My GF Life

The Gluten-Free Way: My Way on NOOK

2012-01-25T20:38:00.000-08:00

I am happy to announce that the book that I coauthored and published in 2009, The Gluten-Free Way: My Way is now on the NOOK!

This has been in the works for quite sometime and I'm happy that time is here!

Check it out at:

http://www.theglutenfreewaymyway.com/2012/01/gluten-free-way-my-way-on-nook.html

2011 Our Holidays in Review

2012-01-11T22:07:00.000-08:00

Holidays can be good, bad, or horrible when it comes to making sure that gluten is not in the food.

We had a great Thanksgiving: We ate at home. Since our home is 100% gluten free 100% of the time, it was easy to have a great meal. We did try a new product - gluten free STUFFING - and I'll be posting a review of that later.

We did attend a social at church for the Christmas season. Unfortunately, due to being pregnant (and not feeling well enough to do much baking at all), we went without a treat for our family to safely eat.

We had a great Christmas: We ate at home. We had the other box of gluten free STUFFING. All I can say is YUMMY!!!

The stuffing was expensive. It was GREAT. The price was worth the cost for two of our three boys to have stuffing for the first time ever. It was also worth it to see my husband enjoy stuffing for the first time in 10 YEARS!

I would love to hear how your holidays went this past year on the gluten free path of life.

Please post a comment and share your experiences!

Woody's on the Water in Tacoma is Closed

2012-01-11T11:55:00.000-08:00

Woody's on the Water in Tacoma is Closed

Read my article for more details.

Lunch at Friesenburgers

2011-10-14T19:00:00.000-07:00

Today my husband and I had lunch at Friesenburgers.

My husband had the Cheddar & Swiss Double Cheeseburger and Fries Special of the Day. Of course, his was Gluten Free!

I had the Gluten Free BLT and I snagged some fries from his plate.

We love eating at Friesenburgers. The fries are 100% Gluten Free (cooked in separate oil and only the fries are cooked in the fry oil). The Gluten Free buns (for hamburgers and hot dogs) and bread (for sandwiches) are great! They do not crumble and hold up while eating.

Mike & Bob (the owners) are fun, friendly, and take the necessary precautions to keep us safe when eating there.

Our boys enjoy here at Friesenburgers just as much (if not more so) than we do. If they could, I'm sure they'd be there for lunch daily!

Haley's Corner Bakery ~ A Local Favorite

2011-08-20T16:33:00.000-07:00

Haley's Corner Bakery is located in Kent, Washington.

Our first visit to Haley's was memorable: We walk in (the four of us) and were greeted by the owners. Our two boys stared at all of the food in the display cases and gave me that look: "Why did you bring us here to torture us with all of this food that we CAN'T eat???"

Then they heard these magic words: "ALL of the food you see here is Gluten Free!"

WOW. It was great to see the look on the boys' faces as they processed the fact that they could eat everything in the place!

That was a couple of years ago and we've been going back ever since.

My favorite at Haley's, without a doubt, is their Angel Food Cake.

Why, you may ask, is their Angel Food Cake the thing for me to eat at Haley's?

Well, I've never been fond of Angel Food Cake. For me, Angel Food Cake was too dry, not enough flavor, or just bland. I would eat it with enough strawberries and whipped cream piled on top that you couldn't taste the cake. But alone, no way!

My one grandfather always bought them and ate a slice daily when I was visiting. He always offered me a piece, but I just didn't like the taste so usually passed on the offer.

I purchased a slice of Haley's Angel Food Cake - I believe the first time we were there - and fell in love. I was amazed that they could take a cake I didn't care for, make it gluten free, and have it moist and yummy!

Kudos to Haley's Corner Bakery!

Haley's is also mentioned in my book, The Gluten-Free Way: My Way.

Family, Friends, and The GF Life

2011-08-19T16:08:00.000-07:00

When we first went 100% GF, it was tough. I liked the fact I wouldn't be cooking two of everything (one with gluten, one without). I did struggle with how to feed all of us GF without breaking the bank. However, that didn't last long as we found which places sold GF food at the best prices. It did take some time to price check lots of items at different stores, but in the end it was well worth the initial struggle.

