GFCF Mommy

Satisying Wintery Side Dishes

2012-01-26T07:49:00.000-08:00

With perfect timing, just before the holidays, you may recall that Pacific Natural Foods made me an offer I could not refuse: they stocked my pantry with their non-dairy staples; and when I say stocked, I really mean it! I have been so spoiled by having their delicious, often organic, stocks, soups, rice milk, and hemp milk at the ready this winter.

I wanted to share two of my favorite recipes in which I incorporated these products. I have never used Mushroom Broth much before, but I must admit, it is now going to be regularly stocked in the GFCF Mommy kitchen. I have been pleasantly surprised how often I have used it. Below is a recipe for Wild Rice and Mushroom Pilaf, which I got from Real Simple magazine. I love this recipe and make it almost every Thanksgiving. I substituted Pacific Mushroom Broth for water and it really enhanced the rich, earthy flavor of the dish. I think that mushrooms and wild rice are great combination. I’ve started to experiment with mushroom broth, substituting it for chicken broth and find it improves almost any recipe that includes mushrooms. Last week I added it to a chicken pot pie (with mashed potatoes substituted for the crust) and The Professor devoured it!

The other recipe is my favorite Butternut Squash Soup from The Whole Foods Cookbook. Here, I substituted Pacific Vegetable Broth for water, and again, I feel the depth of flavor was especially nice. The Prince loves any kind of soup and he even noticed the difference. It is another holiday favorite, but also the perfect thick, creamy soup for a wintery evening. It has the “mouth feel” of something with cream in it, but it has no dairy in it at all.

Enjoy the recipes!

Wild Rice and Mushroom Pilaf With Cranberries

From Real Simple

1 ½ cups long-grain and wild rice blend (I use Lundberg)

¾ cup dried cranberries

3 TB olive oil

1 large onion, chopped

1 pound mixed mushrooms (cremini, oyster, shitake), thinly slicced

½ cup dry white wine

½ cup chopped fresh parsley

2 TB chopped fresh tarragon

3 cups mushroom broth (I used Pacific)

½ tsp sea salt

½ tsp ground black pepper

Cook the rice blend according to package directions, substituting mushroom broth for water. Fold in the cranberries, cover, and let stand 10 minutes.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until soft and tender. Add the mushrooms, salt, and pepper and cook until soft, 5-6 minutes or so. Turn off the heat and fold in parsley and tarragon. Add the mushroom mixture to the rice, toss to combine, and serve.

Butternut and Squash Soup

From The Whole Foods Cookbook

1 TB olive oil

2-3 lbs. butternut squash peeled and diced

2 large carrots, chopped

1 medium onion

1 TB minced, fresh ginger

2 quarts vegetable stock (or two 32 oz. cartons)

1/8 cup orange zest

1 bunch parsley, chopped

Pinch of ground nutmeg

Sea salt and white pepper to taste

Heat the oil over medium heat in a large sauce pot or stock pot. Saute the squash, carrots, onion and ginger briefly, about 3 minutes, until lightly browned. Add the stock and zest and bring to a boil. Lower to a simmer and cook uncovered for 35 to 40 minutes, until the vegetables are very soft and tender.

Add the parsley, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Puree the soup with a hand held immersion blender (if you are using this method, be sure to use a stock pot rather than a sauce pan) or in a food processor or blender (working in batches for this method). Process until the soup is smooth and creamy.

One Autism Mom's Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present, and Future

2011-12-23T09:11:00.000-08:00

Christmas Past

Our autism journey began in earnest on Christmas Eve 7 years ago. We had taken the Prince to an audiologist for testing, since at 18 months old he was not speaking except for three sounds which only the Professor and I understood to be communication: “ma” for me, “ba” for bottle, and “ca” for food. Our pediatrician did not think anything was wrong and gave us the referral, hoping, I think, that everything would be fine and our new parent anxieties would be calmed. “Don’t worry, boys talk later,” she said. The audiologist confirmed that the Prince’s hearing was fine, but she said he had several “red flags” for autism. In my heart, I already knew that, but this was the first professional to say the words out loud. She said that she was not qualified to make a diagnosis, but that in her job, she had seen enough children to know the potential signs. She said this, as the Prince, in a state of anxiety due to the doctor’s office setting, was intent on flipping his stroller over so that he could spin the wheels.

A few weeks later, the Prince was enduring a battery of developmental tests at our local Early Steps (birth to three center). It was a long day for all of us ending in the confirmation of the painful reality that except for his gross motor skills, where he was on target and even a little ahead for his age, in every other area he was severely delayed. At 20 months, he tested at a 6 to 7 month level. We were told he was “at risk” for autism and that he qualified for services in speech, OT, and behavioral therapy, but again, that they could not give us a diagnosis. For that we should see a neurologist.

At the depths of my despair, my first Christmas spirit guide appeared. As luck would have it, my business partner was friends with Dr. Ricki Robinson, a well-known developmental pediatrician in California with a specialty in autism. Also, her son has autism. My friend gave me her cell phone number. I called and left a rambling message on her voice mail. A few minutes later, she called me back. I will never forget her kindness. She was on vacation, and recognizing the fear all parents facing this diagnosis feel, as a fellow autism parent, she took the time to call me back. Dr. Robinson gave me two hours of her time, for free. She gave me invaluable information about the best resources in South Florida and sent us to The Dan Marino Center. But most importantly, she related to me as a mother and she cared. Dr. Robinson was my first guide into the world of autism parenting and I will always be indebted to her for taking the time to call me and offer help and reassurance.

The neurologist she sent us to, Dr. Carlos Gadia, formally diagnosed the Prince on the spectrum. It was devastating to hear those words, but we were expecting it by that time. However, Dr. Gadia gave us hope, he told us to “get busy” with the therapies and that by starting early, the Prince could certainly make gains. He is still the Prince’s doctor today and has given us advice on everything from autism-friendly pediatric dentists to education advocates.

Christmas Present

The Prince responded to the therapies. We tried the conventional and the unconventional and to our great joy, he now speaks very well and is in a supported fourth grade inclusion class and working on grade level, with the help of gifted teachers. He has a few friends, I wish he had more, but I tell myself, all you really need in life is one good friend, right? The Prince still has sensory challenges, though he has learned to tolerate them and not act out. Loud noises, ambient sound, being touched, these still make him uncomfortable. He does still stim at times, with an occasional hand flap and lots of jumping. Our mini-trampoline gets a good work out. But he is a wonderful child who does all the things little boys do: play with toy trains, ride his razor, and laugh at Pixar movies. He also has the gift of a terrific memory, a love of computers and space, enjoys drawing, building things, skiing, swimming, and his Dad is his best friend. Soon we will be adding Annie, an autism service dog to our home, whom we hope will give him self-confidence and comfort.

My spirit guides now are my autism mom friends. I have two really good friends with children the same age as the Prince. They are all on different places of the spectrum, but I feel like we and our children have all grown up together. We shared in the humiliation of private pre-k where we learned just how different our children were. We endured the unique experience potty-training is for children with autism. We have been through the IEP wars together. We are warrior moms and have even given each other super hero nick names (I am the Bionic Woman!) We are sisters through and through. I am also blessed to be part of a wonderful parent support group, Hope For Autism. At our monthly support meeting, we share everything. I have learned from the parents whose children are older than the Prince, and I like to think that the parents of newly diagnosed children have learned from me.

Christmas Future

Like the ghost of Christmases to come in the Dickens tale, the future is the scariest for me. Obsessive Compulsive Thinking (a variety of OCD) has emerged as the greatest challenge for the Prince, interfering with his ability to concentrate at school or even for basic adaptive tasks. The Prince has a beautiful, rich and full fantasy life. If left to his own devices, he would rather enjoy the visions in his mind than take part in our world. Sometimes, I think, who can blame him.

The Prince is attracted to the work of Vincent Van Gough. At my most neurotic moments, I think of Don McLean’s song Vincent: “Starry starry night, flaming flowers that brightly blaze, swirling clouds in violet haze…are soothed by the artist’s loving hand….this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you.” And I worry that our world is too much for my sensitive boy.

So, though we had hoped to avoid it, the Prince must now take medication and has weekly psychiatric therapy. His psychiatrist has been saying of late that we must begin thinking about the future and push the Prince even harder to resist the OCD urges. If not, he may be unable to succeed at college or trade school, or to live life as an independent adult. Of course these tap into my greatest fears, combined with my own fear of cancer recurrence and not being here to usher my child into his adult years. Eric’s psychiatrist is my spirit guide for the future, though like Scrooge, I am not sure if he is heralding things that will be, or things that might be.

Will the Prince ever find a girl who can delight in his little quirks the way I do? Will I be around to see it? Will he ever get married or have children? I save little treasures that I might want to pass along to future grandchildren. But even as I do so, I wonder if it is just wishful thinking.

But I try not to focus on my fears. Having cancer has taught me to focus on the present and enjoy each day to its utmost. The Prince has made so much progress since that first Christmas Eve so long ago. I never thought he would speak, and now he does. I never thought he would let me kiss him, and now he can accept my expression of love. He surprises me every day. I love him so much. My goal for the new year is to live every day to its fullest, one day at a time. I thank the universe for bringing my Prince to me and the Professor, and for giving me the ability to love intensely and to nurture my little boy.

God Bless Us, Every One.

Photo Credit: The Starry Night, by Vincent Van Gogh

Pacific Natural Foods Made Me An Offer I Couldn't Refuse!

2011-11-15T07:58:00.000-08:00

When Pacific Natural Foods contacted me and offered to “stock my pantry” with gluten-free, non-dairy cooking staples for review here, I was excited, since I often use their chicken and beef stock. I happily accepted their kind offer, expecting to receive a box of 3 or 4 samples.

Yesterday, I was both overwhelmed and delighted when the UPS truck pulled up and unloaded 4 CASES of Pacific Natural Food products. When they said “stock my pantry,” boy, they were not kidding!

As I eagerly tore into each box, I became downright giddy! The Prince and I checked out the contents, each with our own list of products we are eager to try. I love to make soup and was thrilled to see Beef and Chicken Pho Soup Starter, as well as Mushroom Broth, all of which are new to me. I was glad to see my old reliables, Pacific’s Free-range Chicken Broth, Low-sodium Beef Broth, and Vegetable Broth. Looks like we will be having soup once a week for awhile, and that is fine by me! Pacific Natural Foods has several interesting recipes on their website that I intend to try. The website has a nice feature where you can filter the recipes according to your allergy needs.

The Prince never met a bean he didn’t like and was happy about the Spicy Black Bean soup. The Professor looked forward to trying the Curried Red Lentil Soup, and we all appreciated the Chicken and Wild Rice which will be great for quick lunches.

The last case contained Vanilla Hemp Milk, Chocolate Hemp Milk, and Vanilla Rice Milk. The Prince loves rice milk and I am partial to So Delicious Coconut Milk, but have heard good things about Hemp Milk and will be interested in trying it.

As it turns out, yesterday was especially hectic, so the shipment arrived at just the right moment. We decided to try the Organic Santa Fe Style Chicken Soup. All three of us found it to be satisfying. It is not too spicy as to put off little people. Sometimes in ready-made soups, the chicken, beans, corn, and peppers can be a bit on the skimpy side, but not here. Each spoonful was thick with vegetables. For a true Santa Fe taste, adults might prefer to add a bit more chili powder and garlic. I had some leftover GFCF cornbread, which we served on the side with a salad and voila, one easy weeknight meal!

Thank you, Pacific Natural Foods! We look forward to trying all your products over the coming weeks.

If you would like to sign up for coupons from Pacific Natural Foods, click here.

South Florida GFCF Parents: Batten's Farmers Market, A Hidden Jewel In Davie, FL!

2011-11-09T07:15:00.001-08:00

The Prince and I have a new Saturday ritual: we visit Battens Farmer's Market, 5151 SW 64th Ave., Davie, FL 33314. The market is affiliated with the North South Institute at Nova University and has a mission to help local farmers in Dade and Broward counties.

We love it! Bring your own bags and choose from a wide array of locally grown fruits and vegetables. Produce not in season here is shipped in and also available. They have a special organic section too! The prices are very good.

Free samples of nature's bounty are plentiful, as well as free coffee! There is "Italian Caribbean" take-out, which offers creative lunch specials as well as jerk-chicken and pork, made on the premises. The Prince loves the home-made fruit smoothies, which is his reward for enduring the shopping experience.

Also for sale are many fruit preserves, spice rubs, and other pantry staples made in Florida.

There is a small petting zoo behind the market, with a donkey, turkey, geese, chickens, goats and rabbits. The market also sponsors free kids' cooking classes on the third Saturday of each month at the North South Institute (call 954-434-8220 for information).

Check it out! On Saturday, November 19, they will be having a Fall Festival from 9AM until 9PM, admission is free.

Batten's Market is closed on Wednesdays, but open every other day during the fall, winter, and spring.

Melts In Your Mouth Oven Pancake

2011-10-17T10:31:00.000-07:00

It has been a long time since I posted a recipe. There are so many wonderful GFCF bloggers online who are more talented than I. But this weekend it was blustery and rainy here in South Florida. If you looked out the window, ignoring the palm trees and 80 degree temperature, you might have thought for a moment that it was a gray autumn day in New England. A warm and comforting breakfast seemed in order, so I decided to experiment. I was so pleased with the results that I wanted to share the recipe.

Full disclosure, I adapted this from the "Strawberry Banana Oven Pancake" recipe I found on one of my favorite websites, Breastcancer.org in the organic living section. I have made a GFCF version of this pancake using strawberries and bananas. But I have since discovered that you can substitute almost any fruit and it turns out equally delicious! This weekend I used some black plums. I have also made this with peaches. I believe it would be wonderful with apples too, though I have not tried it yet, but I intend to do so.

I like to leave the skin on the fruit, however, The Prince will only eat this if I peel the skin off any fruit I use. His favorite is a bananas-only version. He especially loves the mild, bread-like cake, and would eat the cake with no fruit. If your child is sensory-avoidant, you might try it plain, or use pureed fruit, though I am not sure what the puree would do to the texture of the cake. You could make the plain cake and put applesauce, or another puree as a topping, or on the side.

This is a dream to make, very easy, and like a warm hug on a cold morning. Enjoy!

Favorite Fruit Oven Pancake

1 and 1/2 cups sliced fruit, your choice (bananas, strawberries, peaches, plums, apples, you choose!)

3/4 cup GFCF oats (such as Bob's Red Mill)

1 cup GFCF plain yogurt (I used So Delicious Coconut Yogurt)

1/4 cup GFCF milk (I used So Delicious Plain Coconut Milk)

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1/4 cup brown sugar, or Demarra Sugar

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1-2 Tablespoons flax meal (optional, we are always in need of extra fiber at my house!)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9" pie or cake pan. Layer fruit to evenly cover the bottom of the pan. In a blender, combine oats, yogurt, milk, eggs, sugar, cinnamon, and flax meal. Pour batter over fruit. Bake 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Serves 4-6.

Betty Crocker Baker's Challenge Gluten-Free Recipe Contest Finals: Vote for Caleb's Peppermint Brownie Cakes!

2011-10-08T10:02:00.000-07:00

Andrea Ashton, one of my readers, entered the Betty Crocker Baker's Challenge, Gluten-Free Recipe Contest, which I announced here, and guess what? She is a finalist! Out of over 1,000 recipes, hers was chosen as one of the top 10 finalists! Way to go Andrea! Wooo Hooo!!

Her original recipe is "Caleb's Peppermint Brownie Cakes," pictured here. Andrea is a GFCF Mommy too. If her recipe wins, she will use the $5,000 prize money towards her three year old son Caleb's therapies.

Let's help out another autism parent. Click here to vote for Andrea's recipe. You can vote daily until October 15. While you are there, check all that the Gluten Freely website has to offer.

We Temporarily Interrupt This Blog...

2011-10-08T09:46:00.000-07:00

Some of you may be wondering why I have not posted over the summer. A few people privately emailed me to see if the Big C has re-emerged. Fortunately, it has not, and I thank the universe every day, for each day really is a blessing.

No, we were just busy living our off-line lives, with summer vacations, school starting, and raising funds for The Prince's autism service dog. We are down to the finish line with only $1,000 to go!

Also, I have had trouble with carpal tunnel syndrome. Middle age is truly not for wimps! Consequently, I have been limiting my computer time to work for my real job, as opposed to my virtual pleasure. I have tried physical therapy, which helped a little, and gave me a renewed appreciation for what our kiddos go through with speech therapy, occupational therapy, ABA, and physical therapy. Acupuncture has helped relieve the pain, but for me, it seems to wear off after a few days.

Since these conservative efforts have not alleviated the problem, and I spend several hours a day at the keyborad, I am having surgery next week. It should be minor and hopefully do the trick, but I may not be writing as much for a few weeks. On the bright side, once I am healed I hope to return better than ever!

Oh, Snap! New Gluten Free Rice Krispies

2011-06-24T06:39:00.000-07:00

While there are many wonderful gluten-free puffed rice cereals available, I think that many of us have a nostalgia for the "snap, crackle, pop" of our childhoods. According the Kellogg's website, Rice Krispies were the first puffed rice cereal on the market.

The Prince, like most of us, is also mesmerized by marketing and is attracted to the little elves. When my sister-in-law, who has Celiac Disease, told me that Kellogg's had finally jumped on the bank wagon started by General Mills and created Gluten Free Rice Krispies, I was excited.

They are nutritionally better than the original, since they are made with brown rice and they pass the Prince's taste test for breakfast cereal with rice milk. The ultimate test, however, will be making the much-beloved Rice Krispie Treats.

If you grocery shop on Amazon, they are running a special through the end of June, 25% off of 4 packs.

Now, if we could only persuade General Mills to produce gluten-free Cheerios!

P.S. Fellow GFCF Mom and autism advocate Kim"All I Can Handle: I'm No Mother Theresa" Stagliano just told me that the bags for General Mills' GF Chex cereals contain BHT. Her daughter is sensitive to BHT and ended up in the ER as a consequence. I do not know if GF Rice Krispies bags contain BHT, but you or your child reacts, then use caution.

Joy Bauer's Food Cures, A Review

2011-06-23T08:22:00.000-07:00

I have long been a fan of Joy Bauer, nutritionist for The Today Show, so when her publicist offered to send me copies of her two latest books for review, I was thrilled! Bauer’s book, Food Cures is a New York Times bestseller, and it is easy to see why. The book is divided into chapters which address a variety of common health concerns: weight loss, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, diabetes, osteoporosis, mood management, PMS, insomnia, irritable bowel syndrome, memory, cataracts, macular degeneration, and most importantly for us, Celiac Disease.

In each chapter, Bauer provides an overview of the condition, explains how food affects the disease, and discusses which foods to eat or avoid to manage the condition. If applicable, she lists supplements which may help. Every chapter has a “FAQS” box in a Q&A Format with questions a reader might have about his or her health concern. For example, in the Celiac Disease Section, the question is, “I just found out I have Celiac Disease and it seems as though I have to spend hours at the grocery store reading labels, does it get any easier?” Throughout the book, Bauer offers examples of her clients with each condition, the challenges they faced, and how she addressed them. I appreciated this, since all of us facing difficult situations want to feel that we are not alone in our journey.

What I like best about the book is the 4-Step Program Bauer outlines at the end of the chapter for each condition. If you are new to gluten-free living, this section will be a quick and easy way to become familiar with eating gluten-free and staying healthy. Step 1 lists the basics in bullet form (understand what foods you must avoid, check all products in your pantry and get rid of any with ingredients containing gluten, don’t cheat, get regular screenings for bone density, nutrient absorption, and celiac disease markers, and consider taking a multivitamin, calcium supplement and vitamin D3). It think this all sensible advice for our kiddos.

Step 2 is an “ultimate grocery list” for Celiac Disease. Where applicable, Bauer lists brands for items (like cereals, popcorn, salad dressing) and has a list of GF food companies. The list is good, but I did not find it to be comprehensive enough. For the next edition, I suggest she add Bob’s Red Mill, Pamela’s Products, Kinnikinnick, Udi’s, Applegate Farms, Boar’s Head, Bakery on Main, and Envrokidz, for starters.

Step 3 is called “going above and beyond” and in the chapters for other conditions, usually mentions supplements and physical activities or exercise tips. Bauer uses the space here to discuss the question of Oatmeal and whether it is safe for those with gluten intolerance to eat. She does a good job of explaining the controversy, however, I would add that in addition to McCann’s Irish Oatmeal, Bob’s Red Mill also makes gluten-free oatmeal in a dedicated mill.

Step 4 is a series of meal plans for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Step 4 is my favorite part of each chapter, including the Celiac Disease section. These are really sensible and easy to follow plans using simple “whole food” ingredients that are naturally gluten-free and in most cases dairy-free too. Recipes are included. Step 4 also offers snack options such as Enjoy Life snack bars, Genisoy crisps, fruit smoothies (recipes provided) and more.

For those of us living with children on the spectrum, I found the chapter on mood management to be of interest. Bauer explains how neurotransmitters work and how food choices contribute to mood problems. She recommends cutting out “low quality” carbs, and increasing protein, Omega-3, Vitamin D, B Vitamins and Folate, preferably from whole foods (and she lists best choices for each) or from supplements. The use of St. John’s wort and SAMe supplements are discussed. With the exception of St. John’s wort and SAMe, both the Prince and I have benefitted from the very suggestions Bauer lists. For the Prince in particular, we have found that adding a little protein with each meal and eating every 4 or 5 hours greatly helps his mood, as does Omega-3 supplements. I found Bauer’s chapter of mood to be very good.

This book is written for adults--although there is a chapter on hair, skin, and teeth which seems targeted towards teens—but the basic nutritional information can be applied to children. In the future, I would love to see Bauer write a book similar to this one, but focusing on children’s health problems. In the ideal world, in the next edition, maybe she would consider adding a chapter on ADHD and autism, asthma, and perhaps nutrition for cancer survivors.

Bauer’s Food Cures website has much of the information contained in the book. You can even receive a brief list of best food customized for your health condition, free of charge.

