My First Apple Pie in a LONG Time

 

Since I have been gluten free for about 8 years now, I haven't eaten many pies, and I have never been a big apple pie person.

We have had a storm almost every day for a month. I have one apple tree that has lots of fruit on it as most of the other trees none. I noticed that the storm had knocked off lots of the fruit onto the ground. I hated to see those apples being wasted. 

I picked up all the apples that hadn't been bruised and wondered what to do with slightly green apples. I had a gluten free pie crust in the cupboard, so I decided I would make an apple pie for myself. 

I made it and used some oatmeal / sugar / and a little of the crust mixed to put on the top of the pie. I was on the phone with my friend Matt while I peeled and cut up the apples, and we joked about me celebrating my birthday for a month and so I found this little "Happy Birthday" sign in with my birthday candles, and I took a photo and sent it to him. 

I the started eating it and the crust was my favorite part as I a said, I am not a huge apple pie person, but it was really good with a nice crust, so I just kept eating it and ate 1/4 or more of the pie! I haven't eaten any for a few days now so I probably should have frozen it, but even if I throw the rest out, it was fun to have a pie. 

I froze the second crust and filling for Thanksgiving. It will be easy to put together and saving some time, and then my kids can help me eat it. 

Have a blessed day!

So Much Fun With The Grandkids

Awhile back, I found some fake mustaches at a thrift store that were new and unused for $.50. 

I knew the grand-kids would have fun with them, so I put them in the little desk by the front door where they go to get toys when they arrive at my house. 

After playing outside, doing some puzzle games, and playing with the train sets, one of them found the package of mustaches. She asked if they could put them on. 

They had so much fun putting them on. One got them on upside down which gave us all a laugh. Then, after getting some photos of them all together wearing them, they put them on their foreheads like a uni-brow. 

I love that they stopped over on their way through and am so blessed. They bring so much joy. They come running in and hug me and my heart melts! I am so grateful I get the opportunity to have grandchildren. 

Have a blessed day!

Gluten Free Swiss Cheese and Jam Sandwich - Better Than Expected

My sister made some jam on New Years Eve. She found flats of strawberries and raspberries at a discount store last week along with some jalapenos and thought since they were inexpensive, she would try making some jam. 

She had tried it before and thought it was great, so she was excited to be able to afford making / trying it. When I went over to her home, she offered some jam and I told her I don't usually eat it due to the gluten free situation, but when she told me that it was spicy, I was excited to try it.

I don't normally eat jam or jelly and since I can't eat peanut butter anymore due to not handling fats well, and since I have been gluten free for so many years, I just don't use jam or jelly and if I get some, I share it with my daughter's family. 

I was interested in tasting the jam as I have never had jalapenos in anything sweet before. I have heard that it is good in chocolate and sweet things before but have never tried it. I have some gluten free crackers, but they are more savory and they were "OK" but it wasn't great. The jam does have a bit of a kick to it, but I thought it would be better with something non-savory. 

My sister said it is really good with cream cheese and crackers giving creamy and sweet, but I didn't have any cream cheese at home, so I decided to eat it with sliced Swiss cheese. It was really good!  

I am still craving Swiss cheese anyway, so eating it in the sandwich form with the jelly in between gives me the Swiss I am craving as well as a sweet and spicy kick! It is really good. 

I figured I would share the idea to use cheese as the bread along with the jam / jelly as I would have never thought of doing that before. I would try it with other jams as well even though I haven't eaten jam in years. It may become a new favorite! 

Have a blessed day!

I Recognized The Person In The Mirror - It's Been A Long Time

Over the past few months, I have been dieting and releasing some weight. I did well for the first two months, plateaued over the third month and have started losing slowing this past month.

More than pounds this past month, I have noticed inches around my middle leaving at a faster rate.

I was complaining to Princess Five this week that I wasn't having the best week as I had some fatigue and stomach issues this week, and was frustrated that I wasn't losing more weight each week.

With the exception of one week, I have lost at least some weight every week since starting this on January 31, 2020. I weigh myself every Friday and just put it on a paper to keep track of how I am doing.

I went all out for three months and lost and then didn't lose and was starving hungry by the third month. I shifted around some vitamins and supplements, and I think that helped me where I am losing again slowly.

When I was complaining, Princess Five said, "I think you losing a pound or two a week is a good way to lose weight. You look healthy and are glowing and have more energy. My reply was that no one even notices that I have lost weight, or if they do, they aren't saying anything about it. It was a day or two later when I know what she said was true.

