Changes Afoot!

So much has happened in the last few weeks!  We have 12 new additions to the family - CHICKENS!  You must understand, that for moi to have chickens is quite a feat.  I'm a city girl.  City girls don't have chickens. 

I started warming to the idea of fine feathered friends after buying delicious farm fresh eggs from a local farmer (now a friend).  She also raises the sweetest goats you've ever seen!  Yes, goats can be cute.  Who knew!

So, this farmer friend, known affectionately around here as "the goat lady" (she corrected me with "goat diva") kept telling me how easy it was to raise chickens.  My first thought was "get to know me" but I started warming to the idea.  My hubby (also city folk) went out to her farm, saw her set up and seemed to get bitten by the farming bug...well, chicken bug.

So, 12 girls later with four more on the way this week, we are official.

More changes are also afoot!  I'm moving the blog to Word Press and bought the (dot) com to my BIG FAT grain free life.  We'll have this site still up, but I hope you will check out the new and improved site!

Thanks so much for staying tuned and being so supportive!

Baby, Baby, Baby, Baby Oh-Oh Baby....

You'd have be a Karen Carpenter fan, either listen to retro music or be born in the 1970s to get the humor behind my post title...

Since my BIG FAT life is centered around a little 8 1/2 month old diva right now, I thought I'd do a little post about what I'm up to my elbows in - baby food!  

In an attempt to save some time, I'm taking an hour or two each week to make a big batch of baby food.  I try to make something orange (either butternut squash or steamed carrots) and green (steamed green beans, spinach and/or Swiss Chard), and then mix them together at feeding time. These cute little two-ounce containers I got from Babies R Us make it a pinch to freeze ahead AND they're BPA and Phthalate free.  

My recipe-ish follows at the end of this post.  PLEASE don't let these recipes take the place of your pediatrician's recommendations for your kiddos.  My baby tolerates cashew milk well, but ask your doctor before giving ANY nut milks to your babies...(whew, I feel better now).

Butternut Squash Baby Food

Ingredients:

1 butternut squash

couple of spoonfuls (or is it spoons-ful?) of ghee

cashew milk

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375F.  Line oven rack with aluminum foil. Prick squash in several places.  Bake until a knife or fork easily slides into squash.

Remove squash and carefully cut in half.  Scoop out seeds.  Scoop squash innards (love that word) into food processor.  Process with ghee and enough cashew milk to desired thickness.

Spinach/Swiss Chard Baby Food

Ingredients:

large package spinach

2 bunches Swiss Chard

extra virgin olive oil

ghee

cashew milk

Instructions:

Wash and coarsely chop spinach and Swiss Chard.  Heat a saute pan to medium.  When hot, add a few swirls of olive oil.  Add spinach and Swiss Chard and stir.  Cover pan and allow to steam until soft.  Keep checking so it doesn't get too dry.  Add water if needed.

Drain greens in a colander and press with the back of a wooden spoon.  Add to food processor along with 1-2 scoops of  ghee and cashew milk to desired consistency.

Mangia baby! 

 

Time to come out of the closet...

l started this blog to encourage other people struggling with bowel diseases (or those cooking for family members living this struggle), by adding some recipes to the grain free or SCD recipe pot. 

My intention was not to philosophize, vent, or brood about life (although I can occasionally heave a deep sigh over not having a flaky pastry in quite awhile).  I realize I can't change the world with a blog or be a voice that many will hear.  My intention has just been to offer recipes and share my love of food... while being myself.  (A little whacky but still a babe with great hair - JUST KIDDING.)

My readership has grown (thanks for reading, Mom) and I feel it's time to get a little personal.  Maybe my musing is due to a SHOCKING birthday which passed back in January (at which time we were also blessed with our third child).  I'm sleeping a little better now and my thoughts have caught up with me.

The sad truth is:  I'm old and am trying not to don't care what everyone thinks anymore.  Does anyone else out there get terrible back, leg and hip pain from all of the standing in the kitchen?  I mean, seriously, it's plagued me for years.  I've tried all kinds of different shoes, hoping more support would help, but it all ended with going to bed in throbbing pain and four ibuprofen...

