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18 August 2008

a recipe for friendship

Nina and Judy

Take one best friend from sixth grade on, add an amazing woman who writes about food and being gluten-free. Mix vigorously during a Food Network shoot in Seattle, and deliver the delicious results to my life. Oh, and save my husband in the process.

Readers of Gluten-Free Girl, you may recognize me as Nina, or La Niña, or the other half of Nina and Booth. I have been blessed by Shauna, Danny, and now Lucy entering my life. By trade, I am a children’s book author and illustrator (you can visit my site here), but this is a different sort of story I am about to tell… and yes, there is a recipe, too.

The back story:

In a nutshell, I grew up in the New York City metro area. My parents were both artists: creative, cultured, and volatile. When I was eleven years old we moved from Rego Park, Queens, in New York City, to a two hundred year old farmstead in Rockland County, about thirty miles north up the west side of the Hudson River. My father never moved in. He ran off with my brother’s first grade teacher, leaving my mother, brother, a menagerie of animals, and me to fend for ourselves. I was an outcast in many ways, and I had to enter sixth grade, the last year in elementary school, when friendships were already formed, protected and locked with a clique.

Enter Judy Korin. Tall, redhead, also an artist. A friendship sprouted.

Fast forward:

Judy’s and my friendship blossomed, grew, and we have remained friends through all these years, through relationships that have come and gone, through moves all over the country (me) and the world (her), and we’ve shared not only our artistic quests and accomplishments, but we’ve always shared a love, a passion, an obsession for food. (And we’re both Capricorns… goat girls all the way)

You may have read in Shauna’s archives about her being filmed for the Food Network. Judy’s company, Seesaw Studios, did a wonderful series for the Food Network called “The Power of Food,” and Shauna was featured in May of 2006. Judy lives in Los Angeles and she flew to Seattle to film. Of course she stayed with me. Judy did part of her shoot at the Seattle University District Farmer’s Market, and I used to shop there every Saturday, so I did my shopping, watched Judy filming, and briefly met Shauna, who had just started dating “The Chef.”

After Judy wrapped her shoot, she did something she had never done before: she played “matchmaker.” Not in the conventional sense, mind you. I’ve been happily married and with Booth for almost twenty years. Judy had just spent days with Shauna, and she had decided that we both were writers, we both loved food, and we both lived in Seattle. It was a recipe for friendship.

Shauna and I hit it off immediately. We walked, talked, rollerbladed, and ate. We had dinners at our home in Seattle, and at our cottage on “the island.” I was, like most people, completely ignorant of celiac disease, but Shauna educated me, and Booth and I (both of us cook) carefully prepared gluten-free food when we hosted Shauna and “The Chef.” At this point, the extent of our knowledge of wheat and gluten allergies were superficial, but the proverbial yeast was in the dough, and it was about to rise.

My husband, Booth, has always been a very physically active man. He loves the outdoors, and he loves taking in life in huge gulps. He also shares a similar affection for hoppy microbrews, crusty bread, my baked goods, pastas with pesto, and food on gourmet gustatory levels. For most of his life, with me, and before me, he was healthy. Robust, you might say. But something had shifted, and a few years ago he started having a mystifying set of symptoms… some of which had always been a part of his life, but he chose to ignore them. “I have a very active system,” he’d tell me. Our doctor diagnosed him with arthritis because of his joint pain, and she said his rash was psoriasis. She was wrong.

Last Thanksgiving, November of 2007, things came to a head. After the feast that I had spent three days cooking and baking, Booth broke down and cried. He was in so much pain, and though he had tried to diagnose himself on the internet, he just could not figure out what was wrong. He did not want to live like this, and I was desperate to get him healthy again.

Shauna and I met for coffee in a little café in Queen Anne, a lovely neighborhood in Seattle that I get lost in easily. This was two days after Thanksgiving, and I was totally at a loss for what to do about Booth. I told her all of his strange symptoms, and when I mentioned his “active system,” she looked at me seriously and said, “He has Celiac. Get him tested.”

Long story short:

Booth has celiac. Shauna saved his life. Judy brought us together. There is no better cure than friendship. We all add so much to each other’s lives.

It’s not about the food, it’s about the love.

