Celiac/Gluten Allergy

[MrsWufie]

Just looking to see if there is anyone out here who's struggling with living a gluten free diet (because of Celiacs or not). I've had a diagnosis of Celiac for a little over a week now and am going crazy trying to find yummy gluten free things to eat. Even the heads up on not so yummy things would be appreciated.

One positive...thus far I've lost 11 lbs in a week (mostly fluid, but hey -- I'll take it as a positive anyway) :D

Thanks!
B

[Sevilla]

Namaste foods will be your good friends :). They make a ton of very yummy gf mixes - their brownies are so good you can't even tell they are gf.

Annie's also makes a gf macaroni and cheese.

www.namastefoods.com

[MrsWufie]

ROCK ON! I've got it down to look for them during our trip to Whole Foods tomorrow. Checked out the website, and it all looks so good!

Thanks for sharing :)

[AmandaLeigh]

While I don't have a glueten alergy, I worked with several children that did. Whole foods had a ton of gluten free products including breads, bread mixes, pizza crusts, pasta. The fanilies also focused on eating lean meats with lots of fruits and veggies for variety. They ate alot of home chinese/japanese foods. I also know that they used The Best Gluten Free Cookbook for recipe ideas - especially for breads, cookies, cakes, and the like. I occasionally at the recipes with the families and all of them were tasty. The main difference was that the texture was a little different than you would expect.

[MrsWufie]

Thanks - those are some great suggestions! I'm lucky to have two Whole Foods within 10 minutes of the house. I guess it's just time to get creative with food ;)

[Peppy]

Amy's Organic has a line of gluten-free products (about five items in total). I have had the Shepherd's Pie and I really like it. You can find her stuff at Whole Foods, and the link to the gluten-free stuff is here (http://www.amys.com/products/search_results.php?form_noglutenadded=1). I find that basically everything they make is really good.

Also, Whole Foods generally has a bunch of pamphlets on different diets, and I think they have one on gluten-free diets--it should highlight some of the foods they have in the store that fit into your diet.

[soxgirlie]

Bumping!

I was just advised by my doctor to begin a gluten free diet. I have no official diagnosis yet, but she believes that a gluten intolerance contributes to other medical issues I have - allergies, asthma, IBS.

Any advice or recommendations you have are appreciated!

I have a nephew who has a celiac disease so I'll be getting some advice from my sister-in-law but my nephew is only 19 months so he can't give me taste recommendations!

[heather1029]

I have celiac disease and am extra sensitive to even a hint of wheat!

Let me know if you are actually diagnosed and I can give you all my tips-- there are a lot of things you'll need to know!!!

There are a TON of gross gluten free foods out there. A lot of them are a huge waste of money because they taste so horrible.

Here are a few of my personal recommendations. If you use these products, you really won't need to buy a gluten free cookbook. I use good ol' Betty Crocker and Giada just like everyone else!


Pamela's Baking Mix (http://www.pamelasproducts.com/) is the best first step. You can substitute it for regular flour in practically all your old recipes. It's awesome!! And tasty!

Kinnikinnick (https://secure.kinnikinnick.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/shop.main/Prodcatid/17.html) foods are the yummiest pre-baked items. Their doughnuts are better than the real thing.

Bionaturae (http://www.bionaturae.com/) has excellent gluten free spaghetti-- my guests never seem to know the difference.

Tinkyada (http://www.tinkyada.com/) has awesome lasagna noodles.

And The Gluten Free Pantry has the best sandwich bread mix, as well as good brownie and angel food cake mixes. I usually buy this brand at amazon.com.

[heather1029]

By the way, another good resource is glutenfreeforum.com

Everyone there is very helpful!

[MrsWufie]

Thanks Heather! Because after a month I've reacted so positively to taking gluten out of my diet, and because the blood tests came back elevated, she doesn't want to do the endoscopy. I'm having some other major health things going on right now (unexplained tremors) and she doesn't want to stress my body more than it has to be.

You're right about there being some nasty stuff out there! Any hints are greatly appreciated. My biggest question is how to adapt my current recipes -- I'm a Paula Deen-aholic -- to my new lifestyle.

I've been amazed at how many yummy things there are out there!

[lawyerlee]

I was just advised by my doctor to begin a gluten free diet. I have no official diagnosis yet, but she believes that a gluten intolerance contributes to other medical issues I have - allergies, asthma, IBS.

