Happy Happy Wheat Free

Since my friend David and I have been talking about wheat free diets, and he has now linked me on his blog, http://whateverisnew.blogspot.com/, I think I should do a little write up on this whole wheat free thing. I personally have had dramatic results in my life because I have gone wheat free. Symptoms that have disappeared when I am wheat free, and that return when I eat it are: depression, fatigue, irritability, numbness and tingling in my arms, bloated stomach. I have personally seen people cured of reflux as a result of getting off wheat. I have seen many children with disruptive behaviour calm down when they are fed a wheat free diet.

Is all this anecdotal? Perhaps. But there are several websites with excellent information available. I am linking some here. One of my favorites is Brain Talk Communities, http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=141. This is the specific link to gluten sensitivity. This link is to general categories available on the site: http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/index.php? I believe there is a high incidence of people struggling with wheat/gluten intolerance. There thousands of children on anti depressants. Could this be related to the junk food diet so many people eat today? If you google wheat sensitivity, gluten intolerance or celiac disease, you will get all sorts of links. I think there is a non celiac sensitivity to wheat that can occur, so even if a test does not reveal a celiac problem, going off wheat will show if unexplained symptoms will go away.

The great thing about this is that it only takes 4 days completely off wheat to know if it is a problem (actual intestinally related problems may take longer). You might want to discuss this with your doctor, but I have found most doctors are not really familiar with this problem.

Giving up wheat is not as difficult as it sounds. I make a killer wheat free brownie that people love! We have wheat free donuts, cookies, waffles, pancakes and all sorts of delicious meals. There are all sorts of tricks at keeping the cost down too.

So, if anyone reading this is intrigued, and wants to chat about it, let me know!

Comfort Food With a Flair

Well, this next week will be cooking crazy. I am barely able to navigate a path through my kitchen for all the supplies standing their ground. So, before I dive into the 10 events over four days I will update. The girls have gone back to school to face an even more grueling quarter. It's a good thing they love school. I am so proud of them both. I hope Katie somehow gets help hauling her 200 pounds of luggage off the train (seriously, I am not exagerating here). And thankfully Liz arrived safely at UCLA after driving a mere 80 miles per hour (where does she get her love of speed????).

So with them safely (?) off, I now need to focus on cooking, lots of it. I have realized the reason I love catering is because it is a legal adreneline rush. But I really do love cooking. I have decided that "comfort food with a flair" is my schtick. As I approach 50 this year, I don't ever want to grow stagnant. I love discovering new ways of dishing out comfort. I love to cook, I love to serve people, and get paid for doing what I love.

And I think I might have found the area for my bed and breakfast. The Amador, Oroville area. Anyone know some acreage and vines that are crying out for a new life? All I ask is that the land wants to give of it's fruitfulness, it be a place where spirits can be renewed, and much love and laughter can dwell there. Oh, and it comes cheap! I have a dream.......