Pasta Craving - Pad Thai

I have had a pasta craving for weeks. I tried brown rice pasta last weekend and threw it out in disgust. Last night I made the family a Stouffers pasta meal and I wanted to cry because I couldn't have it. Today, I satisfied my pasta craving, pad thai!

I was nervous about going without having done any research before hand and knowing the place we go to for lunch doesn't speak great English. My favorite soup that they serve when you sit down is (was) my favorite. I had a feeling it had wheat (because of the broth) and decided to ask. Our waitress understood what I was talking about, I was doing internal cart wheels! The soup did have gluten. Just the fact she knew what I was talking about, I was fine with not having it. I asked about the pad thai and she said it was fine but she'd tell the kitchen no soy sauce. I couldn't eat more than 6 bites because it was so filling, but let me tell you, it was probably the most delish meal I have had since going gluten-free. And even better, I have left overs for dinner and probably lunch tomorrow.

I did do research when I get home and realized I probably could have had the deep fried spring rolls because they are made with rice paper. Next time, I know!

Lucy's Cinnamon Thins (Found at Starbucks)

These really should be called Lucy's Cinnamon Love bc I am in love! And thank goodness I was in a hurry to get to an appointment otherwise I would have went right back into Starbucks and purchased every single pack. These babies are crisp, cookie goodness; and great nutrition stats per 3 cookies: 130 calories/4.5 fat/1 gram of fiber.

I found on the Dr Lucy's website that Whole Foods, PCC and Starbucks carry these babies in my area. Then on the website I find out they also come in chocolate chip, sugar cookie, and oatmeal. I am in trouble. 
I am tempted to go to Starbucks though and buy the portion controlled packs instead of buying a box.

http://www.drlucys.com/

Betty Crocker...I am Not

I don't think I am going to bake gluten-free. I spent so many years investing time and money into making (real) homemade cupcakes and frosting, I just don't think I have it in me to experiment with gluten-free baking. So for now, this leaves me with Wheatless in Seattle (gluten-free bakery in Seattle) and Betty Crocker.

I was just at the grocery story (Albertson's) and found the line of Betty Crocker gluten-free mixes. I was tempted to buy and slather a ridiculous amount of frosting on the chosen product, but I am going to hold off for now and wait for a real reason, like a birthday, etc to make. Otherwise with me working from home, so close to the kitchen, I am afraid I would eat the entire batch...within a few hours.

On a second thought, I should just buy it, eat it and get it out of my system, instead of what will probably happen; me thinking how I should have bought and then walk around the house from 7 to 11 pm feeling sorry for myself trying to find something else to fill the void.

So which one should I try first? I think it's between the brownies and choc chip cookies. I know I need frosting but both would appreciate frosting. I am sure of it.

Gluten-Free Pizza @ Alfy's

In order to avoid making random lunch requests all afternoon for the kids, I ordered Alfy's 1/2 price pizza for lunch. I also decided on Alfy's bc they have gluten-free pizza and wanted to avoid myself from grazing all afternoon.

This is how kids pizza's arrived... in perfect condition. (Excuse the missing pieces, the kids grabbed slices before my annoyance turned into posting pictures.)

I opened up my prized gluten-free pizza and this is what I found...

I mean really? I didn't even call. How do you explain this mess? As it is, and I am making a total assumption, would they think because it's gluten-free I must be extra picky? I did eat the missing piece, actually I had to scrape it off the box and eat it with a fork bc it was not eat with your hands suitable. Part of me is tempted just to toss it and not waste the calories on such grossness.

Update: I did call. I have a credit for next time.

Famous Daves - Everett, WA

We went out for a late dinner last night and ended up at Famous Daves in Everett, WA. When we walked in, I asked the host if they had a gluten-free menu and the nice "boy" looked at me with a blank stare and said, "Ummm, I don't know what that is." I let him off the hook and while were waiting for our table I did a quick Google search on my iPhone to see if anyone had gluten-free feedback from the restaurant. I saw a few posts and was somewhat reassured.

When we were seated I asked the waitress for gluten-free options, she gave a sigh and said they really didn't have options. I looked away and said ok. Then she went through everything I couldn't have, which was 99% of the menu, but I could do the pork w/o the sauce, the brisket w/o the sauce or the chicken w/o the sauce. The sides I could have were the coleslaw, corn-on-the-cob and the corn bread. No salads unless I wanted oil and vinegar bc all of their dressings come pre-made and they can't figure out what the exact ingredients are.

I settled with the pork, plain, coleslaw, corn-on-the-cob and corn bread. I could have 2 of the sauces on the table: Georgia Mustard and Texas Pit. I must say after the waitress had depressed me initially, I was quite impressed with my meal. I was full and satisfied. And I wasn't looking at the other meals and salivating.

