I never got around to posting my Sunday Salon. I spent the entire day cooking. I was a cooking fool! I did not plan to spend the entire day chopping and sautéing, but after finishing The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister, I made a quick run to the market and that was all she wrote.
I picked up some white wine, garlic, italian parsley and clams. I haven’t made white clam sauce in I don’t know how long. I also picked up chicken and an array of vegetables along with some great italian sausage and the most beautiful green peppers you’ve ever seen. I also picked up this little gem:
 Just ignore my very dry cuticle. I was doing a lot of washing.
Anyway, finding pre-mixed spices is a challenge for those with gluten-sensitivities. Nearly every packet has wheat flour as a binder or filler. Those that don’t, typically lose something in taste. At least, that’s been my experience. However, I’ve been experimenting with different brands and Sukhi’s is really very good. I’ve tried two curries so far and they are delicious. All you do is add water, meat (if you want to), veggies and sometimes whipping cream (Mmmmm cream). You can find these products at Sprout’s markets and a bunch of other places. It makes for a simple, easy dinner that tastes just like takeout.
So I was cooking, and reading and sipping and ended up with meals for the entire week. I am so happy about this because with both kids in the show and auditioning this week for various parts, it helps to have wholesome, gluten-free food that I can eat in between activities.
On that note, I visited the doctor last Friday. This was my first visit since going gluten-free and I had not told him about my choice to do so. Sometimes, you just have to do what you know is right. So I was curious to see how my numbers were.
Get this:
My lupus tests were negative, well the markers that they use to measure lupus were negative. There is no lupus test really.
My inflammation numbers were cut by 50%
My iron levels, which if they had been a 5 again would have required a tranfusion…were 8.
My conclusion? Gluten is definitely my problem. I will probably post about the symptoms I had, because they are not typical or textbook, which is why the doctors tested me for everything but that.
On the reading front…
As I was sipping and eating all day yesterday, I had my Kindle glued to my hands. I could not put The Night Strangers down. It starts off with a bang and never stops, at least not yet! I even took it into the bath with me last night. Water and electronics just do not mix, but I couldn’t help it.
Hope you are all well. Off to get me some coffee and maybe, just maybe I will write-up some reviews.
Book Chatter 
Sounds like you had a good day yesterday! It’s nice not to have to worry about the week’s meals, I know. Especially when you have a lot going on.
I’m looking forward to reading your post about your symptoms–I was tested for a gluten allergy about three years ago, but none was found.
Have a great week, Ti!
I was tested for wheat and although sensitive, they did not consider it an allergy. Gluten is a bit different and since they test for wheat and it was inconclusive, they didn’t think they needed to go further. I’ll post about it soon.
I’m so glad you’re doing better without the gluten! So after the results came back did you have a chance to gloat, um – talk about how you went gluten-free with your doctor? What was his reaction?
My rheumatologist said that it didn’t surprise him at all. He has been really supportive of me in general because my numbers kept jumping around. He was never 100% sure of the lupus, but the symptoms said Lupus so he treated it as such. It’s my internal med doc that I need to gloat to. I asked to be test for Celiac when I first started to have problems but he said nope…not celiac…not with my symptoms. I swear though, I had been tested for everything else including a pituitary gland tumor!
Wow, sounds like a very productive day in terms of reading and cooking. Wonderful. I’m glad that going gluten free worked for you so far. I hope it continues to do so and I’d like to see these atypical symptoms that you speak about. I know nothing about gluten allergies, but I’d like to know more
Wow, that’s really great on your lupus tests Ti! My doc had wanted me to try gluten free but after studying the diet she gave me I became very discouraged. I ma have to bend your ear to see what you’ve been doing.
Sounds like you had fun cooking up all that food plus it is nice to have stuff prepared for the week. Takes a bit of the stress off.
I haven’t started Night Strangers but yo have me really wanting to. Hope you have a fantastic week! Give the pup a squeeze for me.
Dar, I am a total bread gal, so at first, gluten-free was very hard. After a couple of weeks though, I felt so much better and that made it so much easier to follow. My downfall these days is hidden gluten. Restaurants that say they cook gluten-free but don’t, etc. I can really tell when they have cross-contaminated my food in some way. The whole process has taught me to eat cleaner, more simple foods. Even if you try it for just a week, you might see a big enough different to want to continue. Let me know if you decide to try it. It’s not that had with planning. The pup is doing well. She got to spend the entire weekend with me. She likes to sit with me in the kitchen as I cook stuff. Say Hi to Sammy!
