gFree: Transitioning to a new Author

gFree will now be authored by a new blogger, she is the person who inspired me to take up blogging and also my sister.

Her name is Christine also a University of Texas student. She will now be writing for gFree from a first-hand perspective as someone who is allergic to gluten and has been gluten-free for over two years now.

She will be an excellent source as someone who will write about her daily experiences and gluten-free encounters around Austin.

Two-Ingredient GF Chocolate Mousse

Now that everyone has had a few days past Valentine's Day I hope everyone day a great day, couples or single.
  
When I was trolling Twitter for a special Gluten-Free Valentine's Day treat that was easy to make and quick, I found a recipe worth sharing!




So, if you've been following me on Twitter you saw me post the link here:

I got the idea from a Yahoo! article on Shine and attempted making it on V-Day, so I wanted to share my experience with you! (Takes about 15 minutes to make)

So, first, I'm going to re-post some of the directions listed in the article, but also tell you what I did!

Two-Ingredient Chocolate Mousse

8 ounces chocolate

(I used semi-sweet: choose  chocolate you love)
3/4 cup (6 ounces) water
ice cubes
freshly whipped cream for topping (optional)

1. Simply pour water into a saucepan. Then, over medium heat, whisk in the chocolate. The result is a homogenous sauce.

- Obviously, this part is pretty easy, I started by warming up my water to a light boil and then added in my chocolate chips. The chips instantly started melting and making a chocolaty water combination. Which, I say is totally fine AS LONG as you don't burn the chocolate--that's what to watch out for!

2. Pour the chocolate mixture into a bowl set over an ice bath, then whisk the chocolate sauce, either manually with a whisk or with an electric mixer (if using an electric mixer, watch closely -- it will thicken faster). 
- To me, this is where it started getting tricky. I only have a hand whisk, so as they tell you, if you use an electric mixer it will thicken the chocolate mix faster, so I SUGGEST you use one instead! By hand whisking, I stirred for about 10 minutes until it started getting thick....and that's when I got trouble...

3. It will thicken and strands of chocolate will form inside the loops of the whisk. Pour or spoon immediately into ramekins, small bowls or jars and let set.

- As they say, "it will thicken and strands..." that didn't happen to me. It got thick, but not "mousse-like." Mine turned out more like chocolate pudding, which you can see in the picture to the right. But, my Valentine's guests (roommates) said the "pudding" turned out good. Whether they were honest or not, it was okay, and that was good enough for me. But, if you really want to excel in this challenge, I'll make two suggestions: 1) Use an electric mixer 2) Stir long enough until you see the "chocolate strands".

4. Serve immediately, or refrigerate. Top with whipped cream if desired. 

If you check out the original article they feature a few helpful hints at the bottom of the page, which are great

Note: Three things can go wrong. Here's how to fix them. If your chocolate doesn't contain enough fat, melt the mixture again, add some chocolate, and then whisk it again. If the mousse is not light enough, melt the mixture again, add some water, and whisk it once more. If you whisk it too much, so that it becomes grainy, this means that the foam has turned into an emulsion. In that case simply melt the mixture and whisk it again, adding nothing.

I say, this treat doesn't have to be reserved for Valentine's Day, but can also be paired with any meal to complement as a quick dessert. It may take some practice to get the right chocolate consistency, but it is very quick to make and easy!

Back from the Holidays with some GF Beer news!

Hey Everyone!
I'm back from a holiday hiatus. I hope everyone had great Christmas and New Year's GF celebrations!

As I searched around for GF news, I found something that may make many of you smile...
THERE'S A NEW GF BEER COMING!!

Read the article here!

Coming later this January, Dogfish Head brewer has tinkered with a new Gluten-Free beer,  "Tweason'ale," that should go out to stores soon for just under $10.

Dogfish Head employee piling the gluten-free beer, Tweason'ale. / DOGFISH HEAD IMAGE

Company heads said they responded to their customers #1 request on social media -- a GF beer.

