My Gluten-Free Blog

Review of Authentic Foods: Falafel Mix & Superfine Brown Rice Flour

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 20:11:40 -0400

After becoming gluten-free, I make EVERYTHING from scratch . . . well, almost. So, I had a craving for falafels, and when I have a craving, I have to make it. I did a bunch of research and decided to use dried beans to keep the mixture from being too moist. I made several different batches with and without gluten-free flour, but no matter what I did, the falafels fell apart. That’s when I decided there are certain things that are better from a mix. I searched high and low for a gluten-free falafel mix until I found Authentic Foods brand. Of course I had to experiment with more than just one of their mixes! I also played around with their Superfine Brown Rice Flour, too.

To read more, click here . . .

For the muffin recipe, click here . . .

15 Cheap Gluten-Free Things To Do This Summer In and Around Philadelphia

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 12:56:21 -0400

My daughter is not one to sit still (and neither am I). So, summer is the perfect time for us to play in the sun and share precious outdoor moments that don’t involve gluten.
1. Go Fruit or Veggie Picking – If you’re looking for Organic, Integrated Pest Management (IMP), or just run of the mill fruit, this is the season. Strawberries have come and gone, but there are still blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and peaches to come. At Longview Center for Agriculture, you can pick fresh veggies like kale, collards, basil, mustard greens, and thyme as well as blueberries. (They happen to also make AMAZING gluten-free smoothies). Call ahead to see if what you want to pick is still in season.

To read more, click here . . .

Abington Arts Center Sculpture Garden

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 20:11:26 -0400

This was an “accidentally” cool trip. My daughter and I had gone to Abington Arts Center to join the Abington Township Pool, Penbryn. Once we took our pictures for our cards, we had time to explore the area. We stumbled upon the sculpture park.

Best Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffins, EVER!

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 20:11:06 -0400

So after my round of blueberry picking, I decided there was no way I’d be able to preserve them. They were too good and we all just wanted to eat them fresh. However, I found that I had enough blueberries to make the BEST gluten-free blueberry muffins I’ve ever eaten, EVER!

This recipe came from The Baking Wizard, Greg Patent, a man (who after reading his bio), has truly done amazing things in his life. His passion was inspired by the cooking channel on the first TV his family had ever owned.

Below is his recipe and my adaptations.

Gluten-Free Strawberry Jam without Pectin in honor of my grandma, Honey

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 20:09:32 -0400

When I think of preserving, I think of my grandma, Honey! Honey and I use to preserve every summer, and now I’ve taken it on as my project. Honey is so special to me, because she is my connection to the past, and I cherish each and every thing that she has taught me. She also really encourages my interests, and so she special ordered me an out of print book all about preserving and canning called Fine Preserving: Jams and Jellies, Pickles and Relishes, Conserves and Chutneys and Brandied Fruits by Catherine Plagemann. Inside the book Honey wrote: To My Granddaughter, Annsley
May you sue this and enjoy the “fruits” of your labors for many years!
With Love,
Honey Hart
2002
I used this book with love and affection towards my grandma, and adapted the strawberry preserves recipe to a bit of a more modern day standard. I go one step beyond and always pick my own berries, too!

Knot Just Bows at the GJC Flea Market

Sun, 10 Jun 2012 20:10:51 -0400

My friend, Leah, makes the cutest handmade dresses and appliquéd shirts. Her trials and mess ups became my daughter’s favorite clothes! Leah got to talking about the Germantown Jewish Centre Flea Market, and wondered if she could make enough to do it. I thought that might be fun, and perhaps I could make matching bows to go with them. With these good intentions, Helicopters & Monkeys and Knot Just Bows, LLC came together for the flea market.

We were a bit nervous and excited! It was great fun!

The proceeds of my bows profits go to Celiac Awareness Research, and the research organization of my choice is the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA). They are one of the most kind, thoughtful, helpful, organized organizations I’ve worked with. They put on the Appetite for Awareness (A for A), which is coming to Philadelphia September 23rd from 1-5 pm.

Gluten-Free Party Etiquette Tips

Wed, 30 May 2012 20:09:07 -0400

A month or two ago I received an email from a neighbor asking me for a recipe for a gluten-free flourless chocolate cake. I willingly obliged, noting in my email that I would be happy to advise her on certain brands and kitchen procedures to avoid cross-contamination. She thanked me and that was that.
Fast forward several weeks, my family and I are invited to this neighbor’s daughter’s birthday party. I have already briefed my daughter that she will not be able to eat the desserts there, so we brought a piece of chocolate for her. We walk in the door to the rich aroma of Mediterranean style appetizers such as hummus, baba ganoush, chips, veggies, etc. I happily allowed my daughter a few corn chips and veggies.

When it came time for dessert, I realized that my neighbor had asked me for the gluten-free flourless chocolate cake recipe so that she could make it for my daughter and myself.
To read more, click here . . .

Chestnut Hill Grower’s Market & The Food Truck that happens to be Gluten-Free!

