Frugal Accomplishments during March 2014

free image courtesy of Pixabay.com

March is always a good month for frugal accomplishments! It's a long month and money has to stretch as much as possible to make it through to the end. That means we have to get creative in how we spend our money and how we budget. March is a great month to find free activities, the weather starts getting nice and you can spend more time outside with a good walk or time with pets or your yard. We actually have a lot of yard work I should get started on to prepare spring beds! 

Here's a pictorial review of some of things we accomplished this month in our frugal and savings goals: 

• 52 Week Savings Challenge: First we've continued a special savings plan we started at the beginning of January called the 52 week Savings Challenge. If you haven't heard of this, there are tons of different websites explaining the process, for example check out this great board on pinterest with different ideas of implementation: 52 Week Challenge. Basically the way it works is for each week of the year you put the corresponding number of dollars into your savings jar or savings account. There are good reasons to follow this challenge at home or by using a savings account. Using a savings account will (of course) allow you to gain interest on this money, but sometimes people need the visual reminder of a jar at home. We are saving this money to use for Christmas next year, along with a few other items we'd like to have to improve our home. What has worked best for US in this challenge is to simply save the weekly average of the total amount of $1378.00, which we rounded to about $30 a week. Since the amount grows each week that you save, you would end up having to put a LOT in the jar/savings account by the end of the year, so it's been beneficial for us financially to simply use the $30 weekly average as opposed to the assigned weekly amount. Still, if we can keep this up for a year, this will make Christmas next year SO much easier than it's been in year's past! We won't have a credit card balance! 

• As a Non-Consumer Advocate/ Less Stuff: One of the things I'm working on this year is buying less stuff, especially "stuff" we don't need (and it's amazing how your needs vs. your wants change as you really think about how much things cost and how you can stretch of the use of items you already have! One way we practiced this this month was by repairing several items at home. Last month I patched my favorite pair of jeans. This month I spent 2 hours mending and repairing the edges of this old comforter I've had for the past 10 years. I bought the comforter for my first apartment out of college as a brand-new (but slightly damaged) set at Goodwill for $30.00. The sheets and matching pillowcases are long gone, but we still use the comforter! I rotate comforters since we have cats who like to throw up and drag tushes... but this one has been able to outlast all of that even with constant washings! I'm hoping to get another 10 years out of it with the repairs! 

• Leftovers for breakfast! We have always eaten leftovers for lunch, but I've expanded the practice to include leftovers for breakfast too. My favorite leftover breakfast is a baked sweet potato topped with butter, cinnamon, a little sugar, and pecans! 

• Less Products/Less Plastics: One way we're cutting back on buying products and packaging has been to cut out store-bought shampoo & conditioner. I've gone the "no (sham)poo" route and I use a variety of different ingredients to wash my hair. You can learn more about this method from a variety of blogs and facebook groups. My favorite facebook group is called: Toxin Free Hair Care: No "Poo"/ Low "Poo" Forum. Not only are you removing toxins from your home and body by using hygiene methods like this, but you're also helping to use less unnecessary containers and plastic packaging, so less "stuff" for the landfills. A great blog to help you get started on "no poo" or if you're simply curious about the process is: becoming peculiar (I love this title! lol). Also... you start to realize that "crunchy/hippie/granola" is not nearly as weird as you once thought... lol! The picture above shows a before/after on one of my mid-week hair days. I generally "wash" my hair about once every 4-5 days and by the 4th day or so it can look "greasy" so I use a "dry shampoo" that consists of a little cornstarch and a little cocoa powder. I sprinkle the mixture on my roots, rub it well into my scalp and then brush it out with a boar bristle brush. I fluff my hair with my hands and on the right you see the results after the dry shampoo. Again, for more details on HOW the process works and why you would even bother with such a crazy thing, please check out this blog post or MANY others (google it.. you'll be amazed at how many people do this!)

• Shopping store sales/ less grocery costs: I generally shop once a week for groceries. In the past month our grocery budget has been between $50 and $60 a week for two people. This is for mostly food only. I get our toiletries in bulk on amazon for much less about once every 5-6 months. The picture above shows my groceries from last week. This was a $49.38 purchase from Food Lion. I buy ONLY items that are on sale and I create my menu around the store sale items or items that I have a store coupon for. This way I save nearly 15%- 20% on all my groceries. This means the menu is not always exciting! However, we've saved a lot of money this way and  we certainly haven't gone hungry! I also focus on making sure MOST of what we eat is naturally healthy. Hubs (who is NOT gluten-free) is the cereal fiend and I'm hoping one day I can convince him to try the store brand cereals... we'll see... lol

• Homemade homemade homemade!! Gluten-free food products are ridiculously expensive, especially if you want something baked. Contrary to popular belief I actually don't bake that much. I did when I was writing cookbooks and creating tons of recipes for the blog here, but since I don't bake all that much anymore, you don't see nearly as many recipes (my apologies! lol! I need an ingredients allowance!)  I was craving pizza last week so I made the recipe out of my "Everything Gluten-Free Baking Cookbook" (this is NOT an affiliate link, I do not make money by you clicking the link to amazon) and honestly we had forgotten how good that recipe is. We'll definitely be making that homemade pizza more often! 

• PANCAKES! In the same homemade savings arena... we've been making these homemade pancakes a LOT! This is by far my favorite pancake recipe and I discovered it and tweaked it a few months ago. I will share it on the blog soon. Seriously, I've made a TON of different types of gluten-free pancakes and these are by far my favorite! I can't wait to share it with you... I do not like admitting I finally started using a kitchen scale to make them... (and yes, I still prefer baking with cups & spoons, HOWEVER... I can admit that I see why serious bakers enjoy using a scale for recipes....man I hate admitting that... LOL)

• Choosing Joy, every single day! Being frugal not only means you spend less, it means you can choose to find great joy with less. And that has become a huge priority in my life. By choosing joy every day, I have been able to find joy in the most mundane of activities such as washing dishes or putting up clean clothes. I used to HATE these everyday tasks... and somedays are better than others... but by having less and enjoying what I do have, I have found SO much joy. I've written about this topic before, and I will write about it again soon. I hope you can find joy in being frugal! If you have... will you share in the comments below? 

