Baking Powder

As a baker, some of these ingredients are very common to me in my kitchen. It seems second nature to pull certain bottles and tubs from the pantry when I am creating but until recently I had no idea what exactly was making up my food.

Baking powder and baking soda are so easily mistaken for each other. I remember Christmas baking with my mom and sister, year after year and without fail, we would always have to double and triple check the recipes to make sure we had read "soda" and not "powder" or vice versa.  It's easy to think that they'd be interchangeable seeing as they both are fine, white crystalline powders. Though they share some similarities, they are vastly different in application.

Also acting as a leavening agent, baking powder is most commonly made up of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), cream of tarter (potassium bitartrate) and corn starch. Occasionally, companies will use calcium acid phosphate or sodium aluminum sulfate instead of cream of tartar. Should you be trying to keep aluminum at bay in your diet, look for an aluminum free brand such as Rumford's,  Argo,  Bob's Red Mill, or Trader Joe's.

You may have noted in your grocery store browsing that baking powders are often classified as "double acting". This is referencing it's leavening abilities. Single acting reacts on contact with moisture while double acting reacts on contact with moisture and again during baking. There are two kinds of single acting baking powders, tartrate and phosphate, however they are not found in recipes written after the 1940s and often found only in gourmet food stores.

Chemistry plays a large role in baking and baking powder is no different, here is a breakdown of it's chemical equation:

Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, has the chemical formula NaHCO3. Cream of tartar, also known as tartrate salt, has the formula KHC4H4O6. The reaction is:

NaHCO3 + KHC4H4O6 ----> KNaC4H4O6 + H2O + CO2

NaHCO3 + KHC4H4O6 ----> KNaC4H4O6 + H2O + CO2

Some baking powders contain sodium aluminum sulfate: NaAl(SO4)2. The reaction there is:

NaAl(SO4)2 + 3 NaHCO3 ----> Al(OH)3 + 2 Na2SO4 + 3 CO2

NaAl(SO4)2 + 3 NaHCO3 ----> Al(OH)3 + 2 Na2SO4 + 3 CO2

(copied from http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/tools-and-techniques/baking-powder.htm)

It never ceases to amaze me how such small amounts of seemingly useless powders can make or break a recipe. With the holidays fast approaching, we all will be whipping out our ingredients to create happy tummies and joyful smiles. Oh the fun that can be had when you view cooking and baking as an experiment. 

Next up is cream of tartar, the shining star of sugar cookies, but why?

Eternal Supplement

Am I weird for feeling bursts of joy after ordering my vitamins? Call me a freak for living the way I do and eating the things I do but there really is no denying the results.

When my diet is right, stress is managed, and mind is positive, my body feels "lighter", my skin is happy and overall I have a better outlook. All this aside, prayer has an even bigger hand in my mental and emotional health.

Just as if I went days without my supplements and my body began to slip back to its old cravings and old sluggishness...days without prayer and praise cause me to reclaim burdens that I had previously surrendered to the Lord and begin to loose sight of God's providential hand in my life. I become comfortable with living in my old ways.

With my illness, my body isn't able to absorb the nutrients from my food. Instead, it allows unwelcome food particles into my bloodstream. All of this happens over time and if I don't stay on top of my herbal supplements, my gut won't heal. When there is a lack of nutrients and overload of toxins or food in my blood, it leaves my brain foggy, thoughts scrambled and my concentration is far gone.

In a way, our spiritual walk is very similar. If we merely go to church, maybe even read our bibles daily but don't allow God to touch our hearts, we are allowing "nutrients" to escape under our nose. When we aren't solid in our faith, we often times allow unwelcome thoughts and situations to have front row passes to our heart and mind. We are not void of Godly influence, we just aren't absorbing it....we aren't surrounded by evil but it slowly takes over.

I feel joy when I order vitamins because I know that I am working toward healing my body and finding health that I honestly have never had before. This is very similar to the joy I feel when I seek the Lord in His word or through worship. He alone can heal my heart, He alone can carry my burdens, and His plan alone will prosper. His words restore my soul to a place of peace and childlike faith.

Essentially, He is my eternal supplement. He doesn't have a maximum dose nor any negative side effects.

Sometimes the pill is hard to swallow when it is one of conviction but it's just what the Great Physician ordered.

Crazy Life & Reclaimed Goals

Life has been beyond crazy the last few months and from what I understand, this is something I should just claim as my new normal. All this to say, yet again, I am sorry for being such an inconsistent and neglectful blogger.

However, I need to get input from you all. Once a week there will be a post dedicated to discovering the sources, history, and uses for common ingredients. Many of these ingredients are ones I have seen and used since I began making messes in the kitchen but never truly knew why we use them or how they even made their way into pantries around the world.

I have the following ingredients on my list:
-Baking soda (check!)
-Baking powder
-Cream of tarter
-Guar gum
-Xanthan gum

Have you been curious about unpronounceable ingredients? Share them in the comments or email me at allingoodmeasure@gmail.com and I'll add them to my list. Some will be of the curious nature while others will be displaying dirty secrets of the food industry, either way, we will learn together!

I also will be starting a series on hidden allergies. I bet you didn't realize they were still managing to sneak past your radar and cause underlying issues with your health. We will start out in the pantry and slowly make our way to the makeup aisle and medicine cabinet. Stay tuned!

It's What?! Baking Soda

Baking soda, we all have seen it in action one way or another. For the creative hearts, you probably know it to be a role player in volcano models at the science fair. Those of you clean freaks, like me, have probably been elbow deep in a bathtub with good ole baking soda at least once before. However, the most common use of baking soda is in our food and medicine.

Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), a mild alkaline with a distinctively bitter, salty, sour taste, is created synthetically by combining carbonic and sodium hydroxide. Ore trona is used commercially and nahcolite is naturally occurring.

Some history from madehow.com :

Imported from England, baking soda was first used in America during colonial times, but it was not produced in the United States until 1839. In 1846, Austin Church, a Connecticut physician, and John Dwight, a farmer from Massachusetts, established a factory in New York to manufacture baking soda. Dr. Church's son, John, owned a mill called the Vulcan Spice Mills. Vulcan, the Roman god of forge and fire, was represented by an arm and hammer, and the new baking soda company adopted the arm and hammer logo as its own. Today, the Arm & Hammer brand of baking soda is among the most widely recognized brand names.

Named after Nicolas Leblanc, the French chemist who invented it, the Leblanc process was the earliest means of manufacturing soda ash (Na ₂ CO ₃ ), from which sodium bicarbonate is made. Sodium chloride (table salt) was heated with sulfuric acid, producing sodium sulfate and hydrochloric acid. The sodium sulfate was then heated with coal and limestone to form sodium carbonate, or soda ash.

In the late 1800s, another method of producing soda ash was devised by Ernest Solvay, a Belgian chemical engineer. The Solvay method was soon adapted in the United States, where it replaced the Leblanc process. In the Solvay process, carbon dioxide and ammonia are passed into a concentrated solution of sodium chloride. Crude sodium bicarbonate precipitates out and is heated to form soda ash, which is then further treated and refined to form sodium bicarbonate of United States Pharnacopoeia (U.S.P.) purity.

Read more: http://www.madehow.com/Volume-1/Baking-Soda.html#ixzz39cNaFzAY

Baking soda's shining moment for me is in....you guessed it....baking! It reacts with acid ingredients (cream of tartar, vinegar, lemon, etc) to give off a gas, allowing the baked good to rise. In cooking, it has been used in the past to soften vegetables and tenderize meat. Since it is an alkaline, it tends to react to naturally occurring acids in foods such as Vitamin C and therefore can prevent it's absorption. 

All in all, this ingredient is small but mighty. 

Curious about all the tricks this little kitchen ingredient can do? Check out the links below for some ideas

51 fantastic uses for baking soda

31 Baking Soda Uses

Best beauty uses-baking soda

Next week: Baking powder (and the secrets it hides). As always, comment with your ingredient curiosities :)

Worst Blogger Award Goes To.......

Okay, so I'm pretty sure no one reads these but for the invisible followers, I am so sorry. With great intentions, I spoke too soon and promised a weekly series on "unidentified foods".

My schooling is oh so close to being completed and I'm feeling exhilarated by the ability to see the finish line. Hopefully by the end of July I will officially be a certified Holistic Nutritional Counselor!!! With this new found energy and focus (thanks to a slightly restored health) I'm dedicating every moment available to my studies.

That being said, this blog is going to continue to be deserted.

However, now is the prefect opportunity for you to rummage through your pantries and cabinets looking for ingredients to which you don't know: their source; their purpose; nor how to even pronounce them ;).

Until August, enjoy and "hit me with your best shot"......

It's What?!

Do ever stand in your pantry wondering what half of the items are or where they came from? Maybe I'm the only weirdo to think in that way but when someone is faced with an allergy, these are the thoughts that should come to mind.

My goal is to begin a series of weekly posts in which I research specific ingredients in an effort to identify their sources as well as their how they are processed. 

Here is where you, as the reader play a part. I would like to hear back about some ingredients that you are suspicious of or are interested in learning more about. Comment below and I will add them to my research! 

Be on the look out for these mystery ingredient posts :).

Patience is Virtue

A lifetime of rocky health...

One solid year of a weakened immune system and increasing pain...

Three months of constant testing and weekly doctor's visits...

All of this has lead to one lesson that I have yet to grasp completely but am getting closer each time, the lesson of patience and trust.

They say you don't ask the Lord to grant you patience if you aren't ready for tough times. He knows the only way for a person to become patient is to learn by waiting, and waiting, and waiting. 

Thankfully, my wait was fairly short and we all are breathing a sigh of relief. 

Yesterday was my follow-up with Dr. V, my Hematologist/Oncologist. We had the MRI results and the blood tests we ordered during our last visit. 

MRI echoed the CT as for the size of my spleen (looks about the size of a liver...normally the size of a fist) and that the "spot" covering the majority of my spleen is a cyst. The Radiologist who reviewed my MRI results labeled it as a "basic splenic cyst" and though they have to consider a parasitic cyst, they are pretty sure its not based on other indicators. Between the CT scan and MRI the cyst has slightly reduced in size and is beginning to calcify! (which apparently is positive) :) :) :) :)

So....we are going to let time and the Lord reduce this puppy and go for ultrasound check ups every 3 months.

~There is a very small cyst on my liver but according to both the Radiologist and Dr. V, that is of no concern especially with its size.~

As for how all of this came about...

We ran some blood tests to check for past infections as well as other illnesses and all came back negative except the Epstein-Barr virus which is the guilty party for Mononucleosis. Our bodies create antibodies as a sort of memory file for viruses and these antibodies can be identified in a blood screen. This test is called a Mono-Spot test or a heterophil test, named after the heterophil antibody, which can be detected up to a year after infection.

