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. 🙂
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)
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!)
They went on for about a year, and then because my work schedule changed, and I started dreading doing the posts, I put them to rest for a while. (not that long ago)
Maybe because my phone is full of photos, or maybe because I secretly liked the structured schedule of it, I’m missing those posts already.
You too?
So I thought I’d bust out a post today. Which happens to be Friday. Â With photos. Just because.
And maybe I’ll make a thing of it.
A weekly post with photos, but it won’t have to be on Fridays. Maybe a “weekend round-up” of sorts. Just me. In real life, a week in review. (and sometimes other confessions)
Confessions like…
I sometimes over analyze posts for so long that I don’t end up posting them. After I attended that blogger conference in the spring, I started to worry that what I was writing wasn’t good enough. After hearing things like: “be good at one thing, not a bunch of different things,” and “you should be testing your recipes at least 10 times before you post them.” I freaked out a little. Mostly because I am all over the place with cooking and baking — and that’s what I LOVE about being in the kitchen.
It took me until today to write that.
I will sometimes use butter, sugar, and white flours. There are plenty of blogs out there that are good at just one thing — and that’s just lovely, but this blog is just real life and in real life I sometimes eat those things.
Other times I will go all paleo on ya! That is the beauty of having a blog — to share all of the different recipes, cookbooks, websites, stories that make the world go round!
I don’t test my recipes 10 times before posting them. Let’s get real life — that would mean there would only be like one post a year! And what fun would that be? That doesn’t mean I haven’t made some of them at least 10 times since then. 🙂  I share with you what has worked for me, in our kitchen, not as chefs (although my husband really should be one!) but as people who love food and get joy out of spending time in the kitchen together.
It’s my THREE year blogaversary tomorrow — yep, October 20, 2009 was my first blog post!Â
So there you have it. That’s me this week.
Now let’s get to those photos…
Hello, Honeycrisps. ‘Tis the season of apples, and I am taking full advantage by having an apple a day.
I whipped up an all-purpose flour mix, so I can spend more time baking and less time measuring and weighing — will keep you posted how it does on the baking front.
Who wants a chicken corn tortilla soup recipe? Raise your hand high.
I’ve been eating plenty of eggs lately. I’m feeling uninspired in the breakfast category — what are you eating? Share with me. Help make my mornings easier.
So there’s Crispin in a box. Which you probably already know. (since I talk about Crispin on FB from time to time) 🙂
But did you know that there’s also Fox Barrel in a box? Of the pomegranate pear variety. (which reminds me of grown up fruit punch and I am loving it!) AND Crispin now comes in cans. Yep. You heard it here first. (and Milwaukee is one of the test markets — watch for it in the very near future.)
I met up with some GFGFs (gluten-free girl friends) at Zaffiro’s in Mequon. For research, of course. They are willing to put your pizza on a pan, instead of directly on the oven surface and they will do fresh cut ingredients for you too — just call ahead and let them know you’re coming. I had them run mine through for a few more minutes, to get some color on that cheese — so worth it, and I’ll be going back!
Football food: Italian beef from the slow cooker topped with cheese and peppers — all on Goodbye Gluten bread and a side of butternut squash.
Leftovers: Italian Beef Nachos! Leftovers rule.
Know what else rules? ALL of YOU.
Thank you for joining me in this (sometimes) crazy ride — this blog has led me to new opportunities, introduced me to new friends, and allowed me to share my daily randomness with the world. I appreciate each and every one of you.
Welcome to Friday Photos, a weekly feature here on Celiac in the City — you can read how it all started by clicking HERE.
Summer is coming to an end.
On Monday I head back to my “regular” job at UWM as a sign language interpreter — a job that I still love, going into my ninth year of it. (how many people can say that?)
But I can’t say I’m loving the idea of my summer ending. Not yet anyway.
So I’ve spent the last couple of weeks soaking up my final days of freedom. Getting in as many play dates as possible, staying up too late trying to finish another book, and plenty of mini-celebrations. Just because.
Because there’s nothing like a night of pizza and beer with your GFGFs. (gluten-free girlfriends)
The staff at Transfer is always on their game — they go out of their way to make you feel at home.
The last time we hung out at Transfer for a reunion, we had the pleasure of having Danielle for our server. She’s a peach. We didn’t get her this time, (Mary was lovely) but she stopped over to say hello. And she’s always up for a sweet, gluten-free treat.
