Eating Gluten Free click here for gluten free posts
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When I found out I had to eat gluten-free I didn’t know how I would cope or even what I could eat.
As I started searching gluten-free on the internet I found so many people willing to share their stories along with recipes. I want to share them with you too.
Resources:
Gluten-free Girl by Shauna James Ahern –read this you’ll feel much better. You’ll soon find out you’ve been given a choice to moan and groan or to enjoy the adventure of learning a new way to eat. And yes the food is good. Her book is more about living gluten-free than recipes, though there are some in here. She’s writing a cookbook that should be out soon. I’ll be getting it since the recipes on her blog are delicious.
The Gluten-Free Almond Flour cookbook by Elana Amsterdam-everything is yummy in this book.
Artisanal Gluten-Free Cooking by Kelli Bronksi and Peter Bronski
Real food, good food and easy to make. They use their own flour blend which they tell you how to make.
Communities: Glutenfreefaces.com
A good community to find answers about where and what to eat , recipes
Products I like: Against the Grain baguettes and bagels oh my are they good!
Have you ever been tossed to the ground by a horse?
We had a horse named Lady who was a bit strong-willed. She seemed to sense my ‘beginner’ nerves and made use of that information. While going down hill she lowered her head and off I went. I can’t explain how it happened only that I didn’t want to get back on her back.
But I had to. You can’t let a horse win or you’ll go flying off that saddle every time.
The day I took that tumble I didn’t expect it to become a blog post someday or even a life lesson. Probably because the day I took the fall I was 17 and knew everything.
Since that day life has thrown me from the saddle many times. Sometimes it’s not hard to get back on because it wasn’t a big fall and the horse didn’t run off so I had to catch it. Maybe that’s the day the gluten free meal I made turned out like paste. ( Oh yeah, that was another drop in my life I hadn’t expected no more regular people bread!)
Or maybe that fall is harder like losing your husband at 32.
That was a flattening fall. It took months to even to look up. Then despite my fear of being thrown again, I remarried.
So far so good–I haven’t killed him with my gluten free cooking yet.
There is another kind of fall that I experience. After I finish a crocheting a scarf, making a quilt or writing a book it takes awhile to try another one. I have a new book coming out in May. A Bride’s Dilemma in Friendship, Tennessee. I know those characters so well that I keep thinking about them. It’s hard to take my attention away from Heaven and Travis and turn it onto new characters.
But like falling off the horse, I must get back on or in this case back in my writer’s chair and make friends with those unwilling characters who only want to look pretty–much like Lady who only wanted to be in the pasture.
So many things require us to get back up and start anew. What’s the hardest project you’ve had to restart?
The Pioneer Woman and Kait Nolan both have yummy looking bacon cheddar biscuit recipes. I wanted to try my own version but to be fair I started with their recipe and ended up with something different.
Cheesy Biscuits Gluten Free
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Prepare a cookie sheet by lining with parchment paper.
What you need: 1 3/4 cup gluten free flour ( I use Jules flour) 1/4 cup coconut flour 1/4 cup almond flour 1 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. salt 3/4 tsp. baking soda if not using Jules flour mix you need 1 tsp. xanthan gum 1tsp Italian seasoning 1/2 stick of butter 3/4 cup of butter milk ( I make my own by adding a little less than a tsp. of white vinegar to milk) 1/2 cup of water 1/2 Tbsp of apple cider vinegar 1 egg white 1 cup shredded Italian cheese
How to In a large mixing bowl combine the flours,salt, Italian seasoning, baking soda, baking powder and xanstham gum (if using) and whisk
Cut the butter into tiny pieces, add to flour mixture. Now for the fun! Use your hands to mix the butter into the flour so you don’t have large butter pieces Add the cheese and mix
Add the buttermilk, water, egg white and apple cider vinegar to the flour mixture. Stir well. Mound 12 biscuits on parchment paper (or you could use an oiled muffin pan) Bake 20 min. then check with a toothpick to see if done. They may need up to 5 more minutes.
The quality of the video isn’t great. I’m learning. I’d do it over but I don’t think I can stand the pressure! I already it did it three times. This time I managed not to scratch my head! And sadly I can’t preview this before it goes live because google is playing with blogger today. I think blogger is in time out.
This is my mom in the photo. I’m so glad she passed the love of reading and words (scrabble!) on to me.
I’ve been gluten-free for almost 3 years now. When I started this journey I was a miserable person, now I’m happy (shh Ed!) okay, I’ll reword that. Most days I’m happy and feel great.
At the top of the page there is a tab that says gluten free. On that page I have started a list of good blogs, cookbooks and stuff to eat. I have suggested this page to others who are starting a gluten free diet and wish to keep updating it.
If you are gluten free will you help me help others by leaving a comment about your favorite gluten free foods and sites?
