Celebrating Holidays Safely

I just love the holiday season.  Once November hits, I find myself in a better mood all around.  I love Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's - all of it.  I don't really love the snow, but I definitely love the time with family and friends.

The one difficult thing during the holidays, however, is the food.  Who's going to make what...Who's turn is to to bake this or that...and how do we make it safe for everyone to enjoy?

Well, with my extended family, I am normally the one who provides anything that needs to be allergy or sensitivity-friendly.  My family always asks what is safe to have, and they do their best, but sometimes I just have to make an alternative or the special dish - especially if it is a more difficult one to make.  Sometimes we even make allergy/sensitivity-friendly treats together.  It all depends on how busy we are.  It all takes weeks of planning, but it is always worth it.

I decided that I would give you all some tips on how to celebrate the remainder of the holidays safely, especially if you're new to the food allergy/sensitivity world.

1. Don't be afraid to ask questions!  If you are the one providing the meal for food allergic/sensitive people, ask what is ok and what is not.  They will appreciate it, I promise!  And if you are the one with the allergies/sensitivities, ask what will be on the menu, and be prepared to bring an alternative.  It is always better to be safe than sorry!
     
2. Don't be afraid to get together WITHOUT a meal!  If there are severe food allergies that make a meal together just impossible, make alternative plans.  There is still plenty you can do without food.  You can exchange gifts, just watch a movie or play games, make crafts - there are so many options!  Be creative!  Don't let food allergies or sensitivities rob you of family and friend time when they don't have to.  Yes, you'll still have to make sure surfaces are clean, hands washed, etc., but it can be done - and should!  Enjoy the time you CAN have - even if it isn't what you ideally wanted.  Any time with family and friends is worth it!
     
3. Plan in advance as much as possible!  The more details you work out ahead of time, the less stress there is.  Work out all the details you can, including an alternate plan in case of last minute changes due to weather or illness.  It is so worth the effort to plan ahead!  Trust me - there will be a lot of questions about menu choices and such, and the more time you have to work out the kinks, the better!
     
4. Plan for the worst, hope for the best!  By this I mean, have your Epi-pens handy, be prepared to clean up the area or leave early if needed, be prepared to bring that last minute "safe dish", but hope they won't be needed.  People make mistakes - even those that love you.  Something may get overlooked or forgotten.  Triple check that the ingredients used were the ones agreed on.  We once had a dinner at a friend's house when I suffered from my food allergies.  We'd planned for weeks.  She'd worked so hard to make sure everything was soy-free, peanut/tree nut-free, and fish/shellfish-free.  At the last minute, she decided to use a cooking spray for the pan she made the allergy-friendly rolls on, and lo and behold, the spray had soy in it!  She was mortified.  I just smiled and told her it was ok - there was plenty of other things for me to eat, and everyone makes mistakes.  We were able to have a great time, despite the rolls, and I know you can have similar experiences, too.
      
5. Enjoy yourself!  I know how hard it is to relax and enjoy yourself when there is food all over the place, especially if some of it contains your allergen(s), so I won't ask you to relax.  Be diligent!  You HAVE to be.  However, you can still enjoy yourself.  Remember that you are with those who love you and care about you and wish you no harm.  Give them the chance to prove that.  Don't ruin your joy with "what if"s.  Be aware as you always are, but try to enjoy the time with friends and family, too.

For some more great tips on how to enjoy the holidays safely, I highly recommend reading this article by Emma Hueber from ConsumerSafety.org called "What's Really in that Fruitcake?  Food Allergy Safety During the Holidays".  It's excellent, and there is even a great free printable to help you in your meal planning, and that you can display so that people know what's in each dish!  Awesome!

At the end of the article is a survey that I really hope you'll take a few moments to fill out, too.  It has to do with food allergen labeling, which I believe is so important!  We can never get those labels to be exactly what we need unless we make our voices heard, so let your voice be heard!  What better time than now?  Here's a direct link to the survey, as well: Food Allergens Survey.  Thank you for taking the time to participate! 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone!

May the holidays find you happy, healthy and safe!

