Comments on Gluten-Free Girl: how connections led to chocolate chip cookies

I'm also very sensitive to wheat/gluten too. I've ...

2008-04-09T04:32:00.000-07:00

I'm also very sensitive to wheat/gluten too. I've never been officially diagnosed either. However, I did some research regarding my heart condition I've had since birth and found out that wheat/gluten sensitivity is extremely common. Anyway, I saw your posting regarding chocolate chip cookies that are made with teff flour. I just wanted to post about a wonderful baker whose gluten/wheat-free cookies I just bought and tried yesterday. We ordered her Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies and they are AMAZING!! Seriously, I also have to admit to them also already being almost gone too! ;) I don't eat a lot of desserts because of being sensitive to wheat. I admit to having become frustrated with my lack of options, but it's been possible for me to have the pleasure of meeting this young woman who is a professional baker and also wheat/gluten-free too! I also want to add that she's such a wonderfully sweet person!! : ) I can't say enough good things about her. Here's a link to her website for more information. She bakes ALL of her desserts with fresh ingredients and from scratch too! Her name is Sunshine and she makes items especially for those of us on special diets such as (gluten/wheat-free, lactose intolerance, vegan, and/or vegetarian) she even has a cookie recipe for children/adults who are allergic to peanuts as well. She also makes various breads and cakes too! I'm so excited to be eating my first birthday cake in over 10 years soon because of Sunshine.

http://www.sunshinesbest.com/

I'm also very sensitive to wheat/gluten too. I've ...

2008-04-09T04:29:00.000-07:00

I'm also very sensitive to wheat/gluten too. I've never been officially diagnosed either. However, I did some research regarding my heart condition I've had since birth and found out that wheat/gluten sensitivity is extremely common. Anyway, I saw your posting regarding chocolate chip cookies that are made with teff flour. I just wanted to post about a wonderful baker whose gluten/wheat-free cookies I just bought and tried yesterday. We ordered her Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies and they are AMAZING!! Seriously, I also have to admit to them also already being almost gone too! ;) I don't eat a lot of desserts because of being sensitive to wheat. I admit to having become frustrated with my lack of options, but it's been possible for me to have the pleasure of meeting this young woman who is a professional baker and also wheat/gluten-free too! I also want to add that she's such a wonderfully sweet person!! : ) I can't say enough good things about her. Here's a link to her website for more information. She bakes ALL of her desserts with fresh ingredients and from scratch too! Her name is Sunshine and she makes items especially for those of us on special diets such as (gluten/wheat-free, lactose intolerance, vegan, and/or vegetarian) she even has a cookie recipe for children/adults who are allergic to peanuts as well. Finally, she makes cakes and breads too! I'm so excited to be eating my first birthday cake in close to 10 years because of Sunshine!!!

http://www.sunshinesbest.com/

New to your blog and saw some comments about choco...

2008-04-08T19:12:00.000-07:00

New to your blog and saw some comments about chocolate chip cookies. My daughter has Celiac and we use Annalise Roberts book, Gluten-Free Baking Classics for all of our baking needs. Her recipe for chocolate chip cookies is fantastic -- dare I say better than the gluten ones (a little lighter). They also received a rave review in Gourmet mag. All of her recipes are incredible -- cakes, muffins, biscuits, cookies, etc. It's available on Amazon. I don't even mention that they're gf. Her book is a life-saver for my little 5 year old.

For Theresa- Little things do make a big differenc...

2008-04-02T10:50:00.000-07:00

For Theresa- Little things do make a big difference in baking. Muscovado sugar is a much better binder than dark brown sugar. It is worth seeking out. Ivory Teff flour can be purchased from the Teff Company online.

The only other thing I've discovered about baking is that using previously frozen butter will make cookies spread. I only use fresh butter and let it soften, do not melt it before mixing it with your other ingredients.

If you try again with the ingredients listed- it should work like a charm. The cookies will have a sweet nuttiness- the ground flax seed meal does add that, and of course walnuts do, too.

Don't be discouraged!

I made the chocolate chip cookies over the weekend...

