going seasonal

I've always liked the idea of doing things by seasons. It just makes sense, after all who wants heavy casseroles and rich cakes in the summer? I always go for citrus fruits in the summer and while some may argue that it isn't quite summer yet it certainly feels like it here in north Florida. Average day time temps are low eighties and nightime average is mid fifties to low sixties.


So, to celebrate my finally being able to shed my sweat shirts and flannel jammies I went exploring in Walmart's (of all places) produce department. And happened upon something that I hadn't seen in quite a while and which made me inordanantly happy-





It's Key lime season here in Florida.

In spite of what most folks outside the state might think we don't always have them in stock in most grocery stores or even at the local farmers market either so when they do appear I try to get a bag or two and try to do both the ubiquitous pie (which let's face it, is ubiquitous because it's so gosh darn good) and something completely different. Maybe a marinade for a steak or grilled chicken. Only Daughter is going to lobby for something with shrimp or seafood and Himself is going to definately want a drink. Hmm, I'm going to have to get another bag or two. Talk about an embarrasment of riches!

Nellie's Key Lime Spritzer

4 oz.s Key Lime Juice

3/4 cup sugar

2 cups white wine or white grape juice

4 cups sparkling mineral water or club soda

Pour sparkling water into a large pitcher. Add sugar, grape juice or wine, and Key Lime juice.

be sure to stir well until sugar is disolved. Pour over ice cubes in tall glasses and garnish with a lime wedge.

I want my life back (or yet another rant against those who think they know better)

Why do I have to do this (this gluten free and now dairy free thing) the way "they" say I have to? Just who are "they" anyway? If I want peanut butter toast and a cup of coffee for breakfast or an english muffin with butter and jam or a piece of sour cream coffee cake then by-golly that's just what I'm going to have. BTW, all of those things can easily be made both gluten and dairy free.

Now don't get me wrong, both Himself and I are eating ALOT healthier these days. I've actually eaten more fruits and vegetables in the last six months then I believe I've eaten in the past 40 some-odd years, but honestly, don't these holier then thou goodie-goodies of the allergine free world understand that if a food doesn't taste good or if a particular diet regime does not taste good no one's going to keep with it?

Luckily I've been cooking and baking since I was six (or at least helping my parents at that age.) My mother decided that I could be trusted to do recipes on my own when I was around ten. I sometimes think that Himself decided that I was such a good catch because I could cook and bake! (He, on the other hand, can't be trusted with a can of spagheti-oh's!)

Anyway, the only problem I've had is with figuring out GF yeast breads; they are an entirely differant species of animal from regular wheat flour yeast breads; an entirely different technique is needed to make them come out right. Okay I get that; it may have taken me a minute but I'm getting the hang of that. That's not the problem.

If I don't need to go vegan , or (God help us all) raw foods or macrobiotic then I'm not going to - get over it. Himself and I are dedicated omnivores thank you very much and we would very much like it if folks would leave us alone about it.

Which is why; admittedly in a fit of pique and contrariness; I have decided to start my own Julia Child project. I'm going to, in the coming weeks, try to work my way through the companion book to her series "Baking with Julia". And of course converting all the recipes in the series to being gluten free.

So there. And if I want to end a day of baking not-exactly -the healthiest -things in- the- world to -consume baked goods with treating us both to a steak and some baked potatoes (alright I'll do a salad as well but only because Himself likes them so much) then that's what I'm going to do.

In the mean time lets kick the rebelion off with a couple of longed for treats - Red lobster Chedder Bay biscuits and Pork Bao Buns. (Recipes coming as soon as I can make up some more of my gf biscuit mix.)

