Memorial Day: A Day of Remembrance, Reflection, and Gluten/Dairy Free Macaroni Salad

Traditionally, Memorial Day is a day of not only epic parades, but also massive feasting with friends and family. I'm sure everyone comes up with a similar image in their head when they hear Memorial Day: BBQ's, hot dogs, hamburgers, potato chips, and pie with ice cream. Even given my many tummy troubles, I am still one such person who pictures the day as such.

So this year when my mom brought up the annual Memorial Day/Brothers' Birthday Party BBQ at our house, I decided to take matters into my own hands and to create a scrumptious dish (and hoard it) for myself. I figured that would ease the blow of the massive rolls covered in butter, fudgey birthday cake, and creamy brownie ice cream that would be dished out.

In my search I turned to my favorite and always delicious Cooking For Isaiah cookbook to see what Silvana had in terms of BBQ food. I marked pages with traditional potato salad and leafy green salads when I came across the Macaroni Salad with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Olives*...my mouth immediately started watering plus it looked like it would appear to be "real" food so I could really feel like one of the group ; )

It was relatively easy to make, took only a handful of ingredients, and was amazingly refreshing and delicious. Although the original plan was to hoard it all to myself, I graciously doubled the recipe and scooped a big serving into a tubaware for only me : )

*Macaroni Salad Recipe

Gluten Free, Dairy Free Banana Cookies for Only 7 Calories?! Yes : )

It is no secret, I love love love my bananas. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, dessert, you name it, I'll add a banana to it. So when two of my bananas went too bad/bruised to eat, I was not simply going to toss them away; that would just be silliness. Instead, I decided to combine three of my favorite things: bananas, cinnamon, and cookies : )

After much searching through  various banana cookie recipes, I decided to combine a few with a gluten/dairy free twist. I started by replacing the regular all-purpose flour with the Silvana's gluten free flour  mix from the Cooking For Isaiah cookbook. After those came out moist and gooey and overall amazing, I decided to move towards an even healthier version by replacing the eggs and butter. For the butter I tried two different versions: oil and applesauce. In the end the applesauce came out the most moist and had the least amount of calories. I replaced the egg with organic, cage free egg whites. My final adjustment came when I replaced the sugar. Not generally pleased with the flavor and texture that Splenda and its imitators in terms of a sugar replacement in baking, I decided to try a natural version that didn't contain tummy upsetting chemicals. This little adjustment not only kept the flavor similar to the original, but helped dramatically decrease those nasty calories.

In the end, I was able to make some of the most delicious gluten free, dairy free, almost vegan banana cookie poppers* that were only SEVEN calories and practically no fat per teaspoon+ cookie...in my mind, this equals success : )

*Gluten Free Diary Free Banana Poppers

A Happy Tummy In Paris and London Too : )

Paris. That's right the one place that contains some of the most amazing breads, cheeses, and other gluten/dairy-filled confections that smell good enough for any gluten/dairy intolerant person to give into stomach pains and sickness for just one little smidgeon of a bite. This is where I found myself earlier this month. Paris and London in the spring time with my mama and sister for our Girls Euro Trip 2011 was torture for my senses, from sight to smell to touch, all my senses tingling with desire to delve into une grande baguette de pain avec beaucoup de délicieux fromage fondu (aka a big baguette with lots of delicious melted cheese). However, not wanting to be hotel bed/foreign hospital bound for the trip I did not give in.

Luckily, Paris was one of the most food allergy friendly places I have had to pleasure to stroll around. Not only did they provide some of the most delicious haricots verts (green beans), other veggie and fruit salads/plates, and my personal favorite pomme frites (french fries), but Paris also had a whole grocery store food chain (Naturalia; Website) devoted to natural/allergy friendly foods. I had amazing gluten free rolls, madelines, and dairy free hazelnut cocoa spread along with the best fruit gummies I have ever had and am still craving. 

My morning started with a lovely fruit spread with perhaps some gf bread and spread, lunch/snacks were gf rolls and gummies, and we always ended our Paris days at a picturesque Paris cafe/restaurant where we always opted to sit outside and people watch while enjoying fresh perfectly cooked veggies and pomme frites.

Did I mention the wine? Both gluten free and dairy free I filled up on it! The restaurants/cafes all had impeccable wine selections that never disappointed and we even found a few amazing wine stores. One, Lavinia (Website), absolutely breathtaking...wall to wall floor to ceiling, multi level wine store with staff happy to help silly American girls not familiar with the wine lingo. 



