Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Eating Gluten-Free at Outback Steakhouse

Better is Good

I was with family. More than the usual few of us for an extended family dinner.

I didn't have input into our dinner location. Someone other than me chose Outback Steakhouse.

But that's fine. Really. I was with family and that matters more than what I can and can't eat.

Well, okay, sometimes. Matters more only sometimes.

It depends on which particular members of said extended family are present.

In any case, dinner was with family this night and the family (or some segment of it) had selected Outback.

I've been to Outback a few times over the years since I've needed to be gluten-free. Each time has been separated by a few years. Each time has produced a different gluten-free experience.

At least I can say with absolute clarity that each successive gluten-free experience at Outback has gotten better.

Better understanding from servers. Better information provided. Better confidence that I would eat safely.

Better is good.

So, I wasn't concerned about eating gluten-free this night with the family.

Little did I realize that this particular night at Outback held an even better surprise for me.

Friday, July 19, 2013

Bisquick Gluten-Free Pancake and Baking Mix and Gluten-Free Strawberry Shortcakes

Berry Time!

It was the Fourth of July and we had fresh strawberries and raspberries in the house.

We had to do something delicious and relatively quick with them. We had other food to make for all of us and we would not be delayed getting to our fireworks!

We threw around all kinds of ideas, starting from making a trifle (fantastically delicious, but three separate steps, plus assembly) to making strawberry pie (likewise, in all aspects) to just sugaring the berries and topping French vanilla ice cream with them.

None of these options hit the right spot with anyone. We were going to have to find something else to do with these beautiful berries.

Finally, it hit me. Strawberry (and raspberry) shortcakes!

That was it. We were off and running. And it just so happened that we had some speedy help in the cupboard: Gluten-Free Bisquick!

Gluten-Free Bisquick

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Captain Vorpatril's Alliance


Book Review

Captain Vorpatril's Alliance by Lois McMaster Bujold.

This is the latest addition to the Vorkosigan Saga series. And as such I surely had to read it.

But the Vorkosigan Saga started many, many moons ago. And I read the majority of those books, all dozen-plus of them, many, many moons ago.

Okay, okay.  Almost twenty years ago, to be a bit more precise.

And then I had to move on to reading other things, since the author moved on to writing other series.

Now, she's back. Back to writing about the Vorkosigans and their clan.

So, of course, I have to keep up with her. There's no letting a Vor book slip past me.

Here we go on another Vor adventure!

Captain Vorpatril's Alliance

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Schär Gluten-Free Honeygrams

Camping and S'mores

What could be more perfect together than camping and s'mores?

How about camping and gluten-free s'mores?

That's right!

But would you believe that I didn't like s'mores until several years ago? That's right. I did not like s'mores. I hadn't found the secret yet. 

We were on a several-day camping trip with friends. Somehow, we had all forgotten to pack the necessary ingredients for s'mores. 

My husband disappeared to the nearest store for some other forgotten vital, but returned with the secret to s'mores. I would have never guessed the solution to my dislike of s'mores if I hadn't tasted it first. 

Dark chocolate. None of that soft, goopy, milk chocolate. Dark chocolate.

See, that milk chocolate that I had always had before was combined with the super sweetness of the marshmallow and graham crackers. Just too sweet. I just didn't like that super, sickeningly sweet s'more.

No s'more for me.

Then, darkness arrived. The darkness of dark chocolate.

That was it. That was all it took for me to suddenly see the s'mores light. Or darkness. Or whatever.

Now I understood. 

Going camping? You'll want some of these gluten-free graham-style crackers to go with your dark chocolate and marshmallows!


Schär Gluten-Free Honeygrams

Monday, July 8, 2013

Eating Gluten-Free at Cheeburger Cheeburger


Diners and Burgers

How many diners have you been to? No, not dinners.

Diners, people, diners.

Okay, now how many diners have you been while you have been eating gluten-free?

Ha! I'm quite confident those two numbers are quite different.

Now for the kicker:

How many diners have you been to that have gluten-free burgers with gluten-free buns?

Ha! Gotcha now!

I'm not talking about ordering a bunless burger. No. Wrong. Try again. I'm talking about a bunful burger, completely gluten-free.

I have now been to one such diner! Actually, I've been to this diner quite a few times before this. But this time was different.

This was my first! My very first diner experience with a gluten-free burger with a gluten-free bun.

See... there really is a first time for everything!
Cheeburger Cheeburger on Urbanspoon

Cheeburger Cheeburger