Whoops! Where did the time go?

I seem to be making that statement a lot on this blog.  I don't know why I forget to post!  I think when I am feeling good and not whining at you my dear readers I just forget to post the good things.  Okay I'm going to do a synopsis of the past month and catch up!!

The family and I had a great time on Thanksgiving at the dear daughters house.  I made some gluten free cornbread stuffing and goodies that were gluten free.  I found gluten free pie crusts at the Whole Foods store in OKC and although they were a little pricey it was nice to have pie with a crust!  Unfortunately I don't know what happened to the pictures I took on Thanksgiving...rats!

Heather and I had a really good time cruising around the Caribbean and all my worries about my disorders and eating issues were mostly unfounded.  Now I did have some problems with tiring easily and the first day on the boat ended up falling twice and scaring Heather half to death!  Her response was I was only allowed to fall once a day and I was being penalized for going over the limit and couldn't fall anymore on the trip.  Not counting near falls I didn't fall another time!!

Only known variance from my gluten free diet was the Beignets and coffee I had at the Cafe Dumond in the French Quarter in New Orleans!  Very yummy and I didn't seem to have any bad effects from them!  Might have been the small amount of gluten but it was nice to know an occasional slip wouldn't send me into agony!

My hamberger and fries at the Guy Fierey grill on board the Conquest!  It was so yummy I ended up going back there 3 times and ordering it.  

 I was very impressed with the way the dining room staff went out of their way to make sure I didn't feel neglected or underfed on the trip.  After they found out I was gluten and dairy intolerant they went out of their way to prepare the same food everyone else was eating within my dietary restrictions.  I had gluten free bread at dinner and the molten chocolate cake every night at supper.  I didn't feel the lease deprived because how could I eating filet mignon and lobster tails or all sorts of awesome foods! 

More then a few cruise picture can be seen on my Okienurse Paper and Ink Therapy blog if you would like to see them just click the link!  Saves me from having to repost and boring the folks who only want to hear about the health info.

I wish I could say I didn't have any issues with traveling and the trip because I did!  I tire easily and I had a lot of problems with fatigue, mental fog, balance was a big issue.  I came home with quite a few bruises.  It was cool and rainy most the trip and that effected my health a little.  BUT!  I just took it easy stopping frequently to rest and people watch, I read a couple books sitting on deck wrapped up in warm clothes when it was cool and soaking up the sun when it was nice. 

Food alert:

If you have access to a Natural Grocer or a Whole Foods store they both carry this Quinoa pasta.  It is awesome food and I truthfully can't tell the different between it and the wheat flour variety except in price.  This box is about $3.29 vs the $1.89 of wheat pasta!

I made some really awesome banana nut muffins yesterday.  I will include the recipe below.

You will need some of my gluten free baking mix and you can find the recipe here!

Gluten Free Banana Nut Muffins with Crunchy Topping

4 cup gluten free baking mix
1 cup sugar
1 1/2  cup almond milk
4 eggs
4 tsp. vanilla
5 bananas mashed up
1 cup chopped pecans

Crunchy Topping
1 c brown sugar
1/2 c white sugar
1/2 c butter
1/4 c pecan bits


Mix all ingredients together in large bowl except those for the crunchy topping.  Mix the crunchy topping ingredients together in a separate bowl.  You may need to use a little more sugar if it doesn't look like lumpy sand.   Line baking tins with cupcake liners and spray lightly with nonstick spray.   Fill each cup about 3/4 full of batter.   Top with about tablespoon of topping.  Bake 350 for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of muffin comes out clean. Makes 36 muffins