Month: October 2015

Sunday morning with the kids. They aren’t with me every weekend. As with so many families, they go to their Dad’s some weekends. But the weekends I have them, I really relish… And the ones I don’t… I usually take call! Might as well! My middle child loves waffles and the little one loves any sweet bread and the oldest… Well chocolate…

all my little pumpkins

For some reason I just woke up hungry! At 6! Well I lounged around my room for an hour and a half and finally decided to get up and make something delicious.

I whipped up some yummy pumpkin waffles (see prior posts) but decided with the other half of the pumpkin to make pumpkin bread! My Favorite!! And while it cooks, I’m going to clean my dirty house… Well me and my scooba (by the way- I love this one… I’ve had them all.. But this one rocks!!)

scooba:)

Pumpkin bread- gluten free

Mix dry ingredients by hand or in mixer

get ready!

theres going to be Sunday morning deliciosness!

2 cups all purpose gluten free flour (I used Pamela’s artisan blend)

1 cup brown sugar

2 t baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 t pumpkin pie spice

1/4 tsp ginger

3 cloves, crushed

Dash salt

Honestly- the measurements are not exact…

Add mixed wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until just mixed

when you see this… do you think pumpkin eggnog? yum

Wet ingredients-

1/2 can pumpkin purée

1/3 c milk

1/3 c butter melted

2 eggs, plus 1 egg white

1 T apple cider vinegar

1 t vanilla

Pour into greased rectangular pain

Drizzle with 1 T melted butter

2T raw turbinado sugar

1/4 c walnuts (more if you like)

Bake in preheated oven 350 degrees for 45 mins.

you should smell my kitchen… it smells like HOME

Happy October!?

CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY?

Why are we always in a hurry? And… Potato Pizza! Meatless Monday!

By GlutenFreeHolly

On October 19, 2015

In Gluten free, Gluten Free Dining

Why are we always in a hurry? Does it seem that you run from one place to another? Perpetually late? This is our fault… We put these expectations on ourselves. There are 24 hours in each day… To use as we see fit.. Squander… Relish… Enjoy… Or FREAK OUT. Your choice. Save time or make time for the things that MATTER to you. No one else decides how you react to the world around you. Some days, I’m happy and cool as a cucumber when my kids are fighting… Others… I scream like a banshee! Why? My choice… But I like the calm me better… I try to keep the banshee in the river where she belongs!

Dinner time & prep can be stressful! Some people prepare the week’s dinner in advance… I’ve never liked doing that… I like to think about dinner during the day and then come up with a meal that I think will suit my family well on that given day… Or prepare them well for the next! Sometimes that means I have to hurry through the prep… But there are some dinners that are easy, fun and DELICIOUS!!

Tonight… Potato Pizza!! My kids love it and I love the easy prep! Plus it’s gluten free, vegetarian and can be varied just like any pizza!

Potato Pizza

Large potatoes- russet organic- 1 per person

Olive oil

Kosher salt

Wash, oil, salt… Like spa day 🙂

Wrap in tin foil and toss in oven for an hour at 375

Potato spa day!

Go for a run, play the piano, read a book, help kids with the homework or… Take a nap!!!!

Once cooked (if you’re really running late, microwave the potatoes) slice into quarters and the score in the other direction.

Sprinkle with Parmesan,

Pour on some spaghetti sauce

Cover with 1/4 cup each mozzarella cheese, then a little Parmesan and some fresh basil

Put plates in the oven (not on… Just still warm from potato baking) or microwave until melted

Enjoy! Take a deep breath! You’ll get there when you get there!❤️

Pumpkin Pie Muffins- gluten free! … And a little bit about October…

By GlutenFreeHolly

On October 18, 2015

In Gluten free, Uncategorized

October is my favorite month. To me, October means it’s time to change… Maybe like spring time for some (well likely most everyone). Full harvest moons that light the waters of Miami, sending sparkling waves across the black night water. The intense humidity and stifling nights are replaced with breezes with just a hint of coolness. The kids are settled in their school routine.. the anxiety reduced to intermittent episodes – usually regarding some forgotten homework assignment and, of course, there is Halloween, pumpkins and candy EVERYWHERE! Time change, night comes earlier… Out with the summer and in with the fall… And let’s make it a good one!

I’m in a bit of a funk today, maybe too many loads of laundry… Maybe it’s sensing that change isn’t easy for everyone… Or even desired… Or even desirable! You have to know what’s right for you and make changes that are needed, beneficial.. Healthy. Change isn’t easy. All day (actually all week) I’ve had “when I grow up” from Matilda stuck in my head. Such an incredible song, but really aside from the humor in it, there’s some good advice… “If you always take it on the chin and wear it, nothing will change” and “just because I find myself in this story, it doesnt mean that everything is written for me”

Get out there and write your story. Make it a happy one. If you need some energy and inspiration, snack on these incredibly delicious vitamin A packed muffins!

