Betty crocker GF Brownies review

I have to say with very little adjustment to this box recipe these are really good!

The only things I did differently from the back of the box were...
I greased my pan with butter
I added plain GF applesauce to the batter after adding all of the box directions.
**This will increase baking time**

I added 8 oz of applesauce which left it tasting almost like a pudding cake.  If you want something less fluffy then you would add less of the applesauce to the batter.  you will need to watch them once you hit the time on the box so you can get a good idea of how much time it takes for them to cook in Your oven, where You live, and depending upon how much applesauce You want to add.

These taste great and are fast and easy.  A great treat to take with you to a party! 

Olive gardens has gluten free food!

I know I was shocked too it is a place filled with gluten products but they even have a GF pasta and sauce.  My daughter had it for dinner last night and loved it!  she was so excited to be able to eat pasta in a restaurant with everyone else.  She has had no gluten side effects and the service from the Olive Gardens In Pensacola, FL was outstanding when it came to her!

The waiter had no clue that they even sold it so I had her check before the rest of us ordered.  She made sure that the pasta and the sauce were both the correct ones.  Now this is not on the kids menu but there is a grilled chicken and vegetables on the kids menu.  (We have no problems with leftovers.) The waiter gave my daughter a plate with some cheese on it as a snack and I gave her a pill. She asked what Celiac disease was and what she could not eat so that she would know and could keep her safe.  

I have to say since the diagnosis I have always thought of Olive Gardens as if it just did not exist but this is going in my top 10 GF of the best restaurant experiences.   

The diagnosis post

We took my daughter to get her official diagnosis a little bit ago and it is only fair that I should finally post the results.

The doctor is unsure because while she had some damage to her intestines earlier they were healed this time.  The blood work and by her reaction to gluten he still thinks that she has Celiac disease. He thinks she is one of the few people with it that it does not attack the intestines and instead it attack another organ in the body.  (Yeah that was news to me too).  She could also have a strong allergy and that puts her at risk for a whole new set of problems.  The only way to confirm the true diagnosis now would be to put her on a diet containing gluten for 6 months and the cut her open looking for the organ that it is eating away at.  We declined at this time on that option. Since we do not know if the organ such as the brain, heart, lungs, or so on that would be eaten away at can repair itself like the intestines would.  It is a option I would not like to have to take.  If we do I want her to be older then 3 yrs old.

Thank you for waiting so long on this post.  I have been dreading writing it.

I need your feedback and help pls

So how do you deal with going out to eat?  do you wipe down the table with a wet nap to make sure you do not get contaminated?

How do you deal with going to Chuckie Cheese or a McDonald's  playground?  It is a place that other children who have been eating all kinds of gluten are now smearing all over the play equipment and possibly you and your child.

These are the types of little things that my husband and I are now debating.  We do not want to keep our child in a bubble or make her feel "special" but I want to keep her safe as well.

So please all you moms out there tell me your thoughts on it or how you do it.

Books to buy for the new year

Happy new year to you all. I have several wish for all of you in this coming year.  That health comes to you and yours with ease.  That the public becomes more Gluten conscious everyday. Last that a cure is found ( If you are going to wish it should be big right ;-) )

It is the new year and that means it is time to SHOP!!!!! This is what I am excited to buy 

Books: one of these is a must have IMO

2011/2012 Gluten-Free Grocery Shopping Guide by Cecelia's Marketplace

Gluten/Casein Free Grocery Shopping Guide by Cecelia's Marketplace

Gluten/Casein/Soy Free Grocery Shopping Guide by Cecelia's Marketplace

Here are more books that can be useful depending on your lifestyle:

Living Gluten-Free For Dummies

The Essential Gluten-Free Grocery Guide

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Gluten-Free Eating

The Gluten-Free Bible: The Thoroughly Indispensable Guide to Negotiating Life without Wheat

Gluten-Free Cooking For Dummies

The Essential Gluten-Free Restaurant Guide

The Kid-Friendly ADHD & Autism Cookbook, Updated and Revised: The Ultimate Guide to the Gluten-Free, Casein-Free Diet

The Essential Gluten-free Grocery Guide

The Gluten-Free Nutrition Guide

Triumph Dining Gluten Free Restaurant Dining Cards (Gold Pack, Cards for American, Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Mexican, Thai, Vietnamese, Greek, Italian and Greek Cuisines)

Wheat-Free, Gluten-Free Cookbook for Kids and Busy Adults

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Gluten-Free Cooking

Let's Eat Out! Your Passport to Living Gluten And Allergy Free

Gluten Free Food Storage, It's in the Bag

Gluten-Free Diet: A Comprehensive Resource GuideGluten-Free Kids: Raising Happy, Healthy Children with Celiac Disease, Autism, and Other Conditions

Gluten Free in Thai Restaurants (Lets Eat Out with Celiac / Coeliac & Food Allergies!)Gluten Free in Steak and Seafood Restaurants (Lets Eat Out with Celiac / Coeliac & Food Allergies!)

Gluten Free in Mexican Restaurants (Lets Eat Out with Celiac / Coeliac & Food Allergies!)

Allergen Free in Italian Restaurants (Let's Eat Out with Celiac / Coeliac & Food Allergies!)