Gluten-Free Book Review: The Everything Guide to Gluten-Free Living

This is another book review I've been meaning to share with you for months! My good friend Jeanine Friesen, creator and author of "The Baking Beauties" a wonderful Canadian gluten-free food blog, has written a brand new book called, "The Everything Guide to Living Gluten-Free."

(...and I know I'm biased, but I'm thrilled this book is published by Adams Media, the publishers I work with as well and who also published my gluten-free slow cooker cookbook!) 

In the very beginning of the book Jeanine states, "...a gluten-free life isn't all about loss and restrictions. It is also about variety and abundance and finding new ways to enjoy your life."  THIS is why I love Jeanine. She believes in being positive and finding the best possible outcome even when you're diagnosed with Celiac disease or gluten sensitivity or a wheat allergy. This book will give you an incredibly positive outlook on life gluten-free.

Complete with chapters on why people go gluten-free, an in-depth look at Celiac disease, and what gluten is and ALL the places it can be found. Jeanine's guide will give you tips and hints for every aspect of going gluten-free. There is an entire chapter on starting a gluten-free diet. How to organize and stock your kitchen gluten-free. How to go shopping gluten-free. How to eat out and travel gluten-free. If you want a complete all-in-one guide, Jeanine's book is the best resource for your gluten-free lifestyle!

And then on top of all that, Jeanine also includes 100 incredible recipes for starting a gluten-free diet. Recipes such as:

• Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins
• Cheesiest Macaroni and Cheese
• Baked Chicken Fingers
• Lean Beef Stroganoff
• Waldorf-Inspired Quinoa Salad
• Baked Mexican Rice Casserole
• Fluffy Buttermilk Biscuits
• Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes with Fluffy Raspberry Frosting

So do those sound good? I thought so! Jeanine's new book is NOW available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and probably your favorite online retailer! Please check out her new book, buy a copy, and please please please leave her a review once you've picked one up! 

Seriously, "The Everything Guide To Living Gluten-Free" is one of the best resources to have on hand if you are gluten-free. I hope to donate a few copies of this to my local library very soon! 

What's the most important tip you could give to someone who is newly gluten-free? 

Please share your thoughts in the comments below! 

Gluten-Free Quick Meals 101: What to cook when you don't feel like cooking

Let's be honest... life is just BUSY. Our current lifestyle and culture thrive on busy-ness and often once we've gotten home from work or school or it's the end of the day for homeschooling or stay-at-home moms & dads... we're just tired. We don't want to cook (okay, make that CARRIE does not want to cook.) Maybe you don't feel quite the same way, but you also have times when you just don't have much energy or you feel frustrated or burned out with the gluten-free diet. Well here you go. Over 100 super fast and easy gluten-free recipes just for you.  With the help of some dear friends I've put together a go-to list with recipes that you can mix and match just for you. You have weeks and weeks worth of meals here. Need a meal plan? Pick five from the list and you're ready to go. Vegan meals, vegetarian meals, meat & potatoes meals, kid-friendly meals... whatever your dietary restrictions are there's probably at least 20 meals you can choose from on this list.

Many, MANY thanks to Clara Ogren and Cheryl Harris for offering their recipes, ideas, and insight. Also many thanks to Pema, Michelle, Kathleen, and Brooke, friends from the GLG facebook page, for offering their favorite quick recipes as well! 


Gluten-Free Quick Meals 101: Over 100 super easy gluten-free meal ideas for when you don't feel like cooking!
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1. Bacon and eggs. You can make each super fast in the microwave or traditionally on the stove! -- GLG

2. Scrambled eggs served over gluten-free toast or sauteed spinach. -- GLG

3. Microwaved baked potatoes with microwaved steamed broccoli and cheese. -- GLG

4. Baked beans served on top of microwaved baked potatoes. -- GLG

5. Tuna salad served on top of microwaved baked potatoes. -- GLG

6. Microwaved sweet potatoes served with heated ham slices and green beans. -- GLG

7. Deli rotisserie chicken with microwaved sweet potatoes and steamed green beans or asparagus. -- GLG

8. Gluten-free spaghetti noodles, cooked according to package directions and mixed with cooked garden peas, chopped carrots, butter, and parmesan cheese. -- GLG

9. Chicken salad made from leftover deli rotisserie chicken served on gluten-free crackers or toast. -- GLG

10. Fried eggs served on top of sauteed kale, onions, and mushrooms. -- GLG

Bonus Recipe: Iris' Chickpea Tomato Sauce

11. "Leftover" omelettes -- omelettes filled with whatever veggies & meat leftovers you have in the fridge. -- GLG

12. Canned chili served over microwaved baked potatoes with shredded cheese, onions, and sour cream. -- GLG

13. Gluten-free pasta, cooked according to package directions and mixed with canned spaghetti or marinara sauce, and a bag of mixed vegetables. -- GLG

14. Cooked chicken breasts, diced and mixed with jarred pesto sauce, served over cooked brown rice. -- GLG

15. Cooked chicken breasts, diced and mixed with jarred salsa, served over cooked brown rice or tortilla chips. -- GLG

16. Cooked chicken breasts, diced and mixed with cooked garden peas and cooked, diced carrots, and cooked brown rice or quinoa. Add 1 cup hot gluten-free chicken broth over each serving for a quick and hearty. -- GLG

17. Corn tortilla quesadilla with black beans, cheddar, and sliced avocado. -- GLG

18. Corn tortilla pizzas with pizza sauce, pepperoni, and cheese. -- GLG

19. Cooked gluten-free pasta mixed with scrambled eggs, and finely chopped sautéed kale, and sliced cherry tomatoes. -- GLG

