Red Robin Review

In my Socially Gluten Free with Kids blog I mentioned how much I liked Red Robin. They are one of the very few restaurants that have a kid friendly gluten free menu. Most restaurants just offer pizza or mac n cheese for kids that are of course not GF. So for family gatherings we frequent Red Robin. I love the fact that they put our special ordered fries and food in yellow baskets instead of their normal red ones so we know that our food is safe. I love that I can eat a burger there, it's always protein style -wrapped in lettuce. I also love their service. The wait staff has always been nice and helpful when we take our time ordering our food. I've had them catch my mistake of not requesting GF fries with my protein style burger more then once before and they take care of it right away.

It's not unknown how Red Robin takes care of their GF customers so that is why I've never written a review on them before. However, this weekend we went to celebrate my husband's and daughter's up coming birthdays with family and I was shocked when I went to order my food. As I went through the normal routine of requesting GF fries and protein style burger, our waiter interjected to let me know that they now carry GF buns! What a delightful surprise! So I ordered mine with a bun and my daughter's burger with a bun too. It was so nice to eat a burger on a bun just like everyone else. I always feel like I have to be careful when ordering my burger protein style because it leaks if I get one of their burgers that comes with a sauce and I have secretly wished they had GF buns so I could order one of their messy burgers like the Red Robin Royal that comes with a fried egg on top.

The bun was very nice. It wasn't hard and it didn't fall apart either when wet, even my daughter's left overs didn't get soggy while sitting in mandarin orange juice over night. It didn't have much of a distinct flavor which was also nice. I could tell it was make with a lot of starch with how fluffy it was, but they also toasted the bun and that helped with texture. It was made with yeast, but sometimes you can't be too picky. It was so nice just to have a burger on a bun. Next time I'm ordering a burger that is messy like the Royal or the mushroom or the avocado one. This time I just got the bacon burger which was good.

Spiced Pumpkin Muffins

This recipe is a happy accident.  I wanted to make cookies and just started playing with a recipe that went into a different direction and now I have muffins and they taste good, toddler approved too. This recipe is very much a happy accident because I will be working a women's conference all weekend at my church which means no time for breakfast and I'll have to bring my own food. They will be serving lunch at this conference, but I can't eat it of course, and I'll be having rehearsal during part of the lunch hour. So these muffins are just what I needed for a grab and go breakfast or snack. I hope you enjoys these muffins.

Spiced Pumpkin Muffins
3 cups Pamela's Pancake Mix (or your favorite flour blend)
1 cup brown sugar
2 cups pumpkin puree (I used pumpkin I processed myself so you might need to add some water)
1 stick butter or butter substitute
1 tsp vanilla
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbs cocoa powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
Cream together butter, sugar, pumpkin, and vanilla. Add pancake mix, pumpkin pie spice, salt, cocoa, and beat until well combined. Line muffin tin with paper liners and fill each liner 3/4 of the way full. I used a mini ice cream scoop and it took about 2 scoops of batter. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the fullest muffin comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack before eating. Makes 12-16 muffins.

Pumpkin Sugar Cookies

It's fall and who doesn't love all things pumpkin? I know I do. I have the pumpkin Scentsy going and we have pumpkins all over the place waiting to be either carved or cooked. I love fall. I just love the colors on the trees, and leaves on the ground that give a stratifying crunch when stepped on, and the smell of warm spiced things coming from the oven. I also look forward to our churches Halloween alternative event. It's so much fun for kids and parents. They have bounce houses, magic show, balloon animals, and candy. The kids get to dress up and some of the parents do too. I think dressing up, carving pumpkins and getting free candy is fun. As long as we keep away form the scary side of Halloween and just focus on the fun parts of it, I feel that it's ok. Last year I carved Bob and Larry, from Veggie Tales on our pumpkin and made these pumpkin cookies. This year we might just paint the outside of our pumpkin so we can cook it later. As far as these cookies go, you can put the chocolate chips on like I did as jack-o-lanterns or you can mix them into the dough like chocolate chip cookies.

