The thing is, I’m really happy and content with how my life is going right now. I love being at home with my family, was accepted into graduate school and feel like my life is heading in a good direction.

As much as I’ve loved blogging these past 21 months, right now I’d rather just spend time with my family and friends. Who knows, I may be back at some point, but for now I need a long break.

Thank you all so much for reading! If you need to contact me, send an email to teaandchocolate98@gmail.com.

For new readers, I’ve had IBS for eight years now.  I don’t mention it very often because really, no one wants to read about how badly my stomach hurts all the time.  About 50-60% of the time after meals, I get very bloated, have stomach pains, constipation and this heavy rock-like feeling in my gut.  Sometimes it gets so bad I can’t do much either than put on my stretchy pants and lie flat in my bed.

A few days ago, I saw an allergist regarding food intolerances.  I was interested in hearing what she had to say about IgG vs. IgE testing.  IgE tests are the conventional allergy tests for people who get severe allergic reactions. IgG tests identify allergies that are more similar to my symptoms (bloating, pain, etc.).  Here’s more information if you’re curious.

Now, there is a ton of controversy over IgG tests.  I am into evidence-based science, and was skeptical, but figured there was no harm in asking.  Unsurprisingly, my allergist was strictly opposed and said there was no evidence that these tests gave accurate results.  I ended up getting an IgE test since I was already there.

I think I need a little sun.

I got pricked 45 times for 45 foods.  Looks painful, but it wasn’t that bad.  It kind of tickled.

Fifteen minutes later, the only reaction I had was in response to the positive control.  So I don’t have any “real” food allergies.  Good to know, though I’m really disappointed.  As any one else who suffers from IBS understands, I don’t care if I have to cut out certain foods for the rest of my life, if only I can feel better.

This brings me to my problem.  I honestly kind of doubt the IgG tests mean anything.  But at the same time, many people who get them and eliminate X foods do feel better.  Maybe there’s something to it, or maybe it’s a placebo, but I start to wonder, does it really matter?  IBS is not a life-threatening disease.  It just disrupts people’s lives and makes them uncomfortable.  No one knows what causes it.  In 20 years, maybe we’ll find out that what we’re calling IBS is actually five different diseases, and we’ll have ways to treat each one.  But for now, there just isn’t much we can do.

So is it really so bad that a placebo makes people feel better?  That’s all I want.  I want to experience “normal” hunger, and be able to eat without being afraid that I’m going to be in pain within the hour.  I know it wouldn’t be treating the real problem, but at least I could live a comfortable life.

For now, I’m starting a detailed food journal, and thinking about going back on the low FODMAPs plan like I did last spring.

My posts on FODMAPs:

Will FODMAPS Cure Me? (Explains what FODMAPS is)

FODMAPs Update

Why I Stopped FODMAPs

I know I said it didn’t work for me, but my condition was so awful last spring that I’m not sure anything could have helped.  I’ve been encouraged seeing how much the low FODMAPs plan is helping Elise and others, so I might try it again.

What are your thoughts on the placebo effect and alternative versus  traditional medicine?  If any one has experience with IgG testing, I’m curious to hear what you think.

1) What is one of your favorite ways to spend a Saturday?

Oh man, I could go on about this.  The perfect Saturday for me means waking up without an alarm, making a delicious bowl of oats, and fooling around on the computer with a mug of tea or coffee in hand. Usually I just browse the Internet, but sometimes I’ll play The Sims 2. Am I the only one who still plays that game?

“Carrot cake” oats with coconut butter

2) List your top three favorite TV shows.

• Buffy the Vampire Slayer
• True Blood
• For a laugh…The Mighty Boosh

3) Would you rather be in pictures or take them?

Take them.  My grandma was the photographer for my family, and we have so many wonderful pictures because of her. She died a few years ago, and I’d like to follow in her footsteps.

4) Why do you blog?

I love connecting with other people who have similar interests in health, nutrition and fitness. Not many people I know in person have those interests, so I’m happy to be a part of this community.

5) Share five websites that you visit regularly…

• Gmail
• Google Reader
• Live Journal (I know, I still have one.)
• Twitter
• Yahoo News (AKA celebrity gossip and random Youtube videos)

6) If you could have lunch with one person from your Twitter list who would it be?

Misha Collins. I think I would die.

7) List a few of your favorite snacks.

Yogurt with granola and/or fruit

Peanut Butter Banana Hot Chocolate

Trail Mix

8 ) Do you have a pet? If so, what kind?

