Instagram: Freshly Picked

Gluten and dairy free never looked so good!

24 hours
28 quarts of green beans picked, snipped, and canned
200+ ears of corn picked
2 amazing meals of fresh veggies enjoyed
1 good nap needed

L

Gluten Free/Vegan Waffles

This is what I ate at our annual Fourth of July breakfast. Gluten free. Dairy free. Egg free... but SO NOT taste free! This recipe from Chef Brad is a must try!

Over the past five years I've been living an allergen free lifestyle. For the first little while I was completely overwhelmed by all of the changes I had to make in my diet. I wasn't familiar with most of the ingredients that are now staples in the recipes I use. I had to learn a completely new way of cooking. I wasn't always sure, but now I can honestly say, it's totally possible to enjoy great food, even with celiac and other food allergies. I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite recipes now and then for all of you allergen free foodies out there!

Chef Brad's Brown Rice Waffles. (dairy and egg free substitutes in bold.)

4 eggs. Ener-G Egg Replacer
¼ cup Melted butter Smart or Earth Balance 
2 cups buttermilk Almond milk
1 cup long grain brown rice, cooked
¼ cup Xagave
Pinch of salt
2 cups freshly ground long grain brown rice
1 tablespoon baking powder

Directions

In a mixing bowl whisk together the ingredients in the order listed. Spray the waffle iron with non stick spray or brush with melted butter. Ladle in batter to waffle iron and cook to your manufactures instructions. 

Be sure to use a GF waffle iron so as to avoid cross-contamination. Even my non-gluten free friends and family love this recipe;)

L

Is that Gluten Free for You?

Miss M. is very interested in what I can and cannot eat. She's always asking, "Is that gluten free for you?" She loves when the two of us can eat the same things, and is always disappointed upon finding out that some of her favorite foods are not gluten free. Sometimes she tells her mommy she can't eat this or that, because it is not gluten free;) As concerned as she is about my diet, she is more concerned about what kind of meals I'm making for Danny. She often reminds me that he would probably like something tasty, like a cookie with gluten in it. Ha! She's got a point! Since I help watch her most afternoons, she's always curious what I will be making Danny for dinner when I go home. She offers her suggestions when she doesn't think that the option I have planned is satisfactory. "Well, maybe he would like some Cottage Cheese instead..." Yesterday she was shocked to find out that we were having sweet potatoes and squash for dinner. She looked at me with wide eyes, shaking her head, and said, "But Lynley, that's baby food! Danny is a big boy! Maybe you could make him some noodles with meatballs, or mac and cheese instead. That would be good!"

The day she found out play-dough isn't gluten free started a whole new world of curiosity and questions. She now inquires about all of her other toys to see if they are safe for her to play with around me. She's quite the caring and curious little character!

L

Dining Out

I love the social aspects of dining out-- I enjoy the atmosphere, the social gathering, the lights, the decor, etc. I could, however, do without the food. I could do without paying extra (GF food is always pricer than the regular menu items) to be sick--without fail... every single time. No matter how "gluten free friendly" a restruant is, most meals out just don't work for me. I've accepted it, and I'm really not complaining here, just stating the facts. There are many health and financial perks in avoiding eating out. I've learned to love simple healthy food. I love trying new recipes, and making things that even "normal" people "actually" enjoy;)

We enjoyed a lovely evening out with Danny's family over the weekend. The food tasted very good and I appreciated the efforts of the restraunt staff to make it gluten free; nevertheless, it still wasn't a dining out success in terms of health. While everyone else was busy eating and enjoying their meals, I decided to snap some photographs of the lovely dining scene. I may no longer be able to eat the bread and pasta, but I can still appreciate their asthetic value!

I love these black and whites... That first shot of the water glasses and menus takes me right back to a quaint little italian bistro we visted in Paris. (Those were very happy dining days.) I love the crowded feeling of the glasses and condiments on the table; they so perfectly depict the story of a large family gathering to dine together.

The shot with the bread and butter actually evokes a lot of emotions for me. Interesting how very tied to our emotions food can be. Just last night while watching a favorite local television show, The Food Nanny, I cried listening to the host talk about baking bread with her mother and grandmother. Tears. Serious tears. Interestingly enough, it's not the food itself that I miss anymore, it actually runs a lot deeper than that. I suppose in part, feeling excluded from the traditional family meal has brought about a loss of sharing and connectedness. I guess that's why I enjoy cooking and sharing the food that I can eat with others. It gives me back some of those moments that celiac took away.

For the most part, it's really just best for me to avoid eating out, but now and than it's nice to remember that feeling of holding a menu in my hands, being waited upon, and enjoying the company of friends and family in a lovely dining setting away from home.

Evidenlty, blogging these photos was also rather theraputic;)

L

On the Bright Side...

Top ten reasons to look on the bright side when I am sick:

1. I realize how blessed I am to have such a wonderful husband, family, and friends
2. Dolly becomes rather sweet and docile, doing her best to attend to me
3. It makes me grateful for the times when I feel healthy and strong
4. It forces me to step back and simplify
5. It humbles me and reminds me that it's okay to ask for help
6. It reminds me to care for others in need; so many others have such harder challenges.
7. It makes me grateful for simple, clean, healthy food
8. It saves money because there's no better way to remember I should never ever eat out
9. It reminds me how grateful I am that I can be working from home
10. It gives me time to read, write, create, or just take a nap if that's the best I can do

With Hope,
L

Dine Out or Opt-out?

