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Showing posts with label vegan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vegan. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

celebrating a milestone: gluten free red velvet cake


we are very very pleased to announce that our blog has recently reached over 100,000 page views, and to us that is something worth celebrating! we started our blog in late 2009 in the hopes of sharing our gluten free lifestyle experiences with anyone and everyone. we had virtually no help at the beginning of our diagnosis in 2005 and really had no idea where to turn. our blog was created out of our desire to help even just one person overcome the challenges of a Celiac Disease diagnosis. over the years we have come to realize that living with Celiac Disease is not just about cutting out gluten, but rather integrating this new diet into a normal and enjoyable lifestyle, and this is the focus of our blog.

to celebrate we would like to share with you an awesome Red Velvet Cake recipe adapted from The Allergen-Free Baker's Handbook by Cybele Pascal. this recipe was easy to follow, and most importantly turned out well without any drama! and the cake was delicious! all of the recipes in Pascal's book are dairy free, soy free, nut free, and of course, gluten free!


first you need to whip up Pascal's gluten free flour mix:
4 cups of superfile brown rice flour
1 1/3 cups potato starch (not potato flour)
2/3 cup tapioca flour


and here is the cake recipe:
2 3/4 cups gluten free flour mix (see above)
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (mine was sweetened, and I used it anyway)
3/4 tsp xanthan gum
1 1/2 tsp double-acting baking power (I use Bob's Red Mill)
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups of hemp milk/ rice milk (I use Manitoba Harvest Hemp Bliss unsweetened)
1 1/2 tsp cider vinegar (I use Bragg apple cider vinegar)
3/4 cup vegetable shortening (I used Earth Balance's shortening, which contains soy)
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
4 1/2 tsp Ener-G egg replacer mixed with 6 tbsp rice milk (I used eggs and hemp milk)
1 tsp pure vanilla extract (I use Simply Organic)
1 oz bottle red food coloring (Pascal recommends Seelect Natural Food Coloring, order online)


•preheat your oven to 350° F. grease two eight inch round cake pans. Pascal recommends lining each with parchment paper, greasing again, then dusting with cocoa powder. I did this and it really helped get the cakes out.

•whisk together the flour mix, the cocoa powder, xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. set aside.

•combine the rice milk and the apple cider vinegar, and set aside.

•using your stand mixer with the paddle attachment, combine the shortening, sugar, egg replacer, and vanilla. beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, which takes about two minutes. next add the food coloring and mix until all the ingredients are combined. sift the flour mixture into the mixing bowl in three batches while alternating with the rice milk mixture. beat until smooth, this takes about thirty seconds. scrape down the sides of the bowl if necessary.

•divide the batter into the two pans and smooth down the surface using a spatula.

•bake in the center of the oven for approximately thirty-five minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. rotate the pans half way though the baking time.

•let the cakes cool on a rack for thirty minutes. then flip the cakes onto a plate, remove the parchment paper, then flip back right side up and let cool completely.

•once the cakes have cooled, use a serrated knife to level off the tops of the cakes. frost with velvet frosting (see recipe below).


velvet frosting recipe:
1 cup vegetable shortening (I used Earth Balance's shortening, which contains soy)
pinch of salt
3 cups confectioners sugar (I use Wholesome Sweeteners fair trade organic sugar)
3 tbsps of hemp/ rice milk (I use Manitoba Harvest Hemp Bliss unsweetened)
1 tbsps of freshly squeezed  lemon juice (I buy all my organic produce from SPUD)
1 tsp pure vanilla extract (I use Simply Organic)


•in your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the shortening and salt on medium speed for one minute.

•add the confectioner's sugar in three batches.

•add the rice/ hemp milk, lemon juice, and vanilla. beat on medium speed until smooth and fluffy, takes about five minutes.

•frost your cake and enjoy!


don't think we would let our milestone pass by without a giveaway to thank our readers, we have an exciting giveaway coming very soon, stay tuned for the announcement!  Andrea.


celiac disease   |   the allergen-free baker's handbook   |   follow us on twitter   |   follow us on facebook



Monday, April 18, 2011

gluten free mom: rice crispy squares!

image copyright gluten free vancouver
a long time favorite childhood treat, rice crispy squares, can now be made gluten free thanks to Dandies Marshmallows, which are gluten free and vegan! we first discovered these recently at Ed's Gluten Free Specialty's new Vancouver store, and we were thrilled to find such a unique and truly missed product! finally someone thought to make gluten free marshmallows! it was the same feeling when we found gluten free ice cream cones last year!

even though my daughter is not gluten intolerant, I still prefer to make everything gluten free for her since she is still small, 'two half' as she likes to say. she is still messy, and she likes to share what she is eating with me. so once I found these gluten free marshmallows I was now free to make her one of my all time favorite treats--rice crispy squares! well...not exactly 'rice krispy' squares since Rice Krispies are not gluten free. however, Kellogg's has announced that they will be introducing a new gluten free version of the famous Rice Krispies in June! to read more about this, click here.

since the gluten free Rice Krispies are not available yet, I chose another product—Perky's Crunchy Rice cereal, which is now part of the Enjoy Life brand. you can also use Nature's Path Crispy Rice cereal, both are gluten free. I bought the cereal at London Drugs on sale, which sells both cereal brands. if you would like to ensure your rice crispy treats are 100% vegan, then you should use the Nature's Path cereal as the Enjoy Life cereal uses honey as a sweetener. 

for the recipe, I just googled rice crispy squares, and followed the instructions. I used one package of Dandies Marshmallows, and one box of Enjoy Life Crunchy Rice cereal. making these treats brought back so many memories, I think this was one of the first recipes I learned to make by myself, and now I can share this experience with my daughter! enjoy!  Andrea.


ps. Dandies Marshmallows are now available through SPUD organic delivery, and they are on sale this week for $4.99! if you are not a spud member but would like to become one, please quote my account number to receive discounts on your first four orders, worth $25! CRVAN-MCLAND. thanks!



dandies marshmallows   |   ed's gluten free specialty   |   london drugs   |   spud



Sunday, November 14, 2010

gluten free vancouver turns one (+ giveaway)

when andrea and I started our blog last November, our goal was to provide a gluten free resource for those with celiac disease and gluten intolerance that focused on lifestyle rather than simply recipes or medical research. we knew there was little to no resources on how to live with celiac disease day to day.
it's amazing to look back on our previously gluten filled lives, such as my third birthday party, pictured here. andrea cant wait to eat the cake! we knew what we were missing when we were diagnosed with celiac disease, and it is with this perspective that shapes our discussion on topics like where to find gluten free personal care products, where to shop, and where to find great tasting gluten free food on the go.
our year in review includes some of our most favorite gluten free topics and I will start with our most popular, gluten free beer! ironically, this was also one of the first posts of 2010. we wanted to start the new year off with a sweet cupcake recipe in January and gluten free hot chocolate for Valentines Day in February. in March, we had the pleasure of working with the Wallflower Café’s Lisa Hewlett on their new gluten free menu. some long overdue taxes were finally paid in April after researching how to claim the incremental cost of gluten free food on your tax return.
May was a busy month discovering not only Homestead Specialty Baking but the most divine gluten free pancakes at Brown Dog Café. in June, I enjoyed writing celiac in the city about the challenges of dating with severe food allergies (thank you to all of our readers who provided such positive feedback on this topic!). gluten free vancouver was also featured on Global TV’s One Bite at a Time with Registered Dietician Melodie Yong. our excitement continued when we found gluten free ice cream cones in the August heat wave.
this fall we explored gastown, and found gluten free tacos at La Taqueria on west hastings, and then recently enjoyed taking an extended vacation to palm springs, california.
over this past year while working away on our new blog, we have both experienced many personal life changes. Andrea went back to work after her maternity leave, she moved into the new Woodwards building to accommodate her growing family, and recently started daycare for my niece Pilar...a heart wrenching experience for any new mom! for me, I started a new job shortly after launching the blog that has kept me busy learning and traveling. I was heartbroken earlier this year after the end of a long term relationship, and while I felt positive when I wrote 'celiac in the city' back in June, my healing process took many more months. I also moved into Olympic Village at the end of the summer, and love my new space!
Andrea and I are both in new creative workspaces, and are excited for the year ahead...we will be launching our www.glutenfree-vancouver.ca website shortly, and expanding our ideas further into the community. we also plan to make a gluten free gingerbread house next month, as well as start a weekly gluten free cookie review on the blog. gluten free giveaway...
to celebrate the success of our first year of gluten free vancouver, we want to offer one of our favorite gluten free products to one lucky reader! we are giving away a desert essence organics unscented body wash and shampoo! all you have to do to enter the giveaway is comment on our blog and tell us what challenges or obstacles you face living gluten free day to day. the entry deadline is midnight on tuesday november 30th. the winner will be announced on the blog on wednesday december 1st.
together, and through our blog, we hope to create more awareness of celiac disease and hopefully make gluten free foods more accessible to those that need it most.
thank you for supporting our blog! Robyn + Andrea follow us on twitter | follow us on facebook

Monday, October 4, 2010

celiac in the city: my local cafe

I went on a great date recently with someone who is really cute, has a great smile, and loves gluten free food...my niece Pilar! she just turned two so grandma and I decided to take her for a grown up lunch at My Local Café located at 3772 west tenth avenue in the point grey neighborhood. we enjoyed one of the best gluten free lunches I have ever had (their deep dish gluten free lasagna, salad, and garlic rice bread…read on!) many of our loyal readers mentioned this little place to Andrea and I to let us know that they sell gluten free treats like chocolate cake and muffins, but I was so excited to see that many of their breakfast, lunch and dinner menu items are gluten free too!

My Local Café is also one of the only restaurants in Vancouver to make their own sorghum and brown rice bread in house and it is really really good! in fact, everything at My Local Café including the gluten free waffles, and muffins are made in house. they do use a few other gluten free brands including Rizopia rice pasta from Galloways, and Bobs Red Mill for their tasty gluten free pizza crust. My Local Café also offers a wide variety of vegan and dairy free alternatives and has a great atmosphere for dining in. gluten free dishes are also prepared in a separate area of the kitchen, with separate cutting boards, utensils and even a designated gluten free toaster, what a treat!

the philosophy behind the all vegetarian, organic dishes at My Local Café is ‘thoughtful food’ and thoughtful it is. the owner, Shafique Shivji (or cookie monster as noted on his business card ) wanted to open a café where everyone could enjoy good tasting food – even if it is secretly gluten or dairy free. this little café reminds me why living in Vancouver is absolutely the best place to be if you are celiac or gluten intolerant.

the menu at My Local Café is broken down into morning or midday plates. it is important to advise the staff if you are seeking a gluten free version of any of the dishes on the menu and they will be sure to substitute any bread items for their gluten free brown rice bread (at no extra charge!), but you do have to advise them first. by doing so also ensures that your dish is prepared in their separate gluten free area of the prep kitchen. it is important to also know that My Local Café is not a dedicated gluten free restaurant but takes ample measures to minimize cross contamination and the staff are well informed of what gluten free means.

here are the gluten free highlights:

morning plates:
either ‘the local’ or ‘2 eggs on toast’ (poached eggs, cheese, roasted potatoes, fruit) can be substituted with the café’s homemade brown rice bread. the ‘local’s quiche’ is also made on a wheat free crust and is layered with seasonal vegetables.

my favorites include the gluten free waffles and muffins! the waffles are made with buckwheat flour, and come with either roasted fruit or toasted pecans, maple syrup and whipped cream! they are toasted in a dedicated gluten free toaster. the gluten free muffins, made with gluten free oats, are probably the best I have had so far, and come in chocolate cranberry, blueberry banana, peanut butter and chocolate chip, and peach and coconut. the muffins are also placed on the top display shelf to minimize cross contamination with their wheat muffins. there are always a variety of other gluten free treats at the order counter including gluten free chocolate cake and rice crispy squares.

midday plates:
most of their ‘local’s soup’ varieties are gluten free, including a recent tomato basil soup, but it is advisable to ask if their daily soup is gluten free first. you can also have it with their brown rice bread as well. spreads available include an olive tapenade, garlic or pesto spread. they are all excellent!

