Sunshine

Hello from the frozen tundra of the Midwest! Okay...yes, I know, it's April 25th, but it was only a couple days ago that I woke up to a completely white world again. This year Old Man Winter has just clung on for dear life and not wanted to let go so Spring could come save all of us who are desperate for sunshine and warm weather! From what the weather people are telling us, Spring - and with it, warm weather - is finally on its way!

Now, I know many people out there do suffer from increased Fibro symptoms with the cold, so those who live in the midwest (and anywhere else that Spring has been delayed) are likely looking at the forecasts with big grins for the upcoming week.

We're so excited for the warm weather, that my husband is already making plans for us to meet up with friends at a local restaurant that has a nice patio for this weekend - while I'm just excited for the warmth of the sun and the relief it seems to bring to the fatigue and achy muscles of Fibro. But, before I went running for the fields to get my unobstructed dose of sunshine, I did a little looking online to see what the medical experts have to say about the subject. I found an article at Health.com entitled: Can the Sunshine Vitamin Ease Fibromyalgia Pain? It was interesting to find out that, there is actually some evidence that people with Fibro tend to have lower levels of Vitamin D...which is why so many of us feel so "good" when we are able to take in a good dose of Sunshine! BUT, remember, too much sun can be bad too...so dig out the sunblock, the shades, flip-flops and tank tops - warm weather is on it's way!

Recent Study about the Benefit of Alcohol and Fibromyalgia

So...I recently found an article on Science Daily about the positive effects of alcohol for those who suffer from Fibromyalgia. This is going to be a fairly short post, because I can sum up their findings with a single word - DUH! Anyone who suffers from the pain of Fibromyalgia could tell you that their pain/inflammation was reduced after they had a drink (or two or even more after three or four)...but then, just about anyone who has ever had a drink when they were experiencing pain could tell you that! I sure hope that this isn't what they are spending the Fibromyalgia research dollars on...the money would be better spent - if they find it necessary to relate it to food/beverages - to research how/why so many people experience so many Fibro symptoms from certain food and beverages.

I would love some research to tell me why exactly it is that since my Fibromyalgia reared its ugly head into my life, that I suddenly have a gluten sensitivity, or how about why some people feel better when they remove night shade fruits and veggies from their diet, or how about why some people have such strong effects from some preservatives - now those would be good food/beverage studies to benefit those of us who live with the daily symptoms of Fibro - and DON'T plan on treating it with daily alcoholic beverages!

Beef with Ginger

In recent months I've become a HUGE fan of Pinterest and the fabulous recipes I've been able to find on there. I'm one of those people that prefers a picture with a recipe (so I can see what I'm going to be eating) - apparently I need the visual of the food before I can decide that I want to take the time to try making something new - crazy, I know! So, that is why Pinterest and all the amazing recipes on there have become like an electronic cookbook heaven for me - and bless my husbands soul, he's willing to try anything I find and decide to take a crack at - no matter how crazy or weird it sounds.

Today's creation was delicous!! I happened across the recipe from the new "pinner" MyPlate Recipes - which is the new "Partnership for a Healthier America". I actually like that they have some health recipes to add to Pinterest...there are SOOO many dessert recipes out there that it is nice to find some of the good stuff once in a while too :)

So, today's dinner was Beef with Ginger - provided on Pinterest by MyRecipes.com - it was SOOO good - and actually quite easy to make. Since I usually wait until I make something a second or third time before sharing on here, I don't have any of my own pictures of our dinner - it was gobbled up as quickly as it was made! Here's the picture provided by the website with the recipe...looks yummy - huh!?!

Beef with Ginger

 

 

You can simply click on the picture above to go directly to the recipe to try it for yourself!! ENJOY!! Oh - and if you have Gluten Free soy sauce in your house, you can make this completely Gluten Free :)

 

 

 

Banana, walnut, dark chocolate oatmeal muffins

I just realized today that it's been just over five months since I last posted something...Oh how time flies! So sorry for my absence, I have been quite busy though - working my full time job, working and managing my small business, trying to buy (and sell) a house, and trying to help me husband find a new job near where we're planning to move to. Ugh...that's quite a tall list for a "normal" person, and I do have to say, I've been quite proud of myself for keeping my stress under control through all of this! I have made some fabulous new foods during this time - which I hope to start sharing with all of you again very soon, as well as found some more wonderful new foods that help me stay on track with my GF diet!

One of my favorite new websites (which most of you have probably also become addicted to) is Pinterest. I have found SOOO many fabulous ideas, recipes, products and just general time wasters on there!! One of my favorite things though is that Pinterest allows those who are on a GF diet to so easily share their favorite recipes. Here's a link to my Gluten Free Foods pin board and since I haven't been keeping up on photographing my cooking sessions, here's a link to one my most recent FAVORITE breakfast/morning snacks -- Banana, walnut, dark chocolate oatmeal muffin:

**Photo borrowed from Green Lite Bites blog

I used the recipe provided by Green Lite Bites blog and made a couple additions/twists to suit mine and my husbands tastes.

Ingredients:

3 Ripe bananas

1 cup Almond Milk (milk, or I've even used French Vanilla Coffee Cream)*

2 large eggs

1 Tbsp Baking Powder

3 cups Old Fashion or Rolled Oats (I just used a generic of quick oats)

1 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract

1 cup Dark Chocolate Chips

1/2 cup Chopped Walnuts (or any other nut you prefer) - Optional

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees while mixing the ingredients.

2. Smash the 3 ripe bananas until smooth then mix the milk, eggs, baking powder, vanilla and oatmeal. Mix thoroughly. Add in dark chocolate chips and nuts (optional) and mix until well combined.

3. Spray your muffin pan with Pam or other non-stick spray or put liners into pan.

4. Generously scoop batter into muffin pan - the muffins don't really rise so they'll be about as big (or little) as the batter you put in the pan. I divide the batter into 12 nice sized muffins.

5. Bake 25 - 30 minutes - or until they begin to brown just a bit on the top.

6. Remove from pan and allow to cool - ENJOY!

*If you use milk alone, also at a bit of splenda, truvia or other sweetener - When making with milk I use 4 packets of splenda.