Dear Self, Please Forgive Me

I’m trying is all I can keep telling myself after a night of stomach pains and expelling my evening meal exorcist style.  This gluten free living is hard work when you still lust after cheap Chinese food and mounds of spaghetti.  Last night, my fat kid cravings got the best of me and I gave into temptation, tossing aside all memories of past experiences and giving myself over to the demons of Chinese take out. 

When selecting my poison of choice I was giddy – bouncing on the tips of my toes as my fingers ran along the list of combination dinners.  Arriving at C19 the tiny pepper grabbed my line of sight and my mouth began to water as I read aloud “General Tso’sChicken”.  Selection made I dialed the number and relayed our order to the ill spoken voice on the other end of my conversation.  Upon hanging up I had a slight moment of sanity – my mind trying to call out to my stomach and advise against the pending doom.

Of course, you’ve all experienced the results from bad decisions made.  In my case, they were felt about 20 minutes after I had devoured my serving of chicken, rice and pot stickers.  The rumblings of gluten intolerance began to ring and my “I knew I shouldn’t have” come to the forefront of my mind. 

How am I supposed to tame these urges for foods that used to satisfy and comfort?  Today, I’m fine recovering.  My body feels as though a fierce battle was raged overnight leaving behind a single victim.  Achy joints and uneasy stomach leave me to believe I was sleepwalking to the local drinking establishment last night instead of balled up in bed. 

Here is my cry for help – other g-freers out there, how did you stop your cravings for the foods that cause so much damage? 

Attack of the Gluten Monster

After months of G-Free living, my doctor told me that I could begin adding gluten back into my diet.  He said that he felt I had an intolerance to gluten, but that my condition wouldn’t benefit from my diet any further and that I could eat gluten on a reduced level.  

Let’s take a moment to recap:  I’ve been ailing from something since September 2010.  Those of you who do the math know that after my honeymoon souvenir of salmonella courtesy of Jamaica, that it has been a long 10 months.  (happy newlywed life to us)

After finally kicking the salmonella to the curb (in just 3 ½ - 4 short months) I began experiencing arthritic conditions.  (Insert siren noise here) I first hit up my orthopedic surgeon for some assistance.  After leaving with nothing more than a wrist brace, which didn’t help much at all, I went to my primary care physician and proceeded to BEG him for some sort of relief.  His answer was drugs – pain killers to be exact.  With a quick “no spanks” I left with only a chip on my shoulder and a piss-poor attitude.  I needed help, like NOW.  I began to do research and came across a condition called Reactive Arthritis – BINGO.  Needing a proper diagnosis I called rheumatologist after rheumatologist only to get answers like “the doctor can see you in 2 months…” “3 months” “6 months”.  WHAT?!  No stinkin’ way y’all.  I finally came to my last rheumatologist on the list.  With a prayer under breath I dialed the number – “the doctor can see you on Monday”.  I’m there!

After numerous blood tests, uncounted amounts of cash spent on prescriptions, tests, co-pays and God knows what I had my official diagnosis… errr maybe.  It was either Reactive Arthritis or Psoriatic Arthritis.  I’ve got the genetic marker for both – only time and developing symptoms would make the positive diagnosis possible.  We began a regimen fit to kick the Reactive Arthritis into remission and started praying it would work.  Gluten-free living and pills, BIG pills, that I was to take twice a day.  Swallowing the pills would be hard enough for me, but giving up my gluten.  Ekkk.  I wasn’t a happy camper, but the pain was killing me – literally.

As you know (if you read my ramblings around here) I went G-Free with little troubles.  I tweak recipes of my faves and skipped out on some items that I could live without.  Life was getting better

Fast forward to my last visit -  long story short, he thinks it is Psoriatic Arthritis (hey, Phil Mickelson, we have something in common) and that the G-Free diet won’t really be a big help anymore.  So, per the doctor’s orders I’ve been returning to a gluten-filled life like the rest of America… kinda.

