Big Boo Boo

Well, I just discovered that I've been making quite a major mistake with my gluten-free diet. It all started yesterday after the hot dog buns when me and the hubbie went to mix up some more Nearly Normal Flour. One of the ingredients is Corn Flour, and as I grabbed the bag of Bob's Red Mill Corn Flour, I noticed it didn't say "Gluten-free" like all his other bags. Hm. I immediately ran to Google (how did people survive before the internet) and did some research. When I came across a blog post from about a week ago, talking about how Bob's Red Mill Corn Flour is now going to be gluten-free, I knew I was in trouble. Apparently, all this time I've been using it, not gluten-free due to cross contamination. Sigh. I was pretty upset and frustrated. I've been so so strict, yet all along my flour has probably been contaminating me. After freaking out, and whining to the hubbie, and trying to trace back all the times I've been sick since starting the diet to see if my baking was involved, I finally just said, "Oh well. It's a learning process. Throw out the flour, and we'll start again."

Anyway, that's my story of the day. A lesson learned: always read ALL the stinkin labels oh-so-carefully!

Gluten-free Hot Dog Buns

UPDATE: Since originally posting, I went to Disneyland and experienced EnerG Brand Tapioca Hot Dog Buns. Can't go back. They are my fav. Just sayin'... :)

(Yes, I'm a bit of a ketchup, saucy girl. :))

What's Memorial Day without hot dogs I ask you?! :) After being surrounded by hot dogs on our cruise last month, I have been craving them like crazy and wasn't about to let the holiday pass without pulling out the George Foreman and grilling some! (Gotta love apartment complexes that forbid real barbecue grills :)) Gluten-free hot dogs were easy: we went with BallPark. But what about buns?! I didn't know what to do. In the end, I used Jule's Shepards Bread Stick recipe (found in the before recommended book), and they actually turned out quite tasty! I did them a little too big, not expecting them to raise as much as they did, but overall...yum. Nice and spongy like a hot dog bun, and yummy flavor.

That being said, if any of you know of a killer recipe, do share!

Happy Memorial Day!

Gluten-free at PF Changs

My husband took me to dinner at PF Changs yesterday for our anniversary, and I gotta say...best dining out experience so far! Everyone at the restaurant, from the hostess to the waitress, knew exactly what we were talking about when we requested the gluten-free menu. No one was at all surprised or confused. The waitress even volunteered all kinds of helpful info without me even having to ask (i.e. they use seperate woks for all the gluten-free food). And I was so excited when they actually handed me a REAL menu, with only gluten-free options on it! It wasn't a print out from the internet, they didn't hand me their normal menu and tell me what they could change to be gluten-free...it was a complete gluten-free menu!

We started off with the Lettuce Wraps, and then ordered the Chang's Spicy Chicken and the Lemon Chicken. It was all delicious--I was thrilled to be eating a REAL meal. A lot of the times I go to a "gluten-free" restaurant, and end up feeling like I should be happy just to be able to eat a bland meal there. Not the case here...there was breaded chicken, there were sauces, our waitress even knew to bring us gluten-free soy sauce. It was such a great, great experience! Highly recommend it.

My heart belongs to CHEX!

Just got back from the grocery store and am toting my first box of gluten-free Honey Nut Chex! That's right!! I'd heard Chex was expanding their gluten-free line, but hadn't expected to see them so soon. What a great surprise! From what I hear, Chex will now be offering gluten-free Rice, Corn, Honey Nut and Strawberry Chex! As a cereal girl, I couldn't be more pleased! :)

Haribo Gummies

I am a gummy candy fanatic, and Haribo has always been my brand of choice...so I was thrilled to find this on their website:

"Are Haribo products gluten free?Most Haribo products are gluten free. The following Haribo products are NOT gluten free: Black Licorice Wheels, Red Licorice Wheels, Sour S’ghetti, Fruity Pasta, Pico-Balla, Allsorts and Pontefract Cakes."

http://www.haribo.com/planet/us/info/faq.php

Not only are most of their products gluten-free, but it was also so easy to find! Go Haribo!!!

(You MUST try putting the Gummy Bears in your gluten-free rice krispie treats. Such a yummy addition! Yeah...I'm kinda like a really tall three year old...)

