I wish that I could begin this post with a laundry list of what exciting things I've been up to. That's just not the case, however.
My "volunteer" position takes up much of my time- between 20-30 hours per week. This is usually made up of about 8 hours of actual therapy, 3 hours of supervision/training, and then 9+ hours of clinical notes, research, contemplation, and pulling my hair out.
Add in about 8 hours per week of job searching/applying.
And the occasional surprise of actual paid work.
Then, I'm up to about 40 hours per week.
I'm still working hard to take care of myself. Yoga, eating right (and gluten-free), plenty of water, praying to the gods of youth and joint lubrication.... so on an so forth. I'm still human though. Slouching, trying to convince my left hand that the entire keyboard can't be handled by Mr. Righty, attempting to wear high heeled boots (it was raining- my flats would have been soaked!).
I hope this post finds everyone well. I truly intend to post more frequently. Maybe if more interesting things happened to me...
...I am overdue for my yearly car accident/idiot encounter.
I'll keep you posted.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Ghetto as pho
It is plain ugly out today. This is day two of rain, wind, and winter-like temps. Yes, I'm aware that it's still technically winter. But this season is usually a lot more tolerable for me and my interconnective tissues.
Yes, I've been feeling like poop. Coincidence? I think not. But, I've been trying not to dwell on the "why" aspect of my pain recently. It causes more stress than it's worth. So, I've been taking it easy, doing what I can to make our new, tiny apartment seem less cluttered.
And then I get a call from Costco that my tires are in and they aren't too busy right now- if I'd like to venture out this afternoon.
So, to warm my insides (and quell my cravings for a Costco hot dog) I came up with a quick soup for lunch.
Ghetto as Pho
 |
| Ha ha, word play! |
Warm 1.5 cups of homemade chicken stock in the microwave until lukewarm. Add dried mung bean threads you found in your "pantry" (it's my old office bookcase...with jars and stuff on it...in our dining room). Microwave two minutes. Stir. Add shredded cabbage (a couple good handfuls) and diced leftover rotisserie chicken (maybe a couple ounces). Microwave another minute. Add frozen peas- one big stuck-together clump should do it. One minute more. Throw some rooster sauce on there and a small spoonful of hoisin. Eye a half of a lime that you left on the counter overnight, then squeeze it over the top for good measure. Ignore your shame. Eat out of the Pyrex with chopsticks and feel fancy.
Yes- as you may notice from the picture- my task for today was to go through all my old Bon Appetit issues and throw them out after clipping the recipes and articles from them that I cared to save. No, apparently this did not inspire a more gourmet lunch.
Which I'm totally okay with.
Because I have happy soup belly.
Have a nice day.
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Monday, February 27, 2012
Hello from the new place!
Hello, everyone!
It's been about a month and a ton has been going on. In that time we went to Seattle to celebrate my Bro-in-law's 30th birthday (which was a surprise, so I could write about it... it was difficult), I packed up the apartment, we signed our lease, we started moving, my volunteer work has gotten busier, life has gotten more stressful... I'm not going to lie, there were a few days of bursting into tears.
With all this stress (and a bit of gluten), my body has been a bit peeved with me.
The trip to Seattle was wonderful. I was gluten-free the entire time with the small exception of some clam chowder from a place in Pike Place and a delicious croissant from a French bakery. If you're going to eat gluten, people- go French. There's my life advice for the day.
Our new apartment is nice. It's on the top floor so it gets tons of happy light without peepers looking in the windows as they walk past. During the move I was very good about not over-lifting- but 50 trips up and down the stairs with 15 pound boxes still isn't a picnic. And then we had to feed our wonderful friend who helped us out. Papa John's to the rescue! That was the end of my splurging, however. I've been good ever since.
Because the whole point of moving was to save money we've been trying to get as much of our security deposit back as possible. Painting, cleaning, cleaning. Ugh. At a certain point I told my hubby that I couldn't do it anymore. So, we recruited some old friends: Molly Maids. They cleaned our place once a month during my intense thesis writing time and I always loved the results. So, they should be cleaning away at our empty apartment this afternoon- leaving only a couple things that I may need to touch up tomorrow afternoon. But then, we're out. And we should get most of our deposit back (minus 150 from the cleaning service... and however much a new screen costs... I doubt they will miss Spartacus's "doggy door" on the slider"). I plan on celebrating by letting my new apartment get absolutely filthy.
It's pretty apparent that the stress has been taking a toll. My most recent appointment with my rheumy I was definitely flaring at the time- joint pain, fever, fatigue. It showed in my labs as well: My antibodies to double stranded DNA was a bit higher than normal (which is rare for me) and my platelet count was low (again). Negative for antiphospholipid syndrome, though. Huzzah!
For more information on lupus-related blood tests check out the Lupus Foundation website.
Well, I'm feeling guilty for not doing work... so I think it's time to sign off for now. Have a good week!
It's been about a month and a ton has been going on. In that time we went to Seattle to celebrate my Bro-in-law's 30th birthday (which was a surprise, so I could write about it... it was difficult), I packed up the apartment, we signed our lease, we started moving, my volunteer work has gotten busier, life has gotten more stressful... I'm not going to lie, there were a few days of bursting into tears.
With all this stress (and a bit of gluten), my body has been a bit peeved with me.
The trip to Seattle was wonderful. I was gluten-free the entire time with the small exception of some clam chowder from a place in Pike Place and a delicious croissant from a French bakery. If you're going to eat gluten, people- go French. There's my life advice for the day.
Our new apartment is nice. It's on the top floor so it gets tons of happy light without peepers looking in the windows as they walk past. During the move I was very good about not over-lifting- but 50 trips up and down the stairs with 15 pound boxes still isn't a picnic. And then we had to feed our wonderful friend who helped us out. Papa John's to the rescue! That was the end of my splurging, however. I've been good ever since.
