Today Marks 2 Months

I can't believe it has been two months since I started the Total Elimination Diet -- I have been able to add back some things - but not everything I had hoped for at this point. In some ways it feels like so much longer, and in some ways shorter. I have come a long way. Since I had already been off of dairy, egg nuts and soy for 2 1/2 months prior to going all the way with it, I guess I had a shorter way to come. I miss eating out, but being a new stay at home mom - time to go out and enjoy does not come easy, and it isn't exactly in the budget -- at least thats what I tell myself each day.

I made a batch of chocolate chip cookies today - I love the recipe from the book "8 Degrees of Ingredients" - AMAZING! You would never know these cookies are free of egg, nut, soy, milk, gluten... seriously - If I didn't tell my husband, I think he would just think they are darn good cookies.

I like to set aside 1/2 the batch to eat and freeze the other half - also dipping the frozen cookies in some coconut ice cream is sort of heavenly. you can also dip these in melted chocolate and let it set.... that's another amazingly good version.

Next up? Chicken. It's whats for dinner. bum bum bum.

Trials... The Ups and Downs.

In life we find that there are many challenges. I found one of my biggest faced me when my newest addition Braeden was born.. I was determined to nurse him since I had failed with my oldest. Because of various factors, it would take me way to long to explain, I am on what is called a total elimination diet. I am free of dairy, soy, egg, nut, gluten, most corn products, seafood, to mention a few. It has been a challenge, but also a very interesting learning experience. creating treats free of all these things is well... tricky.

Among a few other foods, the most exciting food I have passed was CHOCOLATE. I am creating lots of different things now and I thought I would share a few ideas. First of all - Enjoy Life makes amazing chocolate chips and they are free of the top 8 - so I am able to eat them. If your avoiding dairy - or soy, find these!

Today I just decided to melt the chocolate chips and dip various fruits and cookies in it. I used the below recipe:

DIPPING CHOCOLATE
1 cup - enjoy life chocolate chips
2 tbs - spectrum shortening

Melt the chips with the shortening until smooth - in microwave safe bowl

DIP AWAY - refrigerate until chocolate is set.

ENJOY!