Currently petless. I want a kitty.

9) Which three material possessions would you struggle to live without?

LAPTOP.

iPod Touch (for checking Twitter and Google Reader between classes)

My food processor. Love that thing.

10) What’s your favorite drink?

Hot tea! Preferably black tea.

11) Do you enjoy cooking?

Yes! I do have a food blog, after all. I find it relaxing, and it’s a nice to do something else after working/going to classes.

12) Do you have children?

Uh, no. I don’t really want one either.

13) What are your favorite hobbies?

Reading, yoga, writing, cooking

14) Would you consider yourself to be shy or outgoing?

Shy. To be honest, it took a lot of courage just to start this blog. About a year and a half ago,  it would take me 5+ minutes just leave a comment on another blog because I would worry about every little thing. So glad I got over that!

15) If you could change one thing about yourself, what would you change?

Well, related to the previous question, I wish I was more confident.  But as I know from the last few years, it’s a long process, and I’d much rather gain confidence from life experiences than get it instantly. It’s an amazing feeling to be able to look back and see how far you’ve come on your own.

16) Who is your favorite actor/actress?

Hm, tough one. I like Johnny Depp, of course, and Nicole Kidman.

17) What’s the coolest thing you’ve done this week?

I started my second week of classes and went the dentist. Yeah, something fun needs to happen this weekend.

18) Do you live near your family or far from them?

I live WITH my family.

19) List three of your talents.

• Writing. I prefer analytical or research writing over creative writing. I suppose that sounds boring, but I enjoy it. I was really proud that one of the essays I wrote in college got published in a journal.
• Memory. For some reason, I’ve always been good at memorizing random facts and vocab words. My brain is a sponge.
• Music. I’ve played the violin since I was eight and started piano in high school. I’m certainly not an amazing violinist, but I did get a chance to play with the band Kansas with my college orchestra.

20) What is your greatest attribute?

Gosh, this survey went from favorite TV shows to this? Okay, I’ll go with my perseverance. When I want something, I just go for it.

Answer one of the questions above. GO!

New Apple products

Source

Roasted vegetables

Harry Potter books

Source

Spring flowers

 Source

And now slow-roasted tempeh.

I love tempeh enough that I often eat it raw out of the package. Yes, I’m gross. But if you’re a tempeh hater or newbie, this is for you.

The tempeh is baked in a marinade for about an hour until it soaks up all the flavor. No bitter tempeh here! I’m sure this recipe would work well with pressed firm tofu too.

Ready for baking

The marinade is loosely based off of Evan’s wonderful maple soy tempeh. Highly recommended if you’re looking for a quick tempeh recipe.

I served mine with the caulipots from Appetite for Reduction and carrots.

Slow-Roasted Tempeh

• 4 oz tempeh (1/2 package)
• 2 T apple cider vinegar
• 2 t olive oil
• 1 1/2 T soy sauce
• 1 T maple syrup
• 1/2 t thyme
• 1/2 t chili powder

Preheat oven to 350*.

Cut tempeh diagonally so you have two triangles. Cut each triangle in half so you have four thin triangles.

Mix marinade ingredients together and pour  half of it into a small baking dish. Place the tempeh in the dish and pour the rest of the marinade on top.

Cover tightly with foil. Bake for 50 minutes. Take off the foil and bake another 5-10 minutes.

Serves two

Do you like tempeh? What’s your favorite way to prepare it?

Today is my last day of break, so I’ve been making the most of it.  Luckily the weather has been cooperating.  It was 65* degrees today!  And tomorrow it’s back down in the 30s.  Tornado weather? We’ll see.

There was no way I was letting this good weather go to waste.  My mom, sister and I walked up to the YMCA, did some weights and walked back. It was a little under four miles of walking over all.  Just beautiful.  It feels (and smells) like April!

I have a lot of updates, so it’s time for a list.

1.  I went to a basic DSLR photography course recently.  I’m sloooowly getting the hang of it.  This camera is definitely a learning experience for me.  Sometimes I can’t even get it to take a picture.  I’m getting better though.

Here are a few of my favorites I’ve taken recently:

Peppercorns!

2.  My new love: this milk frother.

Source

Guaranteed to make any drink taste four dollars more expensive.  Could this be the end of Starbucks drinks for me?  Well, I can hope.

3.  I made little individual lasagnas for my family and grandpa based on this butternut squash lasagna with goat cheese sauce recipe.

