queenofhearts

I swear that answered so many questions I had about just PEOPLE. Not kids. It said that some people's batteries are recharged by solitude, and some need interaction to be recharged. If I don't get some solitude, I get really exhausted and irritable. My daughter on the other hand, in order to be at her happiest, needs some attention and interaction. If she doesn't get it, she gets cranky and irritable. My husband is just like my daughter, my son is just like me. My dad was like me, my mom like my daughter, my MIL like my daughter, my FIL like me. It really reaches into every aspect of my friends and family.

Nancy

I think it's fascinating that in each couple you list, there is one inward type & one outward. In my marriage too, my husband is the outgoing one. And his mom is outgoing, his dad very introverted. It's almost as if we seek each other out! And then we spend the rest of our lives not really getting each other... hmmm. Must be something in us that drives us to complete our genetics with opposing traits... seeking more balanced offspring? In my case I have twins (fraternal)-- one introvert & one extravert! I guess that's balanced in a way!

Good for you, Nancy, for figuring out what you & your children need to be happy. When my kids were young I would get up before dawn for the few minutes of solitude to fortify me for the day... now they sleep so late that it isn't an issue! (That's when they're home from college.)

Leah

I dunno. Again, maybe I'm weird. Clearly in the minority.

I got a regular cake for my birthday from my boss and everyone at work and I was just "stoked" to have a cake (gluten-free or not).

I found out later they had discussed it and one person was against the idea but my boss decided to go ahead and get the cake cuz what would it be like with no cake at all? I thought he made the right decision and I was happy. I wouldnt have expected them to go search out a special bakery just for me. I work in a grocery store and the bakery only makes regular cakes so thats what I got....a really nice looking gluten filled cake that said "Happy Birthday Rachel". I cut it for everyone to enjoy and wasnt the least bit upset. I had the bigest smile on my face cuz I felt pretty normal...even if I wasnt actually gonna eat any. I have more diet restrictions than just gluten anyways so its not like I could of had a gluten-free cake either.

Its the thought that counts and I was touched.

At work is one thing. For her it was family. They should know better.

Leah

Hi Leah,

I'm not a good resource for that since I don't eat in restaurants at all. Durham has the usual stuff though - Outback, PF Changs, etc. Nana's and Magnolia Grill are a bit fancier so you might find accomodation there.

Sarah

Thanks for responding anyway! I was hoping for something cheap & unchainy, but that seems to be the holy grail... my quest continues!

Would you be interested in getting together for an all-gluten-free gathering sometime? I have one other taker... I'm learning to bake gluten-free & have some really tasty recipes. Do you eat sweets at all?

Leah

I'm afraid I don't know enough about the tests, just wanted to commiserate about these clueless "Health Professionals". White toast, nice idea! Sigh. You are taking good care of your Mom, better luck with the Monday appointment.

Leah

Some people have problems with wine, but it is not gluten. I think it is the sufites? You might wan't to try an organic wine. They do not contain sulfites.

Enjoy!

Hez

I thought grapes & wine contained natural sulfites-- remember that from another thread. Anyone know?

Leah

Hmmm... from your description my first suspicion would be that the batter was a little too thin.

I've found this is one of the challenges with Gluten-free batters, after having baked wheat & rye bread for many years, because with wheat doughs you can tell more from the feel of the dough when kneading, but Gluten-free doughs are softer in general to avoid dry results...

It's tough to have a precise bread recipe because flour does vary in moisture. If it has been kept in humid conditions it could well have absorbed a good deal of moisture.

As for the flavor, it could be that you just don't like millet-- have you used it in other recipes? There's a lot of it in that flour mix. It has a fairly assertive flavor, & like bean flour, some like it, some don't.

OR it could be that the yeast overproofed. When yeast rises too much before baking, it collapses in the oven & develops a bitter overtone. This could also explain the dough not rising high enough. You didn't by chance aqccidentally use Rapid Rise yeast, did you?

