Annie’s Naturals has been serving the gluten free community since the “old days” when all vinegar was considered suspect. They have everything needed to turn your summer outdoor cooking ventures into delicious meals. Their website includes a database of ten thousand stores carrying their products.

If you yearn to perfect your own “special” BBQ sauce try this article on “top ten recipes” and/or this that will give you three more basic recipes to experiment with.. Enjoy your summer!

Celiac.com places MSG on its list of “safe foods list”. RecipeZaar.com does the same thing. The Gluten Free Bible (pages 18-19) expresses the same idea but adds the phrase “unless you are allergic to MSG (Chinese Restaurant Syndrome)”.
Many people have an allergic reaction to MSG. That reaction is somewhat like a gluten reaction but is actually not related. There is a small possibility that some brands of MSG contain wheat and that the allergen is not is not listed on the ingredients label.

Why would a person want to make their own gluten free food mixes? The answer involves four key words:

♦ MONEY. You save money by buying your ingredients in quantity. Also, if you package your mixes attractively, they make wonderful gifts for family and friends.

♦ TIME: You can make up your mixes at a time that is convenient for you. You don’t have to do everything during your busy meal-preparation time.

♦ APPEAL: You can customize your mix to suit the needs and tastes of your family. Giving your family some input the composition of the mix might make them more enthusiastic about eating gluten free.

♦ CONVENIENCE: Since your packets will be much smaller than the contains for the individual ingredients. they are much easier to store. (Remember to store your mixes in the refrigerator or freezer). You can place a few packets in a suitcase and be ready to cook when you arrive at your destination.

In short, do-it-yourself mixes have all the advantages of cooking from “scratch” and all the convenience of cooking with mixes. Click here for recipes for gluten free mixes provided by www.budget101.com.

Making your own gluten free mixes says cooking money and money. Click here to read more ideas about “Gluten Free on a Budget“.

The gluten free pancake and waffle mix available at Trader Joe’s mixes easily and the batter will last several days if refrigerated. In addition to being gluten free, is free of peanuts and tree nuts, milk and dairy, soy, and corn. I prepared it with cows milk because dairy products are not an issue in my home.

I tried this mix for the first time when my wife was away from home for several days. I must confess that I am not much of cook but I was successful with this product. There is a cinnamon coffee cake recipe on the package that I’m eager to try.

This short video clip explains the baking pan much more clearly than I can. Obviously, it is a television commercial, but I know from personal experience that it delivers on its promises. It’s especially useful when using gluten free materials since it is seldom easy to cut them neatly. One thing not mentioned in the video clip is that you can make a small sheet cake simply by not using the dividers.

The pan costs $19.95 plus shipping and handling. Click on the graphic below the video to order The Perfect Brownie Pan. The video clip will replay while you are making up your mind and/or completing the order form.

Many holiday recipes be gluten free if minor adjustments are made. Here are five examples posted at You Tube. The videos are short — you can watch all of them in less than seven minutes. I want to clarify one point made in the first video. The demonstrator chose to use fruit and vegetables as stuffing. That is a personal choice. The second video shows that bread dressing is certainly an option.

Thanksgiving is a wonderful occasion for good food and greater fellowship with family and friends. Like any event that involves food, the are challenges to overcome. I’ll post at least three articles during the days leading up to Thanksgiving. This article deals with the big picture, the planning involved in any joyful occasion. The second will list some gluten free recipes that will guarantee success on the big day. The third and final article will address the human issues that come up when when people with different food sensitivities and preferences celebrate together.

♦  This article includes a two-week countdown to the holiday. It does not specifically mention celebrating gluten free, but the principles are the same.

♦This planner includes all the recipes you’ll need to celebrate Turkey Day gluten free.

♦ Here is a plan for a “Gluten Free (but pretty normal) Thanksgiving Dinner“. It may be particularly useful because it address the needs of novice cooks.

♦ Finally, I suggest this article titled “Some of What I Learned on Thanksgiving Last Year“. If you learn these things now, you’ll be way ahead of the game.

