Nowadays, it’s pretty easy to come by gluten-free cookbooks. The question becomes, How do you know which one is right for you?

Beth Hillson isn’t any ordinary writer. Being the founder of Gluten-Free Pantry, the president of the American Celiac Disease Alliance, and the food editor of Living Without magazine, I knew I could learn a lot from her. Beth was diagnosed with celiac disease in 1953 and then again in 1976. Beth decided to get educated on the subject of celiac disease and eating gluten-free. She felt she had no choice but to get educated if she didn’t want to eat just baked potatoes and bun-less burgers for the rest of her life. Beth went to culinary school to understand how food is prepared and how to replace the gluten in recipes.

Beth’s decision to get so well-informed worked to all our benefit. With her website GlutenFreeMakeovers.com, she is constantly using the information she has collected over the years to help as many people as she can transition to a stress-free, gluten-free lifestyle.

In 2011 Beth published her first gluten-free cookbook, Gluten-Free Makeovers. From croissants to stir-fried chicken, this cookbook has a meal for everyone. There are so many things that you cannot eat when you are off gluten. This cookbook not only gives you delicious recipes for those items; it also is as easy to read as it is to follow. Beth includes many tips she has come across from trial and error in gluten-free cooking and baking. Anyone who cooks knows how valuable tips like these are. Beth saves you the aggravating time in the kitchen and makes being gluten-free much more fun.

Being diagnosed with celiac disease myself, I know how much of a struggle it can be to know who to ask advice from and where to get information. Beth isn’t just a diagnosed celiac who has gone through hell and back, she is also a thriving author, researcher and humanitarian who hasn’t let celiac disease control her life. I cannot think of a better person to help anyone on their road to eliminating gluten 100% from their life.

One thing I found really amazing about the Gluten-Free Makeovers cookbook was how extensive it is. It’s 260 pages of recipes and that doesn’t even include the resources, easy-to-use index and other information Beth includes in the book.

Here is one of my favorite recipes from Gluten-Free Makeovers:

Chocolate Angel Food Cake ( gluten-free, dairy-free):

1 cup Cake and Pastry Flour ( see below)

5 tbs unsweetended cocoa powder

1 ½ cups sugar

12 large egg whites at room temp

1 ½ tsp vanilla extract

1 ½ tsp cream of tartar

¼ tsp salt

Cake and pastry flour:

1 cup sweet white sorghum flour (4 ounces)

1 cup white rice flour (5.4 ounces)

¾ cup cornstarch (3.4 ounces)

1½ teaspoons xanthan gum (or guar gum)

½ teaspoon salt

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375°F.

Sift the flour cocoa powder and 3/4 c of the sugar into a bowl. set aside

Beat the egg whites at low speed in a large mixing bowl until foamy, about 5 min. Add the vanilla, cream of tartar and salt. With the mixer on medium speed, add the remaining 3/4 c sugar in a slow, steady stream. Beat an additional 5 to 7 minutes, until the whites are shiny and form stiff peaks.

Sift one third of the dry ingredients over the egg whites and gently fold in with a rubber spatula. Repeat until all the flour mixture has been incorporated. Scrape the batter into an ungreased non-stick aluminum 10-inch tube pan. Smooth the top and gently tap the pan onto the counter to remove any air pockets.

Bake 40 to 45 min, until tiny cracks appear on the top and the cake springs back to the touch. Invertthe pan onto a wire rack if the pan has feet pt invert the center tube of the pan onto the neck of bottle to cool completely.

To unmold, run a think knife around the side of the pan and the tube and gently push the base up if using a two piece pan or invert the cake onto a serving plate.

Nots:

You can also make cupcakes with this mix. Try topping the cake with fresh strawberries and frosting! Yum!

Enjoy!

Miranda Jade Turbin

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

This gluten-free, raw bread recipe comes from David Minkoff. Enjoy with nut butter and jelly or mustard, turkey, and avocado, or in a tuna melt. Yummy!

INGREDIENTS:

Flaxseeds

Sesame seeds

Dried cranberries or cherries (optional)

Sunflower seeds (optional)

Salt, to taste

Cinnamon, to taste

DIRECTIONS:

1. Soak flaxseeds and sesame seeds (also dried cranberries or cherries) in water in a big bowl). (We don’t measure.) Sometimes we’ve added sunflower seeds.

2. Soak for 6-8 hrs in fridge or out.

3. Place in batches in a food processor with salt and cinnamon (we don’t measure) and grind until you achieve the consistency you like.

4. Then spread on dehydrator shelves.

5. Turn on dehydrator for 12 hrs.

Miranda Jade Turbin

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

k.m.

