Red Curry Chicken Soup
I started my blog three years ago as part of a project on platform building with The Writer Mama, Christina Katz. Our little band of freelance writers, including Jenny of The Nut-Free Mom blog, was guided through the maze of social media and encouraged as we created blogs, signed up for Facebook accounts and this strange new thing called Twitter. Christina advised us to pick a topic we could be passionate about for several years and I knew my family had to eat and eat gluten-free. A disappointing experience at a gluten-free conference sampling really awful gluten-free food and a blog was born. I had no idea then that I was creating a lifeline of support and friendship in the online gluten-free community. Twitter and Facebook and gluten-free blogs have become the way the gluten-free community connects, shares information, provides support and finds friendship in a world that doesn’t always understand us. My freelance writing career has not gone as planned as I have poured more energy into finding ways to be an advocate and activist in spreading the word about celiac disease and gluten intolerance and the writing has become my vehicle to raise awareness.
I was ready to shut down the blog this fall and find a full time job to supplement the family business. As the kids left for college, I thought there was nothing left to write about with an empty nest and the dietary needs of one midlife celiac left in the house. I thought my work was done and that the kids would be fine out in the world. Then our college troubles began and I have a renewed sense of energy and urgency. A series of articles that share our gluten-free college experiences and tips to avoid some of the surprising pitfalls will be featured on the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness site starting today. As you read how my son and daughter have fared this first semester of college, you will agree that my work is not done.
There is still plenty of work to do on the awareness front and all the new tasty gluten-free products on the market that make eating easier don’t reflect how hard some of the issues of daily life can still be. There is also a growing backlash I see whether it’s a New York restaurant article that refers to a chef having gluten-free menu items to pacify the ‘militant anti-gluten movement’ or a San Francisco cookbook reviewer who says most gluten-free cookbooks ’tend to be boring and bland. They are often written by unskilled chefs and geared towards the health food community rather than people who actually enjoy flavor.’ Our efforts to just find a safe meal and live a normal life are seen as militant, strident and our food boring.
In the case of my daughter’s college in their reply to my request for a refund, the attitude was we should be grateful for any gluten-free crumbs an institution chooses to throw at us, even when they promise to adequately and safely feed our kids an entire semester and not just in the final weeks when their new allergen-friendly dining program is finally up and running. I compare that to a consumer buying a dream car and finding that for the first three months when they go to drive to work each day, the car only starts about a third of time. Shouldn’t they be hopping mad and demanding a refund or a shiny new car? Why should parents paying for gluten-free meals for their kids and not getting what’s promised, not have the same kinds of consumer protection and recourse with a financial investment worth more than a car?
So I will still be here filling my black bowl with gluten-free recipes just as I did on my first post in 2008. Thanks to all of the readers and gluten-free friends who have supported me and my little blog. To end my month of celebration and giveaways, some of my favorite cookbook authors have provided me with copies of their books to giveaway. No gluten-free cookbook library is complete without Elana Amsterdam’s almond flour cookbooks. I have both her first book and the cupcake book to giveaway. Two of my new favorites published this year and used often in my kitchen are from Amy Green and Hallie Klecker. Simply Sugar & Gluten Free and The Pure Kitchen round out this set of must-have gluten free references. Click on the links to see my reviews of each of these books and the recipes I tried. To win this set of four, fabulous gluten-free cookbooks:
Follow on Twitter and Like on Facebook with the following links:
- Celiacs in the House, Simply Sugar & Gluten Free, Daily Bites, Elana’s Pantry for Facbook Pages
- @midlife_celiac, @hallieklecker, @Amys_SSGF @elanaspantry
- Leave a comment about why you need these cookbooks in your gluten-free life.
You have until midnight on Tuesday, Dec. 13th to enter. US addresses only please. Congrats to Chelsea, the winner of the giveaway!
I need these books because I’m new to gluten-free and can use all the help I can get
Hallie and Amy have lots of helpful tips and tricks in their books that you’d find very useful. Good luck!
This is my third Christmas with Celiac. I need some new ideas to keep my meals fresh and interesting. New cookbooks would go a long way toward meeting that goal.
These would give you lots of ideas to play with in the New Year. Good luck!
Happy Blogiversary, Wendy! I’ve just read your series on college dining and am reminded that we still have much work to do. Our community is richer for having strong advocates like you!
