Welcome to Gluten-Free Wednesdays!  I’m glad you’re here.  I look forward to seeing the links you have to share with us this week, but first I have some exciting news to share with you!

Free eBook

I’ve recently published an eBook called How to Be Gluten Free, and it’s available for FREE today and tomorrow on Amazon.  The eBook is short but comprehensive and covers 10 steps to becoming gluten free.  It’s not a cookbook, but a few recipes are included at the end.  Find out more here.

Guest Posts Wanted

I’m looking for guest posts for the summer, specifically recipe posts.  If you’re interested, send me an email and we can discuss it further.

Last Week’s Highlights

•  Chocolate Cheesecake Squares – Oatmeal with a Fork
• Blueberry Cinnamon Mug Muffin – Allergy Free Vintage Cookery
• Colorful Asian Stir Fry – Dancing Carrots
• Slow Cooker Round Steak and Vegetables – Elegantly Gluten Free
• Best Gluten-Free Vegan Bread – Hope’s Kitchen

My Submission

Broccoli Slaw – A great warm weather vegetable dish.

If you get this post by email, remember to click over to the site later in the day or sometime tomorrow to see what great ideas have been gathered here.

The Carnival

Please read!

• Keep the links to gluten-free eating ideas (recipes, reviews, menus)
• If you’re new, please read the guidelines.
• Leave a link back (I will not highlight any recipes that do not link back.)
• Thanks for participating!

Note:  I may choose to use your submitted photo if sharing your link on Facebook or highlighting it in next week’s post.  If you have a problem with that, please let me know.

The post Gluten-Free Wednesdays 5-22-13 appeared first on The Gluten-Free Homemaker.

I have some exciting news to share with you today.  After many months of working on and off on an eBook, I have finally finished it! How to Be Gluten Free is now available on Amazon, and today and tomorrow I am offering it to you for free!

How to Be Gluten Free Description

For most people, going gluten free or having a child or spouse go gluten free is very overwhelming and often discouraging. Sometimes it’s even depressing. How to Be Gluten Free is intended to give hope and help to those who are on a gluten-free diet for any reason.

Ten chapters give ten steps to take in the process, starting with the most basic but very important step of facing emotions. Giving up food is a grieving process for many, and acknowledging that is the first step to handling it successfully.

The remaining steps are more practical in nature and help people learn what they need to know to successfully buy and prepare gluten-free food, supplements, and personal care products as well as eat out safely, and connect with others.

This is not a cookbook, but a few recipes are included in an appendix to get you started.

Get Your Free Copy

How to Be Gluten Free (affiliate link) is only available at the Amazon Kindle Store.  But you don’t have to own a Kindle to be able to read it. Amazon’s free reading apps allow you to read Kindle books on your computer or smart phone.

The eBook normally sells for $2.99, which is a great deal, but today and tomorrow (May 21 & 22) I’m offering this book for free.

Please Leave a Review

I am thrilled to offer a free copy of this book to my readers.  I appreciate you all, and I hope this book will be helpful to you.

After downloading and looking through the book, I ask that you please consider leaving a review of the eBook on Amazon.  Reviews are very important in helping other people make buying decisions.  Your review will assist other buyers and also help me.

Get your free copy of How to Be Gluten Free now!

The post How to Be Gluten Free eBook appeared first on The Gluten-Free Homemaker.

My friend Nancy recently made a broccoli slaw for our monthly card game.  I enjoyed it and decided to pick up package of broccoli slaw at the store.  I’ve realized recently that I don’t post vegetable recipes very often.  The truth is, the way I prepare and serve vegetables is usually so simple that I don’t think to write it down as a recipe.

We all need new vegetable ideas sometimes, though.  I don’t usually buy pre-cut fruit or vegetables such as broccoli slaw, but it’s nice to take short cuts once in a while.  I could make my own, but I know I won’t.

