First thing I want to do is congratulate Jamie Oliver and crew for winning an Emmy for Outstanding Reality Show with Jamie’s Food Revolution.  How exciting is that!   You the reader, have been and still are part of the Food Revolution.  Keep it up!  We were fortunate enough to have Jamie’s Food Stylist, Anna Helm-Baxter, join in on the 30 Days to a Food Revolution and share her recipe for Granola Bars on Day 30.  Congratulations to everyone.  I hope this continues to move the Food Revolution along.

I am soooooo excited about this week I can’t hardly stand it.  I’m not even sure what I’m going to eat.  It will most likely be leftovers since my entire family will be going in different directions.  What I’m excited about is on Thursday morning I’m getting on a plane and heading to Seattle.  My first trip there.

But that’s not the best part. I’m going to attend the IFBC (International Food Bloggers Conference).

But that’s not the best part. There will be lots of food bloggers from all over the world and gluten free bloggers.  There will also be  amazing chefs, celebrties in the food world like James Oseland, Editor-in-Chief of Saveur, Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me creator), tons of amazing presenters teaching me about recipe writing, food photography and other blog technology.

But that’s not the best part. Almost the entire event is being held in a chocolate factory, Theo Chocolate.  Yes, I said I’ll be in a chocolate factory for 2 full days.  Move over Charlie, my childhood dream has finally come true.   If I don’t come home, you’ll know where to look.

But that’s not the best part. On Sunday when most folks are eating from the Lunch Truck (cool meals) I will be joining my fellow gluten free bloggers who are being treated to a meal prepared by Shauna and Danny Ahern (Gluten-Free Girl and The Chef).  Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited about the whole event, but to hang out with other folks in the gluten free blogging world and have one of the best cooking for you, well that’s pure heaven.  They sent out the menu and it sounds amazing.  They’re even making sure that there is no dairy or rice in the meal.  You know even most gluten free folks don’t want to cook for me when I toss in the line, I can’t eat rice either.  I believe the recipes they are cooking can be found in their new cookbook coming out in September.  Have you pre-orderd yours? I have!  If you missed their video I shared a couple of weeks ago, make sure to check it out.

I’m going to work really hard before I go to share some recipes from last week’s menu.  Thank you for all of the notes asking for them.  But while I’m there I can’t promise I’ll get very many posts up.  I will however be tweeting (using #IFBC) and sharing info on my personal Facebook page as it happens. (also check out IFBC’s website for more info during the events)  Right now I’m really wishing I had one of those new iPhones 4 instead of my 3G.  The 4 takes amazing photos that I could tweet and share right away.  I’ll give it a try with my little 3G.

Well that’s it for now.  I don’t know how I’m ever going to be ready to go by Thursday but ready or not, I’m going!

Oh, one more thing.  Don’t forget to join in for Friday Foodie Fix. The Secret Ingredient is School Breakfasts and Lunches.  I hope you will share your tips and recipes and find some new ones too!  Have a great week everyone.

First, thank you to all who took the time to answer the 1 question poll on what you want to see on this blog.  Also, thank you to those who found out what was The Big Deal.

This summer is winding down but not before we celebrate my youngest son’s birthday.  He’ll be 17 on the 17th.  He’s asked me to make him a two tier birthday cake with frosting.  He’s a brave kid.  I’m totally doing what I call cheating and using a box mix from Cherry Brook Farms and the frosting was made by Whole Foods.  All are gluten and dairy free.  Someday I’ll learn the fine art of cake making in the world of gluten and dairy free, but for now I’m focusing on other foods.

This week I’ll continue to play with my green smoothies to see what different combos taste like.  Over the last week I picked up some new hot peppers I’d like to cook with and some different types of plums to snack on.

As part of taking care of myself and trying to get my body to settle back down and release some of the weight, I’m walking everyday for an hour, stretching (helps get rid of the Fuzz) and journaling everything I eat.

I write down what and how much of everything I eat and if I feel not as good as I should after eating anything in particular.  So far I’ve noticed that all grains seem to be bothering me and corn kernels.  I’ll need to stay away from them as the swelling is not something fun.   I’ve also noticed that my body is not that happy with Frank’s Buffalo Wing sauce.

I’m not sure just yet what all of that means, but by keeping track I’m becoming a detective as far as what my body is irritated by and that is a huge help.  I find that sticking with mostly vegetables, fruits and small portions of lean fish and chicken, some pork and very little beef, my body does seem happier.  Funny I think I’ve heard this was good for a person before.  Why do I have such a hard time learning this?

If you are experiencing swelling or irritation, keeping track of everything you eat might be a great way to start to detect what else is bothering you.  If you live gluten free and cheat, well you already know what’s bothering you.  But if you are sure you are not having cross contamination and you are still having issues, time to become that detective and start eliminating other foods.

Sometimes it’s hard for me to be patient with this but I know in the end I will feel so much better.

So for my menu this week it will be vegetable heavy but I’ll be including some seafood and chicken and letting the rest of my family eat the quinoa and rice.

Monday- Italian Torta- Budget Friendly and Minute Meal

Tuesday-Birthday Dinner out at Brad’s favorite place- Chima

Wednesday- Guajillo Chile Shrimp and Chorizo over quinoa – Minute Meal, Budget Friendly if you buy shrimp on sale.

Thursday- Greek Meatloaf (recipe can be found in The Gluten-Free Diner cookbook), boiled potatoes and green beans- Budget Friendly

Friday-POM Chicken with vegetables and quinoa- Budget Friendly

Saturday- Chicken and Vegetable Kebobs- Budget Friendly

Sunday- Ham and peas with pototes au gratin- Budget Friendly and Minute Meal

More menus from lots of bloggers found on OrgJunkie.

Back from vacation and still trying to unpack my bags and my stories.  They will be coming soon.  Coming back from the west coast to the east coast can really make me tired but I woke up bright and early on Saturday morning to head to the farmers market.  I picked up these tomatoes and peppers.  You can guess what I’ll be cooking with this week.

I love these orange tomatoes because they are so sweet.  So the first thing I made was a BLT.  Oh and to brag on luck, the cherry tomatoes are from my own garden.

These peppers will go into my pasta for dinner along with the Roma tomatoes, some capers, red wine, yellow squash and mushrooms.  Add in a little garlic, fresh basil, sea salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste.

I also picked up some corn on the cob, zucchini, cucumbers, tomatillos and beets.  I’ll be using the beets in my smoothie tomorrow morning.  I need to go back and search on the ideas for the beet greens.  I don’t want to waste anything.

I also received a wonderful gift of POM juice from POM.  I can’t wait to start playing with it.  I love it in my smoothies but I want to bake with it, make sauces, and I will have to give Shirley’s gluten free easily’s Pomerdoodle Ice Cream a try.

I picked up some arugula this weekend too so I’m going to try some of the recipes shared last week on Friday Foodie Fix.

I’m also going to sort through my menus and pictures of food from my trip and try to recreate some of those great meals.

Now if you want a list of ideas for each day of the week, check out this week’s menu from last year- July 27th.

Have a great week!  I hope you will join in on for this week’s Secret Ingredient for Friday Foodie Fix- Whipped Cream!

More menus available on Orgjunkie.

First let me give a shout out to Amy Green from Simply Sugar and Gluten Free.  Thank you to Amy who has written a review of my cookbook, The Gluten-Free Diner and the recipe she tried from the book, Chorizo and Potato Frittata.  Be sure to visit because she is also giving away 2 copies of the book.

What a week this is going to be.  So much going on, vacation to get ready for and learning to trust things will be great at home even when I’m not there to supervise in my kitchen.  I’m one of those people that are really freakish about anyone bringing gluten into my house and kitchen.  Just ask my family.  It seems that almost every time someone does,  I get sick.  I know it’s hard to understand how careful someone like me has to be about gluten, which is why I just ban it from the house.  Well I hope all is taken care of in my absence.  I did contemplate getting one of those security cameras that I could check on from the internet, but decided I would rather spend my time at the Santa Monica farmers market or shaking the sand out of my shoes.

So my menu this week is a mix of fun for me to cook and fun for me to explore in different cities.  I hope to share next week some of the great photos of my food travels.  I am hoping it is not as hot there as it has been here.

For those of you that missed my stay cool and happy treat, here it is.  Take a lime Popsicle, dip it into Tequila, then roll it around in your favorite Margarita Salt.  We ran out of the popsicles so I’m going to make my own with my limes and my vitamix.  Not sure exactly but I’ll let you know how they turn out!

Monday- Steamed Mussels

Tuesday- Crab Cakes (this week’s Secret Ingredient for Friday Foodie Fix)

Wednesday- Roger Mooking inspired two versions of Macaroni and Cheese

Thursday- Pork Cutlets inspired by Roger Mooking

Friday- Dinner in San Diego

Saturday- Dinner in Santa Monica

Sunday- Dinner in Santa Barbara

Find lots of menus at OrgJunkie today.

Quick and easy with great summer farmer market ingredients is on tap for this week, plus freezer finds.   This weekend I picked up some great berries, cherries, tomatoes, zucchini, yellow summer squash, cucumbers, onions, rainbow Swiss chard, green beans and potatoes.  That will make some great meals.

I love going to the farmers market.  You get to talk with the people that are growing the food you eat.  You are surrounded by the most beautiful and vibrant colors of nature.  The possibilities of recipes start racing through my mind as I wander along.  I hope you are visiting your local farmers market.  If you’re not sure where the closest one is located, on the far right side of this blog scroll down and you can use the Farmers Market Finder.

