A worthwhile look at Anti-Coping

  June 16, 2013 - 9:36 AM | , ,
4 Comments

Last week I asked the question, ‘How Do You Deal?’ and received some very supportive, honest answers.  In times of stress I have found myself trying to deal with boulders by trying like hell not to let whatever is happening in my life CONSUME my life. 

Discussing enormous stress-related issues always gives me a reason to use the swimming analogy:

When things are going smoothly, you’re in the shallow-end doing nice, easy laps.  You’re relaxed because you have complete control of your surroundings: you can clearly see that the other end of the pool is nearby; if you happen to get tired you can easily ground yourself by touching the bottom if you’re so inclined.

When stressful or anxiety-filled situations start entering your life, you don’t feel as much in control as before. You may sense that the bottom is still there but it’s harder to see.  The water isn’t calm like before.  You’re fatigued but you know that you can still make it if you keep your head clear, stay calm and maintain a slow but steady pace.  You have an idea where the other end of the pool is but because of all the choppy water it now makes it more difficult to visualize. 

When stress becomes all consuming you can’t see the bottom anymore.  The end is no longer in your sight and you can’t sense where it is.  You feel like you’re swimming against a strong, choppy currant and you start hesitating, wondering – even doubting if you’ll ever make it.

For me, that’s when panic sets in and I begin frantically searching around me looking for stability.  It’s usually around that point when I see what I think is a life preserver floating nearby.  It’s not, though.  It may look like one but this floatation device looks and tastes just like a donut (minus the sprinkles). 

 

doesn't it kind of look like a red and white donut?

 

The trick of course, is to not allow myself to get to that last scenario.  I’ve always said that I use food as a means of coping – a band-aid to help me deal with whatever is going on.  I never realized that my choice of words were utterly inappropriate for what I was describing.  My food – my safety device, my ‘band-aid’ is not an aid whatsoever.  All my band-aid does is cover up the wound so that I can’t see it while I’m busy distracting myself. 

Huh.  Why is this just now clicking with me?  I mean, deep down I always knew it wasn’t a healthy way to cope, but I think that sometimes it’s easier to give simple answers to hard questions because we don’t have the energy to sit down and think about what they actually mean. 

This morning I read Kyra’s post on Anti-Coping.  It resonated with me so much I had to share a link to it from here.  Her words hit me at precisely at the right time and I feel like I have a better understanding of why I use food in times of extreme stress.  It is powerful, direct, to the point and absolutely worth reading if you happen to use food like I tend to do when stress becomes too much:

…from The Never-ending Adventures in Fitness and Life:  Anti-Coping.

How do you Deal?

  June 12, 2013 - 4:12 PM | ,
13 Comments

This is a question worth asking since nearly all of us have some kind of stress in our lives at any given time.  As a kid my way of Dealing was by using sweets as a band-aid.    Looking back I still wonder how I made it through my adolescent years without being labeled as obese.  I was by no means skinny; I think the words ‘slightly pudgy’ and ‘a little chunky’ were used to describe my frame, but I never crossed over into obese, then morbidly obese until I hit college.

I have such sympathy for my 18 year old self.  She was so terribly insecure, scared half out of her wits at the thought of venturing into the unfamiliar, and desperate for a sense of direction. If I could go back to one moment in time it would be then, so I could step in and get that girl the help she desperately needed. 

Some twenty odd years have passed and I feel like I’ve fought and clawed my way to a place in my life where I feel happy, settled, and on track.  But then these curve balls come hurling from out of nowhere and I’m left realizing that I’ve learned nothing about how to deal with stress.  If I had, I’d still be taking time for Yoga – something that I haven’t done in ages.  Honestly speaking though, at this point I doubt if Yoga would work for me right now.  I don’t think I could slow down enough to even attempt it.  Guess I haven’t really changed much over the years after all.   

Stress is still a factor in my life that I avoid at all costs.  I’m an extremist in some ways because at times I avoid those good stressors which isn’t healthy, either.  Finding a happy medium is still a challenge. 

