Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Peanut Butter Cookies

1 egg
1 cup sugar
1 cup peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla (optional)

Mix all ingredients together. Place drops of dough on cookie sheet (size is up to you). Use a fork to make crisscross patterns (this is easy to do without sticking if you will keep your fork in a glass of ice water when not using it). Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 12 minutes. Watch them, so you will know when it’s best to take them out. When they start to brown, and just barely give off a smell of burning peanut butter, then they are done. Let cool partially on cookie sheet, then twist to remove, and put on cooling rack.

Additions:
Chocolate chips go great in these cookies, without having to change anything else. You can also use 1/2 chunky and 1/2 creamy peanut butter.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Snacks

Gluten free snack ideas

  • Tortilla chips with or w/o dip
  • Reg. potato chips — Lays Stax have all g.f. ingredients
  • Any fruit fruit
  • Any fresh vegetable
  • Popcorn
  • Dried fruit
  • Popsicles
  • Homemade popsicles

  • Trail mix made with Gorilla Munch and whatever else you have on hand (usually dried fruit and choc. chips)

  • Pickles
  • Peanuts
  • Rice crispy treats made w/ g.f. rice crispies.
  • Trio bars, or other treats from Mrs. May’s.
  • Hard-Boiled Egg
  • Smoothies
  • Pepperoni- Hormel makes a gluten-free pepperoni
  • Toasted Pumpkin Seeds or Roasted Sunflower Seeds
  • Cold Cereal- Envirokidz Peanut Butter Panda Puffs, Rice Chex
  • Corn Tortilla- with GF Peanut Butter or chesse
  • Gluten-Free Cakes, Cookies and Sweet Biscuits
  • Gluten-free candies
  • Gluten-free yogurt
  • Lara Bars or EnviroKidz Organic Crispy Rice Bars
  • Gluten free ice cream
  • Gluten-free rice pudding or tapioca pudding
  • Pudding
  • Jello

Thursday, July 24, 2008

HealthDay News

Intestinal Gluten Receptor Is Gateway for Celiac Disease
Finding could offer new treatments for other autoimmune disorders, study says

THURSDAY, July 24 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers believe they have finally answered a basic question about the cause of celiac disease -- where in the body does the wheat protein gluten enter one's system?

A study published in the July issue of Gastroenterology identifies the CXCR3 receptor in the intestine as a gluten gateway. When people with celiac disease eat gluten, the protein triggers their immune system to attack the body, causing a wide range of serious health problems.

"This is a scientific question that had never been answered before," Dr. Alessio Fasano, medical director of the Center for Celiac Research at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, said in an university news release. "It is not only significant in the basic science of autoimmune disorders such as celiac disease, but in therapeutic approaches for the future. This opens a new scientific paradigm for the study of immunity."

The research team found that gliadin, the part of gluten that causes the most trouble for those with celiac disease, binds to the CXCR3 receptor. This results in the release of zonulin, a human protein that lowers the intestinal barrier to make it more permeable. While this effect is temporary in most people, the barrier stays down for long periods of time in people with celiac disease, causing disruption in the body's system.

The finding may help in research on the cause and treatment for other autoimmune diseases, Fasano said. People with type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis may experience a similar condition in which offending antigens enter the body through this gateway in the intestines.

"For the first time, we have evidence of how the foreign antigen gains access to the body, causing the autoimmune response," said Fasano, who is also a pediatric gastroenterologist at the University of Maryland Medical Center. "Further study is needed, but this could allow us to intervene before the zonulin is either released or activated, preventing the immune response altogether."

More information

The American Academy of Family Physicians has more about celiac disease.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Pamela's Products


Pancake Mix








Pamela's Products have easy-to-use mix's that create light and fluffy pancakes and waffles, as well as delicious breads, cakes and muffins … also, a great substitute for flour.



INGREDIENTS: Brown Rice Flour, White Rice Flour, Cultured Buttermilk, Natural Almond Meal (may appear as brown flecks), Tapioca Starch, Sweet Rice Flour, Potato Starch, Grainless & Aluminum Free Baking Powder (Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Potato Starch), Baking Soda, Sea Salt, Xanthan Gum.

Monday, July 14, 2008

Gluten Free School Supplies

Children may also ingest gluten from art supplies.

There are several sites that have this information so I will compile it for you and list the sites.

