Summer officially gave way to Fall this week but we’ll be enjoying hot and humid, summer-like temperatures for the foreseeable future!
Got to enjoy these final days of drawing with sidewalk chalk, learning how to ride a trike, and taking impromptu afternoon walks while they last. It’s hard to believe that at this time last year this little monkey wasn’t even walking, and now he’s tearing through the neighborhood like he owns the place. Toddlerhood of course has it’s challenges, but MAN is this a fun time!
Despite the fun outdoor activities, and the fact that my AC keeps kicking on, I can’t deny that I’m slowly making the mental shift towards Fall and cooler weather. Are you there yet? I sort of feel like a traitor admitting that out loud, but the second half of the week was drizzly and grey, so I took the opportunity to make my cozy Gluten-Free Homestyle Chicken and Noodles for dinner a few nights ago. 75 degrees and I’m rolling out homemade egg noodles to drop into a big pot of boiling broth. Trust me – totally worth it!
Yesterday I even busted out a long-sleeved shirt and pair of close-toed flats to wear while enjoying a hot almond milk latte under the equally hot sun with Lincoln and George during our weekly La Mie date. What can I say, the heart wants what it wants! ;)
My heart also wants you to get the discount code for my ebook, Gluten-Free for Beginners: 30 Day Meal Plan and Guide for Gluten-Free Success, which will be available for pre-order starting this Sunday, September 27 at 12:01am CT!! Make sure to sign up for my email newsletter to get the discount code and be notified when pre-sales start. Don’t forget, the first 25 people who pre-order will also get a box of my favorite gluten-free products from Hy-Vee!
I’ve heard from a lot of you who may not have Celiac Disease or a gluten-sensitivity but know somebody who does, and either want to give the ebook as a gift OR read it to learn how to prepare safe foods for their friends and families. These are such wonderful, supportive ideas – I absolutely love it! Regardless of the reason, I know you’ll find it extremely helpful learning how to go gluten-free.
With that said, wherever you are and whatever you do have a wonderful weekend and in the meantime, please enjoy my favorite finds from around the web and beyond in this week’s Friday Favorites!
Favorite face-plant: Chocolate Buttermilk-Frosted Brownies. Between getting pre-sales for the ebook ready to launch on Sunday, trying not to catch Lincoln’s second cold in less than a month, and everything in between, it has been a WEEK! Nothing these epic brownies can’t fix though, right? This picture makes me giddy!
Favorite truth. I believe!
Favorite combo: Fried Cauliflower dipped in Whipped Feta. Yet another scroll-stopping recipe featuring cauliflower, plus this one could easily be made gluten-free by swapping out the all-purpose flour for gluten-free flour (I think I’d use sweet white rice or almond flour.) Cannot wait to try these crunchy bites!
Favorite space. If Ben and I ever finished our basement It’d have to have a small kitchen and bar. This space is so inviting, don’t you think? Get the bar experience without having to pay for a babysitter!
Favorite snack. I like to combine different textures when I’m snacking – crunchy gluten free pretzels + silky almond butter, creamy cottage cheese plus juicy fresh pineapple, etc – which is why I’m digging this crunchy/creamy snack idea from The Laughing Cow, that’s perfect for game day. Crunchy blue corn tortilla chips topped with Creamy Spicy Pepper Jack cheese, fresh jalapeño, and bacon bits. Heck yes! Also, GO HAWKS! (full disclosure: I am a brand ambassador for The Laughing Cow!)
Favorite truth: All the Comments Ever on Your Special Diet. Whether you’re a vegetarian, vegan, eat gluten-free, dairy-free – whatever your special diet may be – your blood pressure will simultaneously raise from remembering times people have said these statements to you, and lower from being able to laugh about them after the fact. So I guess it will stay the same. Regardless, preach! My favorite: “Yeah, get it. I get a stomachache when I eat ice cream, but I eat it anyway!”
Favorite read: Why It Doesn’t Matter How You Feel About Your Friends. This was such a huge read for me this week. I think about my friends all the time. Like, daily. About how much I love them, how their jobs are going, how their kids are doing, what their days are like – but unless I reach out and ask, it doesn’t matter much at all. Must read!
Favorite cozy: Easy Tomato Soup with Ancini di Pepe Pasta. How unbelievably cozy does this soup look? Can’t wait to make it, swapping out the ancini di pepe with some GF pasta. On this one pronto!
Favorite craft: Pumpkin Tree Stump Welcome Sign. Since making my DIY Wood Slice Chalkboard last year, I know how easy and fun wood slice crafts can be. This one is ah-dorable, inexpensive, and could be placed anywhere you need a little fall cheer.
