Probiotic Supplement Align

It's been a week! Yes a week, since my Gastroenterologist gave me some samples of Align. I can say that after a week I do feel a slight bit better (maybe because I eliminated dairy). Come to find out some of the minor tummy issues I was having are due to my dairy intake. The probiotic Yakult (which I recommend if you can have dairy) was helping with certain digestive issues but not all.

So, what do I like about Align? I like that I dont have to refridgerate it. Almost all Probiotics have to be refridgerated. This is nice because I can keep it in my purse. If I forget it in the morning, no worries, its in your purse. Feeling crappy? No worries, its in your purse! Nice huh?

So, where can you get Align? Target, Walmart and CVS to name a few places. It will be in the supplement isle. You can also go to this buy align link for more information.

Any questions? Please visit the Align website or consult your GI doc!

Happy eating, learning and living! Gluten Free...

La Farfalla Cafe (Escondido CA) *****

I was in the need to dine out with just the hubby and wanted something outside the typical Outback or PF Changs dinner. I was told about this place located in Escondido called La Farfalla Café that had Gluten Free items on their menu. Of course when I hear of such things I HAVE to check it out! La Farfalla Cafe is a quaint place nestled in between some other shops on Orange Ave. It is quite small and looks to hold about 26 people for inside dining. It feels very family dinerish and home like. I personally loved the ambiance. The place was also packed and people were waiting to be seated. Seems La Farfalla has a nice following!

Meet Lacy a new GFF! Lacy, her husband and son were sitting at the table next to us. Of course the social person I am started a conversation. Lacy was just as social and we got to talking about why she was Gluten free. Unfortunately, Lacy has fibromyalgia and has found that by going Gluten Free has helped.

So, Started off with the Soup of the day which was the Coconut lemongrass with Chicken. The taste was very simple and VERY refreshing. Cilantro topped the soup which had mushrooms, lemongrass and chicken. YUM! My husband, one who doesn't like coconut, even tried it and ate half. We also talked another couple sitting a couple tables away into trying it. Pleased to say they loved it too!

The bread that came to the table was made fresh and was really moist. It didn't fall apart unlike other gluten free breads. I would love to buy a loaf and take it home.

If I had a chance to order again I think I would have ordered another entree and not one so simple. The entree I ordered was a Pesto Pasta off the menu that came with a salad. The only reason I should of tried something different is that I can make Pesto Pasta at home. I should of picked something I wouldn't ever make at home... there's always next time.

The Pasta came with a side salad which was really good! it had mixed greens, carrots and cucumbers. I would of hoped for some tomatoes as well. Anyways, I had the Italian dressing and it was absolutely fabulous! I wanted to drink it. LITERALLY! The dressing was that good. Very Italian if I might add. it had everything you would think and Italian dressing would have... wouldn't change a thing there!

DESSERT! You cant forget dessert! The gluten free cream puffs where heaven!!! The hubby couldn't believe they were Gluten Free. The custard was perfect! The texture was perfect! THEY WERE HEAVEN! I found that these puffs were an experiment by the Chef there. Well two thumbs up! Maybe try an eclair your next experiment.

The main reason I went to La Farfalla Cafe was to try the carrot cake. This was another taste of heaven! The cream cheese frosting was perfect! Texture, being Gluten Free everything is about texture and it was just like I remember! Soft, cinnamon, sweet.

Me Enjoying my soup. Hubby, watching me enjoy my soup!

The Many Faces of Celiac Disease

The competition for attention to various diseases in May is extraordinary. No wonder so many people still have never heard of celiac disease!

 

In a web search of only 3 sites, I identified no less than 19 diseases who want attention in May. Many of them are better known and better funded for research such as cancer, MS, and arthritis to mention a few. We in the celiac disease community have something these other diseases do not, a VIDEO that is posted on YouTube so that we are ready to raise awareness starting May 1.

The San Diego Celiac Support Group created this video for the purpose of getting the message out. I encourage and support the use and distribution of this video 100%. It makes you realize there isnt just one symptom to this disease.

 

My request is that you pass the link on and have as many people as possible view it. Reaching the 3 million people who have celiac disease but do not know it is an awesome task. I am hoping we are going to find some of them through this effort.

 

Please help and know that your help is greatly appreciated!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB2oTwTE67s

 

This is my face for Celiac Awareness (see me throwing a "CA"). If you see me around San Diego throwing my sign and youre an Anti-Glutite too... throw it back!

 

CELIAC AWARENESS BABY!

 

Happy eating, learning and living! Gluten Free...

SIMPLE: Thai Peanut Chicken

 

 

I have discovered the best Gluten-Free Thai Peanut Sauce and the perfect, simple way to consume it. It has a bit of spiciness and a ton of flavor. The sauce is great to have on hand for one of those days you want to cook something quick. The longest cook time was my rice cooker!

