Slowly learning how to bake…

Posted on May 17, 2011 by mjb

I’m slowly learning how to bake gluten-free.  And by that I mean now not everything is ruined before it gets to the oven.  Only every other thing is ruined before it actually gets baked.

I’m great at adding the wrong ingredient (baking soda and baking powder are different?), I’m good at totally omitting ingredients (that bread didn’t really need the yeast packet, did it?) and I’m very practiced at messing things up in ways I don’t understand (why does this taste funny again?!?).

Over the past few months I’ve been trying my darndest to come up with a gluten-free banana bread recipe that the whole family with like.  I’m pretty good at making a a non-gluten-free version so I don’t know why I can’t make it using gluten-free flour.

Most of my problem, I’ve come to realize, lies in that I have a hard time following directions on recipes (I always want to add more of something) and I have a toddler and preschooler running around driving me batty.  One will steal an ingredient off the counter and I will eventually forget to get it back from them and add it in, or they will distract me to the point where I’ve lost track of where I am in the recipe.

But last weekend, after numerous failed attempts, a few almost-theres and more than enough “its not THAT bad, honeys” from my honey that I figured out how I should be making my banana bread.  And some of you may call this cheating, but I’m comfortable with that.

I went to the store, bought my self some Betty Crocker Gluten Free Yellow Cake mix.  Then I went to BettyCrocker.com and searched for “gluten free banana bread”.  Then I clicked on a recipe titled “Best-Ever Banana Bread (Gluten Free)” and followed the directions.

Pretty much all it calls for is 3 eggs, 1/2 softened butter, a cup of mashed up bananas and nuts if you’re feeling crazy.   You combine these things and the mix, pour in a loaf pan and bake.  I omitted the nuts but added some cinnamon & nutmeg (I’m sorry Betty, I can’t help myself).

It was that easy.  And even with my additions of cinnamon & nutmeg, the kid ate it with abandon and the husband declared it the best gluten-free thing he’s eaten so far.

I will totally do this again.  I realize that I have a long ways to go to get my baking skills up to par and until then, I will allow myself to cheat when it comes to making treats for my family.

PS.  Thank you Betty Crocker.  I love you.

Posted in Me & My Kid, My Kid's Recipes | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Celiac Kid – a book review!

Posted on May 2, 2011 by mjb

The Celiac KidGenerally bedtime stories around here revolve around Sandra Boynton or Curious George, sunny little rhyming tales that put smiles on all our faces.  But a few weeks ago I received a book called The Celiac Kid by Stephanie Skolmoski.  Now, my own celiac kid is only 19 months old, so most of this went over his head, but it was a good read for my 5 year old.

The book is told from The Celiac Kid’s perspective and offers a little insight in to what celiac disease is and how he copes.  It goes through what the Kid can and cannot eat, what some of his favorite treats are and how he goes about handling his day to day encounters with gluten.

The book does emphasize that The Kid is like any other kid, he just can’t have gluten (his “archenemy”).  He loves to play, loves his toys, and loves simple things like candy (gluten-free, of course!).  There are helpful hints for parents about how to handle tricky situations like school parties, birthday parties and picnics.  We’re still a few years away from school, but now I have some ideas on how to handle things as they come along.

Like I said, most of this book is over my celiac kid’s head – he’s more into Goodnight Moon at this point but his brother loves the book.  So far the older boy knows that his brother has to eat gluten-free and some of his favorite foods have gluten in them that might make the Kid sick.  Now he is grasping the concept of how gluten makes his brother sick and is understanding more that some food could be dangerous for the Kid.

There are a few parts of the book that I might disagree with (most Mexican food is not gluten-free), but overall it is a good read for s preschooler.  Thanks Stephanie & Anneliese for a great book!

The Celiac Kid can be found at Amazon.com or at at www.CeliacKidBook.com.

 

Posted in Me & My Kid | Leave a comment

I Still Panic

Posted on April 28, 2011 by mjb

I still have a little bit of a panic attack when I am faced with the possibility of going out to eat with The Kid in tow.  First, he’s the type of kid who wants to eat whatever everyone else is eating, second I’m the only other gluten-free eater in the household, so inevitably he wants to eat what everyone besides me is eating.  And that usually involves gluten.  On our side of town I’m finding that we have little in the way of gluten-free breakfast eats.  I’m looking.  And looking.  And looking.

