Nine days until Christmas and I haven’t made a single Christmas cookie!  Ack!  I better get busy, huh?  I do have some peanut butter fudge made, but that is about the extent of my holiday baking. 

Here are some of my favorite Christmas cookies:

• Gingersnaps
• Spritz Cookies
• Almond Cranberry Bites
• Gingerbread People – I can’t share the recipe but this post details where I found it and tips on how we made them.
• Thumbprints
• Peanut Butter Blossoms
• Peanut Butter Cookies
• Dark Chocolate Snowstorms
• Russian Teacakes (Snowballs)

Monday – Rotisserie chicken, garlic rosemary roasted potatoes, broccoli and salad

Tuesday – Easy enchilada bake, corn and salad

Wednesday – Burgers, oven-baked steak fries and salad

Thursday –

Friday – Make your own pizza (Udi’s gluten-free pizza crusts) and salad

Saturday – Take-out

Weekly Recap

Diva Coupon Book is a great way to save on your favorite gluten-free products!  Use this code (GFLife5) to get $5.00 off of your purchase!

Review: Udi’s Gluten-Free Granola

Review: Taranto’s Pizza

Review: Harvard Sweet Boutique Baked Goods

Have you…

• Started shopping?
• Finished shopping?
• Wrapped gifts?
• Baked cookies/made candy?

I best get busy! 

Have a great week!

Do you shop with coupons?  I love coupons and believe it or not, my husband loves them even more than I do!  I especially like coupons for gluten-free products, as they tend to be more pricey than non-gluten-free products.  Lauren Lucielle, aka The Celiac Diva, just launched the Diva Coupon Book!  The Diva Coupon Book can save over $800 on online gluten-free products!

The book is a one time fee of $35 for a PDF file of coupon codes.  More info and FAQ:

How much does this cost? One time fee of $35

How much will buying the Diva Coupon Book save me? $800 if you use all the discounts

How many companies will I get discounts from? 20…See the list HERE

Are the companies all Gluten Free? YES…they are either Certified Gluten Free and or produced in a dedicated facility

How long are the discounts good for?   Discounts are valid until 4/30/13. Most coupon codes are valid over a period of 2-6 months. You do not have to use them immediately. Please see specifics of each discount HERE

How are the discounts delivered?  Once you purchase, you will receive a link upon checkout and via email to download a PDF file that will have all the discount codes.   Follow all the links in the file and enter the coupon codes upon checkout at each site.

Where can I use the discounts? Each discount is fulfilled at the online store of the participating brand.  All web links and coupon codes will be delivered to you in a PDF Download upon checkout and via email

Is Shipping included with these discounts?  We do have a few brands that will include Free Shipping and others that offer free shipping on certain amounts…please see the Coupon Book Details Page

Do I have to use all the codes at one time? NO…most codes are valid for a 2-6 month period.  See the specifics on each discount HERE

Unanswered Questions???…Please CONTACT US and we will answer them ASAP

The discounts are for the following companies:

• Chebe
• Red Apple Lipstick
• Katz Gluten Free
• Gluten Free Beauty
• Venice Bakery
• Organic Wholesale Club
• Bare Fruit Snacks
• Simply Organic
• Pure Skin Cosmetics
• Better Batter
• Mary’s Gone Crackers
• Nana’s Cookie Company
• Jovial Pasta
• Gluten Free Remedies
• 1-2-3 Gluten Free
• Bakery on Main
• Jules Gluten Free
• Gluten-Free Matza
• Gerbs Gourmet Seeds
• Allergy Free Girl
• Mini-Pops

To purchase the Diva Coupon Book, simply click here and follow the instructions.  Use code (GFLife5) to get $5.00 off of your coupon book!  The best part about this coupon book is that you can shop in the comfort of your own home!!

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  How often have you heard that?  Probably thousands of times, right?  Well, that’s because it is true!  Our bodies need fuel shortly after rising to “break the fast” that occurs while we sleep.  Choosing foods that are well-balanced will ensure that you will have the energy to get your day off to a great start and make it until morning snack or lunch time. 

