More Gluten-Free Options

Leeann Chin, Finally

2012-01-30T19:06:00.000-08:00

It's about time. Leeann Chin finally offers a few gluten free menu items. My sister was at Leeann Chin recently and noticed they now have a couple of gluten free items. I didn't notice it on their website so I had to ask what they offer gluten gree.

Here is the response I received:
Currently the items on our Leeann Chin menu, that are gluten free, would be our white rice, Bourbon Chicken, Curry Chicken Stir-fry, Shrimp and Vegetable Stir-fry and our Red Cherry Frozen Yogurt with any of the fresh fruit toppings.

We can also prepare, upon special request, a Vegetable Stir fry made with our Hunan Sweet Chili Sauce or our Bourbon Sauce.

One more item would be to special request our Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry to be made without the Teriyaki sauce but substitute either the Hunan Sweet Chili Sauce or our Bourbon Sauce.
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It is always nice to have a quick and convenient option. Now we can use the buy one get one coupon from the Sunday paper.

Gluten-free Hamburger Buns

2011-12-14T21:21:00.000-08:00

I received an email this evening from Red Robin announcing that they now offer their burgers and chicken sandwiches on a gluten-free bun. It appears that they use Udi's hamburger buns. You can also still ask for a burger "protein style" (wrapped in lettuce).

Chocolate Covered Banana Slices

2011-09-13T21:19:00.000-07:00

We found a new convenient and somewhat healthy gluten-free treat at Sam's Club, Dole's Banana Dippers. They are frozen banana slices covered in dark chocolate. Yum!

They are packaged as 2 servings per box but the package can easily be resealed if you have the willpower to not eat them all in one sitting.

As you can tell Brody is a huge fan. He makes sure to eat the chocolate and leave the bananas.

Celiac Awareness Month - Amazon Deals

2011-05-25T21:37:00.000-07:00

May is Celiac Awareness month and Amazon has some great gluten-free deals. Be sure to check out these deals before the end of the month to save up to 30% off. It even includes some of our favorites like Udi's Granola and Pamela's Baking mixes. To get the best price sign-up for subscribe and save and enter the code to receive an additional percent off.

Lettuce Entertain You - New App for Your Android

2010-12-03T10:26:00.000-08:00

Many of the Lettuce Entertain You restaurants have gluten-free menus. Lettuce Entertain You now has an application for Android phones. In the android apps market search for "Lettuce Eat" and install the app. You will be able to search for the nearest restaurant and even log in to the frequent diner club. If you live in or are visiting the Chicago area this app will be especially helpful.

Aldi

2010-10-11T18:25:00.000-07:00

When it comes to grocery shopping I don't stick to just one store. I'll shop the standard Cub, Rainbow or Super Target and buy some things in bulk at Sam's Club. For the more specialty gluten-free items I'll go to Fresh and Natural Foods. Occasionally if I just need a few things I even shop at Aldi. I used to just get the basic produce and milk when I didn't want to run into a large store. As I looked at more labels I noticed there they carried more gluten-free items than I thought. I know a lot of people that say they can't shop at Aldi because they don't have much for a gluten-free diet. Let me show you that you actually can shop there.
Notice that standard produce and pantry items as well as some treats. Aldi is one of few places where I can find gluten-free meatballs and they are very reasonably priced.
It is difficult to see in this picture but this chipotle pepper hummus says "gluten-free" right on the lid! I love to have options and not be tied to one particular store.

On a side note: Today gluta-baby is 6 months old. I have also been eating gluten-free for 6 months now since I decided I would nurse him. Surprisingly it has been much easier than I have thought and I haven't felt deprived. I believe the combination of nursing and eating gluten-free have been major factors in helping loose the baby weight as well.

Hamburger Helper & Asian Helper

2010-07-27T19:08:00.000-07:00

I'm sure you heard they were coming but have you seen them yet? I found the Chicken Fried Rice and Cheesy Hashbrowns at our Super Target (they didn't have the Beef Fried Rice yet). Make sure you check each box because they still had some of the old ones that aren't gluten free. These were on sale and I was also able to use a hamburger helper coupon on them.

We tried the Cheesy Hashbrowns one night while Nate mowed the lawn and I took care of the baby. It was nice to have a different option besides our typically lazy meals. They were good (not great) but I've never been much of a Hamburger Helper fan. My mom always made better things from scratch and I couldn't help but add onions, peppers and garlic to it. We won't be making this all of the time but it is nice to have an inexpensive and convenient option.

Gluta-baby Arrived

2010-07-19T19:31:00.000-07:00

I've been a little distracted lately since Gluta-baby (as Nate's cousin affectionately refers to him) has arrived. Broderick Christopher was born on April 11th weighing 7lbs 5ozs at 21 1/2 inches long.

The day before Brody arrived Nate's grandma was telling us how gluten is passed on through breast milk. Since we decided I would be nursing I would be best if I ate gluten free due to the high prevalence of celiac disease in the family. I have been eating gluten free for 3 months now. It actually hasn't been as difficult as I thought it would. Part of it is probably because we pretty much ate gluten free at home.

However, I was more concerned about returning to work. My coworkers have been pretty supportive of it as well. My boss baked a cake using the Betty Crocker cake mix so I could celebrate a coworker's birthday with everyone and she bought ice cream for my anniversary.

At our weekly team meetings we're always trying different restaurants so I've had to ask questions regarding my meal. I have discovered new places I'd like Nate to try that we have been hesitant about before. I have a ton to post about it's just finding the time with the baby.

Cooqi Gluten-Free Delights

2010-04-23T20:30:00.000-07:00

When we find ourselves in St. Paul during the day we try to stop in Cooqi for a treat. My favorite is a brownie while Nate enjoys the blondies or pumpkin bars. Unfortunately Cooqi Gluten-Free Delights will be closing their doors on April 30th.
The good news is Cooqi will be selling their baking mixes online and in local grocery stores.

Cooqi supplies pizza crust to many local restaurants that offer gluten-free pizza. Madwoman Bakery will be stepping up to continue to supply gluten-free crusts to these restaurants. Thank you Madwoman for helping keep this option available for us.

If you live in the Twin Cities stop in this weekend to pick up your favorite treat.

Snikiddy Coupon

2010-03-30T19:52:00.000-07:00

Have you tried Snikiddy yet? We haven't either but you can get a coupon by signing up for their newsletter. In February they launched a new line of "baked fries." The parmesan garlic baked fries sound good and for ketchup fans there is a classic ketchup version.

Gluten-Free Pizza at Birchwood Cafe

2010-03-11T19:53:00.000-08:00

Starting Friday, March 12th Birchwood Cafe in Minneapolis will be offering gluten-free pizza. The pizza will be on pizza crust made by Cooqi. If you have a chance to check it out let us know what you think.

Ginger Hop

2010-03-11T19:08:00.000-08:00

Last week I went out to dinner with my friend Amy for Restaurant Week and we decided to try Ginger Hop. As we sat down to look at the menu she thought I knew of this restaurant because they have gluten-free choices on the menu. I was quite surprised as she pointed out the gluten-free symbol at the bottom of the page.

Gluten-free items are marked with a star next to them. Since it was Happy Hour we tried the chicken satay and eggplant satay which both happen to be gluten-free. One of the specials for Restaurant Week was the Sweet Green Curry which we both got with chicken.
Towards the end of the meal I thought I should check if Nate wanted me to bring something home for him. I was feeling a little guilty sitting at a restaurant with gluten-free choices while he was working in the garage which means he probably forgot to eat. I called him to double check that he'd want the Thai fried rice. I listed off some of the other menu items to see if anything else stood out and he mentioned the Pad Thai with chicken.

Nate was very excited for his dinner when I got home. He asked where his rice was and I explained Pad Thai is noodles and doesn't come with rice. That wasn't exactly what he was asking for. He was expecting Pad Thai and fried rice. Although, I didn't feel quite so bad when he could only eat half of it.

Amy, Nate and I were all very pleased with our choices and would definitely recommend it. Check out their happy hour specials and enjoy some of their satay with a Redbridge.

BitterSweet Bakery Now at Coborns Delivers

2010-03-04T19:45:00.000-08:00

Coborns Delivers is now offering BitterSweet Bakery products. BitterSweet Bakery is a small family owned bakery that offers some great treats. This is a great way to be able to order some gluten-free treats and not have to worry about if they are open this Saturday or next Saturday. You can have your gluten-free carrot cake or hamburger buns delivered to your door with the rest of your groceries. I was very surprised to see that the BitterSweet Bakery items they carry are on sale this week. That's definitely a good incentive to try something new.

February 23rd Wine Dinner at Wildfire

2010-02-18T18:51:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, February 23rd the Wildfire in Eden Prairie will be hosting a Gluten-free Wine Dinner. Enjoy a four course dinner with wine pairings for $45 plus tax and gratuity. Amy Leger, blogger at The Savvy Celiac will also be there to discuss living gluten free.

Here's a sample of the special menu for that night.
Starters: Assorted Gluten Free Pizzas
First Course: Pan Seared Ahi Tuna
Second Course: Carved Tenderloin of Beef
Dessert: Cinnamon Raisin Bread Pudding
Click here for more information.

Unfortunately we have a childbirth preparation class that night but hopefully we can attend it next time. At a time when I can enjoy the wine as well. We love Wildfire and even if you can't make this event we recommend checking it out soon. Nate loves the gluten-free bread before his meal as well as being able to eat a burger on the bun. If you go for dinner the au gratin potatoes are amazing. Our only complaint is there isn't one closer to our house.

The reception begins at 6:30 and dinner is at 7:00. Call (952) 914-9100 to make your reservation.

Wildfire Eden Prairie

3020 Eden Prairie Center

Eden Prairie, MN 55344

Gluten-Free Tasting in Austin, TX

2010-01-20T20:16:00.000-08:00

Delish in Austin, Texas is having a Gluten-Free Tasting Party this Saturday, January 23rd from 12-3 p.m. Stop in to try a free gluten-free treat.