Any advice or recommendations you have are appreciated!
Same here. I have chronic migraines, depression, and some IBS. I like the idea of trying something like this, rather than more harsh preventative medications that likely won't work any better than the zillion I've tried. I had done an elimination diet more than once in the past to try to identify triggers, but as my doctor said today, perhaps it is something pervasive like a sensitivity to gluten that is causing some of my problems.

Thanks for the resources that have been shared. We'll see how this goes! :)

[Weddings by]

I cooked gluten-free (and more-free) for a few years. I liked:

The Gluten-Free Gourmet Bakes Bread by Bette Hagman
and
Miss Roben's (http://www.missroben.com/)

The website looks kind of cheesy, but I loved the catalogue. Each item has symbols beside it telling what isn't in it (wheat, gluten, corn, dairy, etc.).

Bette Hagman has other books, too. She uses a variety of flours and starches made from rice, tapioca, potato, and beans, among others. They are more filling and don't give me a bad sugar spike. I tried a chocolate-chip cookie recipe that was good. Besides the flavour, it was good because I couldn't eat very many because they were filling. :D

I cooked a lot of Indian, Chinese and other Asian foods. Marinated, grilled meats and vegetables. South American meats.

You can check out Atkins' recipes for more variety; they shouldn't contain gluten, for the most part.

[heather1029]

You're right about there being some nasty stuff out there! Any hints are greatly appreciated. My biggest question is how to adapt my current recipes -- I'm a Paula Deen-aholic -- to my new lifestyle.

I've been amazed at how many yummy things there are out there!

I'm so glad you seem to be getting better by going gluten free.

Hmm, I don't know Paula Deen too well... BUT, I know I just substitute Pamela's Baking Mix as flour in most recipes and they turn out fine!

Here's are two of my favorite recipes that I adapted for gluten free, and my guests say they're DELICIOUS!

Mom's Poppyseed (or Almond) Cake

4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 cup oil
Combine the above and mix well.

Add 3 cups Pamela's baking mix
1 large can evaporated milk
12 oz. can of almond filling (can find it next to other pie fillings)

Beat all of the above for 2 mins.
Pour into greased and floured (with Pamela's!) bundt pan [Do not overfill. Use extra in mini bundts or muffins]

Bake for 60 - 75 minutes in oven preheated to 350. Start checking for doneness at 55 minutes with a toothpick. Should not jiggle.
Top with powdered sugar glaze.

YUM!!!!!!!!

[heather1029]

Here's another that uses Pamela's:

Heather's Old Fashioned Chicken and Dumplings

1 whole chicken
1 chopped onion
3 chopped carrots
Salt & Pepper to taste
Water to cover chicken

Bring water to boil. Turn down to low and cook for one hour. Take chicken out and place in bowl in freezer. When cool, pick chicken off bones and dump into the broth that has formed in the pot.

For dumplings, mix the following:
1 1/2 cups Pamela's baking mix
4 tablespoons very softened butter
1/3 cup whole or 2% milk
Roll into balls or plop by tablespoon into low boiling chicken broth. Cook 8-10 minutes (while chicken is in the freezer). Add chicken.

Note: you can add extra pamela's to the broth with a whisk before you add dumplings if you like your broth thicker.

Serve over cooked white rice.

[heather1029]

Definitely try adding Pamela's to any recipe. Try this Giada recipe (http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_30144,00.html) from the food network simply by substituting Pamela's for the flour and Bionaturae gluten free spagetti for the pasta! I make this recipe whenever I have company:)

Now, you can always use recipes that don't even call for flour!

This recipe in the crockpot thread is gluten free and delish!

Santa Fe Chicken (http://www.constantchatter.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4830&postcount=10)

Or this recipe from my family recipe cards is just plain awesome:

GF Peanut Butter Cookies

1 cup chunky peanut butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup mini semisweet choc. chips. (6 oz.)

Mix first five ingredients, then mix in chips. Using wet hands, form one tablespoon of dough for each cookie into a ball. Space 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake until puffy, gold bottom, soft center. 12 minutes at 350.

[heather1029]

Same here. I have chronic migraines, depression, and some IBS. I like the idea of trying something like this, rather than more harsh preventative medications that likely won't work any better than the zillion I've tried. I had done an elimination diet more than once in the past to try to identify triggers, but as my doctor said today, perhaps it is something pervasive like a sensitivity to gluten that is causing some of my problems.

Thanks for the resources that have been shared. We'll see how this goes! :)

Have you had the blood test yet? If not, ask for it before you go on an elimination diet. If you haven't eaten wheat in a while and then get tested, the antibodies will not show up in your blood.

