about 8 minutes.

Pour beef broth, tomatoes and beef into pot. Bring to a boil and then simmer covered for 1 hour.

After 1 hour, add lentils and recover simmer for 40 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper and then stir in parsley. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese to serve.

I Slipped - oops

We were coming back from Ben's home town for Thanksgiving and we were snacking in the car and we needed something "better" to eat. So we stopped at Jimmy John's. Remember, I love Jimmy John's and I miss it so much! ha. I slipped and ate about 1/4 of a sandwich. It tasted so good. I miss good bread.

We also stopped at a store called Weaver's. It is outside of Eau Claire. It is a bulk foods store and I found all the "flours" I use (ex. brown rice flour) and I also bought a gluten free pizza. This store also has everything from cereal, candy to spices and pre-made mixes and organic eggs, meat and cheeses.

Happy Thanksgiving

My first Thanksgiving eating gluten free...

My favorite thing on Thanksgiving to eat is the stuffing. I could just eat stuffing and mashed potatoes and that is fine with me. This time I cheated and had a couple of bites of stuffing. It was so worth it. To make up for my loss of stuffing, I ate more turkey.

I made a pumpkin pie using the gluten free crust from the Whole Foods store. It turned out great and no one could tell that it was gluten free. Lia loved the pie and almost ate like 2 pieces! Not really, but it seemed like it.

Now, onto the next holiday - Christmas - all of those Christmas cookies. I promise to be good!

Pheasant is Pleasant

A month ago or so, Ben and his dad went pheasant hunting and shot some birds. Ben cooked the meat up tonight for dinner. He dipped them in rice flour and other seasonings and browned them up in a pan and then added cream of mushroom soup. (I know the soup has gluten in it - oh-well) It was very good!

For lunch today, I didn't want to make anything, so I took the kids to Panera Bread - one of my favorite places. I ate a salad and french onion soup - it was hard not to eat the soaked up yummy croutons, but I was good. The kids shared a M&M cookie for dessert. I was also good and didn't eat that either. I was very tempted to buy the chocolate krinkle cookie though (my favorite cookie)...but again, I resisted!

Puppy Chow

Last night we went out with friends for dinner. It is so nice to be out with adults and be able to enjoy my food instead of feeding Lia and yelling at the boys to eat their food. We ate at The Local. It was very good. I got a grilled chicken pear salad. Yummy!

Today...craving chocolate - so I made Puppy Chow. I used the gluten free Chex. I have used Crispex in the past.

Puppy Chow

9 cups rice or corn chex
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter
1 tsp vanilla
1-2 cups powdered sugar

In a saucepan, melt choc. chips, peanut butter, butter and vanilla. Pour over chex cereal and mix. Then add the powdered sugar. I put everything into a big container and shake everything together. I also put it into the freezer - I think it tastes better cold.

Stress (TMD)

Back to The Maker's Diet book. Chapter 9 talks about Stress.

Emotional stress causes or worsens the following health problems:
     Digestive system disorders
     Circulatory system disorders
     Genito-urinary system disorders
     Nervous system disorders
     Glandular disorders
     Allergies and immune system disorders
     Inflammation of muscles and joints
     Infections
     Inflammatory and skin diseases
     Cancer

Now...I probably take on about 6 of these...not good. It makes complete sense though. It is very depressing. Everyone takes on stress in different ways. My body, especially my digestive system, takes on stress even when I don't think that I am stressed. 

He talks about removing your negative thinking. Great advice! Right now I have a bad cold and if you keep telling yourself that you feel awful and don't feel like you are getting better, then you will probably stay that way...but today I told myself - I feel great - I am going to get better and I did feel better and I changed my way of thinking. You can do this with any kind of situation. I am going to try my best to have the most positive way of thinking in any situation.

"Laughter, happiness and joy are the perfect antidotes for stress."

Pad Thai Mix

So, I go through my pantry often and see what I have that I should use up. I found a Pad Thai season mix that I wanted to use. I made it tonight - I used rice noodles for myself and regular spaghetti noodles for Ben and the boys...and then realized that I should have just used rice noodles for everyone - since that is what you are supposed to use...mine tasted better.

I am still feeling bloated - I need to figure out why that is!!!...maybe my period is coming...ha

Pappy's

Last night, my Bible study ladies, we met at Pappy's cafe in Andover, MN for dinner. They have great breakfast options. I ordered the steak omelet with American fries. I love breakfast food.

Tomato Soup & Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

I have a really bad head cold and did not feel like making anything "fancy" for dinner tonight. So I made tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwiches. I miss my grilled cheese sandwiches - I am still on the quest to find a good sandwich bread.

Lately, I have been feeling bloated - and I can not figure out why it's happening...I gave up keeping track of my daily food intake...which I probably should not have done...it is NOT fun feeling bloated. I hate it! Hopefully I can figure it out.

Leftovers

We had leftover chicken from dinner last night...so I made chicken salad melts for Ben and the boys and for me, I made a wrap with my brown rice tortillas. These tortillas are very good - remember I got them at the Whole Foods store. I have not seen them any where else.

I told you that I wanted to order some bread - or find some good sandwich bread...well I thought I did on grandmaferdon's website. The loaf of bread cost around $5, but the shipping was $10. No way am I going to spend $15 on a loaf of bread...the search continues...

Pumpkin Pie

Tonight for dinner, we had our friends - the Bartels over for dinner. The dinner I made was all gluten free.

I  made chicken in the crock pot. Pistachio pudding salad - spinach strawberry feta salad  - a corn casserole dish that had gluten free cornbread mix in it....and even dessert - pumpkin pie. I used a gluten free crust that I bought from the Whole Foods store.  Gluten Free Bakehouse frozen pie crust. The pie turned out great and tasted even better. The only thing that wasn't gluten free were the buns that they brought and of course, I did not eat one. They looked so good though - they were pretzel buns.

Pumpkin Pie

15 oz can pumpkin
14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
2 eggs
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
1 (9-inch) unbaked pie crust

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Mix everything together and pour into pie crust. Bake for 15 minutes and then reduce oven  to 350 degrees and continue baking 30 minutes.

Chinese Food

About once a month I crave Chinese food. Since it is Friday and I usually never feel like cooking on a Friday, we got Chinese food from Bamboo Village. I think I told you before that they will make some of their dishes gluten free if asked. So, we got pepper steak (strips of steak with onion and green pepper), eggs rolls and cheese wantons. The wantons are not gluten free, but I ate one anyways. Surprisingly, the eggs rolls are gluten free. It all tasted so very good!

Remember, all you have to do is ask!

No Thoughts

I have a head cold and I can't think very good today - I have no thoughts to share.

Brownies - box mix

I have been trying to be good about not eating sweets, but I gave in today and made some gluten free brownies. It is a box mix - Betty Crocker. They turned out very yummy! I still like the home made recipe that I got from my friend Jen Rhyner...this is just a faster version when I don't have time to make home made.

Eating gluten free can be delicious!

Peach Dessert

Here is the Peach dessert recipe that my mom made me for my birthday.

Peach Dessert

1 large can peaches
1 small can peaches
1 stick butter
1 regular size yellow cake mix ("normal" cake mix or gluten free kind)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Pour large can of peaches with juice and small can of peaches (drained) into lightly greased 9 x 13 pan. Sprinkle dry cake mix over the peaches. Cut the butter into small pieces and cover the top of the cake mix. Add chopped nuts.
Bake 350 degrees uncovered for 50-60 minutes. Cool and serve with cool whip or ice cream.

Grilled Cheese

Today for lunch I made a grilled cheese sandwich with my gluten free raisin bread - it was actually really good.

I love any kind of grilled or panini type sandwiches.I am on the mission to find some great bread for my favorite sandwiches! Udi's breads taste good, but are small. I hope to find something out there that is close to a "regular" bread. Are there breads out there like that? Similar to a sourdough or rye - I hope to find out.

I will keep you posted.

Craving a Cheeseburger

For dinner tonight, we kind of ate our own thing. Landen ate left over pizza. Owen ate a meat and cheese sandwich and Ben ate greek yogurt with granola on it. Me...I wanted a cheeseburger so bad with all the toppings. I really thought about getting one, but in the end decided not to. I ended up eating a random meal: carrots, cheese, tortilla chips and salsa and some rotisserie chicken.

The other day I made Wild Rice Chicken Soup. I made it the "regular" way - making the roux with butter and flour. A big batch of soup only needed 1/4 cup of flour. I didn't think that would make a difference at all...but it did. I felt so bloated after eating a small bowl of soup. I guess I really need to be careful even if it is a small amount of "gluten" I am eating.