This broccoli slaw is a great recipe for Memorial Day coming up next week, but it’s also perfect for any day.  With warm weather here, it’s nice to serve a cold vegetable with dinner that is something other than a typical salad.  My picky eater (who is particularly particular about veggies) loved the broccoli slaw, so I’m sure I’ll be making more of it.

Many recipes use vinegar, but my family simply doesn’t care for vinegar in very many recipes.  I decided it was safer to go with lemon juice, and I’m so glad I did.  I love the flavor that the fresh juice and zest add to this dish.

The post Broccoli Slaw appeared first on The Gluten-Free Homemaker.

Weekly Gluten-Free Menu Plan

Ground Beef Goulash with Salad

Bacon Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, and Broccoli with Garlic - This chicken recipe is from Shirley at Gluten Free Easily.  Anything with bacon is enjoyed in my house.

Tacos and Salad – Sorry, no picture or recipe for this one.  I think you can handle it, though.  :)

Crock Pot Chicken, Spinach with Mushrooms & Garlic, Rice

Chicken Enchiladas, Roasted Asparagus

Calzones, Salad

Applesauce Oatmeal Muffins, Bacon, Fruit – These muffins are from Janel at Gluten Freely Frugal.  They look delicious and would make a fun weekend meal.

Dessert Idea

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

More Gluten-Free Menu Plans

The post Gluten-Free Menu Plan 5-19-13 appeared first on The Gluten-Free Homemaker.

Gluten-Free/Celiac
Your 5 Worst Gluten-Free Mistakes
Get Diagnosed Before Going Gluten-Free
Going Gluten Free: 24 Resources to Do It Right
Gluten-Free Myths
Despite Study, Some Universities Cater to Gluten-Free Needs
Gluten Free in Afghanistan, A Soldier’s Gluten-Free Memoir

Cooking/Recipes (not necessarily gluten-free but adaptable and/or inspirational)
Creamy Frozen Yogurt Chips
75 Delicious Ways to Cook Eggs
71 Healthy Dinner Recipes to Try
Gluten Free California Pilaf

Home/Family
Clever Corner D.I.Y. Ideas
Clothing Care Label Cheat Sheet
100 More Things You Can Make Yourself
How to Clean Your House in 20 Minutes a Day for 30 Days

Computer/Internet/Phone
How to Make an External Drive Your Main Hard Drive
Boomerang for Gmail
17 Apps you Can’t Live Without

Animal/Nature Photos
Old Boathouse
Top 10 Most Beautiful Nature Spots Around Austria
Stunning Frozen Air Bubbles at Abraham Lake, Canada
Cat Has a Special Visitor Every Morning
Cat or Dog? Which is Cuter?

To view my disclaimer and previous Surfing Saturday posts, visit the Surfing Saturday page on my blog.

The post Surfing Saturday 5-18-13 appeared first on The Gluten-Free Homemaker.

from Lily’s mom, Linda

“Lily was recently diagnosed with celiac disease at age 11, but I am now certain that this has been a lifelong problem.

Broken Bones

In May 2011, Lily (age 10) broke her arm for the 5th time. It was the 4th humerus fracture, but the first in 3 years. After the 4th break, we ran blood work but it showed that her calcium and Vitamin D levels were fine, so we (and the pediatrician) wrote it off to an active girl.

This time, I was determined to figure out what the problem was. My research showed me that humerus fractures only account for 5% of pediatric fractures, and she had broken them 4 times! After a frustrating summer of multiple blood draws and a not very proactive pediatrician, we finally got a referral to Pediatric Endocrinology at the major university teaching hospital near us.

That doctor started out by saying that they get kids in all the time to evaluate for recurrent fractures, and they rarely find anything. She then ordered tons of blood work, with tests being sent to Mayo Clinic and some special lab in California. She also ordered a DEXA (bone density) scan.

Osteopenia

All of the blood work came back normal, and after 3 weeks of calling I finally got her to return my phone call about the DEXA scan. She looked at the results while we were on the phone and said “Oh, it’s low. She’s osteopenic. It’s genetic and there’s nothing you can do but give her calcium and vitamin D.”

