Gluten Free Breakfast of Champions

I love getting a little sneaky day off during the week!

Since the non-profit I work for only has two and a half paid staff, we often work WAY over what anyone would expect us to. Luckily, our Board allows for a few comp days here and there, and yesterday I took one of those comp days.

Parrish had a quick trip up to New York planned, so I was on my own. No worries though, my breakfast kept me company.

I shared this picture with you all yesterday:

but it ended up being such a BOSS breakfast, that I though I should go in to detail!

Oh wait, don’t forget..

there we go. Don’t forget the over-easy egg!

The above breakfast was a toasted piece of Three Bakers bread, Chobani 0% plain Greek, fresh avocado, grape tomatoes, scallions, Applegate Farms baked bacon, and an over-easy egg.

Not only was this breakfast tasty, but it must have been the perfect balance of fat, carbs, and protein, because it kept me full until nearly 1pm!

Even a great bowl of oats can’t keep me full that long!

It also gave me the energy I needed to DUST! Omigoodness. I wish there was some trick to dusting. Because seriously you guys. With two furry pups, dusting at my house is nearly an extreme sport!

Happy Thursday!

Do you have a gluten free breakfast that keeps you full for hours?

Rain, Rain, Go Away or Stay

Oy!

Weather here in NC was down right crummy yesterday! Rain, Rain, Rain. Constant. Downpours. Like the kind of rain where I walk in to work and the bottom 8 inches of my pants are soaking wet!

I know that rain is not a bad thing. April showers, May flowers and all that jazz. BUT all darn day?! No thank you.

AND as the above picture shows – I actually fixed my hair yesterday! I mean washed. dried. and curled with my curling wand! What a waste.

Luckily I had a salad version of last night’s Crispy Chicken Tacos to cheer me up for lunch!

Although…cold salads on dreary days aren’t always the best, but this really hit the spot yesterday!

Especially since Monday’s lunch consisted of turkey rolled around cheese and an apple. Not exactly the best lunch. I mean it tasted great, but I was hungry an hour later. Which of course makes perfect sense… I packed a snack for lunch!

Ah lunch. Why does it give me so much trouble? I mean…I eat 365 lunches a year. You’d think that would be enough to get the hang of it!

Maybe I need to experiment with making my lunch the night before! Or..at least go back to packing an entourage!

What about you?

Are you loving your lunches or are they leaving you wanting more?

FAST Gluten Free Crispy Chicken Tacos

I think you guys know by now that I am in LOVE with Perdue Gluten Free chicken tenders. They’re part of My Go-To Gluten Free Supper, and they’re what I use in a pinch for sure.

But last night I took them to a whole new level, when I realized that I forgot to thaw my chicken breasts for supper. I was feeling far too tired to try to defrost in the sink, so I baked up a few Perdue chicken tenders instead.

Good thing too friends, because what I created was just plain delicious!

Yes! Crispy Chicken Tacos that were ready in 20 minutes flat thanks to the geniuses at Perdue!

While my tenders were baking, I readied my toppings, that way once the tenders were finished all you had to do was assemble and enjoy!

The toppings Parrish and I enjoyed were:

and don’t forget…

All in one tasty assembly line!

I used a mix of Sharp Cabot Cheese and 50% Light Cabot Cheese. I only use Cabot exclusively because they have a gluten free promise on their package. PLUS they’re actually a cooperative of small farmers. I follow their co-op on Instagram and their cows are so adorable. I like knowing that I’m supporting families in New England.

And…their cheese is just so darn good!

Parrish and I both loved these tacos. I don’t think I would choose the tenders over grilled chicken for tacos every week, just for health reasons, but they were great for a quick meal!

Happy Tuesday!

I am FINALLY feeling better! Thank goodness the WEEK of the head cold is over!

A Gluten Free Breakfast on the GO

Since starting my new job in January, breakfasts have become a little bit tough. I’m either rushing to make it to the gym in time, or I’m rushing to make it to work early. Even thought I wake up at 6:30, I’m still rushing!

I’ve considered resetting my internal clock to wake up at 6am…but until Daylight Savings I’m not sure I could do it! It’s hard to wake up when it’s still dark outside.

