Celiac Disease

Official Website of Celiac-Disease.com

You are here: Home / Blog

Blog

Recipe: Gluten-Free Tahini Cookies

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff

It seems the gluten-free recipes we’ve done for cookies are among the most popular, so here is another one I’ve ran across recently. This one was donated to the Celiac community by kind people at Coyote Craft.

If you’d like to check out other recipe ideas, check out our gluten-free recipes page!

Gluten-Free Tahini Cookies Recipe

Cookie Ingredients:

  • 1/2 Cup white sugar
  • 1/2 Cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 Cup tahini (stir well before measuring)
  • 4 Tbsp butter, softened
  • 1/4 Cup shortening
  • 1 egg
  • 1 1/4 Cup gluten-free Flour
  • 1/4 tsp xantham gum
  • 3/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 3-4 Tbsp sesame seeds
  • 1 tsp sea salt

Cookie Directions:

  1. In a large bowl, beat sugars, tahini, butter and shortening until creamy. Beat in egg. In a separate bowl, combine gluten-free flour, xantham gum, baking soda and baking powder; gradually add to tahini mixture, blending thoroughly. Cover tightly and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
  2. When you’re ready to take the dough out of the fridge, start the next step. In a small frying pan over medium heat, toast sesame seeds until golden brown – shaking the pan frequently, for about 2 minutes. Let cool out on a small plate, mix with your teaspoon of salt. Roll refrigerated dough into 1-inch balls. Roll each ball into sesame salt then place on parchment lined baking sheets about 3 inches apart. Flatten each ball with a fork, making a criss-cross pattern with tines.
  3. Bake in a 375 F oven for 8-10 minutes, or until lightly browned. Let cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes, then transfer to cooling racks. Store airtight, makes about 4 dozen.

Can Celiac Treatment Be a Tax Deduction?

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff 4 Comments

Can treatment for Celiac Disease be a tax deduction? According to my research, it appears that Celiac treatment can in fact be a tax deduction, under the condition that you have been officially diagnosed with Celiac Disease.

Here are the guidelines I’ve tracked down:

The following guidelines were received from the Oct. 1993 CSA/USA National Conference in Buffalo, NY:

  1. You can claim only the EXTRA COST of the gluten-free product over what you would pay for a similar item at a grocery store. For example, if wheat flour costs $0.89 per 5 lbs. and rice flour is $3.25 per 5 lbs., the DIFFERENCE of $2.36 is tax deductible. You may also claim mileage expense for the extra trip to the health food store and postal costs on gluten-free products ordered by mail.
  2. The cost of xanthan gum (methylcellulose, etc.) used in gluten-free home baked goods is completely different than anything used in an ordinary recipe, so in the opinion of the IRS, the total cost of this item can be claimed.
  3. Save all cash register tapes, receipts, and canceled checks to substantiate your gluten-free purchases. You will need to prepare a list of grocery store prices to arrive at the differences in costs. You need not submit it with your return, but do retain it.
  4. Attach a letter from your doctor to your tax return. This letter should state that you have Celiac Sprue disease and must adhere to a totally gluten-free diet for life.
  5. Under MEDICAL DEDUCTIONS list as Extra cost of a gluten-free diet the total amount of your extra expenses. You do not need to itemize these expenses.

Suggestions:

  1. You may want to write the Citations (as given below) on your tax return. Always keep a copy of your doctors letter for your own records.
  2. Your IRS office may refer you to Publication 17 and tell you these deductions are not permissible. IRS representatives have ruled otherwise and this is applicable throughout the US Refer them to the following Citations:
    • Revenue Ruling 55-261
    • Cohen 38 TC 387
    • Revenue Ruling 76-80, 67 TC 481
    • Flemming TC MEMO 1980 583
    • Van Kalb TC MEMO 1978 366

Note: I would recommend reviewing any potential deductions with your personal accountant.

Recipe: Gluten-Free Birthday Cake

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff

Have a birthday party coming up for someone with celiac disease? Finding a good gluten-free birthday cake can be difficult and many of the mixes aren’t very good; however, I’ve often found that homemade gluten-free cakes are typically much better tasting. If you’d like to make your gluten-free birthday cake from scratch, here is a great recipe I recommend!

If you’d like to check out other recipe ideas, check out our gluten-free recipes page!

Gluten-Free Birthday Cake Recipe

Dry Ingredients:

  • 1/3 cup brown rice flour
  • 1/3 cup tapioca flour
  • 1/3 cup sorghum flour
  • 1/2 tsp. xanthan gum
  • 1/2 cup agave nectar
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp. baking soda

Wet Ingredients:

  • 3/4 cup milk (I used hemp milk, you may also try soy, almond or rice)
  • 2 eggs, slightly beaten
  • 1/4 cup canola oil
  • 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Cake Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Grease an 8? square baking pan. Dust pan lightly with flour.
  3. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together all dry ingredients.
  4. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients.
  5. Add milk, oil, vanilla, and beaten eggs. Whisk together until well incorporated.
  6. Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Do not overbake!!
  7. Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting it with your favorite gluten-free chocolate frosting.

Cold Stone Creamery’s Gluten-Free Menu

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff

Are you an ice cream lover? For many people with Celiac Disease, ice cream is one of the few sweets we can truly enjoy (certain kinds). I’ve heard on many occasions that Cold Stone Creamery has the best ice cream anywhere.

