Letter #2

I got another letter from Eric yesterday will post it soon...but I spent the morning writing him back and gotta run!

My Daily Bread

 

Minus the bite of lasagna that contained regular wheat  noodles for my cooking class, and soy sauce on my stir fry, I have been nearly gluten free…and let me tell you I miss wheat. I miss making bread that rises and doesn’t come out of the oven all soggy, or that can be formed into a bread masterpiece.

I don’t really feel a difference so either gluten is not a problem for me, or I just haven’t given it enough time. I think it is supposed to take at least two weeks, but I am probably the most impatient person you will ever meet.

I miss baking bread so much. It is such an art form and I have yet to discover a gluten free bread that can look or taste half as good as the beautiful wheat loaf in the picture above.

I suppose I will just have to keep experimenting. I have to remember that it is a good leaning process regardless of the outcome of this little gluten free experiment.

I do admit it feels kind of weird to succumb myself to somewhat of a fad movement. Like for example: The Atkins Diet. For so long carbs were the enemy, they were evil and people began eliminating this vital nutrient from their diet. Of course the gluten free movement is a little different considering it is a real issue for people..but I think it is misunderstood by many.  People seem to think it is some sort new weight loss idea and are eliminating a very nutritious part of a healthy diet without even having an issue with gluten in the first place. Wheat is not the enemy, it is not evil, some people just have problems digesting it.

I just want to make it clear that I have done my research and am not jumping off a cliff because everyone else is doing it. Gluten free does not mean healthy, or  low calorie, low sugar, or etc. It just means gluten free. Simple as that.

Is It Summer Yet?

As I applied some lotion to my hands yesterday a waft of delicious summer coconut scent hit my nostrils. Mmm nothing reminds me more of summer than coconut. Not the taste of coconut…just the smell. I have come to realize that I connect scents to memories more than anything. It brought to mind honeymooning in Mexico, sitting on the beach with no worries or bothers in the world…( except for the lil Mexican dude wearing a sombrero that kept wanting to sell us blankets.)

It also brought to mind our visits to Pismo Beach. It has been quite a long time since I have been to Pismo, which is sad. I always end up freezing my butt off but being only a few steps from the beach totally makes up for it.

I don’t really know what the point of this blog is..but all I know is that I can’t wait for summer. Not only will I be done with school, but I can’t stand being cold and can’t wait for it to warm up. Oh and I miss my summer fruit…nothing beats a Saturday morning at the farmer’s market and then lunch outside at Awful Annies.

Now back to reality. It’s freezing, and I have to go to class. Ugh.

Breathin Easy

I missed my usual blogging time because I was busy studying for a test..so I guess an afternoon blog will have to do..but they never end up going anywhere, are mostly rushed, and not even the least bit interesting…sorry guys my brain is a little more foggy in the afternoon, and especially after a test. I will make it short and painless…maybe.

I keep getting distracted by afternoon Television or maybe it is just Dr. Oz’s freakishly hairy gorilla arms. Someone should as him how to get rid of nasty upper  arm hair to see what he says and then tell him to take his own advice.

I guess I will end by saying that Michael Pollan Author of The Omnivores Dilemma, In Defense of Food and his newest book Food Rules, will be on Oprah again today…it is a repeat of his first appearance on Oprah but it is a must see if you haven’t watched it. Then go watch Food Inc. NOW.

My First Letter!

I got my first letter from Eric yesterday. I was so surprised. I thought it would be awhile until I got anything. The only sad part is that I don’t have an address to send him one back.

He wrote this in his second day of reception, so there is a pretty big gap between then and now. He said that he was cold and stressed and he was only  in reception at the time.  I am guessing he is probably in basic training now, and that stress level has only gone up. 

Well I suppose I will read err type his letter for you..

