The Celiac Shack- (Beach Blog)

Buddy's Gluten Free Pizza/Caraba's Italian Grille Review

2010-06-10T15:57:00.001-04:00

I finally had the chance to head to Buddy's Pizza to try their gluten free pizza. My son and I walked through the doors with our mouths watering. It has been awhile since we've been out to eat, and especially for pizza. It was going to be a treat for sure.

I ordered the cheese and pepperoni because I wanted to taste the crust to see if it was as good as I remember Buddy's pizza to be. I guess I was waiting for something that I just couldn't make at home and I was so disappointed. I found the pizza was expensive at $8.49 for a 8x10 pizza. The crust was no better than what I can make at home much cheaper, and the pizza overall was very blah. Not impressed and I should've been since it was something I was really looking forward to trying.

I also tried Carrabba's. Not that my food was bad, but it was just nothing. They actually have a gluten free menu and all it consists of are items that are naturally gluten free excluding any of the flavor and extras that other people get with their "normal" dinners. It's a shame.

My main peeve with these and other establishments that offer gluten free food is that shouldn't the prices be lower for our gluten free dishes? You're saving money on half of the items that go on top or into the dishes that you have designated for us. Why should I pay the same amount or more for a salad without most of the toppings? Gluten free eaters shouldn't be considered "specialty" customers that you can jack the price up on.

And for Pete's sake, if you claim to be an Italian restaurant that offers gluten free food, why wouldn't you make gluten free breadsticks?!?!?! Everyone else at the table has breadsticks to eat while waiting for their dinner and I have to sit and wait. Course, I realize they would have to be an additional $18 added on the bill, but occasionally it would be worth it to partake in on the appetizers like everyone else.

Not impressed with my last two dinner outings, so I'm seeking better!

GLUTEN FREE PIZZA SPUDS

2010-05-12T11:42:00.000-04:00

GLUTEN FREE PIZZA SPUDS

As my gluten free journey continues, I find myself always trying to come up with different ways to make our old family favorites. I told you about my Cheeseburger Spuds, and I took my concept one step further to make Pizza Spuds. Potatoes are a great gluten free vessel and they're economical to feed my family, so I often use potatoes in place of many items. I usually make my own gluten free pizza crust, but didn't have any on hand so we baked up our potatoes and came up with this creation:

GLUTEN FREE PIZZA SPUDS

8-10 medium sized potatoes
4 cups Italian shredded cheese or any kind you have on hand
8 ounces Pepperoni
1-2 jars pizza sauce (make sure it's gluten free)
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup butter or margarine
Salt, pepper and garlic powder for taste

Bake the potatoes at 350 degrees for approx. 45 minutes or until tender

Cut the baked potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop out the middle and place in a large mixing bowl

Place the skins on a cookie sheet

Mix in the sour cream, butter, salt, pepper, garlic powder and 2 cups of the cheese into the mixing bowl with the insides of the potatoes

Mix until well blended. Slowly add the pizza sauce until the consistency is just about playdough. You don't want to get this mixture too wet or it won't stay in the skins well.

Place a teaspoon of pizza sauce on the bottom of the potato skins, place pepperoni on top of the sauce, add a scoop of the potato mixture on top of the sauce, and top with more shredded cheese.

Place these twice baked gluten free pizza spuds back into the oven until the cheese is melted.

This a quick, easy and delicious gluten free meal. It takes the place of traditional pizza, and my kids loved them because they could still pick them up with their hands and we ate them while we watched a movie.

Best wishes for a happy gluten free day!
Susan :)
The Celiac Shack

Gluten Free Cheeseburger Spuds

2010-05-05T23:28:00.001-04:00

GLUTEN FREE CHEESEBURGER SPUDS

Thought I'd share another gluten free creation from my kitchen that was a huge hit with my kids. I had a taste for a cheeseburger, but I haven't been able to find any good gluten free hamburger buns, so I did the next best thing. I mixed my cheeseburger with my fries...TAH DAH...my cheeseburger spuds were born!

This meal literally takes no time at all and it satisfies that craving for a burger like no other I've found.
GLUTEN FREE CHEESEBURGER SPUDS
(All of my recipes are created for feeding a family of six, so adjust it accordingly for your family)

8-10 medium sized potatoes
2 lbs. ground meat
2-3 packets of Gluten Free Cheese Sauce ( I use our Cheese Sauce by Full Flavor Foods - Amazing product and it's on sale right now on our SALE page)
1 large onion
1 large tomato
2 cups of chopped lettuce
Mustard
Ketchup
Dill pickle slices or dill relish
Salt, Pepper & Garlic powder

Bake 6 potatoes @ 350 degrees for about 45 minutes or until tender

Brown the ground meat (I use ground turkey to make it healthier) Add garlic powder, salt & pepper to the meat for taste

Prepare the Cheese Sauce according to the package directions (Again, our Cheese Sauce is SO easy to prepare and it literally takes 5 minutes to make)

Slice the baked potatoes and top with the browned ground meat and cheese sauce. Top with all of your favorite cheeseburger toppings. ENJOY!

My kids never eat baked potatoes because they don't like the skin, but they ate these! Skin and all!! They got all the nutrients from the potatoes, enjoyed ground turkey without any complaints, and devoured lettuce, tomatoes and onions!! This is an amazing dish people!!

From our home to yours, best wishes for a happy gluten free day!

Susan :)
The Celiac Shack

SPRING BLOWOUT SALE!

2010-05-01T12:07:00.002-04:00

THE CELIAC SHACKS' SPRING SALE IS GOING ON NOW!

While we're working on our new website, we are making room for all of our new inventory. We're hosting our Spring Sale right now on our temporary Sale page, so click on the SALE link above and save a lot of money on some really great gluten free products. Everything must go so we have room for all of our new product lines!

Happy shopping and best wishes for a happy gluten free day!

The Celiac Shack

Making gluten free fun one day at a time!

Gluten Free Shopping Survey

2010-04-21T11:33:00.000-04:00

Gluten Free Shopping Survey

In the midst of getting our new site ready, I was proposed with a few question that I'd like to get your opinions and feedback on. We all know that shopping for gluten free items is more time consuming and definitely more expensive than buying "normal" food. (Which drives me nuts to say the least!)

1) Would you be more apt to buy your favorite gluten free products in bulk or by the case of you could pay a wholesale price?

2) Would you be willing to pay a minimum membership fee in order to be able to purchase your products at wholesale prices?

As a mom, I am always looking for the products that I use on a regular basis at discounted prices, and I know that I would by a case of a favorite product if the price was right. I'd love to get your feedback and you will be helping us to give you the best products at the best prices.

From our home to yours, we wish you a happy gluten free day!

Susan
The Celiac Shack

Gluten Free products that rock!

2010-04-13T23:18:00.000-04:00

Gluten Free Items I've found outside of the "Gluten Free Sections"

I'm always looking for items in the grocery store that used to be on my shopping list that I can use now. I was VERY pleased to discover that two of my favorite staples are GLUTEN FREE! This is a feeling that only a person with a gluten issue can possible understand. I used to go buy whatever I wanted without one thought of what the ingredients were in my favorite products. I just liked them, and that was all I needed to know. Now however, I am constantly scanning labels (which I've gotten pretty good and fast at doing, I must say) and when I scan over my old favorites and find that they're safe....pure heaven!

Okay, ready for two of the items that I've found? Here they are:

Good Seasons Italian Salad Dressing & Recipe Mix
Fabulous product indeed! Love it as a salad dressing, but also use it in many of my recipes to add flavor. I like to add it to green beans, veggies, meat loaf, hamburgers, dips, chicken, and the list goes on. I called Kraft when I first looked at the label, as it has undefined spices listed on the label, and they assured me that it's gluten free. Clearly a win for Susan on this product!

Alouette Soft Spreadable Cheese

My mouth waters every time I think of my Garlic & Herb cheese spread with my favorite gluten free crackers. YUM! I used to buy this product pre-gluten free, and I can still buy it now. It's usually on sale at Kroger, and when it is, I stock up. I also use this product on a variety of dishes since I know it's safe and delicious. I use it as a dip for my crackers, veggies, in place of mayo on sandwiches, on chicken, on pasta, etc...

I'll continue to share my "normal" foods that I find to be gluten free. I find new ones everyday and love sharing my information with all of you. If you have any questions, please drop me a line and I'll be happy to help you if I can.

From my home to yours, I wish you the best gluten free day ever!

Susan :)
The Celiac Shack ~ Making gluten free fun one day at a time!

What is wrong with society?

2010-04-07T23:09:00.000-04:00

When did we just give up on what we put into our bodies? When did we, as a nation, decide it is just okay to advertise, solicit, promote, and push crappy food? I just saw an advertisement on the boob tube for Wendy's. I watched in complete disbelief and disgust that they are now offering a "VALUE" meal for the low low price of $2.99. This comes complete with a fat loaded burger on a wheat filled bun, a medium sugary drink, and an order of fries! WOW...thank you so much Wendy's for offering a crap meal for such a value. What would we possibly do without you offering all of us food that has made our nation fat, unhealthy, and full of food issues.
I know I sound like a complete preacher here, and I admit that at one point in my past life, I used to be one of those people that would've seen this deal as a VALUE! Amazing to me how my view has changed. I now see this deal as the worst thing any fast food restaurant could ever offer it's patrons.
Instead of charging less for your unhealthy food, you should do all of us a favor and raise your prices so only the elite consumers can afford your product. This way, when their arteries fill up with you fat, when they stroke out, and when they gain an obscene amount of weight and dependency on your crap food, they'll be able to afford the doctor and hospital bills to cure their ailments. Spare the rest of us your "VALUE" meals and call them what they actually are..."High sugar, high fat, high calorie, gluten filled slop"!
Back to my complaint...I can drive my car through the drive-thru window at Wendy's twice a day, and spend less then I do on healthy food. I am on a budget, and it's difficult to buy fresh fruit and veggies for my family, but I do. I find it insulting that buying the food I NEED to buy for my family is so expensive, and Wendy’s can offer slop food at deep discounted prices. What is wrong with this picture? It's not like I'm out buying crazy food. I'm buying healthy choices for my family, which should be the norm! It's like our society sees fresh fruit/veggies, lean meat, natural choices as being the "Alternative" way to eat. Again, I'm buying the food that my kids need to grow and be healthy. I'm doing the responsible thing by watching my children's fat intake. Watching the snacks and calories on a daily basis. Yet, I end up paying out the nose for being responsible. I just don't get it.

It's official that I am now that crazy activist Mother on a mission to keep her kids healthy!

That's it for now...Have a great gluten free and HEALTHY night!

Susan :)
The Celiac Shack ~ Making gluten free fun one day at a time!

Gluten Free Chili Mac to die for!

2010-04-06T18:29:00.000-04:00

Here is another one of my recent creations that was a huge hit with my kids. I used to make a cheesy, gooey, absolutely delicious chili Mac that leaves my mouth watering. I had to come up with a VERY close runner up to that recipe to fill my chili Mac void, so here is my gluten free substitute: (Keep in mind that I try very hard to keep all of my food low fat and healthy, but if you're one of those lucky people that don't need to watch their calories or fat intake, then please feel free to buy regular items ~ and don't even think that the rest of us calorie/fat counters are secretly hoping you get fat one day...HA-HA) joking

Gluten Free Chili Mac ~
From the kitchen of Susan Jones (The Celiac Shack)

2 lbs Ground Turkey ( I use the 85/15 blend because I find turkey breast is too dry for my taste, but you also can use ground beef if that suits your fancy)

2 cans diced tomatoes
1 large onion (chopped)
1 green pepper
4 tablespoons oil
1 16oz fat free sour cream
2 cans unseasoned black beans
2 cloves of garlic to taste
Chili powder to taste
Salt & pepper to taste
Cumin powder to taste ( I use a lot of cumin!)
1 family sized bag of gluten free noodles ( I really like Tinkyaya noodles, but I use whatever I have on hand)

Cheddar cheese to taste

Brown the meat, chopped onions and green pepper in a large pot with a little oil. I add my cumin powder, chili powder, garlic, salt and pepper at this point. Once this mixture is nice and brown, add to tomatoes and black beans. Simmer until everything has melded together. Add seasoning if needed to your taste and add the sour cream.

Cook your gluten free pasta noodles according the package instructions and drain.

Add the noodles to the chili mixture (I heard that you should always add noodles to sauce and not sauce to noodles...not sure if it's true, but it's what I do now)

Top with the cheddar cheese and serve with a nice salad or gluten free bread.

Delicious, easy to make, and completely gluten free. Hope you guys enjoy it, as this recipe makes enough for my family of 6 and I always have leftovers for lunches the next day. Cut it in half if you don't have an army to cook for ;)

Susan :)
The Celiac Shack ~ Making gluten free fun one day at a time!

SPRING is a great Gluten Free time!

