After I turned fifty I had the flu, then several days later awoke not able to breathe, later even the smell of food made me sick. I went to a doctor whose diagnosis was an ulcer. This doctor told me to eat and see him in a week. I left his office and forced down a hamburger that day, but continued to eat almost nothing the rest of the week. The next week when I returned to his office I had gained two pounds. I asked how this could be, but the doctor acted as if it were just in my head.
It was about this time that I began to see a pattern. I would lose weight and start to feel good about myself only to gain again. That’s when I read an article about gluten and realized that my bloating, constipation, and weight gain seemed to fit the symptoms. I decided to try a month without flour and yeast and within a week my body started functioning again as it had when I was younger.
Since then I have fallen off the wagon a number of times and find that when I start removing flour and yeast my body again starts to function properly.
Growing up I always heard about cooks who would “dump” a little of this and a little of that into a recipe. I make this pudding that way, tasting it as I mix in the ingredients adding more when I’m in the mood for more spice or sweetness. Another favorite is grilled sweet potatoes.
Quick Rice Pudding
White rice (cooked)
Flaked coconut (about 1/3 cup)
Sugar (about 1/3 or to your taste)
Cinnamon (to taste)
Raisins (about 1/3 cup)
Vanilla (two teaspoons)
Milk (enough to moisten to pudding consistency)
Whipped cream (for topping)
Put rice and coconut into a microwave bowl (I usually use a cup of raw rice) Pour water to about a quarter of an inch above rice and coconut. Cook until the rice is softened, if the rice is too thick add a bit more water, it needs to be moist. Stir in sugar, cinnamon, raisins, vanilla and milk. Top with whip cream.
Grilled Sweet Potatoes
Peel and slice sweet potatoes about ¼ inch thick and place in a bowl with olive oil. Toss until covered, salt and pepper. Place sweet potato slices on a grill browning on both sides. Serve.