One Life

Pork Fried Rice

2010-12-16T20:26:00.000-08:00

I started my new salicylate elimination diet today, but I still managed to make a pretty satisfying and tasty meal. Fried rice has always been one of my favorite things, but leaving soy sauce out of the recipe can leave the finished product a little bland. I have recently been using fish sauce more and decided to try it for a little kick in my fried rice. The result was really good--tasty, but not over-powering.

Pork Fried Rice
3/4 c brown rice
2 Tbsp sesame oil
1 tsp fish sauce
1/2 medium onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, thinly sliced on the diagonal
2 thin cut pork chops, sliced into strips
8 - 12 spears asparagus, chopped into 1" pieces
a handful of bean sprouts
a splash of fresh lime juice
salt to taste

1. Cook the rice according to package directions. This can be done up to 2-3 days in advance.
2. Heat the sesame oil in a skillet or wok on high heat. Add the onion and celery, and cook, stirring frequently, for 2 to 3 minutes.
3. Add the pork strips, and cook until no longer pink.
4. Toss in the asparagus and bean sprouts. Stir fry another 2-3 minutes.
5. Add the rice, fish sauce, and lime juice. Stir fry until heated through. Season with salt to taste.

Salicylate Elimination Diet

2010-12-16T14:17:00.000-08:00

Salicylates are chemicals that occur naturally in many plants acting as a natural immune hormone and preservative, protecting the plants against diseases, insects, fungi, and harmful bacteria. Salicylates are also created synthetically and are a major ingredient in pain-relieving medications like aspirin. It has recently come to my attention that many foods contain salicylates, and given my severe allergy to aspirin, I have decided to remove these foods from my diet for a time to see if my health improves.

Considering my already limited diet, this poses some challenges for consuming enough calories on a daily basis. The following is a list of all of the foods I can eat for the next 3 weeks.

Fruits	Banana, lime, pear - peeled, apple - golden delicious only, papaya
Veggies	Asparagus, bamboo, bean sprouts, beans - dried, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, chives, leek, lentils - brown or red, lettuce - iceburg, onion, shallots
Nuts, Seeds & Oils	Cashews, hazelnuts, pecans, poppy seeds, safflower oil, sunflower oil
Grains	Buckwheat, millet, rice
Meat	Beef, chicken, lamb, pork, salmon, turkey, white fish
Misc	Arrowroot, cocoa, fennel - dried, garlic, maple syrup, parsley, rice flour, saffron, salt, sugar, tapioca

If anyone has any suggestions for recipes including only these ingredients, please let me know!

Homemade Pho

2010-12-13T23:02:00.000-08:00

There are almost as many pho (Vietnamese noodle soup, pronounced "fuh") places as there are coffee places in Seattle, so needless to say, people here like their pho. On a rainy winter day, few things are as appealing as a hot bowl of sweet and spicy noodle soup. With the record-breaking rainy weather we have been having here, I decided to make my own pho to satisfy my craving.

Although the recipe takes a little while to put together and requires a few non-standard pantry items, it is well worth the effort.

Pho
Broth
1 onion, halved
2" piece of ginger, halved lengthwise
2-3 lbs of beef bones, preferably leg and knuckle
3 quarts of water
1/2 cinnamon stick
1/2 tbsp coriander seeds
1/2 tbsp fennel seeds
2 whole star anise
1 cardamom pod
3 whole cloves
3/4 tbsp salt
2 tbsp fish sauce
3 tsp sugar

The Fixin's
1 lb rice noodles
1/2 lb flank steak, london broil, sirloin or eye of round, sliced as thin as possible
4-5 basil stems
1 lime, cut into wedges
1 jalapeno, sliced
2 big handfuls of bean sprouts

Preparation
1. Turn your broiler on high and move rack to the highest spot. Place ginger and onions on baking sheet. Brush just a bit of cooking oil on the cut side of each. Broil on high until ginger and onions begin to char. Turn over and continue to char. This should take a total of 10-15 minutes.
2. Fill large pot with water. Bring the water to a boil, then add the bones, keeping the heat on high. Boil vigorously for 10 minutes. Drain, rinse the bones and rinse out the pot. Refill pot with the bones and the 3 qts of cool water. Bring to boil over high heat and lower to simmer. Using a ladle or a fine mesh strainer, remove any scum that rises to the top.
3. Place the cinnamon stick, coriander seeds, fennel seeds, star anise, cardamom pod and the cloves into a mesh spice bag.
4. Add ginger, onion, spice bag, sugar, fish sauce, salt and simmer uncovered for 2 - 3 hours. Strain broth and return the broth to the pot. Taste broth and adjust seasoning - If the broth isn't flavorful enough yet, add 1 teaspoon more of fish sauce, a large pinch of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of sugar. Keep doing this until the broth tastes perfect.
5. Slice your flank/london broil/sirloin as thin as possible - freeze for 15 minutes prior to slicing to make it easier. Arrange all other ingredients on a platter for the table. Your guests will assemble their own bowls. Follow the directions on your package of rice noodles.
6. Bring your broth back to a boil. Line up your soup bowls next to the stove. Fill each bowl with rice noodles and raw meat slices. As soon as the broth comes back to a boil, ladle into each bowl. The hot broth will cook your raw beef slices. Serve immediately. Guests can garnish their own bowls as they wish with the bean sprouts, lime wedges, basil and jalapeno slices.

Tips
- For people without my crazy food allergies, add a bit of hoisin sauce and Sriracha hot sauce for added flavor.

Wednesday 6/2

2010-06-02T11:25:00.001-07:00

Forever 21 tee. Turquoise Boutique jeans. Katie & Kelly shoes.

Tuesday 6/1

2010-06-01T11:29:00.001-07:00

Getting dressed the last few days before vacation is really hard. I don't want to wear anything that I want to take with me, so I end up digging through the "other end" of my closet.

Turquoise Boutique jeans and tee. BCBG shoes.

Monday 5/31

2010-05-31T17:07:00.000-07:00

Happy Memorial Day. The sun finally came out this afternoon!

Forever 21 tee. Turquoise Boutique jeans. BCBG shoes.

Sunday 5/30

2010-05-30T14:41:00.000-07:00

Another cold and gray day ): I blame the weather for my lack of color lately.

Turquoise Boutique sweater, jeans and flats. Forever 21 bodysuit.

Saturday 5/29

2010-05-29T11:20:00.000-07:00

Yet another cold and rainy day. Come on Seattle, it's almost June!!

Forever 21 dress and jacket. Turquoise Boutique leggings. Chinese Laundry shoes.

Friday 5/28

2010-05-28T11:49:00.000-07:00

Blah, blah blah rainy day. Yuck.

Turquoise Boutique sweater and wedges. Forever 21 dress.

Thursday 5/27

2010-05-27T19:01:00.000-07:00

I am really feeling under the weather today, so I tried to glam it up a bit in an effort to feel better. Although, I think this pic portrays how I feel more than how I was trying to feel ):

H&M tank. Turquoise Boutique jeans. Forever 21 shoes.

Wednesday 5/26

2010-05-26T11:25:00.000-07:00

It's cold and rainy out today ): I'm so ready for summer clothes. At least I'll be able to wear some while I'm in Hilton Head next week!

Turquoise Boutique jeans. Forever 21 jacket and tank. BCBG shoes.

Tuesday 5/25

2010-05-25T11:46:00.000-07:00

I was miserable standing in flats all day yesterday, so I'm back to heels today. You would think that would be the other way around, but I have been standing in heels for so many years that I am more comfortable this way!

Turquoise Boutique sweater and leggings. Forever 21 dress. Chinese Laundry shoes.

Monday 5/24

2010-05-24T15:04:00.000-07:00

I'm wearing something today that I thought I would never wear again after middle school -- a bodysuit! I bought one a couple weeks ago and fell in love with it, so when I saw this one I had to get it. They are so perfect with skirts and don't come untucked like my t-shirts. Recommended.

