Celtic Celiac: A Modern Guide to Staying Sane Without Grain

Gluten Free Green Living Tips: Eating Local (with a Glutino English Muffin Review)

noreply@blogger.com (Georgianna Dolan-Reilly) — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 14:00:00 +0000

Spring has finally sprung here on Long Island and I am thrilled beyond belief to finally eat fresh and local. Although we haven't started our garden yet our herb pot is going strong AND our chickens have started laying eggs again, which warrants a mini celebration in and of itself. Yesterday morning we had our first brunch outside of the season. With the chicken's clucking in the background and the warm sun on our faces it was the perfect time to indulge in some of our own 'homesteading' goods, and eggs were obviously on the menu.

We made two egg sandwiches on Glutino's new Multigrain English Muffins. Topped with an egg each (his poached, mine sunny side up) we added a selection of our own freshly grown herbs. My sandwich was bold and vibrant with it's whole leaf purple basil, while Mike's was more subdued with a hint of chives and parsley. Don't they just look delicious?:

The English muffins were phenomenal. I've tried Trader Joe's English Muffins before and have never been impressed, as they lacked that key feature of an English Muffin: Nooks and Crannies. Those were not lacking in these muffins. They were light and airy in the middle, even after toasting, and crunchy on the outside; just what I remember for an English Muffin. They passed the sandwich test, maintaining themselves even under the weight of our massive eggs. They were also fine on their own dipped in some homemade chili, for which we used the Original English Muffins.

Brunches like this remind me why I love eating local. We are truly lucky to have space for our own chickens, herbs, and garden; it's become it's own mini echo system. Our chickens lay eggs, we eat the eggs and use the shells in the garden (or to feed to the chickens for calcium), and the scraps from the garden go to feed the chickens. We also use the chicken waste (i.e. poop) as a fertilizer for the garden, and give to others for the same reason in exchange for other goods, and they cycle keeps going. Our food is flavorful, fresher, and cheaper as a result.

But even if you don't have the space or opportunity to have your own chickens or garden you can still access local foods that will be fresh and flavorful (although not necessarily cheaper). Here's a few tips for accessing local foods, while supporting local business:

Attend Farmer's Markets: For years this has been the go to staple. I can easily visit my farmer's markets throughout the year (winter too) for produce, gluten free pastries, yogurts, flowers, and more. Prices can be a bit steep here, but you can get whatever you want from various local sources. The USDA and Local Harvest each have search engines for markets.
Join a local Community Sustained Agriculture (CSA) group: Another safe go to is a CSA. Local farms set these up to draw in funding for themselves. You give a set amount of money for the season and get weekly produce (usually a selection the farm picks) in return. Again, the USDA and Local Harvest have a database for CSAs.
Check out Farmigo: Get the best of both of the above worlds by getting involved with Farmigo, where you can join other individuals in your area looking to source local goods. Individuals set up food shares in their area out of homes or public buildings, which can be either closed or open to other individuals, and individuals orders are placed each week for goods offered by local businesses (farms, fisheries, small businesses etc.). It is only available in select areas now but it is growing.
Create your own network of food sharing: Want total freedom over what you give and get? Try exchanging with your friends. Just as as an example: as I said above, we exchange chicken poop fertilizer for other goods. How about exchanging some veggies in your garden for some eggs from a friend? Or if you both have gardens grow different items and simply swap!

While eating locally can sometimes be more expensive, I personally find it to be a good sacrifice for bolder fresher flavors and goods. I hope you are enjoying this spring as well as I am! I'm interested to know, what do you do to eat local?

You are the Guardian of Your Guts

noreply@blogger.com (Georgianna Dolan-Reilly) — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 19:04:00 +0000

Today, in preparation of Avengers: Age of Ultron's release May First, we're doing an Avengers Phase Two Marathon. The Movie viewing will show The Avengers, Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: Winter Soldier, Iron Man 3, and Guardians of the Galaxy. We're all set on the gluten free food front because I have awesome friends, but I just had to share some geektactic puns and a friendly reminder.

Only you can be the Guardian of Your Guts, you know what's best for it and you know how to advocate for it. It certainly is hard to get your point across sometimes BUT a little persistence and repetition never hurts even if you are lucky like me and have friends and family that listen and recognize your needs. So say it loud and proud:

I AM GROOT-EN FREE!

If you follow a medically necessary gluten free diet your needs are valid, and you should never let anyone tell you otherwise. Don't be afraid to speak up, or do what you have in order to have some accessible food available while still having fun!

Have a good weekend everyone!

Putting the Adventure in the Gluten Free Journey

noreply@blogger.com (Georgianna Dolan-Reilly) — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 15:15:00 +0000

Our gluten free journey is two fold: It is in and of itself a journey to live life gluten free, and it is something that influences our travel in many ways.

Last week I was told I needed to go to a week long training in Albany for work which was originally declined. There would be no meals served at this training, and the Celiac in me instantly became frantic. What was I going to pack on such short notice? When was I going to have the time to shop for what I need? Would we be able to get a hotel with a continental breakfast? That last one is ALWAYS a point I make for my travels, because if nothing else you at least start the morning out right with fruit and yogurt.

I felt burdened by this last minute change of plans, and by my dietary restrictions that made this process more difficult. I felt limited, and in a complete rut. While I rationalized that my anxiety was of no use in this situation I was still viewing what I needed to get done as added baggage, but this article titled "Five Reasons Coelic Travel is a Pleasure not a Burden" (shared by Gluten Free Globetrotter) set me straight. Although it speaks more about international long term travel the tone of hopefulness is truly what I needed. I specifically related to this piece:

"• The excitement felt when finding gluten free food on the road simply can't be matched by anything. Seriously, who gets to be that ecstatic about food? When I found GF cookies to pack with me on a hike in the mountains, I was smiling for hours, before being gluten free I never reacted like that to a mere cookie."

Rather than view my gluten free lifestyle as a burden, I need to remember to view it as a gift. It gives me a whole new perspective through which to view life and travel, and an entirely new and fun way to relate to strangers. I wouldn't savor food and eat my way through every vacation if it weren't for my diagnosis. Likewise, I wouldn't have discovered as many new foods as I have (such as my love of papadum) nor would I have met so many like minded bloggers who can tell me the best of the best in their areas. So, I started planning this trip through a different set of eyes. I went and searched for non chain restaurants to try and already made a new friend, and packed some new products instead of the same old thing. Honestly, I feel a bit excited about this trip now.

Living gluten free may make the path more difficult, but it makes the journey a true adventure. So, get out there and put your own adventure into your journey whether it is your day to day life or your next trip!

How do you see living gluten free as an adventure?

Taste Guru Gluten Free Subscription Box Review and Bonus Gift Link

noreply@blogger.com (Georgianna Dolan-Reilly) — Sun, 22 Mar 2015 13:15:00 +0000

A Taste Guru gluten free subscription box is a perfect way to get your hands on some new products, and add an element of adventure to your gluten free diet.

Click Here to get your Taste Guru box, including a bonus tote bag gift!

