Spring is a wonderful time of the year, isn’t it?  I love the fresh seasonal ingredients that start to show up in the grocery stores and of course the farmers markets.  I’m always looking to cook those up just as soon as possible and pair them with ingredients that are timeless.  This recipe includes Lindsay Olives, pine nuts, parmesan cheese and cannelloni beans all of which you can pick up today no matter where you live.

When making this dish you have a couple of options for the variety of Lindsay Olive you choose.  I really like their Taste Profile chart which can help you make your choice.  I would think Sicilian or Spanish Whole would be other good options besides the Greek Kalamata Olive.

You can also either keep the egg on top or not.  If you do make sure the yolk is soft and runny.  This will help create a creamy sauce in your pasta.  You can cook the egg in the oven like I did or in a skillet or poached in which you would add it at the end when serving.  I would suggest 1 egg for every two people you are serving.

This gluten free meal can be prepared in the time it takes to cook the pasta plus 10 minutes for the oven or most likely a total of 16 minutes.  Not bad for a filling and tasty lunch or dinner.

This recipe is part of a Kitchen Progressive Party event that will have five courses created by five different bloggers: amuse bouche, bread, salad, appetizer and entree, all posted today and all featuring Lindsay Olives.

Now if you are a blogger you can submit a post featuring a Lindsay Olives recipe that you think would “complete” the menu or Progressive Party (cocktail? soup? dessert? sky’s the limit!). To help, you can go to the EventBrite page and request either product or coupons for Lindsay Olives. Once you’e created your dish (along with post/recipe/photo), submit a link to that post on the Kitchen PLAY .  Your post needs to include links to both Kitchen PLAY and Lindsay Olives. Winner will be drawn from all the eligible entries received. The prize for the winner is $200.   Good luck to all!

“I was compensated by Kitchen PLAY and Lindsay Olives for creating this post and recipe. All opinions are mine.”

My favorite day of the year is almost upon us, the Super Bowl.   I love putting together a spread of fun foods to eat that are gluten free and dairy free and watching the game with friends.  This year I’ll be making some of the recipes in my 2013 Cookbook Desk Calendar.  There are some great options that you can make too no matter if you’re hosting or taking a dish to someone else’s party.  If you don’t have a copy of the calendar order it now so you’ll have it in time to cook up the recipes for the big game.  It will help you on the path to living an easy, healthy, gluten free life.

This year there will be a first for the game.  Two brothers are coaching against each other.  Jim Harbaugh for the San Francisco 49ers and John Harbaugh for the Baltimore Ravens.  Can you just imagine their parents and what that would be like?  I’m guessing they’re rooting for both.  Who are you hoping wins the game, Ravens or 49ers?

No matter who wins you’ll want to have some good eats while watching the game and the commercials.  Scroll down and you’ll see each month and some ideas on how to serve them for the big game.  This calendar is a party in a box!

Oh and don’t forget for those who own this cookbook calendar, to go to the last page and grab the Secret Code for the webpage full of photos giving more detailed directions, links to more recipes using the ingredients in these 12, plus a ton more recipes and cooking tips.

January is a must to have at the party, Jicama Tacos or Tostados.  I love guacamole and anytime I can find more creative ways to use it I will.  Here I’ve combined it with purple potatoes and mushrooms or shrimp and bay scallops.

February Little Lasagna Flowers are good since there are in single serve size.  What you use for the flower itself and the filling is totally up to you.  I give you a few suggestions for both.

March would be good if you cut up this Tunisian Frittata and served it on a pizza peel.  You know the wooden paddle you see them pull pizzas from the oven with.  I love that as a serving dish.  Easy to carry over to the coffee table or even to carry around and serve people from.

April is something you may want to keep for the celebration meal the next day when your team wins.  This Garlic Roasted Asparagus with Poached Egg and Prosciutto is a classic but with my twist of Polenta Croutons.

May is something that can be made in a large casserole and your guests can serve themselves this Easy Layered Mexican Casserole.    You could even pair it up with the Jicama Tacos.

June is also a dish you can make in a nice large casserole or lasagna pan.  It also takes just a few minutes to put together and then you pop it into the oven.  With it being winter however I would use canned fire roasted tomatoes instead of fresh for this Oven Roasted Pesto Vegetables Deluxe.

July is the month to use fresh tomatoes for this Can’t Beet California Cobb Salad and since it’s January you’ll want to swap that out for another favorite ingredient if serving it now.  I really like having some type of salad when watching the big game.

August is one of those dishes that looks really hard to make but trust me anyone can do this.  The Summer Vegetable Rosettes you see pictured here was cooked by my husband who is not a cook.  He can make scrambled eggs but doesn’t venture too far from that.  Zucchini is in season during the summer but you can buy it any time of the year.  This recipe uses cashew cream cheese as an option so if you make a batch save some for the many other recipes I’ve shared using that ingredient.

September is one of my favorite fast meals to make, Hash in a Flash.  It uses ingredients you have on hand and is cooked in one pan so clean up is fast.  If you make this serve it in a big bowl and let your guests spoon out as much as they like.

October is a very satisfying and flavorful Smoky Simmering Soup.  It’s one of those great chop and drop recipes right into your slow cooker.  Put it in there in the morning and it will be ready for you at game time.  How easy can it get!

November is another recipe that uses cashew cream cheese.  It’s a wonderful dish for those who want their big game food to be a little fancier.  Cashew Cream Yam Cannelloni served with a bechamel sauce is sure to delight.

December Mushroom Party recipes are perfect for the big game food.  Keep the mushrooms smaller so they are finger foods and not something you’ll need a fork and knife to eat.  I give you three options and the recipes for each.  You can keep them vegetarian and make the Yam Packed Mushrooms or not and make the Crabby Mushrooms or Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms.

Enjoy the game, your friends and family and the good food you’ll make.  I hope your team wins!

So, what are you going to make and who do you hope wins the game?

Exciting Announcement

If you were on my Gluten Free Holiday Survival free teleseminar last night than you first got some great tips and the tools that will help you immediately.

You also were introduced to my 7 day Whole Foods, Whole You detox, the Next Level Cleanse that will take your health to the next level!

This will change they way you look and feel in a week.  I say this from personal experience and that of clients who have tried it.   It totally changed my energy by giving it a boost, changed my skin  and complexion so it was clear and glowed, it kickstarted my weight loss, and I felt amazing.

One of the cool things about this cleanse is it’s like getting 3 cleanses in 1.  There are 3 levels so you can pick where you want to start.  If you’ve never been on a cleanse than you may want to start at level one.  Let’s say you do that level and you love it, of course.  Then a couple of months goes by and you want to detox in the spring.  You already have everything you need.  You can repeat level 1 or try level 2 or 3.

What you receive in this cleanse is such a long list that you’ll want to read it for yourself.   Follow this to the Next Level Cleanse and learn more about this opportunity to change your life.

Now just to let you know there is an Early Bird Special going on until midnight ET on Saturday December 22nd that also includes Early Bird Bonuses.  The value of these specials and bonuses is way more than the price of the cleanse.  But you have to register before the 22nd.  So go check it out now.

Read all of the great gifts you’ll be receiving and learn more about the cleanse.  But more importunely than all of the guides, recipes, menu plans and so on, you get to feel and look amazing, get a boost in energy, kickstart weight loss, lose the bloat, feel amazing.  Oh and since it’s a guided cleanse you get me for every day of the cleanse making sure you doing great!  Follow this to the Next Level Cleanse and sign up because spaces are going fast and the class size is limited!

If you have questions please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Welcome back to our weekly event, Friday Foodie Fix.  This is where you link up your gluten free recipes each week that contain the Secret Ingredient!

You will also find each week there will be loads of information on that ingredient so even if you don’t have any recipes to share, you’ll gather some useful information.

Make sure you check back to see what recipes have been added.

This week’s secret ingredient is Apple.

Healthy Facts

Apples are one of those foods where that old saying has a lot of science behind it.  An apple a day keeps the doctor away.  Apples have 4 grams of fiber per medium apple for only 9r calories.  They are a good source of immune boosting Vitamin C and antioxidant pectin.   It’s been shown that those who ate an apple a day lost weight and had a lower risk of strokes and heart disease.  If you’re looking for something to eat before you exercise, try an apple.  It’s been shown to boost your exercise endurance.

How to Buy

Look for firm, crisp, well colored skin.  While you’re picking it up give it a good whiff.  Yes smell it.  It should have a bit of an aroma.

How to Store

Store your apples on the countertop.  We have a large apple bowl filled each week.  If you’re not going to be eating them very soon store them in the refrigerator.

Favorite Tip

Winesap Apples
photo credit all creatures

So how many different varieties can you name?  Everyone usually has their favorite.  Mine is a Winesap.  When I was a kid we would go to the orchard and get a bushel every fall.  Love those apples.  These are great apples to bake as they retain their flavor.  They are also good for making apple sauce, tarts, pies, and cobblers.

Last Week’s Favorite Links

J and Me shared Roasted Chicken Breasts with Lemony Bombay Potatoes

Tess the Domestic Diva shared Paleo Warm Chicken BLT Salad and Simple Vietnamese Grilled Chicken

Linking up Guidelines

• Share your own recipe using the Secret Ingredient. This must be your recipe, not copied from someone else.  If you were inspired by another recipe you MUST ALWAYS note that in your recipe.
• Link the URL of your Specific Individual Recipe Post,  NOT to your home page.
• Please link back to this post, not a static page so your readers can find the recipes here.
• When you link, please tell us what you’re sharing.
• This is a Gluten Free Resource so please make sure you share gluten free recipes.
• Recipes do not need to be brand new on your blog, just your own and contain the Secret Ingredient.
• There is no limit to how many times you can post on any given Secret Ingredient,  just Link Back.
• Please use the FFF icon in your post and feel free to add it to your sidebar!  Here’s the code:  <a href=”http://www.thewholegang.org/” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://www.thewholegang.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/FFF-thewholegang.jpg” width=261 height=256 border=0></a>

Friday Foodie Fix will be taking a break as I move to Santa Monica and get settled in.  I can’t wait to find some great foods in the farmers market to share with you.  

Fill up on apple recipes this week!

Now it’s your turn to share your gluten free recipes with apples below.

Welcome back to our weekly event, Friday Foodie Fix.  This is where you link up your gluten free recipes each week that contain the Secret Ingredient!

You will also find each week there will be loads of information on that ingredient so even if you don’t have any recipes to share, you’ll gather some useful information.

Make sure you check back to see what recipes have been added.

This week’s secret ingredient is Chicken.

Healthy Facts

Chicken is a great source of protein and vitamin B6 plus it contains vitamin B3 or niacin.  It also contains the minerals selenium and phosphorus.   It’s typically available just about anywhere you go but be very particular about the quality you purchase.

How to Buy

Look for organic, no hormones or antibiotics and free range.  When you have a happy chicken you are going to have the best tasting chicken you’ve ever eaten. Look for good color and soft to the touch.  You don’t want a hard piece of meat as it will not have as much flavor.

How to Store

Keep very cold in the refrigerator and use within a day or two of purchase.   You can also freeze.

Favorite Tip

Always look at the date it was packaged and the date it should be sold by.  I also smell the package.  It should not have any smell.  If you can get it from a local organic free range farm you are in for a real treat.

Last Week’s Favorite Links

gluten free easily shared Double Chocolate Nut Butter Oaties 

Cook It Allergy Free shared 50+ Allergy Friendly Lunchbox Ideas

Tess the Domestic Diva shared 10 GF Wraps

Linking up Guidelines

• Share your own recipe using the Secret Ingredient. This must be your recipe, not copied from someone else.  If you were inspired by another recipe you MUST ALWAYS note that in your recipe.
• Link the URL of your Specific Individual Recipe Post,  NOT to your home page.
• Please link back to this post, not a static page so your readers can find the recipes here.
• When you link, please tell us what you’re sharing.
• This is a Gluten Free Resource so please make sure you share gluten free recipes.
• Recipes do not need to be brand new on your blog, just your own and contain the Secret Ingredient.
• There is no limit to how many times you can post on any given Secret Ingredient,  just Link Back.
• Please use the FFF icon in your post and feel free to add it to your sidebar!  Here’s the code:  <a href=”http://www.thewholegang.org/” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://www.thewholegang.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/FFF-thewholegang.jpg” width=261 height=256 border=0></a>

Next Week’s Secret Ingredient for Friday Foodie Fix is …  Apples!

Now it’s your turn to share your gluten free recipes with chicken below.

Welcome back to our weekly event, Friday Foodie Fix.  This is where you link up your gluten free recipes each week that contain the Secret Ingredient!

You will also find each week there will be loads of information on that ingredient so even if you don’t have any recipes to share, you’ll gather some useful information.

Make sure you check back to see what recipes have been added.

This week’s secret ingredient is Red and Orange Peppers.

Healthy Facts

Red peppers have a little more health benefits than it’s green relative.  They supply lots of beta-carotene which your body converts to vitamin A, great for night vision.  The orange are top source of lutein and zeaxanthin, which may guard against cataracts.  The orange peppers contain more zeaxanthin than any fruit or other vegetable.  Bell peppers are a good source of vitamin C, vitamin E, and carotenoids.

How to Buy

Look for firm peppers with a tight skin and no wrinkles.  Yeah I know, sounds like I’m discriminating against those of us who have seen a few summers but you want your peppers young.  Also keep in mind these beauties love to hold on to the toxins in chemicals so please buy organic as much as possible if not every time.

How to Store

Pop them into the refrigerator in a paper bag in the vegetable drawer.  They will keep for around a week.

Favorite Tip

Anytime you are at the store pick some of these beauties up and toss them into your salads, scrambled eggs, or stuff them.  Just get them into  your menu!

Last Week’s Favorite Links

Hunter’s Lyonesse shared Healthy Stuffed Peppers

The Tasty Alternative shared Jalapeño Poppers stuffed with cheese and bacon

Tess the Domestic Diva shared Jambalaya

Linking up Guidelines

• Share your own recipe using the Secret Ingredient. This must be your recipe, not copied from someone else.  If you were inspired by another recipe you MUST ALWAYS note that in your recipe.
• Link the URL of your Specific Individual Recipe Post,  NOT to your home page.
• Please link back to this post, not a static page so your readers can find the recipes here.
• When you link, please tell us what you’re sharing.
• This is a Gluten Free Resource so please make sure you share gluten free recipes.
• Recipes do not need to be brand new on your blog, just your own and contain the Secret Ingredient.
• There is no limit to how many times you can post on any given Secret Ingredient,  just Link Back.
• Please use the FFF icon in your post and feel free to add it to your sidebar!  Here’s the code:  <a href=”http://www.thewholegang.org/” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://www.thewholegang.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/FFF-thewholegang.jpg” width=261 height=256 border=0></a>

Next Week’s Secret Ingredient for Friday Foodie Fix is … School Lunch Ideas!

Now it’s your turn to share your gluten free recipes with red peppers below.

