Why are the few days before a holiday cray cray?  Is it so we are thankful that the week is over and we have a day to wear yoga pants, gorge our faces and truly appreciate and  give thanks that we are not:

a:  stuck in traffic
b:  at work
c:  figuring out how to attain work/life balance
d:  all of the above

I'm not giving away the answer but on this Tuesday before Thanksgiving I was giving thanks for my awesome MOB (my other boy - aka:  the husband).  I got stuck in horrific traffic on the way home and the MOB told me he was going to make dinner and it was a surprise.  Now I could be:

a:  scared
b:  curious
c:  thankful

Definitely "c" because I was hangry and tired.  And only the MOB would make this:

 Totsagna

 

Seriously. That's the name.  It made me laugh.  Tater-tot lasagna.   And it was delicious.  And of course GFProud2Be! 

Here's the recipe.  It was seriously soooooooo good!!!  I had two helpings.  Okay, maybe more like 2 1/2.  I call it warming up for Thursday's feast.  I highly recommend this one folks. 

It was tot-tastic.  Boy loved it.  MOB loved it.  I loved it. 

So what am I thankful for this Thanksgiving?

a:  the boy
b:  MOB
c:  tater tots
d:  all of the above

Clearly we all know the answer to this one :)  Happy Thanksgiving friends!  I am also thankful for you! 

On the bandwagon

Fall.  I love fall and all that it has to offer - sweater weather, football and of course warm comfort food.  And then there's pumpkin spice.  It's EVERYWHERE.  I admit - I am not a huge pumpkin fan.  I don't drink pumpkin lattes, not a fan of pumpkin beer and I don't really love pumpkin pie.  But as you are gasping and wondering HOW?  WHY?  IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH HER? I broke down and bought this:

 



This inspiration for this purchase came from - wait for it - Pinterest.  I have had many a Pinterest fail.  Like the time I painted these letters for a Christmas craft that spelled "NOEL" and the "O" was a wreath and my husband asked if the boy made it at school.  He was 6.  But this looked Pinterestfailproof.  And gluten free.  Bonus. 

 

Three Ingredient Pumpkin Spice Cookies:

http://www.thegunnysack.com/2014/10/three-ingredient-pumpkin-spice-pudding-cookies.html

 

• ½ cup pumpkin spice peanut butter
• 1 package vanilla pudding (3.4 oz instant pudding)
• 1 egg
• Optional: orange sparkling sprinkles and/or Hershey's Kisses (I used the Kisses - because chocolate)Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix together pumpkin spice peanut butter, vanilla pudding and the egg.
1. Use a small cookie scoop (mine was the 1 tablespoon size) to form balls.
2. Optional: Roll cookie dough balls in sparkling sprinkles.
3. Place on a cookie sheet covered with a silicone baking mat (or parchment paper).
4. Use a fork to make a crosshatch on each cookie. Or if you plan to add Hershey’s Kisses, leave them as a ball without the crosshatch on top.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes.
6. Optional: Press a Hershey's Kiss into the center of each cookie right after they come out of the oven.

These were sooooo good!  I doubled the recipe and added a pinch of salt to cut the sweetness.  Boy was in pumpkin-love-heaven.

 

 

 



And because it's been one of those days, I needed a little chicken soup for the soul so I made this:

Orzo Chicken Soup with Kale

So easy and so good.  I'll do my best to recount how I made this:

In a medium stock pot, sauté carrots, onion and celery (AKA: the holy trinity) in a good dose of olive oil - about 2 tablespoons. Add a pound of raw chicken cut into chunks, salt and pepper and garlic (about 3 tablespoons or 4 cloves diced).  When chicken is cooked, add kale - separated from the rib - about 2 cups (this really cooks down).  Then add a little more salt, pepper and 2 large containers of GF chicken broth.  I added a dash of red pepper flakes, Italian seasonings and whatever else I thought would be good - I love a lot of spice.  Cook for about 2 hours and then add the gluten free orzo.  My awesome mother-in-law got me this: 

And this stuff is GOOD!  She found it as Sam's Club.  And it's a dead ringer for the "real" stuff.  I can't wait to make Orzo pasta salad with it too! 

Once the pasta is cooked, dish up and serve.  Ah.....so good. 

So now that Halloween is about 25 days away, the Christmas goodies are already (grrr...) making an appearance and we will be ready for peppermint mochas, lattes, cookies and so on and so on.  But until then, I hope you enjoy the remaining pumpkin spice days of Fall! 

Going inside the (big) box....

So my biff, Krissy the baker is a Costco Queen (pipe in ABBA).  I don't belong because sadly (very sadly) it's not convenient to where we live.  But my biff, baker and Costco Queen is a great lookout for new and exciting GF options.

