Murfreesboro, TN

This darling restaurant on the square in Murfreesboro, Maple Street Grill, has their menu marked gf for the items we can eat. I had their chicken strips with home made dip, sweet potatoes and veggies.

Just wonderful and the waitstaff was so helpful.

Udi"s Pizza Crusts

While at Publix I found Udi's Pizza Crusts. Tonight I added cheese, hamburger and pineapple. It was incredible. It is by far the best frozen gluten free pizza crust you can buy.

55 South and SOL in Franklen

Friday night I had a incredible meal at 55 South Franklin. The restaurant is connected to SOL as well. There was a Gluten Free Menu or both locations. I had blackened Shrimp, Dirty Rice and the best tasting broccoli I have ever eaten.

Dubmplin's in Franklin

Yesterday we ate at Dumplin's on Maine Street.  I was thrilled when I saw they had a Gluten Free Menu along with the women who sat us, said she has Celiac and understood my needs. There were many salads to choose from (no g-free crackers) G-free soup of the day, jello and a desert. I choose the Briar Club Salad with white chicken, mandarin oranges, raisins and cashews. Served with yogurt dressing. It was very good.

Cooking at home with Celiac

Last night I was not feeling like eating out but most certainly didn't feel like cooking for one (my entire family was  out)  So I remembered I had  some frozen Fish Fillets in the freezer.

 Now you must know, I am not a fish eater but while living in London this year, I found some frozen Fish Fillets that I really liked.

I found some here in Nashville at Whole Foods.  Dr. Praeger's Potato Crusted Fish Fillets.  I cooked them for 15 minutes on each side with a little EV oil.  I had Kinnikinnick Hamburger Buns (I keep frozen and micro 30 seconds...eat like that or toast.), added cheese, bacon, lettuce and Mayo. It was incredible. Would have added a tomato but was all out. Added a salad and I was good to go. 

Apple Spice Cake

I made Apple Spice Cake from this months Living Without to take to our Celiac Pool Party last night.
It was a big hit but a bit dry. I was given several tips to add moisture such as apple sauce or yogurt. I'll try that the next time.

It had a very good flavor which is sometimes my problem when baking.

I tasted some wonderful new dishes and hope to get the recipes soon. I will share them with you.

The pigs in a blanket were the favorite of what I took. They are so good. If you have not made them yet, you must.

On the way to the party, I stopped at my sisters to drop something off an took in three of the pigs in a blanket. They told me they ran out to the car to get more but I had already pulled out of the drive way.

Bacon Wrapped Chicken

Living Without magazine just came out and I've tried two things in it so far.
Today I made the Apple Spice Cake to take tomorrow to our Celiac Pool Party. I'll post the outcome after we cut into it. It looks yummie. I also made my pigs in a blanket and crunchy apple-pecan  slaw, that I have blogged about in the past.

But tonight I made the Bacon Wrapped Chicken. I won't be making it again. It sounds good but you know how most g-free soy sause is very salty? Well with the bacon, it was double salty. Too much.
You can see I served this appetizer as my main dish with a side salad and brussel sprouts


If anyone else out there has made this, please let me know if you found a way to not make it so salty.

Breakfast Bars

I subscribe to Living Without and try many of their recipes. I love this magazine!

 Last night I attempted to make "Budget Breakfast Bars". It says "Quick, easy and affordable".
Does anyone have a tip on how to make them firm?

This is the second time I have attempted to make B'fast bars and you have to eat them with a spoon!
These had a good flavor, so I am happy to share.

3 Cups gluten-free quick cooking oats
1 Cup unsweetened coconut
2 Cups raisins or cranberries or combination
pinch of salt
3/4 Cup honey
1/4 Cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup vanilla soy milk

1. Preheat oven to 350. Generously grease a 9x13 inch pan.
2. Mix dry ingredients together. Toss with honey and vegetable oil to coat.  Add milk and blend well. Press mixture into prepared pan.
3.Place in preheated oven and bake 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from oven. Cool slightly and cut into squares. Return pan to oven for 10 minutes or until top is golden brown.

If anyone tries this and finds their bars actually were "bars", let me know what you did please.

Calypso Cafe

Calypso Cafe in Nashville will work with you on your choices of g-free meal. The chicken is NOT g-free according to the manager of the Nashville location. Their bean or rice nacho salad is g-free. It is so good.

Bonefish Grill

Did you know Bonefish Grill has a Gluten Free menu?  I was visiting friends in Chattanooga and they picked Bonefish Grill for dinner and I was blown away when the hostess said they had a gluten free menu.

The waitress was very knowledge and willing to make sure my entire meal was g-free.

