Meatloaf

My father-in-law wanted to make meatloaf. He was distressed when he couldn't find a can of seasoning than he always used. I got a couple of employees to help in the grocery store. I don't think any of us know what he was searching for though. He bought the ground meat but asked me if I could make the meatloaf like his mother did. Quickly I clarified. I can make meatloaf. I will NOT include raisins in mine. He chuckled about that, then reminisced about how plump the raisins would get. Nope. I'm not going there.

We have so many food allergies but I'm determined to find delicious healthy foods that we can share.
We avoid:

• barley
• cashews
• dairy (from cow)
• garlic (but powdered garlic is alright)
• malt (except when made from corn)
• mangoes
• rye
• tomatoes
• wheat

So I made meatloaf that everyone in the family can eat. Here is my recipe.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 65 minutes
Serves: 8-9

2. INGREDIENTS
3. 3 pounds ground beef
4. 1.5 cup Oats (Gluten Free)
5. 2 eggs
6. 1 teaspoon salt
7. 1 teaspoon black pepper
8. 1 tablespoon onion powder
9. 1 tablespoon garlic powder
10. 
    
11. 2 tablespoons olive oil
12. 2 tablespoons onion powder
13. 2 tablespoons cornstarch
14. 2 cups Gluten Free beef (or chicken) broth 
15. 
    
17. PREPARATION
18. Pre-heat oven to 350°F. Combine first seven ingredients; mix thoroughly. Split and form into two loaves. Bake until internal temperature in 160°F (about an hour). Let stand 5 minutes before slicing. 
19. 
    
20. Combine 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons onion powder and 2 tablespoons cornstarch in a saucepan. Heat over medium to a simmer. Slowly add 2 cups of broth while stirring. Simmer for 5 minutes. Spoon over cooked loaves or serve on the side.
21. 
    
22. For easier storage and clean-up cook the loaves on aluminum foil.

Too Ripe Bananas & Amazing Dog Treats

Yin and Yang napping. We didn't name them that but we sure could have.

I've never knew what to do with too ripe bananas. I've heard freeze them. I could use them later for banana bread-I cannot eat wheat and my daughter only likes bananas by themselves. Recently 3 ingredient dog treats was recommended on Pinterest. (Pinterest has a pretty good algorithm). The original post is Homemade Peanut Butter Banana Dog Treats at http://munchkinsandmilitary.com/2015/02/homemade-peanut-butter-banana-dog-treats.html

Ingredients I have on hand in my kitchen: an almost empty oatmeal box,
 an almost empty peanut butter jar and three very ripe bananas.

Simple enough the recipe called for: 1 1/2 cups uncooked Oatmeal, 1 large Banana, and 1/2 cup Peanut Butter. That didn't match my ingredients. I had 1 cups uncooked Oatmeal, 3 medium Bananas and 3/4 cup Peanut Butter. Also probably because of the change of ingredients, my treats could probably been cooked even longer than the 20 minutes at 350°F. Either way the pups love them. So don't be afraid of changing the proportions.

I made two big ones with my dog bone
cookie cutter and the rest about 2 inch rounds. 

Update 08/26/2017: both of the dogs loved these!!

Disney World EPCOT - "Club Cool"

Disney World EPCOT - "Club Cool"

a.k.a. The Coca Cola Place and Ice Station Cool

Cool Club as seen from Starbucks in EPCOT

I had a 2-day Disney World adventure. We have passes again so I know we'll be going frequently.

EPCOT is my daughter's favorite and everybody loves tasting interesting Coca Cola products, right? We love this place.

I hadn't been to EPCOT in 5 years and usually in between many people have told me that: "there is no such place," "am I sure," and most lately "its been replaced with Starbucks."

Guess what? It's still there. It's in the same location as it has always been; inside of EPCOT back near the World Showcase Lagoon but still n Future World on the right as you enter (on the West).





We are always so excited to get there. On this particular day, EPCOT opened at 9:00 AM BUT (and this is a big but to me) Cool Club didn't open until 10:30 AM and the World Showcase didn't open until 11:00 AM. Cool Club opened as promised but the World showcase had ropes and guards blocking past and they weren't going by a clock. They had to wait for a call on their radio. I'm not sure why the gates open hours before the Showcase opens.

