Fun, Fresh Ideas to Manage Work, Home, and a Gluten Free Diet!

Month: March 2015 Page 2 of 3

What’s it like to live in Paradise?

My kids are out of town, I was on call for a sleepless, Miami weekend, and now….? I’m hanging out in my favorite place…my back patio. I still can’t face the pool…. It’s more an aqua now than florid green…and the sun is setting so the color isn’t as clear to me, thankfully. I’m making progress, anyway. The frogs are starting to sing, the wind is blowing through the umbrella trees, and the peacock across the canal (who keeps running from my camera) is quieting down.   Rice and beans are on the stove and I have a few minutes before I need to get back to the kitchen. What’s it like to live in paradise?…..well…..just that…paradise. You just have to remember to get out there and recognize it and take it in…..ah…….. The wine helps (this glass is Josh. www.joshcellars.com)



Tonight I’m making shrimp tacos and black beans as the veggie alternative. My son is very allergic to shellfish, so this week may well have a couple of shrimp dishes, as my boyfriend loves shrimp. The thought of stabbing my son with the epi-pen is just not appealing….and moderately alarming….imagine. Or don’t… I need to go back outside and regain my Zen.

Rice is rice… You got this, right? 

Black beans: see prior recipe, but for the adult version add 1/2 chopped jalapeño and 1t red pepper flakes

Shrimp

Heat 1t butter, 

1 t chopped garlic, 

2T cilantro, finely chopped

2T chipotle sauce, ( SanMarcos is what I’m using)

Cook on med-high 3 mins without stirring to allow a little browning, turn and cook 3 mins

Serve on warm tortillas, with rice, beans, cheese & more salsa

Enjoy!



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Groovy Enviornment& Gluten Free Pizza… Mellow Mushroom, South Miami

I’ve been watching the “coming soon” sign for weeks, and finally, it’s open! The Mellow Mushroom in South Miami. www.mellowmushroom.com. Dark tinted windows belie the bright, colorful, modern-psychedelic decor. Widescreen TV’s line the full service bar and the center aisle, so sports fans won’t miss a minute of March Madness. 

cool lights, tiled features add to the vibe



elephant greets you at the door



The menu reads like a reassuring gluten free dream….they are educated in cross contamination, use a separate area, special screen, change gloves and aprons….sounds good to me! 



gluten free menu with vegan options



I order the “Veg Out” gluten free pizza and a lemonade (on-call) and my date ordered half of a steak and cheese hoagie and a Fiery jalapeño pineapple margarita (yummmm….jealous). The pizza was good and made perfectly to order. The crust, which is vegan, was crunchy and evenly cooked. My able-to-eat-gluten date ate half of my pizza and also thought it was good! Of course, he enjoyed the margarita! 



YES!!!



Pretty good! Reasonably priced! Great decor! And….fabulous for a dinner out with or without the kids! Best news, no pain! Enjoy and get out there for some gluten free dining!

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Wish you could stay…

March may well be my favorite month in Miami. It’s warm, but the sun is not yet scorching, it rains, but there aren’t daily thunderstorms reminiscent of a typhoon or the “perfect storm”. Today, my dogs woke me up at 630 (thank you, Humane society!) 

cocoa… the early riser

 

and I went out to find…. A green pool….and not a little green. I guess out of town last weekend and on call this weekend was a bad pool care combo. I can’t blame the pool boy/girl… Because that would be me. Ugh… Note that there is no picture because it’s horrible. While I got to work on the pool, there were so many incredible beautiful things that just make me wish March could stay:

1. Sunrise over tranquil water

gorgeous morning

2. Macaw parrots- released by hurricane Andrew, Coral Gables has a healthy community of these guys! They scream like crazy, but Hey! I’m already awake.

3. Orchids… Everywhere. And the bloom like they were taken from the best gardens in the world, yet I do nothing to them all year. 

      

4. More Birds- Woodpeckers… Sometimes heron, or even on occasion a bald eagle, and a today, beautiful pair of cardinals

I’m off to work. Have a beautiful day!

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Put up your feet…it’s been a long week

840 pm. Tired.  Hungry. Maybe even cranky?  The kids are away on spring break …it’s dark and eerily quiet. The only sound is the dogs pushing their bowls towards me, indignant at the time of my arrival. 

You’ve been there, right? We all have. Walking in later than we wanted to, and met by by the job requirements  of your home, kids & pets! Great nutrition can be quick & easy! Make it living room dinner night ….DISREGARD if you have kids AND carpet in your living room –– let everyone sit and put their feet up, grab a board game and eat a meal made in 5 mins! (You can clean up what they drop tomorrow… Or better yet, let the dog in to help with after dinner clean up!