Turquoise Boutique sweater, jeans and flats. Forever 21 bodysuit.

Saturday 5/22

2010-05-22T19:59:00.000-07:00

This is my first outfit post in FOREVER!! Did you miss me?

Forever 21 long-sleeve tee and skirt. Chinese Laundry shoes.

Hamburger and Fries

2010-05-16T11:41:00.001-07:00

The weather here in Seattle has been so nice lately that it is starting to feel like summer. I was feeling creative last night (and hungry!), so I decided to make something summery and "normal" for dinner. This is what I came up with:

I made a hamburger with sweet potato fries. I had to make the "bun" from scratch, but it turned out pretty well. It was a little dense, so I didn't eat all of it. All-in-all I was extremely happy with my dinner (:

Gluten-Free Flatbread

2010-05-10T08:32:00.000-07:00

As I'm sure you all know, gluten-free baked goods can be a bit disappointing. There seems to be some law of nature that says you can't have both good flavor and texture at the same time. I have had a particularly hard time with baked goods because in addition to being gluten-free I also need them to be sugar, egg, dairy, soy, yeast, corn and rice free! This doesn't leave me a lot of options.

This has not stopped me from trying, however. I have gotten pretty good at adapting recipes to work for me and even better at knowing when it isn't worth trying. I was super excited when I came across a recipe for flatbread that needed very few substitutions. The first time I made it, even the smell of the dough had me hopeful. It had that "yeasty" smell of bread. That was nothing compared to the taste though; it tastes like bread. I even got confirmation from a gluten eater that it does indeed taste like bread!

It's not exactly usable for sandwiches, as it's a little crumbly for that, but it is perfect alone or with a spread. It was amazing dipped into a little olive oil as a side.

Gluten-Free Flatbread
1 cup sorghum flour
½ cup teff flour
⅓ cup tapioca flour
⅓ cup millet flour
¾ teaspoon guar gum
¾ teaspoon baking soda
¾ teaspoon sea salt
1 cup warm water
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1. Preheat oven to 375. Oil a 9 x 13-inch pan with 2 - 3 tablespoons of olive oil.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flours, guar gum, baking soda and salt.
3. In a separate smaller bowl, whisk together the warm water, olive oil, honey and vinegar. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and whisk together vigorously until thickened and smooth.
4. Spoon batter into oiled pan. Oil your hands and gently press and move the dough to the edges of the pan (dough will be very sticky). Make sure it is evenly spread. Put more oil on your hands if needed. Prick the dough with a fork about a dozen times (this is optional, if you don't do it you will have a few more air bubbles in the bread).
5. Bake for 20 - 30 minutes. Remove from oven, let cool slightly. Cut into squares and serve.

Variations:
- You could sprinkle the top with dried sesame seeds or herbs (rosemary would be delicious). Do this just before baking.
- You could also mix in chopped garlic, kalamata olives, sun-dried tomatoes or fresh herbs for a different take.

Black Bean Chili

2010-05-10T07:56:00.000-07:00

This chili is a staple of mine. It is so easy to make, and you can vary the ingredients based on what you have around. On top of that, everyone that has eaten it has loved it, and I have been asked for the recipe countless times.

Here is the standard recipe; see below for variations.

Black Bean Chili
4 strips thick-cut bacon
1 6-8 oz steak (I used tenderloin, but something like top sirloin would work just as well)
1/2 lb ground beef
1 large or 2 medium onions, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
2 large tomatoes, cored and chopped
2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1 -2 cups water or broth
2 Tbsp chili powder
1 Tbsp ground cumin
1 Tbsp paprika
1 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper

1. Cut the bacon into 1/2 inch pieces. Cook over medium heat in a skillet until done to your desired level of crispiness. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate, but leave the drippings in the pan.
2. Cut your steak into cubes. Rub with a bit of salt and pepper. Cook the steak in the bacon drippings until browned on all sides. It doesn't need to be cooked all the way through at this point. When done, transfer to a large pot. As before, leave the drippings in the skillet.
3. Add the ground beef to the skillet. Using a spoon to break the meat up as much as possible, cook until browned. Transfer to the large pot. (Note - I use a really low fat ground beef, so there is not a lot of fat left in the skillet at this point for me. If you use something with a higher fat content, you may need to drain some of the fat off.)
4. Add the onion and green pepper to the skillet. Cook, stirring often, for about 5 minutes.
5. Once the onion and pepper have softened up a bit, add all of the spices and cook another 1 - 2 minutes. Transfer to the large pot.
6. Deglaze the skillet with 1 cup of the water or broth scraping well to get all the yummy bits up. Pour into the large pot.
7. Turn on the heat to medium-high under the large pot. Add the tomatoes, beans and bacon pieces and give everything a good stir. Add the remaining water or broth. (If you like thick chili, you may not want to add any extra liquid.)
8. Bring to a boil, then turn the heat down to low and simmer for 30 - 45 minutes. You can cook it for longer if you want to thicken it up a bit more.

Serve with your favorite toppings. I like to keep it simple with just a few slices of avocado.

Variations:
- You can use any meats you wish, or no meat at all. I have done ground turkey and just ground beef (no steak or bacon) with great results.
- You can leave out the green pepper.
- For more heat you could add in a jalapeno pepper while cooking the onion.

Buckwheat Noodles

2010-05-10T07:19:00.001-07:00

One of the hardest parts about eating gluten-free (for me, anyways) is abstaining from noodles. I have always enjoyed pasta; it is quick and can be paired with just about anything. After going gluten-free initially, I used rice pasta for awhile. While I did like that quite a bit, rice is now on my "no-go" list. In my search for new noodle options, I read that soba noodles are traditionally made out of buckwheat. However, I couldn't find any brands that were 100% buckwheat, and they always included something I couldn't eat. So, imagine my happiness when I came across a recipe to make my own 100% buckwheat noodles!

This recipe is super easy to make, but it does take a little bit of time because the flour is "soaked". It is well worth it though. The noodles cooked up perfectly and will definitely be gracing my dinner plate more often!

Buckwheat Noodles
2 cups buckwheat flour
1 tsp guar gum (optional -- this makes the dough a little easier to work with)
1/2 - 1 cup water
1/2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar or lemon juice

1. The night before, place the flour and guar gum in a medium size bowl. Pour 1/2 cup of the water and the vinegar or lemon juice into the bowl and mix until you’ve combined it as much as you can. It will most likely be a crumbly mixture at this point.
2. Using your hands, start kneading the mixture until the water and flour starts turning into a ball. Once it is a little more manageable, you can knead it on a clean surface outside the bowl. Knead for a few minutes until it forms into a firm ball. If needed, you can add more of the water. You want a firm, but not dry, or wet ball.
3. Clean out your bowl and place the dough ball back into it. Dampen a clean dish towel, and wring dry. Place over the ball of dough to keep it moist while it “soaks”. I also put plastic wrap over the bowl, just to make sure that everything stays moist. Leave the bowl out on the counter top overnight for 12 -24 hours.
4. When ready to roll out, first place a large pot of water to boil on the stove. Add salt if desired.
5. Divide the dough into four sections. Using arrowroot powder or buckwheat flour, flour the rolling surface well. Flour the top of the dough and your wooden rolling pin. With gentle, but firm motions, start rolling out the dough. You want to roll it out to about 1/8 inch thickness or even thinner. During this process make sure that you are keep both sides of the dough well floured.

6. To make it easier to cut, I cut the dough into thirds and laid them on top of each other (just make sure they are lightly floured to prevent sticking).

