Today Is The Day AFTER The Day...

my girls sang real a capella with the Vassar Devils!

What a tremendous night!  First, you had a two hour clinic with the Devils and then you got to perform on stage with them!

So many smiles and so much singing love to share.  We were so lucky that all of us, including Grandmom, Grandpop, Aunt Maria and Debbie came to support you.

My favorite part was when the Devils sang our wedding song and when you all sang together at the end.  WOW!  You girls were just amazing!  Love your creative outlets!

Vassar Selfie!

Today Was The Day..

HUGE DAY!  This morning, as I drove to work, I found out you were accepted to the high school we had really wanted you to get into. I called your dad on the phone, blubbering away with happiness.  I was a mess when I got to work.  I was that happy!!

It has been weighing on us for months, this decision of high school, and to know that you have a wonderful, safe school that you could thrive in makes the past year of work all worth it.

Yes it is far away, but there is no where on earth I wouldn't take you if I thought it was the right place for you.  I am so happy, so proud and so excited for you.

HAPPY kid!  And happy dad behind him
 

Learning the good news!

Today Was The Day...

Yesterday was the day you led the band in the Festival of the Whales parade!

You were confident, relaxed and led your group with amazing grace.  I have loved seeing you blossom with the band.  From a frustrated, crying 5th grader who couldn't make a note, to drum major!  It shows me that you are capable of pretty much anything you want to accomplish, and that is a beautiful thing.

Lead on!

Our personal cheering section!

Today Was The Day...

My dear, you are just the sweetest!  Today (and yesterday) you have absolutely insisted on helping Grandmom clean up everything from the dinner table!

We don't know what happened to make you want to do this, but gosh, you sure are making Momma proud!  What did we do to have such a kind, loving girl, filled with a servant's heart????

I love you forever and always, thank you for being you.

My precious Z

Today Was The Day...

You went to the American Girl store with your best friend for her birthday!

Ok, well first you went to art class.  I love that you love art.  It's been about two months since you started and you are doing so great and your confidence is growing and it's even inspired you to make other changes in your life, like doing yoga at night!  Keep it up sweetie!  Do what makes you happy and continue to develop in your art in your own time.

Then you had a full day at the American Girl store, with shopping and lunch and friends.  You looked so adorable and I can't believe you went without me, no problem!  This is one of the first times I've sent you with another mom to take care of ordering gluten-free for you, and you told me they took really good care of you.  That makes my heart happy.

You came home exhausted and happy.  You bought a small new rabbit for your doll, and named him Jeff Nutmeg.  Too cute for words.

Presenting your art work in class

Off to celebrate!

Not Today...But The Other Day Was the Day...

I am behind this week, so typical of your mom.

BUT...we cannot let such a momentous event pass by without recognition!

You achieved the rank of LIFE SCOUT in Scouting!

WOOHOOOO!   YEAH!  WAY TO GO!!!

You continue to amaze your father and myself with your dedication to becoming a better person thru Scouting.  This past year you hiked a 17 mile weekend hike, attended summer camp and held three different leadership positions.  Troop Instructor, Historian and Scribe.  You have even started work on your Ad Altare Dei religious emblem.  So much, so busy and worth every second.

Today Was The Day...

We went to the Gluten-Free & Allergy Friendly Expo!

It was AH-MAZING!  I never thought we would spend so much time there, but it was just so great to meet all of these amazing local, regional and national vendors providing high quality and delicious foods, drinks and supplements.

Almost everything was great and honestly, I can't wait to go back next year.  I know you can't either my little one.  You found new great foods and were never so excited to be gluten-free in your life!!

We love the Choc Zucc muffins, but who knew the Veggie Bites were just as delicious!?

Casanova Fish Tacos...WOW!!!  They were the best!

Mayacamas seasonings, gravies and mixes - can't wait to try

This was one of the best carrot cakes we ever tried - gluten free or not

We got a sneak taste of the Sweet Potato Potapas tortillas - delicious and can't wait for them to hit the stores

We had quite the haul!!

We tried several excellent breads, but we vote for La Brea Bakery's bread as Best In Show!

Sweet girl won frosted strawberry tarts from Glutino!

Loaded up

Excellent, fun and we left full!

Loved the new flavors from Beanfield's!

Glutino and Udi's were awesome!  LOVE their stuff!

Today Was The Day...

You had your big audition with OCSA!  You were soooo nervous today, and I mean really nervous.  Which made me nervous, but I think I hid it pretty well.

We all went with you to the interview, and you blended right in with the other kids.  I mean, it was like you found YOUR people!  I can truly see a place where you fit and you blend and you bond with others who like the same things you do...and it's awesome.