I’ve come to realize that I am a lot like my father.  While he tended to neglect his physical health,  I neglect my mental health. 

My dad was a man who never, ever complained about anything health-related.  Ever.  I remember one night when he showed up from work over two hours late.  He didn’t provide any explanation nor did I see any indication of what could have caused his tardiness other than the smudge of dirt on his shoulder as his only giveaway.  It wasn’t until nearly an hour later that he decided to tell my mother that he was late because he’d been mugged. Mugged, and he recounted the story as though he were recounting what he’d had for lunch. 

If my Dad were suffering from the terrible side effects of Diabetes, sometimes seeing double or triple, we might stumble across this information at the dinner table while watching him spear his napkin with his fork instead of the carrot that sat mere inches away.  Only upon bringing this to his attention would he offer any information that he was having trouble.

Although I am opposite my father in that I am dedicated to my physical health, my mental health has always pretty much taken a beating.  Instead of being proactive about stress and safeguarding myself against risks associated with it, I tend to do the opposite:  I hunker down, drag my body through disasters and ignore the heart palpitations, the sleepless nights, the extreme fatigue – until my body decides that if I’m not going to do something to reduce that stress it will.  Drudging through the muck no longer becomes an option; if I don’t release some of that stress by relying on my old stand-by (food) then I’ll either become physically sick or severely depressed.  That’s generally when I find myself in bed with the shades drawn and sleep for hours upon hours at a time, unable to talk to anyone or do anything but submerge myself in silence. 

Sometimes I wonder what will happen to me before I truly learn how to properly deal with stress. 

On the 15th it will be exactly two months since Craig woke up with pain and nausea.  Several doctors appointments, countless vials of drawn blood, numerous tests and one surgery later and we’re still no closer to finding an answer than we were when this whole thing started.  We have doctors appointments scheduled for the rest of the week and he’ll likely be scheduled for a colonoscopy next   – something he really should have had already, in my opinion – but hindsight is, after all, 20/20. 

Dealing with stress is something that I need to learn how to do now, not later. 

So, this brings me back to my original question.  How do you Deal? 

Gratitude Photo Friday

  June 7, 2013 - 10:40 AM |
6 Comments

I am so glad that my dear artist friend and blogger Kyra has shaken the jinx, hex, curse, or whatever you want to call it from her home in Vermont.  Unfortunately, I wasn’t aware that hexes could jump several states at a time, but apparently it’s landed in Indiana and right smack on my front doorstep. 

What a week it’s been over here.  Seriously, you can’t make up this stuff.

Not only do I have poison ivy on the heel of my left foot – which makes wearing any kind of lace up shoes impossible – but my right foot is now lame, thanks to a thick splinter that was standing at attention last night as I walked out onto the deck.  It pierced straight into the arch; not a pretty sight getting it out, either.  Now, I walk kind of like a woman who’s just had a pedicure while sipping on one too many cocktails.  Thankfully I don’t have to worry about getting a tetanus shot.  It’s only been a couple of years since my last one. 

As for Craig, well – this guy cannot seem to get a break.  He has ended up with an ulcer under his tongue from the tube his anesthesiologist used during surgery.  Pain which prevents him from eating and is radiating throughout his jaw.  He’s been to the dentist and there is no infection, so we’re just waiting for the pain to ease up while swabbing it with medicine every 30 minutes or so.  Between my itching and throbbing feet and his achy jaw, both of us were up last night until around 4 am.  We kept looking at each other shaking our heads.  ‘We’re quite a pair, aren’t we?’  He said. 

Yes.  Yes, we are. 

Craig has a follow-up appointment next Thursday with his surgeon.  We are prepared to tell the doctor what we’ve known these past few days: symptoms are back and whatever this medical issue is was not fixed by surgery.  Square One?  Not so nice to see you again. 

