Cape Cod Gluten-Free Vacation - July 2013

It's September already and I haven't had a chance until now to tell you about our Cape Cod vacation! 

The Cape is a great place to visit, not only for it's wonderful beaches, quaint little villages, shopping and fun activities, but it is a GREAT place to go for delicious gluten-free eats!

Without further ado, here are some of the meals I gobbled down while on our vacation this summer!

Chatham Fish and Lobster Company

 

Fried Clam Strips and French Fries.

 

Fried Scallops, French Fries, Fried Shrimp and Onion Rings.

 

 

I am NEVER disappointed at Chatham Fish & Lobster.  They are awesome!  Most all of their fried seafood is gluten-free.  We always plan on visiting here at least twice during the week.

 

 

BZ's Mexican Pizzeria

 

 

Arizona White Gluten-Free Pizza

 

 

I still say that this is the best gluten-free pizza I have had so far.  A fun place to go with the kids.  Free Wi-Fi is always a bonus.

 

 

Hearth 'n Kettle

 

 

 

 



Seafood Medley

 

 

 

Loving that Hearth 'n Kettle has a new and improved gluten-free menu.  I've never had a problem eating here, even though they do have the standard warning about cross-contamination on their menu.  Please use your own judgement when it comes to this. 

 

 

 

Sam Diego's

 

 

 

Gluten-Free Mushroom and Spinach Quesadilla

 

Gluten-Free Chips and Salsa

 

 

Sam Diego's is a fun, fun place to go for Mexican food on the Cape.  They have a great gluten-free menu.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Box Office Café

 

 

 

The "Rocky" Sammie on gluten-free flatbread.

 

A very neat place to visit!  A yummy gluten-free menu.  Lots of interesting sandwiches named after movies!  Almost all of their regular sandwiches can be made gluten-free, just ask!

 

****UPDATE 1/1/15:  The Box Office Café closed as of 1/1/15.  According to their website, it will reopen under new management in April 2015 as "The Talkative Pig".  Hopefully they will still offer a gluten-free menu.

 

 

We had a great week and looking back at all of these yummy meals makes me want to drive right back there this week!  Oh, if only I could!

 

 

As always, if you go to these restaurants (or any restaurant) and you have an allergy, celiac disease or a gluten intolerance, please check with your server and make sure they understand before you order!

 

 

We are still hosting reviews and great giveaways over at www.stephanieodea.com, so come on over and check it out!

 

 

Have a great gluten-free day!  :-)

 

 



 

Here it is. My Thoughts on the Hoda/Today Show/Gluten-Free Joke Debacle.

Have you ever had one of those days when you wished you hadn't read your Twitter feed or opened up your Facebook?

Today was that day for me.

I knew as soon as I saw a tweet that said something like "Today Show Makes Fun at Gluten-Free Again".  Then there was a post about how Hoda Kotb had joked about not wanting to date a man who is gluten-free and a "picky eater".  What followed was a lot of name-calling and hatred being hurled in Hoda's direction.

Then, I saw it happen.  This tweet being retweeted in all forms on Twitter.

Then came the comments.  More people calling Hoda "stupid" and "ignorant".

I turned to Facebook.  Yup.  More of the same.

Ok.  I get it.  She shouldn't have said it.  But honestly, does she deserve being called "worthless" and "sad"?

No.

No more than those of us who have celiac disease deserve to be called anything.

Hoda is someone's daughter, sister, friend.  Just like we are.

Does getting angry and calling someone names make anything better?  Absolutely not.

Does educating that person and asking them to stop?  Maybe.

I admit that I watch the fourth hour of "Today".  Not every morning, but pretty regularly.  Hoda and Kathie Lee are pretty silly and goofy and most of the time make me laugh.  Some days I really need a good laugh.  Lots of people don't like them or watch the show and that's okay too.

I honestly do not believe that Hoda is stupid or worthless or even uncaring or uncompassionate.  She is a cancer survivor and I can bet has had other struggles in her life.  I think she was trying to be funny.  It is very unfortunate that she chose "gluten-free" to pick on.

If Hoda were my BFF, I would have kindly told her about celiac disease and why it isn't appropriate or funny to try to make a joke about it.

I did tweet @KLGandHoda and asked them to please stop making fun of people who are gluten-free.  When she apologized, I sent another tweet thanking her.  Then I let it go...

I know about being angry.  I am angry I have celiac.  I am angry about my other undiagnosed health issues.  I am angry about terrorism and natural disasters and the economy.  I have been angry about things people in the media and elsewhere have said about many things.

Here is what I have personally decided for myself.  Anger helps NOTHING.  The only one it hurts is me.  Sitting and stewing for days about something someone said does not make me feel better.  In fact, as someone with health issues, it makes me feel so much worse.

Does it make you feel better?  My guess would be that it doesn't.

And how do you think others view a bunch of angry, name-calling, gluten-free folks?  As just that.

Instead, why don't we turn all of that anger into something positive?

Educate, people!  Isn't that what Celiac Awareness Month is all about anyway???

Oscar Night and White Chicken Chili

It's Oscar Night!  We will be watching the festivities with a little more interest this year.  Unlike past years, we have actually seen many of the nominated pictures.  Most just in the past week!  We saw Lincoln, Argo, Beasts of the Southern Wild and Skyfall!  We saw Les Mis, Brave when they came out in theaters.  The hubby saw The Hobbit, which I will see when it comes out on DVD.

Of all of the movies we've seen, I definitely liked Les Mis the best.  I'm a sucker for musicals of any kind and this one just blew me away.  I know it was panned by many movie critics, but I loved it anyway.

