Pecan cookies...yum

I seldom bake anymore, I just don't eat sweets very often and don't feel like trying recipes etc...but I saw a recipe on the back of the King Ranch pecan bag and wanted to try it, I adapted it, of course...so here it is...and WOW...yummy!

1 cup Spectrum shortening
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups Bob's Redmill GF flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups finely chopped pecans

roll into 1 inch balls and bake at 325 deg. for 20 min. don't overbake cool and then roll in powdered sugar, if desired.

I rolled them in powdered sugar but next time I am not going to...they are that good on their own...YUM

(it says for chocolate ones you can add 1/4 cup of cocoa...I might try that next)

Amy's Soups!

I received a package today. It was free soup from Amy's Soups. It was addressed to me and Free to Eat which was my original blogsite. I no longer have that blog, I replaced it with this one, but I am delighted that I am still in Amy's database.
I received three cans of soup and a nice tote bag. I am very grateful, especially since the soup I tried today is really delicious. I hoped I would be able to report that, and am glad I can. The flavors and textures were so pleasing to me I keep moaning, "oh...ah..." It is that good, if you like brown rice and legumes and veggies and whatever the spices are...it is delish!

air popped corn

I utilized my bowl in the microwave popcorn method for months but when the bowl cracked I stopped doing it that way...actually our microwave oven was not working right...so I bought a hot air popper and have been pleased with the results. I air pop the corn and use Spectrum shortening (palm oil) instead of butter for melting and add a little salt...it's great!

I have been doing sit ups and push ups and working with 5 pound weights to hopefully tone my arms.

I have written 60,000 words so far on my current novel. It is going very well.

Sticking to my regime but one day I ate some cake (not gluten free) and icecream and man did I suffer...won't do that again...felt so sick...ugh...proved again that what I am doing is what is right for me...HUGS

GF CF Tuna Noodle Casserole

Was craving some tuna noodle casserole, so what did I do...adapt, of course.

Boiled brown rice Tinkayada fettucini noodles (I broke then into small pieces), meanwhile melted Spectrum shortening, sauteed mushrooms, added some GF flour, stirred, added almond milk, sea salt and pepper, added GF SF tuna, frozen peas, heated it through...mixed together with pasta and then baked topped with crushed potato chip crumbs at 350 deg. for 30 minutes...ENJOY! I did...

Open faced GF sandwiches

When I was a kid my Mom would make open faced sandwiches. She took slices of bread and topped them with cheese then a slice of tomato. She would bake or broil them, not sure which. I had one of my cravings and tried my variation.

Took two slices of Corn Harvest GF bread and topped them with rice milk mozarella cheese (it isn't casein free unfortunately) and then a slice of tomato topped with pepper and basil. I baked them at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. My craving was satisfied.

Meatless gravy over toast

The sausage and the bacon were frozen, but did I let that stop me...no way!
I melted a spoonful of Spectrum shortening, added a spoonful of GF Flour, stirred fiercely, added some almond milk and pepper, continued to stir fiercely. Then spooned it over toasted Corn Harvest GF toast. Heaven on a plate.

I have written 37,000 words so far on my current novel and it is practically writing itself...speaking of heaven.

GOOD GOOD GIRL!

Since last Tuesday when the Dr said the words, "Eat fewer carbs, you need to lose weight," I have done quite well. My pants are already fitting better.

I am writing down everything I eat and drink in a notebook. This usually helps me face up to what is happening with my eating and drinking.

As long as I do not eat any sugary things I really do have a chance and find I feel my best.

I am pleased...hope it lasts.

BOO!

As you go about your day
Smile your face away

Put a costume on
With a ghoulish theme
Open up your door
And let out a scream

You just might have some fun
If you see white coats run run

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Chicken stir fry

Went to my endocrinologist yesterday. She upped my Synthroid dose and suggested I lost weigh by lowering my carb intake and exercising more. SOOOOOOO...I started a daily journal, writing down everything I eat and drink. With all the things I don't eat and drink I felt frustrated at first, but okay after I relaxed about it. It is time. Sure my quality of life has greatly improved over the past few years of finding out what I should eliminate, but I am still overweight. Time...day one is going okay. I feel good, not deprived. Day one...

I made chicken stir fry for dinner. I had three cooked skinless, boneless chicken breasts. I cut them up. Made Jasmine rice. Stir fried garlic, onion, carrots, celery, cashews and mushrooms; at the end I added the chicken and sea salt and pepper.

I thought I took a picture on my cell phone, but I must not have saved it. Believe me, it was delicious, and very colorful.

Instead of having more than one serving I am trying to stop after one plateful.