  

(This post was originally posted on my original site, Natural and Free.)

Some of My Favorite {Allergy-Friendly} Teas For Wellness

Years ago, I posted a recipe for My Wellness Tea.  Since then, I have found a few teas that are both delicious and helpful when it comes to illness.  They are also all non-GMO, kosher, most of them are organic, and they are all top 8 free!  Pretty awesome, right?  They would make a great addition to any pantry to keep on hand, especially during times of illness.  I know I keep them on hand at all times, and they have helped us on more than a few occasions when we were dealing with various bugs.  They aren't a cure-all, but they definitely do help!

{Note: I have NOT been asked to promote any of these teas, and I am NOT being compensated in any way with products or funds.  Bigelow and Tazo don't even know that I'm posting this.  All opinions are my own.  Also, this post is purely my OPINION, and should NOT take the place of your doctor's medical advice.  ALWAYS discuss the use of any product used for wellness with your doctor BEFORE you start using it.  Most of the time a doctor will tell you that you are more than welcome to try any herbal remedy you wish, but there is no guarantee they will work, and that is true - the same goes with a lot of medications as well, but that's another story.  Anyway, you need to be aware that there are certain medications that have herbal interaction warnings, so do NOT drink ANY of these teas if you are on medications with such restrictions (normally, those will be heart medications or medications involving time-released delivery systems), and make sure to find out if your medications have any such restrictions BEFORE you drink them, too.}

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First up, steep by Bigelow's Organic Lemon Ginger Herbal Tea.

This tea contains: organic ginger, organic lemongrass, organic blackberry leaves, organic lime oil, organic apple, organic cinnamon, natural lemon flavor, organic licorice root, organic lemon oil, organic orange peel, organic lemon peel, and organic clove.  It is also all natural, herbal, kosher, non-GMO, organic, caffeine-free, and top 8 free.

I find this blend to be great when you're fighting some illness that involves congestion and nausea.  Add a little honey to it, and it will help soothe a sore throat, too.  It's got a nice, comforting heat to it from the ginger, and just enough citrus to help boost immunity.

Visit this page to find out more.

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Next up, steep by Bigelow's Organic Chamomile Citrus Herbal Tea.

This tea contains: organic lemongrass, organic chamomile, natural lemon flavor, and organic lemon peel.  It is also all natural, herbal, kosher, non-GMO, organic, caffeine-free, and top 8 free.

I find this blend to be great when you're fighting some illness that involves restlessness and just feeling blah.  It's very comforting and relaxing to drink, and the citrus gives your immunity a boost, which is great.  If you add a little honey, it can help soothe a sore throat, too.

Visit this page to find out more.

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Thirdly, there's Bigelow's Peppermint Herbal Tea.

This tea contains: peppermint leaves.  It is also all natural, herbal, kosher, non-GMO, caffeine-free, and top 8 free.

This tea is ideal for nausea.  It is very refreshing, too.  As with most teas, adding a little honey can help soothe a sore throat, too.  Peppermint has also been known to help with headaches, so it may be worth trying for that type of situation, too.

Visit this page to find out more.

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And, last by not least, there's Tazo's Organic Chai Tea.

This tea contains: Organic black teas, organic ginger, organic cinnamon, organic black pepper, organic cardamom, organic cloves, and organic star anise.  It is also all natural, organic, kosher, non-GMO, and top 8 free.  Please note that this is NOT a caffeine-free or herbal tea.

This one is absolutely my go-to wellness blend for teas.  It helps with nausea and congestion, stuffy nose, and so much more.  That's why I use it in My Wellness Tea. You can add honey to it to help soothe a sore throat, lemon juice to help boost immunity, or both.  It is really a great product.

Visit this page for more information.

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I hope you have enjoyed this post and found it helpful!  Now you have some allergy-friendly teas to add to your pantry that taste good and can help you feel better, too!

(This post was originally posted on my original site, Natural and Free.)

