September update

Oh, the things that happened this month:

• birthday party for my niece's daughter
• Labor Day swimming at my cousin's
• (always) Dr. Q
• webinar on natural treatments--mostly talking about mushrooms (I don't have time for more crazy #justsaying)
• endocrinologist appointment--she was not impressed with how quickly my primary doctor reduced my thyroid meds so she asked me to come back next month for new labs; I am currently taking 100 mcg of Levothyroxine (Synthroid)
• work dinner Olive and Ivy--pretty good, and accommodating
• went to Becketts Table and it wasn't as good as I remember, kind of weird actually; a small, tasty piece of salmon on a plate of carrots and a side of green beans after I was done eating.
• went to my niece's daughter's and son's birthday party at a park

cat in a bag - tongue out Tinker

sandwich on Bread SRSLY (a gift!) #giddy

sandwich on a Bread SRSLY roll #happiness

Sleeping Cassi--but I missed the photo contest deadline

Mmm, bacon--the low sodium has a shorter ingredient list.

Fruit!

Bacon, and bacon wrapped apricots #yum

No weird ingredients--a Costco find!

The tri-tip after cooking #nomnom

roasted asparagus

My major malfunction has been the eye doctor/glasses shopping. This seems like a short, simple process for most people. However, I:

• went to the eye doctor, got a glasses prescription, 
• went to Costco and found frames, had glasses and sunglasses made, 
• picked up new glasses and sunglasses, couldn't see but they said it was the prescription,
• went back to adjust (the ear piece was painful),
• went back to the eye doctor but they just had me see one of the technicians in the front and said it was probably the coating on the lenses (#WTF), 
• went back to Costco where they checked the prescription and sent the glasses back to be remade, but not the sunglasses, 
• picked those up and still couldn't see, 
• made and had an appointment with my friend's eye doctor at another Costco, got a new prescription, 
• got my glasses and sunglasses remade, picked up the glasses first,
• picked up the sunglasses and had the glasses in for an adjustment.

I got this style of sunglasses

I still need to take the sunglasses in for adjustment as one of the arms is too loose, but seriously, who else goes through this kind of crazy to cross ONE ITEM OFF MY LIST? I cope but I hate that this is my normal. An item on my to-do list took me two months to accomplish. I can't wait to do it again next year! #Ispeaksarcasm

Pineapple Thai chicken

I bought this sauce at the farmer's market. I like all the ingredients except some "natural" stevia.I made it with some chicken and zucchini and rice. It wasn't bad. I would probably eat it or something like it again but I don't think I'd go out of my way to buy the sauce.

Mint chocolate

Although it has some stevia, I decided to try this lovely idea: mint chocolate coconut milk. Hmm. It was...good, chocolatey, a little mint, thick like coconut milk but not as much as egg nog which I thought it was originally. The only issue that I can't get past is the aftertaste due to the stevia. I drank it but I don't think I'd buy it again.

Pasta dinner

It took me a little while after I got home to get started on dinner. I had to wait for the Advil to kick in. I'm glad I didn't get my cramps during the weekend but it would be even better if I didn't have to get them at all.

Costco is selling rice pasta in a box containing 4 bags of pasta. The directions are so different from any other pasta I've cooked. It is boiled for a few minutes and then left in the hot water, burner off, for 15 minutes. I kinda messed up, forgot to stir it so it clumped, but it cooked (maybe a little too much.)

Well, it works. My dinner was yummy. And yes, that is zucchini from our garden!

Yum.

Hodgson Mill cornbread mix

I made chili using a couple of pounds of the ground elk from Mick's hunt. I decided to try a cornbread mix I picked up at Albertsons. This is Hodgson Mills; I used egg replacer for the two eggs. I accidently only made enough for one replacement egg and then had to add the second one last minute. 

I made them as muffins.

It wasn't bad but a little denser than I like. I think I would use applesauce for one of the eggs next time, and maybe a double amount of applesauce so it would be less dry.

Pancakes via zulilly

I got a box of gluten free allergy friendly products from zulilly. The first to try: pancake mix.

Bacon!

It wasn't bad but seemed kind of bland. It's okay once I put berries and syrup but I think this pancake mix needs something for mixing in like pumpkin or Enjoy Life chocolate chips.

Sick days

Yeah, I caught something at the office. When I went home sick on Thursday, I stopped at True Food to pick up some curry for lunch (because who wants to cook when they're sick, and it's even harder for me) and some juice.

Beets and carrots

I've been out for a couple days plus the weekend so I went to the doctor. I got into a room pretty quick and then had to wait forever for the doctor. She told me to stay home another day and gave me some antibiotics.