Right now I am having an impending panic attack because we’ve decided to go to our favorite hole-in-the-wall breakfast place this weekend with the kids.  We’re talking a greasy-spoon type place, not an organic, gluten-free type place.  I’m thinking ahead of what I could order for him and I’m drawing a blank.  I think even the fruit there will be contaminated with bread crumbs.  And so I don’t really want to go, but I have the eternal debate of how much should our whole family sacrifice for just one?

Its a hard question to answer and its a hard middle to reach.  I don’t want to take the kid to a place that I think will make him sick, but I don’t want to deprive his brother and father of their favorite diner.  Right now I don’t think he’d mind if they went to breakfast on their own, but eventually he will feel left out.  And should I make them find a new breakfast place?  One that could and will accommodate the needs of the kid?  Or is this a question I can push off until he gets older?  Can I get away with sending the boys off to breakfast while I make my gluten-free pancakes at home for the kid?

The simple answer may be that I make his gluten-free pancakes at home and we bring them with us.  I know the management of the diner would be more than accommodating and I know that for now he won’t know the difference.  And maybe this is my answer until more gluten-free dining options hit our side of town.

Having super strict special dietary needs isn’t fair.  Not to the one with celiac and not even to those closest to him.  But we have to compromise and find those creative solutions that will make everyone happy.  We just have to keep everyone happy.

Posted in Me & My Kid | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Well baby…

Posted on April 25, 2011 by mjb

Ever since the kid’s 12month well-baby appointment where he appeared to have an ear infection that required antibiotics that started the diarrhea that eventually led to a celiac diagnosis, I’ve regarded doctor appointments with more anxiety than I had before.  His next few appointments were filled with weight checks, stool samples, and often me walking away feeling like no one believed that my kid was getting sicker and sicker and nothing we were doing was helping.

Well, he recently had his 18month well baby appointment and things seem to be looking up.  He’s gaining weight, eating less, pooping less and generally in a better mood.  The pediatrician was pleased with how he looked and even though he’s still low in the percentiles for height and weight, he’s still growing.  His head is still up in the 90th percentile, so we know he’s got some brains in him.

But everyday I am learning more and more how to be the parent of a child with celiac disease.  The biggest step for me was this past Lenten season:  I gave up gluten.  At first it was just for the sacrifice, but then I realized I was learning so much about what the kid will be going through as he gets older.  I studied labels before I bought (or didnt’ buy) my favorite foods, I looked up restaurants before I went out to eat, I asked questions of waiters and friends.

I realized it will be hard for him.

Any special dietary need is hard.

But it will probably get easier and easier.  Gluten free foods are everywhere now.  Labeling is getting better.

Awareness is growing.

He will be fine, I just know it.

Posted in Me & My Kid | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Take me out to the ballgame…

Posted on April 13, 2011 by mjb

It seems like gluten-free items are popping up all over the place, much to my delight and relief.  Being the mom of a newly diagnosed celiac kid I am sometimes caught unprepared when we’re out and about.  Having options for the kid is a godsend when he’s not feeling the GF pretzels or needs something more filling than a GF crispy rice bar.  Trust me, I pack an arsenal of snacks, but sometimes its just not enough.  Even though he wasn’t with me while I was out Sunday afternoon, I had another opportunity to breathe a sigh of gluten free relief.

 

The older brother and I went to an Arizona Diamondbacks game with my dad and sister and we happened upon this little kiosk after the game.  It simply says “Gluten Free” and it is quite the apt description.  Unfortunately, it was already closed, but it all looked like good stuff that the kid would love:  hot dogs, gummi bears, chips, chocolate bars.  Yum.  And it even had something I would love:  beer.  Double yum.

Of course, its not completely conveniently located and there appears to be only one, but I hope it gets enough business to stay open.  Usually when I see things like this, I feel obligated to buy something and I totally would’ve last weekend.  The purchase would have been, without a doubt, a beer but support is support.  Right?

Just in case you were wondering, the DBacks won that game, it was a close one and the older brother and I had a great time.

 

Posted in Me & My Kid, My Kid's Restaurant Guide | Tagged , , | Leave a comment