gluten-free survival guide 101

I have had several folks ask me about eating gluten free, so I thought I would share a bit of the basics that I have learned over the past couple of years.

First you have to figure out what you CANNOT eat and then go from there.  To play it safe in the beginning I cut out ALL processed foods.  Once I figured out what I could not eat I began adding safe foods back to my diet.

For a complete list of unsafe foods click here, just print this list and post it on the frig for a quick reference.  It is just over 4 pages of delightful reading... uhm...  Obviously, we cannot have Wheat, Barely, Rye & Oats.  In addition to the basics gluten MAY be hidden in artificial color, natural flavoring & soy sauce just to name a few... basically all processed foods.   Again, please see the forbidden list for all the details.

What does this mean for you?

Whether you want to or not you will be eating healthier from now on! And, you will be much happier.  YAY for energy!

The first survival food we will be discussing is the Chocolate Chip Cookie.

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
I like Alton Brown's Chocolate Chip recipe called The Chewy Gluten Free.  I have made it several times and my entire family really enjoys these gooey cookies.  (You may have to hide them, like me, or they disappear quick and in a hurry!)  The first time I made them I followed the recipe and of course they were fabulous and they second time I used my AP Mix instead of his flours and it was even better, according to my husband.  He told me he thinks they may be his all time favorite cookie! 

Here is what I did- Instead of measuring out the brown rice flour, cornstarch and tapioca flour I used approximately 2 1/4 cups of MY AP Mix. (I would NOT use a store bought mix, they are just too grainy in my opinion, I would just follow his recipe in that case)  Oh, nor do I roll mine into balls- too much work for this momma.  After I refrigerate the dough I use a spoon and drop them onto the parchment paper and they still look beautiful.   With my oven, I baked them for 5 minutes rotated them as the recipe instructed and then baked for another 5 minutes (my cookies were fairly large).  Happy baking!
Note: Be sure to store all of your flour in the refrigerator as it can spoil.

BREADS
Pre-Celiac diagnosis I ate whole wheat bread, not really because I enjoyed it, but because it was the healthy option.  Once I was diagnosed I just did without for almost a year.  I had tried some GF bread and of course it tasted like cardboard even after toasting so I gave up on it.  Then I stumbled across the Udi's brand.  I totally LOVE it.  In fact I PREFER it to my glutinous whole wheat bread!  In my opinion it doesn't even need to be toasted.  Yes, it is expensive.  Yes, it is a tiny little loaf.  Yes, it is WORTH EVERY PENNY!  I usually buy mine from Whole Foods, but Raley's also carries it.  Whole Foods is an expensive place, but I have noticed they still seem to have the best prices on GF foods so go stock up! 

In addition to bread Udi's has pizza crust, bagels & muffins that I buy a little too regularly!  I am in LOVE with their Double Chocolate & Blueberry Muffins.  Go buy them, enjoy and then come tell me how right I am!  ha! 

COOKING
The thing about eating GF is baking & cooking can turn complex fairly quickly or at least tedious for sure!  This momma cannot do tedious, time consuming meals.  Some days I am happy to just get chicken nuggets heated through in the microwave for my kiddos!  This is why Everyday Food is my "go to" place for recipes.  As I have mentioned before their recipes are simple, easy & tasty.  This is NOT a gluten free website, but the recipes I have looked at do not require processed foods, which may contain gluten.  When they do call for something that does contain gluten like this YUMMY Honey-Teriyaki Chicken recipe.  It is an easy substitution.  I use gluten-free Tamari instead of regular soy sauce and the entire family is happy!

Well, that is all I have for today.  Hopefully, this has been helpful & you can make it on these "survival foods" until the next post!

Happy Eating!

chasing the wind

My big boys are outside chasing the wind right now and of course having a fabulous time!  We are having the most beautiful day here in sunny California.  I may even bundle up the babies for a stroll this afternoon.  Although, there won't be much bundling required since it is 61 degrees here with a high of 66.  It will be so nice to be outside.

I am very much missing my blogging world, but home life has required all of my energy. 

Hoping to be on again very soon.... there is so much to say.  Life has been such a roller coaster lately... praising the Lord still.

Thank you Jesus for my beautiful family and home!

