Category: Special Occassions

Thankfully STUFFED!

Last night’s supper was FAButastic! Baby potatoes, stuffing, carrots and turnips, brussel sprouts, stuffing, homemade cranberry jelly, stuffing, and ( of course) TURKEY and Gravy! To wrap it all up to bursting? Pumpkin pie and mincemeat pie! STUFFED! more

Out of my Gourd!

So when I mentioned to my sister in Calgary that I was working on Thanksgiving recipes she quickly offered up her Skinny on Pumpkin Pie. For anyone following Weight Watchers, this bad boy is only 1 point for 1/8th of the pie! heck… that is equal to an apple! GO PIE! more

Stuffed Stuffing Options!

Breaking away from the grey mound of soggy bread in a bowl can be a challenge or an adventure! Putting a spin on it doesn’t need to be difficult or off putting to non-gfers. Just remember… the CRITICAL ingredient in any meal is laughter! Spread it liberally throughout your weekend and enjoy Getting Stuffed! more

Big Bird of Toxic Death!!!!! or not….

Thanksgiving dinner – Divine! That is until you realise that the largest threat on the table isn’t Aunt Martha’s lime pineapple jelly ring! Wheat ( Gluten) can turn a fantastic family dinner into a roller coaster nightmare in our world. more

K.I.S.S. Seven!

K.I.S.S. sounds like a great motto for this 7 year old’s party! Who knows. I might just be able to just SIT enjoy the festivities myself. *GASP! I know! Scary isn’t it. more

He got Learnded

That is our new term. It’s like Edjamacated but it’s Learnded.

Dman seems to struggle with the whole pancake recipe following thing.

Yes, he is 14. Yes he is literate. Still, there is something about the measurements that turn invisible behind the numbers. Primarily with baking powder and baking soda.

We have all made, at least once in our life, THOSE cookies. The ones that even the dog won’t eat where, instead of 2 tsps, we add in 2 cups of baking soda. When you do that with a pancake mix, though, it converts it from a nummy breakfast covered in syrup and butter into a volcano science experiment. The first time this occurred for Dman was out camping. The zip lock pouch of premixed recipe turned into three foaming pot fulls of billowing batter. Today he learned and trusted his instincts. The liquids never hit the volatile bowl of over stacked baking soda batter.

Breakfast eventually got served with sprinkles of chocolate chips melting under golden syrup and pads of real butter but the true success was the laughter that emerged from my teenager. It is so easy to slam ourselves at the first sign of failure but the goal is to turn it around into a learning experience and fodder for success.

Cooking is an Art.

That means sometimes things turn into something we didn’t envision but it’s all an art. Gluten Free “Art” is even more challenging as we blend flours and learn new techniques but the successes are all the more sweeter!

The big breakfast is coming soon and I am training up the next spatula manager! Passing on the Flipper! Have faith though, practice will make perfect! The rewards? Goldenly Delicious!

Falling Away

The end of fall is fast approaching. The leaves have all but left the trees and tonight will be Halloween Looting. Tomorrow will be clean up. Then I move forward to preping for xmas. Yes, I start thinking early. Step one of that process, though, is reviewing Fall.

This past month has been a struggle for our little Wheat Free Horde ( 3 boys from 6 – 13 and myself). I was not aware of how many safeties I had put into place when we lived in the City. Some of the things I just naturally did and others I know I worked hard at, all to ensure that my boys had the best holiday/traditions I could manage while keeping them Gluten Free and laughing!

I have great memories of holidays and family times and I REALLLY want my kids to be kids and have those when they grow up. I don’t want them to remember parties where they felt left out, unable to enjoy the socialness of ‘breaking bread’ with friends, or sharing in a celebratory piece of cake with the Birthday Honored. I want life to move forward as if this just IS, not like it is a handicap that needs to hold them back from anything.

In review of years past? What did we do to make the events appear effortless and smooth?

Host our own party:

Keeps the kids as the hosts and in control
Plan a meal with GF everyday foods like Ogre Feet Meatloaves, Build Your Own Pizza-o-lanterns, Beef stew with Maggot Pasta bits, or some other fun grossness
Load up on GF trick or treat candies
Non candy based prizes ( McDonald’s coupons, trinkets, swim passes, etc)
Old fashioned take home treats like candy apples, popcorn balls and caramels!

As guests at parties;

Bring GF cupcakes/foods to share
bag/decorative pail of GF candy for the treats table
Stash GF alternatives as “swaps” in our bag for if the kids win a non GF prize.
STAY UP BEAT & DON”T EAT IT!

Desire to DEVOUR!

So often it is easy to ‘sneak’ a bite, make excuses or otherwise sabotage yourself. The last thing you need on top of a sugar hang over, though, is an allergic reaction! It can make a whole household struggle! Totally not worth it.

Relocating this year has given us some speed bumps as we settle into new routines. So far we are GF safe but there have been some close calls and some hick ups. Still a success. Next year we will reconnect with some old traditions to bring our personal touches into our new lives!

Happy Ghostly Greetings to Looters and Looted!

Maple Season inspires Stacked “Sandwiches”

Layered Maple Ripple

INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 cups maple walnut ice cream, softened
1 1/2 cups butterscotch ripple, softened
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 (10 ounce) package regular marshmallows or 4 cups of miniature marshmallows
6 cups Crispy Rice cereal

DIRECTIONS:
1. Wash and dry two 12-ounce frozen juice concentrate cans. Pack Maple Walnut ice cream into one can. Pack butterscotch ice cream into other can. Cover and freeze at least 2 hours or until firm.

2. Meanwhile, in large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.

3. Add Crispy Rice cereal. Stir until well coated.

4. Using buttered spatula or wax paper evenly press mixture into 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cool slightly. Using cookie cutter coated with cooking spray cut into ten 2 1/2-inch circles.

5. Remove ice cream from freezer. Cut or tear paper sides of cans from ice cream. Cut ice cream cylinders into ten slices. In each dessert dish place one slice of Butterscotch ripple ice cream, one crispy rice circle and one slice of maple walnut ice cream. Serve immediately.