Because the whole point of moving was to save money we've been trying to get as much of our security deposit back as possible. Painting, cleaning, cleaning. Ugh. At a certain point I told my hubby that I couldn't do it anymore. So, we recruited some old friends: Molly Maids. They cleaned our place once a month during my intense thesis writing time and I always loved the results. So, they should be cleaning away at our empty apartment this afternoon- leaving only a couple things that I may need to touch up tomorrow afternoon. But then, we're out. And we should get most of our deposit back (minus 150 from the cleaning service... and however much a new screen costs... I doubt they will miss Spartacus's "doggy door" on the slider"). I plan on celebrating by letting my new apartment get absolutely filthy.
It's pretty apparent that the stress has been taking a toll. My most recent appointment with my rheumy I was definitely flaring at the time- joint pain, fever, fatigue. It showed in my labs as well: My antibodies to double stranded DNA was a bit higher than normal (which is rare for me) and my platelet count was low (again). Negative for antiphospholipid syndrome, though. Huzzah!
For more information on lupus-related blood tests check out the Lupus Foundation website.
Well, I'm feeling guilty for not doing work... so I think it's time to sign off for now. Have a good week!
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Sorry about my absence...
...life has been stressful recently. I'm still working hard for the domestic violence organization which means all or most of my time on the computer needs to be dedicated to work.
In addition, we recently received our lease renewal notice. Holy rate increase, batman! After much thought and grumbling we decided it was just too much to put up with for six months until we move to Oregon and buy a house. We found another apartment in a less-nice area of town where we will be saving close to 500 bucks per month. So, lots of packing in my future...
I will be better about posting. I just need to get a handle on this workload. I miss writing.
In addition, we recently received our lease renewal notice. Holy rate increase, batman! After much thought and grumbling we decided it was just too much to put up with for six months until we move to Oregon and buy a house. We found another apartment in a less-nice area of town where we will be saving close to 500 bucks per month. So, lots of packing in my future...
I will be better about posting. I just need to get a handle on this workload. I miss writing.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Happy Monday! (And Happy Birthday!)
Not only is it Monday- but it's a very important birthday!
Love that quote.
So, let's all take a moment to remember a great man who paved the way for advancement of all civil rights. Let's respect those rights which we've won in this country and remember those rights which many citizens still fight for today.
As for me and Monday, this week is off to a pretty decent start so far.
Well, except for the actual start. Back pain right from the get-go, argh.
I used my foam roller, did some healthy alignment yoga, used my roller, and then rocked the P90X back and biceps work out. Then I used my foam roller again. I'm feeling much better now. Still yearning for a massage, though. After some digging through my insurance benefits I discovered that massage can only be utilized at the same time as physical therapy. Which makes no sense to me... why would I need both?
I'm hoping that an increase in core strengthening exercises (currently at 1-2 times per week) and yoga (P90X once per week, flow/healthy alignment once per week) will give me some relief without having to start in on my high medical deductible.
I started my day with some oatmeal dressed up with flax, chopped pear, walnuts, and a drizzle of maple syrup. My post-sweat snack was a blood orange Chobani. Not my favorite flavor- but it hit the spot and gave me a nice helping of protein to replenish my aching arms. Planning on a salad for lunch with some canned salmon or maybe some sardines. Dinner (as seen on my meal plan) is delicious kheema spiced ground beef. Can't wait... although I am running low on tomatoes for toppers. Dommage.
So, great workouts and a healthy meal plan for the day. The only thing left to do is to be productive. Haven't gotten a great start on that, yet. I did, however, call on an interview for another social work position. Looking forward to scheduling it- Mama needs a new resistance band.
Start your week off right, folks!
 |
| "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." - Martin Luther King, Jr. (February 25, 1967 - Los Angeles, Calif.) |
So, let's all take a moment to remember a great man who paved the way for advancement of all civil rights. Let's respect those rights which we've won in this country and remember those rights which many citizens still fight for today.
As for me and Monday, this week is off to a pretty decent start so far.
Well, except for the actual start. Back pain right from the get-go, argh.
I used my foam roller, did some healthy alignment yoga, used my roller, and then rocked the P90X back and biceps work out. Then I used my foam roller again. I'm feeling much better now. Still yearning for a massage, though. After some digging through my insurance benefits I discovered that massage can only be utilized at the same time as physical therapy. Which makes no sense to me... why would I need both?
I'm hoping that an increase in core strengthening exercises (currently at 1-2 times per week) and yoga (P90X once per week, flow/healthy alignment once per week) will give me some relief without having to start in on my high medical deductible.
I started my day with some oatmeal dressed up with flax, chopped pear, walnuts, and a drizzle of maple syrup. My post-sweat snack was a blood orange Chobani. Not my favorite flavor- but it hit the spot and gave me a nice helping of protein to replenish my aching arms. Planning on a salad for lunch with some canned salmon or maybe some sardines. Dinner (as seen on my meal plan) is delicious kheema spiced ground beef. Can't wait... although I am running low on tomatoes for toppers. Dommage.
So, great workouts and a healthy meal plan for the day. The only thing left to do is to be productive. Haven't gotten a great start on that, yet. I did, however, call on an interview for another social work position. Looking forward to scheduling it- Mama needs a new resistance band.
Start your week off right, folks!
Saturday, January 14, 2012
What's For Dinner: Post-Cleanse!
Happy menu planning day!
This is the first week of not being on the cleanse... even though I wasn't super good towards the end. I wasn't feeling too hot one day- which called for eating a bag of popcorn. Not the worst comfort-food splurge I could do, but I still felt guilty. I also broke my "no liquor" rule after a very long day of volunteering. That gin and tonic was pretty delicious, though.
So, I'm adding in small amounts of dairy this week (should I do provolone or Swiss on my steak sammies?) and a bit of processed food. I'm also happy about the return of Costco chicken Sunday. After two weeks of the cleanse I've been cooking A LOT. I'm excited to have a break. All the while, I will be eating and drinking with purpose- good food, intentional drink pairings (hello, margaritas!).
Saturday
Steak Sandwiches with Horseradish Sauce
Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
Sunday
Costco Chicken Sunday!
Roasted Veggies
Monday
Kheema Spiced Ground Beef with avocado and tomato
Tuesday
Chicken Pho
Wednesday
Egg Foo Young (Thanks, Kevin @ Closet Cooking!)
