What's Filling My Cooler All Summer Long?!

It is beautiful out today!!  I can finally feel that summer is really on its way!  Thank GOD!!

With this beautiful weather comes pool parties, cookouts, picnics, and bonfires!   You can't really show up to any of the above without a cooler full of drinks.  I don't know about you guys but there is something I love about being able to grab a bottle out a cooler like everyone else gets to do!  It makes me feel a little more normal to hold that bottle in my hand and be able to lazily take a sip of it! Is that just me?

It's hard finding something gluten free that is easy to just grab a bottle and sip without wincing!  A lot of the gluten free beer on the market is just down right disgusting.  And for some of it, the true gluten free status is questionable..... no thank you!  There is always cider... but some of that is just way to sweet for me.  And if sweetness isn't a problem, there is always that simple fact that it is usually very heavy and filling.  I can only end up drinking one, maybe two max.... until now!




I was at my local Hy-Vee and one of the nice guys in the liquor department said I needed to taste this seasonal cider, and that I would end up buying a whole case!

At first I was skeptical because it was Cider Boys, and I didn't like their Magic Apple (Strawberry flavor).  But this was called Peach County, and I love peaches so I said what's the harm in tasting it?   He cracked a bottle open for me and oh my goodness... It was love at first taste.   Well turned out the harm was to my bank account because now I'm obsessed!

I don't even know how to describe to you how delicious it is.  It is light, not too sweet, but has a distinct peach flavor.  It is basically summer in  bottle!  And thanks to my Mama and Papa who were with me,  I did end up leaving with a whole case as part of my birthday present!  I keep passing bottles out to my friends telling them that they NEED to try it!  Guess I will be needing another case ASAP!

A Vitamix For My Birthday!!

Isn't she pretty!?

 I have been lusting after one of these babies for quite a while, but I just couldn't bring myself to spend the money when I had a perfectly good blender already.  I'm sure I will soon realize that that "good" blender really wasn't so good and not at all perfect in comparison to my newest toy.

I use my blender almost every morning to make my green smoothies.  And then there is always the never ending pitchers of margaritas and other frozen cocktails that I whip up to think about too.  Salsas, hummus, dressings... the list goes on.  I can also make my own flours and my own almond or coconut milk! 

I'm beyond excited for how smooth it will blend my smoothies.   My GI Doc tells me that because of my supercool immune system and it's lymphocytic colitis I shouldn't be having a lot of fiber, especially in the form of fresh fruits and veges.  Well I don't like that kinda talk!  I feel like garbage if I don't get all those good nutrients into my broken GI system somehow.  This way my blender will do all the digesting for me and I can just absorb all the good stuff without all the work for my tummy!  (He thought about getting me a juicer, but knew I wouldn't use it as much if I had to clean all those parts!)

 I think my new Vitamix will soon become the most loved part of my kitchen.

Being a Vitamix virgin, I am not yet aware of all the superpowers the machine possesses.  Do you guys and gals have a Vitamix?   What's your favorite thing to use it for?

Gluten Free Adventures

I am so so faithful to my absolute favorite restaurant ever... Mi Margarita!  They are so good to me there!  And the food is always good... and the drinks...oh my goodness!  Best. Margaritas. Ever.

Although I could eat Mexican food every single day of my life and not get bored.... not everyone feels the same.  It makes me wonder if people hesitate to ask me out to dinner or lunch dates because they know they will have to eat Mexican food....again :/

Maybe it's time to expand my horizons so I don't make all of our friends bored,  or make Mi Margarita run out of salsa or tequila!

This is where the idea for gluten free adventures was born.

I have been to many a place that tells me they can't feed me anything... and I just walk out the door.  That, my friends, is not a good feeling.  So to avoid that feeling I always just go to my usual place.  When I go out to eat I want it to be enjoyable, not stressful... and I know I have no worries or fear at Mi Margarita.  It is my happy place, my comfort zone.  But I need to grow up a bit.  (No offense Mi Marg)  So, I have decided to not let it bother me when someone is rude/inconsiderate/ignorant/(insert any other not so nice adjective).  That's life right?

 Instead I simply don't give them my business, and move on.  Money talks... and they won't get mine.  And so what if  I end up back at Mi Margarita...then I wash my sorrows down with some margaritas and all is right in my world again.  See, no harm done.

Besides how am I going to make people understand if I first don't make them aware? How can I expect a change if I don't first ask for it?

