I got tripped up this past week.

Chances are, this has likely happened to you somewhere along the way.

Just when you feel you’ve really gotten the hang of things, and are feeling confident about your gluten-free diet – out of nowhere you discover you’ve unintentionally slipped up.

Perhaps you innocently ate some licorice, not realizing that wheat lurks therein.

Perhaps a previously ‘safe’ food sneaked in a new ingredient on the labeling, and unbeknownst to you – that new ingredient contains either gluten or another allergen.

It can happen so easily.

And it can happen to anyone, even those of us who’ve gotten this down to a science, and are very much aware of all the potential traps and pitfalls.

People like myself.

The other day, while browsing through my stash of cookbooks, I happened upon a delicious sounding recipe for a Chinese Noodle Salad  – which I’ve included at the end of today’s post.

Of course, I’ve adapted this somewhat from the original.

I made this a few nights ago for dinner, and thought it was a delicious addition to my repertoire.

Yet, after the meal I suddenly felt extremely congested.

My nose was so stuffy I could hardly breathe, but I didn’t have a cold.

Must have been something I ate, I thought.

Next morning, my sinuses were still telling me that something was up. I had a slight headache, but I was still clueless.

It was until I’d helped myself to another serving of the Chinese Noodle Salad, and my husband commented on how congested I sounded and wondered what was wrong – that I decided, OK, enough – and knew I had to get to the bottom of it.

What was in the salad that was making me sick?

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