I know from cold

It has been cold down here in North Florida, same as everywhere else around the country these past couple of weeks. This week has been alot more moderate though. We got all the way up to 65!
Okay, now that it's safe to come out from hiding under the desk, I've got to say in our defence that this would not be the first time that the whole state's citrus crop was threatened with being killed off by freazing weather. And many times it has been.
Which is why I've been crocheting slippers; made with cozy Lion brand Wool Ease yarn in Chestnut Heather and trimmed with Lion Jiffy in Parfait. I love them; they remind me of nothing more then chocolate peppermint bark at Christmas. Which is why I'm in the kitchen baking again, because nothing warms and "cozies" up the house like baked goods; not to mention I'm down to the heel of my gf bread! Not a good thing when I love peanut butter toast and a steming cup of tea on a "cold winter morning like this! (snerk)

Oh Pooey

I just read another bloggers piece about how he hates the holidays and all the noise and expence and crass comersialsm. I can agree with that - up to a point. I don't like it when all those things get in the way of, or make us completely forget the reason for the season. (For all you evil minded athiests out there who are trying to get me to understand that there really isn't any God after all, I think that I'd far rather be wrong about there being a God then come to find out that He is real and ending up someplace I DO NOT want to spend eternity in because I was just too self absorbed and wanting to do whatever I wanted and hang the consequences.


Christmas is meant to celebrate Christ's birth - get over it.



But to me that means *not* spending half a year's salary on presents and the geting up at 3:00 am (!) on black friday and NOT giving a hang what anyone else thinks about my not wanting to be around people or things that drive me bonkers or that I out right detest. I'm just not able to put up with people or things that agravate me anymore; at any time of the year. My kids accuse me of getting old and cranky but I beg to differ - I've been that way my whole life; I'm only just now getting the nerve to act on it. And Himself thanks me for it because he's always been a bit of a hermit as well.

But no matter what way to celebrate the season suits your tastes' from Hinmself and I - A Merry Christmas and happy New Year. "God bless us, everyone!"

Some Websites I've Found Usefull

I've got a Big book mark folder. It covers everthing from needlecraft to food and cooking websites, history travel and writing and literature. Right now though, I'm finding alot of gluten free websites and blogs that have been a lot of help to me. When I first decided to go gluten free, I was still a little hesitant because I didn't want to have to give up all the things I loved (baked goods especially). I'm relieved to find that that won't be necesarry. And that's thanks to recipezaar.com and betterbatter.com to start with; talk about a treasure trove. I've found GF recipes for everything from Auntie Ann's pretzels to Bisquick mix. Also Karin Alldrich with her Karina's Kitchen blog has been a big help as well.
English muffins and Irish soda bread! I hope all these great bloggers out there know how much the rest of us appreciate all their efforts and advice.

What I'm working on now

I'm indulging in a little of what my grandmother would have called "fancy work". Although I think that term technically means any kind of intricate hierloom sewing like with wedding gowns and baby clothes and such. But Nanny used it to mean any kind of crocheting or knitting that would make most people ooh and ahh over your finished piece (You *made* that !? I'd go blind trying to just read the pattern!) Or really anything that gives you bragging rights.

But just between you and me? This one's really easy, just chains, single, double and triple crochet stiches. I now realize that as much as I might enjoy knitting my true metier is crocheting. After all Nanny taught me how to when I was six, and I only took up knitting three years ago.

She also taught me that being able to do something that impresses your friends is never a bad thing either.

This pattern is from the July 2009 issue of Crochet Magazine. If anyone wants a copy of it let me know.


(And if I really wanted to show off I'd tell about the blouse and skirt I'm going to make to go with it, but I won't. Nanny hated braggerts!)

Playing Catch-Up

It's pretty amazing what having a little energy will do for a person. The Fall House Cleaning (a habit I picked up from living in base housing) is almost done and on time too! Many thanks to Only Daughter and her fiance J. for doing the refrigerator and freazer. Now just a litle more dusting and mopping and we can start planning for all the fall holidays that we all love so much.

Also, I'm finally caught up on my knitting and crocheting (3 more wip's to finish up the last bits of but that will take maybe a weekend) 9/10ths the fun of finishing project is the fact that you can now start another with a completely clear concience.
Going gluten free has even helped with my sewing and crafting! Who knew?