Category: Uncategorized Page 5 of 6

Dinner Salad Anyone?

On September 18, 2015

Im not a big fan of a boring salad..but this salad… Crafted from so many of my favorite things… Is anything but boring! Couple it with a pear cider, crisp white wine, or bubbly and you have yourself a meal! Personally, I have a thing for cheese, so I paired it with a mozzarella and pesto sandwich…

Spinach, Avocado, Quinoa Dinner Salad

1 bowl of baby spinach

1 large avocado, chopped in cubes

6 strawberries, sliced

2 T chia seeds

1/2 cup quinoa, cooked in vegetable buillon

2 T sesame oil

2 T vinegar, I used fig infused balsamic vinegar

Mix the oil and vinegar

Toss the salad with the sauce

avocado!

add some berries…

Eat! Enjoy! Be healthy!❤️

dinner in 10 minutes!

Friday Night Peachy Delight! Gluten free and delicious!

By GlutenFreeHolly

On September 11, 2015

In Gluten free, Gluten Free Dining, Uncategorized

Are we there yet? Yes.. We have officially made it! It’s Friday night and I made it in the door at 645. Dinner will not be on the table by 7, but it’s the weekend and I’m so happy to be home! You?

So I’m making gluten free Mac and cheese for dinner … Plain Jane… But sooooo yummy! But my real planning is for a gluten free peach pie! I haven’t tried this before… So, I’m a little nervous (spoiler alert … It turned out really yummy… Fresh, not too sweet and perfect with a little vanilla ice cream!)

peach pie and ice cream!

My week was rough… A newborn baby with a difficult surgical procedure, a teenager with a terrible cancer…Thursday morning, prior to the difficult newborn surgery, I went to 6 am yoga. The teacher said something that really struck me.. “On the other side of fear is freedom”. For some people the fear they face must be so overwhelming… The path to freedom so difficult. For others of us, we are so fortunate that the things we fear may be small, may be truly overlookable …but do we? Or do we blow it up, fret, focus, perseverate…create monsters that don’t really need to exist. Fear is normal. Recognize it, accept it, and move through it. Find the freedom… And try this peach pie!

Crust

2 cups King Arthur gluten free flour

1 tsp salt

2 T sugar

1/2 cup butter

Mix dry ingredients, cut in butter and mix until pea sized clumps

butter and flour… always a good thing

1/2 cup ice water

1 egg

1 T apple cider vinegar

Mix wet ingredients – add a little at a time just until the crust forms

Press crust into pan

the crust… just waiting to be covered in peaches

2 peaches thinly sliced

Place in crust

no filter… just that beautiful

I package of gluten free maple syrup and brown sugar instant oatmeal

1 T soft butter

1T turbinado

Mix above and sprinkle over peaches

ready for the oven!

Bake at 350 for 40 mins

Serve with vanilla ice cream and enjoy!

ahhhhh… that is good!

Have a wonderful weekend!

What makes a surgeon

By GlutenFreeHolly

On August 25, 2015

In Uncategorized

I just found out that Dr Red Duke died. I know that no one lives forever, I know that he was a man. But somehow, he just seemed superhuman.. Immortal. I remember when I met him. It was during interviews for surgical residency. The chairman from UF had talked to him,so he personally greeted me. “Well Hello Suga! Ted told me to look for you!” And he followed that with a big sip of black coffee from a small hospital styrofoam cup then a puff of his handlebar mustache to clear the excess.

Hook.. Line… Sinker

I thought the attire around the institution was because it was ” Go Texas” day, but it turned out that cowboy boots were normal OR attire and Red actually did have an apartment in the hospital. He made residents and interns look like pansies. He taught us what devotion meant. He taught us what it meant to care. Ethics. Integrity. Perseverance. Tenacity. Equality. Dr Duke was a good southern man, but he treated me more like a surgeon than any of my 5 male counterparts .. despite ( or with the benefit of ) being called “honey” “suga” or “good Lookin”… You see Dr Duke very rarely would call you by name… But you could certainly hear him calling the residents by their nicknames from miles away.. “Hey sh**head” was common.