So back to Club Cool

Club Cool Coca Cola International Flavors

The flavor-flaves had changed which is nice. It's been 15 years but I have been to the tasting part of the Atlanta World of Coca-Cola Museum and I know that there are dozens of flavors. This visit has:
Beverly, Fanta (Pineapple), Fanta (Melon Frosty), VegitaBeta, Bibo, Sparberry, Inca Kola and Guaraná Kuat.

On the "Flavors Around the World Fountain" the drinks are described.

Beverly – This soda from Italy is a popular non-alcoholic aperitif that is bitter flavored and is a traditional part of Italian refreshment culture.

Fanta (Pineapple) – This soda from Greece made its debut in Europe in the 1940’s and was later introduced in the 1960’s in the United States. Fanta Pineapple is  caffeine-free that features a sweet pineapple taste.

Fanta (Melon Frosty) – Fanta Melon Frosty is the number one soft drink of Thailand. This fun melon flavored beverage is beloved in Thailand’s sunny tropical climate.

VegitaBeta – Originally launched in Japan in 1992, is a non-carbonated beverage with apricot and passion fruit flavors. It is rich in beta-carotene that contributes to it unique yellowish orange color.

Bibo – This soda was originally created in 1998 and is part of a fruit flavored line of juices popular in South Africa. The brand features fun characters such as Johnny Orange, Taka Strawberry, and Palo Peach.

Sparberry – A raspberry flavored cream soda, Sparberry launched in Africa in 1955. It is exclusively available in several countries in southeast Africa.

Inca Kola – Known as “The Taste of Peru” this soda has an unusually sweet fruity flavor that many compare to the taste of liquid bubblegum. The name “Inca Cola” refers to the Quechua words for king and queen.

Guaraná Kuat – This soda is a guaraná berry flavored soft drink that was launched in Brazil in 1997. The word guaraná comes from the word guara-ná which translates to “fruit like the eyes of the people”

Because I'm so special (all my fun allergies), I woke up the next day with my lips really swollen. I took a Zyrtec, went back to sleep for two hours and woke up only looking like I had overnight Collagen Injection/Lip Augmentation (like all the stars, ha ha). The swelling did go down within the day. I took a Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) at bed time. Even the next two days, my lips still felt funny. SO I am trying to find the ingredients to these drinks. I'm sure my reaction is due to "Bibo Kiwi Mango" which I did not taste. Since I do have a pretty severe reaction to mango. But I havent had much luck online. Here's what I have found:

Drink Name	Country	Ingredients	Source
Beverly	Italy	High Fructose Corn Syrup, Water, Citric Acid, Salt, Sodium Benzoate, Natural and Artificial Flavors	glutenfreedairyfreewdw.com
Bibo Kiwi Mango	South Africa	Ingredients	Source
Fanta Melon Frosty	Thailand	Ingredients	Source
Fanta Pineapple	Greece	Ingredients	Source
Inca Kola	Peru	Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup and/or sucrose, citric acid, sodium benzoate, Caffeine, artificial and natural flavors, yellow #5	Looked at the back of a bottle. See below.
Kuat Guaraná	Brazil	Carbonated water, sugar, guarana seed, acidity regulators citric acid and sodium citrate, identical to natural synthetic flavoring, caramel coloring IV conservative potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate.	cocacolabrasil.com.br
Sparletta	Zimbabwe	Carbonated Water, Sugar, Flavouring, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Carmoisine	bobsbiltong.co.uk
VegitaBeta	Japan	Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Concentrated Lemon Juice, Potassium Benzoate and Potassium Sorbate, Artificial and Natural Flavors, Yellow 5, beta-carotene, Tocopherols	glutenfreedairyfreewdw.com

Inca Kola

Inca Kola Ingredients

(407) 824-4321

I wrote this to my mom. She and I both live without Gluten. She is planning a trip to New Orleans.
-------------------------------------------------------
I was thinking, have you traveled Gluten Free (GF) yet? Maybe you have, maybe you have not? Here are some of my tips.