Roll up some cold cuts if you have meat eaters, slice some fruit, open a box of crackers and slice some cheese. Serve on a platter or individual plates and garnish with a piece of dark chocolate….remember dark chocolate reduces stress, lowers blood pressure & yummmmmm. Save the stress for something that warrants it. Making dinner should not be one of them. Deep breath in…..bite of chocolate….repeat… Make it a great night!



       Dinner for 2… Better watch your plate, or that chocolate will be mine

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Fiesta! And your family will celebrate with food like this!

Tonight marks the beginning of spring break for my 3 kids, and tomorrow they go on vacation with their Dad for a week, so I wanted to celebrate their well-deserved break with a nice dinner! I asked them if they wanted to go out (please?), but they voted for …..tacos! There are so many Mexican gluten free dishes to choose from… But this is my kids all time favorite! 

So let’s get started! The menu:

Homemade corn tortillas

Black beans

Rice

Guacamole

Grass fed ground beef (for the carnivores)

       In the interest of efficiency (as parents this is goal número uno) start the beans first. 

Black Beans

1/2 red onion, chopped ( chop the whole thing… You’ll use the rest for beef and guacamole)

1 tsp chopped garlic

I chopped potato

Mix in saucepan with 1T olive oil and salt and pepper until potato is browned

Add, 

1/2 c shredded carrots

2-3 sweet peppers, chopped roughly

1T Italian seasoning

After 2-3 min add 1 can of black beans

Add 1/4 c cilantro , stir

Reduce to simmer and cook until you are ready to eat (20 mins – 2 hours)



Ready , set, go!



onions, garlic and potato… browned



can’t wait…. I’m getting hungry

Homemade Corn Torillas

Don’t be intimidated by a tortilla…these are easy, easy, easy….and handmade tortillas….ah…..heaven…great with butter, cinnamon & sugar, Nutella (what isn’t good with Nutella), and….yes….TACOS!

What you need…

A tortilla press (readily available on Amazon.com), corn flour (I use Maseca), salt & water

2 c corn flour

1 t salt

1 1/3 c warm water

Mix and knead….with your hands….you can skip therapy this week…and then roll into little balls, cover until ready to use.



dont be intimidated!



Go ahead! work out your issues…



knead into a smooth ball…feel better?



ready to impress….with the press



Okay! Break time…all my veggies are prepped. Guacamole is made and in fridge, the brown rice is in the rice maker and…. it’s time for a swim!! To eat like this, a girls got to exercise! When I get home really late, I just continue on…the last part will take only 15 minutes. The first part should take you 20-30- depending on whether your children are running interference…..

When I get back, I brown the beef (feel free to omit this….I don’t eat meat..so I can’t even tell you if its good but my son says it’s awesome) with 1/4 red onion, garlic, 1T chipotle. Done!

Next press the tortillas, wrap your press in Saran Wrap, cook on med-high (no oil!) 50 sec per side, remove and wrap in towel.



put a little muscle into it… youre burning fat!



ok…i’m getting hungry again… i wonder if i have nutella



Ok! That’s it! Get ready for your fiesta…. You’re going to book a trip to Mexico after this one!



serve it up family style!





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Peace On Earth….and at dinner.

If you have more than one child, you understand that dinner can erupt like a volcano of hot molten disobedience. Dining as a family has so many benefits, but honestly there are nights that seem like I’m a negotiator for the United Nations rather than a surgeon & mom.  So, a shout out to Macaroni’s Grill (@macaroniGrill) for reminding my family that dinner together can be fun! During a recent Disney vacation, we went to Macaroni’s Grill for dinner, where my kids (all of them) and I were enamored with the paper covered tables and crayons.  Now for you celiacs and gluten free fans, I safely enjoyed a Caprese Salad! 

Now, for special occasions, like tonight which marks the beginning of spring break for my kids, or if I sense that the natives are cranky, out comes the roll of IKEA craft paper (@IKEAUSA) and …..phew….. Dinner is fun, conversation pleasant and drawing abundant.

Love and Peace… On earth and at your dinner table.

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Sweet Spring Salad

In the mood for a delicious, nutritious, filling salad?

Gotta try this!

Organic mixed baby greens

1/4 c shredded carrot

1/2 c snap peas

1/2 c cherry tomatoes, quartered

1 Organic Daisy Girl Apple, cored & chopped

1/4 c rasperries

1 T chia seeds

1/4 c walnuts

balsamic glaze for dressing

gorgonzola cheese (optional)

Toss veggies, top with fruit, seeds & nuts, dress with Balsamic Glaze and

Yummy!