Nina's blueberry tart

Nina’s Gluten-Free Berry Custard Tart

I have baked since I was in junior high. The first pie I made was a French apple crumb affair that my brother tried to steal before we had dinner. I whacked him in the back with a kitchen chair to keep him from eating it too soon. I’m very protective of my desserts. However I’m not protective of the recipes. My biggest challenge when we went gluten-free was baking. Baking is in my blood. My Russian grandmother taught me to make her chocolate chip cookies as a child. My most proud moment was figuring out how to make the best gluten-free chocolate chip cookies I could. Shauna featured them on this site.

Two weeks ago Judy and her friend John came to visit us on “the island.” We bought eleven (yes, eleven) pounds of blueberries from a local farm, and I made a gluten-free blueberry custard tart. Judy took the photo. We all ate it like wolves…

Tart Crust

¼ cup sugar
1/3 cup almond flour (Trader Joe’s sells this)
½ cup Teff Ivory flour
¼ cup flax seed meal (Bob’s Red Mill)
¼ cup sweet rice flour (Mochi)
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup (1 stick) butter, chilled, cut into small pieces
1 egg
parchment paper
butter for parchment paper
pie weights or raw rice

Process the sugar, flours, meal and salt in a food processor briefly so they are combined. Then add butter and process until it has a crumbly cornmeal texture. Add the egg and process just until the dough comes together.

Put a 9” tart pan with removable bottom on top of a baking sheet. (I use a non-stick tart pan.) Cut a circle of parchment paper with scissors to match the bottom of the tart pan. Save this for later. Plop the dough into the middle of the tart pan and using your hands, form it against the sides, and then the bottom of the pan so you have an even layer. If the dough sticks to your hands, stick it in the freezer for a few minutes. Most recipes say to let the crust sit in the fridge for an hour before baking, but I’m not that patient.

Preheat the oven to 400ºf. Take your saved circular piece of parchment paper and butter it generously on one side. Flip the buttered side down on the raw crust dough. Put pie weights or a pile of raw rice on top. This will keep your tart dough from rising while baking. Bake until the top edge is lightly browned, 16 minutes or so. Reduce oven heat to 350ºf. Remove the tart shell from oven and let it sit for 10 minutes. Take out pie weights or rice, then carefully lift out parchment paper with any remaining rice on it. Repair any damage in crust by pressing, then bake the crust 8 to 10 minutes until bottom is lightly browned. Let cool.

Custard

1 cup milk (I use ½ cream and ½ 1% milk)
½ cup sugar
3 Tablespoons sweet rice flour (Mochi)
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 egg yolks, slightly beaten
2 teaspoons vanilla

Heat milk in a heavy-bottomed saucepan until hot, but not boiling. Mix sugar, rice flour and salt in a bowl, stir in the hot milk and whisk until well-blended. Pour back into pan and keep stirring over low heat for 4-5 minutes until thick and smooth. Add egg yolks, stir until well-combined and cook a few more minutes. Cool, stirring occasionally, and add vanilla and mix.

Berries and finishing

1-2 cups fresh berries (raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, or a mix)

Spatula custard into cooled tart shell. Artistically place, or dump berries on top of custard. Remove outer ring from tart pan carefully… cut and serve!

46 Comments:

At 9:07 PM, Blogger Jill said...

What an incredible story! I've tried to diagnose many people, as I'm convinced everyone with strange symptoms has Celiac. To date, I've accurately diagnosed....well.... zero of my friends and family - but I'm going to keep trying! Insert smiley emoticom here....

 
At 9:31 PM, Blogger Kristin said...

My husband has Celiac as well. I just purchased 20(yes 20) pounds of blueberries and now I have you to thank for giving me the perfect recipe. Thanks!

 
At 3:53 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great story. I think most of us with Celiac could tell a similar tale. The connections in our lives are a great mercy.
And the recipe looks good too!

 
At 5:28 AM, Blogger Jodi said...

Hi Nina -
No wonder you and Shauna are friends - you write from your heart and it shows. Thanks for the great story. Thanks especially for the wonderful recipe, my friend keeps giving me blueberries and I freeze them not knowing what to do with them all. A nice tart is the perfect touch.

 
At 5:32 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

What a wonderful story. And I Looooove blueberries so this recipe is perfect, thanks!
Nice to meet a friend of Shauna's too!

 
At 5:56 AM, Blogger Jen said...

Welcome Nina, thanks for the story!

