Carrie S. Forbes - Gingerlemongirl.com

Rest Well - In Memory of Elana Amsterdam of Elana's Pantry

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 02 Mar 2025 23:18:00 +0000

An Unexpected Goodbye

I wish I could remember exactly when I started reading Elana's Pantry... but I can tell you it was before she posted one of my favorite low glycemic recipes for gluten free bread. This bread.

I didn't know Elana in person, but we had emailed back and forth several times when we were both active food bloggers. She was thoughtful, kind, and always engaging. I loved her style and how professionally she presented her work: her cooking, her writing, her photography. Elana never stopped blogging and her work only become more prominent over the years.

As with most blogs over the past 20+ years, you could see her work grow as she became more experienced and as she invested in her skills, her equipment, etc... she was a powerhouse when it came to writing, to baking, and to creating a welcoming and helpful community through her website. But her website was only one avenue in her life. Elana had been a part of (and began) several successful businesses throughout her life. She was a philanthropist and an entrepreneur. She was a loving mom, wife, daughter, and friend.

Elana found her truth as a "wellness warrior, food fanatic, and paleo pioneer," as she proudly shared on her website. However, like so many of us, she also struggled with her own mental health. Her last penned post on February 8, 2025 shared that struggle, along with the myriad of other health issues she had faced over the past 20 years. Elana's recalling of her psychiatrist calling her a hypochondriac, brought me to tears... as someone who has had very similar experiences in the chair at medical offices.

I'm still struggling to find the words to fully share how I feel about the inexplicably sad, tragic loss of Elana. Her story, like so many others, share about the issues of medical inequality in our country. How women aren't taken seriously by many health care practitioners. Especially women over forty and women of color. And I fear it will only become worse with our current deeply anti-science, anti-truth political culture in the United States. (Please find whatever ways you can to support and educate about real journalism and the importance of science if you can.)

If you ever find yourself in crisis or worried about self-harm, please keep this number & website handy:

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:

Call or text: 988
Chat: 988lifeline.org

SAMHSA Helpline: This helpline provides 24-hour free and confidential assistance:

Call: 1-800-662-4257
TTY: 1-800-487-4889
Text your zip code to: 435748
Visit: FindTreatment.gov to locate a treatment facility or provider

My food memories of Elana:

Elana's first book is still my very favorite low glycemic, gluten free cookbook:

The Gluten-Free Almond Flour Cookbook

From this cookbook my favorite recipes are:

Salmon Dill Burgers, p. 51
Savory Vegetable Quiche, p. 61

As a matter of fact I noted on this recipe "12-10-2010, Very very good!! Great crust! I used 4 eggs and Daiya cheese & roasted red peppers."

Chocolate Chip Scones, p. 18

When I brought these to work one day many years ago, my colleague Jeff asked if I could please bring them once a week!

Sesame Crackers, p. 36 - this is a great pizza crust too!
Elana's Chocolate Chip Cookies, p.98 -- I wrote in the cookbook "easier than mine... make when you want fast but good cookies!"
Lemon Bars, p. 115

My favorite recipes from her website are:

Bread 2.0 -- when you want easy, yeast free, just good toastable bread, make this!
Cinnamon Bun Muffins -- they really do taste just like cinnamon buns, i like them as minis!
Gluten Free Orange Almond Cake -- just like Starbux used to make!
Mustard Lime Chicken
Fish Sticks -- I'm such a sucker for kid friendly finger foods. I love fish sticks and they are hard to find gluten-free. These are easy and delicious and perfect for an ADHD, austistic gal, who just wants a somewhat healthy and easy protein that I can dip in ketchup.

I wish I had the right words to express my gratitude and love to Elana's family. Elana taught me so much as a food blogger and about how to eat well. She taught me that simple is often far better than complicated. She taught me that good food doesn't have to be hard.

As a practicing death and end of life doula (another avenue in my life that I need to write more about), I know her family is only at the beginning of their grief journey. We all experience grief of our loved ones differently and each person's experiences are so vastly different, even when experiencing grief for the same person.

If there's anything I can hope for Elana's loved ones -- please know she loved you and she's so proud of you. Everything she did in her life was a reflection of the love she felt for her sons, her husband, her friends, her parents, etc. It was so clear in her writing and her recipes... it was all love. So much love.

If you were a food blogger or a fan of Elana... maybe go make some of her chocolate chip cookies for your people. Tell them you love them. Hug someone tightly. Please reach out if you need help processing your feelings.

Elana, we love you. I wish I had personally told you that. I wish I had personally told you that you made a difference in my life and you were an incredible person.

Rest well Elana. You will never be forgotten.

***

I am no longer on social media. If you would like to reach out with a comment or question, please email me at: gingerlemongirl at gmail dot com.

Gluten-Free Vegan Vanilla/Yellow Cake Recipe & Gluten-Free Vegan Chocolate Chip Cupcakes Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 22:00:00 +0000

Podcast Note: I find it ironic that I said the date in the podcast was "Saturday April 4" lolol... so I obviously subconsciously knew that this would not go live until Monday April 4th! lolol Happy Monday y'all!!

Printable version of today's recipe.

Today’s recipe came from a failed experiment. A few of my colleagues and I are celebrating a friend’s birthday tomorrow and they have auto-immune health issues and eat a low inflammatory diet. What this means for baking is that they avoid gluten, eggs, coconut, and bananas.

I asked our birthday colleague what kind of cupcakes they liked, and out of all the choices I offered, they said chocolate cake with chocolate icing -OR- chocolate chip cookie cupcakes. Personally, I think anyone who really enjoys baking, also wants to show off their baking… so I opted to make the more complicated “chocolate chip cookie cupcakes.”

Silly, silly me.

I’ve made chocolate chip cookie cupcakes in the past, but never as a vegan recipe without eggs. So I attempted to try a shortcut and made a gluten-free box cake mix recipe with an egg substitute (a mix of water, baking powder, and oil), but I knew trying to replace 4 eggs would be tricky. And anytime you use a LOT of baking powder, you generally taste it in the final product. Surprisingly to me, the batter tasted great… but the finished product? A total flop. They tasted terrible and I wasted a perfectly good gluten-free cake mix. Oh well.

Then I spent about an hour looking at gluten-free vegan yellow cake recipes online. There are plenty to choose from, but I was hesitant to try any recipe with a lot of additional baking powder or baking soda. I finally decided to start with a recipe from Allergylicious. Many of the vegan cake recipes I saw were based on wartime “crazy cakes” or “wacky cakes”, or cakes that were made when things like milk and eggs were rationed during war times. Those cakes tended to have more oil than a traditional cake and increased leavening powder. If baking soda was used, an acid like white vinegar or apple cider vinegar was added to activate the soda to rise. Baking powder already has an acid added (cream of tartar) so it doesn’t need an additional acid. Some recipes even called for using both, which also helped with creating a better rise on the final product.

From the comments I read on the Allergylicious post, I decided to cut back slightly on the gluten-free flour and add a tablespoon of ground psyllium husks, which helps to hold the shape of risen baked goods, along with adding texture that is similar to wheat. I also added a little bit of turmeric to add yellow color, which would normally come from egg yolks, and I added butter extract (in addition to vanilla extract) to better replicate the flavor of a yellow cake. Finally, I added ½ cup of Enjoy Life mini chocolate chips. The mini chocolate chips are key, because they aren’t heavy enough to weigh down the batter and sink to the bottom while baking.

The cupcakes rose beautifully and I went with store bought shortcuts to finish them. I frosted with store-bought vanilla icing and decorated them each with a half of a Cybel’s ‘Free to Eat” allergen free chocolate chip cookie. They are my favorite store bought gluten-free chocolate chip cookies and they just happen to be vegan as well. If you DO want to make your own homemade gluten-free chocolate chip cookies, I highly suggest my award-winning recipe, but I might be biased!

Gluten-Free Vegan Yellow Cake Recipe &

Gluten-Free Vegan Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

The recipe is adapted from: Allergylicious.com

It’s also Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Egg-Free, Vegan, and Soy-Free

Makes 2 - 8” cake rounds, 18 cupcakes, or 1 - 9 x 13 baking dish

Printable version of this recipe

Dry Ingredients

2 ¾ cups all-purpose gluten-free flour for baking (I used King Arthur Gluten-Free Measure for Measure flour)

1 ½ cups white sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon turmeric (for yellow color - OPTIONAL)

1 tablespoon psyllium powder (for helping hold the texture of the cupcakes when they rise, fiber is a bonus)

Wet Ingredients

2 cups non-dairy milk (I used oat milk, but only because my store was out of my normal almond milk)

2 tablespoons white vinegar

⅔ cups extra virgin olive oil (or any oil that doesn’t have a lot of flavor)

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon butter extract or flavoring

Add-In’s:

½ cup mini chocolate chips (I used Enjoy Life Allergen-Free Mini-Chocolate Chips)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
If making cake in round cake pans, line pans with parchment paper rounds and/or non-stick cooking spray, or line cupcake pans with paper liners, if using a 9x13 pan, spritz with non-stick cooking spray.
In a large bowl, whisk together all dry ingredients.
In another bowl whisk together all wet ingredients.
Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and whisk together until ingredients are well incorporated and smooth, there should be no lumps.
Allow batter to rest for 10 minutes to allow the psyllium to thicken the batter.
After resting the batter, whisk the batter again, it should be thickened, IF you are making the chocolate chip cupcakes, then gently stir in the mini chocolate chips, if you just want a yellow cake, leave out the chocolate chips.
Add batter evenly to round cake pans, a 9x13 greased baking dish, or evenly into individual cupcake liners. If making cupcakes, fill nearly to the top.
Baking times: for cupcakes = 18-20 minutes, for 8” round cake pans = 30-35 minutes, for a 9x13” baking dish = 30-35 minutes.
Test the cake for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the middle of the cake or cupcake. It should come out mostly clean, with a crumb or two, you don’t want to see wet batter coating the toothpick.
When the cake is done, remove it from the oven and allow to cool completely before removing from pans, and then frosting & decorating.

Kitchen Notes:

Turmeric. The turmeric for color is completely optional, leave it out or don’t use it if you don’t have it.
Sugar. You can probably use other types of sugar in this recipe if you don’t want to use white sugar. But I haven’t tried it, so I don’t know how it would turn out. If you use a liquid sugar like honey or maple syrup, you may want to decrease the other liquids by ⅓ of a cup.
Psyllium husk powder. This is relatively easy to find on Amazon or in your local health food store. If you don’t want to use this, then increase the all purpose flour to 3 cups instead of 2 ¾ cups and just leave it out altogether. However, I have not made it without the psyllium, so I can’t guarantee the cake will come out as well.
Non-dairy milk. Honestly, I think you can use whatever milk you prefer. Coconut milk, almond milk, even dairy milk will work fine in this recipe if that is what you would prefer to use.
Olive oil. If you do not have or do not like to use extra virgin olive oil, I would recommend using a light tasting vegetable or coconut oil. If you can use butter all the better. If you do use butter, you can leave out the butter flavoring.

Kitchen wisdom for today's recipe:

photo from wikipedia.com

“I want people to fall in love with themselves and to be really proud and full of joy for the space they take up. If someone else appreciates the space you take up, then that’s icing on the cake.” — Jonathan Van Ness

Need another serving?

Please join me on facebook.com/Gingerlemongirlblog to share any comments and/or questions that you may have about today’s recipe. Happy gluten-free baking!

Crustless or "Impossible" Gluten-Free Paleo Pumpkin Pie

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 00:53:00 +0000

My friend Heather has a lot of food sensitivities and a very persnickity digestive system. She's been to a ton of doctors, natural digestive specialists, GI specialists, etc.. and still doesn't have clear answers. In our texts over the past week I told her that I was sad that I couldn't really bake or cook for her anymore, because I just didn't know what she could tolerate.

She said, "I just want pumpkin pie, and I know that YOU of all people can make me a pumpkin pie."

Well alrighty then Heather... no pressure, no pressure at all!

Impossible/Crustless Gluten-Free Paleo Pie 1 - made with arrowroot starch & egg yolks

So I quizzed her on all the basic ingredients of a pumpkin pie. What can she have? What can she not have? The base ingredients of any pumpkin pie are pureed pumpkin, sugar, eggs, milk, and spices.

She said that she could tolerate pumpkin and dairy, but she could only tolerate egg YOLKS - but no whites, and sugar was out. No sugar?? Hmm... AND she couldn't tolerate most sugar substitutes either, so no stevia, no "Swerve", and definitely no "Splenda".

"How about maple syrup", I asked? "OOHHHHHHHHHH yes!!", she responded, she could definitely have maple syrup!

So I thought, "Okay, I think I can work with this". I decided to make a "crustless/impossible" pie, because if I was going to make an actual crust, the only flour she can handle in large quantities is cassava flour, a flour that I don't currently have in my pantry.

Impossible/Crustless Gluten-Free Paleo Pie 2 - made with Bob's Red Mill 1-to-1 GF flour & egg whites

I also asked Heather if she could handle arrowroot starch, a grain-free starch. She said yes, but in small quantities. So I decided to play with an "impossible" or crustless pie idea. Long ago, Bisquick created a whole series of "impossible" or "magic" casseroles. These casseroles and pies work by adding a little bit of flour or baking mix to the base ingredients of a recipe, and during the baking, a thin but crispy crust magically forms around all around the outside of the pie or casserole.

I realized years ago that the idea also works great in gluten-free dessert pies. Try out my Almond Joy Impossible Pie or my first crustless pumpkin pie with a pretty pecan edge!

I'm actually sharing three recipes below. One recipe is for a pie made with 3 large eggs, another pie made instead with 6 large egg yolks and another pie made with 6 large egg whites.