Monday- Jamie Oliver’s BBQ chicken (Jamie at Home), grilled zucchini and squash

Tuesday-Swiss Chard, Mushroom and Onion Frittata with Sausage (more frittatas in The Gluten-Free Diner)

Wednesday-Mexican Pizza

Thursday-Shrimp with a Hawaiian inspiration from Bev Gannon ( The Hali’imaile General Store Cookbook-Maui )

Friday-  Burgers topped with a cucumber relish

Saturday- Fresh salad with Cherry Zucchini Bread from Gluten Free For Good

Sunday- Variations of Individual Macaroni and Cheese- gluten, dairy and soy free

What a great weekend of soccer we were treated to.  First, my son’s team played in a round robin tournament and just tore up the field.  They are so fun to watch.  Oh, and that FIFA 2010 Cup thing going on.  Anyone watching that?  Did anyone see the 1-1 tie between US and England?  Not a bad start.  But there will be a lot more soccer to watch.  I just wish they had banned those horns.  I feel like have bees in my ears.

School is out here at my house and that means my oldest is home from college and working in DC (Yeah!!!) and my 16 year old is going to spend the summer learning how to drive.  Does anyone want to teach him?

So I think this week’s menu will need to be flexible to accommodate a new palate in the house (vegetarian), soccer games to watch, upset stomachs from driving and whatever we can harvest from our tiny garden or the farmer’s market.  I love when Andy (oldest) goes to his local farmers market and brings me home some treats.  Today it’s peas and zucchini.  Lots of zucchini.

But also this week contains my favorite day of the year, my wedding anniversary.  23 years and going strong.  So to celebrate we’re headed out to a local crab restaurant in DC that I hope lives up to it’s billing.  I do love to crack and pick crabs.  I could spend all day on that!

Don’t forget to join in this week’s Friday Foodie Fix with our Secret Ingredient being Father’s Day Favorites!

Our gluten, dairy and soy free menu for the week:

Monday- Fresh peas, ham, and potatoes au gratin.

Tuesday- Zucchini spaghetti with mushrooms and chilies

Wednesday- Grilled Kebobs with a mix of vegetables and some with shrimp

Thursday- Easy Pork Stuffed Zucchini and a vegetarian version

Friday- Dancing Crabs!

Saturday- BBQ Bacon Jalapeno Poppers plus a vegetarian version, garden salad

Sunday- Father’s Day Favorites

Check out Laura’s website OrgJunkie where hundreds of people share menus.

Wow, it seems so strange to be back to a “normal” blogging routine.  In case you totally missed it, from April 26th through June 4th there was a really special event going on.  30 Days to a Food Revolution.  There was so much amazing information shared.  I’m still sifting through it all and making sure you have all of the links on our dedicated page up at the top here, 30 Days.

It’s taking me days to sift through all of the tweets, comments and newsletter sign ups to draw winners for the cookbooks being given away.  I’ll be announcing those winners later so keep watch on Twitter, Facebook and here!

Tomorrow I have a treat for you.  Just in case you are already missing the 30 Days to a Food Revolution, not to worry.  Every Tuesday, for as long as I can, will be a guest blogger sharing their recipe and tip as we continue our 30 Days to a Food Revolution!

Make sure you check in on Friday to learn what the Secret Ingredient will be for Jun 18th when we start back with that weekly event.  If you have never participated in that event, well now is the time.  Check out our dedicated page to Friday Foodie Fix at the top of this blog for all of the details and past Secret Ingredients.

mushroom, spring onion, spinach, yellow squash, red onion, tomato, Old Bay seasoning, Daiya Cheese-mozzarella & cheddar (gf,df,sf)

Monday- Garlic Scapes Stir-fry with Salmon and Quinoa

Tuesday- Pork Tacos with stewed pickled  jalapenos, tomatillos, onions, and mushrooms, side of beans

Wednesday- Homemade Hamburger Helper

Thursday- Chicken Chow Mein

Friday- Farmer’s Market Veggie Pizza

Saturday- Leftovers

Sunday- Individual Lasagnas with homemade pasta

For more menus visit OrgJunkie.

This will be my last Monday Menu Plan for the next six weeks. Starting next Monday the 26th and running through June 4th there will be a guest blogger here every weekday for the 30 Days to a Food Revolution. I will share my other posts on menus and such on the weekends.

I hope you will check in daily to see what great tips and recipes these bloggers will be sharing. Also, I hope you will also find your way to their blog too.

If you are a member of Facebook please check out our Group page for 30 Days to a Food Revolution.

Monday- Italian Vegetable Soup, homemade rolls

Tuesday- Sundried tomato shrimp pasta with a spinach salad

Wednesday- Calzone

Thursday- Pork tacos with spicy slaw

Friday- Scallops and black beans on polenta

Saturday- Buffalo Chicken Mini Burgers

Sunday- Chili Piquin Vegetarian Tortilla Soup

Find more menu ideas on OrgJunkie.

green smoothies taste great, make me feel great

The weather has been so wonderful it has me itching for the farmer’s markets to open but around where I live that’s not until May.  So for now I keep grabbing a few little plants to add to what used to be just an herb garden.  Today I brought home a potato plant and lettuce.  We’ll see how they grow.

This week promises to go just as fast as the last one I’m sure.  Keep watching because I have an exciting announcement about something really cool that will start April 26th and involves food.  Well I guess involves food is not much of a clue for this blog.  Keep checking.

If you missed last week’s Friday Foodie Fix- Coconut Milk you need to check out all of the recipes shared.  So cool!  This week’s Secret Ingredient is Pasta!

Well this is a short one.  Time to go grab a piece of Double Chocolate Clementine Vita-Mix Cake that Brad and I made this weekend and watch the season premier of  The Tudors.  I think we need to change the name of this cake to Triple Chocolate since we added chocolate chips to the cake.  Brad’s idea and it’s great!  Can you really have too much chocolate?

Monday- Pork chops with carrots and polenta

Tuesday- Tilapia with bok choy, onions, spinach, mushrooms

Wednesday- Chicken Tandori Pizza with salad

Thursday- Cubano Jerk Burgers

Friday- Fried Shrimp and noodles

Saturday- Mushroom Rissoto

Sunday- Beef Burritos

Don’t forget Orgjunkie has lots of menu plans.

Spring has finally arrived in full bloom at my home.  We had a beautiful weekend with lots of sunshine.  I made sure to get my 15-20 minutes a day from 11:00am-2:00pm to soak up that Vitamin D.  Man does that feel great!

Yesterday we celebrated Easter and my husband’s birthday.  We have a lot to be thankful for and it was great to take time to remember that.  I asked him what he wanted for this next year of his life and his answer was simple, to be happy and healthy as well as the members of his family.  How I love that man.

Double Chocolate Clementine Vita-mix Cake with Whipped Cream

I hope you had a great weekend too.  I’m looking forward to this week to hopefully more sunshine and a detailed report from my dear friend Lady A who just got back from Napa Valley.  She was able to have a meal at the French Laundry (Thomas Kelller) and Bottega (Michael Chiarello) and I can’t wait to hear all about it.  I hope she took pictures.  Maybe she’ll share.

Don’t forget to go back and check on the Great Gluten Free Pasta Challenge.  Let me know how yours turned out.  I think I’ll give it a go this week on Saturday. Quinoa pasta will be my back up plan.  Also, this week’s Secret Ingredient for Friday Foodie Fix is Coconut Milk.  I hope you’ll join us.

Monday - Roasted Balsamic Chicken with Figs and Onions

Tuesday - Chicken LoMein

Wednesday- Spinach Dip Pizza

Thursday - Burger with yucca fries, salad

Friday - Broiled flounder, broccoli, quinoa

Saturday -  Quinoa pasta with roasted vegetables

Sunday- Chicken cacciatore with rice

For more menu plans visit Orgjunkie.

What a glorious weekend.  The weather was amazing finally.  Got out and dug in the garden, pulled weeds, got rid of dead shrub and I’m still not done.  So now I’m exhausted and I’m looking forward to going back to work at my desk for a little bit.

This week is our Gluten Free Progressive Easter Dinner Party.  I hope you will visit everyone and check in to see what they are making.  Here’s the schedule:

Monday March 22nd Shirley at gluten free easily will be serving the Appetizer.

Tuesday March 23rd I will be serving the Salad.

Wednesday March 24th Katrina at Gluten Free Gidget will be serving the Main Course.

Thursday March 25th Shirley at gluten free easily will be serving the side dish.

Friday March 26th Shirley from gluten free easily will be serving Dessert.

Now here is our family menu for the week:

Monday - Scallop Pasta with Chorizo

Tuesday – Chipotle Burger on a Bun with Tomatillo Salsa

Wednesday - Have on Hand Soup

Thursday - Buffalo Shrimp

Friday - Beef and Noodles

Saturday - Pork and Lentils

Sunday - Winter Fire Roasted Tomato Soup with Prosciutto Topping

Don’t forget this week’s Secret Ingredient for Friday Foodie Fix is Carrots.  If you have a lamb recipe head to the Friday Foodie Fix page and revisit last week.

More menus can be found on OrgJunkie.

