The Gluten Gal » GF/CF Kids

Broccoli Salad

Larraine — Mon, 30 May 2011 05:11:36 +0000

My niece Stef introduced us to this recipe, and it is a family favorite. It makes a large bowl, the perfect size for family functions or picnics. For the casein-free version, just leave out the cheese. It will still taste delicious!

Broccoli Salad – by Stefanie Bohin

4 bunches broccoli cut into small pieces
1 bunch green onions, diced
1 package bacon, cooked and crumbled
8 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese (omit for the casein-free version)
1 pkg or 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/3 cup cider vinegar
1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
1/2 cup sugar (I use organic brown sugar)

Combine broccoli, onions, bacon, cheese and seeds in large bowl. Mix vinegar, mayonnaise and sugar. Pour over broccoli mix. Chill.

A Gluten-Free/Casein-Free Christmas Project

Larraine — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 21:49:53 +0000

Cupcakes!

We started with a package of Betty Crocker’s Gluten-Free Cake Mix. Used shortening instead of butter and used holiday cupcake liners – making 18 cupcakes.

Frosting: 1/3 cup shortening, 2 cups powdered sugar, 1/8 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp vanilla and 2-3 Tbsp rice or soy milk. Mix till it’s creamy.

Joscelyn frosted the cupcakes and topped them with red and green sugar sprinkles.

Our tummies are loving these!

GF/CF Halloween Candy List – by Christine

Larraine — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 01:47:22 +0000

Halloween is always a fun time of year for kids, especially the anticipation of all the candy they are going to get when they go Trick-or-Treating. It can be tricky when your child is on the GF/CF diet, which is why we wanted to put together a comprehensive list of candies that are safe for this diet. This is a list of candies typically found in your child’s trick-or-treating bag, but there are also many GF/CF options in organic/specialty stores.

GF/CF Halloween Candy List:

Airheads (bars)
Applehead
Big Hunk
Bottle Caps
Candy Lipsticks
Candy Corn (Brachs or Gummi original)
Charm Pops
Cherryhead
Chewy Runts
Circus Peanuts
Dots
Dum Dums
Fruit Leathers
Gobstoppers
Grapehead
Gummy Bears
Gummy Worms
Fun Dip
Hot Tamales
Jelly Beans
Jolly Ranchers
Jujubes
Jujyfruits
Kidz Rings
Laffy Taffy
Lemonhead
Mary Janes
Mary Jane Peanut Butter Kisses
Mellowcreme Pumpkins (Brachs)
Mike N Ike
Nerds
Now N Laters (original)
Peeps Pumpkins and Ghosts
Pez
Pixy Stix
Redhots
Riviera Spooky Candy Rings
Runts
Shrek Ogreheads
Skittles
Smarties
Sourpatch Kids
Spongebob Gummy Krabby Patties
Spree
Spree Chewy Candy
Starbursts
Sunkist Gems
Swedish Fish
Sweet Tarts
Talking Pumpkins
Tart N Tinys
Warheads

Resources:

surefoodsliving.com

gfcf-diet.talkaboutcuringautism.org

gfcfdiet.com

gfcfexperience.blogspot.com

Pudding Pops :) by Christine Roach

Larraine — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 18:00:10 +0000

I recently bought a whole bunch of boxed instant pudding, and I was so excited because there was no gluten or dairy listed in the ingredients. I planned on making my kids some yummy pudding for a treat, when I noticed another sentence on the box: “This product will not set with soy milk.” I use soy milk, and I assume the same thing is true with the other non-caseine milks. Feel free to leave a comment in the comment section if anyone has found an alternative to regular milk that works for setting pudding. I did solve this problem in an even tastier way, however. I made the pudding with the soy milk anyway, then used the plastic popsicle containers (can be found at Wal-mart and many dollar stores) to pour the pudding in. They took several hours to freeze, but once they did, they were a big hit. It felt almost like I was giving my kids icecream pops. What a hit, and such a great idea for a cold yummy treat in the summertime.

Easy Gluten & Casein Free Cupcakes

Larraine — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 20:13:47 +0000

Cupcakes are always a fun treat for you little ones and you! It’s easy to make then gluten and casein free with a Betty Crocker gluten-free cake mix, plus your own frosting!

I use the cake mix, substituting the butter with Crisco. I make 12 cupcakes instead of the suggested 18. For my frosting recipe I use:

2 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup Crisco
1 tsp vanilla
2 Tbsp rice milk (you can use soy or almond milk)
1/8 tsp salt
I add food coloring for a fun touch!

Just mix together to make the frosting light and fluffy!

When cupcakes have cooled, frost and decorate, using sprinkles, marshmallows, or fruit snacks! Get creative! Your child will LOVE these cup cakes! Enjoy!

