The Laziest Celiac
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I promised I would do a post on Healthy Creations, the bakery where I get so many of my gluten free goods. Their site really says it all. They are a totally gluten free bakery, so there are no fears about cross contamination. The staff are friendly and helpful, and the food is delicious.
Some of the things the sell: various types of bread, including egg free and yeast free; cupcakes; cookies; brownies; biscotti; bagels; pizza crusts; muffins; and cakes. Check their website, because that is by no means an exhaustive list. The also colour code their labels so you know if what you are looking at serves other allergy needs like casein free, nut free, or egg free.
I haven’t sampled all of their wares (although that is on my bucket list), but everything I have tried is excellent. Their bread is soft and delicious, toasts well, and works perfectly for sandwiches. You’ve seen the pizza crust in action on this blog - it is also delicious. The picture above is of one of their cupcakes, which are wonderful, and apparently great with wine.
Healthy Creations has a Windsor and London, Ontario store. If you live in Detroit, it is worth the trip over the border. It’s also very easy to get to from the Ambassador Bridge.
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Postcards! Get ‘em while they’re hot!
I stopped at the duty free the other day on my way home from work and picked up a new stock of cards, and of course I got extras! That means you can be the proud owner of a card sent from moi!
Here’s how it works. Send me an ask with your address and which card you’d like, and I’ll ship it out. There’s no need to send one back, but you can if you like. I just like indulging my postcard obsession. I already have the stamps. All I ask is that you be one of my followers, since I don’t want random folks nabbing your goods! Don’t feel shy about requesting a card - I love sending cards to new people.
I have two cards showing the sights of Windsor, Ontario, and two showing the Ambassador Bridge, the bridge I take to work/school every day!
I’ll update with what I have left, but rest assured I can always get more, so if more people ask I can hook you up.Ready, set, go!
Reblogging to add that no one’s claimed any yet, and I totally want to ship you guys cards, so if you don’t want me to cry, claim one!
(I probably won’t cry, but I will have to look sadly at the unclaimed cards and write a poem).
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So, I can cook. I just usually choose not to for the safety of mankind. You’re welcome. However, I couldn’t resist the temptation of try the pizza crusts I spotted at Windsor, Ontario gluten free bakery Healthy Creations. One day I will write about their many amazing gluten free foods. For now, marvel at my glorious pizza!
My “recipe” (let’s not kid ourselves here, all I did was put toppings on a crust) was:
- Very sparing amounts of tomato sauce, because I’m all about the CHEESE.
- Mozzarella, Parmesan, feta, and Romano cheese (this is where you should yell, “hubba hubba!”.
- Black olives, canned, because I’m a lady on a budget.
- Fresh white mushrooms.
I consider this pizza a success, as my non-gluten free mother bogarted half of this delicious baby away, mumbling with a mouthful: “You make good pizza!” This was, if you believe it, my first pizza. Things I have learned through this process include:
- Use more olives
- Use more mushrooms
- Cheese is amazing
So, kids, who has a pizza topping suggestion?
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An important thing for gluten free people to do is groom your friends and family to find and point out gluten free places and things to you. If they love you and your tum-tum, they will do this fairly naturally.
This is why Emma (pickpocketmagpie) gets many gluten free brownie points. She is a non-gluten free foodie, but she is also one of my undercover g-free detectives. She is who found and invited me to lunch at Greengos. Greengos is in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan, and serves gluten free deliciousness along with vegan and raw food options. Emma and I made the trek to Greengos on Thursday, and it was well worth the drive to the East Side.
The place itself is great to sit in and have a chat with someone while you eat or wait for your order. The staff were friendly, and asked how well we liked each of our drinks and dishes. It is so nice to be able to have a nice chat with a cozy restaurant staff. But that’s not all, kids - the food was great, too. Here’s what we got!
