Gluten is...

Dickie Joe's Burgers

Rushing around today, I decided to force myself to pause at 2:49pm for brunch.

Yeah, I said brunch. At almost 3pm.

Don't judge. At least I'm eating before 7pm.

(Again, no judging, please.)

The long line at Taco Bell suggested I grab a burger next door at Dickie Joe's. I had a Wow!Burger at 9pm last night, but what the hell.

In brief, they were helpful when I asked to see the ingredients in their gluten free bun, which was spongy and light - almost like traditional bread. And yes, it's dairy free. They brush the bun with rice bran oil and toast it. No butter :-)

They asked if I'd like them to change their gloves when making my food. Yes please.

There was a little confusion over what I wanted and didn't want on the burger, resulting in a remake without cheese, but the burger was tasty. Dedicated fryer. 

My mushroom kraut burger* plus fries and a regular fountain drink was $11 even.

Summary: good food, easy to order, GFDF, and I would return. 

*This is my usual order at Wow!Burger, and since that's what I had for dinner, I thought it would be interesting to compare the two. (Wow wins.) Why kraut? It kind of stands in for the tangy umami of Swiss cheese. It's really good. You should try it sometime.

Easy Wagon Meals

Yesterday I learned that I will need shoulder surgery, and next Wednesday is the big day.

All the info I'm reading on how to prepare for this is grim. My dominant hand will be immobilized for at least 6 weeks, and that kind of disruption has me nervous and scared.

I am really not looking forward to one-handed kitchen and bathroom duties.

Luckily, the kitchen stuff may not be so scary.

I hope.

My 20 year old daughter lives with me, and she is an excellent chef who understands how to cook for me. It's a no-brainer at home, really, and aside from a few occasional modifications, everything made at home is on the wagon.

Dave doesn't cook much, but he's a willing helper who learns quickly, so I think if I can put him in charge of mincing garlic, handling the raw meat, and tossing things in a saute pan (yes! We taught him that trick!) we should be ok in the food department.

Mostly.

I'm curious about finding convenience and easy food that is both gluten free and dairy free. There is a growing list on a Facebook group I belong to, so as I explore, I'll post links and products here.

No Udi's chocolate chocolatey chocolaty-ness

It's been a rough week.
No, it has been a rough month. Or three. I need a long vacation, a big nap, a hug, and some good chocolate.

Over my lunch break, I ventured out of the safety of my cave cubicle to shop at Fred Meyer. After selecting from my limited options at the deli, I decided to get some chocolate.

Mmm, chocolate.

There were some Udi's brownie bites in the freezer, so I crossed my fingers for luck and checked the label. Dairy.

Poo.

No Udi's for me.

I'm really having a hard time with this gfdf lifestyle. I feel like all my comfort foods are gone. Not that I am in the habit of eating my feelings, I'm not - but with the loss of my dad not too long ago, I just want something familiar and comforting. Like a chocolate cookie. Or mac & cheese that tastes like mac & cheese. 

When I realized Udi's was not even an option, I couldn't hold back and started to cry in the grocery store. How embarrassing. 

I contemplated buying a bottle of wine and spending the rest of the day on the couch in my pajamas, getting acquainted with wine as my new comfort food, but decided against it.

I need to figure out some go-to solutions for when I'm feeling this way, and fast, before I end up in the loony bin. Or in jail - from having a tantrum in the grocery store over not getting a cookie when I want one.

Laughing Planet - Gabriel Park

Laughing Planet is one of those places I kinda sorta like sometimes. You know what I mean?

Most of the time I avoid places that feature the popular vegan cafe "Veggie Bowl" or "Veggie Wrap" thing. It just doesn't appeal to me. This is why every time I venture into Cafe Yumm, I see this on the menu and venture back out to seek out another place to eat. 

When I'm desperate I find myself at Laughing Planet, and it seems like every time I go here, that's what I find. There is one near a laundromat we use, and that's usually when I eat there. 

Despite not liking the bowls or wraps, this place makes it easy to find food that I can eat. 

Last laundry night we ended up here just before closing I found a Paleo Bowl that seemed edible, and I asked about the Killer Green sauce that comes with it. The gal at the counter said, 

"Oh, it's very mild. It has avocado, cilantro, serrano pepper... (blah blah blah)...and other chile peppers"

"Can I have a taste first?" I asked.

Holy crap. Serrano was a red flag that I overlooked because I trusted her when she said it's mild. It is NOT mild, and I coughed and choked and wished for a piece of bread of glass of milk to kill the heat. 

"I like spicy food," she said, "So I guess it seems mild to me. Do you want to try the BBQ sauce or peanut sauce?"

Having previously learned that their BBQ sauce is super spicy, I asked to try the peanut sauce. 

It was tasty, but the one taste continued to heat up as we talked, and I knew I wouldn't be able to handle a whole dinner with that all over it. 

After tasting the hummus, I went with that. Dinner was ok. I ate more kale than I normally do. 

Dave ordered a quesadilla and it was ok, but he wished it had more cheese. 

This is why we save this place for days when we're desperate. 

Here's the Laughing Planet menu. It is very easy to order GFDF here.