Honey Glazed Holiday Brie Cheese

Honey Glazed Holiday Brie Cheese is naturally gluten free, and when cooked with goats milk brie it is also lactose free! It is sweet, but is a great alternative to all the cookies and baking most people indulge in over the holiday season! It is quick and easy to make, and the options for toppings are endless.

Day 5: 12 Days of Gluten Free Christmas Baking

Today I am taking a break from all the sweet treats. Many Christmas functions require appetizers and something more than cookies. People often forget about  the wonderful taste of brie cheese. I love cheese, but brie especially. It is sweet, gooey, and gluten free! This year I bought goats milk brie, so it was even lactose free! Its easy to make as well. I use a brie baker, however you can use any oven safe dish. The options and combinations are endless! You can bake it with whatever toppings you like. I like to keep it sweet, but red pepper jelly is also a delicious treat.

Honey Glazed Holiday Brie Cheese 

1 Round Brie Cheese
2 Tbsp Cranberries (Dried)
1 Tbsp Shaved Almonds
3 Tbsp Orange Flavoured Honey

Place Cheese in Brie Baker
Top with Cranberries and Almonds
Drizzle Honey on Top
Put lid on and bake at 350 Degrees for 15-20 Minutes.
Serve with crackers or bread


This recipe is super easy to make, which is great during the hectic Christmas Season! You can keep the ingredients on hand in case you get unexpected company, or want a change from all the holiday baking and turkey! It has big flavours. It is great to get something warm during the cold days of winter.



Day 1: Christmas Coconut Macaroons
Day 2: Gluten Free Rolled Vanilla Chip Cookies
Day 3: Gluten Free Gingersnaps
Day 4: Gluten Free Gingerbread Eggnog Donuts

See you tomorrow!
k.

Gluten Free Gingerbread Eggnog Donuts

Gluten Free Gingerbread Eggnog Donuts have a gingerbread base, with a delicious eggnog glaze! They are full of winter flavours and make the perfect snack or breakfast on Christmas morning! They have the texture of a cake donut, and are perfect for the Celiac in your home! 

Day 4: 12 Days of Gluten Free Christmas Baking 

Did someone say donuts? Oh that was me! I always run at the sound of donuts, especially the gluten free kind which are hard to come by! With a donut maker or mini donut pan, donuts can be enjoyed in minutes! They are really easy to make, and satisfy the craving for something sweet! Earlier this fall I made some wonderful Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Donuts. They had amazing flavour and texture so I thought I would adapt the recipe and make a Christmas themed donut. These Gingerbread Eggnog donuts did not disappoint! They have all the bold flavours of winter and are perfect for Christmas morning breakfast! The batter can be used for waffles as well. They are glazed with an eggnog sugar icing and will fulfill your craving for a sweet, sugary donut!

Gluten Free Gingerbread Eggnog Donuts

1 Egg
1 Tbsp Coconut Oil
1/2 Cup Brown Sugar

1 Cup All Purpose Gluten Free Flour
1/8 Cup Molasses
1/2 Tsp Cinnamon
1/2 Tsp Cloves
1/2 Tsp Ginger
1 Tsp Xantham Gum
1/2 Tsp Baking Powder
1/2 Tsp Baking Soda
1/2 Cup Egg Nog

Glaze

1 Cup Icing Sugar

1 Tbsp Egg Nog

1 Tbsp Rum 

Nutmeg

Beat together Egg, Oil, and Sugar. 

Beat in Flour and Spices.

Add Molasses and Egg Nog towards the end. 

Pipe into donut maker or mini donut pans.

If using donut pans bake at 350 degrees for 7-10 minutes

Let cool on wire racks.

Dip in Glaze, and cover in sprinkles. 

Christmas is about enjoyment and it is a time when it is acceptable to indulge in all the sweet treats you avoid the rest of the year! Even the individuals with Celiac Disease, or a gluten intolerance should be able to indulge in foods that they can no longer enjoy, instead of sitting back and watching everyone else. It can be a hard time of the year for people with intolerances. However, with the 12 Days of Gluten Free Christmas Baking I hope you can find some enjoyment in holiday goodies this year!

Day 1: Christmas Coconut Macaroons
Day 2: Gluten Free Rolled Vanilla Chip Cookies
Day 3: Gluten Free Gingersnaps 

Have a good day! See you tomorrow :)
K.

Gluten Free Chicken Fingers

These Chicken Fingers are gluten-free, healthy, and have the perfect mix of sweet and salty. They are baked, but still have the crispy coating as though they were fried. These chicken fingers make the perfect comfort meal, or appetizer for a party!