7. Using a sharp knife, cut the noodles about 1/8 inch wide (or to whatever thickness you prefer).

8. Repeat this process with the rest of the dough and let the noodles rest for about 10-20 minutes.
9. Add all of the noodles to the boiling water at once, giving a gentle stir to make sure they don’t stick to each other. They will only take two minutes to cook. When done they should be tender, but still be slightly chewy.
10. Drain the noodles, making sure that you use a colander with fine holes so the noodles don’t fall through.

Note - I froze some of these before cooking. I'll let you know how they turn out when I get around to using them!

Marinated Lamb Kabobs with Tomato & Cucumber Salad

2010-04-12T14:27:00.000-07:00

I've been getting bored with food lately. As much as I have gotten more creative in the kitchen and improved my cooking skills over the last few months, I am still tired of eating the same things over and over again. It was a lamb day yesterday, but I didn't want to make gyros for the bejillionth time this year and I didn't want a plain old lamb sirloin steak. It was a pretty nice day, so I decided to grill. I am very happy I did!

Marinated Lamb Kabobs
1 1/2 lbs boneless leg of lamb, trimmed of fat and cut into 2-inch cubes

Marinade:
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp lemon juice
2 Tbsp honey
1/2 Tbsp dried oregano
salt and pepper to taste

Kabobs:
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 white onion, cut into bite-size pieces
3 peppers - use any color combination you wish, cut into bite-size pieces
optional - cherry tomatoes or mushrooms
salt and pepper to taste

1. Soak 8 wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes.
2. Combine marinade ingredients in a large resealable plastic bag and mix well. Add the lamb cubes to the bag, tossing to coat. Seal bag and marinate in the refrigerator at least 2 hours,but as long as overnight, rotating the bag occasionally to continually coat the lamb.
3. Toss the kabob vegetables and oil in a medium bowl. Salt and pepper to taste.
4. Fill the skewers, alternating lamb and veggies until everything has been used.
5. Grill skewers, rotating to cook evenly. Cooking time will be about 8 minutes for medium-rare.

Going with the mood invoked by the slightly nice weather, I chose something light and cool to go with the kabobs. Most picnic food is out with my allergies, but this tomato and cucumber salad went perfectly.

Tomato & Cucumber Salad
2 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 Tbsp red wine vinegar
1 med cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced
2 med tomatoes, sliced
1 lg onion, sliced and separated into rings

Combine first 6 ingredients in a jar; shake well. Combine vegetables in a serving bowl. Pour marinade over vegetables; refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.

Quinoa Spice Cookies

2010-04-09T15:47:00.000-07:00

I have been craving sweets lately. I made some chocolate "ice cream" the other day, but didn't manage to take any pics of it before I ate it all, so that blog will have to wait until another day! I have been craving baked goods pretty much since I went gluten free over 6 months ago, so I decided to try my hand at some allergen free baking.

Back before I stopped using cane sugar, I made a few recipes that turned out decently. Cutting out sugar in addition to gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, rice, corn and yeast, however, makes baking difficult to say the least. So difficult that I actually couldn't find even ONE recipe that I could eat, so I started looking for the recipes that would be the easiest for me to adapt. I think I'm getting better at adapting after months of cooking allergen free, so I actually ended up finding a handful of recipes that I think I will be able to adapt well.

For this day, I went for the easiest recipe that I had all the ingredients for adapting appropriately. And ... they turned out really well!! They had a great texture similar to oatmeal cookies. The flavor was great as well. They were definitely a satisfying foray into baking.

Quinoa Spice Cookies
1/4 cup quinoa flakes
1/4 cup sorghum flour
1 Tbsp millet flour
1 tsp tapioca starch
1/4 tsp guar gum
pinch salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
2 Tbsp maple sugar
2 Tbsp agave syrup
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp allspice
2 Tbsp shortening
1/4 cup sweet potato puree
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 Tbsp maple syrup

1 . Whisk together all dry ingredients in a medium bowl.
2. Add in the shortening and combine until the mixture is crumbly and sandy.
3. Add in remaining ingredients. Beat until well combined.
4. Drop the dough by spoonfuls onto a lined baking sheet. The dough is sticky, so use moist fingers to help round out and mound the dough; don't flatten them, just shape them a bit.

Bake in the center of a 350 degree oven till golden and firm. I forgot to time how long I baked them, but I think it was around 15 minutes.

Makes 9 cookies.

Substitutions:
- You could use pumpkin puree instead of sweet potato puree.
- If you eat sugar, you could substitute 1/4 cup brown sugar for the agave and maple sugar.
- Instead of normal shortening, I suggest using Spectrum organic shortening. It is made from palm oil.

Thursday 4/8

2010-04-08T11:56:00.001-07:00

Some days it's just all about the shoes (:

Turquoise Boutique tee and skirt. Forever 21 shoes.

Turkey Jerky

2010-03-30T00:13:00.000-07:00

I have been meaning to make jerky ever since I got my dehydrator a couple months ago, but I never seemed to get around to it. I would buy ground turkey, but then use it for something else at the last minute. I had the dehydrator out last night, but I only needed to use one tray for my pizza crust, so I decided to use the rest for jerky.

I over-dried it a bit, so it's more crunchy than chewy, but the flavor is good. I will definitely work on the recipe until it's perfect. I'll still share in the meantime (:

Turkey Jerky
1 lb. ground turkey
1 Tbsp salt
1 ½ tsp pepper
¼ tsp oregano
¼ tsp sage
½ tsp onion powder
1 tsp chili powder

1. In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients until thoroughly blended.
2. Roll out the ground meat mixture onto a baking sheet covered with waxed paper. Roll the jerky about 1/8 to ¼ of an inch thick. Put in the freezer until partially frozen.
3. Using kitchen scissors or a butter knife, cut the partially frozen ground meat into jerky-sized strips. Place the jerky strips on the food dehydrator trays.
4. Dry at 145 degrees for about 10 hours. Oil beads up on ground meat jerky. Begin checking the jerky after several hours, using a paper towel to pat off any beads of oil.
5. The jerky is ready when it is dry to the touch but still somewhat pliable. Cool thoroughly, then store the finished jerky in the refrigerator or freezer in zip lock bags or in glass jars with lids. Store the jars upside down for a few days to check for condensation.

COOKIES!!

2010-03-29T23:55:00.001-07:00

The third of my One Lucky Duck products came out of the pantry tonight. I enjoyed these gingerbread cookies with a glass of port. The texture was weird; I thought it would be because they are raw. The taste was great though. Sweet with a little spice. All in all, a good treat.

Raw "Flatbread" Pizza

2010-03-29T21:54:00.000-07:00

This is one of the recipes that stood out the most as I flipped through my new raw "cook"book. I would have tried it earlier, but with the dehydrated crust, it takes awhile to make! I'm glad I took the time though, it was really good. In addition to being really yummy all together, I think each piece would be good separately too. The crust would make great crackers; the hummus would be a great dip for crackers or veggies; and the toppings would be a great little side salad or relish.

Raw "Flatbread" Pizza
For the crust:
1 1/4 cup walnuts, soaked 1 hour or more
1 1/4 cup cubed zucchini
3 Tbsp ground flaxseed
2 Tbsp hemp seeds
water
1 tsp salt

1. Put the soaked walnuts into a food processor and chop into tiny pieces, but not completely smooth. Transfer the nuts to a medium bowl. Add the zucchini to the same food processor bowl and grind into tiny pieces, but again not completely smooth. Add the zucchini to the walnuts in the bowl. Add the flaxseed, hemp seeds and salt. Stir to combine. Add water 1 Tbsp at a time until a sticky dough forms - like wet muffin batter.
2. Scoop the batter onto a dehydrator tray with a fruit leather tray. Using a spatula, spread the dough to the edges of the tray. The dough can be a bit sticky, so it may help to dip the spatula in water .
3. Dehydrate for 6 to 8 hours or overnight at 115 degrees. When the top is dry, flip it over and remove it from the fruit leather tray. Dehydrate for another 2 to 4 hours.
4. Once both sides are dry, slide the flatbread onto a cutting board and cut into 3 by 5-inch rectangles. Place back on the dehydrator for another hour or so.