Let’s face it, some non-celiacs have a hard time keeping an open mind when they try gluten free food. I recently watched a You Tube video showing a unique solution to the problem.

A woman had recently gone gluten free and was experimenting with several popular cake and cookie mixes. Her daughter — who did not require gluten free food and was at the age when teenagers have very firm ideas about what “real food” tastes like — helped her prepare the goodies. Then they worked together to videotape the “taste test”. By that time, the girl had bonded with mother during the baking process and was obvious delighted to “star” in a You Tube video.

I may be totally wrong about mom’s motivation for making the video, but I do know one result: The daughter had a great mother/daughter cooking experience, loved performing on video, and was totally enthusiastic about the gluten free food that was being introduced into her home. My hunch is that the daughter will learn to enjoy gluten free food. I wish that every child could have that experience.

Published 9/10/09

Ginger Snaps are one of my favorite gluten free snack foods. I’m trying a different format for reviewing gluten free foods. I suggest that you read the review first, then I’ll discuss the new interactive format:

PRODUCT: Gluten free Ginger Snaps

SOURCE: Trader Joe’s

COST: $1.99 for 8 ounce package

PREPARATION: ready-to-eat

GLUTEN FREE STATUS: Package is labeled "gluten free". The product is "made on equipment shared with milk, peanuts, and tree nuts".

TASTE: I loved them.

TEXTURE: exactly what I remember from my wheat-eating days

OK FOR WHEAT EATERS?: I think so but have not actually tested this

PAUL’S COMMENTS / RECOMMENDATIONS: You may wish to compare this item to the ginger snaps produced by Mi-Del or Pamela’s Products

COMMENTS FROM AMERICA’S GLUTEN FREE COMMUNITY:

I love TJ’s Ginger Snaps! …  I bought a bag of Mi-Del the other day, and I think they taste the same.  Could very well be the exact same item, with TJ’s repackaging. One thing that the ginger snaps are great for, besides snacking, is making pie crust.  Mix with a little bit of melted butter and press into a pie plate with the back of a spoon.  Bake for a few minutes to set and let cool.  It’s good for cold pies (like chocolate cream) or baked pies (like pumpkin).  Yum!

I intend to publish many more product reviews in the future. People living gluten free have many choices — times have changed since my diagnosis ten years ago. Of course, we still need to know what products are gluten free, but we also need to know which items are best.

My problem is that after a gluten free decade, I have no accurate memory of what wheat-based food tastes like. I have fantasies, of course, but I should not impose these on you. The last four items in the outline (the ones marked with the "good idea" emoticon) are opinions, and persons living gluten free should have access to a wide variety of opinions. I invite you to share your opinion with America’s gluten free community.

There are two ways to share your opinion:

Write a Comment: Scroll down beyond the end of the article until you come to a white box headed "Leave a Comment" to share your thoughts. For technical reasons, this choice is not always available.

Send an E-Mail: Click here to e-mail me at gfceliac@gmail.com.

The computer program that controls this site requires that I approve all comments before they are published. I won’t censor anyone, but I may shorten comments or combine those that express the same thought. I will not publish names or e-mail addresses without your permission.

Published 05/30/09

This gluten free cupcake (mug cake ???) is a very special because it is prepared and microwaved in an individual coffee mug. A large coffee mug is less messy. Since each portion is prepared and cooked individually, almost any type of food sensitivity can be accomodated. I used rice flour and my wife told me that she could not taste any significant difference.

INGREDIENTS LIST: (1 serving) 4 T flour, 4 T sugar, 4 T cocoa, 1 egg, 3 T milk, 3 T oil, 3 T chocolate chips, a splash of vanilla.

DIRECTIONS: Add the ingredients and mix well. Add egg and mix well. Pour in the milk and oil and mix one more time. Add the chips and vanilla and make sure everything is well mixed. Microwave for three minutes. ENJOY!!!!

Published 04/12/09

What more could we want — three recipes for gluten free food, video demonstrations by celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse, and recipes so simple that they can  be demonstrated in less than  two minutes each.

