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Hello from our family...Things, they are a'changing around here. Some things are not ready to be spilled yet but for right now I have decided to close shop on my personal chef endeavors at this time. The cost of food and the lack of people who are willing to pay for the full service has made it impossible to make any extra money for our family at this time. People are cutting bac
I met Nigel Slater today.... not in real life. LOLI met him by way of the movie Toast.It is a very interesting movie based on the Memoir of Nigel Slater by the same name. I found it on Netflix Watch Now. The most fascinating part for me was the progression toward becoming a professional caterer and what drove him toward that life. I had just had someone ask me if I had seen
I know... I know.... I am MIA a lot lately. Life is just that way right now but I had to come here and share a real treasure with you. I recently got this book in the mail to read. It was an advanced reader copy that I requested because the topic was right up my ally. I am not getting paid to tell you how wonderful this book is.... and it is truly wonderful! I would n
Wanted to share this great tutorial video from Darina Allen... she is so charming!!!
We celebrated tonight with crepes, fruit and sausage... This is a banana, brown sugar and lemon filling This is a lovely strawberry syrup I made gluten free crepes for me Fresh blueberries on sale at the grocery today Homemade whipped cream... using whipping cream, sugar and some vanilla No matter how much sausage we make it is never enough. LOL Regular cre
I encourage you to drink tea daily! Here is a great list from a great site.Check out the site, too. TOP 13 TEA RESOLUTIONS FOR 2013January is National Hot Tea Month – January is also a time to make some changes for the better. Use National Hot Tea Month to learn more about tea and enjoy tea more, each and every day!Try something new to you. Visit a tea room or shop to purchase a new loose le
Tea can be used for more than a good cuppa...It can be used for medicinal applications, household cleaning, cosmetic use and even for healing and soothing Pink Eye. We used Chamomile tea to heal a case of Pink Eye a few months ago. We used the tea as an eye wash and the bags to sooth the swelling and puffiness. As I did a few searches I came across some great links I thought you
Thought I would share some tea finds I am dreaming of...Just some fun things to have to enjoy those quiet moments or things to organize your stash or have it on the go. Pinterest is loaded...Source: etsy.com via Chef on PinterestSource: tophatter.com via Chef on PinterestSource: zszywka.pl via Chef on PinterestSource: susanbranch.com via Chef on PinterestSource: etsy.com via Chef on Pinteres
I started taking tea a few weeks ago.... or taking a tea break. Every afternoon sometime between 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm I start up the tea kettle, put a teabag in one of my favorite mugs (beaker) and then take that tea and sit down. I sit and savor tea while relaxing and on some days I even take a longer break for a bit of a movie or an episode of Downton Abbey. I love this time eac
You can start with your local grocery store or a tea store but if you have trouble finding just what you are looking for you can always check online. Here are some of my favorites and some recommendations from friends taken from a quick survey I did on Facebook a few days ago. Mint seems to be the flavor of choice for many people, too. You can buy your mint in the form of mint in
I have been a tea lover for a very long time. I love coffee, too, but I really love the relaxing almost medicinal way that tea effects me. I have a tea for every occasion. Here is a glimpse into my tea stuff... My favorite Stainless Steel Pot... makes about 3-4 cups of tea at one time. It needs a cozy, though.... I need to crochet one soon. This is a crocheted tea
Here is Cindi Bigelow from Bigelow Tea Company giving some great brewing tips! Got loose leaf tea? Here is a Mountain Rose Herb tutorial...
Black tea, green tea, Oolong tea and white tea all come from the same plant. The difference is in the process of preparation. Black tea is oxidized and fermented. Black tea has a bitter taste. Green tea is not fermented but it is steamed and has a more grassy flavor. Oolong is only partially fermented.With White tea the leaves are picked only twice a year at a very yo
In reading and researching I have discovered that all basic tea comes from the same plant (the tea we drink is of the genus camellia and the species sinensis) and it all originated in China. Tea has been enjoyed for centuries for it's medicinal qualities... used in religious ceremonies and for a variety of other reasons including just pure enjoyment. The basic three that come fro
I am trying to sneak in and pretend like I did not just take nearly two months off from blogging. LOLLife has just been so hectic and I have been planning, behind the scenes, things that I want to share with you for 2013. I am currently reading a blogging about food book to help me make this place a place you will bookmark and come back to over and over again. I want to share thi
My very favorite pie crust that I have been using for GF is from Annalise Roberts. Here is the recipe and a link to her blog. She wrote my favorite GF cookbook, too... Gluten Free Baking Classics. The tart shell crust is very durable but she does have a pie crust recipe, too. Her books are fabulous!Tart Shell CrustMakes one 9-inch pie crust or one 9-inch tart crust.1 c
Is it possible? Well, I just stocked the fridge with seasonal apples, pears, grapefruit, broccoli, carrots, beets, cranberries and variety of lettuces and cool weather greens. We will see if I can smoothie and juice my way through the holidays and overcome the effects of Lupus and fatigue through this season. Stay tuned for both healthy and seasonal ideas and some fun for your fa
If you post to comments with a fake little blurb and a link to your "advertisement product" you will be deleted as spam.... I don't tolerate this. So... stop!
