My Personal Journey with Gluten

I am a lover of foods! Cooking, eating, preparing, shopping, talking, reading, discovering, tasting, inhaling any type of foods is my enjoyment and happiness. Although, there is one ingredient that makes me sick and it's in mostly everything, GLUTEN!!!!!!

In my early twenties, I discovered I had an intolerance to gluten. My boyfriend (now hubby) questioned my bowel movements, my reactions, my stench and my fatigue after sometime of being together (thankfully, this did not turn him off the idea of marrying me!!). He suggested to visit a naturopath to work out what was happening to my body.

I was always sick, lost a lot of weight, reacted to any type of gluten and was generally unwell. Back in those days, no-one had heard of gluten intolerance. It was very rarely spoken about and it was a shock when the naturopath suggested that it was now my problem.

Immediately, I had to eliminate all the foods I love - pasta, pasta, breads, pasta!!! The gluten free aisle was one shelf in a health food shop with frozen breads, tasteless products and really not much at all. I had to discover how to cook gluten free as well as create a whole new lifestyle around what I love most to do - cooking and eating!

Over the years, I became far more healthier and educated myself. I no longer had uclers, determitis, bruising, constant diareaha, weight loss, vitamin difficancy etc. I had a handle of the gluten free lifestyle and it became easier as the rest of the world caught up on the "trend".

I never thought to be formally diagnosed as it was never suggested. Fast forward, 14years later I had noticed my middle child with the same side effects, which increasingly became more obvious. I had not even thought that this would be herediatory. It was my lightbulb moment to look into my situation.

I booked in to a gastrologist and told him my history. Then I was advised to eat gluten for 1 month!! 1 month!!!! For a quick moment I thought of maccas, subway, pies, crossiants, bagels, fresh white bread with vegemite and butter. Then for a prolonged moment, I thought of how sick I will be and unable to leave the house. We agreed to try it and see how we go.

After 3 days, I had aged 40 years, I had lost 3 kilos and I was permanently on the toilet. I called the gastrologist and we booked in the next day to do the colonoscopy and endocscopy.

All seems very easy and was happy to finally get a result BUT there was no result!!!! Due to the fact that I had been gluten free for over 14 years, he was unable to see any damage after 3 days on gluten and the result was inconclusive.

Very frustrating!!!!!! Now, here's the issue. I was happy to be inconclusive and continue with my gluten free way of life. However, I now had my 8 year son who needed to know what happening to him.

There were suggestions to place Kye on a gluten diet and go through the same procedure as he had only been gluten free for 12 months. However, Kye broke down in tears knowing the pain he would have to go through and the specialist advised to just hold off for now.

Where to now? This brings us to reason for my Blog!

I met with the RPA Allergy Centre late last year, which took 12 months to of waiting. This is a unit specifically for people like me. When I sat down with the professor, I felt like I had found my lost twin who knew exactly what I was going through. The Professor suggested a Gene Test to confirm if I was a carrier of Celiac Disease and refused to put me on a gluten diet (thank goodness).

The Gene Test came back negative. Just fabulous! It would have been very simple to tick the box and all move on.

However, I am now working with the Gluten/Celiac Specialist for the next 6-8 weeks to establish exactly what is happening in my body. As of 1 March, I am starting an elimination diet where basically I can only eat certain meats, certain vegetables and a few grains.

No wine, no champagne, no dairy, no sauces, no chilli, no herbal teas, no treats, no fruit (except pear with the skinned pealed), no salmon, no tuna, nothing, nothing, nothing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Breathing, breathing, breathing :)

During the elimination diet, I am to diarise and record every thing I put in my mouth (I even have to change my toothpaste), as well as the reactions to the blind tasting capsules that are made of preservatives, chemicals, dairy, gluten etc.

The biggest preparation is the mind and believing I can do this. To be not be tempted to cheat or taste foods (especially when I am around it all the time).

My biggest driving force is doing this for my wellness especially after my Dad was diagnosed with Bowel Cancer last year and had his entire bowel removed), my child Kye and to have closure on a long standing saga.

I plan to share it all with you in the hope that you will find this interesting especially if you are going through a similar journey.

Kick off is in two weeks time - between then and now, I am off to the Gold Coast with the girls and a Family Weekend with my Italian Family for a Wedding. I am going to indulge and enjoy every mouthful of all the foods that I wont be able to eat for two months.

I look forward to sharing with you

xx

A Lazy Sunday Breakfast

This is one of my favourite weekend breakfast dishes to cook up on a Sunday. It is so easy, so healthy, so delicious. Simply serve with toasted sourdough bread and a side dish of sliced avocado.

