The Importance of Replacing Meat in Some of Your Meals

As Andrew and I have been exploring more of the Gluten Free world together, we have made it a point to make sure that at least one day a week for us is vegan. While we have friends who are all about trying new things that we serve, and aren't afraid of a little cashew cheese, we will still get the occasional friend or family member who boasts the question:

But you're not vegan, so why go to the effort of replacing items in only some of your meals?

The short answer: Because we are hoping to leave a better world for future generations.

The Meat Industry has shown to have a pretty major impact on our environment. It takes a lot of land, a lot of water, and a lot of resources to produce meat. Not to mention the Methane gas that is produced by the livestock.

The biggest impact? 

Water.

Studies have show that it takes somewhere from 1,500 to 2,000 gallon of water to produce just one pound of beef! That includes the water it takes to grow the food for the cow, the water it needs to live, and the water it takes to keep them and their living space healthy and clean. One pound of vegetables on the other hand, can be produced with as little as 40 gallons of water! That's an insane difference!

How much of an impact can one day have?

Recent studies have shown that if the average person were to go meatless for just one day a week, they can reduce their meat consumption by 15%! That's a huge impact! And it's something that we can all do very easily.

But I don't want to eat just vegetables all day…

If you sit down and take a look at some vegetarian/vegan meals, I think you'll find a lot more out there than just veggies! Beans and rice are an excellent source of protein, and with the right spices, can have some amazing flavor! Vegan cheeses can be just as delicious and fun as dairy cheese. We love a good cashew cheese, especially one with garlic and onions in it. Quinoa is also a big hit in our home. We love making quinoa bowls with lots of roasted veggies piled on top.

Try little changes!

If you're still not 100% sold on the idea of going meatless for an entire day, try replacing an item here and there. We have found an avocado based butter spread at Walmart that we love! We use that all the time now instead of margarine.

And that's what's up with our vegan days. I am not sure we would ever go 100% vegan, but you never know. Health and diets change all the time. I will say that on top of knowing we are helping the environment, we do physically feel good after most of our meatless meals. We also make sure that when we do purchase meat, eggs, and other animal products that we buy them locally. That way we know where the products are coming from, and what kinds of conditions the animals are living in.

Sunday Brunch with Amy: Easter Edition

This past weekend was Easter Sunday, and I think you all know what that means. Amy went out to brunch! For this special holiday meal, I ventured over to the Colonial Hotel in Gardner, MA with family. Chefs Frank Lambardo and Josh Boudreau put on a meal fit for royalty at this beautiful location in central Massachusetts.

Upon entering, guests were greeted with friendly staff, and beautiful spring decorations. The Easter Bunny was also present to greet guests and their children as they waited to be seated. He had a lovely corner that was decorated with bright spring colors, perfect for a beautiful family photo op. Out in the hallway with the check in, guests got a preview of what was to come with a beautiful display of desserts ans fruits along the back wall of the entrance lobby. There were cakes, pastries, fruits, and many other delicious goodies that stretched quite a ways down the hallway. 

We were seated in the Colonial Hotel’s event hall, and while the brunch did seem to be completely booked out, it was not uncomfortably crowded in any way. Once seated, our server explained to us the different stations, and pointed out the event drink card. The featured drinks ranged from traditional brunch beverages such as a Strawberry Grapefruit Mimosa, to the less traditional Spicy Apricot Margarita. After confirming that the Champaign being served was safe for me to consume, I opted for my favorite brunch drink, a traditional mimosa. After our drink orders were placed, it was time to head to the buffet style meal. 

When we reached the buffet, I informed one of the staff members of my dietary needs, and they hurried off to find Chef Frank Lambardo. Frank greeted me with a big friendly smile, and a firm handshake. He was more than happy to make sure that my dining experience was a safe and delicious one. He explained the different tables to me, and the ingredients that he used to create each dish. Chef Frank, like all great chefs, has a well informed knowledge of allergy friendly ingredients. I was very pleased at the number of dished that were naturally gluten free at the buffet. Chef Frank even gave me some options of a few items he had out back that he would be happy to prepare for me.

Each item in the buffet had its own warming station, and was separated by a length or one or two spaces in line, so the chances of any of the utensils being used in a different dish was extremely slim. I built myself a plate with a little bit of breakfast, and a little bit of lunch. Home fries, sausage, bacon and scrambled eggs made a great tasting from the breakfast table. The green beans in the lunch area were perfectly cooked, and a vibrant green. The carving station featured lamb and roast beef, of which I opted to try a piece of each. Even the gravy at the carving station was gluten free.

After the main course, the desert table was calling to me. I was thrilled to find that there was a gluten free flourless chocolate cake that was clearly labeled, and positioned on a raised part of the table so it would be safe from other cake crumbs. Chef Frank also offered a strawberry cake he had in the kitchen. Being the chocolate fiend that I am, I opted for the flourless chocolate cake. This cake was wonderfully rich, and thick like fudge. My only regret is that I was not able to eat more.

The meal, to say the least, was delicious. I am happy to report that there was no kind of gluten reaction to any part of the meal. I was extremely pleased with not only the quality of food at this brunch buffet, but also the kindness and professionalism of the entire staff. I would highly recommend The Colonial Hotel to all those who are looking for a delicious and allergy friendly meal.

If you would like to enjoy a delicious brunch at The Colonial Hotel in Gardner MA, they will be hosting a Mother's Day Brunch on Sunday May 12th, 2019. The menu is already posted on their website, and they are taking reservations. 

Product Review: Our Favorite Easter Treats

Peter Cotton Tail is hopping right around the corner, and we are super excited to let you know what you will find in our gluten free Easter baskets this year!