In a quote from the article:

Dogfish President Sam Calagione said the beer's inception came from customer feedback. "The No. 1 request that came from our pub regulars, through our website, twitter and Facebook, was to do a gluten-free beer," he said. "We've gladly responded to the requests."

I can't say how common the beer will be on store shelves, but I can say two things for sure after reading this article: GF customers can influence companies if they raise their vocies AND the GF community has taken yet another step in the right direction towards raising awareness.

Let me know of you see this on shelves later this month! @melissaayala12

Gluten-Free Places in Austin

View Gluten-Free Austin in a larger map

Check out these places around Austin that feature Gluten-Free foods around town.

	The Little Aussie Bakery & Cafe 10 reviews 3610 Avenue B San Antonio, TX 78209-6508 (210) 826-7877 thelittleaussiebakery.com While Little Aussie is a little furthur away from Austin, it's definitely worth the trip if you're ever in San Antonio. They offer top-quality GF products! I have had their GF rolls that are supreme in taste and consistency. They have a 100% Gluten-Free establishment and offer items from cakes to pizza.Their bread is made from alternative flours like tapioca and rice and are very light and fluffy. Little Aussie has monthly special events and is a place you should definitely check out if you can!
	Wild Wood Art Cafe 18 reviews 3663 Bee Cave Rd Austin, TX 78746 (512) 327-9660 wildwoodartcafe.com Wild Wood is a great place to check out, located on the west side of Austin its 100% Gluten-Free and offers a wide selection from pastries like cupcakes to cookies and entrees like sandwiches and burgers made with an in-house special bread recipe. This place offers great food in a nice small sit-down atmosphere. You can call ahead to place an order or drop by to see what they have made daily. Prices aren't the cheapest, but you get good quality!
	Mr Natural 31 reviews 2414 South Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78704 (512) 916-9223 mrnatural-austin.com Mr. Natural has some very unique Gluten-Free items and entrees. My favorite is the GF bavarians they offer with coconut. They always have an assortment of Gluten-Free pastries made with tapioca, sorghum and other flours, but also entrees. They aren't 100% GF, but they do have many GF items for you to try that are very tastey! They have two locations in Austin.
	Sprouts Farmers Market 17 reviews - 10225 Research Boulevard Austin, TX 78759 (512) 225-9101 - 2805 Bee Cave Road Rollingwood, TX 78746 (512) 439-5782sprouts.com If you haven't been to Sprouts yet, it's a great place for you to go grocery shopping. There are a couple locations around Austin and dozens around Texas. They are big on quality products and carry many organic and Gluten-Free items. What I like about Sprouts is that they make shopping super easy by placing specific labels in front of Gluten-Free products, making it extra-easy for you to do your GF shopping. They carry many GF flours and have a larger selection of GF products than regular grocery chains. They also have seasonal events like their Gluten-Free weeks and special events. Check this place out! Whole Foods Market 21 reviews - 1105 N Lamar Blvd # 200 Austin, TX 78703-4941 (512) 391-8400 - 9607 Research Boulevard Austin, TX 78759 (512) 345-5003 wholefoodsmarket.com
	Whole Foods is widely known for having been founded in Austin. They are a great for having high-quality, natural, organic food items. They have so many items and a very large selection that can sometimes be overwhelming. But, Whole Foods does offer many, many special classes and tutorials for shoppers, like Gluten-Free cooking classes and tours of the store. I suggest you look those up online and visit to get the most out of your shopping experience. They offer a great Gluten-Free selection and have so many things for you to choose from, check them out! They have multiple Texas and Austin locations.
	Hyde Park Bar & Grill 438 reviews 4206 Duval Street Austin, TX 78751-4311 (512) 458-3168 hpbng.com Great sit-down restaurant at a fairly affordable price. This place doesn't offer soley Gluten-Free items, but it does color-code and specify which items on the menu are GF, which is great for those looking to avoid any contamination of wheat used in the foods. Although there are many GF items in their selection like corn tamales and omeletes, the selection isn't terribly wide or varied, but you will have some options if you chose to check this place out. The restaurant is always packed with hungry customers and usually offers specials throughout the week.
	Delish Bakery Ltd 33 reviews 209 West 3rd Street Austin, TX 78701-3879 (512) 473-4118 delish-cupcakes.com Haven't been here yet, but I hear they have Gluten-Free items. Let me know if you've checked them out before!
	Beets Cafe 33 reviews 1611 West 5th Street suite #165 Austin, TX 78703 (512) 477-2338 beetscafe.com Haven't been here yet, but I hear they have Gluten-Free items. Let me know if you've checked them out before!
	Brick Oven on 35th 58 reviews 1608 W 35th Street Austin, TX 78703 (512) 453-4330 brickovenon35th.com Haven't personally visited here yet, but I hear great things about the restaurant. I do know they have a Gluten-Free menu and know you should mention to your server if you order off of it, so they ensure to prepare your foods accordingly. Let me know if you have checked out their GF items before!
	Snack Bar 111 reviews 1224 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704-2422 (512) 445-2626 snackbaraustin.com Haven't been here yet, but I hear they have Gluten-Free items. Let me know if you've checked them out before!
	Java Dive Organic Cafe and Bakery 4 reviews 1607 Ranch Road 620 North Austin, TX 78734 (512) 266-5885 javadivecafe.com Haven't been here yet, but I hear they have Gluten-Free items. Let me know if you've checked them out before!
	Food For Life 2 reviews 2051 Cypress Creek Rd # L Cedar Park, TX 78613-3624 (512) 331-0096 gfcfcuisine.com Haven't been here yet, but I hear they have Gluten-Free items. Let me know if you've checked them out before!
	Gluten Free Kneads / Smart Flour Foods 1 review 2613 Buell Ave # A Austin, TX 78757-7629 (512) 706-1775 smartflourfoods.com I have tried out their products before which are often carried in other locations and stores, like Gatti's in the Hancock Center, which carried their GF brownies. The brownie I had from Gluten Free Kneads was made of a tapioca flour and was very delicious and soft. It will cost you a little extra than regular, but their items are good-quality!
	Jester West Dormitory, Jester City Limits cafe University of Texas at Austin, Jester Cir, Austin, TX 78712 Dining Hall website Jester City Limits, located within Jester Dormitory at the University of Texas - Austin campus, offers students a cafe with Gluten-Free items. It's a great place for GF students to create-their-own sandwiches and pits made on GF breads.
	Gatti's Pizza 1000 E 41st Street, Suite 200, Austin TX 78751 (512) 459-6141 www.mygattis.com This Gatti's location offers Gluten-Free pizza crust. It's one of the newer, modern-style locations that offers a sit-down atmosphere. Customers are warned that there is a chance of cross-contamination, but servers take extra care when anyone orders their GF crust to avoid that, which I appreciate. The GF crust is made by Gluten Free Kneads, which also makes brownies for them, which are very delicious. I very much enjoyed my pizza and suggest it for those times you want to get some quality GF food at a fast-food style place.

