Gracefully Gluten Free

Gluten Free Heath Bar Brownies

2012-02-13T07:53:00.002-06:00

I made one mistake in making these brownies and that was I made them. They were sooo good and we couldn't get enough. This is something that you can make in minutes and it taste like you put hours into it. They are soo rich and chewy we loved them and I hope you do too!

Now I'm going to try making them with gluten for a men's banquet this week.

Gluten Free Heath Bar Brownies

1 Gluten free brownie mix of your choice
1 Heath Bar Candy Bar, crushed
Chocolate Syrup
Caramel Syrup
Pecans, chopped

Preheat oven to 350. Mix brownie mix as directed on back of box add pecans to mixture. Spray 9x9 pan with cooking spray and pat in half of brownie mixture. Sprinkle Heath bar over brownie mixture and drizzle with chocolate and caramel syrup. Top with remaining brownie mixture, I dropped it by a tablespoon. Bake for around 45 minutes are until the cake part of the brownie are done. After slightly cool drizzle with more chocolate and caramel syrup. ENJOY

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Easy Gluten Free Stroganoff

2012-02-08T08:32:00.000-06:00

Our son blessed us with some tenderized deer steaks that he did not want. I have a lot of my usual recipes that I can substitute beef for venison but Honey and I wanted something a little different. I can't believe through the years how creative I have become, I use to never cook anything without a recipe and now I do it all the time. The only problem is remembering the recipe to share it with you!

I always create in my kitchen with items already in my pantry.

Here is what I did:

I took one large package of tenderized deer steak and cut it in chunks, it's easier to cute while partially frozen.

Then I sprinkled a little olive oil in a skillet on medium heat and browned all of the meat real good.

After the meat was brown I sprinkled it generously with Seitenbacher Gluten-Free Brown Gravy Mix, 1.06-Ounce Packages (Pack of 12)
(you can sub any gravy mix) and added enough water to make a good gravy.

I simmered the meat in the gravy until done to my liking and then added 2 TBS of butter and heavy cream.

We ate it over Seitenbacher Gluten-Free Golden Ribbon Gourmet Pasta, 10-Ounce Bags (Pack of 3)
It was wonderful, you can also add cream cheese or sour cream to make a richer sauce.

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Super Bowl Food

2012-02-01T19:52:00.000-06:00

It's almost time for the big game. Did you know that there is more food prepared and eaten during super bowl Sunday than any other time of the year. Here are the top Super Bowl Food Statistics taken from HERE.

- The California Avocado Commission (CAC) projects that 13.2 million pounds or 26 million avocados will be consumed Super Bowl Sunday, mostly in the form of guacamole. That's enough dip to cover the Louisiana Superdome football field from end zone to end zone and approximately 40 inches. Are you ready to get waist deep in guacamole?

- Approx. 8 million pounds of popcorn will be consumed on Super Bowl Sunday.

- 28 million pounds of potato chips are expected to be consumed.

- During last year’s football championship game, more than 450 million chicken wings (90 million lbs.) were consumed, according to the Washington, D.C.’s National Chicken Council.

- It is estimated that more than 49.2 million cases of beer were consumed by Americans during last year’s Super Bowl Sunday.

I love football and basketball so I look forward to the Super Bowl every year. Honey and I usually spend the afternoon alone lounging in our pj's and EATING. I always cook up a few treats just for the day. So here are a few of my Super Bowl recipes.

Shrimp and Crab Dip

This recipe was taken from my friend Shirley who is now in her eternal home. She always brought it to all events at my house and we always looked forward to that. So I have converted it to gluten free and here it is. Make sure your ingredients are gluten free before making.

1 Chive & Onion Cream Cheese - 8 oz. - softened
1 Cream Cheese 8 oz. - softened
1/4 tsp. Cayenne Pepper - optional
2 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce
2 TBS Parsley Flakes
1 cup Crabmeat - chopped
1 cup Shrimp - cooked and chopped
1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese - shredded

Combine the first five ingredients in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly together. Fold in crab and shrimp. Transfer to a shallow 2 cup baking dish.

Bake at 375 F for 20 minutes or until top is lightly brown. Top with Parmesan after baking or 5 minutes before it's finished cooking..

Serve with toasted bread slices, crackers or tortilla chips.