Subscription boxes are kind of a thing in this house. We have a wine club subscription box and get a box of wine every four months, and my husband has a sock of the month club which in and of itself is pretty self exclamatory. Nothing is better than coming home to packages you've received in the mail, it really is like a mini birthday! This is especially the case for this food lover when those packages happen to be food (and/or wine if you live in states like New York that allow that). That's why I love the idea of gluten free subscription boxes, which add the element of surprise to your package deliveries.

Recently I was sent one of those subscription boxes from Taste Guru. Taste Guru offers one of the best deals for the largest variety. A one month subscription is $24, and the price goes down the longer a subscription you purchase. Here's what was included in the box I received:

Wyoming Authentic Jerky stick
Wowbutter sample
Old School Grits bag
Mini Tabasco original
Oven Baked Organics Pancake mix
Boulder Granola, in Cranberry and Chocolate Chunk
Two NoGii D'Lites chocolate minis
Simply 7, one sea salt bag of quinoa chips and one of sea lentil
Funny Face Choo Choo Cherry Cranberries
Delight gluten free magazine

I was impressed with this haul of products, both old and new to me. Tabasco is fabulous, and the mini bottle become my travel hot sauce while it lasted. My two favorite products in this box were the Boulder Chocolate Chunk Granola and the Simply 7 sea salt quinoa chips. The Chocolate Chunk granola was light and refreshing, with the chocolate melting a bit to pull the granola into clusters. I found myself covered in blissfully covered in chocolate, and eating the entire bag in one sitting.

The Quinoa chips were simple and airy; they were a great vesicle for some homemade garlic hummus. I was looking forward to trying the Lentil chips as well, and was disappointed when my husband noticed they weren't completely gluten free. While made with gluten free products, they were processed on shared machinery. Now, given that the box is catered towards people on the gluten free diet for a variety of reasons this cross contamination might not pose a problem for some but it could be for those of us with Celiac Disease. I brought this concern up to Taste Guru, who ensured me they would be take more careful precautions to ensure all items were safe for those of us on a medically necessary diet or mark items more specifically on their products card. This oversight only showed me that Taste Guru is a supportive company willing to make the customer experience the best it can be, even when there is a concern.

So, what did I think overall? Taste Guru's versatile products, reliable low price, positive customer service, and packed to the brim box makes them one of the champs of the gluten free subscription box world. Check them out if you want to see for yourself. If you are interested in getting your own Taste Guru Box Click Here, and with every purchase you'll also receive a bonus tote bag gift. Enjoy your gluten free mail adventure!

Potluck Dinner Club: Pi Day Potluck (with Bonus Artichoke and Jalapeno Savory Pie recipe from Gluten Free Goddess)

noreply@blogger.com (Georgianna Dolan-Reilly) — Sun, 22 Mar 2015 04:08:00 +0000

Pie, who doesn't love it? Or do I mean Pi, the mother of all numbers? My friends and I love both, being the nerdy food lovers that we are, so March's Potluck gathering was in celebration of all things Pie and Pi. Mike and I brought two pies to the table:

Vegan gluten free Shepard's pie made with Bob Red Mill's Textured Vegetable Protein, and perfected with some 'pie crust' patterning.

Gluten free chocolate pudding pie in a homemade graham cracker crust

Some of the other dishes includes: Gluten free pizza, gluten free salmon and asparagus quiche on a potato slice pie crust, gluten free spinach and mushroom quiche, gluten free Irish cream pie, gluten free apple pie, Shepard's tater tot pie, cheesecake, broccoli and cheddar quiche, Artichoke and Jalapeno Savory pie, bacon ham quiche, gourd pie, gluten free blueberry hand pies, apple pie, and chicken pot pies.

One of the favorites of the night was the Artichoke and Jalapeno Savory pie. It was a bit quirky, seeing as it was a pie full of pasta, but everyone found it to be rather full of unique flavor. It wasn't until after the potluck that I found the recipe was from Gluten Free Blogging's very own Gluten Free Goddess. You can find the recipe here:

www.glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/2008/03/artichoke-jalapeo-savory-pie.html

For April we will be doing something a little bit different. Rather than the buffet style potluck we will be trying our hand at a traditional Passover meal. It won't be fully kosher I am sure, but I'm excited to learn about the traditions behind this holiday.

Potluck Dinner Club: Aphrodisiac Party

noreply@blogger.com (Georgianna Dolan-Reilly) — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 03:29:00 +0000

February's Potluck Dinner Club gathering was romantically themed, inspiring everyone to bring their best Aphrodisiac dish or food item. Aphrodisiacs are items that are said to spark sexual arousal in those that consume them, and their 'power' is largely debatable. If familiar at all with aphrodisiacs many people go straight to the absurd (tigers penis or deer antler) and forget some of the more common ones such as honey or chilies.

This potluck was a bit more piecemeal than the others, with more single or simple recipes. Here's a preview of what we had. For those interested I've bolded the aphrodisiac ingredient:

Appetizers: Spinach artichoke dip with corn tortilla; cheese platter with goat cheese, walnuts, honey and beets; slices of avocado; chips with ghost pepper salsa.

Main Dishes: Gluten free pizza (I mean who doesn't LOVE pizza?); gluten free pasta with Basil pesto; salad with strawberries and fennel.

Dessert: Fudge, Red wine infused pears, Mexican Mousse made with avocado, Ice cream bar complete with Neapolitan ice cream, cherries, strawberries, whipped cream, and chocolate syrup.

And of course, everything was topped off with several bottles of red wine. Unfortunately, I failed as host at this party and neglected to get my guest's favorite recipe so I'm leaving you without one. I think you'll do just well enough though with finding your own aphrodisiac food, even if it is gluten free pizza and beer!

Product Review: JK Gourmet Gluten Free Granola and Bites

noreply@blogger.com (Georgianna Dolan-Reilly) — Fri, 06 Mar 2015 17:19:00 +0000

In the gluten free world a good granola is hard to come by, particularly because of the use of oats. Even when you are lucky enough to find a gluten free granola it is often bulging with sugar content, taking away from the natural flavors of the ingredients. JK Gourmet's products are a good alternative to the norm described here. Their wide array of gluten free and grain free granolas and granola bites are naturally sweetened with honey and contain a limited number of wholesome ingredients. Recently I tried two of their products; their Original GG Bites and their Fig and Apricot Granola.

The Original GG Bites are phenomenal. Simple, sweet, and crispy these bites come in a bar like form. This makes them easy to pack and eat, with two small 'bars' being the perfect size for a small snack. I am a lover of sunflower seeds, and having them be the staple in these really sets them above other granola snacks I've tried. Further, the limited ingredient list truly lets the flavors stand out on their own as well as mingle together to create a refreshingly complete snack.

The Fig and Apricot granola was equally as appetizing. The inclusion of ingredients of different sizes, from the whole almonds and large dried fruit bits to the smaller sunflower seeds and sesame seeds, makes for a varying experience that is a bit unique for granola. I am not that big a fan of the dried fruits, but that is my own personal preference. The short list of ingredients is again a benefit for this product. In particular the natural sweeteners are minimal, which makes this a great granola to add to yogurt if you aren't looking for excessive sweetness. I've been eating mine in a homemade parfait of plain Greek yogurt, strawberries, and honey.

