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3rd Annual Greater Phoenix Gluten-free Expo – April 16, 2011

The Celiac Disease Foundation: Greater Phoenix Chapter will host its 3rd Annual Greater Phoenix Gluten-Free Expo on Saturday, April 16, 2011.  

This event is open to the public and gives people challenged with Celiac Disease, or those interested in transitioning to a gluten-free lifestyle, an opportunity to learn more about gluten-free products and where to purchase those products, as well as learning about local restaurants offering gluten-free menus.  In 2010, over 600 attendees and 37 vendors participated in the expo. This year promises to be even bigger, with an expected 800 guests and 50 vendors.

The expo will be held between 10 am and 2 pm at the following location:

Sheraton Crescent Hotel
2620 West Dunlap Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85021

In keeping with the intent of sharing information on a wide array of products now available to the gluten-free community, a variety

Have a Gluten-Free Valentine’s Day!

Have you checked out Gluten Free Works yet?  You really should.  Founded by Cleo and John Libonati, it is  dedicated to “helping people get well, look good and stay healthy living gluten free.”  And right now, they’ve got some very sweet Valentine’s info posted.

There’s a gluten-free brownie recipe, gluten-free strawberry heart rice crispie bar recipe and even a heart-shaped pizza recipe from Terri Gruss, MS, one of their regular contributors.  Jen Cafferty, founder of The Gluten Free Cooking Expo, shares a starter list of

Fox News Video: Boy with Autism Recovers After Gluten-free Casein-free Diet

Ethan Fox never slept more than two hours at a time.  He did not speak.  He ran continuously, day and night, until he would collapse from exhaustion.  After a short nap, he would awaken and run again. 

At one year of age, Ethan was diagnosed with autism.  At 20 months, after being written off by other physicians, he was placed on a gluten-free, dairy-free diet by Dr. Kenneth Bock, autism specialist and author of “What Your Family Needs To Know About Autism Spectrum Disorders.”

According to Ethan’s mother, Tracy Fox, results were seen within three days on a gluten-free, dairy-free diet. Ethan slept through the night, spoke his first words and has never had a problem since.  Now age 6, he is at the top of his class at school with a 97%  average…and virtually no one knows he was ever diagnosed with autism.


Gluten-Free Valentine’s Day Brownie Hearts

Photo 2010 © Teri Lee Gruss

Use this delicious recipe for homemade gluten-free brownies to make special heart-shaped brownies for a Valentine’s Day treat. If you’re short on time, use one of the great gluten-free brownie mixes on the market, like Gluten-Free Pantry® Chocolate Truffle Brownies.

 Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Knoxville Gluten Free Vendor Fair: March 12, 2011

Knoxville support group for children and adults with celiac disease to host 3rd annual Gluten Free Vendor Fair 

Celi-ACT, a support group for families with one or more members affected by gluten intolerance, is hosting its 3rd annual Gluten Free Vendor Fair on Saturday, March 12, 2011 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m at a new location in the Jacobs Building at Chilhowee Park & Exposition Center in Knoxville.

The event has grown substantially since it was first held in 2009 and is now one of the largest gluten-free events in North America.  More than

Gluten-Free Strawberry Heart Rice Crispie Bar Recipe

Heart-shaped gluten-free strawberry rice crispie bars make a lovable Valentine’s Day treat!

I used freeze-dried unsweetened strawberries (purchased at Costco) but if you can’t locate this ingredient, substitute with your favorite dried fruit. Dried cherries or cranberries would look equally great in this Valentine’s Day-inspired recipe.

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Gluten Free Valentine’s Day Candy List

Here is a starter list of the gluten free Valentine’s Day candy you and your loved ones can share this year: (As always, check all ingredient labels.)

Necco Valentine Conversation Hearts
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
 M&Ms (plain and peanut)
 Hershey’s Milk Chocolate (NOT crisp or cookie flavored)

Gluten Free Valentine’s Day Recipe Round Up

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching.  It is a day of flowers, candy, chocolate desserts, sugar cookies and of course dinner.  If you are on the gluten-free diet it can seem daunting to bake a gluten-free dessert that is a crowd pleaser, purchase a pre-made dessert, or determine which chocolates are gluten free, so read on and revel in the amount of gluten-free Valentine’s Day information that is out there to assist you in these tasks.      

In our family, we love to dip strawberries and pretzels in chocolate, but since this Examiner is dairy/soy free, we use Enjoy Life’s chocolate chips.  We have also used Erewhon Cocoa Crispy cereal to make rice krispy treats and cut them into heart shapes.  Our favorite cookies to make are roll-and-cut sugar cookies and then top them with

Update on FDA’s Gluten-Free Food Labeling Rule

Rhonda Kane, MS, RD, Consumer Safety Officer at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), provided us with the following status report on FDA’s gluten-free food labeling rulemaking:

The headquarters of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is seen in Silver Spring, Maryland.

“FDA published a proposed rule to define the food labeling term “gluten-free” on January 23, 2007, which had a 90-day public comment period that closed on April 23, 2007.  As discussed on page 2803 of the proposed rule (posted under the subheading “Gluten-Free”), FDA committed to conducting a safety assessment on gluten exposure in individuals with celiac disease.  FDA conducted this safety assessment in accordance with the data quality criteria discussed in

Applebee’s Offering Gluten-free Options

Gluten-free residents can add another restaurant to the growing list that will accommodate their needs – Applebee’s.  Applebee’s joins a host of many other restaurants that are now offering a list of menu items that don’t contain gluten.  As noted, this list is subject to change, so make sure to check back frequently.  

As with any restaurant, there is always a risk of cross-contamination.  To help minimize the risk, ask to speak with the manager on duty.  Be sure to ask how the menu item is prepared and if it is cooked on surfaces or