Cinnamon Sugar Blueberry GF CF EF pancakes

I thought I would try some blueberry pancakes again, even though fruit does not agree with me most of the time (fructose). I dumped about 1/3 cup Bob's GF flour, 1/2tsp. BP, 1/4 tsp. BS, pinch salt, 1 tsp. sugar in a small bowl, added 1/3 cup almond milk, and a little vanilla, mixed it up and then added frozen blueberries. This made two good sized pancakes. I sprinkled cinnamon sugar on top of one, placed the other on top of that one and sprinkled more cinnamon sugar on top of the top one (sounding more and more like a DR. Seuss book).

You can see for yourself...the yumminess...still try to avoid sugar but a little won't hurt my delicate insides...HUGS

CF creamed something over GF toast

Another craving had me making the white sauce I made in the last blog entry and pouring it over Corn Harvest GF bread toasted with a side of brown rice and pinto beans. I poured the gravy over the beans and rice too. Mornings have been pretty darn yummy lately.

My version of creamed chip beef over toast...sort of kind of...well, I love it, maybe you will too. HUGS

My version of sausage gravy over biscuits with a twist

Ok...so my recipe adapted versions are usually a bit weird, but that's how I roll. I made those veggie pancakes yesterday and had some leftover so I decided this morning to try a white sauce over them and then I thought about sausage gravy over biscuits and since I didn't have sausage but did have bacon I cooked some bacon, made a white sauce and put it all over my veggie pancakes...oh MY morning comfort foodness...YUMMY!!!!!

white sauce

I melted some Spectrum shortening, added some Bob's Redmill GF flour, whisked it, added some almond milk, pepper (lots of it) and after whisking it all some more and cooking it a few minutes it was ready to pour over my veggie pancakes...I didn't add salt because the bacon is salty...

LOVE IT and I will try it with sausage another time. ENJOY!

Veggie pancakes...yum!

I try blueberry pancakes and apple slice pancakes; thinking I'm doing something healthy for my insides...and I probably am...BUT I just don't digest fruity things as well as I do veggie things...SO...I found a recipe for Vegetables Pancakes at mrbreakfast.com so I tried it; adapted, of course.

My way...VEGGIE PANCAKES

Mix:
1 cup Bob's Redmill GF FLour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
Pinch of pepper

Process in food processor the following:
I peeled raw baking potato
1 peeled carrot
onion (as much or little as you like)

Add veggies to dry mix, then I added 1 cup of almond milk INSTEAD of the 2 eggs in the recipe on mrbreakfast.com

Cook on an oil sprayed griddle, flip and enjoy!

I ate them plain but am already thinking any kind of white sauce or hot sauce might be a nice topper for variety.


I went to see WHIP IT and recommend it. For me it was an enjoyable movie with the message, "Do what you love to do" AND parents should support and encourage their kid's dreams. The roller derby scenes ROCKED! Love that Ellen Page!

Casein free Gluten free Pumpkin pie

Another craving lead me to buy a can of pumpkin pie filling, Libby's I think...I made a crust with chopped almonds processed with Spectrum shortening and Gluten free flour mix (Bob's Redmill) and a little cold water. I spooned the mixture into the bottom of a pie plate, patted it down and then added the can of pumpkin pie filling mixed with almond milk and only one egg instead of two. The can calls for two eggs, but since I try to avoid eggs I only used one and it worked out fine...I will make this one again...the almond milk with the almond crust gives the whole pie a tasty twist on the old way of making it.

Took a couple bike rides this week. The Fall colors are spectacular!

cinnamon roll using a gluten free pancake

Another craving...so I made a thin gluten free pancake, dropped some chopped walnuts into the batter, and then after flipping it and then flopping it on a plate I spread Spectrum shortening on it and sprinkled cinnamon sugar before rolling it up...I took a sharp knife and made some slices and voila...cinammon rolls...adapted and oh so satisfying!

Took a ten mile bike ride and worked on my current novel...made for a nice day. hey hey!

Kettle Corn that is casein and salt free

I had a craving for kettle corn. I made the popcorn in the microwave (in an earlier post) and simply added a level teaspoon of sugar to the 3 Tab. of oil and the 1/3 cup of popping kernels. I set the large covered bowl on 6 minutes. You have to watch it at the end to make sure it doesn't burn. It was very satisfying...yum!

Where's the (gluten free) BEEF (stew)?

Had a hankerin' for beef stew so I cut up a chuck roast into small pieces, browned the pieces in Spectrum shortening; peeled and cup up carrots, potatoes, and onions; added the veggies to the browned meat, added water to cover, simmered until veggies were soft, thickened it with cornstarch. Added salt and pepper...THAT'S IT! Scumptious!

On the empty nest homefront...After almost three weeks we had a visit from Brad. He had the opportunity to get a ride home so he took it. It is wonderful to have him here, especially seeing how happy he is with college life. Joy abounds. HUGS

To drink or not to drink that is the question...