 Feel free to check out the Google Map to get directions to any of these places or add in your favorite spots! You can also always get in touch on Twitter: @melissaayala12

Gluten Intolerant Group: Thanksgiving Dinner

So as you all may know, I recently got in touch with the Gluten Intolerance Group who gets together every once in a while and meets up with gluten-free food dinners and hang outs. This Thanksgiving holiday was no exception with their GF Thanksgiving dinner in San Antonio.

The Gluten Intolerence Group of Central and Couth Texas ranges with members from Austin, San Antonio and Corpus Christi with close to 40 members from around the area who all go together early Thanksgiving week with their favorite GF dishes. Look at how much food there was!!

Members brough dishes ranging from turkey, stuffing, salad to homemade breads and pastries. All foods were Gluten-free made with wheat-alternative flours.

Pastries are one type of dishes traditionally including wheat in their flours. These dishes were all made with gluten-free flours like those made of tapioca, rice and other flours. All the dishes at this Gluten-Free dinner included a recipe card with a list of ingredients which is very convienent for anyone on a GF diet.

For many with a Gluten-Free diet, occasions like these are the few rare times they get to eat foods like Gluten-Free cupcakes. Some people at the dinner, hadn't had cupcakes and pastries in months, even years, since they are usually foods made with wheat flour.