For the hummus:
1 cup raw cashews, soaked for 2 hours or more
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 Tbsp tahini
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup water

In a food processor, add the nuts, lemon juice, tahini and salt. Process, adding water 1 Tbsp at a time until you get the smooth, fluffy consistency of hummus. You may need to add more water, or you may want to add olive oil for a richer hummus.

To prepare:
1/2 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1/4 English cucumber, peeled, seeded and finely diced
1/4 cup olive tapenade
1/4 cup green olives, pitted and halved

Spread each crust with hummus and top with tomatoes, cucumber, olive tapenade and olives.

Top Sirloin with Sauteed Peppers

2010-03-29T13:42:00.000-07:00

No recipe needed for this super simple, but really tasty, dinner. Medium-rare steak. Sauteed onions and bell peppers. Baked sweet potato. So fast and easy.

CEREAL!!

2010-03-28T16:48:00.001-07:00

I was able to try another one of my new One Lucky Duck products this morning. I had the Cinnamon Crispies for breakfast. I've never been much of a cereal person, but it was always an easy breakfast choice on mornings when I was in a hurry. Breakfast has been one of the areas I struggle most with on my restricted diet. All I usually have is a piece of fruit or sometimes leftover dinner from the night before.

So, back to breakfast this morning. I made some quick nut milk and sliced up a banana. It was a VERY good breakfast. The Cinnamon Crispies were nice and crunchy and very flavorful.

CHOCOLATE!!

2010-03-28T16:11:00.000-07:00

I mentioned the other day that I ordered a few items from One Lucky Duck. Well, when I got home from work, the box was waiting for me on the front step! Everything looks really good!! I'll post them individually as I eat them.

The first thing that I just HAD to eat, was the chocolate bar. I had 2 squares of it with a glass of wine for dessert.

The chocolate was pretty good. It's been so long since I had a regular chocolate bar that it's hard for me to accurately compare. The texture was not quite as dense, and I could definitely taste that coconut butter is what was holding it all together. But, on the whole, it was very satisfying! I don't think I'll order this one again, as it was REALLY expensive for what I got, but it has inspired me to try making some chocolate items of my own.

Gyros with Sprouted Quinoa Tabouli

2010-03-28T10:51:00.000-07:00

Mediterranean food has been one of my favorites since moving to Seattle. Nothing like a good gyro or falafel plate! However, since I can no longer eat rice, couscous, tzatziki sauce (that's truly a sad loss), pita, hummus, etc, I have been missing out for quite awhile.

I first started making these gyros a couple of months ago, and they have been a big hit with everyone that has tried them. I make them almost as often as possible with my rotation diet, but I haven't been very creative with side dishes. I usually just make some plain millet and saute some peppers. As I was looking through my new raw food "cook"book I came across this recipe for Quinoa Tabouli, and it looked too perfect not to try it.

Gyros
1 lb. ground lamb
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. black pepper
1 1/2 tsp. cumin
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. dried oregano

optional - you could also add some chopped red onion, garlic or a bit of lemon juice

1. Thoroughly combine all ingredients in a bowl.
2. Divide into four equal portions and shape into oblong patties about 3" wide, 6" long, 1/2" thick. Refrigerate for an hour to allow flavors to combine.
3. Grill patties over a hot fire for 3 - 4 minutes per side. I usually just do them under the broiler, but you could grill them as well.

For the normal eaters, you could make a gyro sandwich with a pita, shredded lettuce, sliced tomato and tzatziki sauce. Yum!

Sprouted Quinoa Tabouli
1 cup quinoa, soaked and sprouted (yields about 2 cups sprouted)
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 Tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 medium tomatoes, seeded and finely diced
2 green onions, white and 1 inch of green, very thinly sliced
2 bunches parsley, finely chopped

1. To sprout the quinoa, soak it overnight in water. Then drain and rinse it in a fine mesh strainer. Allow it to sit in the strainer, draining over a bowl and covered with a clean towel, for at least 6 hours. Rinse once or twice, but don't rinse it right before you make the salad. It's best to have the quinoa on the drier side, so it will better absorb the lemon and olive oil flavors.
2. In a medium bowl, mix the quinoa with the lemon juice, olive oil and sea salt. If you have time, let it sit for a little while to allow the quinoa to absorb the flavors.
3. Add the remaining ingredients and mix to combine.

Note - I found that the parsley can be a very overwhelming flavor, so I would suggest adding it in smaller portions until the flavor you like has been achieved.

And Finally ... The Dehydrated Goods

2010-03-27T17:33:00.000-07:00

Sorry it took me so long to get these up. I took the pics right as I was taking everything out of the dehydrator, but they got lost in some product photos on my computer.

I got a dehydrator last month. You can see the original post here. There are before pics of all the food as well as more info on what everything is.

Here are the after shots:

Cinnamon apple chips, dried pineapple and dried orange rings

Glazed and plain banana chips and strawberry banana fruit leather

The fruit leather and pineapple were by far the best, but everything turned out really well. I'll be using the dehydrator a decent amount in the next few days for some of my new raw food recipes, so expect more dry food soon! (:

Saturday 3/27

2010-03-27T16:59:00.001-07:00

Turquoise Boutique sweater. Forever 21 dress. Promise shoes.

Sprouted Quinoa and Millet Waffles

2010-03-27T11:04:00.000-07:00

I made these waffles for breakfast this morning, and they turned out SO well. The texture and flavor were great (read - not obviously gluten free). They even worked much better in my waffle maker than the last recipe I tried; no sticking or coming apart at all!

The reason I chose this recipe is because I have been reading so much about sprouted grains lately. I had read about them in my search for allergy-free bread over the last few months, and they are very prominent in the raw food recipes I have been looking at more recently. According to the almighty Wikipedia, "sprouts are rich in digestible energy, bioavailable vitamins, minerals, amino acids, proteins and beneficial enzymes as these are necessary for a germinating plant to grow. The desirable nutritional changes that occur during sprouting are mainly due to the breakdown of complex compounds into a more simple form, transformation into essential constituents and breakdown of nutritionally undesirable constituents." So basically, sprouting grains makes them better for you and more easily digestable.

Sprouting is very easy to do. For this recipe I just had to soak the grains overnight before using them. Some other grains require a little more work or time, but in general it is not a difficult process. To learn more, check out this page.

Sprouted Quinoa and Millet Waffles

1/2 cup whole dry quinoa grains

1/2 cup whole dry millet grains

1 tsp baking powder*

1 tsp spices (like nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, clove, allspice, orange zest, etc.)

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 tsp sweetener**

1 Tbsp ground flax seed

1 t salt

1 T light oil (like coconut, sunflower or olive)

water

*To make aluminum- and corn-free baking powder, simply mix 1 part baking soda, 1 part tapioca or arrowroot starch and 2 parts cream of tartar
**Use any sweetener you wish. I used maple sugar and just a touch of agave.

Rinse quinoa and millet, and place to soak in water overnight or for at least 5-6 hours. The millet will soften, and the quinoa will start to sprout!
Drain and rinse well, rubbing grains together. Transfer to a blender, or if using an immersion blender, a large cup or bowl.
Level grains, and add just enough water to cover. Add the salt, spices, baking powder, oil, vanilla, and sweetener. Blend until well mixed and grains have been chopped up. Let sit for 5-10 minutes for the flax seed to absorb liquid.
Heat up waffle iron, greasing if necessary. When ready, bake as directed in waffle iron user's manual.
Remove from iron and let cool a minute or two on a rack, the waffle will continue to crisp up.