20. Quick Peanut butter or almond butter satay sauce over gluten-free pasta: mix together a few tablespoons of almond butter or peanut butter, gluten-free soy sauce or coconut aminos, fish sauce, rice wine vinegar, and a little sugar. Heat in a saucepan until pour-able and serve over cooked pasta with chopped peanuts or cashews. -- GLG

Bonus Recipe: Claire's Asparagus Salad with Strawberries

21. Sautéed zucchini with onions, olive oil, and ½ pound of high quality ground-beef. Need carbs? Serve over cooked gluten-free pasta or cooked brown rice. -- GLG

22. Quick tuna melt – Mix up a drained can of tuna with a few tablespoons of mayonnaise and a little mustard. Place on toasted gluten-free bread and top with baby spinach. Add cheese on top and place under broiler for 2-3 minutes or microwave for 30 seconds – 1 minute until cheese is melted. -- GLG

23. Cooked gluten-free fusilli pasta with garlic, parmesan cheese, and butter. -- GLG

24. Crudites with dressing: Chop a carrot, a green pepper, and celery stalk into sticks and dip in your favorite gluten-free dressing. For protein add a cheese stick or rolled up slices of ham or turkey. -- GLG

25. Snack dinner: serve ham, turkey, and cheese slices with gluten-free crackers. -- GLG

26. Stock up on canned Progresso Soups (lentil, manhattan clam chowder, split pea with ham, chicken corn chowder, hearty black bean, potato broccoli and cheese, new England clam chowder, creamy mushrooms, southwestern style chicken, southwestern style chicken chowder, chicken rice with vegetables. -- GLG

27. Gluten-free veggie burgers such as Sunshine burgers served open-faced on gluten-free toast or as a sandwich on gluten-free buns. -- GLG

28. Quick stir-fry: saute 2 sliced chicken breasts with 1-2 bags of frozen vegetables. Serve over 90 second  cooked brown rice. -- GLG

29. Store-bought or homemade hummus with cut-up fresh veggies or gluten-free crackers. -- GLG

30. Keep it old school: a gluten-free peanut butter or almond butter and jelly sandwich, with a sliced apple, and a cheese stick. -- GLG

Bonus Recipe: Sara's Bruchetta Pasta Toss

31. Saute two sliced zucchinis with a chopped sweet onion and 1/2 pound of ground beef or sliced flank steak. Serve over fresh baby spinach or cooked brown rice. -- GLG

32. Brown 1/2 pound ground beef with cooked black beans, 1/2 diced sweet onion. Season with gluten-free taco seasoning and serve over a fresh salad with cheese and sour cream. -- GLG

33. Use browned ground beef mixture in idea #32 and fold into omelets or a gluten-free brown rice tortilla. -- GLG

34. Add 1 pound browned ground beef 1 diced sweet onion, 2 cups cooked sweet corn to a casserole dish. Top with prepared or leftover mashed potatoes. Dot with butter and bake at 350 for 1 hour. Serve with a salad. -- GLG

35. Make fresh or frozen ground turkey burgers and serve over a salad or baby spinach. Make a large batch of individual burgers ahead of time and freeze them. -- GLG

36. Gluten-free pancakes using Homemade master mix or GF Bisquick with gluten-free sausage. -- GLG

37. Mix 3 cups cooked gluten-free pasta with 1 jar of spaghetti or marinara sauce and 1 pound browned ground beef. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and bake for 35 minutes at 350 degrees. -- GLG

38. Gluten-free french toast with scrambled eggs and sliced apples. -- GLG

39. Make a large batch of gluten-free meatballs and freeze them. Reheat meatballs over cooked brown rice, quinoa, or mashed potatoes. Serve with spaghetti sauce or pesto sauce. -- GLG

40. Brown 1 pound of ground beef and add a few mashed garlic cloves, 2 bags of frozen broccoli and serve over gluten-free toast or cooked brown rice. -- GLG

Bonus Recipe: Quick Chicken & Broccoli Skillet Meal

41. Prepare 12 ounces of gluten-free penne pasta and add a drained & rinsed can of white beans, 1 package of fresh baby spinach, and 2-3 tablespoons of butter and Parmesan cheese or a homemade non-dairy cheese sauce. -- GLG

42. Toast 2 slices of gluten-free bread. Add pizza sauce, pepperoni, mushrooms, chopped green pepper, and cheese. Toast again under the broiler until cheese is melted. -- GLG

43. Easy 3 bean salad: mix together 3 different types of canned beans that have each been drained & rinsed. Add 1/2 diced green pepper and 1/2 a diced sweet onion. Pour a little Italian salad dressing over the bean mixture. Refrigerate and enjoy for a quick and easy cold meal. -- GLG

44. Veggie quesadillas: fill corn tortillas with chopped zucchini, black beans, mushrooms, cooked spinach and a little cheese. cook on griddle until cheese is melted through. -- GLG

45. Quick mexican salad: drain and rinse 1 can of sweet corn kernels and 1 can of black beans. Quarter 20 cherry tomatoes, mix all together and serve. -- GLG

46. Lunch lettuce wraps: place large leaves of iceberg lettuce on a place and fill with sandwich ham or turkey, cheese if desired, mayonnaise, mustard, sliced tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, etc... wrap and eat! -- GLG

47. Refried beans spread on a corn tortilla and heated for 30 seconds in the microwave. Add chopped turkey or ham and top with cheese or Daiya cheese substitute. -- Clara O.

48. 90 second curry - heat up a 90 second microwavable curry (available in the Indian or International section of your grocery store) and serve over 90 second microwavable brown rice. Serve. -- Clara O.

49. Frozen vegetables (the 'steamable' kind in the freezer) heated according to directions and served over gluten-free pasta or cooked brown rice. Place cooked chicken or sliced ham or turkey over the vegetables. -- GLG

50. Boiled eggs, sliced and served on gluten-free crackers with salt and pepper. -- Clara O.

Bonus Recipe: Grilled Chili-Lime Tilapia with Peach Salsa

51. Protein wrap: place sliced boiled eggs, cheese, salt & pepper on slices of turkey or ham. Wrap and eat. -- Clara O.

52. Smoked oysters on gluten-free crackers with mustard. -- Clara O.

53. Quick egg salad: dice up boiled eggs and mix with mayonnaise, mustard, salt, pepper, and relish. Serve on gluten-free crackers or toast. -- Clara O.