I am always on the lookout for something that will give me the most bang for my “nutritional buck”.  When I received an email asking if I wanted to try Vigilant Eat’s Organic Superfood Oat-Based Cereal my interest was piqued.  Upon further review of the website, I knew this is a product that would meet the requirements of a well-balanced, energy-filled breakfast.

The cereal comes in a compact bowl with everything you need to have breakfast at home or on-the-go inside.  You could take this anywhere!  Simply open, remove the spoon, add cold water and enjoy!  No more excuses for not having a healthy, gluten-free breakfast! 

The cereal is certified gluten-free, organic and kosher and is free of dairy, soy, additives, preservatives and refined sugar.  The big question is, how does it taste?

Before I added the water

After I added the water.  It isn’t pretty, but what did your parents and teachers always say when you were a kid?  Don’t judge a book by its cover!  The cereal is marvelous!  I wasn’t expecting to fall in love with it – but it is too late for that!  I am thankful I have another bowl to enjoy after my long run tomorrow!  The ingredients really compliment each other nicely and there is no shortage of goji berries or cacao nibs (my favorite)!

The nutritional stats of this cereal are impressive:

• Calories – 300
• Fat – 7g
• Fiber – 8g
• Protein – 11g
• Iron – 25% <—very important for me right now (my iron stores are on the low end of normal and my sports doc would like to see them higher)

The Superfood Cereal is available in select stores across the US or online.  While the cereal is not cheap, try to remember the quality of the ingredients and the importance of your health.  If you sign up for the email newsletter on the Vigilant Eats Facebook Page, they will email you a 15% discount to use on your order.  There are also discounts available for ordering multiple boxes and referring a friend.  Shipping is always free in the continental US.

What is your go-to breakfast?  I admit that I have fallen into a rut and I need to focus on better nutritional quality and less refined sugar, so I am thrilled to have found this new cereal! 

*Samples were sent to me free of charge for review purposes.  The thoughts and opinions shared here are mine and have not been influenced by anyone or anything.

Every other Tuesday some friends and I get together for a Body Pump class at a local studio.  The class is taught by a good friend, so that makes it even more fun!  After class is over, we head next door for a quick drink and some catching up.  I probably should clarify that this class is at night, not bright and early in the morning.  Last time we did this class, I noticed the pizza place next door offered gluten-free pizza, so I made it a point this time to go in and talk to the owner. 

I was really hungry, but after a gluten incident on Black Friday at a restaurant I once trusted, I was a little hesitant to order a gluten-free pizza from a place that makes regular pizza – until I talked to the owner.  I have never been so impressed as I was after hearing the process to avoid cross-contamination. 

The gluten-free pizza crust comes from a local gluten-free bakery, Holiday Bakery.  The owner, Lisa, didn’t agree to sell Yohan Pizza the crust until she came to check out their kitchen and instruct the staff on how to safely prepare the gluten-free pizzas.  Other restaurants should take note!  I was further impressed when the owner went on to explain how they kept separate sauce, ladles, pans and pizza wheels to cut the pizza. 

I placed my order for a gluten-free cheese pizza with ham, pineapple and tomato.  The pizza is 12” and is the same cost as the large regular pizza = $12.95 plus toppings. 

My pizza was ready 15 minutes later and I took it next door to the bar.  Not the best picture – it was dark in the bar – but you get the idea.  I found out that I can order the pizza from the bar in the future and they have a window to pass it through!  Now that I am aware of the practices in place to keep the pizza safe from cross-contamination, I feel comfortable doing so. 

There was no way I was going to eat this whole pizza by myself, so I shared with three of my friends.  Only one of those friends eats gluten-free, the other two don’t have to.  The pizza was a hit with everyone!  The crust had just the right combination of crispy and chewy and the toppings were fresh and flavorful!  Best part?  My stomach was happy! I will definitely be ordering from Yohan Pizza again! 

