Allergy Baking: The Fallout

Like I mentioned, I don't own an electric mixer. This kept me from trying out my pumpkin pie using a Gluten-Free Pie Crust recipe I found. I'm not sure I have the counter space or the skill to try such a process, either. I admit, it scares me. But I want to find good gluten-free things to make for my boyfriend so he isn't tempted to eat all the glutenated foods he encounters every day at my apartment, the on-campus dining halls, and his neighbors. He cheats. Regularly. I think I get more upset with him eating gluten than I do with him eating chocolate or ice cream.

Ok, for a little bit of background, my boyfriend recently lost something like 50 lbs. At least, that's the number he tells me. I actually didn't know him before he lost the weight. He hasn't done anything miraculous to do it, either. But he kinda wants to lose a little bit more and I'm sure the deserts, the sugar, and the take-out food doesn't help. I, too, would like to lose some weight. I just don't have any self control. I'll be really good for a couple of months, then go grocery shopping and the temptation will be unbearable. Oreo cookies, chips, imported chocolate bars (I'm addicted to the "international food" aisle!), brownie mixes, I could go on. Winter is the worst. They break out the almond cookies in the center aisle. The Reese's peanut butter trees. Ugh.

I keep telling my boyfriend that he should go shopping for me and buy healthy foods. He thinks I should try becoming vegetarian to see if I can do it. I'm already borderline... I don't eat a lot of meat, but I also don't like many vegetables. I'm trying to do better, though.

I digress. He's really good at trying to stop me from eating the candies, the chocolates, and the cookies. But I'm not as good at getting him to stop eating gluten. Pizza is a weakness of both of ours. But he's got a bigger weakness for crackers than me & chocolate. So I want to surround him with things that aren't likely to make his gluten intolerance worse. I've heard that the more often you "cheat" the worse you can get, until it becomes possibly life-threatening. I really don't want that. I don't want to worry that crackers could seriously harm him. That scares me.

So I haven't made my pies again because I don't want the regular ones around tempting him and can't get myself to try making the gluten-free pie crust. It looks SO complicated!! I'll have to start looking online for a less complicated version. Like I said, I might try to make it again for the feast we're doing this weekend. It looks like there will be enough people here that I don't have to worry about leftovers (as long as I make something people end up liking!).

Meanwhile I busy myself trying to find gluten-free recipes for my favorite things to bake. It's a bit of a journey, but I've had lots of self-esteem boosts from his family when I made a few things over thanksgiving. I asked him about a million times "So how did your family like...." Every time he tells me they loved it. I might not believe it if they keep liking everything. Surely not every bread or muffin can be a success.