Sat, 26 May 2012 20:10:26 -0400

The Chestnut Hill Growers Market at the corner of Germantown Ave. & Mermaid lane has a farmer’s market every Saturday morning. We go to get farm fresh fruits and veggies, eggs, honey, breads, cheeses, grass fed beef, etc.

This year their was a new addition to the excitement! There was a food truck called Lucky Old Souls Burger Truck with local, grass-fed burgers, hand cut french fries, housemade veggie burgers, and homemade ketchup. It was ALL gluten-free (except for the buns). All ingredients are locally sourced and fresh.

It was delicious, and I didn’t get sick!!

XO Baking Company Review

Fri, 25 May 2012 14:37:32 -0400

As usual, I was keeping my eyes open for new gluten-free products when I stumbled upon XO Baking Co. XO Baking Co. makes gluten-free baking mixes that range from a multipurpose flour blend to cookies, waffles, corn bread, brownie, cake, and frosting mixes. Not only are XO Baking Co. mixes made in a certified gluten-free facility by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO), but they are also certified kosher (United Mehadrin Kosher), vegan, all natural, free of trans fats, modified ingredients, and artificial colors or flavors.
The company is the creation of Lindsey Deitsch, a lover of cooking before she was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2009. Out of culinary school, she never thought she could compete with all the other bakeries and products on the market until her life took her gluten-free. She was determined to find the perfect, wholesome blend of flours so as not to lose their gluten-y appeal. (This might not come as a surprise knowing that she is a certified health and nutrition coach, too.)

To read more, click here . . .

House Concert Featuring Leela & Ellie Grace

Sun, 20 May 2012 20:10:09 -0400

So, I am an appalachian clogger with FiddleKicks, which means I wear black taps, and we’re choreographed with costumes and dance to old-time music (live fiddle and banjo). We perform all over the country and often times we have guest performers. Ellie Grace was our guest performer on several trips, and she also performs and tours with her sister clogging and playing music. I was following them on Facebook and saw that they had a house concert coming to Philly, but it was a closed house concert.

For those of you who don’t know what a house concert is, seeing that I had never been to one before, it’s usually a concert paid for by the hosts of the house. They invite a select crowd to come watch for free, but the guest must agree to buy a CD. These hosts tend to love music and helping to promote smaller musicians.

I put the word out to a few of my clogging friends, and the next thing I know, my clogging director, Peggy, had a spot for me at this house concert.

I walk into this grandeous house with a whole room cleared and lined with chairs for the performance. The dining room table was filled with goodies to snack on before and after the event. While mingling with others, you could also find Leela & Ellie to chat with as well.

Pure Sweets Baked Goods Review

Wed, 16 May 2012 22:17:35 -0400

Here I was, just checking my e-mail, when I stumbled upon one from a friend, tipping me off about a “new” business that makes certified organic, kosher, gluten-free, and vegan friendly snacks called Pure Sweets. Even though I’m gluten-free, it’s always hard for me to imagine something tasting good that also contains no egg or dairy in it. WOW was I surprised! The array of goodies, ranging from trail mixes and, crispy bars to, flourless cookies and, to mini macaroons, made my mouth water.

That e-mail prompted me to contact Andrea Kyan of Pure Sweets, and before I knew it, I was pulling up to the front door of an old stone church built in 1872, nestled in East Falls (Philadelphia) at the corner of Krail and Indian Queen Lane. I was breathless. The stained glass radiated on this sunny, spring day, and I felt a zing of adventure as I pulled open the heavy door and walked down a remodeled hallway to find Andrea herself and her amazing part-time employee stuffing boxes full of trail mix (that is also GLUTEN-FREE!!) to send off.

To read more, click here . . .

Trip to Maple Acres Farm, Plymouth Meeting, PA

Tue, 15 May 2012 20:09:53 -0400

I was dying for an adventure. Probably more for me than my daughter. I knew the weather had been unseasonably warm, so I figured that strawberry season was finally here, and lo and behold, it was. I took my friend, Chloe, and her son, Evan, with us. As we drove up to the farm, a fresh indoor and outdoor market is there every day, selling stuff on their farm and of others. The best part about Maple Acres is that it’s not touristy at all. It’s just local!

We walked through fresh greens, herbs, plants, cheeses before the landed opened unto rows of crops. We walked straight towards the other end where the farm animals greeted us.

Gluten-Free, Sticky Themed, 3-year-old Birthday Party (minimal budget)

Sat, 5 May 2012 14:30:33 -0400

So, my daughter was turning 3, and I wanted to create an amazing gluten-free birthday party for her. Stickers are one of her favorite things, but she and her friends are too young to make sticker albums. I had to give it some serious thought. . . I decided my theme should be sticky in honor of her love for stickers, but not sooo messy no one wanted their kids back! On top of that, I wanted to have a way to celebrate L, but still keep to a fairly cheap budget.

Along with the picture above, we sent out an EVITE saying:

The theme is "sticky" we will confess,
Since Lxxxx loves to sticker all over her dress.

