I haven't written in ages. I don't even remember the last time or the content of the last post. It doesn't matter.
What brings me back now is that damned Candida that saw me blogging nearly three years ago. Thankfully, I took notes for myself, because this feels like it could be another battle.
Last time I was on a restrictive diet for 5 months, took loads of nutritional supplements, drank nothing but water, and did a colon cleanse, among other treatments and remedies. This time? We'll see. I've already started the nutritional supplements, and am taking baby steps toward the diet.
Do I really have to do this again?!
Is it so bad if I do?
Last time I lost nearly 20 pounds without trying. My hair, skin, and nails looked great. I felt like I'd never been healthier. Of course, I had to cook everything from scratch, which took time. But I'm already cooking most things from scratch. So, will that really change things much?
I'm trying to see the up-side even as I'm suffering the symptoms and pondering the near future. Already I'm at a loss for what to eat when hungry and needing something quick.
Today
Breakfast: Low fat plain yogurt with blueberries, the only portion of fruit I'm supposed to have daily. This is actually an amendment to my diet last time, when I didn't eat ANY fruit for months. I found a version of the diet that allows me some fruit. The organic blueberries are just so delicious. Do I really have to fore-go them again? Maybe. Sugar is sugar. We'll see how I feel.
Snacks: 4 carrot sticks and 1 Tablespoon of almond butter
Lunch: 3 eggs, scrambled
I have dinner guests tonight, and hadn't anticipated having the dietary restrictions for myself. So, I'm having to mentally scramble to figure out what to serve as a side dish to the chicken I will be roasting. I want to be able to eat it, but I don't want anything to draw attention to the restrictions I'm personally observing.
While Dustin knows I have a yeast infection, I haven't told him that I believe it's going to take me two to three months to really fight it back. I don't really want to talk about this verbally. But I do have to get it out: I'm bummed out that I can't bake bread or cookies with my baby (too much temptation); I'm bummed that I have to go find yeast-free spelt bread to "enjoy"; I'm not happy that I can't eat vinegar (i.e. salad dressing, mayonnaise, etc.).
On the up-side, I do have several new cookbooks to glean recipe ideas from this time. Maybe, like last time, I'll find this a culinary inspiration.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Friday, March 20, 2009
I took a test on Facebook that "revealed my Power Animal." It turns out, I'm an owl. I have to say, the description fits!The owl represents brilliance, perspective, intuition, quick-wit, wisdom and clairvoyance. You have the ability to see and know things that others do not. A simple intonation that might go overlooked by another will be immediately recognized by you. You find yourself overcome with a special energy in the nighttime hours, and often feel the most creative and in tune when others are sleeping. You would do well in jobs that require a high degree of intuition and wisdom, such as a psychiatrist, a judge, or a position working with children. Just beware of making yourself too open to your outside surroundings. A sensitive such as yourself always need be aware of protecting your heart and mind.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
22.2 PoundsTristan is nearing 9 months and as of yesterday, he's hit the 22.2 mark on the scale. In case you haven't checked a weight chart for infants lately, let me tell you that this is a big kid. We've lately encountered many a one year old tot who can't hold a candle to my near nine month old. My son is HEALTHY.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Teething Is So Hard
Redhead Momma wrote me last week to say that she remembers how her son's sleep habits changed at 8 months. She recalled how hard it was.
As I sit here typing, waiting for dinner (at 9:06pm), I listen to my son JUST going to sleep. Granted, there was a time change that moved us an hour into the future. So, it's 8:06 to him. Regardless, he's been tired and I've been working to lull him to sleep for over an hour.
He cries. I attend to him. He cries again. Twice in the last 24 hours, he would only be consoled if I held him and rocked him, like I did when he was a newborn. Today he actually fell asleep on me sitting up, head bobbing like a buoy.
I just re-read that last paragraph. I said he cries. That's an understatement. He screams like he's going to die. Maybe it feels that way to a new little person who has had a good life to this point with attentive parents and lots of love.
I'm resisting going to him right now. He's not crying, just kind of babbling with an occasional staccato that sounds like he's trying to conjure my presence. Relief. D went to him.
I can't imagine how hard it must be to raise a child(ren) as a single parent. I'm sure I could do it if pressed, but I don't envy those mothers and fathers their solidarity.
If you are reading this, know that I intend to actually post photos and some up-beat thoughts on parenting. This is part of the experience, so I had to relate it - more for myself than for you.
Redhead Momma wrote me last week to say that she remembers how her son's sleep habits changed at 8 months. She recalled how hard it was.
As I sit here typing, waiting for dinner (at 9:06pm), I listen to my son JUST going to sleep. Granted, there was a time change that moved us an hour into the future. So, it's 8:06 to him. Regardless, he's been tired and I've been working to lull him to sleep for over an hour.