2010-04-05T22:23:00.000-04:00

I've have a renewed excitement in cooking, baking and living gluten free! I consider myself to be a pretty good cook (and yes, my family would agree...I hope!) I was getting into my winter cooking blahs, but now that Spring is here...watch out!

I'm not one to follow recipes exactly. I'm a busy Mom, and I "fidget" recipes to work for me in my day. I like to experiment, and sometimes my creations work...sometimes they're not requested again, but this is how I run my kitchen and I like it this way. Some of my family's favorites have come from me combining two different recipes, or just experimenting with ingredients. I also lack the desire to actually write down my recipes, which drives my husband nuts! He thinks I should have a book of recipes that the kids love, but I say, "Who has time"?? All of my cooking knowledge is in my head, which can be a pretty chaotic and scary place, depending on the day. Some days my chili has a tad more cumin than others, but this is okay in my world...my time is too precious to worry about the small details - ha-ha

This new blog format will serve multiple purposes. It will allow me to share my everyday cooking experiences with you, and it will also make my husband happy because I will actually be documenting my recipes for future use...blah blah blah. I'm joking, because I am really excited to share my trial and errors with all of you and document my successes so I look like a really good gluten free cook! :)

This is one of my creations that I used to accompany my fruit salad on Easter day.

HEALTHY GLUTEN FREE FRUIT DIP/TOPPING
Ingredients:
1 8 oz package fat free cream cheese
6-12 Strawberries (dependant on your taste- I told you that I fidget recipes!!)
1 banana
Approx. 1 cup low fat Cottage cheese
Approx. 1/2 cup fat free Plain yogurt
Honey - as much as you need for sweetness
1/2 teaspoon Gluten free vanilla

Add the first 3 ingredients into a blender and slowly blend until slightly smooth. Slowly add the remainder of the ingredients, watching for consistency. You don't want your mixture to get too runny, so if you need to cut back on the yogurt and cottage cheese, please do so. Blend all the ingredients together, and serve with any fresh fruit you have on hand.

Simple, easy, healthy, and it is delicious. I'm not a big fan of adding extra calories, especially to fruits and veggies, but this is a nice healthy alternative to get cottage cheese and yogurt into my kids' diets.

I will be posting more fabulous gluten free recipes everyday, so check back!

Susan :)
The Celiac Shack ~ Making gluten free fun one day at a time!

Great Gluten Free Day

2010-03-03T11:15:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone!

It's been awhile since I've taken my head out of the computer, so I thought I'd drop a quick line to let everyone know that The Celiac Shack is well on it's way to being new and improved in the VERY near future! We've been working feverishly on every aspect of The Shack, and I think all of you will really enjoy the results when we do our re-launch!

We're coming up with some great new contests and additions so get your "fun" ready! As always, we'd love to hear from you and get any comments, suggestions and input you may have, so feel free to drop us a line if you think of anything you'd like us to add to our site or community.

While I'm here, I wanted to tell you what I made for breakfast this morning ~ It was AWESOME!

GLUTEN FREE BREAKFAST PROTEIN SHAKE
3 cups skim milk
2 tablespoons peanut butter
1 banana
1 cup cooked rice
1 tablespoon vanilla
sugar to taste
ice

Blend all together for a delicious quick breakfast. I usually add gluten free oats to our shakes for some "bite", but the rice was a really nice addition. Plus it used up my leftover rice from last night....love it when I can come up with new ways to save money!

Keep in touch ~ Until next time...Have a happy gluten free day!

Susan :)
The Celiac Shack
"Making gluten free fun one day at a time!"

Bob's Red Mill

2010-02-23T15:57:00.000-05:00

Good Deeds Go Noticed!

It was so refreshing to read the article stating that Bob Moore, age 81 and owner of Bob's Red Mill , turned his company over to his employees.

I've included the link if you haven't head about this kind deed yet. It makes ya just wanna go out and do something nice for someone!

Bob's Red Mill is now employee owned!

I wish you a fantastic gluten free day!

Susan :)

The Celiac Shack

The Celiac Shack: working hard and accepting gluten free samples

2010-02-17T17:18:00.000-05:00

So I'm working non stop on the new and improved Celiac Shack and in the meantime, I'm being mom, wife, chauffer, chef, maid, reader, tutor, mentor, counselor, snow shoveler and head zoo keeper. In all of this stress that I call life, I had a giggle today when I downloaded my photos from December to my computer and saw my daughter, Margaret, wearing her fruit snacks well. Ahhhh, the small things in life ARE what's important!

Okay, status report on The Celiac Shack: I'm recreating our layout for a more user friendly site. I'm working on choosing and adding new products to our site. I'm really excited about this step because The Jones Gang are happily taste testing everything that is being sent to us. Some have been hits and some items have been immediately declined. It's been a great experience and a lot of fun for them. When else are they going to eat gluten free cookies every night! Wooo hooo! haha
Back to the purpose of my post. I would like to extend an offer to all of you out there that produce, manufacturer, or package gluten free foods to send your samples to us for review. If they pass the Jones Gangs' test, I'll be happy to add them to our site for sale. This is the perfect time to get your product added to a site with a ton of members and customers from all over the world! Send me a note and I'll give you our shipping address.
That's the update folks. I am wishing all of you a happy gluten free day!

Susan :)
The Celiac Shack
Making gluten free fun one day at a time!
theceliacshack@yahoo.com

Favorite Gluten Free Sweet

2010-02-10T21:34:00.000-05:00

No big secret that I love, and when I say love, I mean LOVE Tootsie Rolls. They are the perfect sweet morsel. They come in a number of sizes and each one is consistently awesome. I prefer the classic sized Tootsie Rolls because I can monitor my munching status when they're smaller! Although I do admit that I get so excited when I come across those mambo ones that come in the full candy bar size packages - my mouth is watering just thinking about them! The best part is...They're GLUTEN FREE! They were my favorite candy before and I didn't have to give them! Score for Susan!

Now that I've shared my dirty sweet secret, I'm curious what your favorite gluten free sweet is. What tiny or huge confection do you get excited to see and even more ecstatic when you have it in your mouth? I know I'm not the only one out here that has a weakness for a favorite sugary treat!
So open up and spill your gooey gooey goodness favorite! Oh, by the way, I'm also looking for your replies so I can build my own personal candy list! ha-ha ;)

Best wishes for a happy gluten free day!
Susan :)
The Celiac Shack
Making gluten free fun one day at a time!

Website Designer Wanted!

2010-02-09T22:02:00.003-05:00

I have the most fabulous distributor that is more than willing to work with The Celiac Shock. I have TONS of new gluten free products to add to our site that are awesome and fabulous. I have support of so many great members, friends, my community, business contacts and my family, but what I don't have is an updated website. The one thing that I need and want the most.

The Celiac Shack launched in May 2009 and we were new to the online world as far as owning a business. I have learned so much in the past year about our business and the workings of a website, and my goal is to update our site to make it more user friendly for all of you. I have come to a cross road and I am waving my white flag.

I NEED help on my website because I just do not have the time, or I should say, uninterrupted time, to do what needs to be done.

So here it is, I am seeking a website designer to incorporate all of my e-commerce, information, and social sites onto one silver platter. I NEED search engine optimization and I really want input for a new and fresh approach.

Sounds like a great plan, eh? Well, here is the kicker...I need it done for a REALLY low price :D

I'm the Mom of four kids...I really need a guardian angel that believes in what I'm doing to help me out. In my life, I always say that I make one change daily to be the change that I wish to see in the world, and I am really in need of someone to practice this philosophy for me.

If you are a web designer, or know of a web designer that is looking to work and grow with us, please let me know. I'm looking for a long term working relationship with this person, and I promise that I will do everything in my power to make our relationship beneficial for all parties involved.

I'd appreciate any input or contacts you may have - I don't ask for assistance very often, but I'm definitely in need right now.

Have a wonderful gluten free day!

Susan :)
The Celiac Shack
Making gluten free fun one day at a time!

Rants & Raves of Susan

2010-02-03T09:52:00.000-05:00

Feeling The Stress!

For the next month, I really want and need to share with all of you my daily events, trials, failures and successes regarding The Celiac Shacks' new launch.

I've been working for the past month on everything from adding new products, gaining ground on creating our new website, and keeping up with all of my contacts, customers, vendors, and communications. I've also been non-stop interrupted by my four lovely children and life in general. I REALLY need another ME at this point just to accomplish what I want to accomplish!

After working for over a month, I've realized that I am spinning my wheels on many sections of my progress and I'm beyond frustrated. I know any of you that have a business or have worked in a business understand this frustration. I am constantly taking two giant steps back for every baby step I take ahead. My first and foremost priority is my family, and let me tell you that they take a LOT of time! Geeesh...some days I cringe at hearing the word "Mommmmmm"! But at the end of the day, I know that they come way ahead of anything I'm working on and I do what I do with love and compassion...or at least I'm trying to!

I am working on adding new products to our site, which brings me to my question for all of you:

Are you guys looking for frozen and refrigerated food items? Do you purchase pre-made meals that you can pop in the oven? If the replies are yes, then I will incorporate those items into our inventory...if the replies are no, then I want to know what types of items you're looking for and using everyday.

I really want to carry items that are going to prove helpful to all of you at a low cost, so I'm really asking for your input here. Your input would greatly help me out. I'm trying to stop spinning the wheels over here and hopefully keep some of my sanity at the same time!

Ok...enough ranting and raving for now. There will be more to follow! ;)

From my crazy home to yours, I wish the best of gluten free days!

Susan :)
The Celiac Shack

Kids Corner

2010-02-02T18:13:00.000-05:00

It's been a few days since I've blogged, and I wanted to tell all of you what my kids made last night for dinner. (I was actually very impressed that they wanted to make this dish, but all of them loved it and had a lot of fun making it)

Gluten Free Mujadarrah

(For those of you that don't know what Mujadarrah is, it's a lentils/rice/onions dish that is REALLY easy to make and quite nutritious and delicious!

1 bag of dried lentils
1 bag of rice
3 sliced onions in rings (I use a lot cause I love onions but you can use less based on your taste)
Minced garlic to taste
Salt/Pepper to taste
About 1/2 cup of olive oil - again, I prefer my mixture to be a little moist so you can use less olive oil if you prefer

In a large pan, put about 1/4 cup of the olive oil and heat slowly
Slice the onions so they're in rings
Place the sliced onions and garlic in the pan and sauté until just past the point of being caramelized. They should almost look like they're about to burn, but just a medium shade of brown.
Put this pan aside
Rinse your lentils and place in a large pot. Cover with just enough water to cover them a simmer until the water is absorbed.
Place the rice on top of the lentils and cover this mixture with just enough water to cover all of the rice. Simmer until all of the water is absorbed.
At this point, you should have a beautiful mix of fluffy rice and lentils. Take off the heat and pour the rest of the olive oil and the onion mixture. Mix gently as not to crush the lentils.

Serve with plain yogurt, cucumbers, diced tomatoes, and pita bread. The combinations are endless. I've even added grilled chicken before to this mix to make awesome pita sandwiches.

My kids had a lot of fun slicing the onions (They think it's fun to see who cries first! ha-ha) It's a great dish that is easy to make and doesn't require any measuring, so the kids think it's really neat to be able to just make a dinner for everyone so easily. This dish is a great source of protein and is a great option for vegetarians.
Have fun ~ Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or comments.

Susan :)
The Celiac Shack
Making gluten free fun one day at a time!

Kids Corner

2010-01-26T13:43:00.000-05:00

Birthday Treats At School

If you have kids, I know you've received the acceptable birthday item list that kids can bring into the class to celebrate their birthday with their classmates. Most of the items are not gluten free, so when my son had his last birthday, I asked the teacher if it'd be ok if we made up our own goody bags to bring in. It was a great way to bring in all of his favorite items, and to have him share some knowledge with his friends that he can in fact eat awesome stuff too...just not some of the same things they can.

In case you aren't aware, most schools have peanut allergies, so you do need to be careful not to include candy that contains nuts, but here are some options that you can pack up into little baggies and give away:

M&Ms (not the Krispy kind)
Dove Chocolate bars
Hershey Kisses & Bars
LifeSavers
Rolos
Skittles
Starbursts
Three Musketeers

It's a great way to have your child feel like he is the one handing out great goody bags instead of the one that can never have anything other people bring in.

Susan :)
The Celiac Shack
Making gluten free fun one day at a time!

Travel & Leisure

2010-01-22T11:26:00.000-05:00

GLUTEN FREE VENDOR FAIR!

As always, I've been checking out what events are coming up in the gluten free world, and I wanted to share with all of you that there is a gluten free vendor fair taking place in the Chicago area in Lisle, IL.

It looks like there is going to be 50 different vendors with education tables for adults and children. Also, there will be a Kid's area with lots of fun activities and treats. Sounds like a great time if you're going to be in the Chicago area or want to take a road trip!