Official Website Menu Information: Cold Stone Creamery’s Gluten-Free Menu
Location Finder: Find a Cold Stone Creamery Location Near You

Below we’ve collected what foods are currently safe to eat at Cold Stone Creamery for your convenience:

Cold Stone Creamery’s Gluten-Free Menu

Ice Creams:

  • Amaretto Ice Cream
  • Banana Ice Cream
  • Black Cherry Ice Cream
  • Blueberry Ice Cream
  • Butter Pecan Ice Cream
  • Candy Cane Ice Cream
  • Cheesecake Ice Cream
  • Cherry Vanilla Ice Cream
  • Chocolate Ice Cream
  • Chocolate-Dipped Strawberry Ice Cream
  • Chocolate Hazelnut Ice Cream
  • Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream
  • Cinnamon Ice Cream
  • Coconut Ice Cream
  • Coffee Ice Cream
  • Cotton Candy Ice Cream
  • Dark Chocolate Ice Cream
  • Dark Chocolate Peppermint Ice Cream
  • Dulce De Leche Ice Cream
  • Egg Nog Ice Cream
  • French Vanilla Ice Cream
  • Fudge Truffle Ice Cream
  • Ghirardelli® Chocolate Ice Cream
  • Gingerbread Ice Cream
  • Irish Cream Ice Cream
  • Key Lime Ice Cream
  • Macadamia Nut Ice Cream
  • Mango Ice Cream
  • Marshmallow Ice Cream
  • Mint Ice Cream
  • Mocha Ice Cream
  • Orange Dreamsicle Ice Cream
  • Peanut Butter Ice Cream
  • Pecan Praline Ice Cream
  • Piña Colada Ice Cream
  • Pistachio Ice Cream
  • Pumpkin Ice Cream
  • Raspberry Ice Cream
  • Red Hot Ice Cream
  • Red Hot Strawberry Ice Cream
  • Rum Raisin Ice Cream
  • Salted Caramel Ice Cream
  • Salted Chocolate Caramel Ice Cream
  • Sea Salt Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
  • Skinny Vanilla Ice Cream
  • Strawberry Ice Cream
  • Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream
  • Sweet Cream Ice Cream
  • Tart Cherry Ice Cream
  • Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
  • White Chocolate Ice Cream

Yogurts:

  • Black Cherry Yogurt
  • Chocolate Yogurt
  • Raspberry Yogurt
  • Tart Cherry Yogurt
  • Triple Berry Yogurt
  • Vanilla Yogurt
  • Yogurt Base Mix (Other flavors are the same as ice cream)

Sorbets:

  • Countrytime® Lemonade Sorbet
  • Hibiscus Sorbet
  • Lemon Sorbet
  • Orange Sorbet
  • Pineapple Orange Banana Sorbet
  • Pink Champagne Sorbet
  • Raspberry Sorbet
  • Strawberry Sorbet
  • Strawberry Mango Banana Sorbet
  • Tart Cherry Sorbet
  • Watermelon Sorbet

Mix-Ins:

  • Almond Joy®
  • Butterfinger®
  • Chocolate Chips
  • Chocolate Shavings
  • Chocolate Sprinkles
  • Coconut
  • Gumballs
  • Gummy Bears
  • Heath® Bar
  • M&M’s®
  • Marshmallows
  • Peanut Butter
  • Peanut M&M’s®
  • Rainbow Sprinkles
  • Reese’s® Peanut Butter Cup®
  • Reese’s® Pieces
  • Snickers®
  • White Chocolate Chips
  • YORK® Peppermint Patties

Toppings:

  • Caramel
  • Cinnamon
  • Fudge
  • Honey
  • Marshmallow Crème
  • Rich’s® On Top® Whipped Topping

In addition to covering what Cold Stone Creamery foods are gluten-free, the Nutrition Information page also lists which items are egg-free, milk-free, peanut-free, soybean-free, tree nut-free, and wheat-free!

As always, when dining out gluten-free, do your due diligence and make sure the staff understands your needs. There are very few restaurants that are 100% gluten-free, so cross-contamination is always a risk. If you don’t feel comfortable with what you are hearing from the staff, perhaps it is best to dine elsewhere.

For information about other gluten-free restaurants menus, check out our gluten-free restaurants page.

Have you found success eating at Cold Stone Creamery? Please share your experience in the comments below!

Review: Burton’s Grill in Boston, Massachusetts

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff

Restaurant Review: As I sat at the bar enjoying my gluten-free beer in a tall glass, I observed other people eating their lunches. I was surprised to see individuals who had ordered full plates of fried calamari, not to share, but to eat as a main course. I guess that is one of the big advantages of being gluten-free.  I am forced to eat healthier foods!  I love fried calamari, don’t get me wrong, but an entire plate of fried seafood would leave me feeling heavy, even if it were gluten-free.

It took quite some time for my order to be served, but the wait left me feeling more assured that my meal was being prepared correctly. The hand-cut fries were delicious, and the cornmeal encrusted fish was crispy, perhaps a little dry, but it tasted quite good dipped in the side dish of pink tartar sauce.  The bun, well, I gave it a fair shot, but I left half of it there and I ate the sandwich with a fork and knife in the end.

Overall, I was satisfied with my experience at Burton’s Grill.  The bun was a disappointment, but the rest of my dining experience was satisfying.  I am glad to know that I have a Burton’s Grill in Connecticut near my home.  A return visit is in order.

Note: This above review was done by gluten-free Inspired for their Boston location.  You can find Burton’s Grills other locations here.

Restaurant: Burton’s Grill

Website: Burton’s Grill

Gluten-Free Menu: Available on menu page (downloadable!)

Location(s):

Boston Location
1363 Boylston St
The Shops at Trilogy
Two blocks from Fenway Park
On Street & Validated Parking
boston@burtonsgrill.com
T 617.236.2236