The HUGE struggles came with friends and family (not all, just certain ones) that had a sort of an attitude that came across that we were inconveniencing them by asking them not to bring gluten-containing foods into our home. Some of them thought that we meant no gluten 'most of the time' not 'all of the time'. There was more than once (and more than one person), who was asked to please eat their gluten-containing food outside on our porch. Crumbs are crumbs - and if they're from gluten they don't belong anywhere in our home.

Other family members and friends have always gone out of their way to double and triple check labels of foodstuffs. They call us from the store and read us the ingredients before buying the products.

Our home has been 100% gluten free since October of 2003.

Would we ever go back to having gluten in our home? NO!

If you've been or are currently struggling between gluten and no gluten or just being 100% gluten free in the home, please know my family and I know what it's like.

If you have questions about how to go 100% gluten free (or any other allergen) in the home, at work, school, or a vacation, please post a comment and I'll do my best to help.

Menus are My Friend

2011-02-07T15:51:00.000-08:00

This is the third week I have posted my menu. I have been following the menu. It has helped us to use what we have in our pantry. I am not running to the store a couple of times of week for that one item for dinner only to return having spent $50+ for a $2 item.

This year we are focusing on emergency preparedness as a family. One of our goals is to store what we eat and eat what we store. Having a menu to follow, as well as a pantry inventory, helps accomplish this goal quite well.

At a glance, I can see what we have in the pantry for meals as well as desserts.

When I started making out the grocery list to go shopping this week, I was surprised at how much I didn't need to put on it. We already HAD it!

It's amazing how I've thought that there is nothing to eat in the house in times past. However, with my pantry inventory, I *KNOW* there is quite a bit of food. It may not be what I want to eat at the moment, but there IS food in the house.

Menu for the Week of Feb. 6, 2011

2011-02-06T15:53:00.000-08:00

This week's menu:

Sunday

Turkey (will bake in Rival Roaster Oven)
Mashed Potatoes
Gravy (made from drippings)
Yams with Marshmallows
Peaches

Monday

Hamburgers

Tuesday

Buttermilk Pancakes
Eggs
Bacon

Wednesday

Turkey Stew (using leftover turkey from Sunday as well as turkey stock)

Thursday

Leftovers

Friday

Fillet Mignon
Sauteed mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, and artichokes
Pasta

Saturday

Homemade chili
Cornbread

Menu for the Week of Jan. 30, 2011

2011-01-30T14:49:00.000-08:00

I followed the menu I had last week. So, here's my dinner menu for this week.

Sunday

Meatloaf (used a bunt spring-form pan as a mold)
Mashed potatoes
Steamed baby carrots
Pears
Apple Pie ala mode

Monday

Leftovers
Ice cream

Tuesday

Ham
Trader Joe's Rice Pasta and Cheddar Cheese
Green beans
Easy Peanut Butter Cookies with Chocolate Chips

Wednesday

Tacos

Thursday

Friesenburgers
Ice Cream

Friday

Roast
DeBoles Gluten Free Rice plus Golden Flax Angel Hair Pasta
Peaches
Lettuce with Ranch Dressing

Saturday

Eggs
Fried Potatoes
Sausage
Pears

*Updated on 2/7/2011 with what we actually had. I did stick pretty close to the menu.

Scalloped Potatoes with Ham - A Recipe in Review

2011-01-26T17:45:00.000-08:00

I don't remember eating scalloped potatoes often growing up. I remember the occasional boxed mix but was never fond of the outcome.

After my husband and oldest son went gluten free in 2001, I started trying recipes from the two cookbooks that I had that were gluten free specific recipes.

Even though I have 'tweaked' a lot of my gluten-containing recipes to be gluten free, this is one of the recipes I haven't gone looking for a non-gluten version to tweak. Why mess with perfection?

This recipe is simple and adaptable for allergens in addition to gluten. When I first started making it, I used rice milk because hubby and son were off of all dairy. The rice milk didn't change the taste at all. No one could tell what type of milk I used.

Nowadays, I do use cow's milk. It doesn't matter if it's from the jug or is instant dry milk mixed up. It just doesn't matter.

