A Gluten Free Holiday Potluck - Saturday November 20th

Our November Meetup Group meeting will be a Gluten Free Holiday Potluck!! 

Now is the time to start signing up for the item you would like to bring! 

WHAT: 

Wilson Gluten Free/Celiac Support Group Holiday Potluck

WHEN: 

Saturday November 20th from 3-5pm

WHERE: 

Winstead United Methodist Church (Fellowship Hall), Wilson NC

CONTACT: 

Carrie Forbes (gingerlemongirl (at) gmail (dot) com for more information to sign up for the potluck -or- to learn more about our Wilson NC Gluten Free/Celiac Support Group

Gluten Free Flours and how to use them

photo courtesy of goodygirlred

Here are a few great resources on gluten free flours and how to use them. I think you'll find that everybody has their own opinion on what works best for them and what flours are their favorites.

We'll definitely have a program in the future on what flours to use in your gluten free baking, but for a really quick intro... here's a basic, easy mix that I love:

1/3 cup brown rice flour
1/3 cup sorghum or millet flour (either is fine)
1/3 cup arrowroot starch
+ 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum

I use this basic mix for just about everything I bake. It just works well.

You need the xanthan gum in most flour mixes because it helps create the texture that you're used to with gluten-based breads, cakes, muffins, etc... It's a bit expensive... but a little goes a very long way.

I buy all of my flours (except almond flour), xanthan gum, and active dry yeast from Bob's Red Mill online. I've found they have some of the best shipping available and I trust that their flours are gluten free. (You really have to be careful with some companies!) This works for me because I usually buy in bulk once or twice a year and I'm done. However, if you're not a bulk buyer or don't want to buy online:

• Wilson: Harris Teeter carries brown rice flour, tapioca starch & cornstarch (which you can use in place of the arrowroot). Walmart may also carry some of these ingredients, but I'm not super familiar with their small selection near the spices.
• Raleigh: Harmony Farms & Whole Foods carries all of these ingredients and tons more. EarthFare also carries a wide variety of gluten free items.
• Greenville: Kroger's, Lowe's Foods, The Fresh Market, and Harris Teeter are all good sources, and I think you could get everything you need from them. There is a health food store called Oakmont Health Food... the customer service is awful and honestly I don't shop there, but they do carry Udi's bread in stock if you're not up to driving to Raleigh.
• Goldsboro: HealthHabit on Spence Avenue has a great selection of gluten free pantry items (you could probably buy all of your baking supplies there), and they also carry Rudi's gluten free bread in their freezer section. Carlie C's IGA on Wayne Memorial Drive has a LOT of gluten free items, both baking items and other things like gluten free pasta. This is the first place I found gluten free bisquick. The items are not in a separate section, you just have to look for them in every "normal" section of the grocery store.

Here are several posts that explain the differences in flours and why each is important:

Gluten Free Flours 101 (I focus on low glycemic baking):
http://gingerlemongirl.blogspot.com/2010/07/gf-baking-101-gluten-free-flours.html

Simply Sugar & Gluten Free's Series on Gluten Free Flours:
Part 1: http://www.simplysugarandglutenfree.com/understanding-choosing-gluten-free-flours-part-1-density/
Part 2: http://www.simplysugarandglutenfree.com/understanding-choosing-gluten-free-flours-part-2-mixing-flours/
Part 3: http://www.simplysugarandglutenfree.com/understanding-choosing-gluten-free-flours-part-3-the-flavors/
Part 4: http://www.simplysugarandglutenfree.com/understanding-choosing-gluten-free-flours-part-4/

Gluten Free Mommy's GF Flours Introduction (One of my favorite overviews of gf flours):
http://glutenfreemommy.com/gluten-free-grains-101-the-best-flour-blend/

I hope this info is helpful to people who are new to the diet! :-)

October 2010 - Gluten Free/Celiac Support Group Meetup

Click here to RSVP to our next Wilson Gluten Free Support Group Meeting!!

Our next Wilson Gluten Free/Celiac Support Group meeting 

THIS SATURDAY

October 16th from 3-5pm

Please note that the LOCATION for this meeting has changed to:

Winstead United Methodist Church, located at:

1407 Tarboro St SW

Wilson, NC 27893-3557

This is just a temporary change from our regular meeting place of Wilson County Public Library. If you need assistance finding the location for this meeting please email me (gingerlemongirl at gmail dot com) for help!