Below is the information and the link in case you have any further questions:

Don’t miss the largest Gluten Free Vendor Fair in the Chicago area.

50+ vendors
Children’s Gluten Free Area with Activities, Education and Treats
Sample and Purchase Gluten Free Products, Books and Services
Ask the Doctor Table
Ask the Nutritionist Table
Ask the Chef Table

The Wyndham Hotel, 30000 Warrenville Road, Lisle, IL
Open to the public April 17, 2010, from 9am-12pm
Open to the public April 18, 2010, from 11am-3pm
Purchase Tickets at the Door
Adults $15
Children under 12 are free

We're always looking for more great gluten free events to post, so if you know of any, shoot us an email and we'll spread the word!

Best wishes for a happy gluten free day!

Susan
The Celiac Shack
Making gluten free fun one day at a time!

Ready to take off your gloves?

2010-01-21T14:14:00.000-05:00

The gloves are off and I'm ready to rumble!

Up until now, I've been really politically correct with my blogs. I've tried to see what the general consensus is among our members, but now I'm ready to let my words fly! Watch out...I apologize in advance if I offend anyone, but honestly the only people I could be offending are the people that deserve to be offended. So stiffen up sissy butts and let the opinions of Susan roll! I think I've gained some trust among many of you and it's time we start tackling the tough issues that ARE the 400 lb. elephant in the room. Today, I'm beginning my new blog format with my complete and honest opinions. As all of you know, I am the mother of four amazing kids, a wife, and a generally liked and respected woman, but first and foremost, I'm an educated individual with many issues and a desire to make changes in my life and the world in general. I've decided it's time to open the flood gates and begin a series of discussions among all of you, and hopefully, we can come up with some solutions instead of regurgitating the same old poop over and over again. Ya ready? GOOD!

I'm hearing some frustration regarding Doctors and the way most of them practice well-being and health. I believe that Doctors are just now starting to view people as a whole instead of treating symptoms. If you're anything like me, you have plenty of symptoms, but not enough support to dissect those symptoms. I've been on countless medications since I've been 21. I'm only 37 now and I feel like I'm 90! I got tired of hearing the same old answers every time I went to a new Dr. I always left feeling like most of my problems were in my head and self induced. Or worse yet, I had issues that just had no resolve, and I would just have to find a way to grin and bear them. My husband's worried since my warrenty has expired and he didn't purchase the extendo plan! ;)

I began investigating gluten and the effects of it when I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. I've had psoriasis since I was 21 and it was getting worse with each passing year. I had red, itchy splotches over 90% of my body, I was in constant pain because my skin always felt like it was going to literally break apart. My self esteem was lower than it had ever been, and to top all of this off, I began gaining weight and always felt bloated and exhausted. Nice combo for anyone to have to deal with.
I was on thyroid medication for my hypothyroidism, was constantly rubbing prescribed steroid creams all over myself to ease the discomfort of psoriasis, and was constantly having joint pain. I got to the point where I couldn't even pick up my own baby girl anymore because of the pain I was enduring. I finally had to go see a Rheumatologist who placed me on Humira. I am going to tell you that Humira is a wonderful drug that eased my joint pain, and also cleared up my skin 99%. I was delighted with this injectable, but at the end of the day, it is still a drug that was lowering my immune system and putting me at risk for illness. There had to be a better way to solve these symptoms!

See what I mean here? Not once did any of my Doctors acknowledge that perhaps I had an allergy that was the root cause of my problems. Not once did any of them even think to run blood tests except to allow me to begin a new medication. Not once did I ever hear that perhaps all of my symptoms were related as all three are autoimmune disorders. Not once did I ever get any positive answers or solutions. All I ever received were prescriptions for more drugs! I grew tired of Doctors telling me that most of my symptoms were in my head and if I tried yet another medication, I would feel better. My last Doctor actually placed me on an anti-depressant to help me deal with my issues. Are you kidding me?? ENOUGH! My cupboard looks like a pharmacy for Pete's sake! This is not even including all of my ointments, lotions, and herbal concoctions. Nor is it including the fees that I spent on acupuncture based on a suggestion from one of my many Dr.s It was worth a try, right? No, it wasn't!

Okay, okay...enough of my personal ramblings about the lack of holistic practices from the medical community in general. I guess medicine is a big money maker, and it is in a lot of people's best interest to keep patients coming back for refills, check-ups, and constant ineffective care. I just am at a loss for any other reason why most health care providers would continue such practices if it isn't for the big green buck!

I truly believe as patients, we need to speak up to our Doctors and insist that they listen to us. I'm firm on my position that YOU know your body better than anyone else. YOU know when you don't feel right, and YOU know what is right for you. We're our own best advocate and we need to stand up against modern medicine and the drug companies. Wake up people...Pfizer doesn't have your best interest in mind.

We need get back to basics as a country and it all begins at home. I know, I know, actually taking your own health and diet on is a lot of hard work. Teaching your children about nutrition is hard work. Cooking nutritious meals is hard work. Shouting out to the food manufacturers that you no longer want their crap is hard work. It's all soooo hard! Well, nothing worth while is easy in this world, so get working! Everyday that I spend reviewing products, reading labels, teaching and working with my children in the kitchen, and eliminating gluten from my diet is one day closer to being the change that I wish to see in our lives. Everyday that I veto McDonalds and show my children how many awful things that kind of food contains is one step closer to the life I want for them. Every week that passes that I don't need my Humira injection is one step closer to me telling my Doctor that I don't agree with his practices, once step closer to the drug company not making money off of me when their medicine is unnecessary, and one step closer to my insurance company not having to pay for a completely wasteful trip to my pharmacy. (I have MANY views on insurance companies, but that is an all day sucker! Perhaps for next weeks blog ha-ha) Who knows?? Maybe in a perfect world, I can control my psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, hypothyroidism, fatigue, weight, and hair loss all with MY diet and what I choose to NOT put into my body!!!! *GASP* What a concept! Are you Doctors out there listening?? Pull your script pads out and start taking notes! (I know that was sassy, but it's something I've always wanted to say to my old Doctor!)

I just got a comment on my blog from one of our awesome followers, ("Hello Georgie!"), who's Doctor told her that she should try yoga for her bloated tummy. I'm all for yoga, but seriously? Is yoga going to cure your ailments? To quote Georgie, "*sigh* Um, noooo!!" Still giggling from that...thanks Georgie! (And before I get that comment that tells me yoga has many health benefits, I know! I do yoga...but as a form of exercise, not as a replacement for correct diagnosis!)

Enough is enough people. When are we going to take the wheel of our lives and begin telling our health care providers to stop with the drugs and unnecessary treatments? I used to feel very intimidated with my Doctors. I would always sit there and listen to them and not speak up. Why? I have no idea! I was somehow taught that speaking up against an "authority figure" was rude. This happened until I realized that doctors pull on their pants the same way I do it doesn't matter how many years of medical school they've been to....they're not an authority figure. They work for US! Without US, they would be out of business, so it's our duty to be diligent about our own health. If your Doctor doesn't treat you with respect and make you feel like it is their privilege to work with YOU, kick them to the curb and get another doctor. Trust me, you'll save yourself many headaches!
I have many areas of interest that I will be covering in my upcoming blogs, so stay tuned! In conclusion, I want your comments! I value your opinions, good, bad and ugly. Let's shake it up and see if we can't come up with some solutions. Maybe we can be quicker and more efficient than our Government! Ha-Ha

Peace out for now ~ Susan
The Celiac Shack
Making gluten free fun one day at a time!

Kids Corner

2010-01-19T11:49:00.001-05:00

Easy Gluten Free Kid's Dinner

I was in a pinch for a quick and easy dinner the other night, and I came up with a casserole that knocked my kids' socks off! It was easy, pretty nutritious, and my kids actually asked for it again! Not too bad for a casserole!! ha-ha

Here is my concoction:

Gluten Free Hot Dog/Mac & Cheese Casserole

1 pack of Jennie O Turkey Hot Dogs
1 box of Gluten free noodles
2 packs of gluten free cheese sauce (I used our Full Flavor Foods Cheese Sauce)
2 cups Gluten free crackers crushed
1/2 stick melted butter
2 tablespoons olive oil (optional if you use the spinach)
1 package of frozen spinach (optional)

Boil the hotdogs just until warm - slice or chop into bite sized pieces.
Cook the gluten free pasta according to the package
Cook the cheese sauce according to the directions.
In the meantime, I pureed the spinach in the food processor or blender with the olive oil.
Grease an 11x13 casserole dish
Place the pasta in the dish
Layer the hotdogs on top of the pasta
Mix the spinach into the cheese sauce
Pour the cheese/spinach mixture over the pasta and hotdogs

Mix the melted butter with the gluten free crackers and spread evenly on top of the whole mixture.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes or until bubbly and the crackers begin to slightly brown.
Enjoy!

I'm all about easy recipes, and this is a really good one when you're short on time and want to get a home cooked meal into your kids!

Regards,
Susan
The Celiac Shack
Making gluten free fun one day at a time!

Health & Wellness

2010-01-18T14:48:00.000-05:00

Going the Distance Fundraiser

I heard about The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center through an acquaintance. She had received a Celiac Care Package from them when her son was diagnosed, and I began researching them online. I think they offer such a positive message for all of us, and I wanted to share some info about them and their annual fund raiser, which is so important as they are a non-profit organization.

The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center is dedicated to raising awareness and diagnosis rates nationwide and meeting the critical needs of people affected by celiac disease through education, research and advocacy. The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center is the first center of its kind in the nation, offering a comprehensive approach to the disease: including reliable and accurate patient and professional education, expert diagnosis and treatment for both children and adults, ground-breaking bench and clinical research and active leadership in advocacy efforts. The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center is a 501-c3 non-profit organization, completely funded by donor contributions.

Going The Distant Fund Raiser Info

Going the Distance for Celiac Disease is easy...this is a do-it-yourself fundraiser! Just sign up for an organized event or make up your own. Walk, run, swim, bike, jump rope--whatever your fancy-- to help support the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center and raise funds for Celiac Disease Education, Research and Advocacy! Download your "Fundraising Kit" here to get started or for more information, call 773-702-7593

It's a really great cause and something fun to do with your kids. Teaching your kids not only how to eat gluten free, but also how to be active and to how to give back to the community is the best wisdom you can offer up. Check it out and let me know what you're going to do for your activity. We should start a contest to see who can raise the most money - wouldn't that be fun??

Regards,
Susan
The Celiac Shack
Making gluten free fun one day at a time!

Shack Attack

2010-01-14T11:54:00.000-05:00

A Change is Gonna' Come

I was blogging yesterday and it took everything I had to do so. I'm not sure if it's the Michigan Winter weather or just a lack of motivation. I have been blogging on almost a daily basis since May of 2009 and I just came to a realization...I'm full of crap. Though some of my blogs have been thoughtful executed, I have been doing nothing more than echoing what the gluten-free community already knows or spits out on a rigorous daily pace. The information being churned out is mostly carbon copies of blogs past. This is obviously done to stay fresh in everyone's heart and minds and to keep their name churning in the machine of all the large search engines. My information included.

Today I put my foot down and say no more! I want people to stay in touch and visit our website, but at what cost? Does anyone really need another brownie recipe or a shout out about the horrors of gluten? I think not and I'm going to do something about it. My son and I are gluten intolerant but still have yet to make the transition to a lifestyle totally void of it. Why have we not done so as of yet? The two biggest reasons are money and laziness. I am a mother of 4 and sometimes take the easy route for dinner. Though we have seen an improvement in our health, it's time to kick into overdrive.

Starting in February (or close to it) lol, I intend to blog about my families descent into the gluten free jungle. It's going to take my husband and other three children that long to eat the remaining gluten in our home and for me to do a restock of the kitchen.

I hope you will continue to follow us as we make this transition. I want as much 1st hand knowledge as possible so that I may serve my customers with honesty and integrity. So please stay tuned and you will see a marginal cooker reveal her gluten free adventures. I hope you will enjoy our new format and honesty. It's not going to be easy folks!

If you would like to submit a sample or product to our cause, please e-mail me at theceliacshack@yahoo.com. We will work it into our diet, blog about it, and possibly add it to our inventory at http://www.theceliacshack.net/ if the Jones Gang gives it the big thumbs up.

Thank You,

Susan Jones
The Celiac Shack
"Making gluten-free fun one day at a time!"

Gluten Free Product Info

2010-01-13T13:51:00.000-05:00

To Teff Or Not To Teff...That Is My Question

I've been hearing so many great things about Teff lately that I decided to read up on this "miracle" grain. Being the "average" Mom that I am, I haven't purchased Teff before, much less worked with it. I just spoke with a physician yesterday that swears Teff is the ultimate solution to gluten free living. He said Teff is versatile, easy to work with, comes in flour and grain form, and produces amazing products. Well, sign me up!!