Those treats were thanks to a little goodie box I received from my friends at Attune Foods. (A sampling of their cereals that I’ll be telling you about soon.)
She’s all about celebrating too, so she came up with some candles to make it a true celebration. *HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMY*
Speaking of celebrations — our dear friends got married a few weeks ago, and guess who made their cupcakes?
Molly’s Gluten-Free Bakery, of course. Get this… their RSVP cards had an option to select a gluten-free meal. (the meal was pretty plain, but was SO very grateful to have safe food… and no complaints when there are cupcakes for dessert!)
(a good pair with grilled tilapia and garlic bread on Schar’s baguettes)
Celebrating sweet tastes of summer.
Wisco peaches. Yeah, buddy!
Simple celebration with my soul sister. A night of walking, talking, and good greens.
Celebrating in the kitchen — where I’ve spent most mornings this week — cleaning out the pantry and freezer.
Want a few things to make in your kitchen this week?
How about beets for breakfast?
Beet Potato Hash
2 cups beets, peeled and cubed
2 cups potatoes, cubed
1 medium onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1-2 tablespoons oil and/or butter – (I used both)
Heat oil/butter in pan to medium-high heat. Start by adding beets to the pan and cook, stirring occasionally for about 5 minutes. Then add the potatoes and season with salt and pepper. Allow these two ingredients to hang out for about 10 minutes, then add onions and garlic. (you may want to add a bit more oil/butter if needed — and if you’re really feeling fancy, add a lot more butter for some rich flavor) Cover and continuing stirring from time to time, cooking until your desired tenderness. I didn’t want mine mushy, so I took them off the heat after 30 minutes, but you feel free to cook until you’re happy with them.
A poached egg makes the perfect topper.
Or a lazy lunch?
Sometimes a salad just needs something extra — like croutons!
Don’t bother buying them when you can make them yourself in no time. I even used fresh bread. (it was all that I had… bread ends work well too, you can see that recipe here)
But if you’re starting with fresh bread, just cube it up and toast it at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes, or until golden.
Toss with olive oil, salt & pepper, and fresh herbs of your choice.
Then spread them back out on the baking sheet and return to the 350 degree oven for another 10 minutes.
Top your salad and you’re off!
And in case you need a snack later — and because our balcony basil is loving this weather — who wants popcorn?
Cheesy Basil Popcorn
1/4 cup popcorn kernels
splash of oil
Penzey’s brady street cheese sprinkle (as many shakes as you’re feeling)
salt & pepperÂ
Add oil to medium pot and heat over high heat. Add 1-2 “tester” kernels to the pot and cover with the lid. As soon as the test kernels pop, start shaking the pot over the burner (you can do this right over the burner, or elevate it off the burner an inch or two) keeping it in motion to prevent burning. Yes, you can count this as cardio.
Continue shaking until kernels have stopped popping, then remove from heat and transfer to a bowl. While popcorn is still hot, shake on the Brady Street cheese blend and salt and pepper. Top with fresh basil and server along side your favorite gluten-free beer.
Cheers!
How are you celebrating your final days of summer? Stop back and check out what I whip up with all this fabulous produce from Growing Power today.
Welcome to Friday Photos, a weekly feature here on Celiac in the City — you can read how it all started by clicking HERE.
Gooooooooood morning!
I have about 13 minutes before one of these two cutie pies comes into the kitchen and says, “I’m hungwee” or “Where are we going today?”
So I’ll type as fast as I possibly can and then I’ll catch up with you guys when I have a few more minutes to breathe.
I’ll preface the photos by saying we have had THE best week together — I sometimes look at them and feel like there is no possible way I could love them any more than I do at that moment… and then they say something funny, shoot me a smile from across the room at Discovery World, or snuggle up during movie night, and I know my heart can expand even more.
I can’t wait to be a mama someday.
I’ll also say it has been a special week for them — filled with more treats than we’re used to, (we had pizza three times — what the what!?) trying foods they didn’t think they’d like, (mmm… dates ARE good in cookies and make-you-own Larabars) and staying up waaaaaay past bedtime for a good campfire s’more. (sorry, mom)
Okay, we’re down to 11 minutes, so here it is, our week in photos. (and food)
We learned the flip. We picnicked. We introduced Chef Carter to Jungle Jim’s (gluten-free style) up north — and then we had ice cream on the way home. 🙂
North Ave Grill rocked our gluten-free world. They closed down the place Tuesday night for our GF Get Together dinner — rave reviews from everyone, including Tayden telling them that they had THE best gluten-free buns he’s ever tasted (they’re from Molly’s GF Bakery) and Carter chiming in with, “you have GOT to try this (burger) you would never believe it is gluten-free!”