That way, whether you can have actual eggs, just egg yolks, OR egg whites... you can STILL make a pumpkin pie. Please note that my recipe is adapted from Elana Amsterdam's Paleo Pumpkin Pie. Also, if you need or prefer an egg-free VEGAN crustless pumpkin pie - try this one from Fat Free Vegan, OR Cheryl Harris' GF Vegan Sweet Potato or Pumpkin Pie.

*Crustless or "Impossible" Gluten-Free Paleo Pumpkin Pie 1 - Made with 6 egg yolks (for those with egg white allergies)

This recipe is: gluten-free, no added white sugar, nut-free, can be dairy-free

Printer-friendly recipe: https://tinyurl.com/yaa8vc8n

Ingredients:

1/3 cup grain-free starch = arrowroot starch, cassava flour, tapioca starch, or a gluten-free all-purpose baking mix (not paleo) - I used arrowroot starch
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice (OR 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon + 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg + 1/2 teaspoon cloves)
pinch salt
6 egg yolks
3/4 cup "milk" = half & half, coconut milk, or almond milk, or even canned dairy milk - I used half & half
1/2 cup sweetener = maple syrup or honey - I used maple syrup
1 (15 oz.) can canned pumpkin

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Grease a 9" pie pan and set aside.
IF MIXING BY HAND:
In a large bowl, whisk together the grain-free starch of choice, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Whisk until thoroughly combined.
On top of dry ingredients add in egg yolks, milk of choice, and maple syrup or honey. Again, whisk together until all ingredients are well incorporated and smooth.
Lastly whisk in canned pumpkin. Continue to whisk until very smooth and well blended.
IF USING VITAMIX OR HIGH-POWERED BLENDER:
Add all wet ingredients into blender: egg yolks, milk of choice, maple syrup or honey, and pumpkin. Blend on high or medium setting for a minute or so, until well incorporated.
Add in dry ingredients: grain-free flour of choice, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Blend again on high or medium setting for another minute or so, until well blended and very creamy and smooth.
TO BAKE:
Pour pumpkin pie batter into the greased 9" pie pan, fill pan until it reaches edge. Do not overfill, you can always make pumpkin pie cupcakes with leftover batter!!
Place pie pan on top of a baking sheet, just in case the pie spills over while baking.
Bake for 20 minutes at 400 degrees.
Turn oven down to 350 degrees and bake an additional 20 minutes or until the center of the pie is no longer "jiggly" or a toothpick or knife inserted in the center comes out mostly clean.
Let cool 20-30 minutes or longer. Serve with whipped topping or whipped cream if tolerated.

**Crustless or "Impossible" Gluten-Free Paleo Pumpkin Pie 2 - Made with 6 egg whites (for those with an egg yolk allergies)

This recipe is: gluten-free, no added white sugar, nut-free, can be dairy free, can be made paleo-friendly

Printer-friendly recipe: https://tinyurl.com/yaa8vc8n

Ingredients:

1/3 cup grain-free starch = arrowroot starch, cassava flour, tapioca starch, or a gluten-free all-purpose baking mix (not paleo) - I used Bob's Red Mill 1-to-1 Baking Mix, so my pie wasn't technically paleo
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice (OR 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon + 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg + 1/2 teaspoon cloves)
pinch salt
6 egg whites
3/4 cup "milk" = half & half, coconut milk, or almond milk, or even canned dairy milk - I used half & half
1/2 cup sweetener = maple syrup or honey - I used maple syrup
1 (15 oz.) can canned pumpkin

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Grease a 9" pie pan and set aside.
IF MIXING BY HAND:
In a large bowl, whisk together the grain-free starch of choice, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Whisk until thoroughly combined.
On top of dry ingredients add in egg whites, milk of choice, and maple syrup or honey. Again, whisk together until all ingredients are well incorporated and smooth.
Lastly whisk in canned pumpkin. Continue to whisk until very smooth and well blended.
IF USING VITAMIX OR HIGH-POWERED BLENDER:
Add all wet ingredients into blender: egg yolks, milk of choice, maple syrup or honey, and pumpkin. Blend on high or medium setting for a minute or so, until well incorporated.
Add in dry ingredients: grain-free flour of choice, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Blend again on high or medium setting for another minute or so, until well blended and very creamy and smooth.
TO BAKE:
Pour pumpkin pie batter into the greased 9" pie pan, fill pan until it reaches edge. Do not overfill, you can always make pumpkin pie cupcakes with leftover batter!!
Place pie pan on top of a baking sheet, just in case the pie spills over while baking.
Bake for 20 minutes at 400 degrees.
Turn oven down to 350 degrees and bake an additional 20 minutes or until the center of the pie is no longer "jiggly" or a toothpick or knife inserted in the center comes out mostly clean.
Let cool 20-30 minutes or longer. Serve with whipped topping or whipped cream if tolerated.

***Crustless or "Impossible" Gluten-Free Paleo Pumpkin Pie 3 - Made with 3 whole large eggs

This recipe is: gluten-free, no added white sugar, nut-free, can be dairy free, can be made paleo-friendly

Printer-friendly recipe: https://tinyurl.com/yaa8vc8n

Ingredients:

1/3 cup grain-free starch = arrowroot starch, cassava flour, tapioca starch, or a gluten-free all-purpose baking mix (not paleo) - I used arrowroot starch
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice (OR 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon + 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg + 1/2 teaspoon cloves)
pinch salt
3 large eggs
3/4 cup "milk" = half & half, coconut milk, or almond milk, or even canned dairy milk - I used half & half
1/2 cup sweetener = maple syrup or honey - I used maple syrup
1 (15 oz.) can canned pumpkin

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Grease a 9" pie pan and set aside.
IF MIXING BY HAND:
In a large bowl, whisk together the grain-free starch of choice, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Whisk until thoroughly combined.
On top of dry ingredients add in eggs, milk of choice, and maple syrup or honey. Again, whisk together until all ingredients are well incorporated and smooth.
Lastly whisk in canned pumpkin. Continue to whisk until very smooth and well blended.
IF USING VITAMIX OR HIGH-POWERED BLENDER:
Add all wet ingredients into blender: eggs, milk of choice, maple syrup or honey, and pumpkin. Blend on high or medium setting for a minute or so, until well incorporated.
Add in dry ingredients: grain-free flour of choice, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Blend again on high or medium setting for another minute or so, until well blended and very creamy and smooth.
TO BAKE:
Pour pumpkin pie batter into the greased 9" pie pan, fill pan until it reaches edge. Do not overfill, you can always make pumpkin pie cupcakes with leftover batter!!
Place pie pan on top of a baking sheet, just in case the pie spills over while baking.
Bake for 20 minutes at 400 degrees.
Turn oven down to 350 degrees and bake an additional 20 minutes or until the center of the pie is no longer "jiggly" or a toothpick or knife inserted in the center comes out mostly clean.
Let cool 20-30 minutes or longer. Serve with whipped topping or whipped cream if tolerated.

Kitchen Notes:

Impossible/Crustless Paleo Pumpkin Pie 1 - Note that this recipe calls for added baking powder, while the others do not. Since this recipe is made around using egg yolks as part of the fat and as a binder, it could end up a bit dense since egg yolks do not do much in the leavening department. Baking powder helps make this pie less dense than it would be otherwise. However, if you want to make the pie FULLY paleo, leave out the baking powder, it will just be a bit more dense. Need something to do with all those extra egg-whites and you're not making Pumpkin Pie #2 here? Check out this post!

Impossible/Crustless Pumpkin Pie 2 - In a similar vein, as the first pie can be dense without egg whites, this pie, is more fluffy and almost has more of a cake-like appearance than the yolk pie. I wanted to make this pie for myself, because I didn't know what else to do with 6 egg whites! (AND I love, I mean LOVE pumpkin pie!) Although this post has a ton of great uses for extra egg whites! Need to figure out what to do with extra egg YOLKS? Check out this post! Personally I like to just add them to the next morning's scrambled eggs!

Need a vegan, gluten-free crustless pumpkin pie? I'll share these again because they are so pretty and so good! Try Susan Voison's version on her fabulous blog, Fat Free Vegan or Cheryl Harris' GF Vegan Sweet Potato or Pumpkin Pie.

DO NOT OVERFILL YOUR PIE PAN!! If you have leftover pumpkin pie batter/filling - and you probably will, I always do whether I'm using a crust or not... you can make pumpkin pie "cupcakes". Line a cupcake pan with liners, spritz the liners with non-stick spray, and then fill the liners 1/2 to 3/4 full with pumpkin pie batter/filling. If you want to make the tops pretty, add the half of a toasted pecan on top of each "cupcake". Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Serve with a big ol' dollop of whipped cream or whipped coconut cream. This is such a cute & fun dessert for kids on Thanksgiving!

Have a great November ya'll!!

To share your comments, questions or thoughts about this recipe, please visit me on the GLG Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Gingerlemongirlblog

Small batch gluten-free waffles & gluten-free "bread"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 25 Oct 2021 00:35:00 +0000

An audio version of this post:

Hi. Hola!

Wow, it's been a while. Is there an official method of brushing away the cobwebs of an old food blog?

Things have changed so much since I first started food blogging in 2007. The world is different. Smaller in some ways. Tiktok videos are far more shared and far far more popular than food blogs. (Maybe one day I'll sign up for an account!) Gluten-free is undeniably easier, even if when I buy various gluten-free foods now, I'm masked and moving through the store as quickly as I can.

I got my masters in library science. I've been working as a medical librarian for a nursing school for the past two and a half years and I love it. We still have way too many cats (and we're okay with that). I've been learning español via Duolingo and I love learning new words and picking up phrases that I overhear. And I lost my dad to COVID in late December of 2020. And that moment changed my life forever. And I didn't cook (or do much of anything) for a very, very long time. Then sadly, five months later Michael's dad passed away unexpectedly as well. To say we've had a bad few year is seriously beyond an understatement.

Grief is a strange friend. Sometimes awful. Sometimes amusing. Always close by and always quick to surprise. Sometimes it is a reminder that you have been (and still are) deeply, deeply loved. But I'll save those stories for another day.

In the past few months, slowly, I have started cooking again. Maybe more importantly though, I've started to find joy in cooking again. And that has been a gift. A much needed gift.

These quick, easy, and cheap gluten-free waffles have been a mainstay for the past month. I use them for breakfast sandwiches. I use them as "bread" with soups or salads. I even use them as "toast" to eat with breakfast, they are great popped into the toaster. And occasionally I will even actually eat them as waffles with butter and maple syrup. They are cheaper than both frozen gluten-free store bought waffles and gluten-free store bought bread. And they actually taste better. They're crispy on the outside when they're hot, and become a soft sandwich bread when they're reheated.

If you're like me, you've discovered 1-to-1/cup4cup gluten-free flours. Gluten-free flour blends that are meant to act just like regular, plain, refined, wheat flour. I've used several different brands. I don't have a particular favorite. They all seem to work well so I just buy whatever is cheapest either online or now at local grocery stores (which still boggles my mind since this was NOT possible in 2007!!) So use whichever brand you prefer.

Small Batch, Easy Gluten-Free Waffles & Quick Bread

Gluten-free, dairy-free, no added sugar

Makes 4-5 small waffles

Dry Ingredients:

1/2 cup gluten-free 1-to-1/cup4cup all purpose baking flour (should contain xanthan gum)

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients:

1 large egg

1/2 cup non-dairy milk

1 tbsp. preferred oil, melted butter, or coconut oil

Directions:

Preheat waffle maker, per machine instructions.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Make a well in the center of dry ingredients.
Add egg, non-dairy milk, and preferred oil to the well in the center of dry ingredients. Mix with a fork or a stick blender until there are no lumps.
Let batter rest for 5 minutes, it will thicken slightly as it rests.
Pour batter (about 2 tablespoons per waffle) into waffle iron and cook according to machine directions. My small waffle iron makes 2 Belgium-style waffles at one time, and takes about 5 minutes per batch.)
Remove waffles from iron and allow to cool for a few minutes.
Eat however you want them... as toast with butter, as waffles with butter & syrup, or just as a hot slice of crispy gluten-free bread.

Kitchen Notes:

Non-Stick Spray (don't use it on a non-stick iron!) - My waffle iron is non-stick. After making this recipe countless times, I realized that the waffles WILL NOT get very crispy if you use non-stick cooking spray on the iron. The waffles DON'T STICK even without using cooking spray on my non-stick pan, which makes cleaning a breeze.
Eggs: I have not tried this using egg substitutes so I have no idea how it would work. Sorry.
Gluten-Free 1-to-1/cup4cup all purpose baking flours - I have used Bob's Red Mill brand, the Cup4Cup brand, the King Arthur Measure for Measure brand, and a couple that I'm not even sure what brand they were... but ALL of them have worked with this recipe. So I'm pretty sure whatever brand you use will work.
Sweet Waffles: Many of the recipes I originally tried for gluten-free waffles called for adding vanilla and sugar to the dough. Sometimes cinnamon. All of these options are fine, they make for a good waffle... however, I really like this plain waffle because it's SO versatile not just as a waffle, but as a quick & easy gluten-free bread. If you want to try a sweeter waffle add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and 1 tablespoon of sugar.
Doubling & Tripling the recipe: I've done both, multiple times... it always works. Sometimes on Sundays I'll make a triple batch and end up with about 16 waffles to use as bread all week. I also make them ahead of time to make breakfast sandwiches for traveling.
Cost: No, I haven't done a real cost analysis... but generally I pay about $12 for a 4 pound bag of this all-purpose flour and I can't imagine how many waffles that bag will make. A lot. A box of GF waffles from the grocery store can be anywhere from $5-$7 dollars depending on the brand. A loaf of GF bread from the grocery store will cost at least $7-$8 for one loaf. I promise you that even with the labor, cleaning (there's not much), additional ingredients, and electricity involved... these are cheaper, much cheaper. And easy. And honestly better than any brand of bread I've bought!

