Variations on a good theme: Chocolate Cake!

So I realize that chocolate cake in and of itself is a great creation but sometimes it is fun to add a little extra pizazz. Here are a few of the experiments I've done with Chocolate Cake.

(recipe from Eating Gluten Free)

Gluten Free Chocolate Cake

1 ¾ c. GF flour (Eating Gluten Free's GF flour mix is my favorite)
½ tsp. xanthan gum
2 c. sugar
¾ c. cocoa (I use 1/4 c dark cocoa and 2/4 c regular cocoa for a darker cake)
1 ½ tsp. baking soda
1 ½ tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1 c. sour cream
½ c. oil
2 tsp vanilla
1 c. boiling water


Preheat oven to 350°. Combine dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Beat eggs well. Add sour cream, oil, and vanilla. Beat in dry ingredients. Slowly add boiling water, and mix well. Batter will be extremely thin. Pour into a greased and featherlight floured pan. (*You can use any type of GF flour to flour your pan- I just like the featherlight. Or you can just spray the pan with Pam.)

Bake a 9x13 pan for 35-40 min. Bake a 13x18 pan for 17-20 minutes.


I lived in Denmark for a year and a half and this is a spin-off of a traditional birthday cake.

Chocolate Layered Cake

1-2 lbs Fresh strawberries sliced
1 pkg Fresh raspberries
(other favorite fruits)
1 large container of Cool Whip or Whipped topping
2 large pkgs of Instant pudding ( I used French Vanilla)
(Jell-O brand is currently GF, remember to read labels)

Take two 13x18 pans and cover with parchment/baking paper. Pour half of the batter in each and bake for the posted time above.

While those are cooking make two large boxes of instant pudding, I used vanilla, following the directions for making it thicker for a pie. (chill in the fridge if you want to but it's not necessary) Rinse and slice fresh strawberries and rinse raspberries.

After cake layers have cooled, cover one layer with pudding. Place most of the fruit on top of pudding and then put a thin layer of whipped topping over the fruit and pudding. Place second layer on top of first. Frost with remaining whipped topping and garnish with extra strawberries and raspberries.

Store leftovers in the fridge. If you have any!

Strawberry Chocolate Shortcake

1 lbs Fresh strawberries
1 tub whipped topping
1 can sweetened condensed milk

Make the Chocolate Cake recipe above cook in a 9x13 pan. When cake is done cooking but still hot, poke holes in it with a fork or knife and pour the sweetened condensed milk over the entire cake. Let the cake cool completely. Frost with the whipped topping and decorate with sliced strawberries.

(Pictures to follow shortly)

Living Against the Grain an awareness campaign on BYU campus

I know I haven't posted since June. I am turning over a new leaf and my goal is to post at least twice a week from now on.

I am in the process of creating a celiac disease (CD) awareness campaign on BYU campus. I am doing my internship through the Women's Services and Resource Center and am super excited for this campaign. We have three classes planned and will be broken down as follows:

Got Celiac?

Thurs Feb 18^th WSC 3238 11am-12pm

Signs & Symptoms • How to be tested • How to overcome effects of CD

•Adapting to a gluten free lifestyle • How to help family & friends living with celiac disease

Gluten Free for Life?

Thurs Feb 25^th WSC 3380 11am-12pm

Eating gluten free socially • Finding GF foods

Reading labels • Planning menus • GF support groups & resources

Life tastes Good Again

Thurs March 4^th WSC 3223 11am-12pm

Gluten free product samples • Modify favorite recipes •

If you have good GF recipes you would like to share email by March 3^rd to kate_call@byu.edu

The classes are free and are open to all BYU students, employees and their family members. I've been amazed over the past three weeks of planning and building posters and talking with my co-workers how many of us have CD or have friends or family who have it. The more I talk to people here on campus the more I recognize the need for awareness and education.

I am really excited about the classes. If they are successful it may be something that is continued here on campus. I am also planning on starting a BYU Celiac facebook page with updates on activities of the Celiac Club, local GIG meetings, events and more. If you have any ideas on how to make it successful, please let me know.

Pancake Pleasures!

My sisters waffle recipe is fantastic! It works really well for pancakes as well. I am a big fan of both waffles and pancakes and have come up with a few additions that make them even better.

One of my favorite pancake options found below:

Gluten Free Waffles (Eating Gluten Free.Com)

(I prefer the waffle recipe more than the pancake recipe)

3 eggs separated

scant ¼ c. sugar

1 ¾ c. milk

½ c. oil

2 c. featherlight mix

1 tsp. xanthan gum

½ tsp. salt

1 Tbs. baking powder

Optional:

diced canned peaches

crushed raspberries

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

almond extract (flavor to taste)

(you can add all of these together, it tastes fabulous, or just a few of them)

Beat together eggs, milk, and oil. In another bowl, mix featherlight mix, xanthan gum, salt, sugar and baking powder. Mix milk mixture into flour. Bake on a hot waffle iron. (Or on a griddle for pancakes) Keep waffles in a warm oven (with the door cracked open) until you are ready to eat. Any leftover waffles may be placed in Ziploc bags and frozen. They may then be reheated in the toaster.