Please come join us for sticky snacks and games,
Although we might have to change our plans to indoors if it rains.

Don't forget to please RSVP,
So we can plan ahead for all our company.

We can't wait to see you, no gifts please!
Just come hang out with us under the trees!

Keep reading for sticky foods, activities, and preparations!

Gluten-Free Rice Krispy Treats

Fri, 4 May 2012 22:33:05 -0400

This was my choice of snack for my daughter’s 3rd Sticky Themed Birthday Party. It was a huge hit!

I have found in my gluten-free ways that I’m also a total nut for minimal processing of products. When I made these, I did not use Kellogg’s GF rice krispies, although you can. They just have a lot of extra ingredients in them for me. I used Arrowhead Mills Puffed Rice Cereal that is just puffed whole grain brown rice. So, here’s what I used:

Ingredients:
- 4 cups of Arrowhead Mills Puffed Rice Cereal or 6 cups of GF Kellogg’s Rice Krispies
- 1 10 oz. bag of Kraft Jet Puffed Marshmallows (if using mini marshmallows, you need 4 cups)
- 3 TBSP Butter

Supplies:
- Large Pot
- Large stirring spoon (I used wooden)
- Sheet of parchment paper
- Baking sheet

Gluten-Free Fruit Popsicles

Thu, 3 May 2012 20:08:31 -0400

There are nothing better than popsicles over the summer. Often times, the ones you buy at the grocery store have more sugar in them than we’d eat in a whole day! So, with all the ripe mango I had that was going bad, I decided to morph it into smoothies. (We have also made these smoothies turned into popsicles with blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, and peaches. Really, whatever we have that is about to rot, but hasn’t quite reached that level of being.

I started with blending the fruit and some yogurt, but it needed more liquid. I looked in the fridge for something to use besides milk or water and came across coconut milk which I had made several days prior. Well, we had our mango smoothies which were to die for, and then what was I to do with the extra. . . .? Turn it into popsicles of course! They are equally amazing.

Gluten-Free Lemonade Popsicles the easy way

Wed, 2 May 2012 22:51:30 -0400

To add another treat to my daughter’s Sticky Themed, third birthday party, I decided popsicles were a must. I was looking for the easy way out. I usually make them from fruit and yogurt, but I really want an allergen free snack. Maybe I’m particularly partial to this idea, because I know what it’s like to be gluten-free. The store bought kinds are either too expensive or have a lot of fillers and additives. Again, not into that!

I kept racking my brain and didn’t want to spend a fortune on organic juice of any kind. Plus, I didn’t want to end up buying junk, just because I wanted to be cheap. My dear friend, Chloe, had the amazing idea of using frozen lemonade. It was a splendid idea indeed. I also wanted to make disposable popsicles that I didn’t have to worry about, hence the paper cups, even though I’m a big proponent of reusable things.

Serving Size:
about 40 - 2 oz. cups, filled half way

Ingredients:
- Cascadian Farm, Organic Lemonade Concentrate, 12 oz frozen
- water

Supplies:
- 2 oz. PAPER dixie cups
- popsicle sticks
- pitcher
- wooden spoon

Directions:
1. Thaw the can.
2. Follow directions on can by pouring concentrate into pitcher with an allotted amount of water
3. Stir mixing thoroughly
4. Pour about 1 oz. or so into dixie cups. I filled up about 40 cups, but had to do it in batches, because I didn’t have enough room in my freezer.
5. I put the cups flat in the freezer and waited about 30 minutes.
6. I inserted popsicle sticks into the partially frozen dixie cups and then let it freeze for another 30 minutes to an hour.
7. When all my cups were finished, I put them into ziplock bags.

Barnana Chewy Banana Bites Review

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:57:08 -0400

Ever wanted to take a banana on a trip with you, but before you make it a few feet out your door it was smashed and brown in your backpack? Nikk Ingersoll and Caue Suplicy have created the perfect hand-held banana snack – Barnana. Barnana is a small little nugget of dehydrated banana that can be popped in your mouth at any time without worry of spoilage (for 12-18 months, depending on which variety you’re eating). They are dehydrated to just over 100 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure a moist, raw, chewy texture while retaining its real fruit taste.

To read more, click here . . .

The Atlanta Nosh and Everything gluten-free that goes with it!

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 15:08:23 -0400

So, I am “home” in Atlanta visiting my parents and in-laws this week for the Passover holiday. I have had such fun learning new things about my old home from a gluten-free perspective, as I always do each trip.

Today my mom took me to the Atlanta Nosh, which is a weekly market of 100 vendors selling all kinds of foods including ethnic ones, which morphed out of the Atlanta Underground Market, founded by Michaela Graham. The purpose of the Atlanta Nosh according to their website:

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of people in Atlanta, that have a passion for cooking or baking,
but who are not yet at the place, whether mentally, physically or economically, to open their own
restaurant or to sell their wares in grocery stores. . .

The Atlanta Nosh is an incubator for new food talent!