That also being said, I went to Weight Watchers on Monday and weighed-in. I have done very well this week but after this meal I realized the coleslaw, and the 2 corn breads I consumed probably wasn't the best caloric options. Hmmm...

Sushi (Well Blue C Sushi)

One of our dining out spots I didn't mention in an earlier post is Blue C Sushi. This is actually one of my kids favorite places to go. I admit, it's one of the places I preferred around our area too. Until going gluten-free.

(Side Note: Now while I was traveling for work, I went to some amazing sushi places that can't even be put in the same category as Blue C Sushi.)

We ventured into Blue C over the weekend and I had an idea of what I could and couldn't have. Prior to GF I had my standard line up: Philadelphia Rolls, lobster Rolls, California Rolls, edamame, and seared ahi. I knew the lobster rolls I love were now off limits because the "lobster" was deep fried. Philadelphia rolls should be fine because it's just cream cheese, salmon and cucumber. California rolls I wasn't sure because it's crab meat. Seared ahi, yes, totally fine but the ginger sauce that comes with it that I LOVE, wasn't sure.

Initially I just asked our waitress if she knew if the California Rolls had gluten. She said yes, anything with a "k" for krab instead of crab is imitation and had gluten. She offered me a gluten-free menu. Yes! So excited.
The menu only had a few things I would actually eat. They could offer me California Rolls but with snow crab, crab with a "c" instead of a "k". I ordered and so ended up so disappointed. The snow crab was ice cold. Presumably it was frozen, but it was lacking the creamy mayo base the regular krab roll had. Overall not worth it.

I wish I would have taken a picture of the menu. It was basically a lot of raw rolls, nothing with any real taste. The Philadelphia rolls were on the gf menu along with the ahi and edamame. The ginger sauce I love with ahi wasn't on the gf menu and I didn't even ask the waitress about it bc I am assuming it is soy sauce based which soy sauce has gluten, unless it specifically says gluten-free, which I am not going to find in restaurants.

I won't be choosing Blue C as my choice for eating out in the future. I would rather get the calories from food with flavor.

Diet Coke Addication

What is it with Diet Coke? I LOVE Diet Coke to no end. I drink more Diet Coke that I will admit in writing. I especially love fountain Diet Coke with crunchy ice and fountain Coke Zero (Thank you Target!). If I don't have a latte in the morning (which is rare now that the kids are on summer vacation.) I will have a diet coke. When we go out to eat (a lot) and if they have Diet Coke, I will have at least 3 glasses.

Diet Coke has zero calories. However I wonder if you drink enough Diet Coke in one day that you end up with calories. I have talked to my doctor about my Diet Coke consumption and she believes that if I just cut my consumption in half that I might just drop some weight, even though it's zero calories.

I truly believe Diet Coke has something in it that makes me continue to crave it and want more. I really wonder if I could just give it up, would I really drop weight? Or is it not worth to put my crazy neurotic self through it?

Mini Melt Down - Burger King

Last night, the kids asked to go to Burger King for fries and Icees at 10 pm. Of course, their dad bit and took them. I was hungry having just had some salad and fruit for dinner. I googled "is Burger King gluten-free" off my iPhone and only saw a few posts not to trust anything at a fast food restaurant because of cross contamination. Now I am not so worried about cross contamination as most gluten-free folks that I have come across in books and on blogs. I knew that I should just take the blessing that God has given me to avoid fast-food but I wanted to break down with the it's not fair cry. I didn't. I sucked it up without saying anything out loud to the family and poured myself a bowl of cinnamon Chex. It was fine and when the fam came home with their yummy fries and icees, I ate one fry and moved along, unloading the dishwasher. I got over it and happy I didn't indulge in the calories.

Blogging Freeze...

I haven't blogged in a while because I was thinking that there are so many blogs out here on gluten-free, what would I really have to add? Maybe I am not a smart "Googler" but I can't find a blog that relates to my lifestyle. Everything I am finding are stay-at-home mom's (NO DISS HERE! I admire stay-at-home mom's because I tried and couldn't do it.) that cook very natural meals at home or chefs that have amazing but far too complicated recipes for my families palate.

The reality of it is that we eat out a lot and I don't plan meals. I work from home and end up in the field several times a week visiting area hospitals for meetings, etc.

McDonalds is seen coming from our checking account several times a week but mostly you would see debits from Azteca, La Palmera, Bostons, Clay Pit, Blazin' Onion, Teriyaki, etc. Yes, we spend a ton of money eating out but it's just who we are and I don't see it changing. So I am trying how to figure out how to navigate being the only one in my family gluten-free with our food lifestyle.

Yes, for those out there, I know eating out is not as nutritious as eating from scratch at home and maybe why I struggle with my weight so much. However I know there has to be a way to figure this out, trying to lose weight, be gluten-free and not drive myself insane.

Even if I don't end up with 1 follower, I want to blog how I am navigating because I might just loose my mind if I don't get the randomness out of my cluttered mind.