Celiac Disease

Official Website of Celiac-Disease.com

You are here: Home / Blog

Blog

Recipe: Gluten-Free Gingersnap Cookies

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

When I was just a teenager, a long, long time ago, I fell in love with baking. I would start to bake when I got home from school and by the time my mom came home, a treat would be fresh out of the oven, just waiting to be served for dessert.  I often depended on her Betty Crocker cookbook for my creations. The book was falling apart at the time, as it had obviously been put to good use.  My favorite section of that cook book was the cookie section.  Many of my favorite childhood cookie recipes originated from this book, so it only made sense that I would try to create a gluten-free version after I started the diet.

Gingersnaps are a unique cookie. They have a crisp outer shell and tender, chewy center.  The aroma & flavor are reminiscent of the season, quickly transporting me back to my childhood.

Gingersnaps
**Originally from The Betty Crocker Cookbook, modified to be GF by me

  • 3/4 cup shortening*
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 2 1/4 cups GF flour mix
  • 2 tsps. xanthan gum
  • 2 tsps. soda
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1 tsp. ginger
  • 1/2 tsp. cloves
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • Granulated Sugar (for rolling cookies in before baking)

Directions:

  1. Mix thoroughly shortening, brown sugar, egg and molasses. Blend in remaining ingredients except granulated sugar. Cover; chill at least 1 hour.
  2. Heat oven to 375. Shape dough by rounded teaspoonfuls into balls. Dip tops in granulated sugar. Place balls, sugar side up on lightly greased baking sheet (I covered mine with parchment paper, but you don’t have to). Bake 10 – 12 minutes (I baked 10) or just until set. Immediately remove from baking sheet. Makes approx. 4 dozen. Mine made less, but I think they were a little bigger.

*It is very important to use shortening here – it plays an important part in the form & texture of the cookie.  Butter or margarine will not produce the same results.  I have not tried this recipe with Earth Balance shortening, but would be interested from hearing from anyone who does.

Review: Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Corn Pasta

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff 5 Comments

Much to my delight, Trader Joe’s has been selling gluten-free brown rice pasta for the past few years. On a recent trip to Trader Joe’s, I found that they have now added corn pasta to their repertoire.  The new gluten-free corn pasta comes in spirals and spaghetti shapes (or at least that is what I found in my local store).

The pasta comes in a 1 pound package with 8 servings.  This package only served 4 of us, but maybe our servings were larger than the package intended them to be.  The first thing I noticed when cooking this pasta was that it didn’t seem to stick together while cooking like the brown rice pasta does.  The package said to cook for 8 minutes or until the pasta reaches desired consistency.  It was perfect at 8 minutes.

While my pasta was cooking, I sauteed some veggies in some olive oil & red wine to mix in with my marinara sauce.

Once my veggies were done, I drained the pasta.  I plated the pasta and then topped with marinara, garbanzo beans & then the veggies.IMG_0290

Everyone in my house likes different sauces on their pasta.  I always have a base marinara & Alfredo and then we can doctor them up as we like.  My favorite is 1/2 cup marinara heated with 1TBSP almond butter and tossed with 1/4 cup garbanzo beans.

This pasta held up well to each different version of sauce (plain marinara to heavy like, shown above).  Aaron even reheated the pasta in a frying pan with his sauce and veggies.  The pasta didn’t become mushy or gummy at all, which can be common with brown rice pasta.  The flavor was subtle and took on the flavor of the sauce that it was topped or tossed with.

I would absolutely buy this pasta again, especially if I was planning on making enough for leftovers.  It reheats well and stands up to heavier sauces.

Have you tried Trader Joe’s corn pastas?  What did you think?

Gluten-Free Cold Medicine

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff 1 Comment

Being sick is no fun for anyone. Trying to confirm that your cold medicine is gluten-free when you feel horrible seems like the hardest task in the world. There is a list that I use as my go-to for gluten-free medication information that can be viewed here.  My dad swears by Cold-Eeze. Every time I have had a cold since he started to use it, he is always telling me to go get some. I have never gone out of the way to check the gluten-free status up until I received an email about Cold-Eeze. I was thrilled when I found that it was gluten-free!

Cold-Eeze is available in lozenges or oral spray. There are 10 different flavors of the lozenges, including 4 sugar-free flavors.  Those flavors are:

  • Cherry
  • Honey Lemon
  • Strawberries & Cream
  • Tropical Orange
  • Lemon Lime
  • Mint Frost
  • Sugar-Free Honey Lemon
  • Sugar-Free Wild Cherry
  • Sugar-Free Pomegranate
  • Sugar-Free Chocolate Mint (safe for diabetics)

More information from Cold-Eeze:

Cold-EEZE reduces the severity and duration of the common cold.

It actually shortens your cold to help you get well sooner!