ALSO NOTE: THIS TUESDAY night (Oct.12) at 7:30pm is the Dr. Talks series at the Wilson Medical Center Auditorium. 

Dr. Lakshman from Carolina Gastroenterology Specialists here in Wilson will be discussing Celiac Disease and the gluten free diet. If you would like to attend, PLEASE email me and let me know ASAP! I'm going to call later today and pre-register those of us from the Wilson Gluten Free Support Group who are attending!

October 16th Meeting Agenda: 

Our guest speaker for our meeting this Saturday is Mrs. Sarah Overholt, a Registered Dietician and she will be talking about the gluten free diet and proper nutrition. If you have ANY questions that you would like me to send to Mrs. Overholt, please email me ASAP so I can get them to her!

A big thanks to Jeni Lowrance will be providing gluten free refreshments for this meeting!

Gluten Free Breads Taste Test and Comparison - Rudi's, Udi's, and Nature's Own

At our recent gluten free support group meeting the main event was a "Gluten Free Bread Smackdown!" A taste test comparison between 3 major brands of gluten free store-bought bread, along with a homemade gluten free loaf.

Rudi's Gluten Free Bakery, Udi's Gluten Free Bakery, and Nature's Own Gluten Free were all kind enough to send our support group samples of each bread.

I have to say as far as customer service, Rudi's & Udi's went absolutely above and beyond sharing their full range of products. They also sent coupons and lots of great literature about their breads. Nature's Own was reluctant to send the bread simply due to the fact that the product is not available in our area yet.

We tried both the "white" and "whole grain" versions of each bread, along with a loaf of homemade gluten free whole grain bread for comparison.

Each person tasted 1/4 of slice of gluten free bread straight from the package. No toasting, no sandwich fillings. Each person was asked to rate the appearance, taste, texture, and overall quality of each type of gluten free bread. The system used for rating was 1-5. "1" being worst and "5" being best.

• The first brand to go around the table was Nature's Own. Many of our members were excited about trying Nature's Own because of the future possibility of the bread being available nationwide in grocery stores. Nature's Own bread is shelf stable and doesn't have to be refrigerated or frozen. It also has the longest ingredient list, many of which were not easily recognizable. Both loaves of bread rated high in appearance. The whole grain bread yielded the preferred texture and was rated higher overall.

• Udi's white & whole grain breads went around the table next. Udi's bread also has several hard-to-pronounce ingredients. The bread can be stored on the counter, but for best flavor & texture Udi's recommends keeping it in the freezer. Udi's bread was the lowest in calories and was by far the overall favorite of the group. Everyone loved the appearance and taste. Udi's white bread also had the highest texture rating of all the store-bought gluten free breads. The Udi's products were also the first to get snapped up by members to take home for further "testing." Overall, Udi's was the store-bought favorite of the entire group.



Here are the tallied results of the group taste testing!
Udi's came out #1 overall, while the gluten free homemade loaf came in 2nd!



• Rudi's was the 3rd bread to go around the table. The best feature of Rudi's gluten free bread is that all of the ingredients for the products could be found in your own kitchen. Rudi's bread, like Udi's, also needs to be stored in the freezer for best results. Unfortunately, Rudi's was the lowest scoring bread in our taste tests. The whole grain was preferred over the white, but many found it to be dry and crumbly. This bread would probably be best toasted.

• Lastly I brought a loaf of homemade gluten free whole grain bread as a final taste comparison. I was thrilled that the homemade bread came in 2nd overall, right behind Udi's "white" bread. It also tied 2nd place in taste with Udi's "whole grain" bread. And it came in 1st with the best texture, as it was slightly moist in comparison to the other breads and very pliable! It also had the fewest ingredients. The only downfall to the homemade bread was that it was the highest in calories and has a shorter shelf-life.

Katz Gluten Free Bakery was also kind enough to send samples of their products for our members to try. The cookies and muffins were a huge hit with the group! I had a hard time sharing the Chocolate Dipped Cookies as they were my favorite! Katz is a kosher, gluten free bakery located in Monroe, New York. They are a certified gluten free, dairy free, and nut free facility.

Many thanks to my local gluten free support group for being the guinea pigs behind the Gluten Free Bread Smackdown! You guys and gals are wonderful and make living life gluten free so much easier! Thank you so much for participating!