Delish
209 W 3rd Street
Austin, TX 78701

Simply Recipes

2010-01-12T19:50:00.000-08:00

I found Simply Recipes through a baby website I frequent. It looked like it would provide some good budget friendly recipe ideas. I was surprised to find a Gluten-Free Recipes section!
Simply Recipes was started by Elise to keep track of her family's recipes. Some of the recipes are old family recipes while others are made up or taken from magazines. They believe in using "mostly whole food ingredients and only occasionally a few things from cans or prepared foods."
I'm anxious to try the Asparagus with Lime and Mint.

Pepsi Deal at Target

2009-12-20T17:13:00.000-08:00

I give Nate a hard time for the pop he drinks - I mean a really hard time. It's not necessarily that he drinks a ton of it, I just think pop should be a treat. Sometimes, just to be a pain I'll ask him how much water he's had to drink for the day. Now when pop is a good deal we make sure to stock up. I saw on a blog this morning that Pepsi 12 packs were $2.50 and there was a $1 off coupon which made it a great deal at $1.50 for a 12 pack.
While making our Target run we noticed it was on sale for $1.99 here in Minnesota. With the $1 off coupons we scored two 12 packs for $0.99 each. Unfortunately there is a limit of printing two coupons per computer so we used one of our laptops to print off two more coupons.

Gluten-Free Menu All Week

2009-11-29T19:55:00.000-08:00

Sorry I haven't been posting more recently, I've been meaning to but I've been exhausted. Nate and I are expecting our first child in April so I have been preoccupied with sleeping when I can and trying to fight off colds. I haven't been as interested in cooking either although I have been obsessed with nutrition. We have been throwing together a lot of simple and quick meals especially tacos since I've been craving spicy foods.

I have some exciting gluten-free news for those that live in the Twin Cities. Starting December 1st Pizza Luce will offer their gluten-free menu seven days a week at their St. Paul and Downtown Minneapolis locations.

We are so excited to see this expand to include the weekends as well. Often times friends would want to meet up at Pizza Luce on a Friday or Saturday night and it was frustrating to know they had the capabilities and a menu but it wasn't the "right day." Although now that I'm pregnant we don't go Downtown often. Nate will just have to convince me that I'm craving Luce.

Sad News

2009-09-04T16:37:00.000-07:00

I like to keep this blog positive as much as possible. I started it because I wanted to share all of the gluten-free options my husband enjoys. When his family comes to town we enjoy sharing some of our favorite things with them.

A few weeks ago they were here for the Irish Fair. While the guys went to another concert on Saturday night us girls ran some errands. We decided to go to Michello's to get some gluten-free pizza and pasta. Nate was okay with this as long as we brought home some carrot cake for him. When we pulled up the restaurant we were disappointed to see that Michello's was closed - for good. We were still in the mood for pizza so we drove to the next gluten-free pizza place we could think of.

When we arrived at Cabina we discovered that it had been replaced by a new restaurant. Feeling extremely discouraged we tried one last time for pizza. As we walked in to ZPizza we were excited to see that they were open and hoped that they wouldn't tell us they were out of gluten-free crusts. Finally we were able to enjoy dinner.

When we made it back home I didn't want to be the one to tell Nate that Michello's had closed. I told Detamara she should tell him the news. I figured he might take it better if it came from his little sister. He took the news better than expected but was disappointed that he would no longer be able to enjoy the carrot cake.

It is sad to see such a great family owned restaurant go out of business due to the economy. They provided great options for the gluten-free community and worked hard to perfect their recipes. They have posted their recipes for farmhouse buttermilk bread and pizza crust. Nate is just waiting for them to post the cake recipes.

Gluten- Free Clearance Finds at Target

2009-08-25T19:50:00.000-07:00

Nate and I ran to Target to pick up some basic items and purchase a gift for an upcoming wedding. As we were running through the frozen food section I noticed frozen broccoli on clearance. We eat a lot of broccoli at our house so I grabbed two bags and noticed they had a lot of other frozen items on clearance.

I scanned a couple more items as Nate looked for the Starbucks ice cream that we had a free coupon for. I yelled, "Nathan!" He quickly turned assuming he was in trouble. (I think the lady next to him thought he was in trouble too.)

We were shocked to see French Meadow Bakery Gluten-Free Fudge Brownie on clearance. I grabbed four boxes considering that you keep them frozen until you use them and then we noticed they also had Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. Both the brownies and cookies were marked down from $5.99 to $2.98. With two gluten-free guys in the house I'm sure these won't last long.

When we got home Nate made a box of the cookies. They are preformed so you just need to preheat the oven and place them on a tray. It couldn't get much more convenient than that. They are done in 10-12 minutes.

I could have made this an even better deal if I printed some of these coupons from their website.

This was a great reminder to check clearance for gluten-free products!

Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Mix Coupon

2009-08-04T20:14:00.000-07:00

We haven't been cooking much lately since Nate was sick for a week and half and by the time he was feeling better we went out of town. Nate worked out an agreement with his coworker where we could stay at his family's cabin if we did some tiling while we were there. We kept things pretty simple and now that we're back home we're trying to catch up on things that have been neglected. I have some pictures to post once I find the cord to our camera.

Here's a great deal to take advantage of. We still haven't tried any of the Betty Crocker Gluten Free baking mixes yet but aunt tells me they are pretty good and that's coming from someone who can eat gluten. I'm planning on ordering a few from Coborns Delivers while they're on sale for $2.50 this week.

Call General Mills at 1-800-446-1898 and choose option 4 to speak with a representative. Tell them you are calling regarding the gluten-free coupon. They will ask for your name, address and 2 simple questions. It's that easy, just remember to call during normal business hours.

Jamba Juice Coupon

2009-07-07T20:40:00.000-07:00

My sister Christi just shared this BOGO Jamba Juice coupon with me. Hurry, this deal ends July 12th.

Jamba Juice

2009-07-05T20:19:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for a cool gluten-free treat? Ice cream and smoothies are a weakness at our house.

I assumed that most of the drinks at Jamba Juice would be gluten-free but wasn't exactly sure. It turns out all of their smoothies are gluten-free except for Pomegranate Heart Healthy. You can also enjoy all of the boosts except for Daily Vitamin, Energy and Heart Healthy.

Enjoy Life Products 10% Off

2009-06-10T20:37:00.000-07:00

Now until June 30th you can save 10%off your favorite Enjoy Life Products 10%. Click here to take advantage of this offer through Peanut Free Planet. Then enter the code Enjoy10off when you check out.

Enjoy Life Products are free of the top 8 allergens. We love their Snickerdoodles.

Boston's The Gourmet Pizza

2009-05-22T08:57:00.000-07:00

Seriously, more pizza?

Yes, Boston's The Gourmet Pizza now carries a gluten-free pizza crust. Since they are known for their pizza they wanted to make it easier for everyone to enjoy. (Supposedly, it is the same crust that they use at Unos.) You can choose from 13 different kinds of pizzas made on a gluten-free crust. The gluten-free pizza is only available in small and is about an additional two dollars.

Boston's also offers a Healthy Hits menu for those who are looking for a healthier option. All of their locations should carry the gluten-free crust. If you have a large group they recommend calling ahead. Click here to find a location near you.

Luckily we have a BBQ planned for tomorrow night but I'm sure we'll try it soon and let you know what we think. Has anyone tried it yet?

Free Pizza for a Year?

2009-05-21T10:22:00.000-07:00

Uno Chicago Grill is having a sweepstakes to win free pizza for a year. Translation: Free pizza for a year is one pizza a month. Click here to enter. Gluten-free pizza is available in cheese, pepperoni and veggie.

You must be an "Insider" to enter. If you are not an Insider you can still sign up to become one and be entered in the sweepstakes.

I have a separate email address for sweepstakes and things I don't want to go to my regular email. My family and friends know that I am obsessed with Sweepstakes. Someone is going to win, why not you?

Gluten-Free Pizza in Austin, TX

2009-05-19T17:49:00.000-07:00

We seem to be finding gluten-free pizza all over the Twin Cities and while we've seen some chains adding it I've been wondering if other places are seeing the same trend. Since Ann and Becca are in Austin visiting Kristy and Kasja. They all eat gluten-free and Ann and Becca live in a small town so it is pretty rare for them to enjoy gluten-free pizza out. I began to wonder if there was gluten-free pizza in the Austin area. A couple of months ago Kristy and I were talking about it but I never found out of she found gluten-free pizza.

After a quick search I found a couple of options for them. Brick Oven on 35th has gluten-free pizza as well as a gluten-free menu that includes meatballs, pasta and flat bread sandwiches. I've read a couple of reviews and it sounds like the pizza is definitely worth trying. They do charge a little more for the gluten-free crust but that is pretty common.

Marye's Gourmet Pizza has also started offering gluten-free pizza. I haven't found any reviews on it so I am curious if anyone has tried it. We obviously haven't tried either of these yet but next time we visit them I'm sure Nate will want to fit that in.

My Gluten Free Bakery

2009-05-14T11:14:00.000-07:00

Have you been looking for a dedicated gluten-free bakery in Missouri for a birthday cake or special occasion?
LaVerne saw a need for a gluten-free bakery in her community and opened My Gluten Free Bakery in Jefferson City, Missouri. LaVerne understands people often have other diet restrictions and takes special orders based on specific intolerances. She keeps customer cards on file with their allergies. Check out her website to see all she has to offer.

My Gluten Free Bakery
LLC312 W Dunklin St
Jefferson City, MO 65109
phone: 573-634-3733

Skosh Monahan's in Costa Mesa, CA

2009-05-12T10:31:00.000-07:00

Nate's sister Marissa lives in California so I'm always keeping my eye open for restaurants in California that will accommodate a gluten-free diet. Especially with Marissa's wedding coming up everyone wants to know they can eat safely while traveling. Although this isn't right where we'll be I was impressed with the gluten-free menu and we'd gladly make an excuse to drive somewhere for gluten-free pizza.

Skosh Monahan's is a Steakhouse and Irish Pub that offers a gluten-free menu and a GFCF kid's menu.
Their gluten-free menu includes appetizers, soup, salad, pizza, and entrees.