For a few weeks, my Gluten Free Banana Oatmeal muffins were the perfect answer!

They are easy to take on the go and eat on the go. Plus they’re super filling and tasty!

But since I was under the weather over the weekend, I didn’t have the energy on my day off to prepare for the week. So…no little muffins.

Which was actually doubly inconvenient this week, because not only am I rushing to get to work, but I’m moving slowly because of the head cold.

Enter the Pineapple Oatmeal Smoothie:

I have had this smoothie every morning this week and honestly, I couldn’t be happier about it. I ran out of pineapple midweek and subbed in frozen strawberries and bananas, and it was just as good!

In fact, the strawberry base may be even better for travel. I find that a few hours later, the pineapple can get a little bitter.

And maybe all the vitamins in the fruit are helping fight my head cold! Well….hopefully!

Happy Friday!

My Go-To Gluten Free Supper

Yeah…this head cold is really hanging on.

I guess it’s really only been three days, but since going gluten free nearly five years, I rarely get sick! I hate feeling all bogged down – I haven’t exercised since Saturday!!

Luckily I had an easy supper planned for last night. In fact, it’s a meal that I plan for Parrish and I nearly every week.

BIG SALAD!

I love big salads!

They’re the perfect way to get rid of some veggies mid-week. It sounds a little bit silly – “to get rid of” – but that’s the truth! I feel like I’m always in a race against moldy, wilty produce.

This week’s mix:

Scallion, Avocado, Bell pepper, and Tomato…

with the two ingredients that are ALWAYS in the salad. Really, they’re the two ingredients that MAKE the salad:

Perdue Gluten Free Chicken Tenders and Cabot Sharp Cheddar

Yes, I could make a grilled chicken salad. And honestly, sometimes I do. But there is something about being able to have a crispy chicken salad that is AMAZING! And simple.

Hopefully all the colors in my salad boosted my immune system. I would love to knock this cold out by the weekend!

What about you?

Do you have a meal that you typically make every week?

Gluten Free Garlic Bread

Growing up, my Mom would often make snacks for us kids when we got home from school.

We would arrive home in the afternoon STARVING! She was pretty inventive with what she would prepare, but I’m pretty confident that if you asked my three siblings what their favorite afternoon snack was, they would all reply: Garlic Bread.

My mom would take slices of white bread (soft and full of gluten) and slather them in butter, garlic powder, and italian seasoning. She would bake the bread in the oven and then slice them into “breadsticks”. She would then serve them in these cute little primary colored baskets with tomato sauce.

I can literally smell those breadsticks. It is such a distinct childhood memory.

And yesterday I recreated that memory…

with a little help from my friends at Three Bakers!

I was so excited when Three Bakers asked me to review their products! I had seen my friend Pam’s review over at I’m a Celiac, and her French Bread Pizzas were mouthwatering.

When I received the rolls in the mail, there was no denying they were gluten free. The rolls are DENSE! I mean they were like a bag of bricks – I couldn’t believe how dense they were.

So imagine my surprise when I realized that they not only do they not taste gluten free, they don’t taste dense either!

 

The rolls are actually very light, with lots of yummy nooks and crannies.

Nooks and crannies that are perfect for filling with butter and garlic! And while we’re at it…

dunk some tomato sauce in those crannies too!

I absolutely LOVED these hoagie rolls. They have NO gluten free “after taste” - you know what I mean. And the texture was great!

But I really shouldn’t have been surprised. They have an actual three part PROMISE backing up their products. It’s printed on their website!

1. We promise to make baked goods that taste good and are good for you. If you have been gluten free for a while, you know it’s hard to find G-F products in conventional grocery stores and really hard to find great tasting products. We are constantly experimenting and reformulating to offer you products today that are as good as the wheat based products they replace. We are now expanding our distribution to make them available in more places and on our website.

2.We promise to not only make products that taste good but to be better for you by using whole grains whenever possible, providing fiber and other essential nutrients. All of our products are also all natural and have no artificial ingredients. Most are soy and dairy-free (except of course for the pizzas). We try to keep salts and simple sugars low without sacrificing great taste.