But the overflowing is what's making me think of too much liquid. UNLESS you weren't watching it rise & it actually rose & collapsed before you even checked. In warm weather, I always check way earlier than the recipe time, since it really affects the rising. One thing that seems to help my Gluten-free breads is to stop just short of doubling the dough on the rise. It seems that is pushing our luck with the less-structured batters, & they are prone to collapsing in the oven.

ANYWAY, my preference so far is for Bette Hagman's breads. I like more assertive, chewy, grainy breads mostly & A.R.'s seem more fluffy-oriented. Her sweets can't be beat, though!

Leah

Wow! I would never have guessed! Thanks for sharing the good news.

Leah

????????????????????

Does not compute...

Yes, yes, yes! And it's so counterintuitive, since for some people (celiac & not) it causes diarrhea. I really don't understand the mechanism (though I have long been curious about it) but I most definitely have felt this beneficial effect for years. And I can barely tolerate eating sweets (other than fruit) without coffee, though that may be partly a flavor habit... chocolate in particular just doesn't appeal to me at all without coffee. On the other hand, drinking it on an empty stomach does sometimes bother me.

And yes the vinegar is Gluten-free, though some people are sensitive to vinegar of all kinds.

Leah

We have a 2 year old dd. My celiac disease (ibs thought originally) came full force after the birth of my daughter. Our sex life has diminished greatly over this time. He works nights so its hard during the daytime to be intimate except on the weekends. He was put on different blood pressure pills so I thought it must be that and being tired that's common with a new child. I know he isnt cheating for the fact of time and I hope he wouldnt do that (he said he isnt) since no money is spent and he is literally at home always when he gets off of work. He never goes out alone or with his friends ( his choice).

I am sick of our sex life being so horrible. Im only in my early thirties, I'm thinking of the grass being greener on the other side and my mind is starting to drift. I cant imagine me ever cheating (just dont have it in me) but I'm angry all the time anymore and just not expressing it so he isnt aware.

I brought up the subject last night again on why we arent having more sex, we are talking once a month or every two months. He finally told me the truth after 2 years. It's because of my gi upset with gluten that I have had a hard time getting under control lately. I always feel like I'm accidentally glutened. Plus my doctor just put me on glucophage so Im having gi issues with that also. He has ocd but still I cant believe this. He said it disgusts him to think about it since I have stomach upset so much anymore.

I cried all night last night and still crying today over it but very angry also today. I have a hard enough time dealing with this yet alone his ridicule making me feel more gross about it. He knows it is something I cant control but apparently that doesnt matter. I dont ever want to have sex with him again. He mentioned sex last night but I dont want pity sex or because he feels bad about what he feels/said. Obviously its not a deal breaker since I have a daughter but he makes me so angry when I look at him.

I dont know how to get over this, has anyone else had a problem like this? I feel so alone.......

I'm so sorry, I know you must feel very hurt. I haven't had this issue, but I can imagine it would be devastating. Just try to think of it as an expression of his OCD, & not a personal thing... but I know that's hard. Maybe he should talk with his psychiatrist about this. Is he on meds for the OCD?

I can relate to the timing issues at least. My husband runs a restaurant & he works nights as often as not. When the boys were little it made things tough, but once they were in school it actually made it easier, so long as you don't mind "afternoon delight"! I hope your NDH gets help for his issues, you get healthier, & you both are back enjoying one another soon.

Leah

I'm betting you have it. The diagnosis is such a mixed blessing, isn't it? The diet seems so daunting, & it really is at first, but after just a month I'm finding it easier. And the blessing part-- all those symptoms have a simple explanation, you have a great prognosis for feeling better, & you don't need any scary meds or operations or any of that-- just a dietary change that would probably be better for you in any case.

And I will tell you, this board is such a fantastic resource. Nothing else compares.

Welcome!

Leah

p.s. Though you wouldn't know it from the storebought selections, pastry is one of the easiest things to make delicious yet gluten free. (Not so much of a rising issue.) If you bake, look for Annalise Roberts cookbook, or Bette Hagman's The Gluten Free Gourmet Makes Dessert.

Thank you so much!! I will definitely get the book!!! Do you know of other powdered milk products? I haven't seen any powdered rice milk. That would be a great option --Anyone know of one?

