About P&GF

Hello and welcome!! I'm Danielle, and that's me up above.

 To make it easy to understand Poor and Gluten Free, I thought I'd share some pictures that help describe what goes on here!

Poor and Gluten Free has been a journey for me. You see, it started out as a blog about me, Danielle, living gluten free on a budget with my husband and trying to eat healthy, gluten free foods while living as eco-friendly as I can, wherever I go. I'm also an author, and historical romance novelist with a small publishing house. Sometimes I share pictures and recipes related to my works. 

Mostly, I share allergy-free recipes and frugal, DIY projects.  

That's because, after many years of inexplicable suffering, I discovered in 2008 that I was gluten intolerant and had Oral Allergy Syndrome.  Essentially this means that, along with seasonal allergies, I am allergic to most fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts and wheat. As a result, I’ve had to be totally scrupulous about everything I eat.   

 I compiled a lot of my allergy research into a book called Living with Oral Allergy Syndrome (linked on the side bar. You can get it on Amazon, or by ordering it at most bookstores) 

I've also written a couple of other allergy-free cookbooks since I began the blog:

Sometimes I share product and place reviews, and tips on traveling gluten free on a budget. 

  

I also write historical romance novels.

When I was about five or six my teacher had us all make books out of recycled cereal box cardboard and wrapping paper. One of my first stories was about a red cat from Venus and a purple cat from Mars who overcame their differences to become friends. 

I like to think this book was prophetic. It predates Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus, as well as the wide-spread adoption of the rainbow by the LGBTQ community. ;)  

I've been writing ever since. 

I have a BA in English Lit, and an MA in Middle Eastern History. My MA research focused on Egyptian cinema and dancers in the 1940-70s, and I love watching old black and white Egyptian films. I'm a research fanatic, and part of the fun of writing is researching the juicy little tidbits that makes an historical setting come alive. 

My first published novel, In the Court of Kemet, is inspired by Egypt's first female ruler. Two more books in my Ancient Egyptian Romance series are due out in fall of 2015. There are several more planned, as well as a Medieval romance series. I intend to share some of my experiences writing here, as well as pictures and recipes that inspired, or have been inspired, by my books.

So now most of my days are spent like this:

 And sometimes Poor and Gluten Free is about me being a moving van stunt driver.  

Anyone who's ever driven a 14ft u-Haul back and forth across the Rocky Mountains (and hubby and I have done it not once, but twice), or tried to navigate that truck through the narrow, one-way streets of downtown Madison, Wisconsin where you can only park for two hours at a time before having to drive around and find another spot, will know what I mean when I say I'm a Moving Van Stunt Driver. 

I've moved over twenty times in my life. I've lived in three different countries (including a few months spent living in Egypt), and at least eight different cities. I also travel a whole lot. In the last five years alone I've stayed in over forty different hotels. 

I move and travel partly because I've studied at four different post-secondary institutions. I also move and travel so much because my husband is doing his PhD in the US (although we're both Canadian) and he does research in Europe. 

And then sometimes I think I travel and move so much because on one side I'm descended from Acadians and voyageurs. I get itchy feet when I haven't traveled for a while. Perhaps moving is just in my blood!

Hopefully you'll find something useful amongst all that!

Questions? I'd love to hear from you.  Contact me at bellyopudge AT gmail DOT com

My Disclaimer: I have to tell you, of course, that the information on this site is not to be taken in lieu of medical advice.  It is only a means to share my own personal experiences.  As a historian, I do my best to verify facts and information, but cannot be held responsible in any way for any negative consequences that arise from the use of this site. It's always a good idea to consult a medical professional before changing your diet.