Monthly Milestones 2016 {12}

Today is the twelfth and last Monthly Milestones of 2016.  If you want to share a milestone post, just leave a comment below with a link to your milestone post, and I'll pop over and visit it and leave a comment, and hopefully some of my other readers will, too. :)  Normally, Monthly Milestones, where I will be giving you updates on how I am doing physically, mentally, etc., will go live on the first Saturday of every month, though sometimes I may be a day early or late depending on circumstances.

Here is how I am doing as of today:

Me as of today, December 3,2016, at 227 lbs.

1. My weight is down 3 lbs. for the month, with an overall decrease of 1 lb. for the year!  Though I had hoped to be down more than 1 lb. overall, I'll take what I can get. :)  Hopefully the weight loss trend will continue into the new year.  I am super excited about losing 3 pounds for the month, and being down to the lowest I've been since February.  That's a great feeling.
          
2. The weather is getting yucky, so I have to work more at being active.  I am going for walks when I can, and I am also making sure that I stay active inside when I can't go outside.  It takes conscious effort on my part, but I'm willing to do it.  I feel so much better when I am less sedentary. :)  It also helps that I have an activity/health tracker on my cellphone now, so that helps keep me honest. :)
    
3. Dietary/lifestyle changes are still happening.  I'm still doing well on the "no coffee" plan, though I still haven't gone completely herbal yet.  We'll see if that happens this month or not.  I also am making sure I get 9 Cups+ of water each day (that helps so much with my water retention issues!), and have been doing great with that goal.  I've also been working on only eating when I'm hungry.  That's not as easy, but I'll get there. :)
       
4. My health is still mainly stable for now.  The issues I reported last month with my hearing and vision are still the same - stable, but not quite 100%.  I have not had any weakness either.  For this, I am grateful!  I've dealt with some normal for this time of year illnesses, but am otherwise feeling well.  I don't know how long it will stay this way, but I am hopeful it will be for awhile. :)  I appreciate your prayers in this regard.  Thank you! :)
        
5. I have on been able to get back to the chiropractor once, but I am hopeful that I'll be able to go again soon, and the chiropractic stretches that are still helping.  Please keep this as a matter of prayer.  We got a small blessing when I went last time realizing I had overpaid (the insurance covered something we didn't think they would), so I had a balance, and we had to pay just a small sum when I went last.  I am hoping to go again some time this month, but we're not sure if that will be possible due to a few things.  My husband could really stand to go back, too.  Anyway, prayers appreciated that the stretches will continue to help, and that we'll be able to afford to go when we need to to keep from going too far backward in our health.  Thanks!
     
6. Homeschooling is still going well!  Monarch is still a great fit.  We still plan to try to add electives after Christmas, but we're still not 100% on that due to cost and a few other things.  Pray for guidance and wisdom here.  Thanks so much!
       
7. Thank you for all your prayers, and we would appreciate your continued prayers!  We appreciate all the prayers and support as we've gone through so much this last year, especially. It's been a real blessing! 
     
   I have a very important unspoken at this time.  As I feel I can discuss it, I will, but for now, I just ask you to pray.  Thank you!
    
   Please also continue to pray for us with the homeschooling, my health, and just for us financially as we try to pay for the expenses of the last year in a timely fashion along with any new expenses as they arise.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!
         
8. I am hoping to post more on both blogs sooner than later! I've not been able to post quite as much as I'd like, but I'm still trying to post monthly (if not more often) to this blog and Natural and Free.  I'm hoping to post soon to Natural and Free with either some new recipes or other helpful information.  I have the material, just no time to update just yet.  I am hoping to be able to post other types of posts here, too, soon as well.  Christmas break will be here soon, so maybe then?  We'll see. :)

That's about it for now.  How are you doing?  Are you reaching your goals?  Have you tried something new?  Come up with a new recipe?  I hope all is going well with you, and I hope you will leave a comment sharing your thoughts and/or milestones (with a link to your post, if you wish).  As always, I wish you the best of luck in all you do, and hope you will return soon! :)

(This post was originally posted on my original site, Fibro, Fit and Fab!)

