Thanksgiving, In the The Netherlands

So today I began cooking the Thanksgiving feast for Bryan and my friends tomorrow. It is going to be a completely Gluten Free holiday...and im totally stoked! I have been making most of the food, due to the fact that im the American and have the allergy, but I really enjoy it. Though, I do wish I had my mom and grandma here to work in the kitchen with me.

I thought about what we have for hors d'oeuvres and realized I didnt have any. So..I decided to use my noggin and make some stuff from left over ingredients. First I came up with Brie and GF butter crackers (from Schar) I also picked up some crackers that taste a bit like cheese. Then, it occured to me that my familys favorite hors d'oeuvre wasnt in the mix. SPINACH DIP! I thought about it while standing in line and the freezer section was so close I couldnt pass up the opportunity. The box of spinach WAS HUGE, but was € .79, this was a definite COULDNT pass up. I googled "Gluten free spinach dip" and found one I liked on Gluten Free in Georgia....Finally's website.

*Side note...The blog link is GFINGF (Like Gluten F-ing Free, or gluten free in georgia).blogspot.com.

Anyways, her recipe for spinach dip was featured in a food magazine for GF foods, but I didnt have all of the right indredients, so...This is what I did.

Origional Recipe:

2 boxes of frozen spinach thawed and well drained (squeezed dry.)

2 cup sour cream (light OK) (Dairy Substitute OK)

1 cup mayonnaise (regular is better, I use Duke's)

½ tsp lemon juice

½ small onion, shredded ( I use 3 T. (or more) Penzeys freeze fried shallots)

2T finely chopped fresh flat leaf parsley

2T chopped chives

2 green onions, chopped (I forgot this in my recipe submission!)

2 T. chopped tarragon

2T fresh dill

salt, pepper TO TASTE

1 T. garlic powder ( I use Mrs. Dash Garlic and herb, which is GF)

I can water chestnuts drained and coarsely chopped


Mix in advance, and let sit at least two hours.

Mine...It started out the same

Large box frozen spinach

2 cups sour cream (I used like full fat since I cant seem to find certain NON fat things here)

1 cup Calve Mayo

Garlic Powder (Sprinkle about 2 table spoons...?)

Chopped parsley

1/2 pink onion

Celery Salt (I just sprinkle on however much I think will be good)

Dried coriander leaves (cilantro)

2 chives chopped (about a tbs)

salt and pepper coarse ground ... about teaspoon each)

Bryan, MY taste tester (I like that the GF goddess calls her husband this) who LOVES LOVES LOVES Spinach dip, approved it. His eyes lit up and said "ITS REALLY GOOD, LIKE REALLY REALLY GOOD!!!"

Something extreme that happened recently; Bryans ex-girlfriend, Mandy and I began hanging out. Her stomach was growling yesterday and she groaned and told me that her stomach always does it. She explained that her doctor diagnosed her with an intestine problem, which I later found out was IBS. I was diganose with IBS also. I asked some other questions. I found out that she had also been to the doctor for major joint pain, so bad that she began to think she was developing arthritis. I jumped and told her, I had the same symptoms. She is going to talk to her DR. on monday, but until then try to be GF. She is worried about her health and hates feeling bloted after eating pizza, and any other gluten product. She started thinking about her history of stomach pains, did research and is sad about giving up cup-a-soup and broodjes. Same withdrawl saddness I went through.

It has to be explained, from my point of view, that it SUCKS being 24 and knowing that sourdough bread, french bread, any bread is the tastiest stuff on the planet and you can no longer eat it. No more pizza, quiche, pie from the bakery in SF that makes amazing pie. No more going into ANY bakery and having a fruit tart with my boyfriend. It makes me want to cry most times, and then I remember. Gluten was killing me. It was making me tired, sick, malnutrition, I was in pain and though I wasn't dying, I wasn't happy.

I miss bread, and its a pain in the ass to make sure the every cook in the world gives me GF food when I go out to eat, BUT Im healthier, happier, not tired and NOT in pain. I sacrifice my love for food, for my love of life and the want to try new foods, and learn to make them because I have to make sure they are RIGHT.

It is sad to me that people are scared to think they may be missing out on an easy way to eat, convenience. That doctors don't look at all the facts. That so many people go misdiagnosed.

Its heartbreaking that there are children suffering from stomach pain and random pain they cant explain...thinking they cant run anymore because their knees hurt or their hips give out. Only to find, changing one way of eating, makes it all better.

Thanksgiving in Holland is tomorrow. I still have lot to cook. =)

Cinnemon, Nutmeg and Garlic Pork Chops with Celery and Apple Leek Compote

Make the compote first because it takes the longest. Its also easy to time if you make it step by step. I think the compote was also by far the best part of this dish.

What you need;

1 stick of cinnamon

1 cup white wine

1 cup water

2 peeled/ cored and quartered apples

1 leek

Put the wine into a small pot with the cinnamon stick. Simmer with top on while you deal with the apple process of coring, quartering, peeling...

