Delightfully Gluten Free

(Scroll down for an update – March 25, 2009)

Were you so darn excited when Rice Chex went gluten-free?  Were you dancing in the aisles that you could buy cereal at just about any grocery store and use a coupon? Did you write to General Mills and tell them you were so grateful and wanted more gluten-free cereals?

Well, to those who did, they listened.

Elizabeth Barbone spoke to General Mills, and they confirmed the rumors.

Corn Chex…

Honey Nut Chex…

AND Cinnamon Chex…

are all GLUTEN-FREE!

Always, Always, Always check the box first.  It may take a few months to see the boxes in your stores.  Even after you’ve bought it once, they could still have some old boxes lying around.

And what else could be so exciting?  I’ve always said “that’ll be the day, when Betty Crocker makes gluten-free mixes.”

Well, it’s now the day.

Yeah, you heard me.

Kill the Gluten has a post about gluten-free mixes from Betty Crocker, that we should see around June.  So exciting!!

Update: March 25, 2009 – Email from General Mills

Dear Valued Consumer:

Thank you for contacting General Mills with your inquiry.  Along with Rice Chex, General Mills is  reformulating the following Big G Cereals to gluten free status:

o   Corn Chex

o   Honey Nut Chex

o   Strawberry Chex

o   Chocolate Chex

o   Cinnamon Chex

Production for this cereal has begun and you should begin seeing these cereals available on store shelves soon. All products listed should be available by June 1st, 2009.

As with any reformulated product, both products may be on the store shelves at the same time so consumers are encouraged to read labels/packaging carefully. Consumers should carefully examine the product packaging to ensure that the cereal inside the box is in fact the new, gluten free product.   Look for “NOW GLUTEN FREE” or “GLUTEN FREE” on the front/side/back panels.  We hope you find this information helpful.  Please let us know if we can help you again.

Sincerely,

Allison Owen

Consumer Services

General Mills

The good people at Cookware.com wrote the following article for you (my comments follow in Italics).

Cookware for a Gluten-Free Lifestyle

Anyone that has been diagnosed with a food related allergy understands that the smallest trace of that particular ingredient can result in a number of painful or uncomfortable circumstances. For this reason, it’s vital to take extra care with the cookware sets we use on a daily basis as many sets that have come in contact with our known allergens can set off a reaction right away. While many people with gluten-free diets opt to invest in their own cookware collection in an effort to eliminate any chance in coming in contact with wheat, others turn to cast iron cooking due to the cooking properties of this particular material.

Cast iron cookware is well known for its durability and nonstick surface that is far superior to sets made from other materials such as stainless steel or aluminum. Well seasoned cast iron surfaces that have been coated correctly in a heated oven will fill the cracks of each pot and pan, leaving you with a cookware set that should repel water. After this process has been completed, you’ll be able to cook a number of different meals without having to worry about the mixing of flavors that aren’t appropriate for a particular dish. In addition to pots and pans, the first things you want to replace in a non gluten-free household are your cutting boards and colanders as these are items that have come in contact with wheat products the most.

When it comes to baking, there’s no need to invest in separate trays and containers unless you are in need of a new set. Baking disposable liners can be used in muffin trays, baking sheets, and glass pans for when you want to make delicious gluten-free desserts or breakfast items. It’s important to label or color code cookware, bakeware, and food storage containers in a mixed diet household in order for people with a gluten intolerance to avoid contact with even the smallest traces of wheat.

When going gluten-free, you don’t need to buy new cast iron cookware.  You cannot, however, use the cookware for both gluten and gluten-free cooking, as the food particles can stick to the seasoning or in the cracks.  To prepare used cast iron cookware for gluten-free use, place it in an oven and run the self-cleaning cycle.  It gets so hot that all food particles will turn to ash, and you can brush them off (obviously after the cookware has cooled). Then re-season your cookware as if it were brand new. I do not recommend this in the summer in hot climates like Texas.  It will take forever to cool the house.

Another option is to sand-blast the cookware. You laugh, but I actually had a friend do this.  He found some men working with a sand blaster near his house, and asked them to do this.  I think, however, it might require a gentle hand. 

What is your favorite type of cookware?  I have yet to find mine.

Cottage cheese is a staple food in our house.  Awhile back, I found that I prefer the taste of the Kroger brand.  I just happened to be finishing off a carton (therefore eating out of the carton), when I saw a little sign I had not seen before.

There is a little wheel with segments for calories, total fat, trans fat, sodium, and sugars.  Sticking out of the wheel is a line (imagine a key, that is what the whole thing resembles).  A little picture of a grain with a slash through it, and the words “a Gluten Free Food” are just sitting right there!  (I wonder how many times I’ve bought this and not seen it.)  Under the little symbol, it says “This food has never contained gluten.”

So, does this mean Kroger is going to label their gluten-free products?

I’m hopeful.

Okay, since a picture is worth a thousand words…

It has been rare, the last few weeks, that my arms and/or lap have been empty for any length of time.  Braden, Carter, and Corice just keep passing their sicknesses around.  In fact, I just managed to get Carter off my left leg, but I am still feeding Corice, lol.

Don not fear, for I have been able to secure some time to conduct some research for Delight gluten-free Magazine, usually while Carter watches his favorite PBS Kids shows.

Have you made dinner lately?  Last night, we had chicken curry.

Seattle.  Have you ever been?  I haven’t, but I’m going this June.  That’s right, the Gluten Intolerance Group’s annual education conference is in Seattle, Washington this year.  Registration is now available.  I will not be stuck behind a table selling books this year, so I am really looking forward to listening to the speakers and getting to know some of you better.
Check out the program brochure.  There is even some special stuff for teens.

Oh, I just realized I haven’t told you about Moving Feet Without Wheat.  This year, North Texas GIG is walking again to raise money for research, programs, and awareness for celiac disease and gluten-intolerances.  If you can, please join us.  Our event will take place at River Legacy Park in Arlington, Texas, on May 16th.  We will have a bounce house, face painting, games and a picnic, along with samples, basket raffles, and a silent auction.  You can register online, and you don’t even have to walk to register.

If you would like to donate, you can do so on my ActiveGiving.com page.

And don’t forget to check out the books that North Texas GIG has for sale.  We bought too many of some of these books for the last conference, and they are currently residing under Carter’s bed and stacked next to the bookshelves in my bedroom.  If there is a book that we don’t have listed that you would like, feel free to send me an email at delightfullyglutenfree at gmail dot com, and I will be glad to sell it to you if we have it. 

I have something for you, that I’ve wanted to share with you for a long time.  I’m just having computer issues.  But stay tuned…