Every year time changes and I feel like I could sleep for a week. We get an extra hour of sleep for one night, and daylight begins earlier. However, I still struggle to function for the first few days. This week is about getting back into a daily routine! As the days get shorter it become easier to let routine slip away. Because of a few rough weeks my routine is long gone and I feel awful about it. When I have a normal routine I am more productive in school, I feel better about myself, and I am a genuinely happier person. Now that midterms are over I am taking some days to refresh and relax with my Mom before I have to worry about final exams and the term papers that are looming over my head. It is the perfect time to get back on schedule and to start living a healthy life once again! I am going to find the balance of school, healthy eating, working out, and studying that I had, but lost.

My favourite part about getting into a routine is getting my day planner organized. I need to know exactly where I have to be when, and when deadlines are coming up. I need to see where I have time to go to yoga, the gym, or take a nap. I need to-do lists, and organization. I thrive on organization, it is a calming experience to see how much control I have over my life when so many things seem out of control this time of year. Every aspect of my life is categorized and given a colour in my day planner. This way nothing gets forgotten and I can visually process what is a priority and what is not.

Before getting back into routine in full force I granted myself a grace period to eat the things I crave and catch up on my sleep. This time of year makes me want to curl up on my couch and relax with a cup of earl grey while the fireplace roars. My favourite thing about fall is comfort food! I find myself craving all my favourites from childhood, but this week my weakness was chicken fingers! It took me awhile to decide how I was going to tackle breading the chicken, but I managed to find a way that had flavour and made these chicken fingers as healthy as possible and gluten free!

Gluten Free Chicken Fingers

1/4 Cup Gluten Free Flour
1 Large Egg
2 Cups Gluten Free Honey Chex Cereal (Crushed)
1 Tbsp Parmesean Cheese
1 Tsp Oregano
1/2 Tsp Cayenne Pepper
10 Ounces Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts (Approx. 2)

Preheat oven to 425 Degrees. In one bowl beat the egg, place flour in another bowl, in a third bowl combine the crushed Chex cereal, cheese, and spices. Cut each chicken breast in 4 pieces. Dip the pieces in the flour, then the egg, and then the Chex, and place on a cookie sheet. Place in the oven and bake for 20 minutes, flipping half way. Each chicken finger is 2 weight watchers points plus and pairs perfectly with mustard! 

Cooking gluten free does not have to be difficult. You just have to experiment with the items that you have in the kitchen. It involves thinking outside the box. Cooking regular foods comes more naturally because it becomes a habit, you know what you need and what conventionally goes into what. You cannot think conventionally when you are cooking gluten free, you have to start combing the foods that you enjoy and be creative! I realize that not everyone enjoys cooking, or is creative in the kitchen, but do not let that discourage you from trying new things!

Remember that things happen and it can be difficult to stick with a routine. Life gets busy, people get sick, and sometimes you just cannot keep up. Try not to be to hard on yourself, and keep pushing along. When life calms down you will be able to develop a routine again. Just try to maintain a balance that keeps you healthy during the rough times, so you can thrive in the good times!

Enjoy the rest of your week!
K.

My World With Celiac Disease

I try to focus my blog on my life trying to eat healthy and gluten free. I share my newest recipes and my tips to live better. I have also shared my struggles of living a healthy life. But today I have decided to share a bit about my life with celiac disease and the struggles I have been having with it lately.

This is me

Having celiac disease is not always easy. Many people think "Cut out gluten, and you will begin to feel better!" That is not always the case. For me cutting out gluten is not enough. I also have to avoid dairy. I have to make sure I get an adequate amount of sleep so I do not put to much stress on my immune system, I have vitamin deficiencies and need to have my iron and thyroid levels monitored constantly. There are times when my stomach gets bad and I get very depressed or just want to stay in bed. Since coming in contact with gluten a few weeks ago I find myself still recovering. I do not know yet if this is because of the gluten, or if it is from the stress of school. But I do know that something in my body is not right. As soon as I eat my stomach begins to act up, and I could nap three times a day and still need ten hours of sleep at night. I feel like this has been a set back, but my body is telling me to take it easy, and that is exactly what I am going to do for the next few days. I sit and think about how I want to get back to prepping all my meals and working out everyday, but right now that is not a reality for me. I miss it, but I do not know how I am going to feel the next day or what I will be able to eat. Right now I am flying by the seat of my pants and trying to live as healthy as I can while struggling to get through a day.

