A "New" Flour Mix

We are trying to eat healthier here at our house. We are cutting out meat, dairy and lowering our sugar intake. At the same time we are eating more of a whole foods, plant based diet which is better for everyone including my dear daughter with Celiac. Our six year old son was just diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in November, so now my husband and I are even more convinced we need to eat healthier, for our children's sake. I've been searching the internet in my spare seconds of time to find vegan, gluten free recipe ideas. Wow. Not much out there, maybe I'm just not seeing it... So you can imagine my excitement when I found this recipe for muffins. Not only was the recipe do-able but the post was about creating a whole grain gluten free flour mix. I didn't even know this was possible. What? Only 30% starches and the rest is whole grain? Amazing. Go ahead and check it out. I'm really liking the site and their recipe ideas.
As far as the said muffin recipe, I made it vegan by using homemade applesauce instead of the buttermilk. They were delicious! Next time though I'm going to cut down on the sugar-they were too sweet for us. 

Traveling Gluten Free? With Kids?

My husband and I have been traveling quite a bit with four kiddos ranging from 6 years old to 5 months. One of my children has Celiac disease. How in the world do I travel in the van for multiple hours, on a tight budget, with 3 picky (ok, selective) children? One of which is strictly gluten free?

Well, I've been taking notes these past few trips and I have some ideas. I would appreciate yours also.

(To make some of these ideas cheaper, you can make it homemade or watch for the sales!)

**Quick breads (I have found my daughter to enjoy GF banana bread, cranberry bread, etc for car food than any other bread. The bread tends to stay moister for a longer period of time than does the regular GF yeast breads.) Slather with butter, peanut butter, and/or jelly.

**Jell-O jigglers (Kraft brand will specify gluten containing ingredients on their food labels) or Knox blocks. Use the jiggler/blocks recipe not the regular jello recipe- it's too soft for the car. The jigglers hold together much better for little fingers.

**Chips (check ingredients, there are chips that are naturally gluten free.)

**Make your own Lunchables. Take rice crackers (or homemade) and cut up GF deli meat and cheese into bite sized squares. My four year old daughter enjoyed this as well as my six year old and my two year old. And it takes them longer to eat it, so great temporary entertainment for the car!

**Lara bars

**Fruit (gotta love grapes! Apples, peach slices, and canned fruits are great too.)

**String cheese

** GF Granola bars

**Yogurt (great for a snack or a breakfast car food, remember to bring a spoon, though, oh, and napkins/wipes.)

**Pudding (again, Kraft brand will specify gluten containing ingredients, or make your own. And again, bring a spoon and wipes)

**How about vegetables? Carrot sticks are practical, but my four year old doesn't particularly enjoy the texture. I tried the V-8 Fusion this last trip. It was a great alternative to just juice or water. My kids liked the Blueberry Pomegranate flavor. We also tried grape tomatoes. Loved 'em! Just be careful with the choking possibility. Slice them in quarters before hand and bring a fork and a bowl.

**Pre-cooked hot dogs work for a quick dinner.

**Jerky can be "if-ey", but we make our own venison jerky. Sometimes our GF daughter likes it, sometimes not...

**Applesauce

**Luna bars

**Popcorn!

**Fruit roll-ups and fruit leather tend to be on the sticky side.

**Does your child enjoy cold leftovers? GF mac n cheese is a fav.

**How about dessert? I try to stick with fruit. Filling kids with sugar when they are stuck in a small space isn't my idea of a good time. But there is a time for chocolate or some other nice alternative. Homemade GF cookies, frosting slathered on some GF banana bread is what I did last time, skittles or starburst is GF as well as Reese's peanut butter cups.

Some tips for traveling:

Bring a cooler. Definitely a must.

Bring plastic bowls. I bring three: one for each kid.

Bring forks and spoons for each child.

Bring lots of wipes. I wipe out each bowl after eating to reduce the cross contamination issue.

Bring a sense of humor and plenty of patience.

Plan out each meal and have ideas for snacks- it makes the trip go so much smoother.

Do some research on restaurants in the area you are traveling. It's good to be prepared!

And lastly:

Enjoy the trip! I've been told over and over: these days with our kids are short, so enjoy them!

Happy summer to you!