Thursday
Spiced Eggplant
Quinoia Salad (From the same recipe, replacing bulgur with quinoia to make it gluten-free)
Friday
Fish Tacos (I found gluten-free breaded fish!)
Black Bean and Corn Salad
Hungry Girl Margaritas
What are you excited to make this week?
This is the first week of not being on the cleanse... even though I wasn't super good towards the end. I wasn't feeling too hot one day- which called for eating a bag of popcorn. Not the worst comfort-food splurge I could do, but I still felt guilty. I also broke my "no liquor" rule after a very long day of volunteering. That gin and tonic was pretty delicious, though.
So, I'm adding in small amounts of dairy this week (should I do provolone or Swiss on my steak sammies?) and a bit of processed food. I'm also happy about the return of Costco chicken Sunday. After two weeks of the cleanse I've been cooking A LOT. I'm excited to have a break. All the while, I will be eating and drinking with purpose- good food, intentional drink pairings (hello, margaritas!).
Saturday
Steak Sandwiches with Horseradish Sauce
Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
Sunday
Costco Chicken Sunday!
Monday
Kheema Spiced Ground Beef with avocado and tomato
Chicken Pho
Wednesday
Egg Foo Young (Thanks, Kevin @ Closet Cooking!)
Thursday
Spiced Eggplant
 |
| Source: Bon Appetit |
Friday
Fish Tacos (I found gluten-free breaded fish!)
Hungry Girl Margaritas
What are you excited to make this week?
Friday, January 13, 2012
Toe sox!
I thought I would try some yoga this morning to alleviate some of the horrendous back pain I've been having recently. I saw a bit on a local news show about a woman who uses yoga to help her car accident related back pain, so I thought I would give it a shot. It was a bit helpful while I was rocking it- but hasn't fixed my powerful need for a visit to my favorite physical therapist.
I've been without PT for about four weeks now. I did okay for two weeks, but now I find my spine to be generally cranky with me and my hips to be a bit out of alignment.
I have a couple choices- I could ask for a new referral for physical therapy or I could get my lovely husband to authorize my spending a chunk of change on a massage.
But since he bought me those socks for Christmas... I'm guessing not...
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Sunday, January 8, 2012
What's For Dinner: Cleanse Part Two
Hi everyone! I'm pretty shocked at how infrequently I post considering that whole lack-of-a-job thing. But, I'm here, and I'm prepared to be honest in regards to how I'm doing on my "cleanse".
All the meals last week were pretty delicious. I've decided that baby bok choy is one of my favorite new veggies (probably to my husband's dismay). I have five of those cute little cabbages in my crisper. The cider-glazed chicken breasts were delicious, as was the apple-fennel salad. I had never had raw fennel before and was surprised at how well it went with the shallot-y dressing and the granny smith apple. The pumpkin-shrimp curry was the star of last week's menus. Previously, I had just dumped the can of pumpkin in and expected it to be magical. This recipe had us cook the pumpkin for awhile with the onions. Add in the coconut milk and it was a decadent experience. We happily ate the leftovers.
Limiting my drinking to none-or-one was pretty good until Friday. I had a stressful day and we decided to have a date night to unwind. We had sushi (not inherently evil, but the white rice and some of the obviously mayo-based sauces made me feel guilty) and I enjoyed some sake. I'm sure I was well over my one drink. But, I did skip the delicious popcorn drenched in "butter". Last night was just one of those situations where you find that one glass of white wine turns into two... turns into what I thought would be emptying the bottle for a half glass... it wasn't. C'est la vie, right? Back on track...
My morning meals (I usually do two, one small bite before the gym, a bigger one after) usually revolved around hardboiled eggs (so easy!), kefir, and nonfat Greek yogurt. I think I ate the cleanse recommended oatmeal just once- who has the time? I passionately long for my morning coffee, but have been good- drinking green tea and chai roobios instead.
I have one more week of trying to remain in the "cleanse" spirit. After that I will be rocking my New Year's resolution of "Eat and drink with purpose".
Here's my menu for the week:
Sunday
Moroccan-Style Lentil and Chickpea Soup with Lamb and Roasted Tomatoes, Caramelized Cumin-Roasted Carrots. (Straight from the cleanse.)
Monday
Cashew Chicken Stir-Fry, Brown Rice Pilaf, Salad with Miso-Lime Vinaigrette
Tuesday
Leftovers
Wednesday
Sake-braised clams with Baby Bok Choy, Soba Noodles (Hopefully a celebration meal from a successful interview!)
Thursday
Greek Chicken Kabobs with Mushrooms, Zucchini, and Tomatoes, Salad with Red Wine Vinaigrette
Friday
Sirloin Steak, Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
Happy eating, everyone!
All the meals last week were pretty delicious. I've decided that baby bok choy is one of my favorite new veggies (probably to my husband's dismay). I have five of those cute little cabbages in my crisper. The cider-glazed chicken breasts were delicious, as was the apple-fennel salad. I had never had raw fennel before and was surprised at how well it went with the shallot-y dressing and the granny smith apple. The pumpkin-shrimp curry was the star of last week's menus. Previously, I had just dumped the can of pumpkin in and expected it to be magical. This recipe had us cook the pumpkin for awhile with the onions. Add in the coconut milk and it was a decadent experience. We happily ate the leftovers.
Limiting my drinking to none-or-one was pretty good until Friday. I had a stressful day and we decided to have a date night to unwind. We had sushi (not inherently evil, but the white rice and some of the obviously mayo-based sauces made me feel guilty) and I enjoyed some sake. I'm sure I was well over my one drink. But, I did skip the delicious popcorn drenched in "butter". Last night was just one of those situations where you find that one glass of white wine turns into two... turns into what I thought would be emptying the bottle for a half glass... it wasn't. C'est la vie, right? Back on track...
My morning meals (I usually do two, one small bite before the gym, a bigger one after) usually revolved around hardboiled eggs (so easy!), kefir, and nonfat Greek yogurt. I think I ate the cleanse recommended oatmeal just once- who has the time? I passionately long for my morning coffee, but have been good- drinking green tea and chai roobios instead.
I have one more week of trying to remain in the "cleanse" spirit. After that I will be rocking my New Year's resolution of "Eat and drink with purpose".
