Wheat in Wine? NOOO!!!!

Ok, so I saw this headline that wheat paste is used in some wine barrels?  WHAT!?!?  NO!  Haha...I probably sound like a real wine-o, yet in reality I am more of a sipper.  I enjoy the taste of wine, but that's it, just the taste.

A good wine, like gewurztraminer (thank you google for the spelling) or moscato is just so yummy!  But seriously, you should see the wine glasses I bought us...my parents laughed because they were tiny glasses for hard liquor! Ha!

Anywho, back to this whole wine and wheat fiasco.  I did some further investigation of the article and this is what I found.  Gluten in Wine? article

I'm very curious about the findings here and the "maybe...possibly" presence of gluten.  I've never considered much about the idea of gluten being in my wine.  I always look the the bottle for any ingredients listed (as has become second nature when shopping), but I've never researched much beyond that.  I think it's definitely time I start.  Luckily, it will likely be a month before I sip another glass of wine, BUT I'd like to be sure I'm not poisoning myself as I do so.

So, a question for you...

Anyone have other findings on this issue?

Food Restrictions during the Holidays

Food restrictions?  Wait...you can't have WHAT!?!?!  Spell that for me please?

Does this sound like any of you?  If so, you're in luck.  Here's an article that explicitly lays out some of the major food allergies and how to address them to meet the needs of your guests, whether for a holiday gathering or a potluck with friends.  From vegan, to gluten and/or dairy intolerant, this article addresses what exactly the major restrictions are and a tasty recipe if you're looking for ideas.

A Menu to Please All Your Holiday Guests

Now you, and your guests, can feast with confidence and enjoy a full meal! 

Good luck!  And if you're looking for gluten free, check out some of the recipes here on our blog.  

Thanksgiving Cooking Safety Tips

If you’re cooking for Thanksgiving, please be careful. Cooking fires are more likely to happen on Thanksgiving Day than any other day of the year, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
Here are a few tips and reminders:
• Keep materials that can easily catch on fire away from your stovetop.
• Never wear loose clothing while cooking.
• Remind children to never go near a stove or cooking appliance.
• Use the back burner whenever possible.
• Test smoke alarms throughout the house, but especially around the kitchen.
• Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen at all times.
• Never use a turkey fryer inside.

Guide to Dairy Substitutes

For many eating gluten free, or those facing other food allergies, a problem with dairy soon arises.  For me, the problem was short lived.  After being officially diagnosed Celiac, it was recommended to me by my gastroenterologist (tummy doc) that I avoid dairy for a few months and then gradually introduce the food back into my diet.  Luckily, that was all it took and my issues with dairy subsided.  I still have to be cognizant of my intake, but I don't have to avoid the food all together.

Many others are not so lucky.  For them, dairy is as big, if not sometimes bigger, a culprit as gluten.  And that means even more substitutions to insure a happy eating experience.  What I've found for those in this category (or those who are choosing to eliminate or decrease their amount of dairy) is this extremely comprehensive guide of dairy alternatives.  I hope this list leads you all to a happier dairy free baking/cooking experience.

Guide to Dairy Substitutes

A Gluten Free Baja Fresh Dilemma

I'm sitting here in Starbucks, drinking a delicious Vanilla Rooibos tea and contemplating the growling that is my stomach.  My lovely hubby is outside brainstorming with some friends about the best way to promote Christian concerts in town.  Needless to say, while he thinks away I need to do something about my tummy.

I thought I had this covered when I made us a couple of delicious quesadillas for dinner, but that was clearly not enough food for this girl!

Let me digress for a moment and tell you about those quesadillas.

• Brown rice tortillas
• Butter (softened)
• Shredded cheese (we prefer the light mexican blend from Trader Joe's)
• Sliced turkey meat (cut into small pieces)

Simply lather the outside of the tortillas in butter (mmm...organic is best!), turn them over, fill half with cheese and meat and fold in half to cook.  Warm a skillet on the stove, slap these babies on and cook away!  Delish!