Thank you Yohan Pizza and Holiday Bakery for making safe, gluten-free food for us to enjoy!

Hello, December!  At least the calendar says it is December, but the temperature sure doesn’t!  Today the temperature got into the mid-60’s!  It sure is odd to walk out of the house in Columbus, Ohio on December 3rd and not need a coat.  The morning greeted us with some dense fog – dense enough to cause a 2-hour delay in the schools! 

We were able to get out tree up yesterday – a week later than I normally get it up.  Better late than never, right?

Tuesday – Baked Ziti and salad

Wednesday – Grilled chicken salads with garlic toasted baguettes

Thursday – Turkey Tacos, black beans, corn and salad

Friday – Make your own pizza and salad

Saturday – Grilled steak fajitas or fajita salads

Week in Review:

Caribou Coffee Holiday Drinks – Gluten-free

Weigh-in – What is your favorite gluten-free cracker?

NFCA Webinar: You Ask, We Answer: 60 Minutes with Top Celiac Disease Researchers

Holidays – Healthy & Gluten-Free

Have a great week!

Now that Thanksgiving is over, the next 4-6 weeks are likely to be filled with many treats of the food and drink variety.  Following the gluten-free diet can be helpful in avoiding some of those treats; don’t view having to avoid these gluten-filled treats as a bad thing – view it as avoiding excess calories and fat and treat yourself to something that is gluten-free and worth a small indulgence.  Those small indulgences can be a glass of red wine with dinner, a small serving of dark chocolate or even something non-food related like a new workout top, a book that has been on your “must read” list or some new tunes for your workout playlist. 

If Holiday treats are unavoidable, try to practice smart portion control and focus on getting plenty of gluten-free fruits, vegetables and lean proteins the rest of the day.  If you are in charge of making the meal or bringing a dish, consider healthy twists on old favorites or new healthier dishes in place of gluten-filled, calorie-laden traditional dishes. 

– Make a large salad to go along side of the ham, potatoes, and such.  Put small dishes of toppings around the large salad bowl and include choices like dried cranberries and walnuts for a festive twist. 

– Offer fruit skewers with dip or fruit salad along with desserts. 

– When dishes call for cheese, sour cream, cream cheese, use low fat or 2% versions.  They taste the same in recipes and help cut back a little on the fat and calories.  Stay clear of the fat free versions, as I have found that they don’t melt right or taste the same. 

What do you do if you found you have gone overboard on the food and/or drink?  Acknowledge it, accept it and move forward. We all make mistakes.  The key is to get right back on track for the next meal or workout.  Beating yourself up over it won’t do anything but make you feel bad, so skip it!  Tack an extra 10 minutes onto your workout for some extra endorphins! 

Can you possibly prevent yourself from going overboard in the first place?  The key to this is to know what causes you to go overboard or make bad choices.  Is it too much alcohol?  Not enough willpower?  Planned indulgence gone awry?  Once you have figured that out, you can take steps to avoid a repeat the next time around. 

Last, but not least, try to keep your workout schedule as normal as possible during the holiday season.  Not only will this help with the extra treats during the season, but it is a wonderful way to release stress. 

Udi’s Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls – That’s what Jon loves for breakfast!

What a week!  The past five days sure were a whirlwind, but it was great to spend some of that time with family.  Wednesday was busy preparing for the big day.  The big day started with a traditional 4 mile race and then the big meal.  Friday = Black Friday.  We left the house at 4:20 AM and returned almost 12 hours later.  Phew.  I need a vacation from my weekend! 

Turkey Tip:  Consider stuffing your turkey with cut oranges to keep the meat tender and moist. 

I had an unfortunate run-in with gluten at a restaurant on Friday at lunch time.  Not only was I almost immediately quite sick, but it has taken the better part of the weekend to feel like myself.  Not only is getting sick from gluten frustrating, but I am sad because I thought I could trust this particular restaurant.  My step dad, Joe, and I shared a meal and he didn’t get sick, so I have no doubt that it was gluten that made me so sick.  There is always a risk when eating out on the gluten-free diet and I am fortunate that I don’t often have issues like the one I experienced on Friday.  Even more reason to re-evaluate my list of safe gluten-free establishments.