 
At 5:58 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I love this story, and the tart looks great for a baby shower we're throwing this weekend.

The traditional celiac tests didn't diagnose me---I got false negatives, which several doctors have told me are common---but the Enterolab test came back positive for both gluten intolerance and casein intolerance. I'm so grateful I got the Enterolab test.

 
At 6:39 AM, Blogger Unknown said...

You would think that people, especially people who are related by blood, would listen to ou when you tell them they may have celiac. But my sister, who has the rash, the intestinal problems, the arthritis, says "nope, not me" and don't even get me started about my grandchildren. My daughter actually said to me, "Even if he has celiac, I don't have time to change his diet"!!!It makes me crazy.

Thanks for the recipe, it looks fabulous.

 
At 7:02 AM, Blogger Gluten free Kay said...

Hi Nina,

Great story! I love happy endings (and beginnings, and middles!)

I've been anxious to hear how Booth's misdiagnosed psoriasis is doing since he went gf. I'm in the same boat. Doctors (many!)told me I had psoriasis for the last 30 years. Strangely, (not!) none of the $100 medications ever worked. My skin flared when I first gave up wheat. Confusing. But it's much better now. Sun always helps, so I'll see what happens over the winter.

I found a great company that makes gf soaps, lotions and shampoos. You can find them at www.gfsoap.com. They have very affordable trial sizes so you can test them out without getting a second mortgage.

Goat chicks rule! I'm a Christmas Eve baby, myself.

 
At 7:22 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

What a wonderful post ... welcome guestblogger!

I'm merely wheat intolerant but am fascinated by how truly are what we eat.

Since learning of my intolerance, the thing I miss the most is baking ... one of these days I will start to experiment with gluten-free baking!

 
At 9:26 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank you SO much - have been desperate for a good sweet pastry. I will give this one a go - tryng to find relevant English ingredients will be a challenge.

Great new about Lucy - hope she continues from strength to strength. Also when you wean her , which will happen all to soon, don't introduce gluten till after her first birthday

 
At 9:58 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Of all the dots and people i have connected in my life, Shauna and Nina are two of the finest! It is an honor and blessing to have both of you in my life. And here's a testimonial: that blueberry tart was absolutely delicious -- especially the crust! With much love, Judy

 
At 4:16 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Nina,
My husband has also recently been diagnosed affter a lifetime of having an "active system" and tremendous joint pain. He self-diagnosed off the internet and was confirmed. Thanks for telling your story and for the wonderful-looking tart recipe. Give Lucy a kiss for us all.......

 
At 8:58 PM, Blogger warzy said...

great story. great recipe. thanks! i need to get over my fear of g.f. baking - this just might be the ticket...

 
At 11:47 PM, Blogger Muppet said...

I am a relatively long-time reader but a first-time commenter (call me shy, I guess). Anyway, I just wanted to say that you were the very first GF blog I found after my diagnosis almost 9 years ago. It has been truly thrilling to find others who thrive despite having celiac. On a more specific note, what drove me to comment today of all days, was that I recently moved up to the Bay Area. Today, I visited Mariposa for the first time, on your suggestion. OMG what a thrill! My boyfriend (who is not GF, but VERY sympathetic) thought I was adorable as I hopped around like a child in a candy store, trying to decide what to try now and what to save for my next trip. Needless to say, I will be returning. Thanks a ton! -Muppet

 
At 4:30 AM, Blogger marky said...

What a great post!

 
At 7:26 AM, Blogger Green Key said...

Hi Nina. What a lovely story and inspiring recipe! I'm gearing up for a foray into GF baking. My freezer is loaded with all kinds of GF flours. I'm so glad your recipe notes that sweet rice flour is mochi! They don't have it at our local Whole Foods, and I didn't know where to look for it. I'll stop by the Asian market on my way home tonight.
Thanks!

 
At 8:22 AM, Blogger Sandra said...

I don't have celiac, but i found removing most of the wheat from my diet has gotten rid of my asthma, which started 2 yrs. ago, out of the blue. Dr. called it exercise-induced asthma and put me on advair and inhaler. for past two months i have needed neither and am breathing just fine. i wonder if the way they refine wheat etc. is the issue for me...

 
At 8:23 AM, Blogger Sandra said...

oh, and thanks for the recipes of desserts! that is my weakness as well as pizza...

