If you’ve been hanging out with me you know I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease a few months ago. All summer I’ve been learning to navigate the choppy waters of this auto-immune issue while discovering that it’s taken a toll on my body and honestly my emotions as well.
Because I do a lot of cooking and baking around here, how could I not talk about going gluten free? I’m going to be honest with you…before I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease I would visit ‘gluten-free’ blogs and leave them as quickly as I arrived. I had no desire to leave the gluten out of anything I cooked, I mean, why would I?
My best bud Julie (Check out Julie’s Blog Here!) was diagnosed with Celiac Disease over three years ago. Julie would often chat with me about cooking without gluten and the battle to find restaurants with gluten free menus and all the things Celiac Disease had done to her body…when we landed on this subject, I came just short of putting my fingers in my ears and saying “La la la la la la “, so I wouldn’t have to hear her. What she had to do, live the rest of her life without gluten, was one of my worst nightmares. The reason for this is …
To me…food is not JUST food.
I know many of you won’t understand, but good food, for this southern gal, says home.
When I cook a comforting dinner or bake something sweet, I’m very much in the moment and at the same time I’m very much in touch with past moments. Those sweet memories from my childhood, when the definition of security, love and home first anchored me.
Mama in the kitchen making Thanksgiving dinner or a quick batch of Chocolate Chip Cookies in the middle of the week, these small things helped define “family” for the younger me and doing them now…well, it makes me happy.
*****
Okay, so I need therapy. Maybe I have food issues, nevertheless that’s where I stand on all things yummy. But here’s the good news; with the help of The Husband, I’m discovering new ways to cook foods I love. No joke, this gluten-free journey is actually kinda fun, we’re finding lots of great new recipes and I’m revising some of my old favorites!
Going forward I’ll be posting some of those recipes and for all my sweet friends who don’t have to steer clear of gluten, I’ll either make the recipe using simple ingredients (because sometimes it gets complicated cooking gluten-free) or I’ll give you a full-of-gluten alternative recipe! I don’t want to exclude anyone!
Love to you my friends…and bon appetite!
(You’ll find all my recipes under: All Things Recipes and I just added the new: All Things Gluten Free that I’m slowly working on!)
I’m so happy to see that you are moving forward with this and finding solutions. I feel exactly like you do about cooking particularly baking. It makes me happy.
Jeannette
Yes, the first time I baked a gluten free cake for my mom I had sticker shock on the cost plus the large number of ingredients I needed for the cake! Mom has celiac, but I don’t, so I haven’t completely converted everything yet. But I do like the breads and the cereals and buy those exclusively without gluten. So proud of your continued efforts Robin!!
i don’t bake so the recipes won’t hit me. 🙂 However, it is good to hear from you Robin and knowing that you are not giving up but working at living a healthy lifestyle. Hats of to The Husband as well. 🙂
I know exactly what you are saying about cooking, Robin. I feel so contented and happy when I am preparing a home cooked meal for family. It brings me back to my childhood and the warm feeling I always felt on Thanksgiving, Christmas or Sunday dinners. And, one of my daughters (teen) loves it as much as I do. She is always scouring my recipe books looking for something to cook or bake. I applaud your initiative!
I’m a first time commenter and I don’t have celiac, but i just had to jump on here and say I am so inspired by you and the overwhelming feeling of hope I could feel from this post. Thank you for sharing something that is clearly dear to your heart.
I knew you’d find a way to make lemonade out of lemons! You go girl!
There you go–your new cause–making gluten-free look appealing to everyone! Good for you!
Best,
Susan
I am excited about making some of your GF recipes for our granddaughter. We are so lucky that she is a good eater, doesn’t really likes sweets yet and won’t remember what Goldfish tasted like. I continue to pray for your health to return to your new normal. Have a great weekend.
I’ve bookmarked your cookie recipe, figuring I’ll need it. I have suffered from a debilitating case of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome for 20 years, seen every dr. under the sun, tried Rx’s and all possible external assists to no avail. 1.5 weeks ago I had a blood test for food allergies, at which point I also cut out all gluten, dairy and sugar. I feel better than I’ve felt in decades. I had morphed into quite a good cook, so continued freedom from such ingredients could prove to be quite a chore since I do love to cook and bake.
I’m glad you’re feeling better as well. Keep those recipes coming!
I know what you mean. My friend was diagnosed with Celiac Disease and I wasn’t to excited to go to her dinner parties after she was diagnosed, LOL. It took her a while to figure things out and now that she has I look forward to her dinner parties 🙂 Don’t worry, it will come and there are some great recipes out there!
GOOD FOR YOU! I love baking too and feel the same you do about the whole food and your past thing. So, maybe instead of individual counseling, we will form a group! I’m excited to try the gluten-free recipes! So, thanks for posting on them. 🙂
I know how you feel. Just got the same news about 4 months ago and it is not my idea of real food!!! I am happy to find someone who has recipes to try, it has been hard trying to do it all alone. My family is a big bread eating group and without the gluten things taste BAD! Hope you are better soon and pleaase keep the recipes coming<3
You are so darn generous1 I know there are people out there who will find your blog and it will give them HOPE and now some GOOD RECIPES!!!!! Good for you, girl! God bless and thanks to Mike for being a big help! XO, Pinky
I had the same issue when going GF. I LOVE food. Food is honestly my way of life. I’ve come to find though, through a lot of trial and error and having to make things myself from scratch, that some of the gluten free food I actually… prefer! Even my family who are not gluten free, prefer my homemade gluten free chocolate cupcakes. (and they HATE gluten free products).
Wo0-hooo! Good food ideas will be comin’ my way! Sorta glad we’re in this together.
Being Coeliac doesn’t have to mean the end of baking as you’re finding there’s plenty of us out there baking for family and friends. I love baking with my 8 year old daughter who is also coeliac. I think I probably bake more now than I did before diagnosis, homemade is just so much better than the dry and crumbly offerings that are on offer in the UK supermarkets and more cost effective too. Granted it does seem sometimes like its a mix between chemistry and baking! I have found and/or converted over the years a number of recipes that I know work and are firm family favourites. Most recipes with a little experimenting will convert across to GF, my Mother-in-law has even managed to make GF eclairs with choux pastry which tasted like the real thing!
Best wishes with the ongoing journey and I look forward to seeing your GF recipes, I love trying new recipes!
My Daughter was diagnosed in Feb. It’s been a challenge switching our young family of 6 over to GF, (so I can relate to the meltdowns 🙂 But the reward of seeing our daughter healthy is worth every extra minute! My mom will make us Choc chip cookies every once in a while and my husband and I horde the gluten to ourselves 🙂 I’m thankful that she has an auto immune disease that is 100% treatable with a GF diet! Hope you are feeling better too!
Ann…I’m so sorry your little one has Celiac but you’re so right …its a blessing to be able to treat this w/ a GF diet! xo