Emma and I both ordered the Raw, Marinated Portabello Steak sandwich. We both had it on raw bread, mine flaxseed and Emma’s sprout. We both were in heaven with the liberal amount of avocado we got on our sandwiches. The bread itself was new to me - I’m not a raw foodie by any stretch. I was pleasantly surprised with it. Not only did it taste nice, it was an energy powerhouse. I also got a bowl of their Burmese Mon Soup, which was fantastic. There was plenty of spinach and cilantro on top, which I loved, and it was just spicy enough. Emma and I both had an iced green chai tea with our meal, which was also delicious and facilitated a great Tea and Talk. On our way out, we were each given an energy-tastic g-free granola bar, which I was particularly excited about.
This is a must check-out for Detroit/Michigan gluten free-ers. It’s so lovely to have a totally gluten free menu before you, and to have to opportunity try something for the (very novel) sake of trying something new with no worries. I will definitely be visiting Greengos again.
(Note: The link to Greengos’ FB page includes a menu in the page’s photos. Drool away!)
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At the grocery store:
Woman given out samples: Would you like to try our new breakfast cookies? They’re whole grain and high in fibre!
Me: No, thanks. I’m gluten free.
Woman: Oh, I don’t know if it says gluten free…*looks at box* It’s whole grain!
Me: I’m cool, thanks.
Moral: Learn about the food products you sell/advertise.
(I don’t mind that the sample wasn’t gluten-free. I just wish people who sold food knew more about their own products.)
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Today, I tried gluten free shepherd’s pie at the previously mentioned Sean O’Callaghan’s in Plymouth, MI.
I hadn’t had shepherd’s pie in at least five years, and I had high expectations. It was amazing. The potatoes were perfectly smooth and yummy, and the beef and veggies were amazing.
I’m basically working my way through Sean O’Callaghan’s gluten free menu.
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I say “Gluten Free,” they say “Gluten Frei.”
I mean, in Germany, they do. Probably Switzerland as well. Lichtenstein? Vielleicht.
There’s a point to this post! This upcoming summer, fingers crossed, I will be visiting a friend in Germany. This friend also has dietary issues, so she understands what I go through, but isn’t gluten free. My job is to spend the next several months learning every word for gluten ingredients in German I can.
Did you know I speak German? It’s true. It’s very, very bad German, however, and surprisingly, in high school German they do not teach you the words for “modified food starch” or “caramel colour.” They don’t at the university level either, so don’t even ask. It’s very hard to talk around these ingredients as well.
Me: Ja…um…sie ist eine Stärke…Leute machen sie in der Labor…vielleicht sie ist nicht Essen. Vielleicht sie kommt aus eine shreckliche Zukunft. Ich habe keine Ahnung. (Yes…um…it’s a starch…people make it in the laboratory…maybe it’s not food. Maybe it comes from a terrible future. I have no idea.)
Random German Person: Ich kann Sie nicht verstehen. Sprechen Sie doch Deustch? Gibt es hier Kameras? (I can’t understand you. Are you even speaking German? Are there cameras here?)
In any case, I need to learn the words. I will also start hunting down German food brands that are gluten free. I will be sure to share my progress! To start out, have some basic translations.
(the) Wheat: (der) Weizen
(the) Rye: (der) Roggen
(the) Barley: (die) Gerste
(the) Oats: (der) Hafer
Gluten Free: Gluten Frei (How easy!)
(the) Grain: (das) Korn (And if you’re like me, you said BUT CORN IS TOTES GLUTEN FREE. It still is. The word for “the corn” is “der Mais.” So I should not order anything with corn in it while drunk.)
I hope this was very educational. Here, have a gif.
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When one of my friends told me they saw gluten free sandwiches in the University of Windsor cafeteria, I was skeptical. But I
forgot my lunch Tuesdaywas too lazy to pack a lunch, and when I went to the caf to check out my salad options, there they were!This wasn’t the best gfree sandwich. The bread fell apart, and I don’t understand this cranberry thing. However, it’s a gluten free sandwich! I’m now interested in finding out if other universities are hopping on the gfree train.
High five to University of Windsor!
PS, don’t mind my research under the sandwich. It’s better than the glare of my desk’s strange 70s synthetic surface.
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A Lazy Celiac’s Shopping List
Here are some of the staples I get week in and week out. I try to focus on price, but my first priorities are gluten free-ness, healthiness, and ease of preparing since I am, of course, lazy.
