What I ate Wednesday

Excited to share a yummy and super easy gluten free and corn free meatball recipe on this what I ate Wednesday! I paired it with homemade marinara sauce and we made meatball sandwiches with it last night. They were SO delicious :-)

For the sauce:
1 32 oz can of tomato purée
1 15oz can of diced tomatoes
1 can of tomato paste
4 gloves of garlic minced
1 shallot minced
1/2 cup of minced carrots
1 cup of minced onion
1/2 cup of minced mushrooms
1/2 cup of fresh basil chopped
Season w/
Salt
Pepper
Oregano
Thyme
Rosemary

Add purée, paste, diced tomatoes, and seasoning in pot and let boil. When boiling turn to low for 20-30 minutes. While that is getting started sauté the veggies, garlic and shallots until they are sweating, add to sauce and cover.

Meatballs:
1 LB ground turkey
1 LB ground pork
2 eggs
1 cup minced onions
1/2 cup minced mushrooms
1/2 cup minced carrots
1 cup of GF breadcrumbs (EASY recipe below)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup fresh basil chopped
1 shallot minced
4 garlic cloves minced
Season w/
Salt
Pepper
Thyme
Oregano
Crushed red pepper

Mix everything together thoroughly and form meatballs on baking sheet (I use tin foil on a sheet) bake at 400• for 25 minutes.

So since I have found out about my corn allergy on top of my Celiac I have not been able to find any breadcrumbs that don't contain corn. Well, no big deal because homemade breadcrumbs are literally EASIER THAN ANYTHING to make!! You just need a toaster and a blender or food processor!

GF/CORNFREE breadcrumbs (just enough for the recipe!)
4 butt ends of your favorite Gf bread
(I have mine made at a Gf/cf bakery other than that majority of the Gf bread on the market contain corn)
Toast bread until crispy (you have to sit and watch bc it can burn easily!)
Chop up in chunks and throw into processor and blend!

Boom! So east right?! I'll never buy or search for Gf/cf ones again. Just save your small and butt end pieces and set aside!

Oh p.s they're also baby approved!!! ;-)

Take time Tuesday

I'm so thankful the bipolar weather here has decided to be more springlike! It's such a huge thing for my mood. I think most people could agree. I've been able to workout outside and go to the park, even started a refinishing project!

I think my hypermesis is cooling down too! I have had days where I'm not so nauseous and not throwing up all day. That's been a blessing. It's been a rough 14 weeks before then. We got to see the baby last week too and got a great picture! That was exciting.

I was really thankful to see some of my friends last week and this past weekend too. It seemed like and really had been forever since I felt good enough to see anyone.

Lastly I'm thankful my work has decided to finally let me switch my schedule since my "two weeks notice" has now been well past a month now. So until they find a replacement I only work 2 days a week now. It's overall helped my outlook on the whole situation in general.

Until next time!

<3

Take time Tuesday (Thursday!)

I missed Tuesdays take time, but I got word it was still open! So I'm taking the time on this rainy Thursday to be thankful.

After seeing the events that occurred in Boston, just like any of the other similar events over the last few years, no matter if your directly effected or not, it is no doubt scary.

I sat and watched CNN glued for hours just tearing up and scared. I'm scared to raise children in the world we live in today, but as my husband reminds me constantly (I am a huge worry wart) you can not live everyday in fear, then they win. Which is so true. I however can not imagine the people directly effected. My heart truly goes out to them and their families. It breaks my heart.

With that said Tuesday morning I was so thankful to hear my baby's heartbeat. That does put things into perspective. You have to move forward and come together.

I'm thankful to be safe and have my family, as always. And I am truly thankful I have a cousin with such a big heart. She immediately started up a charity 5k for Boston. That's the true definition of getting up and doing something. She makes me proud! And I can't wait to take part in the run! Even tho my preggo butt will be walking! :-)

I'm thankful on this Thursday to be going to see my new baby too! We get to go for an ultrasound and its better quality then the regular ob's office.

One of my best friends unexpectedly lost their father this week, his funeral is today. I am so sad for her loss.

Overall I am just thankful, no matter how hard my physical days can be, in thankful for my family and everyone around me being safe. While there are people out there aching from their loses, I do have mine and that is 110% worth being thankful for.

Flour less 5 ingredient GF peanut butter cookies

I found this recipe from a GF blogger I follow @GlutenAway and tonight I was feeling like a sweet!

http://www.shockinglydelicious.com/5-ingredient-gluten-free-flourless-peanut-butter-cookies/

So easy, I was shocked with such little ingredients how moist the batter was. The only things I did different were I added chocolate chips to half of my batch (for the hubs) and I used crunchy peanut butter instead of creamy. I've done this before and it dried out the cookies, however without having to use flour they stayed super moist and turned out awesome!!!

This is probably my go to GF peanut butter cookie for now on! :-)

So GOOD! Seriously.

GF Shrimp Scampi

So this past weekend we got fresh seafood from the butcher. I ended up having left over shrimp Monday and decided to try something new rather then having boring old spaghetti (which I love) so I decided to use the leftover shrimp and do shrimp scampi!

