The Inconsistency of my Nature

[mrdreamjeans]

For the past couple of years .. actually more like five ... I've been having skin issues that are attached to the following allergy. I'm still sorting it out. It's been very difficult to follow a gluten-free diet, as the grocery stores that carry such products aren't close by. For those who don't know:

Gluten is a protein molecule found in wheat, rye, and barley. Almost 3 million people have celiac disease, which is an inability to tolerate gluten. It’s one of the most common genetic diseases, yet most people don’t know they have it. And millions more people are allergic to wheat, which is one of the top eight allergens. In addition, many autoimmune diseases besides celiac disease show improvement in symptoms on a gluten-free diet. Also interesting to note: many studies now show large numbers of autistic kids exhibiting improvement on a gluten-free/casein-free diet.

There are other issues to consider as well. Wheat products are often high-glycemic-index foods like pastries, cakes, and cookies. These foods can contribute to obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. There is also some research showing an association between starchy foods (like bagels, bread, cookies, cake, etc) and ovarian cancer.

There are dozens, if not hundreds, of symptoms of gluten intolerance. Many people believe the most common symptoms are gastrointestinal in nature, yet the majority of people with gluten intolerance have other symptoms as well such as fatigue, headaches, weight gain, moodiness and/or depression, inflammation, and muscle pain.

Here is why I have continuing issues with the allergy. With me, it presents itself in my skin and is called by another name. For your tasting pleasure, here is a recipe that I'm much more likely to follow than a gluten-free diet and suffer the consequences:

Texas Dump Cake

• 1 can of sliced peaches (21 oz)
• 1 can of crushed Pineapple (20 oz)
• 1 box of yellow cake mix (Duncan Hines preferred)
• 1 cup of melted margarine/butter
• 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts 
•  Spray Butter

Step 1. - Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Step 2. - Spread peach slices and crushed pineapple into the bottom of a large baking dish. (Do not drain liquids from can.)
Step 3. - Pour package of dry cake mix and nuts over top of the fruit. Do not mix cake mix according to the package instructions.
Step 4. - Pour melted butter or margarine over the top of the dry cake mix as evenly as possible. I also spray the entire cake with spray butter.  Adds to moisture.
Step 5. - Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the cake mix comes out clean.

Scoop and serve with whipping cream.
 
Note:  You can use any kind of canned fruit in place of the peaches.  The Pineapple is required.

Ah, yes ... the inconsistency of my nature .... informative, but undisciplined ...

Comments

Try this...

[quietdanmn.livejournal.com]

http://www.amazon.com/Moist-Yellow-Cake-Gluten-Free/dp/B0001CNP7M

It may be worth a try...

Re: Try this...

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I've ordered three packages through amazon. Thanks, Dan, for doing the research for me. Now, if I could just get the sugar intake under control, I might just loose some weight.

HUGS!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

There are some restaurants that offering gluten-free items on the menu. I just ate in an Italian restaurant in Minneapolis with friends that offered a gluten-free pasta. I was refreshingly free of side effects after the meal.

This weekend is about helping my sister complete the removal of items she received in the divorce from her former home of 20 years, to put some of the excess in my storage unit here in Brenham and then move everything else to her new home in Conroe. I'm glad there is finally closure for her.

I have an exciting life, I tell ya! An exciting life:)

HUGS!

[allanh.livejournal.com]

You and Jen (aelfie) really, Really, REALLY need to talk. She's been following a gluten-free diet for over a year, and has had very good luck with it. It wouldn't take much to get her to share some tips, including gluten-free blogs, mail-order/web-order gluten-free products, etcetera.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I'll follow up with her this week. She's not on my friends list, but I would love to speak to her about this. kent4str8 has the same type of gluten intolerance that I do, where it presents itself in the skin. I believe it's called Durhing's Disease.

Thanks, my friend!

HUGS!

[kent4str.livejournal.com]

Dermititus herpetiformis is the "real" name. And it sucks, big time, like you say.

Are there any Whole Paycheck Foods near you? They carry a lot in their baking section, including cake mixes. And a lot of frozen stuff (I've got cheese biscuits at home waiting for me!).

Then there's www.kinnikinnick.com. Great stuff - bread you can make a sandwich out of!

If you ever make it to DC I'll make you my (rice) macaroni and cheese...