The Little Aussie Bakery and Cafe of San Antonio donated bread rolls for the GF Thanksgiving dinner. I'd have to say of all the GF bread I've ever had, this has got to be the best! And, it's no wonder, since Little Aussie was named one of 2011 Top 10 Bread Bakers in America by Desert Professional.

I would suggest anyone in Central Texas not already attending GIG's support group to consider it or any support community because it really helps to have an outlet out there where you can talk about your experience and share it with those around you who understand and can help one another with events like this one. I really enjoyed my Thanksgiving this year and hope you all did too!

If you'd like to get in touch with me for more information check out my website for and please get in touch!

Toy Joy: Gluten-Free ice cream cones

I had never been to Toy Joy's cafe until yesterday, when I stopped in and decided to get a tasty treat. When I started looking over the menu, they have their bubble tea's that you see advertised on their windows. But, I was in the mood for ice cream and to my surprise, they offered Gluten-Free cones!!

Yesterday's ice cream special was Peppermint. I chose to try a twist of Vanilla and Peppermint and it was Delicious!!!

Toy Joy is a widely-known toy/gift shop, this location is on Guadalupe near the University of Texas at Austin. Over the past couple years, Toy Joy expanded it's store to include this section of the location to include a cafe.

There's parking both in front and behind the Toy Joy store, with seating outside for you to sit and enjoy the many items available in the cafe.

If you can see under Soft Serve, there's a couple different options for what to eat your ice cream out of, from cups to Gluten-Free and Organic cones, there's a little something for everyone.

Toy Joy uses cones that are Gluten-Free, made WITHOUT wheat, barley or rye flours, but instead using a mixture of potato and tapioca flour. The combination tastes great, maybe even better than traditional cones. You should check out the GF cones and let me know what you think on Twitter: @melissaayala12

Check out a new flavor ice cream each week! Next week is Pumpkin softserve.

2900 Guadalupe St.
Austin, TX 78705

Gluten Intolerance Group: Thanksgiving dinner

Join the Gluten Intolerance Group of Central and South Texas at this year's Thanksgiving Dinner in San Antonio!

"Please join us for our GIG-CSTX Thanksgiving Dinner on Saturday, November 19 at noon. This dinner is held at our regular meeting place, Covenant Presbyterian Church at 211 Roleto Drive in San Antonio, just off Loop 410. Debbie Holladay is baking turkeys and making the gravy. Little Aussie Bakery will provide the dinner rolls. The rest is up to us to provide the salads, vegetables, dressings, and desserts. If this is your first time to attend one of our potluck dinners, we invite you to come, bring your family, and be our guest. Our members will bring a dish to share, along with a list of the ingredients included. We welcome your recipes that can be shared in our newsletter. You will need to RSVP. Call 210 340-0648 or e-mail me at annebarfield@satx.rr.com to tell me three things. 1. What dish you plan to bring. 2. How many family members will be with you. 3. If this is your first meeting, just call and tell me how many family members. This helps us plan our meal, and assures that nothing gets forgotten. Please call or e-mail by Friday, November 18 by noon."

http://www.gigcstx.org/

A Gluten-Free Thanksgiving

Gluten Free support group podcast with Anne Allen

Check out my conversation with Anne Allen, Gluten Intolerant Group of Austin Director! We talk about what GIG members can get out of membership and what it's like to be a part of a gluten-free support group. She gives out a lot of great tips on grocery stores, bakeries and restaurants around Austin and shares what her experience has been like as someone who has been gluten-free for several years. As I've shared with all of you before, my blog started out of my experience living with my younger sister who is gluten intolerant, and I share a little with Anne about my sister and how my blog came to be. I hope you all check out my podcast with Anne and feel free to leave and comments or questions you have or Anne or myself.