What you need:

1lb of GF pasta

1/2-1lb shrimp up to you how much you like

For the sauce:
Butter 1/2 stick or your choice of spread
Fresh Lemon juice (about 1/2 cup)
Fresh garlic cloves (I think I cut up about 4-6)
2 Tablespoons olive oil
Sea salt
Pepper
Fresh parsley

Parmesan cheese

Boil the pasta, as that's boiling, in a sauté pan melt 1/2 of the amount of the butter and throw in minced garlic. Cook for a minute or two and throw in the shrimp. Add 1tb of oil and half of the amount of lemon juice, salt and pepper. Rinse pasta and set aside. Start to add the other 1/2 of the butter. As its melting throw in the pasta and toss around. Add in the rest of the olive oil, lemon juice and chopped parsley. Mix thoroughly! Season a little again.

Top with Parmesan and a little parsley.

So good, so simple! If it seems to dry up, add a little more oil and lemon juice. My GF noodles were tricky but it worked out well.

ENJOY!

I also did homemade GF garlic cheesy bread...super easy. Take slices of your fave GF bread butter, season with garlic, top with shredded mozzarella and top with parsley. Cook in oven at 350• for about 5-7 minutes!

Next up, roasted duck!!! :-)

What I Ate Wednesday

Well this is has been quite a test for me emotionally but I managed to come back for my second WIAW and I am very excited! Along with this I am going to post a few of the recipes from what I ate this week after!

{They include gluten free shrimp scampi and roasted duck with homemade gluten free/corn free tortillas!}

I have been really craving smoothies as of late, it started last week. I suppose I won't complain the baby could be wanting junk but I'm thankful "it" doesn't :-) So I've been doing my own smoothie making this week and not only do I like them, my 22 month old loves them! We had a strawberry, banana, raspberry that was so yummy for early breakfast!

For lunch I was craving something yummy and I happened to be close by to exactly what I was craving...Chipotle!! For a pulled pork Gluten Free burrito bowl. So very worth it!!

For a snack I had a simple veggies and hummus! Light and nutritious :-)

For dinner we made gluten free shrimp scampi in a light butter garlic sauce topped with Parmesan cheese. I also made homemade gluten free garlic cheesy bread! Yum, yum, yum!!!

Take time Tuesday

Well today is a nerve racking day but a good day. Big dr's appointments for hopefully some long awaited answers. Currently I've gotten through my 1st rheumatology appointment and now I'm waiting to get through some of the tests they're putting me through.

First it was blood...10 tubes of blood to be exact. Thought I was going to pass out! 18 X-rays, then 2 ultrasounds. I was supposed to go to neurology after this but they rescheduled it to a week from now because of all the tests they wanted to run today are taking up too much time and some of the answers might get answered through them first. Then I'm headed to my endocrinologist.

I'm so thankful after seeing literally 5 dr's that I found two who referred me to a rheumatologist. It took a lot of patience and persistence to get anyone to listen to me, but I never lost hope. I've been here before with my hashimoto's and celiac. No one would really listen, they made me feel like I was crazy, but no matter what I listened to my body and pushed on.

When I got here today as I sat in the room waiting in my gown I wondered "will this dr really hear me?" "Is this going to be the final dr who finds what's really wrong?" "Is this going to be a waste of time and more money?" "Am I crazy?!!?"

Well after meeting her, talking and her explaining what she thinks may be going on an her plan for the next few weeks I was put at ease. I'm nervous about the possibilities of what's going on, but I feel like maybe I might be getting the answers--- finally. She hopes to diagnosis me in the next 3 weeks after all re results are reviewed by her and her team. She thinks there's a great possibility that I have RA, lupus or another auto immune inflammatory arthritis disease. She seems sure she can find the answer tho. So I am positive and hopeful. The neuro wants to retest me for MS as well so I'm hoping this is the last of the testing. It's been 2 long years.

I am thankful I have insurance and a supportive few people in my life. I am thankful I am still here with apparently 9 lives, like a cat. I am thankful for having all the specialists I do have that have been pushing through trying to get to the bottom of this. And lastly I'm thankful for for being able to stay positive through this whole process.

Take time Tuesday

Well let me tell you!! I woke up this morning refreshed and well rested because after 21 LONG months my little nugget FINALLY slept in his own bed through the night!!!! And let me tell you I am THANKFUL!! Hahaha....I hope it wasn't a fluke and he truly has been excited about his new big boy full size bed like he tells us, and we are on our way to a baby free mommy and daddy bed!

I am thankful for being brave enough to meet up with a new "mom friend" for a play date yesterday. I'm always hesitant to meet new people and open up with the things I've been through, but lately I have been missing the connection of having a good friend. We had a good time, I don't think it was a friend connection for us moms, but we got along good and our boys really liked one another! So it's good to know even if its for the sake of the kids, we have a new friend for Caleb. Also during last week we tried out many new things and places for Caleb and I to make new mommy/baby friends. I'm really proud of myself because as of late I really have been to anxious to put myself out there, but when I do I see how happy Caleb can be so its worth it!

One other thing I'm really thankful for this week is I finally put my two weeks into my job. I have only had it since the end of September but ever since thanksgiving I have had more and more flare ups and medical issues that have really made it hard to work. I hate confrontation and quitting a job I really enjoyed, but with advice from my cousin I was honest with my boss and I am leaving on more than good terms. And I'm back to staying at home with Caleb and taking care of myself and the new baby on the way, with much support from my wonderful husband. I am thankful everyday for the support I have in him. No matter what.

I'm 3 months now, and only 2 weeks away from starting my 4th month! It's already going by so fast!! :-)