A couple of weeks ago my sister Rebecca called me up with distress in her voice, she said “Soooo ummm guess what” I replied “what” “ Michelle went to the doctors today…you know our cousin Michelle, and they told her she has Celiacs disease!” I asked if she was upset and of course she was, she actually was defiant and said that she didn’t want to comply with the new diet at all and would deal with the stomach aches and cramps as long as she could still have her Chicken Ziti Broccoli from Mikes Place, Little Debbie Zebra Cakes, Buffalo Chicken Fingers, Teriyaki Chicken, and Subs… Ya well, all of the above is not so good in the gluten department but I am here to help. I sat down with Michelle and Heidi (her mom) and both of them had a lot of questions. One thing to remember when you are living a gluten free lifestyle is that it’s not the end of the world and there are ways to make it work. A few helpful hints for Michelle and Heidi and the rest of the newly GF community:
1. Learn the “Key Word”, what’s ok to eat, and what’s bad to eat.
2. Read Every Label
3. Learn to Cook!!! It makes life easier
4. Try different products till you find one to your liking
5. Learn to open your mouth and speak up when you go out to eat…it’s ok to ask and special order, I do it all the time and people are usually accommodating.
6. Have fun with it, this is something unique about yourself, learn your body, accept it, and enjoy the new lifestyle. If you don’t embrace yourself in your new lifestyle you will have a harder time adjusting and adapting.
Now to help my cousin out a little I am going to suggest a few replacements for her favorites above.
Chicken Ziti Broccoli: I called Mikes Place and the Alfredo sauce is not Gluten Free, but you can ask them to make it without the flour. All you need to do is order the dish without the pasta and no flour in the Alfredo sauce! Then make your own pasta to mix in with the chicken & broccoli. I like the Tinkyada pasta the best.
Teriyaki Chicken: Make your won Teriyaki sauce, here is the simple recipe.
Step 1: ½ cup Wheat Free Soy Sauce (Tamari), 2 cups water, 1 tsp ground ginger, ½ tsp garlic powder, 10 Tbsp packed brown sugar, 4 Tbsp honey
Step 2: 4 Tbsp cornstarch, ¼ cup cold water
Directions: Mix everything but the cornstarch and 1/4c water in a saucepan and begin heating. Mix cornstarch and cold water in a cup and dissolve. Add to sauce in pan. Heat until sauce thickens to desired thickness. Add water to thin if you over-thick it :).
Buffalo Chicken Fingers: You can make your own Buff Daddy sauce by simply using Frank’s Hot Sauce (which is gluten free) and follow the recipe on the back or this recipe.
Step 1: ½ stick Butter, 2 cloves crushed garlic, 1 to 2 cups Franks Hot Sauce
Step 2: Chicken wings or Breasts, Buttermilk, GF Flour, Spices
Directions: You melt your butter and add your garlic, sauté until butter is melted and garlic is softer. Add in Frank’s hot sauce and mix together. You can put this over wings and bake, or cut up cooked chicken breast. You can also put it over homemade chicken fingers; here is the quick recipe for the fingers. On one plate put your GF All Purpose Flour; (I like Bob’s Red Mill or Whole Foods 365 brand). In a bowl pour some buttermilk. Mix some spices into your flour, add in a little garlic powder, onion powder, parsley, maybe a little paprika if you’re feeling spicy and of course salt & pepper. Dip the chicken in the flour mixture, Dredge in the buttermilk, back into the flour (you can dip and dredge one more time for extra crispy if you like) Fry those suckers up in some canola oil, olive oil, any oil really, once they are good and golden brown, lay them on a paper towel and pat dry. Put them on your plat, and pour over the buff daddy sauce, and enjoy! If you want blue cheese to dip them in, take some of the leftover buttermilk (non used) crush a small clove of garlic and in some blue cheese, 1 tsp of lemon juice, S&P to taste and you have your Buff Daddy’s and dipping sauce.
These are recipes and ideas that I hope will help put those wheat cravings to rest, maybe not forever but at least a day or so. Since my cousin has been diagnosed with Celiacs disease I know that it's just a matter of time till more and more people pop up in our family with this crazy disease. To help my cousin Michelle out I am going to post a new recipe every Tuesday, so keep an eye out and get ready to east some gooooood tasting stuff. Eat, Laugh, Love!!!