4th of July in Boston eating gluten free

Just had a good meal at Tia's in Boston. The waiter walked me through what I could and could not eat. I ended up with a burger and potato salad.  The french fries were fried in the same oil as other fried food, so I stayed away from them. It was delicious.

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie gluten free

In the most current Living Without Magazine, there is a wonderful pie that I made today that I had to share with you.
Strawberry Rhubarb Pie
1 1/2 C Sugar
1/4 C gluten-free flour blend of choice
1 t cinnamon
6 C chopped fresh rhubarb
1 pound fresh strawberries
1 t lemon juice
2 T unsalted butter
2 pie crusts, one partially baked
1)Preheat oven to 325
2)Combine sugar, flour blend and cinnamon
3)Place prepared fruit in bowl. Sprinkle lemon juice over fruit. Then gently toss fruit with sugar mixture to evenly coat
4)Mound fruit into partially baked bottom crust. Drizzle butter over fruit
5)Top filling with pie crust and crimp edges to seal
6)Brush top with egg wash.
7)Bake pie in preheated oven for one hour
Each slice contains 467 calories, so slice thin!

Gluten Free

Ok, so this isn't really blog worthy news, but last night I was channel surfing (ok, no I wasn't, I was actually watching Mike & Molly TV show) and the scene was in a pastry shop. You could see in the back ground a sign up on the wall "Gluten -free Bread Now Available!" How cool is that!

McCabe Pub, Nashville

Since 1982, this restaurant off Murphy Rd, has been a favorite. Last night we sat outside eating their wonderful food.  The restaurant served me Gluten -Free grilled chicken, baked potatoes and grilled veggies.  I was impressed that she didn't serve the plate with bread.

Jason's Deli in Nashville

My daughter just discovered that Jason's Deli has a Gluten -Free menu! I placed my first order of Turkey and cheese on Gluten Free Bread with G-free potatoe saled and g-free broccoli slaw. it was all so incredible. Easy to order on line too!

I went on their web site which led me to their blog and it reads:

IT’S HERE: A Gluten-free Menu
Written by Rusty on November 23rd, 2010 | Published in Jason's Deli | 6 Comments | Comment On This


By all counts, thousands of people want a good, gluten-free sandwich. They can have it with our new ‘deli’cious & Gluten-free menu. In March we blogged about people’s interest in gluten-free sandwiches. The responses and comments were overwhelming and clear.

89% of over 4,600 responders said they have a family member with a gluten allergy or intolerance. And, 83% said they would definitely like to see us offer gluten-free breads.

We were already testing different gluten-free breads so our team decided on their great-tasting favorite. Next they compiled a menu for people with minor gluten sensitivities or who prefer to avoid gluten.

OUR NEW GLUTEN FREE MENU CAN BE VIEWED HERE! It’s simply good.
http://www.jasonsdeli.com/blog/

DoGlutenFree: Chicago

DoGlutenFree: Chicago: "While eating out in Chicago, I found the most interesting gluten-free pizza I have ever heard of. Pizano's in the Loop on Madison Street......"

Chicago

While eating out in Chicago, I found the most interesting gluten-free pizza I have ever heard of.
Pizano's in the Loop on Madison Street.... Bless them for having a Gluten Free Pizza but it was strange. The crust was totally sausage! Yes you heard me correct....totally sausage! No flour of any kind.... I was really nervous at first but I have to say, it was really good. I couldn't eat all of it because the thought of eating that much sausage was too much...but it was good. You could put any topping on it....I just had pinapple.

Sam's has a great snack g-free

Sam's has a Gluten Free snack that is so good. Garden Veggie Straws. Lightly salted...potato, tomato, & spinach. All Natural, Og Trans Fat and No Preservatives. About 38 straws is 130 Calories.
Hope you can find them.

Taco Mamacita, Nashville

Taco Mamacita has a gluten free menu!
One thing, their chips are fried in the same oil with white flour fried foods. That was sad not to be able to each corn chips. The waiter brought me out some triangle corn shells as snack while others were munching down on corn chips.
They are located on 1200 Villa Place (Edgehill & 16th Ave S)
the cutest little shopping area with a dress shop, children's shop, desert shop ect. the whole experience was very nice

BrickTop Restaurant in Nashville

I love this restaurant on West End Avenue in Nashville.
They have the best Gluten-Free menu.
This visit I tried their Steak Taco with Brown Rice. It is so good. Looking forward to trying it again.

Valley Home Farm's Wartrace, TN

Mark and I just returned from Valley Home Farms. Nancy is the owner and she drove us out to the strawberry fields where you can either pick your own strawberries or purchase what she has already picked. It is in Wartrace. www.valleyhomefarm.com931-389-6470.
Along with Strawberries, we purchased Strawberry Jam that only has Sugar, Strawberries, fruit Pectin, Lemon Juice in it. We purchased Apple and Spice Jelly which only has Apple Juice sugar, pectin, cinnamon nutmeg and cloves is in.
She was out of honey makes makes her own honey.
Next June she will have blueberries.