Cereal Killers: Celiac Disease and Gluten-Free A to Z

Gluten Free in Indian Restaurants (Lets Eat Out with Celiac / Coeliac & Food Allergies!)

Here are some Kindle versions of books that can useful depending on your lifestyle:

Restaurant guides:

Allergen Free in Italian Restaurants (Let's Eat Out with Celiac / Coeliac & Food Allergies!)

Gluten Free in Mexican Restaurants (Lets Eat Out with Celiac / Coeliac & Food Allergies!)Gluten Free in Indian Restaurants (Lets Eat Out with Celiac / Coeliac & Food Allergies!)

Gluten Free in French Restaurants (Lets Eat Out with Celiac / Coeliac & Food Allergies!)

Gluten Free in Thai Restaurants (Lets Eat Out with Celiac / Coeliac & Food Allergies!)

Gluten Free in Steak and Seafood Restaurants (Lets Eat Out with Celiac / Coeliac & Food Allergies!) 

Chinese, Indian and Thai Cuisine Passport (Lets Eat Out with Celiac / Coeliac & Food Allergies!)

Let's Eat Out with Celiac / Coeliac and Food Allergies! (eBook Edition)

Gluten Free Directory

Gluten Free Food Storage, It's in the Bag

The Kid-Friendly ADHD and Autism Cookbook: The Ultimate Guide to the Gluten-Free, Casein-Free Diet My child does not have ADHD or Autism but I still found this book helpful.  It was useful tool to help me learn what can help replace what when baking and how much you need to use which is HUGE!!!!

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Gluten-Free Cooking

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Gluten-Free Eating

Gluten-Free Cooking For Dummies

Gluten Free College Student Cookbook Great for teaching your preteens and teens before they go too.  Then they can just take this with them 

IMO This is HUGE if you travel a lot!!!!!!!!!

Multi-Lingual Phrase Passport for Gluten and Allergen Free Travel (Lets Eat Out with Celiac / Coeliac & Food Allergies!)

Day To Day Cooking Tortillas Recipe

Magazine:

Living Without Magazine (1-year auto-renewal)

Another must have IMO tons of information packed into this baby so it is well worth your hard earned money.

There are a TON more GF book, Cookbooks, and magazines out there and I can't wait to read them.  Most of these books I sadly do not own I just borrow from the library or sit and read in a book store when we have to travel to see a doctor. The moment I read/buy more I will let you know.   

If you are a author of a book, cookbook or magazine  would like to have me to read and write on your book or if you manufacture a GF product and would be interested in having me  write a review on my site Please contact me and I would be happy to!  

We survived Christmas!!!

Turkey, dressing, roasted veggies, green beans,  (green bean casserole for the non celiacs) mashed potatoes, Pumpkin tort, and Chocolate tort  all GF but one.

I discovered something today for the first time that can be a problem.....Washing dishes!  If you are making something with gluten in it then you need to make sure that you wash the dishes separately.  If you can not get to them at that moment then you may want to set them somewhere that a well meaning family member does not get to them.  

I almost did this to my dishes, I went to wash the green bean casserole dish with the same thing that I wash all my others with.  Just before I touched the pan the cross contamination alarms started going off and I threw it in different directions.  So we made it through the day contamination free.

I wish peace and happiness for you and your family this year.  I pray that we all learn to live GF with ease and that we can teach society that we live here too.
How did you do?

My official hay ride post!

Here it is people...I have been getting a lot of views because of the hayride mention.  There is a HUGE debate in the Celiac world about this.  Every site you look at tells you something different.  Why should I not weigh in too right?  

Ok so each place does the hay differently.  Your best bet is to call the place that you want to go to and ask them if the hay ride will be Caliac friendly.  If they do not know (you might not be the first????)  then they can call the farmer that they are getting the hay from or they can provide you with the number.  Now this does several things it educates another group of people that we exist and like to have fun too and it also allows you to know if you can safely put your child on the ride.  If the farmer has something in the hay that is not Celiac friendly then the place will know next year and hopefully remember that we exist.  If you have a blog then you can tell them that you are willing to link to them if they will provide a Celiac friendly hay ride next year and ask them if they will do one first even so that there will be no cross contamination  if you have a Celiac group in your community. 

Day# Who cares!!!

This post will be about what ever happens to spew out of me at the moment so watch for falling objects.

Since it is the holidays let's start with my favorite things that people said to me about food so far. 

You can eat Whole wheat right? It says Whole

You can eat it it say all natural on it.

I bought it a the natural store just for her so I know she can eat it.  Reading the label contains dairy, Wheat, made in around machine that use rye.

I think you are making this whole thing up.

Hippy :)

 

These are just my top 5 I could write a book with all of them and I am sure you could to.  I do not find most of them offensive so I figured we would start off with a laugh.  I know I could use it.

