A New Year A New Diet !!

 Happy new year to you. This is your year to feel better and be happier . If you are new to the diet you probable have  know tis that your not so depressed as you feel better. Depression is common when you do not know why you were feeling so bad before you get your diagnosis. When you get diagnose you really see that you are depressed because you are lets face it in shock of having to change your diet to gluten free. After a short while you will see that this is not a bad diet. Food  is different but good you don't have to miss out on a thing. It is still there every thing that you like to eat just gluten free. Soon you will know tis  that life is great again and you are happy and most importantly you feel GOOD and have energy like you never had before. So hay have a Happy New Year.
Pamela

Hope you had a Merry Christmas!!

 I have been on holiday so it has been several days. I hope you all had a great Christmas. My advice tonight is freezing is your friend . The reason why is what ever you have left over freeze it!! Baked goodies, Main dishes, or what ever you have left from Christmas. Gluten free doe's not stay good very long because it is different all the way around. It will go bad fast even in your refrigerator. Freezing will keep it fresher longer. Trust me it works.So just remember freezing is your friend. Have a good night.
Pamela

Information for you

A little about me. In 2003 I co-founded a support group at St. Marks Hospital. A year latter we affiliated with GIG ( Gluten Intolerance Group ) . The group meets every second Tuesday of every month. It has been a great experience for me and believe it or not it grows every month. This is free for you just come. We can help you and get you on your way to the gluten free diet. I also have been teaching gluten free cooking classes since 2003 an tell today. I also work at a gluten free store called Against the grain a great place to shop at. You don't have to read labels just enjoy you can look at every thing and buy what you want knowing that it is OK . You see my life is gluten free helping people that is what I love to do! I am in Salt Lake City Utah the address for the store is 2292 west 5400 south. If you live close come in and see me I would love to talk to you. Have a great night!
Pamela

This is the big Christmas week

 I know that every one is running trying to get ready for Christmas. I here you me too. Christmas eve is at my brothers house and my assignment is funeral potatoes. So I just need to convert recipe to gluten free. Not a problem just think about it. All I have to change is the cream of chicken soup. This is simple make your own cream of chicken soup! You use chicken broth and thicken it with cornstarch, potato starch or tapioca starch then add milk and what ever seasonings you want and wa la you are there. Oh and on top gluten free corn flakes. I think they come out better this way more flavor and know one can tell. You are the best cook and definitely take the praise you deserve it. Have a great evening.
Pamela

About Last Night

 We had our support group GIG last night at St.Marks Hospital. It was fun to try out so many different kinds of cookies. Thank you all for your support!! The cookies that I made came out good also a new recipe from Tom Sawyer gluten free flour. It was so easy so I am going to post it for you to try. Remember that if there is some thing that you can not have change what you need to make it to work for you.

Chocolate Topped Cherry Cookies

2 1/4 cups Tom's flour blend
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 cup butter softened
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. almond extract
1/2 cup chopped, maraschino cherries
1/4 cup pecans, chopped

Preheat oven 350 F

In a large bowl combine all ingredients, except cherries and pecans. Blend well at low speed. Stir in cherries and pecans; mix throughly. using a teaspoonful, shape into balls. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Cookies will spread slightly. Bake for 15-18 minutes. Cool. Top with chocolate frosting.

Chocolate Frosting

2 Tbsp. cocoa
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
1/4 tsp. salt
3 Tbsp. melted butter
1/4 cup maraschino cherry juice
3 cups powdered sugar

 Mix first 4 ingredients till cocoa is dissolved. Mix in cherry juice. Gradually add powdered sugar alternately with enough HOT water until it is of spreading consistency. Frost cookies.
I also put some sprinkles on top. They were cute. This is very easy I hope you will try it. Have a good night.
Pamela

Did something new

  Yesterday I tried a new recipe from Namaste foods. It came our really good you need to try this!

Brownie Mint Ice Cream Cake
1 Namaste foods brownie mix
1/2 gallon mint chocolate chip ice cream - softened
1 container whipped topping - softened
15 crushed peppermint candies or candy canes
chocolate syrup

Bake brownies according to package directions in a 9x13 pan.
Spread softened ice cream in an even layer over brownies.
Spread even layer of whipped topping over ice cream.
Drizzle chocolate syrup over cake.
Sprinkle crushed peppermint candies evenly on top.
Refreeze for at least one hour before serving.

I have to say very easy! fun and very very good. My family loved it. Take a chance you will love it to!
Have a great night.
Pamela

Fast and simple!

 As I promised here is the rolo caramel pretzel recipe.