3.We promise to continue making baked goods that our kids and yours who are gluten-free can offer to their friends and they will happily eat.

I can’t wait to try an actual sub sandwich on one of these rolls! I will definitely recommend Three Bakers to other gluten free folks too!

What about you?

Did you have a favorite childhood snack?

I LOVE Stitch Fix

Best. Mail. Ever.

(And yes, this is an entire post without food!)

My Stitch Fix came!!

Stitch Fix is, in my opinion, quite possibly the coolest thing ever. It’s basically a personal stylist and a personal shopper all in one!

You sign up online and fill out a personal profile on your style. You answer questions like how often do you wear dress clothes, what do you like to show/keep covered, etc. You also give your reaction to a few dozen outfits.

Then you schedule your “fix”. You pay $20 the day it ships. BUT you can then use that $20 as credit towards anything you decide to purchase in your box!

So what did I get in my first fix?

First, a SUPER soft angora-blend sweater

with really sweet detailing. The sweater was really well-made and felt amazing, but the large flower detail is a little too feminine for me.

I knew I’d never wear it. So my first item was a no.

The second item was this really cute lacey pull-over top

I went back and forth on this top. The fit was great and I could see wearing it with jeans or shorts in the summer. BUT I just didn’t LOVE it. And I don’t buy any clothing that I don’t love. So my second item was also a no.

My third item was a silky chevron patterned tank top in bold colors.

I loved the detailing on the back.

It sort of criss crossed and opened, but ultimately the fit was just too big. The billowy fit plus the big pattern weren’t flattering on 5 foot 4 frame. So this was also a no.

My fourth item was my absolute favorite. I knew it as soon as I saw the color. LOVE!!

And look at the detailing on the sleeve!

LOVE it!

I can wear it tucked out or tucked in – it’s a great length and cut. And it just looks and feels like a quality piece of clothing.

Much nicer than my Target wardrobe!

My last item was amazing. I instantly fell in love.

This brass ring was TOTALLY me. I loved the curved detail and the color. AND it’s handmade in the USA! But at $38 I couldn’t justify the price. I have a ton of great Fair Trade cocktail rings from work that I rarely wear. SO….it was a no.

As much I went back and forth – I talked myself in and out of this ring a billion times. But no. Or maybe…NO! Yes! No!

Bah! I have to decide by this afternoon.

So those were my five items. A cool feature of the Stitch Fix experience is that every item has a neat card with it:

giving you some wearable ideas. Love!

AND it’s super easy to return what you don’t want to purchase! They give you a pre-paid mailer to slip in what you don’t want within three days!

The verdict: I LOVE Stitch Fix and I will absolutely do it again! It was so much fun to receive a box full of surprises and the quality of the clothing was top notch!

I did not receive anything to write this post, I literally just saw Stitch Fix on another blog and signed up!

If you’re interested check it out! Or email me and I can send you a referral link!

Happy Friday friends!

Gluten Free Chipotle Chicken Mac & Cheese

Oh boy.

You guys, I got you something for Valentine’s Day.

No, it’s not chocolate. Or flowers. Or a stuffed teddy bear.

It’s a recipe. A recipe that is SO good – SO tasty, that it really is a gift…or at least Parrish felt that way!

Because what’s better than chocolate? CHEESE!

Gluten Free Chipotle Chicken Mac and Cheese – oh yeah. It’s so good!

Creamy, cheesy gluten free macaroni with spicy chicken and a crunchy Panko topping – YUM!

Even better: it was super easy to make! This is definitely a semi-homemade recipe that even uses leftovers! Bonus points!

Gluten Free Chipotle Chicken Mac and Cheese

You’ll need:

One box of Annie’s Gluten Free Creamy Deluxe Mac and Cheese – prepared according to box

2 cups cooked chicken – diced

1/4 cup Wishbone Buffalo Ranch

1/4 cup Moore’s Buffalo Sauce

Kinnikinnick Gluten Free Panko Breadcrumbs

one scallion, diced

Prepare the mac and cheese according to the box.