I do have a couple of Gratitude photos for this Friday morning: 

 

Photo: Recovering from surgery means that Craig can't run from me. We're facial buddies!! lol

Really grateful for this guy; and not just because can’t outrun me.  This is one of the many benefits of recuperating from surgery with me as your Nurse:  free facials!  Actually, Craig was pretty comfortable on Vicodin during this photo; otherwise he wouldn’t be smiling nearly as much Winking smile 

Believe it or not, I was able to finish a painting as well this week.  Nothing short of a miracle, really so I’m very grateful for my watercolors.  With the poppies finally blooming in our backyard I was easily inspired:

I hope this weekend brings much needed peace and quiet.  Our only plan consists of going to the Open House at the animal hospital where my work is on display. Then it will be back home and catching up on sleep.  SLEEP!  Oh, the sound of that heavenly word! 

Run! (through the Forest), Run!

  June 6, 2013 - 9:01 AM | , ,
3 Comments

Guess who went for a run yesterday?  Yep.  Me. 

I hear you.  You’re saying, ‘With your back?  Are you crazy?  Didn’t you swear that you were done with running – FOREVER?’

Let me just say that I didn’t intend on going for a run;  it’s just that I didn’t have much choice.

 

Craig wanted to get out of the house.  He’s been off work for over a month and is trying to regain some of his strength since having surgery last week, so he thought he’d go with me while I walked the dogs.  Great! I thought.  I don’t mind walking the dogs alone but it goes a lot faster when there is someone to talk to along the way. 

There happens to be an Osprey’s nest about 1/4 of a mile from where we park our car.  It is sectioned off so the birds can’t be bothered but there is a pathway in which one can walk the entire perimeter of the nest.  I’ve been wanting to do a larger watercolor of nesting Osprey for a couple of years now but have never had the time to set up my tripod and take good reference photos.   Together, we came up with a plan: we’d all walk to the nesting site where I’d set up the tripod and camera; leave Craig to take photos while I walked the perimeter with the dogs.  We’d circle around, meet back up and then all walking back to the car together. 

All went according to plan until we started heading back up the path to collect Craig.  Emmie, as you know is a rescue dog.  She has her quirks, which don’t bother me in the least – that is, until I need her to do something and she refuses.  Emmie is very sensitive when it comes to the weather and heard a distant rumble of thunder and that was that.  She sat flat on her butt and refused to move unless it was towards the car.  Normally as long as I wait patiently she comes around, but yesterday?  Not going to happen in a million years! 

I was too far to yell to Craig that we were ‘stuck’ and that I had no choice but to take the dogs back to the car, so off we went.  At first I walked as quickly as I could but then I started realizing that I’d been gone way too long already.  And of course, it was the ONE day that neither of us brought our phones so I had no way to tell him where we were or what was happening.  My fast walk became a jog and then I started running with the dogs to the car.  When we arrived I looked like I was having an asthma attack.  I fumbled around, opened the door and they hopped inside.  Then I realized how hot it was inside the car.  Damn it!  I can’t just leave them in the car! 

I drove to a shady spot and opened up the sunroof on the car and lowered the windows – then ran back to the Osprey nest where Craig stood wondering what on earth was going on.   As soon as I saw him I stopped and bent over like I was going to vomit.  Out of breath with legs that felt like rubber I choked out that the dogs were in the car and that I had to get back to them right away.  I grabbed the camera and tripod, asked if he was okay and could make the walk back on his own (he said yes to both), turned around and ran back to the car.

By the time I got back I thought I was going to pass out.  Note to self: I definitely, DEFINITELY need more cardio! 

Craig slowly came out of the wooded area about 15 minutes later where the dogs and I were in the car waiting. 

…and the photos?  Here’s a sample from the nearly 60 images he took:

blogosprey

There are young ones on the nest and I will be making an effort to go back when they get bigger.  This is Mama Osprey looking straight at Craig.  Notice that she’s looking directly at the camera. She looks like she wants to swoop down and knock him unconscious.  And, um….did you notice the talons on this raptor?  Yikes!

Today, I’m definitely feeling the effects of that run.  My lower back is achy and sore, and for some reason so is my incision site from surgery last year (HELLO body!!  Did you not get the memo that I’m supposedly all healed by now??)  As long as I don’t overdo today, I should be fine. 

