Thursday, April 30, 2009

The Tweeterverse goes Gluten Free




I'm not sure how many of you Twitter, but there is a new Twitter-based phenomenon out there called Twibes.  Like Tribes, but Twitterfied.  Anyway, there is a gluten-free lifestyle Twibe.  I'm intrigued.  It's not regional, so it looks like the posts are all over the map, literally.  Still, worth a look!

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Tell Washington to take Gluten-Free concerns seriously

I got this email from NTGIG President Betty Barfield, who got it from the Amercian Celiac Disease Alliance
The American Celiac Disease Alliance, our partner in Washington, is asking your help in contacting your State government officials to cosponsor the National Celiac Awareness Bill! You can use the form letter in the website below (or you can compose your own using the same website) to address your Congressman/woman asking them to cosponsor and support the National Celiac Awareness Bill, HConRes 110. All you have to do is click on the Take Action! link and follow the directions. It literally takes no more than 60 seconds to complete this. Join celiacs across the U.S. in getting this Bill sponsorship. We need you to do your part!!

News from the American Celiac Disease Alliance

It's Awareness Month

Take Action!

To meet the needs of patients with celiac disease Congress needs to know how many Americans have the condition. What else? They need to know the symptoms and treatment and the concerns or problems affecting those with the condition.

In just 60 seconds, you can give this important information to your Representative.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

North Texas Gluten Intolerance Group meeting coming up May 2

The next NTGIG meeting will be this Saturday.  They'll have cookbook author and celiac Annalise Roberts in person as well as much, much more!  

Also, a reminder that the NTGIG's Celiac Awareness event Moving Feet Without Wheat will be held Sat. May, 16 at River Legacy Park in Arlington.  I'm sure they'll have lots of info and sign-up opportunities for that at the meeting.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Could it be the gluten-free pretzel recipe of my dreams?

NTGIG President Betty Barfield just sent this Rebecca Reilly recipe out with her latest news letter.  It sounds very promising.  I have been craving big, soft pretzels for quite some time.  I'll try this out and report back!

INGREDIENTS
3 -2/3 cups GF flour blend or high protein
blend**
1/3 cup potato flour
2 tablespoons rapid yeast
2 ½ teaspoons xanthan gum
1 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons melted butter
1 ½-2 cups warm water
Cooking water
2/3 cups baking soda
10 cups water
Glaze
1 yolk mixed with 2 tablespoons water

DIRECTIONS
Making the dough
1. Mix the high protein blend, potato flour, yeast, xanthan gum,
and salt together.
2. Using the paddle attachment, mix on medium speed, adding
the melted butter and 1-1/4 cup of the warm water.
3. Add enough water to make a soft but not wet dough. Beat for
5 minutes.
4. Cover and let sit for 5 minutes.
5. Beat for 4 minutes.
6. Oil lightly, cover with plastic wrap and place the bowl in a
warm place for 30 minutes.

Return to the half sheet pan, brush the top of each pretzel with the beaten egg yolk and water mixture and 

sprinkle with the pretzel salt. Bake until dark golden brown in color, approximately 12 to 14 minutes or until 

browned. Transfer to a cooling rack for at least 5 minutes before serving.   **High protein blend:  1 1/4 cup 

chickpea (garbanzo) or other bean flour, 1 cup potato starch, corn starch or arrow root, 1 cup tapioca starch, 

1 cup fine brown rice flour or sorghum  


Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Chef to Plate at Rio Mambo

I just found out about this cool event from the NTGIG. Check it out.
Rio Mamb0
May 3rd at 12:30 PM.
6125 SW Loop 820
Fort Worth
RSVP to the Klines (817) 596-8491



Monday, April 20, 2009

Starbucks to offer gluten-free cake

I saw a link to this on Gluten-Free Living's blog. Starbucks will begin offering a Gluten-free Orange Valencia Cake with Almonds May 5 nation wide. They will have a sample cake unwrapped in the pastry case, but the rest will be served individually packaged to avoid cross-contamination.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

What to eat at the Main St. Fort Worth Arts Festival?



I was at the Main St. Fort Worth Arts Festival today and saw some of my gluten-free favorites.  Nothing that I would eat as a main course, but definitely some snacktackular items including kettle corn, grilled ears of corn and fresh lemonade. I'm sure there were more gluten-free goodies, but those were the ones I spotted while shooting the above video for work.

