The Gluten Bigot: October 2013

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Fall Comfort Food - Apple Muffins



It's apple season! Although I do enjoy them year round, I always feel the need to make more things of them  come fall. In need of a good breakfast food, I decided to make apple muffins! I used this recipe, with a few mods. Mine turned out a bit dense so I would add baking powder in next time.

Muffin base:
  • 2.5 cups Trader Joe's Gluten Free Flour
  • 2 tsbp cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup rounded raw organic cane sugar
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 cup Lactaid
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 egg
  • 1 pink lady apple (or apple of your choice, just as long as it is on the smaller side
Topping:
  • 1 lady apple
  • 2 tbsp quinoa flakes
  • 2 tsp organic cane sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon

Preheat over to 375F. Mix together dry base ingredients, then wet. Peel and grate apple and fold into mixture. Pour 1/4 cup measures into greased or lined muffin pan (your choice). Prep the topping: slice the apple into quarters then fine slices. Arrange nicely on top of muffins. Mix together quinoa flakes, sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle on top. Bake 20 minutes or until cooked through,

Best enjoyed warm!

Monday, October 28, 2013

Gluten Free Bumpdate - Week 22

How far along? 22 weeks (23 when this posts)
Total weight gain: I did not weigh myself this week.
Maternity clothes? Yes.
Stretch marks? Nope!
Sleep: Mediocre at best, my growing belly and side sleeping isn't making for the most comfortable rests.
Best moment this week: Celebrating my husband's birthday (including dinner at Eleven Madison Park), more excitement at work, and my husband getting to feel Bricket's kicks!
Miss anything? Being able to bend over to put my shoes on normally. It's the small things in life, right?
Movement: Yes, lots of hard kicks! My husband definitely feels them now. They are much stronger than a week ago, and quite honestly hurt a little bit sometimes! 
Food cravings: None.
Anything making you queasy or sick: I think I had completely overexerted myself last week and the beginning part of this week, and ended up feeling really ill and headachey for a couple of days. I'm not used to my 'reduced speed' haha. So taking it easier this weekend!
Gender: Boy!
Labor signs: Nope!
Symptoms: The usual - food aversions are still there but getting weaker, a bit of acne still, and some back achey-ness. I think I've been having round ligament pain; I'm having sore muscle-feeling aches in my lower abdomen for a few minutes every so often (typically when over exerted).
Belly button in or out? In.
Wedding rings on or off? On.
Happy or moody most of the time: Happy. Life continues to be good to me :)
What are you looking forward to? I'm being scanned to see if my previa has resolved (fingers crossed!), work stuff, and babymoon #2 in a few weeks!

Monday, October 21, 2013

Gluten Free Bumpdate - 21 Weeks

How far along? 21 weeks / 22 when this posts!
Total weight gain: It looks like I have gained 1 more pound in the past two weeks.
Maternity clothes? Yes, especially since my sister handed down a whole bunch to me! I'm wearing the odd size up top or really lose ones I already had too, however with my growing bump, I find the maternity ones to be most flattering although still looser than intended in the tummy area.
Stretch marks? Nope!
Sleep: Good this week, other than being West Coast but living on East Coast time - my alarm went of at 4:45am PDT everyday!
Best moment this week: A few! First, meeting my new niece! Baby smiles are the best - and I got some awesome ones and quite a few good cuddles in with both my nieces! Getting to spend time with my family and friends in general was awesome.  My mom also got to feel Bricklet kicking and I'm very glad she got to! My hair has been in dire need of some love and I haven't had time to sort it out so I also seize the opportunity for my awesome Vancouver stylist, Chelsey, to freshen up my ombre and give me a much needed cut! Yay or healthy hair!
Miss anything? Not really this week.
Movement: Yes, lots! As mentioned, my mom was able to feel it. Just a few minutes ago I was getting some really hard kicks! I have my husband trying often, he says he's not sure if he's feeling anything (hard kicks are still very light from the outside).
Food cravings: I had the biggest sugar tooth this week and since I was home obliged it probably more than intended!
Anything making you queasy or sick: I bit into a cranberry and almost was sick. Still with my food aversions although I have been able to have a better variety. 
Gender: We actually found out at 11 weeks which is very early, confirmed at 16 and again at 20. We are very excited to be having a boy! No names yet, but we do know he will dress really cool and have a fauxhawk.
Labor signs: Nope!
Symptoms: Food aversions, still a bit of acne which had almost gone away but flared up (I blame not having all my usual products - I use a lot of things else days!), and a bit of acid reflux. 
Belly button in or out? In!
Wedding rings on or off? On!
Happy or moody most of the time: Generally happy but defo had my moody moments as usual!
What are you looking forward to? Putting Bricklet into the adorable outfits my family gave him! 

