Friday Photos: the view from here

Still on a high from chatting with a writer from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel this morning. We talked all things gluten-free, which as you know, I could talk about all day. It was refreshing to speak with someone from the media who truly understands celiac disease. (Her daughter was diagnosed years ago and now lives in NYC, but feels Milwaukee is one gluten-free friendly place to be.) Agreed.

I’ll keep you guys in the loop — when it will run in the paper, what recipes we choose to share, which apron I’ll wear for the photos, etc.

Speaking of highs… we had the best time last night at Cafe Manna for our GF Get Together event.

Between appetizers and the meal, we put our creative sides to work making valentines for our friend Marty (his mom owns Molly’s Gluten Free Bakery) who just got a new heart — we’re all rooting for him and happy to hear he’s doing so well recovering.

Allison gave us a demo on her braille writer. Her valentine was the best one, hands down. You can check out her blog here, for all of her adventures with Gilbert, her best buddy. (And while I was searching around to link to her blog, I found this AMAZING video of her singing her buddy Gilbert to sleep.) Absolutely beautiful.

But we didn’t stop with photos, we thought a video was in order.

For the record, Julie was very willing to order this appetizer with me, even though she isn’t a huge beet fan, she keeps an open mind. And although she didn’t dig into these wraps like I did — I loved them — she did end up eating the “wraps” after I ate the beets out of them, saying that, “I do like a little beet flavor.” Ha!  Stay tuned for more “Julie Reviews” in the future!

Mark came home with a new yogurt for me — anyone tried Siggi’s?

Very few ingredients.

All about recycling. 

Certified gluten-free. Gold star for the husband! 

These happened this week too. Grandma G’s Monster Cookies — flourless, easy-peasy. Make them soon. 

We wrapped up #31daysofcelebration and started #28daysoflove — join in over on Instagram, (you can find me as: celiacinthecity) or feel free to post the pics to Facebook too. Just use the hashtag #28daysoflove to see them all.

That’s it from over here — tell me the best part of your week. Are you baking, cooking, dancing in the kitchen? Or just snuggled up on the couch avoiding these temps?

Have a JOYful weekend!

xoxo ~ Sarah

#glutenfreeinMKE

Some of the top searches that bring people to this site are:

• gluten free in Milwaukee
• gluten free restaurants in Milwaukee
• gluten free menu in Milwaukee
• where to eat gluten free in Milwaukee
• gluten free pizza in Milwaukee

You get the picture — and luckily, Milwaukee is full of gluten-free options.

There’s a whole list of places to dine out in and around Milwaukee HERE, or by clicking on the “Dining Out” tab on the homepage.

 

Every month, for the past (almost) THREE years, I have hosted a Gluten-Free Get Together dinner, and there have been very few times we have repeated restaurants.

The exceptions:

• Transfer — THE best gluten-free pizza in Milwaukee. Hands down. Ask for Danielle. She is THE best server. Hands down. They host us every year after our Team Gluten-Free 5k in May and for our holiday party with cookie exchange in December. 

• Cocina DeLeon – You can get take and bake enchiladas, and if you join us, you can experience an after-hours private party, thanks to the lovely Linda. She turns the store into a “restaurant” for us each year for a fiesta you won’t forget. They are hosting our 3rd Anniversary Celebration (GFGT3) in February.

Although the husband and I would prefer sipping Old Fashioneds and dancing around our own kitchen, we do get out and about in Milwaukee for food fun too. And I want to share more of those experiences with you.

Plus, I really want my hashtag to take off — do me a favor? When you post pictures to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or anywhere else, add on #glutenfreeinMKE. Spread the good word and support those businesses that feed us well. (hopefully they’ll start using it too, when they post)

This might mean a full out restaurant review like when we went to Rumpus Room, or maybe it will be short and sweet.

Something like…

Check out the sushi at Whole Foods in Milwaukee. Bring it home, whip up some sriracha mayo, and dig in!

Did you know you can get a cake like THIS from Molly’s Gluten Free bakery?  Please tell me you’ve had the chicken salad at Cocina DeLeon!?!