The Atlanta Underground Market began as a private monthly club for food vendors & foodies that didn’t disclose it’s location until you signed up. It rotated locations, but today I was part of the making of history. This underground market has come above ground and has made its weekly debut in Atlantic Station’s Parking lot. (It’s free parking for the 1st 2 hours, which worked out quite nicely!)

Gluten-Free Passover Products (for Jews and Non-Jews alike) Stock up while supplies last!

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 20:47:21 -0400

So, last week I decided to take a tour of Passover products on the ShopRite Grocery store in Cherry Hill on Route 70. It’s a great time to stock up on gluten-free products for the rest of the year. You have to read the labels carefully, because Matzah and Matzah meal are made from wheat. However, some of the the passover dietary laws are quite stringent about how long wheat can rise, and so some manufacturers produce some products in strictly gluten-free facilities.

I will say this though . . . I’m a bit of a foodie and when I look at the ingredients that are in these mixes, there’s very little nutritional value to anything. It’s a lot of potato starch. I have decided that it is healthier to keep passover as a Sephardic Jew eating corn, beans, and rice, eating what I often eat every day, even when it’s not passover, than eating these product.

Nevertheless, I am making a list of all the gluten-free products I found:

Gluten-Free Passover Facts and Tips

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 12:56:27 -0400

Passover is hands-down my favorite Jewish holiday; it wraps food (and gluten-free food for that matter), family, friends, and fun traditions into one holiday. I mean, what could be more fun than looking for the hidden ½ piece of matzah, only to get a monetary (at least in my family) reward when you’re done? Some families dress-up and reenact the 10 plagues, whereas others use scallions to teasingly “whip” one another as though they were slaves, while others will recline on pillows to signify their freedom. I love hearing about family traditions, because the word tradition, in and of itself means something that is passed down. Since the Jews came from all over the world, the Passover traditions vary from family to family and country to country.
One of my favorite Passover traditions begins with opening the door for the prophet, Elijah. My husband happened to witness this particular event one Passover; he and I had to divide and conquer this night, so he went to his aunt’s house to celebrate. After they had spent time remembering being enslaved, but before they continued the Seder to look into our future and future redemption, they sat enjoying their meal. An extra place and glass of wine had already been set for the prophet, Elijah, the Messiah’s messenger, who would be welcomed into the home at the end of the meal.
Before that moment came, a bare-foot, tall man with long white hair and a long white beard who might have been confused for Moses, sauntered into the room. “Elijah! ELIJAH!” some of the guests called out, while others started screaming, and some tried to elicit a response from this slovenly man. His timing was almost perfect and the kids thought he was a part of the act. However, since the man gave no response and appeared completely off his rocker, the general consensus was that this homeless man had had one too many bottles, so someone got up to escort him back downstairs.
Once downstairs in the lobby of the building, the escort came to learn that this was a blind man and musician no-less, visiting his sister who lives on the same floor of the building as my husband’s family. He had gone out for some fresh air, had gotten lost, and turned the wrong way off the elevator! Ok, so he wasn’t Elijah, but he certainly played the part. Needless to say, Passover is always a fun experience no matter whose house you’re at.

To read more, click here . . .

Homemade Gluten-Free Pita, Falafel, Tzatziki Sauce

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 17:58:43 -0400

Coming Soon!

10 Fun Gluten-Free Things to Do Since the Groundhog Saw His Shadow (with kids)

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:57:15 -0500

We all know that winter can bring on a feeling of hibernation, but only to a certain degree. After a while, you get that cooped up feeling. You know, like when you were a little kid and were driving your parents nuts because you kept begging them for a playmate? Of course, any activity also has to account for dietary restrictions, but don’t worry! Here is a list of activities that kept me gluten-free and plenty busy with my daughter this winter, even if we have to spend a little extra time indoors.
1. Watch a Movie – Take your family to a movie and stash some bagged popcorn or HalfPops in your bag. You can also make some homemade hot chocolate and popcorn on the stovetop to enjoy with a movie on your comfy couch (a warm blanket is a plus!).
To read more, click here . . .

Gluten-Free Cheese Bread

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:01:30 -0500

I have been looking for a good french bread substitute for aloooooooong time, and I have finally met my substitute . . . Against the Grain Baguettes . . . They actually come 2 to a pack, but I ate one before I could take a picture!

Good Health Natural Food Potato Chips Review

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:06:23 -0500

Have you been having cravings for potato chips, but aren’t sure if they’re cross-contaminated? If so, your days of worrying are over! Good Health Natural Foods, Inc. has come out with several lines of chips that have been tested, certified gluten-free, and are produced in a gluten-free facility. Once I heard about these new chips on the market, I had to get my hands on them.

To read more, click here . . .

1-2-3 Gluten Free Baking Mix Review

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:05:55 -0500

I always think of myself as a connoisseur of gluten-free flour mixes, since I never have enough time to make my own from scratch. The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) tipped me off about 1-2-3 Gluten Free, Inc., a mother-daughter company that makes multipurpose gluten-free flour mixes as well roll, pancake, cookie, pound cake, devil’s food cake, brownie, muffin, and cornbread mixes, to name a few! In addition, all of their products are produced in a dedicated gluten-free facility, also free of wheat, dairy, casein, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts and soy. If you still had any concerns, they are certified gluten-free and Kosher Parve.

