Tuesday, April 14, 2009

A Few Questions


I whacked my arm on a door knob. It feels like its cracked or something It's been hurting for a month, now. Why pay hundreds to have someone confirm it. So I chose to care for my body in my own way. I bought a splint, two weeks ago, and my arm is getting better.


Four months into the year, still no unemployment check, it's rare to hear of anyone who has received theirs, from Michigan's overtaxed system. This four months mark is the point you have stopped working to pay the government and now get to work for yourself, yet, today I write a check, we didn't pay enough income tax last year.


If the bone had been obviously bent, I would have sought medical care, but what if the government was in charge of health care:


would I get what I needed,

would the doctor get paid,

how long would it take,

would I need a license to have a splint,

would I have the right to chose to earn an income and then pay for the care myself,

how much does the legislators get paid,

do the people in government know better than I do on how I should live my life,

spend my money,

care for my fellow human,





Monday, April 6, 2009

Easy Gluten Free Banana Bread




Sometimes, I like taking the easy way out. Take today for instance, one-handed typing is slow and frustrating, so I'm having my daughter, Lisa, do my typing. This week's recipe is a quick conversion of our favorite banana bread recipe, taken from Gold Medal® flour's Alpha-Bakery Children's Cookbook. Our copy was published in 1987. The book is still available though the Betty Crocker® website.

I made two simple changes and added two ingredients that make gluten free bake goods possible. The recipe called for ¾ cup vegetable oil. To avoid mushy, gooey bread when using rice flour always cut the fat in half, when converting from original glutenful recipes. Instead of one type of flour I always use a little bit of Millet flour because it provides a crisper crust.

My first addition was, of course, guar gum used to hold the air that makes bread rise. Don't forget, you can use xanthan gum instead. My second addition, unflavored gelatin, is a stronger binding agent than the gums and is necessary to make a firmer bread, keeping it from falling apart at slicing time.

The bread is not as good as the original made with wheat flour, but it is nothing to sneeze at. Lisa made a loaf Friday and it was quickly eaten. Give this quick and easy recipe a try.


Gluten Free Banana Bread
1 ¾ cup rice flour
¼ millet flour
2 teaspoons guar gum
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 package unflavored gelatin
¾ cup sugar
1 ½ cup mashed banana
2 tablespoons oil
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
¾ cup soy milk

Turn the oven to 325°, and grease a loaf pan with gluten free shortening. In a medium bowl, mix all dry ingredients together. Add wet ingredients and stir well. Pour into greased loaf pan. Bake for 70 minutes.