I do think that Daniel Day Lewis did an excellent job playing Lincoln.  I found his portrayal eerie at times.  He was just as I imagined Lincoln to be.

So here are my official Oscar Movie Rankings!  I am not a professional movie critic by far, but I know what I find entertaining!

1) Le Mis...Powerful!  This movie sucked me right in.  Tissues required.
2) Lincoln...Excellent.  Good history lesson for middle school and up children, although they may fall asleep.  ;-)
3) Argo...Very intense.  Had to calm hubby down halfway through the film.  Nail-biter!
4) Skyfall...Good action movie, but it needed more spy gadgets!  LOL!
5) Brave....Nice, Family Movie
6) Beasts of the Southern Wild....MEH...wasn't my kind of movie, I find any movie where there's right-out child abuse hard to watch.


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Those of you who know me, know that I've been having shoulder issues for the past five months.  An MRI showed that I have bursitis, tendonitis and bone spurs in my right (dominate) shoulder.  It is very painful to do even everyday tasks like showering, getting dressed, cleaning the house.  So if you see me sitting around in my dirty house, in my jammies, you will understand!  I've been doing PT for two months and have an appointment with the orthopedic in a couple of weeks.  Surgery is starting to look like the only option to get my range of motion back and hopefully get rid of some of the pain. We'll see what the doc says...

I've been trying to clean up my diet, limiting sugar and carbs, to try to combat some of the inflammation in my body, but it's been a real struggle.  It's definitely a work in progress.  I do love my sweets.

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I haven't really made a Meal Plan for this week, but I am making a crockpot full of White Chicken Chili and a casserole dish of Mac n' Cheese today and I am planning that there will be plenty of leftovers to carry through the week.

I may eat some of the chili and mac n' cheese, but I'm really focusing on eating more fish and vegetables this week.

Several people have asked for my White Chicken Chili recipe.  It is delicious and my hubby LOVES it.  It is very, very easy.  You don't need to make it in a crock pot, you can use a big pot on the stove.  Unfortunately, I can't take the credit for creating it!  The recipe came from a Rachael Ray show I watched.   Of course, if you are gluten-free, make sure you use gluten-free ingredients.  Boxed chicken broth can contain gluten, so it is important to find a brand that doesn't, such as Progresso or Pacific brands.  You can find the recipe here:


Mandi Forester's White Chicken Chili from the Rachael Ray Show

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Have a great week!

Christmas Week 2012

 

 

I hope you are all having a wonderful holiday week.  We had a very nice Christmas and are looking forward to New Year's Eve!

 

We live in the great Northeast, so we were not surprised to have a snowstorm today.  That doesn't mean I had to like it!  ;-)

 

I spent the day cleaning up the Christmas presents from under the tree and doing laundry.  I didn't venture out on the slick roads.

 

Dinners this week have been mostly comfort food and quick, easy meals.

 

 

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Meal Plan for the week of 12/24/12 - 12/30/12.

 

Monday - 12/24 - Christmas Eve Dinner.  Roast Pork Loin, Baked White and Sweet Potatoes, Asparagus. 

 

Tuesday - 12/25 - Christmas Day.  Snicky-Snacky pickup meal at the relatives.

 

Wednesday - 12/26 - Left over Roast Pork Loin, Simply Potatoes Hash Browns, Green Beans.

 

Thursday - 12/27 - Crock Pot Sloppy Joes, Baked French Fries.

 

Friday - 12/28 - Pizza Night.  Take out for family.  Pasta sauce with Daiya Cheese on Udi's Crust for me.

 

Saturday - 12/29 - Make your own Nacho night.

 

Sunday - 12/230 - Breakfast for Dinner or out to dinner.

 

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Have you been checking out our Daily Reviews and Giveaways at www.stephanieodea.com?

 

We are currently giving away Fusion Brands products, Stephanie's "Totally Together" organizers and Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free Muesli!

 

We will be wrapping up our giveaways for a while, but stay tuned for many exciting things to come in 2013!

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Do you like my gluten-free gingerbread house?  A&J Bakery has great gluten-free gingerbread house kits.  You may want to bookmark their page for next year!

 

 

 

 

Have a great week!

 



Halloween is tomorrow.  Are you dressing up?  I used to love Halloween, but I have to admit, now that our daughter is older and doesn't really care to go trick-or-treating, I am just as happy to stay home and watch a movie!  Lame, I know, but true.  I do love a good horror flick though.  "The Shining", "American Werewolf in London", "Misery", "The Birds", "Psycho".  I don't really care for slasher-type movies like "Halloween" and "Nightmare on Elm Street" and the only one that really, really freaks me out is "The Exorcist", which I absolutely won't watch alone!

What I really wanted to talk about today is meal planning.  I've been planning our meals for quite some time now and find it makes getting a home-cooked dinner on the table at night so much easier!  It also really helps to reign-in my grocery shopping addiction.  I try to only buy what I need for the week ahead.  Even if that box of cookies on the shelf are calling my name.  Because they do that, you know.

This week's meal plan is working well so far, although it's only Tuesday!  I thought I was going to get a little thrown off by Hurricane Sandy, so I boiled eggs and potatoes, just in case the power went out, but it didn't happen.  My meal plans typically run from Thursday to Wednesday because I shop on Thursday.  I recently started having my groceries delivered (Yay!) from ShopRite.  It is awesome!  Saves me so much time and energy!  So for this week, my meal plan is from Sunday - Saturday.

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Sunday - P.F. Chang's for lunch, so just snick-snacky foods for dinner

Monday - Hot Roast Beef Sandwiches with gravy and oven french fries

Tuesday - Gluten-Free Pasta with Roasted Vegetables and Smoked Mozzarella (Elizabeth Barbone's recipe from "How to Cook Gluten-Free")

Wednesday - Halloween!  Ghoul-ash!  Made the way my mom made it, only with gluten-free elbows.  (Ground beef, onion, green pepper, can of chopped tomatoes, bit of tomato paste, elbows) Pumpkin pudding with whipped cream ghosts on top!