One bag rolo candies
A bag of pretzels twists, Glutino or Ener-G
A bag of pecans
Put some parchment paper on a cookie sheet . Put the pretzels down and put a rolo on top of it. Put as many on the cookie sheet as you can. Heat the oven to 200. Place the pretzels in the oven and cook for 7 minutes. The rolos will look shiny pull them out and press a pecan on top smashing the warm rolo on to the pretzel. Then enjoy! simple and fast. Have a great night.
Pamela

Some thing fun

 Ok so you may want to show people that gluten free foods are good, I mean look good ,taste good. So no one can tell it is gluten free. Maybe you don't want to cook OK! You really don't have to. There are great products out there. Glutino is very good with cookies, chocolate pretzels or even yogurt pretzels or just a simple pretzel and you can put a Rollo candy on top and melt it a little in the oven and  it comes out great. Also there is Udi's they have great muffins, pizza crust,and cinnamon rolls. you can also get cookie dough WOW and Glutenfreedas are the best I think. There are so many Product out there. You just have to look and you will be amazed and so will they. Have fun with it.
Pamela

Going to holiday party's

 The last four nights I have been at holiday dinner party's. Tis the time to have the gluten free challenge. So far my husband has not had any good luck. In fact Saturday he got really sick on a gluten free menu item that we have had before. The reason I tell you this is that if  you get through this season with out getting sick your doing great. You never know when some one that does  not under stand what they are doing. Like for instance I think that they put croutons on my husbands salad. Then seeing that his order was with out  croutons because his order was off the gluten free menu they just picked them off instead of remaking it. But I do not know fore sure that is just a possibility's. Just don't get discouraged this will happen from time to time. You still need to be normal and do things just like every one else. Remember this will not happen every time. So enjoy your holiday season, YOU will make it through. Have a great night.
Pamela

Baking tip tonight

I know many of you are new to this diet and the shock of how much it cost to buy gluten free food is really hard to swallow. You might think that doing your recipes from scratch is cheaper. Sorry to say, You may be a great baker but gluten free is a whole different ball game in every way. By the time you buy all of the different flours and starches and add on other things like ultra gel, egg replacer, gelatin, and xanthan gum a must, and so on. The cost becomes very big. You want it to look good and taste good. Also you always have a big chance it will just not work out and I mean not at all. It will go in to the garbage and you will cry at the money you lost.This still happens to me and I have been doing this since the dark ages. Trust me start easy buy it all ready done get a feel on the taste and texture first.When you feel like you want to make some thing use a simple and I mean simple mix get how it works and feels and bakes out. It will be different! Take your time. Then after some time if you want to do recipes than go for it .This will be a cheaper way for you. And you will do better. And be happier with what you make.Good luck and good night.
Pamela

Something fun to do with leftovers

One thing that we always have after Thanksgiving is leftovers. So how do use them and not get really sick of them? This is how! I used the leftover turkey, gravy and pie crust dough and made a turkey pot pie.I added diced potatoes, carrots, onions and celery. It came out great and it was some thing different that everyone loved. It only took 20 minutes to prepare and cooking time was 1 1/2 hour. Not to bad for a gluten free dinner. Coming up with ideas for dinner well can not be so fun at times. But just think of what you have on hand and go from there. Tonights dinner I used leftover pork roast and made pork and rice noodles very good also.Think and do. Have a great night.
Pamela

A almost success

Yesterday I made  another attempt at donuts. I have been working on this for three years and they always turn to mush in the oil and burn and make a mess. This has been the hardest thing for me to figure out and it has cost me the most money at my fallers. So yes I do fell at things. Gluten free is not easy even though I have been cooking gluten free for years. I am still working on figuring out different baking things. So I am getting closer to my donuts I will not give up till I get it.This time they come out pretty good closest yet but I am still not their.When I do  than you will know. I tell you this because I want you to not give up on your fallers. Keep working on it tell you get it and you will ! Have a great night.
Pamela

I hope every one had a good Thanksgiving.

I hope that you had a good Thanksgiving and that you did get to eat every thing that you wanted to eat. Just think of it this way. If this is your first year at doing the gluten free diet you made it through it. Also hopefully it was not so bad! You did it. It will just get better and better. You will feel good and not be sick and be more  happy. You will also know that Christmas wont be bad at all! Keep moving foreword. Your doing it.
Pamela

Just have a great day!!