Toppings:

Vanilla Yogurt w/ fresh sliced strawberries

Sliced canned peaches or Fresh sliced peaches

Nutella Topping

For more of a dessert try eating with Vanilla ice cream and sliced strawberries, I'm not going to lie, I eat this topping on my waffles for breakfast. It's one of our family traditions, not healthy but super delicious.

Eating Gluten Free. Com

So I wanted to put a plug in for my sister's company Eating Gluten Free. Those of you who have been eating GF for awhile understand the frustration that comes while searching for tasty GF foods. When my mom was first diagnosed in 2002 there weren't very many good options out there. It took a lot of time and money to find a product that tasted similar to it's non GF counterpart. I remember my mother being so frustrated as she tried recipe after recipe. My mom was sure she would end up eating rice and beans for the rest of her life.

Then one day my sister found out that her neighbor's husband and all of her children had Celiac Disease. Betsy, my sister, asked her friend what she cooked and what her favorite recipes were. Kirsti taught Betsy what she knew and they began cooking and modifying recipes together. Betsy wanted my mom to be able to eat good food and Kirsti wanted the food to taste good enough for her to eat because she didn't want to cook a separate meal for herself.

As they continued cooking together they found out that Macey's Grocery store held free cooking classes and they decided to hold one for Gluten Free food. The class was a success and they began teaching more and more classes. People who came for the classes began asking for more recipes and asked if they had a web page. From there they found a company that did GF mixes and they began producing a few of their recipes as mixes.

The company is still pretty small but it is beginning to grow. People from all over the world go to the web site for free recipes, cooking hints, and to order mixes. I love the recipes and use my sister's cookbook often. Many of my friends, who are not GF, ask me for the recipes because they are so good. I definitely recommend her web site as a must have favorite.

Also there is a really cool web site called Foodie View that has a Gluten Free recipe search engine. You can type in what kind of recipe you are looking for and it will give you a GF version. I would also suggest you check this one out.

Dating on a Gluten Free diet

As a single student dating is a fun way to get away from school and relax. As a single student on a GF diet it can be frustrating and sometimes embarrassing to try and explain to your date that you can't eat at the restaurant they picked because it doesn't have gluten free options. Even more exciting is playing the question/answer game at the restaurant with the server, many of whom have no idea what gluten is. If this sounds even a little familiar, there is hope I promise.

Many restaurants have begun to offer gluten free options and menus, that are available online, which make planning for eating out a little easier. I've compiled a list of my favorite restaurants that are here in the Provo/Salt Lake City area, many of which are national chains.

• P.F. Changs


• Biaggis Ristorante Italiano


• Chili's Bar and Grill


• Ramano's Macaroni Grill


• Outback Steakhouse

Some things to remember when eating out (I am a server so I know what I'm talking about):

• Make sure your server knows that you need the GF menu and make it clear how important it is that the food comes from the GF options.


• Be specific about what you are ordering, tell them no croutons for salads, no bun for a burger. Many menu's will say what is GF and what is not, in a dish. If it says mixed veggies w/o the seasoning tell your server exactly that.


• Be patient with your server especially if they are new because GF menu items can be tricky sometimes.


• Tip the server well, doing specialty items takes extra time for the server and the cooks.

Missing foods?

I don't know about you but there are some days I just really want a ding dong! Being GF can be frustrating at times especially when cravings hit. I have found a few things that have helped me along the way.

• In social settings I bring a treat along with me.

I have found I feel the most frustrated when in social settings. It seems like food is always at the center of things and I am on the outskirts saying no thanks. When I know food will be a part of a social gathering I try to find out what's on the menu and then I bring my own. This can be a hassle but it keeps me from just staying at home.

• When treats pop up and I can't eat them, I smell them instead.

Some of my friends think I am only torturing myself when I do this but I promise, it is no such thing. I love to cook and most treats I can modify to make them GF, so when a surprise treat is brought into work I simply tell myself that I can make it when I get home and then I ask if I can smell it. Usually food smells better than it tastes, I get my fix without the calories and without becoming ill. If later I still want it, I will make it at home.

• I modify recipes so I can have that ding dong if i really want it.

My sister has a fabulous web page called Eating Gluten Free. She and her friend started the business because even though they don't eat GF their kids do and they don't want to make two meals. They've modified recipes to make them GF and they taste just like they would unmodified! The Chocolate Cake Mix is one of my favorites. One day I really wanted ding dongs so I made the cake and put it into muffin tins. I made a filling I found on recipezaar.com for Twinkies and then covered the filled cupcakes with chocolate, used on fruit, that hardens quickly. They were delicious and a hit with my friends who aren't GF. That is when you know a recipe is a keeper!