Godfather's Pizza offering Gluten-Free Pizza

2009-05-11T19:56:00.000-07:00

A couple years ago we said just wait, some day you'll be able to get gluten-free pizza at one of the regular pizza places. We just didn't think some day would be so soon.

According to the Press Release the gluten-free pizza is available at select Godfather's Pizza locations in:
Omaha, NE
Topeka, KS
Overland Park, KS
Blue Springs, MO
St. Cloud, MN
Burnsville, MN
Sioux Falls, SD

Employees at these locations have received special training. I spoke to an employee who said they also sell frozen take and bake pizza if you don't feel comfortable with them baking it. Use the Store Locator to check if the gluten-free pizza is available at the location nearest you. The gluten-free pizza is available in a 10-inch size and you can enjoy cheese, pepperoni, beef, sausage, classic combo and all-meat combo. We were very excited to hear that the gluten-free pizzas are priced in line with the other pizzas.

Email Godfather's Pizza at glutenfree@godfathers.com and let them know where you would like to see gluten-free pizza.

An Attitude of Gratitude Award

2009-05-11T18:32:00.001-07:00

Kim at Gluten-free is Life nominated me for an Attitude of Gratitude Award.

Nate has been gluten-free his whole life so we never had that "adjustment" period that so many of you write about. I try to look at it as a way for us to eat healthier. We cook a lot more because I'm not married to a guy who lives off of pizza. (However, that's starting to change as gluten-free pizza places keep popping up.)
When we first saw gluten-free menus appearing in restaurants we were very eager to support them. I saw it as a challenge to find more and make life easier for us, our family and friends.
When people hear that my husband cannot eat gluten they assume it is difficult and ask what he can have. I enjoy proving them wrong and showing them all that he can enjoy gluten-free. They are very surprised to hear that he can now take me out to an Italian restaurant.

The instructions say list 10 blogs that show an Attitude of Gratitude. So many great blogs have already been tagged and are going to continue to be tagged instead I'm just going to list one that I think does an excellent job of having a great attitude about being gluten-free when many people would have a difficult time.

Katie - Katie is a college student who does a great job of staying gluten-free. She bakes treats that look amazing! Someday she would like to open a bakery, I know we would all like to support that.

Your instructions are to:

put the logo on your blog or post
nominate at least 10 blogs that show an an attitude of gratitude
link to your nominees within your post
comment on their blogs to let them know they’ve received this award
share the love and link to this post and the person who nominated you for the award
tell us how you’ve come to have an attitude of gratitude

Ben Pao "Bailout" Special

2009-05-10T19:43:00.000-07:00

Ben Pao Chinese Restaurant has a special offer during the month of May. Stop in for dinner Monday through Thursday and on one of those nights they will ring the Golden Gong once a week. When you hear the gong every table in the restaurant will receive $50 off their bill.

Nate and I went when we were in Chicago and definitely recommend it. Ben Pao is part of the Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants and offers a Gluten Free Menu. We really enjoyed the chicken fried rice and sesame chicken.

Ben Pao
52 West Illinois Street
Chicago, IL 60654
Phone: 312-222-1888

10 Things You Were Dying to Know - I've Been Tagged

2009-05-09T22:01:00.000-07:00

Ann at Cheaper by the Dozen and Get One Free tagged me.

1) What is your current obsession?
Concerts - Alkaline Trio was in town a couple of weeks ago, awesome concert! Last night Nate heard Cursive was playing at First Avenue so we thought why not? Nate, my sisters and I saw Fun play with Manchester Orchestra tonight. Next week I'm going to see India Arie with some friends from High School. I want to see Amber Pacific when Ian (my brother-in-law) is in town so we're hoping he's up for it. Also looking forward to the Irish Fair and Warped Tour this summer. Luckily most of these concerts are pretty inexpensive and some are free! I even won tickets to see Jackson Browne at the State Fair and Nate won Warped Tour tickets. - Yeah I'm even more obessed than I thought.

2) Which item of clothing do you wear most often?
Earrings, I rarely leave the house without earrings. They just seem to complete any outfit.

3) What's for dinner?
Tonight we had pizza and salad.

4) What are you listening to?
The Offspring and Katie (my sister) talking to Ashley on the phone.

5) Say something about the one who tagged you:
Ann loves getting a good deal and teaching others how to bargain shop. Ann is gluten-free as well as 6 of her 11 children are gluten-free.

6) Favorite vacation spot?
Alaska, I keep asking Nate when can we go back. I love the scenery, history, wildlife and peacefulness.

7) What are you reading right now?
The Gluten Effect which I won from Carol at Simply...Gluten Free.

8) Four words to describe yourself?
Practical, Optimistic, Quiet and Emotional

9) Guilty pleasure?
My Bravo shows: The Real Housewives and The Millionaire Matchmaker

10) First Spring thing to do?
Clean - I'm trying to motivate myself to be more organized and donate things I don't need anymore so I ask myself "What would Kristy say?" "Just get rid of it!"

I'm going to tag Erin at Gluten Free with a Purpose.

Cabbage Saute

2009-05-05T13:30:00.000-07:00

I made this awhile ago but still wanted to post it because it is so simple to make and uses basic ingredients. We had a lot of cabbage we needed to use up so I searched for a new recipe on all recipes. Nate and I thought it was a little bland so we added some pepper and garlic salt. We also added mushrooms we needed to use up.

Cabbage Saute

Ingredients:
1 onion, chopped
2 tablespoons butter
4 medium carrots, thinly sliced
6 cups chopped cabbage
½ cup chicken broth
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar

Directions:
1. In a large skillet, sauté onion in butter until tender. Add carrots; cook and stire for 2-3 minutes. Stier in the remaining ingredients; bring to a boil.
2. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 5-7 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Serve with slotted spoon.

As you can see we served it with baked chicken. The chicken was seasoned with a simple chicken seasoning that included garlic, black pepper and red pepper.

For more gluten-free recipes and meal ideas check out What's for Dinner Wednesday.

Gluten-Free Cake at Starbucks

2009-05-04T08:37:00.000-07:00

We asked and they listened.

Nate and I aren't much of coffee drinkers which is nice for our wallets. My coworkers and I get coffee when we're stressed, caffeine and sweets seem to help us out. Otherwise, I'm usually in too much of a hurry in the morning. Nate doesn't like coffee but he'll enjoy a chai tea or one of the coolers on a rare occasion. However, tomorrow Nate is planning on stopping at Starbucks.

Tuesday, May 5th is the first day you can get a gluten-free treat with your beverage at Starbucks. The Orange Valencia Cake will be displayed in the display case but is wrapped individually to avoid cross contact. If you have additional allergies they list the ingredients right on the packaging. The ingredients include: Whole Eggs, Valencia Orange Pulp, Almonds, Sugar, Orange Peel, Gluten Free Baking Powder, and Orange Oil. The cake is priced around two dollars depending on where you live which is pretty reasonable for a gluten-free treat. They wanted to keep it comparable to the other treats.

I am really excited how convenient this will be for everyone and hope Nate really enjoys the cake. At the same time I'm hoping he doesn't enjoy it too much or it might become a habit.

Gluten-Free Wine Dinner

2009-04-26T19:55:00.000-07:00

Someone left a comment about an exciting gluten-free event that is coming up on the Twin Cities. Monday, May 18th Wildfire in Eden Prairie will host a Gluten-Free dinner. The menu includes a 4-course meal, wine with each course, tax and gratuity. The Pear Tartlet for dessert sounds wonderful. They will also have a guest speaker discussing gluten-free dining and researching gluten-free products. For more information check out the Wildfire website.

Coborn's Delivers

2009-04-23T11:28:00.000-07:00

Coborns Delivers (formerly Simon Delivers) is making gluten-free shopping easier. If you live in the greater Twin Cities area you can purchase all of your groceries online and have them delivered to your door. Coborns Delivers has added a section for gluten-free specialty products. Ingredient lists are easy to read for those with additional allergies. You can find some of your favorite brands of gluten-free pasta, crackers, soups and baked goods. Don't see a specific product you're looking for? Send them an email and request they add it.

Pizza Luce Downtown Minneapolis

2009-04-16T09:51:00.000-07:00

I really only had 2 complaints about Pizza Luce offering a gluten-free menu.
1. It is only available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
2. It is only available at their St. Paul location.

I understand their logic, they wanted to control it as much as possible to eliminate any chance of cross contact. They started with offering gluten-free on Tuesdays and added Wednesdays not long after. We thought this is great, they are really seeing there is a demand and hoped they would continue to expand.

Starting next Tuesday and Wednesday you can order pizza made from Cooqi's gluten-free crust at Pizza Luce's Downtown Minneapolis location!

Pizza Luce Downtown Minneapolis
119 North 4th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55401

Gluten-Free in Rochester MN

2009-04-13T20:20:00.000-07:00

We went to visit Nate's parents for Easter. We left early Saturday morning, Nate didn't think 6:20 a.m. was early enough though. On the way through Rochester we stopped at Canadian Honker. They only have 1 gluten-free option for breakfast but for only $3.99 it is a great deal. The breakfast includes 2 eggs, hash browns, fresh fruit and your choice of bacon or sausage. Plenty of food and a good price. I took a picture but I have to get it off of Nate's phone. Their gluten-free menu isn't very extensive but it provides some safe options and their staff seems very knowledgeable.

After breakfast we stopped at The Bread Baker Company. Nate immediately spotted the cinnamon swirl bread and then we saw a cheesy garlic bread and thought we better try that too. We also couldn't pass up two sugar cookies. Nate and Becca really enjoyed those. The bread was $7 for a loaf and the cookies were $3 for 2 large cookies. We'll definitely stop in there again next time we're in the area.

Saturday night my mother-in-law made stew so the toasted cheesy garlic bread went really well with it. Easter morning we had brunch and they enjoyed the cinnamon swirl bread. It was nice to be able to try something new that we can't get at home.

