Clean Living

 

Still calories that count, and a no-no if your tracking on the glycemic index. But, in a less than perfect world these treats from Costco are a viable option in my GF journey.

 

I've been serious about cutting wheat from my diet from the get-go, and into very rigorous adherence since returning from Kiawah Island and Charleston. But, a girl still needs something sweet from time-to-time.

 

Can't say I love these (the chocolate is mediocre), but I'm glad they're in my pantry.

 

At home and cooking this week--Sunday (eggs and Geechie Boy grits), Monday (cucumber-honeydew melon salad), Tuesday (oven-roasted potatoes-asparagus-tomatoes-olives), Wednesday (GF pumpkin bread and beef tacos with green rice). So, tonight CA made a Tommy's run for polish sausages with crispy fries. Tossed the bun, and didn't even miss it. Brunch had been another beef taco (leftovers from last night), so nutritionally I might have failed today except I ate tons of crunchy celerey with almond butter late afternoon. Short-changed my leafy greens today, but most days I load up.

 

Sunday

 

Monday

 

Tuesday

Wednesday

 

Tonight

 

 

Yes, this is my breakfast today.

 

Because yesterday was a bad day. Gluten-free, but not fat-free. By a long-shot.

 

Ah-hem...

 

Started off well, stayed good. Nose-dive at dinner.

 

Dinner Menu:

Prime (read well-marbled with fat) rib steaks (from Peoria Meat Packing in Chicago)

Mirai sweet corn (buttered)

Mashed potatoes (w. butter)

 

Somehow dinner all-but kicked butt on the roast chicken, Havarti cheese (small amount), and pickled beets that comprised my first two meals of the day.

 

Repentance. Remorse. Tastes pretty good, served cold.

 

 

 

This is Almost Easy

-source-

 

Ha! Eating GF is easy if you shop often and appropriately; have the time/take the time to cook at home.

Amazingly, there were many menus in Door County with clearly -marked GF options. Adaptations of regular items, etc.

At home, I just have to be on my toes. All the time. At least until it all become automatic.

Eating lunch with good friends at Eataly Chicago yesterday involved GF pasta. Just as chewey as the GF pasta I tried at home, but otherwise good. At home, we had a late dinner--angel hair pasta with marinara and sausage from Bari Foods on Grand Avenue. The sausage turned out to be Italian sausage meatballs with obvious bread crumbs, so I passed mine to CA. He declared them delicioso! Bari Food's Barese sausage is amazing, and similar Barese is available locally (for me) at Caputo's. That will be GF.

I did eat my marinara with the DeCecco angel hair pasta because it's made in Italy where wheat is wheat. No adverse effects, but I won't overuse this option. DeCecco is my all-time favorite pasta brand.

 

Mexican Chopped Salad

We loved their t.v. Program, their restaurant in Santa Monica, and this 1999 cookbook. This is our Mexican Bible.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finding favorie recipes that work well for GF diet is an unfolding pleasure. I adapted this one, only, by subtracting the corn (just because I had none) and substituting almonds for pine nuts (didn't want to take time to toast the frozen pinenuts). The viniagrette zips the flavor up several notches--tangy and fresh. The cumin rocks.

Oh, we grilled two chicken breasts, cut into strips, but didn't add until salad was dressed and divvied-out.

 

Results: superb.

 

Down Memory Lane

 

Years ago on our visits to Door County (our last trip was @1990), we ate most of our meals at The Cookery, in Fish Creek. So pleased that it's still going strong with the next generation in charge still locally sourcing much of their food, and baking all their own breads and desserts. The Cookery is now 2-story, with an upstairs wine bar (limited menu), including a GF version. We scored almost immediate seating upstairs. (It's a rainy night, so outside was iffy, and a 45-minute wait for downstairs, inside.)

A Wisconsin favorite: Smoked Whitefish Spread.

 

I enjoyed Steak Frites (2 Saturday dinners in a row, in 2 different states than my own) while CA had Scallops in a Pinot Grigio and Butter Sauce, with Polenta on the side. For a starter we shared the Whitefish Spread with cucumber slices for moi, and toasted bread rounds for CA. Wisconsin knows how to grow flavorful meat. Good food. Great only-in-Wisconsin Whitefish Spread.