There were probably turkey legs hiding somewhere, but I didn't see them.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Chadra Mezza & Grill - Fun with good gluten-free options


Chadra Mezza and Grill
1622 Park Place Ave.
Fort Worth, 76110
(817) 924-2372

I had a fabulous greek salad at Chadra for lunch this afternoon.  Although they said their falafel contains wheat flour, I'm sure they have some other great options - like fresh hummus and veggies.  I'll have to go back at an off-peak time and find out the complete gluten-free scoop.  Also, they have a patio where you can sit and dine with your dog!

I'll definitely be going back.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Even small gestures make Celiacs feel welcome



My aunt outdid herself as always this Passover - providing me with gluten-free versions of some foods and making sure there was at least one gluten-free dessert on hand.  One of my friends, while not a Celiac, has some eating restrictions of her own.  She recently went to an Easter celebration where no one had made any effort to cater to her needs.

I certainly don't expect people to have a complete gluten-free meal waiting for me, but when they make the effort, I definitely feel cared for and loved.  What I'm saying is, if you're not a Celiac and you invite someone over who is gluten free, even if you just have some fresh fruit on hand, the gesture will be appreciated.

Monday, April 13, 2009

The Cadbury egg debate continues

After my last post, I received this email from the devoted husband of a Celiac friend. 

I just thought I let you know (after seeing your blog item about Cadbury eggs). Megan has checked on these several times, and we don’t believe they are gluten free. She’s very disappointed. This is another posting from another blog.

http://glutenfreewikaduke.blogspot.com/2009/03/hershey-is-not-gf-friendly-company.html

Evidently there is much to debate about this topic here on Celiac.com. I leave it up to you guys to make your own decisions on this issue.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Cadbury creme eggs are gluten-free!

Someone more GF savvy than I, Elizabeth Barbone, noticed that I had the facts wrong in one of my posts.  I said that Cadbury creme eggs are not gluten free because they had glucose syrup from wheat in them.  According to Gluten-Free Living, even if the glucose syrup comes from wheat, by the time it is processed it doesn't contain gluten any more. Hello, tasty morsels!
Jen,
Hello! I stumbled across your blog. I just wanted you to know that glucose syrup *is* gluten-free, even if it comes from wheat.

Shelley Case has a section about this in her book, Gluten-Free Diet. And here is a link from "Gluten-Free Living": http://www.glutenfreeliving.com/ingredient.php#glucosesyrup

Gluten-Free Cafe - Asian Noodles


I'm always excited to try a new frozen  gluten-free meal, but I'm not sure this one by Gluten-Free Cafe will be added to my regular rotation.  It had a lot going for it in theory - gluten-free and vegetarian, but at 340 calories, there were 10 g of fat and only 8 g of protein and lets not even talk about the carbs.  It tasted OK, about the same as other similar dishes I've had from Amy's or Ethnic Gourmet, but not spectacular.

Still, I'm excited that this company has made the commitment to verify for themselves that their product truly is gluten free and I'm hopeful that I'll enjoy other dishes of theirs in the future.

Monday, April 6, 2009

Survey for Celiacs

Click Here to take survey

If you have a few minutes - I think it took me 5 actual minutes - to take a survey to contribute to research about Celiac disease, click above.  You'd be helping out Vimi Shukkoor of the University of Colorado.

Friday, April 3, 2009

FritoLay ID's gluten-free products


This may not be a surprise to all of you guys, but Frito-Lay identifies their gluten-free products on their website.  They even have two lines of products made in dedicated GF areas.  I recently purchased some of their mini bags of Smartfood popcorn products which I will be trying out soon.  

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Upcoming NTGIG meeting this Saturday

Time: Saturday, April 4, 9AM-12PM Celiac 101 Class; 10AM-12PM Regular Support Group Meeting

Place: Richland Hills Church of Christ, 6300 NE Loop 820, N. Richland Hills, TX 76180 (directions/map on the website www.northtexasgig.com)

They'll be discussing a very cool upcoming Celiac Awareness Event - Moving Feet Without Wheat

Come join us on Saturday May 16, 2009 at River Legacy Park in Arlington for the North Texas GIG's Moving Feet Without Wheat. This event is a fundraising event for the Gluten Intolerance Group of N.A. (our parent organization), North Texas GIG and The Center for Celiac Research in Baltimore, MD promoting celiac education, awareness and research. This will be a family friendly fun day complete with a gluten free picnic, a kid's carnival including a bounce house and plenty of GF tastes, raffle baskets of GF food and silent auction items.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Gluten-free Passover recipes

I received these from Karen Beleck - you can get on her listserv by emailing her at oatmatza@gmail.com



Remember that potato starch recipes, common at Pesach, are gluten free, and the chocolate cake recipe here is a compilation of several that were sent in. I am also including some references for those of you who are new to this diet.