Once the apples are prepared place them into the simmering wine and recover.

Grab your leek and slice into rings. I usually cut off the bottom and about one inch off the top and use the rest for any recipe.

Place the rings on top of the apples. Add the cup of water and simmer for a few minutes with the lid on. Every once in a while stir the pot, but not much. The leeks and apples should mush up together from this so dont worry.

This makes 2 servings of Apple Leek Compote (1 cup per serving for fruit and vegie)

Pork Chop.

2 Lean pork chops

Ground Cinnamon

Ground Garlic

Ground Nutmeg

2-4 ribs celery

Olive Oil

While the compote is cooking place your lean pork chops on to a plate. Sprinkel with cinnamon, nutmeg and garlic. Spray first side with a few squirts of olive oil and smash all spices and oil in with your finger tips. Flip the meat to repeat on other side.

Let it sit for a while and cut up some celery. Place celery into pot with a bit of water and steam for about 5 minutes. While the celery is steaming place the pork chops into a hot pan and brown on either side. Once browned put the celery and its steam water into the pan. I love cooked celery so I usually over do it with 4 ribs, but 2 would probably be fine. Cover and simmer until the pork is white throughout.

Thats it. Yum Yum!

Oh and For breakfast I was a little naughty but still fufilled all my dietary requirements.

1 Cup steamed spinach with egg whites then scrambled into it. Once finished I placed a small amount of Brei on top, Nuked it for 30 seconds and had a glass of blueberry and raspberry juice.

The iron on my teeth following this meal was almost unbearable, but it was SUPER yummy while I was eating it. =)

Saturday, Diet Day 2

Ive finished cleaning the house ... except for my room and mopping because the water has been mysteriously turned off. However, Im also currently eating my second of 5 meals for today.

Breakfast -

Same as yesterday. 2 egg whites scrambled with a touch of water, 1/4 bell pepper 1/2 a small onion (diced and sautéed with 12 spays of EVOO) 2 shakes of chili powder and some seasoning pepper. Glass of Mango Aiollie (Not sure on the spelling of this...) juice.

* I count my glass of Juice as my morning fruit. (Its not a concentrate juice and tastes much better than the watered down stuff I had to get a week ago..euch!)

Second meal-

1 cup butter lettuce with basalmic

1 kiwi halved and scooped out with spoon to eat (I tend to eat too fast, so this labor intesive way of eating my kiwi, helps me to slow down. Typing while eating helps too.... breaks to write.)

1 cut 0% fat plain yogurt with a 1/2 tablespoon creamed honey.

Im not sure what the difference between creamed honey and regular honey is, but its somthing im going to google now. =) This protein is MY FAVORITE snack of the day. I had greek yogurt once with honey in it and didnt know why I hadnt thought of it before. I highly reccomend it, especially since plain yogurt is usually so hard to choke down.

I firmly believe that just because you eat healthy, doesnt mean you have to eat gross stuff. There is something good out there for everyone, no matter what dietary constructions you may have. Ill edit later with dinner and lunch.

BTW, last nights dinner....We had company so my fourth meal of the day was a small bowl of my soup and then dinner was half a fillet of salmon cooked with chili olive oil and steamed with lemon and rosemary (Loras recipe, I love it this way!) Shrimp - peel and eat, steamed. I had them alone, no sauce. 2 small potatoes and mixed vegies. (I didnt make them so Im sure there was real butter and garden seasonings on them...) then stoofpearen for dessert....like boiled pears in sugar... lol, GREAT for my diet. No wonder I wanted cookies too!

Arch Nemesis

There is an arch nemesis to my diet....and they are called Speclaasjes. Basically they are gingerbread cookies, and since I found a Gluten Free box...I can have them.
This may be creepy, but it helped - As inspiration I printed out a photo of a person with the body type I want. Now, she does have implants and Bryan reminds me of this every chance he gets, but thats not what Im after. Im after the toned everything. Anyways, when I wanted the cookies last night at 11 pm I picked up the photo and went through this dialog....

photo - "You dont want the cookies Katie, you want to look like me...."Me -*** Groan.....***Photo - "If you do another 4 min work out you can have 2 cookies...." Me - "No, No, Im tired.... No cookies"
Arch Nemesis ... defeated.
At least for another night.
Hope with me that I stick to my plan this time. I have set a short term goal of a working out with Zuzanna and dieting for one month. We will figure out what happens after that month.

I started a new workout plan

I was searching through Youtube last night and came across RockBody.tv.

OMG! Love her! Love her body. WANT!

So Last week after, again having gluten issues ... (I found out that despite the fact that Patat may be gluten free, the sauce is not. No sauce from any restaurant is good. ever. and that fact sucks....however you can buy Calve mayo for your fries, and that seems to be just egg and milk...as mayo should be...why the hell does mayo need wheat starch? ) ... back to last week... I swore off all the crap I have been eating and decided cross contamination of any kind was just not gonna fly. I mean for god sake, when I got here I was 65 kilo (145 lbs) and last week I was almost up to 70 kilo (155 lbs).

