So, I've never been a huge sweets person, but not being able to eat something makes me want it more (of course). I found a recipe for a gluten free, sugar free cake. I know it doesn't sound real..how can you make a cake without sugar or flour?
Well, you use coconut flour, almond flour, add two eggs, a few other ingredients *like bananas, peanut butter, vanilla, and agave* and voila- you have cake!
The best part is, Randy doesn't like desserts with bananas. That's right, I get to eat the whole darn thing by myself, and it's so healthy I can eat it for breakfast, snack, or dessert. It's quite moist from the 4 bananas I smashed in the batter, and next time I may try 3. Other than that, not bad for a first time flourless, sugar free cake!
Friday, March 18, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Smells like poo
I know you're reading this b/c the title says smells like poo.
This week has been a tougher week so far..my symptoms have been worse, but so far I have been able to accomplish the things I do on a regular basis.
Because I've cut out all things bad for me, I am jealous of my husband who gets to eat vegetable chips and kettle chips..I like crunchy things!!
I found a recipe last week (if you can call it that) for kale chips. It honestly sounded gross to me, but I said, why not? Monday I bought a huge bag of kale at Publix.
Today, I decided to make kale chips..the recipe is pretty easy:
wash and dry kale, set on foil on cookie sheet, sprinkle with olive oil and sea salt and bake for 15-20 minutes.
Uhm, the kale was ok...I ended up eating all that I made (I think I was just hungry) but my house smells gross!! Apparently cooked kale smells like poo. Great, right? I still have 3/4 of a bag of kale left. Any ideas?
This week has been a tougher week so far..my symptoms have been worse, but so far I have been able to accomplish the things I do on a regular basis.
Because I've cut out all things bad for me, I am jealous of my husband who gets to eat vegetable chips and kettle chips..I like crunchy things!!
I found a recipe last week (if you can call it that) for kale chips. It honestly sounded gross to me, but I said, why not? Monday I bought a huge bag of kale at Publix.
Today, I decided to make kale chips..the recipe is pretty easy:
wash and dry kale, set on foil on cookie sheet, sprinkle with olive oil and sea salt and bake for 15-20 minutes.
Uhm, the kale was ok...I ended up eating all that I made (I think I was just hungry) but my house smells gross!! Apparently cooked kale smells like poo. Great, right? I still have 3/4 of a bag of kale left. Any ideas?
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
The dirt fairy
I am totally convinced the dirt fairy lives at my house. I can't see her when she sprinkles it onto my floors, but I know she's there...I see her effects. I seriously don't know how my floors get so dirty..I clean them all the time. I guess it's because we live near the beach, and the strong winds somehow blow dirt into my house??? (Or it could be that R and I have about 12 trenches in our backyard for the sprinklers..we can't get away from dirt).
On another cleaning note, I have a new favorite cleaning item. It's Mrs. Meyers Clean Day. I purchased the Lemon Verbena scent, and I am enjoying spraying it on my countertops and then wiping them clean. In fact, I'm about to clean our bathroom..
On another cleaning note, I have a new favorite cleaning item. It's Mrs. Meyers Clean Day. I purchased the Lemon Verbena scent, and I am enjoying spraying it on my countertops and then wiping them clean. In fact, I'm about to clean our bathroom..
Saturday, March 12, 2011
No butter?
I admit it, I am scared of real butter. I know it sounds stupid, but butter contains lots of fat and saturated fat, and I've been taught in the past to loathe the stuff.
I asked Randy if we could go to Outback for dinner b/c they have a gluten free menu. Looking at their website a little closer, I noticed the steaks and vegetables are cooked in butter! No wonder they taste so darn good!
Another reason I am hesitant to use real butter is that it is made from cream and that means cows milk. UGH! So, what's a girl to do?
I ordered my Outback Special with no butter and my steamed veggies the same way..did I mention no croutons, cheese or dressing on my salad??
The steak was great..in fact, I questioned whether or not they left the butter out. The manager came and talked to us and said he'd make me another one..I politely declined and told him I just didn't see how it could be so good. He said they are using more oil now (hmm...).
I may try the chicken on the barbie next time we go, and see how that is. At this time, Outback is still a winner in my book.
I asked Randy if we could go to Outback for dinner b/c they have a gluten free menu. Looking at their website a little closer, I noticed the steaks and vegetables are cooked in butter! No wonder they taste so darn good!