Welcome back to our weekly event, Friday Foodie Fix.  This is where you link up your gluten free recipes each week that contain the Secret Ingredient!

You will also find each week there will be loads of information on that ingredient so even if you don’t have any recipes to share, you’ll gather some useful information.

Make sure you check back to see what recipes have been added.

This week’s secret ingredient is Green Peppers.

Healthy Facts

Green peppers come in lots of varieties.  Most people think about the green bell pepper as pictured here.  For this event you can share your favorite green pepper.  I like the pablano peppers a lot and of course green hatch chile peppers.  Bell peppers are a good source of vitamin C, vitamin E, and carotenoids.

How to Buy

Look for firm peppers with a tight skin and no wrinkles.  Yeah I know, sounds like I’m discriminating against those of us who have seen a few summers but you want your peppers young.  Also keep in mind these beauties love to hold on to the toxins in chemicals so please buy organic as much as possible if not every time.

How to Store

Pop them into the refrigerator in a paper bag in the vegetable drawer.  They will keep for around a week.

Favorite Tip

Find your favorite green pepper and use them often.  There are bell peppers and a ton of green chile peppers.  Then roast them to bring out even more flavor. (don’t rince off the roasted skin or you’ll rince off the flavor)

Last Week’s Favorite Links

gluten free easily shared three great recipes:

Watermelon Orange Smoothie

Watermelon Sherbet

 Watermelon Margaritas

Linking up Guidelines

• Share your own recipe using the Secret Ingredient. This must be your recipe, not copied from someone else.  If you were inspired by another recipe you MUST ALWAYS note that in your recipe.
• Link the URL of your Specific Individual Recipe Post,  NOT to your home page.
• Please link back to this post, not a static page so your readers can find the recipes here.
• When you link, please tell us what you’re sharing.
• This is a Gluten Free Resource so please make sure you share gluten free recipes.
• Recipes do not need to be brand new on your blog, just your own and contain the Secret Ingredient.
• There is no limit to how many times you can post on any given Secret Ingredient,  just Link Back.
• Please use the FFF icon in your post and feel free to add it to your sidebar!  Here’s the code:  <a href=”http://www.thewholegang.org/” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://www.thewholegang.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/FFF-thewholegang.jpg” width=261 height=256 border=0></a>

Next Week’s Secret Ingredient for Friday Foodie Fix is …Red or Yellow Peppers!

Now it’s your turn to share your gluten free recipes with green peppers below.

Welcome back to our weekly event, Friday Foodie Fix.  This is where you link up your gluten free recipes each week that contain the Secret Ingredient!

You will also find each week there will be loads of information on that ingredient so even if you don’t have any recipes to share, you’ll gather some useful information.

Make sure you check back to see what recipes have been added.

This week’s secret ingredient is Summer Squash!

Healthy Facts

There are many varieties of summer squash.  I like the yellow Constricted  Neck variety but there are also Scallop or Patty Pan and Cylindrical to club-shaped Italian marrows.  Because they are the relative of the Zucchini, their nutrition facts are the same.

How to Buy

Ingredients-red pepper, zucchini, squash, cippolini onion, pasta & sauce

Summer squash are harvested when they are small and the skins are still tender.  They also have the best taste when small so stick with small summer squash.  Stay away from soft however, they still need to have substance.

How to Store

Store the squash in your refrigerator until ready to use.  At that point wash and dry them before preparing your dish.  Don’t keep them for too long, as it doesn’t take long for them to deteriorate.

Favorite Tip

Summer squash can be grilled, steamed, boiled, sauteed, fried or used in stir fry recipes.  I love them tossed into a pan with other summer vegetables like tomatoes, zucchini, peppers and onions and lots of basil or rosemary.  If you add a little protein like quinoa pasta you have a complete meal.

Last Week’s Favorite Links

Gluten-Free Homemaker shared Cucumber Lemonade

gluten free easily shared Cucumber Chickpea Bruschetta

The Tasty Alternative shared Pesto Stuffed Cucumbers

Linking up Guidelines

• Share your own recipe using the Secret Ingredient. This must be your recipe, not copied from someone else.  If you were inspired by another recipe you MUST ALWAYS note that in your recipe.
• Link the URL of your Specific Individual Recipe Post,  NOT to your home page.
• Please link back to this post, not a static page so your readers can find the recipes here.
• When you link, please tell us what you’re sharing.
• This is a Gluten Free Resource so please make sure you share gluten free recipes.
• Recipes do not need to be brand new on your blog, just your own and contain the Secret Ingredient.
• There is no limit to how many times you can post on any given Secret Ingredient,  just Link Back.
• Please use the FFF icon in your post and feel free to add it to your sidebar!  Here’s the code:  <a href=”http://www.thewholegang.org/” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://www.thewholegang.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/FFF-thewholegang.jpg” width=261 height=256 border=0></a>

Next Week’s Secret Ingredient for Friday Foodie Fix is … Tomato!

Now it’s your turn to share your gluten free recipes with summer squash below.

Welcome back to our weekly event, Friday Foodie Fix.  This is where you link up your gluten free recipes each week that contain the Secret Ingredient!

You will also find each week there will be loads of information on that ingredient so even if you don’t have any recipes to share, you’ll gather some useful information.

Make sure you check back to see what recipes have been added.

This week’s secret ingredient is Spring Onions.

Healthy Facts

Spring onions are one of my favorites probably because I’m so excited things are growing and being harvested in the northeast.  Onions have their place in so many recipes.  They contain fiber, folate, potassium as well as the flavonoid quercetin.  This is an important phytonutrient that helps eliminate free radicals that can contribute to aging process, cancer, heart disease and eye degeneration.   I’ve read that the quercetin absorbed from onions will stay in the body 24 hours.  What a great way to build up those antioxidants!

How to Buy

I love to buy my spring onions at the farmers markets but the local grocery stores usually carry them too.  You’ll want crisp color and texture with nice long stems.  You should be able to find them in green or purple and both are delicious.

How to Store

I like to keep my spring onions in the refrigerator, away from other fruits and vegetables, until I’m ready to use which should be within the week.  The closer you can eat your food from the time it was harvested the better it will taste.

Favorite Tip

If you’re looking for a really strong spring onion, look for ramps.  These are often hard to find but if you ever get the chance, grab some.

Last Week’s Favorite Links

Gluten Free Gidget shared  Indian Spiced Creamy Avocado Chickpeas 

Tessa the Domestic Diva shared Creamy Berry Smoothie

Gluten Free  Happy Tummy shared Vegan Chili Lime Tofu Stir Fry Pasta

Linking up Guidelines

• Share your own recipe using the Secret Ingredient. This must be your recipe, not copied from someone else.  If you were inspired by another recipe you MUST ALWAYS note that in your recipe.
• Link the URL of your Specific Individual Recipe Post,  NOT to your home page.
• Please link back to this post, not a static page so your readers can find the recipes here.
• When you link, please tell us what you’re sharing.
• This is a Gluten Free Resource so please make sure you share gluten free recipes.
• Recipes do not need to be brand new on your blog, just your own and contain the Secret Ingredient.
• There is no limit to how many times you can post on any given Secret Ingredient,  just Link Back.
• Please use the FFF icon in your post and feel free to add it to your sidebar!  Here’s the code:  <a href=”http://www.thewholegang.org/” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://www.thewholegang.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/FFF-thewholegang.jpg” width=261 height=256 border=0></a>

Next Week’s Secret Ingredient for Friday Foodie Fix is … Blueberries!

Now it’s your turn to share your gluten free recipes with spring onions below.

Welcome back to our weekly event, Friday Foodie Fix.  This is where you link up your gluten free recipes each week that contain the Secret Ingredient!

You will also find each week there will be loads of information on that ingredient so even if you don’t have any recipes to share, you’ll gather some useful information.

Make sure you check back to see what recipes have been added.

To let everyone know where you are linking your recipes you can add the FFF badge into your post and on your sidebar.  Here is the code you can just copy and paste.

<a href=”http://www.thewholegang.org/” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://www.thewholegang.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/FFF-thewholegang.jpg” width=261 height=256 border=0></a>

Simply Dressed Meatballs on bed of Spinach

Healthy Facts

Spinach is a power house of nutrients.  It is packed with Vitamin K, essential for blood clotting and bone health, and has been shown to help reduce inflammation. Not to mention spinach provides a good source of calcium and iron, beta carotene and potassium.  If you are looking to increase your Vitamin B6 and C as well as folate and magnesium this is a great option.   Keep in mind that your B6 and C vitamins are water soulable and cannot be stored in your body so you need to replenished daily and any excess would be simply flushed out.  Vitamin B6 helps maintain healthy brain function, normal nerve function, forming red blood cells, and breaking down and digesting proteins.

How to Buy

I love to pick up spinach at the farmers markets and buy from a local source.  With spinach the fresher the better as far as holding on to nutrients.  Look for bright green leaves without any slimy leaves or dark spots.  Spinach is also something you should buy organic.  It’s very high up on the Dirty Dozen list from the EWG which means it’s exposure and absorption of pesticides is high.  But I’d rather you eat conventionally grown produce is better than eating none at all.

How to Store

When you get home with your fresh spinach give it a nice cold bath, literally.  Fill a clean sink or bowl with cold water and toss in your spinach.  Give it a good spin around and then let it sit for a little bit so any grit can sink to the bottom of the bowl.  Take out the spinach and repeat until no grit is at the bottom of your bowl.   Once done wrap the leaves in a paper towel and put into a plastic bag to store in your refrigerator.  Now it’s ready when you want to nibble, cook or make that morning green juice or smoothie.

Favorite Tip

If you want your leaves crisp let them stay in the refrigerator after washing for an hour or two.  I love to add spinach to my juicer or smoothie but it’s great sauteed in scrambled eggs, stuffed inside a chicken breast and cut into ribbons or chiffanod and put on your pizza.

Last Week’s Favorite Links

Tess the Domestic Diva’s Homemade Fruit Cereal Bars

And Love it Too’s  Strawberry Coconut Butter

gluten free easily’s Gloris Fruit Easily

Did you vote for your favorites?  Each week check the recipes shared and click the Like button for your favs!

Linking up Guidelines

• Share your own recipe using the Secret Ingredient. This must be your recipe, not copied from someone else.  If you were inspired by another recipe you MUST ALWAYS note that in your recipe.
• Link the URL of your Specific Individual Recipe Post,  NOT to your home page.
• Please link back to this post, not a static page so your readers can find the recipes here.
• When you link, please tell us what you’re sharing.
• This is a Gluten Free Resource so please make sure you share gluten free recipes.
• Recipes do not need to be brand new on your blog, just your own and contain the Secret Ingredient.
• There is no limit to how many times you can post on any given Secret Ingredient,  just Link Back.
• Please use the FFF icon in your post and feel free to add it to your sidebar!  Here’s the code:  <a href=”http://www.thewholegang.org/” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://www.thewholegang.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/FFF-thewholegang.jpg” width=261 height=256 border=0></a>

Next Week’s Secret Ingredient for Friday Foodie Fix is …… Spring Onions!

Now it’s your turn to share your gluten free recipes with spinach below.

Welcome back to our weekly event, Friday Foodie Fix.  This is where you link up your gluten free recipes each week that contain the Secret Ingredient!

You will also find each week there will be loads of information on that ingredient so even if you don’t have any recipes to share, you’ll gather some useful information.

Make sure you check back to see what recipes have been added.

This week’s secret ingredient is Strawberries.

Healthy Facts

packed with antioxidents that fight cancer, especially colon and cervical

have been used for antibacterial properties, help with disorders of the pancreas and spleen, a liver tonic and treat sore throats

contains flavonoids, a group of phytochemicals that can counter cell damage in teh body and potentially reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and aid memory and other brain function.

contains vitamins C, E and high in fiber

low in calories and sugar content

How to Buy

The fresher the berry the better.  This is one berry that you really want to make sure you buy ORGANIC!  Strawberries always rank high for pesticide residues and I doubt you really want to eat a mouth full of that.

How to Store

Don’t wash your berries until you are ready to use them.  When you do be very gentle and pat them dry.  Store them in the refrigerator but to get the best tasting flavor from them bring them to room temperature when you are ready to eat.

Favorite Tip

With farmers markets being open and tons of amazing strawberries around, buy some extra and freeze them.  Wash as noted, spread out onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and place in freezer.  Once frozen transfer to a container or plastic bag and enjoy all year long.

Favorite Past Links

Strawberry Cobbler from gluten free easily

Strawberry Swirl Brownies from Good Life Eats

Homemade Strawberry Julius from Alisa Cooks

Linking up Guidelines

• Share your own recipe using the Secret Ingredient. This must be your recipe, not copied from someone else.  If you were inspired by another recipe you MUST ALWAYS note that in your recipe.
• Link the URL of your Specific Individual Recipe Post,  NOT to your home page.
• Please link back to this post, not a static page so your readers can find the recipes here.
• When you link, please tell us what you’re sharing.
• This is a Gluten Free Resource so please make sure you share gluten free recipes.
• Recipes do not need to be brand new on your blog, just your own and contain the Secret Ingredient.
• There is no limit to how many times you can post on any given Secret Ingredient,  just Link Back.
• Please use the FFF icon in your post and feel free to add it to your sidebar!  Here’s the code:  <a href=”http://www.thewholegang.org/” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://www.thewholegang.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/FFF-thewholegang.jpg” width=261 height=256 border=0></a>

Next week’s gluten free recipes Secret Ingredient is …. SPINACH!

This year to celebrate National Celiac Awareness Month in May, the NFCA has rounded up 16 bloggers for a series chronicling every stage of the gluten-free journey, from Day 1 basics to advanced cooking and advocacy.  I am honored to be one of the 16 contributing.

In keeping with this year’s theme, Keep It Simple and Safe, each blogger is offering 5 key tips or lessons related to that day’s topic. The guest posts start tomorrow, April 30, so check their blog daily!

