Remember when I turned 26, and I wasn't GLUTEN FREE!!!

For those who know me know I LOVE MY BIRTHDAY!!!! And I have the best family and friends to spoil me on my special day, or week!

Twenty Six for some reason feels like a big milestone... Maybe because I am no longer in the 18-25 age group and I now am with the group going up to 34! 34 sounds so far away! Anyways... I always love a reason to celebrate and even more fun celebrating me.

So what did we do? We went to the farmers market with the chefs of Wine Cask, Sous Chef Nik and his helper, on their usual Tuesday produce pickup and they showed us the best vendors and share a few secrets and picked out a few of my favorite items for them to cook for us later that night.  Very prepared before we started I thought of all my favorite foods ready for when they asked.  Well they actually had a the 3 courses already planned, but they said they would do something special because it was my birthday.  So I told them I really like Spinach, Bacon, Butternut Squash, and Scallops.  We picked up a butternut squash and fresh spinach with the roots or stems still on them which gave them extra flavor (and I am guessing nutrition too?).  

After walking with the chefs we picked up some good treats and flowers.  Now I know why we don't shop there weekly, we buy everything!

A few hours later, we went to the wine cask to have our meal at the Chef's Counter.  Here are the dishes, including my special birthday dish: a scallop on top of sweet potato and pancetta hash with a spinach sauce. 

Danielle planned a celebration for me and my almost twin Eli at Bridlewood Estate Winery. She is so fancy with her cheese plates. 

Andrew made brownies and they were freaking delicious.  Thanks Ina for your... 

SUPER FUDGEY

COFFEE 

SALTED CARAMEL

BROWNIES

 Helper Scott! 

Cheers to 26, it has treated me well so far... and I am almost 26 1/2 now that I am writing this!

Gluten Free... The way it has to be!

Early February I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease after years of tummy issues, and I am happy to say I feel soooo much better.  My 'issues' were something I just started to think were normal and it was how it would be for the rest of my life... Thank Goodness it isn't, well only if I say good bye to GLUTEN!

So all my experimenting with Paleo was very helpful, but I was always off-roading on the diet.  So my body never had the chance to heal.  On Paleo I wasn't aware of cross-contamination, which means gluten could be getting in without me even knowing.  I have read blog after blog, forum after forum, and slowly becoming more and more comfortable making decisions at the store and out at restaurants.  I have told myself, I may be gluten-free, but I will never give up my love for food.

My Extraordinary Adventure of Taste has taken a turn... I don't expect to for my food to be any less than extraordinary, it will just be gluten free... the way it has to be!

Two weekends ago Andrew and I celebrated 4 years! I know time flies... I was a little worried my new way of eating was going to ruin our celebration, so I did everything I could to make it seem like nothing changed.  We had dinner at our favorite restaurant, Olio Pizzeria. I was a little nervous being so picky and having special orders, but our waitress was so nice and always made sure everything was safe. 

We drank our special bottle of 2010 Pinot Noir from Tyler.

Enjoyed gluten free parma pizza!

And for dessert... butterscotch pudding.

Cheers to 4 years!!! Love you Andrew. 

Whoa... I am back!

Ok... you can all understand I really did need that relaxing, productive, weekend to myself because it has been crazy!!!

Well I am back and have so much to share!

Let's think about what has happened the last month an a half? Umm The Cookie Party, then a Christmas Party, and another Christmas party, and then another, and then Christmas, New Years, my New Year resolution, MY BIRTHDAY, my birthday party, and then tax season has already started!

But I am going to start out small and share what we had for dinner last night!

On my birthday Andrew and I had a great adventure to the farmers market, with the chefs, which I will share more in a later post, but we discovered Mama's Preserves Jalapeno Jelly's.  It was one of those tasting samples that you try on little taste and you have to have more.  Yep, we bought a whole jar of it and I was determined to integrate it into one of our dinners.

Andrew instructed me this was going to be a simple dinner all we needed was steak, cream cheese and of course the jelly.

And it really was easy: 

1. Salt and pepper the small filets

2. Then in a cast iron pan heat up olive oil

3. Cook the for 4 minutes on each side, before you flip spoon some jelly on the top of the steak at 2 minutes spread cream cheese on top and then top with the jelly. It will melt very nicely. 

 4. And you can't forget the pancetta and brussel sprouts.