Serve with coconut or nut butter (or real butter for those who can eat it), fresh fruit or nuts and your favorite syrup.

I ate mine with just maple syrup and they were wonderful! I froze the leftovers for a quick breakfast when I'm in a hurry or an easy snack. You can just put them right into the toaster, no need to thaw.

Quick Chocolate Cashew Milk

2010-03-26T18:06:00.000-07:00

In a recent scouring of the interweb for snacks I can eat I found the One Lucky Duck website. They have lots of snacky foods and treats that are gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free and all natural. I bought a few items that I will get tomorrow (expect a blog post).

In addition to being allergy-free for me, the items are all raw. I had heard of the raw food movement before, but never considered actually going raw. After seeing how many options I had on their site, I decided to get a raw food "cook"book. As luck would have it, I can eat almost everything in it! The only recipes that I can't do have almonds, cherries or corn in them; those items are easily skipped or replaced.

All that backstory gets us to this very moment when I am sitting here drinking CHOCOLATE MILK!!!! My new "cook"book has all kinds of milk and juice recipes in it. I adapted a 30 Second Nut Milk recipe to make Chocolate Cashew Milk, and it is fantastic!

Quick Chocolate Cashew Milk
This recipe is called quick because it uses nut butter instead of soaking and grinding whole cashews. It takes much less time but is still very flavorful.

2 Tbsp raw cashew butter
2 cups water
2 Tbsp agave syrup
pinch salt
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 Tbsp coconut butter (optional)
1 1/2 Tbsp organic cocoa powder

Blend all ingredients until well combined. Makes 2 servings.

I have chosen a few of the raw food recipes to make over the next couple of days, so I will be sure to post pics and reviews of how things work out.

Thursday 3/25

2010-03-25T11:09:00.000-07:00

2 outfit posts in 2 days! You're so spoiled (:

Turquoise Boutique sweater and jeans. H&M tank. Kelly & Katie shoes.

Sorry for the weird face, I'm super tired this morning.

Wednesday 3/24

2010-03-24T16:54:00.001-07:00

Sorry for the long silence. Here is an outfit post today. I have a few update posts in the works as well.

Turquoise Boutique tee. Forever 21 skirt and belt. Chinese Laundry shoes.

Dehydrator 2/25

2010-02-25T01:12:00.000-08:00

I've been interested in food dehydrators for awhile now. I've been doing a lot of online research and checking out models. Oddly enough, I was at some friends' house the other day and they had one they were getting rid of. Talk about serendipity! I was working from home today, so I decided to try out my new dehydrator.

Orange and pineapple slices.

Pineapple slices.

Apple slices pre-treated with lemon water with cinnamon sprinkled on top.

More apple slices, plain banana slices, and banana slices coated in honey and sprinkled with nutmeg.

Strawberry banana fruit leather.

I'll post pics of the finished products when they are all done.

Shopping 2/24

2010-02-25T00:58:00.000-08:00

In preparation for my trip to Corpus Christi, I pulled out all my summery clothes only to realize that none of them fit me anymore. And when I say none, I mean NONE! I don't expect it to be 80 degrees in TX, but it will at least be warm enough to merit some warm-weather clothes. I went out shopping today to pick up a few things that I will be able to incorporate into my current wardrobe to make the most possible outfit choices.

Here is what I got:

Friday 2/12

2010-02-13T01:38:00.000-08:00

Went out tonight with some friends to El Gaucho. It was a nice night out and my first time eating at a restaurant in over 6 months!

Forever21 dress. Guess shoes. Vintage necklace.

Saturday 2/6

2010-02-07T12:18:00.000-08:00

I went out with my good friend Tracie last night. We hung out at Barrio in Capitol Hill for awhile and I think that is one of my new favorite places in Seattle. Can't wait to go back.

Forever 21 dress and bangles. Chinese Laundry shoes.

Apple Glazed Pork Tenderloin with Buckwheat Stuffed Squash

2010-02-03T20:14:00.000-08:00

I was so excited about my CSA delivery today that I decided to plan dinner around the veggies I received. The apples smelled really good and it had been awhile since I had squash, so I chose to use those. After a little online research, I came up with the following meal. It is cheating a little bit on my rotation diet because I had onions yesterday, but I will just be good and try to avoid them for awhile now.

APPLE GLAZED PORK TENDERLOIN

Ingredients:

1 tbsp oil (I used sunflower, but any oil would do)
1 pork tenderloin, approximately 1 lb
1/2 medium onion
1 crisp red apple
1/3 c. Riesling wine
2 tbsp fresh apple juice
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, and brown the pork tenderloin on all sides. Remove the browned tenderloin to a baking dish. Sprinkle all sides of the meat with salt and pepper.
Cook and stir the onion and apple in the same skillet over medium heat until the onion becomes soft, about 5 minutes, and pour in the Riesling wine. Scrape all the browned flavor bits off the bottom of the skillet and stir to help dissolve them into the wine. Bring to a boil, and pour the onion, apple, and wine mixture over the tenderloin.
Mix together the apple juice and balsamic vinegar in a bowl. Brush mixture over the pork, reserving some to baste with during cooking.
Bake the loin in the preheated oven until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center reads 160 degrees F (70 degrees C), 30 to 45 minutes. Brush more of the apple juice mixture over the loin every 10 minutes. Allow the tenderloin to rest for 10 minutes before slicing, and serve each slice with a spoonful of the apple-onion mixture.

BUCKWHEAT STUFFED WINTER SQUASH

Ingredients:

1/2 tbsp oil
1 acorn or delicata squash
1/2 medium onion
1 apple
1/3 c raw buckwheat groats, rinsed and drained
1/4 walnuts, roughly chopped
dried herbs of choice (sage or rosemary would be good)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350.
Cut the squash lengthwise, scoop out the seeds, and place cut side down in a baking dish. Pour a little bit of water in the dish and bake at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes.
Place the buckwheat in a medium saucepan. Add 2/3 c. water and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer 15 - 20 minutes or until buckwheat has absorbed all of the water and is tender.
Heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and apple and saute 7 - 8 minutes or until tender.
Mix the apple and onion mixture, buckwheat, walnuts and herbs well. Add additional seasonings to taste.
Heap the filling into the squash halves and bake covered for 20 minutes, or until heated through.

To cut down on steps, I sauteed the apples and onions for both recipes together in the pan after searing the pork. Then I scooped out some for the stuffed squash before adding the riesling. It worked well and saved a pan.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

2010-02-03T17:29:00.000-08:00

I first learned about Community Supported Agriculture in a Martha Stewart magazine many years ago. According to LocalHarvest.org, "Over the last 20 years, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has become a popular way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer. Here are the basics: a farmer offers a certain number of "shares" to the public. Typically the share consists of a box of vegetables, but other farm products may be included. Interested consumers purchase a share (aka a "membership" or a "subscription") and in return receive a box (bag, basket) of seasonal produce each week throughout the farming season." For more info about CSAs and info on how to find one, go to LocalHarvest.org/csa.

After reading the Martha Stewart article and doing some online research, I joined Jubilee Farm's CSA program about 4 or 5 years ago (jubileefarm.org). I did their summer CSA program and really loved getting fresh veggies every week. That was before my whole diet revolution, though, and I was not always great at using my whole box every week. Because of that, I decided not to continue after my first year.

I got interested again the summer before last and participated in Jubilee Farm's workshare program. I went and worked on the farm one day each week in exchange for a box of fresh produce. I did things like harvesting, weeding and preparing the food for the CSA members. It was a lot of fun and an amazing learning experience.

Now that my diet is pretty much restricted to fresh, organic fruit and veggies, I've decided to rejoin the CSA program. I got my first box of produce today and decided to share my haul.