I remember the day that we had so many traumas at once that he said ” Holly, you take care of these and I’ll start on the others”. I understood what that meant and means. I’ve had so many wonderful mentors…. And that’s what makes a surgeon.

❤️

Not sure where to start… but I’ve rode in this rodeo before And you have to DEFINE what it means to Do It All

By GlutenFreeHolly

On August 25, 2015

In Gluten Free Dining, Home organization, Uncategorized

yep. It’s true. Lack of confidence is not my game. But this back to school thing… Wow. Nothing gets a Mom like seeing her kids stressed. I even started taking Zantac and am having a Tuesday glass of wine. I think I’ll title that terrific Tuesday to make it seem legit.

Gluten free cooking? Well let me share a true story and pearl of wisdom… The pearl… It’s ok to ask for help… It’s ok… Just use the Dominos App. Oh… And in case you were wondering… Their gluten free pizza is yummy (I get tomato, spinach and mushroom) and I’ve Never gotten sick.

The story… So Monday is back to school… I take the day off (because my oldest is 14 and my youngest 8 and I’ve riden this bull in the rodeo before…did you guys know I lived in Texas for 8 years???) The problem is that I have expectations… Easy 545 am drop off to the metro with the 14 year old, easy walk in and drop off 8 & 10 year old Girls, time off from 8-130, pick up 14 year old and take him to swim team tryouts and them swim team practice and Viola! I’m done!

Well… It’s pitch black at 545. (You and I know that… But 14 year olds don’t). Suddenly, it’s a good idea that I ride the metro to find the school bus.. Ok cool.. I’m in. All ok. I support the decision wholeheartedly .. Back to get girls… Fine.. Except my 8 year old won’t speak once we get to school… Like not even her name… Not Hi to her friends… She’s pale… Hmmmm… Well, yes… Actually I am a doctor… She’s … Wait for it .. Terrified.

So I get home and I embark on my day’s project… Paint a wall, a bench, plant 6 planters with flowers… (I do have goals… After all… I took the whole day off):)

Then I get the text that the swim team tryout application is incomplete… The papers downloaded (last week) are last year and have to be redone… Wow. Because I spent Saturday finding a notary to do it… Wow. So super dad steps in and gets it done… But the office still won’t take it… Until the next day. Bureaucracy… Alive and well.

So, we go to club swim team practice, drop rice in rice maker for sopes and rice and beans, head to Office Depot, next kid to swim practice … When I realize… Dinner will not be on the table until 9….best case scenario.

Uff… Breathe. Yep. If you can’t get it done, accept it & make a change. Dominos it is. Done.

Sometimes it’s just gotta be… You can’t be 200 places a one time. You can’t control the traffic, the hideous line at Office Depot… Make choices that work. You can have balance… But some days, you have to define what it means to do it all.

Tuesday …this time 0600 metro… he’s confident on his own…All good. Swim team tryouts attended…Will find results out tomorrow. The usual homework difficulties… Printer broke (hallelujah for Amazon prime NOW.. Printer arrives in 2 hours)…laundry -CHECK…. Homework -DONE… Teacher of stressed out 7 year old -EMAILED…. Dinner… Sopes and rice and beans complete and delicious. Bedtime stories read, homework assistance provided… You can do it all… You just need to define “all” and realize that it is okay to ask for help… (And to cry… And to have terrific Tuesday) YOUVE GOT THIS, and so do I.

845 and ALL children asleep.

Buenas noches…. Good night.

Parenting isn’t easy, but it’s not the nights that knock your socks off, but the beautiful feet that you put the socks on.

