Tuesday To Do List: check these off!

Hello, hello!

Summer seems to lend itself to less blogging doesn’t it?

Don’t worry, I’m BACK!

So let’s start check, check, checking things off our list…

In the kitchen:

• It’s back to school for many families out there which means we don’t all have time to have a cookout feast outside every night after sports practices, dance lessons, and homework. This easy-to-throw-together enchilada casserole from Gluten Free Gigi sounds like the comfort food I crave!

• Don’t worry if it’s too hot where you live to turn on the oven quite yet — Johnna has you covered with this no-bake chocolate chip cheesecake. (it’s GF/DF/EF/vegan)

• If you still have zucchini to use up like me, Shirley has THE go-to list for that!

• I made these vegan chocolate chip cookies into gluten-free goodies just by substituting a gluten-free flour mix — they were a hit at our family reunion where we had seven celiacs and some who are also dairy and egg free.

 

Gluten Free in Milwaukee and Beyond — these places have come up recently as having good, gluten-free options. Have you been to any of these?

• D.A.A. Smokehouse in Mukwonago (on my own list to try!)

• La Reve in Tosa — one of the best meals I’ve had out at a restaurant in a very long time. (and there were macarons!)

prosciutto, manchego, pears, oranges, figs, and parsley vinaigrette

stuffed pheasant with manchego risotto and haricot verts

MACARONS!

• The Cheel, Thiensville.  I ate lunch there recently and had a great experience with food flavors I’ve never had before. (NOTE: they do have a shared fryer, so their talk of a gluten-free fish fry isn’t safe for us celiacs.)

• Tofte’s Table, Waukesha. My neighbor’s daughter was recently diagnosed with celiac and attended an opening party with great gluten-free success. (Located in the old Key Westconsin location) Open for regular hours starting TODAY!

• And stop by my DINING OUT page that has recently been updated to include more Milwaukee metro area locations, but also options across the state and country!

 

Travel on. I checked both Boston and DC off my travel bucket list this summer — not a single issue eating safely in either city. I actually had too many options to fit them all in! If you make it to either of these cities, try out:

• Legal Seafood (both DC & Boston locations) they have been leading the way in celiac safe food service for many years. separate fryer, all kinds of fried seafood goodness. fries and slaw. lobster rolls. you name it.

• Boston Public Market – fave find was an allergy friendly warm chocolate chip cookie from Jennifer Lee’s Allergen Free Bakery. (plenty of fresh produce, meats, and cheese too!)

• Pappa Razzi in Boston – THE most amazing Italian I’ve had since being gluten-free. Separate menu, knowledgeable server, manager delivered my food, highly recommend!

• Zaytina in DC – small plates of BIG flavor, inspired by Turkish, Greek and Lebanese cuisines, and creative craft cocktails.

• La Colombe in DC – get a “black & tan” latte

• Rise Bakery in DC – tasty treats, some a little crumbly, but a dedicated place that is 100% gluten-free and also has dairy free, egg free, soy free, nut free options. They had croissants, which I wanted so badly, but they used Bob’s Red Mill oat flour and I’m avoiding any and all oat products except those grown via a purity protocol that are truly gluten-free

• Olivia Macaron in DC – I’ll take macarons over other sweet treats ANY day. These did not disappoint.

• Plan B Burger Bar in DC – wow. just wow. burgers & fries. amazing!

• Oyamel Cocina Mexicana – came recommended by my girl Johnna as THE best margarita she had ever had, so this was for research, of course. 😉 plenty of options and one heck of a margarita.

 

That should keep you busy for at least a week. Until next time…

 

 

Tuesday To Do List — what to buy, spy, and try! (or sometimes cry about)

Tuesday To Do List is my newest attempt at bringing you tidbits from the gluten-free world each week. This will continue until my mind-that-doesn’t-rest comes up with another way to entertain you guys. Cross your fingers I am back here next Tuesday with another list…

 

TWO weeks in a row. *applause*

This week’s to-do list should keep you busy until next week. 😉

 

• Pretty please try this mustard from Mustard Girl.  I’m putting it on sandwiches, pretzels, and everything in between. Made in Wisconsin for bonus points!

• In the very near future you’re going to be able to buy gluten-free Cheerios. And things might get a little confusing — you see, they are using mainstream oats in these Cheerios, (not certified gluten-free oats that we’ve been told are the only ones safe to eat) using a mechanical sorting process. They have spent a great deal of money on this project and my fingers and toes are crossed that they come off the production line indeed testing safe for us to eat.There are many opinions on this matter, if you’re interested in learning more about gluten-free Cheerios, you can click on any of the links below. Take the time to do your research before deciding to buy.  (the picture below is from Instagram — she found them in Ohio)

• Gluten Dude talks GF Cheerios.
• April from Gluten is My Bitch weighs in.
• Gluten Free WatchDog is watching closely and will be testing them once they hit shelves — stay tuned for these results, that will be my big deciding factor.
• UPDATE 7/23/15: latest information from Gluten Free WatchDog — PLEASE READ before purchasing and stay tuned for her test results!CLICK HERE: https://www.glutenfreewatchdog.org/…/gluten-free-cheerios-…/

 

 

 

• I spy, with my little eye… RASPBERRIES! They are the “berry of the week” here at the Nielsen household. I would have to stop eating them every morning right off the bush if I actually wanted to make something with them. (I don’t see this happening.)

