Update I suppose..

Sorry to anyone who might have been looking for GF recipes or anything fun on here as of late...(I'm sure there's been no one but haha) 

About 3 weeks ago I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. It's been quite a pill to swallow with everything else I have to deal with medically. And quite frankly I have little to no support during this time. 

Sometimes I should pat myself on the back for the things I've gone through and continue to go through daily. But I don't. Instead the lack support has put me in a downward spiral of anger and sadness. I'm so tired of friends and family only coming to me about them especially when I'm suffering so badly. No one listens, everyone compares and in the end all the conversations are about them. And bc I don't bring what I'm going through up its my fault. 

I guess sometimes I want people to know me well enough to push through me saying "oh I'm fine" or my constant smile. Because truly I'm not smiling on the inside and I feel like I'm wasting my days lately. And truthfully life is seriously to short to feel like this. I feel helpless. I'm tired of people only saying "I'm sorry you have to deal with all of this." 

I liked it back in the day when people gave a damn. I liked it when I had friends and family that cared. I liked it better when people cared more about people not only about their job or money. Being an adult sometimes is shitty. But at the same time there's barely a time I'd rather go back to because my life has seriously been so messed up. 

I wish I could make my health problems disappear. I wish I wasn't in physical pain constantly. I wish I was not letting my cards I've been dealt dictate who I am inside. Ugh.... 

Take time Tuesday

What a sunny week or two it's been!! It's amazing! The sun really makes a difference in everything :-)

I'm thankful I got a fun date night with the hubby this last week. We went to the Tigers/Twins game! A little spousal rivalry!!!

Also I made some yummy dishes too! Homemade GF granola bars, yummy breakfast sandwiches and chicken lettuce wraps. Good food is always something to be thankful for!

I also got my Mother's Day gifts early from my hubs. He's so good to me. And knows me so well. Love him! Cool new kicks and a bag full of cute maternity clothes. All picked out by him and a total surprise. He did great too!

Lastly I have been in so much physical pain lately and my pt session today was super helpful. They found that yet again my hip has gone back into its upslip. It kills but now I know why my leg and hip have been almost unbearable lately. Unfortunately they couldn't fix it today, but I have to go back so they can so that's good!!

I finished an art project too! A vintage chalkboard for our kitchen! Woot woot :-)

Hope everyone has a GREAT week!!

-M

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!!! :-)