2008-04-01T08:14:00.000-07:00

I made the chocolate chip cookies over the weekend and I have to say mine weren't the greatest. They were very dark and spread out flat all over the cookie sheet into one big cookie! I used dark brown sugar because I couldn't find Muscovado anywhere. I used Teff flour that I found at the health food store - I didn't know there were different kinds of Teff flour? It looks like whole wheat. Also used ground flax seed. The texture was very grainy/nutty. When I brought them into work in a baggy they just fell apart into cookie crumbs. Any suggestions out there?

Just wondering if Ruth the "CCCC" is using Ivory T...

2008-03-31T08:32:00.000-07:00

Just wondering if Ruth the "CCCC" is using Ivory Teff flour. There is also brown Teff, and there is whole grain Teff, which is brown as well. I bake with Ivory Teff flour. It is not as white as white flour, but certainly in league with whole wheat. I believe that the Muscovado sugar darkens the dough more than the Teff. I've been baking since I was a kid- and I'm in my mid-forties now. I've experimented with most of the alternative flours and nothing works like Teff if you are gluten-free.

I'm working on pie crust now. I just made my first crust that did not need eggs to hold together. The main ingredient was Teff flour, of course. Sure it is slightly sand (think Pecan Sandies- remember those cookies?) but it has properties that no other gluten-free flours do.

I'm glad you like my dough... let me know if you do discover an alternative to Teff.
Cheers and happy baking- Nina

After weeks of poking around blogs and websites i ...

2008-03-30T23:20:00.000-07:00

After weeks of poking around blogs and websites i was so inspired that I decided that Shauna's will be my first post ever.

I do not have celiac disease but I have many of the symptoms that celiacs suffer from. I confess that until reading this blog i had no idea that celiacs suffer from the terrible itchy rashes. I feel for those of you who have it. I'm allergic to poison oak and i grew up in the woods so i had it all the time and often woke with blood under my nails.

i gave up wheat and dairy after i developed hashimotos (thyroid disease) and rosacea and just plain got sick of being sick all the time. My life changed. I could sleep, I woke clear headed and perky, my skin was great and my joints felt great...and the bonus was that i shrunk--I was no longer so "puffy."

however, I have fallen off the wagon many times much to my regret and mostly because i LOVE to bake! So, finding blogs like yours are real life motivators. thank you shauna for your site and all of you for posting.

But my name is not chocolate chip cookie connoisseur for nothing. I'm obsessed with finding the perfect recipe. I made ninas cookies tonight and while i really like the recipe (the dough is delicious!), I was wondering if other people find teff flour grainy (also darkens the dough)? Anyone tried a different flour that still makes chewy cookies? I love that the recipe has flax seeds in it. Makes me feel almost virtuous.

btw, i chop my own "chips" making a mix of 1/2 bittersweet and 1/2 semisweet. you can't beat great chocolate!

Ruth

Darn! I was just visiting my mom in Seattle and pa...

2008-03-26T21:30:00.000-07:00

Darn! I was just visiting my mom in Seattle and passed up going to Cafe Presse. That salad sounded amazing! I was curious (as I am pregnant as well - congratulations BTW!) about the aioli. I have been craving it on roasted potatoes, but I was told to stay away from raw eggs. I have a friend with organic free-range chickens, so I usually make it with those eggs. What's your stance? Thank you! Sarah

I love this community. Thank you so much for shari...

2008-03-25T08:27:00.000-07:00

I love this community. Thank you so much for sharing your stories. Never having suffered from DH, I didn't realize what misery it was until I met Booth. And now that I've heard your stories, too.

I've learned so much.

Thank you, everyone.

Hi Shauna and The Chef:Congratulations on adding t...

2008-03-21T03:55:00.000-07:00

Hi Shauna and The Chef:

Congratulations on adding to your family. I'm sure the little one will be growing up with finely-tuned taste buds. :)

I'd like to add my voice to those saying that likely Booth is suffering from another allergy that he hasn't identified. In my case it is avoiding both gluten and dairy that keeps my hands clear. I can have the tiniest bit of dairy but more than that makes my hands crack immediately, and the gluten causes the terribly itchy rash that makes life miserable.

Perhaps you might remember(from my blog) that I spoke about being on strong steroid creams for around 45plus years before I discovered a cure after reading your website and deciding to remove gluten foods as a test. It was the happiest "accident" of my life.

