Baby Cakes

I had such a nice day on Wednesday. First, I went to Macy's NYC and got a makeover at the Benefit Cosmetics counter. Then I had lunch at Bar Breton. A gluten free buckwheat galette with ham, swiss cheese, mushrooms and an egg inside, not to mention the salad and the gluten free fries. Also, a glass of wine. Lastly, off to BabyCakes for these goodies.

great bread

OMG! This bread is unbelievable. Light, yet so tasty. I can't find words to describe it. Have to stock up on it. It is so good you don't even have to toast it. Mmmmmm.

Betty Crocker brownies

I actually used the Olivio spread to make these brownies and I did not over bake them. They turned out just right. Chewy yet moist. I added walnuts but not the semi sweet chocolate morsels.

Another chickpea salad

This is the first time I purchased radicchio. I have eaten it before in salads while dining out but I had never used it at home. I think this recipe was from Food Network magazine. You saute 1 cup of fresh parsley in 1/4 cup EVO. You add that to the rinsed chickpeas and radicchio that is cut into wedges. Season with salt, pepper and lemon to taste. The fried parsley adds such a sweet taste. I shared this with a co worker and she loved it. This is actually tomorrows lunch. I feel so healthy and organized.

escarole and beans

I think that the good in this meal overcomes the bad. You cook the bacon and then crumble it. Then you cook the garlic in the bacon grease, next add the escarole and cook for a few minutes. Add the rinsed beans and season with salt and pepper, heating through. I added dried oregano too. I used white beans one day and pinto beans another. Both were good.

cookies

These cookies melt in your mouth. They are so delicious I can not believe it. I purchased them at Whole Foods and I want to look for more of their products. Check out their website www.aleia's.com.

Beans, beans, beans

If I had to go on a strict, strict budget, I think I could live on beans and tortillas (of course, I would want salsa and cheese on them). For example, I had a bean salad for lunch and these beans for dinner. I made them last night, so when I came home from getting a manicure, I did not have to do much. I did make my tuna for the next days lunch.

I got on the scale, and sure enough I did gain TWO pounds. Doesn't sound like a lot until you realize that means I ate 7,000 calories that I didn't burn off!

Italian Food

This was a too much food week. First, lasagna on Christmas. Then buffets in Atlantic City. Not to mention the cookies and tapioca pudding at home in addition to all the other snacking and eating I did. And now, baked ziti with meat sauce and sausage and peppers with garlic on the side. Oh, and red and white wine. Plus, Spanish food on New Year's Day with a shot of Bacardi. Must mention the grilled cheese sandwich made with GF bread and the large order of Nathan's fries. It's a good thing tomorrow is Monday. Back to work and a "normal routine". But I did get on the floor and do my stretching and toning exercises for the last 3 days.

Swedish Pancakes

This is even better than it looks. I went to Ikea (first time ever) and purchased lingonberry preserves. I creamed the preserves with butter and added powdered sugar to the pancakes after I spread the lingonberry butter on it. I was transported back to the International House of Pancakes with the first bite. Unbelievably delicious. This was the second one I ate. It was just too good to be true.

I also bought a few other items for the kitchen while I was at Ikea. A drainboard, glasses, a big towel and a ladle. They have a free shuttle bus from downtown. It was a fun day.

Another Winner

I went back to the GF store to get the bread that I loved and I found these strawberry shortcake cupcakes. They taste just like the real thing. I had to have two. They are not that big but full of flavor.

Unbelieveable

I purchased this GF bread at a kosher gluten free store. It is called Mezonos Bread. I have never had such a delicious bread in my whole life. It had not been frozen. I ate 2 pieces without toasting them and it was beyond belief good. Then I toasted the two pieces in the photo to eat with my egg and breakfast sausage for dinner. I can't wait for breakfast to eat it again!

burger 'n fries

This was last Friday nights dinner. For me, the best part is the fried onions. I actually find meat a little heavy on my system and do not eat it that often. The french fries were just right. My Wolfgang Puck frying pan is so good I can drain out the oil after they have cooked for a while and then finish cooking them up. I still put them on a paper towel when finished to drain any excess oil. I have to say, I do not miss the bun at all.

