Why I Attend Events Like Canada's Gluten Free Market

If you follow Celiac Baby! on a regular basis (thank you, btw) you'll know that I try my best to make it out to gluten free events like the one I attended this weekend, Canada's Gluten Free Market.  Sometimes people ask if I get tired of going to so many, or why I bother if I'm already familiar with many of the gluten free products on the market. 

I don't get tired of attending these events.  I attend for several reasons, the most important of which is to support the gluten free community.  This weekend, in addition to vendors there were speakers and advocates, and the Canadian Celiac Association.   It's also the perfect opportunity to meet others in the community, including other attendees.  I had several casual conversations, getting tips and recommendations from others.  I love that my son can accept a cookie or a cracker from someone without needing to check with me before eating it, and it's a great way for me to see what's new on the market.

 I am fairly up-to-date with what's available, but often events like this allow smaller vendors to shine.  I discovered a new line of Indian cooking sauces available only through one supermarket chain that happens to have a location near my house.  The vendor explained to me that they were a small family business, slowly trying to make their way into the market.  I probably wouldn't have discovered their product otherwise.  After trying their vegetable curry sauce, I've been won over. 



Some of the vendors

I also love learning about new bakeries and bistros, and I spend a lot of time gathering business cards and flyers. Some of this is research for my blog, so that I can pass on new finds to readers, but mostly it's to expand the range of places I know I can take my son where he can have a safe meal.  We don't eat out a lot, but when we do, I try to spend my money at restaurants that are safe for my son. 

This past weekend I was lucky enough to win a pair of tickets to the event through CityBites, and like always, I took the whole family.  Yes, I sometimes get dirty looks as I navigate the baby stroller down the aisles, but I try to be considerate of others, parking the stroller to one side and keeping out of the way as much as possible.  Our house is gluten free because my 4 year old needs to be.  If he's going to be capable of managing his diet one day, it doesn't make sense not to include him. 

My youngest, checking out the literature!

The market place was pretty large, and included several aisles of vendors, including more than one stall focused on travel, another on beauty products, a wholesale service, and much, much more.  I took home several samples, business cards from almost every stall, and a list of bakeries & eateries to visit.  We didn't stay as long as we usually do at these events because my son didn't feel well, but it was still a great event.  I'm looking forward to the next one!

If you're new to gluten free, events like this can help connect you to the larger community and help familiarize you with the range of options available.  For those who have been gluten free for a long time, these outings are a great way of showing your support, connecting with others, and maybe even discovering something new. 

Recipe: Piña Colada Popsicles

I had a ripe pineapple lying around on the weekend, and was trying to decide what to do with it, when the idea for these popsicles popped into my head.  I don't make them too strong, I like just a hint of rum, but feel free to adjust for taste.  This can also be made granita style, poured into a pan and stirred occasionally until frozen. 

Ingredients
(Approx. 8 popsicles)

1 pineapple, peeled, cored, and sliced in chunks
200 ml coconut milk (half a can)
2-3 shots rum (or more, to taste.)  If you prefer a stronger coconut flavour, used Coconut Rum
Handful grated coconut

Directions

1- Mix all ingredients in a blender until smooth. 

2- Pour into popsicle molds and freeze. 

ENJOY! 

June Cookbook of the Month

I realize I'm a little late on this, but things have been a bit crazy around here.  Still, I'm excited to be trying out recipes from another gluten free cookbook this month.  I really like the look of this one, so here's hoping it's a delicious month ahead!

Unbelievably Gluten-Free: 128 Delicious Recipes: Dinner Dishes You Never Thought You'd Be Able to Eat Again

by Anne Byrn

Unbelievably Gluten-Free: 128 Delicious Recipes: Dinner Dishes You Never Thought You'd Be Able to Eat Again  

Unbelievably gluten-free pizza! Unbelievably gluten-free fried chicken! Unbelievably gluten-free pasta! Plus breads, dumplings, fritters, pies, cakes, puddings, and more. For the 30 million Americans who have an allergy or sensitivity to gluten—and their families, who want to reclaim the dinner experience of everyone eating the same thing—Anne Byrn crea...more Unbelievably gluten-free pizza! Unbelievably gluten-free fried chicken! Unbelievably gluten-free pasta! Plus breads, dumplings, fritters, pies, cakes, puddings, and more. For the 30 million Americans who have an allergy or sensitivity to gluten, and their families, who want to reclaim the dinner experience of everyone eating the same thing; Anne Byrn creates 125 amazing dishes where the gluten is gone, and never missed.

