Delightfully Gluten Free

July 6, 2008

Rhubarb and Strawberry Crisp – BBQ Time

Filed under: Uncategorized — Cassandra @ 6:56 pm

About a month ago, Kate at Gluten Free Gobsmacked decided to host a virtual barbeque. The date is tomorrow. Yeah, I know, I’m barely making it in time (but I’m 6 1/2 months pregnant – so cut me some slack). We each picked a letter, and I got R. I wanted to make something with rhubarb, but couldn’t find any in the stores. Finally, I found some – hiding in the back of my freezer, of all places. So here is what I came up with. It was a real hit!

Rhubarb and Strawberry Crisp

1 & 1/2 lb rhubarb, trimmed and cut (if frozen, thaw and drain)
1 & 1/2 lb strawberries, sliced (if frozen, thaw, but don’t drain)
3-5 Tbs sugar (depending on the sweetness of your strawberries)

1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup gf flour mix*
1/4 tsp xanthan gum
2 Tbs buttermilk powder
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/3 cup margarine

1/4 – 1/2 cup gf oats
1/4 – 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

Place rhubarb and strawberries in greased 9×13 baking dish; sprinkle with sugar.
In a medium-sized bowl, combine brown sugar, gf flour mix, xanthan gum, buttermilk powder, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
Using a fork or pastry blender, cut in margarine until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Mix in oatmeal and nuts, and sprinkle mixture over fruit.
Bake in a preheated 350° oven for 35 minutes or until rhubarb is tender and the topping starts to brown. Serve warm or cold.

*You can use whatever flour mix you want. I used the standard Bette Hagman mix: 2 parts white rice flour, 2/3 part potato starch, 1/3 part tapioca starch.

The guys all had ice cream atop their first bowls, and ate their second bowls without. I was really pleased with how this turned out. Mom, I’m so sorry that you are away on vacation and can’t taste it. :)

Prior to eating this wonderful concoction of mine (yes, I am pleased with myself – I’m only beginning to really experiment in the kitchen), we had hamburgers… on buns.

I made the microwave hamburger buns for our dinner. Andy deemed them a success. Because Braden hadn’t appreciated the flax seed meal ones yesterday, I made him one with rice flour (same ratios), which he thoroughly enjoyed. Yeah, it was a little too big for his mouth, lol.

Check out Kate’s blog in the next few days for her barbeque roundup. You should definitely leave with some recipes to try!

July 5, 2008

Microwave Hamburger Buns

Filed under: Breads,Healthy-ish — Cassandra @ 6:57 pm

I was recently alerted to this recipe by Carolyn on the Delphi Celiac forum. I’m not sure where it originally came from, but she found it on RecipeZaar. It is basically no-carb, which is great for my current predicament (failed first round of gestational diabetes testing). The RecipeZaar poster says it tastes like a whole-wheat bun. Quite frankly, I can’t even remotely recall what whole wheat tastes like (or any wheat, for that matter). I think it is a little eggy tasting, but I don’t think you would taste it with a hamburger (I’ll try tomorrow). It made a good peanut butter sandwich, though if I was going to make one specifically for a sandwich, I’d use a slightly larger bowl (more surface area = less height). I used a 2 cup Pyrex bowl.

I intend to spend some time experimenting with this recipe this week. I would like to see if I could use less butter, because it feels a little too oily for me. I will also try adding various flavors to the bread.

Microwave Hamburger Buns (from RecipeZaar)

Ingredients:

2 Tbs melted butter
1/2 pinch of salt
1 egg (I used large, though the recipe said extra large)
4 Tbs flaxseed meal
1/2 tsp baking powder

Mix all ingredients together in a microwave-safe bowl or container, and microwave on high for 1 minute or until center is set (it will get larger in the bowl). Let set in bowl for one minute, then turn onto a cooling rack to cool. When it is cool, slice through the middle with a bread knife.

Please let me know if you make any modifications or variations that you really like. :)

Salmon Spinach Salad

Filed under: Healthy-ish,Main Dish — Cassandra @ 2:58 pm

I hope everyone in the U.S. had a wonderful Independence Day.

(The salad was prettier before I mixed it up.)