I have a friend I have known for many years, and she has always had a weight issue. I ran into her at a store this week the day or so after I had that conversation with Princess Five. I almost didn't recognize her. I did a double take and was in shock and how drawn she looked. Her skin was hanging off her.

I asked her how she had lost the weigh,t and she said she and her mother had gone to Mexico and had stomach reduction / stapling surgery. I asked when she had the surgery, and it was the end of January which is when I started my diet.

She had lost 50 lbs. but her skin was just hanging off her. She said that she threw up for months and can only eat a tablespoon of food at a time. She said she can't tolerate many foods anymore and we compared what we could eat finding that it was many of the same foods that we could both tolerate.

My thought was she could have saved herself so much money and body stress if she would have just gone on that diet anyway, and not had the surgery.

There is a lady in our congregation at church who has lost over 110 lbs. eating better and walking each day. She is looking so healthy and glowing. Today at church, she had all her kids and grandchildren in the pew with her, and she looked so cute in a adorable dress and happy being surrounded by her family. I ran into her walking tonight and shared with her how proud I was of her doing it in such a healthy way and how she was an inspiration!

I was wearing a pair of capris today while walking that I have had for a few years, and I kept having to pull them up as they were sliding down and hanging on my hips. I had just gotten them out of the wash but they were loose. I then was looking at a picture of when we went to the airport to pick up Princess Four from her mission to Japan just over 2 years ago, and I was wearing those capris in the picture at the airport. They were tight on me in the picture, and I realized that I have lost more inches in the past week or two because I wore those capris recently as I had to retire a few pants I was wearing at the time that were falling off me while walking. Several times, I had to catch them before they were at my ankles. I started wearing a belt with them, and then finally went into some smaller sizes and raided my closet for the pants that used to be tight or not fit well.

If they were stretched out, I would have thought maybe I wore them gardening and stretched them, however, pulling them straight out of the laundry pile, I realized that I may have not lost much weight last week, but I did lose inches as those pants are now loose and baggy. I had Princess Five take a few pictures and you can see the pants are rippling in places. There is lots of fabric at the hip and side seams to the point I can take a fist full on both sides.

I will need to go through my closet and remove some of the clothes. I tried on about six different dresses for church today. A few I can take in to help them fit better, but others are in a 'give away" pile since I didn't wear them when they fit.

It feels good to be releasing weight and getting thinner. Yesterday, I looked into the mirror and thought, "Oh, there I am!" like I have been staring and someone other than myself for the past few years. It reminded me of Robin Williams in "Hook" when they are squishing up his face and then say, "Oh there you are!"

I hope I can continue to release the weight and feel better. Now, I just need to figure out a cure for the parasites so my gut and body can heal! Won't that be a beautiful day!

Have a Blessed day and stay safe!

Being Gluten Free - Sunday Sacrament Becomes and Issue

Through my life, I have never liked most wheat products. I hadn't thought about it in the terms of "Wheat" or "Gluten" until I was nearly 50. 

I never enjoyed cake, cupcakes, stuffing, brownies, hot cereals, oatmeal items, gravies, meatballs, meatloaf, and some cereals. I did eat bread and rolls and enjoyed graham crackers. 

It wasn't until I started to gain weight and had lab test showing thyroid problems, that I was told that gluten was most likely the reason for my abnormal TPO test. That was when I realized I have had this issue my entire life and that was why I didn't like all those foods. I had noticed that when I ate gluten products, I would fall into a "mini coma" and my face would turn bright red. I also noticed if I ate a lot of gluten products all at one time, like pizza, I would react and then I would also have swelling in my hands and feet the next day. 

I immediately stopped eating any gluten products after I found out the thyroid test results, and haven't eaten gluten since. I will sometimes accidently get it in a product, and will know immediately that there was gluten in it as I react so much more intensely now, due to not having eaten it for so long.

In my church, they use bread for the sacramental portion of our meeting. In the beginning, I would just put a crumb in my mouth, but found that I was starting to react even to that crumb. I then would just touch the bread to my lips and know that in my heart I was renewing that covenant with my Father in Heaven. 

I had been to other congregations where they would ask people who needed gluten free to hold up their hand, but I always felt awkward doing that. In some places, they would have a huge cup with a lid on it, which took up lots of space on the trays and slid around. They also couldn't put more than one or two on each tray as the cups were so large. I felt that I was fine taking it the way I had been. 

There was a letter sent out about a year ago to all the congregations of our church through the world, saying that they should accommodate those with gluten or other allergy issues to make them feel welcome and allowing them the opportunity to participate in the sacrament. 