To read more, click here . . .

A bit about 1-2-3 Gluten Free, Inc.: They really work hard to maintain production in the USA (because keeping jobs here is important to us). Plus, you can get more mix for your money than some of the other GF products -- their products actually cost less per serving than other comparable brands.

Hanging Button Wall Letter

Mon, 9 Jan 2012 18:00:48 -0500

I am always looking for personalized gifts I can make for all my friends’ babies, without duplicating too much. I came across the idea for a Button Letter on Pinterest.com, by Jen Jockisch on American Crafts Studio. It was just perfect for me, because I had so many buttons and trinkets already from my little hair bows that I make. This was the first time I tried this and I made it for my best friend’s baby.

Equipment:

1. Different size buttons, gems, jewels, rhinestones, mini brads, rhinestone mini brads
2. Glue - I used rubber cement, but next time I might try to hot glue gun them
3. 1 piece of 8 1/2 x 11 card stock paper
4. Ruler and pencil (I free handed my letter, but you can print up a letter using a 200 sized font on the computer)
5. Exacto Knife, but scissors will work
6. Awl or something to pierce paper with for brads
7. 1 Ikea frame - RIBBA comes in multicolors Width: 16 1/2” Height: 20 ½ "

Directions:

1. Print out the letter in the font that suites you at about 200 for your font size. I used a ruler and pencil to draw mine, but whatever works.
2. Cut out letter using an exacto knife or scissors.
3. Trace the letter onto card stock. I used the relief of my cut letter to lightly trace the shape onto my card stock paper.
4. Lay out buttons on your card stock. You can glue as you go or you can layout first and then glue as you see fit. I did some combination of the two.
1st: I laid out my button base first and then glued. I had buttons, rhinestones, little bows I had made, and even
zipper ends to add some spunk.
2nd: Once my base layer was in place I added a second layer to give some dimension and began gluing that on.
3rd: I began putting filler pieces in, which is what the brads are good for. The brads can sit above many of your
buttons, adding dimension as well. I actually found old teeny tiny necklace beads that were great fillers,
too. Here I just used the tip of my awl to help make tiny holes to help get the brads in. If I pushed the
whole awl through, my wholes got too big. Then I just finished it up by filling any kind of negative space.
4th: I put my button letter into the frame. The Ikea frames are perfect, because you can still keep the glass on to
protect your work. The back of the frame has bendable metal so that you can work it to your desired
distance.

5 Tips for Laying Gluten-Free Ground Rules for the Family

Tue, 3 Jan 2012 14:53:41 -0500

Every year, we look forward to the holidays and spending time with family. Once we’ve successfully made it to the airport, on the airplane, off the airplane, and to our destination, life seems to slow down. We never have to raise a finger in the kitchen, our laundry gets done for us, we are chauffeured around, and everyone competes for our time…or should I say, time with our daughter. How can it get better than that?
Calm Before the Storm
 My in-laws graciously accept the duties of our adventurous and spirited daughter for 2 days so my husband and I could go spend a weekend with our friends in the mountains for New Year’s. Unfortunately, the night before our trip, we spent 4 hours in the ER with our daughter for an unexplained fever of 104.3 *F with three rounds of Advil in her. Needless to say we sleep deprived parents didn’t complain when we left our daughter in good, well slept, hands.
I spend the next two days enjoying uninterrupted sleep (which, due to my daughter’s ER visit and recent ear infections, was a rarity). I felt grateful to my in-laws for allowing me some semblance of peace and quiet, until I arrived home...
To read more click here . . .

Halfpops: Natural Butter & Pure Ocean Sea Salt; Natural Aged White Cheddar

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:04:25 -0500

Have you ever dug around in the bottom of the popcorn bowl for those half-popped kernels? If so, your digging days are done! Meet Halfpops, an air-popped kernel that is naturally gluten-free and nut-free. It’s produced in a dedicated facility and certified gluten-free! According to their website, Halfpops also has zero grams of trans fat, no corn syrup, no artificial flavors, no hydrogenated oils, no preservatives, and no negativity. It’s the perfect grab-and-go treat.

To read more, click here!

Gluten-Free Winter Solstice Party

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:47:07 -0500

I love the Winter Solstice because to me it is the return of the light. Although it is the shortest day of the year, meaning the sun shines the fewest amount of hours due to the tilt of the earth’s axel, everyday thereafter will have almost 1 minute more of light. It signifies the start of winter and a time to settle in and hibernate, so why not start it off with a party to celebrate light!