About a year ago, I finally found a solution I could live with, though I wanted to keep it as hush-hush as possible.  Why?  Because I'm vain.  That's just the truth.  I don't want to admit I'm old, having aches and pains, AND I don't want to admit the solution.

That said, I'm coming out of the closet people.  Please don't judge me.

I.  WEAR.  BIRKENSTOCK. SANDALS.  Not the cute clogs that famous chefs wear, mind you. The sandals. Wow, getting that off my chest...hasn't helped me a bit. I'm still embarrassed.  

In fact, I refer to them as "my ugly shoes".  On occasion, I bellow from the kitchen, "Kids!  Will you please run and get my ugly shoes?".  They know just the contraptions I'm talking about, too.  

At first, I thought, "I'll wear them in secret. No one has to know about it."  But, then come friends popping by (I forget I have the shoes on) OR trips to the store where I've actually forgotten to change shoes, only to realize it after it's too late.  My husband got quite a chuckle watching a greeter at Wal-Mart do a double-take at my shoes as I walked by.  AT WAL-MART!?! - Where people shop in pajamas and slippers!?!

I will say this though:  back, hip and leg pain gone.  I'm not a spokesperson for Birkenstocks and get no kickback whatsoever for posting this.  But the shoes have helped me tremendously.  Can't someone get with the Birkenstock peeps and offer design suggestions like an espadrille heel with a little grosgrain ribbon or something?  After all of the "What Not to Wear" shows that have gone around, you'd think we'd have the technology to do that.

I'll end with saying I'm so thankful not to be in excruciating pain anymore.  But I still won't wear them in public if I can help it...

So I have fat Italian feet, what of it?

The Package Has Been Delivered!!

Meet our new little bundle of joy!

BIG F A T waiting...

Today is pretty monumental.  We're supposed to bring home our little bundle as soon as it's "official".  (BIG F A T sigh) 

This all seems very surreal to me.  It's been a 5 1/2 year wait and I almost don't know what to do with myself.  Did I get too used to waiting?

Will I remember how to do all of this baby stuff? It's been awhile and I'm (ahem) a little older than last time.  Oh, and I happen to love sleeping...

All that off my chest, we're VERY excited and appreciate your thoughts and prayers during all of this.  I'll keep you posted as I can.

I want to mention a wonderful dinner I tried yesterday.  We've been running back and forth to the hospital so much, I've not been able to share a meal with my kids.  I saw this wonderful recipe for Roasted Leek and Mushroom Pork Chops from Amber at The Tasty Alternative and really, really wanted to try it.

I threw it together at lunchtime yesterday and snarfed it down before leaving for the hospital to see the baby.  This meal came together quickly, only took 20-30 minutes to cook, AND was delish.

Amber posted the recipe with a yummy-looking applesauce.  I didn't try it, (sorry Amber) but just peeled some organic Braeburn apples, threw them in a pot with some water and cooked them up.  At the end, I sprinkled cinnamon and stirred.

These chops will definitely be one of our regulars for dinner. 

My BIG F A T Life...

I'm feeling a little Deja vu right about now.   See this post to be brought up to speed.  (See Part II and Part III for the BIG F A T skinny.)

So, I'm up on the labor and delivery floor waiting for our third child to be born by someone else - a very brave someone else.

I'm not going to blog about food today...except to say that dairy free Vegan Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream from The Tasty Alternative would calm my nerves.  I must also say that I have an extremely patient husband who listened carefully while I just took a full five minutes to explain how to order and fix my iced coffee from Panera. 

I'm at a loss for words today...which, you've probably already guessed...is very rare for the likes of me.  We're waiting with anticipation, hope, excitement and yet, at the same time, are guarding our hearts.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.  

I'd Like to Thank the Academy....

Ok, so forgive the title of this post, but you can take the girl out the Thespian Club, but you can't take the Thespian Club out of the girl...

