Gluten Free Me

We went out to dinner tonight, and I didn’t really eat much of my plate. The waitress asked why not, and I couldn’t bring myself to say that the chicken didn’t taste likerealchicken.

Anyone else know what I’m getting at?

You know.. when you get some “chicken” that is supposed to be chicken, but instead is some weirdly condensed anonymous white maybe meat? And it even feels weird in your mouth, and cuts weird, too. Almost like you wouldn’t have to cut it (and not because it’s tender or juicy!)… like it would just flake away like fish.

Either way, super gross. Definitely not going back to eat there. Unless I get something deep fried into oblivion… which I probably won’t.

You’re right, it’s decided. Nevergoing back.

Lately I’ve been nagged by a feeling of being unwell. Physically and mentally.  Once it had gone on long enough, I figured I should probably do something about it (as much as I love lying around wallowing in my own despair and way too much ravioli) and make a change.

My mom let me borrow her “French Women Don’t Get Fat” cookbook (which then turned into keep after Molly took a chunk out of the bottom right hand corner) and I’ve only started flipping through it now. And reading her auto-biography. So what if it took me two months - I’m there now, right?

For the past three months I’ve been making a conscious effort to eat natural whole foods and drink copious amounts of water. Anyone who knows me knows this is an enormous challenge. I love all of those evil fried foods, flaky, buttery pastries, and desserts. I also hate water. Loathe it. I don’t know when we had our falling out, all I know is that it’s been this way for years.

I’d like to say “Not anymore, friends! I love water like we’re BFFs!” But I’d be lying. Shamelessly lying. I still don’tlovewater the same way I love fruit juice, but I accept that I feel a lot better being hydrated.

It’s kind of like my love-hate salad relationship. I really, really,reallydon’t like eating it everyday, but sometimes it’s something you just have to do.

So how have I stayed motivated? Aside from the looming fear that I will die alone, wrapped in blankets stained by terrible eating habits, choking on that last, delicious, chocolate truffle - I’ve also found a lot of support in a weekly aqua zumba class I’m taking, and in reading about Mireille Guiliano’s experience. She’s open about hating exercise and adoring pastry. I don’t have to pretend like I enjoy hopping on my bike four times a week in my (obviously incredibly sexy) padded biking shorts or pulling on my sport suit to flail around like a fool for an hour - I just have to make the effort to do what I can.

If you’re looking for some motivation, I would seriously recommend checking her books out. I personally chose to ignore that leek cleanse… I don’t believe in cleanses (plus leek juice really freaks me out), but do what you feel is right for you (or something else supportive and lovely as though we’ve been friends for years and are about to exchange a hug).

Tonight I made doughnuts. Baked doughnuts. Some people will say that is a travesty.  That deep fried doughnuts are the only kind of doughnut.

I will boldly disagree.  These are light, fluffy. They expand and then softly deflate in your mouth.

A simple cinnamon sugar coating compliments this delicious thing. 

The only problem is I can’t stop eating them.  Which is not only not great for my hips, but probably not for mister, who expects doughnuts to still be here when he gets home.

Oops.

It’s not like I can’t make more. Right? I can exercise self control and not eat another batch. Of course I can.

Hello, all.

I’ve been unforgivably quiet, and for that I have no excuse.

Just been feeling very private of late, I suppose.

Either way - I’ve been storing up recipes to share and to try, and should be posting again rather soon (I hope).

For now, I’m off to do some chores.

I’ve never really had allergies. So it’s not like I really knew what to expect the other week when things got warm and we experienced a bit of spring like weather.  I thought it was normal to assume I just had allergies… I mean, I wasn’t nearly as sick as I usually get (thank you vitamins/spinach).

Either way, a not-so-quick trip to the doctors and it turns out I’ve another sinus infection.  I’m on the antibiotic/eye drop kick again, but luckily am not self medicating with Neocitran (I know how much you guys loved my buzzed Neocitran posts).

In other news… food and I have not been agreeing lately.  I wish it was just gluten related foods, but it appears to be anything that isn’t yogurt, spinach or small amounts of pasta.

I’m hoping whatever this is goes away for Easter. Good Friday is probably my favourite day of the year (other than all of my other favourite days… such as Christmas, my birthday, and any reason/holiday that allows for the mass consumption of chocolate).  My family makes maultaschen (in typical German tradition), and then usually enjoy some kind of ridiculous Easter Sunday dinner. We’re not religious at all, but it’s not like I’m going to pass up and excuse to dye eggs that I then will refuse to eat. But at least we’ll have pretty eggs, right?

Anyway… I’ll save the Easter Sunday menu as a surprise (also because it’s not fully decided as of yet).

Stay happy and healthy, folks!

I don’t know what it’s like where you are, but where I am it is unseasonably warm. 

When it’s hot I only like to eat “cold” things, or things that don’t necessarily heat up my kitchen. But that doesn’t exclude cheesecake or pie. Because it’s worth turning my apartment into a mini sauna for both of those things.

I just want to go and buy fresh melon and berries, and eat until I feel sick. And eat veggies and dip. And then go outside and frolic (and then maybe throw up).

I’ve even exposed my porcelain skin (this is actually shocking for a few reasons; one I could probably blind people my skin is so pale, two being that I try not to expose myself to the powerful rays of the sun [being a vampire has its ups and downs]).

Now that I’m done making lame jokes that I know you won’t laugh at, I’m going to go do something about this fruit craving. Like, I don’t know… go buy fruit.

You make spinach everything.

Spinach dip. Spinach lasagne. Spinach quiche. Spinach pizza.

Spinach every day for lunch.

TOO MUCH SPINACH.

I’ve been feeling pretty guilty monopolizing the name “Gluten-free Me” when I’m not necessarily 100% gluten-free.  I mean, let’s be honest. I avoid gluten, but I’m not going out of my way, either. It’s not like I’m crossing the street when we come into contact, if you know what I mean.

Sometimes I indulge in some whole wheat foods.  Not often, but sometimes. And I really like Apple Cinnamon Cheerios.  But other than that, I try to keep gluten to a minimum.

On another note, I just sloshed quiche everywhere. I’m obviously very smooth, and while transferring my quiche to the oven, I allowed for quite a bit of my lovely wilted spinach, smoked mozzarella quiche to coat my kitchen floor.

At least it wasn’t the whole thing, I guess. And now Molly is trying to eat my left over homemade pizza. Here we go…