I highly recommend this book and know that it will be a much-used reference book for my entire family. I also received a copy of Bauer’s other new book, Slim and Scrumptious, a cookbook, which I will review separately. But as a teaser, I was pleasantly surprised. I probably would not have picked up the book, due to the title—I gravitate towards more family-oriented cookbooks—but there are some terrific recipes that are GFCF or easily translatable. Stay tuned!

And the winner of the Betty Crocker Prizepack is....

2011-06-15T10:03:00.000-07:00

...Marnely Rodriguez! Please email your mailing address to me and I will forward it to the nice folks at MyBlogSpot.com and Gluten Freely, who will send the prizepack directly to you. I am very curious about your brownie/flan recipe! Let us know how it turns out!

And remember, every one has until June 30th to enter Betty Crocker's Baker's Challenge with your original gluten-free holiday recipe for a dessert or appetizer using one Betty Crocker's dessert mixes.

Ladies and gentlemen, start your ovens!

P.S. For anyone wondering about our "pet" duck Eva, she is still nesting!

IEP Humor

2011-06-08T07:23:00.001-07:00

Since school is almost over, it's time to kick back, enjoy the summer, and laugh a little. A friend sent me these two cynical, but very funny and sadly true videos portraying life in the world of parents navigating the ESE system in the public schools. Of course, not all teachers or administrators are like those in these films, but sadly I find many truths in these short films.

My favorite part is in the second video when the team "high fives" each other and throws boxes of kleenex at the mom. Sigh.

Betty Crocker's Baker's Challenge Gluten Free Recipe Contest

2011-06-06T06:02:00.000-07:00

Betty Crocker and Gluten Freely are inviting the gluten-free community to participate in a recipe contest. Now through June 30th, visit the Gluten Freely website for details on how to enter and win a Grand Prize of $5,000. The grand prize winner will also be featured on a Betty Crocker Gluten Free dessert mix or Bisquick Gluten Free baking mix package and/or featured in a Betty Crocker publication.

To enter, submit an original gluten-free holiday themed appetizer, bread, or dessert recipe using any Betty Crocker Gluten Free dessert mix or Bisquick Gluten Free mix. Recipes will be judged on the following categories: taste, creativity, ease of preparation and consumer appeal and appearance. Ten finalists will be selected to receive a Betty Crocker Gluten Free Baking gift basket. Their recipes will be featured on the Gluten Freely website, where the online community will vote to determine the winner. The deadline to submit your recipe is June 30th.

To promote the contest and encourage participation, all five Betty Crocker gluten free mixes are 20% off through June 30, if you purchase them from the Gluten Freely online store.

Also, the nice folks at Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark have provided me with the opportunity to offer a giveway prize pack to one of my loyal readers, to inspire you to get cooking. If you would like a chance to win the prize pack, please post a comment here by June 15, when I will ask the Prince to select the winner, drawn at random. If you plan to enter the recipe contest, maybe you could tell us the name of the recipe you intend to submit, or perhaps you could comment about a favorite holiday memory or a holiday tradition you have started with your child.

And, if you haven't checked out the Gluten Freely website lately, please do so. They have really added a lot of good content. The recipes are very family-friendly. Some use Betty Crocker mixes, of course, but many are naturally gluten free. There is information on Celiac Disease as well as a complete list of all General Mills products that are gluten-free.

I am looking forward to your comments!

Four Parenting Lessons I Learned from Eva the Duck

2011-06-02T07:40:00.001-07:00

With Mother’s Day over and Father’s Day approaching, I have been thinking quite a bit about the unique challenges of parenting a special needs child. Recently, I have met a few mothers whose little ones have just been diagnosed on the autism spectrum. I remember those days. Which therapies should we pursue? Which provider is best? Will it work? What if it doesn’t? Who is going to pay for all this? Will I ever sleep again? Will my child ever speak, or be potty-trained, or have a friend?

So much stress and pressure! Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, for us at least, seems to cause all those worries and fears to resurface. No matter where your child is on the spectrum, it is hard not to compare them to their neurotypical peers. You become super mom and super dad. But this can take a toll on you. On top of all this, it is spring time and all God’s creatures seem to be having babies of their own.

At our house, one of those creatures is Eva the duck. We live on a lake in a typical suburban town. What is not so typical is that the area is zoned for mixed use. So across the lake, we see dairy cows grazing next to low-rise office buildings. The lake attracts all kinds of wild life, even though we are in an urban setting. The nuisance animals here are the Muscovy ducks, which have no natural predator. I have never seen a gator in our lake! They drive many people, including the Professor, crazy and are viewed with annoyance, like some people view squirrels or deer.

We have a fence that separates our patio from the lake. No duck has ever entered our patio, except for the one time some chicks crawled under the fence. Ever since he was little, the Prince has loved watching the ducks. To the Professor’s chagrin, the Prince and I sometimes feed the ducks. They have been the recipients of many GFCF baking failures! They are really social birds. They wag their tails kind of like dogs.

A few weeks ago, we discovered a female duck nesting in an empty flower pot in a secluded area of our patio—quite the perfect spot for a nest, actually. The Prince was delighted and named her Eva. We could not figure out how she got there, so we spied on her and discovered that she “jump/flies” and lands on the fence. Then she jumps down and hobbles over to the flower pot, which is taller than she is, so again, she has to jump/fly up to nestle down upon her eggs.

Parenting Lesson Number 1 learned from Eva: think out of the box.

Most ducks in my observance nest on the ground under bushes. Eva does things a little differently. As the parent of a special needs child, thinking out of the box is frequently required.

We notice that Eva takes a break at least twice a day. Sometimes she just takes a little bath in the lake other times she flies across the lake. But she always returns, and I am sure she feels refreshed.

Parenting Lesson Number 2 learned from Eva: take time for yourself.

Sometimes the best thing you can do for your child is to take a break. You should do this, even in a small way, at least once day. Call a friend. Take a walk. Eat a cookie (GFCF of course?!) Put on headphones and listen to music you like. For a long time I didn’t listen to music, except if I was in the car alone, because the Prince was sound sensitive. That was silly, I am entitled to some enjoyment, and so are you. Listening with headphones helped us both (see lesson 1 above). But more importantly, try to take turns with your spouse or a friend so you can have some personal time to exercise, or take a coffee break, or do something that you love. That does not make you any less of a Warrior Mom or Dad, in fact, it probably makes you a better parent.

The gestation period for Muscovy duck eggs is pretty long, 35-40 days. As time goes on, we notice Eva spends more and more time on her nest and that her breaks are shorter. We have started to feed her and discovered that she seems famished.

Parenting Lesson Number 3 learned from Eva: accept the kindness of others.

Receiving an autism diagnosis for your child is one of the hardest things any parent will have to endure, next to learning that your child has a fatal illness. It is ok to reach out to your family and friends for help. People are much more aware about autism today, even than when the Prince was diagnosed. They may be unsure of how to help, so tell them what you need. Baby sitting, making a few meals for nights when you get home late from your child’s therapy sessions, help driving your other children to soccer while you take your little one to speech therapy or ABA. Don’t be shy. The worst thing that can happen is they will tell you no. I admit that I did lose a few friends after the Prince was diagnosed. They just viewed autism as a stigma, I guess. They couldn’t understand the “new normal” of my life that comes with special needs parenthood. They just faded from my life. But those so-called friends were replaced by even better friends. There is no bond like the one between parents whose children have special needs.

I don’t know if Eva’s eggs will hatch or not. None of us know what the future holds. But I hope at least some of her eggs become chicks and eventually leave the nest to fly on their own. And one day, I believe that our children will fly over the rainbow of the autism spectrum to find their own happiness too.

Final Parenting Lesson learned from Eva: Believe.

Wretches and Jabberers: "More like you than not"

2011-03-01T06:58:00.000-08:00

Wretches and Jabberers is wonderful new film coming to South Florida in April, just in time for Autism Awareness month. I plan to see it, the trailer looks truly thought-provoking. The film follows two men with autism who travel the world together. Although they can speak in a limited way, from the neurotypical world perspective, they communicate eloquently by using a communication device. The phrase "more like you than not" haunts me. Larry and Tracy are two fascinating people, whether they have autism, or not.

If you click here you can watch the trailer, see if your city is on the screening list, and check out their blogs.

All Star Paws for Autism

2011-02-19T10:25:00.001-08:00

As The Prince becomes older, his anxiety in social situations is increasing. Our sweet boy retreats into his inner fantasy world more and more for comfort. He has developed OCD and now requires medication, something I had hoped he would never need.

At first this turn of events depressed me. But then I thought of Temple Grandin, one of my autism heroines. She said that medication helped her with anxiety as she got older. And, I thought of her special connection to animals.

The Prince has wanted a dog to replace our beloved old dog Jake, who died shortly before I was diagnosed with cancer. We wanted to be sure I was stable before bringing a new member into the family, and now I am.

I learned about a local South Florida group, All Star Paws for Autism, which identifies dogs in shelters who are good candidates for service dog training. After the dogs are trained, they are matched to a child and the family continues to receive in-home training for a year. The dogs can be taught stim interruption (when a child stims, the dog nuzzles in for a pet), applied deep pressure (the dog gently lies across the child's lap is they are anxious), they can also wake up a parent if the child wanders at night. All of these are skills we think would be helpful to the Prince. For children who are runners, the dog and child can be tethered together for safety. These dogs can also be taught scent-tracking and search and rescue, in case a child does wander off. We don't need these skills now, but it sure would have made life easier when the Prince was age 3!

In addition to offering the security of safety, and to offering a calming presence, the dog also acts as a magnet to other children. The Prince will then have many more opportunities for social interaction, but he will have a partner, his dog. This will also allow him to receive positive attention in public, instead of the negative attention so many of our kids receive during stressful outings.

The Prince will be a part of training the dog, once it has achieved a certain skill level. Our hope is that this will give him confidence. His therapist thinks that it may reinforce the idea that if the Prince can give directions to a dog, who then obeys, the Prince can also tame the obsessive thoughts in his head. He can learn that he does have more control than he realizes.

It costs $15,000 to train a dog, and takes about a year. We are required to raise $5,000. All Star Paws for Autism contributes the remainder through sponsorships and donations.

If you would like to learn more or help us reach our goal, please check our my newest blog, A Boy's Best Friend.

Psssst! Special Deals for GFCF South Floridians

2011-02-10T10:34:00.000-08:00

If you are among my local South Florida GFCF Parent Possee, I want to share a secret with you. The new Nutrition S'mart in Miami Lakes (16520 NW 57th Ave. (or Red Road) and the even newer La Bodeguita Meat Market in the same shopping center have joined forces to save you money.

If you shop at either store, and bring your receipt to the other store, you will receive 10% off your total bill. Nutrition S'mart is my place to shop for GFCF specialty items and also organic fruit and veggies. La Bodeguita is an old-fashioned Cuban meat market. When I shop there, I feel like a princess! The service a excellent. The prices are good and they will take any meat they offer and cut it as you please. They also offer grass fed beef and free-range chicken. They are just starting their organic meat section.

As far as I am concerned, this is a partnership made in heaven!

GFCF in Crested Butte, CO

2011-02-10T09:53:00.000-08:00

We have been busy this winter and one of the highlights was a ski trip to Crested Butte, Co. If you are a regular reader, you know our family loves this wonderful mountain town, and one of the reasons is our good friends at The Adaptive Sports Center. They make terrific adventures possible for people with physical and cognitive disabilities. You may have seen them on Extreme Home Makeover where they have entertained several families over the years while their homes were being built. The folks there are very caring and skilled at working with children on the spectrum. We consider them almost like family now and they offer adventures both in the summer and the winter.

This winter while we were visiting, Crested Butte received record amounts of beautiful, light "Champagne Powder." The Professor and I have never skied in such deep powder before and were enchanted! The Prince is actually a pretty good little skier, but we wondered how he would do in snowy conditions. Thanks to his coaches, he did great! The town was like a winter wonderland.

Since we have been traveling to Crested Butte in the winter and summer for 5 years now as a family, we have seen the evolution and greater availability of GFCF foods in Crested Butte. I remember the first year we visited, I carried a suite case full of essentials. Now, I can find everything I need!

If you are considering an autism-friendly vacation, I highly recommend Crested Butte. In the summer, the Adaptive Sports staff can take you hiking, canoeing, horse-back riding, and more, all tailored to your child's needs. In the winter, there is skiing, snow boarding, and just playing in the snow. They specialize in making the experience fun for the entire family.

As for food, the town of nearby Gunnison has City Market (part of the Kroger chain) which has quite a few GFCF items available. In the same shopping center you can also find a terrific health food store, Gunnison Vitamin and Health Food, which has the more specialty GFCF items found in places like Whole Foods as well as grass fed beef, a new organic deli and vitamins and supplements. We often fly in to Gunnison from Dallas and stock up at both stores before driving to Crested Butte, a 30 minute trip.

In Crested Butte itself, during the summer there is a great farmer's market on the weekend and during the week several fresh fruit and vegetable produce stands. Clarke's Market in Crested Butte is smaller than City Market, but has processed GFCF items, such as a good selection of Amy's frozen dinners.

As for dining out, The Brick Oven Pizzeria on Mainstreet offers gluten-free pizza with non-dairy cheese, and for the adults, gluten-free beer. It is a very family-friendly, causal restaurant and also offers take-out. Sensory avoidant children might find it a bit loud at times, as it is a popular hang-out for the locals, but if you go for lunch or an early dinner you should be fine.

There are several Mexican restaurants which have GFCF offerings. We like the tiny Teocalli Tamale for a quick bite. But there is also Donita's Cantina, if you have a larger group and want a more relaxed sit-down meal.

Crested Butte is a magical place. We always come home with a renewed spirit and the feeling that we can accomplish anything.

GFCF Mommy's Favorite Apps

2010-12-30T07:28:00.000-08:00

I am a late-bloomer when it comes to technology. Although virtually everyone in the Professor's family has an iphone, I resisted due to the monthly data fees involved. But my sweet parents-in-law gave me an iphone for my birthday, in part because they thought some of the educational apps would be good for the Prince.

The Professor and I researched phone plans, and found his university had a special rate through ATT, so it was not as expensive as we thought. Also, the Professor believes the old ways are best and rarely even texts. Apps are not for him. Bargain for me!

So now I have joined the masses of moms who love their iphones. Mine functions for me as a sort of second brain. I have my contacts, grocery list, calendar, well I don't need to tell you. Being an older mom, I feel as if I am on Star Trek, or something!

I know that other websites have evaluated apps for autism, and that many of my readers probably already have iphones or droids, but if you are one of the few who are new to technological advances, like me, I wanted to share.

One of my favorite apps is Is That Gluten Free? produced by MidLifeCrisis (gotta love the name!). This app is available for iphone, droid, and blackberry. It is a little pricely, as apps go, $7.99, but I have found it to be so useful! You can look up a product by categories, by brand, or search. Once you make your selection, the screen tells you if the product is gluten-free, date of validation, and the company statement about the product. There is also a link to the company's website and sometimes a phone number. In the "Brands" index, companies that are gluten-free are marked by a green dot. Those that are questionable have a yellow dot. For example, if cross-contamination or "natural flavors" are an issue, the reason is explained.

In addition, you can search those mysterious ingredients that have 28 letters in their name and find out if they are gluten-free or not. Those that are, marked in green; questionable marked in yellow; not gluten-free, in red. I am still of the opinion that if you can't pronounce an ingredient and don't know what it is, avoid it, but this is a great feature. Also, the product information is updated periodically, which is terrific too. This app does not help us with regard to avoiding casein, but I find that gluten is much more difficult to identify, especially in processed foods, than casein.

MidLifeCrisis also has a sister-app called Is That Gluten Free? Eating Out. I have not invested in this yet, since it looks like the data base is primarily fast-food or chain restaurants, however, this app is incredibly well designed too. You can look up Arby's, for example. Then you will get a menu. You can select an item and it will tell you the ingredients and which are safe. I can see how this might be handy for traveling, though we still tend to bring our own snacks as much as possible.

Since it is free, I have uploaded IEP Checklist, but have not had an IEP meeting since I got the app. The main features are the ability to take notes and make voice recordings during a meeting (which your iphone can do anyway), as well as link to the federal regulations website and IDEA. It seems geared mostly towards teachers, but I can see how it might be useful. IEP meetings are so stressful, that in my case, it might distract me from my role as a team member. On the other hand, it might be good to have specific IDEA guidelines bookmarked in advance for easy reference. But you don't need an app to do that, then again, there is the "second brain" convenience, mentioned above.

When I got my iphone, like most moms, I selected a few apps I thought the Prince would like to play with when waiting in lines, doctor's offices etc. I chose Star Walk and Google Earth, which feed into his Aspie love of astronomy and geography. Like many parents before me, I found my phone frequently disappearing at home and ending up in the Prince's bedroom!

So, after much consideration, we decided that Santa would bring the Prince and itouch for Christmas. I hesitated, since I thought it would increase his isolation, knowing his love for computer games. The games are great, but many of them do have repetitive features that are attractive to our children, though I have come to accept that sometimes that soothing element is necessary--with limits. But when I saw the number of apps on itunes in the "special education" category, I was sold--and many of these apps are free. (You can find a quick link to special education on the upper right corner in the apps section of itunes).

There are several for children with autism. Tap to Talk is similar to an augmentative and alternative communication device. I wish I had some of the picture schedule apps when the Prince was younger, such as the First Then Visual Schedule. Although I think there is merit to having the picture schedules displayed in your home or school, the app version would be nice to used when outside of the house, say, shopping, visiting Grandma, etc. There are many picture schedule apps to choose from. Another I like is My Choice Board. The Social Skills apps are also quite good, like Model Me Going Places, which provides social stories for common events like getting a haircut, riding the bus, etc. I think these apps might have saved me a lot of time cutting out and laminating picture schedules.

If you have an iphone, itouch, or ipad, I encourage you to explore the apps for your child. I can see that this is the wave of the future. The Holly Rod Foundation recently accepted applications for free ipads for children with autism, if the family met the financial requirements. They were so inundated, that after a month, they are no longer accepting applications. Shout out to Autism Speaks, maybe you could partner with The Holly Rod Foundation to expand this program?

And the winner is...

2010-12-30T07:22:00.001-08:00

The winner of the Live Gluten Freely Product Box, provided by Live Gluten Freely, General Mills, and MyBlogSpot.com, selected at random by the Prince, is...

Drum roll, please:

Lindsay!

Lindsay, please email me with your mailing address and I will forward it to our generous giveaway sponsors, who will send the package directly to you.

Happy New Year!

Ho, Ho, Ho!

2010-12-21T12:35:00.000-08:00

MyBlogSpark sent me the link for this funny holiday commercial for Green Giant. I'm not necessarily endorsing Green Giant products, and receive no compensation from them, but I thought the ad was pretty cute. The Prince thinks it's hilarious!

Ho, ho, ho! Eat your veggies, and Enjoy!

New Year, New Resource, New Give-Away: Live Gluten Freely

2010-12-17T09:28:00.000-08:00

General Mills is becoming a leader in creating processed gluten-free products, at reasonable prices, which are available in most large chain grocery stores.

Now, they have a website Live Gluten Freely, also available on Facebook, which provides recipes, both from General Mills and from readers. Also featured are gluten-free bloggers from various walks of life. Most of the recipes use General Mills gluten-free products, but some do not. I find it a good place to get ideas. You can also find coupons and sign-up for their newsletter. I am very impressed with this company's efforts raise the visibility of the need for gluten-free products.

Although I have already been delighted by Betty Crocker's line of gluten-free dessert mixes-- the brownie mix is our family favorite-- when MyBlogSpot.com contacted me to see if I would review their Live Gluten Freely Product Box, offered by General Mills, I agreed.

The product box is available from Live Gluten Freely for $24.95 and is a sort of "starter kit" of full-sized, gluten-free products from General Mills, pictured above.

The Prince has not been a fan of gluten-free Rice Chex, however, sweet tooth that he has, he devoured the Gluten-Free Honey Nut Rice Chex. Unfortunately, I have yet to find these in my local grocery (they do have the regular gluten-free Rice Chex), but I will bring in the box to the store manager to see if he can order it. I know other children would like it too. (Note to Feingold Families, the Gluten-Free Rice Chex products contain BHT. If your child is sensitive to preservatives, you may want to skip this product.) The Betty Crocker website both has many recipes using gluten-free chex for snacks.

I am becoming a big fan of Gluten-Free Bisquick, even though I had never used regular Bisquick much. I made waffles recently, and they were very light--I truly would not have known they were gluten-free. The Oven Baked Chicken recipe, which I tried for the first time when Gluten-Free Bisquick came out recently, has become a favorite staple at our house.

I commented on The Betty Crocker Potato Buds here. They are a hit with children who will only eat smoother textures and like food that is not highly seasoned. They were a bit bland for my personal taste, however, I did use them as a thickener in several soup recipes and they are perfect for that purpose. They would probably also do well in something like a Shepherd's Pie.

The Prince was attracted to the Fruit Roll Ups. Here is a case where something can be gluten-free, but not especially the best choice for a snack. These have a number of artificial colorings, so I could not indulge him in this, since he has a reaction to dyes. If your child is not sensitive to artificial flavorings, you could give them a try, perhaps for a special treat. I gave them to one of the Prince's friends who found them yummy.

On the other hand, I was excited to try the Peanut Butter Larabar Cookie. The Prince was too. It is all-natural. However, we both took a bite and had the same reaction, I am sorry to say. I think for us, the problem was the texture. A little too chewy and not enough flavor. The Prince made the comment, "I think this is for old people." (No offense to any seniors out there, just giving a child's perspective). I really want to support Larabar, however, and may try some other flavors.

Also included in the product box were a number of recipe cards using Progresso Soups. I was not aware that some Progresso Soup products were gluten-free, so that was a nice surprise.

