Celebrating 2 years gluten free!
February 14, 2007 was the day I went completely gluten free, months before I received a diagnosis of celiac disease.* I was so ill that I couldn’t leave the house and I was unable to follow through with our Valentine’s Day plans and decided that with or without a diagnosis I was committed to the gluten free diet for life, starting today.
My path towards a diagnosis was long and painful. I surpassed the average of 11 years that it takes to get diagnosed with celiac disease in North America (compared to 3 weeks in Italy!). What started with frequent tummy aches, digestive problems and excruciating stomach pains as a child turned into bloating, fatigue, depression, brain fog, irritability and mood swings as a teenager and continued into my adult life.
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I know, it sounds strange, but it’s soooooooooo good. Lamb and cinnamon are really, really yummy together. Mmmmm I love pasta!
I long to go back to Thailand where ordering food is a breeze, luckily for me traditional Thai food is primarily gluten and dairy free! Wheat and dairy as we know it in North America is virtually non-existent in Thailand where the staples are rice, fresh fish, meat, vegetables and coconut milk. Taking Thai cooking classes is still on my list of to do’s but until then I turn to Thai Kitchen for their green, red and yellow curry pastes, fish sauce and coconut milk. Feel free to use your favourite brand, just ensure that the curry paste and fish sauce do not contain any wheat!
Thinking that a creamy carbonara pasta sauce is off limits? Think again. I love taking a dish which is primarily made of gluten and dairy and making it completely safe for me to eat! Gluten and dairy free does not have to be as restrictive as you think. Nor does it have to be boring. It just takes some creativity, experimentation and an open mind to try something different. I put my craving to good use tonight and created a little bit of heaven. Enjoy the creamy, gluten and dairy free goodness!
I decided to treat myself to chocolate chip pancakes this morning. Mmm my favourite! Bob’s Red Mill makes a delicious GF pancake mix. It’s mornings like these that I forget that I’m eating gluten and dairy free! The chocolate chips add enough sweetness and flavour for me that I don’t feel the need to add syrup but follow your heart’s desire. Subsitute fresh or frozen blueberries for a healthier version of these gems.
