so much discomfort and a recipe review

i have a terrible rash on my chest, but that showed up before i drank the soy milk. pretty sure it's from the heat, as a matter of fact. my eyes have been terribly itchy all day, but i'm pretty sure that's due to environmental influences. i have a rash on my wrist that has developed out of nowhere and my stomach has ached since the soy milk and now more so after the tofu. for the last hour and a bit, my throat has become progressively more swollen and sore and so have my ears and the back of my nose, but Jacqui has a cold, so maybe i've caught one, too. mostly, i feel very uncomfortable in general and i have no idea if soy has attributed to any of it.

the good news? my face is a normal size and i can breathe, in a somewhat restricted manner, without wheezing. oh, and no diarrhea.

Orange Chicken Style Tofu

this was fantastic! so easy and so delicious. i actually found myself wondering how i've managed to miss an encounter with such a simple sauce before now. also, it kept well in the pan for the fifteen minutes the quinoa required to catch up with the rest of supper.

i rate this one 9/10 (only because i thought it needed a veggie; i tossed in some red peppers).

Day 12--What's a Day or Two Among Friends?

out of growing impatience, i've decided to challenge soy today instead of waiting until Monday. really, i doubt those two days will make much of a difference and this way i'll have plenty of time to react if i'm going. i did not relish the thought of missing any part of Folkfest to ballooning body parts. i suppose i could then sell this as a purely practical decision, but i'd be lying through my teeth.

so, this day, the... um... 29th! of July, i am drinking my first glass of soy milk in 12 days. i plan to stirfry tofu this evening with organic, wheat-free soy sauce (Bragg's--expect a review). tomorrow, i'll make a soy smoothie for breakfast. if this is a soy allergy, i should expect some kind of reaction shortly. if this is an intolerance, then, well, it could take a day or two to manifest.

an interesting side note that could be important--i have a chronically swollen gland under my right ear that has shrunk to a normal size for the first in several years over the course of this elimination.

Days 10&11--almost there

i can't wait to change things up a bit with this diet. although i haven't had any serious issues with the food i'm eating in terms of flavour, i miss some of my favourite meals like Ma Pa Tofu and sushi (i'm avoiding sushi because I can't imagine eating it without soy sauce). and the almond milk isn't bad, but i miss my soy milk.

as for my judgmental lapse, this next week includes both Heritage Fest and the Edmonton Folk Festival, both places of many interesting food choices. even reconciled to foregoing any experimentation, i face the possibility of a reaction in the middle of one of these events since this will be the first challenge week. soy will be my first challenger and i'm not too worried, but there's always the chance.

actually, i've been thinking about the order in which i should reintroduce these foods. i chose soy because i wanted to reintroduced my biggest source of protein and the least likely culprit first. if i go with wheat instead, then I get the most likely suspect out of the way immediately. hm. not sure what to do, but i should figure it out soon.

'course, then there's the possibility that the reaction comes from a combination of foods or that it's none of these things. i try very hard not think about that. i'll deal with whatever happens as it comes.

Some Interesting Side Effects

not sure what to make of this, but my other allergies are much much worse than usual after that first week of the diet. i can hardly touch the cats without my eyes itching and swelling and cutting the grass has transformed my nose into a tap.

possible causes:

1. i haven't taken any anti-histamines since setting off on this journey. i've gone for stretches without taking any and this hasn't happened that i've noticed. certainly not to this extent. still, something to consider.

2. perhaps i am definitely allergic/sensitive to one of the elimination foods and the constant ingestion of the substance has masked the effects of other allergens. not sure of the plausibility of this situation, but it sounds good.

shrug

bottom-line? i miss cuddling my schmurns.

recipe review: Cranberry-Apricot Muffins by Gluten-Free Goddess

i don't have quinoa flour, so i used an extra 1/4 cup of sorghum and i used flax as an egg replacer instead of the Ener-Egg stuff since i can't eat corn right now. also, i subbed minced dry apricots for the preserves and reconstituted some craisins instead of using fresh or frozen cranberries. the bit of liquid left over from draining the craisins helped make of for the lask of moisture in the dried apricots. oh, and i used my homemade almond milk.

the result? moist, hearty, delicious perfection. i gobbled two on the spot and have frozen the rest for breakfast throughout the week. i'd like to try this again with coconut or shredded almonds.