Here are a few things you should know:

  • The Cold-EEZE proprietary (zinc gluconate) formula is believed by researchers to interfere with the cold virus’ ability to reproduce.
  • The Cold-EEZE brand is the #1 pharmacist-recommended zinc cold remedy. (Source: Pharmacy Times OTC survey — June 2010, Page 80)
  • Cold-EEZE uses natural flavors and has no preservatives or colors. It is non-drowsy, non-agitating and does not affect blood pressure.
  • Cold-EEZE has legions of fans!
For Best Results:
  • Cold-EEZE treatment should begin within 24-48 hours of the start of a cold and be used daily until all symptoms resolve. The earlier, the better.
  • Completely dissolve a Cold-EEZE lozenge in your mouth. Do not chew. Repeat every 2 to 4 hours as needed.
  • The recommended daily dosage is 6 lozenges per day, which means an 18 count bag/box is a 3-day supply of Cold-EEZE for adults.
  • Children 12-17 can take 4 lozenges per day.
  • Consult your healthcare professional before giving Cold-EEZE to children under 12 years of age.
  • Cold-EEZE is safe to take with most other medications including other symptom relievers.
  • Avoid stomach upset — do not take Cold-EEZE lozenges on an empty stomach.
  • Avoid citrus fruits and juices, as well as other products containing citric acid, 30 minutes before and after taking Cold-EEZE lozenges, as they may diminish product effectiveness.
  • Zinc may interfere with the absorption of minocycline, doxycycline, tetracycline as well as Coumadin. Ask a Doctor prior to using Cold-EEZE.
  • Clinical studies demonstrated that results will vary but that on average, Cold-EEZE will shorten your cold by nearly half. As a consumer, if you are not satisfied with the results from taking Cold-EEZE, please contact us to receive a full refund of your purchase price.
NEW Cold-EEZE Cold Remedy Oral Spray

Two Sprays & Go!

The new Cold-EEZE® Cold Remedy Oral Spray is formulated with zinc gluconate, the same effective active ingredient found in the best-selling, clinically proven and #1 pharmacist recommended Cold-EEZE® lozenges. The effective proprietary formula reduces the severity and duration of the common cold.

Other key facts include:

  • Each bottle contains at least 45 doses (90 sprays).
  • The recommended two sprays per usage offer 13.3 mg of zinc gluconate, the same amount of cold remedy as in one Cold-EEZE®lozenge.
  • The new offering is available in a convenient, easy to carry spray bottle.
  • Shortens your cold, works fast.
  • #1 Pharmacist Recommended.
  • Take at the first sign of a cold.

The lozenges are labeled “gluten-free” on the back of the box and I was assured that the spray is as well.  I am not a fan of traditional cold medicines at all.  The side effects are almost worse than enduring the symptoms of the cold, in my opinion.  I love that Cold-Eeze is homeopathic and doesn’t cause drowsiness, lightheadedness, or affect blood pressure. I am going to make sure to keep this on hand for the next time I have any inkling of a cold, so I can try to shorten the duration.

Have you tried Cold-Eeze?  Has it worked for you? What do you usually use when you feel a cold coming on?

Recipe: Quick Gluten-Free Playdough

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

With my daughter now in school, I have to really worry about food in her classroom that is not safe for her to eat. For the first time in her life, she will be surrounded by lunches filled with gluten and will be on her own to make the right choice not to do the trade-your-lunch-with-friends thing many kids do. It’s not only the food I have to worry about but also the products in their classroom – like traditional, store-bought playdough.

There really is no way that you can walk into a kindergarten classroom and not find playdough – it’s a traditional play and education tool for that age group. There are a few gluten-free brands of playdough that you can purchase but seeing how much kids go through it can become quite costly. I recently tested out my own recipe for gluten-free playdough that took under 10 minutes and being able to make multiple batches in different colors was a selling factor for me.

Gluten-Free Playdough Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup of water
  • 1/2 cup of corn OR potato starch
  • 1/2 cup white rice flour
  • 1/2 cup of table salt
  • 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
  • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil

Directions:

In a large mixing bowl mix together all ingredients. Add to pot over medium heat and stir together until the mix turns into a well-formed ball. Remove from heat (optional separate into sections and add different food colors to each ball). Store in air-tight containers when completely cooled.

Help, I’ve Consumed Gluten!

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff Leave a Comment

Most of our articles on the celiac-disease website are about gluten-free products, restaurants, and reviews, in other words, we write about how to avoid gluten. But even those of us who are vigilant, read ingredient lists over and over, and ask tens of questions every time we eat out at a restaurant will at some point be accidentally “glutened”.  To be “glutened” is not an official word, you won’t find it in the dictionary, but for those of us who have celiac, or are gluten-free out of necessity, it has become part of our nomenclature.  If I use this term with people unfamiliar with the gluten-free world, I get some pretty odd looks, but for those who follow eating gluten-free, we know all too well.

