Tuesday, December 10, 2013

GF Newbies notes from 12/9/13


*For quick meal ideas: nachos; tacos; pasta; quesadillas
* For Holiday meals: take along something you can eat; also, eat before you go so you aren't as  hungry!
* Millet. It's gluten-free and can be used for breakfast with syrup/or use at lunchtime or dinner subbing it for rice.
*Sweet Rewards is opening on Wednesday in Waukee. they are on Hickman; behind the Heartland Tire. She has a page on facebook where you can find more information.
*I get emails from Udi's and their most recent post was about people's favorite gluten free blogs. I thought I'd share in case you are interested! http://udisglutenfree.com/2013/12/06/fav-gluten-free-blogs/

Sunday, September 15, 2013

September GF Newbies Notes


Check out this article about visiting the dentist: (Living Without Article)--and a thanks to Meredith and Tammy for passing this along!

--First annual celiac disease awareness walk! Saturday Oct. 5, 2013. Register and donate online atwww.celiacwalk.org; for more info or questions: dsmceliacwalk@gmail.com

--Michelle with Sweet Rewards Bakery (GF and dairy-free) has expanded--you can find her products at most Dahl's; as well as multiple HyVee's.  Her products are also at Gusto's pizza (downtown on Ingersoll and a new one in WDM); Also, she is opening up her own bakery store in Waukee!

Out to Eat
--Louie's Wine Dive on 42nd & University (next to Campbell's)
--Hickory Park in Ames: GF menu & dessert!
--call ahead to the restaurant you are going to find details and more info. If going to the restaurant for the first time, it's a good idea to try to go during a not so busy time.

Stores & products
--Whole Foods GF pie crust is good
--Aldi's & Big Lots have GF items
--Trader Joe's hash browns are recommended
--GF chicken nuggets: Tyson has GF and Perdue is also really good
--Udi's corn tortilla shells--has the large size; found in the frozen section
--Schar's GF bread mix; GF Pantry bread mix & Udi's pre-made bread; Schar's ciabatta buns
--Trader Joe's and Whole Foods will let you try any of their products before you buy it.

other
-when meal planning, simplify things by having a themed day (meatless Monday; Sunday salad; Mexican night; Friday pizza; etc.)
--Melissa has started a group on facebook! "Like" Being Celiac at https://www.facebook.com/BeingCeliac


Saturday, August 31, 2013

Helpful GF Apps


Today's Dietician reviewed the top 10 apps clients can use to follow a healthful gluten-free lifestyle:

Some other apps you might want to check out:
--Betty Crocker Mobile Cookbook
--My Grocery Master

Dining
--Find Me Gluten-Free: Find GF restaurants and businesses. Free.
--Is that GlutenFree, Eating Out
--Don't Eat that! (Enter the name of an ingredient on a label to find out if it's safe for you. $1.99 for iphone
--Grocery iQ
--MyFoodFacts
--Kids with Food Allergies

Notes from August GF Newbies group


--Nabisco has GF crackers at Hyvee and I also found them at Fareway.
--Menchie's (frozen yogurt place) has all the top allergens labeled. They have GF/dairy free/egg free.
--HyVee brand has GF waffles. I have tried these and thought they were good--better than Van's (just my personal opinion)
--Ronzoni GF pasta is really good
--Annie's has microwave GF mac & cheese
--Favorite restaurants:  PF Chang's, Biaggi's, Outback, Red Robin ( you can buy their GF buns for $1), and Bonefish
--Buffalo Wild Wings on Merle Hay is GF aware
--Recommended magazines: Living Without, Delight GF, and GF Living

Apps for gluten-free eating:

Friday, August 30, 2013

Holiday Pot Luck & DM Celiac Walk


The following is a note from Barb Huyette:

Hello To All Our Gluten Free Friends!!!
I finally was able to confirm a date for our Holiday Pot Luck!  It will be November 9th, 11:30 am at Lutheran Church of Hope, 925 Jordan Creek Parkway.   I will be sending more information on this in a few weeks.  You can be assured that we will have the usual fantastic holiday meal and all the trimmings!!!  SO MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW!!!
Now please get involved in Des Moines' First Ever Celiac Walk on October 5th!  It’s only a little more than one month away!  Register before September 23 to guarantee a T-Shirt to commemorate the walk and save $5.  Registrations after September 23 will not receive a T-Shirt and will have to pay an additional $5.  
A flier is attached for you to print and post at your GI doctor's office, employer, place of worship, stores at which you shop, etc.  The goal of the walk is to raise money for The Center for Celiac Research!  Form a team for more fun!  We hope to see you onOctober 5 at The Hotel Fort Des Moines!

Here Are The Details:
Date:  October 5, 2013

Place:  Des Moines Skywalk System

Registration location
:  Lobby of the Hotel Fort Des Moines, 10th and Walnut, Des Moines

Free parking location:  Nationwide parking ramp, 12th and Walnut

On-line registration:  
www.celiacwalk.org

Email:  dsmceliacwalk@gmail.com for questions
Check in and/or late registration:  8 a.m. – 9 a.m.
Vendors will be on site providing information and samples.