Here's my menu for the week:
Sunday
Moroccan-Style Lentil and Chickpea Soup with Lamb and Roasted Tomatoes, Caramelized Cumin-Roasted Carrots. (Straight from the cleanse.)
Monday
Cashew Chicken Stir-Fry, Brown Rice Pilaf, Salad with Miso-Lime Vinaigrette
Tuesday
Leftovers
Wednesday
Sake-braised clams with Baby Bok Choy, Soba Noodles (Hopefully a celebration meal from a successful interview!)
Thursday
Greek Chicken Kabobs with Mushrooms, Zucchini, and Tomatoes, Salad with Red Wine Vinaigrette
Friday
Sirloin Steak, Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
Happy eating, everyone!
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Monday, January 2, 2012
A good pot of lentils...
2 cups lentils (French green or black beluga)
2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 tsp. kosher salt plus more for seasoning
Optional Aromatics:
1 carrot, peeled; fennel fronds; 3 sprigs thyme; 3 sprigs flat-leaf parsley; 1 medium onion; 1 celery stick; 1 bay leaf; 1 head of garlic (the top 1/3 sliced off), and 1 whole dried chile
Place 4 cups water, lentils, oil, and salt in a heavy large saucepan and bring to a boil. Add any or all of the aromatics and return to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until lentils are tender and no longer chalky at their core, about 30-45 minutes. Season to taste with salt. Let lentils cool in the cooking liquid. DO AHEAD: Cover and chill lentils in liquid for up to 5 days. When ready to serve, scoop lentils out of liquid with a strainer or slotted spoon.
Recipe source (Clicky)
The picture is the pretty pre-cooked lentils. For aromatics I used fennel fronds, thyme, baby carrots, a bay leaf, half an onion, and the head of garlic. The result was delicious. As my menu stated, I served the lentils with trout and roasted zucchini. I also threw a salad in there with a quarter of an avocado and the miso-lime vinaigrette. I don't think it's a bad thing to go overkill on the veggies. :)
What healthy thing do you enjoy going overboard on?
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They knew I was on a cleanse!
It's like Raley's knew I was starting my cleanse this week! I realized that I had forgotten lemons for my trout tonight, so I grumbled my way to the store. Lemons and limes were 5 for $1! This is especially great, since I enjoy adding citrus to my water when I'm not indulging in alcohol. A bag of Cuties were $2.50, and I picked up a couple pears to round out my snacks over the next week. That is one happy fruit bowl. I also bought a couple things of grape tomatoes... I know they aren't in season, but at a buck per container I couldn't resist. Add in some extra garlic and my trip came to around nine bucks. Not too shabs at all.
Speaking of great deals, Aveeno is on sale at Walgreens- buy one, get one 50% off. I bought the skin brightening wash (it's a bit gentler than St. Ives) and the overnight intense relief cream. I'm a happy camper today!
In related news, I'm procrastinating on working on my support group curriculum... so, uh, what's going on with you guys?
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Sunday, January 1, 2012
WFDW- 2012 Cleanse Edition
How's everyone doing after the frivolities of New Year's Eve? Kevin and I kept it low-key and stayed home for our celebration, indulging in ribeye steaks, mussels in a lovely butter-wine sauce, garlic bread, Parisian salad, and rosemary-garlic roasted red potatoes. We watched movies and shared champagne kisses at midnight. It was exactly what I needed after the hectic Christmas holiday.
It was a wonderful meal to say goodbye to 2011 and hello to my two week cleanse. I covered all of the cleanse no-no's yesterday: Caffeine, alcohol, simple carbs, artificial sweeteners, huge portions, and naughty fats. I look forward to going without after so much delicious indulgence.
Last year I did the Bon Appetit Food Lover's Cleanse. It was pretty damn difficult- the ingredients were hard to find, the meals took a long time to cook. There was a lot of preparation that went into everything. It's hard to plan each and every meal in a day, let alone stick to a dinner plan. So, this year, I'm using the Cleanse Guidelines as inspiration, and rocking my own menus.
Note on the following menu I specifically state the veggies- sometimes I just imply that we're going to have a salad or cook some peas and it never happens. I'm planning to incorporate vegetables and fruits into each meal, have at least one salad a day, and really stick to the correct portions.
Sunday
Chicken Fried "Rice" (I'm actually using quinoia), Asian Salad with Miso-Lime Dressing, Steamed Baby Bok Choy
Monday
Lemon-Garlic Trout, Lentils, Roasted Zucchini and Mushrooms
Tuesday
Cider-Glazed Chicken Breasts with Apple-Fennel Salad, Brocolli Rabe with Chili-Garlic Black Bean Oil
Wednesday
Pumpkin Shrimp Curry, Leftover Lentils, Leftover Brocolli Rabe
Thursday
Pork Chops with Red Wine-Grape Sauce, Roasted Butternut Squash, Salad with Cranberries and Almonds
Friday
Maple-Cayenne Salmon, Salad, Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Are you making any 2012 adjustments? What are your thoughts on cleanses?
 |
| Yes, please. |
Last year I did the Bon Appetit Food Lover's Cleanse. It was pretty damn difficult- the ingredients were hard to find, the meals took a long time to cook. There was a lot of preparation that went into everything. It's hard to plan each and every meal in a day, let alone stick to a dinner plan. So, this year, I'm using the Cleanse Guidelines as inspiration, and rocking my own menus.
 |
| Bon Appetit |
Note on the following menu I specifically state the veggies- sometimes I just imply that we're going to have a salad or cook some peas and it never happens. I'm planning to incorporate vegetables and fruits into each meal, have at least one salad a day, and really stick to the correct portions.
Sunday
Chicken Fried "Rice" (I'm actually using quinoia), Asian Salad with Miso-Lime Dressing, Steamed Baby Bok Choy
Monday
Lemon-Garlic Trout, Lentils, Roasted Zucchini and Mushrooms
Tuesday
Cider-Glazed Chicken Breasts with Apple-Fennel Salad, Brocolli Rabe with Chili-Garlic Black Bean Oil
Wednesday
Pumpkin Shrimp Curry, Leftover Lentils, Leftover Brocolli Rabe
Thursday
Pork Chops with Red Wine-Grape Sauce, Roasted Butternut Squash, Salad with Cranberries and Almonds
Friday
Maple-Cayenne Salmon, Salad, Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Are you making any 2012 adjustments? What are your thoughts on cleanses?
