Cookie Monster

I am ABSOLUTELY in LOVE with these cookies...

I saw them at the store and grabbed a box, went home and ate just about the entire box! I went back to the store and bought 3 more boxes! They taste great, you can tell there are some oats in them, but I would have NEVER imagined that these cookies are vegan as well! If you have tried lem let me know what you think!!

So far these cookies are the closest to regular cookies! There are other flavors as well. Check out: http://www.drlucys.com/ It will change your life!!

Such a KIND Person

I've noticed that it's a bit difficult to find fast and easy snacks on the go with little preparation. One day during my monthly grocery trip I saw these KIND Bars:

Anyone who knows me knows that I am all about Apples! I love 'em! I once went to McDonald's at 12 midnight for an apple pie. I like apple tea, apple chips...the list goes on and on. Anyway...

I was very pleasantly surprised by these snack bars! I first had the Almond & Coconut bar. I loved it and decided to try the Apple Cinnamon & Pecan.

The Almond & Coconut was delicious, not too sweet and I felt like my hunger was satisfied afterwards.

The Apple Cinnamon & Pecan tasted like a yummy, healthy apple pie! Again, not to sweet and very satisfying.

I am looking forward to buying more of these and I am seriously considering taking part in the KIND Advantage. Please check out their website and keep your eyes peeled in the grocery stores and gas stations.

Good to Know

I've been trying to look at nutrition labels more closely recently because there are so many things that have hidden gluten. One thing I saw that made me happy was the back of my Kroger chicken tenderloins!

So I say to you: Shop with Confidence! And please always read the label.

Cornbread Perfection

I've really been getting into Bob's Red Mill products and I'm very excited about it. I started with the All Purpose flour and now I'm moving forward.

This time I used the Cornbread Mix and it was simple and delicious.  

Here are a couple of tips when making this:
1. Be sure to let the liquid soak into the mix for at least 10 minutes to prevent a grainy texture
2. Be sure your ingredients are at room temperature
3. Be sure to have extra butter/margarine/oil just in case the mix is a bit dry

Here is what the mixture looks like out of the bag, you can actually see the bits of corn!

All mixed up:

I decided to make Cornbread Muffins instead of cornbread in a pan.:

 Here is the finished product. I keep them in an air tight container and warm them up in the microwave for about 20 seconds with a bit of butter.

 

Udi's Udi's UDI'S

I feel like Keith Sweat because Udi's makes me wanna say my my my my my!!!!!! Udi's was recommended to me by a fellow Celiac...Katie B. So I tried the bread: 

Made myself an amazing, buttery, crispy grilled cheese:

I also had a couple hot dogs...

All in all I love this bread!!! It is as close to regular bread as I have found...it doesn't get any better than this!

Pancaking

One morning when I was feeling particularly domestic I decided to make GF pancakes for me and the Man.

I used the new Gluten Free Bisquick from General Mills. I followed the directions on the side of the box, very easy stuff.

The key to this recipe is mixing the batter AND letting it sit for about 10 minutes so that the liquid can be absorbed by the flour. This keeps it from being grainy.

Here is the finished product, I added some chocolate chips to mine. You can't even tell that they are GF. I kinda out-did myself!

Mike Has Nothing on Chester!

I recently tried Michael Season's Feel Good Snacking Cheese Curls and they were breathtakingly delicious! These products are all natural, reduced fat, and wheat/gluten free. I would recommend anyone who misses chips to or salty snacking to try any one of Michael Season's products!

Chex Crispy Treats!

I  really loved Rice Krispie Treats, but oddly enough even though they are made of rice...they are NOT gluten free!

Then one day...LIGHT BULB...Why can't I just use my favorite GF Chex? Genius!

I used the Rice Krispie treats recipe, pretty simple: cereal, marshmallows, butter

I made a batch but the Boo made a MUCH better batch. He mixed the Honey Chex & the Cinnamon Chex: YUM!

Word of advice...be sure the marshmallows are GF, I used Kraft Jet Puffed.

Daddy's Girl

I will admit...my dad is a pretty cool dude. He can cook/bake/grill his buns off!! It's nice to drop by and have a nice home cooked meal, that you didn't have to make, every now and then. On this particular occasion I got to partake in steak and beans...yeah, I know that sounds plain, but by no means was it plain.

This steak was perfectly seasoned, juicy, and moist.

The beans were a mix of lima beans, black eyed peas, corn, ham hocks...as well as some secret ingredients I'm sure! They were slow cooked to perfection.

 Dad, if you read this please make some more steaks and invite me over. Thanks, Love you!

(See? Daddy's Girl)

Cupcakes Like Mom Never Made

Alrighty...here's another adventure in baking!

I made yummy cupcakes and I do mean YUMMY!!!!

I modified the muffin recipe I posted earlier.

Sooo I had to taste one to make sure it was done

Then I had to taste one to make sure the frosting was extra yummy...

This is the frosting that I used on my cupcakes:

 Good news...this frosting is (drumroll) Gluten Free and clearly marked!

 I thoroughly enjoyed every one of these muffins and I hope you take advantage of Betty Crocker's new Gluten Free Baking Items!!

Hades Hot!!

Here in Texas it's about 200 degrees every day...well maybe closer to 100, but it's Hades Hot here! I've found a restaurant chain that sells AMAZING sno cones!!!


Bahama Buck's

This place is GREAT!! I had a Jamacian Punch:

I don't know what they do but their ice is so smooth and velvety it's addictive!!! So if you see a Bahama Buck's stop by and enjoy yourself!

Kozy has a hold on me!

Wouldn't you know it? I went back to Kozy Kitchen, I am determined to try as much of their menu as I can! So I went and had brunch with my Houston Diva and this is what we ate:

 She had this amazing salad...she loved it! I know that next time she's in town we can go there and have a great time!!

