Sources of Inspiration

For this gluten free blog, I wasn't sure where to begin with my sources of inspiration. I mean, I have celiac disease and have to be gluten free, but what inspires me to write this blog? What inspires me to choose the colors and font? Then I looked around and really focused. I realized that my sources are all around me.

The first is a cutting board, which is my background. Whenever I make food, I use some type of cutting board to put the food onto. I never realized what an inspiring symbol a cutting board can be. It allows you to be an artist and create your own food. You get to choose what to put and what to eat; you don't have to worry about buying a certain type of food to satisfy your diet. Here, you are your own chef and you are able to make your own dietary food. You are the master of your own life, just with a cutting board. 

For the color choice, I noticed that I always try to make my food colorful. Eating gluten free might not be the best, fun experience in the world, but adding color to my food makes it my own. And, I like to think it makes it more appealing to others if the food is colorful. Then they will look past the fact that it isn't "regular people food"; its just simply gluten free. Therefore, I chose a purple font for my blog to make things colorful and draw people's attention.

 The reason I made my font this way is because whenever I see a box of gluten free items, the typography is always quite simple. It doesn't need to be fancy or decorative; simple and sweet makes it appealing. Therefore, I chose this font due to it's simple nature and it was my favorite choice. 

Sources of inspiration come from all around us. You just have to stop, take a deep breath and look around. 

Keeping Up With the....Diet!

Sometimes sticking to your diet is the worst thing in the entire world. "My friends are eating pizza....why can't I eat it too?" or "Where do you want to go out to eat...or rather, where can YOU eat?" Those are some of the worst points of being a gluten free person. There are those who choose to be gluten free, which I never understood why. A cake is a cake whether it is gluten free or not. Your body needs gluten in its digestion; those who cannot have gluten just cannot break it down. For more information on that, you can read this: http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/going-gluten-free-just-because-heres-what-you-need-to-know-201302205916.

For those of us who have to eat gluten free and did not choose it, it can be very difficult to stay on track of the diet. If you surround yourself with people who can eat gluten, you are bound to break your diet at least once in order to "fit in" with the crowd. Who wants to be the reason that you can't go to a certain restaurant?


But you need to know that you are not alone in this fight against gluten. There are many people out there who cannot eat regular foods and have to be persistant in their gluten free lives. You MUST stick to your diet or your body will feel horrible consequences. Don't eat gluten just to fit in; it will never work. You body was designed to stand out so embrace your gluten free body! You will fee so much better with yourself and your tummy will thank you.

Remember, you're not alone. Enjoy!

sources: http://www.bettycrocker.com/products/gluten-free-products

Gluten Free Sandwich Cookies

Here is a recipe that is simple and delicious.....gluten free sugar cookies! These you can do anything with after you've made them. My boyfriend's mother has tweaked the original recipe, so credit for this recipe goes to her and MOMables (for the original sugar cookie recipe). This recipe is to make sandwich cookies using the sugar cookies and homemade (or store-bought) icing.  

Ingredients: 
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 large egg
1 table spoon water or milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum (omit if you all-purpose flour has it)
2 cups gluten free all-purpose flour + more for rolling/dusting
1 small bowl
1 small glass with a round bottom

Instructions:
1. In a large bowl, cream the sugar and butter at medium speed
2. Add the egg, water (or milk), vanilla, salt and cinnamon (if using). Blend until mixed well.
3. Add the xanthan gum (if using) and flour. Mix at a low speed until well combined. 
4. Cover and refrigerate for AT LEAST one hour.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5. Preheat the oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. 
6. Roll the dough into 1/2-1" balls and put them onto the parchment paper
7. Dip a glass into a bowl of sugar and flatten the balls. Make sure to not make them super thin, but about 1/4" high.
8. Start with 7 minutes in the oven, and cook until the edges are a soft brown.


Now for the icing!

Ingredients
1/2 cup softened butter
1 1/2 cup of powdered sugar
2 tsp. vanilla

Mix it up until smooth.

Now you just icing the one side of a cookie, then choose another cookies about the same size and make a sandwich. TADA! Now you know how to make one of my favorite gluten free cookies. Enjoy!

sources: http://www.cooqiglutenfree.com/recipes/sugar-cookies

Gluten Free Shops

You've started the gluten free diet, but now what? Now you must do something that some find to be extremely satisfying....SHOPPING!

Now, there are many stores that carry gluten free products, or have their very own gluten free aisle. Stores like this include:

• Giant Eagle
• Aldi's 
• Shop N' Save
• Walmart
• Wholefoods Market

Usually, if the story carry's many different products, you will most likely find a gluten free section. If not, you will have to look through the ingredients on different foods to make sure they are gluten free. It's like a scavenger hunt for food! 