Base

2 1/2 cups Pamela’s pancake mix

1/2 cup Cold water

1 egg

2 T sugar

1 tsp salt

1/2 c butter or shortening

Mix dry ingredients, cut in butter, mix lightly until small pea sized areas of butter remain

Mix in wet ingredients together

Press balls of dough into bottom of greased muffin pan

Filling

1 can pumpkin pack

1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 cup evaporated milk

1 t pumpkin pie spice

2 cloves

1/4 t ginger

Whisk well then add to muffin tins to fill.

Topping

1/4 cup gluten free oatmeal

1/4 c brown sugar

1/2 c walnuts

Dash pumpkin pie spice

Mix and sprinkle over

Bake at 350 for 20 mins or until toothpick comes out clean

Allow to cool 5 mins and then remove from pan

Enjoy!?

Dinner out? Celiac? How do you handle it?

By GlutenFreeHolly

On October 14, 2015

In Gluten Free Dining

I love to go out to eat! At heart, I’m a foodie with fear and paranoia! About 4 blocks or so from my house are a bunch of restaurants… George’s South Miami is one of them. I like Georges…semi open air… Good drinks… Super Delish French fries (I have a thing about fries… Especially truffle fries…), good friendly service, and a cool atmosphere.

My youngest has been asking for a night out alone- sans siblings – and we made plans for tonight, so off we go! For awhile, I feared eating out. So many bad experiences… Worshipping of the porcelain goddess … But now .. I have a system. It’s easy to follow… Just these simple steps:

1- ask- “do you have a gluten free menu?” … Gauge reaction…

2- if answered with ANY hesitation or BS like our chef will modify “just for you” go to step 4… Surgeon’s motto “trust no one”! IF (and only IF ) they say “yes! And our chef (or his mother or girl/boyfriend has celiac ” enjoy and proceed to 3.

3- ok!!! How 2015 of them!! Order from the official preprinted gluten free menu at will and enjoy! Preprinted =safe (mostly)

4- ok… They are lying or ignorant or think that because I’m a skinny,tall blond that I’m on a diet. … Hmpffff… Order either salad without dressing (which they are clearly expecting), risotto, or if you eat meat (which bummer for me, I don’t) order meat! Add fries! Yum!

5. Drink, dine and be happy!

6. Ice cream or Creme brûlée for dessert!

7. Ahhhh… Delicious and you didn’t have to cook!!

Ok.. Disclaimer…Fries can be fried with gluten stuff.. Scan the menu.. If there are breaded fried items then don’t order the fries at a non gluten friendly establishment!

So tonight, we went out, grabbed a table and it just happened (really!!!) to be ladies night with free champagne !!! We had a great dinner!! I had truffle fries and a stracciella mozzarella, tomato and grilled peach salad ( yep… That was GOOD), my daughter had penne pasta and my fiancé fish & chips. Yum. No tummy aches… Never have gone wrong and they have no gluten free menu. Their beet salad is delicious too!

delish! no gluten & plenty of yum factor. thanks georges!

Can Rice Balls Be Even Better? Yes! They can!

By GlutenFreeHolly

On October 13, 2015

In Gluten free, Gluten Free Dining

Dinner in minutes… And amazingly yummy? Yep.. You can do it! I put rice in the rice cooker earlier, but I got home at 655pm and dinner was on the table at 720. AND my son told me there was NO better dinner than this. (Yes!)

The secret? Tonight I made them huge, cheesy and with a ball of mozzarella in the middle… The result? Gooey cheesy center, crispy yummy outside… Perfect.

they are SO good!

I’m trying to stay on track… It’s not easy right? Call over the weekend… Got a cold… My pool turned as green as my neighbors yard (mine is a little brown)… And my body.. Stiff.. So, I took a deep breath on Monday and reminded myself to make time for things that mean something to me. I went for a swim after dropping off my son at 0550, I caught up on work at work and home, made my kids homemade pizza and then headed to a Heat game (super fun!!!) with my fiancé, and Today? Today, I took my stiff self to 6 am yoga and showed this body some hot yoga love! Dinner at the table is a given… Gotta make the time… Now let’s make the incredible, oh so edible, rice balls with cheese filling. Happy!

What you need

Olive oil- heat in sauce pan

Gluten free bread crumbs- 2 cups

Salt – 1 tsp

3 eggs- lightly whisked

1/4 cup chopped parsley – fresh or dried

1 cup Parmesan cheese

1 cup mozzarella cheese

12 – 1″ cubes of mozzarella

2 cups white organic rice – prepared sticky 🙂

Heat oil

Fluff rice