shredded cheese

I found a recipe for shredded cheese: I am going to try this tonight

This cheese was created for those who cannot or prefer not to eat dairy or who would like traditional recipes like lasagna, but for religious reasons are bound from combining dairy and meat. A very mild cheese that goes well in italian recipes, this most closely resembles whole-milk block mozzarella. It should shred easily by hand, but you may want to freeze it until very firm (but not solid) for easier handling. This recipe makes 3-4 c (about a pound) of non-dairy mozzarella. Variations for nut-free individuals are included in the recipe.
5 tsp agar powder or 5 tbsp agar flakes
1/2 c water
1 1/2 c water OR almond milk
1/2 cup macadamia nuts OR soaked blanched almonds OR 1/4 c tahini +2 Tbsp coconut or palm oil (or shortening)
1/4 c nutritional yeast
2 Tbsp quick grits or quick cream of rice
1/8 tsp garlic powder or very small clove garlic, crushed
3 Tbsp Better Batter Gluten Free Flour
3 Tbsp Fresh lemon juice
1 tbsp chopped green onion
2-3 tsp salt

Instructions
In a blender, combine water or almond milk, nuts or tahini and oil, grits or cream of rice, garlic, flour, lemon juice, onion and salt. Blend for 5 minutes or until smooth.
In a saucepan, mix agar and water and bring to a simmer, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes.Add liquid mixture from blender to saucepan, and simmer until thick and bubbly, about 3 minutes.Pour into blender and blend until very smooth.
Use immediately OR mold for shreddable cheese.
To mold: Oil a 4 c (1 qt) square container. Pour hot mixture into the container, gently banging the container on the counter to expell air bubbles. Allow to cool, uncovered, to room temperature. Cover tightly and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight, for best taste.This recipe should yield a firm cheese that can be shredded and will melt under heat.
To store shredded cheese:Please toss lightly in 2 tbsp of potato starch or cornstarch and seal in an airtight bag or container.

"Am I a man"

This seems crazy but since Jeffrey had a birthday a couple of days ago we are all gung ho about being a man. My son won't quit asking questions which is great BUT the questions he asked are cute on a 3 year old not so cute on a 6 year old. "Mom are you a man" No I am not. " Are you going to turn into a man." No honey I am not. "Then why do you have hair on your mouth?" After I pull myself up off the floor I realize that I must have missed a few. Gotta love the innocence of my kid.

We took Jeffrey and his little friend to the local childrens discovery museum. I love that place. They have a wall of clear pcp pipes hooked up to a fan. The kids put scarves and nerf balls in there and watch them fly. I want one in my own house. My other favorite is the educational pinball machine.

It has been so cold here lately that we had 2 snow days due to cold weather. Let me tell you how bad that is. To cold to send the kids outside and I have extra mouths to feed and we are out of toilet paper. I do send my son next door for some and he comes back with a half roll. I guess he just took it out of the bathroom.

tests and supplements and parties

Let me start with the party. I happened to be in Chicago anyways so I stopped at whole foods and bought several things. I tried Ians pizza bread and added meat and more cheese to it. I called chuck e cheese and got permission for him to bring in his own pizza and they even heated it up for him. Oh my gosh let me tell you he loved it. All he talks about is the pizza and how he wants more. Of course I only bought one since they were 5.99 and the store is 2 hours away. Oh well I can always order from co-op by the case.



Received a call from the nurse today all tests came back fine. His urine was tested for glucose and proteins everything was fine. Let me tell you about getting the urine in the first place. I sometimes forget that my son is very literal. We talked that morning before he went to school that we were going to go pee in a cup that night. I tried to make it seem fun and not scary so I mentioned that he better not pee on my hand. Of course he thought that was funny. We went to the lab at 6. He kept looking at his pants when it dawned on me that he had to pee really bad. I asked when he peed last and he said before breakfast. O.K. that was 11 hours ago. He said he couldn't go because I said he had to pee in a cup. Sometimes I forget. Oh yeah I am sure you were wondering if he peed on my hand. Let me put it this way my hand, the wall, the floor,and the cup.

mac n cheese

We are trying mac n cheese tonight. I got the recipe from http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/2008/02/best-vegan-baked-mac-cheese.html

hers looked so yummy. I had to leave out the herbs, wine, crumbs, and tomatoes. Jeffrey really liked it but Jordan just kept smelling it. He didn't react badly but no real eating involved. He ended up just eating a banana and chips.

Last Saturday I made muffins. I used the gluten free pantry mix. Jordan just kept pointing to the picture on the box. I guess mine didn't look the same. I have a challenge coming up this weekend. The boys have a birthday party to go to at my least favorite place, that mouse place and I won't be there. Take a kid with major sensory issues, sight and sound, and make him act normal yeah right. I finally got their dad to take them to the kids museum instead. I am going to have to make pizza and cake for them to take. I hope their dad only feeds them what I send.