After researching Teff, I've come up with some general information that I thought I'd share.

Teff's history goes back thousands of years to the ancient civilizations of Abyssinia. It was a reliable support to our ancestors basic survival. Teff is a fine grain, about the size of a poppy seed that comes in a variety of colors, from white and red to dark brown. Teff thrives even in unpredictable and difficult climates because of it's ability withstand high heat and bright light.

Professional athletes and individuals on special diets are attracted to its delicious taste, gluten-free physiology, and nutritional advantage. Teff grows predominantly in Ethiopia and Eritrea. As such, teff comprises the staple grain of their cuisines.

Teff is also now grown in the United States, primarily in Idaho. Ground into flour, teff is used to make the traditional bread, injera - a flat, pancake-like, slightly sour bread that complements the exotic spices found in the food of the Sub-Saharan region. Teff flour is delicious in pancakes, pastries, or as a thickener in soups and gravy.

Ethiopian Injera Bread!!! One of my favorite things in the world! For those of you who haven't tried this delicacy, please please please go out and find a place get some! There is also a link for making your own Injera Bread, which I'm going to try as soon as I get some Teff!!

Teff is a delicious grain with high quality complex carbohydrates, proteins, minerals and fiber. Teff grain can be eaten as cereal or polenta. Brown Maskal Teff is rich in flavor with a subtle nutty aftertaste. Ivory teff is milder in taste, but equally nutritious.Teff grain constitutes one of the best natural combinations of nutrients and taste to promote endurance, performance, and good health.
I'm going to get a hold of some Teff and work with it in my daily recipes. I'll let everyone know what I think and how it works. Very exciting to bring a new product into my house and kitchen!

If you have any comments, opinions or suggestions about Teff, please let us all hear them.

Regards,
Susan
The Celiac Shack
Making gluten free fun one day at a time!

Health & Wellness

2010-01-11T10:12:00.000-05:00

A NEW DOCTOR BRINGS HOPE

My husband recently landed a new job after about 11 months of searching. I know a lot of you can feel our pain. There are far to many people suffering financial problems these days. Like most new positions, we had to go through all the forms and hoops to obtain insurance. Finally after a few weeks, everything was in place and we could finally take advantage of our plan. Proper insurance was void from our lives for most of 2009. Thank God nobody in the Jonesgang become seriously sick or injured. Like most plans, you have to pick primary doctors. The kids all stayed with their previous doctors, but my husband and I decided to switch and find someone closer to home. Our last doctor was alright, just more of a healer of things presently wrong without the insight into the future. People, I am falling apart and I need to know what's going to be breaking down in the next five years so I can brace myself! lol

I recently had this cough that I could not shake. Countless over the counter meds and a three weeks of suffering made me pick up the phone and give in. Though we have insurance, I still hate the co-pays. I made an appointment that was sandwiched between the usual going-ons. This new doctor is located in downtown Northville, MI not far from our house. I figured in and out with a script in hand and I'm on the road to recovery. This was not the case. The wait for this doctor was lengthy and not very impressive. If I ran any longer, my preschooler would be at the curb with her thumb out. So after getting a bit upset after watching the clock, I approached someone. After puffing my chest, I quickly deflated when I found out the reason the doctor was running late was that she had to deliver some devastating news to the patient in the next room. Boy did my scheduling issues seem unimportant as I almost fell to tears.

Finally the doctor came in and apologized. I explained that it was no problem and maybe I should just reschedule to have more time with her. She said no, lets look at what going on and give me a brief history of yourself. So I went on for only five minutes when the doctor stopped me. She said, listen I am going to give you a script for your chest, you may have a slight infection. But I would like you to reschedule so I can have more time to spend with you. The next words that came from her mouth I have never heard from a doctor. She said, " Susan, have you ever heard of gluten intolerance?" Holy crap, did she just say what I thought she said? I quickly said, yeah I may know a thing or two about it. lol

This was the first doctor I have ever met that didn't see gluten intolerance issues like some kind of jungle medicine. She actually thought that the majority of my ailments were derived from gluten. She likes to treat her patients whole package instead of waiting for fires and putting them out like Smokey the Bear. I am now scheduling a visit to discuss my issues in depth. She actually has an entire program put together to treat people with gluten intolerance issues. So I start 2010 with a sigh of relief and a hope in my heart. I think a few people in the medical world are starting to take us seriously. Yippy!

If you would like this doctors information, send me a message or e-mail and I will gladly give you her information.

Regards,

Susan Jones
The Celiac Shack
"Making gluten-free fun one day at a time!"

Travel & Leisure

2010-01-08T14:43:00.000-05:00

Gluten Free Cancun Trip!

It is the middle of winter and I have cabin fever! I was looking back at some of the great gluten free travel sites that we've blogged about, and came across Bob & Ruth's Gluten-free Dining & Travel Club again. I was looking at their gluten free getaways, and there is one coming up SOON! I am soo jealous fo the people going on this trip and I would love to know if any of you are going!

CLUB MED WINTER GLUTEN-FREE GETAWAY VI, CANCUN, MEXICO VILLAGE

Dates: February 6 - 13, 2010

Get your suitcases out and go have some gluten free fun!

Sitting in Snow in Michigan!!

Susan :)

The Celiac Shack

Making gluten free fun one day at a time!

Shack Attack!

2010-01-07T21:24:00.000-05:00

The Opportunities Are Endless!

2010 is proving to be a fantastic year for The Celiac Shack! We were featured in an article in The Free Press last Sunday, and that article has brought about so many exciting opportunities for us. I've received numerous calls from local physicians and businesses that want to work with us, and we'll be meeting with all of them to see how we can reach our dream of helping even more gluten free families.

The Celiac Shack's mission is to provide real time and in-the-trenches advice, information, recipes and products for living gluten free.

We want to help you live your life with your condition, NOT let your condition live your life!

Updates to follow...

Regards,
Susan ~ The Celiac Shack
Making gluten free fun one day at a time!

Gluten Free Products

2010-01-06T11:09:00.005-05:00

GLUTEN FREE HOMEMADE HASH

I was in a pinch for time last night, so I went into my freezer to see what I could pull out for dinner and I saw my box of Ore Ida Frozen Hash Brown Patties. I immediately got a craving for homemade hash! I usually shred my own potatoes, but these tasty morsels really worked for a quick alternative!

This is a quick and easy way to make homemade gluten free hash that your whole family will love. I have four picky kids and they all cleaned their plates.

Easy Homemade Gluten Free Hash

Ingredients:
Frozen hash browns (I've also used frozen tater tots, they work well)
1 Large onion
1 Green pepper
2 tablespoons Olive oil
2 cups of Diced Ham
2 Chicken Breasts (Optional)
8 Eggs (optional)
4-6 Green onions
Sour cream to garnish
Salt, Pepper & Garlic powder to taste

Thaw your hash or gluten free tater tots
Cube the chicken breast into tiny pieces
In a large skillet, add 2 tablespoon olive oil, cook the cubed chicken half way (I add my garlic powder to the chicken at this point for maximum flavor). Add diced ham and diced green peppers to this pan and sauté on low until the peppers are soft and the chicken is fully cooked.
Remove this chicken/ham/green pepper mixture from the pan and place in a covered bowl
Using the same pan (I'm all about one pan dinners!) sauté the chopped onions until translucent.
Using your hands, break apart the hash browns or tater tots* and add to the onions.
(*TIP: This is a really great task for your kids to help you with since it's one thing they can't mess up...they LOVE breaking apart the potatoes and it lets them participate in cooking gluten free meals. Teaching our kids to cook for themselves is so important and even the smallest task gives them a huge sense of accomplishment!)
Add salt & pepper and let this mixture cook over medium heat until the bottom is slightly crispy. Turn this mixture and let the other side crisp up.
In the meantime, I fry up my eggs over medium so the yolks are just slightly runny.
Once everything is cooked, I plate the potato mixture covered with the chicken/ham mixture. I throw some chopped green onions on top and add a dollop of sour cream to the plate.
Easy, gluten free and delicious! Saves you the time of having to shred potatoes, and you'd never know the difference.
From my kitchen to yours, I wish you a happy gluten free day!

Regards,
The Celiac Shack
Making gluten free fun one day at a time!

Health & Wellness

2010-01-04T13:35:00.000-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR SHACKERS!

I hope everyone had a fantastic holiday and now you're back in the swing of things...I know I'm trying!

I was thinking about all of the events that are coming up in the next few months, and the one at the top of my list is taxes! I know it's a painful word to some, but I have some really great news for all of you gluten free people. I was surprised to find out that we can deduct certain items from our taxes with a Dr.s note and if you follow the tax guidelines. Below is a link that I think will prove most helpful as you begin to prepare your taxes this year.

LIVING GLUTEN FREE CAN MEAN TAX DEDUCTIONS!

Give it a read and as always, if you have any questions that I may be able to help you with, send them my way!

Regards,

The Celiac Shack

Making gluten free fun one day at a time!

2009-12-31T09:27:00.002-05:00

"Happy New Year"

2010

Hau'oli Makahiki Hou

Regards,

The Celiac Shack

Kids Corner

2009-12-29T16:20:00.000-05:00

Gluten Free Baking In Our Easy Bake Oven!

My girls received their first Easy Bake Oven for Christmas, and of course, the first thing they wanted to do was make some delicious pint sized treats for the entire family. I obviously can't use the mixes that came with the oven, so I found this delicious recipe online and it was fabulous! I am going to try out some of our cake mixes that we carry and I'll report how they turn out. If you have kids with an Easy Bake Oven, you'll love this recipe!

Here is a recipe that make 4 cakes, plenty for everyone to share!

Chocolate Easy Bake Cake

•1 cup gluten-free flour mix
•1 egg
•1 TBS canola oil
•1/4 cup sugar
•1/4 cup water
•1 tsp baking powder
•2 TBS cocoa powder

Method
Preheat Easy Bake Oven. Grease cake tins with oil or dairy-free margarine
Mix all ingredients in a medium sized bowl.
Pour into cake pans.
Insert cake pan into the Easy Bake Oven. Bake for 15 minutes.
Remove, let cool, then frost with icing recipe below
Enjoy!

Regards,
The Celiac Shack
Making gluten free fun one day at a time!

Happy Holidays From The Celiac Shack!

2009-12-24T11:51:00.000-05:00

Happy Holidays!

May your days be filled with family, friends and all good things.

The Celiac Shack

Making gluten free fun one day at at time!

It's Almost Time...

2009-12-23T13:07:00.002-05:00

Be The Change You Wish To See In The World

The year has passed and so many exciting things have happened to us all over the past twelve months. I am finding it hard to believe that the New Year us almost upon us. I've been thinking in my spare time about how I wish to see to new year and the changes I'd like to personally make in it. As many of you know, my favorite quote is "Be the change you wish to see in the world", and I try to be this change throughout all of my days. I teach and preach this motto to my children, spread the idea to strangers and friends alike, and believe the world would be a much better place if everyone was the change they wished to see at least once a day. It's not a hard concept and very easy to do. I tell my kids that if someone says something mean, then they should say something nice. If someone doesn't hold open a door for you, then you should hold a door for someone else. My personal favorite as of late...If someone doesn't say "Please" or "Thank you", then you be sure to say those words to someone. Quite simple in concept, but has HUGE results in the scope of a day!

We have informed all of you that The Celiac Shack will be undergoing some changes throughout January 2010. We asked for feedback and received so many great suggestions and comments. I'd like to thank all that took a moment out of their busy day to let us know how we can make our community and pantry even better. We've thought about how we can be the change we wish to see in the gluten free world, and we've decided to make those changes over the next month.

I've re-evaluated what is important to me as a mother, wife and person. I've thought about what changes I'd like to make so The Celiac Shack will provide you an even better gluten free destination spot. I've decided to use the first month of the year to give all of you the best that I have to offer. The Celiac Shack has been a dream and ever changing entity of mine for years, so I appreciate all of you and your support. My labor of commitment and determination will be back better than ever very soon!

I am still accepting product suggestions , so please feel free to let me know what products you'd like to see in our gluten free pantry. I want to provide all of you with the best shopping experience possible and that includes carrying all of your favorite products for less than you're paying now!

Please email us @ theceliacshack@yahoo.com with your suggestions/requests. We will be around the entire time we're making our changes and you'll still be able to order your favorite products during this time. Just send us a quick line and let us know what you need!

"Be the change you wish to see in the world"...my contribution today is to reassure each of my children that they are super smart and special cookies! A word of praise is worth more than all the money in the world!

How will you be the change you wish to see today?

Regards,

Susan

The Celiac Shack

Making gluten free fun one day at a time!

Health & Wellness

2009-12-21T13:46:00.000-05:00

The Gluten Free Vegetarian

I have been speaking with quite a few people lately who are vegetarians, and they've asked me how to go gluten free while following a vegetarian diet. For a vegetarian who has already eliminated meat, poultry, fish, seafood and possibly eggs and/or dairy products, further limitations may be particularly unwelcome. As with any lifestyle diet, there are challenges, but with proper planning and education, a completely gluten free vegetarian diet is absolutely possible and a very healthy way to live and eat.

