Gluten-free sucks.

I am bitter in this post, but I won’t apologize for it. I’m done apologizing for it. Gluten-free is not a choice for me. It is a medical necessity. I get very sick when I eat gluten. Nowadays I am sometimes sick even when I don’t, which means I need to eliminate something else from my diet, although I am not sure what yet. Going gluten-free has been an incredibly isolating experience for me. I used to love going out to dinner, and now I have to consider menus deeply before a nice meal out is even a possibility. I used to love to bake, but all of my recipes were based on wheat flour, and the gluten-free baking I have done leaves me really depressed because the texture and density are all wrong. I hate imposing on the people around me, but I...

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Posted on 4 Apr 2011 | 19 comments

gluten-free favorites

Because you asked … here are my favorite gluten-free recipes. I take absolutely no credit for any part of their deliciousness; I merely looked for recipes that sounded good, and then followed their instructions. Pork chops with bacon-sage sauce: bacon, sage, and shallots are wonderful things. Creamed leeks: because I wanted to do something awesome with our lovely CSA leeks. (I substituted gluten-free baking flour.) Baked butternut squash: because FunkyPlaid is all squashed out, yet I still desire their tastiness. Roasted potatoes with fried sage and brown butter: are you sensing a theme? I modified this one to half potatoes, half sweet potatoes. FunkyPlaid really loves this dish! Shredded Brussels sprouts: again with the bacon. Lest you think I hate...

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Posted on 1 Feb 2010 | 3 comments

greatfruit

Once I overheard someone talking about eating great fruit, with the accent on “great”. I realized a few sentences in that he said “grapefruit” but it never tasted like grapes to me, so greatfruit it is. Today’s surprise treat from a coworker is a greatfruit and prawn salad with peanuts, almonds, onions, dried baby shrimp, Vietnamese mint, and cassava chips on the side. It is sweet, tangy, spicy, and every bit as delicious as it sounds.  I am once again indebted to this very good cook who knows so many gluten-free dishes. I am bouncing back from the stomach bug, and bouncing indeed as I catch up with work that crouches in wait around every corner. Boing, boing, boing. I love being busy. The rest of it is a disorganized crowd. People...

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Posted on 5 Mar 2009 | 2 comments

the state of the gut

Since I am currently struggling with a stomach bug, and quickly approaching my first gluten-free anniversary, a “state of the gut” address seemed appropriate. On 23 March 2008, I began a gluten-free diet to alleviate gluten intolerance, possibly Celiac Disease. (I say “possibly” because I have not yet been able to go back on gluten so I can be formally tested.  Ingesting gluten for a month would certainly mean more sick days than I can take right now.) Due to my diet, I have rediscovered my love of cooking, though grocery shopping — while less confusing and overwhelming — is still frustrating. I have lost the taste for cookies and cakes, but still yearn for dishes like biscuits and gravy from Boogaloo’s and focaccia...

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Posted on 4 Mar 2009 | 3 comments