MY GLUTEN FREE LIFE

I started this blog to share my writing trials and triumphs. It's been a couple of years and I've really stuck to that, but it's time to branch out. I'm not just a writer. I'm a Christian, wife, mom, daughter, sister, friend.

Recently many people have asked me for gluten-free recipes and tips. So, I've decided to expand my writing blog and share about my gluten-free life.

HERE'S WHERE IT ALL BEGAN:

At the end of November 2013, my son developed a rash under both his arms and on the back of both his knees. 

I put lotion and aquaphor on it for about a week, but it just got worse. We took him to the dermatologist and they gave us a prescription strength cream, but no answers as to why he had the rash.

I didn't really care too much at that time, I just wanted him better.

The cream kept the rash from getting worse, but didn't make the rash go away. After using the cream for two weeks, the lotion was gone but his rash wasn't. At night he tossed and turned, scratching and clawing at his skin. I tried letting him sleep without clothes in case he was hot.

It didn't help.

I tried keeping clothes on him to make him stop scratching.

Still didn't help.

We went back to the dermatologist. They gave us a stronger prescription, but still no answers as to what it was and why he had it. I brought up the possibility of testing him for allergies. Numbers were tossed around in the $700-$1,100 range. An elephant came and sat on my chest.

We don't have health insurance because my husband is self-employed. I'm a stay-at-home mom with two little ones, trying to get by on my husband's small income.

I had two internal voices yelling at me. One shouted, "We can't afford this!!!" The other scolded, "My son needs it! What kind of mother thinks about money at a time like this?"

I declined at that time and told myself I would research and compare prices and when the time came, I would choose whatever he needed, no matter what the cost, but I would make wise decisions, not hasty ones. But I still felt like I couldn't breathe. The elephant on my chest wasn't going anywhere.

So, we tried the new prescription and I couldn't believe how quickly it helped!!! His rash cleared up under his arms and behind his knees, where we applied the cream.

BUT WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS IT SPREAD TO HIS CHEST AND STOMACH. Where we applied the cream was clear, but whatever was wrong with him wasn't fixed, it just had to find a new place to expose it's ugly head.

The elephant on my chest was gaining weight.

His body screamed at me to help! His skin shouted, "I'm hurting! YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING WRONG AND I'M SHOWING YOU! NOW STOP POISONING THIS BODY!!!!"

But what was wrong? Why was it getting worse? How was I going to figure it out before my child had permanent scarring?

ELEPHANT. ON. CHEST. CAN'T. BREATHE.

One night I locked myself in the bathroom, ran a bath of hot water, and sobbed. I've learned in my lifetime that there's only one "person" I need to cry to.

This mommy thing can be hard. This mommy thing can be scary. I'm reminded in these times how much I need God. I felt so helpless. All I knew to do was pray.

The next day I told my husband I was putting Wyatt on a strict diet and if it didn't help then we'd have to get him tested before his skin was permanently scarred, not to mention the damage that might have been going on on the inside.

I took him off of eggs, ham, dairy, gluten, and anything I could think of that might be an allergy related food. I explained to Wyatt that it would be really hard for him but it was just until I knew what was causing his rash.

He ate fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, and grilled chicken.

Within 48 hours his skin was nearly spotless!!!!! This rash, which had progressively gotten worse for 6 weeks, was gone in just 2 days!!!!!!

It was an answered prayer! The elephant got up and walked away. My son was better and there didn't appear to be any scarring once it cleared!

Slowly I added foods back into his diet keeping a close eye on his skin. We started with eggs. I allowed him to eat eggs for a few days and the rash didn't come back. So I added ham back into his diet. (The kid loves ham)

A few days passed and he was still clear.

Finally I added dairy. I was sure by now it was either dairy or gluten. So I picked one and prayed for the best.

Still no rash!!!!

By process of elimination, I found out my son was allergic to gluten. And just to prove that it wasn't a fluke, from time to time Wyatt's skin breaks-out again. His rashes are mild and we can usually trace it back to a slip-up where he was exposed to gluten.

For example: We ate at Buffalo's one day after church. We ordered Wyatt the grilled chicken (plain) and corn on the cob. The next day the back of his knees were broke-out.

I knew I hadn't prepared anything that would cause this (because by now I was a pro in the kitchen at gluten-free meals) so my suspicions were on Buffalo's.

We went there the following week, ordered the same food, and got the same results.

The third week we went and I asked the waitress how they cooked their corn on the cob. She said they fry it in the frier.