❤️

Be Brave, Try new things… Especially these yummy tacos- Honey chipotle Drenched Fish and Beef Tacos

By GlutenFreeHolly

On August 14, 2015

In Gluten free, Uncategorized

From the response of my last blog, it seems that a little inspiration is needed… Maybe more out of the kitchen than in…I don’t know if I’m one to inspire, but I am often inspired by others…. Actions little or big, unintentional or not, nice or mean… I think ALOT while I cook. I think ALOT when I exercise. I’m not one to review or perseverate about the day once I put my head down. Literally, 2 deep breaths and that’s it – “in with the good…… Out with the bad x 2 and I’m unconscious.

Everyone deals with stress differently, some are good strategies… Others utterly destructive. So much of our stress if from that “could have…” So today, while making Honey Chipotle Drenched Tacos on the Grill I want you to think about being Brave. Brave, not foolish. Confident, not aggressive. Do you have the solution at work? Do you know the answer at school? Did you just figure out how to find world peace or feed the hungry? Or were you just wrongly accused or think that color looks great on your friend? Speak up! Lift that beautiful head of yours (or your pen if you’re that kinda person) and put it out there! Lack of confidence can become lack of opportunity, lack of action, lack of getting from point A to the point you want to B. Sometimes you don’t have to be confident – you just need to be Brave. Take a deep breath and go get em tiger. Now… Let’s get cooking!

I decided to grill tonight. Grilling in Miami is like a sauna, hot tub and steam facial all in one… And since at 44 I still have skin difficulties, I’m in.

I’m grilling meat tonight as the going away dinner for our wonderful Au Pair, who will be truly missed as have been the 2 before her. This program, through cultural care Au pair, is such a wonderful thing!

Anyway! Back to the grill!

Pick a nice fish, like Mahi or grouper or snapper. Also I chose thinly cut organic beef

you cant put too much!

Mix

1/4 c honey

1/3 c chipotle sauce

1 green onion sliced

Pepper to taste

1/2 onion

1/2 t red pepper

Drench the meats with this sauce, cover until ready

Other things you need

Guacamole (see prior post)

Slaw if you like (I love!!) simple cabbage, cilantro and dressing

Corn tortillas

Rice and beans

All these you can find, if desired, in prior posts

Put the beef on the grill first and after turning, add the fish- cook the fish only 3-4 mins per side or until flaky

my sauna

Serve with additional chipotle

dinner party time!

yum!

Enjoy! Be brave! Be confident! Be You!❤️

Food for thought… Are you Awesome?

By GlutenFreeHolly

On August 11, 2015

In Uncategorized

I am in hot yoga. There is so much water pouring off my red hot face on to my towel on the floor while I’m sitting here in utkatasana (chair pose) that I’m drawing a happy face with the never ending stream. Round 2, round 3… Yeah my legs are burning, but what you can do once you can do twice, and I’m occupied with my sweat art. Then, something interesting happens, the teacher says, don’t believe the voices in your head, you CAN do this.. And I hear the noises of frustration, of defeat, even 1 “can’t”. And then I wonder “EXACTLY WHEN DID YOU GIVE AWAY YOUR BELIEF THAT YOU ARE AWESOME?” WHEN?? I want to scream it. I’m raising 2 daughters and 1 son and I see the constant chipping away at the belief of self awesomeness. I’ve experienced and watched the process of self restoration. I see Friends, colleagues, family members… Even myself. I talk to college and medical students. We take less pay, crash into glass ceilings created by ourselves, or created by others but accepted by us, we enter into bad relationships, accept abusive spouses (physical or mental), develop eating disorders, and put ourselves through cosmetic procedures to meet the expectations of WHO?
When did you lose the feeling that you could do anything? That you were the Best? That you were awesome? When did you decide you weren’t good enough, you weren’t pretty enough, smart enough, you didn’t have what he or she had, you couldn’t do it? When did “can’t” enter your vocabulary? Why do students tell me they can’t be surgeons? Engineers? When did you decide that it was okay that you made less than Johnny at work, or didn’t get that promotion? Why did you justify it? You always had to leave at 6 or 7 and weren’t as dedicated because you have kids to care for? You come in early, work through lunch and work steadily through the day, while Johnny comes in late, takes a rediculously long lunch and plays video games at his desk all day? Why do you criticize your projects and tell your boss you can do better? When did you give away your awesome?
Get it back! It’s yours and it’s in there. It might just need some dusting off, or you might need to dig deep, but go and get it and then hold on tight and let it shine!

