Celiacs have waited, patiently, for a time when gluten-free choices could finally compete. And not just with each other, but with the best available food on the market, shouldering their way onto specialty vendor’s shelves and our pantries alike, delicious, wholesome, and with artisanal taste and quality for their own sake, without the “alternative-and second-best” label that Gluten Free used to mean.
A few days ago, my phone lit up with a message that made me smile after an emotionally tough week.
My sister and I are pretty serious about bananas. We both prefer to wait till they’re ripe and spotted to eat them because the more a banana ripens, the more the level of antioxidants increases.
Like any frugal person, we freeze the bananas just before the skin turns entirely brown so they don’t go to waste. Read More
I have never been a baker. I’m just not great at all the exact measuring and the science of it all, and I don’t really have a sweet tooth. I much prefer the haphazard taste test method to cooking over baking. That being said, I do love chocolate. The darker the better for me. Just one bite can satisfy any craving. Imagine my delight when I realized I could make my own chocolate bars?! And healthy ones at that?? I was floored.
My eyes literally beamed with excitement when I looked at the menu. Nearly all of it, was, or could be made gluten free! Fellow celiacs will know and understand, just how rare this is. Blue Star Diner is perhaps most commonly known for its delicious brunch, however, it is an absolute contender as a lunch, dinner, and (possibly best kept secret) Taco Tuesday spot!!
Our friends at Skip the Dishes wanted the message out – there’s lots of restaurants on the website now with gluten-free options. On a snowy, chilly evening, there was nothing the four of us wanted more than to help get that message out by ordering in. Read More
We were invited to Cibo to sample their newly-launched line of gluten free pizzas. But as we sat at the bar, well before our food arrived, deep in conversation with a very attentive, intelligent and engaged group of staff, it dawned on me that this is one of those unique places where everything – not just the dishes on the menu – is focused on making you feel like you are an extraordinary person. They don’t just want you to have a good meal – they want you to remember the whole experience with the kind of fondness that you reserve for your “best meal I’ve ever eaten” occasions. Which is why it was not a surprise to hear them say “we love to host people here”. That’s the spirit that wraps around comfortable meals at grandma’s house, or a dinner date with your true soulmate. How do you get that at a restaurant?
Brownies make everything better, right? At least for the few moments you take to savour the chocolatey goodness. We could all use some chocolate relief these days.
Not that I complain about desserts when I can eat them, but when I get a brownie that’s more cake than brownie, I can’t help but be a little disappointed. If I wanted a piece of fluffy cake I would have made cake. When I want a brownie, I want chewy, rich chocolate. Read More
Root vegetables really grow on you – and when you realize you can create some really complex and magical flavours by marrying them with a range of unexpected spices, winter meals with root vegetables become something to write home about. Oh – they also go really, really well with chicken…
In November, we were so pumped to work with Phil & Sebastian Marda Loop to host our first ever Gluten-Free Get-Together! We took over the back of the Marda Loop café and the incredible P&S staff provided a full complement of their entire (fabulous) gluten-free menu for tasting. Read More
We have a problem here. I’ve got spring fever and it’s only the middle of January. This happens every year right after Christmas. I can always keep my spirits up for Christmas, even sometimes for New Year’s. But after the lights and the magic are gone I wish so much that I could just fast forward through the next couple months. I can’t stand winter. I know I’m not alone when I say it would be much easier if it weren’t so damn cold for weeks at a time. When you have a small baby, it takes a lot of effort to get outside when it’s -10C. If it’s any colder than that, you pretty much stay inside and make do with in-house activities. This is not the easiest task for someone who thrives on spending time outside. Read More
Are you in charge of planning a gluten-free holiday menu that will dazzle your guest list? Copy this one. Everyone will think Pinterest has thrown up all over your table. (In a good way!)
Not every meal ideal or recipe needs to be complicated. In fact, this is a SIMPLE side dish, as so many people struggle with what sides to serve at meals. This is also one of those dishes that some people may have been hearing a lot about lately, but who aren’t sure how to incorporate it into their normal cooking routine.
“Holiday Sausage Strata” sounds like a complicated dish, dreamed up by some Larousse or Emeril to further complicate one’s Christmas and New Year traditions. Who knows – some famous chef may have been responsible for this masterpiece, but the saving grace of this recipe (in this time of absorbingly complex kitchen activity) – featuring all the breakfast essentials of eggs, sausage, cheese, and bread – is that it is laughably easy and guaranteed to please the crowd – either on Christmas morning, or on New Year’s Day (when it contributes all the ingredients necessary to soak up last night’s revelry, if needed). Read More
With the festive time of year upon us, ‘tis the season for holiday parties and potlucks. This is an easy recipe that is gluten free, and will be a hit at any event you host or need to bring an appetizer to. It is so simple to make, which leaves you with plenty of time to deck the halls, shop for gifts, and to enjoy some Christmas cheer!
It’s the season for parties and sharing and eating more than you’re used to. And inevitably, there are the potlucks – the opportunity to make one thing for everyone, and enjoy everyone else’s one thing. And, when one has to be wary about what might be in those cookies or cheese log or charcuterie, it’s always helpful to bring along to the party something that everyone – yourself included – can enjoy to the maximum, without fear of gluten. Why not be the life of the party, bringing the jewel in the crown of party foods – Gluten Free Wings, for a Crowd.