This year I started my first annual dessert solstice party to celebrate, which happen to coincide with Hannukah, the festival of lights. I cooked and froze goodies for 2 weeks until it was complete and of course made mulled cider and wine. Bare in mind that I’m a big picture person, so the party might not have been as decorated as I would have liked, but EVERYTHING was made from scratch and GF delicious! If you notice that in the background of the picture there are strings handing down from the walls . . . That was my failed attempt to hang candy canes from taped strings.
Note to self: Not a good idea. Broke all my candy canes. Find other method of attaching string. In addition, I thought it would be fun to include my daughter in the making. She helped me cute cookies and eat the raw cookie dough!! Please see my other blog pages for complete recipes and details.

I labeled every baked item with ingredients just incase there was anyone else with food intolerances, but it turned out it was just me!!

We also had Winter Solstice activities and a large game of dreidel going on. I used Lieber’s chocolate coins, which are GF and manufactured in Israel a GF facility. Keep reading to find out what we did . . .

Tips for Traveling Gluten-Free By Plane, Train and Automobile

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:06:46 -0500

We all know what it’s like to be in a packing frenzy less than 12 hours before your trip. My favorite holiday flick is “Home Alone,” when the family is packing up a gaggle of people and things, and then of course comes the missing headcount when Macaulay Culkin gets left behind.
In all my packing frenzy, I have yet to forget my daughter. However, I will never forget my honeymoon to New Zealand, land of beauty, tranquility, and cars that drive on the “other” side of the road. My newlywed husband and I were shutting the door to our apartment and locking it as he turned to me and said, “I don’t have my driver’s license.” What I interpreted from him, “I haven’t seen my driver’s license in 3 weeks since we took that trip to Savannah.” Did I mention that I’d already been having nightmares about driving on the other side of the road or that you cannot drive a car in another country with just your passport? So started the beginning of our marriage and my new career as a chauffer. (In these past 4 years, he hasn’t lost his driver’s license again – just his passport!)

To read more, click here . . .

Mexican, Gluten-Free, Vegetarian Kosher Style Dinner

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:59:16 -0500

It all started when I decided to invite my brother-in-law over for his birthday dinner. It turned out it was Friday night, Shabbat. That was perfect! We’d do a family Shabbat dinner and light the candles. It’s always so nice to have family over, because the majority of our family lives in Atlanta. It just so happens that my bro-in-law is in med school in Philly.

Any way, back to the dinner plans. . . . The meal was obviously going to be gluten-free since my kitchen is completely and impeccably gluten-free. My bro-in-law keeps Kosher or rather Kosher style and won’t mix any meat and milk, but the meat itself doesn’t have to be kosher. Ok, no problem I thought. We’ll have a roasted chicken and vegetables. Perfect! But then I realized that I wanted to make him dessert, which would have dairy in it. Ok, scratch the chicken and we’ll have fish, because fish can be eaten with dairy. Then we’ll have roasted asparagus and potatoes.

Well of course I invited my bro-in-law’s girl friend who I come to find out is allergic to fish! Oh, no!!! Then I was contemplating making different dishes for everyone. This was getting waaaay to complicated. So, I decided to go with a Mexican theme, since no one seemed to have any problems with dairy.

I ended up making guacamole (with chips) for the appetizer, Mexican Caesar Salad, a Vegetarian Enchilada Casserole, & a rice dish for dinner. And for dessert, I made my infamous cream-cheese brownies. The whole meal was fantastic and even though it took me several days of prep work and chopping veggies, it was well worth it.

As a side note, I like to cook from scratch and I take very few shortcuts. I even grate my own cheese. So, of course you could take any shortcut you felt necessary with this meal.

Gluten-Free Swiss Chard, Canelli Beans, & Cranberries

Tue, 6 Dec 2011 18:00:23 -0500

This recipe idea was put in my head by my AMAZING physical therapist who eats gluten-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free. Every time she was working on my body she would share with me another amazing sounding recipe. Of course since I was half focusing on my body, the other half of me heard swiss chard and beans. I decided to start googling swiss chard recipes and after reading about 10, I had concocted my own from various ideas I read.

I love this recipe, because it can be vegetarian and vegan, but I do prefer using chicken broth to it for more protein and flavor and parmesan cheese to top it off.

Gluten-Free Buttermilk Pancakes

Sun, 4 Dec 2011 13:15:20 -0500

My daughter and I decided to let my husband sleep in this morning, so we decided to have a fun-filled activity of making gluten-free buttermilk pancakes. I adapted a recipe from Martha Stewart’s Everyday Food, which is just excellent and my pancakes turn out amazing every time!! I find them to be so good in fact that we don’t even put toppings on them. We just eat them straight off the griddle!

I decided to add ground chia seeds for some added fiber and a little homemade vanilla extract to spice this up. (Store bought vanilla extract works fine.) I use ground chia seeds because their easier to digest for fiber, but feel free to leave them whole, or add another kind of seed like flax, or just leave them out.

I have also found the measuring/weighing my flour is the secret to GF successful baking. I highly recommend it. If you do not have a scale, but have King Arthur’s GF flour, I have noted how many cups to use below.