54. Peanut butter or almond butter on sliced apples or bananas. -- Clara O.

55. Peanut butter or almond butter spread in a gluten-free wrap with banana slices and raisins. -- Clara O.

56. Hummus spread on lunch meat with sliced cucumbers and rolled up as a wrap. -- Clara O.

57. Gluten-free pepperoni slices and cheese slices on gluten-free crackers -- Clara O.

58. Pre-cooked, peeled & diced sweet potatoes served sprinkled with goat cheese and roast beef slices. -- GLG

59. "Sick soup" - 2 cups heated gluten-free chicken broth with 4-5 tablespoons potato flakes stirred in. Very easy to digest and very comforting. -- GLG

60. Gluten-free penne pasta, cooked and tossed with a few tablespoons of olive oil, garden peas, cooked and crumbled bacon, and chopped sun-dried tomatoes. -- GLG

Bonus Recipe: Shirley's Meatloaf in Minutes

61. Pre-cooked, diced butternut squash, toasted walnuts, dried cranberries. Tossed together and drizzled slightly with honey mustard dressing. -- GLG

62. Canned pinto beans, heated and served with chopped onions and either gluten-free cornbread, or simple gluten-free toast. -- GLG

63. Cooked/rotisserie chicken, add a little mayo/mustard/relish for a chicken salad. Serve on crackers or in lettuce wrap, or on top of salad. -- Clara O.

64. Cucumber boats: cucumber cut in half and middle scooped out, filled with lunchmeat, mayo, etc. -- Clara O.

65. Open-faced, Super quick "Manwiches" - Mix 1 pound browned ground beef, with 1/2 chopped onion, 3/4 cup gluten-free ketchup, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 tablespoons mustard, and 2 teaspoons Worchestershire sauce. Mix all together and spoon ground beef mixture over gluten-free toast. For an instant melt, add a slice of cheese and place under the broiler for 2 minutes and serve with a salad or green beans. -- GLG

66. Coconut or almond milk yogurt with granola, sliced/diced nuts and dried fruit. -- Clara O.

67. Chef salad—romaine lettuce, arugula or spinach, carrots, tomato, cucumber, peppers, etc. with leftover meat, cheese, a hardboiled egg, nuts or beans, with olive oil and vinegar dressing. - Cheryl Harris

68. Salsa soup-heat a can of salsa, a can of black or pinto beans, a 2 C thawed corn & add in some broth (Herb ox®, Imagine® and Pacific® ). Serve w/ cheese (optional) &/or plain tortilla chips. -- Cheryl Harris

69. Bean and Tuna salad—Drained can of chickpeas, a drained can tuna fish, 1 C cherry tomatoes, 1/4 C feta (optional), 2 TBSP olive oil, 2 T balsamic vinegar or lemon juice. Sprinkle w/garlic salt &pepper. -- Cheryl Harris

70. Baby Greens Salad with Garbanzo Beans: 3 C baby green mix w/herbs, sliced avocado, ¾ C garbanzo beans, 1 C tomatoes, 2 TBSP pecans & Parmesan (optional). Mix w/1 TBSP balsamic vinegar/ lemon juice &1 TBSP of olive oil right before eating. - Cheryl Harris

Bonus Recipe: Kat's Chicken with Artichokes

71. Corn tortilla or lettuce leaf wrap with tuna, hummus, avocado, roasted veggies, cold cuts or cheese (Boar’s Head® meats and cheeses) lettuce, tomato, pickles, condiments, etc. -- Cheryl Harris

72. Arugula salad: 2 cups arugula or spinach, ½ can salmon, ½ avocado, ½ chopped green apple & a few walnuts. Squeeze lemon on top right before eating. (keep the remaining halves for tomorrow) -- Cheryl Harris

73. Quick Black Bean Salad: Can of black beans, 2 ears raw sliced or 1 C thawed corn, 1 C tomatoes, ¼ C cilantro, a pinch of cumin and lime juice on top. -- Cheryl Harris

74. Hummus salad: hummus with romaine, tomato, cucumber, red peppers or onion. -- Cheryl Harris

75. Quinoa & beans: rinse 1 C quinoa, cook w/ 2 1/4 C broth (Imagine®, Pacific®, Herb Ox®), add in 2 tsp of chili powder & 2 C black beans & 2 C chopped tomatoes. Serve w/lime. (several portions) -- Cheryl Harris

76. Baked salmon: put salmon on parchment paper on a cookie sheet, sprinkle with salt & pepper, & herbs (rosemary, thyme, tarragon, etc.) or slices of lemon. Drizzle w/ olive oil, bake for 12-15 minutes at 425°. Serve w/ steamed veggies. -- Cheryl Harris

77. Grill chicken, fish or shrimp and peppers, onions, zucchini, eggplant, yellow squash, mushrooms, etc. (many stores sell veggies pre-skewered) -- Cheryl Harris

78. Grill or broil steaks and serve with a baked plain or sweet potato. -- Cheryl Harris

79. Flounder, sole, red snapper: bake 4 filets with ¼ tsp of Old Bay® seasoning, ½ tsp garlic salt, squeeze of lemon, a drizzle of oil, & a pound of frozen veggies at 375° for 25-30 minutes. -- Cheryl Harris

80. Brown 1lb ground turkey/lean beef & drain, or use 2 cans kidney beans. Add a can of tomatoes, 1 TBSP oregano & 2 C thawed corn. Simmer until done (about 15 min) & serve w/ brown rice. -- Cheryl Harris