I was reading gluten free living today trying to figure out what I wanted to make for Christmas. While I was doing this my child pinged around my head from the gluten.  I thought to myself This test could come back saying what ever it wants to but we will be GFing for the rest of this child's life.  Then I sat her on my lap and told her this, " I know you will not remember this in 2 mins and as a mother I never thought I would say this to you  but when you look for someone to marry I want you to go to the biggest Whole foods store you can find.  You walk up and down the aisles until you find a man with a buggy, not a little basket a Giant buggy  follow him if he is shopping there for to do all his cooking from there and does not have on a ring then you flirt with him.   That man my dear can afford to date you. "  She laugh and bounced off.  The sad thing is that it might be true.....     

Preparing for the biopsy....A look at how far we have come Day#4

We are on Day #4 Giving little bit some gluten each day until the biopsy on the December 8th. As all of you who have gone GF and had to go back please join me in stepping outside after this for a screaming session and GF drinks!!!!   Really though I knew Gluten did BAD things to my child and I know when she had it in her system even though we try our best to keep her in a GF environment.  I mean you can see it physically in her stomach but also all emotional changes.  Now on day 4 I sit here trying not to rip my hair out watching my child's regression in her behavior, speech, and well all of her functions. I am only on day 4 and emotionally overwhelmed.  I am shocked that I was so happy at all the positive the GF diet that I forgot all the horrible things that prolonged gluten caused her. I am exhausted from the chaos that is now my child's mood.  (ones of the sure sings she has had gluten though) I have whiplash at the speed in the breakdown of her speech, motor functions, and regression for her age.  


I look at her  behavior everyday saying this is not all her it is the gluten too.  I still make her do the things she was expected to do before.  She just spends much more time calming down in her room then before, being reminded to use her words, how to hold utensils, and now to go to the bathroom.  I go to bed each day thinking how did we live like this not knowing?  How did I have the patience to live like this all the time?    


Well this is just day #4 in our journey I am sure I will post more on this.  GL and Bless you all that are going through this right now or that are not yet diagnosed.  


Note: I have thanksgiving day pictures and info that I will share but not today 

All those that are ready for the holidays raise your hand

I used to be one of those people beaming with pride that I had almost all my shopping done (all I could do before Black Friday) I had made everything I could pre-make (sew, build, write,or make however the craft required except for food crafts).  I would be one of those people that had all the items that were not required to be fresh already bought  for both thanksgiving and the next holiday. ((( For me I celebrate Advent, St. Nicholas Day, Christmas eve, and Christmas. I have friends that celebrate nothing and ones that celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and a mixture of other beliefs all mixed together.  So I have no preference in people's beliefs but to  keep politically correct I will go with holiday. )))

I now have  little of the shopping done, nothing is handmade yet this year :o( , and my menu has gone to hell. lol   I have had one thing every year no matter what country I was in or what house I went to.  For me this one dish represented home and the holidays for me The Dressing!  When we went GF I was not worried because the 7 pieces of bread that were in it could be replaced with GF bread NP.  I am a Southern Gal after all so my Great grandma's dressing is a cornbread dressing.  Well I wanted to confirm everything even though the label lists no Gluten ingredients so I called the company.  The nice girl let me know that all of Martha white products are in fact to be considered either containing gluten or that there is a possibility of cross contamination because they do not clean the machines between products.  She then asks me if she can do anything for me. Now I knew she did not mean for me to respond to her and she was just trying find a nice way to get rid of me but my policy is never ask me a question you do not want to hear the answer to.  So I answered her  saying why yes you could help me plan a new menu for this year and ask your company to start making GF products.  Would it be so hard to clean the machines between products or buy different ones to use for GF and non GF since you will have a new set of consumers?

Oh well I am not pulled together but I thought I would give you some links to those people that are in case you are in need of anything.

gluten-free goddess - thanksgiving recipes and tips

I must say that this blogger has a well organized list.  She even has a blog roll that is VERY impressive so stop in even if you have everything planned out.  Maybe you will find something new to try.

Until we meet again Keep GF-ing

My search for the lactose intolerance and celiac answer and a bit extra

*** Note as with all medical information I share on here please ask your doctor.  I am a mom and do not know you.  Your doctor knows all your medical history and will know how any information will pertain to you*****

My daughter has lactose intolerance and I have been looking around to see if there is any possibility that she will grow out of it since it can come with the celiac disease or if she will continue to have it forever.  I am happy to say all the research that I have read has lead me to believe that there is a chance that after being on a strict GF diet for a year to two years she could grow out of it.  There is no clear answer but I did not expect one.  She could have the LI from the damage done to the villi and micro villi in her small intestines.  Once they heal (in a year -2 years) she can be retested and might be able to handle the process of breaking down lactose once more.  She might have inherited the genetic  problem to develop a shortage of Lactase from us.  

I thought anyone with CD or loved someone with CD would be glad to hear that there is hope.  Also if you have CD and have never been tested you may want to consider it.


I went to the doctor the for the "results"   So now my daughter and I both have appointments for  gastroenterology.  I also have a few other appointments I will keep you posted on.


I can't wait to get my hands on these!  I want to let my daughter try it for cereal but I also want to try making "rice crispy treats"  out of them.  I can't wait to see her face when she tries one for the first time.

Betty Crocker Gluten Free Cup Cakes

So I made GF cupcake from Betty Crocker Cake Mix.  I used the vanilla mix inserted a piece of chocolate in the middle and did a strawberry frosting.