I was approached by my local congregation leadership and asked how I would like to see the situation handled. I pondered on it, and came up with a solution that I had at home that would be easy for me to do. I sort jewelry from assorted bags I purchase from second hand stores into little bags I purchase from Walmart in the jewelry section.  

I got some Rice Chex cereal out of my stash, and put one piece in each of the smallest baggies they sell in the jewelry section. They are about $2.50 for 100 baggies. I filled the entire 100 bags, and suggested to the leaders that they put a few of these on each tray so that others visiting may take one as needed if they are gluten free. 

It went well at first, but then they were only putting them on the one tray where I usually sit, so if I happen to not get that spot, the tray then misses me. Then, about two months ago, they didn't have any for a few weeks. I mentioned it, then the next two weeks, there was just a piece of cereal floating among the bread, not in a bag. I then had to dig through the bread to find the piece of cereal. This is an issue for two reasons. I am then touching other members bread, and there are some people who get sick just from their food touching something that has gluten in it. It is called, "cross contamination" and can be an issue. 

I mentioned something to my Bishop, and he then discussed it with those preparing the bread. He then asked me to prepare another batch of cereal in the baggies. I wondered as he told me where the box of Chex was, if they had returned any of the contaminated cereal back in the box as it hadn't been eaten on the trays. The box also had the name of another congregation that meets in our building at another time on the front of the box. So, I asked about that as well. He stated that we all share! 

I remember on another occasion, I had a really old tasting piece that had gone rancid, so that can also be an issue if you prepare more than needed at a time, or you purchase a box and leave it open to air. When I acquired the box of cereal this past week from the church, it was open and the top of the bag was open. This could be an issue for mice, ants, cockroaches etc. It was a large box and most likely wouldn't all be used before the expiration date, so that can also become an issue. 

The other solution I thought of, was that they could just have a baggie of cereal and put one piece in a sacramental water cup on the bread tray which would keep it from being contaminated, and also, if they prepared those first BEFORE preparing the bread, that would keep the cereal uncontaminated. I seem to remember another congregation using one of the larger cups and putting several pieces of cereal in it, but then if someone takes the entire cup, it spills, or someone is sick and touching the other pieces, it could also be an issue. The baggies seem to be the best option I can think of to solve most of the issues. 

It is hard for those who don't have this issue to realize what a BIG thing it can be for those afflicted with this issue.

I used to think that those needing gluten free, could just take their own bread each week as I have seen in other meetings I have attended, but then they have to sit in the same spot each week which isn't always possible with visiting guests, and also visiting guest miss out on the opportunity to participate. So, the baggie has been the best option as it doesn't take up so much space, keeps the cereal fresh and airtight as some of the plastic containers may not, and they can reuse them week after week. 

I do think they need to place a few of them on each tray allowing for visitors as I rarely find a place that has an alternative when I am traveling or visiting. 

Just a bit of a share for those that may have similar issues. I can take them when traveling and give those preparing the sacrament a handful before the meeting, they could put one on each tray which would allow for me to get one if no one in front of me needs it. ;-)

Have a blessed and allergy free day! 

Marshmallow Buttery Caramel Popcorn Recipe

I went to a scout activity tonight and someone brought a fun and yummy treat made of popcorn. It wasn't sticky and it tasted so good. 

I asked for the recipe and found out why it tasted so good. ha ha 

She said the recipe is:

Marshmallow Buttery Caramel Popcorn

1 - 16 ounce bag or marshmallows
1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar

Melt all ingredients and once melted and mixed throughout, pour onto popped corn and mix. 
Allow to cool on cookie sheets. Serve

I will warn you now that if you taste this, you will not be able to stop. I ate several cups full of this and will NOT be making this unless there is somewhere to take it so I don't end up eating it. 

Have a Blessed Day! 

Black Licorice Cravings - Iron Deficiency

When I was pregnant for my older three girls, I lived in a costal state and never had cravings for licorice. I craved pickled vegetable and banana peppers with Princess One, root beer floats and salt with Princess Two, and cottage cheese with fruit with Princess Three. 

I had never liked black licorice when growing up. I didn't ever crave it or want it in the past. After I had Princess Three, we moved to a drier inland state, I got pregnant a few years after moving. Very early on in the pregnancy, I craved black licorice which seemed so weird to me. 

 

I went to the grocery store and bought every item I could find that was black licorice flavor and brought them home. I put them in a row on the table and tasted each one, and some didn't satisfy the craving. When I would find one that filled the craving, I would eat it until the craving left. 

After a few months, the cravings left and I never knew why I craved the licorice. I then knew I was pregnant for Princess Five when I started having cravings for black licorice. I had the same craving for around the same time I had them for Princess Four. 