Garden of Life

I bought a new kind of "Green Drink" mix. Garden of Life Perfect Food Raw. Remember I make it as a smoothie. I add a banana, frozen fruit and flax seeds. It tastes pretty good. Adding the banana helps give it a smoother taste.

It is packed with 34 nutrient-dense, raw, organic greens, sprouts and vegetable juices. It provides naturally occurring antioxidants, enzymes, amion acids, essential fatty acids and dozen of phytonutrients. Bursting with prebiotics, probiotics and enzymes to support healthy digestion and nutrient absorption.

I drink it in the mornings to give me that burst I need to start the day.

Gluten free goodness

The brown rice tortillas (Food For Life) are very good - a lot chewer than regular tortillas, but taste good! Ben even likes them. I ate one as an egg borrito with cheese and salsa on it.

The almond scones I bought are also very good. I eat them with dairy free butter and  honey. Yummy! I don't remember the brand name of these - I took off the packaging and forgot to look...I will remember next time.

I also bought some chips/crackers - Food Should Taste Good "The Works" they are very good!

Dairy Free Products

So...I have already tried all of the dairy free products that I bought last night at the Whole Foods store.

The two different ice creams that I bought are really good. Almond Dream - Chocolate & So Delicious Coconut Milk - Mocha Almond Fudge. I was very glad that I liked these brands because I can not go without eating ice cream.

And then there are the cheeses...for lunch I tried the Rice Cheeze cheddar style - it was okay...but not close to the same as regular cheese - I will still eat it. for dinner, I made a hashbrown quiche and put on my slice Daiya pepper jack shredded cheese. All I can say is "yuk!" I could not eat it. I know I wasted some money on that cheese, but at least now I know that I can not handle dairy free cheese.

At least I like Almond Milk and the diary free ice cream brands. Cheese...I think I will have to stick with the real thing.

New Products

Tonight my friend Rachel (from BSF) and I went to the Whole Foods store in St. Paul. We were very interested in what products they offered for gluten and dairy free items.  My other friend Rachel (who I told you about in the beginning of blogging - she is dairy, soy, gluten and corn free) gave me some brand name ideas for dairy free cheese and ice cream. I am very excited to try them...it would be nice if I could become dairy free too.

This was the first time that I have been in a Whole Foods store. It was great. The produce was so much nicer than other stores I've been to... and the deli section - looked so yummy, but I didn't buy anything - kind of expensive.

The first item I bought that I am excited to try are some scones. I found them in the freezer section. I love scones and I used to make them all of the time but I have not made them since I went gluten free.

It does cost a little more to eat gluten and dairy free - but in the end, it is worth it to fee good!

5th Zumba Workout

Tonight I did my 5th Zumba workout. The 20  minute Abs is so far my favorite and really works your abs without struggling to do the moves. Ben and I did the P90X workout a couple of winters ago...well Ben completed it - I did what I could. The ab workout on the P90x was really hard and the Zumba workout is great. I measured my waist the other day and I was already an inch smaller than when I started.

Tomorrow night, my friend Rachel and  I are going to go to the Whole Foods store to check out their gluten free bakery items and to look at some dairy free options. I am very excited to see what we find.

Trick or Treat

It's Halloween and you know what that means...candy and lots of it. For the first time ever, I checked the ingredients before I ate any candy. Kit Kats - yes (has gluten), Reese's Peanut Butter Cup - No (yeah), Butterfinger - yes, M&Ms - no.

We also had our friends, The Carpenters, over. We have been getting together for Halloween for about 5 years now - we usually watch a scary movie - but didn't work out this time. For dinner, to make things easier, we got 5 dollar pizza. I made my own pizza using an Udi's crust.

Thanks Mom & Dad

Tonight my parents had us over for dinner. My mom made chicken and vegetables, a pear and spinach salad, and mashed potatoes. It was all very good and gluten free. For dessert, she made a peach cake. It was delicious and you would never know that it was gluten free. She is going to email me the recipe and I will post it when I get it. I know you all will love it.

I ate too much tonight - I always do that when someone else cooks. It's a nice feeling to eat a big meal plus dessert and not feeling bloated - just full.

Thanks mom and dad

Pumpkin Pancakes

I have been craving pancakes ever since my friend Lindsey and I ate at Mickey's Diner (while at the Women of Faith Conference). She had pancakes and they looked so good. Ben's mom said she found a gluten free pancake mix next to the regular mixes at her grocery store in Medford. I have not found that here - only in the health foods section of a store. So today, I went to Coborn's and got a pancake mix Pamela's Products. I liked the cornbread mix that I bought before, so I figured the pancake mix should be good too. I added canned pumpkin...and they turned out very yummy!

I did look up gluten free pancake recipes and found one that I will try sometime - probably will be cheaper that way.

Noodles & Company

For dinner tonight, I ate Penne Fresca from Noodles & Company. But...instead of penne pasta, I asked for the rice noodles. It tasted so good - I am glad that I can substitute rice noodles for other noodles. I guess they also have a gluten free menu - but I didn't ask for it...next time.

I told Ben the other day that I missed a good peanut butter and jelly sandwich on soft wheat bread. I hope when I got to the Whole Foods store that I will find some good soft gluten free bread...or at least something close to it.

Whole Foods

Ben found this information for me from the Whole Foods store. They have a gluten free "bakehouse". There is a huge list of gluten free baked goods. I am very excited to visit the store and get some of these products. I never thought of going to Whole Foods before because there isn't one close to us. But I will make an exception if they have great baked goods.

I will let you know what I find and how they taste...and the price of course.

Comphy Jeans

Last night my friend Ali and I went shopping. It is always nice to shop without kids! I had a coupon for Clothes Mentor in Roseville, so we went there first. I have been in dire need of new jeans and it is hard for me to find the perfect length - since I am so short. I found a pair that fit perfectly in the waist and length!

And then Ali suggested going to Herbergers at the mall. She suggested a couple of brands - Hydraulic and Wall Flower. They have "short" sizes. So we went through piles of jeans to find my size in short length. With great luck, we found a couple of pairs. I tried them on and they fit! The length is still a little long, but that can be fixed. These jeans are so comfortable! They are stretchy and perfect for someone who sometimes get "bloaty". Usually jeans will fit in the waist, but have no movement...these are great - where have they been all my life? Plus...they are slimming in the legs and make your butt look great - try them out and let me know if you agree.

Tonight I hemmed one of the pairs and now they fit even better.

For dinner tonight, I made salmon. It turned out really good - I bought it from Trader Joes. Remember Salmon has omega-3 oil and that is good for you.

Fiber (TMD)

Back to The Maker's Diet.

Chapter 8 talks about protein, carbohydrates, saturated fats and fiber.

Fiber comes in two forms. Insoluble (cannot be broken down) while soluble (dissolves in water). Fiber is vital to the body because it promotes regular bowel movements, prevents constipation, increases the elimination of waster matter in the large intestine, and pressures the rectum muscles to loosen and expel waste without undue pressure on delicate rectal issues. 

I found the following very interesting...


Jordin S Rubin talks about bran fiber...you would think that bran was good for you - raisin bran and all of the other bran cereals...but I guess it is not. You would think that bran fiber from whole-grain wheat would help prevent colon cancer, diverticulosis, hemorrhoids, and colonic polyps. He says that the truth is that bran fiber actually aggravates many of these conditions - it has a high amount of mineral-blocking phytates and phytates is the primary cause of intestinal disease and other diseases.

Low-carbohydrate and high fiber foods include:
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Celery
Lettuce
Berries and other small fruits and vegetables with edible skins
Mucilaginous fiber found in chia and flaxseeds

For me personally, it is very important for me and my digestive system to get as much fiber as possible. I eat fiber gummies - hopefully that isn't bad - I do try and eat what he suggests too.

Gummies

Ben's parents bought the kids some Halloween gummies from Trader Joe's. I love gummies, so of course I have been eating them too. I didn't even think to check the ingredients but the kind I was eating has wheat in them. Boo! I am very disappointed.

I decided to check my "gummy vitamins" - yes, I eat gummy vitamins - they are yummy. I hate swallowing pills. The Vitafusion Omega 3 gummies and the Up&Up brand Fiber gummies do not. It even says on the bottle "contains no wheat (gluten)". I am glad to know that.

Tonight I did the Zumba 20 minute workout and 20 minute ab workout. Wow! The ab workout is great. If I don't get great abs in a couple of months, then I am doing something very wrong. Remember to keep me accountable.

