Gluten-Free Halloween ~

The spookiest day of the year is just around the corner, Halloween - isn't that hard to believe? I have such fond memories of trick-o-treating through our Northern California neighborhood as a kid, buckets bursting over the top with candy as my friends and I safely made our way up and down every street in our neighborhood...ahh, the good old days.

That was long before I was diagnosed with Celiac and wouldn't have had the slightest clue about all of the ingredients wrapped up inside each piece of candy. At that time, it was our parent's job to search for opened wrappers or something that looked "suspicious"...but gluten, heck, that was the least of our worries. Come to think of it, I didn't even know what gluten was!

Oh how times have rapidly changed. Now Halloween for a Celiac child or even us big kids means diligently reading wrappers and ingredient listings to ensure that no trace amount of gluten sneaks in. I've found some fun and information articles about safe Halloween candies, some tips for enjoying this holiday safely and gluten-free, along with some fun homemade recipes sure to please the most particular goblin or Superman.

- Gluten-Free Safe Candy List

- Five Tips for Enjoying Halloween Safely

- Ten Gluten-Free Yummy Candy Recipes

- Fun Gluten-Free Halloween Foods

Have a safe and fun Halloween everyone!

Fresh Start...

I'm on my way back from the dark depths of gluten intoxication, having not eaten much for a solid week...but greatly looking forward to some solid and substantive nourishment. Slowly but surely, I'm reintroducing some protein back into the old diet and soon I hope to be eating some fresh veggies and salad, my main staple.

The sun is shining again this week (literally) after a deluge of rain that lasted for days giving the fauna and flora a greatly deserved and needed dose of moisture. It seemed that the darkened sky was reflecting my state of being and health, but honestly, I didn't mind the thunder and downpours...what I did mind was the debilitating brain fog, stomach pains and nausea. I'll be happy when all three decide to move, on like the passing of a storm.

The week before I dared sip a virgin Bloody Mary, I had ventured to my hometown of San Francisco for the weekend with my mom to hit the Farmer's Market and visit some dear friends. I was delighted to discover Mariposa's new kiosk in the market packed with delicious gluten-free sweets, cookies, and breads - Yeah! I bought some yummy Russian tea-type cookies and two loaves of their brown rice loafed bread that I had been using to make some bruschetta.

Flavorful Bruschetta -

- Just toast the sliced pieces of bread, drizzle with olive oil, toss on some baby Roma tomatoes, add fresh Basil, and drizzle some Balsamic vinegar...then it's mangia mangia time!


This other pretty salad is a fall staple for me - and I love throwing on some fresh walnuts, cranberries, pumpkin seeds and eating up this season's fantastic tomatoes - how lucky we are to taste such little morels of nature just bursting with flavor and zest.

If you are looking for a quick and nutritious lunch or addition to your dinner entree, whip up this fall salad and enjoy:

Fall Salad: Serves 2

- Red Butter lettuce, half head washed and separated

- Fresh-roasted Chicken - cut into pieces and use as desired

- Ripe avocado - I just use half for myself (serve amount desired)

- Feta Cheese - Sprinkle 1/2 cup over lettuce

- Baby Tomatoes - Halve, distribute over salad - I'm in love with the orange ones!

- Nuts - I like to sprinkle 1/2 cup of walnuts, pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds on the salad for extra crunch and nutrition

- Dried Cranberries - Use 1/4 cup - sprinkle over lettuce

- 2 Tbsp. Olive oil - Drizzle over salad

- 4 Tbsp. Fig Balsamic - Drizzle over salad (I use this stuff on everything!)

- Salt and pepper to taste

- This is also a perfect time to slice a few pieces of your Mariposa bread, toast and drizzle with olive oil

Enjoy and keep an umbrella handy - it is fall, you know.

The Struggle...

