Snickerdoodles gf df...b-b-b-buckwheat style!

Had a hankerin' for Snickerdoodles...so...I got out my Betty Crocker Cook Book again and you guessed it...I adapted the recipe with ingredients I can have. YUMMY!

400 oven

1 cup Agave syrup

1 cup coconut oil

2 large eggs

mix well

2 3/4 cups buckwheat flour

2 tsps cream of tartar

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

mix it all up well

Roll into balls and roll the balls in 1/4 cup of turbinado or stevia sugar mixed with 2 tsp. cinnamon and bake on a sheet lined with parchment paper for 8-10 minutes then cool on a wire rack.

Molasses GF DF Buckwheat cookies

Did it again...adapted a Betty Crocker recipe...Soft Molasses Cookies...done my way.

1/2 cup agave syrup

1 cup palm oil shortening

1/2 cup molasses

1 egg

3/4 cup applesauce

Mix

add 3 cups Buckwheat flour

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. ginger

1/2 tsp. salt

oven 375 deg.

parchment paper or ungreased baking sheet

Bake for 10 minutes.

cool slightly then cool completely on wire rack.

Yum!

Buckwheat GF DF chocolate chip cookies

I craved homemade chocolate chip cookies and being the experimental type I wanted to fiddle with a tried and true recipe so I took out my Betty Crocker Cook Book and fiddled.

This is my version (THANKS, BETTY for inspiring me with yours)

1 cup Agave syrup

1 cup mixture of palm and coconut oils

1 large egg

2 1/4 cups buckwheat flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup puffed brown rice

1 package of organic DF grainfree chocolate chips

Oven at 375 deg.

I use parchment paper to line baking sheet

Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart.

Bake 8-10 minutes. Cool a little then carefully slide them onto a wire rack.

Enjoy! I did!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Coconut Milk

Lovin' Coconut milk as my dairy free milk of choice, especially with Vanilla...great in spicy tea like Bengal Spice tea...chai latte, dairy and tea leaf free but just as delicious. HAPPY SIPPING!

Rice Nog for coffee creamer

I kept using flavored creamers even though they bothered me...so I stumbled on the seasonal RICE NOG and tried that in my coffee...such a nice treat...and dairy free!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

gf battered haddock

i am sometimes hesitant to try the new gf products but am glad I tried STARFISH's GF haddock sticks...pricey, as usual, but delish! I recommend this!

Thinner buckwheat pancakes!

I added three cups of water to my two cups of buckwheat flour this time and used melted coconut oil instead of olive oil, arrowroot starch instead of potato starch, and I added vanilla and cinnamon to the batter...delicious! Thinner pancakes, more traditional than the thicker ones two blogs earlier...YEAH!

Udi's onion garlic pizza

I love Udi's pizza skins for making a quick personal pan pizza lunch. I start with the Udi's pizza skin, spread olive oil on the top and bottom, place on pizza stone and then add Ricemilk shredded cheese, mozzarella and cheddar cheese flavored, then sliced onions and pressed fresh garlic...a little shake of Italian seasonings (I used Pampered Chef's) and bake for 10-15 min. at 375 deg. Delicious!

Buckwheat potato starch pancakes

Good morning! I was told by someone who read my blog that tapioca is not good for Hashimoto people. I decided I would now replace tapioca starch with potato starch when cooking and baking. I had not had my beloved buckwheat in a long time so I set out to make buckwheat pancakes...I also decided to use water and not try to use a nondairy product. Call me crazy, I like to experiment, sometimes it turns out good and other times, not so good. LOL

Guess what? This time...GREAT!

I mixed 2 cups of buckwheat flour with one -two tablespoons of potato starch, salt, four teaspoons of baking powder, 2-2 1/2 cups water, 1-2 tab. olive oil, some agave syrup, and that's it! i let it set for awhile before ladling portions on a medium heated lightly oiled griddle...this made a dozen puffy pancakes. I served mine with coconut oil, cinnamon, and real maple syrup.

HOMERUN!

Kinnikinnick Pumpkin Spice Donuts

What a treat! I received some sample pumpkin spice donuts in the mail today. The air is steely gray and the leaves are turning and falling already so it was the perfect treat for me this afternoon. The donuts are dense and moist, reminded me of plain fry cakes, but they have some frosting on them and a spicy flavor that delights my insides and fills me with joy...so hard at times to find a gluten free treat that isn't JUST a substitute for what I remember enjoying before I had to go gluten free.