Generation Gluten Free

Exciting News!

At our next Wilson Gluten Free Support Group meeting I'll be showing this short documentary called Generation Gluten Free!

From the website for the video:

"About the Film

Generation Gluten-Free takes viewers inside the Celiac Disease community providing them with a first hand look at how it evolved from a grassroots movement in the early 1990s to the strong, blossoming community that it is today. 

The 42 minute documentary, which was filmed over a two week period during the summer of 2005, focuses on a special group of people who have changed the face of Celiac Disease in the United States. Through their hard work and dedication, the individuals in this film created the resources that have revolutionized day to day life for Americans with Celiac Disease. 

Whether it was founding a support group, developing gluten-free products, transforming gluten-free dining in restaurants, or raising awareness by sharing their Celiac story, this special group helped put Celiac Disease on the map.  

Generation Gluten-Free features members of the Celiac Disease community including:

*Dr. Peter Green, Director of the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University 

*George and Ceil Chookazian, Owners of Foods by George

*Beth Hillson, Founder of the Gluten-Free Pantry

*The Founders and Members of the Westchester Celiac Sprue Support Group

*Joseph Pace, Chef/Owner of Risotteria in New York City"

We will have a discussion following the film and talk about how celiac disease has impacted our families & how our journey's have compared to those on the video.

Please mark your calendars for Saturday Sept. 11th, 2010 from 3-5pm at the Wilson County Public Library!  

Next Meeting: Sat. September 11th 3-5pm WCPL

Click here to check out
The Wilson Gluten Free Meetup Group!

Hello everyone!
Just a quick note to remind you about our next Wilson Gluten Free Support Group Meeting:

• When: September 11th, 3-5pm
• Where: Wilson County Public Library, downtown Wilson, NC
• Main Topic: Gluten free shopping resources in the Wilson/Goldsboro/Greenville/Rocky Mount areas

If you have topics to add to our meeting agenda, please let me know! There will be light refreshments available and we'll also be talking about upcoming gluten free events in the Wilson NC area! :-) 

I look forward to seeing everyone in September! Please mark your calenders and come prepared to have a great time! 

Harmony Farms Health Foods Store - Raleigh, NC

Last night Michael and I took a random trip to Raleigh to try the gluten free pizza at Mellow Mushroom. That was the main objective... but even more exciting than the gluten free pizza was discovering all of the amazing gluten free products available at Harmony Farms.

I lived in Raleigh about 8 years ago and I loved visiting Harmony Farms then. I've always been a natural foods  advocate, and Harmony Farms had a great selection of (at the time) hard to find organic and natural health foods. Now, in 2010 the store is has nearly tripled in size and it also has a cafe, which serves gluten free breakfast and lunch. No joke! Fresh gluten free waffles for breakfast anyone?

I can't believe that I never thought to visit Harmony Farms since I started eating gluten free in 2007. They have the absolute largest selection of gluten free foods I have ever seen. Ever. 

They have an entire wall of the store dedicated to all sorts of gluten free foods. And along with that wall are several other aisles and the frozen section, not to mention all of the naturally gluten free items available! Baking supplies. Cookies, crackers, cake mixes, chips, pasta, you name it... they have it. I'm still kicking myself for not taking a picture of that amazing wall of gluten free goodness!

My intent for visiting Harmony Farms was to purchase Udi's gluten free bread. I've heard so many people praising Udi's gluten free bread. "It's just like REAL bread", "It's soft" "It's amazing!" "You'll LOVE it." It's been a recent discussion on the Gingerlemongirl.com Facebook page. I decided it was finally time to try it see how it compared to my homemade gluten free bread.

A quick review of my thoughts on the Udi's gluten free white sandwich bread:

• Pros: low calorie, light in texture, to me has a french bread type flavor, is supposed to have a long shelf life. Probably very appealing to kids. 
• Cons: expensive (but what store bought gluten free bread isn't?), has a strange aftertaste to me, I thought it was very dry, and it's made from all white gluten free starches -- definitely not good for people who are concerned about their blood sugar or diabetes. While low in calories, it is definitely not a "health" food. 

Would I buy it again? If I was going on a trip or just felt like purchasing some "white bread" (which we didn't eat before I was gluten free) I might buy it if it was available locally (not sure it's worth a trip to Raleigh just for white bread). It is a great option for people who are not inclined to gluten free baking, or simply don't have the time.

