Half Way Point

This is not that hard at all. Supper last night was delicious, Elk Steak coated lightly in corn meal and corn starch and fried. I was craving something a little crispy and this fit the bill. We served it with snap peas and baked potatoes and finished the supper off with Fresh Michigan Strawberries and Calder Ice Cream - YUMMAY (new word I made up and it drives my son crazy so it makes it even more fun to say). Erik is still feeling it is very challenging on the road. I have to agree. When I was out on Saturday, I was making a stop at Sparrow Hospital and I made a salad on the salad bar and topped it with Chicken Salad it was delicious.

I notice we eat more salads because we think of it quickly. We are big summer salad eaters anyway. I have to say though I hate making salads but the beautiful Michigan Greens keep calling my name. I even got fresh Michigan Tomato's on Saturday at the Novi Farmers Market they grow them in green houses in Romeo. Hoop Houses are become the future in garden farming in Michigan. The big produce producers are really getting into it to extend their growing season.

The challenge

As I have said I am not really feeling the challenge of eating flourless because I almost always do anyway. However, my husband is really struggling. He feels that there is just so much limit to what he can eat. I guess if you think about it you are right. Flour is everywhere and takes up a very large percentage of the traditional grocery store. From of course the bread and bakery items and as you travel through the aisles it is coating the pepitas seeds. In the cooler section with pastries and cookies as well as in the meat, where many items are coated in the bi-product to increase the weight of the item as well allow for a crispy texture.

I would be curious to know how many items actually contain flour. It is in pasta, cereals, bakery items from cake mixes to coatings for meat. How do people with celiac's disease do it? I am choosing not to eat, I don't have to avoid it.

The journey continues

I have to say this is not hard at all. I really have not missed anything. Friends ordered pizza the other night and I ate some left-overs and was completely happy. I think the reason I do not feel it is so difficult is because I see an end point if I choose to use it. I placed the challenge on me for 30 days there are people who have to eliminate common foods from their diet for life.

I met a couple the other day that have a terrible reaction to dairy and they were telling how hard it is to find foods without it. I would have to agree. Dairy bi-products are in so many foods. I think the FDA does a pretty good job setting guidelines but I am not sure everyone follows the rules.

I know for me I go overboard because I empathize with individuals with food allergies. I am very fortunate I do not and know very few that do personally. I have met many along the way. I find it amazing that as people come to my table I begin to remember them and what they can and can not have and just like a mother tell them "NO". They always laugh because I do it light hearted and in good spirit but I do not want my clients to have problems.

I snacked on my goodies yesterday at the market along with Sugar Peas and Fresh Michigan Strawberries. We ate supper at the Mongolian Grill. The only concerns I had their were sauces. It is possible some could be thickened with flours, so I was very picky. It was delicious and we had a nice dinner as a couple in Royal Oak. Yummy for you tummy.

Second Week

Today was great. I feel great and am actually loosing weight without even trying. Just the simple process of leaving out flour and it is working. My goal is one clothing size and I think I am right on track.

I had a latte for breakfast and went off to my massage. So when I returned I had some fried potatoes, ham, goat cheese and an egg. It was delicious. I snacked on orange slices as I worked on the computer (I think 6) and had a wonderful Chinese Broccoli and Pork dish over rice for summer. I am hungry for ice cream so we are off to the ice cream shop of a dish full.

I hope all my partners in this project are holding on. I did discover McDonald's Fries are off limits but everything else is there also so I guess it really does not matter.

Sunday Night and All is Well

Flourless is a state of mine. Erik made fish tonight and you fried the fish in cornstarch and thinks it might be the best he ever had. I know this has been a challenge for him so far not because he does not want to do it but it is the preparation to think different all the time. As you already know we don't use much flour but we also do not avoid it like the plaque but for the month we are going to. It just going to take a little more thought.

Last night we had Buffalo Burgers with saute onions and mushrooms. YUMMY! It was absolutely delicious and we had it with some broccoli and it could have not been better if we tried.

Today, was a little challenging I was at the Canton Farmers Market and had a muffin for breakfast and a cookie for lunch but that was all with some water by the time I was done I was getting hungry and tired. I had to make stop at Sparrow Hospital and picked up a dish of chicken salad to get me home. It was a good filler and when I got home Erik had made fish and baked potatoes.

