gluten-free loving kindness

lee's rendition of william & claudine

This weekend my dear friend Lee married a lovely fella named Dave. Their ceremony was moving, and their reception was stylish, fresh and and full of love. The radiant bride had considered every detail, delighting all of their guests. 

About a month earlier, Lee had made a gorgeous wedding cake for Bill and I. This was a delivery on a promise that she had made to me many, many years ago. When she announced that she'd make me a gluten-free wedding cake. I'd had to remind her that I didn't even have a boyfriend at the time. 

The cake was presented at a house party we had weeks after we were wed. It was spectacular - and delicious, seriously impressing all of our guests. Lee had made the cake pictured on the right panel of this blog for my 40th. Our friends still talk about that cake. The girl knows how to bake. I was so moved by the love that Lee had put into this gift for us. 

Back to Lee & Dave's wedding. The dinner plates are being cleared,  when a young man places a chocolate cupcake in front of me. I looked up at him and say "Oh, thank you but I can't have that" - practically waving it away. He asked if I was the lady who ate gluten free. I said I was, and remembering Lee's attention to detail, I thought that perhaps there was some fruit put aside for me. Nope.

gf cupcake photo courtesy of Sharon :)

Not only was this cupcake for me, it turns out that the bride had baked it herself. It was made from the gluten-free batter from the wedding cake that she had made for us just weeks before and frozen in anticipation of this evening. I could have wept. 

"gluten free gift" was given it's name because I often think that the most profound acts of kindness I have experienced have been related to people taking care of me with food. This was a gift, and a memory that I will always cherish as part of Lee & Dave's beautiful wedding. Grazie mille Lee!

gluten free pizza is delivered everywhere

I opened our mailbox one night a few weeks back to find the expected stash of flyers for local pizza delivery. Normally I don't even give them a second glance. Their coupons hold no value to my celiac self. But this time - one caught my eye... and then the next. 

To my amazement 3 out of 3 of these pizza chains were offering a gluten-free pizza. Does this mean I'll never have to endure another outting where I'm not the only one shirking the sacred bread-like triangles with stringy cheese? 

Hard to say. Regardless of how popular our diet is becoming with the fast food market (buns on burgers? Oh happy day!)...How safe do you feel ordering a gf pizza from a fast-food establishment, where in all likelihood your pizza is being made by a high-school student for minimum wage? Will your pizza pie be put on the floured counter or tray? Will they spread the cheese on with floured hands? Will they know what celiac disease means, and how important it is to have safe food?

I have eaten said pizza. It's a crap shoot. First time, no problem. Second... mamma mia. I'm more likely to eat take-out pizza vs delivery because I can look the person who made my pizza in the eye and say: If you don't think you can make it without making me sick I'll respect you for saying so. Oh, and I'll try not to barf outside your entrance (not that I would barf... but I like to make it tangible for them:)).

I'm not suggesting you do - or you don't order gf pizza. I'm am suggesting that we use discretion, and let the operation know that there are those avoiding gluten - and those that can't touch the stuff. I'd like them not to use the term gluten-free pizza too lightly. Just sayin'. 

lonely gluten free moments - that don't need to be

Ok, I know that this image of my brother's dog has little to do with gluten-free anything... but what illustrates sadness like the big brown eyes of a golden retriever puppy?

I've been thinking about the situations in which I haven't felt so full of bravado about living with celiac disease. Examples might include:

• The Awards Dinner - last minute work commitment with no time to prepare. Preset dinner serving over 500 people in a room so big you have no idea where the food is arriving from. Even the vegetables are floating in some kind of "sauce".
  
• The Road Trip - nothing but the same crap highway food for 16 hours. You are tired, hungry and have eaten nothing but potato chips. Being stuck in an airport is a close tie.

Life will deal you some bad days that can't always be avoided... but some situations are made bad, not from lack of planning - but from lack of sensitivity:

• The Dinner Party. You've advised... but they didn't get it (or want to). You find yourself staring at an empty plate.
  
• Ordering In. Everyone is hungry and there is a decision to order take-out. Your needs are diminished with a comment like - "don't worry, I think they make a salad". Meanwhile you watch you friends drool over pizza and lasagna.

