Gluten Free Apple Ring Pancakes

I got this idea here. I didn't even read the recipe, I just made a pancake mix and dipped apples in it! But it was so yummy. Made me feel a little better about pouring syrup on top! Plus it makes the batter go farther.

I really like to sneak healthy stuff into food without my husband or kids noticing, it's kind of a weird kick, I know. I added GF quick cooking oats, and some ground flax seed to the pancake mix. I also added a little extra milk and an egg white so it wouldn't be too thick. A little ground cinnamon in the mix is really delicious!

I think Bob's Redmill pancake mix is my current favorite. It tastes the most like original pancakes. The GF bisquick is too grainy for pancakes.

Simple Lunch Pasta

This made for a quick, yummy lunch.

I had some leftover grilled chicken from the other night (like 1/4 of a breast). I cooked up 3 different types of pasta because I just wanted to finish them off! I used some Quinoa spirals, rice flour spirals, and even rice flour spaghetti! Just in case you were wondering about the random noodle mix!)

I drained the noodles and diced up the chicken and set both aside. I just rinsed out the pasta pot and kept using it, I hate cleaning more dishes than I absolutely have to! Put some olive oil (about 2-3 tsp. and 1 tsp. garlic (I have a jar of the diced up garlic that makes my life a little easier). Cook garlic about 2 minutes to give the oil a good flavor. Add pasta and chicken. If they are sticking to the pan add more oil. I had frozen peas that looked good to me. If I had had some fresh green beans, or zuchini, or sno peas or asparagus you can bet I would have used them too! Pretty much anything can be added into this. I put on Italian seasonings, and salt and pepper to taste. I also had fresh parmesan cheese on hand, so grated some on top. It was light and fresh and fast. A perfect lunch!

Basic ingredients-
chicken
cooked pasta
olive oil 2-3 tsp
galric 1 tsp
frozen peas
Italian seasonings 1/2tsp
salt and pepper to taste
Parmesan on top

Having a small child with Celiac

Kate and Trey

Kate will be 3 in April. She does a great job of not whining when she can't have something other people are eating. We say "It will make your tummy hurt" and almost always she will be happy with a substitute (which is key).

Here is my frustration...the other night she woke up over and over. She complained that her tummy hurt. Unless she snuck into something hidden around the house, there is no way it was from eating gluten. She may have had a bug or something, but no one else was/is displaying anything similar. Which makes me wonder if she has figured out it works for a great excuse (like to be able to sleep in my bed). She has said it on occassion during the day lately like when we are cleaning up her toys, or she doesn't want to finish dinner, or just when she wants some more attention. She definitely gets one-on-one time, but maybe she is craving some more? How do I differentiate between a real tummy ache and her just avoiding chores or wanting attention? I don't want her to be treated any different from other kids. Not extra special and not neglected, just normal.

Any parent of young kids out there with a similar problem?

Explaining Celiac Disease

While Celiac Disease is definitely becoming more known, there are still a lot of people who haven't heard of it. I had never heard of it before Kate got sick one and a half years ago. I feel like I am constantly describing it to people, even family.

The easiest thing for me to do is to describe it like this...

Celiac disease is sort of like a not-life-threatening peanut allergy. Even trace amounts make TJ and Kate very sick. It is an autoimmune disease, so the body attacks itself in their intestine. There is no cure or treatment other than a completely gluten free diet.


This is the best way for me to tell people in a few words how important gluten free is for us. You can certainly go into more depth than this, but i have found launching into more than this just overwhelms people. Keep it simple.

Amazing Gluten Free Almond Butter cookies

While staying at my parents' house in Snowflake, my mom and I made these delicious almond butter cookies. (pictures to follow when I get home!)

The best part is how simple they are.

1 cup almond butter

1 cup sugar

1 egg

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Beat the egg. Add sugar and almond butter. Mix well.

Roll into small balls (about 1 inch). Place on ungreased cookie sheet, about 2 inches apart. Slightly flatten with a fork (just like with regular peanut butter cookies). Bake for about 10 minutes. Let cool.

I really liked these with some Nutella on top! Spoon Nutella into a corner of a plastic baggy and cut the tip of the corner so you can more easily drizzle the chocolate. Or you can just spread it on with a butter knife. Just be careful because it can get messy, as Nutella does not harden!

These cookies were great because they have a lighter, nutty taste. My not-gluten-free family loved these too!

Cocoa Pebbles and Fruity Pebbles are Gluten Free!

A lot of you may already know, but just in case...I was pleasantly surprised to find Cocoa Pebbles and Fruity Pebbles now say "Gluten Free" right on the box! You can bet we have a box of each! I really like to mix either of them with corn or rice Chex (so it isn't so sugary). Kate was so excited to eat a new kind of cereal. I love you Chex, but a little extra variety is wonderful!

Gluten Free while Nursing

Bridget, Kate, and Trey Christmas 2011

On October 19th we had our baby boy, Trey. Everything has gone really well and he has been such an angel.

I have decided to be Gluten-Free while I nurse. My decision came after seeing some article (that I can't find anymore!) that said being gluten free while nursing an at-risk baby may help lower the chances of the disease displaying itself. I haven't been able to find much research on this topic. I talked to my dad, who is our Doctor. He said scientifically it does not make sense to go gluten free while nursing. When the body processes the food we eat into breast milk it breaks it down and changes it so much that you shouldn't be able to recognize the food, even gluten. However, he knows someone who is nursing and whenever she has dairy her baby gets a rash. Scientifically, this should not happen. But there is a definite link between what she eats and her baby reacting to it. My dad says, knowing this, there is a chance that it is the same with gluten. Even if it only lowers his chance by a fraction, it is worth it to me.