Celiac Support Network

Archive for September, 2009

Our group will be meeting on Monday, September 14 this month, instead of the normal “3rd Monday”.

Please bring a recipe that you would like to convert to be gluten-free and we will work on the recipes together. We’ll send out the newly-converted recipes via email list after the meeting, so be sure to sign up to the right, if you haven’t already!

Hope to see you all there! Melia’s bringing treats! Yummy!

Middleville, MI – September, 2009 – One in every 133 Americans have Celiac Disease or some form of gluten intolerance. While this condition has existed for many, many years, education and diagnostic ability in the medical community have not. This recent knowledge have led to understanding, acceptance, gluten-free labeling, and a host of new gluten-free products that are available in restaurants and supermarkets.

The Celiac Support Network of Barry County is reconvening after the Summer recess and invites all interested people to attend. The group meets in the upstairs portion of the Willis Recreation Center at the First Baptist Church of Middleville (5215 N. M-37 Road). Meetings are held on the third Monday of each month, starting at 7:00 pm and generally last about an hour. The group often welcomes local vendors of gluten-free items to speak and present their products, samples products, shares information and tips on eating a gluten-free diet, and has pertinent discussions regarding Celiac and other food allergies. The group maintains a website at www.celiacsupport.net, as well as a email discussion list. The next meeting is Monday, September 14. Everyone is asked to bring a favorite recipe containing gluten that they would like to convert; the group can help suggest substitutions to make it gluten-free.

If you have Celiac, gluten intolerance or sensitivity, or another food allergy, you may benefit from the support that the Celiac Support Network of Barry County can offer. There is no cost involved and everyone is welcome. Please note, if TK Schools are canceled for weather-related reasons on the day of a meeting, the group will also be canceled.

I recently tried Mama’s Pancake Mix from Gluten Free Mama.  Now, let me preface this by saying, I haven’t had a pancake in the nearly 3 years that I’ve been gluten-free.  They were AMAZING!  Even my husband thought they were great — and he usually gives me attitude when I make anything gluten-free and expect him to eat it!  Haha! [Incidentally, I've since tried another brand, and he hated it.]

I’ve never been really big into making pancakes, but it only took me a couple of minutes to get the hang of it.

Preheating the pan and using non-stick spray worked best.  At the time, I was using a stainless steel pan.  The non-stick spray may not be as necessary with a Teflon coated pan (I just bought a stove-top griddle).

The mix was very easy to use and the directions were very clear.  Best of all, though–they were fluffy and didn’t fall apart like so many gluten-free products tend to do.  As you can see from the photos, it is easy to see when the bubbles start to form and it’s time to flip them over.

I was very impressed with these pancakes from start to finish.  I will definitely be ordering more pancake mix from this company.  Unfortunately, this mix is not available locally in Michigan, so website ordering is the only option.  There are several locations in other states, though, and Amazon carries the rice-almond flour blend.

And here is the finished product!  Ta-da!!!

And they were YUMMY with some strawberry preserves and whipped cream!

Just like at the pancake house!