One thing you can substitute for milk powder is almond meal. It's extremely tasty & adds to the protein balance much as milk does. But buttermilk also contains acids which can be important for rising &/or texture, so if you sub for that you should also add a bit of vinegar or other acidic ingredient. (A teaspoon or so per cup of milk or its equivalent.)

Leah

I tried the submarine sandwich bread and it was a disaster. I popped it in the freezer and will use it for breadcrumbs. I followed the directions carefully. Maybe it was too hot/cold/humid/something that day. Should I try it again? Am I the only one who buggered it up?

What, exactly, was the problem with it? I might be able to help analyze what caused it... I haven't made this particular bread but I've done a fair bit of bread experimentation.

Leah

I'm an artist too & I completely understand being swept up in a creative frenzy & not wanting to do anything else for weeks at a time!

Luckily, at such times, I'm completely oblivious to what I'm eating, thus am perfectly happy with a subsistance diet of rice cakes, peanut butter, raw veggies & fruits. Or I'll make a big batch of soup or stir fry & eat the same dish for several days.

Then there are times when cooking itself becomes the creative frenzy. Believe me, it can happen! At such times I thoroughly enjoy a nice kitchen binge & freeze some of the results for the studio-frenzy times.

The key to enjoying cooking is to do lots of it when the spirit strikes you, instead of having it be a daily burden.

Also... might your husband do some of the cooking? Mine doesn't do much, but he grills, & makes a mean tuna salad, & I enjoy his contributions greatly!

Leah

Wow... so now its "fussiness" to want your child to be well? Yikes. I just sent a reply too.

Leah

Congratulations! It's always scary when your child (or anyone you love, really) has to undergo something like this, so don't feel silly about your apprehensions. Just rejoice that all went well! We'll all be hoping for the best!

Leah

This is fascinating! I am definitely a solitude-lover; I actually enjoy social interactions & I think I'm fairly sensitive to people's feelings, but I REALLY NEED time to myself. Part of it is that I'm an artist & the creativity only happens when I'm alone in my studio. But part of it just seems to have to do with energy-- being with people, even if I love them, gives me an experience sort of like a sugar buzz-- big jump in energy followed by a hard crash.

The one thing I have that nearly approaches social phobia-- I DETEST the telephone. E-mail was a professional lifesaver for me. Dealing with clients was so hard in the pre e-mail days.

My son said just yesterday that he is afraid of his ring tone-- I know just how he feels. I cannot talk on the phone without pacing like a caged tiger the whole time, & I tend to giggle manically even when things aren't funny-- it's just bizarre.

Shadow Aspergers.... hm, maybe! Or maybe shadow manic-depressive... or ocd... or all of the above... but more or less functional, somehow.

Leah

Wow, not only is she a genius, but also a sweetheart!!! Good for you for asking her permission, Fiddle-Faddle, & good for her for being so generous! I have her book & it is well worth the very reasonable price. Buy it, folks! We need to keep this lady in business!

Leah

My experience is low fat anything is to be avoided unless its specifically labelled gluten free.

Like most things mayo only takes a minute or so to make (with a food processor) so its not something I buy, not to mention its the sort of thing when you open it you use it and since I need to watch my calories I prefer just making it to order.

Having said that its something I'd only use free range certified eggs to make, never the factory ones where the chickens are standing in their own filth and never use an egg that is even partially cracked because this is where salmonella etc. get in..

To make a modest amount take a single egg yolk and add a pinch or two odf salt and 1-2 DROPS of oil ...

the best applicance is the hand held blender, the bigger ones only work from scratch if you have enough eggs to cover the blades... whisk until it emulsifies and add opil dropwise but never exceeding 1/2 of the volume you have already. You should get about 1/4 cup from a single egg yolk...

At this point its aoli without garlic ... you now need to 'cook' the emulsified mix with a teaspoon (or two) of lemon juice or vinegar (or half and half) and 1/2 tablespoon of warm water...

Optional is add garlic ... tarragon, mustard depending on taste...

I like making my own sometimes too, but be really careful-- even when made with ultra-fresh eggs it is NOT nearly as long-keeping as the storebought sort. It goes off very quickly, so don't risk saving it for later.

