Toaster Bags

Toaster bags are such a neat little invention. Although I don't use them in my own home as we have a separate toaster oven for all things Gluten Free, I would grab a set to take on vacation with me. Heck, they are probably good to keep on hand along with mini jams (GF ones of course) for those all too common occasions where you are headed somewhere which may not have "safe" options.


Where can you get them?

I searched online and found many places which offer the toaster bags in Canada. One problem I noticed was sky high pricing. So I have listed below, two sellers with reasonable prices.

If you are  American, a simple search of "toaster bags" on Amazon.com will provide you with several affordable brands



Regal offers a set of 4 toaster bags for $7.98. Shipping extra. 

















Plan It Products sells a set of 2 toaster bags for $6.00 via amazon.ca Shipping extra.









Have YOU tried Toaster bags? Let me know what you think!

Healthy Kids Community Challenge

Eating Healthy is important for everyone, but it can be a challenge. As a Celiac I am a Gluten detective who is constantly scrutinizing labels to make sure that food is safe for myself to consume. In doing so I have noticed how junk food saturated the Gluten Free market is. That being said, extra effort is involved to maintain a healthy Gluten Free lifestyle for kids and adults. 

The Province of Ontario has launched an exciting new program intended to teach kids lifelong healthy habits. It's called The Healthy Kids Community Challenge. Local communities can submit applications to the province of Ontario for funding and other tools that would improve healthy food choices, increase activity levels and encourage appropriate amounts of sleep for children and youth. Building partnerships with schools, public, private and non profit sectors - to promote healthy weights for kids is a key part of the challenge.

Apply by March 14th 2014 to be part of the up to 30 communities that will be chosen to participate. If your community is selected, the province will offer resources to champion the programs success. Selected communities will be eligible for up to 1.5 million over four years in funding to develop and build on community based platforms promoting healthy living. 

Activities for the challenge can include  after school cooking clubs with dietitians, healthy breakfast clubs for children living in poverty, and walking school bus initiatives. Municipal partners can include schools, recreation centers, parents, private businesses, health care providers and community organizations servicing children and youth.  

To be a part of the challenge, communities must have a minimum population of 10,000 and Maximum population of 200,000 people. While no minimum population is required for aboriginal communities, they must have a maximum population of 200,000 people.

If you are interested in championing this challenge with your community, please contact your local Mayors' or CAO/City Manager's offices as part of the process to submit an application. 


For more information about the Healthy Kids Community Challenge, please visit the links below. 

• Brochure
• Website
• FAQ

Everybody Has Something To Sell

Why is it that Gluten Free is such a phony baloney money maker? Who decided that Gluten Free shall be trendy? I'm surprised I haven't seen an infomercial that claims to  hold the cure yet. Every day I am blown away by what is out there and it's just getting worse. I wish that people would STOP CASHING IN ON CELIAC DISEASE. 


The other day I read an article on a reputable mom site that was all about hidden gluten. I should have stopped right away when the person who wrote the article mentioned the Wheatbelly author. Apparently I have too much faith in people as I continued on. The article closed with a Ryan Seacrest cavalierness about going Gluten Free for even just 16 days. The kicker was the direct link at the at the bottom of the page,which led to the author's website. That website hocks a Gluten Free Renewal Cleanse for the low low price of $89.00. 

What gives? Why is Celiac the disease to exploit? 

Product Review: Dempster's GlutenZero Bread

When you see the new Depmster's GlutenZero bread in the grocery store, you may think that it's just another Gluten Free bread on the market and pass it by. Well, it is most definitely not your average Gluten Free bread and it wows in several ways!

I was a little skeptical the first time I held a package of Dempster's GlutenZero. Lets be honest, it's small and sorta feels like a dense banana loaf when you pick it up. On the bright side, this just goes to show that we should never judge before we taste! I nibbled on a piece before deciding what to do with it and I don't recall plain bread ever tasting or smelling so good!


Dempster's GlutenZero may be small, but it is mighty! It is available in both Whole Grain and White bread for about $5.99 per loaf. I spent some time having fun with both varieties. I made everything from grilled cheese sandwiches and plain old toast to a hearty BLT sandwich and yummy french toast.

As far as texture goes, this bread hits a home run. Not only does it hold together while eating a sandwich (take that, crumbly breads!), it doesn't leave that all-too-common, sand-lodged-in-throat feeling. There is something different about this bread. Perhaps, it's the use of Tapioca Starch which helps the bread stay soft without becoming gummy in texture. It's great to finally have a light weight, Gluten Free bread that does not disintegrate upon touch!