Old William S. ("To be or not to be...") got me thinking outside the box about drinking while eating. I have been doing so many things differently to make my insides work better by avoiding the foods that I can not tolerate and yet I still suffer bloating and discomfort at times...I wanted to scream when I really just needed to think about it more and ponder why my mother does not drink anything while eating...BINGO...googled it and read all about drinking for some people while eating is not a good idea...may be diluting the digestive enzymes and prolonging the process...I experimented the last two days and geesh...Mom knows best...at least best for her insides and probably best for my insides too...will keep at it and report back...so in the morning I have to take my thyroid med. with lots of water and wait an hour to eat...I am already in that habit so now I just do that all day, eat and NOT drink until a while after I have eaten...I slept great, felt better...at 56 I am still getting my act together, but isn't that true of us all? Or a lot of us...life is an ongoing journey of self discovery. HUGS

Breakfast challenge

I get bored with breakfast so this morning I slapped myself (not really) and tried to think outside the gluten free cereal pancake plopping box and peeled a potato, sliced it thinly and cut a little onion and green pepper and while I cooked a few strips of bacon I cooked the veggies in the grease...meanwhile I microwaved a bowl of grits ... voila...a change from my usual...I ate it before I thought to take a pic...use your imagination...and while we are talking about imagination, I am really into the newest novel I am writing; this one is really sticking...I WILL FINISH THIS ONE because I want to find out what happens...ye-ah!

Brad has been away at college for two weeks now and is loving it. And we are all adjusted to our kid-free life...everyone is happy!!! and Gonzo the Chinese Water Dragon is probably a female so we are beginning to call her "Gonzolita"...enjoy the pic of MISS "G" lookin' at YOU! HUGS

gluten free veggie pancakes...

I made pancakes the other day and tried a recipe for brown sugar syrup which was good but the point is I don't tolerate sweet syrups well. I bloat, feel cruddy, so I found a recipe for veggie pancakes (can't remember where I saw it - sorry) and adapted it...they are very good and I am delighted. I cooked a few strips of bacon and had that with a couple veggie pancakes with a glass of water with a splash of unsweetened cranberry juice this morning...great way to start the day...

Mix
One cup Bob's Redmill Gluten free baking flour mix
pinch salt
5 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
pepper
enough water to make a workable batter
a little oil
add finely chopped potatoes, carrots, onion, and green pepper to the batter and then cook on medium heat greased griddle, flip when it bubbly. Enjoy!

Good cook lately...who knew?

Gluten free, try to be dairy free, and all the other free free free ways I feel best to be...but I don't know what is happening...perhaps the years of running the diner and then kids in the house but never knowing when everyone was going to be home I resented cooking...add my growing list of intolerances and you get the picture...didn't like to cook!

well, since our last kid left the nest I have been into cooking for two. Hubby is so supportive of my intolerances I guess it helps to make it fun.

Last night scalloped potatoes and ham...I did use butter and milk since I was out of almond milk, but I thickened it with Bob's Redmill Gluten free baking mix and layered potatoes and ham and mix and pepper and chopped onions and butter and then poured milk over it...baked it in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes covered and 30 minutes uncovered...delish!

Tonight I cooked two skinless boneless chicken breasts and cooked pasta for hubby and brown rice for me...I put the cooked chicken over the pasta and rice and Spaghetti sauce and some melted mozarella and for hubby some parmesan cheese. I also made tossed salad and put oil and vinegar on mine.

Every day I look forward to cooking for the two of us...hubby is loving it. I am too.

Wasn't sure how the empty nest would be...now I know it is happy and fulfilling and wonderful...PHEW!

Out of Almond milk, use water for pancakes

Well...I thought about having pancakes, but was out of almond milk. There was a time when I made my own almond milk, but the store bought ones are so much creamier and well, tastier so I thought...heck, use water instead and see what happens...I liked the results...more crepe-like...

one cup Bob's Redmill baking mix
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt (or less)
2 TB sugar
1 cup water
a little vanilla

You know, I was supposed to put oil in the recipe and forgot to, but it didn't need it...ha!

greased griddle med-hot heat...voila!

I sprinkled them with cinnamon sugar and ate them that way, I find maple syrup does not agree with me...too much fructose I think.

You can roll them up too...I am going to try them later minus the sugar for a flatbread to use for wraps etc.

Happy experimenting! HUGS

gluten free turkey dinner...yum!

After closing the diner we were fortunate to have freezers full of food to work with when it comes to making meals. I have been into cooking more than in the past. Hubby is loving it. And he is wonderful about my adapting things.

Last night we had stir fry with scallops and a piece of steak. I stir fried the scallops and steak, removed them from the pan. Then I stir fried peppers, mushrooms, and onions. I microwaved Minute Brown Rice. Then I added the veggies to the scallops and steak and added salt and pepper and a little hot sauce and some cashew butter I had made the day before to kind of bind it all together. YUMMY!

