Celiac Disease and Easter Baskets

It’s hard to believe that Easter is only a little over 5 weeks away.  Here in Southwestern Pennsylvania we are preparing for another major snow storm that is already hammering the eastern part of the state and due to hit us later this afternoon and evening.  But with Easter this close I thought I would give parents of children with celiac disease some ideas for Easter Baskets.

First let me just say that all Jelly Belly jelly beans are gluten free.  YAY!  I love jelly beans. 

• All Just Born Brand candies are gluten free.  That includes their Peep brand marshmellow candies, (all varieties), Mike & Ike, Teenie Beanie Jelly Beans and more.
• M & M’s, all brands except the krispy kind
• Skittles
• Tootsie Roll Industries, posts that all their candies are gluten free
• as does Ferrara Pan Candy Company
• Laffy Taffy
• Heath Milk Chocolate English Toffee small size bars
• Swedish Fish
• Snickers Bars fun size and minis
• Wonka Giant Pixy Stix
• Starburst Fruit Chews
• and Double Bubble Bubble Gum
• Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate Bunny
• Hershey’s milk chocolate eggs
• Hershey’s Special Dark chocolate eggs
• Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bunnies

If you just don’t feel like going through the whole list of gluten free candy, my friend Karon Thackston has done all the work for you by coming up with Gluten Free Easter Baskets .  Be sure to check them out.

If you don’t want to give your kids too much candy, there is always crayons, or other school supplies.

• Crayola Brand Crayons are gluten free this includes their markers, washable markers, 3D markers, chalk, oil pastels, model magic, colored pencils, glue paint and Silly Putty.  However, Crayola Dough is not gluten free.
• All Palmer Paints are gluten free
• All Ross products except the finger paints.

I hope that I have given you some ideas for your childs Easter Basket and that you have a very Happy Easter.

Celiac Disease and Weight Loss

When I was first diagnosed with Celiac Disease, I thought the last thing I would ever need worry about was losing weight.  Well that was 22 years ago and over those years I have put on a few pounds.  A few “extra” pounds I should say.  So since this is the beginning of a new year and I hope a healthier me, I am starting an exercise program.

My friend Scott Tousignant of Fat Loss Quickie , has a program that he says will get me in shape and feeling stronger in just 30 days and the kicker is:  Just 10 minutes a day.

I am not a full time, stay at home entrepreneur, yet.  I work a full day at my husbands business and then come home to work on my fledgling business.  I barely have time to sleep let alone go to a gym to work out.

So I’m giving Scott the next 30 days to help me get back into shape and feeling more energetic.  And I’ll keep you all posted on how it is going.

5 Gluten Free New Years Eve Appetizers-Menu Monday

I can’t believe that Christmas is over and we are winding down the last few days of 2009.  New Year’s Eve will be here before you know it.  So for todays Menu Monday I thought I would give you some gluten free appetizer recipes that you can use for your New Year’s Eve Party or to take with you to a party that you’ve been invited to. 

If you are going to a party instead of hosting your own you may want to check out last weeks Menu Monday, 10 Tips to a Gluten Free Holiday, if you haven’t already.

                                               Bruschetta Bites

• 1  (32 ounce) can whole tomatoes drained
• 1 Cup fresh Basil leaves, and a few more for garnish
• 4 Tablespoons olive oil
• 4 cloves of garlic peeled
• 2 large French-Syle Gluten Free Baguettes, sliced 1-inch thick (you can get these in the freezer section at Whole Foods or other specialty stores that carry gluten free breads)
• 1 1/2 pounds shreded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  In a food processor bowl add tomatoes, basil leaves, olive oil, 4 cloves of garlic, salt and pepper.  Pulse until smooth, but still chunky. 

On a baking sheet , place gluten free baguette slices.  Toast in the oven until light golden brown, about 3 minutes.  Sprinkle grated cheese on hot bread and put back in oven for about 45 seconds, to melt the cheese.  Remove from oven and put about 1 tablespoon of the tomatoe mixture on each piece.  Chiffonade (slice thinly) the extra basil leaves and place on top to garnish.

                                               Broccoli Cheese Party Quiches

• 1 can evaporated milk
• 3 large eggs, beaten
• 2 Tablespoons Bob’s Red Mill All Purpose Flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 2 Cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 2 Cups chopped frozen broccoli, thawed and drained
• 1/2 cup red bell pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease and lightly flour 12 mini muffin cups.  Whisk evaporated milk, eggs, flour salt and pepper in a medium bowl until blended.  Spoon 1/4 cup of mixture into muffin cups, filling almost to the top.  Stir mixture frequently to keep ingredients evenly mixed.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean and the tops are lightly brown.  Cool in pans for about 15 minutes.  To remove from pans, run a knife around the inside edges of the muffin cups.  Remove quiches carefully.