I love their ‘create – your – own sandwich’ option with gluten free rice bread, and you can select what vegetarian options you would like with your choice of spread. I tried spinach, tomato and cucumber with the olive tapenade spread over the weekend and it was delicious! you can have your gluten free sandwich toasted or untoasted, both options taste great.
the ‘daily baked dish and ‘local’s cauldron’ vary from week to week but are often a gluten free deep dish vegetarian lasagna or vegan shephard’s pie! they each come with salad and bread (again ask for the gluten free bread substitute).

and if all of that was not enough, there is gluten free pizza! the pizza is really good! its thin crust with cheese and vegetables, and it also comes with one of their various daily salads. there are usually three salad options daily to choose from and are almost always gluten free including a wild rice and celery salad, mixed vegetables, or spinach and apple.

Pilar and I had so much fun and it is very kid friendly too! Andrea and I highly recommend this little café, the food is thoughtful with an abundance of gluten free variety! Robyn. 


My Local Cafe is open monday to friday from 7am to 8pm & saturday and sunday from 8am to 8pm.


My Local Café on Urbanspoon

Monday, August 16, 2010

gluten free ice cream cones...at last!

it is so hot here in Vancouver right now! and for Andrea and I, ice cream is one of our all time summer favorite indulgences (well anytime of year really). but like everything else, even ice cream can contain gluten, so you still have to be careful even in this food category. the general rule of thumb for ensuring your ice cream is gluten free is quite simple, any flavor that has a wafer or cookie in it, it is not safe to eat. having a gluten allergy automatically rules out ice cream sandwiches and ice cream cones altogether too. for those with celiac disease, you will need to also be mindful of cross contamination with flavors that do contain gluten, so it is important to read product websites, or to call the manufacturer to be certain. also if you are buying ice cream by the scoop, I recommend asking the server to use a fresh, clean ice cream scoop as well. 

we both thought gluten free ice cream cones would be out of the question with no gluten free cones in sight. however a few months ago we discovered a product called Goldbaum’s that is available through the Gluten Free Mall or Amazon. and we couldn't wait to try them, but ordering across the border can be a pain sometimes, you know? well we have good news for all you Vancouverites! we have recently found Goldbaum's at Choices Markets!!! in addition to being gluten free, Goldbaum's are also dairy free, soy free and nut free.

now that the hard part has been made easy, the only other thing to do is find your favorite gluten free ice cream! Haagen Dazs regular flavours like vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, coffee, are gluten free. the Haagen Dazs Extras, and the cookies and cream flavour, are not. we would also like to tell you about a great dairy free ice cream made with coconut milk called So Delicious. most of their coconut milk ice cream products are gluten free, you can read their product listing here to be sure. I love the coconut flavour and the vanilla bean flavour. 

Andrea recently discovered another coconut milk ice cream called Coconut Bliss, which is organic, gluten free and vegan. whether you are celiac or not, you will loves these ice cream cones! just like my niece Pilar, as you can see in the photo. in fact one of her new first words is 'cream cone'. she loves them, and so will you!

happy days indeed!  Robyn.


Tuesday, July 27, 2010

gluten free, sugar free cooking: falafels

a while back I mentioned that I am experimenting with a few cookbooks in order to learn something new about gluten free cooking and baking, as well as to generally open up my repertoire of gluten free favorites. the first book I have been experimenting with is titled "Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free Cooking", by Susan O'Brien. over the past weeks I have already tried her recipes for brown rice pudding, and quinoa tabbouleh. last week I tried O'Brien's recipe for falafels.

falafel is a Middle Eastern food originating in Egypt, and is now an iconic part of Israeli cuisine. I am not exactly sure why out of over two hundred recipes in O'Bien's book, I happened to choose two middle eastern dishes, but I digress. the main ingredient in falafels is either chick peas, or fava beans, or a combination of both, and both are gluten free. chickpeas are high in protein, complex carbohydrates, and fiber. unfortunately many falafel recipes and most mixes use wheat flour. additionally, the falafels are typically served inside a pita bread pocket, which is obviously not safe for people on a gluten free diet.

if you are craving your beloved falafels, or would like to try them for the first time, you can try a gluten free falafel mix, such as OrgraN Falafel Mix, Fantastic Foods Falafel Mix, or Authentic Foods Falafel Mix. however, you can also make them on your own from scratch! (come on... you can do it!)

O'Brien's book includes two recipes, one for the falafels on page 89, and one for the falafel sauce on page 188. 

the falafels:
1/4 cup canola oil
1 large onion, chopped
1/4 cup chopped parsley
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 (15 oz.) cans of chickpeas (garbanzo beans) drained, but reserve juice
1/4 cup quinoa flour (I got mine at Whole Foods)
1 tablespoon wheat-free tamari sauce (try San-J brand)
4 tablespoons chopped fresh coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

there are two ways you can cook the falafels, in the oven, or in a deep fryer. I tried both, and I have to say I preferred the deep fried version, the outer crust was just so crispy, and the inside was nice and soft. the oven method was good too, but a little more consistent in the cooked texture between inside and outside. the deep fryer that I have is by Waring Pro, which has been great, but this smaller version would actually be perfect since it is deeper than it is long, better deep frying proportions in my opinion.

directions:
if you are going to cook in the oven, set your oven to 350°F. in a large frying pan heat one tablespoon of oil and saute the onion until soft, then add the parsley and garlic and keep cooking for another minute. in a blender or food processor, combine the rest of the ingredients (except the remaining oil) and blend. next I added the sauted onions mixture and blended again. 

if you are cooking in the oven, then form your the falafel mixture into patties and place on a greased baking sheet, and bake for 15 minutes each side, 30 minutes total. if you are using a deep fryer, form your mixture into one inch balls and drop into the hot oil. I did not time them, but when the outside crust is dark golden brown, they should be ready. 

obviously pita bead shells are out of the question for holding your falafels, unless you can buy or make gluten free pita bread. I decided to follow O'Brien's recommendation to make lettuce wraps. I bought fresh organic butter lettuce and added a few falafel balls, and lots of falafel sauce! you can garnish with more of your chopped fresh herbs. you could also try making a wrap using gluten free tortillas, I like the Food For Life brand. this recipe makes approximately four servings.

here is the recipe for the falafel sauce:
1/2 cup water
1 cup sesame tahini
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup lemon juice, use freshly squeezed
1 tablespoon chopped parsely
dash of fresh ground pepper

place all of the ingredients in a food processor or blender, and process until smooth.

this seems like a lot of work, but believe me you are going to love these! my husband and I kept half of the wet falafel mix in the fridge over night and deep fried the next day for another round of yummy gluten free falafels! enjoy!  Andrea.



get the book   |   susan o'brien   |   benefits of chickpeas



Showing posts with label vegan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vegan. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

celebrating a milestone: gluten free red velvet cake


we are very very pleased to announce that our blog has recently reached over 100,000 page views, and to us that is something worth celebrating! we started our blog in late 2009 in the hopes of sharing our gluten free lifestyle experiences with anyone and everyone. we had virtually no help at the beginning of our diagnosis in 2005 and really had no idea where to turn. our blog was created out of our desire to help even just one person overcome the challenges of a Celiac Disease diagnosis. over the years we have come to realize that living with Celiac Disease is not just about cutting out gluten, but rather integrating this new diet into a normal and enjoyable lifestyle, and this is the focus of our blog.

to celebrate we would like to share with you an awesome Red Velvet Cake recipe adapted from The Allergen-Free Baker's Handbook by Cybele Pascal. this recipe was easy to follow, and most importantly turned out well without any drama! and the cake was delicious! all of the recipes in Pascal's book are dairy free, soy free, nut free, and of course, gluten free!


first you need to whip up Pascal's gluten free flour mix:
4 cups of superfile brown rice flour
1 1/3 cups potato starch (not potato flour)
2/3 cup tapioca flour


and here is the cake recipe:
2 3/4 cups gluten free flour mix (see above)
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (mine was sweetened, and I used it anyway)
3/4 tsp xanthan gum
1 1/2 tsp double-acting baking power (I use Bob's Red Mill)
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups of hemp milk/ rice milk (I use Manitoba Harvest Hemp Bliss unsweetened)
1 1/2 tsp cider vinegar (I use Bragg apple cider vinegar)
3/4 cup vegetable shortening (I used Earth Balance's shortening, which contains soy)
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
4 1/2 tsp Ener-G egg replacer mixed with 6 tbsp rice milk (I used eggs and hemp milk)
1 tsp pure vanilla extract (I use Simply Organic)
1 oz bottle red food coloring (Pascal recommends Seelect Natural Food Coloring, order online)


•preheat your oven to 350° F. grease two eight inch round cake pans. Pascal recommends lining each with parchment paper, greasing again, then dusting with cocoa powder. I did this and it really helped get the cakes out.

•whisk together the flour mix, the cocoa powder, xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. set aside.

•combine the rice milk and the apple cider vinegar, and set aside.

•using your stand mixer with the paddle attachment, combine the shortening, sugar, egg replacer, and vanilla. beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, which takes about two minutes. next add the food coloring and mix until all the ingredients are combined. sift the flour mixture into the mixing bowl in three batches while alternating with the rice milk mixture. beat until smooth, this takes about thirty seconds. scrape down the sides of the bowl if necessary.

•divide the batter into the two pans and smooth down the surface using a spatula.

•bake in the center of the oven for approximately thirty-five minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. rotate the pans half way though the baking time.

•let the cakes cool on a rack for thirty minutes. then flip the cakes onto a plate, remove the parchment paper, then flip back right side up and let cool completely.

•once the cakes have cooled, use a serrated knife to level off the tops of the cakes. frost with velvet frosting (see recipe below).


velvet frosting recipe:
1 cup vegetable shortening (I used Earth Balance's shortening, which contains soy)
pinch of salt
3 cups confectioners sugar (I use Wholesome Sweeteners fair trade organic sugar)
3 tbsps of hemp/ rice milk (I use Manitoba Harvest Hemp Bliss unsweetened)
1 tbsps of freshly squeezed  lemon juice (I buy all my organic produce from SPUD)
1 tsp pure vanilla extract (I use Simply Organic)


•in your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the shortening and salt on medium speed for one minute.

•add the confectioner's sugar in three batches.

•add the rice/ hemp milk, lemon juice, and vanilla. beat on medium speed until smooth and fluffy, takes about five minutes.