Tonight when you are getting ready to cook your turkey remember to make sure that the turkey is not injected with gluten to juice up your turkey. It is common that some of the turkey companies will do that. So just be where and have a great Thanksgiving.
Pamela

Tonight a fast and easy stuffing recipe

I love this recipe we have used it for years. When we found out that we had to go gluten free. I just converted it to gluten free. It is easy and good. So here we go!
Pamela's own stuffing
 4 cups dried cubed gf bread  and I like to toast them in my oven but you don't need to do that it's your choice.
2 cups chicken broth
1 apple diced
1 onion diced
2 large carrots grated
1 cup fresh mushrooms chopped
1 cup celery chopped
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1/2 teaspoon rubbed sage
1/4 teaspoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
1 tablespoon parsley flakes
Beat the egg and add it to your broth. Put all ingredients in a bowl. Mix together and put it in a turkey or in a baking dish. If in a dish cook at 350 for 50 minutes.
Have a good evening!
Pamela

We are now in the Thanksgiving week

 I know that we spend this time with our family to celebrate and give thanks for our freedom. Some thing you my consider is to share with your family about the odds of them having Celiac are very high. There is a 1 out of 10 chance they can end up with this to. Don't be afraid to do this! Show them that it is not so bad these days it is much easer to do the diet and not really that hard to fined gluten free food, and that it can taste good too. If they do not listen then you did your part. The rest they will in time or should I say see that you were right. I have seen this many times in many family's.So hay good luck and have a good evening.
Pamela

A small note tonight

 I know that their is old information out their. So just in case you have seen the old stuff and you are new. The three things that will not go away no madder how hard we try, I mean I work with GIG ( Gluten Intolerance Group) as a co-chair,and am a co- founder of the branch of the St Marks Hospital support group. 1 .Is  Carmel color is OK unless it states it comes from wheat. 2. modified food starch is OK again unless it states it is from wheat. 3 All vinegars are also OK except for malt vinegar. Just a simple thing tonight good luck and I hope this makes life easer on you.
Pamela

New comer
All vinegars are processed in a way that no matter what it comes from it will be OK. But malt vinegar is not processed much so it is different and it comes from barley.

A look at the positive

Many times after you are diagnosis you wonder if I am doing the diet right? This is how you can tell. When you start the diet and you do it right your body is wondering where is the gluten. It needs to reacting to it so it get more sensitive. That means you will get sick if your body even scenes that your food you ate touched gluten or had a little gluten you will know general after about 30 minutes. Take this as a good sine because you are healing that is why your body is reacting this way.After about one year every thing will settle down and not be so sensitive but don't take me wrong you will still need to be on the diet but your body will be more use to it.There is a small percent of you that will no matter what you eat you will not get sick but most of you will. Always look for the positive you will adjust to the diet easer and will be more happy. Have a good night.
Pamela

If you are interested in a privet consultant I can help you

I can help you with ...
The new diet change
Cooking
Setting up a duel kitchen
Shopping
Health benefits
Tricks to the cooking
How to do the diet while traveling
Eating out
How to convert your favorite recipes
Extra
My price is $25.00
Call me at 801-842-2180
.

I hope you had a great weekend!

Now that we are a week and half away from Thanksgiving I know that getting a turkey is on your mind. Please make sure that it is not injected with gluten to juice up the turkey. This is a common thing so read your labels. Look for Wheat, Malt or Barley. I do not want you to have a not so fun day like spending it in the bathroom. Just remember that thees company's like to not make any sense like putting gluten in it.There are many turkeys brands that are just fine not a big deal. Just remember to read your labels. Have a great evening!
Pamela

OK you made it another day

I know that the holidays are coming so tonights tip is do not panic just remember chocolate. It is really good for you and most of it is gluten free.The most popular brands are. So just make sure their are no malt flavoring or malt of any kind and that they don't flour their molds with wheat flour.Most of them make sure that they are gluten free because this is a big issue now. So this time of year it is very stressful and this has been proven to help. So if you need it you need it and no one can say that you don't!
Also tonight one thing to remember about malt and the difference between maltodextrin and malt if it is one word like maltodextrin it is OK because that comes from corn,rice and potatoes. Malt sugar or two words malt what ever is from barley and not OK. So one word yes two words no. Have a great night!!
Pamela

Here is my promise to you

I said that I would give a recipe and here it is. I hope this will help you on Thanksgiving!
 Pie Crust Pam's own
 2 1/2 cups gluten free flour mix
1 tea. baking powder
1 tea xanthan gum
1/2 tea salt
2 tea brown sugar
1 tbs almond meal
2/3 cup shortening
1 egg
1 tbs vinegar
2/3 cup cold water

In a medium bowl mix all dry ingredients together. Then cut in shortening to the size of a Lima bean. In a bowl put the egg vinegar and water mix together and add to the dry ingredients. You can mix by hand that is what I do or you can use a heavy mixer with a dough hook. mix all you gluten free are different from gluten. Press in to pie pans it makes three 9" crusts. cook the same way as regular pie crusts. If no filling just shell cook at 350 for 12 to 14 minutes until crust is lightly brown. Enjoy and have fun and if you need to change any of ingredients because you may not be able to have something that is in it do it!. It will be OK

Here we go!!

To day is my first day. So I am going to tell you that I am going to do a demo at our support group tomorrow night at St. Marks Hospital 7:00 pm. Come and learn how to do pie crusts. My own recipe and it is very easy you can do it just come and see.