                                               Spinich Dip

• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
• 1 container gluten free sour cream
• 1 cup mayonnaise (not salad dressing)
• 1 package Knorr Vegetable recipe mix
• 1 small onion finely diced

Combine all ingredients well and refridgerate at least 2 hours.  Serve with your favorite raw vegetables or gluten free crackers or chips.

                                               Polenta Bites

• 1 Cup cornmeal
• 3 cups water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 Tablespoons butter or margarine
• 1 Tablespoon Oil
• 1/2 Cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 Tablespoon Tabasco sauce

Grease a jelly roll pan and set aside.  In a 2 quart saucepan over high heat bring 2 cups of water, 1 tablespoon of butter, and salt to a boil.

Meanwhile, combine cornmeal and 1 cup cold water and stir.  Add cornmeal mixture to boiling water mixture, bring back up to a boil and reduce heat to low.  Continue to cook until mixture thickens, about 5 to 10 minutes.  Remove from heat and add cheese and tabasco sauce.

Spread cooked cornmeal mixture into prepared jelly roll pan evenly to about 1/2 inch thick.  Refrigerate, uncovered for at least 30 minutes.

After the polenta is cool, cut in to bitesized shapes, about 2 1/2 inch in diameter.  In a large skillet over medium heat, heat remaining butter and oil.  Add polenta shapes and cook 2 minutes on each side, until lightly browned.  Serve with Spicy Salsa.  (Recipe follows)

                                              Spicy Salsa

• 1 Cup Fresh ripe tomatoes diced
• 3 tablespoons minced onions
• 1 Tablespoon cilantro
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl.  Cover and refrigerate for about 2 hours to blend the flavors.  (Makes about 1 Cup)

                                             Cheese Ball

• 1 (16 ounce) tub Philadelphia cream cheese, (not the bricks of cheese)
• 2 (8 ounce) tubs Kaukauna extra sharp cheddar cheese  (check the ingredient list, besides Kraft Cracker Barrel in the tub which has become next to impossible to find this is the only brand I know of that is all cheese)

Set these out to soften for about 2 hours.  In a medium size mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese and the extra sharp cheddar cheese with an electric mixer.  Refrigerate until firm, place on a platter or cheese plate and form into a ball.  Sprinkle with parsley flakes and serve with your favorite gluten free crackers.

Both of my granddaughters love this cheese so much they eat it on everything.

I hope you enjoy these recipes.  Please let me know how you and your guests liked them. 

Have a safe and Happy New Year and may your 2010 bring you all that you hope for.

Mary Blackburn

Living Gluten Free

Gluten Free Beef Burgandy Recipe

A couple of days ago I was talking about Christmas Eve at my house and that I serve Beef Burgandy for dinner.  So I decided to share this recipe with all of you who read my blog.

This recipe is my mother-in-law’s recipe.  She would serve this when my sister-in-law and her family would come to visit for the weekend from Gettysburg and we were all there to eat.  She was a fantastic cook and an immaculate housekeeper until she developed Azheimers disease.  Just about anything she made was delicious, and I learned a lot about cooking, and canning from her.

She and my father-in-law moved in with us in 2001 and lived with us until Dad passed away in 2002.  He was Mom’s thread to reality and after he was gone, she went away from us (mentally) very quickly.  She is now 88 years old and lives in a very nice nursing home for Alzheimer’s patients just about 5 miles away from us.  We go visit her every week but more for our sake than for hers, because she doesn’t know us.

Sorry for my rambling, I just wanted to give a little background about this recipe.  Anyway, here it is:

                                          Ruth’s Beef Burgandy

• 2 pounds beef cubed (about 1 inch cubes)
• 8 small onions peeled and quartered
• 1/4 cup margarine
• 2 cups Burgandy wine  (make sure it is a gluten free variety)
• 1 cup water
• 1 can sliced mushrooms (I don’t like mushrooms so I leave them out)
• reserve the liquid from the mushrooms (if you use them)
• 1  1/2 teaspoons of salt
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 2 Bay leaves
• 2 cloves of Garlic crushed or put through a press

Brown Beef cubes and onions in margarine.  Add wine, water, mushrooms, mushroom liquid, salt, pepper, sugar, bay leaves, and garlic.  Simmer covered for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until meat is tender.  Stirring occationally.*

*If you want to use a slow cooker or crockpot: 

Brown the beef cubes and onions in margarine in a skillet, then transfer to the crockpot and add all the rest of the ingredients and cook on low 8 to 10 hours.

This recipe as is serves 6, but can be easily doubled for larger families.

Serve over either rice or gluten free noodles.

In my opinion, this recipe is better the longer it cooks.  I hope you enjoy it as much as my family does.  Happy Holidays.

Mary Blackburn

Living Gluten Free

10 Tips to a Great Gluten Free Party-Menu Monday

December is all about the holidays.  Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or something else, there are always parties to attend or host.

At my house we celebrate Christmas, and it’s all about the true meaning of Christmas, family and good food.  Christmas eve is a really good meal then off to Christmas Eve services.