General Mills, Live Gluten Freely, and MyBlogSpot.com have been generous enough to allow me to offer The Live Gluten Freely Product Box as a giveaway to one of my readers. To participate, go to the Live Gluten Freely website, choose a recipe you would like to make, and leave me a comment here. The winner will be chosen in a random drawing by The Prince on Thursday, December 30, 2010, just in time for New Year's!

Gobble, Gobble!

2010-11-25T10:01:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving! The Prince participated in his third grade Thanksgiving play yesterday. He remembered his lines and we were so proud of him! I have so much to be thankful for this year, my health, and my beautiful family.

We've been kind of busy around here, so I am a little late, make that VERY late posting some links to our favorite GFCF Thanksgiving recipes. Maybe it's not too late for my West Coast friends!

Here are a few essentials:

You can find our favorite GFCF Pecan Cornbread Stuffing and for more "adult" tastes, Quinoa Stuffing with Pecans and Cranberries, here.

For dessert, my ever-popular GFCF Pumpkin Pie and GFCF Pumpkin Marbled Cheesecake can also be found here.

I also wanted to alert you to a relatively new resource for recipes and GFCF mixes from General Mills called Live Gluten Freely. General Mills is now offering a number of items that you can get in your regular grocery store. I've already written here about Gluten-free Betty Crocker and Bisquick mixes. The Live Gluten Freely website has recipes using these products and more, but anyone can submit their gluten-free favorite recipes. They also have a few resident bloggers from different walks of life. It is a good place to get ideas. There is a newsletter too.

MyBlogSpot.com recently sent me a Live Gluten-Freely Product Box. I am in the process of sampling the goodies and will blog about it soon, as well as offer another give-away, courtesy of General Mills and MyBlogSpot.com

The one product from the samples they sent that I tried yesterday was the Gluten-free Betty Crocker Potato Buds. Now, full disclosure, I never use instant mashed potatoes. However, my sister-in-law informed me that The Prince's cousin, The Princess, recently had her class Thanksgiving feast and that none of the kids would eat "home-made" mashed potatoes. She advised me to go for the smooth instant kind. My healthy mom instincts balked at this, but I decided to go for convenience, making the kids happy, and to choose another occasion to promote healthier eating habits.

I am happy to report that the third graders and their parents ate every bite of the mashed potatoes. Truthfully, they were a bit bland for my taste, I would have doctored them with spices, perhaps. They would be good to use, say in a Shepherd's Pie or as a thickener for soup. But for convenience, you can't beat them. They will definitely be a part of my hurricane kit next year too, since I always look for items with a long-shelf life.

Kudos to General Mills to making more GFCF convenience items available to the public. Stay tuned for more about Live Gluten Freely and another give-away in the next week.

And the winner is....

2010-11-01T05:39:00.000-07:00

And the winner of the Bisquick Gluten-Free Prize Pack, provided through MyBlogSpark is:

Drum roll, please.....Britt!

The Prince drew your name out of his plastic Halloween pumpkin today. Please email me your mailing address and I will forward it to MyBlogSpark.com who will send it directly to you so you can get started on those biscuits, waffles, and pancakes.

Congratulations, and happy cooking (and eating!)

Boo-tiful Treats For Your GFCF Youngster

2010-10-22T08:37:00.001-07:00

My friend Chef Pam, has once again generously donated these adorably spooky GFCF cupcakes and cookies to our Hope For Autism's Halloween Party. Chef Pam is going on maternity leave now, but hopes to be back in her allergy-free kitchen in time for the holidays.

With Halloween right around the corner, I wanted to share a few old and new links where you can purchase GFCF goodies for your little Prince or Princess.

One of my old favorites is Pure Fun, which has "Halloween Pure Pops" this year. Click on the website just to listen to the cute little Halloween jingle they have! I have seen these at some Whole Foods Stores. Another year-round favorite at our house is Yummy Earth Candy. Whole Foods usually has these, and for my local South Floridians, Nutrition S'Mart has them too. Rounding out the old favorites is Annie's Organic Bunny Snacks, again at Whole Foods and many health food stores.

My good friend Thomas, over at The GFCF Experience has a terrific list of GFCF candy available at your local grocery store.

Now for a new favorite, The Autism Community Store has a interesting array of treats. This is also a really good resource for all kinds of products in general (therapy toys, teaching aides, PECS, etc.). I have often wished there was a "one-stop" shopping store for the autism community in my neighborhood. In a different economy, I might even consider starting such a place! This is an online version.

Have a happy and safe Halloween! The Prince has decided to dress up as Scooby Doo and has assigned Keith to be Shaggy and me to be Daphne.

Gluten-Free Bisquick Prize Pack Giveaway!

2010-10-19T07:39:00.001-07:00

I am pleased to offer my fellow GFCF Mommy and Daddy readers the chance to win a Gluten-Free Bisquick Prize Pack, courtesy of Bisquick and MyBlogSpot.com.

This is the same package Bisquick sent me to test. I have to say I LOVE the spatula! It makes flipping pancakes a dream! The cast iron pan requires seasoning, and like all cast iron pans, will get better with use and age.

The "Pancake Pen" is tons of fun for your little ones and "Prince-approved." You add all the ingredients to the container, shake to mix, then you can use the pan to make words or shapes with the batter. The bottom unscrews too for easy clean-up. The Prince had a blast with this, especially the shaking part, from our experience, writing or making shapes may take a little parental help.

And now for the giveaway: Simply leave a comment explaining what you plan to make with the Bisquick, should you win. The winner will be chosen at random, by the Prince, on November 1, 2011 and announced here. The winner will privately email me their mailing address and I will forward it to Bisquick and MyBlogSpot.com, who will send the package straight to you!

Product Review: Gluten-Free Bisquick

2010-10-18T09:47:00.000-07:00

The kind folks at Bisquick and MyBlogSpark.com sent me a free sample of the new Gluten-Free Bisquick, along with a dandy pancake pan, spatula, and "pancake pen." I had read that Bisquick was coming out with a Gluten-Free mix, and was curious to try it. So I will be honest with you, if you and your family really enjoyed original Bisquick and have missed it since taking the GFCF plunge, you will not be disappointed.

Full disclosure, however, I have never used Bisquick very much, although it was a staple in both my mother and grandmother's kitchens. They appreciated the convenience and the consistent results the mix produces. Gluten-Free Bisquick is the same. My grandmother would have approved.

One thing I have missed over the years is my grandmother's oven-fried chicken. I have never even attempted to make a GFCF version. With memories of that southern delicacy somewhere in the back of my mind, I was attracted to this recipe on the Betty Crocker website for oven-baked chicken:

Oven-Baked Chicken

1 TB butter substitute (I used Earth Balance)

1 cup Bisquick Gluten-Free Mix

1 tsp seasoned salt

1 tsp paprika

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp pepper

2 eggs, beaten

1 cut-up whole chicken (or just legs or thighs, your preference)

Heat oven to 400. Melt butter in 13x9 inch baking dish in oven. In medium bowl, stir Bisquick mix, salt, paprika, garlic powder and pepper. Place eggs in shallow dish. Dip chicken in eggs, then coat with Bisquick mixture; repeat dipping in eggs and Bisquick mixture. Place skin side down in heated dish. Bake 35 minutes. Turn chicken; bake about 15 minutes longer or until juice is clear when thickest part is cut to bone (165 degrees). (Makes 5 servings)

This turned out very well and was devoured by the Prince, who is addicted to Applegate Farms GF chicken nuggets. This recipe transported me back to my grandmother's home in Virginia, where she hosted family pot-luck dinners and the guests brought different kinds of baked or fried chicken. Not fancy, not gourmet, just stick to your ribs comfort food.

I also made the pancake recipe on the back of the box, except that I added one overly-ripe, well- mashed banana to the batter. The spatula, I have to say, is ideal for pancakes. I love it! The shape is just perfect. I have not used the pan and pancake pen yet, but I will. The pancakes were very fluffy, more so than other GF baking mixes I have tried. The Prince and the Professor both snatched them off the plate and ate them plain--by hand--(no, they were not "raised in a barn," but hungry boys will be boys, I guess!) without benefit of syrup and pronounced them perfect. Purist that I am, I put maple syrup and strawberries on mine, used a knife and fork, and was totally satisfied.

The Betty Crocker website has many recipes calling for Gluten-Free Bisquick, including pizza crust, casseroles, and more. If you are on a GFCF diet and a Bisquick lover, you will enjoy this product. Check back for details on entering my Bisquick Prize Pack give-away, sponsored by Bisquick and MyBlogSpark.com.

If you'd like a printable coupon for $1 off Bisquick Gluten-Free Baking Mix, click here.

Living Strong For My Boys

2010-08-14T09:20:00.000-07:00

I am sure some of you may have been wondering why I have not posted for a few months. All is well. I have had a few challenges with my continued fight with breast cancer. No need to worry, my treatment needed some tweaking, but I feel great now.

The Prince is sitting here beside me, he says to say, "No need to worry, Mommy is on the case!"

To celebrate my renewed sense of hope, I participated in Livestrong and Nike's "Chalkbot" for the Tour de France. Nike requested that cancer survivors or those touched by cancer send messages of hope, which if selected, would be printed in chalk along the route. Mine was selected! Here is the image Nike sent with the GPS location of my message (near the Alps). It was very exciting to all of us, especially the several serious bikers in my family who enjoy the Tour. We all find Lance Armstrong to be inspirational.

I am living strong for the Prince and the Professor and hope to get back to writing regularly for you soon!

Love,

GFCF Mommy

Nutrition S'mart Comes to Miami Lakes, Florida!

2010-08-14T09:10:00.000-07:00

For all my local friends with food sensitivities, as well as my Hope for Autism Parent Possee, just wanted to let everyone know that we FINALLY have a great resource for GFCF foods in our own community! No more driving to get to a store which stocks those special yummy treats or GF ingredients we all need.

This weekend is the Grand Opening of Nutrition S'mart in Miami Lakes, on Red Road. You can get directions, get coupons, and read more about the new store here.

The Kiss

2010-04-21T07:36:00.000-07:00

One of the hardest things for me, as parent of a child on the spectrum, is the difficulty my son has expressing his love and affection physically, due to his sensory sensitivities. I know that the Prince loves us very much. He is a very verbally affectionate and thoughtful in so many ways. I know in these aspects, we are truly blessed.

But sometimes a mom just wants a hug or a kiss. For years, I fantasized about tucking my boy in bed and giving him a good night kiss, like I did when he was a baby. But hugs and kisses are hard for The Prince. So, we have never forced it. He knows that it is appropriate to give Grandma and Grandpa a hug when you see them, which he does, after lots of role-playing on our part. Now it seems kind of natural, well, sort of.

Since I knew that The Prince felt uncomfortable with hugs and kisses, but I still had my need to express how I felt, I asked the Prince one day if I could kiss him on his hair, just on the top of his head, thus avoiding anything too intimate. He said yes, but I knew he was just doing it to please me. Every morning before he would go to school, I would gently kiss him on the top of his cute little head.

One busy day though, I forgot. "Mommy, aren't you going to kiss me?" Of course I was thrilled, and of course I kissed him. Part of me felt overjoyed, "he really does care after all!" But then part of me thought cynically, "but maybe it is just the ASD need for routine." Or maybe it is both.

Time came and went and our little daily ritual continued. Until one day, The Prince told me he wanted to kiss ME! He carefully, cautiously, gave me a little peck on the cheek. He said I could kiss him the same way. I told him how happy I was, that he had made my day! I said that my whole day would now be great because he had kissed me.

The Prince smiled. Now we have a new ritual and every single time my heart fills with happiness and love.

NBC's "Parenthood"

2010-03-16T09:59:00.000-07:00

Have you seen NCB's new show Parenthood? I just watched the pilot episode online and was really impressed. Based loosely on the movie of the same name, the TV version includes a storyline about a family whose son has Asperger's Syndrome.

In the pilot, which you can watch online at NBC for free here, Max is diagnosed. I won't spoil the story, but there are so many elements in the first episode that those of us with children on the PDD-NOS/Aperger's portion of the autism spectrum will find familiar.

Also, if you watch the clip from the pilot below, you will understand why the heart behind my blog header means so much to me.

Parenthood airs on NBC, Tuesdays at 10 p.m. eastern/9 p.m. central.

Standing Room Only at The Gluten-Free Food Expo

2010-03-08T10:06:00.000-08:00

I drove for a little more than an hour to attend the Gluten-Free Food Expo in Delray Beach recently. When I arrived at 12:30 (the event was from noon-4:00 p.m.), the spacious parking lot at the South County Civic Center was already full. I followed a line of cars down a side alley and parked on the grass, then walked about 5 minutes to the Civic Center.

Surely there must be another event at the Civic Center at the same time, I thought, or perhaps some of these cars belonged to people attending a sporting event at one of the neighboring clubs on the same street?

But no, I believe that every person on a gluten-free diet in South Florida, and then some, was in attendance at this event. That was both the good news and the bad news.

From the perspective of the vendors, it shows there is a big market for GF products. However, for me, as a consumer, the event was so crowded, I could hardly make my way to the tables to check-out new products or samples. I did try, dear readers, truly I did. But the venue was just too small for an event like this. I brought my camera in hopes of snapping some photos, but there was little room to walk between the tables, much less take photos. I am sure the organizers never dreamed a crowd so large would attend. Hopefully next year this will be held at a location with a larger capacity.

One of my readers believes that many of the people were not actually on a GF diet, but just there to try free food samples. That may have been true, however, I did overhear several people discussing their celiac diagnosis and I saw several parents with small children in strollers giving up in frustration and leaving, as the crowd was not very child-friendly, and certainly not ASD-friendly. The Celiac Disease Foundation of South Florida had a table and was doing brisk business and The South Florida Gastoenterology Associates were also represented.

In light of the crowds, I was grateful for a very complete list of vendors which included phone numbers and websites. So if I could not make my way to the tables, at least I could contact them. I don't know if the Celiac Disease Foundation of South Florida would consider uploading the list to their website, but I found it very complete.

Any "tried and true" GF vendor you could think of was represented, Bob's Red Mill, Schar, Enjoy Life, Pamela's Products, PatsyPie, Shabtai Gourmet, Kinnikinnick, and many more, I believe there were about 50-55 vendors.

I was also interested to see that General Mills had a table promoting their new GF products such as the Chex cereals and the Betty Crocker mixes. Winn Dixie, a grocery store chain here in the south, also had a table and was rolling out their new marketing plan to include a GF section in certain selected stores.

But I was especially glad to see two local South Florida companies, Pam's Gluten Free Kitchen, and The Gluten-Free Cookie Jar. I know that Chef Pam spent most of the day running back and forth between her kitchen and the Civic Center to keep samples on her table. If you are a regular reader, you know I am partial to Pam's culinary treats which range from delicious main courses to custom-made cakes, and she is now also offering challah bread and dinner rolls(and no, I am not her PR person, or in any way affiliated with her company, just a grateful mom who loves her yummy products).

I never did find the Gluten-Free Cookie Jar's table, but their website looks intriguing and I will have to look for their products. The GFCF Cream Canoe cakes (aka "twinkies") sound especially enticing!

South Florida Gluten-Free Food Expo, Tomorrow!

2010-02-26T09:29:00.001-08:00

Your roving reporter, GFCF Mommy, will be attending this exciting event and will report back on any new products. Stay tuned! If you live in South Florida, consider attending too, it's free!

Gluten Free Food Expo

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Noon-4:00 p.m.

Free Parking, Free Admission

South County Civic Center

16700 Jog Road, Delray Beach, FL

(between Linton & Clint Moore)

Points of Light

2010-01-15T13:57:00.000-08:00

All of us have special gifts, "points of light," that are only limited by our imaginations. I wanted to share two items with you about a pair of exceptional ladies.

One is a special little girl, with a huge voice. You can read about 7 year old Gina Marie Incandela of Kissimmee, Florida here and listen to her forceful rendition of The National Anthem. Not only is her singing voice powerful, but in it lies her power to transform stereotypes about autism, especially in girls. She was given a Point of Light Award by Governor Charlie Crist.

Another personal heroine and "point of light" in my mind, is Temple Grandin. I know a lot of us admire her. Her books, especially Thinking in Pictures, are required reading for GFCF Mommies and Daddies. Her writing is so incredibly fascinating and readable and she has done tremendous good for the autism community. Her mom and nanny are heroines to me too.

The long-awaited HBO special on her life airs on February 6. Set your Tivo! You can watch two trailers here.

"A normal family, just like you wanted..."

2010-01-05T08:20:00.001-08:00

We had a truly wonderful holiday. At the age when most children are discovering the truth about Santa, the Prince is still a believer. This is only the second year that he “got” the idea of Santa and the overall meaning of Christmas--at least the understanding that it is the season of giving and that giving is good. The religious aspects are beyond him, but that’s ok for now. For once, I am actually kind of happy that the Prince is socially and emotionally delayed, it means I can enjoy the Santa experience longer!

The Professor and I cherished every minute and made up for the lost years when the holidays were hard, when the Prince didn’t understand what was going on at all, when the changes in routine were upsetting to him, when we would think back to the year before and wish there had been more progress, when we would look to the future and feel despair.

Christmas is not like that anymore, and so it is finally a joyful time for us. Still, I know for many of my friends with children on the spectrum the holidays are still very painful. Living with autism is hard all the time, but it is even harder when everyone around you is so darned happy because it is the holidays. You feel like you are on Autism Island, which is a lot like the Island of Misfit Toys in Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

I had thought that I was sensitive to those feelings, but the Prince taught me something the other day. Our niece came and stayed with us for a few days last week. She is 5 and the Prince adores her. I have referred to her before here as the Princess. They had a blast and the best Christmas present of all for me was watching the Prince play with her. Sure, he still has some scripting and echolalia, but he has conversational speech too. He is a little eccentric and probably always will be, but that is part of his charm. She loves him anyway.

The Princess had received a doll’s tea set for Christmas. She didn’t bring it to our house, but the Prince knew she had it. He said to me, after the Princess went home, “maybe we can have a tea party. Then we can be a normal family, just like you wanted.”

I don’t know exactly why having a tea party would make us a normal family in the Prince’s mind, but I felt ashamed of myself and so sad. I know I have complained to the Professor at times when I thought the Prince was not listening, because he was scripting or engrossed in the computer, that I wished we could do more social things together “like a normal family.” Little people, even those on the spectrum, are always listening.

I tried to explain that I had been wrong to suggest that we are not a normal family. I talked about all the fun things we had done over the winter break and he seemed fine. But I felt just terrible. Two of my favorite TV shows are Modern Family and The Middle because they send the message that families come in all shapes and sizes and that it’s ok to be different. In the case of The Middle, I almost believe that one of the writers must have a child with Asperger’s, due to several of the story lines involving the youngest son, Brick.

I will have to be more sensitive to my little boy and to try to show him that I do have the family that I wanted. Because being “normal” is relative, after all. The only thing that really matters is the love.

Operation GFCF Gingerbread House

2009-12-29T06:35:00.001-08:00

The Prince's teacher ambitiously considered having the class make gingerbread houses as an art project, and she kindly told me in advance so I could procure GFCF ingredients for the Prince. In the end, his teacher decided not to take on the challenge. However, in my search for GFCF graham crackers, I found that my friend Chef Pam Nicosia, Founder of Pam's Gluten-Free Kitchen had created an allergy-free Gingerbread House Kit (available in South Florida at The Allergy Free Shop).

So we decided it would be a fun project during Winter Break. It was very easy and kid-friendly. Pam's kit includes the pre-cut walls for the house and a powdered sugar mix with instructions on how to make the "glue" to assemble the house. She also provides the base and for an extra fee, the GFCF candy.

The Prince, Professor, and I all had a ball decorating. I think the Prince ate as much candy as he put on the house, but hey, it's Christmas! I think the photos speak for themselves. I believe a new annual holiday family tradition has begun!

Keep Believing

2009-12-16T14:05:00.001-08:00

In this, the season of light and hope, I want to share a little miracle. Actually, three miracles and truthfully, they are not little, they are immensely wonderful in a way that only a parent of a child on the spectrum can understand.

I have three friends, all with children over the age of 9 on the autism spectrum. None of them has ever spoken. Until now. One of them has just begun to label objects and seems to have suddenly made a breakthrough, the floodgates of language are opening. Another only has a few words, but he uses them meaningfully to make one-word requests. He has also started to point. The third has begun to use short two word sentences, without ever having spoken before.

All three are on the GFCF Diet, and have been for some time. I do not want to make the claim that the diet is the reason they are speaking. All three had tummy troubles, which were helped by the diet, and that is why their parents believe they have been able to better focus on speech therapy. One of the boys is now in a special charter school in our public school system that uses ABA to teach, and apparently this method was what he needed all along. One wonders if he would have spoken earlier if ABA had been available to him when he was younger and if insurance would have covered it. There is a long waiting list for this school, but thankfully such a place finally exists here in our county.

I remember when Eric spoke for the first time, and though delayed, he was still only 3. He called me "momma" at age 4 and that was one of the happiest moments of my life. For an older child, I know the thrill of hearing your child's voice must be even greater. Truly a miracle, a dream come true.

I am also struck by the fact that for my friends this has happened during this most special and holy of seasons.

Perhaps there really is a Santa Clause after all, or maybe a higher power too.

Believe.

Visions of Sugar Plums

2009-12-09T13:59:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year when certain beloved holiday traditions can present a challenge for those on special diets. Like the Sugar Plum Fairy, we all want to give our little ones something yummy, sweet, and good to eat.

Fortunately, there are a few companies that make life easier for GFCF moms and dads who want their children to go to sleep with visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads.

If you like to decorate your home-made cookies and cupcakes with sprinkles, you can't do better than India Tree's decorative sugars, decorative snowflakes, and decorating food colors. They are GFCF, vegan, and made from real food, no artificial dyes, or preservatives. The colors are truly vivid and beautiful.

For GFCF and vegan candy canes, Pure Fun Candy has them, and more. For Florida folks, you can find these at Nutrition S'mart and Whole Foods.

Although these are GFCF and free of artificial ingredients, they are not sugar-free, obviously, so all things in moderation!

Thanksgiving Favorites!

