Recipe Remodel!
Gluten & Dairy Free!
First, you might ask "What is Gluten?" I think the easiest way to answer this question is by saying "Gluten is a binding protein found in Wheat, Barley, Rye and Oats"...unfortunately, there is no simple way to approach a gluten-free lifestlye or gluten-free diet.
Anybody who has Celiac disease, gluten intolerance, dermatitis herpetiformis, lactose intolerance or simply chooses not to consume gluten or dairy because of the health benefits, gluten-free-dairy-free cooking becomes a medical necessity. When a gluten-free diet is introduced, you have to learn how to remove any traces of gluten from your diet. When this is done, you realize just how common gluten is in almost every restaurant meal or store-bought food. Fortunately, with the right tools you can navigate the "gluten-free world" with ease!
Here is a quick start:
Stay away from the commong whole grains, flours, and starches. What, rye, and barley are all off-limits! Remember, no single flour can be substituted alone in a recipe for a gluten-containing flour. However, there are some creative ways to get similar results! Depending on what I'm making, I commonly use combinations that vary and include Brown Rice Flour, White Rice Flour, Tapioca Flour, Tapioca Starch, Potato Starch, Buckwheat Flour, and Xanthan Gum (Xanthan Gum will become your best friend!)
Become a label reader! Gluten is all over! Gluten is hidden in most foods and a quick way to spot this hidden danger is under the name WHEAT! If you, yoare an individual who can consume Soy, be sure to check the label on your soy sauce...it most likely contains wheat! Fortunately, there are many GF and wheat-free alternatives and versions of common products. When dining out, be sure to ask your server "how is this prepared?" "is there soy sauce in the sauce?" Try printing out a dining card that says what you are allergic to and be sure to notify management that way they can take extra measures in the kitchen to ensure the safety of your gluten -free dish. When in doubt, don't eat it!
Focus on cooking with naturally gluten-free foods like unprocessed fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs, meats, fish and poultry and gluten-free cooking becomes easier and healthier. You'll be amazed at the difference in how you feel when processed foods are eliminated from your diet!
Don't be scared! You can still have your favorite foods, they are just created differently! (Last night I had a Fried Chicken Sandwich with Macaroni and Cheese and Brownie's for desert)...oh yes, Gluten Free, Lactose Free, and delicious! I have a passion for "Remodeling Recipe's" and have found creative ways to make my favorite family dishes! I'm in the process up creating a Recipe Remodel page on this site, so stay tuned!
