things i love thursday...

First up is this lamp I picked up at a garage sale over the weekend.  I liked it so much I just handed over the $20 and kept shopping.  Andrew Henry got her to throw in a light bulb - what a guy...

Needs a shade.  Picked one up at Target and I'm giving it a "try out", have left the plastic wrap on in case I decide to return.  I hate looking for lampshades, something I forgot when I bought the lamp...

I have baby hair.  It is fine and limp and straight and quite blah.  Hairspray was invented for people like me.  I usually have some Suave or TRESemme or like minded inexpensive stuff hanging around but I saw this at BigLots for the same price and decided to give it a go.  Let me tell you something - this stuff is like glue.  My hair does not move and stays in it's place with this.  Not what everyone is looking for but I'm lovin' it.  Thanks Sally, I know you made it just for me...

I blame this on the daughter.  She told me about these.  They're good.  I don't think I should buy anymore.  I can't control myself when there are nuts and chocolate involved...

Do you like chocolate and nuts together?

things i love thursday...

Finally we're back to our regular "things i love thursday" feature. 

Food of course.  I don't buy many pre-made foods.  You know, over 40 and trying to be responsible and all that business but this one makes the cut.  This Roasted Red Pepper & Artichoke Tapenade is always in my pantry.  I put it on top of my frittatas (with chopped fig) and it kicks them up a notch.  It's my favorite way to eat it. Yum!

It's really not too bad ingredient wise either. 

Seeing as I'm not a big red sauce gal (though I LOVE fresh and roasted tomatoes - go figure) and I recently discovered these (I know there is cultured corn syrup, which I try to avoid but this gluten-free gal was really craving some pizza)...

I used the tapenade as the sauce for my pizza - gotta say, loved it!  This tapenade (I just like saying "Tapenade") is very versatile. 

Know what I didn't love?

burning the garlic for the pizza (I blame Andrew Henry) and having to peel, chop and saute it all over again.  Worth it though, totally worth it.

Here's my question (kind of related) - favorite pizza topping?

yes and no...

It seems I am always talking about products from Trader Joe's.  I don't know why.  I shop at my regular chain grocery store and my little local market just as much.  Perhaps it's the range of different gluten-free things I've found there.  I don't know, let's not question, let's just go with the flow.

In my quest to stop eating just corn chips and salsa (it keeps happening) for lunch, I picked up this quicky the other day.  Gluten free, cheap, and quick/easy to make. 

I don't buy many pre-packaged food items.  Just trying to keep it as close to nature as we can around here.  This was fairly close to nature - a little too close for me.  I don't know WHAT I was thinking.  I don't like seafood.  ANY seafood - never have, never will.  Water is as far as I go.  Why did I think I would like something with seaweed in it?  Dear goodness and all things holy did this gross me out.  I didn't even swallow the first bite - cringing thinking about it even now.  I wouldn't give it to Jake - and he's a dog, he'll eat other dog's crap (and has on several occasions).  On to better things.  Much, much better things.

I have no words for this little packet of heaven.  I took these on the Palm Springs road trip and I've just realized - I didn't share them (hey they can all eat any old glutenous thing they want) and the bag was empty by the time we got home.  That means I ate all of them in 4 days!  This might explain why I gained a pound while we were gone.  I was blaming it on the scarce amount of exercise and restaurant food.  I am willing to admit it COULD have been this bag of cookies, and the See's Candies and and...........the fact I hated the healthy rice dish and devoured the cookies!

the waffle...

My belgian waffle facts: I did not taste a belgian waffle until I was married to Andrew Henry.  I do not like maple syrup.  I have not eaten a belgian waffle since discovering my gluten allergy last September.  Belgium has the lowest proportion of McDonald's restaurants per inhabitant in the developed world.  Oh sorry, that was Belgium the country and we were talking about their waffles. 

My friend Pam, of the four lovely women fame, called to tell me about a gluten-free waffle mix she spied at her Trader Joe's (I know, I know, T'J's again).  Pam calls me when she finds new gluten-free products she thinks I might like.  She's good that way, my friend Pam, she is like your very own Sam Spade.  Once she knows you're looking for something, she's all over it.  Last Thursday night (yep, for dinner) I decided to give it a go.

Andrew Henry is the traditionalist.  He likes his waffles with strawberries, whipped cream and maple syrup.  If he's feeling crazy, we put blueberries IN the batter, but it was a weeknight so we stuck with the plain batter.  Don't want to challenge his balance.  I am able to throw in a handful of flax seeds - I do this to almost everything.  I eat mine with pecans in the batter, a little butter and some berries - no maple and no whipped cream.  What I have to tell you is...............

They were glorious!  I don't know how they might taste to those of you who CAN eat gluten.  Andrew Henry said they were good to him.  He didn't know his were gluten-free until I told him.  He just thought I had done something a little different.  I made 8 extra and put them in the freezer - they won't last long.  Next time I think I'll add a little cocoa powder!   

How do you like your waffles?

things i love thursday...

It's the Trader Joe's brand Moisturizing Cream Shave that I'm sharing with you this week.  I know we did Trader Joe's last week but that was food so it doesn't count.  I should mention, I have nothing whatsoever to do with Trader Joe's - they do not know me I just love this stuff - daughter loves this stuff.  Don't know what I'd do without it. 

It rocks - plain and simple.  It's about $3.50 or so a tube.  Andrew Henry does not use it - he's got his own special stuff - maybe I'll show you that next week (it's NOT from T'Joe's).