After years of struggling to keep my weight level and finally seeing a difference with the GF diet, not to mention the other benefits like pooping everyday like a normal human being, I decided it was time to stop not looking at what I was ingesting. I mean, what do I want Gluten Filled Mayo for if I cant have a lovely sourdough sandwich anymore?

Back to Zuzanna and Body Rock. She has intense 15-30 min interval workouts EVERY day that she posts and I feel in love with in the hour or two I watched her on youtube, to prep for beginning this new intense regimen today. I feel so fortunate to have stumbled across this gold mine. She give diet ideas and the BEST workouts. Better yet. She got to her body, by doing these at home workouts herself, nothing more, nothing less.

So today I did the 4 min before breakfast workout, just as a preliminary start, because Bryan and I aren't starting our complete regimen until Monday. However, like I said, the diet began last week for me. This 4 min workout KICKED MY BUTT though. I barely made it through the first 3 reps the first time I tried it, and there are a total of 12 reps. The second time I almost made it through but had to take it slower and kicked the armoire 4 times.

My diet today -

Breakfast -

2 egg whites with bell pepper, onions and cilantro. 10 sprays of olive oil in the pan.

Cooking the onions and bell peppers first with a little pepper and chili powder. Then pouring the whipped eggs over the top. Sprinkle cilantro over the top and cook for a few seconds. scramble and enjoy. =)

Lunch -

2 turkish stuffed peppers, 3 turkish cheese stuffed peppers, and Salmon Capriccio.

Veggie Sla. Bell Pepper, Cucumber, Beets, 1/2 tomato, sun dried tomatoes, Avocado with Lemon juice and 10 sprays of olive oil.

Dinner -

Homemade Tom Kah Gai with chicken breast and white rice.

Ill post my recipe if anyone wants it. Just let me know.

Gluten Free Weight reversal.

So I have been in Holland for about 3 weeks now and trying to get acclimated has been..interesting. But did I expect anything else?

I have to say… I’m super happy I don’t have to give up Patat met, which could be leading to my current thoughts on my weight. I found out that all of the snack bars here cook the fries in their own oil, no cross contamination for the fries.

I feel like since I moved to Holland my Gluten Free weight loss has reversed. It could be the fact that I eat rice cakes with nutella now, or the fact that I eat popsicles in the evening, or that I like patat enough to crave it. On the other hand it could be the fact that Gluten seems to sneak into EVERYTHING.

On our way to Holland I finally experienced a first encounter with gluten after 3 months of not eating any of it. We finally boarded the plane to Iceland after a 13-hour layover in JFK and questionable salad from subway, which happened to be the only place I could possibly eat at in the section of the airport we were stranded in. While on the plane I decided to have a Tandori Chicken dish. This was a BAD IDEA. Within 30 min of finishing I felt like I was going the throw up but never did. My whole body ached with this sickly, aching feeling and as much as I tried to sleep I was restless.

Its been a little hard living in a home where 3 people are not gluten free and I am. Everyone is very supportive and understanding, however there is still contamination. I suppose Im lucky in the way that immediate exposure doesn’t really kill me, unless I havnt eaten in a few hours, like on the plane here. It instead has a long-term effect on me. Bloating, water retention and joint/muscle pain among other things like being lethargic.

I keep checking as much as I can, but its hard when Taco seasoning is thrown into the taco meat and there just happens to be Maltodextrin in the taco seasoning. Going through the effort of making sure there are corn taco shells and plain meat, and veggies is all turned fully gluten by a little maltodextrine in the seasoning. Do I mention it to the people feeding me for free? What a conundrum.

Gluten Free Living - In Holland

I'm scared. No doubt about it. I'm not only moving to another country but 2 months previous to doing so, I find out I have a problem with Gluten.

The reason I'm so scared?
It was hard enough figuring out what I could and couldn't eat IN ENGLISH! Luckly I already have a few friends over there who can help me out, and have already begun to do some research. But what do I really want and I'm scared I can not eat?

Brotjes - Small cheese and meat sandwiches on daily fresh rolls.
Kroketten - Breaded? YES!
Stroopwafels - Wheat waffles with camel in the middle...found a recipe though to make my own...
Potat Met - If i cant eat this delight because the fries are fried in the same oil as the kroketten I'm going to DIE! I just might say F* it and eat it anyways.... But we will see (I honestly don't suggest this for ANYONE suffering from Celiac Disease...obviously)

Im writing this blog because when I went searching for expats in Holland with this problem... I came up with nothing...Everything I found was in Dutch. So this is for you my english friends who have Celiac Disease. I will let you know all the things I find, and hopefully this will eleviate some of your struggles. I know a lot of people with this problem get sick when they go to another country because they have to relearn.

I will try to help.