I’d love to have these cookbooks in my gluten-free life because I LOVE being in the kitchen, trying new flavors and sharing delicious gluten-free food with anyone who enters our home!
Thanks, sweetie. You’d love everyone of these.
I would love these cookbooks as I am sugar free and my sister is celiac. Making family dinners is often challenging and these cookbooks would make life a bit easier. Also, as a student, running out and buying them doesnt seem to be in the cards any time soon :-/
Good luck, Heather. Sounds like you could really use them. Head over to Gluten Free Easily for Home for the Holidays and see if there are books you’d like to win in Shirley’s giveaways. Lots of goodies.
I like Celiacs in the House, Simply Sugar and Gluten Free, Daily Bites, and Elana’s Pantry on FB.
That’s four more entries for you, Rachel.
Oh..Ok..Do I need to do enter them separately or is it fine how it is?
As long as you tell me, it can be in one comment or a bunch. You’re fine.
I am new to gluten free and will take all the help I can get!!!
Lots of help in this little library. Best of luck!
Hi Wendy,
Happy bloga-’versary…. I am gluten free and many of my friends are Celiac. I am also a nutritionist and want to be up to the minute with good recipes and ideas to make it easier for my clients who are often diagnosed with a gluten sensitivity or full celiac sprue, I often pass book recommendations onto my clients who are desperate to understand what they can eat and learn how to cook without gluten . I don’t want to miss a trick on creative ideas and tried and tested recipes.
Congratulations of a successful blog!! I am very impressed….
Here is to feeling normal!! Travelling abroad is often a nightmare (especially Europe), breakfast being the worst meal to find. I can’t eat dairy either…double whammy…
Best wishes,
Julie
It would fantastic if you won so you could help your clients. Good luck!
Happy Blogiversary!
I have been gluten free for just a short year but have dealt with food allergies of some type all my life. Thankfully I grew out of a few of them. I would love to win these cookbooks so I can share the food and recipes with friends and family. In the past year I have been adapting my regular cookbooks to fit my diet. My husband is also sugar free and I would love to join him. So these books would be a wonderful addition to our kitchen.
I have also liked Celiacs in the House, Simply Sugar & Gluten Free, Daily Bites, Elana’s Pantry on facebook and also am following @midlife_celiac, @hallieklecker, @Amys_SSGF @elanaspantry on twitter.
Got you for all of them , Danielle. Good luck, they are fantastic books by some lovely ladies.
I have been gluten free for over a year and am still being tested for Celiac. It has been a long process and I am still pretty clueless about gluten-free cooking. These cookbooks would help me get started in my new gluten free life. Happy Blog-aversary!!
Yes, this is the ultimate starter library for gluten-free cooking. Each of these cooks use different ingredients and flours for their signature baking gluten-free baking style.
Many congrats to you on your well-deserved successes, Wendy!
Thank you, Cheryl. Meeting gluten-free friends like you is the best part of it.
I’m just getting started on my gluten free journey. The hardest part so far is finding fast easy recipes when it is just me and good substitutes when the family is here. These books would help enormously with that.
Got all your entries, Jannelle. Good luck!
I’ve liked all the Facebook pages and am now following the twitter feeds.
Congratulations on 3 years of blogging! Wishing you (actually, wishing us, your readers) many more years of great writing, wonderful recipes, and top-notch advocating. Great job Wendy!
Than you so much, Melissa for your friendship and support. It means a lot to me, especially the past few months.
I already liked all the facebook pages. Im new to twitter, but I have now followed all the above on my new twitter account.
I would love to have this book collection for me and my daughter. I have am diabetic and just found out this February that I have celiac, (among many other conditions and years of undiagnosed problems). My 15 yr old daughter has Crohn’s disease. I’m seeing that the gluten free is also helping her symptoms.
Thanks and Ill be keeping my fingers crossed that I’m the lucky winner!!!
Crossing my fingers for you too. Sounds like you could use the help.
I already have all the books so please don’t enter me in the giveaway, but wanted to say congrats on your blogiversary–and we are so glad you decided to stay on with it! Strident, bland and boring my foot!
Thanks, Ricki. Yes, those words got under my skin too.