I'm definitely riding the ebb and flow of life's waves each and every day, bringing sunshine and brilliance at times, while other moments or days, struggle and darkness. This is one of those days. I could blame it on the rain and damp air, but that wouldn't be at all fair to Mother Nature who has gifted us with this abundance of moisture. No, it's the damn gluten's fault...and I'm angry and struggling to find the peace within that normally accompanies my daily journey as a Celiac - except on days like this one, when my body is fighting to make heads or tails of the enemy within.

Last night was one of excitement, laughter and joy. I haven't laughed as hard as I did in a long time during Anthony Bourdain's appearance at the Lake Tahoe Food and Wine event at Harrah's. It felt great to belly laugh, and being a huge fan of his, along with my good friend and mother who were also in attendance, it was such an exciting treat to see this man in person spouting out his true gift of lingo, humor and wit...along with his insane knowledge of travel and food.

Leading up to this fun night out, we ladies met for dinner before the show. As my friend and I bellied up to the bar before our meal, our drink of choice turned out to be virgin Bloody Mary's. My dear friend is pregnant, so I decided to accompany her choice of beverage, not ever being able to drink a Bloody Mary before due to its main, non-virgin ingredient, Vodka. We discussed the ingredients of a Bloody Mary sans alcohol, and some tomato juice, Tabasco sauce, salt and pepper with a twist of lime, some olive and an onion seemed harmless enough and a welcome treat. This is the part where I can plead no-contest, or fall back on my naivety, seriously not realizing or knowing that Bloody Mary's most likely consist of and come from a MIX in a fricken bottle that's well, full of crap ingredients. So after about four sips of this tasty drink I started to worry, believing for a moment that "this tastes too good and flavorful to be safe, is this possible?" Little did I know that 15 minutes into my non-alcoholic drink the damage had already been done. We asked the bartender at that point to clarify what was in this drink - As he handed me the bottle my eyes were immediately transfixed on the list of over 20 ingredients (and not all good, let me tell you) with the second to last being "wheat - soy" and immediately below that, an allergy listing calling out "wheat." In an instant, my heart sank far below my bar stool and a wave of panic reverberated throughout my body as I began to pray that the large amount of ice in the glass had diluted or aided my gut in some way. I immediately slid the drink away and could see the fright in the bar tender's eyes as I politely demanded a glass of red wine, which in the past has at least tempered the immediate affects of the gluten's drastic hold on my innards.

Here's where my anger has entered in today - What the hell? I mean, they put gluten/soy sauce in a simple tomato mix and after only a few sips, I loose yet another day on the calendar to being holed up in my house, reeling from an accident. This is not my pity party, it's just me being really pissed off about the pathetic lack of education in our country regarding additives and adding wheat to every product known to man, and we the Celiacs having to fight the good fight each and every second, still being accidentally poisoned while constantly on-guard. I'm just really tired of the basic garbage that is added, filled, mixed and used in the vast majority of American food products and the obscene lack of knowledge that every restaurant in this great country possesses when it comes to not killing a Celiac!

Okay, I'm ranting and allowing my emotions to write the majority of this post, but come on, aren't any of you out there feeling a similar level of disdain?! The other issue coming in to play here is that I'm frightened. After a record 14 months of zero gluten poisoning incidents, my streak has sadly ended and I am again reminded that it only takes a tiny amount of ingested gluten to send my body into a state of confusion and pain. God forbid I even encounter a large accidental dose. I'm pretty sure that would equal lights out for me.

I could summarize some thoughtful anecdote about how at least I don't have cancer or have to deal with a myriad of other horrible illnesses and that is very true, but today I'm not going there. I'm just mad. I hope you understand.

At this point I'm thinking of taking Tony Bourdain's advice...and just doing shots!

Summer Light, It Is a Fadin'...

As the last days of summer quietly slip away like sand through toes on a beach, I have stopped to notice the change in the light and temperature that has subtlety come upon us - oh summer, why do you leave us so soon?

