INGREDIENTS

Chicken breast halves

1 c VEGENAISE mayonnaise

1 tbsp paprika

¼ tbsp cayenne

2 tsp olive oil

DIRECTIONS

1. Char-grill chicken breast halves quickly and then bake in 350-degree oven for about 30-40 mins.

2. Chop chicken up into fine or large pieces, according to preference.

3. In a bowl, mix 1 c mayonnaise, 1 tbsp paprika, ¼ tbsp (or to taste) cayenne pepper, and 2 tsp olive oil.

4. Mix up and save extra for another meal.

5. Add mayo to create your desired consistency.

6. Serve on GF toast or as a salad.

Miranda Jade

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

This stuffing is not only gluten-free, but it’s also casein-free, and no one will ever know it! It has a bit of a kick with just the right touch of spice to not overwhelm the sweet potato, and it’s not overly sweet either. This is a delicious gluten-free and casein-free filling for a unique meal. Add some candles, and you’re set for quite an evening. I use chipotle powder, which has a wonderfully smoky flavor combined with a spicy kick. I just love it, and I hope you do, too.

See my page with the ravioli recipe to make at home!

(Makes 12 full size homemade raviolis)

INGREDIENTS

2 cups fresh baked sweep potato

1-1/2 tsp Chipotle Powder

¾ cup Follow You Heart Vegan Gourmet Cream Cheese “alternative” (OR use real cream cheese if you prefer dairy)

¼ tsp salt or more to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Mash all this up with the back of your fork until well-blended and fairly smooth, not pureed. Do not be tempted to use a hand mixer.

2. Fill your ravioli shapes and seal edges.

3. Cook ravioli according to your own recipe or this one.

Miranda Jade Turbin

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

This filling is not only gluten-free, but it is also casein-free and no one will ever know it! With the right touch of FRESH basil, this delicious filling will really wet the appetites of your family or friends. Kids love this one!

See my page with the ravioli recipe to make at home!

(Makes 20 full-size homemade raviolis)

INGREDIENTS

1/3 cup fresh basil, finely chopped (leave it a bit irregular for more texture)

1- 8oz. tub Follow You Heart Vegan Gourmet Cream Cheese “alternative” (OR use real cream cheese, if you prefer dairy)

1/3 cup plus 2 TBL Galaxy Foods Rice Grated Topping (OR use fresh grated parmesan cheese, if you prefer dairy)- taste and alter the parmesan to your taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix all this up with the back of your fork until well-blended and fairly smooth, not pureed. Do not be tempted to use a hand mixer.

2. Fill your ravioli shapes with approx. 1 heaping tsp and seal edges well.

3. Cook ravioli according to your own recipe or this one.

Miranda Jade Turbin

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

You are going to love this delicious dessert! It’s a simple, fast, and rewarding dessert to present to the table. It really brings the smiles. Kids love it and so does my chocolate-lover husband.

(1 filling for a pie or 8 little ramekins)

INGREDIENTS

16 oz (2 packs) firm silken tofu

½ c cocoa dark powder (not sugar)

1/3 c maple syrup

2 tbsp sugar

1 tbsp vanilla

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix with your Bullet, Vita-Mix or blender.

2. Pour in a pre-baked pie shell or in 8-10 small ramekins.

3. Refrigerate.

Optional:  3  Wilmar Truffles (grate them and sprinkle on top) or gluten-free marshmallows

Tina Turbin

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

This is a delicious alternative to dairy ice cream, and it truly doesn’t taste like coconut. Vary the fruits and have any darn flavored ice cream you would like. I sometimes alternate the fruits of choice, but this is an all-time favorite, for sure.

INGREDIENTS

1- 13.5 ounce can coconut milk

1- 10 ounce package frozen raspberries (or tasty fruit of your choice)

¼ cup LIGHT agave nectar

1 tablespoon vanilla extract ( GF)

1/8- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla bean ( optional)

DIRECTIONS

1. Blend all ingredients in a good blender. Vita Mixer is preferred but not mandatory.

2. Pour all this into your ice cream maker.

3. Follow your ice cream maker directions. Serve alone or with a non-dairy whipped topping.

I find it’s best to eat it the eve of the day it’s made.