This week I got a head of cabbage, 2 leeks, a delicata squash, onions, apples, garlic, potatoes, brussel sprouts and a dozes fresh eggs. I also got some things that look carrot-y but are short and squat; I'm assuming they are turnips. Everything is organic and locally grown in Carnation, WA.

For anyone interested in organic produce who wants to support local farmers, I would highly recommend joining a CSA program. I can't wait to share what I make with my veggies!

Kale, Roasted Sweet Potato and Lamb Sausage Soup

2010-02-02T15:38:00.001-08:00

I know it's been awhile since I posted anything about my food situation or cooking, but I made some soup today that I just had to share the recipe for.

I've been on an extra restricted diet lately because I have still been having some allergy problems and haven't been able to pin them down to any one food. I had a breakthrough in the last 2 weeks, however. It turns out the culprit is SUGAR. While this adds one more obstacle in my eating, it also is a big relief to finally feel like I have some control again. Now that I am feeling better, I am able to get a little more creative with my cooking and possibly even start adding some foods back in. I know, sounds crazy right?

So just for recap, here is a list of the foods that I am not currently including in my diet:

Dairy
Egg
Soy
Rice
Corn
Almonds
Lettuce
Garlic
Gluten
Sugar
Yeast
Oats
Peas
Green Beans
Shellfish

In addition to avoiding all those foods I am also still on a rotation diet. That means that if I eat a food I don't eat that food again for at least 4 days. I also avoid that entire food family the following day.

So ... even with all those restrictions, I have been eating pretty well. I have been asked by friends and family for some of my recipes as well, so I will start posting share-worthy recipes as I make them.

KALE, ROASTED SWEET POTATO AND LAMB SAUSAGE SOUP

Ingredients:

3 medium sweet potatoes (about 2 pounds total weight), scrubbed
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
½ pound ground lamb
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 teaspoon dried thyme
4 cans low-sodium chicken broth
1 large red potato, peeled and cut into ¾-inch pieces
1 small bunch kale (about 1 pound), rinsed, stemmed, and leaves very thinly sliced
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
3/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ginger

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Cut the sweet potato into wedges about 1 ½-inches thick, then cut each wedge crosswise into pieces about 1 ½-inches long. In a large bowl combine the sweet potatoes, the olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste, and toss to coat. Spread in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet and roast until just barely tender (the tip of a paring knife meets some resistance when inserted into the pieces,) about 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, place the ground lamb in a medium glass bowl. Add 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp thyme, the cumin, paprika, cayenne, cinnamon and ginger. Mix well.
Place a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot with a lid over medium heat. Add the lamb mixture and cook until browned. Add the onion to the pot and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the remaining thyme and cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, about 45 seconds. Add 2 cans of the broth, raise the heat to high, and bring to a boil, and use a wooden spoon to scrape up the brown bits from the bottom of the pot. Add the red potato, cover, and cook until the potato is completely tender, about 20 minutes.
Once the potatoes are done, use a wooden spoon to mash the potato cubes against the side of the pot, then stir them into the soup to thicken it slightly. Add the remaining 2 cans of broth and bring to a boil. Add 1 teaspoons salt and pepper to taste, the roasted sweet potatoes, and the kale, pushing down on the vegetables to submerge them in the liquid. Cook, stirring often, until kale is tender, about 8 minutes.
Taste the soup and adjust the seasonings. Ladle it into warmed bowls and enjoy!

Makes 6 - 8 servings.

Monday 2/1

2010-02-01T20:24:00.000-08:00

I felt like being Spring-y today even though it's certainly not Spring weather yet. Call it wishful thinking.

Turquoise Boutique tank, cardigan and skirt. Chinese Laundry heels.

Saturday 1/30

2010-01-31T04:39:00.001-08:00

Out with the girls tonight!

Forever 21 dress and jacket. Steve Madden pumps.

Free Time

2010-01-30T16:41:00.001-08:00

I don't get free time that often, but when I do I have a handful of activities that I like to keep me busy. One of them is cross-stitching. I've been doing it since I was a little girl. My mom, aunt and grandmother used to sit and talk while they sewed, and I wanted so badly to be included in that when I was young. I learned how to stitch at about 8 or 9 and have been doing it ever since.

I'm getting ready to go out tonight, but I have more time than I need. Rather than work or start something new, I decided to pull out this piece I've been working on for awhile. I always have multiple projects going at once, so I'll try to post pics as I work on each of them.

This one will be a ring of roses when it's done. I have no idea what I will do with it, but I hardly ever actually do anything with the things I sew. I just like the sewing part.

I'll post outfit pics later.
Happy Weekend!

Friday 1/29

2010-01-29T16:58:00.000-08:00

Turquoise Boutique dress and sweater. Kelly & Katie shoes.

Thursday 1/28

2010-01-28T12:40:00.000-08:00

Turquoise Boutique sweater, tank, jeans and flats.

Wednesday 1/27

2010-01-27T11:51:00.000-08:00

Turquoise Boutique tee. Sisley skirt. Costco tights. Chinese Laundry shoes. Misc necklaces.

Tuesday 1/26

2010-01-26T17:03:00.001-08:00

Turquoise Boutique sweater. H&M dress. Costco tights. Steve Madden boots.

Monday 1/25

2010-01-25T17:27:00.000-08:00

Turquoise Boutique sweater, jeans and flats. J. Crew tank.

Saturday 1/23

2010-01-24T14:14:00.000-08:00

Forever 21 dress and shoes.

Friday 1/22

2010-01-22T19:39:00.001-08:00

Turquoise Boutique top/dress, jeans and flats.

Shopping

2010-01-22T19:02:00.000-08:00

Until yesterday I had only been in the Forever 21 at Northgate mall a couple times. Every time I would walk in and walk right back out. It's huge, overcrowded, unorganized and messy! However, I was looking for a dressy dress which narrowed my options considerably and made the store pseudo-shoppable.

I actually had a pretty good shopping experience aside from the poor customer service (but I was expecting that at F21). I tried on about 8 dresses and ended up getting 2 of them. I also got a cute cropped jacket and a FABULOUS pair of ridiculously high heels.

My favorite pairing of the pieces I got is this leather dress with the tweed jacket. The dress is super hot and sexy, but the jacket tones it down a bit and adds a little sophistication.

The other dress and the shoes will be debuted tomorrow. I'll post pictures!

Thursday 1/21

2010-01-21T19:48:00.001-08:00

Charlotte Russe jumpsuit. To The Maxx shawl. BCBG heels.

Wednesday 1/20

2010-01-20T12:07:00.000-08:00

Turquoise Boutique biker jacket, tee, jeans and shoes.

Tuesday 1/19

2010-01-20T12:05:00.000-08:00

I finally got a phone that I can take decent pictures with and upload easily!! I'm going to try to get in the habit of taking my outfit pics at work; that's when I tend to have the best outfits anyways (:

Turquoise Boutique sweater, tee and skirt. Chinese Laundry shoes.

New Phone!

2010-01-18T18:12:00.000-08:00

I love my phone, but it's getting on in years. It doesn't ring all the time when it's supposed to, and it's starting to fall apart a bit. I finally decided to take advantage of the rebate Sprint will give me towards a new one, so I picked out my favorite free phone. I'm actually really excited to get it!

It comes tomorrow!

Monday 1/18

2010-01-18T18:11:00.001-08:00

Turquoise Boutique dress. Kelly & Katie shoes.

Battle scar

2010-01-16T00:31:00.000-08:00

Gretchen 0 - Asparagus 1

Friday 1/15

2010-01-15T23:10:00.001-08:00

Turquoise Boutique tunic, leggings and sweater. Chinese Laundry shoes.

Thursday 1/14

2010-01-14T19:28:00.001-08:00

Opened at the shop this morning. About to head out to drinks with a friend I haven't seen in years.