Tonight I took some packs of cooked turkey slices, warmed them up and then made mashed potatoes (with almond milk salt and pepper) and gravy made with sauteed mushrooms and onions and salt and pepper and a little butter (I try hard to avoid dairy)and Bob's GLuten free baking mix to thicken and then almond milk and more salt and pepper and a little poultry seasoning...oh man...delicious! I served peas and cranberries to make an early Thanksgiving dinner for the two of us...AND I have to report that we are doing JUST FINE with no kids in the house...just a couple again and it is nice...sure we love our kids but it is fun to be a couple again and not worried every day about what our kids are doing...with facebook and texting we do seem to know what they are doing any ways...but you know what I mean...it's GREAT!

I almost forgot the corn bread...I followed the recipe on the Bob's Redmill site with the Gluten free baking mix...it turned out very good.

Have a good weekend! HUGS

Empty Nest

We did it...we emptied our parental nest...all gone...just the two of us...the last is gone...as sad as it has been for me, being a career mom, seeing how happy our baby was at college yesterday in his own place made it easier for me to let go. I will miss his daily hugs, but thank God for texts and e-mails and calls...he is the type who will keep in touch...so yeah...ah...on to the next phase of our lives...hey hubby!!! wanna play cards? Hopefully I won't drive him nutso...hehe

Think I will reheat some of my pancakes and have some peppermint tea and think about what to do that does not require thinking about what someone else is doing or not doing or waiting to hear someone say, "MOM!...oh boy, this might take a while...HUGS

Tea and cake

I had a sip from a bottle of peppermint water and thought, I can make that. So I boiled four cups of water and put one peppermint tea bag in it. I chill this and have four cups of peppermint water when I want it.

Then I baked a cake (adapted recipe from the Internet of course) and nibbled on tea and cake...very British...in keeping with our new housemate, Gonzo the Chinese Water Dragon. Hubby and I are housesitting for Gonzo for Brad when he goes to college. Gonzo reminds me of the Geico gecko and I half expect it to stand on its hindquarters and speak with a British accent. HA!

350 degrees for about 30 minutes
I just mixed all the ingredients right in a 9X9 pan

2 1/2 cups Bob's Gluten free baking mix
2 tsp Xanthan gum
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup sugar
5 tsps baking powder
3/4 orange juice
7 Tab. oil
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Check it out!

This is my pic with something I wrote...it was published in the Rochester NY Sunday paper.

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009908300317&GID=lMTqsDb/QumJfbNk/0YH2jefQMwTAVLUR+IuaadJr9M%3D

Blueberries

I dropped a few blueberries into the pancake batter I wrote about a while ago and then I rolled up the cooked pancakes with the blueberries in them and it was like eating a blueberry muffin sort of kind of and I liked it.

Spent a week away, visiting my son and granddaughters and then my other son and oh yeah my brother and sis in law and their loved ones...oh what a joy it is to really GET AWAY!

So I did see I was picked for top 100 and I posted the ribbon...I feel special...I don't have celiacs but I might as well have it...THANKS for picking my blog.

I HATE HATE HATE gluten. There, I said it! I should say I HATE HATE HATE what it does to me.

HUGS

TOP 100

Top 100 Blogs

Pop!

I have never heard of popping corn this way, maybe half the world's population does this, but I have never heard of it before I tried it.

I put 1/3 cup popping corn in a large ceramic bowl and poured some oil over the kernels, covered the bowl with a microwaveable ceramic plate and microwaved it for about 4 1/2 min. I still had some unpopped kernels so it could have gone longer, but that's it! I put a little sea salt on it, and since I have put nothing else on it... it is delicious! Hubby likes it too... the bowl is very hot, so be careful. I poured the popped corn into another bowl for snacking on it.

Recently all three sons performed together. It was a dream come true! MY THREE SONS!

Off to visit relatives tomorrow. HUGS

Cinnamon Rice Chex Rock

I had the best cereal ever ... Cinnamon RICE CHEX! I love them love them love them...and yes I might have wanted to marry them if I wasn't already married to the love of my life...37 years last Wednesday!!!!!!

We are in the next phase of our lives...the way we started out...the two of us...our "baby" will be off to college soon and after all these years it will be he and me...I know that is a strange way of expressing it...but then again I am strange...and I love being strange...ya dig?

Saw Funny People yesterday...hilarious/sad mix, fictional tale showing the behind the scenes lives of comedians...Adam Sandler's finest acting job, I think.

Next week all of my sons will be performing together...Brad will play drums for NAVAR...It will be GREAT! Can't wait! Montage Music Hall Rochester August 7th at 8.


Off to get a bowl of Cinnamon Rice Chex with Almond milk. YUM!

Closed for good!

Due to health concerns hubby decided to close the diner for good. NO MORE WAITRESSING...It is exciting to be entering a new phase for both of us...will keep you posted...thanks for reading my blog and being interested in my life. HUGS

Amazing pancakes!

