Gluten Free on a Budget

I love that there are more gluten free products (every day, it seems)...but, they all come at a cost.  The cost of better ingredients can be daunting, especially for frugal moms like me!

Here are a handful of pointers that might help:

I have made my own pizza crust (thank you, "Healthy Breads in Five Minutes a Day"); but, when I don't have a few hours to let it rise, the next best thing is, "Pamela's Bread Mix" (also for pizza crust and bagels and more).  There are a few different Pamela's products (I get mine from Kroger); so, be sure it is the one for pizza crust.  We recently tried it and it is about half the price of buying Udi's crusts (for the same quantity of pizza, you would need 2, 2-paks of Udi's).  Be careful when baking though...the 2 times I have made this, it takes much less time to cook than it notes on the package.  Another money saver:  I also make my own sauce...almost always...it takes like a minute (I buy the Private Selection Organic canned tomatoes from Kroger) and is always super yummy.  I always start with olive oil, then fresh garlic, then tomatoes, then salt (sometimes I add basil and/or oregano, fresh or dry, to taste)...whizzed by my handy dandy immersion blender (or, with a potato masher when we are on vacation and there isn't one!)

I always buy dried beans and rice, cook them and freeze them in batches.  They taste so much better and are much, much cheaper!

I try to always find gluten free bread on sale and stock the freezer!  I do the same with waffles and the like.  But, bread is what I buy the most...the other stuff, I prefer to make from scratch. 

I find the store/s that sell the products I like (sometimes online) at the best regular price and get it when I am there.  If I happen to find my favorites on sale, I always stock up.

I have lots of recipes within my blog that are gluten and/or dairy free and I like to find recipes and inspiration for new ingredients on others' blogs, too.

For nuts and dried fruit (usually plums and cranberries), and freeze-dried fruit (no sugar, easy to take anywhere, awesomely delicious), we stock up at Trader Joe's.  They keep adding to their gluten free cache.  They also sell unrefined coconut oil for an outrageously low price (perfect for granola or raw cookies or anything, really).  They have gf pasta for less than most places and it is delish!  They also sell Udi's bread there for about a dollar less than other grocery stores.

That is all I can think of for now.  Do you want to share any ideas?  My youngest brother and his family are going to try going gluten free to see if it helps their allergies!  Say a little prayer.  Frugally good eating!

Let's Talk about the Naturopathic Doctor!

I took my father to see a Naturopathic Doctor a couple of weeks ago.  My dad had a stroke in 2008 and has dementia, high blood pressure, diabetes, glaucoma and a few other things.  But, since getting him off about 6 medications recently, I have seen a drastic improvement in his health.  Even though I already knew the benefits of healing outside the pharmaceutical/chemical world, I was not sure my dad could still be helped.

I am now more optimistic.  This doctor assessed my Dad's health and prescribed a probiotic because he has a build up of yeast in his body.  She recommended a gluten free and dairy free diet (also, no sugar and very little meat) so that his body can focus on healing, which she said IS POSSIBLE.  It is possible to heal blocked arteries, high blood pressure, diabetes, cataracts (and lots of other things!) just by changing your diet!  She recommended organic whenever possible to minimize any chemicals interfering with natural body functions (including personal care products...remember what goes ON our bodies still goes IN!).  She said Dad has a build up of trans fats in his body which need to be minimized by increasing his consumption of vegetables (raw is best, steamed is next, roasted is next...after that, there are not many nutrients left).  Fortunately, we already do many of these things...we just had to take it to the next level.

After he is on this diet for a couple of months, she wants to work on reducing the metals in his body that are furthering his dementia.  When we reduce the metals, we can slow it down.

I look forward to keeping you posted on his progress.  I like learning more about how to care for my dad because it also helps me take better care of myself and the rest of my family!

Gluten Free Dairy Free Banana Cake ROCKS

This is a recipe from glutenfreegoddess.com; but, we put different frosting on it.  My boys and my dad helped make it ...and, it still turned out totally awesome! :)  Loved it.  I promise you will, too.

1 1/2 cups almonds

1/2 cup brown rice flour (sub your fave)

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon Apple Pie Spice (a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice)  add more or less for spiciness

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

2 large organic eggs

1/3 cup light olive oil

2 T. honey or raw organic agave nectar (we used honey)

1 1/3 cups organic light brown sugar (We have put in as little as 1/3 of a cup and it is still amazing...we might try not adding any sugar...just a little honey goes a long way!)