 
At 10:40 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

It makes me sad that so many people have to be diagnosed by their friends vs. by doctors. Though of course I'm grateful that people are diagnosed, period.

 
At 7:24 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi Nina
It's great when the circles of one's friends and community intersect. Turns out my family has one of your books! We live in the college town not too far away from the island. Thanks for the tart recipe, I just harvested the first blueberries from my bushes this year (after 2 years of not allowing them to set fruit.) Of course we ate all of them immediately, but I do have more from my weekly produce box. Yum, I'm going to try it.
Cheers

 
At 8:27 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

To All the GFG Comment Folks-
It warms my heart that you like my post! This my first ever of this sort of writing.

A few replies:
Booth was not "officially diagnosed." That is a long story- too many words for this posting. He was only given one blood test for one antibody. But we took him off wheat and gluten and within 2 days there were major changes. Now, 8 months later, there is just the DH rash. The psoriasis seems to be gone- just one tiny patch on his knee area.

Booth has relatives who won't listen to him- and we are sure that they have celiac, too. One of his three sons is listening, and he is feeling so much better. He is way ahead of the game at age 23 and will lead a healthier life.

I am not allergic to wheat or gluten, but I don't tolerate cream and butter very well. However since I've gone gluten-free I feel much better and I've lost that extra weight that always plagued me. Who needs wheat when you have corn, rice, potatoes, there are so many options.

Please do try my tart recipe. National Geographic just listed blueberries as a perfect (score of 100) food- along with broccoli, oranges and green beans.

Thanks again for welcoming me!
Nina

 
At 6:14 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great to hear from you, Nina! It's like when folks bring meals for the family with a new baby, only here folks are bringing good stories. And we all get a taste.

Today is August 21: Happy One Month Birthday, little Lucy!! :) Please, Shauna & Chef, give that beautiful baby lots of kisses from this unseen admirer. (I just love baby cheeks for kissing.)

Kris in Virginia

 
At 6:38 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Your husband's story is kind of similar to my daughter's. When she was a baby she had horrible going to the bathroom problems--we had to keep alternating from bananas to prune juice. Then when she was about 18 months her knee swelled up and stopped walking, and doctors diagnosed her with juvenile arthritis and on the verge of failure to thrive. THey had planned to start injecting her knee with methotrexate(chemo drug) and I said no way. We found another doctor who ended up diagnosing her with gluten intolerance. Immediately after going gluten free she was running, growing, and having no bathroom problems. I wish everyone knew that these "diseases" are just symptoms, and if we focused more on the fuel we feed our body the better we'll be at diagnosing our own bodies.

 
At 8:06 AM, Blogger ELK said...

Nina that was a tender post and YES blueberries are a "superfood!"

 
At 4:30 PM, Blogger Me said...

Have just located some teff flour and am going to try the tart and the chocolate chip cookies. My daughter "developed" celiac after a car accident and have talked to several customers at WS, where I work, who are going gluten free as a result of symptoms that showed up after car accidents.

 
At 7:02 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks Nina for filling in for Shauna! Great story!

I had surgery on my neck 2 years ago (tumor removed on parotid gland). About a month later I started getting itchy sores up and down my arms that felt like I was being bitten by a flea! Then they moved to my lower legs. In two years I went to a ton of doctors and spent a good deal of money with no success.

Cutting out gluten helped eliminate new sores, but the old ones weren't healing. Then my chiropractor moved and I had to find a new one. In ONE MONTH the new one has cleared up my skin just with chiropractic adjustments and some drops I take for detoxing. I'm wearing shorts again!!!

My chiro said he's had similar results with other people's skin issues. Find Booth a great chiropractor!!!

I'm curious to see if all of the adjustments will help me tolerate gluten again. I'm not adverse to being gluten-free the rest of my life, though, after 2 years I'm used to it!

 
At 6:09 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you.

What a wonderful story and recipe. My daughter and I just began the gluten free journey and it's been wonderful seeing the gradual improvement in our health. Recipes like this are what is going to make our special meal moments all the more meaningful.

 
At 6:09 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I just was checking in to find out about the baby and really enjoyed Nina's post. I went to her site and was surpised to find out that she wrote and illustrated a book that I use in one of my art classes: "When Pigassso met Mootise" It is a small world and it keeps getting more gluten free!