I'd found the guilty culprit! (For those who are new to gluten-free, they fry all sorts of breaded foods in the frier and people who are very sensitive will have a reaction. Corn is gluten free; Restaurant friers aren't). We ordered broccoli that time and he didn't break-out!!

So I'm learning as I go. Sometimes we have to test things and see how his body responds. Somethings we don't even try--if I'm certain it's gluten then we just don't risk it.

We bring gluten-free brownies to any kid event that will include cake or cookies, this way Wyatt doesn't feel deprived. I send gummie snacks to his teacher so she has treats for him whenever she gives out treats. I made sure he had his own Easter candy to replace the candies in the Easter eggs he found. It takes work and time and I have to be one step ahead, but it's worth it to see my child happy and healthy and enjoying all the things the other kids do, just with gluten-free foods!

I'll start posting recipes and all the yummy things we've discovered over these past few months. I'm in no way an expert, but I'll gladly share my trials, errors, and gluten-free successes. I'd love your recipes and stories as well!!

Thanks for reading!

~Amber

GLUTEN FREE RECIPES

Okay, here are some of my most popular recipes. Most of them I've found or been told and so I will try my best to give credit where it's due :)


Up first, my son's absolute FAVORITE gluten-free food!



CHICKEN SALAD:

1.5 lbs. of boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1 large or 2 small apples (I prefer pink ladies)
20-30 purple grapes
1tbsp mayonnaise
1tsp salt
1tsp pepper
(optional nuts: walnuts or pecans chopped)

We all have different likes and dislikes. Use whichever fruit or chicken best suits you. Play with the recipe until it's your form of perfection :) I eyeball this recipe, so measurements are very adjustable.

Boil water, add chicken and cook for 15 minutes. (make sure it's cooked all the way through). Cut chicken into chunks.
Dice apple (remove core).
Cut grapes into quarters.
Throw everything into a bowl and add mayonnaise.
Stir with a spoon until it's evenly coated with mayonnaise.
Add salt and pepper. Stir and serve :)

I like it best when it's been chilled. I've been known to make it in large batches because my husband and son eat it for every meal when it's available. Seriously, they go through it like crazy.

This recipe originated from SAM'S. I ate some of their chicken salad, loved it, and thought I could make it at home. This is what I came up with :)



CHOCOLATE CHEX:

1 box of Vanilla Chex cereal
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (gluten free)
1/4 cup butter
1 tsp vanilla (gluten free)

Pour cereal into gallon sized ziploc bag.
Melt butter in pan.
Add chocolate to butter and melt, continuously stirring.
Add vanilla.
Pour melted chocolate, butter, vanilla into ziploc.
Seal well and shake it like a salt shaker.
Once everything is well coated, pour onto a baking sheet and chill in the fridge for an hour then it's ready to eat. (I put foil on my baking sheet to keep the chex from sticking)
I usually put it in a container once chilled. Keep leftovers refrigerated.

This recipe can be found on many of the Chex boxes. I've just tweaked it a little to make it gluten free.



CHEX MIX: 

(this recipe is too big to fit into one bag, so the instructions explain how to prepare for the large portion, you can half it if you'd rather)

1 box of Corn Chex
1 bag of gluten free pretzel sticks (I use Glutino brand which I get at Ingles)
2 sticks of butter
2 packs of Hidden Valley original ranch dressing seasoning

Pour 1/2 cereal and 1/2 pretzels into gallon sized ziploc. Pour the other half of both into another gallon sized ziploc.
Melt 2 sticks of butter.
Pour half the butter into one bag and the other half into the other bag.
Pour 1 pack of seasoning into one bag, the other pack of seasoning into the other bag.
Seal well and shake 'em like a salt shaker
When everything is evenly coated, pour 1 bag onto baking sheet and bake in oven at 350 for 10 minutes.
Remove that batch, store in container, and repeat with next batch.
Now you have a large portion of Chex mix to take to a party or munch on for days :)

My mother-n-law gave me this recipe :)


RICE KRISPY TREATS: 


6 cups of Rice Krispies Gluten Free cereal
1 package (10 oz.) marshmallows
3 tbsp butter


Have rectangle pan or glass dish ready and well coated with nonstick spray (Any size works, just depends on how thin or thick you want you treats to be)
Melt butter over low heat.
Add marshmallows and stir continuously until melted
Add cereal and stir until evenly coated
Immediately pour into dish
Give it a few minutes to cool then use sheet of wax paper to press down until firmly packed in.
Wait until it's fully at room temperature before cutting and serving. (no need to chill or bake, just store in closed container)

Warning: They are very sticky. I spray a spoon with butter to help get it from pot to dish.

