A Taste of the Carribean at Home

I went to St. Thomas (USVI) back in 2012 and based on a recommendation from the locals, we took the ferry out of Red Hook Bay over to Cruz Bay on St. John.  While meandering through town, we found St. John Spice, which is this amazing store that sells spices of course, but also coffees, teas, and random touristy things.  We brought home a small container of St. John Jerk Seasoning, used it up very quickly, and had to order more.

Christmas Eve Planning

So, my best friend's husband called me last night.  He's cooking a Christmas Eve feast, and since yours truly is invited, he wanted to go over the menu with me.  What an awesome guy, right?

Well the conversation started out with "So, what can you eat?"  What a loaded question.  I can eat tons of things.  I pretty much told him that.  So he followed up with, "OK, well then what can't I cook with?"  Another loaded question.

I tried to break it down for him, so folks it goes a little something like this...

Coconut Curry Chicken

Sometimes you're just craving a nice, warm curry.  Tonight was one of those nights.  I did some google searching since I don't know how to do curry on my own, and then added my own twist with some sauteed kale.

Chicken Soup for My Soul

I don't know what I did.  Either I accidentally got cross-contaminated or I have a stomach bug.  I've been sick since yesterday.  There is only one thing to do - make soup!

Chopped: Using What You Have

I am a big proponent of using what you have around.  When I got out of work today, I was talking to a foodie friend about what he was making for dinner.  He and I were both in the same boat.  Neither of us had anything in our kitchen that looked like it could be made into a cohesive meal.  We started joking about the Food Network show, Chopped.  So we decided to embark on a journey to see what we could make for dinner with random items in our kitchens.

Thanksgluten... I mean Thanksgiving

Yeah, holidays kind of sucked for a long time.  When you're initially diagnosed with Celiac Disease, you go through this semi-denial phase where you still go to the bars and restaurants and dinner parties.

I was going to "Thirsty Thursdays" - a weekly tradition in my office - with all of my coworkers; and drinking things like Rum and OJ *gag* when I used to be a beer and whisky girl.  I would go to restaurants and dinner parties and eat nothing but salad, and end up cross contaminated anyway.

Bird is the Word

I'm proud to say that I get my Turkey every year from a local farm, called Buckley Farm.  Their Turkeys are cage-free and pasture raised, and are fed a diet that is GMO-free and Soy-free.  We have a local mom and pop butcher shop, called Primal.  Primal performs the brining process for me, so that I don't have to worry about it.  They are extremely aware of Gluten Free needs.  My bird is 100% safe to eat.

Prostitutes Make Delicious Pasta

I'm half Italian.  Half of my entire family is 100% Italian, from Naples, straight off the boat into New York.  I grew up on Nonna's recipes.  My grandmother was a phenomenal cook.  However, it is ironic that one of my favorite sauces is not one that I ever remember her making for me, although I guarantee she knew how, given that this sauce originated in her home city.  Puttanesca Sauce is amazingly rich in flavor and surprisingly easy to make, even though it has a list of seemingly complex ingredients.   Also, apologies for the title, but there is no other way to put this because that is literally what the name translates to.

Sometimes You Just Need a Little Pick Me Up

I'm not writing this to promote that eating is the solution to all of our problems.  However, there are certain times when you just need a nice bowl of Cookies n' Cream Ice Cream to make all things right in the world.

Medical Alert Bracelet

Guess what arrived?  My Medical Alert Bracelet!

Taking Care of Yourself First

One of my friends posted a message on Facebook to her loved ones that she was trying to do her best to help others in her life, but that she needed to take some time for herself.  She said she hoped they understood.

Almost everyone replied back with messages telling her that if she didn't take care of herself, she would be no good to the folks she was trying to help out and that they understood.  One of the people replied to her that "Anyone who doesn't understand this isn't worth keeping around."

Stuffing... it's not just for Breakfast anymore

What?? Stuffing??? For Breakfast??

You heard me right!  This awesome Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe is a bacon, cornbread stuffing.  This means that the day after Thanksgiving, when you wake up with a Turkey Hangover, you can remedy it with a breakfast of eggs and stuffing!

Safe and Sound

Surgery went well and I am back home.  I am pleased to say that the staff in the recovery center were very attentive to my needs and with my food from home, I was never worried about cross contamination.

I've Died and Gone to Heaven

There is one thing I hate about summer... going with friends to the ice cream parlors and either not being able to get anything or being stuck with bland boring flavors.

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

Well, as far as the United States has come regarding availability of Gluten Free food and labeling, we are still sorely behind when it comes to education of the general public.  It is unfortunate that something which has a drastic and direct effect on a person is only made public by the efforts of that person.  Because, let's face it.  If people don't have someone directly in their life who is impacted by an illness, people seem to have no reason to care.

Lucky for me, the intake nurse at the surgical center had a niece with Celiac Disease.  Lucky, because she had half a clue as to issues I might face, but even she was woefully unaware.  Otherwise I'm not sure I could be confident in how my surgical experience will have gone.  I'm getting ahead of myself.  Let me tell you what happened.