Most of these seem self explanatory, but I think the Vegas one needs a little clarification.

You see, I’m competitive. I will compete with anyone over anything. So much so that I’ve been known to race people across the street and upon reaching the other side doing my own victory dance that resembles a Rocky vs Carlton mash-up. (Husband wants me to confess that more often than not, the people I’m racing don’t know they’re in a race. I don’t think that should matter as long as I win.) My incredible need to win extends to inanimate objects as well. It’s not usual for me to yell at TV game shows, or Mario when I don’t think he tried hard enough to jump over a Koopatroopa. So thinking this logic through, it’s a really bad idea to put me into a casino. If it’s not the dealer I need to beat, it’s going to be the slot machine. And since I tend not to quit until I can scream the word “pwned” at the top of lungs, chances are I would end up being forced to leave because my accumulated debt is too big for even Trump to get himself out of.

And now you know why I can’t go to Vegas. BUT that doesn’t mean you can’t, or aren’t going to!

And while you’re there, you’re going to want to check out Upper Crust, a wicked new GF bakery. At least, it promises to be wicked because it’s backed by none other than the one and only GF Patisserie. Upper Crust is the first International license from our friends at GF Patisserie. Essentially, they provide the same fantastic GF goodies, just in Las Vegas not Calgary!

As of yet there is no published opening date, but progress is being made. Keep checking the website for updates.

GF Vegas baby!

(Thank you to Celiac Husband for the heads up on this bakery)

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1. When the Mice and Snowmen Come to the Party. Okay, I’m going to talk about Christmas again. I know,...

And for me that means two things: a break from school and lots of good food.

To start off the summer right I want to talk about hamburgers – about the kind you make and the kind you buy.

First, the kind you make. Everyone has their favourite burger patty recipe. And I’m sure we could spend the next three months just talking about that. And since (as it comes to no surprise to all of you) that I don’t make my own, what I’m going to talk about is the bun. A bad GF bun can and will ruin the burger no matter how good it is.

Husband and I were shopping at Whole Paycheck Foods last week and came across Udi’s hamburger buns. At first I wasn’t all that excited because I’ve only found one hamburger bun I liked. ~cough GF Patisserie cough~ That being said, how was I going to be the one to turn down an opportunity to try something new. I mean, it’s not much of a blog if I don’t put myself and my taste buds out there right?!

So we went for it, and as soon as we got home I decided to make some turkey burgers. (actually Trader Joe’s made the burgers, I just thawed them and put them in the pan) When all was said and done, it was time to try it all together. And guess what people, I was really impressed! They were great. They were perfectly sized, they didn’t compete with the burger patty or the millions of toppings that I put on it. And best of all, they didn’t crumble, which means getting to eat my burger WITHOUT a fork and a knife. Sometimes it’s the little things that matter the most!

If you’re unable to find Udi’s in your neck of the woods, try THIS link. It may be of some use.

After all the work of heating up our own pre-made burgers, we moved on to eating burgers completely made by others.

In the last few weeks there has been a lot of talk around DC about this place called Shake Shack. It’s a burger joint with it’s own little schtic; they keep it simple with burgers and hot dogs and fries, oh and milkshakes. After a quick google search we discovered that they had GF options. And I was really excited to learn that they took it seriously and that they knew what the challenges are for people like us.

From the menu, I chose a cheese burger with lettuce and tomatoes – no bun. Husband had a double cheeseburger with the works. For those that are wondering, Shake Shake offers a wide range of milkshakes that are GF, and for a list of the ones that aren’t, just go to their webesite(or you can ask someone that works there – they know what they’re doing). I chose to forgo the milkshake because of that whole lactose intolerant thing, but if any of you have tried one, please let us know what you thought.

