I am standing in the teensy tiny gluten-free section of the grocery store and I can't help but notice the two butchers that are staring at me (from behind the safety of their counter). I knew why they were staring at me. I had picked up and put down the same bag of gluten-free spaghetti 7 times. Then they watched as I moved over 4 inches and started the same routine over again, but with a box of crackers. By the time I was crawling around on the floor staring at gluten-free pretzels on the bottom shelf, I started to think the store set up was pretty intentional.
Put the three mini "health food" aisles in plain sight of the bakery, deli and butcher counters. The employees will be so happily entertained by the gluten-free newbies sweating and pacing in front of the gluten free items. They must have laughed all day, at me…nervously scanning every label on every item with my iphone app.
I will refrain from sharing too many details so that I can maintain the privacy of my family members. I will say that going gluten-free was a conscious decision that we made together as a family. We are hoping that by making this change in our lives we will all be able to see certain changes that will benefit all of us as a family.
So back to the sweating – I realized I needed to get myself organized. I downloaded the ShopWell app and put in the parameters for Gluten Free and no Wheat. I began methodically scanning every item in my pantry. I knew I had to do this without looking back, so I packed up all of the kid's crackers, goldfish, cookies and bread. (Which all went to good homes!)
Staring into my now completely empty pantry was what led me to sweating it out in the grocery store.
I knew it wasn't going to be easy. I knew I was going to have to find appropriate substitutes for meals and snacks. I knew I was up to the challenge – the health of my family was on the table. I am going to do this and not look back.
There will be plenty of regular recipes and gluten-free recipes from Denine and I. Being the amazing sister she is, she's helping me through this one step at a time.
I knew I had to get my priorities in order – get some cookies baked in my gluten-free home. I found this quick and easy recipe on the Whole Foods Market website for gluten-free peanut butter cookies.
GLUTEN-FREE PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES
Ingredients:
1 large egg
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup creamy unsweetened peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon gluten-free vanilla extract
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2: Beat together egg, sugar, baking soda and vanilla in a standing mixer with the paddle attachment or with a hand-held mixer. Beat in the peanut butter.
Step 3: Drop dough by teaspoonfuls onto prepared baking sheet.
Step 4: Press each ball lightly with the back of a fork.
Step 5: Bake for 10 minutes, until lightly set. Transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Seeing that I am very new to this, I will be going to the experts first for recipes. I have a lot of learning to do when it comes to gluten-free living. I will only be posting recipes that I have tried and approved :).
If you have any gluten-free recipes to share, please include your link in the comments section!
Thanks for reading!
Daniele
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