Say hello to...chicken satay noodle salad.

My friend introduced this unique pasta dish to me when I was visiting her in California a few years back. I sort of forgot about it until my sister-in-law was visiting and is allergic to tomatoes, thus no tomato sauce for her. This recipe was adapted from Everyday with Rachel Ray.

Ingredients:

1 lb whole grain gluten-free spaghetti

1/3 cup smooth peanut butter

2 tbsp honey

1/4 cup warm water

1/4 cup gluten-free soy sauce

juice of 2 limes

1 tsp hot pepper sauce

1 clove of garlic, grated

3 tbsp of olive oil/vegetable oil

2 cup of chicken, diced

1 cup of spinach (optional)

1/3 cup carrots, shredded

4 green onions or broccoli, chopped

1/4 cup peanuts, chopped

2 tbsp cilantro, chopped

1. Cut chicken breasts into bite-size pieces and bake or fry.

2. Bring large pot to a boil, salt it, and add pasta. Once fully cooked, drain, rinse, and set aside.

3. In a large bowl, whisk peanut butter, honey, and 1/4 cup warm water. Whisk in hot sauce, lime juice, soy sauce, and garlic. Pour in oil in a steady stream, whisking to combine.

4. Add reserved noodles to sauce, and toss to coat.

5. Place noodles in 4 shallow bowls. Top with chicken, grated carrots, green vegetables, peanuts, and cilantro.

Say hello to...Butterfingers pure butter shortbread.

On the same note, Butterfingers pure butter shortbread are also melt-in-your-mouth cookies. Combine them with a hot cup of tea or coffee, and you won't be able to put them down! These were also brought by my wonderful sister-in-law from Australia :)

Say hello to...Eskal vanilla tea biscuits.

My sister in-law is currently visiting from Australia. She brought my absolute favorite melt-in-your-mouth biscuits from Australia; Eskal vanilla tea biscuits. I haven't been able to find them online in America but you can purchase them in Australia and the U.K.

Say hello to...H1N1 vaccine.

In case you were wondering, the Canadian Celiac Association has clarified that the H1N1 vaccine is gluten free. However, I have read that the vaccine with the adjuvent contains wheat germ. Allergic Living has cleared up the confusion by posting an article with the vaccine ingredients.

Say hello to...Chapman's ice cream.

On the topic of sweetness, Chapman's ice cream now has a gluten-free symbol placed on every item that is gluten-free. Stated on their site, "Chapman’s is proud of the fact that all our Original ice cream products in 2L and 4L line sizes are now gluten free so that the kid in all of us can enjoy a worry-free bowl of delicious ice cream. Look for the Gluten Free symbol." Now I know it's almost winter, but vanilla ice cream on that apple pie sure sounds good :) Look for these symbols:

Say hello to...gluten-free candy.

I'm not a kid and I don't have kids, but I sure enjoy eating candy. With halloween just around the corner, you may want to know which candies are considered gluten free. I stumbled upon Gluten Free Mom where she's listed all her candy research for us! Even if you don't celebrate halloween, you can still indulge in some treats :P

Say hello to...tasty tomato juice.

My new favorite vegetable quick fix:
Cut 3-4 ripe tomato's into smaller pieces and toss into a blender. Add 1/4-1/2 cup of water (add more water if they are not mixing well enough). Throw in 3-4 fresh basil leaves, a bunch of fresh or dried mint leaves, and fresh ground salt and pepper to taste. Makes 2-3 servings. Drink cold, and refrigerate remaining juice for up to 2 days.

Say hello to...Jelly Belly Jelly Beans.

I was definitely a candy girl growing up, and still haven't grown out of it. My mom came to visit me in Seoul and brought me 2 bags of Jelly Belly Jelly Beans. I was so excited to eat them, and even more excited when I found out that they were gluten-free. Mmm, they sure didn't last long!

Say hello to...The Wheat-Free Gourmet.

It's one thing to find a great gluten-free recipe online and another thing to actually get it to taste how it's supposed to. Gluten-free baking and cooking can certainly be tricky. I was surprised then to find The Wheat-Free Gourment, which is a workshop or cooking class that teaches you about devine gluten-free baking and cooking. Although I'm no way near Boulder, Colorado I'm pretty excited about this kind of course!

Say hello to...gluten-free treats.

I try to post my own recipes on Friday's, but have been too busy to try new ones! So...I have scouted out some recipes that I plan to try in the new future ;) These two photos are taken from my absolute favorite website, Elana's Pantry. Not only are Elana's photo's almost always mouth-watering, but the recipes themselves aren't too difficult to make. Cranberry Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies and Gluten Free Granola are waiting for you to try them out ;)

Say hello to...The Celiac Scene.

I stumbled across The Celiac Scene on the Canadian Celiac Society website. Some restaurants even bear the symbol of the Gluten Free Restaurant Awareness Program, assuring you that they are certified by the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG) of North America. Their website provides detailed city maps on locations of gf friendly restaurants, up-to-date information, and an opportunity to provide your own feedback on gf friendly restaurants. Feel safe eating out, while also enjoying a scrumptuous meal :)

Say hello to...Gluten-Free Cooking Spree.

Come hungry to San Francisco on October 30th to watch top chefs, doctors, and media members compete to make the best gluten-free dish, than leave full. This event is put on by the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) to educate chefs, doctors, and others on the gluten-free diet. Visit Celiac Central to see which chefs and doctors will be attending the event. Please support Celiac Awareness and share information on gluten-free chefs and their restaurants!

Say hello to...gluten-free restaurants in Montreal.

Ever been to Montreal, Quebec in Canada? It's the french speaking province of Canada. Rich in culture, with many things to see, Montreal is a vibrant city worth visiting. With the growing amount of gluten-free restaurants in the area, there is now a site that lists over 30 of these restaurants in Montreal and surrounding area. Check out RESTOMONTREAL site to view them.