Is the luck of the Irish with you?  I hope it’s with us all this week.  Wednesday is St. Patrick’s Day so don’t forget to wear green.  If I see you with no green on I’ll be sure to pinch you.  I plan on having my Irish Beef Stew simmering with a little gluten free beer.  Of course the day will have to start off with green eggs and ham (I add spinach)and a nice green smoothie for lunch.  I also will be making another loaf of Karina’s Irish Soda Bread.  What about you?  Will you be turning any foods green to celebrate?  How about corned beef and cabbage for dinner?  If you celebrate the holiday I’d love to hear how.

Well here is our gluten and dairy free menu for the week.  I’m hoping for dry warm weather.  Maybe I’ll get lucky.  My maiden name was Dougherty.  I’d say that should give me at least one day of luck this week.

Monday -Chili

Tuesday - Pork Noodle Soup

Wednesday – Irish Beef Stew

Thursday - Roasted Balsamic Chicken with Figs and Onions

Friday - Whole Roasted Fish

Saturday – Roasted Pork Loin

Sunday - Chicken Enchiladas

For more menus visit OrgJunkie.

As I write this I’m watching the Red Carpet before the Oscars.  I really enjoy seeing all of the beautiful dresses and the gorgeous guys in their tuxes.  George Clooney looks amazing as always and Meryl Streep such a classy woman in a beautiful gown.  I can’t wait to see who wins.  Of course by the time you read this we’ll know who won.  So, did you guess right?  Did your favorites win?

I hope you have a great week!

Monday – Beef Brisket Vegetable Soup

Tuesdays – Pizzas

Wednesday – Shrimp and Cauliflower Couscous

Thursday – Pastelón or Sweet Plantain Lasagna

Friday – Scallop, Chorizo and Purple Sweet Potato Tacos

Saturday – Garlic Garbanzo Bean, Swiss Chard, Pancetta Soup

Sunday – Pesto Shrimp on Polenta Portobellos

Check out more menu lists on OrgJunkie.

Best Ever French Onion Dip from February Newsletter

March madness is upon us.  Whether it be with college basketball, Spring Break, kids spring sports starting or digging out of the winters last snow storms, it’s here.  For me that means going back to some tried and true recipes.  It also means more hands off cooking and more minute meals.  So this month’s menu plan you’ll see some past recipes and some new fast and easy ones.

Don’t forget coming up on Sunday March 7th is the Oscars.  Last week we shared some ideas on what to serve while watching the show with our Gluten Free Progressive OSCAR Dinner Party.  Check out all of the great recipes shared.  Other celebrations this month include St. Patrick’s Day on the 17th, first day of Spring on the 20th and Passover begins March 29th.

Also, if you want the recipe for the Best Ever French Onion Dip, it is part of the February Newsletter.  All newsletters will be archived under our News page.  If you signed up for the newsletter after that edition went out, you will need to visit the News to view the February edition.  You will receive March’s newsletter directly.  If you have not signed up yet, what are you waiting for?

Have a great month and as always, share with us your experiences with making any of these recipes.  Love to hear from you!

1- Roasted Spatchcock Chicken with Mushroom Stuffing

2- West African Chicken Peanut Stew

3- Pizza Soup

4- Beef Brisket with mashed potatoes and gravy

5- Posole

6- Calzones

7- Spinach Artichoke Dip Pizza, Roasted Potato Slices with Smoky Aioli Dip, Southern Fried Oysters, Flourless Sparkling Chocolate Cookies with Whipped Cream

8- Beef Brisket Vegetable Soup

9- Pizzas

10- Shrimp and Cauliflower Couscous

11- Pastelón or Sweet Plantain Lasagna

12- Scallop, Chorizo and Purple Sweet Potato Tacos

13- Garlic Garbanzo Bean, Swiss Chard, Pancetta Soup

14- Pesto Shrimp on Polenta Portobellos

15-Chili

16- Pork Noodle Soup

17- Irish Beef Stew

18- Roasted Balsamic Chicken with Figs and Onions

19- Whole Roasted Fish

20- Roasted Pork Loin

21- Chicken Enchiladas

22- Scallop Pasta with Chorizo

23- Chipotle Burger on a Bun with Tomatillo Salsa

24- Have on Hand Soup

25- Buffalo Shrimp

26- Beef and Noodles

27- Pork and Lentils

28- Winter Fire Roasted Tomato Soup with Prosciutto Topping

29- Chicken Chow Mein with Gluten Free Soy Sauce

30- Fast Pantry Soup

31- Shrimp Tostados

Don’t forget OrgJunkie has more menus.

Wow, the last week of this month already.  That means it’s time to take inventory and start working on next month’s menu plan.  I want to know if there is anything you would like me to make and share with you.  Is there something you want to know how to cook?  Something you’ve want to convert to gluten and dairy free that you used to cook?  Yes I’m taking requests.  Just let me know ASAP and I’ll see if I can work it into my menu.

If you have not already signed up for the newsletter jump in know so you can get this month’s news. (top right corner of this blog)

ALL this week join in our Gluten Free Progressive OSCAR Dinner Party.  Here’s the party schedule.

Monday February 22-  Shirley from gluten free easily sharing Veronica’s Pumpkin Soup

Tuesday February 23- SEA from Book of Yum with appetizers inspired from the movie Avatar

Wednesday February 24- Karen from Cook4Seasons and Diane from The WH.O.L.E. Gang using inspiration from Julie and Julia

Thursday February 25- Alison from Sure Foods Living

Friday February 26- Ellen from I Am Gluten Free

Get ready for your OSCAR party by printing a ballot to share with your guests or for just your family!  Also check out this page an Oscar Party Kit.

Here’s my menu for the week.

Monday – BBQ turkey leg and slaw

Tuesday - Cornmeal crusted fried fish, fries and peas

Wednesday - London broil, yucca fries, spinach salad

Thursday - Pork chops, applesauce, sugar snap peas

Friday - Shrimp tacos

Saturday - Greek chicken, rice and broccoli

Sunday -Mini crab cakes, broiled lobster, corn on cobb, chocolate cake with chocolate icing

For other menus please visit OrgJunkie.

Aphrodisia, Wild Rose, Cupuacu Truffles by Gnosis Chocolate

Happy Presidents’ Day!  I hope you had a wonderful Valentine’s Day yesterday and had the opportunity to do something nice for someone else.  I spent the weekend cooking for my two guys here and  I hope to be sending my college guy something in the mail.  Wish he was here.  My dessert treat was two fold over the weekend.  First I had chocolate truffles from Gnosis Chocolate.  They are raw,vegan, organic, handmade, gluten free, soy free, no refined sugar and low GI.  I really liked the Cupuacu chocolate with a cream filling and would buy a huge box of those.  Then I created an amazing whipped cream from chilled coconut milk cream (good stuff from the top of the can) and powdered sugar to top off fresh berries.  It was divine.

But yesterday was more than just Valentine’s Day, it was my mothers birthday.  Her 80th!  She looks amazing and no one would ever guess her age.  She’s an amazing cook, has the biggest heart and is the best mom ever.  I got really lucky that she decided to make me part of her family.  Thanks Mom!

Charlotte, Andrea, Abby Girl, Dorothy, Diane

Before the blizzards hit we traveled to visit my mom and met up with my niece, her husband and 1 year old daughter.  We got to spend some of the day together but when the snow started we had to leave.  I hope we can do that again real soon.  Isn’t this a cool photo!

This week you only get a couple of days to recover from Valentine’s Day and it’s time for Mardi Gras Fat Tuesday!  Oh the foods that go along with that holiday.  It’s a tough choice for me, chocolate or spicy gumbo with andoullie sausage.  hmmm

Well enough chat, on to the menu for the week.

Monday - Pulled pork tacos, salad

Tuesday - Shrimp Creole, red beans and rice, King Cake(some version of Jules Shepard)

Wednesday - Soy Citris Salmon, rice, haricot verts

Thursday - Skirt steak, black bean, sweet potato, red onion hash

Friday - Chipotle Shrimp

Saturday - Roasted vegetable pizza

Sunday - Buffalo and pork chorizo hash

Don’t forget this week’s Secret Ingredient for Friday Foodie Fix is Agave!

Check out OrgJunkie for more menus.

What an amazing Super Bowl game.  The New Orleans Saints are World Champions.  That is so cool.  I spent the day cooking up a storm even though it was just us.  After all, my family are my most important people to feed!  For now the snow has stopped leaving us around 3 feet of snow, in Northern Virginia!  We’re supposed to get more tomorrow.  Now that’s just crazy.  I think it’s time to move!

Great food week coming up with Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day.  So are  you going out or are you going to cook?  It’s always more impressive to cook a meal for someone.  You know you could practice it before the big day.  That’s what chefs do!

Have a great week and let me know, are you cooking or going out to celebrate this week?

Monday - Buffalo Cranberry & Wine Sausage with Pork

Tuesday - Sesame crusted mahi mahi, grilled onion and pineapple

Wednesday – Chinese Beef and Broccoli from Jaden Hair’s book Steamy Kitchen Cookbook

Thursday - Lobster and black bean tacos with tomatillo salsa

Friday - Rosemary chicken with dates and olives

Saturday - Dinner at Charlie Palmer Steak House

Sunday - Mexican Seafood Soup, Chocolate Macadamia Nuts

For more menu ideas visit Orgjunkie.