You don't have to eat gluten free to make it or eat it. The *only* item that you might not have on hand if you don't cook/bake gluten free is the potato starch or sweet rice flour. If you're making this and you're out of potato starch or sweet rice flour - you can use tapioca starch (similar to cornstarch in consistency - not the pearls used for making tapioca pudding) or cornstarch with no worries.

Here is the recipe for those that would like to try it:

Taken from:
Wheat-Free Recipes and Menus: Delicious Dining without Wheat or Gluten
By Carol Fenster, Ph.D.

Preheat oven to 350.

Toss the following in a 1 ½ - quart casserole or baking dish:
• 4 medium russet potatoes (peeled, sliced)
• ¾ tsp gluten-free onion salt
• ¼ tsp white pepper
• 1 Tbsp gluten-free onion flakes

Combine the following in a jar with a screw top lid:
• 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
• ½ tsp dried mustard
• 1 Tbsp cooking oil
• 2 Tbsp potato starch or sweet rice flour
• 2 cups skim or 1% milk (or rice or soy milk)
• 1 Tbsp Parmesan cheese (cow, rice, or soy – optional)
Shake thoroughly until ingredients are blended. Or, blend in blender until smooth.
Pour milk mixture over potatoes.
Dot with butter cubes (1 Tbsp butter or margarine, in ¼-inch cubes).
Lightly sprinkle with paprika.
Bake for 1 hour or until sauce is bubbly and potatoes are lightly browned.

SCALLOPED POTATOES WITH HAM:
Add 1 cup cubed ham and reduce onion salt to ½ tsp.
Serves 4.

***Adrienne's notes***
*For our family (currently four eating, as the baby's not old enough for this recipe just yet), I double the recipe. I use my crock pot container (either the 5 or 6 quart or a 7 works, too, depending upon if doubled).
*I add the white pepper to the milk mixture.
*I don't add any salt when making it because I add ham and that way I don't have to worry about how salty the ham is in addition to how much salt I added to the recipe.

Enjoy!

This is what's for dinner for us tonight.

Menu for the Week of Jan. 24, 2011

2011-01-24T11:00:00.000-08:00

I'm working on having a weekly menu. Though what we have for dinner may switch from one night to another, I want to know what's for dinner and make sure that all ingredients are ready to go.

Here's what I have for this week, so far:

Monday

Hamburgers
Mashed potatoes
Corn (frozen, from our garden last summer)
Jell-O with fresh pears and frozen strawberries (from our garden last summer)
Mini Brownie Bars with Pecans

Tuesday

Shanghai Chicken over quinoa
Green peas

Wednesday

Scalloped Potatoes with Ham
Green beans
Impossible Coconut Pie ala mode for dessert

Thursday

Leftovers

Friday

Shrimp Alfredo over Penne with Steamed Asparagus
Side salad with romaine lettuce, Roma tomatoes, carrots, avocado, and grated Cheddar cheese
Rest of the Impossible Coconut Pie

Saturday

Lentil Soup with Ham
Chebe Cheese Rolls

I am wanting to use what's in our pantry so that I am shopping less often and using what we have.

Graham Crackers & Gingerbread Men

2010-12-22T13:57:00.000-08:00

Graham Crackers & Gingerbread Men

This is another recipe that I'll be trying soon.

~Adrienne

Cut-out Sugar Cookies

2010-12-22T13:53:00.000-08:00

Cut-out Sugar Cookies

I'm looking forward to trying this recipe. I've been wanting to find a good sugar cookie recipe so I can teach my boys how to decorate. What better way to practice than by eating what you've decorated?

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-22T13:05:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

Remember...eating gluten free isn't always easy, convenient or cheap, but when your health depends upon no gluten, it is ALWAYS worth it!

~Adrienne

Mariposa Baking Co

2010-08-25T22:24:00.000-07:00

A cousin of Jonathan's asked me to see if there were any gluten free places in the San Fransisco area as she'll be there for a few days.

I just found Mariposa Baking Co. that has a dedicated gluten free facility. The photos look absolutely delicious!

I am looking forward to hearing her reviews of their products if she is able to make it there.

Has anyone else eaten their products? Thoughts on what they make?

Bring Trader Joe's to South Hill/Puyallup WA

2010-03-31T18:11:00.000-07:00

I posted a couple of links on my book's Facebook page today regarding this group. Please go there to read more.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=91859902695

As for why we want more Trader Joe's...

