My gluten-free adventures

Happy Joe's and other excitement!

2011-01-02T22:23:00.005-06:00

Holiday time....naturally the holidays tend to kind of revolve around FOOD....which, for a gluten-intolerant person, can be a challenge (and even accompanied by sadness).

My family is becoming increasingly more and more cognizant of my gluten-free lifestyle. I love them for it! Obviously I love them for many more, and more important reasons as well...but their understanding of my need to live a gluten-free life is really a huge blessing to my life.

This was my THIRD gluten-free Christmas...I can hardly believe the time has flown by so quickly! It seems like just yesterday was that October 2008 day when I made up my mind to "quit" gluten "cold turkey"!!

Yesterday (1-1-11!) we had the annual Christmas get-together for my Mom's side of the family. My mom told me that she had seen that Happy Joe's (a yummy pizza place in the Quad City area) now carries gluten free pizza crust!

This is amazing to me for a number of reasons....if you've read much of my blog you know that my biggest gluten-free "sadness" is the lack of pizza. Oh, I love pizza! :) So, knowing of another gluten-free pizza option....is amazing!

Secondly, Happy Joe's brings back good childhood memories for me :). I am fully aware that their pizza may not be the best ever or anything really hugely unique or exciting to some people. However, it is truly nostalgic for me. We didn't go out for pizza much when I was growing up...but when we did, it was typically for Happy Joe's!

I can't wait to check out their ingredients to see what I can eat there! I am hoping for their Canadian bacon...it would be amazing if that was gluten free. That was definitely one of my favorites :).

I felt so loved/taken care of by my mom and sister yesterday...they each had prepared me a little single-serving gluten-free version of dishes that they brought to share at the Christmas party! Megan brought a baked pineapple dish (that was amazing, by the way!). The regular recipe called for a cracker crumble-topping, as well as flour in the dish. She omitted the topping and substituted corn starch for flour in my little single-serving dish. Yum! My mom made a delicious sweet potato casserole (one of my favorites!) and also swapped the flour for corn starch. The entire large dish was gluten free...but she scooped out a little dish for me ahead of time so that it wouldn't get cross-contaminated at the big buffet table! WOW! In addition, she made me a little single-serving dish of a strawberry jello dish that typically has a graham cracker crust (crustless for me). Mmmm! :)

Thanks, family, you are such a gift to me! :)

Another Gluten-Free Holiday :)

2010-12-24T19:59:00.001-06:00

Merry Christmas Eve, all!

Yeah...I'm a slacker-blogger :).

Thought I'd drop a quick post about my new favorite GF item...Progresso Soup! Many of their varieties are now gluten free....how awesome is that! Be careful, not ALL of their soups are gluten free. The ones that are, are clearly labeled on the can.

The most exciting to me thus far is the cream of mushroom soup....this is, in my opinion, a bit of a breakthrough in the gluten-free-cooking world. Many casseroles call for a creamy soup...and creamy soups are typically rather hard to find (in my experience, anyway). Now, though, a cream-based GF soup is easy to find at common grocery stores....and inexpensive to boot!

I used my first can of Progresso cream of mushroom soup today in a cheesy potato casserole dish that i made and brought to my in-laws' tonight for our Christmas Eve dinner.

The recipe called for 2 lbs of shredded frozen hash browns (I used Ore-Ida...GF), 2 cups of shredded sharp cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup of melted butter, 1 can of cream soup, salt/pepper to taste, and 1 cup of sour cream....I mixed all ingredients together in a large mixing bowl and then spread in a 9x13 pan.

Before adding the cream of mushroom soup, i actually strained out the rather large chunks of mushrooms. While I tend to enjoy mushrooms....my husband definitely doesn't. So, the chunks had to go!

I baked the casserole at 350 for a little over an hour....and, since it sure wasn't fatty enough already ;), I sprinkled a bit of shredded cheddar on top before it was finished.

So, there you have it....a yummy, easy GF side dish that is sure to please the cheesy-potato lovers in your family :).

Merry Christmas!

Posted by Rachelyn via Blogaway

CUPCAKES!

2010-11-06T09:26:00.004-05:00

So I am hosting a baby shower today with two of my good friends, Jamie and Shannon! Our friend, Jillian, is expecting a baby with her husband Lynden in late December! We couldn't be more excited for them :).

We've been planning this for weeks...and it will all come together (hopefully!! :)) today! I had volunteered to make a dessert (GF of course, for myself and another guest who is GF...our friend Maggie). Yesterday I decided it would be cupcakes.

FILLED cupcakes.

I've never attempted such a feat, but decided...why not?! Really, there's not a whole lot that excites me more than a new baking adventure. Ok...maybe I like running a bit more ;)....but I do really like creating new things, including in the kitchen.

I think it was at least somewhat successful :).

What was the method to my madness you ask?

Well, I started with Betty Crocker's awesome GF cake mixes. I made 14 chocolate cupcakes and 15 yellow cupcakes (why the strange numbers??...just how the batter ended up working out in the cupcake liners. Ha!).

I simply followed the instructions on the packages and let the cupcakes cool.

As they cooled on the counter...I made the filling.

I read a number of recipe blogs online to get the inspiration, but ended up completely making up the filling I used....I was personally craving strawberry, so I knew I wanted something strawberry-and-creme-y

I made a box of stove-top vanilla pudding (it called for 3 cups of milk, I used 2 1/4 cups of milk to ensure the pudding would be really thick). I simply followed the instructions on the box.

To the completed pudding, I added half of a brick of cream cheese (I ended up using the 1/3 less fat variety), 2 cups of powdered sugar, and a half a cup of strawberry jam (I use the "simply fruit" kind with no added sugar...not that it really matters in this case, with all of the sugar in the cupcakes! HA!). I mixed this with a hand mixer until it was super smooth and creamy. I then stuck it in the freezer to cool for a while (it was still pretty hot from cooking the pudding).

When I was satisfied that the filling was sufficiently cooled, I spooned it into a pastry bag fitted with a long narrow tip (for Bismark filling). I thrust the tip into the center of the top of the first cupcake...and squeezed some filling down into the cupcake!

It was really a guessing game...clearly you can't really see the filling going into the cupcake, so I was guessing by "feel". Sometimes the top of the cupcake began to raise up a bit as I squeezed the filling in, so I knew I should probably stop to ensure I didn't make the poor thing explode.

Some of the filling oozed out the top hole of the cupcakes...so I gently wiped off the excess if there was a lot.

After all of the filling was inserted, I frosted those bad boys!

I just whipped up some easy frosting (with lots of powdered sugar to ensure it would be stiff enough to hold its shape) and added a few drops of blue food coloring to make pastel blue frosting. I glopped the stuff into a different pastry bag fitted with a round tip and piped spiral-ly tops onto the cupcakes.

Our friends Paul and Lisa were over during this escapade watching a movie with Jeremy downstairs. I brought them each one when they were complete...and they did voice approval of the treats...but I am not sure if they were just being polite ;). The true test will be this afternoon's shower! :)

Regardless of outcome, they were a really fun first attempt at a filled cupcake...and I would love to experiment more! I just need more people to be my taste-testers so I don't end up gaining 50 lbs! :)

Happy Baking!

Carnitas Soup

2010-11-06T09:11:00.003-05:00

So, I enjoy adapting favorite recipes and making them "my own". Monday night I needed to prepare some soup for a potluck lunch at work the next day. I decided to adapt one of my favorite recipes, Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Soup...

Basically, I pulled out my crockpot...plugged it in (on LOW heat)...and started layering the following items inside:

1. 1 bottle of gluten free beer...I used Redbridge

2. Pour in one package of GF taco seasoning (I used McCormick's reduced sodium)

3. Add veggies/beans....adapt however you want! I used all canned, but you can use fresh things as well! I put in:

~ two cans of tomatos/chillies (one happened to be Rotel brand, the other was something else I can't remember...but usually I use all Rotel),

~two cans of diced tomatoes,

~one large can of black beans (drained, rinsed),

~two cans of hominy (drained, rinsed),

~two cans of dark red kidney beans (drained, rinsed)

3. Add meat...I used 2.5 lbs of pork loin...just plopped it into the middle of the mess of beans/veggies and covered it up by spooning veggies/beans on top.

4. The soup looked kinda thick so I added 3 cups of water...could also use some kind of stock (when I've made chicken taco soup this way, I use chicken stock for a bit more liquid)

5. Add some more seasoning if you want...I sprinkled some cumin, salt, and fresh-ground pepper on top.

6. Cover and let your crock pot work it's magic! I cooked it over night for 7 hours on low, then brought it to work and cooked for 3 more hours on low. Clearly it would very...but this turned out pretty dang deliciously!

7. Shred your meat (pork here). When I woke up in the morning (which happened to be 4:30am since I was going to a spinning class prior to work!), I pulled out the pork (which was falling-apart-tender) and shredded it quickly on a cutting board, and then put it back into the soup and gave it a good stir.

8. Serve with any appropriate accompaniments...tortilla chips, cheese, sour cream, bread...whatever! :)

The crock pot was scraped to the very bottom at the lunch...so I think that was a good sign :).

Here's a picture of some of the "leftover" (I reserved some of it to keep at home. Actually, it's going to be our dinner tonight!).

Enjoy!!!

(aside...someday I'll get a "real" camera and learn how to take "real" photos :))

Raspberry Muffins

2010-11-06T08:44:00.002-05:00

Last weekend we had some "surprise" overnight weekend guests....well a surprise to me, anyhow. My wonderful husband had planned a surprise birthday party for me. Two of the out of town guests, Brooke and Jamie, had arranged with Jeremy to stay overnight at our house after the party on Saturday night. Naturally I was SUPER excited...Brooke is one of my dearest friends, however I was also a bit stressed...if you know me, you know I like to have control and order in my life, and this would include having an as-close-to-possible immaculate home if I have guests ;). Ok, immaculate is probably a bit strong ;). CLEAN, at least ;).

Thankfully, things weren't TOO bad around here ;). Just my "hoarding room" aka, the office, was REALLY bad...and I needed to last-minute scramble to clean up my bathroom (the bathroom they'd be using) to make it at least somewhat clean and presentable! :)

Sunday morning I got up before the three of them had gotten up and searched my kitchen for something acceptable to make for breakfast. I happened upon some delicious organic raspberries (had been on sale at our local Meijer that week) in my fridge and paired them up with a recipe in Carol Fenster's 1000 Gluten Free Recipes (which had been a gift from my sister about two years ago and is still my favorite gluten-free cookbook...go grab one if you don't already own this treasure!!). I basically used the recipe/adapted it a bit (I tend to take liberty with all recipes and adapt them to make them my own. This is a "skill" I learned from my mother, the great Sally ;)).

The muffins received rave reviews from my guests and Jeremy. Jamie ate three. The rest of us had one :). I also made some cheesy scrambled eggs to go along with the muffins (I think Brooke and I were the only ones who ate the eggs, though :). We are biiiig cheese aficionados ;).)

Here's what I did:

(based off of Carol's Raspberry Muffins with Streusel Topping on page 29 of the cookbook)

LIQUID INGREDIENTS

2 large eggs, at room temperature

1 cup milk (I used organic Horizon 2%, a staple in our home...but you may substitute with any kind of milk...rice, almond, etc.)

1/3 cup canola oil

1 tsp vanilla extract (make sure it's GF!)

(Carol also called for grated lemon zest, which I don't care for...so I omitted)

DRY INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups flour blend (I tried out my new GF Bisquick! Carol called for her Sorghum Blend)

1/4 cup sweet rice flour (Carol called for Expandex modified tapioca starch)

3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons xanthan gum

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon (more than she called for)

1 teaspoon salt

1 6 ounce container fresh raspberries, gently washed and patted dry

3/4 cup Streusal Topping

(She has a recipe for this on page 566 of her cookbook...but I made up my own. I put 1/2 cup brown sugar in a bowl, along with 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon, a large handful of crushed up corn Chex cereal, and 3 tablespoons of butter chopped up into little pieces. I mixed this all up with a fork)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin cups with papers.

2. Beat eggs with an electric mixer on low speed until light yellow and frothy, about 30 seconds. Add milk, oil, vanilla...beat on low speed until the batter is smooth and slightly thickened.

3. In a different bowl, mix together all dry ingredients except raspberries. With mixer on low speed, gradually beat dry ingredients into the liquid ingredients until the batter is smooth and slightly thickened. Gently stir in the fresh raspberries.

4. Spoon batter into muffin cups and sprinkle some Streusal Topping on each muffin, gently pressing down the topping into the batter slightly.

4. Bake 20-25 minutes or until the muffin tops are firm and the edges start to pull away from the pan.

5. Cool in pan 10 minutes, then remove from pan and cool on wire rack or plate for approximately five more minutes...serve warm!

YUMMY! :)

Enjoy! :)

Rudi's Gluten Free Bread

2010-11-03T22:12:00.006-05:00

So we have potluck lunches every so often at work (usually my idea ;). I head up the "Fun Committee" at work...a very boring, very vanilla name for a group of co-workers who tries to come up with fun ways of promoting a more exciting workplace and making relationship-building a priority)...

Obviously potlucks are really no place for gluten allergies, or food allergies of any kind for that matter. Usually I can eat what I bring...and maybe 1-2 other things, if that. Really, it doesn't bother me much...if at all. 2 years ago when I started this "journey"...I usually got annoyed. Once I even skipped a work lunch because pizza was being served and I really didn't want to deal with sitting there and being the only one who wasn't eating pizza. It probably sounds completely lame...but it was really hard for me to be the "odd man out."

So, yesterday we had a potluck. My co-worker, Debra, signed up to bring bread (the "main dishes" at this particular potluck were a variety of soups). In addition to a loaf of "normal" ;) bread...she brought a loaf of multi-grain gluten free bread made by Rudi's...a company I'd never heard of until that moment!

IT WAS DELICIOUS!

If you've ever tried gluten free bread...you know that most gluten free breads leave more than a few things to be desired. Taste. Texture. UGH...gluten free bread is usually pretty nasty and similar to cardboard or styrofoam.

Rudi's though....delicious! Really! I ate two slices dipped in my carnitas taco soup (made by me ;)).

Check out the website: Rudi's Gluten Free Bakery

I am not sure where Deb found the bread...but I looked on the website, and they do carry it at Naturally Yours here in Bloomington! WOO HOO! :) You can search on the site under the "where to buy" option and search for locations near you where you can buy this yummy bread! Apparently they are a few different varieties...the one I tried was the multigrain, and again...I'd completely recommend it! :) Two thumbs WAY up! AND...FYI, it's dairy free as well! :)

I am already looking forward to my toast in the morning...complete with homemade cherry jam from my friend Jami! :)

Olive Garden!

2010-11-03T16:08:00.004-05:00

Ok, this may not be really "new" news in the Gluten Free world...but it is news to me! My friend Jillian just let me know that Olive Garden has a gluten free menu! I knew they had a gluten free menu already...and I thanked her for the knowledge but said I already knew that. She went on to say, however, that they now have a gluten free pasta! Previously when I had checked their website, I think they only had steak/chicken/salmon options! (But, again, I hadn't checked their website in a while)
Now, indeed, they do have a gluten free penne pasta with marinara option. Also, I noted that their yummy salad (without crutons, of course ;) ) is gluten free! I do love their house Italian dressing, so that was awesome to see :).
So, all of you GF lovers, go check out your local Olive Garden for some yummy GF eats! It's always fantastic to have another GF restaurant option :).
Click here for the GF menu :).

THANKS JILLIAN

(as with any Gluten Free-claiming-menu....be responsible and check with your server/a manager to ensure that measures have been taken to prevent cross-contamination.)

GLUTEN FREE BISQUICK?!

2010-10-03T12:13:00.002-05:00

WHOAAAAA!

Check this out! Gluten free Bisquick?! Looks like i need to hook myself up with this! That's amazing! Betty Crocker, you're a saint! :)

Pizza cravings

2010-10-03T12:01:00.005-05:00

So I am fairly certain I have posted about *PIZZA* at least a few times on this little blog :).

Well...we're coming up on my big "two-year anniversary" of being GF (Oct. 18, 2008 was my first GF day!)...and I still crave pizza...real pizza...like none other.

Do I crave other non-GF foods? Yeah, sometimes...just a bit. But, really, it's typically nothing that I can't redirect by eating something as equally yummy that happens to be GF.

Pizza, though, man....it just drives me nuts!

Honestly...sometimes it really makes me angry, these pizza cravings. I was trying to explain it to Jeremy the other day. It is really the only food that I get *angry* over. People can eat pretty much anything else in front of me and I don't care a whole lot. Sure there are some things that look good...but I get over it.

Pizza though? Ugh. I am plagued by the stuff.

It probably sounds strange...but I am pretty sure part of my "issue" with it is the social aspect. EVERYONE likes and eats pizza! It's no fun being the dork in the room who can't eat it, too!

This week I was craving pizza in a horrible way. I ended up making myself a pseudo-pizza substitute on Friday night when Jer was eating dinner out with his friend Chuck....

I've mentioned the awesomeness of Chebe products before...but I will take this time to sing their praises once again :).

I found a few packages of dry mix in my pantry (SCORE!) on Friday night and used the cheese bread mix to make a yummy pizza crust. The back of the package instructs one on how to make a pizza crust with the mix...basically add some egg, oil (I used butter), and cheese to the dry mix. I also added some garlic salt and extra baking powder (to make it a little softer). I then rolled it out into an awkward rectangle on a non-stick baking sheet and baked that sucker. After twenty minutes I brushed my crust with a melted butter/garlic salt mixture and sprinkled cheese on top. I threw that back into the oven for a few minutes while I heated up some marinara (Prego brand is gluten free...they even indicate that on the jar!). When the cheese was bubbly, I removed it from the oven...sliced it up...and ate it with the marinara sauce for dipping. MMMM!

A delicious dinner that satisfactorily met the requirements of the cravings that had been plaguing me all week :).

Thanks, Chebe, for coming through for me again :).

Good article

2010-09-09T22:35:00.002-05:00

Good article I read tonight on active.com

NEW BLOGGY FRIEND!

2010-09-06T19:48:00.002-05:00

Check out an awesome new blog I found....Knitting is Gluten Free

I also added this blog to my list of GF blogs located in the right-hand side column on this blog.

Yahoo for another fun gluten-free blog to keep up with...love getting new tips!

AND, the author is a fellow knitter, as well!

Ok, so her knitting skills are definitely more advanced than mine ;). I tend to stay with scarves/hats and the occasional cowl ;).

BUT, the blog looks awesome and fun!

Enjoy! :)

Woodchuck Cider

2010-09-06T11:51:00.003-05:00

...not only is it absolutely DELICIOUS, but it is gluten free as well!

Sadly, I tended to forget about the glory that is Woodchuck Cider...

No longer, my friends!

It is now at the forefront of my mind as one of my favorite alcoholic beverages :).

Whether or not you have to eat/drink GF...give it a try!

ALL of their ciders are GF!!!

My personal favorite is the raspberry.

However, my good friend Ashley informed me that I need to try the 802 Dark and Dry. Seeing as I was a dark beer afficianado pre-GF days...sounds like I need to give 'er a try! :)

Drink up, friends! :)

Twitter

2010-09-06T11:35:00.003-05:00

So, if you're reading my blog...you likely know that I'm a big dork ;).

I have an Android phone...and I love it.

My husband would say I love it too much.

I beg to differ ;). I argue with him that HE is on HIS Android phone more than I am, really! ;) I mean, after all, HE is the one who convinced ME to down load a weird game last night...Angry Birds. Come on!!! ;)

Anyway.

I have the Twitter app on my phone....on my home screen, actually. My PINK home screen ;).

Some of the people/things I follow include....Whole Foods, Gluten Free Works, Women's Health, Runner's World, and a few random friends.

Honestly, I don't "tweet" a whole lot...I just love to read the articles "tweeted" by some of the people/things I follow.

Especially the gluten-free-living and running ones!

Here's a recent article tweeted by Gluten Free Works that I appreciated: The News Media, Gluten Free Diet, and Educating Yourself to be Healthy

One of the things that has been really bothering me lately is reading in magazines (Redbook, for example) about food allergies...and reading about how the GF diet is a "fad". Ok, maybe for some people it is...

But for those of us who have an actual medical condition, it is most definitely NOT a fad.

It's very interesting...and irritating, really...to me the number of people who run their mouths about things they really have no idea about.

I mean, I don't really expect people who don't have some sort of wheat or gluten allergy/sensitivity/intoleralce/Celiac Disease/etc. to GET it...not at all! It would just be nice if they wouldn't publish misleading articles.

Here's another article I recently found, thanks to Twitter...