Day 8, 9--nothing new under the sun

yesterday, i ate nothing out of the ordinary except some french fries, which was probably a bad idea since no guarantees that they used canola oil and not soy. nothing gastrically unusual happened either.

today, i went back to A Taste of Edmonton and had some more cabbage rolls and a tomato salad that was mostly iceberg lettuce. go figure. did some shopping on Whyte with Lorne and Kathy, too, and had a nice time with them.

word of the day: nihilism

1. Philosophy
a. An extreme form of skepticism that denies all existence.
b. A doctrine holding that all values are baseless and that nothing can be known or communicated.
2. Rejection of all distinctions in moral or religious value and a willingness to repudiate all previous theories of morality or religious belief.
3. The belief that destruction of existing political or social institutions is necessary for future improvement.
4. also Nihilism A diffuse, revolutionary movement of mid 19th-century Russia that scorned authority and tradition and believed in reason, materialism, and radical change in society and government through terrorism and assassination.
5. Psychiatry A delusion, experienced in some mental disorders, that the world or one's mind, body, or self does not exist.

Day Seven--i am an idiot

i had a grievous lapse in judgement when i decided that these were the best two weeks to launch this process.

today, Jacqui and I went to A Taste of Edmonton where many local restaurants set up little booths and offer choice dishes to the public in exchange for purchased tickets (i forgot to ask who cashes in on the profits). i managed to avoid the delicious vegan offerings of my favourite restaurants to which i've never actually gone and the not-so-vegan delight that is Deep-Fried Mars Bars (i deliberately block out the name of that proprietor--i do not need to know where to get those things on a daily basis). instead, i indulged in several other delights:

rice-stuffed cabbage rolls from Taste of Ukraine--Darren will be happy to know that they serve entire plates of vegan cabbage rolls as well as an interesting salad that includes pickles as an ingredient. why would he care about these items? well, if i can find something to eat in a Ukrainian restaurant, my Ukrainian husband can eat all the pyrohi and kielbasa that he wants without any guilt whatsoever.

bean sprout salad with peanut dressing: very tasty and, no, i did not note the name of the place. Zeljka didn't like this at all, so Jacqui and i ate hers. made up for the fact that we later handed Z our remaining tickets so that she could have another Deep-Fried Mars Bar (i derive incalculable delight from the fact that my friends' names include so many high pointing Scrabble letters. i just need to befriend a Max or an Xavier and i'll have them all)

wine: a dry, spanish red. mucho yummy wine.

sweet potato fries: perfectly fried to a light crisp and full of flavour

more cabbage rolls: i haven't had good ones in years. now, i am tempted to make my own

i ate the usual for breakfast as well as some orange juice throughout the day. for supper, i had leftover lentils, leftover potato soup, half a cuke, and celery with peanut butter. later, i snacked on rice crackers and hummus and some thawed berries.

this evening, i've felt bloated and gassy, but nothing particularly uncomfortable. had a hot bath earlier and thought i was going to pass out, but that's not unusual. i think i like the idea of baths more than i like the actual practice. mostly, i feel cramped, uncomfortable and vaguely uneasy in the tub.

since i slept for only four hours last night, i think i'll head 'er. tomorrow dawns on yet another ridiculously busy day.

Day Six--Temptation Averted

the West Edmonton Mall.

i don't think i need to describe my day further.

breakfast: banana, cereal (yeah, the puffed stuff)
lunch: 'Very Berry' Booster Juice, no yoghurt, no booster
snack: almonds, craisins, veggie chips (the mixed ones with yams and shit)
supper: vichysoisse (potatoes, leeks, onions, sea salt, pepper)
munchies: wierd gelatinous rice doodads (yuck), lentil dip, hummus, rice crisps

the story today lies in what i didn't eat: orange almond cake (froze some for wheat challenge), cinnamon buns, little pineapple pastry thingies, bamboo crisps, taro brittle... i was fine until we brought out the cake. it smelled so good. i can't wait to try it.