************


Some other tips for gluten free newbies:

* Check labels for "malt" or "malt flavoring" because they come from barley, and barley is gluten!
* All cereals in the regular cereal aisle will contain either wheat or malt, so they're all off limits--even Rice Krispies and Corn Flakes!!
* Check your organics section for gluten free specialty cereals. I eat Envirokids brand.
* Most (if not all) Campbells soups contain gluten. Try instead the Pacific or Imagine brand soups, which you can find in the organics/specialty section.
* Amy's brand meals are delicious. There is even a gluten free pizza made with rice crust!

If anyone has anymore questions, I'm a wealth of information on the subject! I've dealt with this for most of my life, as have my father and sisters.

[pocahontas]

I had been reading this thread with great interest since my accupuncturist has tried to put me on a "gluten-free" diet (I say "tried" because all my life I've had something with wheat in it probably every day...so this is easier said than done.) N-E-Way, first I wanted to thank Heather for mentioning Pamela's and Bionaturae (which I had last night for dinner and DH loved...so I'm happy about that. :D ) But the dilemma I am having now that I have dinner taken care of is a quick lunch and of course, breakfast. So for those who are "gluten-free" that work in a fast paced job where they eat out for lunch a lot have you found any wheat free friendly places? My normal lunch of Boston Market chicken soup or Chick-Fil-A nuggets probably won't work since I assume the noodles in the soup are not gluten-free and I would figure the breading on the nuggets may have wheat in it. I also enjoy Quizno's but I suppose I have to give that up...otherwise I'll be picking the meat off the bread. :rolleyes: :( Can you give me what you eat in a typical breakfast or lunch setting? I am desperate for ideas. Thanks.

[MrsWufie]

Wendy's is great for a burger sans bun and baked potato

McDonald's you can have the fry's and burger sans bun

Pei Wei has a whole GF menu

You can have the waffle fries and shake at Chick-fil-a

You can have a salad at Subway if you use their oil & vinegar as the dressing.

Carraba's has a gluten free menu

rice is usually ok-- but sometimes chicken has been marinated in stuff that is not.

Something I've found and love for at the office is rice noodles with like a spicy oil dressing. They are super yummy!

Sushi is good if you avoid the soy sauce (#2 ingredient is wheat...boo!)

good luck figuring it all out....the gluten goblins hide out in the darndest places :)

[heather1029]

My quick lunch of choice when out is a rotisserie chicken and side veggie from Wegman's. Otherwise, I bring lunch with me. I haven't had much luck eating out without getting sick. Pei Wei and P.F. Changs, however, have great gluten free options and are actually pretty safe. I've never been much of a fast food eater, though.

For breakfasts, I do Stoneyfield Farms yogurt with organic raisins & cinnamon at home each morning. If I have time on my hands, I'll make a batch of Gluten Free Pantry sandwich bread for the week and have it with jam in the mornings. Or, I'll make a big batch of Pamela's muffins and add bananas and walnuts.

[pocahontas]

My quick lunch of choice when out is a rotisserie chicken and side veggie from Wegman's. Otherwise, I bring lunch with me. I haven't had much luck eating out without getting sick. Pei Wei and P.F. Changs, however, have great gluten free options and are actually pretty safe. I've never been much of a fast food eater, though.

For breakfasts, I do Stoneyfield Farms yogurt with organic raisins & cinnamon at home each morning. If I have time on my hands, I'll make a batch of Gluten Free Pantry sandwich bread for the week and have it with jam in the mornings. Or, I'll make a big batch of Pamela's muffins and add bananas and walnuts.I thought about Rotisserie Chicken (no Wegman's near my job so Rotisserie from Boston Market might have to do it.) I have never heard of Pei Wei though (which probably means there isn't one near me) but I will look it up...thanks! I tried Pamela's chocolate chunk cookies...YUM! In fact, maybe I'll make some tonight! :p (Only problem is my accupuncturist is also trying to put me on a "no sugar" plan. :( Life sucks.) LOL

Wendy's is great for a burger sans bun and baked potato

McDonald's you can have the fry's and burger sans bun

Pei Wei has a whole GF menu

You can have the waffle fries and shake at Chick-fil-a

You can have a salad at Subway if you use their oil & vinegar as the dressing.

Carraba's has a gluten free menu

rice is usually ok-- but sometimes chicken has been marinated in stuff that is not.