Celiac and Gluten-Free Inaccuracies in the Media
Setting the Record Straight
By Kristin Voorhees, NFCA Program Associate
It seems that with each day, celiac disease, gluten intolerance and the gluten-free diet receive an increasing amount of attention in the media and pop culture.
Because celiac remains greatly underdiagnosed (experts report the latest undiagnosed prevalence to be 95%), any publicity or recognition in the news of this condition and its gluten-free lifestyle is generally welcomed. After all, awareness brings treatment that, in turn, brings improvement of the quality of life for those with celiac disease and gluten intolerance!
In the case of public relations, many would argue that, “there’s no such thing as bad press.” Unfortunately, in the case of celiac disease, this saying does not always hold true.
For those with celiac disease, the gluten-free diet is medical nutrition therapy and is the only treatment available. Consequently, it is not only important that gluten-free be taken seriously, but necessary, as well. And, with the field of celiac disease research continually growing and many new areas being studied, including defining and differentiating entities such as gluten intolerance and gluten sensitivity from the wide spectrum of celiac disease, we are learning that many other individuals also benefit from the gluten-free diet.
Given the increased prevalence of celiac disease and the expanding field of research, it is now more important than ever that the media accurately communicate information surrounding these topics.
While it is not unusual for celiac disease to be inaccurately discussed in the media, the frequency with which it occurs seems more frequent. This past month of August provided two examples, both nationally and internationally.
The Guardian, a UK newspaper, recently covered a story from Italy on the death of a gluten intolerant boy who was served a biscuit with his dessert. Given the gravity of this event’s outcome, it is expected that all details published surrounding this misfortune be accurate. Instead, this article is an example of the how the media often publishes misinformation regarding celiac disease.
I turned to Dr. Alessio Fasano, Medical Director of The University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research and NFCA Scientific/Medical Advisory Board member, to identify the misinformation within this article and suggest an explanation of what likely caused this young boy's unfortunate death.
“This is the typical example of terminology confusion as it concerns reaction to gluten. It is now well established that there are different forms of immune reactions to gluten that often are confused with each other even by health care professionals. Based on the press report, it is pretty obvious that the boy experienced an anaphylactic reaction to gluten typical of the most severe form of wheat allergy. These reactions are based on the response of the immune system through the production of specific immunoglobulins called IgE and the release of histamine that, in extreme cases like this, can cause sudden death. Conversely, celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that, like other autoimmune reactions, is mediated by the activation of specific immune cells that produce toxic chemicals (cytokines) that destroy tissues (in the case of celiac disease, the intestine). The role of antibodies (TTG antibodies that are of class IgA and, therefore, totally different compared to IgE) in the pathogenesis of celiac disease remains unclear. Because the long process of activation of cell-mediated immune reactions, autoimmune diseases, including celiac disease, never present themselves with acute reactions like the one experienced by the young Italian boy.”
Back in the states, NBC’s "Today" show featured celiac disease in a news segment with the network’s Chief Medical Editor Dr. Nancy Snyderman titled, “The Truth About Your Tummy Troubles.”
During this news segment,"Today" ran the following contradictory captions regarding the prevalence of celiac disease:
“More than 2 million Americans have been diagnosed”
“97% of people with celiac disease go undiagnosed”
The diagnosis of 2 million Americans gives the impression that there are an estimated 67 million undiagnosed. A very lofty calculation indeed! Of course, it is very likely that the network meant to announce that more than 2 million Americans are expected to have celiac disease, which is in fact true. But as the need for education and awareness about the autoimmune condition increases, so too does the need for truthful information and accurate statistics.
NBC also aired misleading information regarding the gluten-free diet as its treatment when Dr. Snyderman began her response to a viewer’s question, “My husband has just been diagnosed with celiac disease. Will he ever be able to eat wheat or gluten products again?” with “Well, it depends.”
Rather, Dr. Snyderman’s answer should have been a definitive “No.” This would have also been an apt time to emphasize that the gluten-free diet is the only treatment for a person with celiac disease. This should serve as a reminder that popular myths such as “celiac can be outgrown” and “people with celiac can tolerate a small amount of gluten from time to time” still exist.
These are important myths to dispel considering the complications of undiagnosed celiac disease, which include infertility, osteoporosis, development of other autoimmune diseases, and even cancer. Furthermore, diagnosed patients who adhere to a gluten-free diet and continue to ingest gluten, both intentionally and unintentionally, may develop serious complications of the disease including refractory sprue, intestinal adenocarcinoma, and enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma.
Of course it is important not to overlook Dr. Snyderman’s correct explanations that celiac is under diagnosed, it is “a sort of the disease du jour”, and that an endoscopy is often performed to confirm the diagnosis . Since "Today" is the top-rated morning show, Dr. Snyderman truly had a significant opportunity to provide valid information.Just two weeks prior to this segment with Dr. Snyderman, "Today" featured Health magazine’s Medical Editor Dr. Raj and her explanation of how the gluten-free diet treats celiac disease, including the significant effort required to uphold the diet.
What is the lesson to be learned?
Our efforts to increase the awareness of celiac disease are far from over. In fact, in some ways we are just beginning. In our current age of information overload, there is plenty of news about celiac disease and the gluten-free diet. Our task is to call out the correct from the erroneous, just as Shelley Case, B.Sc., RD. did last week following publication of a Wall Street Journal article entitled, "Giving Up Gluten to Lose Weight? Not So Fast.”
Shelley was one of the featured gluten-free diet experts quoted in the article, but helped to clear up misinformation regarding gluten-containing products that was included in the Wall Street Journal's story. The publication honored Shelley’s request for a correction, which ran four days after the original article had been published.

Just some food for thought! :) :)

Autism...cured?

2010-08-04T11:39:00.003-05:00

Before you freak out at me ;)....this isn't a case of "autism" being "cured"....
the kiddo in this article didn't really HAVE autism, it was undiagnosed Celiac Disease....

Can Untreated Celiac Disease Look Like Autism???

interesting! quite!

Great resource

2010-07-30T07:43:00.002-05:00

I've posted links to Dr. Stephen Wangen's blog before, I believe...and read a post on his blog this morning that I wanted to be sure to share:

Feeding the Family: What you (and the caregiver) Need to Know

It's so fascinating to me...this link between what we eat and how our body responds. I mean, makes perfect sense...but it's so easy to ignore.

Have a wonderful day!

Why does eating GF have to be so gosh-darn expensive!?

2010-06-28T21:41:00.004-05:00

So tomorrow we (the Bloomington Easter Seals SLPs) are having a baby shower for our dear friend (and fellow SLP :)), Abbey. I am bringing dessert. Usually I like to put forth some valiant effort when it comes to hostessing/baking/cooking to entertain or for a party...but I am feeling tired and cheap lately. And, my husband informed me we have met our budget for June and can't spend any money until July (which, thankfully, is just two days away ;)). So, what to make for dessert....I decide to go to Cub food and decided ahead of time that I would be making a NON-GF dessert (I don't care that I can't eat it!)...I ended up buying a funfetti cake mix (mmmm! I used to love those! And they are super girlie and fun! Haha!!!) and a big container of vanilla frosting...for $2.82. What?! I know, I know...to all of you non-GF folk out there, that surely doesn't sound too impressive. But $2.82 for a whole, big dessert that will feed a lot of people!? Unheard of! I haven't been able to pull that off in the past 18 months since going GF! I am pretty proud of my frugal-ness today :).

Ok, Abbey...if you are reading this ;)...you are TOTALLY MORE THAN WORTH a fancy, expensive dessert...and I apologize for being a slacker!!! ;) I am sure you know how it goes, though, being tired and cheap every now and again! ;)

I am totally looking forward to the shower, though!! :)

I love get-togethers like that!! :) I am so thankful to work with such fun, sweet women...I love spending time with them!

Bring on Tuesday!

Chocolate Chocolate-Chip Cookies

2010-06-27T21:27:00.001-05:00

So yesterday I decided to "pretend" to be "domestic" again.

Don't get me wrong...I actually really do love all things "domestic." Cooking, cleaning, baking, laundry...it all gets me sorta high. (just don't show me an iron...I refuse to iron. Jeremy does the ironing around here....for real)

However, I just haven't had TIME lately to do many of those things.

This weekend, however...this weekend was a catch-up weekend. It was the first weekend we had been HOME since early March. Seriously.

So, among many, MANY other things...yesterday I baked!

I adapted a "new" (new to me) recipe from my 1000 Gluten-Free Recipes book (By Carol Fenster)....Double Chocolate Chip Cookies. What I did was inspired by her recipe, but I tweaked it, slightly. The result? AMAZINGLY delicious. Jeremy likes them, too! :) The cookies are totally soft and cake-like. Delectable, really! :)

Recipe....
Chocolate Chocolate-Chip Cookies
(the recipe in Carole's book is "Double Chocolate Chip Cookies)

3/4 cup Land O' Lakes butter, room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
3 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free flour blend
1/2 cup tapioca flour
3/4 cup sweet white rice flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons xanthan gum
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
sprinkling of salt
1 pkg (minus a few that prematurely made it to my mouth...haha!) chocolate chips

(as always, make sure that all of the ingredients you use are GF!!)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Place baking mat on a baking sheet.

In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and both sugars with an electric mixer on low speed until very smooth (approximately one minute). Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Gradually add the flours, cocoa, xanthan gum, baking soda, and salt. Continue beating on low speed just until blended. The batter will be rather thick. Stir in chocolate chips.

Drop 1 1/2 inch balls of dough at least 2 inches apart on the baking sheet.

Bake 13 minutes. Cool on baking sheet, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Voila! They are soooo yummy, esp. when still warm and served with a glass of milk!

ENJOY!

Firehouse Pizza

2010-06-27T21:12:00.002-05:00

So, Firehouse Pizza (located in Normal...and also in Peoria) has the BEST GF pizza in town. By far. It is amazing, amazing, amazing! Jeremy and I went on a date :) last night...he let me pick the restaurant, so I chose Firehouse. We've been there a few times (Jeremy loves their calzones, so we don't really go there JUST for me ;))...but last night it was particularly good! I get the pizza with garlic sauce, mozzarella cheese, Canadian bacon, pineapple, and mushrooms...and then a side of marinara to dip it in. SO AWESOME!

SO, if you are in the Blo-No area and want some delicious GF pizza, RUN...don't walk...to Firehouse Pizza in Uptown Normal for some awesome, awesome pizza! :)

Destihl

2010-06-20T21:03:00.002-05:00

FYI if you're in the Bloomington-Normal area and want an awesome gluten free meal.....second to Biaggi's (the best, in my opinion, for eating out gluten free in this town...they have an amazingly huge GF menu and are very knowledgeable about the GF diet in general) is Destihl. They don't have a specific gluten-free menu, but many of their items are gluten free or can be made gluten free...and they are delicious!!! We went there tonight to celebrate Father's Day with Jeremy's family.

We had an AWESOME waiter tonight, too, which is always a plus :)

I had...a spinach/orange/strawberry/goat cheese salad with orange balsamic vinaigrette...a bison burger (no bun)...and some yummy orange-ginger iced tea.

YUM!

So, if you are GF and in Blo/No, check out Destihl!! :)

AND, check them out if you aren't, too! ;) Jeremy LOVES the pizza and beer :) :)

The Gluten Free Diet....sometimes it just sucks

2010-05-13T17:50:00.003-05:00

I just read this blog entry form another person's gluten free blog....The Gluten Free Diet--Sometimes it just sucks

I completely agree with all of the emotions brought up in the blog entry and the comments on the post.

I have been relatively "fine" lately, diet-wise.....but that doesn't mean it's always easy. Sure, it's been 19 months of gluten-free living (and still, no cheating!)....but that doesn't make social situations, which we all know often center around food (and mainstream party/social food tends to be chock-full of gluten!), any easier.

You really don't get just how much our lives revolve around food (which is really kind of sick/pathetic when you really get right down to it....I mean, here I am complaining about not being able to eat gluten when there are people in the world STARVING).....until you are faced with some sort of food allergy or intolerance.

Anyway, I could go on and on about that all day....

I'll just steal a couple of the quotes from the blog entry I mentioned above and the comments after it that really resonated with me:

"Sometimes being forced to be on a gluten-free diet just sucks. There’s no getting around it. I wish I could run out and grab a slice of pizza or get a sandwich at my favorite deli for lunch."

"Sometimes I just want to be able to eat a Twinkie or a box of Wheat Thins (of course I haven’t eaten a Twinkie since I was in elementary school, but somehow knowing that I won’t ever be able to eat one again makes me mourn the loss)." I know it probably sounds super overly dramatic to talk about "mourning a loss" when it comes to food...but it does stink to go without old favorites, such as bread bowls from Panera, Oreos, etc., etc.

"In the last year I have become so adept at eating/living gluten-free it has started to seem less like a burden, but it still is really hard sometimes." Absolutely agree. Most days it is so easy, basically second nature. However, there are days when it is truly hard.

"I usually don’t have that much of a problem sitting at a table while other people eat, but I had already been so demoralized by the previous evening that this was just too much. I fought back tears and tried to silence a rumbling stomach as we talked business." It really stinks sitting at a table full of people eating when you can't eat....or people enjoying the bread basket before a meal at a restaurant that serves bread (especially when you know how delicious it is!)

"In general I am a really positive person, but sometimes it really just sucks to be gluten-free." 'Nuff said! :)

"I’d say those social situations where someone thinks they have done you a favor are the hardest. And when someone takes a bite of an incredible sandwich, and they want to offer you a bite." Agreed. It is awful to know that a friend/family member really, really tried to take your diet needs into account....but to know that, somewhere in the preparation, a mistake was made. What do you do? Chance it? Or, turn it down? UGH!!!!!

"I hate feeling like a burden when I’m a guest." YES, a thousand times, YES!!!!!!!!

"What I hate more than anything is that gluten free eating has killed any spontaneity in my daily schedule. I hate planning my meals and researching every restaurant. I want to be in a rush, grab a sandwich, and keep on rushing. Why aren’t there more grab-and-go GF foods?" Being a rather busy person (I know we all are! :)), it really stinks not having many grab-and-go GF foods like a simple sandwich or something. Honestly, I go without lunch most days....or just snack on things that aren't as healthy or fulfilling as a good lunch. That probably doesn't make me the most productive or pleasant in the afternoons! :)

"It’s not like this all the time, obviously…but sometimes." It's not; it truly isn't. And, the longer I am on this diet, the easier it truly does become and the less "bad" days I have.

“a little bit won’t hurt you” Some people say this and/or ask related questions. No, no, no! Sorry!! A little bit, a lot....it doesn't matter about the quantity! I have gotten the sickest from the smallest amounts of gluten (from supposed cross-contamination).

I don't really mean this post to be as "negative" sounding as it is.....I just wanted to take the time to post a reaction to that blog post that I just discovered tonight :).

All in all, things are going well on the diet-front of life :). I did have a running mishap a few weeks ago that is surely due to gluten and some cross-contamination SOMEWHERE...if you dare (it's prettttty gross, as I am sure you can imagine!), go read it HERE: The Crappiest Run of My Life

Have a wonderful day, all!

Rachel

Shout-out to my fabulous mother :)

2010-04-03T23:15:00.005-05:00

So along this gluten free journey, there have definitely been some pretty definied ups and downs....the best part, though, has been the support of my super-amazing husband, family, and friends :).

My sister got married last Saturday (YAYYY!), and my mother...though there were dozens of other things to worry about....was totally on top of making sure there were ample things for me to eat from the moment I arrived at her house on Wednesday until I left to go back home last Sunday. She arranged for a friend to pick up Biaggi's take-out and bring it to the reception so I would have a safe meal to eat (shout-out to Jen as well for picking it up for me!). And, during the reception...my dad went out to get a bag with some GF brownies my mom had baked for me so I could have something to eat when everyone was eating the yummy gourmet cupcakes at the reception :). (I must add that the brownies were made using the relatively new Betty Crocker gluten free brownie mix....and were absolutely fabulous. I would HIGHLY recommend that baking mix...plus it is pretty widely available! Just here in Bloomington, I know you can find the Betty Crocker mixes at Cub and at Wal Mart, among other stores!).

She also made an awesome coffee cake using the Betty Crocker yellow cake mix....she basically prepared the cake mix, put half of it in a cake pan, put some butter/cinnamon/brown sugar mixture (the typical cinnamon-y coffee cake concoction stuff) in the middle, put the remaining cake batter on top, and added more of the butter/cinnamon/brown sugar, etc. mixture to the top along with some chopped pecans. It was divine! She made it for breakfast on Thursday morning and I ate it after returning from a 4-mile run with the bride-to-be. She also brought leftovers of it to the hotel where we got ready for the wedding on Saturday morning...which was also fantastic! :) I would definitely recommend experimenting with the apparently very versatile Betty Crocker yellow cake mix to make some yummy coffee cake concoctions!

So, thanks, Mom! You always take care of me! :)

Chunky Potato Soup Recipe

2010-01-22T15:47:00.002-06:00

So, I subscribe to The Gluten Free Checklist...and get a GF recipe via e-mail each day. Today's looks great....I think I will definitely be trying this one! (However, I am a big baby and personally don't care for onions...I'll probably either omit them or use a lot less than 2 cups ;)).

Chunky Potato Soup
Ingredients
6 Tbs. butter
2 c. purple onion, sliced
2 medium carrots, chopped
3 Tbs. ARROWHEAD MILLS – white rice flour
1 qt. water 1 qt. IMAGINE - Organic Low Sodium Free Range Chicken Broth
4 c. red potatoes, peeled & cubed
1/2 c. heavy cream
3 Tbs. parsley, chopped
Coarse salt & fresh ground pepper to taste

Directions
Melt 3 Tbs. butter in a 5 qt. stock pot. Add onions and cook slowly for 5 minutes without browning. Blend in gluten free flour and cook for 2 minutes. Gradually add water and chicken broth, stirring to prevent lumps. Add potatoes and carrots and bring to a boil. Reduce heat slightly and simmer partially covered for 45 minutes. While soup is simmering, stir in cream, parsley, remaining butter and salt & pepper to taste. Continue simmering to allow butter to melt and flavors to blend.

KIND bars free at Starbucks 2-5-10!

2010-01-22T15:41:00.002-06:00

Hop over to your local Starbucks on Fri. Feb 5 to try KIND bars for free! I will vouch for these yummy bars' deliciousness! In fact, I had one for breakfast this very morning! :) :) I typically carry one-two of them in my work bag because they are so yummy, nutritious, and convenient to carry around. My personal favs are ANY of them with macadamia nuts in them! YUMMY to the maximal power!

"Surprisingly GOOD!"

2010-01-19T21:34:00.005-06:00

...Thus said my dear loving husband....who tends to be skeptical at times of my GF creations ;). Tonight he made his delicious spaghetti sauce for our dinner...

I had one Schaar pizza crust left in my box of two and I decided to make some garlic toast (just spread on some melted butter that I mixed with garlic salt...not exactly rocket science!) in the toaster oven to go with our salad and spaghetti. I enjoyed my piece...and Jeremy looked at what was left on the serving plate and asked, "SO, is it good? Like, would I like it?" I told him I thought he might, so he tried it.

He actually told me (and he is PICKY about food!!) that it was really great, "Surprisingly good" were really his exact words...and he went on to say that I wasn't missing anything when I ate this, compared to "real" bread! So, if you are GF like me...hook yourself up!! :)

Clearly, this is versatile stuff and can be used for things other than just making pizza...it is not frozen, and it is sold 2 to a package. I've also used it as "toast" with (homemade from my mother) apple butter for breakfast! YUMMY!

Three cheers for Schaar! Definitely has the Rachel and Jeremy stamp of approval! :) :)

Awesome Christmas Gift--Namaste Baking Mixes!

2010-01-10T20:36:00.003-06:00

Happy New Year!! Maybe I'll write more this year...and maybe I won't ;). We'll see!

I did, though, want to share about an awesome Christmas gift I received from my mother- and father-in-law: a gift certificate for Namaste food!

I used up the gift certificate shortly after Christmas and received the big box of food last week. I ordered a cookbook (it uses their mixes with a variety of added ingredients...some really great suggestions!), bread mix, brownie mix (I've had this one before...it's great!!), blondie mix, pizza crust mix, sugar-free muffin mix, pancake/waffle mix, and cookie mix. I made the blondies last night for a small dinner party we had with a couple of friends. They tasted pretty yummy! Oh a whim, I added some crushed pecans to the batter, and sprinkled some more crushed pecans and brown sugar on top. Success! :) (I just ate a leftover one a few minutes ago ;)).

I would highly recommend checking out the Namaste website....they have a ton of great products. They also have many of their products available here in Bloomington at Naturally Yours. I've also tried their Biscuit/Pie Crust mix (used it to make a great pie crust for pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving, to rave reviews from my father-in-law ;)), and their Taco Pasta (comes with pasta and a seasoning packet; I added tomato soup and ground beef to it for a yummy dinner!). I have truly loved all of their products! :)

Namaste's website says, among other things, "...Our facility contains no wheat, gluten, corn, soy, potato, dairy or nuts. It is our attempt to try to eliminate any chance of cross-contamination so you can enjoy Namaste Foods products worry-free...." Awesome!! :) :)

Yummy yummy cake balls!

2009-12-29T16:56:00.005-06:00

Ok, ok, I have been absent from the blogging world for like 2.5 months....WOW! Guess I've been busy ;). Maybe "being a better blogger" will make its way onto my "new year's resolution" list...and maybe it won't. We'll see! ;)

Anyway, in more exciting news....here's a fun new GF "recipe"!!

Yeah, so...."cake balls" doesn't sound overly eloquent ;)....but these little guys are mighty tasty! I must give credit where credit is due, I got the idea here...at MckMama's blog (a fabulously entertaining blog I peruse regularly).

Here's MckMama's entry about her "cake ball" extravaganza (she stuck sucker sticks in them, made pretty-colored frosting, and named them "snow pops"....a little more eloquent ;)). MckMama's Snow Pops. THAT is where I got the idea for my own variation!

I am going to a party tonight (a going-away party for a co-worker/friend who recently got a different job) and wanted to have some kind of yummy chocolate-y GF treat to bring! Based on the aforementioned idea from MckMama's blog, I decided to make some GF cake balls....