Googled egg free dairy free pancakes and found a recipe that I love... adapted it a bit of course but wow...yummy!!! and thanks for the lemon sugar suggestion to the blogger I stumbled onto...AMAZING!

http://kylie.wordpress.com/2006/03/26/egg-free-dairy-free-pancakes/

I used Bob's Redmill baking mix for the flour, almond milk for the milk, and skipped the vanilla.

Never heard of squeezing lemon juice and sprinking sugar on a pancake...oh baby, it is refreshingly delish!

Two granddaughters were visiting when I decided to try this recipe and they love these pancakes too.

Bummy tummy

I have felt pretty good for a long time, so I was not happy that I felt so poorly recently after eating some things I maybe shouldn't have...but I am fine now.

I attended a party and filled my plate up twice...ok so I was HUNGRY but I also nibbled on chocolates that had fallen off the pretzels they were stuck to and Rice Krispie treats that were probably not made with gluten free cereal and two helpings of fruit salad that was delicious but oh so full of fructose...ok...my stomach cramped and I had to leave the party or risk suffering a fight for the port-o-potty...after a long time in the bathroom my churning tummy settled down...

Oh...I don't often forget to be careful...but now I will resume watching my intake like a watchdog outside a diamond mine.

HUGS and happy healthy choices...cha cha cha!

empty nest in the near future

Our youngest graduated from high school last weekend and soon hubby and I will have an empty nest. It is bittersweet for me as I have been raising kids for 34 years and it has always been my number 1 priority...I am thankful for the kids I was privileged to raise and delighted at the way they have turned out.

YEAH for BRAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here he is with his big brothers!

PLEASE HELP PATRICK!

Many of you have been interested and supportive of my sons and their music...if you have time please check this out! THANKS!

*Hey everyone, let's get the word out, my son Patrick Barry is trying to win the NY1 song contest, click the link and give his song a listen. The more clicks the better! Let's all help him be the new voice of NY1. http://contest.ny1.com/videos/93/

Schar...best by far!

I bought some products by Schar today and I must say that my palate felt pampered. Delicious! The lady fingers are to die for...I was actually moaning after each bite. I used to love the Stella Doro breakfast treats and other goodies they made and have missed them, but no more...Schar...I LOVE YOU!

www.schar.com/us/

If you have not tried them, please do. You won't be sorry.

Back on the bike again...

I finally TOOK the time to take a long bike ride. I had only been on my bike once this year and rode about 4 miles. I rode nine miles yesterday and it was wonderful. The fresh air smells, two turtles by the side of the road, and the lovely colors of wild flowers and lush green grass. Heavenly.

Eating is under control. I slipped and ate icecream for a few days about a week ago and had stomach problems and a few facial breakouts so I stopped. Sometimes I have to remind myself why I have given up so many substances and then I get back into the groove of avoidance, substitution, and feeling oh so GOOD!

Happy whatever day it is you might be reading this. Life is GOOD!

One s-more...

I attended my nephew's wedding which was amazing BTW and when the sun set I had only ingested one no no as far as foods go. It was an outside wedding with a sit down dinner but at the end of the day we could make s-mores and I did with the thought that I would make it and give it away...well, I didn't I started eating it and didn't care. Guilt overcame me and I did care. The next day I had an itchy spot on my face, but otherwise I was okay. No more s-more.

Hubby bought me a hat to wear to the wedding...I don't like hats but I like this one. HUGS

PS update...35 mice...3 in the humane traps when we got home from the wedding. I guess they like us.

Glutino products

While I don't like to ingest anything with yeast or eggs I do love Glutino bread. Well toasted they are a treat for me. Corn Harvest, Fiber, Flaxseed...good stuff. I just tried their gluten free crackers and they are also tasty. I had given up on eating crackers, I was tired of the rice cracker offerings, so these are a nice change.

Last weekend my sons and granddaughters visited...heavenly. The guys played a show locally and my youngest son debuted with his band. Band mama was in her glory. Love it!

We have a big mouse problem here... I have humane traps set in the kitchen and we are up to catching and releasing 30 over the past month...perhaps they are running right back in, yathink?

Tuna fish sandwiches

I missed tuna fish sandwiches, but I did't miss mayo...yuch! I hate it; it never made me feel good when I did partake of it. So I have struggled, missing tuna fish sandwiches...but not any more...I found a Wegman's brand pouch tuna that is simply tuna and water and salt. I make a fake mayo out of almond milk and raw cashews. Process them together until they are the consistency of mayo and then add the tuna and spread between fave gluten free bread. My fave lately is Glutina Corn Harvest...I try not to eat yeast but this bread toastly dark is so yummy and then the tuna combo spread between two slices...amazing!

Got back on my bike finally! Hooray! Loved it!

Had a wonderful Mom's Day! Felt so loved! Feel so loved! Truly thankful.

HUGS

Pork and beans...still good.

