yummy GF snacks

A few weeks ago, I ordered several new Gluten Free products that I had never tried and I finally got around to trying the Ener-G Wheat Free Crackers.

I LOVE THEM!!! They are sooooo good with cream cheese, peanut butter, regular cheese slices and I even like them plain!

I also grabbed a loaf of Rudi's Bakery Gluten Free Multi-grain Bread the other day and I tried it this afternoon.



HOLY COW! I love this more than I love Udi's GF Bread and I loved that a whooooole lot. I think this brand is the most similar to regular brand. A lot of times, GF bread crumbles but my turkey and Swiss sandwich (with lots of condiments and vegetables of course), upheld the ultimate test. It stayed together and didn't crumble. It was soft and so delicious! I highly recommend this bread!!!

What kinds of GF food are you loving??



Love & Laughter,

J

Meijer + books = awesome weekend for me!

Once again, Meijer has proven their awesomeness. Yesterday, Meijer had a gluten free day where you could sample many gluten free items, pick up some coupons for gluten free food (and the coupons are actually for things that I buy so that makes me a happy girl) and I also picked up a booklet that gives me ALL gluten free Meijer brand foods!

The library also gets a big shout-out for being awesome! Mark, my sister and I are all going to the Dayton Metro Library's Fall Book Sale today which means $1 for all the books that I can carry...which doesn't necessarily mean all that I can carry in my arms. People bring wagons, dollies, boxes, crates, anything that moves on wheels to this event because it's literally a buck for all that you can carry out (or wheel out). This is my second time going and my book collecting gene that was passed down to me loves it! It's fun and I can get all sorts of books that the library once owned or patrons donated for next to nothing. It's kind of like hitting the book jackpot! Last year I think Mark and I came away with 50-75 books (we didn't keep them all but after sorting, we were able to donate what we didn't want). I'll let you know if I score some really good stuff (and of course how many books I get for one George Washington). Happy Sunday!

Peace, hugs & smiles,
J

Sheila's Pancakes

One of my most favorite things to eat is pancakes (hence my blog name) and I was DEVASTATED when I could no longer eat pancakes due to my gluten allergy but not long after that, a dear friend of mine, Sheila, was so kind to send me a recipe for Gluten-Free Buttermilk Pancakes (which I now refer to as Sheila's Pancakes) that she found in a magazine and I can't stop making them...and eating them. Since they are so light and airy and delicious and small, I can eat a million of them and I wouldn't want it any other way.

Most gluten free recipes call for some crazy things but this one has basic staples from your kitchen and tapioca flour (which is $2.99 for a box in most supermarkets near the flours). Sure you can buy a GF pancake mix but that sets you back about $5-6 bucks which I personally don't think is thrifty at all, but whatever you choose, I'm happy to hear that you like eating pancakes too. Since I love this recipe so much and I love how easy it is, I would love to share it with you. Even if you don't have celiac's disease or an allergy to gluten, I think it's worth a shot to try. After all, my boyfriend loves them more than regular pancakes (he says they aren't as heavy as the regular ones) and that says a lot.

Gluten-Free Buttermilk Pancakes (Sheila's Pancakes)

3/4 cup buttermilk

1 egg

1 tablespoon canola oil

1/2 cup tapioca flour

1/2 cup cornmeal

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/8 teaspoon salt

1. Whisk together buttermilk, egg, and oil in a medium bowl until smooth. Sift together tapioca flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt in a small bowl; stir into buttermilk mixture just until ingredients are moistened (mixture will be slightly lumpy).

2. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Working in batches, drop 1/4 cup batter per pancake into skillet and cook until light golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Serve with maple syrup and banana's or confectioners' sugar; or spread with strawberry cream cheese and roll up. Serves 4.

I've actually tried them rolled up with homemade raspberry cream cheese, syrup and bananas, and even strawberry's and whipped cream. They are simply delicious so thanks Sheila! You are thought of everyday but even more so when I make these pancakes! Happy Pancake Eating!

Peace, hugs & smiles,

J

cooking up some new stuff!

If you know me, one of my most favorite things in the world to do is too cook (and of course eat - because believe you me, I'm a great eater!). My palate loves when I try new things but don't worry, I still love me some comfort food! Mark is my guinea pig bless his heart, because whether or not something tastes good, Mark will still eat it - now that's what I call love :)

I have a wide variety of cookbooks and I even have a binder (that I just finished organizing) full of recipes that I have clipped and collected over time and placed in their appropriate categories. Since grocery shopping is more thrifty for us than going out to eat, I have been cooking a lot and trying new recipes, tweaking recipes, or creating my own. Having an allergy to gluten (wheat, barley, and rye) it's sometimes really hard to find good food to eat, but it doesn't stop me from trying new recipes. I tweak the ones that I want to try or if it's something that I can't really tweak, Mark gets to try it on his own (he loves when he doesn't have to share dishes - especially if it's the good stuff). I never not make something for him just because I can't eat it - the man loves his food!!
Side note: A lot of recipes actually aren't labeled gluten free but they are indeed actually gluten free based on the ingredients needed that don't have gluten in it.

On Sunday, I sat down with my binder of recipes and made a menu for this week. Here is what Mark and I will be eating (or have already eaten):

Sunday - Pan-Seared Tuna Fillets w. Homemade Maple Ginger sauce (I can't give you the recipe because I made it up and I don't measure)
Monday - Mozzarella, Mushroom and Pepperoni Meatloaf w. Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Tuesday - Garlic Herbed Salmon with Cheesy Arepas and Baguettes w. Gorgonzola Cheese and Honey (Mark will have to eat these all by his lonesome)
Wednesday - Gluten Free Chicken and Veggie Stuffed Crust (with Fresh Mozzarella) pizza
Thursday - Gluten Free Pretzel Chicken w. Honey Mustard sauce and Spicy Steak Fries (homemade, of course)
Friday - Skyline Chili Spaghetti w. Gluten Free Spaghetti and Garlic Bread (homemade)
Saturday - Dinner with my dad at an undecided restaurant
Sunday - Tilapia with Fresh Herb Butter and rice

If you want a recipe for any of the above recipes, let me know and I will be happy to send it to you!

As far as desserts go this week, I am making Caramel Apples and Giant Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies (NOT courtesy of Betty Crocker). I have a really easy recipe that doesn't call for all kinds of crazy ingredients that most GF recipes call for.

This week, I challenge (and encourage) everyone to try something new this week and let me know what you have tried! Happy Cooking!

Peace, hugs & smiles,

J