~We were also able to rule out Hepatitis, Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lymphoma as they sometimes cause a false Mono-Spot test. Some of these illnesses have been on our watch list the past year so we are breathing an extra sigh of relief to know those are definitely not to be concerned with~

I suspected Mono last summer when I had a month's worth of strep, another month of fatigue and a very slow recovery. Unfortunately, I let my "strep" go two weeks without seeking conventional medicine so by the time I got to Dr. L, he saw my tonsils kissing and skipped the strep culture by just prescribing antibiotics. I too went in thinking it was strep but all the symptoms that I had attributed to the cleanse were actually the symptoms that differentiate strep from mono. Dr. L and I talked about the possibility of mono but he ended up just calling it strep.

Sometimes mono can cause Splenomegaly (an enlarged spleen) and according to Dr. V, this can also cause a splenic cyst as well.

Time is the healer of all wounds they say. Okay, so maybe that's more about loss and heartbreak but it works in this case too. Dr. W and Dr. V both said that my spleen won't go back to a normal size but that it should follow suit as the cyst reduces.

I almost forgot to share my best news! My white blood and platelet counts were up from my last CBC!!! Seems like this last month has done wonders for my system and I'm so excited to see where we stand in September :).

Praising God for His blessings and patience toward me as I cried out to Him in fear the last three months.

God is good, all the time and all the time, God is good.

Oncologist and MRI

Last Friday was my initial visit with Dr. V, my new Oncologist. He is a very kind man who is great at listening and respecting a patients wishes as he approaches testing and treatment.

After describing my health issues and chosen treatments, he asked me to explain how my doctors and I had come to the conclusions but he seemed genuinely curious as well, I'm sure, with the intention to see if I knew what was going on and if I had an active role in my health.

Never did he question my sanity or intelligence based on my desire to do things naturally (which was the way my other Oncologist approached me during my consult in November).

He concluded based on past history and the blood test results over the months that he is almost sure my spleen is enlarged due to a prior infection and because it's enlarged, it's over active in its efforts to filter out old blood cells....leading to my low blood counts.

He is almost certain that the spots on my liver are congenital (since birth), are called hemangioma , and are very similar to the birthmark on Mikhail Gorbachev's head. They are harmless bruise looking spots that stop growing in infancy so into my 20s, I'm clear.

His next thought was to offer me three approaches. First, we could do an MRI with standard IV contrast to rule out more serious causes. Second was spleen and liver scan with radioactive IV contrast. Last being to leave everything alone and monitor any changes with time, giving my body a chance to fix itself.

I chose the MRI as the second least invasive/harmful while also giving answers we can only get by looking inside from a vascular level. Not only does it identify the large spot on my spleen but it'll also confirm the hemangioma spots on my liver.

My scan was yesterday and though a longer test compared to a CT, it wasn't too bad. I was nervous as I had been waiting for this test so I can finally have a more solid understanding of what is going on inside.

They had me change into a hospital gown and take off all jewelry. It was a bit chilly and when I laid down on the table, they covered my legs with a blanket and put heavy duty headphones over my ears to protect me from the loud scanner.

Next came a wand in the shape of a flat "T" which was placed over my spleen and liver, followed by what the radiologist called an "shield antenna" which was basically a slightly heavy board that went on my chest and abdomen.

My IV was put in and saline injectedto verify that the tube was clear and once I smelled and tested "metal", she knew we were good to go.

She told me that she'd be instructing me throughout the scan to breath out completely and hold my breath for a specific amount of time and the last two tests would be done after she remotely injected the contrast.

Once she finished explaining and handed me an emergency button, she moved the table into the scanner and left the room to watch behind a glass window and begin the test.

(Because this is a scan using a very strong magnetic field, no one is allowed in the same room and family members have to stay in a designated area.)

Outside of the board on my chest making my breathing slightly harder, I didn't have any problems following the instructions.

Once she injected the contrast though, I did feel my chest tighten up a little, an elevated heart rate, and the "I'm peeing" sensation (that is normal but you really are not urinating, it just feels very warm).

I did find it a little harder to hold my breath those last two times and by then felt ready to get out of the scanner.

Everyone reacts to contrast differently and I didn't have that problem with the CT so now that I'm aware, I can tell them the next time I get a scan.

Once I got off the table, I felt weak and slightly nauseous along with the lingering tight chest. The radiologist let me sit for a couple minutes before showing me back to the changing room. My last instruction was to drink a lot of water for two days to lighten the stress on my kidneys as the contrast is flushed out off my system.

I changed and went out to the waiting room and sat with my mom for about 5 minutes before regaining strength to go home.

Again, not everyone reacts this way. It wasn't a bad experience but not my favorite either.

They said my Oncologist should get the results on Monday so I'll update when I hear back.

Be still my soul

We pray for patience and a still soul in the midst of this waiting game called life. We feel strong and believe in our hearts that God has control.

Somehow, in the quiet, in the dark, Satan grabs ahold of our minds and uses that lingering ounce of human fear to leave us feeling weak.

When we recognize that we are weak, we pray again for peace and a still soul.....

I know there is beauty in the pain and that God is creating a masterpiece but there are days when it is tiring to be so tired and frustrating to seemingly have a weaker memory with each day.

To know your limits it one thing, to accept them is another.

I used to be the one to remember things for other people, be the extra hands in time of need but I can't remember if I took my medicine last night or this morning. I rely on a chart and phone alarms to be my brain. My words don't come as quickly nor as clearly. I stammer and use incorrect terms to find a match for my intend statement.

I don't often have the energy nor the willpower to get off the couch and actually study or clean or cook. When offered the opportunity to watch little people last minute at a game, I feel this deep pain and guilt for being so selfish as to even consider complaining.

People ask questions so we feel obligated to answer when in reality we wish it would just go away. So, you say you are ok but you cry in private.

We pretend to be strong because if we show weakness they might show pity and we don't want that because self pity is our #1 battle.

We don't want to be weak so we pretend to be strong. Pretend to be strong...for ourselves, for our families, for the general public.

