So I'm excited to share with you my first bit of research on living gluten free. First, I must say that I have the most awesome husband in the world. When I told him that I was going to try to live Gluten Free at least for a little while to see if it made a difference, I expected him to balk at the idea. If you know my husband, you know how much he LOVES pizza and all things Italian. I was worried that he would laugh at me but instead, do you know what he did? He started researching restaurants that served Gluten Free foods for me. He also said that he would wait to eat his yucky food when I wasn't around! He admitted that Gluten sensitivity does fit my symptoms and he didn't think I was crazy at all! Isn't he the best???
I immediately checked out the book The G Free Diet by Elisabeth Hasselbeck and started researching other blogs to follow. I found one that I'm in love with already and just had to share it here. It's called the Gluten Free Girl . She is married to a chef (lucky girl) who prepares only gluten free food for her!!!! There are so many recipes on her blog and she has several books out too.
Mostly what I've felt while reading these books and blogs is that I'm not alone. I'm realizing that I am reading my story. I've not been diagnosed yet with this disease but I do plan on having my internist do the blood test when I see him in June for my six month thyroid check up.
Anyway, I hope that you enjoy trying these recipes with me or at least reading about my quest to discover gluten free foods! :)
http://glutenfreegirl.com/recipes/
Diary of a Preacher's Wife
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Gluten Free
So I've made the decision after much soul searching (during the Fast) to try to live as close to Gluten Free as possible. I was diagnosed at age 20 with IBS. Since then I've been diagnosed with other autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto's. My younger sister had some testing done a couple of years ago which revealed that she was gluten intolerant and her doctor strongly suspected that I possibly had it also. (After Kim gave her my medical history) :)
Anyway, if you know me you KNOW I LOVE bread and all things wheat. I've thought for a while that I probably have a gluten allergy but I've avoided doing anything about it. I realize every year when we do this fast that I feel the best that I've ever felt. The more I thought about it and realized the things being eliminated during the fast, I realized that the Daniel Fast is essentially a gluten free diet.
So, I've decided that I am going to try this thing. I've researched it and think I can do it!!! I'm sure every now and then I will succumb to some gluten product but I'm hoping that will be few and far between....
What has God revealed to you during this fast?
Anyway, if you know me you KNOW I LOVE bread and all things wheat. I've thought for a while that I probably have a gluten allergy but I've avoided doing anything about it. I realize every year when we do this fast that I feel the best that I've ever felt. The more I thought about it and realized the things being eliminated during the fast, I realized that the Daniel Fast is essentially a gluten free diet.
So, I've decided that I am going to try this thing. I've researched it and think I can do it!!! I'm sure every now and then I will succumb to some gluten product but I'm hoping that will be few and far between....
What has God revealed to you during this fast?
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Day 10: Daniel Fast 2012
Yesterday I made Cauliflower Pizza for the first time. It was fairly easy to make but I didn't love it...probably because I'm so used to eating regular pizza dough? I don't know. I think I didn't put enough spices in the mixture so if I make it again, that's what I'll do. Seth and Eli loved it...Caleb and I, not so much. Oh well. For those of you that might enjoy it though, here is the recipe. Again, keep in mind that I DID use cheese and egg. You can substitute for each but I'd rather just use the real thing.
Serves 2
Ingredients
1 cup cooked, riced cauliflower
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon crushed garlic
½ teaspoon garlic salt
olive oil (optional)
pizza sauce, shredded cheese and choice of your toppings*
1 cup cooked, riced cauliflower
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon crushed garlic
½ teaspoon garlic salt
olive oil (optional)
pizza sauce, shredded cheese and choice of your toppings*
Instructions
To "rice" the Cauliflower: Take 1 large head of fresh cauliflower, remove stems and leaves, and chop the florets into chunks. Add to food processor and pulse until it looks like grain. Do not over-do pulse or you will puree it. (If you don't have a food processor, you can grate the whole head with a cheese grater). Place the riced cauliflower into a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 8 minutes. There is no need to add water, as the natural moisture in the cauliflower is enough to cook itself. One large head should produce approximately 3 cups of riced cauliflower. The remainder can be used to make additional pizza crusts immediately, or can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week.
