Eggnog?

Happy holidays!

As the festivities are just around the corner, I went grocery shopping the other day in search of some yummy pre-made treats. I was bound and determined to find some "regular" holiday goodies that I could enjoy with my family.

After fruitlessly wandering the holiday isles, I was about to just throw in the towel, when I spotted the eggnog. Feeling frustrated and down, I nonetheless went to read the ingredients list. Surely something thick and creamy couldn't possibly be gluten free?

Miracles do happen! The lovely carton of Dairygold eggnog even states "Gluten Free"! I was thrilled! So home I went, my treasure clutched lovingly to my chest.

When I informed my husband of my find, he immediately opened the carton and poured us both some to drink. Watching in horror as he drank the eggnog straight, I cringed, and grabbed a bottle of Sprite. Which then prompted him to watch in horror as I added Sprite to my eggnog. Now it was ready to drink.

So, I ask you all, do any of you add Sprite to your eggnog, or is this just a strange family tradition of mine? Let me know your thoughts, ideas, and other holiday treats you found to be gluten free!

New Products!!!!!

Yes, its been a while since you've heard from me. But I'm back now, and will hopefully stay more in touch.


Its been a crazy ride lately, what with relatives visiting, to road trips, to mysterious and painful abdominal problems resulting in ER visits (not gluten related, but gall bladder adventures). But my mood, both socially and emotionally, is improving now so I can try to be my spunky positive self again. *clears throat*



So, I am excited about a couple of new products I have discovered. I know they have been out for a while, but I had not found them at a store before. I made this morning some yummy pancakes from Kinnikinnick. They were so good! Now, its been 4 years since having "real" pancakes, but by golly, these tasted and looked like the real thing! I was in heaven. Yumm-yummy! Go out at get some right now! You can find it at Super 1 in Coeur d'Alene.





The other neat-o product that I am super excited about is Desert Essence Wheat/Gluten-Free Sun Screen! I know! Its a little on the thick side, and expensive, but its better that getting sunburned, sick or sitting at the beach in a long sleeve shirt. Most suncreens I have found, contain tochopherols or glycerin, which can both be derived from wheat/gluten sources. And this here products states on the label its gluten free. Yippie! Summer here I come! Now I just need to look decent enough in shorts and/or a bathing suit to show my skin. *clears throat* (side note: this product is formulated for the face, but I use it everywhere.)



Well, thats all for now. I hope to be posting more receipes here soon as I tackle some of my favorite chefs concoctions and convert them to gluten free ones. I'll let you know how the successes and failures go.


Until then, stay healthy and gluten free.

Whats your favorite Gluten Free replacement?

As I was wandering the grocery store the other day, reading labels and generally being frustrated by the yummy looking items I could not buy, I came to a suprising discovery. While I am pretty much out of luck when it comes to prepackaged rice mixes and potatoes from a box, I discovered a whole plethora of foods I could eat! Thai mixes! I couldn't believe it either! I had assumed that since it was an Asian prepackaged food, it would have been made with soy sauce using wheat. But no! They're not.

Thai Kitchen has an amazing array of gluten free products, mixes and sauces. I couldn't believe my eyes. While they are not all gluten free, the ones that are, are all CLEARLY marked on the containers "Gluten Free". So easy. I was ecstatic to say the least. I had found San-J's wheat free soy sauce before, but Asian cooking is not one that I have mastered or even amateured in. I can blend a stir fry sauce from a recipe, but they always see to fall short of my expectations.

So I bought myself some Phad Tahi noodles and rushed home to try it out. Would my taste buds be happy? Would they be even mildly giddy? Let me tell you, they were not disappointed. While I am sure they are not quite as good as restaurant or authentic Thai dishes, these are now a staple in my house.

It got me to thinking though, what other hidden gluten free gems are just sitting unmarked on my grocery store shelves waiting to be discovered? So I thought perhaps my other GF friends had also made "regular grocery item" discoveries of their own that clearly state gluten free on the packaging and would be willing to share.

