Artisan Bread
On my first date with my husband, as we sat nervously talking they brought out an artisan bread basket. The first thing I did was break open a piece and closely examine the crumb to see how it was mixed. My now-husband thought I was completely insane, but luckily he still asked me out on […]
Just Another Day- living with chronic pain
The day is much like any other day. I had pain in the night, which caused me to wake up multiple times. About five in the morning, I gave up on sleep. Even though I know the lack of sleep will intensify my pain, I simply cannot sleep through the pain. It is an endless […]
Asian Style Pork Burger
I love a good burger. I have not been able to eat red meat for quite a while because it causes me significant inflammation and pain. So I have had to get very creative with my burger options. This is by far one of my favorites and I hope that you enjoy it too. I […]
In the Night
The pain is pulsing through my body as I lie in my very comfortable bed. Something about going to bed brings back all the pain that I had tried to push aside and ignore all day. Everything is quiet, but my body is screaming. It feels like my body is being set on fire from […]
Dreams and Goals
I have always had big goals and aspirations. From a young age, I dreamed of doing big things, even with the odds against me. I grew up with little money, my mom was a single mom who worked extremely hard to get us what we needed. We experienced domestic abuse, hiding, and starting over. We […]
It is time to let her go
Some days, I can run errands, do chores, and play with my children; on the outside, I appear to be fine. But I’m dying on the inside. Every movement is a struggle for me because I am exhausted. Every part of my body is in excruciating pain. I’m tired, dizzy, and I feel worthless. I […]
Gluten Free Dumplings
Gluten-Free Pork Dumplings One of my favorite foods is dumplings. I’ve always adored them, and my affection for them only intensified after moving to Japan. Dumplings were my number-one priority when I had to stop eating gluten. So I wanted to share that recipe with you. You can read more about my story in my […]
Gluten free flour blend
This flour works very well for cookies, scones, and brownies. I created this blend to ensure my cookies had the texture and flavor I was looking for. I wanted it to be crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside. I also do not like that gluten-free aftertaste. After many experiments, this is what […]
The Gluten Free Cookie
Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies 2 1/4 cups (~282 grams) Michaela’s GF Flour Blend 1/2 tsp. Corn starch 1 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. salt 2 ounces cream cheese, room temp 3/4 cups (12 Tbsp.) unsalted butter, melted 1 cup packed brown sugar 1/2 cup sugar 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract 2 egg yolks 2 cups […]
The Diagnosis
I had no idea what to make of a spinal cord tumor. My neurologist said it wasn’t a big deal and that any neurosurgeon could get rid of it. I was vehemently opposed; I did not want just anyone operating on the nerves in my spine. Sometimes you have to trust your instincts and resist […]