Nesting :-)

[SkyBlue4]

So I have one week til I can begin my gluten-free lifestyle and I cannot wait. My endoscopy is (FINALLY!) coming up next week so I've put it into high gear and have begun overhauling my kitchen. 

 

I've cleaned out a cabinet that will be dedicated to my gluten-free food (I live with gluten consumers).

I have purchased new spatulas, spoons, etc.

I have a new colander and cutting board.

I've cleaned my toaster oven as well as my large oven.

I thoroughly cleaned out the utensil drawer (amazing how many crumbs fall in there!)

I have a separate sponge for any hand dish washing. 

I've thrown out any gluten spices and condiments (that the kids will not eat).

I have bought some gluten-free products such as crackers, bread, pasta, as well as new condiments that will be marked "gluten-free".

I found a new home for my bread maker (boooo!)

I cleaned my refrigerator thoroughly and threw some stuff out.

My pans are stainless but I will replace my cookie sheets.

I educated the family on celiac disease and cc.

I then ordered chinese food for the last time and bid it farewell (I'll pay for that later :-).

 

Am I forgetting to do anything????

[WinterSong]

Off the top of my head:

 

I would get a new set of Tupperware to be dedicated gluten-free, especially if your current Tupperware has scratches on them. 

 

Did you buy a new bread maker or are you using an old one?

 

You don't need to throw away your cookie sheets. Use parchment paper on them. A lot of gluten-free cookie recipes will suggest using it anyway since gluten-free cookie dough can be rather sticky. And it makes for an easy clean up.

 

I don't have a shared kitchen, but one of my friends uses those circle stickers that you get at the dollar store to clearly mark foods that are gluten-free. Just an idea 

 

Glad you're excited to start your new lifestyle!

[captaincrab55]

SkyBlue,   Please educate me, as to cleaning a Toaster to make it Gluten Free???

[glutenfreeliac]

 I am loving that you ordered your last Chinese meal, so to speak. I did the same thing. The one thing I absolutely miss -- more than bread -- is greasy, guilty, horribly-bad-for-me Lo Mein. Even though it made me sick every time, it was my secret guilty pleasure food. Someday, I'll figure out how to make it gluten-free. Yeah, I can make it now, but I can't *quite* get the same flavor profile. Maybe I'm not adding enough bad for me stuff???

 

(Also PF Changs has great gluten-free Chinese food.)

[Adalaide]

SkyBlue,   Please educate me, as to cleaning a Toaster to make it Gluten Free???

 

It's a toaster oven, those are easy to clean. Relatively anyway. Toasters can't be.

 

Sounds like you're getting ahead of everything. I do agree on the storage containers though, unless you use glass like Pyrex or something. A pretty significant number of us here (with shared houses) use ones with red lids to distinguish them as different from the rest in the house. If your already use the red lid ones in your house, you can make blue your gluten free color for storage. Or whatever works for you.

[SkyBlue4]

Off the top of my head:

 

I would get a new set of Tupperware to be dedicated gluten-free, especially if your current Tupperware has scratches on them. 

 

Did you buy a new bread maker or are you using an old one?

 

You don't need to throw away your cookie sheets. Use parchment paper on them. A lot of gluten-free cookie recipes will suggest using it anyway since gluten-free cookie dough can be rather sticky. And it makes for an easy clean up.

 

I don't have a shared kitchen, but one of my friends uses those circle stickers that you get at the dollar store to clearly mark foods that are gluten-free. Just an idea 

 

Glad you're excited to start your new lifestyle!

 

Forgot about Tupperware! Thank you. And stickers are a great idea and would be easy for my younger kids to identify.

 

No, I gave the bread maker away. Still have to buy another.

 

SkyBlue,   Please educate me, as to cleaning a Toaster to make it Gluten Free???

 

It's a toaster OVEN. I cleaned it and will use aluminum foil to prevent cc.

 

 

 I am loving that you ordered your last Chinese meal, so to speak. I did the same thing. The one thing I absolutely miss -- more than bread -- is greasy, guilty, horribly-bad-for-me Lo Mein. Even though it made me sick every time, it was my secret guilty pleasure food. Someday, I'll figure out how to make it gluten-free. Yeah, I can make it now, but I can't *quite* get the same flavor profile. Maybe I'm not adding enough bad for me stuff???