What's the saddest part? When everyone draws near to be there for you but instead,  you wish you could hide and deal with it on your own. Just be healthy or alone.

To not have the questions from loved ones, not have the concern from practical strangers, not have the appointments, it's all a dream. Though the doctors say they think its minimal compared to the original observations, you still can't shake that gray cloud. It may blow away for a week or so but it's there and you know it will be back.

What do you say when your heart and mind feel more sick than your body? What doctor has the powers to heal those pains? The Great Physician.

Only I seem to be one of His worst patients and it appears that His prescription of complete daily surrender isn't such an easy pill to swallow.

It hurts to admit weakness when all your life you have tried to be other peoples' strength.

Just like any treatment though, it takes time and unlike in the earthly medical field, the eternal healing is truly guaranteed.

Just takes some time and a lot of humility. When you stop to evaluate reality, you realize you are blessed beyond compare and lucky compared to most people,  struggling in life. You dry your face and jump back in with your new strength.

So, when you ask me how I am and I say I am ok, I probably need a hug and a verse of encouragement because deep down inside, I'm weak and I need to be reminded that weakness isn't shameful nor is it a burden I must carry alone.

The devil is sneaky and even when we think we are strongest, he is closest...just waiting to declare spiritual warfare through our minds, then our hearts.
Depression and fear are Satan's cheap shots at a child of God. The battle had already been won, we have victory.

So what do we do? We surrender our lives, our comfort, our need for control over to God. Once we have done this, we wake up each day and again lay our burdens at His feet and remind ourselves of His promises and constant provisions.

Because we truly are blessed. I really am blessed. Even beyond the things I do know about my life, I am blessed.


Revelation 21:4-5 ESV

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”

Psalm 23:1-6 ESV

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters. 

He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Echo...echo...echo

Yesterday was my first echocardiogram (echo) and let me just say it is my favorite test so far. That month brought a few medical "firsts" but I have yet to experience something that hasn't brought me much joy in return.

As a little one I remember my parents teaching me about the body and medicine. With all of this awareness came curiosity and though I was never good about asking questions, I sought information out in different ways until I found enough to satisfy me for that time.

Around middle school I decided in my mind that I would come up with a pill containing all the elements necessary to life so we could all stop worrying about eating. Ha!

Being a pharmacist had a ring to it but I didn't like how people felt when they took most medicines. However, thanks to my dear mom I was knowledgable in the commercial and  pharmaceutical names of over the counter pain meds.

Advil is Ibuprofen, Tylenol is acetaminophen, ____is naproxen sodium and each had their use and each put a strain on a different organ. I don't remember all of what my mom taught me as it's been about 5 years since I willingly took pain medicines..... But I still love medical facts.

Anyway....back to the echo....

While at my initial visit with Dr. W, my new conventional doctor, he had me overview my health, specifically this past year. When he heard that I had gone over 2 weeks with strep without any antibiotics, he expressed his concern for my heart.

I had known that strep back in the day was known to cause permanent damage if left untreated but somehow thought I had mine under control.....that is until I admitted I didn't. Obviously I was both a bad doctor and headstrong patient.

He took a listen to my heart (which I later found out by the cardio tech to be a false way of identifying such a concern) and simply said "Sounds like we have a slight mitral valve prolapse but we will order an echocardiogram just to be sure."

A week later, I went in and the procedure was very simple. After changing into a hospital gown, the tech had me lay on my back. She started the ultrasound machine up and applied gel to my chest. I was instructed to lay on my left side to allow gravity to move my left lung away from my heart. She then used the ultrasound wand to identify my heart and various settings on the machine to narrow in on each valve.

I was warned before we began that the machine would be making noises throughout the procedure but I had no idea that those noises were actually going to be the blood flowing through each valve. There was a distinct sound for each one and I was so intrigued that the tech allowed me to turn my head and watch the monitor.

Not only did I get to hear each valve individually but I heard my heartbeat and saw each ventricle and valve as well!

She told me that the photo was not only backwards but also upside down due to the nature of the waves (a concept that is beyond my understanding) so I had to readjust my attempts to identify the parts of a heart. It was a lot of fun to quiz myself and she was so kind to play along with me!

Once she was finished taking the photos and sound clips, she had me lay on my back again and attempted to tuck the wand under my ribs to view my heart in that position but due to the enlargement of my spleen, she said she couldn't get a good view.

That was it! I was done and on my way home. Smiling really big because I got a sneak peak into my heart!

My first CT Experience

A couple weeks ago, I experienced my first Computed Tomography (CT) scan. Their focus was my abdomen from just below my shoulders to my hips. Since I had never had any kind of scan before outside of a knee X-ray, I did some research and made calls to the radiologist to verify safety and contrast ingredients.

I was told that based on the scan's focus, they have the patient drink a couple glasses of liquid with small amounts of iodine contrast mixed in. This contrast will work it's way through the body and during the scan a contrast IV with more iodine will further aid in blocking rays causing a bright spot to appear on the slides indicating an organ, abscess, tumor, lymph nodes, etc.

One of the main differences between a CT and a standard X-ray is that the table is centered in a doughnut shaped machine that rotates as your table is moved in the direction necessary to capture photos of your body in thin slices. When all the photos are taken, the radiologists and doctors are then able to see your body segment by segment to better evaluate and identify possible issues. Each organ, blood vessel, etc shows up in order of placement in your body.

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As you can see on the body, a slice photo is taken and to the right you are able to see organ placement.

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For you medical and non-medical fans alike, here is a standard CT scan photo of the abdomen with labeling.

