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Recipe: Gluten-Free Soft Pretzels

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff

Are you a fan of soft pretzels? Here is a delicious gluten-free soft pretzel recipe which was originally featured in a recipe contest held by Pamela’s Products and quickly became a gluten-free favorite! If you decide to give this gluten-free recipe a try let us know what you think in the comments.

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

Gluten-Free Soft Pretzels Recipe

Pretzel Ingredients:

  • 2-1/4 cups warm water
  • 2 TBSP brown sugar
  • 1 bag Pamela’s gluten-free Bread Mix including yeast packet
  • 2 TBSP olive oil
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 butter or margarine, melted
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp powdered cinnamon

Pretzel Directions:

  1. Whisk together 1-1/4 cups warm water, brown sugar, and yeast in a small bowl. Allow to sit for a few minutes until bubbles begin to show yeast activity.
  2. Pour Pamela’s gluten-free Bread Mix into a large bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients and the yeast mixture until completely combined.
  3. Cover with a damp towel and allow to rise for one hour.
  4. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper and divide dough into twelve pieces.
  5. With wet hands, roll each piece into a “snake” between six and eight inches in length. Lay the snake onto the parchment paper, then gently flatten the dough with wet fingers until about half previous height.
  6. Pick up one end of the snake, so that half of its length is lifted from the cookie tray. Twist the dough 360° and gently lay the end down again. Pick up the other end of the dough and give it a full twist in the same direction. Smooth any rough spots with wet fingers.
  7. Repeat with each section of dough, so that both cookie trays have six pretzel twists on them.
  8. Cover both trays with plastic wrap, and allow the dough to rest for another 30 minutes.
  9. Preheat oven to 450°.
  10. Mix remaining cup of warm water and baking soda. Using a pastry brush, gently paint the twists with the baking soda mixture.
  11. Bake twists for 8 to 10 minutes until golden brown.

Celiac Disease and Yoga

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff

Ever since I first learned about Celiac Disease, I’ve always found it to be interesting that this disease seems to affect everyone differently. Doctors are beginning to learn that there aren’t a standard set of Celiac symptoms and people have positive results through all different types of Celiac treatments. Although the gluten-free diet is the standard for treating Celiac Disease, I’ve found when attending Celiac events that many people have to eliminate additional foods to truly feel great, as well as working some vitamins and certain exercise programs into their daily routine.

Something I’ve been reading a lot of positive results about over the past few months is people with Celiac Disease using yoga as a way to feel better. This of course is not a treatment, but instead is a way to improve core strength and of course to promote healthy digestion.

One recent example of this is a testimonial by Crystal of gluten-free Hub, who shared her experiences using yoga to feel better and improve her outlook on life:

Taking some time to slow down and practice focusing exclusively on the moment, the pose, and the feelings inside my body has allowed me to carry the practice into the rest of my life. When I’m in a restaurant, and nobody seems to know what’s gluten-free, or when someone in my office is eating a big cheeseburger and fries that smell impossibly delicious, I can focus my mind and move through the frustration, the temptation. Similarly, when I’m tired, crabby, or tempted to blame myself for ingesting a hidden source of gluten in a restaurant, I can explore the negative emotions without getting lost in them.

But yoga is not only for Buddhist types. If you’re into a hardcore cardio routine, you might be reluctant to try yoga because it may not seem as intense as your regular workout. However, I had been running and doing crunches 4-5 times per week for nearly a year, and I had no signs of single abdominal muscle.  I started doing yoga twice per week for one hour and cut way back on my cardio and crunch routine, and within two months, my posture had improved, and I had abs.

Out of curiosity, how many of you with Celiac Disease have tried incorporating yoga into your lifestyle?

Boston Gluten-Free Restaurant Menus

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff

Looking for some gluten-free restaurant menus in the Boston area? There are a growing number of gluten-free options throughout Boston, and many have some incredibly tasty options.

As we are known for doing, we’ve gone out and tried to create an all-inclusive resource for Bostonians which is printer-friendly.  This page will be continue to be updated as new gluten-free restaurant menus are discovered, so feel free to bookmark or link to this page directly from your website!

Boston Gluten-Free Restaurant Menus

P.F. Chang’s China Bistro – Located near Boston’s Theater District, this Chinese bistro offers a dedicated gluten-free menu with dishes like garlic snap peas, Moo Goo Gai Pan, and wild Alaskan salmon steamed with ginger. There’s even a flourless chocolate dome!

Stone Hearth Pizza – This thin-crust, Neapolitan-style pizzeria recently introduced a gluten-free menu. With locations in Cambridge, Belmont, and Needham, Stone Hearth Pizza focuses on premium organic and sustainable ingredients. It was also named Boston of Best by Boston Magazine in 2007.