Favorite Flour

I am by no means the expert in this category yet, because honestly I have done very little experimenting up to this point. In fact, I loved the first all purpose flour mix I tried so much, that I haven't experimented at all! But I still thought it was worth sharing: Jules Shepard's Nearly Normal All Purpose Flour Mix. (Random note: for me it's easier not to add the xanthum gum directly to the mix...I add it to the dry ingredients at the time of baking. It's an extra step, but it allows me to adjust it if needed. Usually I use a teaspoon for every cup of flour mix, but sometimes a little less...)

I am pretty picky when it comes to my baking. I'm a perfectionist, and like things to taste, well, perfect! I was terrified of what the gluten-free thing would do to my baking...but seriously, with this flour mix, I pretty much use all my old recipes, and they usually turn out amazingly normal (taste, texture and form!).

I've tried it in all the following with great results:
Homemade buttermilk pancakes
Gooey Chocolate Cookies
Homemade brownies
Homemade corn bread
Gluten-free pizza crust
Chocolate Chip Cookies

I've tried it in all the following with nearly great results:
Chocolate sheetcake (perfect texture, but I could taste the corn flour a bit which bugged me...next time I'm going to try adding more cocoa to mask the flavor)
Homemade sugar cookies (perfect form, and pretty perfect flavor, but the texture was a little off...too crumby... I'm still contemplating how to fix that...any suggestions?)

I still have a lot to learn, but for now, this flour has been a LIFESAVER for me! If anyone out there has a favorite, don't be shy! I'd love input!

Question for you...

Ok, so if there are any expert people with Celiac out there, maybe you can give me a hand. I was told that oats are part of my no-no list (with the exception of certain foreign oats, etc). Recently, someone who's had Celiac for a while sent me a recipe for oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, and told me they think Capn Crunch is gluten-free. I was ecstatic, but after looking at the label saw that oat flour is the second ingredient.

Any insights on oats? What's the rule?

Gluten-free Cruise on Carnival

Me and the hubbie just took a week long cruise on the Carnival Glory. One of the reasons we chose Carnival--they say on their website that they can offer a gluten-free menu for their guests! Just thought I'd report on how it went.

Here's how it works: each night in the formal dining room, they would send over a hostess to show me the next night's menu. She would help me pick something that the chef could prepare gluten-free, and put in the order for me. Not too shabby...not a special gluten-free menu, but I found I was able to eat pretty well! Steak (without seasoning), different chickens...they even prepared a yummy gluten-free fettucini for me one night! They offered gluten-free bread, but after the first night, I passed (yucky yuck). For dessert, I mostly had fruit plates, vanilla ice-cream and sherbet, although one night the chef sent out a gluten-free bread pudding. Just make sure to be alert and careful--one of the first nights they brought me out a side of veggies in a cream sauce, and even though they reassured me they were gluten-free the first time I asked, I had a bad feeling. Didn't think they could be gluten-free. After re-checking with the chef, the waiter whisked them away very apologetically and brought me out a clean plate.

Also, be warned that they only provide the gluten-free help for dinner in the formal dining room. Breakfast and lunch I was on my own. Breakfast was a piece of cake. I'd have the omelet station prepare an omelet, and have some bacon, yogurt and fruit on the side. Lunch proved to be more complicated. The buffet had a great salad bar, and there was always fresh fruit, but I found myself ODing on those things after eating them for lunch everyday. The lunch buffet usually included a carving station, and my husband got really good at talking to the head chef to find out exactly how the meat had been prepared. On days where that was safe, it was a lifesaver.

Just a couple of warnings... the first day, before we/they figured out the gluten-free thing (we had to talk to the maitre-d about it before our first dinner), I almost became the first person in the history of the earth to starve to death on a cruise ship! :) Nothing at the buffet seemed safe for lunch after we embarked except for salad, so I lived on that and fresh fruit the first day. IF YOU'RE GOING TO CRUISE, TAKE SNACKS! It was really hard to always be surrounded by yummy looking pizza and burgers and deli sandwiches...even the hot dogs started looking good! Luckily, me and the hubby had brought along lots of gluten-free rice krispie treats, and some cinnamon glazed almonds, and some Butterfingers & Baby Ruth's (soooooooooo great that they are gluten-free). Otherwise, the trip would have been a lot harder.

All in all, a good experience. Tough and tempting at times, but great to be able to at least have a delicious, safe dinner provided each night!