Monday, October 14, 2013

Gluten Free Bumpdate - 20 Weeks

Smaller photos as I don't have my laptop
this week. Bump has clearly grown though!
How far along? 20 weeks (21 weeks when you are reading this!)
Total weight gain: Really excited - I managed a 5 pound weight gain between doctor visits! I'm still a few pounds behind where I should be but my doctor didn't even mention it. Yay!
Maternity clothes? Yes, and I even ordered more on Asos! 
Stretch marks? Nope!
Sleep: Absolutely terrible this week - more in symptoms
Best moment this week: Getting to meet my new niece! And having a reassuring visit with my doctor after having a less reassuring 20 week scan.
Miss anything? Sleep!
Movement: Yep! Bricklet is very active, during scans, having the doctor listen to his heartbeat he dodged it, and in the evening he is moves a lot.
Food cravings: Once again no cravings really - although I did open a bag of gluten free Oreo type cookies, and they were really good. I had meant to have 2 and had 4 instead. Oops.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Food aversions still - they seem to be becoming less strong though.
Gender: Okay... one more week! My husband still has some people to tell!
Labor signs: Nope.
Symptoms: Still a bit of acid reflux, tiredness, and acne which has calmed down a lot. Now this one may be TMI so if you are squeamish please skip - at my full anatomy (20 week) scan, I was diagnosed with marginal previa. Of course I Googled it and read all sorts of horror stories. Plus the doctor at the hospital seemed reluctant about my travel schedule. So then I was a complete stress ball - I have a lot of work travel coming up which I certainly don't want to put others out to take on, and a couple of personal travels as well. Plus I read all sort so of scary things that previa can mean (c sections, hemorrhages, etc). Luckily when I talked to my doctor a few days later at my regular pre-natal checkup he reviewed the results and gave me a green light on all my scheduled travel, and calmed a lot of my anxiety about the previa and reiterated statistically speaking I have no reason to worry. 
Belly button in or out? In!
Wedding rings on or off? On!
Happy or moody most of the time: Certainly moody with the previa thing - not snippy but I just cried at some point every day as I was really stressed out about a) health b) being able to do my job and c) being able to meet my niece! Post-doctor visit mentioned above I returned to happy - probably particularly happy! 
What are you looking forward to? Spending time with my family, when my husband will be able to feel Bricklet's kicks, some really cool projects at work - life basically!!

Friday, October 11, 2013

Coping with a Pregnancy Acne (Mostly Gluten Free)


Acne has never been my thing. Ever. I had the odd spot as a teenager, and the exceptionally rare one in adulthood. However, pregnancy has made me as pimply as a teenage boy with bad hygiene. This is traumatic. I work with clients, often in person, with massive spots all over may face. So unacceptable.

That meant my skin care regime (for my normally dry skin) needed an overhaul. The positive thing is several of the products I already had I could keep using as they were treatments I barely used, or were made for all skin types. I've been using the new 'system' for the past two weeks and have noticed a massive improvement. 


Morning
For the first cleanse of the day, I am now using Nude Purifying Cleansing Wash. As my skin is actually still somewhat dry, I was a bit nervous of drying it out even more with a new cleanser, however this was is really gentle. I follow up with La Roche Posay Rosaliac UV moisturizer.

Evening
Thorough makeup removal. My standard favorites are still in place: Sephora Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover and Bioderma Crealine Miscellar Water (which I bought in massive quantities while in Paris - if you live in the US you can order it on Amazon, in Canada you can buy it at Shoppers Drugmart). Then I cleanse with Korres Milk Protein 3-in-1 - which note has wheat derived ingredients BUT I have never had an issue/reaction to it (it is thoroughly wiped off right away and I do not use on my eyes or mouth), and as an alternate Milk Wipes are gluten free. For moisture, I have either been skipping as it is a waterless/hydrating cleanse, or using my La Roche Posay again.

Treatment
There are two treatments I have been using. Every second or third day I follow with Skoah Glow Tonik which has glycolic acid, a pregnancy friendly anti-blemish treatment. Every Sunday and Thursday I have been using Origins Active Charcoal Mask.


Spot Treatment (Morning & Evening)
I picked up Boscia Clear Complexion Willow Bark Spot Treatment and then realized willow bark extract is actually a salicylic acid. I had read conflicting things about the safety of use during pregnancy, so I have actually held off using it. I checked with my doctor and he said topical salicylic acid and even benzoyl peroxide if fine. I will be using it when I wash my face tonight and will update on if it helps!


Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Gluten Free Sweden

My final destination on my trip to Scandinavia was Stockholm, Sweden. Ah the homeland of Ikea. While this was probably the most interesting city (we could have stayed way longer), it was the most challenging  of the countries. I didn't come across many restaurants that had GF menus and none that had items clearly marked. That said, there was a lot of awareness and options.

