About Me
My love and I on our honeymoon in Rome.
I was diagnosed with Celiac Sprue after a several years of extreme illnesses, exhaustion, unexplained tummy issues, “ulcers”, etc through a biopsy. I will never forget standing in my wedding gown for the last fitting, answering the phone and hearing the diagnosis. I was a bit… well.. gobsmacked, to say the least. The doctor stated the mystery disease and told me that I could not eat “cake, bread, pasta, pizza.. that kind of thing.” ummm… Hello? We were getting married in three weeks and heading to Rome for our Honeymoon a month later. No cake? No pasta? No what??
It certainly made me think about everything we ingested even more than I had before. After hanging up (and finishing the fitting), I ran to the computer and began my search for information. I didn’t even know how to spell Celiac – let alone make appropriate decisions for my diet! I called my love, who in turn stopped at the local bookstore on his way home from work. So there we sat, at 11:00 at night, pouring over recipes from Bette Hagman and googling everything that came to mind.
That was in October of 2000… after many years of illness. When I look back on pictures from before my diagnosis, I am strangely holding my stomach in ALL of them. Huh. I knew it hurt. I knew my body wasn’t happy. But I never knew I grabbed my side or stomach all the time. Proof in the pictures. And my complexion, my lack of energy, my inability to focus, the hospital and medical bills… the list goes on and on. I found a lot help online, reading cookbooks and as many other materials as I could find about Celiac.
It still surprises me a bit when I meet other people with Celiac or when a query about specific ingredients in something is met with the response, “Do you have Celiac?”. What? You know about this too? How cool!
And Why, yes. Yes, I do. And it’s not going away – so it’s better to just grab it by the horns.. and well.. bake, cook, and enjoy life again.
I started this blog as a way to connect with my family/friends and share recipes.
I only hope that something I share here will help someone else in return. After all, if it weren’t for the resources or people I had found, I don’t know where I’d be.
Happy gluten-free eating, all!
-Kate
If you would like to reach me, feel free to send an email to: Cheekalina AT gmail DOT com. (Please replace the AT, DOT and spaces in your email program.)
Read this post for more information about me, my Love, and our adoption hopes!
PS. Why is an American girl like me using the word “Gobsmacked”? Well, quite honestly it’s because most Americans don’t know what “gobsmacked” even means – but we might like the sound of it. And then when people learn that it means to be astounded, it completely fits. Here’s a similar concept: Celiac? What does that mean? And yes, it’s astounding to learn what our immune system is doing to our bodies! And what do I have to avoid/not eat? OH MY! YES! I was completely GOBSMACKED!
I love your site! The pictures are amazing! I hope to be able to cook more now that my husband is home (from Iraq). Until now I was gluten free alone, so I got used to eating out gluten free, since it was just me. I can’t wait to try some of these ideas!!
Thank you so much for your kind comments! =) It’s fun to share recipes with everyone – and the pictures are a blast to take and figure out! I hope you share your baking results!
And more than anything, I’m happy to hear of your husband’s safe return home!! =)
-Kate
gftiff
September 5, 2007 at 2:45 am
this is a website that every person new to eating g/f should know about…………….and the pictures are fantastic!……………………that’s what really got my attention…………………………
thank you so much for being THERE.
Thanks for swinging on by g/f Salt. There is a a huge community of gluten-free/Celiac people in the blog world. I hope you find exactly what you are looking for and more while you surf thorugh all our GF blogs! =) -Kate
g/f salt
October 21, 2007 at 1:17 pm
I am learning about this GF blog community. It’s amazing. Can’t wait to try some of your recipes! They look wonderful. I am gluten free for 4 months!!!! Feeling better every day.
Celebrate that GF status, Alexsandra. It helps wen you hit a bump/hurdle in the road to staying gluten-free when you can look back at how long you’ve been working at it well!
Welcome to the GF world! The GF Blog world is a friendly bunch. I’m happy to welcome you to the group!
-Kate
alexsandra
October 22, 2007 at 9:31 am
Although I’m not Celiac, the need to be GF hit me like a ton of bricks. I love to cook and your blog seem the perfect place to start. I’m the only one in my family and my group of friends. They are wonderful, but your recipes really help me help them. Thanks!!
tlsussman
December 9, 2008 at 5:36 pm
Dear Kate,
I hope this finds you well. I would love to interview you for a 3-part article I am writing about living with Celiacs. (I am have it too.) If you would be interested, please contact me. Part 1 is published on http://www.attributemagazine.com.
Thank your time and good luck in your adoption process!
Kindest regards,
Stacey Louiso
Stacey
December 10, 2008 at 11:31 am
I love your site and look forward to reading more on it. Please check out my new blog
http://glutenfreeoptimist.blogspot.com/
Maryland Celiac
December 18, 2008 at 7:51 am
OMG, I was just Gobsmacked by my own diagnosis. I too have had non-specific symptoms for years. While I mourn the loss of pasta and bread (among the millions of other things I can’t eat) I am pleased to see that so many others are in the same boat, and dealing with it, and feeling better. At least there is a lot of information out there. Now if I could just make time to cook….
