Homemade Cleaning Solutions

Cleaners have been known to contain gluten.  That is one of the sneaky ways that it can make its way into your house.  However, there are cheap, green, gluten free ways to clean your house.  Here are common items that you could use.

Vinegar

Water

Lemon

Baking Soda

Cream of tartar

Salt

Oil

A few recipes that I myself use are as follows…

Tasty Bites - Review

One of the largest issues with being gluten free is the lack of easy meals.  I am not talking a frozen burrito or a pizza; I am talking easy meals that are quick, healthy, and perfect for the week day.  Tasty Bites has come up with a solution to this.  

Pineapple Shrimp Kababs

Temperatures have started to rise and that brings to mind a grill day, or at least a lighter meal.  Here is a fantastic gluten free recipe that is sure to please almost everyone (who doesn't have a shrimp hating ward).  I can't wait to start grilling this year.  Sadly, I will have to wait until I have moved. Only then will I have a place to grill.

Salad Stuffed Tomatoes

 This is a post I did for a blog swap.  However, I love this recipe and thought I would share.  It is finally the season for great Tomatoes, they have flavor after months of being bland.  That brings one thought to mind spring.  So in the spirit of spring here is a light Tomato based recipe.

IgA Deficiency ranges

After being gluten free for over a year and a half I got some great news.  My IGA numbers are up from the 40s or 50s; my last test had my Serum numbers at 70! OK I am still below the 81 needed, but that is an improvement... As I said in a prior post the ranges can vary by test but here are the ranges by age

Here are the normal ranges by age!

It is Ok to Be Mad, (Infertility Post)

With spring around the corner, and babies being conceived or born everywhere it is hard to not get mad at the world as you wonder why this is not happening to you. These feeling are natural and expected.  What really matters is how you deal with it.   Anger, disappointment, and the unfairness of the world are feelings that are healthy.  However, these feelings should not be directed at others or at yourself.  Instead try to focus those feelings to the situation.

Review for Unreal (TM) Candy

Having a long time chocolate addiction as well as being a taster (taste and smell are my strongest senses) I jumped at the chance to try a new candy product. (Free Candy, Free Candy.) I watched the mail until the coupons arrived and rushed out to get my candy. In fact for the best trial I bought two more types. Over the last 36 hours I have consumed or tried to consume all three types I got the caramel nougat bar, (Milky Way) the peanut butter cups and the candy coated chocolate peanuts (Peanut M&M's).

Peanut butter cups: the chocolate has a weird aftertaste that is slightly unpleasant and it leaves a very oily feeling in your mouth. The peanut butter is nothing special and it comes with a highly grainy texture. The chocolate also flakes very easily. The only advantage it had over the Reeses is that it has fewer calories 190 vs. 232 sodium, 115 vs. 141, Fat 12 vs. 14, less sugar 11 vs. 21 as well as having more protein and fiber. So while it is better for you, you sacrifice taste and texture. (Condé Nast, 2012)

Caramel Nougat bar: The same issue with the chocolate occurs in this bar as in the peanut butter cups. On the plus side the nougat is much softer than what you would get out of a Milky Way. The caramel however left a lot to be desired as it had little flavor. Like the peanut butter cup it is much better for you in terms of content.

Candy covered chocolate peanuts: The candy coating leaves a slightly bitter flavor and after the sweetness of the candy coating the chocolate is downright disgustingly flavored. Also the same issues occur with the chocolate. The redeeming quality to this one is the peanuts. I happen to like the flavor of a peanut with the skin on it. However many may find that a detractor. Once again the content of the candy was better than the original 200 vs. 220 (About, Inc., 2012) in calories alone. But you lost a lot in the taste.

 The plus side to each one of these candies is the lack of "gunk" in them. However while it may not contain any fully man made products it still contains items that are not normally consumed in a raw format such as Gum Arabic as well as Carnauba wax. While these are not bad for you they are not a normal part of the average diet either. Also allergy note: while nothing in any of these products contain wheat or tree nuts they are listed on allergy list. It seems like they are covering themselves and since I have Celiac disease and have not reacted they are not really included in my batch. If you are looking for something that does not contain any "junk" items or are a better for you junk food. This might be a good choice. Otherwise buy the originals and watch how much you eat. This is what I will continue doing.

Condé Nast. (2012, March 21). Candies, reese's peanut butter cups. Retrieved from http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/sweets/5456/2 About, Inc. (2012).

Calories in peanut chocolate candies. Retrieved from http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-mm-peanut-chocolate-candies-i19140