Time walk begins:  9 a.m.

Registration fees:  before September 23:  14 and over:  $25;  13 and under:  $15

                              after September 23:  14 and over $30;     13 and under:  $20

Volunteers are needed!  If you would like to volunteer, please contact Denise or Sarah at 515-577-3709 or 515-729-6710 ormenzel5@q.com.  There will be a volunteer meeting at Menzel’s house (1003 Leland, Des Moines) on Saturday, August 31, at 7 p.m.  Please call or e-mail if you plan on attending.  If you can't attend this meeting, but would like to volunteer, please contact Menzels.

If you are unable to participate in the walk, you can still donate money either personally or on line.  75% of the money raised will go to research;  25% will stay with our local support group.
I hope to see you at both great events!

July GF Newbies notes


cereals
--Nature's Path quinoa and amaranth
--make sure to use oats that are certified GF

breads:
--Schar cibatta bread or french loaf
--Udi's
--Rudi's
--canyon house bakery

Apps to help with GF shopping:
--Ipitt
--shopwell

Places to shop:
Trader Joe's
--GF list available online

HyVee
--Lori Graff (HyVee at Railroad and Grand) is super helpful and eats GF
--Health Market: GF list available online


Whole Foods
Campbell's Nutrition

Other info:
--Brenton crackers makes GF crackers
--Betty Crocker makes GF all purpose flour
--Pillsbury GF cookie dough, pizza dough & pie crust
--watch out for gluten in make-up (especially lipstick); lotion, etc.--Whole Foods carries GF make-up.

Grilling:
--Grillmates (McCormick) Montreal steak seasoning
--make sure to clean grill/or BBQ your items in foil if you need to

Label Reading:
--modified food starch made in US is OK
--caramel color-OK if made in the US
--watch for dextrin!
--hydrolyzed veg. protein--most made from corn or peanuts
--maltodextrin: foreign maltodextrins can be made from wheat--but if it's made in US it's OK.
--vinegars: most are OK; but NOT malt vinegars

GF Dunkin' Donuts!

Check out Dunkin' Donuts Gluten free donut article at:
http://www.gluten-freeliving.blogspot.com/2013/07/gluten-free-dunkin-donuts-debate.html?m=1

Cauliflower crust pizza

Serves 2.

Crust:
2 cups grated cauliflower (about 1/2 head)
1/2 cup yogurt
1 egg
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp. salt

For the topping:
3/4 cup of your favorite store-bought or homemade pizza or marinara sauce
1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
choice of toppings (cooked meat, pepperoni, mushrooms, peppers, etc.)

Directions:
1.  Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2.  Grate the cauliflower by hand or with a food processor until it takes on a grainy or grated texture.
3.  Place 2 cups of the grated cauliflower into a clean, thin dish towel.  Wrap it up in the middle and twist closed, squeezing out all the moisture.  Place the dry cauliflower into a bowl and add the yogurt, eggs and herbs.  Fold the mixture until everything is evenly combined.
4. Place the cauliflower "dough" onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and spread the mixture with your hands until it is about 3/4 inches thick.  This is your crust.
5.  Bake the crust for 30 minutes or until lightly browned and firm enough to hold its shape.  Remove the crust from the oven and top with marinara sauce, shredded mozzarella and your choice of veggies and meat.
6.  Pop the pizza back into the oven for another 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.  Enjoy!

Quick Meal Recipes


Quick Meal Recipes
Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Soup (we usually make this in late fall and throughout the winter)
1 onion, chopped
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (16 ounce) can chili beans
1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 bottle GF beer
2 (10 ounce) cans diced tomatoes with green chilies....DO NOT drain
1 package McCormick or Ortega taco seasoning
3 whole skinless, boneless chicken breasts
Shredded Cheddar cheese for garnish
Sour cream for garnish
GF tortilla chips for garnish

Directions:
Place the onion, chili beans, black beans, corn, tomato sauce, beer and diced tomatoes into slow cooker.  Add taco seasoning and stir to blend.  Lay chicken breasts on top of the mixture, pressing down slightly until just covered by the other ingredients.  Set slow cooker on LOW, cover and cook for 5 hours. Remove chicken breasts from the soup and allow to cool long enough to be handled.  Shred the chicken and stir it back into the soup and continue cooking on LOW for 2 hours.  Serve topped with shredded Cheddar cheese, a dollop of sour cream, and crushed tortilla chips! Yum!

Easy Sloppy Joe Pot Pie
1 lb lean ground beef
1 medium onion  chopped
1 can (15.5 oz) original sloppy joe sauce
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 cup milk
1 cup Bisquick GF mix

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 400 F. Lightly grease bottom of 8-inch square glass baking dish with shortening or cooking spray.  In 10-inch skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until beef is browned; drain. Stir in sloppy joe sauce and cheese.  Spoon into baking dish.
2.  In medium bowl, stir together remaining ingredients until blended. Pour over beef mixture.
3. Back about 30 minutes or until golden brown.
Makes 6 servings.

