GF Foods to Celebrate: March 08

Passover foods: Great options for everyone who is GF
Classes
GF Health Recipe Contest update

The Passover aisle can be a great source of GF foods, no matter holiday you celebrate.

Passover isn’t here until mid-April, but many of the products are already starting to appear in grocery stores. Not all Passover foods are gluten free, but many are, and there’s a much wider selection than usual at the grocery store. This can be a good time to stock up on GF cakes and mixes, cookies, “bread” crumbs and supplies like potato starch. As an added bonus for people with multiple restrictions, most Kosher for Passover products contain no corn or soy products, and there are always a variety of dairy free foods, too.

In a nutshell, the basic rule of foods for Passover is no leavened foods, which eliminates normal breads, cakes etc. Matzo, (an unleavened bread usually made from wheat) is eaten, but aside from Matzo and matzo meal, (also potentially listed as cake meal or farfel) products are gluten free. Or, if you find products labeled “non-gebrok or gebroktz or grebrochts” (or another spelling variation) they’re non-grain containing and therefore safe. Often Kosher for Passover products and cakes are made of potato flour or nut meals rather than wheat.

  • As always in the GF world, read labels carefully. Kosher and Kosher for Passover are two different things entirely. Kosher for Passover foods will be labeled “May be used for Passover” or have a symbol that says OUP. I have often seen “regular” Kosher foods in the Passover section at grocery stores, so please do check the labels for gluten containing ingredients.
  • Keep in mind that some of the foods are imported from other countries, and therefore not under US labeling laws. So a label must still say matzo, but may not say wheat explicitly or have the disclaimer stating that it contains wheat.
  • From a gluten free perspective, possibly the best part of Passover is AFTER Passover, when all of the great GF goodies are on sale! Passover ends April 29th, so mark your calendars, because the word has gotten out in GF circles.

Here’s a link to the GF products from Manishewitz:

For people who DO celebrate the actual holiday of Passover, not just the GF food, one of the best resources around is GF by the Bay blog, which is often a wealth of information.
Here are a few other good sites: Recipezaar
I am Gluten Free Blog
GFCF Recipe List and click on holidays. There are quite a few Jewish holiday recipes, and they are all gluten and dairy free.
Jewish Celiacs has a variety of recipes and other sources of info.

You can also buy GF oat matzoh. The brand only brand I’ve seen is Shmura Oat Matzah
Back when you really couldn’t get GF prepared foods in the regular grocery store, this was a much bigger deal. But it’s still nice to have an expanded selection, and nicest of all is AFTER Passover, when all of the products are on sale.

Upcoming Classes in Alexandria, VA:

Baking and Cooking with Gluten Free Grains

Saturday, March 29th, 2008, 11:00-1:00

*Different grains how to use them
* Tips and strategies for tasty baked goods
* Avoiding common mistakes
* GF whole grains and how to use them in main meals
This class is 2 hours and will include a demo and tasting for a GF grain dish. The cost is $25 per person or two for $40

The Art of Living GF

Saturday, April 26, 11-12:30

*All you ever wanted to know about label reading
*Foods to enjoy and where to find them
*Foods to avoid, cross contamination and hidden gluten
*Survival tips for the first few weeks.
*Where to get support-local and online groups, websites, books

Workshops taught by Cheryl Harris, Nutritionist & Registered Dietitian. There will be tasty goodies and samples! PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Register here or contact Cheryl at Cheryl@harriswholehealth.com or 571-271-8742 with questions.

It’s voting time…GF Healthy Recipe Contest:

I received 52 healthy (or healthier) GF recipes, and they’re all posted on my website. There’s a huge variety, from breakfasts, to sides, to main meals, to desserts. All are GF, but there are also options for people who are juggling multiple allergies, on a diabetic diet, GFCF or vegan, too. The ones I’ve made so far have been delicious! Check them out and vote for your favorites. http://www.harriswholehealth.com/recipe-contest

Winners will be announced in April.

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Local events:
The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness is hosting its annual Cooking Spree
Friday April 11, 2008
7:30-10:30pm
Hyatt Regency Bethesda
7400 Wisconsin Avenue
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DC Metro Area ROCK SPRING EGG HUNT & Gluten Free Pot Luck Lunch
April 5th, Owen Brown Community Center, Columbia MD 21045
For more info, please see the event flyer
Pre-registration required. Contact Linda Hickman or via phone 410-290-5224

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Maryland Cel-Kids & the Baltimore Area Celiac Support Group present:
Eating Gluten-Free at School and at College
Sunday, April 13, 2008
2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Event details
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Harris Whole Health offers individual sessions, family sessions and group classes to help people eat healthier and feel better! Whether you are dealing with Celiac Disease, food allergies, picky eaters, children on the Autistic spectrum, chronic illness, or if you just want to feel and look better, Cheryl can help you achieve your goals. For an appointment with Cheryl Harris, Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist, please click here or call 571-271-8742.

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