The Big One

One.

One year ago today, I discovered that I have Celiac Disease.  Yes =D.  It has been an entire year.  It started off interesting, to say the least, but with my family and my friends, it wasn't such a big deal anymore.

In fact now I'm barely bothered my gluten-eating.  Unless... it's in my house.  On the counters.  Not cleaned up.  That would be what really annoys me, because home is the one place I *like to* not have to think about gluten being there.  It's my safe place, but when there are crumbs, I get nervous.  But thats okay, considering that's my only bad thing =D.

Life is good.  I'm a thousand times healthier than I was a year ago.  I can breathe better, think clearer, and boy have I grown.  Up.  Lots.  My hair, nails, toenails, they're all better.  Honestly, I'm just better.  And so much happier.  Having your life and health back can do that =D.

I've always been a positive thinker, but being able to go to school and spend time with my friends is amazing.  I don't think that I ever realized how much the days all rolled into one, when I was sick.  I wasn't depressed by any means, I just didn't have the energy to do anything.  But now I'm slowly getting it back.  From full days of school to full weeks to full months, it's been a huge improvement.

Oh, and has the food ever been good.  A lot better than I expected in the very beginning.  At first, I would eat whatever said gluten free on it.  Thats a good place to start, but now that I've been getting into health mode, I've been finding the good, healthy, yummy stuff.  Yeah.  Thats the fun part. 

Gluten free products can fall into 2 categories, imitations of old favourites, that often are devoid of nutrients, and health foods that happen to be gluten free.  Not that there aren't any exceptions, no no.  It's just finding the ones that taste amazing and are healthy that is the key.  And you can always make them your self!  Thats always fun =D!

So all in all, I'd say that being gluten free isn't difficult.  I'm not saying that it's always easy, it's just not really hard.  In fact, I kind of like it.  I feel better (for the most part) and I eat healthier, and the food is good =D.

So here's to another wonderful year, gluten free of course!

xoxo

Lauren

Daring Bakers: Tuiles... ish

Honestly, I didn't know what Tuiles were until this month.  Ok, I'm still not 100% sure, but thats part of the fun of Daring Bakers, isn't it?

This month's challenge is brought to us by Karen of Bake My Day and Zorra of 1x umruehren bitte aka Kochtopf. They have chosen Tuiles from The Chocolate Book by Angélique Schmeink and Nougatine and Chocolate Tuiles from Michel Roux.

So I chose to go the easy route for this challenge and do one of the already gluten free versions, the Nougatine to be exact.  And I sorta messed up.  Just a bit though, I think.  So what happened was I think that I didn't cook the sugar long enough before adding the almonds.  That resulted in not tuiles.  No, they hardened really fast, and I couldn't roll them out however hard I tried.  So, when one almost-cookie broke apart anyways, I tried a tiny piece, and boy was it good.  And already in bite-size!  So I just broke the rest up, because the rest was even more tough, and it wouldn't get used at all if I didn't.     

I promise that I did make this challenge, it's just that it turned out a tad (okay, huge) bit different than everyone elses.  Buy hey, now I've got a good recipe for Almond Bites. (I made that name up.  If you know a better one let me know!)  Whatever you call them, these are amazingly addicting.  I'm just glad that they're not in my reach right now, or they'd be gone...

Oh, and to make this all the more exciting, I made this the night before posting date.  hehe =D.

So another part of the challenge was to have this light (mine isn't all that light) dish with a light counterpart.  I say an apple.  Or some tea, but more on that later...  The apple will be good because it'll be reminiscent of apple crisp maybe?  Also, apples and caramel work amazingly together =D.

Enough of me talking.  To the pictures!!!  

First, I spread the slivered almonds out onto the baking sheet.

Oh, and don't forget to put the sugar in the saucepan =D.

Then you can watch the almonds toast,

and double check the recipe that printed 1/2 on each page... 

Then you get toasted, very yummy almonds =D.

Put sugar pot on heat.  Wait.

Wait.

Wait.

So thats boring.  Tea sounds good.  I'm a tea person, and rooibos is currently my fave.

Vanilla Rooibos being the best for me =D.

Stir.  Stir.  Wait.

Wait.

Hot water is hot.  Tea'll be ready soon.

The sugar is finally starting to turn into caramel...

Very quickly.

Just keep stirring.  I don't want burning. 

(My caramel did get a lot further than this, just not quite far enough...)

It's good to get the almonds handy...

So you can dump them in!

Put on cookie sheet, and into oven.