{Guest Post} School: Time to Step Back and Review by Caroline of Grateful Foodie

Awhile ago, I asked my friend, Caroline of Grateful Foodie (who is one of the most amazing food allergy advocates I know), if she'd share some invaluable tips for parents and guardians when it comes to making the school year safe and successful for their allergic loved ones.  She graciously agreed (She's awesome!), and today I am happy to have her as my guest sharing said tips!  I hope you'll find the information as helpful as I have.

 

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School: Time to Step Back and Review

School has been in full swing, and it is time to step back and evaluate all of the plans you’ve set in place. Are they working? Many of us have 504 plans in place that support important accommodations for our children’s health and well-being. Before the holidays and vacation time kick in, fall is the perfect time to gear up food allergy safety. In our family, the most stressful times at school surrounded celebrations and the return from vacation. Patterns and schedules get off balance and it seems as if all food allergy accommodations go out of the window!

Now is the perfect time to pause, evaluate and adjust. Here are some tips:

• Ask for a meeting with your child’s teacher or other school staff that are key to your child’s health and safety.
• Discuss what is working on the 504 plan.
• Inquire if there are any suggestions or recommendations.
• Have there been events and celebrations?  Analyze what could be updated or revised.
     
• Plan the rest of winter and into spring.
• Discuss upcoming parties, special projects, field trips and celebrations.
• Will you be able to participate or offer safe suggestions for upcoming events and parties?
• The holidays can be stressful, so consider different approaches to reducing your biggest school stressor, before things get tough.
• This is the perfect time to remind all parties involved about the importance of inclusion and communication.  Discuss how your child will be included.
     
• Check out your child’s lunch box, napkins, etc.Make sure they are still working okay. I once missed that my son had grown and needed larger food containers and he was cramming food into small spaces.
     
• Check in with your child to see how their epinephrine-auto-injector carriers or holders are working. Looks for rips, tears or worn out straps.
    
• Make a plan or the holiday and vacation season with your child. What is the plan if they are at school and there are unsafe treats? How will play dates be handled? Review your policy and who and how snacks are deemed safe, with your child.
     
• Thank EVERYONE on your child’s “team” who work to follow policy and keep him or her safe. A heart felt handwritten note goes a long way. It is critical to keep reinforcing how important their time and energy is to your family.

Planning ahead and checking in periodically are key. Food allergies are so easy to brush off as being “self-managed” when everything is working. BUT,  this is the exact moment that we truly need focus and pay closer attention.

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You can connect with Caroline at the following locations:

Grateful Foodie

Instagram

LinkedIn

  Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Google+

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Thanks for being my guest today, Caroline!

Here's a badge for you, if you'd like to use it.

<a href="http://naturalandfree.blogspot.com/ "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjncaHjnrCo5r3FOqrCCQ7e3DT5tFINQz1dcyc89keYMFow332Lsj7_teWAc121b8UjPPbwtao_OEZRMGefkJKvW1pzQM8uePfIk-SLKP3AODdTjvCBH7tTu2tICz_X32Z_iE__jkLWkz1/s144/fallguestbadge.jpg" /></a>


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Before you go, take a moment to leave Caroline some comment love below or ask her a question.  Better yet, hop over to her site, Grateful Foodie, and check it out!  You won't regret it!

(This post was originally posted on my original site, Natural and Free.)

Monthly Milestones 2016 {11}

Today is the eleventh Monthly Milestones of 2016.  If you want to share a milestone post, just leave a comment below with a link to your milestone post, and I'll pop over and visit it and leave a comment, and hopefully some of my other readers will, too. :)  Normally, Monthly Milestones, where I will be giving you updates on how I am doing physically, mentally, etc., will go live on the first Saturday of every month, though sometimes I may be a day early or late depending on circumstances.

Here is how I am doing as of today:

Me as of today, November 5, 2016, at 230 lbs.