From TACA Now



  • Paints -- six colors (Crayola, Palmer, or Lakeshore brand)
  • Crayola
    Washable Markers (large and small sizes)
  • Crayola First Crayons or regular crayons (two pkg.)
  • Crayola Model Magic in several colors (Do not use Playdough or Crayola Dough or any substitutes unless sent from home! Model Magic dries out after several uses--include baggies)
  • Crayola brand chalk in white and colors
  • Elmer's or Ross Brand Liquid Glue (old fashioned paste contains wheat)
  • Elmer's or Ross Brand Glue Sticks (2)
  • Scotch brand clear tape, 1 roll
  • Craft supplies (small baggies filled these items):
    Corn elbows, corn rotelli, rice, black-eyed peas, lentils, rice spaghetti, colored rice or lentil noodles--remember, your child cannot use regular pasta for crafts or in a sensory bin
From the GFCF Website:


  • Palmer Paint Products, Inc. (Can be found in Walmart, Michaels, also S&S World Wide Arts catalogue)
Prism Brand Acrylic Glow in the Dark
Prism Regular Acrylics
Prism Model Paints
Prism Pearls
Palmer Nature' Hues
Palmer Liquid Tempera (contains corn starch)
Palmer Washable Liquid Tempura
Palmer Face Paint
Palmer Glitter Paint


Palmer Dry Tempura (contains corn starch)
Washable Markers
Model Magic
Markers
Chalk
Silly Putty
Jumping Colors
Mess free Color Wonder
3 D Markers
Oil Pastels
Powder Paint
Water Soluble Oil Pastels
Note: NO Crayola dough it contains Gluten!

Elmer's Washable Glue is also GF
www.elmers.com 1-888-435-6377
School Supplies/Glue - Conros Corporation
Canada 1-800-387-5275
www.conros.com/RossAdhes-KangGlu.html
Ross White Glue
Ross Glue Sticks
Ross School Glue




I'm also going to make sure I send products like these listed below;


  • Unpowdered plastic gloves or Liquid Glove (if needed for other activities--soap play, cooking, etc.)
  • Colored page reinforcers or pony beads (there are no GFCF Cheerios, so for crafts/activities that involve gluing cheerios, use colored page reinforcers, Gorilla Munch cereal, or plastic pony beads)
  • Baggies of Gorilla Munch (Kix-like GF corn cereal)
  • Colgate Shaving Cream (for OT activities); do not use Nickelodeon Floam, Goop, etc.
  • Silly Putty
    by Crayola is GF (for OT activities)
  • Palmer face paints or Hello Kitty products can be used for makeup for dress-up activities/plays
  • Ivory soap, Johnson and Johnson Baby Soap, shampoo, and lotion are GFCF; avoid other lotions used in physical therapy unless you know they are GFCF
  • Toothettes and lemon-flavored cottonball sticks used by speech therapists are GFCF

Sunday, July 13, 2008

A Family Guide- Book


Kids with Celiac Disease:
A Family Guide to Raising Happy, Healthy,
Gluten-Free Children



This is the first practical guide for the families of children and teenagers with celiac disease, a chronic, life-long digestive disorder. As many as one out of 150 to 250 Americans is born with this genetic autoimmune condition, which is characterized by intolerance of gluten--a substance in wheat, oats, barley, malt, and other food additives--and often goes undiagnosed. In a supportive conversational style, Danna Korn shows that it's possible for kids with celiac disease and their families to lead happy and healthy lives.

Parents find advice on how to deal with the diagnosis, cope with the emotional turmoil, and help their child develop a positive and constructive attitude. Especially important is the guidance on menu planning, grocery shopping, strategies for proper food preparation, and deciding whether or not the entire family should be gluten-free. There's even a section on junk food!

What about the child who has difficulty sticking with the prescribed diet? Parents find tips on conditioning behavior and how and when to give kids some control over what they eat. Also covered is the challenge of controlling meals outside of the home--at birthday parties, restaurants, camp, and on vacation. There's also information about how federal regulations and tax laws apply to children with celiac disease.

As the only comprehensive book of its kind, Kids with Celiac Disease will be the bible for the thousands of families coping with this condition. Physicians and nutritionists too, will want to refer new families to this complete resource.


Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Easy Goldfish-type Crackers - Gluten Free

2 slices American cheese (NOT cheese food)
1/2 t salt
1/8 t chili powder
1/8 t garlic powder

Preheat oven to 400*

Cut each cheese slice into 16 small squares. Separate pieces and put in a small bowl. Add seasonings and toss to coat. Arrange on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, leaving about an inch between each cracker. Bake 400* for 7 to 7 1/2 minutes until well-browned and crispy. If undercooked, they will be soggy, so don't be afraid to check them and put them back in the oven for a bit longer if needed.

Cool the crackers completely and store in an airtight container on the counter for a few days.