Menu

Monday – Spaghetti (brown rice pasta from Tinkyada) with Italian sausage marinara and salad

Tuesday – Tacos with soft corn tortillas, black beans, corn and salad

Wednesday – Burgers with sweet potato puffs and salad

Thursday – Italian grilled chicken, coconut baked brown rice, broccoli and salad

Friday – Make your own pizza and salad

Saturday – Take-out or breakfast for dinner and fruit salad

Week in Review

Don’t forget to enter to win the Sara Lee Giveaway!

Review: Gillian’s Home-Style Stuffing

Review: Gillian’s Pie Crust

Recipe: Crustless Pumpkin Pie

Review: Schar Table Crackers

Have a great week!!

Sara Lee Deli has recently taken steps to ensure their sliced-to-order turkey, ham and chicken deli meats are gluten-free.  In addition to being gluten-free, the deli meats do not contain any hormones, MSG, artificial flavors, fillers and have 0 grams of trans fat.

(source)

Below are three recipes that are made using the gluten-free sliced-to-order deli meats.  All of them sound good, but I can’t wait to make the Simple Spicy Peanut & Chicken Stir Fry!

Zesty Harvest Quinoa Salad*

(Serves 2-4)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups red quinoa; cooked
• 2-3 slices of Sara Lee^® Deli Sliced-to-Order Oven Roasted Turkey Breast; cut 1/4 inch thick and medium dice
• 1 cup red apple (Gala, Honeycrisp or Braeburn); medium dice
• 1/2 cup walnuts; toasted and roughly chopped
• 1/4cup green onions; chopped
• 3/4 Tablespoon lemon zest

Dressing:

• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons honey
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic; grated
• 1/2 teaspoon sherry vinegar
• salt
• pepper

Directions:

Combine all of the dressing ingredients except olive oil, salt and pepper in a medium bowl.  While whisking, add olive oil in a steady stream until emulsified. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside.

Combine remaining ingredients in a medium bowl.  Drizzle with dressing and stir to combine.

*This recipe contains Sara Lee^® Deli Sliced-to-Order Oven Roasted Turkey Breast, which is labeled gluten free, and other ingredients that are not expected to contain gluten.  When preparing gluten free recipes, it is important to read ingredient labels and avoid gluten contamination that may occur if foods are prepared on common surfaces or with utensils that are not thoroughly cleaned after preparation of gluten-containing foods.

Country Scrambler*

(Serves 1)

Ingredients:

• 3 egg whites
• 1 egg
• 2-3 slices of Sara Lee^® Deli Sliced-to-Order Virginia Brand Ham; roughly chopped
• 1/2 cup low fat or skim cheese; grated
• 2 Tablespoons 2% milk
• 1 Tablespoon green onions; chopped
• 1 Tablespoon butter flavored non-stick cook spray
• salt
• pepper

Directions:

Whisk eggs, milk, dash of salt and pepper in a small bowl.  Set aside.

Apply non-stick butter flavored cook spray to frying pan over medium heat. Add eggs and let cook until they begin to set.  Using a heat-resistant spatula, push the set eggs into the center of the pan allowing the uncooked eggs to run underneath.  Continue doing this until they are almost completely cooked.

Add in ham, onions and cheese and give a quick stir to distribute the ingredients throughout.  Remove from heat and stir until ham is warmed and cheese is melted.  Serve immediately.

 

*This recipe contains Sara Lee^® Deli Sliced-to-Order Virginia Brand Ham, which is labeled gluten free, and other ingredients that are not expected to contain gluten.  When preparing gluten free recipes, it is important to read ingredient labels and avoid gluten contamination that may occur if foods are prepared on common surfaces or with utensils that are not thoroughly cleaned after preparation of gluten-containing foods.