I bought some cough drops for the night, when it's the worst. These are gluten-free. And weird. Not good. Not effective for how I use them at night--they aren't hard, but more gummy although you aren't supposed to chew them either. I guess I'll stick with the Ricola drops although I think they might not really agree with me.

Drops

I have slept so much; I'm going to have trouble going back to work.

Taco Pasta

I didn't start to learn to cook until I was a teenager. One of the first things I learned to cook was Hamburger Helper. Obviously, Hamburger Helper doesn't work for me these days.

I recently found this Namaste brands Taco Pasta dinner and yes, I HAD to have it. Just add some tomato sauce and canned tomatoes (I used Muir Glen diced tomatoes with chipotles) and follow the directions.

It was pretty good and made enough that I had some leftovers. It's not really economical, especially noticeable if you know how cheap you can get Hamburger Helper. But for someone who has few quick dinner options, this is a good thing to keep on hand.

Namaste is a great brand for people allergic to "everything" like me and I'm glad to see it in limited amounts starting to show up at some of the "normal" stores.

Taco Pasta

Chicken salad

I found a veggie burger that I can have. There are several varieties. Since I can't eat buns, I don't eat it like a burger though. I just use them to get more veggies in my diet.

I think when you eat a veggie burger, you should always attempt to top it with some meat. Ha-ha.  Mick thought this was gross looking (he was eating something else) but he thought it was funny too. I just mixed leftover roast chicken with avocado, some Earth Balance mayo, salt and pepper. Some Kettle Crinkle Chips on the side for some crunch makes it a well-rounded lunch. Where well-rounded means I like it.

Makeup and skin

Let's talk about what we put on our skin, the largest organ and most likely to be ignored as being impacted by food allergies.

I know that a lot of people roll their eyes or make fun of all the gluten free products out there but there are SO many products to shift through and oftentimes, the ingredient list is, at best--tiny and hard to read, and at worst--indecipherable and written in quasi-English.

Zoolander via Pinterest

A friend who has Celiac disease gets terrible dermatitis when she uses products with gluten. Meeting her was when I got really serious about my products but it had been a struggle.

Even within brands, some gluten free products may or may not contain soy or dairy. Certified gluten free brands are (of course, why not) more expensive, so I end up spending the first hour of my grocery shopping reading labels and searching online for information for less expensive brands.

I am still figuring this stuff out but I'll share where I'm at so far.

I used to be an Oil of Olay girl. LOVED it. Used it every day. I had beautiful skin. Mostly I still do but to be honest, I'm not really moisturizing on a regular basis anymore. I just haven't found anything I love and is all so much pricier for less product.

Yes, I would like some cheese with my whine. But I can't have dairy!

The best I've found is the container of Yes! Moisturizer. In the little white container like a small Noxema container. NOT the ones on the dispensers--those are thick and hard to rub in. Blech.

My latest find is Everyday Coconut face lotion and eye cream I found at Sprouts. The face/body lotion is in a larger pump dispenser bottle. It's not bad; I still have to check that I don't have lotion residue after application. Still searching and taking suggestions.

I was also a Clinique girl for many years with a little MAC thrown in for makeup. Currently I am using a mix of Mineral Fusion and Arbonne but I'm planning to order some Apple Lipstick products soon. Here's an excerpt from the email response I got when I registered on their website. (because it is funny!)

Please Note: I'm not always able to check my email each day.  If you need ultra quick customer service / order support / order info / additions / subtractions / or if you simply want to pet our pet aardvark, please email my amazing customer support staff at...

Anyway.

For hair--shampoo, conditioner, styling gels--I've mostly used Hugo, Desert Essence, and Yes! Hugo also has good hand lotion and shower gel. The best shave gel so far is Kiss My Face.

We can't talk about deodorant yet. I'm about 15 products in and the best (but not effective) that I've found has been a Primal deodorant. I guess I'm just too stinky to be contained by deodorants and similar products.

So that wraps up our current beauty regime products. I'll try to remember to give y'all more updates as I find and try things!

Cooking class Part 2

Sage offered a second vegan cooking class at Whole Foods on Camelback. I went and the bearded lady was there but attendance was a LOT less than last time.

First they made the alfredo. The sample was with a butternut squash ravioli. It was pretty awesome. You're lucky I got a photo before I sucked it down. I restrained myself from licking the bowl like a jello shot. Cause I'm classy like that.

ravioli with alfredo sauce

Next they made a cookie. It was like a Larabar. I don't know that I'd make this but it was good.

cookie

My main issue with this class (nope, not the bearded lady) was that they didn't give us the recipes so everyone was trying to write the steps down and asking each other for the measurements that the demonstrator gave way too fast.

And apparently I need a Vitamix. But I really don't want to spend that kind of money.