The last week of January is already here.  We’re saying goodbye to January and I’m still not used to writing 2010.  It’s been cold where I live with sleet, snow and ice.  It was a good week for soup and I really enjoyed all the ones that were shared for the Gluten Free Light Winter Warmers Progressive Dinner Party.  I also enjoyed the warm drink of Wassail shared by Shirley at gluten free easily.  For the entire party menu, they will always be available on the GF Events page.

I’m looking forward to the end of this week.  On Saturday is the annual meeting for AIWF, American Institute of Wine and Food.  I’m very excited to go.  I’ve not been able to attend any local events.  Actually the last event I went to for this group was when I belonged to the NYC chapter and Julia Child, founder, was actually there.

Sunday is the ProBowl.  It will be interesting to see it take place in Miami instead of Hawaii and the week before the Super Bowl instead of after.  I’m guessing if your team is playing in the Super Bowl you’re not going to play more than 1 play if at all.  I think if I was a player, I’d rather go to Hawaii.  I was fortunate enough to attend this event in Hawaii a couple of years ago and it was great.  The sad part of these next couple weeks for me is, I’m down to just a few more football games to watch.  Then I have to wait until next pre-season.  I am looking forward to the Colts/Saints Super Bowl and will have lots of gluten and dairy free food to eat while watching the game.  So who will Archie Manning be rooting for?  Yeah, I know, I’m a football junkie.

Monday - Fresh Chorizo casserole

Tuesday - Lamb Al Pastor Burgers, tortilla chips, salad

Wednesday - Chicken Freezer dish

Thursday - Roasted Vegetable Pasta, spinach salad

Friday - Turkey Meatballs Albondigas

Saturday - Shrimp and Scallops Skewers, rice, greens

Sunday - Pro Bowl!  Miami Cuban Feast

Reminder- the Secret Ingredient for Friday Foodie Fix is beans.

For more menus visit OrgJunkie.

Last week I christened my new Le Crueset Cassis pot with a West African Chicken Peanut Stew I adapted from Kalyn’s Kitchen.  I’ll share that later this week.  It was so filling and the taste was amazing.  You’ll want to make it for sure!

This week is our January Gluten Free Light Winter Warmers Progressive Dinner Party.  Make sure you make it around to the different blogs to gather up some great winter recipes.  New to the party we welcome Amy from Simply Sugar and Gluten Free.

Monday January 18th Karen from Cook4Seasons made Creamy Potato Leek Soup and Roasted Cauliflower Soup With Gluten Free Croutons by Alison from Sure Foods Living.

Tuesday January 19th - Winter Fire Roasted Tomato Soup w/ Prosciutto topping from Diane- The W.H.O.L.E. Gang.

Wednesday January 20th -Mexican Seafood Soup from  Diane- The W.H.O.L.E. Gang and SeaMaiden from Book of Yum with an Un-Chicken Vegan Savory Soup.

Thursday January 21st – Amy from Simply Sugar and Gluten Free and Shirley from gluten free easily.

Friday January 22nd -Ali from The Whole Life Nutrition Kitchen.

Make sure you stop by for Friday Foodie Fix for recipes using Clementines.  If you’ve never participated in this blog carnival I hope you will  consider sharing one of your recipes.  It’s really easy to use Mr. Linky.  You can also share via the comments.

Here’s my menu for the week.  I have a feeling it will change but we’re not going to miss out on Pizza night.

Monday - Pizza!  Zaatar, Spinach, tomato and cippolini onions, BBQ Chicken

Tuesday - Sheppard’s Pie

Wednesday - Buffalo & Pork Chipotle Chorizo Tacos

Thursday - Freezer Finds

Friday - Turducken Burgers, Corn Bread, green beans

Saturday - Blackened Fresh fish fillets, polenta, salad

Sunday - London Broil, parley potatoes, broccoli

For tons more menus from all sorts of blogs, OrgJunkie.

Last week my new Sur La Table catalog came.  As I sat looking through it, I couldn’t stop myself from making all sorts of sounds. I was drooling over the new Le Crueset Cassis color cast iron and stoneware.  So, I made a trip to the store and bought a 3 1/2 quart French Oven and a 10.5 inch rectangular baker that came with a free 7″ x 5″ baker with my Christmas money.  It’s beautiful!

I will have to use it this week, but what to cook.  I know I have this menu planned, but I may need to make a little something new.

Keep in mind that the Secret Ingredient for Friday Foodie Fix is broccoli.  If you have not checked back on last week’s cauliflower, you should.  There are some really good ones.  I’ll also be adding one with a delicious lunch I made today.

Monday - Turkey Burgers (Greek), Hand Cut Oven Fries, peas

Tuesday - Pork Pupusas, refried beans, Jicama and Watercress Salad

Wednesday - Ostrich steaks, Polenta Fries, roasted broccoli

Thursday - Shrimp Scampi with pasta

Friday - Unstuffed Cabbage Soup

Saturday - Red Chileatole with mushrooms, chicken & zucchini (R.B.)

Sunday - Roasted Whole Fish, rice, sauteed vegetables

For more menu ideas visit OrgJunkie.

I’m sharing my menu plan for this week but one never knows at this point.  Yesterday we had 20 inches of snow where I live and I think we may be digging out for some time.  Hopefully I have all of the ingredients on hand.  This menu is a good one for those long cold days.

The other exciting news this weekend was being able to give two people the wonderful news that they won Elana Amsterdam’s Gluten Free Almond Flour Cookbook.

Congratulations to Erin and Nancy.

The winners were drawn using a random number generator.  They both had signed up for the newsletter and left comments.  I believe there was even a RT (retweet on Twitter) in there.

Thank you all for entering to win.  If you were hoping to win this book for a Christmas Gift there is still time to grab one from the bookstore.  It’s a great gift to give and to receive.  I say this as I am munching on the Chocolate Chip Cookies I made from Elana’s recipe.  Yum!!!

If you signed up for the newsletter you should be receiving 6 of my Top 10 lists via email.  I hope you are enjoying them.  If you have not signed up for the newsletter, what are you waiting for?  See that green box to the right that starts with Get My Gluten Free….  Sign up right there.

I’ve read through all of the comments you left sharing your ideas on what should be included in the newsletter.  If you have more, please share them here.

Just a reminder that this week there will be no Friday Foodie Fix.  We will pick it back up next year on Friday January 1st with your favorite New Year’s Day Celebration Foods or Meals (can include best hangover cures).  I know a lot of families have traditions for the first meal of the new year.  I hope you’ll share yours.

Have a wonderful week, stay warm and safe.  If you are celebrating Christmas I hope it is a joyful day.

Monday - Roasted Pork Loin with  baked apples

Tuesday - Whole Roasted Spatchcock Chicken, roasted root vegetables

Wednesday - Ostrich Steaks, green beans, quinoa

Thursday - Veal Shoulder Roast

Friday - Mushroom Risotto

Saturday - Winter Fire Roasted Tomato Soup and sandwiches

Sunday - Italian Calzones

For more menus visit OrgJunkie.

I hope everyone got a chance to join in on the Gluten Free Dessert Progressive Dinner Party.  It was a lot of fun and there were lots of great recipes shared.  For all of the places to visit and what they made, visit my Gluten Free Blog Events page for all of the links.

Also, if you have not gotten in on your chance to WIN Elana Amsterdam’s Gluten Free Almond Flour Cookbook read up on all the ways to enter.  You get TWO entries for signing up for the new NEWSLETTER.  Check out the original post so you can enter to WIN.  The contest ends with this week’s Friday Foodie Fix where the Secret Ingredient is Almonds!  Good luck to everyone.

If you have not taken a look at all of the amazing Chocolate recipes shared for Friday Foodie Fix, you are missing out.  If you have a recipe you would like to share, please feel free to leave one.  At last count there were 23 recipes.

So here is what I was going to have this week.  But I’m changing it up to soup week.  We need to increase our volume of food and decrease our calories with all of the holiday parties and opportunities to eat.  So instead we’ll have:

Monday - not Turkey Tacos…………………………..Turkey Vegetable Soup

Tuesday - not Burgers with potatoes……………….Beef Brisket Vegetable Soup

Wednesday- not Mahi Mahi…………………….Mexican Seafood Soup

Thursday - not Pasta with vegetables………………….Posole

Friday - Dinner out at Pazo

Saturday - Dinner out at Black Olive

Sunday - Freezer Finds

Have a great week everyone and don’t forget to enter to WIN a cookbook and sign up for our Newsletter!

For more menus visit OrgJunkie.

As we head into the second week of December my menu will have quick fix meals and meals that all I need to do is take it out of the freezer and heat to eat.  I think you’ll really like the Beef Brisket Vegetable Soup and Zaatar Pizza.

This week will also contain an announcement of a new offering.  Here are some fun things happening this week:

Gluten Free Dessert Progressive Dinner Party starts on Monday with Shauna the gluten free girl and the chef, Alison Sure Foods Living and Ali The Whole Life Nutrition Kitchen.

A Cookbook to Give Away

Something New For You

Friday Foodie Fix Secret Ingredient is Chocolate

Julie & Julia DVD released and Harry Potter and The Half  Blood Prince DVD released (hoping I get these for my birthday)

You won’t want to miss a posting for sure.  You can receive blog posts via email or with my RSS feed.  If you don’t know what an RSS feed is, subscribe by email.   At the top of the blog you’ll see Connect.  If  you enter your email you will receive an email every time I write a new blog post.