I used the sugar cookie recipe from Land O Lakes web site.
http://www.landolakes.com/recipe/632/fun-time-butter-cookies-gluten-free-recipe

Pumpkin Sugar Cookies 
3/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter, soft ( I used Earth Balance Vegan dairy free butter)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 -1 can of pumpkin
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin spice
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups GF flour blend
Enjoy life chocolate chips
cinnamon sugar

Preheat oven to 400.
Flour blend as stated in the recipe. Gluten-Free Flour Blend: To make flour blend, combine 2 cups rice flour, 2/3 cup potato starch, 1/3 cup tapioca flour and 1 teaspoon xanthan gum. Use appropriate amount for recipe; store remainder in container with tight-fitting lid. Stir before using.

Blend sugar, butter and pumpkin till smooth. Add dry ingredients and beat on medium speed till well mixed. Shaped dough into 1 inch balls ( I used a small ice cream scoop). On a grease baking sheet, flatten balls with the bottom of a glass cup dipped in cinnamon sugar mixture. Place chocolate chips on the cookie in the shape of a jack o lantern. Bake for 8 mins.

Cauliflower, Potato, and Apple Soup

A lot of things have been changing, it must be that season of life. Not only are the leaves changing, the air is cooler, and the days are getting shorter, but my husband's work has taken a turn - for the good. The hard challenges that we have faced is the past year or so are almost over, but his new career means a lot of traveling. It will be good for our family just like how the changing of the seasons are good for our world. It won't be easy, but this is a time that God has called us to and we will rejoice and be glad in it. Sometimes that is easier said then done. Some hate the coming snow, others relish in it like my daughter does.

I sure can learn alot from my daughter, she is one of the few that can see the beauty in every season. Summer is perfect for swimming and playing outside, fall is best for playing in leaves and coloring on pumpkins, winter is best for snow angels and sledding, spring is fun to explore nature waking up from it's cold sleep, and that brings us back to summer. I prefer fall or spring, those are my favorite seasons. I'm not sure why. I think it might because I love the the drastic change that from the seasons before.  As much as this new season in our lives may not be my favorite it will own new doors and opportunities that our family may not experience otherwise. God's timing is perfect and he knows our hearts desires best and his way often not only brings about our hearts desires, but it brings them about in a way that our own imaginations couldn't possibly fathom. It may not be the way we would do things, but our God is the God above all and he sees things in a way we can't. So it may not be my idea, but God's ideas never fail unlike ours.

Speaking of different ways of doing things, this recipe was inspired by potato soup. I love potato soup, so simple and you can top it with so many wonderful things from chopped ham to salsa. This recipe you can top it in the same fun way as a potato soup, but it has some hidden nutrition. I hope you like this soup as we have. It also freezes well and keeps for a while.

Cauliflower, Potato and Apple soup
5-7 medium potatoes peeled and chopped to be the same size
2 heads of cauliflower chopped
2 apples peeled and chopped, I used golden delicious
1/2 box of low sodium veggie broth
2+ cups of water
squeeze of a lemon
1 Ts parsley
1 Ts chopped onion
1 Ts fennel seeds
1/4 ts nutmeg
1/2 ts ground ginger
1 stick butter
cream or milk ( I used hemp) to taste
salt and pepper to taste

Add potatoes to pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and continue cooking till they are slightly soft. Add broth and cauliflower at this point and add more water if you need to, to cover veggies. Bring to low boil. Add lemon, parsley, onion, fennel, nutmeg, ginger, salt and pepper at this time. Once cauliflower is tender and the potatoes are very tender add apples and lower the heat to a simmer. Let it simmer for 20 to 30 mins. with the lid on. 

Take the soup off the heat and blend until smooth in a blender. Add back to the pot and put it on low heat and add butter and cream. Serve. This makes a lot, enough for freezing.

Media Fast: Lessons Learned

Near the end of August on my Facebook page I mentioned that I was doing a media fast, mostly fasting Facebook. I of course still blogged and uploaded my writings on Facebook, as for my personal page, I kept pretty quite. Some of my friends have asked me to share what I have learned over the past 40 days, and since sharing my faith and my lessons learned as I draw near to God fit well on this blog, I thought I write about this once and make it easy for myself.