To Make the Pizza Crust:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, stir together 1 cup cauliflower, egg and mozzarella. Add oregano, crushed garlic and garlic salt, stir. Transfer to the cookie sheet, and using your hands, pat out into a 9" round. Optional: Brush olive oil over top of mixture to help with browning.
Bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes.
Remove from oven.
To the crust, add sauce, toppings and cheese. Place under a broiler at high heat just until cheese is melted (approximately 3-4 minutes).
*Note: Toppings need to be precooked since you are only broiling for a few minutes.
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, stir together 1 cup cauliflower, egg and mozzarella. Add oregano, crushed garlic and garlic salt, stir. Transfer to the cookie sheet, and using your hands, pat out into a 9" round. Optional: Brush olive oil over top of mixture to help with browning.
Bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes.
Remove from oven.
To the crust, add sauce, toppings and cheese. Place under a broiler at high heat just until cheese is melted (approximately 3-4 minutes).
*Note: Toppings need to be precooked since you are only broiling for a few minutes.
**I got this recipe from Lauren Conrad's BLOG.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Day 4-9 : Daniel Fast 2012
So I realize that I haven't posted the last couple of days. Once again little man decided to get sick! I thought the removal of tonsils, adnoids, ear tube, etc. would help but so far it hasn't. Although, it is possible that his cold could've been worse if not for the surgery...who knows really. Anyway, I figured it's time to get caught up on the blogging for those of you that are actually following :)
I'll admit, these last few days have been a little trying. It's (TMI) that TIME of the month if you know what I mean and I WANT my Dr. Pepper. I would also not mind a very nice bite of grilled chicken. I went out to eat Sunday after church with a good friend and ALMOST caved. Chili's has the absolute best Margarita Grilled Chicken Tacos!!! YUMMMMM!!! I was good though and just got the side salad, beans and rice instead. But BOY, I wanted those tacos.
How often do we think we NEED something when in reality, we'll live without it? As I was reading my book Stumbling into Grace again this week, one of the chapters discussed being fully satisfied both physically and spiritually. Psalm 63:3-5. Here are the personal reflection questions at the end of the chapter. I thought these went along nicely with my recent dilemma and thought you might enjoy reflecting upon them also. :)
1. What are two or three running themes of the unhealthy thoughts that most often clog your heart and mind? (e.g., weight, finances, relationship)
2. How do you typically pig out (e.g., food, shopping sprees) when you're stressed out by the circumstances of your own life?
3. If you could choose just one particularly toxic thought or coping habit from which to fast, what would it be?
4. Read Proverbs 3:9-10. Using the context of heart and mind instead of finances, how would you paraphrase these two verses?
5. Describe a recent terrible-horrible-no-good-very-bad-day when you didn't "hustle for chocolate chip cookies outside the temple" and instead went immediately inside to let God soothe the hunger in your soul.
6. Read Psalm 63. What adjectives, illustrations, metaphors, or movie scenes best depict how intimacy with God satisfies your soul better than anything else?
I'll admit, these last few days have been a little trying. It's (TMI) that TIME of the month if you know what I mean and I WANT my Dr. Pepper. I would also not mind a very nice bite of grilled chicken. I went out to eat Sunday after church with a good friend and ALMOST caved. Chili's has the absolute best Margarita Grilled Chicken Tacos!!! YUMMMMM!!! I was good though and just got the side salad, beans and rice instead. But BOY, I wanted those tacos.