Nachos

What is a party without nachos? I've always been one who liked things that go with anything. I bought a jacket once before my daughter left home, and it was made up of hundreds of different colors. My daughter's reply was, "Mom everyone knows you bought that to go with everything." I guess it made me look poor like I only owned one jacket. Don't you just love the wisdom of your kids? I love that jacket and still wear it today. Anyway one thing I love about nachos is that you can make chicken nachos, beef nachos, vegetable nachos, chili nachos and the list goes on and on. Umm maybe I am poor, no really I'm blessed. So this photo shows chili nachos made from my famous chili, recipe listed below.

Chili

Ingredients:
1 pound lean hamburger
1 sweet onion; chopped
2 cloves of garlic; finely chopped
1 TBLS. chili powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 bay leaf
1 14-oz can tomatoe sauce
8-oz dried beans of your choice
1 10 oz can diced tomatoes tomatoes with chilies I use mild
1 4 oz can tomato paste

Instructions:
I soak my beans and then start my chili by cooking them in beef broth, or chicken if making chicken chili. When they start to get tender I cook the beef and onion together and drain. Then add the beef mixture to the beans. After this add other ingredients and stir well. Cook until beans are tender and much of the liquid is absorbed.

Serve with crackers or corn bread! ENJOY

What are some of your favorite super bowl recipes? Care to share?

Thanks for stopping by y'all and please come again soon!!!!

Happy Birthday Baby Girl

2012-01-31T08:32:00.001-06:00

Twenty eight years ago today God blessed me with a beautiful baby girl. She was everything I had ever dreamed of. I always desired more children but was thankful that God send me one.

Ashia Nicole

January 31, 1984

God Chose You!

Now time has flown by and God has blessed me with with three other children and many grandchildren. I am just one blessed lady!

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

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Surviving the College Dining Hall

2012-01-29T07:31:00.000-06:00

I was recently contacted by Onlineuniversities.com wondering if I would be interested in sharing this post. I am always interested in helping others and thought that maybe this would be a help to you or your son/daughter.
Via: Online Universities BlogThanks for stopping by and please come again soon!

Colleges that cater to gluten free students

2012-01-24T09:21:00.001-06:00

If you have a child in college or entering college you may find this interesting!

I am excited that Mississippi State has many restaurants that cater to our gluten free needs. I visit Starkville often and frequent these restaurants. To have colleges that cater to gluten free needs is wonderful and in the future I suspect that we'll see more of this

So here is the information I recently received and I want to pass it on to you.

Over the past few decades, rates of gluten intolerance, also known as celiac disease, have skyrocketed. Today, it is estimated that nearly one out of every 133 people may have some degree of gluten intolerance. Whether this is because of a rise in actual gluten intolerance or just better ways of understanding and diagnosing the disease has yet to be determined, but it does mean that more and more colleges are paying attention and providing for the needs of students who may suffer from a gluten intolerance. While there is still a long way to go in making the majority of schools safe and celiac-friendly, some colleges and universities are going above and beyond when it comes to providing gluten-free options. Here are just a few of the schools who are leading the way, though many, if not most, have programs to provide meals for students with any kind of dietary need.