I love when Dad and Mauri invite me to lunch. Well, sort of. I enjoy chatting and sharing in moments like the proud, "I'm drinking from a big girl cup" achievement above.

There's a strong connection between food and sociality. Think about it, most of our social gatherings involve, if not revolve, around eating.

Despite most restaurants best efforts to cater to food allergies, somehow it just doesn't ever really turn out well for me. I do my homework, and am careful to explain what I can and can't have, but I'm learning the risks of cross-contamination are just to high.

So what's a celiac girl like myself to do? Dine out, or simply opt-out altogether? Going along for the ride and watching others eat isn't very fun, but neither is being sick for hours, if not days, post dining out. Like anyone else, I want to eat out sometimes too! Not all dining invitations can be avoided, nor do I want to avoid them. It can be very frustrating, isolating, or debilitating, depending on the choice I make.

That said, we went out today and I had a nice bowl of vegetarian soup. It was labeled as gluten and dairy-free. Perfect, right?! Unfortunately, I still got sick. Nevertheless, I wouldn't trade the time spent with Dad and Mauri for anything. Perhaps next time I'll just opt for a drink and enjoy the company. That can be hard though, when the food looks and smells so delicious. Thankfully I'm feeling much better tonight.

Any other celiac/food allergy sufferers out there have tips? What do you do to keep healthy and still enjoy the dining out experience? To dine out or opt-out? That is the question.

With Hope,
L

Weighty Matters

"You look good." These words have been on my mind a lot lately. No, no... don't get me wrong, that's not a self-indulgent compliment. Read on. There was a time when I longed to hear someone say I looked good or pretty. It built my self-confidence and made me feel special, not in a conceited manner, but in a genuine appreciation for a compliment.

In order to explain how those words have changed, allow me to deviate for just a moment.

I started to get sick. I don't talk about this too much here, because who wants to discuss their gastrointestinal health in a public venue? The details aren't pretty. For some reason my body seemed to be rejecting everything I ate. I had always struggled with stomach problems, but it was becoming increasingly frequent and debilitating. I had my gallbladder removed and hoped I would start feeling better soon thereafter. It only got worse from there. In a matter of months I had lost over thirty pounds. I was sick.

Throughout that time, people started telling me, "You look good, what are you doing?" I couldn't believe it. I felt terrible, and yet others were applauding my weight loss. People I didn't know that well were suddenly comfortable sharing their opinions about my body. I tried to joke about it and brush it off as much as possible, but it wasn't easy.

I know some thought I had an eating disorder. Others seemed to think it was all in my head. I was physically depleted and losing the emotional strength to cope with a health crisis and the added social dynamics.

I began a gluten and dairy free lifestyle and am still working towards recovery. I have good days and bad days. My weight fluctuates, as does my health.

These days, when I run into people who saw me at my worst, they all seem to say the same three words, "You look good." I try to receive them graciously knowing they mean to be supportive. But I guess I kind of wonder if they're really saying, "Your face isn't so gaunt anymore and you have curves again." It just makes me feel awkward and embarrassed. Sometimes I just wish they would ask how I'm doing without the assessment of my outward appearance. It's uncomfortable feeling like others are so aware of every pound lost or gained.

I know the real weighty matter is my own perception. I need to stop worrying about what others think and come to terms with my own body, no matter its current size or condition. I am grateful for my body. I am grateful for what's on the inside. I think I look good on the inside.

A Perfect Brightness of Hope

Before taking down the Christmas tree I snapped one last shot of my favorite ornament. A sparkly reminder that there is hope smiling brightly before us. I loved the shot and thought it was a great reminder of my little motto for the year. It was very unfortunate what happened next. Of all the ornaments carefully laid just out of Dolly's reach, somehow she managed to grasp just this one. Before I could stop her, she chewed it right in half. Hope was lost. Hope was broken. Little bits of silver glitter and pieces of hope were scattered across the floor. I thought it quite significant and have pondered on it for several days.

Lately Young Women's seems to demand every ounce of strength and energy I have. Last night's activity was utterly disastrous. An attempt to learn a pioneer skill, butter-making, ended in whipping cream strewn about the room and all over the youth and leaders. Who knew the Young Men could shake a jar so vigorously it would break right in half? Some found it humorous, those covered in sour smelling cream, not so much. That was actually the least of the problems. Nothing seemed to go very well.

After dropping the girls off and returning home, I finally let myself acknowledge the severe pain I was in. Baking and handling glutenous biscuit dough was not a wise idea. I was extremely sick. The kind of sick you question if you need to rush to the emergency room or not. It wasn't good. As I lay awake most of the night, miserably trying to find relief, my mind thought upon broken hearts, broken shards of glass, and broken pieces of hope.

I questioned what I can possibly do to help things run smoother in my calling. I pondered on the heavy burdens and needs of the young women I have stewardship over. I questioned if I will ever be able to keep up with the demands of a busy life and calling. I questioned if I will ever be well enough to have children. You name it, I agonized about it. When you don't feel well, hope can seem more dim at times. It seemed as though my hope was shattered in a thousand pieces on the floor, just like the ornament and jar of cream.

I finally found rest and comfort. My body will need a few days to recover, but it's already feeling much better thankfully! As I stood washing dishes, the early morning sun filled the kitchen and my heart with radiant light. Through prayer and scripture study, the Savior stood with me, helping me pick up the pieces and restoring hope. The trials haven't changed, but hope stands brightly before me, letting me know that things will be okay.

"Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life" (2 Nephi 31:18–20).

With Hope,
L