INGREDIENTS

2 tbsp black peppercorns

2 tbsp cardamom seeds

2 tbsp coriander seeds

2 tbsp cumin seeds

1 tsp whole cloves

1 tsp grated nutmeg

2 tsp cinnamon

DIRECTIONS

1. Obtain a heavy-bottomed frying pan or skillet to dry-fry the spices.

2. Put the peppercorns, cardamom seeds, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, cinnamon pieces and whole cloves into the pan over a medium heat. If you use a higher heat than this, you’ll prematurely cook the spices, which leaves the insides of them undercooked.

3. Toast the spices, stirring occasionally until they have become several shades darker. They will also give off a sweet, smoky smell when they are cooked properly, usually about 10 minutes.

4. Transfer the mixture to a mortar & pestle, spice mill, or grinder. Grind to powder.

5. Add grated nutmeg and mix together well.

6. Use mixture immediately or store in an airtight container in a cool place for up to 3 months.

Once you’ve made it yourself, trust me, you’ll never go back to store-bought!

Tina Turbin

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

The gluten-free version of this classic topping is easy and delicious. Top your favorite desserts with it for a new, scrumptious twist!

INGREDIENTS

½ c firmly packed brown sugar

½ c quick-cooking GF oats

1/3 c GF flour mix

6 tbsp butter, melted

DIRECTIONS

1. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, oats, and flour.

2. Stir in melted butter.

Tina Turbin

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

Over recent years, avoiding gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye, has become increasingly popular among Americans. Many people on the gluten-free diet have celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten that can affect the entire body, in particular the small intestine, causing serious health problems. A study is suggesting that people who are at risk for celiac disease (because they are related to a celiac patient) should undergo antibody testing and that those with positive results, showing antibodies which are specific to the disease, can benefit from a gluten-free diet.

Celiac disease (CD) has a wide range of symptoms including headaches, chronic fatigue, and gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea, although some celiacs have been known to not exhibit any symptoms. Untreated, celiac disease can lead to severe complications such as infertility, liver disease, and certain cancers. While an estimated 1% of Americans have celiac disease, it’s supposed by experts that an even greater percentage of Americans are sensitive to gluten, meaning blood tests can confirm certain anti-gluten antibodies, while intestinal damage doesn’t exist.

In the study, headed by Dr. Katri Kaukinen of the gastroenterology department at Tampere University Hospital and School of Medicine in Finland, 3,031 healthy people who were related to a celiac patient but exhibited no symptoms were administered antibody blood tests. 40 of these people with positive results, who had anti-gluten antibodies, which are found in people with celiac disease, were divided randomly into two groups—a group of people told to switch to a gluten-free diet and a group supposed to maintain their regular gluten-containing diet.

The results? Those who went on the gluten-free diet experienced improved health, including gastrointestinal health. When the study was over, 85 percent of the participants opted to maintain a gluten-free diet. The researchers concluded that screening for at-risk individuals should be stepped up.

The gluten-free diet may also help aging baby boomers with age-related health problems and diseases, many of which can be tied to gluten sensitivity and can be alleviated on the gluten-free diet, such as depression, obesity and weight gain, skin disorders, dibromyalgia, memory loss, diabetes, thyroid problems, arthtritis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and osteoporosis.

In fact, the gluten-free diet may be an optimum diet for humans. According Drs. Vikki and Richard Petersen, D.C., C.C.N. in The Gluten Effect, grains are fairly new to our diets in the history of humankind and have been shown to be negatively affecting our health.

If you’re at risk for celiac disease but not showing symptoms, it’s recommended that you should get screened as soon as possible. Even if you aren’t at risk for CD, switching to a gluten-free diet under the supervision of a qualified medical practitioner may be a responsible choice.

Tina Turbin

www.GlutenFreeHelp.Info

k.m.

INGREDIENTS

2 c Better Batter Gluten Free Flour

1 tsp salt

1/3 c sugar (sugar may be added to taste)

4 eggs

1.5 c milk, milk substitute, or water

poppy seeds, to taste

1 egg-white

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Grease 1 or two cookie sheets or muffin top tins.

2. In an electric mixer, beat the flour, salt, 4 eggs, sugar and milk or water on high speed for 7-10 minutes. This should produce a batter with the consistency of soft butter-cream icing.

3. Working quickly, spoon this mixture by ½-cup portions onto prepared cookie sheets or muffin top tins. Wet hands and gently smooth and flatten mounds to a width of 3-4 inches and a depth of 1/4 to 1/2 inch.

(Note: If you desire a soft edge to the bun, as with store-bought buns, use a cookie sheet and place mounds so that they touch slightly when flattened. For a crisper crust on all surfaces of the bun, use a muffin top tin or do not allow buns to touch on cookie sheet.)

4. Mix together 1 egg white with a little water and the poppy seeds until well-combined. (I like a heavy amount of poppy seeds.) Brush mixture onto the dough.

5. If desired spray with cooking spray – this will improve the finished appearance and texture of the cooked bun.

6. Place in hot oven and bake 15-20 minutes or until golden brown and puffed.

7. Allow to cool completely before slicing.

Tina Turbin

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

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.