My daughter’s dance teacher has a celiac child, so on her advice I asked about celiac in that same phone conversation. She totally blew me off because Lily doesn’t have any GI symptoms. I, unfortunately, did press her on it. We took that result and advice and thought “ok, at least it’s nothing terrible, and they ran so many tests they must have checked for everything.”

Then in December Lily fractured her wrist, and we were finally able to get in at the peds orthopedic clinic at the same teaching hospital. The doctor there gave me a lecture about being my child’s best advocate and asked what endocrinology was doing to follow up. She made us an appointment with the head of peds endocrinology and suggested that we visit genetics also.

Weight Loss

Over the next few weeks as we were waiting for those appointments, I realized that Lily had lost 5 pounds in the last month even though she hadn’t been sick at all. I took her to the pediatrician in mid-January (we had switched to a wonderful pediatrician in the same practice by then, and this was her first appointment with Lily) because I was concerned about the weight loss (she only weighed 68 pounds at that point, so 5 was a lot).

The doctor didn’t think it was anything to worry about, but ordered some blood work. Lily’s weight stabilized at that point, so we elected to wait to get a single blood draw two weeks later when we visited genetics.

Brittle Bone Disease?

Genetics also wasn’t worried about the weight loss, and decided that there was a 95% chance she had OI-Osteogenesis Imperfecta (Brittle Bone Disease). We agreed to spend major money on the DNA test to confirm that diagnosis, which would take 6 to 8 weeks for results.

While we came to grips with that diagnosis, we had the appointment with endocrinology, who also wasn’t worried about the weight loss. He said “she has osteoporosis, not osteopenia” and that we needed to do IV bisphosphonate treatment to strengthen her bones, which is standard of care now for moderate to severe OI kids. I wasn’t thrilled with the idea because I read that it’s not recommended for mild OI kids (which Lily would have been) because the risks outweigh the benefits.

Celiac Disease

I got very involved in an OI Parents Facebook group, and we decided to go see an expert. We got an appointment with the director of the OI Clinic at KKI/Johns Hopkins. Two days before that appointment (7 weeks after seeing genetics) the DNA test came back normal, i.e. negative for OI.

We went to see him anyway, and in the first 10 minutes he said, “Why hasn’t she been tested for Celiac?”

Within two weeks of that appointment, we had a diagnosis and started Lily on a gluten-free diet. The head of Peds GI  was livid that no one had tested her for celiac diesease before. I am also appalled that genetics didn’t think of it!

Lily is a atypical presentation for a pediatric patient with celiac disease, but still……Her blood test numbers were so high (TtG of 99) that the doctor cancelled the scheduled endoscopy because he said it wasn’t necessary.

Hindsight

Hindsight being what it is, I now think this started when lily started on solid food (rice cereal at 4 months, then progressing on). She was never a good eater, and went from 75th percentile in weight while being exclusively breastfed to 15th percentile by the time she was 15 months old.

By the time we switched to our current pediatric practice, she was 18 months old and stayed a stable weight profile. But her first fractures happened at age 3, and the first time I took her to the dentist at 3 she had cavities in every tooth. So now we’re dealing with the reality that she’s been basically malnourished her whole life.

Nine months of the endocrinologist’s plan to give her tons of calcium & vitamin D supplements only improved her bone density by 3% and caused her to spill lots of calcium in her urine.

It All Makes Sense

It all makes sense now. And I wonder how many of those other kids with recurrent fractures of unknown cause should be tested for celiac??

I hope Lily’s story will save another family from our experience of medical run-around and lack of knowledge of some doctors, even at one of the foremost university hospitals.”

The post Lily’s Celiac Story appeared first on The Gluten-Free Homemaker.

Hi everyone!  Thanks for stopping by. I have a lot to share with you today, so please look over the information below.

Giveaway

If you have a dog (or just want to see a picture of mine), be sure to read my review and enter the giveaway of Dynamo Dog Treats.  They’re grain free and made in the US.