Also - I got my period and this is the second month that I didn't get cramps - great feeling. My emotions were also a lot better this month too.

I Cheated

This morning Ben went to Cub to get some donuts for breakfast. While he was gone, I got out of the freezer, a gluten free chocolate muffin (Udi's brand) and I made some scrambled eggs. While we were eating breakfast, a donut kept calling out to me. I finally gave in and ate half of one...I cheated... but boy did it taste so good! I have actually been really good about eating gluten free. But I stumbled this morning and it is okay.

Women Of Faith

I attended the Women of Faith Conference at the Excel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN this past Friday and Saturday. What an amazing event! A lot of laughing and crying. The speakers were amazing - wonderful stories and transformation in people's lives. God can do anything! I would recommend this event to anyone - I only had one complaint - and that was that they did not provide a gluten free option for lunch like I was told.

The lunch was a sandwich (meat and cheese) no mayo or mustard, an apple or orange and a cookie. I just ate the meat and cheese and the fruit. I also had brought with me a baggie of banana chips and squash chips. I am so glad that I did.

Supposedly there were about 10 - 15 thousand women at this conference (amazing right?)... you would think that they would have had the gluten free option available.

Zumba 1st workout

So I learned the dance steps and did the first 20 minute workout last night. Just learning the dance steps alone is a workout. It was a lot of fun to do and the most fun is learning new dance moves. It worked my arms, abs, butt and legs - if I keep up with this workout and do it at least 3-5 times a week, I will definitely see a change - how can I not! I wrote down my weight and measurements. I am excited to see the difference it makes - I will let you know after the first month.

I will not be making an entry tomorrow night - I will be gone and without a computer. I am attending the Women of Faith conference. I will let you know how that goes. For the lunches - they offer a gluten free option. I am interested in seeing what it is...

Zumba Fitness

I think I told you that I ordered the Zumba Fitness for my birthday present. It showed up on our front door step today. I told Ben that this is the last "fitness" dvd that I am going to buy. No more! I hope that I really enjoy this video, get a good workout, and get fit in all the right places. Remember, exercise is very important for your GI system. It keeps everything moving correctly.

It is just hard to make time to workout. But I am determined to make time - especially this winter.

I will let you know my thoughts about Zumba...

Sweet Potato Chips

A lot of potato chips are "gluten free" because they are made from potatoes, but some are not and have flour in them. My favorite type of chips to eat are Sweet Potato Chips. And they are best eaten with hummus. Try them, you will like them!

BSF Fellowship

What is BSF - Bible Study Fellowship. It is a world wide study of the books of the Bible. I first attended last year and loved it.

Tonight I hosted a fellowship - where our group gets together and we share about what we have been learning from our studies and it is just a wonderful time to get to know each other better. We shared appetizers and desserts. Everything was very yummy. I even had a tiny bite of the foods with gluten in them. I made a reuben dip and served it with sourdough bread, wheat thins and then the Diamond brand almond nut thins.

I found out that one of the other girls had just found out that she has a gluten and dairy problem. It has been fun doing this blog - learning so much and to be able to share it with others.

It was a wonderful night with the ladies.

Life Balance

Today we didn't go to church - I know, I know...

So I watched an old sermon online called I've had it with Busyness. Which was perfect because I feel like I can never catch up with anything and there isn't enough time in a day to accomplish everything I want to accomplish.

Our pastor went over 4 key components:
1. Take ownership for my actions. How many "things" do I want on my "plate?"

2. Identify my top 5 values. Pastor Bob said that the average person needs 40hrs/day to accomplish everything they want to in a day.
His top 5 values are: a). Have a close relationship with God -agree b). have a great marriage - agree c). have a strong family - agree d). Be physically fit - yes, I'd like to be and e). Have a purposeful career - right now I am home with the kids - I help Ben out when I can - keep track of files and business expenses.

I have been thinking a lot lately about going back to work. But I do not know what I want to do. I was so stressed at my last job (caused a lot of my "episodes") In a perfect world, I want a job that I enjoy and can make decent money. I want to be able to balance a job and my "job" at home.

3. Schedule your year - family is important, make some memories - don't let life pass you by.

4. Replenish your bucket - what puts holes in your bucket? For me, extra "things" that come up that are not expected. which happens a lot it seems. That's life I know.

Starting this blog was very important to me. It does take up extra time to write, research, trying new recipes, download photos, but I have gained a lot of knowledge and I feel a lot better - which is most important. I don't want to waste time being sick and not having the time to do the things that I want to do.

How do you value your time? What puts holes in your bucket and how can you replenish it?

Ephesians 5:15 So be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ.
Pslam 23

Trader Joe's

I love going to Trader Joe's. I wish there was one closer to us. The closest location is in Maple Grove. Today as a family we went shopping at a bunch of different stores. Trader Joe's was one of them. I have not been there in a very long time, since I have become gluten free. I found that they have pasta for only $1.99. Great deal and they are big packages. At other health food stores, gluten free pasta range from $3-$5 per box or package.

I also found gluten free tortillas. I am very excited to try those. I was actually looking forward to seeing what kind of GF breads they carried, but was disappointed in the variety and how small the packages were. I think I will just stick with Udi's for now. I do want to try ordering from grandmaferdons.  I had mentioned in a previous post that they have pre-made gluten free products that you can order online or find in a store that carries their products.

Happy Birthday to Us

Tonight my sister-in-law, Michele, and I celebrated our birthdays by going out to dinner and doing a little shopping. We both have birthday's in October. Ben and Jason (Ben's brother) both have their birthdays in May and they celebrate by golfing together.

We ate dinner at The Good Earth in Roseville, MN. It is sooooo good! I recommend it to anybody! I ordered the Coconut Chicken Curry and Michele got the Squash with a  Spinach Salad. All wonderful!

I think I told you before that Michele is also gluten free... and dairy free. She told me that it has been easier to be dairy free than gluten free. For me it is the opposite! I know I have trouble with dairy, but I don' t know if I can give it up completely. I will keep trying to work on that.

Hold Me Accountable

When I first became gluten free, I lost a couple of pounds right away. I thought to myself, this is fantastic, I have always had trouble with belly fat (yes, I am a small person, but I have belly fat - I try to hide it well). I thought eating gluten free would help me keep those pounds off and even lose a couple of more. Lately, I feel like I am gaining my belly fat back - I am disappointed in myself.

I had mentioned before that I was doing the Jillian Michaels Ab workout. I was doing good keeping up with it in the beginning, and I was feeling great but now I feel like I don't have time or I am too tired to workout. Please keep me accountable! I am going to try and promise to workout at least 2-3 times a week. For my birthday, I told Ben that I wanted the Zumba fitness workout. I want to be fit, but I need to do the work!!!

JBF Sale

Yesterday I made broccoli cheddar soup for dinner. Lia and I loved it, but Ben was not a huge fan. He likes anything that has meat in it and this soup did not. Also, it had sweet potatoes (another food item he doesn't care for). I tried hiding it, but he questioned what was in the soup - because it was pureed.

Broccoli Cheddar Soup (Food Network Magazine)

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion finely chopped
2 stalks celery chopped
2 cups low sodium chicken stock
2 cups half and half
1 large russet potato peeled and chopped
1 large sweet potato peeled and chopped
1 bay leaf
salt and pepper 
2 cups chopped broccoli
1 1/3 cups shredded cheddar
croutons for topping (optional)

Heat oil in a pan and cook onion and celery until softened. Add the chicken stock, half and half and both potatoes, bay leaf, 2 cups water and salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and then simmer until potatoes are tender.

Meanwhile, put broccoli into a microwave safe bowl, add 3 tbsp water and season with salt. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave about 4 minutes.

After potatoes are tender, remove bay leaf and transfer soup to blender (or if you have an immersion blender, use that). blend the soup and add back into the pan. Note: Soup is hot - puree in blender in parts - and keep the cap slightly open to let steam escape.

Add cooked broccoli to soup (I diced it up more before I added it). Add the cheese and more salt and pepper if needed. Serve with croutons.

If you do want meet - cubed ham would be a good option.
I also thought it might be good with wild rice added to it.

Last night was also the JBF (Just Between Friends) Sale. It is a huge children's consignment sale. It runs twice a year and I always look forward to going to it. If you consign or volunteer, you get to attend the pre-sale the night before it is open to the public. My friends, Tona and Kendra were also at the sale. After we bought our items, we were starving! It was about 9:00 pm. We decided to go to Applebee's to get something to eat. We hit it at the right time for Happy Hour - all of the appetizers were half off. I asked our waitress if they had gluten free buns. She said no, but they offer a gluten free menu. She brought me the menu. It actually had a lot of options, but none that I wanted at the time. I ended up getting the cheeseburger sliders and I didn't eat the buns. I saved one burger for Landen to eat for lunch the next day, but he ended up not wanting it, so Ben ate it.

