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I have a towel in my kitchen that is embroidered "Laughter is an Instant Vacation,"
true, but sometimes you need a little more, so
after hosting 19 people for Easter brunch,
as the snow is gently falling outside my kitchen window (Yes - snow!!),
my bags are packed and the Weekend Chef and I are heading off for a week on the sunny baja peninsula of Mexico.
I will be sending warm and sunny thoughts your way - but the computers are staying home!
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I have no idea who wrote this or if it is true or not. I received it from Dee - my gluten free friend in Oklahoma.
Regardless of the source I found it very inspirational.
It applies to all Moms, but especially for us gluten free Mom's who spend hours behind the scenes making sure our gluten free kids have happy healthy lives.
It is long - but take the time to read it. It will be good for your soul.
It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?'
Obviously not. No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom.
Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, what time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, what number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, Right I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated sum a cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England . Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.
around 5:30, please.'
be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone!
wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe . I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription:
'To Charlotte , with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees'
In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their
building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.
'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.' And the workman replied, because God sees.'
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte . I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you
does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.'
I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on.
The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.
more to say to his friend, to add, 'You're gonna love it there.'
Great Job, MOM!
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I spent a few minutes in the candy isle of Target this morning searching out some gluten free Easter candy options. I did not do this last year – I just went with the Jelly Belly Jelly Beans and called it a day.
But mainstream gluten free candy is pretty easy to find, so if this is yet another way for my gluten free kid to feel just like everyone else, then I decided it was worth the effort to find a GF Chocolate Easter bunny.
The following is what I found out from checking web sites and phone calls where noted. I provided links so you can double check the information yourself and I encourage you to always do so. Always double check the ingredients yourself. This list only addresses ingredients containing gluten – cross contamination is a separate issue that you have to decide on for yourself.
· Dove Smooth Milk Chocolate Eggs – I called Dove (1-800-551-0704) and a recorded message stated that all Dove Chocolates except for Dove organics, jewel rollups and milk and dark chocolate covered almonds are gluten free.
· Fannie Mae - ALL SOLID CHOCOLATE NOVELTIES
· Hershey’s – I called Hershey’s this morning (1-800-468-1714) and confirmed that the Hershey Milk Chocolate Hollow Bunny UPC 34000 18399 and, my favorite before going dairy free, Reese’s made with Chocolate Peanut Butter Eggs UPC 34000 47732 does not “contain any ingredients derived from gluten.”
· Jelly Belly Jelly Beans:
We do not use gluten in any of our current flavors of Jelly Belly jelly beans; however, we do use corn starch in all of our jelly beans.
Our Jelly Belly jelly beans and Jelly Belly Confections Pectin, Mellocreme and Gelatin candies are gluten-free and considered safe for the celiac-sprue patient to consume.
In addition, you requested information regarding two specific areas: “The source of our ‘modified food starch’ and which ‘natural flavors and artificial flavorings’ are used in our products.”
In regard to the source of our “modified food starch,” we use corn. Our “natural flavors” are identified on all packaging, and include fruit juice concentrates, fruit purees, coffee, peanut butter, chocolate, coconut and cocoa powder. We also use oil of peppermint, lemon, lime and tangerine oils to flavor Jelly Belly beans featuring those particular flavors.
These products contain gluten and must be avoided:
All of our Jelly Belly Confections Chocolate Malt Balls, Licorice Pastels, Licorice Bridge Mix, Dimples, Christmas Dimples, Deluxe Christmas Mix, and Speckled Chocolate Malted Eggs.
Check it out yourself at Jelly Belly
· Marshmallow Peeps – Package says they are gluten free.
· M & M’s – All are gluten free except crispy M&M’s (1-800-551-0704)
We make the following products which do not contain gluten from wheat, rye, oats or barley: Necco Wafers, Mary Janes, Mary Jane Peanut Butter Kisses, Sweethearts Conversation Hearts (Valentines only), Canada Mint & Wintergreen Lozenges, Haviland Thin Mints and Candy Stix
In addition, Clark Bars, Skybars, Haviland Peppermint & Wintergreen Patties, Necco Candy Eggs (Easter), Talking Pumpkins (Halloween), Squirrel Nut Caramels and Squirrel Nut Zippers, Banana Split and Mint Julep Chews, ULTRAMINTS are also gluten free
· Palmer Holiday Candy – Follow link to a gluten free list which includes the bunny pack.
· Pez Candy Website states that “Pez Candy is gluten free. Mono- & di- glycerides sources are vegetable.”
· From the Natural Candy Store,
Natural Jelly Belly Jelly Beans, Assorted Flavors, 2-pack
by Jelly Belly, USA
The great taste and texture you expect from Jelly Belly, made with natural flavors and colors! These beans use real flavors from juices, purees and contain no artificial flavors. Free of preservatives and made with only colors derived from natural sources. The 10 Assorted Flavor bag contains the following flavors: Banana, Cherry, Coconut, Grape, Lemon, Orange, Peach, Pineapple, Plum and Strawberry. Approved for the Feingold Program. Gluten free.