Weekly Focus

• Monday – Cooking/Baking Gluten-Free
• Tuesday – Nutrition/Wellness
• Wednesday – Raising a Gluten-Free Kid
• Thursday – Dining Out Gluten-Free
• Friday – NFCA Resources You Should Know About

Schedule and Guest Bloggers:

Week 1: Just Diagnosed (April 30-May 4)

• Anne Byrn of The Cake Mix Doctor – Reading labels and cooking with boxed mixes
• Shirley Braden of gluten free easily – Avoiding hidden gluten
• Kathleen Reale of Be Free for Me – Talking to your child about celiac disease
• Lisa Garza of Gluten Free Foodies – What questions to ask when dining out
• NFCA – Discover NFCA’s Getting Started Guide

Week 2: Getting the Hang of It (May 7-11)

• Shauna Ahern of Gluten-Free Girl and the Chef – How to cook and bake gluten-free from scratch
• Erin Elberson of Gluten-Free Fitness – Weight gain and gluten-free processed foods
• Heidi Kelly of Adventures of a Gluten-Free Mom – Talking to family & friends about your child’s gluten-free needs
• Chandice Probst of Gluten-Free Frenzy – Trying new gluten-free dishes when dining out
• NFCA – Free Webinars: The easiest way to get new information

Week 3: Hitting a Roadblock (May 14-18)

• Diane Eblin of The WHOLE Gang – 5 tips to get out of a food rut (That’s me!)
• Alisa Fleming of Go Dairy Free  – First gluten-free, now lactose intolerant? 5 tips to becoming a dairy-free diva
• Wendy Kaho of Celiacs in the House – Gluten-free challenges at school
• Michael De Cicco-Butz of Gluten-Free Mike – Traveling while gluten-free
• NFCA – 5 resources to handle life’s hurdles

Week 4: What’s Next? (May 21-25)

• Amie Valpone of The Healthy Apple – Publishing your gluten-free recipes
• EA Stewart of The Spicy RD – Healthy gluten-free foods you’ve never heard of
• Katie Chalmers of G-Free Kid – 5 tips to empower gluten-free kids
• Carrie Forbes of Ginger Lemon Girl – Starting a gluten-free dining group
• NFCA – Ready to fundraise? Here’s how to start

Remember all of these posts will be on the NFCA’s blog, Celiac Central:  Bits and Bites.

For more Celiac Awareness Month  fun, including a chance to win a Gluten-Free Pantry Raid, visit CeliacCentral.org/awarenessmonth 

You are going to love this.  You could be one of two winners of the Simple Salad prize pack just for sharing your Simple Salad Recipes.  The Marzetti company is giving away a prize packs valued at $50 each to two of my lucky readers.

What a great gift for you or someone you care about for the holidays!

You’ll receive this beautiful wooden salad bowl with wooden salad tongs that are super cool.  They are flat when closed but flip them around and they become tongs.  Love it.  Plus the bowl will have five free product coupons for Marzetti Simply Dressed Salad Dressings.

This giveaway is now closed.

Congratulations to the winners Julie and Maria V!

You will be contacted by Marzetti and they will ship your prizes directly to you.

Thank you to everyone who shared some great salad recipes!

So here is all you have to do to be entered:

1. Share your Simple Salad Recipe either in the comments section or using the linky.  Either way will work.  Any salad!

2.  Share this giveaway on twitter and then leave a comment here so you’ll have another entry.

3.  Share this giveaway on Facebook and then leave a comment here so you’ll have another entry.

4.  Sign up for my newsletter and leave a comment here so you’ll have another entry.

It’s just that Simple!

Don’t delay because this event closes on Friday December 16th at NOON EST.  Winners will be chosen using random.org and will be notified on Friday.  Also this giveaway is limited to US residents only.

Now if you are looking for a little inspiration you can check out my Individual Stacked Salad Recipes and see how I used these dressings to make a big hit at my Thanksgiving table.  If you have questions about the Marzetti Simply Dressed Salad Dressings you can read through my review to see which ones I liked the most.

Disclaimer:  “I was one of six bloggers selected by T. Marzetti Company to be a Simply Dressed Ambassador. They compensated for my time however, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments.”

I’ve been saving this recipe for Gluten and Dairy Free Toffee  just for Home for the Holidays…Gluten-Free Style.  This is sure to be an amazing daily blogging event taking place from Monday, November 28 through Friday, December 23 and is being hosted by Shirley at gluten free easily. There are 25 bloggers sharing their stories and recipes for the holidays.  There is also a ginormous prize bin that will have you picking your chin up off the floor with almost 100 prizes.  There are  books … including cookbooks, resource books; iPhone apps; gluten-free magazine subscriptions; tools to help you know if a product is safe you to eat; and much more.  For all the information see the schedule and prizes at the end of this post and visit the gfe announcement.

These 3 books have been awarded and this giveaway is closed.  However there is a new drawing every day so make sure you check out the schedule so you know where to show up!

Today we will have 3 prizes to enter to win on this blog.  You have until 10 pm EST on Wednesday November 30th to enter to win one of these three prizes:

The Gluten-Free Almond Flour Cookbook from Elana’s Pantry.

Gluten-Free in 5 Minutes by Robin Ryberg

The Steamy Kitchen by Jaden Hair (not a 100% gf cookbook but many naturally or adaptable recipes)

Winners will be announced weekly on gfe.  Comments on this blog post will close at 10 pm on Wednesday November 30th.

To be entered to win, leave a comment on this blog post.

If you would like a few more entries or chances to win, here are some ways.  Just remember if you do any of these leave a comment here letting me know each one you did.  Don’t leave one comment with a summary.  Each comment here counts as an entry to win today’s prizes and to be entered into the drawing for the grand prizes.  You can:

Sign up for my newsletter

Sign up to receive my recipes by email

Like The WHOLE Gang on Facebook

Share this recipe on Pinterest  Use the Pin it button at top of post.

Sign up for recipes from gluten free easily

Like gfe on Facebook

TWEET this event using buttons at top.

Like this post on Facebook using buttons at top.

Google+ it using buttons at top.

Share it on LinkedIn using buttons at top.

Now remember there are tons of prizes and even multiple copies so if you don’t win here there will be a new giveaway every day until December 23rd.  Oh and here is the best part.  Every daily entry makes you eligible for the final giveaway, so the more blogs you visit and more entries you offer, the more your odds of winning the grand prize, second prize, or third prize will increase.  Winners of the daily giveaways will be announced weekly on gluten free easily, along with the final announcement sharing the final week’s winners as well as the grand prize, second place, and third place winners.

Grand Prize, Second Prize, and Third Prize (remember … all of your entries throughout this event are eligible for this final giveaway) 

Grand Prize–A top-of–the-line Vitamix—woohoooo! Specifically, Vitamix is offering its Super Healthy Lifestyle package, which includes a 5200 machine and a 32 oz. dry grains container for grinding your own, gluten-free flours. (affiliate link) Note that on Cyber Monday (11/28), Vitamix will be offering this package at $499 as part of its holiday special; that’s $50 off the normal price. The winner will also receive a copy of the e-book, Eat Fresh and D-Tox Your Life. This e-book is the perfect companion for this amazing Vitamix; read more here.  

Second Prize—A $150 shopping spree at Free From Gluten(freefromgluten.com). Free From Gluten is the largest gluten-free store offering everything from basic products like gluten-free flours and xanthan gum to those niceties like Enjoy Life semi-sweet mini chocolate chips (hey, some would say those are essentials!) and special products like baguettes and ice cream cones. Take a moment to check out their site … I’ll wait … (tick, tick, tick, tick) … now wouldn’t it be fun to spend $150 at their site? 

Third Prize—Caveman Cookies giveaway package ($89 value). 

One large bag of each of the current three flavors , Original, Tropical, and Alpine($28.95 value) plus one large bag of the soon-to-be released new flavor, Rainforest ($9.95 value; will be shipped as soon as available; anticipated end of Dec); 1 large variety pack ($32.50 value), and 1 t-shirt ($17.50 value; your size, your color). 

Gluten and Dairy Free Toffee

Oh you’re going to like this one for sure but be warned you’ll be seeking the Toffee Anonymous support group.  Once you start eating this it’s hard to stop.  I made a batch and my family ate it all in just a couple of days.  I then made a batch and shared it with a group of gluten free gals and they ate it all in one day!  This will make great gifts for your family, friends, neighbors and even teachers.

Ever since I was a kid I can remember making food gifts for family, neighbors, teachers and other service workers to thank them.  We also would make extra to have around for guests that visited.  My mother and I would make pressed cookies that we would decorate with colored sugar.  I’d make chocolate chip cookies and she would make her famous brownies or 1,2,3,4 Cake.  We would hand them out and everyone was always happy to get a food gift.  The best gift of all was getting to be in the kitchen with my mom.   There is no greater gift that you can give your children than to bring them into the kitchen and teach them how to cook and bake for themselves and others.

I hope you will enjoy making this toffee as much as you do eating it and sharing it.  Grab some family members to help you in the kitchen and make a list of who you want to share this toffee with for the holidays.

If you are already a toffee fan than you know this recipe follows the basics set out some time ago and I’m not sure who to give the credit to.  Toffee using crackers is an old trick that I’ve put a spin on by using gluten free crackers and keeping it dairy free.

You may have noticed that my recipe has a little button Save Recipe.  This is a cool new system to keep track of the recipes you like in your own personal recipe box.  It will also make a shopping list from the recipes you save.  There are only a few of these on my site but I promise to start working on adding it to past recipes.  No more trying to remember where you saw that recipe you liked.  Enjoy!

If you are interested in the type of crackers I used they were from Natural Nectar and can be purchased at Whole Foods or through my affiliate link to Amazon where they sell them as a 12 pack, great if you are making gifts.

I wish you all the happiest of days during this holiday season.

Home for the Holidays Gluten-Free Style has begun and now it’s your turn to jump in.  Good luck and enjoy all of these amazing bloggers and fantastic prizes.

Here’s a complete listing of all the excellent bloggers participating followed by the list of prizes being given away.

One cold January, 20+ bloggers came together for 31 days to share 31 nourishing and detoxifying smoothie, juice, and soup recipes. The blogosphere buzzed with great new ways of upping the intake of fruit and vegetables to start the year off right.  I tried many of those recipes and let me tell you they are good!

Gfree Mom’s January D-tox event was so well received that these 20+ bloggers decided to write and publish an e-cookbook—capturing these fantastic recipes, tips and tricks in one place.

And so without further ado, we announce the release of Eat Fresh and D-Tox Your Life: A Collection of Smoothies, Juices, Soups and Tips for the Whole Family. Not only will this book provide you with inspiration to increase your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables, but it also benefits others. All proceeds from this e-book go directly to MitoAction.

MitoAction and Their Mission.

MitoAction is a Boston-based nonprofit helping children and adults with mitochondrial disease navigate the complex journey of managing the disease. MitoAction’s mission is to improve the quality of life for everyone affected by mitochondrial disease through support, education, outreach, and advocacy initiatives. You may read more about MitoAction here.

What is Mitochondrial Disease?

Mitochondrial disease is a genetic, neurodegenerative disorder that occurs when the mitochondria fail to produce enough energy for cell or organ function. More common than cystic fibrosis, mitochondrial disease can develop in both children and adults and is often misdiagnosed. Mito symptoms are varied and progressive, and can include stroke, muscle pain, extreme fatigue, and organ failure. Mitochondrial disease is related to many other conditions, including autism, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s.

Download Your e-Cookbook Today!

To download your PDF e-cookbook Eat Fresh and D-Tox Your Life and support the efforts of MitoAction, click here. In this e-cookbook you will find:

> Tips like “How to Hide Greens” & “Smoothies and the Color Wheel”
> 9 Kid-Friendly and Beginner Smoothie Recipes
> 19 “Now I’m Feeling Braver” Smoothie and Juice Recipes
> A handful of soups, Detox Tips and More!
> Personal stories from, and hyperlinks, to each blogger’s website
> $10 suggested donation. Click Here to download.

A Dedication.

This is Gwen.

Diagnosed with Mitochondrial Disease, Gwen was not able to eat and had to receive IV nutrition. She has spent as much of her young life in the hospital as out, and was the recipient of a multi-organ transplant, which included a new stomach, intestines, liver, pancreas, and spleen.

Today, as always, she and her family are fighting to help her live a healthy life and allow her to do as many of the things young kids like to do as possible. Recently, Gwen was to be able to savor a bite of banana! As food bloggers, we live and breathe food, so we’d like to dedicate this book to Gwen.

Join the Effort.

If you would like to promote and sell this e-cookbook on your site, please feel free to do so. Use the content of this post freely (copy and images) and grab the badge below and link it to this url. And THANK YOU for your support!

So what happens when you put over 3,500 health coaches together in one room?  There is so much energy and love that you can feel it in the air.  We put on crazy costumes, danced around, learned a lot, shared a lot and I have the video to prove it.

My weekend in New York City at the Integrative Nutrition Fall conference was amazing.  I got to meet so many great health coaches from all over the world and ranging in ages from 18-80.  How about that?  I hope when I’m 80 I’m still learning something new and teaching every day too.

Here is one of the coolest things about this conference; it was totally free.  Yep, I did not pay one penny for this conference.  Well I paid for my hotel room and train ticket but I traveled from home.  There were eight Internationally-Acclaimed speakers who inspired and informed me over the two day conference.

I rode the train up early Saturday morning and arrived at Penn Station which is only a few blocks from the Jacob Javits Center.  You would think having lived there I would have remembered that a NYC block is not the same as a block in other cities.  It’s like twice as long and not a good idea for me in my wedges.  I was really glad I had met up with fellow student Patty and we walked together.  Once we arrived we realized we were at the world’s largest health coach conference.

Both days were jam packed with great speakers.  Joshua Rosenthal, the founder of the school, started the day off with a bang.  He started this school 20 years ago and now there are students from all 50 states and over 80 countries.  It’s the world’s largest nutrition school.  I hope you will take the time to read through all the amazing people I learned from just at this conference and make sure you WATCH the video.

If you find yourself wishing you had been there feel free to contact me or the school for more information.  Mention my name and you’ll find out about a special that ends on September 29th.

by Francesco Sapienza

We then heard from Pierre Dukan who wrote The Dukan Diet: 2 Steps to Lose the Weight, 2 Steps to Keep It Off Forever.  He was interesting to listen to with his thick French accent.  He shared the principles behind his wildly popular diet book.  It became a smash hit after Catherine Middleton, now Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, mentioned it was the secret to her weight loss.

by Francesco Sapienza

Next we heard from Sally Fallon Morell, author of Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats.  Sally shared information on the sad state of most school lunches and the bad information that underlies their policies.  Sally is a big part of the Weston A. Price Foundation.  They offer a lot of free information and when you become a member you receive an amazing quarterly publication which is full of nutritional information.  You can grab their Healthy 4 Life pdf and order their brochures on topics like soy, transfats, cholesterol, raw milk and cod liver oil from their website.

Joe Kraus made an appearance sharing his movie Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead.  You can watch the trailer on his site.  He ate nothing but green juice from fruits and vegetables for 60 days to reverse some serious health issues.

Dr. Joel Furhman joined us and talked about Super Immunity: The Essential Nutrition Guide for Boosting Your Body’s Defenses to Live Longer, Stronger, and Disease Free.  He coined the phrase Nutritarian, a person who strives for more micronutrients per calorie.

Diane, Kelly, Sarah

That evening I went out with fellow student and gluten free blogger Kelly Courson from Celiac Chicks to an Italian restaurant she recommended.  Pala Pizza on the Lower East Side has great gluten free options.  I ended up getting both dinner and some lunch for the next day.  The gluten and dairy free pizza was great and so was the pasta dish I had.  I love that they have a dedicated oven just for the gluten-free pizza.