What would be really sad, is if we actually thought that such people were our friends. I'm rarely hurt by people's thoughtless behaviour twice... because I don't tolerate it any more than I do the gluten!

Living WELL on a gluten-free diet has a lot more to do with sharing food with people that you enjoy being with - than finding a replacement recipe for cinnamon buns. I'm rarely sad about my diet - and am constantly reminded of how lucky I am to have good friends who consider me as they'd consider themselves. 

May the new year ahead be full of feasts with your real friends.


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invited for gluten-free dinner

www.claudinecrangle.com

You've just been invited to dinner. If you are going to the home of someone else for the first time, you know there is a conversation ahead of you. If you are lucky, the host is already well versed in the language of gluten-free... and those two little words will suffice. 

Ideally it is you accepting the invite, giving you the opportunity to clear your throat and drop the bomb. But how about when you're partner comes home to tell you that the boss has invited you both over to dinner? 

The call will need to be made. Once the conversation has been had around ingredients, I will typically ask if I can bring something. I assure them that it needn't be complicated.  

Of course, at this point I find myself wondering if they are already wishing that they hadn't invited me. Then it occurs to me that if it's too much for them, I don't want a second invite anyway. 

Moving along... when I arrive I usually make for the kitchen and have a chat/review of what's cooking (more of a "how can I help" interaction). The goal being to assist both the host and myself and alleviating the stress that comes with wondering if they put worcestershire sauce (malt vinegar) in the dressing or bouillon cubes in the soup. Hanging in the kitchen also gives me the opportunity to show my appreciation for their special consideration of my particular needs.

Good news: future invites are a sign that all went well - and each visit becomes more natural and enjoyable for everyone.

When we invite others over, my first question is usually whether there is something our guest doesn't eat. I'm setting precedent for when they reciprocate :)

Thanks to our amazing friends for the many delicious dinners we enjoy in your homes - one of my greatest joys (if you'll pardon the expression) is breaking bread with others.

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40 year gluten-free anniversary

mmmmm...... cake!

This year marks my 40th year on a gluten-free diet. To put the "gift" part in perspective for you I was severely ill for a year and a half, malnourished with broken bones and considered to have cystic fibrosis. When my diagnosis was finally delivered to my parents, it was as "very good news". 

But that, is not the real reason I see this as a "gift". The real gift comes from what life delivers alongside through the kindness of others.

Friends have kept rice bread in the freezer for me.

They tell me without having to be asked that all of the ingredients were checked before they serve me anything. If they aren’t sure they call me before dinner – or hand me something for ingredient approval before incorporating it into a meal.

I have had coworkers surprise me at the office with gluten-free birthday cakes. See that gorgeous cake to the right? My friend Lee made that for my 40th. The one in image above was made by Saskia for my 35th. Cake is a big deal. My mother still bakes me a special cake for most occasions.

Loved ones have showered me with gluten-free affection. They have chatted with the chef on the phone before making reservations…ensuring that I would have a fabulous and stress free experience.

When living in Italy, families that knew me started keeping gluten-free pasta on hand so that I could stay for dinner at any time.

One very dear Italian friend liked the challenge of making the perfect gluten-free pizza crust, and would surprise me with handmade gluten-free ravioli. He would spend hours experimenting – saying that the joy on my face was totally worth the effort.

One friend  always splurges and buys me the most decadent gluten-free treat she can find when she invites me over for tea. She takes it as a personal challenge to find me something new.

I'm constantly receiving emailed articles and being updated on gf products found in stores. On more than one occasion I have found treats on my desk or in my mailbox.

People are given another unique opportunity to show you how much they care about you. They know that your diet is not always easy. They know that their efforts will be more appreciated by you than by anyone else. Why would they go to the bother of baking a cake for someone who can get one anywhere? 

This, my gluten-free friends is what I mean by gluten-free gift. When I tell people about how lucky I am, they've asked "How did you get to have such good friends?"

Today, I can truly say that I'm a lucky girl in more ways than one... for those of you who don't feel the same - take heart, I didn't always feel this way either. More to come...

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