Two pumpkin thumbs up! YUMMY!

Sweet Sin!

http://www.glutenfreedesserts.com/

I had seen the refrigerator case with gluten free goodies but never took a closer look until yesterday when I bought pumpkin muffins. OMG they are dense and delicious! So moist, a cross between a muffin and a refrigerator cake...I highly recommend this treat and I definitely will try other products by SWEET SIN!

BBB Tells the Tale...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v04ICiKBvbY

Beanfields update!

I have now tried all varieties of Beanfields Beans and Rice Chips and love all of them.

My list of faves starting with my all-time fave is Pico De Gallo, Sea Salt, Sea Salt & Pepper, and Unsalted.

I truly enjoyed each variety but my two faves are Pico De Gallo and Sea Salt. I am definitely ordering cases of these delicious snacks.

I had no idea that corn snacks were not making me feel good until recently when I overloaded on popcorn consumption...ugh...that is when I began to research again the lists of substances I should and should not ingest.

When I eat Beanfields chips I feel NOTHING...I just enjoy the experience, unlike the way I feel after eating potato chips or corn chips...and they fill you up because they have more protein in them than the potato and corn snacks.

SO again, THANK YOU BEANFIELDS!

Beanfields Bean and Rice Chips!

Yesterday I was down in the dumps because I committed to no potato or corn chips since potatoes and corn are not good for the conditions I am battling/living with. Popcorn, corn nuts, corn tacos and tortillas...geesh, I had already given up wheat, dairy, soy, and a list of others substances so I was bummin'...yup, feeling sorry for myself...then a package arrived with samples of Beanfields Bean and Rice Chips and lo and behold a miracle occurred...a snack that doesn't have any of the no nos...talk about perfect timing!

Last night I tried the sea salt and pepper variety and let me tell you they are delicious. They are crunchy and hearty and since I LOVE PEPPER, these chips satisfy the pepper lover.

I have three more bags to try and will report back.

THANK YOU BEANFIELDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Every day something new it seems...

I hear about tapioca not being good for hypothyroid and Hashimoto's and potatoes and corn and all the other substances I have already eliminated...yikes! It seems that every day something new goes on the no no list...I started to feel sorry for myself, but stopped myself because I accept the fact that I have these conditions and am glad I know I do (all those years I was clueless are in the past), so all there is to do is fight the fight with eliminating what needs to be eliminated, and watch everything I ingest so I can feel the best I can feel and minimize the inflammation and destruction inside my body.

Heads held high! life is good when you know how to behave so you can improve the quality of life.

I am not completely self righteous, I WANT SOMETHING I CAN'T HAVE...what do i do??? I tip my head back and laugh until the craving passes. LOL

THANKS, GENA LEE for going public with thyroid disease

http://thyroid.about.com/b/2011/08/01/baywatch-actress-gena-lee-nolin-thyroid.htm?nl=1

Tapioca a no no

I was asked if I noticed that a lot of the gluten free products are made with substances that are goitrogenic. This is significant for those of us who are taking meds for hypothyroidism because these substances can interfere with thyroid function.

OH NO! just when you think you have some tasty products to ingest, you find out they may not be helping your situation.

Frustrating!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am doing fine coffee-free!

I has been a while now being coffee-free. I felt like a grown up drinking (decaf) coffee all day and night, doctoring it up, stopping at coffee shops, fun stuff. I notice that I feel better not drinking coffee...so it is water and Bengal Spice tea with almond milk for me. HAPPY INNARDS!

New friend

I seldom get a comment here on this blog, but I write here any way. I do it for me. This week I got an e-mail from someone who read my blog and wanted to connect. At times the power of the Internet is staggering to me. Having Hashimoto's disease can be lonely at times (misunderstood disease), so it will be nice to have someone to correspond with who understands.

humidity wreaks havoc

Now that I know I have Hashimoto's disease I am noticing that the humidity is not helpful with this condition...lots of anxious moments and tears...not fun to be around, but oh well...I am getting used to the no coffee and I know it was the right thing to do...my Bengal Spice tea with almond milk is delicious, so where's the down side...feel better and am focusing on a drink that so far settles nicely in my insides.