Crunchy Apple-Pecan Slaw, gluten-free

I fixed this last night and it was so good and easy to make.
5 cups shredded cabbage
2 sweet apples, diced
1/2 cup toasted pecans, chopped
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup mayo
3 green onions, chopped
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon honey
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Combine cabbage, apples, pecans, raisins and green onions in medioum bowl. Whisk together mayo,buttermilk,lemon juice, honey and pepper.
Stir into cabbage mixture

Spring Lemon Muffins

In a email from "Living Without" I found a great recipe for Gluten-fee, Dairy-free, Nut-free, Spring Lemon Muffins.
I fixed them for Easter and they were very good. Even the non eating Gluten-free folks said they loved them.
Ingredients:
3 1/2 C gluten-fee all-purpose flour blend of choice (see on down page)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup softened butter
1 cup sugar, more for sprinkling
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon oil or extract
1 cup dairy-free sour cream
1 tablespoon finely minced lemon zest

1)Preheat oven to 400. Lightly greas ad flour a mufin tin
2)Mix flour blend, baking powder, baking soda and salt together in a bowl. Set aside
3)In a mixer bowl, cream butter. Add sugar and mix until fluffy and light in color, scraping bowl occasionally.
4)Add eggs, one at a time, to creamed mixture and mix well. Add vanilla, lemon extract and sour cream. Mix well.
5)Add dry ingredients. Mix until just blended.
6)Fill prepared muffin cups evenly with batter. Sprinkle sugar on each muffin and then top with lemon zest.
7)Place in preheated oven and bakke 15 minutes
337 calories for each muffin. 13f total fat
Gluten-free Flour Substitutions
All-Purpose Flour BlendUse this blend for all your gluten-free baking.
1/2 cup rice flour
1/4 cup tapioca starch/flour
1/4 cup cornstarch or potato starch
High-Fiber Flour Blendthis works well with breads, pancakes, snack bars and cookies that contain chocolate, warm spices, raisins or other fruits. It is not suited to delicately flavored recipes, such as sugar cookies, crepes, cream puffs, birthday cakes or cupcakes
1 cup brown rice flour or soghum flour
1/2 cup teff flour
1/2 cup millet flour
2/3 cup tapioca starch/flour
1/3 cup cornstartch or potato starch
High Protein Flour BlendThis is nutritious blend works best in baked goods that reuire elasticity, suh as wraps and pie crust
1 1/4 cups bean flour, chicpea flour or soy flour
1 cup arrowroot starch, cornstarch or potato starch
1 cup white or brown rice flour
Self-rising Flour BendUse this blend for muffins scones, cakes, cupcakes or any recipe that uses baking powder for leavening.
1 1/4 cups white sorghum flour
1 1/4 cups white rice flour
1/2 cup tapioca starch/flour
2 teaspoons xanthan or guar gum
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt.

Kale

A friend told me a new way to eat Kale.
Break into bite size. Spinkle with oil, salt and pepper.
Place in oven at 350 for 8 to 10 minutes.
It will be like chips. Very good and very healthy.
I served it at book club and everyone loved it. Also used a bunch for the center piece and we cooked it and ate it later.

Pigs in Blankets

For book club, we read The Dirty Life, fun true story about a NY city girl falls in love with a farmer. She gives up everything to work on a farm. So when you pick a book and have bookclub at your house, you try to fix food that is fitting to the book.
One of the items i fixed was,Pigs in Blankets g-free.
Incredients:
1 bag of g-free Pantry Favorite Sandwich Bead Mix
1 lb. gluten free cocktail franks or cheddar cheese
Preheat oven to 350. Line 2 cookie shets with parchment paper
prepare bread through dough step only, following directions on bag. Thin with 1-2 Tbs extra water.
Pick up a frank or chunk of cheese with toothpick and swirl into dough until coated(i just used my fingers)
set on cookie sheet. Repeat until all are used Let rise 10 min.
Bake 15 min. Serve plain or with mustard.
(it took 30 min in my oven)

PortaVia Italian Kitchen, Nashville

I wrote about their Pizza (that I have now had 4 times) but this week I ordered the Past. It was incredible. Chef came over and sat with us and explained how he makes them g-free and from scratch.
Chef also makes incredible g-free rolls that he lets rise all night long.
Try them out. They are on 21 White Bridge Road. You can even order to go.