Gluten and Dairy Free Chocolate Bunnies – A comprehensive list of gluten and casein free chocolate bunnies. Btw – this is one of my favorite sites for finding GFCF items.
This should be enough to give your gluten free kid a good sugar high on Sunday!!
Okay - I had to insert one picture of my kids - this is from Easter 2006.
Looking for list of gluten free candy in general go to:
Dallas Rock Group Snack and Candy List
Now I have to plan the menu - at last count we are having 6 or 7 adults and 6 kids, but the list keeps growing.
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What do you do on a rainy afternoon in Seattle with three kids when the ski season is basically over and you don't feel like a movie??
Head to your favorite Gluten Free Bakery for a cup of coffee and some treats.
In Seattle, this has to be Da Vinci Cafe and Bakery.
Da Vinci is located at 10003 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle (206) 782-5735.
It was the very first completely gluten free bakery in Seattle. Kaili is the owner and chef, and she can cook some great treats.
I mean the baked items here tastes as good (if not better) as any glutinous bakery.
I indulged in the Apple Strudel (which is also dairy free) - the best baked treat I have had in a while -how does she get the crust so flaky??
The kids had pizza and a Double Chocolate Mouse Brownie and cupcakes.
Da Vinci's is where we started our gluten free life. The first Saturday of our new gluten free life we went to Da Vinci's for bread. We were greeted by Kaili then, the same way we were today.
A really special thanks goes out to Kaili for working so hard to make such great treats for those of us on the gluten free diet.
For more on gluten free in Seattle go to GlutenFreeMom.com/GlutenFreeSeattle
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The Gluten Free Kid and I spent a funtastic night with the Gluten Free Girl at a baking class at our favorite local market.
Everything about the Gluten Free Girl, from her approach to living gluten free, to her style of cooking, to the tattooed "yes" on her hand, was inspiring and encouraging.
We both left feeling that it is better than just okay to be gluten free.
We were inspired to take our cooking to a new level.
The Gluten Free Girl made us feel good about living, good about eating. She made us want to eat more and better food. As she said "food (that we eat) is stories, food is connected to our lives."
She is, after all, the happily ever after in the gluten free fairy tale.
So what did we bake?
Gluten Free Bread Baking
I have to admit that I have been a wimp about making gluten free bread. I never baked bread before going GF and the few loaves we made from scratch post-GF were something less than successful.
So I had basically given up bread. I have probably eaten no more than a loaf of bread in the last year.
The Gluten Free Kid still eats a sandwich in her school lunch but she had been content with Kinnikinnick White Sandwich Bread and the Gluten Free Pantry Favorite Sandwich Bread Mix that we whip up in our Bread maker.
Well my bread fast is now over!!
What has changed ~ first the Gluten Free Girl gave us a great overview of the qualities of all of the different flours, second seeing how incredibly easy it is to make a GF bread that had texture and interesting flavor to it, and lastly, having a bite of that hot out of the oven bread . . .
We made Gluten-Free Multi-grain Bread that was originally posted by Gluten Free by the Bay.
Of course, we only got a sample during class.
But the Gluten Free Girl was so inspiring that as soon as the Gluten Free Kid arrived home from school yesterday, she threw on her apron, pulled out all of the flours and made a loaf (already making some of her own adjustments).
So here is the Gluten Free Kid's (adapted) Multi-grain Bread recipe:
Preheat oven to 200 degrees
Sift the dry ingredients together in a medium bowl and stir to combine.
Combine the wet ingredients in a large separate bowl by hand or using a hand–mixer on low, just until combined.
Slowly add the dry ingredient mixture until fully combined.
Pour into a 9 x 5 inch bread pan that has been greased.
Turn the oven off, place the bread dough inside and let rise for 90 minutes. Do not open the oven door during this time.
Increase heat to 350 degrees and bake until the crust is golden brown and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 – 40 minutes.
I could not believe how good it was - add a little Earth Balance and, like I said, my bread fast is over. As a matter of fact, the entire loaf is gone.
But this is just the beginning. We spent last night surveying the wonderful world of GF blogs and we are going to try Gluten Free Mommy's Almond Honey Yeast Bread next.
As a side note, I find it ironic that I am going on this carb feast two weeks before the Weekend Chef and I are leaving for a few kid free sunny days in Cabo.
Some Other Tips on Baking Gluten Free
We learned so much during the class, I could probably write a book on it, but she has already done that. So buy the book and see for yourself.
But a few more free tips:
Don't over mix your gluten free baking ingredients. Just a simple stir until everything is just mixed works best.
Once everything is mixed together, let it hang out for a while before you bake it. If you are making cookies, refrigerate the dough for 60 minutes before you pop the cookies in the oven. Same thing goes for pie crust.
To make your bread rise, preheat the oven to 200 degrees while you are mixing everything together. Turn off the oven and put the bread in to let it rise. Do not open the oven door for 90 minutes, then bake it.
Finlay, I get a lot of emails asking for my favorite recipe books. I have a lot of none-GF cooking books that I love, but not that many that are specifically for gluten free baking. So here are some that the Gluten Free Girl recommended. I just ordered some myself.
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