Amazon Sales

You can save money this month on several gluten-free items on Amazon.  Read my review of Bare Fruit and Miracle Noodles here.

Top 20 Gluten-Free Desserts

Shirley at All Gluten-Free Desserts shares the top 20 most popular recipes that she has shared on her site.  I’m honored to have two of mine in the list.  Stop by and see what they are!

Health Challenge

Iris at The Daily Dietribe is doing a gluten-free health challenge.  This challenge will pair 6 women with their own health coaches.  She has room for two more people and is running a contest, which you have until this Friday to enter.  You can read more about the health challenge here.

Last Week’s Highlights

•  Ramp Pesto Pasta – Spiced Curiosity
• Asian Pear Chevre Salad – Gluten Free Yummy
• Moist & Plummy Carrot Cake Bars – Living a Renaissance Life
• Enchilada Lasagna – The Tasty Alternative
• Baked Brie & Apple-Pear Compote – Poor and Gluten Free

My Submission

Salmon Chowder

If you get this post by email, remember to click over to the site later in the day or sometime tomorrow to see what great ideas have been gathered here.

The Carnival

Please read!

• Keep the links to gluten-free eating ideas (recipes, reviews, menus)
• If you’re new, please read the guidelines.
• Leave a link back (I will not highlight any recipes that do not link back.)
• Thanks for participating!

Note:  I may choose to use your submitted photo if sharing your link on Facebook or highlighting it in next week’s post.  If you have a problem with that, please let me know.

1. Chai-Spiced Gluten-free Granola

2. Dutch Oven Dinner With Lamb and Quince

3. Cranapple Breakfast Cookies GF/DF/SF

4. Beef Round Steak & Vegetables – Slow Cooker

5. Paleo Smoked Turkey & Crunchy Veggie Dip/Sala

6. Dark Chocolate Brownies – Flourless & Vegan

7. Sunshine Juice

8. No-Bake Chocolate Cheesecake Squares

9. Drink this; Lose Weight

10. Strawberry Muffins GF

11. The Best Gluten Free Vegan Bread

12. Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

13. Cherimoya: Tropical Delicacy (with 3 Recipes)

14. Hazelnut Crusted Cedar Plank Halibut

15. Pineapple Honeydew Baby Kale Smoothie

16. Orange Cranberry Teff Porridge

17. Go Ahead Honey (Shirley @ gfe & AGFD)

18. Blueberry Cinnamon Mug Muffin (GF, DF)

19. Spring Fritata

20. Easy Oat Flour Crackers

21. Farmers Market Spinach & Veggie Omelette

22. Cauliflower Mac & Cheese

23. How to Make Yogurt in Crockpot

24. Grassfed Beef Pot Roast

25. Gluten Free Monster Cookies

26. Favorite Gluten-Free Restaurants

27. Colorful Asian Stir Fry

28. GF flourless Peanut butter cookies!

29. Saucy Shrimp

30. Coconut Rice Pudding with Fresh Mango

31. Chef Janet Ks Gluten Free Spring Rolls

32. Thank You Honey {Linky}

33. Caffeine-Free Brownie Bites (V & GF)

34. Healing with SCD–grain free/SCD (Shirleygfe)

35. Honey Mustard Broccoli Salad

36. No-Fail No-Pound Sauerkraut

37. Teff Biscuits (GF, DF, SF, V)

The post Gluten-Free Wednesdays 5-15-13 appeared first on The Gluten-Free Homemaker.

I’ve asked before if your dog is gluten free, but here’s another question.  Is your dog grain free?  Some of you might be wondering why you should even consider a grain free diet for your dog.

I’m not going to address all the possible advantages, but I do know that some dogs develop allergies to grains.  I’ve introduced you to my two dogs, Emma and Esca.  In recent months Esca began licking his paws a lot.  I switched him to a grain free dog food and the licking has almost completely stopped.

I think one reason it didn’t stop completely is because I was still using some dog treats that contained grain.  So, I was very happy to receive an email from someone at Cloud Star about their Dynamo Dog Functional Treats which are grain free, gluten free, soy free, and all natural.