Tina Turbin

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

One of my lovely readers purchased Cajun Choices Shrimp, Crab and Crawfish Boil and put her own spin on it. Take a look at what she has to say and check out the Cajun Choice review.

“I love to use my “Crab Boil” for other things besides a base for soups. I actually put it into a salt shaker and sprinkle it on top of chicken, fish, vegetables, etc.  I also like to add it to my gluten free flour when i’m breading my chicken to make chicken tenders. I like to use it in replace of salt because of the added spices, which increases the flavor to any dish.”

Tina Turbin

www.glutenfreehelp.info

Riega Foods has four new amazing cheese sauces I had to share with you. Kids and adults alike love them. Not only are they tested to ensure they contain less than 20 ppm of gluten, but they come in four flavors and in easy-to-make packs: Yellow Cheddar, White Cheddar, Pepper Jack, and Alfredo.

Each individual pack makes a delicious cheese sauce for your meal. A delicious sauce, as we all know, depends on its thickness and flavor. To make a thick, creamy cheese sauce without lumps, without it tasting dry, and without it tasting like rice flour can be a challenge for many gluten-free cooks. Most good cheese sauces have wheat thickeners in them. For us celiacs, those days of gluten-containing sauces are long gone, but taste and texture are NOT, thanks to Riega Foods. They make cheese sauces that taste amazing and with a thickness that coats your dishes perfectly. We really love them.

One of my testers made a unique chicken alfredo dish with blackened chicken using the Alfredo Cheese Sauce. She followed the easy directions and was thrilled with the outcome. She reported that although the pack looked small, it yielded a lot of sauce. Just one pack of the Alfredo Cheese Sauce covered enough to feed herself, her husband, and their two hungry, grown boys.

Another test was to sprinkle the White Cheddar Cheese Sauce on top of popcorn. It was gobbled up quickly before we even had a chance to take notes. We all loved the light flavor, and it complemented the popcorn perfectly.

Gluten-free “cheese-oholics,” this is the product you’ve been waiting for. The Yellow Cheddar is perfect for homemade macaroni and cheese. Each cheese sauce is packaged individually for one meal so it makes for easy storage.

I have to admit, I was skeptical. Is this going to be another pack we add water to with a “compromised” flavor for us celiacs? I wondered. NO, it was not. It truly went beyond our expectations, and we are highly recommending it to anyone who enjoys a true cheesy flavor.

One last note: there are a number of ways to use these packs. I always welcome your ideas to share with my readers. So do try them out and send in your recipes too.

Tina Turbin

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

Oh baby. Talk about GOOD, GOOD, GOOD. This recipe is simple, fast and rewarding, that’s how we women like a meal.

(50 mins, serves 4-6)

INGREDIENTS

2 zucchinis sliced thin lengthwise in slivers

1 lb fresh lump crab meat

1 egg white

Salt and pepper

1 c GF flour mix (no xanthan)

2 eggs beaten

2 c GF bread crumbs

Vegetables for frying

DIRECTIONS

1. Let zucchini dry on a towel for 30 mins. Change towel after 15 mins.

2. Combine egg white and crab. Season with salt and pepper. Mix.

3. Little by little add in zucchini.

4. Roll in flour then egg then bread crumbs.

5. Refrigerate 30 mins.

6. Heat oil in a pan. Pan-fry.

Tina Turbin

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

Clan Thompson’s Celiac SmartLists—a food SmartList and a drug SmartList—are a series of programs which provide information regarding gluten for thousands of products, including a “Comments” section for people to provide additional information.

These SmartLists are available for Windows, Macs, SmartPhones, Palms, Pocket PCs and Blackberries.

Tina Turbin

http://www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

INGREDIENTS

4 cups gluten-free flour mix

2 tsp. baking soda

2 tbsp baking powder

2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup light agave

1/2 cup honey

2 cups VERY, VERY ripe bananas– that is the key to this recipe!!!!

1 cup milk or 1 cup rice or almond milk

1 cup vegetable oil or coconut oil

4 eggs

(Optional: 1-2 chopped nuts of your choice– walnuts are delicious)

DIRECTIONS

Very simple and yet DELICIOUS to make. Use VERY, very ripe bananas for this recipe.

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Mix all your dry ingredients together in one larger bowl. Mix well. Leave out the nuts.

3. Mix all your wet ingredients in another bowl.

4. Fold the wet into the dry until very well mixed. Once it is well mixed you may add your nuts (optional) by also folding in. Do not overbeat.

5. Evenly oil your two bread pans or glass cooking dishes with vegetable oil or coconut oil.

6. Pour equal amounts into each baking dish.

7. Garnish with nuts if you prefer.

8. Place in the center of your oven and bake 20 minutes. You may need to bake a bit longer; it will all depend on your oven and baking dishes.

9. Test doneness by touching the top and it will gently spring back and be soft, and not “wet” in the middle. It is not necessary to do the knife test on this recipe.

Enjoy alone, with melted butter or even almond butter. Yummy!

Tina Turbin

www.GlutenFreehelp.info