I Had a Gluten-Free Dream Last Night
October 31st, 2009
This sounds really strange, but I had my first gluten-free dream last night. I usually don’t remember my dreams and I’ve never flown properly. I flap my arms like wings rather than glide. Back to my gluten-free dream. I was going to some modern art museum with a friend and we needed to eat. There was only a hot dog stand outside and no other cafe or food anywhere in sight.
I go up to the stand with low expectations of having anything I could consume. I ask, “I can’t have any gluten, like wheat or flour, do you have anything?” A young woman in the stand tells me they do have a gluten-free type hot dog that is made of almonds and some other things. (I can’t remember her full elaborate description, there were some words that I felt like I’d never even heard of before.) I’m thinking, wow I’ve never heard of that and at that moment it sounded really good. I ordered one and when it came out, it was the most amazing thing ever. Imagine a churro type bun that is slightly fried and sweetened but less gritty, and over a foot long with a hot dog that actually seemed to taste almond like. Two of the best streets food combined into one and it was mind blowing. I woke up and remembered it, thought it was so cool, and then thought, I am so weird, why would I be dreaming about churro hot dogs. I guess I really am living every aspect of my life including dreaming about being gluten-free. I am so lame.
Herbal Teas Added to the Repertoire
October 30th, 2009
Herbal tea to combat the redness and itch
The Eastern Medicine doctor has recommended a combination of herbs for me to drink twice daily. It is a gritty and bitter concoction and a part of all the other things I’m doing. The ground up herbs include.
Tangkuei Root White Peony Root Poria Atractylodes (Alba) Stem Bupleurum root Ginger (Dried) Root Mountain Peel of Root Gardenia Fruit Licorice (Baked) Root Mint Leaf and more……There’s been very few Western studies about the use of Eastern medicine with Eczema. Most recently I found this article from WebMD about children with severe eczema who drank a Erka Shizheng Herbal Tea twice a day for months and were able to reduce the steroids they were using. I don’t have this exact tea and am trying to figure out how to get it. The name isn’t quite known to the doctor I went to so it’s a little bit of a mystery of what’s in it. More research from my end to be done. This study went on to be presented at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology’s annual meeting. (Notice that this was rightfully not presented at a Dermatology convention, they too believe it is an internal issue rather than just dermal topical.)
Day 45: Half Way There and Not a Lot to Show For
October 29th, 2009
It’s been 45 days, half way to the 90 day mark and I don’t have a lot to show for. Literally, each day I think I look different but nothing to point to as a true success. One day I’ll be less itchy and the next a mess. One day my face is less red, but then my arms will be itching like I have poison ivy or something. Another day my neck is turning into chicken skin and my leg into an alligator. Oh and remember the week my left eye looked punched in due to the Singulair. Today my leg looks bitten by a shark, but my elbow is smoothing out.
So this blog is about being gluten-free. I’ve been enjoying it a little actually, because it’s a challenge. The only problem is, I’m not getting the reward I was expecting to have. Gluten doesn’t quite appear to be effecting my skin but rather it does seem to be making me eat more wholesome and organic foods and shrinking my belly fat ever so slightly. I’ve also found that I don’t get food coma anymore.
Even though I have a strong hunch that gluten is not the culprit I’m going to continue on with the 90 days and give it even more time. Doctors have said it takes at least 6 weeks to try elimination diets and that the first weeks can sometimes have a withdrawal effect where symptoms get worse before better. At the very least I’m more aware of ingredients I’m taking in and eating better high quality foods.
No More Sugar, On To Kale and Greens
October 28th, 2009
Kale, chicken and soft tofu do go together. Soup Plantation, Hometown Buffet, and Sizzler say so !
There’s been too many sweet food posts lately, so I thought I should share some more of the veggies and salads I’ve been having. I had a left over chicken from Costco. Yes, the chicken is gluten-free with no hormones. I’m impressed that Costco didn’t use any sauces or seasonings that would deter from my fun. Anyways I tend to make Soup Plantation style salads, where I put whatever I find and like in the fridge into my bowl.
Lightly cooked Kale Romaine lettuce Slivered almonds Dried cranberries Raw soft tofu – you’re thinking ew gross, why not at least firm…well I kind of think soft is almost like a soft cheese Cherry tomatoes Sprinkle of cheese Lite Caeser Vinaigrette DressingKale is a super green and has excellent IF (Inflammatory Index) rating. Lots of fiber and Vitamin C. The texture is more bushy than leafy, if you’ve had it you know what I mean. I love it cooked with just a little stock and garlic. The more I think about it the more I think that kale might be too nice of a vegetable for those salad buffet places to carry this. Why is it that all of those places always have the most peculiar soup bowls, like soup bowls made for vikings or something.
Acai is So Hot Right Now
October 27th, 2009
I just picked up an Acai fruit blend juice because it has so many antioxidants and is really good. It’s the Lakewood Acai Amazon Berry, totally organic and gluten-free juice with no added sugars. Paid $5.19. You can tell by the picture it’s fairly thick and filled with naturally occurring Omegas – 3,6,9. Lots of them. That’s because not only does it have acai, it has pomegranate and even goji berry which is a redness reducing fruit. The vitamins in this are endless, from 280mg of Potassium to various Vitamin B’s and even 12% of Vitamin K.