Author also of The Cake Mix Doctor Bakes Gluten-Free, and other cookbooks, Anne Byrn knows how to deliver incredible flavors. She replaces wheat, barley, and rye with gluten-free ingredients and employs creative techniques for achieving flawless textures and consistencies. These are recipes that taste as good, not almost as good, as they should: Tomato Panzanella Salad. Baked French Onion Soup. Spaghetti Carbonara. Grilled Chicken and Pesto Pizza. The Best GF Meat Loaf. Plus dessert: Warm Lemon Pudding Cake, Gluten- Free Red Velvet Cake, Fresh Orange Cupcakes, Old-Fashioned Peach and Blueberry Cobbler, and Gluten-Free Saucepan Brownies.

Includes how to convert favorite recipes and tips for eating gluten-free on a budget.

 

Publisher: Workman Publishing Group

Publication Date: October 30, 2012

 

GOODREADS

 

 

I chose this book because I know that this author has written several other books, but I haven't tied any of them.  I'm already making a list of things to try.  The book has recipes ranging from breakfast through dessert, so here's to a yummy month ahead! 

 

Purchase:  Amazon

Wordless Wednesday

A friend accidentally took this photo of my youngest son's feet, and I love it!  Happy Wednesday!

Travel Review: House Rental in Playa Bejuco, Costa Rica

Traveling with children is an adventure all on its own, but traveling with a child who has food restrictions makes things just that much more complicated.  I want my children to see the world, but I know that in order to keep my son safe, some extra planning is required.  When my husband and I decided to take a family vacation to Costa Rica, we explored several options for accommodations before deciding on renting a house. 

The house we rented in Plays Bejuco, Costa Rica

We made that choice for a few reasons.  Price was certainly a consideration.  We paid $650 a week for a three bedroom house with a private pool and a short walk to the beach, much less than we would have paid for an all inclusive.  Since the baby still takes two naps a day, I didn't want one of us stuck in a hotel room half the time.  Equally important to our decision was our older son's food restrictions.  Gluten and dairy free make for a complicated navigation of a hotel buffet.  We figured we'd probably be buying or preparing most of his own food anyway, and decided that it would be simpler to do that in a house.  Finally, the privacy issue.  This was the first family vacation we were taking since the baby was born, and we wanted our own space, with our own pool, to just hang out and be a family. 

We chose a house in Playa Bejuco.  It's located along the Pacific coast between Jaco Beach and Manuel Antonio National Park, on a beautiful slice of beach that was deserted most of the time.  The house was a three bedroom, three bathroom home, with modern appliances, A/C, and a private pool, located in a private community right off a main highway.  There are a lot of houses for rent in Costa Rica, but this one was affordable and located in close proximity to many sights. 

We rented a car for the trip, and had no trouble navigating the highways from the airport to the house.  It's about two hours from San Jose, between Jaco Beach and Manuel Antonio National Park.  There's great surfing, national parks, fishing, crocodile watching, shopping, volcanoes, and extreme sports all within an hour long drive from the house.  Since we had two small kids with us we didn't do everything, but we still managed to do quite a bit. 

We viewed the crocodiles from the Tarcoles bridge and explored the market at Jaco beach.

Crocodile in the Tarcoles river

Fruit & vegetable shopping at the market

We drove down to the surfing community at Dominical.  We trekked 18 km through Manuel Antonio National Park. 

Monkeys in Manuel Antonio. 

Visited the mountain church in Escazu.  Checked out the Children's Museum in San Jose.  Ate at several small restaurants, met some local people, and bought souvenirs from the man carving them as we shopped. 

Calamari rice at a seafood restaurant near Jaco



We couldn't be happier with our decision.  The grocery store in the town about ten minutes away had pretty much everything we needed, although we made the longer drive to Quepos once to buy baby formula and a few more specialty items.  I would strongly recommend renting a car if staying here, but the roads are well maintained and easy to navigate.  We felt very safe in the community, and the maintenance and security staff were friendly and helpful.  There is a community pool, BBQ area and tennis courts, in case you feel like being social.  The beach is beautiful, and although we didn't spend as much time there as we would have liked because of the baby, it was incredible.

