Ep 84 Gluten Free Stampede Breakfast
Let’s start the blog with the show notes for this Episode –
On this episode of the podcast I speak with the Event Planning & Coordinator for the Calgary Chapter of the Canadian Celiac Association, Cheryl Richmond. The Calgary Chapter has been holding a gluten free breakfast as part of Calgary Stampede celebrations for more than 20 years. The breakfast has grown and so have their community sponsors and relationships. This year they served up 564 breakfasts of pancakes and sausage. Their primary sponsors were, Kinnikinnick Foods (pancake mix), Spolumbo’s Fine Foods & Deli (sausages), Judy G Foods (promotional pizza coupons) and Shine FM providing a Kid’s Fun Zone. With more than 150 breakfasts going on in the city during the Stampede, it takes many months working with the Stampede Committee to get all the details just right. The Calgary Stampede Promotions Committee was able to help out by providing – The Batter Boys with a Cook Wagon, Western Welcome & Branding, a Roper (to lasso customers!) and Harry the Horse. Sounds like great food and good fun!
Sue’s Websites and Social Media –
Podcast https://acanadianceliacpodcast.libsyn.com
Podcast Blog – https://www.acanadianceliacblog.com
Facebook – @acanadianceliacpodcast
Twitter – CeliacPodcastCA
Email – acdnceliacpodcast@gmail.com
Baking Website – https://www.suesglutenfreebaking.com
Instagram – @suesgfbaking
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUVGfpD4eJwwSc_YjkGagza06yYe3ApzL
(search Sues Gluten Free Baking)
Email – sue@suesglutenfreebaking.com
Other Podcast – Gluten Free Weigh In – https://glutenfreeweighin.libsyn.com
My Thoughts –
I love entertaining, planning dinners, bbq’s, family get togethers and almost anything that brings people together. It’s only been just over a year since I graduated from Public Relations and Event Management at Loyalist College in Belleville. I have long had an admiration for people who plan large scale events, and the Stampede breakfast is a great example of that. It’s wonderful to think that for more than 20 years they have been planning, scheduling, building relationships and putting on memorable events.
Talking to Cheryl about her big event, got me thinking about a time, just after my diagnosis when I didn’t want to plan any get-togethers, or entertain friends and family in my home. I wasn’t confident with the diet, and I was less confident that my guests would enjoy a gluten free anything. It took my quite a while to get over my fears.
What I eventually did, over time, was start cooking from scratch. Well not really cooking, but baking. I realized, it wasn’t the meal that brought me down, it was dessert, the sweet things, the things that were best homemade. I went on to develop confidence in my baking, and as you may know, eventually opened a gluten free bakery.
It was the confidence in the quality of my baked goods that has helped me to enjoy entertaining again. I realize that everyone’s journey is different. If you didn’t enjoy serving guests, or organizing a get-together before your diagnosis, you aren’t likely to enjoy it now. If entertaining is something you want to do more of, start slowly. Show up at a friend’s home with one of your creations, bring a main and a dessert to a pot-luck, bring extras of something you made to work and offer it to workmates who might be interested. There are ways to ease back into entertaining. Try it. You will enjoy it again, and your guests will too!