Dr. David Katz kicked off day 2 of the conference.  Dr. Katz has done a lot in the space of educating kids how to read labels and become aware of what they are eating.  His Nutrition Detectives can be obtained for free and other free programs that you can download for your school.  ABC for Fitness helps teachers work physical activity right into the daily lesson giving kids a total of 30 minutes of exercise a day instead of just being stationary.  He is also part of a group that has created NuVal the nutritional scoring system that you can find in many grocery stores.  The closer the score is to 100 the more nutrient dense the food. You can check here to see what stores are using this system and take the quiz on nutrition by the numbers.

Next up was one of my favorites Dr. Mark Hyman, Chairman for the Institute for Functional Medicine, who talked about Diabesity.  Yes that is the combo of Diabetes and Obesity.  He shared lots of data starting with the change in obesity levels in our country.  In 1990 when there was information from almost all of the states, there was less than 10-14% obesity rates among the population.  By the year 2000 there was only one state left with that rate, Colorado.  In the year 2010 the lowest rate was 20-24% of which there were 15 states and Colorado was still one of them.   There were 25 states at the rate of 25-29% and 13 states at 30% and above.  In 20 short years the rate of obesity all across the country is increasing at an alarming rate along with children being diagnosed with diabetes.  You know, what we used to call Adult onset diabetes.  I’ve already pre-ordered his new book coming out next year, The Blood Sugar Solution: The UltraHealthy Program for Losing Weight, Preventing Disease, and Feeling Great Now!

We then learned from the one and only, Deepak Chopra.  He shared many wonderful things.  He started with leaders and leadership.  He said, “A leader is the symbolic soul of a group consciousness.”  Then he went on to explain that and give us many great tools from his book, Soul of a Leader.  He also shared important questions to ask yourself before you meditate.  Questions like who am I, what do I want, what is a peak experience for me, and many more.  I have pages and pages of amazing notes from his lecture.

We then got to do something really fun, Masala Bhangra with Sarina Jain.  It’s a really fun workout that incorporates the folk dance moves of Bhangra and also Bollywood.  We all had so much fun.  I’ve ordered her videos and can’t wait to get started.  There are classes that can be found around the US but none near me.

Robert Notter, who is a health coach and a coach to health coaches, also spoke sharing more of his wisdom.  I enjoy his lectures on how to run a business and I’m actually part of his group coaching program to learn even more.  I’m headed back to NYC in November to attend his Success From Within live weekend event.

Kathy Freston closed out the guest speakers.  Her latest book is Veganist: Lose Weight, Get Healthy, Change the World.

I know this is a much longer post than I usually share but as you can see it was so packed that I wanted to make sure I gave you a taste of the event.  I can’t wait for the next one!

photo by Eva Abreu

I’m very excited to be heading back to New York City for a Health Coach Conference from my school, Integrative Nutrition.  There are so many amazing speakers lined up.  Depak Chopra, Sally Fallon Morell, Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. David Katz, Dr. Joel Fuhrman, Pierre Dukan, Joshua Rosenthal, and Robert Notter.

It will be great to learn more from these instructors in person.  I listen to their lectures each week on my IIN iPod.  I think what I’m most excited about however, is meeting my fellow students who I’ve been chatting with virtually.  I’m also getting to meet someone who’s blog I’ve read ever since I found out I had to live gluten free.  Kelly Courson from Celiac Chicks has been wonderful to learn from and get to know virtually.

It will also be fun to be back in New York City.  I’ll be gone in a blink of an eye but it will be exciting as always to be there.  My last trip there was a few months ago and was even shorter.  I had won a trip to attend the NYC Premier of the last Harry Potter movie.

This time I’ll get to eat a few meals in the city.  I’m headed out to a cool restaurant for a gluten and dairy free Italian dinner.  When I get back I’ll let you know all about it.  Bernice from Wheatless and Meatless shared a few ideas for gluten and dairy free meals near the conference.  I can’t wait to give them a try too.  Ellen from Gluten Free Diva and a fellow student, suggested Friedman’s in the Chelsea Market as a place to eat.  I wish I had time to get there for lunch.  That would be exciting.

I hope you have a great weekend and if there is anything you want me to find out from a huge room full of fellow health coaches and amazing minds listed above, let me know.

Three years ago today,  I started posting stories on my little blog about what I was learning and the recipes I was creating to live gluten free.  Now, three years later, the most amazing things have happened.  I have met so many wonderful people, both online and in person.

Thank you to all of you who take the time to read my blog posts and newsletters.  Thank you to those who connect with me on Facebook and Twitter.  Thank you for reaching out and for sharing.   Thank you to those who leave comments; I really appreciate hearing from you.  And thank you to all who are there, but have not chimed in.

You all have given so much to me in so many ways.  I hope that you will continue to stop by and share your thoughts, questions and experiences with me.  Let me know what you want to learn about and I’ll be happy to share what I know and research what I don’t.

I wish you all good health and happy days.

August, the last month of the summer.  The month we are inundated with tons of tomatoes.  I love it.  Everything in the garden and on the farms is really humming.  I love how basil is bountiful at the same time as the tomatoes.  Works out nicely.   It’s a great time to make a pesto and roast off some tomatoes then top it off with that pesto.  Yum!

I’m really excited to see what you have to share with us this week.   Here are some great ideas from last week:

The Easiest Way to Peel Garlic from Whole. New. Mom

Poblano Soup from Gluten Free Cat

Baked Sweet Potato Falafel from Diet, Desserts and Dogs

OK, I’m waiting.  Show me what you got!

Guidelines:

Please link back to this post so your readers can find lots of great recipes.

Link to your individual post, not your home page.

Please share recipes made with very little packaged ingredients but using single food ingredients or Real Food. Maybe 1 or 2 if the list of ingredients is long.  If I bake something I’m usually using almond flour but I didn’t make it myself.   So you see where I’m going with this.

Please do not link giveaways or book reviews, this is for recipes with Real Food.

As always, have fun!

Now hopefully that doesn’t seem to difficult.  The point is to share Real Food with Real People!

Please don’t make me be a meanie and have to remove your link if you don’t follow the guidelines.

When you share your recipe feel free to grab one of these badges, or as Tia calls it Real Food Bling, and add it to your post.  You can even add it to your blog sidebar.

You can find these on the page dedicated to Real Food Weekly.

Now look below for the words, Click Here To Enter so you can link up your recipe!  Thank you.

I am very excited to host this month’s edition of Go Ahead Honey, It’s Gluten Free.  This is the monthly blog event created by Naomi Devlin from Straight Into Bed, Cake Free and Dried.  Each month a new blog hosts with a different theme.  August 2011 will be hosted by Shirley of Gluten Free Easily with just the sort of thing you want when the heat of August hits - Dishes So Simple, No Recipe Required!  Check out the whole schedule through May 2012.

I’m not sure if you have heard about the amazing things that happened at my alma-mater Hogwarts but I must share.  It was an amazing event and I was even part of what happened.  For me it all started when I went to the market one day.  I was in the produce aisle and someone bumped into me except there was no one there.   I had a sneaking suspicion who it might be so I made sure whoever it was couldn’t get past me.  Then I whispered, Harry, is that you under the invisibility cloak.  A soft whisper came back, no it’s Hermonie but please don’t say anything.  I assured her I wouldn’t and offered to make them a meal and hide them for the day.

See everyone knew she, Ron and Harry were on the run.  Some of us had an idea it was something that Professor Dumbledore had left them to do after his death.  The poor kids were famished.  I guess it’s hard to live off of whatever mushrooms or berries you find along the way.  I was just putting the final touches on a lemon white bean cake with pistachio lemon topping that is As Good As Gluten according to my friend Lauren.  They sat down and devoured almost the whole cake plus being a Gluten-Free Homemaker like Linda, I had a fruit pizza on hand too.

They shared with me that they were in deed on a special mission but they couldn’t tell me anything more.  They couldn’t stay long so I didn’t get to make them any of my favorites from A Gluten Free Hogwarts.  But with City Life Eats I was able to share with them some raspberry chocolate pudding that Valerie created.

I really wanted to help them in any way I could and the only thing I could think of was getting them food.  They never knew where they were going to apparate to next or if they would get food.  They were running from You Know Who.  I had to figure it out so how to get around this Daily Dietribe.  So I sat down with some fruit and herb salad and summoned my inner wisdom, Iris.

Finally, a solution came to me.  I arranged to have some treats available to them whenever they could summon them.  It took a special kind of magic to send it to them since the Floo Network was being monitored and so was any portkey I could whip up.  Hanging out with the houseelf Doby I learned a few tricks about food appearing out of nowhere.  He was a very kind house elf.

So I got busy baking and making treats.  I had KateAlice Cookbook’s recipe for apple blueberry millet crumble.  Something they could heat up on the fire if they wanted.  And then for more Daily Bites I made raspberry brownie bites.   I sure hoped they were getting all of these treats including a Tasty Eats From Home of  healthy chocolate zucchini muffins.  Hallie and Alta thought they could carry some with them in Hermonie’s bag.  She seemed to be able to fit all sorts of things in this tiny bag of hers. 

That’s all I ended up sending before I heard they were captured by snatchers and taken to the Malfoy manor.  Somehow they escaped and headed to Shell Cottage where Ron’s brother and sister-in-law lived, Bill and Fleur.  I was happy there were finally somewhere safe and where they could get a good home cooked meal.

Fleur is a wonderful cook.  I heard She Let Them Eat Cake every meal and made a decadent chocolate sauce for ice cream too.  My friend Maggie would have loved that.  Well of course they liked that And Love It Too when she made them molten lava cakes.  Wouldn’t that make your day Sunny!

There is one thing that Fleur is great at is Faking it Gluten Free Style.  Every morning they woke to spiced peach cupcakes.  Well you know, muffins and cupcakes are really the same thing says Terri.  I heard she even bewitched egg cakes baked in eggshells which she served with Z’s Cup of Tea.

They had to stay at the cottage for some time while they worked on something.  I come to find out it was a plan to brake into Gringots the wizarding bank.  They say it’s the safest place and no one has ever stole anything from there.  So once again they were off and without food.  I’m not sure why they didn’t take any of the coconut chocolate cookies from the RA Vegan or the carrot cake that was Gluten Free, SCD and Veggie.

Well believe it of not they did manage to break into the bank and get out safely.  Then for some reason they headed off to Hogsmead, the village near Hogwarts.  They almost got caught too.  Thankfully Aberforth, Professor Dumbeldores brother, helped them to safety and fed them some ginger cake with lemon cashew frosting after he got rid of the Fox in The Kitchen.

Well the next thing you know they are running around Hogwarts and there are not just a few death eaters or snatchers after them but hundreds.  All of their friends were there to help Harry, Ron and Hermonie along with those in the Order of the Phoenix plus the teachers of Hogwarts.  Molly Weasly fought fiercely to protect her daughter and even I showed up to see if I could help.

The battles took place all over Hogwarts and the grounds. The fighting was fierce and people were dying.   It’s just too sad to tell you all the people we loved that lost their lives fighting. But they never gave up and they never handed over Harry to Voldemort.

The castle was mostly in ruins or on fire and you should have seen the explosions.  At one point we all thought Harry was dead and Voldemort wanted everyone to just join him.  Can you imagine.  Well you know how it ended.

With the battle finally over, everyone gathered in the great hall.  We had warm drinks and the house elves brought us all some treats.  First I had raw cashew cheesecake as I listened to the Adventures of Pip.  I was Gluten Free and Loving It eating orange sherbet with Rogene and we were living gluten free easily with the watermelon sherbet and a bonus milk shake from Shirley while Adrienne felt like a Whole New Mom eating chocolate almond chip coconut milk ice cream.

It’s 19 years later now and life has moved on but not a day goes by that I don’t think about Harry, Ron and Hermonie and everything that happend.  How brave, clever and quick on their feet they were.  I will always treasure the time I spent with them throughout the many years.  They are filled with many wonderful memories.  It’s sad that part is all over but it’s good to know that “Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home.”  shared J.K. Rowling at the London Premier.  Thank you Jo.

Photo: Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images

My biggest thrill was getting to go to the NYC premier and be just feet away from the stars of this movie.  If you missed my story click here.

I can’t believe it’s Thursday already and our weekly roundup is here.  I’m looking forward to you sharing your real food recipes with us.

Did you happen to catch what was shared last week?    How about the Savory Lemon-Kissed, Sun-Dried Tomato Artichoke Chicken Clafoutis (Gluten Free, Dairy Free) from gluten free easily or the video on Zucchini Pancakes from Real Food Forager.  I liked that spicy Watermelon Jalapeno Love Salad from Gluten Free Cat.  There are a lot more you should check out if you missed it.

Now for this week it’s your turn to share!

OK everyone I’m ready for you’re amazing real food recipes!  You had amazing things to share last week. I can’t wait to see what you are making with your July harvests.

This week I headed to the Real Food Daily restaurant in Santa Monica.  Check out their menu.  Who could resist with such a great name and concept!

OK, now it’s your turn to share recipes.

Guidelines:

Please link back to this post so your readers can find lots of great recipes.

Link to your individual post, not your home page.

Please share recipes made with very little packaged ingredients but using single food ingredients or Real Food. Maybe 1 or 2 if the list of ingredients is long.  If I bake something I’m usually using almond flour but I didn’t make it myself.   So you see where I’m going with this.

Please do not link giveaways or book reviews, this is for recipes with Real Food.

As always, have fun!

Now hopefully that doesn’t seem to difficult.  The point is to share Real Food with Real People!

Please don’t make me be a meanie and have to remove your link if you don’t follow the guidelines.

When you share your recipe feel free to grab one of these badges, or as Tia calls it Real Food Bling, and add it to your post.  You can even add it to your blog sidebar.

You can find these on the page dedicated to Real Food Weekly.

Now look below for the words, Click Here To Enter so you can link up your recipe!  Thank you.

Michelle is a power house.  If you’re not sure just take a little time to read all about her passion and her travels.  Don’t forget her new cookbook!  I’ve met Michelle via the blog world and in person at conferences and she’s as wonderful in person as she is here in print.  Enjoy!

Name : Michelle Stern

Business and or blog name: What’s Cooking with Kids

URL: http://whatscookingwithkids.com

Location: San Francisco Bay Area

Favorite quote: “It’s better to try and fail than to fail to try.” (I can’t remember who said it…)

Focus of blog or business: Cooking with kids for a healthy body, planet and community

Social Media I play in: Twitter (@whatscooking); Facebook (/whatscookingkids)

I started my blog in the month and year: a long time ago, and it was awful back then…I like to think of the past year or two as being worthwhile

Professional organizations I belong to: San Francisco Professional Food Society, International Association of Culinary Professionals

Training/education I received: I am a trained teacher (I used to teach high school biology and environmental science)

My favorite healthy food: kale chips!

My favorite snack food: chips and salsa, popcorn

My top 3 healthiest foods I love to eat or recommend: kale chips, roasted veggies, seasonal produce, in general

Childhood ambition: to be a veterinarian (but then organic chemistry happened.  Yikes!)