My family LOVES the Trader Joe's GF Rice Pasta and Cheddar.

The more Trader Joe's around, the better chance we have of finding food while traveling as well as at home.

For a Trader Joe's near you, visit their website at http://traderjoes.com/index.html

Orlando Area - GF Food DELIVERED to Your Hotel

2010-03-17T12:15:00.000-07:00

For those that will be visiting the Orlando, Florida, area - check out this company: Gluten Free Delivery Orlando. http://www.gfdorlando.com/main.sc

You order your food a week or more in advance of your visit. On your day of arrival, your GF food order will be delivered to your hotel. How awesome is that?!

I haven't used this company, yet. Whenever we do make it down to the Orlando area, I'll be sure to look them up before we go.

Gluten Consumption in Young Children

2010-03-16T20:41:00.001-07:00

This is a very interesting article on how little children (two years and under) *could* react to gluten being introduced into their diets too early in life.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6284HZ20100309

FREE SAMPLE

2010-03-15T13:59:00.000-07:00

Attune Foods is offering a download coupon for a sample of one of their Attune Bars.

Check it out here: http://ow.ly/1qsznD

G.F. Joe's Market in Tumwater, WA

2009-12-14T16:51:00.000-08:00

This coming Saturday, Dec. 19th, G.F. Joe's Market in Tumwater, WA, is having a Holiday Extravaganza!

They'll have samples for taste-testing, story time with Santa, as well as door prizes!

This is an awesome opportunity to go taste GF products before buying them.

G.F. Joe's Market is 100% GF and carries over 1,300 GF products IN STORE!

For those that don't live in the area, you may want to take advantage of the FREE FEDEX Ground Shipping from G.F. Joe's Market Online until December 31, 2009!!!

Wal-Mart has added MORE GF products!!!

2009-12-11T14:45:00.000-08:00

The other day while walking the grocery aisles at my local Wal-Mart, I found that they now carry Mi-Del's GF Ginger Snaps and I believe another of the GF Mi-Del's cookies as well!

The cookies were in the cookie aisle with their gluten-counterparts, but I'll take them there over not at all.

GF PIZZA!!!!!

2009-12-06T22:29:00.000-08:00

We made GF pizza for dinner tonight. We each had our own individual pizza. I made a bigger batch of pizza dough so we ended up with a large pizza crust. We used that large pizza crust to make pizza for lunch the next day.

Here is a picture of two of the pizzas made and waiting to be baked:

Here is a picture of the large pizza crust - we did the initial pre-baking that night. We wrapped the crust in plastic wrap and then foil. The next day all we had to do was add the toppings and finish baking it.

The pizza crusts raised beautifully and were fluffy! When you lightly pressed on the crust with a finger, it sprang right back up!

The pizzas were so YUMMY!

The pizza crust recipe can be found in the book that I just co-authored which is entitled, The Gluten-Free Way: My Way. (The book can be found on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble - see bn.com.)

Nature's Market Store in Kent, WA - ecoupons

2009-09-23T18:43:00.001-07:00

Check out the e-coupons. Not ALL products are GF.

http://www.naturesmarketkent.com/common/coupons/HealthESavers.asp?storeID=UA8WNBEXC6SR2NM700AKHLBD3LBFDN65

Safeway Now Has Gluten Free Product List

2009-09-23T18:26:00.000-07:00

Safeway has released their GF product list. Read more about it here:

http://www.examiner.com/x-12164-GlutenFree-Food-Examiner~y2009m9d3-Safeway-provides-glutenfree-food-list

The product list is 11 pages long, but it includes the brands that Safeway produces (in addition to their Safeway Select line).

Campbell's Gluten-Free Product List

2009-09-23T18:08:00.000-07:00

Campbell's has updated their Gluten-Free product list.

Go to http://www.campbellsoupcompany.com/faq.aspx?section=glutenfree. Click on the link to download the PDF on the right side bar.

I applaud them for listing their products that meet GF standards.

A note...I noticed that Swanson's Chicken and Beef Broth are on the list. Just in time for gravy for all those mashed potatoes for the holidays!