It has been FOREVER!!

Well, hello everyone!! It has been some time since I've had the time to create anything fun in the kitchen, let alone blog about it!  I must say, I miss it terribly.  I have a feeling I'm going to be busy during the week of Thanksgiving since I will not have school and I will need some much needed kitchen time!!!

I wanted to share a website today and remind everyone that Celiac is not a food allergy, nor is it something to be treated lightly.  Now that I have stated that, it's also nothing to worry about, at least not in our world today.  Gluten-free products have become so popular that the products are much tastier than ever before.  If you ever have any questions, please feel free to contact me through twitter, Facebook, or email. 

Two ideas for today:

Great cookbook and great story! http://www.amazon.com/Gluten-Free-Girl-Shauna-James-Ahern/dp/1118383575/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1352469838&sr=8-1&keywords=gluten+free+girl+and+the+chef

Great protein bar! http://www.amazon.com/Protein-Gluten-Peanut-Butter-Chocolate/dp/B004FR6P30/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1352469895&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=nogii

I do hope you all have a wonderful day! 

Thanks for visiting!!
Caroline

I love the gluten-free stuff at TJMaxx!

I shop at TJMaxx at least every two weeks. And the first place I go is the food section. They have jellies, honey, teas and other sweet treats.

Something I have found there over the past few trips has been gluten-free foods, such as brownies, biscotti and cookies. This last time I went, I found cake mixes and all-purpose flour by a company I had not tried yet.

We just made the chocolate cake mix and I must say its delicious!!! So XO Baking Co- you get a major thumbs up and we will not only be purchasing your products again, but we are telling everyone we know!!

Important article

I do not fly often, but I know there may be some of you that do.  Here's a story about Delta airlines that is an unfortunate problem regarding the importance of the gluten-free diet and labeling something as gluten-free.  Here's the website and please pass on the information.  http://glutenfreemom.typepad.com/gluten_free_mom/2012/04/delta-airlines-gluten-free-meal-is-not-really-gluten-free-.html

Why I love corn tortillas!

As always, eating gluten-free, especially when you are starting out, can be a tremendous challenge.  One of the ways I combat this challenge is to use tortillas in place of bread.  Because we've been doing the gluten-free thing for 7 years now, we've experienced the lack of taste in gluten-free items.  The great news now is that there are many more options and varying tastes of gluten-free breads.  But, corn tortillas, well, now there's something I can do just about anything with.  If you just want soft tortillas to put butter on, take 2 slightly damp paper towels, place a couple of tortillas between them, and microwave them for about 10-15 seconds, depending on the amount of tortillas you are using.  We also just fill them with whatever and make quesadillas.  And I do mean, whatever.  We've put Nutella and a little bit of chocolate chips in them before.  We've put laughing cow, lunch meat, and shredded cheese.  We've also sprayed them with a butter spray, sprinkled them with sugar and cinnamon and baked them for a few minutes.  The possibilities are endless! Well, at least I think so. 

So if you're just doing this gluten-free thing and it's overwhelming you, please don't fret.  Just go get yourself a package of corn tortillas and get creative!  You might just surprise yourself at the delicious things you can come up with.  : )

Living gluten-free

Some days are just easier than others when it comes to the gluten-free way of life.  Unlike some people we know, we aren't dairy free, so I think we have more options.  However, I find myself constantly amazed at the creativity of those that have food allergies and their delicious recipes! 

And sometimes, well, when I'm tired from a long day and so is my son, we pull out the panini maker and get creative.  Tonight, I made a delicious panini.  So simple, too.  Rudi's gluten-free multi-grain bread.  One slice of gouda cheese, placed on the bread.  Then a couple of slices of roast beef, lunch meat kind.  Then 1/2 a wedge of laughing cow spread on a slice of pepperjack and that placed on the roast beef.  One more slice of bread to finish it off, and there you have it!  I must say, it was yummy!  I always spray the bread with some kind of baking spray.  Just seems to help the panini out a bit.

As you go about your gluten-free day, don't be afraid to try new things.  Get creative, find cookbooks, get on Pinterest ( I LOVE IT!), and try new things.  You can do it!

I'd love to hear what you make, so give me a shout out and let me know what you did to be creative in the kitchen!

Caroline

The Brownie Cake Cookie

1/2 cup of Silk coconut milk (that's what I used because it's all I had.  I'm sure you could use any kind of milk)
1 cup PB2 powdered peanut butter
Mix these ingredients in a mixer until well blended. 
Add 1 large egg, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp vanilla, 3/4 cup Xylitol (I didn't have any sugar, but I'm sure it would work fine), and 1 cup of Pamela's baking/pancake mix.  Here's the yummy part, 2 TBSP of Philadelphia's Dark Chocolate Indulgence.  Continue to mix until well blended.  Once blended, add 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips.  Scoop out by the spoonful onto a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 15-18 minutes.  Once they are cooled, top with whatever you'd like!  I melted some chocolate chips in the microwave and used that for icing.  It was delicious!!

Gluten-free oatmeal surprise!

We are snowed in this morning.  Ok, well, sort of.  Basically there is no school today but the roads don't look all too bad.  When it's cold enough to snow, I always want to make oatmeal.  Although when I make oatmeal for myself, it's a bit healthier than I make for David.  This mornings recipe is for him.  He hasn't tried it yet, it's still cooking, but I'm looking forward to hearing what he has to say!  I also like to make a big batch of oatmeal that way he can warm it up anytime he wants a snack. 