And there is some caution to be had with the fries. On their own they are gluten-free and they are cooked in a separate oil from other things. However, at the end of every night the different oils are cleaned together, which means there is potential for a little cross-contamination. I don’t chance that kind of stuff because I suck and my body will tell me when the smallest piece of gluten is in my food. So if you’ve tried the fries and havent had an issue (or have tried them and have) please let us know your thoughts.

Okay, with all that being said, I’m sure you want to know if it was any good. And it was, it was one of the best fast food burgers I’ve had in a long time. It wasn’t greasy, it had flavour and the toppings were fresh, very fresh. The best part, was that all of their condiments were Heinz and GF. Hell ya. (Shake Shack is located is the US only, sorry Canada, I still love you. Please keep it on the list for when you travel!)

It’s happy summer time everyone. So get your burger on!

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I want to talk about Mice and Snowmen – the edible kind.

Every year, Husband and I have a Boxing Day party. (If my non-Canadian readers are curious what that is – google it and fall in love with Canada) We started this tradition a few years ago as a way to see all of our friends at least once on the holidays. We’re at the age where everyone has to split their time between in-laws, and a few of of our smartest friends have traded domesticity for student life in far off lands and they only come back at Christmas. It just seemed like the most logical way to get everyone in the same room together.

Since Boxing Day is right after Christamas, we decided that out party was  going to include our version of a classy holiday dinner. So, we serve Turkey Sandwiches on Wonder Bread, and novelty deserts. (I eat my sandwich on GF Patisserie Sandwich bread, because it’s awesome.) This annual shindig has been affectionately names the Tiny Turkey Party, mostly because we cook the smallest, most decrepit turkey we can find – you know, the one that is left at the bottom of the bin after all the other turkeys were bought for Christmas dinner. We think those turkeys deserve some love as well.

This year, since we’re homeless in Canada, we held the party at my parents house. Now, I need you to know one thing right now – my Mom is like this domestic goddess. So this year, I decided to take some chances because I knew she’d be there to bail me out when I managed to mess things up! And as you all know, it’s inevitable that I will.

And this is how we got to the Mice. Completely edible and completely GF Mice.

Here’s a picture so that you stop judging me and keep reading:

Okay, so now you’re curious about how I made these completely GF. It was actually easier than you think. The base, NOT an Oreo, it’s a GF Glutino cookie. The face, is a Hershey Kiss, the body is a cherry dipped in chocolate (hence the tail), the ears are almond slivers and the eyes are GF decorating gel that I found at Superstore.

It was as simple as dipping the body in chocolate, attaching the head and ears and then putting the whole thing on the cookie. The best part about these Mice – watching people try to eat them. It actually turned into a competition to see who could come up with the most effective way of eating the mouse. Extra points were given to those who could do it in one bite.

The Snowmen were also an experiment in classy GF holiday goodies. Husband and I made these – my Mom was not there to supervise. And, well, you can tell. Here’s a picture:

Okay, in our defense, these sounded so much easier than they actually were. It was just icing sugar, mint extract, and soy milk. Mix it all together to make a dough, form into balls and decorate like Snowmen. For some reason, it didn’t turn out like that for us. That being said, we aren’t ones to give up on things so we carried on did the best we could with what we had. We also decided to take them to the next level by creating characters. Can you point out Liberace, the Generals, the Emo Hipster and the confused DJ? See, that’s called distraction, and it works in so many ways!

I’d like to thank my parents for allowing us to take over their house, my Mom for supervising, my cousin for helping with the mice, and our friends for eating whatever we put in front of them – you’re all troopers to me.

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KEEP DISNEYLAND ALIVE

The biggest gift I was given as a Celiac is GF Patisserie in Cochrane Alberta Canada. Run by the most dedicated ladies in the world. GF Patisserie has become my life staple, actually it’s my Disneyland. It’s where I go for fantastic bread and wonderful treats. It’s actually where I go for not only my birthday cake but for my family’s cakes as well. It’s where I go to be normal again, to feel like I’m being given the biggest GF hug; frankly, it’s where I go to feel good about myself.