Ever have a day like that poor pooch? I have them when I’m writing. When I get creative the editor part of my brain tries to take it away. And then, there are the days I’m counting points for weight watchers and bam! Something sweet really wants jump into my hand and we aren’t talking apples. Oh no, fudge or cookies or hey I have a free hour I can make doughnuts. What do you fight yourself for?
Ed’s been sick for a few weeks with a cold. It’s been interesting to see how he self-medicates compared to my choices.
Ed goes to work when he’s sick. Not me! I hit the couch. Ed comes home from work covers up with a blanket, channel surfs and eats ice cream. I stay on the couch all day sleeping.
ANNOUNCING New e-book release by comedic author, Janice Hanna Thompson: I Must Decrease: Biblical Inspiration and Encouragement for Dieters
Janice, can you tell us a little about your non-fiction e-book book, I MUST DECREASE?
Sure! As a comedic author, I usually write light-hearted stories. I’m known as the funny girl. I get the giggles and chuckle my way through most situations. Not everything is funny, however. When it came to my weight, however, I had very little to laugh about. Most of my readers didn’t realize the health crisis I was facing as a result of the added pounds. I needed to get things under control, so I started counting calories and watching what I ate. Out of that came my non-fiction book, I MUST DECREASE (which released in paperback in 2005). The book is set up in a daily devotional format and it meant to bring humor (as well as dieting tips) to Christians who need/want to lose weight.
The title came as a result of a prayer time at church. I’d gone up for prayer and the gentleman praying for me used the scripture (John 3:30) as he prayed for me: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” For whatever reason, it got me tickled. I’d never thought about that particular scripture having anything to do with dieting before, but it suddenly felt right.
Can you tell us about the layout of the book?
Each day’s devotion offers the following:
·Ticklers: A humorous quote or “thought for the day” to tickle your funny bone.
·Tidbits: A “Did You Know?” area offering tidbits of information from multiple sources.
·Traps: Common misconceptions and/or food “traps” we often fall into
·Tricks: “Tricks of the trade” to help you stick with your plan
·Treats: Clever snack and food ideas for the healthy eater
·Testimonies: Personal testimonies of others who’ve faced the weight loss challenge and won (including some prominent personalities)
·Treasures: Daily scripture reference
·Tips: Devotional for the day, based on the daily scripture above
·Turning Your Focus: A variety of ways you can reach out to others
·Today’s Food Choices: A reminder to write down your daily food choices
·Thoughts on Paper: Encouragement to keep a daily journal entry
Why did you choose the humorous approach?
Being overweight is nothing to laugh at, but most people who want to lose weight are tired of the serious, “Thou shalt not” approach. Many are ready for a lighthearted look at weight loss–“a practical devotional approach that offers scriptural advice in a way that encourages and never condemns. I decided to share light-hearted ways that dieters could lose weight and still keep their humor intact. This way I could keep my funny bone intact while losing weight.
Who contributed to the book?
I MUST DECREASE contains tips and testimonies from several well-known (and much-loved) Christian authors, including Mary Connealy, Lena Nelson Dooley, Martha Rogers, Kristin Billerbeck, Laurie Alice Eakes, Carrie Turansky, Marcia Gruver, Deb Ulrich, Gina Bishop, Pam Hillman and Lynette Sowell. I adore these ladies and am so grateful for their input.
Who can benefit from this book?
I would say that anyone concerned with his or her weight (or the weight of a loved one) could benefit from reading. Whether you want to drop five pounds or 150 pounds, this is the book to help you achieve that goal.
Can you tell us about the special feature?
This e-book version of my devotional contains a few of my favorite low-cal recipes. Bon Appetite!
What sort of feedback have you gotten from readers so far?
Here’s what one Amazon reader had to say: “This Book Works! I loved this book. As soon as I started reading I was not only motivated to lose weight, but inspired that I actually could this time. I lost 39 lbs and feel free from the bondage that food can put you in. This is a lite-hearted book with biblical principals as well as helpful hints to rid yourself of unwanted pounds without “Dieting” or “Dieing” to eat. The journal pages have been so instrumental to my progress, do not read the book without using the journal section daily!” May 26, 2011 (by megamomma)
Why did you decide to offer the book for free for the first five days?
I love the kindle select program and thought it would be fun to jump-start the process by giving away the book from February 22nd – February 26th. Readers can download the book for free by following this link to I MUST DECREASE.
Can you tell us about your I MUST DECREASE Facebook group?
I would love to! More than a year ago I started a private group on Facebook for a handful of ladies (like myself) who wanted to have the camaraderie of fellow Christian dieters. The group has since grown! Men and women are welcome to join us, but if you do, be prepared to share recipes, fun and tidbits from your personal journey. What happens in I MUST DECREASE stays in I MUST DECREASE! That’s why the group will always remain private. To apply to the group, follow this link to I MUST DECREASE.
What happens when the “freebie” days end?
