Miss that Chinese take-out?

About a month ago, I made a meal that had Rob raving for weeks. I'd been looking for some high protein meals online and stumbled across this recipe for Bourbon Chicken. As I was making the menu for this week- a good money saving tip- I decided I'd make bourbon chicken again, since it was such a hit last time. All week Rob was talking about how he couldn't wait. He'd go look at the menu on the fridge- I guess to make sure it was still on there? Tonight was bourbon chicken night, but instead of just doing plain old bourbon chicken we had bourbon chicken lettuce wraps. Delish! I just made the chicken as the recipe says (plus a little onion powder and maple syrup) and put it on a romaine lettuce leaf.

We added some fried rice and roasted broccoli to the meal. It felt like we were eating some awesome Chinese take-out but it was 100% gluten free! Now I just need to figure out how to make some gluten free crab rangoon...

Sometimes I'm a bad liar...

Wow, where has February gone? I've got to tell you, I'm not sad it's over. I find February to be a pretty sad month. It's always so cold, dreary and snowy- I'm not a fan of any of those things. It's March 1st and I am thrilled. I just checked weather.com and we have a few days of warm-ish and sunny weather. I'll take it! But, I do have to apologize to you friend. It's March and I still haven't posted those snow storm recipes. I am so far behind lately. So sorry. I hope that the delicious-ness of this first recipe makes up for it!

I'm calling this recipe Baked S'mores. One night I was REALLY craving something sweet, but I didn't want to make brownies or a cake because I'd eat the whole thing. These Baked S'mores were the perfect solution. Easy, small and DELICIOUS!

You will need:
Kinnikinnick Gfree Graham Crackers (crushed)
1 T. melted butter
Jet Puffed Marshmallows (I've used the little ones and the big ones, I think the little ones work better)
Gfree Chocolate Chips (I'm partial to the Ghirardelli)

Preheat oven to 350. I crushed up those graham crackers in my handy mortar and pestle while I melted the butter in the microwave in a small oven safe CorningWare dish. Then I mixed the butter and crushed grahams together in the CorningWare dish. Add in the marshmallows and chocolate (I like the chocolate on the bottom then marshmallows on top-- I think it tastes better). Set CorningWare on cookie sheet and place in oven for 5-10 minutes or until the marshmallows are melted and toasted.

Seriously, this stuff is so good! I added peanuts once and that wasn't so good so I don't recommend that step. I love the toasted part of the marshmallows. It's a little crunchy and totally takes me out to a summer night in front of a campfire.

I'll post about the other dish very soon. Promise. :)

Enjoy!

I don't miss gluten a bit-- but sometimes I crave it.

You know. As hard as the gluten free life style is sometimes, I don't miss gluten one bit. Now, I must clarify, that doesn't mean that I don't sometimes wish I could swing into a McD's and pick up a burger and fries. It does mean that it no longer consumes my thoughts. HA! Maybe that sounds pathetic, but you should try giving up your guilty pleasure. Sometimes, it sneaks back it. Also, I should clarify that I will NEVER knowingly ingest gluten to satisfy a craving. It's not worth it.

So, when that delicious looking McD's commercial pops on the television and we're left salivating, how do we handle the cravings? Well, here's what I do. I choose to focus on the positive things rather than dwelling on "if I ate that I'd be in SO much pain" all the time. Doing that will definitely get you down. First, I think about how I can totally make something that tastes even better than McD's AND (bonus!) it's healthier! Next, I think about how much money I save by saying no to all those enticing ads. (My husband loves this one in particular) Finally, I think about why I want that burger? What need will it satisfy? Hunger? Not really. Pleasure? Nope. Happiness? Hardly. Shoot, I don't even need that McD's!

Now, if only I could apply this principle to why I should use my new running shoes for more than running to the mail box...

Bad restaurants to Joy-- my mind works in crazy ways sometimes...