Thursday - Leftovers.  Ghoulash or Crockpot White Chicken Chili from last week.

Friday - Pizza night.  Take-out for family.  Homemade gluten-free for me.

Saturday - Kid's Party at  Chuck E. Cheese.  Wonder if they have gf pizza at this location?  Will have to investigate!

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Don't forget to enter the great giveaways we are doing on StephanieOdea.com!

Currently we are giving away a Mediflow Waterbase Pillow, a Crock-Pot Cook and Carry Slow Cooker,  "The Picky Palate" by Jenny Flake and the Spatula by GIR!


Have a safe and happy Halloween!

It's been about a year and a half since I posted last!  Boy!  Where does time go anyway?

Several readers have sent in comments wondering how I am doing.  Thank you so much and I really do appreciate it!  I guess the answer is that I am still here, still fighting some health issues, but all in all doing well.

As far as my diet is concerned, well, it needs work.  I find that I'm just not disciplined enough to stay on any kind of "plan" for very long.  I eat really healthy for a few weeks and then, before you know it, I'm right back to eating foods that I know are not good for me.  I know that I'm not the only one who goes through this.

I also know that I eat way too much sugar.  Sugar causes inflammation.  I have a lot of inflammation.  I know that when I eat a better diet, I feel better.  I know better!  But.  Those. Cravings. Keep. Coming. Back.  I wish they didn't, but they do!  I guess I'm just a work in progress.  Aren't we all?

As far as what I've been up to?  I've been busy with my family, keeping the household running and trying to take some "me time" out whenever possible!

The best news is that since the end of August, I have been working with Stephanie O'Dea, running daily reviews and giveaways on her website!  My official title is "Chief Giveaway Wrangler".  Isn't that great???  I'm so excited to be working with Steph!  She is awesome!  If you are looking for delicious, easy, gluten-free slow-cooker recipes or help organizing your life, she is the go-to gal!  You should definitely stop by her site and see the great products we are giving away!  Writing for Steph has definitely gotten my fingers back at typing and my brain busy thinking up posts for not only our giveaways, but for my blog as well.

In other news, we took our annual trip to Cape Cod in July and it was spectacular as usual!  We hung out at the beach, avoided getting eaten by sharks, shopped, played mini golf and ate in many great restaurants.

I shared some of these great celiac-friendly restaurants in this post from our trip in 2010.  We visited all of those restaurants again this summer and more.

Of course, we went back to The Chatham Fish And Lobster Company!  I can't live without my gluten-free fried clam strips and onion rings!

We also added The Hearth 'n Kettle to our list for dinner this year.  We have always gone there for breakfast in the past.  I've had good luck ordering eggs, bacon and hash browns without getting sick.  The great news is that this year, they added an actual  gluten-free menu!  There are great breakfast, lunch and dinner items!  My favorite is "Harvest Hash and Eggs" and I had it twice while we were there.  I didn't get a picture of my plate, but it was excellent!

I did get a picture of the wonderful sand sculpture outside of the restaurant!  There's a fish trying to get out of that pot!  ;-)

I hope that you will check back with me soon.  I have been cooking up some ideas in my head and plan on writing more often.  I promise!

Thanks for visiting and have a great, gluten-free day!

Gluten-Free, Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Candida, Elimination Diet

Last week was basically the "week from Hell".  I hate to start out a post on such a sour note, but I have to tell you the truth.  I promise, it gets a little better.

I visited my neurologist for a follow-up appointment on Monday.  I saw the P.A. (I never get to actually see the doctor), prepared with information on Celiac Disease and Small Fiber Neuropathy and the connection between the two.  I handed the P.A. the folder, he scanned it and handed it back.  When I told him he could keep it, he said, "Well, I can look that stuff up on the computer later".  Then he politely told me to keep taking my meds and come back in three months.

On Wednesday, I met with the P.A. at my gastroenterologist's office (the person who diagnosed my celiac disease three years ago) for my annual check-up.  I filled her in on my issues and before I could even finish, she stopped me cold with "Nope, the problems you are having are in no way related to your celiac disease as long as you are following your gluten-free diet".  She told me to "stay off of the internet and stay on my gf diet".  At that point, I just gave up trying.  I felt totally defeated.

Obviously, it's all in my head.

On Friday, I had an appointment with an Integrative Nutritionist.  I figured that I had pretty much exhausted all other avenues, so I decided to take a more holistic approach.  Her office is located inside the Spa at the Roosevelt Baths in Saratoga Springs, NY.  As I walked into the lobby, I couldn't help but relax.  Calm music was playing, an indoor waterfall was trickling and a fireplace was welcoming.  People were sitting around in padded lounge chairs in white robes and flip flops, waiting for their massages and mineral baths.  I poured myself a cup of tea and waited.  I couldn't help but wonder why doctor's offices weren't like this.  Why do they have to be so cold and sterile?