Let's start with the UDI's bread at Costco.  First of all - the size of the package and the  SIZE of the slice of bread is big-box worthy.  First thing the boy said is "it's like normal bread!"  And the boy is going through a huge growth spurt so the grocery-store size bread usually results in him eating 2 sandwiches.  But not with this big box loaf!  And the price is great - about $6.99. 

 

 

BJ's is also starting to carry Udi's bread - and BJ's is closer to our home, so I will have to scope out to see if it's the same size.  They also have Udi's bagels and pizza too. 

 

 

Another big box store that has upped it's G-free game is Wal-Mart.  Their selection has really increased and I got these muffin mixes for $1.48 a bag!  And they were fantastic - definitely getting again!  I got the blueberry and double chocolate.  And all you do is add milk!  Bonus! 

 



Happy to see the GFP2B movement has made it's way to our favorite big-box stores, giving us big-box options! 

So what is your favorite G-free buy at your favorite big box store?  Do tell!

There's a spring in my step....

Ahhhh....Winter (dare I say) is finally over!  Flowers are blooming, the sun is shining, the weather is warmer and new GF products are springing up everywhere!

Seriously - this has been a fabulous month of new GF finds in the GFP2B household and I couldn't be more excited to share them with my GF peeps (sidebar - isn't it great that Peeps are GF?)!

First of all, I finally found Udi's frozen food selections! I had been hearing about them forever! And while I was picking up shampoo (+100 other unessential items) at Target, I perused the frozen food aisle and there was a glorious case of GF goodness to behold!

 

A working mom's dream!  Udi's frozen meals and breakfast burritos.  A freezer full of deliciousness! The chicken parmesan was ab-fab folks.  Spicy, flavorful and so so good.  Winner winner chicken dinner!  Boy loved it.  He also loves the breakfast burritos.  Sausage and egg, uncured bacon and egg varieties are just two minutes from a delicious breakfast. Some great Q&E (quick and easy) meal options for the busy household.

 

Next up - the cracker-sandwich-hall-of-famer - Lance -  came out with cheese and peanut butter GLUTEN FREE cracker sandwiches!!!!!!  They taste exactly like the original! 

 

 

They're a little costly ($5/box) but they are soooooo worth it.  The crackers are light, buttery and airy.  Boy ate both boxes in two (2) days.  I will have to ration them next time (but really, I couldn't blame him.....they were that good).

 

Lastly, I need to give a huge shout-out to the Girl Scouts.  Their famous cookie campaign featured a gluten free option this year.  Let me tell you kids - these were like trying to find the golden ticket in a Willy Wonka chocolate bar - I could not get my hands on a box anywhere!!!  But then the boy's GF angel (his cousin, Amanda), scored us a box in Washington, DC.  They were so good, we were unable to capture a picture because they were gone before you could say the Girl Scout pledge.  Next time you see a Girl Scout, thank them for their service (and then slip them a $20 to reserve you a box of these awesome-sauce cookies).

 

Celiac awareness has really given the food industry a good ol' poke in the ribs and I couldn't be happier to see so many new products on the shelves for our GFProud2Be kids (big and small). 

 

Have you found any new GF options lately?  Please share!

 

 

 

 

 

A is for........

Absent?  Apathetic?  When it comes to my poor little blog, yes. 

But A is also for ALDI's! 

I have been singing their praises in previous blog posts for some time and they continue to impress me with their growing line of GF products!

Let me start with the bread.  Soft, delicious and unbelievably fresh.  And for about $3.99 a loaf, it's one of the most affordable options out there!  Seriously - I think this is the best GF bread we've ever had!  Their GF wraps are equally fantastic.

 

Then there are their Q&E (quick and easy) meal options including:

 

GF frozen pancakes - 30 seconds in the microwave and wah-lah!  Pancakes for breakfast even on a busy morning.  Available in buttermilk AND blueberry!!!   Boy loves them.  Mom loves them.  You will love them.  They also have some really good GF snack bars for grab-and-go breakfast and snack options.

 

 





Frozen GF pizzas - pepperoni and plain and another favorite of the boy.  He LOVES their pizza - we keep them on hand for sleepovers, parties and for silly supper nights (AKA:  mom's not cooking tonight so pick whatever you want). 

Single-serve frozen lasagna, ravioli and southwest veggie burritos are also available and boy loves all of them.  Just look at all these great fabulous items! 

 

These crackers are a stable in our household also - flavorful, crisp, delicious and one of these "I can't believe they're gluten free" items that guests will love also.  I think I paid around $1.69/bag for them.

 

The price is right so come on down to Aldi's and check out their growing selection of GFP2B foods! 

 

Have you tried any Aldi GF products?  What's your favorite?