Still have a comment or question? Find me on the GLG Facebook page.

Small Batch Peach Scones from In Jenny's Kitchen

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 00:40:00 +0000

The first recipe I ever tried from Jenny was peanut butter pie. Her husband had passed away and she was trying to find ways to honor his memory. So we made peanut butter pie. His favorite.

I've followed Jenny's journey through the past few years and I admire her resilience, tenacity, and willingness to share her personal struggles. I also love her writing style. One day, when her daughters are older, I believe they will treasure the love she has so beautifully penned through the trials and transitions in their lives after the death of their father.

Scones have been a hot topic among my foodie co-workers lately. Kerry and Elizabeth have both been gushing over a recipe for whole wheat ricotta scones shared from Smitten Kitchen several years ago. So when Jenny shared a small batch recipe for peach scones last week, I really wanted to try them. I love that the recipe is for a small batch. There are only two humans in our immediate family (yep, the furrbabies are absolutely family)... and Michael isn't a huge baked goods fan (unless it's chocolate cake, brownies, or his favorite chocolate chip cookies!)... so when I find a small batch recipe, it's a great option for us!

Peaches are in season right now and I just happened to find a few perfectly ripe ones at the grocery store this morning. I made Jenny's recipe with a few basic adjustments to what I had on hand... and of course, made gluten-free.

Small Batch Peach Scones
Slightly Adapted from In Jenny's Kitchen
Makes 4 large scones
Gluten-Free, Vegetarian

1 peach, peeled & cut into small cubes
1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon sugar, divided
1 cup Bob's Red Mill 1-to-1 Gluten-Free Baking Flour, plus extra for shaping
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons cold butter or shortening, cut into small bits
1 egg yolk
3 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon sour cream or heavy cream
Additional sugar for sprinkling on top

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Place the peach cubes in a small baking dish and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of sugar. Roast the peaches for 10 minutes until they are fragrant and a bit jammy.
In a medium bowl whisk together 1/4 cup sugar, the gluten-free flour, baking powder, and salt.
Cut the butter into the dry ingredients with a fork or a pastry/dough blender.
In a smaller bowl, mix together the egg yolk and sour cream or heavy cream. Pour into the dry ingredients and mix into a sticky dough. If your dough is too dry and crumbly, add milk 1 tablespoon at a time until it's a shape-able dough.
Add the roasted peaches and mix evenly through the dough.
Sprinkle additional gluten-free flour onto a board or parchment paper and pour the dough out onto the floured surface.
Shape the dough into a thick circle or a really large biscuit. Using a sharp knife, cut the dough into 4 scones.
Place the 4 scones onto a greased or parchment lined baking sheet. Sprinkle the scones with the additional sugar, if you have large grained natural cane sugar all the better, but plain sugar is fine too.
Bake for 12-14 minutes until golden brown and eat warm :-) Enjoy!

Snickerdoodles

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 01:41:00 +0000

This summer my grad school program decided to offer classes in 2, 5-week summer sessions. I decided to stick with one class during the first summer session, (please don't ever make me take a research methods and statistics class in 5 weeks again...) which means I actually have the rest of the summer to chill... and bake!

I started the weekend by making a traditional flan recipe for a dinner party. The hardest part to me was caramelizing the sugar (I tried the recipe twice and it's gonna take some practice)... however it was delicious and devoured at the party, so win win.

After the dinner party, we were sent home with leftovers of chicken ropa vieja and scratch black beans. Such good food! Send your guests home with leftovers and they'll love you forever!

However, when you're sent home with leftovers, it means you have a dish to return. And being raised with good southern manners, I like to return a dish filled with treats.. Which gave me a good reason to crack out the mixing bowls and make cookies!

I debated what kind of cookies to make our friends. I thought about the classic chocolate chip, my favorite peanut butter... but for some reason snickerdoodles kept coming to mind. Snickerdoodles are old fashioned simple vanilla cookies that are coated with cinnamon and sugar.

They were some of the first cookies I learned to make as a child, and there's just something cozy and warm about them. They are the perfect cookies to pair with a hot cup of tea and a good book. Cliched maybe, but a good "librarian" cookie!

Snickerdoodles
free of gluten, dairy, and soy
adapted from the recipe in Southern Living Christmas Cookies c. 1986, pg. 62
makes 24 cookies

Wet Ingredients

1/2 cup shortening
3/4 cup sugar
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Dry Ingredients

1 1/3 cups Bob's Red Mill 1-to-1 Gluten-Free Flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cream of tartar

Coating Ingredients

1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Line a sheet of parchment paper on a cookie sheet
In a small bowl mix together the coating ingredients and set aside.
In a medium mixing bowl cream together the shortening with the sugar. Add the egg & vanilla extract and stir until smooth and creamy.
In a separate bowl whisk together all dry ingredients.
Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until fully incorporated. The dough will be firm, but not dry.
Roll the dough into balls by teaspoons. Roll the balls into the coating mixture and place on a baking sheet 1" apart.
Flatten the cookies into circles with the bottom of a glass.
Bake 6-8 minutes until cookies are golden.
Remove cookies from oven and allow to cool COMPLETELY before removing from the pan. They are fragile and will break if you don't allow them to cool completely!
Enjoy with a cup of hot tea or a big tall glass of milk!

A Brave New World...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 18 Feb 2017 18:12:00 +0000

Dear fellow non-Tr*mp supporting Americans,

I know it's hard right now. I feel it deep down to my bones every single morning. With a deep sigh and a slight headache I wonder what I'm going to face in each morning's newspaper.

It's a scary time right now. And as my friend Cheryl said, 'this is new to all of us" and I'm still not exactly sure how we move forward. We can fight, we can stay informed, we can make amazing signs and participate in history-making marches, we can write blog posts, we can make the time to write or call our state and local legislators to make sure our voices are heard (in addition to voting of course)... but all of this especially for introverts is exhausting.

I'm not only an introvert, but one who is also highly sensitive... a term I'm not entirely comfortable with, because it sounds like I can't handle anything, I can't take any type of criticism, etc... but what it really means is that I'm extremely aware of the energy, vibrations, emotions, and changes around me.

It means there are days I can't handle lights, noises, or even things like the electricity of a tv being on.
It means I can only wear certain types of clothing because fabrics that rub my skin the wrong way could make my entire day miserable.
It means I hate being in a crowd and I love one-on-one company, but even then I can be completely drained after an hour or two.
It means I get where my dog is coming from on most days and how she responds to my energy.

I also realize this sounds like nonsense to a lot of people, but if this sounds familiar to you, or you're interested in understanding more about highly sensitive personalities, please visit Elaine Aron's site. And more to the point it helps explain how basically this whole political thing has been a huge challenge, because I feel that justice, simple decency, human rights, and basic democracy are being violated every single day... and therefore my beliefs and my rights are being violated every single day. So it's hard. There are days it seriously sucks.

This image has been popping up in my Facebook feed a lot lately. And right now, it basically feels like my life. I want to be informed, I want to know what's going on and I want to be up to speed on what's going to happen to our country. The thing is... none of us really know... and no matter how informed I am, I'm not going to know exactly what's going on. This administration is moving so quickly and with such bewilderingly little wisdom or thought, that I just can't keep up on a daily basis.

So I'm still learning how to do this. I'm still learning how to wake up every day in the country we're in, with the administration at hand, and still go about my day like it's just "another day." Because even just saying that feels like giving up or giving in or simply being complacent.

However, I'm also learning that it's not complacency. Being complacent means not caring at all, pretending it's not happening, and not being willing to participate in making changd. And I care about the future of our country more than I've ever cared before. Ever. I can honestly say before November 7, 2016 I was somewhat complacent, however after, I never will be again.

So how do we do this? How do we keep on living in the midst of fear, in the midst of instability, and in the midst of a country that's changing every single day?

Emma says hi... she'd really like a bone
and she wishes you wouldn't
worry so much... because it makes
her worry too, and she's an A+ worrier :-p

I honestly don't know yet. But I'm trying. And I'm learning that self-care right now is more important than ever. So the next few weeks I'm going to lay low with social media. With two grad school classes (which probably is a blessing in disguise right now) I'm going to focus on what I can.

I also eventually plan on reading Aldous Huxley's classic "A Brave New World" which I've heard much like Margaret Atwood's "A Handmaid's Tale," as it relates to so much of what we've been going through the past year and a half.

So what about YOU? How are you coping? Are you okay? What are you doing to take care of yourself these days. I'd love to know what types of self-care are working well for you.

We're all in this together. Please know you're not alone.

Peace, Hope, & Balance for 2017

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 19:52:00 +0000

Free background artwork from Susanbranch.com

It's hard to believe we're ten days into a brand new year. In our home, the ringing in of 2017 was quiet and tiptoed in on little cat paws. I just barely made it to midnight and the TV reporters on the Raleigh, NC station were so distracted in mindless conversation that they actually missed showing the ceremonial acorn dropping until about three seconds before midnight.

In some ways that distraction represents the entirety of 2016 for me. Personally, it wasn't a bad year. We are healthy, my dad is doing fairly well all things considered, and I feel like I found my stride with grad school classes. But the world went a bit crazy. I could rant and rave and share incendiary political discourse... but it isn't the time. And I'm tired.

Especially in the last three months of 2016, I made time for quiet. It's been a necessity as much as something I enjoy. The world is changing and sometimes the best thing we can do is take care of ourselves, so we can take care of the people and animals we love.

I made time to enjoy small things like cups of hot tea, viewing books of artwork (Susan Branch's older self-illustrated cookbooks have been a favorite lately), doing word finds -- this is strangely relaxing to me, and catching up on holiday baking and cooking.

Now that the hustle and bustle of the holidays are over and we're entering into the new year, I've decided to pick several words to focus on. I'm inspired by my friend Clara who has participated in the "one word" challenge for several years. Since I'm obviously an over-achiever (ha!) I'm choosing three words for 2017:

peace
hope

balance

All three of these words seem equally fitting and challenging in the current political climate. I plan on incorporating these themes into my life as I continue to make time for quiet. It may mean much less social media and much more: mindful writing, journaling, taking walks, coloring, baking muffins, purposefully being grateful, finding beauty, and cultivating kindness.

So what are your plans? Are you a New Year's Resolutions type? Do you make goals? Do you find more time for quiet? I'd love to know your thoughts on creating or making change in a new year.

Blessings to you in 2017!

Little ms. anxiety opens her proverbial closet...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 13:27:00 +0000

One person I'm incredibly thankful for in my life is my longtime friend Cheryl. Cheryl has been a friend, mentor, and my wellness/nutrition coach for quite a few years. She has a true gift for helping me (and I have no doubt many, many others) through personal mental and emotional challenges. In my last post I wrote about how life happens in seasons. For me, tough seasons can also bring little ms. anxiety full swing back into my life.

Little ms. anxiety?

Oh... you don't know her?

I guess I haven't officially introduced you to her. I don't talk a lot about her... as she is often an unwelcome guest in my life. I'm going to make a grand assumption and guess that many of you may also deal with your own versions of little ms. anxiety. If you don't have anxiety yourself, I can promise that someone in your circle of friends and family does.

During a recent conversation, with Cheryl's help, I realized that a current life situation was making me feel shameful, embarrassed, and kind of like a failure. I had a hard time finding the words for how I was feeling and what was bothering me... but Cheryl was able to interpret my thoughts and get to the heart of what I was actually feeling. During the end of the conversation I mentioned that shame loves to take over my head when little ms. anxiety comes to visit. Cheryl responded, "It's like when Brené Brown talks about "shame" gremlins and how they can't thrive in the light..." and that evening, that particular little gem really stuck with me. (If you've never had the privilege of listening/watching one of Ms. Brown's epic and viral TED talks, please take 20 minutes and have a listen.)

We don't talk enough about little ms. anxiety. While the stigma of mental illness has lessened dramatically over the years, it's still there. It's still VERY much there.

I had a doctor's appointment last week. It was a new, establishing appointment at the practice. This physician's office is close to my work and I knew it would make life easier in the future if I could become a patient at this location.

If you live with little ms. anxiety on your heels you probably have triggers. Triggers can be things, places, events, situations, or even people that send your anxiety into overdrive. One of my big triggers is a doctor's office. ANY doctor's office. I have terrible white coat syndrome. My blood pressure shoots through the roof when I simply try to call and make a doctor's appointment, let alone once I'm actually in the doctor's office for a checkup.

The Visit

But I bucked up, made my appointment, and showed up 20 minutes early. I knew that I would most likely be seeing an intern since this office was affiliated with our medical school. I was okay with that. No problem. Everybody needs experience... right? I even brought all my meds. Dude, I was on top of things. I was going to kick-ass this appointment.

Go in. Show the insurance cards and pay the co-pay. No problem... even laughed with the receptionist. Man, I can do this.

Get called back to the triage area. (For those of you who suffer from anxiety, please know, I'm feeling it rise as I'm writing this. Even remembering the stress of the experience is an anxiety trigger for me. I'm breathing deep and I do know I'll feel better once I can share my words since writing is one form of therapy for me... so let's keep going...) I get my weight and height recorded... I gently remind myself that weight scales at MD offices ALWAYS read higher than my scale at home. No problem.

Next, the med tech sits me down to take my blood pressure. I place my things down, and immediately let her know that doctor's appointments make me very nervous. I have serious white coat syndrome, my blood pressure will be at least 20 points higher here than it is at home. One thing I have learned with Cheryl over the years is to own my story. That when I can, if I can put words to my feelings, speak my truth, and tell people what I need, it tampers down the anxiety. It helps me, it helps them. Practice when you can.