Even with all the scare over swine flu I made and ate pork n beans and enjoyed them. Thirty years or more ago there was a swine flu scare and I remember people avoiding eating pork back then.
Well, I took out my Easter ham remains from the freezer the other day and boiled it up with a pack of Navy beans and it is delicious. If I never post again you will know that I died of swine flu. But I will have died with a belly full of good food.

A little dark humor to lighten the load of the swine flu hysteria. HUGS

Fun night in the city

I sure enjoyed my night in the city. NAVAR's performance at Webster Hall was amazing! I loved spending time with my sons. I did very well eating what I can eat and avoiding what I should avoid.

bootupnyc

NAVAR is playing at the Entrepeneur's BOOTUPNYC tomorrow (4 22) at Webster Hall. Hubby bought me a round trip ticket to go see it.

www.bootupnyc.com

If you are in the area come join in the fun!

eleven days of feeling better

I am thrilled that I am on the low thyroid pill...I sure do notice I have more energy and sleep better and stomach uneasiness completely gone and on and on...the benefits of a more fully functioning thyroid are huge!

On another front, I called my daughter when I found out she has a phone and got the number so we could sing happy birthday to her...yeah!!! Disconnections are no fun...glad we are back in touch...she was a block away from the shootings in Binghamton. She works a block away from the place where it all went down and I am so thankful she is okay.

Saw ADVENTURELAND with my son. It is a wonderful movie...funny with nice messages.

HAPPY DAY!

Walkin' on sunshine...

You know how you sometimes get a song stuck in your head? Well, I have "I'm walkin' on sunshine...wo-oh" in my head. No other lyrics, just those. I look out the window and it is gloomy so maybe I am trying to invite the sun to shine...not sure.

Had a good Sunday of not doing anything for the diner. Went to see THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT. It sure is a well done horror flic. The actress who plays the part of the escaped convict's galpal Sadie is the sister of NAVAR's drummer. She is in several other movies and seems to be doing well with the trailer trashy low life parts. It was weird seeing her on the screen playing such a psycho after meeting her and seeing her occasionally when she is visiting her parents and they come to the NAVAR concerts. Means she is a good actress, I guess. So, if you love Wes Craven movies or any horror type flic I recommend this film.

I ate Chinese food at the food court and I asked for only soyfree dishes and gee wiz I felt fine the rest of the day. I think I am doing so well avoiding all the foods and substances that bother me but I do indulge in Chinese with soy in the sauce sometimes...well, this time I didn't and I felt.........Nothing! So that's good...it is feeling something off all the rest of the day after eating that rots bigtime and why I began my quest to find out which foodsarenotmyfriends in the first place.

HAPPY WHATEVER DAY IT IS YOU ARE READING THIS! HUGS

A revolution can begin with one word change...mac n cash

Since I post so many experiments of mine with mac n cashew cheese I decided I might just start calling it "mac n cash" instead...think it will catch on? Caitlyn wrote in a comment that she doesn't care how many times I post about it but will she (or anyone else) approve of the proposed name change...stay tuned...

Do you have a problem with your memory?

Several doctors have mentioned to me that I should see an endocrinologist. Several bloodtests have shown that I might have hypothyroidism, or a low functioning thyroid. I finally did get an appointment, so off I went. She has put me on Synthroid. She asked me a lot of questions and one of them was, "Do you have a problem with your memory?" To this I enthusiastically shook my head and said, "Yes!"

My kids range from 33 down to 17 and I often tell my 17 year old, "I used to be a lot sharper." So after taking this miracle pill for a while we will put this to the test. I will let you know.

Happy day! HUGS

no chocolate yes chocolate what to do

I write here that I don't do chocolate and for the most part I don't but I have a guilty pleasure and it is mixing half unsweetened chocolate almond milk with sweetened chocolate almond milk for a treat. Mixing makes it less sweet but I also don't like the unsweetened so it satisfies me when I want a goodie. I do like plain almond milk but the chocolate variation is, like I said, my guilty pleasure...

I sometimes have carob rice milk but it just does not turn me on as much as the chocolate almond milk...there I admitted it! :)


Happy eliminating!

mac n cheese yum

I have been posting the heck out of gf cf mac n cheese attempts but I have to post one more. I rinsed raw cashews, then soaked them for a little while in purified water, drained them and blended them with purified water and a pinch of sea salt.
I cooked Schar penne pasta and then tossed it into the cashew cheese with some cracked black pepper and a little pinch more of sea salt and some paprika. I covered the bowl and refrigerated it. Today I scooped out a portion of the mixture into a bowl and microwaved it for 2 minutes. It looked like man n cheese and reminded me of mac n cheese so for me it IS mac n cheese...voila!

I have entered two writing contests...am working on my seventh novel...going slow, but still working on it...in other words I have not gotten past page one (keep starting over)...groan...working at the diner six nights a week...think that's what has zapped my enthusiasm out of blogging lately but I am going to make myself get into it again...doing very well with eating the right-for-me things and recently really believe fructose is a major no no for me along with all the other no nos so I am off fruit and really reading labels closely.