Something I've found and love for at the office is rice noodles with like a spicy oil dressing. They are super yummy!

Sushi is good if you avoid the soy sauce (#2 ingredient is wheat...boo!)

good luck figuring it all out....the gluten goblins hide out in the darndest places :)

OMG! :eek: Who woulda thunk it?! The number 2 ingredient in soy sauce is wheat?! Geez...what's next? This is a sad day in my food life. :(

Thanks ladies.

[colleenjoy]

my boss has to be wheat/gluten free. her birthday is coming up in june and I'd like to bake her a cake. I'm not really a baker, I usually just use a mix. Are there any GOOD gluten/wheat free mixes out there? if so, do you know where I could buy them?

also, is the premade frosting ok? I was going to check labels next time I was at the store, but I thought you guys would know.

Thanks for your help.

Colleen

[MrsWufie]

One idea would be an ice cream cake (no baking required!) http://www.carvel.com/faq/faq.htm Or, there are great mixes out there. If you have a Whole Foods store, they have a great section of gluten free cake and icing mixes. I think it's Storybook...but can't remember of the top of my head that's good, but expensive. All the gluten free mixes are labeled at Whole Foods, so they are easy to find. Or, you can go to www.glutenfreemall.com and look at the mixes they have available if you don't have a Whole Foods (or similar store) where you live.

For my birthday, we did a gluten free brownie mix with ice cream -- nobody could tell that it wasn't the real deal!

Best Wishes!

[colleenjoy]

thanks for the info. I'll cjeck whole foods. I love that store, but don't let myself go there too often, because I tend to spend too much money there :o

the ice cream cake, or brownies is a good idea, but I want to bake the cake, because I'm going to cut it up and decorate it to look like Snoopy. She loves snoopy:D

Thanks for your ideas

Colleen

[Leilynne]

OMG! :eek: Who woulda thunk it?! The number 2 ingredient in soy sauce is wheat?! Geez...what's next? This is a sad day in my food life. :(

Thanks ladies.

I know I've seen a gluten free version of soy sauce in my MIL's fridge, she shops mainly at Trader Joe's, maybe you could ask someone there about it?

[MrsWufie]

I know I've seen a gluten free version of soy sauce in my MIL's fridge, she shops mainly at Trader Joe's, maybe you could ask someone there about it?


Tamari is gluten free, however its much more expensive than regular soy sauce :( (ie: $5 a bottle around here).

The secret is to read the labels...we've gotten the little packets from a take out resturant around here that doesn't have wheat in it.

It stinks when you have to read labels for everything...but the more often you do it, the easier it becomes.

Best Wishes!

[pocahontas]

Okay, so far so good with most stuff except I cannot get with the gluten free breads! :( What is up with how hard they are! And I have tried 3 different kinds! First I tried some that looked like french rolls from Trader Joe's. They were so big and bulky when you tried to put a hamburger patty on 'em my mouth couldn't even fit around them. (Guess I'm used to regular bread being soft and squishy.) Then I went to the frozen Ezekiel at Whole Foods. Tried to warm it up and it was falling apart but still not very soft. Finally, I just tried some other kind that wasn't in the freezer section but still Whole Foods. I broke it up and put it in stuffing. It didn't even blend well. DH was NOT pleased. What gives? Is it that you need wheat in bread to make it nice and soft? Is there ANYthing out there that is comparable yet gluten free? :confused:

[MrsWufie]

Pocahontas, rock on for having a Whole Foods!

In the freezer section, look for the Whole Foods brand "sandwich bread". It tastes JUST like sourdough bread to me. Yeah, it's heavy, but it's good, especially toasted. My DH even loves it and he doesn't have to be gluten free.

I agree that the Trader Joe's French rolls are nasty -- I think the only thing they'd be good for is a hockey puck ;)

[Leilynne]

Okay, so far so good with most stuff except I cannot get with the gluten free breads! :( What is up with how hard they are! And I have tried 3 different kinds! First I tried some that looked like french rolls from Trader Joe's. They were so big and bulky when you tried to put a hamburger patty on 'em my mouth couldn't even fit around them. (Guess I'm used to regular bread being soft and squishy.) Then I went to the frozen Ezekiel at Whole Foods. Tried to warm it up and it was falling apart but still not very soft. Finally, I just tried some other kind that wasn't in the freezer section but still Whole Foods. I broke it up and put it in stuffing. It didn't even blend well. DH was NOT pleased. What gives? Is it that you need wheat in bread to make it nice and soft? Is there ANYthing out there that is comparable yet gluten free? :confused:

Unfortunatly it's gluten that makes bread soft and squishy.:( For sandwiches for my gluten free patients I always toast the bread, it prevents the crumbling issue and the texture is more palatable. Does anyone know of any gluten free stuffing mixes? That would be great for if I had any celiac patients at thanksgiving/christmas.
ETA: Pocahontas- Do you have a bread machine? I've heard that baking your own gluten free bread fresh is much better taste wise. I tried the Pamela's baking mixes for the first time at my MIL's last week and they were great, perhaps she has a bread mix? It might be worth looking into.