Chicken and arugula salad

My son's girlfriend was coming over and I know she likes this salad. I added a kirby cucumber and cilantro. The chicken was marinated with red wine vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, honey mustard dressing and one clove of garlic for 15 minutes. Then I scrape off the garlic and saute the chicken in the oil. After I plate it , I add a tablespoon of the oil to it. A glass of white wine was a perfect accompaniment to this meal. I also made chocolate chip walnut cookies and even the overcooked ones are just to my liking.

Pasteles

I have not posted in a while. I guess I've been relying on quick and easy favorites. And I can't take the credit for these pasteles. My friend, Blondie, makes them and they are a ton of work. They do contain boneless pork and can be made in many varieties. The basis is green bananas and yautia, a root vegetable along with other delicious ingredients (I'm too lazy to name them all since I type with two fingers looking at the keyboard)! However, I did steam the carrots and added cinnamon, salt, pepper and butter. The carrots were actually left over from my salmon dinner. I love how the pasteles glisten, I add a little hot sauce and it is a very satisfying meal.

Hard Shell Tacos

I really enjoy these tacos. Normally, I would add green pepper to saute along with the onion and garlic when I make beans but I didn't have any green pepper in the house. The last one was used for peppers and eggs. However, I did have a zucchini in the fridge. I sliced it and quartered it and added it as a topping along with the salsa and cheese and cilantro. It added a nice crunch, I'd do it again that way.

Steak on a Friday night at home

Well, I forgot to take a picture of another good meal. Rib eye steak marinated in Goya Mojo Criollo and pepper and then cooked on the indoor grill. I sliced up a yellow plantain and cooked it in some extra virgin olive oil with some salt and pepper as well. Then I drained the oil and cooked them again - flattening them some more. I also sliced a zucchini and cooked it with a lot of garlic. I forgot about the avocado, I hope it lasts one more day.

Skirt Steak PR Style

This was actually my son's meal but I did taste it and as usual it was delicious. No wonder this is the 6th year in a row I have gone back to the same resort. The skirt steak was tasty and tender. It has a chimichurri sauce which is garlic-parsley based with carrot, onion, red bell pepper, vegetable stock, extra virgin olive oil, white wine vinegar, dried oregano and salt and pepper (red-pepper flakes optional). The beans are wonderful and I love how they plate the rice. My meal was the shrimp with onions and tostones. Too good.

Fresh lemon-limeade

Well, you do not have to worry about gluten with this one. I had purchased 5 lemons because it was cheaper per lemon than just buying the one I needed for my salmon. So, when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. For every 2 tablespoons of lemon juice you use 1/2 cup of water and 2 tablespoons of sugar (of course to taste). I also had a lime lying around so I threw that in and the 3 to 1 ratio of lemon and lime was so nice. I often make limeade using the same recipe from my Puerto Rican Cookbook!

You can see my new food processor in the background. I haven't used it yet. I'll have to check out the french fry slicer!

Betty Crocker cookies

I called Betty Crocker to receive my free coupon for a gluten free mix. The only one in the store was the chocolate chip cookie mix so I went with that. I added walnuts and made them pretty large so I only made a dozen instead of 2 dozen. i just baked them a little longer. I'll give them a B rating, that are rather sugary but not bad. I'd rather use my Pamela's mix any day, not that much more work involved and much more flavor. Still, for free I can't complain but I won't be buying them any time soon. They do look like the real thing however.

Starbucks

I called Starbucks because I had a coupon for a free strawberry banana smoothie and I wanted to make sure it was gluten free. Good news, it is. I'm not a big fan of banana flavor but I do like strawberry a lot. I also inquired about the other drinks and was told that the java chip and vanilla bean are NOT gluten free. I have the gold card and get 10% of all purchases. I enjoy the decaf espresso with foam and caramel drizzle.