Showing posts with label Journal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Journal. Show all posts

Saturday, 1 August 2015

The Skinny on Agave.

 Agave syrup or rather Agave Nectar is becoming more and more popular as a substitute for sugar. I wanted to know more about it so I did what every normal human being does and Googled it. 

The Blue Agave plant comes from Southern Mexico and has to grow at least 7-10 YEARS before it can be harvested and you thought Avocados were slow at 5 years !!! They are big spiky succulents very similar to cactus or Yuccas. Yeah not to be messed with 4 foot spikes can give you a nasty nip!!!

The Aztecs loved this plant and saw it as a gift from the gods... quite sensible really as it is amazing and EVERYONE is starting to use it now as a sugar substitute including Rawists as due to the low processing temperature it is classified as a raw food !!! 

Your friendly spiky Blue Agave plant 


Now the bit we are interested in for Nectar or syrup making is the Pina ... it's the bit that is in the middle of all of those loverly long spikes and is half buried underground as well. 

The Pina looks like this

Yes they are harvested by hand ... so start complaining about the price these guys don't earn a fifth of what's on that bottle !!! 

Have a chat to the poor donkey too who I can absolutely guarantee is paid in room and board !!! 

Agave Syrup is a bit like honey, it is less sweet though than honey and I have to admit I am quite grateful for that. 

For those of you who are a bit canny and might have put 2 and 2 together .. yes Agave is also the plant responsible for this .... yes you guessed it Tequila!!! 


its no wonder really when you have loverly fellas like this... lugging those things to the trucks by hand!!! 

the average Pina can weigh anywhere between 50 - 150lbs !!! that is a whole person !!!! or a pregnant skinny person !!! that's 2 whole people !!! (yeap my mind is still going off on a tangent !!!) 

Not content with being a substitute for sugar and the worlds most sung about adult beverage the humble Agave is also a medicine!!! Yes you read that right the Aztecs and locals have been using is as a skin balm to help itchy skin or mixed with salt as a poultice for open wounds for centuries !!! Modern medicine has found there is a very good reason for this as it has a wonderful ability to stop pus forming !!! yeap it got icky but hey anything that stops nasty open wound infections has to be a good thing. 

So there you have it the skinny on Agave, if you wish to know more then I suggest you do as I did and check out Google or better still you local library!!! 














Friday, 31 July 2015

What exactly is Carob ???

If you are anything like me you might have thought that carob was a more raw form of cocoa or something like that. Well guess what ... we were wrong!!! 
Carob actually comes from a completely different part of the world and is from a completely different family of plants !!! In fact Carob is a form of legume and Cocoa although called a bean by us is not actually a bean or a legume. 

Carob or  ( Ceratonia siliqua ) is native to the Eastern Mediterranean even the Middle East and has been cultivated for the at least the past 4000 years !!! Pretty impressive huh!!!

Carob is also known as the "locust bean" this is due to a misunderstanding as it was once believed that these were the locusts that John the Baptist ate in the wilderness. It turns out this isn't the case as John apparently ate actual migratory locusts. You know the giant grasshopper things !!! 

Seeds were used to weight gold, hence the word "carat." Mohammed's army ate kharoub , and Arabs planted the crop in northern Africa and Spain (Moors), along with citrus and olives.

Spaniards then carried carob to Mexico and South America, and the British took carob to South Africa, India, and Australia.

Carob can be grown anywhere Citrus grows well. So if you have a lemon tree why not try growing a Carob tree too. Nothing like having a form of choccy available to you to pick straight off the tree.

So there you go that is all about Carob. There is of course loads more to learn about it and all you have to do is ask Google. 

This is a Carob Tree



These are its pods





The Angst of Cheesecake

I don't know about you guys but the moment I am told No, that's the moment my head basically gets a "screw you" attitude.

This is not a new thing for many people and it tends to be easier to get through when you are changing your lifestyle with other people. I am not. My son is happy to eat what I make but he wants to add meat to it. More about that another time.

Time to really get stuck into sorting out food to go out with though as the last few days have proven to me it is almost impossible to go out and actually have this lifestyle and fit with others as well.

Here is my vlog to go with this. I am getting used tot he camera slowly, I guess doing these vlog journals is helping me get over that so hopefully they will get better over time. It needs to I have a competition recipe/cooking video to do. Yeap I have entered a competition with Holland and Barrett so I really need to get this right.

I have the food bank this morning so I will be popping off this morning but this aternoon I will be making food and with any luck not forgetting the memory card in the camera this time !!!! *face palm*

So here it is I hope you enjoy it.... if you are going to leave a comment please be kind, please do subscribe to the YouTube channel cos that would be awesomes :D

See you laters !!!! Byeeeeee xox


Monday, 27 July 2015

Day 1 Journal ~ Yeap It's My Very First Video Diary!!!

This morning I made my first brekky vlog. Not quite sure how I managed it to be honest but I did. Maybe because no one else was there. I have to admit though after chopping off the ends of it I am a little bit shaken up.

I had no idea I had gotten quite that big. If anything I am sad for myself that it got to that stage. I have to say though NOT in a poor me way though more in a well this is as bad as it gets for you missus time to sort things out!!!

So I am

here is my very first video Journal. I have to admit I didn't say everything I wanted to but I got most of it out. Those who know me know I stutter a bit and tend to trip up on my words. Eventually I get there and no I will not be editing out those bits. I don't want to be perfect I want these videos to be from the heart and real. Which is why they are not really staged and are completely ad-libbed.