Another we stumbled upon while walking through one of the Paris markets. Nysa (Website) was much smaller and more compact than Lavinia, but it still offered some of the best wine I have found, at a more discounted price. From 4 to 6 euro for the least expensive, I had plenty of bottles to bring back with me : )

London was a little more difficult allergy friendly food wise. It didn't have the same type of breads and cheese temptations that I had to contend with in Paris, but it also had much less in terms of gluten free, dairy free options. However, they still had lots of stores that sold bananas and a variety of chips (aka french fries) to munch on. I also still had some left over bread, rolls, and gummies from Naturalia in Paris to satisfy my hunger. The first pub we visited, the Rose & Crown, boasted that it had the best British pub food around. Not one to take things at face value (ahem) I just had to try the chips just to be sure. They did not disappoint and I even had a nice glass of wine to go along with it : )

We found similar results at the other pubs we stopped at, including my personal favorite, The Sherlock Holmes (Website). It was everything and more that I expected from a traditional British pub.

A nice surprise came in the form of the Notting Hill Markets on Portobello Road. The street was not only lined on both sides with antiques, books, and other sweet knick knacks (including an adorable Paddington Bear that I very quickly bought) but also had venders selling some of the most vibrate and fresh looking fruits and veggies. They honestly were picturesque enough to make a meat loving carnivore's mouth instantly water.

All in all it was an amazing trip and I literally started to tear up when I knew it was over. I was fortunate enough to not only take this once in a lifetime trip with my mama and big sister, but also to enjoy the culinary specialties that each place was famous for in one way or another and leave with a very happy belly : )

Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Peanut Butter in My Belly : )

In my constant search for healthy, delicious, tummy friendly foods I have stumbled across a few gems that I can see myself one, buying the company out of their product and two, guarding with my life for life. Thus is the case with the Peanut Butter & Co peanut butter. They not only have an adorable monkey as their mascot and a store front in New York City that has a menu containing sandwich such as the "Fluffernutter" which they describe as "Peanut butter on one side and gobs of Marshmallow Fluff spread on the other. It's heaven," but they also sell their products nation wide online and in select stores.


I was lucky enough to stumble upon this during one of my many slow meanders through Whole Foods (which as i'm sure you've derived is one of my favorite past times). Perusing the peanut butter aisle (also my favorite aisle next to the wine one) I stopped right quick when I say the monkey on the jar. I'm sure I did a little dance when I read the label that had, in a straight row, "Vegan, Gluten Free, No-Stir Natural." To make it better, the flavors that they had were/are to die for! There was Smooth Operator (a lower calorie smooth natural peanut butter), Dark Chocolate Dreams (the all natural peanut butter mixed with dark chocolate), White Chocolate Wonderful (all natural peanut butter mixed with yummy white chocolate), and my personal favorite amazingly delicious Cinnamon Raisin Swirl. When I say amazingly delicious, I mean can't stop eating, one whole jar in a sitting (yes I have done this) yummy. It honestly goes with anything and everything from apples, to cookies, to bananas, to finger dipping directly to mouth action. And yes, I've done that too : )

This company is soooo great my sister and I even got together and got our mama a gift pack for mothers day which included jams, the main favorite flavors of peanut butters, and a Peanut Butter & Co cookbook. All this and they support the Peanuts' franchise? What more could you want : )

Peanut Butter & Co Website

Birthday Dinner at Gratzi

Birthdays since I went dairy free have been trying, but still manageable with delicious sorbet and my Nana's Fudgey Cake. However, my first birthday after being both gluten and dairy free was less than enjoyable in the food department. The restaurant that we went was one of the best pizza places around, but only offered melon balls for a gluten/dairy free option. So I left starving.


Luckily, this year was sooo much better. Picture this...chunky tomatoes and mushrooms, tomato/basil/garlic sauce, with soft gluten free pasta...heaven on a plate! Pair that with a yummy white wine and you have what I had for my birthday dinner at Gratzi. Not only was the food a-maz-ing but the service was some of the best I've had. The waiter was quick, attentive, and very friendly leading to an overall awesomely awesome birthday experience.

Ending the night back at my apartment with homemade gluten free dairy free fudgey raspberry cake made by my sweet mama + the Sleeping Beauty dvd from my sissy and you have one of the best birthdays to date : )

Gratzi Website