Words of Encouragement

Fall is coming! I can smell it in the air, feel it in the wind, and see it in the trees around me. I love the cool air The changing colors of the leaves Enjoyable walks and beautiful hikes! I love apple picking and cider Having bonfires with friends and family And hearing the crunching of leaves under my feet! I love baking pies wearing sweaters, flannel shirts, and boots. Big blankets and novels! I love knowing that Thanksgiving is right around the corner Bringing family and friends together to laugh and love! I love that fall brings along pumpkin patches and hayrides Seeing the pumpkins and gourds used as decoration! There are many reasons why I love the fall season but these are just a few. 

Being gluten free has always been tricky when I am with other people besides my family... though in the beginning it was tricky with them too! With six family members in one household remembering what everyone likes/dislikes is hard, adding a dietary restriction is even harder! It took getting used to and finding something that I could eat AND that tasted good. Now there are plenty of options available, even at restaurants. If you didn't know gluten is, "a substance present in cereal grains, especially wheat, that is responsible for the elastic texture of dough."   It is found in pretty much anything that has wheat, barley, malt, rye, or brewers yeast. The gluten protein is also found in foods like processed meats (including burgers), fries, most Chinese food, pastas (of course), anything breaded, sauces (including soy sauce), most "American" food, spices/seasonings, soups (as thickener), drinks, etc. I could go on! I am going to be open for a moment, bein...