Caramel Corn

One of my favorite holiday snacks is also naturally gluten free. It doesn't get any better than that. Caramel corn is just right with the sweetness and the crunchiness. Yum -o!

Caramel Corn


6 quarts popped corn
1 cup butter
1/2 cup light corn syrup
2 cups light brown sugar
1 tsp alt
1 tsp soda
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 250. Keep your popcorn warm while making the syrup.

Melt butter, stir in brown sugar, corn syrup and salt. Bring to boil while stirring constantly. Remove from heat, add vanilla and soda. Pour over popcorn mixing with a wooden spoon.

Put into 2 cookie sheets evenly. Bake 1 hour stirring every 15 minutes. Remove from oven and cool. Keep in airtight container.

Gluten Free S'More Cookie Bars

Sorry I haven't been around much. My Internet is so slow I just can't stand to be on my computer at home and I'm so busy at work I can't find time to fit in a few minutes here and there. I found out last week that I have a broken foot so I am in a big boot for this holiday season and can't drive. So that means a lot of shopping over the Internet. But the husband is being wonderful.

I made these S'more Cookie Bars the other night and they were wonderful. I would wait longer before you cut them though. They were still pretty hot when I cut them so they fell apart however; once they cooled they were a firm bar that was easy and delicious to eat.

S'More Cookie Bars

1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp gluten free vanilla
1 1/3 cup Pamela's Baking Mix (or your personal gluten free flour blend)
3/4 gluten free graham cracker crumbs
1 tsp gluten free baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 large chocolate bars
1 1/2 cups Fluff


Preheat oven to 350. Grease 8 inch square baking pan.

In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugars until light. Beat in egg and vanilla.
Mix in flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder and salt. Divide dough in half and press half of dough into an even layer on the bottom of the greased pan.

Place chocolate bars evenly over dough. Spread Fluff over the chocolate and place remaining dough in a single layer on top of the fluff. (I found that it was easiest to flatten pieces of the dough into small pieces and laying them together)

Bake 30 to 35 minutes, until lightly browned.

And enjoy....

During the Thanksgiving weekend we were able to spend some time with my husband's two great-nieces. They are so sweet. Here we are with Morgan and McKenna. (It's hunting season here in New York so we don't have to shave)




And of course no post would be complete without a new picture of Allie. Here she is with my dad on Thanksgiving.

Forgetting...

I don't know about anyone else but sometimes life just gets so busy that I forget that I have Celiac, that I can't have gluten. I just don't have the "Classic" symptoms. I don't get sick right away, I usually don't have any symptoms. My main symptom is my anemia and with my iron shots I have been feeling really good again. I have energy again and I don't seem to experience the foggy feeling I would have at work half way through the day.



I was looking through Danna Korn's "Wheat Free Worry Free" the other night and realized that there are still products that I don't think about or worry about that I should.



Here is a list of items to either avoid completely or to do your homework on. I really needed this reminder to keep me thinking.

• Envelopes, stamps or other gummed labels


• Medicines


• Cross contamination between food store bins selling raw flours and grains (the scoops are the culprit)


• Non-gluten free bread crumbs in butter, jams, toasters, counters, etc.


• Packet & canned soups


• Ground spices- wheat flour is often used to prevent caking


• Gravy mixes


• Laxatives- check carefully


• Ice Creams- check carefully


• Rice cakes and crackers


• Sandwich meats


• Beef and Chicken broth


• Egg substitutes


• Baked beans


• Dry roasted nuts


• Dried fruits


• Fruit pie fillings


• Potato Chips


• Instant drinks (tea, coffee, fruit drinks, chocolate)


• Gum


• Marshmallows


• Candy


• Baking Powder


• Worcestershire Sauce

So the next time life gets busy and I just grab something to eat or to even touch my lips I hope I remember to stop and ask myself. Is this bad for me?

Allie Mae was tired and decided she was going to bed without mom.

Dear Santa,

Dear Santa,

All I want for Christmas is high speed Internet. I've tried to be good, really I have.

Lea

The way I see it, if people can have their Christmas lights up on November 3rd, than I can start my Christmas list.

Allie is trying so hard to get close to her two brothers. If she could only hold still and not get so excited because she made it that far this position probably would've lasted the night.

I've already screwed it up...

Flamenco Mom says this is National Blog Posting Month. Well, here it is November 2nd and I have already missed a day. This most likely is not going to work for me but I am going to try. Really I am...

I am also going to try some new recipes this month. This is my goal.

Sunday is my anniversary and we are going to try the Olive Garden. I contacted them and they said they do have gluten free options available. I'll keep you informed on that one.

Yesterday when I went to our local Top's Supermarket I found some Risotto mixes that are marked "Gluten Free" right on the box. Now I like seeing that. Now let's hope they taste good. I will also let you know how that turns out. That was actually the highlight of my day. I found out that I have a hand full of ganglion cysts. I have 1/2 dozen or more in my hand that will probably have to be removed by spring. They are growing along my bones instead of growing upwards though, so at least I don't have a lot of swelling in my hand. Not sure how good of news that is but we'll take what we can get at this point.

Sorry Dianne, I have no new pictures of Allie for you but we'll try for tomorrow. So until tomorrow have a good day....

GF Essentials- Cocoa Mudslide Cookie Mix

I recently came across a new vendor, Gluten Free Essentials. They have had a chocolate lovers sampler pack so how could I pass that up. A girl has to have her chocolate.

Lastnight it was a little chilly outside and I didn't want to turn on the heat so I made cookies. These cookies the, Cocoa Mudslides, were excellent. They had a nice texture almost cake like with big chocolate chunks and big marshmallows. Just what this girl needed lastnight.

I can't wait to try the other mixes that came in the order.

Thank You "Gluten-Free Girl"

Yesterday was an awful day. It was busy at work. I hurt my back the end of last week and yesterday was the first day back to work since and of course it was a long weekend because of Columbus Day so it was twice as hectic. I was so tired and grumpy by the time I arrived home. But lo and behold inside of my mailbox was my copy of Shauna's book. It was just what I needed. I couldn't wait to open the box and start reading it. And it is wonderful. It is just the inspiration that I needed. I can't say that I haven't been cheating lately. I get in these moods and the next thing you know I'm eating everything that I'm not suppose to. This has me inspired to start experimenting again with new recipes and to start eating healthy again.

It's time for me to find the foods that will love me back...