It isn’t every day that I come across a fresh, baked-to-order, gluten-free dessert like Madrid Coffee Cakes by husband-and-wife (Sergio and Lia) team committed to making delicious baked goods for their customers.

Sergio comes from a long line of bakers. When he was only 9 years old, he started helping in his father’s bakeries in Madrid, Spain. He had a passion for baking and trained under master pastry chefs and bakers and eventually led his father’s bakery team at the young age of 17. When Sergio moved to the US, it was only right for him to open his own shop following family tradition. With Sergio being the man in the kitchen and Lia handling all the business side of the bakery, this husband-and-wife team were ready to roll!

Sergio and Lia noticed in their customers a growing concern about eating gluten and listened to their frustrations over not being able to find tasty gluten-free treats. They knew they had to find a way to make their famous baked goods enjoyable to all. After educating themselves in the safety precautions of producing gluten-free items, Madrid Coffee Cakes came up with gluten-free baked goods that not only were gluten-free but also grain- and dairy-free!

My taste-testing team and I had the pleasure of testing the Madrid Coffee Cakes. If I could describe them a word, I would say: delicious, homemade taste, comfort food at its finest. Ok, maybe that’s more than one word, but you get the idea. The newest flavor, lemon-poppy, was my favorite. The last time I had something that was lemon-poppy flavored it was a gluten-filled lemon-poppy muffin, which I recall got me quite sick. To be able to eat something so flavorful that was not only gluten-free but also grain- and dairy-free brought me, my mouth and stomach much joy.

My entire testing team loved all the flavors. We noticed a slight lemony flavor in each one of the coffee cakes. It was refreshing and not something you would expect. Although these cakes are gluten-free, grain-free and dairy-free, they definitely have sugar in them. They don’t call them cakes for no reason. If you are in the mood for something sweet and delicious, these cakes could be just what you are looking for.

Madrid Coffee Cakes takes to heart all their customers and you can really tell this by all the close attention they give to customer satisfaction. European desserts have made a name for themselves as being the best for a reason, and you can taste why in Madrid Coffee Cakes.

Click here to check out Madrid Coffee Cakes and to see all their different flavors. Be sure to take advantage of their individual portion cakes while you still can!

Miranda Jade Turbin

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

To read the Q and A I did with Madrid Coffee Cakes click here.

Apple pie is a classic dessert, perfect for any special occasion or holiday. This gluten-free, grain-free version is made from raw ingredients and is dairy-free. Make sure to top it off with some delicious dairy-free Coconut Whipped “Cream.”

Step 1: Pecan Crumble (Prepare first.)

INGREDIENTS

1 ½ c pecans (pieces or whole)

2 tsp honey

1 ½ tbsp cinnamon

1 ½ tbsp carob powder

½ tbsp date sugar

DIRECTIONS

1. Grind ingredients in a food processor until finely textured, but don’t overgrind or else they’ll release too much moisture (about 15-2o seconds grinding depending on equipment).

2. On a Teflex dehydrator sheet, lay out the mixture so that it is as thin and evenly spaced as possible.

3. Dehydrate for 4-5 hours.

4. Reserve crumbles for later use.

Step 2: Apple Piece Sauce

INGREDIENTS

½ tsp clove, ground

2 tsp cinnamon

¼ tsp allspice

2 tsp vanilla extract

½ c cashews, soaked 3 hrs

1 tsp orange peel, fresh or dried (You can find it dried in spice sections of most gourmet markets.)

¼ tsp cardamom

¼ c currants (or raisins)

¾ c water

1tbsp agave (or date paste)

½ tsp salt

DIRECTIONS

1. Using a very high-powered blender, blend all of the above until very smooth.

2. Keep the mixture reserved in the blender for later use.

Step 3: Coconut Whipped “Cream” (Prepare third.)

INGREDIENTS

3 medium young Thai coconuts, meat only (3/4 to 1 c meat total)

½ c coconut oil, firm

1/8 c agave

2 tbsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp salt

DIRECTIONS

1. Blend all the ingredients in a high-powered blender until very smooth.

2. Place into a storage container and refrigerate for later use. (Stays good for up to 3 weeks.)

Step Four: Apple Filling (Prepare last.)

INGREDIENTS

4 medium apples, cored and cut into large pieces (optional: soaked in Kahlua or rum)

½ tsp sea salt (brings out the sweetness)

1 tbsp lemon juice

DIRECTIONS

Just before serving, pulse the ingredients listed above a few times in your food processor just to roughly chop the apple pieces to a chunky consistency.