Gluten free spaghetti is always a delicious, easy meal. Usually the store-bought sauce will be gluten free, however if you make your own make sure to watch what ingredients you are using. And gluten free bread turned into garlic bread is quite delicious. 

Shopping for gluten free food is not the end of the world. In the long run, the food you buy will make you feel much better and even start a healthy lifestyle for you. Enjoy!

photograph source: https://www.stuffed-pepper.com/great-gluten-free-divide/

Gluten Free App

Hello gluten free foodies! Today is another beautiful day in the world of being gluten free! 

Did you know there is an app for those looking to dine out, but are worried they won't find a restaurant that has gluten free food? It's called 'Find Me Gluten Free' and is quite brilliant. 

This app allows you to search for gluten free restaurants around you area, as well as the price and reviews from other people about their gluten free experiences. They have a homepage full of information on different gluten free foods, and news regarding gluten free companies or just gluten free things. 

Then, on the left-hand side, there is a tab where you can search places by name, address, popular chains, and then you an search for recipes and products. This app will be extremely useful to those who love to travel and need to have gluten free food.

I completely and 100% recommend this app to those of you who feel like eating out is a chore. No longer! This app will help you free your mind about where to eat dinner and whether or not you will be able to find food.

Oh, and the best part? It's free. 


sources: http://www.findmeglutenfree.com/
Photograph source: http://mygluten-freekitchen.com/friday-favorite-find-me-gluten-free-app/

Gluten Free Magic Kingdom

Disney now has a gluten free and vegan bakery at their parks. This is a huge win for those who are gluten free and vegan!!! When traveling to an amusement park, it is always a requirement to have a plan of action when traveling with someone who has a diet restriction. Where can we eat? What can you eat? What do you want to eat? And Disney World, being an enormous attraction for thousands of tourists each year, can cater to even more people who travel there. For people who have a gluten allergy, sometimes you may feel like a burden on those you travel with because of your dietary needs. A gluten free bakery will be a huge blessing to those who want to enjoy dessert while at the most magical place on earth. I wish they had these foods whenever I traveled there.

 The Bakery is called Erin McKenna's Bakery, and is located on Downtown Disney's Marketplace. They have gluten free and vegan donuts, cupcakes, cookies, and more. YUM!

Hooray for being gluten free!!!! Enjoy your travels to Disney parks. Here is a photograph for when I went to Disney about three years ago. 

source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/31/gluten-free-disney-world-vegan-food_n_6970458.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063

photograph sources: Jaymie Macek

Pizza Dip Recipe

Hello again everyone! Today I have an extremely special dish to share with you all. It is called pizza dip. The person who shared this recipe is a family friend, named Kim DePew. Its quick, simple and DELICIOUS! Perfect for those parties where you need to bring something to snack on. And guess what...it is one of those items that you would not have thought to be gluten free. 

Ingredients: 
1 cup of cream cheese
1/2 of sour cream
1/2-1 jar of pizza sauce
1 bag of mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 pie pan

Directions:
1. Set oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit 

2. In a mixing bowl, mix the cream cheese with the sour cream, using a mixer. Make sure the cream cheese is soft enough for mixing.

3. Layer the mixture on the bottom of the pie pan, making sure that the entire bottom is covered.

4. Cover with a half a jar of pizza sauce. Add more if you like to have more sauce.

5. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top until the entire pan is covered.

6. Bake for 20 minutes

Then you are ready to enjoy this simple dish. I would suggest doubling the ingredients and getting a second pie pan; the first one will be gone quicker than you would expect! I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as my family and I do. 

source of picture: http://www.howsweeteats.com/2012/07/white-pizza-dip/

Detecting Gluten

Gluten may seem to be in almost every type of food....or at least the ones that you are partial too. For example, when beginning the gluten free diet, you learn that cakes, cookies, pretzels, cereal, etc. contain either 'wheat' or 'oat'. Some types of chocolate contain malt, which is an ingredient that people who are gluten sensitive or have celiac disease should avoid. 

When going grocery shopping, there are a couple of things to remember. 
1. ALWAYS look at the label of food. Once you get into the swing of things, it will get much easier to recognize which food is gluten free and the ones that are not. But, when first starting out, reading the labels is essential to getting the completely gluten free food.

