Bad Version of Eggplant Pomodoro Pasta

I saw a delicious looking recipe on-line called Eggplant Pomodoro that included red wine vinegar and olives and so on.   A little Mediterranean which is good for Steve's skin but when I went to make it I realized I really wasn't prepared.

So typical of a non-chef, non-cook!  So I did what I do and I substituted.  I thought it was good but I decided either I don't know how to cook eggplant well or I just don't like it.

While the family nibbled on some fresh green beans I cut up some:
--eggplant
--broccoli
--onion
--tomatoes
--garlic
and boiled up quinoa spiral noodles (what are they called, the spiral)?

After all the vegetables were sauteed in a little oil and lemon I tossed in the noodles.  It wasn't really yummy (but good) but I wish I took a picture because it looked superb.

A little salt and pepper, extra lemon for me and of course Steve added his sirachi, which makes anything good!

I don't care though because he ate a boat load of fresh ingredients full of all the nutrients a fella needs.

Spaghetti Squash Spaghetti

I love when L wants spaghetti because she can never remember how to say it so she says, "Mommy, I want the noodles like Katy makes but long."  So cute.

We are pretty much down with the quinoa and mixed potato noodles but I really didn't care for the rice noodles.  I think because I keep over cooking them.

This week in our CSA, besides some lovely flowers, was a spaghetti squash.  I keep meaning to try this out so I finally did!

It was really yummy. 

It kinda tastes like noodles but a little crunchy, not crunchy like noodles that aren't cooked, but crunchy like a pretzel...sorta.  I will definitely make this again.  L like it but H wasn't in the mood.  Steve was at work so he hasn't tried it yet.

• I cut the squash in half length wise, drizzled with a little oil and black pepper
• Put it on a baking sheet and into the over for about 2 hours on 350
• Pulled it out and with a fork just scraped it out and poured sauce on top

That easy!  Here are a few pictures. 

Is it More Than Lactose?

My little L has had tummy issues since the beginning.  I had to stop breast feeding her at 6 weeks because everything was making her sick.  She had to go on alimentum with rice as well as a prescription for her reflux.

The conclusion was she was lactose intolerant.  Over the years there were times when we thought maybe she had outgrown it but sure enough regular cows milk sent her into one of two directions; total constipation or the total opposite way.

We are now revisiting at all of this.  Why?  Over the last month or two she has had numerous accidents.  Accidents that she misjudges.  Accidents that she thinks is just gas.  The pain has created a little girl who does everything she can to avoid going to the potty because she knows there is a high possibility that it will be severely painful.

This, no doubt, has lead to constipation and cramping and, of course, many tears.

At 3, I tell her, "you cannot have milk or cheese, no gold fish or yogurt" and so on and she remembers.  If someone tries to give it to her she simply says, "I can't have that.  It will hurt my tummy." 

There is a serious problem when a young child will forgo her favorite foods because she knows what the end result will most likely be.

We've decided to cut out all dairy and see if this will help her.  Initially we only cut out straight dairy like ice cream, milk or cheese.  We did allow her certain foods that did not contain lactose like goat cheese, mozzarella and yogurt.   But now we are giving that all up including anything that obviously has dairy like cheese nips or gold fish.  
We will see how this goes and maybe step it up to anything with milk like cupcakes, breads etc.

Any other ideas?  Suggestion?  It is breaking my heart watching her in so much pain.