About

Gluten Free, Giving Back

Through all the years that I have been a part of the gluten free world, I am continually impressed with the giving nature of every person that has started a business to help the gluten intolerant.  The profit margins are slim to be sure but each individual in this industry will go out of their way to work collaboratively with other gluten free entrepreneurs to help you lead a better life.  It is within this spirit of giving that this blog was developed. My hope is that it will inspire many others to “pay it forward” to help someone else.

Karen Robertson’s Cooking Gluten-Free! Blog

This blog will provide gluten free recipes and resources. My name has represented trusted, proven, excellent gluten free recipes since the first printing in 2002 of Cooking Gluten-Free! A Food Lover’s Collection of Chef and Family Recipes Without Gluten or Wheat.

Some recipes available here are from the most recent version of that title, now available in digital form, a new product after a two-year hiatus and countless requests to bring the book back.  The best part is you know that you will achieve successful, delicious results from my recipes.

My Celiac Story

 

My children were diagnosed with celiac disease back in 1997 and 1999. My son was the first to be diagnosed with full-blown, classic symptoms of celiac disease—wasting away, projectile vomiting (his body clearly rejecting the wheat).

A few months prior to his 2^nd birthday we visited my parents in Texas and they were convinced we had to see the doctor as soon as we returned home, they just knew something very serious was wrong, whereas we were too close to the forest to see the trees. It took several doctors over the course of just one week (amazing!) to diagnose celiac disease (what-is-that?).  Our lives changed forever.  A few years later our family participated in Dr. Alessio Fasano’s University of Maryland ‘Incidence of Celiac Disease in the United States’ study only to discover that our daughter who was in the 2^nd grade at the time and completely asymptomatic also had the disorder.

Our pediatric gastroenterologist did not believe the blood test results, in fact prior to participating in the study he suggested that we NOT participate since it would “open up a can of worms” with results we potentially wouldn’t know what to do with.  This doc quickly diagnosed my son but I was mystified at his recommendation in dealing with my daughter and our participation in the study.  In hindsight we all understand now that his textbook didn’t tell him that an asymptomatic child could have celiac disease.

After our GI doc saw our daughters’ intestinal damage through biopsy he was a convert. He delved further into the subject and spoke to celiac researchers Dr. Fasano (University of Maryland) and Dr. Peter Green (Columbia University) he learned that siblings often have a 40% likelihood of having celiac disease.  Our doctor then went on to call back all of his celiac patients and test their siblings as well.  From this he wrote a paper and took the information to physician conferences to educate other doctors.  What a guy! I have to give him a lot of credit for doing a 360 degree turn and ultimately making a difference! He is now at the forefront of E. Coli research and doing great work there.

From that point we began our journey into all things gluten free and by 2002 I had become a board member for the Gluten Intolerance Group and taught cooking classes—one even with the pioneer and first lady of gluten free cooking Bette Hagman– though our styles are quite different.

My book Cooking Gluten Free! sold well for 5 years and then I took a two-year break taking the book out of circulation.  During this time shipping and printing costs increased tremendously for a high-quality, full-color book. Now we have brought the book back in digital form with the benefits of portability from home to office, an affordable price point, and a great way to create your own book of favorites by printing the recipes that you use the most.  Most pages are graced with beautiful watercolors, easy celebrity chef recipes are sprinkled throughout, the best gluten free recipes with healthy flours are featured and the gorgeous cover wraps around a standard DVD case making the digital book an ideal gift.

Our whole family eats gluten free because for us it is easier than cooking two different versions of the same meal.  My husband and I have extended family with many related autoimmune disorders to celiac disease but no one else has been tested effectively for celiac in our families.   We feel fortunate to have received the children’s diagnosis early. Our son is now 6’8” at age 16 and our daughter is off to college, both quite healthy on the gluten free diet.

Cooking Gluten-Free! Resources and Cooking Demos

As I learn about the latest developments in celiac disease and gluten sensitivity research from my friends at the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University, the Gluten Intolerance Group in Seattle, gastroenterologists, dietitians, the Celiac Disease Foundation and many other resources I will pass that information along to you here.

I will report on my favorite gluten free products making their way to the grocery store shelves by so many dedicated companies.  Cooking demos will be posted to help you make the best gluten free bread, pizza crust, flour tortillas and many other baked goods through the magic of YouTube. What used to be my sold out, Seattle-based, gluten free cooking classes—-will now be cooking instruction available to anyone logging onto their computer.   I am always just an email away with any specific questions you may have. 

Thank you in advance for adding this blog to your RSS or email feed and please feel free to help other readers of the blog by adding your comments.  It is through your comments that this site becomes richer and more interesting.

Here’s to a more delicious gluten free life. Welcome…..

Karen Robertson

Celiac Publishing
P.O. Box 99605
Seattle, WA  98139
karen@cookingglutenfree.com