•frost your cake and enjoy!


don't think we would let our milestone pass by without a giveaway to thank our readers, we have an exciting giveaway coming very soon, stay tuned for the announcement!  Andrea.


celiac disease   |   the allergen-free baker's handbook   |   follow us on twitter   |   follow us on facebook



Monday, April 18, 2011

gluten free mom: rice crispy squares!

image copyright gluten free vancouver
a long time favorite childhood treat, rice crispy squares, can now be made gluten free thanks to Dandies Marshmallows, which are gluten free and vegan! we first discovered these recently at Ed's Gluten Free Specialty's new Vancouver store, and we were thrilled to find such a unique and truly missed product! finally someone thought to make gluten free marshmallows! it was the same feeling when we found gluten free ice cream cones last year!

even though my daughter is not gluten intolerant, I still prefer to make everything gluten free for her since she is still small, 'two half' as she likes to say. she is still messy, and she likes to share what she is eating with me. so once I found these gluten free marshmallows I was now free to make her one of my all time favorite treats--rice crispy squares! well...not exactly 'rice krispy' squares since Rice Krispies are not gluten free. however, Kellogg's has announced that they will be introducing a new gluten free version of the famous Rice Krispies in June! to read more about this, click here.

since the gluten free Rice Krispies are not available yet, I chose another product—Perky's Crunchy Rice cereal, which is now part of the Enjoy Life brand. you can also use Nature's Path Crispy Rice cereal, both are gluten free. I bought the cereal at London Drugs on sale, which sells both cereal brands. if you would like to ensure your rice crispy treats are 100% vegan, then you should use the Nature's Path cereal as the Enjoy Life cereal uses honey as a sweetener. 

for the recipe, I just googled rice crispy squares, and followed the instructions. I used one package of Dandies Marshmallows, and one box of Enjoy Life Crunchy Rice cereal. making these treats brought back so many memories, I think this was one of the first recipes I learned to make by myself, and now I can share this experience with my daughter! enjoy!  Andrea.


ps. Dandies Marshmallows are now available through SPUD organic delivery, and they are on sale this week for $4.99! if you are not a spud member but would like to become one, please quote my account number to receive discounts on your first four orders, worth $25! CRVAN-MCLAND. thanks!



dandies marshmallows   |   ed's gluten free specialty   |   london drugs   |   spud



Sunday, November 14, 2010

gluten free vancouver turns one (+ giveaway)

when andrea and I started our blog last November, our goal was to provide a gluten free resource for those with celiac disease and gluten intolerance that focused on lifestyle rather than simply recipes or medical research. we knew there was little to no resources on how to live with celiac disease day to day.
it's amazing to look back on our previously gluten filled lives, such as my third birthday party, pictured here. andrea cant wait to eat the cake! we knew what we were missing when we were diagnosed with celiac disease, and it is with this perspective that shapes our discussion on topics like where to find gluten free personal care products, where to shop, and where to find great tasting gluten free food on the go.
our year in review includes some of our most favorite gluten free topics and I will start with our most popular, gluten free beer! ironically, this was also one of the first posts of 2010. we wanted to start the new year off with a sweet cupcake recipe in January and gluten free hot chocolate for Valentines Day in February. in March, we had the pleasure of working with the Wallflower Café’s Lisa Hewlett on their new gluten free menu. some long overdue taxes were finally paid in April after researching how to claim the incremental cost of gluten free food on your tax return.
May was a busy month discovering not only Homestead Specialty Baking but the most divine gluten free pancakes at Brown Dog Café. in June, I enjoyed writing celiac in the city about the challenges of dating with severe food allergies (thank you to all of our readers who provided such positive feedback on this topic!). gluten free vancouver was also featured on Global TV’s One Bite at a Time with Registered Dietician Melodie Yong. our excitement continued when we found gluten free ice cream cones in the August heat wave.
this fall we explored gastown, and found gluten free tacos at La Taqueria on west hastings, and then recently enjoyed taking an extended vacation to palm springs, california.
over this past year while working away on our new blog, we have both experienced many personal life changes. Andrea went back to work after her maternity leave, she moved into the new Woodwards building to accommodate her growing family, and recently started daycare for my niece Pilar...a heart wrenching experience for any new mom! for me, I started a new job shortly after launching the blog that has kept me busy learning and traveling. I was heartbroken earlier this year after the end of a long term relationship, and while I felt positive when I wrote 'celiac in the city' back in June, my healing process took many more months. I also moved into Olympic Village at the end of the summer, and love my new space!
Andrea and I are both in new creative workspaces, and are excited for the year ahead...we will be launching our www.glutenfree-vancouver.ca website shortly, and expanding our ideas further into the community. we also plan to make a gluten free gingerbread house next month, as well as start a weekly gluten free cookie review on the blog. gluten free giveaway...
to celebrate the success of our first year of gluten free vancouver, we want to offer one of our favorite gluten free products to one lucky reader! we are giving away a desert essence organics unscented body wash and shampoo! all you have to do to enter the giveaway is comment on our blog and tell us what challenges or obstacles you face living gluten free day to day. the entry deadline is midnight on tuesday november 30th. the winner will be announced on the blog on wednesday december 1st.
together, and through our blog, we hope to create more awareness of celiac disease and hopefully make gluten free foods more accessible to those that need it most.
thank you for supporting our blog! Robyn + Andrea follow us on twitter | follow us on facebook

Monday, October 4, 2010

celiac in the city: my local cafe

I went on a great date recently with someone who is really cute, has a great smile, and loves gluten free food...my niece Pilar! she just turned two so grandma and I decided to take her for a grown up lunch at My Local Café located at 3772 west tenth avenue in the point grey neighborhood. we enjoyed one of the best gluten free lunches I have ever had (their deep dish gluten free lasagna, salad, and garlic rice bread…read on!) many of our loyal readers mentioned this little place to Andrea and I to let us know that they sell gluten free treats like chocolate cake and muffins, but I was so excited to see that many of their breakfast, lunch and dinner menu items are gluten free too!

My Local Café is also one of the only restaurants in Vancouver to make their own sorghum and brown rice bread in house and it is really really good! in fact, everything at My Local Café including the gluten free waffles, and muffins are made in house. they do use a few other gluten free brands including Rizopia rice pasta from Galloways, and Bobs Red Mill for their tasty gluten free pizza crust. My Local Café also offers a wide variety of vegan and dairy free alternatives and has a great atmosphere for dining in. gluten free dishes are also prepared in a separate area of the kitchen, with separate cutting boards, utensils and even a designated gluten free toaster, what a treat!

the philosophy behind the all vegetarian, organic dishes at My Local Café is ‘thoughtful food’ and thoughtful it is. the owner, Shafique Shivji (or cookie monster as noted on his business card ) wanted to open a café where everyone could enjoy good tasting food – even if it is secretly gluten or dairy free. this little café reminds me why living in Vancouver is absolutely the best place to be if you are celiac or gluten intolerant.

the menu at My Local Café is broken down into morning or midday plates. it is important to advise the staff if you are seeking a gluten free version of any of the dishes on the menu and they will be sure to substitute any bread items for their gluten free brown rice bread (at no extra charge!), but you do have to advise them first. by doing so also ensures that your dish is prepared in their separate gluten free area of the prep kitchen. it is important to also know that My Local Café is not a dedicated gluten free restaurant but takes ample measures to minimize cross contamination and the staff are well informed of what gluten free means.

here are the gluten free highlights:

morning plates:
either ‘the local’ or ‘2 eggs on toast’ (poached eggs, cheese, roasted potatoes, fruit) can be substituted with the café’s homemade brown rice bread. the ‘local’s quiche’ is also made on a wheat free crust and is layered with seasonal vegetables.

my favorites include the gluten free waffles and muffins! the waffles are made with buckwheat flour, and come with either roasted fruit or toasted pecans, maple syrup and whipped cream! they are toasted in a dedicated gluten free toaster. the gluten free muffins, made with gluten free oats, are probably the best I have had so far, and come in chocolate cranberry, blueberry banana, peanut butter and chocolate chip, and peach and coconut. the muffins are also placed on the top display shelf to minimize cross contamination with their wheat muffins. there are always a variety of other gluten free treats at the order counter including gluten free chocolate cake and rice crispy squares.

midday plates:
most of their ‘local’s soup’ varieties are gluten free, including a recent tomato basil soup, but it is advisable to ask if their daily soup is gluten free first. you can also have it with their brown rice bread as well. spreads available include an olive tapenade, garlic or pesto spread. they are all excellent!

I love their ‘create – your – own sandwich’ option with gluten free rice bread, and you can select what vegetarian options you would like with your choice of spread. I tried spinach, tomato and cucumber with the olive tapenade spread over the weekend and it was delicious! you can have your gluten free sandwich toasted or untoasted, both options taste great.
the ‘daily baked dish and ‘local’s cauldron’ vary from week to week but are often a gluten free deep dish vegetarian lasagna or vegan shephard’s pie! they each come with salad and bread (again ask for the gluten free bread substitute).

and if all of that was not enough, there is gluten free pizza! the pizza is really good! its thin crust with cheese and vegetables, and it also comes with one of their various daily salads. there are usually three salad options daily to choose from and are almost always gluten free including a wild rice and celery salad, mixed vegetables, or spinach and apple.

Pilar and I had so much fun and it is very kid friendly too! Andrea and I highly recommend this little café, the food is thoughtful with an abundance of gluten free variety! Robyn. 


My Local Cafe is open monday to friday from 7am to 8pm & saturday and sunday from 8am to 8pm.


My Local Café on Urbanspoon

Monday, August 16, 2010

gluten free ice cream cones...at last!

it is so hot here in Vancouver right now! and for Andrea and I, ice cream is one of our all time summer favorite indulgences (well anytime of year really). but like everything else, even ice cream can contain gluten, so you still have to be careful even in this food category. the general rule of thumb for ensuring your ice cream is gluten free is quite simple, any flavor that has a wafer or cookie in it, it is not safe to eat. having a gluten allergy automatically rules out ice cream sandwiches and ice cream cones altogether too. for those with celiac disease, you will need to also be mindful of cross contamination with flavors that do contain gluten, so it is important to read product websites, or to call the manufacturer to be certain. also if you are buying ice cream by the scoop, I recommend asking the server to use a fresh, clean ice cream scoop as well. 

we both thought gluten free ice cream cones would be out of the question with no gluten free cones in sight. however a few months ago we discovered a product called Goldbaum’s that is available through the Gluten Free Mall or Amazon. and we couldn't wait to try them, but ordering across the border can be a pain sometimes, you know? well we have good news for all you Vancouverites! we have recently found Goldbaum's at Choices Markets!!! in addition to being gluten free, Goldbaum's are also dairy free, soy free and nut free.

now that the hard part has been made easy, the only other thing to do is find your favorite gluten free ice cream! Haagen Dazs regular flavours like vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, coffee, are gluten free. the Haagen Dazs Extras, and the cookies and cream flavour, are not. we would also like to tell you about a great dairy free ice cream made with coconut milk called So Delicious. most of their coconut milk ice cream products are gluten free, you can read their product listing here to be sure. I love the coconut flavour and the vanilla bean flavour. 

Andrea recently discovered another coconut milk ice cream called Coconut Bliss, which is organic, gluten free and vegan. whether you are celiac or not, you will loves these ice cream cones! just like my niece Pilar, as you can see in the photo. in fact one of her new first words is 'cream cone'. she loves them, and so will you!

happy days indeed!  Robyn.


Tuesday, July 27, 2010

gluten free, sugar free cooking: falafels

a while back I mentioned that I am experimenting with a few cookbooks in order to learn something new about gluten free cooking and baking, as well as to generally open up my repertoire of gluten free favorites. the first book I have been experimenting with is titled "Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free Cooking", by Susan O'Brien. over the past weeks I have already tried her recipes for brown rice pudding, and quinoa tabbouleh. last week I tried O'Brien's recipe for falafels.

falafel is a Middle Eastern food originating in Egypt, and is now an iconic part of Israeli cuisine. I am not exactly sure why out of over two hundred recipes in O'Bien's book, I happened to choose two middle eastern dishes, but I digress. the main ingredient in falafels is either chick peas, or fava beans, or a combination of both, and both are gluten free. chickpeas are high in protein, complex carbohydrates, and fiber. unfortunately many falafel recipes and most mixes use wheat flour. additionally, the falafels are typically served inside a pita bread pocket, which is obviously not safe for people on a gluten free diet.

if you are craving your beloved falafels, or would like to try them for the first time, you can try a gluten free falafel mix, such as OrgraN Falafel Mix, Fantastic Foods Falafel Mix, or Authentic Foods Falafel Mix. however, you can also make them on your own from scratch! (come on... you can do it!)