So I will be exploring the restaurant scene and sharing my expierience with you all here.  I will be focusing on how friendly and knowledgable the staff is when it comes to celiac disease or food allergies/intolerances, and how willing they are to help.   Are they taking me seriously?  I will also focus on how good the food is, and of course the drinks.  So check back to see how celiac friendly the world (in all reality, mostly just the Illinois Valley)  REALLY is....

I love this image from Udi's
Why is this so difficult for some people to comprehend??

Gluten Free Playdough!

I am a kid at heart! I always say if I am literally as big as a kid (I'm only 4 foot 10!) and wear shoes (size 2!) that often match some of my preschoolers' shoes then why can't I act like a kid sometimes... Ok more than sometimes :). In fact I was just watching Clifford just this morning! It was the one where T-Bone is trying to be tough.. I love that one!

One thing that makes me so sad is thinking about children suffering from celiac disease or any food allergy for that matter. Do they understand? Do they feel left out? I was diagnosed at 19 and that was bad enough... I can't imagine living a childhood without gluten!

I sit down to a table full of play dough with my preschoolers and can't help but worry about all the gluten inside such an innocent children's favorite.  I have to muster up my T-bone toughness and force myself not to play along with the kids... And I hate not playing with the kids!

We all know how often the things children play with end up in their mouths, so consequently, whatever is on their hands also ends up in their mouths with those fingers... including any nasty gluten!  So ensuring that playdough is GF is very important.  Not to mention a lot of people (like me) react to topical gluten and like to avoid even touching the stuff.  So I sit there with the kids and think to myself, there has got to be a better way! 

I thought what better time than now to figure out the better way!  And this way is kid tested and celiac approved!  I've seen a lot of different ways of doing this both online and in countless books about celiac.  I sifted through them all and settled on this one from Gluten Free Doctor because it is not only GF, but it also smells yummy and has pretty colors!

Koolaid Kolored Play Dough

• 1/2 cup salt
• 2 tablespoons cooking oil
• 1 c boiling water
• 3/4 cup white rice flour
• 1/4 cup tapioca flour
• 1-2 pkg Koolaid (unsweetened)- Use different koolaids to get lots of different colors and scents.  FYI- the koolaid that is supposed to change colors won't work for this...I promise!

1.  Boil the water in a pan with the salt and oil.
2.  Add the koolaid color of your choice now. It will dissolve and make the color better. 
3.  Stir in the flours all at once and allow it to cook for 30 seconds or so, stirring all the time. 
4.  Mix another batch for each color you want to make.

If kept in a covered plastic container, this dough lasts for months.

Now I must admit, I am not one of Koolaid's biggest fans....But in this case I am going to let it slide, because I do not react topically to a boat load of sugar, I just don't think it is a great idea to ingest it on a regular basis. So I will not drink Koolaid, but it does one heck of a good job making this play dough look and smell pretty!  And with all edible GF ingredients if a little ends up in the kids' mouths it isn't the end of the world.

Look how pretty!

Pretty Gluten Free Eyes...The Mascaras!

Physicians Formula

They offer some excellent mascaras to choose from.   I get mine at my Target.. where else?! They sometimes even have packages with two for the price of one!  The ones that are gluten free say it right on the package too!

1.  Organic Wear 100% Natural Lash Boosting Mascara:
 This is my favorite! I have been using this mascara for years, and haven't found anything better.. not that I have been searching all that hard.  This stuff works, and doesn't bother my eyes- (which are typically pretty sensitve and I wear contacts almost everyday).


2. Organic Wear CC Curl + Care Mascara:
 Not a fan of this one.  It is supposed to condition your lashes and help them grow.  I can't promise anything there because I don't like the curved brush so I find myself not using this one. This is suppose to curl your lashes so you don't have to use an eyelash curler.... but I just felt like it made application that much harder.  I would have rather just used a curler!  Bottom line is, the formula is good, I just didn't like the silly brush.... you might though..

 
3.  Physicians Formula Organic Wear Fake Out Mascara:
  This one is good too! The brush is fatter than the black tube's, but otherwise it seems the same. Works good, doesn't bother my eyes... So I guess it comes down to whether or not you like hot pink!

Pacifica Natural Minerals

I was super excited to see this new line at my Target.  Everything is GF!  Yay!  I will do a whole post on what I've tried soon.

1.  Stellar Gaze Length & Strength Mineral Mascara: 
This stuff makes me a little sad.  I love the name (you know I'm a sucker for cute names), it's super easy to apply, looks phenomenal, but sadly flakes and irritates my eyes.  But like I said before my eyes are super sensitive so it might not bother you.  Give it a go.