MENU

Monday - Hash with sausage and peppers

Tuesday - Birthday Dinner- Seafood Kabobs wrapped in bacon, mini crab cakes, salad, Chocolate frogs, popcorn, maybe even a cake.  I will also be serving a Cold Gluten Free Dessert for the Progressive Dinner Party.

Wednesday - Chicken Taquitos, refried beans and rice

Thursday - Chorizo and Potato Frittata and my No-Bake Gluten Free Dessert for the Progressive Dinner Party.

Friday - Beef Brisket Vegetable Soup

Saturday - Pizzas including Zaatar

Sunday - Book Party

More menus on OrgJunkie.

This has been a fun food weekend with plans for a fun food week.   I’m very fortunate to get the opportunity to eat out at some amazing restaurants this week.  I had dinner Saturday night with Chef Michel Richard.  Well, he was actually a few tables away, but we were eating at the same time.  This was at Oyamel in Washington, DC.  However on Tuesday this week I will get to eat at one of his restaurants, Central Richard.  I will share my gluten free review of that experience on my other blog, Gluten Free Food Critic.  Check out the reviews for the restaurants I’ve already shared.

Also, did you realize this week is Thanksgiving.  It totally snuck up on us, I wish.  If you are still looking for some great gluten free recipes I hope you will review the great ones shared for the Gluten Free Thanksgiving Progressive Dinner.  Here is what was shared from The Whole Life Nutrition, gfe-gluten free easily, Gluten Free Girl, Cook4Seasons, Gluten Free Organics, A Year of Slow Cooking, Book of Yum and me:

Drinks: Sugar-Free Cranberry Orange Punch and Hot Ginger Lemon Cider

Appetizers:  Goat Cheese with Cumin and Mint, Lemon Chili Olives and Spiced Honey Almond Nibbles and Allergen Free Casein Free Pumpkin Kabocha Soup

Main Course:  Orange-Pepper Salmon with Cranberry Sauce and Special Turkey Breast

Side Dishes:  Wild Rice Salad, Gluten Free Stuffing with Pancetta Sage Sausage,  Slow Cooker Cornbread Stuffing and Pear Pomegranate Salad with Orange Vinaigrette

Desserts:  Pumpkin Pecan “Cheese” Cake, Vegan Dark Chocolate Almond Tart with a Pastry Crust, and Gluten Free Blueberry Pie

This week’s Friday Foodie Fix will be a review of this fall’s recipes with the Secret Ingredients of red or green peppers, apples, potatoes, figs, pomegranate, chicken, pumpkin, sweet potato, cranberries, squash and turkey.  We will resume Friday Foodie Fix with the Secret Ingredient of Pecans on December 4th.

Monday - Buffalo Cranberry & Wine Sausage with Pork

Tuesday - Eating Out – Central Richard

Wednesday - Leftovers from the freezer

Thursday - Thanksgiving Menu- Oven Roasted Spatchcock Turkey, Pancetta & Sausage Sage Stuffing, Creamy Dairy Free Mashed Potatoes, Turkey Gravy, Shallot Green Beans, Cranberry Salsa, Cranberry Walnut Bread by Elana Amsterdam,   Elana’s Chocolate Chip Scones, Pumpkin Pudding

Friday - Leftover Roasted Tomato and Basil Soup or Vegetable Soup

Saturday - Stuffing Stuffed Pork Chop Loaf

Sunday - Italian Meatball Wedding Soup

This looks to be an exciting week.  First is the Gluten Free Thanksgiving Progressive Dinner Party starts today.   You’re invited to attend this dinner party every day this week.  It will be held over 8 different blogs and Monday through Friday of this week.  By the end of the week we’ll have your gluten free Thanksgiving menu all ready for you, complete with recipes and photos.

Your hosts this week will be Gluten Free Girl, Book of Yum, gfe-gluten free easily, The Whole Life Nutrition Kitchen, A Year of Slow Cooking, Gluten Free Organics, Cook4Seasons and me!  Feel free to RSVP and let us know if you’ll be stopping by so we’ll know how much to cook.

Here’s the schedule:

• Ali and Jean will be serving DRINKS on Monday, Nov. 16 at The Whole Life Nutrition Kitchen and Gluten Free Organics

• Karen, Jean and Seamaiden will be serving APPETIZERS on Tuesday, Nov. 17 at Cook4Seasons,  Gluten Free Organics and Book of Yum

• Ali and Shirley will be serving MAIN COURSE on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at The Whole Life Nutrition Kitchen and gfe-gluten free easily
  

• Diane, Stephanie, Ali and Shauna will be serving the SIDE DISH/SALAD on Thursday, Nov. 19 at The W.H.O.L.E. Gang, A Year of Slow Cooking, The Whole Life Nutrition Kitchen and Gluten Free Girl

• Karen, Jean and Ali be serving DESSERT on Friday, Nov. 20 at Cook4Seasons, The Whole Life Nutrition Kitchen and Gluten Free Organics

If you’re looking for a good Mexican meal out and you live near Washington, D.C. you’ll want to read my restaurant review, Oyamel Restaurant Gluten Free Review.  They have a very interesting menu including all of the ingredients you’re used to and  goat, beef tongue, cactus and grasshoppers.  You’ll have to read the review to see which ones I ate.  I’m headed back this weekend so maybe I’ll try what I missed.

We’re also having company!  We’ll have a mix of eating out and my cooking.  I love to cook for company.  It’s just as easy to cook for 2 or 22, so the more the merrier.  Either way I’m playing in the kitchen.  Next week’s menu will be a mix of eating out and really easy meals with all of the Thanksgiving preparations that will be going on in my kitchen.

This week’s Secret Ingredient for Friday Foodie Fix is Turkey.  If you missed Friday Foodie Fix – Squash, you’ll want to go back and check out all of the great recipes shared.

Monday - Mediterranean Tuna Pasta with Artichokes

Tuesday - Beef and Pork Cabbage Soup

Wednesday -Garlic Garbanzo Bean, Swiss Chard and Pancetta Soup and Sandwiches

Thursday - Shrimp With Buffalo & Pork Chipotle Chorizo

Friday- Soccer Pot Luck meal- Chicken Wings and Gluten and Dairy Free BBQ Jalapeño Poppers

Saturday - Eating Out – Oyamel

Sunday - Strip Steaks, Hand Cut Oven Fries, Broccoli

For more menus visit Orgjunkie.

One more thing.  Have you heard about Drop In and Decorate?  Why not make gluten free cookies for donation! You can read all about it on A Year of Slow Cooking.

Moving right along in November I’m hoping to shake this cold this week and get back to lots of fun cooking and blog post writing.  I’ve been making notes on lots of fun burger recipes that I hope to share soon.  Now not to make you jump, but there are only 17 days until Thanksgiving, 29 days until my birthday, 32 days until Hanukah and only 46 days until Christmas .  Are you planning big meals for these holidays?   If so, are you planning your schedule of what you need and what you need to do and when?  Sounds silly but it will make your life a lot easier if you figure it out now.  Coming later this week my plans for Thanksgiving so I don’t have to do all of the work in one day and I’ll be ready for the what if’s.

I did get to sneak out this weekend with my friend, Lady A, and head to the Metropolitan Cooking Show where we saw Guy Fieri cook.  He was great in person.  If you’ve ever seen his live show Off The Hook it was a lot like that.  I enjoy Guy’s Big Bites but my favorite is Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.  He was very funny and informative all at the same time.  If you ever get a chance to see Guy live, do it.  You won’t be disappointed.

Don’t forget this week’s Secret Ingredient for Friday Foodie Fix is Squash! I hope you will all share your recipes with us. Check out last week’s great recipes shared for Cranberries.

Monday - Eating out – The Counter

Tuesday - Freezer Finds

Wednesday - Lamb Ragu

Thursday - Fish and Chips

Friday - Chicken Hash

Saturday - Eating Out – Restaurant Eve

Sunday - Handmade Tamales

For more menus check out OrgJunkie.

Here is my gluten free and dairy free menu for this last week of October.  We end with Halloween on Saturday and then we get to start November off getting an extra hour of sleep!  I’m all for that.  Before we jump into the last two months of the year let me point out some cool videos if you missed them.  For the past three weekends our tip has been given by three different food bloggers.  Great information and tips.  I hope you will view our Weekend Kitchen Tip.

Also, if you missed last week’s Friday Foodie Fix - Pumpkin, you missed TONS of great recipes and information.  This week’s Secret Ingredient for Friday Foodie Fix is Sweet Potatoes.  Can you tell I’m working you towards our big November eating holiday.

Just a reminder, with this being the last week of the month it’s time to inventory your food on hand.  Use your list from last month to start with, go through the pantry, freezer and refrigerator.  Then make your menu for the month!   I promise you, you can save 20-40% off of your food bill.

Have a great week!

Monday – Boeuf Bourguignon Burger

Tuesday – Pork Tamales

Wednesday – Tilapia

Thursday -Chicken Pot Pie Cheesy Sopes Style Dairy Free and Gluten Free

Friday – Turkey-roni

Saturday – Scallops with andouille sausage, plantains and tomatillo salsa

For more menus visit OrgJunkie.

This week I’m sharing my menu and an award I received and that I’m passing along to more blogs.  First the menu.  I am again, eating mostly from the freezer.  I’m so excited to be saving so much money this month.  Soon I will be buying Christmas gifts for my family and now I know I’ll have some extra cash on hand to do that.  Yes, it’s October and I’m already working on gifts.  As you can tell I’m a planner.  I plan as much ahead of time as I can.  That goes for gifts, trips and food.