The book will still be available for purchase on Amazon (and eventually on Barnes and Noble).
Any advice for the road?
Sure! Make sure you write down what you eat every day. This simple process forces you to look at the calories/carbs you’re consuming. It also makes you very aware of the slip-ups! I use a great site called fitday.com, which I highly recommend!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Award-winning author Janice Thompson also writes under the pseudonym Janice Hanna. She has published nearly eighty books for the Christian market, crossing genre lines to write cozy mysteries, historicals, romances, nonfiction books, devotionals, children’s books and more. She particularly enjoys writing light-hearted, comedic tales because she enjoys making readers laugh. In addition, she enjoys public speaking and mentoring young writers. Janice is passionate about her faith and does all she can to share the joy of the Lord with others, which is why she particularly enjoys writing. Her tagline, “Love, Laughter, and Happily Ever Afters!” sums up her take on life.
Hey — isn’t crime fiction by it’s very nature supposed to be gritty? I think so!!! Listen, crime fiction starts right at the get-go, or should, with a murder and a less than pretty crime scene. Murder’s not nice. It’s hard to sanitize murder, and the question begs, should we? In today’s world many of our television shows, video games, and movies make us emotionally detached from violence. I think Christian crime fiction should never do this, but instead should increase reader awareness of the violation and indignity done to the victim and the pain of loss loved ones suffer. In a sense, gritty Christian crime fiction writers are engaging in a counter culture activity.
Not so much now as in the past, but I’ve read Christian suspense where the author didn’t even get to the murder until I’d gotten through a quarter of the book, or more. Page after page I was wondering, where’s the body? And then, when I got to the crime scene it was obvious the author hadn’t done enough research. The police procedure was waaaaaay off. More than a few Christian suspense novels of the past have had a non-law enforcement heroine traipsing around the crime scene and happening upon vital clues the cops somehow missed. Duh, like that would really happen!
A lot is changing now. I’m glad to see books out like PATTERN OF WOUNDS and BACK ON MURDER by J. Mark Bertrand, who knows his police procedure and internal cop politics. He also knows cop culture. THE KEVLAR HEART by former police officer Janice Cantore gives a glimpse into the wreckage left of lives and families when a child is kidnapped by a predator. We’re in a day when Christian mystery readers no longer have to turn to secular writers to get their crime fiction craving fed. They’re finding satisfying thrillers and detective stories right at home with a Christian world view. My Sanctuary Point series novels GOODBYE NOEL and BURNING HEARTS are historical romantic thrillers. I’ve done the research to accurately portray life on the south shore of Long Island, NY in the 1940s. The pace keeps going, but the romance is also there. I believe these two novels strive to bring something that matters to the table. They’re more than who dun its. There’s a fight between good and evil going on. There are few things more evil than to take another human being’s life. And yet we see our culture becoming numb to that and numb to other transgressions.
Gritty Christian crime fiction is not a cozy mystery with a sermonette added. In fact, crime fiction readers would just assume the author skip the preaching and get on with the chase. For crying out loud, there’s a killer to catch. So, what makes the story Christian? Recurring themes of redemption, forgiveness, restoration, and grace are a few clues that it just might be Christian fiction. Just because a story’s “clean as a whistle” doesn’t make it Christian to my mind.
Increasingly, the Christian crime fiction reader wants to find authenticity in plot, characterization, and scenario. They want to find detectives and beat cops who sound like they actually might be in law enforcement, not lost members of the bridge club in search of a novel to inhabit. The crime fiction reader won’t be turned off to Christianity if a Christian character stumbles, seriously so. It makes Christianity all the more attractive. God offers us a second chance to get it right.
I’ve heard it said that edgy Christian romance is not afraid to mention body parts. Well, that’s certainly the case in gritty Christian crime fiction, except that the body parts are likely to be strewn all over the crime scene. And talking about body parts, what about a good autopsy scene? Wow, I’m getting excited already! Increasingly we’re seeing good Christian crime fiction out there. If you want a rip roaring ride with no shortage of grit there’s Robert Liparulo [GERM and COMES A HORSEMAN]. On lady who’s not afraid to write grit is Sibella Giorello in her Raliegh Harmon series.
Thank Nike. I’d been wondering where those bodies are as well. And I have to agree with you about Sibella Giorello–good stuff!
Find out more about Nike Chillemi ~ Crime Fictionista here.
PurchaseGoodbye Noel on Amazon.(Desert Breeze) ~ Winter themed (1946/47) —murder, mayhem, an orphaned infant, kidnap and romance. Can Katrina Lenart and Det. Ian Daltry catch a kller before he strikes again?
PurchaseBurning Hearts on Amazon (Desert Breeze) ~ Historical Romantic Thriller —arson/murder and romance. Can Erica Brogna and Lorne Kincaid catch a wanton killer and thwart those who are trying to frame Lorne for the crime?