So here is my journal for today xox


If you are following my journey or coming along and joining my journey please let me know It is always good to know I am not the only weirdo out here :D :D :D

Have an amazing day xox

DAY 1 I need to start again!!!

Over the last few months I have been recovering from illness and injury and am still trying to sort myself out after injury.

After finding out that I have gained 3 stone since i broke my ankle in February I felt it was high time i did something about this wreck I appear to have become whilst relying on others to feed me. today is the start of this, not only the start of this but the start of my vlog as I find it easier to film stuff than to photo things. Probably because I keep forgetting to take photos and I can set the camera up to film and not worry.

So below is my première video. Yes it was really taken at 6.38am !!! Below I will add the recipes.


LEMON AND HONEY

INGREDIENTS

1 whole little Lemon 
OR 
1/2 a Large Lemon 

1 Tablespoon Honey

Boiling water

METHOD

1. Slice the lemon and place slices in the cup. 
2. Add the honey
3. Add boiling water from the kettle
4. Leave to steep until at a safe drinking temperature. 
5. Enjoy


POND SCUM COCKTAILS

INGREDIENTS

1 litre Fresh fruit juice, (tropical is best but a mix of orange and apple works just as well )
1 Banana
1 Tablespoon of Spirulina Powder

METHOD 

1. Place all ingredients in a drinks blender. (If you do not have a blender, use a wand type blender or a food processor works too.)
2. Blitz. 
3. Pour out and drink fairly immediately as it will separate. 


So there you go my very first vlog. I know its no Tarantino but I am quite chuffed for my first time out. 

See you next time xox


















Friday, 20 September 2013

A Lazy Day With Stuffed Pumpkin!!!

I don't know about you but there are some days that I just cannot be bothered!!! Today for me is that day.After running around all day and going a bit mad chasing around work and home and the allotment and all sorts of things I'm not sure I can honestly be bothered at all. To top it off we have very little left in the cupboard and fridge and for the next week I think living out of the freezer might be the outcome.

It really is one of those days where if you aren't feeling like kickstarting your brain into gear you know you either go hungry or end up eating something you truly shouldn't!!! I stood in our conservatory (prep kitchen) and looked about me, at the moment there is pure chaos as our kitchen looks like this ....
Yes that is our poor little kitchen with its bench fallen off the wall... so no bench space for making anything .... all our kitchen stuff is all over our couches in the living room and to be honest its not something I wanted to make more "interesting" by cooking....however I bit the bullet and grabbed the few bits I could and looked at it thinking .... What the hell am I going to do with this lot ???

Well here it is ....
SPICY STUFFED PUMPKIN

I started with a pot of rice and threw in some spices
NIGELLA
CHILLI FLAKES
CUMIN
SZECHUAN PEPPERCORNS
CELERY SALT
Bring to the boil ....
 Whilst this is occurring you can prep your pumpkin, some people call these squash to me its a pumpkin either way you scrape out the seeds and the stringy bits ... I save the seeds from every second pumpkin and roast them off the others end uop in the compost and free plants for next year !!!
 Straight onto a roasting tray and sprinkle a little oil over them and salt and pepper, if you want to add honey or maple syrup go for it I really didn't feel the need today. Pop them in the oven at 200C ....
At this point my rice has come to the boil so I turn it off ....
 and cover it ... this method is awesome the heat from the hot plate cooks the rice without using anymore electric and you don't run the risk of burning your rice. It does take about 10-15 minutes and that's it!!!
 I did find some red onions ... sliced them up and chucked them in here with a little olive oil ...
 some sliced peppers and squished garlic....
 saute them well....
 Lucky me I found some cashews and pine nuts too and popped those in as well ....
 until the nuts started to brown and then tool it off the heat....
 At this point the rice was ready and i discovered I'd added a little bit too much water ... it happens to the best of us but hey in this recipe it dried out a little in the oven so not to worry!!!
 Add your saute veg to about half the rice... I always make to o much so I have some rice ready for the morning ...
 Add a little fresh herbs of your choice I used coriander....
 At this point your pumpkins should be about half cooked ... turn the oven down to 180C and stuff them with the rice mix and pop them back in the oven until the pumpkin is fully cooked. About 45 minutes...
 Once cooked you have something that not only smells amazing but looks amazing and really hasn't cost you that much time and effort to do... for me this is more than enough dinner for the next 4 days .... of course you can serve it with homemade garlic bread or a loverly salad or just tuck in as it is!!!

Whilst this was in the oven I was able to get on with writing other blogs and get on with all sorts of paperworky stuff... I love cooking in the oven or one pot dishes .... especially on days like today ... chuck all in and walk away ... doesnt mean it has to be dried out and boring ... it can be filling and tasty.

Until next time

Enjoy and take it easy

xox Bloo xox






























Friday, 13 September 2013

My First Sighting Of Vegan "Cheeses"

Today was a bit exciting for me today, I found vegan "cheeses" in Greenlife in Totnes. YAY!!!

This means that I can now experiment with them and see what I can come up with which could be quite exciting this weekend...



I'm thinking of trying out a recipe I have for Gluten-Free and Vegan Quiche with the creamy cheese and I'm not sure yet with the cheddar type. I think something that shows how it melts (if it does) and what can be done with it. I do miss cheese toasties I have to admit! I know it's boring but when you are stuck for choices you have to go with what you can make up as you go along.