An amazing fellow blogger, Allie, of Souper Douper SCDer, has just graciously chosen me for the Liebster Blog Award! 

I don't think I've ever gotten an award before.  Wait!  I take that back!  In my pre-grain-free days I won a pie contest at church and was named reigning "Pie Queen".  (A probable self-title, but I did show up next year in a tiara and sash that humbly exhibited this title in silver glitter.  True story.)

Anyhoo, the Liebster Blog Award is bestowed upon bloggers who have less than 200 followers in the hopes of broadening their audiences.  The nominees, should they choose to accept (but who wouldn't?), then nominate five other bloggers.  What a nice way to spread bloggy cheer and encourage support between fellow bloggers.  AND, what a great way to learn about others' stories, inspiration and what we all want more of:  RECIPES!

I am humbled and honored to be chosen for this wonderful award.  Thank you, Allie, from the bottom of my big fat grain free heart. 

Reading about the paths that others have forged in educating themselves, planning and preparing gut-friendly foods for themselves and their families has been such an encouragement to me to "keep on keepin' on".  I have to admit, it's difficult sometimes.  It takes time to plan and prepare foods for specific dietary needs, to resist buying prepackaged foods for quick meals, to think of more ways to be creative with white navy beans...BUT the rewards are priceless. 

The five blogs I've nominated for the Liebster Blog Award are listed below.  Please check out these creative and inspiring bloggers.  You will be blessed and encouraged by doing so. 

    KateAlice Cookbook

    The Gluten-Free 'Dish'

    Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog
    Funky Food - Feeding Kids Allergic to Food

    farmgirldiet

For nominated bloggers:

Here's what to do if you choose to accept your nomination.

  1.  Link back to the person who awarded you.

  2.  Nominate five other blogs for the award.

  3.  Inform the five bloggers by leaving a comment on their blog.

  4.  Post the award on your blog.

Share the bloggy love!

Life, Baking Pans, and Other Sundry Things...

I recently enjoyed a wonderful vacation with my family in Black Mountain, North Carolina.  It was fun (hiking and apple picking), beautiful (mountains, colorful foliage and cool weather - sigh) AND we found some neat places to go that I wanted to share with you.

I'm baking a lot of grain free things these days and don't normally like to cook out of aluminum.  As much as possible, I use glass bakeware, but sometimes have to resort to an aluminum baking pan.  While shopping in the charming town of Black Mountain, NC, we strolled into one of my favorite stores, The Common Housefly.  Their tagline is "toy store for the food conscious".  My kina peeps, know what I mean?

The Common Housefly is a foodie's haven carrying high quality cookware, bakeware, utensils, and lovely loose leaf tea and tea gadgets. While perusing the store, I found this baking pan made by USA Pans and toyed with getting one.  It was such a nice and heavy pan and was coated with something, yet not a Teflon-type surface.  Low and behold, it's made of aluminized steel (65% of the steel is recycled) and coated with an environmentally friendly silicone that is free of PTFE's or PFOA's.  Still having some concerns about aluminum leaching into our food, I contacted the company to ask about it.  Michelle of USA Pans told me that the silicone coating - Americoat - provides a protective barrier which would prevent the aluminum from leaching into the food as long as the coating doesn't get scratched.  She said it's very important to use silicone utensils to serve out of the pans (I flip my baked goods out.) AND don't use abrasives when cleaning the pan.  (There's no need, mild soap and water did the trick quite nicely.)

Anyhoo, I bought the 9" round pan and baked banana cake in it.  I wouldn't have believed the difference a baking pan could make!  I am absolutely sold.  The corrugated bottom of the pan allows air to circulate and bake more evenly than traditional pans.  I noticed a huge difference in the texture and color of this banana cake as opposed to any I've made previously.  And - I greased the pan, but used no parchment just to see how it would release.  The cake released without any problem.

Using grain alternatives in baking can be tricky, yet this pan made it, well, a piece of cake!