[MrsWufie]

I've heard you can toast the bread and use it for croutons, breadcrumbs, stuffing, etc. So maybe do that and add the spices?

Best Wishes!

[heather1029]

Okay, so far so good with most stuff except I cannot get with the gluten free breads! :( What is up with how hard they are! And I have tried 3 different kinds! First I tried some that looked like french rolls from Trader Joe's. They were so big and bulky when you tried to put a hamburger patty on 'em my mouth couldn't even fit around them. (Guess I'm used to regular bread being soft and squishy.) Then I went to the frozen Ezekiel at Whole Foods. Tried to warm it up and it was falling apart but still not very soft. Finally, I just tried some other kind that wasn't in the freezer section but still Whole Foods. I broke it up and put it in stuffing. It didn't even blend well. DH was NOT pleased. What gives? Is it that you need wheat in bread to make it nice and soft? Is there ANYthing out there that is comparable yet gluten free? :confused:

Did you try the Gluten Free Pantry sandwich bread mix? It's pretty good, especially when right out of the oven! None of the pre-made bread loaves are good, IMO.

[pocahontas]

Thank you, thank you, a million times over! I actually DID buy some of the PAMELA's brand but haven't baked it yet. So it's good to know that it may taste better! I think I'll try it tomorrow. I actually bought PAMELA's pancake mix too but when I opened it I realized I can't have it because I am allergic to nuts and it has almond shavings in it. :( So that was a waste of money since...now that it's opened I can't return it. I am trying to make DH eat it (so it doesn't go to waste). :D

MRSWUFIE...so funny about the hockey puck! :p I whole-heartedly agree!

I haven't tried GLUTEN FREE PANTRY's bread mix but if it's anything like their chocolate chip cookies (which I made last week)...then I'm SOLD! :)

Sadly, I don't own a breadmaker (which oddly enough I considered putting on our wedding registry but figured I'd never use it enough to justify it. Who knew!!! :confused: ) That may just be an investment for this summer.

[SaphirimalMei]

bumping this up to get some advice...

I have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (autoimmune disease) and for the past year or so, I have been having symptoms that could have been related to the Hashi's but despite switching meds, and dosages the symptoms just wont go away and my thyroid levels appear to be in the normal range.

Symptoms i've been having:
cramping
bloating
weight gain
fatigue
joint pain
weakness
no energy

I have been reading a lot and tracking my symptoms, and Celiac's has come up on my radar as a possibility. I already have one autoimmune disease, why not another, right? :p One thing that has occurred to me since I found out about celiac's that really had me thinking was that, even though I'm not really a drinker, I might have a beer on occasion. Every single beer I've had (prolly 5 in the last year) has made me feel like absolute crap: puffy, hot, fuzzy-headed and almost hungover by a single beer!

The fatigue and weakness is reaching ridiculous proportions. I don't ever feel rested and although I am overweight, I have always been strong with good musculature. Heavy lifting had never previously been a problem for me, but now, lifting a couple of gallons of water (and my kids for that matter) make me shake from fatigue.

I know that blood tests are helpful for making the determination of a gluten sensitivity/intolerance. How do i bring this up with my doctor? I dont want to appear to be self-diagnosing, but i am fairly well-informed and just want to rule Celiac's out (or in) as being the culprit behind why am feeling so crappy. Should i see my regular GP, or try to get an appt with another type of doc?

Any and all advice welcome!

[heather1029]

I went straight to a gastroenterologist. My dad had been diagnosed, so I knew what to look for. They can give you a simple blood test to see if you have the antibodies. However, make sure you've been eating gluten before getting tested. If you go gluten-free beforehand, the antibodies may not show up in your blood.

