As promised another poll is in the sidebar.  The new poll question is, "What is your favorite time of day?" The poll questions are just for fun and may often lead to special recipes later, based on poll results. No personal information is gathered from voters except your vote.

Thank you for stopping by and come again soon.  Gluten Free and You welcomes your comments!

And the winner is...

I am happy to announce the winning answer of the first Gluten Free and You poll. The winning season is (drum roll, please) FALL! I realize we are just one month away from summer, but it is not too early for me to prepare to celebrate Autumn in all its glory. I have already begun selecting recipes to share that oooze fall.  So while we all are preparing to kick off summer, let us give a salute to fall as it is the winning season among Gluten Free and You readers!

Thank you to all that participated, and congratulations to all the Autumn lovers!

VOTE TODAY

Gluten Free and You wouldn't be true to its title if it didn't involve YOU. With you in mind, polls will be located in the sidebar. So during your visit please let your voice be heard. VOTE!

Don't forget to vote in the current Gluten Free and You poll, "What is your favorite season?" The season with the most votes will receive a special feature to be showcased later this year! Be sure to check back once the poll closes tomorrow. And may the best season win!

University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research International Walk for Celiac Disease

I am posting tonight because I am going to be participating in an upcoming walk/run. My family and I participated last year and I was overwhelmed with the sea of people who all had something in common. We either had celiac disease/gluten intolerance or were there in support of someone who does. We shared stories of heartbreak and satisfaction. It was a very special day for my son, myself and my family. 

 

There is still time to participate in a walk/run to benefit the University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research International Walk for Celiac Disease.  There are still many events in May and June. The link www.celiacwalk.org will provide you with information on events and how to participate and/or donate. 

 

Many, many thanks from my family to the organizers of the walk/runs. The events are large and  getting larger every year with each new diagnosis. The celiac community is a growing one; with the Center's help it is my hope that patients can live better and healthier lives.

 

Raising Our Celiac Kids (R.O.C.K.)

A R.O.C.K. chapter can make a big difference in the life of a child with celiac disease, gluten intolerance and for any child whose pediatrician has suggested a gluten free diet. My family has attended R.O.C.K. activities.  The chapter members were so welcoming and supportive.  This is in part how I learned about many gluten free products that are not just gluten free, but delicious.

If you were to ask me how I found out about R.O.C.K., I would tell you that I got very lucky. It happened on my first trip to the grocery store after my son's diagnosis. My husband and I were wandering around somewhat bewildered, wondering if our son's diet was ever going to include bread again. An employee of the store must have seen my distress and during our conversation she handed me the card of a R.O.CK Chapter Coordinator.

The following is the story of  R.O.C.K  founder, Daana Korn. For the entire article, a list of R.O.C.K. Chapters across the United States, and books written by Danna Korn, see the following link

http://www.celiac.com/articles/563/1/ROCK-Raising-Our-Celiac-Kids---National-Celiac-Disease-Support-Group/Page1.html

Danna Korn founded R.O.C.K. in 1991 after her son, Tyler, was diagnosed with celiac disease. It has grown to international proportions, helping families all over the world deal with the unique challenges of raising a child on a gluten-free diet. When children are diagnosed with celiac disease at an early age, they usually have a severe intolerance to gluten, and are often extremely sick when ultimately diagnosed. Most parents share horror stories of visiting several doctors before finally arriving at a diagnosis, and are frustrated, exasperated, and angry, yet relieved to finally have a direction in which to turn. Sometimes it helps to talk about it, and it always helps to have some guidance when initially diving into the gluten-free diet. Raising Our Celiac Kids is a support group for parents, families and friends of kids with celiac disease or gluten intolerance. We welcome families of autistic kids involved in a gluten-free/casein-free dietary intervention program.

What is Celiac Disease?

Once my son and I were diagnosed with celiac disease, I found the following to be most helpful in understanding what celiac disease is. For this and much more see the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearing House. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/

 http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/celiac/#what

Celiac disease is a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. People who have celiac disease cannot tolerate gluten, a protein in wheat, rye, and barley. Gluten is found mainly in foods but may also be found in everyday products such as medicines, vitamins, and lip balms.

The small intestine is shaded above.
When people with celiac disease eat foods or use products containing gluten, their immune system responds by damaging or destroying villi—the tiny, fingerlike protrusions lining the small intestine. Villi normally allow nutrients from food to be absorbed through the walls of the small intestine into the bloodstream. Without healthy villi, a person becomes malnourished, no matter how much food one eats.

Villi on the lining of the small intestine help absorb nutrients.
Celiac disease is both a disease of malabsorption—meaning nutrients are not absorbed properly—and an abnormal immune reaction to gluten. Celiac disease is also known as celiac sprue, nontropical sprue, and gluten-sensitive enteropathy. Celiac disease is genetic, meaning it runs in families. Sometimes the disease is triggered—or becomes active for the first time—after surgery, pregnancy, childbirth, viral infection, or severe emotional stress.

Asparagus with Sliced Almonds and Parmesan Cheese

I found what has become my favorite asparagus recipe on allrecipes.com, presented by a contributor named BRENOLA. http://allrecipes.com/recipe/asparagus-with-sliced-almonds-and-parmesan-cheese/detail.aspxThe dish is described as a simple side dish. The description is accurate. For me, the simple applies to the prep, but the taste is out of this world. I made this dish just last night. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

Recipe Tip: In my home we prefer thin asparagus and that is what I used...mmmm....mmmm good! The entire process from prep to table took approx. 15 minutes. It just doesn't get much easier.

Ingredients
2 Tbsp butter
1 lb. asparagus, bottoms trimmed or snapped off
1/3 cup sliced almonds
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese


Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the asparagus, and cook, stirring, about 3 minutes. Stir in almonds and Parmesan, and cook until the cheese is slightly browned, about 3 to 5 minutes.