Guess what I was doing the other day?  Browsing Twitter!  Imagine that?   I was instantly drawn to these Easy Cinnamon Muffins that Jo-Lynne shared.  I knew that Jon would love them, so I pre-heated my oven and got down to work. 

Jo-Lynne’s recipe is not gluten-free, so I converted it to be gluten-free using Gluten-Free Bisquick.  Since the GF Bisquick already has leavening & salt in it, I omitted the baking powder & salt in her recipe.  Hindsight says that this may have not been the wisest choice, but the end result was fantastic, so I am not too worried about it.  Adding the baking powder may have made these a little more muffin-like, as they resemble biscuits, hence the name.

Cinnamon Sugar Biscuits

• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup almond milk (I used Trader Joe’s Vanilla Almond Milk)
• 1 1/2 cups GF Bisquick
• 1/3 cup light olive or vegetable oil

Topping (this made a lot, so consider cutting in half or saving the mixture for future use)

• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup sugar

1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line muffin pan with muffin liners.

2.  Beat egg in mixing bowl and then add milk & blend.

3.  Add GF Bisquick and mix well.

4.  Add in oil last and stir well to combine.  Batter will be thick; consistency is between cookie dough & muffin batter.

5.  Fill muffin tins 2/3 full and top generously with cinnamon/sugar topping.  I also added a sprinkle of colored sugar for the holiday season! 

6.  Bake for 15-18 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.

To say that these were a success is an understatement; Jon inhaled them and wants another batch –STAT!  I asked him if they were more like coffee cake or a biscuit and he said biscuit, which is what I thought as well.  These are a great afternoon snack with a cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate!

Kim

I love when people ask if I run when it is cold outside.  I giggle now, but I used to be one of those people who hated to be outside when it was cold.  Yes, I still despise being cold, but I think that I am becoming acclimated because I am finding my cold weather runs more & more enjoyable.  Part of the enjoyment is probably due to being properly outfitted in gear that is made for running in the cold. 

Last year was the first year that I really ran outside through the winter and it was a doozy.  Not only did we run through snow and ice, but temps that dipped below zero, too.  Then, just when we thought it was over in the spring, monsoon season hit, but that is another post.  I had some cold weather gear and it definitely did the job, but it was time to upgrade & replace some of the stuff that was worn out. 

First on the agenda was insulated tights.  I had been running in Nike tights, but I really wanted something that was insulated with compression, too.  I have some CW-X compression capris and love them, so I thought I would check out their insulated tights.  They have some really nice ones, but at $115/a piece, I decided to look elsewhere first.  I finally settled on Under Armour Cold Gear Compression tights in black/pink.

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These tights were $59.99 (just about half the cost of the CW-X), so I was able to buy a matching top, too (review to come later). More about the tights:

• Brushed knit traps heat, keeping you warm and comfortable when you need to be active in the cold
• Lightweight, 4-way stretch construction improves mobility and accelerates dry time
• Anti-odor technology prevents the growth of odor-causing microbes, keeping your leggings fresher, longer

• Flatlock seams feel smooth and prevent chafing
• Envelope waistband provides ultimate fit and comfort
• Stitching color matches the color blocking on calf for an extra hit of style
• Polyester/Elastane
• Imported

I took these out for a 3 mile run on Tuesday morning and was very pleased!  While they don’t seem to have as much compression as my CW-X capris, they had more than my Nike tights.  They were very comfortable and kept me plenty warm (temp was roughly 25 or so).  I liked that they weren’t too tight at the waist, as that drives me nuts!  I ordered a size M (previous experience with UA and knew their S is too small for me).  For comparison, I wear a S in both Nike & CW-X.  Another bonus – these tights were plenty long enough for me.  Being 5’7” tall, I often worry that pants like this will be too short. 

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Next up, gloves/mittens.  After my purchase Monday night, I currently own 4 pair of running specific gloves/mittens. It took me that long to get it right, so I am hoping this review saves someone some money.  I have Raynaud’s Phenomenon, which really drives me nuts when I run outside in the cold.  Ask my MIT friends, they have heard me complain many times.  I felt like I had tried everything and every combo out there and was on the verge of buying heated gloves (don’t laugh) until I decided to try one last option – Brook’s Utopia mittens.   While mittens aren’t my first choice, I was desperate, so I bought them.  Keeping the fingers together in one compartment is the best way to keep them warm.  These mittens were $44.99 (and worth every penny).

 

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More about the mittens:

Waterproof/wind-resistant shell with removable Wanganui™ Fleece interior mitten handles all conditions and features incredibly soft and breathable film lamination for weather protection.