Planning ahead with inventory and menu plans has saved me so much time and money.  The inventory is the key.  It also helps if you can look at ingredients you have on hand and see recipes and finished meals.  If not, you can always search on this blog by ingredient to see some recipes and give you some ideas.  The ingredients are listed just below the BlogHer Food Conference badge.

Don’t forget that this week’s Secret Ingredient for Friday Foodie Fix is Chicken. I hope to see lots of recipes shared.  If you don’t have a blog remember you can leave your recipe in the comments section.

For more menus check out OrgJunkie.

Monday – Posole

Tuesday- Beef and Cabbage with Tomatoes

Wednesday- Turkey BBQ with Corn Fritters

Thursday- Balsamic Chicken with Figs and Onions

Friday- Western Omelets

Saturday- Strip Steaks, baked potatoes, broccoli

Sunday- Whole Roasted Fish

Now on to the Award portion of our show.

Blog Award

Thank you to Alta from Tasty Eats At Home for giving me the One Lovely Blog Award.  I am honored she would include me.  Alta’s blog is filled with great food.  One of the cool things I like about Alta is that she made the leap of faith to give up gluten and see what would happen.  Even after a negative blood test to gluten intolerance,  she went Gluten-Free.  How many of us that live gluten free have lived this same story.  Well Alta has found relief from many of her health problems in just a few months.  Kudos to Alta!  Read her About page for the update.

For One Lovely Blog I am supposed to share seven things you don’t know about me.  I’m not sure I can come up with seven new things since everything I think and do is on this blog or my Gluten Free Food Critic blog.  Well here they are, but feel free to jump to the list of the next recipients.

1. I  am overly obsessed with food.  So much so I dream up recipes in my sleep, in the shower, in the car, walking the dog, at the soccer game and especially in the grocery store.  I can get lost in the grocery store for hours playing with the food and creating recipes with whatever is fresh. OK, this might not be news.

2. I am the league manager of my fantasy football league.  I have my own team and I share a team with my son Brad.  He’s really good at drafting and figuring out who to play and I try but not as lucky.  Our family LOVES football so don’t schedule anything with me during the Sunday games or Monday Night Football.

3.  I’m a huge Harry Potter fan.  Well you probably knew that from some of my blog posts on Hogwarts foods.  But here is something you don’t know that my family thinks I’m silly for having.  I have life size cardboard cutouts of Harry, Hermonie and Ron in my office.  Actually my entire office looks like a kids room.    I also have stuffed animals, things taped to my file cabinets and my I dream of Jeannie bottle.  I guess my goal is to never totally grow up.  I think I’m succeeding.

4.  I like to make things other than food with my hands.  I used to sew my own clothes and I like to knit.  I designed and made my wedding gown.  I also knit all of our dishclothes, make baby blankets and I’m currently working on a new blanket for Brad.

5. I use to work in New York City for a wholesale meat purveyor in the meat district, DeBragga & Spitler.  It was an amazing job working for the Sarrazin family.  It was also great to work with the chef’s in the city.  They all knew my boss.  I loved being able to pick up the phone and say where I worked and get any table anytime in amazing restaurants.   It’s really cool to see they still have their trucks painted the way I designed them.  Miss that group.

6.  I would love to have a cooking show called Good Food No Matter What!™  I could share the information I share here on a broader base.  Get more people cooking from scratch and less from a box.  Eating real food that they learn can be fast and easy to make, save them money and will taste good no matter what ingredients they need to leave out.  There are so many people that see a recipe and see an ingredient they can’t have or don’t like and toss out the whole recipe.  Trial and error will teach us what each ingredient will do and taste like and that we just might like something after all.  I would like it to be an empowering show.

7.  I journal every day and I’ve done this for over 20 years.  Well I sometimes miss a day but not very often.  I journaled off and on until I read Juilia Cameron’s book The Artist’s Way.  I’ve had my hands in art all my life and was going through a period of not being very creative.  Her book was published in 1992 and has been a go to book for me every since.  It’s full of great practices for those who live their lives being creative and anyone on a creative journey(life) .  I have not read it in some time and think I will pull it out again.  Every time I read it I learn something new.  I love books like that.

Well there you go.  Seven mostly new things about me.

I would like to nominate the following blogs for the One Lovely Blog Award.

Here are blogs I’ve not nominate before but deserve your attention.  Some are not gluten free so if that is your lifestyle you will need to adapt their recipes.  I think it’s important to read more than just gluten free blogs.  If you like food and wine, read about that on a broad spectrum but cook within your parameters.

Gluten A Go Go

Food Blogga

Simply Gluten Free

Andrea Meyers

Celica Family

Wine Girl

Coconut & Lime

I’ve nominated these blogs for previous awards but they still are my favorites.  They are One Lovely Blogs too.

Elana’s Pantry

Gluten Free Easily

The Whole Life Nutrition Kitchen

Gluten Free Girl

Book of Yum

Karina’s Kitchen

A Year of Slow Cooking

The Sensitive Pantry

Blog Schmog

Go Dairy Free

Today I’m flying home from San Francisco.  What an amazing experience.  I can’t wait to share it with you.  This week I only have a few days planned.  As soon as I get home I’ll take inventory to see what the guys left behind.  I’m guessing they won’t eat much of what’s in the freezer and opt for eating out.  Next I’ll make my menu for the month and I’ll be sharing that with you.  I think I’m going to have to make Cioppino again for sure only this time more budget friendly.

I’ll also be getting back on track with all of the great comments you are leaving.  I love to chat and have missed that.

Make sure you check out Gluten Free Easily’s post on Flourless Chocolate Banana Walnut Honey Cake and Giveaway of an autographed copy by Elana Amsterdam from Elana’s Pantry – The Gluten-Free Almond Flour Cookbook.

Monday- Freezer Finds

Tuesday - Picnic at the U2 concert

Wednesday - Chicken Marsala

This week’s Secret Ingredient for Friday Foodie Fix is Figs!

For more menus, visit OrgJunkie.

CSA Week 12

This week will be a short week of cooking for me.  I’m headed to the BlogHer Food Conference in San Francisco.  I’m very excited to learn more about food blogging and meet some great writers of the blogs I read.  I will try to post on the food in the area and if all goes well, share some video messages from food bloggers.

If you want to find out what I’m learning and up to as it happens, follow me on Twitter.  Go to www.twitter.com/thewholegang or use the blue t link on this blog.  If you don’t have a twitter account it’s quick and easy to set up and it’s free.  You can find out lots of great information before others.  For the conference I’ll be using the #blogherfood09 in the tweets like others.

Monday - Veal Scallopini with shallots, green beans and fingerling potatoes

Tuesday - Quick Fry Pork Chops with sauteed apples

Wednesday - Meatloaf in the crockpot

Thursday- next Monday Freezer Finds for the Guys!

This week’s Secret Ingredient for Friday Foodie Fix is Potatoes.  Hopefully I gave you an easy one so you can fill up my post with great potato recipes.  Now if you’re at the conference with me  I’ll put this post up a little early so you can join in too.

For over 400 other weekly menus, visit OrgJunkie.

Black swallowtail caterpillar enjoying my parsley

My computer is dying a slow and painful death.  This is the second time I’m posting this as the first was lost.  This will be a lot shorter.  If anyone has recommendations for a great PC for food bloggers I’d love to hear from you.

This little guy was enjoying my herb garden with his friend.  I hope they had a good visit. I hope you have a good week.

I hope you will join me for Friday Foodie Fix this week with the Secret Ingredient being Apples.

Monday - Back to School Night -Seven Minute Egg Salad Sandwiches

Tuesday - Chicken Fricassee  with onions and mushrooms

Wednesday- Buffalo & Beef Chili

Thursday - Garlic Garbanzo Bean,  Swiss Chard & Pancetta Soup

Friday - Sandwich Stack with potato chips and half a pickle

Saturday - Shellfish Dairy Free Risotto

Sunday- Buffalo Chicken Wings with celery and Oven Fries

For more menus check out OrgJunkie.

CSA Week 10

Happy Labor Day!  I hope you are getting to spend time with friends or family today and eating wonderful food.  If you would like a short history lesson on Labor Day, check out Scott’s post on the Next Level Blog.  He shares a little history and gives great tips on ways to reflect and celebrate.   I particularly agree with this line- “The day after Labor Day represents the start of the sprint to the end of the year.”  Sad but true.  Take a deep breath today, but don’t forget to keep breathing along the way.

Monday - Shrimp with Andouille Sausage

Tuesday - BBQ Turkey Legs in crockpot

Wednesday - Quick Fry Pork Chops with potato hash and peas

Thursday - Stewed Beef and Pork with Cabbage and Tomatoes

Friday - Soccer tournament- eat out

Saturday- Soccer tournament- eat out

Sunday - Ostrich Steaks with baked potatoes

Don’t forget to check out OrgJunkie for tons more menu ideas.

My ceramic frog watching real frog in my pond.

This weekend I took inventory of my kitchen so I could plan my menu for the month.  I looked at my calendar to see what nights I would have time to cook and then figured I would eat next month.  With soccer pre-season in full swing this week but school not in session, I have a few more options.  Tomorrow I’ll share the rest of the monthly menu but here’s what we have planned for this week.

Don’t forget this week’s Friday Foodie Fix will be all of the Secret Ingredients we had over the summer so if you missed one you can catch up.

