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. You can read my very first to-do list here. Cross your fingers I am back here next Tuesday with another list.

Add these to your to-do list…

• With a name like “Johnna’s Best Mac & Cheese” it immediately goes to the top of my list.

• Made these date oatmeal bars and you should too! (they taste like a healthy blondie, Mr. CITC approved!) Be sure to use truly gluten-free oats like those from GF Harvest. 

• Veggie Cobb Dip sounds pretty perfect for our next cookout.

• We have been on a pineapple kick lately, so obviously Shirley read my mind and all of these pineapple recipes are for me! 😉

• 4 Ingredient Chicken Parmesan Casserole — she had me at “4 ingredient.” Proof that bloggers like to keep it super simple too.

• I’ve been experimenting with essential oils lately, anyone else using them? I can’t get enough lavender. Amy has some tips for a DIY Wellness Kit with Essential Oils. 

• Still loving the magic green sauce and putting it on all the things — like this 3 grain skillet last night: quinoa, millet, wild rice with 3 bean mix, sweet potatoes, shallots, pheasant, garlic, cumin, chili pepper, lime, salt & pepper. YUM!

• Ever tried a gluten-free beermosa? Just trust me.

We’re officially endorsing COFFEE FOR PRESIDENT!

Bark twice if you’re actually reading and enJOYing these Tuesday To Do Lists…

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.

tropical.gluten-free.granola

After making pumpkin spice granola and apple spiced granola all fall and winter, it was time to mix things up — this tropical gluten-free granola is sending us straight into warm weather mode.

THE INGREDIENTS

3 cups truly, certified, absolutely purity protocol grown gluten-free oats from GF Harvest

2 ½ cups nuts & seeds of your choice (I used chopped almonds, sliced almonds, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds, but wouldn’t macadamia nuts be lovely? You can use ANYthing you’d like!) 

1 heaping cup mix of dried pineapple, mango, and banana, chopped (I buy all three at Trader Joe’s)

½ -¾ cup shredded unsweetened coconut (or use sweetened if you’re feeling extra sweet)

½ cup coconut oil (also can use olive oil or oil of your choosing) 

½ cup sweetener of choice (honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, date sugar, sugar sugar)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

pinch of salt

2 tablespoons maca powder (optional)

1-2 tablespoons chia seeds (optional)

THE MAKING

1. Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees. Line large baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, combine oats, (the really gluten-free ones from GF Harvest) nuts, seeds, optional maca powder & chia seeds.
3. Heat small sauce pan over med-low heat with oil and sweetener. Stir to melt coconut oil and dissolve sweetener, if you do not use liquid sweetener. Then add vanilla and pinch of salt.
4. Remove from heat and pour over dry oat mixture, stir to coat.
5. Pour contents of bowl onto prepared baking sheet and spread out evenly.
6. Bake for 15 minutes, remove and stir, return to oven for 10-15 minutes longer. When the granola aroma starts to fill the kitchen, that’s when you want to take it out — I have been making the mistake of baking it longer and longer, trying to get it crispy and crunchy like the store-bought granola, but instead have ended up with dark, burnt tasting granola. It will start to become golden brown and smell amazing, THAT’S when to take it out.
7. While still hot, stir in dried fruit and coconut.
8. Allow to cool completely on the baking sheet, then funnel it into a large glass storage container and enjoy for breakfast with greek yogurt and fresh pineapple & bananas.

As with ANY granola recipe, you can make this one your own. Add more or less dried fruit, go crazy for coconut, put a little orange juice into the oil/sweetener mixture. Make it yours then fill me in on how you adapted it!

THE DO GOOD

As you read earlier this week in my post, we are on a mission to help our farmer friends at GF Harvest. My lovely friend Johnna got things rolling and we took it from there! Although we’ve made light of it with cheers of “SAVE FORREST!” and hashtags like #plantForrestplant, (good one, Al!) it’s no joke that they need our help. We can NOT let big name companies continue to mass produce mainstream oats via mechanical sorting (that are making some people sick) that are running smaller, family owned, actually-doing-the-right-thing-with-their-oats companies like GF Harvest out of business! We have the opportunity to speak up with our truly gluten-free oat dollars by choosing to purchase safe oats from a family who actually cares about the celiac community and has for years — their slogan is, “our celiac family serving yours.” We deserve safe oats. They deserve our business.