Once in her office, we talked about the paperwork I had filled out and my symptoms and struggles.  We talked about the brain-gut connection and how our gut controls a great deal of our bodies.  I had been already researching about this before our meeting, so I was totally on board with what she was saying.  She gave me instructions for an anti-inflammatory, anti-candida, elimination diet (which is also gluten-free).  The idea behind the diet is to stop eating foods that contribute to inflammation in the intestine and replace it with foods that help the gut to heal.  I won't lie, it's pretty strict.  I've been on it for five days and I can tell you that it's not easy.   I've had to give up red meat, dairy, soy, corn, white potatoes, tomatoes, sugar, chocolate, soda and pretty much everything I love.  My diet has been consisting of chicken, turkey and fish, brown rice and quinoa, allowed vegetables and fruits, sweet potatoes, black beans and chic peas, nuts and nut butters (except peanuts), almond milk, flavored seltzer, 100% juices (no citrus), decaf coffee, green tea.  I can use molasses, pure maple syrup, agave and stevia for sweeteners.  There's also an added twist called "the egg challenge".  I have to go without eggs for two weeks.  At the end of the two weeks, I eat five yolks in one day to see if I have symptoms.  If I do, then I can write-off egg yolks permanently.  In a couple of days, I do the same with egg whites.  From what I gather, this will be the way it goes as I add restricted foods back into my diet.

All of my go-to snacks are gone.  No popcorn, no M&M's, no ice cream, no soda.  I admit, I'm going through some pretty severe sugar withdrawal.  I had to sprint through Target the other day in order to avoid the HUNDREDS of aisles of Easter candy.  It's been especially tough the last couple of days.  My daughter came down with the stomach flu and my stress level is making me crave sugar all the more. 

The other component to the plan is dietary supplements.  I have four big bottles on my kitchen counter which contain probiotics, digestive enzymes and omega 3's.   I have to work up to the recommended dosages slowly to give my system a chance to adjust.  The probiotics cause the most distress.  I've had some pretty bad cramps and "bathroom issues" after taking them.  I was told that this may happen.  Apparently, as the bad bacteria are taken over by the good bacteria, a little intestinal war can break out.  Completely normal, but more than a little uncomfortable.  Right now, I'm taking it slow with the probiotics, only taking the minimum amount and only using them every-other day or so.

I haven't felt much change in my pain level yet.  I know it's still early and I get really impatient.  I have lost a couple of pounds, I'm guessing because sometimes I don't really know what to eat.  The lack of sugar probably is helping as well.  I've had moments where I just stand in the middle of the kitchen and stare at the fridge.  I'm finding that I have to cook two meals at dinner, one for my family and one for me.  I haven't tried to eat in a restaurant yet, that will be interesting.  I thought going gluten-free was challenging!

How long I will need to stay on this plan is uncertain.  I guess it depends on my symptoms.  In the meantime, I'm still taking my nerve meds and trying to "stay off of the internet".  (Not!)

I will keep you posted!

Celiac Disease - More Than Just a Belly Ache

As some of you know, I've been dealing with some pretty nasty neurological pain issues in the last several months.  I haven't posted too much about it because, well, I really didn't want to talk about it until I had a little more information about what was causing it.

I've hidden my pain from most everyone.  It's not visible to the human eye.  Most days I get out of bed and go about my daily routine as best I can and just "fight through it".

The pain I'm talking about now has a name.  Small Fiber Peripheral Neuropathy.  This diagnosis was just confirmed about a week ago after visiting two neurologists and having way too many blood tests, MRI's and neurological exams.  Well, actually, the diagnosis was "some kind of neuropathy, but we don't know what's causing it, so here take these pills and come back in four weeks".  I only came upon the actual name of the neuropathy after much internet research.

Small Fiber Peripheral Neuropathy affects the small nerve fibers in your skin.  These fibers receive signals from the brain and control skin sensations such as temperature and pain.  When you burn your finger on the stove or feel a cool breeze, it is your small nerve fibers that transmit that feeling to your brain to tell you that you hurt yourself or need to put on a sweater.  Damage to the small fiber nerves disrupts this process and basically all Hell breaks loose.

For me, this means that I feel like I have a bad sunburn all over my body.  Clothes hurt.  I get chills, even though my skin feels hot.  I have trouble sleeping.  It affects every part of my day and everything I do.

The reason that I am writing this post today is that I want to get the word out there that the probable cause of my neuropathy is my Celiac Disease.  I don't know why it took me so long to figure it out.  I've been researching on the internet for months, trying to find an answer.  Finally, this past weekend, I came upon it.  It hit me like a ton of bricks.

I found this article on Celiac.com.  It is entitled "Up to 16% of Patients with Small Fiber Neuropathy May Have Celiac Disease".   Wow.  I had considered that the cause of my issues were Celiac-related, but here it was, in black and white.  Proof.    It was written by The Neuropathy Association.  The kicker....this article was written in 2003!  Why do mainstream doctors not know about this???

"In addition, patients with celiac disease tended to have a type of neuropathy called small fiber neuropathy which often causes severe burning, stinging, and electric-shock like pains, but is often misdiagnosed as it is undetectable with routine tests used by neurologists to diagnose neuropathy. Approximately 16% of all patients with small fiber neuropathy were found to have celiac disease. Many of our patients were told that there was nothing physically wrong with them, and were advised to seek psychiatric care for presumed anxiety or depression, noted Dr. Norman Latov, Medical and Scientific Director of The Neuropathy Association, and senior author of the study. You too would be anxious and depressed if you were in constant pain, and no-one believed you or offered to help."

So, after finding that article, I dug a little deeper.  I found this website Small Fiber Neuropathy.Net .

And this one: Center For Peripheral Neuropathy at University of Chicago. 

Needless to say, I am printing out copies for every doctor I know.  It makes me angry that I had symptoms of this since the time of my diagnosis in 2007.  Not one doctor mentioned that Celiac Disease could be causing these symptoms.  Since I had cervical disc issues at the time, the doctors just assumed that I was having nerve issues related to that.  I just sat back and believed them.  I had neck surgery.  Instead of the pain going away, it just kept getting worse.

