Book review

The Awakening and The Struggle by L.J. Smith


My rating: 1 of 5 stars
While I enjoy the TV show, I cannot say I enjoyed this book at all. I thought the characters lacked depth and honestly it dragged.I have to say the story was also just not very well rounded. I finished the book, becasue I honestly hoped at some point it would improve. I have no plans to go out and read the rest in the series, in part becasue it has not been favorably reviewed and this was arduous enough to slog thru.

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Chocolate Biscotti

I found a box of Simply Organics Chocolate Biscotti mix while shopping the week before Christmas. It had vegan directions, so I thought I would give it a whirl. Hey it would be a cookie I could eat for Christmas.

Instead of eggs, you use ground flax seeds, some water and some oil.

Well they turned out so-so. As I cataloged on Twitter.

I think they needed more oil and more chocolate flavor. Maybe using some espresso would have helped. Dunking them in melted dark chocolate helped a bit, but overall, it was not as I had hoped.

L spit hers in a napkin and my bother said he had never tasted anything chocolate with less taste. H said they were ok, but I think he honestly was trying to be nice to me.

I will admit I have been whiny about my food issues over the last few weeks. He felt bad and was trying to host his own little pep rally. I also noticed he did not eat any more after the big show of really enjoying one.

So I say give them a try - I have to think the version with eggs would be better, in some fashion. Simply organics makes an entire line of gluten free baking mixes and many have vegan directions. I am glad I tried it, I am in no hurry to try them again.

Wrapped

L and E wrapped tonight. Nothing they had bought. They had each wrapped a present for each other, something of their own that they wanted to the other to have. They were so proud of themselves.

I am so proud of them. That is what Christmas is about. Giving something of yourself. So sweet. I dread this time year. The commercialism. I just cannot stomach it.

If felt good to see L and E, being thoughtful and loving and giving. It makes me feel like my efforts at raising kids, not consumed by consumerism is working. It is not about the stuff, it is about being loving and kind and giving.

I think I am ready for Santa and his magic now.

Poison

I am just going to come out and say it. In my world, EGGS, DAIRY PRODUCTS, GLUTEN (which can be found in wheat, oats, barley, and rye), and CORN are perceived by my body to be poison. Flat out. Place a slice of wheat bread on the table and some rat poison and my body thinks it is the same thing, to a varying degree.

Same with people with nut and peanut allergies.

POISON.

Just as with rat poison, a little bit will make sick and alot could kill you. Same with those of us with food allergies, a little but of the poison will make us sick, a little more will make us very sick, and alot of it will make us wish we were DEAD.

This story is horrifying. For everyone who knows and loves me and has shared a meal with me or been gracious enough to invite me to their homes knows, eating with me is a challenge. I am hyper vigilante. I have been sick enough times to know that it will be horrible, painful, and unpleasant for weeks to come.

At a meeting recently, someone made some very yummy gluten free vegan food thinking of me. I did not eat it, I could not verify the ingredients and while it was well intentioned, the memories of the last time I was poisoned are still fresh in my mind.

People with food allergies are not being difficult. Honestly I would love nothing more than to be sitting in bed with H, devouring a plate of yummy - real Belgian waffles, made with wheat flour, eggs and real cream or to be able to wake up and head out the a greasy spoon with the love of my life and eat a great stick to your ribs breakfast. I miss being able to enjoy those moments with H. Thanks to the last time I was poisoned, I can't even enjoy coffee, while watching him eat that stick to your ribs breakfast.

What the man did in this story is not better than slipping rat poison into someone's meal at the local McDonalds. It should be criminal. If it is not gluten free - do not label it as such.

Or maybe we can take the gentleman and offer him some great muffins laced with exlax or poison and see how much he enjoys the lasting and lingering effects of a little some surprising in his breakfast.

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