O'Brien's book includes two recipes, one for the falafels on page 89, and one for the falafel sauce on page 188. 

the falafels:
1/4 cup canola oil
1 large onion, chopped
1/4 cup chopped parsley
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 (15 oz.) cans of chickpeas (garbanzo beans) drained, but reserve juice
1/4 cup quinoa flour (I got mine at Whole Foods)
1 tablespoon wheat-free tamari sauce (try San-J brand)
4 tablespoons chopped fresh coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

there are two ways you can cook the falafels, in the oven, or in a deep fryer. I tried both, and I have to say I preferred the deep fried version, the outer crust was just so crispy, and the inside was nice and soft. the oven method was good too, but a little more consistent in the cooked texture between inside and outside. the deep fryer that I have is by Waring Pro, which has been great, but this smaller version would actually be perfect since it is deeper than it is long, better deep frying proportions in my opinion.

directions:
if you are going to cook in the oven, set your oven to 350°F. in a large frying pan heat one tablespoon of oil and saute the onion until soft, then add the parsley and garlic and keep cooking for another minute. in a blender or food processor, combine the rest of the ingredients (except the remaining oil) and blend. next I added the sauted onions mixture and blended again. 

if you are cooking in the oven, then form your the falafel mixture into patties and place on a greased baking sheet, and bake for 15 minutes each side, 30 minutes total. if you are using a deep fryer, form your mixture into one inch balls and drop into the hot oil. I did not time them, but when the outside crust is dark golden brown, they should be ready. 

obviously pita bead shells are out of the question for holding your falafels, unless you can buy or make gluten free pita bread. I decided to follow O'Brien's recommendation to make lettuce wraps. I bought fresh organic butter lettuce and added a few falafel balls, and lots of falafel sauce! you can garnish with more of your chopped fresh herbs. you could also try making a wrap using gluten free tortillas, I like the Food For Life brand. this recipe makes approximately four servings.

here is the recipe for the falafel sauce:
1/2 cup water
1 cup sesame tahini
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup lemon juice, use freshly squeezed
1 tablespoon chopped parsely
dash of fresh ground pepper

place all of the ingredients in a food processor or blender, and process until smooth.

this seems like a lot of work, but believe me you are going to love these! my husband and I kept half of the wet falafel mix in the fridge over night and deep fried the next day for another round of yummy gluten free falafels! enjoy!  Andrea.



get the book   |   susan o'brien   |   benefits of chickpeas



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gluten free vancouver: dining & lifestyle blog by Gluten Free Vancouver is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License.
Showing posts with label vegan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vegan. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

celebrating a milestone: gluten free red velvet cake


we are very very pleased to announce that our blog has recently reached over 100,000 page views, and to us that is something worth celebrating! we started our blog in late 2009 in the hopes of sharing our gluten free lifestyle experiences with anyone and everyone. we had virtually no help at the beginning of our diagnosis in 2005 and really had no idea where to turn. our blog was created out of our desire to help even just one person overcome the challenges of a Celiac Disease diagnosis. over the years we have come to realize that living with Celiac Disease is not just about cutting out gluten, but rather integrating this new diet into a normal and enjoyable lifestyle, and this is the focus of our blog.

to celebrate we would like to share with you an awesome Red Velvet Cake recipe adapted from The Allergen-Free Baker's Handbook by Cybele Pascal. this recipe was easy to follow, and most importantly turned out well without any drama! and the cake was delicious! all of the recipes in Pascal's book are dairy free, soy free, nut free, and of course, gluten free!


first you need to whip up Pascal's gluten free flour mix:
4 cups of superfile brown rice flour
1 1/3 cups potato starch (not potato flour)
2/3 cup tapioca flour


and here is the cake recipe:
2 3/4 cups gluten free flour mix (see above)
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (mine was sweetened, and I used it anyway)
3/4 tsp xanthan gum
1 1/2 tsp double-acting baking power (I use Bob's Red Mill)
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups of hemp milk/ rice milk (I use Manitoba Harvest Hemp Bliss unsweetened)
1 1/2 tsp cider vinegar (I use Bragg apple cider vinegar)
3/4 cup vegetable shortening (I used Earth Balance's shortening, which contains soy)
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
4 1/2 tsp Ener-G egg replacer mixed with 6 tbsp rice milk (I used eggs and hemp milk)
1 tsp pure vanilla extract (I use Simply Organic)
1 oz bottle red food coloring (Pascal recommends Seelect Natural Food Coloring, order online)


•preheat your oven to 350° F. grease two eight inch round cake pans. Pascal recommends lining each with parchment paper, greasing again, then dusting with cocoa powder. I did this and it really helped get the cakes out.

•whisk together the flour mix, the cocoa powder, xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. set aside.

•combine the rice milk and the apple cider vinegar, and set aside.

•using your stand mixer with the paddle attachment, combine the shortening, sugar, egg replacer, and vanilla. beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, which takes about two minutes. next add the food coloring and mix until all the ingredients are combined. sift the flour mixture into the mixing bowl in three batches while alternating with the rice milk mixture. beat until smooth, this takes about thirty seconds. scrape down the sides of the bowl if necessary.

•divide the batter into the two pans and smooth down the surface using a spatula.

•bake in the center of the oven for approximately thirty-five minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. rotate the pans half way though the baking time.

•let the cakes cool on a rack for thirty minutes. then flip the cakes onto a plate, remove the parchment paper, then flip back right side up and let cool completely.

•once the cakes have cooled, use a serrated knife to level off the tops of the cakes. frost with velvet frosting (see recipe below).


velvet frosting recipe:
1 cup vegetable shortening (I used Earth Balance's shortening, which contains soy)
pinch of salt
3 cups confectioners sugar (I use Wholesome Sweeteners fair trade organic sugar)
3 tbsps of hemp/ rice milk (I use Manitoba Harvest Hemp Bliss unsweetened)
1 tbsps of freshly squeezed  lemon juice (I buy all my organic produce from SPUD)
1 tsp pure vanilla extract (I use Simply Organic)


•in your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the shortening and salt on medium speed for one minute.

•add the confectioner's sugar in three batches.

•add the rice/ hemp milk, lemon juice, and vanilla. beat on medium speed until smooth and fluffy, takes about five minutes.

•frost your cake and enjoy!


don't think we would let our milestone pass by without a giveaway to thank our readers, we have an exciting giveaway coming very soon, stay tuned for the announcement!  Andrea.


celiac disease   |   the allergen-free baker's handbook   |   follow us on twitter   |   follow us on facebook



Monday, April 18, 2011

gluten free mom: rice crispy squares!

image copyright gluten free vancouver
a long time favorite childhood treat, rice crispy squares, can now be made gluten free thanks to Dandies Marshmallows, which are gluten free and vegan! we first discovered these recently at Ed's Gluten Free Specialty's new Vancouver store, and we were thrilled to find such a unique and truly missed product! finally someone thought to make gluten free marshmallows! it was the same feeling when we found gluten free ice cream cones last year!

even though my daughter is not gluten intolerant, I still prefer to make everything gluten free for her since she is still small, 'two half' as she likes to say. she is still messy, and she likes to share what she is eating with me. so once I found these gluten free marshmallows I was now free to make her one of my all time favorite treats--rice crispy squares! well...not exactly 'rice krispy' squares since Rice Krispies are not gluten free. however, Kellogg's has announced that they will be introducing a new gluten free version of the famous Rice Krispies in June! to read more about this, click here.

since the gluten free Rice Krispies are not available yet, I chose another product—Perky's Crunchy Rice cereal, which is now part of the Enjoy Life brand. you can also use Nature's Path Crispy Rice cereal, both are gluten free. I bought the cereal at London Drugs on sale, which sells both cereal brands. if you would like to ensure your rice crispy treats are 100% vegan, then you should use the Nature's Path cereal as the Enjoy Life cereal uses honey as a sweetener. 

for the recipe, I just googled rice crispy squares, and followed the instructions. I used one package of Dandies Marshmallows, and one box of Enjoy Life Crunchy Rice cereal. making these treats brought back so many memories, I think this was one of the first recipes I learned to make by myself, and now I can share this experience with my daughter! enjoy!  Andrea.


ps. Dandies Marshmallows are now available through SPUD organic delivery, and they are on sale this week for $4.99! if you are not a spud member but would like to become one, please quote my account number to receive discounts on your first four orders, worth $25! CRVAN-MCLAND. thanks!



dandies marshmallows   |   ed's gluten free specialty   |   london drugs   |   spud



Sunday, November 14, 2010

gluten free vancouver turns one (+ giveaway)

when andrea and I started our blog last November, our goal was to provide a gluten free resource for those with celiac disease and gluten intolerance that focused on lifestyle rather than simply recipes or medical research. we knew there was little to no resources on how to live with celiac disease day to day.
it's amazing to look back on our previously gluten filled lives, such as my third birthday party, pictured here. andrea cant wait to eat the cake! we knew what we were missing when we were diagnosed with celiac disease, and it is with this perspective that shapes our discussion on topics like where to find gluten free personal care products, where to shop, and where to find great tasting gluten free food on the go.
our year in review includes some of our most favorite gluten free topics and I will start with our most popular, gluten free beer! ironically, this was also one of the first posts of 2010. we wanted to start the new year off with a sweet cupcake recipe in January and gluten free hot chocolate for Valentines Day in February. in March, we had the pleasure of working with the Wallflower Café’s Lisa Hewlett on their new gluten free menu. some long overdue taxes were finally paid in April after researching how to claim the incremental cost of gluten free food on your tax return.
May was a busy month discovering not only Homestead Specialty Baking but the most divine gluten free pancakes at Brown Dog Café. in June, I enjoyed writing celiac in the city about the challenges of dating with severe food allergies (thank you to all of our readers who provided such positive feedback on this topic!). gluten free vancouver was also featured on Global TV’s One Bite at a Time with Registered Dietician Melodie Yong. our excitement continued when we found gluten free ice cream cones in the August heat wave.
this fall we explored gastown, and found gluten free tacos at La Taqueria on west hastings, and then recently enjoyed taking an extended vacation to palm springs, california.
over this past year while working away on our new blog, we have both experienced many personal life changes. Andrea went back to work after her maternity leave, she moved into the new Woodwards building to accommodate her growing family, and recently started daycare for my niece Pilar...a heart wrenching experience for any new mom! for me, I started a new job shortly after launching the blog that has kept me busy learning and traveling. I was heartbroken earlier this year after the end of a long term relationship, and while I felt positive when I wrote 'celiac in the city' back in June, my healing process took many more months. I also moved into Olympic Village at the end of the summer, and love my new space!
Andrea and I are both in new creative workspaces, and are excited for the year ahead...we will be launching our www.glutenfree-vancouver.ca website shortly, and expanding our ideas further into the community. we also plan to make a gluten free gingerbread house next month, as well as start a weekly gluten free cookie review on the blog. gluten free giveaway...
to celebrate the success of our first year of gluten free vancouver, we want to offer one of our favorite gluten free products to one lucky reader! we are giving away a desert essence organics unscented body wash and shampoo! all you have to do to enter the giveaway is comment on our blog and tell us what challenges or obstacles you face living gluten free day to day. the entry deadline is midnight on tuesday november 30th. the winner will be announced on the blog on wednesday december 1st.
together, and through our blog, we hope to create more awareness of celiac disease and hopefully make gluten free foods more accessible to those that need it most.
thank you for supporting our blog! Robyn + Andrea follow us on twitter | follow us on facebook

Monday, October 4, 2010

celiac in the city: my local cafe

I went on a great date recently with someone who is really cute, has a great smile, and loves gluten free food...my niece Pilar! she just turned two so grandma and I decided to take her for a grown up lunch at My Local Café located at 3772 west tenth avenue in the point grey neighborhood. we enjoyed one of the best gluten free lunches I have ever had (their deep dish gluten free lasagna, salad, and garlic rice bread…read on!) many of our loyal readers mentioned this little place to Andrea and I to let us know that they sell gluten free treats like chocolate cake and muffins, but I was so excited to see that many of their breakfast, lunch and dinner menu items are gluten free too!