I am going to be looking for a good frosting recipe because I was putting this one back in the fridge after doing 1 or 2  cup cakes and it was still running all over the place.  If any of you are cake decorators and would like to share some of your tips and recipes PLEASE  DO!

 The recipe was followed on the back of the box but when I try this again I will be using fruit puree because they were a little dry and dried out fast there after.  They came out beautifully and my little celiac loved them.  Here are some pics.

Halloween, and a how to for home made face Paint (sorry It has been so long since I posted)

Sorry for not posting in a while I had a ton of work to do on daughter's costume, cupcakes to make,  and I now have the flu.

I Think I will do a couple of smaller posts today so that things don't get smashed together

I took my little one Trick or Treating We starting having the talk of this is the one time you can take food from someone and not ask if it is GF.  Take it and put it in the bucket we will go through what you have when you get home and what is not GF we will replace with GF candy. We had this conversation MANY TIMES.  She also asked every so many house to make sure that she would still get candy and could not eat any yet.  She is only 3 years old though so the fact that she ate no candy and only asked a couple of houses, "Is this Gluten Free?" left me proud.




We had pre-bought GF candy that she liked and replaced it with what she had gotten when she was not looking.

I found this recipe that you may be able to try out during the year and use next year hope it helps.  


***Please note this is not my recipe, I have not tried it yet, and the author's name is at the bottom***

Make your own Halloween Face Paint (I prefer to use commercially available products purchased AFTER the holiday, however)
1 tsp. cornstarch
1/2 tsp. water
1/2 tsp. cold cream (supposedly this keeps the food coloring from permanently coloring the skin)
1 to 2 drops food coloring
In a small bowl, combine water and cornstarch. Mix in cold cream. Add food coloring.



This is my latest recommendation. We have a box in the house right now as a matter of fact and we can eat it straight out of the box it is that good.  My daughter is having cereal for the first time in her life and loving it.  So go grab a box near you.

My IGA results are in

The nurse called me today a month after taking the test and 4 days after asking for the results.  Nurse:  I don't know what any of this means  Me: that's ok I had to go through all this with my daughter.  Nurse: umm ok your IGA is 91  Me: what is the doctor's next opening?


I know this is just the beginning of a long  journey for me but it is really not a big deal.  I do not feel overwhelmed at the possibility or upset like I was with my daughter.   I am already doing this for her  so it will all be ok.  I also think it was harder to take because every parent wants a perfect life for their child.   Being handed her test results and not being able to find a doctor or any books to tell me how to help her I felt thrown into the deep end of the pool with out knowing how to swim.

I never want anyone to go through that feeling again so I started this blog. I wanted to share the information I learn and the recipes I try, like, or fix so that the next person would not have to feel that way.   So if you ever feel like you are the only one going through this please know that you are not.  There are lots of us and we have blogs!


On another note my daughter has 2 best friends and both of them have birthday's coming up.  We are going to one this Saturday.  They are our neighbors and know that she has CD.  We have talked and I have bought the same cupcake wrappers and decor.  I will be making her the same flavor cupcakes and same flavored frosting  that will be there for the birthday party already.  My daughter knows that I will be making her GF cupcakes that are the same. She is excited to have cupcakes and keeps making sure they are GF so that she can have them.

The mom called me this afternoon to find out if she could have face paint, if so she would buy some for the party.  I thought that this was very kind of her.  I told her to buy it and that I would look and see.  If it does I will tell her that it has gluten in it and we will come up with a compromise for later.  She was not so sure but I can't always give her what everyone else has and the world is certainly not going to cater to her needs.  So she is going to have to accept she can't participate in some things but she will be able to do something else instead. I don't want to shield her to much from life's reality.  This is how I am trying to deal with this at the moment a year from now my strategy may change.  What are your thoughts on this?  How are you handling these types of situations with your children?  Are you a parent of a non celiac and have run into situations you thought could be better handled?  If you have thoughts on  any of these drop me a line.

I will let you know how the cup cakes turn out.

How many of you are still waiting for our miracle drug?

How many of you ever heard of the trial study being done on Larazotide Acetatate Found here without results? I myself am so very tired of waiting to find out anything.  I am tired of calling and emailing them only to have them push back the date or even better, they don't bother to change the date at all.

I really can not get through my head why pharmaceutical companies are not throwing money into finding a pill like lactaid if not one that could be taken daily.  I get that even if this is the "break through" to finding a cure we would not get it until the patents were up on the medications.  Both of my parents worked in a hospital, I worked most of my jobs in  medicine, and I have a fair share of my own health problems so I am not naive to how insurance works.  I am shocked at how much money they are passing up by not making something for this disease and how little attention this disease gets.  I mean if  you count the people just the people with celiac disease (including the ones the don't realize it yet) but don't include the ones that have a sensitivity or are GFing due to Many other reasons that is 3 million people. That is just counting this country alone. People in other countries are just as eager to have this as we are. Can I speak for everyone with any illness and waiting for a medication when I say we have Viagra now so we don't need any more ED studies.  I am not saying that sexual dysfunction is not important. I am saying that ED has been put at the top of the list the past few years and I think the rest of us would appreciate some medication too.

