Skintactix Challenge!

I'm taking the Skintactix Challenge!  I'm going to try Skintactix for 1 month, and I'll let you know how I do!

Soy-ya later!

Good lovely, sunny evening to you all!  I came across 2 new things today.

1- a new product (THAT IS TO DIE FOR OMGOMGOMG NOM NOM NOM)
2- a new recipe (the video link below shows everything you need to know) (THAT IS A KEEPER!!!!  DOUBLE NOM NOM!)

First, the product.

I've been semi-candid about our most recent doctor visit.  To make a long story short, Brenton and I are now gluten-free, nut-free (unless we supplement with triple strength omega 3's.... made out of fish oil... so we will no longer be vegetarian.  ...back to pescatarian we go I guess, although we won't be eating fish flesh.  oye.), and soy-free.  We're also not going to be eating other random things like bananas, avocados, celery, figs, or kiwi due to their latex forming properties, and we'll be limiting our vegetable oils.

Phew.

So, that said, being soy-free is pretty difficult at first.  Soy is in EVERYTHING.  Ick.  I spent a LONG time at TJ's and various other stores to figure out what foods were ok for us to get.  One thing that I was pretty bummed about was Asian food. SO MUCH Asian food uses soy-sauce.  We used to get nama shoyu or the gluten-free tamari.... but that's all soy.  Like this.

Bye bye.

But then, my world changed.  I found out about THIS

So.Freaking.Good.

This sauce tastes like a red wine marinated steak.  I'm not even joking.  Sure, it's been 2 years since I've had a steak, but I have a pretty good memory.  I can make veggie sushi again!!!!!!!!!!  And lo-mein!!!!!!!  (cue the chorus of angelic voices)

In addition to finding soy-free items, I've been experimenting with various gluten-free recipes and products.  Here's the rice crust pizza we had for dinner (WHICH WAS AWESOME!)  Check out the youtube that I got the recipe from.

Very yummy- total keeper.  Not REALLY pizza... but doggone good!

Found an AWESOME bread, though I'm told Udi is pretty good too (I have yet to find it)!

Nice little breakfast accompaniment!

Rice flour pancakes... still need to tweak this a bit before posting the recipe....

Corn tortilla tacos... great success.

The doctor has also ordered us to buy as local as possible.  Not difficult for me since I LOOOOVE farmers markets.  Especially when I can dig into these....

Yes, they are JUST as good as they look.  I got a CSA share from Groupon a few months ago that I'm going to pick up on Thursday- super excited to get all of the yummy vegetables and fruits!!!  The little things.  :)

Off to 'walk away the pounds'.  LOVE Leslie!!  Always a fun time.

xoxo

A Video and an Article

Good day, everyone!  I wanted to share with you a video that I thought was uber cute, and explains WHY you should eat organic.  So basic.  So simple.  So adorable.





ANDDDD!!!!  I was published in the Magically Speaking Newsletter!!  Click the link to read it- so proud!  All about food restrictions and dining at Walt Disney World.  (which we all know is my favorite place IN the world :) )

If you read the article, you'll see that Brenton and I are changing our diet (again...).  We will be limiting gluten, nuts, and vegetable oils, and OMITTING soy.  Bye bye soy, it's been fun (ok, it's not really been fun...).  More details to come.  We're absolutely fine, no need to worry- we're just being proactive with our health.

XOXO  Enjoy your day!

End of an Era?

Happy Saturday!  How's the weekend treating you?  So far so good on the homestead!

Brenton and I are preparing ourselves for Monday, what might be the end of an era.  We're going to a new doctor- an Integrative Medicine doctor.  He promotes healing/illness prevention through nutrition.  Why doesn't every doctor do this?  We will be talking to him about our ancestral history and getting a script for specific bloodwork tests that will determine where we're at health-wise.  He'll then give us our food and supplement list to follow, and then blood tests will determine if the food/supplements need changed or if we're on the right track.

So, we eat very healthy, you know that (LOL).  However... the end of an era may come for us.  You see, my grandparents were from Italy.  Brenton's great-grandparents were from Italy.  What does that mean?  Most western Europeans back in the day didn't eat a lot of gluten, and therefore, developed an intolerance to it.  This is passed down through genetics.  Ruh roah.  Goodbye to pizza and pasta as we know it... possibly.  We'll see soon!

To prepare ourselves for this transition, I have started experimenting with some GF recipes.  This is one of my new FAVORITES, thanks to Gina (xoxo!).  Quinoa Pita Tortilas.

Seriously, easiest.ever.  Ever.

 Here it is- the quinoa in the coffee grinder.

Mix the quinoa flour with equal parts water (about 1/4 C for 1 serving), and fry over medium heat in butter.   Season with salt to taste.  I added Italian seasoning and garlic.  Fan-Tastic.

 I decided to turn these little beauties into pizza crusts!  Genius!

So I'm still experimenting with this one.  I found out online that you could also make your own RICE FLOUR!  Who knew?!  Here I am, trying out GF cookies.

 Flour?  Sure, we'll try it!!

Who knew?!
No need to buy expensive bagged rice flour!  Just make your own.

Brenton said "YUM!", so they must have turned out ok!  I just used my vegan chocolate chip cookie recipe, which I got from here, and subbed rice flour for whole wheat flour.  They turned out quite nicely!  A little gritty, so my sister says I need to get a Vita Mix.  Yeah, it may come to that, but they really weren't too bad with just a regular coffee grinder!

So, I'm kinda feeling semi-ok with this possible GF life.  I like experimenting with new recipes and trying new things.  It will certainly be a life change, but it can't be that much different than going vegetarian and cutting out junk food.  I'm ready for the journey, whatever it may be.

xoxo