2009-11-18T12:39:00.000-08:00

My sister-in-law was recently diagnosed with Celiac Disease, so now more of the extended family is eating GF this year. It is making me remember what a big adjustment eating GF and GFCF can be, though it now seems like second nature to us. We have had lots of discussions about the menu already!

So I thought I would post my favorite GFCF stuffing recipe, and re-post a few other favorites like Pumpkin Pie and my Marbled Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe:

Pecan Cornbread Stuffing
(adapted from Food Every Day)

1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans
4 TB butter substitute (such as Earth Balance Buttery Spread)
1 large onion, finely chopped
3 celery stalks, finely chopped
1/2 cup dry white wine of choice
16 cups cubed cornbread (I use either the Pamela's or Gluten-Free Yankee Cornbread mix)
3 TB finely chopped sage
3 large eggs
2 cups chicken broth
coarse salt and pepper to taste

First, make your cornbread. You can do this ahead.

Preheat oven to 375. Spread pecans on large rimmed baking sheet and toast until fragrant, about 3-5 minutes.

In a large skillet, melt butter substitute over medium heat. Add onion and celery. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally until softened, 8-10 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl and cool slightly.

To bowl, add cornbread, sage, eggs, and pecans. Season with 1 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper or to taste. Pour 1/2 cup hot broth over cornbread mixture. Toss gently (cornbread will break into smaller pieces). If necessary, add 1/2 cup more broth, so stuffing is moist but not soggy.

Spoon cornbread into buttered 2 quart baking dish. Pour up to 1 cup remaining broth over top to moisten. (To make ahead, refrigerate up to 5 hours). Bake, covered, for 30 minutes. Uncover, and bake until browned, about 15 minutes more.

Pumpkin Pie

2 eggs
1 (15 oz) can pumpkin puree
1 cup light brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
½ tsp. ginger
½ tsp. salt
1 TB molasses (optional)
¾ cup coconut milk (I like Taste of Thai)
1 GFCF pie crust (your choice, I like crushed GFCF ginger snap cookies, like MiDel or Pamela's, mixed with a melted butter substitute, kind of like a graham cracker crust)

Preheat oven to 425. Beat eggs lightly. Add pumpkin and all remaining ingredients except the coconut milk. When blended thoroughly, add coconut milk and stir to combine. Pour into unbaked, deep dish, pie crust. Bake for 5o-60 minutes until set. (Note: the molasses will make the pie a darker color, though it adds a nice rich flavor. If you prefer a more orange color, you can omit the molasses.)

GFCF Marbled Pumpkin Cheesecake

Crust:
2 cups crushed GFCF cookies of your choice
2 TB butter substitute, melted
½ pkg. GFCF chocolate chips

Cheesecake:
½ pkg. GFCF chocolate chips (Enjoy Life or Sunspire Tropical Source)
3 (8 oz) pkg. Tofutti “better than cream cheese” softened
1 cup sugar¼ cup light brown sugar
¼ cup cornstarch
¾ cup coconut milk
4 eggs
1 (16 oz) can pumpkin puree
¾ tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg

Crust:
Grease 10 in. spring form pan. Preheat oven to 325. Combine cookie crumbs and melted butter in food processor. Press into bottom only of spring form pan. Top with ½ pkg. chocolate chips. Set aside.

Cheesecake filling:
Melt remaining chocolate chips until smooth. Set aside. In large bowl, beat Tofutti cream cheese, sugar, brown sugar until smooth. Beat in pumpkin. Beat in eggs and coconut milk until blended.
Mix in by hand cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg. Then beat with mixer until blended.

Stir 1 cup of pumpkin/Tofutti mixture into melted GFCF chocolate chips. Mix well, set aside.

Pour remaining pumpkin mixture into spring form pan on top of chocolate chips. Spoon chocolate mixture on top of cheesecake mixture in small mounds. Swirl with a knife. Place spring form pan on a baking sheet.

Bake at 325 for 60 minutes or until filling is set (center may still jiggle a little). Turn off oven, but let cheesecake stand in oven with door open a crack for about an hour. Cool at room temperature for another hour then refrigerate.

Makes one TALL, HUGE, cheesecake. (Small slices necessary!)

Holiday Decorating Fun for GFCF Kids!

2009-11-08T13:13:00.001-08:00

The Prince, Professor, and I, along with some new friends had a great time at the Kids Holiday Fest held at our local health food store, Nutrition S'mart in Pembroke Pines, FL.

Chef Pam Nicosia of Pam's Gluten-Free Kitchen made GF & GFCF cakes and Christmas and Hanukkah cookies for decorating (and eating!) The highlight for the Prince was using a real pastry bag and tips! As you can see, it's possible to decorate with vibrant colors to that do not include any yukky dyes or preservatives. Afterwards, the children enjoyed GF & GFCF pizza along with some all-natural apple-juice.

It was really fun and I want to thank Chef Pam, Nutrition S'mart and The Celiac Disease Foundation's South Florida Chapter "Kids Korner" for creating this great event!

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-25T07:43:00.000-07:00

A few years ago, I wrote a post with GFCF Halloween tips, that you can read here. I think the information still holds true. Two of our favorite GFCF treats are Yummy Earth Lollipops and Annie's Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks. Be sure to buy extra so you can swap out non-GFCF treats that your little ghouls and guys collect but cannot eat. And as I have said before, what can you do with the leftover loot? Send a care package to the troops.

For fun, I thought I'd share our Halloween Jib Jab video. You can make one yourself at JibJab.com

Pam's Gluten Free Kitchen Expands: Now You Can Have Your Cake, and Dinner Too!

2009-10-18T11:04:00.000-07:00

Pam's Gluten Free Kitchen (formerly Sugar Temptations by Grainless Kitchen) still bakes exceptional, custom-made cakes and desserts, but now Chef Pam Nicosia also offers a wide variety of additional products, from Eggplant Parmesan and Manicotti, to Mac and Cheese and Lasagna, all made to accommodate any allergy need.

Chef Pam offers a variety of take-out meals as well as full-service catering. In addition, her products are now available in several South Florida locations: Nutrition S'mart (Pembroke Pines, Palm Beach Gardens, Port St. Lucie), The Allergy-Free Shop (Miami, near The Falls), Biorganica (Aventura), and Bailey's General Store (Sanibel). Locations and hours are available on Pam's website, here.

With the holiday coming up, Pam's Gluten Free Kitchen has a list of yummy treats including Tiramisu, apple pie, pumpkin pie, red velvet cake, cheesecakes, cannoli, vanilla-rum cake, and more! You can check out the list of holiday temptations on her website, or on Facebook here. Orders can be placed at any store that carries her products, or you can contact Pam directly.

Chef Pam regularly teaches cooking classes for adults at several locations, but coming up on Sunday, November 8 from 10:30 until 12:30 she will be hosting a special Kid's Holiday Fest at the Pembroke Pines Nutrition S'mart. Little GFCF'ers will have the chance to make pizza, decorate cookies, even decorate their own 6 inch custom cake! The Prince, Professor and I will be there too! (For more information, go to Pam's Gluten Free Kitchen on the web or Facebook.)

"I Can't Believe There's No Gluten (or casein!) Awards Continued: Convenience Foods I Can't Live Without

2009-10-04T12:56:00.001-07:00

I will post the winner in the Breakfast category tomorrow, but so far Envirokidz Cereals is in the lead!

This week I present the nominees, in no particular order, for lunch or dinner convenience food we can't live without. We all know it is best to feed our families home-made meals, made from fresh, whole foods. But we all know, there are times when you are in a hurry, or are too tired, or your little prince or princess has a fixation on a certain kind of food that you just cannot re-create from scratch. Fortunately, there are now lots of GFCF convenience items that you can even find in your regular supermarket.

The Nominees for Kid-Friendly Convenience Foods I Cannot Live Without Are:

GFCF Chicken Nuggets:
Applegate Farms, Bell and Evans, Ian's

GFCF Pizza, Pizza Crust, or Pizza Crust Mix:
Bob's Red Mill Pizza Crust Mix, Kinnikinnick Frozen Pizza Crust, Amy's Rice Crust Spinach Pizza, Amy's Non-Dairy Cheese Rice Crust Pizza,

GFCF Hot Dogs:
Applegate Farms Stadium-Style Organic Hot Dogs

Lunchmeat:
Boar's Head, Applegate Farms

Fries:
Ian's Alphatots, Ian's Sweet Potato Fries, Cascadian Farm Straight Cut Fries, Shoe String Fries, and Spud Puppies

Soups:

Imagine, Pacific Foods

Fish Sticks:
Ian's, Dr. Praeger's Potato Crusted Fish Sticks

This week's poll is on the right. Feel free to add your own nominees in the comments section. I'll list them with the winners as "write-in" nominees!

GFCF Mommy's First Annual "I can't believe there's no gluten (or casein!)" Awards: Breakfast Foods

2009-09-27T08:04:00.000-07:00

Lately, I have noticed many new readers beginning the GFCF odyssey. Recently, the CDC has quietly raised the prevalence of autism numbers from an average of 1 in 150, to a possible high of 1 in 100. Sadly, I am sure there are more parents of newly-diagnosed children going to Google University. Also, in my real life, one of my relatives was recently diagnosed with Celiac Disease and is beginning to research her options. To help out, I thought about re-posting my list of favorite kid-friendly items, with updates, but I decided to to something more fun.

For the next couple of weeks, I will list products that I think are noteworthy and have worked for us, or my personal ASD Parent Posse. I'll add links, if available, so you can check out ingredients and prices. On my sidebar, I'll have a running survey so anyone who has a favorite can vote for their product. At the end, I'll list the "I can't believe there's no gluten (or casein!)" Reader's Choice Award Winners.

There are so many categories, I decided to do one a week, if I can keep up. This week's category, Breakfast Foods. So here are the nominees, in no particular order, drum roll please:

The Nominees for Best Kid-Friendly Breakfast Food Items Are:

Cereals:

Perky O's, Envirokidz Gorilla Munch, Barbara's Brown Rice Crisps, Bob's Red Mill GF Oats

Cereal Bars:

Envirokidz Crispy Rice Bars, Glutino Cereal Bars

Yogurt:

So Delicious Coconut Milk Yogurt, Whole Soy Yogurt

Frozen Waffles:

Van's Gluten Free Waffles, Nature's Path Organic Buckwheat Waffles, Ian's Maple, Sausage & Wafflewich

Baking Mix and All-Purpose GF Flour:

Bob's Red Mill Pancake and Baking Mix, Bob's Red Mill All-Purpose GF Flour, Pamela's Wheat-Free Bread Mix and Flour Blend

Bacon:

Applegate Farms, Coleman Natural

Hopefully, this list will help any new GFCF Mommies and Daddies get started shopping. For you old-timers, look to the right and vote for your favorite. I know it's hard to compare bacon with cereal, so you can vote for multiple products, hey I am not Gallup! I'll announce the winner(s) next week when I list the nominees for lunch items.

Echolaliac Pearls of Wisdom: Episode 9, Madagascar

2009-09-25T11:03:00.000-07:00

Note: See “Echolaliac Pearls of Wisdom: Episode 1” if you need a definition of echolalia as it relates to persons on the autistic spectrum.

For some reason, delayed echolalia has returned to our lives, which isn't all bad since it provides some much-needed comic moments to our day!

Last night we had "breakfast for dinner," which I do maybe 2 times a month because, well, it's easy and The Prince also seems to get a kick out of it. On the menu, scrambled eggs for The Prince and an omelet with a salmon and chive filling for the Professor and me. Salads all around. We also splurged for a ready-made baguette from the company Everybody Eats, which was expensive, but quite delicious (GF but not CF). But, I digress...

Anyway, The Professor took a bite of the omelet and said, "another good dinner, delicious salmon."

To which The Prince replied, "the kitty loves the fishy," in perfect imitation of Skipper, one of the Penguins of Madagascar.

Source: The Prince's latest obsession, the movie Madagascar. As you may know, Alex the lion, formerly from the New York Zoo, ends up in Madagascar and discovers his inner savage lion heart. But he does not want to hurt his friends, by, um, eating them. The Penguins of Madagascar, in an attempt to curb Alex's meat cravings, give him sushi.

(Pearl photo courtesy of PBS Nova)

Cookbook Review: Bake Deliciously! Gluten & Dairy Free Cookbook

2009-09-08T09:47:00.001-07:00

When Jean Duane contacted me about reviewing her wonderful cookbook, I have to admit, I was a little bit worried. I had seen some of her recipes online and was afraid that my own culinary skills might not measure up. In fact, I think I felt a little bit like Julie in the move Julie & Julia getting ready to make Boeuf Bourguignonne! I mean, just look at that gorgeous cover photo.

But I should not have worried so much. Jean's recipes are really accessible and the three items I have baked so far have turned out great!

The recipes in Bake Deliciously! Gluten & Dairy Free were attractive to me for several reasons. First of all, they were created originally with the intention of being gluten-free and diary-free. On purpose. Often GF cookbooks offer substitutions for the dairy part, kind of as an after-thought, and sometimes the substitutions do not create a product equal to the original recipe. But Ms. Duane triple tested her 150 original recipes. In addition, these recipes focus on whole grain, unprocessed flour mixes, offering a higher fiber content and low (or no) cholesterol. Each recipe has the caloric content and nutrition information, which I really appreciate.

Finally, although her recipes require mixing GF flours, the source of my anxiety, Ms. Duane makes it really easy. Her blends generally follow the ratio of 50% grain flour, 25% protein flour, and 25% starch. But here's the best part: her recipes usually have only 5 steps or less. The hardest part of her recipes is shopping for the flours, but once that's done, you're all set! She provides very helpful tips about the art and science of GFCF baking and for several recipes, she also has photos showing how the substitutions will change the appearance or texture of the final product. I learned a lot from her comparisons.

Many of her ingredient choices are truly inspired. I chose to make the vegetable crackers, which uses a "flour" that you make from dehydrated vegetables. I admit to having rolling pin phobia. I have NEVER made a GFCF cracker that turned out right. But these did! The Prince was delighted! I cut them into shapes using cookie cutters and was thrilled to sneak veggies into a snack for him!

The chocolate tahini icing was another hit. It uses only 3 ingredients: maple syrup, tahini, and cocoa powder and makes super-easy, really yummy frosting.

But the recipe that has endeared Ms. Duane to the Professor's heart forever are her mini-brownies. We are admitted chocoholics in our house. This brownie recipe uses mini-muffin cups to make the most adorable, delicious, morsels we have ever tasted. And the perfect portion size! We loved them!

Jean Duane also has a terrific website called, http://www.alternativecook.com/ where you can find many recipes and access her wonderful blog Ask Jean. She will also convert a non-GFCF recipe for you for a small fee. In addition, Ms. Duane also has a line of how to cook GFCF dvd's, including Kids Meals. You can sample several of her cooking videos on her You Tube Channel, which you can access from her website.

If you love to bake and are ready to go beyond ready-made mixes, then Bake Deliciously! Gluten & Dairy Free is the book for you!

And the winner of the Betty Crocker "Sweet Moments" Prize Pack is....drumroll.....

2009-08-01T06:51:00.000-07:00

.....H! Please email me your full name and mailing address and I will forword it to the Betty Crocker company who will mail the prize pack directly to you. I hope your mom and dad will have a wonderful 30th anniversary, complete with cake!

But wait, there is a surprise giveaway. Read on.

I put all the names of everyone who submitted their "sweet moments" in a hat and asked the Prince to select one. He really didn't understand the concept of a raffle and wanted to keep drawing out names and reading them. And I thought, so did I!

You all sent so many touching stories that I wished Betty had sent me a Prize Pack for everyone. Alas, she did not. However, along with the test samples sent to me were 2 coupons for one free package of the mixes. But I live in a big urban area with lots of GFCF resources, so I decided to give them away too and I asked the Prince to draw 2 more names.

The winners of a coupon for one free package of the mix of your choice are: Jorge and ghcole! Please email me with your complete names and mailing address and I will forward the coupon that I have to you.

Thanks to everyone who participated. I receive no compensation from Betty Crocker for doing this, other than the samples to test. I felt it was important to show a big company like General Mills that their efforts to reach those of us with gluten allergies or intolerance are appreciated and really needed. Your stories certainly proved that.

After the winners receive their prizes, if you feel comfortable, email me a photo of your baked creation and the "special moment" and I will post it here.

Just a reminder, if you did not win, but are in the U.S. and want to sample Betty's new line, you can call also 1-800-446-1898 to get a free coupon to try one of these mixes.

There are no cherries in cherry Jello, and other interesting Feingold Facts

2009-07-29T10:39:00.000-07:00

When parents are considering making adjustments to their children's diet in order to see if there is a diet-behavior connection, one of the easiest things to do first, is to "clean up" your child's eating habits by eliminating artificial ingredients, dyes, & preservatives. In short, just try to eat healthier. For some children, that alone may make a big difference, although others will need more complicated dietary interventions, such as the GFCF Diet.

We started off using the Feingold Diet and still are members of the Feingold Association, which is now beginning to include GFCF information in their newsletter and "Feingold Approved" product lists. I saw their new You Tube video and thought it was worthwhile sharing, especially for parents who are new to the world of dietary treatments.

This video is a good introduction to reading labels and making healthier choices among processed foods at the grocery. The next time Aunt Mary suggests it really is ok for little Johnny to have some red Jello or blue cotton candy, just this once, show her this video!

Learn and enjoy!

7 More Days to Enter the Betty Crocker Sweet Moments Givaway!

2009-07-25T07:25:00.001-07:00

Just a reminder, The Prince will randomly select the winner of the Betty Crocker "Sweet Moment" Gluten-Free dessert giveaway on Friday, July 31. The winner will be announced on Saturday, August 1. You still have time to leave a comment here to enter.

Dear Cancer.....

2009-07-25T07:14:00.000-07:00

I've had a few more challenges in my cancer treatment lately, nothing too serious, but the realization that this is not something you just "get over" but rather a long-term fight has suddenly hit me. The nurse in my oncologist's office thought I needed a bit of an attitude adjustment and she suggested I write a letter to Cancer, as sort of a cathartic experience.

The company Varian, which makes the equipment used for radiation treatment for a variety of different cancers, is sponsoring a campaign to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. For every "Dear Cancer" letter posted on their site, they will donate $10 to the American Cancer Society, through December 2009.

Here is the letter I wrote, it did make me feel a little better and more empowered again:

Dear Cancer,

As you know, I come from a long line of fighters. My father, uncles, and cousins fought you, and won. Of course you got even by taking some other family members, but not before a good fight.

But now you're facing an Autism Mom and we are the toughest fighters of all. My son is thriving now and no way am I going to miss his next birthday party or his high school graduation. I never thought he would talk, and now he does.

I fought Autism, and now I am going to fight you.

The pink boxing gloves are on and the warrior mom is in the ring. You don't stand a chance.

Sincerely,
GFCF Mommy

If Cancer has touched your life in some way, please consider writing your own letter. They are essentially anonymous. You can find out how to do it here.

High Adventure Weekend for Families with Children with Autism: The Sequel

2009-07-22T07:56:00.000-07:00

Once again this summer, the Prince, the Professor and I are off to beautiful Crested Butte, CO to participate in the High Adventure Weekend for Families with Children with Autism, hosted by The Adaptive Sports Center there. That's the Prince above, getting ready to fly high!

I hear there is still room available, if you are interested. We had a blast last year! You can read about our excellent adventures by following the links on the right under "Best of GFCF Mommy."

The weekend will be August 6-9. The price is $225 per person and includes: one day on the ASC's challenge course, one day of swimming/canoeing/kayaking, one overnight at Blue Mesa Reservoir, two dinners, two lunches, one breakfast, activity transportation, parent social evening with childcare and a guest speaker. All meals will have gluten-free, casein-free, and soy-free options. The ASC staff can also help you find reasonable accommodations which will meet any special needs your family may have.

Call the ASC at 970.349.2296 for more information or to register.

I'll be sure to report from the beautiful Rockies!

Betty Crocker "Sweet Moments" Giveaway Continues

2009-07-17T10:28:00.001-07:00

Just a reminder to everyone that you can still leave a comment here for the chance to win a Betty Crocker "Sweet Moments" Prize Pack. The winner will be selected randomly by the Prince and announced here on August 1.

I thought I would share my own "Sweet Moment" with you. Yesterday was the Prince's "Adoption Day." It was the day when we officially became a family and we always celebrate it kind of like a birthday. I have a special book I made which tells the Prince's adoption story and we read it as a family on this day. We always have cake and we sing "happy adoption day to you."

This year, since I had the yellow cake mix sample from Betty's new GF line, I asked the Prince if he wanted to make the cake this year. He did. First I set out all the ingredients for him. Then we read the directions together, with the Prince doing all the work. He was so excited! From his perspective, no cake ever took so long to cook. Then, no cake ever took so long to cool. We put it directly under the kitchen ceiling fan to expedite the process!

The Prince decorated the cake with a frosting I pre-made from confectioner's sugar (I hear Betty will soon have GF frosting too). The Prince added his own touches with sprinkles (we use India Tree "Nature's Colors" which are Feingold Friendly with no dyes etc.).

Next, since the Professor was not yet home, we had to wait again, an interminable length of time, according to the Prince. He kept watching out the window for the Professor to drive up. When the Professor arrived, you have never seen such an excited child! He was so proud of making the cake by himself!

So the Betty Crocker mix is definitely child-friendly in terms of ease. It is very simple and tastes pretty darn good too. I think if you wanted to make a tall layer cake, you might need two boxes of mix, but for our purposes, everything worked out great.

This year, Adoption Day was even more special for me, as I continue to fight cancer. To see the Prince learn to do more and more for himself, and take baby steps in terms of initiative is really gratifying to me and I treasure every single moment more than ever.