Another reason I am hesitant to use real butter is that it is made from cream and that means cows milk. UGH! So, what's a girl to do?
I ordered my Outback Special with no butter and my steamed veggies the same way..did I mention no croutons, cheese or dressing on my salad??
The steak was great..in fact, I questioned whether or not they left the butter out. The manager came and talked to us and said he'd make me another one..I politely declined and told him I just didn't see how it could be so good. He said they are using more oil now (hmm...).
I may try the chicken on the barbie next time we go, and see how that is. At this time, Outback is still a winner in my book.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
My fake ice cream treat...
Before I knew I had Crohn's, I wondered why I had the symptoms that I was experiencing. Now that I know, it's an every day battle to try to feel good. Each day is a new day, and I never really know how I am going to feel. Today has been ok; not my best day, but not my worst.
Randy and I used to each Chick Fil A twice a week (bad, I know), and now that I know Chick Fil A uses MSG on their chicken, I will no longer eat there. R on the other hand doesn't care about MSG, and of course wants to still eat there. I've been making my own chicken breast and bringing it with me and placing it on a side salad from CFA. Unfortunately, the salad contains cheese, and dairy is officially out for me. I told Randy that I'm going to have to start bringing my own salad too..good grief!!
On a side note, I made a GF/DF ice cream type treat for a snack today. I used a recipe I found in a cookbook, and next time I make it, I will play around with the flavors more.
Banana Nut Butter Mush
1 ripe banana sliced and frozen
1/4 cup natural peanut butter or almond butter
1/4 cup milk substitute (I used coconut milk)
dash of cinnamon
1/8 tsp of vanilla or almond extract
*I also added about a tsp of unsweetened coconut to mine*
Blend ingredients until smooth. Eat fresh or freeze 10 minutes
I thought it was pretty decent, but I will add more vanilla and a touch of honey or agave next time I make it.
Randy and I used to each Chick Fil A twice a week (bad, I know), and now that I know Chick Fil A uses MSG on their chicken, I will no longer eat there. R on the other hand doesn't care about MSG, and of course wants to still eat there. I've been making my own chicken breast and bringing it with me and placing it on a side salad from CFA. Unfortunately, the salad contains cheese, and dairy is officially out for me. I told Randy that I'm going to have to start bringing my own salad too..good grief!!
On a side note, I made a GF/DF ice cream type treat for a snack today. I used a recipe I found in a cookbook, and next time I make it, I will play around with the flavors more.
Banana Nut Butter Mush
1 ripe banana sliced and frozen
1/4 cup natural peanut butter or almond butter
1/4 cup milk substitute (I used coconut milk)
dash of cinnamon
1/8 tsp of vanilla or almond extract
*I also added about a tsp of unsweetened coconut to mine*
Blend ingredients until smooth. Eat fresh or freeze 10 minutes
I thought it was pretty decent, but I will add more vanilla and a touch of honey or agave next time I make it.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Eating with Crohn's!
Being diagnosed with Crohn's Disease in February sent me into a lifestyle panic. I feel like I ate pretty healthy, but healthy really doesn't cut it with Crohn's. I have ulcers in my small intestine, and it's possible that some foods might trigger more problems. The problem with Crohn's is that no one knows why it happens and there's really no way to prevent it.
That said, rather than take medication for the rest of my life (once you start, you aren't supposed to stop), I told my PA that I'd like to try to control my symptoms with a diet change. Diet has always been a dirty word to me being that I've never weighed over 111 pounds in my life and typically float by at 105. After having gone through the colonoscopy/endoscopy and then another endoscopy, two fasts in one month was too much for my body to handle. I'm currently down to 100-101 pounds..yikes!
I made the decision to leave glutenous grains, dairy products and evil sugar out of my eating patterns. That left me with a problem..what the heck do I eat for breakfast? I am a cereal and milk lover, and now it's out. So are waffles and pancakes and anything else having to do with gluten or wheat..oh boy.
I read about the specific carbohydrate diet and it seemed that it was helping people with Crohn's..I also read it can take up to 2 years to really make a difference. So, currently, I am spending a lot of time figuring out how to make healthy balanced meals that aren't boring and don't contain gluten, sugar, or dairy products. It's been quite a task.
This evening, I tried a recipe I found online for a yummy nutty snack. It's actually pretty good, and I am sure I will be trying some new additions with the current recipe!