Baylor University
At Baylor University, students can find a wide range of gluten-free menu options through the school’s dining services. Due to demand from students, the university began offering more gluten-free options in 2010, and students can find out about which dining halls and menu items will meet their needs through the menus posted online each week.
University of Tennessee
Students with gluten intolerance can get help through a student nutrition coordinator found on campus. These professionals can help to ensure that students get the nutrition they need without encountering any potentially harmful gluten. Additionally, Volunteer Dining offers a range of gluten-free options both in residential dining halls and in the stores found throughout the campus. For students who still can’t find what they need, the school offers the option to put in special orders, though this must be done ahead of time.
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is working hard to meet the dietary needs of all the students on campus. While dining halls do not always have gluten-free options, students shouldn’t despair. The school has a registered dietician on staff who can help those with celiac to find the resources, tools, and food they need. This program can provide students with everything from gluten-free foods, to a gluten-free microwave to use, so that they’ll stay safe and healthy on campus.
Oregon State University
Students at Oregon State don’t have to work hard to find gluten-free options in their dining halls. The school offers a list of all of the gluten-free options they serve in each on-campus dining hall or cafe. At some locations, these options may be limited, but in many of the larger dining halls, gluten-intolerant students should find a wide range of healthy and tasty foods that won’t irritate their digestive systems. If those items don’t suit student needs, there is always a registered dietician on hand to make sure that dietary considerations are met.
Bard College
Bard College offers dining hall services that can meet a wide range of student dietary needs, from veganism to gluten intolerance. The school is currently working on renovations to one of their main dining halls that will include a new gluten-free section, keeping these foods separate from those that might contaminate them with gluten and cause reactions in some of the most sensitive students.
University of Wisconsin
In addition to a thriving student club on campus advocating for gluten-free options, UW Madison is working hard to meet the needs of students who need meals that are vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free. They’ve begun to label all food served in the cafeteria with symbols that are designed to make it simple to determine whether an item is OK to eat. Students can check with the weekly menus posted online to see what options will be gluten-free on any given day, with great choices like Thai noodles with tofu, tostadas, and enchiladas available.
Southern Methodist University
Eating gluten-free on campus can be a challenge, but Southern Methodist works to ensure that the process is a little bit easier for students. There is a registered dietician on staff who can help to design a healthy eating program for students and provides gluten-free options and equipment to students. Additionally, the school has recently created a dining hall called Healthy on the Hilltop which serves vegan and gluten-free fare (among other healthy options) to students with these dietary restrictions.
University of Arizona
Many people don’t realize the seriousness of gluten intolerance and how it is different from a food allergy, but students at the University of Arizona are working to change that. They have a large and growing group of advocates on campus who are pushing for greater gluten-free awareness. Dining services has taken notice, and in the fall of 2011 it began making changes to make it easier for gluten-free students on campus. This included switching to gluten-free food suppliers, choosing local foods, and educating staff on gluten-free preparation. Additionally, the school now offers several gluten-free entrées on campus, including pastas and breads that are totally gluten-free.
Ithaca College
There are three dining halls on Ithaca College’s campus, and each offers varying levels of gluten-free accommodation. At the main dining hall in the student center, there are gluten-free menus available for both lunch and dinner every day, giving students a range of options to choose from. There is also the Gluten-Free Pantry, which provides gluten-free breads, pastas, and equipment like microwaves and toasters. The other two dining halls don’t have a running menu, but students can pre-order gluten-free meals at them by contacting the dining hall management.
Texas A&M, Corpus Christi
Students at Texas A&M in Corpus Christi will find help from the school’s registered dietician in finding healthy and safe meal options. In the dining halls, students are provided with products like rice cereal, gluten-free pizza, soups, snacks, and desserts, as well as a whole host of veggies.
University of Notre Dame
In order to make eating in the dining halls less complicated for students who need to stick to a gluten-free diet, Notre Dame has listed all the menu items they serve on campus that are free of gluten. Students can search by dining hall for entrées, sides, and snacks that are gluten-free. For students who want something different, the dining hall will prepare special meals on request to meet any dietary needs, including gluten-free.
University of New Hampshire
Students can follow this link to an informative guide on eating gluten-free at UNH. With the help of the registered dietician and the director of culinary services, students shouldn’t have too hard a time finding gluten-free options. In each of the three dining halls on campus, students can find a gluten-free zone with restricted microwaves, toasters, and refrigerators, as well as a selection of prepackaged gluten-free items like cereal, bread, granola bars, waffles, desserts, and condiments. Students can also choose to pre-order meals or cook their own stir fry or omelets in separate gluten-restricted stations.
SUNY Potsdam
SUNY Potsdam goes above and beyond when it comes to accommodating students who need to eat gluten-free. Students at SUNY can choose from a wide range of gluten-free prepackaged items for entrées or snacks. There are also separate stations in the dining halls that cater to gluten-free eaters, preventing cross-contamination while also ensuring celiac students have plenty of options to choose from. Even at the school’s deli, students can choose from a variety of gluten-free breads, making finding something to eat on campus much easier. Additionally, meals can be prepared on request for any student who needs or wants them.
Tufts University
Tufts takes food allergies and intolerance quite seriously, and has tried to accommodate students with these special needs accordingly. The school has prepared a number of educational pamphlets on the issue that students can read through to learn what their dining options are on campus and how gluten-free meals are prepared. Students are advised to work with the school’s dietician, but can also find information on all menu items through "food fact cards." The school also lists all foods served at dining halls across campus that are safe for celiacs to eat.

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Easiest Spaghetti with Meatballs I've ever made!

2012-01-17T16:59:00.000-06:00

I love to keep a few things on hand for an easy quick meal. We were working on end of the year books recently and when it was time to cook super I was tired. I knew it would be like this so earlier that day I had taken a package of pre-made chicken and turkey meatballs out of the freezer. I ran across these at Wal-mart and they sounded good plus and this is a BIG PLUS for me, they are gluten free so even though they were a little costly I bought some thinking of the many things I could use them for.

Well on this night I decided to make my special spaghetti sauce (listed below) and simmer the meatballs in it for spaghetti and meatballs.