Pizza at The Bar in Wausau, on the way to the cottage. Pizza at Pizzeria Piccola, with their bread knots — Carter is still talking about them. And pizza at VIA. (and a beer for Auntie Sarah) Oh, and there was plenty of fruit this week, don’t worry, we just don’t take as many pictures of that. 😉
We’ve also been eating like dinosaurs this week thanks to Paleo Parents’ book, Eat Like a Dinosaur — more photos to come, but I’ll leave you with our late night baking adventure from last night… chocolate chip cookies. (I had to hide them in the freezer to keep little hands out)
Like I said on Facebook, don’t wait for my review — the bottom line is, this book is worth clicking over and buying right now. Seriously. The boys have absolutely loved it… the photos of each recipe, the easy to follow ingredients, the tasty treats they made, all of it!
We’re off on another road trip today — sadly our week has come to an end and we’re taking the boys back to MN this weekend. And then it’s off to Denver for me next week, flying straight out from MN to CO… and sister Laura already has a new GF place she wants to try out!
Before I go, I have to give a shout out to ALL the mamas out there — I honestly have no idea how you do it… those mamas that stay at home (which in my opinion is more than a full time job) or the ones who juggle work and time with your little ones, I have nothing but respect for you. I learned this week that planning is key — you can’t just wing it for lunch or dinner when you have kids, you need to have something planned and the groceries purchased BEFORE there is a hungry kiddo.
Live and learn.
Do you cook with your kiddos? Or is the kitchen off limits? How do you get your kids interested in trying new foods — and are you a fibber when it comes to the actual ingredients in a recipe? My little Chef Carter wants nothing to do with spices or little pieces of anything in his food… yesterday I fibbed and told him that the pieces of peach skin in his banana-peach smoothie were really pieces of apple skin (because he “doesn’t like” peaches) and he loved the smoothie. Tell me you do this too.
Welcome to Friday Photos, a weekly feature here on Celiac in the City — you can read how it all started by clicking HERE.
Hello, Friday.
This was taken on the way to La Crosse today — to meet up with my sister, mamasita and ALL the boys.
My two best buddies are coming to stay with us ALL week.
They already want to: make ice cream, go to the Betty Brinn museum, go swimming, bake cookies, go to Discovery World, visit Mark’s parents, (they have dogs and a big yard) go to the lake, and play tag.
Welcome to Friday Photos, a weekly feature here on Celiac in the City — you can read how it all started by clicking HERE.
When the temperature soared in to the 100s last week, most of you were out on the lake, keeping cool in the pool, or camped out in the A/C with Netflix.
But not this girl. No, I was out on an adventure. (a very hot one)
On the back of the bike.
Very hot is actually putting it mildly — by Friday midday, we were having to pull over for a/c relief and ice water every half hour. (and even then the half hour spurts were too much to handle)
But we made the best of it, and as usual, when traveling with our friend Has, we scored on the gluten-free finds — and in some pretty random places.
Maybe because it was over 100 degrees in Milwaukee today — yes, you read that right.
It’s summertime!
But we just keep on keepin’ on — even if walking out the front door (from the nice, cool a/c) takes your breath away.
We take our cooking outside so we don’t have to heat up the kitchen any more than it already is.
Carrots from the family garden (and beets too) with Wisconsin raised beef from right down the road — summer!
Speaking of the garden… it could REALLY use some rain. Pretty please?
When watering, you have to be careful of little friends.
What else did we do this week?
We finally had a date night!
We caught up with one of our favorites, Robert Randolph and the Family Band and stayed cool by filling up on New Grist. On tap. (that NEVER happens!) I kept saying, “are you SURE this is the New Grist?” because it tasted so good! Light, refreshing. Beer.
We started the holiday celebrating on the 3rd. The way it should be. 🙂
And we kept the celebration going on the 4th with plenty of pool time.
(love every minute we get with the nieces and nephews — this little guy is FEARLESS!)