My Local Café is also one of the only restaurants in Vancouver to make their own sorghum and brown rice bread in house and it is really really good! in fact, everything at My Local Café including the gluten free waffles, and muffins are made in house. they do use a few other gluten free brands including Rizopia rice pasta from Galloways, and Bobs Red Mill for their tasty gluten free pizza crust. My Local Café also offers a wide variety of vegan and dairy free alternatives and has a great atmosphere for dining in. gluten free dishes are also prepared in a separate area of the kitchen, with separate cutting boards, utensils and even a designated gluten free toaster, what a treat!

the philosophy behind the all vegetarian, organic dishes at My Local Café is ‘thoughtful food’ and thoughtful it is. the owner, Shafique Shivji (or cookie monster as noted on his business card ) wanted to open a café where everyone could enjoy good tasting food – even if it is secretly gluten or dairy free. this little café reminds me why living in Vancouver is absolutely the best place to be if you are celiac or gluten intolerant.

the menu at My Local Café is broken down into morning or midday plates. it is important to advise the staff if you are seeking a gluten free version of any of the dishes on the menu and they will be sure to substitute any bread items for their gluten free brown rice bread (at no extra charge!), but you do have to advise them first. by doing so also ensures that your dish is prepared in their separate gluten free area of the prep kitchen. it is important to also know that My Local Café is not a dedicated gluten free restaurant but takes ample measures to minimize cross contamination and the staff are well informed of what gluten free means.

here are the gluten free highlights:

morning plates:
either ‘the local’ or ‘2 eggs on toast’ (poached eggs, cheese, roasted potatoes, fruit) can be substituted with the café’s homemade brown rice bread. the ‘local’s quiche’ is also made on a wheat free crust and is layered with seasonal vegetables.

my favorites include the gluten free waffles and muffins! the waffles are made with buckwheat flour, and come with either roasted fruit or toasted pecans, maple syrup and whipped cream! they are toasted in a dedicated gluten free toaster. the gluten free muffins, made with gluten free oats, are probably the best I have had so far, and come in chocolate cranberry, blueberry banana, peanut butter and chocolate chip, and peach and coconut. the muffins are also placed on the top display shelf to minimize cross contamination with their wheat muffins. there are always a variety of other gluten free treats at the order counter including gluten free chocolate cake and rice crispy squares.

midday plates:
most of their ‘local’s soup’ varieties are gluten free, including a recent tomato basil soup, but it is advisable to ask if their daily soup is gluten free first. you can also have it with their brown rice bread as well. spreads available include an olive tapenade, garlic or pesto spread. they are all excellent!

I love their ‘create – your – own sandwich’ option with gluten free rice bread, and you can select what vegetarian options you would like with your choice of spread. I tried spinach, tomato and cucumber with the olive tapenade spread over the weekend and it was delicious! you can have your gluten free sandwich toasted or untoasted, both options taste great.
the ‘daily baked dish and ‘local’s cauldron’ vary from week to week but are often a gluten free deep dish vegetarian lasagna or vegan shephard’s pie! they each come with salad and bread (again ask for the gluten free bread substitute).

and if all of that was not enough, there is gluten free pizza! the pizza is really good! its thin crust with cheese and vegetables, and it also comes with one of their various daily salads. there are usually three salad options daily to choose from and are almost always gluten free including a wild rice and celery salad, mixed vegetables, or spinach and apple.

Pilar and I had so much fun and it is very kid friendly too! Andrea and I highly recommend this little café, the food is thoughtful with an abundance of gluten free variety! Robyn. 


My Local Cafe is open monday to friday from 7am to 8pm & saturday and sunday from 8am to 8pm.


My Local Café on Urbanspoon

Monday, August 16, 2010

gluten free ice cream cones...at last!

it is so hot here in Vancouver right now! and for Andrea and I, ice cream is one of our all time summer favorite indulgences (well anytime of year really). but like everything else, even ice cream can contain gluten, so you still have to be careful even in this food category. the general rule of thumb for ensuring your ice cream is gluten free is quite simple, any flavor that has a wafer or cookie in it, it is not safe to eat. having a gluten allergy automatically rules out ice cream sandwiches and ice cream cones altogether too. for those with celiac disease, you will need to also be mindful of cross contamination with flavors that do contain gluten, so it is important to read product websites, or to call the manufacturer to be certain. also if you are buying ice cream by the scoop, I recommend asking the server to use a fresh, clean ice cream scoop as well. 

we both thought gluten free ice cream cones would be out of the question with no gluten free cones in sight. however a few months ago we discovered a product called Goldbaum’s that is available through the Gluten Free Mall or Amazon. and we couldn't wait to try them, but ordering across the border can be a pain sometimes, you know? well we have good news for all you Vancouverites! we have recently found Goldbaum's at Choices Markets!!! in addition to being gluten free, Goldbaum's are also dairy free, soy free and nut free.

now that the hard part has been made easy, the only other thing to do is find your favorite gluten free ice cream! Haagen Dazs regular flavours like vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, coffee, are gluten free. the Haagen Dazs Extras, and the cookies and cream flavour, are not. we would also like to tell you about a great dairy free ice cream made with coconut milk called So Delicious. most of their coconut milk ice cream products are gluten free, you can read their product listing here to be sure. I love the coconut flavour and the vanilla bean flavour. 

Andrea recently discovered another coconut milk ice cream called Coconut Bliss, which is organic, gluten free and vegan. whether you are celiac or not, you will loves these ice cream cones! just like my niece Pilar, as you can see in the photo. in fact one of her new first words is 'cream cone'. she loves them, and so will you!

happy days indeed!  Robyn.


Tuesday, July 27, 2010

gluten free, sugar free cooking: falafels

a while back I mentioned that I am experimenting with a few cookbooks in order to learn something new about gluten free cooking and baking, as well as to generally open up my repertoire of gluten free favorites. the first book I have been experimenting with is titled "Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free Cooking", by Susan O'Brien. over the past weeks I have already tried her recipes for brown rice pudding, and quinoa tabbouleh. last week I tried O'Brien's recipe for falafels.

falafel is a Middle Eastern food originating in Egypt, and is now an iconic part of Israeli cuisine. I am not exactly sure why out of over two hundred recipes in O'Bien's book, I happened to choose two middle eastern dishes, but I digress. the main ingredient in falafels is either chick peas, or fava beans, or a combination of both, and both are gluten free. chickpeas are high in protein, complex carbohydrates, and fiber. unfortunately many falafel recipes and most mixes use wheat flour. additionally, the falafels are typically served inside a pita bread pocket, which is obviously not safe for people on a gluten free diet.

if you are craving your beloved falafels, or would like to try them for the first time, you can try a gluten free falafel mix, such as OrgraN Falafel Mix, Fantastic Foods Falafel Mix, or Authentic Foods Falafel Mix. however, you can also make them on your own from scratch! (come on... you can do it!)

O'Brien's book includes two recipes, one for the falafels on page 89, and one for the falafel sauce on page 188. 

the falafels:
1/4 cup canola oil
1 large onion, chopped
1/4 cup chopped parsley
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 (15 oz.) cans of chickpeas (garbanzo beans) drained, but reserve juice
1/4 cup quinoa flour (I got mine at Whole Foods)
1 tablespoon wheat-free tamari sauce (try San-J brand)
4 tablespoons chopped fresh coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

there are two ways you can cook the falafels, in the oven, or in a deep fryer. I tried both, and I have to say I preferred the deep fried version, the outer crust was just so crispy, and the inside was nice and soft. the oven method was good too, but a little more consistent in the cooked texture between inside and outside. the deep fryer that I have is by Waring Pro, which has been great, but this smaller version would actually be perfect since it is deeper than it is long, better deep frying proportions in my opinion.

directions:
if you are going to cook in the oven, set your oven to 350°F. in a large frying pan heat one tablespoon of oil and saute the onion until soft, then add the parsley and garlic and keep cooking for another minute. in a blender or food processor, combine the rest of the ingredients (except the remaining oil) and blend. next I added the sauted onions mixture and blended again. 

if you are cooking in the oven, then form your the falafel mixture into patties and place on a greased baking sheet, and bake for 15 minutes each side, 30 minutes total. if you are using a deep fryer, form your mixture into one inch balls and drop into the hot oil. I did not time them, but when the outside crust is dark golden brown, they should be ready. 

obviously pita bead shells are out of the question for holding your falafels, unless you can buy or make gluten free pita bread. I decided to follow O'Brien's recommendation to make lettuce wraps. I bought fresh organic butter lettuce and added a few falafel balls, and lots of falafel sauce! you can garnish with more of your chopped fresh herbs. you could also try making a wrap using gluten free tortillas, I like the Food For Life brand. this recipe makes approximately four servings.

here is the recipe for the falafel sauce:
1/2 cup water
1 cup sesame tahini
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup lemon juice, use freshly squeezed
1 tablespoon chopped parsely
dash of fresh ground pepper

place all of the ingredients in a food processor or blender, and process until smooth.

this seems like a lot of work, but believe me you are going to love these! my husband and I kept half of the wet falafel mix in the fridge over night and deep fried the next day for another round of yummy gluten free falafels! enjoy!  Andrea.



get the book   |   susan o'brien   |   benefits of chickpeas



Showing posts with label vegan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vegan. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

celebrating a milestone: gluten free red velvet cake


we are very very pleased to announce that our blog has recently reached over 100,000 page views, and to us that is something worth celebrating! we started our blog in late 2009 in the hopes of sharing our gluten free lifestyle experiences with anyone and everyone. we had virtually no help at the beginning of our diagnosis in 2005 and really had no idea where to turn. our blog was created out of our desire to help even just one person overcome the challenges of a Celiac Disease diagnosis. over the years we have come to realize that living with Celiac Disease is not just about cutting out gluten, but rather integrating this new diet into a normal and enjoyable lifestyle, and this is the focus of our blog.

to celebrate we would like to share with you an awesome Red Velvet Cake recipe adapted from The Allergen-Free Baker's Handbook by Cybele Pascal. this recipe was easy to follow, and most importantly turned out well without any drama! and the cake was delicious! all of the recipes in Pascal's book are dairy free, soy free, nut free, and of course, gluten free!


first you need to whip up Pascal's gluten free flour mix:
4 cups of superfile brown rice flour
1 1/3 cups potato starch (not potato flour)
2/3 cup tapioca flour


and here is the cake recipe:
2 3/4 cups gluten free flour mix (see above)
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (mine was sweetened, and I used it anyway)
3/4 tsp xanthan gum
1 1/2 tsp double-acting baking power (I use Bob's Red Mill)
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups of hemp milk/ rice milk (I use Manitoba Harvest Hemp Bliss unsweetened)
1 1/2 tsp cider vinegar (I use Bragg apple cider vinegar)
3/4 cup vegetable shortening (I used Earth Balance's shortening, which contains soy)
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
4 1/2 tsp Ener-G egg replacer mixed with 6 tbsp rice milk (I used eggs and hemp milk)
1 tsp pure vanilla extract (I use Simply Organic)
1 oz bottle red food coloring (Pascal recommends Seelect Natural Food Coloring, order online)


•preheat your oven to 350° F. grease two eight inch round cake pans. Pascal recommends lining each with parchment paper, greasing again, then dusting with cocoa powder. I did this and it really helped get the cakes out.

•whisk together the flour mix, the cocoa powder, xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. set aside.

•combine the rice milk and the apple cider vinegar, and set aside.

