Old Foods You Miss And New Foods You've Discovered

[nvsmom]

It is the holidays and my thoughts turn to food!   I've been gluten-free for a couple of years now and the holidays got me thinking about what foods I miss (it isn't many) and what new foods I have discovered.

 

I miss my Grandmother's sweet dough cinnamon buns the most.  I have experimented in my baking and come fairly close to replicating them but it is not quite the same.  If I think about them I can remember the smell, taste and texture perfectly. MMMmmmm.

 

I also miss really good beer. I used to enjoy heavy beers like stout.  Green's gluten-free beer is the best gluten-free beer I've had so far, but I miss a micro brewed stout or seasonal beer.

 

I've discovered more foods than I've lost. Going gluten-free and dairy free forced me to find new foods that my boys would like.

 

Coconut flour - I love coconut flour. It is heavy but there is so much flavour and nutrition in it.  Coconut milk and cream... and coconut yogurt.  I wish we could grow coconuts up here.

 

I also use a lot of flax, chia, and hemp in my baking. My desserts are almost nutritious. LOL

 

My appreciation of eggs also grew.  Best breakfast food around IMHO. Nuts are the centre of one meal a day too.

 

I've learned how little gluten is actually required in a good meal.  Honestly, I don't miss wheat. I just miss convenience foods when I'm busy or traveling. That's it.

 

Anyone else?  

[mbrookes]

The thing I miss most is being able to eat fried foods out... (Popeye's fried chcken!!!!!!)

 

I have learned to love a bunch of new vegetables and have learned new ways to fix old favorites.....(Spicy roasted brussel sprouts!)

 

I have been gluten-free for almost 7 years, so I probably don't really remember how a lot of things really tasted. I do know there is no substitute for phylo pastry.....(baklava!!)

 

All in all, I love food and certainly love being healthy, so I'll just keep on keeping on.

[hrenee101]

I've just been recently diagnosed and i've also had to give up dairy. I miss dairy products so much more than I miss gluten, especially Hershey kisses!!!! I also miss my friends cookies that she makes for the holidays. This is going to be my first Christmas gluten free and i'm excited to see what I can create this Christmas!! 

[BlessedMommy]

I miss fig newtons a lot. I also miss having a good pizza. Being both gluten and dairy free, it's a challenge to make pizza. One thing that I miss, is being able to eat other people's cooking. I would like to find a celiac who would cook dinner and invite me over! It would be great to be able to eat something made by somebody else and not worry.

 

Going gluten free has definitely widened my horizons. One food that I make now that I never used to is sushi! (probably technically California Rolls, since I make them with veggies and rice only) So easy and delicious!

[beth01]

I miss fig newtons a lot. I also miss having a good pizza. Being both gluten and dairy free, it's a challenge to make pizza. One thing that I miss, is being able to eat other people's cooking. I would like to find a celiac who would cook dinner and invite me over! It would be great to be able to eat something made by somebody else and not worry.

 

Going gluten free has definitely widened my horizons. One food that I make now that I never used to is sushi! (probably technically California Rolls, since I make them with veggies and rice only) So easy and delicious!

I need to do that. I first had sushi a year ago, only had it once but loved it. Having soy problems make it hard to go somewhere even if you didn't have to worry about cc. I live in a smaller area though and some of that stuff is hard to find.

I miss things that I think I don't need to miss, I just need to learn how to make them lol. I miss fried wontons, deep dish pizza, and subs. I loved me some Subway.

I have discovered almond milk lol. I was never a milk drinker until my diagnosis. Now it's like Frank's Red Hot " I put that sh*t on everything"

[BlessedMommy]

Sushi is super easy if you have a sushi mat. I got one for only $3 at the Oriental store.

[SMRI]

I miss most of the junk food I ate, donuts, caramel rolls, that kind of thing. We used to have donuts on Sunday morning.  It was something my parents did when we were young and we just continued that.  I'm not sure what I'm going to do about our annual Christmas tradition of caramel rolls while opening gifts.  I REALLY miss just being able to stop anywhere for food--especially traveling.  I plan ahead as much as possible but it's not always possible to have food for meals when you are on the road for several days at a time.  I miss oatmeal for breakfast. I'm hoping that when I can start eating that again that I don't have issues with it.

 

I haven't really found anything new that I like.  Other than not eating the above, I still mostly eat the same meals as pre-diagnosis.

