Thursday, April 29, 2010

If you have tried to email me of late and have gotten no response I am not ignoring you. My email lets me know that I have 29 messages but will not let me access them.

Sorry ya'll

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Gluten Free Wednesdays

If you are looking for quick frozen meals for yourself try Amy's. Most, not all, are very tasty and it's nice to have something in the freezer for days I just can't think of anything gluten free to make myself.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Dear Donna

My sister-in-law has a blog for me, called Dear Dee. So this post is for her. (By the way, she is one of my favorite people. LOADS of fun and laughs but really loyal and loving.)

Dynamite Donna,

Ben would like your recipe for the bread you made today! He wants to eat a loaf by himself. No sharing with little mouths.

Thanks
Dee

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

memories

I have been thinking about my great-grandmother, Louise Deffenbacher, (can’t sound more German then that) a lot lately. We went and saw my parents last Saturday and mom let me borrow a book called The Shell Seekers. Mom thought her grandmother had given the book to her and later I found a slip of paper explaining why she sent the book to my mom. It was lovely to see my great grandma’s words again. It was like she was right there. I did not grow up with a lot of extended family around me. Or, I should say, I was not close to either of my grandparent sets. But I adored my great-grandma Louise. She lived in the town next to ours as a small child and I have great memories of visiting her cute two story house, eating strawberries with powdered sugar, going through her junk drawer she made just for her grandkids, and taking naps up stairs. She was a lover of books and chocolate. She always looked old and never seemed to age. She really was the best. She then moved to New Jersey to be with her daughter and would visit for a week once a year until she died my eighth grade year. We would take her to the county fair, do word searches together and just catch up. We used to fight over who got to take her breakfast in her room. She would always miss place her eyeglasses and Danette and I would hunt for them.
I loved her.
I used to really dislike my middle name. I thought “Louise” sounded so old fashioned. Now that I am older I am honored to have a bit of her always with me. I was a bit saddened when I read that note left to my mom. For one I didn’t keep the letters she sent me. And, for another, no one writes letters anymore. I would love for my kids to look back someday at a letter given to them by their grandparents and be reminded of what they sounded like, how they felt about things. The Internet can do some great things but a hand written snail mailed letter is special. Really special.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Gluten Free Wednesday on Thursday

Last week I tried Kinnikinnick bread mix for the second time hoping that I did something wrong the first time. Nope, the second time it tasted as bad as the first time. (And smells worse then it tastes.) I threw away those mixes and went in search of a new bread mix. I ordered 6 boxes of Gluten Free Pantry Favorite Sandwich Bread mix from Amazon.com last week and yesterday in came in the mail. I could not wait to try this bread. My mom makes it for my dad and he likes it and the reviews are all very good. So last night I went and bought meat and cheese and am so excited to try a sandwich later today. But this morning I made the bread.

I had read the reviews to not use the bread machine as the dough does not seem to rise right. I also read that the yeast that comes in this box may be old. I happened to have an extra at home and decided to use that instead of the one that came with it. I took pictures along the way to show you and am pleased to say that I had a piece of bread with butter and honey. I will be honest and say I was hoping for more but it was good. Great texture, feels like bread, smells good, but just a bit plain. I may add some spices next time. It also has a raisin bread recipe on the back of the box I may try sometime. But I think that with sandwich makings it will work great.



Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Books

I have been looking for a new book to read for a few weeks. Nothing sounds like something I want to read right now. But yesterday I looked at my stack of unread books and told myself to just read what I have. I need to make that stack smaller and clear them out. My room is getting too full of BOOKS, they take up a lot of space! So last night I started Beautiful Boy by David Sheff. I got it last year when I heard the book club I used to be in was reading it. Unfortunately it never seemed like a book I wanted to read at any given time. I knew it would be sad and I just wasn't willing to go there yet.

I recommend everyone read this book.

It is a true story written by a dad whose son is a drug, preferably meth, and alcohol addict. I don't know anyone with this addiction. I don't know that I really learned anything from this read BUT I do know Meth is becoming a very real problem in The Canyon and I think knowing a bit more about it helps me feel compassion and love for people with this disease. My heart hurt when both the father and son said they did not belive in God or any "higher power." They have gone through earthly hell and still cannot see the Truth.

Nic Sheff, the son, has recently put out a book titled Tweak: Growing Up On Methamphetamines. It his view on his life. I am interested to read his take on the same events.

I still have a stack of books to read. None are at all interesting to me anymore. Some I have started and been unable to finish, some I can't remember what made me buy them. But I am determined to clear that stack so I have to just pick one. Wish me Luck!

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Gluten-free Wednesdays

Going on vacation? Summer is coming and the thought of traveling and trying to eat gluten-free foods every day in restaurants can be daunting.

But there is good news. There is one company that stands out from the rest when it comes to meeting peoples dietary needs.

Disney locations are known to be THE place to vacation while your eating is limited. All you have to do is go to Disneyworld.com website and click on the CONTACTUS link. You will then note your food allergies and they will send you a list of foods and locations that are safe for your particular allergy. You can also list your dining reservations numbers and they will alert your chefs before you even get there! Once you arrive the Chef will come out and walk you through the menu helping you figure out what you can and cannot have to eat. They will do their best to make sure you get to eat great foods but safe foods. If you have any more questions about allergies at Disney World you can contact WDW.Special.Diets@disney.com.

I have been to DisneyWorld twice but neither time was I eating gluten free. I cannot wait to be able to go back and not worry about eating out. Eating out used to be fun for me but now the idea jut sounds hard. I am glad to know I can go on vacation with my kids at a place where I won't have to really even think about if the foods are safe or not. Thank you Disney!