Saturday, December 31, 2011
New Year's Resolutions
After scouring the internets for the best picture I could find related to New Year's Resolutions I decided to settle on this bad boy. Most of the options involved some joke about giving up on the goals, making ridiculous goals, or just not making any resolutions to begin with. After my MIL posted the following pic on Facebook, I knew I had a winner.
Kara's 2012 New Year's Resolutions
~Live Healthily: Eat and drink with purpose and intention~
~Exercise regularly for mind as well as body~
~Social Work: Publish, write the curriculum, get a job, etc.~
Are you doing resolutions this year?
Oh, gluten... (and other vices)
I get asked a lot on this gluten-free diet about what happens if I indulge. What happens if I slip? Maybe just a cookie? A cracker? One bite?
There are those out there with serious allergies to gluten and wheat. One bite could place them in serious pain. Others, it could be much worse- think of those you know with peanut allergies who go into shock with just a small amount of contamination. Some people have to think- "I know this sandwich was made with gluten-free bread... but how was this sandwich prepared? Toasted on the same griddle as gluten? Do they have a dedicated gluten-free fryer for my delicious fries?"
My answer up until this delicious, memorable Christmas holiday was that I was much more energetic, my bones just moved better, and I just feel better when I live my life in a world of rice, quinoia, and corn rather than Olive Garden bread sticks. It doesn't sound like a lot. In fact, one could say I have fallen for the fad.
Holidays in general are hard for gluten-free folks. All the traditional foods, going out to eat, the unfamiliar fridges... it's a nightmare. So, because I'm fortunate enough to not be technically gluten-intolerant, I let myself slip.
We arrived into town on the solstice (December 21). I was good that night. And then little allowances were made.
December 22nd- Woke up late. Forgot to eat breakfast as there was no gluten-free bread available. Ate Famous Star (with bun!) at noon. Thai food for dinner- didn't check gluten in the curries, pad thai, etc., but the dumplings sure as hell weren't GF. Whoops.
December 23rd- Seafood buffet at the Coeur D'Alene Casino. Not inherently bad, but used some bread to sop up delicious clam/crab juices. Then had a piece of tiramisu. I was still feeling good. No problem.
December 24rd- Christmas Eve. This is the night with my family. I especially made a GF Pumpkin Bourbon Cheesecake AND stuffing. I brought ingredients from Whole Foods especially so I could be gluten-free with my family. The cheesecake was sooo good. The stuffing was less so. So, I made it taste better with gluten-y gravy. Then sopped up that gravy with a crescent roll. Whoops.
December 25th- Christmas with my husband's family. A huge test (which I had planned on failing). My MIL's monkey bread and homemade orange-coconut rolls for breakfast. Then my FIL's aforementioned calzones.
Sigh.
I ate the whole calzone. I had never done that before.
I forget which day I started hurting. I think it was the evening of the 23rd or the morning of the 24th. I got more and more stiff until I was downright cranky on Christmas. The next day, I was back on the bandwagon- armed with my Udi's multigrain bread and some gluten-free burritos. I even had my mother-in-law purchase some gluten-free soy sauce for some Kung Pao chicken they made for dinner one night. But, the damage was done. I was achy, I felt slow, I woke up each morning without feeling rested, and getting up off the floor after playing with my nephew was a real bitch. My fingers swelled up to nice-looking sausages and my wrists decided not to cooperate with any of the work I needed to do. My Costochondritis acted up- which is always panic-inducing and fun. I was pretty miserable.
It's important, however, that I mention the other bad things I did that could have caused this. This isn't a gluten-free blog... it's a lupus blog. There are lots of different things that could cause a lupus flare, and I was guilty of most of them.
I certainly didn't exercise as much as I should have. I did yoga once in the nine days we weren't home. I ignored my resistance band. I took the dog for only two walks (it was really cold). Yes, I was constantly running around and moving, but not in a way that kept my joints limber.
And then, I indulged while I was with my family- and not even in moderation. My slab of prime rib at my family's Christmas dinner was embarrassingly huge. Then I had another slice for "second dinner" later that night. Topped with a big dollop of horseradish sauce. There was also snacking- Doritos, Ruffles, cheeses, large amounts of this delicious jalapeno Greek yogurt dip my MIL found. It's at Costco. Go find it.
Visiting family also means drinking. Jack and Gingers, mimosas, hard cider, eggnog (with brandy), Knob Creek, and wine, wine, wine. I didn't succumb to delicious beer, but that didn't matter. My liver is begging for mercy. I did my best to drink water, but I certainly didn't do as well as I normally did.
I'm also sure I overdid things while in town. Helping my grandmother, cooking a bunch of meals (Christmas dinner, cheesecake, three pasta casseroles, minestrone, quinoia and butternut squash bake, two turkey tetrazzinis, and chicken noodle soup), playing with my nephews, sixteen hour car rides, going out in the snow, wrapping gifts... it was a lot of wear on me. Since I visit so rarely I always try to squeeze as much in as possible to be the best friend, granddaughter, auntie, sister, daughter-in-law, whatever I can. Hard to squeeze in time to be good to yourself when you're so busy.
Then there's the emotional toll of the holidays and some family matters that needed to be tended to. While I'm going to opt not to elaborate here, I will say that there's some big changes going on and a lot of what-ifs and unanswered questions. Stress city. And I did very little self-care in the process. (Spa day, anyone?)
As you can see, I crammed a lot (of gluten, stress, gluttony, etc.) into a short visit to my hometown and I paid for it. It's important for those with chronic illnesses to learn from their mistakes, however, and I fully intend on working on that.
This post is a nice lead up to my next one- New Years' Resolutions! Yes, I do resolutions. There is nothing wrong with having goals in your life. So long as you don't beat yourself up if you find yourself challenged.
Before all that, though...
How are you paying for all the holiday fun?