Have a good Thursday;  I’ll be back tomorrow with my Gratitude Photo Friday post, along with an update on Craig. 

Food Monsters and Spring Photos

  June 2, 2013 - 11:09 AM | , , ,
11 Comments

Things here at Casa Recup are moving along, albeit slowly.  I’m having deja-vu with my caregiver responsibilities.  This time I’m the strong, healthy one leading around the foggy-headed, washed out, tummy-sensitive spouse.  It’s amazing how anesthesia affects people differently.  Craig is finding it hard to concentrate but nothing like what I was suffering last year (remember when I thought I was taking one of those online quizzes and found that I’d actually signed up for a dating service?) Yeah, he’s not that bad, thank goodness. 

Yesterday the both of us were a bit disheartened because for a brief time, Craig’s mystery pain came back.  It was so bad, he had to go back to bed for the rest of the morning.  I immediately went into panic mode and without even thinking about it began looking around in the kitchen for something – anything sweet.  I knew what I was doing and consciously made the decision to focus on what I was going to find instead of how it would make me feel afterward.  It’s amazing how determined one can get when she sets her mind to something.  If I had that kind of intense focus on other parts of my life I’d probably be rich. 

What is it about stress and food, specifically?  I’m reading other blogs where my cohorts are having the same issues: things get tough and all they want to do is comfort that fear, that loss of control, like I do -  with food.  What is it about our brain wiring that makes us head straight for the pantry when we know that it isn’t healthy for us to do so?  For me, that part of my brain just shuts off and I have tunnel vision until I achieve what I’ve set out to do: push that fear down with food until that uncomfortable feeling in my gut is all have left to think about.   I didn’t binge eat, but I did have the beginnings of a pretty good stomachache by the time I was done.  Mission…accomplished?  I’ve gotta find a different way.   On the bright side, I am able to manage these thoughts when I’m having run off the ordinary every day stress. It’s the kind of stress that shakes my world which causes me to seek out that sugar and carb abyss. 

It wasn’t until later that evening that I started thinking back about my own surgery last year.  I remembered something that I brought to Craig’s attention. 

As I was being wheeled back into my room after having had my hysterectomy I recall having the worst menstrual cramps of my life.  My first thought: What the hell?!  Didn’t I just have my gut opened up and worked on so that I never had to suffer this pain again?  What is happening? 

I relayed this memory to Craig and assured him that of course he will be having pain in the area that’s been causing him grief for nearly two months.  He just had surgery in that very spot and it’s going to take time to heal; we simply can’t make judgments this soon in his recovery.  Yes, it is unfortunate and unfair that we have more waiting to do, but this is the way things are and we just have to be patient.  What other choice do we have? 

I am so grateful that whenever I’m going through a personal crisis, there is usually something good happening to balance it out. 

When I was going through my first divorce, I became friends with Craig. 

When Patty died last year and I had my surgery, my art business was born. 

This year, as Craig and I deal with his health issues, surgeries and the unknown, my art career is beginning to move slowly forward.  I have been selling consistently at the gallery in Indianapolis (thanks in part, to a few very loyal collectors) and I was asked to provide nine framed prints of some previous work for an animal hospital that just opened this past week in my town.  In fact, they officially opened in their new building the day of Craig’s surgery.  So, while I’ve been caring for Craig I’ve also been getting work together to take to the hospital before their Open House next week. 

One would think I’d have no time to fool with unhealthy eating habits but hey, at least I’ve got a few surprises left to share, huh? 

Not having had time to paint, I’ve been taking lots of photos in my yard which is buzzing with activity.  Here’s a couple that have made me really happy this week: 

 

Poppies are my absolute favorite flowers; I’ve always wanted to paint them but was determined that they came from my own yard.  I haven’t painted flowers in a long time so you might be looking at my next painting. 

fairy2013

 

My peonies are up as well, so of course I had to include Shaylee, my favorite fairy that watches over my creek every summer.  I’ve used her in a couple of paintings, one of which was claimed by one of my favorite people last year – Teresa from Spirit Grooves.  Photographing this sweet wonder along with my flowers and the many birds that stop by to cheer us up is enough to get me through the rough patches, and I really do feel blessed in my life.  This is just a hiccup, and I need to figure out more appropriate ways to deal with the challenges life brings.  I think as always, awareness is the first step. 