 

 

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Where’s the Car? In the GARAGE!

I always wanted a house with a 2 car garage…. But the idea of parking one car, let alone 2 has always seemed preposterous! With no basements in Miami, my garage had become the mainstay of my storage system. The whole garage, the entirety of it, was cluttered  with containers and boxes, toys and crafts, all spilling over in a complete mess. Over the last year, I have cleaned, contained, organized, sorted, donated and disposed of garage items until finally reaching the point where I thought, with a system of organization, perhaps I could use my garage for its intended purpose.

A lucky silent auction purchase at a fundraising gala introduced me to Garage Transformation & Organization, LLC. www.garagestoragemiami.com

They quickly came and installed a “Monkey Bar” system that spans 4′ and was able to organize all of our bikes as well as store 4-6 large containers on the top.



The next step was to find unused space. The team at GTO suggested overhead storage. This storage solution allows streamlined overhead storage and frees up much needed floor space.

overhead storage

Finally, the teetering , unstable, wood shelving was tackled, replacing it with a combination of free standing commercial grade wire metal shelving (Sandusky), a MonkeyBar unit, and a set of 36″ drop down shelves. The  result is clean, streamlined, organized storage, with more than enough room for the cars!

the old unstable wood shelving unit



clean, functional, well-organized storage

All of this was affordable, and easy to arrange.  And the best news? My car has a new parking spot! 

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Highlights from the Big Apple

There she is, lady liberty, wrapped in her billowing robes.  She seems, from her attire, like she would understand bloating…. and expressly prohibit this condition from the American people and our guests. There is probably nothing more frustrating than going on a trip and getting gluten-ed.  Honestly, it makes you feel like you should stay in your gluten free home and never venture out again …..EVER. Education, courage and careful selections can make your next dining out or travel experience safe and enjoyable! And remember, Open Table has a link to search for Gluten free!

http://www.opentable.com/promo.aspx?pid=630&m=8

Be adventurous! Here are some tips from my recent trip to NYC.

1. Where to stay: Manhattan! As close to Central Park as possible! Why? It is beautiful! There is great shopping, the Rockefeller Center, Times Square and Broadway all in walking distance (or the subway, if you prefer).  I love the London NYC.  It is a stylish all suites hotel, its super swanky, and they have great deals! Their restaurant,  Maze, offers Gluten-Free selections, including toast in the morning and the pleasant staff, upbeat setting and impeccable service cannot be beat.

maze_interior_masthead

Maze at London NYC – from thelondonnyc.com

www.thelondonnyc.com

2. Gluten Free Dining

Aside from my prior post, where I strongly recommend Bouchon (www.bouchonbakery.com), Eataly (www.eataly.com), and Grom (www.grom.it), I have 2 more favorites that I visit each time I go to the city.

Toloache

An authentic Mexican Restaurant serving up to die for Margaritas and Mexican food.  The Toloache Margarita features hibiscus and blueberries and is the most decadent margarita I have ever had! This weekend, we went for brunch and I had the vegetarian Huarache while my dining companion had the fish tacos!   Time after time, this restaurant serves up delicious food and drinks with NO tummy ache!

Deliciousness served up at Toloache!

Deliciousness served up at Toloache!

www.toloachenyc.com

Rubirosa

Italian… Yes Italian! Did you think you could ever have Italian again? One word… Rubirosa! Located a short subway or taxi drive away, this trendy restaurant located in the lower east side serves up tasty Italian and features an entire Gluten free menu! Word to the wise, make reservations in ADVANCE! Please try the GLUTEN FREE MOZARELLA STICKS!!!! and Pizza! Not kidding! This place is THE BOMB!

www.rubirosanyc.com

Check this out!

Check this out!

What are you waiting for? Enjoy!

 

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Distracted Driving

545 am…not exactly my favorite time, and today my 6 year old is awake… Reason unknown…and would like breakfast and her hair done.  This definitely will add a wrinkle into my morning dash, but who can be upset by eyes like those? 

I have a busy day ahead and need to get some calories in before it truly starts. First things first… This girl needs coffee and thankfully the latest studies show so many health benefits that I’m going to make it a double! Second, Rudi’s gluten free cinnamon toast… With a little butter… Okay… Don’t be a hater! I like butter on my toast. If you don’t, I would suggest orange marmalade, but honestly it’s perfect by itself.

I pack up, hop in the car and eat this buttery deliciousness while I drive. Now that’s some Distracted Driving. Make it a great day!



maybe a little too much butter…



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