4 medium (not too big) very ripe bananas, cut up and mashed into puree

2 teaspoons bourbon vanilla extract

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Prep a 9 x 13 baking pan by lining it with greased parchment (I butter the pan, put in parchment, then butter the parchment..."butter" being, organic Earth Balance)

Process the almonds in food processor by pulsing on and off until a fine almond meal is formed. Pour the almond meal into a dry mixing bowl.  Add the rest of the dry ingredients and whisk to combine.

In a separate bowl beat the eggs and add the rest of the wet ingredients. Beat well. I just used a spoon...I don't like to use more than one "machine" per recipe.

Add the dry ingredients into the wet. Blend well (2 minutes).

Pour the batter into prepared pan and bake in preheated oven for 33 to 35 minutes until done.  Check the center with a wooden toothpick.

Cool the cake completely on a wire rack before frosting.

For the frosting, I just wiped out the food processor (from the almonds) and blended the following:

1 small banana (yellow/brown, just ripe)

1 1/2 cups organic powdered sugar

1/4 t. lemon juice

2 T. organic Earth Balance and 1 T. coconut oil (sub any combo)

It was super yummy drizzled over the top of this moist, delicious (like pudding!) cake.

Read more: http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/2006/01/frosted-banana-cake.html#ixzz1t1cgS29E

Gluten Free Dairy Free Brownies

I have been tinkering with brownie recipes ever since I found out I was sensitive to gluten.  This one is by far the best!

1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
5 T unsweetened cocoa powder
1 c. brown sugar
1/2 t. sea salt
2 eggs
1/2 c. almond flour
1/4 c. coconut flour
optional chocolate chips (we added) and/or nuts

Mix all in a bowl, spread into an 8x8 pan, put in preheated 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.  Cool, cut and serve!

Paradigm Shift

My husband and I have always used what is termed, "positive discipline", in modern parenting books.  Having said that, let me also say that we are not perfect and have resorted to other (er, negative) methods when we were at the end of our rope.  Generally though, we have tried anything but the infliction of pain.  We believe that it sets a poor example and we feel it was used on us (as children) out of frustration, not thoughtful redirection.

However, our oldest son has been saying, "no more punishments!" (such as getting his Legos taken away or time to himself in his room) for awhile now.  And, we had been reluctant (but still open) to try it.  We want to teach our children to recognize, express and manage their feelings on their own.  We believe this skill will enable them to handle whatever life throws at them as they become more independent.

Then, in church on Sunday, inspiration struck (it happens!) and my husband and I discussed "no more punishments!" when we got home and implemented it that day.  Since then, my children aren't fighting back.  They are doing things when asked and without being asked.  They are being more thoughtful.  We say that it is "OK to be angry; but, it is not OK to be mean".  They aren't being AS mean.  I don't know where this will go or how long it will last; but, I like this new direction.  We are open.  The most amazing things come from our children.

One of My Greatest Joys

This morning, my youngest son awoke long before 6 and wanted to get up; so, I did.  We came downstairs in the pitch black so that we did not wake up anyone else.  Then, we sat on the sofa and snuggled (which he usually resists); and, soon he was back to sleep.  I was afraid to move and wake him; but, I got comfortable and watched him sleep until the sun and everyone else awoke. 

That is one of my greatest joys...to marvel at my children sleeping...to be able to comfort them and hold them in my arms.  I love them dearly.

When he roused again, he happily popped up and said, "Where's my brother?".  Maybe he was playing with his brother in his dreams.

Forgiveness Fell on Me

I had been reading about the process of forgiveness.  I was working through some things for which I did not know I had to forgive my father.  I was upset with both my parents; but, my father is the one living with me...the one in my care...the one I see every day...the one whom I have now forgiven.

There was no process.  No working through it. 

Some advice rattled around my head, though.  I read, "Forgiveness is about you.  It is not about them."  I know/knew my dad is/was not capable of even recognizing the need, let alone remembering the deeds (I believe that is good...now).  In case you don't remember, my dad had a stroke in 2008, which left him with very little memory of the last 30 years...and, dementia.  How could I not have already forgiven him?  I felt awful.  Then, forgiveness fell on me.

I watched my dad have a "mini-stroke".  That was awful.  I was scared--not sure if it was for me or for him.  I may have been thinking, "how could I let him die without forgiving him?"  I was not conscious of those thoughts.  I was too busy yelling out to my unresponsive father that I love him...while crying...and, yelling for my husband to call the paramedics.

My dad has been home for a little over a week.  It has been hard; but, yesterday, I felt happy.  It must be relief from not carrying around that baggage anymore.  Thank you, God.