However, clearly not enough when eaten while running out the door to get to a meeting (my hubby...outside).  So, now that brings me back to my current state.  Hungry and facing the options of Baja Fresh.  I hopped online and found this!  I'm happy to report there are quite a few options for food, but I was totally bummed to learn that the chips are cooked in the same fryer as gluten filled food! :(  Such a bummer as I was having a fattening chip craving!

Oh well, I'm thinking some beans and rice will do...

More Thanksgiving recipes

So...I'm loving being gluten free in 2011!  Seriously, for those who fought the disease 20 years ago, I can't imagine the struggle.

For us today...here's more news tips for gluten free Thanksgiving recipes.
Recipes from Washingtonian
Plant Based Recipes

An Abundance of Gluten Free Flours

Choosing the right gluten free flour(s) can be the difference between making the perfect gluten free dessert or bread and a disaster.  Trust me, I've attempted the "healthy" route of making pancakes with quinoa flour and peanut flour.  Both were a complete FAIL!  The smell alone was something I couldn't get past.   Both flours were so nutty that not even a heaping dose of cinnamon or vanilla in the batter could fix them.  I even attempted topping the cooked pancakes with an overwhelming scoop of berries and whipped cream.  Still...a FAIL!

With that being said, I'm hoping this extensive gluten free flour list will help you to insure your baking adventures will turn our more delicious and less disastrous!

This list breaks it down my baking/cooking desires from all-purpose, to thickening, to stuffing, baking and everything in between!

Gluten Free Flour List

Gluten Free Goddess has a New E-book

Karina's New Cookbook

Karina Allrich, aka Gluten Free Goddess, has been blogging about gluten free food for six years now.  I've only been at this for less than six months, so I've definitely got a ways to go and I can only hope to offer you the plethora of gluten free information and recipes she has on her site.  Until then, I hope you will find the recipes in this book as enticing as I do!

Buy her ebook here!

Looking to Serve Up a Great Gluten-Free Thanksgiving?

Look no further!  Celiac.com is offering a comprehensive guide to insure that your feast is delightfully delicious!  They've got everything from tips on turkeys, to which bouillon cubes are gluten free, and even some great recipes such as PIES!! :-)

So get ready to cook and feast on a wonderful Thanksgiving fare!  Enjoy!

Here's the link one more time: Thanksgiving feast!

Easy Eats-A Place in My Heart

The latest Easy Eats Issue

Ok seriously, this new ezine, Easy Eats, has developed a special place in my heart.  I just went through their new issue and it is amazing!  If you haven't subscribed yet, wait no longer.  Not only do they have an incredible selection of recipes, but they've got snippets of a little bit of everything from face wash to gift ideas!  It's like a one stop shop full of amazing ideas!  I'm loving their homemade gifts for the holidays, you've got to check it out! Friends and family beware, you will likely be getting either a hot cocoa mix or a sugar manicure scrub!  Love it...hope you do too! :)

Now, beyond the magazine being amazing, the real reason I wrote this blog was to let you know about how generous and helpful the people at Easy Eats are.  They've got a Holiday Hotline set up to answer any and all of your cooking and baking questions.  You know, those questions that pop into your head as you consider how to best convert your favorite cookie recipe.  They can answer it!  They've got food experts from our favorites answering questions and giving tips all week long (I do apologize for not writing up this blog earlier this week, BUT it's not too late to get your questions answered).  So far they've been answering questions about stuffing, dessert, and things in between.  Such a neat way to help out the gluten free world!

Check out the information here to learn exactly how to get your questions answered.  Essentially they will respond to however you contact them, whether by email, facebook, twitter, or commenting on the link I just put titled "here!"

Have I mentioned that I'm so loving the Easy Eats people that it's now a dream of mine to some day work for them!?!?!  It is.  How will I do that?  I don't know...Easy Eats, are you reading this?? ;)

Gluten Free Cornbread

Who doesn't love a nice bowl of chili with some homemade gluten free cornbread?