“Well it’s my second night here… oh my Lord what did I get myself into!!! It is so crazy! I haven’t been yelled at but my stress level is at max and I’m only in reception lol. OH YAH AND I MISS YOU SOOOO MUCH!!! I started getting teary eyed when I read your letter. ( I wrote him a letter to open on the plane ). Now that I am actually here it has really set in that I am going to be away from you for 5 months!!! <---( He likes his explanation marks…I think the Drill Seargants are starting to get to him ). I love you so much. I am just counting the days until I get to see you again. The lifestyle here is so strict and structured that the only escape I have is thinking about you. I have so little time to do anything that I am actually writing this letter with a flashlight under the covers. Oh ya and by the way there would be no way that you would be able to get through basic being a vegetarian, NO WAY! You literally have about 5 mins to eat so chewing is prohibited lol.

I hope that it just goes by fast because it’s freezing, im tired and I miss you so much! It feels so crazy not being albe to see you or talk to you. I wish I could give you an address to write me back but won’t get that until basic. I hope everything is going good, just try and keep busy and know that I am thinking about you all the time. I love you so much sweetie and you don’t know how much I want to hug and kiss you but I guess a 5 month wait will make it that much better. well i guess I’d better get to bed… before I do get yelled at lol”

Love, Eric

AKA your Hubby

His letter was really sweet and it made me smile when I read it. It is kind of nice getting letters because it is so much more heart felt. He says he has such little time but It seems like he put more time, effort, and thought into that letter than any word he has ever spoken to me, or any gift he has ever given to me.  I guess it is true what the say…absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Moment of Fame

I got my moment of fame this morning…well I got my e-mail read on the news at 5am so maybe 3 of 5 people watching it might of heard it. Regardless of who heard it or not, it lifted my mood a bit to hear my words read on the air by my favorite morning news crew. Wow I have a favorite morning news crew…that’s just sad. I am 23, going on 75. 

On another note…I got a text at work yesterday from my mother in-law telling me that they got a phone call from Eric on Sunday. What? I wasn’t expecting him to be able to make a call at all for like 3 weeks. I feel kind of selfish saying this but I wish that phone call was to me. I wish I could of heard his voice, but instead I just got a synopsis of his phone call.

His Dad said he sounded pretty homesick and not enjoying himself so much, and that he thinks this is the reason he didn’t call me. Like he didn’t want me to hear him upset in fear that it would upset me or something..but I think I am more upset getting second hand news. I think he underestimates my strength sometimes…and apparently over-estimates his own.

I have been writing Eric letters pretty much everyday, even though I have no address to send them too. I was going to write him one last night but all I could get on paper was “Why didn’t you call me?” I hope I at least get the first letter from him. Sigh.

Not Bad…

I previously blogged about the possibility of going gluten free… well I am still debating that because I love my whole wheat ( it may not love me though ). Going gluten free is a bit daunting to me still, but I am a little happier after a few discoveries yesterday.

Yesterday my Mom and I made a trip to Whole Foods in search of some good gluten free products. I was on a search for two specific things…a yummy gluten free breakfast cereal, and gluten free baking goods.

Whole Foods is like a toy store to my mom and I, we had fun browsing the aisles until we made our way to the breakfast cereals and made a selection.

I would say we made the right choice. I just had this cereal for breakfast and It was delicious. The maple flavor is great. It was like eating a bowl of pancakes. Yum. Operation breakfast cereal complete.

After browsing around a little bit more we finally came across the gluten free baking supplies where I found gluten free all purpose flour, and chocolate chips…oh yes I was definitely making cookies. I was curious as to how the cookies would turn out, and vowed that if they sucked I was giving up the gluten free trial immediately.

After dinner I started my search for some gluten free cookie recipes. I found a couple and decided to try them both. ( Hey why not right? ) The recipes I found were for Double Chocolate Chip Cookies, and just regular chocolate chip cookies. Here is the final product…

I was pleasantly surprised that they actually tasted pretty good. Not bad for gluten free, or for my first gluten free baking experience. Maybe I won’t miss gluten as much as I thought? I am not going to lie I am still hoping that I don’t have a problem with gluten but this is all a good learning experience and can better help me in the future if I have a client down the road with a gluten intolerance. Doesn’t hurt to learn something new!

Now onto my next baking adventure…bread. Eeek.

Wish me luck…

Oh and Happy Meatless Monday by the way, I guess my cookie recipes will have to be the Meatless Monday recipes as well…but check back because Wheatless Wednesdays are coming soon!

Let me know if you want the recipes :)