HUGS

Glutano Tea Biscuits

Found a great treat, Glutano Tea Biscuit. I had never tried this product before but I will be buying it again. Delish!

I woke up with a sore foot. Not sure what that's about. I guess waitressing doesn't help, being on my feet more than usual.

Still trying to get an agent. Same record, or cd running...somedayIwillgetone...

HUGS

cashew almond cheese alternative

I have made many variations of cashew cheese but I finally discovered one I REALLY Like...I blended raw cashews and almond milk. YUMMY!

That's all I've got right now...dashed home for a minute from the diner...gotta get back. HAPPY SATURDAY!

mac n cheese n ring bologna

I took ring bologna and pulled the skin casing off, sliced it thin and spread it out on top of cooked gluten free pasta that had almond milk whisked with cornstarch poured over it. Last, I spread shredded mozzarella alternative cheese (from rice but unfortuneatly it is NOT casein free) over the top and baked it uncovered for 25 min. at 375 deg. It is yummy! Fulfills my cravings.

Looking forward to Spring...really!

I feel good...

Gluten NO
Casein NO
Soy NO
Eggs NO
Fructose NO
Yeast NO
Citrus NO
Acidic NO
Chocolate NO
Sulfites NO

I think I covered the NO list for me...and I have been faithful so yeah! = I feel good!

The one exception is a daily powdered (mix with hot water) cappucino beverage. I feel good...I didn't say I was perfect.

HUGS

branching out...

As much as I love blogging about my food intolerances I am starting a new blog in addition to this one...called RAIN...this one will feature poems and thoughts in general and not just about foods I can and cannot eat.

HAPPY WEDNESDAY!

All is well...

My dad is fine...home...and in no pain. It was the smoothest operation he has had to have to date. I am so pleased for him. This past year has been hell with all he has had to endure and it was nice to have an "easy" one, for lack of a better way of putting it.

Thanks for the well wishes. HUGS

I had salmon encrusted with horseradish and asparagus sauce when dining out one evening while away. I wondered if the sauce would be tolerated by my insides but it was and it it was one of the most delicious meals I have ever had. When I first heard about it though I thought, "Yuck, that sounds horrible," but I was in an adventurous mood and it paid off. Delish!

ENVY

I got a new phone and my son tells me it is VERIZON ENVY...I love it. I flip it open and text more easily and I like the maroon color of it and I am still obsessed with taking my own cell phone pic. I know I know...weird.

Hanging up the waitress apron so I can go hang out with my mom while my dad has some surgery. Family time...makes me happy.

I will check in and as I travel the challenges are always many when it comes to eating. But I will be very strict...I don't want to feel like crap... NO THANKS! HUGS

Take a migraine maker and turn it into a coffee caker...

Voila! I tried that recipe for the chocolate snack cake minus the cocoa, substituted ground pecans for the cocoa, and skipped the frosting...like I said Voila!!!!!.......coffee cake and no head-ache!

Don't have to thank me...I do these experimental things for fun...I feel the best I have felt since "the procedure"...HUGS

Learned all over again...

I ate so many pieces of my chocolate cake, last night I had a migraine...wow...am I really surprised. I was just sharing that with Caitlin in a blog comment. I gave in to the craving but it came with painful price. Now, I could blame the migraine on my aftersurgery stuff but I suspect it was from too much chocolate...bad me...oh well... I am fine again, aside from feeling a tad depressed and very tired...next snack cake will be minus the chocolate. Perhaps a colorful carrot cake. COOL! Take care.

chocolate cake

I was recovering and craving something sweet so I made a gluten free egg free casein free cake. It is yummy and even hubby thinks so too.

I used Bob's Redmill Gluten free biscuit mix for the flour. I used oil instead of shortening.

I mixed it all right in the pan, skipping the oiling and flouring of the pan, and it was just fine.

I made the frosting with powdered sugar and cocoa and palm oil shortening and vanilla and almond milk and a sprinkle of salt. I measured nothing.

When the cake was baking I put a pie plate of pecans in the oven the last 10 minutes to roast them. Then I crushed them and added them to the frosting.

I adapted a recipe I found at about.com. The recipe was submitted by Diana Rattray. It is called NO EGG WONDER CAKE...thanks, Diana!

1 3/4 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/3 oil (or the recipe actually says shortening)
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 TB vinegar
1 cup cold water

Mix well and bake at 350 deg for about 30 min.

I let it cool and then frosted it.

YUMMY!

Smooth...

The Dr removed a large polyp from the lining of my uterus yesterday and said it was smooth so he does not suspect cancer...phew...BUT of course the lab work will have to confirm that. Hubby asked him what he meant by "large" polyp and he said, "Like the size of a Mike n Ike's candy." I love a funny doctor!