I failed my glucola test last week, and so I have been really worried about gestational diabetes (I will have a more thorough test this coming Wednesday).  I have basically been eating very low-carb to prepare for this next test (along with drinking tons of water, and walking).  Since we were spending the day with Andy’s family, I threw some meats and veggies into a cooler bag, and this is what I came up with.  I found it to be excellent, and different enough from a “normal” salad that it warranted being posted.  I just shook or grabbed until it looked right to me.  It will serve 2, or a very hungry pregnant woman.  :)

Salmon Spinach Salad

2 small salmon filets
1 small bag of “California-style” frozen veggies (cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, and zucchini)
Rosemary-garlic seasoning
Fresh spinach
Cheddar cheese – shredded or crumbled*

In a large skillet with tall sides, cook the salmon (in one half of the skillet) and the frozen veggies (in the other half), both sprinkled with rosemary garlic seasoning.  In a bowl, tear up some spinach (however much you want) and add the cheese on top.  When the salmon is finished cooking, flake it up, mix with the veggies, and pour on top of the spinach and cheese.  Enjoy.

*To make crumbled cheddar cheese, freeze a block of cheese then defrost.  The cheese will easily crumble in seconds.

July 1, 2008

Dr. Steve Wangen – Non-CD Gluten Intolerance

Filed under: 2008 GIG Conference — Cassandra @ 8:12 pm

Dr. Steve Wangen spoke on a very important topic at the GIG Conference, that of Testing for Non-Celiac Gluten Intolerance.

Many of you have a gluten intolerance that may not be Celiac Disease.  We are only just beginning to understand the differences, and have a long way to go.

Cynthia Kupper and GIG also understand that this is something that needs more research, and people need to hear about it.  We should see even more talks on non-celiac gluten intolerance at future conferences.

Dr. Wangen, a very fun and personable guy, has graciously made his presentation slides available to everyone through his website.  Follow that link and scroll down to the bottom of the page.  There are 6 slides full of signs and symptoms associated with gluten intolerance!  I was sad that I didn’t get to hear him speak this year (I was packing up my book table), but I thoroughly enjoyed listening to him last year.  Keep an eye on him, because he has a new book coming out soon called Healthier Without Wheat: A New Understanding of  Wheat Allergies, Celiac Disease, and Non-Celiac Gluten Intolerance.

And, just to be fair, I know some women who have a crush on Dr. Wangen, too.  But I’m not naming names.

Dr. Hottie, I Mean, Fasano

Filed under: 2008 GIG Conference,Reviews — Cassandra @ 7:50 pm

No, I don’t have a crush on him, but I know women who do. :)

I told you awhile back that we would be auctioning off breakfast with Dr. Fasano at the GIG conference. Well, we did. It was a lot of fun watching (and participating in) the auction. The final bid – $875. Go, Tara!! Just watching her bid (sometimes against herself), was a real treat. She was thoroughly enjoying it, knowing that the money was going for a great cause (gluten-free kids’ camps).

Tara wrote up a little interview, so that she could share her experience with us all. I hope you enjoy it.

Question: You were the grand prize winner of Breakfast with Dr. Fasano at the National GIG Conference in Dallas. What was the most impressive thing in your mind about Dr. Fasano?

In my opinion, the most impressive things about Dr. Fasano are his deep desire to help people and the fact that he is a “real” person, just like you and me. I was amazed by the immediate comfort level when talking with him. He instantly puts you at ease and has the ability to speak on the most complicated of topics in a manner that anyone could understand.

Question: Where did you have breakfast?

Breakfast was in a wonderful suite, chaperoned by Cynthia Kupper. (haha!) We were served a vast assortment of foods including a mix of breakfast breads, fruits, amazing blueberry pancakes, bacon, eggs and some avocado on tomato. Dr. Fasano must not like avocado because he didn’t touch it. We were so engrossed in our conversation that I had to remind him to eat!

Question: What did you learn that you did not know about Dr. Fasano?

I learned that Dr. Fasano is a humanitarian first and a scientist second. He relayed some stories about his life experiences and those of his family that left me with a feeling of awe. I knew he was an extremely intelligent man, but I did not know the depth of his caring for the people he is helping. This is a personal mission for him and for that I am truly grateful.

Question: What was the most exciting thing Dr. Fasano told you?

I was excited by everything he told me! In fact, I had to make a conscious effort to contain the dumbfounded star-struck look that kept trying to creep onto my face every time he would reveal some new tidbit of information. I think the most exciting thing I walked away with was the fact that “the pill” is real, is in stage two of testing, and the predicted date to market is 2012 barring any major complications. I also found out that this pill could benefit more people than just celiacs. I think that particular fact would have to be the most exciting of all.

Question: Did you ask Dr. Fasano about any personal health issues?

I only had two hours and there was so much to cover, honestly it never occurred to me to ask him about my health issues.

Question: What do you feel you gained from your time with Dr. Fasano?

I gained a renewed sense of empowerment. I received encouragement that what I, what WE are doing as an organization IS making a difference in the lives of others. I gained the courage to speak out to others and attempt to unite us all for one purpose and one purpose only… a better life for celiacs worldwide.

Celiacs Unite! YeeHaw!

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