When I went to take my ingredients out of the pantry I was missing a few, man was I disappointed until I realized that I had also bought a gluten free pasta sauce a while back at Big Lots. Sooo I took it out and emptied it in a pan, added some spices of my own brought it to a boil and then turned on low, added my meatballs and ta da I had my sauce ready. Can it get any easier than that?

After cooking a few vegetables and the noodles (gluten and gluten free) I had a nice meal. Both Honey and I liked it. I will be buying the meatballs again and hey I may come up with something new like maybe a meatball sandwich. Yummm

By the way our local Big Lots has a lot of gluten free foods so check your out it may too!

Spaghetti Sauce
Servings: 8

Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef; cooked and drained
1 15-oz. can tomato sauce
1 14.5-oz. can diced tomatoes
1 6-oz. can tomato paste
1 6-oz. can tomato juice; for thinner sauce
½ TBLS dried parsley
1 tsp. dried basil
¾ tsp. dried rosemary
1 bay leave
½ tsp. dried oregano
¼ tsp. black pepper
½ tsp. salt

Instructions:
Combine all these ingredients in a large slow cooker; mix well. Cook on medium-low heat all day, stirring occasionally.

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Look What Others Are Doing

2012-01-13T09:31:00.000-06:00

I want to personally thank Bakery on Main for their work in the gluten free community! I will continue to buy their products whenever I can and I ask that you do the same! Bakery on Main has great granola, bars and oatmeal. You can shop HERE or where ever their products are sold.

BAKERY ON MAIN ANNOUNCES OVER $20,000 IN CELIAC DONATIONS

Gluten Free Company Funds Celiac Research and Awareness

EAST HARTFORD, CONN. – Bakery On Main donated a total of $21,771.75 in 2011 to support various organizations that provide the celiac community with awareness, education, advocacy and research.

The organizations Bakery On Main support are the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center, the Celiac Sprue Association (CSA), the Celiac Disease Foundation (CDF), the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG), and the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA). In addition, Bakery On Main supported over 40 Celiac events nationwide in 2011 and already has 22 lined up for 2012.

Bakery On Main is especially dedicated to supporting the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center’s Annual Free Celiac Blood Screening for individuals who would otherwise not have access to this service and the Gluten-Free Care Package Program for newly diagnosed celiacs.

CSA and CDF are non-profit organizations that are dedicated to helping individuals with Celiac Disease through education, awareness and support. Bakery On Main provided support to these organizations through participation in celiac awareness and educational events.

Bakery On Main sponsors GIG events and makes donations to the organization’s Celiac Camps. Their mission is to provide support to people with celiac disease, gluten intolerance and other gluten sensitivities in order to live healthy lives.

Bakery On Main works with NFCA to help them facilitate research, education, and early diagnosis. To support these goals, Bakery On Main sponsored a brochure with diagnostic testing information and a detailed symptoms checklist which was distributed throughout pharmacies, doctor’s offices and supermarkets nationwide.

ABOUT BAKERY ON MAIN

Bakery On Main was founded in 2003 with a simple philosophy: food that’s good for you should taste good too. It all started in the small bakery of a natural foods market on Main Street in Glastonbury, Connecticut. Founder Michael Smulders listened to his Celiac customers complain about the taste of many of the gluten free options available to them. He thought that no one should have to suffer because of a food allergy or other special dietary needs, and made it his mission to create products that were good for them but taste like they aren’t.

Today, the company’s premium gluten free products are made in a 34,000 square foot manufacturing facility with state of the art quality controls and in-house gluten testing on every batch. Located just a few miles down the road from the original bakery, the plant maintains the same small bakery quality by continuing to bake in small batches. For more information, visit www.bakeryonmain.com.

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A Continuation of our Christmas Story

2012-01-03T10:35:00.000-06:00

On the way home from Missouri I guess I had the stomach flu. I thought at first I had been glutened but I was sick twenty four hours and then days after that. I called my daughter and told her due to my feeling sooo bad I wasn't going to be able to cook for Christmas Day as in the past. We went to their home early so that I could help her some but she and Ben had it all under control. They provided us with great meals and we mostly played with Punkin which we loved. So I felt bad that I didn't cook any of the dishes I always cook at Christmas but you know what? We made it just fine and I gained back the three pounds that I lost during my sickness.

We attended the Christmas Eve service at their church. They attend a really neat church and we love visiting there.

After church Ben made us all waffles for supper, here is my gluten free waffle, it was great!

On New Years Honey and I were home alone but after the going during the holidays we enjoyed this time too. We just relaxed, ate and watched football.