• Fit: Fitted
• Waterproof/wind-resistant shell
• 100% moisture-transfer liner
• Removable Wanganui Fleece interior

I wore my new mittens on their maiden voyage Tuesday morning.  The temperature, as mentioned above was roughly 25 degrees.  I am pleased to report that my hands were sweating by mile 2.  While some may think this is gross, I am thrilled!  Not having frozen, numb fingers was such a nice treat!  These mittens have a fleece lining and outer shell and I had both pieces on.  I may have been able to do without the shell, but I wanted to test them out.  Previous runs in similar temperatures with Brooks HVAC gloves and Sugoi wind resistant mittens (both at the same time) still resulted in frozen, numb fingers. 

I think I may just be a tad excited about winter cold weather running this year!!  Or, I am just plain crazy.

***These items were unfortunately purchased with my own money and therefore have left me with no money in my wallet (just kidding).  Any companies wishing for us to test future samples for review are much appreciated! 

‘Tis the season for Holiday giveaways!  Green Valley Organics makes a lactose-free line of yogurts, Kefir and sour cream.  I normally take Lactaid with my dairy products, but was excited to try these lactose free products.  You can read my review of the yogurt here.  The Kefir has quickly become one of my favorites – the blueberry pom acai – and I was thankful to have it during my 14-day course of antibiotics last month.

With the Holidays upon us, those with special dietary needs often feel left out.  Many traditional Holiday recipes contain gluten and/or lactose, which can complicate things.  Nothing is impossible, though.  Green Valley has a recipe for Lactose-Free Eggnog – check it out!

LACTOSE-FREE HOLIDAY EGGNOG

Serves 2

Eggnog is a rich holiday treat. This delicious recipe is a great variation on the classic recipe made with creamy, Lactose Free Kefir. Safe for anyone to drink because the eggs are cooked, whip up a batch and make someone’s day this holiday!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups Green Valley Organics Lactose Free Plain Kefir
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 tsp Bourbon Vanilla
• 3 eggs

Directions:

Whip eggs. Mix the kefir, sugar, vanilla and eggs in a heavy sauce pan over medium-low heat. Cook for about 15 minutes, stirring often, until the mixture coats a metal spoon. Pour mixture into a glass bowl. Set the bowl in a larger bowl filled with ice. Put in refrigerator for 24 hours.

Put eggnog in festive glasses (of course!). Garnish with cinnamon or a bit more nutmeg on top and a candy cane.

Green Valley has offered to give one lucky reader a prize package that will contain:

• Eco-friendly insulated cooler tote
• Peace Love & Dairy t-shirt
• Entire Green Valley Organics line of lactose free yogurts, kefirs and sour cream (in coupon form or product samples if the winner(s) don’t live near a store carrying the products

How does that sound for a Holiday giveaway?  To see if Green Valley Organic is sold in a store near you, click here.   Follow the directions below to enter.

****Products reviewed & prizes were provided free of charge by Green Valley Organics.  The opinions shared here were not influenced by anyone or anything.

Continue reading →

Here it is, Monday morning, and I have yet to make my menu plan for the week.  I had some GI bug early last week and didn’t feel right for the rest of the week (really until yesterday).   Thursday night Hannah started puking and has puked on & off since.  Needless to say we have been busy and food is certainly not been the focus.  I don’t know about you, but when someone around me is sick, I feel sick.  It is hard to figure out sometimes if I am really sick or if I am just freaking out about getting sick.  LOL!

Jon and Aaron, crossing fingers, seem okay thus far.  Aaron spent some time in the kitchen yesterday preparing some food for the next few days that can be easily warmed up whenever the want or need strikes.

• Hormel Spiral Ham (labeled gluten-free)
• Rotisserie chicken
• Italian dressing chicken tenders
• Basmati brown rice
• Prepped carrots for cooking

I also picked up some basics to have on hand for quick meals this week

• salad
• brown rice pasta
• potatoes
• Trader Joe’s gluten-free mac & cheese
• Bush’s baked beans
• Prego three cheese marinara
• Udi’s gluten-free pizza crusts
• bananas
• applesauce

I am hoping to get back on the baking bandwagon this week, too.  If you are looking for a stunning, but simple cookie, try these chocolate mint sandwich cookies – Jon couldn’t get enough!  I also made some nut butter Heath oatmeal cookies last week that have become a new favorite of mine.

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Katz Gluten Free is running a special today that I don’t think I will be able to resist – BOGO Cherry Pie!  So, for $7.49 + shipping (unless you spend more than $30 and then it is free) you get 2 phenomenal 6” gluten-free cherry pies!

Make sure to check back tomorrow for a brand new giveaway!

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Don’t forget to join in the Holiday Twitter partytoday at 1 PM EST!

