Pure Fun Candy Canes

I'm doing the happy dance again.....

I forgot about these gluten free candycanes I found at a health food store last year!.

I bought each of the candy products throughout the year that they carried then to my delight they had the Christmas Candy Canes and I bought 4 boxes last year and hung all but one on my tree. Then of course ate one while enjoying the beauty of the snow falling outside and our Christmas tree lit up waiting for December 25th.
Not only are the candies good for you the company even donates to Children's charities. Check it out!
"Christmas is a time for giving... enjoying... and sharing... We are sponsoring a limited edition Certified Organic candy cane 12 count box to celebrate children and their families who are struggling through difficult times and special needs. PURE FUN™ is excited about working with Children's charities such as Unicorn Pediatric Palliative Care Services, the Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation and other regional children's charities."

I haven't tried the Chocolate Meltdowns yet but I can't wait to give them a try!

"A truly "better for you©" choice
At Pure Fun™ we're famous for the ingredients we
DON'T use in our candies...
NO Gluten, NO GMO'S, NO FD&C Colors,
NO Casein, NO Dairy, NO artificial flavors,
NO dyes, NO Synthetics, NO Pesticides, NO preservatives
...nothing but Pure Fun™"

Gluten Free in Calgary

Some Outlets For Gluten Free Products

Calgary Celiac Association



Bakeries
Crazy Cakes (403-327-4990)
located in Lethbridge, 1102 5th Ave South
~ Every Wednesday they make GF cupcakes and they will make GF cakes to order

Earth`s Oven (403-686-4810)
2066 - 18 Ave NE
~ GF breads including a wonderful lactose & GF rice bread
http://www.earthsoven.com

Eloise's Specialty Baking (403-933-4492)
located in Turner Valley, Main St
~ Wed-Sat 10-5
http://www.eloises.ca

Gluten Free Patisserie (403-990-9565)
located in Cochrane, 122 - 3rd Ave W
~ Wed-Sat 10-5
http://www.gfpatisserie.com

Lakeview Bakery (403-246-6127)
Lakeview Shopping Centre
~ Has a variety of GF breads available; call to check which days they are baked fresh
http://www.members.shaw.ca/organicbaking/

Sugar n Spice GF Bakery (403-702-0872)
http://www.sugarnspicegfbakery.com


Health Food Stores
Amaranth Whole Foods Market (403-547-6333)
corner of John Laurie Blvd and Arbour Lake Drive NW, Calgary
~ Wide selection of GF products, alternative flours, brans, buttermilk powder and GF pastas
http://www.amaranthfoods.ca

Blush Lane Organic Produce (403-210-1247)
3000-1 10 Aspen Stone Blvd SW
~ Mon-Sat 9-8, Sun 10-6 Wide selection of GF products, also European products
http://blushlane.com

Blush Lane Organic Produce Stand
Calgary Farmers Market, Currie Barracks
~ Thu 11-5 during summer, Fri & Sat 9-5, Sun 9-4

Bowness Health Foods (403-286-2224)
6435 Bowness Rd NW
~ Carries supply of frozen GF bread, Tinkyada pasta, some KayBee GF mixes

Community Natural Foods
1304 10 Ave SW 403-229-2383 202 61st Ave SW 403-541-0606 Calgary
~ Wide selection of Gf products, alternative flours, brans, buttermilk powder and gluten free pastas
http://www.communitynaturalfoods.com

Copper Pot Creations (403-585-4717)
11229 - 30 St SW (Cedarbrae Plaza)
~ Open Mon to Sat 10am - 6pm
http://www.copperpotcreations.com

Going Nuts (403-818-7520)
Calgary Farmers' Market, Currie Barracks
~ GF granola and granola bars

Health Street Inc (403-507-4488)
located in Olds, AB at 840, 6700 46 St
~ GF products available

Healthy Hut (403-932-4376)
516 1st Street, Cochrane
~ Cookies, brown rice flour, GF soup mixes, pastas, variety of rices