[SMRI]

For Pizza, I had a pretty good pizza the other week.  It was thin crust so you have to like that, but it was Bob's Red Mill crust mix.  It was spread thin, baked on a cooking stone.  It tasted just like "real" pizza if you like thin crusts.  Pre-bake the crust and then top and warm again.  I think she said the recipe made 2 pizzas but thin like this you can get several out.  She divided the dough and froze what she was not going to use.  She rolled it out on a Silpat, baked it on there to start and when it was firm enough, moved it to the stone.

[icelandgirl]

I miss so many things and this time of year really brings out things that I love. I love all kinds of baked goods. Most of all this Christmas I'm going to miss my mom's homemade hot chocolate. It has no gluten...but it's made with milk and the chocolate has soy in it. I've given up soy and dairy. I really miss a great slice of pizza. Yesterday I drove by a donut shop that opened up recently and I had such a weird longing for a donut.

I've discovered how much I love roasted veggies! Sweet potatoes fixed in a variety of ways are my favorite.

I've also realized how much of an emotional Eater I always was...but I'm not anymore. Now I just eat to live.

[BlessedMommy]

Aw, it's no fun to miss out. Maybe eventually you can get back soy and dairy.

[beth01]

For Pizza, I had a pretty good pizza the other week.  It was thin crust so you have to like that, but it was Bob's Red Mill crust mix.  It was spread thin, baked on a cooking stone.  It tasted just like "real" pizza if you like thin crusts.  Pre-bake the crust and then top and warm again.  I think she said the recipe made 2 pizzas but thin like this you can get several out.  She divided the dough and froze what she was not going to use.  She rolled it out on a Silpat, baked it on there to start and when it was firm enough, moved it to the stone.

Bob's Red Mill is my favorite crust I've tried so far. I just miss a thick crust, greasy, cheesy pizza. One I don't have to make myself! lol

[icelandgirl]

Aw, it's no fun to miss out. Maybe eventually you can get back soy and dairy.

I'm really hoping!!! 

[julissa]

I love this thread. mostly I miss pizza. I used to really love it, but have given up trying to find decent pizza due to dairy and soy also. I miss chips ahoy cookies.  ah how I loved those. 

 

and like many of you said, I miss the convenience of grabbing something on the go, or even just going to a restaurant for a night out.

[cap6]

I don't really think about stuff I miss cause just about anything can be made gluten free and at almost 5 years I don't really remember what gluten stuff tasted like.  New foods discovered are better like parsnip "mashed potatoes", eggplant and fennel.   Have discovered how much I love and crave veggies. 

[SMRI]

Bob's Red Mill is my favorite crust I've tried so far. I just miss a thick crust, greasy, cheesy pizza. One I don't have to make myself! lol

 

I know what you mean.  We have a pizza place in town that is amazing and if you don't have your order in by noon for dinner, you won't get a pizza.  They have an amazing deep dish pizza especially!!

[beth01]

I'm really hoping!!! 

Me too!!! Hoping for you and me lol

[notme]

I miss my Grandmother's sweet dough cinnamon buns the most.  I have experimented in my baking and come fairly close to replicating them but it is not quite the same.  If I think about them I can remember the smell, taste and texture perfectly. MMMmmmm.

nicole, try these  i made them with a pecan glaze and they were omgosh so good!  Open Original Shared Link 

 

they're a little time consuming (yeast and all that) but totally delicious

 

my biggest problem lately is trying to remember what my 'old' food used to taste like, lolz    

 

when i go to nj and everybody is eating pizza i am so jealous...............  have not been able to come close to the crust.  not even a little  

[nvsmom]

nicole, try these  i made them with a pecan glaze and they were omgosh so good!  Open Original Shared Link

 

they're a little time consuming (yeast and all that) but totally delicious

 

my biggest problem lately is trying to remember what my 'old' food used to taste like, lolz  

 

when i go to nj and everybody is eating pizza i am so jealous...............  have not been able to come close to the crust.  not even a little

 

Ooooooh!  Those are gorgeous cinnamon buns.  Mmmmm. Thank you!  That will go on my holiday baking list!

[chocominties]

I miss Chinese food the most.  I've been to PF Chang's twice in the last 5 years, but it's not the most wallet-friendly option (even if it is delicious).  Making it on my own never quite tastes the same.  I just want some good beef and broccoli, general tso's, sesame chicken, egg rolls, and egg drop soup full of those fried wonton strips.  And lo mein!  Mmm.  Peking duck. 