Personally I think trying out the recipes that you miss the most is the best plan of action altogether. It's from those recipes that you can feel like you are eating the same as everyone else and not being different or left out.

I will let you know my progress and how I get on over the weekend.

Until next time

Remember leave the rabbit food for the rabbits and eat to live!!!

xox Pam xox


Thursday, 29 August 2013

Hidden Traps in Your Pantry

Ok so we all know that being Gluten Free can be a right royal pain the the bum, what with having to watch every little thing, like bread and wheat and things in baked goods but what about everything else. What about the hidden things you don't even expect.

This is a list of some of the traps you will find along the way and hopefully you can look out for and be more aware of.

1. Sauces, Gravies and Marinades. 
This one is a bit mean, it is pure laziness on the part of the companies to add flour to these when cornflour or other thickening agent would work just as well and not affect the flavour or texture. There are those that aren't however most do. Read your labels carefully if you must use packet mixes or pre packed sauces etc.

Most basic sauces aren't that hard to make from scratch but if you really have no time then make double or triple batches when you do make them and either bottle them or freeze them depending on what you are making. There will be loads of recipes to choose from coming soon on here.

2. Stock Cubes and Powders
Although many are fine and say what they are on the box ... many arent. Hidden lactose, dairy and gluten are in those which we may hold most dear and have also come as a shock to me over the last few weeks.. please be careful. Do the reading and save yourself the heartache later.

If you cannot find a stock cube around you that is vegan and gluten free then make your own stocks. It isn't hard there is nothing to it and they can be kept sealed in bottles or frozen for when you need them at any time.  Stock recipes you will find soon on here to make life alot easier for you.

3. Packet and Tinned Soups
Again used as a thickening agent when companies don't want to use anything else. Of course there are the obvious croutons and pasta but most will have wheat as a thickening agent. 

I go camping too ... rather alot actually so I understand the need and want to take packet or tinned soups etc. or if you are busy and don't want the hassle of making one. Most soups take about 20-30 minutes to make and most of that you have walked away and are watching something on tv or whatever you feeling the need to do for that 20-30 minutes. Even if you do live alone ... even a 4 person recipe will keep you going for a few days if you portion it up well either in jars or in the freezer. There are very few packet soups that fit the criteria normally tomato is about the only one. but it has to be tomato and not cream of tomato. Really do read your labels and do your research though on this one. Remember though that a soup to make from scratch takes as long as your dinner to cook in most cases.

4. Breadcrumbs (obvious really) 
Yeap this one is a bit obvious the name is on the packet.

The best thing to do is make your own... any left over bread that you can have, if you want them dry then leave the crumbs out for a couple of days on a baking tray as thin a layer as you can make, mix them occasionally to make sure all of them dry out and then keep in an airtight container. It isn't much simpler!!!

5. Ready Meals and Processed Foods
When it comes to ready meals it is pretty much a case of it has a sauce on it or is cooked or has a dressing on the salad then be warned!!! You WILL need to read the label.

There are very few companies out there that will offer pre-made gluten free and vegan foods.  There a handful though but you need to look for them. Bloo and Perkle Foods is brand new and going live very shortly ... thier product base is limited at the moment but will be being expanded on a monthly basis.

6. Ice cream 
So how much do you like flavours like cookie dough or anything with crispy somethings in there thrown around for crunch, even some of the sauces as a thickening agent, even some soft serve icecream is not what it appears so if you arent sure or cant read the label dont go there.

Homemade ice cream is simpler than people think. And no you don't need all the gadgets. you can make a really good gluten free and vegan ice cream with a bowl a saucepan and a freezer container. Recipes will be popping up shortly on here. Keep an eye out.

7. Processed meats and pre-made meat products from the butcher 
Obviously if you are gluten free vegan you wont be worried about this one, unless you are just gluten free.  Sausages, meatballs, rissoles burgers etc are notorious for hiding breadcrumbs in them ... many butchers now have products without so please ask.

If you are just gluten free these items aren't that hard to make for yourself.  Honest they aren't I won't be putting recipes up for them unless really asked to as I can't eat them, If I do at any time it will be as a Which is Which? column. 

8. Veggie Meats
Many of us think YAY!!!! fakin' bacon ... when in fact this product has enough gluten in it to sink a coeliac battleship!!! Most of the veggie products out there are not only loaded with cheese or dairy or eggs but breadcrumbs and gluten based meat protein. Even the ones that aren't meant to be like QUORN!!!! There are a very small handful of companies that make gluten free and vegan products but you really really have to search.

9. Malt and Distilled Vinegar also some red wine and white wine vinegars
Pickled Onions and Chutneys for the most part are made using malt vinegar and distilled white vinegar. Malt vinegar is made from wheat and distilled white vinegar is the distilled version of malt vinegar. Although there are those (mostly the companies who make them ) that say that distilled white vinegar has all the gluten taken out of it during processing. However there are still those who have an bad reaction to it and as far as I am concerned better safe than sorry.

Red and White wine vinegars you can never be sure of. Unless they are specified that they are vegan then you can absolutely depend on the fact that they aren't. In one of the clearing processes wine is passed through finings which for many is blood and bone marrow, casein (milk protein), chitin (fiber from crustacean shells), egg albumen (derived from egg whites), fish oil, gelatin (protein from boiling animal parts), and isinglass (gelatin from fish bladder membranes. Bet that made you look at your bottle twice right ??? !!!!