Dinner is a nice Beef Burgandy.  What makes it easy is I make it in the crock pot.  That way it takes minimal watching and I can concentrate on other last minute preparations.

Now, how do you make sure the food is something you can eat?  If the celebration is at your house, you need to decide, is everyone eating Gluten Free or is there going to be gluten filled food? 

If there is going to be a combination of gluten filled food and gluten free food make sure you prepare your gluten free food first to avoid cross contamination.  Think about making little signs to place on your buffet in front of gluten free food to keep your gluten free food, gluten free.

What if the party is at someone else’s house?  How can you be sure that there is food there safe for you to eat?

1. Remember you’re the guest.  You want to have fun but you won’t have fun if you’re spending the whole time in the bathroom.
2. Call the hostess.  If you’re not going to a close friend or relative’s house who knows your condition, call and talk with the hostess.  Offer to bring a dish.  If the affair is going to be catered, ask the hostess if she would mind you calling the caterer.  If the caterer can’t give you a list or label the dishes, arrive a few minutes early to speak with the caterer about ingredients in the dishes.
3. Keep in mind the possibility of hidden glutenous ingredients.  Just because something looks safe, doesn’t mean it is.  If you’re not sure of ingredients, ask.  Better safe than sorry.
4. If you don’t have a spouse or significant other, maybe ask a friend to help you keep informed of potential hazardous foods.  Extra eyes, and ears will help to keep you gluten free.
5. Eat before the party.  If you arrive full instead of hungry, you won’t be tempted to eat something you might not eat, if you weren’t hungry.
6. BYO Food.  Bring your own dish to share.  Let the hostess know that you would like to bring a dish.  Make sure it tastes good and will add to the buffet.
7. Try to be first in line.  If food is being served buffet style be first, to avoid cross contamination.  If that’s not an option, ask your hostess if you can prepare a plate ahead of time.  Then eat your plate when everyone else does.
8. Stick to food you know.  Eat foods that you know to be safe.  Avoid no no’s like bread, and pasta, and be aware of marinades, dips, sauces, casseroles, and desserts, unless you made them.
9. Be Gracious.  Thank your hostess for being accomodating.
10. Have Fun.  Remember this is a party.  Keep the above tips in mind and enjoy yourself.

Mary Blackburn

Living Gluten Free

How Ready are you for the Holidays?

I’m sitting here at my computer, listening to Christmas music, and looking at all the snow we got yesterday, a little over 7 inches.  I know, a small amount compared to what some of the further eastern areas received. 

My labrador retriever, Charlie, loves this weather.  He just wants to go outside and play in the snow.  Charlie isn’t 2 years old yet, so if you know anything about labs, you know that they don’t reach maturity until after the age of 2.

My husband is wrapping presents for me, since I am so far behind.  I have had a cold for about 2 weeks now and I think it has developed into a sinus infection.  I’ve had a temperature ranging between 99.2 and 103.4 for the past 3 days, along with a screaming sinus headache.  So I haven’t gotten anything done as far as my baking, or present wrapping done that I was planning on doing yesterday.

So I was just wondering how ready the rest of you are for the holidays?  Is it just me or did they seem to come earlier this year?  Thankfully, this is my off year.  You see, we celebrate Christmas with my side of the family on Christmas Day and my husband, Jim’s side of the family on New Years. 

Every other year the celebrations are at our house.  So this is our off year, we will be travelling to Westmoreland County to my sister’s house Christmas day and then off to the eastern part of Pennsylvania to Gettysburg to my sister-in-law’s farm New Years Day, (weather permitting).

How do you celebrate the holidays at your house?  Tomorrow I’ll be back with some idea’s and tips on traveling and making sure you have some gluten free foods to eat at someone else’s house.

Mary Blackburn

Living Gluten Free

A Gluten Free Free Post

I have been diligently working on a Gluten Free Cookbook that I am hoping  to have  finished and ready for sale in the next week or so.  The recipes are coming along well and I think you will like them.

However today my post has nothing to do with any gluten free products.  I lost my cat, Rocky, today.  Well actually he probably died last night, but I didn’t find him until this morning on my way to work.  You see, I found Rocky dead on the road right in front of my house, this morning.

Let me give you a little background on my Rocky boy.  I live in the country on 10 acres.  Rocky came to us as an almost half dead stray.  He was  malnourished, and could hardly walk.  I nursed him back to health and planned on keeping him as an indoor cat.  Rocky had other ideas. 

Rocky never liked being in the house, except for the short times he came in to be loved, eat, or to sleep off a 3 day disappearence.  I get the feeling that when he disappeared he had another family to visit.

I buried Rocky in the front yard under the American Flag that has been flying there for 6 years, right beside his best bud (another cat) Cry Baby.

Anyway Rocky and Cry Baby are dearly missed and will always hold a spot in my heart.  Tomarrow I’ll be back with more gluten free info for you all.

Mary Blackburn

Living Gluten Free