As some of you know my family and I are going through a hard time. I've mentioned in previous posts the need to pinch pennies and make simple meals. Times are really hard right now for our family, we've been hit hard my the economy downfall. So many of my lessons learned deal with trusting God, standing firm and relying on His strength. During this time I studied Paul the apostle.I started reading his writings before this fast and I am still working through them. I chose the writings of Paul because he is such in inspiration to me. Here is this man who thought he had the world all figured out, he was the ideal Jew. Then God struck him off his horse, made him blind for a few days and spoke to him. Talk about life changing experience. He went from the hater and murder of the early Christian church to one of it's best and strongest leaders. I must point out that he had his coming to Jesus experience (to use the phrase) after Jesus rows into heaven after the resection. He didn't have the advantage of knowing Jesus first hand like Peter, John, Matthew, James, and the other apostles did. He learned to know Jesus the way us modern Christians do. He was 110% sold out for Christ. His was extremely prosecuted for all of his work in the early church, yet that didn't stop him. Most of his letters that we have in the Bible were written while he was in prison. As much as I had already know how passionate Paul was for Jesus I learned so much from his writings. Every time I sat down to read from his books the passages seemed to jump of the page and smack me up side the head. Those verses were so pointedly placed so that they would strike me the way they did during this time in my life. I want to share those verses with you today. These verse have changed so much about how I view life and the troubles that come with it.

Phili 1:20 "I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death"

This passage stuck me as odd as first. I've always viewed Paul as this larger then life Christian and here he is hoping that he will not be ashamed and have courage to die or live for Christ. Wow! I know those feelings and thoughts, but the difference is that Paul nips these feelings in the butt and puts things in proper prospective. I hope that I too can live or die for Christ that will be shameless, yet courageous for His cause.

Phili 1:27 "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ."

How often to I do things when no one is looking or think things and think that because it is in my head all is fine? Too often. God knows and sees all, there fore I am not alone nor I am being secretive, except with myself. Also when life throws a big challenge my way I should act maturely and trust in God, not a baby who is having a temper tantrum. 

Phili 2:12-13 "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose."

Our God is a big God, he not only knows all, but He is powerful and should be respected. Our times of trouble is him working out our imperfections to make us better so we can serve Him better.

Phili 2:14 "Do everything without complaining or arguing."

Do I really need to say more?

Phili 3:8-11 "What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead."

We must keep our eyes on the eternal prize when dealing with life and all of it's hardships.It's easy for me to wish for more money so we can someday buy a house or a newer car or even take a much needed vacation. Yet, all those things will parish and be lost forever (Psalm 49), where our eternal rewards are well...eternal. They will never be lost or perish. We have the promise of everlasting life, which is far better then having a nice house for a few decades on earth. I rather live in God's house.

Phili 3:21 "who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body."

Now only does Christ have the power to resurrect our bodies, but he has control over everything. Let me say that again..He has the power to control Everything! Not something, or a few things, but Everything! Rejoy!

Phili 4:4-7 "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

This verse is one of my new life verses. It is so good! This verse teaches us not to worry, and how to ask for things. I find that the eye to asking for our requests to God should also include thanksgiving. How often is that when I pray it's "God I want this..." or "God I would really like it if this....happened." Instead it should be with thanksgiving, praise and worship. We must take the time to slow down and see all the small and wondrous things God does for us on a daily bases. Lets give God our thanks, he so deserves it more then what we can offer. Also, I love Love the part about the peace of God guarding our hearts and minds in Jesus. During troubled times it is easy to feel depressed and to lose our heads in the craziness of life, yet when we ask God (with our thanksgiving) that we get the peace of God and it will protect our hearts and minds and in Jesus! Boy do I need that everyday. Putting on the armor of salvation (Eph 6) is one things, but when life throws us a curve ball sometimes we need Jesus to cover our hearts and minds from the evil thoughts that creep up during the day that can easily throw us into despair.