I was miffed to find it seriously rainy, rather than the earlier spitting, when we exited the restaurant. Miffed because I had both a light-weight slicker and an umbrella... In the car.

Didn't stop us from running between a few shops before heading to the car, with a sidestep into The Door County Chocolate and Fudge House. Hey, fudge is GF. Not carb-free or calorie-free, though. And, Dippy's just a few doors down has bottled water in a cooler. Yes.

 

Results:

Road food takes planning. This was a totally spontaneous roadtrip. We were on the highway 1-1/2 hours after waking up and deciding to go. I packed a small cooler with iced tea, Jill's garden Cocktail Tomatoes, a Banana, both GF and Club Crackers, Aged White Cheddar and peanutbutter. Just what I could quickly assemble.

After an hour+ of drive-time, we had breakfast at Panera. I ordered a Cafe Sandwich--tuna with lettuce, tomato, and red onion. Just tossed the bread and ate the remainder with a fork. Very satisfying.

We had a bit of a late lunch in Egg Harbor at Galileo. CA had Pear-Gorgonzola Flatbread (pizza), while I managed GF with a Door County Salad (mixed greens, grilled chicken breast, candied pecans, dried cherries, a bit of a delicious (I think) aged goat cheese. All tarted up with a raspberry viniagrette dressing. Slow service, but adequately good food.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corn Dogs

Gluten-free Corn Dog Bites

 

A group of friends got together for a lovely birthday lunch--3 of us celebrated birthdays during this past week (23rd, 26th, 29th). So, I wasn't much hungry for dinner tonight. The reheated GF pizza was not a viable option and CA ate the leftover fritata. I was too lazy to get takeout, so eventually I put together a "recipe" of sorts.

 

 

Using the pancake recipe (1/3) on the King Arthur Flour (GF) pancake mix box, I added some organic white cornmeal and mixed up a thick dipping batter. After cutting the Trader Joe's GF hot dogs in thirds, I dipped them thoroughly and dropped them into some hot oil. I need to tweak the proportions of pancake mix/cornmeal a bit. This'll work for my occasional hotdog fix.

 

 

Dinner Tonight

 

Found a container of a glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com recipe for Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas in my freezer a couple of days ago,

Tonight I decide to use the filling to make taquitos. I hate to fry, but I figure these will reheat well so I can make enough to make the grease clean-up worthwhile.

A little more than halfway into this project, I decide to finish off the filling using the "good" white corn tortillas. For CA. For me, they unfortunately include wheat flour. But, I'm guessing that's why they taste so good. They are the best!

 

Results: O.K., except the organic white corn, gluten-free tortillas are just this side of indigestible. Or, at least that's the mouth-feel. CA tries both versions, and feels my pain. His are far better.

 

Front 4 are the tasty non-GF.

 

Suffering through with these.

 

Hands-down the best we've ever had.

 

Will make taquitos again. Next time spicier.

 

 

Chicken Curry Tonight

Oh yeah!

 

My Americanized version in process.

 

White raisins are the all-round best.

Curry paste and coconut milk added.

Secret ingredient.

Dinner in less than 30-minutes.

 

 

 

Pancakes for Dinner

 

-source-

 

Breakfast for dinner was a hit tonight. Very good tasting King Arthur Flour mix. We made 1/2 recipe and that was perfect for two, with some well-drained applewood smoked bacon.

Results: Pancakes were excellent, although texture was a bit mealy on the tongue. Outside of pancakes had excellent appearance and texture with a definite light crunch. Just get a good taste before chewing, and don't dwell on the texture.

 

 

Quick Mexican

 

Not certified Gluten-Free, but made with GF ingredients.
Good enough for me, and delicious.

These tamales are a long-time favorite from Trader Joe's. Pleased to see they still fit into my life. And, I already had some Quickie Enchilada Sauce from the Gluten-Free Goddess in my freezer.

 

Microwave for just 3 minutes.

 

I serve with rice, shredded Romaine lettuce, and sour cream. More than I can finish. One tamale isn't enough, two are too many. Need to make 4 for CA and I to enjoy as leftovers.