And now it’s for sale.

~Pause for reflection~

Okay, now that you’ve adjusted to the news, it’s time to think about the future. There is going to be a large changing of the guard and I want to make sure that the guard is worthy.

So, if you or anyone you know, has a passion for GF baking and would like to know more about how to be part of GF Disneyland CLICK HERE.

But, and this is a big one, you must be prepared to make me GF Naniamo Bars every Christmas. This is not a request, this is a demand. The ladies of GF Patisserie have perfected the Naniamo bar and I ask Santa for them every year. And trust me, you wouldn’t want to stand between me and Santa.

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Reason #735.8: Long distance cakes.

Being an Aunt is the most amazing job I’ve ever had. Being an Aunt means I get all the great things about being a parent while skipping over everything else. Husband and I get to teach our kids (as we call them) stupid human tricks, we get to take them places their parents won’t, we get to act like morons in the name of entertainment and we get to celebrate their life moments without having to pay the bill. And most importantly, we get to hand them back when we’re too tired to deal. Husband and I have 3 nieces and 2 nephews that are truly superior to everyone else and their nieces and nephews. (insert gagging Hallmark face here)

One of my favourite Aunt responsibilities is making my niece Elle her birthday cake every year. I don’t know how this started, it just did and I take my job seriously. Elle is not a Celiac, but because I am, and I love cake, I always make her a GF cake. Some people might be thinking that this is a bit selfish, but I’m really just looking out for her – I wouldn’t want her to think that her Aunt hates cake. That would just be traumatic. (yes, logically that argument is flawed – but it’s my life and my blog and I say it works.)

This year, things were going to be a little different. No matter how hard I tried, there was no way to mail a GF cake over 1200 km’s and across the boarder. Not being one to give up I thought that I’d just go the cop out route and order one from Co-Op in Calgary and call it a day. BUT, then it hit me. My cousin has kids who are gluten intolerant and they will be there. How could I deny Ellie and them the GF cake goodness they’ve come accustom to. I decided that I was not going to be “TeeTee Let Down”, so I sent out an email – maybe more of an SOS but an email none the less. And guess who rescued me……

GF Patisserie!!

Over emails we picked the size, flavour, decoration, writing and I even paid for it via paypal. The best part of the whole process was that I didn’t even need to leave my desk. And trust me, as a student, you start to think of your desk and your computer as an extension of yourself.

Oh and people, Lauren is a rock star. She managed to take my babbling, turn them into a coherent order and execute exactly what I had in mind. The results were perfection…..see…..

Some of you are looking at that cake a little quizzically. Your eyes are not deceiving you. It does have the words, TeeTee, Dunkle and Epic on it. TeeTee and Dunkle just happen to be what Elle decided we should be called. Instead of Aunty and Uncle, we’re TeeTee and Dunkle. And that’s just fine by us, we even have it on coffee mugs! And speaking of stupid human tricks, there is now a rambunctious 4 year old running around Alberta telling everyone that she’s epic. (again, not an issue for us as we’re not her parents) No niece of ours will ever suffer from self esteem issues!

If you’re wondering how a toddler reacts to a GF cake, here’s a snap shot:

And no, that wasn’t staged. That’s just how Ellie is – when she’s not plotting world domination. She’s a girl after my own heart.

I heard nothing but great things about the taste of the cake. I’m told that the adults were half tempted to cut smaller pieces for the kids so that they could have more for themselves. And when adults are willing to take cake from kids, you know it has to be good!

Thanks GF Patisserie. You really made it easier to keep tradition alive even with some serious distance.

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Hurray for me!

I knew going in to this birthday that things were going to be different. Not only am I living in a new apartment, I’m living in a new city, in a new country, with different people and new things. I was also completely aware that this would be a birthday without GF Patisserie. (insert quiet sobs here)

People, this scared me. GF Patisserie has been my birthday go to – I go to them for cupcakes, cake, lemon loaf, and Naniamo Bars. If you’re wondering how I get Naniamo Bars in the summer – I save one at Christmas and freeze it until my birthday! It’s a test of wills and determination to leave them in there that long.