Gluten-Free Pizza in the Twin Cities

2009-04-08T20:22:00.000-07:00

The Twin Cities has a few more gluten-free pizza options. Eden Pizza in St. Paul and Galactic Pizza in Uptown both serve Cooqi's gluten-free pizza crust.
Red's Savoy Pizza in Hugo and Coon Rapids also offer gluten-free pizza.

So far Nate has been showing some willpower (he's in saving mode now) but I'm sure we'll check them out soon.

7 things you may not know about me

2009-04-02T18:55:00.000-07:00

You may have seen on other blogs "7 things you may not know about me." Glutenfree4goofs tagged me so here's my list of 7 things.

1. I am allergic to timothy grass, oaks, elms, maples, dust and mold.
2. I have a degree in Women's Studies in addition to Business.
3. It literally makes me sick to my stomach when people buy a dog from a breeder or pet store. I'll just leave it at that.
4. I like to go fishing.
5. I am a Mary Kay Consultant.
6. I am left-handed although, when I play softball I bat right-handed.
7. Surprisingly, I like driving my turbocharged "Saabaru."

The rules are simple. You're supposed to link to the person who tagged you and write 7 things about yourself. Then tag 7 people and let them know so they can write 7 things.
Cheaper by the Dozen and Get One Free
Simply...gluten-free
Katie Living Gluten-free in DC
GFCFSF and Rice Free
The Good Eatah
Fell 4 Fashion
My Fashion Chronicle

April Fools' Day

2009-04-01T19:16:00.000-07:00

I considered writing an April Fools' post but there really isn't anything funny about allergies. Today on CNN I saw this article. It reminded me of some of the things that bother me so much about allergies and intolerance, such as kids not being able to enjoy the same things their friends enjoy and feeling left. Then there are the parents that worry about their children being safe and adults that aren't ready for change and don't want to give up favorite foods and traditions. I could go on and on.

Teddy reminded me of a little girl I used to take care of. She was allergic to eggs and nuts as well as on a GFCF diet for autism. I quickly learned what was safe for her to eat. She would make me read the ingredients on everything I gave her. Although I found it annoying at times I was proud of her for being so diligent with her diet.

Uno Gluten-Free Pizza Coupon

2009-03-30T11:21:00.000-07:00

When my sisters and I were younger we loved going shopping at Southdale. Sometimes my mom would takes us to lunch at Uno Chicago Grill. We thought this was such a big treat. I had great memories of going there and was disappointed when I found out they closed the restaurant. We no longer have an Uno location in Minnesota. My sisters and I weren't the only ones disappointed that the Edina location closed. Nate was disappointed to find out they have a gluten-free menu that includes pizza yet we don't have a location near us. The former location was right by his work. He won't agree but it is probably better this way.

In case you have an Uno location near you I wanted to share this offer I received. Click here for a coupon to save a dollar on your gluten-free pizza. The coupon doesn't expire until 5/31/09! I have heard good reviews of the pizza so far.

Sign up for their email club to receive offers and updates.

Beef Stew

2009-03-25T08:12:00.000-07:00

I made this last week for St. Patrick's Day and meant to post it earlier. I decided I should post it for What's for dinner Wednesday.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 lbs. beef roast
6 potatoes
1 onion
2 cups carrots
3 stalks of celery
1 cup chopped cabbage
1 can tomato sauce (14.5 oz)
5 cups water
1 tbsp minced garlic
pepper
parsley

Directions:
Dice up beef, potatoes and vegetables. Place everything (except cabbage) in the crockpot and set on low for about 8 hours. I like to add the cabbage about an hour before we eat.
If you want to prepare it the night before you can put everything together except water and tomato sauce. Then add the water and tomato sauce in the morning and set the crockpot on low.

This is super easy and can be motified depending what you have on hand or how much you want to make. You can easily omit or add veggies depending on if you have picky eaters. My sister Katie doesn't really eat cooked cabbage so I was surprised when she ate it in the stew. We had crackers with it and had plenty for leftovers.

For more gluten-free recipes check out The Gluten-Free Homemaker's What's for Dinner Wednesday.

Irish Soda Bread Recipe

2009-03-12T14:11:00.000-07:00

Just because you're eating gluten-free doesn't mean you have to give up on traditions or celebrating holidays. With St. Patrick's day coming up I've been looking for some Irish recipes. I received this recipe for Irish Soda Bread in my email from Living Without magazine. I like how they give you suggestions on how to adjust the recipe for those with additional food allergies.

Irish Soda Bread
Ingredients:
2 cups high-protein, gluten-free flour blend (recipe below)
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon xanthan gum
½ teaspoon salt
¼ cup gluten-free oats
1 egg or flax gel*
1 cup buttermilk or milk of choice (rice, hemp, soy, almond)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly dust a cookie sheet with gluten-free flour.
Mix flour blend, baking soda, baking powder, xanthan gum, salt and oats in a bowl.
Add egg (or flax gel) and buttermilk and mix to form a soft, sticky dough.
Place dough on a lightly floured surface and knead three times.
Shape dough into a 6-inch flat round. Place it on prepared cookie sheet.
Sprinkle it with gluten-free flour and score a large X on the top.
Bake in preheated oven until top is golden brown, about 30 to 35 minutes.
*TIP To make flax gel, combine 1 tablespoon flax meal with 3 tablespoons hot water. Let sit until thickened, about ten minutes.

Gluten-Free High-Protein Flour Blend
1¼ cups bean flour, chickpea flour or soy flour
1 cup arrowroot starch, cornstarch or potato starch
1 cup tapioca starch/flour
1 cup white or brown rice flour

Blend ingredients together. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator until used.

From Living Without, recipe by Rebecca Reilly.

Gluten-Free Travel Site

2009-03-02T11:10:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago my mother-in-law posted about GlutenFreeTravelSite.com. This website aims to be a one-stop-shop for your gluten-free traveling needs. You can search for reviews by state or select another country if you are planning on traveling internationally. Reviews are written by GlutenFreeTravelSite users so be sure to recommend your favorite restaurants so others can enjoy them as well. I know I'll be adding some reviews soon.

Product Review: SOYJOY Bars

2009-02-27T13:12:00.000-08:00

I have been curious about SOYJOY bars for awhile but haven't noticed them at the grocery store. When we went to help my parents move my mom packed us little snack bags for the drive back. She gave us a couple of the berry flavor SOYJOY bars. I was excited because they say they do not contain gluten right on the wrapper.

The label says that there are "No Artificial Colors, Flavors, Hydrogenated Oils or Gluten."

The bars don't look very appealing to begin with since they look burnt but I thought the berry flavor couldn't be all that bad. I really wanted to like them because they are a healthy and convenient gluten-free snack. They were very dry and bland. If you are still interested in trying them I would recommend buying just 1 or 2 and making sure you like them first. I did like the wrappers they came in but that doesn't say much for the taste. Lame, I know but I've been looking at a lot of giveaway samples at work and the wrapper stands out.

Has anyone had a better experience with any of the other flavors?

Beef and Rice Medley

2009-02-24T19:34:00.000-08:00

As I've said before when I cook I rarely use recipes. I cook like my mom and my grandma using whatever I have on hand and usually don't measure ingredients. I didn't really know what to make for dinner last night, just that it needed to be something warm. When we start to get bored or I want to find something new then I turn to recipes. I went to allrecipes.com and clicked on Healthy Cooking. I noticed they had a section for Gluten-Free Recipes as well as other dietary needs. Normally I just try to adapt recipes but this will be a convenient way to search for new gluten-free recipes.

This Beef and Rice Medley recipe stood out because we had the ingredients and it looked simple. I was worried that Matt wouldn't like the diced tomatoes. After dinner he said it would have been better without onions, he's getting used to tomatoes.

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup diced onion
2 1/2 cups water
1 cup uncooked rice
1 cube beef bouillon
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 cup diced green bell pepper
1 (8 ounce) package mozzarella cheese

Directions:
1. Place ground beef and onion in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain excess fat. Stir in water and rice. Season with beef bouillon and black pepper. Simmer 25 to 30 minutes, or until water is absorbed. Stir in diced tomatoes and green peppers. Simmer another 10 minutes, until green pepper is tender. Sprinkle top with cheese.

Since I have a difficult time making a recipe just as it is I did add some garlic and parsley to it as well.

Look for other gluten-free recipes on The Gluten-Free Homemaker, What's For Dinner Wednesday.

LA Gluten-Free Food Examiner

2009-02-23T11:39:00.000-08:00

I always try to keep my eyes open for new gluten-free resources. Allison Hecht is the LA Gluten-Free Food Examiner. She writes about topics to help make life "tasty and affordable" for people with food allergies. Obviously her focus is more in the Southern California area although many of the topics apply to others as well. Even if you don't live in the LA area you'll still enjoy her recipes and product reviews. Check out the Flourless Chocolate Cake recipe she recently listed.

Michello's Restaurant Review

2009-02-22T19:40:00.000-08:00

Nate and I have been trying to be good about not going out to eat too often. After reading on The Savvy Celiac that Michello's in Blaine, MN has a gluten-free menu we thought we had to check it out. Michello's is about 2 miles from our house and has gluten-free pizza and pasta. Would we actually have a convenient location for gluten-free pizza?

We were really impressed with the number of choices on the gluten-free menu. Since gluten-free lasagna is so rare to find in restaurants we had to try it. Michello's gluten-free lasagna is the same recipe as their regular lasagna except for the rice noodles. All of their sauces are made from scratch.

The lasagna and other pastas are served with garlic bread. The garlic bread was good but not great, something you could easily make at home with store bought bread. They are working on their own recipe for garlic bread.

Nate is never one to pass up gluten-free pizza so we decided to share a pepperoni and sausage pizza. At Michello's they make their own pizza crust. The ingredients are listed on the menu which is nice for those with other allergens. I'm pretty impressed that they take the time to make their own crust. They also add toppings in a dedicated area to help eliminate cross contact.