If you have any questions, feel free to also check out the GIG website: http://gigcstx.org/

I encourage all of you to get involved in a group with other people who have gone gluten-free! Follow me on Twitter: @melissaayala12

Gluten Free Faces, GF Social Network

     One of the reasons I chose to start this blog was to have a site where gluten-free people could go to as a one-stop-shop for resources.
Recently, I stumbled upon GlutenFreeFaces.com, a gluten-free social network.

     It's similar to other social networks like Facebook or even MySpace from a couple years back, but the benefit of it is that it's for a gluten-free community.
     The set-up is very easy:
You follow the basic "Create a New Account" that you've seen before.
You need to enter:
- a working email address
- password
- birthdate
And, then you submit your information to apply for membership.
     That's one of the features I like about the site, that membership is exclusive to approved members, but not incredibly strict.
     The next day, I got an email saying that I had been approved for membership and after that, I was able to log-in and start connecting in the community.
     Now, you can check out site, connect with any of the 10,000+ members, view GF videos, recipes and blogs.
     There are also special offers for members, like coupons discounting GF products, like this one:
     I think it's a great resource to find other members who are in the same boat as you or going through similar experiences.
     Check it out!

Today's Fox Health News article features gluten-free tips

Earlier today I tweeted about an article I read this morning from Fox Health News, giving tips for those who have gone gluten-free:

melissaayala12 Melissa Ayala
Just read this interesting article: Tips For Going #GlutenFree | http://fxn.ws/w258FS via @foxnewshealth, posting to my blog later today!

The article largely assumes it's readers know what a gluten-free diet means, which I suppose is safe to assume. However, with a health news site like this that tackles a wide range of issues, I would like to see more explanation of what Celiac Disease is and why some people have to go gluten-free, because their bodies cannot accept the gluten protein in foods like wheat, barley or rye.

But, it does explain how the gluten-free diet is trending, which I'm sure we all have noticed.

Because of the high incidence of celiac disease and gluten intolerance (it is estimated that one in every 100 people in the U.S. have
celiac disease and more go undiagnosed), tons of gluten-free products (including breads and pastas), restaurants and recipes are becoming more readily available.

But, for all of us out there, it's also good to note these tips.

However, it’s still very important to be an informed consumer. Many foods that you would never imagine to have gluten do – like bouillon cubes and soy sauce.

The article lists a lot of quick items gluten-free eaters should stay away from because of hidden dangers to your diet:

vegetables with sauces
processed cheeses
cheese blends
flavored yogurts

cheeses with vegetable gum

food starch

preservatives

Look out for these: malt, barley, dextrin, candy, some cold cuts (Applegate Farms is gluten free), gravies, imitation fish, soy sauce, teriyaki, vegetables in sauce, hydrolyzed wheat protein, rice mixes, communion wafers, chips, bouillon cubes, soups, multivitamins, play dough, lip gloss and stamps.

But, you also get some good tips on foods you can eat or should check out:

buckwheat, cornmeal, grits, millet, quinoa and rice. Other starches that can be used are legumes, and starchy vegetables like peas, potatoes and corn. If you like to bake, some gluten-free flours include: almond, amaranth, artichoke, sorghum and teff flours.

What I found really interesting were these three items they suggest you look out for: play dough, lip gloss and stamps. Especially makeup, I find, is becoming something more commonly suggested to be weary of.

I think this article points out a lot of foods you should keep on a list, print out and keep in your back pocket to have handy when out at the grocery store.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/11/03/tips-for-going-gluten-free/#ixzz1cfLq08x7

A Day in the Life of a Gluten-Free Shopper

Gluten Free Beer: Red Bridge

Red Bridge: Gluten-Free Sorghum Beer (Made without wheat or barley)

Red Bridge: 6-pack, 12-oz. bottles about $8

Any beer lover can tell you that barley is the basic cereal grain used in the beer-making process. Barley is combined with water, hops, malt and yeast. Most beers have the same basic ingredients.

Although barley is most commonly used is making beer, it also contains gluten which means  gluten-free drinkers have to sit out when everyone else cracks open a brew. It's usually difficult to find gluten-free beers. It's almost impossible to find next to your mainstream Bud Light or Budweiser at a local convenience store. BUT! There are some specialty stores where you can find GF beer.




