Joint Pain, Gluten and Little Girls Hairstyles

Joint Pain and Gluten

In my previous post featuring a recipe for gluten free banana chocolate chip muffins, I mentioned that when I gave up gluten I got my joints back and thought I would share more about that.  As I also mentioned, I LOVED muffins....and waffles, pancakes, cookies, cereal, etc.  So when my sister was diagnosed with celiac several years ago while I was still in college, we all began to learn more about it.  As I learned what some of the symptoms were, I thought "I think I might have that" but also thought "I would die if I couldn't eat gluten...seriously I would surely die!"  So I remained in denial.  I'm not going to go into everything because this could turn into a novel, but 2 years ago things had progressed to the point where I just had so many symptoms I could no longer ignore...including severe joint pain.  I could hardly grab or grip lids to open things, typing/playing piano was painful and braiding my daughters hair was excruciating, I couldn't do it, I would have the sections of braids and my joints were so painful and rigid I couldn't make my fingers do what they needed to do to make a simple braid.  I remember being on the verge of tears many times in frustration complaining to my husband "I'm in my mid-twenties! Why does it feel like I have arthritis!?!?!?"  

Around the same time, my daughter was also having many issues that pointed to gluten intolerance and if you've ever looked into it, you  know it's pretty genetic and if one family member has it, mostly like other members of the family have it also.  In our family, it fits right in with the various autoimmune issues that also run in the family such as juvenile diabetes, hashimotos-hypothyroidism, etc.  So we went off gluten, one year ago.  2 weeks later my daughter was a completely different person and I was feeling much better as well.  Now, I do all sorts of hairstyles on my daughter with ease.  The other night after bath time I quickly gave her two tidy looking french braids and it hit me, I got a little bit emotional remembering that exactly one year ago that was not even possible for me to accomplish.  Now one of our favorite things to do is visit Cute Girls Hairstyles youtube channel and I let her pick out any hairstyle, we watch the video and I do her hair.  It's so fun for both of us.  Now anytime I look upon a gluten containing food with envy, or feel burdened by the extra preparation, making so many things from scratch, running around to various stores for specific ingredients or products. the extra expense of gluten free products...I quickly remember where we were a year ago and it is so easy to not be bothered that we can't eat things that most people enjoy and the convenience they take for granted.  

Here are some of the cute hairstyles we have done...unfortunately some of my favorite ones we didn't get photos of and my daughter won't let me redo them because she always wants to do something "new"...she's like "I already did that one!" lol...reminds me of Hilary Banks from Fresh Prince...could never wear an outfit twice! 

Oh and now she's gotten "inspired" and made up her own hairstyle...I was going to do two braids but she insisted this was the most wonderful hairstyle and spent the day showing it off to everyone.  When she showed her teachers "Do you like my hair? I made it up!" while wearing rainbowy clothes from head to toe, the response was "you remind me of punky brewster!" Anyways, she things this look is FABULOUS! So if you need a new hairstyle for you daughter...the one you are about to see is a total hit with the 4 year olds! lol

Look at that proud grin, so please with her hairstyle invention

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Gluten Free Cinnamon Belgian Waffles

Cinnamon-Toasted Belgian Waffles

Gluten free and Dairy Free

From Cooking For Isaiah

This past weekend we had another great success from our Cooking For Isaiah cookbook.  We made the Cinnamon Toasted Belgian Waffle and it was SO delicious, the cinnamon in the waffles with classic waffle texture, crunchy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, it was hard to remember I wasn't actually eating cinnamon toast.  These gluten free cinnamon waffles topped with real maple syrup was the best saturday morning breakfast we've had in a long time.  So far, Silvana Nardone's Cooking For Isaiah Cookbook of gluten free, dairy free recipes has yet to dissapoint...everything we have tried has been awesome and I've even used her flour blend in other recipes like the gluten free blueberry muffins with coconut struesel, chocolate chip muffins and strawberry muffins and I love it.  This is my favorite cookbook, the only other cookbook I have used so much (and not even as much as Silvana's is the big BHG cookbook.

If you are not feeling brave enough to make you own flour blend and get cooking from this awesome book, well, first of all, there's nothing to be afraid of, it's super easy although I was intimidated about the different flours and everything at first...I don't know why it's really not a big deal...ANYWAYS, if you'd rather stick with the gluten free bisquik mix, or if you not gluten free and making normal waffles, make according to package directions and add 1-2 tsp cinnamon to the batter and a bit of brown sugar.  

I'm not working for Silvana or her book, but I just can't help but rave about it every time I make something out of it!  I think she is a genius.

Chocolate Ganache with Coconut Milk - Dairy Free

Gluten Free Devil's Food Cake with Dairy Free Ganache

I recently had a birthday, but my 3 year old had the flu so we didn't end up making the cake, so today was the 10 year anniversary of my first date with my hubby so we finally made the cake.  We used the Betty Crocker Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Mix we found at Walmart and then made a dairy free Ganache frosting.  I LOVE chocolate Ganache so I was hoping I would be able to make a dairy free version.  It was SUPER good!  None of us felt like we were missing out on anything, the ganache with coconut milk was equally as good as the traditional ganache but probably a lot healthier considering coconut milk is very low calorie and you normally make it with whipping cream! The cake mix was great too, I used a Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Sticks to substitute a stick of butter called for on the mix directions. You would never know this cake was gluten free or dairy free, texture and taste was like the real thing!  

Dairy Free Chocolate Ganache with Coconut Milk (Low Fat Ganache)

1/2 cup coconut milk

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (I used Ghirardelli Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips they are dairy free)

Use a double boiler, or makeshift one by filling a medium size pot with water and bringing to a boil.  Place a medium size glass or metal bowl over the water and add coconut milk and chocolate chips and stir with a spatula as the chocolate chips melt.  Once the chocolate is mostly melted, stir smooth with a wire wisk.  Remove bowl from boiling water and let cool and begin to set a little so it is not TOO runny.  Once the ganache starts to cool and thicken, pour over your cake.

Now, I think I need to go sneak another slice!!!