GO BUY YOUR OATS! (the awesome starter package deal ends today, April 15th, 2016)

 

GF Harvest did not ask for the help of our community, but we offered it, and in turn, they are offering the starter package deal (with free gift while supplies last!) for you this week. I am not being compensated in any way and have placed my order already! 

 

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. You can read my very first to-do list here. Cross your fingers I am back here next Tuesday with another list.
I want to try…

• The gluten-free fish fry at The Cheel in Thiensville.
• Tom & Chee in Brookfield, anyone been?
• This turmeric latte from Shutterbean — I tried a turmeric smoothie recently and have been looking for other ideas.

On my list to buy…

• My friend Johnna is always on the lookout for fun GF items when she’s out and about and posted about these thin, crispy, gluten-free cookies from Trader Joe’s (she’s says they are like Tate’s) that would be perfect for these two ingredient ice cream sandwiches!
• An Inspiralizer. Yes? No? Do you have one? Tell me everything.

I spy…

• Another recipe from Elizabeth Barbone that I must make — just turned her blondie recipe into bourbon blondies for Mr. CITC last week and we’re still talking about them.

• Two cases of “are you freaking kidding me?!” reported to Gluten Free Watch Dog — I sometimes feel like a crazy person the way I check, double check, and triple check on foods, even those that come in a gluten-free package, to be sure they are safe. I guess I’m not the only one. I won’t lie, I feel more nervous as a celiac eight years in than I ever have before. Shouldn’t things be getting better?

 

I almost cried (tears of JOY!) this weekend when I had fried chicken for the first time since being gluten free. (I just celebrated my EIGHT year GlutenFreeiversary recently!) AND apple fritters! When you are gluten-free in Nashville, be sure to check out AMOT. Their entire menu, minus a couple of beers on their beer menu, (where they distinguish between gluten-free and gluten removed beers, impressive!) is gluten-free! And don’t worry vegetarian friends, that black eyed pea falafel sandwich pictured below is for you! My.kind.of.place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We landed late Sunday night from our adventures celebrating Mr. CITC’s #bigbourbonbirthday… and now I’m leaving on a jet plane to meet my Mamasita in Tucson to visit my brother and soak up some rays! (if you have any Tucson, AZ recommendations, let me know in the comments!)

EnJOY your week.

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.

Tuesday To Do List — Gluten Free Thanksgiving

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. You can read my very first to-do list here. Cross your fingers I am back here next Tuesday with another list.

Today we’re talking turkey, pumpkin pie, and everything in between that you might just want to add to your gluten-free Thanksgiving To Do List!

The Gluten-Free Recipe Fix: Thanksgiving Edition is your one-stop-shop for the feast!

We love this stuffing and will make it again this year. (my Trader Joe’s insider says the GF candy cane Joe Joe’s arrive next week at the Glendale, WI location!)

(it’s very stove-top-like, which is celiac sister’s fave. we use less water than called for and it’s pretty perfect.)

Word on the street is that Aldi has gluten-free fried onions for green bean casserole. Mamasita is thrilled about this so I’ll be buying some before heading home to MN for our fabulously gluten-free feast!

Shirley has rounded up FORTY, yes 4-0, pie crust recipes to choose from. (thank you!) I just sent this Best Gluten-Free Flaky Pie Crust recipe to my mama to check out.

Need a quick, easy snack mix? Try this.

Some of our family favorites for you to try — love grandma’s rice!

Want fresh baked bread with your turkey day meal? This recipe is for you.

You know I love a good graphic. (or seventeen) All things Thanksgiving in graphics.

There are always requests for my pumpkin spice cookies with cream cheese frosting.

Shauna and Danny have an app you can download but also a LIST of videos and recipes to try.