Off to NYC tomorrow to see all of my sons perform in BARRY BAND at Kenny's Castaways! If you area stop by...8 pm. FREE DRINKS, NO COVER!

no more coffee...boohoo

When I was told I had Hashimoto's disease and started to read up on it, I thought giving up tea and caffeine meant decaf coffee was okay so I have been drinking decaf coffee ever since. Well, I recently read that coffee( due to the acid) is not good, especially if you suffer from gut inflammation, which I definitely do...so I am back to Bengal Spice tea with almond milk...a version of chai tea that I love so it isn't all bad. What I have learned the most is that I have to be willing to give up and give up and give up in order to feel better and be healthier with this crazy disease that I have. I always remind myself that it could be worse. I am glad I know what I have and can eliminate substances and go on with my life...a life that is pretty darn great!

Met another Hashimoto person today!

I went for bloodwork today and was asked if ate. I said I hadn't and then was asked if I had caffeine, to which I said, "Oh no, I have Hashimoto's disease and don't have caffeine." I was greeted with, "I have Hashimoto's too!" Well...the discussion was obviously pleasing to both of us...when you meet someone who understands, it is priceless.

Our meeting was meant to be...

Joy Bauer Rocks!

I've been reading two books by Joy Bauer and must say that she rocks it big time with her efforts to get people to eat well and be well and stay well.

I will report back after I have exhausted the books and have something more to report than Joy rocks!

FOOD CURES

SLIM and SCRUMPTIOUS

www.joybauer.com

GF couponing

http://www.ultimatecoupons.com/blog/2011/06/gluten-free-the-best-way-to-be/

For Your Own Good

http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/8680738


My three sons...first posted song from their EP!!!! ENJOY!!!

A song AND a video shot mostly with cell phones. I love having cool sons!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7dZJuGbYSE

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/yawnin-in-the-dawnin/id439262943?ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Tempt

I am here today to sing the praises of TEMPT...a frozen treat made with hemp milk. I bought the one with coffee and biscotti and it is gluten free as well as dairy and soy free. It is the best frozen treat I have tried since I gave up all that I gave up. It isn't sugar free and I'm not perfect. LOL

HUGS AND LOVE

Black bean buckwheat soup

I like the recipe for black bean soup that is on the Good Seasonings Italian dressing packets. It calls for rice but i used a quarter of a cup of kasha ( roasted buckwheat) instead. It was delicious.

Two cans of Swanson's chicken bouillon

Two cans of Black beans (undrained)

Chopped onion and celery

Salt and pepper

One packet of Good Seasoning Italian dressing

Olive oil

Sautee chopped vegetables in the olive oil

Add all canned items and salt and pepper and seasoning packet

Bring to a boil, add one quarter of a cup of kasha, cover and simmer on low for ten minutes

ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Snyder's GF pretzels

I try not to have grains but when I heard that Snyder's came out with a GF pretzel I was curious. I tried them and I like them. What a nice snack when I cam craving crunch and salt. YUMMY!

Swedish meatballs w cream of buckwheat

I had a craving for Swedish meatballs so I went online looked over a few recipes and then made my own version. Ground beef Cream of Buckwheat hemp milk grated potatoes grated onions parsley Mix well and form into meatballs...baked them in a 350 deg. oven in a greased baking pan for 20 minutes then I poured a carton of organic nondairy portabello mushroom soup over the meatballs and cooked for 40-60 minutes longer. OMG delish! My father's roots are in Sweden (Axelson) so yah...dus is goot...lol

gluten free is cutting edge...buckwheat rules

http://health.yahoo.net/rodale/MH/is-gluten-making-us-fat I just got three boxes of the buckwheat flakes in the mail after ordering them online since I could not find them in any of the stores I frequent. BUCKWHEAT BUCKWHEAT BUCKWHEAT...who knew I was on the cutting edge...yes!!!!!!!!! PS just made up buckwheat chicken broth soup...took 1/4 cup cream of buckwheat cereal added to a can of Swanson chicken broth and salt, pepper, powdered garlic and powdered onion...microwaved in big covered bowl for 4 minutes...yummy.

Back to buckwheat this time hemp pancakes

I have such a great time experimenting with my buckwheat cooking and baking...here is my latest.

Blueberry buckwheat pancakes with hemp milk

I cup buckwheat flour

I 1/2 cups hemp milk

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. sea salt

2 generous squirts-2 TB of Agave syrup

1 TB olive oil

2 TB tapioca flour

Whip up and cook on medium (a little towards the med.-high range will brown them) lightly greased griddle, cool on wire rack. I bag up the leftovers and use for pancakes or flatbread at a later date.