The ingredient label tells you the whole story: water, fermented sorghum, hops and yeast.

One, Red Bridge, which offers you the 6-pack you're used to, or she said they had another single-bottle option. In the spirit of sharing, I opted for the 6-pack.
 

In my search, I called over to Twin Liquors in central Austin and put them to the test. I asked the sales person what their gluten-free selection was and she told me they actually do have two brands.

There's no worry of gluten contamination or having any wheat involved. They post gluten-free all over their packaging, on their bottle and bottle cap, making it very easy to ensure you won't be in doubt. Their slogan, "Beer made with you in mind" says it all. Per their website, redbridgebeer.com, the company mission focuses on ensuring safe processing to avoid wheat allergy by preventing blending or mixing with wheat.

They even have a  partnership with the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness to increase awareness about Celiac disease, as they define it on their website:

"Celiac disease is an auto-immune disease, often hereditary, that causes a chronic reaction to gluten in the small intestine which interferes with the absorption of food and then triggers other seemingly unrelated health conditions. Antibodies eventually attach and destroy the small intestine. Currently, the only known cure is to follow a gluten-free diet."

Without the barley you may wonder what a sorghum beer tastes like. It's surprisingly smooth and doesn't have that bitter taste regular beers usually have.

It has a light taste, not too dark or heavy like some beers that leave you feeling extra-full.

Although it's a saving grace for gluten-free eaters wanting to swig one back, it does have a lightly different flavor than barley beer, which you might notice at first. But, that's not to say it's not good. It has a great flavor and I definitely recommend it!

On their website they even offer a retail locator where you can put in your zip code and find the closest locations to try it out on your own: BROWN DISTRIBUTING COMPANY LTD 8711 JOHNNY MORRIS RD, AUSTIN, TX 78724
(512) 478-9353

Check out Mr. Natural

For gluten-free eaters out there, one of the indulges missed most are pastries. Cupcakes, muffins, cookies. All off limits because of the wheat flour bakers use most of the time.

And, when bakers do venture out into the GF world, the pastry bread can often be tough and lose it's usual fluffy freshness. Therein, lies the problem. Where can you find GF pastries with the usual taste and consistency of wheat-flour bakery goods?? My tip: Check out Mr. Natural.

Mr. Natural's two Austin locations, South Lamar/East Cesar Chavez, offer a variety of baked goods and entrees 100% gluten-free. Source: Mr. Natural.

This 100% vegetarian hotspot uses all-natural ingredients. This unique spot offers a bakery, sit-in restaurant, but also catering, food mailing options, and a health food store offering natural drinks, meat-substitutes and supplements.



The fresh bakery items are labeled Gluten Free with an ingredient list visible for any customer concerned with the contents. These muffins are made of rice, tapioca, fava bean and garbanzo flour--alternatives to wheat.

 You should definitely check this place out during it's Gluten Free Fridays, where they load up their bakery with GF items.

The collection of GF bakery items will definitely leave you with dozens of options with items from cookies, scones, brownies and even seasonal items like pumpkin empanadas.



This rich chocolate donut, under $2 is coated in tasty
sprinkles. The fluffy, bite-sized treat mimicks the classic
Little Debbie donuts with a GF spin and all the taste!



Coconut Bavarian: Delicious combination of flaky crust coated in dark chocolate. Stuffed with light, sweet cream and coconut shavings. At $2.50 this tasty treat is enough for two!

   

What makes this place exciting is the wide range in products, gluten-free products you don't usually find in a local bakery. And, although when I walked out of Mr. Natural with two donuts, a Bavarian and these  two beautiful chocolate muffins below, I shelled out over $10, it's not a stretch in cash when you consider the hefty prices local cupcakeries charge and well-worth it when you consider the lower-carbs and all-natural ingredients made fresh.



Dark chocolate muffins, pecan topped: $2 and incredibly rich. This one will leave you reaching for the milk. Soft and moist, this muffin is unlike the gf cakes you might find at other places that can be dry and flaky. Worth your while!

 Check out their menu and locations: MrNatural-austin.com