The hardest part about not being able to eat gluten is that it is everywhere. I avoid wheat, barley, and rye. But it hides in so many other things. Sometimes you can be so careful but you still come in contact with it. It feels like gluten is everywhere, just waiting for an ambush like an army of party crashers. I find that now I just want to cook my own food so I know exactly what is in it. This takes away so much convenience. But it makes eating healthy easier and ensures that there will be no gluten hangovers.

 There is so much information available about celiac disease now compared to when I was first diagnosed. This makes things seem easier, but it can also be very overwhelming. A lot of the information is contradicting. At first I thought the new "gluten-free diet" fad would be great for people that HAVE to eat gluten free. But it has an awful stigma attached to it, and gluten free items that have hidden gluten are popping up everywhere. Monitoring has become much harder. Being gluten free is not a diet that I would wish on anyone. When you say you need to eat gluten free because you have celiac disease people give you a very confused look. Many people do not know what celiac disease is or its something that they have heard of because their neighbours sisters dog walker has it. Sometimes you get labelled as a picky eater, or someone following the newest health fad. This is not the case at all, and it infuriates me. I do not judge people who avoid peanuts, mushrooms, or any other allergen, so why do people on a strict gluten free diet get judged? This may not be the reality for everyone, but it is something I have seen.

I am going to give you a quick run down of how I explain celiac disease to someone that is unsure. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that attacks the intestine. The body cannot break down gluten and the small villi in the intestinal tract begin to die. Your body quits absorbing the nutrients that it needs to survive. If left undiagnosed, the lack of nutrients can begin to effect other areas of the body such as causing brittle hair and nails, yellowish skin, severe weightloss or gain, thyroid problems, or effect on anxiety and depression. Once someone is diagnosed with celiac disease they must cut out all gluten from their diet. They should get regular blood work done to ensure that they have the necessary vitamins and nutrients to live a healthy life. Even after going gluten free there still might be days or weeks where you are bloated, in pain, and feel exhausted. You also need to remember that I am not a doctor. I am simply sharing what I know about the disease and my experiences with it.

I have been very frustrated with being a celiac this week, and thought I should share a bit of the struggle. Everyone experiences it differently, but it can be reassuring to know that someone else is battling similar problems. Having a community to share stories, ask questions, and invite conversation is something I wish I had when I was diagnosed. Oh and I forgot to mention that most wines are naturally gluten free, so drink some vino and relax!

I will be back to healthy living and healthy eating this week (I hope) as school starts wednesday! I am so excited to share the delicious recipes that have been created over the last few weeks to ensure gluten free and healthy eating on the go!
Hope your enjoying this labor day long weekend.
k.

Three Goals for Motivation

School starts in a few short weeks and it is time to get back on track so I am prepared for anything that will come my way! Here are three goals that I have for myself and everyone else that is trying to live a healthy life!

1. Plan Ahead - I always find that I eat better if I take the time to plan my meals a few days ahead, find out their weight watchers points, and prepare everything I can in advance. This ensures that I know what I am eating and how many points I have left everyday. Cooking in advance prevents me from eating an unhealthy meal when I am in a rush. It also ensures that I know exactly what is in my food, so there is no chance of eating gluten.

2. Routine - While its nice to have days off, I find that I sleep in, lay around, miss meals, and generally do not do anything productive. To be successful at reaching my goals I need to have a routine. This involves getting up at the same time, eating breakfast, having healthy snacks, and making the time to go to the gym, yoga, or for a walk around the neighbourhood. I am a creature of habit. I like having my days schedule so I know exactly where I will be when. This way I can plan my workout and meals or snacks for when I have school or work. I included the name balance in my blog title because I believe that having a balance between school work, working out, spending time with friends, and making time for yourself is the most important part of living a happy and rewarding life. This is one thing that I need to focus on.

3. Change things up - Eating the same things everyday gets boring. I am going to try to make enough food that I do not need to cook everyday, but something that I can change up everyday and make it good. This is the same thing with working out. If I do the same thing daily I eventually get bored and quit all together. I will make a plan to alternate workouts and make sure I have extra time for some juicy hot yoga.

These are three key things that I need to do in order to stay motivated and reach my goals. I also need to make sure that I make time for the things I enjoy doing. Taking time for myself is one of the most rewarding parts of my day. I love to cook, I need to take the time to make dishes that I enjoy. Figuring out how to make them gluten free and healthy can be a challenge. But if it tastes good then it is incredibly rewarding!