Whole Foods has got quite the racket with these freebie classes. I bought some stuff, of course. I saw on nomnompaloe that Coconut Secret was introducing some sauces I could have. And I found them! I'm so excited...I just can't hide it. Sing it with me now.

You are coming home with me.

I also found a nut based cheese that I was tempted to buy but decided against. It wasn't cheap. No, it was more not cheap than you think. Maybe another time. When I'm too hungry to be shopping...

You are not coming home with me.

Pasta dinner

Since this is a fairly typical dinner at my house, I'm not sure why I took a photo to post for you. The most noteworthy thing is that the pasta was pretty inexpensive--it was a "normal" grocery store sale for Barilla gluten-free penne pasta. While people can have their various opinions about the gluten-free "fad," I think it's great if it makes gluten-free products more available and brings the prices of gluten-free products down. (Not that all those products are great but still....)

So I made meat sauce with ground turkey (beef, bison, lamb, or pork work just as well) with lots of tiny chopped veggies (peppers, carrots, eggplant, zucchini), a mix of Classico marinara and Trader Joe puttanesca sauce, and fresh parsley. 

I served mine with green beans. Have you seen these steamer bags of broccoli or green beans or sweet potatoes at Costco? So brilliant. There's usually 4 packages in the bag and I can use a package for 2-3 days.

Bees and tacos

Doesn't my garden look tranquil? So beautiful.

The bees have arrived. We think (as happened at our previous house and recently at a neighbor's house) they are just passing through but it's hella freaky to see a swarm arrive and settle in.

Let's move away from there. Mick and the helpers are building a tiered flower garden.

In the farm, I got my first spaghetti squash of the season. I'll cook them this weekend.

Before heading home from work I stopped at Whole Foods. I found my Garden of Eatin taco shells and a cheaper WF version, 2 dressings I can have (no soybean oil and bonus: apple cider vinegar instead of any other), and overpriced honey mustard that I had to have because it is PaleoChef and super clean so I can have it. :)

I made tacos using the blue shells. I may have used too much guacamole. Nah, that's not possible. But you can't tell they aren't just guaco tacos! Yum. 

The pie and the elbow macaroni

Is almost the holiday weekend. We will be attending the neighborhood progressive pool party. My internal dialog killed me today. I wanted to go to the gluten free bakery for treats because YUM and everyone else will be eating yummy things so why not me. But...I shouldn't go to the bakery because I'm a size (ahem, or two) larger than last year. It sucks!

 

I went under the mental guise of getting pizza crusts, which I got. Along with vegan blueberry muffins, cupcakes and cookies. And an apple pie! I don't know why this was so appealing but...fourth of July...apple pie...

 

I went to Whole Foods for a green juice to make up for my treats I bought but hadn't even eaten yet. Then I was on to Walgreens to pick up my prescription. Although I had finished the juice, I was hungry.

 

I sometimes go to Pita Jungle when I go to Walgreens so I went. I thought I'd probably take some leftovers. Or not.

When the food runner brought my plates, the veggies looked good but the chicken tikka masala looked different than usual. I waited for the waiter and he said they had changed it so I requested that he confirm my allergens again. He came back and have me the okay so I started eating. The cabbage did not speak to me so I stayed removing it and saw this.

 

An elbow macaroni. Wheat. WTF.

 

I ate my veggies (I was hungry, going on hangry) and the waiter finally came back. He thought I didn't like it. I told him about the wheat and I couldn't eat it. He brought me done tea to go and they picked up my check. Gah! Why do I eat out?

 

Why do I eat at all? I can't remember the last time I went more than a day without gas, bloating, constipation, and/or diarrhea. I'm pretty sure that has something to do with my weight gain but it sounds like an excuse.

 

After returning to the office for a while, I went for my monthly visit for the drug trial. Vitals, blood and urine, oh my. I asked about my MRI results and she said she would get them and email me.

 

Next I went to see Dr. Q for some adjusting. My back on the left lower area was so tender. He asked if I was taking magnesium and I said I've had too much digestive issues. (Magnesium supplements can cause diarrhea for some people, like me.) He recommended a topical magnesium (a nickel size amount daily) so I bought this.

 

Somehow I ended up reporting complaining about my sweatiness and odor. He recommended a specific roll on sold at Whole Foods, so I went there next.

I bought the one that looked most like his description but I'm pretty sure this isn't it. I think it is supposed to be taller and not a crystal. Sigh.

 

I was hungry going in and we all know that is a big mistake but I really needed to pee before going home so that is how I ended up at Whole Paycheck while hungry.

 

And I got some margeza sausage for dinner and made our with some Lundberg lentils and rice. I added green olives to mine. Not bad. The rice and lentils didn't really do it for me but I liked the sausage once it was out of the casing. Because casings are gross.