1. My weight is down 2 1/2 lbs!  I have recently discovered that I have a major issue with water retention which was causing a lot of trouble with me losing weight, along with some issues with stiffness/mobility.  I can gain anywhere from 2 to 5 lbs. overnight and daily due to said water retention issues, regardless of diet/exercise.  My doctor put me on a water pill (hydrochlorothiazide) for it, and it has helped a lot.  I just started consistently taking it, so we'll see how I do on it from now on.  So far, so good. :)
       
2. The weather has been nicer for this time of year, so my activity level is still pretty high.  I'm going on walks as I can, and I'm determined to keep that up even after the temperatures drop as possible.  Pray that I'll be able to do that!  It is super key to my mobility and good health.  I'm also working on adding chores that I used to consider "once a year" or "once a month" to more often so that I can keep the activity level up...and the house being that much cleaner isn't a bad thing either. :)
    
3. Dietary/lifestyle changes are still happening.  I am now officially off coffee - regular and decaf!  I feel like I am sleeping better (for the most part), so I feel this is a positive change.  I limit myself to black tea once a day, and any other is decaf, green tea or herbal.  I have noticed that the herbal teas tend to help with any colds or congestion wonderfully (I am thinking about sharing a list of my favorites on Natural and Free soon), too.  Green tea is supposed to help with weight loss, too, so - all positives here. :)  I am very excited about these changes!
       
4. My health is still mainly stable for now.  I have not had any more weakness issues in awhile.  This is great!  I'm not sure if this is going to be permanent or temporary, but I'll enjoy it while it lasts. :)  I do deal with stiffness and some pain now and then that I associate with not being able to go to the chiropractor, but that tends to fade as the day goes on.  Please continue to pray for me in regards to my health.  I'd LOVE to be "better" and not face another round of weakness, but I've been here before, so I'm cautiously optimistic. :)
    
   My vision is still not 100%, but it is stable mainly, too.  Most of the time, things are marginally blurry, but not terrible (unless a font or picture is too "fancy" and then it takes a lot of concentration to read or see it correctly).  Night time driving is still an issue if it is very dark, and low light makes it harder for me to see things clearly.  Again, there is no pain, double vision or loss of vision that is "concerning" at this point, but I will continue to monitor it.  It may resolve or it may not.  Time will tell.  I'll definitely see the eye doctor if it gets too bad, too.
    
   My right ear's hearing is still "off".  Most of the time I feel as if I am hearing through a cotton ball or something like that.  My regular doctor can't find the issue, and all tests he's done shows my ear is "fine".  If it gets too awful, I will ask about seeing an ENT.  All I know is, I hate asking people to repeat themselves when there's a lot of background noise or when I have a cold. :)  Again, this is just an "annoyance" for now more than anything.  Your prayers are appreciated, as always! :)
        
5. I haven't been able to get back to the chiropractor yet, but I have found some chiropractic stretches that are helping.  As I mentioned last time, our deductible has reset, and our chiropractic care cost is now back to self pay until the new deductible level is met.  The deductible is less than last year as my hubby's insurance coverage changed, but due to paying off last year's bills and the higher cost of the new insurance plan along with no increase in his pay, we still can't afford to incur a lot of new debt unless absolutely necessary.  Unfortunately, chiropractic care is on the "would love to, but can't justify it at this time" list.  Thankfully, based on stretches the chiropractor showed me, I was able to find some chiropractic stretches that are helping in the meantime.  It is my hope that I'll get to see him this month, but that may not happen.  We'll see.  Prayers appreciated that I don't wait too long, and that we'll get the funds to not only pay off last year's medical bills (more than just a little at a time), but get the chiropractic care that has helped me so much (hubby, too).  Thanks!
     
6. Homeschooling is still going well!  Monarch is still a great fit.  The plan right now is probably to add electives after Christmas, but we're still not 100% on that due to cost.  Pray for guidance and wisdom here.  Thanks so much!
       
7. Thank you for all your prayers, and we would appreciate your continued prayers!  We appreciate all the prayers and support as we've gone through so much this last year, especially. It's been a real blessing! 
   
   Please continue to pray for us with the homeschooling, my health, and for some other unspokens at this time.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!
         