Here is what I have found so far:

Thai Kitchen (large majority of products)

A Taste of Thai (large majority of products)

Best Foods Mayonnaise

San-J Wheat Free Soy Sauce

Beelers Breakfast Sausages

Hormel Natural Lunch meats and Natural Bacon

Dairygold Sour Cream, Cottage Cheese, Heavy Cream

Coffee Mate Creamers

Old Wisconsin Summer Sausage, Pepperoni slices and stix

Rice Chex

Yoplait Yogurts

La Victoria Green Taco Sauce & Salsas

Mission soft Corn Tortillas & hard Taco Shells

Mission Tortilla chips (label claims "Allergens None". But it doesn't state Gluten Free)

As always, read the labels before you buy and consume, as manufacturers can and do change their ingredients with out notice.

List more items you know of, and lets get out there and eat like normal people!

Moving is a bugger

OK, so we have been in the process of moving to our lovely brand new home, and I have come to realize a few things....

1) I will NEVER move during the winter again! The funny thing is, that inevitably, of all our 5 moves during the past 11 years, only one was NOT during the winter. I don't know why it always falls during the slushy, freezing, snowy, sleet-pounding weather. Perhaps we are a glutton for punishment, but NEVER AGAIN I tell you! I am done with moves for one thing, we're staying here for at least 10 years. I'm tired of hefting boxes and then not knowing where my fuzzy slippers are. Then add cold fingers, runny noses and bored small children on top of not knowing where my fuzzy slippers are.

2) The total cost of a new home doesn't end when you start making the mortgage payments. I don't know if it ever ends, because the furniture that I was perfectly happy with before the move, now looks like something the cat drug into the new house. And as we don't even have a cat, well, that's even worse. So I must buy new furniture. Please someone explain to my husband the importance of this.

3) Women decorate their homes with the ideas and plans to entertain, and create an atmosphere of homey goodness with classy style. Men decorate their homes with the ideas of creating napping spots in every room.

4) Moving is a bugger on the Celiac. In my efforts to keep my children happy and entertained between houses, I packed up yummy snack bags for both of them filled with the snacks they both love and therefore contain gluten. They were fine. I selflessly sent my husband to McDonalds for his and the kids lunches, and valiantly ignored the crunchy munching sounds of those absolutely delicious french fries which are soaked in a hydrolyzed wheat protein prior to frying. He was good. All the while distracting myself with trying to decide where my sloppy, suddenly out of style, snow flecked furniture would look nice until such a time that my food starved brain couldn't take my husbands well meaning suggestions for best furniture placement to induce various stages of sleep, and I snapped.

It was my fault really. I should have been proactive and packed myself a gluten free snack bag etc., but I wasn't. I was too caught up in the move and the excitement of it all. But its something we mustn't forget. Ourselves. Sometimes I feel so selfish though that the majority of our grocery budget goes to buying my gluten free ingredients, and packaged foods. And that my diet requires more time. Don't get me wrong, my family has been extremely supportive of my Celiac diagnosis, and is at times even more vigilant that I am. I think that I feel guilty for requiring a special diet that takes more planning than a run to the fast food restaurant, that I just don't eat and don't mention it to my family. But that's not good. Not healthy for us, and definitely not pleasant for those around us when we become crabby-pants. I sent myself to my room for a time out.

So my advice is, to plan ahead, don't move in the winter, be happy with what you have, never loose your fuzzy slippers and designate a place in every room for naps. I think cats and husbands may be on to something.

Hidden Allergy Threats!

Hi all. I hope you all had a happy and peaceful holiday season. Mine was good, filled with family and friends and home made gluten free baked goods. So yummy! Yet, while I enjoyed my winter holidays, there was still the obligatory stress thrown in. We all feel it. And so, I breathe a sigh of relief my schedule can get back to some normalcy and reduce my stress levels.

Well, at least I thought I could. Surfing the web today I ran across a slightly old Chicago News Tribune article from November 2008 about hidden allergens in our grocery stores that are clearly marked Gluten Free. I was appalled!

How can the FDA allow this to continue? Don't they get it? We are not making a "diet choice" or a "moral choice" by not eating wheat & gluten. This is our only choice! Not to mention all of those that suffer from egg, dairy, nut, and soy allergies! We can't "cheat" one day and eat a bagel or piece of cake from the bakery. Or just "have a bite" of some chicken fried steak.