My favorite cookbook: too many to list here…

Proudest moment: I was invited to the White House for the launch of Michelle Obama’s Chefs Move to Schools initiative; my first book was just published! The Whole Family Cookbook: Celebrate the goodness of locally grown foods

What I do to feel at peace: hiking or bird watching

Craziest thing I’ve ever done: I studied monkey mating behavior on an island in Puerto Rico after college

Books I’ve written: The Whole Family Cookbook: Celebrate the goodness of locally grown foods
(April, 2011)

I started my blog to: find a way to reach a broader audience and help them buy and prepare healthier foods for their health and the planet with their children

What I hope the people that visit my blog find: I hope that people who visit my website will become inspired to cook with their kids, help the planet, and use food and cooking as a way to help the less fortunate

Products and/or services I offer: I offer cooking classes and parties to children; speaking engagements for adults about cooking with children, family mealtimes, and avoiding power struggles; consulting for people starting their own cooking with kids business or looking for support to teach cooking to children in the schools; spokesperson services (one day!), and my book!

What I love about what I do: I am so proud that I can empower kids and their families to make healthier choices that leave a smaller footprint on the environment

How am I making a difference in my community: I work with children and their families to use food and cooking to help the less fortunate.  We have a SOUP event coming up, for example, in which we are partnering with Studio 4 Art, a nearby children’s art studio, to raise funds for a local emergency family shelter.  At the event, guests contribute a small donation, choose a hand-thrown bowl, and we fill it with savory soup. They leave with a full belly, a piece of art and a warm heart knowing that their donation helped to feed a child.

Welcome to this week’s edition of Real Food Weekly.  This is where you get to share and find great recipes using real food.  Every week there are so many amazing things shared.  I’m just going to highlight a few but if you missed it, go back and check it out.

Italian Sausage Frittata with Caserecce from Live Free, Gluten Free

Red, White & Blue Smoothie from City Life Eats

Kathy’s Kale Salad from Wheat Free Meat Free

Blueberry Banana Buckle from gluten free easily

If you missed my post on Muffaletta Burgers you really should go back and taste it.

Now it’s your turn to share.

Guidelines:

Please link back to this post so your readers can find lots of great recipes.

Link to your individual post, not your home page.

Please share recipes made with very little packaged ingredients but using single food ingredients or Real Food. Maybe 1 or 2 if the list of ingredients is long.  If I bake something I’m usually using almond flour but I didn’t make it myself.   So you see where I’m going with this.

Please do not link giveaways or book reviews, this is for recipes with Real Food.

As always, have fun!

Now hopefully that doesn’t seem to difficult.  The point is to share Real Food with Real People!

Please don’t make me be a meanie and have to remove your link if you don’t follow the guidelines.

When you share your recipe feel free to grab one of these badges, or as Tia calls it Real Food Bling, and add it to your post.  You can even add it to your blog sidebar.

You can find these on the page dedicated to Real Food Weekly.

Now look below for the words, Click Here To Enter so you can link up your recipe!  Thank you.

You might be wondering why on my health coach and gluten free food blog I would be writing about this event.  Well first it’s important to do things you enjoy, read books you like, see movies that entertain you and make sure you are not working all the time.  Second and most importantly for me, I GOT TO GO!

Red Carpet at Harry Potter Movie Premiere NYC

For those of you who know me I am beyond a huge Harry Potter fan.  I have loved the books from the first time I started reading them just to see what on earth was occupying my oldest son.  He’s grown up reading these books and so have I.  Well not in years but in life.

If you have not read or seen any of the movies I am in a way, jealous.  You have the opportunity to let them unfold for you for the first time.  They are wonderful books filled with love, learning, grief, trials and tribulations, history, past literature and a whole new world to learn about.   I was just going to read the first book to get an idea of what my son was reading.  I was on vacation and had some time.  Once I started the first book I couldn’t put it down.  I don’t think I made dinner that night.  The next day I had to find a bookstore with the second one so I could read that too.  This was odd for me.  You see I really didn’t spend much time on reading, especially for pleasure.  Being dyslexic I had always found it a chore, until I started reading J.K. Rowling’s books.

My son and I would talk about our predictions for the next book as we anxiously awaited them to be released.  The movies started and we would do the same wondering what they would leave in or cut out.  It’s been a wonderful ride and I’ve loved every minute.

photo credit Jimmy Alexander

Our local radio station, Mix 107.3,  was running a contest to take some of their listeners to the movie premiere in New York City.  I of course entered as I have every other contest out there to win a trip or something having to do with Harry Potter.  I really had forgotten that I had entered and when I received a call from a DC area code I had no idea who it could be.   I almost didn’t pick it up because I was watching the World Premiere in London for the movie on my computer.  See I told you I was obsessed.  When I answered and they told me I had won I think I almost jumped through the ceiling.  I couldn’t stop smiling for days.

I was told I could bring one guest.  My oldest son who had introduced me to the books thought he deserved to come and my husband who puts up with my obsession (and funds it) wanted to come too but he has not read most of the books.  It was a hard decision and I told my son he did deserve to come but I took my husband.  10 hours on a bus with someone, I had to choose wisely.  I wish I could have brought both of them.

Monday was the big event.  We loaded on the motor coach driven by a wonderful man, Clarence.  Our chaperone from the radio station was Jimmy Alexander.  He is also a big Harry Potter fan and a ton of fun.  We headed to NYC to Lincoln Center.   We arrived early and with it being brutally hot out they let us wait in the air conditioned bus.  When we got off the bus we walked right down the Red Carpet. How cool is that!

Stars arriving, people across street camped out for days

We had to go inside right away so we didn’t get to watch them all arrive individually and be photographed and interviewed.  We were inside watching it on our iPhones.  Silly but true.

David Heyman, David Yates, David Barron

After some time David Heyman, the man who produced all of the Harry Potter movies came out on stage.  Then the other two David’s joined him, David Barron who produced all of the movies but two and David  Yates who directed the last four Harry Potter films.  Joining them on stage was Steven Kloves who was the screen writer who turned all but one of the books into screen plays.

Then the crowd really went wild when the actors started to join them on stage.  Alan Rickman who plays Severus Snape, Matthew Lewis who plays Neville Longbottom, Tom Felton who plays Draco Malfoy, Rupert Grint who plays Ron Weasley, Emma Watson who plays Hermonie Granger and Daniel Radcliffe who plays Harry Potter.

The producers and director talked as well as the younger actors.  I was hoping Alan would say something but he didn’t.  I was only 7 rows from the stage so I had an amazing view.  It was so fantastic to see these people in person who I have watched for so many years.  After they spoke they left the stage to take seats in the audience.  I think I would have passed out if one of them sat down next to me.

someone shouted we love you Rupert photo credit Jimmy Alexander

The audience was not  full of just fans like me who had won a trip but there were  a lot of other industry people.  Many actors came and were scattered around the auditorium.  Just behind us was Ariana Grande who was taking a lot of photos with fans.  She’s on a Nickoldenon show called Victorious.  Also in the crowd was Matthew Broderick and his wife Sarah Jessica Parker.  Jay Manuel from Canada’s Next Top Model show was there and he sparkled from across the room.  I also saw Michael Chiklis from No Ordinary Family, The Shield and Fantastic Four.

One of the funniest things I thought happened to Scott.  He was walking into the men’s room and he walked right into the guy coming out.  He didn’t stop to notice he had just crashed into Joey Fatone from Nsync.

After the event I only saw David Heyman and David Yates hang around.  I did manage to get to thank David Yates and get his autograph in my British copy of The Deathly Hallows.  I was hoping to get more autographs but just the experience of being there was worth so much more.

It was an amazing event.  Let me also say that the movie is wonderful.   We watched it in 3D which usually bothers me but not this time.   They did a great job with it and it’s not over done or gratuitous.  It just flows.  If you are a big fan of the books I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.  I don’t want to give anything away but all I have to say is bring tissues.

The movie comes out in theaters at 12:01 am July 14th or July 15th to those who don’t have tickets yet.  I hear it’s selling out all over the country.  I have my midnight tickets and yes I will be there with my son.   We’ll be seeing it in 2D so it will be interesting to see the difference.

Well I can’t thank Mix 107.3 enough for making a dream of mine come true.  It was an amazing experience.  To be so close in a room with the producers, directors and actors who have brought these wonderful books to screen for the last 10 years was just amazing.  If you have not read the books and you think they are just for kids, well you are completely mistaken.  They grow in complexity and deal with more and more adult issues as they go on.  I’m not sure why you waited so long but why not venture into the world of Harry Potter.

Don’t forget this month I’m hosting Go Ahead Honey, It’s Gluten Free.  The theme is It All Ends Here! Read all the details.

photo credit Jimmy Alexander

This Friday is the Washington, DC Gluten-Free Expo. I will one of the 50 gluten-free vendors from across the country gathering at the Embassy Suites Convention Center Hotel.  Each vendor will sample and/or sell their products. In some cases, the vendors will offer large discounts to purchase products at the event.

While most of the vendors there will be sharing their gluten-free products, I’m really looking forward to talking with folks about their health and taking care of themselves.

If you are in the DC area I hope you will stop by the event and say hello.  I will have some recipes to share from my cookbook plus a new one to sample and share plus a discount for my cookbook.  I will also have a gift pack for one lucky person who registers for a WHOLE You consultation.

Following the vendor fair, the CNMC Celiac Disease Program Advisory Board will host a Gluten-Free Cocktail Reception at Finn & Porter (upstairs atrium at the Embassy Suites) from 7:30pm-10:00pm to relax, mingle with new and old friends, eat delicious gluten-free food and learn more about the DC gluten-free community.  The theme for the event is “Globally Gluten-Free” and Chef Aaron Flores will prepare all of the international gluten-free food.  We hope you’ll join us at this fantastic event!

The Washington DC Gluten-Free Expo will feature the best gluten-free products on the market featuring more than 50 of the nation’s best gluten-free food manufactures, and dozens of local DC restaurants will showcase their gluten-free menus. This is an interactive awareness event bringing the DC Gluten-Free Community together for a fun, exciting and delicious afternoon.

This whole event is being sponsored by Children’s National Medial Center.  As part of its mission to excel in Care, Advocacy, Research and Education, Children’s National Medical Center is leading the creation of innovative solutions to pediatric health challenges. As part of this mission, Children’s National has recently created a Celiac Disease Program in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition within the Joseph E. Robert, Jr. Center for Surgical Care.

Here are the details to join me:

When: Friday, July 8, 2011 4-8pm

Where: Embassy Suites Convention Center Hotel, 900 10th Street Northwest, Washington D.C., DC 20001
Price: *10.00 admission fee

Cocktail Reception Time: 7:30pm-10:00pm

Cost for Cocktail Reception: $75/person

* All proceeds from the event to benefit the Celiac Disease Program at Children’s National Medical Center

Vendors Confirmed

123 Gluten-Free

Arbonne Cosmetics

Bakery on Main

Bella Monica Pizza

Bhuja Snacks

Cabot Creamery

Caesar’s Pasta Products

Chef Aaron Flores

Children’s National Medical Center Celiac Program

CrispTek

Crunchfuls (Pul Foods Inc.)

Crunchmaster Snacks

Delight Magazine

Dr. Lucys Cookies

Edward & Sons

Enjoy LIfe Natural Brands

Freedom Bakery

French Meadow Bakery

Full Flavor Foods

GlutenFreeda Foods

GlutenFreely LLC

Glutino Food Group/Ians

Katz Gluten-Free Bakery

Kettle Cuisine

Kinnikinnick Foods

Lilit Cafe

Lisanatti Cheese

Lucini Italia Co

Main Line Baking Company

Marion’s Smart Delights

Melting Pot

My Bready

Namaste Foods

One Dish Cuisine

Pamela’s Products

PF Changs

Redwood Hill Creamery

Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery

San-J International

Shabtai Gourmet

Sweet Sin

The WHOLE Gang, LLC

Tonya’s Gluten-Free Kitchen

Triple Oak Bakery

Udi’s Gluten-Free Foods

Wildfire Restaurant

Welcome to this week’s adventure in cooking.  I call it an adventure because I never know what recipes will show up on this blog carnival and I totally love that!  Also the linky I use has made some updates.  For instance you can now Like a recipe shared.  We are all so connected.

The foods you are finding at the farmers markets and around you to cook with are wonderful.  Here are some tasty recipes from last week.

Summer Squash and Chicken Skillet Recipe from Real Food, Allergy Free

Cucumber and Radish Salad from Wheat Free Meat Free

Peanut Butter & Chocolate Thumbprint Macaroons from Alisa Cooks

Sophias Super Carrot Salad Dressing from gluten free easily

Now it’s your turn.   Please read the guidelines.

Guidelines:

Please link back to this post so your readers can find lots of great recipes.

Link to your individual post, not your home page.

Please share recipes made with very little packaged ingredients but using single food ingredients or Real Food. Maybe 1 or 2 if the list of ingredients is long.  If I bake something I’m usually using almond flour but I didn’t make it myself.   So you see where I’m going with this.

Please do not link giveaways or book reviews, this is for recipes with Real Food.

As always, have fun!

Now hopefully that doesn’t seem to difficult.  The point is to share Real Food with Real People!

Please don’t make me be a meanie and have to remove your link if you don’t follow the guidelines.

When you share your recipe feel free to grab one of these badges, or as Tia calls it Real Food Bling, and add it to your post.  You can even add it to your blog sidebar.

You can find these on the page dedicated to Real Food Weekly.

Now look below for the words, Click Here To Enter so you can link up your recipe!  Thank you.

You guys and gals are totally awesome.  I love the recipes you are sharing made from real food ingredients.  This time of year the possibilities really increase around where I live.  I hope you are finding some great food at the farmers markets.

So here are some recipes shared last week.  If you missed any go back and check it out.

Rhubarb Sorbet from Food Farm Health

Make Your Own Coconut Milk from Whole New Mom

For those who eat dairy don’t miss this Toffee Ice Cream from Gluten Free SCD and Veggie

One of my favorite meals Pasta Fagioli from Wheat Free Meat Free

Now it’s your turn!

Guidelines:

Please link back to this post so your readers can find lots of great recipes.

Link to your individual post, not your home page.

Please share recipes made with very little packaged ingredients but using single food ingredients or Real Food. Maybe 1 or 2 if the list of ingredients is long.  If I bake something I’m usually using almond flour but I didn’t make it myself.   So you see where I’m going with this.

Please do not link giveaways or book reviews, this is for recipes with Real Food.

As always, have fun!

Now hopefully that doesn’t seem to difficult.  The point is to share Real Food with Real People!

Please don’t make me be a meanie and have to remove your link if you don’t follow the guidelines.

When you share your recipe feel free to grab one of these badges, or as Tia calls it Real Food Bling, and add it to your post.  You can even add it to your blog sidebar.

You can find these on the page dedicated to Real Food Weekly.

Now look below for the words, Click Here To Enter so you can link up your recipe!  Thank you.

Well we’ve headed into June already which is a great month at farmer’s markets where I live.  They begin to get more and more fresh foods.  I hope you will share your Real Food recipes with your farmer market finds.