I put a large spoonful of frozen blueberries on a plate and pour real maple syrup over them, microwave for a minute and top with two pancakes...oh man, it is like I am having a fancy dessert...I LOVE IT! You will too.

Making Music

Having a wonderful weekend with our three sons around...they are making music together and that makes our lives more exciting. Our youngest is going to college for sound engineering/music production so the brothers created six original songs and are recording them this weekend.

http://www.barryband.com

yikes...gluten scare?...or should YOU be gluten free?

Definitely FOOD FOR THOUGHT!

http://drhyman.com/gluten-what-you-dont-know-might-kill-you-11/comment-page-1/#comment-5885

Bored with blogging about buckwheat

I know...I bore myself...my family is bored with me talking about buckwheat...and I am bored with blogging about buckwheat...BUT, my reality is that buckwheat is my saving substance...whether I ingest cream of buckwheat or buckwheat pancakes for breakfast and buckwheat bread or flatbread later on, I am thankful for buckwheat since I am staying clear of grains and buckwheat affords me the ability to have a pancake, have some form of breadlike product...and kasha is my new ricelike side dish...oh don't forget homemade noodles...what fun they are for me to make...my life has become all about buckwheat but I am bored with blogging about it so I am taking a buckwheat break.

I continue to take my thyroid med in the evening and it works out very nicely for me... it helps me to not eat in the evenings. So hurray!

I found out my disease might attack my pancreas some day (if it is not already doing that) so I am pleased that I have not had candy since last September. Aren't I a paragon of virtue. LOL

Welllllll even with all the eliminations,I continue to be overweight...I lost ten pounds and am keeping that off but I am obese...I need to lose about 50 pounds...soooo more exercise is needed and perhaps upped dose of thyroid meds (very slow metabolism)...and less food, but like today I had a bowl of cream of buckwheat, a salad at Wendy's, corned beef and cabbage and carrots and one small potato for dinner...doesn't seem to me like overindulging...ok...pity party over...back to being bored with buckwheat but loving my acceptance of having Hashimoto's disease and thyroid disease and that I will never have candy (gluten, eggs, soy, dairy,yada yada yada etc etc etc) again. Life is amazing when you find control over what you need to find control over. I can do theeeeees!

Blueberry Buckwheat pancakes

I might already tried this and blogged about it but thought it blogworthy....I made blueberry buckwheat pancakes and I think I forgot to put oil in them and they were fine.

one cup buckwheat flour
1 tsp. BP
1/2 tsp. salt
2 TB tapioca flour
cinnamon
1 cup coconut milk
1/2 cup water
2 TB. agave syrup
vanilla
1 cup frozen blueberries

I sprayed the medium heated griddle with light oil and voila...cooked one side...flipped them and cooked the other side and doused them with real maple syrup...yum~

KASHA BURGERS OMG

In my ongoing love of all things buckwheat I tried a recipe for kasha burgers that I found at cooks.com. check it out...KASHA BURGERS WITH KASHA SAUCE...oh yeah, of course I adapted mine...I used buckwheat flour for the flour and did not use soy sauce, added garlic powder and pepper instead...I sauteed sweet onions instead of scalions.
They look like burgers...it is incredible how much...and they taste delicious! I am going to melt some Daiya cheese and pour a little Imagine portabello mushroom soup over mine...oh soooooo good.

WHO NEEDS WHEAT, DAIRY, SOY, EGGS, and on and on and on...I HAVE BUCKWHEAT!

Coconut french vanilla creamer...and yoga

In keeping with my coocoo for coconuts theme I tried So Delicious Coconut French Vanilla creamer...oh my...yummy! I am so excited because I am trying desperately to avoid dairy and casein but most non-dairy creamers have casein added...the other ones...not good (for my tastebuds). I am loving this product for my decaf coffee and spice tea. CHA CHA CHA!

On another good news note...I started doing yoga and I like it. I bought a yoga dvd and tried it...bought the yoga bricks...so I am all set...with Hashimoto's disease it is important to not get stressed out, it seems to bring on manic behavior and Hashimoto attacks...yoga quiets me and forces me to look inward and calm down. So yahoo yoga. I used to think it looked boring, but nope. I like it! Soften your eyes, keep them closed and look at your nose...and concentrate on inhaling and exhaling. Love it!