Gina
December 25, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Hi Kate–You know I’ve been enjoying your blog for quite some time. Remember how I told you I was working on my blog? Well, I finally gave birth to this “baby” late last night. (I guess since my son turns 21 on Friday, I just had to start all over! LOL) My blog is GFE–Gluten Free Easily at glutenfreeeasily.com. Of course, I’ve linked you in my blogroll! Thanks so much for all the wonderful info you share here. Come visit! P.S. Hoping things are progressing well towards bringing your little girl home!
Shirley
December 31, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Hi Kate,
Just when I think I’ve found all of the GF pages and blogs and sites on the Web, I manage to stumble over another. And I learn so much more. After decades of stomach and other problems, and countless doctor bills, my GI doc did a major battery of tests and said “Not sprue”, and washed his hands of me. But gluten and corn put me in agony. I’m not sure what else causes this besides sprue, but discovering what was making me sick, and learning how to eat without all that has been a godsend. And now I’m so happy that I’ve found your blog! You’ve just added so much more to my GF arsenal. Thank you so very much for sharing this with all of us!
Andrine
in Vashon
Andrine
May 8, 2009 at 7:33 pm
Andrine,
I had my kids tested for wheat and milk allergies this week and the tests at the allergist were negative, I thought for sure they would be positive. But the allergist said you may not be “allergic” to something but that doesnt mean you can tollerate it. Therefore my kids are not “allergice” to wheat or milk, but they are “intollerant” of these things because we know what happens when they eat them. Just wanted to let you know that nothing in medicine is absolute, but if YOU know that something bothers you then remove it and see how you do. I know that having a definate diagnosis can make us feel better mentally, but listen to your body and let it have the final say:)
Susan
August 29, 2009 at 7:29 am
[...] just had no idea. Kate Chan felt Gluten Free Gobsmacked when she found out she was celiac (right before her wedding day), so that’s what she named her blog. I think most of us who’ve been handed the [...]
Transitions—50+ GF Foods You Can Eat Today | GFE - Gluten Free Easily
May 17, 2009 at 2:15 pm
I love this site. I found it gooling GF pot stickers and have been reading it for about 3 days now. I love it! Thank You for posting GF Asian dishes. I just started doing GF in March. I’m not really allergic but I feel so good on it that I really hate going back. I got turn on to GF when I read in Elle magazine that it helps with depression. I’ve been a life long sufferer of this, even as a child. I’ve tired every single thing-pills, exercise, therapy, you name it. But nothing has helped as much as GF. I’m going to try the GF pot stickers in the next few days and let you know. I’m wondering if there is a GF version of those Chinese round bread with meat stuffings-can’t remember what they’re called in English. BTW your baby girl is absolutely beautiful!! Please keep on blogging about GF and your beautiful family!
Lilly Chen
May 28, 2009 at 4:27 am
Hi Kate,
I have a recipe idea that works for me that I would like to share. I had a few pudding/upside down cakes that I made before my GF days. The recipes make a cake that sits in a sauce. None of these recipes worked with my GF flours. I think the GF flour did not form enough of a barrier with the liquid or fruit to create a sauce. What I got was a mushy cake with no sauce. Once I realized that the “barrier” was the missing ingredient I simply put the liquid or fruit in a pan and then covered it with a hard piece of rice paper that touched the sides of my round pan. I could then scoop the cake on the rice paper and pop it in the oven. The rice paper softened during cooking and disappeared but it lasted long enough to keep the cake and liquid from mixing. Try it with any of your favourite old recipes.
Karen
Karen McBride
July 11, 2009 at 9:57 am
Ohh! Interesting idea, karen! Thanks for sharing that one!
Kate
July 16, 2009 at 8:41 pm
I just want to say thank you…. I stumbled across your website looking for GF bread recipes and to my sons absolute delight found all of your awsome recipes. We are new to GF and my son has been very ill. His appetite has dwindled to pretty much yogurt and chicken…. he just cries over not having pea nut butter and jelly sandwiches anymore… you have saved the day by bringing back some old favorites such as pancakes (the mixes we have tried were just horrible) and brought us new ones that we have just drooled over. My son is autistic and he just loves looking at the pictures. Thank you for making this moms conversion to the GF lifestyle so much easier. Maybe I can actually get this little guy to start eating again minus the chronic belly aches.
heather
September 26, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Love your website and pics of your little girl! I am trying to get my GF blog up and running on a regular basis if you’d like to link to me!
Vanessa
October 25, 2009 at 9:54 am
I just came across your site tonight – I can’t thank you enough for sharing your talents! I have not been diagnosed as Celiac, but, I know how I feel when I eat something with gluten! I used to bake (w/fresh ground wheat!) all the time. Once I stopped eating gluten, my baking almost stopped. Just tonight I made regular biscuits for my family, and TRIED to make a GF version for me, with Pamela’s baking mix. HORRIBLE…I don’t know if I have a bad batch of the mix, but this is the second thing I’ve made with it, and couldn’t choke it down!! So, I began my searcrh for yummy gf baked goods, and here is where I ended up!
Joi
November 1, 2009 at 7:13 pm
My 4 yr old son was just diagnosed with a gluten intolerance. (A-symptomatic- thank goodness). I just stumble over your site. I’m putting it in my favorites! Thank goodness for people like you- who are willing to take time to put these recipes together and share them with all of us. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I’ll let you know how my son likes your concoctions!
Kelly
November 14, 2009 at 7:08 am