Gluten Free

I have gone gluten free! Celiac disease is why most people go gluten free. Celiac disease is a malabsorption issue, but is most off called a wheat allergy. It is definitely more than just a wheat allergy. You can look on the web and find a ton of different symptoms, in fact onewebsite I was stated that there were over 250 symptoms of have Celiac which is why most people don't even know that they have it.

I have not been diagnosed with having it but I could relate to a lot of the symptoms, one which is numbness is hands and feet. I have struggled with my feet going to sleep on and off for about 5 years. I have been gluten free since the beginning of the year with a few "cheat" days that I regretted after a few hours. I feel so different, and I mean that as in AWESOME, when I am eating gluten free.

I could see how even a few years ago it would have been very difficult to eat gluten free. I think that going gluten free is much easier since living in Austin. Having a different diet or a special needs diet here is no surprise and there are many places that cater to them.

This has been a lifesaver for use! We have also found that Betty Crocker also has gluten free brownie and cookies mixes that have been awesome. We have tried so many different items trying to keep our options open, so we have had some good and we have had some bad. I am still looking for a good hamburger bun though! Overall though going gluten free hasn't been bad.

I am hoping to update here with any great recipes or websites that I come across.

Christmas 2010

The whole family at Christmas!

Terrible Blogger

I am a terrible blogger and that is really all I have to say. I have never been able to be consistent in writing in a journal so I am not sure why I thought I would be good at keeping a blog. But I am once again to start again. My goal is to put something up on the blog just 1 time per week. I think that is doable. With that being said I am pretty sure this will be my post for the week.

We do have a lot that is upcoming. I will be traveling back home to Groom for a Christmas party, we are beginning to workout again which normally comes with cooking again, and of course we will have Christmas to celebrate as well.

All Things New

We have had so much going on lately. New jobs, new schedules, and adjusting to a very different life of 2 full time "real" jobs. I am loving what the future is looking like for us. We have many decisions to make now that we have only dreamed of previous. Buying a house, having a baby, be a stay at home mom or a working mom, create a real full business of my photography or keep it as a hobby, just to name a few.

James is now working for the same company as I am and is loving it. I love that he is loving it. I think that has been a big fear for both of us, that he would get into a job that he didn't enjoy. I am got a promotion and I am working in a different group but doing the same job...well almost. I am supporting a new product and I am still learning the ins and outs of it and I am having to change how I do my job because what I do is now read

directly by pretty important people instead of just fellow agents. It has been a good change of pace, but I am ready to know the product backwards and forward so I can feel "comfortable" again.

I have had a few scheduled photo shoots recently and I have been working on my off camera flash photography. I need more practice with the off camera flash. Looking for ways to expand and hopefully have photography to fall back on so I can be a stay at home mom photographer instead of just a stay at home mom (when the time comes).

Until next time, here is a new favorite of James and Dagny!

New Five Squared Photography Post

Check it out!

http://tiny.cc/f1wvk

Hybrid Burgers

Another recipe from the Taste of Home Simple and Delicious. Very Delicious indeed!

3/4 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained

1 egg white

1/2 cup shredded zucchini

1/2 cup finely chopped sweet red pepper

1 tsp. chili powder

1/2 tsp. onion powder

1/2 tsp. pepper

1/4 tsp. salt

3/4 lb. ground turkey

1 Tbsp. olive oil

In a small bowl, coarsely mash beans. Add the egg white, zucchini, red pepper, chili powder, onion powder, pepper and salt. Crumble the turkey over mixture and mix well. Shape into four patties.

In a large skillet, cook burgers in oil over medium heat fro 4-5 minutes on each side or until the meat thermometer reads 165 degrees and juices run clear. Serve on buns.

Chicken Asparagus

This recipe is just fantastic! I got it from Taste of Home Simple and Delicious. You should give it a try!

1 lbs. fresh asparagus, trimmed

1/4 tsp. salt, divided

1/8 tsp. pepper, divided

1/4 cup white wine or chicken broth

2 Tbsp. butter, melted

4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (5 oz. each)

1 cup (4 oz.) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Place asparagus in a greased 11-in. x 7-in. baking disk. Sprinkle with 1/8 tsp. salt and a dash pepper. In a small bowl, combine wine and butter; pour over asparagus.

Arrange chicken over asparagus; sprinkle with remaining salt and pepper. Bake, uncovered., at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese, bake 5-10 minutes longer or until chicken juices run clear and cheese is melted.