Even the air is changing from the "smell of summer" to the transition of crisp, fresh morning breezes and cool evenings that still carry that hint of warmth left behind from the sun's rays that heated the earth during the daylight. Fall is my favorite time of year, though I'm never in a rush for it to arrive, as I've learned to live each day to the fullest and in the moment, never looking too far ahead any longer to what "might be"...

With the thoughts of hunkering down and lighting candles during upcoming fall evenings, as darkness befalls my little home at a much earlier time now, I'm very anxious to read more and more and COOK more and more...and, to purchase Shauna Ahern and her hubby's (The Chef)new cook book that just came out titled, "Gluten-Free Girl and The Chef." Shauna, aka...Gluten Free-Girl is a great writer. I love her blog and really enjoyed her first book. At times, I felt as though I was reading my own life-story and struggles with Celiac Disease before my diagnosis. I've been lucky enough to "friend" her on Facebook and we've chatted a few times. She really seems like a quality person doing a lot for the advancement of Celiac Disease, while making many tummies very happy along the way.

Enjoy the last few hours of summertime and be sure to look UP! The change of light is too beautiful to miss.

Blessings ~

Vacation recovery time...

Aloha!

Bowl of Soul will return from vacation next week. Please visit soon!

Mahalo ~

Camping, Gluten-free Style...

So, I don't camp. I mean until a recent camping excursion to McCall, Idaho I had not been camping since I was a kid...unless one night of car-camping in Yosemite while in my late 20's counts? No, not really. I'm more of a dare I say...hotel snob. I just love hotel rooms and fluffy beds with high thread count sheets, and super cool bathrooms with the awesome take-home swag that certain hotels leave for you each morning - I can't help it. I think it's a genetic flaw (or not).

Regardless, I was excited to camp again and give this outdoor activity a whole-hearted try! I'm an outdoor gal, really truly...just never felt that comfortable sleeping in a tent in the great outdoors with the impending doom of a bear attack...but that was before our excursion. Another little issue that's held me back from strapping on a backpack with all my wears, was the fear of wondering what on earth I would eat if I was camping in some remote wilderness, solely left to survive on Lara Bars and trail mix...okay, I digress. Drama aside, our weekend trip to McCall was a lot of fun and a chance to put my silly concerns aside, enjoy my very handsome and capable "camping guide extraordinaire," and a gorgeous spot on the map...and the opportunity to grill up some tasty and simple meals that were perfectly gluten-free under the beauty of the stars, while breathing in that wonderful mountain air.

If you've never been to McCall, ID it's worth a trip - just 2 hours outside of Boise and sitting on the gorgeous Payette Lake; it's a wonderful town. There's so much to do - hiking, biking, golf, tennis, boating, swimming...there was even a triathlon taking place the morning we were there. The town is quaint with a new beach/park area for kids and adults. I was impressed, as I hadn't been back in several years and the community improvements were noticable. Sun Valley, ID is my favorite place to spend time...but I have to say that having the Lake to look at and the beach to lounge on, while listening to the waves lapping on shore, was tempting me to spend more time in McCall.


Cooking on this stove was a fun challenge and my handsome guide assured me that it would do the trick. We packed coolers and bags of food picked up at the organic Coop in Boise, ensuring that I would be safe and not stranded with only nuts to eat...like the squirrels camping with us. Our dinner menu consisted of fresh corn (grilled, sort of), fresh asparagus cooked with olive oil and sea salt, and some delicious Aidells organic chicken apple sausages grilled over the stove, not the fire. Though not all of their sausages and products are gluten-free, this particular variety is free of gluten and soy. I've always had good luck with this brand...and they are very delicious. We also popped open a nice bottle of an Idaho wine, Ste. Chapelle Soft Red, and did I mention the yummy plate of appetizers we threw together? Even when camping I've learned that a lovely plate of sliced salami, a nice Monterey Jack and some freshly made guacamole go a long way. As I was preparing the plate, while channeling my minimalist self, it dawned on me how refreshing it is sometimes to be completely out of your element and have to make-do, improvise or be creative - in this case, with basic cooking utensils, a propane stove, and some good old plastic plates. A refreshing change and the finished product was quite tasty.