Turquoise Boutique dress and jeans, Old Navy belt, Kenneth Cole pumps

Brunette Again

2010-01-13T21:31:00.001-08:00

Before side view:

After side view:

Before:
After:

Chicago 1/1

2010-01-04T09:17:00.000-08:00

After spending the morning recovering, Sarah and I went down to Millenium Park to take some pics.

Hi, I'm freezing!

Under the bean.

Being silly in front of the bean. I love the skyline reflection.

We were so cold after being outside for a bit that we had to stop in and warm up before heading back. I miss Dunkin Donuts!

NYE -- Goodbye 2009

2010-01-01T09:14:00.000-08:00

Ready to head out to the Redhead Piano Bar

Back at the condo after the bar.

The view from the balcony.

Fireworks from Navy Pier at midnight.

The Windy City 12/30

2009-12-31T14:24:00.000-08:00

I flew to Chicago today and met up with my best friend Sarah downtown. I'm so excited to be here and spending time with her!!! We're having a girls night out/in NYE.

I took the train from O'hare downtown and met Sarah near Union Station (she had taken the Metra in from Naperville). We walked up to State & Superior because it just felt good, although a bit cold, to be out downtown. We checked in to the condo we rented to find out it's on the top floor (52) with a great view!

After settling in and hanging out a bit we went out for a few drinks at a bar near the condo. It was low key but fun. Then we spent way too long being silly and taking and looking at pics back here. All in all, a great first night in the city.

Penthouse!!!! One of the longest elevator rides I have taken.

The view from the balcony. Not too shabby. You could see the Sears Tower on the right side of this pic if it wasn't so cloudy.

After going out.

Paradise 12/27

2009-12-31T10:32:00.001-08:00

Neither me or my parents have ever been down to Mt. Rainier, so we decided to take a little day trip. The drive down was fairly unexciting (Spanaway, anyone?), but as you start to approach the mountain it is totally worth it. You head into the forest and starting winding your way upwards. There are lots of little falls and viewpoints along the way up as well.

We drove up to Paradise (elevation 5,400) where they have a visitor's center and a sledding area. This is as far as you can get during the winter months because of all the snow. It was freezing and really snowy but very cool.

A topographical "you are here" map. The tiny light is where we were.

My mom will probably kill me for posting this, but I think it's adorable. The edge of the parking lot was just a big wall of snow.

This is me on top of the big snow wall from the previous pic with a cloud covered Mt. Rainier in the background.

The sun was just setting and from the top of the snow bank you could see just a hint of the orange glow of the sun.

I Scream, You Scream

2009-12-31T10:16:00.000-08:00

The majority of my Christmas gifts were kitchen items (my mom works at Williams Sonoma). I got the waffle maker I posted about yesterday, new cookie sheets and cooling racks, an All-Clad roasting pan, a set of Wusthof knives, all new All-Clad measuring cups and spoons, and this AMAZING KitchenAid ice cream maker attachment!

The waffle and ice cream makers are really a huge help to me with my limited diet. Now I can make my own foods free of allergens. The waffles from yesterday were pumpkin and buckwheat with bananas, walnuts and maple syrup on top; YUM! The "ice cream" I made today has no dairy or eggs in it. It's just strawberries, coconut milk and a little sucanut (raw sugar). It turned out really well!!

The attachment in action. It only took about 25 min for this to be soft-serve like.

The finished product -- SO GOOD! Even all the normal people really like it.

Christmas 12/25

2009-12-31T10:02:00.000-08:00

My whole fam was here for the holiday. It was the first time we had all been together on Christmas in a REALLY long time (probably over 6 or 7 years)! Regardless, it was nice to spend the time together.

The tree on Christmas Eve with too many presents to fit underneath.

Even the dogs got to open presents!

After we all opened our presents I made breakfast. I had planned on adapting a waffle recipe into pancakes, but then I got a waffle maker for Christmas! Talk about luck.

Kyle's B-Day

2009-12-24T12:01:00.000-08:00

My sister and I decided we needed to decorate the house for Kyle's birthday. We went to the party store with the intention of buying all "over the hill" type decorations since he turned 30, but we changed course when we found the Hannah Montana section.

Hannah Montana tablecloth, blowers, plates and balloons. General girly pink and purple theme.

Turq is ready to party.

Everyone got hats, but the birthday boy got the special sequin cowgirl hat.

I made fondue for dinner, and then we had apple pie complete with singing and candles.

Tuesday 12/22

2009-12-22T21:53:00.000-08:00

I was a little creative with my outfit today. I have been curious if I could pull off a jumpsuit for a while now. I found an inexpensive one recently so I bought it thinking it probably wouldn't work out. However, I just got it yesterday, and I LOVE it. It's super comfy and I got lots of compliments today.

Charlotte Russe jumpsuit; Turquoise Boutique sweater, belt and necklace; Guess shoes

For dinner I made gyros and sauteed peppers. YUM!

On an exciting note -- I bought two new ADORABLE headbands and a flower ring today. I will post pics when I wear them, which I'm sure will be tomorrow.

Whidbey Island 12/21

2009-12-22T19:59:00.001-08:00

Rachel's fiance Dan's grandparents live on Whidbey Island not too far from Seattle. I drove him out there yesterday to see them. The drive was beautiful and I got to ride on the ferry! His grandparents have 6 acres of waterfront property; it was amazing.

This view is from the edge of their property:

Snoqualmie Falls 12/20

2009-12-21T18:44:00.000-08:00

My sister Rachel and her fiance Dan are visiting. We wanted to get out of the city yesterday, so we went out to Snoqualmie Falls.

I heard the falls froze when it was so cold a couple weeks ago, but they were raging when we were there.

On the hike down to the bottom you have to walk next to the hydro-electric power plant. To keep you out of their area they cage in the walkway. This little area just screams picture backdrop.

Rachel and Dan heading back up from the falls. Too cute a moment to not photograph it.

Turkey

2009-12-14T19:34:00.001-08:00

This is Turq's favorite spot to hang out during the day. It's his "protector" spot since he can see me in the living room and out to the front yard.

Puppy Love

2009-12-13T22:22:00.000-08:00

I had some snuggle time with the pups tonight. I love them more everyday.

Party Time

2009-12-13T10:23:00.000-08:00

I think yesterday was the official party day of the holiday season. One of the parties I went to required dressing up, so I thought I'd share my fancy outfit pics.

BCBG dress, Chinese Laundry shoes, vintage jewelry

Curly hair

Sparkly necklace and earrings

Holiday Decorations

2009-12-07T22:49:00.001-08:00

The tree has finally been decorated. I had to go to four stores just to find lights for it, but I'm happy with the outcome.

The dogs look so dark in front of the lit tree, but they are always hard to photograph. They were excited to be included.

North Bend 12/5

2009-12-05T17:40:00.000-08:00

Today was a long day spent of the eastside. Kyle had gotten a 40% off coupon for the Adidas outlet store, so we went there and went a little crazy. They were also having a buy 1 item get the second for 50% off sale, and the cashier gave us BOTH discounts. It was crazy; I felt like we were stealing.

Here's what we got:

Gretchen
Item	Original Price	Marked Price	Purchase
Shoes	$65.00	$49.99	$14.99
Socks	$12.00	$9.99	$2.99
Tank	$22.00	$9.97	$5.98
Shirt	$35.00	$24.99	$7.49
Pants	$35.00	$24.99	$14.99
Pants	$55.00	$39.99	$23.99
Tank	$40.00	$14.97	$4.48
Jacket	$75.00	$49.99	$14.99
	$339.00	$224.88	$89.90

Kyle
Item	Original Price	Marked Price	Purchase
Shoes	$105.00	$79.98	$47.99
Shoes	$65.00	$49.99	$29.99
Socks	$12.00	$9.99	$5.99
Pants	$35.00	$24.99	$7.49
Pants	$65.00	$39.98	$14.99
	$282.00	$204.93	$106.45

So, we got $621.00 of Adidas merch for $196.35; I would call that a great deal!

