Warm Soup and Cold Weather

Mrs. Beast

Welcome to December! Nasty business that snow storm--holy cow.  I picked up the used car I just purchased today (a freaking beast, which is why I named it Mrs. Beast), and after fumbling around in it like an idiot*, I quickly adjusted and decided it was actually a nice car to ride in despite the snow.  Plus, it has ABS.  How did I make it this far in Rochester without anti-lock breaks! High-5 to whoever invented those things! So anyways, since I've been all over the place trying to straighten things out with this car, I've been on the run a lot and not planning ahead my lunches like a good Celiac should.  But I didn't fret, instead I've been grabbing lunch at Lori's Natural Foods all week.  Located in Henrietta, NY, they have premade foods that make really good lunches for all those with finicky vegan-so-the-plant-died-of-loneliness, gluten-free, dairy free, free range this, etc.  I mean, the building has sunflowers painted on the side of it.  Anyways. Lots of options for natural foodies, and I love how 99% of all their premade foods are gluten free.  So I had soup for lunch on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.  They didn't have a whole lot in the pre-made food department other than soup that I was interested in (read: sesame tofu? naw thanks) for meals, but desserts? Ahhh hook them up to my face! Pumpkin moon-pie? Gluten free? Mmmmmmm!!!! Two cake-like cookies sandwiching cream cheese frosting or something, I love it. The types of soup I had were:

• vegetable noodle (very good, I liked the quinoa noodles which was odd bc quinoa freaks me out)
• Leek and butternut squash (also very good.  I added a lot of salt, but salt is my favorite food)
• Corn and roasted pepper bisque (needed the most salt. I think this could have used some garlic)

All in all, as a celiac, I couldn't have asked for better options on the go.  The only thing I wish they had was a place to sit and eat in the store with WIFI or something.  But I like to be antisocial when I eat my lunch and I go to a tech school, so I would make that suggestion.

What are the hidden gem gluten free food havens in your city? I love that Rochester, NY has tons of  Celiac options.  I think between Wegmans and general natural food awareness here, we're one of the best Celiac-friendly cities.

In other deliciousness, I was watching the TODAY show this morning, and Martha Stewart was on making some "glitter balls," basically sugar cookie dough in balls, rolled in "glitter" made by mixing sugar and powdered food coloring.  You then lightly smoosh the cookies so they're kind of flat, then bake--and once they're baked, make a frosting sandwich. Doesn't that just make your mouth water?! Have I mentioned I love glitter?!?! That's gotta be real easy to make GF. I just need a good sugar cookie recipe.

 

*When I say fumbling around like an idiot, I got in the car to drive away and couldn't see over the wheel.  This sedan is twice as big as my previous lil 2-door, so I felt like I was driving a bus.  I stopped to get gas and couldn't figure out what side the gas door was on, so I tried turning around and couldn't maneuver the car in the snow!! At this point I was in the middle of the road trying to figure out how to work the "PRNDDL" (pronounced "prindle", read: transmission) ready to put my fist through the windsheild when my dad had to came over and was like do you need help? lol. Thank you, dad! The good news is, once I moved the steering wheel down, I could see.