There are those out there with serious allergies to gluten and wheat. One bite could place them in serious pain. Others, it could be much worse- think of those you know with peanut allergies who go into shock with just a small amount of contamination. Some people have to think- "I know this sandwich was made with gluten-free bread... but how was this sandwich prepared? Toasted on the same griddle as gluten? Do they have a dedicated gluten-free fryer for my delicious fries?"
My answer up until this delicious, memorable Christmas holiday was that I was much more energetic, my bones just moved better, and I just feel better when I live my life in a world of rice, quinoia, and corn rather than Olive Garden bread sticks. It doesn't sound like a lot. In fact, one could say I have fallen for the fad.
Holidays in general are hard for gluten-free folks. All the traditional foods, going out to eat, the unfamiliar fridges... it's a nightmare. So, because I'm fortunate enough to not be technically gluten-intolerant, I let myself slip.
We arrived into town on the solstice (December 21). I was good that night. And then little allowances were made.
December 22nd- Woke up late. Forgot to eat breakfast as there was no gluten-free bread available. Ate Famous Star (with bun!) at noon. Thai food for dinner- didn't check gluten in the curries, pad thai, etc., but the dumplings sure as hell weren't GF. Whoops.
December 23rd- Seafood buffet at the Coeur D'Alene Casino. Not inherently bad, but used some bread to sop up delicious clam/crab juices. Then had a piece of tiramisu. I was still feeling good. No problem.
December 24rd- Christmas Eve. This is the night with my family. I especially made a GF Pumpkin Bourbon Cheesecake AND stuffing. I brought ingredients from Whole Foods especially so I could be gluten-free with my family. The cheesecake was sooo good. The stuffing was less so. So, I made it taste better with gluten-y gravy. Then sopped up that gravy with a crescent roll. Whoops.
December 25th- Christmas with my husband's family. A huge test (which I had planned on failing). My MIL's monkey bread and homemade orange-coconut rolls for breakfast. Then my FIL's aforementioned calzones.
Sigh.
I ate the whole calzone. I had never done that before.
I forget which day I started hurting. I think it was the evening of the 23rd or the morning of the 24th. I got more and more stiff until I was downright cranky on Christmas. The next day, I was back on the bandwagon- armed with my Udi's multigrain bread and some gluten-free burritos. I even had my mother-in-law purchase some gluten-free soy sauce for some Kung Pao chicken they made for dinner one night. But, the damage was done. I was achy, I felt slow, I woke up each morning without feeling rested, and getting up off the floor after playing with my nephew was a real bitch. My fingers swelled up to nice-looking sausages and my wrists decided not to cooperate with any of the work I needed to do. My Costochondritis acted up- which is always panic-inducing and fun. I was pretty miserable.
It's important, however, that I mention the other bad things I did that could have caused this. This isn't a gluten-free blog... it's a lupus blog. There are lots of different things that could cause a lupus flare, and I was guilty of most of them.
I certainly didn't exercise as much as I should have. I did yoga once in the nine days we weren't home. I ignored my resistance band. I took the dog for only two walks (it was really cold). Yes, I was constantly running around and moving, but not in a way that kept my joints limber.
And then, I indulged while I was with my family- and not even in moderation. My slab of prime rib at my family's Christmas dinner was embarrassingly huge. Then I had another slice for "second dinner" later that night. Topped with a big dollop of horseradish sauce. There was also snacking- Doritos, Ruffles, cheeses, large amounts of this delicious jalapeno Greek yogurt dip my MIL found. It's at Costco. Go find it.
Visiting family also means drinking. Jack and Gingers, mimosas, hard cider, eggnog (with brandy), Knob Creek, and wine, wine, wine. I didn't succumb to delicious beer, but that didn't matter. My liver is begging for mercy. I did my best to drink water, but I certainly didn't do as well as I normally did.
I'm also sure I overdid things while in town. Helping my grandmother, cooking a bunch of meals (Christmas dinner, cheesecake, three pasta casseroles, minestrone, quinoia and butternut squash bake, two turkey tetrazzinis, and chicken noodle soup), playing with my nephews, sixteen hour car rides, going out in the snow, wrapping gifts... it was a lot of wear on me. Since I visit so rarely I always try to squeeze as much in as possible to be the best friend, granddaughter, auntie, sister, daughter-in-law, whatever I can. Hard to squeeze in time to be good to yourself when you're so busy.
Then there's the emotional toll of the holidays and some family matters that needed to be tended to. While I'm going to opt not to elaborate here, I will say that there's some big changes going on and a lot of what-ifs and unanswered questions. Stress city. And I did very little self-care in the process. (Spa day, anyone?)
As you can see, I crammed a lot (of gluten, stress, gluttony, etc.) into a short visit to my hometown and I paid for it. It's important for those with chronic illnesses to learn from their mistakes, however, and I fully intend on working on that.
This post is a nice lead up to my next one- New Years' Resolutions! Yes, I do resolutions. There is nothing wrong with having goals in your life. So long as you don't beat yourself up if you find yourself challenged.
Before all that, though...
How are you paying for all the holiday fun?
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Oh, Bob... I had such high hopes for us...
Yesterday marked my first attempt at using a gluten-free mix for my pizza dough. As I mentioned in my last post, calzones are a tradition in my husband's family. My father-in-law is a wizard... those beautiful creations are tailored to each member of the family and stuffed with ricotta, cheese, meat, and usually two kinds of olives. They make me happy. As does the two bottles of red wine we typically kill in the process of eating them.
So, I wanted to participate without giving in to gluten. I was instructed to test out mixes and recipes before our trip to Spokane in December. Naturally, I put it off. When dieting, it's not the best idea to go on a pizza quest. There's a free tip from your health and fitness expert, Kara.
Yesterday at Whole Foods I was armed with the pizza crust recipe from a certain Gluten Free Goddess. Her picture of her pizza looked so tasty, I knew it would be the one to make my calzone dreams come true. The first thing I needed was some xanthan gum. Then a bit of sorghum flour, millet flour, and tapioca starch. No problem, this is Whole Foods, right? WRONG. My shock at seeing the lack of sorghum flour AND millet flour was surpassed tenfold by the following...
Xanthan gum was 15 dollars per package!