Surgeries and Paintings

  May 29, 2013 - 9:21 PM | ,
15 Comments

How my husband took care of me for weeks after my hysterectomy without appearing the slightest bit tired is beyond me.  It’s only been a mere 31 hours since Craig’s surgery and I’m already exhausted.  The first full day is always the hardest, though.  Tomorrow we’ll have a better routine in place and things will run much more smoothly, I’m sure of it. 

Surgery didn’t go quite as planned.  Craig went in for a hernia repair and came out minus an appendix. 

No hernia in sight. 

The appendix wasn’t inflamed, but it wasn’t normal-looking either so out it came.  And right in front of the appendix was an adhesion – old scar tissue that usually generates from some form of trauma. The adhesion happened to be in the exact location of Craig’s pain. 

Okay, I asked.  So, he’ll be better now, right? 

Surgeon: I won’t be surprised if this doesn’t work.  Then again, I won’t be surprised if it does.  We’ll just have to wait and see. 

More waiting. 

The body is a very strange thing.  Nothing explains the constant nausea; the sharp pains 4-6 hours after eating; the dry-heaving after 5 minutes in a moving vehicle.  We just hope that whatever it was is now gone so Craig can resume a normal life. 

 

As for my life, it of course revolves around painting which continues to keep me focused and my hands busy with a paintbrush instead of holding another cookie or donut.  Ten pieces are heading to Indianapolis tomorrow; six are originals.  Here is my latest: 

While Craig is resting my plan is to get these listed on Etsy – by Friday.  That’s the plan, anyway. 

 

Thanks to all of you who have asked about Craig and sent good thoughts and wishes to us during this time.  I hope to never have to report again on this blog that his pain has returned.  From today we move forward hoping for the best. 

My goldens keep me laughing. Gratitude Video

  May 27, 2013 - 8:47 AM |
9 Comments

On this Memorial Day it is raining outside.  Windy and rainy.  I woke up to our outdoor umbrella sitting on its side in the front yard.  At first I had to comprehend what exactly it was that I was looking at.  Then I realized the wind must have pulled it straight out of the hole in the center of the table and lifted it up Mary Poppins-style straight over our house until it gently rested itself right at our front door.   I had no idea it was that windy last night. 

I’m posting my Gratitude Pic of the Week today.  Actually, it’s a small video featuring one of our goldens, Brulee.  He and Emmie have been keeping us busy and entertained for the last month that Craig’s been awaiting surgery.  Never a dull moment around here, that’s for sure.  Sometimes I feel like these dogs are going to drive me to drink, but then they do something amusing and all is forgiven.

So for that, and for their ability to put up with me as well, I am grateful for my dogs. 

No worries about this thing going viral.  It’s just for you.  No music, no intro, and only 28 seconds long – just enough time to show Brulee being his usual weirdo self. 

Brulee’s strange facial tic.

 

Have a great day, everyone Smile

Gratitude Photos of the Week

  May 24, 2013 - 9:31 AM |
4 Comments

I thought I’d check in one last time this week, as I likely won’t be posting again until after Craig’s surgery is over (look for me around Wednesday of next week).

Things are status quo over here.  Craig is still making do with protein shakes and low-sodium, clear based soups.  He’s starting to have more bad days than good, though.  Whatever is happening inside his abdomen is now keeping him home 24/7.  Amazingly, his attitude is still good.  I don’t know how he maintains such a positive spirit after 5 weeks but that’s my husband. 

I am keeping on track with my eating – as in for now, not eating massive amounts of the things I used to reach for in times of stress and strain.  I don’t know how I can crave sugary comfort foods with this giant knot in my stomach that seems to be growing heavier with each passing day; I think it’s old reflexes coming back to haunt me.  The important thing is, I’m not giving into it. 

