There would not be a Gulf Coast Disaster or the previous Exxon Valdez debacle if it were not for our dependence on the slick oil that is not covering and/or contaminating much of the gulf coast waters.

About once a week I ride the train, The Coaster, or metro system in my town. I tend to see a lot of people from all different walks of life enjoying the ride. By taking public transportation we reduce our use of oil and hopefully if enough people do it togehter we can help to preserve the world we live in the for future generations.

This is the view from the local train, The Coaster. I’m thankful that we can enjoy the clean water. I feel for all of the businesses, families, nature & wildlife that have been effected by the oil spill.

Consider ways you can reduce your dependence on oil.

Gluten Free & Oil Free Activities You Can Do:

– pack a gluten free lunch & ride your bicycle to the park to enjoy it

– go for a walk to the local yogurt shop (only gf toppings, please)

– use public transportation to visit a museum or park you have been meaning to check out

– if possible, walk, skateboard, ride your bike to your local grocery store when you just need to pick up a few items

Facts about the BP Oil Spill:

- the estimated amount of oil gushing out is 12,000 to 100,000 barrels (500,000 to 4,200,000 US gallons; 1,900,000 to 16,000,000 litres) per day (but we do not know for sure BP is not allowing independent studies to take place)

- 5 states have been effected so far Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia as well as countless wildlife nd marine life habitats

- some oil plumes stretch as much as 10 miles long

- at the current flow rate the oil could reach Atlantic states as early as July

- over 400 species of wildlife live in the gulf area including endangered species

for more unexpected/almost funny facts about the spill visit

http://theweek.com/article/index/203378/bp-oil-spill-9-strange-facts

I was skeptical of how the texture would be, but I was surprised how great it was!

I can remember over a year ago I came across a box of gluten free pasta! I was so excited that I quickly bought a set of 3 boxes and tomatoes to make sauce.

After spending half of the day making a huge batch of the sauce I was going to jar and eat with my pasta, my mouth was water just thinking about it. By the time dinner time came I was more than ready to enjoy a big bowl of warm and cheesy pasta. I had not had pasta in over a year! This gluten free pasta was to be my savior and my welcome back into the world of Italian cooking.

I boiled it, drained it and finally poured sauce over. The first bite was going to be amazing! And…MUSH! The texture was so horrible. And for those of you who have been reading, you already know how much texture is important to me. I threw it away disappointed and resigned to the fact that gluten free pasta was not ever going to be on par and so I would boycott it.

Fast forward to Thursday night of last week. I was in Whole Foods talking to a stock persona about gluten free foods and he said, I needed to try the pasta. Gluten Free PASTA?!? I had already sworn it off. But he promised me that if I did not like it, I should return it and return to speak with him directly.  So I gave it a shot.

It was so amazingly good! Comfort food at its best (but without the bleached flours! even better).

A friend of mine, Brad, came over to chat on Friday morning and I asked if he would be staying for lunch. When he replied “sure”, I pulled some chicken out of the refrigerator and glanced at the cupboard where I keep quinoa. That green box of gluten free pasta caught my eye and I saw the perfect opportunity to make Brett a guinea pig in my pasta experiment.

I made the chicken as I boiled the water for the pasta and opened a jar of “cheater” sauce. (Some of those pre made sauces are not too bad, I must admit!) I boiled if for almost exactly as long as the box indicated. Only touching one of the noodles with my finger to make sure it was cooked enough to eat.

I served Brad & NOTHING! It was great. He just kept eating as I grated Parmesan over his pasta. He’s not gluten free & couldn’t tell the difference! His lack of reaction made me think it was safe to eat.

As fast as I could I stabbed my fork into the colander to pick up a pasta and then dipped it into the sauce (still on the stove). This pasta is amazing! It tastes even better and has a better texture than the whole wheat pasta (from what I can remember). I happily served myself a hearty portion and enjoyed every last bite. The people at De Boles know how to make great gluten free pasta. If you ever have the opportunity to try it, I highly recommend this gluten free pasta.

Let me know what you think in the comments section. -Chelsea

Pomegranate juice, tea, yogurt, 1/2 empty jar of tomato sauce and there is only 1 egg in that egg carton!