So here's what I made:

Bob's Red Mill gluten-free oats (I made 3 cups worth)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
3 TBSP Kraft's new white chocolate delight (found by the cream cheese)
I made the oats to the directions of the bag.  Since it is "old-school" oatmeal (basically it has to cook on slow for 20 min); I added the vanilla, brown sugar, and white chocolate right as I turned the temp down and added the oats.  That way everything has time to cook nicely together.  I think it would be nice to add a couple tablespoons of strawberry preserves!! White chocolate with strawberry preserves oatmeal??? Seriously? OH YES!  I don't know that David would be as fond as I would for it though.  Maybe next time. : )

Easy breezy quick snack!

2 corn tortillas
strawberry preserves (or whatever flavor you choose)
Kraft's new white chocolate spread (found in the cream cheese isle)

• You're basically making a quesadilla here.  Spread about a tablespoon of the white chocolate on one tortilla and the preserves on the other and place them together, like a sandwich.  Place them in a warmed skillet and wait a few minutes, then flip.  Do this a few times until the tortilla is just to your liking.  David likes them a little crisp, but not too crunchy.  After making enough of these you find out just how you like them fixed.  To get really creative, you could coat them in an egg mixture, like french toast, and see how that turns out!  Have fun and enjoy!

Currently working on a menu for this week

Now that I have a little more time on my hand, I have the opportunity to make our family menu.  I really enjoy doing this and I just love being creative in the kitchen.  David has been so busy with school that he's not as active in the kitchen with me anymore, but I think I'm going to have to get him back in there with me!  I will post our weekly menu, with recipes tomorrow.  Should be a fun week!!  Enjoy your week everyone!

PEP friendly, gluten-free mac and cheese!

For those of you that don't know, I'm a part of a program called PEP (Personalized Eating Plan).  It's not a diet, it's a personalized eating plan.  When I follow it, I do well. (Imagine that!)  Problem tonight was I was starving when I got home.  I had left-over gluten-free pasta, so I decided to use a recipe I have to make mac and cheese.  I thought I would share it with all of you.   

2-3 cups of cooked gluten-free pasta
1/4 cup parkay (the spray kind)
1/4 cup gluten-free bisquick
1 TBSP honey dijon mustard
2 cups fat-free milk
2 cups fat-free cheese
On medium heat, cook the parkay, the bisquick, and the mustard on low while blending with a whisk.  Once blended, turn the heat up to medium and add the milk, while continuing to whisk.  After a few minutes it will thicken, add the cheese and continue to stir.  Ok, word of warning here, fat-free cheese gets sticky fast!  But it still works, which is why I'm posting this recipe.  Once every thing is well blended and mixed, it will begin to thicken.  Place the noodles in a square pan (9x9) and pour the cheese mixture over.  Mix it all together and place in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.  I have to say I was surprised that it turned out as well as it did.  Sometimes fat-free stuff doesn't taste all that great, and add gluten-free to it, and well, you get the idea. Again, this was pretty good! 

Living gluten-free

Hi everyone! Just wanted to give an encouraging word to those of you living gluten-free. We have been doing this For so many years now that I often forget how challenging it was when we first started. So I wanted to share what I do when I'm feeling discouraged and frustrated with the gluten-free way of life. First, I start googling websites for fun, easy, gluten-free recipes. Second, I often times go to the library or a bookstore and pick up a few gluten-free cookbooks (usually ones with lots of pictures!). And thirdly, I get creative! I find a recipe and start cooking! And I allow myself to make mistakes. When you are taking care of yourself emotionally, then having fun and enjoying yourself is what really matters. If what you're making turns out good, then great! If not, chalk it up as a lesson learned. Sometimes I'll make something just like I was suppose to, but it tastes terrible! Remember, gluten-free isn't who you are, it's how you live. You are a unique individual with many gifts and talents. So go have fun!

Loving left-overs!!

Today I decided to get creative and use what I could find in the refrigerator.  (Might have something to do with reading The Millionaire Next Door and hearing that millionaires aren't wasteful.)  My hubby and I had made some salsa with some seasonings and a couple of cans of tomatoes, but it tasted more like tomato than salsa.  It has been sitting in our refrigerator for a week.  Well, today, I decided to make tomato soup with it!  I ran it through the blender, added a little fat-free half-n-half, a little garlic powder and cilantro, oh, and a splash of taco bell sauce.  Guess what??? It was yummy!!  My 19 year old was super impressed!!


The next left-over yummy was made from gluten-free cinnamon rolls!! I made them last Thursday, and although they are yummy, they are a bit dry.  (Nothing a little homemade icing didn't fix though!)  I had about 10 rolls left.  I crumbled them up and put them in a round cake pan.  I then took 2 egg beaters, 3/4 cup fat-free milk, 1 cup of sugar, and poured it over the crumbled up bread.  I mixed it all in and topped it with cinnamon.  I baked it at 400 degrees for 10 minutes.  I will admit, it seems as though it needs vanilla ice cream to top it off, but it is delicious!!  I'm also thinking that a fruit filling would be good underneath it!  Like a cobbler. 

I do want to share that I didn't always get creative in the kitchen.  I used to be very intimidated and fearful I would mess up.  I have learned that messing up is ok and that sometimes the best creations come from our mistakes!  So get creative!  Read cookbooks, watch cooking shows, and rule you kitchen!  You can do it!