What's Cookin'? Gluten Free Day Two

Day two not much better than day one, as I still feel like crap and can't really eat much of anything. The nice Dr. and I decided it is "most likely a ruptured ovarian cyst", which I have had many times before and hurts like heck for a few days and goes away.  Nevertheless, I had more blood work, and am scheduled for a Pelvic Ultrasound 6/9 (the day after my yearly GYN exam) and I have to get an abdominal X-Ray when I go out on Friday ( I cancelled my Dr's appointments for tomorrow and am going to rest for the next few days, because it hurts to walk) .  Silly me thought I could call Magee up and get my ultrasound today, ya right!  Sometimes it works, usually it doesn't. I hope they can find my left ovary this time, because the last time I had a Pelvic Ultrasound, it was hiding, and the procedure was VERY painful and took two technicians to complete.  But enough about me and my lovely medical problems...

I made all kinds of interesting food after my trip to the doctors office today, too bad I really couldn't enjoy it!!

I made Veggie Quiche --same variation of the recipe I posted on Mother's day: egg white substitute, spinach, carrots, broccoli, mushrooms, Cheddar Veggie Shreds, mushrooms, sun dried tomatoes.  Bake at 400 degrees for 45 min...YUMMY!

Baked Greens--I went to Trader Joe's as I had mentioned, to get my gluten free supplies, and found 5.5 bags of great stuff for 81$ (I am shopping at Trader Joe's from now on--the only thing they did not have was my Veggie/Rice shreds which I will get at GE/RBN when I cook with a recipe that requires them).  Back to the greens, I got a huge bag of mixed greens (Spinach, Turnip, Collard, Mustard) for $3.  There were recipes on the back, but I wasn't equipped with the ingredients, so I baked them in EVOO and Seasoned Salt like I do my Kale Chips--DELICIOUS!!

Finally, I made Veggie Stir Fry with Rice Stick noodles--weird little buggers.  You don't need to cook them, just put them in hot water to soften for 10 minutes.  Were kind of tasty once they were in with the Broccoli, Mushrooms, Baby Corn, Bean Sprouts, Carrots, Water Chestnuts, Bamboo Shoots and Teriyaki sauce!

So those were my cooking adventures, probably for the rest of the week, unless I feel up to getting the ingredients for/baking the Gluten Free Banana Bread I posted yesterday.  I think I will save that for next week!

Happy Hump Day Eve!!

My Belly Hurts!!! Gluten Free, Day 1

I think I have the stomach flu, a UTI, or an ovarian cyst...not like I don't have enough problems already, but my stomach/left side has been killing me the past few days! Today I started the gluten-free portion of my diet and here is how it went:

Breakfast-

Nothing.... belly was killing me

Lunch

piece of chicken
apple
celery
lots of water


Dinner

broth
2 pieces of gluten free toast
1/2 tsp of peanut butter
lots of water
banana

Snack

celery
Trader Joe's Natural Turkey Jerky (yummy, no preservatives, no nitrates)
lots of water

Overall, not the best diet day, as usually I eat veggies 3x a day, including a morning smoothie, but I just wasn't feeling it today!  I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow to see what is going on...hopefully nothing serious, as I am so tired of being sick!!

I am looking forward to trying out all kinds of gluten-free recipes that I have found online!  This Banana Bread  looks particularly yummy.  Of course, I will have to make all my substitutions as usual.  I may make it this week and if so, will let you all know how it turns out!

'Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit. When one is free from physical disabilities and mental distractions, the gates of the soul open". --B.K.S Iyengar

Bye, Bye Gluten!

That's right kids!  Not only am I off dairy, refined sugars and processed foods, but we are saying goodbye to gluten as well! At least for 21 days, that is!  I am armed with gluten free items from Trader Joe's that I purchased yesterday.  Since I started this diet, veggies have been my staple, along with chicken and whole grain pasta.  But now, I switched to rice pasta, which Leah says holds the flavor much better than the pasta I was eating, so I am anxious to try it!

Last week I was telling some different friends about my diet, weight loss and foods I had eliminated.  My friend Dave remarked, "If I was eating cardboard, I would lose 40 pounds too."  Of  course we all had a good laugh, but as I have said many times, I do not miss anything that I used to eat.  I have found tasty alternatives for everything...except ice cream.  I tried the Rice milk ice cream, and it was pretty nasty!!   I am still on the search for a non-dairy , gluten free, low sugar alternative to ice cream.  Anyone know of one, let me know!!

I am not sure what I am making this week for dinner...blogging regularly has been hard for me!  I am starting the no-gluten phase tomorrow, so I will try to update as much as I can.  Gluten Free Goddess is one of the blogs I read and she has some yummy posts, so I expect to be making some of her culinary creations! Please remember to send me recipes, especially now if you have a favorite that is gluten free!

The power of love to change bodies is legendary, built into folklore, common sense, and everyday experience.  Love moves the flesh, it pushes matter around.... Throughout history, "tender loving care" has uniformly been recognized as a valuable element in healing.  ~Larry Dossey

I have been a bad blogger!

Sorry loyal readers, I have been a bad blogger!! Life has been crazy lately but to update, I have lost over 40 pounds, 20 of it since I started my new diet.  I cannot say that I notice any decrease in my pain, but I love what I have been eating!  My family is skeptical ( I made a vegan cheesecake and a veggie quiche for mother's day), but they are supportive of my lifestyle changes!

Its been a little over a month since starting this diet.  If you recall, I was initially supposed to go 21 days witout dairy, which I did.  Mothers day weekend, I went out and had dairy Friday and Saturday (12 pudding shots for a good cause Friday night--lol and Saturday there was cheese in the Vegetable Lasagna.) Needless to say, I got very sick from eating the dairy, so I must have an intolerance.  So I am sticking to the Rice milk and Rice Shreds when I make a recipe that calls for cheese!

I had friends over for lunch yesterday and I introduced them to my healthy cooking and they were in love!! I made pasta salad (tri color/whole grain pasta with fat free italian dressing, cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, peppers, salad supreme); kale chips, and 4 types of flat out bread pizza (sundried tomato and mozzarella veggie shreds, red and orange pepper, mushroom and olive and mozzarella veggie shreds, spinach, mushroom and chicken, then a chicken and broccoli, both with mozzarella veggie shreds).  I received many compliments and everyone took leftovers home!  I was so happy to have people to cook for!!

Not sure what I am cooking this week, but will post updates when I do!  Thanks for reading and remember to send me some of your favorite recipes!!!