 These eggs were amazing! They use the freshest eggs and this raw cheese that I can't live without!

I'd like to take a moment to reflect on how amazing these pancakes were.......................

Ok I'm back! Seriously, these were an almost life changing experience, lol. Please, please, please...if you are ever in the Dallas (Uptown) area stop by this place and chow down!!

Dude, Sweet!

I really do like chocolate and I've found a really unique place that I am planning on frequenting. Although this isn't exclusively Gluten Free it was a nice treat either way.

Dude, Sweet Chocolate

As in every instance please be sure to look at the ingredients and ask questions if you're unsure.

I had such an amazing time at this little shop in Bishop Arts District. The owner was there and she greeted us and and her staff was unbelievable. You can sample almost anything they offer to ensure you know what you are getting yourself into. They have so many unique things. Here is what I ended up getting:

Chocolate Covered Bacon, Popeye & Olive Popcorn, and Carloha Chocolate Bar

And don't worry! If you can't get to Dallas for these goodies they ship these goodies too!Just check out their website and order online.

Hello There!

Sorry I've been a bit M.I.A.... the good news is that I got an AWESOME new job so I had a bit of transition. I also want to send a huge shout out to Andrea G. at my new job! She is Gluten Free (an just an all around sweet lady) and it's REALLY nice to be able to come to work and talk about GF things :-)

Anyway...back to the regularly scheduled program and  

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!

Another Tidbit...

My loving cousin emailed me about an online bakery he stumbled upon, so I thought I'd share: Julian Bakery. If there is a place by you that sells it, be sure to check it out. If not, you can always order it online. I haven't tried it, but I'll let you know when I do!

Asian Adventure

I recently went to P.F. Chang's for a date night and had the privilege of ordering from their awesome gluten free menu! I had the Lemon Chicken & Garlic Spinach. I was not disappointed at ALL! I like that all GF items are put on P.F. Chang's logo plates and regular items are placed on plain plates. I like to think that I'm extra special to get the logo!

Picture Me Casserolin'

Open fridge...close fridge...sit...tummy growls...open fridge...insert sigh here.

I didn't know what I was gonna eat, grocery shopping needed to be done but luckily I had some key items in my pantry/fridge:

Beef
Rotel
Cheese
Rice
Philly Cooking Creme :


Yeah that's basically it! I used this recipe: Tex-Mex Beef & Rice Casserole

 


Here is the finished product, I embellished it with some Doritos I had on hand! I had enough for lunch & dinner for like 2 weeks!!

My weakness...Breakfast

This is just a quick post to show the ingenuity of a person who is desperate for breakfast food. I had two sausage patties left and I fried an egg or two and a slice of cheese. So I made a sausage sandwich! It was delish...messy, but yummy!

UN...common

I was out with my Little Sister (BBBS) and we needed to get a quick bite to eat...oh no, this is unplanned, what am I gonna do? My worst fear, eating out unplanned in a not so familiar area. I did a quick sweep of the area...Jimmy John's. I have some VERY fond memories of Jimmy John's. There was one next to my dorm when I was in college and they stayed open until 3:00am so I ate there quite frequently! Everywhere I have lived I have found the nearest Jimmy John's so I can resort to my "old faithful". At first I was like "Darn it I can't eat there" but then I remembered the Unwich! All the fun of the famous Jimmy John's sandwich without all the gluten! I ordered what I always order: Beach Club, no Sprouts, no Cucumbers, no Lettuce (since it's wrapped in it)! I felt like I was home! Here is what it looks like:

Not the most glamorous, but it get's the job done...well!

Baked Bliss

So I was feeling all domestic and I tried my hand at this whole baking thing. Before my diagnosis I would bake all the time, it was easy and fun; but then I felt like what can I bake since I can't use flour? Well I was forwarded this awesome & easy muffin recipe: http://fireandsalt.blogspot.com/2010/04/gluten-free-doughnut-muffins.html

The only catch is I couldn't find my cupcake/muffin pan...so I made a cake! I LOVE this muf...cake! It is very yummy & can make this again & again.

Here is the finished product, kinda looks like cornbread!

This is the texture...

This is my piece...get your own!

New Found Frozen Foods

OK, so I didn't think there were any frozen foods I could eat with confidence, but I was mistaken. I have found some frozen BREAKFAST foods that I'm 100% in love with!! I will eat breakfast for dinner because these are deelish!



First, there's Van's French Toast. It has a great cinnamon flavor. I usually dip it in a bit of syrup! YUM

Then there is Van's Waffles!! I LOOOOOVE these!! I bought them in Blueberry AND Apple Cinnamon!! I usually spread a bit of cream cheese on them (preferably Philadelphia Strawberry Cream Cheese) when I'm on the go.

I didn't think I'd be able to ever enjoy frozen breakfast foods, but Van's has changed that :-)

Good News for Sweet Potato Lovers

So, I'm not sure how far out this reaches but...when I was in Tennessee I had THESE:

 

Sweet Potato Fries

They were GREAT!!! If you know of a Chick-fil-a with these try 'em! Tell 'em I sent ya ;-)

Quinoa Adventure!

I recently bought some Ancient Harvest Quinoa shell pasta to make macaroni and cheese. Before my diagnosis I made mac 'n cheese ALL the time I loved it...sometimes I would eat it as my main meal! I can't remember the last time i had mac 'n cheese.

This is what it looks like when you boil it. You have to make sure that it's cooked all the way even if it takes longer than you are used to. The water will turn yellowish, but that's because it has some corn starch in it.

I like to use Velveeta and whole milk in my macaroni and cheese. Here is the finished product. It was pretty good! The texture was slightly different, but cheese makes everything better.