FAQ about Celiac Disease

What is Celiac Disease?

Celiac disease is an inherited autoimmune disorder that affects the digestive process of the small intestine. When a person who has celiac disease consumes gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley, the individual’s immune system responds by attacking the small intestine and inhibiting the absorption of important nutrients into the body. Undiagnosed and untreated, celiac disease can lead to the development of other autoimmune disorders, as well as osteoporosis, infertility, neurological conditions and in rare cases, cancer.

What are the symptoms of Celiac Disease?*

There are many symptoms associated with CD. I have provided a list of some of the more common symptoms.

For Adults

• Recurrent chronic Diarrhea.
• Regular Constipation.
• Excessive Foul Smelling Gases.
• Abdominal pains.
• Bones or Joint Pains (osteoporosis)
• Anemia or weight loss.
• Nerve damages in legs causing numbness and tingling.
• Miscarriage or infertility in women.
• Irregular menstrual periods.

For Children

• frequent diarrhea or constipation
• seizures
• failure to thrive
• mood swings, depression
• inability to concentrate
• irritability
• fatigue
• skin rashes
• bloated abdomen
• vomiting

Are there other diseases associated with Celiac Disease?***

There are many diseases associated with CD, the following list was found on Celiac.org

Other associated autoimmune disorders:

• Dermatitis Herpetiformis (DH)
• Insulin-dependent Type I Diabetes Mellitus
• Thyroid Disease
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
• Liver Diseases

Less commonly linked to CD:

• Addison’s Disease
• Chronic Active Hepatitis
• Down Syndrome
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Turner Syndrome
• Williams Syndrome
• Sjögren’s Syndrome
• Fibromyalgia
• Alopecia Areata
• Scleroderma

How common is Celiac Disease?

Celiac disease affects at least 3 million Americans. In an average healthy population a person has an 1 in 133 chance of having Celiac Disease.

How likely am I to have Celiac Disease if a relative is diagnosed?

In people with first-degree relatives (parent, child, sibling) who are celiac: 1 in 22
In people with second-degree relatives (aunt, uncle, cousin) who are celiac: 1 in 39

How is Celiac Disease diagnosed?**

First a person MUST be eating gluten for a preliminary diagnosis. Specific antibody blood tests help identify the presence of CD.

• Endomysial antibody (EMA-IgA)
• Tissue transglutaminase antibody (tTG - IgA/IgG)
• Anti-gliadin antibody (AGA-IgG, AGA-IgA)
• Total serum IgA

After a positive blood test a conclusive diagnosis will be made with a small bowel biopsy (which is performed endoscopically) to confirm the diagnosis and assess the degree of damage to the villi in the intestinal lining.

How do you treat Celiac Disease?***

Because CD is a chronic disorder, the only treatment is the lifelong adherence to the gluten-free diet. When gluten is removed from the diet, the small intestine will start to heal and overall health improves. Medication is not normally required. Consult your physician regarding specific nutritional supplements to correct any deficiencies. The diagnosed celiac should have medical follow-up to monitor the clinical response to the gluten-free diet.

What does Gluten free mean?

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. When a person is eating a gluten free (GF) diet it means they are not eating any foods that contain those grains or any of their derivatives (malt flavoring, wheat starch, spelt, etc).

Where can I buy gluten free foods?

You can find GF foods in any normal grocery store. Brands like Western Family and Wal-mart brand have begun printing "Gluten-free" on their products that fall under that category. Some grocery stores have even started having GF sections. Some of the local store like Macey's and Harmons have a pretty good selection of GF products. There are also online stores and websites that sell GF foods. Amazon. Com, EatingGlutenFree.com, Celiac.com are a few options. When buying online try to find reviews for products. Some GF foods are dry and not very tasty but are expensive. Ask around to find out what other people with celiac are saying about products. New and improved products are coming onto the market continually and it isn't too hard to find delicious foods.

I think I might have Celiac Disease what should I do?

Talking to your doctor is the first step. Research more about CD and go prepared with questions, many doctors still consider this a very rare disease and may not know very much about it. Ask for a full celiac blood panel to be taken. Discuss options with your physician. Remember you must be eating gluten daily in order for the blood tests to come back positive.

If you have a positive blood test, schedule a small bowel biopsy for a definitive diagnosis.

• Make a list of all the foods you already eat that are gluten free. (fish, potatoes, corn, rice, fruit, vegetables, eggs, etc.)
• Find a friend. With 1% of the population with CD chances are someone you know may already be living a GF diet. Ask around and ask for help.
• Remember it is okay to cry.

Some information found on the following links:

http://www.uchicagokidshospital.org/pdf/uch_007937.pdf
*http://www.celiacdiseasesymptoms.net/
**http://celiac.org/cd-diagnosis.php
***http://www.celiac.org/cd-what.php