Bonus Recipe: Rebekah's Samon Croquettes

81. Sauté ¼ C minced garlic w/ 2T olive oil for 1 min & add 1 C of white wine, simmer 2 min. Add 1.5 C cooked shrimp & 3 C thawed chopped broccoli, carrots, peppers, etc. & heat until warm. Sprinkle w/Parmesan cheese & black pepper, serve w/ quinoa, GF pasta or rice noodles if desired. -- Cheryl Harris

82. Baked trout with almonds: Sprinkle 4 trout fillets w/salt &pepper. Drizzle with 2 T oil&1 T lemon juice. Sprinkle w/ ½ cup sliced almonds. Bake at 400° for 20 min &serve w/seasonal veggie. -- Cheryl Harris

83. Hot dog (bunless, with a gf bun, or lettuce wrap) with plain potato chips. (Hebrew National®, Applegate Farms®). -- Cheryl Harris

84. Pour a large jar of tomato sauce over chicken pieces and cook at 350° for 35 minutes or until done. Serve with veggies and gluten-free pasta. -- Cheryl Harris

85. Steamed crabs (check seasonings) with corn on the cob. -- Cheryl Harris

86. Cannellini beans, tuna in olive oil (optional), drained canned diced tomatoes, a few Kalamata olives and a few fresh basil leaves. -- Cheryl Harris

87. Fajitas—Sauté 1 chopped onion & 1 sliced red pepper with 2 TBSP of oil. Add package of precooked chicken (Perdue’s Short Cuts®) &Mc Cormick’s® fajita seasoning. Serve w/corn tortillas. -- Cheryl Harris

88. Prepare 3 cups instant wild rice. Add in 1 lb precooked chicken, a chopped apple, 2 chopped celery stalks, 1/2 cup of pecans, 1 Tbsp of honey Dijon mustard, 1/4 cup oil and 3 T of balsamic vinegar or lemon juice. Mix. -- Cheryl Harris

89. Cuban Beans & Rice: Sauté 1 chopped onion in 1T oil. In 2 min, add chopped pepper, 2T minced garlic & ½ tsp chili powder. Cook 2 min, add in 15 oz diced tomatoes w/ juice & simmer 15 min. Add 3 C beans & heat until warm. Serve over brown rice, add seasonings & cilantro to taste. -- Cheryl Harris

90. Sauté garlic until golden. Add tofu, cooked shrimp or chicken and thawed mixed vegetables, &warm. Add several tablespoons of soy sauce &serve over rice/rice noodles (San-J /La Choy®). -- Cheryl Harris

Bonus Recipe: Anna's Bacon & Egg Baked Chard

91. Brown 2 GF cooked sausages (Applegate®, Trader Joe’s®). Add 2 C chopped green/red pepper &cook 2 min. Add 2 C corn, 1 C tomatoes, 3 C of cooked rice & 1 T Cajun seasoning. -- Cheryl Harris

92. Make rice noodles according to package.  Add broccoli halfway through cooking or 2-3 minutes before the end, drain, and add a can of baby corn.  Pour peanut sauce on top* (Thai Kitchen® sauces). -- Cheryl Harris

93. Pan-seared haddock or other white fish (like tilapia) with lemon pepper seasoning and drizzled store-bought reduced balsamic vinegar. Serve with steamed veggies (like Steamables) with potato chips on the side. -- Kathleen Duquette

94. Quick crust-less quiche: Mix 10 eggs, little milk, salt, pepper, and thyme together. Pour into a large heated-cast iron skillet. Top with cheese, chopped leftover veggies (whatever you want to use). Bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Favorite toppings on this are: chopped cherry tomatoes, green onions,  and feta cheese. Serve with fruit smoothies or a salad. -- Brooke Ruzek

95.  Butter Chicken: Cube 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts, put in a large ziplock baggie with a little rice flour and a pinch of salt. Shake around. Melt butter or butter substitute in a large skillet. Saute or stir-fry chicken and serve over rice with vegetables or a salad. Super fast, easy, and yummy. -- Michelle Soruco

96. Add 1-2 cubed and cooked chicken breasts to 1 can of Progresso Creamy Mushroom soup and add 1-2 packages of steamed broccoli. Cook over medium heat for 15-20 minutes and serve over 90-second cooked brown rice. -- GLG

97. Serve poached eggs over gently wilted spinach or argula with a side of crispy bacon and gluten-free toast or hashbrowns. -- GLG

98. Cook a box of gluten-free macaroni and cheese as make as directed. Mix in browned ground beef, peas & carrots, or green beans & chopped ham for a quick homemade "Hamburger Helper" type meal. -- GLG

99. Chocolate Protein Smoothie: 1 cup  COLD coconut milk, 1 frozen banana, 1 tablespoon almond butter, 1 scoop gluten-free chocolate protein powder or 1 tablespoons cocoa powder. Pour into a blender and blend until smooth and enjoy! -- Pema Sony-la

100. Almond Banana Smoothie: 1 cup almond milk, 1 ripe banana (preferably frozen), 2-3 drops liquid stevia (if needed), 2 drops almond extracts, sprinkle of cinnamon, handful of ice-cubes. Optional: spoonful of ground flax, protein powder, or chia seeds. Pour all into a blender and blend until very smoothe. Serve and enjoy! - Clara O.

101.  When all else fails, or just because you want too: Dinner at a restaurant with a GF menu (Uno’s®, Outback®, Bonefish®, PF Chang’s®, etc.) -- Cheryl Harris

Bonus Recipe: Alta's Egg, Zucchini, Red Pepper, and Spinach Wrap

RAK - Random Acts of Kindness Week, February 11-15

The college campus I work at has made a point to celebrate this special week the past few years. I think it's such a great idea. So often around Christmas we have feelings of giving, the awesome charitable love for others and just wanting to help... but then as the holidays fade, those kind thoughts can often get lost in the shuffle of getting back to everyday life.

I speak from experience. We just seem to sort of "forget" to be nice sometimes... and I'm probably more guilty than most. So I hope to find ways of being a little kinder this week! I'm hoping to bake some gluten-free cupcakes or cookies and sharing them with my co-workers. I also made silly valentine's to share with everyone.

