QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Q1. Hello! I love your newsletter and it has helped me out tremendously. My eight-year-old daughter was diagnosed with celiacs disease about two years ago. She also has had Type 1 diabetes since the age of four. Since reading your last newsletter, I have been panicking about your response to the question about Coke products. You stated that there were only four gluten-free Coke products. We had been allowing her to drink Diet Coke as an alternative for her diabetes. If Diet Coke is not gluten-free, could you please recommend another safe "diet" alternative. We could very much use your help, as her last blood test came back higher. Thanks so much! Denelle Klosterman

A1. Dear Denelle, I AM getting up there in years and my memory is not was it once was. However, I don’t recall ever saying there were only four safe Coke products. It’s pretty common knowledge that all Coke products are gluten-free. So your daughter can continue to enjoy Diet Coke. Sorry for any confusion. Hope that helps. So glad you are enjoying our newsletter. Beth

Q2. Hi there, I'm wondering whether any manufacturer makes a gluten-free product similar to Pepperidge Farm goldfish, my 18 month old son would love them? Thanks Heidi

A2. Dear Heidi, I think a number of gluten-free companies would like to make a gluten-free goldfish product. However, to date, I am not aware of any product like that. Beth

Q3. I do have one question for you. I have always loved to have margarine with my potatoes, vegetables, rice, and pasta. However, I think I read somewhere a few years back that margarine was a no-no for me, so I started to eat butter instead. My cholesterol is suffering as a result. Do you know of any margarine product that I can eat that is safe for Celiacs? Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated! Thanks! Jackie MacDonald

A3. Dear Jackie, I have not found any problems with margarine. They all seem to be gluten-free. I think there were rumors a while back that a couple of ingredients in margarine (beta carotene and annatto coloring) might be suspect. I think that rumor has been dispelled. Personally, I like the Earth’s Balance non-hydrogenated spreads. They are healthy and very low in cholesterol. Beth

Q4. Thank you so much for your continuous advice on how to lie a life without gluten. Are Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi Gluten free? What about Dr. Pepper/Diet Dr. Pepper? –MK

A4. Dear MK, Yes, they are all gluten-free so drink up. Beth

Q5. Hi, I really miss perogies! I had them all the time as a child. Are there any companies out there that make frozen gluten free perogies or do you have a recipe for them? Thanks! Karen Goldschmidt, Sewell New Jersey

A5. Hi Karen, When I read your e-mail, a bell went off in my head. I recalled filing a recipe for gluten-free perogies in my database. It turns out it is a Chebe recipe and we carry the mix on our web site. It’s item #956118.

Dough: 1 package (7.5 oz.) Chebe mix (#956118) 1 cup grated cheddar cheese 2 eggs 2 tablespoons oil 1/3 cup water

Filling: 2 medium or 3 small potatoes ½ medium onion, diced 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese

With a spoon blend Chebe mix in a bowl with 1 cup grated cheese, eggs, oil and water. Mix well with hands for 5 minutes or until very smooth and well blended. Spray two large sheets of plastic wrap with nonstick cooking spray. Place ball of dough in center of first sheet. Cover with second sheet of plastic wrap. Flatten dough and roll out with rolling pin.

Boil potatoes until soft.
Sauté diced onions until brown.
Mash potatoes, add sautéed onions and 1/2 cup grated cheese.

Cut dough into 5 inch circles. Place ~1 tablespoon of filling into each circle of dough. Fold over into semicircles and crimp edges tightly. (I use a "dough press" that I bought at a housewares outlet. The set of three usually sells for $5, but I got it on sale for less than half that!)

Drop pierogies into a large pot of boiling water with a little oil to prevent sticking. Boil for ~3 minutes or until they float. Remove from pot.

You can eat them right then or freeze them to eat later. I prefer to deep fry them in a wok until golden brown, puffed up and crispy. I eat them plain, but you can add sour cream if you like.

Makes 8 pierogies.

Happy gluten-free Baking. Beth

Q6. Thank you for your informative newsletter. I have learned much from it. My question is about Glutamic Acid - an ingredient in a food supplement. Is it "off limits" as its name would suggest? Thanks, Pam Calabrese Northampton, PA

A6. Dear Pam, Glutamic Acid is a form of flavor enhancer that is in the Monosodium Glutamate family. The jury is still out on whether it is healthy to ingest MSG, although it is believed to be gluten-free. Beth

Q7. I have tried several times to get someone to tell me if any of the denture adhesives have gluten . They never answer any emails I send to the company. Do you know how to get an answer on this? I have dentures and I'm on a gluten-free diet along with several allergies, of milk,eggs,and soy. Thanks

A7. It has not been easy to find an answer to your question as there is not much information available. I did reference to the following being gluten-free: PermaGrip Denture Adhesive and Fixodent Denture Adhesive. I hope that helps. Beth