 
At 7:06 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

It was "beshert" (meant to be) for the two of you to meet and become friends. As a result of this website and my dear cyberpals, I have learned so much about empowering others with celiac, even though no one in my family has been diagnosed with it. Thank you for adding to the story. And that tart - well - it looks beyond scrumptious!
Ellen

 
At 11:48 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Nina,
I was very grateful to read your comment about your husband's diagnosis. I recently had a blood test - I had to insist with a doctor that he prescribe it - and in the end I seem to have only been tested for one anti-body (and the test came up negative). I am convinced, however, that this is my problem. I went off gluten for several months in the spring and felt much better; I was back on wheat mostly for a couple of months and felt terrible. Almost immediately after I have wheat my digestive system goes off the rails for a couple of days...so I've officially made my own diagnosis. Perhaps it's only a wheat intolerance, but I'm too impatient with doctors at this point to bother with allergy tests. Thanks again! I'm going to try out this superb-looking recipe this afternoon.

 
At 1:49 PM, Blogger Dogmama13 said...

Hi Nina,

Thank you for filling in for Shauna. I love your post and all of Shuana's too! I have always had the symptoms everyone describes and my mom was a baker and fresh pasta makter. It was Shauna's "before" picture that got my attention. I looked like that too despite having all GI tests that ruled out Celiac. After being GF for only about three weeks I have no more asthma and no more horrible GI problems that have plagued me all my life until now. So, as Shauna says: YES! Cheers, Dogmama13

 
At 1:51 PM, Blogger Dogmama13 said...

Hi Nina,

Thank you for filling in for Shauna. I love your post and all of Shuana's too! I have always had the symptoms everyone describes and my mom was a baker and fresh pasta makter. It was Shauna's "before" picture that got my attention. I looked like that too despite having all GI tests that ruled out Celiac. After being GF for only about three weeks I have no more asthma and no more horrible GI problems that have plagued me all my life until now. So, as Shauna says: YES! Cheers, Dogmama13

 
At 1:56 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Amazing story of divine intervention. Very well told and the recipe looks deeelishis!

 
At 8:12 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

What a beautiful post. You're so right--it is about friendship. Food is just icing on the cake! Thank you for your story.
-Anjana

 
At 9:31 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

The story about Booth made me CRY!! All of a sudden I wanted to put my arm around his shoulders and express my deepest sympathy for his suffering. Thankfully he has you and Shauna! Thank you for this site!!

 
At 11:52 PM, Blogger zinnia said...

I am so amazed by Booth's journey to health. I have RA factor and what doctors say is active rheumatoid arthritis but I'm able to live unmedicated by removing gluten, dairy, and soy from my diet (among other things). I'm curious if Booth was diagnosed with RA or if his joint pain was solely diet related. I can't seem to kick the joint pain completely even though I'm gluten free. It is significantly better but not 100%. Just curious.

 
At 5:46 AM, Blogger Gluten Free...licious! said...

What a great story, thanks for sharing! I remember the story that Shauna posted when your husband was having all the symptoms of Celiac, including the DH! I can so relate! I was told I had IBS and Eczema for many years before I finally self-diagnosised myself after reading a magazine article! I felt immediately better after removing all gluten from my diet. The DH was a bit more difficult! It finally disappeared from most of my body except for a stubborn patch on my lower right leg. It was constantly itching and red...but now I can happily say after 5 years of being totally gluten-free, the rash is completely gone!! YEAH, I would never ever go back to Gluten! I tell anybody and everybody that has a strange symptom or condition to get tested for Celiac!

Lisa :)

 
At 7:12 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks for the story. Everytime i read the stories and comments from readers, it brings tears to my eyes because there are people out there that fully understand what its like living with Celiac. My 2.5 yr old son has it and like you, i figured baking was out of the question for the rest of our lives but Shauna's recipes have been life changing. Thanks again!

 
At 7:58 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I was also not officially diagnosed but all my symptoms disappeared upon the farewell of gluten. Oy, and they all come back if I am contaminated, usually in a restaurant.

~Shoshannah

P.S. and YOU look like Lisa Edelstein!