PF Chang is the inspriration to dinner

We are moving through the week with ease. Breakfast have been very simple with just a muffin or Bizzy Lizzy Cookie. Lunch on Friday was at our favorite little Coffee Cup Restraurant in Hillsdale. Tia made us a Red Chicken over Rice. It was Yummy.

Supper was inspired by the chicken lettuce wraps. I slow roasted a buffalo roast in an Asian Salad Dressing for 6 hours. Then cubed carrots, waterchestnuts and minced some onions and garlic and saute with brown sugar and rice vinegar. I made a light dressing with sesame oil, ketchup, soy sauce and some other spices. I actually found the recipe online.

I served it with fresh local Michigan Lettuce that I had gotten at the Zingerman's Farmers Market on Thursday in Ann Arbor.

We had puppy chow for dessert.

Saturday: Breakfast was a fresh Pumpkin Chocolate Muffin. Lunch was left-over supper from Friday and some Tatar tots. Supper is going to be brauts on the grill if the rain hold off.

Sunday will be a challenge we will be at the Canton Market and I usually trade with another vendor for lunch but nothing will fit under the no flour rule. I will let you know what we decide to do.

Day 4

Well again another day without flour. I visited with several people at Zingerman's Farmers Market about the idea of no flour. People are really buying into the idea. Some people are choosing to go flourless because they are diabetic. I am so pleased when I meet people who understand how flour breaks down in the body.

As usual breakfast was easy, I ate a Bizzy Lizzy new date muffin. Lunch was more difficult we decided to go to a Chinese Restaurant. I knew they made a lot of food with flour, so I had to have a watchful eye. I ate green beans, salad, chicken, and rice. I know that soy has gluten but I was not that watchful. I feel sorry for celiacs they have to be so careful.

I had a Bizzy Lizzy Brownie for a snack and chili from Wendy's for supper.

Day 2

Today was interesting not in my process but with discussion with others about their process of elimination. The first person I talked to had joined our flourless month because he thought it would be an interesting challenge and it was right from the get go. He had not thought through the process of finding food while trying to challenge. When he was on the road, which he is about 12 times a month, he just grabs fast food for lunch. Well without flour that can be a challenge, everything is served on a bun. Wendy's is the only fast food restaurant that does offer "gluten" free as an option and will make an effort to help people with gluten allergies. They have chili, baked potato's and will make sandwiches without the bun. He said after much contemplation he just gave up and ate a drive thru sandwich but after our discussion he feels better equipped for his next outing.

The second person I visited with had started this process months ago and shared how she feels so much better and has eliminated headaches that have been an issue for her for a long time. She said, "I still eat pasta once in a while with my family but in very limited quantities." Other than that no flour for her.

For me I really don't think this will be much of a challenge because I already limit this item extensively. My biggest challenge is going to be my son. He has mentioned calazones three times since I started this Tuesday. Calazone certainly to not fit this scenario.

Breakfast: Bizzy Lizzy Pumpkin - Pepitas Seed Muffin
Lunch: Two eggs with a little bacon and cheese
Snack: A frozen coffee - I went out with a friend on an outing and treated myself - delicious
Supper: Nacho - fried elk burger, taco seasoning, lettuce, cheese and a few flourless tortilla chips.

Day 1 of NO FLOUR

Great day! No problem at all giving up flour. I had an amazing Bizzy Lizzy Muffin for Breakfast. I had an orange at lunch, I was just so busy I really didn't have much time to eat. The kids got home from school and I put supper in as we ran errands and finished some house work.

Supper:
In my roasting pan with lid I added 1 1/2 cup brown rice, 1 packet of Satay Chicken Seasoning.1 can of chicken breast in water, 3 cups of water (stirred) and 8 cups of frozen veggies.

I put it in a 300 degree oven (I did not preheat) for 1 1/2 hours, I think it was probably done before that but we were just not ready to eat.

I spent about 30 minutes talking to one of my neighbors this morning we were discussing how I may make flourless bread. She had a couple of great thoughts I will let you know how they work out.