I love that this is a non-frozen bread and it can last (resealed, of course) at room temperature  for about 5 days. Not a common thing in the Gluten Free world. No more waiting for a slice of bread to defrost!

Another highlight is that the bread is produced in a Canadian, dedicated gluten free, facility. Dempster's has also gone the extra step of becoming part of the Canadian Celiac Association's Gluten Free Certification Program. It's great to see more and more manufacturers get on board with this program. It certainly makes me feel safe and like a valued consumer.




*Disclosure -  This is a sponsored post and I received compensation for it. My opinions are my own. I only work with brands that I trust and would use in my own home. 

Catelli Gluten Free Pasta Giveaway

How would you guys like to win a year’s supply of Catelli Gluten Free pasta?

That's right, an entire year's worth of delicious gluten free pasta! All you have to do is follow the Rafflecopter instructions below and the chance is yours.

Haven't had a chance to try the new Catelli Gluten Free pasta yet? Check out my review.

While your waiting for the winner to be announced, grab a Catelli Gluten Free pasta coupon here while supplies last.

Good luck! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Product Review: Catelli Gluten Free Pasta

Catelli recently sent me a box of their new Gluten Free pasta to see what I thought of it. It is produced in a dedicated gluten free facility and certified by the Canadian Celiac Association. In my opinion, any company that goes the extra mile to have their Gluten Free product certified by the CCA, is one that truly has Celiac consumers on it's mind.

*All opinions are my own and I have not been financially compensated in any way.

I can happily tell you that hubby, who is super critical of anything Gluten Free and our 5 year old grilled cheese and pizza pocket lover really enjoyed the pasta right along with me. 

Catelli is a great example of just how far we have come with Gluten Free pasta. It cooks in under 9 minutes and stays nice and al dente. It does't fall apart in the water, nor is it mushy on the plate. This pasta will not disappoint even the most harsh critic in the family.

I love preparing pasta for my family just as much as they enjoy eating it. It's one of those staples that  is great to have in the pantry when you want a no fuss meal. But it can also be so much more than that! The only limit is personal creativity and time. To save on time, I try to have a few vegetables in the fridge that are pre cut and ready to go. Add sauce and you are all set.

While supplies last, you can grab a coupon for $1.00 off of any Catelli Gluten Free pasta product here

With American Thanksgiving soon upon us, the Catelli recipe below is sure to be a quick and easy hit for those who are celebrating.

Festive Fusilli Stuffing

Create a new holiday tradition by serving this stuffing-inspired pasta dish alongside your roast turkey and trimmings.

 Prep Time: 25 min                                                   

Serving: 8 to 10 (makes about 7 cups/1.75 L)

 Ingredients:

2 tbsp (30 mL) each butter and olive oil

1 large cooking onion, chopped

1 cup (250 mL) each chopped celery and grated carrot

3 tbsp (45 mL) finely chopped fresh sage leaves

1 tbsp (15 mL) each finely chopped fresh rosemary and thyme leaves

1/2 tsp (2 mL) each salt and pepper

1 1/4 cups (300 mL) chicken or vegetable broth

3/4 cup (175 mL) dried cranberries

1 pkg (340 g) Catelli Gluten Free Fusilli

1/4 cup (50 mL) chopped fresh parsley leaves

 1.      Heat butter and oil in a nonstick skillet set over medium heat. Add onion, celery, carrot, sage, rosemary, thyme, salt and pepper. Sauté for 8 minutes or until softened and fragrant. Stir in broth and cranberries; simmer for 8 minutes.

 2.      Meanwhile, cook fusilli in a large pot of boiling salted water for 7 minutes. Drain well; transfer fusilli to a large bowl. Add the skillet mixture and parsley; toss well to coat. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve immediately.

 Tips:

·        This stuffing can be served any time of year along-side roast chicken, pork or pan-fried fish.

·        For a vegan stuffing, use all olive oil and vegetable broth. 

·        Make the stuffing up to 1 day ahead. Transfer the fusilli to a casserole dish. Drizzle with a little extra broth and bake at 350°F (180°C) for 20 minutes. 

 Per serving (about 3/4 cup/175 mL): 213 calories, 6 g fat, 2 g saturated fat, 6 mg cholesterol, 226 mg sodium, 38 g carbohydrates, 2 g fibre, 7 g sugars, 3 g protein.

The Broken Road To Awareness

Why is Celiac Disease so misunderstood? Why is there so much varying information? Why can't we all be on the same page? Why? Why? Why?