Now my personal opinion is that if they do ever bring this item to life it should be available to everyone that is GFing.  I don't care if they have a sensitivity, if they have one of the many diseases that is thought to be caused or made worse by gluten.  If they Have been GFing and want to take it why not let them? If you have not read the link or do not know anything about what diseases gluten has been linked to please take a look at this wonderful article Dr Mark Hyman Gluten: What you don't know might kill you  Please know in advance that he states that not all or any of YOUR problems are caused by gluten but that some peoples are.  It is an excellent article over all explaining why the Celiac disease and sensitivity is growing, why it is important if you have any gluten sensitivity, and why gluten is costing our health care system oodles of money.

I will be posting books and products that I recommended in each post so it is not overwhelming to get them all at once.

This pizza crust Is SOOO good IMO.  We have tried a few some worked and some did not.  I am not a big pizza fan at all but my little bit loves it.  This pizza crust makes me love it!  I would happily eat 3 pieces of pizza with this crust (leaving my family in shock) I would also be just as happy to eat the pizza crust plain.  In fact after I had surgery I just ate the crusts from my daughter's pizza for dinner not because no one would make me something but the crust were all I wanted.

This is an article I wanted to share Oatmeal and a Gluten-Free Diet

As all of us that are trying to live a GF know that there is much debate on oats and the safety of them. My daughter loves oatmeal so I can no longer avoid the oat debate. I knew that this day would come and have been reading on the subject from the beginning. Now to find something she likes.

Oatmeal and a Gluten-Free Diet: How Safe is Gluten-Free Oats?

A few tips for GF and DF cooking I learned and like to share.

I have learned these lessons the hard way and I figured I would spare you the leaning process.

1) We use Silk in our house.  My daughter is lactose intolerant, I was allergic to milk (yes there is a difference) but after 10 years of shots I can drink it if I want to, and my husband does not care.  So instead of keeping milk that will go bad before I can use it at my house I usually keep chocolate and vanilla silk on hand because they last for a month or more.  I learned the important lesson that even in a pinch DO NOT use Vanilla Silk (even though it is not strong tasting) It will leave whatever you are cooking with a funny after taste. You will need to use plain silk to make your dish.  It lasts just as long as the other silks so it is good to keep on hand too.

2) Rice noodles are very delicate and you can over cook them VERY easily.  I recommend leaving them them a little al dente unless you are going to do a cold rinse on them immediately after you finish cooking them.

3)Corn noodles are not delicate but they do like to stick.  You need a large pot so that they have plenty of space.  I normally put oil and a dash of salt in with all noodles I boil, Oil to keep them from sticking and salt to keep them from over flowing also  to add flavor to them.   If you do not do this ADD OIL to these. Even if it just a little and stir the noodles around so they get coated in it.  Do not add these to the pot until the water is at a FULL boil or you can
will have a mess on your hands.


I highly recommend buying one of these books every year  from this series depending on you or your families needs

How GF are you?

I tried to take the genetic test before my husband and I were married.  My insurance company and the only hospital that was doing them stopped the year prior to me calling.   Would we have risked marriage if we would have know what all could of gone wrong if our genes mixed?  That will always be unknown and I am glad because I Love my little bit to pieces.

Our parenting technique and the view on GFing are 100% different though.  I am still at the extreme safe end. If I can't find on the package that it is GF, find on the web that it is or is not GF, or if I call the company and can not get a complete answer from someone that sounds knowledgeable  on the subject then I will not give it to my child.  If they say that it is manufactured in a company with other products they may contaminate it To me the product has a giant red flashing light on it saying don't eat.

My husband is much more relaxed.  He will read the label and as long as no wheat products are mentioned he is good to go.  Being made in the same company as another product his thoughts are what are the chances of contamination and if it is it still has to be small.

So anyone else have an opinion?  I know that I will relax as I learn more .  I had planned on buying the shopping guide come the new year.  I am no longer sure I can wait that long.  I want to shake my husband every time he feeds her something I have not approved.   I can understand his frustration with me needing to approve what she eats.  

I feel my mother bear come out saying these years are still so important and they will impact the rest of her life.  We have not healed her intestines up yet why are you putting them at risk again, you can give her cancer, cause her to have miscarriage after miscarriage or many other fertility issues.  I just want to hit my knees begging , screaming , and pleading to anyone and everyone that tries to give my child food.  I want to ask the world to wake up because America has the most Celiac's so why can't I go to a fall fest without having to explain to my child that no she will never be able to go on a hay ride.  That I am not punishing her, she is not bad , and she will not be able to do it when she grows up.  A little piece of my heart breaks usually when I have to tell her those things.  Recently I am wondering if little pieces of my soul are not starting to as well.

I get asked what gluten and Celiac disease are almost everyday

I really don't mind being asked.  I would rather have someone ask me then be afraid to ask me fearing it was rude.  IMO It is not rude!  No one can know everything in this world.  Pretending that you do know what something is when you don't can get someone hurt. So I appreciate it when another parent takes the time out of their life to ask what gluten is or what things she can or can not have.  I think it would be rude of me not to explain what they are or become upset when asked.