•using your stand mixer with the paddle attachment, combine the shortening, sugar, egg replacer, and vanilla. beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, which takes about two minutes. next add the food coloring and mix until all the ingredients are combined. sift the flour mixture into the mixing bowl in three batches while alternating with the rice milk mixture. beat until smooth, this takes about thirty seconds. scrape down the sides of the bowl if necessary.

•divide the batter into the two pans and smooth down the surface using a spatula.

•bake in the center of the oven for approximately thirty-five minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. rotate the pans half way though the baking time.

•let the cakes cool on a rack for thirty minutes. then flip the cakes onto a plate, remove the parchment paper, then flip back right side up and let cool completely.

•once the cakes have cooled, use a serrated knife to level off the tops of the cakes. frost with velvet frosting (see recipe below).


velvet frosting recipe:
1 cup vegetable shortening (I used Earth Balance's shortening, which contains soy)
pinch of salt
3 cups confectioners sugar (I use Wholesome Sweeteners fair trade organic sugar)
3 tbsps of hemp/ rice milk (I use Manitoba Harvest Hemp Bliss unsweetened)
1 tbsps of freshly squeezed  lemon juice (I buy all my organic produce from SPUD)
1 tsp pure vanilla extract (I use Simply Organic)


•in your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the shortening and salt on medium speed for one minute.

•add the confectioner's sugar in three batches.

•add the rice/ hemp milk, lemon juice, and vanilla. beat on medium speed until smooth and fluffy, takes about five minutes.

•frost your cake and enjoy!


don't think we would let our milestone pass by without a giveaway to thank our readers, we have an exciting giveaway coming very soon, stay tuned for the announcement!  Andrea.


celiac disease   |   the allergen-free baker's handbook   |   follow us on twitter   |   follow us on facebook



Monday, April 18, 2011

gluten free mom: rice crispy squares!

image copyright gluten free vancouver
a long time favorite childhood treat, rice crispy squares, can now be made gluten free thanks to Dandies Marshmallows, which are gluten free and vegan! we first discovered these recently at Ed's Gluten Free Specialty's new Vancouver store, and we were thrilled to find such a unique and truly missed product! finally someone thought to make gluten free marshmallows! it was the same feeling when we found gluten free ice cream cones last year!

even though my daughter is not gluten intolerant, I still prefer to make everything gluten free for her since she is still small, 'two half' as she likes to say. she is still messy, and she likes to share what she is eating with me. so once I found these gluten free marshmallows I was now free to make her one of my all time favorite treats--rice crispy squares! well...not exactly 'rice krispy' squares since Rice Krispies are not gluten free. however, Kellogg's has announced that they will be introducing a new gluten free version of the famous Rice Krispies in June! to read more about this, click here.

since the gluten free Rice Krispies are not available yet, I chose another product—Perky's Crunchy Rice cereal, which is now part of the Enjoy Life brand. you can also use Nature's Path Crispy Rice cereal, both are gluten free. I bought the cereal at London Drugs on sale, which sells both cereal brands. if you would like to ensure your rice crispy treats are 100% vegan, then you should use the Nature's Path cereal as the Enjoy Life cereal uses honey as a sweetener. 

for the recipe, I just googled rice crispy squares, and followed the instructions. I used one package of Dandies Marshmallows, and one box of Enjoy Life Crunchy Rice cereal. making these treats brought back so many memories, I think this was one of the first recipes I learned to make by myself, and now I can share this experience with my daughter! enjoy!  Andrea.


ps. Dandies Marshmallows are now available through SPUD organic delivery, and they are on sale this week for $4.99! if you are not a spud member but would like to become one, please quote my account number to receive discounts on your first four orders, worth $25! CRVAN-MCLAND. thanks!



dandies marshmallows   |   ed's gluten free specialty   |   london drugs   |   spud



Sunday, November 14, 2010

gluten free vancouver turns one (+ giveaway)

when andrea and I started our blog last November, our goal was to provide a gluten free resource for those with celiac disease and gluten intolerance that focused on lifestyle rather than simply recipes or medical research. we knew there was little to no resources on how to live with celiac disease day to day.
it's amazing to look back on our previously gluten filled lives, such as my third birthday party, pictured here. andrea cant wait to eat the cake! we knew what we were missing when we were diagnosed with celiac disease, and it is with this perspective that shapes our discussion on topics like where to find gluten free personal care products, where to shop, and where to find great tasting gluten free food on the go.
our year in review includes some of our most favorite gluten free topics and I will start with our most popular, gluten free beer! ironically, this was also one of the first posts of 2010. we wanted to start the new year off with a sweet cupcake recipe in January and gluten free hot chocolate for Valentines Day in February. in March, we had the pleasure of working with the Wallflower Café’s Lisa Hewlett on their new gluten free menu. some long overdue taxes were finally paid in April after researching how to claim the incremental cost of gluten free food on your tax return.
May was a busy month discovering not only Homestead Specialty Baking but the most divine gluten free pancakes at Brown Dog Café. in June, I enjoyed writing celiac in the city about the challenges of dating with severe food allergies (thank you to all of our readers who provided such positive feedback on this topic!). gluten free vancouver was also featured on Global TV’s One Bite at a Time with Registered Dietician Melodie Yong. our excitement continued when we found gluten free ice cream cones in the August heat wave.
this fall we explored gastown, and found gluten free tacos at La Taqueria on west hastings, and then recently enjoyed taking an extended vacation to palm springs, california.
over this past year while working away on our new blog, we have both experienced many personal life changes. Andrea went back to work after her maternity leave, she moved into the new Woodwards building to accommodate her growing family, and recently started daycare for my niece Pilar...a heart wrenching experience for any new mom! for me, I started a new job shortly after launching the blog that has kept me busy learning and traveling. I was heartbroken earlier this year after the end of a long term relationship, and while I felt positive when I wrote 'celiac in the city' back in June, my healing process took many more months. I also moved into Olympic Village at the end of the summer, and love my new space!
Andrea and I are both in new creative workspaces, and are excited for the year ahead...we will be launching our www.glutenfree-vancouver.ca website shortly, and expanding our ideas further into the community. we also plan to make a gluten free gingerbread house next month, as well as start a weekly gluten free cookie review on the blog. gluten free giveaway...
to celebrate the success of our first year of gluten free vancouver, we want to offer one of our favorite gluten free products to one lucky reader! we are giving away a desert essence organics unscented body wash and shampoo! all you have to do to enter the giveaway is comment on our blog and tell us what challenges or obstacles you face living gluten free day to day. the entry deadline is midnight on tuesday november 30th. the winner will be announced on the blog on wednesday december 1st.
together, and through our blog, we hope to create more awareness of celiac disease and hopefully make gluten free foods more accessible to those that need it most.
thank you for supporting our blog! Robyn + Andrea follow us on twitter | follow us on facebook

Monday, October 4, 2010

celiac in the city: my local cafe

I went on a great date recently with someone who is really cute, has a great smile, and loves gluten free food...my niece Pilar! she just turned two so grandma and I decided to take her for a grown up lunch at My Local Café located at 3772 west tenth avenue in the point grey neighborhood. we enjoyed one of the best gluten free lunches I have ever had (their deep dish gluten free lasagna, salad, and garlic rice bread…read on!) many of our loyal readers mentioned this little place to Andrea and I to let us know that they sell gluten free treats like chocolate cake and muffins, but I was so excited to see that many of their breakfast, lunch and dinner menu items are gluten free too!

My Local Café is also one of the only restaurants in Vancouver to make their own sorghum and brown rice bread in house and it is really really good! in fact, everything at My Local Café including the gluten free waffles, and muffins are made in house. they do use a few other gluten free brands including Rizopia rice pasta from Galloways, and Bobs Red Mill for their tasty gluten free pizza crust. My Local Café also offers a wide variety of vegan and dairy free alternatives and has a great atmosphere for dining in. gluten free dishes are also prepared in a separate area of the kitchen, with separate cutting boards, utensils and even a designated gluten free toaster, what a treat!

the philosophy behind the all vegetarian, organic dishes at My Local Café is ‘thoughtful food’ and thoughtful it is. the owner, Shafique Shivji (or cookie monster as noted on his business card ) wanted to open a café where everyone could enjoy good tasting food – even if it is secretly gluten or dairy free. this little café reminds me why living in Vancouver is absolutely the best place to be if you are celiac or gluten intolerant.

the menu at My Local Café is broken down into morning or midday plates. it is important to advise the staff if you are seeking a gluten free version of any of the dishes on the menu and they will be sure to substitute any bread items for their gluten free brown rice bread (at no extra charge!), but you do have to advise them first. by doing so also ensures that your dish is prepared in their separate gluten free area of the prep kitchen. it is important to also know that My Local Café is not a dedicated gluten free restaurant but takes ample measures to minimize cross contamination and the staff are well informed of what gluten free means.

here are the gluten free highlights:

morning plates:
either ‘the local’ or ‘2 eggs on toast’ (poached eggs, cheese, roasted potatoes, fruit) can be substituted with the café’s homemade brown rice bread. the ‘local’s quiche’ is also made on a wheat free crust and is layered with seasonal vegetables.

my favorites include the gluten free waffles and muffins! the waffles are made with buckwheat flour, and come with either roasted fruit or toasted pecans, maple syrup and whipped cream! they are toasted in a dedicated gluten free toaster. the gluten free muffins, made with gluten free oats, are probably the best I have had so far, and come in chocolate cranberry, blueberry banana, peanut butter and chocolate chip, and peach and coconut. the muffins are also placed on the top display shelf to minimize cross contamination with their wheat muffins. there are always a variety of other gluten free treats at the order counter including gluten free chocolate cake and rice crispy squares.

midday plates:
most of their ‘local’s soup’ varieties are gluten free, including a recent tomato basil soup, but it is advisable to ask if their daily soup is gluten free first. you can also have it with their brown rice bread as well. spreads available include an olive tapenade, garlic or pesto spread. they are all excellent!

I love their ‘create – your – own sandwich’ option with gluten free rice bread, and you can select what vegetarian options you would like with your choice of spread. I tried spinach, tomato and cucumber with the olive tapenade spread over the weekend and it was delicious! you can have your gluten free sandwich toasted or untoasted, both options taste great.
the ‘daily baked dish and ‘local’s cauldron’ vary from week to week but are often a gluten free deep dish vegetarian lasagna or vegan shephard’s pie! they each come with salad and bread (again ask for the gluten free bread substitute).

and if all of that was not enough, there is gluten free pizza! the pizza is really good! its thin crust with cheese and vegetables, and it also comes with one of their various daily salads. there are usually three salad options daily to choose from and are almost always gluten free including a wild rice and celery salad, mixed vegetables, or spinach and apple.

Pilar and I had so much fun and it is very kid friendly too! Andrea and I highly recommend this little café, the food is thoughtful with an abundance of gluten free variety! Robyn. 


My Local Cafe is open monday to friday from 7am to 8pm & saturday and sunday from 8am to 8pm.