The med tech is kind, tells me I have nothing to be nervous about, to take deep breaths and she'll begin to take my blood pressure. As expected it's almost exactly 20 points higher than it reads at home. No worries. We're good. I follow her to the examination room. She tells me that my doctor will be in shortly. Still good. No problem.

I wait patiently in the room. I took one of the chairs in the corner of the small room. I message Michael and tell him all is well, I'm at the doctor's office. I am nervous though. He texts back immediately letting me know it will be just fine. Soon after the doctor comes in. She's young. I know she's nervous, freshly out of med school, ready to take on the world. She kindly asks what I'd like to be called and then we review all the normal things: family medical history, medications you're on, are you having any new issues... etc.. etc... All good. A few nervous laughs. No problem.

She asks if there's anything new I would like to address today. Because life had been stressful the past few weeks, a friend recommended that I ask for something like Xanax to help me through really challenging situations. Honestly, I was nervous about asking for it. I don't like having to take medications in the first place, who does really? However, the medications I do take have made my life enormously better. The mood stabilizer that I've used for 10 years is clearly written in my medical history. Anxiety and panic disorder is also clearly noted. It's been relatively well managed with my medication.

One thing I know is that anxious people are anxious about asking for help. It's one more thing to make us look needy, weak, and powerless over our emotions and our life. But I asked. I could feel the sweat in my palms when I asked about it and I truly, I made it clear this was NOT something I needed all the time. I JUST needed it for occasional, very stressful moments in life. I just wanted a backup when I felt my anxiety getting out of control.

The doctor actually seemed nervous, but also rather understanding of this. She seemed to think that since I had a long history with anxiety and I'd taken other medications for a long period of time, it really shouldn't be too big of a deal. She needed to run everything by her preceptor, but she didn't seem to think it would be an issue to get a prescription for some type of immediate-acting anxiety medication.

The Downward Spiral...

Several minutes later after hearing the intern and the preceptor discussing my information right outside my door (seriously, do they not realize we can hear through those doors?)... the preceptor, who was CLEARLY in a hurry came bustling in. He quickly shook my hand. Introduced himself and then stated very quickly that we needed to do the blood work necessary for my other medications and that this practice was very conservative in the area of prescribing new medications.

Honestly, he was talking so fast, and I was so nervous at this point, I wasn't exactly sure what was being said. But somewhere in the midst of the conversation, he said that two psychologists were on there way down to talk to me about how to deal with my stress... you don't have to worry it's all covered, no extra cost... blah blah blah... and then he walked out of the room.

No double checking to make sure I understood what he said... no time for additional questions and answers...

wait... what? annnndddd enter little ms. anxiety... making a HUGE appearance on stage right...

WAIT... You're sending TWO psychologists down to talk to me NOW? The intern and the preceptor were gone from the room and I was left waiting... I had no idea what was really going on. What had I done wrong? I was scared, my heart was racing, and I did NOT want to talk to anybody.

The intern came back into the room and my hands were shaking and I had started to cry and she handed me a box of tissues. "It's okay! It's okay!" she said several times, but at the moment I couldn't get any words to come. I was just completely in the midst of a panic attack not knowing what was happening and after she handed me the tissues, I think I may have mumbled out something like "I'm not comfortable with this..." and as soon as I said that the two psychologists walked in the room and the intern left.

Now let's set the scene. A patient who manages somewhat severe anxiety is literally sitting in the corner of a very small exam room. Without really understanding what's going on, two psychologists are sent into the room to talk to her. One of the psychologists is sitting up tall on the exam table and other is sitting on a stool. In the anxiety-riddled patient's mind, it feels as both these people are towering over her as if she's trapped in a literal corner, unable to escape. No one has made it entirely clear why the psychologists are here and why she has to talk to them. Does she have a choice? Why did all this happen so quickly? What the HELL is going on?

The psychologists were also probably twelve, cute as buttons, and excited about having a really crazy person who asked for drugs to analyze... at least that was the impression I got. Never mind HIPPA... I wondered what they'd be posting to their Facebook accounts once they were done with me.

These two young women shared the latest and greatest psychobabble I'd ever heard and said nice things like.. "If you're okay with this, we're going to sit down for some nice "TALK TIME"... so tell me what's bothering you and how you feel about that... when they were finally settled and in their seats and had explained their purpose, how we could schedule "talk time" any time I wanted, and how great of a service it is (I'm sure it is!).... they FINALLY got around to letting me actually talk.

But little ms. anxiety was so strongly reacting that the only things I could manage to say as FIRMLY as possible through tears and blubbering were, "I'M NOT OKAY WITH THIS. I ALREADY talk to someone on a regular basis, I told the intern that. I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE talking to you. THIS IS NOT OKAY." Which seemed to have left both of the psychologists speechless, twiddling thumbs for a second or two... one of the two offered to leave the room... and then the other decided they both should... They left by saying they appreciated my honesty.

Once again I hear whispering and talking outside of the exam room door. I could hear bits and pieces, "maybe we handled this incorrectly.." I could hear the preceptor trying to tell the intern how to conduct herself for the rest of the visit (how to handle a crazy, crying patient?) And (apparently) offering immediate psychotherapy is just their plan of attack... it's what they have to do.

Honestly, I almost wanted to laugh at this point. I just wanted to tell them.. "Please JUST TALK to me, in front of me, face to face, like I'm a real person. Don't treat me like I'm breakable, just be up front and honest and stop making assumptions about who I am."

Shortly after the intern built up the courage to come back into the room. She sat down in front of the computer and she apologized. She said, they clearly didn't handle the situation correctly and that indeed when a patient asked for such a medication on a first visit red flags went up. That really, they would just prefer that I make a follow up appointment if I was still having problems with the serious anxiety in a few weeks to get that medication. To show I had a history with the practice. Also... she really felt I needed therapy on a weekly basis. Would I like to make an appointment with them now?

That's when I got angry. Through the entire visit, both doctors and the two psychiatrists had made assumptions about me, all because I asked for help. All I had done was ask for another medication to help me with my anxiety. My voice became clear and firm and I stated, "NO. Thank you. I know you don't believe this, but I have a good support system and I speak with someone at least once a month, more often when necessary. This visit hasn't helped me at all." She refilled the other prescriptions I needed and we wrapped up the appointment.

I walked back to my office, edgy, wishing I could go home... knowing I had to put my best face on and get through the rest of the day at work.

So I did... but instead of hiding my anger, frustration, and anxiety... I met little ms. anxiety full on and immediately reached out to my support system -- to my husband, to my coach, to my furry family members when I got home, to my online anxiety support group, and to friends who struggle with similar issues.. and it helped. It helped a lot.

3 years ago, I would have buried my feelings and emotions and struggled for days, if not weeks, from the actions of that one event.

What Can We Do?

With the help I've received over the past few years, most of the time, I can now face my anxiety. I can step back from the present, use the tools I've learned, and work through it. I had NO REASON to feel ashamed about asking for additional medical help and yet sadly, the medical community made me feel that way. No one should ever feel that way. The medical community MUST change how they work with patients who have mental health disorders like anxiety.

Thankfully by the next day, I could laugh about the situation. In the past, I would not have been able to do that. I was able to talk freely about it to my coach, to co-workers, and to a friend who is affiliated with that medical office. And I felt empowered. I may live with little ms. anxiety on a daily basis... but I will not allow her to rule my life. And honestly, I wish that's what the intern could see (and why I'm writing this post)...the intern and preceptor who probably saw me for a total of 20 minutes were unable to see how far I've come and how much I have accomplished in managing my anxiety and panic disorder. The fact that I was asking for help, was a big step of acceptance and owning my story in my life.

And with this post... I'm opening up the closet of anxiety. It's time to talk about it. It's time to continue to fight against the stigma of mental health disorders which affects at least 1 in 5 Americans to some degree, most untreated.

So let's open this discussion and talk about it on a regular basis. No one should be ashamed or embarrassed about living with mental health disorders and ASKING for help when they need it. I hope if this is something you've struggled with in your life, you'll join me in demanding better care, options, and treatment.

When life is messy, expensive, too busy, and ridiculously great...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 21:06:00 +0000

Charlie... enjoying life on my lap in his teenage years... those nose freckles kill me...

I have to admit... this summer has been challenging. It's funny to look back around April when I was trying to decide how many grad school classes to take over the summer. I really wanted to take 2, because if I took 2 classes in the summer, and 2 classes next fall... I could be considered mid-way through my program, like most of my classmates...

However, after some much needed guidance from the husband and my wellness coach Cheryl... I realized, I should probably just stick with one class, at least for the shorter summer semester. Boy, did that end up being good advice.

Healthwise, everyone is fine. And that is a huge blessing. Housewise... after living in our home 8+ years now, we knew it was seriously time to start cracking down on some major repairs... which led to the discovery of one REALLY BAD contractor... and two very good ones. The bad contractor made life miserably uncomfortable for nearly a week. The good contractors fixed the mess left behind by the bad contractor and were wonderful... however all of that came at a cost.

Then, as with most things in life... when you start fixing problems... you run into more problems... so now we're working with a plumber to get the "newly-found-pool-located-under-the-house" dried up and the leak fixed...

M and 10 year old Emma. Our "new" 45 pound hamster...

Throw in a new dog (long story...) with our five cats, a husband having 3 teeth removed for future braces, training a co-worker to be able to fully do my job (in the event of zombies or ya know taking a vacation or something...) and 6 assignments due at one time... I tell ya... I was really thankful for that advice to only take one class.

Something I truly struggle with in life is comparing myself to others and snowballing problems when they arise. Why can't I handle more classes? All my other classmates are... Why can't I handle getting a presentation for work done on top of life when it's crazy? Why do finances always seem to get drained at one time? We won't even throw in the other natural frustrations that women often have like the "why can't I just be naturally thin... and eat all the cupcakes I want?" Why? Why? Whyyyyyyyy?

It's easy to fall into the "why" instead of accepting the "now."

Whiskey Jack, who always lives in "the now."

"Now", just is. It just is. There isn't necessarily a reason, there's no need to worry or wonder... you can simply be right here, right now. There are times when it's the hardest thing you will ever do... like the night when my Dad was barely hanging onto the last strands of life within him (and thank God he held on tight)... but there are other times when you realize accepting the "now" is the best place you can be.

Right now, the house is a mess... there's dog hair and dog slobber all over the kitchen floor even though I swept it two days ago.... Right now, my hair really needs to be washed and it probably looks greasy on top.... Right now, I have no clean white socks... Right now, the refrigerator is pretty empty and payday is a week away... Right now, we have a fan blowing through the crawl space at the house in the hopes the water from the leaky pipe will dry up... Right now America feels like it's in the midst of a very dark storm, which has been heartbreaking to watch, devastating to hear, and everyone, EVERYONE feels it...

But also Right now, my dad is safe, resting with his feet up, probably watching a favorite classic movie on TV... or snoozing away the afternoon in his favorite recliner. Also right now... while the fridge might be empty, there's a filled up pantry and freezer and it's a fun time to get creative... Right now, we still have a 2nd bathroom to take a shower in and it was darn good timing to catch a bad leak... Right now there are people in my life who, because of programs like Obamacare (despite the room for necessary improvement) are actually healthy now because they were able to get the surgery or medicine they needed to make life "a-whole-lot-more-worth" living... Right now there's a happy, tail-waggin' dog waiting for me to get home to go on our 2nd walk of the day and I'm truly looking forward to that walk.

If I've learned anything the past few years it's that life comes in seasons. Busy seasons, messy seasons, scary seasons, fun seasons, expensive seasons... And sometimes all those seasons get mixed together in one big wallop. Usually, we don't know why. Often the best thing you can do is hang on, figure out where you're at right now, adjust your perspective if necessary, and just be. (And on some nights, it's ALSO okay to know that a bowl of Breyers natural vanilla never hurts either...)

Some Cool Stuff I wish I wrote this week:

Just a few small changes...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 23 Apr 2016 20:35:00 +0000

Dogwood blossoms in the front yard
photo by carrie forbes

So it's a little different around here. I'm still working on the blog redesign so please bear with me!

Looking for a recipe? They aren't going anywhere! Check out the recipe index for older recipes and if you can't find something try a google search by using the food term, such as "cookies" and then typing "gingerlemongirl" and you'll find it! If you don't have any luck, just send me an email (gingerlemongirl at gmail dot com) and I'll be glad to find it for you and send you the link... and hopefully before too long, I'll have that recipe index completely up to date!

However, life is different... cooking is literally on the back burner and it just doesn't happen very often anymore. Instead I'm going to grad school (at a snail's pace... one little class at a time...), I'm focusing on self-care and wellness, I'm reading Murder, She Wrote novels (and watching the reruns allll the time on netflix when I have downtime), spending time with friends and family when we can, and focusing a lot more on building my ninja librarian skills!

In the meantime I'm writing the great American novel...

Ha! Maybe one day...

I plan to use this space in the future to share more of my writing, photography, coloring, thoughts on life (faith, philosophy, social justice, favorite movies? you just never know...) and occasionally a recipe may still pop up.

Oh and cat pictures... always cat pictures! :-)

Till next time! :-) Be well.

A little Halloween fun...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 18:03:00 +0000

Simple Gluten-Free Banana Nut Muffins and Fall Photos

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 13:17:00 +0000

I've made quite a few banana nut muffins over the years... such as these, and these, and even these... but yesterday I just wanted the easiest recipe I could find.