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I was able to get in for the 9:30 am scan which I was happy for since they ask you to fast from food and water after midnight the day before your test and I was unbelievably hungry and thirst when I woke up. Due to the time necessary for your digestive track to process, we went in at 7:15 to begin the oral contrast. I was offered whole milk, cherry koolaid or water as my iodine carrier. Being a curious person I asked if it helps the test to choose either way and he told me that the whole milk's fat content helps the iodine stick to the GI lining for better identification. 

Since I am dairy intolerant, I opted out and with the sugar content and tendency for there to be dextrin or dextrose in drink mixes I was concerned about tapioca in the koolaid so water it was for me. Apparently I was the first person he knew to drink it with water so he warned me it might taste metallic and to just drink it quickly. 

If you've ever tried to strengthen your hair or nails by adding unflavored gelatin to your water, you know exactly how this tasted....all 32 ounces. Needless to say I will do whatever it takes in the name of health but he was correct and I chugged those down as fast as possible. So, we did one cup at 7:20 and one at 8:20 while being entertained by Meet the Robinsons and studying in the waiting area. Right when the show started over, they called me back and the tech talked through the process with me and gave me a pair of scrubs the size of Africa to change into. I'm just thankful it wasn't a high fashioned open back gown ;). 

He helped me get comfortable on the scanning table and prepped me for the IV contrast. He told me it'd help highlight the veins, arteries and blood vessels. After getting all connected, we began the scan. The machine wasn't silent but it was a modest volume. Unlike an MRI, I was out in the open with the table moving forward and backward a few times. We were done in a matter of about 20 minutes and once I got changed I was treated to a peek into my body! He told me they normally don't allow the patient to see the slides but since I'd shown medical interest and promised not to ask specific questions that he really wasn't allowed to answer, he'd let me look. It was so cool to see inside my body and use my Anatomy and Physiology course knowledge to identify the organs as they appeared. I even noted out loud that my left kidney was really low and slightly larger compared to be right to which he replied "you know I can't say anything but yes that is your left kidney". His face reaffirmed that I had noted correctly the misplacement and slightly larger size. 

As we were leaving, I asked when my doctor might get the results or when I could expect to hear back. They said it was normal for the radiologists to review and send off the results about 2-3 days after a scan unless they find something of concern. I didn't expect anything so my mom and I went to run errands and when I got home I decided to take a nap. About 10 minutes into laying down and falling asleep, the phone rang. Our phone will talk to us and read off caller ID and sure enough, it was my doctor. Mentally I just knew something was up but I let someone else answer it and finished my nap. We went to see the doctor a couple days later and he explained that the radiologists had found my spleen to be enlarged with a lesion and two spots on my liver. My kidneys, pancreas, gallbladder,stomach, and liver were otherwise fine except they were being pushed out of the way by my spleen. It clicked with me why my left kidney was larger and had shown up multiple slides before the other, it was being bullied! Ha! 

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This is NOT my scan results but this is a photo of an enlarged spleen.

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I'm glad I didn't allow radiation or iodine concerns to keep me from getting my CT. There is a time for conventional medicine and God used it to aid my doctors in identifying an issue. Dr. O reassured me that the iodine passes out of the body within 24-48 hours and as long as I guzzled water for the following two days, my kidneys wouldn't be stressed. I didn't feel any side effects but I do wish I had followed the water drinking order more religiously. Pros and Cons aside, I'm blessed to be in an era where medical technology is readily available when we need it.

Have you ever had a CT scan? How was your experience?

Trip Down Memory Lane with Gluten Free Tiramisu

As military brats, my sister and I were blessed with the opportunity to live and travel across the pond for half of our childhood years. First was England, cold and wet with sun maybe a a few weeks out of the year but memorable nonetheless. We were then stationed in Italy and boy does our family feel incredibly blessed to have experienced everything that beautiful country had to offer. Since we knew our time there was limited, we aimed to experience as much raw culture as possible. This meant "living on the economy" and spending four hours each month with our landlords, because paying rent was occasion for visiting (and spoiling the American girls with amazing European chocolates...shhhh). I can remember the fruit trees in our backyard, the fresh produce left on our kitchen window sill by GiGi, our landlord, hanging our laundry out to dry and being invited to harvest grapes. Everything was so warm, green, and alive! I'd often ride my bike not far from our house but somehow that short trip always seemed to transport me to another place all together. Trees on both sides of a narrow dirt road rose up to meet each other and created a shade canopy while honeysuckle and wild blackberry bushes lined the path. I would stop and have a feast, completely mesmerized by the thought of tasting honey from a flower.

Our church family was incredibly close knit and if you ask any of us kids, we probably will have a hard time remembering holidays and weekends not spent together. After every church service during the summer, it seemed, we all would walk over to the Gray Mall (affectionately called the Green Mall by us "kiddos" thanks to the green awnings). Within this modest strip mall stood an amazing gelateria. Just as fascinating, at the time, was the concrete jungle where all of us, under four feet, gathered to play tag, jump off the barrier walls and enjoy gelato that could never be compared to the attempts sold in America. When we weren't here, we could often be found in a coffee shop called Desiree where of course the traditional cappuccino, espresso, and cafe macchiato were served along with more gelato. However, my favorite memory from this little cafe, was my first taste of Tiramisu. My parents had tried it a few times before at restaurants in town but since it was often made with rum, my sister and I, being below the age of 10, hadn't the privilege. Once I got my hands on some that was alcohol free, boy was I in love. Ladyfingers soak up the coffee so well and bring a sponge quality to the dessert. Mascarpone, though bland and boring on it's own is paired with egg yolks to create a delicate mousse capable of cutting through the espresso infused ladyfingers and balancing the dish all together.

