Gluten Free Oatmeal

Fruit Pizza?! 5 Unique Items at Mokena's French Market

If you find that farmer’s markets become mundane after a few weeks of buying the same produce, remember, new seasonal items appear all summer long. While asparagus and strawberries are in season right now, for example, blueberries and raspberries will show up before you know it, and in the fall, pumpkins, squash and apples.

However, even right now, you can step out of the box and go home with some pretty out of the ordinary products. Here are five of the most unique items at the Mokena French Market.

Look for them this weekend!

Pleasant Ridge Reserve cheese at the Stamper Cheese Company booth is not only organic and from grass-fed cows, but it has also won the American Cheese Society’s “Best in Show” award four times in the last 10 years. No other cheese has won more than once. Kitchen Sink is actually everything but the kitchen sink. This cookie, available from Labriola Baking Company , is an oatmeal raisin cookie that also includes three types of chocolate, two types of nuts and coconut. This one cookie may satisfy all of your sweet cravings. Gluten-free granola bars from Rise’ N Roll Bakery & Deli allow those with Celiac disease and gluten allergies to enjoy the sweet, fulfilling taste of soft, chewy granola. Once you take a bite and taste the cranberry pecan flavor, you’ll never know the difference between the gluten-free and regular varieties. Fruit pizza from Little Europe Deli will confuse you at first. Is it healthy? Is it gluttonous? Once you’ve accepted that it’s both all rolled into one unique type of pizza, health nuts and sweet lovers can together enjoy a slice of sweet crust with strawberry and blueberry topping. Marble potatoes are the smallest potatoes you’ll ever see. If your potatoes tend to rot before you use the whole bag, marble potatoes are perfect for you. Not only can you buy them in small amounts, but you can try a variety, such as yellow, red and purple. And let’s face it; they’d look really cute on the dinner plate.

Next time you’re visiting the market, branch out from your usual purchases and taste test a new item. Afterward, let us know what you thought!

View photos of each of these items mentioned by clicking on the gallery with this article.

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Oatmeal Cake | Gluten free recipes, resources, and news. Easy ...

There are many reasons to celebrate oatmeal, not the least among them, its long-appreciated health benefits. Oats boast both high protein and complex carbohydrates.  Their water-soluble fiber actually improves the level of HDL (“good”) cholesterol and assists in a slow digestion rate, helping to maintain stable blood-glucose levels.  In fact, oats contain more soluble fiber than any other grain, meaning you’ll feel fuller longer, and they may even help you refrain from too much snacking (bonus!). This healthy cereal grain can even make the claim that it may help reduce the risk of heart disease.

When I was first diagnosed with celiac disease in the ’90s, oats were on the “must avoid” list, as they were thought to contain gluten. In fact though, it was their contamination from other gluten-containing grains that caused their inclusion in the gluten category.  A study in 1995 published by the New England Journal of Medicine first broke the news that oats may actually be safe for adult celiac patients. 

Current medical opinions are fairly united on the fact that uncontaminated oats are safe for most oats, as companies like Bob’s Red Mill also produce plenty of non-certified oats. 

Ok, so enough background, on to the cake! This recipe is super moist and lasts for many days if kept tightly wrapped. My kids particularly like it with ice cream, but I’m a purist. Feel free to add more or less raisins, or mix it up and use cranberries or other dried fruits instead.  I have tried it with coconut palm sugar and with regular granulated sugar and there is no detectable difference, so if you’re looking to use a healthier, less-refined, lower glycemic sugar, I’d highly recommend the coconut palm! (Note: I’ve heard from many of you questioning GI ratings for coconut palm; for more information comparing the glycemic index of various brands of coconut palm,

I used homemade apple butter in this recipe to reduce the fat, add moisture and contribute to the spices (plus, I’ve made A LOT of applebutter lately!). Applesauce would be just as good, but then I would increase the spices in the ingredients, since apple butter has more yummy cinnamon and spice.  In fact, you may prefer more or less spice than specified in my recipe – you won’t offend me if you modify spices to suit your own tastes! My friend Kim over at GlutenFreeisLife just made this cake with a few changes like apple juice instead of cider – she baked hers in a bundt pan and her cake is so pretty – have a look!