Happy Baking!
Annsley

Gluten Free Cheesy Squash Soufflé

Thu, 1 Dec 2011 21:20:43 -0500

I was inspired a week ago by my mom’s Thanksgiving gluten-free yellow squash, but it was pretty gritty. I imagine there must have been some rice flour in it. So I decided to concoct my own gluten-free version without any flour but with cornflake crumbs on top to add a bit of crunch. They could easily be left off or use any type of cereal and crush it.

Gluten-Free Chébé Buns

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 21:23:18 -0500

Chébé is one of the best gluten-free bread mixes around using tapioca flour from the cassava root. I have heard people have trouble with it, so I have included pictures so you can see the texture. The mix’s only downfall is that it is dairy based for those who can’t have it. They are chewy, moist, and go along with any food. They don’t keep very well unless reheated though, so best to eat them all in one swoop. I have tried to make my own version over the stove top, but nothing beats this. I make calzones, pizza crusts, buns, rolls, and focaccia out of the different mixes. You can easily add your own ingredients like roasted garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, or olives to them. I would say from beginning to end of preparation it takes about 10 minutes or less. They are easy to whip together for a fast meal like we had tonight. We had some grilled chicken from the night before, so we threw it on the buns with some spinach, tomato, onion, and horseradish mustard. Yum!

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie & Crustless Pumpkin Pie Muffins from my Halloween Pumpkin

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 23:39:57 -0500

I LOVE the fall and pumpkin picking!!! So, every year I go to the pumpkin patch and pick my own pumpkins in hopes to make pumpkin pie from my hand-picked pumpkin. This year my mom, my daughter, and I went to Longview Center for Agriculture, which is an all organic non-profit farm in Collegeville, PA. Though they grow their own pumpkins, these pumpkins were sitting in a field off the vine. It was a bit of a disappointment, because I prefer to pick mine off the vine, but we still got 2 fantastic orange pumpkins. I was sooo sad that the biggest one rotted before I could cook it. Perhaps it was due to the late October Blizzard (see below)!!!!

Nevertheless, one of my pumpkins survived so that I could make the best gluten-free pumpkin pie yet thanks to the recipe I adapted from www.pickyourown.org! I cooked up one whole pumpkin and was able to make 2 9-inch pies and still extra for crustless pumpkin pie muffins. (See the end of the blog for the instructions.) I hand-carried one of my prized-pies on the plane all the way to Atlanta for Thanksgiving, and it was gone before the meal was over! The other one I froze for my up-coming Winter Solstice Party along with my crustless pie muffins.

Stay tuned for my pumpkin seed making later . . .

Reupholstering Dining Room Chairs

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 21:51:30 -0500

So, I decided that after years of looking at stains on my pale blue dining room chairs (that probably had a lot to do with a baby and a cute, slovenly husband), I was ready to make a change. My mom came to visit and provided the last bit of inspiration I needed - an opinion. Together with my 2.5 yr. old, we made a trip to Gaffney Fabrics on Germantown Avenue. Gaffney’s is known for their incredibly cheap prices and discontinued fabrics. I think for almost 2 yards of fabric, a staple gun, and staples I paid a total of $27!!

This is pretty easy. I have NEVER reupholstered until now, and I did it without reading any instructions before hand. It’s pretty straight forward, so don’t worry! Advice: Start with a smaller project first. There are definitely more complicated reupholstering projects than the one I did.

I will show you step-by-step instructions of what I did:

Name Mobile

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 23:35:22 -0500

When I’m not cooking out of necessity, I LOVE to craft and hike in the woods! For this project, I was able to do both!!

Any way, only like to craft for other people, and since everyone I know is popping out babies left and right, I have tons of time to craft. I’m always on the lookout for new ideas, and thanks to Pinterest, I now have boards filled with craft ideas from other.

This Name Mobile came from From Blank Pages. So, I modified hers a bit and here is how I did it:

Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Tips: 3 Scenarios

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:07:51 -0500

Autumn is one of my favorite times of year because it speaks to cool, crisp air, falling leaves, harvests, family gatherings, and lots of food. This all sounds great! Then the reality of the situation hits; my imagination runs wild and I see a playground for gluten: The slide is a big wet lasagna noodle, the swings seats are plump, cushy pumpkin muffins, the dirt is stuffing giving way under the shuffle of feet as animals, adults, and kids slurp and slide all over, smearing gluten from one play structure to the next.
Then the chilly fall air blows across my face and I’m back to reality – gobs of friends and family hovering over the food, fingers picking, serving spoons jumping from one platter to the next. . . This could end up as a regular old disaster, but I then I take hold of my imagination and decide to control the situation with ORDER.

To read more, click here . . .

Gluten-Free Vanilla Extract Making

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:01:09 -0500

I decided for the holidays that I wanted to make my friends and family a present that they could use, wouldn’t go bad, and not go to waste. I made gluten-free vanilla extract.

Vanilla Extract is an extraction, meaning: we are extracting or pulling out the flavor of the vanilla bean. This takes time and you need at least 4 weeks to let your vodka extract the vanilla flavor. You can play around with different vanilla beans as well for different flavors.

