Azdu Simply Spelt Cookie

At a Ladies Who Launch event last week, (if you've never been - GO - and also be sure to sign up for their fabulous e-newsletter) I was introduced to a brand new wheat-free cookie made right here in Portland, Ore. (Beaverton to be exact, but same difference).

Azdu Baking Co. recently released their wheat-free, dairy-free, egg-free, refined sugar-free (how perfect is this?!) cookie. It's light and fluffy; and for those of us who bake wheat-free, we know how hard that can be. They remind me of a snickerdoodle, but not as sweet - which is perfect. The cookies are a bit high in calories, but if you can handle eating just one, you'll be fine.

I checked in with Linda - the creator of Azdu Baking Co. - and right now folks can order her fabulous cookies through her website. Enjoy!!! She also has new products on the way and I'll keep you posted on those...

-Heather :)

Crisp Fall Days Brings Crock-Pot Goodness

It's cold out.
The fire is crackling and I'm wearing sweatshirts, sweaters and my new wool pea coat. (charcoal grey - the perfect antidote to cold days!)

Summer is long gone and instead, we're deep into the days of fall.
Which has me craving something warm and comforting. Is this happening to you? Salads are no longer calling me and instead I'm eating far more soup and other warm goodies.

Check out my all-time favorite crock pot recipe - perfect for the cold days.
Turkey Chili. You won't find any wheat, dairy or sugar in this fan-tab-u-lous recipe. Enjoy!

Turkey Chili
1 16oz. can of kidney beans (do not drain)
1 16oz. can of pinto beans
1 16oz. can of black beans
1 small yellow onion - chopped
1 small green pepper - chopped
1 14.5oz can of diced tomatoes (zest it up and get Mexican style)
3T tomato paste
3T chili powder
1.5 t salt
1 t+ garlic salt
1/2 t pepper
1lb lean white turkey

Pour all contents into the crock pot and let simmer on low all day (at least 8 hours). If you don't have that much time, heat on high for 4.5 hours. Tip: Put the turkey on the bottom of the crock pot. Check in and mix every few hours.

You will love this!
Have a winter recipe you'd like to share? Place it in our comments or email me: heather@heatherstrang.com.

-Heather :)

Wheat-free, Dairy-free Mac-n-Cheese Anywhere?

I think I've tried every wheat-free, dairy-free mac-n-cheese on the market. And I've got to be honest, they are ICKY. Not even remotely resembling the real thing. After another major disappointment with Road End Organics Dairy-free Mac&Cheese (with brown rice pasta), I decided that I would find the time and only make big vats of my own mac-n-cheese, freeze and eat.

So, here's a fabulous wheat-free, dairy-free mac-n-cheese recipe you can actually enjoy:

Use a few heels of Ezekiel bread (for Celiac’s try non-wheat bread like Food for Life’s Brown Rice or Millet bread) in the freezer to use as bread crumbs.

Serves 4

12 oz quinoa pasta
*Ancient Harvest quinoa pasta
2 c rice milk
*Pacific Rice milk
2 T quinoa flour
*Ancient Harvest quinoa flour (recommend same pasta/flour blend)
1 ½ c shredded almond pepper jack cheese
*Lisanatti Almond Jalapeno Jack Style Cheese
1 T Dijon mustard
1 T salt
4 pieces Ezekiel bread (or other non-wheat bread), crumbled
¼ c soy parmesan cheese
*Soya parmesan cheese

8x8 baking pan

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cook quinoa pasta according to package instructions. Heat rice milk in large saucepan over low heat until simmering. Slowly whisk in quinoa flour. Whisk constantly for 2 minutes. Cook until slightly thickened. Remove from heat. Add cheese, mustard, salt, and pasta. Stir over low heat until heated through. Pour into baking pan. Add bread crumbs to top. Sprinkle additional garlic salt. Bake for 20 minutes.

Enjoy!
And if you've found a mac-n-cheese mix that tastes good, please let us know. Would LOVE to find one.

-Heather :)

Resources For a Wheat-Free, Dairy-Free & Low Sugar Life

Fortunately, the wheat-free, dairy-free and low sugar markets are exploding. We have more options than ever before to eat great food that has zero preservatives and meets our dietary needs. Here are some of the resources I use or have used in the past, to guide me on my way:

-Living Without magazine & resource list
-Whole Foods GF Living Section
-Wheat-free Diet blog
-Grain Damaged blog
-Portland Metro Celiacs
-Food Allergy Initiative
-Allergy-Details

Have any resources you can't live without?
Do share!

--Heather :)

Eating Wheat-Free, Dairy-Free & Low Sugar on Roadtrips

I've got a mini-vaca coming up and I'm packing up my road trip and snacking foods. If you don't have a road trip or vacation planned - get to it! And use the list below to help you with packing and snacking with wheat-free, dairy-free and low sugar foods. Bon Voyage! :)

-Arrowhead Mills GF Brownie Mix
Light, flaky and tasty - get these brownies. Be sure to prepare the night before, cut into squares and take with you.
-EnviroKidz Crispy Rice Bars - Peanut Butter
-Ezekiel English Muffins
-Tofutti Cream Cheese - Herb & Chives
-Trader Joe's Soy & Flax Tortilla Chips with Salsa
-Crispix Cereal - add flaxseeds & vanilla soy milk (for the hotel room, of course!)
& a plethora of mini carrots, red pepper (chopped), tomatoes, hummus, apples and nectarines.

Have any road trip fave's?
Leave a comment.

Happy travels,
Heather :)