Going Gluten Free/ allergen -free…

 
Gluten Free Ottawa My Real Food LifeIn September 2009, I was diagnosed with a whack of food intolerances. I was so mad the first thing I did was go and buy a double cheeseburger meal at McDonalds. (lol I’d never even had a cheeseburger before.  It just seemed like the ultimate act of defiance). I angrily DARED the meal to make me sick (Oh. It did. For days. lol). I love cooking, I love food, and it just seemed like a giant cosmic kick in the pants that I of all people would get stuck with this ridiculousness.
  
Then I found Shauna’s blog, Gluten-Free Girl (listed below). She really, really loves food, she really really has alot of fun with it. And she loves her life.  I scoured her site, read everything I could find, and was kinda blown away. I am going to have fun. I am going to love the food I eat. Its not going to be so bad. This is entirely doable. So, from that point onwards, I got going. I got looking. And I found some great stuff that changed everything.
 
Here are the 4 resources I rely on heavily. You’ll be encouraged.  I’ve realized that any recipe I want gluten free, can pretty much be done  (although I am still wracking my brains about a gluten/egg/milk/corn free custard.)
 
The Gluten-Free Goddess
www.glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com
Karina Allrich is my favorite food blogger, period. All her recipes are her own. All her baked goods are explained with precision, beautifully(!) photographed, and turn out perfectly. I looove her waffles and pumpkin spice bread. You have no idea the stuff is without eggs, milk, corn, processed sugar, and wheat.
There is extensive info on how to go gluten-free, and over 400 (!) recipes to search.
www.glutenfreegirl.com
Gluten Free Girl was the first blog Icame across when I had to go GF. While she doesn’t have a whole whack of recipes like Karina (she has a cookbook coming out), and her only intollerance is wheat so her recipes do need adapting, she is a beautiful writer. I would read her older posts over and over again, just because she has a way of making you realize its not the end of the world and there are MANY beautiful things to eat. And that, means more than bazillions of recipes. She inspires. Much appreciated.
 
The AllergySelf Help Cookbook
-This book has been around since the early 80s, and was one of the first to mention effects of plastics, etc, when everyone was heating up their food in plastic bags in the microwave (*shudders remembering*)
– Extensive coverage of food families, allergen precautions, etc. Very easy, and very extensive, recipes. Its like you can live life again.  It was the first cookbook I bought post-diagnosis, and I like it so much its always on my bedstand.  
 
 
– A recipe book and dietary guide by a local Ottawa dietary consultant. She has every recipe imaginable, plus information on food intollerances, where to buy local products, and 4 day rotation diets. Very helpful. Very easy to read and use. AND she does personal diet planning consultations!
 

 So, be encouraged. There is beautiful food waiting for you to discover and eat. :)

 Gluten Free Ottawa My Real Food Life