The Gluten Gouge, Part Two

Last week, we discussed how restaurants take advantage of us food challenged folks. This occurs by overcharging, having very scant knowledge about gluten, having a paltry GF menu or 2-3 options.

Another way we are gouged, is by the myriad of GF products that are available. Many taste  like cardboard or have a gritty texture boasting an exorbitant price tag. The other thing that is torturing me is the use of agave. If you don't know that it isn't good for you please read my article on agave. Most GF/CF products are using agave as a sweetener making them GF junk foods. Most of these products do not want you to evaluate the label. The carbohydrate content is extremely high which contributes to inflammation especially for those who are new to GF diet. This high content also contributes to weight gain as well as expanding the budget.You can find out more on why you should avoid processed, GF food items in a previous blog post.

Favorite GF Restaurants, continued:
Boa, a fab place that fuses Mexican and Asian cuisines beautifully
Namaste, staff is knowledgeable about GF offerings, lunch buffet is affordable and offers many GF/CF options
Beau Joe"s,  uses soy cheese on pizza, some items seem over priced
Mad greens, has GF soups, salad dressing and is very helpful in making sure your lunch doesn't bite you later!
Tokyo Joe's, always check on what is GF
Chipotle, also uses organic meats, watch the calories, a burrito bowl with toppings can easily exceed 1000 calories
Ras Kassas, a great Ethiopian restaurant with many naturally GF options and staff is knowledgeable, lunch buffet is a well spent $10 and get the naturally sweetened spiced ice tea
Tasty Harmony, a Ft Collins vegetarian restaurant also has raw food options! The cashew cheese nachos are fabulous! Several GF/DF shakes and desserts are available.
http://watercoursefoods.com/Watercourse, a vegetarian Denver restaurant that offers GF desserts sans dairy and eggs, but soy may be prevalent, always check! Their sister location, City O City, offers coffee/tea and bar with GF desserts and pastries as well as  entrees items.
Cafe de Paris, a quaint coffee shop that offers many GF items including soup, paninis, salads and desserts. It is located n Louisville, CO. There are a few other restaurants in this small town that offer GF items. 
The Twisted Cork Cafe, located in Salida, CO, is a favorite when we travel to Pagosa Springs. There is GF menu, wine tasting in the wine room and a wonderful patio with the river running right next to it. The tranquil sounds of running water with a good meal, ahhhhhhhh. This is a pricey restaurant so be prepared.


A few places to avoid.

Panera, consistently puts gluten or other items that I requested not to be on my food, I have been told a certain soup is GF and other times I am told it isn't. They are frequently "put out" in any requests that take more time than they are used to. Their staff doesn't understand gluten and they will not take the time to ensure your meal won't bite you later.

Noodles, a place I used to eat since they had a GF menu, but now I am told certain items I was eating were never gluten free. Not a safe place to eat.
Pei Wei, is owned by PF Chang's, it has marginal service and only a few GF items. Since they do not use GF soy sauce, many items are not on the menu for us. If you do eat there, tell them you need GF so they use separate cook ware.
Black Eyed  Pea, this is one of those places that over the phone says they have GF, but really don't.

If you hit Boulder, it is quite easy to eat almost any where since so many GF options area available.

Here is a picture of one of my favorite salads, lettuce doesn't always have to be the base of a salad.
This salad is mango, cucumbers, tomatoes and onions tossed with salt and pepper. Sometimes I have just mango, avocado and cucumber, all these combos are delicious and so easy to whip together.

Raw Chocolate Pudding

Creaminess and dairy substitute comes in the form of a green fruit, avocado.

1 ripe avocado
2 Tbsp soaked raisins, save soak water
2 Tbsp cocoa (raw if you are keeping raw)
1 Tbsp honey
nut milk as needed to blend

Blend all ingredients in a blender using soak liquid and or nut milk to keep blades moving, do not add too much or it will be runny. Don't over blend.

Use some soaked dates to achieve a caramel flavor.

