Menu - Starting out the New Year

The internets are back at our house!
Big changes in the new year. We think Bob is allergic to dairy now as well as gluten. I've mixed feelings as to what, specifically in dairy products it could be. It could be casein, the protein that is shaped similarly to gluten, or lactose, an allergy more likely to strike the already fragile Celiac digestive system. I've written much more elaborately about it here. If he is only allergic to lactose it is a much more manageable allergy. Humans have evolved many ways of changing dairy products into lactose free foods (hardened cheeses, yogurt etc.) which would mean with some careful planning we could still cook with some dairy products. If it turns out he is allergic to casein, it's another whole food group we've got to get rid of.
I've also decided to stop feeding our hard earned moneys into the disgusting meat-packing industry. I haven't decided if this will extend to just halting meat consumption, or limiting it to a few locally raised animals insured a healthy outdoor farm life and a humane death. Honestly, I am practical. Bob's Celiac's disease is far more important than any morally based dietary restrictions I might have. I will consider raising our own meat or insuring our meat is local. I will continue to eat seafood, attempting to eat locally caught fish or responsibly caught fish. However, my stance on the actual meat-packing industry stays firm. It's gross and horrible.
We are going to visit my dad in Colorado in the beginning of February, and do not intend to get Bob checked for a casein/lactose allergy until after we get back. As such, I am enjoying a week of a fair few dairy products before the inevitable fall into the abyss.

Here's our weekly menu for this week-

Menu-

Veggie Pizza- Fresh Mozzarella, Sun Dried Tomatoes, Basil, artichoke hearts- 30 minutes

Tom Kha soup with Veggie Fried Rice -15-30 minutes (make extra rice, bob makes Chicken, we are still using our leftover frozen meats )

Vegetarian Vietnamese Salad 30-45 minutes

Eggplant Lasagna 1 hr

Tempeh with Rice and Spinach- 30 min (pg 675 How to Cook Everything Vegetarian)

Alfredo Noodles with Shrimp - 30 minutes

Pan Fried Locally Caught Fish with Coleslaw -30 minutes

Grilled Veggie Pizza (probably a Friday dish)

Baked Potato Bar


Dessert- Ambrosia 1 hr

Menu 9/9/2008

So the internet STILL is out of our reach at our house. The only company that thinks they *might* be able to give us service is very slow in response. It's very frustrating, especially with the amount of research that a GF life (with variety) requires. Blergh.

My dad recently started working at a medical lab, and I went and visited him on our vacation. They drew my blood and did blood tests. I'm a type A+ and my blood is healthy. I even got to look at a slide with my blood cells! It was very cool. While there I talked to the Dr. at the lab who recommeded I read "Eat Right for Your Type" a dietary book based on the idea of how human blood types evolved- from type O (the original blood type) to living in a community and being dependent on grains and crops (type A) to domesticating and herding animals (type B). Type AB is more recent resulting on a mash of types A and B. I'm not very far into the book and I'm wishing we'd blood typed Bob (I'm almost positive he'd type O, as often type O and B have trouble with wheat gluten). I've thought so much about his intolerances that I'd never given real thought of my own! Type A are supposed to stay away from meat (which I don't particularly like any way) and do low stress exercises such as yoga. There are many more strictures, but I've really not read that far into the book. However, so far I'd recommend you pick it up. Surely the anthropological study of the movement and evolution of blood types is enough to interest anybody (or anybody with an anthropology degree- read: me).

So we are back to the grind after weeks of prep for our trip. Our first weeks menu is scant, as we will be celebrating our wedding anniversary next Tuesday and so will probably be going out to eat.

Menu 9/9/2008

Tuna Stuffed Tomatoes Recipe - 15 min

Breaded Beef Fillets with Side Salad - 20 min

Garlic Shrimp over Alfredo Pasta - 30 min

Veggie Pizza - 30 min

Chicken Kebabs with Rice

Chilled Red Bell Pepper and Habanero Soup with Pear Polenta Muffins - 1 hr (note this recipe uses a lot of tomatoes... hopefully some olds will bring me more!)

Menu 7/21/2008

Menu 7/21/2008
Cheap and Super Healthy

Chicken Roll-up Sandwiches

Roast Chicken with Grapes and Blue Cheese Salad

Lemony Shrimp Salad

Sushi Salad Bowl

Caesar Salad and Gluten Free Banana Bread

Baked Potato Bar

Finnish Summer Soup and cornbread muffins

I want a week of no stressful cooking! We are saving up for a big trip at the end of August, and so are trimming down our grocery list, and attempting to trim down ourselves. A favorite recipe, chicken roll up sandwiches (make with rice paper wraps) I'll definitely be posting in the future. They are all sorts of handy.

This weeks GF menu swap is being hosted at Asparagus Thin. Go here for many more delicious menu ideas!

Menu 7/9/2008

Martha's "Lighter Cobb Salad" -15 min

Fried Rice and GF Sesame Chicken -30 min

Salad with Warmed Mozzarella Cheese -10 min

Crisp Orange-Chicken Spring Rolls ; -30 min, marinade

Mixed Red Leaf Spring Salad with Strawberries ; GF Strawberry Muffins -30 min

Agave and Lime Salmon ; Cornbread -35 min, marinade

Baked Potato Bar -10 min


Desserts:

Blackberry Fools

Broiled Apricots with Ginger whipped Cream
-pg 30 everyday foods

Please note: Most of these recipes I've not tried yet... I'll post my interpretations if we like them!

Menu 6/30/2008

Grillers and Cornbread

Chicken Cesaer Salad

Alfredo Noodles and Grilled Veggies (summer squash, zucchini, red pepper and portabellos)

Bacon Wrapped Chicken with Blue Cheese and Pecans and strawberry muffins

Hamburgers and french fries

Grilled Salmon with Key Lime Butter and Side Salad

Smokin' Nachos