Red and white wine vinegars are made from red and white wines so unless it says vegan on it ... it is pretty safe to say that it has at some point in its life gone through this clearing process. It is reasonably easy to make your own red and white wine vinegar from your own trusted brand of plonk. Instructions are all over the internet and the "mother" is extremely easy to buy online.

10. Beer, Whiskey, Bourbon, Southern Comfort. 
Again like the Malt vinegar these products are made mostly from wheat or barley.  There are companies now who make gluten free beer YAY!!! but be careful and no matter what the companies say about their filtration systems and distillation and using special enzymes blah blah blah ... bottom line if you aren't sure don't do it!!! in which case be a little careful of Cider as well as some companies use wheat in it for enzymes and flavour.

For me I tend to stick to what I know. If it is made from grapes ... you are safe (as long it says vegan on the bottle).... honey wines and mead ... safe .... if it is made from specialty seeds or grains it should be safe.... cider made by small local presses are more likely to be safe and if they aren't are more likely to tell you the truth than the bigger companies!!!

11. Salad Dressings. 
Used as thickening agents again so that oil and vinegar dressings tend to be look less split. Not a necessary additive but apparently some people don't know to shake their dressings.

All mayonnaise's are made using eggs, unless of course they have vegan written on the side.

12. Medicines
Check your medicines very very carefully, many are coated in gelatine or have egg white in them and many contain gluten as a thickening agent. double and triple check the ingredients of your meds and talk to your doctor. If they dismiss you find one that doesn't. At the end of the day if your meds are the only thing still making you sick you will need to find an alternative that you can take.

These are only a few of the hidden traps within your cupboards that you will use on a daily basis. Yes it looks hard... yes it makes things a little more difficult .. but you know what we are all on this journey together and maybe we can get through the other end wondering what all the fuss was about!!!

Some supermarkets are doing alot better with their own ranges now for example this is my lunch .. or part of it ...

This is the roast tomato and red pepper cup a soup from the Morrison's NuMe range not bad actually and not a grain of gluten or dairy in sight YAY!!!!

I do hope this might have helped a wee bit ... I know its a mine field I haven't been given the map either but I figure that between us we will draw our own map and find our way through the maze.

Until next time

Just because you cant have it doesn't mean you cant have it !!!

xox Pam xox























Tuesday, 27 August 2013

Gluten Free Grains

One of the hardest parts of being gluten free is working out the grains and cereals. Things you have eaten and taken for granted for a lifetime are things that no matter how it is worded or how manufacturers like to spin things is very serious and not worth the risk in many many cases.

Following will be a list of what you can have and those you need to stay away from. I start with the the best stuff first because I like to keep a positive look on these things.

First of all I would like to explain a little about cereals and grains and things. You know for you sciencey types out there and those that need or want more info.


Cereals
From Wiki

A cereal is a grass, in the monocot family Poaceae, also known as Gramineae,[1] cultivated for the edible components of their grain (botanically, a type of fruit called a caryopsis), composed of the endosperm, germ, and bran. Cereal grains are grown in greater quantities and provide more food energy worldwide than any other type of crop[citation needed]; they are therefore staple crops.
In their natural form (as in whole grain), they are a rich source of vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats, oils, and protein. However, when refined by the removal of the bran and germ, the remaining endosperm is mostly carbohydrate and lacks the majority of the other nutrients. In some developing nations, grain in the form of rice, wheat, millet, or maize constitutes a majority of daily sustenance. In developed nations, cereal consumption is moderate and varied but still substantial.
The word cereal derives from Ceres, the name of the Roman goddess of harvest and agriculture.

In English for those of you who need it ....  It is the edible seed or grain from the grass family.

Cereals are carbohydrates good ones that contain awesome things like fibre for helping to move things along, also most of your B Vitamins, Thiamin, Riboflavin and Niacin the big ones for helping you gain proper good energy from food and keeping your skin and vision tip top. 

These are not to be confused with pseudocereals though, these are plants that are not cereals or grasses but can be used in the same kind of way.

Grains

From Wiki

Whole grains are cereal grains that contain cereal germ, endosperm, and bran, in contrast to refined grains, which retain only the endosperm.
 

In English ... there is no difference except some of them don't contain gluten ... simples right !!!

With all the fuss made on grains and cereals you'd think someone would have decided to use one word so we of Pooh Bear brain dont get so confuzzled but apparently not ... so anyway I will now give you the list of cereals and pseudo cereals we can use that are gluten free. In English I promise!!!

AMARANTH
Both leaves and seeds are edible. The seeds can be cooked like a cereal or added to soups to provide extra flavour and thicken.  Amaranth flour can be used like wheat flour or better still in a mix with other similar flours to make the best blend.

(Quick note) This wonderful plant has been giving Monsanto problems it is resistant to their pesticides so support this wonderful creation it is great.

BUCKWHEAT
The seeds are ground into flour or made into flakes. It is also sold crushed and hulled, mostly then known as Buckwheat Groats. The flour is great mixed with other flours to make a really good blend.

CHESTNUT
The nut from the Sweet Chestnut tree. Chestnut Flour is made from dried and pounded chestnuts. Chestnuts are traditionally roasted and pureed but there are many ways to add them to your meals.

CORN
Also known as Maize. Cornflour is used as a thickener and in flour blends as well. Polenta is Cornmeal and is made from ground maize. It comes in many different grades from fine to coarse.

