When I first discovered I had a wheat issue, I cut all wheat out of my diet.  I kept having skin issues on my face & neck when I had a discovery... my conditioner contained Wheat (as do almost all "fancy" conditioners)!  I stopped using it and my skin cleared up immediately.  My hair?  Some would say that is still recovering :-)

Yesterday I set out to provide my loyal readers with a list of beauty products containing wheat.  Easier said that done!   M.A.C., P&G Beauty, Flirt and all the subsideries of L'Oreal and Estee Lauder (wow, those two giants own a LOT!) would not provide any information.  Each company gave  me a # to call to check on a specific item.  Are we supposed to call them from Target or a Dept. Store Counter and ask them about every item we are interested in???

Benefit was at least very pleasant about it, referring me to the ingredients on the package and apologizing for the inconvenience.  I like them. 

We also had a late arrival to the party, who absolutely wins!  NARS e-mailed and said they do not use any gluten or gluten derived ingredients & considered their products "gluten free".  YEAAAA!   Let's hope they're uber-informed :)

My TWO-THUMBS UP Award goes to Smashbox, the first company to send a list of items they know contain wheat.  It seems simple enough, if you know it has wheat, tell us!  Stop the poisoning!  THANK YOU SMASHBOX!  Let's hope other companies follow suit.  Below is the e-mail:

Hello, 
Gluten can be found in products that contain wheat/rye/barley derivatives. Most smashbox products do not contain gluten, however the following products do:
 
The following are products that contain Gluten:
CORE ITEMS THAT CONTAIN GLUTEN:
Bionic Mascara
Brow Tech to Go, Brunette
Brow Tech to Go, Taupe
Layer Lash Primer
 
Halo Hydrating Perfecting Bronzer
Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder, Fair
Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder, Light
Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder, Medium
Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder, Dark
Halo Eye Shadow, Peach Cocoa
Halo Eye Shadow, Pewter/Smoke
Halo Eye Shadow, Bisque/Almond
Halo Eye Shadow, Petal/Plum
 
Try Me Kit Vol. 2
 
Doubletake Lip Color, Praline
Doubletake Lip Color, Gossamer
Doubletake Lip Color, Sugar Spice
Doubletake Lip Color, Cranberry
Doubletake Lip Color, Amaretto
Doubletake Lip Color, Currant
 
Reflection High Shine Lip Gloss
 
Lipstick, Lip Treatment
Lipstick Tinted Treatment, Solar
Lipstick Tinted Treatment, Ray
Lipstick Tinted Treatment, Beam
Lipstick Tinted Treatment, Shine
*be sure to double check the complete ingredients on the unit carton or we can email them to you. This list does not include seasonal items or items that maybe found in kits.
 
 
Best Wishes,
 
Customer Service
SMASHBOX COSMETICS
1.888.763.1361
customerservice@smashbox.com

Prior to discovering my wheat issue, the only time I cried about food was when I was a child and didn't want to eat anything.  Now it seems like watery eyes can be triggered by a mac & cheese, bagel etc. that represent the taste and flavors I haven't had in years.  Tears of joy, per se. 

I'm sad to say that the watery eyes came again this morning, upon hearing about the upcoming closure of my favorite gluten-free bakery in the Twin Cities, Cooqi: www.cooqiglutenfree.com/  This is where I first had cookies & cream ice cream, where I found my 1st baguettes, who provides all the gf pizza crusts around town etc.   I am EXCITED to let those of you across the U.S. know that they are closing to focus on US distribution.  I'll definitely let you know when they get distribution!

If I don't fit into my wedding dress, Udi's Gluten-Free Whole Grain bread is surely to blame.  I have had more bread in the past month than I had in my first 5 years of being gluten-free.  Do the math: 1825 days worth, in under 30 days.  YUM, life is good. 

Today's delicious sandwich was:
Udi's Whole Grain Bread
All-Natural Herbed Turkey
Tillamook Cheddar
Bibb Lettuce
Marinated Grilled Veggies (see photos & recipe below)
Italian Spices

The Verdict: DELISH!   Sorry there are no photos, I was starving and ate it too quickly, it was that good :-)

There is nothing better than sunshine, great company and delicious food of the grill.  At least not tonight!  Use this easy gluten-free marinade on your favorite vegetables & enjoy your healthy veggies all summer long!

Gluten-Free Marinade for Vegetables
San-J Wheat Free Tamari Sauce, small splash
Balsamic Vinegar, big splash
Extra Virgin Olive Oil, medium splash
Italian Seasoning (pictured: McCormick's)
Garlic - fresh, diced or powdered
Lemon Juice - tiny squeeze, to taste

Toss with Peppers, Onions, Zucchini, Mushrooms, Yellow Squash or your favorite Summer veggies.  Marinate for 5 minutes to 3 hours. 

Red Wine Marinated Mushrooms
Mushrooms - any kind you like
Red Wine to Cover
Splash of Olive Oil
Rosemary, fresh or jarred
Garlic - fresh, diced or powdered

Marinate Mushrooms for 30 minutes - 2 hours for maximum flavor.  Stir/Shake randomly to distribute flavor.  Grill or Saute to desired texture!

The Finished Product!
Saute vegetables on stovetop or wrap in foil to prevent burning and place in basket on grill for 7-15 minutes, to desired  level of crispness.

