Cheers! To a Healthy, Happy Gluten Free New Year!
Happy 2012! Here’s to YOU for being here and entering this New Year with me! I don't look back on what was, or what might have been, but I do look back at food. I can't help myself. It's fun to remember what we were eating this time last year! So many fun, delish gluten free recipes were added to the site last year! 4 Comments 
Instead of a “New You”, Let’s reNEW!
Healthy Gluten Free Living is Simple, Affordable, and Liberating! "New Year, New You", that’s the buzz this time of year when our attention turns to health and fitness. It makes sense. What better time to wipe the slate clean and start fresh than the beginning of a brand new year? Of course, here at GlutenFreeGigi.com, we promote healthy living on a gluten free diet year round! There is no magic start date, no potion or secret formula to get us there, and no unpleasant restriction to endure in the name of our good health. Healthy gluten free living is simple, affordable, and liberating! In this New Year, I’ll continue to show you how to make the most of living “free” all year long! For anyone living on a gluten free diet due to Celiac disease, gluten sensitivity or intolerance, or other food allergies, here’s the latest from Gluten Free Gigi’s gluten free recipe file. Enjoy! 
My healthier take on a Southern tradition: Twisted Hoppin' John Soup, naturally gluten free!
I hope your holiday festivities have been memorable so far, full of both treasured tradition and new experiences to bring you joy! The holidays this year held many new things for me, with traditions I've held dear for many years tucked in along the way, making for a magical Christmas. While I cherish tradition, I like to mix it up a little, too, just to keep things interesting, especially when it comes to food! I know you do too! That's why I'm sharing my version of a Southern tradition for New Year's Day... Hoppin' John. If you're not familiar with the dish or the reason behind eating it, here's the skinny... Dating back to the 1840s, your basic Hoppin' John consists of rice (click to see how to prepare perfect rice every time!) and beans, usually black eyed peas seasoned with some form of pork (ham hock, bacon, fatback), salt, pepper, onions, and peppers. There are as many variations as there are regions of the South! Served piping hot alongside some type of greens (collards, kale, cabbage, turnip greens, mustard greens, etc.) and cornbread, the meal is simple, delicious, and full of symbolism. That's right... symbolism! 
Merry, merry Christmas! After the busy weeks leading up to today, it's time to take a deep breath and relax. Get out the slow cooker for a simple meal that you can put on and leave to cook while you take a break from all the holiday baking. Enjoy this delish slow cooker meal in the quieter days ahead. Here's my simple Slow Cooker Pulled Pork BBQ recipe: 3-pound pork shoulder roast 1 large yellow onion, sliced thin 6 cloves garlic 1 bottle Heinz Chili Sauce 1/3 cup brown sugar (loosely scooped, not packed) 3 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar 2 teaspoons chipotle pepper, minced (with adobo sauce) 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper Place all ingredients in the slow cooker and cook on high for 4 hours, or on low for 7 hours. Remove roast from cooker, shred meat (two forks work well for this). Return meat to slow cooker and stir into sauce. Enjoy! 
Could Gluten Free Oatmeal Cookies really reduce stress?!
