Getting Read for the Summer, i.e. dieting.

Hello internet.

It's been a while.... but I'm happy to report this summer will be 2 years gluten free! Yippee. I've had a couple of accidental glutenings, but overall it's been pretty good. I'm still on a mission to find the best gluten free bread mix/recipe... I've made about 14 loaves and gotten 1 or 2 decent ones.

Moving on... since summer is rapidly approaching, that means it will be bathing suit time. This is worrying me. I have realized since going GF that it's much easier to gain weight - in the past I could eat whatever I wanted & not gain, not the case now. SO - I am putting myself and my boyfriend on a diet, starting tomorrow.

We are going to be following David Zenczenko's "Abs Diet". It's based on his Power Foods - Almonds & nuts, Beans & legumes, spinach, veggies, dairy (fat free or low fat milk, yogurt & cheese), oatmeal, eggs, turkey, peanut butter, olive oil, whole grains (here I will be sticking to brown rice & quinoa), protein whey powder and raspberries & other berries.

He tries to get 5 or 6 power foods in at 3 big meals a day, and 2 or 3 in 3 smaller meals. So 6 meals a day - and he's got some weight training advice/tips to better our workouts.

I figured I'd document here. I'd like to loose 10-15 lbs. The BF is looking to loose 20-25 lbs.

Will post the start tomorrow....

Fall is approaching....

hello everyone -- not sure if there is anyone left reading! It's been quite a long time since my last post, but as I assumed, summer has been nuts, and with only three weddings left, I'm almost through the madness that is summer.

I had almost every weekend for about 8 weeks planned! Also, when it's warm out here, I don't tend to cook so there hasn't been too much to report on. It is starting to cool off slowly here in the Northeast though, and I'll be back in the kitchen soon scouring the internet for gluten-free recipes.

It got down to about high 50's the other day and I immediately found myself thinking about finding the perfect bread recipe. Cooking will be a bit harder for me now - as I am working much longer hours and not getting home until almost 8. I'll certainly be looking for quick & easy recipes.

So - hope everyone's summer is winding down nicely... I am SO excited for Fall, it is my absolute FAVORITE time of year, and I'm sick of all my summer clothes!

Anyone ever tried this???

I just stumbled upon this brand of beer doing some random google searching.. has anyone tried it?? Is it good? I have had RedBridge (www.redbridgebeer.com) before, and I enjoy it, but some variety would be nice. So this Shakparo is brewed by Sprecher Brewery (www.sprecherbrewery.com) and it looks like they also have another gluten free option called Mbege, both made from Sorghum & Millet...

Would love to hear your thoughts! THANKS...

Ok - another thing, I'm having issues trying to post links -- when i put a link, it cuts off whatever is after it - i did a ton of searching & cannot find an answer - any help?

Too much going on to blog....

Life has been NUTS for me lately -- and I don't think it's going to let up until Fall.

First -- I got a new job!!! Hooray for me. I'm extremely excited to start something new and this is an excellent opportunity for me to really advance my career. I'll be sad to leave my old job, but really cannot wait to start in my new position.

Second - I was away in Europe for a week. An AMAZING vacation -- had a great time. We (me & the boyfriend) started in Prague for a quick visit with friends -- then headed down to southern Italy for 4 days. We went to Capri, Positano & Sorrento. It was GORGEOUS. When I was in college I lived in Florence for 4 months, so I have a soft spot for Italy already, and was very excited to travel south to places I had never been (and to get to speak Italian again)!

Regarding food here -- I must say, I didn't eat breakfast or lunch for 5 of the 7 days I was there. A big part of this was a weird side effect of jet lag where I was just not hungry at all (why, oh why can't that be the case at home?!). And of course, the other problem - most Europeans have bread or pastry for breakfast (esp. on-the-go, same as here) and that was all that was available 90% of the time. So I enjoyed cappuccinos & alot of gelato (aahhh, gelato, i love you...) instead. I also had a small stash of Larabars & some nuts/seeds to nibble on.

Dinners I seemed to get pretty lucky with. I also got to eat A LOT of caprese salad (being in Capri and all) - which was, as you can imagine, SO FREAKING GOOD... ughh, why can't tomatoes, basil, fresh mozz & olive oil taste like that here???

No stomach issues of note, but again - I seem to have a rather high tolerance for gluten and it doesn't affect me as badly as many. When we were in Positano I managed to ask a grocery store owner if they happened to have any "bread without flour" (as my meek translation came out).. and he actually brought me to a package of grissini (bread sticks) that were made from rice! I was quick to purchase along with a to-go package of Nutella & a bottle of wine. Snacking on those later with a glass of wine & overlooking the Amalfi Coast was great - it was just too bad the rice sticks tasted like cardboard. Oh well, can't win 'em all.

While in Sorrento we actually found a card advertising a restaurant that had many gluten free options! But when asking the concierge about this place he said it was "OK" and recommended another spot that was more popular with the locals and he said they had a lot of gluten free options like risotto & plain baked fishes from the region. So we went there & I got the risotto & fish - YUM.

Such a lovely trip -- only slightly depressing that I couldn't eat any of my old favorites. After living there for a period of time and knowing just how good pasta/pastries/pizza really are there -- it was very hard for me. Matt was good though - he saved me one day when we were taking the ferry from Capri - Positano. I said I'd just had enough, how bad would one slice of pizza be? and reached for it with every intention of eating the whole thing -- but he gave me a look that said "Do you really want to do that?" -- and I knew the answer was no.

So -- that was my trip - the rest of my summer will be filled with transitioning to my new job, weddings, bachelor parties, engagement parties & beach weekends....

An amazing restaurant & gluten free ruminations

Life has been moving and happening so quickly that I've barely been able to get anything done lately, and this blog has fallen by the wayside.