Simple Spicy Peanut and Chicken Stir-Fry*

(Serves 4)

Ingredients:

• 3-4 slices of Sliced-to-Order Oven Roasted Chicken Breast; ¼ inch thick slice; diced
• 2 cups brown rice; cooked
• 1 cup red bell peppers; cut into strips
• 1 cup green bell peppers; cut into strips
• 1 cup broccoli; chopped into small florets
• 1 cup carrots; sliced on diagonal
• 1/2cup yellow onions; sliced
• 1 Tablespoon peanut oil

Spicy Peanut Sauce:

(yield 1 1/2 cups)

• 1/2cup all-natural gluten free smooth peanut butter
• 2/3 cup lite coconut milk
• 2 Tablespoons gluten free soy sauce
• 1 1/2Tablespoons cider vinegar
• 1 1/2Tablespoons ginger; chopped
• 1 1/2Tablespoons fresh squeezed lime juice
• 1 Tablespoon peanut oil
• 1 Tablespoon garlic; chopped
• 1/2 Tablespoon dark brown sugar
• 1 1/2  teaspoon gluten free chili paste

Garnish:

• Green onions; chopped
• Dry-roasted peanuts; chopped

Directions:

Combine all peanut sauce ingredients except coconut milk in a food processor.  Turn on processor and pour coconut milk in a steady stream until fully emulsified.  Stop processor and scrap down sides.  Pulse until incorporated.  Set aside.

Heat one Tablespoon of peanut oil in medium sauté pan.  Add onions and sauté until fragrant, approximately 5 minutes.  Add remaining vegetables and chicken, sauté until crisp-tender, approximately 6-8 minutes.  Add 2/3 cup peanut sauce and stir to combine and heat through. Remove from heat.

 

Garnish with green onions and chopped peanuts and serve over brown rice.

*This recipe contains Sara Lee^® Deli Sliced-to-Order Oven Roasted Chicken Breast, which is labeled gluten free, and other ingredients that are not expected to contain gluten.  When preparing gluten free recipes, it is important to read ingredient labels and avoid gluten contamination that may occur if foods are prepared on common surfaces or with utensils that are not thoroughly cleaned after preparation of gluten-containing foods.

Now for the fun part!  The giveaway! Follow the directions in the Rafflecopterbox below to enter!

Continue reading →

There has been a lot of chatter in the news and across the social networks in the past few weeks about fellow Celiac Jennifer Esposito and her recent struggles with the disease.  Fox News Channel will air an exclusive interview tonight, November 18, 2012 from 9 PM – 10PM.  Make sure to check out the details below.

**TUNE IN ALERT**

 

FOX NEWS CHANNEL TO PRESENT “FOX FILES” FEATURING AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH ACTRESS JENNIFER ESPOSITO

 

What: FOX News Channel (FNC) will present “FOX FILES,” co-anchored by Bill Hemmer and Arthel Neville on Sunday, November 18^th from 9:00-10:00PM/ET. In the program, Arthel takes an in-depth look at celiac disease, a genetic disorder characterized by gluten intolerance that affects 1 out of every 133 Americans. Actress Jennifer Esposito from the CBS show “Blue Bloods,” shares her struggle with the disease and speaks exclusively about the ongoing turmoil with the show after they put her character on a leave of absence due to her health issues. Additionally, two- time Stanley Cup winner Mickey Redmond also discusses his battle with the condition.

 

In addition, Hemmer examines the hermit kingdom of North Korea, an underground railroad system used to escape the country, and the regime of its dictator Kim Jong Un. He also speaks with two Korean Americans who are leading defectors to freedom, as well as a defector that shares his story of how he and his family escaped North Korea.

 

 

Where: FOX News Channel (FNC)

 

When: Sunday, November 18^th from 9:00-10:00PM/ET

Here is a short clip of the interview that will be aired tonight.  If you haven’t checked out Jennifer’s Way, Esposito’s journey back to health via the gluten-free diet, including gluten-free mixes.