Eating for most people is easy. They don’t have to think about it. I do. I have several food allergies, so I think constantly about what is in my food. I have resorted to a very simplistic diet. That’s not bad, but it is limiting. I avoid eating out. When you see the list of things that I can’t have, you will see why. And then there is the long list of things I don’t like to eat…

Here’s what I can’t eat:

gluten (that means no wheat, barley, rye or spelt)

soy

peanuts

mushrooms

What I don’t eat (don’t like or doesn’t agree with my system):

pork

shellfish

broccoli

cauliflower

garlic (must keep it to minimum)

Just these things alone eliminate lots of yummy ethnic foods. I also watch what I eat as far as calories go. I never used to when I ate bread, but I had digestive issues that kept me skinny and often had me passed out in pain on the bathroom floor. So here I am after watching Julie and Julia wondering if those delicious French recipes can be modified for my diet. I have never undertaken changing recipes. It is just too much trouble. I like to know that the recipe is going to work out. I like the tried and tested. Gluten free flours are so expensive and hard to find that I just don’t bake often. So back to Julia Childs… I love French food. I miss baguettes. So I’m out to see if I can modify the recipes for my dietary needs. I am unlikely to attempt every recipe, but in the process I hope to learn some new techniques in cooking. With all the butter, I will have to find a way to exercise more or taste the recipes and feed other people.