Now that I have a diagnosis and a cause, I have to find out what my treatment options are.  For right now, it's LOTS of medications.  I'm not happy with this option, but it's the only one available at this point.  I also need to figure out why, since I am so careful about my gluten-free diet, that things are getting worse and not better.  I'm sure it's going to take a lot more research, doctor visits and prayer to help me find a way to get through this.

So, I guess the moral of my story is, please, if something is not right with your body and you know something is off, don't just accept the first answer the doctor gives you.  Don't just write it off.  Investigate.  Ask questions.  You are your best advocate!  It's taken me three years to learn this and it's been a painful lesson.

"Senior Moments" and Comfort Food

Yesterday, I had a "Senior Moment".  I was trying to update my post from a few days ago and somehow managed to delete the entire post.  These kinds of things have been happening a lot to me lately.  Like accidentally throwing away a pile of important medical paperwork and keeping a useless pile of "junk" paper that was supposed to go in the trash. I guess I'll just chalk it up to old age! Or, maybe add it to the list of weird, neurological "stuff" that's been going on lately.

I'm not going to try to re-write the post, but I do want to make sure I update you on the book I mentioned in it.  I am currently reading "Super Nutrition for Women" by Ann Louise Gittleman PH.D. CNS.  While I am fascinated by her recommendations for women not to follow the very popular "low fat, high carb" diets as we may be missing out on important fats and nutrients, I wanted to point out that this book is a little bit outdated when it comes to eating gluten-free.  For example, Dr. Gittleman lists Original Sprouted Ezekiel 4:9 Bread as being gluten-free because it is "flourless" when it actually lists Organic Sprouted Wheat and Organic Malted Barley in the ingredients list.  She even mentions that it is sweetened with barley malt.  There are several other instances of this misinformation in the book.  This book was written in 1991.  We have come a long way in understanding gluten-free diets since then!  So, while it is an interesting book to read and does have some valid points about nutrition and women, I do not recommend this book for anyone who needs to follow a gluten-free diet.

Now, on to something I've been wanting to post for a while now.  I had to share that I made the most incredible mac n' cheese dish a few weeks ago!  I was watching Rachael Ray's new show "Week In A Day".  She made Spinach and Artichoke Baked Whole Grain Pasta.  It looked really "Yum-O" and I knew it would be really easy to convert to gluten-free.  (I know, this doesn't really fit in with my new "eating less carbs and more meat" approach, but what the heck?)

INGREDIENTS


2 (10-ounce) boxes frozen spinach  (I only used one box)

Salt

1 pound whole wheat or whole grain penne' pasta or macaroni (any short cut pasta) (I used Schar Penne' Pasta)

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 large shallot, chopped

4 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated

1 (10-ounce) box frozen artichoke hearts, defrosted, halved, pat dry (I couldn't find frozen, so I used canned)

1/2 cup dry white wine

4 tablespoons butter

3 slightly rounded tablespoons flour (I used sweet rice flour here)

2 cups milk

Freshly ground black pepper

Freshly grated nutmeg

5 ounces Gruyere cheese, shredded (about 1 1/2 cups)

1 cup shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese


DIRECTIONS
Position the oven rack in center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Defrost the spinach in the microwave. Drain, then dry the spinach out as much as possible by wringing it out in a clean kitchen towel.

Bring a saucepot of water to a boil. Add salt. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions for al dente.

Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil in a small skillet over medium to medium-high heat and add the shallots and garlic and cook 2 to 3 minutes. Add the artichokes and cook until they are lightly brown. Add the wine to deglaze the pan.

While the artichokes and pasta cook, in a saucepot over medium to medium-high heat, add the butter. When melted, whisk in the flour for 1 minute or so, then whisk in the milk and season with salt, pepper and a little nutmeg. Cook 5 to 6 minutes, or until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, adjust the seasonings and stir in the Gruyere cheese. Combine the sauce with the spinach, pasta, and artichoke and stir until just combined. Transfer the mixture to a baking dish and cover with the remaining cheese. Cool and store for a make-ahead meal.

Bake on a baking sheet 45 minutes or until brown and bubbly on top.

The picture above is from the "Week in a Day" website.  I wish I could show you a picture of my dish, but I seem to be having problems uploading pictures to Blogger today!  Ugh.  However, it came out amazing!!!  The only issue I had with making this dish was that it dirties a LOT of dishes!  Otherwise, everyone gobbled it right up...including the leftovers!

Meal Planning and Grocery Shopping

I know that I have confessed this in the past.  I spend way too much money on groceries.  In fact, our grocery bill has now exceeded our mortgage payment!  Yes.  I hate to admit it, but it's true.

The funny thing is, that even though I seem to buy an awful lot of groceries, I sometimes seem to have trouble putting it together for dinner.  Dinnertime is most always a stressful time of the day.  There's helping with homework.  There's making sure piano and violin lessons have been practiced.  Sometimes there's after school appointments or activities.   I don't mind cooking, but let's face it, some nights I'd rather just go out to dinner!  Since we try to only go out on the weekends (for both health and budget reasons), going to restaurants in the middle of the week isn't really an option.

I started several months ago making a weekly menu plan and grocery list to help me focus a little better.  While it did seem to help me get dinner on the table a little easier, it really didn't help with my budget.  I still find myself running to the grocery store at least two to three times a week.  And, of course, every time I go into the store, I come out with more items than I went in for.

I have tried to cut our grocery bill several times in the past.  I even took an adult education class on how to save in the grocery store a few years back.  I cut coupons.  I shop the sales.  I joined BJ's Warehouse Club.  Still, I believe I'm spending way too much.  I'd much rather spend that money on other things.  Like paying off bills or the new cell phones my family wants or the trip to Disney that I want...