Mix together your chicken, buffalo ranch, and buffalo sauce. I had actually grilled extra chicken breasts on Monday night when I made the Chipotle Cheat bowls. That made tonight’s supper EASY!

Mix the chicken in with your prepared mac and cheese. Then spread in an oven safe container and sprinkle with gluten free panko breadcrumbs. Broil on high until the breadcrumbs brown. Serve with scallions on top.

Easy right?

Even better: You can totally make this your own!

Don’t have grilled chicken? Use gluten free chicken strips like Perdue. Don’t have Moore’s? Just use Wishbone and vice versa. Don’t have panko? Skip it! Or use crushed tortilla chips to add your crunch.

You can change it up – it will still be delicious!

Parrish has added this dish to his Top Five favorite meals! Looks like GF Chipotle Chicken Mac & Cheese will be added to the regular rotation.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Gluten Hates Me Zumba’d

You guys!!!

Zumba was awesome last night!!

Luckily my friend Elizabeth has been to a few classes at our local Y, so she knew which instructor was best. And boy was she right!! Our instructor, Lu, was amazing! Great energy, encouraging words, and an incredible smile!

Loved it!

The class was pretty big, so there were a few moves that I don’t feel like I was able to catch…so I used that time to catch my breath!

I can’t believe it has taken me this long to try out a class! I will definitely be attending a Zumba class again soon!

The class was at 7, so I powered up with an early supper of leftover Chipotle Cheat and my FAVORITE KIND bar.

I LOVE the  Almonds and Apricots with Yogurt KIND bar!!! It’s like a dessert. Seriously. It’s sweet, creamy, crunchy. LOVE.

 

Happy Wednesday!

Have you ever tried Zumba? Love it or leave it?

Chipotle Schmotle

It’s pretty obvious, but since going gluten free nearly 5 years ago, I don’t eat out very often.

I know most of you are shaking your heads in agreement. Yep. You don’t either, do you?

I will tell you though, something unexpected has come out of this reality: I actually really like cooking at home. I like knowing what’s going in my food, and I like to challenge myself with new recipes.

The dishes on the other hand…. not so much.

Good thing I have a handy sous chef!

Last night I made a personal favorite, that I actually could get gluten free in a restaurant. BUT it is ten times better when I make it at home!

I whipped up four batches of Chipotle Cheat Burrito Bowls. Two for supper and two for lunch today.

And just like in my original recipe found here, I once again forgot the beans!

Those darn beans! I get surrounded by the avocados, tomatoes, and grilled chicken, and I forget all about those little beans.

Next time little beans, next time.

I’m trying my first Zumba class tonight!

I’m excited and….a little bit nervous!! More on that tomorrow

The Perfect Gluten Free Bite

Happy Monday!

It’s a rainy day here in NC, but luckily I’m off of work today so I’m enjoying a SLOW morning with a hot cup of coffee and a bowl of gluten free oatmeal!

Did you have a good weekend?

Mine was busy but fun-filled – the best kind! I kicked it off Friday night with a YUMMY supper!

Arrowhead Mills Gluten Free Yellow Grits prepared according to the box. Right before they’re finished, I add in 1/2 a cup of super sharp Cabot cheese and a pinch of salt. Then I stir until the cheese melts and let it bubble a bit more – about 3 minutes.

I top it off with 0% Fat Chobani Greek Yogurt, Diced Scallions, and Baked Bacon. (My method for baking bacon explained here.)

So good!!

I worked Saturday in the store. We were hosting a Fair Trade Chocolate Event, where we basically sample every flavor of chocolate that we sell in the store! Who doesn’t love that?

After working, I headed to my parents house to hang out with my parents, bestie and Lil’ Gluten Loves Me. It’s nice to live within a few hours of my family. It had been a while since I was able to spend some time with my family. Too long!

AND I was given a belated graduation gift:

A new lens for James Dean!

I’m so excited to have a new lens to play around with! I spent Sunday afternoon reading some tips for shooting with a 50mm lens and trying it out on two of my favorite models.

Cuteness caught in action!

I hope you guys have a great start to your week! I’m off to work on our menu for the week! Is it sad that I look forward to meal planning?!