After the Adidas store we drove over to Twin Falls and did a quick hike. The hike was short, but it was really cold out. Also, I realized when we got to the falls that I had been there before. Oh well.

Finally, we ended up at a tree farm to get a holiday tree. This is the first time I have ever had a live tree in my life. I'll post some pics after we get it decorated, but here is me picking it out.

Friday 12/4

2009-12-04T23:59:00.000-08:00

Ran errands and worked all day, so I kept it casual.

Turquoise Boutique t-shirt, Express jeans, Cole Haan G Series flats

The photo session quickly progressed to doggie kisses.

Tuesday 12/1

2009-12-01T13:55:00.001-08:00

It's actually a sunny day in Seattle. Too bad I can't find my sunglasses!

Forever 21 top, Turquoise Boutique jeans

Little Si 11/29

2009-11-29T18:24:00.000-08:00

I hiked Little Si today. I hadn't hiked in a long time; it was nice to get back out there. This is only 30 miles or so from my house -- gotta love Seattle!

Hike Stats:
Distance: 4.6 miles
Elevation gain: 1200 ft

This was a really cool little area about 4/5 of the way up. There is a pretty severe drop off behind me here. It was really pretty.

At the summit. This is officially as high as you can get on Little Si (elevation 1,576 feet). There was a nice view out the other way, nothing too spectacular though. Being up here made me remember how much I love hiking though; there is nothing like hanging out on top of a mountain.

Saturday 11/28

2009-11-28T14:09:00.000-08:00

Turquoise Boutique sweater, tunic and leggings. Steve Madden boots.

Wednesday 11/25

2009-11-26T23:53:00.000-08:00

Another late outfit post.

All pieces from Turquoise Boutique. Bakers shoes.

Thanksgiving 2009

2009-11-26T23:38:00.000-08:00

It was a pretty uneventful day overall. I cooked, worked a bit, watched some tv and just hung out. Not a bad day of relaxing.

Spice Glazed Cornish Game Hens over Sauteed Brussel Sprouts & Zucchini. I also made mashed potatoes, sweet potato & apple casserole, stuffing (for the gluten eaters) and pumpkin pie. Everything except the stuffing was allergen-free.

I'm a sucker for a good fire. I light one whenever possible.

Dinner 11/23

2009-11-23T21:13:00.001-08:00

Pork Chops with Red Wine & Fig sauce, Roasted Acorn Squash

Tracie's B-day at Del Rey

2009-11-22T12:53:00.000-08:00

Our friend Tracie had her birthday party at Del Rey in Belltown. The theme was black & white, so I bought a new black dress! The party had good turnout; it was good to see friends and meet some new people.

Not the best pic of me, but it is a good pic of my outfit! New Turquoise Boutique dress. Sisley blazer found in my closet.

Me and the birthday girl.

Me and Abby at Del Rey.

Check Yourself

2009-11-18T22:36:00.001-08:00

I spent my morning at the hospital having yet another endoscopy. No fun!! She took two biopsies and said I have some rings of scarring, but no final results yet.

Hope your day was better than mine!

Tuesday

2009-11-17T20:57:00.001-08:00

Turquoise Boutique jeans, shirt and sweater. Cole Haan G Series flats.

Plus, I'm wearing TWO new accessories today! Steampunk necklace from Etsy. Nerd glasses from Amazon.com. (I can't remember why I'm pouting here, but I'm sure I was provoked)

Dinner 11/16

2009-11-16T19:26:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned in my breakfast post, I am trying to be more creative in the kitchen. For dinner tonight I made broiled trout with quinoa.

Office Re-Org

2009-11-16T17:11:00.001-08:00

I moved around the upstairs furniture awhile ago, but I hadn't taken the time to get my office in order. I've spent some time over the last couple of days finally getting everything the way I want it. I'm excited to have a working home office again!

My new little office space. It's small, but it's well laid out with lots of storage.

These shelves both add storage and extend my office space. They are actually acting as a room divider as well.

The back wall of the space. A small bookcase fills in the empty space next to the table and adds storage space. Now I have room to leave my sewing machine and my Cricut set up all the time.

And finally, the same desk I've always had, just in a new spot. With the desk and the table against the back wall perpendicular like this, I can just scoot around on my chair from one to the other as necessary.

Here's hoping that this new set up will work well and make me more productive at home!

Gluten-free Dairy-free Soy-free Corn-free Rice-free Breakfast

2009-11-16T08:52:00.000-08:00

Ever since I was diagnosed with food allergies, I have been following a pretty boring mealplan. I decided to try to be more creative in the kitchen. This morning I made blueberry pancakes! And they were actually good!!!

The pancakes are made with quinoa flour and homemade cashew milk. I also made my own baking powder to ensure it was corn and aluminum free. I put a little coconut butter on top and then poured on some maple syrup. YUM!

Not a bad way to start the day.

Thursday 11/12

2009-11-12T13:20:00.000-08:00

After cleaning out my closet yesterday, I'm inspired to wear some things I don't normally wear. Today it's the sequin shirt. I've had it for years, but I think I've only worn it once before.

Turquoise Boutique blazer and jeans, No Appt Necessary tank, Chinese Laundry shoes

Outfit from 11/6

2009-11-11T19:03:00.001-08:00

Sorry for the late posting on this. I took the pic in a hurry and then didn't post it when I saw how dark it was. I saw it again today though and decided to post it anyway because it's a cute outfit!

Turquoise Boutique blazer, jeans and earrings, Old Navy tank top, Cole Haan G Series flats

Closet Re-Org

2009-11-11T16:44:00.000-08:00

I spent half the day today cleaning and organizing my closet. I'm getting rid of a TON of stuff, but I'm also pretty happy with what I'm keeping. Here are some pics:

The main section of the closet. This is all my tops, non-layering tanks, jackets, skirts and non-denim pants.

Secondary hanging. This is all my dresses.

My shelves. Top shelf is all cardigans. Bottom shelf is all non-cardigan knits.

Finally, shoes and jeans. I had a conversation with someone the other day about how many pairs of shoes I have. The official count after I got rid of 9 pairs today is ... 42. Note - The shoes in this pic are my winter shoes only. There is no room here for the summer shoes, so they are stored on a high shelf.

Now that everything in the closet is nice and organized, I plan to tackle accessories. I'll post pics again when I do that. I'll also try to get better at taking daily outfit shots.

Apples are good for you

2009-11-11T15:42:00.001-08:00

This started out as an outfit picture, but I was sidetracked by the dogs.

Seeing Spots

2009-11-05T16:20:00.001-08:00

I keep seeing leopard stuff and I'm loving it. I picked up this jacket from the store today.

Turquoise Boutique jacket

Thursday

2009-11-05T16:16:00.000-08:00

H&M Dress, Smile for Sarah (:

I've Gone Steampunk!

2009-11-04T22:43:00.000-08:00

So, I really like all the steampunk stuff I've been seeing for awhile. I've searched for something I want many times, and I finally bought something. I can't wait to get it!

Sunday

2009-11-02T00:40:00.000-08:00

Out for drinks with some girlfriends. H&M Dress, Turquoise Boutique Leggings, Steve Madden Boots

Friday

2009-10-30T21:48:00.000-07:00

H&M Dress, Turquoise Boutique Blazer

Wednesday Lunch

2009-10-28T13:07:00.001-07:00

Apple, Avocado and Tuna over Arugula tossed in Apple Cider Viniagrette

Tuesday Lunch

2009-10-27T17:43:00.000-07:00

Prosciutto Wrapped Figs & Spinach Salad with Balsamic Reduction