Coloring Outside the Lines

Gluten Free Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipe

2010-10-01T00:58:00.000-06:00

This is a recipe from my late Grandma Garman, converted to a gluten free version. They actually turn out quite good, and while I made a batch of each GF and non-GF for my family last time I visited, they all ate the GF ones even though they didn't have to. I'd have to say that's a sign these babies are GOOOOOD. :D

Gluten Free Flour Mix:
2 cups rice flour
2/3 cup potato starch
1/3 cup tapioca starch/flour

Muffin Recipe:
1/2 cup butter (I use salt-free)
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup sour milk
1 cup mashed banana
2 cups GF flour mix
2 1/2 tsp GF baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
half package Hershey's Chipits Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Mix wet ingredients on low speed until blended. Stir in dry ingredients, then mix on medium speed until smooth. Fill muffin cups 1/2 to 3/4 full. Bake for 20 minutes at 375 degrees F.

I'd love to hear your feedback on this recipe!! It's an old family fave.

Proper Dog Etiquette

2010-07-19T04:25:00.000-06:00

It's 4am and I can't sleep. I've been lying awake for hours thinking about a situation we had yesterday at Petsmart, and how I wish I could have handled it differently.

I happily took Mia shopping for a new collar and some teething toys. This wasn't her first trip to the store; she's delightfully perused the toy section with us numerous times. Upon entering the store this time, however, a small child who looked to be no more than two seemingly came out of nowhere, bounding gleefully toward Mia squealing "nice puppy!"

Mia, being a Lab and loving everyone before she even meets them, excitedly welcomed this tiny visitor. The child, not knowing any better, lunged at Mia and shoved her hands in her face to pet the nice puppy. Instinct kicked in and I pulled Mia's leash to ensure no harm came from the situation, but the child lunged again. Despite my attempts to tell the child to be careful and let Mia come to her, she continued to flail like a typical toddler, keeping Mia quite overly excited and unable to calm.

This little girl's parents didn't once call to her, come get her, or correct the situation. In fact, I didn't know where her parents were at all. When I realized this, I corrected Mia and proceeded to walk away from the girl. Recollecting now, I wish I had actively sought out her parents so I could educate them (and their daughter) on how to approach a strange dog properly.

Lucky for this little girl, she chose a friendly pup to lunge at. Had she taken those actions with another dog, the situation could have been far worse. Granted, I would hope most dog owners wouldn't bring their pooches to the store unless they were properly socialized, but this isn't always guaranteed, especially if the dog owner doesn't know how his/her dog behaves around small children.

What upsets me is that these same parents, who are nowhere to be found when their tiny tot is fan dangling around strange dogs, are the ones that sue dog owners when their dogs attack. What they fail to realize is in most cases, these dogs are acting in self defence to what they see as a threatening situation. I'm not condoning dogs who attack, don't get me wrong, but the number of dog attacks can be significantly reduced with proper education.

Dogs communicate using body language. If another animal or human lunges toward them, they can see this as a threatening behavior, and react accordingly. Just like humans, dogs need to learn trust. If your child suddenly decided to run up to me, for example, and start smacking her hands across my face to "pet" me, I certainly wouldn't like it... so why would a dog see it any differently?

Teach your children to approach strange dogs properly. NEVER assume the dog is friendly. When approaching a dog, allow him to calm before offering your hand, palm down, to sniff and explore as he wishes. This is how he gains trust. If he seems to accept you after this, gently pet him, but do not move forward. Let him come to you. NEVER pet an excited dog, even if it is a happy excitement. You are rewarding him for this behavior if you do so, and it encourages the skittish, unpredictable behavior.

It is proper etiquette to ask the dog owner permission to greet the dog before taking any action. The dog owner knows his/her dog best, and will allow the greeting if he/she trusts the dog to behave properly. In my case, it is extremely frustrating when strangers reward my dog for being overly excited, because they haven't asked my permission to greet her. I will grant permission, with ground rules that they allow me to calm my dog before she is greeted. Unfortunately, this rarely occurs. Sadly, it is mostly other dog owners taking these actions.

Using proper etiquette is not only rewarding for you and the dog, but it is also an important safety measure, especially for small children. If you are unsure on how to teach your children these techniques, consult a professional, or do not allow greetings until such time the child can learn properly.

Boston Pizza Now Has Gluten Free Pizzas!

2010-06-26T14:12:00.001-06:00

At least here in Edmonton they do. I'm not sure if they are offering this option anywhere else. They get their crusts from Kinnickinnick, and let you build your own pizza with their ingredients. Their new menus have little asterisks next to the ingredients that are gluten free.

Last night I had a pepperoni pizza with mozza and cheddar. I was in such heaven; it was to die for.

If anyone finds out whether or not the GF pizza is available anywhere else, please comment and let me know.

Gluten Free Deli Meats

2010-06-14T15:04:00.000-06:00

I was intrigued when I saw a commercial the other day about Maple Leaf's Natural Selections deli meats. Made with purely natural ingredients (no chemicals), these deli meats are naturally gluten free. I tried out the smoked turkey and the black forest ham, and these meats are excellent! Finally I can eat a sandwich that isn't peanut butter and jelly.