Favorite bite. I found this sandwich on JonnyOC’s instagram account and nearly spit out my drink at the genius of it all. The double down sandwich is cool ranch dusted fried chicken, bacon, American cheese, & ancho ranch sauce. Let me just make sure you read the most important part – cool ranch dusted fried chicken. I can’t even.
Favorite thing ever: Amazon Prime. (<< affiliate link.) Am I the last person in America to learn about Amazon Prime?? I somehow started a 30 day free trial a couple months ago and am HOOKED! FREE 2 day shipping on pretty much everything, plus a lot of other features that I have taken zero advantage of because the free shipping is just. so. good. The service is $99/year after the free trial ends but it’s been so worth it to be able to one-click order things I need without having to make a list, go out and run a special errand, etc. Bottom line – it’s one of the best purchases I’ve ever made. Really need to check out the Kindle book access too – wonder if it’s just a selection or all Kindle books?
Edited to add: Just learned that TODAY only (Friday, 9/25) you can get your yearly subscription for just $67/year – heck of a deal!
Favorite wake up: Healthy Sausage Egg and Cheese Breakfast Bowl with Curly Sweet Potato Fries. Whelp, I know what I’ll be making for breakfast tomorrow! This bowl looks unbelievable and perfect for waking up with on a lazy Saturday morning.
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Have a great weekend, everyone!
I just learned about your blog from a friend. Holy Cow! Your gluten-free recipes look awesome. My daughter (8 yrs) and ar gluten free. Non-celiac gluten sensitivity. This blog is making me very happy!
Ahh…I’ve been “working on” going gluten free for many months now to support thyroid health (autoimmune disorder). One of my biggest hesitations has been the idea of never eating a croissant at La Mie again. And I don’t even live in Des Moines! I visit maybe once a year, but I can’t quit those ham and cheese croissants. What do you eat when you go there?
I actually don’t eat there anymore – just too much risk of cross contamination (we just get drinks and fruit for Lincoln.) :( If I wasn’t super sensitive I would order the veggie scramble with no toast in a heartbeat!
That breakfast bowl!!!!!!! Wowwwwwwww. Love the Friday favorites and that bar area, too!!
My favorite food related comment from my husband’s Grandmother: “so can you eat anything that actually tastes good?”
Gotta love it! (kind of…) ;)
Hi. My name is Courtney, and I am an Amazon Prime addict. Amazon prime was the best/worst decision I ever made. I don’t have cable, so I use it for watching movies and tv shows, which I love. But now, I absolutely refuse to buy anything else online that doesn’t give me two day free shipping. I will say, Christmas shopping is SO.MUCH.EASIER now, though! Free two day shipping to my brothers spread across the country? Yes, please!
My son’s 15 months and I can’t wait to see where he is in a year! Also, those brownies, though.
Just saw that prime for $67 is all day today! LOVE the bar area you linked;)
The special Prime rate ends today, I think. But yes, it’s totally worth it! Check out Prime Video, too. They have a lot available (including Fraggle Rock! – or is that “!” just me?).
Re: ebooks – if you haven’t already heard of it, sign up for Book Bub. They email you daily deals on ebooks. A lot of them are free as part of a series, but you can select “favorite authors” and they email you whenever that author has a deal – I’ve gotten some great book deals that way!
That cauliflower and the the breakfast bowl both have me drooling! Can you really sub almond flour for the AP flour in the cauliflower recipe? is it a 1:1 sub? Thanks!
That’s what I would do, Terri!
Toddlers are the best. Usually. ;) My son is 2 1/2 and it is such a fun age. Also – I want to eat every single thing in this post. Especially that breakfast bowl!
If you haven’t paid for prime yet they have temporarily lowered their price to $67 a year because Transparent did so well at the Emmys and they want to get people watching. Don’t know when that expires, though!
Oh, the Amazon Prime! Love the shipping too, but the lack of books available for Prime members is frustrating. You get one free rental per month for your Kindle with Amazon Prime. But if you pay an extra $10 per month, you get unlimited books – both from just a selection of books, NOT their whole library. So, it’s not really unlimited now, Amazon, is it?? I have gotten some good books from their selection, mind you, but none of the new releases are on there, nor are the top sellers. My 10-year-old son loves to read, and we got the $10 per month “unlimited” when he got his Kindle, and he’s already gone through everything that looks good to him. Thanks for the work you do on this site!!
Thanks so much for the tips, Holly!
With Prime you also get a selection of movies to stream…so, if you have a blu ray player with that feature you can get a selection of free movies. So, that’s another benefit.
Happy Friday! I always love your Friday Favorites – you find the best stuff! I came across Sweatpants & Coffee this week and stayed up way too late one night reading their posts.
Congratulations on the eBook! What an exciting adventure for you and your career. Hope you and the family have a great weekend!
Thank you so much, Lee – really appreciate your support! :)