Knowing that this year I would be without my beloved GF Patisserie, I went on a mission. I needed to find something suitable. I decided that the best thing to do would be to focus on cupcakes. Husband and I picked three and here is what we found:

1. Vanilla Cupcakes from WholeFoods.

We found these in the freezer aisle at Whole Pay Check Foods. I was skeptical about them. They looked good, but looks can be deceiving. Once thawed we decided to dive right in. They were good, like really good. They were moist and had a great icing to cake ratio. The icing reminded me of Crave icing – so very very good.

My major complaint is the price. NOT affordable for a grad student. These will be a treat maybe once a year. The verdict is that we really liked them but can’t afford them. Thus, GF Patisserie still wins for their taste and affordability.

2. Black Velvet cupcake from Red Velvet.

Red Velvet is a cupcake shop in DC. We found it by accident while walking around China Town. All they sell is cupcakes and there is only one GF flavour – back velvet. I figured that this cupcake had to be great because this is what the do – just cupcakes. After one bite all I could think was: um, maybe they do a better gluten cupcake then a gluten free cupcake. It was dry, very very dry. The icing was okay, it was fluffy and airy but it was just okay. I won’t be going back there, it wasn’t worth the $3.25 they charge for the cupcake. Or the line that you have to wait in. If I had to say what the most redeeming quality of it was – location, we were able to eat our cupcakes while sitting on the steps of the National Gallery. And trust me people there is nothing like the view from those steps – people can be so strange when they don’t know you’re watching them.

(if you’re keeping track, that means that GF Patisserie is still on top)

3. Vanilla Ginger Cupcakes by Sweet Sin Gluten Free

We found these at WholeFoods, again in the freezer isle. I was excited about the change in flavour. Vanilla Ginger is not a flavour you’d expect to come in GF, especially not in a frozen cupcake. To be honest, they were nothing special. The flavour was nice, but just nice. The icing was okay, but a little gritty with sugar. What I will say I really like about these cupcakes was the price. They were really affordable. And to be honest, that will affect my decision to buy them again. They were good enough and a good price, that means I would probably buy them again if I was looking for cupcakes.

I had a great birthday, I got to spend it in one of the coolest cities in the world and I got to spend it with some really interesting people. What I miss however, is GF Patisserie. I miss the great taste and the affordability of it. So, this Christmas, I’m going to save some Naniamo Bar and I’m going to find a way to get here and in the freezer. And if they try to take it away from me at customs – I may just have to call on my inner ninja.

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There are so many things that I miss about Calgary and Canada right now. I miss my family, my friends (who are the same as family), my dog and my old boss. I miss how the use of a car horn is reserved for celebrating a win in hockey or to indicate an emergency – and NOTHING else. I miss how no one gets scared when you say hi to them, even when you don’t know them. I miss being able to find East simply by turning my back to the mountains, I miss the letter ‘U’ and I miss local business.

Moving here has been like being re-diagnosed all over again. Nothing is the same, grocery stores are inconsistent and the rules of ppm are different. I miss knowing what’s okay to eat.

So this post is dedicated to my people at home. Here are some gems in your area. Support local and support the GF conscious business near you.

First: I want to send a shout out to GF Patisserie. Why? Because they are awesome. I’ve never kept that a secret. They are a great example of local business that cares, and that takes the time to do it right. Quality over quantity. It matters – trust me. So to the lovely ladies at GF Patisserie and to the Celiac Husband that supports them – you truly are ROCKSTARS.