1. 2 cups of nuts (pecans, walnuts, or almonds)
2. 2 tablespoons agave nectar
3. 1 tablespoon canola, coconut, or grapeseed oil (I used canola)
4. 1.5 tsp cinnamon
5. 1/4 tsp cayenne powder
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Place nuts in a medium sized bowl
Combine agave, oil, cinnamon, and cayenne (I used a ramekin so it wouldn't stick as much)
Pour mixture over nuts and mix to coat.
Place in a single layer in a glass dish.
BAKE 12-15 MINUTES, stirring after 6 minutes.
Let nuts cool for a few minutes and then place on aluminum foil in a single layer.
Enjoy!
That said, rather than take medication for the rest of my life (once you start, you aren't supposed to stop), I told my PA that I'd like to try to control my symptoms with a diet change. Diet has always been a dirty word to me being that I've never weighed over 111 pounds in my life and typically float by at 105. After having gone through the colonoscopy/endoscopy and then another endoscopy, two fasts in one month was too much for my body to handle. I'm currently down to 100-101 pounds..yikes!
I made the decision to leave glutenous grains, dairy products and evil sugar out of my eating patterns. That left me with a problem..what the heck do I eat for breakfast? I am a cereal and milk lover, and now it's out. So are waffles and pancakes and anything else having to do with gluten or wheat..oh boy.
I read about the specific carbohydrate diet and it seemed that it was helping people with Crohn's..I also read it can take up to 2 years to really make a difference. So, currently, I am spending a lot of time figuring out how to make healthy balanced meals that aren't boring and don't contain gluten, sugar, or dairy products. It's been quite a task.
This evening, I tried a recipe I found online for a yummy nutty snack. It's actually pretty good, and I am sure I will be trying some new additions with the current recipe!
1. 2 cups of nuts (pecans, walnuts, or almonds)
2. 2 tablespoons agave nectar
3. 1 tablespoon canola, coconut, or grapeseed oil (I used canola)
4. 1.5 tsp cinnamon
5. 1/4 tsp cayenne powder
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Place nuts in a medium sized bowl
Combine agave, oil, cinnamon, and cayenne (I used a ramekin so it wouldn't stick as much)
Pour mixture over nuts and mix to coat.
Place in a single layer in a glass dish.
BAKE 12-15 MINUTES, stirring after 6 minutes.
Let nuts cool for a few minutes and then place on aluminum foil in a single layer.
Enjoy!
Friday, February 11, 2011
One Year, Take Three
Hello September!
Randy arrived home from San Diego on Sept. 11th (not my favorite day). I honestly can't remember September very well. I think R's parents came to visit (or maybe we went there??). Who knows.
October is the month of all things pumpkin. To begin the month, I started making pumpkin pancakes! We also decided (with our neighbors) to work on the vacant lot that sits next to our house..the lot is very overgrown and ivy, etc likes to grow over the fence into our yard.
I also had two firsts in October: a hickie, and a pumpkin party for my Bible study group.
In November, Randy's brother Ryan, wife Morgan, and nephew Taylor came to visit. I wish I could tell you how warm it was, but it was freezing!! We took Taylor to a fall festival at Pier Park, and despite the cold, he had a blast. He even fell asleep before we left!
To end the month, I finished the cabinets, and then it was Thanksgiving at the Whiteheads! R and I decided to brave the crowds and the cold/rain, and head out on Black Friday. We found some great buys, and actually had fun.
R had surgery in November, and my mom came to visit and keep me company while R recovered. She also helped us get decorations ready for the 5th Annual Elf Party which was the 1st weekend in December.
By the first weekend in December, we had our backyard decked out in lights, candy canes, and our back house filled with snow and snowflakes. That Friday night, we attended our Sunday School classes' Cmas Party..theme: 80's tacky Cmas sweater. I bought sweatshirts at Goodwill, and then decorated R's so he would have a better chance of winning a prize. Needless to say, he was pretty tacky!!
We actually watched Elf at this past yr's party, and I was decked out in an Elf costume. Yep, $46 later, I was transformed and R loved it.
You guys know what happens at the end of December..that's right, Cmas and a whole lot of driving. We drove to Mobile on Cmas Eve, and left Cmas Day for Augusta. We spent a few days in Augusta where it happened to snow the day after Cmas! Pretty cool. We got back to PCB on the 30th and spent our New Yrs Eve in pajamas (bed at 10:30!).
