Happy New Year!

The Board of the SGFA would like to wish all of our members and local supporters a very Happy 2009! Here is this week's round-up!

Articles & Information
A member recently passed on this interesting article about a celiac disease vaccine (nice to see that someone is working on this important effort!): Celiac Disease Vaccine Trials Slated for 2009

Some other sites you may find helpful:

GF Information

• www.glutenfreedrugs.com - Gluten Free Drugs - A source of information about gluten free drugs
  

Connecting with Other GF Folks

• www.GlutenFreeClub.com - Gluten Free Club - This is online club; there is a fee to join, but it looks interesting if you are looking to connect with other GFers around the world.
  
• There are also some great groups on Facebook as well.

Please send us any other sites that you think the group would be interested in! Or post them here - in the comments!

Board Member Ramblings
I am happy to report that I personally had a wonderful uneventful holiday season - complete with gluten-free scones (thanks to Pamela's Baking Mix), gluten-free cookies, an amazing gluten free pumpkin cheesecake and some great gluten-free bread both of which my sister-in-law made for me! How were your holidays? Any great recipes to share? Post them here!

One more reminder about the SGFA website/blog survey - please take a minute to provide your thoughts!

Looking forward to 2009 - meeting notices for the coming year will be posted shortly - we hope you will be able to join us!

Round-Up!

It's been a busy time for the Shoreline Gluten Free Association! Thank you so much to everyone who attended the holiday event on the 13th - we hope you enjoyed the cookies! Notes from the meeting will be posted shortly. The comments on this meeting were so positive, we will do something similar for Easter. Everyone went home with a huge assortment of cookies and a big smile. Dr. Leffler was very well received; he could easily have stayed all afternoon! Great crowd-- nice to see more than 40 people in attendance.

Restaurant Visits & News
Board on the Run
Our board members are always busy traveling the state to visit local restaurants serving up GF goodies. This week's recap comes from Laurencia:

Sybil and I took an impromptu field trip on Saturday morning to check out The "Natural Food Store" at 374 Main Street Niantic (860.739.9916 Toll Free: 866.242.8016). Located right on the main drag in Niantic with easy on-the-street parking, it appears deceptively small at first glance. Once inside, you realize that it is a fabulous find; one room chock-full of GF goodies including 3 full dedicated freezers. Many product lines that were even new to us! Knowledgeable staff who are willing to special order and are proactive about expanding this segment of their business.

From there we were off to "The Paperback" to celebrate the launch of their GF menu and found the place packed! Russell said that by midday, he had already served 8 tables with the new menu . I had the eggs benedict over a Gillian's muffin which I'm happy to report, rivaled pre-diagnosis brunch fare. Sybil had the vegetable soup and a salad which was wonderful as always.

Hats off to Russell and his on-going effort to continuously please his GF customers!

THE GFRAP MANUALS HAVE ARRIVED (01.02.09) TRAINING WILL START SOON. OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE 3-4 PLACES WITH GLUTEN FREE MENUS IN EACH TOWN. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER ON THIS PROJECT, PLEASE LET US KNOW!

More GF Pizza in CT!
Still Riding Pizza (http://www.stillridingpizza.com/) has partnered with local pizzerias and restaurants to serve a real, authentic gluten free pizza to Celiacs and wheat intolerant diners. This product is now being offered at Illiano's in Middletown. (534 Washington Street, Middletown 860-343-9244; & 404 South Main Street Middletown 860-346-5656)
FIELD TRIP ANYONE??? You may also purhcase it on line to enjoy at home. Factory is in Bridgeport, pizzas come in 9 and 12 inch sizes, overnight delivery.

Member Finds!
This week's round-up of GF finds from our members comes from Ellen:

• I read in my latest issue of vegetariantimes.com that they now feature an e-mail subscription for gluten-free recipes, check it out www.vegetariantimes.com/newsletters. I found quite a few yummy recipes for holiday parties. Bon Appetit!
• http://www.engineno6pizza.com/ - Engine 6 in Norwich has gluten free pizza, calzones, lasagna, breadsticks - you need to phone ahead as it takes a little longer. I’ve not been yet but a dear friend of mine and her two celiac sisters and Mom have given it 8 thumbs up!
• http://www.babycakesnyc.com/delivery.html - An amazing resource for special occasions (Kids Birthday’s) and holidays, shipping is a bit expensive but they are absolutely yummy. The blogs testimonies say that Babycakes cupcakes taste just as good as traditional cupcakes and are made with no refined sugar. They use agave for sweetener. Oh happy day!
• http://www.nicolescrackers.com/ - Nicole's Crackers were voted the best in Chicago by Chicago Magazine. Nicole's 15 fabulous flavors include: You Asked For Garlic, Chili Chocolate Day, All This And Martinis Too, and Heaven Is Lavender. Ask about our four gluten-free crackers. We ship all over the world – visit NicolesCrackers.com and order your crackers today. Fromage in Old Saybrook carries the Gluten Free line and they are to die for, the Tomato was absolutely amazing, reminded me of a thin crust pizza crust.