I clearly remember the intense itching and lack of sleep. What used to work for me was using a topical "numbing lotion" marketed as a first aid or insect bite remedy. In Japan we have one called "Una Cool" that works very well. It contains menthol as well as the numbing agent. It stings when it goes on but is entirely worth it to get a little relief. You might need to re-apply it fairly often during an acute attack. I wanted to share this tip as it made sleep possible some nights when nothing else worked.

Good luck to Booth and all the people commenting about their skin problems. I empathize most deeply; may you all get clear soon.

Hi, I am a lurker on your blog. I just got diagno...

2008-03-20T09:09:00.000-07:00

Hi, I am a lurker on your blog. I just got diagnosed with celiac after a stomach biopsy a month ago.

good blog. being gluten free isn't that hard so far, i think perhaps because i feel so much better when i don't eat it. chocolate chip cookies are a problem for me. i have just been substituting 1/2 teff and 1/2 buckwheat flour for regular flour and it works pretty well.

i basically gave up trying to eat gluten free bread because i haven't found one that is really bread, per se, and i realize that i would rather have rice or some sweet potatos anyway.

i am just blathering now but i love reading your blog, just to know that you are out there "doing the deal", as they say...

Shauna,It is good to hear how you were able to hel...

2008-03-19T15:40:00.000-07:00

Shauna,

It is good to hear how you were able to help your friend Booth. As you probably remember from our support group meeting, many of my patients went for a long time (until they saw me) before getting a useful diagnosis. Some of them got a lot better on a gluten-free diet, but a few find that it is not enough. That persistent rash could be another food allergy. I see that quite frequently. Usually a little fine tuning is all the person needs to get back to 100% healthy. As always, thanks for writing a great blog and educating people everywhere you go.

Hope to see you again soon.

I just Love the Internet and how we can all share ...

2008-03-19T12:20:00.000-07:00

I just Love the Internet and how we can all share and help each other... Thank you for your contribution!

I made Nina's cookies this weekend for my boyfrien...

2008-03-18T18:33:00.000-07:00

I made Nina's cookies this weekend for my boyfriend. They were a huge hit! We both loved the chewy texture and had a really hard time letting them cool enough to get firm before we ate them. We used dark brown sugar so they still had a bit of the molasses-y flavor but they turned out much darker than the cookies in your pictures. Many thanks for the wonderful recipe!

I brought some to work for two celiac co-workers and was declared "Holy Mother of Baked Goods"! Now my office manager and laboratory technician know where to go to find your wonderful recipes: )

Thanks for sharing!
Carole

I was diagnosed with celiac disease one year ago. ...

2008-03-18T16:37:00.000-07:00

I was diagnosed with celiac disease one year ago. I am 48 years old. I was on so many medications for my ulcerative colitis, arthritis, creams for my rashes etc etc etc. My doctor was on vacation during a particularly terrible flare-up. I had a different doctor look at me, introduced himself, really listened to my symptoms and said "you have celiac disease". He explained it somewhat. Told me there was very little information available, but there was "some" on the internet. Within a week I was feeling better than I had ever felt. I was hospitalized at 6 weeks old and it was diagnosed as lactose intolerant and ulcerative colitis. I feel free! I am not totally better - yet - but know it will take a while to undo the damage and I am realistic that some of the damage is permanent. All I know is that I am glad that my doctor was on vacation! He has since embraced the diagnosis, somewhat, but isn't totally satisfied yet! Give him time! I love your website. It gave me hope when I had none. I am a single mother of three children. We are all eating gluten free - because I am not a short-order cook! Your recipes have put a smile back on my 16 year old twin boys faces! They were missing some of the sweets. I've learned to use herbs through this site as well. Thank you so much. In my area of the US (midwest) there is very little available in stores and the doctors in my area have no clue. I have showed them many websites and asked them to become educated so they can help others who are needlessly suffering!

First, you're right: the recipe rocks. I made the ...

2008-03-18T12:05:00.000-07:00

First, you're right: the recipe rocks. I made the cookies last night and they are absolutely delicious. With that chocolatey praise out of the way, I commend you on a fantastic post about the impact we can have on others when we speak frankly about our conditions. Like you, I usually don't announce to people that I have fibromyalgia, but I also don't hesitate to speak openly about it if the subject comes up - with friends or with strangers. Thanks for reminding folks that it's ok (heck, better than ok, try terrific!) to speak openly about their experience.