 

 

• If you haven’t already tried Canyon Bakehouse’s gluten-free deli rye style, add it to your grocery list now. THE best rye-style bread I’ve had.

 

• Want to try some new gluten-free dessert recipes? Add http://www. allglutenfreedesserts.com to your bookmarks. More gluten-free recipes than you’ll know what to do with!

 

• Think Mr. CITC will read this and buy me a subscription to Bon Appetit? The August issue cover has me drooling and dreaming of all things tomatoes! (just click the link and join me in tomato dreamland)

 

• Traveling this summer? Be sure you’re following Anna from Gluten-Free Jet Set for all things gluten-free travel. I check her site first after booking flights. She’s in the middle of producing some awesome gluten-free travel guides that you’ll want to buy. (I used many of her recommendations in Paris and London…can’t wait to see her NYC guide!)

 

• Every try making your own dairy-free coffee creamer? I had leftover canned coconut milk, so I decided it was the perfect time to match them up with some dates in the freezer and go for it.

 

GLUTEN-FREE, DAIRY-FREE COFFEE CREAMER

Puree 4-5 dates (remove pits) with ¼ cup hot water to form a sweet paste. Add half a can of coconut milk and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract. Feeling fancy? A few dashes of cinnamon. Blend for several minutes. Done.

I wanted mine super smooth so I poured the creamer from the blender through a very fine strainer into my bottle to store in the fridge. EnJOY!

 

• 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Somehow summer is slipping away fast… hope you are enJOYing it as much as we are!

xoxo

As much as I wish I were getting paid big bucks to add these links to my page, I’m not. They are not affiliate links. I’m just sharing to share. 

Post-Honeymoon recovery: a list of links for traveling gluten-free

We made it home safely, with plenty of tales to tell.

I’ll just be honest and say I’m still adjusting to reality. For some reason, I am having the worst time getting back into the swing of things.

So… I promise there will be more pictures with stories of our adventures on the beautiful island of Puerto Rico, but for today, how about a list of links?

TRAVELING GLUTEN-FREE STYLE

• If you are traveling to a country where the native language is not English, you can grab some Triumph Dining Cards to make things easier on everyone. (I only busted out my Spanish version once on our trip.)
• Although I didn’t bring my toaster bags on this trip, I do take them on pretty much every other trip, even if it’s a weekend at a friend’s house. 
• My suitcase, purse and carry-on all contained these Larabars, they are my current favorite. If I had been thinking ahead, I would have ordered and mixed it up with some GFBs too. 
• Glutino pretzels are a staple for travel – perfect dipped in mustard, cream cheese, with regular cheese bites, on their own, dipped in PB&J, plenty of possibilities. 
• These Go-Pinic meals pretty much saved me on the plane ride home – NO gluten-free options from American Airlines on that flight, even after calling to request it. Boo. 
• Some airports have snack options for us too — I scored some Peeled Snacks along with some Honest Tea for the ride there. 

That’s what worked for me on this trip — what are your gluten-free travel tips? Let’s make a list to help newbie GF travelers! 

Toast It bags for gluten free travel

When I first went gluten-free and started researching, it seemed I was going to have to throw away everything in the kitchen. Cutting boards, pans, strainers and the toaster. I did end up getting rid of a cutting board, but the pots and pans stayed. Most of mine were not non-stick, so I felt comfortable still using them. The strainer had to go though. Too many tiny holes that gluten-filled pasta had passed through.

But the toaster? I thought for sure I could get that thing cleaned up.

Yeah. No.

I tried everything, but couldn’t seem to get those little, stuck on crumbs out of that thing. So I gave it to a gluten loving home and stuck with my toaster oven. (which is a great investment that I use almost daily)

But what about when you are out and about and want toast with your poached eggs? Or you are staying at a hotel and you brought your own bread, but the hotel toaster has had way too many bagels, English muffins and white bread slices take their turn in the slots.

Enter Toast It Bags.

photo from glutenfree.com

I take these with me any time I am going out of town. You can use them repeatedly, just wash between uses.

And you aren’t limited to just toasting bread. You can heat up pizza or a whole sandwich if you would like. (and if your toaster slots are wide enough)

Just remember to bring your pb&j with with you. Safe. No crumbs.

Or just throw in some of Gluten Free Girl and The Chef’s chocolate peanut butter brownies and make a sandwich out of those. No toasting required.

What about you… how do you travel safely-gluten free?