I followed a vegetarian diet for many years for personal reasons, and after I get my chops on the entire gluten free diet, I may try to go vegetarian again. That may be too much for my family to handle all at once, so we're taking baby steps! haha

Below is an article that I found, read and find very informative. It is from www.Celiac.org and it was written by Carol Rees Parrish, R.D., M.S., Series Editor. Please read it over for some great information if you're interested in becoming a gluten free veggie!

The Gluten Free Vegetarian

Regards,
The Celiac Shack
Making gluten free fun one day at a time!

Travel & Leisure

2009-12-18T17:48:00.000-05:00

Starbucks has Gluten Free Items

I don't know about the rest of you, but I am a full coffee addict! I can't live without it, and I don't understand people that do. I Like the smell, the taste, the feeling it gives me, and there is nothing better than walking into a coffee house and getting your hot cup of joe and a delicious treat to enjoy with it. Only problem is, until recently, every time I walked into Starbucks, I only could get my hot cup of coffee. Sad that I couldn't pick one of the treats from that forbidden case that I always drooled over. Now I CAN! Starbucks has an Orange Valencia Cake that is gluten free. They also offer a gluten-free Amaretti Cookie that you can purchase. I know that there is a Starbucks in every town and city...probably on every corner, so it's nice to know you can pop in, sip your hot cup of goodness and get a gluten free snack on the side.

Check out the link below, which is the Starbucks blog link to answer any questions you may have:

Gluten Free Starbucks

Go out and get some caffeine!!

Regards,

The Celiac Shack

Making gluten free fun one day at a time!

Shack Attack

2009-12-17T11:53:00.000-05:00

Closed For Business

Aloha "Shackers"! We are shutting down our website starting January 1st for a major overhaul. We are adding new products and removing the ones that are not a good fit for our customers. We are also streamlineing the usability of the overall site to make it more enjoyable and easier to use. Though you will not have access to The Celiac Shack for most of the month, we will continue to share and communicate with all of you through our social networking websites. If their is anything that you must have, we can be reached via e-mail at theceliacshack@yahoo.com.

We would also like to afford you all the opportunity to chime in and add your two cents on the changes we make. What do you want from "The Shack" in 2010? Tell us about your likes or dislikes about everything from the products we carry, to the overall design and functionality of our pages. We want to hear everything! Without your approval and happiness, we would not be able to carry on. So let it rip and stay tuned for further updates concerning January's closure. Thanks for a great 2009 and we look forward to a fantastic new year.

Regards,
The Celiac Shack
"Making gluten free fun one day at a time!"

Gluten Free Product Information

2009-12-16T10:09:00.000-05:00

Soup's on!

My family loves a great bowl of soup, and typically I make my own pot of homemade goodness, but the other day, I was short on time. I went online, looked for some great gluten free soups and came across the Live Gluten Freely website. This is an informative website that lists all of General Mill's Gluten Free products. I chose their Traditional 99% Fat Free New England Clam Chowder for our dinner, and it was quite delicious. I made some gluten free rolls and it was a perfect dinner for a cold winter evening.

Here is the link to the Live Gluten Freely website

I'm not getting paid or receiving anything from General Mills for promoting their website or products, but I really like to see companies that are getting on the gluten free wagon!

Regards,

The Celiac Shack

Making gluten free fun one day at a time!

Kids Corner

2009-12-15T14:32:00.001-05:00

Empower Your Children To Live In A Gluten World!

After speaking with numerous parents about the different ways they are teaching their children to live in our gluten filled world, I decided to look for some key points that may help everyone with this necessary, yet daunting task. It is more difficult for children in my opinion than adults to grasp the concept that they can't have "normal" birthday cake or treats at school. It is a bad day when you tell your child that they will always have to read labels and ask questions before they put anything into their mouths. After all, everything always looks SO good! I came across a great article that I found informative and inspiring and I'd really like to share it with all of you. It shows ways to empower our children to live without gluten and deal with life in a world that doesn't cater their special needs diet.

This article is titled Kids and the Gluten-Free Diet and it was written by Mary K. Sharrett and Pam Cureton from the February 2007 issue of Practical Gastroenterology.

Empower Your Gluten Free Children!

I hope you enjoy it and take some great tips and information from it. I really spend a lot of time with my kids in the kitchen, role playing for hard situations where "taboo foods" are bound to be, and reviewing labels. It really can become part of your day and life without much hassle if you have the support to do so.

If you haven't already, please sign up for The Pipeline, The Celiac Shack's monthly newsletter. We offer something different each month, including contests, gluten free recipes, and gluten free information.

Please contact us if you have any questions or comments!

Regards,

The Celiac Shack

Making gluten free fun one day at a time!

Health & Wellness

2009-12-14T10:49:00.000-05:00

Understanding Gluten Sensitivity

Gluten sensitivity is a condition that results from a person's body being unable to properly digest the gliadin protein. People without gluten sensitivity can digest and break down gliadin into very small particles and those small particles can then be easily absorbed by the small intestine and used by the body as a nutritional source.

Those people who are gluten sensitive cannot break down the gliadin protein molecule in to small enough particles. The undigested gluten protein gets absorbed into the first layer of the membranes of the small intestine. But because the food is not fully digested the body's immune systems sees these protein particles as something it needs to attack and destroy, in very much the same way the immune system would attack an invading organism such as a virus, bacteria or parasite. The attack by the immune system is what causes the problems because the surrounding tissue of the small intestine can become severely damaged. It results in two significant problems in the small intestine:

1.The surface area of the small intestine is reduced and the tissue becomes very unhealthy. This results in a condition called malabsorption, which means that the small intestine can no longer properly absorb foods and essential vitamins and minerals.

2.The attack of the immune system directly affects the surface membrane of the small intestine and essentially creates large gaps in the membranes resulting in the membranes becoming permeable to large size proteins. These proteins would not be passing through a healthy small intestine. One of the biggest problems for gluten sensitive individuals is that this permeable membrane will allow the large undigested gluten molecules to enter the blood stream. These gluten molecules can then travel through the bloodstream and adhere to tissues distant from the small intestine and create damage to those tissues. This occurs because the immune system is actively fighting gluten molecules wherever it finds them. This phenomenon explains why gluten sensitivity can create problems throughout the body and may in fact create many symptoms in other parts of the body in addition to or other than the small intestine.

* Information by Dr. Rick Petersen, D.C., C.C.N.)
(Click here to view whole article)

Regards,
The Celiac Shack
"Making gluten free fun one day at a time!"

Travel & Leisure

2009-12-11T12:08:00.000-05:00

Wild Wood Art/Gluten-Free Cafe

Let's take a trip down to the lone star state to visit a real gem. The Wild Wood Art Cafe is nestled in Austin, TX. I'm sure you know or have heard about this cities hot music scene, but know little about it's gluten-free side. People everywhere are interested in healthy living from wholesome, alternative food sources. Wild Wood strives to make baked goods that are delicious, yet harmless to the growing community of wheat-, gluten- and carb-free people who love tasty foods.

They remain dedicated to the nutritional welfare of people with food allergies and medical restrictions. Wild Wood produces gluten free foods that are so good, the claim everyone likes them better than ordinary wheat-filled items. That is a tall statement to make in my book. I have tasted some pretty good products before, but as good as the gluten filled counter parts? Wow!!! They have Mexican favorites, salads, cookies, breads, the works! (Menu)

Normally the menu they have created would be enough to peak my intetest, but Wild Wood has more to offer. They have their very own art gallery. What kind of “magic” do the Wild Wood artists offer? One that is grounded firmly in the earth and its precious resources - clay, fibers, metals, woods, and savory flavors... Join them in a virtual – or real – flight to a place where good taste can satisfy all five senses, a place where affordability, adventure and delight are shaken, not stirred...

WOOD: In the steady skillful hands of the Zapotec woodcarvers a mix of imagination, humor, and insight crystalize into wooden sculptures. Smooth or textured, huge or tiny, these art works invite us into the minds and culture of an ancient world. They work with 60 Oaxacan families who use copal wood and other found materials to delight and amaze us.

WOOL: Weavers by trade for more than 2000 years, Zapotecs Indians were introduced to wool by the Spanish only 500 years ago. They create 100% wool, double sided tapestry weave rugs and wall-hangings. They specialize in unique designs and custom sizes. (Gallery)

Regards,

The Celiac Shack

"Making gluten free fun one day at a time!"

Shack Attack

2009-12-10T12:06:00.001-05:00

Aloha Everyone! Below is a special segment from our newsletter "The Pipeline". The lounge focuses on input from our subscribers. In December we asked people to give us their very own personal stories regarding their gluten intolerance. We had a couple of really good submissions that we would like to share with you today. If you like what you read, click on the following link to receive your copy. You will find an assortment of stories, recipes, contests and more! Hope you enjoy it and I look forward to sending you your copy today!

Subscribe: "The Pipeline"

I have a personal story for you. I've always gotten headaches (forever!) but 7 years ago I suffered a spontaneous subdural hematoma and since that time have been plagued by chronic migraines occurring regularly up to four times per week. I've seen countless neurologists, alternative medicine specialists, acupuncturists, and surgeons. Nothing worked and I resigned myself that I would suffer these debilitating headaches daily for the rest of my life. Six weeks ago my 13 year old son was diagnosed with Celiac Disease and my entire family started the gluten free diet with him. My son was rightfully discouraged by his diagnosis but took it in stride saying God gave this to him for a reason, he just didn't know what it was yet. Well, since starting the diet with my son I've only had one migraine! One, in six weeks! I haven't ever felt relief like this. Obviously, I'm very gluten intolerant and just was never diagnosed. I thank my son every day for getting us on this diet. It isn't easy and it isn't fun but, I think he now has his reason for his diagnosis - it was to help his mom. (From: Tami Wessley - Gluten Free Faces)

Hi my name is Mike, and I'm a recovering gluten-holic. My story is somewhat unique, because I do not have the typical "bathroom" symptoms like most people experience. My mom made me get tested, because celiac runs in my family. I was diagnosed with celiac when I was 21 years old, a sophomore in college, and doing all the things 21 year-old college students do: Cold beer in the fridge, Pizza buffet on the corner, and especially the $1 McDonalds double cheeseburgers. Immediately after college, I started a business and worked 24/7. I couldn't resist the temptations and convenience of quick, high carb, meals on the go. After selling my business, my life slowed down a lot, and I could start to see some symptoms that I had previously overlooked. About a week after I switched to a gluten free diet, I could tell a difference. I was in a better mood and more energetic. Since then, the benefits have become even better. I believe success all is about your mindset. You have to make yourself believe that you will never eat "poison" again under any circumstance. If you are serious, your friends and family will also feed off of your new attitude and will begin to accommodate to your needs. To make it easy on myself, in the beginning, I stuck to meats, rice, fruits, and vegetables. Over time, I have slowly added other safe foods into my diet. Yes, you can still go out to eat. Just do some quick research beforehand, talk to your server of chef, or always keep a snack with you. One last thing: get involved! Talk with people on Twitter, Facebook, and people in your community. They will keep you motivated and updated on all the new things going on in the quickly growing gluten free community. (From: Mike Hutchinson - Switch To Gluten free)

I like what you've done with the Celiac Shack...your theme, messages and info are always informative. Keep up the good work! (From: Chad Hines - Gluten Free Faces)

Regards,
The Celiac Shack
"Making gluten free fun one day at a time!"

Gluten Free Product Info

2009-12-09T12:21:00.000-05:00

Gluten Free Wine...Just In Time!

For those of us that really enjoy a nice glass of wine once in awhile, it is nice to know there are safe wine options out there. My husband enjoys the gluten free beer, but I have been staying away from wine for the past year, and now that I know of some brands that are safe, I can resume my occasional wine sipping with friends!

Listed below are the companies that have certified their wines are safe and free from gluten:

*Beringer

*Fenn Valley

*Five Oaks

*Ingleside - (Only the Blue Crab Blanc and Blue Crab Blush, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Rosato de Sangiovese, Viognier, The Rose, and October Harvest.)

*Kendall Jackson

*La Rocca - All wines are not only gluten free, they are sulfite free too

*Louis Jadot - Only the Maconnais and Beaujolais are made in stainless cask. Their other wine are made in barrels sealed with water and flour.

*Meridian

Break out the cork screw, polish up those glasses, and get ready for the taste of some great wine!

Regards,

The Celiac Shack

Making gluten free fun one day at a time!

Kids Corner

2009-12-08T09:46:00.000-05:00

Gluten Free Silly Putty

Here is a fabulous Gluten Free Silly Putty recipe that my kids love to make. We always appreciate gluten free crafts and activities, so here is one for your craft box!