I’m glad you’re staying with us! I, too, have realized how important it is to have the support and friendship of other people who want (and need!) to live gluten-free lives. Some days the diet makes me feel so isolated from the rest of the world. Do we have to have cookies and cupcakes at school for every birthday and holiday celebration? Pizza again…really? *sigh* As one mother said to me last year, “I’m just going to have to get used to it.” Uggh. I need to know that there are other people like me that want to live a happy, healthy, GLUTEN-FREE life. Thank you for being a part of my gluten-free community, and continuing to write so beautifully about celiac disease, gluten-intolerance, and your family’s experiences.
Oh, Heather. I can’t tell you how many times our little band of menu planners kept me blogging throughout the years. That support has been so important when all I could come up with or say was this is what we’re going to eat this week.
I need these cookbooks after 3 years of living gluten free my son and I are getting tired of eating the same thing. Dinners are becoming boring and there are only a few desserts that I bake that are gluten free AND taste good.
Oh no. Dinner should never be boring. These books will show you how to get out of that rut.
I’ve been gf for 8 years, I have a few gf cookbooks but I need some more variety.
This set represents a lot of variety for all three authors. Good luck, Dana.
I would love to have these cookbooks-always looking for new ideas and I enjoy trying new recipes out! The best compliment a celiac can get is to have a gluten eating individual ask for more and not even know it’s gf-I bet there are alot of those kind of recipes in these cookbooks!!
So true, Deb. Good luck!
I am Dairy and Gluten Free. I would LOVE those books to cook new recipes! I recently had to give up Dairy and now Gluten after a surrogate preg, a few years ago. It has been…a bit challenging to figure out how to gain and maintain my weight, as well. But I have a feeling that with the many scrumptious recipes in your books, it won’t be as hard, anymore!
Good luck, Michelle. These books would certainly help.
I would love to win these books! I have an intolerance to gluten and dairy, and a corn and egg white allergy. I’m always looking for new ways to make some of the foods I miss so much and recipe books always have great new ideas.
Wow, Sara. What a challenge. I’m sure with the tips and tricks you could learn from these three, you’d be able to find ways to get the flavors and foods you miss.
I got diagnosed Celiac disease just last week. It wasn’t a huge surprise at all, but still a bummer. I can’t eat any grains, legumes, or dairy… hopefully temporarily (except for gluten, of course) until my body heals. My GI thought I was crazy and refuses to even examine me unless I get back on gluten for three weeks! I only found out about the celiac disease bc another doctors did a Ttransglutaminase test. So I’m on my own as far as healing goes, my insurance doesn’t want to let me see another GI…. I thought that was frustrating, I can’t imagine how bad it must be to be in your shoes. Or for your kids! College is hard enough without having to worry about causing themselves bodily harm just because they, *gasp*, need to eat! And here I am, terrified of getting “glutenized” while I’m at my parents’ or in-laws’ houses for the holidays. And I have access to a kitchen in both cases!
I’d like the books for the same reasons as many people above: I’m new, hungry, and need help!
Keep up the awesome work! I’m sure you’re raising awareness and hopefully more schools will pay attention. I hate that it’s at your and your kids expense, but I’m sure there will be many, many college students that will benefit from work. Keep rocking it!
Thank you so much for your supportive comments, Monique and wishing lots of luck and love on your journey. You’ve already experienced some of the frustrations we all have with the medical system. Our college issues feel a lot like those frustrations all over again. We high maintenance celiac types seem to rub all the sacred cows of our culture the wrong way.
as I mentioned on your Facebook page, I’m appalled by the schools’ attitude. Both your kids have a diagnosed medical condition yet they were being treated as spoiled, picky eaters on a fad diet. And you even paid extra to ensure they’d have something to eat.
And thanks for the support, it’s a little scary knowing that I have CD and not being able to go to the doctor (although I pay for insurance! grr!). I’m “treating” myself with diet, supplements, and other tips I am getting from blogs like yours. Thanks again!
We get to see the dark l side of medicine and education sometimes, don’t we. I just got a bill for blood work to check my Vit D levels. They were so low I’m on weeks of prescription doses and a yearlong plan of mega doses, yet the blood work isn’t covered by our $1200 a month family insurance plan. Now if I had accepted the rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis from two doctors and chosen scary immune suppressing drugs, my insurance would cover that. Same with our son, if I hadn’t pressed the doctors to test for celiac, he would be on heavy duty immune suppressors for ulcerative colitis. It was $400 a month for the milder drug we chose when he was hospitalized, and we asked for him to be weaned off that and try gluten-free diet only. That was 5 years ago and going GF was the cure. The insurance company was happy to cover all that stuff, but not the things that keep a celiac healthy and tests to make sure we’re absorbing nutrients properly. So much work to do still.