Celiac is the only disease that I can think of, where the people who are diagnosed don't even really understand it, let alone the Doctor's diagnosing it.  We are sort of left to figure it out on our own, resulting in widespread misconceptions, wrong choices, inaccurate media coverage and best of all, the pain of accidental Glutening.


Uneducated Doctors : 
If the front line is not in order, how can we expect those who have Celiac Disease to fully understand their condition? Most family Doctors have minimal knowledge about Celiac. Many of them neglect to do the proper testing and suggest that their patients try a Gluten Free diet to see how it makes them feel. In the long run, they are only adding to the misconceptions. Due to the lax in proper diagnosis, some are just assuming that they have Celiac, when in fact they don't. Others face numerous hurdles in getting an accurate diagnosis.

Another issue is with the lack of Celiac Disease specialists. People who live near a facility such as the Chicago Center for Celiac Disease research luck out. But those of us who are nowhere near a research facility, often get put on the back burner unless we fiercely advocate for proper testing and the answers to go along with it.

Not enough awareness:  Celiac Disease awareness seems to be  IS severely lacking. Due to it being virtually non existent, people usually assume that eating Gluten Free is a choice and they do not associate it with a real disease. Both those who have Celiac and those who don't are not usually fully aware how serious this autoimmune disease is. Many people are too embarrassed to speak up and make sure food is Gluten Free, some admit that they "cheat" once in a while and others just don't know where to start. 

Resources are also limited. The support and information available to those who are newly diagnosed varies substantially from City to Province to Country. Celiac is a confusing and overwhelming disease to be diagnosed with. Many people are told they have the disease and then sent on their way with no formal education about it.

Fear mongers :  
There is a never ending flood of people with personal agendas. Weather they are out to make money, or to spread misinformation in hopes of roping people into their way on thinking (anti GMO, No Grains ect.) there are many who use Celiac as a platform to preach non related issues.

Greed: 
This one touches all facets of Celiac Disease. Gluten Free food does not need to be as overpriced as it is. Period. We have come a long way and it is clearly a highly profitable market. But we are still gouged at the grocery store. Why? Because we have no choice, we are chained to the medical need for Gluten Free.

Big companies want to sell us books on how to live and eat Gluten Free.  Many individuals have started websites to offer "helpful" information to those with Celiac Disease, but unfortunately you have to pay a fee to reap the so called benefits. Also, the information which is being sold, is widely available for FREE.

Scams and the people who buy into them:
I'm not even going to list the various companies that make this list,but I will tell you what to be vigilant against. There are MANY magic pills out there, offering a way to prevent damage after eating Gluten. Some even offer a downright cure. These are SCAMS!!! First of all, if and when a cure or remedy becomes available, it will be international news. You will hear about it from those who research Celiac Disease as well as awareness organizations such as the National Foundation For Celiac Awareness, Canadian Celiac Association and Coeliac UK . Also, after a medical breakthrough, it will be years before any type of medication reaches the market. I can guarantee you won't be able to obtain it without a proper prescription either. 


Media : Can we not get some legitimate air time? Everyone from local news stations to Dr Oz has something to say about Gluten Free. The problem is that the rare time that they mention Celiac Disease, they do so in passing, like it's not the real issue. I tend to cringe when I see a news report about "Gluten Free". The newscasters never seem to educate themselves about what they are discussing and the so called specialist is usually someone who has no real background or education in Celiac Disease. Do we discuss MS or Parkinson's with a Podiatrist? No. Contrary to what one may think, not all Doctors are created equal. This is why they specialize in specific areas of health.

The question I am left with is, how can WE as a Celiac public, band together and create the necessary and accurate awareness that is vacant from our communities?

Cheese Steak Hoagie

With the cold and wet weather here to stay, a warm and hearty meal is what we are all in need of this time of year. I used Udi's hot dog buns (sent to me by Udi's as part of their Fall Comfort Giveaway) and created my own little cheese steak hoagie.

Boy, was this a family crowd pleaser!

Want to make your own? Follow the simple steps below:

Ingredients

4 Udi's hot dog buns
Quick Fry Steak cut into thin strips
1/2 White Onion
1/2 Green Pepper
3 Mushrooms
1 tsp Steak Spice
Mozzarella Cheese cut into cubes
Gluten Free smokey BBQ sauce

*Cut vegetables as thin or thick as you like 
*Use as much or as little cheese and BBQ sauce as you desire

Directions

Cook steak on medium heat until lightly browned. Add steak spice. Then add mushrooms, onion and pepper.Remove from heat and add cheese to the skillet.

Place a layer of cheese on the bottom of the bun. Then add skillet mix of steak,cheese and vegetables. Drizzle some BBQ sauce on the top and enjoy!