I am so proud of you.  You worked so hard this past year and prepared for today.  You walked in with your head held high and walked out with a smile like I've never seen.  You're still upstairs riding this high tonight.

I have to tell you, I really don't care if you go to this school.  I mean, I want you to succeed, but this school won't define you.  I am so proud of you, your work and your talent.  I am so lucky to be your mom.

Today was the day...

You went on a flight to Sacramento with your 4th grade class!

I have to admit, I was a little nervous...but you were so excited and brave and ready to have an adventure.  I hope today is a great day for you and I hope you never stop having adventures!

Valentine's Day was the day...

that we took our 14yo son to see Deadpool!  Yes it was fun and yes, it was extremely embarrassing to watch at times!  Just loved seeing it with you

Today was the day

we spent the afternoon curling your hair and getting ready for the dance while we sang songs from High School Musical and Teen Beach Movie. During the duets, I was the boy and you sang the girl leads.  ❤

Roasted Tomato Salsa

Fresh roasted salsa for chips, huevos or quesadillas!

Every year it is the same story.  The garden is planted and you patiently wait. You wait and wait and wait.  Then BAM! Your garden goes from barren to a super abundant crop overnight.  Suddenly you look and notice quite a lot of red poking out of the garden.  Remember those extra tomato plants you planted because you were sure you would eat all of them?  Now here we are, after the first couple weeks of harvest, and you have run out of ideas for fresh tomato recipes.

Too many tomatoes?

What should you do?  Give them away?  Maybe.  Maybe just a couple.  No way!  How can you bear to give up those juicy, deep red tomatoes you worked so hard for?!?  Forget giving them away.  There is another way to enjoy all the fruit of your labor.

Make some supremely delicious salsa instead!  I love roasting all vegetables and tomatoes are really extra good when carmelized under heat.  When you put these tomatoes in the extra hot oven, the tomatoes suffer a fast and hot kind of char.  Your tomatoes will look kinda bloodied, like they got beat up in a fight.  It was a delicious fight though.

This recipe will require your tomatoes, some pepper and onion, some time and then you will have some real roasted salsa you'll be proud to share with family and friends keep and eat all yourself.

Roasted Tomato Salsa

Ingredients:

• Approx 4-5lbs tomatoes, cut up. I use whatever is ripe.
• tomatoes that are extra seedy or pulpy should have that part discarded
• Olive oil
• salt and pepper
• 2 Pasilla or Anaheim chiles, fresh
• 2 jalapenos, fresh
• 1 onion, quartered
• 1 bunch cilantro, rough chop of tops only
• Juice of 2 limes (fresh please!)

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Place your tomatoes and onion on a piece of parchment or a Silpat on a half sheet pan.  Drizzle with olive oil to coat, but do not drench.  Add approximately 1 tsp of salt and 1/2 tsp of pepper and hand mix together. Place both Pasilla or Anaheim peppers on tray and one of the jalapenos.

Roast for 30 minutes and turn peppers over and roast an additional 30 minutes.  Remove from oven and discard onion skins.

Place peppers in large gallon zipper bag and close to steam the peppers.  After 10 minutes, remove peppers and the skin should fall right off.  Rinse seeds and stem away under water.

Place tomatoes, onions and all juices, along with peppers into food processor.  Pulse for about 10 secs at a time for a total of 30 seconds.

Finely dice remaining fresh jalapeno, remove veins and seeds.  Add to food processor along with juice of two limes and cilantro.

Pulse for 10-20 more seconds.  Check seasoning and add more salt/pepper if desired.  This salsa will thicken up a good deal overnight.

Best to eat after sitting for a few hours...with chips...and a cerveza.

Makes 3 (16oz) jars of salsa!

Roasted Tomato Salsa

Palm Springs: Our First GF Vacation!

Road trip - GF style!!!

We did it!!!  I am happy..no wait...I am THRILLED to report we took our first gluten free vacation and it was a success!  I wish I could tell you the stress I had about it.  We weren't going to the Sahara or anything exotic, but it was the first time we left the home area and we did it.  We were able to go and enjoy ourselves, and even eat out wonderful things for our little Z.

It was an adventure I definitely had to prepare for.  I spent weeks on Yelp and other review sites, looking for appropriate restaurants that served appropriate gluten free food.  And by appropriate, I mean not some fancy four star restaurant that would cost us $40/plate.  We are a working family of five, thank you!

First things first!  I booked a room at the Palm Canyon Resort.  I chose the resort because it had a full kitchen that we could use for our breakfasts, snacks and a lunch if needed.  Knowing that I could bring safe snacks, cereal and other food made planning the easier.