Tip:  Cut vegetables to similar size to ensure even cooking.  Add fast cooking items (pineapple, tomatoes) in the last few minutes. 

GlutenFreeResearch.com went dark on Monday to go out & celebrate the opening of the newest ballpark in America: Target Field.  We did our best to find gluten-free options, but it proved to be a bit challenging!

The Good:

Beautiful Outdoor Ballpark

Amazing Views From the Concourse - you could get a Standing Room Only ticket & really enjoy the game

The Bad:
Target Field has no gluten-free guide, no list of gluten-free foods, no gluten-free hot dog buns, cookies etc.  I am determined to change this, in conjunction with GlutenFreeMSP.com!

My favorite Sunday mornings = coffee, Sunday newspaper, church & homemade breakfast.  This Sunday, my fiance was SO excited to make us French Toast for breakfast, since I had delicious Udi's Gluten-Free bread. 

The issue?  No Milk! 

The solution?  warning, this is not organic, healthy etc.

Coconut Creme Coffee-Mate to the rescue!  Even better, gluten-free is called out on the label. 

The Result?  Yummy, delicious gluten-free french toast with a tropical twist! 
The EASY Recipe:
Crack Eggs into bowl large enough to dip bread
Whisk Eggs
Add Coconut Creme or Coconut Milk, Whisk
Dip or Soak Bread in Mixture
Cook on a griddle or in a pan on the stove
Top with fresh coconut, fruit or your fave topping & ENJOY!

When I was first diagnosed, finding quick & easy gluten-free lunch options to bring to work was impossible.  Now, lunch is easy & delicious thanks to my favorite things below:

Sandwich with Udi's Gluten-Free Bread 
Once again, I'm filled with love for Udi's.  It's absolutely AMAZING to be able to pack a sandwich in the morning, transport it and have it still be in one piece!

Today's lunch was on Udi's GF Multi-Grain Bread, w/ natural Honey Roasted Turkey, Roasted Red Pepper Hummus, Italian Seasonings, Havarti, Romaine and Tomato - DELISH!

Glutino Gluten Free Chicken Ranchero
Only 180 Calories!!! This frozen entree was a lifesaver when I was working long days  in the corporate world, providing a healthy gluten-free option that kept me full throughout the day.  I  even lost quite a few pounds when I had it for lunch every day 2 weeks in a row.

The Chicken Ranchero has  amazing flavor & texture.  It is my favorite, bar none, frozen gluten-free entree!!!

Sabra Hummus Singles
If you're anything like me, you can eat an entire tub of hummus in one sitting.  Enter Sabra Hummus Singles!  Available from Costco! 

Paired with Crunchmaster Multi-Grain Crackers, this is a perfect gluten-free afternoon snack !

D'Lush - Double Chocolate Peppermint "Biscuits"

OMG.  That was the reaction I had the first time I tasted these peppermint chocolate cookies, brought back from Australia from my dad.  They are the closest thing I have had to Thin Mints in years. 

Absolutely amazing, A++++.  DELISH blended in ice cream for a mint-chocolate shake! 

I'm trying to convince him to bring more home next time so I can have a contest for my readers :-)

I am very fortunate to have a supportive gluten-free crew around me.  My sister makes amazing artisan gluten-free bread, my mom always has a pantry of gluten-free goodies and my fiance, well, he deserves a post of his own!  He has absolutely spoiled  me on holidays, making gluten free treats himself.  See photos below!

BIRTHDAY
Gluten-Free Mint-Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Cake with a Fudgy, Oreo-like Crust & topped with Andes Mints!

EASTER
Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

CHRISTMAS
Gluten-Free Chocolate Dipped KinneToos (GF Oreos)

I started hosting Easter for my family in 2007.  The 1st Easter was held at my brand new condo in the city, with only a dining room table & mis-matched chairs for furniture and no paint/decor on the walls.

It was a group effort, with everybody pitching in I couldn't be more thankful for their help.  It felt so good to be able to host my family, who had given me so many amazing holiday memories over the years. 

The next year I had learned my lesson - when everyone pitches in, there are too many cooks in the kitchen.  Literally!  I outsourced the meal outliers (wine, dessert) and planned the day down to the minute. 

The good:  an organized kitchen, delicious food, happy relaxed guests - a great success! 

The bad:  My nephews, now active toddlers, spent a lot of time running up & down the hall due to Auntie's small condo. 

2009 brought a whole challenge - my boyfriend's family would also be attending!  Double the guest list, double the pressure and quadruple the preparation!  We upgraded to the party room to accommodate everyone

The good: a fresh pink & white color scheme, plenty of room for the kids to play, amazing food, a ginormous kitchen & our families got along!

The bad: little interaction with guests due to being "on task", still outsourcing things  like plates due to size, forgetting to take photos, TOO MUCH FOOD!

After years of practice, 2010 was the smoothest event yet.  The recipes were proven, the weather was great & we were now engaged, so the pressure was lifted :-)

The Good:  Simplifying the Menu!  It resulted in having more time with my guests, less time in the kitchen, and fewer wasted leftovers.  An amazing poppyseed & raspberry salad was a great menu change!

The Bad:  Too many jelly beans!  The damask accent was reminicient of products I designed in 2008 & the flowers were Saturday's leftovers.  Still too few photos!