I would like to give a good explanation here so people can always come here to figure out what it is.  I hope to give you several links to read and explain in my own words as well.   Please feel free to post any comments of your own.

Gluten, in its most simplest definition, is a kind of protein that tends to exist in wheat, barley, and rye among other carbohydrates. Gluten comes from the Latin word Gluten meaning "glue" .  It gives elasticity to dough, helping it to rise and to keep its shape, and often giving the final product a chewy texture.


It is important to know that Food is not the only place that Gluten is found.  Gluten can be in: Soaps, Shampoo, Alcohol, Pet food, Pet Shampoos, Make up, and many more If you plan to have someone in your  life regularly and want close contact with them don't be offended if they ask what make up or any other items listed you use.  Some Celiacs suffer from more severe or different sensitivity then others. So they may not be bothered at all.  Mine daughter is bothered by skin products though so it is something I do have to ask or I send soaps and shampoos with her.  I have even brought our own laundry and dish soaps with us while traveling to keep this to a minimum. 


Some helpful sites to understanding more about gluten 

• How gluten is used
• gluten what you don't know might kill you

Some helpful sites if you are having someone with Celiac disease or anyone eating GF over and want to know what they can and can not have 

• http://www.csaceliacs.org/gluten_grains.php

Understanding Celiac disease better


Celiac disease is a digestive condition triggered by consumption of the protein gluten, which is found in bread, pasta, cookies, pizza crust and many other foods containing wheat, barley or rye. If you have celiac disease and eat foods containing gluten, an immune reaction occurs in your small intestine, causing damage to the surface of your small intestine and an inability to absorb certain nutrients. It really destroys the  villi—the tiny, fingerlike protrusions lining the small intestine. Villi normally allow nutrients from food to be absorbed through the walls of the small intestine into the bloodstream. Without healthy villi, a person becomes malnourished, no matter how much food one eats
Eventually, the decreased absorption of nutrients (malabsorption) that occurs with celiac disease can cause vitamin deficiencies that deprive your brain, peripheral nervous system, bones, liver and other organs of vital nourishment. This can lead to other illnesses and stunted growth in children.

No treatment can cure celiac disease. However, you can effectively manage celiac disease through changing your diet.


Along with Celiac disease comes many other problems so please ask if there are any other dietary restrictions. 


  


FRUITS:
All fruits are gluten-free (unless they have been combined with or are packaged with gluten containing ingredients)
BEVERAGES:
water, water, water, 100% juices, milk, tea, coffee, and water :)


VEGETABLES:
All vegetables are gluten-free (Be cautious of floured or breaded vegetables, or those in sauces) 

Please note that you can buy all the expensive food you want for when your friends come over but if you put the GF bread into your toaster that you use for your bread It has now been contaminated and can NOT be eaten.  If you are wanting to use p-nut butter buy a small new jar for them to use so that the crumbs from your bread are not in it causing the food you cooked to be contaminated.  

It really is not that hard once you know what you are looking for.  Many items can be bought at your local store that are GF.  Many people that have Celiac disease bring food that they can eat and that others will like as well when they go to public functions.  Just keep in mind to use the utensil for their food only and not mix and match.  I never show up somewhere expecting people to cater to my child's needs.  I am always grateful if they do but I think it is rude of me to EXPECT that of people.  I also bring enough of what I bring for my child for the others that will be there and I try to explain the handling procedures of the food so no cross contamination will take place.

Links to different safe food lists. Also just a good learning site in general.


There are more GF link listed on my Links page. Feel free to contact me with any information or questions that you have.  I am not a doctor and can not diagnose you sorry.  I am a mom with a blog trying to share her knowledge and make life a little easier for someone else.

GF Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Pancakes

Yes GF and even my parents LOVED them!!!

I used the Bob red mills pancake mix
I followed the instructions on the package for one batch Except I did not add the oil
I added 9 TBS of Libby's Pumpkin pie puree   (I put the rest in the fridge to make something else but I am sure you could freeze)
I had to add more silk stir and repeat until the pancake batter consistency came back.  The pumpkin thickened it.  I did not use more then 1/4 a cup though.
I then added a handful of mini chocolate chips.   (you can add them to each pancake as they are cooking I just did it this way.)

I set heat on med and while still bubbling flipped.  (My  dad notice if you whip the batter more the pancakes get more of the fluffy texture and if you don't they will stay very thin.)  This is true of the pancake mix regularly and more so with the pumpkin.

You can use this for any GF mix and for any regular mix as well.

Halloween is creeping closer

For those of us that celebrate the day and have children that have Celiac disease this can still be a really fun day.  I know you have to worry about stickers, stamps, and make up. Oh my!  Lord help us if there is a party at a friends house that does not know anything about  GFing yet.  This really does not have to ruin anything though.  I let my daughter do the Trick-or-Treat thing with her friends just like any other child gets to do.  Then when we get home She knows she has to hand over her bucket of stuff and gets to exchange it for the GF candy and sweets that we bought together (even better she has helped pick out).  

I have found that letting her have some control in her diet and what she eats makes a huge difference.  The battles are fewer and farther between and when they come up I remind her that she picked these things out.  She does not have to finish something that is bad tasting.  I will make her put something away for later if she likes it and refuses to eat it though.