8. Blog updates have stalled, though posting has increased! I've not been able to post quite as much as I'd like, but I'm still trying to post monthly (if not more often) to this blog and Natural and Free.  I'm hoping to have a guest post soon on Natural and Free, and hopefully some new recipes and such soon there, too.  I am hoping to be able to post other types of posts here, too, soon as well.  We'll see!

That's about it for now.  How are you doing?  Are you reaching your goals?  Have you tried something new?  Come up with a new recipe?  I hope all is going well with you, and I hope you will leave a comment sharing your thoughts and/or milestones (with a link to your post, if you wish).  As always, I wish you the best of luck in all you do, and hope you will return soon! :)

(This post was originally posted on my original site, Fibro, Fit and Fab!)

Monthly Milestones 2016 {10}

Today is the tenth Monthly Milestones of 2016 (a day early since I will be gone all day tomorrow).  If you want to share a milestone post, just leave a comment below with a link to your milestone post, and I'll pop over and visit it and leave a comment, and hopefully some of my other readers will, too. :)  Normally, Monthly Milestones, where I will be giving you updates on how I am doing physically, mentally, etc., will go live on the first Saturday of every month, though sometimes I may be a day early or late depending on circumstances.

Here is how I am doing as of today:

Me as of today, September 30, 2016, at 232 and a half pounds.

1. My weight is exactly the same as it was at the beginning of the month.  My weight roller coaster was back again this month, and I ended up at exactly the same weight as I was at the beginning of the month.  Hopefully, the next Monthly Milestones will show a weight loss.  I'll just keep watching what I eat, try to stay active, and we'll see how it goes.
       
2. I'm still trying to be quite active.  I still try to make sure that I am doing things that require activity whenever I can, which includes daily walks when weather allows, doing the housework that needs to be done daily, etc.  I feel better when I'm more active, so I will have to get creative to stay active as the weather begins to get colder, wetter, snowy (hopefully not this one for awhile yet!), etc.
    
3. Dietary/lifestyle changes are still happening.  I haven't transitioned to tea yet, but I'm hoping to do that over this next month.  My husband has been lifted off his corn restrictions as it has not been linked to his EoE, though he's re-introducing it slowly, and may never get back to eating corn, corn chips, etc.  He has allowed corn starch back into his diet in moderation, though.  We're still working more and more towards "natural" and homemade foods most of the time, too.
       
4. I have no diagnosis and my health is mainly stable for now.  My last MRI was normal.  I had some eye tests done due to my eye issues, and those were also normal.  The only thing that hasn't been rechecked yet is my lab work, which is due to be rechecked in the next few weeks.  Basically, I'm in a state of limbo right now.  I don't have to go back to the neurologist or eye doctor unless I have new or worsening symptoms.  My vision is stable (which means bad night vision and trouble with twilight/dusk or lots of rain, etc., and I can read/see, though sometimes I have to focus extra hard to do so), and I'm not on any official restrictions other than my own personal comfort with doing a task like driving (which I can do unless I'm headed somewhere unfamiliar where I have to read a lot of road signs or trying to travel in bad weather).  I've also not had any more weakness in awhile, which is great.  Every one of my doctors is ok with me just seeing the chiropractor for now as it's the only thing that's even remotely been able to help me, and seeing anyone else as needed. 
      
   Additionally, my neurologist is still thinking I'm dealing with a migraine variant, Fibromyalgia complication, or even Hashimoto's complication.  If I do have to go back, she's looking at putting me on a migraine preventative medication, and there are only so many of those I can take - I believe only 2 types - due to my Factor V Leiden, and one of those I know I can't take because they made my migraines worse, so I really don't want to go that route.  I'm not convinced this is migraine (neither is my eye doctor) unless it's migraine aura I'm dealing with, and that doesn't really make sense, and I'm not really sure I even have Fibromyalgia due to the lack of traditional Fibromyalgia pain (I was diagnosed after like 3 months of weakness/stiffness and pain upon pressing on different areas of my body), so that leaves the possibility of Hashimoto issues or hormone issues which we can't do a thing about (other than keep my thyroid levels in check) since my Factor V Leiden prevents me from taking Estrogen (it would increase my blood clot risk exponentially).  You can see the dilemma.  Anyway, it's a matter of prayer, and I appreciate all your prayers in regards to my health!
        