Tina Turbin

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

The Pure Pantry offers mixes that are not only delicious, but good for you, serving as proof that gluten-free, dairy-free, casein-free, soy-free, and even sugar-free don’t equal taste-free—quite the contrary!

The Pure Pantry offers a variety of mixes for gluten-free cookies, cakes, and pancakes, and even an all-purpose mix for creating other baked goods such as biscuits, muffins, and breads. The mixes are also versatile. We added tons of nuts to the Old Fashioned Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix, and we loved them. They were not only delicious, but so healthy tasting.

Other mixes include Wholegrain Chocolate Chip Coconut Organic Cookie Mix, Buckwheat Flax Pancake and Baking Mix, Organic Sugar Cookie Mix, and the decadent Wholegrain Dark Chocolate Cake Mix, oh so chocolately and full of good-for-you nutrients including protein, antioxidants, and protein from ingredients such as quinoa. The Organic All-Purpose Baking Mix is vegan and free of gluten, sugar, dairy, and casein and remarkable for its versatility. It’s even kosher!

Elizabeth Kaplan, Founder of The Pure Pantry, was diagnosed with celiac disease several years ago. Discontent with the poor nutritional value of gluten-free products, Elizabeth put her skills as a trained chef to work to develop great-tasting as well as healthy gluten-free substitutes. The Pure Pantry’s website, http://www.thepurepantry.com, features recipes, an online store, and resources for the gluten-free community. I highly recommend checking out their mixes for your gluten-free baking.

Tina Turbin

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

k.m.

Want to learn about a gluten-free protein bar we tried in my test kitchens with 0 grams of sugar? I know you’ve seen them in the health food stores and in many grocery stores. The name will be familiar but the history will not be.

Lizanne Falsetto is he power behind Think Thin Bars. At 18 she was relocated from the states to Japan to pursue a thriving modeling career for eight years. Wanting to continue to work independently and with an understanding of “wellness,” she became the CEO in her garage and kitchen with her first bar. In 1999, Think Thin was released broadly to the public. One strong purpose behind the company is weight management which is not my concern. Gluten-free is my top priority, and the bars all happen to be just that—all 25 flavors (7 different brands), excluding Honey Oat as far as I know.

I’ve had these bars before and they’re good. 3 flavors were new to me of the Think Thin Dessert Bars: Chocolate Covered Strawberries, Lemon Cream Piece, and Tangerine Cremesicle. The last two were a bit lighter in flavor than their other products.

All the products we tested were definitely filling. Half a bar actually kept me quite satisfied for hours so I can see how this fits in with the weight management, which is what the company is quite successfully involved in. They just so happen to now offer Think Thin Bites in 3 flavors, which are virtually the same as the whole but in two pieces, hence offering the consumer the choice to eat one piece now and one later.

Most products have milk powder so casein and dairy concerns may be an issue for some. The main sources of protein are whey, casein, soy, and peanuts. The sweetener generally used is maltitol syrup. For celiacs or gluten-sensitive people without diary or soy issues, these bars are a good choice, with 26 of the 27 being gluten-free.

Lizanne doesn’t seem to be slowing down. She has a strong interest in preventative medicine. She intends to continue to raise awareness about the relationship between disease and food, believing that if one eats nourishing foods and lives a healthy lifestyle, one has the opportunity to enjoy a high-quality of life.

Lizanne is a single mom making a difference for many people through her efforts and her company.

Tina Turbin
www.glutenfreehelp.info

Chronic constipation isn’t just uncomfortable—it’s can be a serious health condition. If you are suffering from this condition and haven’t been able to pinpoint the medical cause yet, I recommend setting up an appointment with your doctor to get tested for celiac disease or a food sensitivity, especially to gluten or casein, right away.

