NEW PASTA @ Whole Foods

gf pasta

https://jovialfoods.com/

Ever since I found Jovial Foods pastas in our local stores they have been my go to for all things (dry) pastas. I was literally dancing in the aisle at Whole Foods (University Heights) this week when I saw the end-cap display of Jovial with a NEW PASTA CUT/SHAPE!!! Mafalda!

And check our their web page for other pastas and gf culinary innovator options like the small stars rice pasta – Stelline

Celebrations are in order. Life is full of so many small moments of JOY!

Celiac Project Podcast

https://www.celiacproject.com/the-podcast/

AKA………2 Guys Talking Gluten Free

Since 2016, Michael and Cam meet up each week to discuss issues surrounding CeD (lifted this abbreviation from one of the recent on-line conferences/symposiums) You can find the episodes at their website as well as at your favorite app – Apple podcasts, Spotify etc……

Why? What? Where? When? How? These questions and more are addressed by the hosts, their guests, and other contributors. Some of the guests are fellow CeD folks, some are NCGS, other autoimmune folks for whom the g-f diet is a remedy, doctors, dietitians, support group facilitators, service dog trainers, chefs and more!

There are currently 370 episodes. I started listening in at #1 and in the past month have listened to the first 80 episodes. Here’s some of the things I learned that I had not known before – even after reading numerous research documents and website searches for over 16 years diagnosed and following a gluten free diet……

What does gluten withdrawal feel like? Mar 29, 2011. posted at beyondceliac.org

When gluten is withdrawn abruptly from the diet, certain susceptible individuals may experience a wide range of withdrawal symptoms, including, but not limited to, nausea, extreme hunger, anxiety, depression and dizziness.

What happens when you cheat on the gluten free diet? Info edited from the post of May 2019. posted at glutenfreeliving.com

You will NOT feel well! PLUS, you will continue to experience withdrawal if you are susceptible to that. see above note

You will not feel well!

Your system will be in a constant state of battle . You set off inflammation throughout the entire body. Inflammation affects every aspect of the body and is particularly difficult for the areas that have been the most stressed.

You prolong gut recovery!

Damage to the intestinal villi cannot be healed, cheating prevents individuals from absorbing essential nutrients. Since 70 percent of the immune system lies in your digestive tract, gut health needs to be a priority, not an afterthought.

You may lose support!

Friends and family are less likely to support you if they see you cheating. Why should they bother preparing gluten-free food or frequent restaurants with gluten-free menus if, in the end, you are going to eat whatever you want? A support system is vital to your success, so don’t let them watch you fail.

You could develop cancer!

According to a 2013 study conducted at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, noncompliant celiac sufferers (cheaters) with unhealed small intestines have a higher risk of developing lymphoma (a type of blood cancer). “Celiac patients with persistent villous atrophy—as seen on follow-up biopsy—have an increased risk of lymphoma, while those with healed intestines have a risk that is significantly lower, approaching that of the general population,” said Dr. Benjamin Lebwohl, MD, MS.

And a special thank you to my dear fellow CeD friend Diane for sharing the Celiac Project Podcast with me.

There is also a Celiac Project documentary, created by Michael, for which our group will sponsor a watch party in the future for everyone interested in attending.

There are so many other things I’ve learned and am studying further after listening to the 2 Guys Talking gluten free. I’ll be posting more in the weeks ahead to share but for now – signing off.

This is how we support each other, create a connection, and advance education!

Leek, Potato, and Cheese Galette

Ingredients

1 pie crust, rolled and unbaked – can purchase a frozen crust and do the recipe in a pie pan or use the recipe in the post for Extra-Flaky Piecrust

1/4 c olive oil

2 leeks, thinly sliced

3 medium Yukon gold potatoes, scrubbed/sliced thin

3 medium Russet potatoes, scrubbed/sliced thin

salt and pepper to taste

½ c cheeseI like either Gruyere, Feta or Cheddar

Process

Preheat oven to 425

Line baking sheet with parchment

Transfer pie crust to parchment

In a saute pan, heat 1 T olive oil and saute leeks until tender

Transfer leeks to a bowl and set aside.