I like you on FB!
I need these books to help me transition my family into a wheat-free life! I am still experimenting and having trouble coming up with new recipes. I want to know what I’m doing in the kitchen
With these 3 gluten-free cooks, you would be off to a great start. Good luck, Lily.
I already like Simply Sugar & Gluten Free, Daily Bites & Elana’s Pantry on FB too!
Since going gluten free, I definitely need some new cookbooks!
This is a super way to start. Good luck, Barb.
Congrats on 3 years! I’m glad you are going to still blog because we need resources like yours. I already own Elana’s cookbooks (and love them) but need others for a well rounded GF cookbook collection.
Thank you, Sherri. Elana’s books make great gifts too.
I like Elanas Pantry and SSGF, have ‘liked’them for a while now. So glad I heard about your blog thru them. I ‘liked’ Celiacs in the house and Daily Bites on FB. I love all the posts and updates and follow them daily! Can’t wait to follow your blog!! Such helpful hints and recipes!
Welcome, Kelly so glad you found me. Good luck!
Congrats to you! I have been wanting both Elana’s and Hallie’s books. I am not only gluten free but grain free as well. It can be difficult to find interesting recipes and tasty recipes. I am also trying to get my little one to transition to this lifestyle, these books would be a great help. Thanks for the giveaway
Yes, you need those books, Heather. Good luck!
I like Celiacs in the House, Simply Sugar & Gluten Free, Daily Bites, and Elana’s Pantry on Facebook.
Gotcha, Paula. Good luck!
I need these cookbooks in my life so I can expand my gluten free cookbook library that I offer to all my friends and family to borrow from! I never got my Almond Flour Cookbook back, so I need a replacement!
I used to glue those library pockets with the little check-out cards in my books. It looks so official and they always made it back home. Good luck!
I “liked” the FB pages of daily bites,elanas pantry, SSGF, Celiacs in the house. And I would LOVE to win one of these books as I have recntly found out a gluten free diet can be beneficial to my thyroid problems . I’m quite new to this way of eating and would love some help through these books =) Thanks!
Oh yes, they will help with those issues. Good luck!
Congratulations on three years!
I would love having these books as a reference because after 1 year of being gluten free, I’m moving in February to an ‘off the grid’ sustainable farm to be an environmental educator, and will not have regular internet access! I need some good cookbooks to supplement the awesome gluten free blogs I’ve found, since I won’t be able to rely on them every day for great recipes.
See my comment to Brandae. That’s two of you in the same boat. Good luck!
I need these cookbooks because my internet keeps cutting out (I live in a rural area without good access) so I cannot rely on blog posts to find recipes as I need them. I think it would be easier to have hard copies of these amazing recipes. Thank you!
Hi Brandae. I remember what our service was like out here in the wilds of SE Ohio. It’s so much better now than just a few years ago. Good luck on getting your recipes the old-fashioned way. They’re great books and I still need to have a book to hold in my hands and splatter with oil and flour in the kitchen.
I also wanted to mention that I “like” each of the above Facebook pages too! Thanks!
I need these books to get me going on a gluten free path. I know gluten is bad for me and I cut out a lot but have gone back to it more often. These books will help me stay on track.
With delicious recipes from these talented authors, you won’t be tempted to stray. Good luck, Nicole.
I have been gluten-free for only 2 months now, and still feel pretty overwhelmed (especially during this holiday season!). My challenge is not only cooking for my husband and myself, but also for my 3yr. old, 4 yr. old, and 7 yr. old! As of now, I do not have any gluten-free cookbooks, but desperately need them! Thanks so much for your blog! (I also “liked” the four FB pages mentioned above!)
I can’t imagine keeping up with feeding the family and taking care of your own needs too. These cookbooks would help make it easier to do both as most of the recipes are just good food that is naturally gluten free and flavorful. Best of luck, Joy.
wow. so inspiring. and such a good writer you. so inspiring. i’m working on being gluten-free and not because of my current health concerns but because of my future health concerns. and well because i love food and taste and real food tastes so much better. i’m shopping for my first gluten free cookbook these days and figure i need a gluten free cookbook recommended by people like you that let me know it’s a darn good path to be on……….so might as well try to win it eh? thanks for the chance and keeping the blog going. be back soon.