He cries. I attend to him. He cries again. Twice in the last 24 hours, he would only be consoled if I held him and rocked him, like I did when he was a newborn. Today he actually fell asleep on me sitting up, head bobbing like a buoy.
I just re-read that last paragraph. I said he cries. That's an understatement. He screams like he's going to die. Maybe it feels that way to a new little person who has had a good life to this point with attentive parents and lots of love.
I'm resisting going to him right now. He's not crying, just kind of babbling with an occasional staccato that sounds like he's trying to conjure my presence. Relief. D went to him.
I can't imagine how hard it must be to raise a child(ren) as a single parent. I'm sure I could do it if pressed, but I don't envy those mothers and fathers their solidarity.
If you are reading this, know that I intend to actually post photos and some up-beat thoughts on parenting. This is part of the experience, so I had to relate it - more for myself than for you.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Christmas Eve
This year I decided to go for the totally unconventional. In fact, I didn't even try to make a proper menu. I opted to try 2 dishes that I've been wanting to make. The first, I found through Epicurious as I was poking around one day. The other I searched for. I had a craving for something that I haven't had in years. The restaurant is now closed. The only way to get what I want is to make it. So I did.
I grew up in Southern California next to the epic mall, South Coast Plaza. For anyone reading this who is unfamiliar with the area or the mall itself, let me suffice it to say that you have to cross a busy city street in order to get to the annex part of the mall. This annex, called Crystal Court, is as large as a "normal" mall; three stories, 2 major department stores, restaurants, hair salons, and retail stores a-plenty.
Coming of age in this area made finding a job rather easy...if you wanted to work in retail. I wasn't opposed to the idea. So, I found myself ironing linen skirts, selling Egyptian cotton sheets, and wearing battenburg lace collars at Westminster Lace. Across the "hall" was the compelling force behind this post: The Magic Pan. If you do a search for this place online, you will find that I am not alone in lamenting its loss. So, if you look, you can find recipes for their old favorites like the Chicken Divan crepe. My favorite was their cheese fritters. Imagine a savory beignet topped with finely shredded Parmesan and served with a sweet mustard sauce, and you will have see what is in my mind's eye.
I found the following recipe via the websites with recipes posted. I checked several and everyone had the same recipe posted for The Magic Pan Cheese Fritters. I gave it a go tonight. Though they were good, they weren't as good as I remember them. Even as I tasted these, which were good, I started tweaking the recipe in my mind for future use. I may never make them to compare with the memory of those beloved little morsels, but I will try.
Here's the recipe.
1 oz. blue cheese, crumbled
1 1/4 all purpose flour
1 T. baking powder
3/4 t. salt
dash cayenne
3 med. eggs
6 oz. of grated cheddar cheese
vegetable oil
grated Parmesan cheese
In small saucepan heat the milk and bleu cheese over medium heat until the cheese melts.
Mix together the flour, baking powder, salt and cayenne in a mixing bowl.
Add the milk and bleu cheese and mix thoroughly.
Add eggs one at a time and mix until blended.
Add cheddar cheese and blend for a couple of minutes.
Drop the mixture into fritter shapes into hot oil until light brown.
Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Dipping Sauce
1 cup salad dressing (Miracle Whip?)
1/4 cup prepared mustard
1/4 cup sugar
dash of lemon juice
Mix all ingredients.
In the future, I will increase the blue cheese by 1/4 cup. I will use sharp instead of mild cheddar. I will cut the dipping sauce recipe in half. Even if I cut it to 1/4 I'd have enough.
This year I decided to go for the totally unconventional. In fact, I didn't even try to make a proper menu. I opted to try 2 dishes that I've been wanting to make. The first, I found through Epicurious as I was poking around one day. The other I searched for. I had a craving for something that I haven't had in years. The restaurant is now closed. The only way to get what I want is to make it. So I did.
I grew up in Southern California next to the epic mall, South Coast Plaza. For anyone reading this who is unfamiliar with the area or the mall itself, let me suffice it to say that you have to cross a busy city street in order to get to the annex part of the mall. This annex, called Crystal Court, is as large as a "normal" mall; three stories, 2 major department stores, restaurants, hair salons, and retail stores a-plenty.
Coming of age in this area made finding a job rather easy...if you wanted to work in retail. I wasn't opposed to the idea. So, I found myself ironing linen skirts, selling Egyptian cotton sheets, and wearing battenburg lace collars at Westminster Lace. Across the "hall" was the compelling force behind this post: The Magic Pan. If you do a search for this place online, you will find that I am not alone in lamenting its loss. So, if you look, you can find recipes for their old favorites like the Chicken Divan crepe. My favorite was their cheese fritters. Imagine a savory beignet topped with finely shredded Parmesan and served with a sweet mustard sauce, and you will have see what is in my mind's eye.