To see more photos of our Christmas in Mississippi look at the photos at the bottom of this page.

Thanks for stopping by y'all and please come again soon!

The Best of 2011

2012-01-03T10:28:00.001-06:00

I hope you had a great Christmas and New year, we did.

We met up with all our children and grandchildren for an early Christmas in Kansas City, MO. This was really special for us as we met our new grand-daughter Lida for the first time. See photos at the bottom of this page.

I'll continue my Christmas story in my next blog.

Enjoy a look back on my recipes for 2011

Breakfast Casserole

Barbecue Cheeseburger Meatloaf

Gluten Free Fresh Southern Peach Cobbler

Gluten Free German Chocolate Cupcakes

Tomato-Cream Sauce for Pasta

Chicken & Rice Casserole

Gluten Free Skillet Lasagna

Gluten Free Butterfinger Cake

Easy Gluten Free Chicken Post Pie

Thanks for stopping by y'all and please come again soon!!!

A New Gluten Free Site

2011-12-26T08:00:00.000-06:00

I have a new friend. She contacted me via my blog and ask that I tell you about the launching of her new site. So here it is!!!

Gluten Freedom

Official Launch Party Giveaways and More!

January 5th-16th will be the official launch party for Gluten Freedom! You will not want to miss this! For the latest updates and to get VIP insider information, be sure to do one of three things - join this site through Google friend connect, subscribe by email, or subscribe through RSS feeds. All are on the left sidebar, just next to this post Now, let me tell you some of the companies that will be giving away gluten free goodies during the launch party:

So Good Gluten Free

Seered Pajamas

Radical Culinary

Mom's Place

Liz Siegrist

Hippie Cakes

Shades of Awareness

Pip's Recipes

Chris Reth Designs, LLC

Little Hands Like

Ener-G

See you there!

Merry Christmas

2011-12-23T11:42:00.000-06:00

A Merry Christmas Greeting from our home to yours!

At Christmas in this blessed season we pause to remember the special friends God has given us. May your celebration also be filled with warm remembrances and many blessings.

Psalms 126:3

Merry Christmas Y'all

Steve and Grace

Easy Gluten Free Chicken Pot Pie

2011-12-18T08:30:00.000-06:00

I am so proud of myself this year I have the house decorated and a tree put up. Last year we only put up a few decorations, we knew that we wouldn't be home for Christmas and I just never got in the mood to decorate. But I have to admit that by Christmas I regretted not having a tree up, it just didn't seem like Christmas. This year Honey talked me into our small tree instead of the large one, mainly because we can't remember where we stored the large one, and it was sooo easy. I think I'll go smaller from now on, Honey helped get everything out of the attic and I had it done in a few hours. It looks pretty good for old people.

After a busy day I was trying to think of something to make for supper I know Honey's tired of leftovers. It was pretty cold here and so I was in the mood for comfort food. I remembered a chicken pot pie that I use to make before going gluten free. It was fast, easy and soo delicious so I set out to transform it into a gluten free recipe.

Here are my results and it was just as good as the old recipe.

Gluten Free Chicken Pot Pie
Tender chunks of chicken and vegetables in a creamy sauce with a biscuit topping
Hands On: 15 | Total: 35 | Makes: 4 servings (1 piece each)

Ingredients:
    •    PAM® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
    •    1/2 pkg (12 oz) frozen mixed vegetables
    •    1/4 cup frozen chopped onion *
    •    1 cups of cooked chicken
    •    1 pkg cream of chicken cup a soup
    •    3/4 cup chicken broth
    •    1/4 cup reduced fat sour cream or I used heavy whipping cream
    •    1 TBS corn starch
    •    1/2 stick butter, divided
    •    1 cup of Pamela's baking mix with 1 heaping TBLS of mayonnaise and enough milk to make thin enough to pour
*optional

Directions
    1.    Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray 9x9-inch baking dish with cooking spray, set to the side.
    2.    Cook vegetables, chicken broth and the cup a soup in boiler until slightly done.
    3.    While this is cooking mix your favorite gluten free baking mix with mayonnaise and milk. Use enough milk so that you can pour the batter over your vegetable mixture.
    4.    Then to the vegetables mixture add chicken, half of the butter and sour cream, mix corn starch with a dab of milk and add to mixture heat all until hot.
    5.    Place in 9x9 pan and pour biscuit mixture over it, melt remaining butter and pour over top.
    6.    Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until dough is golden brown (no longer doughy) and mixture is bubbly. ENJOY

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