True: I bake and cook great gluten free food most days.

False: I must not have a life because I bake and cook great gluten free food on most days.

The plain and simple truth is that for dinner I had a protein shake and my 3rd coconut muffin of the day. Why? Because I am 100% out of food. Thank goodness I had no visitors this weekend, I wouldn’t have been able to offer them anything!

The point of this empty fridge confession is that we are all human. Although it may seem like others have time to bake and cook gluten free food that you do not have time to prepare, it is a question of making a little bit of time to have fun cooking without gluten and enjoy the challenge.

This weekend I may have made time to make a few gluten free dishes, but I did not make time to go grocery shopping. So here I am, making a list of the food I need for the next week and wishing I had made as much time to actually buy food as I did to cook it.

If we could survive on condiments, we could make it for a few days!

In all honesty, sometimes I cannot believe we do not starve. Not only will I wait until the last minute to go to the grocery store, I am also terrible at grocery lists.

We have all been there. Here is gluten free living and making more time to bake and cook gluten free (and, yes, to going grocery shopping before you are 100% out of food) Hope you have a fantastic week

-Chelsea

It was a lot better than I thought it was going to be.

It is usually more economical to buy gluten free flours in bulk and make your own mix of flour that you use for baking.

This is the mix I normally make (when I am not using coconut flour):

- 1 teaspoon xanthan gum

- 1 1/2 cups brown rice flour or sorghum flour

- 1 cup white rice flour

- 1/2 cup tapioca, potato or corn starch

Makes 3 cups.

I did have the opportunity to try this gluten free flour and I was surprised how versatile it was. It was purchased for me by a friend and I would use it again in the future if i was out of my own flour mix. It would be good to have on had in the event that you are in a pinch or it is just too cold this winter to go out and get other kinds of flours.

This brand is organic and it worked in my muffin recipe just fine. There are even a few recipes on the back.

If you do try this flour, you will find that it is easy and convenient. For those of us who do not always have the time to make our own flour, i think it is just great. Enjoy!

Average Price Per Entrée: $12-25 USD
Good for Groups: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Attire: Casual
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for: dinner or lunch

Before we were seated I asked for a Gluten free Menu. The hostess, Jamie, was very kind and said she would bring it right away. The place was clean and decorated with a kind of Safari theme. As I watched entrees go buy I noticed the portions were giant, so for the price it is a very good deal, although to me it seemed more on the scale of other chain restaurants like Applebee’s, Ruby Tuesday and Chili’s.

Safari themed restarant serving Asian fusion dishes.

When our waiter, Muneed, arrived with drinks he kindly looked directly at me and said your gluten free menu will be right out. I thought that was very considerate of him to pay attention to who needed the gluten free menu.

Initially, I was handled a regular menu with at least 100 different choices from appetizers to desserts. Also in the back they included the nutrition facts. I thought that was nice and I glanced it over while I waited for the gluten free menu.

When it arrived, however, I was very disappointed. There were very few options available. In addition to few choices, the menu (printed on computer paper) also said that all of the entrees and salads could not be eaten with their perspective dressings or sides.

Very few items on the gluten free menu.

I was disappointed but not that hungry so I settled for a salad. The salad was very good, even without the dressing.

Gluten Free Cobb Salad, a huge portion.

The wait staff said that the company is working on their allergy menus, and this was just a temporary fix. They were very apologetic and tried very hard to understand the needs of a gluten free diet.

I knew they had not clue what gluten was and the hostess and the waiter both stated in a kind of robotic and scripted way that they cannot control if some gluten gets into the food. They didn’t know the word cross-contamination, but that is what they were alluding to.

Although, the waiter and the hostess did not know exactly what I needed, they were so kind and even had the manager come over and apologize for the state of their gluten free menu. Also, I was given a free appetizer that they tried to make gluten free, but since it is an Asian fusion restaurant I knew the soy sauce factor was present.

I accepted the invitation for the appetizer and I was right. The chicken had soy sauce. I took it too go because the salad I had was quite good even without the gluteny dressing and I was full. My family did say they enjoyed the chicken when they ate it later in the day.