You are awesome!

Happy Saturday ..& a great Sangria

By GlutenFreeHolly

On June 20, 2015

In Gluten free, Home organization, Uncategorized

I always have a hard time deciding… Red or white sangria… They are both so yummy… Red reminds me of spiced oranges and cloves and white of summertime on the water….ahhhh.

So, I got up this morning and cleaned my house… Like the kind of cleaning when you get the funky stuff from around the faucets … Scrub the showers until your arms burn… The kind of clean where you wish you hadn’t added another bathroom…

And then, aside from making incredible chilaquiles with egg for brunch and grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch (my kids don’t understand brunch… They just think it’s breakfast with a tardy slip), I painted some horrible looking doors…

Isn’t it amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do… Honestly, so often I feel like I’m doing that for my life… Not covering up the grime, the scars, the imperfections…. But relishing them… Remembering when I redid my daughters room and scratched the door… Enjoying the wrinkles, the scars… The momentos… But then doing a deep clean to wash away the bad and start fresh… But with the knowledge and experience from before.

Well… The doors look great… As does the house.. And to celebrate, I made a glass of sangria and headed to the pool… To relax and take in the sound of the parrots, the jumping fish, my crazy dogs and appreciate.

Anyway… THE SANGRIA!!!

1/2 bottle red Zinfandel.. I used Cline

1/2 bottle rose

1 cup margarita mix

1 cup crushed ice

I cup organic mixed berries

Mix, pour… Relax

Appreciate what you have… Little or a lot … For you Dads… happy Father’s Day. You truly have something to appreciate.

❤️

Summertime Slumber party…. With homemade pizza and gluten free rice balls!

By GlutenFreeHolly

On June 10, 2015

In Uncategorized

Worknight for me… Not for them. So, we have a play date & sleepover going on here. That’s cool. I’m tired… They appear to have had Red Bull during their camp refreshments… And they have decided to watch Jumanji, because that’s not too scary. Are you kidding me? I’m in the kitchen cooking and I’m creeped out! But I’ll be fine. One thing I know how to do is feed hungry kids… And I am surrounded by them. One 14 year old bottomless pit boy, 2 – 10 year old girls and 2 – 6 year old girls.. They are starting to circle… Darting in like sharks on shark week… Trying to grab a cookie… Or a croissant… Even an apple or a banana… One of the 6 year olds just licked a croissant so I couldn’t put it back… The childbeasts are starting to get restless… But, I’ve got this!
First!

Homemade Pizza!
This is not gluten free… Although it can be! If you need the recipe, message me or check out past blogs.

This is a well loved meal by playdate attendees and doesn’t dissapoint! slumber party … pizza party.. happy party.

Next… I’ve been dying to try gluten free rice balls! So, here it goes!!
By the way… 4 of these disappeared before even being fried… Yep.. That good….well and the sharkchildren… They are clearly ravenous. Its 640 pm.. The clock is ticking…. Anyway, I hope you ran, or swam or did orange theory today😊
Cook 1 cup of white arborio rice or sushi rice in your usual fashion but with a dash more water and a veggie bullion cube and 1 tsp olive oil – while that cooks…
Mix:
2 eggs
Salt and black pepper to taste
3 tsp parsley (I used dried)
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan
Put in the fridge to cool until the rice is done.
Mix the egg mixture with the rice… Stir like crazy or you will have egg chunks and this is Italian…. Go! Use those forearms!
go! go! go! stir fast so you end up with rice balls not chinese fried rice!