Be safe. If you aren’t as lucky as we are to have a fully gluten-free meal, Shirley has tips to remember when visiting the fam. (last weekend the stars aligned during my birthday weekend in Denver and I got to meet up with Shirley and Johnna for drinks and dessert…follow along with both of these lovely, down to earth, gluten-free friends!)

EnJOY the time with your families, my friends. This last week was filled with JOYful memory making, but also tragic events on a global and much closer to home level — I can’t make sense of it all, but in times like these, I gather with my tribe and look for the light.

The week from Instagram…

(follow along: @celiacinthecity)

coffee with my BFF in Denver!

BFF feeds CITC well

 

enchilada chicken stew from PaleOMG

Ophelia’s Denver: doing gluten free right!

Breck with the bees, birthday eve

 

 

 

Mi Casa Breckenridge

street tacos & margaritas at Mi Casa

headtilting laughs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

best friends forever with new arrows of friendship from alex & ani

 

 

 

christopher elbow chocolates & mint chocolate chip birthday treat

 

 

 

 

 

 

our house on the hill (this weather!)

hello, home.

handsomepants

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#prayforparis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

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…

• Once upon a time, I got to meet THE Pioneer Woman — I talked a mile a minute telling her what a big fan I was and that I had found out about her wonderfulness through Shauna from Gluten Free Girl and the Chef. Although I don’t follow along as closely as I used to, (I’m still sad that Google Reader is no longer!) I’m still a big fan, have a couple of her books, make her baked beans recipe by request, and will probably end up buying a piece from her new collection because it’s so dang pretty. (she is too and she’s hilariously down to earth)

• And speaking of Gluten Free Girl… they have a new cookbook coming out this week! Their recipes have never let me down and I’m guessing this one will not disappoint: American Classics Reinvented. It’s already in my cart to buy on Amazon.

NEWS FLASH: finds & photos

 

Hello. Hi. Hola.

Remember me? 😉

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are eeeeeeeeasing into fall over here.

Mostly by eating as much Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Cake from In Johnna’s Kitchen that our tummies will hold.

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Go.make.this.NOW.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pumpkin seems to be the theme pretty much everywhere you look. (don’t bother buying your PSLs, make them at home!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And it’s probably time to bust out the Pumpkin Spice Cookies with RumChata Cream Cheese Frosting, yes?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I tired my hand at making pumpkin scones and although I was happy with how they turned out, I’m still working on the recipe.

Here’s a sneak peek…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And after posting those photos on Instagram, my best gal Katie (spreading JOY as she always does) gifted me a fancy scone pan! Now accepting taste tester applications.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Need another excuse to add pumpkin to your routine? Add it in with Greek yogurt, granola and apples in the morning!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maybe you’re more of a salted caramel in the fall kind of person — you’ll be happy to know you can find Sweet Ali’s Bakery salted caramel cupcakes at all Milwaukee area Metro Markets! (other flavors too, including red velvet)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking for GF events in Milwaukee? (remember to use hashtag #glutenfreeinMKE)

• THIS weekend our friends at Bacchus are hosting a Gluten-Free Cider pairing dinner. Read all about it HERE.

• Empty Bowls Milwaukee is happening NEXT weekend and they contacted me about having more GF options for our community — let me know if you go!

• I have started a private Milwaukee GF Get Together Group on Facebook — if you live in the area and would like to be part of this group, email me celiacinthecity[at]gmail[dot]com and I will add you. That way you won’t miss out when Facebook only allows a small percentage of you see my regular posts. It is a friendly community where you can ask questions, post about new products, share recipes, etc. And to keep seeing my CITC posts there, be sure to like posts, add comments, and interact to keep the status updates and photos coming.

 

Other things I’m snacking on now — these cute little “dunker” minis from Ginny Bakes. Loving the coconut oatmeal combo!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In other news — it’s HONEYCRISP season! I wait for this all year… even more so when you have the cutest best buddies to share. (check out my twin nephews’ first time with a “real,” meaning whole and not cut up, honeycrisp apple.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shine on, my friends.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

xoxo

 

 

 

 

Rallying the Gluten Free Community — Support gfJules (formerly Jules Gluten Free)

I recently attended the Gluten Free Living Conference in Orlando — and as much as I want to share all of the fun photos from that weekend, there’s something else we have to talk about first.