 

Ingredients

3 cups Botan Calrose Rice

4 cups Water

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

4 - Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts Cubed

1 - Bottle Tamari Gluten-Free Thai Peanut Sauce

2½ cups Frozen Mixed Vegetables (I like the Organic Frozen Mixed Vegetables from Costco with the carrots, corn and green beans)

1 tsp - Olive Oil

Directions

To start off, I took 3 cups Botan Calrose rice (my favorite) and added the 4 cups of water. Do Not rinse the rice before hand if you want perfect sticky white rice. Press start on your rice cooker.

 

Using a Large skillet, on Medium High heat, heat up the Olive Oil and then add the cubed boneless skinless chicken breast. Cook until you don't see anymore pink.

 

Add and stir in the Tamari Thai Peanut Sauce and bring to a simmer for about 3 minutes.

 

Add and stir in the frozen mixed vegetables and bring to a simmer again for another 5 minutes.

 

Take a hefty scoop of rice when finished and a hefty scoop of the chicken and place it on top and enjoy!

 

Happy eating, learning and living... Gluten Free!

San Diego Padres announce affordable and fan friendly concessions

The San Diego Padres, yesterday, announced they are going to carry Gluten-Free concessions. In the article, Garfinkel stated, "We are acting on fan suggestions by adding the Kids Meal and by introducing specific categories such as gluten-free food options."

 

Concessions include hot dogs, burgers, salad and hummus & Veggi's... I even hear they are going to have Gluten-Free Beer.

 

Way to go Padres (or whom ever decided on this)!!!

Living Gluten Free Expo

Restorative Remedies, Sponsored by the National University System Center for Integrative Health, is hosting an event to celebrate the gluten-free lifestyle on March 20, 2010 from 9am to 3:30pm at National University's Spectrum campus.

 

The event will feature a combination of informative lectures and a product and services expo where the public can connect with organizations and companies that support gluten-free living. The Expo will provide information, products, and networking opportunities to people who are either living gluten free, facing the need to adjust to a gluten-free lifestyle, or choosing to eliminate gluten from their household for other reasons.

 

Presentations throughout the day will include:

“The Science Behind Gluten Intolerance”

Including a follow-up discussion with Dr. Alex Shikhman and Jacqueline Konstanturos, co-authors of Gluten Nation

“Label Reading for Your Health”

With Mary Lyons Collard, RD, contributing author to Gluten Nation

“The Gluten Chronicles”

Personal stories from people on the front lines of battling gluten in everyday living.

“Personalized Medicine: A demonstration of new technologies for better diagnosis and treatment”

With Dr. Alex Shikhman

“The Best Gluten-Free Recipes Contest”

Featuring celebrity judges who will award prizes for the best recipes in several categories: appetizers, breads, entrées, desserts and overall

WHERE

National University, Spectrum Business Park campus

9388 Lightwave Avenue

San Diego, CA 92123-1426

FREE ALL-DAY PARKING AVAILABLE

WHEN

March 20, 2010 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

ADMISSION

Buy tickets at:

www.restorativeremedies.com

or call 858.605.5880.

 

$10 General Admission

 includes admission to all booths and presentations

$25 VIP Admission

includes special seating, a reusable grocery tote and gifts worth over $40

$30 General Admission at the event

 

Gluten-free recipe contest entry: $25 and includes admission to event

 

Gluten-free lunch prepared by Star of India Restaurant $10

In addition to the lectures, the Expo will include displays by organizations that support the gluten-free community, as well as companies that offer products and services designed for gluten-sensitive individuals. Non-profit organizations who provide announcements through their databases will have the opportunity to host an information table at the expo free of charge.

 

Click here for more information, as well as online registration.

PF Changs 5 New Gluten-Free Beef Dishes *****

Someone is smiling on me, or I guess, us anti-glutites! OH! Its PF Changs! DID YOU HEAR THE NEWS??? PF Changs has five (5) NEW Gluten Free Beef dishes...

• Gluten Free Mongolian Beef
• Gluten Free Hong Kong Beef with Snow Peas
• Gluten Free Beef a la Sichuan
• Gluten Free Pepper Steak
• Gluten Free Beef with Broccoli

I can't explain my excitement! PF Changs has a gluten free version of Mongolian Beef? Can you hear the disbelief in my voice **voice of disbelief**

Back when I was a wee anti-glutite, I couldnt hold my own and fell victim to eating such yummy glutenous PF Changs Mongolian Beef (Might I add a horendous aching came of it and I didnt feel well for a couple days). Now that there is a gluten free version of this wonderous beef dish, I say to all anti-glutites, ENJOY, without the aching, rash or whatever comes of eating gluten!

Happy eating, learning and living! Gluten Free...

It's My Birthday and I Will Binge If I Want To!

My birthday was awesome. I was in heaven! Gluten free heaven! Everywhere I looked was gluten free food. Gluten free desserts, gluten free sandwiches, gluten free pasta. Heaven! What anti-glutite wouldn't love to be here! The smells of such delectable food. The sights of such perfect food. Perfect for ME! Heaven!

