Eggstremely Easy Egg Salad

When I tell people that I have a dairy allergy, they often ask if I can have eggs. I wondered that myself when I was first diagnosed. There is often a misconception that eggs are a dairy product because they are found in the dairy section of a grocery store alongside milk, cream, butter and cheeses. Since they are not the by-product of a cow however, they are not considered dairy.

Now, I eat them with reckless abandon. Ok not that often, but I have re-discovered their potential as a great breakfast, lunch, and dinner option. I found myself hankering for a tangy egg salad sandwich the other day, but was pressed for time in between kindergarten drop-off, errands, and kindergarten pick-up. So, here is a very quick and very easy gluten and dairy free egg salad recipe.

Egg Salad

4 hard boiled eggs
1/4 cup Hellman's Real Mayonnaise
1/4 cup chopped celery
1 tsp French's yellow mustard
Sea salt to taste
Pepper to taste
Chopped parsley for garnish

Remove the shells from the 4 hard boiled eggs. Chop eggs and set aside. In a medium bowl, mix together mayonnaise and mustard. Add chopped celery and mix well. Gently add chopped eggs and season with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with chopped parsley as garnish.

I like to enjoy this salad with a few leaves of spinach on a toasted "Food for Life" gluten free brown rice english muffin.

Headache, Chills, and Nausea Oh My!

There are several reasons I'd rather be elsewhere this time of year than in Chicagoland. Aside from it being bitter cold outside, our family usually seems to contract some sort of virus that overextends its stay in our household. Despite slathering on the "hanitizer", as my childen call the bottles of hand sanitizer scattered throughout our home, we are down for the count. Looking for some temporary relief, I turn to my medicine cabinet.

It is important during this cold and flu season to take a moment and check the ingredients of the medications you have on-hand, to verify that they are indeed gluten free. Below is a list of some common over-the-counter medications that I have personally verified with the manufacturer to be free of any gluten and dairy ingredients. DISCLAIMER: It's always good practice to double-check ingredients of any medication before consuming, as formulations of these medications can change at any time.

Stay Well!


Headache/Fever/Cold
TYLENOL (manufactured by MacNeil PPC) 

• Infants' TYLENOL® Drops Cherry 
• Infants' TYLENOL® Drops Grape
• Children’s TYLENOL® Meltaways Grape Punch 
• Children’s TYLENOL® Meltaways Bubblegum Burst 
• Children’s TYLENOL® Suspension Cherry Blast
•  Jr. TYLENOL® Meltaways Grape PunchJr. TYLENOL® Meltaways Bubblegum Burst 
• Extra Strength TYLENOL® Caplets 
• Regular Strength TYLENOL® Tablets 
• TYLENOL® Arthritis Pain Caplets 
• TYLENOL® 8 Hour Caplets 
• TYLENOL® PM Caplets 
• Simply Sleep® Caplets 
• TYLENOL® Sinus Severe Congestion 
• TYLENOL® Cold Severe Congestion Caplets

 Motrin

• Infants' Motrin® Drops 
• Infants' Motrin® Drops Dye-Free 
• Children’s Motrin® Suspension Grape
• Children’s Motrin® Suspension Berry 
• Children’s Motrin® Suspension Bubblegum 
• Children’s Motrin® Suspension Dye-Free 
• Children’s Motrin® Cold Suspension Berry (available behind the pharmacist’s counter) 
• Motrin® IB Caplets 
• Motrin® IB Tablets

Allergy/Sinus

• Benadryl
• Benadryl-D (Allergy and Sinus)
• Benadryl Allergy and Cold
• Sudafed
• Sudafed PE
• Sudafed Plus
• Sudafed Cold and Sinus Liquid Caps

Cough

• Delsym
• Mucinex ( Note: I've seen some reports online that Mucinex mini-melts for kids is no longer gluten-free)

Sore Throat

• Chloraseptic Spray (all flavors)
• Halls' Cough Drops (all flavors)

Stomach/Digestive

• IMODIUM^® Multi-Symptom Chewable Tablets
• IMODIUM^® A-D Caplets
• Gas-X
• TUMS (Note: On TUMS' website, they state that "there may be trace amounts of gluten in TUMS Smoothies Cocoa and Cream flavor via ingredients that are supplied by outside vendors. Other products of TUMS do not contain gluten.") 
• Prevacid
• Pepcid AC 10 mg Tables
• Pepcid Complete Chewable Mint Tablets
• Regular Strength Mylanta Liquid Original Flavor
• Maximum Strength Mylanta Liquid Original Flavor
• Maximum Strength Mylanta Gas Mint Tablets
  
  
  
  
  

I Heart Woodman's

I used to consider shopping at two to three different grocery stores plus the health food store part of my shopping "routine" until I discovered Woodman's in Carpentersville. It is still a good 20 minute drive from home, but in my opinion, well worth it for their selection and pricing of gluten free products. Half of my household still continue to eat gluten, so I need to purchase traditional grocery items as well as my specialty foods. Their pricing on all grocery items seems to be the best in the area. Overall, it is almost a third less than Jewel and Dominick's.

