Welcome 2010!!

Happy New Year!!

I don't know about you, but I can say that I'm thrilled to be leaving good old 2009 in the dust and moving into 2010. It's not that last year didn't have it's bright spots, but let's just say it was a very challenging year, especially in regards to my health, given the numerous gluten poisonings that I endured.

This year the goal is = NO Gluten encounters whatsoever!!(Can you hear me knocking on my wooden desk?)

Seriously though...It is my goal. Better self care and being a stronger advocate for myself.

I think this All-Clad saute pan I received for Christmas is going to help me reach the above mentioned goal. You see, I've been dreaming of receiving this gorgeous All-Clad Stainless Steel saute/ simmer pan for quite some time, and now I have my secret-Santa to thank for delivering this little jewel under my tree! (Thanks Dad!)


The point is that I can't wait to start cooking more and more at home and eating out less and less. I will also have to fess up to the fact that I've now watched the movie, "Julie and Julia" three times and am seriously contemplating selling everything I own, throwing caution to the wind, and moving to Paris to attend Le Cordon Bleu! I wish. But don't think this thought hasn't seriously been swirling around my head for the past two weeks, all inspired by a love of cooking, a really good movie and cookbook and the beginning of Tia's Sweet Treats. Cooking and baking seem to be taking up permanent residence in my kitchen and in my life - I love that.

There's just something so damn romantic to me about being inside my cozy home, music playing low, candles lit and being in the kitchen creating delicious and gluten-free food to eat and share with others. I am finding more and more that the kitchen is becoming my inspiration for creative thinking, and the more I want to cook, the more I want to write...okay and then travel! They all seem to inspire me in equal-parts/different ways.


That being said, after this latest Christmas/family trip/NYE vacation to San Diego to spend time with my brother and his family, I'll be staying put for a while. Thought I was soooooooooo grateful to have traveled for ten days without any gluten incidents...see, I'm already off to a good start. Even our day at Disneyland proved to be joyful and safe. Not only did we pack a hearty lunch for everyone, but the Mexican restaurant that we ate dinner at (us and 10 million others) contained one very helpful chef who KNEW all about eating gluten-free, and guided me through my entire meal selection. It was awesome, I have to say! Thank you Mr. Disney chef!


On another bright note - Tia's Sweet Treats is up and running and ready to take your orders. Our gluten-free, organic Macaroons brought a lot of smiles to the faces of our first customers during the holidays. We would love to put smiles on more and more faces.


Between baking macaroons and cooking in my new All-Clad saute pan, I'm sure to be a very happy camper in the coming days and weeks, and I cannot promise that I won't be tempted to move "Julie and Julia" back to the #1position in my Netflix queue - sorry, just too tempting and inspirational!

I wish you and yours a wonderful, joyful, prosperous, and Gluten-Free 2010~

Birthday Fun for All ~ GF Cake and Pizza

So guess who turned 66 years old and guess which cake is gluten-free?

Well, the gluten-free mini vanilla cake with chocolate ganache frosting was all mine...and as for the big cake with the "66" candles on top...it was in honor of my wonderful father's birthday last weekend, which was celebrated in San Diego with my brother and his family.

Whenever there's a family birthday celebration, I am always so blessed and appreciative of how everyone insists on making sure that I also have some sweet-treat to enjoy after the candles have been blown out and the regular cake cutting begins. Isn't that kind of them?

I think so.

This delicious little treat came, once again, from the Jimbo's Market in Carlsbad. They have a great GF baker on-site and she comes up with some yummy and tempting treats that never disappoint.


But what really touched my heart was how my sister-in-law and brother (and adorable nephew) were so concerned about making sure I could enjoy dessert during my dad's birthday dinner. They really went out of their way to find just the right dessert that was perfectly gluten-free and something that I would enjoy. I've learned through having Celiac Disease how those loved ones in your life truly step up to the plate, always ensuring that I never feel "left out" so to speak, when we are all either eating out or cooking at home. It's a good reminder for me to stop and say "thank you" for my family and friend's true kindness and consideration.

Food is a funny thing. We need it for survival, obviously, but the amount of pleasure and true joy that is derived from eating a deliciously prepared meal is unrivaled. In Europe, especially, the act of "eating" and preparing a meal is like no other and I truly admire the art and thought that goes into the age-old philosophy of cooking food that comes from the earth and is unprocessed and eaten just as God intended. I too, try to prepare most all of my meals in that old-world style, though I realize that from time to time I get seriously caught in a "food rut" and loose my creativity. Unfortunately I'm there now, and in real need of some inspiration and time to let my creative cooking juices flow and hunker back down with organic, fresh produce, homemade soups, and exploring new GF grains, etc.

I'm pretty certain this weekend could be the right opportunity to get back to my "roots" - my vegetable roots, that is and start cooking and feeding my body pure goodness. I've recently discovered that an old friend and I are both on a similar path regarding how we eat, and what we eat, due to our specific diseases. She's an amazing woman and will soon be appearing as a guest blogger on this site - so stay tuned. I know she'll bring along with her words, an abundance of wisdom and a delicious recipe or two, to boot.

Getting back to last weekend's San Diego trip, I also wanted to mention that when my family picked me up from the airport at 9 p.m. (due to an hour 1/2 delayed flight) I was greeted with a hot, fresh gluten-free pizza in a REAL pizza box! I swear just experiencing the joy of opening a "normal" pizza box was all I needed - then I proceeded to eat half of that little 8" round delight on the way to my brother's house. I had no shame nor control as we sped up the I-5!

I do, however, feel a bit guilty about the fact that I was in such euphoria over being presented with my own take-out pizza, I forgot to snap a photo of it for this blog- ooops!

Don't blame me, blame Borrelli's Pizza and Italian Food in Encinitas, CA for my altered state - and the next time your are visiting So. Cal - GO GET ONE for yourself.

Eat well - eat real food!

First Day of Spring -

It's Friday and it is also the first day of spring!! So I thought it was a perfect day to share these beautiful photos of the ocean that I took last weekend from a beach and a certain bench in Del Mar, CA -

The ocean is so amazing to me and delivers such a sense of peace and a big dose of humility, all rolled up in one perfect, crashing wave. The sound of the surf is truly what brings me the most peace and sense of gratitude.

Enjoy the peace that comes from these photos and enjoy the first weekend of spring 2009!






Also, if you happen to be in Carlsbad, CA anytime soon...you MUST stop by Jimbo's Market on Calle Barcelona and treat yourself to some truly delicious and wonderful gluten-free baked goods...like raspberry and blueberry scones, chocolate/vanilla cupcakes and a divine piece of strawberry cheesecake that I'm still savoring bite by bite...the baker at that Jimbo's location, Sarah, is classically trained and very knowledgeable on gluten-free baking and the process of non-gluten contamination in the kitchen .