A Gluten Free Year in Review

 

I spent the entire year of 2009, gluten free!! Since going gluten free in June of ‘08, it certainly has gotten easier and easier. It makes me happy that all of 2009 was spent with my happy, healthy, and gluten free! Let’s look at the highlights, shall we?

 

JANUARY

I started 2009 out with a Foodbuzz sponsored Martini party.

Tasty! And I registered my domain name!

 

FEBRUARY

I posted my 100th post!

And realized that I LOVE lima beans :)

 

MARCH

I cooked with leeks for the first time!

 

APRIL

Parrish proposed!!

I received my Digital Elph! A spectacular gift from a big group of besties!

We left Wilmington and made the BIG MOVE to Chapel Hill!!

 

MAY

Friends came to visit for the Piedmont Farm Tour

Parrish and I attended our very first Crop Mob :)

 

JUNE

Crust-less. Peach. Pie. (‘nuff said)

The ever so kind folks at Foodbuzz sent me to The Farm to Fork Picnic

 

JULY

Gluten Free French toast baby!

And Betty Crocker made gluten free life a WHOLE lot EASIER!!

 

AUGUST

I fell in love with Liz Lovely

and Julie & Julia hit the theatres!

 

SEPTEMBER

I showed gluten who’s boss by re-creating what I have missed the most:

mozzarella sticks!! And made my very first instructional video :)

And subsequently started running :)

 

OCTOBER

Ella (Lil’ Gluten Loves Me) celebrated her FIRST birthday!

Gourmet Magazine announced it was throwing in the towel.

 

NOVEMBER

Parrish and I created the BEST gluten free pizza…ever.

Max celebrated his 7th birthday!!

And of course, the funnest event in November: NC Triangle Blogger Meet-up!

 

DECEMBER

Days off for me were few and far between

Parrish gave me (and you) the BEST gift ever!!

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There’s still time to get a bumper sticker!! Email me with your shipping :) I plan on sending out a big batch on Monday, so you still have a few days left!

Persimmon Persuasion

Persimmons from my friend's farm. While they're not my favorite summer food (they're not in season), these were the best fruit I have ever eaten! Not everything good happens in the summer. My friend Jessica and I went to a conference near Trace's farm, so he gave us a tour. We picked the persimmons right from the tree on a cold winter morning, and they were amazing. Sunkist sweet with citrus and honey. Mmmm.

Trace and Jessica

My friend Trace, his partner Kristen, and two friends Noel and Danielle bought a farm together. They left Wilmington for "greener pastures" in Silk Hope, NC. They're calling their farm Circle Acres. You can read all about it at Trace's blog Cricket Bread. Trace is an awe-inspiring person. He is everything that's good in the world, and he works daily to spread it. Plus he's really funny and just the most perfect writer. He makes the most complex of topics seem approachable.

I'm thinking alot about those persimmons today. When those persimmons are in season next, I will be living there. That's right. Parrish and I are moving. We're not moving onto the farm, but we are moving into the middle of the state of NC. Most folks find it hard to believe that we would want to leave the coast, but I like hills...and farms...and the community in the "Triangle". I'm hoping to become even more involved with sustainable agriculture with this transition. More details on the big move later.

Don't forget to enter into the GIVEAWAY. Less than 24 hours to go!

My favorite summer food: Fresh Organic tomatoes right off the vine. Warm and juicy with a little salt and pepper. Yum!