May is Celiac Awareness month along with food allergy awareness month. Having one of these food avoidance diagnosis is difficult, and sometimes adding the second seems overwhelming. We started off with just food allergies but quickly found out that gluten was a problem. I have been free of gluten and dairy for more than 10 years. It is sometimes hard to remember what it was like to cook with wheat flour or what certain cheeses tastes like.
I am a much better baker than cook and really enjoy baking. I have a soft chocolate chip cookie recipe that I make often, so when I came across someone raving about this cookie recipe I had to try it.
During this time of Safe at Home it has been heartwarming to see the sharing and caring coming from so many companies. Even though I have never been able to partake in the the warm cookie at a DoubleTree, I was curious about the recipe. It is often the little additions that make a cookie great. This one has three things added to make it special (four if you count the nuts, but I don’t usually replace those in recipes). Cinnamon, oats, and a squeeze of lemon make the DoubleTree cookie memorable.
Gluten-Free DoubleTree Signature Cookie (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Tree nut and Peanut-Free, and Nightshade-Free)
Here in Illinois we are at the start of week 5 of social distancing. The weather has mostly been cloudy and rainy. The few nice days I have tried to get out and walk but my daily step counts have been abysmal. I have been working in my garden, and today am cleaning and roasting some dandelion roots to use in making tea. I have also been trying to grow some veggies from food scraps.
I have a few more started in water but I have run out of pots.
All of us are looking for comfort and grounding. Many have turned to working in their yard or potting plants on their balcony. I was so happy (there may have been some tears) when heard my favorite garden center would be open and delivering! One of the items on my to do list this week is to go through all my seeds and order more. I know I am out of radishes and am thankful to a neighbor who had some extras for me to use until I can order some online.
Another way many are looking for comfort is with baking. I have successfully created a gluten-free sourdough starter and am experimenting with new recipes. I have also been making some new soups. This soup is the best soup I have made in months. It will definitely become a regular in my food rotation.
Rutabagas are my go to replacement for potatoes. They do usually need to be cooked longer than the potatoes in a recipe when making the substitution
With the end of week three of social distancing I am reflecting on My 19 For COVID-19. I made a sourdough starter and am researching recipes. I am spending time with my new Turtle cat. And I am trying really hard to eat some salad everyday.
One of the things that I find hard on our avoidance diet is salad dressing. I like making salads but just greens with dressing often is hard since it seems like it should be fast and easy, but is not. One of the dressings that I make is the carrot ginger dressing you often see at sushi restaurants. Making it at home lets you control the consistency and the amount of oil in the dressing. In this recipe I often leave out the oil/water or add just a small amount of water to make it more pourable.
Enjoy this over greens, cucumbers and avocado, or a poke bowl
Place all ingredients except oil/water in a food processor and blend until smooth. slowly add water or oil until desired viscosity. I like mine very think so I usually leave out the oil/water.
Enjoy on greens with cucumbers and avocado. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds for a finished effect.
How are you doing? Are you anxious and worried. Me too. I thought I would do a post with some of the things that I hope will help me through this uncertain time.
Routines! As a Professional Organizer routines are my life blood. I felt very ungrounded the last few days, even weeks with all the swirling news and prep anxiety. Creating routines can help normalize some of what we are all about to go through. Take some time to think about the things you want to do and how your energy flows through out the day. Be flexible with yourself until you get into a flow with your new routines.
Move. Make sure to get exercise. There are great free Youtube videos, my favorite is Yoga by Adrienne. My feline Benji’s are always there to take up room on my yoga mat. I will be upping my step goal from 10K to 12K and plan on at least two walks a day.
Listen to a great podcast. Today I listened to one of my favorites, Happier with Gretchen Rubin. Here special bonus really had some great tips for being happier during this time and I plan on sharing my “19 for COVID-19” tomorrow.
Get outside and take a “green break”. Even though it is still mostly brown and gray here in Chicago (and white last night), the trees are starting to bud and the bulbs are popping up! I can’t wait to see the happy yellow daffodils everywhere.
Use technology to your advantage. I must admit that I am a luddite often when it comes to technology. But I plan on using this time to hone my video conferencing skills and facetiming someone daily.
Hygge to the rescue. I have fallen by the wayside of inviting hygge into my everyday. I have incorporated it into some of my daily routines but reminding myself that I am not watching tv while eating to enjoy my food more and feel cozy will help me to feel like I am taking care of myself.
I am trying to keep most things in my life the same. I will cook and bake. I will start to get my garden ready. I will share some great gluten-free and allergy-free foods, and I will work on some of those things that I keep pushing aside.
Yesterday was Pi day and I made Strawberry Pie for dessert. Simple traditions are sometimes the best things.
Cygnet Organizing 