karenkent

Thinking Outside the Box

December 30, 2011 By karenkent Leave a Comment

“Variety is the spice of life.” Anonymous

Do you ever feel like you’re in a rut?

Maybe you eat the same foods all the time? Wear the same clothes. Drive the exact same route to work, or wherever you travel on a regular basis.

The fact is – for anyone living with Celiac Disease, and/or multiple food allergies, your diet is limited by default, easily leading to meal-time ruts.

In other words, the tendency is to consume the same ‘safe’ foods over and over again.

Speaking for myself, when I find something I like, that is easy to prepare and nutritious, I will eat it repeatedly, day in and day out, without ever getting tired of it.

Well, all that changed for me recently, when my naturopath started me on a Rotation Diet.

This has nothing to do with weight loss, by the way, although I wouldn’t be surprised if a few pounds drop by the wayside while trying to maintain this new way of eating.

The goal of a Rotation Diet is to reduce repetitive intake of the same foods, giving your immune system a chance to recover from any foods you might be reactive to.

In a nutshell, it means limiting consumption of most foods to every three days, with a few exceptions here and there.

By the way, I’m in no way an expert on this subject, nor am I suggesting that anyone adopt a Rotation Diet, except on the advice of your doctor.

However, let me be honest, here.

There have been more than a few occasions – in as many weeks – when I’ve been ready to throw in the towel and say “the heck with it”.

Whether you are new to the gluten-free diet or mastered the basics years ago, you will understand.

You already know how challenging the initial adjustment can be when you need to eliminate whole categories of food from your diet, things that the rest of the world typically takes for granted.

Having to limit my meal time choices to every third day has me seriously challenged.

My solution?

I’m not sure I have one yet, although I know it means being more creative than ever in my approach to meals.

And learning to really think outside the box!

Which brings me to this weeks’ recipe.

GREENING YOUR HOLIDAY

December 23, 2011 By karenkent Leave a Comment

‘Green’ has become quite the buzz-word of late.

You can live a Green, eco-friendly lifestyle, taking the time to Reduce, Re-Use and Recycle and remove toxins from the home.

More specifically, you can embrace Green Design by introducing eco-friendly, sustainable products to your home’s interior. This one simple act can ensure clean, fresh air and a healthy living environment for you and your family.

Then there’s the mantra to eat your Greens, relying on lots of leafy greens and vegetables as a mainstay of your diet.

This is even more critical for anyone diagnosed with osteoporosis or osteopenia. But then, leafy greens are important to include in your diet regardless.

There are lots of ways to sneak extra greens into your daily meals, whether adding a handful to a smoothie (it really doesn’t affect the taste, I promise) – or relying on oversized leaves as a wrap, in lieu of bread.

I’ll address that in a future article.

Meantime, here’s another idea for incorporating greens: an easy home-made Pesto.

GLUTEN-FREE HOLIDAY BAKING

December 16, 2011 By karenkent Leave a Comment

The holidays are here and I’m in the mood for baking cookies!

This is my favorite time of the year for baking. Sometimes I need to reign myself in so I don’t overdo it. After all, who is going to eat all those cookies in a 2-person household?

Fortunately for me, my husband has quite the sweet tooth, and he’s only too happy to sample what I bake.

This year, however, I’ve decided to cut back on the excess of sweet treats – a bit of a challenge, given the holiday tradition in my family which goes back to our German roots.

This tradition involves an individual plate of Christmas cookies – yes, every member of the family gets their very own plate of cookies on Christmas morning, to eat as they choose.

Growing up, this was often the most exciting part of the holiday!

My mother would assemble the cookie plates on Christmas Eve, and we weren’t allowed to see them until morning. We even had special, Christmas themed holiday plates – just for the occasion.

As an interior designer, I understand how the needs of our families often change over the years, and our traditional way of doing things evolves – as new ideas present themselves.

Or, as so often happens in our homes, we simply want to ‘freshen’ the look.

Which is why, I’ve decided to make two changes this year:

The first, is to bake less.
The second, is to switch from paper Christmas themed plates to a more eco-friendly, re-usable choice – fine china. (Mostly because said paper plates, which have been re-used year after year, are looking a little ragged around the edges).

One thing, however, will never change, and that is my homemade Lebkuchen cookies – which I bake every Christmas.

For anyone not familiar with Lebkuchen, it is a German honey-spice cake – a thicker, chewy cookie filled with traditional Christmas spices like cinnamon and cloves.

In my pre-gluten-free days, we always had store-bought Lebkuchen.

However, years ago I came across this recipe from Sunset magazine, and I have faithfully baked these cookies every year since – to serve alongside the store-bought version.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: EAT, RECIPES Tagged With: cookies, eco-friendly, egg substitute, german, gluten-free, holiday baking, lebkuchen

Avocados, Chocolate & More

December 9, 2011 By karenkent Leave a Comment

I just had to share an amazing new recipe that I came across, one that features the unusual combination of avocados and chocolate!

The recipe is for an Avocado Chocolate Pudding, created by nutritionist Michelle Babb, of Eat, Play, Be – a Mind-Body nutrition practice located in Seattle.