Step Five: Apple Pie Assembly

1. Re-blend the apple pie sauce on a continuous run for 1-1 ½ min. to warm the mixture.

2. While blending, in a serving casserole dish (1-c size) or large ramekin, place the pulsed apple filling leaving about an inch from the top for the crumble.

3. Spoon 2-3 tbsp of the crumble over the apple.

4. Add a dollop of the Coconut Whipped “Cream” over the center of the crumble.

5. Garnish the dish with some chopped fresh mint or some nutmeg!

Enjoy!

Miranda Jade Turbin

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

k.m.

In making a kitchen safe for celiacs, I recommend purchasing a new toaster specially designated for gluten-free use, which can be invaluable in avoiding cross-contamination. But what about when you’re traveling or eating over at someone’s house?  Now you can avoid cross-contamination with an innovative product called Toast-It Reusable Toaster Bags, which are convenient not only for toasting but for grilling gluten-free foods.

The bags are Teflon® and 100% non-stick. You can use them for heating up all sorts of foods, such as sandwiches, burgers, pizza slices, and garlic bread, in toasters and toaster ovens and on grills. Each bag is reusable up to ten times and comes two to a package.

Follow the link below to order a package:

http://www.glutenfree.com/index.cfm/manufacturer/IMCG/959069-___-Toast-It-Bags.html

Miranda Jade Turbin

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

k.m.

I like to make these at barbecues and in place of French fries as a healthier alternative. They are gluten-free and grain-free. They also make a great side dish.

INGREDIENTS:

½ c orange juice

¼ c oil

(optional) ½ tsp of:

ground ginger

garlic

salt

pepper

Cayenne pepper to taste (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

2. Combine orange juice and oil and reduce by simmering over the stove.

3. Add seasonings.

4. Thicken over the stove. Add cayenne pepper if you’d like.

5. Cut sweet potatoes into “fries.”

6. Bake approx. 25 mins on a greased dish. Toss halfway through with ingredients.

Miranda Jade Turbin

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

k.m.

According to the Canadian Celiac Association, DH is “a blistering, intensely itchy skin rash.” It’s usually symmetrical in shape and is most commonly located on the elbows, knees, buttocks, and upper back. According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology (AOCD), people can experience the rash on other parts of the body and severity can vary.

Celiac patients with DH also often experience mild or no gastrointestinal issues, although villous atrophy (damage to the villi of the lining in the small intestine) will most often be present.

The AOCD describes the basic DH cycle, which usually consists of a burning feeling on the affected area, followed by water blisters which tend to get scratched off, followed by scabbing and healing, which takes one to two weeks, then a new outbreak of these bumps or blisters. According to the AOCD, “DH is a lifelong condition, but remission may occur in 10 to 20 percent of patients.”

For a diagnosis, usually a skin biopsy is performed and sometimes some blood testing. And the treatment? The gluten-free diet, of course, although drug options are also available to suppress symptoms.

With an increase in awareness about DH among the public as well as in the medical community, we can look forward to a higher diagnosis rate and better long-term health among celiacs.

Tina Turbin
www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

b.a.

With regard to genetics, the CCA points out that more than 97% of celiac patients have the genetic markers HLA DQ2 and/or HLA DQ8. Celiac disease is now known to be a hereditary disease. The CCA tells us that “first-degree and to a lesser extent second-degree relatives are at higher risk of having unrecognized celiac disease.”

Next, is the environmental “trigger,” as Dr. Alessio Fasano, professor of pediatrics, medicine and physiology at the Center for Celiac Research at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, calls it. This is gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye.

According to the Canadian Celiac Association, sometimes severe physical stressors can also trigger the immunologic reaction to gluten that is characteristic to celiac disease. Such sources of stress include pregnancy, infection, surgery, or even severe emotional stress.

In his article, “Surprises from Celiac Disease,” published in Scientific American, Dr. Fasano describes a different triad of factors involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. The first two factors are the ‘’trigger” of gluten, which sets off the immune response, and the genetic predisposition, as previously described. Fasano proposes that “other genes are likely to be involved as well, but these additional culprits may differ from person to person.”

The third factor, according to Fasano’s research is an “unusually permeable gut.” Fasano’s research regarding this third factor of pathogenesis offers hope of new prevention and treatment methods. He says, “Treatments that reduced leakiness could potentially ease not only celiac disease but also other autoimmune disorders involving unusually permeable intestines.”

This research into the leaky gut of celiacs can explain a question that has been perplexing researchers regarding the disease’s pathogenesis: Why do some people not develop celiac disease until later in life? According to Dr. Fasano, this issue could be associated with the microbes in the digestive tract. Should this prove true, we may be able to prevent or treat celiac disease with probiotics.