One more day in this challenge but it has been just the beginning of my gluten free life change. I was going to make bread today but I got caught up in my other blog challenge on my personal blog and spent the afternoon rearranging my bedroom again and trying to finish up some things there. I will be trying a new bread recipe tomorrow because I am still in search of one I can use as a
I made a red velvet cake for my oldest boy's birthday today and so I took the same recipe (from Nigella Lawson) and made a gluten free version using rice flour instead of regular flour. I used exact measurement cup for cup to see how it would work. With the rice flour blend I used I added about 1/2 tsp of xanthan gum for texture's sake. It worked and I got to eat cake..
It is a motto I hear often.... we live with Boy Scouts in our home but it can truly not be said enough. I had an event today where I had to go and be with scouts all day and to prepare myself for this I had to know what I could and could not eat. I had to know if I could put certain items in because I did not want to spend the next 3 to 4 days suffering from bad choices or not knowing.
Pumpkin and Apples are very seasonal and are naturally gluten free so enjoy those and look for GF recipes that highlight these treats. Nuts and seeds are in season right now, too. so enjoy those in your favorite recipes.We would be remiss if we did not talk about candy. I know... sugar is not good for you and corn syrup is horrible but sometimes you want a little candy. So, here
Since I am now a Lupus patient this is of particular interest to me but it is good information for a whole slew of autoimmune disorders. It has been found that some people with autoimmune disorders and diseases might benefit greatly from taking gluten and wheat out of their diets. Allergies and sensitivities can exacerbate autoimmune and connective tissue diseases. It is worth ta
My big question is whether taking gluten out of one's diet can help with Autoimmune issues like Lupus or Fibromyalgia and a variety of other disorders and diseases. I did not have time to do a lot of research today but will post some things tomorrow once I have a bit of time to read through some articles I have saved. The plan for the remainder of the month is to share a few more artic
So, if you don't eat bread and gluten what does one eat for breakfast? My go to breakfast lately has been half a potato grated and sauteed in butter (hashbrowns) with an egg (egg and a little whipping cream) poured over the top. YUM!!! No bread... no gluten cereals... just fiber and protein and delicious goodness!!!
Today is a wash for a very informative post. I spent the entire day in Las Cruces, New Mexico with a doctor's appointment, running some errands, a stop at a local used bookstore to trade out old books for new and a trip to the local Mountain View Coop for a some gluten free goodies... a GF/DF almond cheese to play with, a new breakfast cereal and a bit of exploring the other cool items they
In my time researching the life of a celiac or gluten and wheat sensitive person, I have discovered that gluten and wheat is in more than food. A person who has to be off of gluten has to read labels and ask questions all the time. Gluten can be in your vitamins and medications from the pharmacy or in your child's Playdoh. Gluten can be in products you use every day and someone w
This is a gluten free cookbook that does not use any "gluten free" products. The intention of this book is to use naturally gluten free items to design delicious seasonal food for you and your family. I am very excited to have this book through the coming winter.Another book along these lines is a Gluten Free Vegan Holidays Cookbook. I checked a copy out of the library and loved
I made cornbread this week. I used a recipe from this book... This is my favorite GF cookbook to date and I use it for a lot of different things.... scones, biscuits, brownies, cookies, etc... and this week I finally made the cornbread from it.It is a sweet cornbread recipe and I am not a fan of the sweet cornbread. I like mine more savory so I left out the sugary ingr
There is a growing list of sites that can steer you toward gluten free eating. I am going to share a few links to get you started...The Gluten Free Checklist... lots of snackage and beverages!Celiac Friendly Restaurant List PageThe Gluten Free Registry... connecting GF people to GF Businesses - they have a search feature for your very own city or town to find places that are GF friendly! &nb
There are lots of symbols and signs for Gluten Free. There are some that are the official certified signage which I have placed at the bottom for you. Packaging labels are becoming more and more prevalent and helpful for those will allergies and sensitivities. The GMO labeling is still being fought over but the battle is already being won on allergens. Even the home bakers
I, honestly, have no experience with this but have friends who have seen a difference in their autistic child after changing their diets. Here are a few bloggers who have shared their knowledge to help others...Gluten Free Diets for Children with AutismWhy Gluten Free and Casein Free Diets Work for Many with AutismSpecial Diets for Autistic ChildrenStarting Your Autistic Child on a Gluten Fr
When we talk about special diets, we often find ourselves talking about all the foods we cannot eat. With gluten free the list of foods that contain gluten really seems to be large so that leaves us asking.... Well, then what CAN I eat? The good news is that the list of what we CAN eat far exceeds the list of things we CANNOT eat. Here are some helps for you as you start your jou
Today I made a version of this particular recipe.Serious Eats posts a Gluten Free recipe on Tuesdays very often.Here is my version of the recipe from Serious Eats...For the Cake Dry Ingredients2 1/4 cups Rice Flour Blend (rice flour, tapioca flour, potato starch blend)1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar1/2 cup granulated sugar1/2 cup cornstarch2 teaspoons baking soda2 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Sp