Again last week there were amazing recipes shared.  Here are just a few but feel free to jump back to see more.

Grain Free Fig Bars from Mrs Ed’s Research and Recipes

Today’s Lunchbox- Asparagus Quinoa Salad from City /Life /Eats

Chili-Lime Chicken from Live Free, Gluten Free

Darkly Decadent Chocolate Pudding from Hecka-Good Recipes

Guidelines:

Please link back to this post so your readers can find lots of great recipes.

Link to your individual post, not your home page.

Please share recipes made with very little packaged ingredients but using single food ingredients or Real Food. Maybe 1 or 2 if the list of ingredients is long.  If I bake something I’m usually using almond flour but I didn’t make it myself.   So you see where I’m going with this.

Please do not link giveaways or book reviews, this is for recipes with Real Food.

As always, have fun!

Now hopefully that doesn’t seem to difficult.  The point is to share Real Food with Real People!

Please don’t make me be a meanie and have to remove your link if you don’t follow the guidelines.

When you share your recipe feel free to grab one of these badges, or as Tia calls it Real Food Bling, and add it to your post.  You can even add it to your blog sidebar.

You can find these on the page dedicated to Real Food Weekly.

Now look below for the words, Click Here To Enter so you can link up your recipe!  Thank you.

Welcome back to this week’s real food blog carnival.  This is where you share your recipes so we can all benefit.  Here are some great looking recipes shared last week.

Strawberry Ginger Rhubarb Crisp from Hecka-Good-Recipes

Chicken Broccoli Stirfry from Gluten Free Homemaker

Sun Dried Tomato Hummus from Gluten-Free Cat

Guidelines:

Please link back to this post so your readers can find lots of great recipes.

Link to your individual post, not your home page.

Please share recipes made with very little packaged ingredients but using single food ingredients or Real Food. Maybe 1 or 2 if the list of ingredients is long.  If I bake something I’m usually using almond flour but I didn’t make it myself.   So you see where I’m going with this.

Please do not link giveaways or book reviews, this is for recipes with Real Food.

As always, have fun!

Now hopefully that doesn’t seem to difficult.  The point is to share Real Food with Real People!

Please don’t make me be a meanie and have to remove your link if you don’t follow the guidelines.

When you share your recipe feel free to grab one of these badges, or as Tia calls it Real Food Bling, and add it to your post.  You can even add it to your blog sidebar.

You can find these on the page dedicated to Real Food Weekly.

Now look below for the words, Click Here To Enter so you can link up your recipe!  Thank you.

Welcome back to our recipe round-up after our break last week.  I hope you’ll share last week’s and this week’s recipes today.  Feel free to share as many as you like just link back to this post in each one.  If you missed the event on May 5th you should check out the great recipes shared.

So what is going on in your real food world and what happened to Jamie Oliver’s show?  What could be more important than working to get good food to our kids at school and high sugary flavored milk drinks out?  Have you joined the push to get those out of schools?  If not and you’re interested visit Jamie Oliver’s website School Food section and his Facebook group.  There’s a big event happening on June 9th.  Oh and Jamie’s Food Revolution will return to TV in June.

OK now let’s get to the recipes this week.

Guidelines:

Please link back to this post so your readers can find lots of great recipes.

Link to your individual post, not your home page.

Please share recipes made with very little packaged ingredients but using single food ingredients or Real Food. Maybe 1 or 2 if the list of ingredients is long.  If I bake something I’m usually using almond flour but I didn’t make it myself.   So you see where I’m going with this.

Please do not link giveaways or book reviews, this is for recipes with Real Food.

As always, have fun!

Now hopefully that doesn’t seem to difficult.  The point is to share Real Food with Real People!

Please don’t make me be a meanie and have to remove your link if you don’t follow the guidelines.

When you share your recipe feel free to grab one of these badges, or as Tia calls it Real Food Bling, and add it to your post.  You can even add it to your blog sidebar.

You can find these on the page dedicated to Real Food Weekly.

Now look below for the words, Click Here To Enter so you can link up your recipe!  Thank you.

I hope you have been following along for our event, 30 Days to Easy Gluten-Free Living.  So far we are on day 10 and there has been so much wonderful information to make life easy.

We’ve learned about grocery shopping, how to start living gluten free, smoothies, convenience foods, power bars, easy meals, chocolate peanut butter pie, cookie bars, baking and travel.  Like I said that’s a lot already.

If you missed out on any of those, here is the entire schedule with the links to posts that have already been shared.  Keep this list handy so you don’t miss out on any more.  If you misplace it you can always find it right here on the 30 Day page at the top of this blog.  Or simply Click Here.   Every day I updated it with a direct link to the post.

If you are wondering where our posts are this week for Food Rock Star and Real Food Weekly, they will be back next week!  In the mean time go check out all of these great posts!

Monday May 2nd    me ,  The WHOLE Gang sharing Easy Gluten Free Grocery Shopping Tips

Tuesday May 3rd  Iris from The Daily Dietribe sharing on How to Start a Gluten Free Diet.

Wednesday May 4th  Heather from Gluten-Free Cat sharing Smoothing the GF Transition with Smoothies

Thursday May 5th  Alta from Tasty Eats at Home sharing Make Your Own Convenience Foods

Friday May 6th  Elana from Elana’s Pantry sharing Quick and Easy Gluten Free Cherry Vanilla Power Bars

Saturday May 7th  Cheryl from Gluten Free Goodness sharing Easy Meals GF Style

Sunday May 8th  Megan from Food Sensitivity Journal sharing Gluten Free Baking Undone:  Easy Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

Monday May 9th  Amy from Simply Sugar and Gluten Free sharing Magic Cookie Power Bars.

Tuesday May 10th  Ricki from Diet, Dessert and Dogs sharing Gluten Free Baking Tips

Wednesday May 11th      Ellen from Gluten-Free Diva sharing Gluten Free Travel Tips

Thursaday May 12th     Kim from Cook It Allergy Free sharing Eating from your Garden for Easy Gluten-Free Living

Friday May 13th     Melissa from Gluten Free For Good sharing Gluten-Free Food Rules

Saturday May 14th  Brittany from Real Sustenance sharing Healthy Allergy-Free Quick Bread with easy flavor variations.

Sunday May 15th  Nicola from g-free Mom sharing Kids Lunch Boxes

Monday May 16th     Wendy from Celiacs in the House sharing Fast Food for Teens

Tuesday May 17th     Shirley from gluten free easily sharing Your Pantry is the Key to Being GFE

Wednesday May 18th     Nancy from  The Sensitive Pantry sharing BBQ and Picnic tips and Recipe

Thursday May 19th    Heidi from Adventures of a Gluten-Free Mom sharing tips for getting kids to eat healthy, real-food snacks!

Friday May 20th  Silvana from Silvana’s Kitchen sharing

Saturday May 21st  Maggie from She Let Them Eat Cake sharing

Sunday May 22nd  Sea from Book of Yum sharing Gluten Free Vegetarian Burritos

Monday May 23rd     Tia from Glugle Gluten-Free sharing

Tuesday May 24th    Alisa from Alisa Cooks and Go Dairy Free sharing Wrap it Up-Thinking Outside the Bun

Wednesday May 25th  Hallie from Daily Bites sharing Keys to Colorful Cooking

Thursday May 26th     Carol from Simply…Gluten-Free sharing

Friday May 27th   AndreaAnna from Life as a Plate sharing Tips on Traveling on Day Trips with Kids

Saturday May 28th  Zoe from Z’s Cup of Tea sharing

Sunday May 29th  Kelly from The Spunky Coconut sharing

Monday May 30th  Jess from ATX Gluten-Free sharing 1 Meal 3 Ways, Jazzing up Leftovers

Tuesday May 31st  Naomi from Straight into Bed, Cakefree and Dried sharing

Happy Cinco de Mayo!  Will you be celebrating with some good Mexican food.  We love Mexican food at our house.  You can find lots of Mexican recipes on my blog too.  It’s usually part of our weekly menu.  Will you be sharing some Mexican recipes this week?  Here are some great recipes from last week:

Cilantro Lime Burritos by Cultivating Consciousness

Raw Beet and Carrot Salad by Gluten-Free Cat

Gluten-Free Quiche by gluten free easily

Raw Cake Pops by The Mommy Bowl

Now it’s your turn.  Check out these guideline and share away!

Guidelines:

Please link back to this post so your readers can find lots of great recipes.

Link to your individual post, not your home page.

Please share recipes made with very little packaged ingredients but using single food ingredients or Real Food. Maybe 1 or 2 if the list of ingredients is long.  If I bake something I’m usually using almond flour but I didn’t make it myself.   So you see where I’m going with this.

Please do not link giveaways or book reviews, this is for recipes with Real Food.

As always, have fun!

Now hopefully that doesn’t seem to difficult.  The point is to share Real Food with Real People!

Please don’t make me be a meanie and have to remove your link if you don’t follow the guidelines.

When you share your recipe feel free to grab one of these badges, or as Tia calls it Real Food Bling, and add it to your post.  You can even add it to your blog sidebar.

You can find these on the page dedicated to Real Food Weekly.

Now look below for the words, Click Here To Enter so you can link up your recipe!  Thank you.

Today we kick off the first day of 30 Days to Easy Gluten-Free Living.  You are in for a treat this month as 30 different bloggers will share tips and treats all to make sure you know that it really can be easy living gluten free.  To check out the complete schedule visit HERE.  Tomorrow jump over to The Daily Dietribe where Iris will give you tips on Your First Day Living Gluten Free.  Remember this event lasts all month but it travels from blog to blog.

Grocery shopping is something I find people either like or they don’t.  For me it’s a lot of fun.  When I see so many fresh fruits, vegetables, meats  and seafood my head starts to spin with meal ideas.  But let’s back up to the first day I went grocery shopping when I found out that I was divorcing gluten and it was out of my life for good.  I say divorce because we all have a relationship with food.  For me this was a bad one.

My brain was still very foggy and I had a hard time sequencing tasks.  I even would get done shopping and not remember how to get home.  Gluten had really done a bad number on my body.  So when I went shopping I just went with no plan in mind and no idea what I was going to buy.  All I could remember was being told that gluten was in everything.  Quite frankly I was scared to death.  I think that first trip I was there for 3.5 to 4 hours.  Wandering around and reading every label on every product I could find was exhausting.  The ones that said gluten free on the label I tossed into the cart to try.

This was how I started my path to living gluten free.  I would make meals from the boxes of gluten free foods and frozen items.  I’d spend hours at the grocery store looking for what would be safe to eat with no thought of what would be good for me to eat.  I don’t think I’m alone with this type of start to living gluten free.

So here I was trying to heal my body from the effects of gluten and I was not giving it very much help.  See most of the products in boxes don’t have a lot of nutritional value.  They do have a lot of calories which really didn’t help the situation.  But what my body needed was good solid nutrients from real food.  I needed to be eating foods that would calm the inflammation, heal the damage and strengthen my body so it was healthy.

It never occurred to me that I could buy fresh fruits, vegetables, meats and seafood and they were naturally gluten free.  I was wrongly told that gluten was in everything.  What they meant to say was that gluten is most often found in processed foods, not everything.  Wheat, barley, rye and oats from cross contamination are the foods that contain gluten.  That is not what I would call everything.  But foods with ingredient labels must be read carefully to make sure they have not added it in.

My nutritionist then told me to eat single ingredient foods.  Well my foggy brain took that to mean eat only one food at a time.  For instance eat only asparagus or only onion or only potato.  Those items don’t have ingredients labels because they are ingredients.

I think we need to be really careful in what we tell people and how we explain things, especially to those who have been sick for so long and finally find out the cause is gluten.  We need a little extra TLC and a confirmation that we understand what is being shared.

So today I’d like to share with you some tips with explanations on how to make your grocery shopping trips fast, easy and fun.

Make a menu for the week. Once you get used to doing this it will take you as long as 10 minutes to make it.  Try to make a menu with recipes that use whole foods.  Those single ingredient foods, real foods, or whatever you like to call them.  Organic fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs, wild caught seafood, nuts, beans, coconut oil, Sea salt and items like that.

Make a list for the grocery store by using that menu. See what ingredients you need to make those meals that you don’t hava on hand and add them to your list.

Organize your shopping list.  Some like alphabetical, by category, or by the way the store is arranged.  You can even create a template with those headings and use it each time you make your shopping list.

Keep your list handy. Keep this template or whatever you write your grocery list on in the kitchen.  This way when you use the last of something that is a staple write it on the list so you can restock your pantry on your next trip.

Keep it fresh to keep it fast.  The more foods you have on your list that are fresh, which are on the outside isles of a grocery store, the faster you time will go at the store.

Beat the crowds. Try to pick a day or couple of different days and times to go shopping that is not as crowded.  This will help get you through the check out faster and it’s easier to get personalized service.

I hope you try out one or more of these suggestions and enjoy your easy shopping time at the grocery store.  Just remember the best tip to make shopping easy is to stick to the outer sides of the grocery store where the naturally gluten-free food can be found.   If you have any great tips to add to these lease share.

Have fun this month with the 30 Days to Easy Gluten-Free Living.

Monday May 2nd    me ,  The WHOLE Gang sharing Grocery Shopping Tips

Tuesday May 3rd  Iris from The Daily Dietribe sharing on Your First Day Living Gluten Free

Wednesday May 4th  Heather from Gluten-Free Cat sharing Smoothing the GF Transition with Smoothies

Thursday May 5th  Alta from Tasty Eats at Home sharing Convenience Foods

Friday May 6th  Elana from Elana’s Pantry sharing Quick and Easy Gluten Free Power Bars

Saturday May 7th  Cheryl from Gluten Free Goodness sharing Easy Meals

Sunday May 8th  Megan from Food Sensitivity Journal sharing Gluten Free Baking Undone:  Easy Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

Monday May 9th  Amy from Simply Sugar and Gluten Free sharing Quick & Simply Cooking

Tuesday May 10th  Ricki from Diet, Dessert and Dogs sharing Gluten Free Baking Tips

Wednesday May 11th      Ellen from Gluten-Free Diva sharing Travel Tips

Thursaday May 12th     Kim from Cook It Allergy Free sharing

Friday May 13th     Melissa from Gluten Free For Good sharing Gluten-Free Food Rules

Saturday May 14th  Brittany from Real Sustenance sharing Healthy Allergy-Free Quick Bread with easy flavor variations.

Sunday May 15th  Nicola from g-free Mom sharing Kids Lunch Boxes

Monday May 16th     Wendy from Celiacs in the House sharing Fast Food for Teens

Tuesday May 17th     Shirley from gluten free easily sharing Your Pantry is the Key to Being GFE

Wednesday May 18th     Nancy from  The Sensitive Pantry sharing BBQ and Picnic tips and Recipe

Thursday May 19th    Heidi from Adventures of a Gluten-Free Mom sharing tips for getting kids to eat healthy, real-food snacks!