2. Do not always buy the first thing you see. There are many types of gluten free desserts out there, but some do much better than others. Cereal is a huge problem with this. Some may outright say on the box 'may contain wheat,' while others may not. Look through the selection of foods and make sure to by buying what you think is best, not the first thing you see. Usually, in gluten free isles, they have 10 different types of cookie or bread. Look at each one and yes.....do some research. *GASP* Researching what foods are better than others will most likely help you with you decisions on what to buy.

3.Gluten free food is EXPENSIVE. But do not let that deter you from buying it, especially if your tummy may need the gluten free food. Just add a little more money into your food budget, especially when splurging on gluten free cake mixes. 

4. Research brands. I know I said it before, but researching helps more than you realize. This way you will be prepared when you visit the store, rather than buying multiples of items and realizing you distaste them all.

Do not be afraid of shopping for gluten free food. There are many options in today's world, as well as grocery store isles that are full of gluten free food options. Just make sure to add a little more into your budget for food shopping! You will be fine. Enjoy the food that is out there. Just because it says gluten free doesn't mean it isn't delicious. 

Picture source: http://www.reddit.com/r/AdviceAnimals/comments/1r4ztx/going_to_the_supermarket_on_a_glutenfree_diet/

Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies

Since now you have started your gluten free diet, there is a recipe I am going to share with you. It's called Peanut butter cookies! These cookies are delicious, flour free and best of all....gluten free! This recipe is from a book entitled 'The Big Book of Gluten-Free Recipes by: Kimberly A. Tessmer, RD, LD. Here is the recipe:

Makes 2-3 dozen cookies, depending on size. 

Ingredients: 
1 cup gluten-free natural peanut butter, well stirred
1/2 cup turbinado sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 large egg, beaten
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup gluten free chocolate chips (optional)
1/2 cup almonds or nut of you choice, finely diced

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit 

2. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the peanut butter, sugars, egg, vanilla extract, and baking soda. Mix thoroughly. Add chocolate chips and diced nuts if desired. 

3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spoon cookie dough by tablespoonfuls onto baking sheet. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until centers are cooked and edges are lightly browned. Let them cool on the sheet for 5-10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. 

And there you have it folks! Delicious gluten-free peanut butter cookies. You don't have to add the chocolate chips or the nuts; they are your choice. A warning about this recipe though....these cookies are DELICIOUS! You will want to make them all of the time. 

Enjoy your delicious gluten free cookies. See, it is not so bad being gluten free. 

Sources: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-big-book-of-gluten-free-recipes-kimberly-tessmer/1113839844?ean=9781440562396
http://www.shockinglydelicious.com/5-ingredient-gluten-free-flourless-peanut-butter-cookies/

The Diet

Hello! You have just found out that you are gluten free....now what? Now it is time to take one of the hardest, greatest journey's in life....a gluten free diet! The worst part about starting a gluten free diet is the change from regular food to gluten free food. However, with a lot of faith and a lot of work, the diet will soon become second nature.

One of the things that will change first is your weight. It may go up or down, but guaranteed it will change. Do not be deterred by this factor, your weight does not define who you are. As long as you are following the diet and being healthy, your weight cannot bring you down. 

You will begin to notice the fact that there seems to be no food around you and that you cannot find ANYTHING that is gluten free. This is not the case! There are many foods, some you probably did not even realize, that are gluten free. For example, here are gluten free foods that you might not have seen as gluten free:

• Chex-mix cereal
• Fruity and Cocoa Pebbles
• Ice cream
• Fruits and Vegetables

And so many others. There are a ton of websites out there to help the gluten free novice. Plus, foods like chicken and steak are gluten free too! See, a gluten free diet is not all bad. 

One piece of advice I can give, is do not give up on yourself or your diet. The beginning can be the most challenging portion, especially if no one you know is gluten free. You may feel it is hopeless, or that you wish you did not have a gluten allergy. Be proud in yourself. Your tummy really needs you to stick to your diet. 

You are not alone in your gluten free journey. There are many people who are diagnosed with celiac disease or a gluten-sensitivity. You can do it! If you have any questions, or need advice on a gluten free diet, please do not hesitate to contact me. 

Sources:

http://celiacdisease.about.com/od/diagnosingceliacdisease/tp/Gluten-Free-Diet-Side-Effects.htm

http://www.chex.com/products

http://celiac.org
http://www.thisfullhouse.com/reviews/2009/10/celiac-disease-awareness-month-new-glutenfree-cereals-party-recipes-from-chex.html

Food for Thought

Hello, welcome to my blog! My blog posts will be about gluten free food. You are welcome to read about my experiences with different types of gluten free food. I hope you enjoy reading about different gluten free food experiences.