Ok. Put that in the freezer until cool!
Now! Make rice into balls and then roll in gluten free bread crumbs. Fry until golden in oil on medium high. Drain on paper towels.

Drain on paper towels and serve with marinara sauce! Now you are household hero!
Enjoy!!! I ate 7…

They were so delicious.. So cheesy… So crispy… So GONE!
Make it a great night!❤️

Friday = Fiesta! Yes! Of course, Gluten Free (& Vegetarian)

By GlutenFreeHolly

On May 29, 2015

In Uncategorized

4 more days of school. But who is counting anyway? Well, I have 3 who have switched to counting the minutes… Summer is so close, they can taste it. The pool pump broke over Memorial Day weekend and the pool is so green that I’m thinking a pet pod of tadpoles could be fun… BRING IT ON! Bring on the sun, the hurricane scares, the daily thunderstorms, the neighborhood crocodile (not kidding… Check out my Instagram account for a photo) and bring on those relaxing evenings without homework, no strict bedtimes of 8 pm…. Outside dinners… by the (hopefully clear blue) pool, under the starry Florida sky…. warm breezes, eating in our bathing suits, MAGIC…. BRING IT… We are ready!

In the spirit of celebration, I decided on a dinner of guacamole, chips, black bean sopes and quesadillas with handmade tortillas. All this in under 1 hour… With some goofing off while cooking (the only way to go).

Hungry yet?

Let’s go!

Guacamole (see prior posts for recipe)

Chips (tostitos are certified GF)

Handmade Tortillas & Sopes

4 cups Maseca corn flour

1 tsp salt

2 2/3 cup warm water

Mix well for 2 mins ( with your hands…. Its Friday… Sink those fingers in and de-stress) roll into balls and let sit. Divide into 2 sets of about 20 balls.

masa balls and guacmole…. getting ready!

Sopes

Take balls and press in center with thumb.

make them small… call them sopes… big … huaraches… i call them delicious!

Fry in veggie oil for about 5 mins, turning once, until golden brown. Place on paper towel to drain.

frying… don’t they look happy?

Fill with 1 T black bean mix or refried beans and top with cheese.

my son has already stolen one…. yep… he approves…

easy, delicious, fun to make! screams FIESTA!

Black Bean Mix

Process until smooth

1 can black beans

1/4 onion

1 green onion

1/4 c carrot

3 sweet peppers

1 T oregano

1 T chili powder

Dash salt and pepper

(Personally, I used leftover black bean burger mix, heated in microwave 2 mins)

Quesadillas

Take remaining masa balls and press in tortilla presa covered in saran wrap. Cook on Comal for 50s per side

my ab workout for the evening…

truly… nothing beats homemade tortillas…

Allow to cool

Place again on Comal, top with cheese and second tortilla. Cook until cheese melted, turning once.

except maybe homemade tortillas covered in cheese..

to the table!

That’s it! Fiesta Time!

summer fiesta from my table to yours! gluten free can be Oh So Good!

BRING IT ON!

❤️

National Burger Day! Gluten Free & Vegetarian!

By GlutenFreeHolly

On May 28, 2015

In Uncategorized

What to make for dinner… My nightly dilemma… Sometime between 6 and 615 I’m in full panic mode regarding what on earth to whip up for tonight’s dinner. Tonight… The usual… Inspiration? Help? I ask every family member… And then I remember, it’s National Burger Day!!!! Yeah! I’m the only non meat eater in my household, and so I decide on Organic grass fed, hormone free burgers for the crew with American Cheese from Applegate on Potato buns, but for me? I’m going to make a black bean veggie burger on Udi’s toast with the same cheese and mushrooms over the top…..yum…. For real.

Step 1– throw the Ore Ida crowns (yes… I do have a minor addiction to these!!) in the oven and set to 425 degrees for 25 mins

Step 2

In processor add:

3 sweet mini peppers

2t chopped garlic

1/4 onion

1 green onion- process