How does celiac disease and gluten sensitivity cause constipation? Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease caused by gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. The disease works by the body attacking its own villi, the finger-like structures that line the small intestine, inhibiting proper absorption of nutrients.

The most important thing for you to focus on if you have celiac disease is to totally eliminate gluten from your diet, but there are other natural ways to ease constipation as well. After all, after cutting out gluten, it will take a while before your body heals properly and you recover from your symptoms. Also, do keep in mind a number of the gluten-free baked goods are not high in fiber and emphasize taste.

It is suggested to drink a lot of water throughout the day and eat a diet rich in gluten-free, high-fiber foods. Have a large glass of warm water with a natural fiber supplement as well as a supplement containing slippery elm bark, flax seed, and L-Glutamine (or just glutamine). A probiotics supplement should also be taken, then a flax oil supplement later in the day. Finally, it is suggested to get plenty of exercise, every day if possible. Consult a medical professional before making changes to your diet.

Tina Turbin
www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

Resource:

Medscape Today: Chronic Constipation and Food Hypersensitivity – An Intriguing Relationship

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/547083_1

I am honored to share with you and up close and personal interview with founder, owner and chef Roni Piterman. She has devoted her days  (and nights) to helping others in need of a gluten-free diet in a very special way and has really expanded. This is a woman who knows her business!

Please do enjoy this interesting interview.

QUESTIONS FOR RONI PITERMAN

GF Meals by Your Dinner Secret

First of all, are you Celiac?

No I’m not. However I treat my son’s ADHD using diet intervention. He does not eat gluten, casein, soy protein, preservatives, nitrates, nitrites, artificial colors or artificial flavors.

Please share what your company, Your Dinner Secret-GFMeals, is and provides.

gfMeals by Your Dinner Secret provides delicious, convenient gluten and casein-free entrees and baked goods that are shipped nationwide to customers’ homes, vacation destinations, colleges, camps and to grandma’s house.

Is the business name GFMeals or Your Dinner Secrets? Can you describe each please?

Your Dinner Secret is our company name. gfMeals is our brand and our web site.

What inspired you to create your food service company?

Originally Your Dinner Secret was a local meal assembly store in Los Angeles where busy people could enjoy an ever-changing menu of high-quality, family-friendly, frozen, ready-to-cook meals that came with simple cooking instructions. We started that business because we believed that busy moms needed an easier way to quickly put a quality dinner on the table.

Were you already familiar with the food business? If so, in what way?

We were not previously in the food industry. I have a background in marketing and PR. I’m a self-taught cook. Cooking and great food has always been my favorite hobby.

Any specific reason that you provide meals for individuals on a gluten-free and/or casein-free diet?

Shortly after opening our doors we found out that a gluten and casein-free (GFCF) diet was helping recover children with autism. We wanted to help. We knew about celiac disease too. We immediately contacted local autism and celiac organizations and told them about our idea to start a GFCF business and everyone was overjoyed. They explained to us that quality, good-tasting GFCF was very limited. As we researched it more, we realized that the diet could help my son too. During Summer 2007 we tested the concept both in the business and at home. It became a blessing all the way around.

Please share with us how your service is assisting those who have children with autism.

Tina, you know how challenging gluten-free life can be. Well, it’s several times more difficult when you have one or more children with special needs who need to be both gluten and casein-free. We understand that children with autism generally have limited tastes and are texture-sensitive. We know, first-hand, how life-changing the GFCF diet is. We aim to take a bit of the stress out of people’s lives and make this gluten and/or casein-free life easier.

Can you share a real story which has “touched” you?

There are really too many to choose just one. The greatest blessing this business has given me personally, other than leading me on a path to help my own son, is that I have mentored hundreds of parents of newly diagnosed kids on how to implement a GFCF diet at home. Eliminating gluten and/or casein from one’s life is a daunting undertaking. I believe that I have given many people comfort and helped them relax and obtain an “I can do it” attitude. I even share with them a Family Guide to Living Gluten and Casein Free. It’s posted on my site at http://www.gfmeals.com/Articles.asp?ID=158. It’s actually titled The GFCF Diet: A Powerful Piece of the Recovery Puzzle.