When we get glutened, symptoms can vary greatly.  Some people feel it as soon as they have swallowed the offending food item, while others may not feel anything for days.  Some of us may get an upset stomach, or a rash, some may have neurological symptoms, some may have a blinding headache, some may have weakness, some may be sick for months, and some of us actually have no symptoms.  Many of us in this last group is the luckiest one….they can eat gluten, and not feel the pain afterward.  When it is a reality, it may be the most dangerous of them all, because their bodies are actually suffering silently.  They are still incurring the damage inside, but don’t feel the symptoms, so that doesn’t even have a gauge to know when they accidentally get it.

Unfortunately, there is no set list to give as a warning about how someone will feel if they accidentally (or intentionally, for that matter) ingest gluten.  It is just such a personalized thing, that everyone reacts differently.  And may even react differently depending on how much gluten they have eaten.

I like to consider myself extremely careful with my gluten-free way of life.  Since being diagnosed with celiac, I have gone cold turkey and transformed our house into my gluten-free haven.  Our house is the one place where I know I am safe.  I do the shopping and cooking, so I know that most things coming into the house were brought there by me, and I will check over ingredients once, even twice of items from toothpaste to lipstick to tater tots.  My family is now educated on it, and they also know only gluten-free items make it past the door.  Even when I have guests over for a dinner party, book group, or drinks, I ask them only to bring the beverages, I will supply the food, just so I can remain feeling comfortable in my own house.

Of course, eating out is more difficult to control, and every time you eat out, you are taking a chance of cross-contamination.  Even a restaurant with a gluten-free menu, strict handling procedures, and the best intentions can inadvertently make you sick.  After a while, you will begin to learn the places where you feel comfortable and where you don’t.  I went from being a person that loved eating at any hole-in-wall and eating anything put in front of me without question.  Since having celiac that has completely changed, and I have definitely become a creature of habit, and tend to return to places where I feel I can eat safely.

Recently I discovered no matter how careful I was, I could not escape being glutened.  Ironically, it seems the times I have been glutened, since being diagnosed, has been at home, the place that I consider my safe place.  Once it was from tempeh, once from ricotta cheese, once from a spice blend, it will get me from products that I believed were safe and the ingredients looked to be safe as well.  These events have happened less than a handful of times, and when it has, my symptoms tend to start as mild heartburn which gradually gets worse and worse within an hour until I feel extremely uncomfortable, bloated, and in pain.  Sometimes I will also get the chills and get sleepy.  If I am out somewhere when it strikes, I would be useless.  To get relief from these symptoms, I take Pepto immediately, followed by at least 2 cups of hot chamomile tea.  I will still feel pretty awful for an hour or two, but I will gradually start to feel better after an hour of taking these things.  But the experience is still miserable enough that I would never, ever intentionally do this to me.

But this most recent episode was a complete break in my gluten-free security system.  I tend to buy my daughter gluten-free frozen waffles as a quick option for breakfast.  I have been buying them for years (even before being gluten-free), and I always look at the box to be sure I am not buying ones that contain gluten.  I always, always double-check.

So one morning, a couple of weeks ago, as I was getting ready to take my daughter to school, I asked my husband if he could heat one up for me too.  This is extremely unusual, as I try to stay away from empty carbs, but I knew I would be out for a while, and needed to eat something fast.  While I was running out the door, I grabbed the waffle and my tea and went to the car.  I started eating the waffle in the car and thought to myself, wow, this texture is different. Maybe they added flaxseed to it or something.  I thought it was grainy.  And then I had a sudden thought (after completely finishing the waffle – big mistake), called my husband and he confirmed my worst fears.  I ate a gluten waffle. I actually accidentally bought gluten-filled waffles, and neither my husband nor myself noticed.

This was honestly a nightmare come true.  I have had dreams about eating this quantity of gluten, I didn’t think it would actually ever happen. I have not had this much gluten since before being gluten-free.  The only gluten I have had since has been minuscule, by mistake.  I had no clue what to expect, was I going to pass out?  Was I going to be sick on the spot?

After bringing my daughter to school, I went straight home to try and do damage control.  I drank endless amounts of hot tea and water.  2 hours went by and so far nothing, not even any stomach discomfort.  I thought maybe the waffle was mislabeled and it really was gluten-free.  Or maybe I had so much, my body was in shock and couldn’t react?  But I was soon to find out how wrong I was.  It hit me completely differently this time, with hours of feeling like I was on a very rocky boat and throwing up non-stop, not even able to keep down water, and ending up with a horrible migraine and in bed. I actually never had a stomach ache this time, however.

It was a truly miserable experience, and even though I felt better by the next day, it is not worth it to ever feel that way again.  I couldn’t believe the waffles slipped by my extremely careful eye.

The moral, for me, is to always check, check, check…even if you think you are buying the same thing you buy week after week, a quick glance at the ingredients is more than worth it.  Mistakes will happen all along the way, which is almost inevitable, but taking a couple of extra minutes while shopping or asking questions when being served, by someone else, is so worth it in the end.

What symptoms do you get when you get glutened? Or what has been your worst glutened experience?