Woodman's has a wide variety of meats, fresh produce, cheeses, canned and dry goods, as well as frozen foods. They have two full aisles dedicated to gluten free/casein free and organic products, which include frozen gluten free entrees, breads, and dessert items. Numerous other, mainstream gluten and dairy free items can be found throughout the store in their respective sections.

Here are just a few of my favorites that are carried by Woodman's:

• Udi's Bread, Bagels, and Muffins
• Kinnickkinnick Bagels, Chocolate Donuts, and boxed cookies
• Schar's Classic White Rolls
• Food for Life Gluten Free English Muffins
• Tinkyada Pasta
• Van's Waffles (Berry Flax - yum!)
• Amy's Frozen Gluten Free/Dairy Free Pizzas
• Bob's Red Mill baking flours and mixes
• Handmade on Main Gluten Free Granolas
• Mesa Sunrise and Enjoy Life Cereals
• Koala Kids Snack Bars
• Glutino Breakfast Bars
• Almond Breeze, Rice Dream, Silk Almond Milks
• Tofutti Cream Cheese
• So Delicious Coconut Yogurts, Cultured Coconut Milk (Kefir), and ice cream varieties
• Gluten Freeda Gluten Free Frozen Burritos (great for a quick lunch or snack)
• Applegate Farms Organic Gluten/Casein Free Deli Meats

Plus much much more. The best part is that they have extra large carts with a built-in park bench! I strap the kids in to the bench seat, we cruise the cart over to the book/magazine section, and they pick out their favorite reading material for the ride. Now we are all set for a peaceful shopping experience :) 

Peanut Butter Bars

Okay, 2011 and its new year resolutions are well under way. Who says there isn't room in your healthful, balanced diet for a little sinful indulgence? I was always one to enjoy a few mini-Reese's peanut butter cups during my 3:00 slump, so this has become my new Reese's. This recipe comes courtesy of my mother-in-law. My husband has fond memories of these bars growing up, so I recently created a gluten and casein free version for our household. After cutting them into squares, I discreetly slide a few into the freezer for safekeeping. These go fast, so it's every man for himself!

Peanut Butter Bars

1 cup Earth Balance Vegan Spread, melted

2 cups gluten free Kinnikinnick Smoreables graham style cracker crumbs

2 cups confectioners’ sugar

1 cup and 4 tbsp. JIF peanut butter divided

1 ½ cups Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips

Mix together Earth Balance spread, graham crackers crumbs, confectioners’ sugar and 1 cup peanut butter until well blended. Press evenly into the bottom of an un-greased 9 x 13 pan.

Microwave the chocolate chips and the 4 tbsp peanut butter on high for 1 minute. Stir. Continue microwaving, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth. Spread over the prepared crust. Refrigerate for 1 hour before cutting into squares. Store bars in airtight container in refrigerator, but they are best enjoyed at room temperature.

Gluten Free Breakfast of Champions - The Smoothie

Since Wheaties are no longer a breakfast menu option in our household, we have turned our sights to the blender and its seemingly endless possibilities of breakfast concoctions. The kids look forward to choosing which fruit will succumb to the power of the blades as well as who gets first dibs on pressing "pulse" or "puree". For me, it's a great way to get some servings of fruit, good probiotics and a little dash of protein for sustained energy. Here's our recipe for a Good Morning Tropical Smoothie. Feel free to add whatever fruit you'd like – fresh or frozen. Heck, when the forecast is for 14 degrees and snow, I like to throw in a little paper drink umbrella and turn on some Caribbean steel drum music for good measure. Happy Day!

Good Morning Smoothie

1 banana

1 cup Kefir (I use So Delicious Brand Cultured Coconut Milk - Vanilla)

1 cup fresh or frozen fruit (strawberry, pineapple, blueberry, blackberry, raspberry or mango)

Dash of vanilla extract (McCormick brand)

1-2 tablespoons agave nectar

1 heaping tablespoon rice protein powder (I use NutriBiotic brand - Plain. For those that can have dairy, you can use a gluten free whey protein powder instead)

Crushed ice

Blend until smooth. If too thick, you can add a dash of either rice milk or almond milk until desired consistency.

My First Entry

It's been about 2 years and change since I have been diagnosed with celiac disease and a casein allergy. My story started like so many other people with celiac - a myriad of seemingly unrelated symptoms, digestive woes, and fatigue that I just attributed to raising two children under the age of 4. It is amazing though what something as simple as changing the food you eat can do. Removing gluten and dairy from my diet has literally given me a new lease on life. Do I miss the taste of crusty bread slathered with butter? Of course. Do I occasionally wake up in the morning and realize that I had a dream about cheese? Embarrassing, but true. But, I have learned to cook again - this time flavorfully and healthfully.

Before celiac, my husband and I enjoyed traveling and experiencing cuisine in various parts of the world. We still continue to do so, now with two little ones in tow and a somewhat restricted set of dining options. Through this blog I hope to share recipes that I've enjoyed, resources I've found helpful in the McHenry county area, and learn from others living with celiac. I am always on the lookout for new gluten and dairy free products, local dining options, and eager to learn about new treatment options and advances in research. My son has joined me on this gluten free journey the past 6 months, so please let me know if someone has created gluten free goldfish crackers!