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I'll take you up on it! I wrote down the information on this disease when you first gave it to me. I thank you so much, though I've not been good in following it. I've been to Whole Foods and purchased some items. I've had the gluten-free pastas and enjoyed them. I've got to do better, though ...

HUGS!

I hope this is helpful...

[beartech420.livejournal.com]

2 ways I have learned about allergies.

1. A friend's sister I knew years ago when to a medical facility on the west coast and went on a 3 week medical supervised FAST. She was desperate because she was allergic to EVERYTHING! The theory is after 3 weeks the body breaks down all the poisons in the body and reset all your biochemistry and the allergies are gone. I have never done this so I cannot personally support it.

My personally experience has been this. I had horrible hayfever allergies for 30 years. Really bad time both in spring and fall. My older sister the nurse discovered a food supplement called Aphanizomenon flos-aquae -- AKA Super Blue Green Algae, SBGA, Klamath Blue Green Algae. I took the suppliment for 4 month in the spring of I think 91 or 92. The hayfever was gone that fall.

Do a goggle search about this stuff before you decide to use it because over the years this supplement has gone through a hype phase. Apparently there have been purity problems, evil algae blooms caused by too much duck poop in Klamath lake. The theory behind this stuff is that it has certain nutrients which are missing in our diet. If duck poop frightens you, you may consider Kelp supplements or even the dried seaweed sheets that are used to make sushi California rolls. These are more than likely the ocean equivalent to this hyped "perfect food".
I just know it really worked for me. A I still eat a lot of California rolls when I'm at my favorite Chinese Buffet!
Hope This is helpful for your gluten allergies.
BestRegards,
Pete

Re: I hope this is helpful...

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

The testing for the gluten allergy is very expensive. My doctor suggested that I try the products that are available and see what happens. He said, if I feel 50% better by exchanging items that are gluten-free for those I usually eat, then consider it a diagnosis. Also, thank for the suggestions on dietary supplements!

HUGS!

[blt4success66.livejournal.com]

Damn...that sounds good, it's definitely off my list though...can you imagine the sugar content?

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Why, yes! Why, yes I can! LOL! Just imagine if it were frosted too. (As I've often said, frosting is a separate food group in my family.)

[blt4success66.livejournal.com]

Yes, any good southerner would frost dessert. A nice buttercream frosting...YUM!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

If it's gluten-free! :)

[blt4success66.livejournal.com]

yes it is...

Mmmm ... DUMP CAKE ...

[anziulewicz.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the recipe, Neal. I will have to make that and take it to the office for my co-workers ... with full attribution, natch.

Re: Mmmm ... DUMP CAKE ...

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

You don't have to give me credit. I hope it's as good as it sounds. I may try to make it with a gluten-free cake mix and sugar-free versions of the fruit. We'll see what happens.

HUGS!

[icejohn2.livejournal.com]

That recipe looks good but it uses yellow cake mix. Not gluten-free diet for sure. Well, it just means that more Chinese/Thai/Japanese food for you! :)

[kent4str.livejournal.com]

Except for soy sauce! Most of them contain wheat!

Yeah, sucks even more now, doesn't it?

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I can do without the soy sauce ... I'm glad that you're much more further along in figuring this out. I'm only just beginning. Thanks again!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I'm happy with the Chinese and Thai. Yum!

[designerotter.livejournal.com]

Well that's what I love about you ... but I prefer to think of it as 'well-rounded' rather than 'inconsistent'. ...though on second thought, maybe 'rounded' may not have been the most fortunate choice [runs and ducks behind nearest chair - LOL]

Goodness, that recipe sounds like even I could make it ... I find the title amusing. But then, what I've always liked best about recipes is reading them. In my distant checkered past I used to work in a dept. store; at lunchtime, I'd go to the book dept and read about desserts - I could have any I wanted that way, sans the consequences.
Now I'll have to go raid the fridge ...
hugs!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

It's quite obvious looking at the two of us who is more disciplined when it comes to meals. I read a recipe and wonder who I can get to make it:) I'm going to try the Texas Dump Cake recipe, but make it with a gluten-free cake mix and sugar free pineapple and peaches and see what happens. I suspect the one item you can't substitute is the melted butter:)

HUGS ...

Thanks for reading back ...