Your company was created in Los Angeles. Have you established any other facilities around the country?

We have a fulfillment facility in Missouri. Up until now we have only sold our gfMeals direct to customers. However, we are getting ready to push into supermarkets. So watch out, Tina. I’m going to need help getting the word out.

How does the process of ordering a meal work?  Please share the quick, step-by-step process that explains how one orders from your website, down to receiving it at one’s door.

Customers place orders via phone by calling us toll-free at 888-700-5610. However, the majority of our customers simply order on our Web site atwww.gfMeals.com. Our Web site is very easy to navigate. We provide package, case and individual item ordering. Clearly listed for every menu item on our site are the following: item name, photo, price, description, ingredients, nutrition and cooking instructions. We ship our food frozen, in a cooler with dry ice. The food arrives completely frozen. Our baked goods are baked. Our entrees are frozen in a ready-to-cook state and come with simple cooking instructions.

How can someone order your product from another state or far away?

Just call or place an order at www.gfMeals.com.

What are your particular “popular” meals, products or best-sellers?

Our most popular entrees are Chicken Tenders, Meatballs and American Turkey Meatloaf. Our best selling baked goods include our Faux Buttermilk Sliced Bread, Plain Bagels and Chocolate Zucchini Muffins.

Tell me about this new multi-seeded sliced bread. What makes this product stand out so much?  And what is it made out of?

It’s truly tasty, full of nutrients, egg-free and has great texture.

INGREDIENTS: Water, whole grain millet flour, potato starch, tapioca starch, sweet rice flour, organic evaporated cane juice, flax meal, xanthan gum, pectin (from citrus), sunflower seeds, poppy seeds, egg replacer (potato starch, tapioca starch flour, leavening (calcium lactate, not derived from dairy), calcium carbonate, citric acid, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, methylcellulose), yeast, salt, aluminum-free baking power, olive oil.

Do you work with or have involvement with any celiac support groups? If so, how are you involved?

I am supportive of CDF (Celiac Disease Foundation) and CSA (Celiac Sprue Association).

What sort of expansion plans can we look forward to in the future?

We’re moving into supermarkets and other venues, so look for gfMeals in your local markets and ask the store managers to start carrying gfMeals.

Do you have any other gluten-free or celiac-related areas that you are interested in branching out into?

I’m not quite sure what you’re asking here. I can tell you that our customers have many different types of auto-immune and/or inflammatory conditions, not to mention general food allergies.

For my last question – tell me—if you could share any one thing broadly with others, what would you like to share?

I would like to share that gfMeals by Your Dinner Secret is a family-run business that is on a mission to make your life more delicious. Our products are very high-quality and very delicious. We want to be around for a long time so please help us spread the word.

Thank you for this opportunity.

Tina Turbin

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

You’ve probably heard me speaking out about the importance of celiacs taking a gluten-free multivitamin regularly. Not only does a vitamin supplement help the body heal after the damaging effects of ingesting gluten, but it is a necessity on the gluten-free diet because gluten-free food products are generally not enriched with vitamins, especially the B vitamins.

Lucky for us, Freeda Vitamins sells dozens of gluten-free multivitamins, even prenatal and children’s formulas. Freeda Vitamins is no newcomer to the world of nutrition; they’ve been in business for over 80 years! Not only do they stress quality in their products, but they’ve made a point to meet the special dietary needs of celiacs as well as vegetarians, diabetics, those with food allergies, and the Kosher community with products that are not only free gluten but of common allergens such as lactose, milk, eggs, fish, casein, and wheat. They have also taken care to eliminate other additives such as sugar, artificial colors and flavors, aluminum, preservatives, sulfates, and sulfites.

The children’s formulas come in five different flavors as well as unflavored. Other products include B complex supplements, individual B and other vitamins, digestive supplements, and herbs and plant extracts. Their prices are also very reasonable. For a complete list of what their supplements are free of and to order their products, check out their website at www.freedavitamins.com.

Tina Turbin

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info