But I am THRILLED Harmony Farms carries Udi's gluten free bread products, because if they hadn't I may not have discovered all the other wonderful gluten free items that they have in stock. I also would not have met the incredibly helpful & knowledgeable staff of Harmony Farms. These people KNOW and understand gluten free. They even have a sign on the front door saying if you need help with gluten free shopping, just ask at the check out counter. Even Whole Foods doesn't have that kind of customer service.

Just as an example of what I found at Harmony Farms: My favorite Tinkyada brown rice pasta & Ancient Harvest Quinoa pasta, Bakery on Main gluten free granola, Pamela's yummy gluten free chocolate chunk cookies, Mary's Gone Cracker's Sticks & Twigs snacks, AND  Let's Do gluten free ice cream cones... yep!  I could have spent tons more there, but I was trying to limit myself since I had only gone for Udi's bread. Next time I'm taking a budget and a shopping list! :-)

In the past four years I've been to Whole Foods for nearly all of my "local" gluten free shopping. I had no idea what I was missing at Harmony Farms. I would say that Harmony has at least 4x the gluten free selection of Whole Foods. I was utterly amazed. Thank you SO much Harmony Farms!

In the future, all of my Raleigh gluten free shopping trips will be to Harmony Farms Health Foods store.

Have you been to Harmony Farms? Please share about your experience in the comments below!

Gluten Free Menu - McAlister's Greenville NC

I'm having lunch this week with a few friends at McAlister's Deli in Greenville. I contacted the restaurant and they sent me a link to their gluten free menu items.

Gluten-Free Choices*
McAlister's is sensitive to the requirements of guests with gluten intolerance and we make every effort to provide options on our menu. Following is a list of gluten-free choices:

Protein
Smoked Deli Turkey
Roast Beef
Corned Beef
Chicken Salad
Tuna Salad
Griled Chicken Strips
Grilled Chicken Breast

Soup & Chili
Southwestern Roasted Corn Soup

Spuds
Plain Baked Potato with or without Land-O-Lakes Butter
Spud Max
Grilled Chicken Spud
Bacon Spud

Salads
Chef Salad
Grilled Chicken Salad
Basil Parmesan Chicken Salad
Savannah Chopped Salad

Sides
Mashed Potatoes (without gravy)
Potato Salad
Fruit Salad

Dressings and Extras
Cheese - all of our cheeses are Gluten Free
Salad Dressings - all of our dressings are Gluten Free
Lite Sour Cream
Bacon Bits
Bacon


* Several of our vendors have supplied us with statements quantifying their products gluten free. Please be aware that we may change vendors and/or ingredients on a product as needed without notification. We are only able to make the above recommendations with the current vendor statements and are not liable or responsible for future menu changes. Please feel free to ask us for updated information.


I'll let you know how my visit goes this week! Check out McAlister's Deli if you ever visit Greenville, NC!

Free Gluten Free Lettuce Wraps from PF Chang's!

As you probably know, PF Chang's in Raleigh has an extensive gluten free menu.

For a limited time they are offering FREE lettuce wraps with the purchase of an entree! Click here to register for the coupon.


I've heard some amazing things about those lettuce wraps, so if you want to try them for free, enter now! This offer expires on July 31, 2010.

Have you tried PF Chang's in Raleigh NC?
Please leave a comment and let us know what you think of them and the gluten free menu!

Local Farm Spotlight: Rainbow Meadow Farms

All summer long we've been enjoying fresh produce & meats from Rainbow Meadow Farms. The farm is located in Snow Hill, just a hop & a skip from Wilson.

My husband and I are avid supporters of Community Supported Agriculture. It's awesome to know we can buy a share of produce every year late spring through early fall. It costs around $350 for a half share (what we usually buy). The produce is supplied for 20 weeks each year, that's only about $18.00 a week for fresh, local, organic produce. You can't beat that.

Rainbow Meadow is special because they also produce lots of healthy, free range meats, chicken, lamb, etc... We buy eggs from them every week over the summer and they are the best eggs we've ever eaten.

