The Original Pancake House

Now doesn't that look delicious? Well, it was!

For my 11th wedding Anniversary my husband and I went to eat at the Original Pancake House in Poway, CA. The owners daughter and my daughter were in a soccer league together. When I found out they owned the Original Pancake House in Poway I approached them about Gluten Free Pancakes and they stated they already had them. (I swear my mouth dropped, then a smile emerged and a tingle went down my spine). How cool is that! Being able to go out with your family or friends to a nice breakfast joint and being able to actually eat something Gluten Free (that you would normally have to cook yourself).

So, I order the Gluten Free Pancakes with Blueberries, Orange Juice and Country Potatoes. When my order arrived I couldn't believe my eyes. How could these be Gluten Free? I hadn't had a pancake since I found out I had Celiac Disease. I was skeptical in regards to what they would taste like and was extremely surprised. They weren't extremely heavy, they were just right! I was in heaven enjoying each bite like it were my last, until I realized, I could come back next weekend for more. I gave a bite to my husband and he was surprised as well. He isn't really a blueberry man, but he said they were really good. This really made my Saturday and Anniversary!

Thank you Original Pancake House for making a delectable Pancake! (It truly is your specialty!)

BTW for those of you who are not Gluten Free I recommend the Dutch Baby with lemon, butter and powdered sugar! If I could get one of those Gluten Free I would again be in heaven!

Ding Dong Countdown - 23 Days

Ally's 5th Birthday Party

We had Ally's Birthday on Saturday and on Friday my mom and I made the cake below for her party. She insisted on having a cake with a tiara that she can wear when shes eating her cake. If you didnt realize this is one of the Krispy Cakes my mom and I have been making. They can be made with the gluten free rice crispys that you get at Jimbo's. Sorry... I will not give our recipe for the treats... its special if you want us to make you a Krispy Cake ask for one =o)

Over Eating! Not Feeling Full!

Do you find that because you can't have Gluten you fill up on other things that aren't so great for you? For instance I used to eat sandwiches everyday for lunch (filling). Now I struggle to find something to eat that isn't salad (which doesn't really fill me). I find I eat more candy now than I used to and because there isn't much to eat I eat a ton of what I can eat because I don't want it to go to waste. (whoa... run-on) Everyone said I would loose weight when I was told I had to cut gluten. Now it seems I eat more crap because I don't feel full. I can tell you I am sick of salad and corn/rice based products. GIMME THE WHEAT! (or something close to it!)

In Search of a Gluten Free Ding Dong

Well, my friend Karen (Mom Eats Gluten Free) is in search for a recipe for a Gluten Free Ding Dong for me. I found a recipe from Chow.com. 

 

Unlike the original Ding Dongs, this chocolate cake is rich, not too sweet, and only partially covered in chocolate. If you choose to coat the entire Ding-a-Ling, double the recipe for the ganache.

 

Ingredients for the Chocolate Cake

4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped

12 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), softened to room temperature

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/2 teaspoons instant espresso powder

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

3 large eggs

For the Filling

1 recipe Vanilla Cream

For the Chocolate Ganache

3/4 cup heavy cream

6 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

1 tablespoon butter

  

Directions for the Chocolate Cake

1. Heat the oven to 350°F. Butter and flour two 12-well muffin pans.

2. Melt chocolate in a double boiler or a small saucepan over low heat. Set aside to cool.

3. In a large mixing bowl, combine all the other cake ingredients except for the eggs. Beat the mixture until it is light and fluffy.

4. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the cooled chocolate and the eggs. Beat together until it looks like pudding, about 2 minutes. Add this to the other ingredients and beat the mixture until it looks like whipped frosting, about 2 minutes.

5. Fill each well of the prepared muffin pans with 1/4 cup of the mixture (they should be filled about halfway). Bake until the cake springs back when touched and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes.

6. Cool completely on a wire rack. When cooled, run a knife along the perimeter of the cakes, invert the muffin pans, and remove the cakes.

To assemble:

1. Fill a pastry bag fitted with a medium-sized tip (or use a resealable plastic bag and cut one corner off) with Vanilla Cream. With a straw or the end of a spoon, make two or three holes in the underside of each cake. Insert the tip of the pastry bag into the opening and squeeze Vanilla Cream into the cake. When the cream floods out of the opening, it’s full. Turn the cake right side up, and place on a cooling rack fitted over a baking tray.

For the ganache:

1. In a small saucepan, heat the cream to a simmer. Put the chocolate into a bowl, and pour the hot cream over it. Let stand for 5 minutes. Add the butter, and stir until smooth and liquidy.

2. Spoon ganache on top of each cake, allowing it to pool in the center, and spread it outward with the back of a spoon. The ganache will run over the sides and dry to a smooth finish.

In case you dont remember.... this is what REAL Ding Dongs looks like...

  

 

I believe this weekend I will try this recipe gluten free. Don't know how I will do it but I am determined!

Gluten-Free Bread

Everywhere I look in regards to Gluten-Free bread it states to toast your bread to make it taste better. News flash... toasting the bread doesn't make it taste any better. Try microwaving your bread for 15 seconds. This makes it so much better like bread right out of the oven. Add some butter and that's even better. If you want to make a sandwich, microwave it and then add all your sandwich goodies. Microwaving softens the bread just enough so it doesnt taste or feel stale.