We started the New Year off right by working on the patio. That's when we figured out that the bricks we brought from Mobile wouldn't work. Ooops. That meant going to Lowe's and spending $450 on brick pavers and then another $200 on a retaining wall. Other than attend a wedding and a fabulous birthday party, we worked on the patio and brick walkways non-stop. Our hard work is paying off..it looks great!
Now to pics of our patio and walkways:
To start February off right, I'm teaching an outdoor water aerobics class to snowbirds, and R shaved off his beard. You might think that's not a big deal, but when you've seen your husband with facial hair for 3 months, he looks totally different when it's gone!
In closing, I am sure that three blogs could not possibly describe my entire first year of marriage and all the events that took place. I'm looking forward to many more years, and maybe fewer house renovations! Happy First Anniversary Babes
Randy arrived home from San Diego on Sept. 11th (not my favorite day). I honestly can't remember September very well. I think R's parents came to visit (or maybe we went there??). Who knows.
October is the month of all things pumpkin. To begin the month, I started making pumpkin pancakes! We also decided (with our neighbors) to work on the vacant lot that sits next to our house..the lot is very overgrown and ivy, etc likes to grow over the fence into our yard.
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| 1st batch of pumpkin pancakes |
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| the clearing begins! |
October was also the month we decided to work on the kitchen. We picked a color for the walls and also planned to work on the cabinets. R's fam came for a weekend visit, and we also celebrated the day we got engaged by going to eat in Destin.
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| Aww, we got engaged on this day, 2009 |
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| Hello, colors! yes, we finally chose one |
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| Big L, Mama Judy, Me and Lisa |
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| beautiful water..too cold to get in all the way |
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| R's fam, minus his brother |
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| R and little sis, Lisa |
Our current boat was pretty small, and during October, we acquired R's late grandfather's old boat. It's much larger than our former boat and we're looking forward to taking it out in the Gulf..that is, once it's running! I also planted some new flowers by our mailbox and the butterflies loved them. Looking forward to having them come up again in the spring/summer!
We, or, I finished painting the kitchen, and then moved on to the cabinets. B/c of the nature of the wood, I had to strip all the cabinets and then prime them, and then paint them. It was quite an ordeal, especially when it was 80 something degrees outside and I was scrubbing away on cabinets!!
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| Old, ugly cabinets |
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| New kitchen color! |
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| New kitchen cabinet color! So pretty |
I also had two firsts in October: a hickie, and a pumpkin party for my Bible study group.
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| Yep, there it is |
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| the girls that brought and carved pumpkins |
The last day of October was Halloween and even though we live in a cul-de-sac, I was determined to give out candy. So, I sat in a chair and waited......R joined me later.
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| Happy Fall |
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| separating the cornish hens from their bones |
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| r and baby t |
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| Me, R, Mama Judy, Lisa, Morgan |
R had surgery in November, and my mom came to visit and keep me company while R recovered. She also helped us get decorations ready for the 5th Annual Elf Party which was the 1st weekend in December.
By the first weekend in December, we had our backyard decked out in lights, candy canes, and our back house filled with snow and snowflakes. That Friday night, we attended our Sunday School classes' Cmas Party..theme: 80's tacky Cmas sweater. I bought sweatshirts at Goodwill, and then decorated R's so he would have a better chance of winning a prize. Needless to say, he was pretty tacky!!
We actually watched Elf at this past yr's party, and I was decked out in an Elf costume. Yep, $46 later, I was transformed and R loved it.
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| ss cmas party |
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| ss class |
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| making a mess! decorating for cmas |
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| with friends mark and anna |
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| candy cane path |
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| front door of the back house |
R turned 30 on Dec. 8th, so we celebrated at Bonefish. We also drove back and forth to Mobile a few times to get bricks for the porch and pathways we wanted to make in our backyard. Let's just say that didn't turn out the way we'd planned, but it's worked out in the end.
R got the flu the week before Christmas! Yep, perfect timing, and was out of work all week. Being the nice wife that I am, I let him have our bedroom, and I slept in my former twin bed for a few nights. Thankfully, tamiflu does it's thing, b/c I never got the flu.
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| my new stocking at the Whiteheads |
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| with nephew Taylor |
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| snow in augusta! |
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| after cmas catch up time with friend christel |
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| new yrs eve and pajamas |
I did forget to mention one semi-important detail about January. Auburn won the nation championship game..obviously a big deal here since R has two degrees from AU.
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| he hasn't killed anyone yet, but he sure looks like someone who would! |
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