I haven’t posted Gratitude photos in a couple of weeks, so today you get two:

 

The first of my poppies are blooming.  I have tried, unsuccessfully mind you, to grow these beauties for years because the rabbits always plucked the buds just before they opened.  Someone at my local plant store gave me the suggestion of spreading blood meal in my flowerbed to keep out rabbits because they don’t like the smell.  It is apparently working because here they are – and I am very grateful.  These are my absolute favorite flowers and whenever I see them I just want to grab my paintbrush and lay them to canvas. 

Speaking of painting, I am extremely grateful for that right now.  It has helped keep my mind occupied and focused, these last couple of weeks especially.  While Craig is napping during the day or if I can’t sleep at night I slip into my studio and just…paint.  These ‘doodle-birds’ have been occupying my time  because I can easily stop at any time and just pick up where I left off without any problem.  Here’s my latest, which I have pretty much dedicated to fellow blogger Didi since she suggested an American Kestrel ages ago:

Several people have asked if I would be making prints of these.  Even though I hadn’t intended on it, I decided to do a limited run and see if the interest is there.  I’d like to get a few more finished first, and hopefully will have some time to work on them while Craig is recovering. 

Have a good weekend.  I hope to be back here sometime next week with good news. 

~Ellen

Preparing for the unknown

  May 20, 2013 - 8:59 PM |
11 Comments

My heart is elsewhere this week.  Not that I don’t want to write, but I just don’t have the mental capacity to put together anything substantial.  I’m just so incredibly tired.  I can’t believe this time last year I was preparing for my own surgery and here I am less than a year later find myself preparing for another.  Not mine this time, however.  Craig’s.   He awoke one Sunday morning with a strange pain in his side.  Five weeks and a multitude of tests later, here we are – preparing for exploratory surgery.  Craig has sat around long enough reading, researching and scouring the Internet to feel pretty confident in knowing exactly what it is that he has:  a spigelian hernia.  Never heard of those?  That’s probably because it only affects 1-2% of all hernias found.  Still, he’s convinced  this is what he has.  The surgeon doesn’t think so, but has tried to remain optimistic saying that he’ll do his best to look everywhere he possibly can to find the problem and fix it.  I can’t put into words how much I am hoping that Craig is part of that 1-2%. 

As for me, I’ve been doing whatever I can to make him comfortable for yet another week until his surgery.  I won’t admit this to him but I will here – I am concerned; petrified.  This is a guy whose been for the most part, pretty healthy and I have a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that he will be cut open with no plan beforehand.  Who knows what they’ll find – if anything?  These thoughts I keep to myself. I push them out of my head, but the only way to do this is to keep myself busy.

Craig can’t ride in a car without getting physically ill; nor can he eat solid foods without becoming ill, so I have been making him protein shakes and soup, while I forget to eat altogether.

I take that back.  I don’t forget to eat; I just force myself not to think about it.  My urge to binge eat has increased over the past couple of weeks but I know this is a result of my anxiety and the fact that I can’t control my immediate surroundings.   Fear of the unknown.  I’ve spent much time thinking about ways to distract myself.  Of course I feel incredibly guilty about this.  Here Craig can’t eat and all I want to do is overeat.  So far though I’ve managed to redirect myself with laundry, tending to the dogs, the yard, planning Craig’s meals, planning ahead for his recovery, and working on my art as the rest of my time allows.  So far though, I am doing well.  I’ve actually managed to lose a couple of pounds, but this is attributed to my increase in activity over the past couple of weeks. I am moving from the moment I get up to the time I go to bed at night.

I have a meeting tomorrow afternoon with our veterinarian to discuss the possibility of supplying her new building with some of my artwork.  She’s giving me a tremendous opportunity and I hope it works out.

Speaking of art, I’ve been doing something completely different lately.  Needing something that is relaxing and easy to do anywhere and these work really well.   I call them my Doodle-birds.  I’ve done a robin (below), bluebird, peacock and hummingbirds.  I’m not having prints made of these nor am I selling them on Etsy right now.  Just paint/draw and frame. 