Really, it’s the best gluten-free pizza in Milwaukee — get.to.Transfer.

Odd Duck is lovely. They have gluten-free options. And a patio to boot. (now if it had just stayed light long enough to get photos of the food) Need a java jolt? Head to Roast on Maryland, near UWM. Tell Brice I sent you! 

Simply sharing the gluten-free goodness. More photos. (2013 list — check!) Posting the one photo I snapped at dinner before the lights went down. A new place to find frozen yogurt. My hangouts. Places we should meet up for pizza and a beer. (Transfer. Seriously.)

xoxo

Sarah #glutenfreeinMKE

*Please remember — it goes without saying, but ANY time you are at a restaurant, ask questions, then ask them again the next time. Be your own advocate. Educate (kindly) servers and staff with a smile. Menus change, management turns over — these are places I have been lucky to eat safely at, but re-check things every.single.time.

 

Friday Photos: the view from here

Where did this week go? (seriously, if someone could explain, please do.)

Wasn’t I just talking about being on a road trip to Minnesota?

It was our “Joy in January” party, which I think is going to become a tradition with my family — my sister (supermama of the year) was the hostess with the mostess the whole weekend. Check out my JOY pancakes, does she know me or what? 

From the morning yogurt bar with “granilla,” as Chef Carter calls it, to homemade pizzas for dinner, there was gluten-free goodness all around. I cannot tell you how relaxing it is to be away for the weekend and not have to bring ANY of my own food. (other than a plate of cookies, including my 3rd place Snowflakes, which my sister tried and said, “mmm…it’s like a brownie AND a cookie.”)  

Not worrying about food leaves all kinds of time for funny stache photos, and a few of the photos that have become routine. (aren’t the peanuts bubbas so big?) 

Have you seen the new Van’s items? My sister scored some recently and they are fans of the products — those crackers are good! 

Carter’s school now has a gluten-free lunch menu! This is a very big deal in his book. The cool part? Many of the items they serve him are purchased at a local natural food store. He’s thrilled to be able to eat at school whenever he wants. Score one for team gluten-free!

Last night, after a long day at an interpreting workshop, I stayed in Madison to dine at Bunky’s Cafe with my dear friend PK. It’s at the top of my list for places to eat gluten-free in Madison — I highly recommend it if you’re in the area. Almost everything on their menu can be made gluten-free, including: pastas, lasagna, pizza, falafel, and DESSERT!   

We went all out. (and then vowed to hit up the gym ASAP) So, so worth it.

And then there’s a Friday night at home, with the husband in Orlando (didn’t he pick the perfect week to get out of this cold?) and me not wanting to cook — so it was cereal for dinner. It’s real life. It happens. And it hit the spot.

Did the rest of you get this cold front? Brrrrrrr! The chilly evenings lent themselves to hot tea and cozy slippers — the heat pad came out too! 

Cold winter nights = cooking & crafts. 

I started Project Life this month and am loving it — as you may have read, the 2013 List includes taking and actually printing more photos, so this project is perfect for me. Keeps my mind and hands busy.

Have a JOYful week!

{Friday Photos: the view from here}

We’re midway through our road trip to Minnesota, for “Christmas Joy in January” with my family.

This week…..

I’ve been playing around with my cinnamon bread recipe — made it into muffins, added some glaze, packed ‘em up for the weekend.

(Don’t worry, I’ll share it after some tweaking.)

Speaking of sharing… the husband shared his sorbet. Peach Ginger will make your taste buds dance.

THE news of the week: my Snowflakes took 3rd pace in the Gluten Free Cookie Swap!

Take a look at those prizes…so very lucky! There will be much more to come on all this as the sweet prizes start showing up.

But for now, it’s time to go…. Minnesota, here we come!

Coffee. Stat.

Have a JOYful weekend!

friday photos: flashbacks from the phone.

While Friday Photos were on hiatus, pictures were piling up on the phone.

And then I caught up with technology with a new iPhone… causing more of a stock pile.