OK -onto more lovelies...balsamic vinegar to die for and ICE CREAM!  Whilst strolling through the adorable town of Biltmore Village, we found a charming, locally-owned establishment called The Tree & Vine specializing in the most wonderful imported olive oils and vinegars I have ever tasted in my life.  I'm Italian and I'm serious.  THE BEST.  I've been making salad with their traditional balsamic (the fig balsamic was another favorite) and my whole family (except a cute minor that couldn't care less about oil or vinegar) tastes the difference.

We're not only indebted to The Tree & Vine for opening our palates to wonderful oils and vinegars - they also recommended a local ice cream shop called The Hop Ice Cream Cafe that makes out-of-this-world homemade ice cream daily- AND - they make non dairy and even vegan options for people with sensitivities. 

Because of our daughter's food sensitivities and tummy trouble, ice cream is simply OUT.  To be able to walk into an ice cream shop on vacation and order a delicious, creamy treat that our girlie can have is a wonderful thing.  It was a joy to see her eyes light up with excitement and go into dramatics over the deliciousness of this ice cream.  (I'm not sure where she gets that...)

The first time we went, she had chocolate ice cream made with coconut milk.  I tasted it and am dead serious when I say you could not tell it was dairy free.  Our second trip, she chose their vanilla latte ice cream made with almond milk.  She could NOT get over this flavor that tasted like a special coffee drink.  She was beside herself.  

My ice cream of choice?  The full-dairy salted caramel...I can't GET OVER THE DELICIOUSNESS OF THIS ICE CREAM!!!  (Uh oh.)

The Lord gives and the Lord takes away...Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Psalm 34:17-19 (ESV)

  The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,

  And delivers them out of all their troubles.

  The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,

  And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

  Many are the afflictions of the righteous,

  But the Lord delivers him out of them all.

I briefly mentioned in a recent post some details of what has been happening in our lives these past three to four weeks.

Long story short, my husband and I have been trying to adopt for several years.  We got word about four weeks ago that we had been "picked" by a birth mother who was due in three weeks.

As much as I would have loved for this child to be the newest addition to our family, God had another plan - a plan that yielded many tears, yet one we believe and trust has been ordained by His hand and, therefore, for our good. (Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.)  NKJV

God never promised us a pain-free life.  But over and over He states through His Word that He wants to carry our burdens.  He wants us to come to Him in prayer and pour out our hearts.

Psalm 55:22 says, "Cast your burden on the Lord and He will sustain you..." and,

1 Peter 5:7 says, "...casting all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." (ESV, emphasis added)

Matthew Henry states in his commentary on Psalm 55:22:

"Care is a burden; it makes the heart stoop (Proverbs 12:25); we must cast it upon God by faith and prayer, commit our way and works to Him; let Him do as seemeth Him good, and we will be satisfied.  To cast our burden upon God is to stay ourselves on His providence and promise and to be very easy in the assurance that all shall work for good.  If we do so, it is promised...That He will sustain us, both support and supply us, will Himself carry us in the arms of His power, as the nurse carries the sucking-child, will strengthen our spirits so by His Spirit as that they shall sustain the infirmity.  He has not promised to free us immediately from that trouble which gives rise to our cares and fears; but He will provide that we be not tempted above what we are able, and that we shall be able according as we are tempted."  Henry, Matthew (2010).  Unabridged Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (best Kindle navigation) (Kindle Locations 105983-105989), OSNOVA.  Kindle Edition.

I want to thank everyone for their prayers throughout this whole situation and for kind words of encouragement.  

Most of all, I would like to thank our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for never leaving nor forsaking us, sustaining us through trials, deepening our faith, girding us up these past months with excellent teaching on the providence of God, (Pastor Carl Robbins, Woodruff Road PCA) and countless other specific ways He has been faithful and merciful to my family and me. 

May God be glorified in all things.

Making the Switch

Lexie from one of my favorite websites, Lexie's Kitchen, has been featuring people/families every Friday in her series called "Making the Switch" modeled after chef and author Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution on ABC.  The families she features have made dietary changes from processed to whole foods.

The stories have been very encouraging and inspiring.  I hope our story helps someone out there who might be undergoing similar trials with their little ones...