YUMEARTH
Easter Candies

The name says it all! These candies are yum yum YUM! We found a box at our local Target that contains a variety of different holiday candies by this company. All of the candies in this pack are vegan, gluten free, soy free, egg free, dairy free, shellfish free, dye free, USDA organic, non-GMO, and manufactured in a facility free from peanuts. Here's the details:

Sour Beans

These beans taste just like they sound; sour! Flavors of pomegranate, peach, mango, and apple tingle in your mouth when you bite into these fruity treats. Amy is not a huge fan of sour, but she still managed to find her way to the bottom of the treat bag. Andrew couldn't get through these beans quick enough! He loved the sour taste.

Gummy Fruits

These little bunny heads are a great treat that will be enjoyed by all ages! These gummies feature flavors of cherry, peach, and strawberry. Amy could not get enough of these adorable bunnies, and ate through two bags in a matter of seconds. She liked that they were a firmer gummy then some of the others on the market. Andrew was also a fan of these, favoring the strawberry bunnies over the cherry and peach.

Pops

These pops are such a flavorful treat! They have amazing natural fruit flavor, and not that strong sugar taste you get with a lot of other pops. We were so excited we got to share these with our niece and nephew over this past weekend. They thought these pops were just the best! Amy is a huge fan of the Very Very Cherry, Andrew loved the Strawberry Smash, and we couldn't get the Googly Grape pops out of the wrapper fast enough for the kiddos! By the way, these pops are also Kosher Parve, so they are a perfect treat for Passover as well.

OCHO 

Chocolate Eggs

We found a beautiful display of OCHO chocolate eggs at our local Target store. What's Easter without a little chocolate? Not Easter, that's what! Move over chocolate bunnies! These chocolate eggs are going to be a new must have in our home. These eggs are USDA Organic, as well as National Celiac Association Certified Gluten Free.
Caramel Eggs
These caramel eggs are absolutely delicious! We love the soft and smooth caramel filling inside of its milk chocolate shell. The caramel has just a touch of salt for that perfect salty/sweet combination. Each egg has cute little seasonal designs on them, and they come individually wrapped. Andrew has not tasted these yet because Amy won't let him have the bag. Needless to say, Amy loves these.
Peanut Butter Eggs
The peanut butter eggs are the perfect treat for those who are looking for a great allergy friendly replacement for those popular Reese's eggs. The peanut butter is smooth, but not so soft that it's falling out of the egg when you bite into the milk chocolate shell. While Amy enjoyed these, Andrew definitely is the big fan of this flavor.

GOODIE GIRL

Cookies

OK, so these aren't a seasonal item, but doesn't that make them better? No waiting around for months until they return to the shelves! You can buy these cookies year round, and they are great for many of your celebrations! Goodie Girl Cookies are gluten free and made without peanuts.
Birthday Cake
These cookies are a game changer. They reminded us of vanilla Oreos, but better! Vanilla sandwich cookies make a sandwich of vanilla crème and rainbow sprinkles. We can not get enough of these cookies. Amy is a fan of opening them up and licking out the icing before eating the cookies. Andrew is a milk dunker for these. Both can't get enough.
Fudge Stripped
Remember those EL Fudge cookies? These are better. The shortbread cookie has be dipped in chocolate on one side, and drizzled with more chocolate on the other side. The shortbread cookie is flaky and slightly salty, while the chocolate is the perfect amount of fudgy sweet. Amy was not able to try these because Andrew ate the entire box in a Game of Thrones related stress moment. Looks like we will need to buy more for the Easter basket!

These were the best of this year for us. We hope that it was a help to you in finding things for your baskets, or even just a treat for yourself! Let us know in the comments what your favorite allergy friendly Easter treats are!

Recipe: Sweet and Spicy Mango Quinoa

Looking for something easy to make, but packed with lots of flavor? This simple recipe works great as a side dish for a week night dinner, or the main course of a light and delicious lunch. We used some simple ingredients that we always have stocked in our pantry.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 Cups Water

3/4 Cup Mrs Renfro's Mango Salsa

1 Cup Bob's Red Mill Tri-Colored Quinoa, unprepared

Instructions:

In a sauce pan with a tight fitting lid, mix water and salsa. Cover the pan and let come to a boil.

Add quinoa, stir well, cover, and bring the heat down to simmer for 10 minutes.

Remove pan from heat and give the quinoa a stir. Replace lid, and let sit for an additional 10 minutes. Any liquid that hasn't been absorbed will continue to cook the quinoa.

Fluff with a fork and serve!

Optional: Garnish with diced up pieces of dried mango, dried cranberries, or almonds.

Welcome

Hello and welcome to our new blog! We hope that this blog helps to bring you all kinds of gluten free help. If you are looking for new information for yourself, or for a loved one, it is our goal to provide you with abundant and accurate information.

Who are we? We are a married couple who have both been diagnosed with Celiac Disease. Although we both have the diagnosis, we are at very different points of living gluten free. Amy was diagnosed in 2008 with Celiac Disease, and in 2010 she was also diagnosed with Duhring's Disease. Andrew was diagnosed with Celiac Disease in the fall of 2018, and also limits his dairy intake as it can have a negative affect on his asthma. 

While we both live with Celiac Disease, we understand that there are many people who benefit from a gluten free diet. We hope that anyone who visits this blog for any kind of reason feels welcome here. We also know many people who are gluten free have other dietary needs as well. If any off the things we write about on here also follow a different dietary need, we will indicate to the best of our ability.

We are always open to hearing your suggestions and ideas for our blog! Feel free to comment on our posts, or send us an email at: merriedwithceliac@gmail.com