Birthday Week and Biscuits

Sorry for the delay, but the semester is coming to a dramatic finish, and I am suffocating in work! Both school and not-school related, my life is exploding with things to occupy my time, thoughts, and kitchen, believe it or not. Though I've never been known to be a hypochondriac, I may be exhibiting tendencies, as lately I'm convinced gluten is giving me a plethora of problems.

Since middle school it has been known that I have an intolerance for lactose, and subsequently I stopped drinking milk and eating cheese even before I stopped eating meat. I never considered gluten as being one of the culprits for my intestinal problems. Back in middle school, after a visit to the doctor and decision to end the dairy, everything was great. I even remember just a few days after I stopped consuming dairy, and I felt one thousand times better. For a year or so, I was fine. However the pain started coming back, this time just randomly. (previously I was in pain everyday, every time I ate). Now I was experiencing abdominal pain, but for no logical reason, and with no consistency. That's how things have been, except for the past 2 months I have kept a food diary.

I think no matter what your situation, keeping a food diary is a great way to just know yourself (in my diary I noted down any pain experienced). It is definitely fantastic for anyone looking to shed a few pounds, because the sheer fact of realizing what you eat in a day is sometimes horrifying. I found it to be wonderful just because I was mindful of everything I ate, and every time I ate. However I am still unable to notice a pattern that will let me declare "gluten gives me pain."

One thing I did notice is Chinese take-out, without fail, causes me severe pain. I am definitely looking to make home-made veggie lo-mien.

Tonight, I made biscuits. Entirely full-of-gluten biscuits, because the look and sound so yummy. And they are. It is an extremely simple recipe I found on the back of the baking powder tin. Yet here I sit, with stomach cramps.

So! Because of my theorizing, and the intrigue of a gluten-free diet, I have proposed that I will limit my gluten intake. For the time being I'm not going to cut it out entirely, as it is rather pervasive in my house and I have evidence that it does cause my problems, all the time.

Thursday this week is my birthday. Though we have the Babycakes cookbook, I'm not sure if I'll be able to make one of their fabulous vegan cakes! I am still having difficultly procuring some of the ingredients they use, particularly xanathan gum and coconut flour. However I'm considering finding substitutes for these products, and just rolling with the results. Hah.

The good news is, my parents treated me to a camera as a birthday present! Though I picked it out last night, I won't be able to open it until Thursday. But I assure you, there will be pictures of whatever kind of cake I get my hands on. =]

<3 -K

Banana Brownies

So it is Easter Monday, and today I had a proper Easter dinner. The actual Easter was taken up by work for me, and work for my mother, as she was babysitting my baby cousin. Tonight however, my family (mom, dad, sister, her friend, and Mum-mum) sat down for an assortment of foods. Pasta and asparagus, sweet and white potatoes, carrots and parsnips, a salad, and "Gardein Chick Scallopini."

Though I'm not a total advocate for faux meat products, I have to admit the brand new Gardein products are A+. They taste great and are comprised of mostly wheat gluten, making them essentially seitan. I know some vegans are up in arms about faux meat, but here is how I see it:

I want everyone to eat less meat. If a product the looks like real meat, and maybe has a reminiscent flavor, gets people to eat less meat, I am all for it. Many of my friends who are not vegan or vegetarian enjoy faux meat products. Some have even claimed that they would substitute a soy product for meat in their meals. I say "hooray!"

Personally I'd rather eat whole fruits and veggies. Anyway...back to Easter Monday. I like parsnips and I don't understand how anyone can think they aren't good. They taste like what I would expect the Earth to taste like, if I could taste "the Earth."

Now that everyone has left the house and my trombone playing buddy is stopping over, I made brownies! These come from Vegan with a Vengeance, by Isa Chandra Moskowitz. They are called "Banana Split Brownies." I made them once before, complete with her delicious gooey banana topping. Tonight however, I just made the brownies. Partly because I don't have any extremely ripe bananas, and partly because I'm lazy.

Next time you have super ripe bananas lying around, and you have NO CLUE what to do with them...MAKE BROWNIES!

<3
-K