Laying low today...feeling fine, just tired. HUGS

boom CHOCO boom

My sister bought me an ENJOY LIFE boom CHOCO boom rice milk with crispy rice bar and I am so grateful...boom boom! I love them!

She brought our parents to the diner and surprised me...it was GREAT! The surprise is that they live 3 hours away...WOW! Like I said, "It was great!"

I will be buying more of these candy bars...ENJOY LIFE! BRAVO!

You are going to do what???

Modern medicine never ceases to amaze me...doctors can take pictures of our insides and that makes me crazy...glad they can but it is hard for my mind to get around that reality...so Tuesday they will take pics inside my uterus...amazing.

Made some gluten free egg free dairy free pumpkin pecan pancakes again...didn't have any kind of syrup so I had them plain and they were filling, a little blah, but a nice change. I did add nutmeg and cinnamon but they were still a little bland.


Diner duty is fun, I can't lie...it has always been a love/hate thing to do for me...

HAPPY SATURDAY or whatever day you are reading this...BJOYFL!(that's the name of a book I wrote)

HUGS

"What would you do for a Klondike bar?"

My hubby and son have been into Klondike bars lately and yesterday I grabbed for one and was about to rip off the wrapper when a voice said, "Do you really want to do that?" It wasn't my hubby or son it was my voice of "somefoodsarenotmyfriends" reason. I could see the rest of my afternoon playing out before my eyes in my head...I would not stop at one I would go on and on...we had a box of 24 from Sam's Club and twenty-three of them would not be safe if I choked down the first one. I AM AN ADDICT...

Yes, when I eat something that is not on my GOOD FOODS FOR ME list it seems I have to have more and more of it and feel sick and don't enjoy it, but feel I have to keep ingesting it...sounds like ADDICT behavior to me...

I watched bits of the movie CLEAN AND SOBER with Michael Keaton yesterday. I think it was on ENCORE and hubby was watching it and flicking to football games and I was kind of in and out of the room...more about ADDICTION...

So the ditty "What would you do for a Klondike bar?" kept playing in my head, but I didn't succumb. There is power over resisting temptation...HUGS

March of the pumpkins...

My granddaughters remember the day I misspoke and asked them if they had seen "March of the Pumpkins" and we have joked about it ever since.
I saw a pumpkin cookie recipe on the back of Bob's Redmill millet flour package and knew I had to try it. The only thing I was not thrilled about was the eggs but I used them any ways. I know about egg substitutes but I just went ahead and used the eggs...I used brown rice syrup instead of honey and did not use raisins or molasses and did not have cinnamon or ginger in the house but I did have the nutmeg and then I thought why not use ground cloves, so I did and voila...oh yeah I used chopped walnuts for the nut option...again, voila! Good cookies. And you know what...those pumpkin cookies marched right into my mouth easily.

MARCH ON!

Life for me is better with food eliminations but...

...other things happen. Remember when they came out with the bumper sticker "Shit happens" I thought it was so crude until one day I realized it kind of said it all with only two words.
Then later on I heard a teenager say, "It sucks to be you" and again I thought it was a crude remark until it hit me that those five words can often be right on.

So, at the end of the month I have to have a D&C. No big deal. But I feel like saying "shit happens" and keep hearing a voice whispering in my ear, "It sucks to be you."

HUGS

Icy...

Not a snow day, an ice day. The roads and sidewalks and driveways and byways...ICE!
I am getting ready to leave the house to don my apron and waitress at our diner. hopefully I won't slip on the ice and go boom boom...I just remembered poor Dr Atkins and all the research and good eating he did all his life and then OOPS SLIPPED on the ice and was dead...on that cheery note...be CAREFUL you all.

HUGS

PS oh yeah I made pancakes with millet flour and GF baking mix and water and baking powder and salt and oil. They were good. First time using millet flour. Very nice. Another alternative to using that nasty old wheat.

Teff products

I have eaten the teff pancakes/flatbread with syrup and plain and today I toasted them so I am pleased. The way the cooked product looks reminds me of the days I used to eat brown bread. I think it smells like the brown bread too. Maybe my imagination is playing tricks on me, but I like what I am eating so who cares what it reminds me of.

I am waitressing a lot lately and like I did when we had the diner before I pretend I am someone else...SALLY THE WAITRESS...it works for Beyonce with her Sasha Fierce so what the heck...

Not much action here on blogspot. I used to get more people commenting, but then again I don't read other blogs as much as I used to so what do I expect. I don't expect a thing. I will continue to blog about my intolerances and not worry about whether or not I read blogs or my blog gets read.

Freedom comes in many forms and when I feel free from pressure...life is sweet!

HUGS

Thanks again, Bob!

I made teff pancakes/flatbread and all I have to say is THANKS AGAIN, Bob!
Go to the Bob's Redmill website if you want the recipe. ENJOY!