I flipped through my baking cookbook and found a recipe that used my "master baking mix" (you could substitute gluten-free bi$quick or your favorite all-purpose GF baking mix) but I didn't have any on hand... so I made it work for what I did have on hand:

Simple Gluten-Free Banana Nut Muffins
gluten-free, can be dairy-free, no xanthan or guar gums, can be egg-free
serves 12
print-friendly recipe

Dry Ingredients:
2 cups gluten-free flour of YOUR choice -OR- my current favorite blend:
-2/3 cup brown rice flour
-2/3 cup arrowroot starch
-2/3 cup almond flour (I prefer Honeyville)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)

Wet Ingredients:
2 medium bananas, mashed to oblivion (about 1 cup of banana puree)
2 large eggs (or egg substitutes)
1 cup buttermilk (or 1 cup non-dairy milk mixed with 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar or lemon juice)
2 tablespoons lite olive oil -or- melted butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Line a muffin pan with paper liners and spritz them with non-stick cooling oil or lite olive oil.
In a large bowl whisk together all dry ingredients.
In a smaller bowl whisk together all wet ingredients.
Stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients and just mix until all the dry ingredients have been thoroughly incorporated into the wet ingredients.
Using a 1/3 cup measuring cup, spoon batter into a greased or paper-lined muffin tins until at least 3/4 full - but you can fill to the top, they will just rise taller.
Bake for 18-20 minutes, testing the middle with a toothpick inserted in the middle (should come out clean) to make sure the muffins are done.
Cool on a wire rack and serve. These muffins can be stored on the counter for up to 3 days and they will retain their moisture. I would freeze them in small packages after that.

*********

Michael's mom playing with Charlie during a recent visit...

In other news... I'm headed towards the end of my first graduate class and trying to get caught up on my last few assignments... because this final paper is not going to write itself...

Michael had a double ear-infection over the past week and I hope I NEVER have to see him go through something like that again. Talk about serious pain. I felt so bad for him. Thankfully after 3 trips to the doctor and 2 rounds of antibiotics + a huge antibiotic shot over the past three weeks, he's doing much better. And trust me on this one...after all that medication, give your loved ones probiotics... probiotics are the bee's knees my friends! Do it people!

I can't believe how FAST this semester has flown by.... I'm not sure if it's because I'm older and time in general seems to go by faster now or if school just has a way of making life do that... but I kinda wish it would slow down a bit! :-)

Happy Fall Everyone!

This guy has been lurking in the pecan tree over the past few weeks! We still can't believe he let Michael get this close!

Best buddies for life! Charlie & Whiskey Jack

So THIS was the publication that people
found a familiar face in...

It's actually a 2nd printing from last year, which was why I was so surprised to see it!
Fun to see yourself in the drug store magazine selection though! :-)

Our super sweet niece Cheyenne...

Cheyenne decided I needed a friend to take home with me...
heart = melted!

Michael took this at the duck pond at work one morning. I love fall sunrises!

Michael and his siblings. So good to see them all together!

Fall decluttering... it took two loads to get it all in the car to Goodwill... and I'm not done yet...

Charlie's favorite spot!

A favorite shot of my father-in-law.. love this guy!

Gluten-free cupcakes I made for a friend's birthday.
I loved how the frosting turned out (Good ol' Pillsbury...). Used this recipe.

All the snuggles and the sticking out of tongues!

Afternoon Coffee, Procrastination, and Peanut Butter Cookies

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 13 Sep 2015 23:14:00 +0000

Don't judge... Yes, that's instant coffee! I'm the only one who drinks coffee in the GLG household, I don't like the environmental impact of K-cups.. and let me tell you, Nescafe is darn better than Sanka (well, Sanka circa 1990 which tasted like charcoal.. I haven't tried it lately though... ;-)

It's a quiet Sunday, I was enjoying a small afternoon cup of coffee and I pulled out my "Introduction to Library and Information Science" to begin reading chapters 8, 9, 10 for my assignment next week and then it dawned on me, it was a great time to make cookies. I know, I thought it was brilliant timing too!

My favorite peanut butter cookies are the ol' "1 cup of peanut butter + 1 cup sugar + 1 egg" recipe... but I didn't want to use THAT much peanut butter (do you know how expensive peanut butter is these days?) or THAT much sugar... or really...let's be honest...do I need THAT many cookies?

Probably, I don't need any cookies...

A few months ago I bought a used hardback copy of the 1974 edition of the Joy of Cooking. I wanted to get a copy I could actually use since the beloved paperback that my Dad had when I was growing up, is literally falling apart.

I love that cookbook. His favorite chocolate chip cookies came from Ms. Irma Rombauer and probably a bunch of other meals we used to eat growing up like meatloaf, oyster stew, and chicken a' la King. I wonder where Irma learned to make chicken a' la King.

These are basically the peanut butter cookies in Joy of Cooking (1974 ed.), but I made them gluten-free (of course) and halved the recipe. You could easily make this recipe egg free, If you choose to do that I would replace it with 1 tablespoon of water mixed with 1 teaspoon of ground flax seeds. Stir that mixture together and allow it to 'gel.'

If you decide to double the recipe below, just use a whole egg instead of an egg white (or double up on the flax seed substitute.)

Basic Peanut Butter Cookies
adapted from the 1974 edition of 'Joy of Cooking' by Irma Rombauer
gluten-free, soy-free, easily egg-free, vegetarian
yields 30 - 1.5" cookies

Wet Ingredients:

1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup butter or margarine of choice, (or even extra peanut butter if you're a big fan)
1/2 cup peanut butter (we like chunky, all natural)
1 egg white (or 1 tablespoon water mixed with 1 teaspoon ground flaxseeds)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Dry Ingredients:

1/2 cup brown rice flour
1/4 cup arrowroot starch (or starch of choice -- potato starch, cornstarch, tapioca starch, etc...)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl cream together the brown sugar, granulated sugar, butter, and peanut butter, until creamy and fluffy.
Stir in the egg white and vanilla.
In another bowl whisk together all dry ingredients.
Stir dry ingredients into wet ingredients until you have a sticky, slightly wet cookie dough.
Drop batter by small spoonfuls (about a teaspoon and a half per cookie) onto the cookie sheet. Placing a few inches between each cookie - we make 12 cookies per batch.
Flatten cookies by gently pressing with the back of a fork in a criss-cross pattern. To keep the fork from sticking to the cookie, dip in granulated sugar between criss-crosses.
Bake for 11-14 minutes until the edges of the cookies are golden brown.

Back to School!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 12:58:00 +0000

For the first time in over 12 years I'm headed back to school! I'm tempted to buy a new Jansport just to celebrate the occasion. (I actually still have my original high school Jansport from the late 90's! lol!)

In July I was accepted into East Carolina University's Masters of Library Science program. I've worked or volunteered in libraries ever since my high school years and after talking with several co-workers about grad school I finally took leap to apply. It was a pretty big thing for me.

I thought about grad school years ago, but my GRE scores were so poor (I've never been a good "tester") that I didn't even attempt to apply to any programs. I thought for sure I'd never get in. I also I had the idea that I still didn't know what I wanted to do when I grew up! :-) (Do we ever really know?)

But considering how much I truly love libraries and how I can't imagine NOT working in a library, I figure it might just be a good time to give the master's degree program a try! And I'm actually beginning to get really excited about it!

I've been a little nervous, as it's been such a long since I've been in school and I've never used online programs like Blackboard or Saba for completely online courses, but I can't wait to see how it works! If you have any tips on completing grad school courses while working full time, I'd love to hear them!

Another big transition for the GLG household is that Michael changed jobs in June. Michael now works with the IT department at East Carolina University and we're able to commute to work together. So we're both ECU pirates now! There are a lot of opportunities for us both with these changes and I'm excited about what the future will bring!

So Michael's been at ECU over a month now, we're commuting together... which took a little getting used too for both of us...AND... I start school next Monday! Changes... changes.... it's the only real thing you can count on in life... right?

I also want to send out a big thank you for those of you who have kept my Dad especially in your thoughts and prayers! Dad has been doing really well over the past 9 months or so. He hasn't spent a day in the hospital since last November and I'm ever so grateful! His health is slowly improving and he's getting a little bit stronger every day. He even felt well enough a few weeks ago to ask Michael to help him get his good 'ol "pick-em-up" truck cranked and started after several years of not being able to drive it. Dad even had it washed and inspected!

And for my fellow kitty lovers... here's a few of my recent favorites!

Best buddies forever!

Charlie isn't a people snuggler, but he loves sitting next to you!

And Whiskey Jack enjoys viewing the world from a different perspective!

The girls always ready to eat!

High fiving... during a nap, no less!

Frugal Five - Homemade Repairs and Returned Ice-Cream

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 16:53:00 +0000

From Katy's wonderful website: http://thenonconsumeradvocate.com/

One of my absolute favorite bloggers, Katy of the Non-Consumer Advocate has a series of weekly posts entitled "Five Frugal Things." I LOVE these posts from her because they share little things she does throughout each week that help contribute to her frugal, non-consumer lifestyle. It's the little things we choose to do everyday that help make a big difference in the overall picture. I've learned a lot from those posts.

I've been keeping track of little frugal things I do every week just to keep myself on the right track, to remind myself why I'm trying to save money and use less "stuff": mainly to pay off debt, live more simply, and produce less trash for a happier planet. My hope is to try to start sharing some of those frugal achievements here on the blog, as it's something that's a big focus in our life right now.

Another important lesson lately is that you can be frugal with more things than just money, you can also be frugal of your own resources by using your time wisely and your energies mindfully.

Frugal Five 3-23-2015

Cooked 3 meals on Sunday so we would be less tempted to eat out later this week. This not only saves money on future meals, but saves me valuable time later this week. I'm not always able to do this, just depending on our Sunday schedule, but I was thankful I had the time and energy to get it done this week.
Spent 2 hours last night repairing the bottom sheet of my favorite set of queen size bed sheets. They are about 11 years old, soft and super comfortable, but had lately developed a few very small tears. I patched the pairs and I'm crossing my fingers this sheet set will last another few years, as they are quite pricey to replace.
Was frugal with my time on Sunday... along with making a few meals ahead of time, I also did all of our laundry from the past two weeks. It was a lot of work at the time, but will give us a lot more time to relax when we get home from work this week.
We rented a redbox movie on Saturday when Michael's parents were visiting. Redbox DVD's cost $1.60 (with tax) for a 24 hour rental. We used to rent most of our movies from Amazon streaming service, but streaming the movies can cost anywhere from $2.99 (cheapest) to $6.99 for a 24 hour rental. It's definitely cheaper to drive (or walk) the 2 miles to the local Dollar General instead (presuming you always return it on time!)
We also planned on having a simple dessert of ice-cream after a homemade dinner on Saturday with Michael's parents. I bought a box of ice-cream for $3.99 + tax. When it was time for dessert I opened the ice-cream and found that it was really old and gooey and I was just mad. At first I just tossed the ice-cream in the trash and went about trying to find something super quick instead (we had chilled, sliced bananas & strawberries drizzled with chocolate sauce - that had been intended as a TOPPING for the ice-cream! Oh well! It was healthier anyway! lol) -- After thinking about it later though, I realized just tossing the ice-cream was not in my benefit. I pulled the old ice-cream out of the trash and placed it back in the freezer and returned it the next day. For $3.99 + tax, it was worth the very short drive back to the store for an even exchange.

Is anybody else super lazy and generally not up to returning bad items back to the grocery store? (Shopping is not my favorite...) Trust me, from now on I will be more willing to do returns... (Especially if the item is heading towards the $5 mark! lol)!

What frugal things have you accomplished this week?

Review: Sprouted for Life Gluten-Free Vegan Flax Bread

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 18:09:00 +0000

Sprouted for Life: Gluten-Free Flax Bread

Food for Life graciously sent me two loaves of their newest breads to try. I don't accept many pitches for food reviews these days, as I've become rather picky. I want foods that really nourish my body in addition to being gluten-free and soy-free. I also want them to be plant-based, whole foods. I'd prefer as little added oils, sugar, and salt as possible. Which means most packaged products don't fit this criteria.

However, Food for Life has created a brand new line of healthy, hearty GLUTEN-FREE, VEGAN breads that are really good. Now if you're looking for plain white sandwich bread, don't buy this. I doubt this will appeal to children or those who do not enjoy breads with distinct texture. However in my gluten-eating days, I LOVED Ezekiel bread. I've always been a bit hippy dippy... and whole grain, sprouted Ezekiel bread was my favorite. I loved the dense, rich texture and the grainy goodness!

These two new gluten-free, vegan breads from Food for Life are wonderful. They are great toasted or just warmed in a pan or in the microwave.(I'm not sure I'd enjoy them straight from the package -- a bit dry for that). I have enjoyed toasting two slices and loading them up with veggies and hummus, it makes a delicious sandwich. It's also great toasted and sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon for an evening treat. And the cinnamon raisin variety makes a killer peanut butter & jelly sandwich!

Sprouted for Life: Original 3 Seed Gluten Free Bread

I think one reason I always enjoyed the Ezekiel bread is I felt good about eating it. I felt like I was feeding my body well and enjoying whole and nourishing foods. And that's what I'm enjoying again. Having the convenience of a packaged food, yet also feeling like it's healthy and nourishing my body.

This bread would be excellent for stuffing, for a vegan toast on Sunday mornings, for individual pizzas, etc... I'm going to be asking one of my local stores if they can carry this for me. I'd love to be able to purchase it on a regular basis.

Another nice thing about this loaf, it's a NORMAL sized loaf of bread. It's not tiny, and the slices are actually big enough for a sandwich. Win. Win!

Were you a fan of hearty whole grain breads like Ezekiel before you went gluten-free? Why did you enjoy them? I have a feeling you'd miss them a lot less with this bread in your freezer!

GLG Disclosure:

The product samples were sent to me by Food for Life to review on my blog if I CHOSE to do so.

This is NOT a sponsored post and I did NOT receive monetary compensation.

The opinions in this post are completely my own.

