Carol's Culinary Cues - November 2003

(c) Carol Fenster, Ph.D. - President, Savory Palate, Inc.

8174 South Holly St., #404, Centennial, CO  80122

800.741.5418

ISSN 14244

 


IN THIS ISSUE:

- Chocolate Chips without Gluten, Dairy, OR Soy

- Great New Potato Milk

- Holiday Appetizer Idea

- American Dietetic Association Gets Gluten-Free Information

- Gluten-Free in Portugal

- Food for Thought

- Where in the World is Carol?

 


 

CHOCOLATE CHIPS: NO GLUTEN, DAIRY, OR SOY

At holiday time  I'm always asked how to find chocolate chips that are free of gluten, dairy, AND soy. They are available at www.kirkmanlabs.com and Paskesz brand  from Miss Roben's at www.missroben.com and I just found two more sources: Ener-G Foods at www.ener-g.com and www.soyfreechocolateco.com. If gluten and dairy are your only concerns, chocolate chips by Tropical Source can be found at your local health food store and some grocery stores.


 

GREAT NEW POTATO MILK

For you dairy-free folks, here’s a wonderful new milk substitute––an especially nice alternative to rice, almond, or soy milk. It’s called “English Bay Dairy-Free” and tastes delicious, bakes extremely well, and is a nice white color. There is also a chocolate version. Since it’s a Canadian product and health food stores in the U.S. don't carry it yet, your best bet is to order directly from Pathways Medical Advocates in Wisconsin at 262.740.3000 or  www.pathwaysmed.com.


 

HOLIDAY APPETIZER IDEA

It's hard to come up with a quick, easy appetizer that EVERYONE can eat at holiday time.... especially if they have several food allergies. Have you tried Roasted Pumpkin Seeds? They taste like nuts, look like nuts, but are actually the seeds of pumpkins which are in the squash family. Now, how many people do you who are allergic to squash?

 

Simply take two cups of shelled pumpkin seeds (they're green and available at your health food store) and shake them in a plastic bag along with a teaspoon of olive or canola oil. Lightly salt (if you wish) and bake on a baking sheet in a 300° oven for about 20 minutes, turning every 5 minutes so they brown evenly. Watch carefully so they don't burn. You want them just lightly toasted, not dark brown. They also make nutritious additions to popcorn, trail mix, or hot cereal.


 

AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION GETS GLUTEN-FREE INFORMATION

In San Antonio, TX, last month thousands of dietitians visited the Gluten-Free Pavilion, an aisle in the exhibit hall dedicated to gluten-free vendors. I had three wonderful helpers at my booth: Janet Rinehart, chair of the Houston Celiac Support Group, Anne Barfield, chair of the San Antonio Celiac Support Group, and Melanie Psaltakis from the San Antonio group.

 

Also, Cynthia Kupper, RD., Shelley Case, RD, and Mary K. Sharrett, RD, organized a special session called "Gluten-Free.. A Growing Epidemic" at which I was featured preparing gluten-free bread. Thanks to the cooperation of all the wonderful gluten-free vendors and the people named here, we were able to present much-needed information on the gluten-free diet, regardless of our affiliations. We were able to attract  over 220 dietitians to this very worthwhile meeting and I was extremely pleased to be a part of this cooperative venture.


 

GLUTEN-FREE IN PORTUGAL

Some of you already know that I had a wonderful 10 days in Portugal in October. Without only a couple exceptions, I had no trouble dining gluten-free. I even found a wonderful natural food store on the first day, right in the heart of Lisbon, that carried gluten-free foods by Dr. Schar. So, I stocked up for the remainder of the trip.

 

I always take an emergency food bag when I travel in Europe. This time I took Pamela's Biscotti (which were great dipped in Portuguese espresso), Omega Smart Bars (which are actually a meal in themselves, www.omegasmartbar.com ) and  plenty of dried fruit (I dry my own apples) and nuts. I also take vacuum-packed Cheese Biscotti (my recipe in Wheat-Free Recipes & Menus). They're great dunked into soups and because they're so hard, they really travel well. More about my trip at www.CarolFenster.com (sometime in December).


 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

What holiday rituals involving food will your family remember years from now?


 

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS CAROL?

On November 2, I attended the Celiac Disease Foundation's annual Food Faire in Los Angeles, CA. They had an excellent turnout, a fantastic roster of speakers including Dr. Alessio Fasano, Betty Hagman, Andrea Levario (of the American Celiac Task Force)  Dr. Michelle Pietzak....and many others. Over 30 vendors were there....many of whom I had just been with the previous weekend at the American Dietetic Association conference in San Antonio, TX.