Last week, I saw the Economides family on the Today Show.  You may have heard of them.  They are America's Cheapest Family.  With their new book, they claim to be able to help you Cut Your Grocery Bill In Half.  OK.  So.  I took the bait.  I bought the book.  I'm already trying to apply some of the techniques they discuss.  I'm only a few chapters into the book.

I started this week by taking an inventory of everything already in my pantry, freezer and refrigerator.  I sat down with my inventory and my recipe binder and made up a meal plan for the month of October using things I already have on hand.  Then, I made a grocery list of the items I need to buy to fill in the menu, plus breakfast and lunch items, paper products, cleaners, etc.  I looked through the store flyers and decided to go to two stores that had the best prices for the items I needed.  I settled on Walmart (for the majority of my list) and Green Grocer (for my gf items and because I had a $2 off total of $20 coupon to use).  I assembled my clipped coupons.   I grabbed my calculator.  I headed out to shop!

One of the ideas in the book is to put a shopping basket into the shopping cart and put all of the "impulse purchases" in the basket.  Since I almost always pick up extra things when I shop, I decide this was a good way to keep track of what I'm buying that's not on my list.  It really did help me stick to my list.  I had just one item in the basket at check-out.  That was one Enjoy Life Choco Boom Boom bar!  I wasn't putting that baby back!!!  A girl has to have her chocolate, right?  

Since I used a pre-printed grocery shopping list (check-box style), I missed a few items in the store.  I'm used to writing my own, listing items in the order they are arranged in the store.  It will probably take a while to get the hang of it.  Or, I may re-do the list to make it easier.  In any case, this means I will have to make another trip to pick up the items I missed.  I'm guessing I will have to make a small trip each week to pick up perishable items like milk, eggs, fruit...etc.

Also, since I don't have an extra freezer, I couldn't buy a lot of "freezer foods".  As it is, my little freezer is stocked to the max.  I hope that I've planned my purchases wisely so that I have enough to last the month.  I guess we will see.

My total at Walmart after coupons was $127.11.  At Green Grocer, it was $18.25.  So, my grand total for today's trip was $145.36.

Now.  I must admit.  This was a lot of work.  It took me most of the afternoon yesterday to get things together, over an hour shopping and then another 45 minutes to get everything put away.  I even bought a large package of chicken breasts and a huge package of ground beef that I had to split up into freezer bags when I got home.  I don't usually do this, but after checking the unit prices per pound, I could see quite a big difference in the cost.  I'm guessing that with practice, the whole process will go faster.  At least I hope so.

I'd love to hear any money-saving tips you all might have to share...

I hope you all have a great, gluten-free day!  :)

My New Favorite Shampoo

I know.  I usually write about food.  However, in this post, I decided to tell you about my new favorite shampoo.  Yes.  Shampoo.

It's called Desert Essence Organics Hair Care Lemon Tea Tree Shampoo.  There are so many reasons I love this shampoo. 

First, I love the smell of lemon shampoo.  This shampoo reminds me of a shampoo I used as a teen called "Lemon Up".   Does anyone else remember it?  It was right up there with "Gee Your Hair Smell Terrific" shampoo! OK.  So I'm really dating myself now.

Second, I have really oily hair and this gets it soooo clean!

Third, it's Organic and clearly marked "Gluten-Free"!

I found this shampoo at The Green Grocer market in Clifton Park, but you can also check it out at CVS.com. 

I like it so much, I may go back and buy the conditioner!

Have a great gluten-free day!

*Please note:  I do not work for Desert Essence or have any other affiliations with this company.  I just really love this product!

Gluten-Free Bisquick Oven Baked Chicken and Ore-Ida Sweet Potato Fries

It sure was a busy, busy summer.  I let a lot of things slide.  My housework.  My diet.  My blogging.

So, now it's fall.  Back to housework.  My diet.  My blogging.

I just have to tell you about the dinner I made tonight.  It was that terrific.

I decided to make the Oven Baked Chicken recipe on the Gluten-Free Bisquick Box.  I have made this once before and it was so good that I just had to make it again.  You can view the recipe here.  They also have a lot of other really yummy-looking recipes on their website that I'm going to have to try!

I used chicken thighs instead of a whole, cut-up chicken.  I also added some red pepper to the flour mix to try to add a little zip to the batter as the batter alone is a little bland for our taste buds.  I think next time, I would add even a little more, although it was very good just the same.

I even tried taking the skin off of one of the thighs before dipping to see if the batter would still stick to the chicken.  It did, although I must admit, I liked the taste of the chicken with skin on much better.  Again, maybe with more seasoning, this would be a good, lower fat option.

After the first 35 minutes were up, I flipped the chicken per the directions and threw a baking sheet with New Ore-Ida Sweet Potato Fries in the oven to bake with the chicken for the remaining 15 minutes.  These are really good and are marked "Gluten-Free" right on the bag.  Now, if you have some sweet potatoes, you can make your own sweet potato fries very easily yourself, it's true, but these are a nice, quick option if you don't mind the extra ingredients in them.

(SWEET POTATOES, CANOLA OIL MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, RICE FLOUR, TAPIOCA DEXTRIN, SEA SALT, LEAVENING (SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE, SODIUM BICARBONATE), XANTHAN GUM, ANNATTO (COLOR), DISODIUM SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE.)

Behold.  A quick, easy, delicious Sunday night dinner.

If you haven't tried Gluten-Free Bisquick or Ore-Ida Sweet Potato Fries yet, you should!

Have a great gluten-free week!

Vacationing Gluten-Free in Cape Cod

If you know me, you know that I love Cape Cod.  I've been visiting the Cape almost every summer since, well, before I was born!  That's 40....and then some years!