The Elephant Walk – This French-Cambodian restaurant has three Boston-area locations (the Beacon Street branch is pictured above), all with a special gluten-free menu. Menu options include pan-roasted haddock, shrimp curry, trout marinated in lime juice, and roasted bone-in chicken breast. The sunny, exotic decor lends itself to a special occasion.

Wagamama – A favorite among Europeans, this nifty noodle stand migrated across the pond and opened its first North American location in Boston’s Faneuil Hall a few years ago. Now there are other locations in Harvard Square and Prudential Center, and many of its menu items are available sans gluten.

Zing! Pizza and Roti – This Porter Square pizzeria also offers gluten-free pizza. The menu offerings change frequently, but their website has the most up-to-date info. GF diners can also specify if they would like bleu cheese or feta. The pepperoni is all-natural beef that is gluten and casein free.

Zocolo Cocina Mexicana – Most of the gluten-free options seem to be Asian-influenced, but this colorful, casual Brighton restaurant actually servces food from Oaxaca and Veracruz, Mexico. They offer vegetarian and gluten-free menus.

Note: For your reference, you can also find an interactive map showing other Boston gluten-free restaurants specifically for the Boston area at BostonCeliac.com!

Recipe: Gluten-Free Lasagna

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff

We’ve got a growing number of gluten-free lasagna recipes, but I think there is always room for more variations. After all, variety is the spice of life (especially for someone following a strict gluten-free diet).

Lasagna is one of my favorite meals and can easily be accomplished with the delicious Tinkyada noodles.Give this gluten-free recipe a try and write your review in the comments!

Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe

Lasagna Ingredients:

  • 1 package (10 ounces) gluten-free lasagna noodles
  • 2 large containers (16 ounces each) fresh ricotta
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 16 ounces shredded mozzarella
  • About 6 cups marinara sauce (or more to taste)
  • Add salt and pepper, to taste

Lasagna Directions:

  1. Set the oven at 350 degrees Have on hand a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the noodles and cook them according to package directions, undercooking them by 2 minutes. Drain well.
  3. In a bowl, combine the ricotta, Parmesan, salt, pepper, parsley, and eggs. Stir well.
  4. In the baking dish, spread about 1 cup of marinara sauce to cover the bottom. Add a layer of noodles, overlapping them slightly to make a solid single layer. Dot with half the ricotta mixture, spreading it evenly.
  5. Add another layer of the sauce and sprinkle generously with half the mozzarella. Repeat the layers, ending with sauce and mozzarella.
  6. Bake the lasagna for 30 minutes or until bubbly. Let it sit for 45 minutes or so to firm up before slicing.

Outback Steakhouse’s Gluten-Free Menu

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff

For those fortunate members of the Celiac Disease community who have an Outback Steakhouse in their area, this restaurant has long been a popular destination due to their knowledge of the gluten-free diet and their gluten-free menu.  So, how did all this come about?

Official Website Menu Information: Outback Steakhouse Gluten-Free Menu
Location Finder: Find a Outback Steakhouse Location Near You

Tiffany James recently published a fun article over at The Examiner celebrating the 1-year anniversary of the gluten-free Bloomin’ Onion, a food that the restaurant has long been known for. The post then goes on to share the story of how the bloomin’ onion and the rest of Outback’s gluten-free menu came about.

Here is an excerpt from Tiffany’s post:

The original batter was made from cornstarch which was very good but not exceptional. Cornstarch batter doesn’t taste like wheat flour batter, of course. The proprietor of this Outback location is Tom Propp who does not want to serve anything mediocre to his customers. He experimented with gluten-free flours and products until he found just the right combination.

Once the batter was perfect, Tom started making things other than fried shrimp. Chicken fingers came next and finally the world famous Bloomin’ Onion. After these creations were sampled by a few discriminating gluten-free diners, Tom had no choice but to invest in a dedicated gluten-free fryer. Needless to say this was a big investment but one that Tom has never regretted for a moment.

Tom Propp is a bit of a perfectionist regarding the food he sends out to the dining room so it was no surprise that he took time perfecting all the new gluten-free dishes for his expanded gluten-free menu. To date it includes –  Mac-n-Cheese, No Rules Pasta, Toowamba Pasta, Kookaburra Wings, Bushman ‘Shrooms, Gold Coast Coconut Shrimp, Fried Chicken Tenders and the now world famous gluten-free Bloomin’ Onion. Of course the normal gluten-free menu is also available and it’s full of many delicious gluten-free selections, including the decadent Thunder From Down Under chocolate dessert. This Outback location even stocks four gluten-free beers and gluten-free buns for burgers and sandwiches – made complete with gluten-free fries!

What is your favorite gluten-free menu item that Outback offers?

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.