QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Q1. Beth, Until your newsletter today, I had never even heard of coconut flour. Could you give us a little sample recipe in one of your columns for something easy that we could try it out? I have been cooking gluten-free for 7 years and was really surprised at this "new" info. Also, have any of the fast food companies that have products with wraps ever mentioned or been contacted about using corn wraps (instead of wheat). Like the McDonald's chicken wraps, or Chick-Fil-A's wraps. It would give those of us who travel something to buy besides salads. Any thoughts on how we could get this word out? Thanks for all the great newsletters. They are so helpful. Jane Baity

A1. Dear Jane,
I’m delighted you are enjoying our newsletter.  We published a recipe for chocolate cupcakes with coconut flour a while back .  It was so yumy that I reprinted it below.  We also carry a cookbook using coconut flour (#956067).  Coconut flour is amazingly high in fiber so definitely important for someone on a gluten-free diet.  As for the wraps, I would contact the various companies at their headquarters with your suggestions. 
Chocolate Cupcakes with Coconut Flour
3 Tbs. reduced fat butter or coconut oil
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 Tbs. low-fat coconut milk
3 eggs
¾ cup sugar
¼ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. vanilla
¼ cup Bob’s Red Mill coconut flour, sifted (#956067)
¼ tsp. baking powder

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Lightly oil 7 muffin cups. 

Combine butter and cocoa powder in a small saucepan.  Set over very low heat and blend well as the butter melts.  (Mixture will be very thick.)  Remove from heat and let cool.  In a medium bowl, mix together coconut milk, eggs, sugar, salt and vanilla.  Add cocoa mixture and use electric mixer to blend well.  In a separate bowl, combine coconut flour with baking powder and whisk into cocoa mixture.  Beat until smooth and there are no lumps remaining.  Pour batter into prepared muffin cups.   Bake 16-18 minutes.  Top with frosting of your choice if desired.  (I like them without frosting.)

Makes 7 cupcakes. 

Q2. Hi, I noticed in your last newsletter that someone asked about gluten-free veggie burgers. I buy Garden Burgers Soy Burgers; they have soy, which is not right for everyone’s diet, but they are wheat/gluten free. My middle daughter, age 6, has celiac disease and for a time this past year we were vegetarian (we still eat fairly little meat) and I found these. They have not bothered her at all and the rest of us love them. By the way, there are TONS of really good veggie burger recipes with lentils and even split peas. Almost any good vegetarian cook book will have a recipe and substituting gluten-free bread crumbs or gluten-free flour makes an easy veggie burger recipe. Brooke Fredericksen, Ph.D.

A2. Dear Brook, Thank you so much for these suggestions. We’ve had so many replies to this question. The choices are great. Beth

Q3. Dear glutenfree, Do you know of a gluten-free source of masa flour for making corn tortillas? Jennifer Barker

A3. Dear Jennifer, I believe most masa flour is gluten-free. I would just check with the manufacturer to be sure there is no cross-contamination in their plant. Beth

Q4. Hi Beth, I just read your newsletter and I have great news about a new product from Amy's Kitchen. It's called the Bistro Burger, and it's vegetarian! I had recently requested information from Amy's Kitchen about any new products they develop, and had just barely received their newsletter announcing this and other new products. So for your reader, Teri, and you, they say the Bistro Burger and their other new products should be on the shelves of stores (that carry their products) soon. I haven't been disappointed yet with Amy's Kitchen's foods, and I will probably love this one too! Sincerely, Valerie Lawson

A4. Dear Valerie, Thanks for your comments. There you go, readers- more suggestions for vegetarian burgers. I had no idea there were so many available! Beth

Q5. I just wanted to confirm that Red Robin Restaurants do have a gluten-free menu. I dined there last week. The hostess needed to speak to the manager to obtain the menu, as she was not aware of the menu. The manager personally brought the menu to my table. Service was excellent. Jean Lofaso

A5. Dear Jean, Thanks for letting us know. I carry one of their menus in my pocketbook but haven’t had a chance to eat there. I will try them, post haste! Beth

Q6. Gentlepeople, Being as lucky as I am, I am a Celiac, and I also have Dermatitis Hepitaformis. I do not eat "out" very much. I am a 74 year old female and 12 years of the above make me very very cautious. Early last evening, my best friend, Sandy and I went out to the "International House of Pancakes." I feel that I am very safe with an omelet, making sure I am very selective with the ingredients and going to the same few restaurants is a good bet. What an "overwhelm" when I read that they are using "Wheat flour batter in the omelet thus saying the omelet puffs up better." It did stipulate this on the menu but the waiter was really on the ball to tell me this "up front." I can honestly say that I probably would have missed it on the menu. I am so very careful after all these years but THIS REALLY BLEW MY MIND. I just had to let you know. I am sure you ALREADY know this, but I did not, so, I am spreading the "news." The restaurant WILL make the omelet WITHOUT the wheat addition, but FIRST you have to know they are putting it in there. Thank you for reading my e-mail.

A6. I did blow it once many years ago before they included this information on their menu and before we had networks like this one to inform other celiacs. Thanks for sending up another caution flag about IHOP. Beth

Q7. Hi, Thanks for your wonderful newsletter. Is Soy Protein Isolate gluten-free?Sincerely, Steve Haekler

A7. Hi Steve, Yes, Soy Protein Isolate is gluten-free. Beth

Q8. Hi, I have a question about my granddaughter who has celiac. Are there special shampoos and conditioners for celiacs? It's strange to think of external products that may be harmful to people with celiac disease. Dealing with diet was enough as far as I am concerned. This seven year old is also an insulin dependant diabetic. As such, since she's been diagnosed with celiac and on a gluten-free diet she has an insatiable hunger which compounds the diabetes problem. Now washing her hair is in question. Anything else? Are there glutens in toilet tissue? Help. -Ken

A8. Dear Ken, Unless one has Dermatitis Herpetiformis, the skin form of celiac disease, there is no need to be concerned about shampoos and conditioners. The only problem is when gluten is ingested. Therefore she should be careful not to get shampoo in her mouth when she washes her hair and she should check the ingredients listed on any chapstick or lipstick she uses. Otherwise skin creams, lotions and shampoos are fine. As for her insatiable hunger, you might want to talk to a dietitian about healthy snacks that are filling and are easy on blood sugar levels. Best of luck, Beth