Ultimately, JK Granola is a great find. In addition to being gluten free and grain free their granolas are also dairy free, non-GMO, Kosher, and Paleo-Friendly. Their line also includes other gluten free products including flours, baking mixes, biscotti, and bars. Check them out!

Five Years Gluten Free: I'm now a Gluten Free Big Kid!

noreply@blogger.com (Georgianna Dolan-Reilly) — Sun, 01 Mar 2015 13:26:00 +0000

March 1st, 2010

That's the date I started my gluten free life style five years ago today. This anniversary means that I am no longer a gluten free toddler, I get to play with the big kids now! On that date I begrudgingly started my new 'diet' after eating all the gluten in the house, and most of the surrounding vicinity (yes, I know, terrible idea). While I was irritated by this change I wasn't bogged down by the idea of it really, but was rather thrilled by the potential of finally being healthy after years of being sick. I was overwhelmed however with the prospect that this potential rested fully in my hands, that I alone could bring about this health. This reality is at once overwhelming and empowering.

While I do have my down moments where I just want to shove an entire glutenous pizza in my face (or throw it at a wall) I've accomplished much in these past five years. The 'diet' became a life style with the inception of this blog in May 2010, and my acceptance into a Social Work Masters program that same year which showed me the need to embrace all parts of yourself. Here's just a glimpse of the things I've done since going gluten free:

Planned a fully gluten free wedding that was a culinary hit with all the guests.
Tolerated innumerable business and personal meetings where the food focus was glutenous, I hope with minimal irritation directed towards others.
Advocated for youth with food allergies in a social work internship.
Supported the local gluten free community by connecting to my local Gluten Intolerance Group and volunteering at their vendor fairs.
Traveled to Canada, Mexico, and 19 new states.
Learned to really love my food, and to nurture my body through nutrition. Through this I became truly connected to my body by watching how it reacts to different foods, or environments.
Worked with a client transitioning to a gluten free lifestyle as part of a Gluten Free Health Challenge.
Attended at least 5 weddings where my diet was respected and catered to with relative success.
Helped host 20 potlucks with friends (and 5 friend thanksgivings, all taking into consideration the various dietary needs of our diverse group.
Dined safely (with a few exceptions) at more restaurants than I cam remember.

That's a hell of a list of accomplishments, but it wasn't without the bad moments. I can't count the number of times I've gluten myself, whether it was because I was being lax in my questioning or because of another's mistakes. I also can't count the number of times I've cried at the grocery store, or have simply decided to stage my own mini hunger strike and just not eat because I did't have the energy to explain things. Yes our gluten free life style makes things more complicated, but it truly doesn't have to limit your life.

The truth is that going gluten free didn't solve all my problems, but it is the biggest thing I can personally do to keep myself healthy and keep the power in my own hands. Since going gluten free five years ago I've been diagnosed with Asthma, Fibromyalgia, Pre-Diabetes, and am now struggling with a rapid heart rate. While my diet needed more adjustments to address these new concerns, I now find myself in need of treatment with medications. This is new territory for me, but it's another path I'm now more equip to walk down thanks to all that going gluten free has taught me. So, cheers to five years down and many more to go in this growing world of gluten free opportunities!

Gluten Free Points of Interest in the Lake George Area

noreply@blogger.com (Georgianna Dolan-Reilly) — Sat, 21 Feb 2015 19:40:00 +0000

Every year since 2007 I've been heading up to the Chestertown NY area, about half an hour north of Lake George, to stay at a friend's lake house. We go for about a week at a time, and it is probably one of the highlights of every year. Who doesn't love a vacation with friends, especially one's you've grown incredibly close to over the years? Although the faces that go have varied over the years several things remain the same: an absurd shopping spree, swimming, kayaking, hiking, a visit to Bolton Landing, ice cream, Lake George, bon fires, and lots and lots of food.

Over the year's I've become quite comfortable with my group of friends. Our shopping spree has gone from a free for all, to a meticulous planned experience. Our meals are willing revolved around the dietary needs of those that attend, including my gluten free needs. For example, we almost always have a pizza and pasta night as well as a BBQ dinner, and many mornings involve pancakes. It isn't uncommon during these community meals for everyone to eat gluten free. Don't I have the most awesome friends ever? Here's just one example of their awesomeness:

Two gluten free pizzas; Absolutely delicious, and made with love (while drinking a bit of wine and hard cider). All this shopping is done at the local grocery store in Chestertown, NY now a Tops Friendly Market. Now, I had not been gluten free when we started going up there but since that dietary change I've noticed a drastic improvement in the availability of gluten free alternatives in this supermarket. They now have a small gluten free section including breads, pastas, crackers and more. There is also now a Walmart near by in Queensbury NY and obviously, given that they have their own line of gluten free products, there is availability there. This makes bringing my own food up with us less of a requirement.

In addition to our meticulous shopping spree we always make room to do some dining around the area. The Crossroads is a favorite spot for us to hit up for ice cream, especially for my sweet toothed friend who's family property we are staying at. This year I saw a sign that made me absolutely gleeful: They now carried gluten free ice cream cones! Their maple ice cream is to die for, and since it is soft serve cross contamination is limited. They are also a great stop for quick snacks or any fishing or outdoor gear.

The Chestertown Farmer's Market, which happens from June through September, is a great quick stop for fresh produce and other locally made products such as cheeses, gluten free granola and more. It is also right near the town's museum as well as a great low cost thrift store. One of the most interesting finds at the market were these Cuke-o-melons:

Another stop for us is always the Adirondack Winery in downtown Lake George. For under $10 you get to taste 7 of their many wines, and a souvenir wine glass. Their wines are some of the best I've tried, especially their dessert wines. So much so that we even have a quarterly wine club membership with them. Although they don't offer gluten free oyster crackers, they do offer cheese platters that are safe, and all their wines are safe for gluten free consumers.

Bolton Landing is another usually stop for us, and this year I found a few gluten free opportunities there. The Bolton Landing Deli offers only Boars head cold cuts and cheeses, a line which is inherently gluten free, along with gluten free bread for sandwiches. It is a small, though busy, place but it seems they have no problem changing their gloves to prep gluten free sandwiches. Finally, Cate's Italian Garden makes gluten free pizzas which to my amazement were the same size as regular pizzas. They have an entirely different oven, prep station, and set of ingredients for their gluten free pies. I highly recommend checking them out for some safe, delicious pizza in a friendly environment. Please let me know if you have any other Lake George area gluten free points of interest for me to check out this year!

Help tell NASCAR that Eating Gluten Free is not a Weakness

noreply@blogger.com (Georgianna Dolan-Reilly) — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 15:13:00 +0000

This morning a friend texted me a link to this petition put together by Gluten Dude regarding a superbowl commercial put together by NASCAR for NBC. The advertisement says:

"America. It's time for a gut check. If the founding father's saw us huddled in our cocoons texting each other smiley faces they'd hand their powdered wigs in shame. When our idea of danger is eating gluten there's trouble afoot. Yes, we the people have gotten soft and all the likes in the world aren't going to save us now. But one thing will, and it rhymes with Mascar."