 
At 7:58 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hello all, Booth here, sorry to have been backstage all this time but I am not a blogger nor a public person. After reading all these comments it's time I gave my 2 pennies worth. So, I have been gluten free since last turkey day, 100%. it hasn't been easy, mostly 'cause i love(ed) beer. I've learned to adjust and Nina and Shauna have been such incredible and supportive help that it seems easy. I wish you all had such wonderful people around you to help ease the transition. Being gluten free has been almost effortless with their help. Thank you Nina and Shauna!! I can tell you that my stomach/intestinal symptoms are a thing of the past. I still have some lingering joint pain and stiffness but I feel that is due to the 50+ years of gluten abuse. It is nothing compared to what it was last December. The DH is another story. It is still a total 24/7 issue. It seems to come and go as far as intensity but it is never far away. I have tried dapson, it seems to help the rash but it makes me totally nauseous and weak so after a few days the rash seems like a better alternative to feeling like sh...t. I still have never had a "medical" test confirm my celiac but there is no doubt in my mind. I will continue on this path and I know the rash will fade away. I feel my strength and vitality returning so to all of you out there with doubts just stay the course, you have everything to gain and nothing to lose.

Cheers.

 
At 8:38 PM, Blogger Me said...

Tried the choclate chip cookies and yum! They get better as they age - just like wine and me ...

 
At 9:02 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

A note to Shoshannah-
I'm awfully flattered that you think I look like Lisa Edelstein... but over the years, I usually get "you look like Elaine on Seinfeld." It's the dark hair/glasses thing... My mom always wanted dark hair and blue eyes, and I got'em. Recessive genes. (or the Polish side of my family)

I'm blessed, however to be married to Booth, who loves me for me- a city girl turned island girl who doesn't wear make-up, or even brush her hair sometimes...

We love food, friends, and sharing our lives with those we love, too.

We saw Lucy today- she is more gorgeous than Lisa- and she has blue eyes- and maybe red hair... but that may change. We all change. I'm trying to make friends with my gray hairs.

Here's to beauty on the inside!
-Nina

 
At 4:04 AM, Blogger Shirley said...

Nina--Enjoyed your post very much! I love how we make such wonderful connections in this world! I am so thrilled that Booth is doing so much better. (I do remember Shauna's post a while back about his road to being gluten free.) I lead a celiac/gluten issues support group and seeing people improve dramatically after going gluten free (whether they have a doctor-sanctioned diagnosis or not) is one of the greatest joys in my life. After experiencing dramatic recovery myself, I have to keep spreading the word to those who might be affected. I am so grateful to folks like Shauna (and now you!) who can promote awareness and the joys of real food that is naturally gluten free on a national level. As Shauna says, YES!

Booth--Glad you piped in. I have to admit I chuckled when Nina said you always said you had an "active" system. We all have special words and euphemisms for our woes. ;-) We convince ourselves that whatever is going on is normal for us and, frankly, most doctors don't do much to dispel that. Kudos for taking responsibility for your own health and wellness!!

FYI to all--A new voice in the gluten awareness is Dr. Rodney Ford. A pediatric gastroenterologist, allergist, etc., he is making big in roads in educating folks about the "gluten syndrome." Check him out at www.doctorgluten.com, but don't miss his You Tube videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtxfV49YYZM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czB5iwh6kKE

This last one I shared with my group when I first heard about him. He's a bit of a character in his presentation, but he speaks the truth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBTyZtpHOno&feature=related

Special thanks, Nina, for your last comment with the brief report on baby Lucy! I know all of us are so happy that Lucy is in the world with Shauna and Chef and all is well.

 
At 4:22 AM, Blogger vegetablej said...

Lovely story and a geat blog. I had a look at your friend's site "See-Saw" and loved the videos and concepts. The idea of work being as good in the process as in the end result is so right.

I'd like to respond to Booth's issues with skin rashes. I guess it could take longer than 9 months to cure HD but skin usually reacts much more quickly, so speaking from long experience with terrible skin rashes, cracks, itching etc. I would suggest he check out whether he has a second sensitivity. In my case, I can't have dairy products and a few other things either. He might want to try a skin scratch test, or just eliminate suspected things one by one until he has some success.

Some of the most common are:

dairy
soy
tomatoes
fish/shellfish
peanuts
eggs

and things like food colorings and additives, which can be adressed by going organic and reading labels

I sure hope he has success with this as I know how miserable it can be. Best of luck!

 
At 12:49 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks especially for the wonderful recipe, my friend keeps giving me blueberries and I freeze them not knowing what to do with them all. A nice tart is the perfect touch.

 

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