Eating Out

Since our home is down to just David and I, we like to eat out frequently.  Being totally gluten-free is a bit of a challenge, but I am learning that I can request special things at restaurants.

HuHot Mongolian BBQ is really good with not only gluten free requests, but other food allergies.  They clean the grill completely, and separate my food from any other food. They don't use any utensils that are used in other people's food, either.  There are a few sauces without gluten, also, and they actually taste good.  I have been able to eat there without ANY stomach upset, so I know I don't get any gluten contamination when we eat there.

We have a local oriental restaurant which will cook my food in a gluten free white sauce.  Their noodles are rice, so I can have them. Tonight they made chicken fried rice for me with my gluten free soy sauce(I carried it with me) and steamed rice.  So far. so good.  I wonder if it helps that the Mother of one of the owners is also gluten intolerant.

After looking at many chain restaurant sites, I see that many of them have gluten free menus.  All I need to do is ask for one when we visit those restaurants.  Salads with dry cooked steaks, olive oil and vinegar on the side are going to be a good choice.  Staying mostly Paleo also fits well into that choice.

Have I noticed any improvements in my health?  Good question.  I have a bit more energy in the evenings, although I wonder if it is because school is on break. But I head back on Monday, so time will tell.  I haven't been quite as sedentary as usual, and although my knee still has lots of pain, I don't notice swelling.  I still don't sleep as well as I'd like, but being winter, we have this quilt that would keep a person toasty warm in the frozen tundra, so waking up sweating could be that and not my age/health.  I have begun doing stretching exercises in the evening, hoping for increased flexibility.

Successful gluten free Christmas

Christmas was a successful gluten free day!  I made a cinnamon swirl coffee cake for breakfast because of church.  Everyone but Colton thought it was good, but he is still in the "it needs to have lots of bad things to be good" stage.  I will post the recipe in case anyone wants it.

For my hash brown casserole, I needed to omit the cream of celery soup, so I just doubled the sour cream and chopped fresh celery. I actually think it tasted better than with the soup. Then of course, the prime rib and veggies are naturally gluten free.  Not being a dessert person, we didn't need to make any changes.

I had friends up for dinner, so I made an artichoke dip using Daiya vegan/gluten free cheese instead of parmesan, since they are vegan. I didn't have any, but David said it was really good.  I had gluten free crackers, cucumber spears and bell peppers to dip into the artichoke dip as well as hummus.  Then grape/walnut trays, and a cheese tray for those who wanted more.  Tons of food, and everyone (vegan, gluten-free, and carnivore) was happy.

I find that my belly is happier when I stay away from dairy and eggs, so I have begun only using coconut milk in my morning coffee and tea. It tastes OK in coffee, but is absolutely YUMMY in tea. I guess this will make me cut down my coffee consumption, which is a good idea, too. I start my day with L-glutamine (an amino acid to heal my intestines). 3 times a day on an empty stomach, and then I can eat.  I don't know how long it takes to heal, but from everything I read, it could be up to 2 years, since I have had these symptoms for much of my life.  I am willing to do what it takes, and look forward to feeling good again!

See you soon!

Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake 

From Gluten Free Easily with a few changes by me

2 ¼ cups gluten-free all-purpose flour mix* ( I used Bob's Red Mill)
1 ½ tsp xanthan gum
1 ¼ tsp sea salt
1 tsp baking powder
¾ cup light olive oil (I used coconut oil)
1 to 1 ¼ cups raw cane sugar
2 tbsp vanilla extract
3 large eggs ( I used ener-G Egg replacer to be vegan)
2/3 cup coconut milk

Cinnamon Swirl Mix for Coating or “Filling”

1 tbsp cinnamon
¼ cup granulated sugar (I used cane sugar)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. (See notes.)

Grease pans and then sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar coating, tilting pans again and again until well coated. Set aside.

Combine flour, xanthan gum, sea salt, and baking powder in an extra large measuring cup or separate bowl. Set aside.

Pour oil into large bowl, and slowly mix in sugar and vanilla extract.

Add eggs one at a time, stirring after each addition.

Add milk. Mix 2 minutes. Gradually add dry ingredients into wet ingredients, mixing well.

Spoon or pour a little of the batter into two prepared loaf pans. Sprinkle cinnamon swirl filling over all. (See notes for further directions/variations.) Top with remaining batter. * This did not pour, and acted more like a dough, but it bakes up well.

Bake for about 40 – 45 minutes.

Test for doneness with a toothpick. (As mentioned earlier, the cake may not look done in the center when you slice it, so don’t skip this step.) *I found that it need to bake just a little longer, so be sure to check it.

I put butter on my slice, and it was the first really good gluten-free baked item that I thought tasted good!

Beginning the gluten free lifestyle

DNA testing revealed both a Celiac and a non-Celiac gene for gluten sensitivity, so I need to become completely gluten free.  Easy?  Not so much.   Have you ever read all the labels when you pull something out of the refrigerator?  I hadn't either, but now I am starting to, and much of what I had been using is going into the trash can instead of into my meals.

I had not thought that turkey would contain gluten, but much of it does.  Canned soups, rice with sauces, and even the blue cheese that I had previously consumed are all off limits!

This morning I have had 2 eggs, bacon, and coffee with cream.  Right now my stomach is screaming at me so loudly that I want to cry, and cannot think of anything I ate with gluten in it. (maybe the bacon?) This is a step by step process, and I can only take it one day (or meal) at a time. Being gluten free can be done, and I am determined to get there instantly, but I know that I will make unintended mistakes along the way.

Stay tuned for the continuing saga.......