Cloud Star is a small, family owned company who for more than a decade has been baking all natural, low allergen treats right here in the USA. I have used their Itty Bitty Buddy Biscuits for years as training treats, but they are not grain free.  However, they do now offer two types of grain free Buddy Biscuits—oven baked and soft and chewy.

The Dynamo Dog Functional Treats are all soft and chewy.  My dogs have given them a try and like them!  In the picture at the top of this post, they are not turning their noses up at the treats.  I commanded them to “leave it,” so they were waiting for my permission to eat their treats.  I’m not sure if the sun was just too bright for them, of if they simply found it easier to be patient if they weren’t looking at the treat!

Emma did start to get a little impatient, though.  She’s my real food lover, and this exercise is a challenge for her if I make her wait very long (such as when trying to get a good photo).

So I quit taking photos and told them “Okay!” and the treats were quickly gobbled up.  They have our approval.

Connect and Buy

You can connect with Cloud Star online at these links:

• Cloud Star Web Site
• Cloud Star on Facebook
• Cloud Star on Twitter

You can buy Cloud Star products online here:

• Cloud Star on Amazon (affiliate link)
• Dynamo Dog Treats on Amazon (affiliate link)
• Other places to buy Cloud Star products

Disclosure:  If you click on an above affiliate link and buy something, I receive a small percentage of the sale.

The Giveaway

One winner will receive a variety pack of Dynamo Dog Functional Treats for your furry friend to enjoy.

• This giveaway is limited to U.S. residents 18 and older.
• One entry per person.
• Enter by leaving a comment on this post telling me if you have tried any Cloud Star pet products.  (Please do not send an email.)
• The giveaway begins May 14, 2013 and ends on May 18, 2013 at 11:00 pm eastern time.

No purchase is necessary.  Odds of winning are based on the number of entries.  The winners will be randomly chosen and will be contacted by email.  The winners will have 24 hours to respond.  If the winner does not respond, a new winner will be randomly chosen.

Disclaimer:  I was provided with free product to sample, but was not paid to write this review. The opinions in this post are my own.

The post Dynamo Dog Treats Review and Giveaway appeared first on The Gluten-Free Homemaker.

I happened to make this salmon chowder late one April afternoon, simply because that was the best time for me to cook, and I knew it could easily be reheated for dinner.

About 4:30 my picky eater walked in the door, through the kitchen, and found his way to me, sitting at my desk.  He exclaimed, “Can I have some of that salmon soup?  It smells delicious!”  I was glad I had made dinner early because he had to eat and run.  And boy did he love that soup.  He had two bowls of it, all the while saying how good it was.

That sure puts a smile on a mom’s face.

I know it’s now May and many of you are faced with warm or even hot weather.  I’m hoping there are still a few cool, maybe rainy days when this soup can be enjoyed.  If not, bookmark it for the fall.

The post Salmon Chowder appeared first on The Gluten-Free Homemaker.

Monthly Gluten-Free Menu Plan

May’s gluten-free menu plan is now available for download.  Simply subscribe to this blog via email or RSS.  The download link will show up at the bottom of each article in your email or feed reader.

Weekly Gluten-Free Menu Plan

Baked Salmon served with rice and a salad makes a delicious but simple Mother’s Day meal.

Spaghetti and Meatballs with Salad – If you’re concerned about carbs try using strips of zucchini or spaghetti squash.

Fajita Salad – This recipe from The Happy Housewife calls for McCormick steak seasoning.  I’m not sure if that is gluten free.  Be sure to read the ingredients on the package to verify the gluten-free status or simply use your own herb/spices.

Chicken Cacciatore (Slow Cooker), Rice, Broccoli

Grilled Kebabs with Quinoa

Pizza, Salad

Broccoli Quiche with Hamburger

Dessert Idea

Lemon Blueberry Trifle

The post Gluten-Free Menu Plan 5-12-13 appeared first on The Gluten-Free Homemaker.