And seriously, what camping trip is complete without the historic S'more?! Not ours! Gluten-free marshmallows, a good old Hershey's chocolate bar and some very creative thinking to replace the traditional graham cracker, taaa daaaa...Enjoy Life, Eat Freely's soft baked snickerdoodle cookies, were the perfect partner to melt that gooey s'more goodness into.


I'll spare you the details of the rabid, wild animal that forged through our campsite early the next morning and thundered by the tent with such force that...okay, well perhaps I was exaggerating a tinsey bit but honestly, something wild did gallop by our tent leaving me frozen in fear and praying I would have another shot at roasting marshmallows over the campfire in this lifetime. What a wonderful and rustic treat that truly is (the roasting, not the wild beast) - to sit close to a roaring fire, cuddled and warm with nothing between you and your delicate dance with marshmallow and nature's incinerator. There's a real art to the perfect "roast" no? After a few ignited 'mallows (rookie move), the fire temperature was understood and spears were bravely thrust back into the flames for another attempt at creating that perfect, just toasted, crusted on the outside, smoldering on the inside bite...hungry yet?

In the News...

So it's been one of those crazy weeks with too much going on at work and outside of work - all good stuff, but enough going on to have pulled me away from cooking much or being creative in the kitchen - darn. I did throw together a yummy pasta, turkey, veggie casserole that I've been noshing on most of the week, but other than that it's been greens, some salads and hmmmm, what else? Oh, Lara Bars and yogurt.

After this weekend is over, I'm determined to get my good old fridge and pantry stocked again with my favorite gluten-free staples and get to cooking! I have so many dishes I want to create and sample, and as the air outside slowly creeps towards cooler evenings and mornings it's becoming clear that....gulp, fall is right around the corner. This could be the shortest summer ever. I still have visions of dining on tapas on my new patio and throwing a Paella party before the season for patio dining comes to a close. After eating the most amazing Paella at the Jaialdi festival in Boise last month, I'm definitely inspired to cook up my own batch, so stay tuned for that photo essay and recipe.

There have been a couple of Celiac news stories that crossed my computer screen this week that I thought were worth sharing - there's so much information "out there" and so much research finally being done on Celiac Disease that we all need to keep the information flowing and sharing with all who will listen.

Because I already have the beginning stages of Osteoporosis (due to Celiac) I'm always curious to read more about the connection and what is being learned and done to thwart this serious issue for those of us who were unable to absorb nutrients for so many years. This article titled, "Cause of Osteoporosis in Celiac patients?" and is worth the read, especially if you have it.

I Tweeted this article about Celiac Disease and the reproductive connection, during the week given that I've also suffered from Endometriosis, due to my Celiac Disease and I'm always curious to learn more about fertility issues and how I might be effected or not.

This article about a man's hospital stay in Canada was particularly startling, especially if you have ever spent any time in a hospital (which I have). It becomes clear very quickly after being admitted that you are at the mercy of hospital staff whom most....and I'm generalizing here but seriously, most...don't have a clue about Celiac Disease and eating in a hospital, as I've always said (as a Celiac)...is like taking your life in your hands. As astonishing as this fact is to write, I can attest that it's true. If you are ever admitted for anything, BE SURE to have a thorough (and if you are incapacitated, a family member or friend can fill in) conversation with nurses, doctors, staff about the specifics of exactly what you can and cannot eat, and I mean down to the gnat's eye lash. I'm not trying to sound paranoid...but I am. It's your life.

And finally, just a good article I found in the Calgary Herald that gives some basic facts about choosing to eat a gluten-free diet. Basic reminders are always a good thing.

As I venture off into the weekend I'm banking on coming back restored and full of cooking ideas that I'm certain to share.

Stay informed and healthy...and enjoy the day!