Where I actually ended up daily was Under Kastanjen. It was a Swedish deli with a GF menu, bread and best of all GF Swedish Meatballs! There was also a gluten free chocolate cake which was fantastic. We went for lunch one day and I and I had the soup (potato and leek that day) and bread. It was so good. Make sure and visit this restaurant at least once when in Stockholm!

Also worth noting if you take a trip to the Vasa Museum (highly recommend, we actually spent 4 hours here), the cafeteria there has gluten free options - just ask the cashier and they will let you know what they have. They also have gluten free bread on hand. As this was when my bread and soup fascination kicked off, I indeed had bread and soup here.

Aside from the meatballs, a highlight for me was having ice cream with a gluten free waffle cone at Muren. Yes, I said gluten free waffle cone! Almost all ice cream options were GF and, again, gluten free waffle cones! 

There were plenty of GF seafood options in Stockholm. We ate in a random restaurant quite successfully (I of course do not remember the name). Two things worth noting: we had read excellent reviews of Taco Bar, and it was such crap that I didn't finish what I ordered there. Also, Vete Katten was in a few blog posts and I was excited to try it out, but they had no off the shelf options (we were just told we could buy frozen bread there). Friends of Adam was highly recommended, but not convenient to where we were staying to touring so we never made it there.

Grocery stores did have GF options, but not really amazing. I ended up buying protein bars to keep in my bag (they came in very handy!). While Stockholm wasn't the GF heaven I had read it would be, being celiac was certainly manageable there.

Have you visited Stockholm? Where do you recommend there?

Monday, October 7, 2013

Gluten Free Bumpdate - 19 Weeks


How far along? 19 weeks (20 when this posts)
Total weight gain: I will see at my regular check up this week - cross your fingers for me!
Maternity clothes? It's all maternity pants and leggings for me! I have thrown on one of my dresses and one top, they are still big in the belly area.
Stretch marks? Nope!
Sleep: With the exception of one night, I slept decently this week!
Best moment this week: Having a week where both my and my husband was here the whole time. 
Miss anything? Not really this week.
Movement: Yes, definitely feeling movement. My candid feelings are it's a bit odd. It's cool, but conceptually strange to me.
Food cravings: I made coconut flour brownies this week, and that was the closest I had to a crazing. I actually woke up from a nightmare one night and couldn't get back to sleep and suddenly really wanted a brownie - I didn't actually go and eat one.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Still crazy food aversions, this week I just stopped trying and stuck with what I knew I could (soup and bread almost daily, pasta, lots of fruit, etc).
Gender: I will tell you next week!
Labor signs: Nope.
Symptoms: A new one this week - acid reflux, and then the typical food aversions and acne (which is calming down - post coming this week!).
Belly button in or out? In!
Wedding rings on or off? On!
Happy or moody most of the time: Mostly happy.
What are you looking forward to? Last sonogram this week for our full anatomy, going home to see my family and meet my new niece, we booked a second babymoon to Mexico (yes, we are complete assholes), and a lot of exciting things are going on at work. Life is good!


Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Actual Gluten Free Heaven - Helsinki


I found the mecca for gluten bigots: Helsinki, Finland. Seriously.

My pre-trip research indictated was ridiculously easy to eat gluten free and that most restaurants had GF menu items clearly marked. Cool, I thought most will have at least some options. I had no idea to what degree of awesomeness I would find there though.

Basically everywhere had gluten free menu options. And not just two of three. Like many. And most places I went even had GF bread on hand. And everything was really good, not just GF good. Here's where I went:
Hotel Kamp
  • We enjoyed breakfast was at our hotel, Hotel Kamp. I was staying there and they made me a gluten free french toast that was absolutely to die for.
  • McDonalds. Again a hate fast food, but decided I really wanted to have fries and a milkshake for lunch. 
  • On our first night we had dinner at Kappelli. I had the vegetable casserole which was lovely. For dessert we shared a creme brulee - you just can't go wrong with it. We also lucked out and were seated in a corner table which was surrounded my glass to the outside, so it was quieter and more intimate. 
  • Cafe Ekberg was an excellent stop for lunch/brunch. I had a ceasar salad with chicken. We also discovered the budapest, a divine GF pastry with creme. Yum!
  • We had the one of the most amazing beef briskets at Kaarna Baari & Keittio. Also a delicious apple crumble to finish it off (no photos as I ate it too quickly!
  • My favorite lunch was at Karl Fazer Cafe. I had soup and they had GF bread on hand (check out the rolls pictured! And they were as good as they looked!). And another budapest.
Also worth noting: the grocery stores are stocked with awesome looking things. We went to Stockmann and bought a few things, and I think it was S-Market that had unfrozen bread and rolls which had me drooling (and I would have bought to bring home had we not had one more stop).

At Cafe Ekberg
Budapest at Cafe Ekberg
Beef brisket at Kaarna. 
Karl Fazer Cafe. Those rolls were the best.
Budapest at Karl Faser

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