Anyone who has been there, knows that fried foods are a way of life on the Cape.  Fried fish, fried clams, fried onion rings, fried everything!  I even had a fried Snicker's bar before I was gluten-free!

When I was first diagnoses with Celiac Disease two years ago, I wondered how I would ever enjoy going to restaurants on the Cape again.  I am pleased to say that navigating the restaurants on the Cape is becoming easier and easier for us non-gluten eaters.

This year, we visited several restaurants with gluten-free menus we had visited in the past, along with one new one.

The first on my list of "old stand-bys" is Seafood Sam's in South Yarmouth.   This is a counter-service, fried food eatery.  They do not have a gluten-free menu.  However, I have been successful in the past ordering any of the broiled dinners without crumb topping and a baked potato.  This year, we visited this restaurant twice, because my gluten-eating daughter loves their kids' fried shrimp.  My husband and I ordered the "Sam's Broiled Platter for 2".  It came split on two plates with the sides separated so he could have his french fries, while I had a baked potato.  It also comes with Newburg Sauce (which I don't think is gluten-free and didn't eat) and cole slaw.  It's a bargain at only $19.95 for two and a lot of seafood!

The next restaurant on my list is Chatham Fish and Lobster Company in Chatham.  We visited this fresh fish market/counter service restaurant last year for the first time and I couldn't wait to get back there this year!  All and I mean ALL of their fried items are gluten-free.  I can't get enough of their crunchy, delicious seafood.  And talk about fried onion rings!  My mouth is watering thinking about it!

Last year I ordered fish fry.  It was excellent!  This year, I decided to order the Fried Clam Strip Platter.  As my tween daughter would say, OMG!

If there was one restaurant in the whole world that I would want if I were alone on a desert island, this would be the one!

We also ordered the Fried Shrimp Platter and shared both platters between the three of us.  It was plenty of food!

I just love this place!  I really liked the huge lobster in the front yard too!

Oh, and the "Celiac Friendly" sign on the door!

Another restaurant we visited was Sam Diego's Mexican Cookery and Bar  in Hyannis.

Mexican food on the Cape?   Si, Senior!!!  This awesome place has wonderful food and a relatively new gluten-free menu! (The menu is NOT on their website...I wish it were so you could see all their wonderful menu items!)

I apologize for the glare on the picture, but the service was so speedy that I didn't have time to get it right!  LOL!

I ordered the Gluten-Free Chips and Salsa right off the bat.

Then, I ordered their Gluten-Free Chili Con Carne...

Look at that cheesy goodness!!!  Uh oh...drooling on my computer keys!

Then, I ordered the Gluten-Free Classic Cheese and Pepper Quesadillas.

Well, I couldn't finish all this food!  It was soooo yummy good!

Are you hungry yet?  I have more to go!!!  LOL!


The one cloudy, sprinkly day of our vacation, we decided to head of to Cape Cod Mall in Hyannis to do some retail therapy.  We stopped in at Not Your Average Joe's for lunch.  This is the third year we have eaten at Joe's.  The first time, well, there wasn't much on their gluten-free menu.  It was your standard, plain hamburger on a bun with salad menu.  This year, I was pleasantly surprised to find way more offerings.  Including GLUTEN-FREE ONION ROLLS with olive oil/red pepper dipping sauce!  Whoa!!!

And, if you do order the hamburger, I'm guessing you'll get one of these buns with it!  :)

For my lunch, I ordered the GF Grilled Chicken Salad.  Instead of the Creamy Ranch Dressing, I ordered the Lo-Cal Zinfandel, which was excellent and also GF.

We also visited BZ's Mexican Pizzeria in Dennisport.  I apologize, I didn't bring my camera to this restaurant, but they have EXCELLENT gluten-free pizza.  The best part is that it's made on site and you can choose from many toppings!  I ordered mushroom and ground beef.  Mmmmmm.


Last, but not least, I can't visit the Cape without ordering at least one boiled lobster dinner!  We went to The Lobster Boat, which is a tradition in my family.  They do not have a gluten-free menu, but I've never had a problem eating here.  The twin lobster special is what we always order....it is well, lobster!

I hope you have enjoyed my little gluten-free tour of Cape Cod!  I can't wait to go back again next year...or sooner!  LOL!

Question: How do YOU heal your belly when you are "glutened"?

It's been a busy week.  It was the last week of 4th grade for my daughter.  Which means the last week of freedom for mom until September, so I was busy getting "things" done before school was out.  I don't think I finished half of the "things" on my list.  Mostly because I felt sick.

This seems to happen every few months and lasts for a week or more.  The belly ache.  Feels like someone put my intestines in a vice and keeps cranking it tighter.

I can never really pin down the reason it happens.  Did I get glutened?  Was it the greasy burger I ate?  Am I eating out in restaurants too often?  Is it stress?  Am I allergic or intolerant to another food?  I don't know, but I'd sure like to figure it out.

So, this week I began the task of writing down everything I eat.  I probably began too late to figure out the source this time, as I already had the belly ache, but I'm hoping that eventually I can find the answer.  I've read that corn gluten can be a problem for some Celiacs or maybe dairy (I already use soy milk).  I'm also trying to cut out (or at least down) on the diet soda.  Yes, I know it's bad for me, but I have trouble giving it up.  :(

I've been downing the Pepto Bismal in the meantime and trying to eat very carefully.  I need to heal my tummy and feel better.  Which got me to thinking....what do other Celiacs do when they get glutened?

So here are my questions for you all...

When you get glutened, what do you do to feel better?  What do you eat while you're healing?  What medications if any do you use?  How long do your symptoms last?

I would love any advice you may have to give.