Silly Putty - (Grade - Great/Good) Not edible ~ Adult supervision is strongly recommended.

1 cup water
6 Tbsp Mule Team Borax
1/2 cup (4 oz bottle) white school glue
optional: food coloring

1.) Pour 1/2 cup water into a small bowl. Add the Borax and stir until dissolved. Set aside.

2.) Pour the other 1/2 cup of water in a medium-sized glass or metal bowl. Add the glue and stir until combined. Optional: add food coloring and stir to achieve the desired color.

3.) Pour the Borax mixture into the glue mixture. Knead with hands until most of the water is absorbed and the putty can form a ball in your hands. Lift the putty from the bowl and discard the remaining water mixture. Return the putty to the bowl and allow to sit, uncovered for 15-20 minutes or until fairly firm.

4.) Store any unused silly putty in an airtight container.

Regards,
The Celiac Shack
Making gluten free fun one day at a time!

Health & Wellness

2009-12-07T11:26:00.000-05:00

Bone Problems in Kids With Celiac Disease may be Reduced by Gluten-free Diet

A new study has said that gluten-free diet can affect recovery of children with celiac disease (CD), an inherited intestinal disorder characterized by life-long intolerance to the ingestion of gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley.

Although CD can be diagnosed at any age, it commonly occurs during early childhood (between 9 and 24 months). Reduced bone mineral density is often found in individuals with CD.

Now, the new article in the journal Nutrition Reviews examines the literature on the topic.

Metabolic bone disease remains a significant and common complication of CD. Reduced bone mineral density can lead to the inability to develop optimal bone mass in children and the loss of bone in adults, both of which increase the risk of osteoporosis. There also exists an additional risk of fracture in people with CD.

However, evidence suggests that a gluten-free diet (GFD) promotes a rapid increase in bone mineral density that leads to complete recovery of bone mineralization in children.

A GFD improves, although rarely normalizes, bone mineral density in adults. Children may attain normal peak bone mass if the diagnosis is made and treatment is given before puberty, thereby preventing osteoporosis in later life.

Also, nutritional supplements consisting of calcium and vitamin D seem to increase the bone mineral density of children and adolescents with CD.

"Our findings reinforce the importance of a strict gluten-free diet, which remains the only scientific proven treatment for celiac disease to date," the authors conclude.

"Early diagnosis and therapy are critical in preventing celiac disease complications, like reduced bone mineral density," they added.

(Source-ANIRAS)

Regards,
The Celiac Shack
"Making gluten free fun one day at a time!"

Travel & Leisure

2009-12-04T11:22:00.000-05:00

Zehnder's of Frankenmuth

Have you ever heard of Little Bavaria and Zehnder's? If you have, then you know how cool Frankenmuth can be for a day or weekend visit. If not, you have to start combing your calendar for a date that you can pay a visit. It's a semi-annual visit for "The Jones Gang" because it is in our home state of Michigan and they have a rocking restaurant that has a Gluten-Free/Celiac menu.

Zehnder's of Frankenmuth is the heart of Midwestern hospitality. In its ten dining rooms, which can seat more than 1,500 guests, Zehnder's offers a full-service menu that features all-you-can-eat family-style chicken dinners, seafood, steaks, fresh baked goods and European desserts. Each year, Zehnder's serves nearly a million guests with the superb hospitality that has made it a world-wide attraction.

Dinners range from $15.25 to $21.50, with children's portions and special event menus available. The luncheon menu is available Monday through Saturday from 11 am to 2 pm. Zehnder's is open seven days a week. They are only closed on Christmas Eve, and for our annual employee Christmas party in early January.

It's a tradition the began 150 years ago when The Exchange Hotel opened its doors in 1856. The Zehnder family purchased the hotel in 1927 and the tradition of good food and hospitality continues today at Zehnder's of Frankemuth.

Zehnder's of Frankenmuth History

Regards,

The Celiac Shack

"Making gluten-free fun one day at a time!"

Shack Attack

2009-12-03T14:59:00.000-05:00

Wanted!! Feedback For The Celiac Shack

As all of you know, we are always trying to improve our site with new product additions, finding ways to improve functionality for our customers, and seeking new and pertinent gluten free information and news. We have had such great feedback from all of the gluten free community, but we're asking for some more input.

We're approaching a new year, and we'd like to make some changes to improve The Celiac Shack. We would really appreciate your input and suggestions on our site.  Input of all kinds is welcomed so we can make all of the necessary changes to make  The Celiac Shack the gluten free pantry/community that you think of first for all of your gluten free needs.

Here are some of the areas we'd really appreciate feedback on:

What can we do to make you shop more at The Celiac Shack?
Is our site easy to use?
How can we make our site more user friendly?
How do our products' prices compare to other gluten free pantries?
What gluten free products would you like to see in our pantry that we currently don't carry?
Would you find gluten free cooking demonstration videos helpful?
What can The Celiac Shack do to keep you as our customer?

We are open to product suggestions and will get new products in as requested. We will do our best to get all of your favorite gluten free products to you at a better price than you're paying now, and we'll have them delivered them to your door!

Again, we value all of the opinions we receive from you. As a thank you for replying with your suggestions, we will send you a gluten free sample bag absolutely FREE. Include your name and mailing address with your e-mail, and we'll get it out to you ASAP.

The Celiac Shack is making gluten free fun one day at a time...How can we make it fun for you?

Regards,
The Celiac Shack

Gluten Free Product Information

2009-12-02T11:07:00.000-05:00

Ruby Tuesday Is On Board With Gluten Free Dining!

Back in the day, my family used to take our occasional trip out for dinner at a local restaurant. It's much more difficult these days because not many restaurants have gluten free menus. I get excited when I see restaurants get on board with gluten free options for their customers. It makes my life easier when I don't have to look at every ingredient and ask the server so many questions that their head pops off.

We have our few dining spots that I know are safe, but now I am able to add one more to my list. Ruby Tuesday's Gluten Free menu looks pretty good. You can get appetizers, sandwiches, burgers (without the bun of course), Ribs, Chicken dishes, Salads, and Seafood. Best news of all, they offer Gluten Free Kids items! Super bonus for us and all other families with kids!

Quite the selection from what most places are offering, so I think the next time we go out to dinner as a family, we are going to head to Ruby Tuesdays!

Listed below is the link to their gluten free menu for your review:

RUBY TUESDAY'S GLUTEN FREE MENU

Regards,

The Celiac Shack

Making gluten free fun one day at a time!

Kids Corner

2009-12-01T13:29:00.000-05:00

Gluten-Free Kid

I recently stumbled across an awesome blog page written by a 12 year old girl named Alex. If you have any children in your home that have gluten issues, I strongly urge you to allow them access to this page. It would be a great way for them to relate to someone of their own age with the same problems they have. Her page is no hack job, it's slick, well written and has great information from recipes to personnel stories. I could learn a thing or two from her for my own page. Below is the introduction from her "Getting to know me" section.

"Hi, my name is Alex and I am a 12 year old girl. I live in Woodinville, Washington. I was really sick in third grade and missed 36 days of school. After a bunch of tests I found out I had celiac disease. It was very hard at first to have celiac but now it has gotten a lot better. My friends are great about this and have helped me through this disease. My family has also helped me a lot. Once you get used to having celiac disease and your friends start to know more about it this disease will be more like a little problem instead a huge one. Other kids who have celiac disease might think that this is really hard and might think that this is the end of the world, I used to think that but now that I have gotten used to it is just normal. I created this website so that I could share with other kids fun recipes, places to eat, great places to go on vacation, and to help out other kids with celiac disease."

Click on the link below to check out her whole page and make sure to tell her what a wonderful job she is doing.

Gluten-Free Kid

Regards,

The Celiac Shack

"Making gluten free fun one day at a time!

Health & Wellness

2009-11-30T10:37:00.000-05:00

Health Care Reform Clears First Major Hurdle

Almost every week, a call or email comes in sharing yet another story of someone unable to get health insurance because they or a family member has celiac disease. Eliminating pre-existing conditions is a top issue in health care reform. Thankfully, the House of Representatives has now passed legislation which would bar insurers from using a prior health condition to deny coverage.

This was the first major hurdle for the Affordable Health Care for America Act, H.R. 3962. The bill also removes lifetime and annual limits on benefits and covers preventive services with no cost to the patient.

The importance of this legislation for persons with celiac disease or any other chronic health condition cannot be understated. Insurance companies could no longer refuse to cover customers with pre-existing medical conditions. A new program would be created immediately to assist individuals currently unable to obtain insurance due because of prior or ongoing medical conditions. Lifetime and annual limits on benefits would be prohibited. Limitations would also be placed on how premiums are set and insurers could not use health status to charge higher rates. Additionally, plans would be required to cover preventive health services at no cost to the patient.

The insurance market reforms in H.R. 3962 are critically important. Today, if an individual struggles for years before being properly diagnosed with celiac disease, the risk of being denied health insurance is very high. Once properly diagnosed and following a strict gluten-free diet, patients can still have difficulty finding affordable health insurance. This must change.

As the umbrella organization for celiac disease in this country, the American Celiac Disease Alliance (ACDA) has been able to represent the needs and concerns of patients, researchers, and others, on the issue of health reform.

Find out how your representative voted

My family had a very difficult year dealing with COBRA and the loss of our insurance. I fully understand how important it is for all of us to be able to obtain and keep affordable health insurance. Please check this out, as I think it is so vital that insurance companies are not allowed to call all of the shots when it comes to our health and well being!

Regards,
The Celiac Shack
Making gluten free fun one day at a time!

Shack Attack

2009-11-26T10:26:00.001-05:00

From our shack to yours.....

Happy Thanksgiving to

you and your family!

Regards,
The Celiac Shack
"Making gluten-free fun one day at a time!"

Gluten Free Product Review

2009-11-25T20:31:00.000-05:00

Gluten Free Protein Shakes

I have been looking for a Protein Shake that I could use in place of my old shakes, and I think I have found it. I use Protein Shakes as a meal replacement in the mornings to make things easier in my life. I add whatever fruit I have on hand to make my delicious and nutritious quick breakfast. I used to use an off brand, but can no longer use it due to gluten, as with many other items in my life. I have a friend that introduced me to the Arbonne Go Easy! Protein Shake with INNER G-PLEX. I found out that it contains no gluten, so I thought I'd give it a whirl. Come to find out that it's actually really good. It comes in either Chocolate or Vanilla, and I would recommend either one.

I did find this comment regarding Arbonne: Please note that although these products do not contain any gluten, they are not manufactured in a gluten-free facility.

I haven't had any problems with the shakes so far, but I want to be as up front as possible for those of you that this would be an issue for.

Give them a whirl...they come in either a 15 or 30 day supply size, and you may be able to sweet talk a consultant to give you a discount like I did!

Here is the link so you can check them out:

Go Easy! Protein Shake with INNER G-PLEX - Vanilla & Chocolate

Regards,
The Celiac Shack
Making gluten free fun one day at a time!

Kids Corner

2009-11-24T17:43:00.000-05:00

It's Gluten Free Candy Time!

"Mom!, Can we buy some candy today!??!?!?!?!" is the most common question that I hear while grocery shopping with my children. They see aisles of goodness while waiting for "Eternity" in the check out line. I am actually surprised that my kids don't wither from dehydration and starve right there in the line every time we are forced to wait longer than 3.3 seconds. Let's not even get them started on how hard it is for a child to walk through a complete store without having to use the bathroom at least four times, need to sit for a break, and death knocking on their door from the agony food shopping has caused their poor little bodies!

I have come to the conclusion that I AM the meanest Mother in the world for subjecting my little ones to this hell. So at the end of it, I enter my "No. No. No" mode when asked for snacks, treats, candy and let's not forget gum!

I got tired of having to read all the labels on the rare occasion that I actually did surrender to their whining, so I printed off this list of safe and gluten free candy/gum so I'd always be prepared. It has made my life easier when I take off my witch hat and ditch my broom. I highly suggest you doing the same....best to be prepared on those days you decide that your only goal in life isn't to torture your children! haha

GLUTEN FREE CANDY/GUM

Good luck with your horror trips to the grocery store, and actually, my kids are very well behaved in ALL public places, but you can't break a kid from wanting, or trying to get a peice of candy...it's in their nature!

Let us know if we can do anything to make your gluten free life easier!

Regards,

The Celiac Shack
Making gluten free fun one day at a time!

Health & Wellness

2009-11-23T06:49:00.001-05:00

Pediatric Celiac Disease ~ What You Need To Know

If you are anything like me, you probably went through, or are going through a difficult time not understanding why your child is irritable, has problems eating, has increased crankiness, isn't growing like they should, and the list goes on. I went through a period when I thought that I was just not doing something right as a Mother. Why couldn't I figure out what was wrong with my child. I should be able to determine what is wrong with my own child! Well, the reality is that my child has a gluten intolerance, and there was nothing I could've done differently at that time because you just don't know what you don't know!