Needless to say this was not the best way to start my morning, I was fuming with agitation. I hate seeing gluten free get bad publicity, and I especially hate when it is associated with a sign of weakness. At best this commercial is tasteless, at it's worst it is hurtful. AND it isn't even coherent. What the hell does my diet have anything to do with NASCAR?

My immune system and digestive track may make my life difficult but eating gluten free is NOT my weakness, it is in fact my salvation. It is the only reason that I am currently healthy and sane, and that is the case for over 6% of the population in the USA who have Celiac Disease, Gluten Intolerance, or Wheat Allergies. This doesn't even include others who BENEFIT from a gluten free diet for other conditions such as arthritis and hashimoto's disease, people made healthier by cutting out gluten. For people like me and those above gluten really is a HUGE danger, so no eating gluten free does not make me or them soft.

My weakness is in fact other people: The friends that tell me I'll be fine if I just eat a little, the servers that don't take my pleas for safe food seriously at restaurants, the strangers that mock me unknowingly saying that no one really has to eat gluten free and everyone doing so it just looking to drop weight or for attention. It's the ignorance displayed by individuals that are fed nonsense like this advertisement through the media, and the media that continues to perpetuate that stigma.

Yes many people flock to gluten free diets for medically unnecessary reasons, and that in part makes those of us on medically necessary gluten free diets have a harder time, but so what? Why should it be the butt of a joke that continues to leave us taken less seriously? I'm all for freedom of speech, but when the media continues to misinform something needs to be done. So, I'd like to thank Gluten Dude for putting this petition together for us gluten free folks. Let's give NASCAR and NBC our all and tell them that eating gluten free is not a weakness. I signed, and I hope you will to.

Why I Hate the South: Gluten Free Pizza at Mellow Mushroom is too Damn Good

noreply@blogger.com (Georgianna Dolan-Reilly) — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 02:34:00 +0000

I'm a New York girl through and through, and we are known food wise for two things: Pizza and Bagels. I never cared so much about bagels, but to this day nearly 5 years after going gluten free I can't be near a regular pizza without wanting to devour it and/or weep. I'll even open my windows if I'm carrying a glutenous pizza to a party or something so as to not be enveloped in the smell. Regardless of the temperature. Gluten free pizza from a restaurant just gets old sometimes, as most companies use the same 10 inch rice flour pizza and you can be limited on your 'safe' toppings options. That's why I was extremely disappointed in what NY had to offer as far as gluten free pizza is concerned when I came across Mellow Mushroom.

Mellow Mushroom, a chain of restaurants located primarily below the Mason-Dixon line features salads, hoagies (sandwiches), calzones, and pizza. They are MOST well know for their unique twists on traditional pizza toppings, several of which are available on their in house made gluten free crust. In addition, the crust is also vegan and they offer dairy free cheese! So if you are vegan or avoid milk, keep reading!

I first caught a bite to eat at their Bowling Green Kentucky location last winter, and that's when the 'addiction' started. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable, and the pizza... well the pizza was the first gluten free pizza I got from a restaurant that was FOLDABLE. And it tasted phenomenal. Oh my freaking god I was excited. We ordered two pizzas: The Kosmic Karma (Red sauce base with feta and mozzarella cheeses, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes and Roma tomatoes with a pesto swirl) and Gourmet white (Olive oil and garlic base with sun-dried tomatoes, Provolone, feta and mozzarella cheeses, Roma tomatoes and onions).The pizza had a thicker crust that was crunchy on the outside but soft in the center, a perfect NY pie. The two types of tomatoes on each pizza really added depth in flavor, and the pesto was amazing! I was instantly hooked.

Once more on that road trip we stopped to get our fix at the Durham North Carolina location. We were met with equally fantastic service and food, this time the plain pizza and the Veg Out veggie pie. This location had an added bonus of designated gluten free plates and a newer pie crust that was even thicker than the last. Apparently the company was rolling out a new recipe for their dough at this point (January 2014).

Back in the north I spent several weeks ranting and raving about Mellow Mushroom until I got my fix again in February at one of their Tampa Florida locations and again in April at their Adams Morgan location in Washington DC. Tampa had another bonus, as they offered a few of their appetizers that used pizza crust in gluten free varieties, however neither of these had the newer crust from the Durham location so I was a bit disappointed. I must have posted enough instagram photos of my Mellow Mushroom adventures at this point though because they reached out to me offering a free pizza. On learning I was from New York they offered to send me a gift card instead, which I greedily kept in my wallet until just last week when I visited their New Orleans Louisiana location. Even after a 8 month hiatus the pizza was still as good, although the gluten free menu remained the same and the 'new' crust from Durham was still no where to be found. They also didn't offer any gluten free appetizers with the crust.

All in all Mellow Mushroom is a great chain if you are looking for some gluten free pizza. Each restaurant, although they had varying procedures, did ensure my safety from cross contamination and I never had a reaction. What I liked most about Mellow though is that each restaurant had its own character, unlike many chains where the layout may differ but the decor is a carbon copy. Whether it was funky tie-dye decor, colorful 70s motifs or woodsy theme each design was creative and fun. I look forward to my next Mellow Mushroom experience, and thank the south for making a gluten free girls Pizza dreams!

Winners: Celtic Celiac Holiday Bundles

noreply@blogger.com (Georgianna Dolan-Reilly) — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 16:35:00 +0000

It is officially 2015. It still sounds surreal to say... I hope everyone had a good holiday season, and that you are settling back into a 'normal' schedule for the beginning the year! Thanks to everyone who entered my Holiday giveaway, there were over 125 entries. I was excited to host a personal giveaway and I thought these bundles were great so I am happy you all agreed! The two winners are:

Kerrie R.

Jennifer C.

You've both been messaged directly for your mailing address. Once I have that your bundles will be mailed out! Thanks again to all that entered, and a healthy and happy New Year to all of you.

A Homemade Christmas: 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Georgianna Dolan-Reilly) — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 17:29:00 +0000

Each Christmas it seems that I become more and more 'domesticated' for lack of better word, although I personally like to call it awesome. As I grow older more and more homemade cookies and goodies get made to bring to the various places I do during the holiday season, and Mike and I start incorporating more homemade gifts. This year I might have over done it a little bit, as I was trying to keep my spirits up with the momentum of holiday cheer. You can get into a groove baking cookies, wrapping gifts, cleaning, shopping, and decorating for the holidays and it certainly takes a bit of the stress away if you do so without having a major break down over how much you have to do. I averted the major breakdown this year, although there were a few minor melt downs, so I would say I was successful. Here's a quick recap of this years key homemade moments:

Jules' Gluten Free Sugar Cookies: Colorful and fun! Mike made these around midnight one night when I was exceptionally grumpy and couldn't sleep, helping him out cheered me right up!

Chocolate Bark: These were a reword of some 2010 recipes, and were also made to honor m brother. We made peanut butter cup bark, walnut bark, and peppermint bark.

