Here we are. The final days of the first decade of 2000 and I'm preparing for some good, adult beverages to mark the occasion. I was thinking of making martinis or cranberry cocktails at a small gathering I'm attending. Santa brought me a bottle of Grey Goose vodka, which will fit the bill.

However, as I visited the Web site for some recipes, I was amazed to see a video of amber waves of grain blowing freely in the intro. In appears that Grey Goose is a wheat vodka made in France, distilled and filtered "through Champagne limestone." This isn't something I'm thinking about for my 6-year-old, obviously, but I wondered what gluten-free adults might be drinking on New Year's Eve.

Here is what I found out:

1. Most distilled alcohols don't bother people with celiac. They are reported to be gluten-free. For those with very, very high sensitivities an alternative, such as Tito's Vodka made in Texas, may be sought. Check out the site here. There is just one place to buy the brand in Michigan, NWS in Brownstown. The vodka is made of 100% corn. Zodiac vodka is made of potatoes. And vermouth is made of grapes for martini drinkers.

2. Generally, wine and champagne are gluten-free. Some report that wine produced in barrels outside the U.S. may come into contact with flour, but is generally safe. Here is a good place for a list of wines and champagnes that are safe and more information on contamination. Wine coolers are NOT gluten-free.

3. Scotch whiskey is reported to be gluten-free, which was interesting to me since this is an alcohol made of barley! But, many associations report that when the alcohol is distilled, the gluten in the barley is removed. Check it out here. Maker's Mark is a gluten-free bourbon.

4. Some cheaper tequillas are NOT gluten-free, although they are made of agave. Check with the manufacturer or go with the list linked to in point No. 2. Cuervo products and margarita mixes are gluten-free.

5. Gluten-free beer is easier to find lately. I found some at Hiller's, Whole Foods and even at a newer Kroger. Check out Bard's or RedBridge.

6. In general, I think the distilled rule applies, and since Coke and Pepsi products and most juices are gluten-free, most mixed drinks are good to go.

Here's a drink recipe I may mix up on the big night, derived from a recipe I found at the Grey Goose site:

Cranberry Sparkler
1 part vodka
1 part club soda
splash of cranberry juice
cranberries or lime wedge for garnish

Mix vodka and soda over ice and pour into glass. Add a spash of cranberry juice and garnish with cranberries.

So, adults: Be responsible, be safe and cheers to the last 10 years. Let's hope the next 10 are even better.

It's the week before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature will go hungry or have to do without.

I did a big stock-up trip to both Whole Foods and Meijer yesterday. I wanted to make sure to have plenty of gluten-free candy canes, quick and easy food options and the usual grocery supplies. With my kids home all week and last-minute holiday activity, I wanted to have the fridge and freezer full so I don't have to run to a busy grocery store to grab anything. I spent a small fortune in the process.

I got a few boxes of Ian's French Bread Pizza (about $5 each), a package of K-Toos chocolate cookies (about $6), Bob's Red Mill pancake mix (about $4), a few boxes of Bell & Evans chicken strips (close to $6 each), a loaf of gluten-free bread ($6), some gluten-free Hormel Natural ham lunch meat ($4) and some Kinnickinick hamburger buns (close to $8), which I slice into three discs and toast for my son to spread cream cheese onto (better than gluten-free bagels). Oh yeah, the Tofutti cream cheese is nearly $4. Already, I was over $50 and this was no way going to be enough food to last us through the school break.

Good thing I had already baked a batch of blueberry muffins (recipe below), sugar cookies (which I sprung for the box mix instead of homemade --- the winner for most expensive at nearly $9) and cooked up a big pot of spaghetti sauce. The veggies I froze in the fall will come in handy, as will the Rice Chex and Betty Crocker mixes I stocked up on a few weeks ago when they were on sale. And a friend of mine kindly gave us FOUR bags of Glutino Pretzels that she found on clearance at Kroger a month ago.

I'm glad I don't stock up on all the pre-made gluten free foods all the time. The total at the register nearly knocked me over. I have vowed to cook more and start freezing as soon as the holidays are behind us. I will have to make small trips and avoid all these mixes in the future, unfortunately. The 123 Gluten Free sugar cookie mix (found it at Kroger) was truly fantastic with a basic powdered sugar frosting.

It got me thinking about the cost of gluten-free food again. It's hard to go for just fruits and veggies when you're stocking up for a week or two. And although I was careful to make quite a few homemade goodies, I still shelled out some big gf dough to make sure those with special diets didn't feel left out during the festivities. But it could be worse.

During the holiday season, I often think of those less fortunate than myself. I am not alone. In Colorado, the House of Neighborly Service food bank offers the nation's first gluten-free options for needy families. Anne Miller, a mother of seven with an already atrocious grocery bill, suddenly had to provide her teenage daughter with gluten-free food.

"Basically the whole family has to eat gluten-free now," said Miller in a recent Associated Press story, who walked out of the House of Neighborly Service food bank with a grocery cart full of gluten-free soups, pastas and pizza dough mix. "It becomes extremely, extremely expensive."

The food pantry, founded in 1961, opened its gluten-free food section after local activists with wheat allergies volunteered to pull it together. Activists say the food bank is the nation's first with a special program for people with celiac disease.

I applaud their efforts. Check out the group here for more information.