I am well informed now on the issue of gluten intolerances and celiac disease, and I can tell you that making the change to eliminate gluten from our diets has changed our lives. My son is a completely different little boy now, and I know I am doing the right thing for him so he will be able to have a happy and normal life.

Listed below is a link that contains information about Pediatric Celiac Disease Symptoms that I think you may find helpful if you're contemplating what is going on with your child, or if you're trying to decide if you should attempt the gluten free lifestyle.

Celiac Disease & Kids

I am a Mother, first and foremost, and my concerns are for the well being and safety of my children, and we have a lot of hands on experience that we'd love to share with you if you do need help or have questions. Please feel free to contact us so we can help you, and if we don't have the answers, I'll do my best to see that we find them together!

Regards,

The Celiac Shack

Making gluten free fun one day at a time!

Travel & Leisure

2009-11-20T08:41:00.001-05:00

On-The-Go Gluten Free

Whether you're planning on staying local this weekend, or heading out to a new and exciting place for a great Gluten Free adventure, there is one site that you should check out now. Gluten Free On The Go is the world's largest global on-line database of gluten free eating establishments, GlutenFreeOnTheGo.com provides you with an easy way to manage gluten free lifestyles. They provide FREE access to thousands of listings catering to gluten-free guests, showcasing restaurants, pizzerias, bakeries, hotels, etc. both around the corner and around the globe.

I just used Gluten Free On The Go to check out a few new places to eat in Michigan, and this site looks like a good place to start if you're stumped on where to go.

We're always looking for new ideas, places and events to incorporate into our gluten free lives, and if you have any other suggestions, we'd love to hear them.

We're also looking for product suggestions from all of you. The Celiac Shack is looking to add to our product lines, and would love to carry the products that you use and want most. Just drop us a line and we'll do our best to get your favorite products delivered to your door at a cost less than you're paying now!

Open up and let your suggestions fly...we're ready!

Regards,

The Celiac Shack

Making gluten free fun one day at a time!

Shack Attack

2009-11-19T08:24:00.001-05:00

Gluten Stinks ~ A poem About Gluten

I'd like to share a poem that my Son wrote about Gluten ~ It made me giggle and I hope you enjoy it also!

GLUTEN STINKS!

Gluten is in everything that I used to eat

Gluten is as bad as my brothers’ smelly feet!

We had to stop eating our bread

Cause gluten was hurting my mom’s head

We changed our noodles and our sauce

Mom said it’s a must, and she’s the boss

No more oatmeal, no more chips

Those people that make gluten sure are dips

We eat different and it’s okay

Now I help shop and have a say

We eat more veggies and more fruit

I don’t like the veggies ~ it’s not a hoot

I don’t mind eating gluten free

It’s just the way we have to be

I get special treats all to myself

All stocked on my very own shelf

I feel much better gluten free

Now everyone can see the real me

I’m not so grumpy or tired at school

Being gluten free is really cool

I have found some websites and cool links

I met some friends that also think GLUTEN STINKS!

~ Sam Jones ~ Age 8

Regards,

The Celiac Shack

Making gluten free fun one day at a time!

Gluten Free Product Info

2009-11-18T08:14:00.002-05:00

General Mills/Betty Crocker G.F. Snacks

Here is the day all of you have been waiting for! Today is our General Mills/Betty Crocker Prize Pack Giveaway! If you've subscribed to our newsletter "The Pipeline" and read our contest corner, you are well prepared and ready for this challenge! If not, I would suggest signing up ASAP and cramming! Subscribe Here: The Pipeline

The "Jones Gang" has taste tested all of the fruit snacks that General Mills sent to us in this Prize Pack, and the verdict is in. My kids loved the Gushers, Fruit by the Foot, and the Fruit Roll-Ups. The Build-A-Bugs got mixed reviews. My older kids didn't like them as much compared to the other products, and my four year old liked only half of the colors/flavors. I would have to say 3 out of the 4 products they sent us were huge hits and the other was just ok.

As mother, I do like the fact that a major company such as General Mills sees the importance in adding gluten-free items to their catalog of foods. I will continue to work with such companies to make you aware of any products that are gluten free. Our goal is to have entire foods store dedicated to our cause. It may take my lifetime to see this vision realized, but it's something I believe in.

Follow the instructions in The Pipeline, and you could soon have your very own General Mills/Betty Crocker Gluten Free Prize Pack delivered directly to your door!

Here is a photo of the loot you're all fighting for:

Contest Code: Gushers
Our e-mail: theceliacshack@yahoo.com

Good Luck!

Regards,
The Celiac Shack
"Making gluten free fun one day at a time!"

Kids' Corner

2009-11-17T08:37:00.000-05:00

Cheeseburgers In Paradise

Ok, so I am aware that my kids LOVE to go out to eat and it's more difficult for us to do so than for other families, so when I came across the Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurant, my kids were thrilled.

It is a fun place with a great island feel and my kids could order off the menu like "normal" kids. They offer a full gluten free menu including cheeseburgers without the buns (My kids really don't mind cause they don't like the buns anyway). They were able to order french fried potatos, and even got dessert!!! What an amazing place for kids!

If you're looking for a special place to go out to, Cheeseburger in Paradise offers a great place for the little ones. We used to go to another hamburger joint that is very well known, but since they haven't gotten on the gluten free wagon, we now have offered Cheeseburger in Paradise our gluten free business.

Listed below is the link to their site, and they have locations all over the country:

Cheeseburger In Paradise

They have created their gluten free menu in cooperation with the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG), so that makes me feel really good to know that it has been double checked with professionals!

If you have any questions or comments, we'd love to hear them!

Regards,
The Celiac Shack
Making gluten free fun one day at a time!

Health & Wellness

2009-11-16T17:34:00.002-05:00

Funding For Gluten Free School Lunches!

The need for increased reimbursement for medically prescribed diets is particularly important. While schools are required accommodate such diets, they receive no additional funding to purchase the necessary foods.

Students with celiac disease are routinely denied access to their medically prescribed gluten-free (GF) diet because schools can't afford GF foods. Many products contain wheat as an ingredient or filler which can remove lunch staples as options for celiac students.

The only way to guarantee that children with medically prescribed diets receive proper nutrition and their medical diet is to reimburse schools for the actual cost of those meals.

A recent survey by the American Celiac Disease Alliance (ACDA) found in almost every state, students with celiac disease have requested but were denied GF meals. Cost was cited as the main reason schools did not accommodate the diet.

Please support students with medically prescribed diets and ensure funding to meet their needs when Congress considers the legislation to reauthorize the child nutrition programs.

Listed below is a link for you to personally help support this cause and to help our Celiac and gluten intolerant children!

School lunch funding

Regards,

The Celiac Shack
Making gluten free fun one dat at a time!

Travel & Leisure

2009-11-13T12:27:00.000-05:00

Gluten-Free Costa Rican Adventure

We tested our dart throwing skills on a global map today and hit Central America. We have found a place where hiking, rafting, beaches can all be yours without the worry of making sure if your meals are gluten-free. Yippy! If you have a hunger for adventure in a exotic local and have gluten intolerances, this is the place. Though this particular event was in 2008, I understand that they are trying to put something together for 2010. It looks like it would have been a riot to go on. Check out this link for their current adventues. www.emstrek.com/index.html

Director Becky Harrison has been arranging gluten-free menus for her trekking clients in Nepal for many years. Now, with a little help, Becky has taken gluten-free adventure to the next level by offering other great adventures that are totally gluten-free!

How do they keep meals gluten-free? They use two ecofriendly jungle camps as their base of operations. Each has their own kitchens and cooks that already cook for gluten-free guests. By making all the meals gluten-free, you won't be worried about cross contamination.

The types of meals you can expect will be a blend of local fruits and vegetables, fish, rice dishes and barbequed meats. They do everything to make sure you get a wide variety, including some pretty interesting desserts.

As for the experience, you’ll be amazed. Green, lush jungles, beautiful waterfalls and rushing rivers give this country a magical feel. They'll be hiking up Arenal Volcano, rafting the Pacuare River, and you'll have a choice of extra activities provided for filling out the days they are setting aside for free time.

Lodging is a two person A-frame permanent safari style tents with thatched roofs and beds with mattresses and bedding. Bathrooms are outside and conveniently located near the tents.

Now doesn't that all sound rustic and cool! Stay tuned next Friday for more fun places to go and live gluten-free.

Regards,
The Celiac Shack
"Making gluten free fun one day at a time!"

Shack Attack!

2009-11-12T15:05:00.000-05:00

Monthly Contests = FREE Swag!

Aloha "Shackers"! Here is your chance to win some free stuff. All you have to do for the recipe contest is sign-up for our newsletter and submit a dessert recipe. I know you all have a ton of recipes sitting around that you could share. Believe it or not, we have had zero entries for the last two months. The second contest requires you to sign-up to follow our blog and tune in for our post on Nov. 18th. The first person to e-mail us after the post is published wins the prize. Two simple ways to win some cool stuff from The Celiac Shack. The links for participation and the details for the contests are listed below.

Good luck!

Newsletter

Blog

Recipe Contest

Though eating healthier is always on our minds, the season to splurge is upon us. The challenge this month is for all of you to send us your best gluten-free dessert recipe! It can be your own recipe made from scratch, or a recipe that you have found else where and made. This is a perfect time to have your tasty treat on our tables during the upcoming holiday season. If your submission is chossen, we will send you absolutely FREE a bag of Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips by Enjoy Life and publish your recipe in Decembers newsletter.

Betty Crocker/General Mills

Prize Pack Giveaway!

The folks at General Mills/Betty Crocker contacted us recently to see if we would be interested in sampling some of their gluten-free products and to blog about them. In return, they offered to give the following to one of you "Shakers". The Betty Crocker “Simple Joys” prize pack includes 2 packages of Betty Crocker Fruit-Flavored Snacks, a retro Pick ‘em Up Sticks game, a light-up yo-yo and a classic Frisbee. The liaison for General Mills says, "Betty Crocker Fruit-Flavored Snacks is a snack you can feel good about as they are made with real fruit and each serving is less than 100 calories! Now kids – and kids at heart – can enjoy the simple joy of a fun, great tasting gluten free snack." The "Jones Gang 4" will be sampling them in their lunches this week and reporting back to home base for us to blog about. Though I appreciate the free swag they have provided, it by no means is a golden ticket to a great product review blog. I was straight forward about this before they offered this gift. What can you do to get your hands on this package? I will be blogging about these snacks on one of the Wednesdays in November. This day is devoted to product information of all sorts. Yes Alice, you must follow me through the looking glass and join our blog to win. I will included a promotional code in the blog. The first person to e-mail us with this promotional code will be the winner! I will need you to send your name and mailing address along with the code so I can forward the information on to General Mills. They will then direct send the prize pack to your doorstep for free.

Regards,

The Celiac Shack

"Making gluten free fun one day at a time!"

Gluten Free Product Info.

2009-11-11T15:06:00.000-05:00

DQ Gluten-Free Products

I know this is not typically the time of year you would normally visit an ice cream stand but I couldn't wait to share this awesome discovery with you. Dairy Queen has a huge amount of gluten free items on their menu. How great is that! Okay this may not be like discovering a new dwarf planet with the Hubble telescope kind of find, but as a mother of four children who like their mid-summer roadside ice cream stops, it's pretty cool. The only draw back is the possibility of cross contamination. Let's face it, the teenage kids that usually work these places probably never have heard of gluten, let alone cross contamination. So if you are seriously sensitive you may want to just wave and drive by. They do sell three prepackaged items that are gluten free if you just can't stand the thought of missing out.

They are:

• DQ® Fudge Bar

• DQ® Vanilla Orange Bar

• Dilly® Bar (look for this in a sealed plastic wrap)

For those who like to live on the edge and can handle the possibility of some cross contamination, here's your list. Products: containing no wheat, barley, oats or rye.

• Vanilla and Chocolate Soft Serve
• Arctic Rush™ slush - all flavors
• MooLatté®
• (Please note: This does NOT include Hazelnut Flavored drinks.)

Additionally the following toppings are gluten-free:

• Chocolate
• Hot Fudge
• Marshmallow
• Butterscotch
• Strawberry
• Caramel

They have a few other items and toppings not mentioned on this post. If you would like to find out more, just click on this link. DQ I hope this information helps those sweet tooths in your household.

Regards,
The Celiac Shack
"Making gluten free fun one day at a time!"

Kids Corner

2009-11-10T10:11:00.002-05:00

Gluten Free Paper Mache

My Daughter came home from her kindergarten class yesterday and told me they were working with Paper Mache. I didn’t think much about this statement until I began thinking about the ingredients of Paper Mache! AHHHH (Most paper mache is made out of paste which does contain gluten!)