They brought out a piece of chocolate cake and asked if they could get our opinion on it. This might be the first time that Nate and I shared a piece of cake at a restaurant. Usually if they offer a gluten-free cake it is a flourless chocolate cake which are too rich for his taste. We both really enjoyed the cake. Nate said it reminded him of one his Grandma would make which is a pretty nice compliment seeing as she's been baking gluten-free for almost 30 years now. They are working on their carrot cake recipe as well.

I am definitely worried about the damage to my wallet and waistline with this being so convenient for us.

Bunky's Cafe

2009-02-13T14:06:00.000-08:00

The other day I heard that Bunky's Cafe in Madison, Wisconsin will make almost anything gluten-free. We don't make it to Madison very often although, my mother-in-law Ann takes the girls there often for doctor appointments and to run errands.

I had to check this out for them and Teresa informed me "Our whole menu is or can be made GF (with the exception of the ravioli)." When I told my sister-in-law Becca about it she was a little disappointed because she wanted ravioli. I don't think she'll be too disappointed considering they have gluten-free pizza, pasta, garlic bread and desserts. I don't think I'll need to twist their arms very much to get them to try it and let us know what they think.

Note they are not open on Mondays so try to plan around that. They also have many vegetarian and vegan options available.

Valentine's Day Dinner at Cafe Agri

2009-02-09T11:16:00.000-08:00

This Valentine's Day Cafe Agri in Minneapolis is offering a set menu for two for $50.

The gluten-free dinner for 2 includes:
Smoked Trout stuffed beet appetizer
Wild mushroom risotto
Loving gluten-free cookie plate
Any bottle of wine

Call ahead to make your reservations.
Cafe Agri
4300 Bryant Ave South
Minneapolis, MN 55409
612.822.3101

GF Valentine's Day Treats

2009-02-04T11:15:00.000-08:00

We can barely go to St. Paul without stopping at Cooqi for a treat. Can you blame us? How yummy does this cupcake look?

This year for Valentine's Day they are offering some fun gluten-free treats for your sweetheart. These treats include a personal box of chocolates, chocolate lollipops and sweetheart cupcakes. After my sweetheart reads this he'll probably try to find an excuse for us to go to St. Paul.

If you purchase a ½ dozen or more of any item they will gift-wrap it for free from now through February 14th.

Simply Gluten Free Specialty Grocery

2009-02-04T10:17:00.000-08:00

Are you looking for a one stop gluten-free shop? If you live near Thousand Oaks, CA you are in luck.

Simply Gluten Free is a specialty grocery store where you can shop online for gluten-free products. This past Saturday they opened a store in Thousand Oaks, CA. They offer a variety of products to help make gluten-free shopping easier. I particularly like the "Just Diagnosed" Gift Baskets.

Simply Gluten Free
Specialty Grocery
1321 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. #A108
Thousand Oaks, Ca 91362Store

Store Hours:
Tues. & Wed. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thurs. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Fri. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sat. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
(Closed Sun. & Mon.)

The Old Spaghetti Factory

2009-02-01T06:49:00.000-08:00

The other day was my sister Katie's birthday so we went out to celebrate at The Old Spaghetti Factory. Our meals were fine, nothing special and the service was a little slow - although I felt bad because he was trying very hard. All meals come with bread (not gluten-free), soup or salad, a beverage (excluding pop) and ice cream.

When they brought out our meals they told Nate his would be a bit longer because after they made his they realized they made him the regular gluten meal. I was annoyed with this but glad they noticed it and were fixing it. At least he had a salad so he wasn't starving and his meal came out about two minutes later. Their creamy pesto salad dressing is very good and the spumoni was a fun treat.

Pros: gluten-free menu, meal price includes soup or salad, beverage and dessert
Cons: slow service, okay food, they almost forgot to make his gluten-free

ZPizza Restaurant Review

2009-01-29T12:30:00.000-08:00

After reading Katie's blog I told Nate there was another place with gluten-free pizza. Since ZPizza has a location close to us he decided we just had to try it. All I have to say is their pizza is Amazing!

We ordered the American and Mexican to share. Both pizzas tasted like the perfect balance of everything. ZPizza definitely uses fresh quality ingredients. Thanks again Katie for posting about this.

American

Mexican

ZPizza has locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, North Carolina, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia.

Call ahead to make sure your location offers the gluten-free pizza or request they carry it.

Laura's Wholesome Junk Food Product Review

2009-01-28T10:27:00.000-08:00

A little while ago Nate and I tried Charlotte's Chocolate Chip cookies by Laura's Wholesome Junk Food. They are a nice snack when I'm craving something sweet but I don't feel guilty afterwards. I told myself that I should eat them because Nate probably doesn't care for them since they contain coconut. So I was surprised that he actually like them.

Don't expect them to taste like a "normal" chocolate chip cookie. You'll get a wholesome cookie sweetened with natural juices. We are addicted to them now.

Laura's Wholesome Junk Food has some other gluten-free cookies including:
Sally's Raisin
Better Brownie
Cole's Cashew Chocolate Chip

Check out Dr. Laura's interesting story on how the company got started.

Gluten-Free Fest at Fresh & Natural Foods

2009-01-22T11:40:00.000-08:00

Do you want to try new gluten-free products but worry you won't like them and it will be a waste of money? Fresh and Natural Foods has some Gluten-Free Fests coming up in the next couple of weeks. If you live in the area it is a nice chance to try some new gluten-free products.

Saturday, January 31st 11:00am-3:00pm
Four Seasons Mall
4234 Lancaster Lane
Plymouth, MN 55441
or
Plaza 94 Shopping Center
1701 Ward Avenue, Suite 200
Hudson, WI 54016

Saturday, February 7th 11:00am-3:00pm
Shoreview Village Mall
1075 West Highway 96
Shoreview, MN 55126

Pizza Fusion has Gluten-Free Pizza

2009-01-18T22:32:00.000-08:00

Pizza Fusion is the pizza place for everyone and prides itself on being environmentally friendly. Pizza Fusion offers gluten-free pizza crust, beer and brownies. They also have options for those who are vegan, vegetarian or lactose intolerant.

Pizza Fusion is very conscious of being earth friendly. These are just some of their environmentally friendly action items:

Disposable silverware decomposes in 50 days
Customers receive a discount for returning pizza boxes to be recycled
Pizza is delivered in company hybrid cars
My favorite, the counter tops are made from recycled detergent bottles

Unfortunately we don't have a Pizza Fusion near us. They have many locations across the country including Atlanta, San Diego and Seattle with more coming soon.

Marissa - They are opening one in LA!

Food for Life Brown Rice Tortillas

2009-01-16T13:09:00.000-08:00

I have been looking for a gluten-free wrap to mix up our lunches a bit. We bought some of the Food for Life Brown Rice Tortillas. I brought one for lunch the first day and it was very brittle which made it difficult to eat. If I remember correctly the package says they recommend to heat them up. The second day I brought them I tried heating them up. They were still falling apart. We finally gave up on making them work and are on the search for a different sandwhich wrap.

I had higher expectations.

Strongbow Cider

2009-01-12T13:17:00.000-08:00

Saturday night Katie and I dropped Christi off to work at the Swarm game. (The Swarm is Minnesota's professional lacrosse team.) Katie and I had some time before the game so we stopped at The Liffey to waste some time. I ordered a Finnegans to do my part and support the community. (Finnegans is not gluten-free but they donate profits to support local charities.) After we ordered Katie noticed that The Liffey has Strongbow Cider on tap. I like Strongbow because it is a dry cider and not as sweet as some of the other ciders out there.

The Nook in St. Paul carries Strongbow in the can.

Starbucks wants your help

2009-01-09T20:32:00.000-08:00

Starbucks has a website called My Starbucks Idea where you can give suggestions and help shape current projects they are working on. Currently they are working on adding more gluten-free options to their menu and they want your help. Let them know what gluten-free items you would like to see offered at Starbucks. Here are some questions they have for you.

• What specific gluten-free products would you like to see in our stores?
• Would you prefer to see it individually packaged or unpackaged?
• How would you like to learn we have gluten-free products? For example, would you like to see it on a sign or would you prefer the barista tell you?
• Where would you like to see gluten-free products in the store; in the pastry case or placed elsewhere?
• The ingredient costs of gluten-free products tend to be higher, so would you understand if we charged more for the gluten-free version?

Click here to leave a comment for Starbucks.

Gluten-Free Pizza, Lasagna, Ravioli & Wraps

2009-01-08T13:25:00.000-08:00

Nate has a lot in common with his Uncle Dan and Uncle Tim. For example, all three of them are obsessed with Jeeps, boats and gluten-free pizzas. Both Dan and Tim have called Nate in the same night looking for gluten-free pizza in different areas of the Twin Cities. While the first two obsessions tend to be spendy it is the pizza that can be hardest to find. The locations never seem to be in the right place at the right time. We have some good pizza recipes to make at home but it is not the same as going out for pizza or picking one up before a football game.

Donatelli's in White Bear Lake offers gluten-free pizza, lasagna and ravioli. Now this will be a difficult choice since these items are all hard to find gluten-free in a restaurant.

Zebra Pizza in Ramsey now offers gluten-free pizza crust and wraps. They even have a choice between thick crust and thin crust! According to their website the thin crust pizza is corn free.
They do not have dine in but they can make it for you or you can get a "take n bake." Lori's Zebra Pizza also recommends to call ahead at least an hour before you need the pizza. They try to keep things on hand but cannot gurantee they will have everything in stock.

Enjoy Life on CNN Morning Express

2009-01-07T08:27:00.000-08:00

CNN Morning Express covered a story on Enjoy Life this morning. Click here to watch the video.

Enjoy Life Foods products are free of the top allergens. Nate loves the Snickerdoodles and Caramel Apple snack bars. We usually bring them with on trips for a quick snack or breakfast. On our last roadtrip I discovered I like the Snickerdoodles too. Now he has to share with me!

Fogo de Chao - Almost Entirely Gluten-Free

2009-01-04T19:02:00.000-08:00

Nate and I have been interested in going to Fogo de Chao for awhile, especially since we heard almost everything is gluten-free. The only two items that are not gluten-free are the wheat bread and tabbouleh which are both located at the salad bar.