 

Kim

You have all probably seen the movie “When Harry Met Sally”, right?  So you are probably familiar with the restaurant scene where Sally places an order very specifically. 

This is how Aaron says I order my food.  I know you may be thinking that it is necessary to order specifically, because I have to eat gluten-free, but I was like that long before I started the diet.  Hey, at least I am honest, right?  Now, how many of you thought I put the other restaurant scene above?  Get your mind out of the gutter!  This blog is rated PG.  LOL! 

I set out to make a Cobb Salad the other night because I lacked the energy to make anything complicated.  I knew I had deli meat, avocado & cheese, but I found I was missing a few things.  The first thing that came to my head was that here I was messing with the traditional dish again…LOL!  My salad was lacking the following according to the traditional recipe:

• bacon (this one is truly a crime)
• hard boiled egg
• blue cheese (not a fan and not always gluten-free)

Kim’s Cobb-Like Salad

• Mixed greens – 3-4 large handfuls
• 1/2 avocado
• 2 oz. deli turkey
• 1 oz. cheddar cheese
• 1 Roma tomato
• 1/4 salad cucumber
• 1 small radish
• 1/2 TBSP to 1 TBSP pine nuts
• 10 red grapes, halved
• 1 TBSP Marzetti Simply Dressed Pomegranate

I ate this salad along side some baked steak fries.  I took a huge baked potato and cut into eighths.  I tossed the pieces with a little EVOO, parmesan, sea salt & pepper for an extra carby treat before my Saturday long run. 

Okay, confession time.  How do you order your food?  Obviously gluten-free (for most), but toppings on the side?  Other special requests?

Kim

Welcome to Saturday, December 10, 2011.  Only 15 days until Christmas!  For all of you out there (this includes me) who haven’t finished your shopping, it is time to get busy!   Right now I am out running 8-10 miles to help motivate myself to knock out the rest of my shopping later on today.  Not sure yet if that will include in person or online shopping – it depends on how I feel.

With Hannah home sick with the stomach flu yesterday, I had plenty of time to catch up on all things online.   I found some great gluten-free tidbits and plan to share one of them now with you guys! Are you ready? Ta-da….

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Kinnikinnick is now offering some new mixes just in time for the holiday season.  These mixes include:

• Gingerbread Cookie Mix
• Sugar Cookie Mix
• Crepe Mix

All three mixes are gluten, nut and dairy-free can can be ordered online or picked up in the Edmonton store in Canada, eh!  <—– Sorry, I couldn’t help myself!  I have a slight obsession with the Canadian accent!  Remember that Kinnikinnick has $10.00 flat rate shipping no matter how much you order, so pick up some donuts (pumpkin spice are still in stock!) and the new thin pizza crusts! 

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If you are local to the Columbus area, there are a couple of gluten-free events going on this weekend. 

The Hills Market is hosting a gluten-free sampling on Saturday – click here for more details. 

Cold Stone Creamery in Westerville is going to be offering gluten-free ice cream cakes in partnership with Sweet Mamas.  Sampling will take place from 1PM to 5PM today (Saturday).

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So, who is done with their shopping?  Who hasn’t started yet? 

Kim

I have talked many times here how important it is for me to refuel properly after my longer runs.  The easiest way to do that is by drinking a protein shake of sorts on my way home.  The newest protein shake that I have tried out is the CalNatural Svelte protein shakes. 

More about CalNaturale Svelte:

Among the many health, convenient and eco-friendly benefits that CalNaturale Svelte offers are the following:

· Made with organic and all-natural ingredients

· Developed with a unique blend of organic complex carbohydrates, including rice syrup solids and inulin which help keep you fuller longer

· Offers 16g of protein from fresh organic soymilk and provides a good source of fiber in each serving

· Low-glycemic, non-dairy, cholesterol-free and certified gluten-free, featuring a fresh organic soy milk base and sweetened using Stevia

· Certified kosher by Orthodox Union (Circle U)

· Packaged in convenient, re-closable and eco-friendly Tetra Paks

· Available in four naturally delicious flavors including Chocolate, French Vanilla, Cappuccino and Spiced Chai.  Each 15.9 ounce container is value-priced at $2.99

· Perfect for on-the-go meals, snacking, incorporating into smoothie recipes and enjoying as a delicious & nutritious coffee creamer

o Svelte Smoothies

§ 1 CalNaturale Svelte Chocolate shake blended with a banana and ice

· Additional Information: For more information, visit www.sveltebrand.com and follow us on Twitter (@CalNaturale) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/CalNaturale)!