MILLET
Millet can be used in the same way to rice. The grain is white, grey, yellow or red and is mostly toasted or mixed with other grains before cooking. Millet can also replace couscous very successfully. Millet Flakes are readily available and make good porridge. Millet Flour makes a good additive to others for flour blends.

QUINOA
‘keen wa’, is a pseudocereal it is higher in protein than other grains and is also good on the fibre side of things. Quinoa is a small round grain in lots of colours including pale brown, red, purple and black. It can be used like rice, as a side dish, in salads such as tabbouleh, or as porridge. Bread made from quinoa has a much higher antioxidant content to wheat bread. If you are a vegetarian , quinoa is an awesome source of protein and can be used as a meat alternative.

RICE
There are loads of different kinds of rice to choose from ranging from long grain to Arborio, Basmati and Jasmine. Each one is different and used for different reasons. Rice flour is used as an additive to flour blends or can be used on its own. It is also used for making rice noodles or as a thickener.

Wild Rice technically isn't rice it is a grass. It has a higher protein count than plain rice and takes a little longer to cook with a little more water. 

SORGHUM
It can be eaten like popcorn, cooked to make porridge, or ground in to flour. Also used in some processed foods as a thickening agent.

TEFF
A small grass seed from South Africa this little beauty comes in a rainbow of colours from white to dark brown.  It can be used in the same way as any other gluten free flour or cereal.

OATS
Now this one I have added in a separate colour because although it is naturally gluten free. many growers end up with fields contaminated with wheat or the oats in processing become contaminated themselves. There are good uncontaminated sources so make sure you look for them.  Double check with your suppliers and even if you have to spend a little more definately worth it.

Now for the not so much fun part but the part I'd be cutting out and keeping on my fridge and handing out to those who don't want to kill me when they feed me !!!

These are the cereals and grains you need to stay away from .. they all contain gluten and will cause ouchies should you choose to continue to eat them.

WHEAT in all its forms 
               SPELT
               KAMUT
               FARRO
               DURUM
               BULGUR
               SEMOLINA
               COUS COUS

BARLEY
RYE
TRITICALE


I do hope this has been helpful. I think everyone needs to have this list and if new things pop up then definitely add to it. 

Until next time

xox Pam xox   









































Wednesday, 21 August 2013

Sugar and Caffeine Detox Day 5

Today has been an interesting one. I have now been 5 days without fizzy drinks or any drinks with sugar in them. The only sugar I have had has been in a beautiful Key Lime and Lemon Pie that my best friend made me last night and to top it off I had my 2nd coffee in 4 days as well. So cutting things out without kicking myself is going well. I have to admit though there have been .... interesting and very painful side effects from this.

I will try not to be too graphic but this blog is about honesty so I won't lie.

1. 3 Day Migraine
2. Dizziness
3. Blurred Vision
4. Stomach Cramping
5. Bloating
6. Nausia
7. Shaking
8. The feeling of not being "with it"
9. Numerous trips to the bathroom
10. Cravings
11. Lack of energy.
12. Fragile
13. (This one is weird but I'll do my best) I really want a hug but go away don't touch me !!! 

This is a very painful and slow process and although it is I am keeping in mind that each day of this is one less day I have to go through. Many web sites tell you not to go cold turkey on sugar because your body will rebel. I don't think I have gone cold turkey on all sugars but processed sugar I certainly have dropped out of my diet as much as is possible.

Being able to drink juice whether it is fresh and already bottled not from concentrate of course or whether I have made it myself, not only seems to have the effect of curbing serious cravings but also in stopping me wanting to eat something for the sake of it.

Switching to herbal teas has been awesome, I prefer the fruit teas to be honest and can't drink Chamomile anyway due to it stopping me being able to breathe properly. Cold water has also become a favourite as long as it has either ice or is out of the fridge. To be honest Warm water is quite awesome on its own as well. Who'da thunk it ???

Thankfully those I spend the most time with have been awesome and supportive and that is so important.  If you don't have support from those who love you the most then obviously they don't love you. Harsh but true!!!

Something that really hit home to me today was a visit to a Byband meeting for those who are going into surgery due to not being able to loose weight any other way or control their eating. It was taken for granted that myself and my friend were there because we were having the op. and even though we made it very clear we were there to support her mother-in-law it didn't seem to sink in with them .

What these people will put themselves through and have done in some cases in severe and frightening. What I do know is this. If I do not manage to put this way of eating seriously into practice is that one day I will be under the knife as well. Not to have a band or a gastric bypass but due to the IBS and Diverticulitis. I don't know about you but that prospect leaves me cold. The side effects and complications are not worth the risk, or that bar of Turkish Delight that is calling my name right now!!!

I am not in any way going to pretend that this is going to be easy. It really isn't. I only hope that through traveling through this scary path with me that some of you won't feel as alone and maybe you might realise that someone does get it and isn't making it pretty for you just so you don't feel bad.

As long as we all keep in mind this is a daily challenge. Waking up every morning and realising you have another gift of a day is a great thing. Use that gift to its greatest potential and make sure because of your actions today that you will have plenty more after this one. I am going to do my best to make sure I stay in one piece for a loooooooooooong time to come.


Until next time

xox Pam xox























Wednesday, 7 August 2013

6 Months Down The Track

Hi to anyone who has stuck around to see what happens next.

I have to admit that life has definitely gotten in the way over the last 6 months. I will however be working as hard as I can now to get this blog up and running again.

In the last 6 months I have to admit that I have not been very good to myself ... However this month I am starting again.