My Local Café on Urbanspoon

Monday, August 16, 2010

gluten free ice cream cones...at last!

it is so hot here in Vancouver right now! and for Andrea and I, ice cream is one of our all time summer favorite indulgences (well anytime of year really). but like everything else, even ice cream can contain gluten, so you still have to be careful even in this food category. the general rule of thumb for ensuring your ice cream is gluten free is quite simple, any flavor that has a wafer or cookie in it, it is not safe to eat. having a gluten allergy automatically rules out ice cream sandwiches and ice cream cones altogether too. for those with celiac disease, you will need to also be mindful of cross contamination with flavors that do contain gluten, so it is important to read product websites, or to call the manufacturer to be certain. also if you are buying ice cream by the scoop, I recommend asking the server to use a fresh, clean ice cream scoop as well. 

we both thought gluten free ice cream cones would be out of the question with no gluten free cones in sight. however a few months ago we discovered a product called Goldbaum’s that is available through the Gluten Free Mall or Amazon. and we couldn't wait to try them, but ordering across the border can be a pain sometimes, you know? well we have good news for all you Vancouverites! we have recently found Goldbaum's at Choices Markets!!! in addition to being gluten free, Goldbaum's are also dairy free, soy free and nut free.

now that the hard part has been made easy, the only other thing to do is find your favorite gluten free ice cream! Haagen Dazs regular flavours like vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, coffee, are gluten free. the Haagen Dazs Extras, and the cookies and cream flavour, are not. we would also like to tell you about a great dairy free ice cream made with coconut milk called So Delicious. most of their coconut milk ice cream products are gluten free, you can read their product listing here to be sure. I love the coconut flavour and the vanilla bean flavour. 

Andrea recently discovered another coconut milk ice cream called Coconut Bliss, which is organic, gluten free and vegan. whether you are celiac or not, you will loves these ice cream cones! just like my niece Pilar, as you can see in the photo. in fact one of her new first words is 'cream cone'. she loves them, and so will you!

happy days indeed!  Robyn.


Tuesday, July 27, 2010

gluten free, sugar free cooking: falafels

a while back I mentioned that I am experimenting with a few cookbooks in order to learn something new about gluten free cooking and baking, as well as to generally open up my repertoire of gluten free favorites. the first book I have been experimenting with is titled "Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free Cooking", by Susan O'Brien. over the past weeks I have already tried her recipes for brown rice pudding, and quinoa tabbouleh. last week I tried O'Brien's recipe for falafels.

falafel is a Middle Eastern food originating in Egypt, and is now an iconic part of Israeli cuisine. I am not exactly sure why out of over two hundred recipes in O'Bien's book, I happened to choose two middle eastern dishes, but I digress. the main ingredient in falafels is either chick peas, or fava beans, or a combination of both, and both are gluten free. chickpeas are high in protein, complex carbohydrates, and fiber. unfortunately many falafel recipes and most mixes use wheat flour. additionally, the falafels are typically served inside a pita bread pocket, which is obviously not safe for people on a gluten free diet.

if you are craving your beloved falafels, or would like to try them for the first time, you can try a gluten free falafel mix, such as OrgraN Falafel Mix, Fantastic Foods Falafel Mix, or Authentic Foods Falafel Mix. however, you can also make them on your own from scratch! (come on... you can do it!)

O'Brien's book includes two recipes, one for the falafels on page 89, and one for the falafel sauce on page 188. 

the falafels:
1/4 cup canola oil
1 large onion, chopped
1/4 cup chopped parsley
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 (15 oz.) cans of chickpeas (garbanzo beans) drained, but reserve juice
1/4 cup quinoa flour (I got mine at Whole Foods)
1 tablespoon wheat-free tamari sauce (try San-J brand)
4 tablespoons chopped fresh coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

there are two ways you can cook the falafels, in the oven, or in a deep fryer. I tried both, and I have to say I preferred the deep fried version, the outer crust was just so crispy, and the inside was nice and soft. the oven method was good too, but a little more consistent in the cooked texture between inside and outside. the deep fryer that I have is by Waring Pro, which has been great, but this smaller version would actually be perfect since it is deeper than it is long, better deep frying proportions in my opinion.

directions:
if you are going to cook in the oven, set your oven to 350°F. in a large frying pan heat one tablespoon of oil and saute the onion until soft, then add the parsley and garlic and keep cooking for another minute. in a blender or food processor, combine the rest of the ingredients (except the remaining oil) and blend. next I added the sauted onions mixture and blended again. 

if you are cooking in the oven, then form your the falafel mixture into patties and place on a greased baking sheet, and bake for 15 minutes each side, 30 minutes total. if you are using a deep fryer, form your mixture into one inch balls and drop into the hot oil. I did not time them, but when the outside crust is dark golden brown, they should be ready. 

obviously pita bead shells are out of the question for holding your falafels, unless you can buy or make gluten free pita bread. I decided to follow O'Brien's recommendation to make lettuce wraps. I bought fresh organic butter lettuce and added a few falafel balls, and lots of falafel sauce! you can garnish with more of your chopped fresh herbs. you could also try making a wrap using gluten free tortillas, I like the Food For Life brand. this recipe makes approximately four servings.

here is the recipe for the falafel sauce:
1/2 cup water
1 cup sesame tahini
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup lemon juice, use freshly squeezed
1 tablespoon chopped parsely
dash of fresh ground pepper

place all of the ingredients in a food processor or blender, and process until smooth.

this seems like a lot of work, but believe me you are going to love these! my husband and I kept half of the wet falafel mix in the fridge over night and deep fried the next day for another round of yummy gluten free falafels! enjoy!  Andrea.



get the book   |   susan o'brien   |   benefits of chickpeas



Showing posts with label vegan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vegan. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

celebrating a milestone: gluten free red velvet cake


we are very very pleased to announce that our blog has recently reached over 100,000 page views, and to us that is something worth celebrating! we started our blog in late 2009 in the hopes of sharing our gluten free lifestyle experiences with anyone and everyone. we had virtually no help at the beginning of our diagnosis in 2005 and really had no idea where to turn. our blog was created out of our desire to help even just one person overcome the challenges of a Celiac Disease diagnosis. over the years we have come to realize that living with Celiac Disease is not just about cutting out gluten, but rather integrating this new diet into a normal and enjoyable lifestyle, and this is the focus of our blog.

to celebrate we would like to share with you an awesome Red Velvet Cake recipe adapted from The Allergen-Free Baker's Handbook by Cybele Pascal. this recipe was easy to follow, and most importantly turned out well without any drama! and the cake was delicious! all of the recipes in Pascal's book are dairy free, soy free, nut free, and of course, gluten free!


first you need to whip up Pascal's gluten free flour mix:
4 cups of superfile brown rice flour
1 1/3 cups potato starch (not potato flour)
2/3 cup tapioca flour


and here is the cake recipe:
2 3/4 cups gluten free flour mix (see above)
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (mine was sweetened, and I used it anyway)
3/4 tsp xanthan gum
1 1/2 tsp double-acting baking power (I use Bob's Red Mill)
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups of hemp milk/ rice milk (I use Manitoba Harvest Hemp Bliss unsweetened)
1 1/2 tsp cider vinegar (I use Bragg apple cider vinegar)
3/4 cup vegetable shortening (I used Earth Balance's shortening, which contains soy)
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
4 1/2 tsp Ener-G egg replacer mixed with 6 tbsp rice milk (I used eggs and hemp milk)
1 tsp pure vanilla extract (I use Simply Organic)
1 oz bottle red food coloring (Pascal recommends Seelect Natural Food Coloring, order online)


•preheat your oven to 350° F. grease two eight inch round cake pans. Pascal recommends lining each with parchment paper, greasing again, then dusting with cocoa powder. I did this and it really helped get the cakes out.

•whisk together the flour mix, the cocoa powder, xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. set aside.

•combine the rice milk and the apple cider vinegar, and set aside.

•using your stand mixer with the paddle attachment, combine the shortening, sugar, egg replacer, and vanilla. beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, which takes about two minutes. next add the food coloring and mix until all the ingredients are combined. sift the flour mixture into the mixing bowl in three batches while alternating with the rice milk mixture. beat until smooth, this takes about thirty seconds. scrape down the sides of the bowl if necessary.

•divide the batter into the two pans and smooth down the surface using a spatula.

•bake in the center of the oven for approximately thirty-five minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. rotate the pans half way though the baking time.

•let the cakes cool on a rack for thirty minutes. then flip the cakes onto a plate, remove the parchment paper, then flip back right side up and let cool completely.

•once the cakes have cooled, use a serrated knife to level off the tops of the cakes. frost with velvet frosting (see recipe below).


velvet frosting recipe:
1 cup vegetable shortening (I used Earth Balance's shortening, which contains soy)
pinch of salt
3 cups confectioners sugar (I use Wholesome Sweeteners fair trade organic sugar)
3 tbsps of hemp/ rice milk (I use Manitoba Harvest Hemp Bliss unsweetened)
1 tbsps of freshly squeezed  lemon juice (I buy all my organic produce from SPUD)
1 tsp pure vanilla extract (I use Simply Organic)


•in your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the shortening and salt on medium speed for one minute.

•add the confectioner's sugar in three batches.

•add the rice/ hemp milk, lemon juice, and vanilla. beat on medium speed until smooth and fluffy, takes about five minutes.

•frost your cake and enjoy!


don't think we would let our milestone pass by without a giveaway to thank our readers, we have an exciting giveaway coming very soon, stay tuned for the announcement!  Andrea.


celiac disease   |   the allergen-free baker's handbook   |   follow us on twitter   |   follow us on facebook



Monday, April 18, 2011

gluten free mom: rice crispy squares!

image copyright gluten free vancouver
a long time favorite childhood treat, rice crispy squares, can now be made gluten free thanks to Dandies Marshmallows, which are gluten free and vegan! we first discovered these recently at Ed's Gluten Free Specialty's new Vancouver store, and we were thrilled to find such a unique and truly missed product! finally someone thought to make gluten free marshmallows! it was the same feeling when we found gluten free ice cream cones last year!

even though my daughter is not gluten intolerant, I still prefer to make everything gluten free for her since she is still small, 'two half' as she likes to say. she is still messy, and she likes to share what she is eating with me. so once I found these gluten free marshmallows I was now free to make her one of my all time favorite treats--rice crispy squares! well...not exactly 'rice krispy' squares since Rice Krispies are not gluten free. however, Kellogg's has announced that they will be introducing a new gluten free version of the famous Rice Krispies in June! to read more about this, click here.

since the gluten free Rice Krispies are not available yet, I chose another product—Perky's Crunchy Rice cereal, which is now part of the Enjoy Life brand. you can also use Nature's Path Crispy Rice cereal, both are gluten free. I bought the cereal at London Drugs on sale, which sells both cereal brands. if you would like to ensure your rice crispy treats are 100% vegan, then you should use the Nature's Path cereal as the Enjoy Life cereal uses honey as a sweetener. 

for the recipe, I just googled rice crispy squares, and followed the instructions. I used one package of Dandies Marshmallows, and one box of Enjoy Life Crunchy Rice cereal. making these treats brought back so many memories, I think this was one of the first recipes I learned to make by myself, and now I can share this experience with my daughter! enjoy!  Andrea.


ps. Dandies Marshmallows are now available through SPUD organic delivery, and they are on sale this week for $4.99! if you are not a spud member but would like to become one, please quote my account number to receive discounts on your first four orders, worth $25! CRVAN-MCLAND. thanks!



dandies marshmallows   |   ed's gluten free specialty   |   london drugs   |   spud