5. Chiropractic seems to be helping a bit.  Unfortunately, our health insurance year starts over again tomorrow (October 1st), so our deductible (which is crazy high) will need to be met again starting tomorrow before we get any sort of insurance coverage, and we're still paying on last year and will be for awhile, so we can't afford to go into major debt unless we have no other choice (i.e. hospitalization, major testing).  I'll still be going to the chiropractor as we can afford it, but it will be more like once a month or so vs. twice a week unless we can work something out.  Please pray that we will be able to work out something so that I can go as often as I need to to keep these symptoms at bay!  Thank you so much!
     
6. Homeschooling is going well!  Monarch has been a good fit for us.  We're hoping to add in electives sooner than later, but again, that has extra cost to it we can't afford at present.  Please pray about this!  We know we are doing what God says, and we know He will provide in His timing and way.  Pray for guidance and wisdom here.  Thanks so much!
       
7. Thank you for all your prayers, and we would appreciate your continued prayers!  We appreciate all the prayers and support as we've gone through so much this last year, especially. It's been a real blessing! 
   
   Please continue to pray for us with the homeschooling, my health, and for some other unspokens at this time.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!
         
8.  Blog updates have stalled, though posting has increased! So far, I've been able to post at least monthly to this blog and Natural and Free, and I've also been able to make minor changes here and there, so that's a plus.  Hopefully I'll be able to keep this up, and possibly even add in a few more things sooner than later.  We shall see!

That's about it for now.  How are you doing?  Are you reaching your goals?  Have you tried something new?  Come up with a new recipe?  I hope all is going well with you, and I hope you will leave a comment sharing your thoughts and/or milestones (with a link to your post, if you wish).  As always, I wish you the best of luck in all you do, and hope you will return soon! :)

(This post was originally posted on my original site, Fibro, Fit and Fab!)

Gluten-Free "Cider and Donuts" Coffee Cake (Wheat, Fish and Nut-Free, Can Be Soy, Milk and Egg-Free)

It is now officially fall!  I don't know about you, but around here, you know it's fall when you find cider and donuts everywhere.  You can't get a better autumnal combo, if I do say so myself.  So, to honor that tradition, I decided to come up with a sweet treat featuring them that was also gluten-free for my kiddos who can't have gluten.  This is the result!

This recipe is a variation on my Cinnamon Roll Coffee Cake recipe.  I promise you, this recipe tastes like eating cinnamon sugar donuts with apple cider...though in a gooey, yummy coffee cake way!  If that's your thing, you will LOVE this recipe!  It tastes best when eaten at room temperature or even a little cold (brings out more of the apple flavor), so you'll have to fight the urge to eat it fresh out of the oven.  It is worth the wait, though!

This recipe is also wheat, fish and nut-free, and can be soy-free (if you use all soy-free ingredients), milk and egg-free (see variations).  I hope you enjoy it!

Note: The gluten-free flour and baking mix I recommend do not technically contain soy, but the one contains xanthan gum and the other contains guar gum (see "Soy-Free" under variations for more details) which can cause issues for people with soy sensitivities or allergies, and that is why I will not claim that this recipe is soy-free.

Gluten-Free "Cider and Donuts" Coffee Cake 

Cake portion:

3 Cups gluten-free flour blend or baking mix 
(I recommend Pamela's Gluten-Free All Purpose Flour or King Arthur Flour's Gluten-Free Baking Mix)

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 Cup white sugar

4 teaspoons gluten-free baking powder

1 1/2 Cups apple cider

2 eggs

1 1/2 teaspoons gluten-free vanilla extract

1/2 Cup full-fat, salted butter, melted

Topping/Filling portion: 

1 Cup full-fat, salted butter, softened 

1/2 Cup brown sugar, packed

1/2 Cup white sugar

2 Tablespoons gluten-free flour blend or baking mix 
(I recommend Pamela's Gluten-Free All Purpose Flour or King Arthur Flour's Gluten-Free Baking Mix)