If you try out a member find, let us know what you think by posting a comment!

What want to hear from you!
To be sure that our blog meets your needs, please take a few minutes to complete our user survey. Your feedback will help us to determine how to best support you in all things gluten - free!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=9O6UpgVw8e85_2biVIXCjEsQ_3d_3d

Next Meeting: SATURDAY, JAN. 17, 12 NOON. WESTBROOK LIBRARY DOWNSTAIRS COMMUNITY ROOM. PARK IN BACK OF THE BUILDING!
"Bring Your Own Bowl" - a gluten-free soup luncheon with soup donated by Kettle Cuisine. Bring your bowl and your ears -- as we will also be having a speaker on "Hidden Gluten". Liz Comstock, Manager of Food Works, will be the guest speaker, helping us learn to find the hidden gluten in costmetics, vitamins, and other products. Come and enjoy some soup, bring a salad or dessert to share. We are looking for a source of bread/and or crackers for this luncheon? Any ideas??? RSVP necessary, supplies are limited. Free to members, $5 for walk-ins.

IMPORTANT UPDATE!!! HERE IS A HELPFUL LINK: go to http://www.glutenfreedrugs.com/ and print out the lists of prescription drugs as well as OTC products at Walgreen's and much more. Print out your own copies; we will be discussing hidden gluten in skin care, vitamins, and other products we use every day. All local pharmacies have been contacted and given this (and more) information!

Alex's First Gluten-Free Christmas

[Note: I am absolutely thrilled to be posting the first post from Liz, who is a Board member of the Shoreline Gluten Free Association - and a mother to a 9-year old little girl who was diagnosed with celiac earlier this year. Enjoy! -- Anne]

By Liz
To make up for dropping the ball on Thanksgiving (I forgot to make GF turkey soup and gravy for my 9 year-old daughter to bring to Grammie's for her first GF Thanksgiving Dinner--in my defense I did make a GF Pumpkin Pie!), I have vowed to make gingerbread houses with my girls. It is not enough that I have never made gingerbread houses; now I have to figure out how to make them GF!! But, I love a challenge, so I think I will try this recipe. There are also some recipes for GF cookies included there. I will probably just use white frosting (Duncan Hines is GF) as the glue and skip the caramel thing (I've never even seen a candy thermometer!) I will use a cardboard milk carton on the inside attached by the frosting to make it sturdy. Stop & Shop brand gum drops are GF, as are their chocolate chips, and I will order some Candy Tree licorice online.

I will also be ordering some adorable GF/Celiac Awareness apparel from the website below to give to Alex for Christmas. They are part of the Painter's Kitchen Designs by Karina. Not only does the Gluten-Free Goddess create amazing food and take beautiful photographs, she also produces really cool affordably priced GF/Celiac Awareness clothing. I especially like the "gluten-free princess" hoodie for her, and the "gluten-free kids rock" for me to show my undying support for my little gluten avenger.

And the pièce de résistance for Alex's first gluten-free Christmas…The Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker by Jakks Pacific, which is available online and in stores. I already ordered this, and I can't wait to give it to my daughter! She saw a commercial for it and said she wanted to get. I replied, "I don't think you will be able to use it-I'm sure it has gluten in it." But it turns out some of the mixes are GF! She was pretty discouraged, and now she will be totally surprised and delighted!

I do hope you all have a Happy & Safe GF Holiday!
Liz

Paperback's Gluten-Free Menu!

Check it out! The breakfast and lunch menu is available and the dinner menu will follow suit soon! This will be the first restaurant to undergo the training necessary to receive official certification as a GIG gluten-free restaurant! One establishment at a time and our beautiful shoreline community will be a mecca not only for antiques, recreation and shopping but gluten-free dining! Chain restaurants like 99 in Cromwell, Outback in New London, Ruby Tuesdays in Waterford already have some gluten-free choices.
Be among the first 25 to pay your dues at the meeting on the 13th and receive a GIG GF dining card and your SGFA membership card! WOW!