Feeling good in the eliminating foods neighborhood.

Last night I made beef stew and yes I did eat some of the chunks of potatoes...and what did I thicken the broth with? tapioca flour. It was delicious.

Today I made some buckwheat pancakes that I can eat as pancakes or use as flat bread. I made them with coconut products this time since I no longer am using nuts or nutmilk...scroll down through my blog for the buckwheat pancake recipe and this time I used 1 TB coconut sugar instead of 2 TB of another sweetener...and I used unsweetened coconut milk for the liquid and coconut oil for the oil...you might say lately I have gone coocoo for coconut! LOL

I had a tube of Jimmy Dean's sausage and missed having sausage gravy so I fried the package up, chopping it down as it cooked on medium and thickened it with a little tapioca flour and of course.....UNSWEETENED COCONUT MILK...coocoo!

I put some of the sausage gravy over a pancake and was in hog heaven...yummy!

So grain free; gluten free; dairy and casein free;egg free; soy free; except for apples, fruit free; refined sugar free, caffeine and alcohol free;except for herbal, tea free; nut free; tomato free; very limited potatoes; occasionally some rice; raw cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower free... me is happy to be...Hashimoto's and hypothyroidism will not keep me from feeling the best I can feel.

So many debilitating symptoms are gone from my life now. I can not remember when I had a cold, or flu, or fever, or stomach upset... got the big diseases,I do, but the common ones...bye bye. I know these eliminations work for me.

ENJOY! :)

One day at a time...

I know for almost 58 years I have on and off again realized that we need to live our lives one day at a time, but yesterday I had that revelation once again and wanted to blog about it.

I received two books in the mail that I had ordered...two books on hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's ... I will report the names and authors of the books in a future blog, my reason for mentioning them is this...one day at a time...learning and absorbing information about disease and conditions is a slow process, at least for me. I read and take in just so much each time...but yesterday I was on the right path again...I wrote down what I ingested and today I am doing that too.

Eliminating substances does matter to many and I know it matters to me, it is the difference between feeling well and feeling poorly.

I had a good day, a good sleep, and felt less foggy and more focused...so one day at a time...day one is always the day I am in, not negative one or two or three...but day one.

Let your days make you happy and looking forward and not backwards.

I leave with this thought...(the beginning of an essay we had to write in high school)...TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF OUR LIVES...

Buckwheat pizza grilled cheese

The guys were having grilled ham and cheese on rye and I thought it would be a good night to try baking the buckwheat pizza at NOURISHINGMEALS.COM. I mixed the dough and spread it on a large cookie sheet. I baked it 15 minutes then I put Daiya mozzarella flavored cheese and ham slices on top and then more cheese on top of the ham and baked it for another 10 minutes.
What I did after it cooled a little was cut it up and put one rectangular shaped slice on top of another so it resembled a sandwich. It was delicious and the leftovers were bagged up (see pic) and frozen to thaw at another time when I feel like having ham and cheese.

YUM YUM! Grainfree is not hard at all...as long as there is buckwheat flour available.

Buckwheat cinnamon buns

Just made some buckwheat cinnamon buns adapted from a recipe on nourishingmeals.com. I like them...buckwheat takes some getting used to, it is darker in color, has a different texture, but I love that it does not need Xanthan gum like other gluten-free flours, and I am loving the taste, but it does take some getting used to.

Worth checking out...recipes on nourishingmeals.com.

I love the sweet potato flavor for some of the sweetening...I used to love sweet potato pie.

So go there and check it out if you are intrigued. Heck, go there because you will be impressed with the creativity of these cooks.

Pasta machine buckwheat pasta

Hubby found a pasta machine in Bed Bath And Beyond so tonight I made some buckwheat fettucini noodles. I am very pleased.

Two cups of buckwheat flour and 1/2 cup water. Mix and knead for about ten minutes. Work through the roller as per pasta machine instructions, then boil for a few minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water.

I melted cheddar flavored Daiya alternative cheese in hemp milk. When melted I added the pasta and topped with crushed potato chips. delish! I will bake it tomorrow to make it more like a casserole to meld the flavors.

I continue to take my Levoxyl for hypothyroidism before bed, it works for me.

buckwheat this and buckwheat that...works for me. Imagine That!