Burger Up, Nashville

Dreams do come true! Nashville has a new restaurant called Burger Up on the corner of 12th & Paris Avenue. Tonight I went with my husband thinking I would have yet another burger with no bun.
I asked, as I always ask (I sometimes know the answer but as principal, I keep asking)"do you have a gluten free bun by any chance?" And this time the waiter said "yes". I was so thrilled. When he was taking our drink order and my husband was ordering a beer, I asked, thinking I knew the same answer, "do you have gluten free beer?" and he said "yes".

I ordered Woodstock Burger, Benton's bacon, (which is to die for), Tennessee sweetwater white cheddar, Jack Daniels maple ketchup (which I just left off..not knowing for sure) $11 (that comes with French Fries...which I gave up for Lent, so didn't each)

The bun was incredible. The whole meal was incredible. Service was great. Ask for Bryan, he was so attentive and good.

www.burger.up.com
Two doors down this restaurant also owns LB'S Market House. Both owned by Michael Pontes and Miranda Whitcomb Pontes. Small little Market with TN grown product, fresh made foods. Not any specific gluten free foods, but all natural product in their soups and egg salads and meals you can pick up and take with you.

When you eat at Burger Up, they give you a $2 off coupon to purchase something at LB's.

2011 Best of Gluten-Free Winners

I wanted to make sure everyone saw this in the Triumph Dining email that came out this week.3/23/2011

Best Gluten-Free Bread Mix
Pamela’s Products

Best Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix
Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix

Best Gluten-Free Cake Mixes
Betty Crocker

Best Gluten-Free Brownie Mix
Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Chocolate Brownie Mix

Best Gluten-Free Muffin Mixes
King Arthur

Best Gluten-Free Pie Crust Mix
Gluten-Free Pantry Perfect Pie Crust Mix


Best Gluten-Free RestaurantsBest Fast Food Restaurant
Wendy’s


Best Gluten-Free MenuP.F. Chang’s


Best Gluten-Free PizzaUno Chicago Grill

Best Gluten-Free DishesBest Gluten-Free AppetizerP.F. Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Best Gluten-Free Main CourseP.F. Chang’s GF Spicy Chicken

Best Gluten-Free DessertOutback Chocolate Thunder From Down Under

Best Gluten-Free BeerBest Gluten-Free BeerAnheuser Busch Redbridge

Best Gluten-Free ResourcesBest Gluten-Free CookbookBette Hagman’s The Gluten-Free Gourmet: Living Well Without Wheat, Revised Edition

Eating out in Nashville

PortaVia Italian Kitchen on White Bridge RD.
Giovanni Giosa is Executive Chef from Italy. He serves gluten free Pizza that is the best I have ever had. I met him today and told him, while in Greece... no gluten free Pizza, in London... no gluten free pizza, in Paris... no gluten free Pizza but in Scotland I found gluten free Pizza and thought it was good till I tried PortaVia.
By far, PortaVia is the best I have ever had.

He also makes a pasta that I can't wait to try.

Gluten Free Cajun Shrimp & Grits/Talk of the Town Tomorrow

Please join Heather Heath this Tuesday, March 8th, otherwise known as 'Fat Tuesday' where I will prepare a delicious Cajun dish to honor her native Louisiana! You can find her on Channel 5's Talk of the Town at 11 am. She will be preparing her delicious and Gluten Free Cajun Shrimp & Grits with Andouille Sausage

Zizzi Restaurant, Victoria Street, London

Zizzi is a chain of traditional Italian pizza and pasta restaurants that cook all their pizzas in wood burning ovens. Each time I eat there they fix me wonderful g-free chicken and vegies. But tonight, I brought in my own pizza crust and they fixed it for me. It was so good. The didn't charge me for the entire price of the pizza.
Then to add to that, the waiter told me they just got in pasta! He said you can order any dish off the menu and they will use the g-free pasta!
This is big news. Way to go Zizi!!

The Quilon Restaurant & Bar

This restaurant at 51 Buckingham Gate, London is incredible. I told the waiter i needed a Gluten free meal and it was not a problem.For starter he brought me Pepper shrimps (batter fried shrimps cooked in a fiery masala) and Mini -masala dosa (thin rice and lentil pancake filed with tempered potatoes, served with sambhar)Fluffy steamed rice, Lemon rice, Appam (a delicious soft centred, lace edged rice pancake), Potato and cauliflower with fresh fenugreek leaves (potato and cauliflower florets cooked with onion, tomato and roasted spices, Coconut with asparagus and mange tout (sauteed with mustard seeds, curry leaves, green chillies and grated coconut) and finally Roasted Fish in plantain leaf (marinated tilapia fillet wrapped in banana leaves and roasted)
I give you all this so you can go in and know exactly what to order but then again, they are totally aware of Gluten and it isn't a problem.