I made this luscious chocolate pudding earlier today, and I can tell you that the taste is incredible – creamy, chocolaty and velvety-rich, just like you’d expect chocolate pudding to be.

Yes, the ingredients are unconventional.

But that’s what I love about it! Plus, it is sugar-free, relying instead on a sugar substitute such as agave nectar or maple syrup.

I, for one, am trying to cut back on my sugar consumption this holiday season. I’m challenging myself to bake less, and stick with a few favorite recipes that can easily be converted to a gluten-free treat that is also low in sugar.

Of course, you can certainly create a perfectly lovely gluten-free pudding using traditional dairy or cream, and refined sugar.

I’m just saying there are alternatives.

If you’re looking for something a little different to tickle your taste buds, I think this tasty treat will likely satisfy your cravings.

Next week, I promise to share some of my own favorite holiday recipes. Meantime, I’ve been invited to two holiday parties this week alone!

Soup’s On

December 2, 2011 By karenkent Leave a Comment

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and sincerely hope that you were able to overcome any challenges in making your feast gluten-free.

By the time you read this, chances are the turkey leftovers will long since have been eaten.

But that’s OK.

I’d still like to share with you my very simple recipe for home-made chicken stock. If you can even call this a recipe.

Yes, it’s that simple!

Of course, this works just as well for turkey or any kind of bird.

I think chicken stock is incredibly easy to make yourself, although at times less convenient than store bought. The best part is that it is absolutely Gluten-Free.

And you won’t have to worry about reading labels!

Seriously, though, all you really need to pull this off is a chicken carcass or two.

Whenever we have a roast chicken for dinner, I remove the extra meat before storing the leftovers in the fridge. I also save the bones in a separate container.

Next morning, I toss the bones, some water and a few seasonings into my crockpot, and let the slow cooker do its thing for the rest of the day.

That’s the beauty of a slow cooker – it really frees up your time for work, or play, and you don’t have to do another thing for six to eight hours, or until the food is done.

In this crazy, hectic world we live in, what could be better than freeing up some of your time?

HOME-MADE CHICKEN STOCK

Bones & carcass from 1 Chicken

6 cups water

1 carrot, cut into chunks (or a small handful of baby carrots)

1 or 2 celery sprigs, optional

1 bay leaf

5-6 whole peppercorns

You can dig around in your vegetable drawer and choose some other add-ins, such as:

Onion, cut into chunks

Root vegetables, cut into chunks

Toss everything into the ceramic pot of your slow cooker, and set the timer for a minimum of 6 hours. Depending on the brand of slow cooker, you might need a little more time to really bring out the flavors.

Alternatively, you can replicate the exact same recipe in a pot, on the stove. Bring to a boil, and then simmer for 1 ½ – 2 hours.

When done cooking, set a large sieve inside an equally large bowl and pour the soup stock into the sieve. The point is to catch all the loose vegetables, peppercorns, etc. so you have a clear broth.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: EAT, RECIPES Tagged With: chicken soup, Chicken stock, color, gluten-free, slow-cooker, Thanksgiving

Holiday Tips & Suggestions

November 25, 2011 By karenkent Leave a Comment

As we move into the holiday season, there will be plenty of temptations lurking around every corner.

At every holiday gathering you’ll be faced with the same dilemma. How does one determine what is safe to eat, especially when dining away from home?

Well, there’s no reason to complicate things.

I tend to take that approach in general, meaning I don’t like a lot of fuss and bother. (Even my design style is minimalist).

Let’s review some of the likely scenarios you will encounter in the weeks ahead, along with some simple solutions for how to deal with them.

Friends & Family

As you make your way around the holiday circuit, be prepared for well-meaning friends and family who insist that “one little bite” can’t possible hurt.

Or who treat your new diet as more of an inconvenience to them, rather than consider the health benefits to you.

When Aunt Mabel offers you a generous slice of her famous holiday cheesecake, please do not to give in.

Instead, why not contribute to the meal yourself?

You could offer to bring a dish that everyone can enjoy. That way you will know for sure there is at least one item on the table that is safe for you to eat.

Or, if you’re feeling really ambitious, bake your own gluten-free cheesecake and bring it along to the party.

By the way, there is absolutely no harm to other family members if they eat gluten-free products. I’ve heard people express this concern, but there’s no truth to it whatsoever.

On the contrary, it’s more likely that as your own health steadily improves, other family members will also benefit.

Dining Out

These days, it’s so much easier to dine at a restaurant, even when you’re on a restricted diet.

Giving Thanks

November 18, 2011 By karenkent Leave a Comment

Oh my, to think that Thanksgiving is just a few days away.

On the chance that this might be your first gluten-free Thanksgiving, this weeks’ article is designed to give you some peace of mind as you plan your annual feast.

If you happen to be new to the gluten-free lifestyle, you might be tearing your hair out right about now, perhaps even telling yourself that the holidays are such a huge challenge – how will you ever get through it?

Well, this is true. It might very well be a challenge.

In the weeks to come, your senses will be assaulted with treats of every kind, beginning with the Thanksgiving turkey and all the traditional side dishes.