Phili 4:12 "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."

Working on it....

Phili 4:18-19 "I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

 When we give it is a fragrant offering to God. Think about that...when we give someone hand-me-down clothes to someone in need, or deliver a meal or write a check what we are doing is a fragrant offering to God. How beautiful is that? Can we all be more giving? We have been so blessed that people have reached out to us in our time of need and given us so many things to help us keep our pantry full, rent paid, and our child clothed. All of those gifts were fragrant to God. May God bless every single one of those people 10 fold.

Col 3:1-4 "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."

Isn't that just beautiful? My life is hidden in Christ...wow!

Col 3:23-24 "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."

This verse is a great reminder for my media ministry at church. What I do is so behind the scenes that sometimes I wonder if anyone ever takes notice of it and if I'm doing any good. This verse proves that I am doing good with my media ministry.  Christ sees what I do and if I do it with a pure heart and with the right attitude then I will receive my inheritance from God. As stated before, this inheritance lasts forever!

Thess 1: 3 "your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."

Ditto the above statement.

Thess 5:18 "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

He is the potter, I am the clay. All that I go through is His will so that I may better serve Him. This is the will for my life. I don't want to be anywhere else. I want to be in God's will. His will is perfect, there is no fault. One of the many themes in Paul's writings is that he boasted about his trials. He said that they were proof that we has preaching the gossip for Christ's sake, not his. He did what he could to make sure that the people he was preaching to knew that he was not in it for the money or the earthly glory. There were people who were preaching the gossip but doing it in a way to gain money or pride. Paul didn't do that. He suffered greatly to bring the work of God to Mediterranean countries. The world hates us, it hated Jesus first and it will stop at nothing to make sure we don't succeed in our efforts to bring Christ to the world. If any one thinks that being a Christian is a easy ride through life and that we are not meant to suffer is dead wrong. If being a Christian was to have an easy life, everyone would be saved, everyone would sign up in a heart beat, but that is not the case. Christ died on the cross for us, a horrible death, to make atonement for our sins. The least we can do is dedicate our lives back to him. Remember to live is Christ and to die is gain?

Jam 1:2-5 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. "

I hope you all have gleaned something for the insights that I learned in the past 40 days. I am still being molded by my Creator and I'm sure I am not done yet. Things are still difficult for my family, but we are in the palm of God's hand and that is where I want to be.

‎"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1

Mini Pizzas

I love the idea of making mini pizzas. When I first learned to cook, at the age of eight, the first recipe I could make on my own and had memorized was mini pizza's using pre-made biscuits. For some reason I just have never attempted mini pizzas since going GF. I thought the pancake mix would work well, it makes great biscuits, so why not mini pizzas? It worked great. It was nice and fluffy like the pre-made biscuits and it could withstand the toppings without getting soggy.  Plus they are perfect for little hands and mouths, and quick enough for a weeknight meal.

And what little kid doesn't like pizza? If my picky eater is in one of her no eating funks I know what what will cure it in a heart beat - pizza. As I've said before, we love pizza. My husband is an awesome pizza maker, gluten free and non. I love making pizza too, in fact it's a family affair these days. My husband either helps me make the dough or he does it, if he isn't home, which is frequently with his new job, I make it. My main job has always been the sauce. We both help with toppings and my daughter's job is to eat the cheese before it makes it to the pizza and help place the toppings. For these mini pizzas we did two types of toppings - all cheese for my daughter, and sauteed tomato and onions for mine and my husbands.



Mini Pizzas
1 cup Pamela's Pancake Mix
1 egg
1 Tbs oil
1/3 cup water
1/2 tsp Italian seasoning

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Mix pancake mix together with egg, oil, and seasoning. Slowly add water and mix. The batter should be thick but not stiff. Spoon 6 dollops of batter onto a parchment lined baking sheet and smooth into 4 inches rounds with a spatula or a big spoon. Bake the dough for 10-15 minutes, until the the crusts are lightly golden brown. Then take them out of the oven and put on sauce and favorite toppings. Bake for another 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Makes 6 mini pizzas.