After moving back to the States, our family gave up hopes on good pizza, gelato, truly ripe and delicious fruit, along with many others treasures of Europe. Then came my discovery of being gluten intolerant (ding ding, dots connected) and out the window went those last dreams of my favorite memories being recreated. However, last year while working in my first bakery, my boss asked me why I drooled every day when I arranged and decorated the Tiramisu cakes and why I hadn't created my own gluten-free recipe yet. My stage was set and challenge named...it was time for me to enjoy a memory. As I was sure someone out in the world had also been entrapped by the spell of this European dessert, I Ggogled "Gluten free Ladyfingers". As for the rest, my brain remembered the authentic ingredients and I searched until I found was seemed like a good ratio. Hallelujah, my day was made and I set a date with my oven. After some minor alterations, here is the result:

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Gluten Free LadyFingers

8 eggs, separated

1 1/3 cup white sugar, separated

1 3/4 cup GF all purpose flour

1 tsp guar gum or xanthan gum

1 tsp baking powder 

Preheat oven to 425°F and prepare two baking sheets with silicon mats or parchment paper. Beat egg whites until you reach a soft peak. Slowly add 4 tablespoons of the sugar, continue to beat until glossy and stiff. In a separate bowl, beat egg yolks and remaining sugar. Sift flour and baking powder onto parchment paper. Fold half of the whites into the yolks. Fold in the flour mix and then the remaining whites. Transfer to a piping bag with a 1/2 inch round tip. Pipe no longer than 4 inches and bake for 10 minutes or until lightly tan. Allow to cool for 20 minutes on the sheets before attempting to remove. If them seem fragile still, allow to cool more. Make in advance to allow time to dry out just a little before using in cake.

Note: I piped mine too thick the first time and they in turn didn't soak up much coffee so try to keep them thinner. They will spread a little in the oven. 

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Tiramisu

2-2 1/2 cups espresso, room temperature

4 large eggs, separated

5 tsp sugar

16 oz mascarpone cheese, room temperature

Homemade gluten free ladyfingers

2 tbsp cocoa powder, optional garnish

Beat egg whites into stiff peaks, set aside. Beat egg yolk with sugar until creamy, add mascarpone and gently mix until smooth. Fold egg whites into cheese mix. In a deep bowl, pour espresso (add sugar if you wish) and dip ladyfingers until well saturated, then lay down as first layer of a 9x13in casserole dish. Pour half of the cheese mixture onto cookies and spread. Repeat with dipped cookies and remaining cheese. Refrigerate overnight. Right before serving dust the top with cocoa powder.

Note: Can be done in a round cake pan with acetate around the outside and parchment on the bottom. Freeze overnight. Once frozen, slowly try to pull cake out before completely thawed (might need to heat bottom of cake pan up with a candle lighter, handheld torch, or gas range....be careful not to burn yourself). Once cake is out, carefully peel off the acetate and allow to thaw completely before serving. Dust with cocoa.

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Outside of the cookies not being completely soaked due to their thickness, oh my was this a treat and trip down memory lane. For those who have tried Tiramisu before, you won't find much different outside of the density of the cookies but then again, they are gluten free. Not gluten free? Use the same recipes with regular flour or traditional ladyfingers without any other alterations.

Few things bring me more joy than Italy memories being revisited. Feel free to play with the recipe and share your discoveries!

Tirzah's Pumpkin Muffins

A friend shared this recipe with me after I voiced my love for fall and pumpkin flavored foods. Not only is it a delicious recipe but the ingredients provide nutrients not often found in pastries or desserts. *Check below for allergy friendly alterations :)

Tirzah's Pumpkin Muffins

15 oz pumpkin puree

1/2 cup maple syrup *

1/2 cup olive oil

1/2 cup milk*

2 eggs*

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups whole wheat flour*

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ginger

1/4 tsp clove

1/8 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 cup chocolate chips*

Preheat oven to 375­­°F. In a large mixing bowl, combine all wet ingredients, whisk well to incorporate. In a medium bowl, combine dry ingredients, mix well. While mixing at a low speed, slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Once all the dry ingredients have been added, allow the batter to mix for a minute. Do not over mix. Add chocolate chips and stir in by hand. Divide into an oiled muffin pan and bake for 25 minutes. 

If you wish to bake in a loaf form, the temperature will stay the same but time will be increased. Set timer to 30 minutes and check every 5-10 minutes until a toothpick can be inserted into the middle and removed without batter residue. 

Note: If the end result is on the tough or rubbery side, this indicates that the batter was over mixed either in time or in speed. Lower your speed and shorten the time. Been there, done that ;).

 I have also made them multiple times using these replacements and all went well:

1/4 cup molasses+1/4 cup honey (or just 1/2 molasses) = 1/2 cup maple syrup

1/2 cup almond/rice/coconut milk = 1/2 cup dairy milk

2 tbs flax meal + 6 tbs water = 2 eggs

2 cups GF flour = 2 cups whole wheat flour

1 1/2 cup Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips (soy, nut, dairy, gluten free) = 1 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Dear Problem, God is Bigger

When I decided to start my food and nutrition blog , I never intended to create another "online journal" but as I thought about posts, deep inside I felt this overwhelming burden to share the details of my active struggles even to the point of pushing the boundaries of personal comfort. When other people in my life shared their testimonies through the trials, that is when I felt most encouraged. My heart didn't seek feel good, everything will be fine kinds of stories...I wanted to hear how God completely changed a person in ways only He is known for. This is my prayer for you also as you join me through my valley as God guides me to the mountain, that you may see Him in every step. When I am weak, He has promised to be strong :).