I found the following recipe via the websites with recipes posted. I checked several and everyone had the same recipe posted for The Magic Pan Cheese Fritters. I gave it a go tonight. Though they were good, they weren't as good as I remember them. Even as I tasted these, which were good, I started tweaking the recipe in my mind for future use. I may never make them to compare with the memory of those beloved little morsels, but I will try.
Here's the recipe.
Magic Pan Cheese Fritters
1/2 cup milk1 oz. blue cheese, crumbled
1 1/4 all purpose flour
1 T. baking powder
3/4 t. salt
dash cayenne
3 med. eggs
6 oz. of grated cheddar cheese
vegetable oil
grated Parmesan cheese
In small saucepan heat the milk and bleu cheese over medium heat until the cheese melts.
Mix together the flour, baking powder, salt and cayenne in a mixing bowl.
Add the milk and bleu cheese and mix thoroughly.
Add eggs one at a time and mix until blended.
Add cheddar cheese and blend for a couple of minutes.
Drop the mixture into fritter shapes into hot oil until light brown.
Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Dipping Sauce
1 cup salad dressing (Miracle Whip?)
1/4 cup prepared mustard
1/4 cup sugar
dash of lemon juice
Mix all ingredients.
In the future, I will increase the blue cheese by 1/4 cup. I will use sharp instead of mild cheddar. I will cut the dipping sauce recipe in half. Even if I cut it to 1/4 I'd have enough.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
It's Christmas Eve-Eve.
It just occurred to me that I could blog about what I cook. I was doing that for a bit, but I haven't posted anything food related in quite a long time. As I have started to read Homesick Texan's blog, I realized that I too could write about what I eat and why.
Now that I am beyond the initial frenzy and fatigue that being a new mom entails, I have begun to really cook again. For me, food isn't just a source of nutrients. Food is a language. In fact, the only conversations that my parents and I can engage in without fear of conflict revolve around food.
My mom tells me what she bought on sale and where, how much she paid, how she prepared it, and what she did with the left overs. (There are always left overs.) When she comes to my house, I hand her my newest cook book for her to peruse. She'll call out recipe titles that she finds "interesting."
My father also tells me about the food he's been having lately. He's more of a restaurant patron these days. So he'll tell me about the Chinese "joint" that just opened up, the microbrewery that he wants to take my husband to, the only decent Mexican food they can find, etc. Everything has to be pretty cheap for my dad to even consider it.
I guess that's another family tie. We're all bargain shoppers. So, if we can get a bargain on food. Damn! We're all over that. And then we tell each other because there is a certain level of respect earned for finding an exceptional deal.
Lately, I've become more grounded in my roots in this way. In the recent past I'd gotten used to buying what I wanted, regardless of cost. If I wanted smoked salmon, I might not buy a ton of it, but the price per pound wouldn't put me off. These days, everyone is more cost conscious. In these leaner times, I am grateful to my parents for giving me the chops to buy and use what's on sale.
I'll start with my first recipe post tomorrow.
Happy Holidays!
It just occurred to me that I could blog about what I cook. I was doing that for a bit, but I haven't posted anything food related in quite a long time. As I have started to read Homesick Texan's blog, I realized that I too could write about what I eat and why.
Now that I am beyond the initial frenzy and fatigue that being a new mom entails, I have begun to really cook again. For me, food isn't just a source of nutrients. Food is a language. In fact, the only conversations that my parents and I can engage in without fear of conflict revolve around food.
My mom tells me what she bought on sale and where, how much she paid, how she prepared it, and what she did with the left overs. (There are always left overs.) When she comes to my house, I hand her my newest cook book for her to peruse. She'll call out recipe titles that she finds "interesting."
My father also tells me about the food he's been having lately. He's more of a restaurant patron these days. So he'll tell me about the Chinese "joint" that just opened up, the microbrewery that he wants to take my husband to, the only decent Mexican food they can find, etc. Everything has to be pretty cheap for my dad to even consider it.
I guess that's another family tie. We're all bargain shoppers. So, if we can get a bargain on food. Damn! We're all over that. And then we tell each other because there is a certain level of respect earned for finding an exceptional deal.
Lately, I've become more grounded in my roots in this way. In the recent past I'd gotten used to buying what I wanted, regardless of cost. If I wanted smoked salmon, I might not buy a ton of it, but the price per pound wouldn't put me off. These days, everyone is more cost conscious. In these leaner times, I am grateful to my parents for giving me the chops to buy and use what's on sale.
I'll start with my first recipe post tomorrow.
Happy Holidays!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
President-Elect Obama
One week ago, the world watched with rapt anticipation. Electoral votes grew to landslide proportions. Barack Obama is kicking Bush out of the white house.
The following morning, my family took a walk through our neighborhood. It seemed that everyone was riding on a high. The nation is euphoric.
Already there is news about what Mr. Obama will do when he takes his seat in the Oval Office. He is working with his VP to evaluate every person appointed to a job by the Bush administration. Change is a-coming, and none too soon.
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