What the hell is xanthan anyway? Now, I know you only bake with a tablespoon or so at times, but this was still shocking to me. Add that to the cost of all of the other flours and you've got yourself a thirty dollar pizza- at least!
So, I went for a mix instead. I contemplated the Namaste brand after seeing positive reviews (I love technology and I love my smart phone), but frowned at the higher price. Bob's Red Mill seemed like a close second and for only five bucks I was willing to give it a shot.
And it wasn't too shabby! The edges weren't great... and it certainly wasn't real pizza (I'm a snob), but it was much better than a certain polenta abomination that graced my table when I first went gluten-free. My husband swears that he liked it and- since he is sick and generally whiny/truthful in those instances- I'm going to believe him.
Then, there was the calzone. Since gluten-free pizza dough is not, in fact, a dough... it was a bit difficult to form into shape and then fold over. The results were less than pretty:
The calzone was okay- but I think that the dough really needed the pre-cooking step before adding toppings. Compared to the pizza, the calzone was a bit more gummy in areas and dry in others. No bueno. My filling, however was tasty. Whenever you have the opportunity to combine sundried tomatoes, cream cheese, and feta I think you should take it. You won't be disappointed.
So, I wanted to participate without giving in to gluten. I was instructed to test out mixes and recipes before our trip to Spokane in December. Naturally, I put it off. When dieting, it's not the best idea to go on a pizza quest. There's a free tip from your health and fitness expert, Kara.
Yesterday at Whole Foods I was armed with the pizza crust recipe from a certain Gluten Free Goddess. Her picture of her pizza looked so tasty, I knew it would be the one to make my calzone dreams come true. The first thing I needed was some xanthan gum. Then a bit of sorghum flour, millet flour, and tapioca starch. No problem, this is Whole Foods, right? WRONG. My shock at seeing the lack of sorghum flour AND millet flour was surpassed tenfold by the following...
Xanthan gum was 15 dollars per package!
So, I went for a mix instead. I contemplated the Namaste brand after seeing positive reviews (I love technology and I love my smart phone), but frowned at the higher price. Bob's Red Mill seemed like a close second and for only five bucks I was willing to give it a shot.
Just add egg, oil and water? No problem. Smooth onto a greased cookie sheet? Bigger problem.
Pizza making really destroys the kitchen. All the chopping, shredding of cheeses, sauteeing of mushrooms and zucchini to tender deliciousness... then add in a dishwasher hubby with a headcold and your tiny apartment kitchen is a disaster. I considered calling FEMA. But, I tredged on- using the only surface I could to set the cookie sheets on... the oven. So, gluten is the wonderful protein that makes bread products all elastic and chewy and crusty all at the same time. Spreading gluten-free dough is like working with a sticky biscuit batter. I'm pretty sure there is no way to get it to a uniform thickness. From reading online blogs, I expected this to be difficult. I didn't expect the heat from the pre-heated oven to begin cooking the bottom of my crust.
Oy.
So, I sweated, I swore, and I busted out a pizza...
 |
| Chicken breast, spinach, sundried tomatoes, feta, mushrooms, zucchini, and mozzarella. |
And it wasn't too shabby! The edges weren't great... and it certainly wasn't real pizza (I'm a snob), but it was much better than a certain polenta abomination that graced my table when I first went gluten-free. My husband swears that he liked it and- since he is sick and generally whiny/truthful in those instances- I'm going to believe him.
Then, there was the calzone. Since gluten-free pizza dough is not, in fact, a dough... it was a bit difficult to form into shape and then fold over. The results were less than pretty:
 |
| Yikes. |
So, Bob, I don't think you and I are going to have a long-term pizza relationship. In a pinch, you would do if I feel the need for a homemade slice, but I'm not giving up on prepacked mixes yet. And eventually I'll just rip the bandaid off and stock my gluten-free pantry with all the fancy flours (and gums?) required. But, for this Christmas I'll enjoy the treat of a gluten-y calzone. If you can't treat yourself during the holidays, when can you?
What's your biggest splurge item in terms of kitchen food? Personally, I was hoping mine would be some nice truffle oil...
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Sunday, December 11, 2011
WFD? Deliciousness
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| Ugh, blurry. |
Speaking of carbs...After cooking tonight I plan to post my results of Bob's Red Mill Pizza Crust Mix as soon as possible. With our Christmas trip coming up I've been anxiously awaiting the struggles of being gluten-free for the holidays. I'm mostly thinking about my father-in-law's delicious calzones and my mother-in-laws amazing Christmas morning breakfast- which typically includes both monkey bread AND orange-coconut rolls. *swoons*
And now, something important: This Christmas will be without a very special family member. The magnet in the upper left corner is representative of my in-law's family cat, Schmily (See how much I love you), who was put to sleep last week. She was ornery, she was pretty, and she generally didn't like people. But, she was family. We love family even when they bite. Rest in peace, Schmily.
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Wednesday, December 7, 2011
I suck at baking...
...with gluten... and then not eating it...
I finally got around to de-glutening my pantry. It turned up with several boxes of cake mix, two packets of Fiber One Blueberry Muffin mix, and a packet of sugar cookie mix. My first thought was that a food bank could use the donations... until I realized they were all a couple months out of date. Now, I know that they are perfectly fine- but having volunteered for a few donation centers I'm well aware that they don't appreciate expired foods.
So, I decided to whip up some baked goods for my g-parents. The first problem came with the muffins. As it turns out, it's impossible to not drip on your fingers while filling up the muffin cups. And then it's impossible to NOT lick your fingers. Damn.
Then, the sugar cookies. I had the cute idea of dipping the sugar cookie balls in holiday sprinkles to make them all festive-like. The next problem came (I think) when I didn't soften the butter. Or maybe it was too soft. Or maybe it was the expiration date issue. Or perhaps my ineptitude. Anyone, so they flattened out a lot around the edges and got quite brown. So then... there were reject cookies. And I couldn't just let those cookies feel bad about themselves.
I wouldn't be human if I had no flaws, right? At least Mama and Papa will forgive me of my errors when they eat some delish muffins.
Do you ever cook/bake things that you're not supposed to eat? How do you resist?