Great news on the tests!
For spices, this place is great:
http://www.penzeys.com/
Great link. Especially since that was the one thing that was a tad high..,. my BP! I came from work though and this place sometimes gets to me.
Congrats on the test, that’s fantastic! I’m sure it feels like a relief to know that Gluten has been the culprit.
That book really gets you in the mood to cook (and eat) doesn’t it? Good idea to get some meals made so you aren’t having to Taco Bell it every day.
Good lord, Taco Bell would kill me! LOL. If I have to eat fast food I will go for a salad if they offer one but I don’t like the preservatives most fast food places use.
I adored that book…School…I am thrilled that you seem to have loved it, too…
Love your cooking days…but then the rest of your week is so much easier…
Way to go on all of the tests…gluten free sounds like the way to go…
I wish I had even a smidge of desire to cook, but it never happens. That is very interesting about your gluten issues. My mom has recently become the gluten police, convinced that it has caused some of her health issues, and she is now on my case to give up gluten too!
Sometimes I do think that we can build stuff up in our heads, but with the labs coming back the way they did, I may join your mom on the gluten patrol force.
Great job on the cooking front, your food sounds delicious…and awesome that you have meals for the week. I remember coming home from work and thinking oh #$&!!@*$% I have to cook dinner – if I wasn’t making my mother’s dinner then I probably would have opted for cereal half the time!
Fantastic news on your medical numbers! I agree that sometimes you just have to do what you think is right in terms of your body and how you feel. I firmly believe that nobody knows our individual bodies as we do. That info really intrigues me, too because I’ve been wondering for a while if a much better and different diet might help my asthma, pulmonary hypertension and even some of the chronic pain. It’s why I signed up to review Super Immunity for TLC this month.
I’m glad you’re enjoying The Night Strangers…I was hoping it was good!
A short two week trial would be enough for you to see if it makes a difference. I have to tell you I don’t need my inhaler anymore, either.
I am so glad you are finding gluten free products that you like. I had no idea that you would find wheat even in seasoning packets. You are doing great detective work. I’ll be very interested in hearing what your symptoms were so I am looking forward to that post. Glad all your numbers were up. Bet the Doc was surprised and happy.
Sounds like you had fun cooking! It’s been a few weeks since I have felt inspired to have a marathon cooking session.
I have The Night Strangers galley to read. I’m glad to hear it is a good read!
Ooh, great news on your test results! How long have you been gluten free now? I’ve been gf for more than 3 years — it does get easier! Although you never get to where you can skip reading labels, since they’re prone to change. Feel free to ask if you have questions.
This is great news! As a society, we consume crazy amounts of wheat and corn. I am trying to eliminate corn as much as possible… and you know I’m wheat free. I should try gluten free again, I did feel amazing when I did this.
Enough about me… I’m thrilled to hear your results. It’s amazing how much food impacts our health. You should write up a post on before/after….
You know, every person that I know that has been finally diagnosed with Celiac has had to fight tooth and nail with their doc. Not only have their symptoms been all over the map, but their docs were quick to jump to other things before considering Celiac.
I say, if you are feeling better and your numbers are looking good, roll with it. I am so happy for you!
Also, I LOVE curry, will have to try this one. Usually, just make my own with curry powder and sour cream.
I didn’t know that you have lupus. My best friend has it too, and I know how frustrating it is for her. She’s been through the worst and now she’s pretty much stable. I hope things are generally good with you too.
Ti, so happy to hear about your positive MD visit; how great is that! I had a friend who was very ill, and suffered for a year before they found Gluten was his problem!
Glad to hear you are enjoying Night Strangers. I did like it a lot for the most part but had a few minor issues with it.
White clam sauce! Yum! Haven’t had that in ages!
And doesn’t it feel good to have ALL your cooking done for the whole week!?
And congrats to you for figuring out that gluten was your problem. The test results seem very conclusive. I know there are a lot of products out there now to help you out so good luck with continuing to figure this whole thing out. Sounds like you’re making great progress.
Congrats on the test results! That is awesome that going Gluten free has such positive results for you!
Your numbers are amazing! I have a good friend who is going through some AI problems right now so I am going to mention the success you’ve had with the gluten-free diet!
I love that you love to cook. I didn’t know that about you. You may want to enter my giveaway of Kathleen Flinn’s THE KITCHEN COUNTER COOKING SCHOOL. I am telling you, it is amazing. And her first book is about her time in Paris at Le Cordon Bleu.