Days Four and Five in Brief

Day Four:

Breakfast: banana, rice and quinoa puffs, almond milk
Lunch: hummus w/ rice crackers
Supper: channa dhal (chick peas, tomato, garlic, turmeric, black mustard seeds, olive oil

finished the dresses, had a giant blow out w/ Sara, went from feeling great to feeling wilted and ineffectual, Mom and Phil came, had a nice evening.

Day Five:

Breakfast: rice/quinoa puffs, almond milk, banana
Lunch: hummus w/ sesame rice crackers
Supper: stir fried veggies (broccoli, red pepper, habanero pepper, carrot, celery, onion, peanut oil), quinoa, tarka dhal (red lentils, black mustard, turmeric, garlic, lemon juice, dry red chili, peanut oil)

went for a run, had some wine with the neighbours, hung out with Mom and Phil, noticed right eye get itchy and begin to swell but then remembered that Chip smacked in that eye with his paw.

have noticed no stomach symptoms at all this week and have been sleeping very well until last night. sleep was broken, but not terrible.

Day Two, Three--how quickly it all blurs together.

mostly, i'm just lazy. and forgetful. and busy enough that by the time i have a moment to blog, i'm closing my eyes and falling asleep.

i've finished my chemise and this morning i will complete the overdress. i've even cut out a dress for Sara, but i have some serious misgivings about sewing chiffon. handling that stuff is like trying to arrange water in a straight line. i can hardly feel it.

as for my eating, well, i had puffed rice/quinoa cereal with homemade almond milk and a banana both mornings for breakfast. i ate the leftover lentil soup on Tuesday for lunch and salad with hashbrowns yesterday. for supper on Tuesday i had marinara sauce over potatoes and yesterday i had some undercooked rice. i forgot to eat a snack last night, but the night before i had some sliced cukes, rice crackers w/almond mash, olives and pickles.

i've been very constipated and my poo is pale and dense. maybe i'm not getting enough liquid or perhaps i'm eating too much rice, potato, and banana. all three are known for their constipating qualities. tuesday, i had a massive migraine most of the day. that's the main reason i didn't blog. my head was about to explode once bedtime came around.

yesterday, i had a lot of energy and felt great. got all that sewing done and went for a run/walk with Jacqui. we spent a lot of time talking about her bakery/cafe idea. i know it's her baby, but i'm ridiculously excited about the whole thing.

i'm up early again today, so we'll see how things go. Mom and Phil arrive this evening so not only do i have to finish this dress, i also have to clean the house and get the place ready for guests. they stay 'til Sunday and then Dad comes. plus, my aunt and uncle come tonight, too, though they stay with Grandpa. should be a fun weekend. i'll try to at least keep up with the food diary and some reflections on my physical state until things slow down a bit.

Day One, Volume Two--doing it right this time

Breakfast: quinoa w/ organic raisins and brown sugar
Lunch: boiled potatoes w/ margarine, salt, and pepper
Snack: a banana, rice crackers w/ sweetened almond mash (spiced w/ cinnamon, cloves)
Supper: lentil soup (onions, turmeric, canned toms, garlic, chili peppers, lentils)
Snack: an apple, rice crackers w/ more mash, craisins, raisins.

i may have stumbled upon the two most perfect weeks for an allergy elimination diet. i have a shit-ton of sewing to finish before August and who has time to miss bread when they have Medieval costumes to assemble? i cut out the first dress and ironed the material for the second, but since i also had to do some grocery shopping, make almond milk, go for a run, and, well, eat, i didn't finish much else. probably a good thing since my back is killing me today and i'm not sure i could handle much leaning over.

my plan consists of eliminating soy, corn, cumin, coriander, oats, and wheat from my diet for two weeks. then, for one week each, i will bring them back in the order listed. hopefully, the elimination period will allow my body to accustom itself to the lack of these foods and, if one is the culprit, i will have symptoms once i reintroduce it. i planned a menu for the first two weeks and that has made a big difference in my general outlook. knowing that i have food in the house to eat and having planned ahead to include snacks has reduced the stress of this whole crazy business down to almost nothing.