~Warning: Medical symptoms and body processes are discussed.~

(If these things bother you, please skip this post I promise it won't offend me ;). I aim to be as open as possible for anyone else struggling with similar medical issues. If this is you, I pray you find the same hope and encouragement in my honesty as I found in others' when I needed to know I wasn't alone.)

Here is a short intro and overview from my other blog. Below is a more detailed description of my struggles over the past year.

Around May of 2013, my headaches were getting out of control, I was tired of not being able to enjoy food or even digest it, and almost over night two of my toe nails started separating from the nail bed in the middle of the nail. Sadly, as a vain human being, the latter discovery encouraged me above all the others to find a natural minded doctor who could help me out. I drove an hour and a half each visit but I truly appreciated Dr. F. Not only was he helping me seek answers but as a nutrition and anatomy professor at his local college, he went above and beyond to help me in my studies as well. Through our discussions about my health, anatomy and physiology in general, and my attempted supplementation we concluded that my digestive system was struggling. Since this wasn't a new struggle, my body's immune system in turn was getting progressively weaker. He suggested a two week liver/gallbladder cleanse consisting of drinking a pea protein powder & amino acid shake and taking some cleansing herbs for breakfast and lunch then a very small, restricted meal for dinner. I began the cleanse the week after the Fourth of July....neither of us expected my body to respond as it did.

One week in, my skin turned slightly yellow, all my lymph nodes became swollen and my sinus cavities inflamed. Out of concern, I contacted Dr. F and he said to keep an eye on it but add lemon water to my routine to increase the flush of toxins. We both believed these were merely signs of a very toxic liver so we pressed on. My abdomen became swollen on the left side and during an office visit, he thought it might be an impaction due to the nature of the cleanse.

During the last bit of the cleanse, I got strep throat which lasted a total of 3 weeks so I caved and went to see a conventional doctor. Since I had his attention, I asked Dr. L about testing my thyroid due to my low energy levels, he agreed it'd be a good idea since my immediate family members have thyroid problems. While we were discussing, my abdominal enlargement was mentioned so he went ahead and tested my blood count as well. We found out that my white blood cell and platelet levels were on the low end but decided to wait a little bit and retest. Three weeks later, they had dropped a slights more and I was then referred to an Oncologist for a consult. He ordered another CBC (complete blood count) and with the results being the same as before, we concluded it'd be best for me to find another Oncologist after my move home in November.

By the end of August I was starting to feel somewhat human again. Swelling slowly went down and problems that arose during the cleanse seemed to disappear with time. (I don't believe the cleanse to have been harmful. My immune system just couldn't handle both the cleanse and outside viruses.)

A week into the cleanse, my eyes and cheeks look deformed due to lymph and sinus swelling

End of August, still not looking "normal" but I was pleased with this photo at the time

As my boss at the bakery could testify, I didn't really recover until mid October. My energy at work was horrible and my heart's desire to do the things I loved were bound by my body's need to rest.

Moving home in November, I was finally able to see a highly recommended local doctor who takes a natural approach to health and wellness. After consideration, I decided to give Dr. O a try in another attempt to find the source of my health problems. In January, I toted my large bag of supplements into his office hoping he could translate what my body was trying to tell me. Surprisingly, Dr. O said I was on the right track but that it was time to dig deeper and again ordered another CBC along with further chemistry levels, two sets of allergy tests, a bacteria gut test and a leaky gut test. We had no change in blood count but new insight into my levels of nutrition, some identified allergies, and a positive for leaky gut syndrome (gut permeability). He put me on a strong probiotic along with a herb mix meant to heal my gut, and discussed eating habits tailored to my needs.

While on a trip near the end of March, I began having sharp pains in my left side. Lasting 30 second to two minutes, these pains made it hard to walk. I just wanted to double over or crawl into the fetal position. It was during one of these "attacks" that I felt my left side and rediscovered that "mass" from my liver cleanse. Not only was it still there, but it felt larger. Once we got home, I brought it up to Dr. O's attention and he too felt it. We were two months into the gut healing process so he went ahead and ordered another CBC to see if we had found the source of my low blood counts and also ordered a CT scan to identify this lump in my abdomen. 

So here we are, on May 7th....my CT scan was yesterday morning and I got the results this afternoon. After my scan, I was told to expect 2-3 days before Dr. O got the results but not 6 hours after my scan, his office called to say I needed to come in as soon as possible. I had worried so much about getting a CT scan, the possible radiation, and what the results could possibly be. I worked myself up so much that I lost sight of the reality that God is in control, He always has been and He isn't going to leave me!

As of today, I know that my blood counts haven't changed but my spleen is enlarged and the "mass" I was feeling is actually my stomach and intestines being pushed out of the way. My diaphragm is subsequently higher on the left side due to the size of my spleen. There is a legion on my spleen and two spots on my liver, we don't know anything yet but it is possible they are cysts or growths, we are hoping a MRI will provide more insight. Dr. O has passed me on to my local conventional doctor, Dr. W, for further testing and care so things should move fairly quickly now. 

On a positive note and of great encouragement, I learned that my gut healing is progressing very well. Based on my blood chemistry, many of my levels went from low to normal and some even reaching into the optimal ranges. This brings me peace to know that my body's immune system and ability to absorb nutrients from diet alone continue to strengthen and will be able aid in whatever treatment is ahead. Based on current knowledge, best case is an infected spleen and small cysts on my liver, worst case being cancer.

To think all of this came to light thanks to a case of strep throat still amazes me. I've learned to be grateful for the small things and seemingly annoying parts of life. God brought me to Dr. F to identify gut issues, then allowed me to get strep so I could get in to see Dr. L who was able to order a CBC. God then blessed my family to be able to send me to Dr. O and through all of this I have grown just as much as a student.