Thanks, Nina, for the recipe. They are some of th...

2008-03-18T02:26:00.000-07:00

Thanks, Nina, for the recipe. They are some of the best GF cookies I've ever made. Even my non-GF husband thought they were good ... and he expects a lot out of a cookie. (I cut back the sugar by 1/2 cup and found them plenty sweet enough. Someone mentioned Agave syrup. How could all that liquid be added to the recipe?)

Shauna, if with a bit of instruction your friend can make cookies that taste like these ... drop by our place any time your in the neighborhood!

Great to hear of a table-side diagnosis, or at lea...

2008-03-17T18:38:00.000-07:00

Great to hear of a table-side diagnosis, or at least, suggestion thereof.

DH is rarely the first symptom that patients with celiac come to their doctor with, but since almost nothing else causes it, it usually shouts out the diagnosis, but not the eloquence of the culinary treatment that Shauna prescribes.

They're a great example, these cookies, of culinary medicine: fabulous flavor folded into great health.

Warmly, and keep up the great work,
John

Thanksssssshttp://www.theabout.netbb

2008-03-17T18:33:00.000-07:00

Thankssssss

http://www.theabout.netbb

zShauna,"Congratulations"~ about "little bean"... ...

2008-03-17T16:10:00.000-07:00

zShauna,

"Congratulations"~ about "little bean"... you are such an inspiration to me, realizing all things are still possible! May you and the chef have many more blessings to come.

I believe I might of started with "tropical sprue", while living in the South Pacific for eleven years. I do think my pregnancy triggered my "celiac"...
almost like getting gestational diabetes, but it didn't disappear after the birth. It wasn't until three years later, it was confirmed twice by a simple blood test that I indeed had "celiac sprue". Oh well, if that's my only problem then I am doing better then most!

A great product for "celiacs" is the calming lotion and the super sensitive lotion by California Baby. I also believe in unscented goat's milk soap. It helps to balance the skin's own pH level. Goats are grass fed and by chemistry more alkaline.

I have personally realized it's more then avoiding "gluten"; it's balancing one's pH level in what I eat, drink, and apply to my body.

Good Luck,
Danielle

My daughter Thanks you and Nina for these wonderfu...

2008-03-17T14:56:00.000-07:00

My daughter Thanks you and Nina for these wonderful Chocolate Chip Cookies! At 5 she doesn't want fancy food... she wants the same food she used to eat... and I want foods that all the kids will eat and LOVE. We are farely new to this GF world and I use a lot of mixes, I am slowly learning to bring in my own flour combos. Baby steps... that's what its all about. On another note, I am fairly confident I also have celiac... I am debating whether to just go on the diet with my daughter or get tested first. If the tests are often WRONG... then what is the point? My daughter's first test when she was 9 months old was negative. Now she is finally healthy, but it took 5 years to figure it out. My youngest is 3 and has recently started with vomiting after eating, complaining of tummy aches and having bathroom issues. Maybe our whole house should be GF and not just K3. I enjoy reading your blog and hearing not just your story but all those that share on your site.

Cheers!- Jamie

More DH comments (and THANK YOU for mentioning it)...

2008-03-17T13:48:00.000-07:00

More DH comments (and THANK YOU for mentioning it). After first going GF the rash improved within a few weeks, but then started to flare up much worse. I even had to go to the emergency room twice because my legs would swell up and I was so miserable I thought they might be able to help. No creams or antihistimines seemed to help and my doctor and I were apprehensive about Dapsone. It is now about 15 months of GF and things are 95% better.

I think some of it was mistakes about what had gluten (had to call my chapstick company to find out that the vitamen E was from wheat oil), and others was not speaking up clearly enough when others wanted to prepare food for me (you literally have to watch them prepare the meal and explain not to use that butter, cutting board, etc). Iodine did make it worse, so I avoided seafood and salty foods.

Those with DH are said to be more sensitive to gluten so have to be extra careful about contamination, shampoos, etc. Speak up for yourself ("yes, I really am that sensitive") and double check EVERYTHING. Ice packs and baking soda baths soothed my outbreaks when they were bad.