Monday - Posole Soup (Mexican Corn Soup)

Tuesday - Turkey Meatballs in crockpot

Wednesday- Date night out to Passion Fish

Thursday - Leftovers

Friday - Grilled Chicken and vegetables

Saturday - Teriyaki Salmon with rice

Sunday - Special Beef Burger with Oven Fries

For more menus visit Orgjunkie.

CSA Week 8- minus eggs and flowers

This week marks the end of my short summer vacation and my no drive days.  Soccer starts for my high-schooler and that that means driving and working from a mobile office.  I’m looking at this as an adventure. It also means that this menu plan is most likely not happening.   We’ll be packing sandwiches, stopping at Five Guys Burgers and Fries and eating late.   Some of these may happen and others most likely will not but we’ll have to see as the week progresses.  I may change things up to include some crockpot meals that can be ready and waiting for us to walk in the door.

I know in many areas school has already started and you are in the thick of filling out paper work, back to school nights, new supplies needed and a ton of other school related tasks.  Take time this week to see how things go and then access how your meals went.  It might be time to change up your menu too.  At the end of this week you’ll want to grab that kitchen inventory so you can see what foods you have on hand.  Next grab your weekly menu planner and mark in the events that will make your dinner time rushed or a different time.  Then create your September menu according to that.

If you don’t have kids in school, do a little jig and make your menu according to your schedule!  If you don’t have a good inventory and menu planner sheet, please email me and I’d be happy to share the ones I’ve created.  I’ve added a new column to the inventory for costing out the foods we eat.  This way I can see what costs more and see which items cost less that can be incorporated into a meal to stretch that budget.  For instance beans are a great inexpensive food to expand a dish for little cash.

Don’t forget this week’s Secret Ingredient for Friday Foodie Fix is Cantaloupe.

Monday - Leftovers!

Tuesday - Five Guys Burgers and Fries

Wednesday - Shrimp Surprise

Thursday - Grilled Vegetable Kabobs

Friday - Mexican Casserole

Saturday - Pesto Pasta

Sunday - Buffalo Chicken Burger

For more menu ideas check out Orgjunkie.

Brad's gluten free and dairy free cake that he liked

This week I’m changing it up a little from my monthly menu.  I’ve been playing with my food lately and want to share.  I’ve also been watching more shows on the Food Network.  They can really inspire me to use a new ingredient or try a dish from another part of the world.  I don’t like following recipes much as you will find when I share my story of the crab cakes from a new cookbook.  All in good time.

This week I’m continuing with my quest to prove that gluten free and dairy free still means, Good Food No Matter What!™  That means that no matter what ingredients you have to live without, your food should still taste good, look good and give you enjoyment as well as nourishment.

Have a wonderful week.  We are starting off celebrating a birthday which somehow must be the wrong number.  I can’t possibly now have kids that are 16 and 20 years old.  I’m only 29 myself!  UPDATE at the bottom on the cake shown above.

Monday- Celebration Dinner for Brad’s 16th Birthday

Tuesday- North African Ostrich Meatballs inspired by Melissa d’Arabian

Wednesday- Pupusas with either pork, beans or loroco flowers

Thursday- Spicy Mustard Chicken with corn

Friday- Special Hamburger with homemade fries

Saturday- Eating out with new friends at Corduroy in DC

Sunday- Polenta French Toast with Bacon

This week’s Secret Ingredient for Friday Foodie Fix is Corn!

For more menu ideas check out Orgjunkie.

Last year's really bad birthday cake

I love the look on is face.  This cake was really bad.  The icing tasted like shortening with water, which I think it was.  I’ve learned a lot in one year.

UPDATE- for those who have been asking about the cake that tasted good here’s the scoop.  I used a Cherrybrook Kitchen chocolate cake mix and their premade vanilla icing.  You can see the cake mix in our store.  The store page is listed at the top of this blog.  The chocolate candies around the side were made from Enjoy Life chocolate chips.  They are dairy, gluten and soy free.

I’m really enjoying being on vacation and I think I’ll stay here another week or two.  Of course that won’t stop me from blogging but I’ll be working at a slower pace.  I’m also working on clearing out the house before the rush of the new school year is upon us.  The quiet before the storm.  Making sure my pantry is organized and if there is anything I’ve had way too long bring that to the front so I can cook it.  Same thing with the freezer and refrigerator.  They are pretty cleared out since I take inventory every month and we freeze and eat our leftovers.  I did find an old box of ice cream.  We’ll have to get the visiting friends of my son to eat this up.  Hate to see things go to waste.

So what are you doing to get ready for the fall?  Have you had a vacation yet?  What are you doing for fun?  I hope it includes good food and people you like to share it with.

Monday – Mahi Mahi

Tuesday – Chicken Wings

Wednesday – Beef and Cabbage with Tomatoes

Thursday – Ostrich

Friday – Catch of the Day

Saturday – Crab Cakes from Gluten Free Every Day Cookbook

Sunday – Spaghetti with Turkey Meatballs

Get those Tomato recipes ready for Friday Foodie Fix.  Remember if you don’t have a blog to leave your recipe in the comments section.

For more menu ideas visit Orgjunkie.

Adam Lambert

Easy week coming up for me when I get to eat out twice!  As you can see having a 20 year old has not stopped me from acting like a kid.  Can’t wait to go to the American Idol Concert.  Also, in an effort to keep the kitchen cool I’m either having a no cook meal or grill it outside as much as possible.

Is it hot where you live?  What are you doing to keep your kitchen cool?  Love to hear your tips.

Don’t forget that the Secret Ingredient for Friday Foodie Fix this week is the ever so versatile Onion!

Monday – Firefly Restaurant to celebrate Andy’s 20th Birthday

Tuesday- Jaleo DC right before the American Idol Concert!

Wednesday – Tuna and Chickpea Salad

Thursday – Enchiladas

Friday – London Broil

Saturday- Swordfish

Sunday – Pork Roast

Check out The Happy Housewife for more menu ideas.

CSA Week 4

The last week of July and you may notice I don’t have a complete week’s menu here.   You’ll just have to wait for the August menu to find out what’s cooking for the weekend.  I hope you have enjoyed July and are looking forward to August.  Don’t forget to have some summer fun and get yourself to the farmers markets for fresh produce.  If you don’t know where the closest market is to you, use the Farmer Market Finder  in the right hand column of this blog.  Happy shopping!

Monday- Beef and Noodles

Tuesday- Salmon with Scapes and Quinoa

Wednesday- Duck Burgers

Thursday- Pesto Shrimp on Polenta Portobellos

Friday- Freezer leftovers

For more menu ideas check out OrgJunkie.

Well it’s safe to say it’s summer, right?  We’re past the middle of July, people are headed on vacation, air conditioning is all the rage and no one wants to cook.  Well this is an easy, I don’t want to spend all day in the kitchen weekly menu.  Some things I’m pulling out of the freezer and others cook up really fast.

I hope you are having a fun summer and if you get a chance, poke around the blog.  I realize that there was a little problem with the email feed last week and a zillion posts came at once.  Well not exactly a zillion but more than a few.  If something strikes your fancy or causes you question, I’d love to hear from you.

Have a great week!

Monday- Chipotle Shrimp

Tuesday- Bacon and Eggs

Wednesday- CSA basket with pasta

Thursday- Pupusas

Friday- Turkey and Beans

Saturday- Chicken Chow Mein

Sunday- Kalua Pork feast

Keep in mind this week’s Secret Ingredient is Zucchini for Friday Foodie Fix.  I hope more of you eat that than you did Swiss Chard.  Embrace vegetables, even if you’ve never eaten them.  You might surprise yourself.

For more menu ideas check out Orgjunkie.

Movies are one of the best parts of summer.  Watching them on TV and going to the theater.  I’ve watched Frost/Nixon, August Rush on TV and seen Public Enemy, The Hang Over and The Proposal.  They are all very different and I enjoyed them all and can recommend them too.  This week is the long awaited Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince hits the big screen July 15th.  I’m very excited to see this book come to life in the movie.

Have you seen any good movies this summer?

Monday - Scallops and Shrimp

Tuesday - Beef Brisket Tamales

Wednesday - Mrs. Weasley’s Bacon Sandwiches, boiled potatoes, onion soup, chocolate frogs and butterbeer

Thursday - leftovers

Friday - Grilled Mahi Mahi and Pineapple

Saturday - Buffalo Chicken Burgers

Sunday - Ostrich steaks with mushrooms and onions

This week’s Secret Ingredient for Friday Foodie Fix is Swiss Chard.  I hope you will offer up many recipes this week.

For more menus check out Orgjunkie.

I hope everyone had a great weekend and a fun 4th of July.  We went to our local fireworks and we were so close to them that we were showered in ash.  The show was great.  We grilled out on Saturday and I tried a new product,  Stubbs Charcoal.  It worked great.  Loved it.  I purchased it at Whole Foods but I’ve heard you can get it at stores like Kroger.  I see more grilled meals in our summer future.

This week’s Secret Ingredient for Friday Foodie Fix is Cucumbers.  I hope you will share all of your recipes no matter how simple you may think it is.  Those are the best ones for the summer!