The idea always brings me back to when I was younger and my dad would always eat cornbread with any meal he could. Maybe I'm thinking of the dad from Full House, who knows... hahahaha

But seriously, my dad loves this stuff!

Gluten free cornbread has to be one of the easiest things to make.

Here's what you'll need.

• 1 1/2 cups of milk
• 1/3 cup of melted butter
• 2 Eggs
• Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free Cornbread Mix

Now lets make this mess!

1. Preheat oven to 375°
2. Grease 9"x9" non-stick pan
3. Mix together cornbread mix, milk, eggs and butter in a large mixing bowl.
4. Mix on low speed until blended.
5. Pour into a baking pan.
6. Bake for 25min

So after popping this thing out of the oven I was a bit scared of how it would taste. I've eaten my fair share of "normal" cornbread, so I was a bit nervous of eating a gluten free version.

Let me tell you, this bad boy tastes just as good as a normal piece of cornbread. Just lather it up with some butter and honey, and you're good to go!


Enjoy!

November is Gluten Free Food Sampling Month!

Check this out!  You know Udi's, the amazing maker of gluten free bread, bagels, muffins, cookies, hamburger buns...and the list goes on.  Well, they're hosting food sampling at stores ALL around the country for the month of November.  Literally, everywhere!  I know, because they're coming to our town...good 'ol Bakersfield, CA!

So, this is how it works.  Check out the link below (to their amazing blog!) and look for when and where they'll be in your city.
Udi's Store Samplings

For us Bakersfieldians (yes, we have our own name! hehe!) they'll be at Albertson's on November 12th from 11am-5pm.  Woohoo, I'm so excited to see what they'll have for my taste buds to enjoy!

Gluten-Free? Ideas For Holiday Meals

Found this article online...thought it was pretty neat.  They've got a recipe for gluten-free gravy from Simply Organic!  MMM...


Many people are experimenting with gluten-free diets for a variety of other conditions, too. Whatever the impetus, if you or someone in your home is gluten-free this holiday season, you may be thinking about the fact that everyone's meals will be affected. How do you plan those celebratory meals and stay gluten-free? 


http://www.turnto23.com/health/25124496/detail.html


Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away!!

Nut Thins Crackers-Would You Eat Them?

Nut Thins Crackers. Sounds odd, right? Oddly enough, ha, they're not. These crackers are surprisingly tasty and I'm finding that they go with a wide array of different toppings. I've had them with meat and cheese (salami and sharp cheddar please!), cream cheese, peanut butter, AND my latest Trader Joes find of almond butter with flax seeds. You can read more about that find below, but for now, just Nut Thins.

Okay, so what I love about these crackers is their crunch and neutral flavor. They're just so crunchy crispy, which is my favorite part of a cracker. Well that's not entirely true, my favorite part of a cracker used to be the amazing flavor of the delectably delicious Gold Fish cracker!! Ohh I often say that I don't miss much gluten, but I do miss those babies. They brought me through my four hour night classes in college and I can honestly say I don't know that I would have survived without them. But alas, here I am, without them! Probably for the better seeing as they lack MUCH more nutrition when compared to Nut Thins, but still, petition anyone?!? I really think I may write and request for gluten free Gold Fish to be made! Who's with me?

Enough of that and back to these Nut Thins and their flavor. I prefer the hazelnut (as pictured here) as it is nice and neutral. They're slightly salty but nothing overpowering which allows me to enjoy them in so many ways, even plain (I've eaten quite a large handful as I write this!) is yummy!

Being able to eat them with different spreads also comes in handy as they can go stale quickly. So do make sure you keep the bag inside closed tight so they last longer! :)

Now to try the cheesy flavor that awaits me in our pantry! Maybe, just maybe they'll satisfy that once enjoyed flavor of Gold Fish?!?

Happy snacking!