Starbucks, picking up the slack

Starbucks might have good coffee but their shot at that Gluten Free Starbucks® Valencia Orange Cake thing- UGH... I couldn't even finish my first bite. GROSS! They quickly realized that GF does not mean tastey free... and now offer many of my favorite Gluten Free treats. So next time you're getting your morning jolt, take a peak around, you might be pleasently surprised!

Here is the official Snacks On-the-Go list: Make sure the read the labels!

Also on January 12 in participating U.S. Starbucks stores, customers will see a line of new snack options with 220 calories or less per serving, including:



Annie’s® Snacks: These delicious alternatives to traditional snacks are available in portion controlled sizes exclusive to Starbucks

FoodShouldTasteGood®: Available in Multigrain and Sweet Potato, the all-natural chips are packed with quality ingredients

KIND Bars: These all-natural bars with wholesome ingredients you can see and pronounce are the perfect grab-and-go snack

Lucy’s® Cookies: Available in Chocolate Chip, Sugar and Cinnamon, every crispy, crunchy, delicious Dr. Lucy’s cookie is made with the highest quality ingredients

Peeled Snacks®: Fruit just as nature intended – with no sugar added, available in gluten-free mango, cherry, and apple

Peter Rabbit™ Organics: Perfect on-the-go snack for busy parents, showing kids that food can be fun and delicious

Sahale Snacks®: Available in Pomegranate Cashew, Soledad Nut Blend and Chipotle/Ranch Almond, each snack is made with whole ingredients in their natural form

Stretch Island Fruit Company™: Tasty fruit that can travel with you wherever you go, every original Fruit Leather is equal to half a serving of fruit

Two Moms in the Raw: These granola mixes are made with no added oils or added sugar to be 100% delicious

Gluten Free Beer... In a Bar....

I can not remember the last time I was able to step foot into a bar and actually drink a real beer- ok a beer other than a cider beer which I don't even think should be classified as a beer. Annnd I am sure I will hear a lot of banter over that comment- As much as I hear about my grammar and spelling... kids- let's get to the point... GINGERMAN is now serving a Gluten Free beer. They featured Green's Amber Ale on their menu and I might have become a little bit of a Gingerman fan when this was brought to my attention. Although the price point may seem high ($9.50 a beer) a girl can now grab an ice cold brewski! Green's beer, which sells at a liquor store for $8 a bottle, is a great way to throw one back! Take my word for it... So when in need of a frosty beverage- head to 99 Washington Street in South Norwalk, CT and you won't regret it.

Break-Fast... fast and easy way to eat like a kid again

Thank you Brett & AnneChristine! They found me a delicious breakfast that I had heard about, but yet to try. Upon my arrival I was greeted with some great tasty gluten free treats- delicious pizza from 'Zaw, Pizza in the Raw, and for a great wake up call Waffles. Waffles were the kids dream of the past and they now became a big girls dream of the future. But leave it to them, they found them locally at Trader Joes. So next time you're shopping at my favorite grocery store, make sure to pick up a box (or two), lots of butter and extra syrup!

Salsa Verde... easy, fresh & super yummy

While visiting in Seattle, I decided to added a little kick to tonights meal. Topping the fresh Salmon from Pike's Market (which we taste tested while fish were being thrown over our heads- LITERALLY) with nothing greener than homemade salsa verde. Our ingredients came from the local harvest from farmers which have stands their daily as well. So not to blab on... here goes, and let me tell you for a first try stab at it- you don't need to change anything! Can't wait to make this back home!

8 tomatillos- husked and cleaned. While looking at these at the market, you want ones where the husks are tightly wrapped- although they may be sticky after husking, they are the best ones to use for this!
1 large sweet onion
1 jalapeño
3 cloves garlic

Quarter the tomatillos and the onions, half the jalapeño (keeping the seeds, please trust me on this), and add the three cloves of garlic into a baking dish. Cook at 425* for 45 minutes. After baking take out of oven and add all ingredients into the food processor. Pulse until you get the coarseness you desire- and... could anything be easier (or yummier???)