We started with the salad bar that included large asparagus spears, roasted peppers, salmon, etc. Nate patiently waited for me me to finish my salad but I told him to go ahead and start with the meat. Each person has a disk which will control when they are offered meat. Within 10 seconds of flipping his disk from red to green a Gaucho Chef appeared at our table offering some meat. As soon as he left three more Gaucho Chefs appeared one after another and Nate quickly turned his disk back to red so he could enjoy his meal. Shortly after I switched my disk to green and received the same prompt service.

They offer 15 different kinds of meat. Items you can choose from include a top sirloin, pork ribs, leg of lamb. Your server will also bring some traditional side dishes of mashed potatoes, fried bananas and crispy polenta which they refill as necessary. Nate loves mashed potatoes but this time he barely touched them since there were so many other items to enjoy.

One would think that Nate's favorite part of the meal would have been the assortment of meats. His favorite by far was actually the cheese bread. Their famous Pao de Quiejo cheesebread is served warm and replenished throughout the meal. The cheese bread is gluten-free and made of tapioca flour. It is a lot like the Chebe bread. Usually I gorge myself on bread while Nate waits patiently for the meal. For a change it was nice to have the bread automatically gluten-free and not have to ask for a separate basket. Our waiter commented that Nate was enjoying the bread so I explained to him that this was a treat because he usually can't eat the bread. Then he offered to bring us 2 baskets of bread. Nate declined his offer.

We decided to go for lunch on one of our days off since lunch is about half the price of dinner. For lunch you can expect to pay around $20-$30. Those with a lighter appetite can choose just the salad bar. If you are going for dinner it ranges around $40-$50 not including drinks and dessert. Prices vary by city. While it is on the spendier side, the combination of great food and wonerful service make it worth it for a nice treat.

As with any restaurant menu items may change or vary by location so feel free to ask if you have concerns regarding ingredients.

Gluten-Free Hams & Turkeys

2008-12-24T10:29:00.000-08:00

As we were defrosting our turkey for Christmas Eve it reminded me that people new to the gluten-free diet might not know to check if the turkey or ham is gluten-free. The glaze or preservatives can contain gluten. If you are going to someone's house you may be concerned about whether the meat contains gluten. Here are just a couple that can be gluten-free.

We're making a Honeysuckle White turkey. The packaging states that it is free of MSG and gluten and their website confirms that the majority of their products are gluten-free with a few exceptions which they list.

The following Jennie-O Turkeys are gluten free:
Natural Choice Prime Young Turkey, Premium Basted Young Turkey, Fresh Young Turkey

The HoneyBaked Ham Co. has changed their glazes on the signature meats to be gluten-free. You can enjoy the HoneyBaked Ham, Sliced & Glazed Turkey Boneless Ham.
You can search their site for additional nutrition information. The new glaze contains modified food starch which is corn based.

Gluten-Free Chex Mix Recipe

2008-12-23T11:50:00.000-08:00

Hopefully you've already heard that Rice Chex is now gluten-free. General Mills changed the barley malt to molasses and that was it! It's nice that there is another cereal choice in the "regular" grocery stores.
Now that Rice Chex is gluten-free I thought I could make a gluten-free Chex Mix. Growing up I remember my mom making homemade Chex Mix during the holidays. I called my mom to get the "family recipe." It turns out the recipe she has been using all along is the same recipe found on the box.
Note that the other Chex cereals are not gluten-free so I modify the recipe to be all Rice Chex.

Ingredients:
9 cups Rice Chex® cereal
1 cup mixed nuts
1 cup bite-size pretzels (we use Glutino Gluten-Free Pretzels)
6 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons seasoned salt
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder

Directions:
1. In large microwavable bowl, mix cereals, nuts, and pretzels; set aside. In small microwavable bowl, microwave butter uncovered on High about 40 seconds or until melted. Stir in seasonings. Pour over cereal mixture; stir until evenly coated.
2. Microwave uncovered on High 5 to 6 minutes, thoroughly stirring every 2 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool. Store in airtight container.

Oven Directions: Heat oven to 250°F. In large bowl, mix cereals, nuts, and pretzels; set aside. In ungreased large roasting pan, melt butter in oven. Stir in seasonings. Gradually stir in cereal mixture until evenly coated. Bake 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool, about 15 minutes. Store in airtight container.

You can find more gluten-free recipes using Rice Chex on their website:
Gluten-free Chex Mix recipes

Mislabeled Wellshire Farms Products

2008-12-19T11:41:00.000-08:00

I am so disappointed with Wellshire Farms. I heard children were eating mislabeled foods that contained gluten and having allergic reactions. I assumed we didn't buy those products. As I read an article a little closer I noticed that we do buy the dino chicken nuggets, chicken corn dogs and beef corn dogs as an occasional treat. I have completely lost my trust in their company and will be skeptical of other companies going forward. So many people spend so much time and money to eat gluten-free so the can be healthy and not worry about feeling sick.

You can read more about the history of it here and here.

I still haven't decided how to break the news to Matt that I won't be buying the chicken nuggets or corn dogs anymore.

Arico Cookie Pouches 50% Off Online

2008-12-15T12:24:00.000-08:00

Select Arico cookie pouches are 50% through December 23rd. We have only tried the Lemon Ginger cookies so far. The cookies were soft and chewy but had strong ginger flavor that was too much for us. However, I am interested in trying the Almond Cranberry or Peanut Butter cookies. It's not very often you see gluten-free cookies 50% off.

Gluten-Free Beers

2008-12-13T12:20:00.000-08:00

Nate never acquired a taste for beer but I know for some people it is one thing they miss or find hard to give up. Many restaurants that offer a gluten-free menu will carry one of these.
Some gluten-free beers:
Bard's - Founders Craig and Kevin were diagnosed with celiac disease.
The Bard's website has a locator at the bottom of the page.
Green's - Green's can be ordered from John's Grocery
New Grist - Click here to locate liquor stores and restaurants/bars that sell New Grist
Redbridge - product of Anheuser-Busch

Da Luciano's Gluten Free Shop & Holiday Special

2008-12-11T14:02:00.000-08:00

Da Luciano's is an Italian restaurant in River Grove, IL. Da Luciano's also has a Gluten-Free Shop where you can purchase homemade sauces, pasta, soups and desserts. Four of their seven children have Celiac disease.

From now until Christmas you can receive gluten-free sugar cookies with your order of $50 or more.

Spend $50.00 (excludes shipping and handling) on your next online order and receive a FREE ½ lb. box of gluten free sugar cookies!

Spend $100.00 (excludes shipping and handling) on your next online order and receive a FREE 1 lb. box of gluten free sugar cookies!

Dinner at King & I Thai with Family

2008-12-10T11:51:00.000-08:00

I have been obsessed with Thai food lately and have been wanting to try the King & I Thai but haven't gotten around to it. Kristy picked the King & I Thai for dinner after the Holidazzle Parade so I was super excited. We heard they would accommodate for a gluten-free diet but we weren't sure exactly what would be available gluten-free. Our serve brought us a menu with items highlight that could be made gluten-free basically the make the items without soy sauce. They serve family style so we ordered a variety of dishes to share. We ordered the yellow curry, green curry, beef & broccoli and fried rice. The yellow curry was definitely my favorite, not too spicy but just enough kick. Those who don't like spicy food as much as the rest of us really enjoyed the beef & broccoli with rice noodles. The fried rice was good although Nate said it's not as good as mine. Maybe he's just saying that so I'll make it more often....

Great choice Kristy! I am ready to go to King & I Thai again.

Land O'Lakes Gluten-Free Baking Recipes

2008-12-10T09:43:00.000-08:00

Land O'Lakes has a section of their website dedicated to Gluten-Free Baking Recipes. I expected to find 3-5 recipes but was pleasantly surprised. The selection includes cookies, bars, brownies, cakes, truffles and more. The recipes include those that are flour based as well as some that are naturally gluten-free. The Land O'Lakes website also has a recommended Gluten-Free Flour Blend that their Test Kitchens developed. Don't forget to read their Gluten-Free Baking Tips section for helpful tips with your holiday baking.

Let me know if you've tried any of these recipes.

Gluten-Free Dining in Chicago

2008-12-05T11:39:00.000-08:00

Pizza: I figure I better blog about our gluten-free experiences in Chicago before I forget. After our visit with Gary and Jonelle we stayed in Chicago for a couple of days. We wanted to try some pizza and I've heard that Lou Malnati's Pizzerias offer a pizza that is gluten-free. The Crustless Sausage Pizza is not really your typical pizza. They use ground sausage pressed into a deep dish pan for the crust. I would recommend ordering lots of veggies on it with all of the sausage and cheese. :) It was definitely worth the 40-45 minute wait.

Chinese: The next night we decided to try Ben Pao Chinese Restaurant. When we arrived we asked the hostess for a Gluten-Free Menu. As we were seated our waitress quickly acknowledged that we had a Gluten-Free Menu and informed us that they serve family style. Nate and I decided to split the Sesame Chicken and the Chicken Fried Rice. I enjoyed how light and fresh the fried rice was. Unfortunately we were too full for dessert because I thought their Mango Creme Brulee sounded really good, maybe next time.

Cupcakes: On our way out of Chicago we stopped at Swirlz Cupcakes. They specialize in cupcakes. Swirlz offers "regular", gluten-free and reduced sugar cupcakes. We brought a few of each to Thanksgiving and in the excitement of sampling them I forgot to get a picture which was unfortunate with all of the cute frosting designs. It was definitely a fun treat and I was impressed with all the flavor options. Nate had to take over and decide because I was a little overwhelmed.

Panera Bread's Gluten-Free Items

2008-12-03T11:12:00.000-08:00

Marcie also shared a partial list of gluten-free items at Panera Bread that she received from corporate. I must admit I was surprised with all of the soup options since wheat is often used. It is also nice to know which salad dressings are safe. Please note that menus can vary by location and menu items can change.

To find ingredients for a specific item: Click on Menu and Nutrition, choose the Bakery or Cafe menu, select a product category from the links at the top of the page, then click on the individual menu item to display a page with that item's ingredients and nutritional content.