Easy Sweet and Sour Chicken
1 Tbsp oil
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken cut into bit sized pieces
2 cups veggies of your choice (we typically use peppers, carrots, water chestnuts, etc.) or you may use frozen stir-fry veggies if you desire
1 can (8 ounce) pineapple chunks in juice, undrained
1/2 cup sweet and sour sauce
1 up water
2 cups Minute Rice (white or brown) uncooked

Directions:
1. Heat oil in large skillet on meduim-high heat.  Add chicken; cook and stir 4 minutes or until cooked through.
2.  Add veggies, pineapple with juice and sweet and sour sauce; mix well.  Stir in water. Bring to boil.
3.  Stir in rice; cover.  Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand for a couple of minutes.


Nutella Yogurt Fruit Dip
1 cup plain, nonfat Greek yogurt
1/2 cup Nutella

Mix the yogurt and Nutella together in a small bowl until completely combined. Refrigerate until ready to use. Serve with fresh cut fruit....super yummy with bananas, apples, and strawberries!


Southwestern Pork Chops
1 cup GF prepared chunky tomato salsa
1 can corn, drained
1 can GF black beans, rinsed and drained
1 tsp. vegetable oil
6 pork loin chops

1.  combine salsa, corn, black beans in a mixing bowl.
2. In a large skillet with a lid, heat the oil over medium high heat.  Add the pork chops and brown on one side for 4 minutes. 
3.  Turn Chops over an spoon the salsa mixture evenly over the top.
4.  Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer the pork chops for 8-10 minutes or to desired doneness.

Sweet & Sour Pork chops (crockpot)
1 can (8oz) crushed pineapple, undrained
1 cup honey barbecue sauce
1/3 cup finely chopped onion
2 Tbsp. chili sauce
4 bone-in pork loin chops

1. In a small bowl, combine the pineapple, barbecue sauce, onion and chili sauce. Pour half into a greased 3 qt. slow cooker. Top with pork chops and remaining sauce.  Cover and cook on low for 4 1/2 to 5 1/4 hours or until meat is tender.

Colorful Kielbasa from Quick Cooking Annual Recipes 1999
1 can (10 ¾ ounces) GF condensed cream of celery soup
¾ cup water
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
1 pound smoked kielbasa, cut into ½ inch pieces
¾ cup uncooked long grain rice
1 pkg (10 ounces) frozen peas
Optional:
1 jar (4 ½ ounces) sliced mushrooms, drained
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
I put in a few shakes of Italian Seasoning because the GF Health Valley Cream of Celery soup isn’t very flavorful.

In a skillet, combine soup, water and butter; bring to a boil.  Add kielbasa and rice.  Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15-18 minutes or until rice is almost tender.  Stir in peas and mushrooms.  Cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until the rice is tender and the peas are heated through.  Sprinkle with cheese; cover and let stand until cheese is melted.  4-6 servings

Monday, February 18, 2013

GF Newbies notes from 2/11/13


Mentioned apps to play around with:
Shopwell App
ipiit
FoodWiz

Websites:
Iowa girl eats--modify recipes to be GF
Gluten Free Fix
celiac family.

Trader Joes has chicken meatballs that are GF and very tasty
Whole Foods websites has GF recipes that are good
Tyson has chicken nuggets that are GF!  Found them at SuperTarget on Mills Civic. (frozen section)


Cheaper to buy GF food in bulk and freeze extras
We talked about Pamela's baking mix being used for many recipes especially to make muffins, breads, and cookies

I mentioned a recipe for pancakes that is our family favorite, however, it does have oatmeal in it, so should be avoided in the early months.
HEARTY OATMEAL PANCAKES
1/2 cup gf flour
1/2 cup Pamela's baking mix (I use 1 cup and omit other gf flour)
1 cup gluten free quick oats ( I use Trader Joe's)
2 Tbs. sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 cup skim milk
1/4 cup egg substitute
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
Combine flour(s), oats, sugar, baking powder and baking soda in a small bowl.  Add milk, egg substitute and applesauce; mix until lumps have broken but do not over stir.  Pour 1/4 cup batter for each pancake onto a hot griddle coated with cooking spray.  We also put chopped bananas in these.  We really like these served with peanut butter and syrup on top.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

notes from GF Newbies: 1-14-13


Reading labels: make sure to look for hidden sources of gluten! (refer to the handout from last night's meeting for some helpful hints!).  if you are unsure, call the company and inquire about their cleaning process (is the food you are questioning....is it made first thing in the morning, etc.).  however, if ever in doubt about a particular product, even after you've called the company.......LEAVE IT OUT! -- it's not worth it!

favorite hot spots for GF shopping:
Hy-Vee (most stores offer a 10% discount on health market merchandise on wednesdays and some offer this discount again on saturdays, but only at select locations!)  *per attendees opinion, the windsor heights and 86th/douglas stores offer a superb variety of gluten free products!
Whole Foods
Trader Joes
Campbells

along with various kitchen tips, etc. we discussed favorite types of pasta....here are a few favs:
trader joe's
schar
tinkyada
archer farms (target's own brand)
quinoa
if you have concerns about cross contamination in the kitchen, it has been advised that you prepare whatever you may be eating on a plate to avoid such circumstances.  other people have designated a particular area/counter space to prepare gluten free food only.