The owners were friendly and answered all of our questions before we agreed to rent, sending us a comprehensive agreement with many useful tips.  The house had free WIFI, a phone, a Blu Ray player, board games, and guide books.  The house is not directly beachfront, but it is a short walk, and the private pool with a small shallow pool attached was perfect for my family.  If you're looking to be in the middle of the action, this might not be the house for you.  If you're looking for relaxation, comfort, and privacy, this house is perfect.  It's far enough away from town to be secluded, but close enough to everything to be convenient if you have a car. 

Disclaimer:  I'm not affiliated with the owners in any way, and I'm not receiving any compensation for this review.  This is my personal opinion based on my experience during my stay in May 2013.  The price we paid was the going rate for the time of year we chose, the year we traveled.  Check their listing for up-to-date pricing.   


For more information about the property, you can view their listing here:  VRBO

Some more photos of the house & our trip:

Recipe: Garden Fresh Quinoa Salad

I love quinoa, and enjoy finding new ways to enjoy it.  My oldest son's favourite way is in soup, but I love quinoa pilafs and salads.  I put together this salad with what I had on hand, and I am very happy with the results.  Feel free to substitute ingredients, but I like the combination of crunchy and soft, warm and cold.  Enjoy!


Ingredients

1 cup quinoa (uncooked)
2 cups water
2 green onions, chopped
1 carrot, grated
1 small zucchini, grated
4 oz. sliced mushrooms (about half a pack of sliced mushrooms)
2 handfuls washed arugula leaves
Crumbled goat cheese to taste

Dressing (will be divided in two)

1/2 cup olive oil
Juice of one lemon
Salt & Pepper to taste
Dried herbs to taste (I use thyme for most dressings, but dried or fresh parsley would also work well)

Directions

1- Rinse quinoa to get rid of bitterness.  Bring water to a boil, add quinoa and lower to medium heat.  Cover and cook for 12 minutes or until water is absorbed.  Remove from heat and fluff with a fork.

2- While quinoa is cooking, prepare vegetables and set aside.  Cook mushrooms in water or a small amount of olive oil.  Wash and tear arugula leaves.

3- Prepare salad dressing by mixing oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper & herbs.  mix until combined, then divide in two. 

4- Place quinoa in a bowl or serving platter.  Pour half of dressing over quinoa and mix to combine.  Cover quinoa with onions, carrots, zucchini, arugula, mushrooms and goat cheese.  Mix. 

5- Serve while still warm, drizzling extra dressing over top as needed.

Gluten Free Weekly Menu Plan

Monday:  Chicken & Apricot Tagine over Rice (I would mention the sauce I used, but I didn't love it.  I'm going to work on creating my own version instead.) 













Tuesday: Turkey Burgers & Garden Fresh Quinoa Salad  RECIPE










Wednesday:  Falafel with Mediterranean Dips & Veggie Sticks (Hummus, Roasted Red Pepper & Eggplant Dip) 








Thursday:  Tofu Vegetable Stir Fry  over Rice Noodles













Friday: Vegetable Soup & Leftovers

 

 

Cookbook of the Month: May's Review

Cooking Light The Gluten-Free Cookbook: Simple Food Solutions for Everyday Meals

by Cooking Light Magazine (Creator)