I have found a very helpful list of candy both GF and Non GF I thought I would share.  If your child is having a class party then it might be helpful to send this to the teacher.
Gluten-friendly-and-Gluten-Free-Candy-and-Treats-for-Halloween

Making a good GF Wrap

My daughter is not into lettuce wraps yet but I still have hope for her.  I lay out the meat in layers add mayo and roll into a wrap.  Depending on the day I slice into smaller pieces or let her eat the wrap as is. This has been fine but I can't give her all her favorites this way.

My dad has been here helping to take care of my daughter and helping me to create new ideas that are edible.  So here is one for a wrap.

Bob red mills -- pancake mix

3/4 flour

1 egg

3/4 silk plus a little extra to make it a little runny

spray pan
add the same amount of pancake mix as normal
turn the pan around (spreading the pancake out and making into the size wrap desired)

4 wraps were made

then added a tiny bit more flour and to make pancakes or leave it alone to make more wraps.

I used these to make Peanut butter wraps.

I want to try adding pumpkin to the mix next time maybe a few other things.

There really is no place like home!

I am home from the hospital yay!!!   I have to say my Doctor Dr. Layman was the best.  I did not expect to be out of bed, walking around or doing anything I am doing.  I am not really sure what I expected from this surgery?  I think I tried to put it out of my mind until it was time to go in really.  At least it is over now and I have put on a happy face long enough to escape.  I am so thankful that my parents will be here a little longer so that I can recover still.

Report on the brownies and a little extra

If you love dark chocolate you would love these. Well if you love dark chocolate and Reese's peanut butter.  I remember having the same thought the year before when I used one of their chocolate cake mixes for her Tinkerbell cake. Because I had worked with the brand before I also remembered that if I followed the recipe as written on the bag that the product came out a little greasy for me.

I know that Gluten is the glue so that GFing especially baking is a different texture.  That does not mean that it needs to be bad.  I just played with what I choose to put in.

ok I did the 9x9 pan
and that means the list calls for
3 eggs
3/4 cup of oil
1/2 cup of water

Now there are a few excellent books  that will tell you what ingredients you can use in place of others Cooking Free by Carol Fenster, PH.D.  and The Kid-Friendly  ADHD and Autism Cookbook The Ultimate Guide to the Gluten-Free, Casein-Free Dietby Pamela Compart, M.D. and Dana Laake R.D.H., M.S., L.D. are the ones I have been using and they have been very helpful.


Now here is what I decided to use:
1/2 cup of flax seed oil
1  1/2 cups of applesauce
1/2 cup of chocolate silk

I thought the batter looked a little dry so I added more chocolate silk and would stir just by eyeballing it I do not think I added a full 1/4 of a cup.

For the Reese's Peanut butter part
I use JIF   (I am sure that any brand will due you will need more or less salt or sugar)
I used 1 1/2 cups of JIF  (just pick out how p-nut buttery you want it to be add more or less)
1/4 cup of sugar to that
a pinch of salt
Stir until that is completely blended (you know this because while it is still grainy it is now a little runny at least for p-nut butter.
This is where the testing begins.  You will add salt and sugar stir then taste and repeat until you either have the perfect Reese's flavor or almost there.  If it is almost there and you keep playing with it you will ruin it.  I am speaking from experience.  I am sorry I do not have the exact recipe for you  but I was taught how to make this in middle school and the teacher taught us to eyeball all of it.

When I added the peanut butter I marbled it in the batter but dropping or any design would work just as well.

Now my reasoning for what I used.

Flaxseed oil- Ok yes this is VERY expensive but it is also pack the most bang for your buck health wise.  I tried EVOO  last time and it was just to oily so since I was cutting how much oil I was going to use I went with the good stuff.

Applesauce- It can be used in the place of eggs if they are needed as a binder or as a moisturizer.  

Chocolate silk- I wanted to make sure that it still had flavor and I was worried that adding all that applesauce was going to take away from it some.

If I were to try this again I would use vanilla silk and use plum instead of applesauce.  To help cut down on the dark chocolate flavor.

I live with 2 Dark chocolate LOVERS so I will be keeping this version for them and still looking for a different recipe for myself.



I am in need of a Southern Style Chicken and dumplings GF recipe that is tested if anyone has one. If no one else has one I will be posting one in the future.  I will be having surgery on 6th and they are saying I will need bed rest for a while so I am not sure how much I will be on in the next couple of weeks.  If you have any question I will get back to you it just make take a little while.

Thanks

GF Brownies in the oven

I could not find a recipe for GF peanut butter brownies so I am trying Namaste brownie mix with my Reese's Peanut butter cup Mix I make.  I asked DH (husband) to pick up eggs and he got substitute ones so instead of risking the 72 hrs of Gluten HELL!!!! I have also had to improvise on the recipe.  I will let you know how they turn out.

New orders

My husband has been fighting the war the last few months and might still be I am not sure on that one but we have new orders.  He is going to Korea.  There is no mention as to a follow on yet so we have a lot up in the air.  The military wanted to cancel my surgery next week but that was not happening with the doctor , hospital, or my parents that have taken off work for 2 weeks.  My daughter and I may move back home with them since the surgery is going to be much higher risk then most.  With the military it is always hurry up and wait so I am waiting.