It is nice to know that restaurants are becoming more aware of people needing to eat gluten free. It is nice to have the option.

Dr. Berg

Today I went to the chiropractor - Lauderdale Wellness Center. I wish I could go everyday - I feel so much better after getting worked on. I told you before about Dr. Berg, how great she is, and that she is also gluten free. She has been gluten free for over 2 years now. She told me that she recently made her own Yogurt. She has her own Facebook page Essence Health I think she said that she will post the recipe on her page. She also sent me a couple of great links.

This website has recipes and explains what different ingredients are (that are not normal to everyone). Take a look!  www.elanaspantry.com

This website is a company that makes gluten free products that  you can purchase online or find a store that carries their products. www.grandmaferdons.com

Before I left my appointment, I bought more Ortho Biotics (Probiotic) and I bought the powdered kind for the kids. Why not start the kids early correct?

Chicken Corn Chili

Today I made Chicken Corn Chili. You can make it stove-top, but I made it in the crock pot. The crock pot is so wonderful for so many reasons. (sorry no photo)

Chicken Corn Chili
1 tbsp olive oil
1 small onion chopped
2 cloves garlic minced
1 jalapeno pepper chopped
4 oz can green chiles
1 tsp cumin
2 cups low sodium chicken stock
2 cups shredded chicken
1 can white beans (yes, I used a can for this one)
1 can black beans - used dry beans I cooked
1 cup frozen corn
1/2 cup chopped cilantro (optional - add when serving)
1 cup shredded cheddar (optional - add when serving)


I served this with Tostito  chips and sour cream. Fritos or cornbread would be great too.

I found gluten free animal crackers for Lia K-Kritters by Kinnikinnick Foods. They taste really good! I found them at Coborn's.

Psoriasis

I haven't shared with you that I have psoriasis...probably because I am embarrassed by it. Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes skin redness and irritation. I got it in college - probably due to stress and the terrible way I ate. It is very annoying...very itchy and is an  upset to my life. I have it only on my head (some people have it all over their body). It flares up monthly around my period (I still haven't figured that out - maybe the hormorns) and when I am stressed or when I get my hair colored.

I am sharing this now, because I hope changing the way I eat will also help with my psoriasis. Once you have it, you will always have it, but at least hopefully I can control it better. I hope to follow The Maker's Diet (slowing still reading the book and haven't got to the "eating" part yet), and hope to feel even better and hope that it helps control my psoriasis.

No More McDonalds

I have decided that I can not eat McDonalds at all anymore.  A couple of weeks ago, I told you that I ate McDonalds and asked them if they had gluten free buns (and the one I went to does not). So I ate a salad. Then next day I felt "off". But I only ate a salad...it did have their grilled chicken on it but who knows what oils they used to grill it.

The other day, I was out with the kids running errands and I didn't want to make lunch when we got home, so I stopped at "Mickey D's" Instead of getting Landen the usual happy meal (just comes with a toy that he plays with for one day and then forgets about it and I end up throwing it away), I got the 2 cheeseburger meal and we shared it. I ate some fries and then just ate the meat out of the hamburger. Big mistake...the next day I felt sick and I knew why.

I know now to stay away...better for me and probably better for the whole family. (I know they will still want to eat there once in a while, but I will not).

Empanadas

Tonight I served empanadas for dinner. I had made them at Let's Dish. At Let's Dish you can pre-make your meals, freeze them and then cook them as needed. I had one meal left (the empanadas). They are so yummy, the crust is extra flaky. Of course I couldn't eat one...so I decided to just eat cereal...and then I ended up eating half of one, but only ate the innards...gross,  I know, but so good!

I am at a point now where I can start "fresh" with my fridge and freezer...and pantry. I have used up food that I don't want to have again in my house. The empanadas were the last item in our chest freezer that I wanted to use up.

Is Gluten Intolerance Hereditary?

I have always wondered if having gluten intolerance (or celiac disease) is hereditary. I do not want Landen or Lia to go through life experiencing the pain that I have gone through.

Landen is 3 years old and currently he does not seem to have any problems with gluten or dairy (I am also lactose intolerant). But according to a lot of articles I have read, a lot of times, it doesn't effect someone until they are older. I have already been giving Lia some gluten free food items. I guess I am a little more worried about Lia because she is a girl like me. It doesn't make sense but I just worry. Ben has an iron stomach and I hope they inherited his genes.

I found this article on this website Susan Solomon, MD . She says "Gluten intolerance is a spectrum disorder that can affect anyone at a given time depending upon their innate health. Gluten Intolerance is NOT genetic, but a function  of gastrointestinal health."

"Every symptom that is experienced by a Celiac or gluten-intolerant is related to missing elements in the diet.  Brain function is impaired by the lack of the body's ability to absorb essential fatty acids.  The addition of enzymes, bile and acid will aid absorption not just of fats, but protein as well.  Minerals are also vital - every enzymatic reaction in the body has a mineral as a cofactor.  Minerals are not easily absorbed if the stomach is not producing acid - hence the need for easily absorbable minerals in an ionized form (as a food source preferably)." 

 Please read the whole article for more information or search for yourself - there are a lot of different articles of information available. It makes sense though...we (as a nation) eat so horribly...Our bodies weren't created to eat this "modern day diet."

Thank You All

I just want to thank all of you for reading my blog. It means a lot to me. I have been learning so much and I know there is tons more to learn and share. What a wonderful change it has made in my life and thank you for sharing it with me.

More information and recipes to come!

Curry Chicken Salad

For lunch today, I made Curry Chicken Salad. It was very tasty! (I forgot to take a photo)

2 cooked cubed chicken breasts
1/2 cup mayo
1/4 cup chutney
1 tbsp curry powder (less if you don't like curry that much)
1 large celery stalk chopped
2 scallions chopped
1/2 apple chopped
salt & pepper
cashews

I remember the days when I used to eat a sandwich everyday for lunch, meat and cheese or peanut butter and jelly. The last grocery shopping trip I made, I didn't even buy lunch meat (first time) I usually have a lot of lunch meat in the fridge. It's nice not to eat sandwiches everyday...even though I love them.

Time for Chili?

It's a warm hot day and what do I make for dinner? Chili. Not quite a day for it, but it still tasted good.

When I used to make chili, I would brown up some hamburger and then dump in 5 cans - one each of (tomato sauce, kidney beans, black beans, chili beans, and diced tomatoes). I also added a packet of chili seasoning. Sometimes I also added a cup of cooked elbow macaroni. I never thought about adding macaroni into my chili until I met Ben. It's a Medford, WI thing...or maybe it isn't?

This time, the only can I opened was a can of diced green chilies. I browned up some hamburger along with half an onion and 4 small peppers. I cooked my own beans and used the home made tomato sauce that I made from our garden tomatoes.  I still used a packet of chili seasoning. I think it turned out great. I served it over rice. I also made gluten free corn bread (Pamela's Products). I think it tasted better than the regular corn bread that I used to buy.

Are Tostitos Chips Gluten Free? Is Kix Cereal?

Since I have become gluten free, I have been eating a lot of chips and salsa. The chips I eat are the Tostitos brand.  I have always assumed they were gluten free because the ingredients are basically corn and oil. Just to make sure, I looked it up and found on their website a list of all of their types of chips and other brands. Frito-Lay.com explains which types are gluten free, contains dairy or wheat. They also provide recipes which is nice.

Tonight I went grocery shopping. In the cereal isle, I bought more Chex cereal (on their box, it says gluten free). Then I noticed Kix cereal. It is made of corn and I wondered if that was gluten free also (doesn't say on the box). I looked it up. I found this awesome gluten free informative website Triumph Dining - check it out!

General Mills Removes Gluten-Containing Ingredients from Kix Cereal

General Mills, it appears, is on a roll. First it released its gluten-free Chex, then it unveiled those Betty Crocker gluten-free Baking Mixes, next it expanded its line of gluten-free Chex to include six flavors and now, as Gluten-Free Philly first reported Saturday, gluten-free Kix? Well, almost,  a customer service representative told me today. Kix has been reformulated so that it no longer contains oats. However, the company has decided not to specifically label Kix gluten free nor claim it to be so, as cross-contamination is still a possibility. I’ve contacted a media representative for more information, particularly about whether production lines are washed between runs of gluten-containing and gluten-free products. This type of practice is pretty standard with a large company like General Mills, and it would most likely allow many on a gluten-free diet to add Kix to their breakfast cereal options. Expect more updates in the next few days, and while you’re waiting to know for sure, you can already eat gluten-free cereals from 20+ brands, according to the Grocery Guide.