Win a Betty Crocker "Sweet Moments" Prize Pack

2009-07-08T12:02:00.000-07:00

Due to the generosity of Betty Crocker and MyBlogSpot.com, I have the opportunity to give away the same wonderful collection of Gluten-Free Dessert Mixes that I received. The Prize Pack includes the following:

Betty Crocker's Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Mix
Betty Crocker's Gluten-Free Brownie Mix
Betty Crocker's Gluten-Free Devil's Food Cake Mix
Betty Crocker's Yellow-Cake Mix
Grocery Tote Bag
Grocery list pad and pen
2 coupons for any of the above products

How do you enter to win? Between now and July 31, simply post a comment here telling a "sweet moment" in your life where you would serve one of these desserts. It might be your child's birthday party at school, or another child's birthday party where you have to BYOC (bring your own cupcake), maybe you need a GFCF treat to use as part of ABA therapy, or maybe you are having an old-fashioned picnic. Open your heart, share your experiences, and show Betty why the availability of GFCF products in mainstream stores is important to us!

As stipulated per Betty, this contest, alas, is only open to my U.S. readers. (Right now these products are only distributed in the U.S.). The winner will be chosen randomly, that is, I will put all the comments in a hat and let the Prince choose one. I will announce the winner on August 1. The winner will provide me with contact information and Betty Crocker will ship the prize directly to you.

Please note: these products are gluten-free and dairy-free but contain soy lecithin.

New Product Review: Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie and Brownie Mixes

2009-07-08T10:50:00.000-07:00

Betty Crocker's new line of gluten-free dessert mixes delivers everything the beloved brand is known for: home-made goodness and convenience.

Once I received my samples, courtesy of Betty Crocker and MyBlogSpot.com, I decided to try one of the recipes from the Betty Crocker website on the gluten-free home page. I chose the Cookie Brownie Bars, and made them according to the "no butter" instructions on the website. (Dear Betty, next time you redesign your packaging, maybe you could include the no-butter substitution on the box, since many of your customers with Celiac and ASD are also dairy-free. Just a thought.)

The recipe was super-easy to prepare and smelled fabulous cooking. The best testament to the mix: only two bars are left (oink, oink!). I am recovering from surgery and craving comfort food, the Professor is a choc-a-holic, and the Prince loves anything sweet!

Here's the recipe (with dairy-free substitutions) from the website:

Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Cookie-Brownie Bars

Cookie:

1 box Betty Crocker GF Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix

1 tsp GF vanilla extract

1 egg

1/2 cup vegetable oil

Brownie:

1 box Betty Crocker GF Brownie Mix

2 eggs

1/3 cup vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 350. Grease 13 by 9 inch pan. Combine cookie ingredients in a bowl and stir until soft dough forms. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto bottom of pan (almost like you are making cookies on a cookie sheet, making little mounds.)

In another bowl, combine brownie ingredients. Drop batter by tablespoonfuls between mounds of cookie dough. Bake 30-35 minutes or until cookie portion is golden brown. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Cut into bars. Makes about 24 bars. Yum!

I still have to try the samples of Betty's GF yellow cake and devil's food cake mixes and am eyeing the Zucchini-Devil's Food Snack Cake recipe on the website. Stay tuned!

In the meantime, if you are in the U.S. and can't wait for my review and want to sample Betty's new line, you can call 1-800-446-1898 to get a free coupon to try one of these mixes. Soon to come, details on my Betty Crocker's "Sweet Moments" Prize Pack giveaway for my U.S. readers.

I also wanted to note that Betty Crocker participates in the "box-tops for education" school fund-raising program. It is rare for GFCF moms and dads to be able to contribute box tops, since our families cannot use many of the participating products, but here is one we can support! I was also pleased to see the Betty Crocker supports the Celiac Disease Foundation and Celiac Sprue Association.

Please note: although these mixes are gluten-free and dairy-free, they do contain soy lecithin.

Coming Soon: Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Dessert Mixes

2009-06-29T13:37:00.000-07:00

GFCF Mommy is the lucky recipient of a Betty Crocker "Sweet Moments" Prize Pack, courtesy of MyBlogSpark who has asked me to taste-test these mixes and review them for you. They are also sending me another prize pack to give away to a lucky reader, so stay-tuned for more details!

I was really touched by the reason Betty Crocker says they have developed these products, from the "Our Story" section of their website:

Why Go Gluten Free?

Not long ago, two of our co-workers found themselves in the gluten free world. Linc was diagnosed with Celiac disease, and Colleen’s family switched to the diet for her son’s well-being.Their experiences opened our eyes to the challenges families face following the diet. It’s hard to be different, especially when it affects sweet moments with friends and family. No one wants to miss sharing a birthday cake or see their child have to turn down a homemade cookie from a buddy after a game.We hope we can help by bringing you these mixes for gluten free desserts that look and taste like the treats you’ve been longing to share. Finally, Betty Crocker® Gluten Free!

-The Betty Crocker Baking Team

Reading this, I had to wonder if "Colleen's" son might be on the spectrum. I might just ask the good folks at Betty Crocker about that.

These mixes are due in your local grocery any time now, so be on the lookout. Apparently they are also developing GF frosting too. You can read a little about Betty Crocker's new products here and they have a dedicated facility too! Since I am home recuperating from surgery, an easy-to-make dessert sounds great right now. (Let's just hope they are casein-free too!)

P.S. Just got an email from Amazon, looks the mixes are already available at Amazon.com's grocery.

Life Sometimes Intervenes, Part 4

2009-06-22T17:03:00.000-07:00

Once again, I will be taking some time off for surgery related to my breast cancer. This is not a new cancer, recurrence, or anything too scary. I just need an additional surgery to increase my survival odds, which will be pretty darn good following this procedure.

In the meantime, the Professor will be managing things splendidly, as he always does. Maybe I can even convince him to do a guest post here!

Happy Father's Day!

2009-06-21T05:03:00.001-07:00

Happy Father's Day to my own Daddy, pictured here with me and my sister and a furry little friend. I treated the Professor to date night last night and we are getting together with the extended family today for a big pot-luck dinner. Thanks to all the great Dads out there for your love and care.

Blackberry Pie

2009-05-29T07:20:00.001-07:00

When I was a little girl, every summer we would visit my Grandma's farm in upstate New York. My dad would cut trails through the brush and we would have grand adventures following the trails. Hidden in the brush were usually some wild blackberries. We would gather them and bring them back to Grandma who loved to make berry pies.

This is the same Grandma who sent me a message from heaven when I was trying to decide whether to try the GFCF Diet with the Prince. Celiac runs in our family, and when word got around that we were considering this, my aunt sent me a recipe card written by my Grandma that had all her GF notes and tricks she used when cooking for my cousin, who has Celiac. When the note came in the mail, it was my private signal from Grandma that we should try the diet.

But when Grandma made pies for most of the family (who were not GF), she had that wonderful flaky Crisco crust that I could never duplicate. Here is my GFCF version of her recipe, which brings back fond memories of my summer childhood rambles.

Easy Berry Pie

(based on Whole Foods recipe)

Bette Hagman's Very Best Cereal Crust:

1 cup GF rice flakes

1 cup GF corn flakes

3 TB brown sugar

1/2 tsp cinnamon

3 TB butter substitute, melted (like Earth Balance)

1/2 cup coconut, crushed

Filling:

4 cups berries of choice (blackberry, strawberry, blueberry)

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup water

3 TB cornstarch

To make crust: crush coconut in a food processor, add cereals and continue to crush. Mix in sugar and cinnamon. Mix in butter and press into bottom of a 9" pie pan. Bake at 375 for about 5-8 minutes until lightly browned.

For a no-bake crust, you can substitute 2 cups of crushed ginger cookies for the cereal. Instead of baking, chill until ready to use.

To make the filling: Mash 2 cups of berries. Place in a saucepan, add water, heat over medium heat until mixture starts to boil. Meanwhile, mix the cornstarch with sugar. Add to the hot berries. Stir constantly until mixture thickens (about 3-5 minutes).

Remove from heat and cool for about an hour, or until cool enough to handle.

Scatter remainder of raw berries in pie crust. When filling is cool, pour over berries. Let pie chill for about 24 hours then serve.

If your little ones do not like the texture or seeds of the raw berries, you can omit them and just use the cooked berry filling, which is very sweet and almost like a jam.

Product Review: Pamela's New Cornbread & Muffin Mix

2009-05-22T06:03:00.001-07:00

I was delighted when the folks at Pamela's Products offered to send me a sample of their new Cornbread & Muffin Mix. I am pleased to report that the muffins I made were sweet and delicious!

The mix is wheat-free, gluten-free, non-dairy, sugar-free, and Kosher. I found the flavor to be sweeter than the other cornbread mix I have used in the past, The Gluten-Free Pantry's Yankee Cornbread & Muffin Mix. This comes down to a matter of personal taste, mainly, north vs. south. The Pamela's mix tastes more like "southern" cornbread to me (sweet and "buttery"), while Gluten-Free Pantry's mix is, well, like the label says "Yankee" in taste (less sweet, more cake-like).

For what it's worth, the Prince likes them both--he never met a corn product he didn't like--but I think he had a slight preference for the Pamela's mix. The Professor, raised in the South, preferred Pamela's, hands-down. But I think both are good products, it really is a matter of personal taste bud preference. Kids, being kids, will probably like the sweetness of Pamela's.

One of the reasons I like Pamela's Products are the recipe variations they provide on the package. They also suggest substitutions, for example, I followed their suggestion to replace the 8 TB of butter with 1/3 cup oil (I used safflower). From the many recipes on the package, I chose the "Corn Kernel" recipe:

Pamela's Sweet Old-Fashioned Corn Kernel Cornbread Muffins

1 bag Pamela's Mix
1/2 cup sugar (or 1/3 cup honey or agave)

2 eggs

1 cup water

1 cup fresh corn kernels (or 11 oz. can, drained)

Handful chopped red and green bell peppers (my addition)

Preheat oven to 375. Lightly grease muffin tins. In bowl, combine mix, sugar (or honey or agave), eggs, and water. Pour into muffin tins, filling 3/4 full. Bake 15-17 minutes.

The directions said this would yield 12 muffins, but I got 18. Other recipes included on the package are for skillet cornbread (you will have to use my friend Thomas' buttermilk trick at The GFCF Experience), cornbread dressing, and many others. I intend to try the Cranberry Orange Corn Muffins next time.

I am also a fan of Pamela's because they donate to Celiac Sprue and Autism support and research organizations, and are members of the American Celiac Disease Alliance. They also have links on their website to NAAR, TACA, and DAN! I was really impressed by their corporate philanthropy.

Pamela's products are available at your local health food store and also on Amazon.com. The cornbread mix is on special there right now (if you can commit to buying in bulk) until May 26. Publix grocery stores are also starting to carry some Pamela's products too, as they are increasing their GF stock.

(Note for those with cross-contamination sensitivity: although the Pamela's facility is 100% dedicated as gluten-free, some of Pamela's other products contain tree nuts, soy, eggs, and milk. We are not sensitive to cross-contamination, but I know others are, so I wanted to mention it. See the Pamela's website, here, for complete allergen information)

Coupon Sources for Organic Items

2009-05-12T08:08:00.001-07:00

I seem to have an "economic" theme going this month! Anyway, just wanted to share a few new resources I found online. If you are like me, your local newspaper probably had loads of coupons in the Sunday paper for items that you can't buy. Sure, sometimes there might be a coupon for a cleaning product or a toiletry that you can use, but most of the products are for processed food items that we or our kids can't (or choose not to) eat.

Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and the larger health food stores have sales and sometimes have their own circulars with coupons. But I know a lot of people in smaller towns depend on their local groceries (including Walmart or Costco) for their GFCF items.

I stumbled on a website where you can print coupons for organic items. If you have not already, check out Mambo Sprouts. The products are not necessarily GFCF, just organic, but they have some GFCF items like Ian's or Amy's products. You can also sign up to receive coupons via email or snail mail. (If you are printing from the website, you will need to disable your pop-up protector temporarily). Mambo Sprouts also has recipes and articles about organic living.

Another good site I found is The Grocery Coupon Guide , which has an Organic and Natural Food article with a pretty darn thorough link-list for most of the companies that we all frequent. This is a handy reference and many companies have coupons on their sites that you can print.

Finally, many of you probably already know this little money saving trick, but for any new GFCF Moms and Dads, Amazon.com also sells groceries and has a pretty good stock of GFCF products. Many products are also sold in bulk and are cheaper. You also get to take advantage of Amazon's great free shipping with orders of $25 or more. To save even more, partner with another GFCF mom and dad and order in bulk or shop Costco together to take advantage of the savings for buying in bulk. As you know, items with no preservatives need to be eaten quickly or frozen or refrigerated. So unless you have a large family, or a big freezer, buying in large quantities may only make sense if you split the savings with another GFCF parent.

Happy shopping!

(Photo courtesy of FreeFoto.com)

GFCF Mommy's Big Economic Stimulus Package!

2009-05-11T13:40:00.000-07:00

If Ellen DeGeneres can do it, so can GFCF Mommy! I have been nominated as Best Local Blogger for Nickelodeon's Parents' Picks Award (Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area). Vote (hopefully for me) and you can enter a sweepstakes to win $2,000 to use for GFCF groceries, ST, OT, ABA, or even a little mommy and daddy get-away vacation!

You can go here for more info or click on the button on the right of my blog to vote. You can vote once a day, every day between now and July 15. Winners will be announced August 17.

For the record, I don't win anything except the honor and the chance for a little PR for my blog. I am also delighted that Nickelodeon included me, a special needs parent, in the running.

An Autism Mom's Professional Qualifications and Salary

2009-05-07T05:55:00.000-07:00

Every once in awhile, there will be a news story calculating the market value for all the jobs a mom does, and assigning a "salary" based on what each job would pay. NBC Nightly News just did such a story, that you can read here, "What is a mom's work worth?"

The online version of this story has a nifty link to a site called mom.salary.com where you can use their calculator to come up with a personalized statement listing your services, hourly wage and the estimated annual income you would receive if paid for your work. (There is a Dad's calculator too!).

I took this little quiz and my estimated salary came out at $170,935. Wouldn't it be nice to receive that income?!

But looking at the list of jobs they created, there are a few things that are missing, and necessary, as job requirements for children with special needs. I was pleased to see some things they included, like nutritionist and logistics manager, but I think moms.salary.com should add specialneedsmoms.salary.com and add in the following jobs:

Occupational Therapist

Speech Therapist

ABA Therapist

Medical Researcher

Medical Assistant (specialty, neurology)

Medical Records Manager

Professional Carpet Cleaner

Special Education Teaching Assistant

Public Relations Manager

Those are just what I could think of off the top of my head! Do you have others you'd like to add? Leave a comment! Maybe I'll actually price out the list and come up with a salary, just for fun!

Cost for hourly speech therapy in a major metro area? $150 per hour. Hearing your child say "bbuu bbblll" for the first time while the therapist blows bubbles, even it your child is 5 years old? Priceless.

Happy Mother's Day everyone!

(Photo courtesy of Wikipedia. Gotta love June Cleaver! Ubermom!)

The Prince's First "Real" Birthday Party

2009-05-01T07:53:00.000-07:00

The Prince requested a "real" birthday party this year. In the past, we have just invited his cousins over to our house for cake. Like any autism-mom, I had some trepidation, based on our mixed-experiences with the inevitable sensory overload and social skill complications that we have witnessed at birthday parties we have attended over the years.

Fortunately, one of the parties that we attended last year that was a hit with the junior aspie and autie crowd was at a place called "Pump It Up." (Special thanks to fellow-blogger and friend Queen B: Diary of an Autism Mom for inviting us to her son's party there last year). Pump It Up is an indoor, bounce-house, fantasy land. You spend 30-40 minutes (depending on your budget) in two different "arenas" full of over-sized bounce houses. Then you have 30 minutes in the "party room" for cake.

Pump It Up, allows you to bring your own cake, cupcakes, beverages, and dry, packaged snacks (chips, cookies, candy, etc.); essential for GFCF kids, or any children with allergies. They do not permit you to bring in pizza or ice cream, you have to use their provider (who is not GFCF, though they did offer Kosher pizza and ice cream cake). But we were fine with just cake and snacks.

As I mentioned in an earlier blog, here, I needed a professional baker to make a GFCFSF and nut-free cake, since many of our little guests have serious allergies. I can make a decent GFCF cake, but we do have soy and peanuts in our house, so my kitchen is not "dedicated" and I didn't want to take a chance. Above is the great Lightning McQueen cake made for us by Chef Pamela Nicosia, founder of Sugar Temptations by Grainless Kitchen created for us.

This was really the first year I thought the Prince could handle a party like this, and even so, he was very over-stimulated afterwards, but overall I think a good time was had by all. Here are some party-planning tips which worked for us:

Keep it short: this party was only an hour and a half. An hour spent running around and jumping in the bounce houses, a half hour eating.

Keep it simple: we didn't have games, or open presents at the party. The kids just arrived, jumped their little hearts out. Ate. And hopefully had a good night's sleep after all that bouncing.

Keep it small: Pump it Up has two sizes for parties. We opted for the "mini" which has a max of 14 children. We had 9. My mother used to say a good rule for children's parties is to invite the same number of children as the child's age, plus 1. That seems like a pretty good rule.

Keep it quiet: Out of the 9 children at the party, 4 were on the ASD spectrum. We chose to have the party on a weekday, after school, rather than on a weekend. This had two advantages. It is cheaper. Pump It Up is trying to get weekday business so they have a reduced rate. Also, weekends are booked there, one party after another. We were the only ones there the day of the Prince's party. The small number of petite partiers and the slow weekday made it a very ASD-friendly experience. One warning, Pump It Up has a central sound system, so if there are other parties in other rooms the same day as yours, they cannot turn down, or turn off the music. Since we were the only ones, they could.

These are the main reasons we chose Pump It Up for our party. But it is worth mentioning that Pump It Up supports The Autism Society of America with its Bounce for Autism fund-raisers,which may be one of the reasons I found our local franchise to be so ASD-Friendly!

Our Hope For Autism Team: Autism Awareness and Action

2009-04-23T10:29:00.000-07:00

In the spirit of Autism Awareness/Action month, I thought I would share with you a little about my local parent autism support group, “Hope For Autism.” Maybe it will inspire some of you with little ones to start a similar group in your community.

Hope For Autism began as a team for Walk Now for Autism Speaks, actually, I think it might have started with “Walk Far for NAAR” before Autism Speaks existed. But over the years, it has evolved into much more than a fund-raising team. You can see how large the team has become, attesting to the increasing numbers of children diagnosed on the spectrum. We are a multi-cultural, multi-lingual group, united by our love and devotion to our children. Some of us practice biomedical treatments, others do not. Yet, we all manage to respect each other’s treatment choices and to get along. I wish the greater autism community at large could do as well.

Our team does participate in the annual walk for autism, but here are some of the other important things we do:

Monthly parent support group: facilitated by an ESE teacher at our elementary/middle school, we have a support group that serves as a means for parents to share feelings, tips, love, and support. But we also invite speakers from local service providers, the school system, or professional experts in fields ranging from ABA to genetics research. Our support group is open to anyone in the community interested in learning more about parenting and educating students with varying exceptionalities, not just autism.

Social Events: we have seasonal parties for our members, celebrating Christmas, Halloween, and Easter where our kids can be themselves and no one will judge their behavior. We also try to make these events special for the NT siblings of our children with autism. In an effort to offer something for everyone, we have Papa Johns pizza for most of the crowd, and Pizza Fusion for the GFCF’ers. We also have some adult-only parties, like our annual dinner-dance, which in addition to raising funds, allows us to have some grown-up fun! (last year’s party featured an open bar and belly dancers. But I’ll never tell, what happens at the Hope for Autism dinner-dance, Stays at Hope for Autism dinner-dance!) You can check out photos of some of these events on our facebook page (Hope For Autism).

Social Skills Groups: for the first time this year, we are starting parent-run social groups divided by age. There are three groups: ages 5 and under, ages 6-12, and a teen group. The idea is for parent chaperons to take the children to an age appropriate destination and gain some social skill experience. Toddlers might go to a playground, Tweens to a children’s museum, and Teens to dinner and a movie.

Advocacy: Our group was involved in lobbyist activities that helped pass legislation in Florida for insurance coverage for autism. We also provided input to our local school board which was creating an “autism task force” to try and improve services for children in our county. This year, some of us are involved in lobbying for a bill which will give parents greater control over vaccination schedules.

Awareness: We feel that by being involved in the community, we are breaking down barriers and showing the full range of what life of the spectrum means. Several members marched in our local Veteran’s Day parade, right along with the scout groups and other organizations.

I am really proud of our team and just wanted to share and show you the power you have as parents, if you can come together, to make a difference.

Introducing Sugar Temptations, by Chef Pamela Nicosia, Specializing in Gluten-free Cakes and Desserts

2009-04-05T06:09:00.000-07:00

Finally, a local, culinary institute-trained chef who can custom-make GFCF cakes for birthdays or any other occasion! GFCF Mommies and Daddies in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach are in for a treat, thanks to Chef Pamela Nicosia (shown here with her adorable son, Luca).

Pamela is the founder or Sugar Temptations at Grainless Kitchen and she is partnering with local health food store Nutrition S’mart to provide scrumptious, yummy, melt-in-your mouth cakes and desserts for those who suffer from food allergies, especially Celiac Disease. Nutrition S’mart in Pembroke Pines will regularly stock her creations in the freezer section. Soon, Nutrition S’mart will have a special “Fresh Friday” once a month, where customers will be able to purchase her just-baked items, fresh from her Grainless Kitchen.

Chef Pam will also be teaching a gluten-free cooking class at the Pembroke Pines Nutrition S’mart on the second Thursday of every month (check store for details).

I was excited to learn about Pamela at Nutrition S’mart’s recent “Gluten-Free Awareness” event. The Prince is having a birthday party soon, and I wondered if she might create a bakery-style cake, as well as cupcakes for the occasion. Many of the children invited to the party have serious allergies, and although I can make a decent GFCF cake, more complex food restrictions are beyond my capabilities. I needed a professional! To my delight, Pamela offered to create a 3-D cake in the image of Lightning McQueen, from the movie Cars. She uses all fresh ingredients (no artificial dyes or coloring) and she can customize the ingredients based on allergy needs. For example, our cake needed to be GFCF, peanut, and soy free. She can also create cakes that are egg-free too. Our party is not until later this month, but I’ll be sure to post photos here!