the almond milk turned out well. i used a recipe from Vegweb which goes somewhat as follows:

2 cups raw, unblanched almonds, soaked for at least an hour, preferably overnight
8 cups fresh water
(calls for vanilla and sugar, both of which i left out)

place almonds and 1/2 water into food processor. turn on high. turn off immediately. mop up water and curse the lid for a total lack of seal. determine that the food processor might not be the best tool anyway because for the short while that the almonds were in there, they appeared to be just bouncing around. dump the water, pour almonds into the blender, and add fresh water (this time, all of it).

turn on high. discover why this particular blender/food processor was sold for so cheap and turn off blender. strain out 2/3 of the water and try again. turn off blender so as to place a tea towel under the base to soak up the steady stream of liquid pouring out of the spout. try again. once the almonds seem pretty munched up, strain them with metal strainer (next time i will use cheese cloth) and replace them in the blender with just enough water to cover. turn blender on high again and reduce almonds to mush. again, strain out as much water as possible and set mash aside.

pour milk into a jug and top up with fresh water to 2L. refridgerate. mop counter and floor. stare at the leftover ground up almonds and wonder for a moment what to do with them. taste test. discover the light and fluffy goodness that is almond mash. sweeten with 30 mL of sugar and add spices. refrigerate that too.

apparently, you can dry the mash and use the resulting meal as flour. i thought i might try using it in cake at some point. all in all, aside from the mess and the realisation that i need a higher quality blender/food processor, almond milk was easy-peasy and i would definitely make it again. looking forward to trying it tomorrow on my rice puff cereal.

timing and other considerations

i can't decide whether to start this elimination right away or to wait until after i return from that reunion and from visiting family. if i start right away, i'm just that much closer to finishing. if i wait, i can avoid most of the awkwardness that comes from eating drastically different food from those around me. of course, i plan to bring most of my own food anyway because i already eat demonstrably different from nearly everyone who will be there--how much would the elimination really affect my experience?

and then there's the brownies in my fridge right now. because i brought them outside to cool, they dried into something resembling fudge biscotti. perfect for dipping into coffee. and D doesn't seem that interested in eating them and S isn't here, so what's a pre-menstrual female to do?

knit until her fingers bleed, perhaps? keeps me out of the fridge. actually, that could be the upside to this whole process. knitting and walking keep me from snacking and my snacks are more likely to contain wheat than anything else i might eat. cooking a supper without wheat is an easy project. breakfast is a little more imposing, but only in that i like to eat cereal and toast and homemade pancakes. and cinnamon buns. i really like cinnamon buns. anyway, i can probably finish a lot of projects this summer and get a lot of exercise.

not that snacking is inherently evil or anything. it's just that my snacks tend to be wheat-based and i need to change that so that i can continue this process with some level of comfort.

all that and i still haven't come to any conclusions. i'm leaning toward starting right away. i can spend the next few days preparing foods i can eat over the weekend and i can buy groceries when we get there, too. i have a big cooler. i'm sure i'll be fine.

Buckwheat-Sorghum Biscuits

i'm resurrecting this blog because my relief that cumin was the culprit was short-lived. i gorged on Indian food last week and had nary a tummy flutter that wasn't directly due to the sheer volume of food i ate. back to the drawing board, which means, yup, a major elimination diet.

in honour of my renewed attempts to determine the cause of my reactions, i tooled around with an adaptation of my tried 'n' true baking powder biscuit recipe...

1 cup sorghum flour
1 cup potato starch
1/3 cup buckwheat flour
2 tsp xanthan gum
3.5 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt

--sift/whisk together

4.5 tbsp margarine

--cut into flour mix until crumbly

3/4 cup milk (actually, just a tad more)

--work into crumbly mix until smooth.

--pat out dough into 3/4 inch thick block and slice into 12 portions. arrange on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
bake for 20 minutes @ 450F.

these are surprisingly tasty! enjoy with margarine or honey or your favourite jam.