I learn something new everyday!

Girl's Night

Yesterday I could have missed out on a fun girl's night - not the type of "girl's night" downtown, going to the bars and dancing, etc. It was a nice night out with my friend's Tona and Megan. We went shopping and out to dinner. It is a wonderful feeling to shop and eat without children!

Why would I have missed out? Friday night, we (the family) at dinner at a place called Pappy's. They make home cooked food. It was wonderful! I had a breakfast skillet. Probably the best one I have ever eaten. It was kind of greasy though. On Saturday, I felt sick and kind of had one of my "episodes". The first one in a very long time. I was so disappointed. Not feeling so great, I was contemplating on going out with Tona and Megan. I decided to go...I didn't want to miss out just because of my dumb stomach problems. It wasn't because of gluten...it was from the grease...or too much butter in the food...I will still eat at Pappy's, but be more careful of what I eat.

We had a wonderful time. We shopped at the Maplewood Mall. I am in dire need of new winter clothes and we ate at Red Lobster. It's our place to eat when we go out. (Ben doesn't care for the place, so I eat there with my ladies). I was very careful about what I ordered. I usually get coconut shrimp or scampi. This time I got salmon with broccoli and rice pilaf. It was so good and I ate it all. Afterwards, I didn't feel bloated or full. I did miss eating the cheddar biscuits - they are yummy...more for Megan and Tona.

Cleaned out the Fridge

Today I cleaned out the fridge. I got rid of a lot of items that just have been sitting in there for a long time. Mostly condiments. I had a lot of salad dressings. It is easy to make your own and better for you. I am trying to start "fresh" with what is in my fridge and freezer and also what is in my panty. No more processed food! (at least I want to try)

I have noticed that I have less canned goods. I used to have two shelves full of canned goods and now I have barely any. I feel good about that. I used to buy canned beans, soups and fruits...It was just more convenient to do so.  It is better to have fresh vegetables (or frozen) and fruits, cook my own beans (black, kidney, etc), and make my own soup... and baked goods.  I have also made my own chicken stock, jam and pickles. I know it takes extra time and planning, but it is more important to me to know what is in my food and to eat healthier.

I believe that planning your meals is very important. It saves time, money and thought to what you will have for dinner each night. Out of 7 days a week, I like to have at least 3-5 meals planned. It doesn't always happen but I try my best. I look through my cookbooks, look at what we already have in the fridge/freezer and pantry to see what I can use up or what I need to buy.  Some ingredients that you don't use up in one meal, you can pass onto another meal. My favorite item to buy is a rotisserie chicken. It is already cooked and seasoned and I can get about 3 meals out of one chicken. ex. chicken curry, chicken quesadillas, chicken bbq salad.

Probiotics

It has been two weeks since I started stating taking Ortho Biotic, a probiotic. It was suggested by my chiropractor that I start taking it and I am glad that I did. I had told my chiropractor about gas being caught in my chest and if I didn't burp it up, I felt like I couldn't breathe until I could burp. It happened mostly when I was driving. Since I started taking the probiotic, that feeling has gone away. Plus I am not as "burpy" as I used to be...what a wonderful feeling! It is nice to finally get some answers to my stomach problems.

(Taken from Mayoclinic.com)
You don't necessarily need probiotics — a type of "good" bacteria — to be healthy. However, these microorganisms may help with digestion and offer protection from harmful bacteria, just as the existing "good" bacteria in your body already do.
Prebiotics are nondigestible carbohydrates that act as food for probiotics. When probiotics and prebiotics are combined, they form a synbiotic. Fermented dairy products, such as yogurt and kefir, are considered synbiotic because they contain live bacteria and the fuel they need to thrive.
Probiotics are found in foods such as yogurt, while prebiotics are found in whole grains, bananas, onions, garlic, honey and artichokes. In addition, probiotics and prebiotics are added to some foods and available as dietary supplements.
Although more research is needed, there's encouraging evidence that probiotics may help:

• Treat diarrhea, especially following treatment with certain antibiotics
• Prevent and treat vaginal yeast infections and urinary tract infections
• Treat irritable bowel syndrome
• Reduce bladder cancer recurrence
• Speed treatment of certain intestinal infections
• Prevent and treat eczema in children
• Prevent or reduce the severity of colds and flu

Only 2 Days

Well...I could only make it 2 days going dairy free. It's too hard. I like my cheese too much. Sorry that I gave up so quickly...becoming gluten free is way more easier. I made a sandwich for lunch - and I just had to have cheese on it. It's not like I eat cheese all of the time...I just can't go without. I somewhat tried...

I am in a small group and the ladies meet opposite nights from the men. This way we can have someone to watch the children...we tried meeting altogether with children and that did not work. When we ladies get together, we always go out to eat. It is so nice not having to make dinner and not yelling at the kids to eat every 5 seconds...we can just talk without being interrupted. Tonight we met at Panera Bread. One of our favorite places to eat. I usually get the "pick two" option. This time, I just got a salad. It was so good. I didn't miss eating the baguette that comes with it. But looking at all of the baked goods...they all looked soooo good.  But again, I don't need them...I am better off and I like feeling good.

No More Potato Flour

I have used potato flour in a couple of baked goods...I have come to realize that I don't like it. Almond, Rice and Sorhgum flour taste a lot better.

Yesterday I made chocolate zucchini bread. I used a "flour blend" that had potato flour in it. I need to make a different flour blend without it. I split the recipe in half - not to waste anything if I didn't like it. I have made this originally with "regular" flour and the bread comes out very moist. This time with my flour blend, it came out very dense - still tastes good, but not moist like I want it to be.

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Mix
3 eggs
1 cup olive oil
2 cups sugar
2 cups grated zucchini
2 tsp vanilla

Mix
3 cups flour (of your choice)
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 c cocoa

Blend dry to wet ingredients
Grease 2 loaf pans
Bake 350 degrees for 50 minutes

No dairy today - I used almond milk with my cereal - remember 50% more calcium than dairy milk.

Dairy Free Trial

What does it mean to be dairy free? Today was my first day to be dairy free for a week. I think I did a good job. I ate a sandwich today (with gluten free bread) and I didn't put cheese on it like I usually do. I missed the cheese! I also put a little mayo on my bread and wondered...is there dairy in mayo? I know...that is probably a dumb question. I looked at the ingredients...there are eggs...are eggs included as dairy? Another dumb question...

I googled "what does it mean to be dairy free?"

I found a community question on BabyCenter.com that said to cut all foods that have "milk", "whey", "casien", "butter", and "lactalbumin" listed as an ingredient out of your diet. Eggs are not included even though some people who avoid dairy also avoid eggs.

I guess it wasn't such a dumb questions after all?

Then I started to wonder...people who are dairy free, how do they get their daily calcium intake? It is ingrained in our heads, that we can only get calcium from dairy...but that is not true. I have always known that broccoli provides calcium, some orange juice brands...but what else?

I found this website that has good information. On About.com Get Calcium without Dairy Products. Please read...it is very informative and interesting.

I drink Almond Milk. It has 50% more calcium than dairy milk.

No Cramps

There is always a first time for everything. I got my period today. I knew it was coming soon. But this time was different. I didn't have cramps...I couldn't believe it. I usually feel sick to my stomach and have really bad cramps....plus get really bloated....not this time.  My friends Jenn and Rachel who inspired me to become gluten free told me after they changed their diet, their periods changed too. Supposedly, all women who get their period, should not have the "PMS" symptoms. We "women" have those PMS symptoms because of the way we eat...

I wondered when I first started to become gluten free if the same would be for me...if my period would change. I still have the emotions of PMS (probably because I have 3 kids...), but I hope to get rid of that too by following the diet of The Maker's Diet.

I decided today that this week, I will try and eat no dairy. I will let you know how that goes...

Pizza Toppings

Today we had Owen's birthday party at a place called Grand Slam...very fun place for kids of all ages...

They provide different party packages which includes a slice a pizza and a pop for each kid. We ordered extra pizza for adults. I asked if I could bring outside food to go along with the pizza. They said we could only bring in a "birthday cake, cupcakes, etc." Also on the menu were hot dogs, cheeseburgers, and nachos. I ended up just eating the toppings off of the pizza. I have never done that before.