Thanks, Karen. These would be a good place to start.
First Thank you for doing what you do. I am a mom who uses the internet and blog world trying to figure out what is wrong with my daughter. She lives in stomach pain but every test says she is fine. I have used blogs like your to educate me on food. We have become gluten free and that has aided not only in her having less pain but has helped me with some of my health issues. We have no gf cook books in our house we simply have been using the blogs to help guide our menu
These cookbooks are a great resource. Good luck, Carol. So many have tried just going gluten free after all the tests and inconclusive results and have found relief. Good for you for researching and staying informed.
I would LOVE to win some new and exciting gluten free cookbooks! I am a celiac mom and have 3 out of 4 kids who are celiac as well. With the Christmas break coming soon, I would love some new meals, snacks and treats for everyone! We’re getting so bored of the same thing, and new tried and true recipes are so needed! I appreciate all of your information on college, too. I have been wondering how my kids would face that. My oldest is 11, so we have a few ears for them to get it right, but I want them to have a great college experience, eating included! Thanks!
Sounds like you could really use some inspiration, Natalie. Good luck. Here’s hoping things will change by the time that 11 year old is moving into a dorm. I think the numbers of kids needing gluten free are growing rapidly with better diagnosis and that will drive the change.
I need these books! I don’t own any gluten free books and I REALLY want to start learning how to do more baking. Especially the Almond Flour cookbook. I have a TON of Almond flour and have only tried a couple of recipes with it so far.
Please, Please, Pretty Please!
Best of luck to you, Laura. I made Spinach and Feta muffins from Elana’s cupcake book just this morning. Love her savory muffins as well as the cupcakes.
Congrats on 3 yrs! I love how your writing has been a vehicle for change and awareness, please keep doing what you do – it helps out more people than you know, I am sure. I would love to win this giveaway as a present to give for my husband’s family, all of those books are lovely!
Thanks, Jenn. One of the best things about my three years is getting to meet people like you in person and share gluten-free meals. These would make a beautiful gift for your hubby’s family and they have a US address.
Good luck.
Congratulations on your blogaverssary! Would love to have these cookbooks – I do all the cooking in our house and love trying new recipes. Love playing around with different flavors, flours and we are trying to eat a bit healthier too…less sugar etc. Plus I follow and love all those ladies and truly admire you all for sharing your delicious recipes with everyone.
Thanks, Jenny. Yes, all three of these ladies are pretty special and talented and I am so glad I got to meet all of them in my travels last year.
Gluten free cooking is one thing but gluten free baking is a whole other ball game. Good recipes, normal meals, yummy treats….that’s what I’m long for. Plus easy meals. I love a quick easy yummy recipe and it seems a lot of gltuen free recipes are lengthy. In general I just need help feeding our family so they’ll thrive
~Cinnamon
You’ll get all those things from Amy, Hallie and Elana. Good luck, Cinnamon.
I would really like to have these cookbooks because after several years of eating gf, I have been experiencing symptoms again recently. I obviously must be cross contaminating! I need new ideas and recipes!
Cross contamination or reacting to something else in the diet, particularly other grains might be the problem. Lots of celiacs are reacting to all the gf whole grains that are supposed to be good for us. Or it can be the other starches and gums in gf processed foods. These books would help keep your diet varied, use almond flour instead of grains and maybe help your reactions. Good luck, Vicky.
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I’ve been eyeing those almond-flour cookbooks for some time, wondering if I would really use them. I’d love a chance to find out! We’re a mixed-allergen household that only bakes GF.
I love those books of Elana’s and I’m sure you would, too. Good luck, Heather.
I am fairly new to gluten-free cooking. I have been sugar-free for many years, but more recently have had to go gluten free as well. I actually purchased Elana’s cookbooks a couple of months ago and really like them. I have been eagerly awaiting the other two that you are giving away. I would love to be a part of this giveaway.
Good luck, Saundra. You’ll love both books. Some of our family favorites this year came out of both of them.
I agree, your work is not done! I need these cookbooks for my Mother’s gluten-free life. She has recently become gluten and dairy intolerant and quite frankly we could use all the help we can get!
“Like” Celiacs in the House, Simply Sugar & Gluten Free, Daily Bites, and Elana’s Pantry on facebook. Thank you!