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    Sift

    About

    Hey there, I’m Laura!

    I learned the cooking and baking basics from my mom and grandmother when I was a little girl. It has been love ever since. I plan to share that love with my little girl.

    Let’s start at the beginning

    I grew up in Montréal, Canada surrounded by French patisseries, bakeries, fresh bread available on most corners. My family was a blend of ethnicities and cultures that are very present in my upbringing. None more than my Eastern European heritage. My grandmother was a trained baker by Wilton, and always made sure we had the best birthday cakes.

    Delicious treats were never too far out of reach, and I was incredibly fortunate in that regard. We were a household of videographers and photographers. We owned that classic Sony video-recorder from the 90s and I always loved home movies. I was given my first camera and the age of 14 and have not put one down since.

    In Montreal, I earned a DEC (which is a degree particular to colleges there) in Creative Arts, Languages, and Literature. I then moved on to get my Bachelor’s Degree and Master of Arts degrees in Roman History and Religion. This all came at an interesting time in my life as I had just been diagnosed with Celiac Disease. This meant saying goodbye to all of my favorite gluten containing foods that I had grown up with.

    I wanted to learn how to make all of the recipes I had grown up with, but now, with a gluten free twist!

    I moved to the USA in January of 2017 and had plenty of time to learn while I waited for my green card and permits to be approved. In that time, a very preliminary version of Sift was born.

    Over the next few years, I was a teacher (pre-pandemic), suffered from 2 traumatic brain injuries, and began my journey with my husband to becoming parents. It was a long road for each of them, but, it has brought me here.

    In January of 2020, I decided to up my photography game, take some classes, and really commit to bringing Sift and my recipes to life. I want others who have to eat gluten free to be able to create the dishes they love without compromising on taste or quality.

    This website is really an homage to the two women who taught me to bake and appreciate food, my mother Dianna, and my late grandmother, Adele. Both women shared the importance of tradition through food, and how putting love into what you make really does make a difference.

    Here you will find a variety of sweet and savory recipes, 100% gluten free, 100% not able to detect it is gluten free.

    Thanks for stopping by,
    x Laura

    What will you find on Sift?

    • 100% gluten free sweet & indulgent recipes that I’ve tested in my own kitchen that I hope you’ll try and love!
    • Step by step instructions (including some videos) on how to perfect your gluten free cooking and baking game.
    • All of my favorite cooking, baking, and photography equipment that I deem essential in the kitchen!

    More about Laura & the Blog

    How did you come up with the name “Sift RVA?”

    When I first moved to the United States, I moved to Richmond, Virginia. The local abbreviation is RVA. So, Sift “RVA” was born.

    How old were you when you found out you had Celiac Disease?

    I was 20 years old, and was 1 week in to my undergraduate degree. I have been gluten free 12 years as of this year.

    What is Celiac Disease?

    The response from Google is “Celiac disease is a chronic digestive and immune disorder that damages the small intestine. The disease is triggered by eating foods containing gluten. The disease can cause long-lasting digestive problems and keep your body from getting all the nutrients it needs.” The reality is that foods containing gluten, barley, rye, malt, and wheat cause great pain and a myriad of other issues for people with Celiac Disease and gluten intolerances. The only course of action is a gluten free diet.

    What is a good recipe to start with?

    Cookies! I love converting cookie recipes. If you are a chocolate fan, then I definitely recommend my double chocolate chip cookies

    I have allergies and intolerances other than gluten. Are there recipes here for me?

    Yes! I have several recipes that are dairy free, egg free, nut free, and a couple of vegan recipes as well.

    Do all of your recipes have vegan options?

    No- I personally am not vegan (although my household is pescatarian), so, I will often provide options for people to try, but, I have not necessarily tried them myself!

    If I am curious about how to make a particular food gluten free, what should I do?

    Feel free to reach out! I am happy to help!

    Laura’s Favorite Recipes

    • Pear and Frangipane Tart
    • Maple Doughnuts
    • Baked Apple Cider Donuts
    • Gluten Free Oatmeal Cookies Recipe
    • Fried Egg with Rice
    • Vegetarian Bourguignon
    • Kronk’s Spinach Puffs
    • Baked Rockfish


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    Hi, I'm Laura! Welcome to Sift. I help home bakers and cooks achieve impressive and delicious recipes. You and your guests will be asking, "are you sure this is gluten free".

    More about me →

    As Featured In

    Holiday Recipes

    • Dulce de Leche Cheesecake
    • Orange Tart
    • Gluten Free Sausage Rolls
    • Orange Curd Recipe
    • Scones and Clotted Cream
    • Gluten Free Biscotti Recipe

    Popular Recipes

    • Baked Rockfish
    • Blueberry Burnt Basque Cheesecake
    • Harry potter themed snacks: Black Lake Brownies
    • Spaghetti allo Scarpariello aka The Cobbler’s Wife

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