SO much is happening right now, I'm not really sure where to start. Also, I'm feeling more and more that the gluten-free thing is just part of every day, and not something that I'm always thinking about. On the same note, I've been feeling so great and have so much energy, which some people have been pointing out to me, I feel I've really come a long way.

I've also realized, as of late, that compared to some other bloggers I read out there, I just don't think I'm as "careful" as most. For example, eating out for me is not a big huge ordeal, I go, I try to eat whatever is the safest if I'm not already at a gluten free restaurant, and I'm fine. A lot of this has to do with my sister - as I've mentioned before, she's been gluten free for almost 4 years - and she's doing great. Before being diagnosed she was loosing weight, in a lot of pain, and super cranky... so I've seen her transformation, and compared to the things I read online, she is so chilled out about it, which is great. We recently took my parents out for dinner, and she barely asked any questions, she just picked & ordered (and we were not at a gluten free restaurant). Of course there was the "no croutons on my salad please" comment, and we all ate, and it was delicious (ooh i had the most amazing polenta/sundried tomato/roasted red pepper combo) - and we were fine.

So whats the deal here? Are we possibly just less sensitive than others? Is that possible? I'm sure that if any gluten is injested accidentally it's a bad thing internally, but both of our follow up appointments are always positive & great. We're feeling great. All good things... and I would say I tend to eat out at least twice a week, if not more....

I'm sure it has a lot to do with the person, and there are so many different opinions out there among doctors, celiacs, etc, but I've just been wondering alot lately about just how careful I need to be. Don't get me wrong here - I'm not going to go out and eat a pizza and drink beer - and I would never do that just for sh*ts & giggles - but I'm not going to stop eating out in restaurants, at least not at this point in my life....

Which leads me to the most amazing dinner experience I've had in years and years. Matt, myself and another couple went to a super swanky, very well known restaurant in dinner last week. I've wanted to eat at this place for about 10 years, but it's insanely expensive so I never went. But our friends had a big gift certificate and they decided to take us. (WOO HOO)

This was the kind of place where a jacket was required, we had about 8 waiters, and I must say it was the BEST SERVICE EVER. They do a prix-fixe here - so I called ahead to let them know about my diet issues - and they said absolutely no problem. Great. Bring it on.

So we get there and the maitre'd passed along the gluten free info, and one of the waiters spoke to me and basically said order whatever I want - they can do it gluten free. Turns out - this waiters mother has celiac so he is well aquainted with my needs. Great.

I was extremely excited when he recommended the tempura (tempura!!!) soft shell-crab with caviar & pineapple. Oh. My. God.

I looove soft shell crab, and it happens to be in season, and the waiter told me that this was made only with some cornstarch. I don't know what magic the chef did to create this plate, but there are no words for how amazing it was. Oh & this place was also big in bringing out various "amuse bouche" from the Chef. Now here was where I was getting really impressed. Each time they brought these little treats out - mine was on a separate plate, and made specially sans gluten. WOW.

There was also a nice little touch that when the bread was served (and they had a big tray with 6 or 7 different types) one of the waiters had slipped away my bread plate, and the server knew not to ask me. Now THAT is attention to detail.

My dinner was a fabulous sirloin, i sampled the lobster, and there were even a few dessert options - I went for the assortment of sorbets.

I wish I could go all the time, but the dinner for the four of us cost about what I make per week after taxes. YIKES. But worth it...

OK - this has turned into a HUGE post. I'll try to be back more... OH and I never posted about Wagamama. i will do that - but I've been three times now, and it's been great each time!!!

Silly Rabbit... Bread is for non celiacs!

It was Easter yesterday, and my parents hosted the event at their home, which was wonderful.

There was a lot of excellent food, my Mom is an amazing chef - ask anyone I know, dinner at her house is always a special treat. I was spoiled growing up with her cooking, which is what I attribute my need to spend more money than I have on good food & restaurants.

Anyway -- I did a very funny thing. I was slicing the Easter Bread (the kind with the eggs cooked into it)... I had already gotten over my jealousy of the bread-eaters at this point; but it looked & smelled delicious (this was the only non-gluten free thing on the day, well that and some amazing looking deserts, but we had GF cupcakes & cheesecake)... so anyway, I was slicing the bread, and what did I do? I popped a piece of it into my mouth!

This was the first time I've done this... just popped it in, without knowing what I was doing. When I tasted the wonderful bread texture & that sweet taste of easter bread, I realized what I did and sortof yelled out... my cousins & Aunt were standing around and looked at me as I spit out the bread in my mouth, and they laughed when they realized what I'd done.

It was really pretty funny... I think I probably ingested a tiny bit, but I was fine. And I must say, I had that great taste in my mouth for at least a few minutes, and I really enjoyed it.

I guess it just goes to show how the GF diet really isn't affecting my daily life much anymore -- it's just the way I eat now.

Glutino

With my renewed vigor for the gluten free lifestyle, thanks to test results below... I splurged on some new gluten free items. Mainly, Glutino brand bagels, breads, snacks and cereal.

I'm assuming most of you have tried this brand before right?

It's excellent. Expensive, but excellent.

I REALLY enjoy their bagels, which I buy once every few months, but I just found their cereal! I started with the Honey Nut and I LOVE it... I really wish it didn't cost so much, but I may try to order on-line for a better price. Perhaps I'll see if I can get my local Trader Joe's to stock it... Anyway, this cereal is great because it's not overly sweet like many others, but just enough sweetness, and I love the texture. YUM.

Kudos to this company for their delicious products!

UPDATE: I found & tried the Apple Cinnamon Cereal. It's good, but not as good as the Honey Nut. Let me add though, that I don't like any kind of fruity flavor in my cereal - so I'm negatively biased.