The free appetizer they gave me was not gluten free, but my family liked it very much.

All in all. Elephant Bar gets 1 out of 5 stars for availability of gluten free menu options, but 5 out of 5 for their out standing effort to accommodate my needs and make suggestions. I really appreciated that.

I am looking forward to when they do have a more legitimate gluten free menu. I am not a fan of any chain restaurants, but I would not mind returning at all simply because of the wonderful service.

If you have dined here as well. Let me know about your experience in the comments section.

Cheers, Chelsea

Garlic goes well in so many savory dishes and is usually one of the first ingredients that is used for soups, stews, meats, stir-frys, casserole, side dishes, sauces…the list goes on. Not only is it delicious and full of flavor, it also hold benefits beyond the kitchen.

People have said before that garlic is good for you but now we know exactly why. According to the National Academy of Sciences, garlic ups the body’s production of hydrogen sulfide. This chemical compound is an anti-oxidant that tells the body to increase blood flow and relax the blood vessels.

Garlic’s proven power to boost hydrogen sulfide helps protect against various cancers as well as lower ‘bad’ cholesterol levels and protect the heart. No wonder the Greeks used to feed it to their athletes before sporting events.

Daily consumption of garlic is the best way to benefit from its protective properties, according to Dr. David W. Kraus of the UNiversity of Alabama. Also, it is important to chop garlic and allow it is sit for about 15 minutes before you saute it so that the enzymes begin to activate.

So to all the garlic lover out there, go ahead have some more on your bread, sauteed veggies, meats or even just roasted.

The Safeway grocery stores, (also known as: Vons, Dominicks, Randall’s, Tom Thumb and Genuardi’s, depending upon where you live in America) have released lists of foods they carry that are gluten free.

They have everything on this list from Pancake Syrup to Vitamins. It is a concise list that will help you navigate the grocery store.

List of Gluten Free Groceries

Navigating the Grocery Store Made Easier (& Faster)

Current research shows that approximately 1%- 5% of celiac patients react to oats even in their natural and pure form, without being cross contaminated. Although the cause for this reaction is unknown, some literature suggests that a protein in oats can trigger a similar response to gluten. However, for the rest of us, oats in their natural form that are produced in a gluten-free facility are safe and can be enjoyed.

Is oatmeal safe for people with Celaic?

The company, Bob’s Red Mill, for example, has gone to great lengths to ensure that their Whole Grain Rolled Oats are prepared and kept safe from contamination.

Their oats are grown, transported and processed in entirely gluten-free environments and tested a number of different ways for gluten. With this level of care given to avoiding gluten contamination, most people with celiac disease should be able to safely eat these oats. The back label of the product explains how the oats are prepared and protected from contamination. The people at Bob’s Red Mill even took the time to explain on their label that some people with Celiac may not be able to tolerate them.

Remembering Gluten Free Thailand…

Last night Drew and I had Thai food. As we were eating it dawned on my that I had not had Thai food since I was in Thailand. It wasn’t that I had forgotten about Thai food it was just that last time I was there I wasn’t gluten free. After looking at the menu I was relieved because there are a lot of dishes that are naturally gluten free.

Thai Food, Yum! (& gluten free)

My Top 5 Gluten Free Thai Recommendations:

5. Garlic and Pepper Chicken (this dish is traditionally not breaded but ask your server to be sure).

4. Phad Thai (make sure it just ask to omit the soy sauce if it is not traditional Thai soy sauce. Traditional Thai soy sauce doesn’t have wheat in it)

3. Penang Curry (normally does not have soy sauce)

2. Tom Yum Kung, a spicy shrimp soup.

1. Glass Noodle Salad (can be made spicy so if you like it mild be sure to ask)

Traditional Thai food does not use soy sauce and Thai style of soy sauce does not have gluten. The only thing you really have to be careful about is oyster sauce which usually has gluten. As always when eating out, be sure to ask about the sauces and you should have no problems. The only other thing to avoid is breaded food, but this goes without saying. Hope you try some Thai food soon