Leah

I use Hellman's Light Mayo. It is gluten-free and has half of the fat & calories as the regular Hellman's.

I use this one too. My kids like it better than the full-fat version! I was so glad it was gluten-free.

Leah

Also, I wouldn't discount the possibility of food poisoning, Jabberwife... maybe the chicken?

Leah

I have a copy, but truth to tell, I get lots more info from this site than from any book. (I do get a lot out of the cookbooks, but not so much from the general-information kind.) This forum is an incredible resource; I don't know what I'd do without you folks!

Leah

I don't think people (for the most part) intend to be inconsiderate or rude. Its just that its not their diet and so its not on their mind the way its on ours....at nearly every meal. It doesnt bother me when people eat other stuff in front of me. Maybe I'm weird but I want to see it and smell it and know that someone else is totally enjoying their meal. I think I make them feel so lucky that they appreciate the food much more than they normally would have. I guess I dont feel left out cuz I'm not the type to go off by myself and be sad...I'm totally in their face asking them what it tastes like...is it good? What kind of sauce are you using...etc. I dunno what my problem is but I would feel more strange if people didn't eat the normal stuf in front of me. I guess I dont want people to feel sorry for me or anything....I'd rather they were totally comfortable to do what they want. If the shoe was on the other foot I would still wanna eat pizza and everything else and I would hate to tiptoe around food all the time. I wouldnt want to feel guilty inside because I could eat gluten foods and not get sick. I would just want to happily enjoy my food.

I think our feelings are normal...its totally normal to be sad or feel left out. I just think we sometimes forget that its not always about us. I think the majority of us....if it werent for Celiac....would still go on eating the things we love....regardless if another family member had special dietary needs. We would try to accomadate them when necessary but I think its probably unrealistic to be able to always be prepared for that persons diet needs....sometimes they will have to take care of themselves....unless they are a child.

Its always awesome when someone DOES take the time out to make you feel important and special but as Nini said it cant be expected. It just makes those times all the special and memorable.

I'm definitely with you Rachel, as to eating with others in general. I'd so much rather they had what they enjoyed & didn't stress out over my diet. (Especially cooks-- I really don't WANT to be that much trouble to anyone but me!)

HOWEVER, serving a gluten b-day cake for a Celiac's b-day is just plain cruel! There's really no excuse for that in my book.

Leah

Ohhh... I sure hope I follow this pattern. I've always wondered why I get bit all over when others hardly at all. I've even considered moving to a condo so as not to have to work in the yard I get so tired of having bites all over me all summer long.

As I type this message I have 11 bug bites, a couple of them are doozies. This is from a couple days working in the yard - with repellant and having first sprayed the area with bug spray. I can't step outside for even a minute without at least one misquito bite. And every year I get at least two bites from some bug I've never been able to identify that raises a good sized blister that lasts for a couple weeks and then takes a couple more weeks to heal up, leaving a red patch on my skin for the rest of the season.

Looking forward to next year to see if the bugs leave me alone!

My father in law talks of being bitten (or stung, actually) by blister beetles. Sounds similar to your reaction. Did they hurt? (His did.)

I'll be overjoyed if my mosquito luck holds out. I love gardening, & end up doing it in the hottest part of the day to avoid being devoured. (I'd rather be drenched in sweat than covered with bites.) It would be so wonderful if I can really enjoy outdoor evenings!

Leah

ugh, everytime i stand up i get really really lightheaded and my ears start to ring wtf is going on.... i feel so tired like i did not sleep at all but i got plently of sleep, i would blame it on some form of food but since my stomic is not bothering me at all (foronce) i dont know what it is, i got vitemens i got b12 pills im eating balanced meals ARG

Do you have low blood pressure? Or anemia? Both can cause this lightheadedness. And yes, it's worse in heat.

Leah

I haven't tried the cake yet but I will. You can get the superfine brown rice flour from Authentic Foods website. They provide good service. Buy some sweet rice flour too. It's also hard to find.

If you have an Asian grocery nearby you can get sweet rice flour & many others at great bargain prices.

Leah