I finally got around to de-glutening my pantry. It turned up with several boxes of cake mix, two packets of Fiber One Blueberry Muffin mix, and a packet of sugar cookie mix. My first thought was that a food bank could use the donations... until I realized they were all a couple months out of date. Now, I know that they are perfectly fine- but having volunteered for a few donation centers I'm well aware that they don't appreciate expired foods.
So, I decided to whip up some baked goods for my g-parents. The first problem came with the muffins. As it turns out, it's impossible to not drip on your fingers while filling up the muffin cups. And then it's impossible to NOT lick your fingers. Damn.
Then, the sugar cookies. I had the cute idea of dipping the sugar cookie balls in holiday sprinkles to make them all festive-like. The next problem came (I think) when I didn't soften the butter. Or maybe it was too soft. Or maybe it was the expiration date issue. Or perhaps my ineptitude. Anyone, so they flattened out a lot around the edges and got quite brown. So then... there were reject cookies. And I couldn't just let those cookies feel bad about themselves.
I wouldn't be human if I had no flaws, right? At least Mama and Papa will forgive me of my errors when they eat some delish muffins.
Do you ever cook/bake things that you're not supposed to eat? How do you resist?
Monday, December 5, 2011
Goodbye, Don- Hello, Santa!
My physical therapist broke some bad news to me this morning. Apparently, I'm at the point in my physical therapy that the insurance company is getting cranky. I've made too much progress and insurance companies are about continued progress- not maintenance- and certainly not training me to be a long distance cyclist. So, December 19th is my final day with my good friend and PT of the last two years, Don.
El Dorado Physical Therapy will always be there for future referrals- it's just that in-between stuff that's scary. I do stupid stuff all the time, and it always negatively impacts my neck and/or my lupus. Once, I challenged my husband to a pull-up competition. I couldn't turn my neck the next day (but I won!). I also occasionally decide to scrub my bathtub on my hands and knees, sometimes I play superman and horsey with my nephews, and roller coasters are way too fun to pass up. Hopefully, the progress that I've made will prevent these mini flares from destroying me.
I owe all of my progress to El Dorado Physical Therapy. If you are in the El Dorado Hills/Folsom area and need a physical therapist, masseuse, or personal trainer, contact them. Then tell them Kara referred you- I think I get movie tickets or something or a pilates session or something.
So, with whatever this new exercise routine will be I'm going to need a new more pieces of equipment:
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| Resistance Band Set with Door Anchor |
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| Pilates Magic Circle |
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| Arthritis-Friendly Dumbells |
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| Stability Ball |
What's on your holiday wish list? Going practical or fun in your letter to Santa?
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Chilly days and heating pads
I had such big plans for today. Hump day was going to be conquered with a great workout at the gym, de-glutening my pantry, doing some paperwork, and writing a positive blog post about rising above negativity. I even included a picture of a goat:
My wonderful hormone fluctuations aren't the only thing putting me on the brink of a flare. For some inane reason, my insurance company decided that mail-order prescriptions were the way to go. I am way too much of a spazz to remember to order things in advance. Plus, because the insurance is through my husband's work, he is the one with access to the system to place orders. So, I have to remember to need to order my prescription, plus to tell my husband (and make sure he remembers, too!). To get to the point of this rather boring paragraph, I've been sans-plaquenil for four days.
How can you not be positive when looking at that adorableness?
My plans first were foiled by Winter coming to California. Taking the dog out chilled me to the bone. I snuggled up to Spartacus with a mug of hot coffee and defrosted my toes before heading to the gym (the walk to which turned me purple again). Cramps got me off the rowing machine in under six minutes, and I lasted on the Nordic Track just 24 minutes before I started doubling over. I thought exercise was supposed to ease cramping?
Anyway, I came home and made myself a couple slices of gluten-free French toast to settle a wicked maple syrup craving.
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| I ate it. |
So far, so pseudo-good. But I'm definitely trying to take it easy.
Speaking of which, I've got a date with my physical therapist I should jet off to. I'm not sure how much pilates I'll be doing today, but I do know I'm looking forward to getting some of these knots worked out.
How is your hump day going?
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Leftover Turkey Pho
Despite only having a 10 pound turkey, we were left with a sizable amount of leftovers. In years past I would boil down my turkey carcass to make some homemade stock for turkey noodle soup. Now, because I haven't found any gluten-free egg noodles, and because I'm missing being in college, I decided to go a more Asian direction with my soup this year...
On the Sacramento State campus, near the library, exists this wonderful little restaurant called Saigon Bay. They introduced me to avocado smoothies, tofu spring rolls with peanut dipping sauce, and noodle soup with options of throwing in bean sprouts, jalapenos, lime wedges, hoisin, and sriracha. Especially in these gray fall/winter months in Sacramento, that soup really hit the spot.
I decided to pursue making my own replication of that soup. Now, I would alternate between shrimp and flank steak for my protein, but with all the leftovers it seemed a good time to use up my dark turkey meat (white is for sammiches and tonight's curry).
I used this recipe from Kevin's (hey, that's my husband's name) Closet Cooking as a base for my experiment. When I boiled down the carcass I already had ginger, shallots, and onions in there so I left that step out. I think the best change I made is that I threw in a bag of dried shiitake mushrooms during my second stock process (after skimming out the solids and the top layer of fat). This- combined with the ingredients of the star anise, cloves, and cinnamon- made for a very umami experience. I would suggest starting low with the fish sauce and sugar altering to your tastes.
The result was a very delicious, warming pho. Topped with the rooster sauce and Dynasty hoisin (gluten-free) and a hearty heap of bean sprouts (super healthy!) it was satisfying and light after the previous day of gluttony. The only change I would make in the future was to use thinner rice noodles.
Kevin (my husband, not the blogger) found this to be a great way to use the leftovers. I'm happy that we have some leftover stock for the upcoming cold and flu season for a second round of pho- comforting, and the sriracha is great for the sinuses. We happily slurped down the remainders of the pot for lunch today.
To conclude, I think a new leftover turkey tradition has been born.
Do you have any traditions in regards to your Turkey Day leftovers? Any of them slightly unusual?
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