Where did the agression go?

I am at a crossroads with this gfcf diet. I was not sure it was doing any good. I saw immediate results with taking dairy out but not so sure about gluten. I am at the point of frustration Jordan is not eating and he is so lethargic. Then my mom called and asked how the boys were getting along during the break from school. Well this made me think. There hasn't been any fighting. Hmm I wonder! I started to think. Has Jordan screamed for no reason lately? NO! Has Jordan bitten his brother? NO! Has Jordan hit his brother? NO! WooHoo this is working!! The only really bad behavior has been when we play games and he loses but instead of screaming he just looks really sad and tries not to cry.

I should be getting my shipment from kirkmans this week. This should be fun trying to get him to take supplements. I bought all flavors liquid and powder in trial size he is bound to like something. Here is a starter guide that is a good place to start. http://www.kirkmanlabs.com/ download and read the beginners manual.

10 days and counting

Fun fun fun we are at day 10. This gluten free is alot harder than cassein free. I have not been able to get Jordan to eat anything. He is craving sugar now so I assume we probably have a yeast problem also. He will only drink orange juice. I know not the best but I am able to put a scoop of tru-fiber from master supplements (great product) and 250 mg of carnitine in it. I need to get him on a good calcium and a b. He is getting his multi from hero nutritionals the gummy bears not the best but he does ask for them. I put in an order from Kirkman labs. I love that they have trial size of most major supplements I am going to try all flavors of super-nu-thera and see which one he will take.

Today he must have been craving gluten because that was all he wanted. He begged me for waffles and I made them using bob's all purpose mix the minute he smells them he literally gags. This is the 5th time I have tried I guess it is on to a different mix maybe it was the garfava flour that was to much. Everyone else in the house ate it. Poor Jeffrey he thought I was going to sneak him different food and lucky boy is also gluten free. The kiddos in my care are also gluten free and I see a difference in them. the baby is so happy. I have a feeling both girls are Celiacs but their mom just has them on acid reflux medicine. I don't believe any baby should have to be on reflux medicine at 6 weeks old. The older one is still on it and she is 3. Something else that a Dr. missed but us parents just say oh well they know best.

Todays lunch consisted of gf hotdogs and a banana and veggie chips. Jordan was the only one that got a bun but a 4-pack cost $5.99. Me and Jeffrey had out mouths hanging open from shock but Jordan ate the whole thing. This was a tapioca rice bun. Either he was really hungry or he is starting to give in.

new favorite snack; air popped popcorn sprinkled with nutritional yeast. Taste like cheese without the cheese.

oh yeah the bathroom is all figured out he goes now with no problem he just doesn't like to wipe his own butt. I am not complaining I am doing a happy jig. Jeffrey asked me tonight that since Jordan is finally going would I please quit praising him on his beautiful poop. I guess maybe it was taking over my life.

Happy New Year it should be a healthier one

Chicago here we come

Mom and I took the boys in to Chicago to do the holiday thing. Now remember at this point we are only CF. We went on Saturday because Sunday was going to be really cold. We made the mistake of taking the Ohio exit to go downtown because that goes right past some cool looking restaurants including the rainforest cafe with a huge frog on the roof. Any guesses where Jordan wanted to go. Of course Jordan is a broken record so I had to keep distracting him and a little bribing to keep him on task. We went down to Macy's the old Marshall Fields. They still had the windows and the big tree but they were not as good. It was especially noticable when we went in and the decorations weren't there. You used to walk in and feel that you were in an exclusive store.

We mailed a letter to Santa.

The highlight of the store was the escalators we did 8 floors and the boys thought that was the best ever. The boys took their picture in front of the big tree and then we went back down the escalator.

We stopped on the toy floor to use the bathroom. Jeffrey has a thing about horses and thought the stuffed one was really cool.

Any guesses where we went next. Surprise we went to the frog restaurant. I have to agree it is pretty cool. On the best days Jordan is already hard to feed. Now I have to find something no dairy. They have chicken tenders shaped like animals. I really didn't think he would eat them because they were not the correct shape so I got him a banana also. He surprised us all and said they were yummy. I guess if he gets hungry he will try it. Jeffrey of course had shrimp. Mom practically had her mouth hanging open she was so surprised.

We hopped in a cab for one last surprise. We took they to Navy pier and the children's museum. I love that place.

All in all we had a fun day. Of course the ride home was a nightmare it was double of what it should be. It got really windy and with all the snow already on the ground we had major whiteouts. FUN FUN FUN!