Yet here’s proof that forty-plus years of homemade meals in this kitchen could be made without so much as a smudge, and that represents the care by which Mom tended her every endeavor.

In addition to her role supporting others who suffered with autoimmune disorders, multiple-chemical sensitivities, allergies, cancer, and other difficult-to-manage health conditions, Mom kept an immaculate home which was necessary to reduce allergens and help her belongings last as long as possible to avoid the need to purchase new items that would go through an off-gassing process. Off-gassing is known to materials experts as a complicated issue involving airborne toxins emanating from building materials, furnishings, cleaning products, car interiors, computers, and other household items (Gray, 2020).

Before Mom became ill in the late 1970s, a salesperson who sold her the iconic, orange and red mosaic carpet that still lines her floors, said that the best way to make the carpet last was to keep it as clean as possible by vacuuming often because dirt particles will otherwise embed in the fibers and wear off the pile. The vacuum-often theory is supported by carpet experts like Mary Warren, who wrote on LinkedIn about how Dirt Damages Carpet Fibers Over Time, and can be seen in the long-lasting quality of Mom’s retro carpets. By the time of her diagnosis in the 1980s, the carpet was off-gassed so keeping it intact presented less of a threat than removing and replacing it with hardwood, which would have caused another off-gassing event. Even her bedroom carpet, which was moved from the living room to avoid adding new products to her sleep space, is in good condition despite being the original floor treatment from 1964 when the house was built. I marvel at the pristine condition of the kitchen in particular because Mom cooked most of her foods from scratch and I know from experience that home-cooking creates all kinds of opportunities for big, sticky messes that do not land well on carpeted floors. Yet here’s proof, that forty-plus years of homemade meals in this kitchen could be made without so much as a smudge, and that represents the care by which Mom tended her every endeavor.

Image credit: nancyssunshine.com

Another way that Mom took special care was in the creation of recipes that were palatable while being attentive to exclude allergens and other aggravating contents. Consuming any allergens, hidden additives, or sugars (and even touching some ingredients) resulted in inflammation of the skin and digestive tract including throat, gut, intestinal, and rectal mucosa. Things that did not cause inflammation itself, upset the yeast balance or triggered a SIBO flare. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is defined as excessive bacteria in the small intestine and remains a poorly understood disease. It was initially thought to occur in only a small number of patients, but is more prevalent than previously thought. Patients with SIBO often vary in severity of symptoms but commonly suffer from chronic diarrhea, weight loss, and malabsorption (Dukowicz, et al., 2007).

Here is one of my favorite of Mom’s recipes which gave the satisfaction of eating a sweet muffin while remaining safe for her tummy. Mom often used these as a base for sandwiches or toasted them to crumble on top of salads and soups, but she also enjoyed them plain, with organic, grass-fed butter, or with organic goat milk kefir. This picture is not from any of Mom’s batches because she really did not have me or anyone else over to the house very often or to share meals on a regular basis. She was so sensitive to viruses that it was not possible to spend time together even before the Covid-19 pandemic. I pulled this photo from a gluten-free, pumpkin muffin recipe by Kathleen Ashmore who creates healthy recipes that feel good to make and good to eat. While Nancy’s Sunshine is not a recipe blog, sometimes I will share Mom’s recipes to highlight ways that she coped that may have value for other folks with similar health predicaments.

Image credit: https://kathleenashmore.com/bakery-style-pumpkin-ginger-muffins/

Nancy’s Sunshine SQUASH MUFFINS (in her own words)

3/4 cup water ‐ add 3 tea bags of Mulling spice [R. W. KNUDSEN ORGANIC simmer 5 min., turn off and let steep.
Steam ACORN SQUASH needs 3 cups [or other squash to your liking].
2 ½ cups mixed flours ‐ CASAVA, ALMOND, QUINOA, FAVA [OR ALMOND flour to replace the quinoa or fava]
Spices [Simply Organic]
2 full tsp ALL SPICE
1 tsp GROUND CLOVES
2 tsp GARAM MASALA
1 tsp TURMERIC
1 TBSP VANILLA
1 tsp SALT
3 EGGS
2 TBSP SESAME OIL
2 TBSP AVOCADO OIL
2 TBSP OLIVE OIL
3 droppers SWEET LEAF STEVIA CLEAR
Mix all the dry ingredients and then add all the moist ingredients. The batter may be too thin, and you may need to add more flour. Find the consistency you need for your palate [can be too moist or too dry, but don’t make a thick batter]. Bake at 365° on second to the last bottom shelf for approximately 20 to 25 min. and then top shelf for 5 to 8 min. Watch closely to not over bake or under bake. This is an excellent way to get valuable nutrients from the veggies because each muffin has a nice amount in it.

Hopefully this recipe will find a place in the hearts and homes of others who need to find creative ways to meet their particular dietary needs as well as giving a few ideas for improving the indoor air quality in your homes.

References:

Dukowicz, A. C., Lacy, B. E., & Levine, G. M. (2007). Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth: a comprehensive review. Gastroenterology & hepatology, 3(2), 112–122. Retrieved on July 7, 2023 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3099351/

Gray, Audrey. (2020, February 12). What you need to know about off-gassing. [web article]. Architectural Digest. Retrieved on July 5, 2023 from https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/what-is-off-gassing