Serves 1

Gluten and Dairy Free Classes in Denver

I must apologize for being remiss in my blogging! In addition to working more, I have also given my first gluten and dairy free class at Colorado Free University. It was fun and challenging. I received good reviews on "providing pertinent medical/health information," being "well organized" and "very knowledgeable". I focused on how to change your diet with practical steps. Substitutions and the theme of thinking outside the gluten laden breadbox were provided.

The next classes are being held, May 22nd and July 10 from 9am-12pm. We will make rich, chewy, delectable brownies, a refreshing and healthy breakfast salad and chicken nuggets. I will also bring a pumpkin tomato soup that can be found in my menu planner.

I chose these particular recipes to show substitution in gluten and dairy free cooking. Breading is demonstrated by making the nuggets. We just brown them and place them in the oven to completion as this is a healthier method of making these kid friendly favorites. The pumpkin squash soup shows that a soup can be creamy without using dairy. Breakfast salad is my way of demonstrating how to think outside the breadbox and that we don't need gluten free substitutes for our previous gluten laden foods we used to consume. Lastly, brownies....well, because we need chocolate.

The class is 3 hours long. In addition to cooking, we discuss the health issues related to gluten and dairy free living, sugar consumption, gluten free pitafalls to avoid, inflammation and health maintenance.

So I hope you will come and learn a lot and have fun in the kitchen!


Enjoy this refreshing Thai Cabbage Salad, think Asian Coleslaw.

Salad

1/2 head of Napa cabbage, sliced crosswise
1/2 head of Chinese cabbage, sliced crosswise
6 stalks of Bok Choy, sliced or 3 baby Bok Choy sliced
1 1/2 c. julienned carrots
1 bunch of green onions sliced
1 c. chopped cilantro leaves
1/4 c. black sesame seeds (optional)

Dressing

3/4 c. plain rice vinegar (if you can have it use lime juice)
1 c. light or extra virgin olive oil
1/4 c. Tamari (GF soy sauce), if you can't have it use Bragg's Liquid Amino's to taste
1/4 c. lime juice (omit this if you used lime juice in place of vinegar
2 Tbsp. minced garlic
4 Tbsp. microplaned fresh ginger or 1 inch chunk if you have a strong blender
1 tsp. sesame oil
1 tsp. red pepper flakes
1 jalapeno seeded
1 Thai pepper (optional for more heat)

Blend dressing ingredients in blender until smooth.
Mix all the vegetables together and toss with dressing.

Valentine's Day Dinner, Won't Break the Bank or Your Health

Valentine's Day, similar to other holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, retirements, births, weddings, promotions, and other occasions, provide us with ample opportunities to celebrate using food. The downside of all these celebrations, is that opportunities to overindulge in carbs and calories are many. For those of us with food intolerances, it can provide opportunities to cheat as well. What can just a gluten little do? Over the next month, we will examine the medical implications of gluten and casein intolerance in a series of articles. I will address if cheating even a little is harmful and if so to what extent. The articles will provide an opportunity for education and anti-inflammatory recipes.

Today, I am providing a healthy dinner for you and your sweetie! If you don't have a sweetie, then invite a friend who is also sweetless over for a dinner. In the past, as a single mom, I made a candle light indoor picnic dinner I enjoyed with my little kids. They were big fans of indoor picnics during the dreary winter months or rainy days. Those are good memories........Anyway, this Valentine's Day Menu:

Wine of Choice

Chicken Piccata
Risotto
Fruited Green Salad with Pecan Dressing
Dessert Ideas

Wine--I would suggest a lovely Riesling (a sweet German wine) or Vino Verde (a sparkling green wine from Portugal), if you prefer red wine, there are many varieties available. I have become fond of a local Colorado wine, Laughing Cat Sweet Baby Red. Check out your local wineries, many have free tastings.

Chicken Piccata is typically served with capers and dredged in flour or breadcrumbs. We could substitute some gritty rice flour or use some expensive gluten free bread to make crumbs, but I have a quick, tasty and easy pantry solution. We will use cornstarch.

