Hope to see you all there!

Second – I got my own domain name!  I have been thinking about this for a while now and I finally took the leap today.  I will be working over the next few days to get everything set up and once I do, I will make sure you all have the link.  You will need to update your readers with the new link once everything is set up. 

Lastly, I got the recipe for the beloved cream-filled donuts that my MIL made last week.  I will get that typed up & share with you as soon as I can.  I can’t wait to try them out myself! 

Esther at Lilac Kitchen is hosting this week’s gluten-free menu swap and her ingredient choice is: parsnips.  Wow, I have never made parsnips, but they have piqued my interest after seeing several other bloggers making fries out of them. I love fries in any shape or form, so I just may grab some parsnips & give them a try this week.  I have made sweet potato fries, butternut squash fries, yucca fries & rutabaga fries.    I am interested in seeing what the other bloggers do with parsnips. 

Sunday – Tilapia (perhaps coconut or teriyaki), baked sweet potato, steamed broccoli & carrots & salad

Monday- Turkey Burgers, butternut squash fries, asparagus & salad

Tuesday- Spaghetti & marinara, brown rice pasta, zucchini & salad

Wednesday- Breakfast for dinner (omelets, sweet potato fries & fruit salad)

Thursday- Bourbon Chicken (I am trying out tofu, too), coconut baked rice, green beans & salad

Friday- Baked Chicken Fingers, mashed potatoes, veggies & salad

Saturday-Leftovers

Baked Goods

Bread

Muffins of some sort

Make sure to stop by Orgjunkie for lots more menu ideas. 

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I got some very exciting news today.  I can’t share yet, but I will in the next few days.  Stay tuned!! 

Columbus peeps – Raisin Rack will now be carrying Everybody Eats products!  Review to come later this week! 

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If you would like to help out those suffering in Haiti, there are several ways to do this.  You can “Dress down for Haiti“.  Lauren, at Celiac teen is collecting recipes from bloggers (gluten-free or not) and putting together an ebook to help raise money for those in need.  And lastly, onate money right to the Red Cross.  You can do so via their website or by texting “Haiti” to 90999 and $10 will be charged to your cell phone bill.

Here is some great information that Lisa sent to me:

Organicville Foods

Food chemicals and high-sugar additives plague the grocery store aisles nationwide. Most brands sweeten their products with high fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners which are contributors to higher risk for obesity and diabetes more than ever before. These synthetically processed substances in many of America’s food favorites dangerously impact the glycemic levels.

But now, people can choose a healthier option that delivers the same great taste. Organicville, makers of USDA certified organic, vegan and gluten-free ketchup, barbeque and teriyaki sauces, salsa’s and vinaigrettes are made with agave – a 100% natural sweetener, which digests more easily compared to other types of sugar, and delivers the same great taste. The products are gourmet solutions for a healthier, more environmentally focused lifestyle – including products that are safe for those with special dietary concerns, and tasty enough for all – even kids love them!

Founded by Rachel Kruse, a 33 year-old entrepreneur, third-generation vegetarian and organic consumer, she turned to creating delicious, healthy products to offer a better alternative to sugars, preservatives and processed foods – as growing up, she couldn’t find organic dressings and condiments that tasted great. The goal: to enjoy a great tasting organic product without having to sacrifice flavor or quality.

Organicville’s Product Quick Facts:

· Products: ketchup, salsas, BBQ and teriyaki sauces, and vinaigrettes.

· Vinaigrettes are available in 11 great flavors including: Orange Cranberry, Miso Ginger, Olive Oil & Balsamic, Sun Dried Tomato & Garlic, Herbs De Provence, Tarragon Dijon, Sesame Tamari, Pomegranate, Sesame Goddess, Non-Dairy Ranch and French (fourth largest salad dressing brand nationally)

· Gluten free

· USDA certified organic

· Sweetened with agave nectar

· No High Fructose Corn Syrup – ever!

· No added sugar

· Contain less sodium than other brands

· Fat and cholesterol free

· Vegan

Organicville’s organic ketchup, barbeque and teriyaki sauces, salsa’s and vinaigrettes are available for purchase in supermarket chains, natural food stores nationwide and online at www.amazon.com. Additional product and availability information can be found at www.organicvillefoods.com.

I was sent 2 different BBQ sauces, 2 salad dressings & 2 marinades to try.  I passed the marinades along to a friend with Celiac because I can’t eat sesame seeds and they both contained sesame seeds.  Her opinion will be shared below, too.

I served the Organicville salad dressings – Herbs de Provence & Sun Dried Tomato & Garlic at our Thanksgiving day dinner.  They were a great addition to our menu and were well liked by all who tried them.  I loved that neither dressing was heavy – they were both very light & flavorful.  The Herbs de Provence is a very unique dressing that I have come to love on a salad of arugula, mushrooms & grape tomatoes. 

The Organicville BBQ sauces rank right up there with my previous favorite – Sweet Baby Ray’s.  The obvious benefit to the Organicville sauce is no HFCS and organic ingredients.  I love to use the BBQ sauce on chicken breast, pizza & salmon. 