Just blowing off some steam

As a military wife we all have to vent in someway and I have had the worst weekend so I am sorry but I am going to vent here.

I usually calm myself down by taking pictures, drawing, writing or some other craft. I have been taking pictures all weekend and today but that is not helping and I can't sit still long enough to draw anyone.  I just called the only person I can to go up the chain of command they are not there.  Of Course Not!!!!!!!  Why would a Patient advocate be there at 1:45 in the afternoon or any other time I have tried to reach one.  I know that talking to this person is just a step and will accomplish nothing but it is these stupid steps that I have to start taking all over again that make me so MAD!

I have played by all the rules for almost 2 yrs and it has gotten me no where.  Now The base wants to keep us after months of saying they do not have proper doctors to treat JUST ME? Why wait until after the date that the base that had our EFMP paper work was required to give us an answer to change your mind? I am throughly confused.  Your signature is on the paper work saying that this bas4e can not meet my needs and now it is on there saying it can.  No other explanation, That is so frustrating!  After all this time and with the doctors that fought with us to do the EFMP still willing to do whatever they can I would love to just sit down and cry.  Unfortunately I can't I don't have time.  I have to write down everything that has gone wrong since we got here so that my husband can write up his list of it and turn it into the patient advocate. Because that is the help we were offered.  I get to pack for surgery, try to make up enough for my daughter to eat for at least 2 weeks while my parents are here and make a check list of thing I need in case I have to move back with them.  We have to find out our follow on base now since we were not given one.

Little miss needs to be enrolled to EFMP (clearly it does not matter though). The one that up until now has not been able to see a doctor.  I have been told, "What you want me to do about her? I can Google just as well as you can." , "What am I supposed to do about her food buy it online if she needs to eat."  Well You my dear base will be paying for us to travel to see a doctor that knows about this disease.  In network out of network I don't care.  I don't care if it is over 300 miles and/or over night.  You will have to give the service member the time off to take her since my problems are fine for you to handle.  There is a law written saying you will help us with the food expense. Oh and in a week or so if my test comes back saying the same thing guess what you will have double the expense.  You will pay for my MRI's you will send me to see a specialist and I have NO clue where you will find those 2 at but good luck on that one.

I mean I will be having surgery on the 6th and I am going into that knowing that it is going to be more difficult then 98% of most of them they do and I can expect to be in the hospital longer.

What I don't get is why put us through this for months just for you to do this.  No one has ever heard of this happening.  This is Clovis though so what did we expect?  


I want to know why "patient advocates" come with the doctor to talk with me about something they are in the wrong about and when I move slightly they lunge toward me like a giant gorilla body guard needing to take out a mobster.  When I NEED a patient advocate they are all gone. Are they all out being body guards to doctors?  I can see that, I mean you tell me those things about my child and I will be upset.  I didn't hurt anyone because I can control myself.  Is it so bad here and happens so often that you really need body guards?

Still working on links but more are up

While I am trying to figure out our new lifestyle I guess you would call it and not a diet since it is for life. I am also trying to get things ready in case we move shortly after I have surgery in Oct. so life is a little hectic.  

Some of the links are up

Sorry for it taking so long but I just got my laptop parts in today.  I have to say it is so nice to have my own computer back even though I email my bookmarks to myself monthly so I can access them  during moves, if the computer crashes, or if I am at a friends and they need something.

The only problem with being a bookmark hoarder is that some of them are no longer working.  I am trying my best to sort through them for you and organize them but if any of them are not working for you please let me know.  Also please feel free to send me your links.  I have only put up craft links so far but I have money saving, computer, camera. cooking, weight loss, military, Pinup, quotes, books, and more. I am glad I am a virtual hoarder and not one in real life or I would be in real trouble. lol

Celiac Disease

I am looking for all information on Celiac disease and gluten free diet or recipes. especially ones that are dairy free. Any and all links would be great if you have them. 

My daughter has something in the family is all the doctors can tell us at the moment.  I am really confused as to why they are going from specialist to specialist with her blood.  Her blood work came back with high numbers but  something is still not making sense is all they keep telling me. Her blood and the blood work are with the top immunologist and hematologist in the state at the moment.   I am sure it will all work out fine it is the waiting that is always the worst part.

A little more about me

So I thought I would give this a try, nothing to lose right.  As I said before I am a military spouse and a mom.  We are stationed at a base in what we many of us call the armpit of America. As you can tell I am not a fan of the base.  I do try to make the most of every base we are stationed at but I gave up on this one after a year.  I turned my attention to making up ways for my DD (Darling Daughter) to have fun and experience some of the same things that a child her age would if we lived somewhere that she could be outside more.  The two of us have become very creative.  She told me one day she wished she could have a swing in the house.  I love swings  so I said, "That would be awesome."  Then I spent the next few days explaining to my young child why I could not put a swing up in military housing.  Usually if she wants something I make it.  We have gone through card table tents, stages to perform on, we have costumes for the entire family to wear, play food, and you get the idea.  I think it's important to have some imagination when your with the military, you never know what you are going be handed next.