SORGHUM OR BARLEY?

November 11, 2011 By karenkent 1 Comment

If you’ve been doing your homework, you already know that beer traditionally contains gluten.

That’s because regular beer is made from barley, or hops, which is a big no-no for anyone on a gluten-free diet. If you are a beer drinker and have recently been diagnosed with Celiac disease you might be in despair.

If you also love pizza, and believe you can’t live without the combination of pizza and beer, rest assured you don’t have to give up either one.

Gluten-free beers are made from sorghum, a safe grain for anyone living a gluten-free lifestyle.

As it happens, I’m not a beer drinker myself, yet a friend of mine recently handed me this bottle across the table when we met for lunch.

She’d spotted it in a store and bought it – just for me.

I wasn’t sure what to say.

Our other friends at the table asked “Do you drink beer?”

“No” I said, meekly.

I never have – I just don’t care for it.

However, for those of you who DO drink beer, this is one of several options for you. Gluten-free beers are now readily available in most supermarkets, or specialty food stores.

Try it. You might be pleasantly surprised.

Postscript: Since I took the beer home for my husband, he suggested that I at least try a small sip. I hesitated, then agreed on the condition he finish the bottle if I didn’t like it.

I’m happy to report that Yours Truly did take a sip, while trying very hard not to scrunch up my nose in anticipation of the taste.

I’ll let you guess who drank the remainder.

Filed Under: EAT Tagged With: barley, Beer, Celiac, gluten, gluten-free, sorghum

TRAVELING IN STYLE

November 4, 2011 By karenkent Leave a Comment

Back in the day, a gentleman or lady of means typically traveled with something like this.

Perfectly appointed with a travel size knife, fork and spoon and a pair of scissors – for what, I’m not exactly sure.

Fast forward to modern day travel.

Yes, travel in this day and age is certainly challenging as we navigate airports and our busy schedules.

For anyone living a gluten-free lifestyle, your travel woes are likely compounded by the constant worry of what are you going to eat?

Two weeks ago, I was in Austin, Texas followed by a few days in Asheville, North Carolina.

While I wouldn’t call myself a seasoned traveler, I do have a go-to system that I rely on whenever I travel, a system that ensures I have will have enough to eat.

Most of the time, anyway.

Because I have additional allergies, to both dairy and eggs, along with gluten, I’m unable to enjoy even a breakfast of scrambled eggs while on the go.

So I always include individual packets of gluten-free oatmeal, or a bag of gluten-free granola in my travel kit, then rely on restaurant fare for fruit or juice.

Better still, after I reach my destination, I like to stop in at a local health food store to stock up on fruits and healthy snacks. If you have a mini refrigerator in your hotel room, that’s ideal.

As for the plane trip itself?

I’ve been using this nifty bento-style lunchbox from Laptop Lunches for about a year, and I love it!

The best part is that you can be as creative as you like with your portable meal, choosing a different food for each container.

In the photo above, I packed Sushi and my favorite stuffed Collard Greens. (this way I get in my daily greens, along with some protein and healthy carbs).

[Read more…]

Filed Under: EAT, TRAVEL Tagged With: bento-box, food allergies, gluten-free, healthy snacks, travel

TRICK OR TREAT

October 28, 2011 By karenkent Leave a Comment

It’s that time of year again, with the holidays fast approaching.

And with Halloween just around the corner, chocolates and other goodies are definitely on my mind.

Last week, I was in Asheville, NC – taking in an abundance of good food and a stunning array of Fall colors.

I made a point of visiting a local chocolate shop called the French Broad Chocolate Lounge, named for a local river that wends its way through town.

This little chocolate shop is truly a chocolate lovers haven!

The minute you set foot inside the door, you’re immediately greeted by the fragrant, yet subtle scent of chocolate wafting through the air.

As it happens, the entire selection of chocolate truffles is gluten-free – instantly transporting me to chocolate heaven!

What impresses me even more is the selection of vegan truffles, made with coconut cream, instead of the usual dairy. The flavors have exquisite names like Strawberry-Balsamic, Buddha, and Pomegranate.

I highly recommend the Theros Citrus Fennel – the flavor combination is a burst of unexpected decadence.

I literally sat there and swooned – and instantly understood how just one, really, really good piece of quality chocolate can be so utterly satisfying that you’re left wanting nothing more.

Just like one really, really good piece of quality art, or design.

A little voice inside of me was saying:

“This is what it’s all about. Whether food or design, it’s all about surrounding yourself with an abundance of beauty and incredible experiences that nourish the body as well as the soul”.

Of course, there may not be time to place an order from The French Broad Chocolate Shop in time for Halloween. (Yes, they do ship).

But fear not.

Listed below are some suggestions to help you celebrate Halloween in style, without feeling one bit deprived.

ALLERGY-FRIENDLY CHOCOLATE SUNBUTTER CUPS

I made these for Halloween a year ago, and they were so good I plan to make them again. They’re also incredibly easy.

While you could substitute any kind of nut butter, I recommend sticking with Sunflower Butter for a truly allergy-free treat that everyone can enjoy.