I still never knew why I was craving the black licorice. Interesting enough, dill is an herb, root beer is a root herb that is medicinal, ice-cream is calcium, cottage cheese is protein and calcium, and licorice root and anise are both herbs and medicinal. I think cravings are for a reason and we need to look into what we are craving and it took me many years to figure out why I craved black licorice. 

I have struggled with iron deficiency for many years. I have suffered from being tired and tried many different iron sources. I would get constipated taking iron pills which come from rust sources, but I tried many different types of iron and natural iron and finally found a source that works great. 

It was during that time that someone suggested using Unsulphered Black Strap Molasses. I started taking it and guess what? The flavor I had been craving was that flavor! I was craving IRON! The soil where I live is very iron deficient so it makes so much sense to me that in creating a baby, I would need iron. I am glad I was able to find items that had that in them, but it would have been so much easier to just take some molasses. I take a baby spoon full every day or two. If you take too much, because it is a sugar, it can cause loose bowels, but that little amount is just enough to fill that craving. 

Before I figured that out, when I would get "hormonal" at times, I would crave the black licorice and being gluten free, I would try licorice flavored ice cream, and found some small bits at the health food store, but they are almost too licorice flavored as they make my breath smell like black licorice, so I won't eat them around people.

Recently, I found some gummy type dogs that are black licorice flavored and don't have gluten in them and are somewhat chewy like black licorice so it is nice to have those options. I wanted to share them in case there are other people who crave licorice, or who like it, and can't eat wheat and gluten products, but still want that flavor. 

It was such an epiphany when I realized that molasses was what I was really craving. I hope you have a Blessed and Iron filled day! 

Packing For A Gluten Free Trip - Gluten Free Snacks and food in Checked Suitcase

I haven't traveled much in the past few years with all the craziness of my mother living with me, passing away, Princess Fives roll over accident, new grandbabies being born etc. 

I was invited by Princess Three to DC for a work trip and to stay in her hotel and Princess Two decided to go along as the other girls have work and family. It has been many years since I have visited DC but thought it could be fun.

As we talked about the trip, I shared about family members and friends living along the East Coast that we could visit and we talked with some but the distances and length of the trip caused us to whittle the visiting down to DC and NY. I have two cousins that live in NY and one that lives in DC and we have plans to visit with them and I also have a cousin in Pennsylvania and a sister in law that also lives near NY in Pennsylvania but we aren't going to have the time to make the trips to visit them and hoped maybe they could come visit us in NY but some are doing a play and another is volunteering as a nurse at a camp so that didn't work out either. 

I am sad we won't be able to visit them and other friends and family near Boston but we are excited about our trip. 

I have been a bit worried due to my feet swelling during my yard sale but they are thankfully back to normal and I have been feeling better so I am hoping that the days are super hot and there is some cloud cover so we can enjoy our sight seeing without much stress and heat. I am still not regulating the heat and cold well but will let the girls do their thing if I can't keep up. 

Since I am gluten free, I can't just grab a pretzel or pizza slice so I decided to check a bag through with gluten free snacks and some apples so that I can have things I am able to eat with me. I really wish I could just order stuff and have it delivered to the hotel room. It would be cool if hotels offered those options for gluten free or special needs and I am sure the higher end places do but we are on a budget so this is how I opted to do it. 

I bought all sorts of Gluten free bars, gluten free beef jerkey, GF granola in different brands and flavors so that if I react to one, the girls can eat it and I can move on to another, GF freeze dried yogurt and berries for the protein and lastly, I am taking Isagenix shakes. They are gluten and soy free. I can't eat a whole shake as I have some blood sugar reactions or something but I usually drink 1/3 of the mix in water and drink so at least I will have fluids and vitamins and amino acids. 

I hope that I can keep my energy up the entire trip and feel good enough to enjoy the time I get with my girls in the big cities. I am looking forward to visiting family and am grateful to my cousin in NY who is allowing us to sleep in her apartment a block from Grand Central Station. It is a good location to nearly everything and I know having three people added to the small apartment can't be all that fun for her but I appreciate that she is willing to let us stay as I know we couldn't have afforded it normally. 

We have two Broadway shows booked and hope to be able to get into others if we can get tickets cheap and have seen what we want to visit in NY already. I love NY and have been several times but I have never actually gotten to see a Broadway show on Broadway.... I know our seats are probably not the best but it will still be amazing just being there. We are going to see Wicked and Phantom as they were the cheapest and none of us have seen Wicked before so that will be a new experience for us all. 

Anyway, I made a short video sharing the gluten free snacks and I hope you all enjoy a Gluten Free Blessed Day!