For my personal reference - and yours. =)

4 Grain Bread / Rolls Recipe (Serving Size TBA)

Ingredients

1 cup Arrowhead Mills Organic 4 Grain Plus Flax Hot Cereal

1 1/2 Cups Water (Using purified water personally)

1/4 Cup Butter (Using buffalo butter, not cow butter for this one)

1/4 Cup Honey SUB: 1/4 cup organic sugar (Using organic sugar in this recipe, not honey as I have a reaction to the former)

1 Package Dry Yeast

1/4 Cup Milk or Milk Alternative (Goat Milk, Soymilk, Almond Milk, etc)

1 Egg

3 Cups Whole Wheat Flour

1/2 Tsp. Kosher Salt/Sea Salt (Your choice - am using kosher salt, myself, as I don't like the taste of sea salt much)

Directions

1) Optional: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. (Will warm up your whole kitchen - more on that at number 6. We didn't preheat the oven - never do. Just a personal preference.)

2) Place first 4 ingredients (Arrowhead Mills Organic 4 grain plus flax hot cereal, water, butter, honey/sugar) in a saucepan and cook until cereal is done. SUB: Alternatively, place in large plastic bowl/glass casserole dish and microwave for 4 minutes until cereal is cooked - give or take, depending on your microwave.

3) Stir in milk and let cool for 10 minutes.

4) Sprinkle in yeast (don't stir yet!) and remaining ingredients (egg, whole wheat flour, salt) in order listed. Now mix together.

5) Turn onto floured surface, and knead for 5 - 7 minutes (it took about 5 for mine). Place in oiled bowl, turning once to coat. Let rise until double bulk (until dough rises to double in size). Optional: Cover bowl while rising. Will stop the dough from drying out. It's not a big deal if you can't, though.

6) Turn onto floured surface and knead for 2 minutes. Shape into rolls or loaf and let rise until double in bulk (yes, this means let it double in size one more time - it is necessary). It doesn't take overnight - only about 45 minutes. Note: You can speed up rise-time in a warmer kitchen, or slow it down by putting it in a cooler kitchen or refrigerator.

7) Bake at 375 degrees F for 30 minutes or until done (for rolls bake for 15 minutes). Store in a cool, dry place.

Enjoy! I know I will.. once it's done. lol

Gabby

Food Log (10/30/12 - 11/4/12)

This is my first log of the food I've eaten from last week on, and how I've reacted pain-wise to it. I'm doing this so you can see for yourself the results I'm getting from the salicylclic acid-free diet - and also see just how bad for you the junk food is, in more ways than one. I'm learning that the hard way.

Tuesday - TGI Fridays

Ordered: Pot stickers with sauce (appetizer - split it with with mom), Chef's Burger with french fries with ranch dressing (had bleu cheese, cheddar cheese and bacon - as well as what looked like mayonaise on it), and a Dr. Pepper.

Reacted Like: Not well. I didn't have an allergic reaction per se, but I was in more pain than usual for about 2-3 days afterward; just a general sort of soreness. My legs hurt the worst.
My stomach also got upset - I was downing antacids for a few days afterward.

Friday - Jason's Deli

Ordered: Something I thought would be healthy - a salad. It had apple slices, raisins, walnuts (or pecans - couldn't tell) and dried cranberries. I ordered it with the raspberry vinagrette dressing and without the pumpkin seeds.

Reacted Like: Not good. I asked them to leave off the pumpkin seeds - as that's one of the "bad" foods for me - and they did not. I didn't realize this until I was already almost done eating it and it was too late.
On top of that - I think they had some sort of pepper on the chicken that was not mentioned on the menu/website. Pepper is one of my worst foods and I'll be in bed for a week after having the smallest amount.
Again, it didn't click until I was already almost done eating it. I'm still suffering the effects.

Saturday - At Home

Ate: 4-grain hot cereal with raisins and organic brown sugar; some almonds and a couple of Gala apples; late-night snack of goat cheddar cheese/soft goat cheese and Gala apple slices.

Reacted Like: No extra pain that day. In fact, after the 4-grain hot cereal, I noticed a reduction of pain and a sort-of mood elevation - I felt great for about an hour or so afterwards. I was mellow for the rest of the night, too.

Sunday - At Home

Ate: Cashews; chicken fajitas and some Pepsi; Gala apple slices and a half of a banana.

Reacted Like: So-so. I had no problem with the cashews, and I was alright with the chicken fajitas - so far I am, anyway - but they did make me a little nauseous.


See the difference? 'Cause I certainly am. =/

Gabby

Recipe: Au Naturel Pecan 'n' Fruit Medley Salad

Went on a shopping spree to Whole Foods a couple days ago. With my moms' help, I bought a bunch of organic, really good food.
If you can't afford to buy organic food at Whole Foods, that's okay! This is still healthy.
Walmart as well as Sprouts/Sunflower Market has cheap organics, however - so if you're on a tight budget, go there. All organics are pretty much made the same - or atleast, so says Dr. Oz. ;)

Ingredients

• 1/2 lb. organic spring mix lettuce(s)
• 4 small sprinkles (pinches) of organic, pre-chopped pecans
• 1 small box of organic raisins - Thompson seedless, 1.5 oz/42g (To be exact!)
• 5 small sprinkles fresh, organic cranberries; SUB: dried cranberries (They're cheaper, just not quite as healthy)
• 1 Gala apple, chopped into small pieces (or big ones - whichever is easier for you). SUB: Pre-chopped apple slices from Walmart's (or your local/favorite grocery store) produce section
• 5 - 10 pieces fresh chopped, organic bleu cheese chunks  SUB: Bleu cheese crumbles from the Deli Section of Walmart (or your local/favorite grocery store)
• Tupperware container to store salad in
• Cutting board to chop things on
• Knife to cut things with - no particular type needed, as long as it works!

Directions

1. Wash hands with soap and water.
2. Put spring mix into tupperware; put off to the side.
3. Mix in pecans; hand toss into salad (or toss with tongs if you prefer - I prefer hand tossed; it tastes better imho).
4. Repeat above with raisins, cranberries and chopped apple (hand toss into salad).
5. Finally, mix in bleu cheese chunks. Toss with tongs as it will get VERY messy if hand tossed!
6. Make sure all ingredients are mixed well and spread evenly throughout the salad. Enjoy with dressing of your choice.

Recommended Dressing: Oil & Vinegar Salad Dressing (Semi-Home Made)

Take 3 quarters of a cup of olive oil and then a quarter cup of balsamic vinegar. Mix, pour on salad.

Serves: 2-4 people

Enjoy!

Gabby