Durham's Gluten Free Network

 I just want to announce that the FDA made an over the counter "OTC" birth control pill available in the US quite a long time ago, I think a year ago.  Finally there's one you can buy called Opill. Here is a link from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJYHQ3CB   It's about $50 for 3 months, which is quite affordable compared to pregnancy.  It's also a hormone replacement therapy if you want to use it that way. It has no estrogen though, so if you need that for your best health, you still need to see a doctor.  Stay well. 

A couple of milk free and gluten free snack and meal bars came to my attention lately.  I still like Think Bars, especially the crisp ones.  And I seem to be over my initial sensitivity to all forms of milk.  However milk is still an issue for many people with Celiac, so that takes out a lot of otherwise safe snack options for people.  And people with an illness that requires special food must travel everywhere with a snack or two.  You never know when you will be stuck somewhere with no safe options.  So read on for a couple of new options I've tried lately.   The Classic Go Macro about $30 for 12 bars, based on flavor choice:  https://www.amazon.com/GoMacro-MacroBar-Organic-Protein-Chocolate/dp/B0791WCX84/    This is certified vegan, meaning no milk, and has the bonus of being Organic as well as certified GF. They are a nice size, not shortchanging you by giving you a tiny bar.  It's been around for a long time and both Doug and I love it. One tip to know is that sometimes A

  Sorry to leave this blog behind but it's obvious I'm no longer feeling it.  I wanted to be sure there was a message clearly stating that I was no longer updating the blog frequently.  So much has happened in the past two and a half years, and since the beginning of this blog.  It's been an honor and a pleasure to be with you through it.  It's just not sustainable for me anymore.  In general my interest in the internet and social media has fallen to nearly zero.   But if I find some important information to share, I may still do so rarely. And I'm still interested in you.  Those I've formed friendships with, please email me and keep in touch.  Hopefully it will someday be safe to meet in a cafe too.  But I"m really just not into the whole zoom/digital revolution thing.  If there's one thing the pandemic taught me it's how much real life matters. And how easily we get hypnotized by screens.  Or at least me.  I get easily hypnotized by screens.  Pret

 This is a momentous occasion I just want to bring to your attention that the world has a patent free Covid-19 Vaccine now.  https://www.texaschildrens.org/texas-children%E2%80%99s-hospital-and-baylor-college-medicine-covid-19-vaccine-technology-secures-emergency It's so far only approved for use in India. But the important thing is, we have one. This is a major improvement in vaccine distribution fairness.  Please treat the Omicron variant as seriously as all of them.  And consider that there is some evidence that rodents may be what's causing this outbreak to seem like it's magically getting to you even though you are staying home all the time.   https://europepmc.org/article/MED/34954396      I urge you to please, please stay home for New Year's Eve.  There will be more parties.  We will meet again.

  Summing this post up in one image, these are the prices on Amazon today for three different GF animal crackers brands.  Amazon can be a barometer for prices, and it can be far more expensive than buying locally.  But this comparison offers insight into what people go through when trying to find required safe food. Also, this is a food targeted at children.  Adults love them too, but notice how much bustle there is for the kid's market here. The good news is that GF animal crackers are widely available and safe to eat if you have Celiac Disease.  They may or may not be a good bargain depending on where you buy them or what  specific needs you have. Many make additional claims such as no corn, or non-GMO.  The only thing I couldn't find is Organic or Fair Trade ones. (Ahem, business opportunity!) You can also make these at home for even more safety and total control over ingredients:   https://glutenfreeonashoestring.com/animal-crackers/   https://gfjules.com/recipes/gluten-fre

  Regulation is being considered in the US Congress to strengthen labeling of gluten and other allergens in food.  While some will try to paint this move as excessive regulation, those of us who have no choice but to try and avoid certain ingredients should write to our lawmakers and support this legislation.    Bill is here. December 6th, 2021 article:  https://www.theregreview.org/2021/12/06/abely-disclosing-gluten-in-food/  Archived:   https://web.archive.org/web/20211206204025/https://www.theregreview.org/2021/12/06/abely-disclosing-gluten-in-food/ Excerpts to help you decide what to write:   Labeling confusion :   "Currently, when a packaged food is not explicitly labeled as gluten-free, a consumer can review a label for the presence of wheat, since wheat must be listed as an allergen. But the gluten-containing grains barley and rye are not currently required to be listed as allergens. A gluten-free consumer, therefore, cannot always tell whether these grains are presen

I'm sorry that this is not a real post.  Google sent out some disturbing emails about canceling Feedburner, which, I understood to mean, email won't work anymore.  Now that enough time has passed, I"m posting something just to see how emails work now.  I tried asking questions, but no answers were forthcoming. So here's a beautiful image to complete the post.   My best wishes go to you, may your holidays be perfect this year! PS:  It worked, I got mine in email.  I guess I should re-enable the Subscribe button.