I am not a huge fan of sandwiches... outside of a BLT I am not tempted by sandwiches. The occasional hamburger is nice but I don't have to have that either so the bread part of going gluten free... or the lack of bread, is not a huge issue for me. I do enjoy pasta but the gluten free pastas will suffice. They even offer gluten free pizzas now at a few of the pizza places in town,
Mushroom Sauce Rice is a staple in my gluten free diet Rice with the mushroom sauce makes a really delicious and simple lunch for me in a pinch Gluten Free corn flakes with fruit and almond milk is a quick breakfast I experimented with gluten free (coconut flour) crepes and they turned out very nice.Finished crepe and below is a gluten free vanilla cupcake which was very
One thing to note when you are on a gluten free diet is that you will probably transition from wheat fiber to adding other types of fiber from other sources.7 High Fiber Gluten Free Food RecommendationsGluten Free Diet Side EffectsGluten Free High Fiber FoodsSome items and their fiber countBeans (navy) 19g/cupSplit peas 16g/cupLentils 15g/cupBeans (black, pinto, kidney) 14g/cupGarbanzo beans
Many of you know I am an avid collector of cookbooks. I use all of them... I promise! This is my small but growing collection of GF books and I have not been disappointed in any of them so far.My favorite so far...Own and use this one ALL THE TIME!!! It takes a professional kitchen approach and is a little more technical but very thorough. All recipes are tested and delicio
Should everyone go gluten free? I would say no but there are other reasons to become gluten free than Celiac Sprue. If you can eat wheat with no reaction of any kind then go ahead and enjoy it.Do you have a gluten sensitivity?Gluten Intolerance and how to go gluten freeGluten Sensitivity or Intolerance informationDo you have a wheat allergy?Wheat Allergy SymptomsWheat Allergy or Intole
I used to be a huge bread eater but I have decreased my bread intake over the last several years. Bread is comforting and filling so, as I have taken gluten items out of my diet more and more, I have found that I can substitute potatoes to bring about that comfort food effect. Then, I started reading about how bad potatoes are for you and how eating starch is making people fat. I
I have been researching gluten free for a few years and these are my very favorite sites to visit when I have a question... need information.... or just need a trusted recipe for gluten free items. So pour a cuppa your favorite gluten free beverage and have a look around.Gluten Free Cooking School - lots of free info plus classes you can take to get you through the learning and st
Two that I am reading right now...One I checked out from the libraryThis one is on my nook and I have started it, too...You can find Shauna James Ahern online at Gluten Free Girl and The Chefand you can read more about Elisabeth Hasselbeck here.They both wrote cookbooks to accompany their stories and you can find them on their websites.
So, what does one eat on a gluten free diet? I took the plunge last Monday and here are some favorites from my week past. GF pancakes made with a rice flour blend I made myselfand they are drizzled with GF Molasses Homemade yogurt with fresh blueberries and a blueberry and almond GF granola made by my own little hands. Mmmmm.... GF pumpkin chocolate chip scones shaped and
There are probably more gluten free flour options on the market now than ever before. You saw my pantry yesterday and some of the gluten free options I use. You have some choices to suit your personal level of skill out there.First, you can purchase mixes... brownie, pancake, biscuit, cake, etc...These function just like other mixes you would buy out there that are not gluten free. &nb
Our kitchen is a shared space between gluten free and wheat eaters.I am learning to separate items to different areas so there is no cross contamination. I am hoping to take us more and more gluten free but I have resistance so I know it won't be 100% anytime soon. As a homebased baker I also have gluten free products that I use for clients so I have to keep it all separate for that rea
I am a cook... and a baker... so I tend to jump right in and start experimenting, but ,what if you do not cook or bake much or at all? Where do you go for gluten free items?There is good news for you.There are more and more companies making gluten free products.Companies are also labeling their items with the words "Gluten Free" to help those who need it, too.When I first started resear
To avoid gluten in my diet I, first, have to know what it is and where it lives. Gluten is the protein that lives in wheat, barley and rye. The strands that form to make yeast breads rise are developed gluten strands. It is what gives structure and texture to breads and baked items.There are different levels of sensitivity to gluten and wheat. The most severe is Celiac Spru
31 Days...4 Weeks...I will be sharing an action plan for making my life more gluten free.I will be starting by purging and organizing my kitchen.Then I will be putting together daily menus that I can make simply to keep me on track.I will share meals that can be for both gluten and gluten free eaters.I will share books and sites that are helping me through this process. I am starting by fini
I kinda feel like I owe you an explanation. I had all these plans and prospects for clients and then.... then.... my body decided to stop. The initial diagnosis is not pretty but it is what it is. The first doctor has said I have Lupus. It was sent into overdrive recently with a simple sinus infection and a round of antibiotics. I have more appointments and more tests