I didn't explain to them that I was gluten free...I guess if I would have, then maybe I would have been an exception to bring in my own food.  Next time I will remember to ask.

Can't tell the difference

Look at the photo...can you tell which one is a gluten free bun and which one isn't? You can't, can you...

I made sloppy joe's and home made fries for dinner. I bought myself Udi's gluten free buns. What would I do without Udi's? The bun tasted very good...like a "regular" bun.

Lately, I have been thinking about trying to go dairy free for a week just to see if it will make me feel even better. I am guessing that it will...that is why I am scared to try...I love dairy food too much to give it up, but if it makes me feel better, then I probably should. What to do...what to do...

His & Hers

Actually it's mine and theirs...

Tonight for dinner I made Lasagna. I made one for me and one for them (Ben and the boys) Lia had already eaten by the time it was done - she will eat it for lunch or dinner next day. I made mine with rice lasagna noodles and I  made theirs with left over "regular" noodles that I wanted to use up. Next time, I will just use my rice noodles. I don't think anyone could tell the difference...

I layered the lasagna with store bought sauce, rotisserie chicken, ricotta cheese, sauteed onions, mozzarella and parmesan cheese and left over butternut squash that I roasted the other day. (a good way to get a vegetable in without anyone knowing).

For dessert I made apple crisp. One for them and one for me. The apples I used came from Ben's parent's apple trees. I found an easy recipe online. Bettycrocker.com

I made an individual one for myself - I pretty much quartered the recipe and used rice flour in place of the regular flour.

Apple Crisp

4 cups chopped apples

Combine and crumble over apples
3/4 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup oats
1/3 cup butter softened
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg

Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes 8 x 8 dish

Mickey D's

Today I ate McDonalds for lunch. I ate a salad, but I wanted a cheeseburger.

Ben's cousin's wife told me a long time ago that some McDonalds offer gluten free buns...you just need to ask. The one I went to today DOES NOT offer gluten free buns...but maybe I'll find one someday. We don't eat there that often, but it would be nice if I could order something besides a salad. I wonder how many restaurants offer gluten free buns for sandwiches? If you find one, please let me know.

I can always bring my own buns- remember in my post "Learn from the Master" my friend Kate told me that she brings her own.

Today, I also found a great website: glutenfreegirl.com  I haven't had time to go through the whole website, but what I did see, it looks very informative and has good recipes.

Food I Miss

I have been really good about resisting food that I used to eat... but today, Landen ate a pop tart for a snack. I bought them before I went gluten free - they would be my go to snack when I was hungry. Two come to a package and I gave Landen one and I wanted to eat the other one...but I didn't.

Jimmy John's sandwiches! I love any kind of sub sandwich. In Omaha, where I grew up, I liked to eat at a sub place called Little King's (similar to Subway or Jimmy Johns). As a family we ate a place called Razzi's Deli - they had the best reuben sandwich. Now I miss Jimmy John's. They should make a gluten free bread option.

Scones - I love a good scone. I haven't eaten one since I went gluten free. I know there are recipes out there for gluten free scones. I just haven't had the courage to try making them...I don't want to be disappointed because they may not taste the same as a "real" scone. Some day I'll see the "wizard of oz" and get my courage to try...

Cereal - my favorite cereal is Cinnamon Life. I could eat it everyday for breakfast - I always made sure we had a box sitting in our pantry. There is still a half of box left in the pantry - I need someone to eat it so I am not tempted.

Goldfish crackers - They are so yummy. I give them to Lia and I want to eat them too. I have been looking for a gluten free version of goldfish crackers but have not found one yet.

Bruegger's Bagels - They have the best breakfast sandwiches and non-breakfast sandwich, the Thai Chicken sandwich. We don't have one close to us so that helps.

D'Amico & Sons pasta salads - My friend, Kendra and I always choose D'Amico & Sons to eat at when we get together for dinner. We both love their pasta salads. They have a sampler platter where you can choose 3 different salads. They used to have butternut squash ravioli but they took it off the menu...so sad...it was delicious. (I am actually going to try and make my own...we'll see how that works out...I will let you know)

Okay, I need to stop talking about the foods I miss...my mouth is watering and I am starting to get a craving...

Baby Aspirin (TMD)

The Maker's Diet Chapter 5 How to get sick: A modern prescription for illness.

This chapter gives a list of 27 things that can make us sick and Jordan S. Rubin goes through each one and tells us how not to get sick. I am not going to list them all. I just want to share one that most stood out to me personally.

For those who do not know, I found out while getting tested for infertility that I have a clotting disorder called MTHFR (looks like the days of the week, kind of) Basically, it is a mutation which makes it difficult for my body to absorb folic acid and can cause blood clots.  I take a baby aspirin (or low dose - called either way) every day to help prevent blood clots. Of course when I found out about this disorder, I freaked out and thought the worse that I would get a blood clot and die...I take the baby aspirin everyday to keep my mind at ease. My OBGYN told me that this disorder is more common than it used to be especially if heart attacks run in the family. Since I am adopted, I do not know my family history. When I was pregnant with Landen and Lia, I had to take the baby aspirin and extra folic acid. I also had to visit the doctor more often to monitor their heart rate, blood flow and do a non-stress test. Each time I had these visits, I was anxious... I wanted everything to be fine and it always was. I couldn't wait to see the ultrasound and hear their heartbeat. Thankfully, God answered my prayers and they were both born healthy!

In this chapter, the number 15th way to get sick is to Take lots of medications. He states medications such as antibiotics, oral contraceptives, and corticosteriods my cause major problems with the gastrointestinal terrain, damage the immune system, cause liver problems, and later enzyme function. The practice of taking a baby aspirin a day to prevent heart attacks is dangerous, for instance. Aspirin can cause bleeding in the intestinal track and can be toxic to the liver.

Out of all the medications out there, he focused on baby aspirin. It really bothered me!

But he went onto say You get similar health benefits with no side effects by consuming foods such as cold-water fish, fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants, and certain botanicals that naturally reduce the Cox-2 enzyme and provide other anti-inflammatory benefits. 

So I googled "alternatives to baby aspirin". I found this website Natural News there is a lot of information that I want to talk about...but don't know how to sum it all up...so if interested in reading it, please do! You might find it interesting yourself (even if you don't take a baby aspirin). One alternative mentioned was: simple lifestyle changes such as reducing refined carbohydrate and trans fat intake, eating more alkaline foods (low-carb veggies and fruits) and exercising can  have a tremendously positive effect on your cardiovascular system. Becoming gluten free has become a blessing in more ways than one!

I am certainly going to try these alternatives. I already started to only take the pill every other day instead of every day. It is mentioned in the article that you should never go cold turkey on medication.

30 Days

It has been 30 days since I became gluten free. It seems like A LOT longer though..I don't know why. In these past 30 days, I think that I have learned a lot and I have the rest of my life to learn even more. In 30 days I only felt bloated once! That is huge...a miracle. It is the best feeling to feel good - not bloated and uncomfortable.

In my last entry, I told you that we were in Medford, WI visiting Ben's parents and attending a wedding. Every time we go to Ben's parent's house, I tell myself "don't eat so much, eat in moderation" but every time, I overeat and I feel overstuffed. It's because Sally (Ben's mom) is a great cook and she makes wonderful meals and desserts! I always tend to eat more when someone else makes a meal and it always seems to taste better! But for the first time, I was more careful about what I ate and I feel great! Sally was so thoughtful and made Michele (my sister-in-law who is also gluten free) and I gluten free chips. She took gluten free tortillas, cut them up into triangles, sprayed them with PAM topped with salt and parmesan cheese and baked them until nice and crispy. They were delicious! Thanks again Sally! We ate them with  home made salsa. Ben wants me to make them with cinnamon sugar.

I am proud to say that I passed on eating...wedding cake...coffee cake...and chocolate cupcakes. Yes I wanted to eat them, but they were easy to resist. Plus...just think about all the calories and fat I missed out on that my body doesn't need.

Wedding Food

I love wedding food! It is probably because I don't have to make it and most times, it is very good.  I don't know which is better - a buffet (you can choose and take as much or little as you want) or when they bring the plate of food to you... it's chosen for you. Either way, it is yummy and plenty. We have not been to a wedding for over 2 years. We are in Medford, WI visiting Ben's parents and we are also here to attend his second cousin's wedding.