The fruit and vegetable stands are full of delicious and fresh foods right now! Every time I go I find myself inspired with new idea and overwhelmed with all the possibilities! Last week I bought some eggplant and wasn't really sure what to do with it. After much research I tried something simple, and it turned out to be very satisfying! Later this week I'm going to try more experimenting and see what deliciousness I can come up with.

Tomorrow is jam and salsa day! I have never canned before, but I am so excited to try! I got some wonderful looking fresh peaches at the fruit stand today and they will be perfect for jam. There are so many possibilities with all of the fresh foods available. Check out my Rhubarb Muffins, and Cheeky Cherry Bread for some ideas!

Tonight is Sunday, and tomorrow is the start of a new week. A new week full of promise and possibilities. I am going to spend the evening enjoying a cup of tea and planning my meals for the week. I find writing on balance and elegance to be very rewarding, I am still very new to it and would love any feedback from readers (good and bad) so I can grow into a better blogger! My main goal is to blog more frequently. I do post yummy food ideas on my instagram between posts - feel free to follow me for more ideas @_kacimarie

Have a great week! and remember to plan ahead!
K.

Gluten Free Cheeky Cherry Banana Loaf

Full of fresh local cherries and packed with many healthy benefits! Cherries are a summer favourite and the texture and flavour of this cherry loaf will make you forget that it is gluten free!

The last month has been jam packed with visiting, travelling, and endless fun back home in Saskatchewan! The trip home was long overdue, I have not been back to Saskatoon for over two years. It was great to catch up with family and friends, and to visit all the places that I found comforting and that offered me a piece of silence when I lived there. It was busy, but I managed to eat healthy while away. I did not gain any weight. However, I did not lose any either. Now that I am back I can get back onto weight watchers and continue on my journey to a healthier lifestyle.


Before leaving for Saskatchewan my mom decided that we should take something to eat for breakfasts and snacks in the hotel. This was the perfect opportunity to create a healthy and filling loaf that was gluten free. I was so excited to use all the fresh fruits available to me in the Okanagan! My fruit of choice was cherries. Cherry season lasts from June to mid-July, but you can still find some in the grocery stores and at the fruit stands. If you get a chance, this is a great loaf and I definitely recommend trying it out!

Cherries are full of healthy benefits! They are a great antioxidant and will help keep you looking young and prevent against cancer and disease.  Cherries are jam packed with fibre and can help with weight loss, improve the quality of your diet, and boost the immune system to keep you healthy! Cherries naturally contain melatonin and help regulate sleep patterns, they are also a great source of potassium and many other vitamins! If this isn't enough of a reason to eat cherries I will remind you that they are low in calories and taste amazing! The best part of living in British Columbia is that cherry season comes fast and it lasts long enough to ensure that you indulge in enough cherries (guilt-free) until the next season!

Gluten Free Cheeky Cherry Banana Loaf

Loaf
2 Cups Gluten Free Flour
1 Cup Sugar
1 Tsp Baking Soda
1 Tsp Baking Powder
1 Tsp Guar Gum
1 Tsp Cinnamon
1 Tsp Nutmeg
2 Tsp Vanilla
3/4 Cup Soured Almond Milk
1/2 Cup Apple Sauce
1/2 Cup Coconut Milk Yogurt
1 Cup Banana
1 Cup Cherries

Mix all dry ingredients and wet ingredients separately. Place all wet ingredients in the blender (excluding the cherries) until smooth. Combine both mixtures and fold in the cherries. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes. While loaf is baking make the glaze.

Glaze

1 Tbs Butter

2 Tbs Corn Syrup

1 Cup Chopped Cherries

1/2 Cup Chopped Almonds

Boil down slowly and add water as needed to help the glaze boil down. I added rum at the end to add some moisture and flavour. 

I learned a lot about myself while I was gone. Going home made me realize that Saskatoon is not my home anymore. I made a good decision when I moved to Kamloops and I would not change a thing about my life today! I was a different person and believe that I have grown up since leaving. I truly believe that moving away is what helped me grow and change into the person I am today. For that I am grateful. People change and people move on, they leave their comfort zone and the challenge helps them become something great. People grow apart from the ones that they know, and the places that they call home. There is nothing wrong with growing and changing, but it is a easier process when you are surrounded by the ones who love you for who you are and not what you can do for them. I am deeply and truly grateful for my friends and family that give me support everyday to be the best person I can be. Thank you.

Saskatchewan's Provincial Flower

I hope everyone enjoys their long weekend!
k.