For more information on this special week every year, please visit the foundation's website: randomactsofkindness.org.

December Sanity Challenge 2012 -- A Peaceful Holiday Season

Image created by the lovely Jennifer Yandle Photography & Design

December... a time actually meant for rest, reflection, creativity, and self-care. But is that what you think of when you envision December? I don't. It often can mean a never-ending to-do list. A focus on gifts, gifts, gifts... christmas cards, ornate decorating, doing everything possible to create a picture-perfect Rockwell holiday. And really, it was just a painting. A lovely painting... but it's not what the holidays are all about.

For me, December is a time to reflect on the journey of Christmas. As a Christian, it's a deeply spiritual time of remembering the miracle of Christ's birth. It's also a deeply spiritual time for many, many other religions and beliefs. It's a time to honor our friends & family. It's a time to rest and rejuvenate.

But so often with sparkly lights, weeks and weeks of Holiday sales starting the actual DAY of Thanksgiving now (ironic, no?), and holiday party after holiday party... it's no wonder we can lose sight of the serenity of the season.

Last year was the first year I participated in Cheryl Harris' December Sanity Challenge. It was truly a gift to realize that I didn't have to be a part of the "crazy-ness" of Christmas. That I really could stop worrying about being perfect, measuring up with the absolute "right" (ie.. expensive) gifts, keeping up with friends & relatives spending enormous amounts on gifts and food. The holiday didn't have to be about "keeping up."

So once again I'm accepting this December's Sanity Challenge. I want to enjoy a peaceful, less-stressful Christmas. And you can too.

Cheryl suggests making a few concrete goals for the season. So here are the goals that I want to work towards this December:

• I will write down three things I am thankful and grateful for every day. 
• I will enjoy a dessert/sweet treat/baked good only once per day and in a small portion (1 small muffin, 2 small GF cookies, etc...) 
• I will take a short 15 minute walk outside at least 2 times a week, both for letting go of stress and to encourage myself to exercise more. 
• To help with our budget this month, I will not buy anything new (used or thrift store items okay) for myself. See Leo Babauta's challenge this week for my inspiration to do this for the remainder of the year... and I would actually like to pursue this in 2013 as well. 

This year's December Sanity Challenge will be hosted also by the following bloggers:

• Dec 1st -- Valerie of City|Life|Eats 
• Dec 8th -- Kate of Eat, Recycle, Repeat
• Dec 15th -- Cheryl of Gluten-free Goodness
• Dec 22nd -- Iris of Daily Dietribe
• Dec 29th -- ME! Carrie of Ginger Lemon Girl

As a little added incentive, for each post on your intentions and your progress you link back here or one of the other co-hosts, Cheryl is offering a $50 Nuts.com gift certificate and I am giving away two brand-new signed copies of my "The Everything Gluten-Free Slow Cooker Cookbook" after our monthly event is over.

From Cheryl: "Last, but not least, we do have a FB group – if you’d like to join, you’re more than welcome. It’s a space to support and be supported, and it’s the same one we used during our last Self-Care Retreat."

To get a “flavor” of past retreats:
http://www.gfgoodness.com/2012/08/05/a-july-self-retreat-recap/
July Self-Care Retreat and the December Sanity Retreat.

I hope you'll join us in having a sane, peaceful, and joyful Holiday season!

July 2012 Self-Care Retreat -- Using Creativity as Self-Care

Last month Cheryl Harris asked a handful of bloggers if they were interested in participating in her 2nd Annual Self-Care Retreat. Cheryl started this last year as a way for people to remember how important it is to take good care of ourselves physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I've always had an interest in self-care practices and I was excited about participating in her blogging series this year. 

Finding Creativity in Everyday Life
It's amazing to me how as we become adults we can sometimes "forget" how to be creative. We tend to think creativity is simply arts and crafts meant for young children... and oh how it's not. Over the past year and a half I've had wellness & nutrition coaching from Cheryl. Cheryl has helped me to "remember" and find ways of being creative to help me deal with the stress of daily life. I used to eat my way through stress. I didn't realize it at the time... but that's how I dealt with frustrations and hard emotions... i would bake cake... and eat it. I would bake cookies (for my husband, of course) and eat them. I would bake muffins (for work, you know) and eat them...

And while I still love baking (as it too is a useful creative outlet) it's generally not what I do anymore when I'm stressed. I've "dabbled" in many different forms of creativity in the past year to help me release and manage my stress. Today I'm going to share a few of the practices that have really helped me and worked for me. The great thing about creativity is that it's truly limitless, so while what I'm sharing with you today may not be of interest to you... there are so many other outlets you can use to express yourself, your feelings, and emotions. The best creative outlets to use are the ones that come to you easily and that you enjoy doing.

Image Source: Different examples of how mandalas can be created. 

Mandalas
One of the things I discovered this year was mandalas. Mandalas are quite simply drawings or colorings within the boundaries of a circle. You can completely create them yourself or that you can "fill in" by coloring with the help of books and free mandala patterns you can find online. The mandala is not just a drawing, but it's a drawing in a circle. Within the circle you can draw or color anything you'd like. It's an open space with boundaries that you can color, paint, draw, etc... What I love about the mandala is that it's a way to share your thoughts and feelings without words. You can use words of course, but sometimes just using colors to discover how you feel (either only to yourself or to others) is very liberating. It can feel as if you are unlocking a hidden part of yourself through colors and images. Mandalas are often used in spiritual practices and in some psychology practices as a way to share and interpret inner feelings, thoughts, and emotions. One of my favorite experts in the art & psychology of mandalas is Dr. Susanne Fincher. For a more in-depth look at what mandalas are and how they work, please check out her Mandalas history page.