Sunday, November 14, 2010

gluten free vancouver turns one (+ giveaway)

when andrea and I started our blog last November, our goal was to provide a gluten free resource for those with celiac disease and gluten intolerance that focused on lifestyle rather than simply recipes or medical research. we knew there was little to no resources on how to live with celiac disease day to day.
it's amazing to look back on our previously gluten filled lives, such as my third birthday party, pictured here. andrea cant wait to eat the cake! we knew what we were missing when we were diagnosed with celiac disease, and it is with this perspective that shapes our discussion on topics like where to find gluten free personal care products, where to shop, and where to find great tasting gluten free food on the go.
our year in review includes some of our most favorite gluten free topics and I will start with our most popular, gluten free beer! ironically, this was also one of the first posts of 2010. we wanted to start the new year off with a sweet cupcake recipe in January and gluten free hot chocolate for Valentines Day in February. in March, we had the pleasure of working with the Wallflower Café’s Lisa Hewlett on their new gluten free menu. some long overdue taxes were finally paid in April after researching how to claim the incremental cost of gluten free food on your tax return.
May was a busy month discovering not only Homestead Specialty Baking but the most divine gluten free pancakes at Brown Dog Café. in June, I enjoyed writing celiac in the city about the challenges of dating with severe food allergies (thank you to all of our readers who provided such positive feedback on this topic!). gluten free vancouver was also featured on Global TV’s One Bite at a Time with Registered Dietician Melodie Yong. our excitement continued when we found gluten free ice cream cones in the August heat wave.
this fall we explored gastown, and found gluten free tacos at La Taqueria on west hastings, and then recently enjoyed taking an extended vacation to palm springs, california.
over this past year while working away on our new blog, we have both experienced many personal life changes. Andrea went back to work after her maternity leave, she moved into the new Woodwards building to accommodate her growing family, and recently started daycare for my niece Pilar...a heart wrenching experience for any new mom! for me, I started a new job shortly after launching the blog that has kept me busy learning and traveling. I was heartbroken earlier this year after the end of a long term relationship, and while I felt positive when I wrote 'celiac in the city' back in June, my healing process took many more months. I also moved into Olympic Village at the end of the summer, and love my new space!
Andrea and I are both in new creative workspaces, and are excited for the year ahead...we will be launching our www.glutenfree-vancouver.ca website shortly, and expanding our ideas further into the community. we also plan to make a gluten free gingerbread house next month, as well as start a weekly gluten free cookie review on the blog. gluten free giveaway...
to celebrate the success of our first year of gluten free vancouver, we want to offer one of our favorite gluten free products to one lucky reader! we are giving away a desert essence organics unscented body wash and shampoo! all you have to do to enter the giveaway is comment on our blog and tell us what challenges or obstacles you face living gluten free day to day. the entry deadline is midnight on tuesday november 30th. the winner will be announced on the blog on wednesday december 1st.
together, and through our blog, we hope to create more awareness of celiac disease and hopefully make gluten free foods more accessible to those that need it most.
thank you for supporting our blog! Robyn + Andrea follow us on twitter | follow us on facebook

Monday, October 4, 2010

celiac in the city: my local cafe

I went on a great date recently with someone who is really cute, has a great smile, and loves gluten free food...my niece Pilar! she just turned two so grandma and I decided to take her for a grown up lunch at My Local Café located at 3772 west tenth avenue in the point grey neighborhood. we enjoyed one of the best gluten free lunches I have ever had (their deep dish gluten free lasagna, salad, and garlic rice bread…read on!) many of our loyal readers mentioned this little place to Andrea and I to let us know that they sell gluten free treats like chocolate cake and muffins, but I was so excited to see that many of their breakfast, lunch and dinner menu items are gluten free too!

My Local Café is also one of the only restaurants in Vancouver to make their own sorghum and brown rice bread in house and it is really really good! in fact, everything at My Local Café including the gluten free waffles, and muffins are made in house. they do use a few other gluten free brands including Rizopia rice pasta from Galloways, and Bobs Red Mill for their tasty gluten free pizza crust. My Local Café also offers a wide variety of vegan and dairy free alternatives and has a great atmosphere for dining in. gluten free dishes are also prepared in a separate area of the kitchen, with separate cutting boards, utensils and even a designated gluten free toaster, what a treat!

the philosophy behind the all vegetarian, organic dishes at My Local Café is ‘thoughtful food’ and thoughtful it is. the owner, Shafique Shivji (or cookie monster as noted on his business card ) wanted to open a café where everyone could enjoy good tasting food – even if it is secretly gluten or dairy free. this little café reminds me why living in Vancouver is absolutely the best place to be if you are celiac or gluten intolerant.

the menu at My Local Café is broken down into morning or midday plates. it is important to advise the staff if you are seeking a gluten free version of any of the dishes on the menu and they will be sure to substitute any bread items for their gluten free brown rice bread (at no extra charge!), but you do have to advise them first. by doing so also ensures that your dish is prepared in their separate gluten free area of the prep kitchen. it is important to also know that My Local Café is not a dedicated gluten free restaurant but takes ample measures to minimize cross contamination and the staff are well informed of what gluten free means.

here are the gluten free highlights:

morning plates:
either ‘the local’ or ‘2 eggs on toast’ (poached eggs, cheese, roasted potatoes, fruit) can be substituted with the café’s homemade brown rice bread. the ‘local’s quiche’ is also made on a wheat free crust and is layered with seasonal vegetables.

my favorites include the gluten free waffles and muffins! the waffles are made with buckwheat flour, and come with either roasted fruit or toasted pecans, maple syrup and whipped cream! they are toasted in a dedicated gluten free toaster. the gluten free muffins, made with gluten free oats, are probably the best I have had so far, and come in chocolate cranberry, blueberry banana, peanut butter and chocolate chip, and peach and coconut. the muffins are also placed on the top display shelf to minimize cross contamination with their wheat muffins. there are always a variety of other gluten free treats at the order counter including gluten free chocolate cake and rice crispy squares.

midday plates:
most of their ‘local’s soup’ varieties are gluten free, including a recent tomato basil soup, but it is advisable to ask if their daily soup is gluten free first. you can also have it with their brown rice bread as well. spreads available include an olive tapenade, garlic or pesto spread. they are all excellent!

I love their ‘create – your – own sandwich’ option with gluten free rice bread, and you can select what vegetarian options you would like with your choice of spread. I tried spinach, tomato and cucumber with the olive tapenade spread over the weekend and it was delicious! you can have your gluten free sandwich toasted or untoasted, both options taste great.
the ‘daily baked dish and ‘local’s cauldron’ vary from week to week but are often a gluten free deep dish vegetarian lasagna or vegan shephard’s pie! they each come with salad and bread (again ask for the gluten free bread substitute).

and if all of that was not enough, there is gluten free pizza! the pizza is really good! its thin crust with cheese and vegetables, and it also comes with one of their various daily salads. there are usually three salad options daily to choose from and are almost always gluten free including a wild rice and celery salad, mixed vegetables, or spinach and apple.

Pilar and I had so much fun and it is very kid friendly too! Andrea and I highly recommend this little café, the food is thoughtful with an abundance of gluten free variety! Robyn. 


My Local Cafe is open monday to friday from 7am to 8pm & saturday and sunday from 8am to 8pm.


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Monday, August 16, 2010

gluten free ice cream cones...at last!

it is so hot here in Vancouver right now! and for Andrea and I, ice cream is one of our all time summer favorite indulgences (well anytime of year really). but like everything else, even ice cream can contain gluten, so you still have to be careful even in this food category. the general rule of thumb for ensuring your ice cream is gluten free is quite simple, any flavor that has a wafer or cookie in it, it is not safe to eat. having a gluten allergy automatically rules out ice cream sandwiches and ice cream cones altogether too. for those with celiac disease, you will need to also be mindful of cross contamination with flavors that do contain gluten, so it is important to read product websites, or to call the manufacturer to be certain. also if you are buying ice cream by the scoop, I recommend asking the server to use a fresh, clean ice cream scoop as well. 

we both thought gluten free ice cream cones would be out of the question with no gluten free cones in sight. however a few months ago we discovered a product called Goldbaum’s that is available through the Gluten Free Mall or Amazon. and we couldn't wait to try them, but ordering across the border can be a pain sometimes, you know? well we have good news for all you Vancouverites! we have recently found Goldbaum's at Choices Markets!!! in addition to being gluten free, Goldbaum's are also dairy free, soy free and nut free.

now that the hard part has been made easy, the only other thing to do is find your favorite gluten free ice cream! Haagen Dazs regular flavours like vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, coffee, are gluten free. the Haagen Dazs Extras, and the cookies and cream flavour, are not. we would also like to tell you about a great dairy free ice cream made with coconut milk called So Delicious. most of their coconut milk ice cream products are gluten free, you can read their product listing here to be sure. I love the coconut flavour and the vanilla bean flavour. 

Andrea recently discovered another coconut milk ice cream called Coconut Bliss, which is organic, gluten free and vegan. whether you are celiac or not, you will loves these ice cream cones! just like my niece Pilar, as you can see in the photo. in fact one of her new first words is 'cream cone'. she loves them, and so will you!

happy days indeed!  Robyn.


Tuesday, July 27, 2010

gluten free, sugar free cooking: falafels

a while back I mentioned that I am experimenting with a few cookbooks in order to learn something new about gluten free cooking and baking, as well as to generally open up my repertoire of gluten free favorites. the first book I have been experimenting with is titled "Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free Cooking", by Susan O'Brien. over the past weeks I have already tried her recipes for brown rice pudding, and quinoa tabbouleh. last week I tried O'Brien's recipe for falafels.

falafel is a Middle Eastern food originating in Egypt, and is now an iconic part of Israeli cuisine. I am not exactly sure why out of over two hundred recipes in O'Bien's book, I happened to choose two middle eastern dishes, but I digress. the main ingredient in falafels is either chick peas, or fava beans, or a combination of both, and both are gluten free. chickpeas are high in protein, complex carbohydrates, and fiber. unfortunately many falafel recipes and most mixes use wheat flour. additionally, the falafels are typically served inside a pita bread pocket, which is obviously not safe for people on a gluten free diet.

if you are craving your beloved falafels, or would like to try them for the first time, you can try a gluten free falafel mix, such as OrgraN Falafel Mix, Fantastic Foods Falafel Mix, or Authentic Foods Falafel Mix. however, you can also make them on your own from scratch! (come on... you can do it!)

O'Brien's book includes two recipes, one for the falafels on page 89, and one for the falafel sauce on page 188. 

the falafels:
1/4 cup canola oil
1 large onion, chopped
1/4 cup chopped parsley
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 (15 oz.) cans of chickpeas (garbanzo beans) drained, but reserve juice
1/4 cup quinoa flour (I got mine at Whole Foods)
1 tablespoon wheat-free tamari sauce (try San-J brand)
4 tablespoons chopped fresh coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

there are two ways you can cook the falafels, in the oven, or in a deep fryer. I tried both, and I have to say I preferred the deep fried version, the outer crust was just so crispy, and the inside was nice and soft. the oven method was good too, but a little more consistent in the cooked texture between inside and outside. the deep fryer that I have is by Waring Pro, which has been great, but this smaller version would actually be perfect since it is deeper than it is long, better deep frying proportions in my opinion.

directions:
if you are going to cook in the oven, set your oven to 350°F. in a large frying pan heat one tablespoon of oil and saute the onion until soft, then add the parsley and garlic and keep cooking for another minute. in a blender or food processor, combine the rest of the ingredients (except the remaining oil) and blend. next I added the sauted onions mixture and blended again. 

if you are cooking in the oven, then form your the falafel mixture into patties and place on a greased baking sheet, and bake for 15 minutes each side, 30 minutes total. if you are using a deep fryer, form your mixture into one inch balls and drop into the hot oil. I did not time them, but when the outside crust is dark golden brown, they should be ready. 

obviously pita bead shells are out of the question for holding your falafels, unless you can buy or make gluten free pita bread. I decided to follow O'Brien's recommendation to make lettuce wraps. I bought fresh organic butter lettuce and added a few falafel balls, and lots of falafel sauce! you can garnish with more of your chopped fresh herbs. you could also try making a wrap using gluten free tortillas, I like the Food For Life brand. this recipe makes approximately four servings.

here is the recipe for the falafel sauce:
1/2 cup water
1 cup sesame tahini
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup lemon juice, use freshly squeezed
1 tablespoon chopped parsely
dash of fresh ground pepper

place all of the ingredients in a food processor or blender, and process until smooth.

this seems like a lot of work, but believe me you are going to love these! my husband and I kept half of the wet falafel mix in the fridge over night and deep fried the next day for another round of yummy gluten free falafels! enjoy!  Andrea.



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