GF/CF Recipes

Picnics on the gf/cf diet

By Michele Weppner

It’s the first day of Spring 2010 and it is a beautiful day, not a cloud in the sky and with a slight breeze, oh how the snowbirds are jealous.

I’m sitting outside watching my son have his horse therapy session and watching the Goodyear Blimp land. It’s a great afternoon. The only thing missing is a great picnic. Spring is about being outside and having picnics and BBQ’s with your family and friends and long days at the beach, even on the GF/CF diet!

My family loves pasta salads, vegetable salads, toss salads and fresh fruit (lots of fresh fruit)! Lots of vibrant colors of blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, peaches, kiwi, grapes (red or green), oranges and apples just to name a few or whatever you like. If your child doesn’t like fruit try one thing first, he/she will find what he/she likes I promise. My kids love fruit and ask for it everyday. My son loves to open the fridge and grab a handful of fruit.

®Black Bean and Corn Salad

You can buy dry beans and cook as directed or you can buy organic canned beans.

* 2 cans of black beans drained
* 2 cans of corn drained
* Combine them together
* 1 jalapeño cut in half seeded and diced
* ¼ cup diced red onion
* ¼ cup of fresh chopped cilantro
* 1 lime cut in half and juiced
* Salt and pepper

Combine ingredients. Toss and serve.

Enjoy a great colorful and tasteful salad made simple!

® Fresh Steamed Asparagus

* 1 Package of asparagus, washed with stems cut off

* Steam the asparagus in ½ cup of water until tender and then drain.
* Season with salt and pepper and enjoy!

My son loves asparagus and he likes to twiddle them with his fingers because he is very sensory.

®Pasta Salad with Fresh Veggies

Yes Gluten free pasta is available at your local health food store. Here are some brand name products to look for


* DeBoles
* Lundberg
* Mrs. Leepers
* Tinkyada Pasta Joy Ready (That’s my favorite brand because I love the different shapes they offer!)

* Cook pasta as directed and then set aside.
* Add ¼ - ½ cup of dried red onion
* 1 cup of broccoli steamed or raw
* 1cup of shredded carrots
* 6-8 Asparagus steamed. Cut in half
* ½ cup of grape or cherry tomatoes cut in ½ or whole
* ¼ cup of chopped black or green olives
* Add to pasta

For the dressing whisk the following ingredients together:

* 1 lemon
* ½ cup of olive oil
* Salt and pepper
* Clove of garlic minced
* Fresh herbs – Basil, Chives, Oregano, Cilantro (whatever you like) Dry herbs are ok but the fresh herbs just have more flavor.

®Chicken Drumsticks

What’s a picnic without drumsticks?

You can either buy drumsticks already made, or if your child is like mine and is allergic to soy as well as gluten and casein, you always have to make them fresh. It’s not hard to do.

At your local grocer, buy a family pack of fresh drumsticks (legs), usually 12-14 in the package. It is important to read the labels because even though it says fresh they may contain unwanted preservatives.



* Rinse the drumsticks and pat dry
* Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper
* Dredge them in either: G/F crushed potato chips or crushed Envivo Kids Gorilla Munch.
* Sauté in hot olive oil and garlic 7-8 minutes on both sides
* Transfer to hot oven for an additional 20 minutes

They can be served either hot or at room temperature. Whatever you decide to take on your picnic, remember GF/CF can be done and can be very tasty.

Like my mother use to say to me - “if you don’t try, you will never know what you like or don’t like”

Have a great spring and enjoy your picnic!

MICHELE WEPPNER IS THE MOTHER AND CARE GIVER OF AN AUTISTIC CHILD. SHE IS ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF FUND FOR H.O.P.E., INC. A NOT FOR PROFIT 501C FOUNDATION DEDICATED, TO RAISING FUNDS IN ORDER TO ASSIST LOW INCOME FAMILIES WITH AUTISTIC CHILDREN TO RECEIVE ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES.

www.fundforhope.com

michaelweppner@bellsouth.net




Futter Nut Recipes

Stuffed French Toast

Use nut butter, not cream cheese. Very versatile and great for slowing the carbs in bread from turning to sugars.

Take 2 pieces of bread (multigrain or gluten free), and spread nut butter between the slices like a sandwich. Cut sandwich in half. Put in shallow bowl that has a mixture of 1 beaten egg (or liquid replacement) and an ounce or 2 of water, or milk of choice. (Almond's good).Turn to coat both sides.

Heat oil (olive or grapeseed are good) in frying pan, then put dipped/coated sandwich in. Turn when slightly browned like french toast.

Take out and top with fruit. Good unique combos-Futters Walnut butter inside, topped with bananas (could be fried with a touch of vanilla or rum). Futters Pistachio Butter topped with pears and/or berries (any kind)


Ants on a Log (Fun Food for Kids)

Take any Futters Nut Butter and spread it in a stalk of celery (the log), and top with a few raisins (the ants), or Futters dried cranberries or cherries (red ants). Kids like to make their own.

Good combo-Futters Sunflower Seed butter with Futters raw unsweetened cranberries and coconut.

Call 877-772-2155 with questions, checkout our ad for an interesting offer, look us up at www.futtersnutbutters.com.


Gluten Free Creations

Recipe

Blueberry Shortcake

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two 7” round pans or 8 muffin pans.

1 cup white rice flour

¼ cup brown rice flour

½ cup tapioca starch

¼ cup sweet rice flour or cornstarch

1 Tbsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

½ cup sugar

1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

1 cup whipping cream or rice milk

2 Tbsp melted butter or margarine

2 Tbsp sugar

Stir together all the dry ingredients

Gently toss in the blueberries until they are lightly covered with flour.

Add the liquid and mix with a fork or your hands until all the ingredients come together.

Pat into prepared pans.

Brush the top(s) with melted butter or margarine, then lightly sprinkle with sugar.

Bake in preheated oven for approximately 20 minutes for muffins or 35 minutes for cakes.

Remove from oven and allow cooling for 5 minutes.

Remove from pan and enjoy warm or wait until cool before wrapping.