Shake N Bake...

It's shake n bake time and I found the breadcrumbs to do it with- Aleia's "a world without gluten" does them right! Aleia's products can be found at various locations, click the link to see more, but I was able to purchase at my local Whole Foods. Another great reason why you should try these products is because they are as local as local gets. Aleia's is right out of Connecticut!
Back to the chops- I was turned onto this breaded pork chop phenomenon by a dear friend, and have been trying to find a way to cook pork chops another way ever since I was diagnosed with Celiac- but lets be honest: it's just not the same! It might not be the most elegant fine dining idea- but to heck with elegant, its GOOD, and thats all that matters.PERIOD. Paired with a side of whole kernel corn and mashers... and your all set to go for a cheap meal. As an added bonus, a great gluten free quick side of mashed potatoes can be found in you local grocery isle: Idahoan- for a "homemade taste in 4 minutes". I have to hand it to them they are all really good, and we can eat all but the loaded baked potatoes kind. 4 out of 5 ain't bad!

Look out pork chop number two- I'm diving in!

Stir Fry the GF way...

So a challenge I find many places is that soy sauce is hidden in MANY dishes. Luckily Organic Tamari makes a wheat free soy sauce that does not lack in any flavor- in fact I can't tell the difference and Tommy down at Kazu likes it even better! So I found myself cooking up a lunch today that would make GF's and non GF's alike mouths water...

In a wok:
a small spoon full of bacon fat
2 tbs butter
1 onion quartered and then quartered again
10 asparagus stalks, tips and first cut
1 handful haricot beans halfed
10 grape tomatoes cut in half
2 garlic cloves- Fresh Market in Westport has marinated garlic in cherry peppers- YUM
4 dashs of Tamari Wheat Free Soy Sauce
and a dash of salt

Once this is cooked, move to a separate plate. In the wok add 1 package of steak tips and cook, toss often, until medium rare, or however you prefer. Once the meat is cooked through, add the vegetables and stock back to the pan, let sit for 2 minutes more, and serve. You can use any meat or fish you like, rice would even complete this meal for a dinner too! Feel free to add more or less vegetables- water chestnuts would add some extra flare- thats for next time! It's simple and easy and most of all delish!

LEFTOVERS... what to do???

I swear every time I open my fridge I have way to much food, but I am sick to my stomach with the amount of leftovers staring back at me, or the little things- how often can I use cream cheese? Today I went to grab for the leftovers and I thought to myself- what am I going to do with all this stuff in here? Why is my fridge always cluttered but I have nothing I want? On the menu I had lined up chicken from Costco ($4.99, you just can't beat it for the price) and broccoli with some cheese on top. All of the sudden the light went off above my head... I will go back to the days of my mom's cooking, or let's be realistic someone's mom's cooking and throw together a casserole. Is there an easier way to eat through a fridge of leftovers or miscellaneous items?  I think not...

I started by cutting up the chicken, and steaming up the broccoli and getting out the leftover rice. Next, I turned to the stove to start my first concoction which would ultimately be my favorite casserole I ever made- and my first!

Here goes:
throw together the following (add, substitute- it's really up to you!)
1/2 a package of creamcheese- I prefer the full fat kind, but you can use light... fat free does not really work for cooking
1 8oz container of sour cream
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese- prefer the block and grating it then
1/2 cup English Cheddar Cheese- again, prefer the block and grating it then
a good heaping of Penzy's crushed jalapeños
a good heaping of Penzy's Cheese sprinkle
aka... if you haven't been, put Penzy's spices on your Christmas list!

After heated thoroughly, toss the sauce over the cooked rice, broccoli and chicken. Stir until well mixed. Bake covered in the oven at 350* until bubbly and brown, about a half hour. Uncover, sprinkle a bit more cheese sprinkle, a few more jalapeños and top with shredded cheddar cheese, return to the oven uncovered until it is melted through.

Most of all enjoy. Next time you're looking at a whole lot of nothing in your fridge... I bet with a bit of creativity you can create a whole lot of something in no time! Channel your inner Grandmother :)