I have been using this delicious lunch or goodie idea from the start. I use rice cakes and make wonderful sandwiches. I made these rice cake sandwiches “open face.” I love having the variety of peanut butter and jam AND tuna fish in the same meal! Now that my granddaughter eats gluten-free too, we are able to share this tasty lunch.
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I had never been to a Farmer’s Market before last week! I really thought they were only in California, since I read about people going to them in pop culture magazines. My daughter told me she goes to hers in another state, and I got curious and started checking. I found some local ones, and the one I’ve gone to twice now is only five miles from my house! It’s held at a nice Botanical Center in the parking lot and pavilion.
I thought it would be nice to take some of my kitcheny crafts and sit and talk to people about this website. I fell in love with the open market ambiance and the friendly people in their booths and those walking, looking and buying. It was very tempting having beautiful fresh produce being sold by the farmers AND seeing the jewelry stands – I have a thing for ankle bracelets!
My granddaughter is always my little helper, and it was fun to see her playing with other kids there, watching pollywogs and frogs, getting her face painted, and making friends with the family of farmer boys, who at first wanted NOTHING to do with a girl! She always gets her way! My daughter visited with her boyfriend, who talked her into getting FULL face painting!
The first week I took home some delicious crookneck and zucchini, plus some wonderful tomatoes. I LOVE fresh tomatoes cut up with SUGAR on them! I think I got that from my maternal grandpa!
The second week my booth was in between two farmers – both were selling tomatoes and many kinds of peppers. As I sat, my mind started putting together a recipe for salsa. The cute boys at one side of me sold me some interesting peppers, and I bought tomatoes, onions and some different peppers from the guys on the other side.
It was very fun chopping up all the pretty colors, and being helped by my little helper! She even used a small knife, and helped cut each kind of vegetable. Pretty good job for a 4-year-old!
I had some of the salsa last night after it was done – and thought it turned out pretty well. My hubby was the REAL test – he eats salsa with his scrambled eggs in a tortilla. This “Farmer’s Market Salsa” passed his test! So please feel free to try the recipe I have in gluten-free recipes, and to add your own selection of different peppers if you’d like! Enjoy!
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Back to school for gluten-free and casein-free kids brings up another important point: Art projects!
Some art supplies, such as play dough, glue, and paint, contain gluten. I wouldn’t worry so much about getting gluten on the skin, but every kid I know tends to stick their hands in their mouths at times. For this reason, play dough can be their worst enemy! Most play doughs are made from wheat flour, which means GLUTEN! Brands to watch out for are Play Doh, Crayola, Ross, and Rose Art.
Crayola Model Magic, however, is gluten-free and casein-free. Be very careful that you do not get Crayola Play Dough instead! Silly Putty is another product that is gluten-free. To avoid any problems at school, I suggest making your own play dough and providing it to your child’s teacher for use at school. Here’s the recipe:
GLUTEN-FREE/CASEIN-FREE PLAY DOUGH
1/2 cup rice flour
1/2 cup corn starch
1/2 cup salt
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 cup water
1 tsp cooking oil
food coloring
Put all ingredients in a cooking pan and cook on low heat, stirring constantly until a ball is formed. Remove from heat. When cool, pat until smooth. Store in a baggie.
GLUE
Beware of teachers using paste made of wheat flour and water. Gluten-free/casein-free certified options are:
• Elmers Glue and Glue Sticks
• Ross Glue products
STICKERS AND TAPE
Many sticker and tape products contain gluten. Here are some that are certified gluten-free:
• 3M-brand tapes, including Scotch Tape and Post-It Notes
• Rose Art-brand stickers
• Sandylion-brand stickers
• Smilemakers-brand stickers
• Mrs. Grossman’s-brand stickers
PAINT
Elmers and Ross brands of paints are NOT gluten-free. Instead, look for:
• Crayola – all paints, including finger paints
• Palmer – all paints
• Prang – all paints
• Ross – except finger paints
• Elmers – except finger paints
MISCELLANEOUS
• All common brands of pencils, pens, crayons, and markers are GF/CF
• When using milk cartons for art projects, rinse thoroughly first
• Food items used for projects, such as Cheetos, pretzels, and candy, are available in gluten-free brands
• Corn or rice macaroni is available in regular grocery stores
If there is still a worry about the products being used, have children wear latex or rubber gloves. For peace of mind, volunteer to help. And remember that communication with the teacher is the MOST IMPORTANT thing!
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Yesterday I made this Spicy Honey/Lemon Chicken for my family. It was a HIT! They can’t wait to have it again!
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Since I was a child, I’ve LOVED everything made from lemons! I think back to those boxes of Lemonheads, that were once 10 cents at 7-Eleven! Other kids would buy Red Hots, Sugar Babies or Milk Duds. I LOVED the wonderful way a tangy lemon candy magically transformed my mouth!
Then there were the lemonade stands. Didn’t every kid have them? I’m sure our lemonade was actually Kool-Aid brand Lemonade, and not the real thing. My little brother and I would do this about once a year, and include No Bake Cookies, and even make a funny box with slots to stick your hands in (into slimy spaghetti) or that would produce a drawing through a slot. Kids actually paid to play with our silly box!
As I grew up, I LOVED the Lemon Meringue Pie that my mom or my grandma made! Once in a while I really got a surprise, when my daddy would give in and buy me a Hostess Lemon Pie! I’ve even been known to eat lemons, cut in slices!
When I go to family dinners or other social events, I like to take Aunt Larraine’s Lemon Fruit Salad. It’s always a favorite!
Now, I’m eating gluten-free. At first I though my lemon days were over. Then my big sis bought me a package of gluten-free lemon cookies from a gluten-free shop. I ate the whole package in one day!
Now, I’ve been creating various things that I really crave. This new recipe for lemon cake is just delicious! Lemon Zinger Cake. If you’re a lemon lover like me – and eat gluten free (and even casein-free), you’ve got to try it!
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When I was in the hospital in January of 2007, and learned about my diagnosis of Celiac Disease, I spent several days without eating anything. I was given nourishment through a PICC line, which is short for peripherally inserted central catheter. The nurses referred to my TPN (total parenteral nutrition) as my “milkshake” that was fed through the PICC line.
Along with the TPN, I was given several other things each day. Potassium, iron, even a couple of bags of blood. The nurses referred to my IV pole as my “Christmas Tree.” There were so many bags and IVs!
I’d talked with a dietitian and was looking forward to the time when I’d be well enough to be at home, and I began daydreaming about the first meal I would prepare for myself.
I thought about frying sliced potatoes in olive oil and flavoring them with seasoning salt. I also planned to have a grilled chicken breast, with fresh squeezed lemon on it. I thought of the veggies many restaurants serve, including broccoli, cauliflower and carrots, done just right – not too cooked; not too crispy.
When I was well enough to be released from the hospital, I DID go home and fix that exact meal for my first dinner.
While recovering in the hospital I had time to think of many ideas about the foods that I would be able to eat, on a gluten-free diet. I was excited for the chance to live a better, more healthy life, in a gluten-free world!
I’m so happy to be able to create foods that I can eat, and also help others with similar problems, by creating my gluten-free recipes. My life IS SO MUCH BETTER, and yours can be too!
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