 

Peking duck!!  I miss you!

 

They do make those frozen dumplings and egg rolls, which are "okay."  Could be worse. 

 

I've also had difficulty replicating yakisoba/yakiudon on my own. 

 

Another thing I miss is pot pie.  Amy's has/had a gluten free tofu pot pie that was pretty darn good, and either they stopped making it or I can't find it ANYWHERE anymore.  I used to buy 5 at a time, and then the local supermarket just stopped carrying them.  I find Blake's almost offensive with its stupid cornbread crust.  That is NOT pot pie. 

 

If someone made a gluten free equivalent of Swanson's (or KFC), I would cry happy tears. 

[SMRI]

nicole, try these  i made them with a pecan glaze and they were omgosh so good!  Open Original Shared Link

 

they're a little time consuming (yeast and all that) but totally delicious

 

my biggest problem lately is trying to remember what my 'old' food used to taste like, lolz  

 

when i go to nj and everybody is eating pizza i am so jealous...............  have not been able to come close to the crust.  not even a little

 

Did you mix the flour like she said or did you use an all purpose flour?  I have a homemade flour mix that is similar, just wondering if I could substitute that.

[BlessedMommy]

Another thing I miss is pot pie.  Amy's has/had a gluten free tofu pot pie that was pretty darn good, and either they stopped making it or I can't find it ANYWHERE anymore.  I used to buy 5 at a time, and then the local supermarket just stopped carrying them.  I find Blake's almost offensive with its stupid cornbread crust.  That is NOT pot pie. 

 

Are you looking for a vegetarian pot pie specifically? I'm vegetarian and I make pot pie.

[notme]

Did you mix the flour like she said or did you use an all purpose flour?  I have a homemade flour mix that is similar, just wondering if I could substitute that.

i did mix it, but i get free and loose with my measurements when it comes to flour lolz (1/4 cup?  close enough)  as long as i end up with the total amount and all flours are included, i am good!  lately, i have been using king arthur a.p. and my friend swears by domata so i picked up a sack of that to try again.  she makes brownies with them that are yum-o

[notme]

I miss Chinese food the most.  I've been to PF Chang's twice in the last 5 years, but it's not the most wallet-friendly option (even if it is delicious).  Making it on my own never quite tastes the same.  I just want some good beef and broccoli, general tso's, sesame chicken, egg rolls, and egg drop soup full of those fried wonton strips.  And lo mein!  Mmm.  Peking duck. 

 

Peking duck!!  I miss you!

 

They do make those frozen dumplings and egg rolls, which are "okay."  Could be worse. 

 

I've also had difficulty replicating yakisoba/yakiudon on my own. 

 

Another thing I miss is pot pie.  Amy's has/had a gluten free tofu pot pie that was pretty darn good, and either they stopped making it or I can't find it ANYWHERE anymore.  I used to buy 5 at a time, and then the local supermarket just stopped carrying them.  I find Blake's almost offensive with its stupid cornbread crust.  That is NOT pot pie. 

 

If someone made a gluten free equivalent of Swanson's (or KFC), I would cry happy tears. 

i have a pretty good chicken chow mein recipe that is like take-out (i grew up in n.nj, so it is spot on for stuff i used to get up there)  i make my own fried noodles (boil noodles, 'dry' noodles, dust with cornstarch, fry noodles)  also, pork with garlic sauce recipe we love (i do not put the baby corns in, though.  they are un-naturally wierd...  )  also have a japanese yakiniku recipe everybody likes.  

[HRDVM]

I mostly miss the convenience of eating regular food and being able to eat at restaurants. I have a busy schedule, so it's not always easy to go home and prepare myself something. I also miss baking, although I'm learning new gluten-free recipes. I've been gluten-free for 4 months, so I have found some new things to eat and am getting into a routine. I've discovered grass fed beef and butter and coconut oil. I'm still learning to like veggies more. 

 "Most of all this Christmas I'm going to miss my mom's homemade hot chocolate. It has no gluten...but it's made with milk and the chocolate has soy in it."

I miss good hot cocoa, too. I recently discovered a Pinterest recipe for making your own chocolate bars with organic cocoa and coconut oil. I haven't tried it yet, but I'd like to, since most of the chocolate I have found has soy in it, which I've decided I also need to avoid. Maybe coconut or almond milk could replace the dairy- I may try giving that up, too.

[BlessedMommy]

Enjoy Life chocolate chips are dairy and soy free.