PS why make my own? A package of buckwheat noodles cost me $8...too expensive...and making it is fun!

All the way...

Every time I read something that makes sense to me about my Hashimoto's and hypothyroidism I obviously want to try it out. This mindset has encouraged me to eliminate a whole host of substances I never thought I would not be ingesting anymore...and what is the end result? Feeling better and reducing inflammation and a poor quality of life...it seems extreme, many people ask me how I do it...it is Why Not do it for me.

So I bake with buckwheat flour...tapioca, coconut, and almond flours can be added in limited doses...I use nut milks but am going to try hemp milk since I am not so sure tree nuts are ok...(WHAT NOW??? LOL)...I eat any and all meats and poultry...fish, but limited shellfish...about the only fruit I eat is an apple, once in a while a banana...veggies veggies veggies...except raw cabbage, spinach, broccoli, tomatoes, very limited potatoes...soy is a no no...seeds are ok...eggs, no way. Agave syrup when I need to sweeten...no tea, but decaf coffee is my drink of choice now next to water...I exercise in the morning...try to take a walk in the afternoon and why? I am not going to let disease beat me...I will beat it first...and feel good...why? because some foods are not my friends. HUGS

PS the pic is of my homemade buckwheat noodles made into mac n cheese...the cheese is nondairy Daiya cheddar flavored melted in unsweetened almond milk. Comforting and I dug the taste. Crushed potato chips satisfied my guilty pleasure.

Top 50 Gluten Free Blogs

I received an e-mail today from Heather Trotter informing me I made her list of top gluten free blogs. I was thrilled to make her list. Thank you, Heather.

http://www.healthcaretechnicians.org/who-needs-wheat-anyways-the-top-50-celiac-blogs/

It works for me

Going buckwheat and skipping grains with the exception of rice now and then is working for me; I am losing weight and have less of a problem with bloated stomach. So yes, it is working for me and I like it...it isn't like I am sacrificing anything but a poorer quality of life.

Buckwheat pancakes, bread, English muffins, snack cake, and soon I will try my hand at making buckwheat noodles. B-B-B- buckwheat power!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

buckwheat pancakes and more

I am going crazy with buckwheat and loving it...going grain-free with an occasional serving of rice now and then as the exception I am embracing the non-grain buckwheat like it is my saving grace. I made pancakes again except this time I tweaked it...here it is...yum! Ycan eat them as pancakes or like flatbread make a sandwich with them...very versatile...bag them, store them to eat another day.

mix
1 cup buckwheat flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 Tabs of tapioca flour
1 cup almond milk
2 Tabs of Agave syrup
2 Tabs of olive oil

Whisk it all together and pour onto greased medium heated griddle...cook until some bubbles form. then flip over but spray the griddle while flipping so it won't stick...cool on a wire rack. ENJOY!

Yes, grain-free is the way for me and avoiding foods that cause inflammation too...so add potatoes and tomatoes and peppers to my longgggggggggg list of foods that are not my friends. i have Hashimoto's which is an autoimmune disease and am on meds for hypothyroidism and want to feel the best I can feel...SO GLAD I KNOW WHAT I AM UP AGAINST FINALLY!

HUGS

Buckwheat Pete's English muffins

I tried Buckwheat Pete's English muffin recipe this afternoon and found success...go to buckwheatpete.com if you are interested in his recipes.

THANKS, PETE! I am having fun making your recipes. Yummy stuff! Life saver!

Buckwheat spice cake

I tried a variation to my carob micro cake and like it as well if not better. I omitted the carob powder and added cinnamon and nutmeg instead and chopped pecans instead of the slivered almonds. Otherwise the recipe is the same as below. Fun in the kitchen...for those of us who are constantly adapting and trying new things.

Carob GF CF EF microwave snack cake

I was in the mood for a treat so I looked in the cupboard and saw my can of Chatfield carob powder, so aha I grabbed it and went with it...I adapted the cake recipe on the back AND used the microwave instead of baking it in the oven.

1 1/2 cups buckwheat flour
1/4 cup carob powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup of Agave syrup
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tab. apple cider vinegar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
6 Tab. olive oil
1 cup almond milk

Mix well, then I added sliced almonds to the batter and then poured into a greased glass pie plate. I microwaved it for 6 minutes then cooled it on a wire rack. Instead of frosting it I put some (no sugar added) Raspberry Jelly on top.

