Banana Nut Muffins

I was recently browsing the forums at GlutenFreeForums.com the other day, and saw a thread on banana bread. I immediately had a craving for it, and reading through the recipes, Amy gave one for Banana Muffins. The recipe she gave was not just gluten free, but lactose free & vegan (I think, no eggs).

I made a few modifications, added nuts, used real milk & eggs - so I'm not sure if I got the measurements exactly right - I'm sure some of you more experienced bakers out there would know - I'm more of a beginner with baking, I'm usually cooking something salty.

So in case you're interested, here's the recipe I used:

1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup crisco
2 eggs
1 large banana, mashed
1/2 cup of milk - a little more was added when it was too doughy
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups gluten free flour mix (I used Tom Sawyers, see link below)
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
Crushed walnuts - or any nut of your choice, about a cup

Preheat oven to 350. In a medium bowl sift together all dry ingredients and set aside. In a small bowl mash the banana. In a large bowl cream together crisco and sugar. Add eggs, mashed banana, milk & vanilla. Mix well. Add dry ingredients and mix well (this was where I realized i needed more milk!) Spoon into muffin tins, I used individual wrappers for minimul clean-up.
Bake for about 12-15 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean. About 5-8 minutes before they're done, sprinkle walnuts on top of muffins. OR mix them right into the batter, I think I'll try that next time, because the walnuts taste really delicious with this. Remove from oven. Let cool on rack. They tasted great out of the oven, cut in half, with a little bit of low-fat butter, and for the next day & day after that, microwave, bit-o-butter & ENJOY!

Tom Sawyer's Gluten Free Flour

Nigella is a genius

I caught a few minutes of "Nigella Bites" on the Food Network this weekend. I used to watch her show years ago, and had a few of her cookbooks, she is the best, if you've never heard of her - Google her, look for her, read her books, you will not regret it. She makes amazing food.

So in the few minutes I caught her show, I happened to tune into a quick & easy "working woman" soup which was great, because I wanted soup yesterday and had barely any groceries, and lucky me - it was gluten free (didn't mean to rhyme there, but how cute).

All it is, and you may have done this before, but I think it's genius, is a jar of pasta sauce, I have a tomato basil brand I love - dump it into a pan, add boiling water, and rice - and voila, Tomato & Rice soup.

I think the key here is a really great jar of tomato sauce, since that is where you get your whole flavor. I also added a can of crushed tomatoes, and some chicken stock (because i love salt), and a little extra basil & topped with parmesan cheese. YUM. And it took about 2 minutes to prepare, and 15ish to cook.

Also - Nigella has contributed to "The Gluten-Free Bible.." and has some great gluten free recipes, especially desserts for example see here

A great dining experience

Going out with a girlfriend for dinner last night - the first sushi place we planned on turned out to be closed, shut down forever! I was totally bummed - so we thought of another place around the corner, actually in the Westin Hotel in Copley Square called OSushi. I had been there a while ago, and remembered it was good.

I don't know what has been going on lately, but I have been CRAVING sushi all the time. I really can't get enough. I have my favorites - Tuna, Alaska, Salmon, yellowtail - and especially the seaweed salad. So last night we sit down, it's a cool place, small, and with loud techno, order some Sake, miso soup and for some reason it dawns on me to ask if the seaweed salad has soy sauce in it. Now, I've been eating this for the past month or more, every week, and I just think of this now?! Sometimes I really blank of watching the food I eat.

Then the waitress asks, do I have a food allergy? Yes, I do. Wheat? Why, yes. Celiac? Wow - yes, I do!
(It's amazing to me that people know about this, I don't know why).

This waitress turns out to be the best. Finds some wheat-free Tamari buried in the kitchen. Informs me without asking what I can/can't eat. She was awesome! It turns out her best friend has celiac so she knows all about it.

Back to the seaweed - I'm completely bummed. And, pissed - I've been thinking I've been doing so well and not eating gluten, and it turns out I was wrong.

So - the dinner was so great - Kobe Beef Rolls? Umm, the greatest thing ever... They also have the best miso soup I think I've ever had. If you're in town - go there, look for the short, cute brunette waitress - she'll hook you up.

Happy 2007!

Hello all... I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful holiday & new year! Best wishes to you in 2007!

So, I found RedBridge soon after posting about it thanks to a comment I received- and I must say it's quite good!! I actually enjoy drinking it. In fact, my boyfriend (not a celiac) STOLE my last two, which was rather annoying actually.

It tastes a lot like Sierra Nevada Pale Ale -- which happened to be my favorite beer pre dx - so this is great!

Also, it looks like the retail locater is working now - so look for it at a store near you!! Now, I just need to convince my local bar to keep it in stock - possibly even on draft?

New Redbridge: GF beer from Anheuser-Busch!

The makers of Budweiser, Michelob, Natty Ice, etc have concocted a gluten free beer called Redbridge!

They have a Retail Locator for Dining In & Out so you can see where to get it. I was having a hard time getting it to work - perhaps the site is inundated with thirsty celiacs? But am hoping there is some in the Boston Area.

Anyway - I will be looking for this, and will report back to you with an update immediately!

(Rural, just got your comment below via email -- just as I was about to post! Word must be spreading like wildfire!)

Check out there website here

Celtics Game, but no junk food or beer???

I've realized as of late, that one of the biggest bummers about Celiac (besides the freedom to eat whatever I want at whatever restaurant I want) is that sporting events just aren't as fun without a beer and dirty hotdog!

Last weekend I went to the Giants/Cowboys game - great game! - but couldn't eat or drink anything there. In that case, I was pretty hungover so I didn't want a beer anyway, plus it was cold.

BUT - tonight, I'm going to the Celtics game and will be meeting up with people at a bar right near the Garden, to pre-game. Normally I would just go, get some chix fingers & fries, & drink beer - maybe get a hotdog at the game. Of course, that's not an option. So what do I do? Before going to meet everyone, I order in some sushi at work, it's actually excellent sushi, so that makes me happy. Now I'm feeling full & heading over to the bar, and won't mind when everyone's eating burgers & pizza.

Now, we get in there, I'm sitting watching the game, I would really like to enjoy a cold beverage while watching. I DOUBT they sell wine, cider jacks or hard liquor at the venue, which means I'm going to have to drink EXTRA wine at the bar before heading over; sounds like trouble.

I think Celiacs should be allowed to Bring-Their-Own Alcohol wherever they go. We don't want to always volunteer to be designated driver! No one's even driving tonight?! So what's a celiac to do?

I'll let you know, but hopefully they're servin' some Bard's Tale at the Boston Garden tonight.

Wagamama to open in Boston!

I am so pumped! Wagamama, one of my favorite restaurants I loved to visit in London, is conveniently opening right across from where I work in Faneuil Hall!

Of course, when I used to eat there, I didn't know I had celiac, and had no symptoms, so I had free reign on the menu - BUT, as listed on their website, they do have a few gluten free items! Here's a link to their dietary restrictions: Wagamama Link

They also display food suggestions for people with lactose, garlic, msg, nut allergy, and diabetic issues... So thanks for lookin' out Wagamama!

The location in Faneuil Hall isn't opening until Spring 2007, and they will have another location opening in the Summer of 2007 as well... I think this place will do tremendously well here in this city, it's great, affordable asian food in a funky, chic atmosphere. Easy & delish, love it.