Double Calories Stink

Not big news here, but the fact that the GF equivalent of most foods contain double the calories of gluten foods just stinks. I gained 30 lbs. in 7 months when I started the diet, partly because I was absorbing food, but partly because I didn't KNOW the sneaky little calorie count. Now topping the scale at......(NO, I won't post it! LOL!) a big number, I know I need to lose weight to feel better. I suppose celery & I should get reacquainted. Any tips for a low fat, low meat protein, low sodium, low calorie, high fiber gluten free plan to lose weight?

After 5 1/2 years Rice Chex Treats---oh, yum!

Yesterday Bethany (my 14 year old who is also on a GF diet) and I went to the store. On a random whim we decided to make some Rice Krispy Treats. Except anyone on a GF diet knows (as my friend Kim just commented) that they sneak barley in to most cereals. You find something that is RICE based & think it would be safe, then you see on the label, "Malt" or "malt extract" or something with the M word in it. M= Gluten. Yuck. Well, since General Mills has started making Rice CHEX GLUTEN FREE, we decided to make some Rice CHEX treats! I crushed up some of the cereal & left some whole. We used a standard recipe for the treats. Oh. My. Word. YUM. I NEED to lose weight desperately, but these were just calling my name. So. Very. Good.

ALWAYS read the label...TWICE

It goes without saying that you should always read the label before assuming it is gluten free. There are a few exceptions, such as bananas or potatoes, but if it's in a package: read the label! Don't read it once, read it twice. I have been on this diet for over 5 years and I read labels in the store. Yet, I have found even this week, that I can sometimes miss an ingredient. My older daughter (age 14 now) is also on the GF diet so we can "check" each other on the labels. In fact, not long after my diagnosis, she was the one who caught "wheat" on the Doritos Nacho Cheese flavor chips. Interestingly, my local store brand (HEB) does NOT (or at last check did not) put wheat in that particular style of chip.

This weekend I found a box of Planters Nut Bars covered with chocolate. Since most granola and other snack bars contain gluten, I assumed these would. I read the label and did not see any gluten ingredients. We were in a hurry, so I tossed the box in the basket and went on my way. We were in the car with me driving, so I asked my 12 year old to hand me a bar. Then, I had the thought to ask her to read the label to me, just so I could be sure. She was near the end of the list when I heard the dreaded word, the one that ruins anything potentially gluten free that is wheat-free: MALT. UGH! Barley. Gluten. YUCK!

There are so many "hidden" sources of gluten that label reading becomes a science unto itself. Even with years of practice, it is so easy to miss one of those ingredients (for that matter, I've missed the word WHEAT on a label but caught it before I ate the food). Don't even assume if the label says, "Gluten Free" that it is. I recently purchased a health supplement that said gluten free on the label. Then it listed "Wheat Dextrin" as an ingredient. It listed the amount of wheat in the product and was apparently a small enough amount to pass as GF. Yet, the ingredient was near the top of the list. I didn't trust it and didn't take it. Since Dextrin is typically a sweetener, it could be that Wheat Dextrin does not contain the protein known as gluten, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Happy Label Reading!

"Graham Cracker" crust

Earlier this week I made a cheesecake to take to a family event. My nephew has eaten at a few gluten free restaurants and has eaten gluten free things at family gatherings. He told me that this cheesecake was "the best gluten free food" he'd ever had. That was a huge compliment! My smarty-pants husband retorted, "This isn't normal." He's also the one who steals my GF pretzels and finishes off the bag!

Here's what I used to make the crust:
1/2 Kinnikinnick's Graham style crackers
1/2 Kinnikinnick's Animal Cookies

Both are available HERE or possibly at your local gluten free retailer.  I got them at Sun Harvest in San Antonio. Or maybe it was the HEB at 281 & 1604. Both have a good selection of Gluten Free foods.

I didn't measure (sorry) but used enough in the blender until I had 1 1/2 cups of crumbs. Add 5-6 T melted butter/margarine and 1/4 cup sugar. Bake at 350 F for 8-10 minutes.

The cheesecake recipe I used was on this website: http://www.joyofbaking.com/Cheesecake.html
I did change the recipe slightly by using whole milk (we were out of cream) and 40 oz. cream cheese (5 blocks instead of 4). Also, I used one pack Greek Yogurt and then made up the rest of the cup of sour cream for the topping.

Today I made Key Lime pie and needed another Graham Cracker style crust. I didn't have enough of the animal cookies or graham style crackers, so I tossed in some Corn Chex (only use Chex brand unless you KNOW your brand is gluten free---most are NOT) and some almonds. It tastes really good, once I get it out of the pie plate. Unfortunately, the Pampered Chef Pie Plate stone I used isn't seasoned well yet & I should have used some oil on it. OOPS!

Let me know if you try this and how it works for you.

Welcome to my Gluten Free Page!

I have been on a gluten free diet for over 5 years now out of necessity. I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease in 2005 and have faithfully been eating without wheat, rye or barley since then. I'd like to share recipes and ideas on here from questions I'm frequently asked. Yes, I'd like to do that. But, I'm really not asked that many questions, so I'll just share things I want to! LOL!

I'm not promising to be a good blogger, but when I get good ideas, I'll put them here. Be sure to add me to your favorite blog reader so you'll know when I do post something yummy or maybe even useful!

Until we eat again!