Gluten-Free Goodies ~

It's a rainy morning...the flowers are loving this weather and green is beginning to pop up everywhere...so as I'm nestled here working away at my desk, sipping my favorite Parisian tea, Mariage Freres I got to thinking about all of the delicious, lovely and inspirational products and goodies I've seen this week via some of my favorite bloggers, businesses and gourmet foodies...so I thought I'd share...oh, and the one little Parisian splurge was totally for my iPhone, not for me!


I picked up this little goody at the Apple store - the moment my eyes connected with zzzz Tour Eiffel it was mine...I mean, my iPhones'...silly. This cover, made by Venom in the UK, has a great graphic and super smooth surface that fits the phone perfectly, and will aid in the conjuring up of lovely memories from past visit(s) to Paris. Just looking at this photo I can feel and smell the Parisian air, hear the sounds of cars, sirens and boat horns tooting down the Seine. It makes me happy.

A former boss and friend of mine who is also a Celiac, recently posted on Facebook that she was reading Wheat Belly by Dr. William Davis, so I had to download it and start reading. I'd heard of this book a while ago but my friend's recommendation, stemming from the horrors and truths behind what wheat is really like today in America, was too intriguing to pass by. I'm half way through and am in utter amazement of what an abomination our United States food industry really has become. I've been reading and researching more and more, digging in and learning about the hostile takeover of the worlds seeds by certain unnamed food giants ruining the health of millions. There are some terrific documentaries out there folks - just do a little searching and you'll easily find the likes of Food Inc., Forks Over Knives, Food Matters, King Corn, etc. All can be found on Netflix. I'll stop here...but I must tell you that I've developed very strong opinions about our food sources and eating organically...and though I used to question Vegans, I'm in their corner more than ever as it pertains to most foods. It would take a lot for me to completely give up fresh fish and chicken...and eggs! So I do my very best to research where my food comes from and try to buy organic products.

If you enjoy on-line shopping for food and gluten-free treats then you'll love these suggestions. I've become a huge fan of FOOD52 and all of their wonderful recipes and product mentions. Today's news is no exception as Amanda and Merrill boast about artisanal olive oil and tea. The featured olive oil, California Olive Ranch, is already a fav of mine. I LOVE their Arbequina oil as it's so lively and fruity.


If you're in the mood for some fun baking with the kids or a treat for yourself, Living Without Magazine just posted a delicious looking GF, dairy-free S'mores Bar recipe that sounds so yummy. A perfect treat to make this weekend and you don't even need a campfire!

And last but certainly not least...Market Hall Foods is talking all about a company and their products from Northern California (my homeland) that's really great...the Mendocino Sea Salt & Seasoning Company. They offer three salts; Artisan, a flaky sea salt comes from the clear, cold waters off the Mendocino Coast, Nori, with local, edible seaweed, and Seasoning "Sand," a blend with garlic, onion, brown sugar and pepper. I want to try all three.

Hope these fun finds and goodies bring a smile to your face and a fun package to your door. I'd love to hear about your favorite gluten-free goodies and why you love them...always looking for reader input and ideas we can post/share.

Cheers!

Good Stuff to Know and Eat ~

Happy Friday everyone!

I am beat after a very busy and productive week, but wanted to share a few interesting tid-bits that I found in several magazines and on-line news outlets that I subscribe to. I love magazines, books and reading. Some of my favorite subscriptions are to: the legendary, Sunset Magazine, along with Living Without and Travel and Leisure, to name a few.

March's issue of Sunset Magazine (which hopefully you own or can view on line) had a fun photo layout under "The West at its Best - Hot Plants," that featured some new greens, yummy beans and a photo of some gluten-free crops. Yeah Sunset! The accompanying brief read: "Protein-rich, gluten-free seeds like quinoa, millet, and amaranth are finally sexy, thanks to rising wheat intolerance. How easy it is: Quinoa is a snap (it's drought-tolerant and maintenance-free), but harvest is laborious. Start in early spring (maturity takes 90-130 days), then prepare to thresh and winnow."...so in case you want to grow your own, there you go!

Instead of growing my own crop of quinoa, I prefer to purchase it at Whole Foods or Trader Joe's - there are several good brands and gluten-free choices at both locations.

The new spring issue of Living Without is on newsstands now. It's got a darling cover that makes us all want to bake more and a particularly interesting article about food labeling titled, "A Closer Look at Labeling"...something that should be of great importance and interest to every Celiac. As the gluten-free industry continues to explode, this serious and sometimes controversial topic will be getting more and more press and hopefully, FDA attention.

And finally, this story popped up in my Google Alerts and I thought it was worth sharing. It's titled, "Gluten Sensitivity Beyond the Gut," and deals with mounting evidence now linking gluten sensitivity with problems in the nervous system (neurological disorders)— even in people without intestinal symptoms.

As a Celiac, I find that it's so important to educate myself and try to stay on top of all the information and studies that are out there now. It's truly amazing to see the sheer volume of news that's now dedicated to this disease and to living gluten-free...with abundance, of course!

Have a great weekend - Stay tuned next week for a yummy restaurant review!

TGIF~

A Taste of GF Thai Cuisine ~

There was a bit of celebration that took place in my life last week, with the help of my loved ones. You see, I completed my first writing assignment for Living Without magazine and submitted my story to the editor on Wednesday...three days before the real deadline!

When the article was completed, there was a brief moment of sheer terror as I hesitantly hit the "send" button on my computer, shooting my words out into cyberspace, hoping they would arrive in the editor's inbox and received with a smile, or at least a grin! So the weeks and weeks of writing and research have come to a close; at least for now.

My uber-kind parents and dear friend ML decided to take me to dinner, "post-send", to celebrate my accomplishment and enjoy some delicious food and drink together. Mind you, it was also the first real meal I'd managed to eat since January 3rd, after my gluten poisoning, so I savored every bite of that delicious cuisine at Café de Thai, in Reno...or as they describe their offerings, "sophisticated Thai cuisine served in a modern setting."

I've eaten gluten-free and safely at this restaurant for several years now and the head chef and wait staff are very knowledgeable and savvy with their knowledge of eating sans gluten. I am very careful about which items I choose, of course, but the staff has always promised to double-check with the chef on any menu choice I've made and if there's an issue with gluten, they make sure to come back with an alternative choice, and the offering clarity.

It's not every day as a Celiac that you can dine on delicious Pad Thai, mango chicken, and Thai slaw salad with pear...and the pièce de résistance...


Thai Tapioca!

Cafe de Thai serves my absolute favorite tapioca, rich with flavor and served warm with mint. I highly recommend enjoying a lunch or dinner there for yourself, and don't forget to try one of their delightful and unique alcoholic beverages from the hip bar, just behind the ceiling-to-floor water feature. The restaurant's atmosphere is worth the visit, in itself.

Make sure to tell your server that you are eating "gluten-free" and you too will be sure to enjoy a wonderful dining experience.

Enjoy and be safe ~