Monday - Turkey burgers- seasonings TBD

Tuesday - Buffalo chorizo

Wednesday - California Ostrich burgers

Thursday - Dinner out with friends

Friday - Beef burgers and French Fries

Saturday - Chicken Taquitos

Sunday - Turkey and Pork meatballs over noodles

For more menus check out Orgjunkie and for gluten free meals visit The Gluten Free Homemaker on Wednesday.

June is quickly coming to a close and it’s starting to feel like summer.  On Wednesday I get my first delivery from my CSA.  I can’t wait to see what veggies I get!

This week we get to celebrate an important holiday in the USA, the 4th of July.  People love to gather, cook out on the grill and light fireworks at night.  I think we’ll do all of that around here.  I’ve not grilled out since last year after getting sick.  Not sure if I just don’t tolerate charcoal or it was something else.  Either way I’m ready to give it a try with my new charcoal from Whole Foods.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcolman/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

As a kid, this was a big deal holiday.  We would have parades around the neighborhood on our bikes or wagons.  We’d decorate our bikes and I’d decorate my pigtails.  Now days in my neighborhood I don’t see parades but they do enjoy their fireworks from the local stand.  What did you do as a kid on the 4th of July?  How did you celebrate?  Are you still doing the same things or is it just another day?  Life can get busy and it can end up that way.  So here is a reminder to me and anyone else, plan on some old fashion fun on the 4th of July.

Have a great week!

Monday - Fried Haddock Sandwiches

Tuesday -Duck Burgers with Asian Slaw

Wednesday -Kielbasa and potato hash

Thursday - Roasted Turkey Breast with sweet potato fritters

Friday- London Broil with veggies from my CSA

Saturday - BBQ chicken, grilled potato wedges and grilled lettuce

Sunday - Dover Sole with lots of veggies

This week’s Secret Ingredient for Friday Foodie Fix is Pork.  Hope you will join in with your recipes.  For more weekly menus check out OrgJunkie.

Father's Day 2009-Andy, Scott, Brad

I hope everyone had a great weekend and got to celebrate Father’s Day.  I’m happy I still get to send my dad wishes.  I had three silly guys here yesterday.  As I look forward to this week I may get lucky and get to eat out twice.  Once with friends and then at the Slow Foods Event.  If  you are not familiar with the Slow Food International organization and what they stand for please read up.  There are local chapters that get together and hold events.  This will be my first and I’m very excited.

Monday – Pasta

Tuesday – Turkey Burgers-seasonings TBD

Wednesday – Buffalo Chipotle Chorizo Sausage

Thursday – Out with friends

Friday- Mexican Chicken Casserole

Saturday- Cobb Salad

Sunday – Slow Foods Event @ Rocklands

For more menu ideas check out OrgJunkie.

Finally, a strawberry

We’ve been singing,  School’s Out Forever by Alice Cooper around our house this weekend.  I’m so glad the finals are over and everyone can relax.  Well, at least until work this week for my college son begins and the summer math course for credit begins next week for my HS student.  I’ll take any type of break I can get this time of year.  I long for the sunny days and the Pacific Ocean.  How about you?  Any vacations on your horizon?  How about a celebration?  This Saturday I’ll celebrate 22 years of marriage.  How cool is that!  I’m a very fortunate gal.   Then on Sunday we celebrate Father’s Day.  A good weekend full of good food.

Just a reminder this week’s Secret Ingredient for Friday Foodie Fix is Green Beans.  Visit our page on Friday Foodie Fix to see all of the past Secret Ingredients and their recipes.

I hope you have a wonderful week full of fun and good food.

Monday - Beans and pasta with tomatoes, zucchini and squash

Tuesday- Chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy and green beans

Wednesday - Leftovers!

Thursday - Ostrich Burgers with garnet red yam fries

Friday - Frittata with green beans, peppers and potatoes

Saturday - Anniversary dinner out!

Sunday - Rockfish and crab cakes with haricots verts and Elana’s Pantry Chocolate Cupcakes

For more menu plans check out OrgJunkie.

Happy Memorial Day! Thank you to those who serve and have served our country.

I hope you are getting to spend this holiday with family and friends and getting
to try new foods. I’ve changed my meal
today from shrimp to ostrich burgers.
Decided we would fire up the grill and hopefully the weather will
cooperate. Have a great week and don’t
forget that this is the last week of the month.
You know what that means, INVENTORY and MONTHLY MENU PLAN. If you’re off today, take 15 minutes and
update your inventory, pull out the food magazines or search through this blog
and the many other food blogs on the net.
Gather ideas so when you sit down to write up your menu you’ll already
have great resources.

Monday - Ostrich Burgers, corn on cob, fresh fruit
Tuesday - Pasta with Beans and tomatoes
Wednesday - Chicken Tacos
Thursday - Dover Sole, quinoa, veggies
Friday - London Broil, sweet potatoes, broccoli
Saturday - Pork Enchiladas
Sunday- Duck Breast

This week’s Friday Foodie Fix Secret Ingredient is
quinoa. I hope you will participate in
sharing your recipes even if you don’t have a blog. Just leave your recipe in the comments
section.

©Diane Eblin

We’re now up to 17 recipes for Friday Foodie Fix-Garlic!  Thank you to everyone who posted their links.  If you have not checked since early Friday go back and follow the links to a wonderful culinary world using garlic.  This week’s Secret Ingredient for Friday Foodie Fix is Shrimp.  Don’t forget if you are looking for more gluten free recipes check out What’s for Dinner Wednesday on The Gluten Free Homemaker blog.  I hope you have a great week and lots of sunshine.  We sure could use more here.

Monday- BBQ chicken drumsticks
Tuesday- Frito Haddock
Wednesday- Beef Burgers, fries
Thursday- Leftovers
Friday- Chicken cacciatore
Saturday- Turkey burgers
Sunday- Pork chops

Finally, a weekend of sunshine.  I love sunshine!  I’m solar powered.  I hope this will be a week filled with great food, family, friends and fun!

Monday- King Crab Legs
Tuesday- Pasta with an ostrich meat sauce
Wednesday- Beef Brisket and beans
Thursday- Jerk Chicken Breast
Friday- Roast turkey breast, smashed potatoes and peas
Saturday- Mini black bean cakes, mini burgers with tomatillo salsa
Sunday- Dover Sole filets, polenta

This week for Friday Foodie Fix the Secret Ingredient is Garlic.  My challenge is to get 30 recipe links on Friday. Please let people know about the blog carnival and add in your recipes with garlic too. Also on Monday visit OrgJunkie for over 400 menu plans and on Wednesday check out The Gluten Free Homemaker for lots of gluten free meals.

So much to share, so little time.  I’ll try not to write all of my posts on the same day so I can spread out the news.  It was a really amazing week last week.  So many new and exciting things to do and eat in the gluten free world.  This week promises no less.  Tuesday is Cinco de Mayo and Scott’s parents are coming for the weekend and Mother’s Day.  To top it of, my oldest finishes up his college finals and will be home and can start helping with the vegetarian cooking.   I’ll have to add that to my menu later.   Great week for sure!  How about you, what are you celebrating this week?

Monday- Mediterranean Tuna Pasta
Tuesday- Fish Tacos, Chicken Taquitos, refried beans, My Strawberry Margaritas
Wednesday- Ostrich Steaks with herbed red potatoes
Thursday- Pork BBQ with coleslaw and beans
Friday- Shrimp and Polenta
Saturday- Filets and mushroom risotto
Sunday- Indian turkey legs with lentils

Things to watch for this week:  Monday Menu Plans at OrgJunkie, What’s For Dinner Wednesday at The Gluten Free Homemaker, The Nourishing Gourmet blog carnival Simple & Nourishing on Thursday and Friday Foodie Fix with the Secret Ingredient Artichokes!  Make sure you check out last week’s Secret Ingredient-Strawberries.  Lots of great recipes were shared.

©Diane Eblin

The Northern Virginia/DC area was a hot place to be this weekend.  Literally, the temperature was in the 90’s.  I’m sure we’ll head back down into the 80’s and 70’s soon but the hot weather reminds me I should be using my crockpot more than my oven.   I’ll keep that in mind as I start working on my monthly menu for May.  Have you started thinking about your menu?

Monday - Wild Caught Sockeye Salmon with steamed broccoli
Tuesday - Buffalo Chicken Burgers with sweet potato fries and salad
Wednesday - Pork Tamales
Thursday – Frittata
Friday –NFCA Gluten Free Cooking Spree Great event, I hope to see you there!
Saturday- Beef and Noodles
Sunday – Blackened Tilapia and Fries

Don’t forget Friday Foodie Fix Secret Ingredient this week is Strawberries.  Check out last week’s Friday Foodie Fix -Asparagus recipes.

Also check out The Gluten Free Homemaker for What’s for Dinner Wednesday on Wednesday and OrgJunkie for more weekly menus today.

Spring Tulips ©Diane Eblin

This week will be a busy and fun one for us, I hope it will be fun for you too.  Wednesday is Earth day and Administrative Professional Day but my favorite day takes place Saturday, NFL Draft Day.   Oh how I miss football but I’m enjoying the NHL playoffs and even watching the Nationals lose.  Hopefully they’ll win more than one game this month.  What are you enjoying these days?

Monday – Sesame Chicken Wings
Tuesday – Chicken Burgers
Wednesday – Cooks choice
Thursday – Salmon Burgers
Friday – Kalua Pork
Saturday – School event- eating out
Sunday – Spaghetti and meatballs

Don’t forget to check out What’s For Dinner Wednesday and OrgJunkie this week.