Tone’s/Durkee/Spice Islands

Here is a reply from Tone's/Durkee/Spice Islands of which I asked them about their products and if they contained gluten.

Please find attached the Gluten Free List you requested.

If you have questions about products NOT listed on the attached list, or can't open the attachment, please call the Spice Advice Line at1-800-247-5251 weekdays, between the hours of 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM Central Standard Time, and we will be happy to answer your questions.

Consumer Affairs

ACH Food, Inc.

Spices are inherently gluten free. The items listed are safe for those who avoid gluten in their diet, because they contain only spices or non-gluten products.

Tone’s/Durkee/Spice Islands

All Liquid Extracts

All Liquid Flavorings

All Food Coloring

Allspice

Alum

Anise Seed

Apple Pie Spice

Arrowroot

Baking Powder

Baking Soda

Basil

Bay Leaves

Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

Caraway Seed

Cardamom

Celery Flakes

Celery Seed

Chicken & Rib Rub

Chicken Seasoning

Chili Powder

Chives

Cilantro

Cinnamon

Cloves

Coriander

Cream of Tartar

Cumin

Curry Powder

Dill Seed/Weed

Fennel

Garlic Pepper

Garlic Powder

Garlic Minced

Garlic Salt

Ginger

Hickory Smoke Salt

Italian Seasoning

Jamaican Jerk Seasoning

Lemon & Herb

Lemon Garlic Seas.

Lemon Pepper

Lime Pepper

Seasoned Pepper

Mace

Marjoram

Meat Tenderizer

Mint Leaves

MSG

Mustard

Nutmeg

Onion, Minced

Onion Powder

Onion Salt

Orange Peel

Oregano

Oriental 5-Spice

Paprika

Parsley

Pepper, Black/White – all

Pepper, Green Bell

Cayenne Pepper

Crushed Red Pepper

Pickling Spice

Poppy Seed

Poultry Seasoning

Pumpkin Pie Spice

Rosemary

Rosemary Garlic Seas.

Sage

Sesame Seed

Six Pepper Blend

Smokey Mesquite Seas.

Steak Seasoning

Tarragon

Thyme

Turmeric

Salt Free Garden Seas.

Salt Free Lemon Pepper

Salt Free Original All-Purpose Seasoning

Salt Free Garlic & Herb

Salt Free Veg. Seasoning

Crazy Dave’s Lemon Pepper

Crazy Dave’s Pepper & Spice

Crazy Dave’s Salt & Spice

Mr. Pepper

Pizza Seasoning

Spaghetti/Pasta Seasoning

Spicy Spaghetti Seasoning

Durkee California Style Blends

Garlic Powder

Garlic Salt

Onion Powder

Onion Salt

Spice Islands Specialty

Beau Monde

Chili Powder

Fines Herbs

Crystallized Ginger

Italian Herb Seasoning

Garlic Pepper Seasoning

Saffron

Old Hickory Smoked Salt

Summer Savory

Vanilla Bean

Spice Islands Salt-Free

All are gluten free

Spice Islands Grilling Gourmet & World Flavors

All are gluten free


ACH Food, Inc. Items which are also Gluten Free

All Karo Syrups

Golden Griddle, Old Tyme, Beehive, Crown, Lily White and Old Colony

All Mazola Oils and Sprays

Argo Corn Starch

Kingsford, Benson’s and Canada Corn Starch

All Fleischmann’s Yeasts

All Henri’s Salad Dressings

Mug Root Beer

Mug Root Beer is Gluten Free!

Check here under FAQ's.

Betty Crocker Gluten Free Website!

Betty Crocker has a whole new line of products...click here for Gluten Free Betty Crocker baking mixes! Hurrah!

Bertolli Pasta Sauce (U.S.)

I visited Bertolli Pasta Sauce and asked them if any of their products had gluten in them. This is what I received from Bertolli:

"Ingredients that may contain gluten are always listed on the label. Accordingly, the best way to determine whether a product contains gluten is to check the ingredient list on the label. If you are allergic or sensitive to gluten and cannot determine whether the product contains gluten, we suggest you do not use it."

Burger King

Sometimes it's nice to just go out and grab a burger. Check out Burger King's list below for some gluten free items:

Click here for Burger King's list.