This week's produce in our CSA box includes:

• Corn,
  
• Tomatoes: Roma and Slicing,
• Red Irish Potatoes,
• Sweet Potatoes,
• Spring Onions,
• Yellow Squash,
• Blueberries,
• Eggplants: Thai (Green Spotted Round) and either White or Purple Japanese Eggplant
• Peppers: Bell and either Poblano or Key Largo
• Field Peas: Pink Eye/Purple Hull
  

Genell Pridgen, is one of the owners of Rainbow Meadow Farms and she runs the CSA operations every year. Her children help her to grow & pick the vegetables every year. This year, the children used some of the earning from the CSA to go to camp!

We've also purchased fresh meats such as ground beef, boneless sirloin tip roasts, and fresh applewood smoked bacon. The meats are absolutely wonderful. I've also had the boneless leg of lamb, and I'm looking forward to trying the lamb chops, ground chicken, and a whole roasting chicken.

If you are interested in purchasing fresh, locally & ethically raised meats, please consider calling Genell at Rainbow Meadow Farms & visiting their website. Let them know that Carrie sent you! :-)

While I have not specially asked Genell if the meats are gluten free, since they are fresh and not overly processed I think everything they sell is gluten free naturally. I'll make sure to ask Genell the next time I see her! :-)

To order beef, chicken, eggs, pork, lamb, or rabbit from Rainbow Meadow Farms, please visit their ordering page.

For more information about the Rainbow Meadow Farms 2011 CSA produce shares, please email Genell Pridgen (rainbow28580 at embarqmail dot com).

You can also read about the daily happenings at Rainbow Meadow by visiting their blog.

Olive Garden Gluten Free Menu

One of our Wilson Gluten Free Meetup Group members, Jaime visited an Olive Garden restaurant in Jacksonville, NC over the weekend.

Olive Garden Gluten Free Menu

Jaime learned that the gluten free pasta available is basically a packaged microwave meal, but she was still able to find a tasty meal for her celiac daughter to eat. Here's what Jaime had to say about her experience there:

"We went to Olive Garden in Jacksonville today. I was kinda sad to find out their pennine rigate was actually just a microwave dinner. Totally didn't look like something my celiac daughter would eat. However, the chef himself came out and spoke to me. When he found out this wasn't "just some allergy" (grr LOL) he was awesome.... He was VERY understanding of my concerns. He made her a beautiful grilled chicken breast with sauteed mushrooms. She also ate a salad. This girl never ate salads before going GF! I'm so impressed with my sweetie... she didn't even fuss over the breadsticks. God love her heart!"

I have to admit that I've been leary of visiting an Olive Garden because I was afraid that the possibility of cross-contamination was too great. But after reading about Jaime's experience I think I'd be willing to give it a try!

This would be a great restaurant to take your own bread if it's allowed. That way you don't have to salivate over the garlic bread sticks they serve with the salad! :-)

What are your gluten free experiences with Olive Garden?

The Melting Pot has a Gluten Free Menu!!!

Check this out! The Melting Pot in Raleigh, now has a gluten free menu!!

Cheese Fondues
Each cheese fondue includes fresh breads, vegetables and apples
for dipping. Please choose one cheese fondue per cooktop at your table.
GF - Request a GF cheese dipper bowl and no bread or chips.

Wisconsin Trio Cheese Fondue
Fontina, Butterkäse and Buttermilk Bleu cheeses with
white wine, scallions and a hint of sherry.
GF - Request to be made with cornstarch.

Traditional Swiss Cheese Fondue
Gruyère and Emmenthaler Swiss cheeses, white wine,
garlic, nutmeg, lemon and Kirschwasser.
GF - Request to be made with cornstarch.

Big Night Out Cheese Fondue
Enjoy the seasonal cheese fondue showcased in our
Big Night Out. Ask your server for pricing.
See Big Night Out page for GF information.

Spinach Artichoke Cheese Fondue
Fontina and Butterkäse cheeses,
spinach, artichoke hearts and garlic.
GF - Request to be made with cornstarch.

Fiesta Cheese Fondue
Cheddar cheese with the flavor of Mexican herbs,
spices, jalapeño peppers and salsa. Served with crisp
tortilla chips and made as spicy as you like.
GF - Request to be made with cornstarch and Redbridge® beer.

Cheddar Cheese Fondue
Aged, medium-sharp Cheddar and Emmenthaler Swiss
cheeses, lager beer, garlic and seasonings.
GF - Request to be made with cornstarch and Redbridge® beer.