Gluten Free Oreo Truffles: This is another 2010 recipe, but it has become an extended family favorite. I never said we were that healthy around the holidays!

Almond Crescents: This is a recipe passed down from my grandmother, and one that I rarely seem able to get right...

FAIL

This year however I was successful by using some random mixture of confectioners sugar and regular sugar in each batch, god only knows what the exact measurements were but they were surely potentially diabetes inducing and freaking addictive.

Christmas Crack: Making this indulgent snack for my floor at work was a last minute decision, and probably took the least amount of time. I used the recipe shared by I'm a Celiac but used cinnamon and rice chex. I also gave each of my direct colleagues a bag of the homemade cookies.

Homemade Lavender and Pine Candles: This year we also tried out hand at candle making for the first time. It was actually pretty quick and fun!

And the packaging was mason jar fantastic!

Finally no holiday season can be complete without having some non handmade snacks on hand for when all the cookies have been handed out. Udi's Snicker Doodle Cookies and Glutino's Peppermint yogurt Pretzels were two great snacks that got us through a few games of Cards Against Humanity with friends.

Holiday Eats, Drinks, Merriment, and Udi's Love!

noreply@blogger.com (Georgianna Dolan-Reilly) — Fri, 19 Dec 2014 14:34:00 +0000

As you've probably seen if you follow me on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook I've been participating in Udi's #EatDrinkBeMerry event this holiday season and I hope you have or will too! In exchange for spreading word of their colossally awesome giveaway, and sharing some of my own favorite Eats, Drinks, and Merriments, I was sent an equally wonderful set of their new and favorite products. Here's just a peak at the freezeable portion of their generosity:

The packaged were so brimming with product that my pantry and freezer couldn't even fit all the goodies, so needless to say there's been much consuming of this goodness. My favorite product so far? Their NEW Bean and Green Chili Burrito. It was the perfect balance of cheesy goodness and starchy fullness, with a great subtle spicy taste to boot. I am MOST excited about trying their French Baguettes. I haven't had a huge loaf like that since going gluten free almost 5 years ago. I used to absolutely love those huge garlic and mozzarella bread baguette loaves you could buy prepackaged at the store, so I see an Italian night with garlic bread in my future.

So, how could you win big from Udi's? It's simple: Just share your favorite Eats, Drinks, or Merriments with them via their contest entry form. You could also share your favorites with the hashtag #EatDrinkBeMerry via twitter or instagram. Here's some examples of how I've been using the hastag to share my favorites.

Favorite Eats: Chocolate Bark. It's so versatile, and easy to make! It also reminds me of my childhood, the second apartment I lived in with my husband, and my brother Tom who passed away suddenly last christmas Eve. I've been making huge patches this year of various barks.

Favorite Drinks: Apple Cider. I love it mulled, spiked, sparkling, hard, and regular. I even add ice cream to it AND bake with it. It's an all around wonderful drink.

Favorite Merriments: I didn't share this one on instagram but the thing that makes me happiest during the holiday seasons is long standing traditions with friends and family. For 12 years I've been meeting with my high school friends the day after Thanksgiving, so that's a big tradition that I adore.

How about you? What are your favorite ways to celebrate the holiday season with food, drink, or merriment? I'd love to hear, and Udi's will give you the chance to win over 600 prizes (including 100 packs of goodies similar to the one I received) if you share with them as well. So, #EatDrinkBeMerry and Happy Holidays!

Thanksgiving: On Giving Thanks to Those Passed

noreply@blogger.com (Georgianna Dolan-Reilly) — Fri, 19 Dec 2014 02:40:00 +0000

It's the week before Christmas, and I'm only just getting to my thanksgiving recap, but I figured it could possibly give you come Hanukkah or Christmas inspiration. It's been hard to write about the holiday season this year, every word and action reminds me of my brother Tom and his passing suddenly last Christmas eve. But I've been practicing mindfulness, trying to slow down, and trying to do little things that honor him.

Many of the ways I've been remembering him have been through cooking and food, and there were a few dishes I made for Thanksgiving for that exact reason. Let's recap my contributions to our meal:

Appetizer: Aside from myself, Tom was the only other food experimenter in my family. He loved sushi, and loved trying new and unique recipes. One of my favorite thanksgiving memories involves Jule's Butternut Squash soup. I made it several years ago and my brother raved about it for ages, so long as to even bring it up again last year. Unfortunately, Thanksgivings since that year haven't allowed for soup so I was never able to make it for him again. This year I made it, in his name so to speak, and even found another use for it: Make it think and it's a PERFECT gravy for potatoes and turkey!

Main Course: My brother spent a portion of his time living down south, meaning that he had a taste for anything cornbread related. Last year and this year I made Glutino's Gluten Free Cornbread Stuffing. I love the stuff in it's buttery delicious goodness. We all gobbled it down, and Tom would have been proud.

Dessert: I made two desserts for Thanksgiving, the Snowman Buttons (Sugar Cookies with pink sugar sprinkles), and the Gooey Chocolate Merry Mint brownies. I found the dough of the Snowman buttons hard to work with, even with sprinkling lots of flour on the surface I was working on and my hand it was incredibly sticky. However, they baked evenly and tasted great!

The mint brownies were moist and very minty, they tasted like york peppermint patties to me. A great treat! I just wish they had been a bit thicker. The taste of mint is another reminder of my brother, one very bittersweet.

**Please Note: The above Glutino Products were provided to me by Glutino as part of their Very Important Gluten-Free Blogging Community (VIGFB) Campaign. However, the review reflects my own thoughts and tastes and was in no way influenced by this partnership.**

Giveaway: Win One of Two Celtic Celiac Holiday Bundles

noreply@blogger.com (Georgianna Dolan-Reilly) — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 01:58:00 +0000

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!

I'm giving away some gluten free loot, and you could be one of two winners! Through out the year I pile up some great products and coupons from faithful gluten free companies, and this year was no exception. To celebrate the holidays I've put together two identical prize packs of my favorite gluten free items including all the below goodies:

The Ultimate Gluten Free Living Guide from Columbia University's Celiac Disease Center: Full of tips for living a great gluten free life, great for the newer or veteran Celiac.

One free Udi's product coupon: Get your #EatDrinkBeMerry on by winning a free product from Udi's. Might I suggest their Cinnamon rolls or Brownie bites? YUM!

One free Rudi's product coupon: Grab yourself a free product from Rudi's. Deli style bread anyone?

A Triumph Dining Gluten Free dining card: Make ordering gluten free in a restaurant easier by using this card from Triumph Dining that does all the explaining for you, it's even laminated!

A 'Love Yourself' sticker: Okay, this isn't gluten free related but it is a great reminder we all need, especially when sometimes out body tends to fight itself.

A Steadfast pin: From a newer gluten free beer company by the same name, this pin is reminder to remain unwavering in your trek towards optimal health.