It amazed me that this treat had a light texture I have missed...it looks like cake and tastes like cake but if you analyze the ingredients it is actually good for you too. WIN WIN!

Buckwheatpete.com

When I began this gluten free journey, one of the first sites I discovered was Buckwheat Pete's. I bought his e-cookbook and set about to learn the breadmaking technique he believed in. Well, I enjoyed it but started other cooking and baking attempts and got to buying gluten free products so I must have lost the site and the print out of the process after that.
The other day I decided to get in contact again and ordered another e-cookbook from Buckwheat Pete since I am concentrating on buckwheat and not grains now that I know it is helping me with my automimmune disease, Hashimoto's. The book does include recipes with rice flour but I am trying to stay away from grains and buckwheat is not a grain.
I made a loaf of buckwheat bread by Pete's process this afternoon and was so pleased. It was a lot of fun for me too. I won't share the recipe and process but if you are interested hop on down to buckwheatpete.com and check it out. Enjoy the pics.
PS I used buckwheat flour and tapioca starch flour, salt, and the baking powder per ingredient list, but substituted olive oil for the sunflower oil and Agave syrup for the honey.

Micro GF DF EF grain-free snack cake

Had quite a day today...long story...want to read about it you can at facebook under Lynn (Axelson) Barry...so...I googled microwave snack cake (shall we suffice it to say I was oven impaired) and came across a vegan recipe and that is what I tried...of course I substituted a few things...

Put the following in a food processor:

1 banana
1/4 cup applesauce
1/4 cup Agave syrup
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 tsp vanilla (or more)
some cinnamon (to your liking)
some nutmeg (to your liking)
a little salt
1 1/4 cups buckwheat flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda

Process
Then add rough cut pecans

Bake in a sprayed with oil microwaveable pie pan and microwave for 5-7 min.

Enjoy!

Feelin' GOOD!

Constantly reassessing...but that's a good thing.

When I first googled my symptoms I thought I was simply gluten intolerant and probably dairy intolerant...but in the years since I discovered there was so much more to this investigation. I began blogging under "FREE TO EAT" because a cyber friend was blogging and she suggested I try blogging about my intolerances. I met Mike, the originator of the gluten free aggregator, at blogspot and many others who are celiac or allergic and intolerant to gluten. At some point I dumped "FREE TO EAT" and started anew with "SOME FOODS ARE NOT MY FRIENDS" because I realized there must be more going on inside of me and I truly could and should not eat whatever I want to eat.

It has been a long journey but I know now that because I have an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto's that I not only should watch what I eat, I need to in order to feel good and be healthy. It isn't a diet so much for weight loss, it is a diet to slow down the inflammation going on inside of me and allow my insides to do what needs to be done to live healthily.

I don't want to cause inflammation to occur so I am avoiding not only gluten but all grains, dairy, soy, tomatoes, eggs, caffeine, alcohol, tea, and limiting sugar. There are some fruits and vegetables that are good to avoid too but that's enough for this blog.

This seems so strict but come on...I spent years eating everything in sight and feeling awful...I just want to feel GREAT and these eliminations WORK! SO YES! I am thankful I know what to do. It IS WORTH IT to me. HUGS

Blackbean banana buckwheat brownies

I don't have caffeine if I can help it but I did eat some of these blackbean banana buckweat brownies...yum yum!

Put these items in a food processor

1 can of drained black beans
2 bananas
1/4 cup cocoa
generous shake of cinnamon
a little salt
1/2 cup sugar
2 tbs. olive oil
1/2 cup buckwheat flour
1 cup almond milk (or other kinds of milk)
1 tsp. vanilla

Process then add roughly chopped pecans, if desired.

Bake in greased 9X9" pan for 30 minutes. Cool, then store in the refrigerator.

I have seen many recipes for blackbean brownies but never with buckwheat flour (my latest adaptations involve using buckwheat flour, so that is what I did with this recipe). I love these. You might too. Enjoy these glutenfree, actually grainfree, eggfree, dairyfree, soyfree goodies.

My video is part of I AM THE FACE OF THYROID DISEASE

http://iamthefaceofthyroiddisease.org/2011/01/lynn-barry/

copy and paste to view...THANKS!

