Adventures in Gluten (and Sugar) Freedom from a southern blogger chick!

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Happy Christmas to all

I am not kidding when I say I haven't had a second to post this past week.

With the medical drama over (yes, I have pernicious anemia, and yes, I have to take B-12 shots. but my Celiac panel/biopsy showed good villi and good numbers, so YAY for all of that. I have also been down since Dec. 12 with a growing case of bronchitis. I'd like to say that is on the way out, but I still feel like crap.

OK -- ao Jeffrey and I filled with sleigh, I mean car, with toys and headed south to Tampa, where we're happily enjoying big stores to shop in and the company of my wonderful brother in law Ron (and Randy, of course). We've had friends over for a spaghetti feast (wouldn't be Christmas without one in my family) and went to a lovely party last night at the home of Roxanne, who's from Jamaica. Delightful!

And now, on Christmas eve, I'm washing clothes, wrapping presents, and planning for an evening of party food, luminaria in the neighborhood, and Christmas lights. Randy and Ron are out shopping, and Jeffrey is counting the minutes and trying to peek!

Tonight's Christmas eve dinner is a tradition, of sorts. We're having a buffet full of wonderful hors d'oeuvres, all purchased, and all gluten free. It will be Aidells spinach and feta sausages with grainy mustard, aidells sun dried tomato meatballs, spinach and artichoke dip, and a big pan of macaroni and cheese. I also made a Chocolate Pecan Pie.

For breakfast, I'm baking a sausage and cheddar quiche (so easy). And later in the day we're having prime rib with roasted carrots and potatoes (and leftover everything else).

I wanted to take this time to tell you all, my friends and GF family, how blessed I am to have you all in my life. Like Mariah Carey sings in one of my favorite Christmas songs, "ALL I want for Christmas is YOU." Lucky me. I got that already.

Blessings, peace and MUCH much love, to all of you.
Ging

Chocolate Pecan Pie (from Paula Deen)

One GF pie crust of your choice
2 cups pecan halves
1 cup milk or dark chocolate chips GF
1/2 cup butter melted
three eggs beaten
2 T. spiced rum (or bourbon) or vanilla if you're boring
1 cup white sugar
Pinch salt
1/2 cup dark brown sugar.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place nuts and chips in bottom of pie crust (no need to pre bake it). Mix other ingredients and pour over the nuts and chips. Bake for 35 minutes until the middle doesn't jiggle any more.

Cool and serve. VERY rich and decadent, and the spiced rum....Randy really loved this pie. He said it was the best.

5 comments:

Gluten Free Steve said...

Prime rib? Man, I wish I was there! Wishing you nothing but the best for Christmas and in the coming year. I'm glad to hear you're on the mend (somewhat). Get some rest!!!

Unknown said...

Merry Christmas to you, too!

Karen said...

Sounds like a wonderful Christmas for a special lady!

Stephanie ODea said...

Merry Christmas, Ginger! I'm so glad that you're feeling better. I didn't know Aidell's made meatballs; that is exciting news to hear.
The pecan pie sounds divine.

xoxo
steph

Joyous said...

Hey Carter - I hope you guys had a GREAT Christmas! I was just down in Tampa (see my blog, yes I really posted one!) But I didn't have any time to look you guys up :(

Anyway, I'm so sorry to hear about the pernicious anemia thing. I have been through that before...my docs thought I had the same thing and I was on B-12 shots for a looooong time. And then one day it just cleared up...so I hope that you truly don't have to have the shots for the rest of your life. We can talk more about that later...

I would like to plan a trip to Milledgeville soon and remedy the fact that we haven't seen each other since you and Randy got married. Yikes! I will let you know when I am thinking of coming down, and see what your schedule looks like.

Anyway, I'm alive, I know that I have been gone for awhile, but there's good reason. See my blog!

Love you lots, and give Randy and Jeffrey a hug for me!!