For me, doing a mandala is a quiet, thoughtful, creative experience. It's time away from the computer. It's time that I stop thinking of all that is happening in my life and it centers me, much like prayer. For those who are spiritual it can be a way of medication or to use prayer in a creative way on paper. I often have a hard time focusing on one thing because life is so busy and we are pulled in so many directions so often. By coloring mandalas, it's a way for me to stop the business for about 15-30 minutes. To simply focus on choosing colors, finding a pattern that helps me understand what I'm feeling, and then the motion of coloring or drawing for those 30 minutes is extremely relaxing, de-stressing, and centering. I try to spend that time in a quiet area. In my bedroom, in the kitchen... away from television, radio, and most importantly the computer and simply focus on that time on that picture, on that circle. 

From the letters & journals of an old friend
Mrs. Lucy Derrick Swindells

Journaling
Another way of using creativity as a form of self-care is to journal. This comes naturally to some people and not at all to others. I journal in spurts. There are days and weeks I feel like journaling and there are times I don't. I follow those instincts. I actually haven't journaled in several months until writing about it today. And I have felt the urge to write for about two weeks. Sometimes the thoughts and feelings are so painful or emotional it can be hard to encourage yourself to write. Writing peels back layers of who you are. Writing can open you up to new thoughts and feelings and can help you dig deep when you need too. 


There are many, MANY different ways you can journal. Sometimes I journal on old-fashioned pen & paper. Sometimes I use markers or crayons as I do with Mandalas, because I feel that using colors can help me express myself better. (For great ideas and thoughts on journaling visit PlanetSark.com) Sometimes I use an online journal service called Penzu. I wrote about Penzu during last December's Sanity Challenge and I still love it! 


Journaling doesn't JUST have to be about your most in-depth feelings and thoughts. There are tons of different types of writing and journaling you can do:

• travel journaling (traveling doesn't have to be far. It could be to work, to the grocery store, on a hike 15 minutes away from home -- write about the land around you, the people you saw, the conversations you had or didn't have, the way you felt, the weather, the wildlife, tree, grass, and flowers --  this type of journaling is often a good introduction to simply begin writing. Once you feel comfortable with this type of journaling, you may feel compelled to write about deeper and more personal thoughts. 
• prayer journaling (talking to God or your higher power (OA speak for ya! :-) by way of journaling is a powerful, releasing, and refreshing. Be truthful. Be LOUD. Be quiet. However you need to speak, do it here. Anger, joy, excitement, fear... you should feel free to express all these things in an intimate and personal way.)
• eating/exercise/wellness journaling (often when writing about what i'm eating and how i'm exercising leads me to write more about how I'm feeling and what's going on that day)
• poetry journaling (sometimes the fewest words can be the most powerful)
• letter-writing journals (great way to practice confronting a problem, sharing with relatives or friends who are no longer with us, even just to talk some sense to yourself!) 
• recipe journaling (where did you get a recipe, why is it special, what does it mean to you?)

Need more ideas for exercising your creativity? 

• Take a photography class. (Create a photography journal!) 
• Create and write a blog.
• Learn how to make jewelry to give as gifts.
• Make ROOM for creativity: declutter one room in your house to have more space and feel more at peace. 
• Take up cross-word puzzles, word-finds, and/or sudoku. Give yourself 15-20 minutes a day to simply work on the puzzle and not be distracted by life. 
• Buy a sketch-pad. Sit under a tree and let your pen, pencil, marker, or crayon go to town. Don't think, just sketch. It doesn't have to be perfect, legible, or even "pretty" by your own standards, just allow your mind to wander on paper. 
• Try sewing, cross-stitch, crochet, or knitting. Focusing on the beautiful colors, textures, and types of fabrics, string, and yarn -- you can let your mind rest as you create beautiful pieces of art. Don't get discouraged if an art is a learning curve for you, enjoy not having to be perfect. 
• Remember old-fashioned puzzles? Buy one. Put it together. Puzzles are relaxing and fun. 
• Be creative with your menu or with exercise. Try new foods or seasonings. Try an exercise you don't think you can do. Challenge yourself. 
• Music. Make it. Play it. Sing it. Dance. Find music that moves you and listen to it often. Meditate to music. Exercise with music. Cook with music. 

More information about the July 2012 Self-Care Retreat
--borrowed from Valerie's latest post! Thank you for such a thorough write-up Valerie!

Our fantastic group of bloggers and themes:

• June 30th Food: Cheryl of Gluten-Free Goodness 
• July 7th Support and Connection: Valerie of City Life Eats 
• July 14th Movement : Shirley of Gluten Free Easily (GFE) 
• July 21st Creativity: Carrie of Ginger Lemon Girl 
• July 28th Inward Reflection: Iris of The Daily Dietribe 

These posts are to inspire you all to make July a month of reflecting on self-care and the many ways to nourish ourselves. We would like everyone to participate in this event in a way that feels appropriate to them, whether that’s through personal reflection, journal or other self-care. If you would like to share your experience with self-care, we would love to include you in the experience, whether you join us for one week or every week. You can write generally about self-care and how you include it in your life, or “try on” one of the practices we’re blogging about over the course of the next week (food, support and connection, movement, creativity and inward reflection). We ask that you link back to this post so that more people can learn about this retreat, and leave a comment for the weekly theme host, too! At the end of the month, we’ll include a roundup of all the self-care posts you write to inspire others to work on their own self-care.

As a little added incentive, for each post on your goals and your progress you link back here or one of the other co-hosts, you’ll be entered to receive a $50 gift certificate to Nuts.com (they are not sponsoring, Cheryl is donating this gift and wanted something with healthy gluten-free, vegan, sugar-free, etc. options).

Valerie updated last year’s badge to use for the retreat; feel free to use it in your posts. If you would like to be included in our roundup and the drawing, please email a link to your post, along with your name and blog name, to us at selfcareretreat at gmail dot com by July 30, 2012.

Non-bloggers who would like to contribute, please e-mail the full text to the same address and it will be included in the roundup.

 For a “flavor” of previous retreats, here’s a link to the July Self-Care Retreat and the December Sanity Challenge.