What better way to start your new year than with some free noms, increased knowledge and support, and a reminder to love yourself and your journey? Entries will be accepted until December 31st 2014. Please be sure to include your email address, I'll be emailing the two winners by January 3rd!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Potluck Dinner Club: Spanish Night (With Bonus Chocolate Truffle Recipe)

noreply@blogger.com (Georgianna Dolan-Reilly) — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 15:11:00 +0000

November's Potluck Dinner Club theme was foods from Spain, not to be confused with Spanish foods from Latin America and other Spanish speaking regions. Although the distinction threw a few people off, the final product was a delicious array of foods that were ENTIRELY GLUTEN FREE. AND it was an informal three course meal.

The Starters:

Manchego with grapes, a traditional Spanish dish. They even have a phrase that means "uvas con queso saben a beso", which translates to "Grapes with cheese taste like a kiss". I think manchego is beautiful, as it has a lovely pattern on the rind due to the way it is wrapped to age.

The Main Course:

Dishes included Papas bravadas (fried potato pieces with a spicy garlic and tomato dipping sauce, Gazpacho, Marinated manchego with rosemary and olive oil, Shrimp with garlic, Tuna with potatoes, onions, and peppers, and prawns wrapped in bacon.

All of this was also paired with several drinks including wine from spain, homemade sangria with pineapple, lemons and organices, and horchata (a Spanish rice drink).

The Dessert:
The dessert was only one dish, but that was absolutely enough. These decadent truffles were a flavorful favorite for the crowd, and I've shared the recipe below.

Spanish Chocolate Truffles
Recipe provided by my friend Carolyn

Ingredients

1 cup heavy cream

9 oz gluten free chocolate chips

flaky sea saltOlive oil
4. Ball the chocolate into about 16 balls, most easily done by using a melon baller.

Directions

1. Heat the cream to a simmer in a small pot.

2. Pour over the chocolate in a separate bowl and let it sit for a few minutes.

3. Slowly stir until the chocolate melts, cover and let cool in the fridge for an hour.

5. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt.

6. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve, drizzle a little olive oil over each when ready to serve.

Simple and delicious!

The next potluck is going to be Hanukkah themed, and although I'm not going to be making it I am sure the food will be great!

Food Blogger Secret Santa 2014!

noreply@blogger.com (Georgianna Dolan-Reilly) — Sun, 30 Nov 2014 18:06:00 +0000

One of my favorite food bloggers is Marlow over at Gluten Hates Me. She's a southern girl with an honest and wonderful written voice, and she holds one of the best holiday blogger events: The Food Blogger Secret Santa. She's done it for three years straight, but his year Marlow is pregnant and preparing for the new addition to her family. Holding the event just simply isn't possible for her this year BUT that doesn't mean the event has to end.

Instead, after speaking to her I've decided that I would host this years event (albeit a bit short notice). So how do you get involved?

Simply email me at CelticCeliac(at)gmail.com with your name, shipping information, blog name, and dietary restrictions by Sunday December 7th.

I'll then randomly pair bloggers together and will email each of you with the contact details of your giftee on December 8th.

Gifts should total around $25, and they don't necessarily have to be food related. Finally, gifts must be mailed by December 17th.

Easy right? And totally fun! Last year was the first year I participated. Here was part of last year's gift:

These chocolates were amazing, and gluten free! I sent my giftee a tea kit including mug, infuser, and several allergy friendly loose teas from a local tea shop. The possibilities are endless!

I love this idea because it really pulls us food bloggers closer together, and gives us a fun way to show our appreciate for everyone's work. So, if you are interested just email me by Sunday December 7th with your name, contact details, blog name, and dietary restrictions. From there I'll get you paired up and you can be on your way to shopping and sending your gift out by December 17th!

I hope you'll join us!

***Open to United States Bloggers Only**

CC's Gluten Free Holiday Gift Guide 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Georgianna Dolan-Reilly) — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 04:41:00 +0000

It's that time of year again, the holidays are upon us (as is the incessant holiday music). So, it's time for some gift giving ideas for that gluten free or otherwise food restricted person in your life. Hell, even a foodie might love these ideas. REMEMBER: Speaking from experience I say try your best not to default to food items specifically, try to think outside the gluten free pasta box and think of ideas that will make their life more fun and easy! For more ideas check out my lists from 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 for some further ideas.

Books

- Flavor Bible- I LOVE this book. The book looks at every ingredient or cuisine imaginable and tells you what goes best with it, as recommended from chef's around the country. It also tells you the season, tasting notes, and other information. It's perfect for the home cook, especially someone who is beginning to rely more on home cooked meals and is looking to add some experimenting to their list. (~25$)

-Thug Kitchen- This book is a bit vulgar, but is certainly something to consider if you need a little crass humor. Learn to cook without any frills, and with a bit of curse words. From what I've seen so far most of the recipes can be modified to be gluten free. (~15$)

- The Lagasse Girls- Yes those Lagasse Girls, the daughters of famous chef Emeril. After learning they needed to elimate gluten Emeril's daughters created this book by taking some american favorites and made them perfectly gluten free for the home cook. (~20)

- Gluten Freedom- Written by one of the top Celiac Disease researchers, Alessio Fasano, this was one of my favorite reads of the year, and I'm happy to put it on this list. This is a great find for someone on the 'newer' spectrum of the gluten free life style or anyone considering a gluten free diet. It is full of up to date research, facts, recipes, and tips for leaving the best gluten free life. (~20)

- 2015 Gluten Free Buyers Guide - This guide rounds up the best gluten free products on the market based on the Gluten Free Awards from GFreek. The best of categories range from brews to bagels to munchies! (~10$)

Kitchen Gadgets

-Tim3 Machin3- First off let me say that this is a time sensitive purchase expiring in 15 days (December 10th)! This is basically a rice cooker on steroids capable of doing so much more than just cooking rice. There's a button for quinoa, homemade yogurt, oatmeal, steaming, and so much more. (Price varies depending on your pledge level)

- Popcorn Machine- Air popped popcorn is a healthy snack, and a flavorful one if you add your own seasonings. My air popped popcorn maker is one of my most used kitchen gadget, I use it at least once a week to make popcorn in flavors such as curry, garlic and Parmesan, and cajun. Pair it with some gluten free popcorn kernals and you've got a goodie bag. I use this popper. (price varies)

- Tardis Tea Infuser- Tea is another one of my go to gluten free comfort foods, if you can find a gluten free brand. This infuser both meets my need for tea AND my need for geeking out over Doctor Who. I'm sure you know a Doctor Who fan, but if you don't there are a variety of fun tea infusers out there! (~20$)

- Canning Set- Canning is a GREAT way to ensure your food is gluten free, since you know exactly what's going into it. It's also a fun things to do, and is a perfect way to save food that might otherwise go to waste. I've been loving it this year, so if you know someone who enjoys cooking and wants to dabble in some more extensive experimenting. (~ 130$)

Gluten Free Cosmetics and Accessories

- Red Apple Lipstick Products- Finding safe cosmetics is HARD! But, this line of cosmetics (lipstick, eyeliner, mascara, eyeshadow, lip gloss, exfoliates and other beauty items) is free of typical harmful toxins found in cosmetics as well as gluten, soy, corn, and dairy. (price varies)

