It's Raining Cookies

As a foodie, trying out new and old recipes with a gluten-free twist is not only an adventure (think zucchini bread exploding in the oven) but a challenge.  Today's challenge: grandmother's Carrot Cookies.  These cookies are loved by every member of my family and, since grandmother only makes them at Christmas time, they go fast. Since becoming gluten-free I've been without these delightful little bundles of joy for several years. That was until last year when my grandmother gave me my very own gluten-free version.  (I still have five of the little gems in my deep freeze!)  For any of you who know a cook who can turn anything into yummy goodness, then you know my grandmother.

So, with recipe in hand and feeling a little confident,  I followed my grandmother's recipe to the letter only substituting my gluten-free flour blend for the all-purpose flour called in the recipe.  What do you know...it worked!  Not only did they not explode, implode, burn, fall, or flatten, they tasted and looked just like the ones my grandmother makes at Christmas. 

With that, I challenge you to revisit the recipes you loved growing up and rediscover them gluten-free.  Cheers!

Is There Gluten In Your Medicine?

Trying hard to avoid gluten but still getting sick?  You might be consuming gluten in your daily medications and not even know it!  Gluten acts as a "glue" or a binder in medications as well as a filler. So, that nice uniform pill you pay for may actually be sabotaging your gluten-free efforts.

Curious if you are taking a medication containing gluten?  Check out the following site:
http://www.glutenfreedrugs.com/Glutenlist.pdf.    As with purchasing food, remember to frequently ask if the manufacture of your medication has recently been reformulated to ensure they stay gluten-free.

Ian's Produt Recall

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - January 24, 2011 - Ian’s is voluntarily recalling specific lot numbers of two products due to a risk of contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy persons may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headaches, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women.

The following two products with the specific use-by dates and UPC codes listed are being recalled because they may have been distributed to retailers nationwide and sold in the frozen foods section of the supermarket:

8-ounce boxes of Ian’s Wheat Free, Gluten Free Mac and No Cheese with a use-by date of 26Aug2011 and UPC code 7-49512-43670-8 (372 packages impacted) 8-ounce boxes of Ian’s Wheat Free, Gluten Free French Bread Pizza with a use-by date of 28Aug2011 and UPC code 7-49512-91572-2 (120 packages impacted) A total of 492 individual boxes are potentially affected.

Consumers who purchased the above products with the specific use-by dates and UPC codes listed are asked to return the products to the place of purchase to receive a full refund. Products that do not contain the specific use-by dates and UPC codes listed are not affected by the recall, and can be used by consumers.

Consumers with questions can contact Ian’s at 1-800-543-6637 twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, or at customerservice@iansnaturalfoods.com.

More information is available on the Ian’s website at www.iansnaturalfoods.com

More Samples!

Listen up Pocatello Celiac Support Group members... we will have more samples for our February meeting!  I just received word from Nana's Cookie Company who have generously agreed to donate their scrumptious cookies and coupons to help you enjoy their products in your home.  Blue Diamond has also generously donated samples of their Gluten Free Nut Thins Crackers!

We will also discuss gluten hidden in medications, new clinical drug trials, Gluten Ease (does it work?), as well as upcoming research around sourdough breads.

Stay tuned for more updates.  It will be a great meeting!

Looks What New

Check out the new recipes added today.  I adapted the gluten free macaroni and cheese from a "regular" recipe out of one of my cookbooks. The Gruyere cheese adds a delicious creaminess not commonly found in recipes which use processed cheeses.  To round out the dish,  I added roasted asparagus and a nice side salad. Voila, perfection!

 

It's finally here...

Oh happy day!  After almost of year of preparation, scheduling, creating, and asking for sponsor donations...I am proud to say that Pocatello now has a Celiac support group backed by the Celiac Disease Foundation!!!

Thank you to everyone who hung in there and was generous in their donations.  Bob's Red Mill was so kind to donate samples of their wonderful Gluten-Free Mighty Tasty Hot Cereal and multiple brochures.  Rudi's Gluten-Free Bakery was also kind to donate whole bread loaves of their light and fluffy Cinnamon Raisin, Original, and Multi-Grain breads, coupons, and sticky pads.

We will have door prizes, give a ways, product sampling, and most important answers for your questions!  I hope this adventure will help my fellow Celiacs and Foodies discover great nutritious products for their family and new ways to navigate the food highway.

Stay tuned for my favorite gluten-free recipes, hints, tips, and tricks to bring out your inner Foodie.