So this week I’m emptying photos from the old phone and a few newbies — then we’ll be good to go.

 

We checked out Wolf Peach (used to be Roots) for my birthday. Interesting menu. More small plates style. GF pizza was the star of the show. (they baked it on a separate pan for us) One downfall? The lights went down shortly after taking this picture — I’ll have to go back to capture the food.

 

North Avenue Grill got tater tots. And a liquor license. Yeah, buddy!

 

I’ve been working on an Italian Chili recipe — inspired by my nephew’s favorite, Johnny Carino’s. Maybe you’d like the recipe?

 

My mother-in-law made me some gluten-free butterhorns. OMG.

I thought they were perfect. She wasn’t completely satisfied. We’re still working on them. (they were pretty perfect — that pan didn’t last long)

 

I’ve tried lamb about five times and never really liked it. The husband decided to buy a whole lamb and put it in the freezer, so I’m going to keep trying to like it. His Sunday afternoon burger bar was a pretty good start.

So I’ve had lamb six times. And this time I liked it.

 

After the Packer game in December, we ended up at Graystone Ale House — the husband says it’s THE best GF pizza we’ve had.

A little deluxe. A little buffalo chicken — yes, on a pizza. My dream come true. (normally you can order things from the dedicated fryer (!!!) but unfortunately it wasn’t up and running for us that night, so I “settled for” a pizza)

Last weekend I made it to the Milwaukee Winter Farmers’ Market for the first time this season — scored some goods for breakfast.

 

Paired with a cafe au lait from Roast, just around the corner. Perfection.

 

Have a joyful weekend!

 

 

 

{Easy Artichoke Dip}

 

There’s a big game happening tonight, folks — Packers vs Vikings — and the smack talk has already started with my celiac sista. (poor thing is a Vikings fan)

Whether you’re headed to a Packer party or just putting together a spread at home, here’s a quick appetizer you can put together right now and be eating in less than 30 minutes.

F’real.

Easy Artichoke Dip

1 can artichoke hearts, chopped
1 small can green chiles
1 cup mayo
1 cup shredded parmesan cheese

Combine all the ingredients in an oven safe baking dish, a 9 x 9 Pyrex works perfect, or double it and make it in the 9 x 13. Bake at 350 degrees until bubbly and golden brown on top, about 20 minutes.

Serve with tortilla chips, and if you’re feeling fancy, top with a little goat cheese, scallions, and a squirt of fresh lemon juice. CROWD PLEASER, I promise!

Let the text war begin…. GO PACK GO!

{Friday Photos…. are back!}

It’s 2013.

There’s a new list for the new year.

It’s Friday.

I missed the photos. (and it’s on the list to take more, print more, say cheese more) Plus my work schedule will exclude Fridays this semester — long Monday through Thursday, but then a day for me to take pictures, tell you stories, bake you treats.

So in true “Sarah style,” I give you a mismatched run down of what’s been happening around here.

Movement is on the list too — of any kind, just.get.moving. (at least 3 times/week)

Cozy nights up north.

Mastering White Russians for the fam. (Check out my dairy free version here – not dairy free? Use half & half.)

Another fondue night at the farm. Read more about family farm nights (with recipes!) here, here, (little Q turns FIVE this month, yes five!) or here. And if that isn’t enough, read this.

Let’s hope tomorrow night’s game turns out just like this one — GO PACK GO!

Cheeses and pickles and crackers, oh my! (with Crispin cider, of course)

New honey pot that makes me smile.

Staple on my breakfast menu: poached egg, hummus, toast. (avocado is also a great pair) And plenty of hot coffee.

That’s the story in my neck of the woods — what’s happening with YOU? Did you make a list for 2013 too? If you’re on Instagram, join us for this month’s photo fun, I started in November with gratitude, joy in December and now…. #31daysofcelebration… here’s a sneak peek of my daily celebrations thus far. (and what’s to come — join us!)

*newness*

*sparkle*

*seize the day*

*my word for 2013*

Happy New Year!