Last week, I struggled like never before to come to terms with my need for God's strength as I walk in darkness. My family and close friends have shown such love and faith as they bring me before God in prayer and offer words of encouragement and hugs when I need them most. Finally, I truly realize this life isn't mine, I am not promised any more than the moment I am living in, the breath I am taking. All of my life I knew these things in my head and had a superficial application in my heart but it wasn't until I completely surrendered my life, my health, my future to God's will that His peace and strength took the place of fear and worry.

"Don't tell God how big your problem is. 

Tell your problem how big God is."

Come what may, my God is bigger.

Personal Blog

This last week has brought a lot of insight into my health and I've chosen to create a separate blog as a way to share my discoveries and talk about my road to recovery. If you are interested in following this part of my journey, you can find more information at joythroughthevalley.blogspot.com 

As for recipes and research, I had three wonderful recipes planned to share with step by step photos but there was a camera issue so I'm going to try and redo those before too long :). Hoping to get a post up about mystery baking ingredients within the next few weeks. Stay tuned!

Do you have any ingredients in your kitchen that you'd like to know more about? Send them my way, I'm always up for the challenge.

A little about myself

       Hello, my name is La Mariposa, given by a good friend and mentor in the baking industry. I figured it might be a good idea to introduce myself and my journey with food. I hope you find this blog to be a place of recipes, challenges, discoveries and learning as we uncover the vast knowledge of nutrition. As a baker, I will also be including recipes and photos of cakes that I make for friends and family but with time I hope to experiment with other ingredients and try to find alternatives based on my reader's needs. So, feel free to comment with questions or request ingredient alternatives and I'll do my best to help as we learn together.

       Since childhood I have struggled off and on with food problems. Supposedly, I was colicky as a baby and I remember multiple periods of dairy intolerance along with the occasional reaction to strawberries, tomatoes and various other foods. Still to this day I am not a fan of meat, especially red meat, and have spent most of my life unable to enjoy or digest animal proteins. My mom tells me stories from my toddler years when we would go out to eat, everyone had hamburgers and I was a content little 3 year old with a big salad....can't say I've changed much really.

       Due to my "allergies'" tendencies to disappear and reappear without warning, we just avoided antagonistic foods when problems flared up. It wasn't until puberty that I decided there had to be a deeper problem. I was determined to find the source of my pain so I researched a little and consulted a local natural health store owner with great hope. After describing some symptoms and going over my diet, she suggested that either I was gluten intolerant, sugar intolerant, or had a Candida Albicans overgrowth....all of which could be ruled out by doing a Candida Cleanse. My whole family decided to support me and revive their own health in my quest for answers...in the end I discovered I was gluten intolerant.

       Until 2012, I was feeling as though my new gluten free diet was satisfactory, however, other problems were arising and I was no longer comfortable with my struggles. Since the Candida cleanse, I had a new desire to learn as much as possible about natural diets and supplements. I took to the internet concluding that I must struggle with low HCl and enzyme production. After ordering some supplements online I slowly was able to enjoy animal protein with lessened pain but long term supplements didn't satisfy my determination to fix what I believed was a failing digestive system. As can be expected, my digestive issues led to deficiencies despite my clean diet, my body just wasn't absorbing the nutrients in my food. 

       August of 2012 I enrolled in correspondence courses through Trinity School of Natural Health as a Holistic Nutritional Counselling student in hopes of learning more about my body as well as offering answers to others with health problems. Through my studies I learned a lot but what I came to understand was that my problems required a more experienced nutritionist with the access to tests and stronger treatments.

      Meanwhile, I got a job in a local bakery as a baker's assistant. I had always loved cooking and baking and thought it might be a good opportunity to learn even more. Since it was a small family owned bakery, I got to work one on one with the owner who was also our head baker. He taught me everything he knew, encouraged me to be creative and challenge my new knowledge. Due to my allergies, I volunteered to head up our gluten free and special request orders which included anything from dairy free to all out vegan. People tell me its naive of me to think a person should seek a job where they wake up happy to work and sad to leave but this was exactly that job. Time only allowed me to work there for 10 months before having to move back home but that fire never did die.

      June of 2013, I went through a liver and gallbladder cleanse where it became clear to me that my body was becoming increasingly toxic, my immune and adrenal systems were weak and it was time to surrender to conventional medicine to rule out further issues. After 3 rounds of blood test over a 4 month period, I was referred to an Oncologist where it was decided I needed to move back home and make my health a priority. I looked for another natural doctor in my "new" area and he discovered I'm unable to handle: gluten, tapioca, buckwheat, amaranth, oats eggs, dairy, pork, and almonds. Confirming my suspicions we are working to restore my digestive system and in turn, my immune system but it's a work in progress...which means flexibility.

     During my years of guessing, trials, and diet re-hauls, I have relied on other bloggers to help me cope as I trained my palette to enjoy foods in a different light. I've always loved foreign food and exotic flavors so that never was an issue but giving up foods that were showcased all around me took willpower and the occasional internal break down as I came to terms with my change in diet. Bloggers provided me encouragement and delicious recipes for my days of weakness. Schooling has given me a clearer view of food as medicine and an open mindedness as I recognize my body's needs. Baking has brought a challenge and avenue for creativity, a way for me to bring a smile to someone's face, especially when their diet normally would make it difficult to find enjoyment in food. 

   Feel free to contact me at allingoodmeasure@gmail.com with questions or concerns as you follow me through my journey with food and health. I won't pretend to have all the answers but together we will find something to make your journey enjoyable.