As you first stroll in you can see desserts on your left. Chocolate covered Strawberries, Creme broulee, cakes, parfaits and cookies. As you stroll further down you reach the entrees where they had the best tomato basil pasta, stuffed chicken, pork with some yummy sauce and panini's. Walk a bit further into the buffet toward the end and you'll see a smorgasbord of fresh fruit and vegetables with delicious sandwiches. More Heaven!

Is this me being dramatic? I think not! I think this was one of the happiest days I've had in a long time! My husband and girls to my right and my mom and dad to my left of this perfectly circular table. It was a special day with special people and food. Who ever though food and family could make someone so happy?

It was so perfect, that after I cut some food on my daughters plate, I was able to lick my fingers. An act so little as licking your fingers after preparing something is truely big to me. Did I already say perfect?

I would like to say think you to the chef at the Four Seasons Aviara for preparing a wonderful feast on the first Saturday of every month. You have made many, many anti-glutites extremely happy and many, many more anti-glutites to come!

I am eating, learning, and living...Gluten Free!

Pictures to come soon!

Four Seasons Aviara Gluten Free Buffet *****

I was reading through some of my favorite Gluten Free blogs and at the top of the Gluten Free in San Diego Blog was a post on the Four Seasons Aviara.

The Four Seasons Aviara is now having a monthly gluten free buffet for $29. It is on the first Saturday of every month. The buffet includes an appetizer bar, a salad area, hot entrees, cold entrees and a fabulous dessert bar. EVERYTHING is gluten free (unless marked otherwise). When I went, there were just a couple of sandwiches that were marked as containing gluten, otherwise, everything else was gluten-free. The dessert bar must have had about twenty items on it ranging from flourless chocolate cake, to all kinds of cookies, to chocolate-covered strawberries, to creme brulee and more! Go and bring your appetite, but not your thirst. A small bottle of coke will run you $5 with no refills!

Buffet Hours are from 11:30pm - 2:30pm. The Four Seasons offers a Gluten Free menu everyday upon request. Who wants just a menu when you can have a BUFFET!!!!

• Take I-5 to Carlsbad
• Exit at Poinsettia Lane/Aviara Parkway
• Head (east) at Poinsettia Lane
• Turn right (south) at Aviara Parkway
• Turn right (west) at Four Seasons Point and follow signs to Hotel entrance.

Free Parking and Shuttle 7447 Batiquitos Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92011

• Take I-5 to Carlsbad
• Exit at Poinsettia Lane/Aviara Parkway
• Head (east) at Poinsettia Lane
• Turn right (south) at Batiquitos Drive follow signs to Golf Course entrance.

Four Seasons Aviara 7100 Four Seasons Point - the California Grill Carlsbad, CA 92011 (760) 603-6800 http://www.fourseasons.com/aviara/

Happy eating, learning and living! Gluten Free...

I know I will the first Saturday in Feb for my B-Day weekend!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy New Year to all you Anti-Glutites!

Did you happen to set a New Years Resolution? I did! I am going on a search for the best Gluten Free doughnut recipe. 

I already started my search and came upon what the blogger, Going Gluten-Free, calls a "Punkin". These lil' Punkin's are such a fabulous little treat. To me they taste like a the funnel cakes you would get at a fair or amusement park. I'm going to try to make them again tonight and top them with with some kind of jam to see how they taste (all the ones from my batch have been eaten!)

 

Mine for some reason look alot different than the ones from the blog where I got the recipe. Maybe I needed to thin the batter out or maybe it was the Pamelas Mix... either way they were DELICIOUS!

 

Gluten Free Punkins (with my ingredients)

 

Ingredients

1½ cup Pamela's Baking and Pancake Mix (Original recipe called for Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free Flour Mix)

¼ cup Corn Starch

2 tsp Xanthan Gum

2 tsp Baking Powder

¼ tsp Salt ¼ tsp Cinnamon (I rounded this scoop)

½ cup Sugar (a little more is okay, but don't overdo or they'll be too sweet)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

3 - Eggs

½ cup Milk (take out 2 tbsp and reserve just incase you need to thin it a little)

¼ tsp Vanilla

Oil for frying Powdered Sugar for coating

Directions

Sift dry ingredients together in a bowl.

 

Using an electric mixer beat together milk and eggs until fluffy.

 

Add dry ingredients and mix very well.

 

Allow dough to rest for 20 minutes.

 

In a deep fryer (Was excited to use my deep fryer I got for Christmas!!!) or deep sauté pan heat 1" of oil to 375 degrees.

 

After dough has rested, drop by tablespoons full into hot oil. Holes might flip to the next side when first side is complete. Cook for about 2 to 3 minutes per side.

 

BE CAREFUL that your oil is not too hot...if it is the outside will burn before the inside gets cooked.

 

COOL COMPLETELY.

 

Shake in powdered sugar, or powdered sugar mixed with cinnamon to coat the outsides.

 

Serve with tea or coffee and feel normal. Be careful, they are very addicting.

Happy eating, learning and living! Gluten Free...