Just as we make our own Playdough, I realized that we must come up with a quick and simple Paper Mache recipe for all of my troops to use at home and in school. Listed below are a few ideas that I found useful.

Homemade Gluten Free Paper Mache Recipe

Ingredients:
White Glue (Note: Elmer’s and Ross are both gluten free)
Water
Paper (We used old newspaper)

Directions:
Mix two parts white glue with one part warm water. Stir well and the Pasteis ready to use. Now you need paper-newspaper works well! Dip each piece of paper in the liquid mixture and apply it one piece at a time to form your shapes.

There is a premade product out there called Claycrete Instant Papier Mache - made from 100% pure paper pulp. You need to mix the dry mix with water, knead it and model it.

Our family enjoys making things from scratch, so we opted for the homemade version of this awesome and fun substance! Give it a whirl with your kids and see their eyes in amazement with all of the fun they’ll have!

Regards,
The Celiac Shack
"Making gluten free fun one day at a time!"

Health & Wellness

2009-11-09T08:30:00.000-05:00

Gluten Free Diet Growing In Importance

Though we have known the benefits of a gluten free diet to Celiacs for awhile now, doctors are now linking gluten to other medical conditions. Though they may be willing to see a connection, many are unwilling to prescribe a gluten free diet to treat such illness. Unfortunately the medical community still see this diet as another mystical remedy promoted through organic outlets in college towns. Unless you can fix it with a pill prescription, healthy choice ways of treating ailments are treated more as a myth than a viable solution. Hopefully as more time passes, doctors will see that there are many less traveled roads to cures than modern medicine realizes.

Fibromyalgia is illness that has shown improvement through a gluten free diet. People who suffer from the unrelenting pain of fibromyalgia are interested in finding any solution they can. One option that has come up in recent years is the possibility of using diet for fibromyalgia treatment. People suffering from fibromyalgia have found that when they alter their diet for fibromyalgia, eliminating certain foods that aggravate their symptoms, they may have a reduction in pain. One of the substances most frequently eliminated when adjusting your diet for fibromyalgia is gluten.

There is also reason for diabetics to pay attention to the gluten free diet. People with type 1 diabetes have a higher risk of celiac disease, and about 8 to 10 percent of people with type 1 diabetes also have celiac disease. Symptoms of the disease are generally gastrointestinal -- bloating, gas, and diarrhea -- but not everyone gets them. Because it interferes with the body’s ability to absorb nutrients, celiac disease also can cause weight loss and fatigue.

We are not saying that the gluten free diet is a cure all for all illnesses, but we are seeing a growing importance as it is linked to many other medical conditions. Please consult your physician if you have an illness that you may think is related to gluten. Though knowledge is key, it is never a smart move to self prescribe any medical treatment, no matter how informed you may think you are.

Regards,
The Celiac Shack
"Making gluten free fun one day at a time!"

Travel & Leisure

2009-11-06T11:23:00.000-05:00

Yosemite National Park

Today we are traveling to California to visit Yosemite National Park. The gluten free lifestyle is gaining so much momentum, that one of the most pristine location in America is taking notice. The Yosemite Lodge at the Falls has a chef named Michael Gover that has added items to the menu for people with gluten intolerances. Gover realizes that gluten-intolerance is often associated with other food sensitivities and has made it a point to be knowledgeable about various modified diets. While Yosemite Lodge at the Falls offers a variety of gluten-free options that include rice pasta and GF bread for substitutions, Gover encourages guests to contact him directly prior to their visit to begin a dialogue on how to best meet their gluten-free needs. Gover and his staff will make every accommodation necessary to ensure a gluten-free meal without cross contamination concerns.

Rooted in classical fare featuring organic foods from the region, the Mountain Room Restaurant at Yosemite Lodge at the Falls specializes in eclectic cuisine to cater to the varying preferences of travelers from around the country and the world. Below are a few of the mouth watering dishes they are serving up. Though I like to promote more family locations, this is a place better visited without the kids in tow.

GLUTEN-FREE MENU FEATURES

Rabbit Rillette- House made rabbit confit, golden rain puree
Mahi-Mahi Monterey-Coriander seasoned fillet, jasmine rice, house vegetables, ranchero sauce, avocado crème fraiche
Five-Spice Crème Brulee
Holiday Turkey Gravy

Regards,
The Celiac Shack
"Making gluten free fun one day at a time!"

Shack Attack

2009-11-05T14:35:00.000-05:00

Aloha!

Now that November is well under way, all thoughts turn to the holiday season. A time to get together with friends/family and eat lots of food. Unfortunately this is a challenging time for people with gluten intolerances, but it's a manageable feat. We have a few recipes to help you for the Thanksgiving holiday in this months "Pipeline" newsletter. A gluten and dairy free turkey gravy, plus a gluten free cornbread stuffing.

Also in this issue, we feature two great contests. A Dessert Recipe Entry Contest where the best recipe will be published in our December newsletter and the winner will receive a free bag of gluten free chocolate chips. The other contest is our Betty Crocker/General Mills Prize Pack Giveaway!

This is just the tip of the iceberg for the issue. There are helpful links, articles and much more. Click the link and subscribe for your free issue today!
"The Pipeline"

We are also looking for input and stories from our followers. It doesn't matter what social website you may see this on, we want to hear from you. We share many of these thoughts in "The Pipeline". We also use this to better understand the gluten free lifestyle and improve the quality of the subject matter that we publish in all forms. I am including our e-mail for your voice to be heard. Negative or positive, bring it! ;)
"E-mail"

Regards,
The Celiac Shack
"Making gluten free fun one day at a time!"

Gluten-Free Product Info.

2009-11-04T14:58:00.001-05:00

Glutino-Introduces G.F. Frozen Chicken Entrees

One of our Canadian followers wrote to me and stated that she tried a Chicken Pad Thai entree last week from this company and said it was really tasty and well priced. Though we don't sell this at our store, my objective with my blogs is to create awareness to our readers. These are not solely pieces for self promotion. Since only two out of the six "Jones Gang" our gluten intolerant, this looks like a quick healthy option for us when I don't have time to cook something different for my son and myself. It looks like the only way to buy it here in the states is on-line at www.glutenfree.com. Yup, one of our competitors. I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but the Canadians seem to be really progressive about this whole gluten-free thing. Yes my husband and three other kids are supportive, but still occasionally miss some of the gluten filled delicacies I used to make. Little do they know I am secretly searching out options to recreate these dishes gluten-free.

Glutino Foods and its brands Glutino and Gluten-Free Pantry are known by consumers living with celiac disease and other food allergies for providing a wide selection of gluten-free and wheat-free products.

New Glutino Frozen Chicken Entrees:
Tuscan Chicken with brown rice
Chicken Ranchero with brown rice
Chicken Pad Thai
Chicken Penne Alfredo

Regards,
The Celiac Shack
"Making gluten-free fun one day at a time"

Kids Corner

2009-11-03T15:38:00.003-05:00

Wheat-Free, Gluten-Free Cookbook for Kids and Busy Adults, Second Edition

Let's face it, being a child with gluten-free needs just stinks. As adults we can rationalize things and understand them in ways that children cannot. They see their friends chomp on things that they could only dream of having.

This book has easy to make gluten-free recipes that satisfy even the most finicky eaters. When you need a meal and don't have much time or energy, you're sure to find something you can pull off-and smile while you're doing it. Ann Whelan, Editor/Publisher of Gluten-Free Living Connie once again shows us that the gluten-free diet is not restrictive but merely a variety of delicious substitutions. Elaine Monarch, Founder/Executive Director, Celiac Disease Foundation Put away the complicated cooking gadgets: a wheat- and gluten-free diet for your kids just got easier! All the recipes in this completely revised second edition are simple to make for busy parents on the go, and they conform to new gluten-free guidelines. Written by celiac-disease authority Connie Sarros, the recipes run the gamut from simple treats to hearty meals and are sure to please your child without sacrificing nutrition! Includes Casein-free options and nutritional breakdowns for all recipes Tips on how to read labels and packages to be sure thatingredients are gluten-free Hints on meal planning and cooking basics Simple dishes that even kids can make for themselves.

Amazon.com has this book on sale for $11.53 and they even have a Kindle edtion for $9.99.

Regards,
The Celiac Shack
"Making gluten-free fun one day at a time!"

Health & Wellness

2009-11-02T10:00:00.000-05:00

Gluten-Free Pocket Guide

If you are anything like me, I am always on the go and have a tendency to forget things from time to time. My fridge and calendar are filled with countless reminders of school functions, doctor appointments and such. I don't know how often I have found myself in a food store searching for items that I need for gluten-free recipes. If you also do this, fear no more! The Gluten Free Lab has created a portable cheat sheet for shoppers like me that left the recipe on the counter instead of in my purse. I must admit that I have chosen the incorrect product and my poor son Sam has paid the price. This is a compact gluten-free shopping, ingredient & product guide.

Print it and keep in your purse, wallet and/or kitchen, pass it around to your well-meaning friends & family (surely they will appreciate having a guide!), email the PDF as a quick-reference for the people who want to cook you dinner! Click on Compact Reference for your printable copy.

What a life saver!

Check-out The Gluten Free Lab for other helpful information like this.

Regards,
The Celiac Shack
"Making gluten-free fun one day at a time!"

Travel & Leisure

2009-10-30T11:08:00.000-04:00

Bob & Ruth's Gluten-free Dining & Travel Club

As you know, we try to bring an array of different information to our readers. Though local events and places can be useful, sometimes it's good to dream big. I stumbled on this website and feel in love with the concept after reading the pages of their website. I hope you find it as intriguing as I did.

You are about to enter a world of gluten-free dining and travel that you probably thought did not or could not exist. Members receive a quarterly newsletter that provides a variety of information to those on a gluten-free diet. They offer 4-hour Workshops around the U.S. and Canada that have been proven to help make going out to eat and traveling gluten-free easier and therefore our lifestyle more enjoyable.

They began this adventure in the Fall of 1995. Since then we and hundreds of our members have literally traveled all over the US and the world - From 2 night Mini Getaways to The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY to 19 night Gluten-Free Getaways to the Orient. And there's so much more. So if you are a globe trotting gluten-free traveler, check out their getaways below.

Future GF Getaways-

EGYPT & THE NILE DELUXE GLUTEN-FREE GETAWAY Dates: November 9 - 20, 2009

CLUB MED WINTER GLUTEN-FREE GETAWAY VI, CANCUN, MEXICO VILLAGE Dates: February 6 - 13, 2010

TULIPS & THE ROMANTIC RHINE - A GLUTEN-FREE GETAWAY CRUISE-TOUR Dates: April 21 - 30, 2010

Contact Info:
205 Donerail Court
Havre de Grace, MD 21078
Tele: (410) 939-3218
Email: info@bobandruths.com
Web: www.bobandruths.com

Regards,
The Celiac Shack
"Making gluten-free fun one day at a time!"

Shack Attack

2009-10-29T10:36:00.000-04:00

Aloha Friends!

I have feverishly been working on our newsletter "The Pipeline" for the month of November. It has a lot of cool content, fun articles and two contests.

(1) Recipe Contest: Submit your best gluten-free dessert recipe. If your recipe is chosen to be the tastiest, it will be published in our December newsletter and you will win a free package of semi-sweet gluten-free chocolate chips by Enjoy life.

(2) General Mills/Betty Crocker Prize Pack Giveaway: General Mills has graciously agreed to give one of our "Shackers" a prize pack that includes a Yo-Yo, Frisbee, Pick-Up Stick game and two boxes of gluten-free snacks. Details for participation will be available through "The Pipeline".

If you haven't already become a subscriber, I urge you to do so. You will receive another newsletter to clutter your inbox and have some really good opportunities to win some free swag. Thanks as always for your support.

Sign-Up! The Pipeline

Regards,
The Celiac Shack
"Making gluten free fun one day at a time!"

Gluten-Free Product Info.

2009-10-28T12:41:00.000-04:00

What Can I Eat?

I was invited recently by Patty Fulloon to check out and contribute information if I so incline to a very cool website called "What Can I Eat?". Though we here at the "Shack" concentrate on gluten-free foods, this site touches on all food allergies. The only drawback, they are from Australia. The good thing is that almost any product can be ordered and shipped worldwide. Since she contacted me, I think she may be looking at a more global approach for their featured products and manufacturers. They offer recipes, support, restaurants that are safe for your specific allergy and much more!

Patty writes, "Finally a one Stop Shop for you to "Find your Perfect Match" within our Online Pantries for those who have Food Allergies or are searching for solutions to meet Specific Dietary Restrictions. No more endless searching online or within retail outlets, What You Can Eat can partner you to wonderful products Australian Manufacturers are offering and where you can source them."

So if you get a chance to visit this cool website from down-under, let them know that the "Shack" sent ya!

What Can I Eat? - www.whatcanieat.com.au

Regards,

The Celiac Shack

"Making gluten-free fun one day at a time!"