This was my first time eating at a wedding gluten free. Knowing this, I guessed in my head what the meal might be...usually a type of meat, potato and vegetable accompanied by a salad and roll. This meal was fried chicken and/or ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole and fruit. The only item that was gluten free was the fruit and salad (and ham, but I am trying not to eat pig - I will tell you about that some other time). It was a buffet...I still put everything onto my plate. I didn't eat the skin of the chicken (breaded chicken means flour), I didn't eat the gravy (flour is used as a thickener) but I did eat a couple of bites of the green casserole (gluten is in creamed soups and I am sure it was used in the casserole). I definitely ate the fruit and salad!

And what comes after the meal?...the wedding cake! Oh that wedding cake - looked so good, but when the lady came to our table and asked who wanted a piece of cake...it was so easy for me to say no thank you. (Yes Tona, for the first time in my life, I didn't eat a piece of wedding cake!)

It has been a couple of hours now since I have eaten and I feel great. I am so glad that I didn't eat my complete meal and the cake. It is worth it to feel good!

Bloated

Last night before I went to bed, I felt really bloated. I haven't felt like that in  along time...I don't miss it! I went through what I had eaten throughout the day and I can not figure out made me feel this way. I keep a journal of what I eat each day. Then I thought, maybe it was the ice cream I ate for dessert...duh. I had a small bowl and didn't think it would bother me, but I guess it did. (remember, I am lactose intolerant, but I don't know if I can give up dairy completely). Maybe I should give it a test run for a week and see how I feel? Maybe not?

For breakfast, I had an Udi's chocolate muffin (and an egg). Yum-o! I paid $6 for a box of 4...but that only makes it $1.50 per muffin and that is cheaper than buying one at a bakery and I don't have to make them! They come frozen - so they will last longer. When I want one, just pop one in the microwave for 20 seconds and I have a yummy muffin for breakfast...or whenever I need a chocolate fix.

Happy Birthday Owen

Today Owen turned 6 years old. I can not believe how time flies. For breakfast he wanted donuts. We got donuts from Coborn's. I keep forgetting to mention that Coborn's has a wonderful Health Foods section. I buy a lot of my gluten free products there. The prices are a little more reasonable than Fresh & Natural Foods Store. Plus it is closer to me which is convenient. So while the "boys" were eating their delicious looking donuts, I ate an Udi's brand cinnamon roll. (the photo shows two, I only ate one) It was surprisingly really good. Not as soft and moist like a normal cinnamon roll, but very tastey and the frosting was delightful.

I had a chiropractic appointment earlier this morning. I go to the Lauderdale Wellness Center in Lauderdale, MN. This was my 3rd appointment. My friend Tona referred me to Dr. Brian Malzer. I met with him the first two appointments. Today I met with Dr. Elizabeth Berg. They are both awesome! They are very friendly, personable, take time to answer your questions, and will fix you and make you well! I found out that Dr. Berg has been gluten free for two years. She told me about another patient of hers that is gluten free and has a wonderful bread recipe. Once I get it from her, I will share it with you. If you need a chiropractor, call the Lauderdale Wellness Center...trust me...I have been to a handful of chiropractors and they are wonderful!

I shared with Dr. Berg about how "gassy" I am. I burp a lot. Becoming gluten free has helped with not feeling bloated, but I still experience gas and it is frustrating because it feels like it is caught in my chest. She suggested taking a probiotic. She gave me the brand Ortho Biotic. It has 20 million CFUs (Colony Forming Units)...Good (friendly) bacteria - remember "The Maker's Diet."

For many years, the addition of probiotic bacteria or "good" bacteria to our intestinal tract has been used to promote health. As a class, these beneficial bacteria have been referred to as probiotics. The use of probiotics is especially critical after antibiotic treatment. Antibiotics kill off the good bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, allowing other less beneficial bacteria to take up residence. Therefore, inorder for the gastrointestinal tract to remain healthy, probiotics are needed to restore the balance of beneficial microflora to the intestines. (www.healthybydrk.com)

I am going to start taking it tonight and hopefully, I will notice a change in how I feel and make me feel better. Due to c-sections with Landen and Lia, I had an infection "in one way or another" and I was put on a lot of antibiotics. After reading the above paragraph, it makes sense to me that I need to make my gastrointestinal tract healthy again.

The Holidays are Coming

It's September...it's Fall... and today was a little chilly out. I am not ready for this weather...for winter to come, but I love the holidays. I have already been thinking about Thanksgiving and Christmas...yes a little early, I know. I have been thinking about all the delicious food and what I might miss out on.  For Thanksgiving...pies...I can make my own pie with gluten free crust, but then will others want to eat it? Maybe they won't even know...and stuffing...I love stuffing...will I miss it? or do I make my own? Christmas cookies...need I say more? I'll figure it out!

Today I made Roasted Butternut Squash Soup. (Foodnetwork - Barefoot Contessa). The whole house smelled like the holidays...it was wonderful.

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

3 -4 pounds butternut squash, peeled and seeded
2 yellow onions
2 apples, peeled and cored
3 tbsp olive oil
salt & pepper
2 -4 cups chicken stock
1/2 tsp curry powder

Preheat oven to 425 degrees
Cut the butternut squash, onions and apples into 1 inch cubes. Place them on a sheet pan and toss with olive oil and salt and pepper. Roast for 35 - 45 minutes.

When the roasted vegetables are done, use a food processor or blender to puree the vegetables - add some chicken stock to help blend more smoothly. Place the puree in a large pot and add enough chicken stock to make a thick soup. Add the curry powder and more salt and pepper to taste.

Optional condiments for garnishing: scallions, flaked sweetened coconut, lightly toasted, salted cashews and/or diced bananas.

I used cashews. The soup was very tastey! I made the soup for when my mom comes over for lunch tomorrow....Ben probably would not eat this soup - it's squash and has no meat in it.  Lia loved it, I gave it to her for dinner tonight. I also froze some in baby food jars to save for future use.

Learn from the Master

The best way to learn about something new is to go to a source of great knowledge...and that would be my friend, Kate.  I don't know why it took me so long to remember that she is gluten free and has been for years. Here is some information that she shared with me.

One of her favorite things is the GM brand desserts under Betty Crocker there are a lot of gluten free products and recipes on this site. (I am very excited to try these out)

Chex cereals are gluten free (which I have already been eating and are very good)

Noodles and Company has a gluten free menu - you just need to ask the cashier about it. (I love this place)

Gluten free pizza at Zpizza and Pizza Luce (The menus look awesome!)

She also thinks that Udi's is best (she had given up making her own bread). She told me to try the cinnamon rolls. And Whole Foods has the best muffins, under the Whole Foods label. (I wish I could eat a cinnamon roll and/or muffin right now)

There is a gluten free store in Rochester, MN called The Gluten Free Cupboard. 

Schar, is the #1 selling European brand. It is hard to find, but worth it when you do. They have crackers that taste and crunch like real crackers - which I have been looking for. Byerly's or Lunds carry a few items and there is a store in Apple Valley, MN called Valley Natural. That also carry the brand. (If I ever get to these stores, I will definitely look for this brand name!)

    
She also told me about a store called Cupcake - they have 2 gluten free options which are "Super delightful". They have a food truck - so be on the look out!

Good to know:  She brings her own pizza crusts and buns with her to restaurants. She hasn't found a place yet that won't use her food.

So much new info... I am so excited to try these new brands, stores and restaurants. Thank you Kate for sharing this with me and to all who is reading my blog.

Proper Hygiene & Friendly Bacteria (TMD)

More from The Maker's Diet

Chapter 4 talks about hygiene and friendly bacteria. They are as essential as diet and exercise to optimum health. There is so much information in this chapter, I can't write all the high points, so you will just have to buy the book to read the rest...

Proper Hygiene
"More than 90 percent of the germs on your hands reside under your fingernails. The same is true for allergens and environmental contaminants. These germs easily enter the body through the nasal passageways and tear ducts of the eyes when we touch them - which occurs at least twenty times a day. Each time there is a potential of autoinoculating yourself with germs, allergens, environmental toxins, and viruses. Autoinoculation of the eyes and nose from contaminated fingertips is particularly dangerous because the eyes and nose provide a direct pathway to the upper respiratory tract."


Jordan W. Rubin suggests a modern hygiene system called "Clenzology - it preserves the balance between the proper function of autoinoculation in building the body's natural defense capabilities and its negative role in promoting infection by mass contamination through the eyes and nose. Clenzology techniques reduces stress on the immune system and helps the occurrence of infectious disease and allergies."