Salads:
(including the salad dressing) (source of modified food starch is corn)
Greek Salad
Fandango Salad
Caesar Salad (without croutons)
Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad (without croutons)
Asian Sesame Chicken Salad (without Won Ton noodles)
Classic Cafe Salad
Strawberry Poppyseed Salad
Strawberry Poppyseed Salad with Chicken
Fuji Apple Chicken Salad
California Mission Chicken Salad
Orchard Harvest Chicken Salad

Soups:
Low Fat Vegetarian Black Bean
Cuban Black Bean and Lentil
Vegetarian Roasted Red Pepper & Lentil
Vegetarian Butternut Squash
Creamy Tomato (without croutons)
Low-Fat Vegetarian Southwest Tomato & Roasted Corn
Turkey Chickpea Chili
Summer Corn Chowder

Salad Dressings:
Balsamic Vinaigrette
Caesar
Greek
Poppyseed
Raspberry Vinaigrette
Asian Sesame Vinaigrette
White Balsamic Vinaigrette
Roasted Garlic & Meyer’s Lemon Vinaigrette

Beverages:
Coffee
Juice, both apple and orange
Lemonade
Milk
Soda, fountain and bottled
Tea, regular and Chai Tea
All lattes & Frozen beverages
Strawberry Smoothie

Jimmy John's JJ Unwich is Gluten-Free

2008-12-02T11:36:00.000-08:00

The previous post made me think of Jimmy John's since the restaurants have the same fast-paced feel. Jimmy John's focus is on sandwiches so one would automatically assume that it could not be gluten-free. However, they offer a gluten-free option on their menu. The JJ Unwich is a sandwich wrapped in lettuce instead of bread. Feel free to ask them to change their gloves if they do not automatically change them. All employees are supposed to be trained on allergies and using new gloves and separate cutting boards. They also prepare the unwich on the paper it will be wrapped in. Be cautious of the condiments/spreads, they put most of them on with a spatula. Any of their sandwiches can be made into an unwich and prices are the same.

Bacon, Ham, Capicola, Salami, and Turkey are gluten-free.

Beef and Cheese are not gluten-free.

Five Guys Burgers and Fries

2008-12-02T11:05:00.000-08:00

Recently we went to visit Gary and Jonelle in Indiana. Before we left I wanted to see if there were any gluten-free restaurants. I found my new friend Marcie through the Celiac Sprue Association and I really lucked out. Marcie emailed me an extensive list of restaurants in the area. Nate and I were seriously overwhelmed with all of the suggestions.
When Gary was done with work the four of us decided to grab a bite to eat at Five Guys. Their menu is pretty simple - burgers, dogs and fries. The fun part is you pick your burger, a regular one is 2 patties a little one is 1 patty and then you get to choose from their 15 toppings with no upcharge. To keep the meal gluten-free order without the bun, but with all of the topping choices I don't think you'll mind. You could also ask them if they could wrap it in lettuce instead. The french fries are made from fresh cut potatoes and are made in dedicated fryers. We were all very pleased with the quality and quantity of the meal. Unfortunately the closest location to us is in St. Cloud or we could always visit Gary and Jonelle again.

Specials on Amazon.com

2008-11-21T20:01:00.000-08:00

Just in time for the holidays certain Bob's Red Mill products are 10% off on Amazon. Enter the code REDMIL25 when you check out. You can also save an additional 15% by signing up for their Subscribe & Save program. This program lets you choose a regular delivery schedule for products you use frequently.
The Gluten-Free Pantry products are also 10% off at Amazon when you enter the code PANTRYG4. Both specials end November 30th.

Update: This offer has expired however you can still save 15% by using the Subscribe & Save program.

Thanksgiving Dinner at Cafe Agri

2008-11-21T10:43:00.000-08:00

I was pretty shocked to see the words gluten-free stuffing as I scanned my City Pages Dining Newsletter. If you are looking for a gluten-free Thanksgiving meal in the Twin Cities you are in luck. Cafe Agri has a special Thanksgiving menu. It includes a tofu-dish shaped like a turkey, gluten-free stuffing, cranberry sauce and corn. Just because someone is gluten-free does not mean they like to cook.
Now my husband wouldn't be too thrilled about the turkey shaped tofu but it is nice to see that there are options, even on a holiday.

Make sure to make reservations by Wednesday, November 26th.
Cafe Agri
612-822-3101

Slow Cooker Thai Chicken

2008-11-15T13:03:00.000-08:00

This is a Betty Crocker recipe that we really like at our house. It is easy to put together before I leave for work and takes minimal effort when we get home.

Prep Time: 15 min.
Start to Finish: 9hr. 15 min.
Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:
8 chicken thighs, skin removed (2 pounds)
3/4 cup salsa
1/4 cup peanut butter
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon soy sauce (Note: La Choy soy sauce is GF or you can use San-J Organic Wheat Free Tamari)
1 teaspoon grated gingerroot
1/4 chopped peanuts
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Directions:
1. Place chicken in 3 1/2-to 6-quart slow cooker. Mix remaining ingredients except peanuts and cilantro; pour over chicken.
2. Cover and cook on low heat setting 8 to 9 hours or until juice of chicken is no longer pink when centers of thickest pieces are cut. Remove chicken from slow cooker, using slotted spoon; place on serving platter.
3. Remove sauce from slow cooker; skim fat from sauce. Pour sauce over chicken. Sprinkle with peanuts and cilantro.

Serve with rice that has been cooked with canned coconut milk. The sweet rice is a really nice compliment if you use a spicy salsa.

Ice Cream Cones Update

2008-11-15T12:53:00.000-08:00

We bought the last 2 boxes of ice cream cones at Fresh and Natural Foods today. I was a little bummed to see that the price went up a bit but they are still definitely worth it. The Let's Do...Gluten Free Ice Cream Cones are distributed by Edward & Sons Trading Co. On their website you can enter your zip code to find stores near you that carry them.

Pizza on Wednesdays too!

2008-11-11T20:22:00.000-08:00

As I checked my email tonight I found a nice little surprise. Pizza Luce will now be offering their Gluten-free menu on Wednesday nights in addition to Tuesday nights! I knew it wouldn't be long before they saw that the demand was there. While at the same time I really respect that they are slowly expanding it to eliminate cross-contamination as much as possible.
Please note the Gluten-free menu is only available at their St. Paul location on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Go support their new menu and enjoy some Gluten-free pizza.

Chiang Mai Thai Review

2008-11-10T07:49:00.000-08:00

After running some errands this weekend we decided to treat ourselves to lunch at Chiang Mai Thai. I've been wanting to go there for awhile and since they have a Gluten-Free menu we thought it was the perfect excuse. We asked the host if there was a separate Gluten-Free menu and he handed us a 3 page menu. We started with the Chicken Satay appetizer. Nate was a little hesitant of the peanut curry sauce since he isn't a big fan of either of those. I convinced him to try it and he was very surprised that he actually liked it. I orderd the Penang Curry with chicken. The chicken was simmered in a coconut milk and was amazing. Nate ordered the Chili Sauce Stir Fry with beef. Both meals were served with steamed jasmine rice and were a little spicy which is expected with Thai food. Their menu has a "Heat Scale" for those who like something a little less or more spicy. Our leftovers made for a great lunch the next day. The service was great and I'm already trying to find an excuse to go back soon.

For Beer Drinkers: They also carry Redbridge and Strongbow Dry Cider.

We love love love Namaste mixes!

2008-11-06T19:26:00.000-08:00

Nate loves the blondies from Cooqi so when I saw a gluten-free blondie mix at the health food store I thought we'd try it. We love the Namaste Foods blondie mix. My dad preferred the gluten-free blondies over the wheat ones. We decided to try the brownie mix and loved that as well. Everything turns out very moist and you can barely tell it's gluten-free. The cashier told me it was her favorite brownie mix and since I've been back they've been sold out of the blondie mix. These mixes are so convenient and easy to make. We buy them at Fresh & Natural Foods. I've also seen some at Rainbow and they are available online.

Gluten-Free Banana Bread Recipe

2008-11-03T10:31:00.000-08:00

This recipe is the reason that Matt no longer eats bananas. He assumes that if he lets the bananas ripen I will make banana bread. He's usually right about this.
I started using this recipe about a year ago and don't remember where I found it. It has been modified slightly along the way. One of the things I love about this recipe is that you don't need to have a bunch of different flours on hand. We usually use white rice flour but brown rice flour or a prepared GF baking mix will work as well.

Ingredients:
1 stick softened butter
1 c sugar
3 bananas
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 c rice flour
2 tsp baking powder

Directions:
Mix butter and sugar together. Beat in eggs, bananas and vanilla. In a separate bowl mix flour and baking powder. Combine dry ingredients until moist. Put batter in a loaf pan (5x9 inch)
Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Wildfire Review

2008-11-02T19:53:00.000-08:00

We celebrated Nate's birthday at Wildfire in Eden Prairie. Last time we were there they automatically brought out gluten-free bread along with the regular bread. Today we had to ask for the gluten-free bread. They bring out a warm Kinnikinnick Foods English Muffin with butter. Their gluten-free menu has quite a few options. While it may not sound very exciting to the average person, Nate choose the Black Angus Burger. Their burgers and sandwiches are served on a gluten-free bun, which is the english muffin again. This is the only restaurant that I've seen Nate eat a burger with the bun. You also get your choice of potato or broccoli. The white cheddar au gratin potatoes are very good. Since it was Nate's birthday the waitress brought out a flourless chocolate cake. We all enjoyed helping him finish it since he was kind of full by then.
Another nice perk about Wildfire is since I called ahead they put us in a separate private room. I have been very impressed with them so far, even during busy times they are very helpful. Be sure to ask for the GF menu and remind the staff that you are ordering gluten-free.
Most Wildfire locations are in Illinois however, they also have locations in Georgia, Minnesota and Virginia.