It didn’t turn out much like lasagna (this was entirely my fault), but man did it taste good!  My family liked it, and thought it tasted like mac and cheese.  Even mom, who doesn’t like squash, enjoyed it.

4. Unusual flavor for Larabar, but I liked it.  Of course, it could be improved with some chocolate chips, but that could be said for just about anything.

5.  My poor old car was viciously attacked by a younger one the other day.  Luckily it didn’t suffer too much damage.

This happened the day after it came home from the car doctor with a new gas door (I accidentally ripped the old one off with my bare hands.  No joke.).  Back to the car doctor!

6.  Anyway else attracted to weird sounding recipes out of curiosity?  This morning I tried out Tina’s oat-less oat bran even though I couldn’t imagine how it would turn out.

WAY better than I expected.  And strangely enough, it really tasted like oat bran.  I think I’ll stick to oats for the most part, but I could see me making this again.

Off to watch Modern Family! I’m behind.

Thanks to Jenn!

Breakfast

Recently I went to Whole Foods and picked up some new products to try.

Siggi’s Yogurt–on sale! This stuff is super expensive so I usually avoid it.

Look how thick it is! Almost too thick. Tangy, but not overly so. I like.

I made a yogurt bowl with multigrain Puffins, strawberries, and cinnamon raisin PB. I try to be a seasonal eater, but my mom bought them so I thought why not? Turns out strawberries are much more tasty during the summer. It was a nice treat though.

Lunch

I also bought some brown rice tortillas, so quesadillas were on the menu.

I added sauteed broccoli, green pepper, shredded cheese, nooch, and hummus.

Snack

Peanut butter banana hot chocolate! LOVE this. I’m surprised that the recipe has never made it onto the blog. It’s funny how some of the foods you eat often misses the blog sometimes.

There’s a lot of variations of this recipe on the internet, but here’s the jist of what I do:

Peanut Butter Banana Hot Chocolate

• 1 banana
• 1 T peanut butter
• 1 T cocoa powder
• 1 cup milk-of-choice (I use almond.)
• sweetener, optional (I usually add 3 stevia drops.)

Blend all the ingredients together. Add to a large mug. Microwave for 2 minutes.

The best part is the thick foam on top!

Variation #1: Use sunflower, almond, cashew, coconut or even cookie butter instead of peanut butter. I’ve tried all of these and they are all great, but peanut butter is the best.

Variation #2: Omit the cocoa powder, and add maple syrup and vanilla extract for a Hot Vanilla. (Made that name up myself.)

Dinner

After an afternoon of work at a used bookstore, I picked up some dinner from Crazy Bowls and Wraps for my dad, sister and me.

I got a bowl with quinoa, vegetables, tofu and a hot and spicy sauce. Hit the spot.

Do you like hot chocolate? What’s your favorite variation? It’s hard for me to believe that anyone wouldn’t like hot chocolate. I’ve been having a mug nearly every evening or afternoon since its gotten cold. I love the peanut butter version, but Mexican hot chocolate is awesome too.

This past week has been a bit crazy with work every day, weird doctor appointments (liver ultrasound??), and grad school applications.

I feel like I’m at that awkward transition point right now.  I’m going to be living at home during the spring for the first time in four years.  It’s weird to think that tomorrow I won’t be packing and hauling my stuff back up to Kirksville.  And then come fall, I’m moving somewhere (no idea where yet) on my own.

One step at a time.  I think the best thing I can do right now is to find a new routine.  I’m all for being flexible and what not, but sometimes the comfort of routine is just what I need to get back on track.  My hope is that I’ll start to settle in once classes start and my work schedule is regular.

Also my workouts have been somewhat lackluster, if they happen at all.  I want to get back into yoga, and start a new a lifting routine.  I’ve been making up my own lifting routines for the last two years, but lately I’ve hit a plateau (those bent over rows and bicep curls).  Maybe following a program will help? Does anything have any suggestions for a program to follow or at least a workout that you like?  I’ve been leaning towards the 5×5 program, but I’m open to any suggestions.

My stomach issues have been getting worse again too, which I’ll post about later.  For now, it means lots of tea from my new tea-pot.

 I’m obsessed with that tea-pot and mug. Nothing is better than cats and tea. And books. 

Do you like having a routine or going with the flow?  I need to have a routine or I start to feel lost if that makes any sense.  But having a little of both is the best way to go I think.