Now that life has started to calm down somewhat again, and I have found a much happier place to be a part of in my life I feel the time has come to start fresh. This does not mean that I am going to remove my previous posts... They are important ... They show me and others where I was and why this could not have worked at the time it was supposed to start. It shows that being in a dark place isn't forever and can happen to anyone even the bounciest of us all.

Now life is on a better course and over the next few weeks I will be slowly breaking myself into a better way of eating for myself. Hopefully this will start me on a healthier way of being and less issues with IBS.

Once a week I will add a recipe and 2 or 3 times a week I will give updates on how this is going.

I will also be doing mucho research and hopefully answering some frequently asked questions about foods that you can and cannot eat on a Gluten-Free and Vegan Diet.

In one month there will also be a MAHOOSIVE announcement so anyone who is reading this ... stick around things are about to get exciting... I'm hoping anyway hahaha.

So until next time

Take care of yourselves and please don't beat yourself up if you have a bad day. We all do. It affects no one but you. So there truly is no guilt. Only your body can tell you off ... no-one else!!!

xox Love and Light xox


Wednesday, 30 January 2013

Day 18 ~ The Fart Factor and Other Choice Bodily Functions.

'ello Me Loverlies

It has been a windy one today. In more ways than just the weather!!!

Anyone who has, or who has lived with or lives with someone with a digestion issue, knows there are some kinds of side effects. These side effects tend to come with an increasing interesting aroma, and thier own signature tune.

 Yeap I am today I am talking about every 10 year olds favourite subject:~ Farts. Or rather breaking wind if you are in polite society. In fact just about every place in the world and every school even every family have thier own names for them. A few of which I will list later just for giggles.

You have to remember that no matter when or where it happens it can highly embarressing, especially for someone who comes from a more "straight- laced" family. There is alot of bad press that goes with these bodily emissions and those who have issues with these problems tend to end up spending most of thier days hiding away from others. On the flip side of this however if you come from a more open minded and accepting family not to mention tolerant, you could find yourself in the situation of either spending half your life being giggled at or if you are lucky start a family after dinner tradition. This last one is more likely in a family of boys.

Whatever walk of life you come from, I don't care who you are, you have all done it. Those of us who live with the possibility of these eruptions throughout the day have learned mostly to have a sense of humour behind closed doors and tend to get mightily embarressed in public or in company, especially if it is a ripper.

My advice in these situations is this:~ Be thoughtful, caring, tolerant, and remember how you felt the last time you let a stinker rip in public. Don't let the person who did it feel bad or awful because trust me they already do. Get a few candles, light those or some incense or an oil burner but do it in such a way as not to show the person that they have offended. Trust me there is nothing you could make them feel worse than they are doing to themselves right now anyways. Oh yes and above all get a sense of humour and keep it.

Lets be honest here Farts are funny, they levitate some atmospheres far more than a stand up comedian because there is something still inside us from our childhood when all bodily functions were funny that makes us want to naturally giggle. So do it but not in a laughing at them way especially if they are very obviously upset by the fact it has happened. Please make light of it in any way you see fit.

NEVER embaress anybody on purpose. Apart from being completely nasty remember people have long memories and you leave yourself wide open from when it happens to you!!!

The following has been brought to you by www.fartnames.com Yes someone actually put together a site  naming names. In this list is the list of types of Farts, any other info click on the link and have a peek for yourself, sometimes it helps to find silly names to be able to find the funny side of a thing.



The Fart Name List

The Alarm Fart - This is a good fart for the beginner. It is easy to identify. It starts with a loud unnaturally high note, wavers like a siren, and ends with a quick downward note that stops before you expect it to. It sounds like something is wrong. If it happens to you, you will know right off why it is called the Alarm Fart. You will be alarmed. The alarm fart however is rare.

The Amplified Fart -
This is any fart that gets its power more from being amplified than from the fart itself. A metal porch swing will amplify a fart every time. So will a plywood table,and empty fifty gallon drum, a tin roof, or some empty cardboard boxes if they are strong through being amplified in this way can be called an Amplified Fart. These are common farts under the right conditions. For example, if you're sitting on an empty 55-gallon steel drum.

The Anticipated Fart -
This one warns that it is back there waiting for some time before it arrives. A person who is uneasy for a time in a crowd and who later farts at a time when they think no one will notice has farted an Anticipated Fart.

The Back Seat Fart - This is a fart that occurs only in automobiles. It is identified chiefly by odor. The Back Seat Fart can usually be concealed by traffic noise as it is an eased-out fart and not very loud. But its foul odor will give it away, due to the way air moves around in a car. It is often followed by someone saying, "Who farted in the back seat?"

The Barn Owl Fart - A familiarity with owl calls is helpful in identifying this fart. Almost any morning if you get up just before daybreak you can hear one of these birds talking to himself. It's a sort of a crazy laugh, particularly the way it ends. If you hear a fart that has about eight notes in it, ending on a couple of down notes, and it sounds maniacal, you have heard the rare Barn Owl Fart.

The Bathtub Fart - People who would never in their life know one fart from another, who would like to act like fart don't exist, will have to admit that a Bathtub Fart is something special. It is the only fart you can see! What you see is the bubbles. The Bathtub Fart can be either single or multiple noted and fair or foul as to odor. It makes no difference. The farter's location is what does it. Maybe there is a kind of muffled pong and one big bubble. Or there may be a ping ping ping and a bunch of bubbles. The sound I should point out depends somewhat on the depth of the water, and even more on the tub. If it is one of those big old heavy tubs with the funny legs you can get terrific sound effects. While one of the new thin ones half buried in the floor can be disappointing.

