Been a while

 It's definitely been a while since I last posted and I've learned a ton about being gluten free since November 2021. I'll try to give a breakdown of the big things I've learned and well, keep up to date a bit more on actually posting. Something to keep in mind though is I'm 100% lucky that I was NOT diagnosed with celiac. This means if I get a little bit of gluten, chances are I won't be sick for days following. Though this isn't to say that I haven't felt sick right after and had some negative repercussions because of eating gluten. The first noticeable time was Christmas 2021 when I went to mass and received communion not thinking and had a stomachache the trip home and for a bit after. The second would have been summer 2023 when I decided it was worth the risk to eat a hamburg with regular breadcrumbs inside because I was actually hungry for once, spoiler alert, it wasn't worth the follow pain, but I hadn't had a big dose all at once previously since Christmas 2021. Lastly, was when I took what was supposedly gluten free (low gluten) communion and ended up quite sick twice when a new priest was assigned to the parish. He decided mixing gluten and low gluten was fine, and well didn't think my health was worth the extra patent or pix needing to be used (not attending that parish anymore). 

Things I've learned being Gluten Free
1) Gluten can be in anything, packaging, lotion, shampoo/conditioner
2) Let batter rest for at least 30 minutes prior to baking, exception may be made if the recipe specifically provides a rest time (Twist pancake mix for example)
3) Weighing ingredients is way better than using cups and makes for better outcomes
4) Find recipes from people who are smarter than me (ChefAlina.com I HIGHLY recommend)
5) The adjustment is hard but not impossible, even if you think it is when starting out
6) Find a support network, not just strangers on the internet but recruit friends and family members to support you. Make it a challenge on who can find the best local gluten free bakery. 
7) Not all 'oh my gosh they make the best gluten free _______' is actually good. I don't want the best gluten free _____, I want the best ________ gluten free or not, so be particular and keep trying things. 
8) There are expos/conferences where you can go to try gluten free products. 
9) There are travel agencies and cruises specifically for gluten free! You aren't trapped at home, in fact countries outside the US might actually be better equipped for gluten free!

This list is always growing, let's see what else is coming from my gluten free experience. 

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