Morning Puffin!

It's important to start your day off right! While eating gluten free, you are allowed to eat eggs and orange juice. I, however, have always loved cereal. I love it. I could eat it for a snack, for dinner, or any old time. Ridding myself of my favorites (including, but not limited to Frosted Mini Wheats, Honey Bunches of Oats, Oh's!, and Kashi Go Lean.. just to name a few) hasn't been easy. However, I discovered Barbara's Bakery Puffins! Though I have only tried Original and Honey Rice flavored, I'm hooked. These are great! I'd never guess they are wheat free and made with gluten-free ingredients. Throw some blueberries in there and it's simply a masterpiece!

Sweet Dreams

Last night I made my first batch of gluten-free chocolate chip cookies. I must say it was nice to be able to sick my finger in the dough and steal a bite! I had made chocolate cakes the day before and couldn't even lick the spoon... 

My first batch of cookies was from a box. Shocking, I know! But I have to start somewhere! 

I did add extra vanilla and brown sugar to hide that grainy/tree bark taste gluten free deserts tend to have. I'm just not used to it yet. My next cookie project? Starting from scratch. (maybe!)

Gluten-free cooking class!

This just in!

Tonight at 6 p.m. there will be a gluten-free cooking class held at Whole Foods, in Park City, UT. The best part.. it's free!

Eating and cooking gluten-free can be the most difficult part of the process. If you are a veteran at gluten-free life, or just beginning this could be a great class for you!

My life begins!

Two weeks ago I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. This is a disease of gluten-intolerance. People with Celiac are allergic to wheat, barley, and rye. The disease is digestive and consuming the protein gluten will damage the vili in the small intestine and interfere with absorption of nutrients. Gluten is found in foods; both breads as we'd expect as well as in sneaky places, as well as everyday things like medicines, vitamins and even lip balms and beauty products.

To be honest, the most difficult part of living gluten-free is ridding yourself of bad habits, and cake. I love cakes, cookies, mostly anything sweet! So I am on a quest to find good gluten-free food, and an enjoyable gluten-free lifestyle. It's all new for me. 

If you think you have Celiac Disease or want to know more, this is a great site:

http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/celiac/

Thus, with a diagnosis, I'm on my way to being healthy again, and learning how to live without my usual sweet treats. This could get interesting...