Sad News.

The Oxford Spa in Cambridge no longer offers their unbelievably good gluten free bread.

I don't think I've ever talked about them on this blog (I really should have) but Ellen at I am Gluten Free has, and I've discussed it many-a-time on the Gluten Free Forum.

I am really shocked. Every time I went there (and it wasn't easy, it generally took me almost an hour and a half to go there & back home) I asked the people working if I could either: 

a) buy an entire loaf

b) get the recipe

c) contact the woman who made the bread

d) offer large quantities of money for a, b or c

I never got any of those things. The only thing I found out was it was a woman (genius-gf-baker) who had a full time job as a chef at a private school, and made this bread (and other GF goodies like cookies & brownies) in her spare time. I believe her daughter has celiac which is why she did this.

So, Oxford Spa has come under new management, and no longer have ties with this illustrious woman.

I spoke on the phone with someone there & they said they were looking for a new vendor.

It will be nearly impossible to top the other bread though. I'm not kidding -- those of you who went know what I'm talking about.

I hope this mystery baker starts her own gluten free baking company.

berries....

Update: I'm at just about 7 lbs lost - hooray. 

The great thing about this diet is eating fresh, natural foods - and berries have been one thing we've been eating all the time. I just finished snacking on a container full of raspberries & strawberries... yum.

I just wish they weren't so expensive, but any time I see any kind of berry on sale, I buy it... we've also been eating a lot of watermelon which satisfies any sweet cravings I may have... and it's so refreshing now that it's getting warmer out.

So happy it's summer in the Northeast!

Burton's Grill review coming soon!

Just an FYI -- I'm planning on heading to Burton's Grill SOON - so I'll post a review as soon as I go.

Also - I had called the other week to see if they served Redbridge, and they said they didn't, sadly. So I suggested to the manager that they think about carrying it for those GF eaters looking for a cold one.... I got an email the next day saying they ordered it too keep in the restaurant! This was about 2 weeks ago, so it should be there by now!

THAT is what I call great service ;)


**UPDATE: Here is their Gluten Free Menu

DIET UPDATE

OK PEOPLE. I lost 4 pounds last week. WOO HOO. Matt lost 9! WOW. Boys always loose faster.

I'm feelin good on the diet - hoping to loose 11 more, hopefully I'll get there.

Anyone got any good TOFU stir-fry type recipes? I want to make something with the FIRM TOFU I bought....

SMOOTHIES & Egg Sandwiches

Day 4 of the diet.

It's going really well... I haven't been hungry at all, if anything sometimes I can't eat all the food. I'm figuring out the balance of foods that is required so I can stop following recipes in the book (some of which are very gross) and creating my own new recipes.

One of the best book recipes is for a smoothie - I modified slightly, but here's what it is:

STRAWBERRY SMOOTHIE:

1 cup 0% Fage Yogurt
2 tsp Whey Protein (I use vanilla)
1 1/2 cup fresh strawberries (frozen are OK too)
1 cup 1% milk
2 tsp organic peanut butter
ice cubes


This makes two large smoothies - and it's really delicious and amazingly filling.

I couldn't drink them EVERY morning though because sometimes I just want eggs. I picked up a great egg sandwich recipe:

EGGS BENEFICIAL SANDWICH

1 egg, 3 egg whites
1 or 2 tbsp ground flax seed
1 or 2 pieces of GF bread (Sometimes I just do an open-faced sandwich)
1 piece canadian bacon
1 slice of fresh tomato
fresh avocado on top or on the side

I just scramble up the eggs with the flax & heat up the bacon - put down the toasted bread, then bacon, then eggs, and place the tomato on top. I added some fresh avocado yesterday and it was great.

Getting Read for the Summer, i.e. dieting.

Hello internet.

It's been a while.... but I'm happy to report this summer will be 2 years gluten free! Yippee. I've had a couple of accidental glutenings, but overall it's been pretty good. I'm still on a mission to find the best gluten free bread mix/recipe... I've made about 14 loaves and gotten 1 or 2 decent ones.

Moving on... since summer is rapidly approaching, that means it will be bathing suit time. This is worrying me. I have realized since going GF that it's much easier to gain weight - in the past I could eat whatever I wanted & not gain, not the case now. SO - I am putting myself and my boyfriend on a diet, starting tomorrow.

We are going to be following David Zenczenko's "Abs Diet". It's based on his Power Foods - Almonds & nuts, Beans & legumes, spinach, veggies, dairy (fat free or low fat milk, yogurt & cheese), oatmeal, eggs, turkey, peanut butter, olive oil, whole grains (here I will be sticking to brown rice & quinoa), protein whey powder and raspberries & other berries.

He tries to get 5 or 6 power foods in at 3 big meals a day, and 2 or 3 in 3 smaller meals. So 6 meals a day - and he's got some weight training advice/tips to better our workouts.

I figured I'd document here. I'd like to loose 10-15 lbs. The BF is looking to loose 20-25 lbs.

Will post the start tomorrow....

Fall is approaching....

hello everyone -- not sure if there is anyone left reading! It's been quite a long time since my last post, but as I assumed, summer has been nuts, and with only three weddings left, I'm almost through the madness that is summer.

I had almost every weekend for about 8 weeks planned! Also, when it's warm out here, I don't tend to cook so there hasn't been too much to report on. It is starting to cool off slowly here in the Northeast though, and I'll be back in the kitchen soon scouring the internet for gluten-free recipes.

It got down to about high 50's the other day and I immediately found myself thinking about finding the perfect bread recipe. Cooking will be a bit harder for me now - as I am working much longer hours and not getting home until almost 8. I'll certainly be looking for quick & easy recipes.

So - hope everyone's summer is winding down nicely... I am SO excited for Fall, it is my absolute FAVORITE time of year, and I'm sick of all my summer clothes!