Miranda Jade Turbin

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

b.a.

After mom Betty Lou Carrier read Sugar Blues by William Dufty and took to heart the book’s preaching that “sugar causes disease,” her life took a turn.  Little did she know that her newfound commitment to eliminating sugar from her family’s diet would end up with a 104,000 square -foot facility, 80 full-time staff, and the opportunity to work side by side with her two sons.

It all began with some experimentation in the kitchen, as Betty Lou sought to make sugar-free treats for her kids to take to school. She had never created recipes before, but after throwing some ingredients together, she found that she had created a delicious treat, loved by kids and grown-ups alike. Now the company offers a wide array of not only sugar-free but also various dairy-free, lactose-free, vegan, and gluten-free foods.  They recently came out with a new gluten-free protein bar, which comes in four flavors.

What Betty Lou first created in her kitchen was the forerunner of her company’s most popular item, Betty Lou’s Nut Butter Balls, which are gluten-free and come in a variety of flavors, including Peanut Butter, Almond Butter, Coconut, Cashew, Spirulina, and more, with an average of 9.15 grams of protein packed in each 1.4-oz. one. Their current ball shape comes from Betty’s Lou’s original use of an ice cream scoop to shape the treats before rolling them by hand with nuts.

Another high-quality gluten-free product Betty Lou’s offers is Low Glycemic Designer Protein Shakes, which are offer 20 grams of protein per serving. The shakes are free of lactose, gluten, sugar, soy, and hormones, with the protein source being milk and rice proteins. The shakes are high in fiber and sugar, contain vitamins and minerals, and are made with a digestive enzyme and probiotic blend. The three flavors of Chocolate, Vanilla, and Orange Cream mix instantly in water. Such a product is valuable for gluten- or lactose-free athletes looking for a protein boost or as a meal replacement shake for people looking to manage their weight.

The most recent release by Betty Lou’s is the Organic Just Great Stuff Bars, which come in four flavors, Organic Superberry Acai, Fruit & Veggie, Chocolate Dream Greens, and Cacao Acai Bar. The bars are certified organic, full of antioxidants, vegan, and gluten-free with protein supplied from organic rice protein and cashews. The bars are also rich in antioxidants; the Organic Cacao Acai Bar has an ORAC Antioxidant value of 34,100, as tested by the credible laboratory Brunswick Labs.  The ingredients are also unique and nutritious. For instance, the Chocolate Dream Greens Bar has “organic freeze-dried spinach, sprouted broccoli, kale and carrot, and whole foods like bananas, raisins, dates and cashews,” according to Betty Lou’s website.

According to Betty Lou’s son John, the facility is thoroughly washed out between every production as well as tested often for gluten content. Betty Lou’s is proud to create top-of-the-line “private label” products for doctors, nutritionists, and other companies by utilizing their team of scientists and researchers. John said that two of the private label products they created were named in the Top 5 Best Bars in Food Engineering Magazine.  According to John, in their latest third party audit of their facility, which was conducted to check their “good manufacturing” practices and procedures, resulted in a rating of 97%– the “Best in the Food Industry.”

“We go all out to keep our consumers safe, while enjoying a delicious, gluten-free performance snack from Betty Lou’s,” John says.

As awareness about gluten and celiac disease increases, more and more food companies are committing themselves to serving the gluten-free community. Betty Lou’s, Inc. stands out as one of these companies, which with its variety of gluten-free, nutritious snacks, has made living gluten-free easier for the gluten-free community.

Tina Turbin

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

k.m.

Resources:

Betty Lou’s, Inc. http://www.bettylousinc.com

According to the Canadian Celiac Association (CCA), this treatment is “a STRICT GLUTEN-FREE DIET FOR LIFE.” DH patients may also use the drug Dapsone to suppress their symptoms.

As the autoimmune reaction of celiac disease is triggered by ingestion of gluten, it’s important to completely eliminate this substance from the diet. This will heal the damage to the small intestine’s villi, the finger-like absorptive fingers that line the wall of this organ, which will  allow patients to better absorb the nutrients in their food and will “reduce the risk of developing many of the complications of untreated celiac disease,” according to the CCA.

The CCA recommends that celiac patients work with a qualified nutritionist who is knowledgeable about celiac disease “for nutrition assessment, education and follow-up.” Also, regular visits with your doctor is recommended as well as participation in a celiac support group.

With an increase in celiac research, we may have other treatment options to look forward to in the future, such as probiotics or gluten-digesting enzymes, but for now going gluten-free is all we have.

Miranda Jade Turbin
http://www.GlutenFreeHelp.info
b.a.