The Biggest Fart in the World Fart - Like the great bald eagle, this fart is pretty well described just by its name. This can either be a group one or a group two fart and can occur just about anywhere. I heard it one time, a group two identification, in a crowded high school auditorium one night, right in that silence that happens when a room full of people has stopped singing the Star Spangled Banner and sat down. It came from the back. There was not a soul in that room that missed it. A fart like that can be impressive. The most diagnostic characteristic of the Biggest Fart In The World is it size.Fart freaks who go around showing off, farting like popcorn machines, and making faces before they fart or asking you to pull their finger and then they fart, never have what it takes for this one, which is rare even among your most serious farter's.

The Bitburr: Sounds like just that--you're walking and the initial explosion "BIT!--" during one step is followed by a more gentle release of the rest of the volume during the next step: "brrrrrr..."

The Bullet Fart - Its single and most pronounced diagnostic characteristic is its sound. It sounds like a rifle shot. The farter can be said to have snapped it off. It can startle spectators and farter alike. Fairly common following the eating of the more common fart foods, such as beans.

The Burning Brakes Fart - A silent fart identified by odor alone. Usually and adult fart, occurring while the adult is driving a car or has a front seat passenger who farts. The Burning Brakes Fart actually does smell a little like burning brakes, and seems to hang around longer than most farts Which gives whoever farted a chance to make a big show of checking to see if the emergency brake has been left on. When he finds it hasn't you know who farted. A common automobile fart.

The Car Door Fart - Either a group one or a group two fart. Very tricky. It is meant to be a concealed fart. A matter of close timing is involved, the farter trying to fart at the exact moment he slams the car door shut. It is usually a good loud fart. It is one of the funnier farts when it doesn't work, which is almost every time. It is a desperation fart and not too common.

The Celestial Fart - Not to be confused with the Did An Angel Speak Fart, which is simply any loud fart in church. The Celestial Fart is soft and delicate, surprising in a boy or an adult. It is probably the most shy of all farts and might be compared with the wood thrush, a very shy bird. It does not have the sly or cunning sound of the Whisper Fart. It is just a very small clear fart with no odor at all. Very rare.

The Chicken Soup Fart: One day I had chicken soup for lunch at work and then stopped off at the gym after work. When it came on, I eased it out, covered by the gym's muzak. It smelled exactly like chicken soup. A few feet away some woman sniffed and said; "Is somebody cooking?" I had to turn to the wall to hide my laughter.

The Chinese Firecracker Fart - This is an exceptional multiple noted fart identified by the number, and variety of its noises, mostly pops and bangs. Often when you think it is all over, it still has a few pops and bangs to go. In friendly company this one can get applause. Uncommon.

The Command Fart - This fart differs from the Anticipated Fart in that it can be held for long periods of time waiting for the right moment. Unlike the Anticipated Fart, it is intended to be noticed. Harold Tabor recently held a Command Fart for the whole period in history class and let it go right at the end when the teacher asked if there were any questions.

The Common Fart - This fart needs little description. It is to the world of farts what the house sparrow is to the world of birds. I can see no point in describing this far any further.

The Crowd Fart - The Crowd Fart is distinguished by its very potent odor, strong enough to make quite a few people look around. The trick here is not to identify the fart but the farter. This is almost impossible unless the farter panics, and starts a fit of coughing or starts staring at the ceiling or the sky as though something up there fascinates him. In which case he is the one. Very common.

The Cushioned Fart - A concealed fart, sometimes successful. The farter is usually on the fat side, sometimes a girl. They will squirm and push their butt way down into the cushions of a sofa or over-stuffed chair and ease-out a fart very carefully without moving then or for some time after. Some odor may escape, but usually not much. Common with some people.

The Did An Angel Speak Fart - This is any loud fart in church. This fart was first called to my attention by my father. He probably read about it somewhere. For fart watchers who go to church, this is a good one to watch for as this is the only place it can be found.

The Dud Fart - The Dud Fart is not really a fart at all. It's a fart that fails. For this reason it is strictly a group one identification fart, because there is no real way you can identify a fart that somebody else expected to fart but didn't. It is the most private of all farts. In most cases the farter usually feels a little disappointed.

The Echo Fart - This is a fart that can be wrongly identified. It is not some great loud fart in an empty gym or on the rim of the Grand Canyon. The true Echo Fart is a fart that makes its own echo. It is a two-toned fart, the first tone loud, then a pause, and then the second tone. Like an echo.

The G and L Fart - This is one of the most ordinary and pedestrian of farts, known to everyone. Certainly it is the least gross. If you have not already guessed, G and L stands for Gambled and Lost. One of the most embarrassing of all farts, even when you are alone.

The Ghost Fart - A doubtful fart in most cases, as it is supposed to be identified by odor alone and to occur, for instance, in an empty house. You enter and smell a fart, yet no one is there. People will insist that only a fart could have that odor, but some believe it is just something that happens to smell like a fart.

The Hic-Hachoo-Fart Fart - This is strictly an old lady's fart. What happens is that the person manages to hiccough, sneeze, and fart all at the same time. After an old lady farts a Hic-Hachoo-Fart Fart she will usually pat her chest and say, "My, oh my," or "Well, well." There is no reason she should not be proud, as this is probably as neat an old person's fart as there is.

