Nice to meet you!

Hey gluten free friends!    I'm a new contributor to Gluten Free Greensboro and I'm just so tickled to be typing this entry.  Let me share a bit about myself.  I entered the gf world in 2004, I'm so thankful to the doc who decided to take that random test and opened my eyes to Celiac.  Friends, I was in a world of migraine torture and GI pain.  I'm not going to lie to you.  I love being gluten free.  It changed my life for the better.  How great a problem that's cured by simply changing diet?!  I seldom suffer from migraines and my tummy is so much happier.  Can I get an whoot-whoot?!

Now for those that have been gf for longer than a year you know the grocery market's a changin'!   We can now welcome many  main stream brands with gf  products to our pantries - Chex, Bisquick, Betty Crocker mixes and many more.  And we're lucky to have a few very gf friendly markets EarthFare and Deep Roots that one can walk in and have a wide selection of products.

I hope to share some Gboro gf gems with you in the near future.  

But until then check out my blog for a simply and  yummy anti-noodle lasagna recipe  http://lovemygr8life.blogspot.com/2010/08/simpleantinoodlelasagna.html

Cheers,

Amanda

Greensboro, NC Bloggers Needed

Live in Greensboro, NC?

Live the Gluten Free Lifestyle?

Interested in helping others in your city?

If you have any questions or interest writing about Greensboro please email me.

Zen Cat Bakery

There's a new baker in town (well, she's been around since the beginning of this year, but relatively new) and she's baking up something sweet and yummy for those of us that are gluten free! Some of the magical creations coming out of her kitchen are cookies, cupcakes, brownies, truffles (yes-I said truffles!), breads, and more, and EVERYTHING is gluten free. Zen Cat Bakery takes it a step further and bakes everything vegan too.

My absolute favorite treat of what few I've had the extreme pleasure of trying so far, is the "Oh Snap! Triple Ginger Cookie". It was the BEST ginger cookie I've ever had. Angie, owner of Zen Cat Bakery, explained that she not only uses crystallized ginger, but fresh ginger as well to bake these lovely treats. These cookies will melt in your mouth and ginger lovers will NOT be disappointed! I was also thrilled to try Zen Cat’s "Fig Cookie", which was phenomenal! (See those yummy looking treats in the picture above? Fig Cookies!) Since being diagnosed with Celiac Disease, I've really craved fig cookies and Zen Cat Bakery's "Fig Cookie" is better than any fig cookie I’ve had in my life! Finally, I tried the "Pumpkin Bread", which was so moist and had such a perfect flavor. It's truly hard to believe that these treats are all gluten free AND vegan! You know how most GF baked goods taste like cardboard or turn into a rock within a day? Well, not Zen Cat Bakery's treats. She has some kind of moist magic working with all of the love she puts into her baked goods! Her tag line is perfect: Gluten Free + Vegan + All Love and when you try one of these treats, you’ll wonder how you’ve made it this long without having treated yourself!

Hopefully your mouth is watering by now and you’re wondering, ‘where can I get my hands on one of those Zen Cat Bakery treats?’ Zen Cat Bakery treats can be found in coffee shops, cafes, and markets around Greensboro (and further if you’re in Winston Salem, Archdale, or Mebane). Zen Cat Bakery’s website has a “where to find” section listing the names and addresses of where to find their yummy treats. Even better, if you become a fan of Zen Cat Bakery on Facebook, they post where, and what treats are being delivered each day delivery occurs. If you can’t find Zen Cat Bakery treats at your favorite locations now, just mention it to the business, visit Zen Cat Bakery’s website, and send Angie an email. She’ll definitely explore the opportunity! More demand created for gluten free and vegan deliciousness will create new opportunities, and hopefully, more options for safe eats!

Grocery Store Review: Earth Fare

In Greensboro, Earth Fare is the gluten-free mecca. It has the largest selection of gf products than any other store I have shopped in this city. They even take it a step further and identify sections of the aisles that shelve gf products, making it easier to locate the foods that are most likely safe for a gf lifestyle (you should always read the labels every time, as manufacturers sometimes change ingredients).