Autism and Eating GFCF

Larraine — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:34:51 +0000

I recently received a letter from a mother of a son with autism. This is Jace. Isn’t he a beautiful boy? His mother is doing lots of research into making his life healthier and better. I am so happy to be able to help her with recipes for children on a gluten-free/casein-free diet. Click the link below to read more about him.

A Letter About Jace

You might also be interested in this article in my Library:

Autism and the GFCF Diet

Spaghetti Dogs

Larraine — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:31:05 +0000

Here’s an idea my Mom told me about. I knew my granddaughter would love it, and also my husband, who’s a big kid! So I made it gluten-free. All you have to do is string hotdog pieces on gluten-free spaghetti sticks. (I used Jerusalem artichoke flour spaghetti.) Then you just cook the spaghetti normally. My granddaughter thought this was a very fun meal and wanted to eat hers plain. The rest of us ate ours with the spaghetti sauce on top. This is a very fun, easy, and creative way to serve your family a staple like spaghetti.

This is how they looked before cooking.

Fun with Citrus Jell-O!

Larraine — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 22:44:01 +0000

Need a quick and easy snack or dessert? Or a fun and tasty project for your little helper? Here’s a fun idea that’s also easy on the budget!

At the grocery store, collect one each of 3 oz lemon, lime and orange Jell-O. Pick your favorite 6 oz citrus yogurt – orange, lemon or lime (I bought Key Lime Pie) and buy two. In the paper and plastic section, find some 9 oz clear cups, then get a lemon and lime from the produce section. Now you’re set!

This is FUN for little helpers who love to STIR! Just be careful when pouring the boiling water, or carrying it to the freezer. They will LOVE watching as the pretty colors add up! And WHO doesn’t LOVE Jell-O?

Find Citrus Jell-O in Gluten-Free Recipes.

Zac Browser, an excellent, fun place for special kids

Larraine — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 18:22:14 +0000

ZAC is the first web browser developed specifically for children with autism, and autism spectrum disorders such as Asperger syndrome, pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), and PDD-NOS. We have made this browser for the children – for their enjoyment, enrichment, and freedom. Children touch it, use it, play it, interact with it, and experience independence through ZAC.

ZAC is the zone that will permit your child to interact directly with games (a LOT of games) and activities (focused on MANY interests) that cater specifically to kids who display the characteristics of autism spectrum disorders, like impairments in social interaction, impairments in communication, restricted interests and repetitive behavior. ZAC has been an effective tool for kids with low, medium and high functioning autism.

ZAC focuses on the children and their interaction – But we also provide an excellent forum for parents, caretakers, teachers, and others to share their experiences, tools and resources and to unite as a caring, compassionate, and extremely knowledgeable community. It is said that “it takes a village to raise a child”, and that is exponentially true for raising a child with autistic spectrum disorders. The power of your experience yesterday is going to be instrumental in helping someone successfully tackle the circumstances of today.

zacbrowser.com is where you’ll find the free download, and your child’s own desktop icon, easy to find and use.

This is also a very wonderful place for any child. My 5-year-old granddaughter LOVES Zac Browser!

Our Enchanted Gluten-Free Birthday Party

Larraine — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 06:06:35 +0000

Having celiac disease can affect the lives of both grown-ups and kids. In my house I’m not the only one who has celiac. My daughter Kayli has it. Her daughter Joscelyn has it too.

This year Joscelyn has been to several birthday parties, which she has loved, and yet she feels left out when it’s time for birthday cake.

For Joscelyn’s birthday party she chose to have cupcakes made from her favorite banana oatmeal muffins. See The Best Banana Oatmeal Muffins under Breakfast in my Gluten-Free Recipes, with frosting on top. When time came to serve the cupcakes we lit five candles, sang “Happy Birthday,” then blew out the candles.

Joscelyn helped me plan her Enchanted Birthday Party. Since I was keeping in mind our economic crisis and need to be thrifty, we made our own invitations, games and CDs of songs perfect for the party.

We invited princes, warriors and princesses to the party. Joscelyn begged me to dress up too, so I got out my ball gown to play the queen.

Joscelyn chose the games, which included “Hot Slipper,” played like “Hot Potato,” “Pin the Fire on the Dragon,” which I drew and she colored, and “The Queen Says,” like “Simon Says.” We also played “Freeze to the Music,” which was enjoyed by all the royal kids.

Joscelyn’s birthday party turned out so well! It was very satisfying seeing the dressed up kids having so much fun, and not knowing there was anything different from any other party. The gluten-free cupcakes were gone quickly and Joscelyn enjoyed feeling just like any other kid!