 

You know what else is gross? (You've been warned...)

 

I have to wear tops that cover my chest. I wore this today. It's fine and comfortable (I LOVE these shoes) but it sucks trying on everything looking for something to cover my freakiness.

 

I keep getting these gross things on my chest area, kind of like acne but it doesn't seem to be preventable or treatable and it takes weeks to go away and then it starts again. This has been going on for years. I'm so DONE. I can't figure it out. This is the worst so far--FOUR of them. FML.

Those aren't moles.

My awesomeness can't be contained.

 

Flower Child and groceries

The best new Fox restaurant is near my office--Flower Child. Many gluten-free options and a variety I can have! I did a 3 item plate with chicken. The three items are sweet potatoes, avocado beet salad, and garlicky greens. It was really, really good. The chicken is seasoned and cooked well and the sides are great.

Lunch!

I had a shopping trip also. It was mostly stuff I have had before and saw they had on sale. So these are my repeat offenders--things that are good enough to get again!

Raise your hand if you love grocery shopping

I needed almond milk and Whole Foods had some one day sales do I made my list and went after work.

What I wore to work

I recently read on somewhere about tips to save money at Whole Paycheck, most importantly,  to pick up the flyer in store for coupons. I did find a few coupons that were worth using!

I have so many veggies coming up in the garden that I skipped the produce section. I asked the meat counter guy about the fish special, a paiche which he said was in between the flavor and texture of a whitefish and other strong fish. I got some and some chicken breasts.

My finds included the elusive but occasional Way Better chili chips. My Earth Balance mayo and So Delicious coconut milk creamer were on sale. I used coupons for a Kit's Organic "brownie" bar, Pacific baked beans, and some So Delicious Almond Milk ice cream bars. They had a different Food for Life bread (than Sprouts) that doesn't say egg-free on it but doesn't have eggs; it is also gluten-free, yeast-free, and all that good stuff. They no longer have the oatmeal bars I was getting (so sad!) but they had these Simple Squares I will try. And today's big find: RAMEN! Okay, it's not like your ramen since there isn't a seasoning packet (actually, they had those but I couldn't have the seasoning so....) but it is 5 "squares" of ramen noodles made with rice instead of wheat. I'm going to make ramen. I'm going to make ramen. I'm going to sing this while I make my ramen. I'm going to make ramen...

And Buckwheat "frosted" flakes in the back!

Alrighty, are you tired yet? What?! We've worked all day, we went to Whole Foods and read a hundred labels...let's keep going.

Trader Joe's is next door, so I went there next before heading home. Trader Joe's can be hit-and-miss but certain things are on my list there: quick cook rice, rice tortillas (the Food for Life ones at Sprouts are pretty similar but MIGHT be slightly better), some of the nuts, the coconut milk ice cream (the only strawberry version I have found!), unsweetened dried cherries, and that artichoke antipasta stuff.

I got Mick some "real" ice cream too...

Today, I also found coconut milk yogurt (blueberry and vanilla only), some tapenade, pitted kalamata olives, and some frozen leeks. Because who ever has fresh leeks when a recipe asks for them?

You're not exhausted yet, are you? Now, let's drive home. And make dinner. I made fish tacos using some guidance from Mark Bittman, How To Cook Everything, including the sauce. Then I mixed some cabbage and avocado for a "slaw." Mick didn't have that part; he used cheese instead. And some canned refried beans (these are Amy's brand; TJ's has some good ones too) on the side; I just added some salsa for more flavor. Mick doesn't really like fish tacos but the fish itself was very good.

paiche tacos

Sweet things

Found at Whole Foods. (not cheap, but a little goes a long way...)

Coco-roons (no egg!)

Taza bought on sale at AJs. Yay for hot chocolate!

Almond milk or coconut milk both work

It is new. It is shiny. It is Whole Foods.

Whole Foods opened a new location near my office recently. I made my first visit tonight. I'm heading out of town so I only got a few produce items for tonight's tacos.

Daiya (no dairy, no soy, no gluten) gave me my biggest excitement and my biggest disappointment. They have a new product: cream cheese! I don't even know what I'm going to use it for yet but I could not make myself put it back. Even at $5.99. I haven't had cream cheese in two years. I am tempted to just eat it with a spoon (it's not like I can put it on a bagel!) but I'll probably make some frosting.

The disappointment came soon after when I saw that Daiya has a frozen pizza. I've seen it before but I forgot. It had yeast of course so I can't have it. But for just a minute there I was really hopeful.

Stuff I got!

Update: I didn't like the frozen sausages but the Andouille is pretty good. I liked the Sunflower version better but it's not around anymore. The Lundberg rice and pasta boxes are great convenience side dishes!