How often do we think we NEED something when in reality, we'll live without it? As I was reading my book Stumbling into Grace again this week, one of the chapters discussed being fully satisfied both physically and spiritually. Psalm 63:3-5. Here are the personal reflection questions at the end of the chapter. I thought these went along nicely with my recent dilemma and thought you might enjoy reflecting upon them also. :)
1. What are two or three running themes of the unhealthy thoughts that most often clog your heart and mind? (e.g., weight, finances, relationship)
2. How do you typically pig out (e.g., food, shopping sprees) when you're stressed out by the circumstances of your own life?
3. If you could choose just one particularly toxic thought or coping habit from which to fast, what would it be?
4. Read Proverbs 3:9-10. Using the context of heart and mind instead of finances, how would you paraphrase these two verses?
5. Describe a recent terrible-horrible-no-good-very-bad-day when you didn't "hustle for chocolate chip cookies outside the temple" and instead went immediately inside to let God soothe the hunger in your soul.
6. Read Psalm 63. What adjectives, illustrations, metaphors, or movie scenes best depict how intimacy with God satisfies your soul better than anything else?
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Day 3 - Daniel Fast
For the past two days I have been reading the book Stumbling into Grace by Lisa Harper. (Thank you Ida for letting me borrow it!) As I was reading today, I had one of those "Ah HA!" moments. Lisa was telling the story of the Pharisee's as they followed Jesus around and tried to set him up by asking him whether or not he could heal on the Sabbath. Jesus in turn told them that if one of their sheep were to fall and hurt themselves on the Sabbath, wouldn't they pick their sheep up and take care of it? He said that surely humans are more important than sheep and therefore God would surely deem it okay to heal someone on the Sabbath.
"At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, "Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath." He answered, "Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. Or haven’t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent? I tell you that one greater than the temple is here. If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath." Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, they asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" He said to them, "If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus." -Matthew 12:1-14
I LOVE that!
Very recently someone made a comment about someone else's decision to fast a certain thing. They commented that fasting was strictly to be about food and not other seemingly unimportant things. This comment really irritated the person it was made toward and I completely understand why! Here is a person deciding to give up something that they feel is a hindrance in their relationship with God. They have decided to focus wholly on God instead of participating in the other activity. Just as they've decided to step out in their decision, here comes legalism rearing it's ugly head! I'm sure this person really and truly thought they were sharing some well-intentioned Bible wisdom but instead it came across as a holier than thou statement and could have truly discouraged the other person from fasting all together.
How often do we as Christians discourage unintentionally? How often do we portray this unattainable goal that we see as Christianity? It's no wonder people don't want anything to do with God! We've painted a picture that is really a set of rules and regulations for people to follow instead of showing them the true heart of God. We've discouraged and beat down others instead of lifting them up and encouraging.
As you continue to fast these next few days, ask God to reveal to you areas of negativity in your life and pray for a heart of encouragement.
"At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, "Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath." He answered, "Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. Or haven’t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent? I tell you that one greater than the temple is here. If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath." Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, they asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" He said to them, "If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus." -Matthew 12:1-14
I LOVE that!
Very recently someone made a comment about someone else's decision to fast a certain thing. They commented that fasting was strictly to be about food and not other seemingly unimportant things. This comment really irritated the person it was made toward and I completely understand why! Here is a person deciding to give up something that they feel is a hindrance in their relationship with God. They have decided to focus wholly on God instead of participating in the other activity. Just as they've decided to step out in their decision, here comes legalism rearing it's ugly head! I'm sure this person really and truly thought they were sharing some well-intentioned Bible wisdom but instead it came across as a holier than thou statement and could have truly discouraged the other person from fasting all together.
How often do we as Christians discourage unintentionally? How often do we portray this unattainable goal that we see as Christianity? It's no wonder people don't want anything to do with God! We've painted a picture that is really a set of rules and regulations for people to follow instead of showing them the true heart of God. We've discouraged and beat down others instead of lifting them up and encouraging.
As you continue to fast these next few days, ask God to reveal to you areas of negativity in your life and pray for a heart of encouragement.
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