This resort was a perfect choice for our family.  Spacious rooms with a full kitchen, balcony and a really comfy bed made this place a must-stay for our next trip

Kicking it poolside at the Palm Canyon Resort

Family fun at the pool

Two slides at the resort - the kids loved the small one

The big slide was FAST and fun!

I went ahead and planned that we would arrive in town and have lunch before going to the hotel.  I also planned on dining out for dinner each night.  Knowing exactly how meals I needed to plan for was really helpful.  We wanted to eat casual lunch on Friday, pizza for dinner Friday night and then we wanted to eat on the top of mountain of the Aerial Tram on Saturday night.

Friday afternoon, we pulled in and went straight to Sherman's Deli.  I found Sherman's Deli on Yelp and was so excited that a real New York style deli had a gluten free menu available!  Although no menu was available on-line (HINT HINT, GET ONE), I did call ahead and learned all the meats were GF and they also offered GF bread AND pastries!

Sherman's Deli is a GF favorite

Once we arrived, everyone there was so nice.  Our waiter was very knowledgeable and great at answering any questions we had.  My little Z was going to have a sandwich, but then learned they serve breakfast all day and insisted upon getting eggs, bacon, potatoes and GF toast!  She was so happy.  I was thrilled that I could order a real club sandwich on GF toast too.  Seriously, this sandwich is one of my most fav things in the world and I hadn't had one in over eight months.  Lunch was phenomenal.  The absolute topper was buying GF berry rugaluch, GF chocolate chip cookies and GF peanut butter cookies.  All pastries are packaged, sealed and stored separate from the other baked items.  There was also a beautiful 4 layer GF chocolate cake that we almost bought. (too full from lunch)  It was in the case and covered to protect from cross contamination.  That seriously brought a tear to my eye.  Bravo Sherman's Deli!  Bravo!

These little babies were outstanding! Love rugaluch!

For dinner, I had decided on Bill's Pizza.  This was another Yelp find and I loved the positive reviews for their gluten free crust.  Unfortunately it was a very busy Friday night and the service was extremely slow.  The pizza took almost an hour to get.  Despite this, I have to give Bill's Pizza some serious credit.  We had some GF pizza and some regular pizza, and it was all extremely delicious.  I had a couple of slices of the pizza-of-the-day and a small antipasto salad, and it was tasty!  Everyone (there were 5 adults and 7 kids) thought this pizza was some of the best we have ever tasted!  Now we know why they are so busy!!  Lesson learned.  Next time we go to Palm Springs, we are ordering early.  And yes, Z loved her GF pizza.  She had leftovers for lunch the next day and still thought it was awesome.

On Saturday, we wanted to take the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway and eat at the restaurants at the top of the mountain.  I had some trouble getting through to someone who could help and it took a couple of phone calls.  When I did reach a manager, he was extremely kind and told me that the chef would help with anything we needed once we arrived.  

We had a few - I mean A LOT of kids for the tram!

Do they look nervous?

So we arrived at the loading station and entered the round aerial tram.  It was awesome.  Everyone really loved the rides up and down.  It is a fast, ear popping ride that gives you breathtaking views of the valley floor.  We went at sunset and it was beautiful.  We also loved that it was 30 degrees cooler than the bottom!  We went from 102 degrees to 72 degrees in just 10 minutes!

My goofy, wonderful kids

Once we walked around admiring the views and taking in the scenery, we walked over to the Pines Cafe, located inside the station.  There is a full service restaurant as well, but we decided that we had too many little kids to sit through a fancy dinner.  The chef came out and was so nice to us and Z.  He went through every item that was GF safe or not.  Unfortunately, none of the prepared salad dressings were gluten free, but the chef happily offered to create one for her.  She loved the vinaigrette he prepared and ate all of her salad (unusual for her!)  There was plenty of food for her to chose from and we were appreciative of the time he spent making this experience a pleasant one for all of us.

Feeling ok on the thrilling ride up

Beautiful scenery behind us

View from the top - breathtaking

That's the view....straight down!

The rest of the weekend we spent at the pools at the resort.  There was a smaller kid area pool with the two slides, and the larger adult area pool.  There were also two spas and a poolside bar for drinks and food.  The resort had a lot of activities for the kids too.  The girls stuffed some magical animal friends poolside and the kids even got to make their own tie-dyed t-shirts too.  I was really impressed with the friendly staff, especially when I had to make a noise complaint on our boisterous neighbors.  We never heard from them again after we notified staff.

The kids did most of the work for the t-shirts

Stuffing their new friends

Game room had pool tables available too

At the end of the weekend, we hated to go so we stopped by Sherman's Deli one more time before heading home and picked up some extra cookies for the ride home.  It was a great first time trip and we found a few more places we want to try next time we return.  Thank you Palm Springs for the gluten friendly hospitality!