The Year of Reading -- Books Read in February

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 18:09:00 +0000

February has come and gone (where did it go?)... and our book group's reading challenge for February was to read a book on the best seller list. My online book group chose to pick a book from the New York Times bestsellers list for February and many of use became so engrossed in the books that one book became three (or four, or more!)

The first book I chose for the month was The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. This was a mystery/suspense/thriller and I was completely taken in from the first page. I think I finished the book in 3-4 days, which is record time for me. The main character/narrator is Rachel... a beautifully sensitive, ironic, and deeply flawed (yet completely lovable) young lady. She rides the train every day to work and you learn about "stories" she makes up about people and places she sees along the way every day.

I loved this aspect of the story so much, because it's something that I also do... but before long Rachel gets involved in a story about two of the people she sees and she gets wrapped into a mystery that she unwillingly becomes a part of. It's hard to say too much about this story without giving anything away, so I'll leave it up to you to read more. I will say, this was my absolute favorite book of the month and I'll be reading/listening to it again soon and I look forward to reading more books by Paula Hawkins! (The aud*ible version of the book with the three different narrators including Louise Brealey of "Sherlock" fame was one of the best narrations I've listened to in a LONG time... who needs a movie!)

For another great review, check out the write up on NPR. As soon as I finished the book I couldn't help but make a date with my husband to watch 'Rear Window' which has similar thriller/suspense storytelling!

The second book I read was Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. Several friends had read this book in the past year and they either loved it or hated it, especially the ending... so I was intrigued. Of all the books I read this month this was the one that "stuck" with me in terms of thinking about the overall themes and outcomes of the book. It was by far my LEAST favorite as far as story line and content... but it was a bewildering book in so many regards. If there is a book that has ever thrown me for a loop throughout the story, this one takes the cake. I was shocked, horrified, inspired, and awed. I don't know exactly how to categorize this book, but it definitely has major elements of suspense and mystery.

This book will truly leave you thinking. I think in some aspects I would coin it as a very brave book from the hands of the author. You will not leave this book liking the characters, truly enjoying the story, or learning/having any big moment of self-awareness or realization... what you will leave with is an utter sense of shock and bewilderment... and it will leave you thinking about people you know, about circumstances in life, and who knows what else... I imagine it will be very different for every reader. I recommend the book if you are okay with a lot of language, sexual scenes... however if are a victim of sexual violence or trauma, this book could may cause emotional triggers.

The third book I read was Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty. This book was full of surprises. I wasn't really sure what to expect from the book since it was centered around parents of children that go to a small elementary/primary school in a small town in England. I don't have children, so I'm not involved in the parental politics of dealing with the local PTA, cliques, and mommy wars... so I wasn't even sure if I would enjoy this book. However, it was a really fun and surprising read. I enjoyed how the book was written, and the characters in this book are extremely likable and relate-able.

This book is again part mystery/part suspense (my personal favorite genre!). The main character Madeline was definitely a favorite of mine throughout the entire story. As a parent who tries desperately to fit in with the group of moms surrounding her, yet also trying to take new friends under her wing, she's a truly realistic and fun character with a great family. She's constantly dealing with her past as well as trying to shape her future as a wife and mother of a blended family and as a good and loyal friend to those around her. There are many challenges and and frustrations she faces throughout the book, especially when it comes to the mystery within the book. I can't really say much about the mystery without giving away plot lines, but as with many in this genre, someone dies... just this time... at a PTA meeting... you know, the regular type of setting!

The intertwined friendships of Madeline, Jane, and Celeste are so relate-able and their narration throughout the book is intriguing and continually makes you want to read more. I'd definitely like to read this book over again, because in some ways I went through it so quickly (because I kept wanting to find out what happened), I missed out on a lot of great details.

****

Afterthoughts:

Big, Little, Lies was my 2nd favorite of the month after The Girl on the Train. I would highly recommend both of these books as unique mysteries, enjoyable dialog and writing, and great characters.

Gone Girl is in some ways much more literary than the other two books, but also a fascinating read and a great study of some aspects of human psychology and psychopathic tendencies.

Our book group's choice for the March theme is "a book you've been meaning to read" ... if you'd like to join our little group on facebook please shoot me an email (gingerlemongirl at gmail dot com) and I'll send you the link so you can ask to join. We'd love to have you!

Cooking fresh collard greens (vegetarian, vegan)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 16:52:00 +0000

photo from finecooking.com

Collards (also called collard greens) get a bad rap. They're green and kinda stinky (really only during a long cooking period)... but they are absurdly cheap, incredibly healthy, and super tasty. Collards are part of the cruciferous family (with kale, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, etc...) and they have compounds that can cause bloating and gas for some people... however if you're a fan of greens, don't pass up collards! Here are some interesting facts on this healthy green:

Medical News Today stated in a recent article:

"One cup of boiled collard greens contains 63 calories, 5 grams of protein, 1 gram of fat, 11 grams of carbohydrate (including 8 grams of fiber and 1 gram of sugar), over 250% of your daily needs for vitamin A, over 50% of your daily needs for vitamin C, 26% of calcium needs, 12% of iron and 10% of both vitamin B-6 and magnesium."

They also stated:

"One cup of boiled collard greens provides a whopping 770 micrograms of vitamin K; well over 100% of the daily-recommended need."

Like many greens, collards are made primarily of water, which means they cook down to barely nothing (like spinach)..so if you want to make a BIG pot of greens (to last the whole week or for 4-6+ cooked servings) you'll want to buy 2-4 bunches of the fresh greens.

Collards have tough stalks, which should be removed before cooking. I like collards prepared the old "southern" way, slow cooked and well... (there's really no other good way to say it)... kinda mushy!I know it sounds strange, especially if you're not a fan of southern foods (especially vegetables)... but collards are great when they are braised with a little bit of liquid and seasonings and slow cooked for hours. You can make them in the slow cooker (I actually included a recipe in my cookbook!)... but they are also super easy on the stove.

I've read that other people like to take whole collard leaves and blanch them briefly to use as a low carb or gluten-free wrap! I haven't tried that, but it's on my to-do list!

There's no real "recipe" for cooking greens... your measurements don't have to be specific, but basically here's what I used for this very SMALL batch of greens. (For a bigger batch double, triple, or quadruple the recipe!) Take note that I made these greens without any animal products. If you're a fan of meat or pork products this is traditionally made with a ham hock or ham seasoning and they are divine that way too.

A Small Mess O' Collard Greens

Makes 2-3 large servings.

1 large bunch fresh collard greens, with stems removed and de-veined, and cut into small pieces (cut out the thick, fibrous vein in the center of the leaf -- this makes the collards cook faster and in my opinion makes them more tasty!)
1/2 sweet onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 large poblano pepper, chopped with seeds and white membrane (ribs) removed
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 cup - 3/4 cup water or vegetable broth

Directions:

In a large dutch oven or stock pot saute onions, garlic, and chopped poblanos in olive oil for 2-3 minutes until softened.
Add greens, red pepper flakes, and water -or- broth to the pot.
Cook on medium-high heat and stir continuously for 5-6 minutes until collards are bright green and start shrinking in size.
Cover pot and turn heat down to low. Continue to cook on low heat for 3-4 hours until greens are softened and yeah... kinda mushy!
We served this with gluten-free, vegan cornbread, sliced tomatoes with fresh ground pepper, and canned pinto beans.

Some kitteh pics for you... just because! :-)

Whiskey Jack, chillin' in the cat tree!

Mollie... doing her best job keeping me from writing or reading... :-)

Max happened to get rolled up in the
sheets to be washed on "Caturday" :-P

2015: The Year of Reading...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 14:19:00 +0000

A 2015 reading challenge shared by Anne of ModernMrsDarcy.com

I'm not really sure if I've ever had a year where I didn't read, but this year I'm making it a priority. My friend Shannan shared the above challenge from Modern Mrs. Darcy and my interest was immediately piqued. So often I focus on changing my food habits, being mindful of portions and fullness levels, trying to make sure I exercise that I can get overwhelmed with things I feel like I HAVE to do... but reading is such an enjoyable activity for me.

It's something I love to do, so why not accept a challenge in reading. We started a small little "book club" on face*book to discuss and share about the books we're reading. Each month we're choosing from one of the topics above. So far we've all been choosing different books in each theme and then sharing about what we've learned from them, if we enjoyed them, if we'd read them again, etc...

For the month of January we chose the topic of "A book that you should have read in high school." I picked A Tale of Two Cities by Dickens.

One thing I was debating about this challenge was if it mattered whether we read a physical book, an e-book, or listened to an unabridged audio book. As a group we decided that whatever way was easiest and best for us as individuals was perfectly fine. Since I commute to work, I listen to a LOT of books via Audi*ble. I'd even say that 95% of my reading is done through listening. Generally I retain a lot more information that way, and it's easy for me to get involved in a story much more quickly.

A Tale of Two Cities, however... was a completely different ballgame. First I tried reading a kindle version of the book. That lasted for about 2 chapters. The language is so different from what we're used too in today's times, that I had a really hard time stepping into the story and trying to understand it. Next I found this very old hardback copy from the library I work at. I was able to get through about 100 pages using the hardback copy... but again it was a painful read and I just didn't think I'd ever finish the book reading it in the traditional way. FINALLY, I bought an audio book version on Audi*ble, one that was narrated by Simon Vance (one of my favorite audio book narrators - another book he has read is"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.")

As much as I love Simon Vance's reading style and voice... I continued to have a very difficult time understanding the varied plot lines, characters, and themes of this book. I can honestly say, I don't think I could have gotten through it in high school. I was determined to finish the book for this challenge though, and by January 29th I had completed listening to it.

To help me further understand the story I also watched an older movie version on You*Tube, a "Cliffs*notes" cartoon on You*Tube, and I took an online quiz (I got 11 correct... *sigh* lol!) So this book definitely would not have been a great way to start out my high school English semester.

However, I think if I read a modern day and/or modern English retelling of the story I would probably enjoy it a lot more. The relationship between the father and daughter is sweet and compelling. My favorite characters were the owners of the wine shop, Mr. and Mrs. Defarge just because their personalities were so unique and strong, yet also quite troubled. It would have been much easier to read this book with a teacher's guide to help me understand all of the Christian allegories along with the roles of friendship, loyalty, patriotism, division of classes, etc... There are so many themes rolling together throughout this book it was a challenge for me to try to keep up with them all.

Have you read a Tale of Two Cities? What are/were your thoughts and feelings on the book?

Our group decided that for February we could choose a book that's currently on the bestseller list. My personal pick is "The Girl on the Train" by Paula Hawkins. I'll share my review and thoughts on that book later this month! I hope you'll join us in challenging yourself to read more this year!

Book Review: YumUniverse by Heather Crosby

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 14:09:00 +0000

Benbella Publishing contacted me several weeks ago with an offer to share 3 of the their newest publications with me. I was excited because I started a whole-foods, plant-based, vegan-ish dietary change several months ago and let me tell you, it's been a challenge. I think in some ways it's been much harder than going gluten-free was for me. You can replace cookies, cake, muffins, etc... especially with all of the great gluten-free flours available now... but it's not quite as easy to replace a steak. Trust me, there are days I REALLY miss the steak!

But moving on... one of the cookbooks they sent was this beautiful book by Heather Crosby. First of all... can you have a cooler name for a cookbook than "YumUniverse ?" I know...I didn't think so either... it's just way cool!

Beyond the coolness however, it's just a wonderful cookbook. Filled to the brim with great information on how to begin a plant-based diet, how to stock your kitchen, how to shop, and most importantly HOW to cook! This really is a primer on how to learn to eat and cook using plant-based whole foods.

A big bonus for this cookbook? It's also gluten-free!

I've tried out several recipes so far, my favorite being the banana bread muffins. I made these for work this week and they are just simple and delicious. I'm really trying to learn how to bake again without eggs and using as little fats/oils as possible, so these muffins Heather created are a great beginner recipe. She uses whole grain-gluten free flours, along with almond flour and of course bananas.

The muffins are also gum-free, as Heather uses as few processed ingredients as possible. These muffins (despite their appearance) are really light and fluffy and have a wonderful banana flavor.

Heather uses a technique in these muffins that I had not thought of before. She purees the bananas with water and chia seeds (to replace the eggs) to almost create a banana "milk" which is the bulk of the wet ingredients. She also added chopped bananas to the batter to have some texture, but I realized that I really don't like chunks of fruit in my muffins, so I just pureed all the bananas in the water. I LOVE how the muffins turned out this way. They don't have odd, "wet" areas, and they are smooth and have a wonderful texture throughout the whole muffin.

For the recipe you'll have to check out the book, "YumUniverse" but Heather does have an earlier version of the muffins on her website, which I'm sure are just as tasty!

This is a great cookbook to check out if you're both gluten-free AND trying to follow a plant-based or vegan diet. The photography is just stunning throughout the whole book and it's very well written. Great job Heather! I'm a big fan! :)

Now as a bonus, the publisher is providing one book to giveaway , so if you would like a copy, please leave me a comment below! This contest will run through December 19th and end at midnight. I will use random.org to choose a winner.

The Giveaway:

BenBella Publishing is providing one paperback copy of YumUniverse to give away.
This giveaway is open to everyone.
One entry per person.
Enter by leaving a comment below on this post AND please include a way for me to contact you -- your email address preferably.
The giveaway begins December 12, 2015 and ends on December 19, 2015 at 12:00 am eastern daylight savings time.
No purchase is necessary. Odds of winning are based on the number of entries.
The winners will be randomly chosen and will be contacted by email. The winners will have 24 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond, a new winner will be randomly chosen.

GLG Disclosure:

BenBella Publishing provided me with a paper copy of "YumUniverse" for the purpose of sharing an online review, if I chose to do so. They are also providing a copy to one reader of this blog through a giveaway. This is not a sponsored post and I did not receive compensation. The opinions in this post are completely my own.