Follow these links to view these demonstrations: gluten free skillet cornbread, gluten free sweet potatoe empanadas, and gluten free roasted veggies. Be sure to use gluten free chicken broth if you decide to try the veggies recipe.

The only downside to viewing these demonstration is that you will leave this site whenever you click on a recipe and may have difficulty returning. Usually this can be done by clicking on the arrow in the upper left corner of the page but you might want to bookmark this page "just in case".

Publish 2/10/09

Baked potatoes enrich the gluten free diet. Potatoes are gluten free, of course, and the vegetables that can be used in toppings are a nutritious naturally-gluten-free addition to our diet. Here is a recipe for gluten free cheese sauce. Most source cream is gluten free, but to be very careful look for the Organic Valley brand, which announces its celiac-friendly status on  its website. This guacamole sauce would be great with many baked potatoe concoctions.

You probably already have ideas for preparing and dressing your b aked potatoes. If not, several sites have published recipes that will help get your creative juices flowing. Many of these recipes are for "twice baked potatoes, in which potatoes are baked, and the insides are carefully removed from the skins and mixed with other ingredients. The final steps are to return the mixture to the skins and complete the baking process. Try these recipes from The Baking Beauties, Gluten Free Kiwi, and The Book of Yum.

You need to be cautious about  baked potatoes served in restaurants. THe skins may have been rubbed in flour to make them more crispy.

Published 1/14/09

Leftovers are part of every holiday feast,  leftover or otherwise. Here are four articles suggesting appetizing ways to deal with them. The articles themselves are not “gluten free”, but since you will be dealing with gluten friendly food this will probably not be an issue. As always, read defensively.

♦ from Teri’s Kitchen — many suggestions for dealing with specific foods.

♦  from Recipe Goldmine — these are suggestions rather than specific recipes.

♦  from Healthy-Eating-Made-Easy — recipes using leftover turkey.

♦ from Readers Digest.com —- the title here refers to Thanksgiving but I don’t think that is essential.

Published 12/25/08  Merry Christmas

Here are three recipes for quick-and-easy holiday treats. Learn to  prepare them by viewing three videos that can be watched in a total of five minutes. In a very short time, you’ll have the treat-of-choice ready to serve or take with you to a holiday party. The first recipe is for peanut brittle:

If you prefer a frozen desert, try this cookies and cream crunch. This can be made gluten free simply by using appropriate cookies:

A gluten free Christmas is much like a celiac-friendly Thanksgiving as far as foods are concerned, so I suggest that you start by reading or reviewing my “Gluten Free Thanksgiving” article. Then read this Christmas dinner menu and plan, and/or for a different point-ov-view, try this article by a British blogger.

Here is a collection of Christmas cookie recipes. You may also be interested in my article on gingerbread or my compilation of gluten free holiday bread recipes.

Finally, here is a video demonstration on preparing gluten free Italian sausage stuffing:.

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Colorado affords abundant opportunity for gluten free dining:

Arvada. Rheinlander Bakery. Click on the bakery name for the location and information about  their products.

Arvada. Beau Jo’s Colorado Pizza. Nine locations throughout Colorado. Click on the restaurant name for the location. Click here for the gluten free menu which includes celiac-friendly pizza.

Boulder. Beau Jo’s Colorado Pizza. See their listing in Arvada for details.

Boulder. Himalayas Restaurant. My e-mail states that this is a buffet of Indian cuisine and that 13 of the 15 items are gluten free. I wrote back suggesting that they spell out on their website exactly what is done to “isolate” the few gluten-toxic items. I also said that I would amend this listing as soon as they informed me that this had been done.

Boulder. Laudisio Restaurant. From this page, you will be able to read the lunch and dinner menus and get information about the restaurant location.

Boulder. Radda Trattoria. This restaurants promises on its site that “all pizzas are available gluten free”.

Boulder. O-Pizza. Gluten free pizza is featured. Click on the button marked “our menu” for specifics.