While writing this last installment for our mini-series on using our gluten free diet to naturally reduce holiday stress, I debated on whether to publish it or not. It's a touchy topic and some folks may disagree with me. Then, I reminded myself of my mission here at GlutenFreeGigi.com: To share my experience and knowledge to help you navigate your gluten free life with ease and confidence. That's why you won't see me promoting the latest diet fad or jumping on the bandwagon of the most recent food trend. That's not what this is all about. It's about finding answers and presenting them so you can make the best choices for YOU. You will find consistency and sound advice based in science. You can count on that. (You can also count on fantastic food and fun! There is absolutely no need for living gluten free to be boring or miserable!) We are all unique and there is no "one size fits all" when it comes to living on any special diet. I encourage you to take the information you find here and elsewhere and use it to make sound personal decisions for yourself. With that in mind, I'd like to share with you another way we may be able to manage our stress... Roasted Grapes ~ Simple, Affordable, Elegant Gluten Free Appetizer & Answer to Subscriber Question! 12/20/2011
 Simple, elegant, and naturally gluten free Roasted Grapes with Stilton You know how I love hearing from all of you, so imagine how thrilled I was to receive this note from Nicole in Austin, TX! I wrote back asking her if I could share it with everyone, and she graciously said "yes". Thank you, Nicole! Nicole wrote: Gigi, I love your site and your recipes, but are these the dishes you make at home when you cook for your family? I'm always curious about that when I read recipes online. :-) I'd really like to know what type dishes you will serve for Christmas. I would love some new ideas for easy and fast appetizers and snacks that are gluten free. Thank you for all your great information!! Nicole So, are the dishes I make for you the same ones I make at home? 
Gluten Free Magic 7-Layer Bars say "home" for the holidays!
Home For the Holidays ~ Gluten Free Style Welcome to this fantastic event, hosted by Shirley at gfe—gluten free easily! Shirley has gathered 25 gluten free foodies together to share favorite recipes that say “Home for the Holidays”. What fun, and what an honor to be part of this talented group! Thanks to Shirley, there are daily giveaways, too! There are nearly 100 prizes you can enter to win! Could it get more exciting?! YES! Each time you enter a giveaway on any individual site, you become eligible for the final prizes! Fabulous Final Prizes Grand prize: A top-of-the-line Vitamix blender! 2nd Prize: $150 Shopping Spree at Free From Gluten! 3rd Prize: A Giveaway Package from Caveman Cookies valued at $89! There are also three awesome prizes you can enter to win below. You’ll find those, along with ways to enter and more exciting giveaway details, after my recipe! First, I want to share some holiday MAGIC with you!  Dairy Free Butterscotch Chips 1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed 1/4 cup Earth Balance buttery spread (I use soy free) 2 Tablespoons dairy free "milk" (I use So Delicious coconut milk creamer, original flavor) 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract Before you begin, line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Combine all ingredients except vanilla, and cook over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes without stirring. Remove from heat, add vanilla, and pour onto prepared parchment-lined pan. Allow to cool to room temperature until mixture hardens. Cut into chunks. Store in glass jar, tightly sealed. These are terrific in my Gluten Free Magical Seven-Layer Bars!  Dairy Free Sweetened Condensed "Milk" 3 cups So Delicious coconut milk creamer 1 cup sugar Pinch salt 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, optional Combine all ingredients and cook over medium heat until reduced by just more than half. This takes about 30 minutes. Stir occassionally, and keep an eye on the mixture as it cooks. It should be gently boiling, but not boiling rapidly or trying to boil over. If it is, you're heat is too high; adjust accordingly. Makes about 1 1/2 cups. Store in a glass jar with tight-fitting lid in refrigerator for up to 1 week. Use in my Gluten Free Magical Seven-Layer Bars! 
We’re into the single-digit countdown, our ovens are working overtime, and the kids are out of school... Keeping anxious little hands occupied for an entire week as we make final holiday preparations can be a challenge! To help with that, I've got a beautiful boredom buster for you to try! Kids will love creating this crafty cookie project to display (and munch on!) on the holiday table. It's a little cookie candle holder that is almost too adorable to eat! But you can eat it, and it's gluten free (it's also dairy free, soy free, nut free, and egg free)! Get the kiddos and let's get creative in the gluten free Christmas kitchen... | 
 
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 Creating Clarity & Balance for Parents ~
Visit Debi, an Autism Specialist, offering a transformational system for children with ASD.  Give the most UNIQUE and HEALTHY holiday gift anywhere... Avocados! My friends at California Avocados Direct simply have THE BEST! !  Visit the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness by clicking here!archivesMay 2012 categoriesAll  |
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