 

(Also PF Changs has great gluten-free Chinese food.)

 

Lo Mein is my absolute favorite! I will definitely try PF Changs. Thanks for letting me know.

 

It's a toaster oven, those are easy to clean. Relatively anyway. Toasters can't be.

 

Sounds like you're getting ahead of everything. I do agree on the storage containers though, unless you use glass like Pyrex or something. A pretty significant number of us here (with shared houses) use ones with red lids to distinguish them as different from the rest in the house. If your already use the red lid ones in your house, you can make blue your gluten free color for storage. Or whatever works for you.

 

That's a good point. I might be better off simply storing leftovers in a glass or ceramic bowl with a cover. I love the color coded lid idea though!

[KCG91]

To save money when replacing my stuff I collected empty glass jars (but binned the lids and used cling film to cover them) instead of tupperware. A matching set of brightly coloured stuff would be prettier though and more obviously gluten-free if you have kids too I guess. 

[w8in4dave]

I have always used tupperware for flour and such. But for some reason I have always put it in a plastic bag then in the container. So when I went Gluten Free I threw the old flour away and I scrubbed the container really really good, then I put the gluten-free flour in a zip lock and put it in the container. Easy peazy!  It is a lil harder than you think , but it can be done. Your on the right track! I love the parchment idea!! 1st I seen that! I bought a new pan and I came home from some where and hubbs had some Breaded fish sticks on it! Sigh!! 

[SkyBlue4]

To save money when replacing my stuff I collected empty glass jars (but binned the lids and used cling film to cover them) instead of tupperware. A matching set of brightly coloured stuff would be prettier though and more obviously gluten-free if you have kids too I guess. 

 

Good idea. I like saving money where you can. Replacing all of this stuff is quite and expensive!

 

 

I have always used tupperware for flour and such. But for some reason I have always put it in a plastic bag then in the container. So when I went Gluten Free I threw the old flour away and I scrubbed the container really really good, then I put the gluten-free flour in a zip lock and put it in the container. Easy peazy!  It is a lil harder than you think , but it can be done. Your on the right track! I love the parchment idea!! 1st I seen that! I bought a new pan and I came home from some where and hubbs had some Breaded fish sticks on it! Sigh!! 

 

That's funny! I can see my husband doing that. He means well but I actually think he'll be harder to "contain" than my kids when it comes to cc. 

[love2travel]

One more thing - if you have an electric can opener, clean the mechanism well.

All the best as you begin your journey to renewed health!

[SkyBlue4]

One more thing - if you have an electric can opener, clean the mechanism well.

All the best as you begin your journey to renewed health!

 

Thank you!

And yes, I did think about that. I don't have an electric opener but I have a large manual one and I am considering getting a new one to keep in my cabinet. I cannot believe I am saying that though- I swear I have dozen can openers in this house. Where do they all come from?!

[moosemalibu]

To save money when replacing my stuff I collected empty glass jars (but binned the lids and used cling film to cover them) instead of tupperware. A matching set of brightly coloured stuff would be prettier though and more obviously gluten-free if you have kids too I guess. 

That is such a good idea for saving money and you're recycling.

[Adalaide]

Thank you!

And yes, I did think about that. I don't have an electric opener but I have a large manual one and I am considering getting a new one to keep in my cabinet. I cannot believe I am saying that though- I swear I have dozen can openers in this house. Where do they all come from?!

 

I have my own separate can opener. As long as it has been well cleaned, using one that has been around shouldn't be a problem. But if you've been wanting a new one, now is your perfect excuse!

[SkyBlue4]

What do you think about cookie cutters? 

I have collected quite a few over the years and just hate to toss them all. Do you think they can be salvaged safely? 

[psawyer]

What do you think about cookie cutters? 

I have collected quite a few over the years and just hate to toss them all. Do you think they can be salvaged safely?

They are similar to knives. Like any metal utensil, clean them judiciously and then continue to use them. Do not worry if there is a rolled edge--that part will never come in contact with the dough.

[SkyBlue4]

They are similar to knives. Like any metal utensil, clean them judiciously and then continue to use them. Do not worry if there is a rolled edge--that part will never come in contact with the dough.

 

Fabulous! Thank you