July 2012 Virtual Self-Care Retreat

This month I'm honored to be participating in Cheryl Harris' July 2012 Self-Care Retreat. I feel like in many ways my blog has morphed from being a food blog into one that's more centered on holistic wellness and self-care. In many ways that transition has been due to the amazing coaching I've received from Cheryl Harris of Harris Whole Health (and author of the blog GF Goodness) over the past year and a half.

I will be writing a post for Saturday July 21 on how simply being creative can share a huge role in self-care. Until my post rolls around, I hope you'll visit the other incredible bloggers who are participating in this event.

More information about the July 2012 Self-Care Retreat
--borrowed from Valerie's latest post! Thank you for such a thorough write-up Valerie!

Our fantastic group of bloggers and themes:

• June 30th Food: Cheryl of Gluten-Free Goodness 
• July 7th Support and Connection: Valerie of City Life Eats 
• July 14th Movement : Shirley of Gluten Free Easily (GFE) 
• July 21st Creativity: Carrie of Ginger Lemon Girl 
• July 28th Inward Reflection: Iris of The Daily Dietribe 

These posts are to inspire you all to make July a month of reflecting on self-care and the many ways to nourish ourselves. We would like everyone to participate in this event in a way that feels appropriate to them, whether that’s through personal reflection, journal or other self-care. If you would like to share your experience with self-care, we would love to include you in the experience, whether you join us for one week or every week. You can write generally about self-care and how you include it in your life, or “try on” one of the practices we’re blogging about over the course of the next week (food, support and connection, movement, creativity and inward reflection). We ask that you link back to this post so that more people can learn about this retreat, and leave a comment for the weekly theme host, too! At the end of the month, we’ll include a roundup of all the self-care posts you write to inspire others to work on their own self-care.

As a little added incentive, for each post on your goals and your progress you link back here or one of the other co-hosts, you’ll be entered to receive a $50 gift certificate to Nuts.com (they are not sponsoring, Cheryl is donating this gift and wanted something with healthy gluten-free, vegan, sugar-free, etc. options).

Valerie updated last year’s badge to use for the retreat; feel free to use it in your posts. If you would like to be included in our roundup and the drawing, please email a link to your post, along with your name and blog name, to us at selfcareretreat at gmail dot com by July 30, 2012.

Non-bloggers who would like to contribute, please e-mail the full text to the same address and it will be included in the roundup.

 For a “flavor” of previous retreats, here’s a link to the July Self-Care Retreat and the December Sanity Challenge.

Adjusting to a new normal

We're sitting in the familiar waiting room right now. There's a panoramic view of the Roanoke Valley. You can see everything from the Blue Ridge Mountains to downtown Roanoke and it's incredibly peaceful. The mountains bring comfort to me. 

The above picture is of my daddy, my grandma, and my nephew Christopher from about 2009. I love my Daddy's smile in this pic. This pic of my Dad is currently my profile picture on facebook. Right now he's in critical condition at a hospital in Roanoke, Va. He had a severe heart attack on Wednesday 6/27/12 and it's been a rocky ride since. 

My daddy has congestive heart failure and he had another heart attack when I was in high school. Heart disease runs in our family and he's the primary reason I try very hard to eat a healthy diet that works for my personal body type. I try to be a good example to him and I try hard to encourage him to take good care of himself. But sometimes, especially when the hereditary cards are against you, even with the very best efforts, medical emergencies happen. 

On Wednesday the hosital team worked head to clear the blockage from his heart and encourage it to pump and work properly. However, his heart was so weakened by that attack that they didn't realize how critical his condition was. Slowly his organs began to fail and emergency surgeries took place to attempt to stabilize his heart and his organs. Thursday was an extremely critical day and the doctors and nurses honestly didn't believe he was going to make it through the night, despite the emergency measures taken to save him. 

But miracles do happen. They may not "appear" to be as miraculous as you'd see in a movie or on tv... but thank GOD for small miracles.  My Daddy made it through Thursday night. He's had 2 (I think) surgeries now and he's currently attached to some type of mechanical heart device that works as the lower two ventricles for his heart. He's also attached to a breathing machine, so he is intubated, a dialysis machine, and of course has numberous other IV's over his arms, legs, and hands. His life right now is very much a miracle of modern emergency medical devices and a whole lotta faith. 

The small miracles of today are the fact that his skin color is so much better than it was earlier in the week. I barely recognized him when I saw him on Thursday evening, but today his face looked like the Daddy that's always been there for me. He also had just a slight amount of urine in his catheter bag today, which means his kidneys are beginning to function, even if ever so slightly. The nurses also detected the very slight sounds of movement in his bowels, so they decided to try feeding him with a nasogastric tube instead of intravenously. My aunt told me it would be very good progress if they could feed him through his stomach instead of through his veins, so this latest development is great news and I'm praying his body will accept nourishment this way. 

It's been an emotional roller coaster. The incredible downs of awaiting possible imminent death in the early, early hours of Thursday morning. The frustration of not knowing.... the quiet solitude of simply waiting with the unknown. The careful joy of realizing he made it through Thursday night, but was being wheeled into surgery on Friday morning. The guarded hope of doctors and nurses who give us scientific and factual updates, but contain any thoughts on the future of his condition.  Life has thrown me a lot of unknowns in the past month and I'm learning to accept this as the current norm. And that uncertainly is okay. 

Living in the moment, from hour to hour, from day to day is the new normal. And honestly, it's a good thing. We can so often focus on the future. On when life will be better when "this happens" or "that happens", or when we make more money, or when we have more vacation time saved up... I'm incredibly guilty of this having this frame of mind... but right now, I'm thankful for the day. I'm thankful for seeing the rosy complexion in my Dad's cheeks. I'm thankful for seeing him move his legs or arms when we speak to him for only a few moments every day. 

Of course it's easy to rest and feel a bit more comfortable when things aren't changing. It's the calm eye in the midst of the storm... and right at this moment, I'm extremely thankful for it.