**{Please note} My idea of baking/cooking/food preparation in general is often throwing random quantities of random crap together. I inherited the wonderful gift of "eyeballing" something I am making/baking/cooking from my mother who also seldom measures (aside from the obvious baked goods that naturally require more precise measurements).

Process......

Get 1 box of GF cake mix (I used Betty Crocker GF yellow cake). Prepare per instructions on the box, cook cake in refrigerator. When cool, cut into chunks and put in food processor. Pulse until cake becomes fine and powder-like (don't over-process, like I did! It may turn into a big ol' lump!)

Prepare 1 box of GF/dairy free/peanut free (because a friend I am eating with tonight cannot have dairy or peanuts) vanilla frosting. (YOU can likely use whatever kind of frosting you'd like. Mckmama suggests cream cheese frosting. Naturally, being a cream cheese lover, I think that sounds phenomenal. However, I opted out of that this time since a friend of mine who will likely be eating these can't do dairy).

Mix frosting and powdery-cake-bits together. I noted that my frosting/cake heap seemed kinda squishy, probably too much so. Mckmama had written that she added some rolled oats to hers to thicken it up. So, I pulverized some GF animal crackers in my handy-dandy food processor and added those to the mix to thicken things up. I think it was a good choice.

Shape into balls (approx 1"-1 1'/2" diameter), put on a cookie sheet/plate that you've lined with wax paper. Put into freezer for a while to harden.

Remove from freezer when they seem sufficiently hard (I waited an hour). Melt some coating for your balls. Mckmama used Hershey's white chocolate (that she colored with food coloring! They are super-cute). I would assume almond bark would also be good. I used Enjoy Life's allergen-free chocolate chips for the aforementioned reasons. I melted them slowly in the microwave and then swirled the balls in the chocolate. After swirling, remove with toothpick and set on wax paper-ed surface to dry.

You could top these little beauties with anything...a swirl of a contrasting colored chocolate/coating, red sprinkles (what I used!), crushed up peppermints (I thought this would be yummy but, frankly, was too lazy to crush them up to try it out), crushed nuts, etc, etc, etc. Just make sure you sprinkle on your topping before the coating is dry!!

ENJOY!!!!

Happy Gluten Free Anniversary To Me!

2009-10-18T12:44:00.003-05:00

So, it was ONE year ago....October 18, 2008....that I made the switch to gluten free! WOW! What a year it has been. 105 blog posts, some baking successes, some failures...new friends...new knowledge...but, best of all....

I am healthy!

I am the healthiest I have ever been in my life. Before this, I never knew what it was like to feel well. I can say with confidence that NOW, I (usually!) truly feel WELL! It is an amazing feeling. I can't believe I made it a year!

No cheating! Not knowingly, anyway! Not even once.

I think I should go bake myself a gluten free cake or something!!! :)

And, just because I want to pat myself on the back again ;)...I successfully finished the Chicago Marathon last Sunday! I could have NEVER fulfilled this dream pre-GF lifestyle. Long story short, I had more than 1...shall we say..."bathroom mis-adventure" while running last summer/fall. Suffice it to say there is absolutely NO WAY I would've EVER been able to make it through a marathon (and probably not even a half marathon) without living GF!

So, I'll say it again...Happy Gluten Free Anniversary to ME!!!!!!

..and, happy wedding anniversary to my parents, who have been married 29 years today! WOW!!!

These are a few of my favorite things...lately

2009-10-17T21:11:00.003-05:00

I've neglected this little blog for a while now!
A friend of mine from work asked for some recipes/tips...she is having a GF relative visit next weekend and wants to be sure she is sufficiently prepared to feed him. I decided to take this opportunity to update this blog with some of my recent favorite GF finds and share them with not only her, but the rest of blog-land as well :).

1) Kinnikinnick Foods Inc. Personal Size Pizza Crusts
These things are AMAZING. They come in the freezer section a box of 4 and are DELICIOUS. They are easy to prepare...preheat oven to 375, then bake with your choice of favorite toppings for 10-15 minutes. The crust gets wonderfully crispy and has a great texture. These crusts would be great to have a "build-your-own-pizza" night with kids and grown-ups alike. They are also wonderful to have on hand for a quick, easy meal or snack. I enjoy them with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese...and sometimes pepperoni, yellow and red peppers, mushrooms....ANYTHING, really!
I found them at a Kroger in Peoria...however according to the Kinnikinnick website, they can be purchased online as well. Common Ground Grocer in Bloomington carries Kinnikinnick products, as does Naturally Yours...however I cannot vouch for the presence of this particular product at these grocery stores....worth calling ahead and checking into, if you are interested. If all else fails, they can be ordered from the website.

2) La Tortilla Factory Ivory Teff Wraps
DELICIOUS, DELICIOUS, DELICIOUS! My friend Jillian actually found these for me...and they are amazing! Another friend, Abbey, brought them to work for a Mexican potluck lunch since she saw them at Meijer (here in Bloomington) and saw that they were gluten free and that I would then be able to enjoy them! I have some wonderful friends :). These were a GREAT find. They are yummy both hot and cold...and are completely versatile. I pop them into the toaster oven with taco meat for an easy burrito (and then top with cheese/sour cream/lettuce, etc. after cooking in the toaster oven)...or enjoy them cold with a variety of sandwich toppings (Boar's Head meats are another one of my GF favorites...available at the deli counter at Kroger on College here in Bloomington)

3) Pamela's Products Chocolate Chunk Cookie Mix
I found this one at Meijer here in Bloomington. These are yummy, yummy cookies! My non-GF hubby, Jeremy, actually gobbled them up even faster than me! He's a big fan of chocolate chip cookies, and a big food critic ;)...so if he approves, they HAVE to be good! ;) They are easy to prepare...and delicious. Definitely recommend these for an easy dessert...and a fun one for kids to help prepare, too.

4) I've written about this one a lot...but it's a recipe my husband and I come back to ALL of the time....Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Soup....
As far as seasoning goes, I use McCormick brand taco seasoning. Many McCormick brand spices are gluten free....as listed in my gluten free grocery shopping guide, and cited on this blog.
I use Tostitos chips, Daisy sour cream, and Kraft shredded cheddar...all gluten free...for the topping of this soup.

5) Chex...
Check out the Chex GLUTEN-FREE section of their website for some AWESOME snack ideas.
YUMMY doesn't even begin to describe these recipes! I've tried a few...but I want to try them ALL! Happy Chex-mixing! :)

Time for bed....perhaps a post with more later this weekend. We'll see ;).

Stonyfield Farms Yogurt

2009-09-07T12:21:00.003-05:00

Not only is it delicious, but it is Certified Gluten Free! I do love me some Stonyfield Farms yogurt. My mom introduced me to the Oikos Greek Yogurt, also made by Stonyfield Farms....it isn't yet "certified" gluten free...but it is gluten free (and they are in the process of getting it certified). I've eaten it numerous times and been fine. Read the label for yourself to be sure ;), but I am telling you....it is gluten free. Also, you can print out coupons for their yogurt products.....http://www.stonyfield.com/coupons/new_coupon3.cfm. Their yogurt tends to be a little pricey, so the coupons are great.

Gluten free, organic, delicious, healthy...what more could you want?! :) I have a bunch of Stonyfield Farms yogurt in my fridge (as always!) and so should you :)

Dr. Stephen Wangen

2009-09-06T17:27:00.003-05:00

I love this guy! I have his book, Healthier Without Wheat, that is all about non-celiac gluten intolerance (which is what my doctor believes I am presenting with). I found a powerpoint of a presentation he gave online, which is great...and explains things very simply.

Basically...people with celiac disease represent a SMALL percentage of the overall population of people who have gluten intolerance. Gluten intolerance is not a less-severe form of celiac disease....it can cause all of the same signs/symptoms/issues. Basically the only difference is that you do not have "villous atrophy"....but you still have a host of other issues. There are 130+ issues that can be caused by gluten intolerance. It's crazy!!

Here's a link to his blog: http://ibstreatmentcenter.blogspot.com/

Check this out!

2009-08-14T17:32:00.002-05:00

A new discovery I made today: Gluten-Free on a Shoestring...a great blog with tons of GF recipes! Awesome!

I have been a slacker blogger lately....it seems that, as usual, I tend to overcommitt myself and in the midst of finishing our basement, training for a marathon, starting a beginning runners' group at work for some of my coworkers, getting ready to take on a student intern at work, catching up on paperwork at work that I let pile up during the month of July when I was finishing up more classes....I just haven't had that much time for blogging!

SORRY!!! I hope to share more recipes and tips, soon! For now, though....enjoy the blog listed above! It looks to be fantastic and I will spend more time perusing it later when I have more time. :)

Have a wonderful weekend, all!

~Rachel

DESSERT!

2009-08-01T12:29:00.003-05:00

So, as I previously mentioned, I slaved away ;) for the past 13 months in some classes. Some of the students enrolled in this program traveled from hours away to participate in these classes. During the past 2 Julys, when classes were the most frequent and intense, the students who traveled from far-away-places to be a part of the program "lived" in hotels here in Bloomington (the class also had members up in the Chicago area; students attended whichever location was more convenient for them and we had class via Polycomm, which was kinda annoying). Tuesday night this week was the last night that these students would be staying overnight, so the 8 of us here in Bloomington went out for dinner/drinks together. Amelia, a fun girl I have become friends with, ordered "Gooey Butter Cake" at Baxter's Grill here in town...and they all analyzed it (I couldn't try it, of course) and decided it wasn't gooey at all and wasn't even really that good. So, I googled a recipe for Gooey Butter Cake and adapted it to be GF and made some to bring to class on Wednesday! It appeared to be a hit!
Here's the recipe:

1pkg yellow cake mix (I used Betty Crocker's gluten free yellow cake mix)
1 stick of butter
1 egg
-Mix the dry cake mix with the 1 stick of butter (melted) and 1 egg; press into an ungreased 9x13 pan

Then Cream Together:
1 brick cream cheese, softened
2 eggs
4 cups confectioner's sugar
1 tsp vanilla
-Pour over cake mixture, spreading to the edges. Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 35-40 minutes.

I served it plain...but classmates (who are from the St. Louis area, where apparently this dessert originated) suggested sprinkling powdered sugar on top of the cooled cake, or serving with fruit or a variety of dessert sauces. YUM! Another classmate said that she wondered if brown sugar sprinkled on top would be good...I think that sounds great! Maybe I'll try that next time :)

Breakfasts on-the-go

2009-08-01T11:22:00.005-05:00

My favorite easy gluten-free grab-and-go breakfast items:

~A small bag of dry GF cereal; particularly CHEX...which now has many officially gluten-free options and is available at "normal" grocery stores: the rice, corn, honey-nut, chocolate, cinnamon, and strawberry varieties are ALL GF! My favorite is the cinnamon. I have tried them all, aside from chocolate and strawberry. I could eat the cinnamon all day, really! It is fantastic...sort of Cinnamon Toast Crunch-esq which brings me back to my childhood (that was, for some reason, the ONLY sugary cereal we were EVER allowed to have in our house). I LOVE it!

~Hard boiled eggs...these are so notable (and a wonderful HEALTHY option!) that I've blogged about them multiple times! Once a week or so I will prepare a bunch of hard-boiled eggs so that Jeremy and I both have an easy breakfast option for those rushed work-day mornings. We love 'em! I always buy organic eggs...not sure if it REALLY matters ;), but I figure if we eat the quantity of eggs that we do (one a day for each of us) they should definitely be the healthiest, most natural variety

~String cheese sticks....not necessarily the healthiest option (if you are in the dairy-is-bad camp), but still easy and delicious. Works for us in our house! :)

~Larabars...I've blogged about them before, too, but they are DEFINITELY notable. These are delicious...and, in the company's own words "simple. pure. delicious". These bars are made from minimal ingredients...for example, the "Peanut Butter Cookie" bar (which is the first one I tried!) is made from only peanuts, dates, and salt. YUM! My personal favorites are Peanut Butter Cookie and Key Lime Pie. Jeremy prefers Cherry Pie. YUMMY!

~Kind fruit and nut bars...my favorite varieties are Mango Macadamia, and Almond& Apricot...I will be visiting Naturally Yours here in Bloomington TODAY to stock up on more of these. These also make a great lunch...I've gotten in the somewhat bad habit of working through lunch and not eating much (I've been swamped at work!) and these are so easy to grab, delicious, and really do fill you up for a few hours

Weekends when I have a bit more time (when is THAT?!), I like to prepare smoothies (that's what we had this morning!) with a variety of frozen fruit and orange juice (That's it!) dumped in a blender and blended to frothy perfection....or scrambled eggs with feta and spinach...or GF pancakes...

Carol Fenster's Gluten Free Buttermilk Pancakes:
1 Cup Carol’s Sorghum Blend...this is the best GF flour blend I've found, recipe below...I keep a stash in my freezer at all times (well, except right now because I ran out! ;))
2 Tablespoons sugar
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp xanthan gum
½ cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 large egg
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Butter for frying
1. In a mixing bowl or large measuring cup, sift together the sorghum blend, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and xanthan gum.
2. Gradually whisk in the buttermilk, butter, egg, and vanilla until very smooth. Let the batter stand 5 minutes and then adjust the consistency, if needed.
3. In a large nonstick skillet, heat the butter over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Pour ¼ cup batter onto the skillet and cook until bubbles appear on top of the pancake, about 2-3 minutes. Turn and cook until browned on other side. Serve immediately.

I've made these when we have overnight out-of-town guests over (and double the recipe to serve 4)...I get rave reviews! I LOVE these pancakes!

And now, Carol Fenster's Sorghum Blend:
1 1/2 cups sorghum flour
1 1/2 cups potato starch or corn starch (I use potato)
1 cup tapioca flour
Mix it all together in a large container and keep on hand for all of your baking needs!

It works great in a variety of recipes! She has tips in her 1000 Gluten Free Recipes book for adapting the blend to be more suitable for specific baking/recipes, but honestly I typically just use it straight-up...

Well....

2009-08-01T10:38:00.002-05:00

It's been over a month since I've posted! It has been a wild and crazy month, though...I definitely haven't fallen off of the face of the earth, I've just been focusing my energy elsewhere :). Wednesday was the last day of classes in a 13-month series of courses/practicum work I was enrolled in through Illinois State University completing graduate work that earned me certification as an Auditory/Oral Specialist....but this isn't the time nor the place to discuss the ins and outs of that! On to the food!

I am going to post a bunch of shorter posts now, instead of one super-long post with everything I have to say...so bear with me!

A peek of what's to come....fast food options, Mexican (=LOVE!), breakfast and lunch on-the-go, a new yummy dessert recipe....and MORE!

See you soon!

GF French Toast

2009-06-22T21:45:00.005-05:00

So my brother, Dan, and his girlfriend, Laura, stayed with us Saturday night so I made a big breakfast for all of us on Sunday morning. I performed an experiment (risky, I know ;)) that ended up being decently successful. I used slices of my Whole Foods Cinnamon Raisin Bread (kept in the freezer section at Whole Foods and stays in my freezer at home) and dipped it in a mixture I made of 1 egg, 1 cup of milk, and some cinnamon...then cooked each side in a frying pan (I used non-stick pans so I didn't need to add any butter or anything for frying). I served the slices with the obligatory maple syrup...and they were actually pretty good! I'd say it's definitely a viable GF breakfast option...pretty tasty, and really easy! :)

Also, this past week I performed another experiment...gluten free cheesecake brownies. I used a Namaste mix (I hadn't used that brand before; I found it at Naturally Yours here in Bloomington) and prepared it as instructed on the package. After spreading the batter in a 9x13 pan, I mixed 1/2 brick of 1/3 less fat cream cheese with 1 egg and some powdered sugar (maybe approx. 1/2 cup; I just sprinkled some randomly in there ;) That's how I tend to bake/cook!!) until it was well blended. Then, I spread this out in a swirly pattern on top of the brownies. I baked the brownies as directed on the package...and they turned out pretty yummy!

Ok, as long as I wrote about 2 success stories, I should confess that approx. 1 1/2 weeks ago I did have a baking failure ;). I wanted to try to make a pound cake (from my 1000 Gluten Free Recipes book) but didn't have eggs...so I substituted banana for the egg (something I had read online was a viable option for people with egg allergies). Well, it may work...but I under baked it and didn't realize it until about 30 minutes after I had removed it from the oven and was cutting a slice for Jeremy (I planned to serve it with vanilla ice cream and strawberries...good thoughts, right?!)...I realized that the center was kind of gooey...in a really odd way. So, I threw it back in the oven for a while ;). Let's just say, it never really recovered ;). I sulked, as is my typical reaction when I fail at something, and left it on the counter for a good two days before throwing it away. What, did I expect that it would miraculously turn into something edible?! ;)

Oh well, 2 for 3 isn't TOO bad, now is it?! ;)

Have a great day! Happy GF eating to you :)

Check this out!

2009-05-28T21:38:00.004-05:00

If you're a dork like me, you might find this interesting. I haven't quite looked through it as in-depth as I want to, but I plan on going through it closely over the next week or so.

Today I went to (I know, this is totally unrelated to gluten intolerance ;)) a conference about Childhood Apraxia of Speech (pertains to my career as an SLP) and the speaker told us about the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) website that was created by researchers at Johns Hopkins University...basically you can look for genes for anything that you want. Naturally, I typed in "gluten intolerance" and came up with the following page about Celiac Disease....
Check it out for more information if you are interested!!

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/dispomim.cgi?id=212750

Also, in other news....I ate a fast-food lunch today during the break at the conference...I went with some friends to Wendy's since I had read that they have a gluten free menu. I ordered the baked potato with cheese sauce, broccoli, and sour cream (ok....I know I wasn't exactly eating healthy! ;))....all which are listed on Wendy's Gluten Free Menu....but I felt like crap all afternoon. Bloating to the max....and I still feel terrible. No idea what is wrong or what is up with that, but I am not liking it! Sigh.....

"Additional Things to Beware of to Maintain a 100% Gluten Free Diet"

2009-05-23T00:03:00.004-05:00

I found this article...and I thought it had some great info! Here's a breakdown of the info:

Additional Things to Beware of to Maintain a 100% Gluten-Free Diet

Rice and soy beverages because their production process may utilize barley enzymes.
Bad advice from health food store employees (i.e., that spelt and/or kamut is/are safe for celiacs).
Cross-contamination between food store bins selling raw flours and grains (usually via the scoops).
Wheat-bread crumbs in butter, jams, toaster, counter, etc.
Lotions, creams and cosmetics (primarily for those with dermatitis herpetaformis).
Stamps, envelopes or other gummed labels.
Toothpaste and mouthwash.
Medicines: many contain gluten.
Cereals: most contain malt flavoring, or some other non-GF ingredient.
Some brands of rice paper.
Sauce mixes and sauces (soy sauce, fish sauce, catsup, mustard, mayonnaise, etc.).
Ice cream.
Packet & canned soups.
Dried meals and gravy mixes.
Laxatives.
Grilled restaurant food - gluten contaminated grill.
Fried restaurant foods - gluten contaminated grease.
Ground spices - wheat flour is sometimes used to prevent clumping

News....

2009-05-22T23:35:00.006-05:00

So things have been busy...but I should get back into my old "blogging" habit! :) Recent happenings include, but are not limited to the following:

I attempted the "CORE" Weight Watchers diet plan with my friend Jillian for a week...talk about torturous. I craved refined sugar like none other!

I met my first "internet friend", Kristin, in person

I made some delicious gluten free chocolate mint cookies and sent 62 of said cookies with Jeremy to work this past week for a "food day"....to rave reviews!

I sampled (TWICE) the new GF Valencia orange cake from Starbucks...it's so good, it's honestly crave-worthy, as evidenced by my need to get one on Thursday for lunch! HA! Not exactly a balanced lunch, but it was delicious!

I discovered that Naturally Yours here in Bloomington carries fresh baked goods...including a delicious raspberry muffin that I gleefully sampled

I am still asked quite regularly what gluten is

I've made a number of gluten free meals here at home for a number of guests

....I found out I do NOT have Celiac Disease.........yeah! Weird, huh?! Well, I have
"gluten intolerance" or "gluten sensitivity"...so really, nothing will change in the arena of my diet/current lifestyle. But the knowledge that I don't have an autoimmune disease is a good thing.