If there is one thing I know about the gluten-free community is that when we need each other for support, people come together like I have never seen before. We rally behind those in need, give them a voice, or just allow their voice to be heard loud and clear.

So that’s why we’re here today. To clear the air. To let you know what’s been going with my friend Jules from Jules Gluten Free, now gfJules.

I know some of you are already big fans of her flour mix — it was one of the first flour mixes I experimented with when going gluten free in 2008. She is also one of the founders of the 1 in 133 campaign. Because of her hard work, the gluten-free labeling standard has passed and will go into effect in August! (She has helped everyone who is GF!)   I have had the chance to get to know Jules through her annual GF Cookie Contest and finally got to meet face to face in Orlando just weeks ago.

Here’s a brief history of how Jules started and how we got to where we are today:

• She started her company in 2006 after publishing her first book, set out to learn all things related to running a GF business and started selling her products in 2007.

• Her business was booming and as we all know, “it takes a village” to get things done, so she took on business partners (investors) in 2008 to help run the daily operations — unfortunately in recent years it became quite clear that her vision (as a member of the GF community that she advocates for, educates, and holds near and dear to her heart)  and the vision her business partners had for the company were not the same.

• Things went downhill from there with her partners behaving in a way that makes my blood boil and would take an entire blog post to discuss, (not paying her for her work, preventing her from communicating with OUR community through her business, and canceling the order for flours for her own wedding cake in just a few weeks) but instead of focusing on all of the negative (Jules wouldn’t want that!) I am here to rally our community to focus on the positive…

 

Jules is starting over…

• She has resigned from her old company and is starting a new company, gfJules. 

• Plans are in the works to bring her products back (and much more!) as quickly as possible, but as you know, this will take time and money. (I cannot even imagine the funds she has already put into this legal battle.

• She’s a FIGHTER and is NOT giving up! See that smile on her face in the photo? That’s the one she wears every single day, even when times get tough, even when people she trusted turned into something they should be embarrassed of themselves for, even when it would have been easier to just call it a day and give up — not Jules, she’s more dedicated than ever to the gluten-free community!

• The community was confused as to what exactly happened, which is why we need to rally together and get the word out about her new company, gfJules — and we need to come together to support our friend when she needs it most!

 

How we can help:

• Go check out her new site: www.gfjules.com

• Sign up for email list HERE. 

• While you’re there, read the amazing comments of support and love from our community!

• If you can, give a gift to Jules to help her rebuild her business and continue to do what she does best — GIVE to our community. There are gifts for giving  or maybe something more creative. I’m giving and hope you can too, any amount helps!

• If you are interested in giving as a group, I for one would LOVE to see a recipe for our GF Get Together Group, something Milwaukee-style — I’ve raised over $4,000 in the last four years for the Celiac Disease Foundation, so I KNOW we could get together the $300 for this gift… if you’d like to join in the fun for this gift, let me know!
• SHARE this post. Even if you are unable to give at this time, please considering passing this post along to others who may be able to help.

• Send Jules some gluten-free-style love — your kinds words of support are what is keeping her going!

Not only will I be giving to her fundraising efforts, but I’ll be shouting about it from the rooftops — I can honestly tell you that she is a kind person with the most generous heart. After being on the expert panel at the conference, she made time for each and every person who waited in line to talk with her. I snuck in for a quick hug goodbye before I hopped on my plane, and there she stood, holding the delicate hands of an elderly woman, listening to her tell her stories of learning to bake gluten-free. It was the most touching moment. She’s the real deal, my friends. She loves this community and would do the same for each and every one of us.

Let’s rally!

Honored to be part of this gluten-free world! From left to right: Andrea from Rockin’ Gluten Free, Anna from Gluten Free Jet Set, Chrissy from Glam Without Gluten, (me!) Amie from The Healthy Apple ,(in front) Johnna from In Johnna’s Kitchen, THE lovely Jules from gfJules, Linda from The Gluten-Free Homemaker , and Shirley from gluten free easily.