Friday May 20th  Silvana from Silvana’s Kitchen sharing

Saturday May 21st  Maggie from She Let Them Eat Cake sharing

Sunday May 22nd  Sea from Book of Yum sharing Gluten Free Vegetarian Burritos

Monday May 23rd     Tia from Glugle Gluten-Free sharing

Tuesday May 24th    Alisa from Alisa Cooks and Go Dairy Free sharing Wrap it Up-Thinking Outside the Bun

Wednesday May 25th  Hallie from Daily Bites sharing Keys to Colorful Cooking

Thursday May 26th     Carol from Simply…Gluten-Free sharing

Friday May 27th   AndreaAnna from Life as a Plate sharing Tips on Traveling on Day Trips with Kids

Saturday May 28th  Zoe from Z’s Cup of Tea sharing

Sunday May 29th  Kelly from The Spunky Coconut sharing

Monday May 30th  Jess from ATX Gluten-Free sharing 1 Meal 3 Ways, Jazzing up Leftovers

Tuesday May 31st  Naomi from Straight into Bed, Cakefree and Dried sharing

I am so excited to share this exciting event with you for May.  30 Days to Easy Gluten-Free Living starts Monday May 2nd.  Every day you will be treated to a wonderful tour around the blogersphere with different bloggers sharing tips and recipes on helping you live gluten free, the easy way.

First a little story on how this came about.  One day I was reading yet another story somewhere about how hard it is to live gluten free.  It was expensive, you would have to eat food that didn’t taste good, no where to eat out, traveling was a nightmare and on and on.  They made it sound like the most horrible thing that anyone would have to do and that you would have to sacrifice so many foods.  It was like a life in prison.

Well that was the last straw for me.  I shot off an email to a group of gluten free blogger friends ranting and raving about how sick and tired I was of reading this and we should get together and show people that it’s not that at all.  Now yes it can be a lot to take in the first moment you are told this, but so is will you marry me, you’re pregnant, you got the house, you got into your top pick school and other life changing statements.  But you figured out how it all worked and so you can with living gluten free.  We’re just going to give you a big cheat sheet.

Well the bloggers were wonderful and were really happy that we were going to put out the real info on what it’s like to live gluten free.  There will be recipes and tips and all sorts of fun things to learn and try.  Some may be new but others may just be a little twist on what you’ve always done.

Now here is the important thing I want you to know.  Every day these blog posts will not be here on this blog like the event I did last year, 30 Days to a Food Revolution.  They will be on that blogger’s blog.  So you need to know a few things.

1. the home page with the entire schedule can be found by clicking HERE or looking at the very top green bar of this blog where it says 30 Days to Easy Gluten-Free Living.

2. check out the schedule and every day go to that blog to see what they have posted!

3. make it easy on yourself and follow the links now to those blogs and grab their feed or sign up to have their blog posts delivered to your email in box.

4.  If you are on Twitter you’ll be looking for #easygfliving to keep track.  You can also jump to either of my Diane Eblin or The WHOLE Gang Facebook pages and the bloggers participating Facebook page too.

Remember you can get the updated links to the actual blog posts on my 30 Days to Easy Gluten-Free Living Page.  Check there every day.

Here’s the schedule to get you started.  The topics are still rolling in so for the most up to date info go to the 30 Days to Easy Gluten-Free Living page.

Monday May 2nd    me ,  The WHOLE Gang sharing Grocery Shopping Tips

Tuesday May 3rd  Iris from The Daily Dietribe sharing on Your First Day Living Gluten Free

Wednesday May 4th  Heather from Gluten-Free Cat sharing Smoothing the GF Transition with Smoothies

Thursday May 5th  Alta from Tasty Eats at Home sharing Convenience Foods

Friday May 6th  Elana from Elana’s Pantry sharing Quick and Easy Gluten Free Power Bars

Saturday May 7th  Cheryl from Gluten Free Goodness sharing Easy Meals

Sunday May 8th  Megan from Food Sensitivity Journal sharing Gluten Free Baking Undone:  Easy Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

Monday May 9th  Amy from Simply Sugar and Gluten Free sharing Quick & Simply Cooking

Tuesday May 10th  Ricki from Diet, Dessert and Dogs sharing Gluten Free Baking Tips

Wednesday May 11th      Ellen from Gluten-Free Diva sharing Travel Tips

Thursaday May 12th     Kim from Cook It Allergy Free sharing

Friday May 13th     Melissa from Gluten Free For Good sharing Gluten-Free Food Rules

Saturday May 14th  Brittany from Real Sustenance sharing Healthy Allergy-Free Quick Bread with easy flavor variations.

Sunday May 15th  Nicola from g-free Mom sharing Kids Lunch Boxes

Monday May 16th     Wendy from Celiacs in the House sharing Fast Food for Teens

Tuesday May 17th     Shirley from gluten free easily sharing Your Pantry is the Key to Being GFE

Wednesday May 18th     Nancy from  The Sensitive Pantry sharing BBQ and Picnic tips and Recipe

Thursday May 19th    Heidi from Adventures of a Gluten-Free Mom sharing tips for getting kids to eat healthy, real-food snacks!

Friday May 20th  Silvana from Silvana’s Kitchen sharing

Saturday May 21st  Maggie from She Let Them Eat Cake sharing

Sunday May 22nd  Sea from Book of Yum sharing Gluten Free Vegetarian Burritos

Monday May 23rd     Tia from Glugle Gluten-Free sharing

Tuesday May 24th    Alisa from Alisa Cooks and Go Dairy Free sharing Wrap it Up-Thinking Outside the Bun

Wednesday May 25th  Hallie from Daily Bites sharing

Thursday May 26th     Carol from Simply…Gluten-Free sharing

Friday May 27th   AndreaAnna from Life as a Plate sharing Tips on Traveling on Day Trips with Kids

Saturday May 28th  Zoe from Z’s Cup of Tea sharing

Sunday May 29th  Kelly from The Spunky Coconut sharing

Monday May 30th  Jess from ATX Gluten-Free sharing 1 Meal 3 Ways, Jazzing up Leftovers

Tuesday May 31st  Naomi from Straight into Bed, Cakefree and Dried sharing

Wow last week you all just totally blew me away with all of the amazing recipes you shared.  There were so many new twists on foods that one could play all week.  Here are a few for your review.

Check out these:

Pesto Chicken Collard Rolls from Daily Bites

Cashew Mayo from City Eats Life

Cilantro Lime Quinoa from Cultivating Consciousness

Frozen Orange Kisses from gluten free easily

Now it’s your turn to share.  If you have not shared before please read through the guidelines.

Guidelines:

Please link back to this post so your readers can find lots of great recipes.

Link to your individual post, not your home page.

Please share recipes made with very little packaged ingredients but using single food ingredients or Real Food. Maybe 1 or 2 if the list of ingredients is long.  If I bake something I’m usually using almond flour but I didn’t make it myself.   So you see where I’m going with this.

Please do not link giveaways or book reviews, this is for recipes with Real Food.

As always, have fun!

Now hopefully that doesn’t seem to difficult.  The point is to share Real Food with Real People!

Please don’t make me be a meanie and have to remove your link if you don’t follow the guidelines.

When you share your recipe feel free to grab one of these badges, or as Tia calls it Real Food Bling, and add it to your post.  You can even add it to your blog sidebar.

You can find these on the page dedicated to Real Food Weekly.

Now look below for the words, Click Here To Enter so you can link up your recipe!  Thank you.

Once again there were so many delicious dishes shared.  Some you may like to make for the holidays.  All with using real food ingredients that when combined make amazing meals.  They show just how easy it can be.

Here are some of the recipes shared last week:

Chocolate Covered Cheesecake Easter Ovoids from Diet, Dessert and Dogs

Spinach and Bacon Souffle from Paleo Parents

Dark Chocolate Walnut Bliss Bars from gluten free easily

Grain Free Matzoh Balls from Real Food Forager

Now it’s your turn to share more recipes.

Guidelines:

Please link back to this post so your readers can find lots of great recipes.

Link to your individual post, not your home page.

Please share recipes made with very little packaged ingredients but using single food ingredients or Real Food. Maybe 1 or 2 if the list of ingredients is long.  If I bake something I’m usually using almond flour but I didn’t make it myself.   So you see where I’m going with this.

Please do not link giveaways or book reviews, this is for recipes with Real Food.

As always, have fun!

Now hopefully that doesn’t seem to difficult.  The point is to share Real Food with Real People!

Please don’t make me be a meanie and have to remove your link if you don’t follow the guidelines.

When you share your recipe feel free to grab one of these badges, or as Tia calls it Real Food Bling, and add it to your post.  You can even add it to your blog sidebar.

You can find these on the page dedicated to Real Food Weekly.

Now look below for the words, Click Here To Enter so you can link up your recipe!  Thank you.

Welcome back to this week’s edition of Real Food Weekly highlighting the great recipes you share.  Here are just a few from last week that you’ll want to check out for sure.

Grain free Matzoh from Real Food Forager

Almond, Oat and Date Muffins from She Let Them Eat Cake

Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp from Gluten Free, It’s A Lifestyle

Guidelines:

Please link back to this post so your readers can find lots of great recipes.

Link to your individual post, not your home page.

Please share recipes made with very little packaged ingredients but using single food ingredients or Real Food. Maybe 1 or 2 if the list of ingredients is long.  If I bake something I’m usually using almond flour but I didn’t make it myself.   So you see where I’m going with this.

Please do not link giveaways or book reviews, this is for recipes with Real Food.

As always, have fun!

Now hopefully that doesn’t seem to difficult.  The point is to share Real Food with Real People!

Please don’t make me be a meanie and have to remove your link if you don’t follow the guidelines.

When you share your recipe feel free to grab one of these badges, or as Tia calls it Real Food Bling, and add it to your post.  You can even add it to your blog sidebar.

You can find these on the page dedicated to Real Food Weekly.

Now look below for the words, Click Here To Enter so you can link up your recipe!  Thank you.

Welcome to this week’s roundup. I’m excited to see what you have to share with us.  I love the diversity of what is shared.  Check out these from last week:

Banana Breakfast Sundae from Above the Allergies

Spicy Orange Sweet Potato Soup from Gluten-Free Cat

Gluten Free Tuna Slaw from Celiacs in the House

Please take a look at the guidelines and then link up your recipes.

Guidelines:

Please link back to this post so your readers can find lots of great recipes.

Link to your individual post, not your home page.

Please share recipes made with very little packaged ingredients but using single food ingredients or Real Food. Maybe 1 or 2 if the list of ingredients is long.  If I bake something I’m usually using almond flour but I didn’t make it myself.   So you see where I’m going with this.

Please do not link giveaways or book reviews, this is for recipes with Real Food.

As always, have fun!

Now hopefully that doesn’t seem to difficult.  The point is to share Real Food with Real People!

Please don’t make me be a meanie and have to remove your link if you don’t follow the guidelines.

When you share your recipe feel free to grab one of these badges, or as Tia calls it Real Food Bling, and add it to your post.  You can even add it to your blog sidebar.

You can find these on the page dedicated to Real Food Weekly.

Now look below for the words, Click Here To Enter so you can link up your recipe!  Thank you.

Every week I’m blown away by the diversity of the recipes shared here each week.  It’s amazing and a great resource.  I hope you take the time to visit all the links shared and leave a comment on their post.  Keep sharing great recipes made with real food and we’ll all be eating really well.

Here are some fun recipes from last week:

Dairy Free Berry Whipped Topping from Alisa Cooks

Spring Cleanse Fasting Juices from The Grecian Garden

Roasted Onion Adzuki Salad from City Life Eats

Guidelines:

Please link back to this post so your readers can find lots of great recipes.

Link to your individual post, not your home page.

Please share recipes made with very little packaged ingredients but using single food ingredients or Real Food. Maybe 1 or 2 if the list of ingredients is long.  If I bake something I’m usually using almond flour but I didn’t make it myself.   So you see where I’m going with this.

Please do not link giveaways or book reviews, this is for recipes with Real Food.

As always, have fun!

Now hopefully that doesn’t seem to difficult.  The point is to share Real Food with Real People!

Please don’t make me be a meanie and have to remove your link if you don’t follow the guidelines.

When you share your recipe feel free to grab one of these badges, or as Tia calls it Real Food Bling, and add it to your post.  You can even add it to your blog sidebar.

You can find these on the page dedicated to Real Food Weekly.

Now look below for the words, Click Here To Enter so you can link up your recipe!  Thank you.

Welcome to our weekly blog carnival of sharing our love of real food.  It’s really exciting to see all the different blogs and foods being shared.  The real food way of eating is becoming more and more popular as people take charge of their health.  When you control the ingredients you control your health.

It’s slowly getting a little warmer where I live and I’m just itching for the farmers markets to open back up.  I’m still trying to figure out where to grow some of my own food at my home.  Do you have a garden?  If so have you planted anything this season?

What have you been cooking this week?  I can’t wait to see.  First, check out some of the cool things shared last week:

All American Marinated Beef Jerky by Common Sense Homesteading

Lemon Custard Bars with Blueberry Sauce by The Grecian Garden

Fiesta- Lime, Black Beans, Veggies and Rice by Above the Allergies

Slow Cooked Corned Beef Dinner by Elegantly, Gluten Free

OK now it’s your turn to share this week!

Guidelines:

Please link back to this post so your readers can find lots of great recipes.

Link to your individual post, not your home page.

Please share recipes made with very little packaged ingredients but using single food ingredients or Real Food. Maybe 1 or 2 if the list of ingredients is long.  If I bake something I’m usually using almond flour but I didn’t make it myself.   So you see where I’m going with this.

Please do not link giveaways or book reviews, this is for recipes with Real Food.

As always, have fun!

Now hopefully that doesn’t seem to difficult.  The point is to share Real Food with Real People!

Please don’t make me be a meanie and have to remove your link if you don’t follow the guidelines.

When you share your recipe feel free to grab one of these badges, or as Tia calls it Real Food Bling, and add it to your post.  You can even add it to your blog sidebar.

You can find these on the page dedicated to Real Food Weekly.

Now look below for the words, Click Here To Enter so you can link up your recipe!  Thank you.

Happy St. Patty’s Day everyone and welcome to this week’s Real Food Weekly.  I’m hoping since the holiday is upon us you will be sharing your great favorites but it does not have to be Irish.  As long as your recipe is made from real foods than share away.

Now don’t forget to be wearing green today.  You know if I see you and you’re not you’re getting pinched.

Here are some great recipes shared last week:

Moroccan Yukina Savory Red Quinoa Skillet from Gluten-Free Cat

One Minute Mayonaise by Real Food Forager

Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Refined Sugar Free Chewy Granola Bars from gluten free easily

OK now it’s your turn to share this week!

Guidelines:

Please link back to this post so your readers can find lots of great recipes.

Link to your individual post, not your home page.