Chili's

2008-11-01T18:38:00.000-07:00

We planned on going to Ronnally's for pizza with Tim, Katie and Emma. We were disappointed to discover they were closed for no apparent reason, instead we decided to go to Chili's. Chili's has a menu of suggested options for gluten allergies. Some restaurants have the allergen sheet/menu on hand but you can also find it on their website. Most of the items are pretty obvious for someone who is used to the gluten-free diet. I think the menu is helpful since it shows which sauces and salad dressings are safe. Nate usually avoids BBQ sauce at restaurants since it can contain wheat or modified food starch. Both the BBQ sauce and Honey BBQ sauce at Chili's are gluten-free. Nate's favorite part of their menu is the Baked Potato soup. It is very rich but not something you can typically find gluten-free in a restaurant.

Gluten-Free Halloween Candy

2008-10-30T10:30:00.000-07:00

Last Halloween I passed out a couple of different kinds of candy including some with wheat. My theory was if I bought some with wheat I wouldn't have to worry as much about people in the house eating it before Halloween. I felt bad when Halloween came around and I grabbed a piece of wheat candy and a little girl explained that she couldn't have it becaue she was allergic to wheat. Luckily I had other options for her. Because I heard that some siblings would trade 1 piece of GF candy for multiple pieces of wheat candy. Pretty sneaky... :)

Remember to check labels regularly. Candy manufacturers can change ingredients or ingredient vendors and are also known to change facilities. Also check the ingredients on different sizes and versions of candies. A candy in a fun size may not always have the same ingredients as the full size version.

Are you looking for natural, vegan, gluten-free, casein free, organic lollipops? Yummy Earth has lollipops that are allergen free and also free of high fructose corn syrup.

If you like Tootsie roll products and are wondering if certain candies are gluten-free click here to go to their website. Under "Product Nutrition" select the appropriate candy and it will tell you the allergen information for that product.

Just Born products:

Are your candies gluten-free?
The modified food starch that we use in our candies in corn starch. We are in the process of updating our package labels to reflect products that are gluten free. Our gluten free brands are: MIKE AND IKE® Brand Candies, HOT TAMALES® Brand Candies, PEEPS® Marshmallow Candies, PEANUT CHEW® Brand candies, TEENEE BEANEE® Jelly Beans and JUST BORN® Jelly Bean. This information pertains to all Just Born candies that we make and package at our two manufacturing locations (Bethlethem, PA and Philadelphia, PA) and are in their orginal packaging. Please be aware that we do sell some of our products in bulk to other manufacturers who may be repackaging them in another facility. We encourage consumers to read the labels carefully for any gluten information on products that might be packaged elsewhere. For further questions, we recommend consumers call our Consumer Relations Team toll-free at 1-888-645-3453.

Gluten-Free Bread

2008-10-27T18:16:00.000-07:00

Anyone who has tried gluten-free bread knows that it can be difficult to find a decent one. Some people compare the breads to cardboard however, I've never tasted cardboard. For convenient sandwich bread we buy the Ener-G Foods bread. Nate preferred the tapioca loaf and it was pretty easy to find at Fresh and Natural Foods or Rainbow. Now there was a trick to using this bread, he would wrap the bread in a damp paper towel and put it in the microwave for about 30-60 seconds.

One day we noticed the Ener-G Light Tapioca Loaf and decided to give it a try since it was cheaper and lighter than our usual version. It is one of their lightest breads and has less fat and calories than the regular tapioca loaf. When we went to the health food store to purchase more we noticed they were selling out of it and we'd have to special order it.

Ener-G Food's breads come in vacuum sealed packaging that gives it a long shelf life up to a year. It never lasts that long in our house even with buying it by the case at.
The light tapioca is a lot lighter and does not need to be wrapped in a paper towel. It is better in the microwave for about 30 seconds or toasted.

Look for the neon green bag of light tapioca loaf, that is if they are not sold out!

Pepper Beef Stir Fry

2008-10-25T17:57:00.000-07:00

I found this recipe on La Choy's website. The guys thought it sounded weird when they saw the ketchup but once they tried it they loved it.

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons Pure Wesson® Vegetable Oil, divided
1 large red bell pepper, chopped into large chunks
1 medium onion, chopped into large chunks
1 pound boneless beef sirloin, cut across grain into 2 x 1/2-inch strips
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 can (8 oz each) La Choy® Bamboo Shoots, drained
1/3 cup La Choy® Soy Sauce (Note: La Choy soy sauce is GF or you can use San-J Organic Wheat Free Tamari)
1 tablespoon firmly packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons Hunt's® Ketchup
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon water
Chow Mein Noodles, optional (Note: Nate uses Grandma Ferdon's Brown Rice Chow Mein Noodles)

Directions:
1. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in large skillet or wok over high heat. Cook and stir red bell pepper and onion about 2 minutes or until crisp-tender. Remove from skillet; set aside.
2. Pour the remaining 1 tablespoon oil into skillet. Cook and stir beef and garlic about 2 minutes until browned. Add bamboo shoots and cooked vegetables back to skillet.
3. Whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar and ketchup in small bowl. Add to skillet. Stir together cornstarch and water until smooth; add to skillet. Cook until heated through and sauce thickens, stirring occasionally, about 1 minute. Serve with chow mein noodles, if desired.
Serves 4

Gluten Free Menu Planner

2008-10-25T17:30:00.000-07:00

Enjoy cooking but hate planning meals? For only $10 a month you can skip the menu planning and just worry about cooking. GFree cuisine takes care of the menu planning and grocery list. You pick your weekly recipes and they create the grocery list for you. They worked with Carol Fenster to create these recipes. You can view sample options on their website.
This sounds like a great idea for our house where everyone has the same attitude, "I'll cook if you tell me what to make."

Let's Do...Gluten Free Ice Cream Cones

2008-10-22T09:31:00.000-07:00

The other day we had a problem when Nate realized the only ice cream we had in the house was plain vanilla. He was upset because it wasn't exciting enough for his ice cream cones. These are very reasonably priced at about $2.50 for a box of 12 and they come packaged nicely so they're not all broken. They look and taste just like the "regular" cake cones. I think these would be great for kids since they look just like the original cones. It wouldn't look like they had to eat a different version than their siblings or friends.

Glutenfreeda's Real Cookies Frozen Dough

2008-10-22T08:34:00.000-07:00

Nate cheated last night. When I got home from work the house smelled like cinnamon and sugar. I knew he wasn't making dinner yet so I was a bit confused. He decided to make Glutenfreeda's Snicker Poodles, their version of a snickerdoodle. Now he even admits that he "cheated" since this isn't really baking. These are super easy to make though when you want a fresh warm cookie. The dough comes frozen and the cookies are already formed so all you need to do is put them on a baking sheet and place them in the oven. The bake into the perfect size cookie and are very soft. Now these aren't necessarily cheap but I think they're worth if for the occasional treat and the convenience. The containers are resealable so you can make just a couple or mix and match for a variety. We recommend the Snicker Poodles but Nate might have to try the other flavors to see if they are worth it as well.

Frito-Lay Allergen Lists

2008-10-21T12:38:00.000-07:00

Frito-Lay has recently updated their list of products for those with special dietary needs. They have a list of products not containing gluten as well as those not containing corn. Unfortunately depending on your sensitivities or how strict you are you need to look at a couple of their lists and it quickly limits the items. For example, some people now say MSG is "safe" although we prefer to avoid it.

They are obviously aware of the need. Their first nutrition question is:
Do Frito-Lay products contain gluten? Some of our snacks contain gluten.
For a list of products not containing gluten click here.

Park Tavern Review

2008-10-19T20:09:00.001-07:00

After visiting baby Layla we decided to stop for lunch. The hospital happens to be right by Park Tavern where they offer GF pizza. They use pizza crust from Cooqi. Here's a picture of our pizza. As you can see they really load on the toppings. They mentioned they are working on adding personal size pizzas to the menu too. FYI - Nate likes having the leftovers cold the next day while watching football.

Shabtai Gourmet Review

2008-10-18T19:49:00.000-07:00

To celebrate Nate's new promotion I ordered him some items from Shabtai Gourmet. I decided we would try the Raspberry Roll and the Devils Food 7 Layer Cake. The Raspberry Roll had a little more coconut than Nate prefers but he still enjoyed it. The raspberry filling is very sweet. He really liked the 7 Layer cake as well. Their products are also corn free and dairy free for those with multiple allergies. Nate says we will definitely be ordering from them again, we were both impressed with the size of these items. They offer some slightly different options than the bakeries by us too. I placed my order on Monday and they were delivered by Friday, packed with an ice pack. We love that they have free shipping too. FYI - They also go by the name Cinderella Sweets.

Godfather's GF Pilot Program

2008-10-17T11:49:00.000-07:00

Godfather's is currently testing GF pizza at their corporate location in Omaha, Nebraska. It is only offered at this location so they can focus on eliminating any cross conatimination issues. They will look for other locations to agree to their strict guidelines and offer a GF pizza crust. The hope to have this available sometime in 2009.

I really enjoyed the fact that we weren't one of those families that ate pizza every week. With all of these GF pizza options I might not be able to say that much longer. My grandma will like to hear this though. She's a big fan of getting Godfather's for family get togethers when she's in town so we don't have to cook. Maybe Nate will be able to eat more than just a salad.

Tuesdays = Pizza

2008-10-14T10:15:00.000-07:00

While we won't go every week I'm thinking Tuesdays will frequently be pizza night. If you subscribe to the Pizza Luce newsletter you saw that their gluten-free menu is available on Tuesdays starting today. When we previewed the menu I was upset that I forgot to bring a camera. Well, they had a photographer there who wanted to take a picture of our pizzas and they used the photo in the newsletter. See Nate's arm in there?

Heinz

2008-10-14T07:06:00.000-07:00

Heinz has recently added a world-wide list of gluten-free products to their website. Check it out for easier planning/shopping.

Bed and Breakfasts

2008-10-13T10:48:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for a Bed and Breakfast that offers gluten free meals? The InnSeekers website lets you search for Bed and Breakfasts by state and then on the lefthand side you can filter your search by those that offer gluten free meals.