“I really would love everyone in the GF community to know that I am here and to help in any way I can, whether it be working with schools and providing treats on occasion, doing fund-raisers, or simply doing a cake,” says Chef Pam.

You can see some examples of Pamela’s artistic cakes on her website here. In addition, if you are interested in ordering a custom cake, you can order it directly from Pamela (her website has order forms that you can email) or you can place your order at Nutrition S’mart by visiting the Pembroke Pines store. In addition, if you do not live in the local South Florida tri-county area, you can print a product request letter from her website to take to your local health food store if you would like them to order Sugar Temptations products for you.

“It gives me such joy to see how thankful my customers are, especially if it’s a child,” says Chef Pamela. I can attest to the fact that her cupcakes are really moist and delicious, and as Pam says, “you’ll never know the gluten is missing!”

10 Things You Can Do During Autism Epidemic Action Month, or Any Month!

2009-04-02T08:31:00.000-07:00

In no particular order, here are some small, simple things you can do to make a difference for individuals with autism.

1. Talk. If the opportunity presents itself, share what you know about autism with others. Let everyone know how wonderful our children are. Or let them know how difficult life can be. Or tell them we all need better insurance coverage. You will know what to say.

2. Listen. Be a sympathetic ear to other parents of special needs children. Try to understand the perspective of your child's ESE teacher. If one does not already exist, start a support group at your child's school for parents of children with special needs. Invite the teachers and administrators to attend.

3. Advocate. Help pass legislature for insurance coverage in your state. Offer to volunteer to be a parent rep at an IEP meeting for a foster child or a child whose parent needs extra help at IEP meetings.

4. Donate. Your time to babysit for another parent of a child with autism, or to volunteer at your child's school. Or if you can, donate money, preferably to a group like lend4health which provides small loand to families with children with autism in need.

5. Shop. You can help a parent just starting out on the GFCF Diet by accompanying them on their first trip to Whole Foods, Trader Joe's or your local health food store. Better yet, send them a GFCF care package of your favorites to get them started, along with a few recipes.

5. Learn. I can't tell you how much I have learned from lectures give by professionals at our local autism support groups. Is it hard to find time? Yes. But if you pick up one tip to help your child, it's worth it.

6. Teach. If you are a professional who works with children on the spectrum, offer to give a free talk at a local autism support group. (See number 5 above.) We REALLY appreciate all the help you can give us.

7. Play. I know it's really hard. Impossible, at times even, but keep trying to play with your little aspie or autie, one to one at home, in an age appropriate social skills group, and with selected NT children of sympathetic friends and relatives.

8. Pray. If you believe in a higher power, pray.

9. Believe. Believe in your child and in yourself.

10. Love. I was touched by a quote from Jenny McCarthy's mother who told her right after Evan was diagnosed, "all children respond to love." They do.

Feel free to comment here with your own ideas for positive things we can all do to help each other and our children.

Autism Awareness: Both Actions and Words are Needed

2009-04-01T06:22:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite writers, Kim Stagliano, has a post on Age of Autism today entitled, We're Aware Already, it's Autism Epidemic Action Month! And I totally agree with her. Any parent of a child on the spectrum is painfully aware of the autism epidemic and Kim has some wonderful suggestions for ways to be proactive and to offer real help to parents and their children on the spectrum. As she says, something as simple as offering to babysit so a harried parent of a newly diagnosed child can just take a break, go grocery shopping alone, or even make phone calls to doctors and insurance companies. All seemingly simple activities that are monumentally difficult to do when your adorable little autie or aspie toddlers are present.

Kim also gives a shout out to Lend4health, profiled by my friend Thomas at The ASD Experience . This wonderful group provides microloans for autism treatment funded through donations. They really are making a difference.

Actions definitely speak "louder than words," as Jenny McCarthy has shown.

But I am discovering that words are still needed too. I am struck at the lack of awareness and sensitivity that exists not only towards autism, but towards all people with special needs. Take for instance, the recent remarks by our President on The Tonight Show. Although he apologized, an apology accepted with grace by Timothy Shriver, those comments really hurt. I forgive him, we've all said things we regret and I agree with Mr. Shriver that it was a "teachable moment." But Mr. Obama's slip-up says to me we have much more educating to do. (And while I am on this topic, take a moment to sign the Special Olympics' spread the word to end the word pledge.)

In my every day life, I was faced with an example of lack of autism awareness just yesterday. It was also another example of the huge contrast I see between the treatment and awareness for cancer, as compared to autism, as I have disussed here.

I went for a follow-up appointment with my primary care doctor. He is a nice man, a good man, with a delightful sense of humor. I have been going to him for more than 10 years. Until I was diagnosed with cancer, he used to always joke with me about how I was healthier than he was. My diagnosis totally surprised him and seemed to really upset him. His demeanor towards me changed, and now he rarely jokes but speaks very gently, though yesterday he did say I was doing great and he hoped I would run in the Susan G. Koman marathon.

Then he said that breast cancer seemed to be more common and he wondered if it were truly increasing or if there is just better diagnosis. Where have we heard that before?! So I responded, as you probably would too, "yes, just like autism." He looked at me like I had two heads. I reminded him my son is on the spectrum, and he said, "well, he didn't get it from vaccines."

I thought that was such a strange response. It was kind of like he was baiting me. I chose not to play. It seems that now when people hear the word "autism" they automatically think "vaccine" and there is so much more to discuss than that, in my opinion.

Instead, I told him how great the Prince was doing, showed him some photos, mentioned that he was going to be in the gifted class for science next year. His response, after smiling warmly and saying "that's great," was "all those kids are great at math and science, your son might not be able to drive but maybe he'll go to MIT." That wasn't exactly the response I was going for either.

Now, my doctor is not a pediatrician, he specializes in internal medicine. But like Mr. Obama, I think he has a lot to learn.

In addition to treatment with "traditional" and "pharmaceutical" medicine, my oncologist has me on quite a few vitamin supplements and diet modifications. Everything she is doing for me is based on research and my blood tests, tailored to me. Again, does this sound familiar? Not unlike the approach of a good DAN! doctor, no? My primary doctor is fully on board with this approach, is even aware of the research my oncologist consulted and has no qualms about it. However, what do you think he would say if I mentioned the GFCF Diet in connection with autism? I'd probably get a lecture.

How come there are several well-funded, double-blind studies on the effects of alcohol, soy, red meat, and other foods and beverages on breast cancer, yet it is a struggle to find anyone to research dietary interventions for autism?

So follow Kim's advice, treat this month as "Autism Epidemic Action Month" but also use your words--and actions--to make others aware. I truly hope that one day patients with autism and their caregivers will be treated with the same sensitivity, kindness, and well-researched treatment options as cancer patients. Having been on both sides of the fence now, I continue to be amazed by the contrast.

April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day

2009-03-25T12:38:00.001-07:00

April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day. I want to repeat my message from last year. Let's all join hands and hearts. Together we can foster acceptance, awareness, hope, and love. (Image courtesy of Casdok from the Mother of Shrek blog.)

The World Autism Awareness Day website has information on events around the world, as well as this sweet video by one of the Prince's favorite characters, Wubbzy.

Our "Day Out With Thomas"

2009-03-23T10:39:00.000-07:00

We recently spent "a day out with Thomas," something we have done for the last several years, and it caused GFCF Mommy to become, well, a little introspective, but in a good way. So I thought I'd share our experiences with the useful little blue engine over the years, since I know Thomas is the beloved unofficial best friend of many Princes with ASD. Maybe it will help some of you with young children learn what to expect should Thomas visit your city.

Since toddler-hood, one of the Prince's favorite places is The Gold Coast Railroad Museum. It is the kind of place that John Elder Robison, author of Look Me In the Eye, would adore. My favorite passages in his excellent autobiography are when John describes the shared love of trains he has with his son and his father. (As an aside, I personally believe Look Me In the Eye should be added to Temple Grandin's Thinking in Pictures and Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in The Night-time as required reading for parents of children with ASD and especially Asperger's).

But back to the train museum. Although there is a small, traditional exhibit with photographs, displays and the like, the main attraction are the real trains that visitors are free to explore. You can roam the tracks, climb inside some of the trains that have been restored, and even take short rides on a diesel or two, or a "kiddy-train." In its former life, the museum was a naval air station during WWII, the three tracks and hangers were reincarnated in their current charming form. There is also a room/exhibit with several hand-on Thomas tables, a big screen TV that plays Thomas shows continuously, and several model train collection setups, with one or two usually running.

For years, a treat for us on a rainy afternoon would be to go to the Thomas room. There we would meet others of "our kind," children and adults, diagnosed and not diagnosed. It has always been a very ASD-friendly place, perhaps unintentionally so, but nevertheless, a safe and happy place for our kids.

So, at the height of "Thomasmania" at our house, when the Prince was 3 years old, we were excited when "A Day Out With Thomas" came to our local museum. At that time, we had only been doing the therapy go-round and the diet for about a year. The Prince could hardly speak, was not potty-trained, and had very-heightened sensitivity to noise. But undaunted, convinced our little Thomas aficionado would adore the experience, we bought tickets and anticipated an idyllic family outing with great photos to share with the relatives.

That year, it didn't quite turn out that way.

I am sure the "Day Out With Thomas" differs from venue to venue. At our local museum, there is a fair-like atmosphere that somewhat resembles the seaside amusements at the Island of Sodor. There are bounce houses, food booths (none GFCF, of course), Sir Topham Hat roams around and is available for photo opps. There are organized Thomas-related crafts and games. One coach shows Thomas videos. You can buy any Thomas train, toy, apparel or merchandise of your desire. But the highlight is watching the full-sized little blue engine puff into the station, followed by your ride on Thomas' coaches, and there are more than just Annie and Clarabell.

We ordered our tickets in advance, and arrived, as suggested an hour before our train departure time. Unfortunately, we went straight to the loading area, only to stand in line for an hour. The ambient noise and the waiting were too much for the Prince. By the time Thomas arrived, he was an overstimulated unhappy camper. Next, we boarded the train. Throughout the coaches they are playing the happy songs you hear on the show, loudly. By the time the ride ended, The Prince was in full-blown melt-down mode. So much for our photo opp with Thomas.

The following year, when the Prince was 4. We just skipped it, though we continued to be frequent visitors to the Museum. To our surprise, when the Prince was 5, now potty-trained and very verbal, he requested that we attend "A Day Out With Thomas." We reminded him of our previous experience, but he really wanted to go. By this time, he had 3 years of therapy (OT, ST, some ABA), 2 years of special ed, and the GFCF diet. We also had 3 years of ASD parenting experience and had learned to make accommodations and lower our expectations for events like this.

To our delight, it went fine. We opted not to stand in line as suggested, and arrived at the last minute just to see our blue friend pull into the station. We brought headphones for the ride. We sneaked in our own snacks. We spent more time in the open-field area where the booths were located, hence, less crowd noise. The Prince came home with a few new trains, a James tattoo, and a big smile on his face.

Then there was this year. Thomasmania seems to be on the rise again, but instead of just enjoying carrying around the little trains, one in each hand as he did as a toddler, the Prince takes great pride in using his tracks to create elaborate train runs, throughout our entire house. At age 6, he was looking forward to attending "A Day Out With Thomas" to add to his collection. He rarely watches his Thomas videos anymore, since he is more interested in his track-creations.

So once again, we brought headphones, snacks, and lowered, though hopeful, expectations. We didn't need the headphones. The Prince sat in the coach, chatted with some of the other children, and listened to the Thomas songs. Afterwards, he did say that the noise made him tired, and that he needed a break. We grabbed a picnic table, had a snack, then hit the merchandise area. The Prince even allowed me to take some photos with Thomas, something he could never do in earlier years. It was a family outing like I imagine typical families have. I almost had to pinch myself to make sure it was not a dream.

As I sat in the coach listening to those happy children sing the "Thomas and Friends" song, I almost cried. Perhaps some of the emotion is due to my newly discovered existential awareness which comes from fighting cancer. But I thought back to all the other "days out" we had attended and marveled at how far the Prince, the Professor, and I had come. And I wouldn't trade these experiences for anything.

Life is good on the Island of Sodor.

Best-ever, Quick, Tuscan Style, GFCF Pizza

2009-03-05T10:37:00.000-08:00

Even though we are definitely not vegan, we eat meat and eggs, I frequently find inspiration for recipes from vegan cookbooks, since they are dairy-free and use fresh ingredients. Although not a new book, I just discovered The Mediterranean Vegan Kitchen, by Donna Klein and I found a totally terrific, Prince-approved pizza recipe in it.

Most of the recipes in this book are truly elegant in their simplicity, but more geared for sophisticated adult tastes, rather than picky ASD children.

I love this book, however, for its fresh approach to cooking as well as the "Meals in Minutes" seasonal menus. Ms. Klein presents Mediterranean-influenced recipes that are naturally meat-free, egg-free, and dairy-free. I think that many of the dessert recipes, which rely on fresh fruit, could be easily converted for GFCF children's palates. The pasta, foccacia, and pizza recipes also have lots of kid-potential.

I made the Quick Tuscan-Style Pizza with White Beans, Tomatoes, and Basil. Ms. Klein provides a recipe for the pizza crust, but I used my own GFCF crust. The genius of this recipe, in my opinion, is the substitution of white bean spread for cheese. It melts in your mouth and has real "cheese" feel. The Prince loves beans anyway and he really liked this. I think I will experiment with keeping the white bean spread as the base and trying some other toppings. The Professor and I really loved this delicious recipe. I truly think it is the best "white" pizza I have ever tasted!

Quick Tuscan-Style Pizza, with White Beans, Tomatoes, and Basil

(Adapted from Donna Klein, The Mediterranean Vegan Kitchen)

3 TB extra-virgin olive oil

2 large cloves of garlic, finely chopped

1 (15 oz.) can cannellini, or other white beans, drained and rinsed

6 TB vegetable broth

salt and pepper to taste

1/4 cup finely chopped fresh basil

3 or 4 plum tomatoes, cut into 1/4 inch thick slices

1 recipe GFCF pizza crust

Preheat oven to 450. In a small saucepan, heat 1 1/2 TB of oil over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the beans, broth, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium low and cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is thickened and creamy, about 10 minutes. Stir in half of the basil.

Brush a light coating of olive oil on the pizza crust. Spread the bean mixture over the crust. It will be a thin layer. (I think the next time I make this I may double the recipe in order to have a thicker spread.) Place the tomato slices evenly over the bean mixture, then sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Lightly drizzle olive oil over the top.

Bake 10-15 minutes or until the crust is crisp and the edges browned. Sprinkle with torn basil leaves and serve.

Adaptations for sensory-avoidant little ones: omit the tomato and basil. The bean spread by itself is delicious. The bean spread could also be served on crackers or possibly as a dip. You might even top it with a bit of tomato sauce, making kind of a "reverse" pizza topping, if your little one does not like fresh tomatoes yet, but likes the flavor.

New for South Florida GFCF Mommies and Daddies: Annie's Organic Buying Club and The Allergy-Free Shop

2009-02-16T07:46:00.000-08:00

There are two great new resources for GFCF moms and dads in South Florida, and in case you haven't already heard about them, I wanted to share the news.

Annie's Organic Buying Club is brand new and you can read all about it here. Here's how it works: You sign up to receive a share of fresh, gorgeous, healthy, delicious, organic vegetables and fruits either weekly or bi-weekly. There is no membership fee, no obligations, I am sure satisfaction is guaranteed! You can choose a share of produce grown in Florida, or a box of mixed produce (still organic, just not all grown in Florida). With several pick-up locations to choose from, it is super-easy. Receiving your box of goodies from the earth is just like getting a Christmas present! Annie expects to offer add-ons of other organic items soon. Branches of her buying clubs are sprouting up in Georgia and Tennessee too. Now the Farmer's Market comes right to your neighborhood! Annie herself also has a really educational blog with tips on going green, recipes, and reflections on motherhood. Check out Hip Organic Mama.

The Allergy-Free Shop is another great new resource. Winner of The Miami Herald's "Business Plan Challenge" (you can read more here), The Allergy-Free Shop was started by a mom whose son has gluten and casein sensitivities. The store, located in Miami (down south, near The Falls Shopping Center, for you locals!) offers a great service: curb-side pickup. You can order conveniently online, then stop by to pick up your groceries. (If you don't live in Florida, you can still order online.) The website has a really nice feature that allows you to search by allergy.

If you live in South Florida and are new to the GFCF Diet, Teresa Becerra, President of the Miami-Dade Autism Society of America is giving a lecture on March 17, 6:30-8:30 p.m. on the GFCF Diet at the store's monthly lecture night. On lecture nights, you also receive a 10% discount on purchases. For more information or directions, go to the website above.

Product Review: Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake Mix

2009-02-16T06:49:00.000-08:00

I really wanted to make something delicious and decadently chocolate for the Prince and the Professor for Valentine's Day. But I just didn't have the energy or patience to make a cake from scratch. So I decided to go for the convenience of Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake Mix.

I have used Bob's Red Mill products before, but not the cake mix. I just followed the recipe on the package, which I won't post, but you can read it here. After I made the batter, my inner-child just had to lick the bowl. And I was a bit worried. The batter tasted decidedly "beany," I think because Bob uses garbanzo bean flour in his flour blend. But never-fear, the finished product did not taste beany at all. It does not have an overwhelming chocolate taste either, but reminded me of a flour-less chocolate cake, or a galette.

I made a quick frosting of confectioner's sugar and used it between the two 8 inch layers, along with about a cup of Tropical Source GFCF chocolate chips. On top, I just sprinkled some confectioner's sugar and decorated with fresh strawberries (it's strawberry season here in Florida! Hurray!) and more chocolate chips.

This mix makes a very pleasant, "adult taste" cake. The Prince liked the berries, chocolate chips, and the sugar, but alas wasn't much for the cake itself. If you are making this cake for kids, I would add a hefty dose of melted GFCF chocolate chips, or GFCF dark chocolate (not milk chocolate) to the batter. I used almond milk in the batter, but it didn't leave an almond taste, as I had desired. I guess to add a hint of almond, adding almond extract or crushed almonds might do the trick.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2009-02-14T05:07:00.001-08:00

Nature's Perfect Food: The Noble Banana

2009-02-10T07:23:00.000-08:00

Since I have been under treatment for cancer and not having the most predictable appetite, I believe it has given me new insight into the sensory issues our children have with food. I find that certain textures or smells, even ones that I once loved, are sometimes not as appealing.

This made me recall all the culinary hoops I jumped through to try to get the Prince to eat when he was a really little guy. One food that never failed to satisfy was the noble banana. It turns out to be true for me too, in my current sensory-aware state!

It has been said so many times before, but I will say it again, the banana is nearly a perfect food. It provides potassium, B6, and fiber. All good things for our ASD kids (and moms and dads too!)

So I thought I would share a simple smoothie recipe that has been a favorite of the Prince's since he was small, and now it is a life-saver to me when I just don't feel like eating. I originally got this recipe from Martha Stewart and changed it to make it GFCF. The recipe below is adapted to my new soy-free needs, but feel free to modify according to your own taste.

It may seem odd to talk about smoothies in the middle of winter, but hey, I live in Florida. Winter is our growing season! But you can get bananas year-round almost anywhere, and maybe a little tropical taste is good to fight the winter doldrums!

Banana Smoothie

1/4 cup Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free Oats

1/2 cup milk substitute (I used almond milk, but hemp milk would be great too)

1/2 cup So Delicious Coconut Milk Yogurt, plain (or soy yogurt, if you prefer)

1 banana (ripened, but not mushy)

2 tsp honey or agave syrup

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Combine all in a blender until smooth. To reduce the thick texture of the oats, if you or your little one cannot abide "pieces" or pulp, you can pre-chop the oats in your food processor before you combine them with the other ingredients. You can also soak them in advance. (Serves 1)

Variation: You can substitute 1 cup of almost any fruit you have on hand for the banana with this recipe. I have used strawberries, strawberries & banana, blueberries, mango, and peaches, either alone or in combination. (If you use frozen fruit, use a little less milk substitute.)

Enjoy!

Another Every Day Miracle!

2009-02-03T13:50:00.000-08:00

About a year ago, I shared with you one of our every day miracles when the Prince "graduated" from speech therapy. Today, I can share another with you: the Prince "graduated" from OT! Last year at this time, he was fairly behind. At the chronological age of 5, he tested across the board at between ages 2-3. So we are delighted that he has come so far in a year.

What accounts for the gain? I wish I could say for sure. In addition to the constant foundation of keeping him healthy by meeting his dietary needs, I think it has mostly been hard work on all our parts, both the "warrior parents" but also our "warrior child." I also must credit a certain amount of luck, for I know many work just as hard as we have and have not seen similar results. So I am mindful of the hand of fate.

I feel incredibly fortunate and blessed. It will be hard to say goodbye to our OT next week, just as it was hard to say goodbye to our ST last year. But it feels terrific beyond words to know that my beautiful boy is reaching his developmental milestones now in some important areas. We will still continue with his social skills group, and his special needs swimming and gymnastics classes, which function as OT by providing a sensory diet and helping with bilateral coordination, one of the Prince's challenges.

I know the Prince will always have his charming, quirky, aspie ways. But that is ok. It is what makes him unique. But I am so proud of him for coming so far!

If you are just starting this journey with your child, I hope this gives you hope. The most important thing to me is that no matter what happens, if treatments work or if they don't, take joy in small every day miracles. Always believe in yourself and always believe in your child.

Life Sometimes Intervenes, Part 3: Update

2009-02-03T13:37:00.000-08:00

I wanted to let you all know I am still here and give you a little update. My surgery was successful and I am healing very well. I finished a short course of radiation, and although I have had some side effects--and probably will continue to have fatigue for awhile-- my radiation oncologist says I am over the worst.