Second: Copper Pot Creations. Here’s the deal – I never had the pleasure of eating there. This information comes to me from an insider. Yes, I still have spies in Calgary. Be aware, be very aware! I looked over their mandate and the menu and I’m impressed. Their products are 100% free of wheat/gluten, egg, peanuts, tree nuts, dairy/casein, soy, sesame, fish and shellfish. Not going to lie, I had to stop and think: If the are free of all that, then what is left to cook with? And this, is why I am a domestic anti-goddess. There is lots left and they have made meals that look fantastic out it. They also offer free delivery with the city of orders $30/more. Someone please try them out and let us know how it is. I hope it tastes as promising as it looks/sounds.

Third: Wild Horse Bistro. My sister and my mom stumbled upon this gem when they were at the Farmers Market. And because they are so awesome, they sent the Chocolate Cake mix my way. It’s damn good. Nicely packaged, all ingredients included (at least the non-perishable ones) and easy to make. The cake came out fluffy, moist and rich. Wild Horse Bistro for the win! They operate out of Black Diamond, but can be found at Farmers Markets. Visit the site for more details.

So let me end with this. I miss you all. I miss you’re emails and comments. I miss your silent judgment of my culinary ineptness and even more importantly, I miss hearing about your lives. I may be living in the US, but for as long as I can type, I’ll do my best to contribute to your quest for GF greatness.

If anyone is interested in the directions I am going here, please feel free to follow my new twitter feed: @nonresident. A second blog is on it’s way. Because let’s be honest, I’m never short of things to say and living as a non-resident alien has given me more material than I ever thought possible.

Happy Easter My People.

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Here is the article, courtesy of my fantastic cousin.

As a side note: Do any of you have issues with people thinking your just on a fad diet? They actually ask at Chianti’s now if your GF choices are a preference or an allergy. My new standard response to people in these situations is to ask: Are you calling me fat? That usually takes the conversation in a whole new direction. I’m thinking that even if my food is gluten free, it might no longer be spit free after that!

Oh and another side note: GF Patisserie, sorry for being so negligent about this. A few weekends ago you helped my mom outfit my bridal shower with the most amazing goodies. Thank you so very very much. I particularly enjoyed watching the gluten eaters be amazed that it all tasted so good. Oh and my niece would like to express her concern – she was really concerned that you never got to sleep because your house was a bakery. I told her it’s okay because we all keep you too busy for sleep. She’s three, I think that one went right over her head. Thanks again, you really do rock my world.

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It’s been busy. Very, very busy. I haven’t had the chance to seek out new GF products and I’ve had even less time to blog about anything.

That being said, I am going to steal a format from Bailing Bucket, who stole his format from ctoverdrive, and give you a little list of the things I know today. Some GF and some not.

First - Kensington Wine Market strikes again. They are now carrying Glutener Beer. I’ve reviewed this before here, and now I am happy to say that it’s available in another place.

Second – I don’t care what BCFF says – everything in life can be reduced to 50/50. Will you win the lottery? It’s 50/50, you either will or won’t. Will they find a cure for cancer? 50/50, they either will or they won’t. Will a case of CocoPebbles fall from the sky and land in my kitchen? 50/50, either it will or it won’t - Just ask Celiac Husband. So for all of you pessimists out there that want to tell me that there is thing called Math that proves that I’m wrong ya da ya da, PLEASE save it. My argument is iron clad, and in the places it might not be – my resolve is, and I will win even if it’s by breaking you down into admitting I’m right.

Third – Timbuk2 has plaid. JAM.

Fourth – Thanksgiving is coming. Fiance and I are hosting. GF Patisserie is going to do most of the work.

Fifth – Love her or hate her, Dooce is a literary genius and her posts make me want to contemplate the idea of having kids. And then I remember that kids are all about eating all your food, spending all your money, messing up your stuff and never really knowing at any given time what is going on.

Sixth – Have a great weekend everyone.

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Please give McDonald’s your phone number.

They’re claiming that a good tasting hamburger bun is hard to find.

I disagree.

So if you could just get on that, we’d all appreciate it.

Thanks,

Glutastic.

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