Please share recipes made with very little packaged ingredients but using single food ingredients or Real Food. Maybe 1 or 2 if the list of ingredients is long.  If I bake something I’m usually using almond flour but I didn’t make it myself.   So you see where I’m going with this.

Please do not link giveaways or book reviews, this is for recipes with Real Food.

As always, have fun!

Now hopefully that doesn’t seem to difficult.  The point is to share Real Food with Real People!

Please don’t make me be a meanie and have to remove your link if you don’t follow the guidelines.

When you share your recipe feel free to grab one of these badges, or as Tia calls it Real Food Bling, and add it to your post.  You can even add it to your blog sidebar.

You can find these on the page dedicated to Real Food Weekly.

Now look below for the words, Click Here To Enter so you can link up your recipe!  Thank you.

Welcome back to our weekly food blog carnival that showcase real food.  Every week people share wonderful recipes using real foods. You know the ones that typically don’t have ingredient labels because it is the ingredient.

Those are the real food ingredients you put together into your recipes and then share here so everyone can see that real food rocks!

So we’ve had some great recipes shared each week.  If you’ve missed the recipes you can go to the top navigation bar and where it says Real Food use the drop down menu and open the Real Food Weekly tab.

Here’s are some of the great recipes shared last week:

Gluten Free Maple Oat Bacon Pancakes from Simply… Gluten-Free

Flourless Pecan Sandies from gluten free easily

Nut Butter Chocolate Chippers from Alisa Cooks

OK now it’s your turn to share this week!

Guidelines:

Please link back to this post so your readers can find lots of great recipes.

Link to your individual post, not your home page.

Please share recipes made with very little packaged ingredients but using single food ingredients or Real Food. Maybe 1 or 2 if the list of ingredients is long.  If I bake something I’m usually using almond flour but I didn’t make it myself.   So you see where I’m going with this.

Please do not link giveaways or book reviews, this is for recipes with Real Food.

As always, have fun!

Now hopefully that doesn’t seem to difficult.  The point is to share Real Food with Real People!

Please don’t make me be a meanie and have to remove your link if you don’t follow the guidelines.

When you share your recipe feel free to grab one of these badges, or as Tia calls it Real Food Bling, and add it to your post.  You can even add it to your blog sidebar.

You can find these on the page dedicated to Real Food Weekly.

Now look below for the words, Click Here To Enter so you can link up your recipe!  Thank you.

Welcome back to our weekly food blog carnival that showcase real food.  Every week people share wonderful recipes using real foods. You know the ones that typically don’t have ingredient labels because it is the ingredient.

Those are the real food ingredients you put together into your recipes and then share here so everyone can see that real food rocks!

Here’s are some of the great recipes shared last week:

Gluten Free and Dairy Free Graham Crackers by The Nourishing Homemaker

Thai Green Curry with Chicken and Vegetables by Food Sensitivity Journal

Raw Balsamic Onion Kale by Book of Yum

OK now it’s your turn to share this week!

Guidelines:

Please link back to this post so your readers can find lots of great recipes.

Link to your individual post, not your home page.

Please share recipes made with very little packaged ingredients but using single food ingredients or Real Food. Maybe 1 or 2 if the list of ingredients is long.  If I bake something I’m usually using almond flour but I didn’t make it myself.   So you see where I’m going with this.

Please do not link giveaways or book reviews, this is for recipes with Real Food.

As always, have fun!

Now hopefully that doesn’t seem to difficult.  The point is to share Real Food with Real People!

Please don’t make me be a meanie and have to remove your link if you don’t follow the guidelines.

When you share your recipe feel free to grab one of these badges, or as Tia calls it Real Food Bling, and add it to your post.  You can even add it to your blog sidebar.

You can find these on the page dedicated to Real Food Weekly.

Now look below for the words, Click Here To Enter so you can link up your recipe!  Thank you.

Today is a sweet post from start to finish so make sure you read all the way to the end.

I grew up outside of Philly loving Tastykakes.  There were the chocolate or vanilla cupcakes filled with cream or buttercream, the Jelly or Butterscotch Krimpets and the really over the top Juniors which was either a large square two layer cake with lots of icing on top or their Koffee Kake with this cool crumble topping. Oh and they had fruit and cream pies.  But then there were my favorites, Kandy Kakes.  These were small round vanilla cakes with peanut butter on top and then coated in chocolate.  They came 3 to a package and you can bet I wasn’t sharing any.  And now I see they are selling Chocolate Kandy Kakes with a chocolate cake with vanilla cream all covered in chocolate icing.

Yeah can you tell I’ve had a sweet tooth all my life and was totally obsessed with Tastykakes.  It’s a good thing I live gluten free now or I’d be hunting all over for these puppies and that would not be a good life choice.

Well the other day I was making Elana’s Classic Drop Biscuits for my son.  We were headed out the door and he needed something to eat so I cut it open and filled it with peanut butter and off we went .  And then I got an idea.  A wonderfully delicious decadent idea that made the edges of my mouth curl up.  What if I coated these in chocolate?  I wonder if they would taste anything like those Kandy Kakes I used to live on as a kid. (trust me, my mom did feed me amazing great and healthy foods too)

I only had two biscuits left so I gave it a try.  Well lets just say the three of us in the house were fighting over these two creations.  They were wonderful and huge.  So for the big game I made another batch of the Classic Drop Biscuits but this time smaller.  Now we can eat these treats in just two bites.  Hmm, not sure if that is a good thing or not since I can just pop them in my mouth.

I have to say that these taste amazing.  I only made one small adjustment to the biscuit recipe by adding in a tablespoon of ground chia seeds.  I wanted to add a little more goodness into these since I knew we would be popping them like sunflower seeds.  But with this recipe using almond flour you know they already had a great start to being really good for you.

If you hang around here you know that Elana’s cookbook, The Gluten-Free Almond Flour Cookbook is one of my favorite books.  I love the recipes because they are short, easy to follow and contain ingredients I keep on hand.  Oh and Elana is one cool chick too.  Check out my spotlight post on her from this week.  Now for these recipes here and all the ones in her cookbook make sure you are using a good almond flour like Honeyville Blanched Almond Meal Flour.  I can’t wait for her new book due out in April, Gluten-Free Cupcakes: 50 Irresistible Recipes Made with Almond and Coconut Flour.

Well the last time I was with Elana she graciously signed her current cookbook for me to give to you.  If you happen to be the winner of this cookbook you will be on lucky person, and well fed.  So here are the recipes to make the Classic Drop Biscuits  and Gluten-Free Kandy Kakes and how to win the cookbook.

This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to Jennifer Child for winning.  Thank you to all who participated.  You can still get your copy of this great cookbook on Amazon.

Here are 10 ways to enter to win this signed copy of The Gluten-Free Almond Flour Cookbook.  Don’t delay I’m giving this cookbook away one week from today.  The deadline to enter is 10pm on March 3rd.

1. Sign up for my newsletter and leave a comment here that you did

2. Get my blog posts either via email or RSS and leave a comment here that you did

3.  Visit my new blog Change My Life Journal and get those posts by either via email or RSS and leave a comment here that you did

4. Visit Change My Life Journal and comment on any post and then leave a comment here that you did

5. Like The WHOLE Gang on Facebook and leave a comment here that you did

6. Follow @thewholegang on Twitter and then leave a comment here that you did

7. Follow Change My Life Journal on Facebook and leave a comment here that you did

8. Follow @changemylifejrn on Twitter and then leave a comment here that you did

9. Friend me on Facebook and then leave a comment here that you did

10.  Leave a comment here letting me know what recipe on Elana’s Pantry you would like to make.

You will want to make many more recipes from Elana’s cookbook so make sure you follow the 10 ways to win and enter now!

Welcome to the weekly blog carnival that focuses on real food.  Each week people share wonderful recipes they’ve created using real food.  Here are some recipes shared last week:

Chocolate Peanut Power Bars from She Let Them Eat Cake

Salmon Cakes from Celiacs In The House

Best Ever Blueberry Pancakes from Junior Gluten Free Chefs

I can’t wait to see what you share this week.  Don’t forget to follow the guidelines and if you have any questions please ask.

Guidelines:

Please link back to this post so your readers can find lots of great recipes.

Link to your individual post, not your home page.

Please share recipes made with very little packaged ingredients but using single food ingredients or Real Food. Maybe 1 or 2 if the list of ingredients is long.  If I bake something I’m usually using almond flour but I didn’t make it myself.   So you see where I’m going with this.

Please do not link giveaways or book reviews, this is for recipes with Real Food.

As always, have fun!

Now hopefully that doesn’t seem to difficult.  The point is to share Real Food with Real People!

Please don’t make me be a meanie and have to remove your link if you don’t follow the guidelines.

When you share your recipe feel free to grab one of these badges, or as Tia calls it Real Food Bling, and add it to your post.  You can even add it to your blog sidebar.

You can find these on the page dedicated to Real Food Weekly.

Now look below for the words, Click Here To Enter so you can link up your recipe!  Thank you.

Welcome to Real Food Weekly.  I’m so glad you stopped by the blog today.  You’ll find lots of great recipes that are shared from wonderful food bloggers.  If you have a recipe to share and you don’t write a blog please feel free to share via the comments.  We all love food here and love to share what we cook.

Besides recipes today I wanted to pose a question for you to share your thoughts.  Please feel free to answer with one word or 1000 words.

What do you like most about Real Food?

I love hearing what real people say about real food.  For more great questions check out Kelly the Kitchen Kop.  She has hosts Real Food Wednesdays each week.  Today she asked Real Food Bloggers great questions and I think you’ll really enjoy this post.  So after you share your recipe head over to her blog and read Real Food Bloggers Q&A.

Here are some of the great foods shared last week:

Homemade Millet Flour by Alisa Cooks

50 Truffle Recipes by Real Food Whole Health

Omelete Queen by Kitchen Kop

Now it’s your turn to share your recipes.  Here’s what to do.

Guidelines:

Please link back to this post so your readers can find lots of great recipes.

Link to your individual post, not your home page.

Please share recipes made with very little packaged ingredients but using single food ingredients or Real Food. Maybe 1 or 2 if the list of ingredients is long.  If I bake something I’m usually using almond flour but I didn’t make it myself.   So you see where I’m going with this.

Please do not link giveaways or book reviews, this is for recipes with Real Food.

As always, have fun!

Now hopefully that doesn’t seem to difficult.  The point is to share Real Food with Real People!

Please don’t make me be a meanie and have to remove your link if you don’t follow the guidelines.

When you share your recipe feel free to grab one of these badges, or as Tia calls it Real Food Bling, and add it to your post.  You can even add it to your blog sidebar.

You can find these on the page dedicated to Real Food Weekly.

Now look below for the words, Click Here To Enter so you can link up your recipe!  Thank you.

I love Thursdays! Now I get to see what great real food you are cooking. It’s so exciting to gather new ideas especially this time of year where the weather is cold and seasonal offerings are not as plentiful as summer months.

Here are some of the great foods shared last week:

Southwestern Kale Chips from Gluten-Free Cat

Gluten-Free Fisherman’s Pie from Celiacs in the House

Ginger Pear Cake with Orange Date Syrup from Chickiepea’s Blog

I can’t wait to see what you share this week.  Here are the guidelines.

Guidelines:

Please link back to this post so your readers can find lots of great recipes.

Link to your individual post, not your home page.

Please share recipes made with very little packaged ingredients but using single food ingredients or Real Food. Maybe 1 or 2 if the list of ingredients is long.  If I bake something I’m usually using almond flour but I didn’t make it myself.   So you see where I’m going with this.

Please do not link giveaways or book reviews, this is for recipes with Real Food.

As always, have fun!

Now hopefully that doesn’t seem to difficult.  The point is to share Real Food with Real People!

Please don’t make me be a meanie and have to remove your link if you don’t follow the guidelines.

When you share your recipe feel free to grab one of these badges, or as Tia calls it Real Food Bling, and add it to your post.  You can even add it to your blog sidebar.

You can find these on the page dedicated to Real Food Weekly.

Now look below for the words, Click Here To Enter so you can link up your recipe!  Thank you.

Welcome to Real Food Weekly.  Each week I invite you to share links to your recipes made with real food.  Everyone loves new ideas so I’m hoping you will join in, follow the guidelines and share away.

Guidelines:

Please link back to this post so your readers can find lots of great recipes.

Link to your individual post, not your home page.

Please share recipes made with very little packaged ingredients but using single food ingredients or Real Food. Maybe 1 or 2 if the list of ingredients is long.  If I bake something I’m usually using almond flour but I didn’t make it myself.   So you see where I’m going with this.

Please do not link giveaways or book reviews, this is for recipes with Real Food.

As always, have fun!

Now hopefully that doesn’t seem to difficult.  The point is to share Real Food with Real People!

Please don’t make me be a meanie and have to remove your link if you don’t follow the guidelines.

When you share your recipe feel free to grab one of these badges, or as Tia calls it Real Food Bling, and add it to your post.  You can even add it to your blog sidebar.

You can find these on the page dedicated to Real Food Weekly.

Now look below for the words, Click Here To Enter so you can link up your recipe!  Thank you.

Welcome back to the Real Food Weekly carnival.  Time to share your recipes using Real Food.

I thought we’d talk a little more about what I consider to be real food.

If you’re looking for a good list of ingredients that real foods should not contain check out this Unacceptable Ingredients for Food list from Whole Foods.

And let’s talk about the word INGREDIENT.  That is what you want to add to your recipes.  Single food ingredients.

If you’re using spices use them either fresh or dried but not in packages with preservatives.

When making recipes with sauces try not to open a bottle.

Now in the winter it’s hard to get certain fresh fruits and vegetables especially where I live.  Real Food also promotes local food and in season.  But if you are using a frozen fruit or vegetable and the ingredient list is only that item then that will be ok.

When cooking with beans real food starts with dried beans, try not to use canned products.

Pasta is something that is really easy to make from scratch.  But if you’re making a dish with a shape of pasta that would require a pasta die cutter than you’ll have to either go buy that die or use pre-made pasta.  There however are not a lot of fresh made gluten free pastas you can get so dried or make it yourself will be ok.

What does Real Food mean to you?  I hope you will share your comments and your recipes.

Guidelines:

Please link back to this post so your readers can find lots of great recipes.

Link to your individual post, not your home page.

Please share recipes made with very little packaged ingredients but using single food ingredients or Real Food. Maybe 1 or 2 if the list of ingredients is long.  If I bake something I’m usually using almond flour but I didn’t make it myself.   So you see where I’m going with this.

Please do not link giveaways or book reviews, this is for recipes with Real Food.

As always, have fun!

Now hopefully that doesn’t seem to difficult.  The point is to share Real Food with Real People!

Please don’t make me be a meanie and have to remove your link if you don’t follow the guidelines.

When you share your recipe feel free to grab one of these badges, or as Tia calls it Real Food Bling, and add it to your post.  You can even add it to your blog sidebar.

You can find these on the page dedicated to Real Food Weekly.

Now look below for the words, Click Here To Enter so you can link up your recipe!  Thank you.