Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Happy New Year!

I'd post my "First Year, Gluten Free" roundup, but lots of you have been down that road already. I'll just say thanks to God, the universe, my patient family and friends, and my gluten free blog buddies for helping me through this year. I love being healthy again. Some mysteries remain, but they are manageable. I feel good every day.

The week between Christmas and New Year has passed in a flash. I still have a few more vacation days, and I plan to enjoy them at a leisurely pace.

In chicken news, I ran into my buddy, Big Lar. He's a developer and owns the land where the winter farmers market sits. He's offered some valuable re-used materials for my chicken coop project. Thanks, Larry!

I joined Facebook so I could be an official friend of the Chatterbox Jazz Club. In only two days lots of friends, old and new, have checked in on my wall. I'm lovin' Facebook!

I'll be enjoying an early New Grist beer at the Chatterbox this New Year's Eve. I hope to see lots of my pals in the after-work hours.

I wish you a healthy, happy and prosperous 2009!

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year, Kay! I am so glad you've had such a good year. I bet the mysteries will reveal themselves over time or it's possible they may go away the longer you are GF.

How wonderful that Big Lar is giving you a big boost with materials for your chicken coop! Don't forget Freecycle, too. I see chickens given away fairly often there.

The Chatterbox sounds great for your New Year's outing. Enjoy!

BTW, I've started a new blog, GFE-Gluten Free Easily at glutenfreeeasily.com, and I've linked to your blog there. Hope you can stop by and check it out. It's sort of like a new baby in the new year. See what you do when your one and only turns 21? you have another one. ;-) Waiting to see all the good stuff and opportunities that 2009 holds for GF awareness and being GFE (my main mission)! All the best to you!

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year, Cuz!

Thanks again for the fantastic meal! Can you clue me in a bit on those potatoes -- SO GOOD! (Even though potatoes are going away again, it'll be nice to know how to do them when I can afford to splurge.)

Sounds like Spirit is going right along with your chicken plans!

Finally, you may NOT refer to that furry piece of fabulousness as "baby-puke." I agree with "pistachio." So there.

Here's hoping that '09 is your best year yet!

xoxo
Cousin Kathy

Gluten free Kay said...

Hey Cuz,

I put 4 little red potatoes in the microwave for about 4 or 5 minutes. You added your own butter. That's the whole recipe.

I've changed my necklace to a white quartz crystal with a polished garnet since red is the color for January. I read multiple crystals can bring multiple benefits. Can't hurt! How long am I supposed to carry the blue stone around in my pocket? Will I know when (if) it gets used up?

Happy New Year!

H.Peter said...

Happy New Year. it's going to be a good one!

Think positive, get positive!

Gluten free Kay said...

I am positively going to have a great 2009! Same to you H. Peter!

I've added you to my blogroll.

Anonymous said...

Okay, Kay, I finally realized that your no-no list is right on your sidebar! So here's a cookie recipe at the bottom that I believe meets all your requirements. (You will have to skip the optional chocolate chips.) It's very good. Everyone loves these cookies. They have that caramelized sugar thing going on with the bottoms and the edges. Yum.

Interesting discussion on crystals ... my alternative doctor suggested serpentine for me. Haven't gotten any yet.

Thanks for adding me to your blogroll!

Shirley

Flourless Chewy Oatmeal Cookies

1/3 cup unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1/8 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg
2/3 cup mini chocolate chips or finely chopped raisins (optional)

Melt the butter and set aside to cool. Place oats in a medium-sized bowl. Stir in both sugars and the salt and blend to break up any lumps.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the melted butter, vanilla and egg. Stir this into the oat mixture and add chocolate chips or raisins (if used), mixing with your hands or a large wooden spoon to work in the ingredients. Form into a large ball of dough.
Chill the dough 20 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Meanwhile, prepare a baking sheet by lining with parchment paper. (BTW, I just found out you can reuse parchment paper multiple times throughout baking.)

Form the chilled dough into 1-inch balls and flatten down very slightly on the baking sheet. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until the edges are nicely browned and the tops of the cookies are medium golden in color.

Cool well on the baking sheet (about 10 minutes) before attempting to remove, using a metal spatula.

Note: The dough can also be brought to room temperature and flattened more when placed on the baking sheet to make a large, crisp and lace-like cookie. I haven’t tried this method yet. I made my cookies with gluten-free rolled oats, but any rolled oats will work for those without special dietary needs.

Makes 1 1/2 dozen cookies.

Washington Post

Gluten free Kay said...

Thanks Shirley! These sound yummy! And totally legal! Although I scrape vanilla stuff from inside vanilla beans instead of using vanilla extract. It works.

I haven't had raisins in a year. I guess I'll do my research and eat a handful for a test. Oatmeal cookies just aren't the same without them.

Anonymous said...

Those cookies sound great! I'll definitely try them, GFE.

As far as the crystal goes, Cuz, in general it's best to keep it on you for at least three weeks so it can acclimate to your energy. Crystals have a funny way of "getting lost" when you don't need them any more. Otherwise, I keep some on my bedside table in an arc. Also, if a crystal of yours ever breaks, you need to return it to nature (somewhere away from home/work)as soon as possible.

I'm wearing a Carnelian for January. I wish I could wear my Pink Tourmaline all the time, but I want to save it for special occasions. Of course, "Hey! I'm awake!" could become a special occasion...

xoxo
Cousin Kathy

Anonymous said...

I am so glad these will work for you, Kay! The inside of the vanilla bean sounds good to me. I actually make my own vanilla extract. Often I give it for Christmas gift. (I think it's a toss up between that and honey from our bees as the most favorite gift!) Making your own extract is very easy to do. I am going to blog on it soon. :-) But, if what you do works, then no need for you to make extract. You are extracting without the alchohol factor! :-)

Cousin Kathy--Glad you like the recipe, too. I am intrigued by your crystal knowledge. A lot of folks I know fervently believe in them. One recommended eBay as my best and reasonable source to buy a serpentine crystal.

Shirley

Gluten free Kay said...

HI Shirley,

I did make my own. I did a little research and selected 10 Cane rum for my alcohol base. Tasted great. Still experienced a not-so-good feeling. So it's back to vanilla beans. I did find a good deal on them at Penzey's - 3 beans for about $8. BTW, I went to Penzey's on advice from Ginger Carter Miller and Gluten Free Steve to try their shallot salt. It's wonderful! And the only ingredients are dried shallots and fancy salt.

I've got tons of crystals and want to know how to use them to improve my health. I just bought a mystic crystal book today. I found a lot of mine while fossil hunting here in Indiana. I've bought some more exotic ones at the annual rock show in a nearby small burg.

According to Cousin Kathy's healer, the color for January is red - in clothing and crystals. His website is www dot myenergyhealing dot com.