Nature`s Promise Health Foods (403-220 0606)
2834 Morley Trail NW, Calgary

Nutter`s Bulk and Natural Foods
Camrose (780) 672-8685; Canmore (403) 678-3335; Drayton Valley (780) 542-4899; Jasper (780) 852- 584 Leduc (780) 986-1257; Lethbridge (403) 329-3100; Lloydminster (780) 875-4617; Medicine Hat (403) 529-1664; Okotoks (403) 938-1740; Olds (403) 556-1100; Red Deer (403) 347-4211
~ Variety of GF flours, mixes, pastas and cereals

Planet Organic Market (403-252-2404)
100, 10233 Elbow Dr SW, Calgary 4625 Varsity Drive NW, Calgary
~ Wide selection of GF products, alternative flours, brans, buttermilk powder and GF pastas

Purifed Water Store (403-250-7889)
Unit 315, 2555-32 St NE
~ Over 150 GF products including Kinnikinnick, El Peto, Kaybee

Sunshine Health Foods (403-253-2711)
located in Chinook Shopping Centre, Upper Level North by Sears. 6455 Macleod Trail South
~ Selection of GF products in store


Meat Markets
Andy`s Fine Family Meats (403-278-7151)
Avenida Shopping Centre

Calgary Meats & Deli (403-276-1423)
1204 Edmonton Trail NE
~ Understand what GF means, sausages made on site without cereal fillers. Carry a selection of Freybe's meats as well.

M&M Meat Shops
~ list of 159 GF products available, enquire within the store

Spolumbo`s Fine Food and Deli (403-264-6452)
1308 9th Ave SE
~ Most sausages are GF

The Butcher Shoppe (403-948-9572)
Towerlane Mall II, 705 Main St, Airdrie
~ GF sausages and weiners, low fat. All equipment carefully cleaned before each run of GF products.
http://www.thebutchershoppe.ca


Supermarkets
Boca Loca Fine Mexican Foods
1512 - 11 St SW (403-802-4600); 777 Northmount Drive NW (403-289-2202)
~ Carry corn tortillas in bulk, tostadas, salsas, guacamole mixes
http://www.bocalocacalgary.com

Co-op
~ Some GF products available at larger Co-op stores that have a Natural Market Section; there are many other GF products kept throughout the store; there are also many other GF products which you will find by reading the labels. Wedding cakes available at four locations (see website).
http://www.calgarycoop.com/grocery/bakery/theme_cakes.php

Gluten Free MarketPlace (403-984-9087)
222, 40 Country Hills Landing NW
~ Opening in November

La Tiendona (Mexican Food Store) (403-272-4054)
1836 - 36 St SE
~ white corn tortillas and other GF products

Safeway
~ Many GF products available at larger Safeway stores; GF products kept throughout the store; there are also many other GF products which you will find by reading the labels. Kinnikinnick products are available in most stores

Shoppers Drug Mart
~ some locations carry GF cookies and crackers.

Sobeys
~ Many GF products available throughout the store. Fairmount Drive SE location has GF section, and a GF freezer section.

Sunnyside Market (403-270-7477)
10 - 338 10th St NW

Sunterra Market
Locations in Calgary
~ Selection of GF products in store

Superstore
~ Oriental rice flour, tapioca flour, potato starch flour, glutinous rice flour (same as sweet rice flour), rice noodles, rice crackers, cookies, "no name" brand soy sauce and many other GF products which you will find by reading the labels. Some locations now have a GF section, located within the natural and organic foods aisle.

Sweetgrass Market (403-240-2664)
West Springs Village, 873 - 85th St SW
~ GF baked goods at Red Barn Bread Company, GF soups at The Headless Chef. Wed-Fri 9-7, Sat & Sun 9-5

T&T Supermarket Inc (Asian Food Market) (403-569-6888)
3516 8th Ave NE Pacific Plaza opposite Marlborough Mall
~ selection of GF products at reasonable prices

Varsity Wine Merchants (403-286-2778)
#412, 4625 Varsity Drive NW (near Planet Organic)
~ Several varieties of GF beer and lager


Note: Almost all health food stores and most supermarkets carry a limited selection of Gluten Free flours, gums, pasta, rice cakes, etc.