Exercising and Eliminating

You might think this is a blog about ingestion and digestion, but it is about the total YOU too...I used to think that was a bunch of hooey...I would sit on the couch and flick to exercise channels and think it might feel good to get off the couch and actually exercise but the idea would pass as I flicked to another station.

Well, I have been taking 10-15 min. a day to myself now and doing exercises in the privacy of my newly renovated room and I get it...it IS about the total YOU. Feel good, get that body moving and stretching and take the time to look in the mirror, with or without clothing but it is eye opening to really take a good look at the unclothed you before exercising and getting dressed...the TOTAL YOU. I am still doing 25 situps but am up to 15 pushups...holy wow, I could barely (yes, the naked reference is accurate)do 4 when I started and am up to 15...YES!!!!

So exercising...check...and eliminating foods that might aggravate the autoimmune disease is a daily routine and I FEEL GREAT ABOUT IT!

Had buckwheat pancakes again and threw in a few blueberries this time. Yummy!

Hubby being a diabetic we just started looking at the Glycemic Index in different foods and I am pleased that he googled GI and signed up for some website to learn more about GI and how it effects our insides. YAHOO...THE TOTAL YOU!

HURRAH HURRAH...cheerleading myself on to THE TOTAL BETTER ME!

YO YO! Have a good one!

Buckwheat pancakes for autoimmune sufferers

Okay so I began this gluten free life because I was trying to feel better and have a better quality of life. On this 5+ year road I discovered I have Hashimoto's disease and that it is an autoimmune disease...now I am learning that it is a good idea to try to avoid foods that cause inflamation not just gluten...and while the list seems to grow and grow, my quality of life improves and improves.

So here it my latest find...grains should be avoided too, not just gluten...I found on the internet...buckwheat pancakes. Buckwheat is NOT a grain.

Turn griddle on medium
mix one cup buckwheat flour (found it in a whole foods' store bulk section)
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tbs. sugar
2 tbs. potato starch
one cup milk of your choice (I used unsweetened almond milk)
2 tbs. olive oil

pour on to greased griddle with a ladle
when bubbles form put a cover over it for about 30 seconds then flip and put cover on again for 30 seconds then test with a knife for doneness and then enjoy! I poured a little warm maple syrup on imy pancakes and OMG...delish!

shopping in bulk foods was new for me...cheaper...win win...so many of these products we people with special eating needs have to buy are so costly...bulk food sections help A LOT!

Rudi's to the rescue for Hashimoto sufferers

I received a free loaf of bread recently from Rudi's. Thank you Rudi's Bakey! This is gluten free bread that tastes delicious, is chock full of good stuff, and whether toasted or just thawed from the freezer, it is a treat for the tastebuds.
Much has been reported lately about Celiac sufferers, but I am new to discovering I have Hashimoto's disease and from my research it is a good idea to eliminate gluten in the diet if you have this disease.
I already had eliminated gluten and have found products I like, so when Rudi's free loaf arrived I wondered if it would please me and it certainly has. I have had it toasted, and just eaten a slice thawed out. I am eager to try it in stuffing recipes and when needing breadcrumbs. I am very pleased.
While learning about Hashimoto's disease and other autoimmune diseases I am finding out that many sufferers of autoimmune disease would benefit from a diet without gluten and yet I have heard people complain that it is just too hard to stick to it, that the products are not pleasing enough. Well, I recommend Rudi's, you won't be sorry you tried their products.

fun one

www.youtube.com/watch?v=apFUr81a8KQ

Apple Bar

I made up a variation of the carob bean bars posted a few blogs ago and like ithem even better.

I took a can of drained chick peas, 2 bananas, 1 tab. cinnamon, 1/2 cup apple cider syrup, 1/2 - 1 cup GF oatmeal, 1 tsp. vanilla, 1 cup of pecans and processed it all in my food processor. I spooned out the mixture into a greased 9x9 baking pan and baked at 350 deg. for 30 min. Cut after cooling and store in fridge. A nice healthy bar when you feel like having something sweet.

I am learning more and more about Hashimoto's disease and thankful I don't do gluten, dairy, soy, sugar, caffeine, alcohol and whatever else I avoid in my commitment to feel the best I can feel with the conditions I am dealing with.

I actually did 15 sit ups and 4 pushups this morning and it felt good. Walking is something I am trying to do daily too, even if only for five minutes. A nice walk can lift the spirits when you're feeling housebound or sluggish.


Here's to healtier US in 2011!