Try to make a cookie.  It won't roll even after microwaving for a few seconds, so I let it break as it wanted to.

It'll be good to have it all the same considering what's in the oven is even tougher than the first "cookie."

So I kept breaking.

And got this.  An unexpected twist on the Nougatine recipe.

At least I did follow the criteria, using one "batter," shaping it, and showing you what to pair it with.  Sounds good to me =D.

xoxo

Lauren

PS.  Don't forget about that tea.  I almost did!

PPS.  Want to subtly sweeten that tea? Pop a bit/bite/whachamacallit/thingy into it.

Coming Back...

So... I guess I've had a bit of a break these past few weeks.  Oops.  Exams will do that to a person.  However, I have been up to somethings.  I made both chocolate mousse and chocolate cupcakes.  And I've been working out.  And I've been eating well(ish?).  And thats about it.  

I've been way to pre-occupied to post in these last few weeks.  But with this new semester, new lifestyle, and whatnot, I know that this is going to be a very good, new year.  

So thats your hint.  I'm not going to tell you any more, but this is going to be fun.  I'm still here, and I'm not going anywhere anytime soon =D.

xoxo

Lauren

Rice & Shine

is a funny name for hot cereal.  Thats okay, because I think it tastes awesome =D.  It's my favorite alternative to oats (which on occasion, I do eat the certified GF variety).  Rice and Shine is made by Arrowhead Mills and it's made from rice and really good.

With that said, it is the basis of my awesome cereal creation.  Ok, so it may not look breathtaking or anything, but it's cereal, and it's hot and I like it =D.

First, you need Peanut Butter.  Whatever is your favourite kind.  This happens to be mine right now.  It's amazing =D

Also, you need a bowl of freshly cooked Rice & Shine (just follow the directions on the box).

Then, if you want to add an extra yet subtle dimension to the cereal, add a tiny bit of vanilla, and you mix it all up.

Then you add the Peanut Butter, I just take a spoonful, but I think that 2 tbsp is a serving =D.

Then you mix it all up, and eat it!

Note: I find it best with a tall glass of milk, as Peanut Butter can sometimes be a tad rich in your mouth.  Any drink would work, but the milk washes it down beautifully.

Note #2: If you find the cereal a bit umm not sweet? you can always add some brown sugar, it's nice in it too =D.

So thats about all for this,

xoxo

Lauren

Peanut Butter

Is my new obsession.  I have a jar that I've had in my fridge for awhile now, and rediscovering it was amazing =D.  I've been on Nutella and Almond Butter kicks recently, but with the Nutella gone (I always eat it toooooo fast), and the Almond Butter best for making cookies or on baked goods, I dug through my fridge for the PB.

I had been having my apples with a scoop of Nutella, but I've heard many times of Peanut Butter and Apples as a great, healthy snack.  So... I tried it, and since then I haven't been able to put the jar away ever since.

I've also been eating apples like crazy lately.  I guess you can tell that Mandarin Orange season has passed =(, but at least the apples (galas being my fave) are here!

Apples and peanut butter.  What could be a more perfect combo?  Probably lots of things, but thats beside the point =D

Ooo, also I did this amazing thing for breakfast.  I had this hot cereal and added some great stuff to it... hehe, you'll have to wait to see that (I gotta make it again to take some pictures...)

Anyways, do you have any awesome ways to use peanut butter, or even just a healthy (and super easy!) snack?  I'd love to know

xoxo

Lauren

Happy New Year!

Ok, so maybe I'm a little late, but better late than never =D!  2009, I can barely believe it.  I was just getting used to 2008.  Oh well, I guess that time flies when you aren't lying on a couch all day =D.  

So, with the New Year comes new resolutions.  Most of the time, creating them just sets us up for failure.  That is why I like to only create resolutions for things that the past year has built up to.  Don't make it about something that you will never do, or you'll never do it.  So, my resolution is *big surprise!* To get into shape.  Again.  

I just want to be healthier, and getting fit will make me more energetic, and more fit.  And, with any luck, it will give me more lung capacity (with asthma running in may family, and the pneumonia that started my snowball of health problems, it would be a very good thing).  

Also, I know that simply saying that I want to do this or that is not going to get me anywhere.  I know I can, and I have the opportunities to do so.  From gym class to actually working out, I can do this.  And, of course, to keep me relaxed and to balance this all out, I am continuing Pilates.  That's my basic plan for me this year.  What are your resolutions?

xoxo

Lauren