Taxes

This year, I've decided to itemize my medical expenses, after discovering halfway through last year that the difference in the cost of my gluten-free food from normal food could be written off. At my last doctor's appointment, I took in a simple form letter stating that I had been diagnosed with Celiac and that the only course of treatment available was to remain on a gluten-free diet for life. My doctor had it typed up on letterhead a
nd signed a copy for my records, in case I am ever audited. (If you're looking for what medical expenses are claimable, may I refer you to http://www.irs.gov/publications/p502/ar02.html#en_US_publink1000178852. It is sort of hidden, under "Weight Loss Programs")

I made my first gluten-free shopping trip of the new year just last week, and once I crunched the numbers, the difference was amazing: nearly $50 on one trip, and that not even a big stock-up. Here's my receipt and my calculations:

I understand that may not be readable, but to give you the gist, after purchasing my gluten-free items, I took a notebok around the store and wrote down the price of a comparable item, as well as the weight of the product. The weight was important, as my gluten-free bread comes in a loaf that is about half the size of your normal one. I calculated the price per ounce, and then used the weight on the gluten-free product to calculate a comparable price. From there, it was easy to determine the difference (however, if I ever get a tablet, this whole process would be much easier with spreadsheet software). The most pricey items, as was to be expected, were the bread and the Bisquik. I can't wait to see the difference when I buy pasta, that's sure to be a stunner as well.

Now, for me, this is worth my time. You can only deduct medical expenses above 7.5% of your gross income. For me, with as low an income as I receive, this would pretty much equal my monthly trip to the grocery store, plus the copays for my required doctor's visits. For you, it may or may not be worth it. If there are multiple people in your family who have to go gluten free, this may be a real life saver when it comes to those expensive grocery trips!

Happy Valentines Day!

Yes, I realize its technically no longer Valentines Day, but I just finished editing this vlog about cooking gluten free for a romantic meal. Enjoy:

http://youtu.be/iziuWFvSCZU

Mexican Chicken Chili!

So I needed to make soup for a church dinner we had today, and none of the recipes I found seemed appealing to me. So, I started throwing things in a Crock Pot, and, whaddya know, it turned out delicious! Here's the recipe:

2 16 oz jars of salsa
1 1/2 blocks of velveeta-type cheese, cut in little cubes
1 can of black beans, drained
1/2 medium green bell pepper, diced
1/2 medium red bell pepper, diced
6 large chicken breasts, cooked and diced.
1 qt of tomato juice

Throw everything together in a large crock pot (leave the tomato juice til last and only add what fits. I had about a quarter of my bottle left) and cook for at least two hours on high. The longer it cooks, the yummier it will be. Make sure you stir every half hour or so, so the cheese doesn't burn.

Enjoy, folks! Add some tortila chips if you like, and you have a spicy gluten-free lunch!