Ok, so I had my follow-up appointment post genetic testing with Dr. DeWeert, a GI here in town, on Tuesday.....and....I don't (yes DON'T) have Celiac Disease....I don't have either of those 2 genes that predispose people to Celiac Disease! 35% of the population has at least one of these genes in some form and I have NOTHING! When I first went in to see Dr. DeWeert a few months ago he told me that he was pretty darn sure the genetic testing would come back showing that I had at least one of the genes. I definitely have gluten intolerance according to Dr. DeWeert, though, and I am not arguing with that! Gluten is definitely key in whatever was screwing me up for so long...eliminate it and I am suddenly basically fine. Also, I can definitely tell if I had something that was "contaminated"...or at least I think I can. What if it is in my head?! Well, I don't think some of my....err...SYMPTOMS ;)...can be just "in my head". So, now I am in this weird non-Celiac but still gluten-intolerant population. I did some reading about this recently, too, when it became apparent that maybe this was the category I fell into. People talked all tragically about how they feel "forgotten" since they don't have the "label" of Celiac Disease but still have the same symptoms...just don't have the auto-immune disease component/etc. I don't plan on being that tragic about it ;).
Well, like I said though, nothing for me is going to change...I mean, it's obviously good to have this information and I may even try something glutenous (since I know it won't permanently damage me) at some point...but the thought freaks me out!!! I don't know if I can really bring myself to do it. I mean, sometimes it sounds really tempting (bread bowl from Panera anyone?!)...Obviously I know what I was like pre-diet-change and don't really want to go back to ANY of that suffering! Plus, there is a tiny percentage of Celiac's who supposedly DON'T have the genes ;). I totally recognize it's a long shot...but I could be in that ;). HA! I hope people don't use this news as some kind of excuse to be less careful around me. It's still totally obvious that I get sick when I have gluten...boy oh boy. I have to admit, though, sometimes I do doubt myself...like, am I just some kind of hypochondriac who made all of this crap up!? Then I remind myself....um, no...not likely! This isn't exactly FUN. It's been incredibly hard and it's definitely not about getting attention or anything like that. I don't even LIKE being the center of attention/having something "different" about me! Not to mention the fact that, well, there's no way that practically pooping my pants after eating gluten can be just IN MY HEAD! HA!
I just read on celiac.com : In some rare individuals, especially some men, a negative genetic test may not exclude the possibility of celiac disease anymore than a negative blood test. Men more commonly have negative genetic tests and blood tests, especially older men with long-standing severe disease.
Well...I'm clearly not a man. And definitely not an OLD man ;). But who knows!!!
Well, for not I am content....I don't have Celiac Disease, but my body still hates gluten. That's fine...with all of the support I've been getting, I've been doing pretty darn well. I am finding things to eat that I actually enjoy and I am not suffering by any means! So, bring on the rice pasta and the Chebe bread! :)

Explanation of the last post ;)

2009-05-10T22:31:00.004-05:00

Ok, ok...here's the latest drama with me and my silly "medical issues"...
I had 2 blood tests when I went in to see Dr. DeWeert (of Digestive Disease Consultants here in Bloomington) about 2 weeks ago...the genetic test for the 2 genes that predispose one to Celiac Disease (basically if you DON'T have those genes, there is no way you have Celiac...but if you DO have the genes, it doesn't necessarily mean you have Celiac for certain...it just means you have a higher likelihood of developing it at some point in your lifetime) and the one looking for antibodies in the blood stream. He decided to do both even though I have been GF for nearly 7 months now and the antibody one might be negative since I haven't had gluten for a long time. He said that recent studies have shown that some celiacs still have antibodies in their blood for 6-12 months after going GF. So, I said to heck with it and just had both tests done ;)....which may or may not have been the right decision on my part, but he really made it sound as if that was the way to go. It will probably cost a butt load, but oh well I guess....that is what my flex spending account is for, right?! ;) Honestly, though, I am kind of irritated....ok, very irritated, with the somewhat shoddy service I've gotten from that office. I called on Tuesday (one week after I got the blood tests...I fully recognize that this was a bit early to be calling, only one week after having the tests...but the girl in the lab actually told me that I could start calling on Monday. So, I did wait a whole day after she told me to start calling ;). With my OC personality, that was definitely practicing restraint! ;)) to see if they had the results yet, and the nurse called me back on Wednesday saying they had the results. She told me "the results do not confirm the diagnosis of celiac disease"....not you don't have it (I was/am pretty certain I won't be hearing that), just that the tests didn't confirm the diagnosis. Ok, so I tried to get the nurse to explain this to me better...for example, what did each test specifically say (in my mind I was thinking, based on the way she worded the results, that the genetic test showed I had the genes that predispose you to Celiac, but the antibody test didn't show the high level of antibodies that would indicate Celiac...since I've been GF for so long)...but she just repeated "the results do not confirm the diagnosis of celiac disease" and told me I could talk to the dr. more about that on the 19th when I go back for my follow-up appointment. Naturally, I wasn't satisfied with that...I called my primary care physician's office (who always gets me in right away, which is great) and got an appt. for last friday, then called DeWeert's office back after hanging up with her and tried to get a hold of someone in the medical records department to get those results sent to my primary care physician....but was just forwarded to a voice mail box that told me to allow 5-7 business days. WHAT?! So, I called the front desk hoping to figure out a way to get expedited service (i.e., going in myself to get the records and simply bringing them with me to my dr. appoint at my primary care physician...)....but they were of zero help. I am not trying to be unnecessarily mean here ;)...I KNOW a receptionist doesn't necessarily know what goes on in the medical records office or whatnot, but I thought she might at least be able to transfer me to an actual person instead of just the voicemail again. Ha, I probably sound like one of those psycho-patients that dr. offices really hate ;). I promise, I am really not that way at all...I am just trying to be proactive. Oh, and I haven't heard back yet from the records office even though I left a voice mail in the early afternoon Wednesday. ARGH! Ok, ok....I know it hasn't been 5-7 business days like the voicemail box said ;)...it's only been 2 (since it's the weekend)...but still! I thought I'd at least hear back so they could tell me what to expect...and I think I need to probably go in and sign something giving them permission to share medical records, etc. Who knows. I'll wait til I hear I guess...I shouldn't be this dramatic about everything. In the grand scheme of things, what does it change?! In all actuality, I guess I am over it ;)...I mean, clearly "celiac disease"explained ALL of my crazy symptoms...and they subsided within a month of going GF...so even if I don't actually have celiac, I am probably "gluten intolerant" or whathaveyou....but this merry-go-round this past week kind of drove me crazy! HA! Sorry for that long rant!
So, there you have it...where my mind has been this past week!

In other news, Biaggi's in Bloomington has GF pizza now...and it's fantastic! We had Jeremy's family over here for mother's day tonight...and ordered Biaggi's take out. I made a fruit salad and a dessert and we got pasta, bread, and salad (my fav. messina salad!) and GF pizza for me. YUM!

Have a great week, all!

~Rachel

Celiac

2009-05-06T12:58:00.003-05:00

so I might not have Celiac disease? What? Some test results just came back (a nurse called; I had more blood drawn on last Tuesday) and they "do not support the Celiac diagnosis"

Ok.

Then.....

WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?! And why did a gluten free diet fix symptoms that tortured me for 6 1/2 ish years!??!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!??!!

random food...

2009-05-06T12:30:00.005-05:00

Ok, so here is the other "recipe"...if you can call it that ;)...I mentioned in the previous blog. I say it that way because I have kind of gotten in a habit of just throwing random crap together lately ;).

Tomato-y Chicken and (Rice) Pasta ;)

1 box gluten-free tomato soup (I used Imagine brand; I really like this. It is available at Meijer, for you Bloomington-ites ;))
1 can tomatoes and green chilis
Chicken breasts (I used 3 large breasts)
Rice pasta (any shape will do!)

Basically all I did was put the still-frozen chicken breasts in the bottom of my crock pot, pour the soup and tomatoes/chilis on top and let the whole thing cook on high for 3 hours and then low for 3 more hours. At dinner time I boiled up some yummy rice pasta (I used spaghetti-shape; obviously you can use anything that suits your fancy!). When the pasta was drained, I returned it to the pan and put a little butter and garlic on it (you can omit this or use olive oil or whatever). Next, I put some noodles on each plate and covered each plate of noodles with one chicken breast and some of the tomato sauce from the crock pot. You could serve this with cheese on top or with parmesan to shake on top...but we didn't add any cheese. We are actually cheese-a-holics ;) so if we think a dish is fine without cheese, it probably really is! HA!

Today I stopped home for a quick lunch again and am currently chowing down on leftovers from last night. I made a box of Trader Joes' Gluten Free rice mac n' cheese and added a flaked pre-cooked salmon fillet. I found the salmon at Cub Food's here in Bloomington in the refridgerator section by the other seafood....it said "gluten free" on the label, so of course that piqued my interest ;). I am a marketer's dream ;). HA! Anyway, it was simple and oh-so-yummy!

Jeremy and I are going to a wedding this weekend; it will be my second gluten-free wedding reception experience ;).

Have a good day, all!

Rachel

Good eats

2009-05-04T12:30:00.004-05:00

I stopped home for a quick lunch and thought I'd jot down a quick blog entry as well. I sure haven't been blogging much lately (explanation in the previous entry!). Anyway, hopefully I'll get back into it. We'll see. Also, in the last entry I wrote that I would be posting another entry right after posting that one with new food ideas/recipes. Well, I must have gotten sidetracked by something else because I sure didn't post anything! ;) Well, here are a few tidbits...

My favorite easy lunch lately has been somewhat random but totally delicious :).
Ingredients:
2 slices of Whole Foods Gluten-Free Sandwich bread (any bread will do, of course, but this is my all-time favorite!)
Butter
Cheese of your choosing (I typically prefer cheddar ;))
1 egg
honey

1) Cook the egg however you like (I "fry" it, but just in a few spritz' of cooking spray), set aside.
2) Lightly butter 1 side of each slice of bread. Fry each of these in the same pan you cooked the egg in (butter-side down, just like you would a grilled cheese sandwich)
3) Put cheese on the un-buttered part of one slice of bread, and cover with the egg. Cook until the cheese is melted.
4) Turn the other slice of bread over (so now the buttered/toasted side is facing up) and spread some honey on it. Keep it on the pan until the honey is warmed a bit.

There you have it, an "open face" egg/cheese "sandwich" and a slice of toast with honey. YUM! I love it...in fact, it is just what I ate for lunch today! Somewhat random, but totally delicious :).
~~~

Also, this past week I made 2 really easy dinners:
First one: Baked Turkey Breasts with Black Beans and Hominy (ha, really creative title ;))

Ingredients:
2 lbs Turkey breasts (boneless, skinless, fat removed)
3/4 cup chicken broth (Progresso brand is gluten free, and it is my preferred brand. I like their low-sodium version)
1 can organic black beans
1 can hominy
sour cream
cheese

Preheat oven to 350. Place turkey breasts on the bottom of an 8x8 baking pan that has been lightly sprayed with cooking spray. Pour the 3/4 cup chicken broth over top. Cover with 1 can each of black beans and hominy. Cover pan with foil. Bake until nearly done (approx 40 minutes or so, depending on thickness of breasts). Uncover, sprinkle cheese on top (whichever variety you prefer, and whatever quantity you want). Return to oven, uncovered, and bake until cheese is bubbly. Ensure turkey breasts are done, and then serve with sour cream and additional cheese if you wish. So simple and really delicious. It worked great to put together ahead of time (minus the cheese) when I came home on my lunch break and hold in the fridge for a few hours before popping into the oven at dinner time!

I need to hurry back to work now, but I will post the second recipe later...yummy tomato-ey chicken over garlic rice pasta! YUM!

Have a great day, all!

Rachel

Excuses...

2009-05-01T21:34:00.003-05:00

I haven't felt much like blogging lately. On April 10th I started getting harassed by some crazy guy on one of my blogs. It started out not-s0-harassing (or so I thought) and ended really badly. I guess it was my fault, I kind of perpetuated it. Without saying too much about specifics, because it has to do with a good friend of mine....here is an explanation on why now all of my blogs aside from this one are "private" (again, if you happen to be someone who was reading my silly meanderings, let me know and I will enter your e-mail address as one of the approved people to read the blogs!)....
I have a blog on which I was trying to post a different picture every day of something I was thankful for. Ok, I recognize that this may sound entirely lame...but that's what I did ;). A "new year's resolution" of mine was to be a more grateful, thankful individual. I have so much to be thankful for and I don't want to ever take anything for granted. Anyway, I thought a little blog chronicling a year of my thankfulness would be cute (for my own use) and, of course, I could use it to share with friends/family, etc., the ways in which I was thankful for them. Well some random (or maybe not random) guy started leaving me messages after a post about one of my good friends...it started out by asking if I wanted to hear some information he had about her. I had turned on comment moderation, so I received an e-mail telling me that I had this message. He kept sending me messages through my blog and I never accepted them, for obvious reasons. I just kept reading them...and he gave me his e-mail address so I could contact him that way. For some reason, now that I think of it, he never responded to my e-mail; he only sent me messages on the blog. Anyway, it started to get totally creepy and weird and it was beyond anything I can really describe in this kind of forum. So, my blogs are private now. There you have it. Whew! I have kept this one public because, if I ever have anything that is useful in the realm of gluten-free-living tips/etc., I want to be able to share that information with whomever wants to access it. I know I always google random gluten free crap and end up at random peoples' blogs and have, on more than one occasion, gotten some really great information via blogs. So, on the off chance that anyone is in my boat, googles something gluten-free, and comes up with my blog and gets some helpful advice...well, then, my work is done! :) HA! And, speaking of which...if you are reading this blog and ever get any helpful advice, by all means, let me know! :) At some point I want to start having little contests and things, too, like I've seen some other bloggers (what a silly term..."bloggers"!) do. So, there's an incentive to read my blog! HA! Contests to win some yummy gluten free items! Speaking of which...seeing as this is a gluten free blog, I should be posting about THAT and not about some lame blog-stalker guy trying to complicate my and my friends' lives! :)
I'll start again in a new, fresh post.
Ta ta for now!
~Rachel

Busy month

2009-04-22T20:04:00.002-05:00

It's been a BUSY month....the first weekend in April I traveled to MN with my sister to my good friend Rosalee's bachelorette party...the second weekend in April I ran my first half marathon...the third weekend in April Jeremy and I traveled to MN to attend Rosalee and Bobby's rehearsal and wedding....whew! So, I haven't been blogging much.

Highlights...

~gluten-free chili at the bachelorette party on Saturday, April 4 made by Rosalee's older sister Nicole who awesomely made it with me in mind
~delicious sangria at the bachelorette party (GF, of course! :))
~I FINISHED a half marathon on April 11th....in under 2 hours! The snacks afterwards, however, were lacking...the only thing I could eat were the bananas and apples! Ok, I realize this isn't exactly suffering ;), but when everyone else is stuffing themselves with Papa John's pizza it's easy to feel sorry for one's self! I said to my sister, as she bit into a hot piece of pizza, "I am THIS close to eating a piece of that! It looks awesome!" I was serious, too. Well, she took one look at me and said, "Let's get you out of here then" and made a bee line for the exit to the food area. Good idea, sister! Remove me from the situation :). So, yahoo for sisters ;)
~I had some of the BEST gluten-free meals EVER the weekend of Rosalee's wedding...the rehearsal dinner at the Hubbell House in Mantorville, MN was AMAZING (walleye, baked potato, and wine...can't go wrong, really.)...and the wedding food was great too! The caterers were SO helpful (Roz had talked with them beforehand) and I had a yummy plain chicken breast (it really was rather good!), potatoes, green beans, fruit and ice cream (in place of the ice cream cake the guests had)...not too shabby! So, yahoo for Rosalee, MN, and gluten-free weddings :)
~Rosalee's step-mom Joleen made AMAZING gluten free monster cookies in the little out-of-towner goodie bag she had for me and Jeremy at the hotel we stayed at. Can we say amazing?!??!

Needless to say, GF life isn't treating me too badly right now. This girl loves her food! ;) Sheesh, I sound like a fatty!! ;)

Private blogs

2009-04-16T15:48:00.002-05:00

So, I had a crazy dude sending me messages via one of my blogs, so I made all of my blogs aside from this one private. If you want to be invited to read any of the other blogs, let me know :).

Have a great day!

Rachel

Top Ten list....

2009-04-12T14:04:00.002-05:00

Taken from The Gluten Free Optimist...thought this was great :)

Ten Positive things about having Celiac Disease...
1. Your health is better!
2. You helped improve the health of other people by telling family members, friends, coworkers, and doctors about the importance of testing for celiac disease.
3. You don’t need medicine or surgery to treat your disease.
4. You don’t have to share your food.
5. You save money by not impulsively buying sweets, by not impulsively eating out, and by not buying your lunch daily.
6. Since you read labels, you have a better idea of the nutritional facts and ingredients of the foods you eat and can make more informed choices.
7. You appreciate the small things in life and find joy in them like new good gluten free foods, the mention of gluten free or celiac on a television show, gluten free lists of foods and medicines, and an informative blog post or review. (Yes, these are big things to celiacs, but they are still small things in the big picture of life.)
8. You eat healthier at home when you don’t feel like driving far to eat out or buy gluten free convenience foods.
9. You have something to blog about.
10. You participate in amazing internet networking with other celiacs and have an instant bond with them.

Lately...

2009-04-12T13:59:00.002-05:00

Things are going pretty well!

I did make a new yummy item this week...I used the Gluten Free Pantry brand muffin mix to make some muffins for a work breakfast. The mix is plain and then you can add mix-in's to your muffins. I added dried cherries, walnuts, and chocolate chips and then sprinkled a bit of brown sugar on top...for some yummy Chocolate-cherry-nut muffin creations :). People at work seemed to like them, so that's cool! :) I enjoyed them, too. YUM!

Yummy!

2009-03-30T22:03:00.006-05:00

I love cooking...and as I've said before, "re-learning" how to cook post gluten free lifestyle has been somewhat of a challenge. Tonight, however, I made a yummy meal for us and our good friends, Josh and Laura. I thought I'd share the menu because I want to remember it...it was yummy and I'd love to re-create it sometime!

Appetizers:
~Sliced Cabot New York sharp cheddar cheese (a new cheese Jeremy picked out; it was decent!)
~Hummus (I used a gluten free mix that you basically add your own water and olive oil to) with broccoli and carrots

Salad:
~Butter lettuce (a newish discovery, thanks to meals at Laura and Josh's...this is just a bag of Fresh Express lettuce and we love it!)
~variety of do-it-yourself toppings (diced hard-boiled egg, black olives (ew, not for me! Jer loves them, though!), Mediterranean cheese blend, Craisins, sliced almonds, and Texas Toast croutons (NOT gluten free...not for me! We had a bag that we needed to use up ;))
~variety of dressings (light Caesar, ranch from Avanti's here in town (Jer's favorite dressing!), oil and vinegar, and gluten free poppyseed dressing (from Whole Foods)...YUMMY!!

Main Course:
~Chebe cheese rolls...DELICIOUS gluten-free rolls made from a yummy mix. Available at Meijer and Naturally Yours here in Bloomington. I LOVE these rolls! The others enjoyed them, too! They are made from a tapioca flour base and are so soft on the inside and crisp on the outside. I would DEFINITELY recommend them...even if you don't need to eat gluten-free!
~Parmesan mashed potatoes....Recipe:
4 lb. red potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch chunks
2 cups chicken broth (I used Progresso; it is gluten free)
1-8 oz pkg 1/3 Less Fat Cream Cheese, cubed
3/4 cup Reduced Fat/Light Sour Cream
3 Tbsp. Grated Parmesan Cheese
4 Tbsp. butter
1 Tbsp. garlic salt

Put potato chunks in large saucepan. Add broth; cover. Bring to boil on high heat; simmer on medium heat 15 min., stirring after 8 min. Uncover; stir potatoes. Simmer, uncovered, 5 to 6 min. or until potatoes are tender and most of broth is absorbed.

Add cubes of cream cheese. Reduce heat to low. Mash potatoes slightly until cream cheese is melted. Add sour cream, butter and Parmesan; mash until potatoes are smooth and heated through.

YUMMY!!!!

AND
~Crockpot Cranapple Chicken (recpie adapted from http://www.cookingcache.com/)

Crockpot Cranapple Chicken Breast Bake Recipe
4 to 6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (I used just over three lbs of breasts)
4 to 6 green onions (I didn't use onions)
1/2 cup dried sweetened cranberries (I used a cup since I thought I used more chicken)
1/2 cup chopped dried apple (I used one whole fresh apple, sliced...but waited to add it until about an hour before serving)
1 clove garlic very thinly sliced (I used 1 1/2 tsp of crushed garlic form a jar)
2 tablespoons brown sugar (I used four Tbsp.)
2 tablespoons water (I used 4 tsp)
1 teaspoon lemon juice (I used 2 tsp)
2 teaspoons butter (I used 4 tsp)

Place chicken breasts in a 2-quart (or larger) crockpot. Add remaining ingredients in the order given, dotting evenly with the butter last. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours. Serve over rice (I didn't serve with rice; Jeremy doesn't like rice very much. However, I think rice would've been great).

I think the cooking time was a little long; the chicken was a little drier than I would've liked, but all in all not too shabby!

Dessert
~fresh raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries (sliced) mixed together with a SMALL amount of sugar (just a tiny sprinkling on top as they sat in the fridge for a few hours)
~organic vanilla pudding (not instant; Jeremy loves the "skin" on the kind you actually have to cook ;))
~whipped cream

YUMMY!

We had a great time with our friends, too :). All in all, a great evening :)

WHOLE FOODS

2009-03-23T22:12:00.005-05:00

WHOLE FOODS=HEAVEN ON EARTH......oh my goodness! It is seriously my favorite grocery store EVER now!
I had class in Chicago on Saturday so I decided to ask my handydandy little TomTom (actually, Jeremy's...he got it for Christmas from his parents; we hadn't even used the little guy yet!) if there was a Whole Foods nearby...and there was one 9 miles from Oakton Community College, where my class was (long story short, it's some co-op dealie with ISU; sometimes we are at Oakton and sometimes we are at ISU)...so of course I embarked upon the quick journey to go check it out and BOY, was I glad that I did!
EVERYTHING in the store is all-natural and many things are organic as well. BEST part is, though....they have TONS Of GLUTEN FREE GOODIES! The baked goods...oh my goodness...things looked wonderful!
I got a loaf of GF sandwich bread ($7ish, Whole Foods brand; I had read somewhere that it is the best GF bread available), a round loaf of GF sourdough bread, some Bob's Red Mill sorghum flour (I should've stocked up; we have it here, but it was cheaper at Whole Foods), some GF poppyseed salad dressing, some GF rice lasagna noodles (I can never find them!), some organic white wine vinegar, a GF personal-size Glutino brand cheese pizza (!!!), some GF chocolate chip cookie mix (Pamela's brand), and a pre-washed and pre-cut cup of fresh kiwi and strawberry from the produce section (for my "lunch", I ate it as soon as I got in the car!). They had a great produce section!! I really wish we had one of those stores in our town.

But....let me just tell you...the sandwhich bread is PHE-NOM!!!! Seriously!! I made a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch yesterday AND today with it and loveloveLOVED it! After being deprived for FIVE months now it just tasted SOOO good. I've tried a few other kinds but nothing is really GOOD, just "bearable" (well, some are terrible!). This stuff, though, was wonderful. When we go back up to Chi in late April for a race, we will DEFINITELY be stopping by a Whole Foods. It is my new favorite shopping experience!

SO, if you want some great (THE BEST!) GF bread, head on over to a Whole Foods and check out the freezer section which is CHOCK-FULL of many varieties of bread and baked goods. Next time I go, I am going to get the tomato basil bread (the woman who showed me the section at the store recommended it) and either banana bread or carrot cake! YUP, they have stuff like that too! Really!

All Hail Whole Foods!

I made it!!

2009-03-18T19:45:00.006-05:00

We are HOME from AZ and had a wonderful wonderful trip! Absolutely fantastic...and I wish we were still there! Well, kind of ;). It is of course, always nice to be home. There's nowhere quite like home, is there?! :)

I was SO nervous during the weeks leading up to the trip...I had basically resigned myself to the fact that I would get sick at some point during the vacation. In my mind it was inevitable. Between eating out and eating meals at Eileen and Dave's house (our hosts) it was bound to happen at some point.

I am so thankful to report that I needn't have been so worried!!

Eileen had stocked up on some gluten free goodies that she had for me in the guest house where Jeremy and I stayed...check it out! She had even gotten my favorite granola! (accidental! She had no idea!). She also got me some pretzles (not shown; they were in my bag ready to take with to the baseball game!). The yellow box of Trader Joe's mac and cheese was one I'd brought from home (one of the boxes Jillian got for me!). I survived! ;)

Eileen also went way out of her way to prepare many gluten free meals for me during our stay. The woman is truly a saint. She and her husband Dave used to be neighbors here in Bloomington of Jeremy's parents, but moved to Mesa sevenish years ago when Dave was transferred with State Farm (he is a vice president of State Farm; in charge of auto claims out there in the AZ area. Big stuff ;)). I had never met them before, but they were two of the most accomodating, loving individuals I had ever met. I can't wait to see them again someday! I cannot thank them enough for their kind generosity! In a future post, I will share two recipes from her: a soup with pork, green chiles, and hominy (phenomenal!!) and a margharita lasagna (she made mine with rice noodles!!). Both were sooo yummy!!!
Jeremy and I had read that there was a Red Robin in Mesa; however we had forgotten to check the address before embarking on a journey to find lunch on Monday. We ended up "happening upon" Red Robin and dined like kings! ;) Have I mentioned lately how much I LOVE Red Robin!? YUMMM indeed!

Jeremy just loves it when I take "pointless" photos of him ;). HA!

{GULP!}

2009-03-12T00:28:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow...later today, really (since it's after midnight!)...is our trip to AZ! Long awaited, and now it is staring us right in the face! I'm reallyreally nervous about the food situation. I am sure I'll have lots to write about when I am back.
Ok, back to packing! Wish me luck!

Yummy dinner!

2009-03-10T18:47:00.006-05:00

Thanks to JILLIAN for this awesome present...two boxes of gluten free mac and cheese from a recent trip to Trader Joes!! Jillian, a great friend I met at work, is just AWESOME and sooo generous! She always finds me little goodies...and I love her for it!!

I have a pot of water with one box of the noodles a'boilin' downstairs and can't wait to eat it! After that I am off for a pedicure...a silly indulgence, I know ;). It is in preparation for our trip to AZ on Thursday...my biggest trip yet while gluten free! It'll be an adventure, I am sure...but I am up for it! :) Time to go consume said mac and cheese....have a lovely night, all!

Flourless Chocolate Cake...mmmmmm!!

2009-03-07T08:40:00.006-06:00

This week we had a potluck planned for Tuesday over lunch at work....so of course I knew I had to find some kind of new recipe to make! My mom had told me about a recipe for flourless chocolate cake that she had heard on a morning show on ABC I think...and had e-mailed me a link to it. The recipe looked and sounded delicious...and it was by Emeril, so it HAD to be good, right?! :) I gave it a try...here's the recipe for all of you adventurous-sorts out there!!

Flourless Chocolate Cake
(by Rachel and Emeril ;) )
~1 pound semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped (I used four bars of Ghiardelli semi-sweet chocolate baking bars)

~1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes, plus 1/2 tablespoon (I used Land O' Lakes, our butter of choice in this house ;), and it was actually the salted variety because that was all we had at the time...and it was fine)

~1/4 cup Kahlua (I am cheap and didn't want to buy a $20 bottle of Kahlua, so I used this Bolthouse Farms Mocha Cappuchino chocolate milk drink I had in my fridge...also worked great!!)

~8 large eggs (organic, of course ;))

~1/4 cup sugar

~1 teaspoon vanilla (be sure it's gluten free!! Some aren't!)

~1/2 teaspoon salt

~Confectioners' sugar or cocoa powder, for garnish (I just used the powdered sugar; I figured there was already plenty of chocolate! ;))

~Fresh raspberries, for garnish (I forgot to get these; so I just had the powdered sugar...it was fine ;) Fruit, though, would make it even prettier!!)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Using 1/2 tablespoon butter grease a 9-inch springform pan and line bottom with a parchment round (I didn't have a round, so I just roughly cut one from my big roll of it!). Cover pan underneath and along sides with foil and set in a roasting pan (I used a cake pan! I don't have a big roasting pan).

Bring a medium saucepan of water to boil. Combine the chocolate, butter, and Kahlua (or chocoalte milk! ;) ) in a metal bowl set over simmering water or in the top of a double boiler (I don't have a double boiler, so I used a medium-sized sauce pan and put a metal bowl on top). Melt the mixture, stirring constantly, until smooth and creamy, about 5 minutes; reserve.

Meanwhile combine eggs, sugar, vanilla, and salt in a large bowl and whisk with an electric mixer until frothy and almost doubled in volume, about 5 to 10 minutes (honestly, I probably did closer to 4-5 minutes). Fold 1/3 of egg mixture into chocolate mixture using a rubber spatula. Repeat this process 2 more times until all of egg mixture has been folded into chocolate mixture.

Pour batter into prepared springform pan and place in the roasting pan (I poured it into the prepared pan that was already inside the "roasting pan"/cake pan). Pour enough boiling water into the roasting pan to come about halfway up the sides of the springform pan.

Bake until cake has risen slightly and edges are just beginning to set, about 40-45 minutes. Remove cake from roasting pan and cool on wire rack to room temperature. Remove foil, cover, and refrigerate overnight. Remove cake from refrigerator about 30 minutes before serving. Remove springform pan sides, invert cake onto a large plate, and peel away parchment paper from bottom (this part took a while since I was being careful! The bottom of the springform pan was stuck to the paper, which was stuck to the cake. I bent a fingernail trying to pry them all apart! Be careful!!).

Reinvert cake on another large plate or serving platter and garnish with confectioners' sugar or cocoa powder immediately before serving.Yum yum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I took some photos to put with this blog entry...but I deleted them off my camera accidentally before uploading them onto the computer! DARN it all!!!!

I feel bad...

2009-03-02T12:01:00.004-06:00

...and it is SO frustrating....

Sunday was Jeremy's 27th birthday...happy birthday (again), babe! :). For a while, I had planned on having a birthday party for him. I had one last year...a surprise! I had arranged for his best Bloomington guy friends to meet out at Medici (which was a new restaurant here in town at the time) for pizza and then come back here to our place for dessert, along with their wives/girlfriends/whatever if they wanted. I think Jer had a great time with his friends, and I was happy to have pulled off the surprise. I decided against the surprise this year and instead talked to him about what restaurant he'd like to go to and what friends he'd like to invite. I also decided against having just guys...because, quite frankly, I wanted to go too :). We planned this year's party for Saturday night (Feb. 28th) at CJ's here in town, not far from our house.
(I started this post on Monday and never finished it! I will finish it now--Sat 3/7!)
I suggested CJ's because I know they serve Jeremy's favorite Chicago-style deep-dish pizza in town. I KNEW it would be a struggle for me to sit there and watch him eat pizza, but I made the sacrifice, because it was his birthday and he LOVES it!! I know, I am being kind of dramatic...referring to it as "a sacrifice"...but in a way, it really was! It is NO fun to sit there and watch people eat pizza. It is one of the worst food issues I have.
Anyway, so I invited tons of his (mostly) local friends and said we would be having dinner at CJ's and then everyone was invited back to our place for dessert...
Well, we had a great turn-out...Chuck and Sarah came, Brooke and Jamie stayed for dinner (they were visiting from Rockford!), Aaron and Katie came, Jon (Jeremy's brother), Alec, and Josh and Laura. It was a great group of fun people!
We had reservations for 6:30, but we ended up hanging out by the crowded bar until a few minutes after seven because they never got a table ready for us. At one point (around 6:50), I went over to the hostess stand and asked some lady about it and if our table would be ready soon...pointing out, of course, that we had reservations for 6:30....her response? "Well, do you have a keg of dynamite? Because we're just waiting for some people to move so we can get your table together!" EXCUSE ME?! Yeah, she really said that. It was interesting.
Well...we FINALLY got seated ;) and started to look at the menus. EVERYONE ordered the deep-dish Chicago-style pizza. Awesome...or not. So, once the meal arrived I had to sit there and watch everyone eat that yummy-gooey-cheesy pizza. Let's just say, I was in a mood. HA! Oh, and before that, people ordered tons of deep-fried, breaded appitizers. So, it was pretty awesome to sit there and watch those being consumed as well. I know, I know...it was my HUSBAND'S birthday...and I tried to have a good attitude. I didn't, though!
Oh, and the waitress delivered those 4 awesome-smelling and looking pizzas...and realized she had forgotten my entree somewhere. Great. So, I sat there LONGER with no food in front of me to distract me! When she brought it out...it was pathetic. I had ordered the broiled cod and the darn cod fillet was no more than THREE inches long. Seriously. I had ordered it there before, so I KNEW that wasn't how it typically was. I was pissed...it was bad enough to be eating fish when everyone else had pizza, but the size of it was really pathetic. That darn 3" of fish cost me 13.99! Reeeeediculous.
Ok, ok, I'll stop ;).
I felt terrible sitting there and being so cranky and I kept telling myself to cut it out, it wasn't a big deal, etc., etc....but I kept getting MORE upset at myself for being upset at all so it was just one big upset, uncomfortable mess. I didn't even take any pictures at dinner because I was in such a foul mood! Silly me!
After dinner, though, things turned around. We all went back to our place (minus Sarah...she wasn't feeling well...she had just gotten back from an overnight trip to Atlanta to see Ben Folds and was hungover and tired ;)) and plus Adam and Jami who joined us around 11. I served the yummy-looking oreo ice cream cake I had made for Jeremy (again, sacrifices I made for his birthday! ;) It's one of his favorite desserts) and I ate some yummy Edy's vanilla ice cream with dark chocolate hot fudge on top. I wasn't suffering there! ;) ;) HA!
Hopefully next year I will be a big girl at Jeremy's birthday party. Good grief!
All in all, though, it was a great evening with friends...and I am DEFINITELY thankful we have so many fun and wonderful friends :)
Thanks, guys, for putting up with cranky ol' ME! :)

Uno Chicago Grill Rolls Out Gluten-Free Pizza Nationally...is this FOR REAL?!?!?!

2009-03-01T15:59:00.005-06:00

I just found this awesome blog post....

and was allllll excited because it looks like Uno Chicago Grill started carrying gluten free cheese and pepperoni pizzas......

well we've been to the location at the Mark Twain Hotel in Peoria numerous times...Jeremy's favorite food is chicago-style deep-dish pizza and I love (well, loved??) it as well. I was SO PUMPED to see that we might be able to go there to enjoy it together again!

Well, I jumped on the Uno website to find the phone number for the Peoria location to see if they were, indeed carrying the gluten free pizza (the corporate website said that not all locations have it yet)...and it turns out, it isn't an Uno's anymore! It is now called Two 25. Excuse me?!??!?!

So close....yet so far away. Darn you, pizza!!!!

MORE GF resources

2009-03-01T11:43:00.003-06:00

1) MEIJER:

A friend from work, Kristin, just sent me a facebook message telling me to check out the Meijer Meal Box online website because they had a bunch of gluten free tips/information, etc. Thanks so much, Kristin! There are some great tips/products/information here!

Link to resources: http://www.meijermealbox.com/gluten-free-resources

Link to a list of foods available at Meijer grocery stores (we have a huge Meijer here in Bloomington-Normal!): http://www.meijermealbox.com/gluten-free-product-list

2) Living Without magazine:

I'd been meaning to subscribe to this magazine for a while now, but forgot about it until I saw a link to it on the Meijer mealbox website mentioned above. I just subscribed to it...$23 for a year (6 issues). I am so excited to get some new recipe ideas and tips! The magazine claims to bring the "latest news on food allergies, autism, celiac disease, and asthma"...I had peeked at one once, and it looks great! I am pumped to get the first issue...I hope it's soon! I will definitely keep you all posted and let you know how it is :)

3) Blogs

On the right hand side of my blog (you'll need to scroll down), you'll find links to some blogs I've found to be interesting and helpful...for your convenience, I also listed them below and they all have links to their sites:

Gluten Free [Cooking School]
Gluten Free Optimist (i need to take a few tips from here about being optimistic!! ;))
CeliacChicks
Gluten-Free Living (They also publish a magazine that I might subscribe to also at some point)
Gluten Free Blog
Recipes from Karina's Kitchen Gluten Free Goddess
Recipe for a Gluten Free Life by Mrs. G.F.
GF-Zing! -this website is Gluten Free!
At some point, I hope to get better about networking and start leaving messages on all of these blogs and maybe "feature" some of their blogs on my blog, etc. We'll see. For now, though, I just thought I'd let you know some of the cool gluten-free blogs I've discovered :)

ENJOY! :)

CHEX!

2009-03-01T11:22:00.005-06:00

Ok, so I knew Rice Chex was now gluten free (I have a big unopened box in my kitchen!)...but what I had forgotten about was that on the Chex website they had a bunch of gluten free recipes! My good friend Jen had told me about this, and I had forgotten until she reminded me on the phone yesterday! I looked it up today for the first time, and it looks great! There are some yummy-looking probably crowd-pleasing snack ideas that would be great for parties or other get-togethers. I can't wait to try them! The recipes look easy and delicious The only hard part will be deciding which one to try first! ;)

Chex Gluten-Free Recipes

I think I am the most excited about the Italian Chex Mix...and of course, Muddy Buddies (or "Puppy chow"! :))

Delicious discoveries!

2009-02-26T22:31:00.004-06:00

Just found these blogs...they look to be helpful, and chock-full of awesome recipes and tips!

http://myglutenfreecookbook.blogspot.com/

http://www.glutenfreecookingschool.com/

YUMMY!

ALSO...a great GF bakery that ships!

http://gfgreatbakes.com/viewproduct/3//

SWEET! Literally ;).

Love is...

2009-02-25T19:45:00.004-06:00

...sticking up for your wife who can't eat "normal" food.

I was reminded again today of how much I love my husband. An awkward food-related situation arose today (and I don't want to go into too many details because I don't want to be mean) and Jeremy totally went to bat for me and stuck by my side.

I love this man! Honestly, I don't know how I could deal with all of this crap without him.

Sure we haven't exactly completely converted our home to a "gluten free zone", but there is significantly less gluten-containing food here. I still buy him "regular" pasta, but he is tolerating some rice pasta. In addition, I do buy him "regular" buns for his hot dogs/hamburgers/BBQ pork. There is also some wheat-containing BBQ sauce here, as well as some cans of his favorite soup...Cambell's Bean with Bacon (gross!!! ;)). However, for the most part...everything in our house is stuff I can eat and stuff that won't make me sick if I accidently ingest a few crumbs of it or something!

I love you, Jer!

more party-time and FOOD! :)

2009-02-23T12:34:00.005-06:00

Thursday night I had some good friends over for a fun party...I hosted a Thirty-One party at my house. I had met the consultant, Lindsay Hale, at a group home-party consultant party at The Lodge in Bloomington back in December and booked a party with her then. It was a ton of fun! I LOVE entertaining. In fact, my only lament with the house we own right now is that I would love to have a BIGGER place to be able to have more people over! I LOVE the cooking, even the cleaning, and just general preparation and excitement that goes into having a group of fun friends over. I love spending time with a group of fun people doing anything, really!

Naturally, the gluten-free diet has necessitated quite a few changes in my "entertaining" plans!! This was actually the biggest get-together I'd had, post gluten-free lifestyle change. The guests were: Sarah and Jami (fun Bloomington friends!), Katie Fanello (newly-engaged Augie friend; she is engaged to Jeremy's old college roommate. Katie is in grad school for SLP at ISU right now), Abbey (a newer Blo-no friend; she works with Jer), Dawn and Stacy (2 fun SLP girls that I work with at Easter Seals), and Pam (Dawn's sister from out of town who was visting). It was so much fun!! Lindsay was a really fun consultant, too, so it was nice to get to know her a bit more as well.

Enough babbling, on to the important stuff...the menu!! I made gluten free brownies (I used the Gluten Free pantry mix that I briefly mentioned previously; I made them for the first time when we were visiting Jeremy's parents' place in Raleigh), gluten-free mini-cheesecakes (a recipe I made up after compiling some ideas I found online), had some white corn tortilla chips with a dip I made, and some yummy buttery home-made popcorn (that Jami loves!! :)).

Here are the brownies (or half of them, anyway!) after most were eaten :). (another nerdy reason I love the entertain is I LOVE to use all of my fun Longaberger products!! :) Haha!!). I thought they were delicious, but Jeremy informed me that they weren't as good as the ones I had made before in NC. I informed him that the mix was identical, but he told me that I just "must have" done something differently. Honestly, I might have overbaked them a bit (oops!) because they weren't as gooey as the first batch. Oh well...I still thought they were great and would definitely recommend the Gluten Free Pantry brownie mix that I used to create them! A mix that makes an 8x8 pan (I combined two boxes and used a 9x13" pan) costs about $3.50 at Wal Mart...yeah substantially more than the $1 you can get many non-GF brownie mixes for! Frustrating!!

Gluten-free and Fabulous Mini-cheesecakes
3 8-oz bricks of cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sour cream (I used Daisy brand light sour cream; it is GF)
3 large eggs
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (make sure it is GF!)
Mi-Del brand Gluten Free ginger snaps (or may substitute any gluten-free cookies!)

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Line muffin tips with paper or aluminum baking cups (I used paper).
3. Place one cookie in the bottom of each baking cup.
4. In a large bowl, beat together the cream cheese, sour cream, eggs, sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
5. Fill baking cups approximately 3/4 full with cream cheese mixture (I used a cookie scoop for this; less mess and worked wonderfully!)
6. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes.
7. Cool completely before storing in a tightly covered container in your refridgerator.

SOOO easy...and sooo delicious!

NOT the best photos...but here are my little cheesecakes! I made half with chocolate chips sprinked on top, and half plain. They would also be fabulous with fruit sprinkled on top. One of the recipes online showed mini-cheesecakes baked with one madarin orange segment baked on top of it. That could be yummy as well. The possibilities are endless! Next time, I want to adapt the recipe to be pumpkin mini-cheesecakes, with some pumpkin puree baked in! Perhaps in place of the sour cream...we'll see.

terrible photo...but you get the idea...

These little delights were SO easy to make...and SO worth it! Yum-yum-yummy! The are the kind of things that don't taste "fake" or make you feel like you are still deprived from the "real thing"!

University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center

2009-02-17T19:17:00.004-06:00

Well...I decided to e-mail Dr. Stefano Guandalini at the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center today...and he responded already! I basically wanted more information and to see what my next step should be...I sent him a VERY lengthy e-mail describing my symptoms and "adventures" with various doctors/diagnoses.
Here is the response I got from him:

Dear Rachel,

I read carefully your story and I feel there is indeed a high chance you have celiac disease. Unfortunately, as you clearly understand now, the whole diagnostic process (that should have promptly begun years ago) was not handled properly and is now jeopardized by your diet.

In essence, I now suggest the following:
1) Have a genetic test done, looking at the presence of HLA-DQ2 or DQ8.Any doctor can request this simple blood test to Prometheus Laboratories; or you can have a swab test from the inside of your cheeks that has the same value and is offered by Kimball Genetics (if you choose this, write to our program director Ronit Rose at rrose@peds.bsd.uchicago.edu and she can have one sent to your home). If the genetic test is negative, you can stop here: there is no risk of being celiac. If it is positive, then proceed with:
2) Reintroducing some gluten in your diet (about half a cracker per day would be more than adequate to trigger the immune response while hopefully causing minimal or no symptoms) for at least 3-4 months, then have an EGD with biopsy done.
In any case, if you want first to be seen, I -although being a pediatrician - can also see adults and occasionally do this for suspect celiac individuals. So you may contact my receptionist and ask her to see me either here in Hyde Park or in my outreach clinics in Matteson, IL in a date that is convenient for you (I do warn you,though: I may be booked up for quite some time..! :))

Stefano Guandalini, M.D.
Professor and Chief,
Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
Founder and Medical Director,
The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center
University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital

Very informative! I am going to e-mail the program director and ask for the swab test right away....I wonder how much this costs? We'll see! :)

I am going to consider trying to get an appointment with him, too. I can't believe the thoughtfulness of this guy for e-mailing me back...and so promptly, too! Wow!!

Snack foods?

2009-02-16T21:47:00.006-06:00

Ok, the Merry Masticator (whom I suspect to be my good friend Rosalee...who else would call themselves that?!) requested in a comment on a previous post that I post a list of my favorite GF snack foods.....so here we go! A lovely list of delicious crappy snack foods a Celiac (or a normal person!) can enjoy!

~Basically any 100% corn chips. Tostitos are easily accessible. I try to get brands that say they are non GMO and crap like that...but, quite honestly, it's usually easiest to get Tostitos so that's what I do most of the time! I do enjoy blue corn chips the best, but like I said...it's usually easiest to just find Tostitos.

~I enjoy said chips with a variety of things...CHEESE (nachos) is always a good start. I can't have lots of the canned nacho cheese stuff (many have gluten and/or MSG)...so I go for the "real" stuff. I also love hummus and refried beans. All delicious and GF.

~ICE CREAM! Many ice creams with no obvious gluten (cookies, brownies, cones, etc) are ok...but I always check to be sure. For example, Breyer's vanilla and mint chocolate chip are both all good.

~Candy: Swedish fish, sour patch kids, York peppermint patties, peanut butter/peanut/plain M & Ms, Raisnets

~Pistachios! (a new obsession...YUM!)...also any other nuts are good, too

~Stretch Island fruit leather

~Larabars

~fresh/frozen/dried fruits...grapes, strawberries, blueberries, cherries, Craisins, raisins...anything, really!

~carrot sticks with hummus

~THINK brand bars (nut and fruit concoctions)

~kettle cooked (no reason really, other than they are greasy and delicious!) potato chips

~Daisy brand sour cream (some other brands are ok as well, but this one stands out in my mind)
~Gluten Free Pantry brownies and muffins (mix available in the cake mix aisle at wal mart!) Their muffins are seriously to die for...Jer even loves them!

I am salivating! ;) (AND I sound like an absolute fatty!!)

Is that enough ideas, Merry Masticator?!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2009-02-14T08:58:00.003-06:00

Jeremy and I went out for dinner last night to celebrate Valentine's day...I had one of my favorite gluten-free meals: Farfalle Alfredo at Biaggi's! This dish is phenomenal. I loveloveLOVE it! We also ordered the Messina salad as an appitizer to share...mixed field greens with olives (obviously I picked that part out!), tomatoes, cucumbers, and feta cheese with red wine vinegar and olive oil. DELICIOUS!!! Of course I had a lovely glass of prosecco (one of my favorite wines!) to go with it. It was nice to go have a little date together and eat some yummy food :).

The pasta in the farfalle alfredo dish is so delicious that I asked the manager to check on the brand for me so that I could order some. Check out the website here I believe the kind that Biaggi's served was the green spinach/rice pasta noodles. SOOOO yummy!

I have leftovers to enjoy later...YUM!

Biaggi's actually has a pretty extensive gluten-free menu, which is just fantastic! I have been there 3 times since starting my gluten-free lifestyle. I would definitely recommend it! Speaking of which...this reminds me....I am 4 days away from the 4-month mark of being gluten-free. Crazy! 1/3 of a year already! WOW.

Baby Raef

2009-02-09T20:42:00.003-06:00

ok, this is not food/gluten related...but I wanted to share this with anyone who happens by this blog:http://littlemamaplustwo.blogspot.com/
This blog belongs to our friend Kara who gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, Raef, on February 6th. Raef was born 12+ weeks early, weighing in at only 2 lbs, 3 ounces.
Please send prayers/thoughts (whichever your style may be) the way of Kara and her husband Reid...they are obviously going through a lot right now.
Thanks!

Swinger's Grille

2009-02-09T20:11:00.003-06:00

Friday night, Jeremy and I met up with his dad and brother at Swinger's Grille in Normal...we had never been there before and it was fun to try someplace new. I realize the name sounds somewhat trashy...it is actually attached to a golf store and driving range, hence the "swinger's" reference. :)
After, of course, conversing with our waiter about my gluten/wheat issues, I enjoyed a side Caesar salad...and instead of the "no croutons" as I requested...it came complete with a Parmesan-crisp "crouton"...gluten free and delicious!! For my entree, I had salmon on a bed of pureed sweet potatoes with a apple cider reduction glaze and baked apples on top. It was phenomenal! I really, really enjoyed it...how fun to try somewhere new that had entrees as unique as this one!
We would definitely return to this restaurant...and I think it is the kind of place that I would bring out-of-town guests to!

Muffins!

2009-02-08T21:20:00.009-06:00

I made de-licious banana muffins tonight! :) YUM! I purchased a muffin/scone mix made by Gluten Free Pantry tonight at the grocery store...added 3 frozen bananas (when my bananas start to get old, I put them in the freezer to save for recipes/baking) that I thawed in some warm water...and then added a bit of extra tapioca flour since the bananas seemed to make the batter pretty thin. They are awesome muffins! I would definitely recommend this versatile mix...muffins bake up light and fluffy, just like the box says!

YUM! :)

Shout Out! :)

2009-02-06T11:18:00.004-06:00

The other day, my friend Abbey (a fellow SLP) sent me an e-mail at work asking me about what I could/couldn't eat...pertaining to getting me a "special" meal for her wedding reception in May! How amazingly sweet and kind was that?! She is so thoughtful...another reason I love where I work. I work with some really special, kind people :). Thanks, Abbey!

Also, similarly, an old friend, Rosalee, sent me a text this week saying "gluten free meal coming your way on April 18th!" April 18th is her wedding day (I am a bridesmaid!)...and she met with the caterers recently and they told her that a gluten free meal wouldn't be a problem.

Yahoo for wonderful friends...and yahoo for not just picking at lettuce leaves at their wedding receptions :). We have a couple more weddings this spring (Jeremy's friend Kelly (May), Jeremy's friend Scott (June...and we have to travel all the way to CA for this one! Jeremy is a groomsman), and Jeremy's friend Ken)....I haven't decided how to address these issues. In my trusty Gluten Free Bible, Jax Peters Lowell tells the reader to address these issues with the bride/groom and that in most cases it really isn't a big deal at all. The other option is just to eat beforehand ;). How uncomfortable, though, must that conversation be! A wedding is SO not about the guests...it's about the bride and groom! I hate to be the person to add one more concern to their plates on that special day.

Sigh. We'll see...

Great article (old, but good information)

2009-02-06T09:39:00.003-06:00

Gluten for Punishment; Better Eating Puts Celiac Symptoms on the Shelf

Top ten...

2009-02-05T22:51:00.004-06:00

Here is a "top ten" list...that is ever-evolving:
The Top Ten things I have learned in the past 3.4 months (in no particular order!):

10. Hard boiled eggs are a wonderful protein-rich "staple" to have on hand in the refrigerator. Of course it can't hurt if they are organic/free-range eggs ;). I figured if I was eating more eggs, I should probably cough up the little extra to be sure I wasn't getting extra hormones and crap during the day.
9. Larabars are fantastic...and come in a variety of delicious flavors! Minimally processed, just a few ingredients (nuts! fruit!) in each...obviously gluten free, also non GMO, Kosher....many reasons to love them! My personal favorites are Cashew Cookie, Peanut Butter Cookie, and Key Lime Pie...and Jeremy loves the Cherry Pie ones (and I love that he eats them with me...instead of getting all of that nasty high fructose corn syrup in his old standby, Quaker granola bars!). I think the cheapest place here in Bloomington to find them is at Kroger on College ($1.49 a bar), but you can also get them at Naturally Yours and Meijer (they are around $1.69 at both of those places). In addition, you can also buy them in bulk at Amazon.com!
8. Favorite gluten-free and EASY breakfast...Stoneybrook Farms gluten-free low-fat vanilla yogurt with frozen berries on top. I buy the large containers and divide it into four servings and sprinkle frozen blueberries/raspberries/strawberries/blackberries on top. I send one serving with Jeremy when he leaves for work in the morning and I take one for myself. Sometimes we sprinkle nuts on top. Delicious...and healthy!
7. a gluten free grocery shopping guide is a necessity. The two that I own are available online:
Cecilia's Marketplace and
Triumph Dining
6. Don't make any assumptions. Don't assume things are gluten free without researching it(I made this mistake with a mocha at a deli...and paid for it later that morning in a small airplane bathroom). Don't assume people know what Celiac Disease or gluten intolerance is.
5. Be prepared for unsolicited advice (from people who have no idea what you are going through or what it is like or what the best thing to do in your situation is....as well-intentioned as they may be!)...and do your best to smile, nod (and ignore! HA!). They aren't being evil, they are trying to help...
4. Finding a polite way to explain your dietary restrictions in restaurants to waiters/waitresses is a must. It is SO uncomfortable for me to discuss these things and to be "different" or "difficult"...that I (as Jeremy informed me recently) sound really forced and rude. I am making an effort to make it a more light-hearted polite conversation....practice makes perfect!
3. The Gluten Free Bible by Jax Peters Lowell is a fabulous resource...and my favorite Celiac book I own so far! I love love LOVE it! She covers everything...from diet, to doctors, to dining out, to cooking/baking, to (yes, truly!) sex and fertility. She tackles all of these topics and more with a great sense of humor...she's a lady I would love to have a glass of wine with!
2. Jeremy told me tonight at dinner (after another conversation about something random screwing with fertility issues...my latest obsession)..."you need to stop worrying and start living"...I need to adopt that mantra and go forward with my life! The more I try to control everything in my life, the more I realize that I am not in control at all. After all, why are we really here at all...but to live?!
1. Life is good :). I have wonderful friends and family...and a husband who is more than I ever dreamed a husband could be, really. I have so many friends/family members who have gone out of their way to prepare gluten-free meals/snacks for me and to make sure I don't feel ostracised at get-togethers. It means the world to me, it really does. For some reason, in the midst of this craziness God is still good :).

Some new favorite products...and an old favorite as well!

2009-02-03T18:22:00.006-06:00

First, a sweet treat: Mi-Del brand gluten-free ginger snaps! I originally bought these from our local Meijer grocery store with the intent of keeping them on hand to use to make a graham-cracker style crust for a pie or cheesecake (I had read that gluten-free gingersnaps are a good substitution for making a gluten-free version of these kinds of crusts)...but I ended up opening the bag out of curiosity and loved them! It's a pretty big bag of them, so I think they will last me a while ;). I do, though, plan on purchasing a fresh bag at some point in the not-so-distant future to try to make a crust for some kind of delicious dessert! Don't worry, I will keep you informed :).

Next, Blue Diamond Naturals' Almond Nut Thin crackers...Jeremy's mom had these on hand for me this past weekend during our visit to their house. I had previously tried the Cheddar variety, and they were decent. The Almond ones, though, are fantastic! I really like them a lot. The are light, airy, and perfectly salty. They are great plain, or with cheese or peanut butter. I would definitely recommend them! There are other varieties as well (including Pecan and Hazelnut), but so far I have only tried the Almond and Cheddar. They sound great, though, so I will probably have to indulge myself at some point!! :)

Third...here's tonight's dinner: De Boles' Gluten Free Rice Pasta and Cheese (or, gluten free macaroni and cheese!). Consensus? Not bad...in fact, it's pretty darn good! I am enjoying some right now as I type, in fact! This afternoon I was at a child's home that was literally down the street from Kroger, so I stopped in to buy some Boar's Head deli turkey (gluten free, all natural, and fabulous!!). I noticed that they had a natural foods section, so I meandered by and found tons of gluten free products, including this! I have seen, purchased, and enjoyed De Boles brand pastas before, but never the macaroni and cheese variety! I had high hopes and, while it's no Kraft ;), it didn't disappoint. This product, as with many other gluten free products, reminds me that I need to remember to separate the gluten free from the gluten-ous...meaning, if I tell myself "I am eating rice pasta with all-natural cheese sauce" and not "I am eating something that should taste like Kraft macaroni and cheese...but doesn't"...things really aren't that bad.

Last...also during my trip to Kroger, I found 3 new varieties of Larabars! I bought Banana Bread, Key Lime Pie, and Lemon Bar...we'll see!! :)

Have a lovely day, all! I am off to enjoy the rest of my delicious pasta!! :)

if anyone reading this is from Bloomington, note that the Kroger I am referring to is the Kroger on College, not Oakland....they seem to have a better selection! The natural foods are behind the produce department and the gluten free foods are mixed in with the non-gluten-free foods, for example the crackers are located in the "Crackers" section, and not in a specific "gluten-free" section, the pasta in the pasta section...and so on. Enjoy! And GO KROGER!! (They are cheaper than Meijer and Naturally Yours, too! :))

approaching 4 months

2009-02-03T06:48:00.003-06:00

Well, we are quickly approaching the 4-month monthly "anniversary" (if you can even call it that...which you really can't) of my being gluten free. Yahoo for me ;). I did survive my first vacation, albeit just a mini-vacation. We got back from North Carolina and a visit to Jeremy's parents' new home out there around 4:30 yesterday afternoon. I did pretty well (GI-wise) until yesterday...on the plane...of course. It wasn't necessarily the most fun flying experience of my life, but it could've been a LOT worse.
Jeremy's mom did do a great job of having lots of gluten free food/snacks around the house for me...rice/almond crackers, rice pasta, pistachios, fresh fruit. I did survive! OH, and I did make some delicious gluten-free brownies, my favorite yet in fact! I will post about those later, as I need to get ready for work...but just thought I'd drop off a quick post before that. Happy February!
Hey did that darn groundhog see his shadow yesterday or not? I forgot to even pay attention! ;) Oh well, I can't even remember what it means if he does/doesn't...one way means more winter and one means spring comes soon, I think. Who knows! ;)
Have a wonderful day, all!

Red Robin...YUMM!

2009-01-31T11:03:00.005-06:00

I am not sure if I have mentioned this on here yet....but I absolutely love Red Robin restaurants! We unfortunately don't have one in Bloomington, but there is one in Davenport and we frequent it when we are in the Quad Cities visiting family and friends. They have a HUGE gluten free menu and the food is fantastic. Love it love it LOVE IT! They have awesome, unlimited french fries with your meal which is just AWESOME...I love french fries!!!

We had dinner at a Red Robin last night...in Raleigh, NC! We are here right now visiting Jeremy's parents' new home...it is awesome! We are having a great time and it is fun to have a little weekend getaway adventure. Jeremy's mom has been here since the beginning of January and is very excited to have guests.

My favorite entree there now (post gluten-free diet...previously I loved the whiskey river BBQ chicken wrap and chicken tortilla soup...sigh!!) is the Royal Red Robin burger...a burger with a fried egg on top! Sounds crazy, but it is soooo delicious! It is a great substitute for a bun, if you will!

Have a great day!

Traveling...

2009-01-29T22:49:00.005-06:00

Well, we are leaving for North Carolina TOMORROW...and return Monday. It will be my first trip to the "unknown" post gluten free diet (of course we have traveled over the past three months...but just to family/friends' homes! This is far! It requires an airplane!)! I hope I don't starve! ;) We are visiting Jeremy's parents' new house out there...and Mrs. B (the elder! ;)) informed me that she stocked up on rice pasta...so starving doesn't sound quite imminent. GOOD! I am a cranky gal if I don't eat!! :) I'll bring lots of Larabars and hope to be all good.

Honestly, I think I am more worried about our kitten, Izzy...we are leaving her all alone for the 4 days we are gone! Poor thing...

SUCCESS!

2009-01-26T21:52:00.007-06:00

WOW...the pizza was phenomenal! Really! About a year ago Jeremy made it his mission to perfect his own recipe for a home-made Chicago-style pizza (a good friend of his gave him a deep-dish pizza stone for a wedding gift, along with a Chicago-style pizza recipe book, a big pizza cutter, and some Parmesan/pepper shakers). More recently he took it upon himself to attempt a gluten-free version...totally his idea. WOW, I guess this guy must really love me for some reason! ;) He made the dough for the crust last night and left it in the fridge overnight to rise...and then prepared the rest of the pizza today. The sauce and cheese were both the best they've ever been on his attempts, too! It was amazing. Words cannot describe it, really. Gosh, you don't really appreciate something until you can't have it...and then get it back!

I have the best husband...ever!!
Here is the blessed thing before cutting in...

A little pumped! (wow, what a flattering pic! HAHA!)

Jeremy cutting the beautiful masterpiece

Love in pizza form!

{contented sigh}

AMAZING! The crust was a bit of a funky color (made with a blend of gluten free flours; I think the funky color came from the sorghum flour)...you can't tell in this pic, but it took on a greenish/greyish hue at some points! HA! Oh well, it tasted PHENOMENAL...seriously. This was some of the best gluten-free food I've eaten in my 3+ months of eating gluten free!!! Way to go, babe!

PIZZA?!

2009-01-26T19:11:00.003-06:00

Jeremy just took our dinner out of the oven...a home-made gluten-free CHICAGO STYLE pizza! I will give a full report after dinner! SO excited!

3 months!

2009-01-18T19:53:00.005-06:00

WOW!! It's been three months...90+ days....1/4 of a year.....since I "gave up" gluten! I can hardly believe it's been that long! Even though, in the grand scheme of a lifetime, it's really not that long...it still feels like some kind of big feat, a milestone reached if you will. :)

I mean, I survived lots of big events during this time....my birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Eve....talk about a rotten time to not be able to eat typical gluten-ous treats with everyone else!!!

And I did it! I still haven't cheated...not knowingly, anyway! Anyway, cheating unknowingly isn't really cheating, is it? I'd consider it more of an accident if it happened. If I was going to cheat, I would make it COUNT....we're not just counting getting incidental gluten from cross-contamination or something! We're talking, bread bowl from panera.....garlic bread sticks from anywhere....broccoli cheese soup from chili's. Yeah, cheating has crossed my mind more than just a few times ;).

I tried these for the first time today:

They are awesome! I purchased them yesterday at Naturally Yours here in Bloomington. They are actually quite tasty! As I've said many times, one of my biggest woes has been finding gluten free bread-type products that TASTE tolerable...and maybe even good. Well, these weren't just tolerable...they really tasted rather good! I wrapped up some Boar's Head sliced deli turkey (Boar's Head products are gluten free, all-natural, and DELICIOUS...available at Kroger here in Bloomington), cheddar cheese, and hummus in one of these bad boys and tossed it in the toaster oven with a little more cheese on top. I baked it for 5 minutes, then broiled it for a few minutes to melt the cheese on top and to get the tortilla kind of crispy...it was great! I ate it for lunch today and honestly enjoyed it. Sweet!

I hope they are good cold...we'll see. I would like to be able to bring them to work in my lunches. (I am not a fan of using microwaves, and we don't have a toaster oven at work!)

Have a wonderful week, all!

Not happy...and I think it's my own fault

2009-01-13T21:37:00.003-06:00

I've been using my Celiac disease as an excuse....

I have been bitter. I had to give up wheat/rye/barley, etc., so why should I have to give up anything else? I've been using my Celiac disease as an excuse to eat whatever I want, as long as it is gluten free. Truthfully, I haven't cheated...at least, I haven't cheated by (knowingly) eating anything that contains gluten. However, not to sound cliche, I've been cheating myself.

For most of my adult life (considering post-high school as adult), I have done a fairly good job of eating healthily, exercising, and generally taking care of myself. I have stayed relatively thin and can honestly say there are times (but not recently) when I have felt genuinely happy with the way I looked.

Not anymore, though. While I haven't exactly "let myself go" (I think that's a bit harsh), I definitely have started to let a lot of things slide.

I allow "regular" potato/corn tortilla chips in the house...in fact, I have even been the one to purchase them on occasion! Formerly, if we were going to have chips in the house, they were to be of the baked variety. Well, over the past few weeks we have had multiple bags of regular fried chips in the house...and I have mowed down on them. We've had two cartons of (regular, full-fat (although all-natural and organic! ;))ice cream in the house over the past month or so. It doesn't last long around here, either. I have been generous with our favorite Land O'Lakes butter that I pour on my popcorn (hey, it's an easy gluten-free meal or snack) or slather on my baked potato (the latter was tonight's dinner). I come home for lunch on most work days because I want to prepare a hot meal but I am trying not to use the microwave...but then I end up snacking and grazing through the fridge and eating more than I should at lunch. I've ordered an Alfredo dish at a restaurant and at nearly the entire huge portion (gasp!). I order coffee drinks with whipped cream (I read somewhere that Starbucks' whipped cream adds over 10 grams of fat...SCREAM!). And,to top it off,....I've made excuses that keep me away from the gym some evenings.

Sure I have to skip the bread basket at restaurants. But does that really make up for eating a fatty Alfredo-drenched entree or dressing-doused Caesar salad?! Sure I have to avoid the break room at work that is often filled with donuts, cookies, or brownies. But does that excuse snacking on chocolate, potato chips, or buttery popcorn every afternoon, telling myself "Hey, it's gluten free!"

This stops now.

This isn't about new years' resolutions.

This isn't about getting skinny (well, I'd be lying if I didn't think this would be a perk! I have a bikini to fit into on our trip to AZ in 2 months!).

This is about ceasing to dwell on the things I CAN'T have and beginning to be more thankful for the things I CAN have.

This is about an end to the pity party...I am nipping this in the bud. I am not going to let myself become someone who allows herself to drown feelings in food. Sure, my life seems to revolve around food now...and so be it. However, my choices are going to be more healthy.

~Breakfast will occur within a half hour of waking up.
~Water intake will increase (I've slacked on this since graduate school. Lately I've succumbed to sugary juices, rationalizing the fact that they are FULL of sugar by telling myself, "But it's all-natural fruit sugar!" Right. It's STILL SUGAR!!!). This means I need to get a good water bottle...one that's not putting harmful chemicals into my water, too, I guess!
~Consumption of fresh fruits/veggies will increase
~No more excuses for skipping the gym.

Sure, this sounds all good and nice and warm and fuzzy...but will it stick?

Grilled Cheese....the quest continues!

2009-01-12T20:37:00.006-06:00

Well, I bought a loaf of "white sandwich bread" made by Kinnikinnick (purchased from Naturally Yours) the other day (main ingredients include rice flour and tapioca flour). It was six dollars for a rather small loaf consisting of thin, small square slices. Honestly, I wasn't too hopeful...
Today when I came home on lunch break, I tried to make a grilled cheese sandwich. Really, it wasn't terrible. It wasn't the grilled cheese sandwich I was craving, but it wasn't terrible. Honestly, next time I think I will make some tomato soup to go with it and it might help mask the taste/texture.
The bread has to stay in the freezer, which is somewhat of a pain. I understand that it will help it last longer (especially considering the fact that it will take me forever to consume the entire loaf, small as it may be)...but it's hard to separate the pieces without microwave thawing (and lately I'm on a microwave hating kick...but that's another story entirely!).
Small steps!!! It wasn't a complete success, but it wasn't an utter failure, either! :)

WIMP!

2009-01-11T13:35:00.004-06:00

Last night we had dinner at J Buck's, a nice restaurant here in town, with Sarah, Chuck, Alec, and my brother Dan and his girlfriend Laura. I was really looking forward to a nice night out, but unfortunately I had a darn stomachache after eating my grilled chicken and "smashed" potatoes. I know it's really my own fault. I am a wimp! I wasn't absolutely clear with the waiter about all of the details (cross contamination on the grill, with utensils, etc)...and I am sure that's why it happened :(. I need to get more assertive! It's MY health, after all!

It was frustrating...I hate making a scene or causing problems...I know it shouldn't be a huge, obnoxious issue, but it sure feels like one! Anything that makes you feel "different" from anyone else, especially your friends, is really irritating. We ordered around 8pm, and it wasn't terribly busy, but I still felt bad taking a lot of time from the waiter to explain my diet. I told him I couldn't have wheat or gluten and asked him to check for me to see if the grilled chicken sandwich (sans bun of course!) and french fries would be ok for me. He checked, and told me the french fries weren't because they were lightly breaded, but that the smashed potatoes and some other sides would be ok as substitutes. That was really good of him to check and find out. Still not enough, though.

It was fun to spend time with friends, but it was annoying to have to deal with the side effects of cross contamination (including a lovely trip to the restaurant bathroom before we were done).

Sigh.

I just want a NORMAL day...one in which I don't have to talk about Celiac disease and my "problem". I am tired of living a life ruled by food.

Some days are really pretty easy, others are irritating and difficult. Yesterday was one of the latter!

Thanks, Jami!

2009-01-08T23:42:00.003-06:00

Jeremy and I went over to our friends Adam and Jami's home for dinner tonight so that the boys could watch the national championship college football game and so we girls could sit and chat ;). Our friends Chuck and Alec also went over...so the boys had a good time of eating Jami's great food, drinking beer, yelling at the game and each other, and being general perverted men together ;).

Jami made chili....which was awesome! She even made TWO pots...she made one "regular" or as she typically would...and one gluten free! It was so thoughtful...and quite delicious, too! We even brought home a bunch of leftovers...probably enough for 4 more servings or 2 dinners for the two of us! How wonderful!

She also baked me a big gluten-free chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting! It is really yummy...and sooo thoughtful! I got to bring it home, too. WOW!

Yahoo for great friends and fun nights away from home :)

On labels and anger

2009-01-07T21:04:00.005-06:00

It's weird having a label. I am a "Celiac" (well, until proven otherwise). It's strange. I guess I shouldn't let that define WHO I am, though. It's hard, though, when it's basically part of my every waking thought. It comes out in many conversations. I don't try to hide it, it's really nothing to be ashamed of. Sure the symptoms were/are disgusting, but it wasn't anything I could help, was it? If it is really genetic, then it's just the way I was made...Wait, WHY?

Which leads me to anger. Yesterday I found myself getting very angry. Jeremy just cracked a joke (as he often does!)...he was upset that we didn't have any "normal" noodles because he wanted macaroni and cheese (he worked late and wanted something to eat when he got home). I said, "You could have some rice noodles, they are actually quite good." Jeremy said, "If God wanted me to eat rice noodles, I'd be the one who had Celiac disease!"...he really meant nothing by this. He tries his darnedest to say off-the-wall things to catch me off guard or get under my skin (not in a mean way!)....and this one just made me mad! Not at him, at the situation. WHY do I have this?! Sure it's not the worst thing ever, I could have it FAR worse; many people are dealing with medical issues I can't even fathom. But, I am a selfish person (aren't we all, at times?!) and it was a ME moment. Why do I have to deal with this, why can't I eat normal food and enjoy PIZZA and GRILLED CHEESE? Why do my friends and family members get to run around doing whatever they please in regard to food?! Ok, really, I don't think like this most of the time. I know it's not rational or reasonable, really. Things happen for a reason, but we don't necessarily understand or know the reason immediately. I just need to accept that.

I am a Celiac...and I will be fine! I WILL get healthy this year, I WILL get the genetic test, I WILL have a healthy pregnancy (God-willing!) in the not-so-distant future.

AND, I love my husband...even when he makes silly comments...;)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So, I bought a great book over Christmas break...The Gluten-Free Bible by Jax Peters Lowell. Jax writes with a great wit and wonderful candor. I need to be more like her!
"The good news is, you're not dead. Not only are you not dead, you don't have anything that could be even remotely construed as fatal or life threatening, unless you cheat constantly, and you aren't going to do that, are you? Even better, your condition can be managed quite nicely without drugs, frequent doctor visits, and expensive hospital stays, nor does it require that you suffer any more bad news than you have already gotten....
The bad news? Well, you knew there'd be some. If you want to avoid some long-term complications, you've ordered your last pizza with everything on it. You've eaten your last cheeseburger on a sesame seed bun, buttered your last croissant, and bought your last frozen dinner, ice-cream come, slice of apple pie. The bad news is that from now on you have to think about every bit of food you put in your mouth. No more aimless grazing, nibbling, or grabbing something, anything, when you're hungry. You've got to plan meals and snacks and restaurant dinners. The bad news is that you are on a diet that allows no slack, one that will test your resolve and turn even the meekest among us into a serial killer (which, in your case, is spelled cereal)."--The Gluten-Free Bible; Jax Peters Lowell

Silly Shirt

2009-01-05T22:29:00.002-06:00

So my chiropractor, Ryan, told me about this shirt today....

Yeah, I probably need this! ;)

(in case you can't tell, that's the Pillsbury Dough Boy and the caption "gluten for punishment"....get it?!) ;) HAHA!!!

Lovin' me some Flat Top Grill!

2009-01-05T21:06:00.004-06:00

Flat Top Grill is a new somewhat-obsession of mine! On Saturday, December 6th I met up with an Augustana professor/friend, Kathy Jakielski, for some chatting and Christmas shopping in Peoria. When deciding where in the area to eat, on a whim, I suggested Flat Top Grill. I have been there in the past (it's a make-your-own-stir fry place) and enjoyed it...and for some reason remembered that they had RICE NOODLES and probably lots of things I'd be able to eat! Well, sure enough...they did! Tons of veggies, meats, rice, rice noodles, and sauces that I can eat! I can eat practically everything there...except the yellow noodles, most of the sauces (they have many, but I can only have 4-5 of them), and the BREAD ( :( Their bread is awesome...a greasy pancake-like thing...YUM!). Well, it was a yummy dinner...and I knew I'd be back...frequently!

Well, Jeremy found out that around Christmas time they had a special...buy $30 worth of gift certificates and receive $20 free. WHAT?! Well, my stocking from him came stuffed with $50 worth of gift certificates from Flat Top (so $50 worth of food there for only $30!!). Also, Jeremy's brother Jon gave me some gift certificates, too, so I had a total of $80 (that we personally only spent $30 on) for Flat Top from Christmas! WOO HOO!

Tonight we ate at Flat Top here in Bloomington with Jeremy's good friend Adam and his wife Ann. I suppose I should say OUR friends Adam and Ann! :) It was delicious!!! I loved it. One of my favorite things is the pineapple in the stir fry...I LOVE hot fruit. I know that might be kinda weird...but I really do!

Jeremy even enjoyed his meal tonight! :) He isn't the biggest fan of Flat Top, and isn't the biggest fan of vegetables in general ;). Well, he filled up his stir fry bowl with just POTATOES, CHEESE, carrots (to feel good about himself? ;) ) and some black-bean garlic sauce...and then had a big huge bowl of beef added to it. Well, he ended up really liking it :). That's a good thing...because we'll most likely be back. When he went up to the line for his second trip, he skipped the carrots ;), and had only POTATOES, TONS OF CHEESE, some black-bean garlic sauce, and tons of beef once again. He liked the second bowl even more. Sigh. ;)

YAHOO for being able to eat nearly everything on the menu...they even have a signal for allergies...you put a special white stick in your bowl to show that you would like your meal cooked in a separate clean wok instead of on the huge flat top grill with the rest of everyones' stir frys...so you won't get cross contamination during the cooking process! It's great!

I love Flat Top Grill!

Oh, and I should mention, too, that we had a great time with our friends! They moved to Brooklyn in August, so we don't have the opportunity to see them much :). They both have parents still here in Bloomington, though, so they have multiple reasons to visit :)

FOUR THINGS...to be thankful for (yesterday's thoughts)

2009-01-04T13:05:00.006-06:00

I spoke with my mom on the phone yesterday and shared with her the following three wonderful things that had taken place yesterday, for which I was very thankful!

1) HUMMUS: A friend from the Peoria Easter Seals office, Stephanie (a PT) sent me a facebook message on Friday saying that she was going to be passing through Bloomington tomorrow (which was Saturday) on her way back home to Peoria and wondered if she could stop by and give me a present. Totally unexpected and fun! So, we made plans to meet up for a few minutes in the Sam's Club parking lot (per my suggestion, since it wasn't far off of the highway and she was eager to return home!) where she gave me her present...A few months ago over lunch at work (when I was still at the Peoria office), we had gotten into a conversation about hummus and how much we both liked it. She told me about her favorite two places in Chicago that have homemade hummus that she LOVES (she is originally from the Chicago area and still has family there). Well, for some reason she decided she would bring some to me...so I could have a nice little gluten-free snack, as she put it! How sweet was that?! I tried it as soon as I got home, of course...and it was DELICIOUS!!! That stuff is awesome. I was floored by her kindness...I love random stuff like that! It was such an encouragement to me...and a reminder that I need to turn around and show others kindness like Stephanie did to me!

2) BREAD: My friend Catherine called me yesterday afternoon shortly after I picked up the hummus from Stephanie...as I was running some errands about town. Catherine has a friend, Starla, who has Celiac Disease...and has known she has it for like 10 years (so she is an expert! ;) ). Well, Catherine told me that she had been thinking about me and my plight to find bread so that I could once again enjoy a grilled cheese sandwich...well, Catherine told met hat she had spoken with Starla about where to find some decent/delicious bread. Starla told her that her favorite bread can be found at Whole Foods (a grocery store in the Chicago area) in the freezer section...and that the first time she discovered it, she ate the whole loaf in about a week, it was just THAT good! Awesome!! I can't wait to try it. So, yahoo for another great friend and the great kindness and great help she showed to me :)

3) BOOKS: I had a book to return to Barnes and Noble, so I went there yesterday, returned the book, and perused around for another to get in its place. I found...The Gluten Free Bible...check THIS out for a book review! This book is truly awesome! There are tons of topics...from initial diagnosis, to cheating, to pregnancy, to recipes, to suggestions of doctors! I LOVE this book and spent a good amount of time yesterday looking through it. I can't wait to read it all! I would definitely recommend this book to anyone living a wheat-free/gluten-free life!! I am so thankful I found it...I love good, new books...and especially ones that pertain to my life and can offer help to me! :)

4) CHILI'S: This last thing to be thankful for happened later last night, and post the conversation with my mom...but of course is worth noting! See the previous post for a full description :)

Have a wonderful day!

Chili's

2009-01-04T12:50:00.005-06:00

Jeremy and I LOVE Chili's...in fact, our first date was to the Chili's in Davenport, IA (near Augustana, where we were both attending school). We typically go to Chili's at least once per month...but we hadn't been in about 3 months, since before I started the gluten-free diet! Chili's does have a gluten-free menu, we just hadn't had the chance to try it out yet. Well, Jeremy got a gift card to Chili's in his stocking from his parents, so we decided to go on a date last night to Chili's!

I was sooo excited, because I had looked at the gluten-free menu beforehand and knew they had baked potato soup that was gluten free! I was so pumped to have a "real" soup that I could eat! I ordered the soup and a chicken Caesar salad. The soup was AWESOME!! The salad came out with a visible crouton on it, and maybe more hidden croutons...so I sent it back. I explained that I couldn't eat anything that had touched wheat, so it wouldn't work just to pick it out. I felt bad, but they were nice to me about it. A manager even came out and apologized to me. I thought that was very nice. The second time it came out it had clearly been entirely re-made...and it was fantastic!

All in all, I was VERY satisfied with my experience at Chili's and would definitely return! :) It was very encouraging to me!! It's great to know that something that was a part of our life pre-gluten-free menu doesn't have to be entirely eliminated from our lives...just modified. Sure I can't order mozzarella sticks (what we ordered as an appetizer on our first date...and Jeremy was "impressed" because I wasn't a wimpy eater and ate HALF of the cheese sticks...what was I thinking?! :))....or the turkey sandwich and broccoli cheese soup (the entree I ordered on our first date and on many visits thereafter...Chili's broccoli cheese soup is my favorite EVER!!), nor can I order the fajitas (we often would order the "fajitas for two" entree)...but I can be completely satisfied with the baked potato soup and Caesar salad...plus there are some other things that look good that I will try on subsequent visits!

YAHOO for CHILI'S!!!! :)

Dreaming and other musings

2009-01-03T12:40:00.007-06:00

First, I have been DREAMING about gluten again. Really. It's fairly unsettling and quite annoying. Last night, for example, I dreamt about being at some big conference or convention or something of the sort and of course at lunchtime when they wheeled out the big buffet line of sandwiches and such there was nothing I could eat. For some reason, in my dream state, I "knew" the only thing I could eat was a hamburger bun (wait...bread? What?) with some cheese and lettuce on it. So, I ate it...pissed. When I woke up I realized how stupid that dream was. First of all, when I am in those situations (which I have been a number of times over the past 2 and a half months), I pack my own food. Second of all, I am pretty sure...even if I was able to eat anything on that buffet, it wouldn't have been a HAMBURGER BUN! Whatever.

Second, I am still on a quest...to find a perfect gluten-free grilled cheese sandwich and gluten free pizza. These are my two biggest cravings. When we went to Trader Joe's in Chicago in November, I purchased some gluten free French rolls and attempted to make a pseudo grilled cheese sandwich in our toaster oven. Yeah, it didn't work. It was decent, but the bread was far to sweet and dense to really work out. One of the first Sunday evenings of my new "diet", I made a gluten-free pepperoni pizza using a Chebe brand pizza crust. It was decent...and I would probably try it again...but it wasn't the pizza perfection I was looking for. What do I REALLY want?! Just Pizza Hut, really! Jeremy and I DID discover, though, that Lou Malnati's in Chicago makes gluten-free crustless pizza. That is DEFINITELY on our list of things to go try...sooner rather than later!!! :)

Third, Christmas (in both the gluten-free realm and just the "in general" realm) was awesome! Jeremy got me 3 gifts (in addition to a few others) that will be a great help to me. Check out the Triumph Dining website. Even in all of my perusing of the internet and other resources, I never once came across this website! Jeremy somehow found it and ordered 3 products for me: a restaurant guide, a grocery shopping guide, and some handy-dandy dining cards that explain the gluten-free diet in a variety of languages. You are supposed to hand them to the waiter/waitress and explain them and then ask them to share the information with the chef and others who will be preparing your food. Awesome! He is SO thoughtful and I LOVE these gifts! What great resources to own!

Fourth, I've decided to pursue genetic testing for Celiac Disease, most likely through The University of Chicago. Here is information taken directly from their website.

"What is genetic testing and who can benefit from it?
There is a blood test or cheek swab test kit available to determine whether or not an at risk individual carries the genes responsible for the development of celiac disease. These genes are located on the HLA-class II complex and are called DQ2 and DQ8. Each case of celiac disease has been found to show these so-called "haplotypes"; therefore, a negative gene test indicates that celiac disease cannot develop in that individual.
There are two main reasons for using the genetic test when evaluating an individual for celiac disease. The first case is to "rule out" celiac disease, which is a medical term that indicates an individual does not possess a necessary risk factor for the development of celiac disease, genetic predisposition. Without this factor, it is impossible that the individual with a negative gene test will develop celiac disease in the future. People who test negative for the gene would not be required to have regular antibody screening for the remainder of their lives. For example, the children of an adult with celiac disease could have the gene test. The results would allow the parent to know which children need close monitoring.
In individuals with symptoms who have not had a biopsy to diagnose celiac disease, but have been on the gluten-free diet for a significant period of time, the gene test is often the only way to determine if symptoms could possibly be related to celiac disease. For a person who faces this situation, a negative gene test would indicate that symptoms are not the a result of celiac disease. A positive gene test, however, does not diagnose the disease but increases the likelihood that it is present."

I also learned through some additional reading that Celiac Disease, gluten intollerance, and wheat allergies manifest themselves in people by very similar symptoms. Since I never had the biopsy...even though my doctor REALLY believes I have Celiac Disease, we don't know...not beyond the shadow of a doubt. Naturally, I am not satisfied with this. Yes, I feel TONS better while on this gluten free diet...but I want to be sure that what is going on with me is truly Celiac Disease.

So, there you have it...my thoughts as of late. On another note...HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! As far as resolutions go, I decided I should have a Celiac Disease/gluten-free living resolution for myself...my resolution relates to my fourth comment above: I resolve to undergo genetic testing for Celiac Disease at some point early on this calendar year in order to TAKE OWNERSHIP of my health and what is going on....and as a way to ensure I am doing everything I can (both for myself and my furture children) to be the healthiest person I can be.

Gluten-Free Goodies!

2008-12-24T13:27:00.004-06:00

We had dinner at Los Potrillo's (again, one of our favorite Mexican restaurants, and probably just one of our favorite restaurants ever in general!) with Adam and Jami last night. It was great to see them and catch up a bit...it had been a while since we had hung out the four of us! We had a great time and of course the food was delicious. Jeremy and Adam thought our service was terrible last night (which is very out of the ordinary for Los!), but I didn't even notice. I was just happy to be having a good time with fun friends! I was relieved that I was done working for 12 days, that lunch wasn't as uncomfortable as I thought it would be (thanks to two awesome co-workers, Deb and Christina...our boss was buying us pizza for lunch, but obviously I wouldn't be able to eat it. Deb and Christina ordered me a burrito bowl from Chipotle and went and picked it up so I had something delicious to eat during the holiday lunch and wasn't just jealous of everyone and their pizza! Of course I was still a bit jealous ;), but that's just because I am obsessed with wanting pizza! ;) ), and I had gotten everything done at work that I needed to. It was just a wonderful feeling, and I was very relaxed and ready to have a great evening with Jeremy and our friends.

Also, Jami brought us each a Christmas tin with some goodies she made for us! She made us two separate tins, one for Jeremy with "normal" Christmas cookies and the like, and a gluten-free tin for me! Mine had buckeyes and scotcharoos, both things that I love! I ate some right away last night and I am not ashamed to admit I already ate some today and I haven't even had lunch yet! HA! Half of my leftover meal from Los is in the toaster oven right now heating up for me to eat as I curl up in front of the TV and am lazy for a bit.

I am still in awe of how awesome my friends have been through all of this crappy gluten-less-ness of my life! Jami has been great...especially now with these Christmas goodies! The cookies/sweets part of Christmas has honestly kind of sucked! I know, I know, that's not what Christmas is all about ;). It is still hard, though, to sit by when people are eating delicious looking gluten-ous Christmas cookies and treats! It was nice to have some yummy things of my own to eat. Thanks, Jami! Of course my other friends have been great, too! Sarah has given me TONS of tips (she is a healthy eater and food-purchaser and knew about gluten-free living type things way before I started in on this new lifestyle)...and has made a number of yummy things when we go over to their place. Brooke made a delicious Mexican casserole that she adapted to be gluten free when we visited them in Rockford in November. On December 16th when we had a Youth Leaders' meeting at Josh and Laura's home, Laura made an entirely gluten-free (and DELICIOUS!) meal for all of us there. Jeremy's mom makes me a gluten free meal when we go over there for dinner at least once a week. My mom is making lots of gluten free things for when we visit for Christmas this weekend! Jillian made sure I had things to eat on Saturday when we went to her place prior to her Christmas concert in Peoria (she kept some BBQ pork separate for me so it wouldn't get contaminated, and even bought me some of my favorite yogurt! She also had veggies and hummus I could eat!). I love my friends! I know it's probably such a pain for them...but I am so thankful for their kindness and love!

Yahoo for good food, good friends, and...most of all, Yahoo for CHRISTMAS!!!

PIZZA :(

2008-12-23T07:19:00.002-06:00

Ok, so as a holiday celebration...my boss is purchasing Monical's pizza for the employees for lunch today. Darn it all. I would try to pull a "last week" where I just worked through lunch and didn't go...but I actually do want to go and hang out today. I just don't want to SMELL the pizza and I just don't want to WATCH people enjoying it! Darn it all! I am such a scrooge ;)

Pizza?!

2008-12-21T22:55:00.002-06:00

Jeremy informed me this weekend that he had a surprise for me...a co-worker told him about a pizza place in Peoria that has gluten-free pizza! Could it be?! He is going to try to find out where this is and if it is, indeed, true....I sure hope so! My hopes are DEFINITELY high up there in the clouds! Pizza is one of my biggest cravings right now. I could go for a slice of pepperoni pan pizza from Pizza Hut right about NOW! Not to mention their awesome breadsticks....ohhhh MAN!

I've been a slacker blogger lately...things have been crazy busy, getting ready for Christmas and all that! I love this time of year, but it gets very hectic and tiring as well!

Better go hop in the shower...it's past bedtime! :)

Take care, all!

Bad Attitude

2008-12-16T06:34:00.003-06:00

Well, maybe I just have a bad attitude, but I have a feeling today is going to suck. Today we are having a Christmas dessert exchange over lunch. Yes, you guessed it...I won't be able to eat any of it. Let me reiterate that I feel like SUCH A FATTY when I get all sad about food...like the fat kid who is lamenting a donut s/he can't have. That's not it at all. Food is so social...it's a strange feeling to be the one sitting in a big group of people eating something different or not eating at all.

Maybe even more pressing than that issue, though, is the whole issue of baking. I love to bake. I am a more than competent baker, and I know it. (I am not the most confident person in most areas of my life, but I tend to be rather confident in the baking realm!) People eat my stuff and typically people LIKE it too. Not only do they say they like it (that is just being polite ;)), but they come back for seconds or request whatever it is that they had again. Those are the two true indicators of baking success :). Well, I made some of my Chocolate Andes Mint Cookies...non gluten free of course. I was scared they wouldn't turn out with the gluten-free flour, and I didn't really have time to experiement...so I was a pansy and just did it the old way. Nope, I didn't even lick the batter at ALL! Seriously. I made the dough last night, a huge double batch. I have the first tray of cookies in the oven right now. Hope I'm not late for work! ;) Jeremy needs to bring cookies to work tomorrow and he requested the same cookies, since he loves them and coworkers also talk about loving them. SO, I am going to bake his tonight with the remainder (probably the majority) of the dough.

Yeah, I probably should've made myself something gluten free so I could eat something during the exchange...but, like I said, I'm a pansy!

NOOOOOOO!

2008-12-15T14:41:00.001-06:00

I posted a while ago about being pumped up for Oberweis home delivery....well, I signed up for the service online and got something back saying they would contact me within 4 days to set up the service. Since it has been 2 weeks, I decided to call today. Well, the lady on the phone told me I am out of the service area. WHAT?! It told me online that they serve our zip code! I am really, thoroughly disappointed! I think I am going to try later again. The person who referred me lives in Bloomington and they get home service! This really made me sad!

Oh well, life does go on ;)

{ARGH!}

2008-12-07T20:13:00.004-06:00

I'm kind of angry today. I've done a good job (I think) of keeping the anger to a minimum and dealing with things quietly...but
I hate food.
I hate hate hate it.
For some reason it seems to be all that people talk about lately.
"Ooh I ate lunch at noodles and company"
"WOW these brownies are amazing!"
"Where should we eat lunch?"
"What are you making for the party?"

etc

"Let's go to Panera!"
"I ate six donuts this weekend" (yes, I really heard someone say this...and no, I am not jealous. That's disgusting! But still annoying ;). I wouldn't do it...it's just the fact that I CAN'T that bugs me)
"I love grilled cheese and tomato soup in the winter"

etc
etc

it grates on my nerves...a constant reminder of things I can't have isn't pleasant.

Oh, and my stomach is messed up today...not sure why. I've been careful, as always!!

Sigh.

The road won't be easy at times, I know...but why does it have to be SO ANNOYING!?

I hate the fact that there is "something wrong" with me...or two somethings, actually (Celiac and vitamin b12 deficiency...although of course that second one really isn't that big of a deal)...Who wants to have a label?! I'm a Celiac. That is just weird.

I would give anything to be "carefree" and not think about FOOD for a day. Who am I fooling!? There hasn't been a day since early on in high school when my thoughts didn't revolve around food. Of course, it was different back then...in high school I was so preoccupied with how I looked, worried about being fat...that I really starved myself. I was borderline gross. Wore a size zero. Seriously. Lunch = one bottle of apple juice and nothing else many days. Yuck! I was preoccupied with what to eat/what not to eat/how I looked. Now it's different. Sure I don't want to be overweight and those thoughts are often plaguing me...but I HAVE to be obsessive about food. I have to premeditate every meal. I have to plan ahead when we eat at friends' homes.

Today is the 51st day of this new adventure.

Can I really go the rest of my life without eating my favorite foods...or at my favorite restaurants again?!
......bread bowls from Panera, Panera's asiago cheese bagels, Panera's asiago cheese croutons, grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup, pesto cavatappi from Noodles and Company, jumbo cheese ravioli from Avanti's, cheddar bay biscuits at Red Lobster, CHRISTMAS COOKIES, 3 muskateers candy bars, cookie dough ice cream, my mom's pumpkin bread, my mom's banana bread, sourdough melts from Culver's, cheese curds from Culver's, mozzerella sticks, cake at weddings/birthday parties, brownies and cake batter ice cream from Coldstone Creamery, fish and chips, pie at Bakers' Square or Village Inn or Denny's or from Jeremy's mom, rolls from Texas Roadhouse, chicken tenders, my mom's taco casserole, corn muffins from Famous Dave's, wraps from Red Robin....

{sigh...}

D-day and Holiday Woes

2008-12-05T13:25:00.006-06:00

Well, I had another follow-up doctor's appointment today...and my doctor tacked on the big, "official" diagnosis of Celiac Sprue. Of course I kind of knew it ;), but it was weird-o to see it in writing!
He also showed me results of more bloodwork, showing that I have a B12 deficiency...so I have to take supplements. No biggie there, I guess. He said that could be why I've had the problem with fatigue...but who knows. Everything else, though, was good bloodwork-wise. Thyroid, liver, glucose, and everything else he checked (there were tons, I forgot most!) were all within expected levels. Great!
While it's a pretty weird feeling to be tainted....with a diagnosis of something meaning there is something WRONG with me...it's nice to hae answers...and it is SUCH a BLESSING that it's nothing worse. In the grand ol' scheme of things, this isn't a big deal! It is hard, yes, but not impossible.

The holidays, though, are kind of disappointing as a newly-diagnosed Celiac! Plans are currently in the works for a holiday dessert exchange at work...of course I want to participate, but I am torn! Should I make something gluten free that I can enjoy (it will likely be the only thing there that I am able to eat!), or should I make something "normal" that won't scare people away? I think what I will do is this...Jeremy has a favorite cookie that I bake, these chocolate cookies with Andes mints in them. I will make those and give him half of the batch to bring to work (his coworkers also adore them!) and bring the other half with me to work. Then, I will also bake something gluten free....maybe try another batch of those cookies, substituting gluten-free ingredients? We will see :). Andes Mints are in my gluten free shopping guide! :) Yahoo! So, while it will probably suck that day...sitting around while everyone is eating platefuls of holiday goodies...it won't be too bad. I know I can hold my own in the baking realm ;) so hopefully I'll get some compliments on my cookies...I'll have a little plate of something gluten free prepared for me that I can enjoy...and I can revel in the fact that I am not ODing on calories and sugar like everyone else! ;)

Sigh.

It will be ok! This is only the first of many gluten-free Christmases! It will get easier and it will still be fun. I have to remember not to let this (or anything for that matter!) take away from the TRUE meaning of Christmas...

In other news, tonight we are having dinner at Amy and Tom's and meeting baby Collin! I can't WAIT! I have my crock pot fired up...I am making my second batch of Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Soup! YUM! I am so excited to see them and to meet their baby! Hope the soup turns out well again the second time around and that it wasn't just beginners' luck last time ;). It should be ok...it's basically just throwing a bunch of cans together, after all! ;)

Great Website and products!

2008-12-03T12:01:00.005-06:00

http://www.glutenfree.com/home.aspx
Check out the above website for some great tips on living gluten free! Also available on that websites are a variety of products, including the Glutino brand. A few weeks ago I purchased the Chocolate and Peanut Organic Bars and have eaten them for breakfast. They are tasty!

Today I tried the original crackers with some peanut butter spread on top...they were great!

It's so much fun finding new products that are GLUTEN-FREE, but more importantly ;), taste GREAT! :)

Adventures in Crock-Pot Cooking

2008-12-01T11:30:00.005-06:00

So I believe myself to be one who can hold her own in the kitchen...I know the basics, I can cook, bake (I have won 3 bake-offs at my place of employment, pre gluten-free diet), and I basically know what's going on. I am one who can more or less throw things together and have them turn out decent-to-good. However, I am not very adventurous in my cooking. I would like to be more adventurous...but, alas, I am not. I kind of get stuck in a rut, more or less...making the same things, over and over. Jeremy seems to be fine with that...he has pretty simple (childish ;) )taste. However, I want to do more...I want to be more adventurous, AND I want to cook/bake more healthily. Of course, the gluten-free part means that I HAVE to prepare more healthy foods, so that's a blessing in disguise :).

I stopped home for a few minutes this morning on my way back to work from an off-site speech therapy appointment. A few weeks ago I purchased 2 Cornish hens from the grocery store (Tyson brand) and had them thawing in the fridge. Today I decided I'd prepare them for our dinner (and leftovers...we'll use the leftovers for some kind of casserole or something). I found a number of delicious-sounding, however labor-intensive, recipes...however I wimped out. Since I typically work until after 6pm, it's hard for me to prepare labor-intensive dinners. I threw the two hens in the crock pot and covered them with one box of Progresso chicken broth and one box of Trader Joe's vegetable broth. We'll see what happens ;). When I get home from work, I throw some carrots in there for a bit to soften up...and perhaps some potatoes, too. We'll see what happens!!

Have a wonderful day!

Day 45

2008-12-01T06:36:00.005-06:00

Today, December 1, 2008, is my 45th day of living gluten free. Crazy! I am still in the infancy of this new lifestyle...learning more every day....but things are, for the most part, going pretty well! Sure, I have cravings for foods that are part of my "old life" (like I expressed in my prior post!)...but for the most part I am happier living the way I am. I know it's healthier, and I know it's better for my body. That doesn't mean it's easy....or fun all of the time. However, I'd be lying if I said I didn't have fun sometimes...making new recipes, reading new information; it's all kind of a big puzzling adventure! I do enjoy a challenge...and this is definitely a challenge!

This weekend I had TWO new messages on Facebook from girls I knew in college: one has Celiac disease and the other is gluten free by choice (since it is healthier). Random encounters such as those help me see that I am not alone in this craziness ;). I really am finding out that quite a few of my acquaintances either have Celiac, live gluten-free by choice, or know someone who has Celiac disease. It's kind of crazy! I mean, in my reading I learned that an estimated 1 in 133 people has Celiac in the United States....

I guess, technically right now, I fall into that category of someone who has not been officially diagnosed; someone who is just living gluten-free by choice. I mean, we all obviously have choices every day of how we are going to live our lives...my choice just happens to be somewhat strange and/or unique...I am going to attempt to live as gluten-free as possible. My doctor has strong reasons to believe I have Celiac disease...however he suggested a gluten-free diet prior to getting the biopsy of my small intestine. Based on some of my reading, this was a poor call on his part...since the only way to REALLY know for certain if it IS Celiac is a biopsy...and you need to be eating a "normal" diet for the biopsy to be truly conclusive. SO, in order to have a reliable biopsy, I would need to go back to eating normally for a while. Honestly, I am not sure that it is worth it to me to go back to eating normally, feeling terrible and not knowing when exactly I will need to visit a bathroom! I am fine with having a "possible diagnosis" of Celiac or just generic gluten intolerance. I know how much better I feel...and that it really is probably what has been ailing me for years and years. However, before we decide to have children I plan on having genetic testing. Regardless of the result, I believe I will raise my children gluten free, at least until they are 2. Based on my reading, this is suggested by some people, even for kids who are not gluten intolerant. Human bodies are not made to digest gluten...and no one digests it fully. It's just that some people can tolerate it and some (like me and so many others I am learning about!) can't!

SO, there you have it.

Oh, this weekend I found out that Red Robin has an extensive gluten-free menu! We had lunch there on Saturday before leaving the Quad Cities to come back home. We met up with some of my aunts and cousins...it was a great time! I felt especially wonderful because I had TONS of choices! We will definitely be going back there :). The manager and our waitress were both wonderful...very accommodating and cautious. I totally appreciated it!

Have a wonderful day...it's snowy and nasty here! I have to drive around town to some off-site visits today, here's hoping my car handles the nastiness well!

BREAD

2008-11-30T19:42:00.002-06:00

I MISS BREAD!! I NEED BREAD! All I want is a sandwich. Somebody? ANYbody?! Please help! ;)
Seriously, though. I am totally craving a grilled cheese sandwich......

I made it...

2008-11-29T10:18:00.003-06:00

...through Thanksgiving! I am currently still in the Quad Cities at my parents' home. It has been a great couple of days.
I had no stomach problems, no reactions to anything these past few days! Granted I also haven't eaten a lot because I am kind of paranoid ;)...but I have felt pretty well!
My mom made her "famous" broccoli cheese soup that Jeremy loves...and used corn starch instead of her typical white flour to thicken it. It tasted great! It was nice on her part, too, to go to that effort.
Of course there have been lots of things I haven't been able to eat...apple muffins this morning for breakfast :(, the Panera sourdough bread that my mom had purchased to go with the aformentioned broccoli cheese soup, pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving dinner :(, apple squares my mom made :(, the 312 beer at the bar last night :( (Jeremy's favorite! I also used to enjoy drinking it with him)...but it's all good. It is going to continue to be a big adjustment period...but adjust and adapt, I will. Of course it won't be easy, and I'll probably complain every now and then (for example, I was inwardly upset this morning to see the delicious looking apple muffins sitting on the table...all warm and cinamonny...that I couldn't eat....but later my mom made a comment that she really will try to start making more gluten-free things. I know it's hard for her, too. I know she'll try!).
My dad is talking my ear off right now and it's hard to concentrate on two things at once...so I should probably take that as a cue to sign off.
Happy Belated Thanksgiving, everyone! :)

Bring on Thanksgiving

2008-11-26T23:08:00.004-06:00

Well, the holiday I have anticipated with much trepidation is now upon us! Tomorrow is THANKSGIVING! Sigh...
It has now been 5 1/2 weeks of my gluten-free adventures...Saturday is the 6 week point. There have been many points during this seemingly short period of time when I have dreaded an event, or at least the "food" that went along with the event (i.e., my birthday, dinner at friends' homes, parties, traveling, etc.)...but none like Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving is food-centered (or so it seems...I know, I know...the real meaning of Thanksgiving is focusing on our families and the people we are most thankful for), and very gluten-filled (at least in typical families' homes). Turkey...and stuffing (gluten jackpot!). Pumpkin pie. Sweet potato caserole (the crumb topping). Green bean casserole (the cream of mushroom soup, the french fried onion topping). My mom's strawberry jello salad (graham cracker crust). Cheesy potatoes (cream of chicken soup). Rolls (obvious!). Even if an item doesn't seem overtly gluten-ous...say mashed potatoes...there is the very real liklihood that it was cross-contaminated. That is, there is a very good chance that during the preparation process, some gluten got into the item either from hands, utensils, dishes...anything, really.
Honestly, I've pretty much given up on Thanksgiving...on going crazy about it, that is. I am packing my fiber (it is always in my purse!) and will take some right away in the morning as well. I know I am going to consume gluten...but I will do my best to make sure it is as little as possible.
My mom called me last night...we are having ham and mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and her strawberry jello salad as far as the main items go. She is going to make me a small container of strawberry jello salad with no graham cracker bottom. Too bad that was the best part! ;) Just kidding. Not really. It is nice of her, though!! :) I think my mom is doing her best to ensure that I won't feel isolated...and that I won't get sick. Oh, I and I am making pumpkin bars (they are actually in the oven right now!) :). It will be fine...
I need to stop focusing in on the food aspect of things...and focus on what is really important. My family!
This is Jeremy's first Tegeler (my mom's side of the family) Thanksgiving and I hope he enjoys it! He isn't from a big extended family, and the Tegeler family is rather extensive...I don't think he gets "us", at times...but that's ok :).
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! And to all of those out there with dietary restrictions...I wish you the best! Happy, safe eating to everyone!

Trader Joe's!!

2008-11-24T22:19:00.006-06:00

Well, I finally got to experience the wonder that is Trader Joe's! Aaron had invited Jeremy and me to join him and Katie for a night in Chicago. He travels a lot for his job and has a bunch of free hotel points through Hilton. He and Katie had a hotel room at the Palmer House Hilton on Monroe Street (right downtown!) for Saturday night and were planning on attending a Smashing Pumpkins' concert that night as well (the concert ended up being postponed :(, but that's another story!). Jeremy and I just planned to tag along and I asked if we could find a Trader Joe's on the way back to Bloomington on Sunday.
Honestly, I didn't know much about Trader Joe's before Sunday...I had first heard of it while I was in graduate school at Purdue. Some of the girls would talk about LOVING it and would go on weekends to Trader Joe's stores in Indianapolis and/or Chicago. Lately, naturally, Trader Joe's has become more intriguing to me because they have many gluten free items. Well, we ended up passing a Trader Joe's on Ontario in Chicago during our wanderings about (we were shopping and just generally meandering about).
A friend from work, Jillian, was VERY excited when I told her I was planning to go to Trader Joe's...she even made up a shopping list of items she wanted me to search for and bring back for her! :) I ended up finding four things for her. I actually forgot to bring them with me to work today, so I will bring them to her tomorrow. I think she is pretty excited ;).
I ended up getting quite a few things for myself. The most exciting item, I think, that I walked away with was a case of 16 Peanut Butter Cookie Larabars (I posted about them previously!). I also got 3 each of Apple Pie and Cherry Pie flavored Larabars, some gluten free French rolls (a bakery package of 4), some chunky apple sauce, a jar of chunky spiced apples, a package of light string cheese sticks, a package of shredded Mexican cheese, some fruit leather-like bars, some boxes of chicken and vegetable broth, organic canned sweet potato puree, frozen salmon patties (also quite excited about these!!)...and I think that's about it. Good sounding stuff!
I tried the gluten free French rolls last night because I was very excited about the prospect of being able to eat a sandwich. I haven't had a sandwich in over a month! Can you imagine?! I am definitely cravin' me a sammich! ;) Well, it was kind of disappointing. It wasn't terrible...it is just an odd, dense texture...and it is kind of too sweet for my taste. Sure, I like sweet things...but this was kind of odd. Not exactly what I was looking for for a sandwich. Oh well! Now I know! I toasted it (I had read that gluten free bread is generally better when toasted) and spread some light cream cheese and some of the aforementioned chunky spiced apples on top. Not too shabby!
Today when I came home from work on my lunch break I decided to try my second of the 4 gluten-free French rolls. This time, I decided to split it in half, put some cheddar cheese on each half, and put it in my toaster oven on the broil function. As I said previously, I have been craving sandwiches....particularly grilled cheese. I even had some DELICIOUS gluten-free tomato soup (from Meijer, a local grocery store) to go with it! I was SO pumped. Well, as I mentioned before...the bread is kind of sweet. It wasn't exactly conducive to cheese and tomato soup. Oh well. It wasn't terrible...but it wasn't the same as my old favorite comfort food, either! The quest continues! ;)
Can I just say, thoughts of sandwiches are haunting me, plaguing me?! ARGH!
Ok, time for me to shower...we just got back from a swim...and get ready for bed. I have to be at work at 7am tomorrow! Sigh...
But it's ALMOST Thanksgiving! I am sure I will post lots of stuff about my Thanksgiving adventures! Here's hoping I can survive ;). I am bringing gluten-free pumpkin bars to our family celebration...but I am hoping I can eat some other things, too! We will see...I think my mom is going to do her best to help me out :). I am kind of nervous, though, about Thanksgiving! Not to sound corny, but I don't want to feel like an outcast!