Category: Blog

Don’t Pay Good Money for That!

A few months ago, I decided to take the plunge: I was going to make a delicious-sounding chicken with olives and preserved lemons. Except, natch, not a preserved lemon (or fresh lemon, for that matter) to be found in the house.

Or at my local grocery store.

At this point, I had choices. I could devote my life to finding a nearby store that stocked preserved lemons, or I could accept the inevitable. I did the latter, ordering a small jar of preserved lemons from Amazon. Sure, it was pricey, but I was convinced the lemons were worth it. Continue reading “Don’t Pay Good Money for That!”

Party Leftovers = Gluten-Free Ingredients

When it comes to feeding people at parties, my philosophy is along the lines of “too much isn’t nearly enough”. No matter how often I swear I won’t overdo it on the food, I still find myself making too much, buying too much, and wondering what to do with the leftovers.

When it comes to meats and vegetables, I try to get them packaged up and refrigerated as quickly as possible so they’ll be available for meals later in the week. Likewise for salads that can be served again — I don’t saved dressed green salads as they get mushy. Heck, I rarely serve green salads at parties for that very reason.

Also, between you and me, it turns out most of my guests opt for the less healthy options over the healthy options. I don’t blame them. I go straight for the chips, too! Continue reading “Party Leftovers = Gluten-Free Ingredients”

Eating Real Food While Remaining Gluten Free

Gluten-free grocery shopping involves reading a lot of labels with laser-like intensity. And, frankly, it only took me a few minutes to discover that much of the food on store shelves was filled with ingredients I couldn’t pronounce, much less spell. That was when I started focusing on buying foods with simple, clear, understandable ingredients.

(The exception being, sigh, the occasional gluten-free bread or cracker item.)

The thing about eating real foods is they are, by and large, gluten free. Fruits, vegetables, dairy and eggs, meats, gluten-free grains. Depending on how you buy these foods, they can be quite economical. In my opinion, they taste much better than highly processed foods. I believe my taste buds have evolved since I eliminated gluten, and packaged foods, even though they’re gluten free, tend to taste like they’re designed to mask the flavor of the food. Continue reading “Eating Real Food While Remaining Gluten Free”

Simple Gluten-Free Dinners

One thing I love about being gluten free is that is has really forced me to step up my game in the kitchen. Most nights, I’d rather make a meal than eat out. Since I rarely get home before 7:30, and usually must closer to 8 than I’d like, I’ve had to learn ways to make great meals that cook fast.

I’ve also learned that it’s absolutely critical to have meals planned in advance, so I have necessary ingredients on hand. This eliminates frustrating trips to the grocery store after work…because it seems like whenever I’m in a hurry, it has never occurred to the person in front me that, you know, groceries require money. Continue reading “Simple Gluten-Free Dinners”

Grilled Fish Tacos

Let me be perfectly clear: while this recipe is for fish tacos, you can make a good taco out of just about anything. Steak, chicken, and carnitas (shredded pork) are popular fillings. But fish tacos are something special. And they’re so easy.

Obviously, since these tacos are gluten-free, they’re not covered in a heavy, and often greasy, batter. Instead, the fresh flavor of the fish shines through, and additional yumminess comes a tangy cabbage slaw. If you’re not up for making a slaw, diced onions and cilantro with a bit of lime juice works just as well. If you like your tacos with a bit heat, add a small amount of diced jalapeno.

Homemade Salad Dressings

A year or so ago, a friend tweeted to the world at large about her major discovery: making her own salad dressing was fun! And easy! And it tasted so much better than bottled dressing!

Yeah, we all tweeted back, we know. Welcome to the club.

Since going gluten free, one of my rules for food is that what I eat should include as few ingredients as possible (it makes reading labels so much easier!). I also want to be able to pronounce every ingredient. If you look at the ingredients on a bottle of commercial salad dressing, you might wonder what is going on. I, for one, am curious why “color” needs to be added to some of these products. Continue reading “Homemade Salad Dressings”

Budget Gluten-Free Grocery Shopping

As I read an article on the very real challenges of buying healthy foods while while on a budget, a comment made by the author gave me pause. She noted that organic or gluten-free designations increased the price of food. And on one hand, this is is true. On the other…

If you’re gluten free and you’re on a tight budget, there are so many great options for you beyond the specialty food section. I think it’s common for the newly diagnosed celiac or person who is concerned gluten is a problem to hit the grocery store and buy everything labelled “gluten free”. It’s also expensive.

The following ten tips will help you find ways to save money while enjoying great meals. And, of course, if you have any ideas I haven’t listed here, please share them! I’m always looking to save money. Continue reading “Budget Gluten-Free Grocery Shopping”