Ummm...you want me to eat what?

Often times, in an effort to make a spectacular amount of money in a very short amount of time, schools will plan fundraiser that contains an element of…shall we say, shock value. Earlier this morning as I was getting ready to go to school (to teach children who are READY for summer break…OY!) I was watching the news. This is my normal daily routine. I only keep half an ear open to the weather and traffic reports. Occasionally there will be a local or human-interest piece that snags my attention. This morning was a doozy. I swear I will quit on the spot if my school proposes this. A school in the Chicago area had a fundraiser in which the teacher would eat…cicadas. UGH!!! Gross!!! “They taste like chicken nuggets.” Yeah, right. I’ve heard of teachers getting their heads shaved or pies thrown at them, but this? No Way! I mentioned this to a friend and his response: well, they are gluten free. Umm…I suppose.
While completely repugnant, it got me to thinking about all those foods I had never eaten before or would have sworn I had hated prior to going gluten free. I always have thought of myself as an open-minded diner. But let’s look this over.

Newly discovered:
Flax
Quinoa (LOVE it!)
The Spice House
Cinnamon Dulce ice cream (OK, it’s new and I would have discovered it anyways)
Squash enchiladas
Pumpkin soup
Coconut flour (I'll have to share a recipe soon!)

Re-discovered/Gained a greater love for:
Sushi (it is now a dietary must-have)
Brussel sprouts
Polenta
Coconut milk
Tofu
Baking bread

Not an extensive list, but one that is sure to grow by leaps and bounds since I am only seven months gluten free. So I ask you, what new dish or ingredient have you tried as a result of going gluten free?

Say it ain't so!

So I tend to lurk in a gluten free forum over on live journal. It is often interesting and entertaining to see what people are posting about. Sometimes I am skeptical about the information that is posted on there. Some of it seems pretty extreme. Perhaps my Celiac is just not as sensitive as other folks. Recently, there was a topic that made me pause. I was wondering if any of you have had experience with this:

Have you ever been glutened by kissing a loved one who is not GF?

Do we really have to be that careful?

Is it more theoretical that you could be glutened?

Have any of you experienced this?