- Celiac Disease Bracelet- Looking for a gift that gives back? Try one of these Bracelets from Eden Stones. They make nine handmade 'Celiac Sister Sets', each of which is made of semi precious stone beads and a silver wing pendant. A percentage of each purchase go towards the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University. (~40-45$)

- Celiac and The Beast Swag- For some perfect gluten free themed t-shirts, sweat shirts, and other swag consider checking out Celiac and the Beast's line of goodies. She's fantastic, and so are her items with their skull and wheat design (oh an cupcakes!). Her book that came out last year is also worth checking out for it's honesty and humor! (price varies, ~15-50$)

Subscriptions

- Cuisine Cube- For an interesting twist on the staple gluten free food gift consider purchasing a Cuisine Cube subscription for your gift receiver. Several safe products will be sent each month for either one month, three months, or six months. It's a great way to get to know some new gluten free products. (~30-35$)

- Living Without's Gluten Free & More Magazine- This is a great gift for anyone living a food restrictive life. It focuses on the strength and positive aspects of living an allergen free life and offers recipes, positive stories, helpful substitution tips, product reviews, and much more. There is also a recipe index that tells guides you through which recipes are free of what allergens. You can also purchase back orders and special editions. (~6-42$)

- Gluten Free Works Health Recovery- This online guide is a one stop reference guide for gluten free research, lifestyle tips, professional recommendations for health and wellbeing (going indepth on gluten related disorders), and other life style tips. A subscription allows you full access to all the materials, including printable items. (~20$ per year)

Pour The Core Year Two: A Review

noreply@blogger.com (Georgianna Dolan-Reilly) — Sat, 15 Nov 2014 02:00:00 +0000

Back in October, I attended this year's Pour the Core event at Peconic Bay Winery for the second year in a row. Last year's event added several new ciders to my repertoire, so I was thrilled to again attend this year's gluten free friendly event. As with last year each ticket holder who wasn't a DD received a tasting cup with a 2oz pour line, and was welcome to taste any of the ciders available from over 30 companies. Unlike last year, I got to be a server for several minutes while one of the vendors rushed to give something to someone! It was entertaining!

While many of the good old reliable brands were present (WoodChuck, Angry Orchard, Scrumpy, etc.) what thrilled me most of all about this year's vendors was the number of smaller cideries represented, especially those that were local. Apparently Long Island is becoming a bit of a cider making mecha, with many individual cideries popping up and wineries taking on the challenge of making cider. So for my review, rather than share everything that was there, I'm going to share the Long Island Local ciders as well as my top three new favorite ciders and three least favorite. I hope this helps you find a great new cider to add to your list for imbibing!

Long Island Local

Defining something as local has always been a tricky thing for me, since I live on an island (albeit a relatively connected island thanks to bridges). So, I usually go with the 'locovore' definition of local, that is anything made or grown within 100 miles. Here were some of the local cideries featured at this event:

Woodside Orchards- Located out east on the Island this company makes four styles of cider, as well as a limited edition fall cider that is pumpkin spiced flavored.

Standard Cider Company- This company is a genuine local company. They grow their apples in the Hudson Valley, and mill their ciders on Long Island. In 'mom and pop' style their were offering their tastings right out of their truck! No Website available.

Leib Cellar's Rumor Mill- This local winery, like many others, is making a move into the cider business. So far they only make one cider, which comes in a larger bottle worth sharing.

Bad Seed Cider- This company is just out of the 100 mile range (111 miles) but is still worth mentioning.

I'll also add that while they weren't present at this event Wolffer Estates winery makes GREAT cider, their being my favorite. I love everything about this one from the taste to the packaging! Hopefully they'll attend next year's event.

The Top Three New Favorites

New is the key word here, as I want to Highlight some of the new to me flavors, and not my favorite stand bys. I will say my favorites are still Ciderboys, Strongbow, Angry Orchard, and Wood Chuck Ciders but these newbies are certainly contending for the role:

Pure Cider- Produced by Possmann in Germany, this was hands down the favorite cider of my entire group. They offered a tasting of their traditional cider and mulled cider. There was no messing around here... at all... The ciders had no hint of excessive flavoring or sugar that other brands have, or awkward after tastes. The mulled cider was our favorite of the two. Spiced with nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves it tasted exactly like an apple pie even when chilled so I cannot imagine how great it tastes when warmed as suggested. It would be great for baking I am sure!

Downeast Cider House- This company out of Massachusetts had three ciders available: Honey, original, and cranberry. These flavors were bold and bright, without leaving a lingering flavor on your tongue. Specifically, I loved the honey cider because it tasted exactly like mead (something I've missed since the local mead company closed). Overall they were clean tasting ciders with full bodies without the nagging after tastes.

Standard Cider Company- A local company, this vendor offered 3 flavors straight out of the back of their SUV which included: True Beliver (Sparking), True Companion (Ginger), and True Thirst (Dry). The ciders came in larger share-worthy bottles and the servers were doing a bit of mix and matching at their station. The best pairing had to be their dry cider missed with spiced wine. It was a unique flavor that was very holiday friendly. The ginger was also good, having a bit of a kick to it of natural tasting ginger. It would be a prefect cider to pair with some Asian food. No website was available.

Three Least Favorite

The below ciders just didn't cut it for me, whether it was the entire selection those brands had to offer or a specific cider in their line.

Harpoon- This cider is made by the well know brewing company Harpoon Brewing, and they had a tasting of their plain cider available at this event. From the first sip to the after taste I was just turned off. The cider tasted like beer, a gluten filled beer. One would assume that this might bedue to cross contamination, but the company claims the product has been tested to be under the 20ppm threshold. This isn't on I would be buying again.

Ace Pineapple- Ace's had a variety of their ciders available for sampling, including my least favorite of the entire event: Their Pineapple cider. Now, I am sure I didn't like this due to my own personal tastes. I do not enjoy fake pineapple flavoring, and usually not pineapple itself. To be a bit generic I found this cider too 'tropical'. It just didn't sit well with me as a cider.

Maeloc- Maeloc is an organic cider from Spain which recently became available in the USA. Being organic and made with no added sugar I was looking forward to this, but was truly disappointed. Samples of their strawberry and sweet organic ciders were available, and I found both to fall flat. They were limited in taste and sweet, each having a unsatisfying and lingering after taste.

Overall, I loved the variety that was offered at this year's event! It grew from last year, and offered a diverse variety of products from local to foreign. It was also great to see the strong presence of local brewers, and of course have a variety of seasonal tastes that rock your socks.

Best of all though I am happy to see the creativity of these cider companies. The mixing and matching of different ciders as well as ciders with wine, Champagne, and other beverages really takes cider to the next level and shows it's versatility. I have several mixed drinks in mind for the holiday season thanks to this event, and I can't wait to attend next years!

Potluck Dinner Club: Autumn Harvest Potluck (with bonus Pumpkin PieCheesecake Dip)

noreply@blogger.com (Georgianna Dolan-Reilly) — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 01:15:00 +0000

October's Potluck was in honor of the harvest season, that time of year when there's so much to eat you couldn't imagine eating it all. When you stock up on hearty food for your own winter fuel, and stuff your pantry with canned goods (if your lucky). AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY MAGICAL!