I recently had a terrible Gluten Free restaurant experience. It resulted in me being sick for over 3 weeks. I am still dealing with the repercussions of the auto-immune reaction. So, why do restaurants claim their food is "Gluten Free" or "Celiac Friendly" when they don't take the time to do it right? I have no idea, but I do know that it needs to stop. Immediately. Restaurants, some knowingly (more on that later), are poisoning people with various food intolerances, allergies, and diseases. So, what happens when restaurants do this. Well, in my current experience, nothing. I've called and emailed the company and I was informed that they KNEW the dish I ordered was recently outsourced to contain gluten. And what is going to happen to this company? Will they suffer for a whole month with the awful things I've experienced? Nope. Will they feel bad? Probably not. Will they apologize? Not so far.
And in response what do I want to do? Well, to put it plain and simple, I want revenge. I'm angry. Probably more angry that I've ever been before. They have put my health and (I hate to admit it, but it's true) my happiness on the line. I couldn't work for over a week. I had to opt out of hanging out with friends or going places because I was so sick. And now, in the most joyful season of the year, I'm struggling to find my joy, my "bubble," as some people call it. And I hate that. I know that this angry person is not in any way the person God has created me to be. Nor am I acting in a way that reflects the amazing gift we were given in Jesus. Does a few weeks of sickness really matter in the grand scheme of things. No. But does my attitude and my influence on those around me matter. Yeah, they do. How can I be a witness to the Light if I am so consumed by the pain in my gut.
But then I'm stuck. Because at times the pain is so great that it's all I can think about. I can't concentrate enough to read the Bible or pray because the brain fog has me so ADD I can barely get through a sentence. I have no answers or solutions to my current predicament. But above all else, I will be thankful. I've learned that even though things seem really crappy, I'm blessed beyond measure (and I don't mean by material things).
So today, I've got unquenchable heartburn, but I'm thankful for the Tums that is somehow managing to take the edge off a bit. I'm thankful for the love my wonderful husband has for me. I'm thankful for my bff Emilee who understands me better than I understand myself on most days. I'm thankful for the warmth I feel today despite the sub zero wind chills outside my door. I'm thankful that Jesus loves me so much that he became man in order to save me (and you). I'm thankful that I'm a part of a wonderful community in Confluence Church. I'm thankful for God's love of justice. I'm thankful for our family. I'm thankful for technology so that we can stay in better touch with our family. And that is just the tip of the iceberg of things I have to be thankful for this day.
I definitely have so many reasons to be joyful today-- and everyday for that matter. How about you? What are you thankful for today?

PS. Thanks for sticking with me through this spastic therapeutic blog post. :)

I get by with a little help from my friends...

Well, it's official. I'm out of survival mode and into coping mode... and I'm not doing so great with the coping. BUT, I have been beyond blessed by some amazing people in my life who are 100% with me and for me in this battle against food. First, my wonderfully caring husband. Anytime I'm feeling down about the things I've lost because of Celiac he is there, not only with a comforting word and a big hug, but also with the voice of reason that keeps me grounded in those times. He goes all out in trying to protect me, not only from that evil culprit--gluten-- but also from feeling abnormal. I also am feeling ultra blessed by my BFF, Emilee. She is always there to listen to me whine about my current mopey state and offer an encouraging word. She is there to be angry with me when I'm sick and be hopeful with me when I have a stretch of good days. Also, I am very blessed by a few little kiddos who don't have a clue what Celiac is, but they know that I have tummy troubles and are willing to brush their teeth, wash their hands and eat strange foods to keep my belly from hurting. I am also thankful for Rob's family and mine who are trying to learn how to protect me when I come to visit. I am very thankful for my aunt and uncle who have some experience with Celiac and used their grandson's birthday party as a chance to teach others in my family how to prepare food for me. I am thankful for our friend Neil who has been very sensitive to the demands of Celiac. He has offered to vacuum out his car so I don't get sick, make foods for a Christmas party gluten free so that I can partake too and worked with me to create alternatives of meals for me.

As much as this journey sucks sometimes, God has surrounded me with wonderful, supportive, uplifting and encouraging people. I've been pretty focused lately on feeling bad for myself and on the things I am going to miss out on in this upcoming holiday season... but today I realized that I have awesome people around me and I need to be more thankful for that. So, to all of you who have put up with my whining, tried foods you didn't really want to, made yourself uncomfortable in order to accommodate my needs, or any of the numerous other acts of kindness I experience on a daily basis... THANK YOU. I appreciate you and your support.

Phil. 1: 3-6
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Love,
Sam