Have a wonderful, healthy holiday, and a terrific year! And please continue to share the information with others who need the matza to celebrate Passover. Thanks for being an Ambassador for health.

The recipes and extra's in this letter are in order of the following:
- Gluten-Free Matza Balls
- Hope Levy Kotts' Spinach Kugel
- Flourless Chocolate Cake (2 Different Recipes)
- Macademia Torte
- Chocolate Dipped Macaroons
- Poached Pears
- Gluten-Free Recipe References

Sincerely,

Karen Beleck
Your Oat Matza Lady



Gluten-Free Matza Balls:

Ingredients:
2 Eggs
2 Tablespoons Canola Oil
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
2 Tablespoons Club Soda
1/2 Cup Gluten-Free Oat Matza Meal

Directions:
Beat eggs with a whisk until lemon colored. Add oil, salt, and club soda. Beat well. Mix in Matza Meal (do not over mix). Let stand at room temperature for a few minutes (some people put in the freezer for a few minutes, some people put in the refrigerator for a few minutes. This person found that leaving the mix stand at room temperature worked best. You can experiment for yourself and see what works best for you).
Roll dough into small 1/2 inch balls.
Fill pot halfway with water, bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and drop balls into the water. Cover and let simmer for 45 to 60 minutes. Matza Balls are finished when they are white and fluffy in the center. If yellow, cook 10 minutes more. (Some people freeze matza balls until time to heat).
Heat soup or broth. Add cooked Matza Balls.

Enjoy!!



Hope Levy Kott's Spinach Kugel (Dairy):

Ingredients:
2 16oz. Bags Chopped Spinach, defrosted with all the excess water squeezed out
1 lb. Ricotta Cheese
4 Eggs, beaten
1 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
1/2 Teaspoon Nutmeg
Ground Pepper to Taste
Juice of 1 Lemon
1/2 Cup EACH of Parmesan Cheese and Ground Almond Meal, mixed together
Oil, for the pan
Paprika

Directions:
Preheat Oven to 375 F, grease 9x13 baking pan.
Mix all ingredients together, EXCEPT paprika and 1/4 cup of parmesan/nut meal mix.
Spread spinach in baking dish. Sprinkle remaining cheese/nut mix over the top.
Sprinkle with Paprika.
Cover with foil and bake for 35 minutes. Remove foil and bake 10 to 15 minutes MORE until top begins to brown.
Can be served Hot or Cold.



Flourless Chocolate Cake - 1:

Ingredients:
4 oz. Gluten-Free Bitersweet Chocolate
1/2 Cup Gluten-Free butter or margarine
3/4 Cup Sugar
3 Eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa

Directions:
Grease a 7 or 8 inch Spring Form Pan or Round Pan. Line bottom with a circle of wax or parchment paper and grease the paper.
Break enough chocolate into pieces and put with butter/margarine into a microwave safe bowl that will be big enough to eventually hold all the ingredients.
Cover bowl with plastic wrap and microwave until chocolate and butter are melted, being careful not to melt them. (Depending on the strength of the microwave, it could take anywhere from 1.5 to 4 minutes).
Remove from microwave. Stir until chocolate and butter are well mixed. Add sugar and mix well. Add eggs and keep mixing well. Sift cocoa onto mix and stir until just mixed.
Put batter into greased pan. Bake at 375 F for 25 minutes or until top has formed a thin crust. Cool cake for 5 minutes then invert onto a plate.

Topping Suggestion:
Sift unsweetened cocoa or sweet ground chocolate onto cake, then sprinkle with cinnamon.



Flourless Chocolate Cake - 2:

Ingredients:
4 oz. Fine-Quality Bitersweet Chocolate (not unsweetened)
1 Stick (1/2 cup) Butter/Margarine
3/4 Cup Sugar
3 Large Eggs
1/2 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

Directions:
Preheat over to 375 F and grease an 8 inch round baking pan. Line bottown with a round piece of waxing paper and grease the paper.
Chope chocolate into small pieces. In a double boiler, melt chocolate with butter over barely simmering water until smooth. Remove top of double boiler and whisk in sugar. Add eggs and whisk well. Sift 1/2 cup cocoa powder over chocolate mixture and whisk until just combined.
Pour batter into pan and bake in middle of oven for 25 minutes, or until top has formed a thin crust.
Cool in cake pan on rack for 5 minutes. When cooled, invert onto a serving plate.