The dishes were heavy in the apple and pumpkin arena, but is that really all that bad? Here's the menu of what our friend's thought screamed autumn:

Appetizers/Main Dishes/Drinks: vegetarian chili, pumpkin black bean soup, mulled cider, caramel apple sangria, pumpkin dip with apples and food should taste good chips, yams with marshmallows, butternut squash and black bean toquitos, rice, and black beans cooked with sausage.

Dessert: caramel and chocolate covered apples dipped in sprinkles/nuts/coconut, gluten free chocolate cake with sprinkles, gluten free apple pie, gluten free pumpkin cupcakes with cinnamon cream cheese icing, and baked apples.

The top dish of the night without question had to be the Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake dip. Originally from The Glowing Fridge this recipe is both gluten free and vegan. I've pasted it below:

Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Dip

INGREDIENTS

1 cup raw cashews

1 can puréed pumpkin

1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon almond milk

1/4 cup pure maple syrup

2 tablespoons raw cane sugar (or any sugar)

1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon cinnamon

INSTRUCTIONS

In a food processor, pulse the cashews until they become finely chopped. Transfer to a blender and the rest of the ingredients. Blend until smooth and creamy. Transfer to a small bowl and serve with apples, graham crackers, chocolate, cookies, or even celery. You could also use this dip as a topping to your favorite ice cream. The possibilities are endless.

Recipe from: http://www.theglowingfridge.com/pumpkin-pie-cheesecake-dip/

Potluck Dinner Club: Garlicy Potluck (with bonus Garlicy Goat Cheese Beets)

noreply@blogger.com (Georgianna Dolan-Reilly) — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 02:58:00 +0000

September's potluck ingredient of choice was garlic, one of my favorite ingredients! Garlic or garlic salt goes on basically everything I make, but I had my eyes set on one particularly missed food as my contribution to the potluck: Garlic Knots. Having not had a garlic knot since 2010 I didn't have high hopes for these, but I definitely underestimated things.

Using Gluten Free Mama's Pizza Crust Mix I took two recipes, the first from the Heavy Weight Runner and the second from Silvana's Kitchen, and combined them to make my knots. I mainly used ingredients from both and the recipe from the second, and the outcome was fantastic. They went faster than I was able to get seconds!

But the goodness didn't stop there. Other dishes included: garlic hummus with chips, chicken thighs with garlic and lemon, kale with garlic and tomatoes, garlicy goat cheese beets, Brussels sprouts with garlic aioli dipping sauce, spinach artichoke dip with chips and bread, two types of garlic bread, garlic ice cream, chocolate dipped garlic pasta with garlic cauliflower Alfredo, sautéed mushrooms and garlic. Just look at these full plates (yes plates, I started with having second on stand by):

So freaking good, and worth the bad breath! My friends and I decided that the garlicy goat cheese beets were the perfect recipe to share due to their "flavor versus effort ratio". Check out the recipe below!

Garlicy Goat Cheese Beets
(Personal recipe shared by my friend Vicki!)

Ingredients:

1 bunch beets

6 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon olive oil

6 oz goat cheese (plain)

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Cut the beets from their greens and wrap each beet individually in tin foil. Place beets on a baking sheet and roast for 1 to 1.5 hours.

2. Once beets are roasted set aside to cool. Meanwhile, mince the garlic cloves.

3. When beets are cool rub them in their tinfoil to remove the skins. This prevents the usual stain to your hands (for the most part).

4. Next, chop the beets and place in a bowl.

5. Add garlic, goat cheese, olive oil, and balsamic. Mix thoroughly until well combined.

6. Salt and pepper to taste.

7. Enjoy!

Product Review: Glutino's Gluten Free Pretzel Chips

noreply@blogger.com (Georgianna Dolan-Reilly) — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 21:06:00 +0000

To savor the last bit of warmth up here in the Northeast some of my family scheduled a get together yesterday in Connecticut. We planned to stuff ourselves silly while sitting on my Uncle's deck, and Mike and I were in charge of bringing garlic knots and some homemade hummus with dippers. I figured this was the perfect time to get some non gluten free opinion on this month's Glutino Product: Gluten Free Pretzel Chips.

My family consists of many lovers of salty and crunchy food, so pretzels have always been a hit, and these were no exception. Crisp and thin these pretzel chips are the perfect vessel for hummus, and they aren't too dry or overly salty. In a span of less than half an hour we devoured the entire bag, and had very little hummus left for the veggies. Although I hate the statement "this can't be gluten free, it's so good!", it is nice to get that sort of reaction some time and this was a product that got such a response!

**Please Note: This product was provided to me by Glutino as part of their Very Important Gluten-Free Blogging Community (VIGFB) Campaign. However, the review reflects my own thoughts and tastes and was in no way influenced by this partnership.**

Food Should Taste Good Giveaway Winners

noreply@blogger.com (Georgianna Dolan-Reilly) — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 19:32:00 +0000

My Labor Day Food Should Taste Good Giveaway wrapped up this morning, and the winner and runner up have been picked! There was a grand total of 324 entries!

The Grand Prize Winner is Jeffrey L.,

and the Runner Up is Kailey.

Congratulations again! I've emailed you both for your contact details. Thanks again to everyone who entered and shared their favorite flavor combinations. I'm so happy so many follow along with my blog and love what I have to offer!

Potluck Dinner Club: Vegan Adventure Potluck (With Bonus Apple CurrySoup!)

noreply@blogger.com (Georgianna Dolan-Reilly) — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 21:10:00 +0000

After a year of successful potlucks which catered to needs of myself and other dietary restricted friends we decided to throw a curve ball into our potlucks and make things a bit more interesting by hosting an entirely vegan potluck. Luckily many of our friends were up for the challenge, and I would honestly say that it was one of our most successful potlucks yet, and one of the tastiest. Here's a sneak peak of some of the dishes:

The Menu included: garlic hummus with crackers and veggies; massaged kale with tomatoes, corn and avocado; Mexican quinoa, mashed potatoes; bruschetta; pasta with sauce and vegetable; mango and jalapeño salad; black quinoa with nuts and blackberries; eggplant Parmesan; potato samosas; curried apple soup; rice balls; and vegan cookies.

Everything was fantastic, and eating so many natural foods left me feeling refreshed and full rather than weighed down and exhausted. Just look at these happy faces!

For the recipe to share with you my friends suggested one of the simpler dishes, Curried Apple Soup. Please enjoy the recipe below which was modified by a friend from a recipe which included chicken.

CURRIED APPLE SOUP

Ingredients:

2 apples (peeled cored and cut into cubes)

1 onion, cubed

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

Vegetable Stock, approximately 32 oz

2 Tbsps. gluten free flour

1 tsp. curry powder

Directions:

1. In a 2 qt. pot sauté onions in olive oil until golden brown.

2. Add apples and continue until the apples are lightly softened.

3. Add stock and bring to a boil.

4. When stock is at a low boil add flour and curry powder. Blend thoroughly.

5.When apples are soft remove from heat and serve.

6. Eat soup and Sign contentedly