2.  Pacifica Water Resistant Mascara
I admit I haven't tried this one.  I have not been able to fulfill my search for a good waterproof GF mascara so I may order this if I don't find any other options by the time it gets closer to pooltime!  The regular mascara from this line didn't work out so well for me though so I'm still on the fence... Maybe you can tell me what you think..

Mineral Fusion

My sister-in-law got me addicted to these products when she bought me some of their lotion for Christmas!  I admit I haven't tried either of these because I typically buy my products locally, and well, my little town doesn't have a whole foods :(   These are next on my list though because I haven't found a product of theirs I didn't like!

1.  Lengthening Mascara:



2.  Volumizing Mascara:

Afterglow

I admit it.... I am an afterglow virgin!  I know, I know... You can't believe I haven't tried any of THE original gluten free makeup companie's stuff!  I am not so patiently waiting for my first afterglow order to come in the mail!  I will let you know what I think!  Do you have any favorites that you would suggest??

1. Organic Infused Pure Soul Mascara:

My Absolute Favorite Gluten Free Bread Machine Recipe

I have found quite possibly the only bread recipe that I will ever need for the rest of my life!  Ok... I may be exaggerating just a bit, but this is seriously that good!  Try it!


Gluten Free Dairy Free Whole Grain Bread
(click for the original post from Gluten Free Real Food)
 

3 large eggs lightly beaten

1 tsp apple cider vinegar

1/4 cup oil of choice (canola, olive, corn, coconut, grapeseed etc)

1 1/3 cup milk of choice – unsweetened (rice, hemp, almond, cows) warmed to about body temperature

1T +1 t honey

3 T brown sugar

1/2 cup millet,sorghum, quinoa, amaranth or buckwheat flour  (choose one)

1/2 cup second choice of flour – millet, sorghum, quinoa, amaranth or buckwheat flour (choose one)

1 cup multi grain rice flour, brown rice flour or my favorite teff flour

1/2 cup tapioca flour

1/2 cup corn starch (potato starch works too)

3 t xanthan gum

1 1/2 t salt

2 1/4 t dry active yeast

optional add ins:

flax seeds

sesame seeds

sunflower seeds

add in a total of about a 1/4 cup

Directions:

Combine first 6 ingredients in bread maker pan. Sift next 7 ingredients and then add it on top of liquid ingredients. Toss in your add ins. Make a little well in the dry ingredients and add the yeast in to the hole. Start the bread maker. My bread machine has a gluten free setting so I always just use that setting for a 1.5 loaf size.  It always turns out perfectly!

*I have tried all kinds of combinations of flours/starches that are listed in this recipe and it always turns out perfectly.  I think my favorite may be when I use teff, buckwheat, and millet.

*If you don't have a bread machine check out the link above... she says you can make it in the oven too!  I haven't tried it myself, but it seems to be a success for her!



I just want to thank Kim for coming up with this recipe and posting it for all the world to fall in love with!

That's pretty much all that needs to be said about that!  Just try it and let me know what you think! :)

 

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole... Gluten Free & Dairy Free!

Adapting recipes to be gluten free comes natural to me, like I could probably do it in my sleep! Dairy free on the other hand... that has been a bit of a struggle, especially when it came to casseroles.

I have not found a decent dairy free substitute for cheese.  It may be a lack of resources in my little community, or it may be that what I have in mind just doesn't exist. Either way, everything I've tried has been a fail.  Sour cream is another one that I haven't found a substitute for. If you have any suggestions I would love to hear them! ;)

Cream cheese, milk, and butter I can manage, but a lot of casseroles (at least the ones I always used to make) have a ton of cheese and/or sour cream.  So finding casserole recipes has been a bit of a challenge.  Again... Suggestions are welcomed! ;)

But I'm onto something with this one...

Check out this recipe which gets two thumbs up!

Chicken Cordon Blue Casserole

2 lbs skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size chunks
1 C crushed rice chex

1 t garlic powder

1 T nutritional yeast 

1 T chives     

Whatever other seasonings you like..

1/2 cup milk
1 egg, mixed with the milk

8 oz ham- diced

1 can (10 3/4 oz) cream of chicken soup

   *I make mine from scratch... I'll get the recipe posted soon for you!
1 C almond milk

1. Mix the crumbs, nutritional yeast, & seasonings together. 

2.  Dip chicken in egg and milk mixture, then toss with bread crumb mix, coating well.

3.  Brown in a little oil until golden.
4.   Place chicken in a baking dish, add ham.
5.  Mix soup with 1 cup of milk and pour over all.

6.  Sprinkly any remaining breadcrumb mix on the top.
7.  Bake at 350°F for 30-35 minutes, or until tender and bubbly.

Click here for the original recipe.