  Courtesy of FoodMarble Suffer from dairy or FODMAP intolerance?  there's a device you may consider.  (Note, not an affiliate.) Ever wonder if you've had milk and was it "too much"?  People with lactose intolerance walk a thin line knowing they have limited ability to break down lactose.  For me the problems with milk seem deeper and more related to the fungi that come along for the ride in cheese, the various proteins in milk, etc, plus the limited lactase my body makes.  So I basically don't eat cheese, because the only cheese that doesn't cause gut problems for me is Velveeta, and I really don't consider that healthy.  The only dairy I ever touch anymore is nonfat yogurt.  But your needs and reasons may be different.    It's not just for dairy, apparently the app can track and help you identify problem high FODMAP foods.  In my experience if I've been exposed to gluten, my tolerance for FODMAPs goes way down.  At the moment I've trained my

  Photo by Angelica Nelson  If you don't know the names in the title, let me introduce, Rip Esselstyn, the son of a cardiologist who began to educate his patients on eating a radically low fat diet, based on whole grains, beans and fresh fruits and vegetables, back when it wasn't as well known as it is today.  He published the book Engine 2 and now runs a website PlantStrong.  John Stewart needs no introduction in the US.  He's known as the first host of the "Daily Show" a Comedy Central experiment with a news satire show that is still wildly successful, and now hosted by the brilliant Trevor Noah.  After John Stewart went traveling, soon after he seemed to loose a lot of weight and I thought, OMG he's not sick is he?  But no, he just became vegan and lost a lot of weight.   Without judging people's choices I will say that I worry more when men become vegan than when women do.  I think they're affected differently.  But he's healthy and happy and I

  Photo by Helena Lopes from Pexels Years ago, my mother would complain that chicken in Romania smelled and tasted of fish because they were feeding fish to the animals.  Most of my family has a difficult time enjoying chicken for various reasons.  Including me.  I can't stand the smell or taste of non-Organic chicken and during the pandemic the smell of certain meats disgusted me.  I know from experience that I can't be vegetarian or vegan anymore (I was for over 12 years), but I still have a difficult relationship to meat eating. I need to brine all fowl before I consider it edible.  Only turkey rarely triggers a disgust reaction for me.  But that's fresh turkey, not lunchmeat turkey.  Later I noticed that a lot of meat in the supermarket claims "vegetarian fed" and that bothered me because I know that chickens and pigs are omnivores.  Even horses have a legendary affinity for meat as an occasional treat.  That seemed so unnatural to me, I asked several loc

Modified, Photo by Henri Mathieu-Saint-Laurent from Pexels   During Celiac Awareness Month, I think it's important that we also call out the bad products.  Like Williams Sonoma's Gluten Free Artisan French Bread Mix .  Not only is it not really gluten free, there are no safeguards in place, like batch testing, and it clearly states that they use the same machine as products that contain wheat flour.  On top of everything else, it costs a whopping $15 a loaf and you have to make it yourself.  Not only is is highway robbery, but it's dangerous. It's not: Gluten free, it's clearly cross contaminated Batch tested Certified Gluten Free Affordable Whole Grain Free of excessive gums Easy to use So I  attempted to post a review on their site, explaining all this.   Not gluten free -- Clearly states this product is cross contaminated. Do not buy this if you have Celiac Disease, Gluten Ataxia, EDS, or any other medical reason why you need gluten free

 Happy Celiac Disease Awareness Month!!   I can think of no better ambassadors for Celiac Disease than the darling children who have to deal with this as they grow up.  In a way I was lucky the disease didn't activate until I was older.  The message is clear, We need something better than just a strict diet.  The isolation is harmful and we could all live more confident lives without having to worry every time we eat.   Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSySXOE17k8     If you're just starting out, begin with my Resources page.  It's long and jam packed with info, but hopefully you can find what you need. Don't hesitate to get in touch if you need help.  A videographer did an excellent job expressing the social difficulties surrounding Celiac disease.  Watch:  https://vimeo.com/486284734 Stay safe and well.

 This Gluten Free Cookie mix won't cause you to pull a face.  This is chocolate chip cookies the way they should be.  This is a reliable mix that you don't need to modify.  I always sneak a little extra water in it, so it ends up being about 1/4 cup water, but besides that I don't meddle.  I made a pan of wide lovely, crispy edged, soft in the middle cookies that I'd been dreaming of.  I don't have any illusions that this is somehow good for me, but a good treat is good for the soul.   Here's how, easy directions.. and like all baking, warm everything up in the microwave for 20-30 sec to take the refrigerator chill out of it.  I baked another batch with cold eggs and it was all lumpy and drier.  So don't do that. 👵  I used parchment paper to make it easy to shift the baked ones out of the pan and put new batter in for the next batch. (Don't use wax paper, it will burn.) Enjoy!  Ahh normalcy!!

  Did you ever just want some junk food and Celiac makes that complicated?  I was missing things like Entenman's Raspberry Danish.  It's one thing to stay away from junk food.  It's another thing entirely to never have junk food again because you can't have the gluten.  So when I noticed that Krusteaz now has a line of GF flour, cake and a GF version of their beloved Crumb Cake, I bought a few to test it out.   Result?  It's honestly, truly, really, better than the gluten version was.   The instructions on the box are great, but here's a few tweaks: don't add an oil with flavor, this is not a good time to add evoo, because it will flavor the cake very srongly, use flavorless refined vegetable oil, melted butter, or liquid coconut oil add a teaspoon of cinnamon to the cake mix sprinkle some cinnamon on the cake mix layer before applying the crumb mixture, it won't sink that way you can optionally, use stewed apples instead of water, the cake will be softe

  Here's a ray of sunshine!  #BobsRedMill #GlutenFree #Bread Mix worked much better than I expected.  It produced a loaf that has classic size and shape, doesn't shrink as much as many homemade loaves, and has a great deal of firmness so you can make sandwiches that don't fall apart in your hands.  In fact the crust is crispy, even crunchy on top, and the crumb middle is soft and fluffy like ordinary white bread.  The smell is "normal" since it's a yeast bread.  It uses Saf brand yeast, Saf also makes Red Star yeast.   Since it's a mix, it has simple instructions on the back and I'm pleased to mention, that I've added two simplifications and it worked perfectly well.  The instructions say to use 1 egg and 3 egg whites.  I used two eggs and it was fine.  It also says to use room temp ingredients, but chances are this is a risky thing to do, liquids and eggs may be forgotten too long.  What I did was, I mixed eggs, water, oil, and then microwaved for