Day 80: Building Trust in your own Body

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 14:47:00 +0000

Trust is a funny thing. It can take years to truly build it up. Just a moment to destroy it.

For years I didn't trust my body. I didn't believe it could do the things that it's actually capable of doing. My health was so poor that I just didn't trust myself to get over-exerted. I think some of this fear can be related to people, who like me, who have suffered panic attacks before. If you've ever been through that, you don't want to do ANYTHING that makes you feel that way again. An experience that exerts your body so forcefully, so angrily, without your permission. It's a horrible feeling.

When I look back at the few months I spent working out in a gym a few years ago I now realize that one of the reasons it didn't "work" for me, was because I didn't trust my body. My trainer tried to force me to trust my body, but that just doesn't work. She knew my body could do more than I was allowing myself too, but no one can just make you have that trust. You have to learn to trust your body.

It's been 80 days since I started walking back in August. I started by walking every day of the week, but as the weather has changed and my 8-5 has become more challenging, I now average about 4 days a week. I generally walk between 2-3 miles just depending on how I feel. Some days I try to power walk and do it as quickly as I can, to help me train for upcoming 5K's. Other days however, I just want to enjoy the walk, feel the air against my face, and watch the changing of the seasons.

What I didn't realize was slowly happening over these past 80 days was that I was building endurance and learning to trust my body. I am a creature of habit and change does not come easy for me. "Change" for me (for the most part) works best in small, manageable stages. Trust, apparently, can happen the same way. Little by little, step by step.

It wasn't until Michael and I participated in the media day at Cherry Point that I realized just how much stronger my body had become. The day was very physical from just being in a hurry going from one place to the next, to climbing up into a very small, tight helicopter space, to practically running up and down many, many flights of steps on the USS Kearsarge.

When the day was over and Michael and I were finally getting a bite to eat for dinner, it dawned on me how much I did that day. How I completely trusted my body to perform without even thinking about it. That would not have happened 3 months ago. And truly, I would not have been able to do it well. I was not in the mental or physical shape to do those activities without a second thought.

But when we signed up to do this event, it never even dawned on me how physically challenging the day would be, and that very fact... that I didn't even THINK about it... was a huge accomplishment in itself.

When you don't trust your body, you think about every single activity beforehand... from just heading to the grocery store, to driving your car, to your route from the parking lot to your office, to planning vacations around simple, easy activities with no steps, etc... You think about every physical activity your body can handle. Everything. Sometimes not even consciously, you just automatically find an easier way to work around a situation. And hear me out on this... This is NOT necessarily a bad thing, we have to be able to know what we can and cannot do physically and emotionally... but when you don't trust your body, you aren't often willing to test the limits of what your body can actually do. There's a fine line between real ability and challenging yourself to gain strength and endurance.

In the past I've been a big fan of shows like "The Biggest Loser" and "Extreme Makeover," but what those shows don't tell you is weight loss and regaining health is about so much more than just losing weight and having an exercise routine.

It's about slowly taking the time to trust your body, it's about slowly, SLOWLY changing your mindset towards food, (and much more importantly) towards how you deal with difficult situations, and how you handle life each and every day. This kind of change just doesn't happen overnight.

To change your weight permanently, means changing your entire frame-of-reference in terms of how you comfort yourself, how you handle stress, and how you face challenges. It means truly changing how you think, how to handle your feelings, and how you live every day.

Which is why diets in general don't work.

Which is why extreme makeovers rarely last.

And why shows like "The Biggest Loser" often do not result in lifelong change.

Real change takes a lot of time... not just weeks or even months...it can take years. This means it takes a lot of patience as well. True patience in your whole-self, not just your physical body. Real change means learning how to safely build trust in your body and eventually being able to accept new physical and mental challenges.

In a nutshell, it means other people can't force us to change or to trust our bodies. (At least in my personal experience!) Learning to trust your body enough to test it's limits and build endurance takes TIME. It also takes practice and the willingness to keep going... little by little... step by step!

Celebrating Veteran's Day 2014 - Operation Bold Alligator Overview

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 11:54:00 +0000

Bold Alligator 2014

Today's post is written by Michael Forbes, November 11, 2014. Michael and I (Carrie) participated in a media day with the US Marines & Naval Forces during their yearly Operation Bold Alligator Exercise. I'm very thankful that Michael was able to go with me, as I knew he would have the wonderful ability to retain much of what we experienced during the trip, and would be able to write a thorough and thoughtful essay of the day's events. We will both be forever grateful to all of the Marine and Navy personnel who assisted us and kept us safe as we flew over the Atlantic, gave us tours and personal interviews, along with their time and energy on November 3, 2014.

Bold Alligator refers to a large scale training exercise conducted by the United States Navy and Marines, along with major contributions from multiple nations.

The exercise is conducted once a year, though this year the event was at a larger scale. The intent of the event this year is to re-examine the function of the Navy and Marines, returning to their original purpose.

Originally, the Marines were the ground troops of the Navy – meaning that if the Navy needed to address a situation on shore (such as an island or coastal area) the Marines could be deployed to carry out missions. For the last several years, the Marines have been mostly deployed along with the Army in the Middle East, in Iraq and Afghanistan especially. Though their missions have been successful, the concern is that the Marines and Navy need to be retrained for future missions in different environments, considering changes in the global political environment.

On Monday, November 3rd, a few members of the media were allowed to visit and interact with troops and commanders. By a stroke of luck, Carrie was given to opportunity to sign up, as she runs this blog, and is somewhat local to Camp Lejeune (Eastern NC). This was a rather unique opportunity as her blog focuses mostly on dietary lifestyles, specifically food. She was a bit reluctant to go by herself, and asked if I could go, as I occasionally help with the blog, and often take photos. Fortunately, I was granted permission, and my boss was kind enough to let me have the day off.

We spent the night with our friend Betty in Swansboro, since she is close to the Marine base. We got up early that morning, and made our way to the base. We were running a couple of minutes late, and then realized that we didn’t have a pass to get into the base. Fortunately, we found that they had vans ready for the visitors, so we hopped in and once everyone arrived, we made our way into the base.

After getting to the base, we go to a conference room where an overview of the Exercise is presented. Without going into the technical details, I will say this: They plan for everything. Everything.

The most probable missions are search and rescue, and humanitarian aid. They are also prepared for taking on low level threats, all the way up to the very unlikely event of a global war. We only saw the tip of the iceberg, but it was quite amazing to see the amount of planning and coordination that goes into even the “easiest” missions.

Every scenario you can think of has a plan – either to prevent it or respond to it. For example, they have entomologists who study the local insects in places of upcoming or recent deployments. They gather specimens, identify them, and check them for any dangers including venom or infections they may be carrying. That may sound a bit silly at first, but something like malaria can make a difference in the outcome of a battle, as many armies have learned in the past.

Weather is actually the most significant factor in any tactical or strategic situation. Bad weather can make it hard for us to get to work or go to the grocery store, but for the Marines and Navy, it could mean the difference between life and death. Rough seas, storm fronts, and Tropical cyclones can completely throw off a mission plan, so backup plans are needed. In movies, they have a Plan A, then a Plan B, but in real life the weather can change from hour to hour, so the Marines and Sailors have to be adaptable – ready for anything. Sometimes a situation may need action, no matter what the weather is like, and changes can be made on the fly.

One surprise was the amount of cooperation with other nations Bold Alligator displayed. Between 15 and 20 nations participated in the events. Remember that nations often need to work together to address a situation and any miscommunication can lead to unfortunate results. Tremendous effort goes into learning different languages, culture and customs so that international teams can work together to accomplish their goals. Good communication can prevent bad things from happening in the first place.

In short, training helps determine if tactics or strategies need to be altered and improved, or if new ideas can work. If something doesn't work, no problem – reset and try again. That can’t always be done in “real” life.

It’s also a chance to try out new equipment and technology, and maybe make some refinements. For example, we got to check out some bomb disposal robots and an underwater surveillance drone, which looks like a miniature submarine. The land robots have been used successfully in combat, and frankly they are very cool. They are basically remote controlled units with a camera that allows the operator to see what robot sees, and controller that looks a lot like a game controller. This allows dangerous tasks to be done with less risk of personal injury.

Next we got to take a look at a Command Center. This is basically a bunch of interconnected tents with plastic flooring, HVAC, and computer systems. I can’t describe much though, since all of the screens were blacked out. We were not able to take photos, and had to leave cameras and phones at a security checkpoint. The rest will have to be left up to you imagination, and ours too.

After this, we took a ride to an airstrip, which is composed of interlocking panels, similar to tounge and groove flooring, but bigger. These panels can be laid down over most hard, level surfaces for a temporary, movable airstrip. Along with this airstrip we saw a fuel truck, heavy fork-lift, a heavy-duty street-sweeper for airfields, and a firetruck, which can pump water while in motion. These vehicles and their operators are crucial to the safe airfield operations, and they look cool too!

After a quick lunch, it was time for a helicopter ride…

We went outside, put on inflatable life jackets, and head gear (helmet, ear-protection, eye protection) and walked out to a pair of H60 helicopters. Helicopters are loud and windy, so debris hitting you in the face would put a damper on your day. Inside, the helicopter was not what I would call a luxury vehicle. If it doesn’t have a useful purpose, it’s not there. No need for plush seats when a frame and a sheet of fabric will do. No cruise control or 9-speaker stereo system. It does have a Nav system though, and another one called a map - remember those? That’s pretty important, because once you are over the ocean, there are no landmarks. Landing on an aircraft carrier/amphibious assault ship is not easy either. The ship is moving and rolling with the seas, so the actual surface you are touching down on is moving independently of the helicopter! Good thing they know what they are doing, and that alone shows why training is so important.

More about the SH60 helicopter at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikorsky_SH-60_Seahawk

Onboard the USS Kearsarge

Once clear, we hopped off the helicopter and walked down a long steep ramp to what is basically a huge garage. This is where other helicopters and Harriers are serviced, maintained and stored. Busy place, and kind of a dangerous place to be, so we were scooted away through a maze of tight corridors and very steep stairs (really more like ladders) checking out the exercise room, and mess hall (which included a brief Q&A session with a Major and the Admiral of the ship. The room would not have been out of place in an office building. As we were listening to further details about the operation, I noticed the whole room was gently rocking – along with the rest of the ship - to the waves. I’m sure you get used to it, but it felt a bit strange to have the entire room slightly moving as you sat at a table as if you were in any other office meeting.

So where were we? Not sure. We were “at least 12 miles” off the coast of North Carolina, and I suspect maybe 20-24 miles out. That’s the farthest I’ve ever been out to sea, and looking at the marines and sailors going about their daily routines, I felt a little out of place. These people have probably been all over the world – living on the ship for weeks or months at a time. Imagine going to work (or school) and not being able to leave for weeks at a time, and your office building being surrounded by an endless featureless horizon. I hope you like your job, because you’re gonna be there a while. I can only imagine the cabin fever, and general homesick feeling these people have to deal with while maintaining their professionalism. That gave me a new appreciation for my 15-20 minute “commute” every day – in a climate controlled truck with nice comfy seats.

The Sailors and Marines were all extremely courteous and professional. Everyone has a job to do, and each is important. This is sort of like a floating city, with 100% employment and everyone does their part. One thing I noticed was that the ship was incredibly clean. No dirt or trash to be found, and there is obviously a lot of pride in keeping it that way. Another thing that stood out was the amount of female Sailors and Marines, which made up about 1/8 of the total population, which itself could be up to around 3,000 personnel.

More about the USS Kearsarge at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Kearsarge_(LHD-3)

When we entered the Bridge, and met the captain of the ship. Keep in mind, it doesn’t look like the bridge from Star Trek. It’s far more utilitarian. There are some state of the art display systems, but also WWII era technology right alongside the new stuff. There is a redundant system for everything. If something fails, the job still has to be done, so time and battle proven systems are there too. Even the voice pipes are still used. They do not require electrical power and are immune to radio frequency interference, making them a practical solution. The captain chair isn’t in the middle of the room. His chair is on the left side, so that he can see the flight deck. The Ensigns have a station as well. They are the ones who actually pilot the ship. Imagine driving a car that’s the length of two football fields and then some. No pressure – especially when you are 19-20 years old! I really wanted to ask if it would be OK for me to man the controls, but I figured that would be pushing it.

After this we went to a sort of holding room, and then up to the flight deck, were we saw one of the aforementioned H60 helicopters performing touch-and-go drills. Upon taking off, the helicopter rolled a bit to one side, allowing the rotors to blow against us. The resulting wind is enough to knock you down, so you need to brace yourself and lean into it. The entire drill seemed almost effortless to the crew and aviators.

After checking out some of the other aircraft, including Cobra attack helicopters, it was time to return to the shore. We geared up and flew home. We landed back at Cherry Point, but on a runway. The helicopters actually landed like a traditional airplane, and taxied to position. I honestly didn’t know they could do that, and that was a nice reminder of the skill level involved, as well as the capabilities of the fine aircraft. After a final Q and A session, we headed back out to the vans to ride back to our cars, and watched a Harrier II take off in the distance.

More about the SuperCobra attack helicopter at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_AH-1_SuperCobra#Operators

More about the Harrier II at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonnell_Douglas_AV-8B_Harrier_II

As the day ended, and we went back to my truck and talked about everything we saw. The day seemed to fly by, and honestly it was a lot to process. Being civilians, much of the terminology was over our heads, but we knew enough to get the basics, and understand the sheer immensity that goes into military operations.

We saw that the vehicles and equipment are awesome, but are actually worthless without the people who use and support them – mostly kids only a few years out of high school. It’ not something that anyone can do – being so far away from home in a wide variety of conditions, dealing with situations that may not be safe or friendly.