First Week with Mia

2010-05-26T14:01:00.000-06:00

I picked up my new baby, Mia, on Thursday, May 20th. In the last five days, we have had triumphs and tribulations, but mostly triumphs. First and foremost, I am unbelievably happy with her temperament. She is so calm most of the time. She doesn't bark at strangers; in fact, she is happy to meet them and welcomes them with oodles of wet kisses. She can't control her claws, much to my dismay, so happy strangers leave with a few red scratches. I hope they understand.

So far we have had successful training sessions. She has learned Sit, Down, and is beginning to learn High-Five. I'm treat-training her, which has worked for me in the past with previous dogs, but with the training success comes a lot of poop. Oh well, I could have worse problems.

It only took one night of crate training to get her to keep quiet in her sleeping crate. She chases a small treat into the crate, and gets one more when the door is closed. She promptly lays down and relaxes. My own sleep schedule is wonky since I'm getting up at 3am to take her for a potty break, but at least she goes right back into her crate without a peep.

We've gone for numerous walks so far around the neighborhood, with frequent visits to the lake nearby. She walks on my right side quite well, almost never pulls. Sometimes, though, she decides right here is a good spot to plop her butt down and sit for a moment. I stop, smile at her and she gets up and trots onward. It's like her little way of telling me, "stop and enjoy the sounds and smells of nature, just for a moment." I love her for that.

Housetraining is relatively successful. I'm doing my part to take her out at predictable puppy potty times, but we've had a couple of accidents in the house. It's only been five days, though. Lots of time left to get it worked out.

Yesterday was my first day back to work since getting her, and it's been rough these last two days. I am getting relatively nothing done due to her constant bellowing for attention. I need her to learn she can't have me 24/7, but it's going to hurt for a while. My clients try to call me and I can't answer the phone, for all they'd hear is Mia's crying. I'm trying to keep up with them via email... even that is hard to do. Day by day I hope she calms a little more and learns to play nicely at my feet.

Even with the stressful parts, Mia is a lovely puppy. I look forward to our friendship.

Ever wonder where all those tumbleweeds go?

2010-05-17T15:22:00.000-06:00

I think I figured it out. There is one fence between my yard and the outside of town. The tumbleweeds seem to have a meeting place right at the corner to my yard... I wonder what they talk about when they get together like this!

Is Gluten-Free Wheat on the Horizon?

2010-05-10T15:53:00.000-06:00

I saw this article in the Edmonton Journal today, talking mainly about respiratory-type allergies. Near the bottom, however, I saw the quick notes about what's coming up in the world of allergies. It states two things are in the works for those with gluten intolerance and Celiac Disease: a pill to prevent reactions to gluten, and gluten-free wheat.

SEE THE ARTICLE HERE

Wouldn't it be wonderful to eat wheat again??

Virgil's Sodas Are Gluten Free

2010-05-10T12:58:00.000-06:00

I found this amazing Cream Soda by complete accident a while ago. I was originally searching for gluten-free bouillon cubes, and found myself shopping Planet Organic in downtown Edmonton. As I piled my treasures onto the cashier's counter, I noticed the cooler of drinks nearby and took a gander.

Tucked neatly on the top shelf was a line of sodas, one of which was this Virgil's Cream Soda. I picked it up to inspect the label and noticed immediately it said Gluten Free. I am a die-hard cream soda fan, and was thrilled to have found this. I bought a bottle to drink on the way home, and I couldn't believe how amazing this stuff is. It's soooo creamy and not too sweet at all!

They have a whole line of these gluten-free sodas. View the sodas here.

As far as I have heard, Planet Organic is in trouble and have begun closing stores, although I could be wrong. I haven't found this line of sodas in any other store, and upon reviewing Virgil's (Reed's) website, they have a pretty empty list of Canadian suppliers. If you have a Planet Organic in your city, I'd suggest nabbing as many of these bottles while you can.

If you find it in any other store, PLEASE COMMENT so others can benefit!

This Is Not My Idea of May

2010-05-04T12:37:00.000-06:00

Ahh, the joys of living in Alberta. Flip flops one day, dogsleds and parkas the next. /scream

Celiac Safe Ingredients Master List

2010-05-03T19:34:00.000-06:00

Grocery shopping with a gluten intolerance can be really frustrating, especially if you're newly diagnosed. Gluten is hidden EVERYWHERE. If you aren't able to go all-natural, you really need to carefully study ingredient labels when purchasing your food.

When I first discovered my condition, I needed to make myself a list of safe ingredients that I could carry with me on grocery trips. I made it into a small booklet form so I could easily stuff it in my purse and leave it there. It's not only handy for grocery shopping, but also in restaurants when asking about ingredients in a sauce or coating.

DOWNLOAD THE LIST HERE

Cut the pages into 4 sections (4.5" x 5.5") and simply staple together as a booklet. The ingredients are in alphabetical order, and have been collected from various Celiac-friendly and gluten-free websites. If you find ingredients that are missing from this list, please email me the reference and I will keep this list up-to-date.

Safe shopping and eating!!