I took this to Wyatt's class party yesterday and they were a big hit :) No one could tell they were gluten free, but they had that fresh, home cooked taste which my hubs said was better than the prepackaged ones.

I got this recipe from www.ricekrispies.com (It's the original recipe, just switched out with gf cereal)


I'll post more recipes another day.




~Amber

WHEN GOD IS BIGGER THAN MY EXPECTATIONS

Choosing to do a KICKSTARTER (click to go to link) to raise the funds for my memoir was scary because it was something that would be completely out of my control. I had no idea what to expect once the kickstarter was up and running. What would I do if it failed? Would that break my spirit? What if all those people who say they support me, really don't mean it?

I told myself that I had to trust in God to take care of this. If it was the right time, then He would pave the way. If it wasn't the right time, He would close this door and lead me in a different direction and I needed to trust His will for my life. I WOULD trust His will for my life.

What I figured would happen is somewhere around 30-50 of my closest friends and family would donate small amounts of $15-$30. I had a list of people in my head that I was sure would step in and help. I knew this still wouldn't get me to the needed amount of $4,500, but that's where I prayed God would step in and do a miracle.

This is where I laugh.

People are unpredictable. People are unreliable.

God is always the same. I had too much faith in people and not enough faith in God---A life long struggle of mine. But God is faithful to remind me who's in control.

I posted the kickstarter on my fb and almost instantly I had a $100 donation!!! A few minutes later I had another $100 donation!

Before five minutes was over, I had $200 worth of donations. As I wiped tears from my eyes I asked my husband who he thought it was from. We both figured it was a friend of my mom's who's always quick on fb. The second donation we weren't sure. I finally figured out how to check the names and when I saw the two names my mouth fell open and my eyes filled with tears.

I knew these names, but they weren't names I expected to see. One of them was an old friend who I hadn't seen in fourteen years (we live in different states). Another was a follower on twitter who I barely know at all.

I was speechless.

And then days passed with nothing. Several friends retweeted and helped spread the word on fb, but the donations weren't coming. And then church came and went and people just pretended like they didn't see my kickstarter on fb. And when I brought it up people just kind of brushed me off.

I found myself crying later that day, but this time they weren't happy tears; They were tears of disappointment.

It wasn't about the money as much as it was about the principle. I have done for many of these people and when I found myself in need..... well they just weren't interested.

I could rattle off dozens of names of people who I've brought food to when they had babies, bought gifts for on birthdays or baby shower gifts. I'm always eager to give. I LOVE to give.

After my EPIC pity party, I made my mind up about a few things.

#1-I was jumping to conclusions. Some of them might be waiting for payday. Some of them might be intentionally waiting until the end to make sure they donate enough. I needed to stop judging!!!! I NEEDED TO STOP BEING A SELFISH CRYBABY AND STOP JUDGING!

#2-I would continue to give. Even if none of my church friends donated. I would continue to do for them when things came up because that's who I am.

#3-I wouldn't hold a grudge no matter what the outcome was. Bitterness eats away at a person.

I don't know what those people are going through and if they don't have the means to donate $15 then I need to be understanding.

So a couple of weeks have passed since and only 5 people from my church donated out of the 30 or so that I "expected".  BUT those 5 people donated $895!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WHOA!!! GOD IS SO MUCH BIGGER THAN MY OBSTACLES.

I've had several family members donate. And of course I've got to give a shout out to my mom! :) And remember that gap I mentioned, where the number of friends and family, plus the small donations I "expected", didn't equal the amount needed?

Well, so far I've had 9 people I don't know donate a total of $1,606!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! These are people who have come across the kickstarter and were moved to donate!

On top of those numbers, there have been many people who weren't on my "expected" list who've donated. And when I get the notification saying that someone who I haven't seen in twelve years just donated $55, I'm left with my jaw on the floor.

God is all over this situation and I have been blown away! I can't believe the amounts being donated! I'm just in awe of His power.

As of right now I have 23 backers who've donated $4,196!!! Those two numbers together just blow my mind!!!!

So things haven't turned out how I "expected", but they've shown me how powerful God is.

The kickstarter is 93% funded and 9 days left to go. But I'm not worried. God's got this!!!! He is so much bigger than my "expectations"!!!


~Amber