A Little Kick of Summer... Ali Style

Ahhh... a little bit of heaven just touched my lips. Immediately I have to share- cause you deserve to know the BEST recipe I can dream of for summer was just plated in front of me. Not at a Restaurant either, Ali, a great friend (and who knew??? a great chef) just taught me a little bit about crab cakes that even my fans in Baltimore would be proud of... so here goes... eat your heart out, or stuff your face- I know I just did...

Crab Cakes:
1 lb crab meat- she used one can bumble bee lump crab and one of the fresh minced crab meat (Phillips to be exact)
1/4 cup chopped pepper (red for color)
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/4 cup mayo- Hellman's- obvi
1 egg
1/2- 3/4 cup bread crumbs (ALEXIA's is amaz)
1tbsp old bay- don't be afraid to overfill the tablespoon
1/2 tsp dry mustard
dash of Worcestershire sauce

combine the above and in a buttery skillet fry to your hearts desire- extra crispy for me! And don't forget about the sauce...
2 cloves garlic
1 1/2 tbsp dry mustard
1/1/2 cups mayo- Hellman's- obvi
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp paprika
1 1/2 horseradish
2 tbsp sherry
chopped parsley- for prettiness
salt and pepper to taste
mix and obviously apply generously. The combinations of the two above will create a bond your taste buds never knew they had- SERIOUSLY

Take me out to the ball game... Celiac Awareness Night

Come one come all- to the metropolitans! WOO HOO, Gluten Free with the Mets. Now- not only can we enjoy a gluten free beer there... we can also eat hot dogs, brats, and much more. a Celiac Disease Awareness Night at Citi Field May 25th. Money raised will support the Long Island chapter of R.O.C.K. and the Celiac Disease Center At Columbia University. Here's sneak peek at the gluten-free food now available there. Can't wait to fill up the car, and head on down! 

Gluten Allergies have hit Saturday Night Live

Funny Clip from this weekend... ENJOY!
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/debbie-downer--dress-rehearsal/1226119
Make sure you wait till the end!

Around Town...

1. Did you know BJ Ryan's in Norwalk CT has Gluten Free Beer? Woop Woop
2.  Did you know that Fratelli Market in Stamford CT has an AMAZING selection of Gluten Free Food to go? Prepared meals, fresh pastas and desserts???
3. Did you know Rizzuto's (the old Conte's) in Westport CT has gluten free pasta on their menu... as well as a stellar happy hour!
4. Did you know the Schoolhouse at Cannondale in Wilton CT can make any option on their menu Gluten Free? And most already are- even better!
5. Did you know that Valencia Luncheria in Norwalk CT can make their Arepas skillet roasted instead of the fryer?
6. Did you know that Beach Cafe in Fairfield CT has Taco Tuesday- $2 tacos and they are Gluten Free?

Blondie or Brunette?

I chose a blondie today... a scrumptious, melt in your mouth, can't put it down- blondie. I am getting to the point where I can honestly say- Gluten Free's the Way to Be! People are finally creating a product I don't have to pretend to like so that the person who bought it for me feels good. I find myself NOT throwing away items and actually enjoying food again- well processed food that is. I have to constantly remind my family that potatoes are naturally gluten free... and I can eat a ham animal (long story, but yes I though their was a ham animal at one stage in my life). Back to my first gluten free brownie, in this case a blondie... Freed Goods Co, is an organic company that bakes brownies and blondies. Their are five different kinds that they offer: Chocolate, Chocolate Walnut, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Chocolate Walnut, and Blondies. 5% of freedgoods profits go to support infertility education, research and treatment... and if you are celiac, like myself, you know that this is a very large (and scary) part of our lives that we could be faced with.

So just think- your eating dessert for a very rewarding cause! 

I'm Glowing!!!!!!!

I can honestly say that I have not had a better Gluten Free cookie- EVER. Ok maybe it comes close to a cookie made by this tiny little bakery in Seattle- buuuuut I don't live in Seattle, so case closed! If I stuck this cookie onto plates at Easter Dinner, no one would have known it was gluten free ever! For all you "gluten fulls" out their- I'd put you to the challenge. I am so impressed with this brand- Glow, Gluten Free- that I can't wait to get another box. Priced at about 5.99 for a box of 7 large cookies, not that flaky stuff we are used to. These cookies have substance to them!!! I definitely approve of their tag line "try all of our scrumptious flavors.... you might just glow from head to toe!" I am sure you can tell- but I am already glowing!  I do have to note, the ingredients might be the trick- garbanzo & fava bean flour, as well as palm oil- who woulda thunk? This also brings me to the point that these cookies are not like other gluten free cookies loaded with fat and sugar- they actually have a nutritional value- I mean??? Healthy???
Grab a box, or four (Chocolate Chip, Double Chocolate Chip,Gingersnap and Snickerdoodle)... Put your feet up with a large glass of mike and DIVE IN... don't jump! Trust me...

Mom's Home Cookin... to go!

After running around all day looking for more Gluten Free Waffles, I stumbled upon this magical little box at Balducci's... Beef Pot Pie you say, with a cheesy polenta crust- I don't know about you but that about wet my taste buds. In fact, I couldn't wait to get home, drop my bags, turn on the oven and pop that little baby in! Twin Hens prides themselves on being Artisan Comfort Food- and it is. Bell and Evan Chicken is used in their chicken pot pie and their vegetable pot pie is 74% organic. Any mom can agree that this is a good meal from step one! While the only pot pie offered gluten free is the beef pot pie- it was worth the 45 minute cooking time. The crust came out crispy and the beef tender. Twin Hens definitely know what they are doing! Next time you are in Balducci's or Whole Foods check and see if your store has it- you won't be disappointed!