Cooking Light The Gluten-Free Cookbook: Simple Food Solutions for Ev

Cooking Light introduces The Gluten-Free Cookbook-the search for simple, healthy and delicious gluten-free meals is over. Cooking Light developed more than 180 everyday recipes that will work for the reader searching for a wide variety of satisfying and flavorful gluten-free dishes. Designed in a full-color, easy-to-read format, Cooking Light The Gluten-Free Cookbook ICooking Light introduces The Gluten-Free Cookbook-the search for simple, healthy and delicious gluten-free meals is over. Cooking Light developed more than 180 everyday recipes that will work for the reader searching for a wide variety of satisfying and flavorful gluten-free dishes. Designed in a full-color, easy-to-read format, Cooking Light The Gluten-Free Cookbook is the definitive guide to cooking gluten-free.
Questions from individuals who live gluten-free either out of necessity or by choice are answered all in one place. Within the pages of this book, readers will find the best kitchen tips and techniques and helpful information about ingredients that are the basis of gluten free cooking, including which grains, flours, and convenience products to use. This book offers simple advice on how to avoid gluten containing products-natural and hidden sources-and teaches what to look for on the nutrition label. Enjoy food previously sacrificed, such as pizza, pastas, meatloaf, sandwiches, breads, and even desserts! On every page, readers will find deliciously transformed, gluten-free versions of their favorite dishes-from quick breads to cakes and oven-fried chicken to spaghetti and meatballs, and more.

Publisher: Oxmoor House

Publication date: August 2, 2011

Review

The focus of this cookbook is on simple recipes.  To achieve this goal, many of the recipes call for prepared gluten free foods (such as bread) to be used in many recipes.  I have no problem with this, because I know how time consuming cooking for a family of four can be day in and day out.  However, if you're looking to make every item from scratch, this might not be the book for you.  If you're looking for quick and easy gluten free meal ideas, this book delivers.  Although it's not a dairy free cookbook, recipes that are dairy free are clearly marked, which I appreciated.

I made the Bruschetta with warm tomatoes, Chickpea bajane, Soft tacos with green chile cilantro rice and egg, Sweet and sour pork, Chicken tacos with mango avocado salsa, and Pasta with roasted red pepper and cream sauce.  Each of the dishes were simple to make and the flavour was great.  So often recipes that are gluten free fail to deliver on taste, but not these.  In fact, the mango avocado salsa and pasta with roasted red pepper & cream sauce have become family favourites.  I substitute dairy free milk in the pasta recipe, and my son loves it. 

I also like that this cookbook has photos accompanying every recipe.  I like to know what my dish is supposed to look like when it's done.  The photos are clear, and none of the dishes are plated in a way that's unrealistic for the average person to achieve. 

Verdict:  This is a good basic cookbook for anyone new to gluten free or who isn't interested in complicated, fancy recipes.  The recipes are simple to follow and the photos are helpful.  There's a good variety of breakfasts, side dishes, main course meals, and desserts.  It's not a huge cookbook, but there is some variety in the recipes, with several Asian and Indian recipes alongside Italian and Latin American inspired dishes, and some classic North American ones too. 

Purchase:  AMAZON

Great Gluten Free Event in the Greater Toronto Area this Weekend

The Canadian Celiac Association has a whole weekend full of events coming up for those in the Greater Toronto Area.  It's a great way to support the Gluten Free community, to help raise awareness, meet new people, and try new products. 

The big event is The National Conference, taking place June 7-9 at the International Centre in Mississauga.  The conference features doctors, researchers and dietitians.  Pre-register at www.celiac.ca

If you're interested in attending some events but the conference is not for you, Canada's Gluten Free Market is being held on Saturday, June 8, in the International Centre Hall #1.  It will be a great opportunity to sample new products and meet with vendors.  Tickets can be pre-ordered a www.canadasglutenfreemarket.com  

In addition, there are several other workshops and dining events happening.  One of the coolest in my opinion is the program for kids.  Called Surviving Gluten Free, it's a weekend of activities for kids aged 7-16 years old, including speakers, team challenges, a GF cooking class, and a pizza & pool party.  Such a great opportunity for kids to connect with each other and enjoy a weekend worry free.  I can't wait for my son to be old enough to participate in this! 

For more information on all these events and more, go to www.celiac.ca

I always have a great time at these events, learning about new products and meeting new people.  It's a great opportunity to stay up to date with the latest in research and to make some new friends! 

 

Hope to see you there!

Gluten Free Wafers Now Available at Churches in Toronto

Just a quick note about an article I read in the paper this morning.

A report in the Toronto Star states that gluten free wafers and low gluten wafers are now available at some Toronto area churches.  Anglican churches are free to offer completely gluten free ones, while the Catholic church has low gluten wafers available for worshippers who require them.  This is great news for worshippers who have either been foregoing Communion because of the wheat-filled wafer, or suffering the consequences of ingesting one. 

Want to know more? 

Visit The Toronto Star for the full article.