Thanksgiving and more pizza!!!

So of course this being my first Gluten Free Thanksgiving I was excited to see how well things could be adapted.   First we had two different stuffing's, as I wasn't sure how mine would turn out, I had mom make hers for the rest of the folks in case mine bombed.   But luckily, my stuffing creation was actually yummy.   I made the Three Bakers Herb Seasoned Stuffing (http://www.celiac.com/glutenfreemall/three-bakers-herb-seasoned-whole-grain-glutenfree-stuffing-cubes-p-1853.html), which I had made once before on the stove top, and it kinda disintegrated, but did it this time in the oven and for much longer then suggested to get a nice crisped edged yet tender centered stuffing.   Then I took a loaf of gluten free bread and cubed it, let it air out all day and then did our traditional stuffing preparations with it and baked it.   I then mixed the two stuffings together.  Not a bad combo!   For the gravy I used potato flour to thicken it and it was spot on.   I asked my mother to use the Gluten Free Graham Cracker Crumbs (http://www.glutenfreepalace.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=KN4495&cse=googleproductsearch&utm_source=google_product_search&utm_medium=CSEs&utm_campaign=Kinnikinnick%20Gluten%20Free%20Graham%20Style%20Crumbs&gclid=CKSUopHu8rMCFdKd4Aod4U0AlQ)  she had found for me and make the pumpkin pie.  It was delicious!  One of the best I have ever had!  It was a nice time, as my parents, brother, Ken, and two of my uncles were here.   I wish we had a bigger place, I would invite more family to these events!  
We always split Thanksgiving between the morning with my family then up to Ken's for the rest of the day/weekend.   With his birthday at the end of the month we always have a birthday dinner up there and a nice time visiting.  We made it up there in time for dinner and more turkey and good stuff!  
Now, I had a goal to make it to Sabatini's (http://www.sabatinis.com/)   to try their gluten free pizza.  The crust was decent, but what won me over was they proper use of sauce! and their yummy cheese/sauce combo.  So many place skimp on the sauce on the gluten free pizza's (sorry Grotto, this is you I am talking about).  I would sooo get that again, and it took all I had not to eat the whole dang thing.   \
Next time we are up I hope to get more and to hit the Gluten Free Pantry and get some of their goodies!

Evan Williams Alcohol

I contacted them to ask about their gluten free products and here is what I got :

Thank you for contacting Heaven Hill Distilleries and for your inquiry regarding our gluten-free products.

I have attached a list of our products, including Evan Williams Apple Orchard, that are gluten-free. Some of these products constituent ingredients include corn, barley, rye or wheat, but are, in fact, gluten-free. The distillation of the constituent ingredients eliminates many of the elements which affect those with gluten intolerance. However, it is important to consult a health care professional to gauge your sensitivity.

As a family owned, independent company, Heaven Hill Distilleries takes inquiries from our customers very seriously and hope that our prompt response is evidence of this. Thank you and if I can be of further assistance, please let me know.

Slowly getting caught up

I think I have fallen a little behind here. Ok, before I left for vacation I tried some new marinades from San-J and they were delicious! The Peanut sauce and the Orange sauce were both delightful. I cut up the chicken, put it in a bag with a generous helping of the marinade and let it in there for about a half hour. Then I laid the chicken on a wire rack on top of a cookie sheet and baked them at 450 till they looked done, flipping every 10 minutes. They were delicious! http://www.san-j.com/product_info.asp?id=27 I would highly recommend them.

On our way back from our Massachusetts trip we stopped in Wilkes Barre to visit with Ken's family and stopped by Sabatini's to get a T-shirt for my cousin's husband, and found out they now carry gluten free pizza! Score! And he directed us to a new gluten free store, it's a tiny one, but I got some goodies there!
http://www.sabatinis.com/ now the gluten free store he sent us too is small. Like, small. But it was packed with a lot of stuff I haven't seen elsewhere so I am happy. They don't have a website or any over the phones sales as they are a cash and carry kind of place. But I do plan to stop up on our next visit over Thanksgiving.

Such a slacker!

With vacation, me being sick, Ken being sick, dad falling and having to go to the ER, work and a few other incidents, I have fallen way behind on my posts!  I will have to sit down and organize myself a bit, but I will say I have continued to find new and delicious gluten free restaurants and food!   

I also stumbled across a gluten free discount card.  It cost $10 and has some discounts for a few places, so I figured, why not!  It arrived this week and I am anxious to give it a try.  They have two separate ones, one for Dauphin county and one for Cumberland.  I bought both since I live in one and work in the other.

http://www.glutenfreebeescard.com/

I finally decided to try something else off the gluten free menu at Piazza Sorrento, as I figured, if they are nice enough to have such a full menu, I should give more than pizza a try.  I had their chicken Marsala over risotto.  It was delicious!   So glad I gave it a shot.   