So, my first year of vanilla extract making I convinced my neighbor/landlord to do it with me as a bonding experience. We used our math and decided how many Liters we’d need and how many jars to order. I realized we didn’t start soon enough to have them ready for the holidays, but it was definitely a bonding experience. We had some successes and some failures. The extract was the most amazing thing I’d ever had in my life, and I would NOT go back to eating store bought extract. However, we used a cheap vodka, and I immediately felt the affects of gluten.

Now, in our second year of making homemade vanilla extract, we am learning to perfect our product, a product that is truly and safely gluten-free!!!

Gluten-Free Apple Pie

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 08:46:30 -0400

Not yet cooked, homemade gluten-free apple pie with local apples from our Mt. Airy Farmer’s Market and 2 of my favorite gluten-free flour blends to help with the crust - Arrowhead Mills and King Arthur. I could not have done it without the help of my friend, Beth.

How to Embrace a Gluten-Free Halloween Ghouls, ghosts and gluten - Oh my! Talk to your child about safe and unsafe candy before you trick-or-treat.

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 20:26:58 -0400

It’s that time of year again. The weather turns cooler; leaves rustle in the wind; eerie sounds emerge as darkness settles in. As a child, I looked forward to this time of year, because the change in weather brought about feelings of fall and heralded the approach of All Hallows Eve, otherwise known as Halloween.
All Hallows Eve is a Celtic holiday that celebrated the coming of winter, the end of a long harvest, and the cycle of life. It was a time where people believed the souls of the dead wandered restlessly before heading to the underworld. Villagers left out parts of their harvest in hope of pacifying these wandering souls. Though Christian Missionaries came to change the holiday, its historical significance remains – people dress up as living souls and go around to collect the harvest offering.

To read more, click here . . .

Five Rules for a Healthy, Gluten-Free Living

Wed, 7 Sep 2011 20:27:03 -0400

Learning I had celiac disease was a bittersweet moment – one of relief, and one of great anxiety. I was happy to know I wasn’t crazy and that there was a very clear way to feel better. Yet, I was confused with how to begin my new adventure in life.
Being gluten-free is a life-long journey filled with lots of trial and error moments. However, I have learned from them, and I now share with you the top 5 things I wished I had known as I was starting my gluten-free diet.

To read more, click here . . .

Tips for a Gluten-Free Preschool Day Anticipate the challenges and work with teachers to help your gluten-free toddler stay safe.

Wed, 7 Sep 2011 20:27:02 -0400

As the school year rolls around, kids’ lunches are being made, and lunch boxes are being packed. It can be a stressful time for a parent of a child who is gluten-free and for the child. Here is how I decided to keep my child gluten-free and how that played out in school:
Having celiac myself and then having a child gave me one more person to worry about. Before I put a drop of food in her mouth, I sought genetic testing. If she didn’t have HLA-DQ2 or HLA-DQ8 (the main genes associated with celiac disease) then I wasn’t going to worry. . . But wait!
To read more, click here . . .

My Gluten-Free & Soy-Free World

Tue, 9 Aug 2011 20:27:04 -0400

When you step into my home, you are greeted with the smell of homemade food wafting from the kitchen. Most of the foods I make are from scratch. Initially, this was not by choice.
I follow a gluten-free diet due to celiac disease as well as a separate soy-free (SF) diet due to soy intolerance. No wheat, barley, rye, spelt, or some types of oats. That meant no more cake, cookies, and pizza in my book. As for soy, I didn’t even know the beginning of it! Believe it or not, soy and gluten are in almost every processed food – salad dressings, mixes, crackers, cereal, broths, etc.
To read more, click here . . .

Gluten-Free Blueberry Picking & Preserving

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 09:25:39 -0400

Today my daughter and I we went blueberry picking with our dear friend, Jessie, at Mood’s Farm in NJ. We picked close to 20 lbs. of blueberries and ate tons along the way (note child’s face). Once we finished, we decided to invite another friend over to help us make blueberry preserves.

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Seeds

Thu, 4 Nov 2010 15:36:22 -0400

Once I cut open my halloween pumpkin for my pie, I was prepared to harvest the seeds. So, my daughter and I pulled all the seeds out . . .

Day of longboarding

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 20:41:27 -0400

Consectetuer arcu ipsum ornare pellentesque vehicula, in vehicula diam, ornare magna erat felis wisi a risus. Justo fermentum id. Malesuada eleifend, tortor molestie, a fusce  a vel et. Mauris at suspendisse, neque aliquam faucibus adipiscing, vivamus in. Wisi mattis leo suscipit nec amet,  nisl fermentum tempor ac a, augue in eleifend in venenatis, cras sit id in vestibulum felis in, sed ligula. In sodales suspendisse mauris quam etiam erat, quia tellus convallis eros rhoncus diam orci, porta lectus esse adipiscing posuere et, nisl arcu vitae laoreet.

Review

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 14:09:24 -0400