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I heart free stuff. I would say, most people do. Come on now, don't you?Shauna; home cook, blogger, wife, (possibly obsessed, but who am I to judge) Beatles fan, friend, published author...she likes her free stuff too. I know.
About a year ago, on her deliriously heartfelt blog, Gluten Free Girl, she spoke of her Fairy G*dblogger, someone who had somehow procured her a free set of Le Crueset cookware, after she had written a particularly charming post about how she longed for a few pieces to call her own.
At the time, I asked that she not mention it was lil' ol' me who had done that for her, since I didn't want people coming out of the proverbial woodwork asking to work my magic for them too. (And it was magic mind you. Oh yea baby. Abracadabra!)
I had gone ahead and contacted the super-fab (and generous!) people of Le Crueset for her, because I sincerely believed she was the perfect person to appreciate their glam-yet-functional product and it seems she did. And does. And that, rocks.
Made my heart smile.
And whoddathunkit, me, I like free stuff too...and my free stuff this week? A copy of her recently published book, aptly titled Gluten Free Girl. Boo-ya!
My very own copy was on the doorstep Friday morning and I pounced, tearing open the package and flipping immediately to the acknowledgement page, where I already knew I was mentioned. (It's just all about me, isn't it! Ha ha ha) Oh kids, I was so giddy. But later, reading it thoroughly, I found out, the LC incident was also mentioned in the text! Could I be a grin-y-er girl? I think not. Oh yes, I was and am, giddy.
And I am giddy because a woman I just simply adore wrote such a beautiful tome.
I really hope you will buy a copy. It's both informative, lovely, funny and loving.
Now, as part of her "Virtual Book Tour." She asked me to write an essay (I guess its true! You can take the teacher out of the school, but you can't take the teacher out of the -gluten free- girl! Ha!) about my life as a Covergirl...wait, no, about my life as a Gluten Free Girl! (So much more food-centric!)
Well, as you can all tell, I'm not Gluten Free...but I am incredibly sympathetic to restrictive diets. Oh man, am I ever. Vegan? Kosher? Peanut Allergies? Macrobiotic? Halal? Low Carb? Just plain not in to something? I get it. Why? Because that is your body. You choose what goes in it, and only you know what makes you tick, so who am I to tell you what to, or not to, eat? Nope, I'd just rather, (Much like Shauna) you get maximum pleasure out of what you DO eat, and not focus on what you don't. (Phew! Heavy!) All that and I will say this...please...less packaged food, more cooking, ya? Ya!
(Me, I can't eat bananas. Happily, they are rarely the secret ingredient in anything...except at Jamba Juice...those peeps love them some 'nanas...stick um in everything...)
So in the spirit of Mrs. Ahern, I will post today an entirely gluten free recipe...because as she says, its not what isn't in it that makes it good...it's what is...2 pounds brussles sprouts, trimmed and halved
pinch of sugar and a pinch of salt
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
2 T. Dijon style mustard
2 t. brown sugar
pinch of salt
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup vegetable oil
coarse black pepper
In a large pot, boil the brussles sprouts, with a pinch of salt and a pinch of sugar until just cooked through, about 4 minutes. Drain immediatly.
In a blender combine the rest of the ingredients, and blend to emulsify. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
Toss the b-sprouts with the dressing and serve at room temp or cold.
Makes 6-8 servings.
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Many of the recipes on this site are gluten free...just click the labels to see!Info on Celiac.
Info on CVS. (I have that. Miserable business...)