• 1 large chicken breast, cut in half horizontally to make to thin identical pieces, will make a thin cutlet
• 3 Tbsp. cornstarch
• 1/2 c. white wine or broth
• 1/2 c. broth
• Sea Salt
• Fresh Ground Pepper
• 1 tsp. dried chives or 2 tsp. snipped fresh chives
• 1/4 c. fresh parsley minced
• juice of 1 lemon, zest if you want more of a zing in your sauce
• olive oil
• ghee (suitable for those who are CF) or vegan margarine (use butter if you can have casein)

1. Rinse chicken pieces and dredge through cornstarch.
2. Shake off excess cornstarch.
3. Season with salt and pepper.
4. In a skillet, over medium heat, warm ghee, add chicken and brown on both sides.
5. Remove chicken from skillet and place in a pan in a 350F oven. While chicken continues to cook, work on the sauce.
6. Add wine/broth and stirring to deglaze the pan.
   
7. Season with salt and pepper.
   
8. Add lemon juice (a nice touch Ina Garten, "Barefoot Contessa" places the lemon halves in the sauce and while it simmers and then removes them). Another option is to use lemon zest.
   
9. Cook until sauce is thickened (reduced), add 2 Tbsp. of ghee or olive oil and stir well.
10. Add chicken breasts and cover both sides with sauce.
    
11. Add parsley and serve with lemon slices and parsley sprigs for garnish.

Risotto (pictured above is minus the veggies)

• 1 shallot, sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 c. risotto
• Olive oil
• Sea salt
• Fresh ground pepper
• 1 zucchini, diced
• 1 roma tomato, diced
• 1 carrot, diced
• 1/4 c. white wine
• 2-4 c. broth

Heat oven to 400F.

1. In a cast iron skillet over medium heat, warm olive oil, add shallots, garlic and risotto.
2. Coat the risotto and saute until shallots and garlic are soft.
3. Add wine and cook gently and stir for 5-10 minutes.
4. Add the vegetables and seasonings. Stir well.
5. Add 2 c. of broth and place in the oven after stirring well. Cook 20 minutes and check risotto. Add 1 c. of broth, shouldn't be very thick. Bake for another 20 minutes and evaluate the risotto. Should be creamy and the risotto soft. Add more broth 1/2 c. at a time and cook 10 minute increments until it meets the creamy and soft criteria.

*If you can have Parmesan cheese, add it prior to serving.


Fruited Green Salad with Pecan Dressing (not pictured)

• 1/2 head of romaine or green leaf lettuce, clean, dried and ripped into bite sized pieces
• 1 orange peeled and segmented, do this over bowl to catch the juice
• 1/2 apple diced
• 2 Tbsp. raisins or craisins
• 1/2 stalk of celery diced
  

1. Place apple pieces in reserved orange juice.
2. Toss lettuce with remaining ingredients.

Dressing

• 2 Tbsp. raw pecans
• juice of 1 lemon
• juice of 1 orange
• 1/2 Tbsp. honey

Blend all ingredients in blender. Serve with salad

Dessert Ideas

For those of you who don't want to indulge and feel weighed down in the am. I suggest, a plate of fresh berries and small serving of nuts (can be purchased in bulk section for a few dollars). For example, one pint of blue or blackberries, strawberries with greens still on (looks pretty) and 2 Tbsp. of raw almonds, 2 Tbsp. raw pecans and 2 Tbsp. Brazil nuts. Add a few squares of dark chocolate to round out the dessert. If you don't like or can't have nuts, add some gluten and dairy free crackers, seeds (Tamari pumpkin or sunflower seeds) and avocado slices. Of course you can just have the berries!

Another idea is melting dark chocolate on low heat and dipping washed, dried fruit such as orange segments, apples, and strawberries into chocolate halfway, place on waxed paper to dry.

Lastly, this is great recipe that comes from a site that has many wonderful, allergy friendly recipes, it is an Apple Crisp Recipe. It is raw, easy to prepare (can be made in advance) and so delicious. Instead of feeling weighed down after eating, you feel refreshed. I used raw pecans in place of walnuts with wonderful results.

Happy GFCF Valentine's Day!!