On top of having 16g of protein per serving, they are non-dairy and certified gluten-free!  Of course, on top of all of that, they have to taste good, right?  These shakes didn’t disappoint!  They were all good, with chocolate being my favorite.  There were a little sweeter than I expected, but they weren’t over-sweetened.  I would buy these again to keep on hand for my long runs.

CalNaturale Svelte shakes can be purchased in stores across the US and online. 

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

As I have said before, the gluten-free diet can be intimidating to those who are just starting out.  Heck, it can be intimidating to those of us who have been on it for years, thanks to gluten showing up in places it has no business being.  I know that I have been guilty of glutening myself due to hidden gluten – thankyouverymuch, natural flavors (barley malt or malt does not have to be called out on labels).

I was browsing Twitter last night while eating my late dinner after yoga and came across the latest blog post by Fooducate about tomato paste.  Fooducate had tweeted about the tomato paste having partially hydrogenated oil in it, which caught my attention.  Only when I got to the page to view the ingredients, did I see what shocked me – “wheat gluten protein” on the label.  WHAT?!  I have never seen gluten in tomato paste before.

So, I thought this would be an appropriate time to post about the top 10 foods that SHOULD be gluten-free that aren’t.  I also welcome any comments about foods that you have found hidden gluten in that isn’t necessary.

1.  Contadina Tomato Paste – Really?  Come on, guys, is that really necessary?  For the record, Hunt’s is gluten-free and if you want to take this one step further you can make your own.

2.  Various brand name cereals – Rice based cereals that have the evil barley malt (malt) flavoring added.  Fortunately some of companies are removing the barley malt & using molasses instead.

3.  Doritos – The original flavor is one of the only ones that contains gluten.  The same flavor in the reduced fat (though I have only seen them once) or Baked version does not.  Seriously?  Is that wheat starch that important in the recipe that one of the other 395 ingredients in the chips couldn’t make up for that?

4. Yogurt – Some versions of mainstream, flavored yogurts contain gluten in the flavoring.  Unnecessary, as there are plenty of flavored yogurts out there that have managed to avoid gluten.  Get with the program, people.

5. Holiday versions of candy – Be wary of your favorite gluten-free candy that has been reshaped into a Christmas tree, Easter egg, pumpkin, etc.  One would think that if a certain candy is gluten-free, that it would be gluten-free in any shape or form.  Not true.  Reese’s PB cups are the perfect example.  Some versions contain gluten, so please read the label every.single.time. on every variety.

6. Dried fruit – Should be fine, but it isn’t always.  Gluten may be added in flavoring (barley malt or malt) or used in the dusting to keep the fruit from sticking together (non-caking agent).  I am not a fan of dried fruit that has anything but fruit in it.  If you start to look around at packages, though, you will see that many varieties not only have sugar, but oil added, too.

7.  Flavored coffee – Not all flavored coffees are gluten-free, so please exercise caution.   Unflavored coffee (regular & decaf) is gluten-free, so consider flavoring it yourself with a homemade recipe or gluten-free flavored creamer (Coffee-Mate or International Delight are both gluten-free).

8.  Syrup – I am not talking about maple syrup; 100% maple syrup is gluten-free.  I am talking about some of the fake, pancake syrups.  Our evil enemy, Mr. Barley Malt, may be hiding in the natural flavors.  If you or your child is not a fan of 100% maple syrup, Aunt Jemima is gluten-free.

9.  Chocolate chips – Most are gluten-free, but there are some that are not, especially the flavored varieties like the Nestle Butterscotch Morsels, for example.  They contain barely malt flavoring.  My store brand butterscotch (Meijer) are gluten-free though.

10. Soup – If you have been gluten-free for any period of time, you are aware that many canned soups have wheat starch added as a thickener or barley malt added for flavoring.  This goes for thicker variety soups and broths alike.  Even soups that are “homemade” by a friend, relative or restaurant may contain gluten.  Many Progresso varieties are now labeled “gluten-free”, as are Amy’s Kitchen and several others.

BONUS because this is important, but not really food:

Medicine – Being sick is no fun.  Know what makes it even worse?  Glutening yourself with your medication that is supposed to make you feel better.  Please remember to verify the medication you are taking is gluten-free.  Gluten-Free Drugs is a great place to start.

***Please note that just because a food is on this list doesn’t mean it is healthy; a healthy diet is what you make it.  Making smart choices with occasional treats in moderation is the way I choose to take on a healthy diet.

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Have you had a chance to read Delight Gluten-Free magazine yet?  Head over to Celiac-Disease.com and enter to win the digital version –Holiday/Winter 2011!

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Don’t forget to mark your calendars & join in the Holiday fun with the Gluten Freely Twitter party.  For date, time & instructions, click here.