I know you'll be staying with family but you will also have car trips etc.

I always bring trail mix. A handful substitutes for a light meal and it doesn't need refrigeration or cooking. I used Aldi's Fit & Active Trail Mix. It has raw pecans, almonds, hazel nuts, walnuts & a splash of raisins & craisins.

I like to carry my spray bottle of Braggs.

I try to find what I can eat of what others are eating, sandwiches can be rolled in one piece of lettuce or ingredients can be eaten separately. Two servings of peas instead of a roll. I know you do this well.

Most restaurants have something but some are VERY tricky.

Bunny told me breakfast is usually safe but I found out many restaurants add pancake batter to their omelets. So I ask. IHOP does but also has a healthy choice egg substitute omelete that is GF.

I have ordered sandwiches at fast food restaurants sans bread. They all accommodate thinking I am on the Atkins Diet. They'll allow doubling the lettuce & tomato too.

Popeys - red beans & rice are GF so is the french fries and coleslaw. Green beans are crazy. They have wheat flour & wheat gluten added.

McDonalds - an easy cheap meal, 2 side salads & a cup of H2O. It'll cost $2 + tax. I use 1 Caesar dressing for both salads. Fries are GF. There are more expensive salads but I wasn't really impressed. They also sell apple slices but I don't usually get them. Got a really nice fruit smoothie there for another $2.

Wendys - chili, fries & baked potatoes are all GF.

Taco bell -stick with hard shells, yummy.

Cracker Barrel - it was one of aunt annie;s favorites. They say these items are GF safe: bacon, sausage, grilled catfish, grilled chicken tenders, hamburger steak, rib eye & sirloin steaks, apple sauce, carrots, corn, green beans, pinto beans & turnip greens.

I never heard of anyone who thickens their jambalaya. Gumbo will be thickened but some families always used corn starch.

Many big chains have GF menus but I sometimes get frustrated trying to figure it out when I am hungry. PF Changs, Ruby Tues., Chilis, etc.

I don't know what to do about beignets & muffallattas. I am leaning toward ordering a muff without bread or handing them GF bread to make the sandwich on.

Hope this helps.

Missing Soy Sauce

If you knew me, you would know that food is a comfort item and one of my favorites is sushi. I love to make a thick paste of soy sauce and wasabi and dip each piece gingerly into that loving "sauce." Traditional soy sauce was making me sick so I asked around. I have several family members who have also found themselves avoiding wheat. We have found ourselves to be braggarts. We love Bragg's Liquid Amino. I had my brother-in-law compare it to soy sauce. He thought the soy sauce was thicker. I can agree with that too but that doesn't bother me in the least. If it does bother me at some point I will just thicken it with some cornstarch. It was just the taste that I wanted.

Going Gluten Free

It seems that maybe I should go Gluten Free. It seems to run in my family as well as other allergies. I have already proven allergies to dust, cashews, mangoes, some milk products, and penicillin. My dad has serious poultry allergy and pretty severe sinus allergies to hay, pollen and dust.

My mom mentioned that some of the things that I was working around may just go away without Gluten. An example, I had already "figured out" that if I ate pizza and spaghetti with red sauce in the same day, I would be awakened with heartburn. What I didn't realize was that it was the bread that gave me the heart burn. I thought it was the tomatoes, I never dreamed it was the gluten. I also thought that I was becoming allergic to soy, because it seemed that some soy products caused me either heartburn or diarrhea. Well the soy products I was using had wheat and Maltodextrin in the ingredients list.

So I gave it a try. The first day, I just ate things I already have in my home: grapefruit, rice and beans, salad with home-made dressing. When I woke up on the second day, not only did I not have heartburn or diarrhea, I woke up with very little pain. I had been waking up with more and more pain. I used to describe it as "you know that feeling that you were hit by a bus yesterday" but no one seemed to understand that. That pain that I had when I woke up had been becoming more and more frequent over the last 15 years, until it was a daily feeling.