Salads
Enjoy one of our delicious salads each featuring
one of The Melting Pot's homemade dressings.

The Melting Pot House Salad
Crisp romaine and iceberg lettuce, cheddar cheese,
fresh tomatoes, crispy croutons and sliced egg with
your choice of Peppercorn Ranch Dressing or our
Sweet and Tangy House Dressing.
GF - Request no croutons.

Spinach Mushroom Salad
Fresh spinach, baby portobello mushrooms,
red onion, chopped bacon and Roma tomatoes
with a warm Burgundy Shallot Vinaigrette. GF

Big Night Out Salad
Enjoy the seasonal salad showcased in our
Big Night Out. Ask your server for pricing.
See Big Night Out page for GF information.

Caesar Salad
Crisp romaine lettuce, Caesar dressing, shredded
Parmesan cheese, crispy croutons and an added
touch of Parmesan encrusted pine nuts.
GF - Request no croutons.

California Salad
Mixed baby salad greens, Roma tomatoes,
walnuts and Gorgonzola cheese, with Raspberry Black
Walnut Vinaigrette Dressing. GF


This menu and the information on it is provided by The Melting Pot, in
cooperation with the Gluten Intolerance Group®(GIG®), as a service to our
customers. The Melting Pot and GIG® assume no responsibility for its use
and information which has not been verified by The Melting Pot. Patrons are
encouraged to their own satisfaction, to consider this information in light of
their individual requirements and needs. Updated 3/2010
GF

Individual Entrée Selections
All entrées are cooked tableside in any of our four flavorful cooking styles located atthe bottom of this page.
All entrées are accompanied with an array of vegetables and include a salad of your choice.

Land & Sea*
New York Strip, breast of chicken and white shrimp.
GF

The French Quarter*
Filet mignon, breast of chicken and shrimp, all seasoned
with cajun spices, served with Andouille sausage.
GF

Seafood Trio*
White shrimp, scallops and cedar plank salmon.
GF

Cedar Plank Salmon*
Our version of an American classic
with a perfectly balanced smoky flavor.
GF

Breast of Chicken*
GF

Signature Selection*
Filet mignon, white shrimp, teriyaki-marinated
sirloin, breast of chicken and cedar plank salmon.
GF - Request a substitution for teriyaki-marinated sirloin.

Pacific Rim*
Teriyaki-marinated sirloin, white shrimp, marinated pork
tenderloin, breast of duck, breast of chicken and potstickers.
GF - Request a substitution for teriyaki-marinated sirloin
and potstickers.

The Vegetarian*
Edamame or onion rings, artichoke hearts, portobello
mushrooms, Thai peanut marinated tofu, asparagus,
spinach artichoke ravioli and our Big Night Out pasta.
GF - Request substitutions for tofu, ravioli and pasta.
Request no batters.

Filet Mignon* 6 oz. & 9 oz.
GF


Entrée Cooking Styles
For cooking your entrée, choose one style per cooktop.

Court Bouillon
Homemade, seasoned vegetable broth.
GF

Bourguignonne
European-style fondue in cholesterol-free
canola oil. 0g trans-fat Oil.
GF - Request no batters.

Mojo Style
Caribbean-seasoned bouillon
with distinctive flavors of
fresh garlic with a citrus flair!
GF

Coq au Vin
Flavors of fresh herbs,
mushrooms, garlic, spices
and burgundy wine.
GF

*Our Fondue-style service may result in the undercooking of certain ingredients.
GF-5.10 Consuming raw or undercooked MEATS, POULTRY, seafood, shellfish, or EGGS may increase your RISK of foodborne illness.
Add a cold water lobster tail to any individual entrée.* GF

Entree Sauces

Curry - A mild yogurt based curry that is particularly great with vegetables and salmon. GF

Green Goddess - A blend of cream cheese, sour cream, onions, chives and parsley. Great on vegetables and makes a great stuffed mushroom. GF

Gorgonzola Port - Rich and robust cheese sauce that is great on the filet mignon as well as the vegetables. GF

Ginger Plum - Our own unique recipe with red and green bell peppers, ginger and just a hint of plum sauce. Great on chicken
and shrimp. GF

Chocolate Fondue
Complete your fondue experience
with the ultimate finale!
GF-Request GF dessert plate: strawberries, bananas,
plain marshmallows and pineapple.