Next week I learn the results of a test (oncotype dx) which will evaluate my estimated percentage for recurrence, and help us determine if I need chemotherapy. My medical oncologist also expects to have the results of some other tests that will help us decide my long-term drug therapy options. She is very interested in nutrition and although she feels I am ahead of the game already, by eating healthily and exercising, she wants me to avoid soy. I may have to change my blogname to GFCFSF Mommy!

So overall, I have been incredibly lucky. Keep those positive thoughts coming!

Ho, Ho, Ho!

2008-12-22T09:39:00.000-08:00

Wishing you Joy, Love, and Happiness, during the holidays and always.

Here's to Health and Peace in the New Year.

Love,

GFCF Mommy, The Prince, and The Professor

Wordless Wednesday (but on a Tuesday, since I'll be busy on Wednesday!)

2008-12-09T11:28:00.001-08:00

The Prince made a few modifications to our Nativity Scene. I was curious about the reasons behind his additions. Here is what he told me: angels today would never use wings, they are too slow, so he gave Gabriel an airplane. Also, according to The Prince, the Three Kings are apparently coming to babysit Jesus, and The Prince thought Baby Jesus would enjoy playing with cars.

Life Sometimes Intervenes, Part 2: Autism Diagnosis vs. Cancer Diagnosis

2008-12-05T17:29:00.001-08:00

Well, dear readers, I had hoped for an easier answer, but I learned this week I have early stage breast cancer. The prognosis seems good, it looks like we have caught it early, but we just started this journey. I have wonderful medical care and am hoping for the best. But blogging may have to take a back seat for a little while.

However, I have been struck by the great difference in receiving a cancer diagnosis and receiving an autism diagnosis. Others have observed this before, I believe, but I guess seeing is believing.

I have friends whose children were diagnosed with autism about 10 years ago. First of all, they had a hard time even getting an accurate diagnosis. Then when they did, the clinician said something like, "there is no cure, look into special needs estate planning, there is nothing you can do." In our case, just 4 years ago, we were told, "there is no cure but at least you caught it early and there is a lot you can do, here's a list, do your research and we'll help you as best we can, but be forewarned, insurance probably won't cover any treatment." The Internet and a network of fellow warrior parents became our best friends. The news of our son's autism diagnosis was met with deafening silence from many of our real-life friends. Our family were of great help and support, but many of our friends at the time--well, I guess they just didn't know what to say or do. Now, Autism Speaks, love them or hate them, has raised awareness to the point I hope less families feel as alone as in the past.

Contrast this to my cancer diagnosis this week. What a difference! I have rarely felt so supported by the medical community. The protocol is clear, even at the start of my journey, I have been given an overwhelming amount of information. Insurance covers everything. I have been deluged with well-wishes by everyone I know, even acquaintances.

My hope is that one day an autism diagnosis will be greeted by the clear protocol and outpouring of love I have received with my cancer diagnosis.

On a personal level, I am most worried about how this will affect the Prince's Christmas. He finally "gets" Christmas and Santa. I selfishly want to enjoy seeing the thrill he will have this year and don't want to spoil it for him. I worry that all the things I usually do, not even during Christmas but every day, I may not be able to do for a little while. I hate that. I might not be able to make Christmas cookies this year, much less GFCF dinner on a regular basis. I have done a lot ahead, so that is good. We already put up out Christmas tree. Santa has done quite a bit of online shopping in anticipation. Maybe Santa can bring me a little extra endurance and energy this Christmas and New Year's.

The Professor and I have the attitude that we stood up to autism with pretty good success, we can stand up to cancer too. And it seems we have more ammunition in our corner. I just wish I could transfer some of that ammunition to those with a new autism diagnoses.

When I feel well, I will try to write. I love Christmas. It is one of my favorite times of the year. Right now, pre-treatment, I feel fine but am so busy with the doctors. But I just felt such a bond with you all, I wanted you to know I am not abandoning you, especially the new parents just starting the GFCF diet. You can do it. I can do this too.

Favorite Pumpkin Desserts

2008-11-25T07:48:00.001-08:00

The Prince had a school assignment to color a "disguise" for the Turkey so Tom could escape the inevitable. It's hard to see in the photo, but The Prince's Turkey is adorned with glitter ornaments. According to the Prince, "People will think he's a Christmas Tree!"

As I mentioned previously, we have a lot going on right now, but I wanted to re-post two of my favorite Thanksgiving dessert recipes. My friend Thomas has a great Thanksgiving menu that you can see at the GFCF Experience here and the magazine Living Without also has lots of great recipes for the holidays.

Here are my humble offerings:

GFCF Pumpkin Pie

Over the years I have had a terrible time finding a CF replacement for my “back of the Libby’s Canned Pumpkin” recipe that called for evaporated milk. I tried silken tofu--too lumpy and tasted too “non-dairyish.” I tried a recipe from Special Diets for Special Kids that used Darifree--too liquid, kind of a disaster. Maybe I did something wrong though. But last year I hit on a solution: Coconut Milk. You can even find it in the regular grocery. I used Taste of Thai. If you want to be a tad unconventional, top your finished pie with a tiny bit of coconut flakes just before serving. (But it’s fine without them!)

Pumpkin Pie

2 eggs
1 (15 oz) can pumpkin
1 cup light brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
½ tsp. ginger
½ tsp. salt
1 TB molasses
¾ cup coconut milk
1 pie crust (your GFCF choice)

Preheat oven to 425. Beat eggs lightly. Add pumpkin and all remaining ingredients except the coconut milk. When blended thoroughly, add coconut milk and stir to combine. Pour into unbaked, deep dish, pie crust. Bake for 45-55 minutes until set.

GFCF Marbled Pumpkin Cheesecake

Crust:
2 cups crushed GFCF cookies of your choice
2 TB butter substitute, melted
½ pkg. GFCF chocolate chips

Cheesecake:

½ pkg. GFCF chocolate chips
3 (8 oz) pkg. Tofutti “better than cream cheese” softened
1 cup sugar
¼ cup light brown sugar
¼ cup cornstarch
¾ cup coconut milk
4 eggs
1 (16 oz) can pumpkin puree
¾ tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg

Crust: Grease 10 in. spring form pan. Preheat oven to 325. Combine cookie crumbs and melted butter in food processor. Press into bottom only of spring form pan. Top with ½ pkg. chocolate chips Set aside.

Cheescake filling: Melt remaining chocolate chips until smooth. Set aside. In large bowl, beat tofutti cream cheese, sugar, brown sugar until smooth. Beat in pumpkin. Beat in eggs and coconut milk until blended. Mix in by hand cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg. Then beat with mixer until blended.

Stir 1 cup of pumpkin/tofutti mixture into melted GFCF chocolate chips. Mix well, set aside.

Pour remaining pumpkin mixture into spring form pan on top of chocolate chips. Spoon chocolate mixture on top of cheesecake mixture in small mounds. Swirl with a knife. Place spring form pan on a baking sheet.

Bake at 325 for 60 minutes or until filling is set (center may still jiggle a little). Turn off oven, but let cheesecake stand in oven with door open a crack for about an hour. Cool at room temperature for another hour then refrigerate.

Makes one TALL, HUGE, cheesecake. (Small slices necessary!)

Enjoy, and Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Life Sometimes Intervenes

2008-11-22T05:41:00.001-08:00

I just wanted to let my readers know that I am still here, but having to deal with some health issues of my own. Middle age is not for wimps!

Between juggling work, The Prince's schedule, and my doctor's appointments, I haven't had much blogging time. But never fear, I'll be back soon!

I'll try to reprise a few of my Thanksgiving favorite recipes for you this weekend.

Trick or Treat!

2008-10-22T10:19:00.001-07:00

My wonderful friend Thomas at the GFCF Experience has a terrific Halloween guide and list of GFCF candy you find in your regular grocery store as well as some practical trick or treating tips.

I will also refer you to my Trick or Treat post from last year that you can read here.

But I also wanted to point out a few new things. This year, Annie's Organics has partnered with Whole Foods to create special Halloween treat packs. You can only buy the large package of 50 (shown above) at Whole Foods. They are not only GFCF but also dye-free and preservative-free. The Prince is addicted to them and keeps trying to convince me they are a "healthy snack" (from "Captain Carlos" the nutrition conscious superhero on Playhouse Disney!). They are not exactly "healthy," they do have lots of sugar, but I view it as the lesser of evils, and what would Halloween be without candy!

Two other good sources of GFCF, organic, dye-free candy are Pure Fun! candy, which has some special lollipops for Halloween. And College Farm Organic, which has particularly ghostly lollipops just for Halloween.

Happy Halloween!

Product Review: Let's Do Ice Cream Cones

2008-10-19T07:01:00.000-07:00

I was thinking of writing my top 10 wish list of GFCF items I hoped someone would produce, and one of those items would be ice cream cones.

I have such fond memories of going to the neighborhood ice cream store as a child for a special treat. But sadly, I have not been able to share this delight with the Prince. It is one of the things that seemed like such a sacrifice and one of life's simple pleasures that I wanted him to experience.

The Prince had even been requesting ice cream cones lately, and sadly accepted the fact that they were not good for him or that they could make him sick. I know I could make them, but unfortunately, my cooking skills, though pretty good, are not at that level.

But then, to my surprise, I found these: made by Edward and Sons Trading Company, their "Let's Do" line. (I guess this product is so new it is not on the website yet). They also make GFCF sprinkles. To my South Floridian friends, I found these at Nutrition S'mart, which seems to have added even more kid-friendly GFCF products. If you haven't shopped there for awhile, check it out. At the Pembroke Pines location they've re-organized and have their expanded GFCF section on one aisle. It really appears as if they are catering to the needs of GFCF children.

The cones are very light and flaky. Just add your favorite dairy-free ice cream, such as Tofutti, Good Karma Organic Rice Divine, or Turtle Mountain's new coconut milk ice cream line and top with Let's Do sprinkles.

The Prince was charmed. I probably derived as much pleasure from watching him enjoy his treat, as he did from eating it! I felt a little sad that he had to wait until he was 6 years old to enjoy his first ice cream cone, but The Professor noted that he's enjoying it now and that is all that matters.

Today is Blog Action Day, the Topic? Poverty

2008-10-15T09:04:00.000-07:00

Today is "Blog Action Day" where for one day, bloggers world-wide can choose to write about a single issue of importance to humanity. This year's topic is poverty.

Like many suburban moms in the United States, I am blessed. And spoiled. I have the means and luxury of shopping at multiple grocery stores to provide my family with the staples of our GFCF diet.

But I don't have to look too far in South Florida to see those who are less fortunate. Living here, I am also keenly aware of the devastation left in Cuba, Haiti, the Caribbean Islands, and Texas by this season's hurricanes.

What can we do? We can count our blessings and give back a little to our communities, or beyond. Help stock a local food bank, or donate funds for hurricane relief. And give thanks for the blessings we have in our lives.

Cookbook Review: 1,000 Gluten-Free Recipes

2008-10-05T17:43:00.000-07:00

Christmas came in October this year when a review copy of Carol Fenster’s latest cookbook, 1,000 Gluten-Free Recipes was delivered to my home! The jacket states, “It’s like getting 5 cookbooks in 1!” and I totally agree. I would consider this book to be the GF (and frequently CF) version of The Joy of Cooking, destined to become a classic for those of us who have dietary restrictions or cook for loved ones who do. With this book, I think Carol Fenster has definitely established herself as an heiress to the cooking-style of the late and much-beloved Bette Hagman.

Introduction to Gluten-Free Living
In the first chapter, “Gluten-Free: A New Diet for the 21st Century,” Fenster includes an easy-to-understand discussion of what gluten-is, and why one might need to avoid it. She references Celiac Disease, of course, but also Autism, Allergies & Intolerances, and Asthma. She explains how to read labels, discusses how certain ingredients affect GF-cooking, and offers dairy substitution suggestions for those who are lactose-intolerant or must avoid casein. This chapter will be a very useful guide for anyone just starting a GF diet, and also for parents just beginning the GFCF diet for their ASD-children.

Novice Cook, Busy Parent, or Experienced Chef—Something for Everyone!
Fenster includes menus and recipes for all-occasions and cooks of any ability-level. She has full menus for “Comfort Food Supper” and “After Soccer Practice Dinner,” but also “Thanksgiving Dinner,” “Breakfast Buffet,” and an elegant dinner party. The titles of her recipes are clearly marked “V” for Vegetarian or “Q” for quick and easy. Many slow-cooker recipes are also included. Fenster relies on her own GF Flour Blend recipe (given in the introduction, along with some suggested variations) where needed, but many recipes are naturally gluten-free. In most recipes where dairy-products are used, she provides dairy/casein-free substitutions and often names products (Tofutti “better than sour cream,” for example), which will be helpful to GFCF Mommies and Daddies just starting out.

Kid-Friendly, Family Fare…
I was attracted to the kid-friendly, family recipes, such as PB & J Pancakes, Mini-refried Bean Quesadillas, a trio of meatloaf recipes: Italian, Southwestern, and Turkey, ice cream cones, Peanut Butter Cheesecake with GFCF Cookie Crust, No-Egg Banana Bread, and Banana Cupcakes with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting (yes, all are GF with suggested CF substitutions!) There are many recipes for fajitas, wraps, tacos, and pizza, which any family can enjoy. Fenster also includes a multitude of rice recipes, which I found inspirational, as well as recipes for the “new” yet “ancient” grains such as quinoa or millet. I also appreciated the many cornbread and quick bread recipes.

Some recipes I intend to try soon use unexpected ingredients in creative ways. The Fudgy Vegan Chocolate Brownie, for example incorporates dried plums, coffee, and Tropical Source Chocolate Chips; three of my favorite things! Fenster’s jazzy Chicken & Rice Casserole uses Imagine Potato & Leek Soup, or Sweet Corn Soup (your choice) instead of the Campbell’s “Cream of” which is not GFCF.

…but Elegant Enough for Gourmet "Foodies"
If you are an experienced cook, and a GF-medical diagnosis has you wondering how to make some of your favorite culinary creations, Fenster has them all, revised in GF form. Coq au vin, Beef Wellington, Moussaka, Pfeffernusse, Black Forest Trifle, Sauerbraten, just to name a few. If you are a skilled baker, she includes recipes for popovers, Yorkshire Pudding, brioche, Challah, Buche de Noel, and more.

I am very interested in her more “trendy” and naturally gluten-free recipes like Pumpkin Pancakes with Pomegranate Syrup, Tequila-Marinated Steak Fajitas with Guacamole and Pico de Gallo, or Sage Dusted Pork Chops with Autumn Spiced Apples.

Home-made GF Ingredients
Fenster also includes a useful chapter of recipes for making your own buttermilk, almond milk, seasoning (such as “onion soup seasoning”), béchamel sauce, BBQ sauce, and more. In this way, she reminds me of Bette Hagman.

I think I am really going to enjoy using this book, both as a reference for all things GF, and for recipe inspirations. My only concern might be that the novice cook might feel overwhelmed by the truly tremendous scope of this book. But don’t worry, this is the kind of book you will grow into as a cook, which is why it reminds me of The Joy of Cooking.

1,000 Gluten-Free Recipes, by Carol Fenster, Ph.D. is published by John Wiley and Sons. For more information, and for Fenster’s other cookbooks and newsletter, see her website at http://www.savorypalate.com/

When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Make German Chocolate Brownies!

2008-09-28T10:48:00.000-07:00

I was going to call these “Bail Out Brownies,” since I am of the belief that trying times call for increased caloric intake in the form of comfort food! So here is the next in my series of recipes to provide a little TLC during these troubled times!

This recipe comes from Pamela’s Greatest Gluten-free Recipe Contest of 2007, and was submitted by Liz C. Pamela’s is a wonderful company, which generously donates to charities for Celiac Disease and Autism. The recipes on the website are great for inspiration and her products taste delicious, however, some of the mixes contain casein in the form of buttermilk, and the factory, while dedicated as GF is not dedicated as CF. If you or your child has suffered reactions from cross-contamination, then you may want to avoid Pamela’s products.

Still, I love her recipes. And this one is soooooo gooooood! So here are some alternatives for you. If cross-contamination is an issue, instead of using Pamela’s, consider Bob’s Red Mill Brownie Mix (please don’t hate me, Pamela!). Or to be even safer, make your own brownie batter using Karina’s Favorite Brownie Recipe from Clare or your own favorite GFCF brownie recipe. (Karina also has a great round-up on her site of a tast-test she did of several brownie mixes.)

A word on chocolate: you should, of course, avoid milk chocolate, or anything that just says “chocolate” but does not give further explanation. Cocoa is usually ok, as is dark chocolate. Some good sources of CF chocolate at the Tropical Source company and Green and Black’s organic chocolate.

German Chocolate Brownies
(adapted from Liz C’s award winning recipe at Pamela’s Products)

Brownies:
1 bag your favorite GFCF Brownie mix (see comments above)
Or 1 recipe your favorite home-made GFCF brownie batter (see above)

Topping:
3/4 cup coconut
3/4 cup pecans
½ cup brown sugar
2 TB melted butter substitute (such as Earth Balance Buttery Spread)
¼ tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat 8x8 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray. Follow instructions for brownie mix or Clare’s Brownie recipe and pour batter into pan. In a bowl, combine coconut, pecans, salt, brown sugar, and butter. Crumble mixture over top of brownie batter. Back for 25-30 minutes, being careful that coconut does not burn. Let brownies cool on rack and cut into square.

Believe

2008-09-21T06:09:00.000-07:00

The Prince's school has a support group for parents of children in the special education classes. Most of the participants, as it turns out, have children with autism. It is open to anyone in the community, not just parents from our school. The first meeting was last week and there were several new people whose children were recently diagnosed.

It was an emotional meeting.

I am learning how to use Windows Movie Maker for a volunteer project I am doing, so I decided to practice by making a little slide show to encourage the moms and dads I met at our meeting last week.

The Professor thinks this slideshow needs more spectacular photography to go with the "over-the-top" song. He's probably right, but I don't care, I love this song.

I know we are blessed. The Prince has responded to treatment, though there are always challenges. Autism has many paths and none of us has the crystal ball telling us what to try, what will work, what won't. But I do know what does work.

Believing.

In These Troubled Times, When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Cook Pot Roast!

2008-09-18T17:22:00.002-07:00

What do you do when banks are failing, hurricanes are raging, the cost of gas means you can't have your Starbuck's fix anymore, your child's teacher is not following his IEP, and you're not sure you like the shade of Sarah Palin's lipstick?

Why, you get out the crock pot and cook pot roast of course! Nothing like a little comfort food to lift your spirits!

Here is a slightly retro, yet quite delicious, and easy version I made last night. It's very sweet, the alcohol cooks away, so the little ones might even try it, if they can handle the texture of the meat, which melts in your mouth by the time it is done. And it makes your house smell fabulous! Serve with GFCF mashed potatoes and maybe some roasted carrots.

Pot Roast with Dried Fruit

1 cup dried pitted prunes

1 cup dried apricots

1/2 tsp. ground ginger

4 lb. chuck roast, seasoned with salt and pepper to taste

1 bottle GFCF Redbridge Beer

2 TBS Earth Balance Buttery Spread

1 small onion sliced

3 TBS brown sugar

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 cup honey

Soak the dried fruit with ginger in the beer for 1 or 2 hours. Heat the butter substitute on medium heat and brown the meat. Transfer meat to crock pot. Add remaining ingredients, pour marinade over all. Cook on low for 10-12 hours, or high for 5-6 hours.

Yum! Just like Grandma used to make!

Autism the Musical: Emmy Winner!

2008-09-18T17:22:00.001-07:00

One of my all-time favorite shows about Autism, Autism The Musical, is an Emmy winner! The awards show airs this Saturday, September 20 at 8:00 p.m. on the E! Network.

And this lovely, heart-warming documentary is also now available of DVD, add it to your Netflix queue if you haven't seen it already!

Palin's Special Education Funding Record

2008-09-10T11:08:00.001-07:00

Sarah Palin's stance on special education funding has definitely struck a chord among us all. For those of us with special needs children, it is an emotional and critical issue.

Thank you to everyone who emailed me privately or commented on my most recent post regarding Palin's promise to be our friend in the White House. I have heard from people from both parties. It makes me feel proud to be an American that we can all express our views, even if we disagree.

Several people referenced this article in Newsweek, which disputes the coverage by CNN News, and other media sources, who reported that Palin cut the special education budget in Alaska. The article reports that although it might appear that she cut the budget, it was only because an expensive program was removed from the budget and funded separately with its own line item. In fact, the article states, overall Palin increased programming for intensive needs special education students.

But please read all the articles yourself and draw your own conclusions. I am eager to hear Palin and Obama actually speak on this topic in public rather than rely on media coverage.

After this brief foray into politics, GFCF Mommy will now return to the happy world of my family and my kitchen!

In other more personal news, we in Florida are relieved that Hurricane Ike passed us by, but we are keeping our friends in Texas and the Gulf Coast in our thoughts and prayers.

A Letter to Sarah Palin, from Another Pit Bull with Lipstick

2008-09-07T10:38:00.000-07:00

Dear Sarah,

When you said, and I am paraphrasing, “the only difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull is lipstick,” I had much the same reaction as Jon Stewart from The Daily Show, which was “I love this woman!” And by now you know that you have the rapt attention of every parent of a child with a disability in America, because you looked straight into the camera and promised, if elected, to be our friend and advocate in The White House.

You are hard not to like, Sarah, but I just wanted you to know, if you do not already, that every mom of a child with a disability, at one time or another becomes “a pit bull with lipstick.” The pit bull instincts come out when you fight with an insurance company for coverage for speech therapy, OT, PT or ABA. The pit bull instincts appear when a neurologist or psychiatrist tells you that heavy medication is the only answer for your child, so just accept it. The pit bull instinct erupts at IEP meetings or when your child is bullied at the playground because he is different.

Jenny McCarthy’s new book is tentatively entitled Mother Warriors and all of us with special needs children can relate to that title. Jenny McCarthy, love her or hate her, is definitely a pit bull with lipstick (and great hair, and a fashion stylist!). You don’t really have a choice as a special needs mom, you just don the armor along with your makeup each day.