Gluten Free Slide Show

To view click on this link... Gluten Free Slide Show

Healing from the inside out

This blog post is all about healing!

I read a health book last week and found many ideas to implement into my everyday eating ritual. I was dumbfounded when I read this clinical nutritionists healthy way of looking at how I eat.

Mastication or a more common word is chewing was a very important rule to follow, she said to take small amounts of food, take small bites and chew s-l-o-w-l-y. Food should be very soft and mushy before it goes down the hatch. This gives your stomach a break to process the food properly.

Switch it up! Eating the same foods over and over in the same day or even in three consecutive days is hard on your system. Who would of thunk...not me! I am the queen of eating potato chips, dessert and leftovers almost on a daily bases.

Eat fruits 30 min before a meal or 1 hour after a meal, which allows the nutrients from the fruit to be absorbed.

Eating grains or should I say too many grains is also hard for your stomach to digest. Try eating a variety of non-grains like Quinoua, Buckwheat and Teff. There is also, amaranth, arrowroot, tapioca, bean starch and carob powder to name a few.

Food combinations: Did you know that some foods combined don’t get processed properly in your stomach? I'll talk more about this next time...

Saving Money

I am a coupon clipping, money saving, frugal mum who thrives on getting a bang for her buck and I am not afraid to say it!

I have decided that not only am I gluten free but in order to be able to afford it I have to save money in other places around the home.

Here are some money saving ideas.
Energy bill:
Dress in more layers, leave the oven door open after baking or cooking, make wool socks for yourself and family.

Buy in bulk

Pay off loans: with the money you save from coupons and the other savings from each month.

Coupons:
Save.ca

Points cards at The Bay (HBC POints) Zellers, Shoppers, Air Miles.

Weekly Flyers:
I look for the products I always buy and wait for them to go on sale. If I have a coupon for the product then I double save. Believe me it can happen, not often but it can.

I find that Canada doesn’t have the money saving resources the U.S has but we are getting better.

Clothing sales
I wait for the sales at the end of the season, I recycle by passing on our clothes to a few large families I know, I buy a few clothing items from Thrift Stores. On occasion I will shop for new fashion which is less expensive like: Gap or Abercrombie at Good Will or I will pick up some great vintage clothes that nobody would even think I bought second hand! It's a great feeling to get amazing deals!

Make your own clothes! Simplicity has great patterns that are in style. I have made p.j's, approns, and my daughter has made a purse/bag. I make my own quilts.

Grow your own fruits and vegetables!

Homemade laundry detergent
Liquid
- Front or top load machine- best value

4 Cups - hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
½ Cup Borax

Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)

Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.

Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)

Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores or may be purchased online here (at Meijer.com). Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!
From the Duggars website

Powder
Ingredients:
•2/3 bar Fels Naptha Laundry Soap (equivalent of 1 cup grated)
•½ Cup 20 Mule Team Borax
•½ Cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda.
•Container large enough to hold 2 cups of laundry detergent
Directions:
1.Grate the Fels Naptha laundry soap with a grater or use a food processor. Approximately 2/3 of a bar of soap will make 1 cup of grated soap.
2.Add the ½ cup of Borax and ½ cup of washing soda to the grated soap.
3.Shake and/or mix well
Use:
One tablespoon of detergent is sufficient per load of wash. If you have a high-efficiency machine, you might want to experiment with using a little less detergent for normal loads. If your clothes come out feeling stiff, lower the amount of detergent. For clothes that are heavily soiled, add a teaspoon more of the detergent..

Yield:
The recipe yields 2 cups of laundry detergent. If you use 1 tablespoon per load, you will be able to wash 32 loads of clothes.

Read other ideas at Suite101
Suite101

Sell your hand made items or unused, unwanted in good condition items from around your home at E-bay, Kijiji, etc.

Before you buy something think…do I need it or do I just want it? If the answer is need it then go for it, but first do some price comparisons.

Homemade: How-to Make Hundreds of Everyday Products Fast, Fresh, and More Naturally
Baking Soda, Banana Peels, Baby Oil, and Beyond: 1,715 Tips for a Better Home, Garden, and Life