Earth Fare is a healthy food store and according to its website, their food philosophy is:

Earth Fare sells foods that are as close to the ground as it gets. Products with these ingredients/processes will not be sold at Earth Fare:

	NO hydrogenated or partially-hydrogenated oils (added trans-fats)
	NO high fructose corn syrup
	NO artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners & preservatives
	NO antibiotics, synthetic growth hormones or animal by-products in the feed (fresh meats & milk)
	NO bleached or bromated flour
	NO irradiated single source spices, produce or meat
	NO animal by-products in pet foods
	NO inhumane treatment of the animals providing us with dairy, meat and eggs

The last time I was in Earth Fare, I picked up a brochure listing the thousands of gf products Earth Fare offers. They have cereals, crackers, frozen and fresh breads, snacks, nutrition bars, cookies, frozen dinners, frozen breakfasts, baking mixes, frozen pizza, beer, flours, etc.

Some of my favorite brands are:

• Amy's
• Annie's Homegrown
  
• Lara Bars
• Moo Moo's

As far as prices go, Earth Fare seems to have the best prices on most, if not all, of the gf products they carry that can be found in other grocery stores. Trust me, I've done the comparison. I was actually shocked at first, but it makes sense if you were to think about the economics, simple supply and demand.

Hours and Contact Info

Monday - Saturday: 8am - 9pm Sunday: 9am - 9pm
Phone: 336-369-0190
Email: Greensboro110@earthfare.com

Store Address

2965 Battleground Avenue
Greensboro, North Carolina 27408

Earth Fare - Celiac Support Group Meeting

Celiac Support Group

Date:	July 21, 2010
Time:	7:00 PM -
Location:	Greensboro Earth Fare
Admission:	Free
Contact:	gso110community@earthfare.com
If you have been diagnosed with Celiac and don’t know where to turn, then this is the group for you! Come to Earth Fare and talk to others who are going though the same thing, exchange recipes, learn about different gluten-free foods and know that you are not alone!

Restaurant Review - Carrabba's Italian Grill

When I first found out that Carrabba's Italian Grill offered a GF menu, I was in disbelief. I mean, Carrabba's is an Italian restaurant, right? Meaning pasta, right? Well, yes, it is true that Carrabba's is an Italian restaurant with pasta, but it really does have a GF menu. And, the menu isn't short of choices relative to their regular menu.

Before I get to the review, I must confess that I've been holding off on this review for some time. The reason why is because I was not sure if I was truly eating there safely or not. You see, I had not been glutenated that I was aware of. At least, not until a few weeks ago. And that will be a story for another time, but the point is, now that I know what getting sick from cross contamination is like, I feel like I can honestly give this review.

So, let me just tell you that I have had Carrabba's 4 times, in two different states, since I have been diagnosed and I absolutely love my meals there. I seem to always lean towards Chicken Bryan because I am a goat cheese fanatic, and it is worth every penny. As far as choices for sides to accompany the dishes, the GF menu is only missing one item that the regular menu has. I've gotten sauteed spinach, garlic mashed potatoes, and broccoli and cauliflower on each separate occasion and have enjoyed every bite of this meal. It also comes with a salad, and I have to admit, I always go for their mediterranean salad because I love the pesto dressing that it is served with.

The servers and the host staff are all well educated on the seriousness of the need to have a GF meal that is not cross-contaminated, which always makes me feel a little more confident when eating at a restaurant. The location I've frequented most in Greensboro is the one on New Garden Rd. The staff there is fabulous, I cannot even come up with a single negative thing to say about them.

Bottom line is that I have not gotten sick from eating at Carrabba's and I would highly recommend it to those of you out there seeking a GF dining experience. It beats cleaning dishes!

Cooking Class - June 6, 2010

Sorry for the last minute notice! Miriam, with Sustainable Health Choices, is teaching a hands on gluten free cooking class tomorrow from 2-4pm. The theme is "easy weeknight breads" using all kinds of gluten free flours. To learn more, visit her website:

http://www.sustainablehealthchoices.com/blog/events/wheat-free-flours/