 I don't want to admit it, but I am constantly touching my eyes and nose (mostly my eyes) all day long. I just rubbed my eye after I wrote that sentence. I don't even realize that I am doing it sometimes. After I read that 90 percent of germs on our hands reside under our fingernails, it kind of freaked me out. (I am kind of a germ freak - especially with the kids - making them wash their hands often and not touching so many things out in public or not wanting other kids touching Lia's toys) I have long fingernails and I keep them as clean as I can but I do notice that I catch myself running my fingers through my hair or scratching my head often...I just need to be more aware of what I am doing. I know that some germs are good germs and we need them...the chapter talks about us being "to clean"... I just need to find a good balance.

Friendly Bacteria


"Years ago, the food we harvested from the field was covered with beneficial microorganisms that "became part of us" when we ate the produce. Today, American's soil is essentially sterile. Pesticides and herbicides are believed to be the "total solution" in the natural world.

"The best way to quickly replenish and stabilize friendly bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract and develop a balanced immune system that reacts only as needed is the regular ingestion of live, fermented, probiotic-rich food and supplementation with homeostatic soil organisms. Homeostatic soil organisms (HSOs), in addition to a diet that includes liberal amounts of cultured or fermented foods including yogurt, kefir, and sauerkraut, will create the proper balance your gut needs to be healthy."

Pizza

Tonight I made a pizza! A small one for myself. I bought a package of gluten free pizza thin crusts - Udi's Brand - 2 crusts for $5. I put pizza sauce, pepperoni, fresh mozzarella and banana peppers on it. It tasted great! The thin crust, to me, tasted like any other "regular" thin crust. I will definitely buy these pizza crusts again.

Okay, so I told you that I had made banana bread but it didn't set up as good as I thought. But today, I ate it and it was so good! So here is the recipe...

Banana Bread

1  cup sorghum flour
1/2 cup almond flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp xanthum gum
1/2 cup softened butter
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
3 -4 mashed bananas
1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Combine dry ingredients. Combine wet ingredients and then add dry to wet.  Pour into two greased loaf pans. Bake for 55 - 60 minutes.

Fish Fry

Tonight we had a fish fry with our small group friends and our neighbors from across the street. The fish (northern) we ate were caught by the guys (Ben and the husbands from small group) when they went on their fishing trip back in June. I knew we were going to have this fish fry and I had looked for a gluten free batter recipe for myself. I did find one, but I ended up not using it. I even made it, but I just ate the "regular" fried fish which was soooooo good. So I strayed for one night. There was gluten in the batter (dry mix- wheat flour, beer - barley).

Along with the fish, I ate potato salad, fruit and cheesy potatoes. After I had already eaten the cheesy potatoes, I realized that it had cornflakes on top and remember...I had posted that cornflakes have gluten it them. Oh-well...

It has been almost 3 hours since we ate and I don't feel bloated at all. I only ate about 3 average size pieces of fish and a small serving of the cheesy potatoes.

Earlier today I made banana bread. I tried using my original recipe and thought I could just substitute the flour and add the Xanthan Gum (used for baking when using gluten free flours). I used sorghum flour which is similar to a wheat flour. The banana bread turned out tasting great, but didn't hold together as well as I thought it would have. The first gluten free banana bread recipe that I have on my blog is great - I just like testing out different recipes.

Dry Beans are Best

I had mentioned in a past entry that I found a live worm in can of black beans. It was so grose! I have never made beans from "scratch" before because buying canned beans is just so much easier and more convenient.

I bought a bag of black beans (Bob's Red Mill). The black beans cost around $5.00 for 1 lb 10oz. 1 cup of dry beans makes 2 1/2 cups cooked beans. I can get about 4 cups of dried making that 10 cups of cooked beans. I think that is a good deal...plus no worms. Per serving size of 1/4 cup, it provides 11g of fiber and 10g of protein.

To make the beans: soak over night. Drain and rinse beans. Add 3 cups of water for every 1 cup of black beans. Bring to a boil and then simmer 1 - 1 1/2 hrs.

I soaked the beans last night and cooked them today. It does take some extra effort to make them, but in the end, I think it is worth it and they taste great! For dinner, I made Chicken Rice, Grape Salad and I added some of the beans to the salad. 

Chicken Rice, Grape Salad (I got this recipe from Ben's cousin Kori)

2/3 cup mayo
1/3 cup milk
2 tbsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp dried taragon
3 cups cooked chicken cubed
3 cups cooked rice (wild, white or brown)
1/2 cup green onion
1 can 8oz water chestnuts
1 cup black beans (optional)
1 cup sliced grapes
1 cup cashew halves

 Dressing: combine mayo, milk, lemon juice, dry taragon

Combine: cubed chicken, rice, green onion, water chestnuts, salt and pepper to taste. Add dressing to mixture. Let chill in refrigerator. When ready to serve, fold in grapes and cashews.

A Better Brownie Recipe

My friend Jen Rhyner gave me a wonderful brownie recipe. She lives in Scotland and gave me the recipe in grams...I had to Google and convert grams to cups. I almost bought a food scale...I heard that is the best way to get the exact amount...I'm sure I will end up buying one in the future. Tonight I made the brownies...they are delicious! Much better than my first brownie recipe. Thanks Jen!

Here is the recipe:

200 g or 1 cup good chocolate - I used 4oz of bittersweet cacao - Ghirardelli -only 113g, but sweet enough
115g or 1/2 cup butter
175g or 3/4 cup almond flour
175g or 3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
4 eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Melt butter and chocolate over double boiler (glass bowl over simmering water in sauce pan - don't let the bowl touch the water) after melted - remove from heat. Add almond flour, sugar and vanilla.

Separate egg yolks from whites. Beat egg yolks and add to mixture. Whisk (electric mixer or by hand if you have strong arms) egg whites until stiff peaks. Fold in gently to brownie mixture. (to save time, I whisked the egg whites while the butter and chocolate were melting)

Pour in greased 8 x 8 baking dish. Bake 40 - 45 minutes

Udi's is Awesome

Udi's is a company that makes gluten free products. I have been eating their raisin bread, which is really good and today I bought their whole grain sandwich bread and had a normal sandwich today for lunch. It was great! It is a little more pricey than regular bread, but it will be just for me and I won't eat a sandwich everyday (I keep it in the freezer to last longer). I also bought pizza crust. I hope that turns out great as well. I think in the long run, it will be worth it just to buy sandwich bread and then make my own baked goods.Try Udi's, I think you will like it as much as I do.

Another product I found that I enjoy is Blue Diamond Natural Almond Nut-thins. I like the cheddar cheese kind. I was looking for a good cracker to replace the Goldfish and Cheez-its that I used to snack on. Ben even likes these - he says they are awesome.

I found a website today with fun gluten free recipes glutenfreeblondie.com check it out.

I Love Ice Cream & Cheese

If I could eat ice cream everyday without getting sick, I would. I know that some people who are gluten free are also dairy free. I am lactose intolerant, but I still eat dairy products. I would probably feel even better if I was dairy free too, but I don't know...one thing at a time...I love cheese too much.

So my Oat Bread is sitting on the counter looking sad. I had 2 pieces with honey, which is good, but not great. I said that I have another bread recipe to try, but I might just have to try more store bought kinds. The brand of raisin bread that I have is Udi's. It is really good. I don't know why I haven't tried their regular sandwich bread yet. I got a coupon off Udi's website. I will use that to buy "sandwich" bread. I do miss sandwiches...

Cinnamon, Honey and Oat Bread

Today I made Cinnamon,  Honey and Oat Bread. I got the recipe from The Gluten, Wheat & Dairy Free Cookbook. I have been wanting to make this recipe for some time. I wanted to half the recipe and only make one loaf. Dumb me, I halved all ingredients except for the amount of water...ahhh! Ben told me just to double everything else. So smart that Ben, that is why I married him. So I took his advice and doubled the rest of the ingredients, but I didn't have enough of the oats. I still baked the bread. It tastes good but very dense. It tastes good with butter and  honey. Here is the recipe if anyone is interested in making it correctly. I hope to try it again...

Cinnamon, Honey and Oat Bread

1/2 package of yeast (half a tbsp)
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp honey
1 3/4 cups warm water
1 tbsp vegetable oil
6 cups porridge oats, processed finely to a flour
2 tsp ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Place yeast, salt, and honey in large bowl with warm water and oil. Then mix in the oats and cinnamon. Knead with flour (which ever gluten free flour you have on hand). Divide dough into 2 greased pans. Let rise for 30 minutes. Bake 1 hour.

My next recipe to try is another sandwich bread recipe. I hope to find a recipe that best represents "normal" bread.