To bring it up, just mention that you read an article somewhere about celiac disease, and the symptoms sounded a lot like yours. Then list your symptoms in detail. Definitely emphasize the bloating & cramping. Do you have any skin (itching and blistering) issues? That's another telltale sign of celiac disease (called Dermatitis herpetiformis).

[SaphirimalMei]

Other than dryness, which has been normal for me for as long as I can remember, I have no skin issues. Thanks for the reply! :)

[Scoutesina]

I've been suspicious for awhile now that I may have celiac. My dad was diagnosed with osteoporosis and eventually learned his bone loss was caused by asymptomatic celiac, and I seem to be following in his footsteps. I only have osteopenia at the moment, but in one hip I'm one tenth of a point away from osteoporosis, which is pretty odd for a 34-year old.

Anyway, I asked my doctor to order the blood test but he isn't sure insurance will pay but said to stop eating gluten in the meantime. Thanks to heather1029's advice, I'm just going to do a gradual phase-out so I don't skew the test results.

I just have a couple questions at the moment and hope some of you knowledgeable ladies are still around! First, I assumed MSG has gluten in it, but I saw it in the safe column on the gicare.com page about gluten-free diets, and a nutrition professor I work with said it does not contain gluten but my doctor (a GP, not a gastroenterologist) said it does. :confused: Is MSG a no-no or not?

Secondly, does anyone have a gluten-free taco recipe? The shells are fine--but there's wheat protein in those prefabbed taco seasoning packets. I figure there must be some homemade gluten-free mix of spices that would taste similar.

TIA!

[heather1029]

Hi Scoutesina!

MSG is sometimes made from wheat, other times from soy or corn. You just never know. If a package contains MSG, but says "Gluten Free," then you know the MSG was made from something other than wheat. In all other cases, I'd avoid MSG.

I use the Simply Organic (http://www.simplyorganicfoods.com/dspCatPct.php?ct=dfmosmsouth&br=Simply%20Organic&i=p) brand of Taco seasoning.

[Scoutesina]

Thanks for the link, heather! I'm getting more relieved. My Viactiv chews are gluten-free, as are the 2 kinds of Breyer's ice cream in my fridge. :p My small town is finally getting a health food store this summer, so at least that's good timing.

The doctor's office called and said I would have to verify with my insurance company about the blood test. I figure it can't be that expensive...but who knows?! I've been phasing out gluten but decided to eat up some breaded fish and some garlic bread tonight to make sure I have some in my system. It didn't even taste all that good, so maybe my taste buds are already adapting.

Anyway, thanks again!

[Scoutesina]

Finally got my celiac blood test results--positive as I expected (the gliadin antibody). My GP wanted to send me to a gastroenterologist for an endoscopy, but I weaseled out of that for now and instead he ran another blood test (the endomysial antibody, which I'd requested to begin with--argg).

Except for a couple mistakes and probable cross-contaminations, I've been gluten-free for almost a month. I bought some Pamela's GF Pancake and Baking mix on Amazon and love it. So far, I've only made pancakes with it, but it seems like it will be a good flour substitute in general. Question: It came in a 4-lb. zippered vinyl-like bag...do I need to refrigerate it or is it OK zipped closed in the pantry? I want it to last, and I do live in the hot and humid South...

Another find in the regular grocery store: DeBole's GF shells and cheese. These were very similar to Annie's organic mac and cheese--both the texture of the pasta and the consistency of the sauce. Quite tasty and only $2.79 for a box (3-4 servings), I guess because it's made only of rice flour and rice bran, no expensive xanthan gum or other exotic flours. I will be buying more to make sure my grocer keeps stocking it!

[heather1029]

scoutesina: Too bad about the diagnosis :( But at least you know what you're dealing with now, and can protect your health!

I keep my Pamela's in a glass storage container on the countertop. I've never had any problems. Because the fat in it is almonds, and they rarely go rancid, I don't think there's anything to worry about. You'll also go through it pretty quickly (within three months or so), so you also won't have to worry about the baking powder in it expiring.

By the way, I just stumbled on a brand of GF pasta I'd never tried before -- Lundberg Organic Penne -- and it is the best I've ever had. It's at Whole Foods!

[Scoutesina]

Thanks, heather. I'm just relieved to finally know what's going on.

I'll be on the lookout for Lundberg pasta. We don't have a Whole Foods but are getting an Earth Fare this month and I'm hoping they have a good GF selection.

Thank goodness for the internet though...at least I know I can order foods from Amazon and get good information here and at the glutenfreeforum link you recommended. I can't imagine figuring all this out on my own.