These are not action-movie stars. They are regular people who have made a commitment and work hard every day, often putting their lives at risk so that we can enjoy our own daily routines without worrying about being invaded by a hostile nation. We take them for granted. We don’t even acknowledge their presence most of the time, but they remain ready for whatever they need to do. That’s kind of mind blowing. Today is Veteran’s Day, and because of this opportunity, I have a little better understanding of what life is like for our military – the professionals who have willingly decided to keep this nation safe, and why events like Bold Alligator are so important.

Semper Fidelis (“Always Faithful” Marine motto.)

Non sibi sed patriae (“Not self but Country” Navy unofficial motto.)

Acknowledgement:

My participation in exercise Bold Alligator is the outcome at the outset of my nomination by Dennis Hall, founder of Avere Group LLC in California. Jenny Lauck of BlogHer referred me to Dennis Hall. He has nominated community leaders on a pro bono basis to the military for public affairs embarks for over 22 years. He is neither an employee nor contractor of the military.

Dennis Hall initially submitted my nomination to Lieutenant Commander Jereal Dorsey, Public Affairs Officer, and James DeAngio, Deputy Public Affairs Officer for the US Navy Commander, Naval Surface Forces, US Atlantic Fleet, based in Norfolk, Virgina. They in turn referred Dennis Hall to Navy Lieutenant Commander Candice Tresch, Public Affairs Officer for Expeditionary Strike Group 2, Navy Lieutenant Michael Sheehan, Public Affairs Officers for the U.S. Fleet Forces Command Public Affairs, and Marine Corps Major Matthew Bellaver, Public Affairs Officer for the Marine Forces Command. They selected and invited me to exercise Bold Alligator media day on November 3, 2014.

An October Food & Exercise Update & Kittehs

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 25 Oct 2014 15:54:00 +0000

October has been a busy month! We participated in another 5K, this was focused on Autism Awareness in Greenville, NC. We participated with a BUNCH of kids who were part of a running club (I had no idea such a thing existed for kids!) and it was so inspiring to see these kids take part of a 5K (and completely kick our butts along the way! lol)... It was a really fun event! Michael and I both finished around 49 minutes which was a record for us! I had burning lungs, but it felt really good to shave 6 minutes off my time from the September 5K!

This month was also a milestone for us as Michael and I celebrated 10 years of marriage! It's gone by so fast, and it's fun to look back on the blog, because we had only been married 3 years when I started writing Ginger Lemon Girl... so we've grown along with this blog!

It also marked a month of a huge change in our way of eating. I decided to start following a "whole-foods-plant-based-low-oil" eating plan. Basically the "McDougall Plan" if you're familiar with vegetarian/vegan doctor programs. Of course I follow the plan the best way I can with a gluten intolerance and a soy allergy, so I'm definitely not 100% McDougall, but very close. I decided with my Dad's medical history of heart problems and other health issues that it was time to make a permanent change. And somehow, it's been relatively easy. Much easier than I thought it would be.

I also had a recent check up at my doctor's office and I had lost 11 pounds since my visit in late August and my blood pressure was the lowest it's ever tested in the past 10 years. My doctor said that I may even be able to go off one of my blood pressure medications very soon! So I feel very good about this dietary decision. I feel like I'm headed in the right direction to regain my overall health and I feel like I'm truly feeding my body well. I'm also incredibly thankful my husband is so supportive and willing to eat most of the "new" foods in our menu rotation! :-)

I thought I'd share a sample of some of the things from our kitchen the past few weeks. Most don't have a specific recipe... just things I threw together to make a quick meal. I have not used any animal products in over a month and for my spiritual and religious beliefs...along with my health, it's just been a really great decision.

Rice chex with almond milk, sliced almonds, and blueberries... loaded cereal is always a favorite breakfast or snack!

One of my favorite snacks right now is just plain 'ol drained & rinsed canned chickpeas (garbanzo beans). I could make them from scratch, but the canned variety from Harris Teeter is so easy! This snack is what seriously pulled me through the first week of being vegan. I think I probably ate at least 3 cans!

In some ways after I had spend so much time and energy writing cookbooks the past few years I was "over" cooking and prep work. I just didn't want to do it anymore, it was major burnout... but changing my way of eating has given me a new energy in the kitchen and helped me to enjoy cooking again! This is the prep for kale & potato hash, one of my favorite breakfasts! Chopped potatoes, mushrooms, kale, green pepper, onions, and there's garlic in there somewhere!

The finished hash! I served it with salsa and half an avocado per serving. One of the keys to following a "McDougall" type plan is to eat as many whole-food, plant-foods as possible with no added oils. McDougall recommends that the fats in your diet come from whole food sources such as avocado, seeds, or nuts. I limit these foods because I'm trying to lose weight, but include one or two servings a week.

A rare treat! I doubt these muffins were actually vegan or oil-free, but they WERE GLUTEN-FREE and this was from a meal out at Sweet Tomatoes in Raleigh, NC! Recently they have started offering a limited selection of gluten-free baked goods occasionally and these were gluten-free maple nut muffins. They were absolutely delicious and I was so impressed with Sweet Tomatoes offering a gluten-free baked good for those with celiac or gluten sensitivity.

My salad from our meal out at Sweet Tomatoes. It's amazing to me that I can enjoy a salad without eggs or cheese on it. I honestly never thought that was something I could do long term. But I feel SO GOOD with this way of eating, that I really don't miss the animal proteins at all. They even had gluten-free chilled brown rice pasta on the salad bar! This salad was early in my journey, so the dressing was not dairy-free (at least I don't think it was)... now I'm usually dressing salads with red wine vinegar, or apple cider vinegar, or a homemade tahini lemon dressing... and freshly ground salt & pepper.

This was a "no-meat" loaf... in which Michael was seriously heavy-handed on the ketchup! haha! This recipe was from the Happy Herbivore cookbook, it was called "The Hippie Loaf" created for a friend who had celiac disease. We honestly were not big fans of this version of a no-meat loaf. I prefer this version that I tried several years ago... however, the mashed potatoes were made from yukon gold potatoes and simply mashed with Harris Teeter vegetable broth, a little nutritional yeast, and lots of added garlic and onion seasoning... we ate the entire pot. I love not feeling guilty about eating mashed potatoes!

For breakfast and sometimes lunch I often have veggie sandwiches loaded with hummus, sliced red peppers, sliced mushrooms, alfalfa sprouts, sliced tomatoes, sliced cooked potatoes, spinach, kale, etc... all put between two slices of gluten-free bread for me... it's filling, healthy, and is a perfect vegan "fast food" meal. McDougall recommends making your own hummus without any added oils and limited tahini (or no tahini)... because I live in the real world and I'm just trying to get through my 9-5 everyday, I use Food Lion's Taste of Inspirations types of hummus. They don't have a lot of added oil (and are definitely not swimming in it like some brands) and I use gluten-free bread from the store that does have egg whites. It's important to me to share this because while it doesn't follow the McDougall plan completely, it's close and it's still a very healthy way to eat and it works for my personal time limitations. I truly believe you have to make a plan work for you the best way you can. Otherwise, how will you stick with it? For these sandwiches, I try to slice & prep any ingredients and have them ready in the fridge for a quick meal anytime during the week. Hummus has become my mayonnaise and I LOVE slathering it on these sandwiches!

This was a meal I made a few nights ago and it would be a really great idea for the holidays. I had bought two medium-sized acorn squashes and I wanted to fill them with something other than rice (I've eaten a lot of rice! lol)... so I decided to make a stuffing with some of the gluten-free bread we had, chopped spinach, chopped & roasted chestnuts, celery, onions, sunflower seeds, and poultry seasoning. I used vegetable broth as the "binder" for the stuffing and this meal was THE BOMB! It would definitely be a great meal for the holidays, it tasted a lot like my favorite Thanksgiving stuffing, without feeling guilty about carb overload!

This was a comfort food night. I wanted something soupy with potatoes, so we made an easy succotash stew. Just peeled & boiled red potatoes and added a can of corn, tomatoes, and lima beans to the potatoes and cooking broth. I actually made this at my mother-in-law's house and everyone seemed to enjoy it for a late dinner that night.

Dinner out for our anniversary! I can't give up sushi, so I made the decision to have veggie sushi that night and it was delicious! I had two orders of avocado sushi, and one order of a veggie roll which included avocado, cucumbers, and two types of Japanese pickles. I was a very happy camper. This was a cornerstone meal to me because I really wanted to "cheat" and order my favorite Philly roll with smoked salmon and cream cheese... but I stuck to my plan and it worked and I felt great after our dinner.

Along with the food changes, walking has become my favorite form of both meditation and exercise. I walk 4-5 days out of each week and it's easier on some days than others. But it's slowly becoming a habit I love and something I look forward too. At first I walked most mornings around 4:30am because my work schedule had changed and that forced me to get up earlier. However... as it's gotten colder in the mornings, I've gotten lazy and become a wimp... and now generally walk at the duck pond at work around 10am. Either way... it's happening and I'm glad! I love getting that daily dose of fresh air, stretching my legs, and having that time to be thankful and meditative for the day ahead.

And last but not least... PIZZA! And that's a vegan pizza no less! This is definitely a treat because it has Daiya vegan (and gluten-free and soy-free) cheese on it, and the crust has added oil, but I can't give up pizza out occasionally and I'm just thrilled I can still get it and enjoy it and not feel guilty about it. My favorite place to get pizza is Zpizza, but Mellow Mushroom now has a vegan, gluten-free crust available as well. To be MORE McDougall compliant, I can easily leave off the Daiya and just have a tomato sauce & veggie pizza. It dawned on me about 2 months ago that over the past year I had not ordered a pizza with meat. There have been many small changes in my eating along the way that have enabled this change to come at the right time. And apparently over the past year, I've preferred a veggie pizza every time! This must be why! :-)

*********

And because I've been suck a slacker in my posting schedule, I thought I'd share some kitteh pictures with you! Enjoy!

Mollie in her favorite place lately, snuggled next to Michael in his chair.

Max & Maya, lifelong snuggle buddies

Max is not so much of a lapcat, but he will sit in the cat tree and stare at you intently for hours! It can be kind of creepy some days... lol!

This is my mother-in-law's cat Tobie. He loves to sit in the fabric between her foot rest and chair when she's dozing in the living room!

Charlie & Whiskey... these boys are bestest buddies and it's a rare day to find one not next to or on top of the other!

Have a wonderful week!

ENELL AMBASSADOR: Blue Ridge Veteran's 5K - Sept. 14, 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 20:52:00 +0000

Well, as you can see, I'm a wee bit behind in getting this post shared! Life has gotten busy for me with my awesome 8-5 career in the medical library so I haven't had as much time to focus on writing posts and creating new recipes... However, I have been able to incorporate a lot more movement into my everyday.... and that all started a little over a month ago because I wanted to celebrate 1 year of my Dad's new heart!

Today (probably 10 days after starting this post!) is day 22 33 of getting up super early to start a daily practice of walking each morning. That doesn't mean I've taken a walk, every single morning... but it means I'm keeping track and it means I'm making a positive, enthusiastic effort... and that's a big change!

It's funny how life works. About this time a few months ago I was talking to my wellness coach, Cheryl, saying that I would put exercise on hold for the month. After several months of not meeting my exercise goals (AT ALL) I was frustrated and just didn't feel worrying about it. It was time to put it on the back burner and focus on other things....

And then magically it just sort of happened anyway. I received the email from ENELL saying I had been chosen as one of their blog ambassadors and I knew if I wanted to be honest about my use of the wonderful products that ENELL makes, I had to start walking again.

To encourage and support myself to start walking again, I signed up for a 5K. I had not participated in a 5K in several years.

This 5K was special to me, not only to signify getting back on my journey to health & wellness, but to celebrate the one-year birthday of my Dad's new heart... one year of amazing lifegiving heart-beats. I'm so thankful for that heart transplant, I'm so thankful that my Dad has been given more time.

Dad's had a rough go at it. It hasn't been an easy year. With a very suppressed immune system, he's spent more time in the hospital than at home... but amazingly he keeps going. He keeps on, keepin' on. And that is a lot harder than you might think. When life becomes more about getting your medications right, losing physical strength and slowly regaining it back only to be side-lined by a broken ankle... life has not been easy for my Dad this year.

If Dad's taught me anything this year, it's to NEVER give up. Life will not go according to our plans... but we have to keep going. People need us, we need to learn resilience and persistence, and we have to learn why life is worth it. Life is so worth it.

To celebrate my Dad's new heart, I wanted to do this walk. I wanted to get my own health back on track with physical activity and to celebrate the beginning of this journey with the Blue Ridge Veteran's 5K Celebration. And what's a better cause than to celebrate with this country's great veterans?

I proudly wore my ENELL gear and walked the 5K with my stepmom Betty in 51 minutes and 43 seconds! We were very proud! (And Betty is definitely in better shape than I am! :-)

There were about 60 participants in this 5K and it included many US Veterans in the Roanoke area of Virginia. I was so honored to walk beside them and support their foundation, support my dad, and share my love of ENELL and their . It was such a great day, despite the cloudy weather!

Afterwards we all went back to the rehab center to spend a few more hours with my Dad before we returned home to eastern NC. Dad was very proud of excited for us... and it just so happens after 3 months of being in and out of hospitals and rehabs... he's going home tomorrow!

We love you so much Dad! And we're supporting you and SO glad you're going home!

GLG Disclosure:

This post is part of a new series sponsored by ENELL. The ENELL Ambassador program provides fitness apparel and pays for fitness event registration fees in exchange for blog posts shared about the blogger's fitness experience. The opinions in this post are completely my own. I , and other bloggers in the Enell Ambassador Program are not monetarily compensated for any blog posts written for/or about ENELL products.