What you need:
4 organic or free range eggs
1 can of cannellini beans, drained
2 chorzio, sliced
fresh parsely
1 red onion, diced
2 cloves of garlic, diced
Sprinkle of paprika

What to do:
1. Preheat oven 180c
2. Heat frypan with a dash of olive oil. Throw in onion, garlic and chorzio (smell the aromas!!)
3. Once onion and garlic soft, add drained can of cannellini beans and toss through. Sprinkle in paprika and taste. Add the amount you like in taste
4. Spread mixture flat and crack each egg in a clear space. Place in oven and cook until eggs are just set. Approx 10 minutes
5. Keep checking as it could be under 10 minutes and it all depends on how you like your eggs. The hot tip is to remember the eggs still cook when removed. If you like them soft, take them out of the oven just before your preferred egg texture
6. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and dig in

10 Minute Dinner

Asian Lime & Coriander Snapper

This is one of the easiest meals to prepare and not to mention impressive. Give it a go tonight. Serve with steamed basmatic rice, asian greens lightly steamed and fresh sliced chilli

What you need:

1 Snapper - approx 1.8kg, cleaned, leave head on! It looks great.

Oyster Sauce, Soy Sauce, Fish Sauce, Sweet Chilli

Palm Sugar

3 garlic cloves, sliced

Bunch of Coriander

Lime

What to do:

1. Depending on your cooking facilities - you have two options:

Preheat oven to 200c. Stuff Snapper with lime wedges, garlic cloves and wrap all over in a tight foil parcel. Place in oven and cook for 40 -50 minutes depending on size of your fish. You will know when cooked, when you flake the fish meat with a fork and it pulls away firmly and non-transparent

OR

Preheat a deep wok with half filled canola oil (dont panic yet). You will know when wok is ready to cook by placing a cube of bread in the oil and it sizzles immediately. Then place the whole fish in the wok and cook for approx 10-14 minutes depending on size. Check  if cooked as above. Place on paper towel to absorb any access oil. I promise the fish does not taste oily or appear oily, this is just a fast way to cook and leaves a lovely crispy skin

2. Next, in a saucepan, heat on stove on a medium heat. Add a dash of all the Asian sauce and stir. Grate 2 tablespoons of palm sugar (if you do not have, raw sugar will do) and stir in. Adjust flavours to your taste. Make enough sauce to pour over the fish.

3. Place your fish on a large white platter. Pour over the delicious Asian Sauce. Sprinkle with fresh coriander and lime wedges.

Quickies

Quickies

For a quickie snack during the day, do your body a favour and steer away from sugar, instead opt for some of these ideas. You will refuel your brain and kick start your energy levels:

• Celery topped with tuna mixed with greek yogurt and fresh herbs
• Sliced apple with tahini
• Rice cakes spread with pesto and sardines or smoked salmon, fresh dill and cucumber slices
• Orange and apple slices sprinkled with cinnamon served with greek yogurt
• Trail mix made up of almonds, blueberries, craisins and grapes
• Carrots, celery and brocolli with hummus

An Italian Secret Recipe

I recently found this package on my front door from my 85 year old Italian neighbour (all but the wine!). Every year, she gathers her family around for a passata day making fresh tomato sauce for all types of cooking. I love the tradition of storing this flavoursome sauce in a longneck. It reminds me of the days when my Nonna was alive and this is how pasta sauce was kept in storage.

Of course, I had to cook immediately on delivery and decided to cook my 4 hour bolognese sauce, which is a traditional recipe from my Aunty in Arten, Italy. Aunty Maria Monica taught me how to make authentic bolognese sauce from her kitchen in the small village where my mother was born. I had never tasted anything like it and just had to have the recipe, even in broken italian/english!

The secret recipe:

What you will need:
300g Pork Mince
300g Veal Mince
300g Beef Mince
A cup of stock
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 jar of passatta
1 garlic, crushed

What to do:
1. Place a large frypan on medium heat on your cook top. Add a dash of olive oil to cover base. Toss in your garlic and three types of mince and cook until brown. Add 1 cup of stock, the tomato paste and the passatta
2. Bring the boil. Then simmer on low heat and cook for 4 hours. The smell will drive you insane and tempt you to eat it beforehand, but it's worth the wait
3. Once cooked, season with salt and pepper. Serve with healthy spelt or whole-wheat pasta. Sprinkle with parmesean and pour yourself a glass of red. Enjoy!

Smoked Salmon Recipe

Smoked Salmon at it's best

Healthy Corn Fritters with Smoked Salmon & Fresh Dill
 This is one of my favourite brunch recipes or you could simply serve as canapes for a dinner party or gatheing. I promise this is not tricky at all. Remember, the trick is all in the presentation. Serve on a fancy platter or three tier display and don't forget to add dill (as I did in this photo!).

What you need:
Corn Frittters:
1 1/2 cup Gluten Free or Spelt Flour
1 can of corn kernels
bunch of chives, chopped
Salt & Pepper
1/2 cup milk
2 eggs free range

1 pkt of good quality Smoked Salmon
Sourcream
Fresh Dill

What to do:
1. Add all corn fritter ingredients in bowl and stir
2. Heat frypan on cook top to medium heat. Place enough oil in pan to cover the base. Heat pan until hot and place 3 spoonfuls of batter in pan. Cook 2-3 mins each side and remove to cool
3. Place a small dallop of sourcream, a slice of salmon and a sprig of dill
4. You could even place some lemon wedges on the platter and a spinkle of salt