As gluten-free cooks, we feel the pinch week after week. It's a tough task and not cheap. But please remember that eating gluten-free is not a luxury. It is a medical necessity. And as I'm balancing the checkbook this week, I'll remember that even though a special treat to my son may cost three times as much as others who enjoy typical holiday delights, his health is worth the dent our family budget. And I feel fortunate that I can find a way to provide that for him.

Here is a thrifty recipe (derived from Carol Fenster's recipe in "Gluten Free Quick and Easy") that is good to take as a snack or add to the Christmas breakfast buffet:

Banana Blueberry Muffins
2 cups flour blend (we like Bob's Red Mill)
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons xanthan gum
1 teaspoon salt
2 ripe banana
1/2 cup milk (rice milk can be substituted)
1/3 cup canola oil
2 large eggs
Grated lemon zest from 1 lemon
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease muffin pans, or add papers. In stand-up mixer, beat all ingredients except blueberries on low speed, then increase to medium speed once thoroughly combined. Beat until batter is thickened, stopping to scrape at least once. Mix in blueberries. Spoon batter into muffin pan about 3/4 full. Bake 20-30 minutes, or until muffin tops are slightly brown.

Makes about 16 muffins.

Last-minute shopping tip: Whole Foods has gluten-free gift baskets for under $30. I checked one out that had gluten-free beer, crackers and munchies.

It's time to shop, cook and prepare for the holidays. But all that wrapping paper, gluten-free cookie dough and tickets to holiday events can cost a pretty penny. And in this economy, we are pinching them tight.

So, I'm getting crafty and thinking outside brightly colored boxes this season. Here are 12 ways to save without losing the holiday spirit:

1. Reuse what you have. Got some jars in the basement? Wash them out and make hot cocoa mix for your neighbors. Mix 3 1/2 cups sugar, 2 1/4 cups cocoa and 1 tablespoon table salt. Divide into jars and wrap a ribbon around each one. Stick a candy cane in it for good measure and write on the tag to add 2 tablespoons chocolate to each cup of hot milk.

2. Freeze some meals. In the rush of things, you may be forced to cook quick. And we all know the cost of prepared gluten-free food, so think ahead. Freeze some butternut squash, an extra sweet potato or leftovers from a meal today and you will be happy next week. Make a pot of soup and freeze single portions. Add a dollop of sour cream if you can have dairy and you have a quick meal or side to your turkey roll up. Here's a good recipe from "The Frugal Foodie" by Alanna Kaufman and Alex Small:

Mixed Mushroom Soup
1 onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
10 ounces mixed mushrooms
1/2 teaspoon thyme
2 cups chicken stock
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup milk or cream (optional)

In medium saucepan, saute onions in olive oil. Add mushrooms and thyme. Continue to cook until mushrooms soften. Add 1 cup of stock. Cook 5 minutes. Let soup cool slightly, then add soup to blender. Blend until smooth. Add additional stock to blender to desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper. Add cream if desired.

3. Use your skills. Good at drawing? Create a sentimental masterpiece. Got a penchant for photography? Take some photos of memorable locations (stadiums, former high schools, wedding sites) and get them printed and framed. Have a green thumb? Replant some of your best-growing houseplants in cute pots and save yourself a clipping. Think creatively and others will enjoy your skills.

4. Save while cleaning house. Don't buy that expensive bottle of cleaning chemicals. Mix yourself a green and cost-saving alternative. For kitchen counters: Mix 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar, 2 drops of dish soap and warm water in large spray bottle. For bathtubs: 1 cup Borax, 1 cup vinegar, 2 tablespoons baking soda (fill tub with enough water to coat bottom and soak 1/2 hour then scrub). For wood furniture: Dab damp cloth with a little olive oil and vinegar and wipe clean all your wood.

5. Carpool.

6. Donate your time. You may not have the money to give, but your time may be more precious. Volunteer at a food bank or donate all your food items that may contain gluten. Helping others may humble you and make you thankful for what you do have, and therefore less regretful of the spending binge you may have had in better economic times. Click here for opportunities at Gleaners Food Bank.

7. Stay at home, curl up on the couch. Instead of going out, check out your favorite holiday classic with a loved one. Pop a bowl of gluten-free popcorn and grab your most comfortable pajamas. There's one on television almost every night. Check out a schedule here. Or, pop in a DVD you already have. Way cheaper than going out, and a good way to stay in happy spirits.

8. Take back your bottles.

9. Breakfast for dinner. Is anything cheaper than eggs and pancakes? Even gluten-free varieties can be jazzed up with some of the canned pumpkin you bought on sale during Thanksgiving and a little cinnamon. Add some sliced banana and you have yourself a pretty tasty meal.

10. Stay ahead of your bills. Don't let the rush of the season keep you from keeping up. If you fall behind, that can be a big chunk of change and aggravation as you're paying your holiday bills next month and stocking up on some much-needed post-holiday groceries.

11. Virtual cookie exchange. A gluten-free support group/dinner cooking club in Clarkston started one a week ago, and I thought it was a great idea. It's a great way to exchange recipes without the cost of baking tons of cookies and hosting a party.

12. Stay healthy. You don't want to make a trip to the doctor now. Stay vigilant in keeping gluten from your diet, drink lots of water, exercise when possible and get lots of rest so you can enjoy the holidays and save some money you would be spending at the doctor's office, away from work or on cold medicine.

Breathe. The holidays are supposed to be about our religion, family and traditions. Somehow, as Charlie Brown says, "everyone has gone commercial. Even my own dog." Let's toss that notion out with our Wonderbread.