And smoothies?  I’ve been chugging those down too.   Followed by a warm cup of tea, of course.

You won’t see any summer flavors like tropical bliss, razzmatazz, or tuity fruity here. In an attempt to be somewhat seasonal, I’ve using winter flavors.  Think spices, chocolate, and citrus.

Cranberry Smoothie

• 1 frozen banana
• 1/2 cup cranberries
• 2/3 cup milk of your choice

Blend. Blend. Blend.

Variations:

Cranberry Orange: Use 1/3 cup orange juice and 1/3 cup of milk

Chocolate/Carob Cranberry: Add 1 T of cocoa or carob powder

The Snickerdoodle Smoothie

• 1/2 frozen banana
• 1/4 cup oats (preferably soaked in the milk for an hour or so)
• 1 1/2 T Biscoff/Cookie Spread
• 2/3 cup milk of your choice
• 1/2 t cinnamon
• 1 t vanilla

Blend everything together.

Note: If you don’t have Biscoff or cookie spread, use cashew butter instead and add extra cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg.

And last, but not least, my favorite:

Chocolate Chai Smoothie

• 1 frozen banana
• 1/4 cup raw cashews
• 2/3 cup milk of your choice
• 1 T cocoa
• 1 t cinnamon
• 1/4 t cardamom
• 1 t vanilla
• sweetener (optional)

Soak the cashews for a few hours in the almond milk. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend. It will take a while for the cashew to blend.

Are you a seasonal eater? I try to be when it comes to produce. In season fruits and veggies taste so much better, not to mention the price is much less. But beyond that, I just eat what I’m craving no matter what the season.

What are your New Year’s Eve plans? I’m working all day and then going to a friend’s apartment for a party. Should be fun. The party, not the work.

A Canon Rebel! Thank you Mom and Dad!

I also received some coupons to take a couple of photography classes. Much needed since this thing is complicated. I can’t wait!

Now, onto Christmas.

Christmas was rather balmy this year. Where’s the snow? It’s the one time of year when I don’t mind.

Every Christmas morning after opening presents, my family and I have a special breakfast.

Presenting our annual Christmas morning coffee cake. Man, this thing is rich! Fluffy rolls, gooey brown sugar and butter, toasted pecans. But so, so worth it.

This year it rose a little too much.

Eeew. It’s an eyeball!  We removed that part.

It’s been our traditional breakfast since I was a baby. I checked out my Christmas post from last year, and to my surprise I didn’t post the recipe. Well, that changes now.

Christmas Morning Coffee Cake

• 1 cup pecans
• 24 frozen, white yeast rolls
• 1 pkg butterscotch pudding (dry)
• 1 stick butter (1/2 cup)
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• cinnamon

The night before Christmas:

Grease a bundt pan with butter. Add the pecans to the pan. Add the frozen rolls on the top. Sprinkle the pudding mix on top.

Melt the butter over medium heat. Once melted, take it off the burner and mix in the brown sugar until melted.

Pour butter/sugar mixture over the rolls and sprinkle with cinnamon.

Cover with a wet towel and let it rise on the counter overnight.

Christmas morning:

Bake at 350* for 30 minutes. Let rest for a few minutes. Then turn onto a plate. Devour.

~~~

To complete the sugar coma, I’ve also done plenty of baking.

Chocolate caramel sea salt cookies

Whoopie pies and oatmeal butterscotch cookies

I’m now in need of a sugar detox. No more sweets! Ever.

Or as long as I can take it.

What’s the best present that you got? My camera, though it’s actually a graduation present.

What holiday food traditions does your family have?

Saturday I walked across the stage (without tripping!) and received my blank diploma cover.

Winter commencements are WAY shorter than spring ones.  An hour is the right length. Just saying.

My sister, me

My grandpa and me. Pretend we’re looking at the camera.

Afterwards, we had a crazy time packing up my apartment and loading my stuff into the U-Haul.  No rest for the graduate!

We met up with the rest of family for a sushi.

I’m trying to think of something deep to say (ha). Well, I’ll just say that my time in college has flown by, and in that short amount of time, it’s given me more confidence and self-esteem than I ever had in high school.

As I wrote in my college story, three and a half years ago, I couldn’t imagine leaving home, and ended up picking a college because my friends were going there. Now I’m looking at graduate schools all over the country, and you know what?  I’m excited! I can’t wait to move to another city and start a new life.

Farewell Truman State!  And on to the next adventure.