Add 2T olive oil to a baking pan or sheet pan, arrange the potatoes in the pan slightly overlapping.

Season with salt and pepper, drizzle 1 T additional olive oil over the potatoes

Roast potatoes, 400 degrees, for 15 – 20 minutes until they are tender

Do not overload the pan with the potatoes,

small batches will prevent steaming and allow for some browning.

Transfer the potato slices to a platter to hold while continuing to cook the rest of the potatoes in batches adding additional oil as needed.

When all the potatoes are cooked assemble the galette alternating scallions, potatoes and cheese on the pie crust finishing the layers so that the final layer is potatoes.

Leave a goodly inch of pastry dough along the edges to allow for folding the dough over the layered items.

Roll the edges of the dough up over the edge of the layered potatoes.

Bake 45 – 55 minutes

Extra-Flaky Piecrust

glutenfreeonashoestring.com

Read the full recipe – search for extra-flaky gf sour cream piecrust

This piecrust recipe was shared with us from Sally who has been attending our monthly meet-ups. I decided to give it a try with my recipe for a savory galette.

Here’s the piecrust recipe:

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups all purpose gf flour blend
  • ¾ teaspoon xanthan gum omit if your blend already contains it
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 6 tablespoons (84 g) unsalted butter roughly chopped and chilled
  • ½ cup (120 g) sour cream full fat, preferably, chilled
  • Ice water by the teaspoonful as necessary

Instructions

In a large bowl, place the flour, xanthan gum, baking powder and salt, and whisk to combine well.

Add the chopped and chilled butter, and toss to coat it in the dry ingredients.

Flatten each chunk of butter between your thumb and forefinger.

Add the sour cream, and mix to moisten the dry ingredients with the sour cream.

The dough should be shaggy and somewhat crumbly.

Knead the dough together with clean hands until it begins to come together.

Add ice water by the teaspoon only if necessary for the dough to hold together.

Turn the dough out onto a sheet of plastic wrap, and press into a disk as you close the plastic wrap around the dough. It will still seem rough.

Place the dough in the refrigerator to chill for 30 minutes.

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F. Grease a 9-inch metal pie plate generously and set aside.

SMOOTH OUT THE CHILLED DOUGH.

Once the dough has chilled, turn it out onto a lightly floured piece of unbleached parchment paper. Sprinkle the dough lightly with more flour, and roll it out into a rectangle that is about 1 inch thick, moving the dough frequently and sprinkling it lightly with flour if it begins to stick.

Fold the dough over on itself like you would a business letter. Sprinkle the dough again lightly with flour, and roll out the dough once again into a rectangle about 1 inch thick.

Twice more, remove the top piece of parchment paper, sprinkle lightly with flour, and fold the dough over on itself like you would a business letter.

For Pies – SHAPE THE DOUGH INTO THE PIE PLATE.

For Galette – ROLL DOUGH OUT ON PARCHMENT, TRANSFER THE ENTIRE PARCHMENT PAPER AND DOUGH TO A FLAT BAKING PAN. Disregard the parbake.

  1. Roll out the dough into an approximately 12-inch round, about 3/8-inch thick. Roll the pie crust loosely onto the rolling pin and then unroll it over the prepared pie plate.
  2. Trim the roughest edges of the crust with kitchen shears. Lift up the edges of the pie crust gently to create slack in the crust, and place the crust into the bottom and up the sides of the pie plate.
  3. Tuck the excess pie crust under itself, and crimp the edge gently all the way around the crust by pinching the dough at regular intervals with one hand, and creating a crimped impression with the forefinger of the other hand. Cover the pie crust with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator to chill until firm, at least 30 minutes (and up to 3 days).

PARBAKE THE CRUST.

  1. Remove the pie crust from the refrigerator and unwrap and discard the plastic. Pierce the bottom of the pie crust all over with the tines of a fork.
  2. Place a sheet of parchment paper on top of the raw crust and cover the bottom of the crust with pie weights or dried beans.
  3. Place in the center of the preheated oven and bake until the crust is lightly golden brown on the edges, about 10 minutes.
  4. Remove the pie weights and parchment and allow the crust to cool before proceeding with your recipe.