Note: I’m not a calorie or fat gram counter. I focus more on the naturalness of the ingredients, portion sizes, and excess of sugars and fats, so I can’t guarantee my choices will be necessarily low fat. Nothing here is too horrible, however.
Skim milk (organic) - I buy skim because I drink two gallons (!) a week, and that’s too much fat in my diet otherwise. The milk is for tea, cereal, and I usually have some with at least one or two meals a day.
Kinnickinnick Italian White Bread - For sandwiches and toast! This bread holds together very well.
Hummus - Excellent energy source and great on toast.
Muenster cheese - I use it mainly for sandwiches, but it’s good for snacking with crackers, too. I pretend I’m really posh!
Chicken breast from the deli - Sandwiches! I used to be a vegetarian, so the majority of the meats I eat are chicken and fish. I always look for the most humane, healthy brands.
Chunk white albacore tuna - Sandwiches, salads, and a treat for my cats! Check the label - many brands are making great efforts to catch tuna humanely and at minimized risk to other sea life.
Mayonnaise - Obviously, for sandwiches and the tuna. I prefer regular mayannaise as it has fewer and all natural ingredients.
Pesto spread - This is a nice treat for spreads and is also good for zesting up sandwiches.
Twinnings Earl Grey Tea - For hot and iced tea. I’m very serious about my tea. My stomach is too destroyed for coffee these days, but tea is perfect. Twinnings makes great iced tea, great hot tea, and comes in many, many flavours other than Earl Grey.
Carrots, celery, mushrooms, free range chicken broth - For soup, of course!
Orgran Rice and Corn Pasta Tortelli - As previously review by yours truly! I use these in my soups, tuna salad, and for pasta.
Sunflower seeds - I buy half a pound, salted, bag ‘em up, and use them for snacking at school/work/on the go. I don’t crave many sweets, so I need salty snacks.
Fruit - I buy fruit by the season, but I always buy lemons for tea. Otherwise, I like strawberries, canteloup, raspberries, and Granny Smith apples.
V8 Splash - I was going to put in a link, but their site is Flash-heavy. I don’t always eat enough fruit, so this is how I sometimes get my servings. It also hits my sweet tooth. It does have sugar, but since I eat pretty well, I don’t worry about having a treat like this. I also make ice pops with this.
Back to Nature Sesame Seed Rice Crackers - These are great for putting cheese on or dipping in hummus, et cetera.
Babybel Cheese Original Flavour - A genius snack! One or two of these with some juice is a great energy boost.
Success Rice Boil in Bag - One day I will get a rice cooker. Until then, this brand is yummy and cheap and easy.
Amy’s Gluten Free Soups - I get these for school/work lunches as I can microwave them. Be careful at the grocery store or online - not all the soup is gluten free.
Rice Krispies - I of course get the gluten free kind. A bowl of these is perfect for an evening snack, too. I get home late Tuesday nights, and this is an easy second dinner.
I’m not much of a treat person, but that doesn’t mean I never like to indulge. Here are my favourite gluten free snacks and treats.
Glutino Vanilla Wafers - These are epically good. Sometimes I have them with tea and pretend (again) that I’m very posh.
Pamela’s New York Cheesecake - So good I forgot I was eating gluten free cheesecake.
Better Made Potato Chips - The original flavour is gluten free. Check on others. I buy Better Made because I’m a Michigander, and I support anyone in Michigan who makes yummy food for me to eat!
And finally, when I want a nice cold alcoholic beverage, I reach for:
Woodchuck Granny Smith Cider - Naturally gluten free, incredibly delicious. It’s a little sweeter/tarter than other cider flavours/brands, but I love it. It’s nice being able to hold a glass bottle at a party like all the other guys and gals. You obviously need to be a gluten free person over 21 (in the States at least) to enjoy this.
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Gluten Free Reviewer: The ELISA Test: A test that tests for Gluten!
Have you ever wondered if your supposedly Gluten-Free restaurant meal had secret sneaky glutinous invaders? If the go-to snacks you checked the ingredients for time and again are actually the source of mysterious stomach aches and other maladies? Do you wonder if companies are perhaps not as…