1/2 to 1 Tablespoon cinnamon

pinch of salt (no more than 1/8 teaspoon) (optional)

Glaze portion:  

2 Cups gluten-free powdered sugar

6 Tablespoons apple cider

pinch of salt (no more than 1/8 teaspoon) (optional)

1.  Preheat oven to 350^oF.
     
2. Grease a 9x13 glass baking pan with butter and set aside.
      
3. In a large bowl, mix all ingredients from the cake portion except melted butter until well combined, then mix in the melted butter until well combined and scoop cake portion into the prepared 9x13 glass baking pan, spreading it out evenly in the pan.
     
4. In another large bowl, combine all ingredients for the topping/filling portion until well combined and creamy.  (Note: The salt in this portion is optional.  I like adding it to make the sweetness pop, but some think it's overkill, so follow your personal preference here.  Also, the amount of cinnamon is based on personal preference.  I preferred it with the 1/2 Tablespoon cinnamon, but if you love a lot of cinnamon flavor, you may want to use the full Tablespoon.)
     
5. Drop the topping/filling portion evenly over the cake portion by tablespoonfuls, and then use a knife to swirl the topping/filling portion through the cake portion.  It should look marbled when you are finished.
     
6. Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick or cake tester inserted near the center comes out nearly clean. (Note: The toothpick/cake tester will never come out completely clean due to the nature of this particular cake, and you wouldn't want it to as your cake would be completely overcooked at that point.  You are looking for the parts of the cake that don't have the topping/filling swirled into it to be done - it should look like baked cake, not like cake batter.  If it looks like that and the toothpick/cake tester are coming out nearly clean, you're good to go!)
     
7. While the cake is baking, mix all the ingredients for the glaze portion in a medium bowl with a whisk until well combined. (Note: The salt in this portion is also optional.  I like adding it to make the sweetness pop, but some think it's overkill, so follow your personal preference here.)
     
8. When the cake it done, immediately drizzle the glaze over top of the cake. (Note: Pouring the glaze over top of the hot cake causes the glaze to melt into the cake and adds to it's gooey texture.  If you don't wish it to be quite that gooey, wait to add the glaze until the cake has cooled to just warm instead - about 10 minutes.)

Enjoy this cake at room temperature or slightly chilled for best results.  One recipe makes 12 generous portions or up to 24 small servings.

Variations (Please keep your individual dietary needs in mind when using variations):

• Milk-Free: Use non-dairy butter of your choice in place of the butter in this recipe.  I do not recommend using oil for the butter unless you wanted to use coconut oil, though.  A solid fat is needed, so you could even use lard if you choose in place of the butter.
    
• Egg-Free: Use an egg replacer in place of the eggs.  For ideas on what to use in place of the eggs, check out my ingredient substitutions page.  The flax seed "egg" or applesauce replacement would be a good fit with this cake.
   
• Soy-Free: Neither Pamela's Gluten-Free All Purpose Flour or King Arthur Flour's Gluten-Free Baking Mix claim to contain soy, but Pamela's contains guar gum and King Arthur Flour's contains xanthan gum, which can cause issues with people who have soy sensitivities and allergies, and hence the reason I won't claim this recipe is soy-free already.  You can use regular flour (if you can have it) or a soy-free, gluten-free flour of your choice.  Keep in mind that if your blend doesn't contain guar gum or xanthan gum, you may need to add between 3/4 to 3 teaspoons of ground flax seed, guar gum or xanthan gum to help with textural issues, too.  You'll have to make sure all your ingredients are soy-free, too.
          
  
• Less Sweet By Reducing Topping/Filling: If you find this coffee cake too sweet as is, you can reduce the topping/filling portion by half, and still bake and prepare as directed.  You may want to check the cake earlier (I'd say to start checking around 20 to 25 minutes, and then every 5 minutes after that until done if needed) to see if it is done earlier, though.

 So good, I promise!

(This recipe was originally posted on my original site, Natural and Free.)