Big Night Out Chocolate - Passion Fruit Yin & Yang Fondue
Our signature decadent dark chocolate swirled together
with passion fruit infused white chocolate. GF

The Original
This original recipe features our
signature milk chocolate with a
swirl of crunchy peanut butter.
GF

DISARONNO® Meltdown
Silky white chocolate swirled with
Disaronno® Originale Amaretto
and flambéed tableside.
GF

Cookies ‘n Cream
Marshmallow Dream
Dark chocolate topped with
marshmallow cream, flambéed,
swirled together and garnished
with crushed Oreo® cookies.
GF - Request no crushed Oreo® cookies.

Flaming Turtle
Milk chocolate, caramel and
chopped pecans, flambéed tableside.
GF

Pure Chocolate
Milk, dark or white chocolate,
melted for the most pure of all
chocolate fondues.
GF

Bananas Foster
Silky, white chocolate swirled with
bananas, brown sugar and a dash
of cinnamon, flambéed tableside.
GF

Yin & Yang
Half dark chocolate and half
white chocolate, artfully swirled
for a perfect balance of flavors.
GF

Chocolate S’mores
Milk chocolate topped with
marshmallow cream, flambéed
and garnished with crushed
graham crackers.
GF - Request no crushed graham crackers.

I think we need a road trip Ya'll!!

Gluten Free Groceries at Harris Teeter

Harris Teeter in Wilson carries a great selection of gluten free processed foods, frozen foods, and baking supplies. Here is a growing list of the products I've seen there that I know you can buy readily. If you know of something I've forgotten or left off this list, please add it to the comments below!

Baking supplies
Hodgson Mills Brown Rice Flour
Hodgson Mills Buckwheat Flour
Hodgson Mills Soy Flour
Bob's Red Mill All Purpose Gluten Free Baking Flour
Bob's Red Mill White Rice Flour
Bob's Red Mill Tapioca Starch
Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Pancake & Waffle Mix
Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix
Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Brownie Mix
Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Cornbread Mix
Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Hearty Sandwich Bread Mix
Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bread Mix
Bob's Red Mill Homemade Wonderful GF Bread Mix
Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Yellow Cake Mix
Bob's Red Mill Xanthan Gum
Fleischmann's Bread Machine Yeast (best buy if you make bread at home)
Cream Cornstarch
Gluten Free Baking Powder
Betty Crocker Gluten Free Yellow Cake Mix
Betty Crocker Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Mix
Betty Crocker Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix
Betty Crocker Gluten Free Brownie Mix

Pasta & Dry Goods
HT carries several types of gluten free pasta. Deboles is one brand, but unfortunately it does not have the best reviews. It can be easily overcooked and becomes mushy.
Another brand called Notta Pasta is much like Asian rice noodles and holds up really well after cooking. You can also find the Thai Kitchen brand of rice noodles in the Asian section and they taste really good, stand up to sauces, and are not mushy after being cooked.
Other things that are naturally gluten free that you can find:
Risotto
Rice, any kind as long as it's not in a mix
Cornmeal
Amy's Kitchen Soups

Frozen Foods
Amy's Kitchen Frozen Meals
Cedarlane Frozen Meals
Food For Life Brown Rice Bread
Brazilian Cheese Bread - This is super yummy if you miss cheesy bread! (I'll get the brand name the next time I go!)

Cereals
Rice Chex, (any variety now -- just make sure the label says gluten free!)
Envirokids Cereals
Bob's Red Mill Hot Grain Cereal


This is NOT a complete list by any means... this is just what I can think of off the top of my head. If you know of additional gluten free food at HT, please leave a comment below and let me know! Also, let me know what your shopping experience has been at HT in Wilson!

Upcoming Gluten Free Cooking & Baking Classes in Wilson NC

Here is a schedule for the next 3 Gluten Free Cooking & Baking Classes:

* Gluten Free Baking 101 - Saturday July 10th, 10am - 1pm
Home of Carrie Forbes, Instructor
Cost: $45.00

This class covers techniques on how to make gluten free sandwich bread & how to make gluten free chocolate chip cookies. Students are taught the basics on gluten free flours, binding ingredients, how to shop for gluten free baking supplies, etc...
Cost includes: class materials, instruction, gluten free baked goods, and email baking support.

