“Tomatoes and oregano make it Italian; wine and tarragon make it French. Sour cream makes it Russian; lemon and cinnamon make it Greek. Soy sauce makes it Chinese; garlic makes it good.”
― Alice May Brock
A Flour By Any Other Name
tales from a gluten-free kitchen
Happy Birthday to Me
One of my sisters made me this fabulous cake from Martha Stewart for my birthday. It was absolutely amazing.
She made it using three boxes of Betty Crocker gluten-free chocolate cake mix. Other than that, she followed the recipe. It was truly decadent.
And the best part? We celebrated my birthday a day early and I took leftovers home. That meant that on my actual birthday I got to eat this cake for breakfast. That’s a pretty good way to start the year.
This dessert features six layers of chocolate cake, a ganache topping and a salted caramel filling.
A Thing of Beauty
One of my sisters recently vacationed in the U.S. and brought me back these two precious bottles of Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce.
I love Worcestershire sauce. (In my family, it’s pronounced WUSS-ter. My father was born in the English county of Gloucestershire, which the locals refer to as GLOSS-ter.) I used to apply it liberally to hamburgers, as well as use it to perk up beef stews. After going gluten-free, I was very sad when I learned that, because of the malt vinegar in the version sold in Canada, I had to stop using it. When I found out that the U.S. version used white vinegar and was therefore okay for me to eat, I was ecstatic. I am almost afraid to start using it, because I don’t want to run out.
This American Worcestershire sauce is made with white vinegar, not malt vinegar, so it is gluten free. The Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce sold in Canada is made with malt vinegar, so it is not safe for people who avoid gluten.
Street Meat, Toronto Style
Gluten-free hot dogs and quinoa salad are on offer at this street vendor near the corner of University and Gerrard in Toronto.
Brown Sugar Cookies
These black-eyed susans are in my mother’s garden. She worries about the weeds, but all I ever notice are the contrasting textures, the curves of the beds and the bursts of brilliant colour, like this one.
A Special Kind of Magic
“A good cook is like a sorceress who dispenses happiness.”
― Elsa Schiaparelli
Broccoli Bacon Cheddar Salad
I have had broccoli salad on the brain lately. My mother had made one, which was delicious, but quite different from the one I’m posting here. Hers was made with feta, raisins and a yogurt dressing. After I ate some, I started thinking about THIS broccoli salad…
It Satisfies the Soul
“Dining with one’s friends and beloved family is certainly one of life’s primal and most innocent delights, one that is both soul-satisfying and eternal.”
― Julia Child
A Flour By Any Other Name 