Our Classical Conversations

 

Here is a quick glimpse into our Classical Conversations classroom.  In these pictures we are studying abstract art, doing a science experiment and learning Latin.  We have thoroughly enjoyed learning with other students and parents.  

Of course building friendships has been wonderful too!

The Sacramento Children's Museum

A few weeks ago we had the pleasure of checking out the Sacramento Children's Museum with a few friends.  It really was amazing.   The boys played and played.  It really was the perfect place for them to explore.

a peek inside the museum

Okay, so maybe I got a little bit carried away with pictures from the Children's Museum, but I had so much fun and I want to share it with you.  And, yes, the boys had fun too!  If only we lived closer.

Cael & Kipp exploring "waterways" with the twins looking on from the stroller

our friends, having a great time

we had lunch in the "party room"

the big boys playing in "my neighborhood"

I had to pick Kipp up and set him in the boots :-)

Each exhibit had a mailbox so the kids were running around mailing letters- very fun!

"baby bloomers"

Yes, I realize Cael is a bit old for the "baby bloomers," but I was nursing the twins and wanted the big boys close.  This is the cutest spot for the the little guys.  They even have dress up costumes.  I wish I were able to take more pictures of everything, but when you take four boys ages 5 and under (and you are breastfeeding two of them) there isn't much time for picture taking!  And yes I took half of these pics while feeding the babies!  Hey, sometimes you just have to make it work.

"airways"

This was so neat!  This "contraption" would suck in the hankies or lightweight balls and they would go flying all the way through and then it would spit them out. 

um... yeah... I have no idea what this does...

"Studio of the Arts"

Needless to say we had a blast!  It was very convenient, relaxed and not so big that I had to worry about my children running off and it worked well for me- on my own with all four boys.  I even loved the bathrooms!  They had "real" changing tables and stall for the entire family.  Everything was just so kid friendly how could you not LOVE this place?!  We cannot wait to go back.

still here.... barely

I am really missing being able to blog, but right now every free moment I have is... Oh wait I have no free moments!
Okay, so we are trying to survive life right now.  Over the last couple of months I have started having "energy problems" again... please don't insult me by saying it is just because I am a mom of four.  All summer I have been handling four children beautifully.  We have had a fabulous summer with me waking with babies up to 6 times a night and still putting in a full day of work and feeling great.  Now the babies only get up once each, so I am up twice in the night, with my husband actually being the one to go get the babies and bring them to me and I am still struggling.

My house is a wreck, school is more than fallen by the wayside and my children are starving.  Okay so maybe that is a bit dramatic, but it is more accurate than I care to say.  Thankfully my husband comes home and puts on his mom cap.  He cooks, cleans and takes care of the kiddos while I sit and shout orders from the couch!

No, really... from the couch.

I know, it sounds like the perfect life!!  To be honest though,  I am sad I am not the one up providing for my family.  This "energy thing" is adding tons of stress to our once deliriously happy lives.  sigh...

We are not sure if it is something to do with my Celiac's or running while nursing twins and being on a limited diet... hopefully my blood work will be in soon and we will get some answers.

ANYWAY these past couple of weeks have been particularly rough... praying life gets easier soon!

Kipp's 3rd Birthday

Sunday was Kipp's Birthday.  It was a very busy day filled with tons of fun.  We started out doing the 5k at Bishop's Pumpkin Farm and finished up with a family birthday party, cooking hot dogs over an open fire.

Happy Birthday Kippy!!

We love you "SOOO MUCH"!!

Bishop's Pumkin Farm 5k Fun Run

WE DID IT!!  We ran our first official family 5k this morning.

We loved doing this together and to make it even better it was on Kipp's Birthday.  It was so fun!

Cael started out running with me and then climbed on about a third of the way through.  For the most part Sean pushed the stroller with the 4 boys and I ran beside them.  There was a small section that was pretty bumpy so Sean and the boys took pictures while I ran.  (This is why all the pics are of me running)

I loved the run!  It was so beautiful.  The morning was overcast and cool. 

You could not have asked for a more perfect morning or run. 

It was the perfect day!

 Enjoy!

 Check out Bishop's 5k here.  With our entry fee we got a train ride, corn maze, and the kids got to go down the coyote mountain slides.  And it benefited the American Red Cross, even better!

I will post more pics of our great day at Bishop's in later post.  Now I am off to celebrate with Kippy on his THIRD birthday.