A sick kiddo and a birthday party to get ready for

So Nico has been sick for the past 2 days and all he has been asking for is soup. He likes creamy soups but we have stopped buying them after Nico went dairy free. So yesterday I made a quick chicken noodle soup, made with Asian rice noodles, rotisserie chicken, diced carrots and gluten free chicken base. So easy! Today I made him creamy broccoli cheddar soup. I used my food processor to puree broccoli then added some coconut milk to the puree . Just enough to make it creamy then I put it in the sauce pan and added onion powder and minced garlic. Then I melted the Daiya "cheddar cheese" in it. My son loved it!! We ended up putting it over rice.

Now, Ella's birthday is Saturday, and I am trying like crazy to get ready for it. It's a little hard working around a sick kid, and a tiny girl that specializes in mess making. 2 of the dishes I am makinge are garlic meatballs and chili. So I mixed a ton of sausage and ground beef and other spices and finely chopped mushrooms and separated it in 3 separate servings. 1/3 to brown to go in the chili, 1/3 to make into meatballs and 1/3 to use next week to make golabki. (Polish cabbage rolls). I still have a bunch more to make as her party gets closer, bit I am all for prepping early and making my life easier the day of the party. We're dressing up and Ella is going to be Wonder Woman! It will be so much fun!

Faux Mac and cheese and other stuff

So tonight for dinner I made Mac and cheese, gluten free and dairy free! 

Barilla makes a good gluten free elbow pasta. So I cooked that up and drained the water then added some full fat coconut milk, earth balance dairy free margarine, and daiya dairy free cheddar "cheese". Then I added cut up pepperoni and chicken. Nico gave it his stamp of approval and that says a lot!

Last night I made my own tortillas with coconut milk, almond flour and tapioca flour. Then I sauteed up some chicken, bell pepper and mushrooms after marinating them in fresh herbs, olive oil and lemon juice. I also cooked up some brown rice and quinoa to add to my wrap.  It was delicious. 

All right, we are going to switch gears a little.  We are still talking about my journey to a happier and healthier me, but we are going to focus a little more on the culinary aspect of my journey.
The doctor has suggested that in order to rewire my hormones and hopefully help my painful conditions be less painful, that I go off dairy, gluten and if possible....sugar.  This change has been a long time coming as I have pondered doing this for a long time, but didn't feel that I had the wheel power.  However, my pain level is at an all time high, and I believe with such drastic circumstances comes better wheel power.
I have gone off dairy as of about 2 months ago.  At first I was seeing cheese and ice cream in my dreams.  As I am now coming up with dishes and desserts that are wonderful and satisfying it is becoming easier.  I will post a little later about the dishes that I have already come up with. :) But first, lets make 1 thing clear!  My Dr has ok'd dark chocolate, and in little amounts butter!!  Although I still avoid butter for the most part, I am learning that I can get by using most other things, especially coconut oil, it is my FAVE!!  You will probably notice a theme for most of my dishes.  I am in love with coconut everything! Coconut oil, coconut milk, coconut sugar and coconut flour.
I have yet to go gluten free completely, although I will be adding that in next month and see how I do.  Right now I'm just getting really good at being dairy free while enjoying the bread that I love.  So join me on my journey, and maybe you will end up enjoying some of my creations as much as I do!

P.S.  My starting weight was 211 (8 months after baby being born)  I am now 205, and have fluctuated between 204 and 205 for the past week.  I have changed nothing but giving up dairy.  So if losing weight is a side effect...I'll take it!