What doesn’t sell before this weekend will be taken down to the gallery in Indianapolis.  I have to admit, they do make me happy~

I will be in touch either before or right after his surgery and will write as time allows.  Until then, I’ll most likely be taking photos for Instagram (EllenBrennemanStudio) and spending time on my Facebook art page (Facebook.com/EllenBrennemanStudio) which follows my painting progress.  I love seeing readers and friends visit me over on my Facebook business page.  Such an inspirational lot, you all are Smile

~E

The Strain Train

  May 16, 2013 - 4:45 PM |
11 Comments

Yesterday was a difficult day.  By the time evening rolled around I looked into the refrigerator and noticed that all but one shelf was completely bare. ‘Hmm…guess it’s time to go the grocery store,’ I thought.  What on earth was I going to fix for dinner?  I had a sick husband on the couch with an appetite – a recent rarity in this house, and nothing to put together.   I envy people who can whip up something spectacular out of a bottle of ketchup and a can of sardines. That is not my life. 

But then I remembered I bought that chickpea flour at Whole Foods the other day and became inspired.   I had every ingredient on the list to make falafel, some Joseph’s pita bread in the frig, and some spinach/lettuce mix. The only thing I was missing was tahini sauce, and I could have kicked myself for not grabbing a container of hummus when I was at the store.  I’ve read that you can dilute hummus with a bit of water and that serves as perfectly fine sauce to drizzle on or dip falafel into.  Oh, well.  If that was all I was missing then I was still in pretty good shape overall. 

Easy.  I can do this. 

And I did.  And it was a success, even without the sauce Smile

Here’s the recipe from the bag of Garbanzo Bean Flour from Bob’s Red Mill:

Falafel Patties

  • 1 cup Bob’s Red Mill Garbanzo Bean Flour
  • 1/2 tsp Sea Salt
  • 1.4 tsp Baking Soda
  • 1 tsp Parsley Flakes
  • 1/2 tsp ground Cumin
  • 1/4 tsp ground Coriander
  • 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1/4 tsp Onion Powder
  • 2 tsp fresh Lemon Juice
  • 1/2 cup Hot Water
  • 2 Tbsp Olive Oil (for frying)

Just combine all of the dry ingredients together in a bowl and blend well.  Add the lemon juice and hot water to the mix and stir until well blended.  Then let the mixture rest for 10 minutes. 

Heat the olive oil in a pan on medium high, then add the falafel batter by the tablespoon and flatten slightly. Fry on both sides until the surface is brown; place on a paper towel to drain any remaining oil. 

Makes 12 falafel patties

 

To save on calories I used Pam instead of olive oil.  Olive Oil is perfectly good to use and I’m sure would make the falafel a bit crispier but I’ve been using Pam forever so I just immediately grab it without thinking about it.  If you are watching your weight and need to keep your calorie intake in check, using Pam is a good substitute for olive oil, in my opinion. 

 

Things are changing again in our household.  Just when I think I’ve reached the crest of a mountain and start my way back down, there it is – another mountain to climb.  Just shy of a year since my operation, Craig has been scheduled for exploratory surgery on the 28th of this month.  With his pain worsening, his rapid weight loss from near constant nausea and no real conclusion as to what’s going on, we are preparing to face this challenge together.  The next couple of weeks will be hectic as we prepare for his surgery and I generate a plan on how to effectively take care of him and run our household.  Our summer will be looking a bit different as well.  The things we put off last summer will likely be put off yet again, but hopefully if all goes well and the doctors find what Craig believes is the problem – a nagging hernia – then maybe we’ll get to squeeze in a couple of fun things before the season passes. 

I still firmly believe that everything happens for a reason and this is certainly no exception; but when this is over, we’d really like to be healthy and strong at the same time.  That’s our only goal. 

Maybe just one more mountain before we are allowed to rest our legs for a bit. 

…well then, let’s giddy-up and get to climbing.