I’ve noticed that a lot of gluten doesn’t really bother me other than making me feel a little sluggish sometimes.  However, some items (Soy Sauce for example) throw me into a war zone against myself that I wouldn’t wish on the devil himself.  I know to stay clear of non-g-free Chinese now but sometimes, such as last night, my own cooking sends me flailing towards the bathroom mid-meal.  My insides don’t like what I’m giving and they sure know how to throw it back.  (Lovely mental image of my head hanging inside a toilet rim huh?)

Now that I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place, what is a girl to do?  Switch back to my g-free living causing me to give up some of my faves OR risk the mid-meal attacks?

G-Free Brownies

I converted my Dad's brownie recipe so that I could still enjoy one of my faves. I think they taste just as good as before!

One thing you want to make sure of is that all of your products are g-free. Yes, it takes time to check it all out the first time, but it is worth it in the long run. Enjoy!

Serves: 25
Oven Temperature: 350 degrees
Cooking Time: 45+ minutes

Ingredients:
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups sugar
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
4 eggs
2/3 cup cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup flour (see g-free flour recipe)

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2) Blend oil, sugar, vanilla & eggs.
3) In separate bowl combine g-free flour, cocoa, baking powder & salt.
4) Gently add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until well blended.
5) Spread into greased baking dish & bake for 45+ minutes.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Homemade G-Free Flour

I am such a huge fan of baking, so my gluten free diet can NOT stop me now! My mom's small group leader is also gluten free and was sweet enough to share her homemade flour recipe. I've included it below because it makes the BEST baked goods. I am serious - so good that even my non g-free husband likes them too.

Ingredients:
6 cups brown rice flour
2 cups potato starch
1 cup tapioca starch
3 tsp xanthan gum

Directions:
Sift all ingredients together and store in air tight container for baking use.

Now that you have a new flour recipe, what baked goods are you making? Be sure to share!

Much love,
Steph

Location:Steph's G-Free Bakery

G-Free Banana Bread With Sunflower Seeds

OOOooo yummy y'all!!  My first attempt at baking gluten free turned out great!  I borrowed the recipe from this great blog a friend suggested, A Girl Takes on The World - she has the best sounding recipes!  Since I'm new to the g-free life, I wanted to try this simple recipe out for starters.  AND in true Stephanie style, I had to toss in my own little twist.

Here is my yummy banana bread...

Ingredients:
   1/4 cup Crisco
   1 Egg
   1 tsp. Baking soda
   3-4 Brown Bananas
   1 cup Brown Sugar
   1/2 cup Rice flour
   1/2 tsp. xanthan gum
   1 tsp Salt
   1/2 cup Sunflower Seeds (unsalted)

Directions:
1.) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine the Crisco and  brown sugar and beat together until smooth.
2) Add in the egg, flour, salt, baking soda, & xanthan gum.
3) In separate bowl, mash up the bananas with mixer or a fork and then add them to dough mixture.
4) Combine all the ingredients until well mixed.  Add sunflower seeds.  The dough is not going to be completely smooth as the banana will still be chunky.  Pour into a greased loaf pan. 
5) Bake for 1 hour and ENJOY!

Gluten Free Life - Day 1

Today was such an adventure!  After church we stopped by Super H Mart to shop for produce and meats.  Let me just say that place is A-MAZING!  The freshest produce, the best cuts of meats ALL for cheap.  It's exactly where we should've been shopping all along.  We loved it so much that we signed up for the Super H Savers Program!  I'm in love.

After stocking up on a truck load of food, we went to Kroger where I was able to find a great stock of gluten free snacks, pancake mixes, frozen foods, etc.  Fab!  Unfortunately, I'm a Publix girl and they don't really offer a great selection.  I did chat with the manager today and they are expanding their inventory throughout March.  Fingers crossed that Publix goes gluten free friendly soon! 

Our first gluten free dinner at home was yumm-o.  I made a beautiful beef brisket with sauteed cabbage and smashed red potatoes.  I know - DELISH!  I've even got my first gluten free baked good in the oven (recipe courtesy of Courtney at "A Girl Takes on the World").  The banana bread smells absolutely delish!

My goal for tomorrow is to make brownies using my new homemade flour.  :)  I'll post the results soon.