Though we'd love to! Even the smallest amount of wheat or gluten causes our bodies to attack itself and we get sick. While its not fair, its the way it is, and I wish, wish, WISH! that the FDA would take us seriously.

Please take a moment and read the article: http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/health/chi-081120-allergens-tribune-investigation,0,506031.story?page=1

Then go to this website: http://www.regulations.gov/search/search_results.jsp?css=0&&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchall&N=8099&Ne=2+8+11+8053+8054+8098+8074+8066+8084+8055&Ntt=labeling&sid=11EB2087B75A and
send your comments to the FDA. Look for the 5th document down titled: Food Labeling; Current Trends in the Use of Allergen Advisory Labeling: Its Use, Effectiveness, and Consumer Perception; Public Hearing; Request for Comments you can read about the meeting the FDA had and how you can submit your comments and suggestions.

Hey, if we get enough people by January 14th to submit, perhaps they'll take a second look at taking our needs seriously.

Have a great and healthy Gluten Free day!

Gluten Free Mama,LLC.....

I can not rave about this woman and company enough! If you have not found, used or heard of the Gluten Free Mama flour blends and mixes you are missing out! Baked goods made using these blends taste better than those made with the evil and all terrifying wheat flour! My husband (a non-Celiac) even agrees! The Almond All purpose flour blend is my favorite, and everything made with it comes out as light and fluffy and full of yummy goodness as gluten free baked goods possibly can. Go out, right now, and get some! You will be amazed.

I was fortunate enough to attend a Gluten Free Mama baking class last Saturday in Spokane, WA at the Michlich company. Rachel Carlyle-Gauthier, the owner and creator of Gluten Free Mama showed us how to bake some wonderful baked goods including my favorites the apple-pomegranate double crusted pie and CREAM PUFFS! Can you believe it? Gluten free cream puffs. I was in heaven, I tell you! Absolute bliss.

Check out her website at http://www.glutenfreemama.com/ for great recipes and info about where to buy her flour blends and mixes. She has a cookbook out, with another on the way and is also in talks with the Food Network about the first ever Gluten Free Cooking show! I pray to the powers that be, that this comes to fruition. Wouldn't that be amazing? Lets keep our fingers crossed.

The holidays have begun....

So, it's just now December, and already I've fallen behind in my holiday goals. Nothing like the season to make one feel socially inadequate.

Ah well. My kids at least are still of an age where they forgive me my foibles and love unconditionally. The teen years scare the pee-jeezies out of me though. Lets just not think about it yet.

So, as I try to catch up, I realized that I had not blogged lately, so sorry, and here I am. I've been planning on posting a yummy corn-chowder recipe, so here it is:

Jens Corn-Potato Spice-Up-the-Holidays Chowder

2 slices precooked ham, finely diced
2 onions finely chopped
1 red pepper finely diced
2 ribs celery finely diced
1 anaheim pepper, finely diced
3 white potatoes diced
2 cans (11 oz) corn kernels, drained
1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes, fire roasted
1 can (15 oz)Great Northern beans, drained & rinsed
2 tbl fine yellow cornmeal
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried rosemary
5 cups chicken stock (Kitchen Basics Brand or other gluten free brand)
1 cup cream

Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium high heat. Add the ham and cook until browned. Add the onions, bell pepper, celery, potatoes & anaheim pepper to skillet until the onions are lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a 5-6 quart slow cooker. Add the corn, tomatoes & beans.

Add the cornmeal, salt , pepper, cumin, oregano, & rosemary to the skillet & cook for 30 seconds over medium heat, stirring constantly. Add the broth and heat to boiling, stirring often. Continue boiling until thickened, stirring constantly. Pour into slow cooker. Cover the cooker and cook for 3-4 hours on high, or 6-8 hours on low, until the vegetables are tender.

Stir in the cream and heat through. Serve with sour cream and hearty bread (I recommend Pamelas Wheat Free bread mix with your own herbs added).

Well, enjoy this yummy chowder and let me know what you think. If nothing else gets accomplished this holiday season, you can at least have some great homemade soup and plan for next year.