The party was at my sister-in-law’s again this year… both her husband and daughter are on “Team GF” with me, so there is never a worry with food. Such a relief to show up to a party and be able to eat EVERYTHING on the table!
All of my no-bake treats were a hit — with the kiddos and the adults.
4-5 gluten-free “graham” crackers, crushed (I used S’morables)
20-25 fresh strawberries
Wash and cut the tops off of the strawberries. Using a small paring knife, core each berry then rest upside down on a paper towel to absorb any extra liquid — you want the strawberries to be nice and dry so they don’t get messy and drip when you are trying to fill with the cream cheese mixture and dip into the crumbs.
Using hand or stand mixer, beat together the cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla, on medium speed. When nice and smooth, scoop mixture into small baggie and cut off a corner of the baggie to fill the strawberries. After they are filled to the brim, sprinkle with graham cracker crumbs, or go right ahead and just dip them into the crumbs.
Serve immediately and prepare for mucho compliments.
 The dipped marshmallow pops were the easiest treat that ended with all kinds of smiles. Just dip them in melted chocolate and add sprinkles. (I dipped my sticks in chocolate before putting them into the marshmallows to help them stay on the stick) Make them for any occasion, just change the sprinkles color.
And spruce up your rice krispie treats with cookie cutters. And sprinkles. Everyone likes sprinkles.
Sprinkles and head tilting laughs.
We’ve also been taking advantage of the long summer days and getting out on the bike as much as possible.
Last weekend we took a ride out to Big Cedar lake and had lunch with some of our best buds.
Learning to drink from a straw is an important skill. They both nailed it.
They don’t have a specific GF menu, but the owner’s son eats gluten-free, so they are knowledgeable. (and they have Crispin, yeah buddy!)
We’re keeping the momentum going and doing a whole weekend on the bike — a little trek  down into Illinois and Iowa. If we can keep cool, we’ll be good to go. (sending chilly vibes)
This is all I’m packing for food.
 I’m pretty confident we can make the rest happen. We have really good luck with the friends we are traveling with — and they always let us pick where to eat, they’re cool like that. When our buddy Has sent out the itinerary and map, he had already scoped out a place in Galena, called One Eleven Main, that has a GF menu and is all about the local food scene. I’ll be in good hands.
While I was packing snacks, I couldn’t help but put these two together — you should too!
 Anyone else riding Harleys this weekend? Keep cool, whatever it is you decide to do. Catch up with you all on Monday — have a lovely weekend!
Simple joys — breakfast with family. (and my mama sending me home with my Strawberry Shortcake silverware set… that the nephews were arguing over who “had to use the girly ones”)
You’re going to want the recipe, I promise you will, so here it is. I converted it to gluten-free by simply substituting a cup of Cup4Cup flour mix. (no one, and I mean no one, will know the difference)
Speaking of celebrating — why don’t you join us for the next GF Get Together event happening next week at Cafe Hollander? (see the invite here)
Celebrating family time. (which is why this post is semi-random and pieced together… I’m home in Minnesota with my fam, staying up until my eyes beg for surrender and taking advantage of every daylight hour to be outside, in the fresh air, with my best buddies)
And their little brothers. (my peanuts)
mama & daddy’s first night out — auntie Sarah survived!
I FINALLY wore them out.
We’re a food family though, so although we’d rather be outside playing, we take time for good grub.
mamasita’s mac & cheese
We celebrate the little things — like getting the table set for a lunch party, using grandma’s “special” wine glasses to sip soda out of, and dancing around in the kitchen. Just because.
And it doesn’t have to be anything gourmet. Kids are happy just getting to the table with you, having helped prepare the meal — they get excited about the little things. I’m telling ya. Celebrate it.
they LOVE anything they can serve up themselves… small dishes = happy kiddos
*note: although they have a gluten-free menu, there seemed to be some confusion on some of the GF menu items (the same thing happened in the twin cities) so be sure to double check everything before ordering.*
Celebrating solo.
pit stop picnic on the way to Minnesota — Riverside Park ~ La Crosse, WI
Celebrating South Dakota’s gluten-free friendliness with a stock up on beverages.
How funny is that sign? Not only does Hy-vee stock my favorite gluten-free beer, but they are encouraging you to celebrate too. (started this post yesterday, saw the sign today — confirmed the need for more celebrating in life)
So take note… grab your friends and family, some good food, and then celebrate.
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) 😉
Celiac in the City 