Oatmeal and your February Celiac Events!

In case it wasn't painfully obvious, this Clevelander isn't too keen on the winter months. 

Besides the two, yes two, car accidents I've slid my way in too, the brisk winds and bitter cold don't quite agree with my toes or nose. (Not to mention what all this winter weather has done to the roof of my house! Apparently, I've been wishing a little too loudly for spring....last night it rained in my kitchen!) 

But whine as I might, winter isn't going anywhere quick. And it's high time I get used to it, right? Right! With that in mind, and in an effort to warm my frozen heart, I bring you one of my favorite Celiac treats. 

Hot Oatmeal. 

I can hear you dropping your cold cereal spoons from here. You can't be serious. Don't you know the gluten free mantra? No wheat, rye, barley, or oats! What are you trying to do, poison me?

Okay, I'll be more specific. Hot gluten-free oatmeal. 

I know what you might've heard, but the truth is oats themselves do NOT contain the gluten hazardous to us Celiacs. Oats are, however, often a victim of cross contamination as they're often processed in plants that handle glutenous flours. Also, many Celiacs report having digestion difficulties with oats, or stomach issues from eating too much oats (think several bowls of oatmeal). However, this is not related to a Celiac diagnosis (think of it as a kind of door prize, like your osteoporosis or vitamin B12 deficiency, you lucky thing you). 

What does that mean for you, you oatmeal loving Celiac you? 

1)If you haven't eaten oatmeal, introduce it back into your in small portions. 

2) Please, please, PLEASE only buy certified gluten free oats (Bob's Redmill, for example, offers a solidly GF oat). Quaker oats are NOT gluten-free. This goes for cereal bars, honey bunches of oats, and Famous Amos oatmeal raisin cookies. Oatmeal offered in restaurants serving breakfast isn't going to be gluten free, nor is the oatmeal your Aunt Sue uses to make her famous oatmeal cookies. Skip it. 

That said, hot oatmeal on a cold winter's morning (or evening) is perhaps one of my favorite post-Celiac discoveries. Warm, full of healthy carbs - the kind that lower cholesterol! - and oh so filling, I like to make mine with skim milk and frozen peaches. Or strawberries and a spoonful of authentic Ohio maple syrup. Or blackberries and a few pieces of dark, dark chocolate, if I'm feeling particularly decadent. 

What about you? What's your favorite way to dress a hot bowl of oats?

Now that I've got you running to the store, let me remind you that this Sunday February 8th,  Whole Foods on Chagrin Blvd, in Woodmere is hosting a gluten free Tour and Tasting for NE Ohio Celiac Support Group at 2pm. A short meeting will follow. Also! Serena of the gluten-free CO-OP (as explained here) will be there taking orders. Payment must be made at time of order. You may also contact Serena at Serena.Dorflinger@wholefoods.com. A list of GF Co-Op products can be found at the Garden Spot web address: www.gardentspotdist.com. The Co-Op is not affiliated with Whole Foods. 

Trisha Lyons requested that you RSVP to her by Thursday (oops sorry!!) at , but I'm sure if you get to her today, she won't bar you from gluten-free goodness. For more information please visit http://www.geocities.com/clevelandceliac/ or email Trisha at Clevelandceliac@Yahoo.com. 

Live too far away from Woodmere but still want to get in on the Gluten-Free action? 

The Greater Cleveland Celiac Association is having it's monthly meeting on the same day and same time! Join them at the Solon Public Library at 2pm for an afternoon of Celiac conversation about ingredients, label reading, and soup. Yes soup! Bring your favorite soup and soup recipe to share (if soup or chili isn't your thing, your are happily encouraged to bring side dish or salad...fear not, the Solon library has a microwave). 

RSVP Cindy Koller-Kass at glutenfree1@yahoo.com or check out the GCCA's website for more information!