*Gluten Free Muffins and Cake - Saturday August 7th, 10am - 1pm
Home of Carrie Forbes, Instructor
Cost: $45.00

This class covers basic gluten free baking techniques, along with an introduction to gluten free flours, binding ingredients, how to shop for ingredients, and how to convert your “old” recipes into gluten free recipes.
Cost includes: class materials, instruction, gluten free baked goods, and email baking support.

*Gluten Free Cooking 101 - Saturday August 21st, 10am - 1pm
Home of Carrie Forbes, Instructor
Cost: $45.00

This class covers basic gluten free cooking techniques, such as how to make cream soups, how to bread foods, how to thicken sauces & gravies, how to use pantry staples to make quick meals, etc...
Cost includes: class materials, instruction, gluten free meal samples, and email cooking support.


For more information on classes & how to sign up:
Contact Carrie Forbes:
Email: gingerlemongirl at gmail dot com

Gluten Free Menu Items at Bill's Barbecue

At our recent Wilson Gluten Free Meetup Group Meeting, Stephanie B. shared the list of gluten free items available at Bill's Barbecue. The list was sent to her from Traci Ellis, Bill's wife, who is also gluten intolerant.

Please call the restaurant (252-237-4372) if you have any questions.

Gluten free menu items at Bill's Barbecue:
updated 6/29/2010 - cf

• Slaw


• Boiled potatoes


• String beans


• Collards


• Potato salad


• BBQ


• Baked chicken


• Hamburger patty (plus grilled onions)


• Yams


• Meatloaf


• Most all veggies (as long as they are NOT fried)
  
  

DO NOT EAT the following foods:

• No corn sticks - the cornsticks themselves are gluten free, but they are not fried in a dedicated fryer.


• No fries - again, not prepared in a dedicated fryer.


• No brunswick stew - most likely is made using prepared soups that have gluten/wheat flour as a thickening agent.

Many thanks to Stephanie B. for sharing this list with us! For people who are gluten free in the Wilson area, it is awesome to know that we can still eat at this wonderful long-time Wilson dining establishment!

Welcome to Gluten Free Wilson NC!

Welcome to the blog for the Wilson Gluten Free Meetup Group. My intention for this blog is to become an easy gluten free resource for the people in the Wilson NC area.

Our first meeting was held on Saturday June 26th 2010 at the Wilson County Public Library. We had 6 people in attendence.

We discussed local gluten free restaurant options in Wilson NC. Some of the restaurants that can accomodate gluten free dining in Wilson are:

• Wendy's - see gluten free menu statement

• Chili's Grill & Bar - see gluten free menu statement

• Ruby Tuesday - see gluten free menu statement

• Jac's Grill - inform server, the chef & manager are aware of gluten intolerance and can make a safe meal.

• Quince - inform server, the chef & manager are aware of gluten intolerance and can make a safe meal.

• Chick-Fil-A - see gluten free menu statement. They have a dedicated fryer for waffle fries! Easy meal is a bunless grilled chicken breast, waffle fries, and a side salad. Fruit & coleslaw are also gluten free!

• Bill's Barbeque - Traci Ellis, wife of the owner of Bill's is gluten intolerant. List of foods that are gluten free & safe to eat from Bill's will be posted ASAP.

• Griff's Steak Barn - Has a large salad bar that has safe, gluten free options. Grilled chicken on the salad bar is gluten free.

• Beef Master - Menu is very simple, steak, baked potatoes, salad. Should be able to accomodate gluten free menu. Make sure to inform server & cook.

• Denny's - inform waitress. Manager & cook are aware of gluten intolerance and can accomodate and make a gluten free meal on a clean grill. Also check their allergen menu.

• Moe's - Do NOT eat corn tortillas. Beans, rice, and vegetables should be safe. Can get a beans, rice, meat & veggie bowl. Check allergen menu.

We will post in depth reviews of these restaurants in the future. If you have been to a restaurant in Wilson NC that has been accomodating to a gluten free diet, please share with us in the comments below!!

We decided that our next Wilson Gluten Free Meetup Group meeting will be held on Saturday September 11th 2010. We will meet again at the Wilson County Public Library from 3-5pm.

Upcoming Events:

• Next Meeting: September 11, 2010 - 3 to 5pm - Wilson County Public Library.

If you would like to join our group, please join from the group homepage. If you have any questions, please email Carrie Forbes at gingerlemongirl (at) gmail.com.