I had acai last time I was in Brazil and it was crazy good there, probably because it was loaded up with sugar. Acai is really gritty, dark, thick and actually pretty bitter in its’ natural state.
Frozen Acai from Brazil last year.
At some point in the past I’ve had some of those other popular drinks such as Tahitian Noni Juice and XanGo Mangosteen Juice which both are similar in the effects that the acai fruit has. During those times I couldn’t tell if they did anything since nothing was really wrong with me then. Noni and XanGo are more concentrated so you only drink a shot or two of them daily. Also the price is about $18-$30 a bottle. I have yet to really analyze and compare each drink for total overall benefit.
Since drinking the Lakewood Acai, I have been sleeping better and just slightly less itchy, but still not doing the trick. In the mornings now I have less than a glass of the acai and sometimes almond milk on the side. I’ve really realized that vitamins cannot replace the vitamins that occur naturally within what we eat. There is just something different about eating living food.
PS. I just noticed freaking Oprah posted about this too! She has to stop copying me! Click Here for more.
Me Want Cookie, Pamela’s Old Fashioned
October 26th, 2009
Soft and chewy. Just right.
Since being in New York I’ve been in need of a real cookie. After searching Whole Foods the other day, I found something good. The brand is Pamela’s Old Fashioned Raisin Walnut Cookies. WF is great at posting which products are gluten-free with a green tag, so finding these were a cinch. These little cookies, aren’t very big but are hearty and have a good texture. Ingredients include rice and tapioca starch and fruit juices rather than regular sugar to maintain a sweet hint. I’m starting to think that fruit sweetners are even tastier than regular sugar. This package only has 9 cookies and cost about $3.00. They’re good and tasty, but I probably won’t be eating too many sweets since lots of sugar makes me weird and this is from Whole Paycheck.
Big Bird on the Grill
October 25th, 2009
Grilling chicken with mustard and cilantro
Not the big cute yellow fellow, but just regular chicken. I’m grilling some good chicken with my mustard cilantro dressing and I really think this is one of my best homemade marinades. *Toot* *Toot*. That’s me tooting my own horn, not like passing heavenly wind. Here’s the quick recipe. (Makes about 4 pieces of chicken)
Clean and dry boneless chicken thighs (skin on is best). Marinade. Spread all over each side of the chicken and let sit to soak in the flavors. 5-7 cilantro stems chopped really fine 1 tsp of brown mustard 1 tsp of fresh lemon juice sprinkle of sea salt 1 Tbl olive oil On a hot grill lay the chicken pieces flat and don’t move them. Cook each side about 5-7 mins. Flip and rotate to get good grill markings. I occassionally add a little water on the grill pan and do partial cover to make sure the heat gets to the center of the chicken. Make sure the thickest part is cooked through. Don’t overcook it as your chicken will become dry and chewy. DONE. Eat and enjoy.This goes really well over any salad. I also use this same type of recipe with lemongrass and on any white fish.
Hump Day Fish Feed: Tilapia
October 22nd, 2009
It’s fish day today. Going back to my roots of lots of lean fish and good veggies. Today’s catch, Tilapia, which is apparently a very sustainable fish. Fish industry is apparently a total mess, so getting something that is raised in a sustainable way is always good in my mind. Anyways, Tilapia is a white flat fish. You’ll often see it fried or filleted and sauteed. I went for lightly pan fried with some fresh green snow peas and carrots. Another easy dish to make. You’ll notice I never get complicated when it comes to cooking and leave it to the Michelin restaurants to really show me some skill. For 2 people.
1 lb Tilapia filleted and de-boned, sliced in about 1-inch strips (rule of thumb is 1/2 lb per person and de-boned is great so you don’t choke the ones you love) 1/2 lb snow peas cleaned and ends removed 2 small carrots peeled and sliced diagonal 1/2 cup Rice wine 4 slices ginger
Image problems
October 22nd, 2009
Hi All. Doing some upgrades to my site and had some image issues. Should be fixed soon. Thanks. I’ll post my next blog, if you don’t see images don’t worry, they’ll show up soon.
—
Open-Faced Burger in My Face
October 20th, 2009
Open Face Burger
In my attempts at making a different kind of burger and in honor of the newly opened Burger Bar in San Francisco, I made an open-faced burger. This is a fork and knife sort of dish and I get to have more of the substance foods and less of the bread part. It’s pretty simple and it’s my way to get some red meat in.
Season 1/3 -1/2 lb lean ground beef with onion, salt, pepper, Japanese Worcestershire gluten free sauce Saute lettuce with the almost done ground beef Toast gluten-free tapioca or any rice bread Top the bread with the cooked meat and lettuce and with a slice of your favorite cheeseJuicy meats work really well with this bread and actually makes it taste even better. The bread becomes softer and it doesn’t really become as soggy as regular breads. For a healthier version try ground turkey or ground chicken too.
Pages
Organize
- Beauty (6)
- Food (67)
- Habits (2)
- Observations (10)
- Stuff (3)
- Uncategorized (21)
Follow me
Subscribe to DearGluten by Email