The Jerk Fart - The Jerk Fart is a fart by a jerk who smirks, smiles, grins, and points to himself in case you missed it. It is usually a single-noted, off-key, fading away, sort of whistle fart, altogether pitiful, but the jerk will act as if he has just farted the Biggest Fart in the World Fart.

The John Fart - The John Fart is simply any ordinary fart farted on the john. It is naturally a group one identification, with the sound, whatever it was, somewhat muffled. If it is all the person's trip to the john amounted to he will be disappointed for sure. Common as pigeons.

The Lead Fart - The heaviest of all farts. It sounds like a dropped ripe watermelon. Or a falling body in some cases. It is the only fart that goes thud. Except for the odor, which is also very heavy, it could be missed altogether as a fart. What was that, you might think? And never guess.

The Malted Milk Ball Fart - Odor alone is diagnostic and positively identifies this fart. It smells exactly like malted milk balls. No other food works this way. It is rare.

The Oh My God Fart - This is the most awful and dreadful stinking of all farts - a fart that smells like a month-old rotten egg - as the Oh My God Fart. If you should ever encounter it, however, you may first want to say, oh sh*t, which would be understandable.

The Omen Fart - This is the adult version of the Poo-Poo Fart. About the only difference is that the farter will not say anything. He will just look kind of funny and head for the john. This one is easy to spot if you pay attention.

The Organic Fart - Sometimes called the Health Food Nut Fart. The person who farts an Organic Fart may be talking about the healthy food he eats even when he farts. If he is heavily into health foods he may even ask if you noticed how good and pure and healthy his fart smells. It may smell to you like any other fart, but there is no harm in agreeing with him. He is doing what he thinks is best.

The Quiver Fart - A group one identification fart only. When you fart, it quivers. If it tickles, then it is the Tickle Fart. If you have to scratch it, then it is the Scratchass Fart.

The Rambling Phaduka Fart - You must not be fooled by its pretty-sounding name, as this is one of the most frightening of all farts. It is frightening to farter and spectator alike. It has a sound of pain to it. What is most diagnostic about it, however, is its length. It is the longest-lasting fart there is. It will sometimes leave the farter unable to speak. As though he has had the wind knocked out of him. A strong, loud, wavering fart, it goes on for at least fifteen seconds.

The Relief Fart - Sound or odor don't matter on this one. What matters is the tremendous sense of relief that you have finally farted. Some people will even say, "Wow, what a relief." Very common.

The Reluctant Fart - This is probably one of the oldest farts known to man. The Reluctant Fart is a fart that seems to have a mind of its own. It gives the impression that it likes staying where it is. It will come when it is ready, not before. This can take half-a-day in some instances.

The Rusty Gate Fart - The sound of this fart seems almost impossible for a fart. Is is the most dry and squeaky sound a fart can make. The Rusty Gate Fart sounds as if it would have worked a lot easier if it had been oiled. It sounds like a fart that hurts.

The S.B.D. Fart - S.B.D. stands for Silent But Deadly. This is no doubt one of the most common farts that exists. No problem of identification with this one.

The Sandpaper Fart - This one scratches. Otherwise it may not amount to much. You should remember that if you reach back and scratch, it automatically becomes a Scratchass Fart. Common.

The Shower Fart: These are a lot worse than bathtub farts, due to conditions of humidity and heat. George Carlin once said that you can tolerate the smell of your own farts, but shower farts are the exception to that rule.

The Skillsaw Fart - A truly awesome fart. It vibrates the farter. Really shakes him up. People back away. It sounds like an electric skillsaw ripping through a piece of half-inch plywood. Very impressive. Not too common.

The Snart: This is a fart that you succeed in suppressing so as not to not to offend, but then a sneeze jars it loose.

The Sonic Boom Fart - The people who believe in this fart claim it is even bigger than the Biggest Fart In The World Fart. The Sonic Boom Fart is supposed to shake the house and rattle the windows. This is ridiculous. No fart in the world shakes houses and rattles windows. A fart that could do that would put the farter into orbit or blow his crazy head off.

The Splatter Fart - Unfortunately the Splatter Fart exists. It is the wettest of all farts. It probably should not be called a fart at all.

The Stutter Fart - If you think stuttering is funny, this is a very funny fart. It is a fart that can't seem to get going. The sound is best described as pt,pt,pt-pt,pt-pt-pt,pop,pop-pop-pop-POW! It is usually a forced-out fart that gets caught crossways, as they say, and only gets farted after considerable effort.

The Taco Bell Fart - The Taco Bell Fart is far richer and full-bodied than your ordinary Junk Fart and takes longer to build up. Sometimes hours or even a day. But it will get there. And it will hang around after, too. Even on a windy day.

The Teflon Fart - Slips out without a sound and no strain at all. A very good fart in situations where you would rather not fart at all. You can be talking to someone and not miss saying a word. If the wind is right he will never know.

The Thank God I'm Alone Fart - Everyone knows this rotten fart. You look around after you have farted and say, "Thank God I'm alone." Then you get out of there fast!

The Tickle Fart - A group one only and one of the easiest to identify. Usually a slow soft sort of fart. If you like being tickled this is the fart for you!


Right I think that is quite enough about Farts for one evening. Jsut remember it is a natural function and can tell us how healthy our gut is, or isn't which ever the case may be. If you live with someone or are someone with a digestive issue take note of your farts. They may be an early warning to go see the Quack.

Until tomorrow

xox Love and Light xox