What is Normal?

The past month was really busy and I am SOOOOOOO glad that I am back to my "normal".  Erma Bombeck once asked the question, "what is normal?" and answered that question with "It is a setting on the dryer!"  What a great sense of humor. :)

However, MY normal typically involves most of the day spent at home either in my sewing room or doing the routine cleaning/chores, and an occasional trip to the grocery store or the bank. Pretty boring, but I'm okay with that.

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to travel to Fort Collins for an allergy testing/clearing treatment.  I was simply seeking relief from the seasonal allergies that have plagued my life every spring and fall with more sinus infections than I care to remember. Over the past six years or so I have learned how to manage the symptoms and prevent the infections by having facials and other natural therapies offered at the Massage Therapy program at Trinidad State Junior College.

Like I stated, I was simply seeking relief from seasonal allergies... But it was suggested that I follow an anti-inflammatory diet that includes being soy free and dairy free.  :P Throw in on top of that, I was also told to avoid corn, white sugar, white potatoes, pork and shell fish!

ugh!  "I'm fine... I don't really have these food allergies. Pffft... Ridiculous." And then I recalled waking one Thursday morning with such pain and stiffness in my shoulders and recalled all that I had eaten the day before.  I had consumed a banana, fresh pineapple, yogurt and cheese & peanut butter crackers... all foods I should avoid. :(  Okay, maybe it is worse than I thought...

I have since been on the hunt for soy free foods.  That is tough!  I have had some success, and I do feel much better.  My shoulders don't ache near as bad as they had.  This is progress!

But the no sugar thing got to me yesterday.  I was really, really wanting something sweet... chocolate chip cookies, specifically!  I pulled out my bag of chips and they are packed with soy! Not good!  I began searching for alternatives.  Using my favorite recipe I altered it by cutting out the white sugar and used 1/2 the amount of maple syrup.  I added baking soda to cut the acidity of it allowing the cookies rise and increased the flour by 1/4 cup.  I mixed in dried cranberries and almond slivers, and reduced the baking temperature by 25 degrees

SUCCESS!

My craving was satisfied and I don't have suffer!

Here's my recipe...

3/4 cup butter

1/2 cup pure maple syrup

1/3 cup honey

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 egg

2-3/4 cup flour

1 teaspoon Baking Powder

1 teaspoon Baking Soda

Bake at 325 for 9-10 minutes

Oh yes, my allergies are so much better!  There are still a few things that are bothering me, but over all, I am actually enjoying this spring.  A few weeks ago we were enjoying a day of antique window shopping with trees in full bloom lining the streets.  My eyes did not itch, I didn't have a runny nose, or constant sneezing and wheezing.  Woohoo! 

Changes can be hard!  But I have a new normal... and I am loving it!  Now that I can satisfy my sweet tooth. ;)  Carry on with your normal!

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