Cake keeps, after being cooled completely, in an airtight container for 1 week.



Macademia Torte:

Ingredients:
5 oz. Unsalted Macademia Nuts
8 oz. Bitersweet Parve Chocolate Bars
2 Tablespoons instant coffee, dissolved in 1/3 cup water
4 Eggs, seperated
12 Tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) parve margarine, cut in pieces and softened
1/2 Cup Potato Starch
1/2 Cup Sugar, divided
Pinch of Salt
6 oz. Bitersweet Parve Chocolate Bar (for the glaze)
2 Tablespoons Instant Coffee, dissolved in 1/3 cup water (for the glaze)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 9 inch round cake pan, cover botton with a circle of wax paper that is cut to fit. Grease the paper.
Toast macademia nuts on a baking sheet in oven for 8 to 10 minutes, until golden brown, DO NOT LET BURN. Cool. Raise oven temperature to 375.
Melt chocolate and coffee in a saucepan over low heat, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat and stir in egg yolks, one at a time. Return pan to medium heat and stir gently until mixture is slightly thickened. Remove from heat and stir in margarine, mixing until blended.
Using a blender or food processor, grind nuts until fine but NOT oily. Add potato starch and 1/4 cup sugar to nuts. Add to chocolate mixture. Beat egg whites and salt until soft peaks form.
Add remaining sugar, a little at a time, still beating until soft peaks form. Fold whites into chocolate mixture.
Pour into cake pan. Bake 24 minutes, until cake is puffed and knife inserted in center comes out with slightly creamy coating. Cool on rack 45 minutes before removing from pan. Cake may sink and surface crack.
Meanwhile, melt chocolate and coffee for topping in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring until smooth. Cool slightly. When cake is cool, invert onto a serving dish. Remove paper and spreak glaze over top and sides. Refrigerate (preferrably overnight), or freeze. Remove from refrigerator about 30 minutes before serving.



Chocolate Dipped Macaroons:

Ingredients:
1/4 Cup Matza Meal
1 Cup Sugar
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
4 Large Egg Whites
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
4 Cups Unsweetened, Shredded Coconut

Directions:
Preheat over to 350 F. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper. Sift together matza meal, sugar, and salt. Whip egg whites until stiff peaks form, then fold in the matza meal mixture. Fold in vanilla extract and coconut. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto cookie sheet.
Bake 15 to 20 minutes, until golden. Let cool on wire rack.
These freeze very well.

Chocolate Dipping:
Melt chocolate in microwave for 1 minutes (time may vary according to microwave strength). Stir well to see how much more melting time is needed. (You can also melt the chocolate in a double-boiler until smooth). Dip macaroons into chocolate to coat top half or one side. Put onto wax paper covered plate or cookie sheet and harden in the refrigerator.



Poached Pears:

Ingredients:
2/3 Cup Dry Red Wine
2/3 Cup Water
3/4 Cup Sugar
1 Strip Lemon Rind (more can be used)
1 Cinnamon Stick
4 Ripe Bartless Pears (just cook longer if not ripe)
Slivered Almonds for Garnish (optional)

Directions:
Cook wine, water, sugar, lemon rind, and cinnamon stick over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Boil for 3 minutes.
Peel pears, leaving stems ON.
Plave pears in liquid and poach (covered) until soft - at least 30 minutes. Turn pears gently during poaching time.
Remove pears from liquid, continuing to have the liquid boil until thick and syrupy. Pour syrup over pears.
Serve warm, cold, or at room temperature.
Garnish with slightly toasted almond slivers if desired.



Gluten-Free Recipe References:

**Many people sent in "Recipe References," recipes that they have tried that can be found in different cookbooks. Here are some of those Recipe names and the cookbooks they come from.**

1. Unbelievable Brownies from Passover by Design

2. Flourless Chocolate Torte from Kosher by Design

3. Flourless Cakes from Tyler Florence on www.foodnetwork.com

4. Flourless Cakes from Scott Adams on www.celiac.com

5. Some people suggest just trading out regular Matza Meal and using the Oat Matza Meal.