Boulder. Massala. Indian vegetarian cuisine. Click on the restaurant name for the location. Click here for the gluten free menu

Boulder. Bagali’s. Actually, this restaurant is in the Broomfield but provides directions from both Boulder and Denver. It promises “the absolute best in gluten free pizzas and pasta” but does not provide specifics on its menu page.

Colorado Springs. Ceres’ Kitchen. “We assemble meals that feed two or four adults for you to just stop by and pickup”. A gluten free facility. Click on the name for the location or click here for the gluten free menu.

Denver Blue Bonnet Restaurant. Click on the name to get the location. Click here for the gluten free menu.

Denver. Cafe Colore. The menu states that “all pastas and pizzas can be prepared gluten free.”

Denver. Mermaid’s Bakery. This establishment specializes in “gluten free cakes and cupcakes”.

Denver. Ninth Door. Click here for the gluten free menu., or click on the restaurant name for the location. Gluten free options are indicated on the menu page.

Denver. Lala’s Wine Bar and Pizzeria. Click here to read the gluten free menu.

Denver. Massala. Click on the restaurant’s listing in Boulder for details.

Denver. Beau Jo’s Colorado Pizza. Click on the Beau Jo’s listing in Arvada for details.

Denver. Panzano Restaurant. Click on the restaurant name for the location. You will need to scroll down this page to find the address. Panzano’s posts both a gluten free lunch menu and a gluten free dinner menu.

Denver. Coor’s Field. Sports fans will be delighted to learn that a dedicated gluten free concession stand is available at Coor’s Field. Read this article from The Denver Post that provides details.

Denver. Seven 30 South. Click on the restaurant name for the location or click here to read their gluten free menu.

Denver. LaSandia Modern Mexican Restaurant. Gluten free items are marked on the regular menu.

Evergreen. Beau Jo’s Colorado Pizza. For details, click on the Beau Jo’s listing in Arvada.

Fort Collins. Beau Jo’s Colorado Pizza. For details, click on the Beau Jo’s listing in Arvada.

Fort Collins. Nunna, the Gluten Free Bakery. One of our blog visitors reported that “they are at the farmers market in northern Colorado and they deliver”.

Fort Collins. Austin’s American Grill, with two locations in Fort Collins. Click here to read their gluten free lunch and dinner menu.

Glenwood Springs. Beau Jo’s Colorado Pizza. For details, click on the Beau Jo’s listing in Arvada.

Greenwood Village. Sansone’s Bistro.

Idaho Springs. Beau Jo’s Colorado Pizza. For details, click on the Beau Jo’s listing in Arvada.

Lakewood. Blue Sky Café and Juice Bar. Click on the restaurant name for the location. A link from that page will take you to the gluten free menu.

Longmont. Tim’s New Thai Restaurant. Click on the restaurant name for the location. Click here to read the gluten free menu.

Manitou Springs. Coquette Creperie. “all crepes are gluten free”

Parker. Mosaic. This restaurant was recommended in an e-mail from an enthusiastic patron.

Steamboat Springs. Beau Jo’s Colorado Pizza. For details, click on the Beau Jo’s listing in Arvada.

Wheat Ridge. Abrusci’s. Advertises itself as “the best damn Italian food…period”. Click on the restaurant name to get the location. Click here to read the gluten free menu.

Colorado  has an abundance of chain restaurants. People lucky enough to be in Colorado are never far from a gluten free meal. Click here if you are interested in dining in any of these restaurants: Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano, Bonefish Grill, Bosyon Market, Carino’s Italian Grill, Carrabbas Italian Grill, Chili’s Grill and Bar, Kona Grill, Lone Star Saloon and Grill, On the Border Mexican Grill, Outback Steakhouse, PeiWei Diner, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Pizza Fusion, Romano’s Macaroni Grill, Ted’s Montana Grill, Texas Land and Cattle Steakhouse, Uno’s Chicago Grill, and The Yard House.

Whole Foods Market is a great source of gluten free food products in Colorado. If you are looking for a local support group, contact the Celiac Sprue Association.

Information added: 1/20/09