In Massachusetts, many places were able to accommodate me, and I appreciate the efforts they made.   We hit Guiseppe's Ristorante and Piano Bar, and they had a wonderful gluten free pizza and just a nice atmosphere.  I would so love to go back there.   http://www.giuseppesma.com/

I recently purchased Three Bakers gluten free stuffing and am looking forward to seeing how it tastes.  My hope is that it is close to Stove Tops.  That, would be awesome.   

That is about all for now, until I sit down and organize the things I have been accumulating to add.

frozen pizzas and pizza puffs

I tried two new gluten free pizza's I ordered from the gluten free mall.  Udi's and Contes Margherita pizzas.   Now I LOVE Udi's breads, so I was certain I would love their pizza.  I didn't.  It really didn't have much flavor, which was a let down.   I may give their pepperoni pizza a try, as sometimes, that's enough to spice up a bland pizza.   The Contes was good.  I might still add a little extra flavor to it, but overall, a good frozen pizza.  Nice crust, lots of toppings, and it smelled and looked like a real pizza.  

I did try a new pinterest recipee out last week, for pizza puffs.  It wasn't bad.  I would make it again.   I think though, that I need to find a better pepperoni to put in it, as mine was a little extra greasy.  I know pepperoni is greasy, but this had a little extra which can hurt the tummy.

Pepperoni Pizza Puffs

• 3/4 cup flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 3/4 cup whole milk
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup cubed pepperoni
• 1/2 cup store-bought pizza sauce

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 24-cup mini-muffin pan. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, Italian seasoning; whisk in the milk and egg. Stir in the mozzarella, Parmesan and pepperoni; let stand for 10 minutes.

2. Stir the batter and divide among the mini-muffin cups. Bake until puffed and golden, 20 to 25 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, microwave the pizza sauce until warmed through. Serve the puffs with the pizza sauce for dipping.

What's in my rice?

Even before the gluten sensitivity diagnosis, rice has been one of my favorite foods.   I especially love brown rice.  In the gluten free world, most everything that is bread or dough related has some sort of rice flour.   Which again, made me happy, as I am down with rice.

Then this week, we find out there are high arsenic levels in rice??? Or , shall I say, higher levels then are permitted in our drinking water.  All because this super yummy food is extra absorbent and sucks it right out of the soil and/or pesticides?

UGH.

Now they are suggesting maybe boiling 1 part of rice in 6 parts of water and drain off the water to dilute the issue.   Interesting.  To me, that seems like the levels are a bit of an issue then.  

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=161393708

Vacation and family

I haven't been feeling well the past week or so, so I haven't been trying or doing much. With that said, I did try a new gluten free ravioli from Conte and it was yummy. Ken said he wouldn't have known it, or the garlic bread I made with Udi's whole grain bread, were gluten free. SCORE! If I wouldn't have been so hungry, I would have taken pics. I also ordered and received some gluten free breadcrumbs recently, and look forward to giving those a shot! They were from Mozzarelli's http://www.mozzarellis.com/gluten-free-bread-crumbs.html. To meet their minimum order requirements I also ordered some frozen pizza dough's. I still have the Gnocchi from the gluten free mall to use, for the mac and cheese recipe from Pinterest with gnocchi's instead of macaroni noodles. Mmmmm, I love fall, or as Ken referred to it when I talked of Crockpot season, the fat season. So be it. :-)

We are going on vacation the first week of October with my family. I am excited to get back to Massachusetts, which we love, but haven't been able to get to in a long time. Also excited to try some of the gluten free places I have already found there. I will have my gluten flam pills with me, as, if Sugar Mags has their carrot cake pancakes I will be partaking! After the past couple of years, losing some relatives that really were some of my favorite people, family medical dramas and everything else that goes on in a day, it will be really nice to get away. And as my Mom says, we never really had family vacations growing up, so this will be good. Although it's 8 hrs in the car with my family. I think I owe Ken big for this one!

On the note of Grandpa's passing, his house goes up for sale next week. I am filled with deep sadness and relief over this. I hate to see it go, and that it really is the final part of it all, and while not everyone understands it, we still have that place to go to right now. It's still a part of him, that's tangible. Once it's sold, it's done. Even thinking about it makes my eyes well up. He built that house for his family. He raised his family there. Watched children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, run freely. Made wine there, holiday meals, memories. So many wonderful memories. Even all the family BS that has come about since his illness and subsequent passing can't make me forget the good memories. Some moments in time, are cherished more than any object can ever be. Even with all that, I am relieved that it’s close to no longer being a tie to the relatives that are so very caustic.