Thanks.  And I hope you are having a great gluten-free weekend!

Two Gluten-Free Surprises for Mom on Father's Day!

Ok.  I admit it.  I've been slacking on the blog posts.  I'm blaming it on spring fever and a little bit of writer's block.

I did have two great surprises today.  We decided to take my husband out for lunch for Father's Day.  He chose Outback Steakhouse because, well, what's Father's Day without a little steak anyway???  I was happily looking over my gluten-free menu when the waiter brought over the little loaf of gluten-filled, brown bread.  When my husband told him not to put it in front of me, the waiter said "Oh, sorry.  Would you like a loaf of gluten-free bread?"  Wow!

Outback had served gluten-free bread in the past.  Then they took it away.  I blogged about it here.  Well, now it's back!  I'm not sure that it's the same bread that they served before, but it was really good.    It's lovely to have bread with my 6 oz. Special Steak, baked potato and green beans.  Thanks, Outback!!!

My second surprise was later, when we decided to go out for soft ice cream.  One of the pleasures of summer is going to The Country Drive-In on Crescent Road in Clifton Park.  This is a very busy spot in hot weather and if you can find a parking space, you are in luck!  We have been known to circle the lot many times on crowded nights, only to drive away without our ice cream!  :(

Today, it was the middle of the afternoon and not terribly crowded.  I ordered my usual.  Small hot fudge sundae with fat-free, sugar-free yogurt.  Today's yogurt flavor was "Very Berry".  We stepped back from the window after placing our orders and there it was.  On the window.  Right there in front of us.  "Gluten-Free Cones Now Available Upon Request."    NO WAY!  (I think I actually heard a choir singing in the background..."AHHHHH")  The world is definitely changing right before our very eyes.  Now, I'm not much of a "cone person", but you'd better believe that next time we go, I will be ordering one of the gluten-free cones!  Just because I can. 

Trip to Whole Foods

If you are lucky enough to live near a Whole Foods, you probably already know what a great store it is.   Unfortunately, the nearest Whole Foods to where I live is 2+ hours away!

On our way back from Boston earlier this month, I made sure we made a stop at the Whole Foods in Framingham, MA.  I even brought an empty cooler to transport my goodies in!  I had never been to a Whole Foods before and just had to check it out.

I was really happy to find several gluten-free goodies that aren't carried in the stores back home.  These goodies included:

Bell & Evans Gluten-Free Chicken Nuggets - Our local Price Chopper used to carry these and I really miss them!  I can't even imagine why they stopped.  They sure beat McDonald's so-called nuggets.

Bell & Evans Gluten-Free Italian Style Chicken Patties with Mozzarella - Had never seen these before!  I served them with pasta sauce...they were yummy.

WF Bakehouse Gluten-Free Sundried Tomato Bread - Was pretty good, but a little dense, which is fairly normal for packaged gluten-free bread.

WF Bakehouse Gluten-Free Almond Scones - Loved these!

Udi's Gluten-Free Whole Grain Bread - I left the best for last...

I couldn't wait to try the Udi's bread.  I have heard so much buzz about it on many, many gluten-free blogs.  Let me tell you...hands-down, this has to be best packaged, gluten-free bread on the planet.  I am in LOVE.  I have tried it plain with butter.  I have tried it with peanut butter and jelly.  I have tried it grilled with turkey and cheese.  If I didn't know better, I would really think there was gluten in this bread.  It is so fluffy and springy.  I have only one regret in purchasing this bread....I ONLY BOUGHT ONE LOAF!  I have considered ordering more on their website, but I calculated the shipping and it was around $17.00!  Yikes!  I may just have to do it though, I'm not sure how long I can live without my new love.  I'd also like to try their bagels and pizza crust...The WF in Framingham only had bread.

I'm already planning another trip to Whole Foods on our way to (and maybe from) Cape Cod this summer.  There just happens to be several on the way! 

Note to self:  Get a bigger cooler!  (Even if it means I have to leave my suitcase behind!  Who need clothes, anyway?)  ;)

Have a great gluten-free day!

24 Hours in Boston

I was so lucky this past weekend to spend Mother's Day in Boston.  Even though it was very rainy on Saturday afternoon when we got there and very cold and windy on Sunday, we had a great time!

While we were in Boston, we had dinner at Legal Seafoods, Long Wharf.  We stayed at the Boston Marriott, Long Wharf and it was literally right across the street from our hotel.  It was a good thing because right at 5:25 pm, the skys opened up and the monsoon came down!  (If you were watching the Red Sox/Yankees game on tv, you know this because the game was delayed!)  Our reservations were for 5:30, so we ran as fast as we could across the street.  We were drenched...but after the food came, we just didn't mind at all!

The view from our hotel window. 

Legal Seafoods has the blue covers over the outdoor dining tables.

Legal Seafoods has a very extensive gluten-free menu.  I started out my meal with gluten-free dinner rolls.  These were soooo delicious, I didn't even need butter.  Fresh and hot from the oven, crusty on the outside, fluffy on the inside.  Wishing I had asked who made them!

For my main course, I ordered Sea Scallops, baked potato and steamed sugar snap peas.  The scallops were fried in chick pea flour!  They were very light, tender and EXCELLENT.

To top off the evening, I ordered the Chocolate Mousse.  Oh my, oh my...

I was really sure I had died and gone to creamy, dreamy, chocolate heaven.

I have to say that since going gluten-free, this was one of the best dining experiences I have had.  If you live near a Legal Seafoods...I am soooo jealous!  If you are ever visiting a city where there is a Legal Seafoods...make sure you visit! 

In my next post, I will review some gluten-free items I bought at Whole Foods on the way back from our trip!

Have a great, gluten-free day!