MONO Lessons (Part XVIII: 366 - 382)

Meditatively Obtained, Novel, and Observational (MONO) Lessons

366. The more I think about it, the more I want nothing to do with anything Mormon.

367. I need somebody to type my autobiography while I just blab away about my bizarre and somewhat heartbreaking past.

368. I don’t believe in “love at first sight.” However, I’m a strong believer in “like at first sight” and an even stronger believer in “lust at first sight.”

369. I have some unresolved issues with him.

370. She can hold out for a whole month!

371. I’m acting like a teenager and I’m fine with it.

372. Daiquiri Ice is DAIRY FREE!

373. Physics is more phun when I can phocus on it.

374. If I need a new kidney, YOU are waking up in an ice bath. Just sayin’…

375. I'm pretty rational about flying off the handle. – AEW

376. When I’m annoyed, I can’t hide it.

377. Don’t have the ice cream. Just don’t.

378. The best part about having a boyfriend is he goes to every freaking concert with me. ☺

379. When finally confronted with a question you’ve been waiting to be asked for years, it can catch you so off guard that you freeze up and avoid answering it the way you’ve rehearsed a million times in your head.

380. 1982 Tron = AWFUL! Seriously. Did Disney really release that to the general public?

381. I have never found a human being more repugnant, cowardly, and disgraceful than those two and I haven’t even met them.

382. Somebody dislikes Halloween more than I. And that’s saying something.

Jason Hoggan 2/22/11 Jason Hoggan 2/22/11

MONO Lessons (Part XVI: 321 - 342)

Meditatively Obtained, Novel, and Observational (MONO) Lessons

321. I like him. I like him a lot.

322. I haven’t had the opportunity to be just friends with someone before dating them. The transition is so pleasant and non-nerve-racking. Natural, if you will.

323. I suddenly like the song “Head Over Feet” by Alanis Morissette…hmmm…

324. It’s even weirder to have completed Psychology of Love a couple of months ago and now beginning an actual new relationship. Talk about textbook…

325. I CAN MAKE GLUTEN-FREE, DAIRY-FREE, & EGG-FREE OATMEAL RAISIN COOKIES!!! Epic day. 07/11/10.

326. That woman lives her life through her pain-body. How sad.

327. Minds can change extremely fast.

328. I have identified five collective pain-bodies in which I have a stake:

a. The American Gay (LGBTQ+) Pain-Body

b. The Mormon (LDS) Pain-Body

c. The Gay Mormon Pain-Body

d. The Food Allergy Pain-Body

e. The Gluten-Intolerant/Celiac Pain-Body

329. I find hidden Mickey’s in my everyday life.

330. I’m capable of sending and receiving an “It’s me” voicemail.

331. The past can truly be haunting.

332. “D-BOX” isn’t dirty, it’s just a vibratey seat!

333. When I like a movie enough, I can see it 5 times in 15 days. Inception rocks.

334. Monday, August 30, 2010: Kidney stone. Worst. Pain. EVER.

335. Guess what? Potassium, still only inching it’s way up. I have far more blood tests than I would prefer.

336. If they changed their mind and “accepted” me, I don’t think I would go back. The damage is done.

337. Clubbing is much more tolerable with a significant other.

338. Blogging is like therapy.

339. Protests and rallies are like therapy.

340. Wendover is so sleazy it’s spectacular.

341. Gambling is kinda stupid…

342. Saying “my boyfriend” makes me all giddy. *sigh*

Jason Hoggan 7/12/10 Jason Hoggan 7/12/10

Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, & Egg-Free Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

On the morning of Sunday, July 11th, my friend sends me a text saying, "I feel like having a cookie." At that moment, I had the most immense yearning for a cookie that I've ever had. For those of you who don't know me too well, I'm really just not a sweets fan. Yes, they're very tasty, but I am content without them. What I'm saying is, it is odd to have a craving like this consume me so suddenly.

So the hunt began. After looking through about a dozen cookbooks and searching the internet, I settled on a gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free oatmeal raisin cookie recipe from Sophie-Safe Cooking by Emily Hendrix.

Here's the recipe:

1/2 cup (1 stick) margarine or shortening (I used Earth Balance buttery spread)
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/3 cup rice milk (I used unsweetened Almond Breeze)
2 1/2 cups GF oat flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
2 cups GF old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup raisins

Here's the recipe:

With a mixer, mix the Earth Balance and sugars. Add vanilla and Almond Breeze and mix again. Add GF oat flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt and mix well.

Finally, stir in the GF old-fashioned oats and raisins. Drop the dough on cookie sheets.

The author suggests making rounded tablespoon-sized cookies and baking at 350°F for 12 minutes making about 4 dozen cookies. That's nice, but I made my cookies about 3x larger and baked them for about 18 minutes making 18 large cookies instead of 48 itty bitty ones.

Now some notes:

Make sure you purchase gluten-free oats! Bob's Red Mill makes some amazing gluten-free oats that I highly recommend.
Unfortunately, Bob doesn't make gluten-free oat flour. He does make gluteny oat flour, so don't purchase that by mistake. Instead, make your own gluten-free oat flour with your gluten-free oats in a blender or an Ultimate Chopper.
Earth Balance is a gluten-free, dairy-free (and egg-free) buttery spread.

Here is my experience. First, I don't cook. That said, I definitely don't bake. So if I can do this, so can you.

The packaged ingredients.  Yes, I had to actually buy sugars because we got rid of all of our sugar. — The packaged ingredients. Yes, I had to actually buy sugars because we got rid of all of our sugar.

Next, in our Ultimate Chopper:

Gluten-Free Oats turn into Gluten-Free Oat Flour!

Oatmeal raisin cookies made with oat flour.  Doesn't that just make sense? — Oatmeal raisin cookies made with oat flour. Doesn't that just make sense?

The measured ingredients.  Yes, those are shot glasses...from IKEA! — The measured ingredients. Yes, those are shot glasses...from IKEA!

Now the weirdest thing happened. About 1 minute after adding the dry ingredients to the mix, I started crying. It just suddenly happened. They were tears of pure joy! I've missed oatmeal raisin cookies so much and now I get to have them again!

Here is the dough after adding the whole oats and raisins: