Thursday, December 29, 2011

need to take your own condiments?

Lifehacker has some great ideas, often! Today's is especially useful for those with food allergies or Celiacs.

Take your own salt and pepper and know they aren't contaminated.
take a little garlic, some butter, etc.

Soda pop upcycling

Monday, December 19, 2011

100th post - DELICIOUSNESS abound


Pamela's makes a lovely mini-single serving cheesecake.
Commonly found in the gluten free area or Organic section, are a single serving cheesecake. I find them useful for last minute indulgence. I also find that if I put a little dish together before an event, and take my own little treat that looks THIS GOOD, I am not jealous of the plethora of treats that are at the holiday parties. Make sure to pack a few cookies and possibly a wonderful little surprise that will make everyone jealous of YOUR TREAT.
Just remember, don't share the spoon with someone who has been including gluten foods in their feasting that day. Get a clean spoon and share, and don't let them double dip.

1 mini-single-serving cheesecake
1/2 cup walnuts
1/2 cup frozen red raspberries
GF Chocolate Syrup.

Here is what my cheesecake for a guest looks like when I am done.

Kale a wonderful vegtable and winter treat.


Dried Kale, or steamed - Kale is a summer treat i remember that Grandma Used to steam with caramelized diced onions, and fried bacon crumbles.
It is great with kale, or swiss chard. Lindsey makes a great treat published at 77 Square . EMJOY!

Kale Salad with Pomegranate and Pecans

Inspiration nod to YumSugar.

  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (make sure if you are making something nighshade free, it hasn't paprika)
  • 1 tablespoons pomegranate molasses
  • 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) good quality extra-virgin olive oil
  • Sea salt, coarsely ground
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 large bunch (about 6 cups) Lacinato kale leaves, stemmed and sliced into a 1/4" shred
  • 1/2 cup pecans, toasted and roughly chopped
  • 1/2 cup fresh pomegranate seeds (see note)

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together mustard and pomegranate molasses with olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

In a large salad bowl, toss together kale, pecans, and pomegranate seeds. Drizzle in dressing and use your hands to massage the dressing evenly into the greens until dressing is well-distributed, 3 to 5 minutes.

Note: To easily remove pomegranate seeds, open the fruit over a bowl of water in the sink (the juice will splatter and stain). Pry the seeds out with your hands and drop them into the bowl; the pith will float to the top. Strain and remove any extra pith. Seeds will store for about 5 days in an airtight container in the fridge.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Swett potatos - Delicious


I have always enjoyed yams and sweet potatoes.
I enjoy the texture, the smell the taste, the delicious feel of home, and the knowledge that they are so brightly colored like happiness.

Too fluffy for you?
Well maybe, but food has emotions attached to it for many, and when you start hearing all the things you can't have, and start trying to find new comfort foods, sometimes, you get starry eyes when you find something from childhood is still yours to keep and cherish.

So when I saw this recipe in Living Without. I purused for:
  • Gluten Free
  • Dariy Free
  • Nightshade Free (spices like paprika and such)
  • Mint family free (spices like rosemary and thyme)

and then decided that it was AWESOME!

So I want to share. Possibly this will be a little different, but will allow you one more awesome recipe for your family during the coming winter.


Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Sweet Potato Casserole


Click here for the link to "Living Without" s lovely recipe.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Are your French Fried Gluten Free? Are you sure?

I am not a Fast food person -but for those of you who are; McD's French Fries are no longer GF:
Potatoes, vegetable oil (canola oil, hydrogenated soybean oil, natural beef flavor [wheat and milk derivatives]*, citric acid [preservative]), dextrose, sodium acid
pyrophosphate (maintain color), salt. Prepared in vegetable oil (Canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil with TBHQ and citric acid added to
preserve freshness). Dimethylpolysiloxane added as an antifoaming agent.
CONTAINS: WHEAT AND MILK.
Some celiac forums are claiming since they can eat it and it doesn't make them sick, it must be gluten free. Be careful of what you read, and find the source.
Personally regardless of the dedicated friers, Mcdonalds still does not claim the fries are gluten free, why? Cause the average fast food worker isn't really all that careful of cross contamination - they are getting paid minimum wage, which is honorable that they have a job, but commonly, they aren't that concerned with handling buns then fries. they aren't working in an environment that is allergy friendly.
Just keep that in mind when you shop for a quick break for food.

Nummy GF Cake - Passing on a recipe

St. James’ Almond Cake
Butter a 9″ round spring-form pan and sprinkle lightly with ground almonds and pre-heat oven to 350F.
A. In an electric beater, beat:
7 egg whites -adding 1/2 cup sugar, a pinch of cream of tartar. Beat until stiff but not dry. Set aside.
B. In separate mixing bowl beat: 7 egg yolks, 1 tsp. grated lemon rind, 1 tsp. grated orange rind, and 1/2 cup sugar. Beat until light and lemon colored. Fold in 1 cup ground almonds and 1 tblsp. orange liqueur.
C. Add a little of the beaten egg whites to the almond mixture to loosen batter. Then fold in the rest of the egg whites gently and pour into the prepped pan and place immediately in the pre-heated oven and bake until cake is browned. About 25 minutes. Cool then dust with powdered sugar. Slice and serve.
found on http://www.facebook.com/astoriamills

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Celiac Awareness Day. September 13, 2011

did I miss the boat? yeah, I guess with the blog being about dealing with and being a celiac, I should have posted. I was instead, preoccupied with many endeavors, including sewing a new pocket for my BRAND NEW NOOK, and reading and reading and reading.
I battled a headache that was spurred on by the wildfires of Minnesota, and the smell reaching the middle of Wisconsin. WOW, it smelled like smoked fish and sausages being grilled at the house next door. It was wildfires, and barometers going nuts.

So in apologizing for the remiss post, let us read something that made my heart practically cry and seize at the same time. A narrative and story in Living Without Magazine. I love this magazine as it really does make a person with Celiac lifestyles, challenges, and HOPES!

In college, I suffered debilitating dizzy spells, spitting up blood, bloating, passing out, and horrible cramps. But I told people only that I thought I had the flu, AGAIN. Here, here is a story that made me cry... you too might find it useful.
Living Without Magazine article Link

Monday, September 12, 2011

Quick Greek Yogurt Post

The Best Plain Greek Yogurt: Our Taste Test Results
(kitchendaily)

you need to check out the results. Fage is really some great stuff. I was religious as food religious can be with brand due to a few tries of a few greek yogurts.. and this brand is double hand tied for #1 spot. Delicious, nutritious, and truly worth the cooking dexterity.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Friday, August 26, 2011

Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Nightshade Free Delicious Dessert

Girl Scout Banana Boats, made in the microwave or Firepit

I remember a delicious treat from the fireside of Girl Scout camp outs.
I never really liked the Graham cracker, so when I realized that a banana, mini marshmallows, and chocolate chips could make something better.... I started something new.

So in the FIREPIT
you slit a banana open, and stuff the cleft with mini GF marshmallows, and GF chocolate. (if you need dairy free, make sure the chocolate is Dairy free), wrap in aluminum foil, fold over the ends tight, and place the delectable banana in the charcoals. You will have to do some trial and error, as each person has a preference for how done they like their banana.

Microwave? In a bowl
Slice the banana into 1 cm sliver discs
CAMPFIRE GF Ultra huge marshmallows work best. slice them into 5 or 6 slices and line a cereal bowl, then place banana slices for the next layer, then sprinkle with 2 to 3 tablespoons of dark chocolate chips, or I break up some Ghiaradelli single serving 72% bars.

Microwave on high for 1 and a half minutes if you need to stop and turn the dish. then another 30 seconds.

IS IT DONE YET?
The marshmallows should puff and melt, the banana will be shiny and smothered in chocolate lumps.. which when gently folded, NOT STIRRED, will allow you a lovely layered dessert.
Enjoy!

Added bonus? this can be prepared ahead of time and put in a Tupperware/Corning-ware (I prefer ceramic to plastic any day) container for a 2-3 pm work treat in the microwave at work. You will drive your co-workers wild with jealousy.



Wednesday, August 24, 2011

This is a day for "Did you know that? "

Did you know that?Link
Latex allergy is associated with sensitivity to foods: HIGH - bananas, chestnuts, avocados; MODERATE: apple, carrot, celery, tomato, kiwi, papaya, potato, melon. Others are low or undetermined. Reference: Greer Laboratories, Inc. TM Allergy Update, Fall 1995. (credited website)

My new thing I am discovering that DETOX is what makes my recovery easier from an accidental Glutening. So I have eliminated Dairy and ALL NIGHTSHADES from the diet for 30 days.
I am on Day 6 and feeling absolutely GREAT.
Brain fog is lifting... This is like a whole second set of curtains that were infront of me. like the backdrop and stage "curtain call" layers of fog are lifting!

Nightshade: Brinjal, Cayenne, Capsicum, Eggplant, Ground Cherry, Banana Pepper, Bell Pepper, Chili Pepper, Green Pepper, Red Pepper, Sweet Pepper, Paprika, Pimento, Potato, Tabasco, Thorn Apple, Tobacco, Tomato.

Is it Kraft or Nabisco? Is it Gluten Free?

Q:

How can I tell if a Kraft product contains gluten?

A:

We understand how important it is for people who have been medically diagnosed with gluten sensitivity to have accurate information about foods to help plan their meals and diets. Therefore, it has been a long standing policy for all Kraft and Nabisco products to list ingredients that contain gluten on the ingredient statement. These items will be listed using commonly known terms such as Wheat, Barley, Oats or Rye. For other ingredients that contain gluten, the grain source will be declared in parenthesis after the ingredient name. For example, if the ingredient "natural flavor" contains a gluten source, the label would read: natural flavor (contains rye). Other ingredients that contain gluten are: Triticale, Spelt, Kamut, Mir or Farina (also known as Far or Farro).

For Kraft-branded products that contain vinegar, information from our vinegar suppliers assures us that the vinegar we use in our products is gluten free. All vinegar is distilled and through the distilling process protein gluten is removed.

If you have additional questions about your personal dietary needs, please consult your doctor or a registered dietician. Lastly, here's a link for more information on Choosing Gluten Free Foods: http://www.kraftrecipes.com/healthy-living-ideas/articles/food-allergies/glutenfreefoods.aspx.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Gluten free over a decade Day 4 of Dairy-free, Nightsahde -free

When you restrict your diet more, you find more reasons to want to enjoy your food.
Arugula Delicious!

3* oz Arugala
1 Very Large Cucumber (peeled if it isn't organic)
1 Avocado
2 cups celery
1/2 cup Craisins
1/4 capers
1 can salmon. small would be better as this is not a salmon salad.

1 large salad bowl

1 small bowl for salad dressing
5 tblspn Grapeseed Veganaise (dairy free and no paprika)
2 tspn lemon juice
2 tspn juice from capers
1 dash garlic powder
1 dash Marjorum
1 dash Thyme
1 dash basil
DO NOT USE MRS DASH... it has nightshades in it, unless you are only going for gluten free, than dash away....
-------------------------------------

Obviously the large bowl requires the ingredients to be chopped so;
dice or chop celery into smaller than bit sized pieces,
the cucumber, I lengthwise halved, then sliced, then halved the semi-discs,
the Avocado you cut in half, and if you are looking for easy ways to get rid or extract the pit, try this **, then gently insert a butter knife and dice avocado flesh inside its shelf, invert shell over salad, and whalla.. easy and mess free.
toss in the Craisins
Crumble the salmon onto the salad terrain.

Dressing? Yes please
mix Veganaise, lemon juice and caper juice first... this thins it out a little bit, and makes it better for the rest of the ingredients to be tossed in and whipped up.

serve out the arugala onto plates, then top off with the nice chutney you just prepared.

Enjoy!



*doesn't sound like much but remember 5 ounces is a tub that a roasted chicken could fit in... so don't fret, I am not making a small salad

Sunday, August 14, 2011

"When Gluten Free Isn't Gluten FREE!" - reposted article

Here's the catch. Gluten Free is becoming a profitable buzz word, and profit makes people make new products, but doesn't always include the total research.
Gluten Free is a fad diet for some, which then it will suffice if they get trace cross contamination, but ONLY if they are doing it as going gluten free for "I would like to loose weight", but if they are allergic to Wheat, or are a true Celiac, then trace is still ALLERGY inducing, and gluten free, just isn't gluten free.
So here is another place that just doesn't get it...
California Pizza Kitchen is not willing to make the switch to avoid cross contamination. Here is the article to show you... some companies only want profit, they aren't really interested in Gluten Free.
Facebook Group article of

Jennifer Frank

by Celiac Support Group at Children's Hospital Boston on Thursday, July 21, 2011 at 6:53am

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

I can't donate plasma to put together this fund. Would you help?


Being Celiac, I am blacklisted from donating plasma, and many or most other medical experiments. so here I am - trying to do the right thing for not just myself but the part of my family that will be victim to this injustice.

Never thought I would have to do this. But the atrocity of family drama and injustice has happened. I am paying an attorney to prove my innocence. The questions asked? "Do you have any proof she did it?" the charging party "Well no, but do you have any proof that SHE DIDN'T" So I am going to humbly ask this - I am happy to give you the whole story should you need it, but this has far reaching effects for me. Can you help?

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Glutino sells to all a great product, now it is sold to Smart Balance

Interesting. Let us see what happens when a great company gets sold to a company that also survived cardboard snacks, and finally got tasty.

Glutino sold to Smart Balance

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Cold "breakfast soup?"

Yes, that is typed correctly. Cold? Breakfast soup?
What is soup?
the irony is that the word originally "soupe" or "sop" included the mechanism of sopping up with bread. Well that would be tragic, as this, soup, needs no bread, or starch what-so-ever.

So here we go.
you can prepare the mango chunks and freeze them overnight, or you can buy a bag of Dole mango frozen chunks. This level of preparation will be left up to you.

Mango Fage cold Breakfast Soup.
(FAGE) mango soup:
2 cups frozen mango chunks
2 cups Fage Total
1 cup Silk Almond milk
Margarita setting on the blender
BLEND, pour in a bowl, insert soup spoon, Enjoy!

Grilled shellfish - Gluten free easily

Summer time. The grill comes out and the flames burst skyward.
So, pull out that gluten free grill (don't use the grill rack if gluten has gotten on it, they are cheap to replace).
Find yourself some vegetable or shellfish baskets.. and here we go...
I think you will enjoy this link with a little beach story, and some grandiose taste bud instigators.





-----------------------------------------

Summer Shell Game: Grilled Clams, Mussels, Shrimp

To read the recipes and see more pictures.... here you [CLICK]

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Zucchini Fritters with FAGE Total Greek Yogurt

Zucchini Fritters with FAGE Total Greek Yogurt
Of course, use some great Gluten Free bread crumbs... I think you will find this recipe a tasty treat for mini sized mouth-poppables, or hearty dinner fritters.

Monday, July 11, 2011

Gluten Free - the way to be! Bakery recommendation

The Rustic Kitchen
www.rustic-kitchen.com

Email
gfwisconsin@gmail.com
Phone
920-527-8818

AWESOME GLUTEN FREE OAT CHIP COOKIES. attained at the New Moon coffee house. NUMMY~!

Gluten Free Summer soothers, cocktails etc

I was looking at a recipe;
Lynchburg Lemonade
1 part Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey
1 part triple Sec (edited in Grand Marnier)
1 part sour mix
Stir in 4 parts lemon/lime soda
to be garnished with fresh lemon
... well that sounds refreshing!
Then it occurred to me, Triple Sec... is it gluten free? I know Jack Daniel's actually tests their batches for gluten. So I feel safe there, but Triple Sec, I do recall being warned about that!

I should find out.

So, here is a website I have so far found to be reliable. I am not of the belief, nor is my body that all alcohol is gluten free, as some tout the gluten is distilled out, I think we can agree, that our bodies know best.. and three days of gross writhing in agony tells me NAH, not all distillery processes gain gluten free status. So,
Gluten free alcohol
Good to know. here's to you [ clink] Enjoy your summer cocktails

Tennessee Tea
1 1 part Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey
1 part triple Sec
1 part sour mix
2 parts cola (Coca-Cola is gluten free) not all colas are.


Now you should also know, the Jack Daniel's Mustard is gluten free, and tastes great on the brats that you had grilling on the gluten free grill.
ENJOY
TATA!

Friday, June 10, 2011

Mango Lassi - GLUEN FREE and summery - Refreshing

Delicious!
Nutrient rich!
Summer Treat.

  • 1 Cup Fage yogurt ( Fage Greek yogurt site )[they ARE gluten free]
  • 2 Tblspns Honey or Agave Nectar [ easily gluten free]
  • 1 dash Cardamon [research your spice company, make sure here are no fillers]
  • 1 dash Nutmeg (prefer ground at the time of use) [research your spice company, make sure here are no fillers that is partly why I grind my own]
  • 2 cups Silk (R) Almond Milk (I am sure you could use Whole or 2% milk too) non-fat just isn't as creamy
  • 2 cups Frozen Mango Chunks.
OR
  • 2 cups Fresh Mango Chunks and 1 Cup Ice cubes
Blend in the blender.


I found smoothies and making soups in my Oster Fusion - All Metal Drive blender.
ENJOY!

Could it be Celiac Sprue related?

Depending on what you are reading or sourcing you will find hat 1:250 1:150 , 1:133 American have some level of gluten intolerance or Celiac Sprue.
That being said, there are so many things that people suffer and find a gluten free diet puts their symptoms into remission or better, they find they could no longer get diagnosis if they were tested today.
Epilepsy is one that has common links with Celiac Disease.
You might find this article interesting.
http://epilepsyfoundation.ning.com/forum/topics/celiac-disease-gluten

Gluten Free Product Recommendation - Aleia's Croutons

The Local Grocery store, Festival Foods, has rearranged. The demand for gluen free food is up and they are answering the call. So 500 new products are being added, and a full (not just some corner shelf) selection of Gluten Free baking and such goods is now together. Cookies, bread mikes, baking flours, cereals, breads, and CROUTONS!
Aleia's Croutons are amazingly delicious.
I made a salad yesterday and though I have gotten used to the gluten free life, in fact seldom do I wish for cake or croutons that I know I can't have, but I did lament for a second, that I had no crunchy croutons... so I added sunflower seed and that is when The Amazing Man got home. He had a surprise for me, two lovely baked items that made my day.
Aleia's croutons are herbed and have some parmesan cheese, butter and more to make them super crunchy and savory for the perfect salad completion!
www.aleias.com

The other thing of joy that was in the shopping bag?
Grandma Ferdon's Lemon Bars. (2 pack). www.grandmaferdons.com
Both companies belong to the Celiac Sprue Association, and fully impress me.
I also like Grandma Ferdon's carrot cake. the cake and frosting together are a delight.

So now, you have the perfect salad ecoutrament!
and the perfect dessert to take with when you are going to a birthday party that might have cake of which you can not partake. Have cake with them... just bring a little piece for yourself and enjoy!

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

A Celiac at a rummage sale

What is more exciting than finding a great antique chaffing dish fo $1.00 at a garage/rummage sale? The disappointment of realizing that gluten free really does mean for me, that dish will never serve my food. I can't stress enough that gluten free risk is usually a betting man's upper hand. It is simple, thee was stuffing or sauce or something vital gluten put in that dish, and the healthier and more long-term gluten free you become, the less you tolerate gluten. So I don't use Grandma's China, or Great Aunt Elizabeth's gravy boat for food. I found ways to store things in them that assure me the joy of the memories of childhood dinners, such as a wrapped candy dish for the gravy boat, or floating candles in the water of a chaffing dish, an awesome use for a tea cup that was handed down? I planted miniature Thyme plants in two, and they are loved often.

So, second hand tupperware is not such a deal anymore, maybe start a Target Wishlist, or amazon account for the new stuff that you will want. Make sure to pass on the dinnerware set to someone in need, I put mine up to freecycle and requested any social workers that were dealing with a displaced family, contact me. After the floods I go to give a family dishes, pots and pans. HOW COOL IS THAT?

So remember as much as I love Freecycle.org, and rummage and reduce, reuse, recycle, I have to go with the 4th R, respecting my body over my emotions of a cute dinner setting I go a great deal on.

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Memorial Day - Remembering those before us, cooking out/BBQ/grilling

Memorial Day weekend. A 3 day weekend where the cassarole dishes come out, the family salad recipes flourish, and the Grill gets lovingly shined up for the Grill or slower BBQ tasty family meals.
Gluten free can be a challenge and let me tell you, it has been a while since I stepped onto someone's patio and felt safe to eat off the grill. I always brought two dishes and a few tupperware dishes of each for myself. I just knew someone would loose the spoon and "just take a dollop" with the asian noodle spoon, or stick the mustard/ketchup nozzle right into that gluteny bun, so the ketchup istelf was gluten free, but the bottle nozzle is now GLUTENED.
bring your own picnic basket and know the grill isn't safe. Buns are grilled, sauces aren't scraped off, and simply put, if you make nummy food early for yourself, or bring your own little smokey joe, you can share with everyone else.
Here is a recipe that helped me remember the simplicity of grilling is a joy, and you too can do this on a baby grill, enough for you and a few. http://www.pbs.org/parents/kitchenexplorers/2011/05/26/how-to-grill-corn-on-the-cob-quickly/

Sunday, May 22, 2011

GRAVY.. another thing that is hard to come by at the friend's family or other NON-gluten-free house hold


The man who cooks for me, has tried several recipes for gravy for beef or chicken or turkey, and none even the packages we tried, have come as close to awesome, as this stuff.
http://www.edwardandsons.com/reo_shop_gravy.itml
The savory Herb just takes water.
One cup of water, a little sauce pan and some heat, while whisking away.. and you have TRULY SAVORY gravy. It was soooooo Good.
Road's End ORganics Gluten free Quick Gravy
distributed by Edward & Sons Trding Co., Inc.
PO Box 1326,
Carpinteria, Ca 93014 USA

It is:
Gluten Free
Vegan
Dairy Free
Casein Free
of course also Wheat Free
Certified Organic
Product of USA
So it is Super Awesome and you should try dumplings, or turkey and kinnnicinc Sage stuffing with it.

gluten free soup Progresso Soup figured it out

It isn't suprising that one of the things I missed when going gluten free, was the ease of going to the grocery store, picking up some hearty heart warming soup and then stocking the pantry for the hard days that needed soup to finish them off.
Soup... it is for the soup, the brain to melt from the cold, and the heart to warm from whatever roughness the person had to take from the day.

So progresso does a great job of making a great soup. But they just weren't gluten free, so I passed them in the aisle and never looked back for fear of turning into a pillar of salt, or some such thing.

Last week, my boyfriend so kindly brought to me Cream of Mushroom, New England Clam chowder, corn chowder, and a lovely cheesy broccoli and potato soup. When he pulled the cans out of the bag, I sighed in envy knowing he was stocking my pantry, and these were probably for him. Much to my surprise, these were all purchased for me to taste test, and grade on if we would be return customers.
Well doggone if these weren't the real deal, as I remember them growing up. Delicious, nutritious and again soup is easy to have a serving size, or "cook with a can of cream of mushroom soup".

What a gift.
So there you have it, a can of Progresso is back on the menu at the Quincidence Kitchen Gluten Free household.
Southwestern Style Chicken Chowder Chicken Rice with Vegetables
Chicken Cheese Enchilada Flavor Manhattan Clam Chowder
New England Clam Chowder Potato Broccoli & Cheese Chowder
99% Fat Free New England Clam Chowder
http://www.progressosoup.com/soup.aspx

Thursday, February 24, 2011

"Craft When You Can" isn't a gluten free site, but has great ideas

I am recommending you check out a great site for some fabulous recipes.
Garlic Sandwich Spread, Lamb, Moussaka, and easy to understand.
Delicious and crafty ideas with food... and sometimes a crafty needle and thread... or knitting stuff.
BUT the recipes are fun.