Gluten free, from me to you!

Welcome!
My name is Laura Hill, I was diagnosed with celiac disease ten years ago. Like many others, it was like pulling teeth to get a diagnosis! When my doctor had performed numerous tests and prescribed a vareity of medication with no cure, I requested he test me for celiac disease by the recommendation of a friend and he refused. He told me I could not live the rest of my life without gluten. He also suggested I was making myself sick. I finally decided to seek a second opinion. The next doctor performed the blood work and the results came back confirmed celiac disease. Starting the gluten free diet totally changed my life. The condition I was in before the diagnosis was scary, without the gluten free diet I am not sure I would be here today! From my experience with celiac disease over the years, I have a desire to help others with the condition.

It can be daunting starting the diet and changing over to the gluten free lifestyle. This inspired me to become a dietitian, in order to help those make dietary changes. I just graduated with a B.S. in Nutrition and I am currently a dietetic intern. I enjoy researching celiac disease, recipes, and the correlation between diet and disease. In this blog I want to share recipes and general information to help you navigate the gluten free diet, in the gluten filled world.


Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Sweet as pumpkin pie..


 
As the leaves are changing colors, the temperatures are dropping, and fall flavors are in full swing from pumpkin lattes to hearty soups . I happen to love pumpkin in just about anything. An added bonus is its extremely healthy with high levels of Vitamin A and fiber.
Since Libby's made its way on the shelves for the first time this year I have been experimenting with new ways to add pumpkin to recipes. Vanilla yogurt with canned pumpkin, cinnamon and a few walnuts makes a healthy snack or dessert.  Another way I have been enjoying pumpkin is mixed into peanut butter and spread on gluten free bread or waffle and topped with banana and cinnamon. I know these sound like unusual combinations but don't knock it til you try it.. I also have a great pumpkin roll recipe that will be posted soon.

Here is a recipe for pumpkin muffins with a little help from Betty! I used the pumpkin in place of the butter or oil for a lower fat version.

Ingredients:
  •  1 gluten free Betty Crocker yellow cake mix
  •  1 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
  •  1/3 cup brown sugar
  •  2 teaspoons of cinnamon
  •  3 eggs
  •  1 tsp vanilla
  •  1/4 cup milk

Cream cheese center:

  • 1/2 block 1/3 less fat cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla

 
Directions:
Preheat oven 325. Line 14 muffin tins with paper liners or spray with oil.
In a large mixing bowl combine eggs, pumpkin, milk, and cake mix. Beat with electric mixer for 1-2 minutes. Add sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. Spoon mixture into prepared muffin tins. You may want to layer the cream cheese topping in the middle or put it on top before baking.

Cream Cheese Center:
Warm cream cheese in microwave for 30-45 seconds or until soft. Stir in powdered sugar and vanilla. Either layer in the middle of the muffin or top muffin with a teaspoon of the mixture.

Bake at 325 for 15-18 minutes 
 

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Going Out Gluten Free..

Eating out can be a scary for individuals following a gluten free diet but with proper planning can be done. Many restaurants now offer gluten free menus and chefs are adapting recipes to accommodate those with allergens and intolerances. Even restaurants that do not offer a gluten free menu may be able to provide a gluten free meal, so ask to speak to the manger to discuss the menu options. These Triumph Dining Cards are good to have on hand that explain to the chef what is allowed and not allowed on the gluten free diet, these cards are nice for traveling and come in a variety of languages. Here is a list of local restaurants that offer gluten free meals in the Nashville area:

Amerigo's
Bonefish
Bricktops
Burger-Up
Carrabbas
Cabana
Chili's
Chic-Fil-A
Chipotle
Fiddlecakes
Garlic Jim's
Jason's Deli
Maggiano's
Mafiaoza's
Matteo's
Olive Garden
Outback
Pei Wei
P.F. Changs
Red Robin
Ted's Montana Grill
Zoe's Kitchen