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Muffins

2010-05-01T14:22:00.001-06:00

I had visited Kinnikinnick a while ago to see what kinds of things they offered there, and found a selection of baking mixes. I decided to try out their Muffin Mix this past week. I love chocolate, so I added Hershey's Semi-Sweet chocolate chips to the batch. They turned out relatively good, but a bit of an adjustment can be made to the baking time.

The recipe calls to add eggs, sugar, oil, water and vanilla to the mix, and optional nuts or chocolate chips. Bake at 375 for 17-20 minutes. I baked them for the full 20 minutes, but they came out stuck to the muffin cups (I used paper cups). They aren't burnt or overcooked; so if you are going to bake these for 20 minutes, do so in a greased muffin pan with no paper cups, or if you want to use the cups, just reduce the baking time to 17-18 minutes.

Fill the muffin cups 3/4 full. I filled them halfway and they didn't rise much. They came out tasty though!

A Little Gluten Free Treat

2010-04-24T17:15:00.005-06:00

I could not have been more excited to find out that Hawkin's Cheezies are gluten-free. Every once in a while I want a salty snack, and I'm not an overly big potato chip eater. I've loved Cheezies since I was a kid; the orange glow on your hands after you eat them is a snack much-enjoyed.

They're made with real cheese, not some cheap garbage flavouring. Of course, this means they're high in fat, but a little Cheezie treat now and then won't kill anyone. If you've never tried these little gems out, grab a bag and munch away. They're to die for.

The Great Debate

2010-04-19T16:38:00.006-06:00

Finding a name for a new puppy can be such an overwhelming task. I'm sure there are some who just quickly choose a short name and are happy with it. Since I don't have kids, naming a dog is like naming a kid. I want it to be just right.

We are expecting our puppy to arrive on May 19th. We chose a special dog, a silver labrador. She's just like a normal labrador, just silver in colour. I don't believe the notion that she's "rare" as some breeders like to claim, but I still see her as unique, and that's why I wanted her. And, of course, she needs a unique name.

I chose the smallest of the females out of a litter of nine. I see her as a feminine creature, and thus wanted a very feminine name. Something soft, classic, possibly vintage. I pored over hundreds of names, sketching a list of the ones I thought might be appropriate. Velvet, Grace, Scarlet.

Velvet and Scarlet would be too hard to say repeatedly during training. Grace was at the top of my list for a long time, but as my husband pointed out, it seems a bit biblical. Back to the drawing board.

I'm Norwegian. I explored Scandinavian names, only to find the majority of them are complex (and the non-complex ones just boring), and not feminine enough for my tastes. I posted a photo on Facebook and asked my friends/family to help me out. I received many great suggestions this way: Luna, Ella, Chassy, Olive, and Grace came up again.

In the end, I decided our deep beliefs in nature and the cycle of life were important enough to carry on through the name of what might be our only child. I began looking through online lists of Native American names, and scribbled names feverishly as they appeared in front of me. I loved so many of them. These names were so unique, and were in touch with what we feel about our planet earth.

I chose a name that, upon deeper research, doesn't actually mean what the name lists claim it does. However, I feel strongly enough about the name and how it feels that I will use it nonetheless. It is said to mean "power of the moon," which isn't true, but I will take it.

Her name is Miakoda's Grace (A.K.A. Mia), and she will be in my loving arms one month from today.

Finding Gluten Free Bread

2010-04-19T13:39:00.006-06:00

It took me a long time to find a gluten-free bread that didn't completely make me gag. Finding out in my 30s that I have Celiac Disease has made it harder to find replacement foods; I'm just so used to the taste and texture of wheat-based baked goods.

I've tried over a dozen kinds of breads, and thanks to my sister, I found Glutino. I've tried their Premium Corn and Premium Fibre, and it's safe to say they taste the most like normal wheat bread (the Premium Fibre is by far the best one.) The texture is still more dense than wheat bread, but it's nowhere near a door stop like some of the brands on the market today. :)

Make sure you don't over toast it though - it can become very hard. Just lightly brown it, and it's perfect! I haven't tried it as plain untoasted bread though. Try it and leave a comment!

Unfortunately, Glutino's website isn't all that informative, but it does give a basic list of where to buy their breads. I found mine in the frozen aisles of Safeway, where they have most of Glutino's breads, bagels and english muffins. They even have pizza crusts. General gluten-free stores should also have this brand, but call ahead before you make any long treks - it's hit and miss.

Try their crackers, too. Very flavourful!

Day One

2010-04-16T14:47:00.000-06:00

Interestingly enough, it is Friday. Upon glancing out my office window, I see the glorious day awaiting my enjoyment. Alas, I am inside, wrapping up some projects. Coincidentally, I decided today was the day I'd start a personal blog.

Growing up, I was one of those girls that kept a diary. I would scribble giggles and tears onto crumpled pages of an overused leather-bound book, and looking back I realize just how therapeutic it has been. Over the past several years (maybe ten) I have kept a very sporadic journal, only making posts when something really needs to be spilled from my mind. It's not enough anymore...

I used to be a writer. I still want to be a writer. I plan to write a book, but a journal is a good start. So here I am, world.