Also, as a resource, someone in the UK started a website: http://www.dermatitisherpetiformis.org.uk/ that might be helpful. Wonderful recipe resources on the web of course! Thank you Shauna. I'll try to have a sense of humor about answering questions about what happens if I get glutened, I'm usually very embarrassed about A RASH. Excited to get to wear short sleeve shirts again this year, I didn't expose my arms or legs outdoors ONCE last year :(

Thanks again and TAKE CARE everyone!

~Michelle

Just made these cookies, they are the best ever! I...

2008-03-17T10:32:00.000-07:00

Just made these cookies, they are the best ever! I have not worked with Teff before, what a gem! I am going to make them again this weekend when I go visit my brother in VA, who is also a celiac. NINA IS BRILLIANT and featuring a recipe from a good friend, well what a nice idea.

You always write so lovingly about the world. Do y...

2008-03-17T09:57:00.000-07:00

You always write so lovingly about the world.

Do you think the reason that so many Celiacs believe it's a disease has to do with how often it's misdiagnosed? I know that the diagnoses process can usually be the most painful, once you know though, the journey can be strange but rewarding and many Celiacs have become empowered to help others (such as you have). I think those uncertain years (and depending on the severity of the diagnosis process) can have a powerful effect on the way people think about their bodies.

Celiacs are definately on my mind a lot lately. I work for a social networking site, Zeer, that is about to launch in late April/May. We are a product review & ratings site and right now we specialize in food products. We also have food communities. I've been trying to figure out how to make the community as helpful as possible to all food communities, including Celiacs. Though my journey began when I was at my old job (a travel company and I did a lot of research on traveling with food allergies) working for this company has really put me in touch with struggles of Cecliacs and other people with food intolerances.

It's funny, once you fall in with this community (whether you're researching it or have a loved one diagnosed or are Celiac yourself), you can't help but have a new lease on life. Celiacs have to be some of the strongest, most inventive, understanding people. I think once people glimpse a Celiac life, they can't help by want to share the experiences with others and try to improve the conditions for all people who love food :D

OMGosh, I didn't know there were so many that suff...

2008-03-17T08:39:00.000-07:00

OMGosh, I didn't know there were so many that suffered from DH.

Here's my DH story. I was about 6 months pregnant with my third child. I beleive this is the point where my Celiac was "triggered". I had always had "intestine" troubles, but chalked it up to IBS. I developed the rash which eventually covered my entire body, of course being pregnant, they would not give me anything, except the reassurance that it was a normal part of pregnancy and would go away after I delivered. I was miserable, the itching was so intense. I tried every cream on the market & OH yes, the Aveeno bath....I cried alot, would not go out because I was embarrassed by the way I looked. Thank goodness my family was supportive. I delivered, six weeks later the rash is still there. My OB/GYN didn't know at his point and sent me to a dermotologist. I was in the office all of 3 minutes, he told me it was eczema & gave me creams. None of which helped.

Then like a miracle I happened across an article in a parenting magazine about a mom and son who had Celiac. Every symptom matched mine including the skin rash. I phone my family doctor immediately & asked for a blood test. It came back positive and he sent me to a GI who did the biopsy. I was so excited for a diagnosis, however the biopsy came back fine. I had done so much research on the Celiac since reading the article, that I truly wanted to have it, so I would know what was wrong with me! He sent me to another dermatologist. He took one look at me and said I know it's NOT ecezema. Luckily he was familiar with Celiac and DH. He did some biopsy's and they came back positive for DH. Yeah, a diagnosis! My rash was so bad that he put me on Dapsone. To take this you have to be closely monitored by a doctor. I immediately went GF. In about 1 week the rash started to disappear & the itching was lessened. I continued the Dapsone until I was pretty much clear, then went off of it. Now, I'm just completely GF. I do have a patch on my right leg, right about my ankle that flares up. I have a prescription cream that I use on it when it does. I have to be very careful in reading ingredients not only on food, but also soaps, shampoos, make-ups, lotions, etc. It was hard to get used to at first, but know I feel so much better, I would never go back to gluten or wheat!

Thanks also for what you are doing. Celiac awareness has come such a long way since my diagnosis and that was in Jan of 2004!!!!

Lisa
www.glutenfreelicious.blogspot.com