Zoku Gluten Free and Healthy Summer Slushes

I had a great find this week at a store in Kelowna! It was the Zoku Slush and Shake maker! It creates healthy slushes and shakes in seven minutes! From what I understand, the liquid in it freezes incredibly cold and then what you place in the cup freezes quickly. You keep stirring the fluid until it reaches the desired consistency. It is great! I have tried two slushes and it really does work in seven minutes. I was thinking that this will be a great way to change up my morning protein shake, however protein powder does not freeze very well because my first slush was a complete bust. However, I made one with almond milk and watermelon puree and it turned out perfectly! My only complaint about the Zoku product is that all recipes require blending first. I am not a fan of this and am going to try to prevent it. If I am going to take the time to blend a shake, I am not going to then place it in the slush maker, I will just drink it from the blender.

I am very excited to see what fun creations for healthy shakes and slushes I can come up with! This one was very easy. It was one cup of almond milk, and one cup of watermelon cut small. It had great flavour and was refreshing! The best part was that it was only one weight watchers point! It was completely quilt free

There are so many possibilities! I want to try making a slush with coconut water and cherries, as well as a milkshake with almond milk and cocoa. You can make them healthy and don't have to run to the store when you are craving a unhealthy treat! This is also the perfect solution to avoid dairy and still enjoy a shake! Zoku has other great products that I would love to try such as a ice cream maker, and popsicle molds.

The last few days have been relaxing. I have been swimming laps every morning at 6, and have been doing my best to eat healthy. Friday involved some wine tastings, so I am counting that as a serving of fruits (sometimes you just have to have a little bit of fun!). This week is filled with many more adventures in Kelowna, so I am going to have to get motivated on my class in order to enjoy the week!


K.

Healthy Gluten Free Camping Tips

I went camping this weekend with a group of great friends. It was awesome to get away, relax, and enjoy some fresh air! Everything worked out and we managed to get two sites that filled our needs. One had a great view, while the other was sheltered from the wind. My only exercise this weekend was the trek to the bathroom, but it was quite the trek! Summer as a student separates you from your friends. Everyone is busy, and after seeing someone everyday you may not see them for weeks or months. It was great to see everyone and enjoy some time together before life takes everyone their own way again. The hardest part about camping was packing healthy and gluten free food when the typical camping food is hot dogs with buns, and s'mores. The first step was deciding that it was not a weekend to eat junk. I knew that I would regret it later. After that it was easy to plan what to take.

Camping Food List
1. Fruits and vegetables - I bought the pre made veggie and fruit trays at the grocery store. This saved a lot of prep time and cut down on the waste. I took the veggies out of the tray and put them into a ziplock bag to save room in my cooler. I bought the fruit trays that were small so they would fit into the cooler as is. Fruit can be tricky because it tends to go mushy if left out to long, and spoils quickly. I selected the fruit trays with melon, pineapple, and strawberry. They lasted longer in my cooler and were fresh for the whole weekend. For a side with meals I bought the salads in a bag that come with all the topping in a separate bag. I separated the lettuce into two separate ziplock backs so there were no leftovers. Then to make the salad I just had to add the desired amount of toppings, shake, and serve.

2. Meals - For lunch and supper I took gluten free smokies and burgers, minus the bun. They were easy to make over a fire and would be eaten on a plate. After getting them home from the store I froze them so they would last longer, and doubled as a ice pack for the cooler. For breakfast I pre measured gluten free chex cereal into sandwich bags. I took almond milk because it doesn't have to be kept cold until opened, and the small cartons take up a minimal amount of space.

3. Beverages - To stay hydrated I took a full water bottle, as well as a four litre bottle of water. There was also water available at the site. Beer and juice is a staple of mine in the summer. I took New Grist Gluten Free beer and Clamato juice. I also took gatorade to replace any electrolytes lost in the sun (however, we unfortunately did not have the hot weather we were hoping for).

4. Snacks - I did not pack a lot of snacks because fruits and vegetables are one of my main snacks. I did take strawberry marshmallows to roast on the fire, and some cripsy minis. I also packed coffee creamer for my coffer, as well as some vegetable dip to change things up. I took some gluten free pepperoni sticks as well, I don't buy stuff like this often and they were a great treat!

Overall, the camping trip was a success. I feel that I ate healthy and managed to refrain from devouring any gluten in the form of a sticky, gooey, delicious s'more. Next time I would probably take egg whites for breakfasts, as well as some steaks or kabobs instead of a large number of smokies.

I am now heading back the Okanagan for a few weeks before heading back to Saskatchewan! I hope everyone has a great Canada Day tomorrow!
Safe Travels.
k.