I am having some friends over on Thursday for a dinner party. These are friends I cook for every once in a while. They know my eating habits and when inviting me for dinner at their place, always ask if I can eat what they have planned to cook. I usually offer to bring something that everyone can enjoy.

 So this Thursday I want to make it quite casual, buffet style. Lots of finger foods. So this is the menu:

Chicken & Cauliflower Croquettes

Mini Cheese & Spinach Timbales

Sri Lankan Curry Feast

Pear & Almond Pudding

All very easy. I can make all of this ahead of time, if I want to. Curries are always best the next day and I have the chutney in store from my last monthly cooking effort.

Sandra

Every day I make Reuben’s school lunch. Today I decided that his school lunches look better than mine, mainly because he gets more treats than I do. His lunch might look something like this. Chicken and Date & Orange Chutney Souffle Roll-Up. Apple & Pear Sauce with Yoghurt & Honey. Fruit Roll-Ups and two Pecan Caramel Toffees. My lunch is generally either forgotten or a quick slice of Frittata. So I’ve decided to get myself a great looking lunch box, just like Reuben’s and I’m giving myself all the treats he gets.

 Sandra

I always have a batch of onion rolls in the freezer. They are so easy to whip up, but sometimes it’s nice to come home, place a couple in the oven and 15 minutes or so later have a fresh crunchy roll. I noticed that if I place a heat proof bowl with water in the bottom of the oven and bake the rolls until they brown up a little more, they come out quite crisp. I tried something my grandmother used to love (she used quark, similar to cottage cheese). I took a couple of yoghurt balls (labna) spread them on to the rolls and a dollop of blueberry jam. It was great!

 Sandra

Everytime I travel I have to make some small preparations. It used to be the most daunting thing for me. How could I keep my symptoms under check so they would not be noticed or impact on anyone around me. The stress from that alone was enough to keep me at home. It only took about 6 weeks of being on the SCD diet that I was ready to make my first trip. I remember I prepared dilligently. I was visiting a friend for 2 nights and 3 days. I filled a flask with my homemade yoghurt. Baked a batch of biscuits and took my copy of ‘Breaking The Vicious Cycle’ with me to show to my friends. I wanted to explain to them why I was now such a fussy eater and I thought by showing them the book it would make it easier to explain. I also contacted the airline and explained to them that due to a medical situation I would appreciate being sat close to the toilets. This wasn’t a problem for them and knowing that made me feel at ease instantly. My friends were very interested in the diet and as it turned out they had a friend who also suffered from a bowel disease. I also offered to cook and produced a delicious chicken soup and salad, which everyone loved. As time went by I became quite an expert at travelling. I have been on long trips that have lasted 3 - 4 weeks. We usually book a hotel suite with kitchen and the first thing I do is make yoghurt and bread. I travel with a set of condiments, a flask which I use for yoghurt making and almond meal. It sounds like a major hassle, but it really isn’t. Firstly it puts your mind at ease and secondly your quality of life keeps improving. The diet is part of my life-style. This I have accepted and it is no more hassle than brushing my teeth.

Sandra

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