Lindsey, my friend that I passed the marinades along to, really enjoyed the Island Teriyaki marinade.  She also tried the Sesame, but said it wasn’t as good and had a really strong sesame flavor. 

Keep an eye out this week for another post on Organicville and a couple of great recipes for Superbowl Sunday! 

I am keeping all of those effected by the earthquake in my thoughts & prayers.  I can’t even begin to imagine what it is like in Haiti right now.

First up, Rice Macaroni & Cheese. 

This dish reminds me of the Stouffer’s Macaroni & Cheese that I used to eat as a kid and before I went gluten-free.  Jon loves this.  We don’t do a lot of frozen pre-made meals, but this is great to have on hand for those nights or days when things are super busy.  I would absolutely buy this again.  You can find Amy’s Meals in most grocery stores across the US, which also makes this a good choice if you are traveling – all you need is a microwave, which you can find in most convenience stores and even hotels if you ask the front desk.  I have also made this at home and put in a thermos for Jon to take to school. 

Teriyaki Bowl

Not only is the Teriyaki Bowl gluten-free, but dairy-free as well!  This is also one of very few Amy’s Meals without onions. I can assure you that I would eat most of those Mexican bowls & dishes if they were free of onions – they are right up my alley.  This dish was a fantastic combination of flavors.  I wasn’t expecting it to taste as good as it did.  I did beef it up with about a half cup of garbanzo beans & a salad, because 290 calories for dinner for me is just not enough.  I liked this so much that when I saw they were on sale at Giant Eagle this week (2 for $6), I grabbed another one! 

Amy’s is now offering many of the dishes in a “lower sodium” version to help keep the dishes as healthy as possible.  Make sure to check out Amy’s Soups, too, we love the Chunky Tomato Bisque in our house.  Perfect with a grilled cheese sammie! 

While at my meeting at Whole Foods yesterday, I ran through the store to grab a few things.  I spotted the creamer out of the corner of my eye!  They had the original, vanilla & hazelnut flavors.  I chose original.  Not only were they  in stock, but on sale for $1.79 or so!  Score!  I couldn’t wait for breakfast this morning to try it out. 

I am, once again, going to sing the praises of a So Delicious product.  They sure knew what they were doing when they named this brand!  The creamer is awesome!  It adds a nice flavor & creaminess to my coffee without making it overly sweet.  For reference, I normally drink black coffee or coffee with a touch of unsweetened vanilla almond milk in it.  I chose the original this time because I wanted to be able to give a fair review without the added flavors of the vanilla or hazelnut.  However, I do have to drive past Whole Foods today, so I can’t say that I won’t stop to grab the hazelnut flavor to try out! 

Some facts about So Delicious Creamer:

• Dairy Free / Lactose Free
• Soy Free
• Gluten Free
• Rich in Medium Chain Fatty Acids
• Cholesterol Free
• No Trans Fats
• Certified Vegan

Additionally, there is no added HFCS, artificial flavors or mono & diglycerides. 

Sunday night my mother-in-law, Mary, called & asked to stop by.  Twenty minutes later she showed up with the most incredible gluten-free delicacy you could imagine.  Can you guess what she brought over?  Gluten-free cream-filled chocolate frosted doughnuts. 

These puppies tasted better than I remember Krispy Kreme’s tasting.  Jon has counted them so that no one steals his beloved treats.  I hope to get the recipe from Mary & share it with you guys in the next few days. 

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I was able to make my own, personalized chocolate bar at Chocomize the other day!  What fun I had creating that!   I chose to make my bar out of dark chocolate with dried blueberries & cashews.  I have yet to dig in, but I promise to report back when I do.  Here is a teaser picture for you:

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I was very fortunate today to meet with a very special woman named Shelley at Whole Foods.  Shelley started a company called Moondance Heavenly Desserts after finding out that she was both wheat & gluten intolerant.  In Shelley’s quest to find gluten-free desserts she enjoyed, she perfected several gluten-free recipes & opened her own business.  I will expand much more on Shelley & Moondance Heavenly Desserts in my review of the products.  For now, I leave you with a picture of the treats that were graciously given to us to sample & review:

I am especially looking forward to the Pumpkin Cheesecake.  Those of you who have been reading Gluten-free is Life for a while know about my love for pumpkin – it is right up there with chocolate.  Make sure to check back soon for our review of Shelley’s treats. 

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One last quick note – Starbuck’s is now carrying gluten-free treats again.  You can read more about it here in my latest Examiner article. 

So, today I celebrate being gluten-free.  I am thrilled that I am now following a diet that helps me feel better & is helping to make me the healthiest person I can be.  I celebrate that the “cure” is a diet change and not medication or surgery.  Things could really be much worse.  I have tried foods that I had never tried before & they have become new favorites.  So, if you are newly diagnosed & struggling, please take a moment to stop & think about it.  Mourn the beloved foods you are no longer able to eat & then move forward with an open mind.  You will discover a whole new world (try to think of that song from Aladdin – “a new fantastic point of view“).  Keeping a positive attitude will make your outlook seem much brighter.