Your sweet baby boy Trig is only 4 months old, so you may not have experienced all of these moments yet, but you will. You might be somewhat protected by your personal wealth and celebrity from some of these issues, although those very things could make it harder for you and your family too. But you will be fine in the end. We already know you are a fighter, and for that reason, your son is incredibly lucky.

A lot of us who have children with autism have friends who have children with Down Syndrome. We are combat buddies, who spent hours together in waiting rooms at therapy centers or working side by side with our children and their therapists. We know what you and Trig are facing and the level of early intervention that is required, so you have a knowledgeable and sympathetic constituency in the Mother (and Father!) warriors of the world.

But you have to know, Sarah, that we pit bulls don’t take promises lightly. We want to know specifics about the McCain-Palin platform for special needs. The Professor and I are decidedly democrat, yet we would listen to you on this topic, if you could make a persuasive case. This article in The New York Times today was not encouraging. But I know your record on special needs legislation as governor comes prior to the birth of your son, so I will give you the benefit of the doubt. I won’t hold you to the past, but I do want more than a promise for the future.

So come on Sarah, you threw us the bone (pun fully intended!), now deliver.

Your fellow pit bulls in make-up are listening.

Love,

GFCF Mommy

P.S. I just read in another New York Times article that your nephew has autism. Which makes it a little hard to understand your decision to cut Alaska's special education budget. But you have the chance to make up for it now on a larger scale. Still, we'd like some thoughtful answers and the chance for some discussion.

(Note to readers: for updates on the candidates’ platforms on disability issues, see Autism Votes.)

(Photo courtesy of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.)

High Adventure Weekend Part 3: The Love

2008-08-29T08:26:00.000-07:00

Above: It looks like we are doing Tai Chi, but we were really learning how to do the "spotter stance"--a safety measure--for the ropes course while playing Simon Says.

Below: GFCF Mommy's Tinkerbell ride on the "Giant Swing."

The motto of the Adaptive Sports Center in Crested Butte, CO is "...where the possibilities are endless" and after our High Adventure Weekend, I think all of us came away with wonderful feelings of empowerment, hope, and joy in our children and their accomplishments.

Some of my favorite moments were watching what seemed to me amazing and touching achievements of the children, and their parents, and the kindness that everyone shared. Here are some memories that stay with me:

One teenage boy smiled. His mother said he never smiles, and that he actually did, was special.

We all held our breath when his little brother, who has especially pronounced sensory challenges had the great courage to try the Giant Swing, only to have trouble pulling the release cord that lets you "fly." (It is a little like pulling the rip cord on a parachute.) With lots of calm coaching from his incredible mom and the staff, the little guy persevered, pulled that cord and took flight! To us, it was as big an achievement as landing on the moon.

A serious young man who befriended me proudly showed off the tiny minnow he had caught in a bucket, but to him, it may as well have been a prize-winning trout!

The Prince, who has trouble with social skills, actually made a friend! A girl friend. He is still declaring his undying love for her.

A young teen girl made necklaces out of flowers with her guide and put them in her hair. And she was beautiful, inside and out.

One of the guides brought along her friendly and frisky black lab who was as good as any therapy dog at herding the kids and providing hours of countless entertainment.

Many of the moms, so focused on our children's needs, had not had the opportunity to try something adventurous or to even participate in sports as often as we might like. It helped our confidence level to get outside our "comfort zone" and try something fun and new. It also reminded us that our kids are outside their comfort zones every day.

As we sat around the campfire, one of the moms got up and led a song. The youngest camper there, with no prompting, stood right next to her, sang along and did all the movements. And as we sat in the warm glow of the fire singing, many of our kids, unable to sit still for too long, were on the perimeter, participating in their own unique way through their own movements, or vocalizations, and you could tell that they were at peace and we were all in harmony.

In our final group gathering in the morning, Larissa, the program leader, asked each of our families to take a moment to consider the weekend, what our goals had been, if they were met and what we remembered most. For many of us, the goals were simple, to have fun, as a family and individually, in a non-judgemental environment. Our goals were more than met. Many times over.

For one of the few times in my life as a mother, I had the experience of letting my child "play" while I "socialized" without fear of stigmatization, social pressure, or merely the fact that he might hurt himself. At our campsite, the kids roamed freely but the difference from our usual playground experience at home was that the guides and the parents were trained in autism parenting techniques--either professionally, or in the case of most parents by the school of life experience (and ASD parent support groups, and dealing with school administrators, teachers, and IEP's etc.). We all knew that yelling solves nothing and only escalates behavior problems. We all knew that the best person to have at ground zero during a meltdown, is the child's parent. We all knew that some kids are runners and some are attracted to beautiful but dangerous things and we looked out for each other with friendship and understanding. It was true blessing and a privilege to participate.

Larissa, our camp leader, also said something very beautiful that had most of us parents in tears. She said that as the "adaptive sports family" they were all moved by the love that we show our kids in the face of their challenges.

I will remember the experience forever and treasure the lesson we learned that in life, "the possibilities are endless.

(Photo credit: Pat & Alex Bittle, courtesy Adaptive Sports Center)

For Those in the Cone Zone: AutismCares

2008-08-27T09:54:00.000-07:00

Goodbye Fay, Hello Gustav! Although Fay did not cause too much trouble for us in South Florida, she sure made a mess in North Florida, and few of us can remember a storm with such staying power! Kind of like that annoying, buzzing fly that just won't go away! Her arrival coincided roughly with the anniversary of Hurricane Andrew, pictured here, enveloping the entire state of Florida.

Now there is Gustav. This looks like a biggie and in a disturbingly ironic twist of fate, he seems to be headed to the Gulf Coast, just in time for the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

So for those of you who live in the Cone Zone, I wanted to make you aware of a resource we learned about during Hurricane Wilma a few years ago: AutismCares. If you are a member of Autism Speaks and are under a hurricane warning, you may receive an email asking you to register with AutismCares. If so, do it. After Katrina they asked folks to "adopt" families who had children with autism and had special needs--like diapers, OT equipment, GFCF foods, supplements, toys. They had wish lists and you could pick an item and fund it or send it yourself. If you have a moment, watch some of the video clips on the home page. It will warm your heart to hear how people care for one another.

Since then, AutismCares has grown, is more organized, and has joined with several other charities. Within 90 days of a natural disaster of any kind (not just hurricanes) you can apply for financial aid. They recently helped out after the terrible floods in the Midwest.

So bookmark the link, maybe email the address to a friend who doesn't live in "the cone zone" in case you need it. Hopefully, you won't. And if you don't live in the zone but are feeling charitable, this is a great cause.

Now, here's a little humor: one of our local TV channels has set up a service where you can get "the cone on your phone" (yes, that is what they are calling it!) So any time we are under the "cone of error" you can get updates to your cell phone.

Prayers and positive thoughts to all of us in the Gulf Coast. Stay safe.

(Photograph of Hurricane Andrew courtesy of The Visible Earth at http://www.nasa.gov/)

We Interrupt This Blog For a Message from The Emergency Broadcasting System: GFCF Hurricane Preparedness

2008-08-16T14:05:00.000-07:00

I have not forgotten about Part 3 of my “High Adventure Weekend” series. However, upon arriving home, we find South Florida in the “cone of terror” oops, I mean “cone of error” for Tropical Storm Fay, which may or may not become a hurricane before heading our way Monday or Tuesday.

Since I have spent the better part of the day restocking our hurricane food kit, I thought I’d share a few quick tips. I will not go into the greater basics of hurricane preparedness, if you live in a hurricane prone area, you know how to do that, but rather those aspects of preparing for GFCF meals without electricity.

I have two cookbooks I really like. My favorite is The Storm Gourmet by Daphne Nikolopoulos. This book includes a 14 day meal plan and a 5 day meal plan, complete with shopping lists, recipes, and menus. Another good one is Apocalypse Chow by Jon and Robin Robertson, which features vegetarian and vegan recipes. This book also has a great dose of humor, much appreciated when under hurricane watches or warnings! Both books take the approach that not having power does not sentence you to a life of peanut butter and chips (though the Prince would be happy with that for awhile!)

Here are some tips I have picked up from these books, and from my own experience:

As the storm approaches, cook something big and fabulous:
The day before or the day of the storm, cook a big ham, a roasted chicken, some wonderful chili, something that smells great, will lift your spirits, and will guarantee leftovers. Bake some GFCF cornbread, muffins, cupcakes or cookies and freeze them. As they thaw, you have ready-made comfort food.

Fruits and veggies to consider:
Apples and oranges last longer without refrigeration than say, peaches or bananas (but you could grab a few really green bananas.) Garlic, onions, carrots, potatoes do fine without refrigeration for a time. Lemons and limes keep well too and can be used to marinate or add a little zip to whatever you are making.

The spice of life:
Spices and herbs can really enhance meals prepared from canned or dry goods. Rather than buying them fresh-cut, when you are at Home Depot buying batteries, also pick up a few potted herbs for an indoor herb garden to get you through the storm.

Condiments and ethnic foods are king:
To enhance the flavor of canned or dry goods, condiments can come to the rescue! Dijon mustard, tamari sauce, mojo marinade, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, whatever your favorites are. Asian, Italian and Caribbean cuisine are especially inspirational when cooking quick and flavorful foods. Throw in capers, pitted Kalamata olives and you can turn even canned tuna into a gourmet delight!

Pre-cook pasta:
Cook your favorite Tinkyada pasta ahead and store it in the fridge in zip-lock bags. When the power goes out, you can reheat it easily on a camp stove or grill and throw in your favorite protein (tuna, salmon, some of that leftover Ham or Chicken you cooked as the storm approached) or use some ready-made tomato pasta sauce, or pesto, or bruschetta.

Anything you can cook in a pot or a frying pan on the stove, you can cook on the grill: Things will keep in your fridge, if it is fairly full, for a day or two after the power goes out—if you keep the door shut. But you need to eat what is in your fridge first, of course, before you hit your stash of canned and dry goods. So take those veggies and meats and make a stew, make scrambled eggs for breakfast on the grill, throw in that left-over steak, invite your neighbors over for an impromptu al'fresco brunch! Pretend you are camping in an exotic foreign land. (Come to think of it, many people think South Florida IS an exotic foreign land!)

Alternatives to ice:
Take Capri-Sun juice packs and freeze them. You can use them in coolers as ice until they melt, then you can drink them!

Indulge in snackiness (yes, I am a Stephen Colbert fan!)
Lay in a good supply of trail mix, nuts, dried fruits, GFCF cereals, and yes, peanut butter, GFCF crackers, cookies and chips!

Splurge a little: get some great smoked salmon or caviar if you can find it and red wine does not need refrigeration! Tropical Source GFCF chocolate is a nice treat too.

Veggies in jars or cans, oh my! But in this situation it's ok: I know many people will balk at the idea of buying canned veggies. But take it from me, after Hurricane Wilma, many groceries in South Florida had no power and very limited shipments of fresh produce. I was thrilled to have canned peas, green beans, and corn on hand. Look for organic canned versions, get enough to last you a couple of weeks but no more, and remember, desperate times call for desperate measures. Hence, the reason "condiments are king!" Also, organic varieties do not last as long as those with preservatives, so at the end of hurricane season, eat up!

Finally, Chef Boyardee Beckons, but be strong and resist the dark side! Maybe it is just me, normally I would not even consider Kraft Mac ‘N Cheese or Chef Boyardee Ravioli, but when I am laying-in hurricane supplies, I must admit, the thought crosses my mind how much easier it would be. But then I remember I will be in a dark house during a loud storm and having my child suffer a food-infraction reaction, or hyperactivity due to the charms of dyes and preservatives under those circumstances, well, it's not a happy thought, so let's not go there. Think healthy and think of your love of food as a source of entertainment when the lights go out!

This concludes today's message from your Emergency Broadcasting System. We now return you to your regularly scheduled blog-programming, after Fay has come and gone, that is.

High Adventure Weekend Part 2: The Food

2008-08-09T16:05:00.000-07:00

Your mission: to provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner for 7 families, in a campsite situation. Your extra-bonus point challenge, their dietary restrictions: family 1 & 2-GFCF, family 3-GF only, family 4-GFCFSF, family 5-vegetarian, families 6 & 7 no food restrictions.

Undaunted, fearless Chef Krista rose to the challenge. On the first day she provided us with menus for the whole weekend, complete with ingredients. At all meals, served buffet-style, ingredients were listed too.

Welcome Dinner: grilled lemon chicken, cold wild rice pilaf, steamed asparagus, garden salad (dressing optional, on side) and banana peach smoothies for dessert.

Day 1: Continental Breakfast: choice of cold cereals (including GF options) or granola; granola/cereal bars (including Envirokidz), bagels & cream cheese; milk options: cow, soy, rice; yogurt options: cow, goat, or soy; fresh fruit of all kinds; OJ, coffee, green tea,-- with honey or cane sugar and above milk options. Easy!

Day 1: Picnic Lunch on the Ropes Course: home-made GFCF pulled pork, choice of bun (regular or GFCF); carrot sticks, celery sticks; garden salad, home-made coleslaw; peanut butter and honey with choice of bread (including GFCF), Frito Lay chips; MiDel ginger cookies or oreoes; dried fruit.

Day 2: Hot Breakfast: Breakfast Burritos, several varieties. Choice of corn or flour tortillas; choice of fillings: scrambled eggs, sauteed onions, sauteed peppers, ham (GF), cow's cheese. Same continental breakfast items, milk options, juice and coffee or tea choices as above. All were then rolled and foil-wrapped for easy eating! (GFCF Mommy even swiped a few to take on the car ride to the beach!)

Day 2: Beach Picnic Lunch: Make your own sandwich: several bread varieties including GFCF, GF deli-meat, hummus, canola mayo, tomatoes, lettuce, peanut butter, honey, Frito Lay chips, carrot sticks, apple slices, celery (crudite was good with the hummus), MiDel ginger cookies, oreos.

Day 2: Campsite Dinner: Fajitas! Choice of corn or flour tortillas. Fillings: grilled chicken, grilled onion and bell pepper mix, grilled mushrooms, salsa, guacamole, corn chips, salsa, rice, black beans.

Day 2: Dinner Desserts: two versions of Apple Crisp, a GFCFSF version and a regular version, pictured above. Our chef made each variety in its own dutch oven. Later that night, S'mores: regular version. GFCF version: toasted marshmallow smushed between two MiDel Ginger cookies and Tropical Source chocolate bars (which are GFCF). Yumm!

Day 3: Farewell Breakfast: leftover apple crisp, scrambled eggs plain or with leftover fajita veggies mixed-in, sausage (and GF version too), same fruit, cereal, milk, OJ, coffee/green tea options as above.

Here are a few of Chef Krista's recipes that I would like to share. She is a natural cook, so I do not have measurements, but I think you can experiment to your personal taste

ASC Chef Krista's Cold Wild Rice Pilaf
Ingredients: wild rice, brown rice, olive oil, dried fruits of choice (cherries or craisins, but golden raisins might be good too), chives, honey, toasted walnuts, salt to taste

Make rices according to package directions. Let it cool. Meanwhile, toast walnuts. Mix all ingredients. Slowly add olive oil to taste. The Prince LOVED this stuff. He ate 3 bowls of it!

ASC Chef Krista's Campfire Dutch Oven GFCFSF Apple Crisp
Ingredients: coconut oil, quinoa flour, Bob's Red Mill GF Oats, Apples, brown sugar

Coat bottom of dutch oven with coconut oil. Slice apples and place in bottom of dutch oven. Mix oats, quinoa flour, brown sugar, add a little more coconut oil to moisten, top apples with mixture. Cook over hot coals for about 30-45 minutes, checking frequently.

Somehow, food just tastes better when cooked outside over a campfire! Thank you ASC staff and Chef Krista!

Wordless Wednesday: High Adventure Weekend

2008-08-07T08:08:00.001-07:00

Still in Crested Butte, but figured out how to upload a few photos from my camera, just in time for a belated Wordless Wednesday post! Doesn't my handsome husband look a little like Indiana Jones here! I'm a lucky girl! More to come. Enjoy!

High Adventure Weekend Part 1: The Adventures

2008-08-04T16:06:00.001-07:00

We are still enjoying the beauty of Colorado for another week. But I wanted to share some of our experiences at the “High Adventure Weekend” with you while it is still fresh in my mind. It was truly one of the most meaningful—and purely fun—experiences we have had as a family. I’ll have to add the photos later though. Plus, the thoughtful staff had a photographer present so we could focus on activities rather than picture-taking. She is going to send us all a commemorative cd, which I am sure, will have better photos than any I took!

The Adaptive Sports staff are amazing people and as families, we all bonded really quickly. Seven families participated. Every beautiful color of the autism spectrum was represented. The children ranged in age from 4 to 14. Each family had at least one child with autism and most brought along their NT siblings. Each family was assigned a staffer, trained in adaptive sports for people with special needs, including safety, of course. I felt we were in really good hands. Our guide was Jeff, wonderful, soft-spoken guy whom we all liked immediately.

I thought I would write three different posts: the adventures, the food, and the love.

First, the adventures. The first night of the program, we had a wonderful family-style dinner where we met our staffer and got to know each other a bit. They had photo/picture schedules there of all the activities we were to do over the weekend (We had been mailed these in advance too.) After dinner, the staff took all the children to the hotel pool and the parents enjoyed some adult time. The pool was quite elaborate, for a hotel pool. It had fountains and part of it went under the building giving the impression of a cave, there was also a hot tub. By all accounts, a fabulous time was had by all!

While the kids had their pool party, we had an open discussion with a speaker, a local doctor who combines traditional medicine with some DAN! Protocols, though she does not consider herself a DAN! Doctor. She just has an “integrated medicine” practice. She was a very gentle soul and it was less a lecture than a facilitated discussion about dietary interventions, supplements, and allergies. As parents, we quickly found most of us had some common ground with our children’s special health issues.

The next day, the adventure began! We had breakfast on a terrace patio that had a great view of the chairlift. As we ate, everyone prepared their children to ride the chairlift by watching others get on and talking about it. When each family was ready, at their own pace, they and their staff person rode the lift. If the lift was too scary, a van ride was possible.

After the lift ride, we assembled at the “challenge course.” This is an area including equipment intended to teach skills needed for rock climbing, but it is also used by people who want “team building” experiences, say on a corporate retreat. Our staff arranged the course with different stations. Some activities could be done as a family; some required two families to team up. At any time, if a child needed a break, it was understood. The Prince, for example, had a bit of a melt-down because he had to wait for an activity he really wanted to do. Jeff suggested we ride the chair lift (beloved by the Prince) a few times. Problem solved!

We started as a group in a circle with some silly funny games, such as Simon Says, but adapted so that no one is “out” or loses. Then we started with the lower level ropes course. Here is an example of one activity: A tightrope is strung, kind of low to the ground between two platforms. Above, ropes hang at intervals as hand grips. Each family member took a turn walking the tightrope while the others spotted them. They had a variety of outdoor obstacle course-like set-ups, most involving ropes and balance. Very outdoorsy-fun, OT kind of stuff.

We broke for a delicious and hearty picnic lunch provided by the Center, which we ate on the course, enjoying the view of the Rockies. Then, for the grand finale, we moved to the high ropes course. Here, basically, all the elements of the low course are elevated several feet off the ground. For those who wanted to participate, we were fitted with helmets, harnesses, and lots of safety equipment. We could climb a tree fitted with grips then choose to “fly” down a zip line as the staffers would belay us. You could climb as high or low as you felt comfortable. The true thrill seekers among us could practice at height the tightrope walk that we did at the low levels. Again team work was required as we acted as spotters and “back up belayers.”

This was really exciting stuff and all the kids especially enjoyed seeing the moms and dads getting out of their comfort zones and trying something new. I personally loved the zip line and related activities. Guess my inner gymnast is yearning to be free! Here is a link to the Adaptive Sports Center's website showing you the high course, so you can get an idea. (This is not our group, but I promise to share photos ASAP.)

That night, by popular request, the staffers graciously took the kids for another pool party and the adults enjoyed cocktails at the hotel bar and got to know each other better still. It was lovely and relaxing.

The next day we drove about an hour to a campsite with a lake. We spent the day on the lake doing whatever we wanted. Some children just played in the sand. Some went swimming. Most of us tried out the canoes. More great food and snacks.

It was here that our family had our “high adventure.” The Prince and the Professor must have decided GFCF Mommy needed a little more excitement. As we were nearing the time to leave and go the campsite, the Prince wanted one more canoe ride, to “surf the waves” as he put it. The wind had kicked up and the lake now did have some waves, but the Professor obliged. Well, they took on too much water and the canoe tipped over. Everyone was fine, they had on life-jackets, the Professor is actually quite skilled at water sports and I knew they would be fine. But standing on shore watching this is not a happy place to be!

I was impressed with the staff’s rapid response. Within a second they had hopped in two canoes with the speed of light. In the meantime, another dad who was in a canoe nearby picked up the Prince and put him in his canoe. The Prince was fine, just scared. He’s a great swimmer, but this surprised him. I was glad for the life-jacket. By this time the staff had reached the Professor and a nearby motor boater also came over and towed the canoes and everyone in. I keep telling myself this will be a good story one day!

We left the lake and went to a lovely secluded campsite in a grove by a stream. The Prince loved the whole idea of spending the night in a tent. The kids basically ran around, just throwing rocks in the stream was a popular activity. The staff had brought balls and facilitated some games for those who wanted to play, which was most of the parents. Quite a competitive little Four Square game got started!

While we played, some of the staff made another delicious dinner. After dinner we had songs around the campfire and slept under a gorgeous clear sky with more stars than I have ever seen before.

After breakfast, our adventures sadly came to an end. But we’ll have the memories forever.

Part 2 will describe the meals, which were pretty darn impressive considering all the different dietary needs of the group. Part 3 will be my feelings about how special everyone who participated was and what a wonderful, empowering, non-judgemental, nurturing experience it was for us as a family.

Stay tuned!